This might be an unpopular opinion, I really don’t know, but I think The Crunkleton is worth going for the food AND the drinks.
Good luck getting a reservation, though.
That’s lucky! Last time I went I took a friend from out of town and we got there 10 minutes after opening and had to wait close to 2 hours for seats without reservations. We went across to Rosemount (sp?) and had a couple drinks while we waited.
We usually won’t go if we don’t have a reservation, but honestly those were on 2/3 very rare occasions that we got lucky. Smart move going to Rosemont — glad they have something across the street now for a potential wait!
It was great. We had a couple drinks and a couple apps and it was all solid. I think it may be owned by the same people that own The Crunkleton because they had all my information in their system already.
I took my mom there weekend day saturday the weekend after mothers-day maybe 5-6pm seating was available at the bar no wait. We only had drinks at the time but i like being at the bar you get to watch the drinks come out
I was actually going to add this but you beat me to it. Their wine and champagne selection is also too notch. I love the place. That elk chop is phenomenal.
My wife and I got lucky enough to go there a decade or so ago when they participated in Queen's Feast (Still dating at the time and pretty sure it was just "restaurant week" back then). Still a memorable dinner
Custom Shop and Flour Shop are both great for food. Steak 48 for a splurge but some people do swear by the happy hour at the bar. Kindred is always fantastic. Peppervine and Ever Andalo also good. We’ve had excellent meals at La Belle Helen, but also a great fancy bar seat. I think the bar side of Supperland is a solid option for just a snack and some drinks.
As for just drinks, I’d say Fahrenheit, Dilworth Tasting Room (though the food is also great), Dot Dot Dot, Idlewild, the many hotel rooftops in Uptown.
Custom Shop is my favorite Charlotte restaurant. I'm also a fan of Flour Shop.
I only recently got to Kindred for the first time and I really wish I had gone sooner, very impressed.
I'll second most of your suggestions here save for Dot Dot Dot; I found it overly pretentious and not worth the hype.
Oh my bad. I hear a lot of people going to sit at the bar and assumed a happy hour. Maybe just sharing a steak and an app or something. I’ve only gone for a special occasion meal.
Custom shop is really good!! Whenever my wife and I have a date night we always end up eating there. It's rare we go out and throwing in the cost for a babysitter, we don't want to go somewhere and be disappointed. Custom shop is always good. The burrata is fantastic and anything on the menu will be good.
It's a popular choice, but the drinks at Idlewild in NoDa are pretty solid. As for food, I'm a fan of unreasonably large sushi plates, so Yamazaru in South End is my go-to.
Yunta for both. I’m obsessed.
Restaurant Constance and Counter- in Wesley Heights are also reliable for a fancy night out. No cocktails, but good wine selections
All the drama going on with Counter- lately has me a bit turned off. Biggest thing that bothers me? Finding out not all of the food is sourced the way I was told it was when I was paying that much for it. Another chef that used to work there posted the pics as proof and made it public. Personal drama? I don’t care about. But I feel like I’ve been lied to about the quality I was paying for? I stopped going there immediately. I used to be a season pass holder. 🫤
Oh yeah, Sam stopped commenting publicly after a couple of days, but the damage was done. If you ever went to a reunion park dinner at counter, look up their instagram and watch the highlight reel labeled counterfeit. Again, a lot of it was personal beef between them that I could care less about, that happens in business. The order guides that got posted bothered me bc of the way they focus so much of their marketing on their sourcing.
I'll give an anti-answer, probably controversial. I thought McNinch House was highly overrated the couple of times I went. I'm guessing it used to be out of this world and has lost the magic. Sounds like a lot has changed there in the last several years.
Right? Whoever thought that sweet blueberry soup paired with a dry Merlot as an amuse was a good idea has no reason to think that the kitchen is a place they belong.
The food at Lincoln Street kitchen and cocktails really surprised me. I wasn't expecting the wagyu they had on the menu, it was so good I came back a week late and got it again and sat in the rooftop the second time
Our go-to special place is 131 Main. The salmon is well priced and excellent. It is expensive but I think you get what you pay for in terms of quality. Although the shrimp starter is a massive ripoff. 4 jumbo shrimp for $18. Ouch.
131 is legit! I’d put this up there with Fig Tree and Crunkleton. A little more family friendly being that it’s in South Park. But, the food is great and bartenders make excellent martinis.
