Off the Eaten Path’s Charlotte Restaurants Guide highlights the growing and diverse culinary scene in North Carolina’s largest city including the best restaurants in Charlotte and where locals love to eat.
Planning a day trip, weekend trip or just looking for other things to do, places to visit, and where to eat across North Carolina? Check out Off the Eaten Path’s North Carolina Travel Guide, which features weekend itineraries, travel and restaurant recommendations across the Tarheel State.
I’ve been eating and drinking my way through the Queen City for the past seven years.
In fact, exploring Charlotte’s restaurant scene was the main motivation for starting this blog.
I had just moved to the Queen City (and self admittedly, was a little lonely and bored) so I thought that eating my way through my new city would not only curb my loneliness and boredom, but also help me explore, learn about Charlotte, and get to know it better.
What’s a better way to explore your new city than through its local food and drink?
I like to think my Charlotte food experiment worked; I’m still working at the Public Defender’s Office (the reason I moved to Charlotte in the first place); we just bought a cute ranch house with a fab backyard (very close to the Light Rail); and Off the Eaten Path is set to celebrate her seventh anniversary this May.
Although this blog has transitioned away from solely Charlotte restaurant content (we’ve got recipes and some North Carolina travel and beyond going on now), I still love to think of my little corner of the Internet as a place to share and celebrate restaurants in Charlotte and the Queen City culinary scene.
And I get asked all the time:
(no I am not exaggerating like and Instagram influencer would…”so many of you asked!!!”)
“Where should we go eat in Charlotte?”
or
“What’s the best restaurant in Charlotte?”
And while I love making personal recommendations to friends, coworkers, blog readers, Instagram followers (yes I love getting your emails and messages then coming up with a custom list for you depending on the occasion and the crowd), I thought that putting all of my Charlotte restaurant content in one place would be helpful not only for you, but also for me!
So that’s it, a long-winded way to talk about some of the motivation behind this Charlotte Restaurants Guide, and why this space is here.
No matter if you’re a newly relocated apartment dweller, a native unicorn looking for a new (or new to you) spot for your birthday dinner or special occasion, or an out-of-towner visiting our fair city for the weekend, Off the Eaten Path’s Charlotte Restaurants Guide has something for you and I’m looking forward to you using this page as your Charlotte dining resource!
WHAT CAN I FIND IN OFF THE EATEN PATH’S CHARLOTTE RESTAURANTS GUIDE?
What I most wanted from this page (other than helping you pick where in Charlotte you should go stuff your face) was a condensed, navigable space to find everything that I’ve written about breweries and restaurants in Charlotte over the past seven years. I’ve broken it down so you can find:
- All of the guides I’ve (or friends have) written about the best restaurants in Charlotte;
- A list of my personal favorite Charlotte restaurants;
- All of the blog posts that have been contributed to Off the Eaten Path as part of my “Charlotte’s Best Bites” series (where other bloggers and friends share their favorite Charlotte restaurants, bars and breweries)
- All of my Charlotte Food Bucket List’s (I’ve written these annually since 2017…a New Year’s resolution inspired bucket list of the restaurants in Charlotte I want to try and explore in the coming year)
Best Restaurants in Charlotte, NC
While I've never written a top or best restaurants in Charlotte, NC list, I have written several guides to Charlotte food and drinks, including brunch, breweries and one dedicated to my favorite food ever pizza.
I decided to round this list out with links to a few friends' "best of" lists, with the focus on the lists I have relied on as a diner deciding where to make my next reservation.
The Charlotte restaurants in all of these lists offer a variety of different cuisines at a variety of different price points; thus offering you a ton of delicious choices no matter your budget or the occasion.
Whether your looking for casual counter service, bottomless boozy beverages, full food service at a brewery, a grab and go bagel or even a Saturday brunch option, this post has something for you!
Charlotte's Best Brunch highlights 10 of my favorite brunch spots in Charlotte depending on your mood or what you're looking for.
It seems like a new brewery is opening in Charlotte every single day, so much so that its hard to keep up with the Queen City's booming brewery and craft beer scene.
In this post, my beer loving husband, AJ, and I share our thoughts on all of Charlotte's breweries and then rank our personal top 10.
Pizza is my absolute favorite food, so I have done all the hard work for you in finding the best pizza in Charlotte.
Admittedly, this pizza post is in need of an update (which is coming soon I promise) but for now it gives four solid options for a slice when you have a pizza craving.
We're lucky that you can basically eat outside all year round in Charlotte, which means we have a ton of options in the Queen City when it comes to al fresco dining and drinking.
While it barely scratches the surface when it comes to patio dining in CLT, it showcases the best of the best and offers a wide range of food and drink options, price points and ambiance for you to choose from.
There are a lot of "best of" lists out there, but the Charlotte's Best Restaurants list one I trust and rely upon most is from my friends Jason and Yvonne over at Scallion Pancake.
