K&W Cafeteria — Restaurant in Rocky Mount

We arrived as they opened to wait an additional 30 minutes as they finished setting up the food line. They'd had a power outage which had effected therm by at least 30 minutes. Management was apologetic. Selection was amazing and very hot but only slightly above average in taste. I had the turkey and stuffing which was different than any other K&W recipe I've ever consumed (and I've been to many K&W cafeterias over the years). The stuffing had green peepers rather than celery. Odd to say the least. Negatively effected the flavor and I like green pepper, just not in stuffing. The yam casserole and mac 'n cheese were great! My husband had the steak & gravy which was flavorful but not quite as tender as usual. (We contributed this to the power outage they'd experienced this morning.) The green beans and rice sides were good. The table server, Tonya, was attentive and friendly. On another note, while we waited in line I observed one of the staff servers placing pies on display. With bare hands she literally picked up a chunk of a piece of pie that had fallen onto the tray and returned it to the plate to be sold later. I wouldn't have an issue with this had she been wearing gloves. However since she wasn't, I mentioned it to another lady who was in charge of setting up the food line and she immediately had the pie trashed and had the server put on gloves. Food handlers are always to wear gloves, even more so in today's climate. Best to err on the side of caution. All-in-all, it was a good affordable lunch. The BEST soft rolls we've ever had at ANY K&W location. Restrooms and restaurant very clean. We'll return to this location when we travel through Rocky Mount. Rarely ever do we miss an opportunity to...

We decided to try K&W again after 2 years of not going after several bad experiences with cold food or poor service. We arrived at 5:30pm on Saturday March 23rd. That’s right at dinner time. We noticed only 5 cars in the parking lot but we decided to go in and try anyway. There were very few people in the dinning area. Maybe 6 tables at the most. I ordered the cube steak w/gravy and rice. It was luke warm and extremely salty. I had to scrape the gravy off, it was so salty. The only bread available was cornbread. No rolls. There was only one biscuit in the warmer. The lady asked my fiance “you sure you want this, it’s hard as a rock?” She then took the biscuit and tapped it on top of the warmer until it cracked open. Of course he said no thanks. Only 3 desserts to choose from at the time. German chocolate pie, egg custard and strawberry shortcake. No chocolate cream pie. My fiancé ordered spaghetti. It had been sitting in the warmer for awhile. The cheese on top was pure rubbery. He had to pull the cheese off. I had coffee to drink. The gentleman brought me coffee in a large styrofoam cup. I couldn’t believe it. Who goes out to eat in a family restaurant and have coffee served to them in a Styrofoam cup? I hate that!!!!! I can understand if it were a fast food restaurant. I was expecting a coffee cup. Of course that was no coffee cups at the cash register. The cashier told me the dinning room attendant would bring my coffee. I thought that was nice but I was not expecting a styrofoam cup. Anyway I guess we’ll wait another two years and try again. That is if they’re...

Fried chicken. Let's cut to the chase: this wasn't just "good" fried chicken. This was "stop-what-you're-doing-and-appreciate-this-moment" fried chicken. After finishing my plate, I had to find the chef. That's when I met Josh. Josh, if you're reading this, you are a fried chicken legend. Your work is a testament to the power of simple ingredients treated with skill and care. I gave him a salute, because honestly, that's the level of respect it deserved. "You did that!" I told him, and he did. Now, here's the honest part: K&W is a cafeteria. You're not getting fine dining ambiance. You're getting solid, home-style cooking at a reasonable price. The sides were...well, they were cafeteria sides. They did their job. But the chicken? The chicken was the star of the show, and it deserves its own spotlight.

Dear K&W Manager, I have a public service announcement. Rocky Mount needs to know when Josh is on fried chicken duty. Forget the daily specials, we need "Josh's Fried Chicken Schedule." Just post it on the door. "Chicken Incoming: Josh Edition." We'll plan our lives around it. Seriously, this man deserves a dedicated following.

If you're craving truly exceptional fried chicken and you find yourself in Rocky Mount, head to K&W. But before you go, pray that Josh is in the kitchen. And if he is? Prepare for a religious experience. Josh, keep that oil hot and that batter seasoned. Rocky Mount...