Top recommended dishes to try in Charlotte, according to the Axios team

Here are six of the best dishes our team ate in December, listed in no particular order.

Free soup day at Free Range Brewing

To celebrate another orbit around the sun, this NoDa brewery brings together Charlotte’s finest soup makers and hungry community members every Jan. 1 for free soup day. It’s all-you-can-eat, generous portions of stews, chilis and bread for dipping. Pictured below is a chili from Bang Bang Burgers, with all the toppings: a warm delight on a chilly New Year’s Day. — Alexandria Sands, reporter

Pastrami on rye from Joan’s Bakery & Deli in midtown

Grab a pastrami on rye ($18) from Joan’s Bakery & Deli in midtown and sit at one of the tables overlooking Little Sugar Creek Greenway. The sandwich is packed with thick slices of pastrami. Now I’m on a quest to find the best pastrami sandwich in Charlotte. — Ashley Mahoney, reporter

Matzo ball soup from Schreiber’s on Rye in Optimist Hall

I’ve been on the hunt for a fantastic matzo ball soup in Charlotte, and Schreiber’s on Rye delivered. The recently opened spot at Optimist Hall was buzzing when we stopped by for lunch before the holidays. Along with the soup, which was comforting and hearty, we tried: the Bowery, an enormous flavorful sandwich that comes loaded with a 1/2 pound of house-smoked pastrami and mustard atop rye bread ($19), a flakey knish ($4) and pickles ($2). — Katie Peralta Soloff, editor

Beef drunken noodles from Sabaidee Thai & Sushi Bar in Concord

Sabaidee Thai & Sushi Bar is a personal favorite that I discovered when I lived in the area and I still revisit it often. They offer a drunken noodle special which comes with sushi and sashimi for $14.95. Given this meal’s price and taste, it looks like I’ll be making that drive during lunch hours more often. — Alexis Clinton, reporter

Go deeper: More than 20 things to eat, drink, see and do in Concord

Tomato soup and a chicken Caesar salad from Burton’s Grill in the Park Road Shopping Center

A while back, I posted an Instagram poll asking where to get the best Caesar salad in Charlotte. I got multiple responses saying Burton’s Grill. Well, they were right. It’s a must-order, and it’s even better paired with a bowl of tomato soup ($7). If you want to take it up a notch, order bread service for the table. — McKenzie Rankin, reporter

The “WWIII” chicken and waffles from Uptown Yolk in South End

Uptown Yolk, the South End brunch spot from local restaurateurs Greg and Subrina Collier, recently started serving dinner. Yea, you read that right, breakfast for dinner! The “WWIII” ($22) brings three wings and a cornmeal Belgian waffle with whipped butter. Pro tip: Swap out the wings with the chicken tenders. — Laura Barrero, editor