In between meetings Sunday I dropped in to MoRA’s Hawthorne’s Pizza for the first time. The newest addition to the growing area along Monroe Road between Sharon Amity and Matthews, known as MoRA, Hawthorne’s is becoming a Queen City staple with its eighth location in the greater Charlotte area.

Headed towards Uptown on Monroe, Hawthorne’s newest location is on your right across the street from East Mecklenburg High, near the pointed intersection with Conference. It is part of the mixed use development called Meridian Place. Though the restaurant has good visibility from the street, you’ll have to turn in almost like you were going to the apartments and enter from the back side of it. If you pass the modern apartments that just sprouted up, you’ve gone too far.

Stepping in, we were greeted with a smiling hostess ready to seat us at a booth. The atmosphere is clean and modern with tall, exposed ceilings, and deep red walls. The mix of glossy black bead board and black subway tile provides textural interest. With super bright flat screens and classic tunes playing overhead, the overall feel is one of a family friendly sports bar.

Speaking of bars. They have 16 beers on tap, fed from a refrigerated room. They are also well stocked on liquors and have a few wines available. The long main room bar can be accessed from the outside when the weather is nice (or the Panthers are playing) as four accordion windows slide to the side to serve the ample outdoor patio space with umbrellas for shade.

Hawthorne’s isn’t a great addition to MoRA just because it’s a bar. The food is great, too.

I tried the Hawaiian pizza on their fresh crust piled with pineapple, caramelized onions, and all sorts of meat, including bacon and pulled pork. So rich and sumptuous.

We also had the eggplant rollentini, stuffed with a mix of ricotta and other cheeses with a little basil pesto popping through the marinara sauce with more cheese baked on top. Hawthorne’s food is here to impress.

Tiramisu was the natural choice for dessert. The presentation on all our food was great, but the tiramisu stepped it up.

With its prime location on Monroe Road, Hawthorne’s is a great addition to the MoRA neighborhood. New businesses and restaurants are finding their place in MoRA, and we’ll keep you updated on all there is to do (and eat) in this vibrant, growing area of Charlotte. Interested in learning more about real estate in MoRA? Contact us and we’ll be happy to give you a tour!