Why was Davidson, NC recently ranked the #10 Food Town in the South by Southern Living? article. Visit our great, local restaurants to find out why. Here is a list of your dining options in Historic Downtown Davidson, NC. All of these are easy walking distance from Davidson College. Enjoy!
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DAVIDSON
Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse – 215 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Want to hang out with friends for a drink, meet for lunch or have a locally sourced dinner, Flatiron is a Davidson staple. You will see neighbor and friends around the circular bar. A personal favorite is Hickory Grilled Wagyu Beef Sliders, Cheddar, Bacon-Onion Jam, House Pickles $12.
Specials: First Tuesday of every month – Join them for a Wine Education class & tasting with our in-house Certified Sommelier, Kevin Parks at 7pm.
WEDNESDAY
Entire wine list – HALF OFF!
website – Menus included
Executive Chef: Bill Schutz
Mandolinos Artisan Pizza – 208 South Main Street, Davidson, NC 28036
Mandolinos has become the pizza place in Davidson. Great event/music space upstairs, outside seating and a cool vibe. Look out for the musical acts they host some weekends. They host trivia every Wednesday night. The sheet pan pizza is scratch-made and brick-oven baked at 700 degrees, a style historically known as “Grandma Style Pizza.” Personal favorites include The Tupelo Honey (Ricotta, Gorgonzola, Fig Honey, Calabrian Chiles, Thyme) – $23 and Pigs On The Wing ( Red Sauce, Mozzarella, Italian Sausage, Fennel) – $23. The innovative topping combinations really work!
Website – with menus
Executive Chef: Bill Schutz
Ben and Jerry‘s – 202 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Not much to add except FREE cone day creates lines around the block. You will see that this location/manager continue to win awards in the Ben and Jerry’s family for good reason!
The Pickled Peach – 202 S Main St, Davidson, NC
Great indoor and outside space with a new market. Farm to table sandwiches and salads. Very nice drink selection. Personal favorite is the Meatball sandwich.
Website – with menus
The Soda Shop – 104 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
The iconic Soda Shop defines historic downtown Davidson. The decorations are 1950s and Davidson Wildcats related. The broad menu is perfect for family outings. Lots for kids. Floats, sundaes and shakes are awesome and classic. The Carolina Burger is a personal favorite.
Website – with menu
The Famous Toastery – 101 N Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Davidson is where this fast-growing franchise began. Toast offers an extensive breakfast and lunch menu with quality food. They are dog friendly outside on their patio, so it is a popular spot with the region’s giant, canine population. Personal favorite is the Buffalo Chicken Wrap.
Website – with Menus
Bonjour Y’all Bakery – 107 N Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
The latest food venture in Davidson is Bonjour Y’all, a bakery by the former executive pastry chef for Kindred and Hello Sailor, Justin Burke-Samson. It is brand new and continues to sell out daily. There is a great porch and outside seating. Beer and Wine are served. Classic french pastries and desserts with a Southern twist. Worth a visit.
Mestizo Contemporary Mexican Cuisine – 121 N Main Street, Davidson, NC
High quality, tasty Mexican food with a full bar. Mestizo offers two exquisite dining areas. The outside dining has absolutely the best views of all the outside dining options in Davidson and features the natural gardens of the Post office as well as a view of the Village Green and the College Church. In the fall and spring the trees are absolutely glorious and the patio faces the southwest direction and absorbs all the spectacular sunsets. The indoor dining room space is both very intimate and elegant with its eclectic antique nostalgic thread hanging lights with steeple and intricate filament designs. The walls are painted in very appealing calming colors that accentuate both your pallet and your mood. Some of my antique redwood cedar fixtures from the “old Drugstore” in Davidson are beautifully highlighted in the restaurant as well as the antique “weight scales” from same.
Website – with menus
Kindred – 131 N Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Kindred is a chef-driven restaurant run by Davidson natives Joe and Katy Kindred. It has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation and is widely consider one of the top restaurants in the country. Kindred is a continual draw to the area and is loved by locals and visitors. Make sure you make a reservation. Kindred offers dining inside and outside. Personal favorites are the milk bread and any squid ink pasta dish they create.
Website – sample menu
Davidson Wine Co – 121 Depot St, Davidson, NC 28036
Another brand new entry into Davidson dining scene.
Nestled in the historic business district, their location was once an organ making shop. You will see the rich history reflected throughout The space. The Wine Co offers a warm and inviting atmosphere for enjoying wine while spending time with friends and family.They offer wine tasting, wine drinking, bottling parties, and more! The crab cakes were very nice.
Website – with menus
Il Bosco – 127 Depot St, Davidson, NC 28036
Offering regional Italian cuisine and a wide variety of hand selected Italian wines to pair with seasonal menus created by Chef Joseph Hermann. Menus include regional antipasti, homemade pasta, and meat dishes as well as daily seafood and dessert specials. Seasonal menus change frequently to exhibit fresh ingredients and recipes from throughout Italy. Personal favorite is the mussels.
