The Improper Pig is set to swing open the doors on its Plaza Midwood flagship next Monday (Feb. 16), taking over the former Pizza Peel building at 1600 Central Ave. The 3,100-square-foot restaurant is built to feel more like a laid-back backyard than a traditional dining room, with two bars, a lawn geared for live music and DJs, and plenty of seating both indoors and out. The move marks a major expansion for the Charlotte-born barbecue-with-Asian-flavors concept, as reported by Axios Charlotte.
According to Axios Charlotte, the flagship will debut dishes the owners expect to roll out across the brand, including a wagyu kimchi burger topped with a fried egg, smoked curry rolls with yellow curry, miso-glazed salmon finished with yuzu-sake butter, fried rice with a choice of protein, and a skillet brownie. The outlet also reports the space will feature two full bars, a lineup of seasonal cocktails, and, when weather cooperates, slushy to-go drinks served from the patio. Co-owner Will Bigham told Axios, "Change is the only thing that's consistent," as he described the overhaul of the prominent corner property.
From Pizza Peel To A New Backyard Hangout
Longtime Plaza Midwood staple The Pizza Peel closed its outpost in May 2024, and owner Will Bigham has been reimagining the corner ever since, Queen City Nerve reported. Bigham told the outlet he wants the new Improper Pig to draw people deep into the space - "that’s what we really want is people to come in, sit down, have great food, enjoy the experience of it all, the music, everything" - and the outdoor area is trading its old picnic tables and disc-golf basket for Adirondack chairs, fire pits, and room for performers. The first Improper Pig opened in Cotswold in 2014 and evolved out of the Stomp, Chomp & Roll group's earlier Mama Fu's concept.
Menu Moves: New Dishes And Familiar Favorites
Axios Charlotte highlighted the Plaza Midwood menu additions as items the owners expect to spread to other locations. At the same time, online ordering for the chain's Fort Mill restaurant already lists similar options - including a kimchi burger and a skillet brownie - on its delivery menus, according to DoorDash, suggesting the flagship will simply formalize dishes fans have been ordering for years. The blend of smokehouse staples and Asian-accented plates remains the brand's calling card.
When To Go And What To Expect
The restaurant's official site, The Improper Pig, lists the Plaza Midwood address along with the phone number (704) 790-7335 for updates as opening day approaches. The new flagship is set to lean into live music and DJs, with plans for regular lawn shows and hopes for a rooftop DJ booth, aiming to serve as a late-evening anchor in Plaza Midwood's social district. Expect a casual, walk-in-friendly setup and a menu built to handle everything from daytime lunch runs to late-night crowds.
