Lupie's Cafe

This cafe has been around for decades due to the tasty food and eclectic atmosphere. They have delicious burgers, nachos, wonderful daily quiche dishes and awesome chili. The staff is wonderful to say the least.

Was so excited to try Lupie’s Cafe. A lot of people told me it was fantastic. The service was stellar. Our server was swift and made sure we had everything we needed and kept coming back and asking us if we were OK. Loved the atmosphere. It reminded me of an old school diner. The food was lackluster. Everyone said it was some of the best chili in the city and I thought otherwise. Wasn’t really warm and the flavor was bland. The corn bread that came with it was meh. The chicken salad sandwich had no flavor and the roll was stale. Sadly, the chef salad and the desserts were my favorite. The blue cheese dressing was unbelievable and the banana pudding and the eclair pudding were some of the best desserts I’ve ever had. I would definitely go back for dessert.

Lupie’s Café has been serving up homestyle comfort food for over 36 years, and it’s easy to see why it’s still going strong. From the outside, the building gives off pure dive diner energy with faded paint, a crooked sign, and the kind of place your dad probably grabbed lunch at in the ’90s. Inside, the vibe is no-frills. Crinkled paper menus printed in black and white, booths that have seen better days, and a focus on food, not aesthetics. They’re known for chili: Texas, Cincinnati, Southern, and Vegetarian…and yes, you can sample all four. The Cincinnati style had that Greek cinnamon-tomato flair (not my favorite). Southern was mellow. Texas brought the heat. I ended up mixing the Texas and Southern to balance things out. That combo got ladled over a massive bed of mac and cheese, then topped with a mountain of shredded cheddar and a scoop of sour cream. I skipped the raw onions and got a slice of cornbread on the side, which was a bit dry for me. Service was top-tier. Genuinely friendly and tag-teamed by servers who kept things moving. One of them looked like Jack Black, which he admitted he’s heard before. The menu is affordable and portions are huge. Every table around me looked like Thanksgiving. This might not be a weekly stop for me, but I’m glad I finally made it. Lupie’s is a nostalgic, no-BS staple that’s earned its long-standing reputation.

As a local, Lupie’s is almost as much about nostalgia as anything else. This little place is relaxed, unpretentious, and the food is good. Lunch Lupie’s always lifts my spirits.

Its been awhile since we have to this restaurant, there used to be a location up in Huntersville NC. The food here was fantastic. I had the chili mac spaghetti (with Texas chili) and my wife had a burger. Both were fantastic. Service was prompt and friendly. We were there between lunch and dinner. It was busy but not very crowded. Definitely a place to go and try.

Great home cooked dishes and very inexpensive. Give it a try!

I've been a customer here for over 40 years and have always left satisfied! Cornbread is the best you can ever experience! Choose spaghetti, or a daily special and you will be happy! Check the board for sides that are numerous! Heck grab a cold beer! This place is a great dining experience!

Excellent homestyle food like you'd eat at granny's house! We had a chicken casserole and left needing a nap! Everything was flavorful and filling. It looks like a hole-in-the-wall but the food is on point! I'd recommend giving them a try!

Aesthetic: Old school, kitschy restaurant with a menu full of comfort food, seasonal specials and desserts. Experience: Wow, this is the comfort food spot near Uptown! I was craving quiche, but I wasn't expecting some of the best I'd ever had. I ordered the chicken fajita quiche special (the quiche flavors rotate) with a side of mashed potatoes and pinto beans. The quiche was so flavorful and cheesy, I was in love. The pinto beans were perfectly seasoned and tender. The mashed potatoes were a little underwhelming and dry today, and they are only served on Mondays. My husband tried the burger with Texas chili and mac and cheese, and he devoured and loved everything. We want to try everything on the menu now, they had so much! Our waiter was attentive and came back to check in often. Conclusion: If you're looking for comfort food, this is it, I highly recommend trying the quiche!

