NASCAR
DriverJimmie JohnsonTo become the champion you must beat the champion. That's what Jimmie Johnson did en route to winning the 2006 and 2007 Sprint Cup championships. Considered a rising star in 2001, and handpicked by Jeff Gordon to join the…
Food + Drink
Essentially Charlotte
Readers' ChoiceSkyline view Bentley's on 27Picnic spot Freedom ParkFestival Festival in the ParkInternational event Yiasou Greek FestivalFree event Pops in the ParkNoteworthy event of last 12 months Light RailGossip/rumor Prostitution in SouthParkPublic gardenWing Haven Gardens and Bird SanctuaryWing Haven qualifies…
Nightlife
Readers' ChoiceSports bar Picasso'sPub Ri RaDance club ForumSmoke-free bar Loft 1523Hotel bar Bar 10 at the WestinPlace to hear jazz BluePlace for karaoke Jackalope Jack'sMartini selectionTherapyBeer selection Flying SaucerLive music venue Amos' Southend Trendy barM5M5 is a restaurant and bar,…
Worth a Second Look
Appearances often mislead in restaurants—sumptuous décor conceals poor service, beautiful presentation hides bad food. Appearances mislead at Pollo Inka, too, but in a different direction. Housed in a former Thai restaurant, its gabled, wooden exterior is charming but hardly brings…
Dream Band
Bass Ron Brendle Ron Brendle is Charlotte's best known bass player for a reason. Bass players are often overlooked within bands, but Brendle's skillful play demands attention. His jazz trio, Big Octave, is a local favorite, and Brendle can also…
Sports Bars
Place to watch the Pittsburgh SteelersDixie's TavernTwo words: Iron City. That should tell Steelers faithful all they need to know. The tables have built-in buckets to better accommodate the $1 bottles shipped from Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. The menu is Cajun, but…
Small Plates
OverallScallops at Las RamblasWhen Executive Chef Blake Hartwick wants to send out a special dish to a VIP, this is what he chooses. Two perfectly grilled diver scallops (the grilling makes the difference) with a dash of sea salt over…
Arts & Culture
PerformerNicholle RochelleNorth Carolina Dance TheatreCertainly you've seen Nicholle Rochelle's image. Her ecstatic grand jeté graces all NCDT marketing materials this season; her pristine extension dots the "i" on Charlotte Culture Guide billboards. But if you haven't seen her in person—seen…
Family & Kids
Readers' ChoiceKids' clothing Fancy PantsKids' haircutsGreat ClipsPlace to buy birthday cake Edible ArtFamily outing Discovery Place/U.S. National Whitewater Center (tie)Park for kids Freedom ParkPlace to go on a rainy dayDiscovery Place Place you wish were around when you were a…
Best of the Burbs: South
Wine barUnder the GrapeA handful of wine shops and bars have sprouted in recent years, but Under the Grape has the formula down. Owners Barb and Henry Tyree understand that the typical wine drinker isn’t a sommelier, so they offer…
Sports
Readers' ChoiceProfessional athlete Steve SmithComeback athlete Vinny TestaverdeAthlete with a heart Steve SmithNASCAR driverDale Earnhardt Jr.Golf course Quail Hollow ClubDriving rangeLeathermanBowling alley George Pappas' Park Lanes Player on top of his gameJacob CogginsThe Charlotte Eagles have consistently been one of…
2008 Best of the Best
View the CategoriesFood & Drink Best of Food & Drink: Small Plates Shopping Best of Shopping: Handbags Essentially Charlotte Family & Kids Best of the Burbs: North Best of the Burbs: South Service Best of Service: Spa Treatments Sports Best of Sports:…
Sushi for Superheroes
Anyone who's ever come across Nikko owner Joanna Nix knows that she is, well, uninhibited. But this? This is a surprise.For ten years, the original South End location of Nikko was a cozy spot—no more than a dozen tables—known for…
Barbecue, Far Eastern-Style
From Brazil and South Africa to Lexington and Kansas City, every culture has its own time-honored barbecue tradition. Korea is no exception. Whether boneless (bulgogi) or bone-in (kalbi) these sweet, marinated beef ribs will satisfy carnivores of every nation.The waitress…
J's Oasis Café
J's Oasis Café is located in a ragged corner shopping center. The parking lot is gravel and broken asphalt. One store sells cigarettes, milk, beer, and fortified wines. The next is empty, then a beauty salon, and the last is…
The Chicken King
Steve Koutroulakis came over from Greece in 1977, worked in restaurants, then finally bought his own place, Chicken King. I had been driving by the Chicken King at Plaza and Parkwood for years and never stopped. Shame on me. It's…
Shockingly Southern
Chef Chris Edwards deconstructs chicken and dumplings.As a transplant from the hinterlands of the Northeast, otherwise known as Buffalo, Boston, and Philadelphia, there are things I cannot hope to understand about the South. NASCAR is one—for the life of me…
Falafel Surprise
Falafel, made from fried spiced chickpeas, is served with a tangy yogurt sauce while the kafta arayes (think crispy pita filled with spiced ground beef and served with chopped pickles) is a highlight on the menu.Those unfamiliar with Lebanon may…
The Rainbow Grill
Rainbow Grill A line on the menu at the Rainbow Grill claims "The Best Burger in Charlotte." I asked Willie West, the proprietor for thirty-eight years, where the quote came from. "All my customers." The burgers really are great, made…
The Flying Biscuit Café
About fifteen years ago on one of those sticky days that give Hotlanta its nickname, I ate lunch at the original Flying Biscuit Café. That biscuit tasted like it was straight from my grandma's harvest-gold-colored oven. The restaurant's new Stonecrest…
Valentino's Taco Truck
Alejandro mans the truck behind Valentino's Mexican restaurant on Sharon Amity Road. I spotted the taco truck parked behind Valentino's, so I made a quick U-turn, because I love a good taco truck. I know a lot of people who…
Big Daddy's Burger Bar
The Classic Southern is a burger topped with chili, relish, and slaw.For such a simple sandwich, the burger is getting a lot of love these days. In New York City, which never met a comfort food it couldn't bastardize, you…
The Test of Time
Frank Manzetti's TavernTime was, Manzetti's was SouthPark's top destination restaurant. This was in those dark days before fancy chain steakhouses and seafood shops discovered little ol' Charlotte, before the mall became a gleaming paean to luxury brands, before someone decided…
