Cafe Symmetry

Closed for good. Never made money? This was a cafeteria style way too close to the Weaver market. Also well hidden from. View. We went to Elmo’s. Neighbors said the symmetry was just so so for the money and the line

I had no idea that café symmetry was set up as a cafeteria style restaurant. This was a different concept for dinner, but it was a fun experience. The line was long which was a good sign for me since my initial thoughts were the food had to be good if so many people were waiting. When I finally got to the front of the line at the food, I was intimidated by how good everything looked! It was really hard to order fast, since there were lots of choices, but I knew there was a still a long line behind me so I had to decide quick. I ordered the brussel sprouts as my cold side and the shrimp with avocado, tomato, and onion salad. The brussel sprouts were amazing. I never had brussel sprouts cold before, and I definitely would try making these at home. The flavors were vibrant, there was just enough seasoning and some parmesan, and the brussel sprouts were cooked perfectly: soft with flaky grilled pieces. The shrimp main dish was good as well. It was a bit on the spicy side for me, but was certainly very flavorful. You can’t go wrong with a tasty avocado salad. The one downside of the dish was that it was served in a cup, so there was way too much olive oil at the bottom of the dish.
Next time, I would definitely order just a few side dishes and probably skip the main entrée all together. The main entrée is very small and almost the same as a side dish anyway, it just consists of meat or seafood. The side dishes all looked better than the entrées in my opinion, so I would want to go back and try some more. They also have a cool bar area as well. You can choose your seating, and I will say they do have to improve on cleaning up the tables faster. There were empty tables, but all were dirty still when looking for seating. The prices are very cheap and reasonable for quality, healthy food. They also have a coupon special right now for buy one dinner entrée, get one free, so I would highly recommended venturing to café symmetry for your next dinner out!

Had the white beans soup, braised brisket panini and fig and gruyère panini. Such a healthy alternative to the usual breakfast brunch fare. Think of this as a healthy d&s /​k&w. Owner was very courteous and gave us a mini tour and samples. Highly recommend this place!

I’m not gonna lie, we came here because Elmo’s had a 45 minute wait. When we walked in I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to eat here, it’s a cafeteria and the food sounded odd. But they let you taste the sides and I quickly realized that odd food can be great! I got the fig and Gruyère panini and it’s a sandwich that I’d actually crave. I’ll definitely be back. The Mac n cheese was pretty good and the carrot ginger lemonade was surprisingly delicious!

My first meal was late summer; the bison chili, kale & pear salad, and whipped potato/​cauliflower side were eaten on the patio at a high, communal table. The price seemed a bit steep, but leftovers were carried home so that made it better. The upside to Café symmetry are interesting combinations (the salad was truly memorable), wonderful staff, free samples, and presentation. The place is so airy and minimalist I wonder how it can be cozied up for fall & winter. The downsides are few: too many choices and confusing sizes/​pricing. But the staff does well explaining and you can get a sample before deciding. Good concept and a nice addition to Carrboro. Oh, and I’ve been back for more bison chili… and took a friend… a nice casual evening out. We extended dinner into dessert – cookies which were awesome. Final note: a good place to linger, have a conversation, and enjoy a meal.

I saw a review for this place in the local paper and wanted to try it, but we were concerned it might not be kid-​friendly… actually it turns out they have a separate bar and eating area, so there were many families with kids enjoying the fare. Ingredients are all posted clearly. The food options are pretty healthy (they have vegan, gluten-​free, dairy-​free, and paleo options), the serving sizes are generous, and service is well above average. They let you taste-​test everything and even help with carrying trays and clearing tables. The food was much less expensive than take-​out from Weaver Street Market or Whole Foods (or most restaurants in Chapel Hill/​Carrboro, for that matter!). It’s also connected to the Carr Mill shops, so a nice place to hang out a bit or go for a stroll before or after a meal. I would definitely go back.

