These are the best meals you ate at Charlotte restaurants in 2025
After a long year of eating all over Charlotte, digging into everyday meals and truly memorable dishes alike, we like to look back and give credit to where it’s due.
Charlotte restaurants work hard, day in and day out, to nourish our bellies — and our spirits — with all kinds of food. And we couldn’t be more thankful.
We shared all our favorite meals of 2025, which included food truck tacos, pad Thai and tasting menus. But who could just stop there? We wanted to hear all about your best bites of the year, too.
Here are the best meals of the year that you shared with us, with answers edited for clarity. And cheers to another year of good eats yet to come!
Aqua e Vino
Location: 4219 Providence Rd #3993, Charlotte, NC 28211
Writer: Steve Weaver
What was ordered: Five-course wine dinner (price varies)
Outstanding food — not your “regular” Italian, but like taking a trip to the Piedmont area of Italy and having your chef explain everything you are eating. It was accompanied with pairing wines from the region, and a wine merchant from Italy explained everything about the grapes, the terroir and the process. Just a fantastic meal, and having traveled in this area, it was like going back again!
Writer: Cindy Thies
What was ordered: We had the lasagna ($32), eggplant ($26), veal ($46) and the chicken how Nonna makes it ($30).
The food and the service were amazing.
Bernardin’s
Location: 435 S Tryon St #100, Charlotte, NC 28202
Writer: Lawrence Bump
What was ordered: Lobster ravioli ($45)
Sauce is awesome, and it’s served with a 6 oz. lobster tail.
Burton’s Grill & Bar
Location: 1601 E Woodlawn Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209
Location: 9816-J Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 8908 Lindholm Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078
Writer: Rebekah Woodward
What was ordered: The crab cakes ($39.50) are my all-time favorite.
Dining out is hard for someone with food allergies. Burton’s knows how to pamper gluten-free customers. Their allergy friendly menu carries a wide variety of choices.
Cheats Cheesesteaks
Location: 913 Pecan Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 2137 Hawkins St., Charlotte, NC 28203
Writer: Tony Pagnotta
What was ordered: Sweet Lew’s Brisket ($20.99)
Dilworth Tasting Room
Location: 300 E Tremont Ave., Charlotte, NC 28203
Location: 4905 Ashley Park Lane, Charlotte, NC 28210
Location: 1413 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Writer: Danielle Mercer
What was ordered: Caviar service ($105), grilled octopus (currently off menu)
My favorite meal is at the Dilworth Tasting Room. They have the best caviar and spread ever!!
Fin and Fino - Birkdale
Location: 8630 Lindholm Drive ,Huntersville NC 28078
Writer: Dave McCabe
What was ordered: The Treatment ($70)
Several courses of menu items and some off-menu chef created items.
L’Ostrica
Location: 4701 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209
Writer: Karen McKinney
What was ordered: Tasting menu (price varies)
Creative and refined tasting menu — there is a story with each dish.
Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails
Location: 1320 South Church St., Unit 400, Charlotte, NC 28203
Writer: Heather Hamilton
What was ordered: Wagyu ($36)
One of the reasons I love Lincoln Street is that it is trendy but never chasing trends. It has this effortless cool girl energy that makes you feel like you stepped out of Charlotte in all the right ways. This wagyu has always been one of my favorites, but with the new executive chef I am officially obsessed. The beef is unbelievably tender and rich, the kind of bite that feels confident without trying too hard. Then you hit the confit leeks, and it is just yummmmmm. Soft, sweet and a burst of flavor. The celeriac mousseline is silky and warm, and the bordelaise brings everything together with that deep, savory finish. It is one of those dishes that makes you pause and think, how is this even in my city. It is elevated, cool and exactly why I keep coming back. One of the most underrated spots in town!
Writer: Kathryn Winland
What was ordered: Steak frites ($34)
What made this meal the best was how a classic dish managed to feel unforgettable. The steak was perfectly cooked, tender and full of flavor. The fries were tallow fried and incredibly crisp, which is rare to find since most restaurants use seed oils. Knowing Lincoln Street is fully seed-oil free makes the dish taste even better because you can trust what you are eating. I recommend the steak frites to anyone who asks where to eat. It is the dish that brings me back again and again because it always hits exactly the way you want it to.
