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.
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Maman, a French-inspired bakery and café, opened its first Charlotte location on Wednesday, May 20 in the Commonwealth development, CharlotteFive previously reported.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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I’ll be back soon, 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
Instagram: @_mamannyc_
