Great for solo dining at the bar. Bartender was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Huevos rancheros and latte hit the spot.

Not from Winston-salem,came here in the morning to play pickle ball with friends. Young cardinal is the first to come to mind for brunch. Suggestions from friends and top recommendation for brunch in Yelp top rated lists of brunches in the Triad. Located in the corner of 4th ST in downtown Winston Salem. You can easily pass it. We were lucky to be able to find street parking cause its usually busy here. Staff greeted us once we stepped in,seated us and took our order right away. We went around 1 in the afternoon on a weekday. There is indoor and outdoor tables. I ordered the weekly limited special of the week;avocado toasts with pork belly bits,dried cranberries,brie,greens and topped with overeasy eggs( the most creative avocado toasts Ive tasted in the triad area). It is sooo savory and delicous. Hearty brunch leaving your stomach full but light. We all ordered something and shared. Everything came out quick,hot and delicous. I will have to add this to my favorite top 10 brunch places in the triad. The quality, price and portion of the items are of great value. read more

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If you want to try Young Cardinal, get there early because they fill up fast...and for good reason! It's such a solid brunch spot with great service, and the food never disappoints. The pulled pork Benedict is my go to every time. It's not advertised on the menu, but you can get a half order, which is perfect if you want to save room for something sweet. Their pancakes are HUGE and there are so many options. I went with strawberry this time and would definitely order them again! read more

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We brought some friends from England for mid-week brunch - no line, seated right away. We ordered: the Young Cardinal, omelette & huevos rancheros. The food came quickly & was delicious. I forgot how amazing the biscuits were & our friends were blown away by the food & Riley our server, she was great! This is a must when coming downtown! read more

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Excellent food and great customer service! I started with a vanilla iced latte, which was perfectly creamy and not overly sweet. Next, we had the cinnamon roll pancake which was very tasty. For entrees, we had to salmon Benedict and hot honey chicken sandwich. The sandwich was nothing special but the sweet potato tater tots were delicious. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Cinnamon roll pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Another of the good downtown restaurants that I have fought the parking to try - downtown WS's success is also a problem going forward - parking downtown needs to be addressed intelligently, which the local officials don't bring to the table, instead they are going to make changes which will just make matters worse! This is a solid restaurant with much to offer in the brunch/breakfast area - an area that has become popular and chic, and it almost always means much will be expensive, usual very expensive considering the less than costly menu ingredients that drive food choices here, and other such brunch spots. Brunch is seen as more than just a meal for some folks who are all into what is trendy, and restaurant are aware of this and prices are raised due to the "experience" element! I have tried several items here including their version of Huevos Rancheros (not a fan of how they make it, pulled pork is a party foul), the Eggs Benedict (decent but over priced for sure, $17 with bacon added), and several Omelette choices, can reach $15. This is obviously a popular spot in downtown Winston, but I find it generally overpriced, loud, and the service is inconsistent. I like a good adventure, but somethings simply are not worth the cost! Note that the prices for individual items are written, very lightly with no $ sign to the right of the item. This is done intentionally to make the customer pay less attention to what they spending. Many restaurants are using some form of this approach! read more

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I loved this place! I've been trying to make it out forever and finally had the chance. It was busy on a Sunday morning, we waited a good 30-40 minutes, but it was well worth the wait and once we were sat the food came out impressively fast! My friend ordered the breakfast burrito, it was huge! For a side she had the sweet potato tots. She let me steal a bite of both and yum! I opted for the Hot Honey Chicken with Pimento Benedict and wow! I was nervous the pimento cheese would be overpowering, but it wasn't at all! It was a nice, creamy complement to the spicy crispy chicken. The hollandaise cut through some of the richness for a pleasant mellower. Prices are reasonable and our waitress was great! The restaurant is larger than it looks but it does get quite crowded. Can't wait to come back here! read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Hot Honey Chicken with Pimento Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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I was finally able to come enjoy the restaurant while sitting at the bar. I selected a window seat. I enjoy being able to look outside and enjoy the view. The bartender took my order and brought me a water. She offered ideas on meals which she recommended. I decided on the Huevos rancheros and hash browns with a black coffee. When she put the Huevos rancheros in front of me I was amazed at the portion size. It was definitely enough for two people. It was the best Huevos rancheros I have eaten! It had avocado sliced on top then pico, eggs your way, beans, sauce and tortillas. I requested my eggs over hard. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted so good! The coffee black was also good. I usually add creamer but it did not need it. I ordered a latte to go since the bartender makes the best in town! She was so kind and attentive. If you want good breakfast with an amazing view and excellent service I highly recommend going there and sitting at the bar! read more

