I’d been working on this blog post for a few months now and wanted to make sure I included all of my favorite restaurants before hitting “publish”. However, right as I was about to finally get this article published, sh*t hit the fan and the world got turned upside down. I put this blog post on pause. COVID-19 has unfortunately hit our country extremely hard and has sadly affected every restaurant we know and love. Due to COVID-19, most restaurants are closed for inside-dining, but they are still open for takeout and delivery.
What started as an Ultimate Guide to Charlotte Restaurants to go check out in-person has now turned in to a guide of restaurants to get take-out from! Our local restaurants need our business now more than ever before. We will all eventually get to re-visit these restaurants and dine inside once this pandemic is over, but for now, here is a list of some favorites if you want to spice up your at-home-meals during this quarantine and to help small businesses get through this difficult time.
I’ve been a Charlotte resident for almost six years now. Wow – that’s insane. SIX YEARS? I remember when I first moved here and didn’t know anything about the city. I used to explore different restaurants and bars, but the city never felt like home. Now, many years later, I consider myself to be a Charlotte local. I’ve been to sooo many restaurants and I definitely consider myself to be a reliable source when it comes to restaurant recommendations. People constantly ask me for restaurant recommendations, so I figured I might as well write a Charlotte Restaurant Master Post. I mentioned on my Instagram stories that I was working on this, soooo, as promised, here are a few of my absolute favorite restaurants, broken down by category.
Brunch
5Church – I absolutely LOVE 5Church and I always take friends and family here when they’re in town to visit. This restaurant is one of my mom’s favorite spots in the QC because of how adorable and chic the decor is inside. This restaurant could also be under the “dinner” category, since their food is delicious in general. However, there’s something about their brunch that just puts me in a great mood every single time. Everything is SO GOOD, and their mimosa flights have ever-changing flavors that are always fun to try. I order: Irish Breakfast, or the Crab Cake Benedict. Or the French toast…. Shoot. I order everything.
Famous Toastery – Formerly known as “Toast”, this is an OG brunch spot in Charlotte. I order the Sunrise Burrito every single time I go to Toast – it’s a burrito with egg whites, brie cheese, topped with salsa and avocado. I order homefries on the side, and a mimosa too, of course. The last time I went to Famous Toastery with my family, we tried a brand new coffee drink that was AMAZING. I can’t believe I’ve lived in Charlotte for 6 years without knowing about this drink!! It’s called the Cold War Russian, which consists of cold brew coffee, vodka, kahlua, and Baileys Irish Cream. I wish I had one right this second as I’m typing this. I order: Sunrise Burrito, Mimosa, Coffee, Cold War Russian.
The Flying Biscuit – serves breakfast allll day long. Also famous for their biscuits (obviously). I know The Flying Biscuit is a chain, so if you’re not local to the Charlotte area, make sure to check out their website to see if there’s a location near you! I order: Famous Flying Biscuit Breakfast
Snooze. An AM Eatery – Ohhhh, Snooze. I have slight PTSD from the first time I went here, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the restaurant. In fact, it’s actually a good thing for the establishment. Snooze was SO crowded that there was nooooowhere to park my car when my mom and I were heading there for brunch. So, we found a spot across the street. Within 2 minutes, my car was booted and I had to pay $125 to get the boot off. CAN YOU SAY “RUDE”??? Anyway, back to the point of this story. Snooze was AMAZING, which is why the parking lot was full in the first place. I’ve ordered: Snooze Breakfast Burrito, Huevos Rancheros, House Blend Coffee, Abri-ca-lav-ra Mimosa, Sparklin’ with a Splash
Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe – Located in the heart of Plaza Midwood, Zada Jane’s has been one of my favorite brunch spots ever since BEFORE I first moved here. My cousins who live in Charlotte used to take me to Zada Jane’s whenever I would visit them back in college. My go-to order is coffee, a mimosa (duh), and the South of NO North omelette.
