My husband and I came here for an evening dinner date. Staff was friendly. Our waiter was super nice and fantastic when it came to helping us understand the different kinds of chili! My husband is a huge fan of chili so this was the place to go. For dinner my he ordered a bowl of chili, which came with a slice of cornbread, and also ordered a side of green beans. I ordered Nachos with chili on top. The nachos were a little bland for my taste. But next time, I'll be sure to try another item on their menu. My husbands chili tasted amazing. Thanks for the great service. read more

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First meal at Lupie's but I'll be back. Loved my Cincinnati chili over spaghetti. Good flavor. Great ambiance. Sadly dry cornbread but didn't really need the cornbread. read more

Lupie's Cafe - Cincinnati Chili over Spaghetti - American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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GOOD HOME COOKIN I'll make this sweet and short....If you have to ask what's good here, this must be your first time... EVERYTHING is good here. My personal favorite without listing the whole menu, is the Wednesday & Friday Spaghetti. Enjoy what you eat! P.S. the corn bread is sooo good and the sweet tea!! read more

Do you like good nachos? Do you like Chili? Do you like quiche? How about meatloaf, chicken and dumplings, and banana pudding? This dive is an amazing place to eat if you are visiting Charlotte or if you are a local (if you live here, why haven't you been?. Writing this review makes me want to go back now! It isn't much to look at, but you'll love this dingy little hole-in-the-wall. read more

Southern comfort with a fun and funky twist. Lupie's is a Charlotte Landmark that keeps pleasing our tastebuds! From the hotdog to the spaghetti, it's so damn good! read more

Lupie's Cafe - The "Big Dog" - American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

A Charlotte institution! Texas Chili is spicy but amazing! If you dine in get the Gee Whiz! Lupie's is fantastic!

A couple of friends and I came here before a hockey game and I was very happy we did. The prices are reasonable and my food was really good. 12 wings for 8 dollars. My friend got the nachos which were really good too. read more

I was really excited to try Lupie's cafe on a cold, clear day last week, but I wasn't as impressed as other reviews led me to believe. Since I'd heard so much about their famous chili, I instantly went for the vegetarian option. The waiter then easily convinced me to try it over mac n cheese. The chili was good, the mac n cheese was okay (I think I'll just take them separate from now on). The cornbread was really dry which ruined it a bit for me. The fella ordered the chicken sandwich with coleslaw. He said the chicken was really tough, and he didn't clean his plate which tells me more than his words do. Overall, it's a decent meal for a decent price, but the food quality wasn't as high as hoped. read more

Great little dive, glad I saw it on the side of the street when I was heading to the hotel. The burger was awesome, just what I needed, and prices are great here. I come to Charlotte for work once a month and will definitely be making this a regular spot. read more

Lupie's Cafe - American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Don't order the live order of nachos impossible to finish this restaurant has an old Vibe with a wonderful spirt The music they play could you some help with the food heavily portion wise at the price point it can't be touched as great just wish they saw my corona you're taking a step back in time read more

The restaurant was quaint and the staff was very friendly and accommodating during the covid era. I recommend the chicken and dumplings with carrots and mac & cheese. It was their special of the day, a massive serving and delicious. I had enough for lunch the next day! Definitely recommend if you're looking for down to earth customer service and a home cooked meal. read more

I don't get to Lupie's often but when I do, it's always their fantastic Cincinnati Chili that I order. Looking back, I believe I was at Lupie's when I first discovered Cincinnati Chili. read more

Lupie's Cafe - Cincinnati Chili with cheese, onion, & cornbread. It looked nice and pretty before I started digging into this deliciousness. - American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This is one of the few restaurants on earth that I think I couldn't live without. I have practically been eating at lupies since the day I was born. It's one of the few places that has remained the same since then (I was born in 2001) and it's very comforting to me. Now that I'm an adult, I come here regularly on thursdays after school for a chicken and dumplings late lunch. Always gotta get corn and pinto's with it! read more

