Price Key

Best Fried Pickles: Deep-fried pickle spears are served up nice and hot at Alexander Michael’s ($). They are the perfect side for a burger or a beer.

Best Place for Barbeque: Biker bar Mac’s ($$) serves up some of the best barbeque in town. Be sure to order your pulled pork with a side of their legendary mac-and-cheese.

Best Special-Occasion Restaurant: Former president William Howard Taft once spent the night at the historic McNinch House ($$$), which now serves seven-course dinners by reservation only.

Most Sinful Chocolate Cake: At Crave Dessert Bar ($), order the Victorian and prepare to go to chocolate lover’s paradise.

Best Southern Fried Chicken: The iconic Price’s Chicken Coop ($) has been serving up the best fried chicken in Charlotte in its signature red-and-white to-go boxes for more than 40 years.

Best Burger: The lines outside the door of The Penguin ($) are proof that it’s worth the wait for one of the best burgers in town.

Best Place to Get Pastries at 3 a.m.: Amelie’s…A French Bakery ($) is open 24 hours just in case you have a craving for a pain au chocolat in the middle of the night.

Best Place to Dress Up for Tea: It’s customary to don a feather boa and outrageous hat from the dress-up box before sitting down to tea at Ooh-La-La’s ($$).