Lupie's has been a stable in Charlotte for years! My sister and her husband were here over the holidays from LA. We had some last minute shopping to do before we drove back to SC. So, where did I take them? Lupie's of course. They were amaze how good the food was as well of the service and ambience. Something the locals should be very proud of ... awesome place. Michael T

As much as I love this place, realized that we haven't been to Lupie's for about a year and a half (only once or twice after Covid in '21??)...and also learned that they're open only for lunch now. :( Still, I was relieved that at least they're still open! I'm not a fan of dives, but I AM of this place...as I've been going here since in my 20's. ANYWAY, we finally revisited for a late lunch...and I had my usual, Chili Mac (Texas!), with corn on the side. I still think they had THE best Chili in town. My husband had his usual Single-Layer Nachos w/ Chili, and son tried their BBQ sandwich (instead of his usual Burger!). To my relief, everything was DEE-Lish as usual. I thought they might have changed since the hours have been reduced...but not really. The one thing that changed was the spaghetti noodle in my Chili Mac seemed much thinner. That was kind of a bummer. Thinking maybe I'll try Chili Mac with their Macaroni next time. We also shared the Kuchen dessert...and luckily, no changes there. Overall, we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals...as always. SO glad to know that they're still in business after all these years...and I just hope they stay put, even with just lunch hours. LOVE Lupie's!

Massive nachos that were delicious. The service was good but found I was looking for my waiter twice for a tea refill. The atmosphere at Lupie's is always great.

Atmosphere is great The chickpea burger was good. It needed more texture, but the combination of toppings is very tasty. I was disappointed in the macaroni and cheese.

Lupie's it's the type of place you want to go when you want no frills comfort food. Part dive bar, part grandmas or your Auntie/Tia's kitchen, and filled with heirlooms and relics of Old Charlotte. The daily specials are just that, special. From the rickety ceiling fan, to the seating arrangements, you just get a sense of familiarity, most importantly, the food is made with love.

The chicken and dumplings are great ! This place had a little bit of everything for everyone. They do nothing fried no fryers and no freezers . Definitely would recommend to try them out.

Always consistent with them food at movies for the wait staff is helpful any time and if you don't respond out fast for many decades I have gone to this place and it has never let me down.

We have been coming to Lupie's since moving to Charlotte over twenty years ago. The food is delicious definitely comfort food. In the summer they serve fresh tomatoes, cucumbers with onions in vinegar (a staple from our childhood) and summer squash. The vegetables are always fresh and simply done allowing the veggies to sing their own praises. Their spaghetti with meat sauce is my favorite dish there although their chili Mac is also amazing. The service is always friendly. This is a true neighborhood eatery. No, it isn't fancy and if you are concerned about having tablecloths and crystal glasses this isn't your place. But if you enjoy a wide variety of musical selections, friendly service and good homestyle cooking Lupie's is the place for you. We've never been disappointed.

My Three As: Awesome: The setting. It has a very humble, honest and rustic look that feels real welcoming and comfortable. The wooden interior and wall decor flaunts that they've been here forever. Appreciate: The chili options. Though I didn't have any, my coworkers had no complaints. Areas to consider: Great novelty setting, but maybe not a date night. Absolutely a family night though; kids would love this place.

Great Neighborhood restaurant. First time at this restaurant although for years there was a sister Restaurant in Huntersville at the corner of Old Statesville Road and Gilead across the street from Discovery Place Kids. Went there many times and enjoyed it but they closed several years ago. This Lupie's is actually the Original and owned by the same family. We had been to the Southern Christmas Show at the Park Expo and after shopping, decided on a late lunch here. Very crowded so had to wait for a few minutes but no problem. The line moved quickly. Sat down and reviewed the menu and it's basically American Fare with a few Greek Dishes thrown in, My wife ordered Quiche which is one of her favorites. Been while since I've had it but seeing I lived in Ohio for a number of years, I ordered Cincinnati Chili served 5-way style. Server asked what that way and said "this ain't Cincinnatti." Explained it was Spaghetti with a Red Sauce Greek Style more like a Moussaka Sauce with Onions, Cheese and Beans. It was good but not quite as rich and depth of flavor was not there. Should have been a little richer with a hint of chocolate in the flavor profile. Nevertheless, it was still good and I would consider ordering it again. Service was good and our server very pleasant even if it ain't Cincinnatti.

