Mert's Heart and Soul
Best Soul Food in Charlotte · NC
Soul bowls in Uptown since 1998.
Mert's Heart and Soul has served Low Country and soul food in uptown Charlotte since 1998, when James and Renee Bazzelle opened a bright storefront on College Street. Shrimp and grits, fried chicken, salmon cakes and "Soul Rolls" made it a local favorite — and a "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" stop sealed its fame.
A beloved uptown institution and repeat best-soul-food winner, Mert's is the 2025 Centurion Award winner in Charlotte.
What they're known for
- Shrimp & grits
- Southern fried chicken
- Soul Rolls
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Selection follows the published criteria; Mert's Heart and Soul met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Charlotte since 1998 — 28 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Charlotte.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Charlotte has kept Mert's Heart and Soul busy for 28 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Charlotte regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best soul food in Charlotte for 2025 for salmon cakes, soul bowls, and nearly three decades as Uptown's Southern kitchen.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
The details, verified.
- Legal / trading name
- Mert's Heart and Soul
- Category
- Restaurant
- Founded
- 1998, Charlotte, NC
- Founders
- James & Renee Bazzelle
- Location
- 214 N College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
- Centurion Award
- Best Soul Food in Charlotte — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
Frequently asked questions.
What is Mert's Heart and Soul?
Uptown Charlotte soul food restaurant since 1998, famous for soul bowls, salmon cakes, and red beans done right.
Is Mert's Heart and Soul award-winning?
Yes — Mert's Heart and Soul is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Soul Food in Charlotte, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best soul food in Charlotte for 2025 for salmon cakes, soul bowls, and nearly three decades as Uptown's Southern kitchen.
Where is Mert's Heart and Soul?
Mert's Heart and Soul is in Charlotte, NC.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Soul Food in Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Mert's Heart and Soul
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for Mert's Heart and Soul (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear.
Own this business? Claim the listing for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.