Savor Charlotte Is One of North Carolina’s Tastiest Fests (and a North Star for Dining Anytime)
Dig into Charlotte.
The visitor slogan for Charlotte, North Carolina – “Charlotte’s Got A Lot” – sets up some high expectations. As a regular visitor to Queen City, I promise you the slogan falls short. Charlotte’s got it all. (Okay, so maybe it doesn’t have everything, but it’s so close you’ll never know the difference.)
I left my home on North Carolina’s coast to spend a tasty weekend experiencing the opening salvo of Savor Charlotte, a two-week food festival held in mid-March that’s loaded with interactive classes, exclusive menus, and Savor-exclusive offers. In a state where restaurant weeks, culinary festivals, and food experiences fill the calendar year-round, it’s hard to stand out — but Savor does.
If you’re a food fan, follow in my footsteps for the next Savor, or take note of what’s worth eating and drinking for your next trip to Charlotte.
A taste of Savor Charlotte
Tuscan wine tasting at Supperland
Photo: Jason Frye
My Savor experience kicked off with an Italian wine tasting at Supperland — part steakhouse, part Sunday supper. The tasting focused on wines from Tuscany, with eight pours of vernaccia, chianti, Brunello, and an assortment of Super Tuscans (unconventional red blends) telling the story of Tuscany’s terroir and wine history.
Many Italian wines feature on Supperland’s menu, and the light bites the restaurant served during the tasting showed the kitchen’s attention to creating a super food and wine experience from first sip to last bite. While the tasting was a Savor event, Supperland holds events — wine, whiskey, and cocktail tastings; cocktail classes; oyster tastings; and more — on the regular.
Supperland: 1212 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
Cheese and beer pairing at Petty Thieves Brewing
Petty Thieves Brewing, between Uptown and Charlotte’s North End, did a bold thing for Savor: paired beer and cheese for an intriguing afternoon. We started with a tasting tutorial — which, it turns out, is pretty similar to a wine tasting: swirl, sniff, sip, repeat (well, you don’t sip the cheese, you nibble it). The pairings were revelatory. Taleggio, the smelliest cheese we tried, and the saison revealed the sweetness inherent in each and played up the funky notes of both beer and cheese. Likewise, the triple crème brie and silky-smooth nitro Irish stout were a beautiful coupling.
On a normal day, Petty Thieves is cheese-free — although you can bring your own in — but our tasting guide said she’s developing a calendar of similar cheese-and-beer tastings (and more) in the coming months.
Petty Thieves Brewing: 413 Dalton Ave Suite B, Charlotte, NC 28206
Pitmasters boot camp at Sweet Lew’s BBQ
Photos: Jason Frye
Chef and Pitmaster Lewis Donald — the Lew of Sweet Lew’s — has a reputation for greatness and devotion to true ‘cue (slow-cooked over wood coals, simply seasoned, and simply delicious) that shows at both his restaurant and his early-April Carolina BBQ Festival. For the class I attended, Lew brought in fellow pitmaster Bryan Furman to cover everything you need to master your smoker: butchery and prep work, temperature and cook time, fire building, rubs and brines, and how a restaurant like his transforms beautiful proteins into stunning barbecue.
The group learned tips for handling brisket; surviving the dreaded “stall” when the internal temperature of barbecue meat stops rising; and improving our ribs, chicken, and pork butts. More valuable takeaways came when Lew demonstrated how to turn brisket and rib trimmings into sausage, showed us his method for seasoning and cooking ribs, and led real conversations about cooking on our home smoker setups.
The class also had an interactive element. Lew handed us knives to practice spatchcocking chicken and let us season a few and toss them on the smoker. It ended with a belly-busting feast that showed off Lew’s all-star sides and meats.
Sweet Lew’s BBQ: 923 Belmont Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Whiskey tasting at Muddy River Distillery
Mount Holly, a Charlotte suburb northwest of the city, holds onto its mill-town heritage at Muddy River Distillery. Housed in a century-old mill, it now produces a fine lineup of spirits, and the distillery invites visitors to join its Saturday-only tour and tasting. This takes you behind the scenes (well, not exactly behind the scenes because you can see the stills from the bar and dining room) for a look at the distilling process from first run to barrel aging.
