With locations in California, Maryland, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, DC, Georgia, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Virginia, it was only a matter of time before Flower Child skipped over to North Carolina. “We have been eyeing Charlotte for some time, waiting for the right location,” says Jessica Mulroy, Regional Manager for Restaurant Operations. “When this particular space came open, we fell in love with the vibrancy of the area and the future of the South End neighborhood.”
Phat Burrito (R.I.P.) was the former tenant of the building Flower Child now occupies. Like its predecessor, Flower Child welcomes quirkiness, though more so of diet variety than of graffiti art and grunge. Designed to accommodate every eater and delight the health-oriented, Flower Child’s menu is made from scratch and made to order. Most dishes originate as vegan or vegetarian with the option to add ingredients and flavors for a flexitarian experience. “A meat and potatoes guy can enjoy dinner with a vegan and with their kids who love mac and cheese,” explains Mulroy.
Food and Drink: The Main Attraction
Start with one of Flower Child’s tantalizing appetizers. Delve into the crushed avocado toast (with soft egg, black sesame, and white cheddar) or the soup of the day. Then, refresh with a salad. Opt for something traditional like the cobb. Or branch out with something more adventurous like the Vietnamese crunch salad. Dig your fork into a pile of cabbage, romaine, quinoa, tomato, peppadew, pineapple, avocado, cashew, thai basil, cilantro, mint, and a spicy lemongrass vinaigrette.
For a bit more heft, choose one of Flower Child’s signature bowls. The Glow Bowl, for example, is a satisfying blend of spicy sweet potato noodles, bok choy, zucchini, onion, jalapeno, shiitake mushrooms, coconut milk, and sunflower butter. Add protein to your bowl or salad in the form of chicken, salmon, tofu, steak, or shrimp. Or, opt for one of Flower Child’s flavorful wraps. For example, Bird is the Word is a combination of grilled chicken, broccoli, charred onion, peppadew, and pepper jack cheese.
Flower Child also offers an entree option for its hungriest guests. Start with a protein, then choose two sides to accompany it. Options include sugar snaps and spicy Japanese eggplant (with thai basil, jalapeño, and cashew) and gluten-free mac and cheese. Or opt for heirloom tomato and watermelon (with saba vinaigrette, mint, basil, and smoked sea salt).
Although Flower Child is a national chain, the Charlotte location will feature Queen City brews. Diners can also pair their food with wine, kombucha, or sangria. After you’ve enjoyed your meal, return for another, because the menu at Flower Child will rotate with the seasons. You won’t want to miss a single dish. And, true to its promise of accessibility to all eaters, Flower Child has ensured that your friends and family won’t want to miss a single dish, either.
