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Charlotte Observer

partner publisher · 118.3K followers
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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 · 1d

whatnow.com

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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 · 4d
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Charlotte Observer

partner publisher · 118.3K followers
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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 · 2d

Raleigh News & Observer

partner publisher · 97.5K followers
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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 · 2d

Daily Mail

partner publisher · 2.2M followers

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.

Charlotte, NC · 2d

myfamilytravels.com

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North Carolina Mother Left Her Corporate Career to Open a Coffee Shop in Memory of Her Two-Year-Old Son

A mother put her two-year-old son’s name on a coffee shop sign and paired it with a simple two-word promise: keep smiling. She walked away from a corporate career to make it happen. Instead of an office, she now spends her days behind an espresso machine, greeting strangers like old friends.

North Carolina · 3d

travelmag.com

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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 · 1d

hoodline.com

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Bubbakoo's Burritos Lands in Concord Tuesday, Its First Charlotte-Area Shop

A build-your-own burrito chain that got its start on the Jersey Shore is finally staking a claim in metro Charlotte. Bubbakoo's Burritos opens its first restaurant in the area Tuesday at Parkway Commons in Concord, bringing its customizable Mexican-fusion menu to a storefront at 3805 Concord Pkwy S, Ste 140.

Concord, NC · 3d

familydestinationsguide.com

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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 · 6d

lakenormanpublications.com

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Corkscrew pours its familiar atmosphere into downtown Huntersville

HUNTERSVILLE – For the customers who mourned the loss of Corkscrew Wine Shoppe & Bar when its popular Birkdale Village location closed at the end of 2022, the wait is finally over. After nearly four years away, the neighborhood gathering spot has reopened at 111 Gilead Road, bringing its...

Huntersville, NC · 1d

fastfoodclub.com

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North Carolina Families Have Piled Plates With Sushi And Hibachi At This Matthews Buffet For Years

Some families in Matthews have a standing plan for birthdays, lazy Saturdays, and those nights when nobody wants to cook. The plan involves a long row of buffet tables, a sushi bar, and a grill where a cook makes your plate to order. One local family has kept this tradition...

Matthews, NC · 2d

v1019.com

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EggBred Expands to East Charlotte: New Location Promises Fresh Breakfast Delights by 2027

Diners looking for a fast-casual breakfast/brunch spot will soon be able to eat at EggBred, located at Eastway Crossing in East Charlotte. According to the Charlotte Observer, the opening of EggBred is planned for sometime in 2027. The EggBred chain is known for freshly cracked breakfast items and homemade sauces, along with waffles, loaded breakfast burritos, and breakfast sandwiches.

Charlotte, NC · 7d

qcitymetro.com

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QCity Metro Dinner Club launches with over 70 participants

On November 5th, over 70 strangers gathered for dinner at 8 different restaurants in Uptown Charlotte. They were part of our first QCity Metro Dinner Club. It's a monthly event series where participants dine with strangers. How it works. Participants start by taking a personality quiz. It asks questions to...

Charlotte, NC · 1d

NC Newsline

partner publisher · 19.7K followers

North Carolina’s governor celebrates huge milestone for Meals on Wheels

Gov. Josh Stein was on hand Monday as Meals on Wheels delivered its eight millionth meal in Forsyth County. The recipient was Ben Briggs, a 105-year-old retired science teacher who relies on the nonprofit to deliver meals to his home. In North Carolina 13.9% of seniors, more than 341,000 older adults, face food insecurity. Stein […]

North Carolina · 3d

decorhint.com

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10 North Carolina Restaurants That Go Absolutely Overboard With Christmas Decorations Every Holiday Season

Two thousand gingerbread cookies a day is the kind of December statistic that makes me forget I was researching restaurants. One North Carolina steakhouse bakes roughly that many during the holidays, then sends diners home with cookies handed out by elves. From there, the decorating only gets more ambitious. I...

Raleigh, NC · 3d

The Call Of

partner publisher · 5.1K followers

Charlotte Bar’s $6 “Box Fee” Was Never a Box Fee

Charlotte bar STATS charged $6 when diners boxed a discounted pasta — not for the container, but a price adjustment the receipt never explained.

Charlotte, NC · 1d

thecharlotteweekly.com

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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.

Charlotte, NC · 3d

whatnow.com

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Publix Targets 2027 Opening at Redhawk Pointe in Cramerton

Publix is targeting a 2027 opening for a new supermarket at Redhawk Pointe, a planned shopping center along South New Hope Road in Cramerton, North Carolina. The Lakeland, Florida-based grocer confirmed the upcoming location alongside another Charlotte-area store in Matthews, according to a November 2026 announcement reported by CBJ Newsroom on Instagram.

Cramerton, NC · 1d

nctriangledining.com

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Best Barbecue in the NC Triangle – Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Knightdale

If you’re a fan of NC barbecue or Texas barbecue, thankfully we’ve got a lot of great options in the Triangle now! And far beyond the traditional Eastern North Carolina barbecue that we typically get here. Check out the list below to get your smoked meat on…. The...

Durham, NC · 5d

familyvacationsus.com

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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 · 5d