Grassy Creek, NC Food & Drink and More

Come Hungry to This Tennessee Restaurant Where the Fried Seafood Steals the Show

Hush puppies, catfish, flounder, and piles of baby shrimp keep showing up in conversations about one seafood spot in the mountains. That alone made me stop and look closer. The fried platters here come in Calabash style. That means light breading, quick frying, and seafood that stays the star. The large platters are famously big, so take-home boxes feel almost guaranteed.

Elizabethton, TN · 1d

fastfoodclub.com

Rutherford College, NC · 9d

Ask Around North Carolina’s Foothills About Ribs And Folks Send You To This Smokehouse Open Just Three Days A Week

Mention ribs to almost anyone in the North Carolina foothills, and the same answer tends to come back fast. The odd part is that the place they point to keeps its doors shut four days out of every week. Folks plan whole weekends around Thursday, Friday, and Saturday just to...

familyvacationsus.com

We Found 10 North Carolina Breakfast Spots That Make A Cold Morning Feel Special

One North Carolina diner on my list never locks its doors, not even at 3 AM. It serves scratch comfort food around the clock in a space styled like an old railroad car. Then I learned another spot hands out free coffee while you wait for a table. Free coffee for waiting?

Asheville, NC · 1d

Charlotte Observer

This soul food restaurant in Charlotte ranks No. 1 for fried chicken in NC

A Charlotte soul food spot has earned statewide bragging rights. Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish now ranks as the No. 1 fried chicken restaurant in North Carolina, according to Tasting Table. FULL STORY: Best fried chicken joint? This Charlotte restaurant ranks No. 1 in NC Here are key takeaways: Tasting Table published the rankings Oct. 30. The food and drink website drew on Reddit posts, online reviews, awards and press coverage to pick the top fried chicken joint in each state. Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish started two decades ago on Statesville Avenue. It operates multiple restaurants in Charlotte, and the uptown location on Dalton Avenue got the nod. Michael Rhynes Sr., who helped open the restaurant, told CharlotteFive in 2024 that the business builds relationships with customers. “We try to get to know everybody. I watched kids grow from being six, seven years old. Now they’re in college.” The restaurant’s namesake chicken appears in dishes such as chicken dinners and a gizzard appetizer. Though Tasting Table singled out the hushpuppies as a must-order dish, the menu also features Southern sides like collard greens, fried okra and macaroni and cheese. Other Charlotte dining destinations have drawn recent attention for their

takingthekids.com

The Secret North Carolina Steakhouse That Locals Don’t Want Outsiders Finding

Nobody hands you a menu here. Instead, a whole prime ribeye shows up at your table, and you decide exactly how much of it becomes your dinner. The steak gets cut to weight right in front of you. Then it heads to the grill, where you can watch it cook.

North Carolina · 2d

familydestinationsguide.com

The Iconic North Carolina Diner That Celebrities Can’t Stop Coming Back To

There’s a brick building on Central Avenue in Charlotte, North Carolina that has been quietly making people very happy for a very long time. The Diamond Restaurant doesn’t shout about it, doesn’t put up billboards, and doesn’t need a social media campaign to fill its booths.

Charlotte Observer

How a tiny sandwich shop by Charlotte got Michelin's attention, and why you should go

A snug sandwich shop near Charlotte with only 14 seats inside and almost as many picnic tables outside made this year’s Michelin Guide American South as a recommended restaurant, surprising foodie followers used to seeing avant garde tasting menus and fine dining steakhouses on the list. But probably no one in North Carolina was more caught off guard than the owners of Pump Social , Rachael and AJ Donner, who opened the restaurant in a former gas station in Concord just last August . She thought the September email sent by the French tire company’s little red travel guide was spam. At least she did until checking with friends whose Nashville restaurant was listed as a Bib Gourmand last year by “sheepishly” sending them a screenshot — and hearing they believed it was real. “I keep thinking, ‘How did we? Like, how would they even know?’ I don’t know. I have no idea,” Donner said of the whole experience. ”This was never something that was on our radar — ever,” she said. “And then being open a year, and we got that email. Even if it’s just a recommendation. I mean, I’m so happy to be even included,” she said.

Charlotte, NC · 19h

familyvacationsus.com

These 9 North Carolina Pizza Buffets Are Worth Saving Room For

One pizza spot in eastern North Carolina has been baking a thin, crispy cracker crust since 1973. Its seasoned tomato sauce is still made in-house every single day. That detail stopped me cold. I love when a buffet line has a backstory, especially one with second and third generations behind it.

North Carolina · 4d

mindfullyamerican.com

8 Harris Teeter Checkout Rules North Carolinians Should Know Before Their Next Trip

If you’re 60 or older, Harris Teeter takes 5% off your purchases every Thursday. North Carolinians who never read the posted checkout rules miss perks like that. Here are the Harris Teeter checkout rules North Carolinians should know before their next trip. 1. Scan Guarantee. When an item scans...

