Charlotte constantly has restaurants closing while new ones are opening up. It can be hard to keep up with all that Charlotte has to offer. Here are a few of the best restaurants in the Charlotte area right now. See link for full extensive list.
Kindred, located at 131 North Main Street in Davidson, offers unique charm and outstanding customer service from the moment the free loaf of milk bread hits the table. Kindred owners, Joe and Katy Kindred, have received multiple accolades including the chef being named James Beard semi-finalist three times and named best restaurant in North Carolina by Southern Living in 2018. Their must-have dish is the Crispy Oysters with dill yogurt and Calabrian chile oil. Order a “Barkeep’s Choice” and the bartender will surprise you with a cocktail of his/her choosing.
Hello, Sailor, also owned by Joe and Katy Kindred, is located on Lake Norman at 20210 Henderson Road in Cornelius. It is not as polished as Kindred, but what it lacks in elegance, it makes up in fun. Being located on the lake makes it an unbeatable spot on a sunny day. Their must haves are the popcorn shrimp basket with beef fat fries, which is essentially a huge basket of popcorn shrimp and the smoked chicken wings.
Supperland, located at 1212 The Plaza in Charlotte, is the kind of place you take the family in from out of town to impress them. It’s also the kind of place you go to on a special occasion like an anniversary, birthday, or date night. The service is spectacular, the vibes are unbeatable and the food never disappoints. For these reasons, it’s a bit hard to get a reservation but not totally impossible. They charge a $2 reservation fee per seat during the week and a $3 reservation fee per seat on the weekends. Their must haves to try are the miso mac and cheese, the lobster and if you’re craving some surf and turf, splurge and get the prime filet.
Customshop, located in Elizabeth at 1601 Elizabeth Avenue, has been a staple to the area for 15 years. It’s the kind of restaurant that’s perfect for a date night or group date. Each time you go will be a new experience because owner and Executive Chef Trey Wilson changes the menu weekly based on availability from local farms. All of their hand-made pasta’s are divine, especially the gnocchi.
Peppervine is a progressive American restaurant, located in the SouthPark area at 4620 Piedmont Row Drive. This fine-dining establishment has an experienced team behind it: Bill and Anita Greene, who are also the couple behind one of North Carolina’s most picturesque restaurants, Artisanal, located in a converted barn in Banner Elk. Their must haves are the fluffy yeast rolls, the yellowfin tuna tataki, and the lumache pasta.
Futa Buta, is a modern, cozy space with creative Ramen dishes, located in South End at 222 East Bland Street. This intimate restaurant along the Rail Trail would be easy to forget it exists if it wasn’t so darn good. Owner and chef Michael Shortino’s giant bowls of ramen are among the best in Charlotte, hence why they are always busy. Dining here can either be a quick, sit-down lunch that’s good for the price (less than $20 a person) or you can go all out with cocktails and appetizers for a great date night. Their must have is the Tori Kara Age, AKA the Japanese fried chicken; it’s juicy and perfectly fried with a delicious sauce to dip.
Leave a Reply