Charlotte, North Carolina is home to plenty of local restaurants and breweries. Every QC native knows the best way to end a rough week at work is by going out with your squad and treating yourself to a delicious dinner. But who says your dog can’t be a part of your squad? Fortunately, most of Charlotte’s restaurants have dog-friendly patios as well as awesome food. To help narrow it down, here’s a list of the best 11 restaurants for both you and man’s best friend.
1. NoDa Brewing Company
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Located in Charlotte’s North Davidson neighborhood, NoDa Brewing Company is home to local beers and creative flavors called NoDables. They host plenty of events with food trucks, live music, and even a running club. Their patio is the perfect place to kick back, relax and enjoy the view of the Charlotte skyline with a beer and your dog.
2. VBGB Beer Hall and Garden
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VBGB is one of the most popular spots on a Friday night during the summer. Their patio offers a great view of the Charlotte skyline, and they even have a sandpit volleyball court. They’re known mostly for their homemade beer cheese, but also serve delicious bratwursts and signature sandwiches. VBGB is also located in the Music Factory, so you can simply walk down the street to see what else Charlotte has to offer.
3. Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe
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It’s hard to miss this cute little green building smack-dab in the middle of Plaza Midwood. The outside patio is always packed with people enjoying brunch or playing shuffleboard out front. They serve breakfast all day and are known for their delicious French toast and other 100% organic brunch options. Zada Jane’s uses primarily local farmers, so you know that everything you and your dog (when you sneak them some bacon) are getting is the best it can be.
4. Jack Beagle’s
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Jack Beagle’s combines the best of both worlds by not only having an awesome late-night menu and bar selection, but for also serving breakfast as well on the weekends. They have weekly specials every day including live music, open mic nights, and patio parties every Friday that are more than dog-friendly. Whether you’re there for a signature burger or a Beagle Breakfast, you definitely won’t be disappointed.
5. Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant
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Because I couldn’t go this whole list without mentioning tacos at least once, here’s one of the best spots in Charlotte to grab some authentic Mexican food. They have three locations with patios at each one and a menu so big it’ll be hard to decide. They’re most known for their signature taco combinations and creative drink options, so don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
6. Sycamore Brewing
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Sycamore Brewing is not only home to local beers and a huge outdoor patio, but also hosts Charlotte’s Food Truck Friday event. During the week, they offer a smaller sandwich menu that centers around local, freshly made focaccia bread. On Fridays and Saturdays during the summer, the patio is open to live music and plenty of options from local food trucks. The menu changes often, too, so there’s always something new and delicious to try.
7. Birdsong Brewing Company
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Another brewing company? Hell yeah. Birdsong brews up some crazy unique flavors, including a jalapeño pale ale and coffee-and-vanilla flavored porter. They also host food trucks on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as Tuesdays through Thursdays. Live local music is also presented on Friday and Saturday nights, and local art hangs all over their walls. Their huge patio and lawn area, as well as their weekly brewery tours, are not to be missed either.
8. Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen
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This is arguably one of the best that NoDa has to offer. They serve authentic, classic Cajun food like jambalaya and Louisiana red beans. On Saturdays and Sundays, they also offer brunch and serve what are arguably the best beignets in Charlotte. And for lunch, they offer an awesome “Meat and Three” deal which comes with your choice of meat (everything from tilapia to sausage) and plenty of side choices that won’t disappoint.
9. The Peculiar Rabbit
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Not only does the Peculiar Rabbit serve excellent food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but they also have one of the best views of the Charlotte skyline that Plaza Midwood has to offer. They have both a patio area on the ground floor of the restaurant and a rooftop patio with an amazing view as well. They serve traditional English food, but use mainly local ingredients to give it a bit of Southern flare.
10. Flip’n Chicken
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Made fresh daily, Flip’n Chicken’s wings, breadsticks, and chicken strips are definitely some of the best in Charlotte. Flip’n Chicken is home to house-made sauces, such as buffalo, garlic Parmesan, and lemon pepper, that can be mixed together for even more flavor. Their breadsticks are also made from scratch with their own classic recipe. Additionally, if for whatever reason wings aren’t your thing, they also offer plenty of pizza, salads, and wraps as well.
11. Solstice Tavern
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This place is hard to miss, as it’s painted dark blue with yellow rays shining from the door on one of the busiest corners in NoDa. Solstice doubles as both a casual bar to watch the Panthers and have a drink with your friends, as well as a restaurant to stop by for some of the best sandwiches and burgers in Charlotte. They also host plenty of events, including gallery crawls and trivia nights that are bound to keep you coming back for more.