After twenty something years, finally given up hope and will not support any longer. Very last piece of my old favorite quiche was at least half the size it used to be. Greasy, tired, and slammed in with what should have been a cold salad. Visit the half walled restrooms to see how neglected the restaurant has become. Hate to see what the kitchen is looking like these days. read more

Best restaurant in Charlotte. Great prices, great food, great atmosphere. Love the LGBT-inclusive environment. You've got to come here on Thursdays for the chicken and dumplings. Any other day, try the southern chili throwdown nachos. Great for sharing -- and P.S., ask for a half serving if it's just one or two people. And of course, salsa and jalapeños. There's no fryer, so don't expect French fries -- but the green beans and baked mac and cheese are amazing!! And lastly... the sweet tea is perfect. read more

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THE BEST!!! The nachos are insane, loads of vegan and vegetarian options. Just all around good home cooked meals at a reasonable price. Service is impeccable as well! Eat at lupies!!!!! read more

Lupie's Cafe - American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Been going here since the 80s... didn't won't to post but ordered catering twice over past year . First got a broccoli casserole which was good , Mac and cheese pan sucked horribly as well as the peach kucken.. I was pissed but let it slide ... again I ordered chili Mac the Cincinnati style . Holy shit bunch of food it just sucked . Have to add tomatoes and sugar to the dish to make it tasty like the Old days . Lupy retired and now the food sucks . I was trying out on my family first to see there reaction and was looking for someone to cater my business lunches and dinners . Long story short cost them 10,000 to 25,000 a year I won't do business with them again . Used to be great now apparently their friends are posting good reviews . Food sucks now hate to say it but it does . read more

There are two restaurants in Charlotte that feed both the body and the soul - Lupie's is one of those places. Known for their four styles of chili, it's probably their main draw. I prefer their coarse chilis - Texas or Southern style. I keep mine basic - no toppings. I pair it with whatever daily side they have going that day and a piece of cornbread. But Lupie's ringers are their daily specials and ever-changing daily sides. Friday is roasted pork day. Get it. Just trust me. The place is definitely laid back and casual and the building isn't fancy, so check any haughtiness at the door. Actually, if you're haughty, don't bother coming because you don't deserve Lupie's awesomeness. read more

I try so hard to like these southern diner type of places and they always come up short. This particular visit was awful! We ordered nachos, burger, chili, and a side of steamed carrots. The burger was OK, but the rest was barely edible. The chili had a huge layer of grease on the top, the cornbread was rock hard, and the nachos looked like they'd been microwaved with a bean spread and cheese. I will never go back. read more

The food was really good. Real clean restaurant good atmosphere. Service real good. Really enjoyed myself. read more

I've been to Lupies many times over the past 20+ years. If this weren't a beloved dive restaurant it would have closed years ago. My husband loves the chili, chicken and dumplings, and burgers. However the food comes mostly out of a can. Today I had the daily quiche special, which was mostly melted cheese in a pie shell. Salad was iceberg lettuce with some diced tomatoes, but also served with very nice orange and Apple slices. Service is very good, atmosphere divey, food is mediocre. read more

Lunch was great I got the big dog and loved the fresh bun ! Always good on the go, although I got a little nauseous after but hey maybe it's just me. read more

So, so good. My favorite is the chili Mac, but I've never had anything bad. Burgers are great and veggies are delicious.

