Your ultimate guide to walk-up windows and drive-thrus in Charlotte
It’s time to think about dinner, and you want to support one of your favorite Charlotte restaurants.
In the era of COVID-19, you feel much safer getting your food to-go. Easy enough, as you pick up the phone and dial a number (or, let’s be real, pull up a restaurant’s app) to place your takeout order. But as you arrive at the restaurant, you realize that you now have to walk inside the building.
It can be difficult to balance wanting to support local restaurants, even to-go, while maintaining social distancing.
We have compiled a list of Charlotte coffee shops, restaurants and food stalls who offer drive-thrus and walk-up windows with the following COVID-19-friendly criteria:
You can get your food without having to leave your car at a drive-thru or drive-in; or
You can get your food without having to walk inside at a walk-up window.
Bar-B-Q King
Location: 2900 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: Ashley Park
What to know: Bar-B-Q King is a family-owned drive-in BBQ spot. Visit to pick up fried chicken, pulled pork or hot dogs without having to leave your car.
Brooks’ Sandwich House
Location: 2710 N. Brevard St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
What to know: Brooks ordering is all walk-up from its parking lot now, so if you’ve been worried about crowding into the small space to order your favorite double cheeseburger all the way (chili, mustard and onions), don’t be. This place is too blessed to be stressed and has your coronavirus precautions covered.
Burr & Berry
Location: 4209 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: Collingwood
Location: 1221 Transformation Ln, Indian Land, SC 29707
Neighborhood: Indian Land
What to know: This independent coffee shop can serve you up a classic coffee drink, blended cooler or Italian soda through it’s drive-through and walk-up service locations.
Camp North End food stalls
Location: 300 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC 28206
Neighborhood: Druid Hills South/North Charlotte
What to know: Visit a variety of restaurants at Camp North End, with cuisine including Latin food at La Caseta, vegan options at Plant Joy or customizable popsicles at PopBar. Each of these venues are walk-up, outdoor food stalls.
Coaltrane’s
Location: 1518 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
What to know: Coaltrane’s has a pickup window on Thomas Avenue, surrounded by the Plaza Midwood Tribute mural by Matt Hooker, Matt Moore and Tucker Sward.
Crepe Cellar (closing Jan. 30)
Location: 3116 N. Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
What to know: Crepe Cellar is closing Sunday, Jan. 30 as it transitions to a new concept, Ever Andalo. But its now open for dinner and weekend brunch, Crepe Cellar offers a mix of sweet and savory crepes, as well as burgers, salads, entrees and french fries. It also has a drink menu that consists of French Press coffee, tea and wine. Although open for dine-in, the restaurant also has a pickup window for those not wanting to go inside.
Cuplux
Location: 3115 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: Ashley Park
What to know: Pick up your favorite coffee or breakfast item, including iced caramel and matcha lattes, without having to leave your car at Cuplux, which is a drive-thru coffee and draft cold brew shop.
Derita Dairy Bar
Location: 2737 W. Sugar Creek Road, Charlotte, NC 28262
Neighborhood: Derita/Statesville
What to know: Make sure you are hungry when you approach this walk-up window. The menu includes crab fries, veggie burgers/dogs, chicken Italian sausages and creative milkshakes. Take your food home or tailgate in the parking lot, where there are plenty of available spots.
El Puro Cuban Restaurant
Location: 5033 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: Madison Park
What to know: Inside El Puro, there’s a full lineup of Cuban favorites. But you can get the highlights from its walkup window, including empanadas and Cuban sandwiches.
Fat Cat Burgers & Bakeshop
Location: 2410 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: Dilworth
What to know: Fran Scibelli reinvented Fran’s Filling Station into a burgers-and-doughnuts kind of shop where you can grab a bite inside or walk up and get a tasty treat if you’re on the go. The walk-up window menu of donuts, cookies, bars and more changes daily.
