40 Charlotte Restaurants Youve Got To Try | Charlotte Exclusive.com

This is your winter guide to the best food and drink in the Queen City, from Uptown to South Charlotte, and even the Lake Norman area. With over forty tasty choices you can?t go wrong with your selection.

Ballantyne/South Charlotte

CRU WINE SHOPImagine a laid back, friendly bar atmosphere with an incredible wine list, variety of fine cheeses and cured meats coupled with a gourmet ?bar food? menu. Check out their calendar of events to sign up for one of their many wine tastings.?cruwineshop.com

GALLERY

Awarded by Wine Spectator in 2011 with the ?Award of Excellence?, Gallery offers contemporary American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, daily. Don?t get too attached to a particular dish though; the menu changes seasonally to provide patrons with fresh, local ingredients.?gallery-restaurant.com

TERRACE CAF?

Once only a breakfast and lunch spot, this culinary delight is now a triple threat since offering dinner. With two locations in the Charlotte area, Ballantyne and South Park, Terrace Caf? offers the best of every meal. Think Red Velvet Waffles and four choices of Eggs Benedicts for breakfast, any combination of soup, salad, sandwich or quiche for lunch, and Coconut Thai Crab Cakes and Pan Fried NC Trout with pineapple butter for dinner. There is something for everyone, whether you are a ?foodie? or someone that just plain likes food! terracecafecharlotte.com

VILLA ANTONIO

Located in the heart of Ballantyne, this jewel combines old world Italian cuisine with new world charm. Villa Antonio features only the freshest ingredients on their chef-inspired menu all the way down to their cannolis. If you?re looking for an upbeat spot with a great drink selection, this is the place.?villaantonio.com

Dilworth/SouthEnd

BONTERRA DINING & WINE ROOM

This beautifully renovated 110-year old church became the deliciously elegant restaurant it is today over 10 years ago. A hidden gem in Dilworth, Bonterra both architecturally and culinarily will not disappoint. Boasting over 200 wines by the glass and an additional several hundred in their cellar, Bonterra is more than just food. The menu is designed with wine in mind! They offer a vast array of cheeses, olives, cured meats and spreads for nibbling while wine tasting, as well as a full dinner menu complete with steaks and seafood, but don?t forget to save room for dessert and port! bonterradining.com

300 EAST

300 East is a culinary staple in Dilworth. This is the place where you will find the local crowd. The American-infused Global cuisine will knock your socks off. Did I mention all the desserts are made in house by a pastry chef whose job is solely to make tasty desserts? Must I say more? 300east.net

NIKKO

A very well known staple in the Southend neighborhood, Nikko has earned its place as one of the most popular sushi restaurants in Charlotte. With their impressive sushi selection, who would debate it? Their traditional Udon noodle soups are available for all of the less adventurous eaters out there and the chic lounge-like ambiance is great for socialites. nikkosushibar.net

ZEN FUSION

In the mood for sushi? No.. Chinese? Spanish tapas with sangria? This place has something for everyone. Zen has every traditional dish from most Asian countries plus an entire Spanish menu. It is literally a fusion between Zen Asian and the very much missed menu at Sole restaurant. Try the Paella, Vietnamese Bun or Pho, Pad Thai, or select from the delicious sushi menu. The hardest part of this dining experience is deciding what to get. And don?t forget the tres leches for dessert! zenasianfusion.com

Elizabeth

FIG TREE

Located just minutes from uptown in a beautifully restored bungalow in the historic Elizabeth neighborhood, this quaint restaurant specializes in seasonal cuisine; taking cues from French and Italian inspired dishes. It offers an award-winning and value based wine list that is sure to please. Known for its exceptional service this is a great spot for a romantic dinner for two or a fun evening with a private group.