Eddies Place – I went through an “Eddie’s” phase a few years ago where I would go here every single Sunday afternoon. It is THAT good. The only reason I don’t go as often anymore is because it’s pretty far from my house. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t love it! I order: Eggs Your Way with bacon and cheese grits. And a mimosa and coffee, of course.
Lunch
Amelie’s French Bakery – This was one of my mom’s favorite places when she visited me a couple weeks ago. Amelie’s is a french cafe in Uptown Charlotte that has amazing pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and coffees. They also have breakfast cocktails to enjoy, with the cutest french decor. They also have wifi, so it’s the perfect place to take your laptop to get some work done. I order: Provence BLT & mimosa.
Eight and Sand – One of Charlotte’s newer spots, Eight and Sand is one of my go-to lunch spots with my coworkers. It’s right in the heart of South End, super cute, and perfect for lunch or brunch. I’ve ordered the chicken sandwich and it was easily one of the most delicious chicken sandwiches I’ve ever tasted! Make sure to order potato wedges on the side (sides are a la carte). I order: Grilled chicken avocado melt, or the Eight + Sand salad.
Viva Chicken – Hands down one of my favorite spots in Charlotte. Before Viva Chicken came into my life, I don’t think I had ever tried Peruvian food. I crave Viva Chicken alllllll the time, and I’ve never met anyone in Charlotte who doesn’t love to eat here. Make sure to order the Quinoa stuffed avocado, and add chicken. I also sometimes order the Tacu Bowl, which usually lasts me two meals, so I’m able to take it into work the next day. It’s a lot of food! I order: Tacu bowl with cilantro rice, chicken, & avocado.
Chopt – A healthy lunch go-to. I know Chopt is not just in Charlotte, as are many other restaurants on this list. However, Chopt is one of my favorite additions Charlotte has made to their marketplace in the six years I have been living here. It’s delicious, healthy, and makes me actually want to eat a salad… which is rare. I order either the Chicken Tinga, or the Southwest salad.
Rhino Market – Ahhhh, Rhino Market and Deli. How I love you so. I make an appearance at Rhino at least once a week. They have everything I could ever need.. beer, wine, chips, sweet treats, and most importantly, their deli. The Rhino Market deli serves breakfast in the mornings, and lunch in the afternoons. For breakfast, I love to order the Le Monde or the Breakfast Burrito. For lunch, I typically order the Chicken Tinga and add pimento cheese (because, healthy).
Common Market – Basically Rhino Market’s cousin. Common Market is extremely similar to Rhino Market in the sense that they both carry extremely similar things, they both have an amazing deli, and they’re both super hip and grungy. I was so excited when I first heard about the new Common Market that was built in South End (after the old South End location was demolished a few years ago. RIP). Common Market is a casual spot to grab a beer, sandwich, or even post up with your computer and a coffee to get some work done during the day. I order: Billy Club (with chips and a beer, usually).
Dinner (upscale)
Kindred – This restaurant had been on my Bucket List since I first moved here nearly 6 years ago. Being that it’s located in Davidson, it always seemed super far away in my mind. I have NO IDEA why I thought that. The drive is super easy, and the restaurant is well worth it. My mom and I went for dinner while she was visiting and it was one of the best dinners we’ve ever had. The menu changes at Kindred all the time, but here is what we ordered: milk bread, duck fat fries, little gem lettuces (house salad), tagliolini, chocolate birthday cake.
Stagioni – this had also been on my bucket list for years. I know so many people who absolutely love this restaurant, and I always knew it would be good, but for some reason I never felt like I had a reason to try it out. Stagioni is super cozy inside, and is perfect to go to in the winter. Who doesn’t want pasta, pizza, wine, and cocktails when you’re next to wood-ovens in the dead of winter? Not only was this restaurant cozy, but the food was incredible. I’m a tough critic when it comes to Italian food. I mean… can you blame me? Growing up in New England, surrounded by the most authentic Italian food outside of Italy, I’m bound to be a harsh critic. Stagioni lived up to my expectations for sure, and I will certainly be back very very soon. I ordered: baby greens salad, Tagliolini, Zeppoli (fried pillows of heaven. They were amazing).
