Good Breakfast! Not many Breakfast places in the Arboretum Area of CLT!
(3)
Fred S.
Southern as in Southern European, not Dixie. Menu skews toward Greek and Italian dishes. Simple furnishings, no pretense of being high end. Food was all institutional quality - vaguely flavored gravy, corn poured from a #10 can, "buttery vegetable spread" instead of butter. Roll was warm and good quality which made up for it. Elderly woman after me was talking quietly to the hostess about the chicken. Based on other reviews, it may be worth avoiding.
My family loves going here. Kids get 2 sides for free and then we usually split a kids meal between them. My husband and I love when they have the pot roast over egg noodles special! They have lots of other great plates, too. The servers are always friendly and the place is always clean. Very family friendly if you're looking for a simple home cooked experience.
(4)
Chad E.
I don't often get down to the Arboretum area, but we were over that way one morning and decided to stop for a bite at the Charlotte Cafe as a change of pace. It's an interesting little place - nothing too pretentious (like Le Peep can be), just a little cafe that has a diner feel to it. You have a decent choice of menu options, and most of them are pretty good-sized for the price. While not the cheapest place in town, you do get a good amount of food, and we found that the staff was very friendly, and the always kept the drinks filled - something that is tough to find these days (and something that I'm always picky about)!
(3)
Haeyon L.
Cute little diner-like restaurant in the arboretum with FREE WIFI if you ask for it :) Doing some work while waiting for my engine oil to be changed at Firestone!
(4)
Jamey G.
So, I actually really like this place. However, I can not stand the tvs! I do not like dinning and having to see the news where "so and so got shot a million times" while I'm trying to hear about my sons day. Sure it's important news that a cop may have committed a crime and is being investigated but, I'm out at an establishment trying to enjoy a moment with my son and having to contend with a TV. Not to mention I've always felt that Charlotte Cafe was a Family restaurant, there are children in hear like my 7 year old who is now asking me questions like "what are they showing that mans body parts with bullet holes in him". Bad form Charlotte Cafe! If you're going have to TVs you must be responsible for the content you show! And by the way, I liked it better when you did not have them.
(2)
George R.
Pathetic, no other way to describe this brunch. I did have breakfast here once before and it wasn't this bad. Feel my pain: .....I get there on Sunday at 1:30pm after the rush was over. Their house special "Eggs Benny" covers the whole front of the menu. I order that with a cup of black coffee. I get the coffee then my waitress disappears until 20 minutes later when she brings me my plate. I stop her from running off because the food looks suspicious. Sure enough the poached eggs were hard boiled. "Is that too cooked for you?" YES. I wait and I wait and I wait ( just a few customers in the house) and a whole 15 minutes later she quickly drops off the new plate and runs off, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN. It's been 35 minutes since I first ordered. One egg is borderline ok, the other is hard boiled again, the Hollandaise is dry and starting to curdle, the English muffins are not toasted properly and they're chewy as hell, the hash browns are absolutely tasteless. Not a micro-gram of salt, pepper, paprika, onions nothing to give it any flavor. No waitress anywhere, not only mine but all the ladies wearing black tee-shirts are anywhere but in the dining room. After a few more minutes I lose patience, go to the counter find a waitress and ask her for my check. The girl at the cash register asks me how was my meal and I tell her exactly how it went.... in detail. She is very very very sorry but doesn't offer to comp even the coffee. For maybe only the second or third time in my whole life I don't leave a tip. The worst Eggs Benny I've ever had, coupled with ridiculously bad service: $15 and some change including a cup of coffee. That's right, over FIFTEEN DOLLARS for this. edit: check out the review that was filtered, I don't see why it was. It reports a very similar experience to the one I had with the kitchen unable to cook the food right and the customer still being charged for it.
(1)
Clint L.
We come to the Charlotte Cafe periodically primarily because they have a good variety of veggies on the menu. The food is, like I said above, a-ok. You won't write home about it, but we find it to be just fine. It's like diner food to me. Tonight, I had the pork chop, and I've had it before. It was good, tender, and cooked properly. I had the collard greens and they were just fine! Not full of stems like some I've encountered. This is an "easy" place to go. Easy to go with kids; easy to take your elderly mom. Just easy, and not pretentious at all. I see that others have complained about the service, but that's not what we have encountered here at all. Maybe we hit the "good" days, but the wait staff has always been friendly, accommodating, and our service has consistently been good. So, if you're looking for a unique, perhaps romantic, fine-dining experience... go across the parking lot. But if you want a good meal, at a fair price, with several options to choose from, and in a relaxed atmosphere - try the Charlotte Cafe.
(3)
Austin J.