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Top tier breakfast spot...we didn't wait too long. To be honest the wait is worth it. I love when places do something simple spectacular. I cleaned my plate. The biscuit was delicious. It was fluffy and buttery. The sausage tasted homemade. The eggs were cooked just like how I liked them. The grits were amazing! I will get grits every time when I return. Our waiter was super friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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Food-amazing hands down the best grits I've had. Eggs cooked to perfection and the French toast spectacular. It was one of the best breakfasts I've had in a while. Service was great, side was crowded, but clean and nice. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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We ate here on a Sunday around 10 am. I thought we would have a long wait. They said 20 minutes and it was more like 15. The guy who seated us did so without a smile and mumbled something about enjoying our meal as he left. For my fist time here, I was starting to wonder. We were promptly greeted by Makayla. She was very friendly and helpful in letting us know her favorites. I ordered the grit bowl with mushrooms, onions, jalapeños, scrambled eggs, and pimento cheese. My husband had the honey hot Benedict and my son had the honey hot sandwich with a side of scrambled eggs and fruit. My husband's was the winner. Mine was good. It needed something and I couldn't figure out what it was. Taking it home as it was huge! My son said his was fine. Great restaurant with lots of ambiance. Love the logo. Would come back! read more

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Had brunch here with friends one morning recently. We were meeting friends and they were waiting at a table upon our arrival. This place is busy. An open interior with high ceilings. Our server returned shortly, took our drink orders and breakfast orders. I went for a black cup of coffee and the Young Cardinal breakfast, two eggs over medium with grits, gravy and a biscuit. Its eggs so its pretty hard to mess up, the eggs were close to medium a little over but okay. The biscuit and gravy was good and the grits were okay as well. A really good cup of java. This is a popular locals place and is busy, and its an okay breakfast joint. Not the best but not the worse, better than some not as good as others. It served its purpose. 3.5 Stars rounded up for the good java 01161 read more

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OMGosh! Young Cardinal is AWESOME! When I stopped by I was conflicted. I wanted their waffle AND the breakfast patty melt. The server suggested, why not both? They brought it out to my delight. The waffle with their signature syrup is amazing. Tasty, savory and not too sweet. The breakfast patty melt was all too good and paired nicely with an over medium egg. Just the right amount of sauce and sautéed onions. They also have classic breakfast plates with outstanding French toast. The service is amazing. Depending on seating, it can either be cozy or with a nice view of downtown. It's a lovely space overall, and I can't wait to come back. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Breakfast Patty Melt - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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We came here on a Sunday morning for breakfast. I had the Cardinal Breakfast with bacon and sausage. It was really good. It was a simple breakfast and it was done well. The servers were good and attentive. The restaurant, in general, is very cute and well decorated. I enjoyed my meal and enjoyed the experience overall. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Cardinal Breakfast with bacon and sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Warm and cozy atmosphere, delightful smells, and courteous staff all part of the recipe for a good time out. My family and I wanted to go out before the snow hit and Young Cardinal did not disappoint. The food was delicious and they had a few gluten free options for our little one (French toast). We were able to enjoy custom made omelet, the hashbrowns (was a little spicy), waffle, and regular French toast with a piece of fried chicken (breast fillet). The fried chicken was added on the side for $5 at the time. The chicken was tasty, the French toast was delicious, and the portions were perfect. If you haven't tried it, you are overdue. read more

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Ever heard of a restaurant that DOES NOT take reservations (...even when you call them hours ahead and try to do so for you and your elderly mother)?! Better yet, have you ever- in all of your years spent upon this insane planet called "Earth" - ever seen a food & beverage business lose armloads of hungry/thirsty customers arriving only to leave frustrated minutes after when they're told that they'd have to wait 40-50 minutes (basically, an hour) before they could even be seated?! Well... if not, there's the "Establishment of Ignorance" (my nickname for this so-called downtown Winston-Salem restaurant) a.k.a. The Young Cardinal Cafe awaiting your visit which is sure to leave you with a headache to go along with your hunger! Don't say I didn't warn you! This foolishly-run place is a literal joke to the truly classy and cultured. Do yourself a favor and visit/patronize Mozelle's Fresh Southern Bistro (also located in downtown W-S, NC) where the food, swift service AND customers speaks volumes in-comparison to this overrated fiasco called Young Cardinal Cafe! read more

