The Coffee Cup

When we went into the restaurant we noticed it was not busy but very noisy. The cook and servers were yelling back and forth in conversation and continued to do so the entire visit. We ordered sweet tea and of course un-sweet was served, but that was corrected. The wife ordered baked chicken, pintos and collards. She said the chicken was good but the pintos were fresh out of the can and the collards were not very tasty. I ordered the steak, the only one they have, and ordered it med well. I also got the pintos and collards and agree with the wife. No one could have cooked this steak med well as it was so thin you almost could see through it. The meat was low quality as it was mostly fat. Both meals were served on paper plates with plastic wear, not that bad. But when you try and cut a very thin steak on a paper plate with a real knife, not pretty. I ordered the peach cobbler which was served very hot, which is good, and had a real spoon. Could only eat a little as it was just plain sugar. more

I'll have to admit that my first experience with Coffee Cup University wasn?t the greatest. But, after giving them a second chance I was very pleased with the dinner. The baked chicken, macaroni and cheese with cabbage were all piping hot, mouth watering and deliciously seasoned. I thought to myself, ""Everyone deserves a second chance."" Coffee Cup University, you pulled through! more

My daughter and I went to the Coffee Cup in the University Area yesterday. The staff/manager was polite, the restaurant was very slow, we were seated and were told to order off the lunch menu, very limited indeed. I ordered shrimp and grits, my daughter ordered the baked chicken and I ordered another meal to go. They seemed to be out of a lot of the side items we initially wanted, also out of corn bread. Shrimp and grits were OK, mac and cheese it seems we got the last of it, lots of scraps, the fried okra was definitely frozen and tasted like spoiled oil The biscuits were hard as hockey pucks, not edible. THe restaurant itself could use an overhaul, the appearance is dark and depressing and messy, there is a large shelf in the waiting area that's covered with clutter, flyers, cards, etc. They need to spend some money and revamp the place to look better, light paint, new tablecloths, new file floor, happier brighter environment, maybe someone could donate this decorating service? My feeling is this restaurant will not last much longer if some changes are not made. more

I am a soul-food critic! I visited the Coffee Cup in University and I was really excited about the hype it has caused and wanted to patronize it. Since I have become the Ambassador of Restuarants for my out of town guests, I have to make sure the food is great, and service is just as good. My husband and I went to the Coffee Cup about 7:30 pm on a Tuesday evening. The server was polite and greeted us very nicely and took our orders right away. She suggested we only order from the lunch menu and it was very limited. My husband ordered the T-bone steak, (per the server's suggestion) and I ordered the fried chicken breast. We waited about twenty minutes for our food. I was excited at first about the appearance of the fresh cut collard greens that were steaming....ummm, and the candy yams were coated with a nice syrup. Then I saw the macaroni and cheese, it was runny with water at the bottom of the bowl and the cheese was curled and not baked and the cheese never stuck to the noodles at all. My husbad got his mouth-watering t-bone steak (medium well of course), at least he thought the mouth-watering juices were steak juice, but he bit into a mouth full of bottled smoke- so I tasted it myself and yep....it taste like antisceptic in the brown bottle. The steak had an unforgettable taste. As for my entree, the chicken breast was moist and tasted like the grease had not been changed in months. As the server approached us, she saw the look on our faces and saw that we still had full plates of food where we only took two bites out of it. Although the greens and yams were great, we did order chicken and steak. She asked how everything was, we told her not as what we expected and she apologized. For a $12.00 Steak, at least make sure there is A1 at the table and not some off brand steak sauce that was just as horrible as the steak. My soul was not comforted and this was everything but soul food. Pros: Service Cons: Food Choices more

I've heard about ""The Coffee Cup"" but had never gone there until today.The food doesn't quite match the hype.Yeah,the chicken and steak is good and so are the vegetable sides.But the food is so fatty and greasy,its almost nauseating.I mean,I'm all for good food that isn't always good for you,but couldn't they have had at least one item on their menu that wasn't deep-fried and smothered in fat?If you're all for choking on cholesterol and making a doctor's appointment after visiting this joint,then go for it.I'll stick to the healthier restuarants. more

They have a truely authentic diner feel, customer service is amazing and the food.....heavenly. It is worth a visit! Cons: If you do not get there early enough they may run out of certain food items and the wait can be unpleasant! more

I tried Coffee Cup out for the 1st time. Had to dodge the hug potholes to find decent parking plus the place is definitely a ramshack and needs some serious renovating. Looks like it has never been updated since it was first built. Ordered shirmp and grits which was good but was so buttery that the oil from the butter was showing through the brown bag. Maybe I will order it from the side next time. Pros: good food Cons: poor parking, place is rundown, need to fill potholes more

I was really excited to go to The Coffee Cup. Where to start? The coffee was watery and lukewarm. I got two eggs over easy and 2 flat-as-a-board biscuits. My total was $6.55. My friend got two sickly sausage patties and 2 scrambled eggs with cheese - total of 5.51. They were incapable of bringing out our orders at the same time - I don't want to speculate why. Also, you will pretty much die of thirst if you expect a lukewarm coffee refill. This is one Southern stop to skip! more

This place is so authentic. The well-used big pots for the grits and the coffee-cup shaped sign outside say it all. They've been here since the 40s', and it sure does have a history to tell. Definitely try the SHRIMP AND GRITS. The best I've had!! It comes loaded with shrimp, and is flavorful and extremely satisfying. Authentic biscuits, too. I am definitely going to try the chicken and waffles the next time I visit. I hear rumors that they may be torn down by some evil developers. ""It's still up in the air"" is what we heard from the fine people at Coffee Cup. I sure do home they continue the tradition. Pros: comfort food, neighborhood diner Cons: may not be around for too long more

The Coffee Cup is a quaint nostalgic eatery, that features authentic southern soul food. You can find anything from fried pork chops to my favorite comfort food, Sweet Potato Cobbler! If you want a down-home taste of Charlotte's soul, i highly recommend The Coffee Cup. Pros: Food, Great Food, Great Soul Food! Cons: Crowded more

The Coffee cup has changed hands over the years but it still remains true to its roots. This is hands down the best place to find soul food in Charlotte. This is not a place to go for the decor but for the wonderful food. Where else can you get catfish and grits for breakfast? Whether you go for breakfast or lunch, it is well worth your time to give it a shot. You get huge servings and you might hear some interesting stores while you eat. It's always crowded and you might have to wait, but it is worth it. Pros: Food, Food, atmosphere Cons: Crowded more