Located inside the lively Optimist Hall, Harriet's Hamburgers is a great stop if you're craving a…read moresimple, well-executed smash burger. Optimist Hall itself is a very food-centric, upscale food hall with a ton of vendors, so the atmosphere is energetic and fun. Seating can be a little challenging during peak dinner hours since so many people are grabbing food from different spots, but when the weather is nice there's plenty of outdoor seating. Harriet's keeps their burger formula refreshingly simple. It's a classic smash burger done right--made to order with a straightforward menu that doesn't overcomplicate things. There's usually a line, but it moves pretty quickly, and the burgers come out hot and fresh. One of the best parts of eating here is the flexibility of the food hall experience. While you're waiting, you can grab a craft beer, a glass of wine, or even browse for dessert from one of the other vendors. Insider tip: Come with a group if you can. It's a great place to share fries and let everyone explore different vendors around the hall. Parking is fairly easy with the nearby garage, which makes the whole experience even more convenient. Overall, Harriet's is a fun, delicious stop for a smash burger, especially if you're already enjoying the energy of Optimist Hall.

After seeing Harriet's Hamburgers all over TikTok being crowned "the best burger in Charlotte," I…read morehad to see what the hype was about. I live super close to Optimist Hall, so it's been on my radar for a while. This particular night I wasn't feeling great, so I DoorDashed instead of dining in. I ordered the Royale with crispy fries and let me just say... I get it. The burger was genuinely impressive. The quality of the beef stood out immediately. Juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The meat to bun ratio was spot on, which is crucial. Nothing worse than a bread heavy burger. The lettuce and tomatoes were fresh, the build was balanced, and even after delivery, everything held up beautifully. So far I've tried two burger spots in Charlotte, and this one takes the top spot. I'm not ready to declare it the best in the entire city just yet because my burger tour is ongoing, but right now it's leading the race. I'll definitely be going to Optimist Hall soon to try it fresh off the grill and experience the service and atmosphere firsthand. Expect an update. But based on this first round alone, Harriet's is absolutely worth the order. Burger lovers, this one deserves a try.

As a West Coast transplant now living in Charlotte, I have very specific standards when it comes to…read moreburgers. For me, the gold standard isn't fancy -- it's balance. Think that perfect meat-cheese-bread ratio you get at an In-N-Out: not too big, not too messy, not dripping everywhere, but still juicy and satisfying. A burger you can actually pick up and enjoy without resorting to a knife and fork like George Costanza. That's why I appreciate Ace No. 3. Their menu is refreshingly simple -- burgers, fries, shakes -- and that simplicity tells me they know exactly what they do well. Everything is made to order, and the consistency shows. The Ace burger is my go-to, and it delivers every time. The shoestring fries are excellent, and the sweet potato tots are another favorite. I've also treated myself to a milkshake here and there, and they're worth it. Fun bonus: they offer "boozy shakes" for adults, which adds a playful twist -- just note they have to be enjoyed on site. They also keep a short, rotating list of beers, which I appreciate. It's curated, not overwhelming. One thing I noticed recently -- and as a fellow marketer, I have to applaud this -- is their milkshake happy hour from 2-4 PM. That's a smart strategy to drive traffic during slower hours between lunch and dinner. Simple, effective, and well executed. A few practical notes: Parking can be a little tight because the lot behind the restaurant is small, but if you go during off-peak hours or order ahead for pickup, it's manageable. The Belmont neighborhood location is easy to get in and out of, and while it's not a high-traffic pedestrian area, that can actually work in your favor. Bottom line: As someone who grew up with West Coast burger culture, this is the closest I've found in Charlotte to that classic, satisfying bite -- even if it costs a bit more than In-N-Out. The quality and execution make it worth it. Get out there, eat well, be curious -- and follow me as I continue eating my way through Charlotte.

The sauce and the meat are insanely good! I personally think it beats Five Guys to make a…read morecomparison. The fries are crispy like Rally's style almost. The onion rings are okay. I really enjoyed though. Staff does the functional, Harriet's Burgers the service is more exceptional. Lastly place was relatively clean.

We were in town to watch the 18 time world champion Boston Celtics. Great atmosphere, enjoyed the…read moretable of Duke Fans, guess how that ended for them. LOL!!! Grandma was talking ish...UConn with buzzer beater. Kayla was our waitress, she was great. Food was excellent and service was Eddie's to for as busy as they were. Kids got a cheeseburger and Chicken sand which.

First and foremost shoutout to our server Kyla 10/10 service! Came the day before Valentine's and…read morethankfully it wasn't too crowded. It was just 2 of us and we were seated immediately. I got the Jackdaniels Blackberry Mule - It was a 7/10 for me. For a mule it was still very ginger beer heavy. The Melt was a 10/10, perfectly seasoned with a tangy sauce that make the cheese patty taste even better. We also got the Sweet Asian flavored wings. They were another 10/10 - Fried hard (just how I like them) and perfectly seasoned. Overall, it's a great pre-game place before a night out since it's located in the middle of downtown. So many popular nightclubs and dive bars around it! While also still being a nice date night/dinner place.

