12 best brunch spots in Charlotte, plus what to order at each
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Charlotte doesn’t mess around when it comes to brunch.
Here are the top 12 best brunch spots in our city, right now.
300 East
Best old school brunch
The family-owned and operated restaurant has been a Dilworth staple for more than 30 years, and while you may know them for their French onion soup, don’t skip brunch.
Staple brunch item: Eggs Benedict with poached eggs on an English muffin, ham, hollandaise and breakfast potatoes ($13)
Must-try brunch item: Instagram-worthy Breakfast Pizza with Wild Turkey Farms chorizo, red sauce, cheddar-jack cheese, scallions, queso fresco and fried eggs ($14.75)
Find them at 300 East Blvd. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday (full menu here).
Café Monte
Best upscale brunch
SouthPark’s go-to for upscale French food at an affordable price point.
Staple brunch item: French Country Breakfast with eggs any style, country bacon or sausage, skillet potato and toast ($13)
Must-try brunch item: Benedict Monte with a croissant, smoked ham, two eggs, tomato, asparagus and hollandaise ($15)
Find them at 6700 Fairview Road. Brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. (full menu here).
Haberdish
Best trendy brunch
Known for its Southern comfort food and cocktails, this NoDa staple from the mind behind Growlers Pourhouse and Crepe Cellar serves brunch during the week.
Staple brunch item: Chicken Biscuit Sandwich with de-boned fried chicken, slaw, honey mustard and pickles ($7)
Must-try brunch item: Cinnamon roll, with cinnamon, sugar and milk caramel ($4)
Find it at 3106 N. Davidson St. Haberdish does brunch a little differently than your other go-to spots: It’s only offered during the week from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (full menu here).
Haymaker
Best Uptown brunch
The farm-focused restaurant from Asheville-based Chef William Dissen opened in Uptown earlier this year with floor-to-ceiling windows, mezzanine seating and extensive breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch menus.
Staple brunch item: Haymaker Breakfast with two scrambled eggs, Benton’s bacon, herb-roasted potatoes and a jalapeño biscuit ($12)
Must-try brunch item: Dutch Baby, an heirloom cornmeal pancake with sorghum butter, bourbon macerated raspberries and candied pecans ($10)
Find it at 225 S. Poplar St. Brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (full menu).
Holler and Dash
Best fast-casual brunch
This fast-casual spot in South End may market itself as the “Cracker Barrel for Millennials,” but don’t write it off — its menu of over-the-top biscuits and bowls was an instant hit with lines out the door will win over even the most skeptical.
Staple brunch item: Chicken. Set. Go. with friend chicken, pimiento cheese, jalapeño and sorghum on a biscuit ($9)
Must-try brunch item: Kickback Chicken with fried chicken, goat cheese, green onion and sweet pepper jelly on a biscuit ($9.50)
Find it at 2725 South Blvd. Brunch is served 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m on Saturday and Sunday (full menu).
littleSpoon
Best brunch when you want to feel like you’re not in Charlotte
Myers Park staple littleSpoon provides Charlotte diners with a Los Angeles-style atmosphere, complete with handle-less coffee mugs and loud hip club-style music.
Staple brunch item: #BEC with a slab of bacon, American cheese and sunny-side up egg on a potato roll ($9)
Must-try brunch item: Hash with sweet and purple potatoes, onion, bell pepper, sausage and egg ($15)
Find it at 2820 Selwyn Ave. Brunch is served 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (full menu here).
The Stanley
Best foodie brunch
After the shuttering of Heritage, James Beard-nominated chef Paul Verica brought The Stanley to life with a constantly changing farm-driven menu that was so anticipated reservations had to be made one to two weeks in advance upon the restaurant’s opening.
Staple brunch item: Doughnuts, vanilla, chocolate or flavor of the day ($2.50)
Must-try brunch item: Duke’s brioche French toast with peaches, maple and bourbon fluff ($12)
Find it at 1961 E. 7th St. Brunch is served11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday (full menu).
Superica
Best party brunch
This upscale Tex-Mex restaurant out of Atlanta is the newest addition to South End’s Design Center on the booming block that also houses Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and soon Barcelona Wine Bar.
