Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Charlotte

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining in Charlotte? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Foundry at Trilogy® Lake Norman

4.8

4.8 (1258)

$30 and under

American

Denver

About the restaurant

At The Foundry, we forge exceptional food and drink every day. The culinary team takes raw ingredients and crafts beautifully finished, bespoke plates, perfect for casual lunch or an anniversary dinner. Featuring local and regional house-crafted selections, the restaurant emphasizes healthy, freshly made and flavorful fare with a Southern twist, all pairing deliciously well with the Club’s signature drink, the Back Porch Sweet Tea. The experience at The Foundry is centered on three tried-and-true food and beverage tenets: it’s socially driven, locally inspired, and stylishly crafted.

Top review

Angie

Dined on Jul 18, 2025

Excellent service and food!! Will return. Beautiful place.

The Jimmy

4.7

4.7 (797)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Myers Park

About the restaurant

The Jimmy is a neighborhood restaurant that takes its cue from the Mediterranean coasts of Italy and France, a region known for its casual, sunwashed elegance and unhurried pace.

(nice to meet you)

It is a celebration of an influential cuisine that is in turn influenced by many others, one that favors communal cooking, local ingredients, and straightforward preparations.

Top review

Amaia

Dined 3 days ago

I celebrated my 16th birthday here at “The jimmy” when I arrived, I was greeted with a card from the restaurant. Our waiter Marco was so sweet and did not fail to make my day special. My food came out delicious as always, and I ended the night with a sweet treat. Overall, an amazing evening 💝!

Maiz Agua Sal

4.7

4.7 (29)

$30 and under

Mexican

Charlotte

About the restaurant

Located in the vibrant Wesley Heights neighborhood, Maiz Agua Sal is a celebration of authentic Mexican cuisine that honors tradition while embracing culinary diversity. We serve brunch, lunch, and dinner, crafting meals that reflect Mexico's rich history and unique flavors.

At the heart of our kitchen are house-made heirloom corn tortillas pressed daily, alongside long-simmered braises and perfectly tender meats, all complemented by farm-fresh produce. Our scratch kitchen ensures every dish bursts with vibrant flavors, offering a fun and delicious dining experience.

Our beverage program beautifully mirrors our culinary philosophy, featuring a thoughtfully curated selection of artisanal agave spirits and high-quality ingredients inspired by Mexican culture. Join us for an unforgettable meal that brings a taste of Mexico to Wesley Heights!

Top review

Danielle

Dined on Jul 3, 2025

I really enjoyed my food. I had the ceviche, guacamole, and tacos. All delicious. Also my margaritas were really authentic and good.

Discover more

Experience

Street Taco Lunch Special

Experience

Large Party Dining at Maiz Agua Sal

Mizu

4.6

4.6 (1420)

$31 to $50

Seafood

SouthPark

About the restaurant

Inspired by the wood-fired Robata grills of Japan, Mizu offers a refreshed take on live-fire cooking atop the Hyatt Centric in the heart of Charlotte's SouthPark neighborhood. Led by the award-winning Indigo Road Hospitality Group, the rooftop restaurant combines the traditions of ancient Japanese cooking with Southern influences and Asian flavors. The chef offers a seafood-focused menu composed of wood-fired, raw, and chilled offerings, sushi, and shareable plates. True to the word Mizu's translation to 'water' in Japanese, the space's design takes inspiration from natural elements, which are incorporated throughout the chic, minimalist restaurant, and outdoor terrace with sweeping city views.

Top review

Andrew

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent service! Best place to go for any kind of celebration.

Discover more

4.5

4.5 (987)

$30 and under

American

SouthPark

About the restaurant

Founded in 1928, Reid's is North Carolina's neighborhood specialty food store offering superior meats, wines, locally grown produce, seasonal fresh meals to a very loyal customer base. The South Park restaurant accommodates Deli Style service for lunch Monday-Saturday and Restaurant Menu service Tuesday-Friday night and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Join us for:
"Almost" 1/2 off steak burgers on Tuesday!
1/2 off wine by the glass on Wednesday!
$10 charcuterie boards on Thursday!
"Special Sips" on Friday - A special wine selected from our wine departments reserved list, changes each week, offered one day only!
1/2 priced restaurant wine bottles (in-house only) on Saturday's!
Sunday Brunch Features 10AM-4PM!
Live Music 6PM-9PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday's!

Top review

HowardVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We had a late lunch at Reid’s and it was great. I had the burger and my wife had a salmon salad. Both were very good. Our server was pleasant. We always enjoy dining at Reid’s.

The Goodyear House

4.5

4.5 (1653)

$30 and under

Southern

NODA

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Goodyear House, nestled in the vibrant NODA neighborhood, just a stone’s throw away from Uptown. Led by the culinary prowess of Executive Chef Chris Coleman, a champion on Food Network’s Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, and SuperChef, our restaurant promises an unforgettable dining experience.