What a cool place to experience unique Southern flair! I came here for breakfast and found it to be an experience unlike any other. The decor takes you back into a different time and place. Not that this is an old fashioned type restaurant, but it does possess a unique aesthetic that I haven't seen previously. The food is unique as well. While it doesn't lack the basic breakfast staples and go to Southern meals, it does offer some unique creations. I ordered the Sly Scottie, which was a flagship dish of the cafe. It was okay...not outstanding. It had more novelty value that impeccable taste. I wasn't impressed with the price. I only had a lunch entree and a coffee, yet still spent about $16 with tip...quite a bit more than a reason lunch in my book. I probably wouldn't frequent the Charlotte Cafe, but it's worth going to once.
(3)
Andrea S.
come here for breakfast once a week . Good , cheap , quick !
(3)
Rebekah P.
This place specializes in down home cooking. They are famous for their fried chicken and I definitely recommend trying it. They also have a variety of other foods to choose from if you're more health conscious that myself. Definitely one to try for your next long lunch hour.
(3)
Kathy C.
From my one and only visit today so far, I rate this restaurant poorly because it took the server a long time to come to my table after I was seated. I ordered something on the menu called Sly Scottie because next to it in italics it said 'We're famous for this one!' It sounded okay: Turkey, broccoli, and cranberry sauce on top of a muffin (they mean English muffin). But when it came out it just looked like a bowl of lard. It also felt like I was eating a bowl of lard. I should have probably ordered from the diet menu. Haven't had this bad of an experience in a while.
(1)
Sarah A.
The singularly worst dining experience I have ever had. Service was extremely slow. We were repeatedly served raw chicken. A complimentary basket of fries offered to keep our hungry children happy during the repeated food returns was added to our bill. On the third plate of raw chicken we decided to leave. We asked for the raw and inedible items and the fries (that we had not ordered) to be removed from our bill. We were willing to pay for the drinks and few edible items and the manager harangued us. Then the owner showed up and after harassing us for awhile took the entire bill away and made a loud bizarre speech about what a great businessman he was. Meanwhile other tables were also experiencing issues and walking out. We handed our poor waitress, who was the only seemingly competent person in the place, a generous tip, walked out and ordered carryout from a different restaurant. The entire experience was bizarre from start to finish and the manager and owner's behavior was like something you'd see on "Kitchen Nightmares"
Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Lunch Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Allen J.
Rough start for lunch. Waitress with an attitude.
(2)Randall R.
Good Breakfast! Not many Breakfast places in the Arboretum Area of CLT!
(3)Fred S.
Southern as in Southern European, not Dixie. Menu skews toward Greek and Italian dishes. Simple furnishings, no pretense of being high end. Food was all institutional quality - vaguely flavored gravy, corn poured from a #10 can, "buttery vegetable spread" instead of butter. Roll was warm and good quality which made up for it. Elderly woman after me was talking quietly to the hostess about the chicken. Based on other reviews, it may be worth avoiding.
(3)Ryan C.
Service: okay Wait: very long Price: way too high Menu: waaay to many choices; Food: sub-par for your money. Atmosphere: smells like a public restroom, tried to make it look nice but kinda failed. Free bread: none. Name: too cliché Drinks: Pepsi brand (ew) Health rating: 90.5
(2)Leslie M.
My family loves going here. Kids get 2 sides for free and then we usually split a kids meal between them. My husband and I love when they have the pot roast over egg noodles special! They have lots of other great plates, too. The servers are always friendly and the place is always clean. Very family friendly if you're looking for a simple home cooked experience.
(4)Chad E.
I don't often get down to the Arboretum area, but we were over that way one morning and decided to stop for a bite at the Charlotte Cafe as a change of pace. It's an interesting little place - nothing too pretentious (like Le Peep can be), just a little cafe that has a diner feel to it. You have a decent choice of menu options, and most of them are pretty good-sized for the price. While not the cheapest place in town, you do get a good amount of food, and we found that the staff was very friendly, and the always kept the drinks filled - something that is tough to find these days (and something that I'm always picky about)!
(3)Haeyon L.
Cute little diner-like restaurant in the arboretum with FREE WIFI if you ask for it :) Doing some work while waiting for my engine oil to be changed at Firestone!
(4)Jamey G.
So, I actually really like this place. However, I can not stand the tvs! I do not like dinning and having to see the news where "so and so got shot a million times" while I'm trying to hear about my sons day. Sure it's important news that a cop may have committed a crime and is being investigated but, I'm out at an establishment trying to enjoy a moment with my son and having to contend with a TV. Not to mention I've always felt that Charlotte Cafe was a Family restaurant, there are children in hear like my 7 year old who is now asking me questions like "what are they showing that mans body parts with bullet holes in him". Bad form Charlotte Cafe! If you're going have to TVs you must be responsible for the content you show! And by the way, I liked it better when you did not have them.
(2)George R.
