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As new restaurants open every day in Charlotte, it’s easy to forget about the old standbys, the places that have grown up alongside the Queen City. Our Charlotte’s Classic Eats series highlights the places that you have frequented for years, reminding us why they have stood the test of time.
Charlotte’s oldest restaurants are quickly becoming relics. When deciding where to eat, how do we balance the excitement of new restaurant arrivals with our support of its classic establishments?
In a 2017 article, The Charlotte Observer’s Kathleen Purvis listed Charlotte’s 11 oldest restaurants. Seven years later, only five of those places to eat are still open. With so many of our city’s classic restaurants closing, which of our longtime favorites remain? Earlier this month, Purvis mentioned some of our oldest restaurants in a Facebook post, which reminded us to update our list. (We spent the past few weeks going even deeper into the archives to pull out some more old photos this time!)
Here are the 20 oldest restaurants in Charlotte — consider one of these the next time you’re looking for a place to dine:
Location: 3640 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Eastway/Plaza Midwood
Opened: 1979
Owner/founder: Owned by siblings Maria Psilopoulos, Helen Mitsios and Nick Kakavitsas.
Cuisine: Italian
What to order: Famous Philly sub — your choice of steak or chicken — served with provolone cheese, mushrooms, peppers and onion.
“The House of Pizza harkens to a day, not so long ago, when most of Charlotte’s Italian restaurants were neither Southern nor Northern Italian but Mideast Italian — as in, Greek,” wrote Charlotte Observer’s Helen Schwab in 1995 about the no-frills restaurant. “Greek owners, Greek-flavored versions of Italian dishes and a few actual Greek items sprinkled among the Italian on the menu.”
Location: 300 West Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: Wilmore
Opened: The original location opened in 1977, before it became the chain restaurant we know today.
Owner/founder: Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas
Cuisine: fast-casual Southern
What to order: The easy answer is a Cajun Filet Biscuit or Sandwich combo, complete with seasoned friends and iced tea, but the magic of Bo’s is its variety. Whether it’s breakfast all day, dirty rice or a Bo-Berry biscuit, everyone has their go-to order here.
Everyone in the South (and soon to be, the West Coast) knows fast-food chicken and biscuit restaurant Bojangles. But if you’re a newcomer to Charlotte, you might not know that it was founded right here in Charlotte in 1977. The original location, at 300 West Boulevard in Wilmore, is still in operation today and recently underwent a renovation.
Location: 8601 University Executive Park Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262
Neighborhood: University
What to order: Nakato’s Delight is a Hibachi feast of chicken, shrimp and your choice of NY strip or filet mignon.
Nakato Japanese Steakhouse opened its first Charlotte location on Independence Boulevard, near the old Charlotte Coliseum. It opened the University location in 2004.
Location: 4600 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: West Charlotte/Westerly Hills
Opened: 1976
Owner/founder: Founded by the late Pete Gavrilis, now run by his daughter Maria Kotros.
Cuisine: American, comfort food
What to order: The daily special (chuckwagon cheese steak, baby beef liver, spaghetti with housemade meat sauce could all be on the menu).
After owning and operating Eat Well Grill on Trade Street in the 1950s and Pete’s Grill on South Boulevard in the 1960s and ’70s, Maria Kotros and Gus Garvrilis’ father purchased the building at 4600 Wilkinson Boulevard to open Carolina Family Restaurant. The brother and sister duo still run the restaurant today.
Location: 2710 N. Brevard St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
Opened: 1973
Owner/founder: Founded by the late Calvin “CT” Brooks Jr., now run by his son David Brooks. David’s twin brother, co-owner Scott Brooks, was killed in 2019 while trying to open the restaurant for the day.
Cuisine: American
What to order: Double cheeseburger all the way, with chili cheese fries and a side of slaw.
Brooks’ Sandwich House is a Charlotte icon: The unassuming red building tucked on a corner in NoDa has been drawing crowds since 1973. This family-run spot makes great burgers, dogs and chili — but what it really serves up is heart. When you’re here, you’re home.
Location: Inside of Belk at SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Neighborhood: Barclay Downs/SouthPark
Opened: 1972
Owner/founder: Steve Balsley and his two brothers
Cuisine: American
What to order: Swiss & Mushroom Burger, with Swiss cheese, sautéed onions, mushrooms, lettuce and tomatoes served on a toasted bun. Add on the soup of the day.
Arthur’s Wine Shop opened on Church Street in 1972 after owner Steve Balsley and his two brothers purchased the existing Arthur’s Gourmet Shop. A year later, the shop moved to the basement of Ivey’s. In 1974, it moved with Ivey’s to SouthPark Mall before finally settling in the basement of Belk in 1990.
Location: 11000 Nations Ford Rd, Pineville, NC 28134
Neighborhood: Pineville
You’ll step back through time when you visit Kopper Kettle, with the restaurant’s original swivel stools still perched at the counter of the restaurant that has been serving Charlotte comfort food for more than 50 years. George and Penny Karnezis moved here from Greece in 1966 and opened the restaurant in 1971.
Location: 9213 Baybrook Ln Charlotte, NC 28277
Neighborhood: Touchstone Village
The second-generation, family owned Italian restaurant has been serving Charlotte customers since 1962. Go simple with pizza and wings or treat yourself to a build-your-own pasta dish (you pick the pasta and the topping).
Location: 2900 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: West Charlotte/Ashley Park
Opened: 1959
Owner/founder: Opened by Charlie Psomadaski and Jack Law. Sold in 1972 to Pete Giannikas. Now owned by Pete’s brother, Steve Giannikas, and George and Gus Karapanos.
Cuisine: barbecue
What to order: Fried chicken dipped in barbecue sauce, with a side of fresh onion rings.
