Where are the best walk-up windows and local drive-in/drive-thru restaurants in Charlotte?
Tiny wine windows were created in Italy during the plague of 1629. And food walk-up windows were added all around Charlotte during the Covid of 19.
As much as I’d love to be wandering the streets of Florence almost 400 years later and have a glass of Chianti Classico appear through a tiny window, so would I love to see these walk-up windows remain in Charlotte long after the threat of the virus passes.
Standing in line inside Brooks’ Sandwich House used to be practically an acrobatics feat. If you were waiting in the back row, you were likely moving your head around the shoulders of the tall person in front of you, trying to glimpse at the menu. If you’d ordered your food, you wanted to be out of everyone’s way but still in hearing distance for your name. If you needed the ATM, you were asking for perpendicular shoulder room in the center of a parallel line.
Now, while waiting at the NoDa shop’s walk-up window line to order your chili burger and then a second window for pickup, you get the benefit of fresh air and space from others — as much as you need — while still being able to say hi to fellow hungry friends.
Places that offer online ordering have mastered efficiency in the walk-up. At Velvet Taco’s new South End spot, you won’t even be tempted to pay delivery fees when you can just place the order on your phone and get a text message when it’s ready. Just steps away from your car is the walk-up window, where you’ll ring the doorbell and be handed your dinner. You’ll be home enjoying your Grilled Flank Steak tacos before they even think about getting cold. Or eat them in the car, we won’t judge.
CharlotteFive’s Sonia Rio, Heidi Finley, Anna Douglas and I started a list in 2020 of the best local spots in and around Charlotte with walk-up windows and drive-thrus.
Here’s an updated version:
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, meaning no more crowding into the small space to order your favorite double cheeseburger all the way (chili, mustard and onions). This place is too blessed to be stressed, including the waiting in line part.
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 its drive-thru and walk-up service locations.
Calle Sol
Location: 1205 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Commonwealth
What to know: If you’re skipping the rum flights tonight but you’re still craving a good Cuban sandwich with a side of Mariquitas (fried green plantain chips with cilantro aioli), place your order online and swing by the restaurant’s walk-up window to pick up dinner.
[Related: Calle Sol will expand to SouthPark, serving Cuban and Peruvian cuisine in its second spot]
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 a farm-to-table Barn Burger at Bleu Barn. 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.
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.
The Good Wurst Company
Location: 3001 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Country Club Heights
What to know: This place is so renowned that it got a nod from The Charlotte Observer’s Devna Bose as the best meal she ate all year last year. She recommends the house dog, Belgian Frites — and the curry sauce, of course.
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 way to get your doughnut fix 24/7.
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. That’s a good thing, because “inside” is a former storage closet!
[LET’S TALK DOUGHNUTS: Find the best doughnuts in the Charlotte area using our interactive guide]
Rico’s Acai
Location: 917 Pecan Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Chantilly
What to know: If you’re craving a sweet and 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 its 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.
[VISIT SMELLY CAT: How to get an indoor reservation at the NoDa coffee shop.]
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.
Velvet Taco
Location: 2170 Hawkins St., Charlotte, North Carolina 28203
Neighborhood: Brookhill/South End
What to know: You probably already know and love the Optimist Hall location for Velvet Taco. While the food stall is also convenient for grab-n-go, nothing beats the walk-up window on the outside of the building at the new South End location.
Villani’s Bakery
Location: 901 Pecan Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Chantilly
What to know: Order a fresh pastry, macaron or cup of coffee at the 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 curbside delivery, or place your order at the outdoor walk-up window in a tiny building that once served as a key shop.
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 5:55 AM.