Pathetic, no other way to describe this brunch. I did have breakfast here once before and it wasn't this bad. Feel my pain: .....I get there on Sunday at 1:30pm after the rush was over. Their house special "Eggs Benny" covers the whole front of the menu. I order that with a cup of black coffee. I get the coffee then my waitress disappears until 20 minutes later when she brings me my plate. I stop her from running off because the food looks suspicious. Sure enough the poached eggs were hard boiled. "Is that too cooked for you?" YES. I wait and I wait and I wait ( just a few customers in the house) and a whole 15 minutes later she quickly drops off the new plate and runs off, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN. It's been 35 minutes since I first ordered. One egg is borderline ok, the other is hard boiled again, the Hollandaise is dry and starting to curdle, the English muffins are not toasted properly and they're chewy as hell, the hash browns are absolutely tasteless. Not a micro-gram of salt, pepper, paprika, onions nothing to give it any flavor. No waitress anywhere, not only mine but all the ladies wearing black tee-shirts are anywhere but in the dining room. After a few more minutes I lose patience, go to the counter find a waitress and ask her for my check. The girl at the cash register asks me how was my meal and I tell her exactly how it went.... in detail. She is very very very sorry but doesn't offer to comp even the coffee. For maybe only the second or third time in my whole life I don't leave a tip. The worst Eggs Benny I've ever had, coupled with ridiculously bad service: $15 and some change including a cup of coffee. That's right, over FIFTEEN DOLLARS for this. edit: check out the review that was filtered, I don't see why it was. It reports a very similar experience to the one I had with the kitchen unable to cook the food right and the customer still being charged for it.
(1)Clint L.
We come to the Charlotte Cafe periodically primarily because they have a good variety of veggies on the menu. The food is, like I said above, a-ok. You won't write home about it, but we find it to be just fine. It's like diner food to me. Tonight, I had the pork chop, and I've had it before. It was good, tender, and cooked properly. I had the collard greens and they were just fine! Not full of stems like some I've encountered. This is an "easy" place to go. Easy to go with kids; easy to take your elderly mom. Just easy, and not pretentious at all. I see that others have complained about the service, but that's not what we have encountered here at all. Maybe we hit the "good" days, but the wait staff has always been friendly, accommodating, and our service has consistently been good. So, if you're looking for a unique, perhaps romantic, fine-dining experience... go across the parking lot. But if you want a good meal, at a fair price, with several options to choose from, and in a relaxed atmosphere - try the Charlotte Cafe.
(3)Austin J.
What a cool place to experience unique Southern flair! I came here for breakfast and found it to be an experience unlike any other. The decor takes you back into a different time and place. Not that this is an old fashioned type restaurant, but it does possess a unique aesthetic that I haven't seen previously. The food is unique as well. While it doesn't lack the basic breakfast staples and go to Southern meals, it does offer some unique creations. I ordered the Sly Scottie, which was a flagship dish of the cafe. It was okay...not outstanding. It had more novelty value that impeccable taste. I wasn't impressed with the price. I only had a lunch entree and a coffee, yet still spent about $16 with tip...quite a bit more than a reason lunch in my book. I probably wouldn't frequent the Charlotte Cafe, but it's worth going to once.
(3)Andrea S.
come here for breakfast once a week . Good , cheap , quick !
(3)Rebekah P.
This place specializes in down home cooking. They are famous for their fried chicken and I definitely recommend trying it. They also have a variety of other foods to choose from if you're more health conscious that myself. Definitely one to try for your next long lunch hour.
(3)Kathy C.
From my one and only visit today so far, I rate this restaurant poorly because it took the server a long time to come to my table after I was seated. I ordered something on the menu called Sly Scottie because next to it in italics it said 'We're famous for this one!' It sounded okay: Turkey, broccoli, and cranberry sauce on top of a muffin (they mean English muffin). But when it came out it just looked like a bowl of lard. It also felt like I was eating a bowl of lard. I should have probably ordered from the diet menu. Haven't had this bad of an experience in a while.
(1)Sarah A.
The singularly worst dining experience I have ever had. Service was extremely slow. We were repeatedly served raw chicken. A complimentary basket of fries offered to keep our hungry children happy during the repeated food returns was added to our bill. On the third plate of raw chicken we decided to leave. We asked for the raw and inedible items and the fries (that we had not ordered) to be removed from our bill. We were willing to pay for the drinks and few edible items and the manager harangued us. Then the owner showed up and after harassing us for awhile took the entire bill away and made a loud bizarre speech about what a great businessman he was. Meanwhile other tables were also experiencing issues and walking out. We handed our poor waitress, who was the only seemingly competent person in the place, a generous tip, walked out and ordered carryout from a different restaurant. The entire experience was bizarre from start to finish and the manager and owner's behavior was like something you'd see on "Kitchen Nightmares"
(1)