New (familiar) restaurant: This wood-fired kitchen is expanding to the Lake Norman area

VANA, which opened in Charlotte’s South End in 2020, has announced its expansion to the Lake Norman area with VANA LKN.

ELZ Restaurant Group is the team behind Charlotte restaurants Bardo and VANA. “I live in the area and really want to lay roots in this growing market,” ELZ managing partner Jayson Whitesides said in a statement.

Get ready to enjoy its rustic cuisine with a slightly different menu at the new Cornelius neighborhood spot in 2022. The restaurant’s wood-fired kitchen will be a focal point at the new restaurant, as well.

“Our guests can expect to have a full sensory dining experience,” Whitesides said. “From the moment they walk through the door to when the check arrives, we want to show our guests an unforgettable time.”

Chef and partner Michael Noll will oversee the menu, which will be announced in coming months.

VANA LKN will be located on Main Street in Cornelius, in the former Lean Music space at Heritage Plaza. It will have an outdoor bar and patio. There will also be a community patio, set up for live music and events with other local businesses.

Developer Rocky River OPS LLC, builder Spectrum Building Co., and Amber Cagle with Black Dove Interiors are involved with the restaurant build.

VANA LKN

Location: 20823 N Main St, Cornelius, NC 28031

Neighborhood: Lake Norman

Instagram: @vanarestaurant

Opens in 2022