Owner & Founder: Jim Emad
Jim Emad is the sole proprietor of Bentley's Restaurant. He’s been working in Charlotte's restaurant industry for over 40 years. He began pursuing the industry at Fish Market Restaurant in SouthPark, before becoming the general manager at Lavecchia's Seafood Grille uptown. Jim Emad is a seasoned restaurant operator who now has his own dining room to display his uniquely sophisticated style of food, wine, and service.

Bentley's was in development for almost two years as Jim worked to bring his vision to life. In December 2003, he located the unique space at 201 South College Street. In one month's time, he formed Lauren Taylor, Inc. (the names of his daughter and son), in order to bring Bentley’s (The family name of his wife, Kay) to fruition.

Jim was greatly inspired by French cuisine and wanted to provide a special dining experience for his guests. French tableside, a service style so close to Jim's heart, was the obvious choice. Jim's vision includes classic French dishes prepared and presented at the table with the use of a gueridon. The gueridon, a mobile cooking cart used in French tableside service, is rarely seen in dining rooms today. In response to the casual bistro-style, now ubiquitous in restaurants, Jim wanted to bring some excitement and theater back to the dining room that would pair seamlessly with his creative menu of classics. In 2020, Bentley's moved to the idyllic SouthPark area, and guests can continue to enjoy exquisite cuisine and classic ambiance in our main dining room or outdoor patio.