Food + Drink
LOCAL DIRECTORY
300 East
Family-run spot serving New American fare in a quaint renovated house with a bar & patio.
Food/Drink
7th Street Public Market
7th Street Public Market is a bustling urban food destination in the heart of Charlotte’s Center City! The Market’s mission is to celebrate the food culture of the Carolinas and promote local and regional farmers, food artisans and entrepreneurs. The Market provides high quality, fresh and affordable food, as well as local products, seven days a week. As a nonprofit, small business incubator, the Market helps local entrepreneurs get their brilliant business ideas started in the Queen City. The Market is located at the base of the 7th Street Station parking deck, between 6th and 7th streets and adjacent to the Lynx Blue Line’s 7th Street stop. Parking is validated for the first 90 minutes with a purchase from a Market business.
Alexander Michaels
Alexander Michaels is an American tavern influenced by the European pubs that came before them They offer a good selection of beer and simple, fresh, well-prepared food that gives you value for your dollar served by a friendly attentive staff in a neighborhood tavern atmosphere.
Amélie’s French Bakery & Café
Amélie’s French Bakery & Café is committed to creating authentic French-inspired pastries, soups, and savories. While they are known for their salted caramel brownies and array of French macaron flavors, Amélie’s also offers soups like Spinach Asparagus Leek soup, sandwiches like Croque Monsieur, and seasonal salads. Each pastry, soup, and salad is made-from-scratch on site with unconditional love.
Aria Tuscan Grill
Binki Cafe
Binki Cafe offers the best-tasting (and photo-worthy) Bubble Tea drinks. They only use the finest and imported loose-leaf teas to get the genuine flavor and brew them fresh daily. Their Tapioca Pearls (Boba) are carefully cooked and prepared several times daily to give you that rich, chewy goodness that everyone loves. Aside from the classic Milk Teas and Boba, Binki’s has a wide selection of drinks and toppings that you can customize according to your preference. Binkis also serves delicious and beautifully crafted Thai-style rolled ice cream with 9 variants to choose from.
Bonterra Restaurant & Wine Room
Bonterra Dining & Wine Room boasts an elegant, casual setting uniquely rich with ambiance and flavor. Housed in a renovated 110-year-old church in the heart of Dilworth, Bonterra’s interior manages to blend the original architectural features of its historic building tastefully with modern additions. The staff of Bonterra invites you to a dining experience filled with fresh local flavors of Contemporary American Cuisine, delectable desserts, and a diverse wine selection featuring over 200 wines by the glass and another 300 from the private cellar.
Brad’s Coffee Bar
With great coffee and a great atmosphere, Brad’s Coffee Bar is the perfect place to come and relax from a long day!
Burney’s Sweets and More
Catawba Brewing Company
The Catawba Brewing Co. grew out of a simple Christmas gift and the love of good beer. A beginner’s home brewing kit, gifted Christmas of 1994, began a passion for brewing that could only culminate in creation on a larger scale. It was only natural to take production from a few gallons to a few barrels, and The Catawba Valley Brewing Company was born in the summer of 1999. Catawba Brewing Company in Charlotte is over 14,000 square feet of covered outdoor, indoor, and air-conditioned options, socially distanced for safety while enjoying great food and beers.
Central Coffee Co.
Central Tea House
Your neighborhood bubble tea house serving favorites like brown sugar milk tea, thai tea, and more. Also serving Banh Mi sandwiches!
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market
One of four state-operated farmers markets managed by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The market is a friendly place to shop for fresh produce, meats and cheeses, plus flowers and plants.
Connolly’s on Fifth
Home of the perfect pint, friendly service, and great criac! “If you can’t drop in, smile as you pass.” Connolly’s Irish Pub been serving up creamy pints to the good people of Charlotte since 2001. Connolly’s has been known for their friendly, quick service, and great atmosphere. It is a place where strangers become friends and friends become family. It is a great daytime hangout which turns into a lively nighttime spot.
