Charlotte’s Best Restaurants

Price Key

Best Fried Pickles [1]: Deep-fried pickle spears are served up nice and hot at Alexander Michael’s [1] ($). They are the perfect side for a burger or a beer.

Best Place for Barbeque [2]: Biker bar Mac’s [2] ($$) 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 [3]: Former president William Howard Taft once spent the night at the historic McNinch House [3] ($$$), which now serves seven-course dinners by reservation only.

Most Sinful Chocolate Cake [4]: At Crave Dessert Bar [4] ($), order the Victorian and prepare to go to chocolate lover’s paradise.

Best Southern Fried Chicken [5]: The iconic Price’s Chicken Coop [5] ($) 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 [6]: The lines outside the door of The Penguin [6] ($) 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. [7]: Amelie’s…A French Bakery [7] ($) 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 [8]: 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 [8] ($$).