Bar-B-Q King has been a Charlotte staple since 1959, and it got some national fame after a visit from Guy Fieri on Season 1 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. He was looking for America’s Best BBQ, but we think the hidden secret here is the fried chicken (in barbecuse sause, of course).
Location: 4538 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: South Charlotte/Collingwood/LoSo
Opened: 1958, under the name House of Steaks. The new name and location came in 1978.
Owner/founder: Founded by the late George Fine.
Menu: Appetizers, Steaks, Seafood, Combinations, Chicken and Pasta
Cuisine: classic steakhouse
What to order: Your favorite cut of beef, cooked to order — top it with bleu cheese crumbles, brown mushroom gravy or horseradish. The build-your-own-salad at your table is a nice change of pace in this incredible time warp.
[THE SAME SPOT: This classic steakhouse on South Boulevard isn’t going anywhere.]
The original owner of Beef ‘N Bottle, George Fine, opened a restaurant in 1958 with his wife called The Amber House. In 1960, they sold it and opened House of Steaks in uptown. In 1978, Fine moved his restaurant to its current spot — once a house — and changed its name to Beef ‘N Bottle.
Location: 10220 Rozzelles Ferry Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214
Neighborhood: Mountain Island
Opened: 1957
Cuisine: American, Greek
What to order: The F-150 is a great breakfast choice — two eggs any style with country fried steak smothered in gravy, choice of grits or hashbrowns, toast or biscuit. Breakfast is served until 11 a.m. on the weekdays and noon on Saturday.
Shuffletown Grill opened in 1957 and is located in the Mountain Island Lake area. You’ll feel like you stepped right into the 1950s with the retro diner motif, right down to the red stools and tabletop jukeboxes.
Location: 3101 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: East Charlotte/Commonwealth Park
Opened: The original (now closed) spot opened in 1954, and the Independence Boulevard location opened in 1959 remains.
Owner/founder: Founded by brothers Sam, George and Nick Copsis. Now owned by Nick’s son-in-law, George Housiadis.
Cuisine: American
What to order: Fried filet trout plate with fries and tartar sauce (it’s discounted on Wednesday and Friday). If you’re still hungry, go for the onion rings.
Nothing lets you take an instant step back in time like Charlotte’s Classic drive-ins, and South 21 will take you right back to the 1950s. The “home of the Super Boy” has been at its Independence Boulevard location since 1959. We wonder if our grandparents took the kids for meals there?
Location: 4818 Rozzelles Ferry Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216
Neighborhood: Thomasboro-Hoskins
Opened: This location has been open since 1954.
Cuisine: American
What to order: Go for the Ribeye Steak and Eggs for breakfast (served until 11 a.m. during the week and all day on Saturday). You get two eggs any style with an 8 oz. Ribeye steak, grits or hash browns, toast or biscuit.
Circle G is a meat-and-three restaurant that has been serving up Southern charm since 1954. It recently made the small screen during its appearance on the new SNL movie “Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain”. (It’s the diner where John runs into Ben and Martin towards the end of the movie.)
Location: 2328 N. Graham St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Neighborhood: Tryon Hills
Opened: The original location opened in 1954 under the name Hutchison Avenue Grill.
Owner/founder: Peter Tatsis, along with Nick and Georgia Yiottis
Cuisine: American
What to order: Two Grilled Pork Chops and Applesauce.
Location: 1318 W. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: FreeMore West
Location: 1100 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216
Location: 3039 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: Sedgefield
Opened: 1947; the original building was torn down to build a shopping center.
Owner/founder: Founded by Tom Kanos. Tom’s son-in-law, Andy Koutsokalis, took over in 1976. Now it is run by Andy’s son, Tommy Koutsokalis.
Cuisine: American, Greek
What to order: Self-proclaimed “Ameri-Grk” cuisine covers the menu — if you’re hungry, try Andy’s Heavyweight, a sandwich with Greek marinated flank steak and grilled onions topped with baked provolone.
Location: 2732 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: Ashley Park
Since 1947, the Wikinson Boulevard Dairy Queen has been an icon in Charlotte. The ice cream shop is the oldest DQ in the Carolinas. In 2022, it was listed for sale for $1.4 million. Today, the listing has come down to $1.1 million.
Location: 1901 Commonwealth Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Opened: 1945
Owner/founder: Flonnie and W.A. James; John Fuller and his wife Daphne Aycock are the current owners.
Cuisine: American
What to order: Fried pork chops, sweet potato fries — and, yes, mac and cheese is a veggie here.
The James family built the Diamond Soda Grill in 1945 and sold it to Jerry Pistolis in 1982. While the building is the same, a team that included Fuller took it over in 2010 and gave the inside and the menu a spiffing up, with a retro-modern style.
Location: 1522 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Opened: 1933 (built as a drugstore — it’s unclear when food was added).
Cuisine: American
What to order: Grilled blackened wings and a shrimp bowl with kale and arugula, avocado, tomatoes, onion, Parmesan and honey lime dressing. Don’t miss the chili either.
Providence Road Sundries has been around a long time — since 1933. It’s so old that we actually don’t know who opened the drugstore on Providence Road in 1933, but one thing is for sure — the addition of a soda fountain in the 1950s proved a wise move. Nowadays, locals frequent the restaurant for lunch, dinner and drinks seven days a week.
Do you see anything missing on our list? Email us at charlottefive@charlottefive.com to let us know.
Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.
This story was originally published April 23, 2024, 6:20 PM.
Philip’s job with the city connects him with neighborhoods all over Charlotte. Off the clock, he’s often exploring public art, playing outside or trying new food. Follow him on Twitter @philipfreeman
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Melissa Oyler,Philip Freeman
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