Craft Cakes CLT
Craft Cakes CLT is contemporary art and cake studio specializing in buttercream designs for weddings, celebrations, and intimate gatherings. They offer Vegan and Gluten free friendly options. Cake is Food. Cake is Art. CraftCakesCLT is all about food integrity. As so many in the savory world have embraced the new trademarks of the culinary zeitgeist – farm to table, locally sourced produce, experimental pairings, minimal yet vibrant plating – Craft Cakes strives to harness those ideals into the world of cakes.
Customshop Handcrafted Food
Customshop is a modern trattoria with a neighborhood feel, located in the heart of Charlotte. Their menu offers an eclectic mix of traditional and innovative American dishes inspired by Italian, French, and Spanish cuisine.
Ding Tea
High quality boba tea, milk tea, and fruit juice made fresh to order. “Taste is a kind of lifestyle. Ding Tea is an indispensable taste.” Come & explore the Taiwanese Tea.
Dogwood Southern Table & Bar
Dogwood provides delicious regional cuisine in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The Carolinas are rich with culinary tradition, craftsmanship, and natural beauty. Dogwood was created to put a spotlight on all this good fortune. The flowers in the vase, the drink in the glass, the reclaimed design elements you’ll find throughout the space – every touch is about sharing the warm and social spirit of the Southern table with their gifts. “Come on in. We’ve got your seat ready.”
Drip Joint Espresso Bar
The first mobile espresso bar in the Queen City. Drip Joint proudly serves Charlotte’s downtown with only organic and fresh ingredients.
Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse
At Duckworth’s you’ll find a variety of great food from Steaks & Ribs to Pizzas & Wings to Philly Cheesesteaks & Hand Cut Fries. Duckworth’s has all of the major sports packages on Direct TV in high definition so come and watch your favorite teams! Duckworth’s is also known for their outstanding Craft Beer selection. “We pride ourselves on serving brews on tap that you can’t find at just any bar or restaurant. It’s a lot to keep up with, but when you love beer like we do it’s all part of the fun!”
Dunx Coffee
Distinct and Diverse Selection of Reserve, Heirloom, Organic, and Microlot Coffees custom roasted to perfection. Their finely selected & very sublime beans create a perfect balance of rich, unique, and exciting flavors in every cup. Dunx offers globally sourced Signature Roast & Reserve Collections for an experience of unparalleled and distinctive coffee tastes every time. “It’s just great coffee for your cup,” says Dunx.
eeZ Fusion & Sushi
Located in the heart of Birkdale Village for well over a decade, eeZ Fusion & Sushi has long been heralded as the spot for the freshest, most creative and innovative sushi for miles around. With just a touch of classic Asian culture, eeZ is the perfect spot for gathering with friends, a family outing or a special date night. Portions are hearty, flavors are bold and eeZ will leave you looking forward to your next visit.
Fin & Fino
Fin & Fino celebrates the explorer’s mindset and the sailor’s heart with a menu that draws inspiration from seafaring cultures on both sides of the Atlantic. Their emphasis on small plates allows for a communal and festive dining experience. Ask your server to give you “The Treatment!”
Flour Shop
Emphasizing a traditional style of cooking with fire while using the freshest, locally sourced ingredients, Flour Shop’s cuisine is straight forward and focused. Their menu changes frequently to best utilize the ingredients offered by local farmers and fishermen. Chef Trey Wilson is committed to sourcing the freshest ingredients in the Carolinas and even has a substantial garden in his backyard that supplies the restaurant.
Good Food on Montford
Creative American small plates & an eclectic wine list attract a trendy crowd to this rustic spot.
