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    Drift Cafe Village Plaza

    3.8 (62 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Menu 10/24
    Antoinette C.

    5 star experience all around. The vibe, the atmosphere, the food, the people. I absolutely loved this place. When we pulled up, we noticed how new and clean everything seemed. Seeing as this place only had 11 reviews, I was a little scared to try it, but I love trying new places in new cities, so we dove in. Once inside, we waited by the front door to be seated. At first, the hostess went to seat us at a table for two in the middle of the room, but I asked to be seated near the window so that we could bask in the sunlight. Our server was Olivia. She was sweet, perky and full of recommendations. I finally decided on the iced mocha and the crispy potato brekkie with the aioli on the side. My husband had an iced chai and the breakfast burrito as a bowl. Holy moly, when I say 5 stars, I mean 5 stars. The flavors were phenomenal! My potatoes were topped with fresh oregano and this truly made the dish. Each bitr was crispy yet fluffy, the eggs were tender and light as air and the bacon wasn't salty and perfectly complemented the eggs. We had ketchup and hot sauce brought to the table, but it wasn't needed as everything was perfectly seasoned! I actually finished my entire bowl. I never eat all my food at a restaurant, so that's how you know that was good. If I come back to the area, this will be the first place I stop!

    Breakfast burrito
    Vanessa H.

    Very cute cafe with amazing food! I was around the area picking up some groceries, and I heard from a couple friends about this new cafe that opened up. We came around 12:30 which was peak brunch time, and we had to wait about 20-30 minutes for a seat to open up. Make sure to hop on a waitlist beforehand on Google or on Yelp to minimize your wait time. After waiting and getting seated, we were greeted by such a kind waitress named Olivia (give her a raise)! She was delightful, so kind, and really pretty! All of the items on the menu looked delicious, so we had a difficult time choosing. I opted for the breakfast burrito with the dressed greens. After waiting a decent amount of time for our food (maybe we were just hangry), the food finally came. It was so so good! The breakfast burrito was filled with scrambled eggs, pulled pork, onions, and a lot of avocado! The tortilla itself was not too thick, which I enjoyed. It was very flavorful inside. The only complaint I have was that some bites were a little bit salty, and the contents inside the burrito weren't distributed well enough. But nonetheless, it was a delicious meal. I would definitely come back for another brunch excursion to try some of their other dishes!

    $6.50 latte
    Birgitte H.

    The menu online doesn't include prices or specify sizes. This teeny tiny latte was $6.50, which is pretty wild in Chapel Hill, NC (no special milk or anything). No great space to wait for to-go orders. Interior is cute though and decent amount of outdoor seating

    Exterior
    Susan C.

    First visit. Mid morning. Bright and warm. Service was stellar. A seriously rich pistachio latte combined with a hearty stack of pancakes w/ strawberries --happy customer.

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    Y C.

    Brand new breakfast/coffee spot in Chapel Hill. The place has an open concept feel with big windows and an outside patio. The place is new so everything looks great. Service was fast and I got seated right away. I did go early in the morning so there was hardly anyone there. The menu has a variety of options for everyone. From breakfast to brunch and lunch. Also, it has a few kid friendly breakfast options (eggs, french toast, pancakes) which is very nice. I ordered the Avo Toast and added an egg to it (scrambled). It was a fairly big portion. Loved the presentation of the plate when it came to the table and most importantly, it was delicious. I also ordered a latte. It's definitely worth checking out.

    Daniel B.

    Today was my first day visiting Drift after months of wanting to go and I'm glad I made the decision to stop by! I tried the seasonal Spiced Shortbread Latte with oatmilk which was so good I ended up getting 2 ‍...For lunch I ordered the Breakfast Sandwich which in my opinion fell a little flat of expectations and tasted somewhat bland despite everything that came on it. I loved the inside ambiance from the cozy atmosphere, decor, lighting & overall chill vibe. The wait staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The food did take a bit long to come out despite the Cafe not being too busy but I'll chalk that up to the growing pains of a new establishment. I will for sure be back and look forward to trying out other meals and seasonal lattes!

    Avocado toast
    Kylie B.

    The food is so yummy and super aesthetic. The restaurant is also very cute. I love the avocado toast. I think it is the best I've had in chapel hill so far!

    Maple Honey Latte w/ Oat Milk

    I love popping into drift! ​Haya makes the purrrfect latte and their baked goods are the cats meow.

    Latte art!

    Delicious food and amazing coffee! Staff were so nice - Shout out to fab barista Haya for the latte art!!

    An empty table across from us as we were asked to leave to accommodate an invisible wait - and we were there for less than an hour
    Chloe B.

