Queen City Nerve Names 2025 Best in the Nest Winners Across Food and Nightlife Categories

Queen City Nerve announced winners for its 2025 Best in the Nest awards. Readers cast more than 42,000 ballots during August and September. The publication picked champions across food, drink, and nightlife categories through a two-month process that included nomination and final voting rounds.

Birdsong Brewing Co. won best brewery in Charlotte. The operation also took best dog-friendly brewery. It swept multiple beer style categories. The Spirit of Radio won best kolsch. Rewind claimed best lager.

Super Abari Game Bar earned six nightlife awards. The arcade bar took home best arcade bar, best place to grab a quick drink, best singles bar, best bar to make a new friend, best bar to people-watch and best Instagrammable spot. Kaitlynn Maney from the venue won best bartender.

El Puro Cuban Restaurant claimed victories in three neighborhood categories and won best Caribbean cuisine. The eatery's ropa vieja dish earned recognition as best specialty or signature dish in the city.

Supperland won best wait staff and service. 

Savannah Foltz from the establishment took the best pastry chef award.

Restaurant Constance collected wins for best non-alcoholic menu and best mocktail. Chef Sam Diminich from the operation won best chef honors.

The Artisan's Palate earned best patio space, best cocktail, and best place for a first date. T

Trio Charlotte won the best dance club and best new nightclub categories.

New Zealand Cafe took best sushi and won neighborhood categories for best East Charlotte restaurant and best Matthews/Mint Hill restaurant. Lang Van claimed best Vietnamese cuisine and best pho while winning best East Charlotte restaurant as runner-up.

Ace No. 3 won best burger and best fries. 

Pinky's Westside Grill earned best West Charlotte restaurant, best burger runner-up and best hot dog.

Two Scoops Creamery won best ice cream shop and best frozen treat. 

Rhino Market & Deli claimed best deli and best sandwich.

Mert's Heart And Soul won best soul food. 

Fin & Fino took best uptown restaurant and best seafood. 

O-Ku earned best Japanese cuisine.

Snug Harbor hosted two winning events with Bone Snugs n Harmony taking best karaoke and Bryan Pierce winning best karaoke host. Tommy's Pub won best neighborhood bar. Jeremy Smith from the venue claimed best mixologist.

Dave Chase won best trivia host. Mindless Minutia's Amazing Colossal Big A$$ Trivia Championship earned best annual party.

Petra's Bar won best LGBTQ-friendly bar. Aura Rooftop claimed best uptown bar. Ed's Tavern won best sports bar.

The publication noted that staff did not tamper with nominations at any point during the selection process.