Readers' ChoiceYoga/Pilates studio Iron Butterfly PilatesSpaThe Spa at Ballantyne ResortBarbershop Emerson JosephSalon Modern Salon & SpaDry cleaner Long'sFlorist Elizabeth House FlowersCaterer Something ClassicConcierge serviceSimply Done Eyebrow wax/shaping Parvin's SpaA great eyebrow wax is like a great haircut. You can't put…
Body TreatmentPumpkin Pie & Sweet Wine Body Scrub The Spa at Ballantyne ResortFollowing a soft dry scrub, an aesthetician exfoliates and rehydrates your dry skin with a yam and pumpkin enzyme peel, almond and mineral treatment, ten grains and spices…
Brunch Toast Café If you want weekend brunch at family-owned Toast, show up early to avoid the line of patient diners wrapped around the little mustard-colored house. They're likely waiting for their turn to have made-from-scratch raspberry and walnut pancakes.…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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:…
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…
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 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…
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…
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, 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…
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…
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…
