Young Cardinal Cafe and Co.

4.4 stars Good brunch meal on a Sunday. Arrived just in time because the place filled up and then there were people waiting outside. Server was attentive and place was clean. Menu has lots of yummy items. A couple of us got the hot honey chicken sandwich, which we thought was good but not great. Couldn't taste the pimento cheese and the hot honey didn't shine. Chicken was cooked perfectly though and was juicy. The sweet potato tots were great and the hash browns were not crispy. The avocado toast special was delicious and comment was best ever.

Best breakfast place! If you’re planning to go on a Sunday, be mindful that the wait time is between 45 minutes to an hour—but let me tell you, it’s so worth it! 😊 I got the Eggs Benedict, and it was absolutely delicious. My husband ordered the hot honey chicken, and it was juicy and flavorful—not too spicy. I also had a mimosa and a vanilla latte, both of which were amazing—10/10! The waitress was super fast and attentive. We will definitely be back!

What an awesome place!! Caitlin our waitress was so friendly and we were seated right away. The most delicious Benedict I’ve ever had do yourself a favor and get the hot honey Benedict!!! Best ever.

I had been wanting to try Young Cardinal for quite some time, but it always seemed so busy. During our most recent Winston trip, however, my wife and I decided to bite the bullet and endure whatever wait we had to. Fortunately, it wasn’t a long one: the quoted fifteen-to-twenty minutes ended up being more like twelve. We ended up with a patio table perfect for people-watching (and likely not as loud as inside the restaurant would have been). Young Cardinal’s menu offers up pancakes, waffles, omelets, bowls, and benedicts (among other things) for breakfast as well as sandwiches and salads for lunch. The biscuits/benedicts/omelets offer a good deal of customizability, including vegetarian options. There is also an assortment of coffee drinks, including several spiked coffees. After briefly contemplating the French toast of the day (a bread pudding inspired concoction with a cherry glaze – probably amazing but more dessert than brunch entrée), I opted for the hot honey chicken and pimento Benedict with hash browns as the side while my wife went with the Young Cardinal breakfast (eggs hard fried, bacon, grits, and a biscuit with a side of gravy) and a millionaire’s coffee (Irish cream, Kahlua, Frangelico, whipped cream). Given how busy Young Cardinal was, we were expecting a bit of a wait for our food, but thankfully, that proved not to be the case. Service here is remarkably efficient and pleasant as well. The food was good though had I been more ravenously hungry and subjected to a longer wait for it, I might have been more critical. The Benedict was nicely plated with the eggs done just right. The chicken cutlets were a bit thin, but they delivered the expected flavors (spicy and sweet). My wife appreciated the hard cook on the eggs and enjoyed everything on the plate. Pricing was moderate: $17 apiece for our dishes. I don’t know if the other Andrews Group establishments run as tight a ship as this, but with food and service as good as they are here, it isn’t hard to see why Young Cardinal always seems to draw a crowd.

The food here has some unique twists and is full of flavor. We had the hot honey chicken and pimento Benedict, sausage gravy and biscuits, huevos rancheros, breakfast burrito, and a build your own biscuit. Worth a visit!

Everything about our experience here was amazing! We chose YC for our girls brunch. I had a scrambled omelette with hash browns and the biscuit. Be sure the get the biscuit, you won’t regret it! The food was perfect, the mimosas were so good and everyone was really awesome! We will definitely return.

My partner and I had our first date here so YC has a special place in my heart, but that doesn't stop the food from being delicious and with a rotating Specials Menu that always seems to have a hit on it. I also love the use of Texas Pete in many dishes . Great food and friendly staff this is definitely a recommended spot in Winston Salem

My mom, my sister, and I visited The Young Cardinal Café & Co, and we were beyond pleased with both the service and the food. I ordered the Hot Chicken with Pimento Benedict alongside sweet tater tots, my sister had the Crab Cake Benedict with hashbrowns, and my mom ordered from the specials menu—the Avocado Toast topped with smoked salmon, pickled cucumbers, tomato, and two eggs over medium. In addition to these delicious dishes, we also tried the FIZZY PEACH—a refreshing cocktail made with Maker’s Mark, Domaine de Canton, Ricco Peach Moscato, and peach nectar. The blend was perfectly balanced, not too sweet, and a delightful complement to our brunch. From the very first bite (and sip), all I kept hearing at the table was “Mmmm” and “Oh, this is good”—safe to say, we were all extremely happy with our experience. The flavors were spot on, and everything was cooked to perfection. The service was excellent as well, with staff who were attentive without being intrusive. I’ve always felt that Winston-Salem doesn’t offer a ton of standout brunch spots, so I’m thrilled to have The Young Cardinal Café & Company right downtown. It’s definitely a spot I’d recommend and plan to revisit!

