Cafe Monte
My go-to brunch spot in Charlotte is casual, but not quite roll-out-of-bed-in-sweats casual. Café Monte is a French bistro located in South Park.
Make a reservation
The restaurant is decent sized, but they typically book up a couple of weeks out. If you don’t have a reservation, the wait is always over an hour. (Pro tip: NC doesn’t allow the sale of alcohol before 10am on Sundays. If you want a boozy brunch, book after 10am.)
An extensive menu
Café Monte has everything from French onion soup to omelets to eggs benedict to duck confit & waffles. So, what are my favorites?
Croissants. Get them; they’re delicious. It doesn’t matter if you get the plain or chocolate, you can’t go wrong with either. They’re buttery and flakey and exactly what you want to start your day with.
French Onion Soup. It’s mouthwatering. And hands down the best I’ve had outside of Paris. It’s rich but not greasy. Savory, but not gamey. The onions are super sweet and tender, and it’s topped with delicious broth-soaked bread, which is covered in a layer of cheese. What’s not to love?
Waffles. Surprisingly, I don’t have a photo of them. I guess they’re so good that I’ve never stopped to take a photo before devouring them. They’re crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Top them with fresh fruit, compote, and whipped cream. They are the perfect waffle. With that said, I’d skip the duck confit version. The waffle is amazing, but the duck is just okay. In my opinion, there are much better options on the menu.
Chicken Salad Sandwich. It comes on a croissant; however, I always ask for it to be served on a baguette. It holds up better. The chicken salad is a perfect Waldorf recipe with grapes and walnuts. Though normally I’m not a fan of Waldorf salad, the chef here has perfected it.
Omelets. The omelets are nice and fluffy. Though not revolutionary, the execution is spot on. My favorite is the Parisian: ham, bacon, onion, cheddar, and brie or swiss.
The icing on top
To finish off the meal, order a French macaron and a cappuccino. Both are amazing and not overly sweet. I’m a sucker for the pistachio macaron. It’s the perfect finish.
