Charlotte
Local Tastes
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
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FOURTH WARD. One of Charlotte's best-kept secrets, "Al Mike's," as regulars know it, is the perfect neighborhood restaurant/bar. It's the type of place where everybody truly does seem to know your name. Here, you'll find standard pub fare, including favorites like nachos, burgers, and fried pickles. The bar stays open long after the kitchen has closed for the evening – so plan to kick back and hang a while.
SOUTH BOULEVARD. If flashy and glamorous are your thing, then this steakhouse likely won't be your favorite, and that's too bad ... especially if you're looking for the best steak in Charlotte. The drab exterior and comfortably boring interior look as if they haven't been updated in decades, but don't let appearances fool you. The food is second to none, and for those in the know, this place is truly a Charlotte institution.
SOUTH END. As soon as you walk into this establishment, you realize that you're standing in an old church – or at least the airy building used to be a church. Nowadays, classy Bonterra boasts a wine list that's regarded as one of the best in the area. The menu offers gourmet selections like duck breast with truffle whipped parsnip puree, dry-rubbed venison loin, and housemade pâtés. Tables are often hard to come by, especially on weekends.
ELIZABETH. Howard Winter and Robby Gottfried have brought a little piece of New Orleans to Charlotte. From blackened catfish to crawfish étouffée, the menu guarantees that you're sure to have a great meal. If you like spicy, then the gumbo – with shrimp and crabmeat – is right up your alley. Come nighttime, food and drink specials and live music really make this Elizabeth scene shine.
ELIZABETH. Come and enjoy one of Charlotte's most eclectic and down-home restaurants. They serve chili in three styles: Texas (hot), Cincinnati (sweet and hot), and Vegetarian. If it's not enough on its own, the chili can be used to create their classic Chili Mac – chili served over pasta – or a Chili Salad. You can also get one of the best burgers in town (with chili, if you want!) at either of their two locations. (The other is in Huntersville at 101-A Old Statesville Road, 704-948-3959).
DILWORTH. From the moment you step foot into this authentic Italian restaurant, you're enslaved by the aromas, the tantalizing garlic bread, and the promise of fantastic wines. Heaping homemade helpings are the specialty at one of Charlotte's most affordable favorites, and the lasagna and penne a la vodka should not be missed. How popular is Mama Ricotta's? They had to move from their former location because they couldn't accommodate all of the repeat traffic!
PARK ROAD. If it's gameday and you find yourself hunting the best wings in Charlotte, look no further than this 12-year-old establishment, located in a former Pizza Hut. Some of the best offerings include Donnie's blackened wings, beesting wings, and seafood quesos. The beer selection is one of the best in the area and includes both rare imports and domestics, like Samuel Smith's tasty oatmeal stout, on tap.
SOUTH END. If you're on the prowl for Charlotte's best burger, a good number of folks will tell you that your search can start and end here. This traditional burger joint serves terrific, perfectly cooked patties with all the fixins. Onion rings and milkshakes are perfect companions to the fantastic burgers. Mr. K's is a Charlotte classic ... just ask any local.
SOUTH END. Some say that Price's serves the best fried chicken in the South – some even go so far as to claim that it's the best chicken served anywhere. On any given day, you can expect to find students, city workers, and high-powered, deep-pocketed professionals standing in line next to one another, waiting for the righteous "gospel bird" goods. Take one bite and discover why Charlotteans come from all over town to get food at this takeout-only hotspot.
ELIZABETH. Featuring menu items with handles like Small Block Burger, Full Block Burger, and Full Blown Hemi, this former drive-in harkens back to the '50s, when Ike was in office and everybody wanted to drive a Chevy Bel Air. The good news is that Penguin's eats have barely changed since those good ol' days. And although the place is best known for burgers, other fan faves include pimento cheese and fried bologna sandwiches. Maybe you stumbled upon it during your travels. Perhaps a friend told you to go. Maybe you live in the city, and it's your special place. However you've come to know it, it's that one special restaurant that just defines the city. You know the ones you love; now, we'll tell you the treasures in other cities. Discover established eateries with distinct character, hole-in-the-wall diners, or high-end, chef-run establishments. We'll let you know what locals like and give you a leg up on what's best and brightest.
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Maybe you stumbled upon it during your travels. Perhaps a friend told you to go. Maybe you live in the city, and it's your special place. However you've come to know it, it's that one special restaurant that just defines the city. You know the ones you love; now, we'll tell you the treasures in other cities. Discover established eateries with distinct character, hole-in-the-wall diners, or high-end, chef-run establishments. We'll let you know what locals like and give you a leg up on what's best and brightest.
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