Angeline’s – Located below the Kimpton Tryon park hotel, this might just be my favorite spot in Charlotte. I mean, my family and I ate there twice in one day a couple weeks ago.. so, you know it’s good. Yet another restaurant where I had a tough time deciding if it should be under the “dinner” or “brunch” section. Angeline’s is my go-to spot for both dinner and brunch whenever I have guests in town. It’s always a crowd favorite! The food is incredible, and so are the drinks. For brunch, if you’re looking to have a fun, boozy brunch with some friends, you should order the Magnum bottle of champagne. It’s super affordable, ($24 I think) and split between your friends will most likely make the meal more affordable than if you all ordered mimosas separately. For dinner, I usually order a dirty martini with pasta Bolognese. It is SOOO good, and very reasonably priced for a delicious and upscale Italian meal.
Soul Gastrolounge – Another one of my favorite cozy spots. Located in the heart of Plaza Midwood, Soul is the perfect spot for girls night out, or a romantic date night. I order: pork belly tacos, sushi, and a moscow mule.
O-Ku – Although there are multiple sushi spots in Charlotte, O-Ku is by far the most bougee. With good reason. It’s delicious. I usually order the spider roll, but every roll at O-Ku is delicious.
La Belle Helene – a delicious french restaurant that is by far the prettiest restaurant in Charlotte. Everything about the decor is absolutely perfect, and the food was incredible. The menu at La Belle Helene is ever-changing, but I happened to go for dinner on a Tuesday night, when the daily special is the Braised Short Rib. It was AMAZING.
Essex – BUTTER CHICKEN. That is all. Essex has a pretty decent brunch too, but I highly recommend trying out Essex dinner and cocktails. I order the exact same thing every time I go to Essex for dinner, and I don’t plan on changing my order any time soon. Their butter chicken is absolutely incredible, and sometimes I daydream about ordering it to-go to eat at home in my pjs LOL. I order: Butter chicken and a dirty martini or a glass of wine.
The Cellar – The absolute perfect date night spot, in my opinion. The Cellar at Duckworth’s is dim and intimate, and they serve the most delicious craft cocktails. Their food is phenomenal, and as I’m writing this I’m wondering why I don’t go there more often. I’ve ordered the brussel sprouts, truffle fries, lamb flat bread, and the most incredible cocktails.
Fin & Fino – I’ve been to Fin & Fino a few times now, and I’ve had great experiences each and every time I’ve gone. The atmosphere is awesome, and the food is delicious. My friends and I have usually just split a few appetizers when we’ve gone, but I’ve also heard that the shrimp & grits dish is amazing.
The Waterman – Connecticut Lobster Roll. It’s breathtaking. That’s really all I have to say.
The Manchester – Relatively new to Charlotte, I’ve already eaten here a handful of times. The food is great, and the vibe is perfect for groups of friends/family to come together for a great meal. Plus, there’s a speakeasy downstairs if you want a post-dinner drink. I order: crab cake sandwich, or the salmon and asparagus.
The Cowfish – One of the first restaurants I learned about when I first moved to Charlotte over 6 years ago, and it’s still going strong as one of Charlotte’s Top Restaurants. The Fusion Specialty Bento Boxes are extremely popular, and the Boursin Bacon Burger is to-die-for.
204 North Kitchen and Cocktails – 204 North is one of my favorite spots in Uptown. It’s the perfect place to celebrate birthdays, or just to get a group of friends together for an incredible meal. I’ve ordered: fried chicken, salmon, tagliatelle, and the meatloaf. All of which were amazing!
Cabo Fish Taco – While there are multiple Cabo Fish Taco locations, the NoDa location is one of the first restaurants I went to when I first “discovered” the NoDa area about six years ago. It was SO different back then, but one thing’s the same… Cabo Fish Taco. I order: queso dip for the table, Baja chicken wrap, and a margarita, of course.
