Charlotte's top dishes chosen by our journalists, June 2024

Sweet potato gnocchi from Dandelion Market in Uptown

"Dandelion Market's sweet potato gnocchi with its brown butter sage cream sauce is one of my favorite dishes in the city. I had to stop by before they close their 5th Street location on July 21. Hopefully, it will remain a staple when they reopen." — Ashley Mahoney, reporter

Magical pizza from Bird Pizzeria in Optimist Park

"I wanted to taste what all the hype was about after a small white house in Optimist Park was named one of the best pizza places in the United States by The New York Times. I get it. Hours in advance (cause you have to — it's that in demand), I ordered their red-base pizza with a toppings combo from their Instagram page: pepperoni, onions, kale and hot honey." — Alex Sands, reporter

Shareables from Salted Melon in South End

"Firmly believe the best meals are often just a bunch of your favorite sides. A couple of girlfriends and I split a lineup of Brussels, heirloom tomato and burrata bruschetta, and truffle fries from Salted Melon Market. Also, a great spot for mocktails if you want a fun N/A drink on a weeknight out!" — McKenzie Rankin, reporter

Whole-ish salad from Milkbread in Plaza Midwood

"I ordered the whole-ish salad from Milkbread with grilled chicken for lunch recently. The dish was refreshing, but my favorite part about this spot is its location because my mid-day date turned into people watching." — Alexis Clinton, reporter

The Cuban fried rice from Calle Sol in SouthPark

"I typically order the lechón asado from Calle Sol, but at a media preview for its new SouthPark location recently I got to try a few dishes I normally wouldn't go for. The Cuban fried rice has lived rent-free in my mind since, and I've gone back for it three times this month." — Laura Barrero, editor

Check out our favorite dishes from January, February, March, April and May.