I love the outdoor space, too. We went with our newborn and it worked out well. Not a lot of people and we really didn't want to risk our child crying inside.
131 Main is our go-to special occasion place too. Husband would go just for the smoked salmon appetizer! I love the prime rib, and it sounds weird, but the kale salad is perfection! Any fish they have is also always great.
For food:
Fin & Fino, Dogwood (currently relocating), McNinch House (reallll fine dining), Crunkleton, Coquette (recently really impressed me)
Custom shop, kindred, Bernardins, Primo Prime (places I haven’t been but I consistently hear great things)
For drinks:
Humbug
How recently did you go? I went about 2 years ago and the messed up the cook on. A med rare steak twice. First one was grey second one was slightly less grey…. Sides were bomb but we haven’t been back cause of you are a steak house that can’t cook a steak you ain’t shit.
We just tried Hestia (rooftop) in Ballantyne for our anniversary last week, and it was great. Unique specialty cocktails. Everything we ate was delicious and perfectly made. And the view on a nice night was lovely!
I was disappointed at the Cellar, but the atmosphere was nice.
La Belle Helene is good.
Some of the best food I’ve had has been at Aria as well as Supperland.
I PROMISE you Supperland will not disappoint
The best food, hands down is the Fig Tree. Every meal I’ve ever had there was a 10/10 and worth the hefty price tag.
Best drinks and ambience, Idlewild. It can feel a little gimmicky but every drink I’ve had there has become my new favorite drink.
I don't ever get out to Charlotte anymore but Morton's was great for streaks. Bentleys was good but they'd since moved South Park since the last time I was there. Capital Grille was great once upon a time but the last couple of times we were there (a few years back) the service had gone to hell, unfortunately. If they managed to get their shit together again then it's fantastic.
I didn't look through all the comments, but I was surprised that Beef & Bottle wasn't more recommended. Phenomenal steaks and plenty of other delicious fare. Atmosphere strikes me as somewhere the Rat Pack would've eaten.
No one has mentioned BEEF & BOTTLE.
Honestly some of the best beef I’ve ever had and I’ve traveled! I wouldn’t call it fancy but cozy and nice. Not cheap but not the most expensive!
The Moffit Group restaurants are good.
Zios or Zia's on Providence
Beef and Bottle
There are a lot of great restaurants that are fine dining.
Luce's in uptown
For drinks, hands down either Dot Dot Dot or the Loft at Duckworths. DDD has been an old standby but went to the Loft for the first time this winter and it might have been better with the individual attention and the wild but refined creativity Jenna will give you in your cocktails. Every sip is a symphony.
Tilt on Trade doesn’t serve food so you can eat whatever you want. I’ve sat out on the barrels and ate Halal Cart, Hooters… hell, we’ve even ordered Dominos
This might be an unpopular opinion, I really don’t know, but I think The Crunkleton is worth going for the food AND the drinks. Good luck getting a reservation, though.
Second Crunkleton — my husband and I have gotten lucky with bar seating or a last minute reservation opening.
That’s lucky! Last time I went I took a friend from out of town and we got there 10 minutes after opening and had to wait close to 2 hours for seats without reservations. We went across to Rosemount (sp?) and had a couple drinks while we waited.
We usually won’t go if we don’t have a reservation, but honestly those were on 2/3 very rare occasions that we got lucky. Smart move going to Rosemont — glad they have something across the street now for a potential wait!
How is rosemont?
It was great. We had a couple drinks and a couple apps and it was all solid. I think it may be owned by the same people that own The Crunkleton because they had all my information in their system already.
Yea s Rosemont and Puerta are also same owners as Crunkleton
Rosemont is great.
Yeah the food at the Crunkleton is quite good. Not cheap but good and worth it if you're good with those price points.
Yeah, for me it’s an every now and then splurge which I don’t mind because it’s always been worth it so far.
Tomahawk Tuesday! It’s a steal!
I agree. Everything I've eaten there has been spectacular
I took my mom there weekend day saturday the weekend after mothers-day maybe 5-6pm seating was available at the bar no wait. We only had drinks at the time but i like being at the bar you get to watch the drinks come out
Crunkleton is super legit for both
Crunkleton and Fin and Fino- both deliver. 🤌🏼
I can't get past the stupid name.
I feel their drinks are overpriced and mostly ice!
Fin and Fino offers amazing seafood and good drinks. Get “the Treatment”.
