Lupie’s Café

Here’s where you’ll find great comfort food in a comfortable setting

Everyone once in a while I want to go to a little neighborhood spot “where everyone knows my name.” Even though I don’t technically live in that neighborhood, I wanted no frills and no fuss. On a cold and wet day, like the day I went, Lupie’s was that place. Whether you call it a hole in the wall, a dive or a neighborhood bar, Lupie’s is a Charlotte institution that has been around for years. It is situated on the left side of Monroe Road going westbound just past Dunn Avenue. It’s one of those places that if you blink too fast you will miss it.

Once you arrive, beware of the parking lot. It is a nightmare. Lupie’s can get crowded and the parking lot is small and people will park anywhere they think they fit (which is what I did!). 

Once inside Lupie’s, there is a lot to see. From the haphazardly placed seats to the alcohol paraphernalia hanging from the ceiling, my first thought was this place knows how to have a good time. It’s the perfect place to go to be loud and rowdy and no one will care. There is an eclectic sort of vibe at Lupie’s that makes it appeal to everyone. The servers are like your friends ushering you in their homes. They sort of point and say sit over there. There is no pomp and circumstance. You know what to do – sit down and order. And that is what we did.

The menu for Lupie’s is small compared to other restaurants. They have your typical fare from all the food groups. You can get a salad (vegetables), sandwich (carbs), burger (protein), brownie (sweets) and, of course, the other Southern staple, sweet tea. But with all that being said, that is not why people go to Lupie’s. People go to Lupie’s for the chili. Chili is the one thing that it is really good at Lupie’s. It has several types of chili, from vegetarian to Cincinnati-style with spaghetti noodles and all.

OK, so I have to admit that even though I knew Lupie’s was known for its chili, I did not order it in the traditional sense. I had some chili, but mine was slathered on my huge plate of nachos. It was hard decision, but I wanted the best of both worlds. I wanted the chili and the nachos, so I got them together. What the server didn’t tell me was that the two-layer nachos were enough to feed a family of four. When he came back around I asked, “Hey, why didn’t you tell me that the nachos could feed a family?” He smiled and said, “Because I know not to get in between a woman and her food.” Well, OK then, you win.

The plate of nachos was massive. Layers of tortilla chips slathered with melted cheese, jalapenos and, of course, the chili. Even under all of that I could still taste the chili and it was good. It had a nice spice to it, which hit you at the end. If you order a bowl of chili it comes with cornbread, is topped with cheese and has lots of flavor. My suggestion is to go to Lupie’s with a huge appetite and an empty stomach. 

I liked Lupie’s. I liked the comfortable atmosphere and casualness of it all. I know that if I lived on that side of town I would be there all the time. It would be my Cheers and everyone would know my name.