A chili cheeseburger and cheese fries.

Q: Best burger, pizza, sandwich, and barbecue in CLT? 
UP: Well, that’s a loaded question. Our hot take, in corresponding order to your question: Chubz Famous Chiliburgers, Sal’s Pizza Factory, Common Market’s Darby’s Roast Beef, and Sweet Lew’s.

Q: I am on the planning committee for a conference that’s being held in CLT in May. (Previous years it’s been in Phoenix, Denver, Nashville, etc.). The main night of the conference they like to offer a “dine around” option where folks can sign up for group dinners at local/area restaurants – usually groups of 10-20 attend each spot. Since I’m local, I’ve been given the happy job of orchestrating this lovely offering! Do you have any suggestions for restaurants (or even types of restaurants) I should add to the list that would be good for groups like this? They suggest groups of 10-15, and like to give 6-ish options, “each with different tastes.”
UP: I would be happy to help! Here would be my seven options around Uptown, and I am guessing on a week night, most of them would give you a private space without an extra charge: Aria (Italian), Haymaker (new Southern), Fin & Fino (seafood), La Belle Helene (French), Sophia’s Lounge (or 5Church, if cocktail-focused isn’t your kind of thing), Stoke (new Southern) and Dressler’s at Metropolitan (traditional). For something traditional Southern, I’d add in Dish in Plaza Midwood, though it’s an Uber away, and Midwood Smokehouse at Park Road Shopping Center.

Q: Which of the now many cocktail lounges are the best for a group of friends? We’re celebrating a birthday. 
UP: Happy Birthday! I’d say it depends on the size of the group. For a handful of friends, definitely check out Tattoo, the small bar inside of KiKi in Plaza Midwood. Dot Dot Dot’s circular tables are great for a smaller group, but if you’ve got a larger group and still want that lounge-y feel without having to wait, I’d make a reservation at Sophia’s Lounge. For a quieter night, you can find Bob Peters behind the bar at The Queen & Glass in Dilworth. There are so many new places opening up, but a lot of them are more about the *vibe* than the cocktails. And if you’re a UP subscriber, I’m guessing you’re more about the cocktails.

Q: Who in the area has been making really great soup? 
UP: Rainy day soup question! There are a handful of restaurants I go to and almost always order the soup, because they’re dependably delicious. Those restaurants are Barrington’s, Fenwick’s, The Fig Tree, and 300 East. I also really enjoy the Italian wedding soup from Pasta and Provisions, though I did get one overly salted batch recently. No hard feelings, it has been delicious every other time.

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