There list is a good mix of Charlotte restaurants producing high quality, delicious food and I've definitely used it as inspiration to plan our Charlotte dining adventures!
Sharing my friends' over at Scallion Pancake 2018 list too. I love looking at the differences between 2019 and 2018's list, have made it a goal to eat my way through both of them!
Mary was my first blogging friend in Charlotte, and while she's now moved away and this list is a few years old, I still think it gives a great snapshot of all there is to eat in the Queen City.
My Charlotte Food Bucket Lists
With the Charlotte culinary scene constantly growing and changing, honestly its hard to keep up with all the new restaurants opening at, what feels to me, like lightening speed.
I started writing a Charlotte Food Bucket List in 2017 as a way for me to keep up with the new Charlotte restaurants opening, as well as to make sure I ate at the Charlotte staples that I hadn't had a chance to visit yet.
So what is a Charlotte Food Bucket List? Each year, I write down a list of 15-30 Charlotte restaurants that I'd like to try in the following year. Sometimes (ok most of the time) I don't make it to all of the places on my bucket list, so I roll them over to the next year.
I hope that by sharing my Charlotte Food Bucket Lists you'll get some inspiration of what restaurants you want to add to your own food bucket list!
This was the inaugural Charlotte food bucket list and that year I checked off several Charlotte food staples including: tea at the Ballantyne hotel, a date night at Barrington's (for my 30th birthday), and a visit to Bang Bang Burgers and Yafo Kitchen.
My 2018 list featured a few 2017 roll overs, as well as new Charlotte restaurants like Hello, Sailor; Dot, Dot, Dot; Flourshop; Angeline's and Merchant and Trade.
You guessed it, more roll overs! 2019 highlights also included: Optimist Hall, The Stanley, The Crunkleton, Bardo, and Let's Meat Korean Barbecue.
Charlotte's Best Bites: A Collaborative Charlotte Dining Guide
Charotte's Best Bites is a guest post series that I started in the summer of 2015 dedicated to local Charlotte restaurants.
The angle, or catch, is that each guest poster is from or lives in Charlotte, and they write about the places that they love to eat and drink at in the Queen City...so its all about Charlotte written by Charlotteans.
The result is what I like to call a collaborative dining guide of sorts featuring Charlotteans' favorite restaurants, breweries and bars all in one place. Charlotte's Best Bites has a for the people by the people kind of vibe.
After adding all of these posts to the list, here are the Charlotte restaurants that show up over and over in different posts: Haberdish, Seoul Food Meat Co., Good Food on Montford, and Olde Mecklenburg Brewery.
charlotte's best bites | chrissie's picks
Of course, I had to kick off my Charlotte's Best Bites series with a snapshot of my favorite places including: best barbecue, best place to drink beer outside, best place to show off Charlotte to your big city friends, best place to sharpen your skills, and the best beer cheese.
charlotte's best bites | aj's picks
I then bullied my (now) husband, AJ, to write a guest post for my series. This was AJ's first and last foray into blogging, and it only took some minor teeth pulling to get it done. AJ's picks include all of his favorite places to drink beer and the kind of food you can order at each.
charlotte's best bites | kaitlin's picks
In Kaitlin's post, she has us traveling all over the world without having to leave Mecklenburg County, including the Best German Food, Best Sushi, Restaurant You'll Want to Brag About to Your Friends, Food that Can be Mistaken as Art, and a Strip mall Surprise.
charlotte's best bites | ashley's picks
My dear friend Ashley shares here local Charlotte picks with a emphasis on local...all of the restaurants on her list are members of the Piedmont Culinary Guild, a group dedicated to supporting local chefs and farmers in the Charlotte area. On Ashley's list: Romantic Date Night, Dinner with a View, A Carnivore's Paradise, From the Sea, Fountain of Youth, Where the Wild Things Are, Wood Fired Deliciousness and A Foodie Wonderland.
charlotte's best bites | chrissie's picks again
Because one round wasn't enough, I came back with seven more of my Charlotte's Best Bites including: Where to Take Your Parents, Fancy Date Night, Caffeine Fix, Meals on Wheels, Streetcar Stop, Cheap Eats, and South of the Border.
charlotte's best bites | leandra's picks
Another one of my blogging besties coming in hot with her picks: Feel Like a Local, Drinking and Donuts, Beer Dinners, Lunch Spot, Pie Pop Up, Food and Drink Experience and Foodie Store.
charlotte's best bites | susannah's picks
Rounding out my best blogging friends contributions is Susannah with her classic Charlotte spots (she's a native after all!) Susannah's picks include: Best Time Machine, Best Fancy Milkshakes, Best Bakery Breakfast, Best Foodie Gifts, and Best Birthday Dinner.
charlotte's best bites | grace's picks
Grace has a wide range of tasty spots with her picks for Some Fine Spots for Fine Dining, Sharing is Caring, Breakfast The Most Important Meal of the Day, and Craft Beer for the New Year.
