The 16 best meals we’ve eaten all year in Charlotte

Every year around this time, we ask our reporters a tough question: If you had to narrow it down to one best meal you ate at a Charlotte restaurant this year, what would it be?

Some of these restaurants are new, and others are old standbys. But the meals all have one thing in common: They are some of the best food you’ll find in the Charlotte area.

And we also want to know your favorite meal the year! Vote in our poll here:

Now, here are the best 16 meals that our team ate in Charlotte this year:

The Artisan’s Palate

Location: 1218-A E. 36th St., Charlotte, NC 28205

Neighborhood: NoDa

Writer: Adam Bell

What I ate: My wife and I shared meals. She had the Andalusian Red Pepper Scallops, and I had the Pulled Chicken Sliders. We also split Bacon-Wrapped Dates.

Prices: $32, $14.50, $13

My wife, the foodie, picked this place, and she was spot on as usual. We enjoyed outside dining with a DJ. There were ample portions. We were a little curious about the Bacon-Wrapped Dates. Who knew? It was delicious; then again, it is bacon after all. The other really cool thing about the site is how it lived up to its name. While all dining was outside, inside was an art gallery featuring a variety of local artists, some I knew of and some I was learning about for the first time. It was really cool to check out and made for a fun way to end the evening.

Blacow | Burger Sushi Bar

Location: 1646 SC-160, Suite 106, Fort Mill, SC 29708 (sushi not available)

Neighborhood: Fort Mill

Location: 1515 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28203

Neighborhood: South End

Location: 517 University Center Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28262

Neighborhood: University

Writer: Brent Peters

What I ate: The Spicy Girl Roll

Price: $12.50

I have yet to try a Blacow burger. What I come back for each time is the Spicy Girl Roll. Each visit includes this beauty in my order, and each visit I regret not doubling up. The Steak Roll is good, as is the Lion King Roll, but I savor the Spicy Girl. It’s deep fried with spicy tuna, white fish and avocado with a spicy sauce. Nothing is needed to cleanse the palate after — just push the plate aside and let the flavors marinate.

The Cellar at Duckworth’s

Location: 330 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202

Neighborhood: Fourth Ward/Uptown

Writer: Philip Freeman

What I ate: Caramelized Brussels, Truffle Mac & Cheese and a ribeye steak (medium rare)

Price: $12, $14, $52

Charlotte — and Uptown in particular — has a lot of new and shiny things. So it’s a much welcomed change of pace whenever I hop inside of Duckworth’s on Tryon Street and head downstairs into the dimly lit Cellar. The prohibition-era vibes remain decades after the space served as a speakeasy, and the atmosphere, food and service are the perfect trifecta. Most of the menu is familiar, yet Duckworth’s takes simple dishes and make them extraordinary. The Brussels — prepared with smoked pancetta, red onion and balsamic — are my favorite in town. The mac and cheese with Grafton cheddar, gouda and toasted pancetta is to die for. And the portions are shareable, which is good because it helps save room for a perfectly cooked steak. If you visit, make sure to tour the actual beer cellar that houses hundreds of unique beers.

Chickpeasy on Wheels

Location: Varies

Writer: Anna Douglas

What I ate: Falafel with rice, Chicken Pita Nachos

Price: $9 to $12

The food truck’s spices, portions, the freshness of ingredients and consistency in the service and food quality kept my family coming back — to the point where we would drive long distances to eat there and travel to out-of-the-way breweries on weekends. They are building a following not only in Charlotte but also nearby, including around Lake Norman and in Fort Mill. I recommend going hungry and taking friends. Order anything and everything with the tahini sauce, and go ahead and get some extra sauce. If they have the special Chicken Egg Rolls or Chicken Pita Nachos available, you must try those, either as an appetizer or a meal. The flavors in their dishes rival (or beat) plenty of sit-down places. I knew I was in for something great when co-owner Jasmine remembered both my name and my daughter’s name after only one visit. And we’ve been back plenty since then. (P.S. I just read a draft of this review to my wife, who responded: “I wish I had their nachos now.”)

