Seafood · Cornelius / Lake Norman · Esquire 33 Best New Restaurants in America 2025
Chef Jonny Cox's first solo restaurant — a whimsical coastal-cottage seafood room in Cornelius on Lake Norman. Yellowfin crudo, hot crab and chorizo croquettes, and a rotating menu that earned a natio...
90
2
Hello, Sailor
Seafood / Fish Camp · Cornelius / Lake Norman
The Kindred family's lakeside fish-camp sister to Kindred Davidson — overlooking Lake Norman from a converted 1940s marina. Retro neon, boat-up dining, deviled eggs, and hushpuppies; a rare true water...
89
3
Fin & Fino
Seafood · Uptown
A white-tablecloth seafood restaurant on Levine Avenue of the Arts — raw bar, tower presentations, and broiled whole fish. A go-to for Uptown business dinners.
87
4
Sea Level NC
Seafood / Oyster Bar · Uptown
Chef Paul Verica's Uptown seafood restaurant and raw bar — oysters by the dozen, market fish, and the James Beard-recognized Verica's serious seafood program in a big downtown room.
86
5
Cabo Fish Taco
Mexican / Seafood · NoDa · NoDa institution since 2007
NoDa's longstanding Baja-style fish-taco institution — blackened mahi tacos, sweet-potato fries, and a wraparound patio that anchored the arts district through its rebuild.
85
6
The Waterman Fish Bar
Seafood · South End
A South End seafood-and-oyster bar — raw bar, fish tacos, and one of the most patio-forward dining rooms on South Boulevard.
84
7
Chief's
Coastal / Seafood · Cornelius · Built on Hospitality concept
Built on Hospitality's coastal seafood restaurant on Lake Norman — a New England-leaning menu, a serious raw bar, and one of the rare true coastal-style dining rooms in the Carolinas Piedmont.