Aria – Aria is hands down one of the best Italian spots in Charlotte. I’ve eaten at Aria on multiple occasoins, and my meal has been excellent every time. I’ve celebrated friends birthday parties here, as well as come in for a fancy date night. I order: a dirty martini (of course), caprese salad, and Penne a la Vodka.
Thai Basil – Gotta loveeee a good Thai restaurant. Thai Basil is absolutely delicious, and I really need to go there more often. If you’re looking for some delicious Thai cuisine, I highly recommend checking this place out. I order the Pad See-Eu and it is amazing.
Dinner (Affordable/low-key)
Midwood Smokehouse – One of the best barbecue restaurants I’ve ever been to. If you ask most people (myself included), they would say it’s the best BBQ joint in Charlotte. Every time family and friends come to town, I make sure to take them here. You can’t beat it. I order: burnt ends, and a pulled pork plate with mac n cheese.
Leroy Fox – Home to the best mac n cheese in Charlotte. Yeah, I said it. I seriously loveee Leroy Fox, and every single thing I’ve ever tried from there has been delicious. Leroy is casual, cute, and could be used for date night or just to grab a drink with friends after work. I’ve heard they also have an incredible brunch, but I’ve never personally tried it! I order: Chicken grill (marinated in honey glaze) with mac n cheese and brussel sprouts.
Fuel Pizza – Enough said. Everything is good, especially when you’ve had a late night out, if you catch my drift. You can’t go wrong with your order.. because seriously, who doesn’t like pizza?
Paco’s Tacos and Tequila – An amazing spot for Tex-Mex located in South Park, right near South Park Mall. I absolutely lovee Paco’s Tacos and every single thing I’ve tried from there has been delicious. I usually order the Enchiladas de Dennis and a margarita.
Ruru’s – Another one of my favorite restaurants and yet another spot I took my mom when she came to visit me recently. Rurus is known for their fun menu item names – all of which are from everyone’s favorite movies. I’ve ordered: the Three Amigos (queso, salsa, & guacamole trio), You’re Going The Wrong Way taco, Stage Five Clinger taco, Fat Guy in a Little Coat taco, It’s All Ball Bearings rice bowl, How Do You Like Them Apples burrito.
The Mad Greek – I absolutely love The Mad Greek, and I feel like it’s a hidden gem. Not too many people know about it, when they most definitely should. It’s both delicious and affordable, which is always a great combo. I order: Grilled Chicken Pita with fries.
Yamazaru – A great sushi spot located in the complex right next to Sycamore Brewing. Yamazaru is hands down one of my favorite spots in town, and is extremely reasonably priced for great sushi and cocktails. I usually change up my sushi order whenever I go, and I’ve never had anything that wasn’t delicious.
Ru Sans – Another sushi spot that’s slightly more casual than Yamazaru. Plus, they have a sushi buffet during lunchtime on weekdays for only $13. It’s a great deal for a ton of food! I’ve always been a huge fan of Ru Sans.
Capishe – Very casual Italian spot. You order your food at a counter when you first walk in, and you will be given a number (similar to when you order at Panera Bread). Your food will be brought out to your table once it’s ready. Really delicious and super low key! I order: any of the pizzas or pastas are great. Seriously, you can’t go wrong.
Bakeries/Treats
The Batchmaker – An incredibly delicious bakery in Wesley Heights, and home to the most incredible iced latte (Tres Leches) I’ve ever had in my entire life. The Batchmaker sells out every single day – that’s how good it is! I’ve absolutely LOVED every single thing I’ve ever tried from The Batchmaker, and I would go there every day if I could.
Suarez – Red velvet. Donut cake. Everything at Suarez bakery is incredible. It’s usually a go-to when picking up baked goods for friends/coworkers birthdays. Everything I’ve ever had from Suarez was absolutely delicious.