Brunch at this Charlotte restaurant is cheaper than DaBaby’s. What I got for $27

Cuzzo’s Cuisine shares some similarities with rapper DaBaby’s new restaurant, but one key difference makes it much more appealing.

Like No Knife Chicken & Waffles, which opened to a large crowd last weekend, Cuzzo’s Cuisine is Black-owned. And signs of that are woven through the restaurant’s decor and branding.

When I walked in on Tuesday morning, employees were wearing shirts with the words “Your favorite cousin” in giant bold lettering, which fits with the restaurant’s tagline: “Where everyone is family.”

The language is more than a catchy brand. “Cousin” can carry particular weight in Black culture, where family and community ties extend beyond blood relatives to include close friends.

Above the bar, pennants for Johnson C. Smith University and N.C. A&T University — two of the state’s most prestigious historically Black higher education institutions — were on display.

The ownership is reflected in the music, too. Over the speakers, Alicia Keys’ soulful hit “You Don’t Know My Name” transitioned into “Rock The Boat,” a smooth R&B track from the late singer Aaliyah.

The restaurant, like DaBaby’s, is located in an area with a large Black population: University City. It also features brunch options like No Knife, including waffles, wings and seafood.

The main disparity? Pricing.

During my visit to No Knife, I got one strawberry shortcake waffle and six wings. Both tasted good, but the waffle alone was $25 — and the wings were $10 extra. My total bill, including tax and tip, came out to roughly $45.

For more perspective on pricing, if each member of a family of four ordered one plain waffle and a bottle of water, the total bill would be upwards of $80.

Those prices sparked an online debate about whether prospective customers should visit the restaurant. Even rapper Rick Ross weighed in, urging people to “support Black entrepreneurship.”

“Keep in mind guys, the favorite spots you love to dine at have been open for 30 years,” he said in a recent video posted to TikTok. “They had 30 years to work it out.”

“I’m proud of DaBaby,” he continued. “I’m proud to see him invest in himself and invest in his dream.”

With the prices at No Knife, the “investment” in himself seems apparent.

Fortunately, for a city the size of Charlotte, there are plenty of other ways to support Black-owned businesses.

Here’s what you need to know about Cuzzo’s Cuisine.

Cuzzo’s Cuisine leans into Southern comfort food with a seafood-heavy menu that includes seasoned wings and tenders, fried or sautéed shrimp, flounder, shrimp and grits (recognized as Charlotte’s Best last year), fish tacos and combination plates.

Its signature dishes include lobster mac and cheese, a Cuzzo’s combo of lemon pepper wings, collard greens and lobster mac, and “soul rolls” stuffed with mac and cheese, collards and yams. The restaurant also offers sweet potato, red velvet and peach cobbler waffles, along with sides such as yams, rice and beans, waffle fries and collard greens.

Here’s what I got for $27, including tax and tip:

It was a smorgasbord of flavor.

The waffle was crisp around the edges and fluffy inside, with the juicy peaches and cream cheese adding a sweet, tangy richness. The powdered sugar gave it an extra hit of sweetness.

Then came the lemon pepper tenders — crispy, savory and bright with citrusy seasoning — cutting through all that sweetness perfectly. The portion was so big that I couldn’t finish it all.

Now, for the price comparison. No Knife Chicken & Waffles charges at least $25 for any waffle with toppings. For about $5 less, you can get a similar waffle, plus protein, at Cuzzo’s.

DaBaby isn’t the first celebrity to charge a premium for the experience of eating at his restaurant, and he won’t be the last. And, as I mentioned in my initial story about No Knife, I understand the hype. Though his career has been marked by a string of controversial incidents, I understand why some people want to support a celebrity who has given so much back to a community he once called home.

Plus, Charlotte doesn’t have a ton of celebrity-owned restaurants, so I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting to try it for the experience. My goal isn’t to discourage people from visiting.

But if your goal is to “support Black entrepreneurship,” there are plenty of other options in the Queen City — including Cuzzo’s.

At Cuzzo’s, “where everyone is family” isn’t just a tagline. You can taste it in the food, feel it in the service and, most importantly, see it in the prices.

Location: 9601 N Tryon St Ste F, Charlotte, NC 28262

Cuisine: Seafood, brunch

Instagram: @cuzzoscuisine