GoodRoad CiderWorks
GoodRoad’s ciders explore the origins of traditional cider through honest craft and wholesome ingredients. They start with nature’s bounty, in orchards that span the Blue Ridge, from North Carolina to Virginia all the way to New Hampshire where true cider apples thrive. GoodRoad sources a diverse variety from their producer-partners at Perry Lowe Orchards, and true spitters, that’s real cider apples, from their friends at Poverty Lane in New Hampshire. GoodRoad also offers two event spaces for rent and are family friendly.
Great Wagon Road Distilling Co.
Harry’s Grill & Tavern
Harry’s Grille & Tavern is Southwest Charlotte’s location for a fresh and innovative dining experience, offering upscale casual food, intriguing beverage choices, and personalized service in an atmosphere reminiscent of a New York City gastro-pub. The food, drink, and excellent service at Harry’s embody their promise of a quality and memorable dining experience.
Haymaker
Serving farm fresh ingredients and sustainable meats and seafood, Chef William Dissen brings locally inspired and seasonal food to Charlotte. Heirloom ingredients, pickling, preservation, and sustainably sourced seafood and meats lead the way to crafting the menus at Haymaker. The restaurant is as laid back and casual as it is a place to celebrate, evoking the urban heart of the city while paying respect to their country roots. Haymaker is a place for each and all: a neighborhood restaurant and bar, a place for friends to gather, and a destination for business folks and travelers to dine.
Hello Love Coffee
A pop-up coffee cart serving pour overs and handful of select handcrafted specialty coffee beverages.
Horace’s Hot Fried Chicken
The legend of hot ‘breakfast revenge’ chicken lives on in Horace’s Fried Chicken. Horace’s is a new ‘delivery only’ Hot Fried Chicken restaurant inspired by Horace himself and his great technique creating and cooking for over 20 years in Charlotte. The Horace’s Hot team embraced his dedication and inspired ability to make everything taste great. Please try Horace’s Hot Fried Chicken!
It’s Poppin! Gourmet Kettle Corn
It’s Poppin! Gourmet Kettle Korn is a family owned gourmet kettle korn company founded in Charlotte, North Carolina. They offer over 60 different unique kettle korn flavors, fresh made in store fruit waters and various tasty treats that will leave your taste buds craving for more. Its Poppin is located inside 7th Street Public Market.
Johnny Burrito
Quick-serve lunch counter serving burritos and nacho salads, plus tamales on Fridays.
Legion Brewing
Link & Pin
From delicious meals to beautiful cocktails, your culinary experience at Link & Pin will be unlike any other you’ve ever had. Link & Pin’s culinary-driven menu is at the center of the restaurant experience, with food that’s chef-inspired but approachable. Their cozy bar provides an ideal setting for guests to gather and sip on a glass of wine or a delicious cocktail mixed fresh by one of their experienced bartenders.
Little Mama’s Italian Restaurant
Little Mama’s is the place you come with friends, family, coworkers—anyone you care about. They feature heart warming foods inspired by classic Italian-American recipes. If you’ve never had a meal with them, try the mozz bar and some scratch made pastas.
Little Village Grill
Gyros, falafel, and other Greek comfort bites are served at this little cafe with outdoor tables.
Local Loaf
Local Loaf opened in May 2013. Since then, culinary idealist chef Adam Spears and his team have been serving high quality gourmet sandwiches and exploring new ventures into the unchartered territories of artisan breads. Renowned in Charlotte for the chicken and the egg breakfast sandwich, this entree has changed the breakfast scene in the Queen city. Made with hand breaded chicken tenders, a poached egg, and homemade chipotle cheerwine sauce, this sandwich has become a superstar among the signature menu items offered.
Lucky Dog Bark & Brew
Lucky Dog Bark and Brew is the area’s only indoor/outdoor dog park with a sports bar. The bar is open to anyone 21 and over. They also provide daycare & boarding services 7 days a week. Whether your dog is ready for a fun day of play in our amazing day care or wants to stay overnight while you are away, the staff at Lucky Dog is ready to love your pup just like you do!