Rad af. A rock solid meat and three with Carolina style burgers, daily specials that sell out before dinner service, and ice cold bottles of PBR for a dollar--all day, every day. I miss it like the sun misses the flower. If you're reading this, go get some chili spaghetti with extra onions for me.

I love supporting these small Charlotte staple restaurants, especially after losing three but the food was just mediocre. The burger meat tasted fine but the bun was extremely dense and dry. My friend got the chili and said the flavor was great, but it was brought out cold. As long as you are prepared for the hole in the wall atmosphere, it's definitely worth the experience. I think we must have hit them on an off day and will surely give it another try.

The food was not great. I had really high hopes for this restaurant but found it to be lackluster. I ordered the chicken and dumplings and they did not taste homemade. I also ordered the Mac and cheese and it tasted like something out of a box.

This is a Charlotte gem! I have been going to Lupe's for over 20 years and it is consistently good. They have daily specials and if you happen to make it on chicken and dumpling day, you were in for a treat. my favorite things to get are the chicken and dumplings, Cincinnati chili, all the way, with chili on it, and cheese burger with chili. Their quiche is also delicious. It is a very casual place and all are truly welcome.

Being from Ohio, I was excited to find a local spot that serves Cincinnati style chili. I was able to order takeout online through Uber eats and it was a pretty quick turnaround (5-15 mins). The food was ready as soon as I arrived and I was able to grab it from the bar. I really liked the vibes inside, somewhat dive-y. The menu has good prices. I would like to come back again and try some other options.

I don't know how many years Lupie's has been around but it's definitely been a constant staple in our house. We have visited this cute little restaurant many times and never been disappointed. We have tried all their chili, chili with pasta or nachos, we also had their banana pudding. It's a great place to try out some vegetarian chili as well. During our last visit we had the nachos with veggie chili and let me tell you, while people complain that portions are getting smaller in other places, I feel like at Lupies the portion getting bigger every time we visit! So please put this business on your list for your next dinner and you won't regret it!

Wanted to really love Lupies. The vibe was super cozy and felt really local. We ordered for pick up. Our Cincinnati chili on spaghetti was the best thing 4/5, not fancy but hi the spot, though the cornbread that it comes with was super dry. The Throw Down nachos were a huge let down. The chili was amazing but the chips texture was stale/microwaved. Like it brought the really amazing flavor of the chili down because they were such sad chips. The banana pudding was also only a 3/5, the flavor was good but the texture was a bit floury, and there weren't any crispy wafers for texture, they had all gone soggy (which I don't mind as long as there is a crispy bite). It's is too bad cause I probably would've given this place a 4/5 if the chips & corn bread had been edible.

Such a quaint hometown vibe! Great lunch menu with multiple options. We visit often.

I have loved and ate at Lupie's for DECADES! Unfortunately I eat all my food before I think to take a photo for SM (yea I'm old). NEVER a bad meal, service, or warm beer. I will always be a fan!

Good food, good service and friendly staff. I have enjoyed Lupies for years and recommend this restaurant.

This place has been on my list for a long time and I'm glad we finally made it! Plenty of parking behind the building, we walked right in and got a table. Plenty of things to look at on the walls around you and you get such a comfortable, local vibe. Cheap beers, affordable food. I ordered the chicken and dumplings, Mac and cheese, and cucumber/onion salad. The boys both ordered chili burgers with the southern chili and they really enjoyed the flavor. We already have picked out what we want for the next time we visit!

Love Chicken and Dumplings Thursdays at Lupie's. Best chicken and dumplings I've ever had! Fast service too. Better go early though as they close at 4:00.

Been coming to Lupie's for many years and it's always amazing. The burgers are good, the nachos are awesome. But my favorite thing here is the Texas Chili Mac on spaghetti with cheese and onions. If I'm ever on Death Row that would be my request for my last meal, no doubt about it.

