New Waterfront Restaurant on Lake Norman Targets $10M in Annual Sales
By Jennifer Thomas – Senior Staff Writer, Charlotte Business Journal
This waterfront restaurant and entertainment venue wants to become a fixture on Lake Norman.
Vitale Lakeside is in its soft-opening phase at 1459 River Highway in Mooresville. The business has a limited menu and hours as staff training continues and it fine-tunes operations. Hiring is ongoing, with about 25% of positions still to be filled.
A grand opening is planned for Nov. 6. Regular hours will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
“Opening now will prepare us for the rush, for summer, so it worked out,” owner Gennaro Vitale says.
He and wife Susan are behind operator Vitale Hospitality, which looks to provide an elevated, yet approachable option. They’ve transformed the former Queens Landing space, which has been vacant since 2023.
The couple declined to share their investment into the 9,000-square-foot restaurant, which occupies the ground floor. Still to come at Vitale Lakeside is Getaway Bar, a floating bar that will launch in March. A sister lounge concept, Bonnie & Clyde at Vitale Lakeside, will open in the coming months.
“You can bring your kids, or you can have a date night. That’s the great thing about Vitale Lakeside,” Gennaro Vitale says. “This makes sense on the lake. It’ll be a staple for the next 30 years.”
Vitale Lakeside will be a place for families, boaters coming off the lake and special events such as New Year’s Eve parties, Fourth of July events and live music. The restaurant could generate sales upwards of $10 million annually, Vitale says.
The space has a modern aesthetic that strikes a balance between upscale and welcoming. Think crisp white shiplap and light-colored wood-like tiles. There are black leather booths and a wraparound quartz bar at the heart of the restaurant. Nearby space has been carved out for guests to enjoy a drink while waiting for a table. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out over Lake Norman.
“We didn’t want to go too fancy,” Vitale says. “We wanted to find the middle where you come up on a boat. It’s upscale, but it’s not. It’s comfortable.”
Outside, the expansive patio leads to the waterfront. Vitale plans to add more tables, couches and fire pits to the space. Twenty-five boat slips will surround the floating Getaway Bar.
“You don’t feel like you’re in North Carolina, sitting on the patio having a drink,” Vitale says.
The menu dials in on upscale comfort food, but with an Italian twist, executive chef Cory Morris says.
Fresh seafood and certified Angus beef are among the offerings. Sauces, dressings and marinades are made in-house as is the pizza dough.
“Everything that we do is in-house and made from scratch, from years and years of recipes passed on through Mr. Vitale’s family,” Morris says.
There will be a raw bar with chilled seafood. Crispy calamari and whipped ricotta will be favorites on the appetizer menu. The restaurant will offer its double smashburger, made with a proprietary blend of meats and spices, as well as the Jumbo Crab Cake Sandwich. Entrees bring options such as the Diavola pasta served with linguine, spicy house-made sauce, shrimp and lobster tail. The Queen’s Hanger features a herb marinated steak with chimichurri and crispy fries.
“We execute everything with a lot of love and care in all the dishes that we put out,” Morris says.
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