What kind of place is Painted Rooster?
Painted Rooster is a restaurant (chicken & beer) in Plaza Midwood, Charlotte. A chicken-and-beer restaurant on the corner of Central and Thomas avenues.
Restaurant · Central Avenue
Painted Rooster
A chicken-and-beer restaurant on the corner of Central and Thomas avenues.
Category
Restaurant
Kitchen
Chicken & beer
Price
$$
Address
1601 Central Ave, 28205
About Painted Rooster
Opened in June 2025 at 1601 Central Avenue, the corner long occupied by Zada Jane's Corner Cafe, which closed in September 2024 after seventeen years. The menu centers on wings, tenders, sandwiches, and salads.
Chicken and Beer After Zada Jane’s
Painted Rooster brought a chicken and beer concept to the former Zada Jane's space in June 2025. Axios Charlotte's opening coverage identified wings as a central focus and reported a June 23 debut. The restaurant's own website now introduces the business through wings, tenders, chicken sandwiches, house made sauces and Southern inspired sides. Salads and macaroni and cheese also feature in its presentation, making the concept more specific than a generic neighborhood bar. The change of restaurant matters locally because the address remains a dining destination while its culinary identity has shifted. Visitors remembering the previous breakfast restaurant should approach Painted Rooster as a different business and consult its own menu, rather than expecting the old occupant's dishes or service format.
The Former Zada Jane’s Address on Central
Painted Rooster occupies 1601 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205. The Improper Pig's 1600 Central address provides a particularly useful nearby landmark, while Workman's Friend at 1531 Central and Midwood Smokehouse at 1401 Central place it within the same restaurant corridor. Dish and Thomas Street Tavern form the Thomas Avenue pairing to keep in mind when extending a visit beyond Central. Using the current name is important when sharing directions: the former Zada Jane's reference explains the building's restaurant history but is not the name to select for ordering. For a group comparing chicken with barbecue, Painted Rooster and The Improper Pig offer distinct concepts around closely related addresses. Review each restaurant's official menu before deciding where to gather and which entrance to use.
Getting there
Painted Rooster is at 1601 Central Ave, inside the Plaza Midwood area and reachable on foot from much of the residential grid. Street parking near Central Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue is in demand on weekend evenings, and some adjacent residential blocks carry permit restrictions, so check posted signs before parking.
Good for
- Casual
- Groups
- Quick
Official website
Current hours, menus, and reservation details: bigpaintedrooster.com
Walk from here
Closest to Painted Rooster
Distances are straight-line approximations from published locations, for orientation only.
Restaurant · $$
The Improper Pig
Barbecue with Asian influences in a former service station at 1600 Central Avenue.
a block or so away
Bar · $$
Workman's Friend
An Irish-American pub at 1531 Central Avenue with scratch-made food and an open-air bar.
a block or so away
Restaurant · $$
Midwood Smokehouse
The barbecue restaurant at 1401 Central Avenue, in the middle of the corridor.
about 0.1 mi — a short walk
Bakery · $
Amélie's L'Express
A small grab-and-go outpost of Amélie's French Bakery at 1511 Central Avenue.
about 0.13 mi — a short walk
Restaurant · $
Moo & Brew
Burgers and beer at 1300 Central Avenue.
about 0.15 mi — a short walk
Bar · $
Thomas Street Tavern
A neighborhood bar at 1218 Thomas Avenue with American food and outdoor seating.
about 0.2 mi — a short walk
Green space
Parks within reach
Dog park
Neighborhood Dog Runs
Where a famously dog-heavy neighborhood actually walks its dogs.
about 0.4 mi — walkable
Neighborhood park
Midwood Park
The green heart of the historic district, ringed by bungalows and mature hardwoods.
about 0.4 mi — walkable
Neighborhood park
Independence Park
Charlotte's oldest public park, just southwest in Elizabeth.
about 0.6 mi — walkable
Interactive map
Painted Rooster on the map
Location is approximate and provided for orientation only.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Point locations are approximate and provided for orientation only.
Nearby
More like this
Restaurant · $$
Midwood Smokehouse
The barbecue restaurant at 1401 Central Avenue, in the middle of the corridor.
Barbecue
Restaurant · $
The Diamond Restaurant
A diner at 1901 Commonwealth Avenue with roots going back to 1945.
Southern diner
Restaurant · $$
Dish
Southern comfort food in the yellow brick building at 1220 Thomas Avenue.
Southern comfort
Restaurant · $$
The Improper Pig
Barbecue with Asian influences in a former service station at 1600 Central Avenue.
Barbecue with Asian influences
Restaurant · $$
Intermezzo Pizzeria & Cafe
A European-style cafe on East 10th Street serving handmade pizza and Serbian dishes.
Pizza & Serbian
Restaurant · $
Bang Bang Burgers
Scratch-made burgers, hand-cut fries, and house sauces on East 7th Street in Elizabeth.
Burgers
Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Where is Painted Rooster located?
Painted Rooster is at 1601 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205, within the Plaza Midwood area.
How do I check Painted Rooster's current hours and menu?
Hours, menus, and reservation policies change, so use Painted Rooster's official website for current details. This guide does not publish hours.
Sources & verification
Figures and descriptions on this page are compiled from the public sources listed above and reviewed periodically. Conditions change; verify anything you plan to rely on with the responsible authority before acting.
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Continue through the guide
Plaza Midwood Restaurants
The verified dining directory — barbecue, diners, bars, and neighborhood institutions.
Plaza Midwood Bars & Nightlife
Dive bars, cocktail rooms, breweries, and live music.
Things to Do in Plaza Midwood
Murals, markets, festivals, and a month-by-month calendar.
Living in Plaza Midwood
Walkability, daily rhythm, dogs, porches, and neighbors.