We tried Lupie's and were pleasantly surprised. It's an interesting place and not much to look at if you're interested in a nice restaurant. However, it certainly has character and seems like the place locals go for food and a beer. We had burgers and chips and friendly service. Not a place I would go out of my way for but would go again if I was in the neighborhood.

This has been on my list for quite some time so when we got back late on New Year's from holiday travels and didn't have time to go grocery shopping for the week, we decided to try this for dinner the next night. Since they're known for their chili, we had to get it. They have 4 different kinds: Cincinnati, Texas, Vegetarian, and Southern. I really wanted to try them all in some kind of chili flight but there was no option for that. We decided to try 3: Cincinnati with spaghetti, Texas with mac and cheese, and a cup of Southern. Both of us agreed that the Texas was by far the best, followed by the Cincinnati, and we did not like the Southern. The Texas was spicy and delicious with great flavor. It went great with the mac and cheese. My husband loves Skyline chili (from Cincinnati). We knew it wouldn't be the same, but judging it on it's own instead of comparing, it didn't quite do it for me. It was lacking a bit of flavor. I couldn't put my finger on what I didn't like about the Southern, but there was some flavor that neither of us liked at all. All of them came with cornbread. I don't need my cornbread to be sweet, but this cornbread was very dry and lacking flavor. You get a ton of food for the price. We mostly didn't eat the cup of chili we got since we didn't like it and both left stuffed. It's a table service restaurant, but it's incredibly fast. They took our order and had our food out in less than 10 minutes. Once you're done eating you pay at the register. I will say on the service side, our waiter was not very helpful with recommendations. We were trying to ask for recommendations on chili types and what would go best together and he didn't give us any help. All in all, the food was cheap, fast, and some of it was quite tasty. I would come back again for the Texas chili but probably not anything else.

This place is the best!!! We drive over 3 hours to come here and it is always so worth it. The Lupies's Burger with Texas chili is what I always order. The wings are also the best. (I was so hungry and forgot to take a picture of it before I devoured it)

I'm in love with the food here specially the corn bread...this is our second time and we just love it...good for price, comes in excellent quantity and quality. Must must must try

The front was a deceiving. When you open the door, it's warm and you know it will be some good eating! Friendly, welcome, spot on service. Quiche was buttery and amazing. Vegetarian chilli was a lil too thick for my preference but good. Will definitely be back.

This is by far the worst food experience I have ever had. I am an Ohioan had relocated to Charlotte, NC. A coworker recommended this place because you advertise "Skyline Chili" and compare your chili to Cincinnati Chili. To add insult to injury my chips are stale my bread is rock hard. I am also pregnant and have been craving literal chili dogs. I am not sure if this is just a one off, however, I will not be trying this restaurant again as this first impression was by far the worst.

Funky, popular dive with an eclectic following and Cincinnati-style spaghetti sauce. There's a lot to like about this place from it's quirky interior to its hipster staff. And at lunch it's almost always slammed. Today we ordered the Friday Pork Roast with mac-n-cheese and green beans, plus a Texas burger with chili with chips. The quick service and reasonable prices could not, unfortunately, overcome the just OK flavors. Each time I visit a Lupie's I want the food to match the ambience, but it typically falls flat for me. I did think the mac-n-cheese was good and was the most flavor-filled item on the plate. The green beans I cry foul, however . . . straight outta the can. Many people rave about Lupie's, so "Give 'em a whirl" and see if you become an ardent fan standing in line for a seat.

The food here is so good and service is excellent. If you are looking for a budget place to eat or date night this is the one for you. The vegan burger is exceptional.

I've been wanting to try this place for a while, and finally made it. I ordered to-go, but such a cute vibe here and friendly staff. I got the chili taco salad and would get it again. I got the Texas chili on top and really enjoyed it. If you don't like spice, don't choose this chili option. I'll be back to try some of the specials soon!

