Cafe Carolina and Bakery

Stopped in to see what they had and leave, but we wound up with a chai tea and an iced caramel truffle coffee. Both were great. We also got a free cupcake for downloading some app that was real sweet and just okay if your girlfriend is a good baker and you’re spoiled like I am.
What was awesome was this butter cake thing and the service. Service with a smile for sure. The butter cake isn’t like anything I’ve seen up here in NY nor was it at all healthy. In fact, it tasted like it was killing me… But killing me with sweet sweet love. My god this thing was amazing. It tasted like a cross between cake batter, vanilla, and baklava. Wowwee
We sat there for at least an hour before our flight and passed on the smelly Starbucks next door.

Just spent almost $ 9 for a pork bbq panini that had only the bread toasted, then the microwaved meat was slapped onto the bread, cut in half and handed to me. Stringy Pork with bottled sauce and a TBLS of slaw. However I was nicely distracted by watching an employ go up to a woman waiting for food and sloppy kiss her on the neck — and the woman explained to me it was OK as she was an employee. Maybe in her mind, but inappropriate nonetheless. Was going to get a cupcake for dessert but don’t want to push my luck. I won’t be back.

Food is decent and people taking the order were friendly, however I find this place to be a fast food type restaurant. The prices are high especially since everything is self serve including the cleanup. And there no place for recycling plastics. Having to place your order and wait for your name to be called over a loudspeaker is annoying especially if it’s busy. It is not café style or personal at all! It’s sad that there isn’t a waiter or waitress service, it probably would make the dining experience here a little better.

Decent for a quick, good breakfast. Not fancy and you order at the counter. Not ideal for a gluten free diet but things can be modified to make it work.

Café Carolina is a great casual place to meet up and have lunch. What I love is that they have a dedicated brunch menu that goes on until 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays! If you make it there before 12pm, you can order from both the usual breakfast menu in addition to the brunch menu though.
The atmosphere is relaxing and nice. They’ve got a great outdoor seating area as well for milder days. Parking can be a bit of an issue depending on when you come, but that goes for all the stores in this area.
The food is good, but feels a bit overpriced for the amount. I’ve never had a good experience ordering coffee here though – it always tastes weak and watered down. The rest kind of makes me feel like I’m in a Panera, but with slightly different menu offerings.

Pretty good. Kind of a yuppie urbanites place. Service was good, food was good as well. Had a flat bread pizza and salad. Actually only half the flat bread pizza as the wife ate the other half. Salad dressing was some sort of ceasar and very tasty. Overall I liked it. Plenty of space and clean environment.

I’ve only been to Café Carolina twice, but both times I left extremely satisfied. You get much better quality food for about the same price as Panera. Also Café Carolina’s card plan is fantastic! I bought three full sized lunches, a nut-​crusted loaf of bread (which was amazing!), and three bakery items for less than 30 dollars, and got double points (which amounts to $ 60) because it was a Monday! The service was really friendly. Sure the atmosphere is like a cafeteria, but it has quickly become one of my favorite lunch stops in Cary. I highly recommend the Hawaiian BBQ flatbread.

I really like how this café was small and quite it was in there. My girlfriend and myself both got the soup and salad combo and it was great! I highly recommend the loaded baked potato soup, and the sweet potato biscuit they have.

This place is OK but I think for the quality of food they serve the prices should be about 25% less.

Really just not impressive. I’d rather go to Panera. It’s more commercial but I can trust their food to be consistent and have some depth of flavor.

I got the ham and cheese French toast. Come with 3 sandwiches the bread is French bread I believe come with 2 strawberries a side of butter and side of syrup. Was very good. The price turned out to be $ 10.54. The French toast was $ 7.99 the drink was $ 1.79 and tax .76. A little steep for this but was good

My first and last time. Ordered a flatbread, and it was burnt! 30 minutes later still can’t get that taste out of my mouth. When I took it to the counter I was told that is how they are cooked. I like well dine toast and bagels, but it was black!