The Garbage Can
Location: 1540 West Blvd. Unit 103, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: Westover Hills
What to know: You know the food truck The Garbage Truck. Meet its wheel-free counterpart with a walk-up window, The Garbage Can. Here, order custom trash plates with macaroni salad or homefries (why not both?), the meat of your choice, and top it with House Meat Hot Sauce, egg, jalapeño or whatever else you like.
Krispy Kreme
Location: 2116 Hawkins St., Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
What to know: It’s not exactly a walk-up window, but Krispy Kreme’s first ever doughnut vending machine is in South End and offers a contactless, COVID-19 free way to get your doughnut fix 24/7.
Midwood Smokehouse
Location: 1401 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
What to know: Visit Midwood Smokehouse for a barbecue plate, taco, sandwich or salad. Order online or call ahead to pick up your food from an outdoor walk-up window.
Queen City Grounds
Location: 101 W Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: South End
What to know: Queen City Grounds is a local coffee shop with coffee, teas and fresh pastries. At its South End location, you can order online, then pick up your drinks/food from a walk-up window.
Reigning Doughnuts
Location: 3120 N Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
What to know: Pick up cake donuts with your favorite glazed or sugar toppings at NoDa’s Reigning Donuts. Order from a walk-up window without having to step foot inside.
Rico’s Acai
Location: 917 Pecan Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Chantilly
What to know: If you’re craving a sweet but healthy snack, pick up an acai bowl at Rico’s Acai. Order through the Rico’s Acai mobile app and then pick up your order from a contact-free window.
Romeo’s Vegan Burgers
Location: 5518 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: Closeburn-Glenkirk/South Charlotte
What to know: Romeo’s Vegan Burgers started out as a popular food truck, but now it’s gone brick-and-mortar with a drive-thru.
Showmars
Location: 9704 E Independence Blvd, Matthews, NC 28105
Neighborhood: Matthews
What to know: This Charlotte Classic Eats spot has 32 locations, but only the Matthews location has an outbuilding with a pickup window for you to grab a Greek salad or a fish sandwich.
Smelly Cat Coffee
Location: 514 E. 36th St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
What to know: Based in NoDa, Smelly Cat is a local coffee house with a menu that includes fresh-roasted and cold-brew coffee to teas, pastries and cocktails. Place your order at one window, then pick up from the next.
South 21
Location: 3101 Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Commonwealth Park
What to know: Pick up a burger, fries or BBQ fried chicken at South 21, a drive-in restaurant that offers takeout or curbside service.
Unwind Coffee
Location: 333 Main St., Pineville, NC 28134
Neighborhood: Pineville
What to know: Unwind Coffee is a local shop with a focus on loose leaf tea and locally roasted coffee. Stop by the outdoor walk-up window for hot or cold drinks, as well as breakfast and lunch items including scones, sandwiches and soup.
Villani’s Bakery
Location: 901 Pecan Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Chantilly
What to know: Enjoy a fresh pastry, macaron or cup of coffee at New York-Italian style bakery Villani’s outdoor walk-up window.
Yakiko Hibachi Grill
Location: 710 W. Trade St., Suite F, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Fourth Ward/Uptown
What to know: At Yakiko Hibachi Grill in Gateway, you can place your order in advance and then pick it up without having to leave the sidewalk, using the restaurant’s walk-up window.
Your Mom’s Donuts
Location: 4205 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: Montford
What to know: From traditional donuts like classic glazed and cinnamon sugar, to special holiday flavors, there’s plenty to choose from at Your Mom’s Donuts. Order online for contact-free curbside delivery, or place your order at an outdoor walk-up window in a tiny building that once served as a key shop.
Restaurant owners: Have a drive-thru or an outdoor walk-up window that is extra safe during COVID-19? Email us at charlottefive@charlottefive.com and we’ll check it out. Anna Douglas and Melissa Oyler contributed to this article.
This story was originally published December 11, 2020 at 9:00 AM.
