Charlotte’s South End has plenty of brunch contenders, but one sunny corner on West Bland Street keeps pulling crowds out of bed early.
Ruby Sunshine Charlotte Southend serves up the bold flavors and warm hospitality of New Orleans with an all-day brunch menu and eye-opening cocktails.
Think fluffy biscuits, creative benedicts, and French toast bites that could convince anyone that breakfast deserves to be the main event.
How Ruby Sunshine Charlotte Southend won locals’ hearts
Ruby Sunshine comes from the owners of New Orleans’ beloved Ruby Slipper Cafe, so it arrived in Charlotte with real Big Easy credentials.
That pedigree shows up on every plate, with Creole sauces, pork tasso, and Gulf shrimp bringing a taste of Louisiana to South End.
The team runs a scratch kitchen and prepares food to order instead of relying on shortcuts.
They also use fresh and local ingredients whenever possible, which locals can taste in every bite.
The all-day brunch format is a gift to late risers, because nobody has to rush out of bed to get their benedict fix.
Then there are the eye-opening cocktails, which turn a simple breakfast into a full-blown weekend celebration.
The menu covers Southern-inspired breakfast classics, satisfying lunch favorites, and indulgent sweet specialties, so every craving has a match.
Indecisive diners love that they can mix any two benedicts and get the best of both worlds.
Seasonal menus keep regulars curious, with fall flavors, winter specials, and spring dishes rotating through the year.
The restaurant even throws a festive Mardi Gras celebration, bringing a bit of Bourbon Street energy to Bland Street.
A patio gives guests a sunny spot to linger over coffee and conversation.
Ruby Sunshine also gives back to the communities it serves, which earns it extra goodwill around the neighborhood.
Put all of that together, and it’s easy to see why this brunch spot became a South End habit for so many Charlotteans.
Food Highlights
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Beignets: Fresh, handmade New Orleans-style beignets covered in powdered sugar, six to an order, make the perfect sweet start to share with the table (or not). 🍩
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French Toast Bites: A founder’s favorite of brioche French toast bites, fried and tossed in cinnamon sugar, then served with cream cheese icing and praline sauce for pure dessert-for-breakfast joy. 🍞
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Sweet Heat Chicken and French Toast Bites: Fried chicken and fresh strawberries tossed in hot honey glaze over French toast bites, a sweet and spicy combo that guests keep raving about. 🍗🍯
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Chicken St. Charles Benedict: Fried chicken breast on a buttermilk biscuit, topped with two poached eggs and finished with pork tasso cream sauce, a smoky, crispy, and ridiculously comforting crowd favorite. 🍳
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Bayou Shrimp Benedict: Gulf shrimp sautéed with pork tasso and Creole tomato sauce over two poached eggs, fried green tomatoes, and a buttermilk biscuit, which feels like a quick trip to Louisiana. 🦐
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Eggs Cochon Benedict: Slow-cooked, apple-braised pork on a buttermilk biscuit with two poached eggs and hollandaise, slightly sweet, deeply savory, and very hard to forget. 🐷
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The Trifecta: A “Taste of Ruby” plate with all three signature benedicts (Cochon, Chicken St. Charles, and Bayou Shrimp), so first-timers get the full experience in one order. 🏆
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Bananas Foster French Toast: New Orleans-style French toast topped with rum-flambéed bananas and raisins, a nod to one of the Big Easy’s most famous desserts. 🍌
Atmosphere
Ruby Sunshine feels bright, cheerful, and buzzing with that lively South End weekend energy.
The patio is a great spot for sipping a brunch cocktail in the sunshine with friends.
Southern hospitality sets the tone, so everyone from solo diners to big brunch groups feels right at home.
Bottom Line
Come for the New Orleans-inspired comfort food, scratch-made dishes, all-day brunch, eye-opening cocktails, and a sunny patio that makes lingering way too easy.
Address: 332 W Bland St, Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28203
📞 (980) 273-1230
🕔 Open Daily, Mon-Fri 7 AM–2 PM | Sat-Sun 7 AM–3 PM