5 Best Restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina

Business executives and bohemians alike make their way to Mert's, an old-school gem that hides out under one of the city's many nondescript office buildings. Owners James and Reneé Bazzelle serve large portions of soul food and Lowcountry and Gullah staples, like fried chicken with greens, mac and cheese, and red beans and rice. Buckwheat and sweet-potato pancakes draw a weekend brunch crowd.

Charlotte's most impressive food hall is the state's biggest and best, with plenty of exposed brick painted in striking colors, multiple outdoor areas, and stall after stall of fresh-pressed juices, gourmet grilled cheese, ramen bowls, gelato, and craft cocktails.

Operated out of an old home in pleasant Dilworth, this comfortable little spot offers an always-changing menu blending Southern and Californian styles in its meat and fish dishes, pizza, salads, and pastas. Always available items include Chesapeake-style crab cakes and the Usual, a chicken salad sandwich that has been a local favorite for years. This is the kind of place where longtime regulars have their names engraved on the back of barstools.