Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Lake Norman

"Hardwood hickory logs are burnt 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the custom-built, computer-controlled smoker at Midwood Smokehouse. This lengthy cooking process ensures that the meats are all cooked to perfection and taste absolutely incredible. You can choose to enjoy your lunch or dinner in the restaurant, outside on the patio or order a selection of meats to take away and eat picnic-style in the park."

"The best items are everything on the menu including beef brisket, ribs, rib tips, and bacon wrapped jalapeños.” See all Midwood Smokehouse reviews"

"O-Ku Sushi serves delicious, handmade sushi using a southern approach. Chef Michael Chanthavong collects only the freshest sushi from countries around the work including Norway, Hawaii, and New Zealand. O-Ku Sushi offers a number of different Chef Specialties such as the South End Shrimp and the Dumpling Dim Sum."

"The coffee shop-restaurant-brewery-fermentation lab hybrid has become a South End staple that’s designed to be conducive to the flow of one’s day, transitioning seamlessly from a breakfast and coffee stop to lunch and eventually dinner with a full menu of beer and cocktails. And with USB ports scattered throughout and free wifi in the industrial chic space, it’s perfect for a remote worker. Neighborhood: South End"

"The Suffolk Punch is a stylish café-bar and culinary café that combines the best of all three. This stop makes everything from drip coffee to coffee cocktails and more thanks to their in-house fermentation lab. It’s location along the Charlotte Rail Trail also makes it a fun stop along a walk or bike ride."

"Get takeout or delivery by calling or ordering via Postmates and GrubHub. Open daily from 12-8 p.m.. And don’t forget brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m – 3 p.m."

"Neighborhood:Plaza MidwoodHours: Sunday-Tuesday, 5-10 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m. The former Pint Central space is now occupied by Warmack, an “Asian comfort food” restaurant with nostalgic dishes and craft cocktails. Don’t miss the Bao Buns with chicken katsu curry, shitake tempura or char-sui slow-cooked pork belly or the Warmack Salmon Donburi with grilled Scottish salmon, roasted brussels and sushi rice."

"A visit to Loft & Cellar, one of Charlotte’s newest culinary gems, offers a few different experiences rolled into one. Start with a drink on the rooftop loft, which offers 360-degree views and prohibition-era cocktails, before heading downstairs to dine on modern global dishes like lamb shank with carrot chimichurri, pan-fried sea bass with wasabi aioli, curried goat and Southern pad Thai. Another choice, Aria Tuscan Grill, lies just across the street from the hotel. Aria presents an upscale dining experience with modern Italian fare dotting the menu."

"With its international menu, Loft & Cellar stands out in Charlotte. Globetrotter and chef/co-owner Nicolas Daniels uses his travels to inspire a menu full of fusion, with dishes combining flavors from separate continents on a single plate. Construction and permitting delays caused this place to open far behind schedule, but gave Daniels extra time to finesse the menu."

"Akahana has been a Charlotte go-to for sushi since it opened in 2009. The restaurant offers one of the best sushi deals in the Queen City with its BOGO sushi roll deal, and a comfortable ambiance with dim lighting and a variety of booths and tables. In addition to sushi, the menu offers a variety of Asian cuisine including Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese dishes."

"Lively and vibrant Asian restaurant serving Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese food. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Akahana Asian Bistro (@akahanacharlotte)"

"I have been to this resturant twice and each time was great. The food was awesome and the atmosphere is just what we were looking for."

"The coffee shop-restaurant-brewery-fermentation lab hybrid has become a South End staple that’s designed to be conducive to the flow of one’s day, transitioning seamlessly from a breakfast and coffee stop to lunch and eventually dinner with a full menu of beer and cocktails. And with USB ports scattered throughout and free wifi in the industrial chic space, it’s perfect for a remote worker. Neighborhood: South End"

"The Suffolk Punch is a stylish café-bar and culinary café that combines the best of all three. This stop makes everything from drip coffee to coffee cocktails and more thanks to their in-house fermentation lab. It’s location along the Charlotte Rail Trail also makes it a fun stop along a walk or bike ride."

"Get takeout or delivery by calling or ordering via Postmates and GrubHub. Open daily from 12-8 p.m.. And don’t forget brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m – 3 p.m."

"Protagonist’s new and shiny space in lower South End near Sugar Creek Brewing and Queen Park Social. Location: Lower South End, 227 Southside Drive, Unit A. The vibe: Expansive indoor and outdoor space with multiple bars, regular events like movie nights and trivia and pizza slices bigger than your head."

"This NoDa spot is a mix between a coffee shop, bar, restaurant and art gallery with indoor/outdoor dining and a peaceful secret garden-like patio in the back."

"The third location of this plant-filled, ethereal coffee shop by local entrepreneurs sits at Advent Coworking in the Belmont neighborhood. While the other locations in NoDa and Asheville are more beverage-program-focused, this latest spot will roll out a full lunch menu. Expect sandwiches like the Trade and Galore (lemon pepper chicken, fresh mozzarella, bacon, avocado, and other touches on a Duke’s potato bun), salads like the Popeye Bowl (spinach, fresh mozzarella balls, bacon, sunflower seeds, red cabbage, cherry tomatoes, and more with house honey lemon zest dressing) and small plates like avocado toast."

"Nestled in the heart of the artsy NoDa neighborhood, Trade and Lore Coffee is a gorgeous specialty coffee shop serving coffee drinks, tea, beer and wine. Relax in the cozy corner lined with a cushioned bench or at any of the tables dotting the spacious interior — enjoying your caffeinated or alcoholic drink all the while. The primary roaster at Trade and Lore is Mountain Air Roasting, a roaster in Asheville, home to the other Trade and Lore location."

"Specialty coffee shop Trade & Lore is based in Asheville, North Carolina, but they have a pop-up in Salud Cerveceria’s taproom that offers quality coffee alongside some of the best beer in Charlotte. The Salud pop-up counter is simple and straightforward, but the coffee is exquisite. The Trade & Lore team curates a beautiful selection of coffee and works to foster an inclusive, community-driven environment."

"Though it’s known as Rock Hill’s premier baseball and softball facility, having been inducted into the National Softball Association, this park isn’t just known for its athletics. It features a 1.5-mile trail along with a playground and multipurpose field. Athletic programs are also held for both youth and adults."

"This serene spot is perfect for the bird lovers of the family or if you’re simply in the mood for some quiet time. The Gardens and Bird Sanctuary were created between 1927 and 1930 by Elizabeth Clarkson who was diagnosed with a chronic disease and had turned her attention to ornithology. Built with an emphasis on providing nesting sites, together with food and water for birds and other wildlife, the gardens are protected with high walls which keep the sanctuary calm and peaceful."

"An enclosed garden filled with cobblestone pathways, the historic Wing Haven is an attraction in Charlotte dedicated to — you guessed it — birds!. Walk under stately awnings and past old colonial homes in search of the right bench to sit, wait, and watch."