The Charlotte barbecue joints we miss most, plus a $25 pizza review
Good morning, Charlotte. If you caught today’s CharlotteFive newsletter, you already know Monday is bringing a hefty dose of food nostalgia, one gloriously greasy pizza and a call for your favorite plate of nachos. If not, here’s what’s on the menu.
🍖 The Charlotte barbecue joints readers miss the most
Barbecue in the Carolinas is more than dinner — it’s family tradition, church fundraisers and Friday nights that stretch on a little longer than they should. So when Heidi asked CharlotteFive readers which shuttered barbecue joints they still ache for, the memories came pouring in. Boss Hog BBQ in Sherrills Ford just closed July 4, and Bar-B-Q King — that West Charlotte drive-in that had been slinging plates since 1959 — served its last order on Nov. 1, 2025.
Readers mourned Bill Spoon’s BBQ, which fed generations before shutting during the pandemic in 2020, and Bubba’s Barbecue on Sunset Road, which closed in January 2026 after 40 years of Eastern North Carolina-style ‘cue. And there’s Mallard Creek Barbecue, gone in 2025 after a 93-year run that began as a 1929 Depression-era church fundraiser. As organizers said on social media, “Generational leadership of the four main components of the BBQ has stepped aside, and our process simply can’t sustain the voids.”
😢 Old Hickory House, Carolina Country BBQ, Rogers Barbecue and Sauceman’s also made the list.
📖 Read Heidi’s full roundup for the reader stories behind each spot.
🍕 ‘Good but messy’ pizza in Myers Park for $25
Evan headed to Zio Casual Italian in Myers Park on Wednesday evening and reports back with a very relatable dining experience: the pizza is delicious, the cheese is uncontrollable and the server always appears at the exact moment your mouth is full. The family-owned restaurant has been serving Charlotte since 2005, and its recipes trace back to a family spot in upstate New York that opened in 1946. It shares a building with Primo Prime, the more formal Italian option next door.
Evan went for the hot pie — a New York-style crust his server said the restaurant is known for. Gooey mozzarella, crispy pepperoni cups holding little pools of grease, herby Italian sausage. Total damage: $25 including tax and tip. 🧀 The cheese slid off when he tried to plate the first slice. The tip drooped. He eventually folded it into a pizza pocket, then gave up and grabbed a fork and knife for the third piece. “It’s good, but it’s nice and messy, huh?” his server laughed as he was mid-chew. Verdict: he’d happily lose that battle again.
📍 116 Middleton Drive, Charlotte, NC 28207
🧀 Where does Charlotte make the best nachos?
Time to weigh in. CharlotteFive is on the hunt for the best nachos in the Charlotte area — cheese-drenched, topping-piled, unapologetically messy — and Heidi is taking nominations now. Fill out the nomination form or send an email to charlottefive@charlottefive.com. Can’t pick just one? Refresh and nominate again.
The usual ground rules apply: the restaurant needs a location in the Charlotte area (Lake Norman, Gastonia, Matthews, Mint Hill, Fort Mill and other nearby communities count), fewer than 20 locations nationwide, and no previous CharlotteFive Readers’ Choice winners. That knocks out Que Fresa and Que Onda from the tacos contest, and Wing King from best chicken wings.
📖 Full details on how to nominate are here.
🌸 Pick-your-own flowers just outside Charlotte
Craving a little sunshine after all that barbecue talk? Carrigan Farms in Mooresville has launched its first-ever flower picking experience. Walk the rows, clip your favorites and take home a custom bouquet. Each reservation comes with a 32-ounce souvenir cup and cutting shears. You’ve got more than 20 varieties across eight flower types to choose from — sunflowers 🌻, zinnias 🌺, celosia 🌿, marigolds 💛 and cascading amaranth 🌾, to name a few.
Reservations are recommended and start at $15 per person.
📍 1213 Oakridge Farm Highway, Mooresville, NC 28115.
🍷 Sip and relax at Relic NoDa
Relic NoDa has taken over the space formerly known as NoDa Company Store, positioning itself as “a bridge between the past and the present” for the neighborhood. Stop in for wine, sangria, local beer and a few snacks.
💬 Quote of the day
“Venezuela is gonna need our help for a long time to recover from this tragedy. Well find ways to keep on doing what we love, for the people we love 🧡🇻🇪” — La Bonbonniere Bakery via Instagram, on efforts to support Venezuelan earthquake victims.
📅 More around town
🧘🏿♀️ ExploreCLT is holding a wellness social on Saturday at Open Tap.
📱 Keep up with CharlotteFive
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This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how The Charlotte Observer is using AI in our newsroom, see our policy here.