Charlotte, NCSoul Food

Kiana and Shawn Morrison have been cooking her grandmother's recipes since 2011 at 2908 Oak Lake Blvd., and the family size portions of fried chicken and collards are why the room fills at lunch. CharlotteFive readers picked it out of a field of 22 nominated soul food restaurants across the city.

Low Country and Gullah inspired cooking in uptown since 1998, from James and Renee Bazzelle, at 214 N. College St. It has outlasted most of the block around it and still draws a line at lunch. Axios Charlotte counts it among the restaurants that have served Charlotte for more than 30 years, and CharlotteFive readers nominated it in their soul food field.

Tony Nguyen runs a cafeteria style counter at 7308-D E. Independence Blvd., where the oxtails come with fried okra and collard greens and the line moves faster than it looks like it will. CharlotteFive readers put it in the field of 22 soul food restaurants they wanted considered.

A small uptown shopping center room at 516 N. Graham St. running a Southern and New Orleans menu built on fried catfish and Cajun sides. It keeps a short week, so check the hours before you make the trip. CharlotteFive readers nominated it in their soul food field.

An upscale turn on soul food at 3418 Tuckaseegee Rd., where the lobster mac and cheese and the shrimp and grits take most of the attention. CharlotteFive readers nominated it, and Charlotte Magazine includes it in its list of Black owned restaurants and dessert shops in the city.