Executive Chef: Joseph Hermann
SOMA DAVIDSON
Travel down Main Street toward Cornelius and you’ll find a selection a great food establishments.
Davidson Ice House – 416 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Chef & national food writer, Jenny Brulé created Davidson Ice House as a healthy, tasty alternative in a historic Davidson building. Built in 1922, the building is packed full of historic charm, from exposed brick walls, to steel girder beams, to the original wide pine floors. Personal favorite – Build your Own Bowl.
Website – with menu
Restaurant X – 408 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Very cool menu at this bistro. Enjoy a mix of classics, soul food and mediterranean entrees. A fun spot in SOMA Davidson. Known for a great brunch and dinner.
Whits Frozen Custard – 428 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Ready for dessert or an afternoon treat. Whits is the spot. Frozen custard chain with vanilla, chocolate & a rotating weekly flavor, plus a range of toppings.
Carrburritos – 445 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Carrburritos is a Mexican taqueria featuring fresh and sophisticated flavors served in generous portions and made daily on location. Insider tip – Their catering is awesome and reasonable. Used them when we hosted cards and it was easy and delicious! Love their chicken burrito.
NORTHERN DAVIDSON
Brickhouse Tavern – 209 Delburg St, Davidson, NC 28036
Located in an historic cotton mill, the Brickhouse Tavern offers an extensive menu of classic dishes and bold flavors. Guests have their choice of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, C.A.B. burgers, pastas, seafood, pizza, and other Brickhouse specialties. As a compliment to the superb food, The Brickhouse Tavern offers more than 70 beer selections, including a wide-range of Carolina Craft brews. The largest selection in the Lake Norman area! Tip: A great place to watch the Davidson Wildcats or any sports. Occasional live music. Great pizza. Easy walk from Davidson College.
The Egg at Davidson – 231 Griffith St, Davidson, NC 28036
This is a great family style restaurant to meet with friends and family for breakfast or lunch! Owners Robert and Eileen McCrary invite you to sit down for a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner seven days a week. Enjoy one of their many flavorful omelettes, or a mouth watering Bacon Ceddar Burger in the cozy dining room or outdoor covered patio.Come see for yourself why The Egg Cafe is the premier breakfast spot in the Lake Norman area. From their many Homemade Egg’s Benedicts, to their tasty Ruben Sandwiches…there’s a reason Lake Norman residents choose The Egg Cafe over anywhere else.
Our Town Cinemas – 227 Griffith St, Davidson, NC 28036
Not only is Our Town the coolest movie theater out there, but it offers a wide selection of wine, craft beers and food to enjoy during your movie. This is the best place to enjoy a movie in the area.
SABOR – 624 Jetton St #160, Davidson, NC 28036
Sabor Latin Street Grill is an independently, locally owned metro Charlotte concept that focuses on authentic menu offerings from countries such as El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico & Colombia. Tip: $1 Taco Tuesday – enough said.
The Original New York Bagels – 610 State Rd 2402, Davidson, NC 28036
Great for breakfast and lunch. They offer a full range of deli and breakfast sandwiches on their bagels as well as selections of cream cheese. The breakfast is really good!
Chargrill – 624 Jetton Street Davidson Commons Shopping Center, Davidson, NC 28036
From All-American favorites such as their famous “grilled-in-your-backyard”, char-rock, flame-cooked burgers and too-thick-to pour milkshakes to mouth-watering French fries and crisp apple turnovers, CHAR-GRILL serves up quality menu items at affordable prices.
Sabi Asian Bistro – 130 Harbour Pl Dr, Davidson, NC 28036
Sabi is Davidson’s go to for Asian Food. Always consistently great with a full bar. The Sushi is awesome with many specialty rolls that will please. The Wildcat Roll is my favorite.
Subway – 1 Harbour Pl Dr, Davidson, NC 28036
WATERFRONT
North Harbor Club – 100 N Harbor Pl, Davidson, NC 28036
Regatta-themed New American fine-dining destination with waterfront patio & 9 boat slips for guests. Great for brunch. Nice to sit outside and enjoy the lake views.
The Cabin – 400 N Harbor Pl Dr, Davidson, NC 28036
Catch live music most Friday, Saturday and most Sundays at the Cabin.
The Cottage – 200 N Harbor Pl, Davidson, NC 28036
Known for great wine pours every day and soup night many Thursdays often with Live Music. Nice waterfront setting to relax in.
The Davidson Dining Guide is brought to you by Clark Goff – Davidson’s Realtor. Questions about Davidson? Call Clark 704 996-0948. www.mitrealtor.com Proud to sponsor Davidson Wildcats Football Broadcast – listen to my latest radio spot here