I’ve been going to restaurants for 40+ years now and I gotta say I found the experience pretty confusing. I guess it’s a cafeteria? They seem to be trying to rebrand or reinvent the cafeteria experience but it’s really just an overpriced mediocre cafeteria.
Most of the entrees are crock pot kind of dishes. Here’s my feedback on the 2 we sampled:
**The «Asian pork» that I got was not at all Asian, and was not as good as what you can make at home
**My wife’s «Chorizo» hot pot reportedly had very little chorizo in it.
Also:
**Cold drinks are called «cool downs» WTF they’re just cold drinks.
**My side of asian peanut noodles were mediocre and definitely overpriced at $ 2.75
Apparently they call the place Café Symmetry because it’s at the other end of Carr Mill from Elmo’s which they also own. It’s a fitting name since now there are two shitty restaurants on opposite sides of the same building.

Café Symmetry was opened by the owners of Elmo’s right next door! They have a wide variety of cold salad bar and hot food items, as well as sandwiches and drinks. The atmosphere is relaxed and the prices are reasonable for the quality and freshness of the items. Try coming here earlier during the evening if possible though! We arrived about 45 minutes before closing and the selection was very limited by that point.

I’m paleo so finding a place that’s easy to eat at is a challenge. Café Symmetry had a lot to offer! I was a little confused at first but found the food excellent, the atmosphere inviting and the bar selection great. Specialty cocktails were great, beer selection pretty nice and the non-​alcoholic drinks were yummy too. I’ll definitely be back!

Like many others, I REALLY wanted to like this place. I’ll likely go back bc it’s new, I want independent restaurants to succeed, the vibe is cool and the patio looks nice.
To start, the service was great. Everyone was very helpful and accommodating. All quite kind.
I was excited to try the cocktails bc they read so different, but it was a 1^st base hit. I had the carrot-​ginger marg. Didn’t taste like carrot (thank goodness), but it didn’t have any marg taste either. It was like a thinned out glass of juice. The term «margarita» has a connotation and expectation and I just didn’t get that experience — or taste of booze. But I paid for it.
Regarding the food, it was OK. I had two sides (avocado salad & tomato/​cuc/​onion salad) & one protein — the tuna w ponzo sauce. Two of the three were just bland and in desperate need of salt and/​or spices. The best item was the tomato salad, which is so easy to make that they can’t really screw it up. For the price, I’d like the food to have more flavor and pizzazz. Nothing stood out.
Again, I’ll likely head back for another shot, but if not I’ll head to Weaver Street where I can get similar food that I know is stellar, and about the same price.
I really hope with some tweaks this place sticks around!

Great food, with lots of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-​free options. My partner and I went for dinner and drinks, and enjoyed being able to sample several items before making dinner selections. We each ordered a panini and split several sides, including the jackfruit «tuna» salad. It is a nice change to go to a restaurant and be able to eat vegetarian dishes beyond pasta, risotto, and butternut squash.
We also enjoyed the blueberry lemon tart (gluten-​free) so much that we ordered a whole one for my partner’s birthday!
The staff is friendly and the restaurant looks beautiful, inside and out. This is a wonderful addition to the dining scene!

I would give Symmetry five stars because the food, the space and the staff are outstanding. The first time I went I ordered a variety of ½ portions of side dishes, all vegetarian, to set the good example for my 3 year old: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard salad, avocado and tomato salad. I also ordered a chicken sandwich, since vegetables alone are always terribly unsatisfying to me. Both my kid and I LOVED all of the veggies so much that I regretted not ordering full portions and almost forgot about the sandwich.
Unfortunately, because of the cost for better food, I’m afraid Symmetry will turn into a «favorite special place», one of those you go to eat on special occasions or to indulge your palate at a little extra cost: it’s pricey but worth it. But next time you want to treat yourself for lunch or dinner you will also consider all the other «favorite special places» on your list and you’ll realize that those other places also offer table service, a menu, a place where you walk in, sit down and you feel the extra money pay for more than just good food. And then, all of a sudden, Symmetry is placed at the bottom of your «favorite special places» to eat-​list and you just don’t have enough special occasions to actually make it to that bottom of the list. I hope I’m wrong, because I really like this place and it’s the only restaurant where I look forward to eating vegetable.

Stumbled upon this place walking around, and LOVED it. It’s adorable and the staff are so so so kind.

