We all love a good date night, but often we get stuck going to the same few places over and over again. If you’re in need of some inspiration for a great night with your other half, you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best restaurants in Charlotte for a date night. From casual eateries to romantic dining experiences, you’re guaranteed to find someplace perfect for your next night out.
South End
Yunta
2201 South Blvd Suite 130
This Peruvian Nikkei restaurant is a unique experience that is sure to impress your date. Take your taste buds on a journey of flavors with dishes like shrimp croquettes, tiradito (thinly sliced raw fish), arroz chaufa, and sushi rolls. You can’t miss the nigiri either — some of which are torched directly at your table — for a dinner and show.
Link & Pin
155 New Bern St
Start your evening with a classic wedge or caesar salad and some cocktails. Then dive into one of Link & Pin’s certified Angus Beef® steaks (all cooked at 1800°f for a charred “Pittsburgh-style” exterior finish), like the filet mignon or Dry-Aged Porterhouse for two, with truffle lobster mac n cheese, grilled asparagus or roasted carrots for sides. Finish on a sweet note with house-made donuts or Nutella Budino. View their menu here.
Chapter 6
2151 Hawkins St
Newly opened in “The Line” building in South End, Chapter 6 has a Mediterranean inspired menu meant for sharing. Grab your date and choose from small plates like seafood salad, whipped ricotta, braised lamb neck, and Spanish octopus. If you’re feeling adventurous, opt for “The Treatment” which is a chef selected tasting tour of the menu.
The Waterman Fish Bar
2729 South Blvd Suite D
Seafood lovers can’t go wrong with a casual date night out to The Waterman Fish Bar. To start, you have to try their New England style clam chowder. As for main courses, the salmon spinach apple, Carolina grouper, Carolina flounder, and Creole shrimp & grits are all excellent choices.
Sixty Vines
1415 Vantage Pk Dr #100
If your date is a wine lover, Sixty Vines will be a home run. Featuring sixty different wines on tap, you’ll have a hard time selecting which one to try first. After ordering drinks, build a charcuterie board as an appetizer, then try out the fig & prosciutto pizza and braised pork pappardelle as entrees.
Uptown
The Cellar at Duckworth’s
330 N Tryon St
This romantic restaurant and speakeasy hidden beneath Duckworth’s sports bar makes for a unique date night. Start your meal with their large selection of cheese and charcuterie, then move on to a delicious steak, like the 32oz bone-in ribeye or 20oz Kansas City strip. Complete the perfect date night with the mixed berry sweet fried dumplings.
Coquette
400 S Tryon St Suite 10X
This newly opened French restaurant will make for a romantic date night. Start with a glass of wine, then enjoy small plates like smoked bone marrow, salad and oysters. For the main course, try the halibut or coq a vin blanc. Don’t leave without topping off your meal with a chocolate bouchon and dessert cocktail.
Sea Level NC
129 E 5th St
If you’re looking for an elevated seafood experience, Sea Level NC is your date night spot. Start your meal with the clam chowder or lobster & shrimp bisque, then dive into one of the mouthwatering entrees, like paella, scallops & risotto, blackened SC grouper, and sweet & tangy short ribs. If you’re in the mood to share with your date, try the Truist Tower, that comes with chef’s selection of 24 oysters, 12 mussels, 10 raw clams, shrimp cocktail, seasonal ceviche, salmon poke, Maine lobster, Marshallberg Farm caviar. End your meal with the apple buckle dessert.
Church and Union
127 N Tryon St #8
For an upscale date night in Uptown, try Church and Union. Begin your dining experience with a cocktail, glass of wine, or a beer. Then, hop in to an entree like filet mignon, swordfish, or short rib. Split the white chocolate créme brülée before calling it a night.
Fahrenheit
222 S Caldwell St 21st Floor
Date night comes with a gorgeous city skyline view at Fahrenheit. Travel 21 stories above Charlotte and indulge in Fahrenheit’s delicious menu. The extensive wine list, dishes like braised short ribs, surf n’ turf, and seafood towers, paired with city views will make Fahrenheit a date night to remember.
La Belle Helene
300 S Tryon St Suite 100
Enjoy a romantic evening in a truly stunning restaurant at La Belle Helene. This French spot in Uptown features decadent appetizers like steak tartare and moules de pei, mouthwatering entrees like garlic & herb chicken, boeuf bourguignon, steak frites, and crispy duck confit, and heavenly desserts like créme brülée.
NoDa
The Goodyear House
3032 N Davidson St
This classic NoDa spot has delicious food and a unique interior. Share a selection of small plates with your significant other — from roasted carrots, to smoked cashew mac, to scallops, steak, and shrimp & grits — this date night spot has something for everyone.
Haberdish
3106 N Davidson St
If you’re looking for some Southern comfort food to enjoy on your next date night, look no further than Haberdish. Start with hushpuppies, a must when enjoying Southern food, then move on to fried chicken, BBQ ribs, mac n cheese, and collared greens. If you can find the room, finish your meal with banana pudding or apple hand pies.
Plaza Midwood
Supperland
1212 The Plaza
Described as “Southern Steakhouse meets Church Potluck”, Supperland is unlike any other restaurant in the Charlotte area. The restaurant sits inside a converted church, giving it a rustic charm with incredible food. Treat your date to baked brie bites, oysters, Wagyu pot roast, and beef ribs. It’s likely you’ll be too full when your meal ends for dessert, but don’t worry — Supperland offers their famous chocolate chip cookies to go.
