The Guest House by Choplin's Brings Fine Dining to Downtown Huntersville

The Guest House by Choplin's is the new fine-dining steakhouse from the family behind Choplin's Restaurant in Cornelius, and it has been serving at 208 Gilead Road in downtown Huntersville since spring 2026. It is a small plates, steaks, and martinis concept set inside a restored Victorian-style house in the Walk23 development, with a patio big enough to be a destination on its own. This post covers the practical details: hours, reservations, what to order, where to park, and what else is worth a walk while you are there.

What makes The Guest House different from Choplin's in Cornelius

If you know Choplin's only as the longtime Cornelius stop for steak and seafood, The Guest House is a different animal. It comes from Wes and Faith Choplin, the same family that has run Choplin's Restaurant in Cornelius since before much of the lake was developed, but the concept is built around small plates, premium steaks, and a serious martini list. It is the family's second Lake Norman restaurant, and the first one, Choplin's in Cornelius, is still going strong.

The setting is the headline. The restaurant occupies a refurbished yellow Victorian-style house in the heart of Huntersville's downtown district, with roughly 4,000 square feet inside and a large outdoor patio that has been reported at up to 5,000 square feet. The original garage was converted into the bar, which gives the cocktail program a room of its own, and the space can host weddings and private events. The room leans dressy without being stuffy; upscale casual is the safe call for a normal dinner.

Where it sits in downtown Huntersville

The Guest House anchors a corner of the Walk23 development at 208 Gilead Road, roughly halfway between Statesville Road and Old Statesville Road and about a mile from I-77. The name is a nod to Exit 23. Huntersville sits on the southeast side of the lake, and this stretch of its downtown has been filling in fast, which makes it an easy drive from Cornelius, Davidson, or Charlotte.

Worth planning around: downtown Huntersville is walkable in a small, friendly way. A block over, 760 Craft Works pours craft beer out of the former Huntersville police station at 100 Gilead Road, and Corkscrew Wine Shoppe sits at The Holbrook development across Gilead Road. Discovery Place Kids and Huntersville Town Hall are nearby too. A natural loop is a pre-dinner drink at the brewery, dinner at The Guest House, and a nightcap wherever has a seat.

Hours, reservations, and parking, straight from the listings

Per current listings, The Guest House is closed Sunday and Monday, open Tuesday through Thursday from 4:30 to 10:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 PM to midnight. Hours can shift with staffing and the season, so confirm before you make a special trip.

Reservations run through OpenTable, and they are the smart play for Friday and Saturday nights; the new-kid buzz means the weekend tables go first. The restaurant can be reached by phone at (704) 247-0822. Parking is the honest caveat: on-site spaces are limited because the old garage became the bar, so plan on street parking and the nearby downtown lots, and consider a ride share for a weekend dinner. This is not a waterfront spot. It is a downtown one, and when you want the lake views instead, our waterfront restaurants in Lake Norman list has those.

What to order at The Guest House

The menu changes with the season, so take the current board with a grain of salt and ask your server what is fresh. Recent runs have centered on filet medallions and lobster ravioli, which tells you the kitchen is playing the steak and seafood pair that made the family name. On the bar side, the Georgia peach martini has become a calling card. Dessert worth saving room for: a chocolate pistachio cake has been the close on many tables. Typical dinners land in the roughly $31 to $50 per person range.

If you want the full picture of where steaks are done well around the lake, our best steakhouses in Lake Norman list is the broad look, and Choplin's in Cornelius covers the classic family menu on the other side of town.

Who it is for

The Guest House is a special-occasion room at heart: milestone birthdays, anniversary dinners, and the kind of night where you want a real steak and a real martini without leaving the southeast side. It also works for a dressier date night, and it is one of the strongest special occasion picks in Lake Norman right now. The patio is the draw when the weather cooperates, and big outdoor tables make it an option for small groups; for a broader everyday-patio lineup, see our best patios in Lake Norman list.

Know before you go

• Closed Sunday and Monday. Plan the visit for a Tuesday through Saturday evening.
• Book ahead through OpenTable. Friday and Saturday tables go first.
• Dress up a notch. Upscale casual fits the room.
• Parking is tight. Street spaces and nearby downtown lots, or a ride share on weekends.
• Not on the water. It is downtown Huntersville, so pair it with a walk, not a dock.

The Guest House by Choplin's, answered

Where is The Guest House by Choplin's in Huntersville?

It is at 208 Gilead Road in the Walk23 development in downtown Huntersville, roughly halfway between Statesville Road and Old Statesville Road and about a mile from I-77.

Is The Guest House the same as Choplin's in Cornelius?

Same family, different restaurant. Wes and Faith Choplin opened The Guest House as a small plates, steaks, and martinis concept, and Choplin's Restaurant in Cornelius remains open with its classic steak and seafood menu.

What are The Guest House by Choplin's hours?

Per current listings it is closed Sunday and Monday, open Tuesday through Thursday from 4:30 to 10:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 PM to midnight. Confirm before you go, since hours can shift.

Do you need a reservation at The Guest House?

Reservations are the safe call, especially Friday and Saturday nights. Bookings run through OpenTable.

What should you order at The Guest House in Huntersville?

The menu changes with the season. Recent highlights include filet medallions, lobster ravioli, the Georgia peach martini, and a chocolate pistachio cake for dessert.

Where do you park for The Guest House?

On-site parking is limited because the original garage became the bar. Plan on street parking and the nearby downtown lots, and a ride share is a good call on weekend nights.