Amelie's French Bakery & Cafe

Review! Charlotte, North Carolina // American-French Bakery & Cafe // local classic

Sep 17, 2024

the ELEVATOR PITCH

When I had first moved to Charlotte, Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe was one of the first places people recommended I visit. People would say things like “oh my goodness, their salted caramel brownie!” and “by golly, this is the best best bakery in North Carolina” and “wow, their macarons are the best” (the list goes on and on). To this day, it still feels like I hear about Amelie’s more than any other establishment in the Queen City.

Truth be told, at first I was also pretty obsessed. I had never experienced decor so endearing, a pastry case so extensive, and a French-style menu so accessible (disclaimer: I was also a recent college grad with the freedom and resources to finally explore the world, so the breadth of my culinary horizons was as narrow as a skylight). Amelie’s is stellar at executing her signature “things look second hand and repurposed but in the most tasteful way possible” style. She’s whimsical eclectic and cutesy charming, and paired with the charming sounds of Parisian streets—like a Café de Paris playlist, and the fact that you’ll frequently overhear patrons talking in French and other Romance, Germanic, and Slavic languages—she really is a third place that feels like Europe.

Amelie's French Bakery and Cafe interior Carmel Commons

But as my culinary horizons broadened, the menu gradually became less and less impressive to me. The mini tarts were too cakey, the croissants and danishes too dry, the macarons inconsistent… I found myself wondering—what exactly was the hype again?

It turns out, what captured the hearts of Charlotteans was the newness of it all. Back in 2008, when the first Amelie’s opened in NoDa, it brought the community something they had never had before: a third place with late hours, free Wi-Fi, and a from-scratch, European-style menu (all the while being aesthetically pleasing to the eye!)

While Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe isn’t my go-to spot for pastries and coffee, they are perfect for when you need a change in scenery. You can always count on an Amelie’s location to have extended hours, superbly catering your meeting with good friends, or giving you a place to land on those days where you’re working late into the evening.

now, what about the food?

honest reviews incoming 👇

Pistachio Coconut Latte: with a milk alternative (almond milk); poor microfoam (it was over foamed yet also no foam at all?), with artificial syrups. But the flavor rang true! (rating: 3/10)

Cafe Fouetté: with four shots of espresso, the flavor is very similar to a Vietnamese coffee in how much coffee taste is present. I enjoy this as a fun “ooh you can see the layers of cream and espresso and the ombre when you mix” which actually didn’t happen this time but usually does! (rating: 6/10)

Amelie's French Bakery and Cafe Salted Caramel Brownie

Salted Caramel Brownie: self monikered as one of their “signature” desserts, and most definitely known by Charlotteans as such too! The texture of the brownie is more fudgy and pudding-soft than the texture of your typical fudge brownie that still feels comprised of flour. The caramel is sticky and almost like a chocolate ganache in viscosity. Both features are SUPER sweet, which isn’t my jam. (rating: 2/10, but my sweet-tooth-owning-husband enjoyed it and rates it a 6/10)

Mini Almond Croissant: they use the twice-baked method, where they take already baked croissants, slice them in half, and fill them with frangipane, then bake it again. Not too sweet/it’s sweet enough, the croissant part itself was a little on the drier, almost-stale end, which makes it perfect for dunking in your beverage (highly recommend you do that). You can also order the regular size, but we found the mini the perfect portion for a meal/with other desserts. (rating: 6/10)

Fresh Berry Salad (added chicken, with creamy dill dressing): just your typical mixed greens salad, but well executed! The greens and berries were both fresh, and paired with the creamy dill dressing (which tastes like ranch), was delicious. The amount of chicken given was the perfect portion, but on the drier end so you’ll probably find yourself dipping it in the dressing to eat it. I could’ve used more almond slivers and goat cheese, but that’s personal preference. (rating: 7.5/10)