This is usually our go to brunch spot on the weekends and it never disappoints! I have tried almost everything on the menu here and have never had anything I wouldn't order again. But, the reason I continue to go back all the time is the creative specials! It is very rare I read something on the special menu and don't want to order it. If you go on the weekends make sure you get there early because it does get busy, but is 1000% worth the wait!!

Young Cardinal Cafe is a must visit if you're in the Winston Salem area! This is easily one of the best brunch restaurants around. Young Cardinal is located in downtown Winston Salem. They only have street parking which can make it somewhat tricky to find a spot to park, but it's worth it. The prices are very reasonable, especially for how much food you actually get! The food all tastes very fresh and everything has so much flavor! On my most recent visit, I ordered the hot honey chicken with pimento benedict. I also got fruit and grits as my sides. Everything paired SO well together! I absolutely recommend stopping by Young Cardinal if you're in the Winston Salem area!

Four stars for excellent food and our super helpful & attentive waitress! She made sure our pups got treats and a water bowl and made sure we were taken care of at all times. The hash brown bowl was absolutely amazing! We came on a Saturday after noon so it was somewhat busy. The cafe's front desk hostess was very scattered when we showed up - took more than 10 minutes for us to be acknowledged to put down our names on the waitlist and there were maybe 3 parties in front of us. When they got to us, they didn't take down any of our info which was strange. There was another hostess that came out afterwards and actually asked us where we wanted to sit and how many in our party. She was able to immediately sit us outside.

This is the place to come for a great Brunch. So many great meals to choose from and nothing has ever disappointed. On my latest visit had the egg Benedict with smoked salmon, DELISH. It gets busy on the weekends so come early or be prepared for a short wait. They have a nice bar to sit at as well. Wait staff has always been friendly and quick to take care of you and keep your glasses full. This place is a big score for Winston Salem.

Great brunch spot. Coming in on a busy weekend- there was still not much of a wait. Looking around, there was a lot of quality food coming out of the kitchen. I chose to go all in and order the fried chicken Benedict that did not disappoint. The combination of the biscuit/hollandaise/egg/honey fried chicken was very well balanced. For the price, it was excellent. Being from the south, I've had the best fried chicken in the world and obviously the more meaty and local the chicken, the more expensive. This was NOT that chicken but the flavor and value is still there. I elected to get some gravy to see how that measured up and it was solid as well. Overall, no complaints. Will come again.

There is a wait if you come on Sunday. About 1pm it dies down. But the food was worth the wait! The ice latte, hot honey chicken sandwich and Benedict was so good! Cute little care in the city. Would definitely return.

Hard for me to believe that I have somehow glanced over leaving a review for the Young Cardinal Cafe, but I'm here to tell you this is one of the best places for breakfast and brunch in Winston! I've enjoyed all the dishes I've been served here across a few visits, and never let an opportunity pass to stop in when someone is looking for a brunch downtown. When the weather is nice, it's also nice to sit outside their cafe on their walled in patio area and just watch the world go by. My favorite dish so far has to be the hot honey chicken benedict, or to build my own omelette. Served with hashbrowns, and toast or a biscuit... it's more than enough food to set you right for awhile, and the eggs always seem to come out perfectly cooked, an art form for sure. Service here is friendly, and attentive without being overly involved in my experience. It's also a very attractive setting, typical of one of the Andrews group restaurants. I'll continue to come back to this business!

Young cardinal has great omelettes. Love eating at the bar good service and always in and out

Great spot, very friendly staff & delicious food. My son enjoyed the cinnamon roll pancakes and I had the daily special avocado toast. Very big portions! We were visiting from out of town and are very pleased we stumbled upon this restaurant.

