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Catherine Lane

Travel Experts Reveal The Top 5 Must Visit Restaurants In Charlotte

Author Catherine Lane

Charlotte is not only North Carolina’s largest city it is also becoming a foodie town. New restaurants are popping up every week it seems like in the Queen City. But where to go for what? Travel + Leisure has taken out some of the guesswork. Travel experts reveal the top 5 must visit restaurants in Charlotte.

Travel Experts Reveal The Top 5 Must Visit Restaurants in Charlotte

Travel + Leisure recently released a travel guide for a vacation in Charlotte. Some of that guide was recently published in the charlotteobserver.com. They scoured restaurants for the best times to visit along with the top restaurants in their opinion.

Jimmy Pearls has been top of mind for seafood lovers for a while now. It started out as a food truck and plans on pop-ups around the city. So if you see a Jimmy Pearl’s food trust run don’t walk to get delicious fish sandwiches and platters.

Farm To Table Among The Top 5 Must Visit Restaurants In Charlotte

Where I live in Clover, South Carolina we love to go to farm-to-table places. Restaurants that source all their food from local farmers. That is the feeling you will get at Restaurant Constance. This American cuisine focused place is located at 2200 Thrift Road in Charlotte. They feature an array of nonalcoholic cocktails as well as the adult beverage favorites. But it is known for locally grown seasonal foods.

Ah, now we are talking.  Uptown Yolk is 1 of the top 5 must visit restaurants in Charlotte. You will find this place at 1220 South Tryon Street in Charlotte, North Carolina. They list their cuisine as “Southern Memphis Style”. Right in South End, it serves brunch and dinner and has a Memphis influence. The chef hails from there.

Experts reveal the top 5 must visit restaurants in Charlotte

Here’s One That May Be Brand New To You

One of Charlotte’s newer restaurants made the list.  Have you tried Menya Daruma yet? You will find it right in the heart of Elizabeth. I love noodles but never had any like this. The restaurant is designed to give the experience of the noodle shops in Japan.

Ok now. Who is hungry? Travel experts reveal the top 5 must visit restaurants in Charlotte. To get the complete list, check them out from our source charlotteobserver.com

13 Hidden Gem Restaurants In The Charlotte North Carolina Area

There is no shortage of fantastic restaurants in Charlotte. And it seems more are opening by the day. Many of these high-profile spots are delicious and we’ve told you about plenty of them. But now it’s time to delve into some different restaurants. Not necessarily the newest or the trendiest, but definitely some of the best. Many of these places you’ve probably driven past hundreds of times and maybe never given a second thought. Or perhaps you’ve thought “We should try that sometime” and just never have. These are what we like to call hidden gem restaurants and there are numerous in Charlotte and the surrounding area. Some are Charlotte institutions, some are on the newer side.

To create this list, I added some of my personal favorites as well as consulted with friends and family on some places they thought fit this description. These hidden gem restaurants in Charlotte offer a wide variety of cuisine from Italian, the Mexican, to Greek, Asian, and just good ole homestyle cooking. A few things are for certain after looking at all these restaurants, I’m now hungry, and it will be a while before I say “I don’t know where I want to eat”. And if you know me, that’s my daily struggle if I don’t pack a lunch. So enjoy browsing through these hidden gems and let us know if you think they are indeed underrated. Have a favorite you think we should have included on this list? Let us know and who knows maybe we will do round two!

  • The Mad Greek

    Located on South Blvd, The Mad Greek is your go to for authentic Greek Cuisine including pitas, salads, platters, and speaking from personal experience those fries are to die for.

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  • Johnny Tomatos


    When you want authentic New York style pizza served at the highest quality look no further than Johnny Tomatoes in Indian Trail. And while you should absolutely get the pizza, calzones, pasta, salads, and sandwiches are also on the menu.

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  • The Degenerate

    Bring your friends when you visit this not talked about enough tapas restaurant in NoDa. Small plates include duck, steak, lettuce wrap tacos, mussels, and more. Make sure to save room for the churros for dessert.

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  • Sir Edmond Halley's

    You may not even know Sir Edmond Halley’s is at the back of Park Road Shopping Center. But when a British friend takes you there you know this British Pub is good. Obviously, try the fish and chips, there’s also shepherd’s pie, or more American favorites as well.

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  • Lupie's Cafe

    Burgers, southern favorites, wings, and soups including some incredible chili are some of what you’ll find on this true hidden gem’s website. Lupie’s may not look like much on the outside, but there’s a reason locals love it and keep returning.

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  • Maxwells Tavern

    Elevated tavern food, an inviting atmosphere and incredible cocktails come highly recommended to me at Maxwell’s Tavern in historic downtown Waxhaw. I’ve been told it’s well worth the drive!

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  • New Zealand Cafe

    Consistently ranked some of the best sushi in Charlotte, you may wonder how New Zealand Cafe can be a hidden gem. There are still so many people who don’t know about this affordable, small family-owned restaurant. Not a sushi fan? Everything on the menu is delicious! Get there early though as it’s a small place and usually has a wait.

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  • Johnny Burrito

    This quick-service Mexican spot is located beneath the Two Wells Fargo building. While people say the lunch lines get long, they move quickly. But if you’re not apart of the uptown office crowd chances are you didn’t know it existed. Try the “best burrito in Charlotte” or the tamales.

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  • The Roasting Company

    One of the only hidden gems with multiple locations, The Roasting Company or RoCo does comfort food right. Rotisserie Chicken, classic southern sides, salads, wraps, and Tex Mex favorites make up the menu.

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  • Greens Lunch

    Despite recent false rumors they were closing their doors Green’s Lunch, Charlotte’s oldest restaurant is still alive and well. I’m told it’s some of the best hot dogs in the city, though I’m more of a burger person. If you don’t work uptown try to catch them on a Panther’s game day!

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  • Main Street Bistro

    This downtown Monroe staple comes highly recommended and after looking at photos on their website, I’ll be visiting soon. They often host wine-pairing dinners and after a quick glance at the menu the blackened chicken alfredo and crab stuffed shrimp appear to be standouts!

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  • Lang Van

    At what point does the most commonly labeled underrated restaurant or other similar titles, no longer fall into that category? Lang Van a longstanding authentic Vietnamese restaurant on Shamrock Drive is often raved about but still somehow considered “hidden”. Maybe it shouldn’t be on this list, but it also felt like a crime to exclude it.

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  • Azteca

    Azteca has a few Charlotte area locations but I’m focusing on the Woodlawn location. Connected to a Days Inn, it probably isn’t the first place you’d stumble upon and think to visit. But once you do, you’ll realize it’s some of the best, most authentic Mexican food in the area. And they even focus on the ambiance with a mariachi band frequently playing around the restaurant.

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Catherine Lane is the morning show co-host and midday host on Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for the past 24 years and is a recipient of the Academy of Country Music Major Market Personality of the Year award. Catherine has been on air in both radio and television in the Queen City for 38 years. As a content creator for Country 1037, Catherine writes blogs on local events and restaurants. She also writes about great travel spots and out of the way places in the Carolinas. Anything outdoors, travel, food, animals or the many country artists from the Carolinas.

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