Cafe Carolina and Bakery

2025-01-10 Cafe Club Sandwich was good but not seasoned. I could taste the bacon and buttery croissant but that's about it. Did not get my Sweet Potato Biscuit. Lemon Bar was sweet and full of lemon flavor. UPDATE 1/18/25 Delivery Chicken Salad Sandwich was full of delicious, not sweet, chicken salad on a fresh croissant that was falling apart❤️ The Sweet Potato Biscuit was moist and tasted nasty. The Loaded Potato Soup was served in a large container but it was too tangy and salty which ruined the taste for me. It was suppose to come with a baguette and it came with a dinner roll😢 UPDATE 2/22/25 Cream of Broccoli Soup was fresh and full of fresh ingredients including lots of amazing cheese. Best I have ever had!!!

Great location, clean, friendly staff, food was delicious

Decent little place to get breakfast. The food was decent, pretty bland overall but did the job. The service was pretty good, it's self service but the food was out fast and when one of our group dropped their coffee they gave him another for no charge. Would recommend for a quick bite or a drink.

Although the location has changed in Cameron Village making it a little harder to find. It's still delicious deli foods. The folks at Berkshire Village apartments have really lucked out on convenience since it's connected to their building...

Highly disappointed in the new location. Incredibly inefficient and a pain to get into. Parking does not appear to be designated with the exception of signs how to get to the elevator. If that alone hadn't been such a pain to get in and out of I would have just turned immediately around. Upon waiting for the elevator, I had to find my way thru some lobby to a counter where a very unenthused and unhappy lady took my order. I highly recommend the signature salad as it is a lot for the price you pay, and they (usually) don't skimp on the toppings.. this one did however need to be cut up because the leaves were just huge. What I will not recommend is the 1 note- tomato "chili" with beans. I asked for a cup and without a word ended up charging me almost EIGHT DOLLARS for a bowl. Wooooo!! Ain't NO chili from a counter worth $8 in my world... $22 dollars **cash** ((cuz they charge you MORE for using a card)) for a salad and chili.. I could've gotten a quality steak dinner at Texas Roadhouse with a salad and chili for that price!! So without being told, I have to move over into the next room/area where they call out your order. You stand there awkwardly amongst those eating at their tables waiting to be called. Cringe. All around, big disappointment and won't be returning to this location especially.

My sister and I used to work here a looooooonnnnnggggg time ago! like 2013-2014. I came to visit from Charlotte and thought it would be nostalgic to come here for brunch. The Sweet Potato Buscuits are still delicious but the potatoe casserole was not as good as I remember nor the friendliness of the staff...I was really disappointed. The pickup area is impossible to see from the ordering area in this new location and no one told us where to go or what to do after ordering, no smiles or light conversation like we always did when we worked there. The line was usually out the door for hours but it was light and quiet at 12 noon! That was strange to me! But I did enjoy not being in a long line. 🤭🤭 It was clean, beautifully decorated, lots more seating indoors and outdoors! I saw several dog bowls outside meant to be filled with water and left there for the next dog, I assume. Which is ABSOLUTELY perfect for families with dogs. There is a private seating area as well that can be reserved, I believe. The bakery area is smaller though and the presentation was very bare and lacking tha special "Cafe Carolina touch!" Disappointment came over me when I saw 2 cupcakes on a 3-tier display, that would have never happened in my day....we kept that place stocked! And beautiful! I didn't see the infamous community board filled with art from kids and adults, posters, business cards, etc. I'm not sure if they are trying to rebrand but this is not the same place. It's missing that special something. However, its great for just a good place to eat like Panera Bread or something. Great but not special!

My cameron village regular absolute lunch favorite; was glad to find out they have a loyalty program too recently as I patronize them so often.

