Gather Around: Dining Options for Groups in Charlotte
Dining out with a group? Plan ahead with these accommodating restaurants.
by Dean McCain
We’ve all been there. Your family and friends are coming to town and they want to dine on top-notch cuisine in the Queen City. Whether you’re a group of four or are looking for a space for a larger group, there’s no need to panic. Celebrate your time together by toasting to good food and even better company at these dining options in Charlotte.
Angeline’s
Neighborhood: Uptown
Group Accommodations: Private dining room, full patio reservations, large group reservations
Angeline’s is an Italian-inspired Modern American restaurant located in the heart of Uptown and adjacent to scenic Romare Bearden Park. This upscale (but not uptight) dining establishment offers full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, with brunch available on weekends. Arrive early for reservations and let Angeline’s talented bartenders serve up something creative before a meal of shareable plates, hearty pastas and meaty mains. A private dining room is available for more intimate parties and accommodates groups of up to 34 diners.
Dilworth Tasting Room
Neighborhood: Dilworth, SouthPark
Group Accommodations: Private dining, semi-private dining room, buy-out options, large-group reservations
Dilworth Tasting Room is a unique wine bar offering highly curated wines, cocktails and food menus. The extensive wine list, curated by owner and sommelier Jaffer Kovic, focuses on low-production, high-quality wines you won’t find elsewhere. With a food menu ranging from small shareables to serious steaks and everything in between, Dilworth Tasting Room SouthPark is a great choice for groups with varied tastes. Inquire about hosting a private event online.
La Belle Helene
Neighborhood: Uptown
Group Accommodations: Private dining space, group dining menu, large-group reservation
Bright and refined, La Belle Helene is a traditional French brasserie that specializes in classic cuisine and exceptional service. Start with a cocktail from the bar to whet the appetite while you peruse the extensive food menu. Guests will be treated to an array of traditional French dishes like escargot, steak tartare and foie gras alongside fresh seafood, hearty steaks and shareable vegetable sides. With multiple private spaces to reserve, La Belle Helene can customize guest experiences to group sizes as needed.
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten
Neighborhood: LoSo
Group Accommodations: Private event space, large outdoor and indoor communal-style seating
One of Charlotte’s first original breweries, Olde Mecklenburg’s large taphouse and biergarten are a natural choice for groups. Olde Meck is a traditional German-style brewery, so expect lots of lagers and altbiers.. Long tables indoors and out are a nod to traditional German beer halls and lend themselves to afternoons carousing with new friends and old, with private event space available. A selection of brewery basics like pretzels and beer cheese can be ordered along with larger sandwiches, burgers, and salads with brunch available on Sundays.
Rooster’s Wood-Fired Kitchen
Neighborhood: Uptown, SouthPark
Group Accommodations: Private space, reservations (up to 20), family-style portions
Treat your group to a dining experience at Rooster’s Wood-fired Kitchen and enjoy a seasonally-inspired menu focused on locally sourced ingredients. Rooster's approach to upscale dining offers simple yet satisfying dishes, many of which are large enough portions to share family-style. Two locations (SouthPark and Uptown) make Rooster’s a convenient choice with plenty of entertainment and shopping nearby.
Mico Restaurant
Neighborhood: Uptown
Group Accommodations: Private dining rooms, reservations (up to 20)
Located on the ground floor of the Grand Bohemian Hotel Uptown, Mico is a stylish and swanky South American-inspired restaurant that offers a change of pace from other local fare. Elegant and comfortable, Mico invites diners on a journey through Argentina with globally inspired flavors, bohemian design and curated music. Several private areas are available for more intimate group dining options.
The Goodyear House
Neighborhood: NoDa
Group Accommodations: Multiple private dining spaces, seated family-style meal options, reservations (up to 20)
The Goodyear House is a neighborhood gathering place and modern American restaurant celebrating Southern comfort food through re-imagined dishes. Executive Chef Chris Coleman garnered serious attention for The Goodyear House after competing on (and winning) “Beat Bobby Flay” on the Food Network. The restaurant itself is an indoor-outdoor space that shifts and changes as needed, with seating that can accommodate groups of any size. Need more than just a few tables? The Goodyear House has four private dining rooms available to reserve.