Mama Ricotta’s
With a long, proud reputation built on authentic recipes, made from the freshest of ingredients and prepared by the finest culinary minds in the South, Mama Ricotta’s restaurant is the premier Italian dining destination in Charlotte. Their commitment to freshness is one of their most valued traditions – they even house-make their mozzarella! With nearly two decades of success, Mama Ricottas has made it their goal to bring you only the best, with their best.
Midwood Smokehouse
Midwood Smokehouse Barbecue is strongly rooted in the BBQ traditions of both the Carolinas and Texas. Whole hog, beef brisket, and other smoked meats are dry rubbed and slow cooked on North Carolina hickory wood.
Momo Food Truck & Station
Noble Smoke
Noble Smoke is 11,000 square feet of barbecue and beer at the corner of Freedom Drive and Berryhill Road. Almost 2,000 of that belongs to the smokehouse where they cook their meat the traiditonal way: low and slow over hickory coals. Every day, Noble Smoke puts over 1,200 pounds of premium beef, pork, and poultry over hickory coals and let the smoke and heat slowly transform them into barbecue perfection. Great barbecue doesn’t require a lot of fuss, but it does require patients and time – about 6 hours for ribs, 10 hours for pork shoulders, and anywhere from 12 to 14 hours for their brisket, to be more exact. It’s worth the wait!
Orrman’s Cheese Shop
Orrman’s Cheese Shop offers a robust selection of local and regional cheeses and a thoughtfully curated selection of artisan products. They are specially trained cheesemongers who provide full-service cut-to-order cheese and specialty products that complement each other for every palate. You can dine in at the 7th Street Public Market or take your cheese to go. They also offer catering, special cheese events (such as Raclette every Thursday!) and wine and cheese classes. Orrman’s Cheese Shop is located in 7th Street Public Market.
Paco’s Tacos and Tequila
From the wood-fired grilled fajitas to the cheese enchiladas with chili con carne, Paco’s menu showcases the freshest quality ingredients. The deliciousness is in their details. Each dish was crafted under the expert guidance of James Beard award-winning Tex-Mex culinary expert and cookbook author, Rob Walsh. Central to the flavor-packed dining experience is the bar, with over 100 tequila varieties, several outstanding wines and a selection of beers from Texas, Mexico and North Carolina.
Panca Peruvian Street Food
Honoring the Panca pepper, Panca serves traditional Peruvian street food in a fast casual style, surrounded by a hip atmosphere without losing its authenticity. As said by Anthony Bourdain, “There are so many products in Peru that are unfamiliar to people in the States… Whole different flavor spectrum. All new. It’s almost like you need a new section of your tongue.” Try their Anticuchos, Ceviches, or any other classic plates and experience a culinary trip through Peruvian streets.
Petty Thieves Brewing Co.
Craft brewers fueled by passion and imagination, exploring the landscape of flavorful, balanced craft beer.
Pepperbox Doughnuts
Piedmont Social House
Eat. Drink. Party at Piedmont Social House! The full-service restaurant features Southern inspired cuisine & a vast selection of craft beer and cocktails. Piedmont Social House includes 12 bowling lanes, six party & meeting spaces, billiards tables, ping pong tables, darts, shuffleboard, and cornhole within the walls of their 23,000 square foot Southwest Charlotte location. Whether you’re joining for family night, listening to live music on the patio, attending a work holiday party, or congregating on the bowling lanes with cocktails, Piedmont Social House is the place to be.
Pure Intentions Coffee
Charlotte’s Coffee Roaster since 2011. Matt Yarmey started Pure Intentions Coffee in 2011 on a 1/2 lb home roaster in an apartment in Charlotte, North Carolina. After quickly developing a passion for coffee roasting, his enthusiasm for learning pushed Matt to discover his own definition of specialty coffee. Pure Intentions Coffee began with an idea that everyone deserves a personal experience with great coffee. From the beginning, their portfolio of coffees has been curated to span the spectrum of coffee flavors and consumer experiences.
