Clean Catch Fish Market, Charlotte

Charlotte magazine isn't coy in its praise of Clean Catch Fish Market. "Simply stated, Clean Catch Fish Market is the fish market Charlotte has been waiting for," it raved when it awarded the market its 2012 Editors' Choice Award for Best Fish Market, citing the "quality and freshness." The market also came out on top in that year’s Voters' Choice Awards.

Living up to the accolades, staffers curate seasonal selections of the freshest fish possible, such as Alaskan cod or swordfish caught wild in state. Though they're continually searching for exciting, new seafood, they always offer a selection of sushi-grade fish, oysters, and shellfish. Clean Catch Fish Market dedicates itself to sustainable seafood, and the vast majority of catches are wild.

The market's chefs can give shoppers tips on how to cook their finds or give recipe suggestions, but they also whip up dishes of their own, such as shrimp gumbo, jumbo crab cakes, and complete fish-taco kits. Every day, staffers post links to the day's offerings on their Twitter page, and they allow customers to text in their orders to the shop rather than making them send their overworked carrier pigeons.