50'S Snack Bar — Restaurant in Wilkesboro

I was so excited to try this place. I mean, how many places have a 5 star rating? (Granted, only 8 reviews, but still.) My excitement mounted when I walked in and discovered that it is clearly popular, cutely decorated, and staffed by an incredibly nice and helpful staff (every single one of them—owner, server, even the busboy—were very polite and accommodating, bending over backwards to meet the needs of the customers). “This is going to be AWESOME!”, I said unto myself.

But pretty soon after diving into my cheeseburger, hot dog all the way, fries, and sweet tea, I found myself somewhat distressed...almost alarmed. I wanted it to be amazing! But, alas, the food just wasn’t very good. The cheeseburger was dry, dense, and bland. The sweet tea was severely watered down. The hot dog was also bland. The slaw was ok, but the chili was a major disappointment—big chunks of ground beef with no chili flavor at all. Hot dog chili should be chopped very fine and should taste like....well, chili. I don’t think the cook even waved a bottle of chili powder over the ground beef much less sprinkled any on it.

I felt a sense of duty somehow to save this rating from what was looking like 2 stars. The owner suggested earlier that their spicy pimento cheese was delicious, so I ordered a cup. It was indeed quite good, and it made a valiant effort to save the cheeseburger. Friday is also chicken salad day, and the owner asked me if I would like to sample it. I declined at first, but at this point took him up on his offer. It was very tasty.

So this is a cute little diner located in downtown Wilkesboro and is owned and operated by an amazingly nice group of people. But the food was hit or...

When I first walked in, I got a good feel for the atmosphere. It wasn't exactly hitting the mark on the atmosphere, with the 50's aesthetic feeling a bit weak. I placed my order, getting the signature sandwich ("The 50's Sandwich") without onions. The food was cooked quickly, but wasn't rushed (5 minutes). The waitress placed my order onto the table. She wasn't too chatty (which I personally like), but was quite kind and polite. My food was well-made, with very fresh ingredients and a good, solid taste. While I was eating, I did get a few glances, but I suppose that was due to an age difference with the usual people (I am 19, but most guests there seemed anywhere between 50-70, which I should I expected, given the theme). The price was alright, considering the quality of the food.

Altogether, if you're looking for the aesthetic of a 50's Diner, it's alright. The food, however, is very good, and I would highly...

Food was good, service was the worst I’ve ever received. The “atmosphere” that most people talk about being “welcoming” “warm” is a load. I’ve been a waitress for 2 years and i would never not leave a tip but I DID NOT LEAVE A TIP for my waitress who finally took our drink order after service 3 tables who entered after we had sat down. I’m sure it was due to me and my boyfriend being young and not fitting into the regular crowd of older folks. The cook brought our food to our table because the waitress was chatting, the cook was as sweet as can be, I wish I could’ve tipped her. The good food did NOT make up for the experience....