Queen City Grounds
Specialty coffee bar and in house small batch roaster. Queen City Grounds’ menu represents the best of what Charlotte’s local markets have to offer. Their passion for sourcing fresh ingredients from farmers and suppliers combined with traditional flavors and rewriting familiar recipes into exceptional cuisine is their mission and greatest joy. Quality is at the heart of everything they do.
Reni Mart NoDa
Located at the forefront of the popular Renaissance Townhomes Community, Reni Mart Noda has a little something for everyone. Stop by for a local and diverse selection of beer, wine, seltzer’s, premium non-alcoholic beverages, and for all of your snacking needs. Within a 1/2 mile of NoDa’s best bars and restaurants, Reni Mart is your nearest solution for all your tobacco and hemp needs. Whether you’re stopping in for our hot drip coffee in the morning or making your last cold beer stop after a night out on the strip, they’ve got yinz covered. Come say hi, and don’t forget to bring your furry friends too!
Rhino Market
Rhino Market is a neighborhood market and deli that fulfills the various needs of urban foragers like you! They strive to give their customers the best service possible and provide a relaxing and fun environment for everyone. If you just want to hang out, have a cup of coffee, have a business meeting, or share a bottle of wine — Rhinos has a great atmosphere for almost any occasion! Check out their free events, too!
ROCKSALT
Skylark Social Club
Brews, booze, Rock & Roll, All Welcome!
Southern Pecan – Gulf Coast Kitchen
The Southern Pecan is a casual restaurant celebrating Gulf Coast cuisine. Their relaxed ambiance is created by artwork and music that pours blues and jazz into your visit. Make a reservation with them today for your first unique dining experience!
STROKE Putt
As an Urban Golf Club, Stroke is a whimsical mix of country club and speakeasy. Like their indoor golf course, their menu of cocktails, spirits, and custom Bugles, there are surprises at every turn. Think clubhouse paired with speakeasy-style cocktails. Whether you’re looking for post-round bites or a few rounds of drinks at the bar, Stroke Putt is teeing you up for an experience like no other.
Suarez Bakery
Summit Seltzer
Charlotte’s first Seltzery. And the first seltzery on the East Coast, too. Summit Seltzery ferments their hard and non-alcoholic seltzer, and use purees to flavor and condition them, creating a craft beverage – not the seltzer in a can that you’re accustomed to. They’re like a brewery, but for seltzer.
Sunflour Baking Company
At Sunflour they make everything from scratch and in small batches to ensure freshness and authenticity. They support local vendors wherever they can and all of their creations are handmade onsite from basic raw materials; no mixes, shortcuts or pre-made anything here! The Parrish family has owned the bakery since 2014 and embraces a love of baking, a passion for excellent service and a keen interest in contributing to the local community.
Sunrise Restaurant
Serving the Charlotte area for more than 30 years, Sunrise Restaurant is dedicated to quality food and a warm family dining experience. Sunrise serves breakfast all day as well as lunch and dinner.
Sweet Sensations
Sweet Sensations is an old fashioned bakery, candy, chocolate, ice cream, and soda shop! They use fresh ingredients such as eggs, milk, sugar, and flour to make all their sweet treats. Treats take you back to that memory of being in Grandma’s kitchen. Stop by and enjoy cookies, brownies, pies, or pound cakes.
The Artisan’s Palate
The Artisan’s Palate is a restaurant, art gallery, and gathering space in NoDa offering a unique menu of coffees, craft cocktails, wine and share plates in a neighborly, relaxed atmosphere with a focus on art and those who create it. Over the years, the NoDa community has seen most of its galleries close, but The Artisan’s Palate is working to change that. Their space features a gallery where local artists are featured monthly. Guests are introduced to immersive experiences, crafted by their Chef and Owner, Christa Csoka, that converge all five senses through food, beverage, art, music and more based on each collection.