Love the presentation of this place but they really need to work on portion sizing and pricing. Great remodel of the space, it feels open, welcoming, and bright.
But, the food is rather expensive and the experience leaves something to be desired. For instance, the pricing of hot entrees being $ 6.50 per cup (a small bowl) vs. $ 9.50 for a plate just doesn’t seem to make sense given the limited amount of food offered. There’s no bread thrown in at these prices, and the amount of the small bowl is truly far too small to justify the price. Can’t speak to the cold entrees but the presentation and method of serving just seemed odd and incongruous to a «wow» kind of experience. Quality of the food was decent, but I’d almost prefer that they tighten down on the wide variety and pass resulting efficiencies on in the form of lower pricing.
Again, love what they’ve done to the space. The menu, order flow, portions, and pricing really need to be rethought at a fundamental level, IMO.

Overall good fresh tasting food! Not bad with vegan options either, although hopefully they will add more overtime. I also really liked the atmosphere and customer service. Really strange setup with ordering though. It was pretty confusing. You choose your sides first then your main dish? Also it’s overpriced in my opinion for such small portions.
We all ordered a vegan tofu avocado sandwich that was really good and a side of habanero sweet potato soup which was also really good but everyone seemed to agree that it was overpriced and ordering was really confusing.

Spent over $ 30 for 2 people for 2 sandwiches a few sides and 1 non alcoholic beverage. Food is meh. It looks pretty inside and the food looks delicious, it just lacks flavor. They offer similar food as Weaver and the community is loyal to Weaver. I’d like to see this place survive so try a different spread or hire a new food provider.

My first experience here was awesome! Thanks to Fernanda S for the suggestion I had no idea that Café Symmetry just opened. The newest addition to Carr Mill Mall, Café Symmetry takes over the Panzanella space and is a concept from the same owners of Elmo’s Diner. This is one of the most unique restaurant concepts I’ve seen in the Triangle area. Part cafeteria, part bar, an amazing outdoor patio, really the space is just incredible. You will feel healthy just walking in with all the green surroundings and décor.
I had no idea what to do when I walked in and was completely overwhelmed with my options. All of the staff made a huge effort to help me out and they were so patient and sweet. If I lived closer I’d probably make this a regular lunch spot. For those that know me you know I’m always looking for some healthy on the go meals. Café Symmetry brings you fresh food fast and they are no missing a beat. You can choose from numerous cold veggie sides, hot sides, salads, proteins, soups, hot pots, panini’s, and desserts. The decision for someone who loves veggies like myself is a tough one. I did a smörgåsbord for my first visit. I decided on the avocado salad, collards salad, ahi tuna as my protein, and mashed cauliflower and potatoes. Let’s just say I was very happy with all my choices, and to be honest if you are not happy with your choices you only have yourself to blame. They let you try a tasting of everything they have so taste away before you order.
The tuna was cooked perfectly and served with a really nice vinaigrette it went perfect over my cold collards. The avocado salad was one of my favorites it was so fresh and filled me up. I just couldn’t resist the smashed cauliflower it’s one of my favorite things and it was really good here. I honestly ordered to much food and couldn’t finish my cauliflower but I was very satisfied after this lunch. They also have a nice selection of drinks, I tried the carrot ginger mix and it was tasty I’m not big on sweet drinks so I opted for the hibiscus tea which I loved.
I spoke with the sweet ladies at the check out line and they told me all about the amazing drinks they are making behind the bar, a beet martini anyone? Looking forward to coming back for some adult beverages! Yes it’s a little weird the cafeteria style set-​up but you know what it totally works and if that’s what it takes to get me some super fresh and healthy food well then this girl is all in!

