A new seafood restaurant appears to be headed to 4422 Colwick Road in Charlotte’s Cotswold neighborhood. The Belly of the Whale is expected to take over the approximately 2,700-square-foot space formerly occupied by Pizza Peel, which closed in November 2025 after 17 years in business, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.
While few details have been released, a LinkedIn hiring post describes The Belly of the Whale as a boutique seafood restaurant with a menu centered primarily on North Carolina’s Atlantic coast. The concept says it aims to deliver an intimate dining experience and is currently seeking a maître d’ or front-of-house manager.
Public records indicate the project is continuing to move forward. According to North Carolina Secretary of State filings, Black Fish, Blue Fish LLC was formed in May 2025 and is affiliated with the restaurant. The filing lists Raynold Mendizabal-Betancourt as the company’s administrative member.
In addition, North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission records, cited by the Charlotte Business Journal, show temporary permits for beer, wine, and mixed beverages were issued on July 1 following a City of Charlotte request for an ABC inspection in June.
WhatNow Charlotte reached out to Mendizabal-Betancourt for additional information. His wife, Tatiana Mendizabal, responded on his behalf, saying he was “buried in the kitchen,” suggesting the team is busy preparing for the restaurant’s opening.
