Mert's Heart and Soul

The overview

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

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

Google Maps
Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. Mert's Heart and Soul cleared every one.

✓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 2026 for salmon cakes, soul bowls, and nearly three decades as Uptown's Southern kitchen.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2025

Best Soul Food in Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation

All awards for Mert's Heart and Soul →

Visit Mert's Heart and Soul

Websitemertscharlotte.com ↗

Location214 N College St, Charlotte, NC 28202

In business since1998

Find them onFacebook · Yelp

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about Mert's Heart and Soul — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

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

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after Mert's Heart and Soul cleared the 2025 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

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.