Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Charlotte

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Charlotte? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Novanta Pizzeria Napoletana

4.8

4.8 (290)

$30 and under

Italian

Mooresville

About the restaurant

The owners of Brooklyn South and Brooklyn Boys Pizzeria's are venturing again to bring you truly Authentic pizza. Pizza cooked by wood fire in 90 seconds. Among pizza stay tuned for the finest, truly authentic, rustic Italian dishes from different regions of Italy. Enjoy our extensive wine and beer indoor/outdoor bar and private dining area for your most exclusive intimate celebrations.

Top review

Diane

Dined 4 days ago

It was great. Waitstaff was super attentive. Food was really good. And the place is clean and bright. Would definitely recommend.

Dolce Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (1880)

$30 and under

Italian

Dilworth

About the restaurant

Dolce Ristorante in Charlotte is a classic Italian restaurant serving up family friendly favorites. The atmosphere at Dolce Ristorante is airy and bright with a deep Mediterranean feel complete with Italian style artwork. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner with special cooking classes offered regularly.

Whether you are looking for a pleasant lunch or a lively dinner, Dolce Ristorante has something on the menu to please every palate. Try the ravioli in a parmigiana cheese pink sauce, the Milanese breaded chicken with lemon dressing or the salmone fresh Atlantic salmon in a white wine sauce. Be sure to save room for the Italian cheese cake dessert.

Top review

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined 1 day ago

The food and service was amazing. Our server was amazing, she recommended a great bottle of wine that wasn’t even on the menu

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4.8

4.8 (9)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Elizabeth

About the restaurant

SNEAK is a true hidden gem nestled in the Elizabeth neighborhood, where we delight in putting a playful spin on classic and retro cocktails alongside our own unique creations. Step into our intimate yet lively atmosphere filled with custom playlists and delightful surprises, making us the ultimate destination for a memorable night out. Embracing a concept beyond that of a traditional speakeasy, we proudly present ourselves as a SNEAK-easy! Take pleasure in our inviting patio, daily specials, and live music. Please dress to impress, as we kindly request no backwards hats or athletic wear to maintain our upscale ambiance.

Join us for a night of cocktails, music, and vibes.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

Overall great experience! A little on the small side, but definitely recommend.

The Blue Taj

4.7

4.7 (812)

$30 and under

Indian

Ballantyne

About the restaurant

Located in Ballantyne Village, The Blue Taj is a groundbreaking restaurant serving Indian Cuisine and a much needed and welcome addition to Charlotte’s dining scene. The Décor at The Blue Taj is chic and modern, yet very cozy and eclectic. There are four themed dining areas to keep the excitement going for each time you visit. A chic wine cellar also graces the floor of the restaurant where vast and popular selections of wines are stored in a good temperature and humidity controlled environment. The Bubble Bar is open nightly to fix your craving for exciting combination of both signature and innovative cocktails and refreshingly sparkling and other popular wines by the glass. The Blue Taj is also a lunch destination in a very popular location. The ample selections of lunch offerings are sure to please business and mainstream diners alike. The Blue Taj is also available for private events and parties of various sizes.

Top review

MattVIP

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

The food is consistently amazing! It is prepared perfect, every time.

The 220 Café

4.7

4.7 (436)

$30 and under

American

Statesville

About the restaurant

The 220 Café is a Contemporary American Cuisine restaurant, located in the historic district of downtown Statesville, NC.

The 220 Café provides a fine dining experience and atmosphere for all of our guests. With a combination of class and elegance, the 220 Café also exudes a “stop by anytime” welcome to the restaurant.

Top review

DawnVIP

Dined 7 days ago

What a gem of a spot in Statesville. Food was top notch at great prices

Reid's Fine Foods

4.6

4.6 (931)

$30 and under

American

SouthPark

About the restaurant

Founded in 1928, Reid's is North Carolina's neighborhood specialty food store offering superior meats, wines, locally grown produce, seasonal fresh meals to a very loyal customer base. The South Park restaurant accommodates Deli Style service for lunch Monday-Saturday and Restaurant Menu service Tuesday-Friday night and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Join us for:
"Almost" 1/2 off steak burgers on Tuesday!
1/2 off wine by the glass on Wednesday!
$10 charcuterie boards on Thursday!
"Special Sips" on Friday - A special wine selected from our wine departments reserved list, changes each week, offered one day only!
1/2 priced restaurant wine bottles (in-house only) on Saturday's!
Sunday Brunch Features 10AM-4PM!
Live Music 6PM-9PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday's!

Top review

Leslie

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

Good food. Pleasant waitstaff. Informal, family friendly ambiance. Hard surfaces and amplified live music in small area makes it loud in winter. Ok during nice weather when patio open. Service is slow.

Bakersfield - Charlotte

4.6

4.6 (395)

$30 and under

Mexican

Charlotte

About the restaurant

Tacos. Tequila. Whiskey. Serving up authentic, Mexican street fare, and a selection of over 100 tequilas and American whiskeys. Bakersfield is a spot where the food is simple, the service is warm and the atmosphere is alive.

Top review

Heather

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Best tacos and margaritas! Highly recommend the brisket queso too! Great service 👏

Pizza Baby East

4.6

4.6 (32)

$30 and under

Pizza Bar

Elizabeth

About the restaurant

We're proud to be an award-winning establishment, having received the Top 50 Pizza for 2024 in US.

Pizza Baby East is the full-service Roman Café and Wine Bar, offering a selection of locally sourced mozzarella, antipasto, a rotating special, and our signature 12" Americana-style pizza inspired by the Eternal City. Everything is baked in-house, meticulously sourced, and clean label!

Located in the Elizabeth neighborhood, we serve pizza by the slice in a rectangular hand-held fashion, using our signature housemade focaccia. If you haven't been to Rome, our pizzas are reminiscent of street-style pizza al taglio.

Top review

todd

Dined 6 days ago

Best Pizza in CLT and wonderful bread program. We are so fortunate to have here in Elizabeth.

Marchellos Neighborhood Italian

4.6

4.6 (8)

$30 and under

Italian

Denver

About the restaurant

Marchello's Italian is a family-owned restaurant in Denver, North Carolina, dedicated to bringing the rich flavors of Italian American cuisine to our community. Our journey began with a passion for cooking and a love for sharing meals with family and friends. We believe that food has the power to bring people together and create lasting memories. At Marchello's Neighborhood Italian, we strive to provide an exceptional dining experience by using fresh ingredients, traditional recipes, and a touch of creativity. Whether you're dining in, taking out, or hosting a special event, we are committed to making every meal special. Our friendly staff and warm atmosphere make Marchello's Neighborhood Italian is a place where you can relax, enjoy great food, and create unforgettable moments with your loved ones. We are proud to be a part of the Denver community and look forward to serving you for many years to come.

Top review

johnVIP

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

Great place for a family Sunday afternoon dinner. Great service Good food.

Tap & Vine - Quail Corners

4.5

4.5 (62)

$30 and under

American

South Charlotte

About the restaurant

If you’re in the Quail Hollow area and looking for something a bit outside the ordinary, we invite you to discover what makes Tap & Vine a favorite among locals for Tapas, Salads, Entrées, Appetizers and everything in-between. See our full menu, make a reservation, or get complete information on letting us host your upcoming celebration.

Top review

Lance

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Ordered Beef Capriccio, was good but very small portion.

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