Defiantly perched in the trendy Plaza-Midwood district sits the Penguin Drive-In, paying homage to the gods of unconventionality and contradiction. This Charlotte landmark attracts all kinds of folks who drag stools up to the cozy bar or squeeze just one more friend into the big, comfy booths for a basket of fried pickles and other typical diner fare. Well, nothing about the Penguin is typical, really. Where else could you order a glass of Ferrari-Carano merlot with your Full Blown Hemi (triple cheeseburger with everything), or a cold PBR to wash down your soy dog and black bean hummus? The restaurant’s greatest secret might be the chef’s experience cooking in top-flight, mainstream restaurants. Full bar. Serving lunch and dinner daily. Latenight Mon–Sat. Voted Best Diner in the 2007 Creative Loafing critics and readers polls and Best Late-Night Restaurant, Best Hamburger and Best Hot Dog in the 2007 readers poll. Voted Best Burger in the 2007 The Charlotte Observer critics poll and Charlotte magazine's 2008 readers poll (as well as Best Late-Night Dining).