Get a healthy, hearty meal under ten bucks at Brown Bag in Ballantyne

Founder Peter Brown began Brown Bag as a catering business out of his home in Knoxville back in 2009. He opened up an actual shop strictly for catering orders in 2011, but a few months later, he created a café menu and opened his doors for lunch.

Brown and team brought the business to Charlotte as its fifth location with the goal of providing healthy, affordable meals (and a few guilty pleasure options, too).

“You can come in and eat something different every day,” said Matt Mincer, VP of Brown Bag, who relocated to Charlotte to open the restaurant.

At Brown Bag, things are simple: you choose one of nine entrées and two of nine sides.

They have several gluten free combinations and two tasty desserts (brownies and banana pudding). And they still offer their catering menu with choices like a homemade chili bar and a build-your-own-sandwich set-up.

They also believe sharing is caring.

On every third Thursday of the month, you’ll also catch Brown Bag supporting a local organization through a fundraiser for a good cause.

Diners can also participate in the buy-a-friend-lunch program in which you pay for a friend’s meal. The friend’s name goes on a chalkboard by the register, and he or she has a month to redeem his or her meal.

For the month of June, the program is only $5 for your friend’s meal. Go treat a pal.

Find Brown Bag at 5231 Piper Station Drive, across the road from StoneCrest Shopping Center. Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (closed Sundays.).