The Cellar at Duckworth’s
Enjoy gastropub fare, a tap list of specialty and rare beers served at appropriate temperatures, signature cocktails handcrafted by their mixologist. The Cellar at Duckworth’s combines gastropub fare from their chef-driven menu, with a tap list of specialty and rare beers served at appropriate temperatures to their styles, and signature cocktails that are handcrafted to order. Inspired by an era of time that’s long past, the underground space built originally in 1912, naturally has a speakeasy-prohibition-era feel with its original brick walls and exposed ceiling joists.
The Common Market
The Common Market is an uncommon convenience store, deli, and bar with 3 Charlotte NC locations. Your local spot for an uncommonly good time. Each store uniquely embraces & reflects its neighborhood’s vibe. All are welcome on board. The Common Market strives to bring people together, grow our communities and celebrate diversity. Meet old friends and make new ones while you eat and drink the best stuff around 365 days a year!
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar brings the world the first restaurant focusing on offering both the best sushi AND the best burger in town. Fresh, innovative and delicious, the sushi segment of the menu is powered by their commitment to sustainable seafood, selected by their longtime Master Sushi Chef Rifali Almunir. All natural & hearty, their burgers feature hormone-free beef & fresh, never frozen, ingredients from the best US farms. Spiked hand-spun milkshakes, premium sakes, craft beers, wine and exotic martinis round out a huge bar menu. Cowfish offers weekly, all day drink specials: Tuesday – 1/2 price Cowfish martinis & Wednesdays – 1/2 price bottles of wine.
The Fig Tree Restaurant
The Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters
Coffee shop coming soon to Plaza Midwood! The shop will roast in-house and have full food and bar menus.
The Goodyear House
The Goodyear House is NoDaʼs neighborhood gathering place, built on a shared history of community and kinship. Depart from the monotony of life and share in the simple pleasures of a pint and a seasonal small plate beneath the shade of their holly tree. Their menu boasts simple food with complex flavors. From their smoked cashew mac and wedge stack to their red devil chicken and chocolate coconut snack cake, the Goodyear House truly has something for everyone’s taste buds to enjoy. If you want to enjoy a night out, they have live entertainment as well as a full bar on-site.
The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary
The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary is an herbal tea lounge that touches all of the senses with healing elements. From the warm inviting decor, the soothing aroma of the diffused essential oils, to the special complementary pastries – patrons are invited to unplug from the cares of the day, enjoy quiet respite or gather delightfully with others.
The Spindle Bar
Located in the heart of Optimist Hall, Spindle Bar radiates the relaxed vibe of a warm and welcoming patio party. Their bar menu celebrates fruit-forward flavors and creative spins on classic cocktails, along with local beers and their favorite wines.
The Stanley
Crafted and curated by James Beard Nominated Chef Paul Verica, the Stanley offers a seasonally driven and locally sourced menu. Their focus is on flavor and technique; incorporating many of today’s dining trends while respecting all ingredients. Their approach is filled with passion for the craft and art of cooking. The food style is a blend of classic foundations, modern techniques, and a creative, whimsical approach.
Tyber Creek Pub
Located in Historic South End, Tyber Creek Pub offers the neighborhood an authentic pub feel with vintage accents and patio seating, serving Irish and American eats, brunch on the weekends, and the best Guinness in town!
YAFO Kitchen
A fast-casual Middle Eastern street food concept, Yafo Kitchen holds the same high culinary standards and approachable price points Charlotte food enthusiasts have come to expect from Frank Scibelli’s other restaurants. The restaurant and multicultural menu brings an elevated feel to fast-casual food through authentic, daily-made breads, spreads and juices. The experience features vegetarian and vegan-friendly menu options, hormone-free selections, shawarma-spiced rotisserie chicken, hummus made from organic chickpeas and homemade items like pickled vegetables and hot mezze sides.