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Another wonderful experience and delicious meal at Young Cardinal. We were told that our wait would be 30 minutes, so we ordered a lavender gin cocktail from the bar. The drinks were excellent and the wait went by quickly. We love sitting out on the patio and watching the people and pups walk by, but there's honestly not a bad seat in the place. The avocado special was beautifully presented, the ingredients were fresh and the portion was very generous! The biscuit was fluffy and flaky and the grits were the best grits we've ever had. No need for extra salt, pepper, or butter-perfect! We always look forward to visiting WS and having brunch at YCC and can't wait for our next visit. read more

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There were sixteen in our group. We agreed to sit in groups of four at booths. The restaurant serves mainly breakfast, brunch with a few things a hamburger and BLT on the menu. We were waited on quickly. I ordered a BLT and fries. I was very pleased with my BLT, as there was lots of bacon on it. The fries were not as impressive, imagine a potato wedge size sliced very thin. This would never become problem though because they offer lots of choices of sides: hash browns, pintos, grits, etc. Good service, we were even offered "to go" cups! A 20% gratuity was added to our check. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

I saw Young Cardinal Cafe was in the Yelp top 10 so had to check it out! This place did not disappoint! We came in on the tail end of what seemed to be a lunch rush but were seated right away! I'm a sucker for seasonal coffees but didn't see that they had a seasonal syrup quick enough so I ordered a mocha. It was very rich, with a bit of a coffee bite, and perfectly comforting and delicious to me. For my meal at a new place, I always like to order something that seems unique to the restaurant if available so I chose the Hot Honey Chicken with Pimento Benedict with a biscuit base substitute and a bowl of fruit. The fruit was a fresh and a good way to balance my meal. I'll try them grits next time. THE BISCUIT was the star of the show! It was soft on the inside yet firm on the outside for the Benny and full of buttery, my grandma just baked this goodness! The hollandaise sauce was also very rich and buttery. The pimento cheese was plentiful and even though I've seen people complain about the size of the chicken, I found them to be filling and perfectly cooked even while thinly pounded. This was easily one of the best brunch meals I have had in a while!!! read more

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My wife and I were in the area one day, and this place has been on our list of places to try so we decided to come here for a weekday brunch. The interior of this place is very clean and well put together. I thought the bar area off to the side was very cool. For my entrée, I went with the sausage omelette with American cheese. The sausage was very different compared to what I'm used to in your average omelette. Had a different and distinct taste that I wasn't expecting. Tasted more like chorizo than sausage. I could see myself eating this sausage by itself, but not in an omelette. I would probably go with something like bacon in my omelette the next time. The eggs were cooked very lightly and soft. Perfect amount of cheese was put in it so that part was great. Comes with your choice of a side, I went with the hashbrowns. They were ok. Wouldn't call them bad, but can't call them very good either. They came out at a lukewarm temperature as if they'd been cooked for a while and sat on the grill at a certain temperature just to keep them warm, but not overcooked. I'm sure they go through a lot of potatoes, so it could definitely be time consuming making batches every few minutes. My wife mentioned a review afterwards saying someone said to ask for them to be cooked crispy. That's definitely what I would have to do if I come back on my next visit here. The biscuit was the superstar for me. One of the best that I've ever had. Was light, fluffy, and the perfect temperature when brought out. Service was excellent and very attentive. Overall, this place is pretty good. As I mentioned, I would try some different things next time I come to see if that can add another star on my next review. Regardless, this place is worth checking out. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Sausage omelette with hash browns and a biscuit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

We've been here multiple times and they never disappoint! Pricing is phenomenal. Food is absolutely delicious and service is always friendly, professional and quick. Would highly recommend this spot to anyone - only downside is parking, which with any downtown space is going to be tough. They are totally worth it tho. There is indoor, outdoor and bar seating available. read more