Great Solid delicious classic burger So good! It's big so bring your belly. I got through half. We should have shared. I'd give 5 stars if the chips were made in house. Service is a 5 and so we're the burgers. The chips...meh and too many so it's pretty wasteful. Next time I'll ask for a half portion or something--share the plate maybe read more

Lupie's Cafe - always with a coke and a smile nom nom nom best burger I've had in a long time - American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Used to be a mainstay and I've neglected going there until tonight Sad that things have changed. I hope that folks will rediscover Lupies soon They were hip here before anything else was. read more

This must be the place where Charlotteans who cannot cook go to eat. I cannot think of any other reason why this place is so highly reviewed. One of the reasons why I and millions of other people are willing to spend our hard-earned money at a restaurant is for the experience- to be served something that would have taken me much longer to prepare at home or something that I could never have made. I absolutely abhor these homemade "restaurants" for that reason. Literally everything at Lupie's could have been made at home in a matter of minutes. Nothing is memorable or something that just has to be had at Lupie's. I had a burger with chips on the side. The burger was dry, as was the bun. The chips? Straight from a store-bought bag. Fries were not an option, nor was anything else homemade. They really should have taken the time to come up with some nice side, but instead opted for chips from a bag. That is even worse than those places that serve crinkle cut fries. If you want to do the homemade thing, at least do it right. I will not be returning, but will remain confused and puzzled as to why people still frequent this place. Oh, well. That just means it will be easier to get reservations at proper restaurants. read more

This little hole in the wall is like a diamond in the rough! I'm very thankful to have been introduced to this Charlotte legacy. With daily specials and down-home southern hospitality, it's a win all the way around. Everything is homemade "just like Grandma used to make it!" My goto comfort foods are the mac-n-cheese and the chicken and dumplings. They're oh so good, but a word to the wise: the dumplings aren't available everyday. Based on the specials calendar, you can expect to get you a good helping on Thursdays. Sometimes they will serve them up as a part of their Saturday rotation, but there are no guarantees. I've also tried the chili, banana pudding, eclair pie (which is more like eclair pudding), quiche, green beans, etc. I've yet to be disappointed. This isn't your high-class, white tablecloth type of establishment, so lower your expectations. Keep it casual and go for the food. If you're looking for glitz and glam, keep on keepin' on. read more

Best dive in Charlotte? Lupie's...hands down. Don't let the windowless brick building with the wind-weathered sign fool you - this place was making great food before you and will be here long after you're gone. It has that old-school diner grunge and big flavors from lots of practice. Their specialty is chilli and it's off the chart. They have a wide variety to choose from that range from sweet to spicy, mild to "oh-my-god-I'm-dying"and you can get it in a bowl or piled on top of just about anything. The "home cooking" entrees, only one per day and it rotates, look like the perfect comfort food. Burgers are amazing and the portions on everything are heaping. If you can fight your way into the parking lot, you are in for one of the best kept secrets in Charlotte! read more

Love the Texas Chili with extra onions, cheese and jalapeños! The Best in Charlotte, HANDS DOWN!

Hell... whats one more review? When I moved here from Richmond years ago, I had a hard time finding something that felt like home... that southern, tattooed, dirty feelin that only Richmond can give you. Well I managed to find those few blocks of saving grace everyone calls NoDa and then I found Central ave @ Thomas street. Then lo and behold I found Lupies. Hells yes. Easy eats in a kinda odd section of town. Cheap greasy food mixed with a dash of southern flavor. Love the limited menu.... get the nachos! I swear I had the best damn green beans I've had in a long time today. All you bastards expecting more quality food when you go to a 'diner' like lupies can shut it. Its food! Eat it or why did you wait to get a table? You get what you pay for and don't lie.... have you ever had a bad experience at lupies? I think not. Those mofos can cook. Eat! read more

The mashed potatoes here are delicious. They only serve them on Mondays so if you're dying to try them, you'll have to go then. After debating between a few different items, I went with the special of meatloaf with a side of mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. You get a lot on your plate for very little money. Lupie can be seen hard at work in the kitchen. Service was okay. They are not shy about filling your glass up. I asked for a "little" more on my refill and they filled it up completely. The wait to get in tends to get long quickly so I recommend going at a non-peak hour if you can. They definitely earned a "People love us on Yelp" sticker which is proudly displayed in the window here. read more

