Charlotte’s culinary scene received another national spotlight this week as Seaboy, a cozy fish shack tucked along West Catawba Avenue in Cornelius, was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America for 2025.
The honor places the Lake Norman eatery—home to only about two dozen tables—among the most celebrated restaurant openings in the country.
Esquire’s editors praised Seaboy as a rare standout in a town of roughly 30,000 residents, noting that “on any given evening, the luckiest of them sit at one of twenty or so tables” in the restaurant.
The publication highlighted chef Jonny Cox, a Cornelius native whose cooking reflects time spent in both Charlotte and Sorrento, Italy. His menu, Esquire writes, showcases “an Italian knack for letting ingredients speak for themselves” while staying grounded in Carolina seafood traditions.
Every plate “hums with flavor,” according to Esquire’s review, which singled out several dishes:
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Cornmeal-dusted Virginia flounder, pan-fried until tender and paired with Louisiana-style maque choux.
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Crab-and-chorizo croquettes, described as “bonsai flavor bombs” served atop sweet pepper jam.
The magazine called Seaboy “a roadside restaurant that shines like a beacon,” capturing both its unassuming exterior and high-caliber execution.
The recognition marks another milestone for the Charlotte region’s dining scene, coming off the heels of our city’s first ever Michelin Star award last month.
