I was very impressed with my first visit. There was a long wait on Sunday morning. They do have a check-in feature on Yelp. I ordered the Bananas Foster French Toast, and it was terrific. I also tried the sweet heat chicken and French toast bites. I'm not a massive fan of the sweet heat syrup. The chicken was good, though. I ordered a side of bacon. It was very solid! I will go back for sure. read more

Our server Austin was wonderful! He had great recommendations and the food was amazing!

Food was ok...I had the cinnamon swirl pancakes with a side of sweet heat chicken. Service wasn't the best, order wasn't correct, my daughter had potatoes in her grits. Would I go back yes...everyone has a one off day occasionally. read more

All of the negative reviews are true. Our reservation (which required a credit card to secure) was at noon, and we didn't sit at the table until 1pm. We waited outside in the cold for 45 minutes, and then waited inside for an additional 15 because our table was still dirty. When we tried to ask a nearby bus person to wipe it off, they brushed us off and pointed us to the manager. It was to the point where my kids were wiping the table down because we were getting no help. We finally sit, didn't have menus because the hostess didn't want to give them to us, and then she gave an attitude when we tried to ask again. The food was fine, but not great, and also took a really long time to arrive. This place is nearby but would rather drive an extra 30 mins to go to the one near uptown, or literally just find a different option altogether. That says a lot. read more

This was an amazing experience! Put our names on the waitlist and got sat almost immediately after walking in the door-- we ordered everything all at one time. Our server was incredible! Great energy even though the place was so busy. Sweet woman with long brown hair.. can't remember her name. Our drinks and food came so fast and everything tasted so good. Do yourself a favorite and order the Pumpkin Marshmallow Beignets soooo yummy! read more

Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne - Blueberry Lavendar mimosa and Vanilla Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

It showed open online and joined the waitlist. By the time I arrived it said closed. Horrible!

I was hesitant based on some reviews. I took a gamble and boy am I glad!!! I got on the waitlist and had no problem. The host that sat us was very nice. Our waitress Krista was extremely helpful and personable. We had so many questions and she was so patient with us. Everyone should be like Krista. I got the berry chantilly pancakes. Delicious!!!! I also got a side of scrambled cheese eggs. Nothing noteworthy other than they could have been warmer. Not a dealbreaker for me. My friend got the candy bacon bites. This was a first for me. The flavor was delicious. I like my bacon more crisp but I know that is a personal choice. My friend also enjoyed their food and cleaned their plate. I plan to go back because there are so many other options that I want to try. read more

Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne - Berry Chantilly pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Family of 6 went on a Sunday after church. Several got pancakes and they were good. I got an order of the candied bacon. It was good but the presentation was lacking. It was just 6 half slices tossed in a bowl. I also got the loaded Tots, which were good. Usually an order of loaded fries or Tots is huge but these were in a regular sized bowl. Again not too impressed with their presentation. Overall the prices were on a par with other places. The place was clean. Our server was average. Glad I went, am I dying to go back? Not really read more

Bre was an amazing server for our later breakfast. The kitchen was backed up but she handled the situation like a pro. When we come back, I hope she's working! read more

My husband and grandmother have been dying to try this place. We all decided to give it a try and walked out telling each other that we will NOT be back. Our server, which I believe was also the bartender, he seemed to be upset that we had to serve tables. When he came over to ask if we were ready to order he sighed so heavily as if we were a burden. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt the whole time we were there. I was super nice and thought to myself "maybe he has something going on outside of work". Until I saw his demeanor with the other restaurant staff, he seemed fine with them. In our eyes he didn't put the sunshine in "Ruby Sunshine". The food: the French toast bites tasted like the frozen sticks you get from Walmart. Our breakfast was okay read more

Anything and everything I could go wrong went wrong at this place. We actually got seated right away. Didn't see waitress for about 15 minutes then she came. Get a drink Orders and took another 15 minutes or so to come back. Ordered our food took another at least 30 minutes to get our food or food was cold and our waitress was nowhere to be found are drinks went unfilled several times actually got a different waiter, to fill drinks for us not to mention the bill ended up being $75 for breakfast and that was with only one alcoholic drink and a water. The food was subpar at best . We watched tables that got their way after us get their food eat and leave before we got our food. read more

Little back story I have worked in restaurants for 10 years I want to write honest reviews I currently work at a 5 star restaurant. Service was great a little short staffed but the kitchen was taking a long time getting food out Food was good when it did come out everything tasted great it my whole meal did take a hour from start to finish wasn't to bad but the server was attentive and friendly would definitely come back read more

Insane wait. Only half of the restaurant was full and they could not seat people. Could not even keep up with half the restaurant seated.