North Carolina · 17h

Charlotte Observer

Former Earth Fare site near Charlotte is ready to debut with new specialty grocer

Sprouts Farmers Market is expanding again, debuting its fourth Charlotte-area store in the same spot as a former specialty grocer in time for the holiday season. Sprouts will open at 7 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Christenbury Corners, 8885 Christenbury Parkway , in Concord. The 24,110-square-foot store marks Sprouts’ first location in a Charlotte suburb. The site near Concord Mills mall was previously home to Earth Fare , which closed in August 2025 amid lease negotiations. Asheville-based Earth Fare originally opened there in 2017 before the company filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and reopening under ownership. In 2021, the Concord store reopened. Sprouts’ expansion is part of a highly competitive landscape , where nearly 730 grocery stores are vying for market share across Charlotte’s over $10.8 billion supermarket industry . “Charlotte continues to experience strong population growth and a growing interest in healthy living,” Sprouts told The Charlotte Observer. That includes demand for fresh produce and items that support a healthy lifestyle, the company said. The new location arrives alongside a wave of recent grocery store openings across the Charlotte area, including Food Lion in east Charlotte , Publix in Union County and Wegmans in Ballantyne . What to expect

Charlotte, NC · 1d

whatnow.com

First-of-Its-Kind Floating Bar Planned for LKN

A new drinking destination is on the way to Lake Norman, taking the term “waterfront property” to a new level. Vitale Hospitality Group, which just opened Vitale Lakeside in Mooresville (1459 River Highway), is working on opening a floating bar at the property, Charlotte Business Journal reports. Called Getaway Bar, it will offer a place for boaters to park in a slip, sip, and socialize right on the lake.

Mooresville, NC · 3d

familydestinationsguide.com

partner publisher · 2.2M followers

This Tiny South Carolina Bakery Has Handmade Donuts That People Are Obsessed With

Nobody plans to become obsessed with a donut shop, and yet here are the people of Rock Hill, South Carolina, completely devoted to MoMo Donuts and not even a little bit sorry about it. This small bakery has developed the kind of following that most restaurants spend years trying to...

Rock Hill, SC · 5d

Daily Mail

Charlotte restaurant embroiled in fiery clash with customer after charging $6 for to-go box

STATS in North Carolina describes itself as a New American eatery. But it recently became embroiled in a dispute about its leftovers policy.

partner publisher · 97.5K followers

Raleigh News & Observer

Live roaches, no food thermometer: 2 Triangle restaurants get B grades

The News & Observer publishes a weekly roundup of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle dining spots. Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants’ adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses. You’ve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants you’ve visited, and The N&O previously explained what those scores mean and how they’re calculated . Here are sanitation scores in Triangle counties from Nov. 3-9. Wake County sanitation scores The Wake County inspection management system shows 73 restaurant inspections were completed Nov. 3-9. Two restaurants received a B grade (a score of at least 80 but lower than 90): Dum N Grill (1000 Market Center Drive, Morrisville) received a score of 87 on Thursday, Nov. 5. The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards. Violations include gnats at a sink, no sanitizing solution test strips or food thermometer available, employees not washing hands while switching tasks and an employee tasting cooked rice with gloved hands and then putting the excess rice back into the pot of cooked rice, among other violations. The restaurant previously has not previously

Wake County, NC · 1d

familydestinationsguide.com

partner publisher · 8.3K followers

Most People Drive Right Past This North Carolina Restaurant Without Knowing It Hides The State’s Best BBQ

Somewhere along a road in Shelby, North Carolina, people are driving past one of the best barbecue restaurants in the entire state without even slowing down. That’s a tragedy, and this article exists to make sure it doesn’t happen to you. Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge has been cooking...

Shelby, NC · 13d

New York State News

Beloved Hudson Valley Pizza Business Moves To The Carolinas

A popular pizza business confirmed the business is leaving the Hudson Valley.

North Carolina · 5d

thecharlotteweekly.com

Food Briefs: Restaurants offer Veterans Day deals

Twin Peaks restaurants will offer complimentary entrées to veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Eligible guests presenting a valid military ID can choose from five menu items: a cheeseburger and fries, chicken Caesar salad, chicken tenders and fries, pepperoni flatbread or boneless wings and fries.

travelmag.com

10 North Carolina Hot Dog Joints Serving Slaw Dogs, Chili And Mustard On Soft Buns

North Carolina has been dressing up hot dogs since long before toppings became a personality trait. And around here, chili, slaw, mustard, and onions are practically the dress code. Take a Burlington counter that’s been serving hot dogs since 1928. Nearly a century later, the buns are still steaming, and...

North Carolina · 14h

Charlotte Observer

Best coffee shop? Charlotte bakery & cafe earns spot on national Top 10 list

Amelie’s French Bakery & Café has earned the No. 8 spot on USA Today’s 10Best Independent Coffee Shops list for 2026. It was the only North Carolina café to crack the national ranking. Here’s why the Charlotte-born café was named among America’s best spots for coffee: 10Best editors praised the café’s coffee, service and cozy atmosphere, singling out the salted caramel mocha, thick hot chocolate and barista-made espressos and cappuccinos. Pastry lovers can expect croissants, salted caramel brownies, macarons, cheesecakes and éclairs, along with savory bites like quiches and sandwiches. “Our cafés are developing creative and joyful experiences through our coffee program, and we’re so honored to see the hard work being recognized,” an Amelie’s spokesperson told CharlotteFive by email. First opened in NoDa in 2008, Amelie’s has grown to include locations in uptown, Plaza Midwood, Carmel, Montford and Rock Hill, South Carolina. A 10Best expert panel nominated the contenders before a month-long public vote decided the rankings. Southern Living also named Amelie’s North Carolina’s best bakery in 2023. This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by

Charlotte, NC · 3d

fastfoodclub.com