First off the mimosa's are definitely worth getting the craft, they make their mimosa's right with a full bottle of champagne and then the mixers. Their take on the Cuban is different, while the meat was great, they put way too much grain mustard on it and without Cuban bread to absorb the extra moisture the Texas toast just got soggy and fell apart. If 100% grain mustard with horseradish is your thing, their Cuban is the way to go but it was too much for me. The main star of this place are their Benedict's and their mimosa's.

We came for breakfast today with high expectations after all the good reviews. I had decided prior to coming in to get the eggs Benedict, but they had a lot of options so I chose the fried chicken eggs Benedict, served with fruit and I chose a biscuit. The service was good and attentive and made sure the coffee cups were filled. The dish came out timely and was looking good. The chicken was pretty good but the English muffin was tough and the biscuit was more like a roll and I to ask for butter that should have come with it because...hey it is a biscuit. Overall it was pretty good but I couldn't give it the five stars my wife thought it was like.

Came here for breakfast this morning and it was amazing. I asked about the avocado toast of the day. Our server described mascarpone cheese, dates, stuffed cornmeal balls , eggs, and a fig jam glaze..I was like...UMM YES PLEASE!!! I wasn't sure what to expect, and I was so very pleased. It was absolutely delicious.. something I would see on Top Chef. Flavors were layered and it all worked together. I must come back here. Prices are on the higher side than your usual breakfast dinners but it's worth it. Our service was great, coffee satisfying and the restaurant was very clean.

I absolutely love love love this venue for a good brunch. I've been here several times and look forward to the food, drinks, and vibes every time. I must warn you though- there will be a wait during brunch, but it's worth it! They have classic breakfast staple items and also a rotating seasonal menu and I truly feel like there's something for everyone here. I love the benedict with a mimosa plus their pancakes a french toast are amazing too. Definitely worth checking out if you're visiting from out of town as well!

Chef Swing does it again with some eclectic brunch specials. You can always count on some creative specials if you head to Young Cardinal for breakfast or brunch. This weekend we tried one of the specials which consisted of - espresso duck confit, pumpkin waffle, blackberry + fig chutney, two eggs, and a tomato hollandaise - it was our favorite dish of the morning. Everything on the menu is delicious but when I want a classic, I opt for the crab cakes benedict with an ice coffee.

Great breakfast with unique flare! Their morning hair of the dog drinks really knocked it out of the park! Not your average breakfast joint but worth it if you are adventurous!

Great breakfast any time, good sandwiches, SWEET POTATO TOTS. I haven't had anything I don't like here! And they use the local favorite hot sauce Texas Pete tabletop and in a couple of recipes. Outdoor seating area is nice and bathrooms have always been clean. Just note that they close at 2:30 or 3, so don't get your hopes up for dinner time dining!

Visit here on a Saturday because of the good reviews. Did not disappoint and surprised by the food quality! We arrived around 2pm, just an hour before it closed, a very short line and seated within 10min, but the place was full! Ordered the signature avocado toast, breakfast nacho, and half-order French toast. Breakfast nacho and fresh toast are good, but to me the star is the avocado toast. I did not expect too much, but it turned out very good! Aesthetics, perfect, I forgot to take out my phone for a photo and just want to dive right in. Taste, perfect, the combination of seared tuna, sesame, mango pico de gallo, avocado spread, watermelon radish, radish sprout, the balance of all these flavors is perfect, it is like harmony, from texture to taste. It is a 5 star to me because of this dish. Service is also nice. Look forward to try other dishes in the future.

Young Cardinal Cafe is undoubtedly the best place to eat in downtown Winston-Salem. Today I had their lemon curd & blueberry French Toast & like everything on their menu, it was superb. This place is a hidden Jewel of the city. Everything I've tried on their menu has been wonderful. A must try are their thin-sliced homemade fries...I promise you will never look at french fries the same. The staff is amazing, bartender with the pigtails is the one of the best I've seen. If I'm downtown you can bet I will always stop in for their great food and welcoming atmosphere.

