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Charlie & Debbie

Why Dinner Reservations In Charlotte North Carolina Are Harder To Get

Author Debbie Nance

The Queen’s Feast wraps up soon in Charlotte.  And, chances are, you may have taken part in the many offerings from local restaurants.  Aside from the special event, have you noticed that getting dinner reservations in Charlotte, North Carolina is not so easy?  You aren’t alone in noticing the trend.  Axios Charlotte reports recent Open Table data suggests  Charlotte diners returned in droves post-pandemic shut downs.  Obviously, the restaurant industry took a big hit from COVID.  Back in March 2020, Open Table analyzed numbers to guage COVID impact on restaurants worldwide.  They compared data across 2020, 2021 and 2022 compared to the same time period in 2019.  Of course, seated dining sharply decreased in 2020.  However, by summer of 2021, numbers started to return to those of 2019 before the pandemic.  Furthermore, Charlotte seems to be outpacing most cities around North Carolina.  Raleigh had 9% fewer reservations in October 2022 compared to 2019.  Charlotte experienced 17% more during the same time period.

But, effects of shutdowns, inflation, labor shortages and rent increases still hang around.  And, data suggests inflation impacts decisions to dine out.  Plus, people will pay more when they do dine out.  Also, unfortunately many restaurants closed in 2022 finding it impossible to survive all the hurdles of recent years.  However, Charlotte’s growth continues to be attractive to new local spots and national chains.  Almost daily, I read about new restaurants opening.  So, chances are, those dinner reservations in Charlotte, North Carolina could continue to be hard to score.  But, I’m excited to try out any new spots I see no matter how hard I have to try!

List: The 10 Best Charlotte Restaurants According To Open Table

Looking for the perfect meal in Charlotte? With new restaurants opening all the time, it can be hard to choose your next destination. Is that new place down the street any good? Or is it just crowded because it’s new? What are the best Charlotte restaurants? Well, luckily Open Table has a review feature where you can easily review the restaurants you dine at. And many of them have 1000s of reviews. Reviews can be a great way to find good spots for date night, a special occasion, or a spontaneous meal out.

Here are the 10 Best Charlotte Restaurants according to Open Table. Keep in mind this list only features restaurants that allow reservations through Open Table.

  • Community Matters Cafe

    Location: 821 W 1st St Charlotte

    Cuisine: Breakfast and Lunch/American

    Description: Community Matters Café is an extension program of Charlotte Rescue Mission, an addiction recovery program that offers its 120-day recovery program free of charge. Recognizing that graduates of the recovery program needed additional support to secure long-term employment, Charlotte Rescue Mission launched the Life Skills Program at Community Matters Café in 2019.

  • The Melting Pot Charlotte-Lake Norman

    Location: 16625 Statesville Rd Huntersville

    Cuisine: Fondue

    Description: The Melting Pot is Huntersville’s fine-dining destination, with mouthwatering offerings for people with all tastes. One bite is all takes to make a fondue believer out of you. Whether you’re arrived for drinks, cheese, and chocolate, or you want to experience the full 4-Course Experience, you’ll leave a fan of our gourmet fondue.

  • McNinch House

    Location: 511 N. Church St. Charlotte

    Cuisine: Continental

    Description: The circa 1892 Queen Anne style home of Victorian-era Charlotte Mayor Sam McNinch has served for the last 30 years as the McNinch House Restaurant. The McNinch House Restaurant is the perfect place for your anniversaries, birthdays, or any time you need to make it memorable.

  • Novanta Pizzeria Napoletana

    Location: 120 Langtree Village Dr #102, Mooresville

    Cuisine: Italian

    Description: The owners of Brooklyn South and Brooklyn Boys Pizzeria’s are venturing again to bring you truly Authentic pizza. Pizza cooked by wood fire in 90 seconds. Among pizza stay tuned for the finest, truly authentic, rustic Italian dishes from different regions of Italy. Enjoy our extensive wine and beer indoor/outdoor bar and private dining area for your most exclusive intimate celebrations.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B92EQRapgsS/

  • O-Ku - Charlotte

    Location: 2000 South Blvd Suite 510, Charlotte

    Cuisine: Sushi

    Description: O-Ku Sushi Charlotte celebrates authentic Asian cuisine with a southern approach with a menu that focuses on unique ingredients and sophisticated presentations. From petite plates to sushi specialties, Chef Bachieng Phankhaysy showcases the freshest fish from the world’s finest markets in areas such as Norway, Scotland, Hawaii and New Zealand, as well as local sustainable sources.

  • Steak 48

    Location: 4425 Sharon Rd, Charlotte

    Cuisine: Steakhouse

    Description:
    Steak 48 is an award-winning, contemporary steakhouse with a vibrant atmosphere and an upscale environment. Brought to you by James Beard semifinalists Jeffrey Mastro, Mike Mastro, and Scott Trolio, this is a steak house unmatched in its likeness.

  • Copper

    Location: 311 East Blvd, Charlotte

    Cuisine: Indian

    Description: Welcome to Copper. Located at 311 East Boulevard sits the Mayer House of Southend, a turn-of-the-century bungalow rich in local and national history. Meticulously updated and stylized with a modern interpretation of Indian artistic flair, the Mayer house is a perfect backdrop of our presentation of modern Indian cuisine.
    Here at copper, you will come to know Indian food in a new and extraordinary way. Without losing a single spice from the ancient Indian tradition, we bring you a dining experience that is distinctly modern yet delightfully traditional.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/2KNOa9ibTn/

  • The Melting Pot Charlotte

    Location:901 S Kings Dr, Ste 140B Charlotte

    Cuisine: Fondue

    Description: Take a night off from your routine and try something special at The Melting Pot in Charlotte. Located in Midtown across the street from Little Sugar Creek Greenway, we have something on our fondue menu for all tastes, from artisan cheeses to indulgent chocolate melted to perfection at your table. If you indulge in the full 4-Course Experience, we also deliver freshly made salads with signature dressings and customizable entrée options, including succulent seafood, fresh veggies, and savory and chicken. Enhance the flavor even more with our signature dipping sauces.

  • Dolce Osteria

    Location: 1710 Kenilworth Ave, Charlotte

    Cuisine: Italian

    Description: We thought of a place that had two ingredients: pasta and happiness, we added the warmth of home respecting the original recipes of our Italian grandmothers. The tradition of pasta prepared every day by the expert hands of our Rita, we dream to unite the world around this simple ingredient so loved by the world.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CRoyIYvJ2Ai/

  • Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails

    Location: 1320 S Church St Suite 400, Charlotte

    Cuisine: Contemporary Ameican

    Description: Nestled next door to Craft Tasting Room and Growler shop. Alyson and Dan Davis designed Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails to be local inside and out, from the small plates menu to the space itself.  The seasonal small plate menus’ are inspired by the roots of the region and local farmers. The restaurant is also known for innovative cocktails featuring house made shrubs, sodas, barrel-aged cocktails and curated wine list.  The restaurants midcentury nostalgic rustic yet refined design finds the balance between nature and modern, featuring a moss wall, lime washed brick, a walnut live edge bar, 48 seat dining room and a 30 seat roof top deck.

Debbie Nance is the afternoon co-host along with her husband on "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for 18 years. Debbie is a CMA Award winner for Radio Personality of the Year. And, she has worked in radio for 40 years. Before her current afternoon position, Debbie spent more than a decade as co-host on morning shows in several markets across the Southeast. As a content creator for Country 1037, Debbie writes articles about food, new restaurants in the Carolinas and travel experiences.

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