2 Best Restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina

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.

Located in the funky Plaza Midwood neighborhood (and with satellite locations now in Ballantyne and Park Road Shopping Center), this barbecue joint carries a full range of sauces and meats and keeps its wood-fired smoker burning 24/7. This is no hole-in-the-wall joint but instead a fun and modern-looking place with something for just about every kind of barbecue lover. The beef brisket is excellent, especially with a half-lean, half-fatty plate. For a special treat, order the banana pudding; it's some of the best in the state.