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    Drift Cafe

    3.8 (17 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Breakfast sandwich
    Katie F.

    My fiancé and I stopped here to grab some food before getting on the road and it was delicious. Our food was also prepared in under 10 minutes which was great for time. I also enjoyed the choco banana smoothie which was delicious! The avocado toast was a bit messy to take to go, so I'm glad I grabbed a knife/fork before leaving the cafe. I really enjoyed the vibe of this place too, it has a lot of natural lighting and was laid back.

    Merch!
    Theresa Z.

    First... SO HAPPY FOR ANOTHER COFFEE PLACE IN CAROLINA BEACH!! Yes! Thank you, Drift! Now... experience and ambiance wise.... Super friendly and nice staff. Very helpful. They have menus at the counter by the to go ordering and paying area for easy access. Everything is also digitized. Easy pay and tip too. Super clean. Love that retractable wall option for exterior seating on beautiful breezy days. They have parking spots for mobile pick up orders. Location: off lake park blvd and easy in and out. Ample parking! Great location to go to before and after beaching it. Drink: One size iced drinks but it's fine, it's ample!! I had an iced amber and my little enjoyed the banana cocoa shake which I stole a sip and loved it! Food: No pastry items were out yet (we went as early as they opened) but I did order an egg and cheese (modified) sandwich. It was REALLY good! the bacon was that thick crispy bacon. Very happy they are finally here and look forward to meeting friends here for coffee.

    Avocado toast
    Mandi B.

    This is my new favorite coffee shop on the east side of NC. The decor is minimal and modern, the staff was welcoming and friendly ! The food was beyond amazing and healthy focused! I just wish they would bring one to lake norman!

    Menu cover
    Bill S.

    Fantastic again! Went with vegan wife and she loved the options. Staff was very personable and remember me from last visit.

    Gorgeous drink

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    11 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    12 days ago

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    1 month ago

    Avocado Toast was good, Crispy Potatoes good, mango smoothie good. Mishap with service on drinks but they made it right.

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    Michael P.

    Thanks for visiting. Glad the drinks were fixed. Welcome back.

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    6 days ago

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    11 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    10 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

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    5 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    2 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    Michael P.

    Glad you enjoyed the meal! Welcome back

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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

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    11 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

    Always a delight having you. See you soon :)

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    11 months ago

    Food was excellent! Service was great, especially Tia who was a great hostess. This is a must see when at Carolina Beach!

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    Michael P.

    Glad to hear this. Welcome back!

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    11 months ago

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    Kate's Pancake House

    Kate's Pancake House

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    Some places serve great food. Others nourish your soul. Kate's does both…read more From the moment you walk through the door, you're welcomed with genuine smiles and a warmth that makes you feel like family. Here's what makes this place so special: 1. The Food Many of you know how much I travel, and I don't say this lightly, these are the best Eggs Benedict I've ever had. Period!!! I ordered the Crab Benedict, while my wife enjoyed the California Benedict. Every bite was simply outstanding. 2. The People The entire staff is incredibly kind, attentive, and welcoming. Yes, you may wait 25 to 50 minutes for a table, but I can honestly say it's worth every single minute. Great things are worth waiting for. 3. Kate And then there's Kate, the owner. She is truly one of a kind. Her kindness, humility, and positive spirit radiate the moment you meet her. More than anything, her faith is contagious! We spent just a few minutes talking, yet her words left a lasting impact on both of us. As we were leaving, she handed us a small pin that read, "God's Got This." Wow... it was exactly the message we needed at that moment. Please take a moment to read her story in the attached photo. It's inspiring and a beautiful reminder that faith, hope, and love still exist all around us. From now on, every day can be "CB" day for me, because I'll gladly return to Kate's for what I believe is the best breakfast, served with the biggest hearts. Thank you, Kate, for reminding us that sometimes the greatest thing on the menu isn't just the food, it's the love, faith, and kindness that come with it. God Bless you, your family and your amazing team!!! 100% Recommended

    I only got pancakes, so I can't speak to the other menu items. But the restaurant has pancake in…read morethe name so it seemed like a must. The sweet potato pancakes were insane. Perhaps some of the best pancakes I've ever had. They had nuts in them and were perfectly spiced. 10/10. Red velvet was good, the cream cheese icing was quite tasty but they weren't anything too special. And the apple pancake was my least favorite; the apple filling on top tasted like it came from a can. Super sweet and didn't taste fresh. But the pancake itself was still good. This place does not take reservations and I was told the line goes out the door in the summer. There was a large line even while we were there in the off season during a storm. So if you want to eat here on a weekend, or the weather is nice, proceed with caution and be prepared to wait (standing outside--there is no seating while you wait).

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    Need cream?
    Need cream?
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    Egg sandwich and potatoes
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    The Southerly Biscuit & Pie

    The Southerly Biscuit & Pie

    4.6
    (205 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    The food is great, but the staff is even better!…read more When you think of southern hospitality and good food this is what should come to mind.

    I haven't stopped thinking about the Southerly since our vacation in CB ended…read more Sis and I suddenly had a taste for Key Lime pie. We're close enough to Florida, surely SOMEBODY had to serve a decent KLP?! Quick Google search led me to the Southerly, which incidentally was very close to the park we were currently at. I called to see if they made them and the guy said they DO but were sold out for the day. I wasn't surprised, as I called right before they closed. I asked if I could reserve one for the next day- easy as pie, right? He was so friendly and accommodating, I probably would have gone in even if he said no pies tomorrow. Just a super warm, kind person. The Southerly is known for their biscuits, so when we went in the next day we got biscuits, sandwiches, and the pie. The biscuits are out of this world. I've never had a biscuit this good before. Tender, flaky, with a few crispy parts. The flavor was heavenly. The sandwiches were very good, I wish I had been able to try more. I even took a plain biscuits home to eat later and they're fantastic even without butter or jam. Absolute perfection. The Key lime pie was good. We didn't eat it until later that night. The crust was a little dry and crumbly. The filling was decadent, perfect, key limey in every way. I couldn't recommend this place more. Everyone was so nice, it's a great local spot. And let me tell you-- I would pay for express shipping if they offered it.

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    Inside
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    Chocolate chess pie
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    North End Java Stop

    North End Java Stop

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    A terrific convenient store that has literally all the things, as well as a place to get made to…read moreorder breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have an ice machine, alcohol, sunscreens, meds, tobacco, candy, etc. Great to grab things you may not have and need without heading into the other end of town. This is a down home place and nothing fancy. It's great. We went to get coffees and breakfast. We ordered at the counter and paid. Then, you wait for your food to be cooked in the back and there's a small window where they call your name. They do have some seats to wait. We got a coffee that was self serve and an Americano that came from the back window with our food. Ordered a chicken sandwich on a brioche bun and an açaí bowl. The sandwich was absolutely delicious! Highly recommend. The açaí bowl was terrific- loads of fruit! The base was also tasty. The service was fantastic. Makes you feel at home. Checked on us while waiting for food. People were in and out. This place is great!!!

    Super duper sweet! Like really sweet! If I'd have asked for half sweet I'd have been way happier…read more Nonetheless, vibe was "immaculate" in the words of my husband lol. Definitely a local place. The breakfast bagel was oh my heavenly!!!! We got a bacon egg and cheese and forgot to take a pic... it was that good lol. This is right by a quieter beach entrance so a stroll after was perfect.

    Photos
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Chicken Breakfast Sandwich on Biscuit
    Chicken Breakfast Sandwich on Biscuit
    Adult beverage cases

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    Adult beverage cases

    Drift Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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