Popular North Carolina Mexican Restaurant Abruptly Closed And Here’s What We Know

Many folks in the Charlotte, North Carolina area frequented Cantina 1511 for years.  The Tex-Mex inspired restaurant had several spots around Charlotte and Lake Norman area for decades.  I remember visiting the original location on East Blvd. years ago for a girls' night out birthday celebration.  However, slowly but surely the number of locations dwindled to just two.  But, that changed abruptly this month as the remaining two Cantina 1511 closed their doors.   And, as of now, here's all we know.

According to a Facebook post on August 7, Cantina 1511 closed announcing the shuttering for the Park Road location that seemed to indicate it might be temporary.  Then, on August 9 the last location in Mooresville also closed.    And, another Facebook notice was from the staff posting a GoFundMe on the restaurant social pages.  The post asked for help amid financial problems related to the abrupt closing.  I first noticed not long ago that the Toringdon location on Johnston Road disappeared.  The former Cantina 1511 is now Ruby Sunshine breakfast and brunch spot.

And, it seems like this type of thing happens more often these days.  I remember seeing reports recently of a sudden closure of Catawba Brewing Co.  Of course, many restaurants faced devastating losses during and after the pandemic.  And, sadly, some of them never fully recovered.  The snowball effect of COVID losses, staffing issues and inflation caused problems just too massive to overcome.

However, we aren't completely certain why Cantina 1511 closed or what happens next for the popular restaurant.  Although, a report from WSOC in November 2022 indicated the ownership group behind the restaurant faced possible Chapter 7 liquidation after "efforts to reorganize under bankruptcy protection have faltered."   We plan to keep monitoring this situation for more news.

Margarita Monday, Taco Tuesday, Fajita Friday it's never a bad day for Mexican food. Luckily there is no shortage of Mexican restaurants in Charlotte. Whether you like authentic, fancy, or Americanized Mexican there is an option for you. But how do you know which one to try? Luckily Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Charlotte according to TripAdvisor.

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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (18 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
- Price: $
- Address: 201 Archdale Dr I-77, Exit #4, Charlotte, NC 28217-4210
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (29 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)
- Price: $
- Address: 10707 Park Rd Ste A, Charlotte, NC 28210-0107
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (25 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $
- Address: 7001 South Blvd Ste D, Charlotte, NC 28217-4398
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (46 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 5110 Park Rd Ste 1E, Charlotte, NC 28209-3699
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (11 reviews)
- Detailed ratings:
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 16139 Lancaster Hwy #150, Charlotte, NC 28277-2033
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (27 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 8619 Jw Clay Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262-5418
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (33 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 4426 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205-7404
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (35 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
- Price: $
- Address: 1925 Westinghouse Blvd Plaza Fiesta, Charlotte, NC 28273
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- Rating: 3.5 / 5 (117 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (3.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 15105 John J Delaney Dr Ste B, Charlotte, NC 28277-2848
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (93 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 1820 Sardis Rd N, Charlotte, NC 28270-1410
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (123 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 8927 J M Keynes Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262-8433
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (58 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 2433 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203-5009
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (48 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (3.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 8724 Outlets Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28278
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (67 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 8943 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28273-3540
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (41 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 333 W Trade St # 101, Charlotte, NC 28202-1944
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (97 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (3.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 7340 Smith Corners Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28269-3767
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (64 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $
- Address: 2917 Central Ave Ste A, Charlotte, NC 28205-0477
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (121 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 7708 Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277-2579
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (32 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (5.0/5)
- Price: $
- Address: 2904 Yorkmont Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208-7301
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (68 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 6676 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226-3900
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (109 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 715 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207-2371
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (145 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 2015 Ayrsley Town Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273-4067
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (311 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (3.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 4271 Park Rd Ste B Ste B, Charlotte, NC 28209-2231
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (86 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 1301 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203-5801
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (81 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5)
- Price: $
- Address: 415 Hawthorne Ln, Charlotte, NC 28204-2311
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (242 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)
- Price: $
- Address: 4252 Business Center Dr, Charlotte, NC 28214-5040
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- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (304 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 116 E Woodlawn Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217-2118
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (70 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 101 W Worthington Ave Ste. 100, Charlotte, NC 28203-4699
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (863 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 3201 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205-1033
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (471 reviews)
- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)
- Price: $$ - $$$
- Address: 6401 Morrison Blvd #8a, Charlotte, NC 28211-3800
- Read more on Tripadvisor