Writer: Sharon Hargrove
What was ordered: Shrimp & Grits ($16)
I travel a lot, and I love low country food, so I have eaten my fair share of shrimp and grits. Lincoln Street has hands down the best in Charlotte. Honestly, they are better than any I have had in Savannah or Charleston. The grits are creamy in that perfect, slow cooked way. The shrimp are tender and full of flavor, not overworked or rubbery like so many versions out there. But the real magic is the sauce. It is rich but still bright, with vegetables that add just enough freshness to keep every bite interesting. It is the kind of dish that makes you stop halfway through and say, this is it. This plate alone is worth the trip. It is comfort, craft and a little bit of low country nostalgia all in one.
Writer: Unknown
What was order: Steak sandwich ($22)
The steak sandwich at Lincoln Street is everything you need and more. The steak is always perfectly medium rare, and the sandwich comes with delicious caramelized onions and a horseradish sauce. Paired with some delicious beef tallow fries, you can’t beat this, especially for only $20!
Maiz Agua Sal
Location: 1018 Jay St. Suite 110, Charlotte, NC 28208
Writer: Savannah Lavengood
What was ordered: Huevos Rancheros ($14) + Bloody Maria ($12)
What made this meal the best was how comforting and energizing it felt in one plate. The Huevos Rancheros came stacked just right, with a crispy tostada base, rich refried pinto beans, perfectly fried eggs, bright salsa and a pop of pickled onions that woke everything up. Chef’s kiss — so flavorful. Just the right amount of food, you feel satisfied without feeling like you over did it! Nothing like this dish and Spicy Bloody Maria with my girls to make me feel like I’m back on vacation on a girls trip in Mexico without leaving CLT.
Writer: Ian Perry
What was ordered: Conchinita Pibil ($24)
While I think this is one of the best restaurants in Charlotte and love pretty much everything on the menu, the new Conchinita Pibil is off the chain. The pork is so tender it barely needs a fork, all bright citrus and warm spice, the kind of flavor that makes you take a pause and go wait, this is incredible. And the grilled pineapple salsa. That little bit of char, the sweetness, the pop of acidity, it pulls the whole plate together. I kept scooping more onto each bite because it just made everything hit even harder. I have been telling everyone to order this dish. It is comforting, a little fun and honestly one of the best things I ate all year.
Writer: Grace Nystrom
What was ordered: Avocado Lime Agua Fresca ($5+)
The Avocado Lime Agua Fresca arrived looking simple, but the first sip stopped me. Bright lime, velvety smooth avocado, light sweetness, all so. It was the kind of flavor that wakes you up in the best way. That drink set the tone, turning a normal Tuesday into one of those rare meals where you feel completely present and happy to be exactly where you are. We slowed down. We laughed more. We ordered extra dishes just to keep the night going. I have recommended that agua fresca to more people than I can count. It turned a random Tuesday into the highlight of my dining year and reminded me that sometimes the smallest thing is the thing you remember most. It has kept me coming back at least once a week or anytime I need a pick me up.
Osteria LuCa
Location: Park Road Shopping Center, 4127 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209
Writer: Mark Colone, Belmont, NC
What was ordered: Eggplant ($25)
Red Rocks
Location: 4223 Providence Rd #8, Charlotte, NC 28211
Location: 8712 Lindholm Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078
Writer: Diane Ross
What was ordered: Filet ($55)
Cooked perfectly, paired with a chopped salad and veggie.
Sante
Location: 165 N. Trade St, .Matthews, NC 28105
Writer: Elizabeth Hardin
What was ordered: Vegetarian plate ($20)
Vegetables! I have many food reactions — I’m a restaurant’s least favorite customer. But chef Adam Reed and Sante provided an excellent meal of fresh green beans, broccoli and wild rice, prepared deliciously within the restrictions I have. Fresh local produce, made wonderfully to order.
Supperland
Location: 1212 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
Writers: Susan and John Winter-Hallman
What was ordered: Brunch ($65 per person)
There was so much to enjoy. The displays were beautiful. The delicious salmon appetizers, the tasty salads and wide assortment of eggs and breakfast meats. The waiters were on top of their game. The atmosphere is incredible. And lest we forget, the cocktails were fabulous!
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