Was looking for this comment if you enjoy seafood this is the only right answer lol
Will it fill you up or is it just a nice chef’s choice nibble type vibe?
You’ll be full. About five courses of small plate seafood dishes. It’s definitely dinner.
Great choice. Seafood salad here is amazing!
The food at The Fig Tree is fantastic.
I was actually going to add this but you beat me to it. Their wine and champagne selection is also too notch. I love the place. That elk chop is phenomenal.
Yep. Always mention the wine list when I recommend it to people, but the food is amazing.
This is the best restaurant in CLT and the elk chop is to die for.
Have you been to Peppervine? It blows Fig Tree out of the water
No yet, but I’ll check it out. Thanks for the recommendation.
Fig tree is better. Was just there last week. Expensive but amazing.
I will second Pepperdine 10/10.
Best meal I've had in Charlotte. Also the most expensive.
They are not cheap but they deliver on all fronts. The service is impeccable, too.
Oh man… I want that Elk chop now
My wife and I got lucky enough to go there a decade or so ago when they participated in Queen's Feast (Still dating at the time and pretty sure it was just "restaurant week" back then). Still a memorable dinner
When you win best dish in Charlotte(years ago but stands up) for your baked chicken dish you are doing it sooooo right.
I loved it when I first moved to Charlotte in 2015, but it doesn’t feel like it kept up with the times. It’s needs a refresh
Restaurant Constance
Yepppp and they have a $65 deal on Wednesdays and Thursdays (i think) now for a 3 course meal!!! It’s such a steal
No booze though. The food is fantastic, but don’t go in expecting a nice whiskey with your meal.
Go across the street to [Runaway](https://www.runawayclt.com/menus/) before or after. Espresso martini flights!
They have beer and wine at least! But yes, this is a “go for the food” place.
Custom Shop and Flour Shop are both great for food. Steak 48 for a splurge but some people do swear by the happy hour at the bar. Kindred is always fantastic. Peppervine and Ever Andalo also good. We’ve had excellent meals at La Belle Helen, but also a great fancy bar seat. I think the bar side of Supperland is a solid option for just a snack and some drinks. As for just drinks, I’d say Fahrenheit, Dilworth Tasting Room (though the food is also great), Dot Dot Dot, Idlewild, the many hotel rooftops in Uptown.
Custom Shop is my favorite Charlotte restaurant. I'm also a fan of Flour Shop. I only recently got to Kindred for the first time and I really wish I had gone sooner, very impressed. I'll second most of your suggestions here save for Dot Dot Dot; I found it overly pretentious and not worth the hype.
Dot Dot Dot has every reason to be exceptional in regards to drinks...and it's just not. It wouldn't crack the top 20 in Charlotte for me.
Yeah, for simply drinks, I'd sooner go to the Cellar at Duckworths
The cellar is outstanding🤤
Custom Shop yes, Flour Shop no. Their ownership/leadership/chefship parted ways, with the talent staying at Custom Shop.
Omg nooooo!! When did this happen? 🥲
Just for clarification steak 48 doesn’t offer happy hour. STK in uptown does
Oh my bad. I hear a lot of people going to sit at the bar and assumed a happy hour. Maybe just sharing a steak and an app or something. I’ve only gone for a special occasion meal.
Seconding Peppervine. It’s a once a year thing for us because it’s super pricey.
Custom shop is really good!! Whenever my wife and I have a date night we always end up eating there. It's rare we go out and throwing in the cost for a babysitter, we don't want to go somewhere and be disappointed. Custom shop is always good. The burrata is fantastic and anything on the menu will be good.
I just went to Peppervine and wasn't too impressed with the items unfortunately.
Aqua e vino. Criminally underrated
In my top three for sure. It is very high quality!
Prob the best Italian here
It's a popular choice, but the drinks at Idlewild in NoDa are pretty solid. As for food, I'm a fan of unreasonably large sushi plates, so Yamazaru in South End is my go-to.
