Encore Bistro and Bar, Charlotte

Aimee King's career in hospitality began at a country club, where she manned the beverage cart. Now that she's ascended the ranks, from dining-room manager to owner of Encore Bistro and Bar, she's turned over beverage responsibilities to an unlikely source: her diners.

Every Monday at Encore, she invites one customer to bartend for the night in order to raise money for a charity of their choice and to test out their theory that regular umbrellas would work just as well in a drink. Aimee's trusted team handles drinks the rest of the week, pouring wines and beers and mixing dessert cocktails such as the Frozini, a blend of vodka and a dessert zinfandel with a chocolate rim.

The beverages complement the culinary team's unusual take on classic American dishes. Granny smith apples and walnuts top dinnertime pizzas, and apricot glazes coat bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers.

Feasts unfold at the hardwood bar, which is surrounded by flat-screen TVs, or on Encore's outdoor patio, which overlooks fountains and trees. They also take place inside Encore's private room, which is decorated with abstract art, including paintings of red, yellow, orange, and green splashes of color that represent the duality of man.