Virtuoso Breadworks

Review! Waxhaw, North Carolina // coffee shop & bakery // local neighborhood gem

the ELEVATOR PITCH

Shh! Let me tell you a secret…it's Virtuoso Breadworks. We’re talking about a hole in the wall (or specifically here, a little cabin that looks a smidge dilapidated off of Downtown Waxhaw on a small street) that is one of the most unassuming bakeries in the greater Charlotte area. While nothing about her exterior will grab your attention, don’t overlook her and let her humble exterior throw you, Virtuoso is quite the pastry prodigy!

Being quite the drive from the center of Charlotte, distance naturally shrouds Virtuoso Breadworks from the eyes of bustling crowds. Yet! If you don’t get to her early enough, the pastry case dwindles like any other hip city bakery and you’ll be left with a limited selection of leftover plain jane baked goods (which are still good, don’t get me wrong, just not as exciting as their seasonal creations). Clearly Virtuoso is a community favorite, and proof that owners Lauren and Ben Kallenbach know what they’re doing.

The Kallenbachs’ story is just as heartwarming and humble as their storefront. Life took them from the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation in Georgia, to working as pastry chefs in the Middle East and the Cayman Islands, to finally settling in Waxhaw, North Carolina, balancing being new parents and running a sourdough business called Baked & Tempered. Through the years, that transformed into 4th Corner Bakehouse & Coffee Co. (established in 2012), which was rebranded in 2020 to the present day Virtuoso Breadworks. Fast forward to today, and this locally owned small business still has the same mission: highlighting locally sourced coffee while serving up baked goods and pastries of amazing caliber.

(obviously this is from a December visit and they won’t always have a xmas tree and santa on the tv)

If you’re local to the area—lucky you! And for the rest of us who need to commute at least 30+ minutes, trust me, she’s worth it (pick a special day and drive on out there). 😉

menu items ordered

honest reviews below 👇

Almond Croissant: filling wasn't artificially almond-y, but also not a strong natural almond flavor…it just lacked an explicit almond flavor I would prefer in an almond croissant. There was almost too much filling, which made it land more dessert-y, but **almost** meaning it still could pass as a breakfast item and not leave you feeling like you just had a doughnut. The highs: the toasted almonds on top were DELICIOUS, and while the powdered sugar looks overwhelmingly extra (and you'd think there would be too much) it didn't take away from the experience at all and we both enjoyed it. Plus it definitely added to the visual appeal. The price tag was a little oof (total $8.00 for the croissant) but alas. (rating: 7.7/10)

another time when we came for coffee, too

honest reviews below 👇

Latte: ordered plain with whole milk. I was disappointed with the lack of microfoam (it essentially was gently warmed milk with espresso), and the espresso’s flavor wasn’t very strong. Overall felt like I was drinking milk. (rating: 3/10)

Dirty Chai: ordered with almond milk. the chai flavor was strong and satisfying, with the classic sweetness you expect from concentrate. I enjoyed this one more than my latte in flavor and somehow it had better microfoam than my latte???? I probably would highly consider ordering this next time. (rating: 8/10)

Butter Croissant: whoa. I am surprised to find myself saying that I loved everything about this? The exterior was crisp and flaky, the interior was the perfect amount of buttery moistness that lent it good flavor and tenderness without feeling melty and squishy like a dinner roll. It was able to keep its structure and bounce even when you took a bite! Stellar job, Virtuoso. (rating: 10/10)

Everything Bagel Bomb: my husband and I both agreed that this would’ve been better warmed, but FYI—I don’t think they have a simple toasting mechanism (the woman at the front register said she’d have to check if the oven was still on). But on the bagel bomb itself: the flavor of the cream cheese was giving strong onion-y vibes that are iconic of Lox (without any smoked fishiness), and the everything bagel seasoning on top pulled its weight. Really, the only thing that was missing was it being more warmed! Recommend getting this fresh or taking it home to warm yourself. (rating at room temp: 6.5/10; potentially a 7.5 or 8 warmed though!)

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the RÉSUMÉ

address // 205 Salem St, Waxhaw, NC 28173

operations // Tuesday - Saturday, 6:30 AM - 5:30 PM; Sunday - Monday, CLOSED.

logistics // parking lot provided right outside the storefront and also easy & free parking can be found along the street

amenities //

• 1 public bathrooms, no changing table

• public WiFi available (my husband’s old laptop couldn’t connect though), outlets available

• various seating options indoors and outdoors (picnic tables)

vibes // super homey, humble, well-worn and cozy

menu //

• beverages ($2.50- $8.50): coffee (drip, cold brew, etc.); espresso (cappuccinos, lattes, etc.), hot tea, chai, matcha, hot chocolate

  ⭐ +$1.25: dairy-free milk (almond, oat)

  ⭐ +$1.25: flavor syrups (some house made, others not)

  ⭐anything chocolate uses: Valrhona Chocolate

  ⭐organic chai concentrate used: Bhakti (for the ginger chai), and Rishi (for the masala chai)

  ⭐local roasters’ beans brewed and sold by the bag: Enderly Coffee Co., Breezeway Coffee Roasters, Black & White Coffee Roasters

• baked goods ($3.75 - $6.00): cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls/sticky buns, doughnuts, bagel bombs, mini pies, etc.

• viennoiserie ($4.00 - $8.00): butter croissant, pain au chocolat, almond croissant, cream cheese danish, cruffins, etc.

• boulangerie ($3.00 - $20.00): sourdough loaves, baguettes, English muffins, etc.

recs // their butter croissant hit all of my marks for what I enjoy in a plain croissant

site // Virtuoso Breadworks

~ cath!!