LUPIE?S

Mondays are the best at Lupie?s because of the meatloaf special. Or is it Thursday?s special of chicken and dumplings that I like more? That?s a toss-up with no losers. While you?re there take in Lupie?s history and down-home feel. lupiescafe.com

Huntersville/Lake Norman

CORKSCREW WINE SHOPPE & BAR

This wine-lover?s dream is tucked away in Birkdale Village. They are fully equipped with wine to suit everyone?s taste and experts who can point you to a wine that best suits your palate. Whether you are a connoisseur or a beginner, there is something here for you. 4corkscrew.com

MICKEY & MOOCH

A Big Band themed restaurant, fitted with life size murals, offers a casually elegant dining experience and a sophisticated meal at an exceptional price. A great local meeting place. mickeyandmooch.com?NORTH HARBOR CLUBEnjoy dining right on the water, on the patio, at North Harbor Club. Choose from a variety of mouthwateringly fresh seafood dishes, pastas and salads. North Harbor Club provides a creative and fresh dining experience for everyone. northharborclub.com

Montford / Selwyn

GOOD FOOD

Another one of Bruce Moffett?s (owner of Barrington?s) creations. From its start Good Food has a pedigree and credibility few restaurants in the city have. Sometimes legacies such as this are hard to live up to but not for Good Food. The modern, warm atmosphere soothes and the tapas plates delight, bite after bite. goodfoodonmontford.com

NOLEN KITCHEN

Nolen Kitchen is a chic, modern restaurant located on Selwyn Ave with a relaxed atmosphere, extensive wine list, and a stellar menu. The brunch is especially popular, most notable are the benedicts and French toast. nolenkitchen.com

SELWYN PUB

Quite possibly the best patio in all of Charlotte, featuring wide screen TV?s and outdoor fireplaces, Selwyn Pub offers great bar food, pizzas, and a fine selection of beers and spirits. Tarheel fans pile into this place to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.?(704) 333-3443

North Davidson

AMELIE?S FRENCH BAKERY

Open 24/7, this self-proclaimed ?Parisian shabby chic? bakery will have your taste buds saying ?merci beaucoup? the minute you walk in and catch a whiff of the sweet sugary goodness baking. Offering every classic French sweet (pastries, petit fours, ?clairs), and savory (croissants, baguettes, tartines) as well as fresh housemade soups and sandwiches, Amelie?s also specializes in European-style espressos, machiattos, and lattes. And just in case the pastry case wasn?t enthralling enough, Amelie?s offers live music weekly to keep you entertained. ameliesfrenchbakery.com

CABO FISH TACO

You haven?t really eaten in NoDa unless you?ve eaten here! And we always go for the classic, Cabo?s Signature Beer Battered White Fish Tacos with a salt-rimmed glass of the house ?El Cheapo? Margarita. With an extensive margarita and tequila selection, and an unrivaled SoCal Menu, Cabo (as it?s known to the locals) makes you want to catch a wave and sport those sunglasses at night! cabofishtaco.com

CR?PE CELLAR KITCHEN & PUB?Where else but NoDa do you find casual French cuisine in a pub setting? The Cr?pe Cellar offers this elusive combination of French street food and comfort food. Serving up sweet and savory cr?pes with baguette pizzas, Steak & Frites, and of all things?Fish & Chips! If you want to kiss your heart goodbye, try the Cr?pe Suzette if you dare, but don?t say we didn?t warn you!?crepecellar.com

GROWLER?S POURHOUSE

For all of you ?beer snobs? out there (you know who you are) this is your haven. With a rotating selection of the best craft beers in the U.S.A., it?s no wonder they were listed as one of ?America?s 100 Best Beer Bars?. Growler?s Pourhouse has a food menu designed for one thing, beer. But don?t judge just yet, there?s more to this ?beer food? than meets the eye. Start off with a cheese and beer pairing or beer cheese dip. Then move on to one of their mouth-watering house ground and stuffed meat sausages with a side of bourbon beans or sweet potato salad. This place has it all, including raw oysters on the half shell, steamed peel & eat shrimp by the pint, and so much more! And all of it in the name of beer. growlerspourhouse.com

Plaza Midwood

BISTRO LA BON

Bistro La Bon on Central is unassuming and absolutely delicious. Dinner is full of treats and they excel at dessert. However, if I had to pick the best of this Charlotte restaurant it would be the Sunday brunch buffet. Get there early, it?s crowded for a reason. bistrolabon.com