Many claps to Café Symmetry. It’s nice to see a modern concept taking place in Carrboro, I’m sure folks from other cities around the Triangle will be coming here.
Imagine a very adorable café, with a nice décor, outdoor sitting and friendly staff. Now imagine you can have a quick, fresh and healthy meal and not pay a lot of money for that — worry no more, this is all possible here. Upon arrival you can choose from the many options on the salad/​side bar. It is very confusing to understand the pricing and how you can mix and match the sides. Cold and hot sides have different pricing and you can also add a protein to a small or big plate — I know, I couldn’t understand it at first either, but one of the staff members will gladly assist you.
Not keen in eating from the bar? Try one of the freshly made paninis. I had the chicken and peanut pesto panini, it was delicious and garlicky (I loved it). Pricing did not sound bad. For a two-​person lunch with drinks we paid $ 22.
There are many options of drinks, I tried the hibiscus tea and the carrot and ginger juice, both were delicious and for my taste it’s not necessary to add any sugar/​sweetener.
If you are in for a cocktail I heard they have an interesting Mint and Blueberry Martini, sounds very good but I have not tried it yet.
Keep in mind they only opened a few weeks ago, so it’s still on soft opening phase.

I was so happy to hear that something was going to be done with the Panzanella space (RIP you are missed) which has such beautiful exposed bricks flanked by ceiling height windows and a nice airy feel. Perfect for a restaurant. And once I head of the concept I was intrigued and kept tabs on this place wanting to get in and try it! I even walked in once when they weren’t open for business yet and got a tour of the set up before embarrassingly walking out. I mean the door WAS unlocked!
I’ve been here twice to eat since then so I thought I’d give some thoughts of my experience. First of all, I really prefer to be waited on. Part of it is not wanting to hold up a line or get in someone’s way, or feeling on the spot to decide. Part of it is I’m clumsy with a tray. College dorm cafeterias were not safe from me tipping my tray over but fortunately the carpets were decades old at that time. And lastly, I just like the experience. But I will say I did not feel rushed, or that I was annoying to anyone. In fact, everyone on the line was very friendly and happy to be there and were patient about explaining the process, the foods and offering samples. They serve all the food on the line except for the sandwiches and some desserts and drinks which they provide you with a number to place on your table. There is a bar a little bit at the end of the line to purchase alcohol with a number of specialty drinks.
As far as drinks go, I tried the grapefruit basil martini, the carrot ginger margarita and the lemonade with stevia. I liked the martini with the little bit of kick from the basil. Definitely something to sip and savor. The marg was a bit esoteric for me but tastes refreshing. The lemonade with stevia was delicious. Would definitely try that again.
Onto food. The first time I was there I had a delicious panini with the most succulent chicken and pesto. It was spot on and tasted incredible. I only ate half at the restaurant but on the way home I decided I’d just go ahead and finish it even though I was full it was so good.
The second time I tried the tofu sandwich called the TNT. I didn’t really care for it because the tofu had some kind of dry rub on it that tasted like BBQ sauce to me. Maybe I’m way off base with my taste buds but I didn’t much care for it. I had three cold sides. The Brussels sprouts were amazing. I’m literally salivating right now thinking about it and the broccoli was very good with light seasoning and small flecks of ricotta cheese. I also had the avocado and cherry tomato side which was nice and fresh. I put this on my sandwich to dress it up.
My daughter was with me the second time and she had the Mac and cheese, broccoli, strawberry shortcake and freshade that had lemon and lime juice, she thought the Mac and cheese was a bit bland. She’s used to melted gooey cheese and this was more of a sauce. She loved the broccoli and her drink but the dessert was her favorite. I had a bite and the cake was very buttery and moist. Very good.
We both agreed that we weren’t crazy about the shade of the green chairs and that the green shade of the trays went better with the brick. I know green is supposed to conotate health but it just doesn’t take advantage of the already beautiful features of he space.
The staff here are so helpful and kind. Really, the staff can make or break a place but everyone I encountered was an asset to the place. They make you feel welcome and comfortable and I’m looking forward to spending some more time here!

The newest addition to the fun culinary scene in Carrboro. Caffe Symmetry is full of totally awesome food. There are options for just about all diners in your party. I had a more eccletic mix with chicken mole over rice, sweet potato with sirrachi. And carrot ginger drink. Spice was present but not overwhelming. There are hot sauces available to kick it up if you want. The atmosphere is upscale with calming colors and plenty of natural light. There is also bar seating and outdoor patio for later crowds.
Definitely will have to come back for the desserts and coffee. Also the grilled cheese and fig jam sandwich is calling me back.