Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, which means the local food scene has more customers than ever — and they’re not leaving disappointed. With fresh coastal seafood, crispy fried chicken, and classic North Carolina-style barbecue, the Queen City is a foodie’s dream come true.

Whether you’re planning a company-wide kickoff or a weekly department meeting, Charlotte’s vibrant local cuisine is sure to leave your group more than satisfied. From three-cheese macaroni to mouthwatering croissant sandwiches and everything in between, here are 7 local restaurants offering the best catering in Charlotte. 

1. Chez Marie French Cafe & Patisserie

French food is the pinnacle of technique and refinement, and Chez Marie is no exception. They handcraft everything from scratch with high-quality local and imported ingredients including desserts, pastries, sourdough breads, and viennoiserie. 

If you are looking for breakfast foods, they offer platters of fresh fruit and flaky pain au chocolate or croissant sandwiches. For a more traditional lunch menu, look no further than their namesake Chez Marie sandwich, which comes loaded with layers of salami, brie, lettuce, tomatoes, and honey-dijon mustard all between a freshly baked and toasted baguette. The sandwich pairs perfectly with one of their delectable sides or salads. Don’t forget the pièce de résistance, a French macaron tower, made with 60 melt-in-your-mouth macarons. 

Notable: Pain au Chocolate

2. Beyond Amazing Donuts

The right food can set the mood, and even help boost team morale — and for many teams, fresh donuts are the perfect way to say “Good morning” and “Thank you.” If you’re looking to treat your team, look no further than Beyond Amazing Donuts. With beloved in-house recipes and fresh ingredients that are sourced from local farmers, this town favorite is one of the best spots for authentic, home-made sweet treats in Charlotte. 

A popular option that’s perfect for a group is the B.A.D. Way Package, which comes with your choice of four dozen sweet or savory donuts and two boxes of coffee. They have six staple donut flavors— from vanilla and chocolate to raspberry sprinkle — along with daily and seasonal options. Don’t miss out on the brown butter with sorghum caramel donut, inspired by the chef’s late grandmother. 

Notable: Brown Butter with Sorghum Caramel Donut

3. The Smoke Pit

If you’re looking for the best catering in Charlotte, don’t overlook The Smoke Pit. Perfect for the meat enthusiasts in your group, they’re known for their juicy hickory-smoked pork, beef, and chicken.

With hearty, down-home catering, one popular option is to choose one of their variety boxes, you can select from one to three mouth-watering meats, three savory sides, freshly baked bread, and a variety of sweet and tangy sauces. If sandwiches are more your speed, order a mix of pulled pork, pulled chicken, beef brisket, or burnt-end sandwiches. Just don’t forget the best part of any barbecue joint: the sides. Dig into mac and cheese, collard greens, baked beans, and cornbread.

Notable: Texas Brisket

4. Cabo Fish Taco

Cabo Fish Taco puts a fun spin on any catering event with its fresh Baja-style Mexican cuisine.  Everyone can put their own touch on their meal with Cabo Fish Taco’s signature build-your-own taco or burrito bowl bars.

The real star of the show, though, is the light and crispy beer-battered shrimp or whitefish. Put this on your taco along with some fresh shredded cabbage, tomato, guacamole, and cheese, and top it with a bright cilantro white sauce. You’ll feel like you’re in California. Be sure to pair a tray of chips that serves 15 people and comes with your choice of queso, corn salsa, or guacamole.

Notable: Cabo Casa Salad

5. Belmont Specialty Food

Sandwiches, salads, babka bread — you can get it all at Belmont Specialty Food, located in Charlotte’s historic Belmont neighborhood.

The most popular item is the ultimate club sandwich lunch box. This crowd-pleasing club comes with pan-roasted turkey breast, honey-glazed ham, crispy bacon, white cheddar, crunchy iceberg lettuce, roasted tomatoes, and a creamy garlic aioli, all on your favorite bread. You even get a bag of potato chips and a cookie. If boxed lunches are your favorite, check out the other top boxed lunch restaurants in Charlotte. 

Notable: Buffalo Chicken & Provolone Sandwich Lunch Box

6. Southern Salad and Sandwich Company

Southern Salad and Sandwich Company makes everything fresh daily from locally sourced ingredients to provide healthier,tastier food for their guests. Although they are famous for their homemade chicken, tuna, and egg salads, they also have Carolina barbecue along with different sauces for each of the local barbecue regions. This variety makes it one of the best options for restaurant catering in Charlotte, NC.

To give everyone at your catered event a way to taste everything, start with a sandwich tray. Priced per person, it can come with a variety of all of the tasty sandwich fillings they make. That way you won’t miss out on the homemade chicken, tuna, or egg salad that makes them a local favorite.

Notable: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

7. Nothing But Noodles

Think of any popular noodle dish, and there’s a good chance that Nothing But Noodles serves it with fresh and local ingredients. 

The hardest decision when getting catering from Nothing But Noodles is choosing what dishes to pick. Why not mix and match to satisfy everyone’s tastes? You can’t go wrong with classic dishes like Pad Thai, chicken parmesan, spicy Japanese noodles, and three-cheese macaroni. Each of these trays serves eight making sure no one will leave hungry.

Notable: Spicy Cajun Pasta

Find the best catering in Charlotte with ezCater

Good food is the key to any successful meeting or event, and Charlotte’s local food scene won’t disappoint. If you’re looking to fuel and satisfy your team, place an order from one of the best caterers in Charlotte, NC on ezCater.