We were walking around Uptown Charlotte when we spotted a place with a pretty big crowd. Turned out to be a French-style bakery café, and since it was just past 10, they were already selling the lunch set.
So what is Amélie’s?
It’s a French bakery café that first opened in 2008 in Charlotte’s NoDa (North Davidson) neighborhood. These days there are more than 6 locations around Charlotte, which tells you how popular it is with locals. It even made BuzzFeed’s list of “23 bakeries around the world you need to visit before you die.”
Bread and desserts are the main thing, but they also do sandwiches, soups, salads, quiche and tartines, so it works fine for brunch or lunch. The original NoDa shop is known for being open 24 hours. The Uptown location we went to sits right in the middle of the business district, so lots of office workers come in at lunchtime.
The interior is something else
The first thing you notice when you walk in is the decor. Designer Brenda Ische collected French antiques and odds and ends herself to put the place together, so every location feels a little different. There’s a Mona Lisa in sunglasses, a crooked chandelier, a giant hand sculpture, and a light fixture shaped like an upside-down wedding cake, all scattered around.
On the wall there’s a 2.7-meter ruler marked with celebrity heights, and the kids loved measuring themselves against it. Lots of photo spots, so it’s fun just to look around.
What’s in the lunch special ($15)
The lunch special runs on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For 15 dollars you get a sandwich, a side, a drink, and a French macaron.
Sandwich options: Chicken Pesto Goat Cheese, Croque Monsieur, Chicken Salad, Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Wrap, French Onion Grilled Cheese, Chicken Caesar Wrap
Side options: soup, salad, fruit, chips, herb potatoes, potato salad
Drinks: iced tea, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, sparkling water, bottled water (coffee isn’t part of the lunch set, you have to order it separately)
What we ordered
We got two sets.
- Set 1: chicken sandwich + Caesar salad + Coke Zero
- Set 2: French Onion Grilled Cheese + chicken soup (staff recommendation) + Coke Zero
The Cokes came right away in cans, and the food took about 20 minutes.
How did it taste?
The French Onion Grilled Cheese was clearly the better one. The cheese melts into the bread and it’s really good together. The chicken soup that came with it was tasty too. The chicken sandwich wasn’t bad, just nothing special.
If I went back, I’d probably go with French Onion Grilled Cheese + Caesar salad.
Other things worth ordering besides lunch
Honestly, desserts are what they’re really about, more than the lunch special. Local reviews name the salted caramel brownie as the bestseller. There’s a gluten-free version too. Crème brûlée and the macaron ice cream sandwich are also popular. For tartines (open-faced sandwiches), ham + Gruyère is a big seller.
The coffee gets good reviews as well. Plenty of options, from plain drip to lattes. We were focused on the lunch sets and didn’t order dessert, but next time I’m definitely trying the brownie.
Shop info
Amélie’s French Bakery & Café (Charlotte Uptown)
- Address: 380 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
- Lunch special: weekdays 10:00–15:00 / $15
- Parking: it’s Uptown, so you’ll use paid parking. Public garages nearby or street parking
- Locations: 6+ in Charlotte. NoDa (the original, open 24 hours), Park Road, Carmel Commons and more
Is it good with kids?
The shop is on the roomy side with plenty of seats. There’s a good range of sandwiches, so there’s something kids will eat. The macaron comes with the set, which makes it a perfect little dessert for a kid.
The decor itself grabs kids’ attention. The Mona Lisa in sunglasses, the giant hand sculpture on the wall, the celebrity height ruler, that kind of thing keeps them busy looking around. There’s enough room for a stroller, and there are sofa seats where a kid can sit a bit more comfortably.
Also, dogs are welcome here. There’s a “Bone Appétit” sign near the entrance.
In one line
An easy lunch stop on a Charlotte trip. For $15 the lunch special gets you sandwich + side + drink + macaron, so it’s decent value, and the quirky interior keeps the kids from getting bored. Make sure to order the French Onion Grilled Cheese.
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