About
About Citrus the Diner, Lake Norman, NC
When you taste our food, you’ll come to appreciate the experience of the chefs behind it.
Here at Citrus the Diner, we take a great deal of pride in our food. We wanted to create a restaurant that could cater to those in the Lake Norman, North Carolina area, including Denver, Mooresville, Terrell, Sherrills Ford, and Huntersville, who are looking for something fresh, flavorful, unprocessed and delicious. Staying true to his roots, our founder opened up his diner and started offering breakfast and lunch options that no one could turn down, and we would love to open our doors to you!
Blake Dewey
Blake Dewey was born and raised in Western New York, where he received his B.S. degree from Niagara University’s school of Hospitality Management. Shortly after, he studied at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America where he graduated with High Honors. Dewey moved to Charlotte in 1992 where he served 18 years as Executive Chef and Partner at the Pewter Rose Bistro, Charlotte’s premier, eclectic restaurant of the time. For the last 15 years, he has lived just down the road in Iron Station with his partner and cats. Dewey states, “I’ve always been impressed with the friendliness of our neighbors and the people I meet here in Denver. For years, my family and I have enjoyed breakfast at many of the local diners, but I always thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could get something a bit more ‘out of the box’ than the local eateries offer?’ We wanted to offer our neighbors a place to enjoy a Sunday Brunch experience every day of the week. Fresh, fun, a bit funky and a lot delicious was our goal and I think we nailed it!”
Chef Holly Wilkinson
Hailing from Charleston SC, Chef Holly grew up in a large musical family that loves to eat. Her fondest memories include crabbing off her family dock, performing with the Charleston symphony and gardening with her grandmother. Learning at an early age from her father, an award winning chef, she learned the ins and outs of the kitchen, helping prepare the weekly Sunday dinner. After several years in the music and retail industry, she discovered that while music was still in her heart, cooking was in her soul. A culinary school graduate, her specialties include southern/Korean fusion, breakfast foods and decadent specialty cheesecakes. As Chef and Operating Partner her varied background is on full display with a diverse, “elevated” menu. At home she enjoys cooking lavish dinners for her husband Mikey and their pups Artimis & Loki.