Owner and Chef Christa Csoka brings over 30 years of experience and a deep-rooted passion for food, hospitality, and community. After graduating at the top of her class from the French Culinary Institute, Christa trained under legendary Master Chefs including Jacques Pépin, Daniel Boulud, Jacques Torres, Alain Sailhac, and André Soltner. Her culinary journey includes time in the kitchens of acclaimed restaurants like Daniel in New York City, Tru and the Pump Room in Chicago, as well as stints in Austin, TX and Charlotte – all of which have contributed to her refined palate and globally inspired approach to comfort food.

Her classical French training, combined with experiences from cities around the world, fuels her creative process in the kitchen. At The Artisan’s Palate, she brings modern influences to traditional techniques, with a strong emphasis on fresh, local, and organic ingredients that speak to the heart and soul of the Charlotte community. A dedicated foodie and wine enthusiast, Christa is always in search of new culinary inspiration and meaningful flavors.

Christa’s love for entertaining and food began early. As the daughter of a refugee from Budapest turned Army Officer and West Point professor, she grew up helping her mother host dinners and special events. She later worked at the West Point Officers Club, serving Officers, Cadets, Senators – even the Vice President of the United States – experiences that deeply influenced her passion for creating warm, welcoming spaces.

After moving to Charlotte in 2004 to be closer to family, Christa continued to nurture her love of food by catering weekend events and hosting themed dinners and fundraisers – many of which brought people together around shared meals, stories, and artistic expression. These gatherings became the foundation for what would eventually become The Artisan’s Palate.

From day one, Christa envisioned a space where food, drinks, art, music, and community could coexist in harmony. Today, The Artisan’s Palate is that vision realized: a creative, inclusive space where every dish tells a story and every detail is crafted with purpose.

At The Artisan’s Palate, Chef Christa Coska combines her classical French training with a deep love of community to create more than just a restaurant – a space where everyone can gather comfortably over an exceptional meal.
By day, our space is open to all to come and work or connect, with a full service coffee bar and full menu of lunchtime favorites.

By night, we are a full-service upscale restaurant making elevated locally sourced food accessible to all.
Each month we have custom tasting menu events featuring unique cocktail and food pairings that celebrate women distillers and growers.

And, like we said, we’re more than a restaurant.
We’re proud to be a long-standing gallery space in NoDa, with monthly rotating exhibits, and have supported over 50 artists in the last 5 years.
We are proud supporters of the LGBTQ community – 100% of our staff is women and LGBTQ folks.
Here, every visit supports local farmers and makers, every detail is thoughtful, and everyone is welcome.