We went there for our long weekend family brunch. Thank god that place was not crazy crowded and we sat outside. Wonderful weather we spend a quality time with family. Now comes to food. We ordered portable mashroom chicken panini, tasty that is the only word. The chipotle chicken panini was good too. Beef sandwich is same old nothing special. I had caramel truffle coffee, it was too sweet but tasty. If weather permits will suggest seat outside under the umbrella and enjoy the vibes of Camron Village.

Love this place! The turkey avocado panini is my favorite. The turkey berry salad is also delicious. I mixed it up with the cup of soup this time and was not disappointed! Service is always super fast and the environment is calm. Haven't had a bad experience here yet!

They have some of the best French toast I've ever had! I've had takeout from here before, but the ambiance is better suited for a quick breakfast or lunch sit-in.

I've been to Cafe Carolina for lunch a few times and I've always had a great experience. The salads are delicious, fresh, and well balanced. The tomato soup was delicious and my friend had the chili and said it was some of the best she's had. The service is always great; and the restaurant is clean. I love the new location, it's so spacious and inviting. This is a great lunch destination and one of my favs. The only downside is parking.

The move to their new location was a great one. It is spacious with both indoor and outdoor dining. The French dip Panini and Beef and Provolone are our favs. Everything was flavorful and the quality of the meat was good. This is one of our go-to places for meeting friends for lunch. The parking garage underneath the building is so convenient. There is an elevator from there that takes you right to their restaurant.

Met a friend for brunch. Got an apple basket pastry, and ham and cheddar sweet potato biscuits. So delicious! Very happy with the decision. I could not have imagined the taste of the biscuits.

Nice place! Quick, easy, and great food! The broccoli quiche is oh so yummy! So many choices! Breakfast options and lunch choices. Didn't get a pic, we were hungry! Good coffee too! You order at the counter and seat yourself. They call your name to get the food. You do bus your table. Inside and outside seating.

Stopped by for lunch and grabbed a turkey sandwich with pretzels. I thought it tasted very fresh and yummy. All the veggies were super fresh. The whole-wheat bread was delicious with some real seeds in it-maybe they bake their bread in house(?). You get a choice of chips or pretzels. The bread also had avocado, mustard, and mayo. I like that they have nutritional information on their website too. The sandwich was filling and a nice option for lunch.

Cafe Carolina and Bakery is located in the Village District so there is ample parking. The restaurant has plenty of inside and outside seating. Ordering is down at the counter and you wait for your order at the other end of the counter. I ordered the strawberry waffle but expected more strawberries. But other than that it was ok. Those that ordered eggs were not happy with them as they were just reheated and not from cracked eggs. So I will not order anything with eggs on a return visit.

Great local spot for a classic breakfast! Came here on a Sunday morning and it was busy but we were able to get a table for 4 right away. We ordered at the counter and then picked up the food at the counter once it was ready. No wait staff, so a lot more casual. The food was good. I got a regular egg sandwich on a honey wheat bagel and it was good and filling. My friend ordered the ham and sweet potato biscuit which was delicious. Lots of breakfast options for whatever you are in the mood for! Also a great coffee bar and menu, if I lived in Raleigh I would definitely make this one of my go to spots! Casual, easy and delicious for a good price

Busy busy on a Sunday, parking is always a nightmare in Cameron village on a weekend. I ordered the turkey avacado panini which was really good and had a chocolate pastry. The kid warmed up my pastry which was worth it, hot. This is a quaint spot. Food is delicious staff is nice. Just be aware of the parking here. There are also shops in the same plaza to go walk around to after.

I love this place! I'm sad the Cary location closed but so happy this one is still open so I can get those sweet sweet ham and cheddar sweet potato biscuits! These tasty morsels are so addictive and delicious! I'm also in love with the club sandwich and their soups here. Everything is perfect for warming the soul and helping you get through the day. If you're needing a soul warming soul, a delicious sandwich, or a tasty treat you've got to check out Cafe Carolina.

This is a great restaurant, the food was excellent and there was a great variety of products offered. We went there with friends and the seating is laid out so you can carry on a conversation. I worked as an executive in the restaurant industry and I recognize well operating restaurants and highly recommend Cafe Carolina.

