On May 8, Midnight Diner, a popular 24-hour eatery in Charlotte, reopened Uptown across from the Spectrum Center.
And as one of the last remnants of Charlotte before the birth of “LoSo” and when restaurants had their own parking, it made me very happy to see the announcement.
I’ve had Midnight Diner no less than 30 or 40 times since it opened in 2010, so when rumors circulated in 2021 that the restaurant would close, I was upset.
Then, the restaurant announced it would remain in business but move to a new location nearby.
And Charlotteans everywhere — myself included — breathed a sigh of relief.
Tried and true recommendations
In all my years of dining in or running in to grab a to-go order, I don’t think I’ve ever actually read the menu, but I always know what I want: 3 chicken wings and an order of French toast.
First-timers will likely be tempted by the chicken-and-waffle aesthetic, but trust me; the French toast is the true star.
Made with thick slices of pre-sweetened Challah bread and lightly dusted with powdered sugar, Midnight Diner’s French toast requires no syrup. It’s the perfect salty-sweet pairing for the wings.
I also recommend the grits — if you like creamy grits, you’ll love these — and the Firecracker Chicken Sandwich with fries. The sandwich comes as a fried chicken breast tossed in the diner’s house firecracker sauce — a sweet, mildly spicy sauce — with lettuce and tomato on a bun. And if you’re a biscuit lover, the diner is known for its fluffy buttermilk biscuits.
Other recommendations from the QCity Team:
- Jalon recommends steak and eggs
- Amanda recommends a classic burger and fries with the house sauce
- Daija recommends the house spaghetti
Midnight Diner’s menu features breakfast, lunch and dinner options, and is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
If you go:
Midnight Diner
420 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202