LULU

For some of the best French cuisine in town try Lulu?s; you?ll feel right at home. If you don?t know what to order because everything on the menu sounds so good: For brunch look no further than the Country Benedict; a perfect marriage between the South and the South of France. The dish features Neese?s pork sausage, fried green tomatoes, poached eggs, and hollandaise. If you?re not in the mood for breakfast the burgers are tasty. luludinewine.com

SOUL GASTROLOUNGE

I never thought I wanted a mounted peacock on my wall until I went to Soul. The gastrolounge serves innovative sushi and international tapas with a casual and modern flair. Hob-knob with the hippest of Plaza Midwood here and don?t forget Sunday brunch. Two words: Chicken. Waffles. soulgastrolounge.com

South Park

BARRINGTON?S RESTAURANT

Reservations are highly recommended for this delectable, cozy, upscale, American bistro, aptly named for its chef, Bruce Moffett?s hometown in Rhode Island. Specializing in seasonal, local, and organic ingredients, this restaurant is a true culinary gem. With white table linen service, every dish is carefully planned and prepared right down to the last ingredient; you can truly taste every detail-oriented flavor in every bite.?barringtonsrestaurant.com

BRICKTOP?S

With multiple locations throughout the Eastern seaboard, BrickTop?s offers an eclectic selection including American, Asian, and French fare. It?s a place that is hard to describe other than to say it has anything you are in the mood for and we guarantee it will be fantastic. With a fun, circular bar and outdoor lounge, BrickTop?s is even a great place to mingle while sipping one of their innovative cocktail concoctions (we like the French 75) and an order of flatbread. bricktops.com

BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE

BRIO!, (meaning ?lively? or ?full of life?) is a casual, white-tablecloth restaurant serving authentic, northern Italian food. BRIO brings the pleasure of the Tuscan country villa to the American city. At BRIO you can enjoy their premium quality ?steaks, chops and pasta and on Saturdays and Sundays unti 3pm BRIO has a wonderful brunch. For the brunch, sit outsite and take advantage of their refined outdoor dining experience. brioitalian.com

CAF? MONTE BAKERY & BISTRO

Here very classic, traditional French country fare meets patisserie. Specializing in freshly baked goods (including croissants and baguettes), this place has all the French favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as seasonal and daily specials. With a bistro setting right down to the wicker chairs and tiled entry, Caf? Monte is classic French. cafemonte.net

THE COWFISH

Burgushi anyone? Yeah, we said ?burgushi? and it?s bur-fabulous! We sat at the sushi bar and played Pac-Man on the touch screen countertop (think iPad countertops) while dining on amazing sushi and burgers. All of the sushi was phenomenal, and the Ahi Burger was amazing. And while the menu is extensive (and a little overwhelming), it?s best to go with your gut. If it sounds like a strange thing to combine, everything is also served separately, but what?s the fun in that? ?It?s usually packed, so call ahead for reservations if you can. thecowfish.com

GEORGE?S BRASSERIE

Cheers to any restaurant that puts the wine list on the back of the lunch menu, sells great wines by the carafe, and offers bottomless mimosas for Sunday Brunch. Now that?s how the French do it! Although, Georges puts a slight modern twist on classic French cuisine, the entire vibe is all French. With nightly seafood specials, a fresh raw bar, and mussels served five different ways, Georges will never disappoint. Try any one of their specialty cocktails, our favorite is the ?De Gaulle?s Masterpiece?, the description is a little adventurous, but so worth the risk!?georgesbrasserie.com

THE PIZZA PEEL & TAP ROOM

Located off the beaten path, The Pizza Peel has an extensive beer menu with a beer club, beer poker, trivia night, and exceptional pizza. Using fresh ingredients, this place has an out-of-this world menu featuring excellent wings, salads, and sandwiches.?tapandpeel.com

