McLean's Ole Time Cafe — Restaurant in Zebulon

I really don't to give less than 5 star reviews but this is about our 5th visit and it's pretty consistent. Food is just average. It's exactly as I rated it 4 out of 5 stars. I see people rave about the food and really, they do a good job, sort of average diner fare. A little pricey for what you get and portion size seems to have decreased after covid. We were there right after lunch and we needed butter, etc and all waitresses were in another room "having a meeting". Not a good time to have a meeting. I've noticed in this area when leaving a less than stellar review, other reviewers and owners seem to get defensive. I'm not saying that's the case here, but it seems to be the general stance in JoCo and Wake County. Reviews are meant to be constructive, not degrading. My intent is certainly to write this review as constructive. But little things like potatoes or the biscuits for instance. These are very inexpensive items they can add or increase portion size to fill the plate and make up for the smaller portions of the more expensive proteins. The atmosphere is terrific..sort of a Cracker Barrel authentic appeal. But for instance compare CB meatloaf dinner to MOTC price and portions. Big difference! Overall it's a great place and we return about once a year but just for something different. My wife and I are self proclaimed foodies and we eat out a lot as well as MANY home cooked meals. MOTC gives you the feeling of a home cooked old time meal, yet it's got a 20% touch of shiny diner service and menu. Again, meant to be constructive,.not a complaint or negative. Simply stated, compare to other options in the general area and there are other choices that do better with food, service and value. Another specific example, my wife got the chicken salad plate. I forget exactly what the price was but it was just an ice cream scoop of chicken salad on a bed of lettuce. This is something that's included in the price of the salad bar in many larger buffets and restaurants. Not even one slice of bread to make it a sandwich. Yes, it's listed as a salad plate, but one slice of bread can change the value of this meal from a scoop of salad to a nice filling meal, just a mere single slice of bread. Instead you get a 2" (yes, 2") biscuit. Why not just make the biscuits like everyone else? How much overhead is there, really, in just making biscuits "normal" size? We'll be back, as always, but it's abiut a 15 mile trip for us so along that path we'll find many other choices that we prefer. All in all, great place but the little quirks make it a place we don't rush to as a favorite. Desserts? Like a Greek diner- they all LOOK beautiful and your first reaction is you're in awe. Then after first bite and the bill you quickly realize it's just not all about looks. Same prices as highly rated bakeries in the area but very misleading by the visual appeal. Mac n cheese - a popular delight in this area, and the south in general. Something that's well sought after and easy to judge based on (many) other local offerings. Comparing apples to apples (or Mac n cheese to Mac n cheese) this one of the easiest things to do better on. M&C IS ALWAYS my first choice as a side dish, but compare it to the next offering down the street and you'll find you're getting 1 ounce less of everything and it's noodles and processed cheese? Another quick fix, just add 1 more ounce to the side, or perhaps even charge 50 cents more and give a larger (and better) portion. It's like a pet peeve I have at OTHER restaurants when you ask for a side of Ranch dressing to dip your fries in amd the waitstaff doesn't mention a word to you and tacks 75 cents on the bill. That's just an analogy, that did not...

This was our second time trying to have breakfast at this establishment.

The first time we waited 45 mins for our food to come out cold and the whole tables order was wrong. Nothing was done other than we were given the option to wait another 15-20 mins due to lack of staff for our orders to be completed or leave. We had a toddler and unfortunately had to feed him then so we sucked it up and ate it. No discount was offered.

Today, our second attempted at this place was met with another 30 min wait for our order to then be given to the table beside us. The waiter said he would get the kitchen to remake the meal. Not two mins went by when our food returned to the table cold and not remade. We sat in shocked as our waitress looked at us and asked if anything else was needed until she knew we were extremely upset. The “manager” came to the table to see if what the issue was. We told him the story and the entire time was met with smirks and eye rolls. He understood that we yet again, did not have time to wait for our meals to be remade so he said we wouldn’t be charged and he would discount the pancake our son was trying to eat since he had sat there the entire time waiting. Keep him mind he is two years old. The discount we received was an entire dollar.

While we were trying to feed our child the waiter then trying to serve us another tables order so the process started again with people being given the wrong food and having to be remade again. When we tried to tell him it was the wrong table we were met with nothing but attitude from him as well.

This still did not end. When we went to the front to pay we had to wait while 5 staff members were on their phones texting and talking to one other before we could even be acknowledged.

The entire time we were at this establishment we were treated poorly and felt like a burden for even walking in the door. Being business owners ourself, we would NEVER let anything along theses lines ever happen to any of our customers or employees.

If you do not have staff to fulfill customers please limit the number of tables you will serve and have...

Very disappointed by the way management acts towards not only their customers but clearly their employees i was dining at Mcleans with my family and it was disgustingly hot and humid in the restaurant to the point where tables around us where complaining to each other and the waitress who was handling our table was sweating as well i asked her why it was so hot and she said and i quote “ the owners have a box over the thermostat with a note that says don’t touch and it says 85 on the temperature for inside they don’t really care about anyone just the money” i feel terrible for this poor girl and the rest of the staff. finally i spoke to a blonde haired manager and i asked her if there was anyway to make it a little cooler as everyone was visibly miserable and you would think seeing your customers miserable would make you quickly jump into action to make the moment right and make everyone happy instead she said there’s nothing she could do and shrugged it off like she could not have cared less there are many ceiling fans in this establishment you would think they would turn the damn things on but clearly they are just for decoration food was boring and average don’t give these pathetic heartless owners/managers your money You’ve been warned!!!!!

(EDIT) I’m sorry but your response was incredibly unprofessional whoever is writing these responses is a JOKE especially looking back at your responses to others feedback is just sad and disappointing. you sound very defensive for someone who claims “all is well” first of all i never ever said what day i came to your restaurant the day i came in we did NOT have a heat advisory but there should have been for your restaurant!! and if you spent that much money on those AC units i think you should get your money back clearly they don’t work. your restaurant is WAY to over priced to be sending back rude and snarky replies to your own restaurants reviews clearly your own waitress was right money is all you guys care about. if you can’t take the heat then maybe your in the wrong line of business. 😄reevaluate yourselves and...