Finally made my way out to Young Cardinal cafe as I had heard it is one of the best places for breakfast in town. After trying it out I would echo that statement. This time I got the hash-brown bowl with bacon, onions, jalapeños & hatch Chile queso and a fruit bowl. The menu had something for everyone, & I look forward to going back and trying something new. I've got my eye on their French toast next. At peak hours Young Cardinal is very busy, so be prepared to either get there early or wait for a table. It took about 50 minutes for us to be seated, but once we got in and sat down the service was quick. I didn't get to see the main part of the restaurant as we were seated by the bar, but from what I noticed the building has more of an upscale vibe. If you don't mind the hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant I would highly recommended that you give Young Cardinal a try.

This was delicious but it needed some kind of sauce, the bacon was overwhelming toooo much, topped it with the fried egg that I can barely taste maybe I should've added another egg lol

I have heard a lot of great things about brunch at You g Cardinal so today I finally decided to give them a try. Got there at around 10 am and the place was absolutely packed, the hostess told us it would be about a 30 minute wait which was fine by me and she was spot on which was appreciated. I ended up getting the Fried Chicken Eggs Benedict and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of fried chicken. It was crispy, flavorful and juicy. The hollandaise sauce was nice and creamy, it could have used slightly more lemon for my taste but it was solid nonetheless. It also came with a side of fresh fruit and hash-browns. The fruit was great and the hash-browns were nice and crispy. Only downside to my meal was that one of my poached eggs was cooked well done and was not runny at all, but my other egg was cooked perfectly. Overall I had a very nice first visit to Young Cardinal and will definitely be back to try out more of the menu.

I recommend Young Cardinal Cafe and would definitely come back next time I'm in town! The service was quick and the food was delicious. I got the special of the day: a brie grilled cheese with duck confit, apple butter, raspberry jam, and figs - a decadent breakfast, but fantastic nonetheless. My friends ordered omelettes and the breakfast burger. Everyone had leftovers to take home because the portions were large. We arrived at 10am on a Sunday and there was a quick 25 minute wait (though we noticed that by 10:30, the wait time had gone up to 40min).

Great place for brunch or lunch! I've been several times and it never disappoints. It's a cozy spot to get comfort food. My daughter got the Young Cardinal breakfast- it was enough for two! I got the BLT and tots. It was all very good. The place was decorated for Christmas which made it cozy as well. Service was good. I felt we had to wait a little too long at times but we never lacked anything. Overall, a great little spot downtown!

The house salad subbed with hot honey chicken was hands down the best salad I've ever had!!! The chicken was cooked to perfection and had the hot sauce flavor without being overly spicy. The ranch dressing is definitely homemade which is always a plus for me. The portion size is also very generous, I couldn't finish it! I went for lunch on a Saturday and sat outside on the patio and had great service. I'd like to go back sometime and try the brunch as well!

Since I wrote this review a year ago, Young Cardinal has become my favorite place for brunch in Winston Salem. The food is always fresh and delicious, and their specials hit the mark every time. One of my go-to orders lately has been anything involving their hot honey chicken. I'm a wimp when it comes to spice, but I'll gladly deal with the sniffles for the flavor it brings. Their benedicts are always top tier too. If you've been debating stopping by just do it. My only advice is be prepared to wait a bit on the weekends. Trust me, it's worth it.

The food was outstanding! We were very pleased with everything. Our coffee cups were always full. The server was very pleasant and knowledgeable. I took her advice on getting the special. Pro tip: they do not sell alcohol before 10a so if you're an early bird looking for a drink to get the day started, keep that in mind!

This is the best brunch spot in Winston Salem hands down. 1- great location downtown with outside patio 2- friendly waitstaff, no reservations but they call you when your table is ready and give reasonable, accurate table times 3- amazing menu with unique specials 4- great prices 5- great drinks, Mimosas are PERFECT 6- Kid friendly, we always come with our 9m old and they are always friendly and accommodating even though the inside is a bit small, they find us a place 7- bar area off the main dining room with big open windows and a bright airy feel. What more could you ask for in a brunch spot?! Their Benedict's are to die for. Try every single one on the menu. I often get the special Benedict, today it was Molasses Malt Short Rib but I also LOVE their Birria Benedict (yes that's a thing!!) Though I don't indulge often, their pancakes are great as well. Puts iHop to shame as it should. Lots of flavors to choose from. We come typically multiple Sundays a month. Can't get enough of this place.