If I have a meeting in Cary, this is one of my «go to» locations. The employees seem to always be friendly. I have not had a meal here although over looking at others’ dishes, things look tasty.
I usually get a large cup of coffee, which is self serve with a couple choices (dark roast, light roast). I enjoy the dark roast a lot, especially for the good price!
As I said, I hold a lot of my meetings here, which I believe is perfect for business discussions with my clients. The seating area has a large selection (round tables, square tables, booths) and there are usually enough seats. You will notice that its a great location for professionals.

I’ve been to this place at least five times now since I moved to Cary. For me the menu is a bit hit and miss. The sandwiches I’ve ordered are nicely done, but a bit anemic. The salads are uniformly good, definitely worth it. The bagels are atrocious, although keep in mind a super crusty, chewy and yeasty NY style bagel is what I’m comparing them too. The quiche and breads are good but I find them a bit overpriced, although they are more competitively priced than several other options in the same shopping mall. I’ve tried a lot of their desserts and am always pleased with them and find them a good bang for the buck. My very favorite thing is their croissants, I like them even better than the ones at La Farm. I ask for plain uncut croissants, they are a good price, I’ll buy six (12 if I’m feeding company) and I’ll make sandwiches or croissant french toast at home and they are delightful in either dish.
The biggest drawback is that this café is, at every moment, absolutely packed with ridiculous judgmental yuppies. I can’t expound on that without sounding like a snob myself, besides it’s not like I don’t live in Cary too, but as someone who is a pretty A-​typical human being (in form and function), the yuppies can be a little wearying. Obviously this has no bearing on this place as a provider of delicious things for my mouth, but it does keep me from going there if I don’t feel like I’m at the peak of my social energy and tolerance.
I go back because the service is usually pretty quick, and there are a few no-​fail options on the menu. If you’re in the area I’d suggest trying it out.

Awful customer service as of late. Arrived at 1:55 & waited to order as 4 employees talked to one another behind the cash wrap & an addtl employee was talking on her iPhone in the bakery section… at 2:04 when they finally helped us, they wouldn’t let my fiancée order off the brunch menu (which ended at 2) with the cashier repeatedly saying «They’re stingy, man» I hope the manager checks this page because we routinely visited on Sundays because of the food & our favorite employee, Caitlin. Hire better Café Carolina.

We like this spot for the bakery/​dessert selection and surprisingly good option for quick casual breakfast. Rated a 4 because the sandwiches can be pricey, but overall a good choice.

I was immediately impressed with the atmosphere. It was very casual and comfortable. I would say that my food was pretty good-​I had broccoli/​cheese quiche and a chai tea. The quiche was delicious. I thought $ 11 and change was a bit pricey though.

It is a pleasant surprise to discover this café and bakery. It was a nice day at Cary and this café provides outdoor sitting (limited).
Their food can be hit or miss. Some of their bake goods might be a bit old or tasteless. Their cooked meals are okay (not that fantastic) and their coffee is okay. From my own experience, my dish was okay and had good quantity. I enjoyed the time there. It’s ambient and location are good for individuals and family. Their foods are reasonably priced.
* Service: Wait staff is attentive, but it is somewhat a self service café.
* Price: Reasonable
* Atmosphere: It is a family friendly café which means, could be busy or loud sometimes.
* Food Quality: Taste is average (or slightly below average)
* Parking: Since their share shopping mall parking lot, it is plenty.
* Recommendation: Sunday morning or evening can be crowded. They close early as 9PM.

Overpriced for sure. Small portions definitely. A variety of choices on the menu, and they all seem to be relatively healthy and fresh. I especially love their salads and coffee options. But I just can’t get past their prices and serving sizes to give them 3 stars.
Edit: I forgot to add the horrible parking situation during peak mealtimes. Good luck finding a spot.

This place is at a stone’s throw distance from where I live. I go by alot for a coffee and Lemon Bar which is amazing. I have fallen for their soups which is my staple for dinner these days in these winters.
This place is our go to for weekend breakfasts or picking up bagels as we can just wake up and walk up straight for fresh hot breakfast.
My husband’s favorite is Chicken salad made in to a panini.
The prices aren’t too high and the staff is friendly and service is good.
The place is always spic and span with lovely music playing in the background.
I would highly recommend for breakfast and luncheon.
I’m going right now for that chocolate croissant!