We went to Moo & Brew for lunch on our last day in Charlotte. The food was amazing- I got the…read moreBackyard Classic, my sister had the Black & Blue, and my daughter did a BYOBurger with tons of fries. The food was delicious! We sat on the patio and the weather was perfect. Bryan was our bartender/server and he's awesome!! Will definitely be back on my next visit to the city

This is the best non-commercial burger spot in CLT hands down. The ingredients are quality and…read moreoffer a great variety. You can get classic cheeseburger or a cool speciality. The vibe is fun very eclectic with ample inside and outside seating. The service is Amazing! We've never had a bad experience with the people at this spot. They really care to give you great food at a great price with quite a few going above and beyond. The only improvement that would push this place over the top is better beer maintenance. I've had many different kinds of beers over many seasons here and they're never good. Either skunk tasting, flat, or room temp. We now only order cocktails if we want to drink here. Maybe cleaner beer lines or improved cooler system would help. Otherwise thank you for being a community Gem and must see in Charlotte.

We are so grateful that Pinky's never lets us down ! Always a great option true and true …read more I've been going here for years and honestly have no notes or complaints . Affordable and savory no matter what you get . Best bartenders in Charlotte, you could close your eyes and pick anything off the menu and enjoy it .No matter how long the wait is it's worth every minute . I tried the Flounder special for the first time . Amazing . Pinky's always offers something you can't quite get anywhere else . For the flounder , it was the fresh dill in the batter, it gave it a certain tang that just sets it apart . Hearty portions ! Trust you won't leave still hungry . Pinky's please don't change !

When you start walking to a table you can feel the vibe in there! It's an awesome environment!…read more I enjoyed two yummy cocktails. We started with buffalo wings which were good. We both got the white trash burger, can't complain about a burger with fried pickles on it! Service was great! The ladies in there were amazing! They work as a team and help one another.

There are nights when you just need your faith rewarded. Tonight, my friends, is that night…read more Out of town we here spending my first night in Charlotte. There are so many choices. Too many choices. Just red something simple, delicious, and contorting. But who? Enter QCBC. It's getting late. I'm hungry. And I want something simple. And honestly, The Alley is really hyper confusing. So I pull into QCBC just looking for a burger and a beer. And dayum!! Did they deliver!!! First...my bartender comes in super cool. She explains the menu and recommends a beer. I keep it simple...the QCBC Burger with provolone and fries. She recommends the Kolsch. I'm in!! Long story short...perfection!!! The burger is cooked exact to spec. The fries are crispy, seasoned and delicious, and the beer is a pitch-perfect match. Faith restored!!! I was skeptical going in. Walking out...full, happy, and looking forward to the next time I can settle up to the bar and enjoy another perfect burger and a beer experience. Seriously kids...hit it out of the park!!!

Visited here for some food and drinks before a show at the Knight Theatre. It was great! Very cozy,…read morefelt like a neighborhood spot. Service was wonderful and friendly and food came quick. I got the poutine, which was solid, and my aunt got a burger. It wasn't life changing, but it was good and I was thrilled to be able to have basically anything on the menu because they confirmed my allergies (seafood and nuts) were not a concern here at all. Will absolutely be back!

I had a delicious strawberry shake (my first if you can believe that - I'm a vanilla girl). The…read morestaff helped me with my order by making mine without the strawberry chunks and it was perfect. The shake was great, sweet and thick. I didn't live the paper straw but it held up while drinking. Taking a star away because the table hadn't been cleaned and had something sticky that I attacked on my own with hand sanitizer.

Lazy, inattentive service. I stood at the register for 5 minutes while multiple employees and the…read morecashier aimlessly wandered about. When a woman finally did take my order. It came out wrong. Go figure. Thanks Ace.

Pretty quick service for how popular and crowded it was…read more Pretty clean and everyone was respectful. We ordered a lot! - so many vegetarian options.

While visiting the Carolina's at the start of 2026, we decided to do a short day trip to Charolette…read moreand ended up at Optimist Hall. As a New Yorker we have our share of markets/food halls and OH fits the familiar script, with a slightly smaller footprint than what I've experienced. What never seems to change is that securing seating can be a challenge because all spots are "prime" real estate and the abundance of choices is an indecisive person's nightmare. Nonetheless, to all the foodies at heart those are just minor details for mere mortals... lol. We managed to grab a larger enough table and everyone circled until we made our individual choices and then returned to our central meeting spot to break bread and indulge in all of our finds. We enjoyed several of the eateries we experienced and I was particularly intrigued by the plant store (albeit kinda pricey). Returning is a no brainer especially for the places that were most memorable. Just A Note: Parking is not free, payment is required. Please note depending on the time of day it can be crowded so securing a spot will require patience.