Is this an exercise to see how quickly you can ruin what used to be an institution in Raleigh? My first visit to the new location, I've not yet even eaten anything and I know I'll never return after coming here monthly for 20 years. Park in a parking garage, get on an elevator and then a sad dining room that is clearly a failed restaurant rather than a cafe. No where to plug in a laptop, a coffee bar that is 1/3 the size of the prior one. I have to assume there were reasons for this move (lease?) but it's sad that there is no way this Raleigh icon survives.

We are all entitled to our own opinions, right? Well... here is mines: Parking: 4 Location: 4 Customer Service: 5 Facility décor/cleanliness: 5 Love this location. There are several in the area but this one holds a special place in my heart. The pastries are always yummy. I used to smash everything on the menu but now i'm Vegetarian and I'll admit... its tough. They do have a few flatbread and soups they offer that i like. The service is always seller and the food is always yummy.

We went on a Sunday to go to the flying biscuit cafe across the parking lot but they had a one hour wait so decided to try the Carolina cafe. It wasn't horrible but also wouldn't come back for the food The good: no wait, food came out very quickly, easy parking, convenient location, plenty of seating, and fair prices. The bad: the breakfast food just isn't that good. The Country Breakfast platter had eggs that had clearly been rehydrated or from a jug and hash browns were about the same quality. Breakfast sandwich was microwaved quality as well

Me and my friends love coming here to study! The atmosphere is really good and the workers are super friendly every time we go. I normally get the mocha latte and today I got an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese. They were both delicious.

I have a weakness for a really good turkey sandwich. I can go to the swankiest place and if it doesn't have a club than I am not as impressed. I don't understand how Carolinians put ham on a club and not bacon...but the Carolina bakery gets it. This is very nice roasted turkey on a great bun with bacon and what they call Caroluna sauce but I thinks its roasted tomato in mayo....or pepper...its really good. Their Caesar salad is ok..nothing to write home about. The grilled cheese is super dangerously good. Now lets talk about the baked goods. This is NOT a place to come if you are on a diet. These people work magic with butter and sugar. I do want to say its not all sunshine and roses. They really need to work on their soups. The french onion is bland with burnt onions instead of caramelized onions...HUGE disappointment.

I ordered the spinach artichoke panini. Not good. If you're considering. Very flavorless

They had me at quiche. We sat outside, here at 8am and the parking was a breeze. Customer Service was great, ordered, received our nosh pretty quickly. We split the Cinnamon Roll and it was delicious, not overly sweet and was fresh! The fruit had a mix of strawberries, pineapple, and honeydew. Empty plates all around. Let me say, Cafe Carolina always hits it IMO and if you are looking for breakfast or lunch, can't go wrong.

One of my happy places to go with great food and the nicest people owning and working there. Sitting outside under the trees with stuffed French toast on Sunday is just perfect. All the efforts the proprietors make to help community organizations and to hire people that need an opportunity makes it money well spent. Sign up for their loyalty program and the discounts grow quickly. Highly recommend.

We actually ordered this food for delivery so I can't comment on the space but everyone in my party absolutely loved their lunch. The soups were a big hit and the sandwiches and wraps were fresh and perfect portions. We were looking for something light and healthy and got exactly that! I would love to try something new next time, everything looks fantastic on that menu!

We were visiting our daughter and she suggested Cafe Carolina and Bakery. The menu has something for everyone! Very relaxed as you can choose to sit inside or out. We had our dog with us so we sat outside with no problem. I had called ahead and asked if they had any issues with dogs on the patio. They were quick with our order and the food was great! Everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend!