Love the food hate the wait staff. A couple suggestions- have manager roaming the floor speaking to guests. Train wait staff to return to table immediately after food delivery to ensure everything is right or to see if anyone needs anything like more to drink or consumer napkins or silverware. Also don't know how you run out of an item featured in the menu. Otherwise enjoyed my Bloody Mary and beignets and veggie omelet and Benedict. read more

I had an embarrassing experience today that really reminded me why this place stands out. I had come in a bit unsure about what to order and ended up misreading the menu, ordering something completely different from what I intended. I was half expecting it to be a little awkward when my order came out--but that's when the manager stepped in, and honestly, she made the whole experience delightful. She came over with such a friendly, approachable demeanor, and immediately explained the mix-up in a way that felt completely natural--no judgment, just helpful guidance. What really struck me was how effortlessly she balanced professionalism with personality; she was clearly knowledgeable about the menu, but also quick with a little humor and charm that made me feel instantly at ease. It wasn't just a simple correction--she took the time to explain the options, share a few personal favorites, and even gave little tips on what pairs well with the dishes. I genuinely appreciated that she wasn't rushing me, even though the place was fairly busy. Beyond that, she had this energy that just made the atmosphere brighter. You could tell she genuinely cared about the guests' experience, not just about taking orders and keeping things moving. There's something rare about someone who can be competent, smart, and personable all at once, and she clearly has it down to an art. By the time I left, not only did I end up with exactly what I wanted, but I also felt like the experience was elevated simply because of her presence. It's the kind of service that makes you want to come back, not just for the food, but for the people who make the place feel welcoming and well-run. If you're considering visiting, pay attention to the staff here--they clearly know what they're doing, and they make the experience feel personal and enjoyable. I can't recommend this place enough, especially if you get the chance to be helped by someone as sharp, kind, and funny as she is. Five stars all the way! read more

I want to really like any place that trends to Cajun since my family is from Louisiana but I'm just not that impressed with my first visit. I will definitely go again to make sure it wasn't just a one time thing. The restaurant was uncomfortably hot. Like no airflow. Not sure If the AC was not working but no fans either. We had a great start with the Beignets which were light and fluffy. The Benedict's were good not great. Half liked the biscuits half were in the just ok camp. Service was just ok. Food arrived in a reasonable time. Cost was on par with other similar brunches. read more

My service here is typically very good, but my experience today was unacceptable. We had a large party; and my meal was overlooked---everyone was almost done eating when my meal arrived ...and unfortunately I had to have a back-forth with our server just to get a receipt. My server seemed irritated before we even ordered. The automatic 20% gratuity was definitely more than what was deserved. Food: good Service: horrible read more

Food was excellent!! Our server was nice but could not keep table numbers straight. Two meals were brought to our table that was not ours.

My sister and I decided to meet up for brunch and stumbled across this restaurant online. We signed up online, and I arrived before her, so they dont seat you down until your whole party has arrived, so I did have to wait a while until she arrived. There were a lot of people waiting outside, so there was a bit of a wait if you didn't sign up online. I think at one point the wait time was an hour and a half. The employees were all nice and welcoming. I ordered the fried chicken egg Benedict with a side of grits, and my sister ordered the shrimp egg Benedict. The grits were very tasty, and I enjoyed them. Now the chicken egg Benedict was delicious, but the only thing was that I did find the chicken to be somewhat harder than I would expect chicken to be, and it was a but dry BUT since it did come with a poached egg, the yolk did help the chicken be a little more softer and have juicier. Their peach Bellini was very tasteful and refreshing on this hot day, and my sisters mimosa was also very delicious. Definitely recommend this location and returning. read more

