Stop in at these 6 neighborhood restaurants to try in Matthews and Stallings
Perhaps you want to shake things up and sip coffee with friends over breakfast in Stallings. Or maybe you’re looking to find a new lunch spot in Matthews to stop in for a burger or grab a takeout salad? We’re here for you.
Sure, there are chain options galore. But we like to keep it local whenever possible. So we searched out some of the best neighborhood restaurants in the Matthews and Stallings area, then stopped in at the family-run cafes, diners and other local favorites to taste what’s out there.
Now, you can check out these spots to munch at breakfast or savor a hearty lunch:
Athens Pizza & Kabob
Location: 2920 Old Monroe Rd, Stallings, NC 28104
Step inside Athens Pizza & Kabob in Stallings and meet owner Ameneh Pirhayati, who will warmly welcome you to try a few Persian items from her menu of Iranian and Italian staples. Veer out of your comfort zone with the kashke bademjan off the appetizer menu while you wait for a pizza. The dip is similar to baba ganoush, and a background note of mint pops out in each bite. The thin, warm pita it’s served with is also freshly made, by the way.
East 74 Family Dining
Location: 10915 Monroe Rd, Matthews, NC 28105
You’ll find the parking lot packed mid-morning at breakfast hotspot East 74 Family Dining, and it’s buzzing inside. Everyone’s there, yet it’s so roomy, it’s not hard to get a table.
If you’ve got a big appetite, order up the breakfast special with two eggs; bacon or sausage; hash browns, grits or oatmeal; and toast or biscuit, paired with coffee or iced tea — all for $6.95. If breakfast isn’t your thing, a selection of “early lunch” options is available, including chicken or tuna salad and burgers.
Miki’s Restaurant
Location: 1819 Matthews Township Pkwy, Matthews, NC 28105
Plop down in a booth or at a table to take a break from running errands at Matthews Township Shopping Center, and grab a bite to eat at Miki’s Restaurant while you ponder your next stop.
A daily special offers entree choices including meatloaf or country-style steak, served with your choice of two sides from a long list of veggies and starches. Instead, we dug into the gyro, which rivals many in the Charlotte area, and paired it with a side of cucumber and onion salad for lunch. (Our waitress said the cucumber salad is so good, one customer comes in on the regular to take home a four-vegetable plate of it.)
Phat Daddy’s Cafe
Location: 2741 Old Monroe Rd, Stallings, NC 28104
Phat Daddy’s Cafe is a charming neighborhood restaurant named after the owners’ father, John — aka Phat Daddy — who passed on in 2021. Stop in early for an omelet or a breakfast platter, and you’ll find half the town gathered to chitchat over coffee. (Pro tip: Give the squeeze bottle of grape jelly a try on your toast — you won’t regret it.)
When you come in at lunch, give the namesake Phat Daddy Burger a try. Afterward, head over to Bill and Bob’s Coffee Bar across the parking lot and get a drink to go.
Picadeli’s Pub-in-Deli
Location: 1600-A, Matthews-Mint Hill Rd, Matthews, NC 28105
Picadeli’s Pub-in-Deli may give off bar vibes, but it’s nonetheless one of the best spots in Matthews to pop in for a quick takeout lunch. The kitchen staff has been cranking out the same items for years, so they’re fast and it’s always top quality, our waitress said.
Try the Horiatiki salad, loaded with cucumber, green peppers, red onions, tomatoes, feta, oregano, olives and pepperoncini peppers. It’s served with crackers and the house Greek dressing. (Pro tip: It also keeps well, so you can order a second one and stash it in the fridge for later.)
[READ NEXT: Where to buy the best pies in the Charlotte area — both sweet and savory.]
Stacks
Location: 11100 Monroe Rd, Matthews, NC 28105
Location: 1315 N. Broome St., Waxhaw, NC 28173
Family-owned Stacks, where you can get breakfast all day, is a can’t-miss staple in Matthews and Waxhaw that’s lasted for generations.
The extensive morning menu includes benedicts and skillets. At lunch, the dining room is hopping with customers chowing down on burgers, salads, sandwiches and wraps. There’s a fully stocked dessert case waiting up front to tempt you, as well.
Where is your favorite neighborhood place in the Matthews area? Drop us a line at charlottefive@charlottefive.com and fill us in, so we can stop in sometime.