Stood there 7 minutes and literally got looked at several times and not one person welcomed us, told us hello, get the hell out nothing. An eye roll would've at least been something & of course being the only 2 black people in the place didn't help. Ended up just leaving. 0/10 nothing I hate more than horrible customer service. Booooo

The atmosphere was great food was great great the service was good it was good I gave it a thumbs up

This are the must disgusting biscuits I ever had in my life . Nothing is fresh . Biscuits are taken from a bag then warmed in the microwave, the result is a disgusting thing impossible to eat. I had to put it in the trash (bye 4 usd) . Rather go to Tupelo Honey across the street and you will get better food for the same price or less . The star is for the cappuccino I got, not too bad

Top Notch! Customer Service in this day and age is hard to come by. Food is Fresh, delicious and can't be beat. Ron and Steve are the lost humble people you will ever meet. They treat you like Family as well as the Staff. Run here! Don't forget to grab a lemon bar or other sweet treat!

Vegetarian: I had the Classic Tomato Basil Flat Bread, and it was not tasty at all. The bread was as dry and flavorless and a wheat cracker with no salt, the sauce and cheese had no seasoning at all, it was fresh but not even hot. Also, the portion was tiny. It was all very disappointing. Vegan: I didn't see a single vegan option on the menu. Though it seems that some of their foods could be modified to comply with a vegan diet. Gluten-free: They have a gluten free menu available for download on their website. Service: You order at the counter and then pick up from a different counter. The cashier was polite and the wait wasn't long. Recommendations: I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone regardless of their dietary restrictions. My meat-eating dining mate didn't enjoy his food either.

It's sad because their food is good, when it's right, but getting it right is the issue. My turkey sandwich was delivered with raisin bread instead of the croissant it said it comes on. I personally really dislike raisin bread and the croissant was one of the selling factors for me. They also forgot both sides for the 2 sandwiches I got. So my turkey sandwich was on wrong bread and came with no side. I won't be ordering from here again.

Service: The service was prompt and nice. Ambiance: The place smells very nice and has a lot of seating. It's pretty cozy inside with the pleasant and warm smell of pastries Food: The food, was a completely different experience. I ordered a tomato basil flat bread, which ultimately tasted like a dried out cracker with tomatoes on it. I'm usually nonchalant about food not being great, but for the price this was quite awful. Price: Everything seems to be way too expensive for what you are actually getting. It's hard to find anything below $7-$8 on the menu. I don't think this place has anything to offer in terms of tasty food, you can probably find somewhere cheaper with better options. I think it's just trendy and not many people have good taste.

My go-to place whenever I'm in the mood for a refreshing meal. I've been coming here since it was in Greensboro,NC and I'm glad the taste hasn't changed.

Just went to this location and it was absolutely awful. The food is not good by any means. The only thing I enjoyed was the bread cause I could tell it was pretty fresh. I order an ice mocha that was so gross and I actually threw away about 80% of my order. If you come here I'd stick to the baked goods and not coffee or sandwiches.

Not good. Cafeteria style. Order at register and the. They call your name to come get your food. Somehow mine was still cold. Flavorless. Coffee too. Muffin was okay.

The service was okay. I had a Turkey sausage egg and cheddar. It was lukewarm the eggs were tasteless and the sausage was not all that great. My husband had bacon which was very good. We also had a cinnamon roll(served cold) and it was nothing to shout about. The coffee however was excellent! If I visited again I I would not have the scrambled eggs, Turkey sausage or the cinnamon Roll! I would probably try the quiche and bacon, or something else. I did like that they had outdoor seating.

I ordered from Cafe Carolina and Bakery and it was the best chicken noodle soup I've ever had. I also got a sandwich which was delicious as well!

