If you scroll on down the first South Forum page you'll see some previous discussion. Notably http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...endations.html (See Reply #5 & #6)

A couple of other web sites of interest:
http://asccharlotte.wordpress.com/
http://www.charlottesgotalot.com/

As for BBQ, purists would contend the nearest real BBQ is about an hour north in Lexington. Fried chicken on the other hand...even Wolfgang Puck, when spotted outside "Price's Chicken Coop" in Charlotte last week said "I've been told the best fried chicken in the South is in Atlanta or other cities, but Price's is so far the best fried chicken I've found."

Welcome to Charlotte!