The Lemon Tree Cafe and Catering — Restaurant in Wake Forest

The Lemon Tree is my favorite cafe ever and the competition doesn’t even come close. The people there are incredible. One of a kind. When I lived in Wake Forest, The Lemon Tree felt like a home away from home. It’s tucked away on White Street, which is a lovely area to explore. If you have a slow Saturday, I recommend you park downtown and check out some of the shops on the street and then make your way to The Lemon Tree for lunch. The cafe and space have grown significantly since I started going there. There used to be a clothing boutique between the cafe and the Burger shop but when the boutique moved out, the two restaurants expanded to create a mini food hall vibe. It’s really cozy and homey.

I’ve eaten food from the Lemon Tree in almost every capacity they offer: catering for company lunches (it impressed Google reps from NYC), catering for my very own birthday party, at-home meal deliveries during covid, pickup date night boxes, and of course, inside the actual cafe. They even offered breakfast at one point and it was the best way to start my day.

I can’t say enough good things about The Lemon Tree. They build community through food. With the date night boxes, they partner with other local spots to shine a light on all of the delicious foods and drinks in the area. Stacey and her incredible crew put good into the world. I’m going to include a lot of photos with this one to represent all the mouthwatering sandwiches and sides I’ve had at this spot (some of the photos are from 2018). It’s the only place I’ve eaten every day in a week. If I had to leave you with a recommendation it would be, “eat everything.” If I had to leave you with a more actionable recommendation it would be, “try the pimento grilled cheese with chicken salad, a dessert bite, and half tea/half lemonade to drink.” I hope you feel the magic this place holds when you visit and please give Heather...

The Lemon Tree Café is like a locally-owned Panera Bread. Like Panera, you mix-and-match mostly sandwiches, soups, and salads. The Café also has things Panera doesn't like lasagna and chicken-pot pie.

If food is your absolute concern, you could stick with Panera Bread and have as good or better of a meal for a better price. If you want to support a small business and eat in a restaurant with a small-town environment, then come here.

To be fair, the Lemon Tree Café isn’t bad. I ordered the tomato basil soup, a pimento-chicken sandwich, and chicken salad with a lemonade and a lemon square. (They give you a small dessert square with your meal, which is a nice touch). The lemonade was superb. Many people tout Chick-Fil-A’s lemonade, but this is far better. The soup and chicken salad were good, and the sandwich was the best part of the meal. It was small though.

Every part of my meal was fine, but I probably won’t come back unless I either just want a lemonade or absolutely wanted to stay downtown to eat and was in the mood for this style of food.

Sidebar: The sandwiches are all pre-made, which seems unnecessary. But, if you get your sandwich grilled, then it doesn’t matter because you can’t really taste...

The Lemon Tree is an outstanding restaurant that has become a staple in my life. Their selection of ready-made meals has been a lifesaver for me during busy weeks, and their commitment to quality and service is unmatched. As a local business owner myself, I have recognized and appreciated the hard work and dedication that the team at The Lemon Tree puts into their craft.

The Harvest Salad is one of my favorite dishes on their menu, made with fresh blue cheese, crisp apples, tart dried cranberries, and perfectly candied almonds. The salad is perfectly balanced, and the addition of their pomegranate poppy seed dressing adds an extra hint of sweetness that truly brings the dish together.

If you're looking for a top-notch café' in the area, The Lemon Tree should be at the top of your list. Whether you're in the mood for a quick and easy meal or a full ready made dinner experience, they offer something for everyone. I highly recommend this restaurant and am confident that you will enjoy your experience as much as I have. Five...