Chuck’s Cheesesteaks CLT

Location: In the parking lot of 3900 Brookshire Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28216

Neighborhood: Center City

Location: Occasionally at Skiptown Brewery, 222 Rampart St., Charlotte, NC 28203

Neighborhood: South End

Writer: Kadee Blakely

What I ate: Philly Cheesesteak with provolone, onion and peppers

Price: $10 (cash only)

I’ve had cheesesteaks at two high-profile cheesesteak restaurants in Philly, and none compare to the flavor experience at Chuck’s Cheesesteaks CLT. The bread-to-meat ratio is total perfection, the cheese is plentiful and the service is consistently stellar. The first bite reminds you that there are still people out there who cook with their hearts and souls. Steak and chicken options are available, as are fried eggrolls and water ice — a smoother version of a snow cone.

Eight + Sand

Location: 135 New Bern St., Retail A, Charlotte, NC 28209

Neighborhood: Sedgefield/South End

Writer: Melissa Oyler

What I ate: Crisp Edge Vodka Pesto Pizza

Price: $16

This die-hard Inizio’s fan fell hard for Eight + Sand this past year (makes sense, with Inizio Pizza owner Grant Arons behind this spot). The cheese edge is what brings this pie from good to great. But don’t sleep on the foccaccia + spreads, either — my favorites were the vegan Calabrian Chile Pesto (spicy) and Whipped Feta with Honey.

Golden Owl Tavern

Location: 9041 Robert D Snyder Road, Charlotte, NC 28262

Neighborhood: University City

Writer: Théoden Janes

What I ate: Deviled Eggs (with Nashville hot chicken); Farm and Sparrow Cast Iron Cornbread (with honey butter, sea salt and honey granules); and Bison Meatloaf (with sorghum bourbon barbecue sauce, mashed potatoes and broccoli).

Price: $43, not including tax and tip.

How do you make really, really good deviled eggs even better? Just add a tender chunk of mouth-watering Nashville hot chicken to the top of it. Then splurge on a second app — a fluffy pan of that cornbread, which (apologies to the rest of the fine Southern-inspired restaurants in town) is the city’s most scrumptious, thanks in no small part to the sinfully sweet honey butter. And if you try the meatloaf and don’t Love it with a capital L, well then I’d guess you just don’t like meatloaf. Look, I know it’s hard to believe that a truly first-rate dining experience that offers legitimately exciting flavors would wind up opening not only in the same ZIP code as UNC Charlotte, but also inside a Marriott hotel. But it happened in 2021, and as a longtime resident of the north side of the city, I can only say: Thank you.

The Good Wurst Company

Location: 3001 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205

Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood

Writer: Devna Bose

What I ate: House Frankfurter with spicy mustard and relish, Belgian Frites and a Diet Coke

Price: $11.26

I’m attached to the Good Wurst’s heated patio — during the first few months of the pandemic, which were my first few months in Charlotte, it was the only place my new friends and I felt safe enough to eat. And it’s still one of my favorites. When I get that 5 p.m. “Let’s meet at Good Wurst” text, I know I’m in for a good meal with good people. I get a house dog and add whatever toppings I like, depending on the day. And I’m a sucker for their curry sauce, so the Belgian Frites are a must. Try the Bali Dog if you’re in the mood for something a little spicier, and you can’t go wrong with the Reuben Fries. (If you ask nicely, they’ll even switch out the fries for tots.)

Haberdish

Location: 3106 North Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205

Neighborhood: NoDa

Writer: Gordon Rago

What I ate: Nashville hot chicken

Price: $13

As a Yankee, I never got to enjoy good fried chicken until moving to the South. I heard about Haberdish before moving to Charlotte in late October and knew it was a place I wanted to check out. The Nashville-style hot chicken was simply divine: crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Every last bite was delicious, and I can’t wait to go back. The Nashville style hot sauce is made in house and was spicy but not overbearing if you’re someone who likes a little heat with your meal.

