I could eat breakfast for every meal of the day. I absolutely LOVE it. By now, you know I love food (probably a little too much), but nothing holds my heart like breakfast. I wish breakfast dates happened more often. As great as a dinner date is, there’s nothing better to me than an early morning conversation over a cup of coffee and a stack of pancakes. My boyfriend once drove me around for 45 minutes after church in search of the city’s best pancakes. That’s how much I love breakfast. So in the year that I’ve lived in Charlotte I’ve made it my mission know where to find the best breakfast food in town.
Here are my picks for Best Breakfast in Charlotte:
1. BLT Steak
I am in love with this place. It’s super swanky at night, but during the day it’s great for a casual breakfast. If I ever have a breakfast date with my boyfriend (he works in uptown) this is my go-to.
My Pick: Three Egg Omelet with Gruyere, Mushrooms, Bacon, and Spinach. (If you want to really indulge: Brioche French Toast… it’s topped with bananas foster !!! )
http://www.instagram.com/p/BFbreMvhW31
2. Sunflour Bakery
I’m a big fan of the East Blvd. location (I’ve never been to the original). There’s usually a long line to get to the register to order, but it’s the kind of place you don’t mind standing around in. It’s bright and cozy and I love any place where I can order a cupcake with my breakfast sandwich. All of their breads are fresh baked and to die for. The first time I went I got a croissant and it was amazing, but… once I tried the cheddar biscuit there was no turning back.
My Pick: Bacon, Egg, and Cheddar on a Cheddar Croissant. Add Avocado.
3. Joe’s Doughs
So I might be a little biased here. My boyfriend is one of the owners of the shop. But to be fair, I was a big Joe’s Doughs fan way before he was involved and it was just a pop-up shop on the weekends. But HELLO, donuts. There’s a time and a place for a Krispy Kreme or a Dunkin Donuts, but Joe’s Doughs offers things you’ll never be able to get at either of those. They’ve got gluten free and vegan donuts too!
My Pick: Candied Lemon or Sea Salt Chocolate Caramel. Probably both, because honestly… I never eat just one donut. #selfcontrol. (If you want to branch out- try the Everything Donut. It’s topped with everything bagel seasoning!)
4. Heist Brewery
Brace yourself. You will need your stretch pants for this one. Heist serves brunch on Sundays from 10 am – 2:30 pm. It’s $19 and let me tell you, they might be losing money on me. I think i ate around $30 worth of food last time I was there. THE BUFFET IS HUGE. Huge, I tell you. My eyes almost popped out of my head the first time I went. They have a whole serving window filled with pizzas (even breakfast pizzas!), a donut tree, whole grilled pineapples… I mean, this thing is a production. As if the buffet wasn’t enough, you get your choice of an a la carte item, and endless waffles. The waffles are bomb and you should eat as many as you possibly can. What did I tell you? Stretchy pants.
My Pick: Everything…But get the Steak and Egg Hash for your a la carte item. P.S. don’t forget the Mimosa Carafe and a Bloody Mary.
5. Owen’s Bagel
I didn’t even know what a steamed bagel was until last year. And now I know I can’t live without them. If you haven’t had them before, the bagels are hot and chewy, not toasted. Which I am 110% OK with. It’s a killer place for the kids too, they can drawl on the walls and usually offer crazy cream cheese flavors like Birthday Cake. They’ve got healthier options too that involve sprouts and avocado and things like that, but because I have zero control, I’ve never tried them and can’t tell you what they’re like. But I can tell you they make a mean Bacon, Egg, and Cheese, and The Fish is always a good choice.
My Pick: an Asiago Bagel with Plain Cream Cheese and Bacon (I understand this sounds weird. But trust me.) Great for a grab and go breakfast on the weekends. Don’t forget to get a Dr. Browns Black Cherry Soda!
http://www.instagram.com/p/BGrdDaMR-CJ
Best Breakfast in Charlotte by Occasion:
Certain occasions call for specific breakfasts. We’ve got you covered.
Late Night/ Hungover: I think we can all agree that both of these situations go hand-in-hand. If you’re looking for food at 2 AM, odds are you’re going to be looking for something greasy to cure your headache and queasy stomach in a few hours. Luckily Midnight Diner is open 24 hours. Don’t let the old school diner vibe fool you- the food is way better than your typical greasy spoon. You can’t go wrong with french toast or your typical 2 eggs + bacon + grits, etc. But if you’re really hurting…
My Pick: The Bubba. I’m just gonna leave this description here for you. You know what to do.
Parents in Town: Having parents in town calls for an all together different kind of breakfast. Have some class, people. No parent will ever turn their nose up at Cafe Monte. It’s sophisticated yet inviting like just about everything else Parisian. Did I mention it’s delicious? I swoon over 99% of the menu. I’m a fan of going here for brunch, mainly because I think it’s an acceptable excuse to order the Short Rib Philly Cheese Steak before noon. (FYI- that’s without a doubt My Pick for Cafe Monte).
Just the Girls: Sometimes you need a breakfast with the girls. Leave your man at home and head to Crispy Crepe. I don’t know about you, but my guy is usually looking for something a little heartier and less sweet than a crepe for breakfast.I, on the other hand, wake up craving chocolate. So this is the perfect excuse to indulge in something sweet and satisfying with your best girlfriends.
My Pick: The Strawberry & Nutella Crepe. Because, what else? Nothing trumps Nutella. Also- don’t forget your S’mores Latte (or the Cookie Butter Latte… Or both. Treat yo self.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEyYqQDQs_B
When You Need to Detox: Have you ever woken up to your body screaming for something healthy? It’s happened to me more times than I care to admit. So when your body is physically protesting your unhealthy choices, Rico’s Acai is the place to fill up on tasty nutrients. These acai bowls are thick and heavenly and it’s almost like eating ice cream for breakfast (which is also acceptable in my book, BTW). They have a food truck across from the Duke Energy building in Uptown, but the most exciting news of the year is they opened up in 7th Street Market (this is my favorite place in the WHOLE city, so I’m pumped). My Pick: The Rainbow Bowl. Add Nutella if you want to kind of sort of be a #HealthKween but not really.
