In April of this year, a new catering company and restaurant opened in Ballantyne. Focusing on simple, home-style food, with an eat-in location that’s open for lunch, Brown Bag delivers to events for a minimum of 10 people and offers bulk foods for pickup, like trays of chicken, salads or sides you can use to fill in the gaps for your holiday parties or for your own meal shortcuts. The food is healthy and wholesome, a welcome change from sandwiches and chips most catering companies offer small groups.  

 

But this straightforward catering and café restaurant doesn’t just offer up solid, delicious food offerings. Brown Bag originally started in Knoxville and Nashville, with a small group of friends who grew it out of a home business, one serving at a time before opening its first Charlotte location. It’s a catering company with a purpose.  

 

Called the Brown Bag Blessing, with 24-hours notice, you can call in a crisis and the company will donate a meal for up to eight people, using food left at the end of the day. In the case of a sudden death or hospitalization where you’re trying to figure out how to feed everyone who is coming together, all you need to do is call.  

 

In addition to this service, there’s also an in-restaurant opportunity to pass along the goodness. A wipe-off board at the restaurant allows you to buy a friend a meal. Taking inspiration from bars that have similar concepts with drinks, Brown Bag lets you overpay for your lunch and write a friend’s name on the board, giving your friend a free lunch whenever they come by to eat.  

 

5231 Piper Station Drive  

Sunday: Closed 

Mon – Sat: 11 AM – 2:30 PM

 

Photo by Cody Hughes @clhughes21