charlotte restaurants guide

Alexander Michael's was the first Charlotte restaurant I ate at, ever. The year was 2011 and had just accepted an internship at the Public Defender's office (without ever being to Charlotte), so I stayed Uptown overnight on my way home from Florida. We got the recommendation for Al Mike's from one of my dad's friend's daughters who lived in the Queen City at the time.

I love their low key, neighborhood, casual and cozy atmosphere and my favorite dish, like a lot of other people's, is the What It Is. It's

It took me forever to find a good Mexican restaurant in Charlotte, and now while I think there are several, Azteca (the one on Woodlawn near the airport!) is always near the top of my list.

What sold me was the cheese enchiladas (in my opinion, you can judge how good a Mexican restaurant is by their cheese enchiladas), but I also love the fajitas, guacamole and tacos al carbon.

Baoding is the best Chinese food I've found in Charlotte (but if you have other recommendations, please send them my way!) and I'm thrilled that this summer we moved closer to Baoding, significantly increasing the amount we're ordering Chinese take out.

Carolina Beer Temple is one of my favorite beer bars and bottle shops in the Queen City and was our local neighborhood hangout when we lived in Steele Creek. Their inventory is solely dedication to independently owned craft breweries and their bartenders are super knowledge about any and all things beer. Go for a pint and then pick up a six pack to bring home.

Chef Alyssa's Kitchen isn't a restaurant per se (although they do offer Saturday morning brunch service now), but its a Charlotte food experience that could not be left off of my favorites list. I think that Chef Alyssa's cooking classes are not only so fun, but also super informative, and the best part is that you get to eat all of your hard work!

I love the mission behind CCSC and have had the pleasure of raising over $2000 for them over the past few years. Not only are they helping a vulnerable population in our community get job training and job access, the food coming out of their kitchen tastes really good. Highly recommend a visit to CCSC for breakfast or lunch.

Craft was slightly ahead of the curve when it came to cheese and charcuterie boards in Charlotte, and I honestly can't order a cheese board anywhere else because theirs is good and the price is right. Plus, they have a rotating draft list of local beers and their space is welcoming and fun. We love their patio too!

I have whined before that the Second Ward in Uptown (specifically near the courthouse where I work) is a food desert, but lucky for us, our closest coffee shop is locally owned Crane Coffee Company (located right next door to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.) I love the creativity and seasonality of their drinks, and its always worth the walk for a tasty pick me up.

To me, Crepe Cellar often flies under the radar (perhaps overshadowed by Haberdish down the street?) but I love their cozy vibe, cocktails and food. Burrata is a must order every time I visit.

The Plaza Midwood staple was another Charlotte restaurant introduced to me early on (it's one of my friend's go-to lunch spots) and is one of my mom's favorite spots when she comes to visit. Dish just got a fresh paint job and a menu refresh under new ownership, and is still serving delicious Southern comfort food you crave.

I've always loved dumplings, so a food truck dedicated to one of my favorite foods is of course going to be a favorite. I was in the habit of stalking the Dumpling Lady and waiting in endless lines to get my dumpling fix, so I like that you can now go visit her brick and mortar at Optimist Hall (but be prepared for long lines there too.)

I never thought I'd say this about a wine bar, but Foxcroft makes one of the best burgers in Charlotte. I also can never not order their doughnuts.

Haberdish is probably the restaurant I recommend most often to readers and friends and where we take almost every out of town guest.

Its perfect for any occasion and they always deliver high quality product. in my opinion, gives diners a snapshot of Charlotte with its nods to history and its food.

You don't need to go all the way to Italy for pizza...you can get authentic, Neapolitan style in Dilworth and South Charlotte. Inizio offers pretty predictable and traditional topping options (like a margarita) but also some seasonal pies that are more outside the box (like their pumpkin pizza in the fall). My favorite is the pistachio pesto pizza...I'm drooling just thinking about it.

Intermezzo is another of my favorites that I think flies under the radar. I used to eat there all the time when I lived up the street, but when I'm looking for a good, solid, date night spot, Intermzzo is always in the mix. I love their small space, their great service, and their delicious food (their pizza is very good but branch out and try one of their Serbian dishes.)

KO may seem unremarkable to some, but it is one of the best lunch spots in Charlotte. Sure, its just a small to go counter in the bottom of an office building but the sushi is good and the price can't be beat.

How do I love you Lincoln's? Let me count the ways.

I love Lincoln's sandwiches...they are very tasty and made on fresh baked bread thats made in house. Speaking of bread, Lincoln's is a must stop when I'm making soup at home to pick up a loaf of sourdough for maximum soup dipping.

They have great coffee drinks, a sweet assortment of baked goods (including rotating weekend donut flavors) and their vibe and sense of humor (especially in the retail they carry) is unmatched anywhere else in the Queen City. I go there a lot to hang out and get shit done.

Little Village has been an uptown lunch staple for years but they recently opened a second location next to the courthouse and that is a game changer for my Second Ward lunch game.

Order a gyro topped with french fries, or a Greek salad topped with gyro meet and extra pepperocinis. I'm excited to try their sandwiches. Plus they are so damn nice and efficient and affordable.

Poppy's has the best bagels in Charlotte and its not a competition. I prefer a bagel with cream cheese and lox all the way, but they have good breakfast sandwiches too.

Soul is where I take all of my friends who come to visit from bigger cities to show them Charlotte is really cool. I love ordering basically the whole menu at Soul and splitting it with the table, but my favorites are the pork belly tacos, the chicken skin nachos, the bone marrow, and any of the sushi rolls.

Their tacos are cheap and authentic (AJ always opts for lengua and tripa), and the spicy guacamole is a must order. We go to the South Blvd location but there is also one on Central Ave. In the running for my favorite tacos in Charlotte.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Julia has some great Charlotte picks including Korean BBQ, Brunch, Hot Dogs, Beautiful Cookies, Coffee, Cheddar Biscuits and Sushi.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.