Cutting-edge cuisine is all the rage for meeting groups, with several U.S. destinations trumpeting recent recognitions and guide inclusions from fine-dining standard-bearer Michelin.
Charlotte, North Carolina, was one such city, earning acclaim late last year in The Michelin Guide’s American South publication with the eclectic Counter- awarded a Michelin star and a Green Star (for sustainability). The restaurant is the first in North Carolina to earn either.
Following are some top choices for groups traveling to Charlotte, reflecting the city’s growing clout as a rising cuisine-scene star.
[Related: Why Charlotte, North Carolina, Is a Top Meetings Destination]
Counter-
Fresh off earning its first Michelin stars, Counter- is that buzz-worthy dining hot spot made to impress your VIPs, key stakeholders and sales prospects. Led by chef and owner Sam Hart, this high-concept—and thoroughly eclectic—restaurant features a 10-course tasting menu, ample wine list (including selections from LGBTQ+ and minority winemakers) and an industrial-chic design. The menu rotates quarterly and is driven by a sense-based story line touching on themes such as music, modern art and even mental health, using sound, taste and art as a vehicle.
Highlights include:
- Sam Hart, a 2023 James Beard Best Chef finalist: Southeast.
- Private dining room tasting-menu experiences start at $255+ per person for up to 10.
- Custom menus are available.
- Full restaurant buyouts are available for up to 18.
- Located about 2.5 miles from Charlotte Convention Center.
Supperland and Leluia Hall
Two restaurants operated by Charlotte’s Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group, Leluia Hall is in a former church (circa 1915) on the edge of the historic Dilworth neighborhood. The “steak & surf” concept Supperland is about 3 miles east in the Plaza Milwood neighborhood and describes itself as “Southern steakhouse meets church potluck.”
Highlights include:
- Leluia Hall full buyout is 150 with the mezzanine and 120 without.
- Michelin-recommended Supplerland full buyout of main dining room is 92; the Mezzanine, bar, Wine Room, Speakeasy and outdoor Garden Grove are also available.
- Leluia Hall features a robust raw bar and all-prime, wagyu “sugar steaks.”
- Supperland favorites include wood-fired steaks and sharable sides such as Miso Mac & Cheese and mushroom risotto.
Angeline’s
[Related: Charlotte Is a Forward-Looking Meetings Destination With Sustainability at the Fore]
This Uptown Modern American, Italian-style restaurant is close to the convention center and features house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas and seasonal small plates. Angeline’s provides a number of flexible environments for corporate group dinners, including a private dining room (36 seated; 50 standing) and a secluded outdoor patio for up to 50 seated guests. Its open-concept kitchen gets diners in on the action watching the culinary team work its magic.
Highlights include:
- Full buyouts are available for up to 150.
- Planners looking to hold a multistage F&B event can book Angeline’s sister venue, Tryon Park Hotel’s 19th-floor rooftop lounge Merchant & Trade, for post-dinner cocktails.
- Within walking distance of the convention center (.3 miles), Bank of America Stadium and the Spectrum Center.
[Related: Venues and Activities Only in Charlotte, North Carolina]
Restaurant Constance
A member of Charlotte’s Your Farms Your Table Group, promoting local farm-to-table, sustainable dining and offering catering, events and personal chef services, Restaurant Constance is led by Executive Chef Sam Diminich and focused on seasonal cuisine sourced directly from North Carolina farmers. Specialties include jalapeno cornbread waffles, tuna crudo, pork belly dumplings and chocolate miso tart.
Highlights include:
- Buyouts for up to 40 (seated)
- On 2025 Michelin Guide Recommended Restaurant List for the American South
- Chef Sam Diminich a 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast
- Located about 2.3 miles from Charlotte Convention Center.
Stagioni
Specializing in seasonal Italian cuisine influenced by North Carolina’s local farm scene, everything here is done in house, including using whole pigs to prepare pancetta, pork chops and fennel sausage. Also made from scratch are the pastas, pizza dough, sauces and desserts. The wine list is decidedly Italian and fish is sourced locally from the coast.
Highlights include:
- Up to 60 for a sit-down; 100 reception-style
- Located about 2 miles from the Charlotte Convention Center.
[Related: 3 Booming North Carolina Cities That Boast Interesting Meetings Offsite Options]
Planner's Perspective
Wendy Dietzler // Director of Events, Education and Membership // Trade Press Media Group // tradepress.com
Editor’s note: Trade Press Media Group is the parent division of Meetings Today.
What type of program are you hosting?
We’re hosting NFMT East, our annual conference and expo, held March 10–12, 2026. The event spans three full days of education and networking and welcomes about 2,000 attendees. In addition to a program of 65-plus breakout sessions, our expo hall has more than 300 exhibitors. Our audience represents the non-residential facility management industry, spanning commercial, government, healthcare, retail and education sectors.
What sets NFMT East apart from other industry events?
We’re the leading facility management conference in the U.S. What makes us special is our unique balance; we combine high-quality, practical education with real-world solutions focused on optimizing building operations, maintenance and safety. Attendees come for the best practices and stay for the innovations in the expo and peer-to-peer networking.
Are you hosting any offsite events or unique experiences?
Yes, and they are going to be highlights of the program. Our opening night reception takes place at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and our attendees will be like kids in a candy shop. We’re also offering behind-the-scenes tours of Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers, and the Spectrum Center, where the Charlotte Hornets play. Those experiences will really elevate the event.
What made this destination and venue the right fit for your event?
We last held events in Charlotte about 10 years ago and absolutely fell in love with the city. It’s the perfect size for any conference—there’s great nightlife, culture and history—but it’s also incredibly easy to navigate and get around. Our Visit Charlotte representative calls it the “can-do city,” and that couldn’t be more accurate. The destination partners truly work with you to help you meet your goals.
Would you recommend this destination to other meeting planners?
Absolutely. Charlotte is a vibrant destination with fantastic hotels, restaurants and truly unique venues. It’s easy to get to, easy to get around and the climate is consistently great. From both a planner and attendee perspective, it checks all the boxes.
