The 12 Hottest Restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina | Eater Carolinas

"The Kindreds have done it again, but this time, it’s grander, smokier, and more seductive in the crux of Charlotte. Named after Queen Charlotte’s mother, Albertine, there’s a distinctly feminine, but regal and self-assured air gliding through this fine dining space. It can be felt from top — the sweeping ceilings and glass entrance — to bottom — the scalloped silver platters, the goblet-like cocktail glasses, and the lustrous granite tables. But it’s not just Katy Kindred’s luxe design that makes a mark, it’s chef Joe Kindred’s meticulously smoked, wood-fired, za’atar-ed, and pickle-brined bites. Dishes like the gamebird panzotti, the mixed grill, and even the crispy potatoes flex deep wood-fired flavors. At Albertine, the ingredients of the American south — South Carolina quail, North Carolina tuna, and pickled okra — are met with a Mediterranean flair, bringing labneh, herby chermoula, or a Moroccan eggplant spread to the table. And notably — the razor clams escabeche and tuna crudo will challenge any preconceived notions that Charlotte can’t nail seafood." - Kayleigh Ruller