ROOSTER?S WOOD-FIRED KITCHEN

A Jim Noble Restaurant, Rooster?s is a true local and southern kitchen, right down to the stuffed roosters on the wall. Rooster?s features only seasonal, fresh ingredients from local farm partners. Mainly all ? la carte, the menu includes delicious cured meats, steaks, seafood and of course, poultry, as well as generous, mouth-watering sides such as Anson Mill?s ground grits with bacon, buttered butter beans, and fire roasted beets. Yum-my. roosterskitchen.com

TACO MAC

The name is very misleading to a person who has never been inside Taco Mac. Yes, they do have tacos but ask someone the back story of this chain of restaurants. It?s so simple, no one could guess. What isn?t simple is their beyond-extensive beer list and their straight from buffalo, NY buffalo style wings. This is the place to be to meet up with some friends, drink some beer, eat some wings, and watch the game. You should go join the Brewniversity today. tacomac.com

Uptown

BLUE RESTAURANT & BAR

This award winning Charlotte restaurant offers a wide array of flavors and dishes from around the Mediterranean region. Executive chef Gene Briggs has assembled an unparalleled multi-cultural menu that is sure to take your taste buds on a whirlwind journey and give you a dining experience like none other. Whether you desire French food, Italian food, Spanish food, Moroccan food, Mediterranean food, or American fine dining, they have got you covered. Expect to be wowed by some of Blue?s staple dishes like the Moroccan Lamb Tagine and Tenderloin a la Blue, or step even further outside of the box and try the Duo of Wild Boar. bluecharlotte.com

CAPITAL GRILLE

We aren?t able to fit the amount of awards this place has on this page. Let?s put it this way: If they had a trophy room it would probably be as big as their wine cellar, which allows you to choose from over 5,000 bottles. Hankerin? for a steak with a beyond impressive romantic atmosphere? Two words: Capital Grille. thecapitalgrille.com

McNINCH HOUSE RESTAURANT

Entrenched in the history of the city, the McNinch House was built in the historic fourth ward in 1892 for Charlotte Mayor Sam ?McNinch. For the last twenty-two years it has been one of the go-to dining destinations in the city and recently received an award of excellence from Wine Spectator. mcninchhouserestaurant.com

SAVOR CAF?

Located just near the stadium, Savor serves up lunch and dinner with real soul. Every day is a new day here with different, fresh, local specials and southern classics. All desserts are made in house and guaranteed to make you drool (yeah, there?s a ?Cobbler of the Day? too). There?s even homemade strawberry lemonade. So save room for dessert and savor this hotspot voted one of Charlotte?s Best Lunches in 2010. savoronmorehead.com

TRADE RESTAURANT AND BAR

Executive Chef Francisco Jimenez, graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York has created an exceptional menu full of quality ingredients. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable and the confidence displayed by the staff is reverberated in their new predominantly Southern menu. omnihotels.com

VIVACE

So good. So chic. Located in The Metropolitan, Vivace?s makes you think you?ve left the Carolinas and jetsetted to a glamorous Italian urban locale. We could just stare at the d?cor for hours. Who would have thought that a wall of wood could be so stunning? Offering cuisine for every palate (including separate gluten- and meat-free menus), Vivace is all italiano (even the ?Employees Must Wash Hands? plaque in the bathrooms are in Italian) and every bite is oh so delicioso. Is there any detail they missed? We think not.?vivacecharlotte.com

WOODEN VINE WINE BAR & BISTRO

Amongst the hustle and bustle of Uptown is Wooden Vine, a wine and tapas sactuary. Chef Jon Martinson whips up some of the best food in the city including the crispy pork belly and ?grits while sommelier David Soper pours the finest handpicked wines.?woodenvine.com

About Jon Paul Grice

Jon Paul Grice has written 22 posts for QCExclusive.

I am a professional graphic designer, copy writer, and techie, specializing in magazine layout, ad design, web design, and content creation. When I'm not designing I enjoy fly fishing, golfing, and being around my family and friends. I am happy to contribute to Queen City Exclusive, Charlotte's newest and best luxury media outlet.

Source: http://charlotteexclusive.com/2012/food/charlotte-restaurant-reviews/40-charlotte-restaurants-youve-got-to-try-2/

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