Cameron Village is a busy place on the weekends. I love the location. I opted to dine at cafe carolina due to a birthday freebie I have. I came in during the after church rush. There was a long line. The line moved very fast. There are lots of great options to choose from. They have a weekend brunch menu in addition to lunch options. I am a HUGE fan of their baked potato soup. I chose the soup & sandwich combo which comes with a choice of chips or pretzels and a drink. Baked potato soup is very tasty. The chicken salad is served on a croissant. The chicken salad is made with heavy chunks of diced chicken. Umm mm good . I resisted the temptation to treat myself to one of the cookies. I'm holding out for 1/2 price TUESDAY at Edible Art. Service was good and the good was scrumptious. I give it

I have been to many different restaurants in the triangle and this place has by far become one of my most favorite to go to. I ordered the club and you definitely get your moneys worth. The croissant was very fresh and I swear that was the best bacon I've had in my whole life. Right when I walked in to this eating establishment I could tell they took cleaning very seriously and I felt very comfortable eating here. Covid has definitely rocked the restaurant industry and I have been to a couple places that I could tell they did not take cleaning seriously. This is not one of those places and I would be very happy to spend my money here again.

This is a great place for lunch and is always very busy. It is counter service and has a separate bakery. I have eaten lunch here (and at their old downtown location) many times and the food is always very good. Today I had a salad with turkey, havarti, cranberries, almonds, and fresh pears with a vinegarette dressing - delicious! They serve mainly sandwiches and salads but also quiche and soup. Although they were doing a brisk business, there were several available tables. The cafe is conveniently located in Cameron Village shopping center so you can enjoy shopping and dining without moving your car. There are several free parking areas to choose from but finding a parking space at lunch time can be tricky. Most of the shops and many of the dining options close at 6:00 pm.

I normally get the tomato soup or chicken noodle soup with a grilled cheese! The perfect combination for a warm meal. The cupcakes are also amazing!

can't beat the prices, everything we had was delicious and the sweet potato biscuits were good. good Sunday brunch place for family

I don't come to Cameron Village very often but when I do I try to hit up the good eateries! This was my first time trying Cafe Carolina but my family loves it! We met up for Sunday brunch around 1:30pm. Of course during this time it was very packed but the service was very fast and friendly! Being that I'm newly vegetarian, I wanted to eat something filling and that was also going to be enjoyable! There were a few vegetarian options but the one that stuck out to me the most was the Cafe Grilled cheese! It was soooo good and cheesy! The only thing I feel that could have been better about my visit was the actual cleanliness of the dining room and restrooms. The area around the drink fountain could have been better as well as tables could have been cleaned a little faster.

I have heard many good things about this restaurant, so I decided to try it out. When one first walk-in, he/she is greeted by the aroma of freshly baked desserts, which looks amazing. The menu items are affordable and written clearly for everyone to see. After ordering my Chicken Grill Cesar Wrap, it was prepared within minutes. My food was really good and I would order it again. The restaurant offers WiFi and mobile pay. The atmosphere is very relaxing, which allows for getting work done (i.e. office work, schoolwork) as well as outlets at the table (only at the booths). Overall, I liked the place. I would visit again.

Carolina cafe is much like a panera bread with less food selections. The basic concept is the same, sandwiches, soups, and salad with bakery good on the side. The check out, menu display and open kitchen area remind me of Panera. I have to take off one star because the sandwiches are at best mediocre. I'm not sure if my buffalo chicken wrap should be cold, but it's not very appetizing cold. And all the content fell out of the wrap as soon as I picked up half of it, so I ate it with a fork. This place is at a prime location of Cameron village, thus there's never lack of customers. If I have more time, I'd probably pick the other restaurants in the shopping center; for a quick meal it's okay.

