Food and Drink

Oprah loves the cookies at Plaza Midwood’s newest bakery. Are they that good?

Plaza Midwood’s newest bakery – with cookies endorsed by Oprah — is officially in business.

Maman, a French-inspired bakery and café, opened its first Charlotte location on Wednesday, May 20 in the Commonwealth development, CharlotteFive previously reported.

The exterior facade of a modern cafe named “maman COFFEE . BAKERY . KITCHEN,” located in a multi-story red brick building. The storefront features a prominent wooden sign with the cafe’s cursive white logo and a large glass entryway displaying the words “COFFEE,” “BAKERY,” and “KITCHEN” on the panes. The clean concrete sidewalk out front is flanked by dark metal bollards and decorated with potted topiary trees bearing white flowers. A patron is visible walking toward an outdoor seating area tucked under the building’s overhang to the left.
Maman is in the Commonwealth development in Plaza Midwood. Evan Moore CharlotteFive

The all-day café will bring the brand’s signature mix of pastries, coffee, sandwiches, soups and salads to a 4,180-square-foot space with seating for up to 128 guests, including indoor and outdoor dining, plus weekend brunch service and private event space.

The Charlotte opening marks the first of several locations planned for the city, with additional cafés coming in South End and the Myers Park area.

The Maman space

Inside, the café leans into the soft, cozy style the bakery has become known for. Neutral colors, large floral arrangements and vintage-inspired decor give the space the feel of a small French countryside café. Hanging lights cast a warm glow over the pastry cases, while blue-and-white plates decorate the walls above the counter.

An interior view of a bright and spacious café with industrial design elements. The space features high ceilings, exposed white pipes, track lighting, and a massive concrete structural column on the left. In the background, a tiled service counter is staffed by employees, with decorative plates mounted on the wall above. The dining area contains several small, round marble-topped tables paired with wooden cross-back chairs. Large floor-to-ceiling windows on the right flood the concrete floor with natural light, and a large indoor faux tree in a white pot adds a touch of greenery near the seating.
The dining room at Maman. Evan Moore CharlotteFive

Patterned tiles wrap around the bakery counter, wooden tables and chairs fill the dining area and large windows bring in plenty of natural light. Even the coffee station and retail displays feel carefully designed, making the café just as suited for lingering over pastries as it is for taking Instagram photos.

What’s on the menu at Maman?

The menu at Maman features French-inspired café selections, highlighted by a limited-edition spring menu collaboration with Martha Stewart that includes seasonal options like a cherry elderflower spritz, made with morello cherry puree and lime juice, and a spring onion and potato tart.

Tuesday was media day at the bakery, so I got to try a few free dishes.

I got Martha’s Chicken Salad Sandwich, with roasted chicken tossed in herb dressing with fresh tarragon, parsley, chives and a hint of lemon zest, with sliced cucumber, candied bacon, extra sharp cheddar cheese, and crunchy romaine on toasted brioche. It tasted just like it sounds — spectacular.

A top-down view of a selection of bakery items arranged on a smooth, grey-brown wooden table. On the top left, two halves of a toasted sandwich with visible cheese and greens are served on an oval olive-wood serving board. To the right is a large, golden-brown crinkle cookie with a sugary dusting on a blue and white patterned plate. At the bottom center, a round, flaky savory pastry filled with a golden, baked cheese topping rests on a white plate adorned with an intricate blue floral design.
Martha Stewart’s Chicken Salad Sandwich, the mac and cheese croissant and Oprah-approved nutty chocolate chip cookie at Maman. Evan Moore CharlotteFive

The main menu offers an array of breakfast classics, including Estee’s Bacon Egg & Cheese on a toasted croissant bun, alongside lunch choices like Kelsie’s Steak Sandwich on a baguette. You can also pair your meal with a selection of pastries and specialty drinks, like the Salted Tahini Honeycomb Latte.

The Plaza Midwood location will also feature two Charlotte-exclusive pastries: a peaches and cream danish and a mac and cheese croissant.

A close-up, top-down shot of a square fruit danish pastry served on a blue and white geometric patterned plate, sitting on a wooden surface. The pastry features a golden-brown, glossy, flaky crust with a light dusting of powdered sugar on one corner. The center is filled with bright yellow baked peach or apricot slices, topped with a light sprinkle of crumbly streusel topping.
The peaches and cream danish at Maman. Evan Moore CharlotteFive

I tried the peaches and cream danish first, and it was buttery, flaky and filled with just enough sweetness from the peaches and vanilla cream. And the mac and cheese croissant somehow made two comfort foods even better, with creamy pasta tucked inside a warm, crispy pastry.

I couldn’t leave without trying the bakery’s famous Oprah-approved chocolate chip cookies, and I now see what all the hype was about. It was equal parts dark chocolate and walnuts, with just enough salt to keep it from being too rich.

I’ll be back soon, Maman.

Maman

Location: 1711 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205 (opens May 20)

Location: 2000 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203 (coming soon)

Location: 523 Fenton Pl, Charlotte, NC 28207 (coming soon)

Cuisine: Coffee shop, bakery and café

Menu

Instagram: @_mamannyc_

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 10:58 AM.

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Evan Moore
The Charlotte Observer
Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
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