Here we have the list of what I believe to be the best Fine Dining restaurants in Charlotte, NC. First, a few disclaimers 1) This list, along with everything on the site, is my opinion and should be taken as such. 2) Try as I might, I have not visited EVERY restaurant in Charlotte, this is my best opinion with the information I currently have and it will change as I visit more restaurants 3) Some restaurants mentioned may not have an official review yet, this is due to the fact I tried them before I started writing this site, but are close enough in recent memory. Also it should be noted these are not necessarily my favorite restaurants in Charlotte, NC, just my favorites for fine fine dining.
Now that I have taken care of that, let me begin, here are the best fine dining restaurants in Charlotte:
5) Bentleys on 27: The view and the service are better than the food, but you are guaranteed to have an exceptional experience at Bentleys on 27. Located on the 27th floor of the Hines Charlotte Plaza, the views are some of the best in the city. The night you will have will be both memorable and costly. To me there are better values in Charlotte in terms of fine dining, but Bentleys offers an unique affair that is sure to impress. Read my full review (The link is in the name).
4) Bernardin’s Fine Dining: It might not have the same “wow” factor as Bentleys, but what it lacks in flare it makes up for with top notch food and value. The restaurant offers a unique menu with hard to find items such as Kangaroo and a lobster ravioli with genuine lobster. While that might have you bouncing off the walls, you also cannot go wrong when ordering their steaks, which are served with some of the best sauce (bone marrow!) options in the city. Whatever entrée you decide,I do not think you will be disappointed and your wallet may thank you.
3) Vivace (review coming): Judging by reviews on other sites I am sure this is a somewhat controversial pick, with that said I can say that I had one of my better meals in this restaurant. We went on a whim do to some scheduling issues and it was serendipitous, resulting in one of my favorite diners in recent history. Ironically, I didn’t get anything that (most) consider traditional Italian, the closest I got to pasta was looking at my friend’s lobster ravioli. The entire meal was met with rave reviews by all four members of our party, the appetizers were excellent and my main course of salmon was outstanding. They also did something that not many restaurants do…..served hot food.
2) Liddell-McNinch House: It may be a while until I get a full review of the McNich House, given that I may need to sell my kidney to eat there again. The restaurant is probably the priciest experience you will get in Charlotte, but definitely an special occasion worthy eatery. For a those of you who are reckless, get the Chef’s Tasting Menu, with wine pairing it will only set you back around $185 a person (plus tip of course).
The Food is very good, but what you are really paying for is the experience. Located in an extremely quiet and intimate setting, the service is impeccable. The meal takes almost the entire night and gives you the feeling that you are royalty while you enjoy the luxurious atmosphere. The cost might not be justified for everyone, but I recommend trying it at least once in your life…
and the winner is……
1) The Fig Tree: If you read my last review (link attached to the title) this won’t be much of a surprise. The Fig Tree, delivers the best value and food in the city. The service is as good as any on the list and the atmosphere is only surpassed by #2 on this list the McNitch House. Thinking back, I have never had a bad meal at the Fig Tree, it’s consistency throughout the years helps it to earn it my number one spot.
Just a quick note: I recognize that there may be a lot of good places that I left off, this would be due to three reasons. 1) It just wasn’t as good as those on my list. 2) AS mentioned I haven’t tried it…..Bonterra, Halcyon, and Luce are just a couple of the places I still need to visit….this list will change with new information. 3) I purposely kept out nation wide chains; places like Morton’s Steak House, The Palm, BLT Steak, and The Capital Grill aren’t included. Since you can try these anywhere in the country they didn’t make the cut.