2024 Cravings Queen Awards

To close out 2024, I’m looking back at some of the great culinary experiences I had in Charlotte. Inspired by Best Eats Charlotte and Philly Food Ladies, I’m highlighting some of my favorite restaurants, bars and bites in Charlotte from 2024.

This list does not represent every restaurant I visited in Charlotte this past year. Be sure to check back for more posts in 2025 and follow me on Instagram and TikTok.

Best Girl Dinner: Rosemont

The concept of “girl dinner” took TikTok by storm in 2023 and became a fun way to describe the hodgepodge of foods that constitute a meal. For me, that meal is a Caesar salad with a side of fries – simple, classic and incredibly satisfying when shared with great friends. Rosemont, in Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood, delivered on the food and the vibes as my friends and I paired our food with Diet Cokes, dirty martinis and a couple orders of crab dip.

Best Dance-Worthy Meal: Original Chicken & Ribs

Good food makes you feel something, but great food makes you want to move and groove. I ate my entire meal from Original Chicken & Ribs while standing over my kitchen counter so I could dance with each bite. This historic restaurant, listed in the Green Book from 1963-1967, dishes out well-seasoned fried chicken and ooey, gooey mac and cheese that will make you want to two-step.

Best Pizza: Bird Pizzeria

The topic of the best pizza in Charlotte can be controversial, but for me, there’s no contest. Bird Pizzeria is the best pizza in the Queen City. Don’t believe me? Even the New York Times recognized Bird for its outstanding pies. My personal favorite is the white pizza, but you can’t go wrong with a classic pepperoni especially when it’s drizzled with hot honey.

Most Anticipated Return: Leah & Louise

In March 2024, Greg and Subrina Collier, owners of Leah & Louise, announced that their Southern-inspired restaurant would be leaving Camp North End. Before the nationally recognized restaurant closed, my friends and I shared a delicious meal, including several of the entrees made with seasonal ingredients. Leah & Louise is set to reopen in a new location in Charlotte’s West End, so let’s hope that happens in 2025.

Coolest Dining Experience: Mizu

I was invited to experience a five-course dinner showcasing robata cuisine at Mizu in SouthPark. I got a front-row seat as the chef prepared our food on a Japanese robata grill. Adding to this unique culinary experience are the spectacular sunsets from the rooftop patio. Read more about Mizu.

Biggest Bite: Oxtail Cheesesteak at Cravn Caribbean

Cravn Caribbean went viral on TikTok for its massive oxtail cheesesteak. This $21 sandwich piles on tender, slow-cooked oxtail meat. While the price may seem steep to some, it’s definitely worth it because you will get your fill. Place your order to pick up from City Kitch in Wesley Heights to try this cheesesteak for yourself.

Best Brisket: Sweet Lew’s BBQ

While the Carolinas are best known for barbecue pulled pork, Sweet Lew’s BBQ in Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood proves that no one should count the brisket out either. This beef brisket has a beautiful smoke ring with a good meat-to-fat ratio. Order it by the pound or in a sandwich.

Best Baked Good: Caramel Apple Fritter at Beyond Amazing Donuts

I constantly proclaim that “I’m not a sweets person,” and that’s true until I get in front of an apple fritter. When I went to the Bites on Seventh festival in June, Beyond Amazing Donuts had a stall with lots of the Black-owned bakery’s goodies, including my beloved apple fritters. Beyond Amazing Donuts has several staple donut flavors, and this is my formal request to get the caramel apple fritters on the year-round menu.

Crispiest, Crunchiest Chicken: Haberdish

When I first moved to Charlotte, I heard a lot about Haberdish’s fried chicken. It may have taken me two years, but I finally made it to the Southern restaurant in NoDa and of course I had to order the chicken. Haberdish’s chicken is brined, battered and fried to perfection, resulting in the crispiest skin with juicy meat.

Best Spot to Watch Football: Duckworth’s

Every football season, I ask my social media followers for their favorite spot in Charlotte to eat and watch football. While I appreciate their suggestions, nowhere has topped Duckworth’s in my book yet. This grill and taproom has several locations in the Charlotte region. From the drink specials, wings and loaded salads to the wall-to-wall TVs, Duckworth’s is the perfect spot for game day.

Best Food Event: Bayhaven Food and Wine Festival

The Charlotte region is home to year-round events, with no shortage of food festivals that I’ve had the opportunity to attend. In 2024, the Bayhaven Food and Wine Festival was my favorite. This multi-day event, hosted by local restaurateurs Greg and Subrina Collier, brings together Black culinary tastemakers from across the South and beyond for several different events. This annual celebration of Black foodways is a must-do for any foodie.

Best Pepperoni Cups: Bisonte Pizza

Yes, I already have a pizza award winner. However, I finally tried Bisonte Pizza and needed to honor these Buffalo-style pies. One of the reasons I love this pizza is because of the perfect pepperoni cups with slightly crispy edges. Level up your Bisonte pizza experience my choosing one of the specialty crusts.

Best Holiday Bar: Billy Sunday

If you’ve read my blog before, it should come as no surprise that Billy Sunday is my favorite holiday bar. This Optimist Hall cocktail bar features fantastic cocktails that change seasonally, however the Christmas-inspired selections during the bar’s Tinseltown pop up are my favorite. Read more about Tinseltown at Billy Sunday.