Goodness gracious, do I love Lupie's. This place is a Charlotte staple for sure. Talk about a great dive with tons of history. Nice and simple menu with a couple choices of burgers and a few different kinds of chili. Let me say, the chili is what will keep you coming back. The choices are variations of Cincinnati, Southern and Texas style Chili. All have their strong points and are even good when mixed together. The only one I can't truly appreciate is the Cincinnati style. Sweetness in my chili is just a bit weird as a dyed in the wool southerner. Sweet tea. You've gotta get Lupie's sweet tea. Sweetened to perfection and they give it to you in a mason jar with the best crushed ice in the world. A perfect pairing for your chili of choice. The burgers are great, too. I haven't ventured into the world of burgers too much, but what I've had has been memorable. The parking lot can be a little tricky. If you're going at peak lunch hours, good luck. It's a bit cutthroat to find a space. Also, getting back out on to Monroe can be a bit of a challenge, so beware. This place is awesome. Love it for lunch or a date night with my wife. Actually went to this place with wife the night we decided to get married! Such a great memory. Keep doing exactly what you've been doing all these years, Lupies. Perfect. read more

Finally got to eat at this apparent Charlotte institution my husband has not been able to keep quiet about and I'm glad I did. From what I saw everything on the menu was very reasonably priced, but you also get your money's worth with gargantuan portion sizes. I was quite full after eating half of my BBQ platter... which was very tasty, by the way. The service was so-so. Our server seemed kind of rushed, but he wasn't bad. The Mac and Cheese here was pretty awesome. So many people try to do Mac and Cheese, and despite it being such a simple dish I've never had this side done as well as they did it as this restaurant. read more

I have lived here (Charlotte area) all my life and after 33 years I finally visited Lupies. Dont ask me why Ive never been because honestly I dont have a good answer. But anyways, stopped in for lunch today and since the casserole was todays special, I went with the 'cue since Im not a casserole fan. Food is very tasty, service was awesome and very friendly, and the server really recommended a lot of things on the menu. It may have been my first time but definitely not my last! Im coming back on a Monday for the meatloaf....MOMMMMM! MEATLOOOOAF! PS The sweet tea here is perfection read more

What a great dive. If you don't know to look for it, you'll drive right past. I've really only partaken of the vegetarian chili and chili mac variation, and it's just the perfect thing on a cold day when hunger is calling and I don't have time to make a slow-cooked, long-term commitment to cooking. Apparently there are lots of other wonderful things on the menu, but I've found my old faithful dish and there's no looking back for this girl. Once you receive your food, prepare to have the check dropped off at your table, and go pay at the register/kitchen area. Bring cash to tip your server, or consent to being charged extra on the card. Not a problem, but definitely an old-school way of doing things. As for the ambiance, again, it's a dive. But happily so. It didn't become one on accident. And it's the kind of place you need to try, just to say you've been. It's definitely a Charlotte staple, and is nestled fondly in the hearts of QC residents. read more

I talked about this place to the husband for several months and yet we never made our way over here...until this past weekend! I was so excited to show him this fun little dive full of yummy chili, burgers, hotdogs and other southern soul food items. He loves places like this so I was hopeful that this would be his new spot! I am sad to report that we both left pretty disappointed. Maybe I hyped it up too much. I mean it has been about 15 years since I was last there but wow... We stuck with the basics....I ordered the Cincinatti chili and it was just not good. Weird taste, no beans (although it says they are in there) and chopped up meat...like really chopped up. The raw onions and sprinkle of cheddar cheese were my favorite parts. The cornbread was drier than my grandma's skin. Tasteless. I couldn't even use it to dip in the chili because it was like a plastic, crumbly mess. Husband ordered the chili dog and he was underwhelmed. The greasy chips that came on the side were okay I guess?? Service was okay--they seem to try to hard to have that "we're a cool dive in Charlotte" vibe but it was okay. Plus they recently opened one in Huntersville so that automatically takes away from the novelty of the place. Eh--wouldn't feel compelled to come back but I'm sure there are other things on the menu that would make it worth the trip for others. Price is right too. read more