Let me start by saying that I really wanted to like this place. I did. I promise. This place has been on my bookmark page for quite a while. Today, since I was in the area, I decided to try it out. Although the tea was good, this place was not my cup of it. Today I ordered the Lupie's chilli slaw burger with the mac and cheese as a side. I saw many pictures of the mac and cheese and thought it looked delicious. So for me this was a no-brainer. After tasting the burger, I must say that this was probably one of the blandest burgers I've had in a very long time. Perhaps, I've been spoiled by going to some of the top burger joints in town. But I did not enjoy my burger at all. Other than being bland, the bun tasted a bit off, the meat was not soft and juicy. The mac and cheese looked as it looked in the pictures. Beautiful. After taking my first bite, I was highly disappointed. It tasted as if it was merely boiled noodles with cheese that was melted on top of it. It was not mixed in very well at all. Worst of all, it tasted bland as well. I added some salt and it helped a little bit, but I very rarely add extra salt to my meals. The tea was delicious. Other than the service, it was the only thing I truly enjoyed. But since this isn't a tea shop, I can't base my meal off of the taste of the drink. Perhaps, I should have tried the nachos instead because they looked great (but then again, so did the mac and cheese). All in all, I was disappointed in my meal today. I can at least say I got the opportunity to try Lupie's Cafe out today. I thank the staff for wonderful service but I will most likely not be back.

Can't beat the local ambiance and fabulous selection of chili styles. Lupie's is a local institution and definitely worth the trip. I had the Cincinnati chili and the wife opted for the chili salad, which, it turns out, is a bed of taco chips with salad then your choice of chili layered on top. We couldn't finish it!

Ate Lunch at Lupie's Cafe today & I ate the Friday special Spaghetti with meat sauce with sides of a garden salad & a cup of vegetable soup. All was very tasty . My friend ordered the Lupie's burger all the way. She seemed to enjoy the whole burger on a Kaiser bun. Service was good & the was warm & tasty. The only thing in missed was getting my brownie served at the table instead of wrapped in clear wrap. I believe I left it there by accident. Yes I will go back and by the overflowing parking lot, it seems that most old customers agree. We enjoyed our Christmas lunch as old school buddies.

A Charlotte institution! Texas Chili is spicy but amazing! If you dine in get the Gee Whiz! Lupie's is fantastic!

Lupie's used to be one of the best places to eat but lately they have just gone down hill fast! Nacho's were stale and the Cincinnati Chili was horrible (like brown watered down meat sauce) no taste at all. The wings are just boiled then sauce added. Sometimes they are done and sometimes kinda iffy. The service has always been great. I just hate the food is turning to crap. May be the end of the road for Lupie's. And I hate to see it.

I just want to give a great big shout out to Larkin and the rest of Lupie's staff for the outstanding job they did for a big order I placed tonight. They were working so hard. I watched the cooks working fast to get everything done and then I watched the servers working fast to keep up the demand of those "eating in" and the "to go" orders. And while they were working hard, they were also giving out excellent customer service. Thanks for a great job. Y'all Rocked Tonight. And the food was delicious, of course.

My favorite pre-game spot for Hornets or Checkers games. Big fan of the Texas Chili and the Chicken & Dumplings and the friendly servers and staff.

Mmmmm. I've been wanting to go here for a while. The place is kind of divey but it has great character. We were greeted immediately and they told us that we can sit wherever we want in the downstairs area. All the servers were super nice. Their sweet tea is awesome. My husband loves their beer choices! I asked if we can have a little chili sampler and she brought it out for us. My favorite was the texas chili and vegetarian chili. I love spicy food and these two chilis definitely had a kick to it. We started out with the buffalo wings. Their buffalo flavor was nothing like I've had before and it was delicious. It was flavorful and spicy with a pepper taste to it. Wings were huge and juicy and their ranch really compliments it. I got the chili mac with spaghetti noodles. I had it with a mix of texas chili and vegetarian chili. There was a large portion of spaghetti noodles topped with the chili and cheese and onions. It was absolutely delicious. Perfect for a chilly night. We will definitely go back. I'm gonna try either the spaghetti or chicken and dumplings next time. They do daily specials so check it out!

