Tag: Flower Child

Remember how apologizing as a kid wasn’t just about saying “sorry”? Your parents wanted the full confession.

“Tell your sister exactly what you’re sorry for,” my parents would say after I launched a Hot Wheels car directly at her head — as if my 6-year-old self needed to draft a statement of accountability before snack time.

So, here’s my latest apology: I’m sorry, Flower Child, for assuming you only served plant-based and gluten-free food. And for spreading that rumor around.

I remember seeing news stories about the restaurant’s opening that featured photos of salad — and with a name like “Flower Child,” wouldn’t it make sense for it to cater to specific diets? (It does, but more on that later.)

Because of my bias against health food restaurants, I would immediately shoot it down whenever someone suggested Flower Child for lunch or dinner.

“I want food with extra gluten in it,” I thought to myself whenever someone would suggest it.

But I was wrong.

The restaurant has something for everyone, including plenty of healthy options, and a rainy Monday when I wasn’t planning to move much felt like the perfect excuse for a salad.

Not long after I walked in the restaurant, the bouncy bass line of Remi Wolf’s “Cinderella” started playing over the speakers, which matched perfectly with the dining room’s splash of color. The drippy rainbow mural and striped chairs seemed to dance right along with her kaleidoscopic sound.

Even with all the color and pattern, the dining room still felt cozy and familiar, like a space built for slow meals and easy conversation.

But I was by myself, meaning I had the opportunity to take in every nuanced flavor and texture without distraction.

Here’s what you need to know about Flower Child.

What’s on the menu at Flower Child?

The Flower Child menu includes bowls, plates, salads and wraps, with proteins (such as meat and chicken) available as add-ons. The menu also caters to a variety of dietary preferences, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy free.

Prices range from $10-$20.

Here’s everything I got for roughly $22 (before tax and tip):

• Ginger Miso Crunch salad ($10.75): Made with carrot zoodles, zucchini, red pepper, cabbage, mint, cashew, sesame seed and Asian dressing
• Added steak ($6.95)
• Chocolate chip cashew cookie ($2.95)

I’ve always enjoyed salads with crunch, whether from tortilla strips, crackers or peanuts, and this one was no exception. But, of course, the steak was the star.

It may have been cooked to medium, but it was a well-done steak in every sense. And that flavor combined with the sweet, crisp vegetables and nutty, herby notes that made every bite a satisfying contrast, with the dressing adding a zing that tied it all together.

We need to discuss the cookie, though.

Something I wish I had known — or rather, something I was glad I didn’t know — was that the chocolate chip cashew cookie was gluten-free. But I’m glad I didn’t know, because then I wouldn’t have ordered it.

Monday was the end of my 30-year-long streak of never trying gluten-free food (for context, I turned 30 in June), but this chocolate chip cashew creation stole the show.

It was made with coconut, which was pleasantly pronounced without ever dominating, and the dark chocolate added a deep, decadent richness that melted in my mouth. Nutty cashew pieces provided a satisfying crunch, while the cookie itself had a delightfully crisp, slightly chewy texture — a reminder that gluten-free doesn’t mean flavor-free.

So, Flower Child, consider this my full confession: I judged too quickly, I doubted your menu and I’m genuinely sorry — especially for missing out on that cookie for all these years.

Flower Child

Location: 1537 Camden Rd, Charlotte, NC 28203

Location: 15210 Bowl St #101, Charlotte, NC 28277

Menu

Cuisine: Bowls, salads

Instagram: @eatflowerchild

This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM.