Restaurants in Charlotte, NC: Our Favorites (And Yours!)

Are you looking for some truly amazing restaurants in Charlotte, NC?
There’s a lot to offer here for the foodie fan of all types, and we’ve written on quite a few awesome restaurants.

Find all our lists and reviews of the best restaurants and food halls in Charlotte, NC right here.

Food Halls in Charlotte

I love places where you can go and everyone can decide what they want, and it can be varied. My kids can usually only agree to disagree and this makes mealtime easier. 

Optimist Hall offers lots of food options from comfort foods to American fare and international cuisine.

Check out our visit to Optimist Hall.

Optimist Hall

A food hall in a converted warehouse that offers a kaleidoscope of options for hungry families.

• AVA – authentic Italian and wood fired pizza
• Bao & Broth – Bao buns and ramen bowls
• Billy Sunday – award-winning cocktails and elevated bar menu
• Botiwalla – Indian street food
• Boxcar Betty’s – Fried chicken sandwiches
• The Dumpling Lady – Szechuan street food
• El Thrifty – Mexican inspired menu 
• Felix Empanadas 
• Harriett’s Hamburgers 
• Honeysuckle Gelato
• Mezeh Mediterranean Grill – a unique twist on the “mezze” dining experience
• Noble Smoke – Southern barbecue
• Papi Queso – grilled cheese kitchen
• Suarez Bakery & Barra – Donuts and Cuban food
• Undercurrent Coffee – coffee, tea, and light fare
• Velvet Taco – funky tacos
• Village Juice Co. – organic raw juice and clean food
• Xiao Bao – Southeast Asian favorites
• Zukku – rice bowls, sushi, burritos, poke

Camp Northend 

This multi-use venue is a 100-year-old Ford Model-T factory that now houses art exhibits, food vendors, and more. 

• Babe & Butcher – charcuterie boxes and boards
• La Caseta – the pocket size version of Sabor Latin Street food that we also have in Greenville
• PopBar CLT – a handcrafted gelato pop vendor
• Leah & Louise – (reservations recommended) Elevated deep south menu 
• Plus vendors that serve burgers, plant-based menu items, cocktails, coffee and more! 
• Seemingly Overzealous Ice Cream– dairy free and SO delicious
• Halal- Delicious gyros, kabobs, and Greek-style food.

Gibson Mill

Gibson Mill has been renovated into a multi-use space with antique stores, entertainment like escape rooms and ax throwing, as well as a family-friendly food hall, the Gibson Mill Market.

We tried food from several of the vendors, and can report that the chicken sandwich from Johnny Rogers BBQ and Burgers is about as crispy as it gets. The kids really enjoyed their pizza from Livy’s Neapolitan Pizzeria.

You’ll also find vendors with tacos, cookies, ice cream, seafood, and more. For your adult beverages, there’s a cocktail bar upstairs and also a tap room downstairs.

Seating is available both indoors and outdoors.

For the kids, there is a small arcade room upstairs off the dining area.

And, for kids, families, and kids at heart, you’ll want to check out the board game cafe downstairs. Admission to the Luck Factory game cafe is $8 per person for a day pass. Stay and play games from their huge library all day long.

Gibson Mill Market
325 Mcgill Avenue NW, Concord
Hours vary by individual business