charlotte's best bites | emily's picks
Emily is not a blogger but is one of my best friends in Charlotte (and also a unicorn native like Susannah) so she had to do a post. And she willfully did it! Emily picks include: Charlotte Institution, Best Falafel, Wine Night Wednesday, Best Date Night Pizza, and Best $4 Whiskey.
charlotte's best bites: allie's picks
Allie is a mainstay on the Charlotte food scene with her wildly popular platform, Eat Drink CLT. Allie's Charlotte restaurant picks: Trusty Standby, Sharing is Caring, Taco Tuesday, Get the Sushi Boat, Current Obsession, Complimentary Bread on Point, and Southern Twist.
charlotte's best bites: alyssa's picks
Sadly, Alyssa no longer lives in Charlotte, but her Best Bites list stands the test of time: Underrated Brunch Spot, Sweet Tooth Fix, Guilty Pleasure, Healthy Weeknight Takeout, Frugal and Filling Lunch, and Saturday Morning Spot for Food Lovers.
charlotte's best bites: tanya's picks
Before we were blogging friends, Tanya and I were both coworkers in the Public Defender's Office. Her foodie picks: Injera Me Crazy, It's Macaron not Macaroon, Not Your Regular Sushi, The Best Shrimp and Grits, Fresh Seafood Fix, Go To Budget Hibachi, Quick and Yummy Gyros, and Make Your Own Pizza.
charlotte's best bites: shannon's picks
I met Shannon through Instagram and she has some good Charlotte restaurants on her list: A Tapas Party, Aesthetically Pleasing, Sushi Me Rolling, Elevated Pub Grub, Whiskey Business, A Piece of History and Here's the Scoop.
charlotte's best bites: yvonne and jason's picks
I love how my friendship with Yvonne and Jason has grown...and this was their first foray into Charlotte restaurant list making: On the Promise of Freshness, Meat Shakes, When Buffaloes Fly, Hot Southern Nights, I'm in Love With The and Cheers Moment.
charlotte's best bites: julia's picks
Julia has some great Charlotte picks including Korean BBQ, Brunch, Hot Dogs, Beautiful Cookies, Coffee, Cheddar Biscuits and Sushi.
charlotte's best bites: sara's picks
Sara shares her picks for Burgers with Mouth-Watering Combinations, Best Salad Ever, Nachos of my dreams, two spots for Charlotte's Best Sandwiches, and A Delicious Take on Pancakes.
charlotte's best bites: katy's picks
Katy's picks are all gluten free, so if you are looking for glutenless eats, check out: Brunch and Bubbly, Acai Bowl Goals, Most Impressive Dessert, Best Kept Secret, Taco Tuesday, Wine Night, and Asian with a Twist.
charlotte's best bites: catherine's picks
Catherine takes us on a foodie tour of South End with her favorite Charlotte restaurants: Tex-Mex, Picnic Table Dumplings, A Must Eat for a Charlotte Newbie, Treat Yourself, and a Taste of the South.
charlotte's best bites: kayla's picks
Kayla's picks include Best for Noods, Best Food Truck, Its Something in the Sauce, Macaroni You'll Fall in Love With, and Best Barbecue.
charlotte's best bites: dana's picks
With her picks, Dana travels with us along the light rail: stop at 36th street for donuts, Arena Station for diner food, Bland street for fried chicken, and East/West Blvd for Ice Cream, Asian fusion and a pop up market.
charlotte's best bites: brittany's picks
I met Brittany through SkillPop (she was my first class manager!) and I agree with a lot of her picks: Best Breakfast Burrito, Best Veggie Burger, Best Vegetarian Dish, and Best Patio Brunch.
charlotte's best bites | elizabeth's picks
Elizabeth shares her favorite diverse Charlotte eateries including Vietnamese Haunt, Gourmet Bodega, Brunch with a Seat in the Action, Ramen for All Seasons, Vegetarian Fare, Premier Gastropub, and Retro Vibes.
charlotte's best bites: michelle's picks
Michelle not only has Charlotte restaurants but breweries and ice cream shops on her list: Favorite Low Key Date Night, Best Place to Take Visitors, Downhome Dinnertime Deliciousness, Treat Yo Self, Escape from the City, Favorite Local Beer and Lunch on the Go.
charlotte's best bites: kimberly's picks
Tapas style dining is one of Kimberly's favorite ways to eat, so she shares her favorite Queen City small plates restaurants: Girls' Night on the Town, Impress the Parents, Date Night, and Tacos.
charlotte's best bites: alexis' picks
Alexis is a beer and brewery blogger so of course she had to share the top Charlotte breweries with the best food: Best Overall Food Menu, Best Brewery Pretzel, Best Traditional Beer Food, Best Instagrammable Food, Best Brewery Brunch, and Best Newcomer.