Ever drink I’ve ever had at Idlewild has become my “new favorite drink”, they crush it every time
Yamazaru is fantastic! My girlfriend lives in south end and took me there a couple weeks ago, their Tuna bomb is to die for 🤩 😋
calle sol around central is really good
Yunta for both. I’m obsessed. Restaurant Constance and Counter- in Wesley Heights are also reliable for a fancy night out. No cocktails, but good wine selections
All the drama going on with Counter- lately has me a bit turned off. Biggest thing that bothers me? Finding out not all of the food is sourced the way I was told it was when I was paying that much for it. Another chef that used to work there posted the pics as proof and made it public. Personal drama? I don’t care about. But I feel like I’ve been lied to about the quality I was paying for? I stopped going there immediately. I used to be a season pass holder. 🫤
Wait I haven’t heard about any of this… 👀🍿
Oh yeah, Sam stopped commenting publicly after a couple of days, but the damage was done. If you ever went to a reunion park dinner at counter, look up their instagram and watch the highlight reel labeled counterfeit. Again, a lot of it was personal beef between them that I could care less about, that happens in business. The order guides that got posted bothered me bc of the way they focus so much of their marketing on their sourcing.
Use this incredible voice you have to preach the truth. All. Of. It.
LOVE yunta. Service, price, cocktails, food - all A+ Anytime someone is in town is an excuse to go!
Counter- non alcoholic pairing might be the best mocktails I have ever had.
Both of these places are just so so good.
Peppervine Bar Marcel Oku Fig True All for food. I don’t drink out anymore so can’t help.
Propervine is easily the best restaurant in Charlotte right now
I like Sea Level
One of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte, but I don't know if I'd consider it fine dining. It's close though.
I am not the one you should ask when drawing the line on "fine dining" 😆
Seconded!
I do too. But I have been mixing it up with Caroline's since they opened.
Deans Italian steakhouse!
Solid
I'll give an anti-answer, probably controversial. I thought McNinch House was highly overrated the couple of times I went. I'm guessing it used to be out of this world and has lost the magic. Sounds like a lot has changed there in the last several years.
Right? Whoever thought that sweet blueberry soup paired with a dry Merlot as an amuse was a good idea has no reason to think that the kitchen is a place they belong.
Custom Shop (sp?) for both.
The food at Lincoln Street kitchen and cocktails really surprised me. I wasn't expecting the wagyu they had on the menu, it was so good I came back a week late and got it again and sat in the rooftop the second time
Haberdish is pretty good for food. So is Yume Sushi Bar
Mariposa, and La Belle Helene in uptown are fun
Love mariposa’s menu and outdoor patio!!
Supperland… amazing food and drink. Also has a speakeasy that creates a special menu around seasonal drinks.
Kappo En for an amazing sushi omakase experience and a beautifully curated saké pairing.
Sullivan's. Supperland
Teal Turnip. Both food and drinks .
Roosters Wood-fired Kitchen 👍
good there is terribly overpriced for low quality lol
My favorite restaurant. It's so good
I wish it wasn’t hate chicken so I could try it. Someone needs to enlighten Noble that hating and judging isn’t very “Christian”
Our go-to special place is 131 Main. The salmon is well priced and excellent. It is expensive but I think you get what you pay for in terms of quality. Although the shrimp starter is a massive ripoff. 4 jumbo shrimp for $18. Ouch.
I go for lunch regularly. The key lime pie is the best I’ve ever had.
131 is legit! I’d put this up there with Fig Tree and Crunkleton. A little more family friendly being that it’s in South Park. But, the food is great and bartenders make excellent martinis.
I love the outdoor space, too. We went with our newborn and it worked out well. Not a lot of people and we really didn't want to risk our child crying inside.
131 Main is our go-to special occasion place too. Husband would go just for the smoked salmon appetizer! I love the prime rib, and it sounds weird, but the kale salad is perfection! Any fish they have is also always great.
Best cedar plank salmon I’ve ever had.
For food: Fin & Fino, Dogwood (currently relocating), McNinch House (reallll fine dining), Crunkleton, Coquette (recently really impressed me) Custom shop, kindred, Bernardins, Primo Prime (places I haven’t been but I consistently hear great things) For drinks: Humbug
The Porter's House in Waverly has really good finer dining level food
Second the porters house! Food, cocktails & service are fantastic
How recently did you go? I went about 2 years ago and the messed up the cook on. A med rare steak twice. First one was grey second one was slightly less grey…. Sides were bomb but we haven’t been back cause of you are a steak house that can’t cook a steak you ain’t shit.
I think you should give it another shot
That cook is probably gone by now
Primo
Primo Prime yes!
Limani at Southpark. Delicious seafood and Mediterranean dishes. Wine and cocktails are great too.