Staple brunch item: Hot Cakes with whipped butter and buttermilk syrup ($8-$10)
Must-try brunch item: Huevos Rancheros with a housemade tortilla, double beans, ranchero sauce, two eggs sunny-side up, avocado and bacon ($13)
It’s home to the Queso Fundido that boasts a wildly impressive 5-foot 9-inch cheese pull. Find it at 101 W. Worthington Ave. Brunch is served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (full menu).
Suffolk Punch
Best brewery brunch
This South End brewery, bar and restaurant is one of the most beautiful spaces in the city. The kitchen is run by Dan Davis, the chef and owner of Craft. It’s legit. Oh, and you can wash down brunch with $3 beers all day on Sunday.
Staple brunch item: Pecan French Toast with thick-sliced brioche, crushed pecan crust, bourbon creme anglaise and seasonal berries ($12)
Must-try brunch item: Chicken-n-Biscuit with buttermilk fried chicken, scratch-made biscuit, scrambled egg, topped with peppercorn-chive gravy ($14)
Find it at 2911 Griffith St. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (full menu).
Chef Alyssa Kitchen
Best cooking school brunch
You’ll literally be sitting in a learning kitchen at this new Lower South End space. It’s counter service, so expect a low-key vibe, and the space is huge.
Staple brunch item: Breakfast Burrito with scrambled eggs, local chorizo, Ashe County sharp cheddar, potatoes, peppers, onions and tomato jam ($12)
Must-try brunch item: Pancake Tacos with fluffy pancakes filled with house bacon and scrambled eggs with spiced maple syrup to dip (three for $9)
Find it at 4001-C Yancey Road #100. Brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday (full menu).
Terrace Café
Best low-key brunch
You’ll find this Southern-infused cafe in SouthPark, Ballantyne and Fort Mill, and while it does offer lunch dinner, brunch is what it’s best known for.
Staple brunch item: Red Velvet Chicken & Waffle ($17.50)
Must-try brunch item: Red Velvet Waffle with cream cheese drizzle ($11.50)
See locations and hours here. While brunch is served seven days a week, times vary by location (full menu here).
Zada Jane’s
Best neighborhood brunch
Choose one thing and do it well is the motto of this Plaza Midwood diner, and their forte (their word) is breakfast served all day.
Staple brunch item: Booker T’s East Side Hasher, with sweet potato hash browns topped with frittata-style eggs, pork sausage, turkey sausage or soysage, melted cheddar and green onions ($8.95)
Must-try brunch item: Bunny Rancheros with two eggs, black beans, home fries, your choice of protein, topped with queso, guacamole, salsa verde, sour cream and flour tortillas ($9.95)
Find it at 1601 Central Ave. Breakfast/brunch is served from8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (full menu).
Two to watch:
Wooden Robot (South End, 1440 S. Tryon St. Suite 110): Starting Sunday, Jan. 27. Expect brunch menu items like shrimp and grits, avocado egg toast, stuffed French toast and beer cheese and biscuits (made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuits, country ham, farm-fresh eggs over easy topped with Chef Rob’s OG beer cheese). Wooden Robot will also have $5 mimosas, micheladas and $1 off all 10-ounce beers all day long on Sunday. Served 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Snooze A.M. Eatery (Plaza Midwood, 1331 Central Ave.): This popular Denver-based breakfast, lunch and brunch spot will open in Charlotte this spring. Snooze has more than 30 locations with most in Colorado, California, Arizona and Texas.
Honorable mentions:
Legion Brewing SouthPark (5610 Carnegie Blvd): Choose from staples like eggs and sausage, buttermilk pancakes and French Toast – or go with one of their three breakfast pizzas or four breakfast sandwiches. Full menu here. Served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Bistro la Bon (Plaza Midwood 1322 Central Ave.): Go on Saturday for an a la carte brunch or wait until Sunday for the $22 all-you-can-eat buffet. Full menus here. Served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Heist Brewery (NoDa, 2909 N. Davidson St.): While there is a Saturday brunch menu, go on Sunday for a $19 all-you-can-eat brunch that includes access to a full buffet and pizza rail. Full menus here. Served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
La Belle Helene (Uptown, 300 S. Tryon St.): Uptown’s upscale French brasserie offers a weekend brunch menu complete with avocado toast, quiche lorraine and a croque-monsieur. Full menu here. Served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
VIA CHARLOTTE AGENDA
