South Charlotte is a wonderfully quaint, residential neighborhood with dozens of restaurants focused on multi-ethnic cuisines. You’ll find restaurants in every range, so whether you feel like splurging on fancy New American cuisine or dabbling in casual Indian fare, there’s something to satisfy your hunger (and your wallet) here.
Beef and Bottle
Judging by the name, you might not think that Beef and Bottle would serve high end dishes that rival some of the city’s most exclusive steakhouses – but they do. This establishment has been serving the ‘culinary intersection of class and comfort’ since 1958. Dinner options vary from seafood to steakhouse; come for the King Crab one-pounder or the sweet Bourbon marinated salmon if you want treasures from the sea, or the sirloin steaks if you’re craving good red meat.
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
The name itself is enough to pique your interest, but the menu here at The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar will have you doing double takes. The innovative Japanese-American fusion cuisine is inspired by the owners’ own multi-ethnic backgrounds and training styles. The elements of creativity and reckless fun are impossible to escape once you step inside; the artwork is colorfully strange, the lighting is almost neon, the staff are quirky and the food is incomparable. The fusion aspect of this unique chain is most apparent in their crazy and immensely popular Bacon Double Cheeseburgooshi roll – literally burger and sushi combined. Whether you are a self-professed meat lover or new to the vegan trend (they do do veggie sushi too), there’s a ‘burgushi’ for you to sample.
Mimosa Grill is the place to go for those days you’re craving satiating, delicious food but with a low-key, indie vibe. Winning accolades since 1995 for its array of New American fare, Mimosa Grill has also been consecutively named one of South Charlotte’s best restaurants. The impressive menu offers delectable Southern-style dishes like creamy shrimp and grits, crispy fried chicken and buttery biscuits. There’s even a Sunday brunch menu with vegetarian and meat options alike, so rest assured Mimosa Grill is a restaurant for all to enjoy.
Bentley's On 27
Restaurant, French
Bentley’s On 27 is a high end eating establishment located on the eponymous top 27th floor of Charlotte Plaza. ‘Stylish’ and ‘luxurious’ are just two of the words that come to mind when you enter the restaurant and take in the sweeping panoramic views of the Charlotte skyline. In fact, Bentley’s is one of the only restaurants in the area with views like this. In the tradition of authentic French cuisine, Bentley’s preps and serves its dishes in a gueridon, a mobile cooking cart frequently used in France to provide tableside service. You know it’s an unforgettable experience from the moment you step inside. ‘Burnt End’ brisket in signature ‘Fat Tyre’ BBQ sauce l Courtesy of Midwood Smokehouse
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Midwood Smokehouse
Restaurant, Steakhouse, American, Gluten-free
South Charlotte’s Midwood Smokehouse is a landmark barbecue restaurant celebrated for its casual roadhouse atmosphere, its finger-licking good barbecue sauce, and its ‘burnt ends.’ James Beard Foundation award winner Robb Walsh helped conceptualize the culinary personality of Midwood Smokehouse by reinterpreting the techniques of pit masters from Kansas City, Texas, Memphis and Florida to suit the Charlottean style. The smoker used here is custom built and burns hardwood hickory logs 24/7 – so you know your meat will be fall-off-the-fork tender.
Located in Madison Park, Vietnam Grille is a family-friendly and budget-friendly Vietnamese restaurant offering authentic creations from the mainland. For casual and laid-back vibes combined with satiating and soul-warming cuisine, bring your family and friends here for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The menu offers gluten-free options, along with dishes that can be made vegetarian or vegan upon request. You can also bring your own beer or wine to complement the fresh, locally sourced ingredients thrown together with tangy Vietnamese spices and broths to make it the best home cooked meal you’ve ever had.
There isn’t another place in Charlotte like Barrington’s Restaurant, an upscale fine-dining establishment that opened just 15 years ago in South Park’s Foxcroft neighborhood. A little pocket of a restaurant, Barrington’s was the first of restaurateur Bruce Moffett’s venture and remains the most beloved amongst Charlotteans for its rustic New American cuisine and intimate, bistro-style atmosphere. The menu boasts intricate and elegant dishes like the Hudson Valley foie gras, which features locally sourced fig jam and prosciutto, and sage rubbed quail, which uses seasonal pickled cherries and roasted turnips.
Located in The Arboretum in between two retail stores, Cajun Yard Dog is a restaurant that might easily be glazed over but definitely should not be. Serving authentic Louisiana-style ‘down-home cookin’,’ Cajun Yard Dog is the brainchild of New Orleans native Ron Atherton. He wanted to show South Charlotte what real Cajun cuisine tastes like and share the food he grew up on with his fellow Charlotteans. That’s why the menu is filled with the spicy, tangy staples of New Orleans, like jambalaya and crawfish etouffee. Watch out for the fried delicacies, including fried okra, fried Po’boys, and fried chicken.
A tiny mom-and-pop restaurant with a fiery character, Jaipur Indian Cuisine offers traditional Indian fare at incredibly affordable prices. Adding to the melting pot of different ethnic foods that you will find in South Charlotte, Jaipur Indian Cuisine pays homage to the state of Rajasthan, of which Jaipur is the capital city. That means that at this family-run restaurant, you’ll find appetizing dishes like chicken tikka, saag paneer, onion kulcha and tandoori lamb, all the perfect blend of spice and tang. The atmosphere is peaceful, perfect for an evening meal with the family.
Georges Brasserie
Restaurant, French
A French brasserie is typically a restaurant with a relaxed, laid back setting that serves single dishes rather than full courses. South Charlotte’s own Georges Brasserie offers their interpretation of the traditional brasserie by recreating the vibe with white-linen-clad round tables flanked by intricate filigree designs on the walls, slate green walls and brass fixtures. The atmosphere is warm and intimate, which keeps Charlotteans coming back for more. It also doesn’t hurt that the happy hour prices are unbeatable, and the weekend brunches offer bottomless mimosas.
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