Since I'm a NC native, I'm going to take a few liberties. Strike that. Since I'm a UNC grad, I'll take lots of liberties. For my fellow Tarheels, you'll know exactly what I mean. Lupies is the He's Not Here of food in Charlotte. End of review. Just kidding. I wouldn't respect myself in the morning if I let the metaphor slide by those of you not familiar with Chapel Hill. He's Not Here is (or was- is it still there?) a watering hole familiar and dearly loved by undergraduates. The beer was cheap, the music was loud, and the crowd often raucous beyond belief. You'd go to He's Not Here to howl at the moon- or whatever. He's Not Here was not the most consistent place, sometimes your beer would be so hot-off-the-tap it would be... hot. The burgers and fries were good or not good- depending on the day, size of crowd or size of hangover the cook or you were nursing. You'd go to He's Not Here for what it DID have- attitude, history, and a sense of place. That's Lupie's in a nutshell. I've been to Lupie's and had a delicious burger. I've been to Lupie's and had a mediocre burger. The service, while not always stellar, has usually tended to the casual, if not pleasant. And yes, most times Lupie herself is somewhere near the register. People like Lupie's because they know Lupie's. Not only that, they know Lupie, the owner who started this establishment over 20 years ago, when its location not only put it on the edge of the 'hood, it was IN the 'hood. Heck, by any standard, 20 years in the restaurant business is like being there at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. So it is with Lupies. Don't go expecting much, and if you leave pleasantly surprised, which you probably will, you'll come back. Note: I once heard Lupie's squash casserole mentioned on Jane and Michael Stern's Road Food segment on NPR. It's sort of like having the Jack Kerouac stamp of approval. read more

Back from the total eclipse in SC and had to have some great Texas chili. Tried the chili mac (mac and cheese) with jalapeños and it was excellent. Plus awesome service. I think their chili would be good in a burrito. read more

Lupie's Cafe - Lupie's Chili mac (mac and cheese) and great corn bread - American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I've been to Lupie's a few times now, mostly because it's close, open, and cheap. The atmosphere is divy and most of the people are nice, but the food is not it's strong suit. Their chilies are all fairly good on their own but I was not impressed with anything else. As far as presentation, if you've ever been to Rochester, their dishes look a lot like the famous garbage plates served in Nick Tahou's restaurant. As far as the taste, we ordered chicken wings and saw the cooks grab them out of the fridge and microwave them. The result were wings that were mushy on the outside and were insanely hot and overcooked on the inside. Who knows when the wings were actually cooked. Another time we went I ordered their chicken and dumplings and sadly it tasted like flour and water with a few bits of chicken thrown in. Go to Lupie's for a bowl of chili and a beer but I can't recommend anything else. read more

I've been a longtime supporter of Lupie's for years. It has become a favorite in my household and we usually know what we want by the time we arrive. Despite the fact that the exterior looks like it survived a Civil War cannon blast, this place is the home to some great Southern cooking. I must warn you that there is no such thing as a single sized serving at this cafe. The food is inexpensive and the portion sizes are very generous. Originally being from Eastern NC, I have a certain level of respect for those down home places who serve drinks in mason jars. As others have stated, the sweet tea can make you borderline diabetic but it's so damn good. Lupie's probably gets my personal award for the best veggie burger in Charlotte because you have the option of adding veggie chili and coleslaw with your choices of an onion or kaiser roll. Forget a skinny Boca burger... this is heaven! The first few times I had to double check with the waitress to make sure that they didn't mistakenly put beef in it. It was too #@$%#@ good! She assured me that it was indeed a veggie burger. Other family favorites include the mac & cheese, chicken & dumplings, spaghetti, chili (original and vegetarian), banana pudding, and the nachos (if you can find them under the cheese). The staff is always friendly and usually pretty quick to seat you. I'll continue visiting Lupie's for years to come! read more