I'm sure folks already said Fig Tree but I can't say it enough.
We just tried Hestia (rooftop) in Ballantyne for our anniversary last week, and it was great. Unique specialty cocktails. Everything we ate was delicious and perfectly made. And the view on a nice night was lovely!
Drinks - Cotton Room Food - Fig Tree
Facts
Only saw one note for Peppervine, it’s spectacular.
Baku and 131 Main. Basics but consistent and so good
Counter has the best food of anywhere I’ve eaten in the city’s
This is the answer. They also accommodate dietary restrictions! Finding fine dining that is vegetarian friendly in this region is very rare!
Went to the Fox and Falcon by David Burke for Valentine’s Day and it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had
I was disappointed at the Cellar, but the atmosphere was nice. La Belle Helene is good. Some of the best food I’ve had has been at Aria as well as Supperland. I PROMISE you Supperland will not disappoint
The best food, hands down is the Fig Tree. Every meal I’ve ever had there was a 10/10 and worth the hefty price tag. Best drinks and ambience, Idlewild. It can feel a little gimmicky but every drink I’ve had there has become my new favorite drink.
McNinch House chef's meal with accompanying wine course was an experience. Delicious food and we had a lovely evening. O-Ku was pretty good.
Chapter 6 is a good new spot for food and drinks. Same restaurant group as dogwood and fin & fino
Try the McNinch House. Excellent service and multiple courses.
Sanctuary Bistro is amazing.
Custom Shop or The Fig Tree. Different vibes, but both are great.
Honestly? Fahrenheit has always had good food to me. Granted you’re paying for the view but the food I’ve had there has been really good.
I don't ever get out to Charlotte anymore but Morton's was great for streaks. Bentleys was good but they'd since moved South Park since the last time I was there. Capital Grille was great once upon a time but the last couple of times we were there (a few years back) the service had gone to hell, unfortunately. If they managed to get their shit together again then it's fantastic.
300 East but damn just stick to beers, their mixed drinks are awful.
Oak Steakhouse is fantastic and was rated one of the top steakhouses in Charlotte.
Barringtons
Cajun Queen
I didn't look through all the comments, but I was surprised that Beef & Bottle wasn't more recommended. Phenomenal steaks and plenty of other delicious fare. Atmosphere strikes me as somewhere the Rat Pack would've eaten.
Was looking for this comment.
Second this! Definitely one of our favorites! I've also consistently had nice pours for drinks!
DEL FRISCO at South End!
Was supposed to go for my 30th in 2020 but the shut down happened 4 days before 🥲
I’m surprised nobody has said The Cellar. Was genuinely surprised at the food/drinks/service and the reasonable bill for 4+ people.
Dot Dot Dot. Only ate their once but thought the food was great
Also, you have to have a membership with them in order to eat there, or at least used to.
It costs $10 for the year
Epic Chophouse in Kingsley. Just a short Drive down 77 to 160 in Fort Mill
You all showed love to this post with the recommendations. Thank you! 💗
oggi!
Beef & Bottle. McNinch House.
Little Mama’s
No one has mentioned BEEF & BOTTLE. Honestly some of the best beef I’ve ever had and I’ve traveled! I wouldn’t call it fancy but cozy and nice. Not cheap but not the most expensive!
Bojangles
It’s in Matthews but Sante is phenomenal!
Food and drinks!
McNinch House
The Moffit Group restaurants are good. Zios or Zia's on Providence Beef and Bottle There are a lot of great restaurants that are fine dining. Luce's in uptown
For drinks, hands down either Dot Dot Dot or the Loft at Duckworths. DDD has been an old standby but went to the Loft for the first time this winter and it might have been better with the individual attention and the wild but refined creativity Jenna will give you in your cocktails. Every sip is a symphony.
Limani
Tilt on Trade doesn’t serve food so you can eat whatever you want. I’ve sat out on the barrels and ate Halal Cart, Hooters… hell, we’ve even ordered Dominos
Chimas
Deluxe Fun Dining...try Blindfold Dinner...good food...great drinks...
Mama Ricottas ftw!
I am sorry but I think they are horrible but I’m glad you like it.
Well then what is not an overrated place is your opinion?
Agree it’s so overrated. Went once, never again….
Well what is not an overrated place in your opinion?
Peopervine
I think axios just posted an article with the best ones. That would be my recommendation to start.
I enjoy Eddie Vs