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Oh man. This one hurts. I want to LOVE this place.... It's much needed in the Ballantyne area (great breakfast joints are more plentiful in other pockets of Charlotte). My son and I went in on Sunday after church (early) in hopes that we could avoid the crazy wait times. We've seen it getting to be well over an hour wait time at peaks to get in here. We've been to the other location and thought it was "just ok" so we were hoping that the new sparkle of this place would still be going since it's not been open long. First - we were seated right away, that was good. But - the table they put us in was practically on top of another couple. WHY? The booths along the windows were all wide open, but they awkwardly sat us up close an personal with another couple. They had to move their table's extra chair to give us enough room to sit so we weren't in the pathway of the waitstaff, etc. weird choice, but we shrugged it off. Then we waited for too long to get drink orders. We watched the waitress and her trainee go to every single table around us - she even cleaned another table before making her way to us. (Also strange). When she finally walked over, we were ready to give the drink order but got the, "I'll be right over" response..... ummm....... OK. Again, shrugged it. They weren't super busy, but she clearly was. We noticed other waitstaff must have been waiting for their sections to get seated as they made awkward eye contact a few times. She finally came over with her trainee (who we recognized from other Ballantyne area restaurants, so we know she's not new to waiting tables, just Ruby Sunshine's tables). Anyway, no intro, just a quick drink order and comment that the trainee would bring it. My son and I gave each other the look and insisted to one another that we stay open minded before we mentally add this to the "LIST" of no-go restaurants. The meals themselves were fine. I mean just "FINE" . It was a bit off putting that my omelette came out and the nice gentleman that brought it had his finger practically ON my omelette as he placed the plate down (no gloves, just thumb touching my omelette). I cut that piece off and the omelette was as one would hope. It was cooked as it should have been and wasn't overly oily which has been an issue elsewhere. The beignets were tasty, but let's be honest, those were more like fried grands biscuits versus true beignets. The seasonal option was tasty and those were by the far the most delicious thing we got. The grits were not as creamy and tasty as I'd hoped, but again, "fine" was the theme. Kiddo liked his stuff but the beignets filled him up enough to not want to finish his French toast bites. I will say that the coffee was GREAT. I wish I had a refill or two more, but it was fresh, hot and tasty. (That was much appreciated for sure). Checking out was a bit strange as the waitress stood over my shoulder the WHOLE time. (Yes, even as it came time to pick the tip). I tipped 20% as I always do, but super strange to have someone standing over your shoulder as you do that. She wasn't that attentive until the VERY end, so I was sort of thinking about how I'd have loved that level of attention to my very empty coffee mug that was sitting in front of me. So - yes, Ruby sunshine is good, it's FINE. They'll work out the service kinks since I have no doubt the Ballantyne crew won't let them stay mediocre and survive. I do like the location and when we opt for a cocktail breakfast, we'll likely try this place. But for the kiddo and I - it was just an OK. We'll probably keep going just outside of B'tyne for our breakfast go-tos. read more

Moved to Charlotte in September 2004. What my family experienced yesterday was the WORST in 21 years of any restaurant. I will leave you all with this....when we arrived to our table after an almost hour wait (keep in mind there were about 10 tables with no people seated) noticed little cards that said FREE appetizer valid on your next visit. We were a party of 6 and three of us ordered dishes with eggs. Please be honest and put on your menu that they are not real eggs for the omelets and scrambled. Breakfast potatoes were oily and cold. One of us wanted to add another meat item to their breakfast tacos and was told it was not allowed. So much more negative things occurred that would have you shaking your head. Back to the FREE cards on the table....obviously others felt the way I did about that restaurant and WILL NOT return....thus the reason those cards aren't in wallets and purses for NEXT TIME and just sitting on all the tables....there is NO next time! Bad management, service and quality at this location. read more

Went on a very busy Saturday morning. The wait was about 30m so we asked about sitting at the bar which was first come first served. Was seated right away and our waitress greeted us right away and was attentive the whole time. The place itself has more of a diner ambiance, nothing spectacular but it was clean and everything was brand new. Food arrived pretty quick which surprised me with how busy they were. My eggs Benedict were fantastic, perfectly seasoned and absolutely delicious. Mimosa was not anemic enough for me but overall was good. I definitely recommend this new brunch place and looking forward to my next visit! read more

Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne - Chicken St. Charles Benedict Eggs Blackstone The O.G. Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