Indulge in our menu featuring casual elevated cuisine, expertly crafted to tantalize your taste buds. Whether you’re craving a hearty meal or a light bite, our diverse offerings cater to every palate. Relish the charming ambiance of our beautiful patio as you sip on handcrafted cocktails and savor delectable dishes.

As part of NODA, the city’s premier arts and entertainment district, The Goodyear House invites you to immerse yourself in a culinary journey like no other. Book your table today and join us for an unforgettable dining experience.

Top review

Lisa

Dined 4 days ago

Food and drinks were awesome! Convenient parking across the street.

Discover more

Scallops a la Plancha

State of Confusion- Charlotte

4.5

4.5 (487)

$30 and under

American

South Charlotte

About the restaurant

State of Confusion features authentic dishes from Latin America, New Orleans, and the Carolina Low-country. We serve lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, with takeout and delivery available. Multiple indoor and heated outdoor hangout areas offer you and your groups a variety of options for dining in and special events.

Additional free parking at 301 Clanton: Monday - Friday after 5:00 pm and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Top review

Nancy

Dined 2 days ago

Great variety and our group of 6 were all pleased with our meals.

Dos Caminos - Charlotte

4.4

4.4 (163)

$30 and under

Mexican

Charlotte

About the restaurant

Welcome to Dos Caminos Charlotte! A New York staple made it to North Carolina! The new Dos Caminos Charlotte is your next party destination. Enjoy Sizzling Fajitas, fresh made to order Guacamole, Cerveza, Margaritas, and more! We know life is better with a patio view, our outside patio is the perfect setting for sippin’ & chillin’ in the beautiful Charlotte weather!

Top review

CarlyVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great business lunch. Fast, friendly service. Great food! Fun atmosphere.

North Italia - Birkdale

4.4

4.4 (276)

$30 and under

Italian

Lake Norman

About the restaurant

Using only the season’s best ingredients, our chefs create a variety of modern Italian dishes including pastas made from scratch daily, hand-tossed pizzas like the classic Margherita but make it Tie Dye, and savory lunch and dinner entrees like Pork Milanese, Tortelloni al Pomodoro, and Braised Short Rib Lumache that deliver flavors that go above and beyond the expected as well as a full-bodied wine and beer list accompanied by an array of handcrafted cocktails including a Sicilian Margarita and the Pomegranate Mule. For more information, visit northitalia.com.

Top review

SarahVIP

Dined 2 days ago

It was a very delicious dinner with excellent service!

Pizza Baby West

4.2

4.2 (146)

$31 to $50

Pizzeria

Uptown

About the restaurant

Meet Pizza Baby West-- a full service pizza restaurant by A&C Food Group, in Charlotte's Wesley Heights neighborhood, locally opened and operated by the same team of the beloved Flour Shop restaurant... Serving Americana style pizza, large 18" rounds, 48-hour cold proofed dough, alongside a full cocktail menu where you'll find classics, Italian inspired spritz, and an extensive wine list (in addition to snacks, salads, and sandwiches)-- old school meets new school, served in a polished industrial space with carefully curated music. It's Pizza, Baby!

Top review

JudyVIP

Dined on Jul 18, 2025

Best “discovery” in Charlotte in a LONG time! From the initial contact to make the reservation until we left the building having eaten dinner we were well attended and appreciated – rare, rare, rare in 2025. First approach to the hostess desk we were greeted and our reservation was acknowledged. She was NOT messing with her phone, she was NOT talking to a co-worker and she was NOT too encumbered to show us to our table. What a breath of fresh air! (Pizza Baby, can you teach a class?) First shout-out goes to Tameka. She was superb. She actually listened as we ordered our drinks, salads and pizza. Make no mistake, the place was packed (we ate there 6:30 p.m. on a Friday) but she took her time to answer questions and assure our orders were all correct. That perfect balance of just enough attention. Food was tasty and well prepared. The “gem” salad is a good little salad for a starter. There were three of us; so, we shared one of their larger pizzas – The Starkey. (I think that is its name. ???) It was more than enough for all of us – after we had salads and drinks. No desserts for us but those we saw served around us looked so good. Will need to “save some room” the next time we eat there. And, to be sure we will eat there again. Only possible ding is: The music is way too loud. (I am hard of hearing; I can only imagine the volume for the normal of hearing.) It really seemed as if it was trying to compete with the already totally open, all hard surfaces, seated to capacity “noise” of the evening. Music like that, unnecessary. If I were being totally picky – and, this coming from a ranch dressing connoisseur – their “green goodness” dressing is not good. Mine was very, very thin and lacked the “fresh, herbal, tangy” taste that had promoted it. No mistake, though, Pizza Baby West is now on our list of go-to restaurants, thanks to the experience of our first visit.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Charlotte

Explore more Diners' Choice lists