My husband and I came here for an evening dinner date. Staff was friendly. Our waiter was super nice and fantastic when it came to helping us understand the different kinds of chili! My husband is a huge fan of chili so this was the place to go. For dinner my he ordered a bowl of chili, which came with a slice of cornbread, and also ordered a side of green beans. I ordered Nachos with chili on top. The nachos were a little bland for my taste. But next time, I'll be sure to try another item on their menu. My husbands chili tasted amazing. Thanks for the great service.

I have been a huge fan of Lupie's for years!! A retired police officer told me about this wonderful little place. Since cops know doughnuts, they must know good food too! The best thing about Lupie's is nothing is fried and they have home cooked daily specials. The chicken and dumplings, fettuccine Alfredo, quiche, vegetables, etc. are always a good choice. My usual go to is the burger, chef salad or wings. It depends on my food mood, but I've never been disappointed in a dish here! The sweet tea is plentiful and if you're a beer person, you can enjoy a Gee Whiz for $1 (PBR...but hey, it's a buck!) This trip, I ordered the BBQ wings. The meat was so tender it fell of the bone. I couldn't detect any seasoning in the meat itself, but the sauce was smoky and sweet. The ranch for dipping pairs very nicely and balances the overall flavor. It also is homemade, not a food service ranch product. Desserts are also really tasty. The brownies and kuchen are my favorites.

We thought we would try something different for a change and haven't been here in a while, thought we'd give it another try. We should've kept driving. We ordered our food and watched the cook that was making our East the entire time. I'm pretty sure that's a health violation. Also, the dust on the walls and all the trinkets was an inch thick.

I have going to Lupie since I was a kid it seems like, they have the best chicken and dumplings. But in the day went I took my grandma who is 90 she couldn't go in so we got take out. The special was baked chicken which was outstanding I got Mac and cheese and greens. They have the best Mac and cheese in Charlotte, we love it. Everything was great customer was outstanding. Huge portions was able to eat on it a few days. It literally took 5 minutes if even for it to be ready.

fun to look around, but for the sake of everyone's conversations, the music needs to be turned up. burgers were mostly bread :/ and i love bread

A couple of friends and I came here before a hockey game and I was very happy we did. The prices are reasonable and my food was really good. 12 wings for 8 dollars. My friend got the nachos which were really good too.

short day at work due to a minor catastrophe so we wound up here while sorting through the rubble; cool and dark but not too dark with a nice blend of 70s and 80s power ballads and sing-alongs filling the empty room downstairs (the whole place was nearly full up a half hour later.) sat at the bar, draft lines still inoperative from some other malfunction but bottles and cans are available for the duration. after some idle banter and a couple tastes of chili (southern needs help from the green sauce) I'm nursing a cider waiting for the house's Texas Chili plus noodles, beans, onions, cheese, and a side of hotdog... I was pleased by the portion size when it arrived: a generous serving of chili-enhanced spaghettis plus a 3x3 square of cornbreads accompanied by a very respectable sausage on a split roll slathered in chili with a tangy pickle spear along side for kicks. Alas, today's cornbread was forgettable, bland and without corny bits but otherwise still fit for consumption... could be a fan of the chilimac though: bunch of long, fat noodles add some substance to the bowl, beans and onions give some depth to the chili helping to accommodate a blast of the red that heats it all up nicely.

No kidding, the boy and I eat at Lupie's at least once a week! He loves the specials and the veggie plates and I love the chili salad and banana pudding! This is a Charlotte staple and if you have not been here, you are missing out on both delicious food and an eclectic experience!

Chicken and dumplings chicken and dumplings chicken and dumplings. Did I say chicken and dumplings? Get my point? Oh, add some cornbread and some broccoli casserole. Yes, a winter's day of comfort food never hurt anyone, including me. Lupie's has been in Charlotte for over 30 years. It is kitschy. It is funkily cozy. It is unique. Be careful if you don't like fatback in your veggies. They put it in almost everything. The music they played included do many of my favorite songs. What a fun experience and I would recommend this when you want a plate full of feel good food and an atmosphere that has hippy written all over it. /. Back today. All perfect. Baked chicken. Mac and cheese. Pinto beans. Yum yum. Great food and great prices. I just wish they offered sweet and low as a sweetener.