OFF-CAMPUS DINING

by April Carte Editor-in-Chief

Top ten Charlotte restaurants to visit before you graduate

Courtesy of NT File Photos

Dining halls and on-campus fast food restaurants can get a little boring after a while. If you are not feeling on-campus dining options, here is a list of 10 offcampus restaurants (in no particular order) to visit during your time at UNC Charlotte. Some restaurants are just a few steps away from campus and some are a quick drive or light rail ride. Either way, they are equally as delicious and deserving of your business.

Boardwalk Billy’s

A UNC Charlotte classic right on the water, Boardwalk Billy’s offers a wide variety of food options like seafood, burgers and barbecue. This restaurant is a good meet-in-the-middle restaurant to satisfy all of your and your roommate’s needs. If sitting inside a restaurant again isn’t your thing, then check out their front and back outdoor seating, which comes with great views. Also available for takeout!

Price: $$

Zapata’s

A two story authentic mexican restaurant also with a nice view of the water. As a Charlotte native, I’ve eaten at Zapata’s several times and have never been disappointed. This small familyfriendly restaurant can be packed on weekends, so I recommend trying it out during the week. Outdoor seating is also available here, as well as occasional live music!

Price: $$

Snooze Eatery A brunch must-have! Although a bit of a further drive to Plaza Midwood, let me be the first to say, their apple juice and breakfast tacos are worth it. Not to mention it’s conveniently located across from some pretty cool stores and Charlotte hotspots. Just make sure you get there before they close at 2 p.m.! Price: $$

Toppers Pizza

Located off Highway 49, Toppers is a good switch up from your regular Pizza Hut, Dominos or Papa Johns. A mac and cheese pizza is perfect for your 2 a.m. cravings. This pizza chain is known especially for its unique toppings (so do not just order a plain cheese pizza). Pizza makes for the perfect college dinner— no sitting in a restaurant involved! Price: $$

Ishi A Japanese restaurant that is perfect for a college student’s pockets. This one is slightly more tucked away off Highway 49, but once you find it, you won’t forget about it! I recommend ordering their hibachi chicken and choosing their Ishi creamy garlic flavor; it’s my personal favorite. Their sushi is also a good choice or addition to your order— it makes for the perfect takeout meal! Price: $$

Haberdish

Another restaurant with a further drive into North Davidson, aka NoDa, Haberdish has some of the best-fried chicken you’ll ever eat. It is a southern restaurant with family-style comfort food options and great cocktails (if you are of age). They offer cute outdoor seating, but I also must warn you that they can be packed on weekends. Plan accordingly! Price: $$

Cava I like to call it the Mediterranean Chipotle. So if neither Mediterranean food or Chipotle sound appealing to you, maybe try something else. Cava is a quick and fairly healthy option with a wide variety of toppings and sauces to include in your pita or grain bowl. Although it is slightly more expensive, the portions are quite big and perfect for next-day leftovers if you can’t eat a lot in one

sitting. This place is easy to grab it and go to, also with curbside pickup available! Price: $$

Midnight Diner All UNC Charlotte students must go here before graduating. And I recommend going late at night so that the restaurant can live up to its name (open until 4:30 a.m.). With both breakfast and dinner options, Midnight Diner is one of those places that never disappoints. Designed as an old-fashioned retro-style diner, the experience and atmosphere are just as appealing as the food. Another one that can be more packed on weekends, but totally worth the wait! Price: $

Tequilas Taco and Bar

This new restaurant is now in place of Macado’s, another UNC Charlotte classic but one that got taken out by the pandemic. Located right across from campus, Tequilas is a great option for good drinks and authentic Mexican food. I’ve only been there once since they opened, but I definitely will be back. The atmosphere is fun and certainly inviting for college students. Price: $$

Ninety’s

Nothing is better than dessert, especially ice cream. Located a few steps away from Boardwalk Billy’s, this is the perfect after-dinner treat. Ninety’s has been around for a while, but they just revamped their inside with bright colors, and 90s themed art featuring some local artists. If ice cream bores you, their signature Yum-EE Buns and macaron ice cream sandwiches offer a good switch up to a classic dessert. I need to warn you, though, your summer diet may hate this one!

Price: $

Whether you choose to sit inside or get your food to-go, you are bound to enjoy these places either way. Happy eating, Niners!