Destinations

21 Best Restaurants in Charlotte

The business center of the south is also rich with good food.

November 5, 2020

United States North Carolina Charlotte Restaurant Kindred

No matter where you are in Charlotte, you aren't far from a fantastic meal. The city's restaurant scene has spread, not just geographically, but gastronomically. The tried and true dishes every Southern city ought to have down by now are on offer—fried chicken and barbecue at Midwood that will leave you happily stuffed. But roving restaurants have ignited a food truck frenzy and quirky takes on the classics are all the rage at newer places that continue to pop up. The Queen City also has some truly innovative spots that have earned national recognition, like the ever-changing, multi-award-winning Kindred. Read on for our picks for the best restaurants in Charlotte, and start planning ahead.

Click the link to read our complete Charlotte guide.

JUSTINdPHOTOS/Courtesy 5Church
restaurant
Church and Union Charlotte
$$
With its exposed ductwork, black leather couches and gorgeous bar, Church and Union is without question Charlotte's sexiest restaurant. And the man in the kitchen, chef Jamie Lynch, is a big deal. The "Top Chef" alum was named best chef by Charlotte Magazine in 2018. Here, inside the ultra-cool boutique hotel The Ivey, his menu is confident and bold, with yellowfin tuna tater tots and spiffed-up steakhouse classics, including a tomahawk for two. Sides are served family-style and—with selections like Southern street corn and white truffle cheddar mac 'n' cheese—they're a main event unto themselves.
Stefanie Haviv/Courtesy Stagioni
restaurant
Stagioni
$$
Tucked into a historic home in Charlotte's Eastover neighborhood, Stagioni beckons with its warm ambience and blissful location away from the fray. Inside, cookbooks and wooden lamps add homey design touches to this charming Italian spot from well-known Charlotte restaurateur Bruce Moffett. Do not confuse Stagioni with a typical red-sauce joint. Although you'll find a few pizzas and pastas, they'll be far from familiar. Instead, expect tortellini stuffed with spicy 'nduja and housemade ricotta, or seared gnocchi in a nettle pesto.

Steven Key/Courtesy Zeppelin
restaurant
Zeppelin
$$
Zeppelin has a cool vibe, complete with exposed brick and black subway tile, that fits right into South End. The restaurant amplifies its bar bites with high-quality ingredients and international influences, then gives them a Southern spin; say, pork-cheek hush puppies, sweet miso pork buns, or barbecue-roasted Spanish octopus. Cocktails are the stuff of Instagram dreams; even classics like dirty Martinis and Manhattans get a modern spin in the form of, say, parmesan-washed gin.
Elizabeth Cecil/Courtesy Kindred
restaurant
Kindred
$$
If you're not in Charlotte for an extended period of time, eating at Kindred is a commitment—you have to drive about half an hour out of town to Davidson, North Carolina. But under no circumstances should you let a little thing like that stop you. Joe Kindred's inventive, daily-changing menu and Katy Kindred's meticulously crafted wine list have landed their restaurant on many shortlists of best eateries in the country.

Courtesy Midwood Steakhouse
restaurant
Midwood Smokehouse
$$
Barbecue joints tend to be boisterous and fun-loving, and Midwood Smokehouse is no exception. The restaurant, a great choice for families or large groups of friends, has a casual vibe, which comes in handy—you'll want to leave that white dress shirt at home. The menu is packed with barbecue classics, including pimiento cheese fries, burnt ends, Carolina pork, and fried chicken sandwiches. You may scratch your head, though, when you see tacos on the menu, but they're definitely worth ordering. Don't forget to order a cold Carolina beer on tap, too.
Courtesy Pinky's Westside Grill
restaurant
Pinky's Westside Grill
$
The restaurant is fun and rollicking. Between the dinosaur in the parking lot and the Volkswagen Beetle on the roof, Pinky's Westside Grill seems like a perfect candidate for Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives," and for good reason—it's been on the show twice. The menu leans heavily on the frier: waffle fries drenched in pimiento cheese, burgers rising three patties tall, fried pickles, corn dogs, hush puppies, and more. Bring the kids and let them eat whatever they want—you'll earn parent-of-the-year status.

restaurant
Alexander Michael's
$$
Alexander Michael's, a beloved tavern in the 4th Ward, has a real neighborhood flavor. It doesn't take reservations and there's nothing fancy about it, but somehow the classic bar makes you want to sit for hours and tell the person pouring drinks your troubles. Diners here aren't up for frills or fuss. They're here to see some friends, have a couple of local craft brews, and get a burger without losing their shirts.
Stefanie Haviv/Courtesy Good Food on Montford
restaurant
Good Food on Montford
$$
This menu is a mashup of regional and international cuisines and cooking styles, and you're just as likely to find fried sweet tea–brined quail as you are carnitas or pork buns. Ask the staff for help making sense of it all. For drinks, the wine list spans the world and features plenty of selections by the glass. There's also local beer on draft and in bottles, cordials and cognacs, and seasonal cocktails.

