15 Charlotte Restaurants for Special Occasions
Where to eat, drink, and be merry
Holidays are a time for celebration, and celebrations call for extravagant meals. Whether you want to treat your co-workers, entertain out-of-town guests, or just splurge on a Tuesday night, there’s a perfect Charlotte restaurant for your special occasion.
LA BELLE HELENE
300 S. Tryon St., Ste. 100
This uptown brasserie is the place to take out-of-towners you want to impress. Top Chef alum Jamie Lynch serves French classics like Crispy Duck Confit, Steak Frites, and Boeuf Bourguignon. Between the impeccably crisp white tile, soaring ceilings, and vases of fresh flowers, you’ll feel you’ve entered a Gatsby-themed party.
DEAN’S ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE
128 E. Brooklyn Village Ave.
This upscale steakhouse on the ground floor of uptown’s 22-story JW Marriott serves steak, seafood, and pasta, plus classic cocktails and more than 250 wines.
HESTIA ROOFTOP
14819 Ballantyne Village Way, 16th Floor
This sleek rooftop restaurant serves a range of Asian cuisines, including omakase menus, nigiri, sashimi, and maki rolls.
McNINCH HOUSE
511 N. Church St.
The restaurant has a longstanding reputation for its five-course tasting menu and award-winning wine pairings, but it’s also the city’s most popular place for marriage proposals.
BEEF ’N BOTTLE
4538 South Blvd.
An old favorite, this dark, moody steakhouse serves up thick, juicy cuts you can top with lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, or oysters.
MARIPOSA
500 S. Tryon St.
Executive Chef Kinsler Josaime serves “world-to-table” dishes like Pulled Duck Arepas and Gullah Paella, and pastry chef Megan Goldman makes a Basque Cheesecake that’s so divine, you’ll still be thinking about it days later.
Mariposa’s Gullah Paella, Photo by Peter Taylor
Mariposa’s Gullah Paella
THE PORTER’S HOUSE
7417 Waverly Walk Ave.
Feast on thick-cut steaks and classic sides in the sleek dining room or on the patio, and don’t miss the private bourbon room.
OAK STEAKHOUSE
4777 Sharon Road, Ste. 125
Enjoy steakhouse classics like rib-eye or filet mignon and be sure to save room for some White Chocolate Cheesecake for dessert.
THE FIG TREE RESTAURANT
1601 E. 7th St.
Feast on Elk Chops and Lamb Carpaccio paired with award-winning wines in a 1913 bungalow.
KINDRED
131 N. Main St., Davidson
James Beard semifinalist Joe Kindred serves homemade pasta dishes and creative small plates in historic downtown Davidson.
STEAK 48
4425 Sharon Road
Steak is the main attraction, but don’t miss the Crispy Shrimp Deviled Eggs, Corn Crème Brulée, and Seafood Tower.
FIN & FINO
135 Levine Avenue of the Arts, Ste. 100
Come for the raw bar but stay for bartender Brittany Kellum’s drinks—then splurge on a slice of cheesecake.
Bar manager Brittany “BK” Kellum mixes up cocktails at Fin & Fino. Photo courtesy, Plaid Penguin
THE CAPITAL GRILLE
201 N. Tryon St.
The Charlotte outpost of this upscale steakhouse chain serves classic American fare in a refined setting.
EDDIE V’S PRIME SEAFOOD
101 S. Tryon St.
Enjoy a night out in uptown with consistently good seafood and steak, plus a cocktail lounge with live jazz.
THE PALM CHARLOTTE
6705-B Phillips Place Court
The legendary chain serves high-end steakhouse fare and seafood in a dining room bedecked with caricatures of famous people.
