Got family visiting? These Charlotte restaurants can show them a slice of the Queen City
So you’ve got a bunch of family members in town, visiting Charlotte for the holidays. Now, the task at hand is to keep everyone happy and fed, and try to show them a bit of the city while you’re at it.
There are plenty of restaurants that can highlight some of the most amazing food the Charlotte area has to offer. The trick is offering a variety of suggestions to keep everyone in your crew happy.
If you’re looking for a burgers and beer spot for your dad and your brothers, we’ve got that. And if you’re looking for a great Italian place to take your picky, pasta-loving sister-in-law, we’ve got that, too. Plus, many other suggestions for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
When you’ve got a variety of folks to feed and you want to get out and about, here are our restaurant suggestions on where to take them in the Charlotte area:
Where to eat breakfast or brunch
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day — especially when you’ve stayed up a little too late with cocktails and board games or if there’s children in your midst who pop up early, ready to start the day.
Some spots to consider:
- The Crazy Pig in Lake Norman
- Deluxe Fun Dining or Church and Union in uptown Charlotte
- Mattie’s Diner near NoDa and Plaza Hills
- Yummm Donut in South Charlotte or Gastonia
Where to hang out for a few hours
Of course, a trip to Charlotte wouldn’t really be complete without a stop to a brewery, and they’re great places to hang out with siblings or cousins for a while. Several also have options for non-beer drinkers that include cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.
We love them all, but here are just few to consider:
- Legion Brewing in FreeMoreWest, SouthPark, Plaza Midwood or South End
- NoDa Brewing in North End
- Resident Culture in South End, Plaza Midwood or uptown Charlotte
- Triple C Brewing in South End
Where to go for classic Charlotte vibes
If you want to show your guests a little Charlotte history, there are several Charlotte Classic Eats restaurants that have stood the test of time — and it’s hard to go wrong with any of them.
Consider these eateries:
- Beef ‘N Bottle in Collingwood
- The Diamond in Plaza Midwood
- Open Kitchen in FreeMoreWest
- Sub One Hoagie House in uptown Charlotte
Where to grab lunch
When you’re itching to get out of the house mid-day, packing up the group and heading to lunch makes for a good break that comes with the opportunity for showing off the city.
Here’s where we’d go for crowd pleasing bites:
- Comet Grill in Dilworth
- Halal Street Food at Camp North End, uptown Charlotte or MoRA
- Little Mama’s in SouthPark or South Charlotte
- Tacos El Nevado on Central Avenue or Collingwood
Where to pick up family meals
Sure, you could take it easy and pick up a Bo Box — Bojangles is based in Charlotte, after all. But there are plenty of restaurants with family meals and meal prep places that can help out when you’ve blown through the holiday ham and green bean casserole.
We suggest:
- Ace No. 3 in Belmont, Concord or Myers Park
- Calle Sol in Plaza Midwood or South Park
- Que Onda in Huntersville, Matthews, Plaza Midwood, University City or uptown Charlotte
- The Smoke Pit in Concord, Gastonia, Monroe or Salisbury
Where to take fancy friends
Exceptional fine dining restaurants and upscale eateries are all over the Charlotte area, so it’s hard to narrow them down. Reservations might also be hard to come by this time of year, but we’ve checked availability and plucked out a few spots we think are worth trying to get into when you’ve got visitors you’d like to impress.
Check into:
- 3rd & Fernwood at Metropolitan
- Counter- in FreeMoreWest
- Customshop in Elizabeth
- Kindred in Davidson
Where to take kids
If you’re not used to having kids around, the biggest thing to know about keeping them happy at mealtime — with some exceptions, of course — involves the four food groups: burgers, chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and pizza. Let us also save you the trouble and note that, no, they don’t want a break from their screens. Go ahead and pick it up.
Some options to think about are:
- Bang Bang Burgers in Elizabeth or South End
- Metro Diner in Huntersville, Matthews, South Charlotte or Southside Park/Lower South End
- Nana Morrison’s near Charlotte Douglas International Airport or Mountain Island
- Empire Pizza in Fort Mill, Rock Hill, South Charlotte or Mint Hill
Where to take picky eaters
When in doubt, find somewhere that has options for everyone. Charlotte offers food halls in several corners of the city with a variety of food vendors sure to please the pickiest of eaters, along with those who are more adventurous.
Here are a few:
- Alley 51 in Pineville
- Monarch Market or The Alley at Latta Arcade in uptown Charlotte
- Optimist Hall in Optimist Park
Where to take vegans
Charlotte’s vegan restaurants have been on a rollercoaster ride of openings and closings this year, so last year’s favorite spots might not be your current go-tos. There are standout options for every plant-based palate, however.
Some of our favorites include:
- Mike’s Vegan Grill in University City
- Oh My Soul in Plaza Midwood
- Sanctuary Bistro in South Charlotte
- Veggeez in Waxhaw
Where to take vegetarians
Vegetarian options can be found all over in Charlotte — not just in its vegan restaurants. Our list of some of the city’s best vegetarian meals offers a variety of cuisine options, including African, Chinese, Indian and Mediterranean food.
Recommended restaurants include:
- Athens Pizza & Kabob in Stallings
- Blu Star Grill in Mooresville
- Kid Cashew in Dilworth
