DaBaby recently opened a restaurant in Charlotte, NC, and the reviews haven’t exactly been glowing.
The rapper is firing back at criticism over his new spot, No Knife Chicken & Waffles, which recently opened its doors in DaBaby’s native Charlotte. After customers made their way to the restaurant and posted pictures of the menu online, many social media users questioned the cost of several menu items–most notably, a $45 Soulfood Cornbread Waffle.
In response to this backlash, DaBaby did an interview with Positively Charlotte on Fox 46 Charlotte, where he explained the reasoning behind the high prices. He went into detail about what all goes into the menu items at his restaurant, citing things like homemade cornbread, collard greens with turkey, and fresh sweet potato folded into the batter of one waffle.
After explaining the $45 waffle in detail, he finished by saying, “this is really a $100 waffle!”
He also took the time to let more frugal customers know they can make their way to Waffle House, but he insists it’s not shade.
“Waffle House has something for you, you know what I mean? But if you want an elevated dining experience, if you want a waffle–Waffle House, I’m sorry, don’t let this come off as shade to you–this isn’t just flour and water,” he said.
No Knife Chicken & Waffles opened Sept. 6 on Atando Avenue and quickly drew attention online for its pricing. A plain waffle is listed at $15, flavored waffles cost $25, and the Soulfood Cornbread Waffle is priced at $45, with six wings available as a $10 add-on. The menu and restaurant logo also seem to be created with AI, but that’s a whole other conversation.
Coverage of the restaurant’s opening also revealed that the online backlash did not keep people away.
One Charlotte Observer reporter who attended the grand opening said he waited about three hours for his food, saying what he ordered was good, but still questioning whether the prices and wait were justified. While DaBaby was closely involved in developing the restaurant’s menu, he is not serving as its head chef.
The restaurant business is one of the most difficult to maintain, so the real question for No Knife Chicken & Waffles is whether it can maintain a customer base for years to come.
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