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(4.75 stars) I had been wanting to try Young Cardinal for quite some time, but it always seemed so busy. During our most recent Winston trip, however, my wife and I decided to bite the bullet and endure whatever wait we had to. Fortunately, it wasn't a long one: the quoted fifteen-to-twenty minutes ended up being more like twelve. We ended up with a patio table perfect for people-watching (and likely not as loud as inside the restaurant would have been). Young Cardinal's menu offers up pancakes, waffles, omelets, bowls, and benedicts (among other things) for breakfast as well as sandwiches and salads for lunch. The biscuits/benedicts/omelets offer a good deal of customizability, including vegetarian options. There is also an assortment of coffee drinks, including several spiked coffees. After briefly contemplating the French toast of the day (a bread pudding inspired concoction with a cherry glaze - probably amazing but more dessert than brunch entrée), I opted for the hot honey chicken and pimento Benedict with hash browns as the side while my wife went with the Young Cardinal breakfast (eggs hard fried, bacon, grits, and a biscuit with a side of gravy) and a millionaire's coffee (Irish cream, Kahlua, Frangelico, whipped cream). Given how busy Young Cardinal was, we were expecting a bit of a wait for our food, but thankfully, that proved not to be the case. Service here is remarkably efficient and pleasant as well. The food was good though had I been more ravenously hungry and subjected to a longer wait for it, I might have been more critical. The Benedict was nicely plated with the eggs done just right. The chicken cutlets were a bit thin, but they delivered the expected flavors (spicy and sweet). My wife appreciated the hard cook on the eggs and enjoyed everything on the plate. Pricing was moderate: $17 apiece for our dishes. I don't know if the other Andrews Group establishments run as tight a ship as this, but with food and service as good as they are here, it isn't hard to see why Young Cardinal always seems to draw a crowd. read more

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Young Cardinal has a good breakfast menu, great tasting food, friendly service and a casual ambiance. We each tried different masks. The banana fosters waffles tasted amazing. The fried chicken and gravy biscuits were incredible, and the flavors went together so well. The crispy bacon, over-easy eggs and hash browns were really good. I highly recommend Young Cardinal. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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One of the more creative brunches in Winston! It's like our old faithful. Always consistent, some fun specials but also the classics you love. I normally go with a Benedict and the hot honey and crab cake are two of my favorites! Add a side of crispy potatoes and ranch to complete the meal. Service is always great - especially if you sit at the bar. Busy on the weekends so expect a little wait. read more

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Very lovely brunch spot in the downtown area. I ordered the YC Burger which didn't disappoint. My girlfriend got the young cardinal breakfast which I highly recommend. Their cold brew and lattes were also very good too! Love this place as well as the location and I will definitely come again :) read more

The Young Cardinal Cafe is definitely a must try if you are in Winston Salem. Arrived around 9-930 and there were already quite a few tables taken but still plenty of seating options with outdoor seating availability as well. The cafe itself is super cute and very clean. The waitress was very friendly and made sure our drinks were filled and checked on us frequently. The Boozy Coffees are definitely worth it! So delicious! We ordered the Bourbon Salted Caramel and the YC Irish YUMMY and worth it!! The food was delicious as well, however, the only negative I would say has to be that my Cuban Sandwich was drowning in stone ground mustard to the point that I just had to use my fork and scrape the mustard off and eat the meat only. That's my only negative on it the meat used in the Cuban was very flavourful. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Cuban Sandwich with Sweet Potato Tots - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Ordered the peach mimosa carafe. You could taste the champagne, needed a bit more peach flavor towards the end, but overall it was worth the money because we felt the drinks. We both ordered the young cardinal breakfast. My fiancé added fried chicken to his order. The eggs were soft scrambled so keep that in mind. The biscuit was fluffy and soft. The grits were creamy and had a bit of flavor. Lastly, the fried chicken was thin and crispy but a little dry. Less time given it was so thin would be better. Will return. read more

I'd consider this place a little bit of a "breakfast splurge". The menu items are a little pricier than you might find at a standard breakfast spot but the quality and craftsmanship is clearly there and worth it in my opinion. Every time I've been here I sat at the breakfast bar, so my server has basically been the bartender. That said, he did a great job and seemed to be pretty knowledgeable about everything on the menu. It's usually a pretty busy place especially on weekends so it's going to be a little noisy and lots of hustle and bustle with servers and customers going to and fro. The bar area provides a little hideaway from all the activity but it's not a particularly large place so don't expect to be able to take a large party in there. Great breakfast choice in downtown Winston-Salem, I would highly recommend. read more

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1000% delicious. I love Young Cardinal to the core. The menu options for this pancake lover who likes to explore everything is outstanding. The service is always on point. I can't give them enough stars for being the highlight of my love of culinary creativity and quality in the heart of downtown Winston. The ambiance is excellent. I love to watch WS thrive so you'll see me propped up in the window looking out at 4th street or waving to everyone I know. Cheers. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Smoked Salmon Benedict with hash browns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

I've been twice now. The chicken biscuit is great and the French toast has been phenomenal both times!