Jinya Ramen Bar

Location: 601 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202

Neighborhood: Uptown

Writer: DeAnna Taylor

What I ate: Wonton Chicken Ramen + Brussels sprouts tempura

Price: $13.50, $6.95

As someone who loves all types of Asian cuisines, Jinya’s ramen was a standout for me this year. The broth was very flavorful, and the staff added plenty of wontons to fill you up. I couldn’t eat the whole bowl in one sitting! Pro-tip: You’ll want to add a side (or two) of the tempura Brussels sprouts. Trust me.

Leah & Louise

Location: 300 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC 28206

Neighborhood: Camp North End/Druid Hills South

Writer: Kristen Kornbluth

What I ate: Rich Boys

Price: $12

My girlfriend, Sara, and I visited Leah & Louise in late August. We shared the Rich Boys, which are fried oyster sliders, plus grits with turkey and charred okra with a tomato sauce. We both enjoyed some flavorful cocktails, as well. Mine featured chamomile-infused vodka, dill, rosemary and cava.

Little Mama’s

Location: 4521 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28211

Neighborhood: SouthPark

Writer: Laurie Larsh

What I ate: Mozzarella presentation and Prosciutto San Daniele

Price: $21, $8

The mozzarella presentation at Little Mama’s is worth a standing ovation. The melt-in-your-mouth, house-made mozzarella comes out warm and drizzled with olive oil and sea salt. You can choose two accompaniments from a list of seven on the menu, but if you skip the tomatoes and basil you are a fool. For an extra treat, add an order of the thinly sliced Prosciutto San Daniele to pair with it. You’ll want to eat the entire thing yourself, but it is definitely a group undertaking.

Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails

Location: 300 Technology Center Way, Suite #203, Rock Hill, SC 29730

Neighborhood: Old Town Rock Hill

Writer: Heidi Finley

What I ate: Country Fried Steak, braised cabbage, braised butter beans

Price: $18

Now, I’m going to cheat on this a little. I took my friend Nancy out for a birthday dinner, and this was actually her meal. But she’s my favorite friend to eat with because we often split things half and half to share, so I got to experience the heavenly bites that chef Chris Coleman put together with this Country Fried Steak. It’s bathed in luxuriously smooth gravy, and the pickled jalapeno has just enough acid to round it out so it’s not overly heavy. The braised cabbage had that effect, too — it was unexpectedly tart, but in a way that kept me reaching across the table for another bite.

Pinky’s Westside Grill

Location: 1600 W. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28208

Neighborhood: Wesley Heights

Writer: Jonathan Limehouse

What I ate: The Big John, a 6 ounce grilled chicken breast with Swiss, bacon, honey mustard, lettuce and tomato, and Sweet Potato Chips.

Price: $9.25, $2.95

The sizzling of the hot grilled chicken and assortment of toppings on the Big John make it one of my favorite dishes to order at Pinky’s Westside Grill. This is the best grilled chicken sandwich in Charlotte, and it’s even better when paired with a side of sweet potato chips. I am usually a Chick-Fil-A type of guy, but this sandwich is on a different level. Not to mention, I didn’t break the bank buying it either — the price is fairly reasonable.

The Warmack

Location: 1226 Central Ave., Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28204

Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood

Writer: Ebony L. Morman

What I ate: Salmon Brussels Sprouts Bowl

Price: $25

I visited The Warmack during its soft opening earlier this year. When I arrived, I was immediately blown away by the atmosphere. The lightning, decor and the elaborate bar added to the experience. I had high hopes for the food, and The Warmack delivered. The Salmon Brussels Sprouts Bowl was amazing. The Brussels, salmon and rice were cooked to perfection, and it’s quite difficult to get those three items cooked specifically to my liking. As I write this, I’m silently kicking myself because I haven’t been back to The Warmack since.

This story was originally published December 22, 2021 at 6:00 AM.