Roosters and Alexander Michaels.
This is the best answer. I try and make it by every time i'm in town. So damn good.
Roosters and Alexander Michaels.
Yeah it's one of the few "authentic" Charlotte restaurants that has any history to it. And their menu is so simple, yet so good.
I don't eat Uptown much anymore but can recommend:
Upscale:
La Belle Helene
Mariposa
Casual - Nice:
Haymaker
Fin and Fino (5 stars from Diggler)
Church and Union
Cellar at Duckworth's
Aria
Cicchetti
Roosters (Jim Noble Alert)
Essex Bar and Bistro
Room 112 (Sushi)
Sports Bar:
Duckworth's
Ink & Ivy
Places at Latta Arcade or whatever they call it now, like Valhalla and Hooligans
Also Thomas Davis has a new sports bar a couple of blocks farther north near Haymaker called Ten58, which are his college and NFL jersey numbers.
Irish Pub (large):
Ri-Ra
Connelly's on Fifth
Rooftop bars
Merchant and Trade at the Kimpton
There's another good one I can't remember, but plenty of others of varying heights.
Also,
Sea Level is good for oysters and really close to the arena.
Your friend needs to look into reservations ASAP.