The service and the toast with my meal was good. After that it's all just sub par for the price you're paying. I went there for breakfast on a Sunday morning a little before 11a. There was quite a line, but it appeared to be moving quickly. It did end up moving quickly, which was good. I ordered the country breakfast, which consisted of scrambled eggs, potato casserole, sausage, and toast. My companion ordered the country breakfast quesadilla. I also got a coffee, the total for breakfast was around $22. For that price for breakfast in Raleigh, I expect good coffee and real eggs in my meal. I was sadly disappointed with both once I received it. First, the coffee scorching and too hot to drink. It then had a burnt taste. I'm not that picky about coffee, but this was on the lower end. I suppose there is a plus that it wasn't cold. We then tried to find a table for 2, which was near impossible. There was one table next to the trash available. This place definitely seems to be a place where a person can camp out for the day to work and it's fine with the establishment. It would be a bit too noisy for me to be able to work here. It was almost too loud for the 2 of us to have a conversation at our small table. Back to the food, we finally received the food. It came out fairly quick, but slower than what it should've been for the quality of food. The eggs were definitely powdered. The potatoes were incredibly over salted, and seemed to be of the quality served from a breakfast buffet that had been sitting out for several hours. I was unable to eat my meal because the quality of the food for the price I paid was not in line. I ended up getting a cranberry muffin, which had too many cranberries. I suppose I'd rather they err on that side. If the entire meal for 2 people had cost $10, that would've been appropriate. The meal essentially consisted of a free hotel continental breakfast that I was forced to pay too much money for. There are much better breakfast and brunch options in the Raleigh area for this exact same price point or less (think Brewerks, La Farm, and Big Eds). In summary, I will not be returning to this establishment and can't recommend it when there are other much better options in the same price range. If they lowered their price range or started using real eggs and less salt, I would potentially go back.

Love love love the turkey berry salad. Most of their sandwiches and wraps look amazing but I only ever get this salad when I come. And maybe something sweet as well. Last time I went I got a cupcake. The icing was not that great. Very commercial tasting. Very sweet. I prefer real buttercream. Lots of options. Overall great cafe, good prices, lots of variety.

I order from Carolina Cafe pretty frequently. Frequent enough that I just hit "reorder" on my Postmates App and requested no whipped cream and got sent this note attached to my order. Keep it classy Carolina Cafe!

Delicious food for a reasonable price and the location is nice and open enough to allow for distanced seating.

We wanted to try a random spot for lunch before heading out to the airport. My daughter had a grilled panini with chicken and if I remember correctly, there were avocado and bacon in it. It was divine! I had a chicken Caesar salad that was just eh. The chicken's texture was like sponge, which tells me that it was one of those prepackaged cooked chicken that you open to order. Needless to say, I kept taking bites from my daughter's sandwich. Lol! They did have a delightful sweet potato muffin topped with sanding sugar that came with our meals. Employees were very nice, and if I lived in the area, I would definitely be back. For that darn panini!

I ordered a bowl of chili and an ice tea, so not a lot to base my review on. Service was fast, restaurant is decorated with unique artwork and pretty clean. My bowl of chili was tasty, but not very hot. And don't expect crackers or anything. Mine came with diced onions, cheese and sour cream on top and a spoon in the side. Lots of people on their computers working so wifi must be decent. Noise level reasonable for conversation, despite plenty of customers in highchairs.

Before I started building my restaurant rating scale, this place would have been a 5 star, hands down great place. In fact this might be one of my favorite places that I've been to in Raleigh. Everyone has their own system of rating, for myself, each part of the restaurant experience is one star. If the place passes or excels at all five categories then I'll give a five star review, if you're missing one you get 4, and on. If this was a number rating I would give it a 4.3, but I can't round up on that number. The location here is convenient in a large stand alone building at the shopping center. Parking could be difficult, but I didn't have a problem today. They have a nice patio area, but today it was very rainy and gloomy outside. The cashier was pleasant, and I liked how diverse the menu is. With it being rainy I wanted something to match the mood so I got a quiche & soup combo. The quiche was filling and had a good bacon flavor to it, and the soup was decent, a little bit salty, but I'm not one to normally get French onion soup so maybe that's how it should taste. An overall great experience, but where I decided to take the score down to a 4 was with the bowls & utensils. Both were made of plastic, and no indication that they were recyclable or compostable. While I haven't docked other places for doing it, I feel like it stands apart from your identity as a restaurant. In a place this nice, the plastic made it seem cheaper. Other than that, a great place to get a bite to eat for a decent price.