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THE MEETING HOUSE RESTAURANT 801 Providence Road, 704-334-6338. Located in a charming house in the center of Myers Park, this is a meeting place for the neighborhood crowd. Chef-owners were trained at Le Cordon Bleu, yet the dishes are American bistro. $$$
PROVIDENCE CAFE 110 Perrin Place, 704-376-2008. PC's signature, foccacia (Italian bread with various fresh toppings baked in) makes sandwiches an adventure. Brunch is simple but well prepared. Admire the art and neon-based decor. $$L $$$D
SALUTE WINE & PROVISIONS 2912 Selwyn Avenue, 704-343-9095. Popular authentic Italian market with emphasis on quality of the ingredients, presentation and fair pricing. Extensive Italian wine selection. Dishes prepared daily. Go early or call ahead. $$
SELWYN AVENUE PUB 2801 Selwyn Avenue, 704-333-3443. Popular spot is known for fun and good food. Some of the best appetizers in town. $$
NORTH CHARLOTTE/UNIVERSITY
AMALFI, ITALIAN CUISINE 8542 University City Boulevard, 704-547-8651. Small, family-owned Italian eatery with a loyal following. The owner, a native of Naples, prepares generous portions of simple and tasty southern Italian fare, everything from pastas to pizzas. Closed Monday. $$
AMBER HOUSE 5625 N. Tryon Street, 704-596-6145. A popular Charlotte tradition, they serve up great home cooking, plus a fine selection of sandwiches, steaks and other entrees. $-$$
BOARDWALK BILLY'S RAW BAR AND RIBS Shoppes at University Place, 8933-2 J.M. Keynes Drive, 704-503-7427. This beach-styled place may look like a bar, but offers much more. Their Billy's Steam Party (enough for two) is filled with steamed shrimp, oysters, clams, and crab legs. Serves food late. $$
BOUDREAUX'S LOUISIANA KITCHEN 501 E. 36th Street, 704-331-9898. Po'Boys and muffalettas at lunch, inexpensive traditional Creole and Cajun dishes at dinner served in a spacious, artsy dining room. Sunday Brunch, too. $$
BUBBA'S BARBECUE I-77 @ Sunset Road, 704-393-2000. The best Eastern NC-style barbecue we've had in Charlotte. Barbecue, hush puppies, cole slaw, beans - the real thing, right down the line. $
CARLO'S, N. TRYON 5130 N. Tryon Street, 704-597-7511. Terrific New York-style pizza sends some former Empire Staters to tomato-and-cheese heaven. Other Italian dishes, too. $-$$
CIRO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 8927 J.M. Keynes Drive, #100, (University Place), 704-510-0012. Simple New-York-styled southern Italian red and white cuisine served in a lively Italian-wedding/happy family atmosphere. Enormous portions, steaming fresh baked bread, marvelous marinara, reasonable prices. L$$, D$$-$$$
FAT CITY 3127 N. Davidson Street, 704-343-0240. This mainstay of the N. Davidson arts district serves a variety of well-prepared sandwiches, salads, and apps, with a good vegetarian selection. $
GERT'S LIL' DINER 3658 Beatties Ford Road, 704-392-0485. It's in a trailer, and there isn't much of a sign outside, but this diner serves up the best country food in the world. The okra and tomatoes will save your soul. $
GRANDMA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN, 6615 N. Tryon Street, 704-598-1221. Small, make yourself at home place featuring Southern country cooking. Excellent freshly baked johnnycakes with molasses. Menu roster changes daily, but look for fried croaker, meatloaf, veggie burgers, tuna melts, fried okra, macaroni and cheese with as many as eight cheeses, collard greens, and homemade desserts. $-$$.
MELTING POT 230 E. WT Harris Boulevard, 704-548-2432. For those fond of fondues: cheese, beef, seafood, chicken, and, naturally, chocolate for dessert. $$$
OLD HICKORY HOUSE 6538 N. Tryon Street, 704-596-8014. Western-NC-styled barbecue at its finest. Sliced or chopped, served on paper wrapping, in a dining room that's a 60s (and TV's Bonanza) throwback. Cash only. $
THE ROASTING COMPANY 9311 JW Clay Boulevard, 704-503-3335. Rotisserie chicken that falls off the bone and melts in your mouth, plus more than the usual selections of veggies. Excellent cornbread. $
PINEVILLE / HWY 51
CAJUN QUEEN 207 Johnston Drive, Pineville, 704-889-3214. Friendly atmosphere, jazz, and terrific service highlight the complete New Orleans-style menu. $$$
CAMPANIA 6414 Rea Road, 704-541-8505. Charlotte's nexus to Naples. Copious portions of remarkable dishes with Italian wines to match. Beautifully appointed dining room. Pricey, but considerably less than airfare. $$$-$$$$
CIRO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 10420-F Centrum Parkway, Pineville, 704-543-1550. Simple New-York-styled southern Italian red and white cuisine served in a lively Italian-wedding/happy family atmosphere. Enormous portions, steaming fresh baked bread, marvelous marinara, reasonable prices. L$$, D$$-$$$
FIREBIRDS ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRILL 7716 Rea Road, 704-752-7979. This stunning facility resembles a Colorado lodge complete with roaring fire and aspen columns. Menu items, served in huge portions, are simple, straightforward, and have a southwestern flair. $$$
JOJO CHINA BISTRO 7800 Rea Road, 704-541-6488. Upscale ethnic eatery offers Asian dishes tailored to American tastes in a comfortable setting. $$-$$$
MIRO SPANISH GRILLE 7804-A Rea Road, Stonecrest Shopping Center, 704-540-7374. (www.mirospanish grille.com) Owner Tri Luong offers dishes which are simple, yet flavorful. A quintessential Spanish restaurant excelling in seafood and tapas. Some New World dishes, too. Chilean and Spanish wines available. L $$, D $$$
