The Collective Cafe

Review! Matthews, North Carolina // cafe & coffee shop // local gem

the ELEVATOR PITCH

My relationship with Collective Café feels like one of those successful blind date stories. I was living in my own world, and Collective Café was living in his, and we simply would’ve never crossed paths if not for a mutual connection that brought us together.

And boy, did we hit it off! The Collective Café may not have the most trendy atmosphere (some of the decor can feel a little kitschy, like the wall of signage in the back), but what he lacks in *aesthetic* he makes up for in down-to-earthness. He’s that wholesome friend you have who isn’t flashy in dress but whose genuine care for you makes for the safest place to share the hard stuff with. No judgment, no pretenses, just acceptance.

But specifically, what really hit it off for me and The Collective Café at the time of that “first date” was this: I was a bride-to-be working with a tight budget in need of an affordable catering option that served food I’d actually want to eat (and, I was also looking for a place we could host an afterparty after the wedding reception). While we ended up going with Open Tap (more in an upcoming post 😉) for the afterparty, TreeTop Events (The Collective Café’s sister catering company) was the winner for dinner! Guys, the flavor-to-price ratio is seriously bang for your buck (for $25/person it’s definitely gourmet)—you have to check them out. Our guests only had praises!

Since then, I’ve frequented mostly for their light bites and lunch menu since TreeTop Events are the chefs behind it all and nostalgia has quite the grip on me. Plus, it helps that their Wi-Fi and outlet situation makes for a great laptop-friendly working environment!

Now onto reviewing what we tried from the menu~

the patio’s the way to go

honest reviews incoming!

Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla: (when you order the chicken quesadilla, you can choose grilled or buffalo, and we picked buffalo) surprised with how big the portion was for this one! The chicken breading was super crispy, and the buffalo sauce was there but not overpowering. It added a good dimension :) (rating: 9/10)

👉 Seasoned Potatoes: we had this same side catered for our wedding, and having them again did not disappoint! These potatoes are moist and delightfully withered, versus “home fries” that other places serve that feel dry and starchy and super tough to bite into. Instead, these are well-seasoned with salt & herbs and goodness, highly recommend. (rating: 10/10)

Garden Fresh Cobb: I didn’t realize they forgot to include the egg until after the picture, so pretend there’s 2 hardboiled eggs included on that plate! The flavor profile wasn’t your typical cobb, probably due to my choosing “Greek dressing” but also because they had olives, cucumber, and red onion in there which gave the whole thing more of a Mediterranean salad vibe. But! That said, still really filling, the bacon was thick and crispy, and everything was fresh. Would order again, just don’t expect a typical cobb salad. (rating: 9/10)

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the RÉSUMÉ

address // 1031 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd. Suite B, Matthews, NC 28105

⭐ located in Nexus

operations // Monday - Saturday, 7:00AM - 4:30 PM; Sunday, CLOSED

logistics // parking lot available right out front with plenty of spots

amenities //

• 2 public bathrooms with many stalls; changing tables available

• free public WiFi and many outlets

• accessible (i.e., table heights are accommodating to wheelchairs)

• lots of indoor seating and (covered) outdoor seating

• part of Nexus—a co-work & event space

• they donate 10% of revenue towards charities whose founders reside in Charlotte!

vibes // a space oozing a professional air while also being super approachable—an event hosted here will feel intimate and cozy!

menu //

• beverages ($2.75 - $6.25): espresso (latte, mocha, cappuccino, americano, etc.); coffee (drip, nitro cold brew, etc.); hot chocolate, chai latte, loose leaf tea, matcha latte; smoothie, milk shake, protein shake, frappe

  ⭐ coffee served: Magnolia Coffee

  ⭐ no house made syrups 💔 just honey and simple syrup

• baked goods ($2.00 - $5.00): brownie, cookies, cinnamon roll, muffins, crumb cake, macarons

• viennoiserie ($4.00): croissant, danishes

• food food:

  • breakfast ($6.00 - $13.00): overnight oats, yogurt parfait, breakfast wrap/plate, scramble, omelet, French toast

  • lunch ($10.00 - $14.00): sandwiches, salads, quesadillas, chicken tender combo

    ⭐ vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free options available

recs // the seasoned potatoes for your side ✨ and I really enjoyed my salad, very filling! But still have yet to try more of the menu before settling on a go-to favorite.

site // The Collective Cafe

~ cath!!