Peter Taylor/Courtesy The Asbury
restaurant
The Asbury
$$
The Asbury, located within the historic Dunhill Hotel, has a fresh, bright dining room with a front wall of windows overlooking the street and pastel-hued walls displaying pieces from local artists. The menu is concise—just six mains—but it covers all of the bases, from vegetarian dishes to braised lamb and a signature burger. Shareable apps, from deviled eggs to sticky biscuits with goat cheese, perfectly illustrate the kitchen's approach to modern Southern cooking.
Courtesy Fig Tree
restaurant
The Fig Tree
$$$
The Fig Tree is tucked inside a Craftsman-style bungalow in the charming Elizabeth neighborhood, and stepping inside feels like visiting a friend's home. The food, though, pushes boundaries. The appetizers are daring (fried oysters with poblano-'nduja chutney, chorizo-stuffed calamari) while entrees definitely lean elegant and decadent (Stilton- and duxelles-topped filet mignon). This is the place to order outside of your comfort zone—you know that elk over horseradish spaetzle is calling your name.

Courtesy Papi Queso
restaurant
Papi Queso
$
Papi Queso, a beloved food truck with a permanent location at Optimist Hall, doesn't serve your neighborhood diner's grilled cheese. Here, the sandwich is gussied up with the likes of mac 'n' cheese, pulled pork, bourbon onions, wild mushrooms, and white truffle spread. Even the cheeses go beyond the ordinary; think, fontina and Gruyère. It's all about the sandwiches here; though limited sides include fries, pickles, and tomato soup. Stop here to fuel up before embarking on a brewery crawl.
restaurant
The Stanley
$$
The Stanley nails that upscale, homey look with its purple banquettes and walls lined with sleek bookshelves. It's big deal dining without pretense. It's farm-driven with serious flair. This is a creative menu offering plenty of twists and turns. You'll find Southern classics (cornbread with honey, anyone?) but you'll also find some out-of-the-box thinking (Philly cheesesteak steam buns).

restaurant
Haymaker
$$
This is the kind of space that elicits wows with its soaring ceilings and buzzy bar. The menu showcases Southern dishes hit with a cosmopolitan attitude. In case you didn't get the kitchen's sense of humor, order the truffle tater tots with wild onion aioli and you'll be in on the (delicious) joke. Don't be afraid to dress up if you come—this is a sophisticated crowd.
restaurant
Futo Buta
$$
It's a bare bones setup here in South End, which is home to a number of the city's coolest restaurants and bars, but no one is here for the scene; they're here to slurp ramen. Go for the classics—tonkotsu or shoyu—or feel free to let your inhibitions go and order one of their offbeat bowls. It's often loud and busy, so come ready to join in the buzzy feeling and raise your voice when necessary.

Courtesy Haberdish
restaurant
Haberdish
$$
Come to Haberdish to linger over brunch and a couple orders of smoked trout deviled eggs with other serious eaters and NoDa window-shoppers. The food here reads as down-home but the interior is pure chic. A cool bar, metal chairs, and bare wood tables are all here, with just enough edge to make the space feel trendy without becoming unwelcoming. There also happens to be a brunch menu that has an entire section dedicated to biscuits. And hushpuppies with sweet tea butter are more than just a must order—you shouldn't be allowed to leave Charlotte without a taste.
restaurant
Bardo
$$
This is a newcomer to the Charlotte restaurant scene and it's made a quick splash. There is a creative small plates focus with several different options for changing tasting menus that range from three courses all the way up to 12. It's in a buzzy neighborhood and pulls in the young, hip crowd that powers so many of Charlotte's restaurants.

restaurant
Peppervine
$$
Soaring ceilings, dramatic light fixtures, and a blonde matchstick wood art installation give this place a supreme elegance. It is classic South Park in that oh-so-chic way. The well-edited menu is divided between small plates like pimiento cheese scones, and larger, shareable entrees like 48-hour short rib pastrami. While you won't be inundated with choices, there are plenty of nice options, and all reflect a deft hand and a creative vision.
restaurant
Beef 'N Bottle Steakhouse
$$$
This is a roadhouse with throwback appeal. Far from fancy, it's a little rough and tumble and this place hasn't changed since the 1950s—exactly what the loyal regulars love about it. The food is classic steakhouse and it's all about the beef here. Lobster tails make a perfect ride along for that filet mignon, and the sides are delicious.

restaurant
Soul Gastrolounge
$$
This is a chill HQ for hipsters in the midst of happening Plaza Midwood. The menu is a smorgasbord of everything you want but doesn't seem to naturally go together—oh does it, though. Southern fried oysters, saganaki, offbeat sushi rolls, spicy wings ... it sounds like a hangover wish list and fully satisfies. This is a go-to spot for dates—if you can't bond over picking tapas you're just not meant to be—but you don't need a special someone to dine with. You'll be so into the food that any group will do.
Eben Patten/Courtesy O-Ku Charlotte
restaurant
O-Ku Sushi Charlotte
$$
O-Ku is located in South End's Atherton Mill and it shares that hip spirit in its design—exposed brick walls, large windows, and moody tree branches. Its hip vibe makes it just right for dates, groups of friends, and girls' night out—it feels as if it could be a New York City restaurant. The menu starts off with Japanese apps like edamame and miso soup before veering off in surprising and creative directions. Think: duck buns, a tantalizing array of carpaccio and tartare. Then, of course, there's all the maki, nigiri, and sashimi.

Peter Taylor/Courtesy Heirloom
restaurant
Heirloom
$$
Heirloom isn't just spouting "farm-to-table" as a buzzword; it's getting dirt under its fingernails. The menu here highlights North Carolina products, from foraged mushrooms to blueberry pigs. After seeing the list of dishes you might be tempted to order a la carte, but the best way to really sample the talents of chef Clark Barlowe—an alum of The French Laundry and el Bulli—is to go for the six-course tasting menu.