Best of all, it concludes with a tasting of Muddy River’s rum from the pure silver spirit to the barrel-aged offerings, as well as flavored versions (spiced, basil-infused, coconut-flavored, and coffee-laced). The restaurant also serves a handful of sharable bites and has live music weekly.
Muddy River Distillery: 250 N Main St, Mt Holly, NC 28120
Where to eat and drink in Charlotte
L’Ostrica
Photos: Jason Frye
L’Ostrica brings wide-ranging influences and an insatiable culinary curiosity to exceptional results with a multi-course tasting menu that’s, simply put, a transformative meal — a perfect oyster with sunchoke and black truffle; smoked trout with a seafood fumee, smoked roe, and potato; rabbit agnolotti, squab two ways, lamb with cumin-scented carrot emulsion; a simple dish of English peas, periwinkles and a bit of briny foam. What should you order? The larger of the tasting menus. My only regret after this meal was that I opted for the short version.
L’Ostrica: 4701 Park Rd D, Charlotte, NC 28209
Mazi
Photos: Jason Frye
Mazi (Greek for “together”) dishes up Mediterranean-inspired small plates and fantastic cocktails and mocktails in a space that saw every table full of happy, hungry, laughing folks when I was there. Among the must-orders are the black walnut muhammara, Carolina Gold (rice) Falafel-Cini with a piquant green zhug sauce, lion’s mane mushroom shawarma wrapped in collard greens, and cast iron prawns with Calabrian chile and roasted garlic. For dessert, order it all: the tahini mousse, baklava sundae, and cornmeal ricotta cake looked and tasted great.
Mazi: 1300 South Blvd #101F, Charlotte, NC 28203
Dogwood Southern Table and Bar
Dogwood, a Charlotte hotspot for several years, relocated to Uptown’s Westin Charlotte to much fanfare from longtime loyal diners and Westin guests who pack the place (know this before you order: portions are hearty). The duck and dumplings (with ricotta gnudi and duck confit) is a must-try, and the shrimp and grits (a Southern classic) with an incredible stewed tomato gravy is one of the best iterations of the dish you’ll try. For dessert, the carrot cake can’t be beat. The menu has so much more – steaks; a burger that looked so good I almost ate a second dinner; and fried, raw, and charbroiled oysters – you’ll need to stop by for lunch and dinner.
Dogwood Southern Table and Bar: 601 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Folia
Photos: Jason Frye
Mixology mastermind Bob Peters and his team shake, stir, and serve superb cocktails from their semi-secret cocktail lounge. The front looks like a cute but tiny plant shop — until a secret door opens to reveal the bar and lounge-like spaces for chatting, sipping, and supping on small plates. The cocktail menu is split into “Perennials” (classics) and “Annuals” (seasonal libations). While you sip, nosh on bites like a baguette with butter or caviar (or both!), nduja or butternut squash flatbread, or a shrimp cocktail — and bring friends to truly soak up the ambience.
Folia: 1440 S Tryon St # 102, Charlotte, NC 28203
Chief’s Modern Cocktail Parlor
Photo: Jason Frye
Named in honor of Bob Peters’ dad, Chief’s Modern Cocktail Parlor lives up to the name with inviting and cozy spaces inside and an outdoor area that feels like the best version of a backyard that you can imagine. The menu is divided into craft cocktails, classics, spirt-free options, beer, wine, and snacks. I was feeling a little cheeky and went with a milk-and-cookies theme to my cocktails, ordering a pair of warm chocolate chip cookies to munch on while I sipped my Clarified Malted Milk Punch. The Only Fans (of Cheerwine) is a two-person drink I wish I could’ve ordered, but the classic Sazerac quickly made me forget I was there solo.
Chief’s Modern Cocktail Parlor: 3024 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Camp North End
Camp North End is one of Charlotte’s huge adaptive-reuse projects that sees former industrial sites (like mills and factories) transformed into a hip dining-shopping-working-living space. Here, you’ll find more than a dozen spots to eat and drink (from fine Gullah- and Southern-inspired meals at Leah & Louise to tacos from La Caseta to pizza and ice cream).