FOH staff should be fired. We arrive with our party of 5 arround 1040am. We're told it will be a 20 min wait or so. After 35 mins, we went to the host stand to inquire about our table. The host let us know that a party of 8 was getting up and that they would be clearing off that table for us shortly. We then watched as they pulled the table apart to be two 4 tops and slapped a chair on the end of one, sticking out into the walkway. We let them know that we will not fit comfortably at a 4 top and requested that we sit somewhere that we will fit or that they put two adjacent tables together. Another employee standing next to the host stood there sneering at us and snickering her teeth. After going back and forth about the table, all the while, being glared at by their staff, we walked out. Bad enough that you have to stand outside for 40 minutes waiting while they have a dozen empty tables in the restaurant- but then they have the audacity to stand there blatantly annoyed and snickering their teeth at 5 people requesting to not be crammed at a 4 top while staring at available options that would allow you to sit comfortably. Can only imagine how horrible the rest of the experience would have been, but thankfully, we don't have to find out. read more

Came on a Saturday morning during a PGA tournament, so we expected it to be busy. Waited 40 minutes for a table for 2 which was fine. Waited another 40 minutes for food while other tables that got there after us already had theirs. Once our food came out, our eggs were cold and my breakfast tacos were soggy and inedible. I assume they had been sitting out for a while. The server that helped us was very nice and understanding and took my tacos off the bill. Just slightly disappointing based on wait times. read more

It's my second attempt at this spot on a Monday, and honestly, I'm not sure they will make it. Service is slow, and the servers seem new. I got the fish and grits; it was cold. They remade it, but my fish was burnt. I didn't bother to send it back because I knew this experience was going nowhere. Ballantyne struggles with boozie breakfast options, and Ruby is a shining example. read more

Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne - Fish and grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

We were really excited to give Ruby Sunshine a shot, as we are always looking for new brunch places to try. Things started off great, as our server was upbeat and welcoming and had a lot of enthusiasm about it being our first time. We decided to go with the mimosa flight, the mix and match bennies and the white chocolate pancakes. The food and drinks came out pretty quickly, but things started to tail off from there, as our server was nowhere to be found for long stretches, to the point where we decided to just skip ordering full sized mimosas of our two favorites from the flight, because she disappeared on us, so we didn't want to bother. The food was solid but not spectacular given the portion sizes and price points, and the service was inconsistent at best. Little things go a long way with me, so maintaining consistent service from start to finish, not just at the start or when it's time to pay the bill (and get the tip), and being acknowledged by the hostess both upon entering and leaving, are small things but they show that our business is appreciated. Overall, it wasn't bad by any means, so we give it a 3 out of 5, as it is fine, but not somewhere we would go out of our way to visit, given the abundance of 3-4 star breakfast/brunch places within a 15 minute radius. read more

We stopped by for Brunch today, loved it. We had: Bayou Shrimp Benedicts, St Charles Benedicts & B1 Biscuit & Sausage Gravy. WOW!! Fantastic. Service: Our Server Nyjah was so sweet she told us popular items, and suggested her favs. She checked up on us the right amount of times, not too little, just enough. Ambiance: Insidr was spacious, and decorated nicely.. We did have a 40 min wait to be seated, but worth the wait. Will be back! San & LN read more

It's new, so there's a 2-3 hr wait, even with reservations. I decided to jump to the bar. I had reviewed the menu and instead prior to. I knew I was getting the Mimosa Flight and Chicken St. Charles Benedict. I love southern comfort and a little razzmatazz. It's such a cute little spot; it's open and airy. The wait was long, and I had hoped the meal would make up for it. I was a bit underwhelmed. My Mimosa Flight was sparkling wine with Blueberry Lavender, Watermelon Pomegranate, Pineapple Peach, and Blue Orange. The only one I cared for was the watermelon one. They weren't overly sweet; I'd say more acidic. The Chicken St. Charles Benedict was made with scrambled eggs. Its 2 seasoned lightly fried chicken breast served over a buttermilk biscuit, topped with two poached eggs, finished with a pork tasso cream sauce. I was hoping for this succulent savory bite that oozed nawlins, but it was missing seasoning. The flavor or the sauce fell flat. I don't even think there was salt in it. I was shocked as I could physically see specks of seasoning of some sorts in the sauce. I was tipsy, so my taste buds could be augmented, but I kept eating to absorb the alcohol. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed. I would come back again and try a different meal. read more