    We felt humiliated twice during our visit. First, I ordered a blue matcha, which was described as tasting like regular matcha. Instead, it tasted like oat milk. I waited for someone to check on our table so I could ask about exchanging it, but no one came until I was halfway through my meal. When I raised the issue, I was told I'd have to buy another drink if I didn't want the now-tepid blue matcha. I repeated back what the server said so she could hear how it sounded. Reluctantly, I was allowed to switch to a drink I knew, but by then, a scene had been made, and I felt embarrassed for even asking. On top of that, the avocado in my meal wasn't ripe, my side of potatoes was smaller than expected, and water refills were slow--we had to ask for them. At the end of our visit, the server told us we'd need to leave because there was a wait. However, we had been there for less than an hour, there was no visible line, and there was an empty table across from us (photo attached). We had brought friends who trusted us to pick a great spot, which made the experience even more disappointing. This was the second visit in a row where I've noticed a decline in both service and food quality. I'm not sure we'll be back. The good things: the pancakes and potatoes were yummy, we were welcomed, and the atmosphere was pleasant minus our feeling mistreated

    Menu
    Kathy G.

    In the area and so glad I found this little gem! As a California girl I loved the ambiance and vibe. I loved their avocado toast, so yummy and light. I enjoyed their outside patio seating. Can't wait to try other options.

    Biscoff pancake stack and cappuccino

    Tried to give Drift Cafe another chance last Saturday. We had been to Chapel Hill location in the early opening weeks, when their food and service were not up to our experiences at the Drift Cafe in Wrightsville Beach. While we wanted to love our experience, we probably won't be back - too many other reliable places in the area. Server was upbeat, but frazzled at 9:30 on a Saturday; restaurant was full and very noisy. Luckily we got a corner table for four! Food came out as ordered but was luke warm, slow to appear, espresso machine was broken/but plumber had been called??? and checks for the table weren't accurate: they contained items ordered by people at the table, but not on the right bill. For example coffee got put on a bill for someone who didn't order coffee. Too much chaos. Not enough reason to return. This place really needs to pay attention to management. It's giving other Drift Cafes a bad rep.

    Poached eggs, roasted potatoes, bacon, roasted tomatoes, smokey roasted mushrooms with smoked salmon.

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    16 days ago

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    Michael P.

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    27 days ago

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    Michael P.

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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

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    7 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    4 months ago

    Amazing coffee, Açaí bowls, yogurt parfaits, and pancakes, and a great environment inside and out. Wonderful service by Kate as well

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    Michael P.

    Thanks, Chad! We are happy that you enjoyed your visit! Welcome back.

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    3 months ago

    Love Drift! Great food and vibes. Our server, Kate, was so kind and helpful. Highly recommend!

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    Michael P.

    Thanks for visiting, Tara! Glad you had an amazing time.

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    2 years ago

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    Michael P.

    Yay! Glad to hear that you had a great time!

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    2 years ago

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    Michael P.

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    9 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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    2 years ago

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    Michael P.

    Thanks for the review. We are glad you visited us

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    2 years 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.

    Thanks for visiting!

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    5 months ago

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    Michael P.

    Thanks for visiting. Glad you had a great time. Welcome back

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    2 years ago

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    Michael P.

    Looking forward to seeing you again.

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    8 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    3 months ago

    Kate was absolutely wonderful with our group for breakfast this morning. Food was phenomenal - all plates were clean.

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    Michael P.

    Thanks for visiting our store. Welcome back.

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    1 year ago

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    Michael P.

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    4 months ago

    Kate is my GOAT, she was so kind and welcoming. Would come again just to keke with her.

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    Michael P.

    Kudos to Kate! We are glad she made your visit worthwhile.

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Michael P.

    Glad to hear that Crystal. Welcome back.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    Michael P.

    Welcome back!

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    6 months ago

    I always get amazing service and the food is fantastic! The breakfast burrito is so so good

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Michael P.

    Kudos to Zack! Glad you had a great time.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    Michael P.

    Welcome back Deborah!

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    2 years ago

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    Michael P.

    Thanks for the review Isamar.

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    2 years ago

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    Glad you had a great time, Liz!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Drift Cafe Village Plaza

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    Bar area
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    Orange County Social Club

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    For a place that calls itself a liberal bar they are very prejudicial and they showed it on…read moreHalloween night when I tried to bring in my service dog they asked me questions that were illegal to ask like where is your psychiatrist letter which I do have one but I don't have to show it nor do I have to show any evidence whatsoever that my dog is a service dog in all 50 states of the United States and under federal law that is not required once you identify your dog as a service dog that is all that's necessary really in most places but not for Orange County Orange County believes that they are above the law and very soon that will change for them. Do not recommend this place and probably will never go back.

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    Truly the best dark and stormy in town! By far!!!
    Truly the best dark and stormy in town! By far!!!
    Orange County Social Club
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    Drift Cafe Village Plaza - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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