You’ll also find boutiques filled with thrifted goods, streetwear, art, and plants, plus indoor and outdoor event spaces. On a previous visit, I dove into the immersive Van Gogh Experience, but on this trip, the play areas were full of families watching the kids frolic, and both Thrift Pony and That’s Novel Books were buzzing with activity.
Camp North End: 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206
Optimist Hall
I stopped by Optimist Hall, Charlotte’s first food hall, to see what’s new. I left with a coffee, empanadas, and a couple of gifts in hand. Like Camp North End, Optimist Hall is one of those industrial-turned-commercial spaces — the former hosiery mill shows its workaday roots but in a space filled with tiny, delicious restaurants and a few boutiques.
At Archer Paper Goods, I grabbed a new notebook before wandering past tables packed with groups there for a bite and a good time. Indian street food from Botiwalla by Chai Pani graced some tables, while others were piled high with Harriet’s Hamburgers, Spanish-inspired small plates from Marina’s Tapas, barbecue from Noble Smoke, and sweet icy treats from Honeysuckle Gelato. Since Savor kept me fed, I wasn’t up for a full meal, but I was feeling snackish, so I paid a visit to Felix Empanadas for a pair of tasty handhelds and Suárez Bakery for a Cuban coffee.
Optimist Hall: 1115 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Where to stay in Charlotte
The Westin Charlotte
Charlotte’s packed with places to stay, from B&Bs and inns in historic homes to luxury accommodations and modern hotels at a range of price points. You’ll find plenty of options in most neighborhoods, but I stayed Uptown at The Westin Charlotte in a great location that put several classic Charlotte attractions within an easy walk: among them the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Mint Museum Uptown, NASCAR Hall of Fame, and sporting venues including the Spectrum Center (where the Hornets play) and Bank of America Stadium (home of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC).
At the hotel, my room was spacious and modern, with a luxe shower and bath products, a cozy robe, and a bed so comfortable I didn’t want to leave. The view — a sweeping 16th-floor look at west Charlotte — was a bonus. The Westin Charlotte is pet friendly ($50 fee per night), has a well-outfitted fitness center, and offers rooms and suites in single king and double queen configurations (though every room has a comfy couch, too).
EV chargers are available in the parking deck, but if you drive, remember the $35 per day fee for parking ($48 for valet). Westin Club members enjoy access to a tasty breakfast spread and hors d’oeuvres in the evening. On the first floor, there’s a little coffee shop with drinks and grab-and-go bites, but the hotel’s restaurant, Dogwood Southern Table, is the culinary star here.
The Westin Charlotte: 601 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
How to get to and around Charlotte
Getting to Charlotte is a breeze. Interstate 77 flows north-south through the city; Interstate 40 runs east-west only 45 miles north of Charlotte; and cities like Winston-Salem and Greensboro, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina, sit within an easy 90-minute drive. If you’re lucky enough to live near an Amtrak line, you can take The Crescent, Carolinian, or Piedmont trains into town. Or you can fly into Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) on any number of major carriers. I drove, following US 74 west into the city, an easy morning-long drive.
Once you’re in town, Ubers and other rideshares will deliver you from your hotel to any number of walkable neighborhoods, or you can take the Lynx, the city’s light rail connecting Uptown (Charlotte’s Downtown) with several neighborhoods (rides are only $2.20 one way, or you can buy a day or weekly unlimited rides pass for $6.60 and $30.80, respectively). CATS, the Charlotte Area Transit System, also operates buses that are an easy way to get around. Of course you can drive, and despite the city’s size, Charlotte’s a pretty easy town for drivers though parking can be a chore (if you drive, leave early for your reservation).
Charlotte’s a walkable city if you plan ahead and keep your exploration focused on adjacent neighborhoods. Uptown sprawls across several blocks and includes sporting venues, museums, restaurants, and hotels. Food halls and complexes like Optimist Hall and Camp North End are foodie focal points in their neighborhoods. In NoDa (North of Davidson), you’ll find a bevy of breweries, restaurants, and hip shops. Plaza Midwood, SouthPark, and South End have even more dining, shopping, and accommodation options in neighborhoods where you can stick close to home base and still have a memorable weekend (or more) in Charlotte. 