Amelie's Turkey & Bacon Monte Cristo Sandwich

Turkey + Bacon Monte Cristo Sandwich: pleasantly surprised with how not-that-sweet this was! The French toast bookends were just subtly sweet, mostly just offered a level of soft bready texture. The bacon was a good thickness and had a crisp to its bite, giving it the right amount of presence in the sandwich (I found myself looking forward to it the most in every bite). There was a generous amount of turkey and the jam was a good schmear. (rating: 7/10)

then we found ourselves there again when the power went out…

honest reviews below 👇

Croque Monsieur: like a ham & cheese croissant sandwich with a slight broiled bechamel top. I actually enjoyed how there wasn’t that much bechamel (I don’t like it when it makes the sandwich super soggy), and was pleasantly surprised how flaky, moist, and buttery the croissant was. However, for the price, it didn’t feel like a lot was being offered. (rating: 6/10)

Breakfast Wrap: they give a decent amount of scrambled egg in this wrap, it was super filled in! However, wish (1) there was 3x more cheddar cheese (you can barely taste it), (2) the potatoes were more flavorful and cooked through (they were relatively bland with a hint of salt, and the chunks were a smidge too large and distracting), (3) the entire wrap was either panini-pressed/toasted to give it a nice warmed-through crisp, and (4) they would’ve included a side of salsa/hot sauce to add additional flavor dimension. Overall, lots of points to improve, I won’t be ordering it again. (rating: 3/10)

Oreo Peanut Butter Pie: upon first glance this looks like it’d be as sturdy as a mini tart that you could pick up with your hands and take a bite, but do not be fooled! It’s extremely “sludgy” and almost reminded me of pudding desserts, which I wasn’t a fan... would’ve preferred the crust to be sturdy and the pie filling to be as thick as a cheesecake. The taste was more peanut butter chocolate than specifically Oreo, but still enjoyable. (rating for just the flavor: 7/10; rating with texture in mind: 4.5/10)

Strawberry Cream Cheese Danish: okay yikes, this was pretty disappointing. The Danish dough is super dry and brittle (one could view it as flaky but not in the croissant buttery way), the amount of strawberries in this couldn’t even add up to a whole strawberry, and the cream cheese filling in the middle felt like a tasteless puck… (rating: 1/10)

review on a custom cake experience!

Chocolate Raspberry Cake: didn’t catch a cross section… but it was chocolate chiffon cake with raspberry mousse filling between layers. The raspberry mousse was more like a jam/preserve, and paired nicely with the cake! The cake itself was on the drier end, and the icing was on the sweeter side (but what can you expect from American buttercream). Overall, guests were happy, and this 8” cake fed 20 people with leftovers! But not my favorite ever chocolate cake. (rating: 5/10)

the RÉSUMÉ

address // location featured: 7715 Pineville-Matthews Rd Unit 34B, Charlotte, NC 28226

⭐ sort of a local chain with multiple locations

operations // Sunday - Thursday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM; Friday - Saturday, 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

logistics // free parking available in the lot out front

amenities //

public bathrooms, changing tables available
public WiFi available, outlets available
accessible (i.e., well-lit, wheelchair accommodating table heights, etc.)
plenty of indoor and (covered) outdoor seating options
loyalty program
catering available

vibes // whimsical artsy French vintage in the most down-to-earth way

menu //

beverages ($2.75 - $5.75): coffee (drip, cold brew, etc.); espresso (cappuccinos, lattes, etc.), hot tea/chocolate, chai, matcha, ciders, cream sodas
⭐ dairy-free milk options available (almond, oat)
baked goods ($2.25 - $5.00): muffins, cinnamon roll, coconut macaroon, cookies, tea cakes, pound cake, palmier, brownie
viennoiserie ($3.25 - $5.00): croissant (butter, almond, chocolate), danish (cream cheese, strawberry)
boulangerie ($2.00 - $9.00): baguette, brioche, sourdough pullman, flavored loaves
patisserie ($2.85 - $7.00): entremet, cheesecake, macarons, creme brulee, petite gateaux, Napoleon
⭐ box of macarons are available for sale (1/2 dozen, 1 dozen)
food food ($9.50 - $13.25): baguette/croissant sandwiches, wraps, tartines, soups, salads
- breakfast offered all day: biscuit sandwich, brioche French toast

recs //

favorite bevvie: Cafe Fouette
favorite food food: their Fresh Berry Salad + chicken was nice and filling, and the Croque Monsieur was satisfying in texture and flavor

site // Amelie's French Bakery & Cafe