Haberdish
Neighborhood: NoDa
Group Accommodations: Reservations (up to 12), larger party accommodations available upon request, wait list
A casual Southern kitchen, Haberdish is a Charlotte favorite for Carolina-inspired cuisine. With a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients, Haberdish specializes in traditional southern fare like fried chicken, BBQ ribs, fresh trout and collard greens. Reservations are encouraged but not required.
Suffolk Punch Brewing
Neighborhood: South End
Group Accommodations: Private dining options, reservations (Monday-Thursday)
Located just off the LYNX Blue Line light rail, Suffolk Punch is a great option for unplanned group outings. Suffolk Punch is a casual blend of brewery, restaurant and café replete with craft beer, coffee drinks and full service dining. The covered, heated outdoor area provides ample seating at large picnic tables and has a satellite bar location – convenient on weekend afternoons when the party starts to turn up and the crowd swells.
Legion Brewing SouthPark
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Group Accommodations: Private event space
Legion Brewing in SouthPark is a great casual group dining option for lunch and dinner due to its extensive menu and fun atmosphere. Legion Brewing SouthPark offers upgraded takes on bar food classics (think pizza and sandwiches) as well as unexpected entree options, like birria ramen or pimento cheese and potato pierogies. Private event reservations are available for large groups, while most group sizes are easily accommodated as walk-ins.
Drift on Lake Wylie
Area: Belmont
Group Accommodations: Private dining space, events menu, reservations (up to 20)
Dinner with a waterfront view is on the menu when you dine at Drift, an upscale chophouse on Lake Wylie that focuses on locally sourced ingredients and chef-driven menu creations. Guests can enjoy selecting from a carefully curated wine list or allow a bartender to craft a cocktail customized to personal taste while relaxing with a lovely view of the lake.
Aria Tuscan Grill
Neighborhood: Uptown
Group Accommodations: Private dining space, private dining menu, large-party reservations
Aria Tuscan Grill brings the flavors and tradition of old world comfort food to Charlotte, reimagined in a modern Italian dining establishment. Diners can enjoy dishes like duck confit and seared trout along with classic pastas like gnocchi alla Bolognese and cacio e pepe carbonara. Hundreds of wines from around the world line the walls of the bar while flashes of fire can be glimpsed through the large kitchen windows meant for giving diners a behind-the-scenes look. Groups can reserve the ever-popular Chef’s Table for special occasions, which gives diners a front row view of the action in the kitchen.
Chima Steakhouse
Neighborhood: Uptown
Group Accommodations: Reservations (up to 10), Group dining
Chima Brazilian Steakhouse offers authentic Brazilian cuisine in a modern and stylish atmosphere in Uptown. Guests are treated to an all-you-can-eat style dining experience with Brazilian gauchos rotating throughout the dining room offering select cuts of premium meats. With ordering being so simple, guests can focus more on socializing and less on choice selection, not to mention the ease of splitting checks if needed.
Haymaker
Neighborhood: Uptown
Group Accommodations: Multiple large-party dining spaces (up to 95), reservations (up to 20)
Haymaker is a modern Southern restaurant which places heavy focus on heirloom ingredients and sustainable meats when designing dishes. Chef William Dissen leads the mission to “reinterpret the bounty of the Piedmont and Appalachia,” maintaining a strong connection between culinary tradition and necessity to today’s menu offerings. The high and light atmosphere with a touch of retro feel make Haymaker a natural choice for brunch, lunch or dinner. Reservations are encouraged.
Essex Bar & Bistro
Neighborhood: Uptown
Group Accommodations: Private dining space, private dining menu, reservations (up to 20)
Part bistro, part lounge, Essex Bar & Bistro is a modern Uptown restaurant perfect for a night out with friends and family. The menu includes a number of shareable selections – charcuterie board, Mediterranean dips, fried artichokes etc. – as well as full entrees featuring flavors from around the world. Groups can be easily accommodated in both the main dining room and enclosed patio area with reservations.
