Washington Post lists the best airport restaurants. Which spots did it choose for CLT?
The Washington Post recently released a list of the best restaurants at the 13 busiest airports in the United States, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport made the list.
The article featured three restaurants for each airport that fit under these categories: sit-down, quick-serve and wild card. Here are WaPo’s suggestions for when you’re flying in and out of Charlotte:
Captain Jack’s Tavern — a branch of Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — as the sit-down restaurant;
Bojangles as the quick serve restaurant; and
The Broken Spoke as the wild card restaurant.
Of course, we locals always know best, so we decided to add to the list. If you find yourself at the airport on a layover, here are some additional suggestions to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger:
1897 Market
Location: 5001 Josh Bringham Pkwy, Floor 1, Charlotte, NC 28208
Cuisine: American
How to order: dine-in, call 704-359-4555
Relax at 1897 Market, where you can put down your suitcase and have a cool drink paired with a nice breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try the Super Cheese handmade pizza — made with roasted tomato sauce topped with havarti, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses — the Charlotte Burger — an Angus steakburger topped with a barbecue aioli, white cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion — and the Salmon Salad — mixed greens topped with the house trail mix, cucumber, grape tomato and red quinoa with your choice of ranch, bleu cheese, balsamic or honey walnut.
American Express Centurion Lounge
Location: Intersection of Concourses D & E, mezzanine level, 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28208
Cuisine: American
How to order: dine-in
If you have an American Express Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you are eligible to dine and drink at the American Express Centurion Lounge. Enjoy a Southern-inspired breakfast, lunch or dinner made by James Beard Award-nominated chef Gregory Collier. The lunch menu includes Bone-In Chicken Thigh — made with Tennessee seasoning — Leah’s Cabbage — roasted cabbage and Andouille sausage topped with hot honey — and Creamy Whipped Root Veg — made with turnips, Yukon gold potatoes and topped with butter.
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Location: 5501 C Josh Bringham Concourse C, Gate 4, Charlotte, NC 28208
Cuisine: American, Burgers
How to order: Dine-in, call 704-359-4467 or order online
While waiting for your flight, visit Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. The restaurant offers original burger creations like the Bad Ass Burger — an Angus beef patty topped with American cheese, buttermilk fried bacon, horseradish mayo, lettuce, tomato and pickles. If burgers aren’t your taste, the restaurant offers other options such as Emilo’s Chicken — a buttermilk fried chicken breast topped with fresh mozzarella, jalapeño bacon, poblano pepper mayo, guacamole, shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato and red onion.
Brioche Dorée
Location: 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Concourse E, Level 1, Charlotte, NC 28208
Cuisine: Bakery, French, Pastries
How to order: Dine-in, call 704-359-4610
Stop by Brioche Dorée for a quick snack while you wait for your flight. The French bakery serves breakfast, lunch, pastry and dessert options. Fuel up for your early flight with one of the bakery’s breakfast options like the multigrain croissant with ham and cheese, bacon omelet croissant, spinach omelet croissant and ham omelet croissant. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, try one of the specialty pastries, which include cookies, scones, danish, apple turnover, chocolate croissant and biscuits.
Carolina Beer Co.
Location: 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Concourse D, Level 2, Charlotte, NC 28208
Cuisine: American, Bar
How to order: dine-in
Take a load off at Carolina Beer Co., where you can grab a beer from local breweries like Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Sugar Creek Brewing Company and Catawba Brewing Co. While you’re there, grab some food. Options include the Carolina Cobb salad — romaine lettuce topped with chopped bacon, cucumber, tomato, chopped egg, turkey, ham and cheddar jack cheese topped with avocado ranch dressing — and BBQ Beef Brisket — a telera roll topped with smoked beef brisket, caramelized onion, blue cheese and slaw.
NoDa Brewing Co.
Location: 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Terminal A, Charlotte, NC 28208
Cuisine: American, Beer
How to order: dine-in
NoDa Brewing Co. brings the taste of NoDa to you. Try one of the year-round beers like Hop Drop ‘N Roll — a West Coast-style IPA with a distinct juicy flavor — Coco Loco — a robust porter with a blend of chocolate and brown malts — and Jam Session — a pale ale that combines English and American malts.
Rhino Market & Deli
Location: 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, near Concourse A, Charlotte, NC 28208
Cuisine: American
How to order: dine-in
The airport is a fast-paced environment, and Rhino Market & Deli matches the pace perfectly. Whether you need a quick snack before your flight or want a nice meal, the market has you covered. Try the ABLT — your choice of bread topped with Boar’s Head Applewood smoked bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato and mayo — Chaud Legumes — ciabatta bread topped with grilled portabello mushroom, grilled zucchini, caramelized onion, roasted red peppers, Boar’s Head mozzarella, arugula and garlic aioli — and Spinach Bacon Salad — spinach topped with cranberries, goat cheese, tomatoes, toasted pecans, brown sugar peppered bacon and your choice of dressing.
This story was originally published September 16, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