Seriously the best breakfast I've had in ages. I dream of this meal. It's a cute cafe and the staff were really friendly and quick. It was crowded when we went but totally worth the wait!

What an amazing breakfast- was so great that I felt compelled to leave a 5 star review. The chicken Benedict was so good! Definitely sub the English muffin for a biscuit! Bloody Mary wasn't bad either!

This is the best breakfast in Winston-Salem. Seriously. I'm so happy to have found this place. Quite frankly, it's the best breakfast I've had in quite some time. The eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast were all perfectly done and tasted incredibly fresh. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. Very cool spot conveniently located downtown with a sweet outdoor seating option. My wife had the gluten free French Toast and I could barely tell the difference between the GF toast and regular. She is absolutely ecstatic to have found a place that has a GF option that tastes good. The menu had a lot of cool lunch options as well. I can't wait to come back and try lunch. The Young Cardinal Cafe is seriously legit. Give it a shot.

always a very solid breakfast/brunch spot in the area, however it can get pretty busy. i really enjoy their hash browns and load them up with toppings. their boozy drinks are also fun to try.

Great brunch spot. There is usually a wait though, but it's worth it. I've been a couple times now and had their mimosas and bloody mary. I wish they still had their pork belly breakfast sandwich but I got a benedict the second time around and it was delicious. It's a small / cozy space, and always bustling, but just a really fun spot for an enjoyable meal. Best way to start the weekend!

Walked to this place for breakfast since it was close to my hotel. Had the eggs benedict with maple bacon with hashbrowns and fresh fruit as my sides. OMG! Pure heaven! The eggs were cooked to perfection and the sauce (I think it was homemade) was incredible. The hashbrowns were better than Waffle House (I know: hard to believe but true!). I ate at the bar. Bartender was friendly. I wanted a bloody mary but according to local law, could not be served before 10 AM (I was there on a Sunday) so, I opted for coffee and it was damn good.

Wonderful experience here. The food was creative and mouth-wateringly tasty. In addition to the diverse menu, they also offer espresso drinks and brunch cocktails. My partner doesn't like eggs and there were lots of savory options for him besides the usual desserty pancakes/waffles choices. I tried the fried chicken bendict, which was delicious. My partner had a has brown bowl which he loved. We'll definitely be back!

The best brunch in town with cocktails, bloody Mary's. Services is good in atmosphere is excellent as well.

My son and I are doing our yearly minor league baseball trip. We had breakfast here yesterday morning. You know it was good if we make sure to get breakfast here again before our next town. Pancakes, French toast, grits (best grits I ever had) were all excellent.

Our first time at the Young Cardinal! The food was amazing and special! I wish I could recall our waiters name , but he was so nice and went overboard on wonderful service! I recommend this facility to anyone interested in really good food and great service! !

Although this location is very busy, I can say the wait is so worth it! The staff is very accommodating and location is perfect. The food is always great. I have visited more than once and never disappointed!

1st time here. Would return and recommend to others. Was told there would most likely be a wait on a Sunday, but it was rainy so perhaps we lucked out because we only waited maybe 5 min for a table. Server was good and management was great. The manager came around multiple times checking in on tables, keeping the flow going and making sure trash was picked-up/drinks refreshed. Good management makes all the difference. The lattes here are HUGE. Hot chocolate was tasty. They don't have a skillet breakfast but you can easily make one by ordering their hashbrowns with toppings- very creative. Was delish! Huevos Rancheros were also quite good. Overall a great experience, quality food, clean environment and great service. All this at a reasonable price, too!

We ate in the bar area and the service was great! These pulled pork eggs Benedict were fabulous and the grits and fruit were the perfect sides! If you're in the area, it's a great place for breakfast lovers!

Solid spot for breakfast in downtown Winston. The times we've went, there has always been a line (I say that in a good way as the food backs it up). The menu is original and unique. It's nice being able to choose usual breakfast dishes but also their original dishes that has a twist with added/different ingredients. I've had both breakfast and lunch menu items and they were more than enough for one serving. *they have changing special menu items as well. The quality is good and dishes are unique. Would recommend.

