I’ve lived in Charlotte for a little over four years and I’ve been to my fair share of restaurants. Today I am sharing some of my favorites. I recently moved to a new area of town so I will do another round up soon with some restaurants I am looking to try!
This restaurant is located in South End. They have the best fried rice I’ve EVER had. Every single time I go I get shrimp fried rice. Almost all of the rolls are speciality rolls. I’m a picky eater so I do need to modify them but you can really make whatever roll you want. I also recommend the hot Fuji Apple Sake which is also something I get every time I go. The inside of the restaurant is small. So if you’re going on a Friday or Saturday night I would call first to see how busy they are.
2. Co
Co has one of the best happy hours in my opinion. I honestly only go during happy which is from 4 to 7pm. They have $3, $4 and $5 aps. My favorite are the pork and crab spring roll and the spicy crab rangoon! My favorite day to go is on Tuesday/Thursday when the sake carafes and Makimono Rolls are 1/2 off. I also like to go on Wednesdays for $5 specialty cocktails.
This tapas restaurant is located in Plaza Midwood. The food is absolutely amazing. This spot is perfect for a date night or out with a small group of friends. They have a very large menu but I would say the fried oysters, shortribs, and lamb lollipops are must trys. They also have a variety of sushi rolls and other small plates to choose from. Full disclosure – if you go on the weekend you are going to have a 2 hour wait! I would suggest putting your name down and walking to a local bar to get some drinks before dinner. During the week they do allow you to add your name to a waitlist which makes it easier to be seated. Also parking here SUCKS. My honest recommendation would be to uber because you’re gonna waste at least 10 – 15 mins trying to find parking.
4. Monterrey’s
This is the very first restaurant I fell in love with. It was literally 5 mins from my place and I’m ashamed to admit I went multiple times a week! It’s your standard Mexican restaurant but the food is so good and the customer service is even better! They also have great drink specials during the week and on the weekend!
This is another Plaza Midwood restaurant that I frequent. I love love love RuRu’s! I get the same thing every time I go – Long Duck Dong taco and a side of rice. In my opinion the best days to go are Monday or Thursday. Monday is $1 off Margs and Thursday is 1/2 off all tequilas! The Taco Tuesday special is a $1 off taco’s but you definitely end up saving more going on a day with an alcohol special. I love enjoying the patio during the early fall weather.
I have a whole blog post about this restaurant – click here to read. I love the rooftop vibes without having to travel into the city. I love the gorgeous aesthetic. Not to mention its a fancy restaurant but the food taste amazing and the portion sizes are great. Plenty of parking and places to get the perfect instagram photo. It is a reservation only establishment.
This is another South End restaurant that is definitely for seafood lovers. This has patio and rooftop seating which is perfect for the end of summer and fall weather. I recommend trying the shrimp and grits. During the week from 2pm to 7pm they have $1 raw oysters which is a perfect appetizer. It’s a nice casual restaurant with great food.
This is my never fail go to brunch spot. In my opinion their $3 mimosas on Saturday and Sunday is the best in town. This restaurant is in Plaza Midwood and also has rooftop seating. My only issue with sitting up top is you have to drink out of an awful plastic cups! The food is amazing I have been countless time with friends and we’ve pretty much ordered most of the menu and all the food has been delicious. I will be honest and say the service is slow… very slow. But its good music, cheap drinks and great food and it hasn’t stopped me from coming back!
9. Volo
The last restaurant I’m sharing is an Italian spot. The pasta entrees are a little pricy in my opinion because start off at $20 and that’s prior to adding any meat. But the pasta is fresh and well worth it to me. They have great aps and a good wine selection. They also give you a very large size shot in my opinion. You definitely get your money worth. It is adjacent to a Harris Teeter so there is plenty of parking. They inside is very nice and well designed but its not really a restaurant where you would need to get dressed up. My recommendation would be the vodka sauce.