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Raucci's on East John Street, 131 E. John St., 704-841-8282. Family owned Italian restaurant serving New York-styled southern Italian cuisine. Pizza at lunch only. This is hearty, but unobtrusive fare. L, D $$$
Taste of Asia, Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant, 9626 Monroe Rd., 704-846-2515. Fresh, large-portioned, and flavorful Vietnamese, Hunan and Szechuan cuisine prepared in an open kitchen. Eat in or take out. L, D $$
Township Grille, Matthews Festival, 10400 East Independence Boulevard, 704-847-2480. Matthews' version of Buffalo, NY, with great wings, roast beef on kummelweck rolls and a large selection of beers, including Genesee beer and cream ale. $
Yen's, 9010 Monroe Rd., 704-845-9444. Small, family owned Chinese restaurant which prepares many Chinese cuisines and offers solicitous service. $$
North Charlotte/University
Amalfi, Italian Cuisine, 8542 University City Blvd., 704-547-8651. Small, family-owned Italian eatery with a loyal following. The owner, a native of Naples, prepares generous portions of simple and tasty southern Italian fare, everything from pastas to pizzas. Closed Monday. L, D $$
Boardwalk Billy's, UNCC, Shoppes at University Place, 8933-2 J.M. Keynes Dr., 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, crab legs, potatoes and corn on the cob. Serves food late. $$
Bombay Cuisine, 230 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., 704-503-5558. Exquisite Northern and Southern Indian dishes set before you in a setting where every detail has been noted. $$$
Boudreaux's Louisiana Kitchen, 501 E. 36th St., 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. L, D $$
Bubba's Barbecue, 4400 Sunset Rd., Exit 16 off I-77, 704-393-2000. Eastern NC-style barbecue. $
Cabo Fish Taco Baja Seagrill, 3201 N. Davidson St., 704-332-8868. Set in a humble NoDa historic building, these well crafted, tasty dishes will bring you back for regular feeding forays. There are vegetarian, chicken, and steak selections. L, D $$
Ciro's Italian Restaurant, 8927 J.M. Keynes Dr., #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. $$$
Di Banana Boat, 7008 E. WT Harris Blvd., 704-531-0075. Low key, inexpensive Jamaican spot serving ackee and saltfish, cocoa bread sandwiches, jerk chicken, curried goat, and more. Catering available. $
Fat City, 3127 N. Davidson St., 704-343-0240. This mainstay of the N. Davidson arts district serves a variety of sandwiches, salads and apps, with a good vegetarian selection. L, D $
Grandma's Country Kitchen, 6615 N. Tryon St., 704-392-0485. Small, make yourself at home place featuring Southern country cooking. Excellent freshly baked johnnycakes with molasses. Menu roster changes daily, but look for fried croaker, meatloaf, veggie burgers, tuna melts, fried okra, macaroni and cheese with as many as eight cheeses, collard greens, and homemade desserts. $$
The Green Tomato, 5332 Prosperity Church Rd., (Bi-Lo Shopping Center), 704-947-5678. Serving up loads of tasty Southern and New Orleans dishes, from chicken and collards, to Po' Boy sandwiches and a seasonal all-you-can-eat crawfish boil. Patio. $
Melting Pot, 230 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., 704-548-2432. A Florida based franchise that has been around since 1975, but is now primed again to catch the latest fondue wave. You will find all kinds of fondues: cheese, beef, seafood, chicken, and chocolate. $$$
Old Hickory House, 6538 N. Tryon St., 704-596-8014. Western-NC-styled barbecue at its finest. Sliced or chopped, served on paper wrapping, in a dining room that features a smoky hickory pit and a 60's (and TV's Bonanza) ambience. Cash only. $
Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine, 3200 University City Blvd., 704-717-9090. Flavorful northern Indian cuisine, including tandoori specialties, served in a bare bones environment. A healthy variety of vegetarian dishes. $$
Taqueria Guadalajara, 4517 N. Tryon, 704-596-2239. Inexpensive spot featuring the specialties of central Mexico including tacos, quail, and barbecue sandwiches. $
South Charlotte
Bangkok Ocha, 7629-B Pineville-Matthews Rd., 704-544-7770. Thai dishes of complex intensity and flavor set in a small, but polished restaurant. L, D $$$
Beef n' Bottle, 4538 South Blvd., 704-523-9977. A homegrown spot, beloved by many, with a traditional menu featuring aged Black Angus beef, oysters Rockefeller, and seafood, including frogs' legs. Dark, dated interior. D $$$
Bill Spoon's Barbecue, 5524 South Blvd., 704-525-8865. For nearly 40 years, this 65-seat pork parlor has been packed at lunch. The place to go for die hard Eastern barbecue aficionados. $