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Food, service & ambiance perfect for a nice breakfast with a friend. A quiet restaurant with a great serving staff who are attentive, but not over the top. I highly recommend this restaurant! I hope we get Andrea again...she is new, but very efficient and remembered details re food requests. The hot coffee kept coming without being asked. Thank you for a great start on a rainy morning. read more

Ehhh......way too expensive. Ambiance not there, standard crowded tables . $4 cup of coffee, luke warm grits and nuked eggs. My expensive experience cost me $18 with tip. Better places to eat in the area. I will say the staff was super friendly. read more

Excellent food, great service, awesome environment! Chicken St. Charles Benedict is amazing. read more

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Ugh, I really wanted to like this place, and we'd been trying to get there on a weekend, but the parking lot always seemed packed. We had a free Friday morning and decided to stop by around 10:30 am. There were only a few other parties in there, so we thought we'd have the best experience... not quite. There was a dead fly stuck to the window, and the windowsill was full of crumbs. Our waitress - bless her heart - struggled. She took my husband's order first, which felt a little odd but we rolled with it. He ordered the fried chicken sandwich, and she kept asking what meat he wanted. Um. It said it came with fries, and she asked if he was okay with the grits. Um. Her questions got so awkward that I finally had to step in and say, "You know he said he wanted the fried chicken sandwich, right?" and she said, "Oh, I was looking at the breakfast sandwich." Then she asked him AGAIN what side he wanted. For the love! She said she was new, but lawwwd. My order (surprisingly) went off without a hitch, and I actually got the breakfast sandwich with bacon, scrambled eggs, and cheese with a side of tater tots. My sandwich had so many scrambled eggs on it that I had to eat those with a fork before I could even get into the sandwich, and they were pretty greasy. The rest of the food was... fine? Meh. Our waitress never came back to check on us, and we sat forevvvvver after we were done eating, waiting for her to come back with the check. I'd hate to see what the service and food are like here on a busy day. At least the parking is easy? read more

This place is amazing. The service is great, and the food is absolutely delicious. The coffee was also great. We'll definitely be going again. read more

Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne - French Truck Iced Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Just left a pleasant brunch here with my daughter. She'd been to the South End location which she'd raved about, so I was excited to see a location pop up in my area. We both got bennies- a pork & a fried chicken and they were amazing! Brought a to-go breakfast sandwich with breakfast potatoes home to my husband and that was also delicious. Enjoyed a pineapple mimosa & their pours are generous! Our server was excellent- busy but still attentive and gave us an appreciated head's up to go ahead and place my to-go order with our food order because the food was taking a while to come out- they were very busy for Sunday brunch. Love that you can join the waitlist from home in order to alleviate some of the wait. We will be back! read more

Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne - Peacemaker Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

It was the best breakfast ever. Extremely flavorful. Eggs Benedict with one English muffin with chicken and the other with shredded beef. Delicious. Tina was my waiter. She was very friendly and very attentive. She was also very knowledgeable of the menu and an excellent promoter of the restaurant. The ambiance was conducive to a brunch setting. It's very warm and inviting. read more

Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne - Ruby Sunshine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I rather the Ballantyne location over the bland location any day! The staff is outstanding, the food is great and the drinks are 20 out or 10! The ambiance is amazing as well i highly recommend this place read more

Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The entire experience was awful. We will not not be returning to restaurant. The food was terrible, the server was indifferent, and it was pricy. I would never recommend this place. read more

Service & food were great! Lots to choose from. Large portions of food for the cost. Highly recommend! read more

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$30 for small omelette, lumpy grits, a single pancake (that alone cost $4.50!!!!!) and coffee. Food was ok certainly not great but really a terrible value for $30 with very average service. One & done for me, will not be back. Bless the wait staff kitchen staff & front of house staff ... salt of the earth, hard working good folk. read more

Let me start out my review by saying that the server admittedly noted that there was a change of management recently, which directly impacted the level of service. That being said, this was my first time visiting, and I was thoroughly disappointed. There was complete chaos in the kitchen the area where I was sitting was dirty. And the food was Lackluster. I definitely will not be returning. read more