Young Cardinal never disappoints. If you want a table, definitely get there early because it fills up fast. The food is incredible! I've tried several items on the menu and have never had anything that wasn't superb. Wait times can be a bit long, especially on weekends, but the quality of the food makes it worth it. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Hot honey pimento cheese eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

My son, who remembers nothing about anywhere we go, wanted to go to the "Cardinal" place when I mentioned brunch. Me, too, bud...me, too! It's 40 minutes away but worth the drive for the best brunch and Bloody Marys! And the chocolate chip pancakes. read more

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The 2 star review has nothing to do with the food, but the service. We arrived on a Sunday with a group of 7, understanding that it was going to be busy. We waited about an hour for our table, our server took our drink order promptly and then brought us all drinks with about 3 pieces of ice, someone at the table ordered an iced coffee which then sat on the bar ready to be delivered to the table for the next 20 minutes. By the time our food arrived which was about an hour the whole table was completely out of water. We requested a refill and our server came back to refill the drinks, when she came back she had a very obvious attitude towards us for asking for our drinks to be refilled. 5 out of 7 entrees came out at the same time, while the other 2 didn't come out until the others had completely finished their food. My entree was one of the two that came out late, my sandwich came out without a side. By the time my side arrived I had already eaten half of my food (as pictured). I know not all of this is the servers fault as she can't control the timing of the kitchen and food, but she was not very friendly and didn't care to check in but twice the whole 2 1/2 hours we were there. And on top of all that there was 20% automatic gratuity added on all the checks. It seemed like she knew it was automatic so she didn't care to work for a tip. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Cuban sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Loved coming here for breakfast! There was a bit of a wait so we put our name in and walked around downtown while we waited. Once we were sat, our server was super nice and the menu was overwhelming in the aspect of there being so many things I wanted to try! I ordered the Monte cristo with a side of grits and both were excellent. I would definitely go back! read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Monte cristo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Initial signs, crowded and busy. This is a very good sign. Service great. Servers were friendly and smiled (a lot) even though they were swamped. We had eggs benedict (excellent). The side of chorizo was too salty. Hash browns were also good. Nice environment. Prices were reasonable. Location is good, safe. Would repeat. read more

When I tell you the Hot Honey Fried Chicken Benedict SLAPS!!! It's seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor! Our waitress was very attentive and super friendly. Every time I have eaten here-I leave wondering what I will order the next time. The restaurant has a casual artsy-come as you are vibe. Now- I'm counting down to the weekend for brunch! read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Hot Honey Fried Chicken Benedict with fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

What a great brunch spot. It felt nice and cozy and our waitress was very friendly and attentive! I had a hard time deciding what to order. It all looked good. I love Eggs Benedict and they had a Eggs Benedict made with fried chicken. I couldn't resist thinking while telling myself that I should enjoy a southern twist while visitng the south. My patner ordered a classic breakfast with biscuit and (of course) fried chicken. Both of us loved our breakfast. read more

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The food was amazing as always. I love sitting on their outdoor patio and people watching. Definitely try it if you're in Winston-Salem. read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Bananas Foster waffle and a side of bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Delicious food, great indoor ambience and impeccable service from Scotland! Me & hubby were in Winston Salem for the international Black Film Festival Week & decided to venture out into our hotel neighborhood for breakfast one morning. This was our absolute best restaurant meal we had the entire week! We are looking forward to visiting again when we travel down from the DMV! read more

Young Cardinal Cafe - Avocado Toast topped with New Orleans Crawfish, pinto beans salad & scrambled egg white. Smashed avocado on 2 slices of wheat berry bread. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

I haven't found a better brunch spot. They have everything from traditional breakfast, lunch options, the best of both worlds, and some pretty fantastic waffles and pancakes. My personal favorite is the bananas foster pancakes. I also am obsessed with their grits! Always give me an iced coffee to wash it all down with. Be sure to prepare for a wait but it's worth it! read more

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