The Warmack
1226 Central Ave A
Try an Asian fusion spot for your next date night at The Warmack. Grab a beer, wine, or sake as a beverage, then try a selection of gyoza, bao buns, spring rolls, and sushi. Our favorite is the Salmacado roll, made with avocado, salmon, and wasabi mayo.
Elizabeth
Puerta
1961 E 7th St
This newly opened Mexican restaurant in Elizabeth is a great date night spot. Begin your evening with a margarita, then order a wide variety of food to experience the flavors of Mexico. We love the guacamole, lamb birria empanadas, chipotle short rib, and barbacoa tacos. Finish your meal off with some of the best churros in Charlotte.
Customshop
1601 Elizabeth Ave
Handcrafted food and cocktails await at Customshop in Elizabeth. With low lighting and an intimate interior, this restaurant definitely makes for a romantic date night. Most of their menu is meant for sharing, and some of our favorite dishes include the hamachi crudo, burrata, empanadas, and blue crab ravioli.
Catalina Kitchen and Bar
1942 E 7th St #106
Another great date night restaurant that’s new to the Elizabeth area is Catalina Kitchen and Bar. Featuring daily drink specials, a “social hour” with discounted bites until 5:45PM, and a large menu, Catalina Kitchen and Bar can be both a casual date night or a more upscale night on the town.
SouthPark/Myers Park
Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse
4625 Piedmont Row Dr Suite 115A
The outdoor patio at Duckworth’s SouthPark is a great casual date night spot. Not only are there delicious customizable pizza, taco, and burger options, but Duckworth’s also has an extensive cocktail menu, created by the same mixologists who do Link & Pin and Cellar at Duckworth’s menus. Enjoy amazing food and drink in an unexpected place when you date night at Duckworth’s!
Bulla Gastrobar
4310 Sharon Rd w01
Split Spanish style tapas with your date at Bulla Gastrobar. Begin with a pitcher of sangria or mojitos, then move on to the large selection of small plates like patatas bravas, huevos bulla, grilled octopus salad, and croquettes. If your date is a foodie, they’ll definitely love dining at Bulla Gastrobar.
Ace No. 3
829 Providence Rd
Sometimes, you just want to grab a burger, fries, and a milkshake with your other half. On those days, Ace No. 3 is the perfect casual date night spot. Grab a burger like the classic “Ace”, with double patties, cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and comeback sauce on a brioche bun, or the Belmont Chili, with double patties, cheese, onions, chili, and mustard, a shake and some fries, and enjoy the night with your date.
Little Mama’s Italian
4521 Sharon Rd
Enjoy homemade, classic Italian cuisine at Little Mama’s in SouthPark. When dining here, start with a glass of wine, then grab a starter like the goat cheese and mascarpone dip. As for mains, keep it simple, with chicken parm, penne alla vodka, or fettucine. To finish, the tiramisu is a must. Your date will leave feeling full and happy after this meal.
The Fox & Falcon
4905 Ashley Park Ln
Try a little bit of everything with a date night at The Fox & Falcon. From fresh oysters, to pretzel crab cakes, to bison bolognese, salmon, and cheeseburgers, there’s something for everyone the pickiest of eaters at this restaurant. Plus, there’s a large selection of desserts specifically for two people, like the cheesecake pops for two and tin can cake for two, making this the perfect place to share a sweet treat.
Napa on Providence & Napa on Kingsley
110 Perrin Pl & 1310 Broadcloth St, Fort Mill, SC
The new fall menu at Napa on Providence and Napa on Kingsley is sure to be a delicious date night. The restaurant group is debuting a new cocktail list that pairs perfectly with their fall features like beet cured salmon, crisp cauliflower, baked oysters, pan-roasted duck breast, braised short rib, and chocolate mousse.
Red Rocks Cafe
4223 Providence Rd #8
Begin your date night at Red Rocks Cafe by splitting a bottle of wine from their extensive menu. For your main course, get a steak, like the center-cut filet, and a fish, like the sesame tuna, to share with your other half. And you can’t leave before ending the night with a sweet treat, like the three layer chocolate cake.
Pineville
Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market
316 Main St
What’s better than a pizza and wine date night? At Margaux’s start with a bottle of wine, then try their special pizza of the month. For October, the special is a BBQ chicken pizza, with a barbecue base, cheese blend, chicken, red onion, bacon, and a BBQ drizzle. In November, the pizza special switches to a chicken pesto pizza, with a roasted garlic oil base, cheese, fresh mozzarella, diced chicken, marinated tomatoes, and basil pesto. Pair your pizza and wine with a chef’s soup or salad.
The Garrison
314 Main St
Enjoy a delicious date night at The Garrison in Pineville. We love their pan seared scallops, with creamy grits, onions, peppers, and creole sauce, the cheerwine short ribs, with celery root, collared greens, pickled cranberries, and cheerwine demi, or their duroc dry aged pork chop, with peach mustard glaze, roasted fingerling potatoes, and brussels sprouts.
Cornelius
Port City Club
18665 Harborside Dr
Take your significant other to dine waterside on Lake Norman at Port City Club. Not only does this restaurant have stunning views of the lake and ample outdoor seating to enjoy it, but it also has delicious flatbreads, salads, steaks, pastas, sides, and desserts.
Author’s Note: This article was written by Alex Maloney. You can find more of her Charlotte-related content on Instagram, @slicesandsushi.