During the holidays we both had a weekday off work and decided this might be a perfect opportunity to check out Young Cardinal. They are located in downtown Winston on 4th Street. When we arrived a little before noon, we did not see any parking directly on 4th so we drove around the block and found a spot on a side street. We were surprised to see the meter only charged 25 cents per hour. We were greeted as soon as we entered. They were busy but we were offered two seats at the bar. Shortly after we were seated, we were provided menus and our drink orders were taken. We immediately noticed three people came to stand right behind us. They continued to stand there chatting as if waiting for people to leave the counter. After approximately 10 minutes someone came to let them know a table opened up and they left to be seated. It felt very uncomfortable for us and I'm sure the other couple seated at the bar to have these folks hovering over our shoulders. My wife ordered the Hot Honey Chicken Salad while I ordered the Cardinal Cuban Sandwich. Our food arrived in a timely manner and looked delicious. Our server was very attentive as well. Overall this was a great experience other than the hovering customers. We also noted the sidewalk area had various tables which would be great during warmer weather. We were also impressed with the prices, and were somewhat surprised at how cheap it was, considering it was downtown.

Tried the Monte Cristo sandwich today for brunch. Although not the traditional fully deep fried version, the flavors were good and the portion was significant. I would have preferred jam on the side instead of syrup. Relaxing environment with friendly staff and centrally located in downtown WS. Price for quality was solid. A definite second visit spot.

Young Cardinal Cafe is a solid choice for breakfast, brunch and lunch options. The creative avocado toast and eggs Benedict specials are a great choice but if those don't suit your fancy, their regular menu is always solid. We had their spin on Huevos Rancheros, which is a corn tortilla topped with pulled pork, eggs, pinto beans, pico de gallo, avocado, green onions and a crema. The pulled pork was tender and moist but a bit on the sweet side for my particular taste. I added some hot sauce and it was a nice contrast. We ordered two biscuits as well. The biscuits were light and fluffy but still sturdy enough to hold up to the weight of a piece of fried chicken. No easy feat! All in all we enjoyed a great meal, friendly and efficient service and will definitely keep it on the regular rotation. The dining room is open and therefore a bit noisy, not a negative at all to us....I liked the energy and atmosphere. Sidewalk seating is also available when you would rather sit outside. Check them out!

The absolutely best breakfast around and a hip upscale atmosphere !!! Great asset to downtown

Delicious place for brunch! The service is great even if the wait is 30 minutes it's definitely worth it! Their seasonal coffees in the fall are a must try and pancakes are very fluffy!

Excellent breakfast place that actually lived up to its reviews! Highly recommend for its good service and well prepared foods.

The food is delicious- possibly the best grits I've ever eaten! The biscuits are huge, light and flakey, the salmon was plentiful and flavorful on the salmon Benedict. The restaurant was extremely busy on a Saturday morning but the waitstaff did a great job of taking care of us and assuring that our order was correct - the food came out very fast considering how busy they were. I am always hesitant to order poached eggs because most restaurants tend to overcook them but they were perfect! Everything on the menu is fully customizable- I added goat cheese to my grits and they were delicious! This is an amazing breakfast option in Winston Salem!

I had heard of this place since I had moved to Winston-Salem 6 months ago but hadn't had the opportunity to go. There was quite a line waiting and they said it would be about 45 minutes late but in reality it only turned out to be about 25. We had a table and a super friendly waitress. She let me substitute the fruit that should come with my plate for a biscuit. The food was delicious and I had only had eggs Benedict once before and these were cooked perfectly. The service was excellent. The inside of the restaurant was very classy and a very nice downtown restaurant that was not expensive at all. I will definitely be back.

This is my second'ish time here so I wanted to try something different. They had a full house, but we were seated right away, our waitress was really good. Although busy the atmosphere was very nice. Let's get into the food and drinks. The mojito was meh, should have stuck with my mimosa. I also tried one of the specials Crab Cake Benedict, I've never had any type of eggs Benedict (don't judge me ) I don't know if this meal actually counts as eggs Benedict because I requested eggs over easy instead ‍. Anywho, the meal was amazing I had the choice of a side and I got the hash browns, which were amazing they have Texas Pete seasoning so they had a little kick to them. The entire meal was good, crab cakes very tasty and now I know I like hollandaise sauce. I will admit this one of my newest fav brunch spots, I'll have to come back for lunch.