Three to four stars is an accurate ratting for Charlies…read more Popped in on the way to visit family in the area and after eating Waffle House for dinner I needed something light to fill the stomach for breakfast. Stopped in at the right time as shortly after multiple families came in. Definitely can see this being a busy spot pre/post church. Was a little surprised about the lemon juice packets for my water, first I have seen that. I enjoyed my meal. Everything hit the spot with my order. My grandfather's poached eggs were overcooked but he enjoyed it all. Other things that stuck out was they had no OJ, overheard the waitress tell a young boy they were out of apple juice, and they were not serving french toast. Maybe staffing issues with it being Labor Day weekend but I would have thought having a fully stocked kitchen would be important. If traveling through I would pop in for some grub, it is better than the Mc. Donalds up the road.

They have been popular for years and serve good food and theirs always good conversation there.read more

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars If you're looking for a spot with…read moreplenty of vegetarian options in New Bern that isn't an Indian restaurant, FireFly Cafe is an absolute breath of fresh air! I give this place a solid 4/5 overall, heavily carried by their incredible hospitality and welcoming atmosphere. Service: 5/5 The service here is unmatched. The owners are incredibly friendly, attentive, and great to converse with. They went out of their way to bring over coloring books and crayons for our kids, which was a huge help and made us feel so welcome. Decor & Ambiance: 4/5 The interior is spacious and very inviting. They have a great mix of standard dining tables under beautiful exposed wooden beams, plus some really cozy lounge seating areas with a cool swamp mural. It's a very relaxed, family-friendly environment. Food: 3/5 The food was a bit of a mixed bag, but we really appreciated the vegetarian variety. * The Good: The Firefly Beignets were the absolute highlight--they came out warm, puffy, covered in powdered sugar, and completely delicious! The Mac n' Cheese and the side salad were both decent and satisfying. * The Not-So-Good: The crepes were a bit of a letdown. They used canned olives that were overwhelmingly sour, which really threw off the flavor of the dish. The Verdict: Even though the food wasn't perfect across the board, the amazing owners, the family-friendly environment, and those delicious warm beignets make it a spot worth visiting.

Super fresh ingredients and variety. There is always something new and fresh and prices that do not…read morebreak the bank. The owners are kind and patient folks especially in a community that is not local and always want everything like where they came from. Great place to chat and eat and enjoy long beverages with friends.

I am so pleased with my experience I'm not sure if I should be start this review about the food or…read moreservice. I ordered the salad sampler with 3 options. (I may repeat my order in the future but will definitely order an extra side of the ginger broccoli for later- It deserves it's own five star review) While the menu was small, the meal was extremely fresh, bright vibrant cohesive flavor that left me satisfied and eager to order again. The service was professional, welcoming and had me feeling valued as a guest/customer. This was my first time trying this establishment so I was asking for personal recommendations. They added a sweet treat at no charge as a first time customer. I have not tried my peach muffin yet (I plan to save it for an afternoon pick me up) but it was warm right out of the oven and filled my car with an amazing aroma. I highly recommend this place for a fresh, healthy meal served with care and hospitality.

A basic breakfast lunch spot with really good food and fresh baked muffins. Cook is Former…read moreexecutive chef. Eggs and bacon cooked perfect. They have breakfast buffet on Saturday mornings. Staff is friendly. Place is nice and kept clean

Excellent Down Home Grill/Restaurant! Atmosphere and…read moreFriendly Staff. It's great place to relax your mind and feel at home. Food and menu is second to none .

Sorry I've waited so lot try this place. Delicious food and wonderful home feeling. Kind and…read morewelcoming staff of ladies. I had scrambled eggs, home fries, and corn beef hash. Give it a try

If you're heading to the Swan Quarter ferry, do yourself a favor and stop at Vera's Diner. This…read morehidden gem is just a 1/2 mile off the route to the ferry from New Bern and was one of the highlights of our trip. The sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits were absolutely outstanding--fresh, flavorful, and everything a Southern breakfast should be. The cheese omelette was equally delicious, cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. What really sets this place apart is the friendly, attentive service. Everyone made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The combination of great food, generous portions, and genuine hospitality makes this a must-stop destination. Whether you're a local or traveling to catch the ferry, Vera's Diner is well worth the visit. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the area! I'd give it 5 stars without hesitation.

Vera's has been around for a hot minute, and we had heard how awesome it was. So we went…read more "Was" being the key part of that sentence. The fellow who waited on us was friendly. Our 1/2&1/2 tea was served with plenty of ice, but perhaps was brewed too strong? And I say that as someone who likes strong brew...a little of a bitter aftertaste, perhaps. We ordered the hamburger steak, no gravy or onions. While it seemed to be a genuine patted by hand rendition, and was pretty well cooked to order, it lacked flavor. A bit of light seasoning before cooking would have done the trick. It took a hot minute to get our food. Many orders came out for folks who had arrived after us, and while not a huge aspect of this review, it matters even more given the rest of our meal. The green beans tasted canned, as did the potatoes. The cornbread was neither hot nor flavorful, and the butter was hard as a brick, and this, un-spreadable. We didn't stay for dessert. The locals filed in and I saw a mix of burgers, sandwiches and lunch specials being served. I think it is a convenient gathering place, especially for the aging. I wish a focus on fast, friendly service with excellent food had been evident so I could have given a delightful review. Sadly, I think this little mom and pop eatery has seen its best days. You don't go to Vera's for the ambiance, as it isn't fancy and hasn't been updated in...well...forever. You go there for the hospitality and good food...something akin to home cooking. And based on our experience, even that is questionable. Highly unlikely we will be back. It was a rather expensive experiment for a little diner in a small town that's coasting on past glory. It's like Vera's had given up, but no one has acknowledged it yet. I've read they're under newish ownership, and I really hope they can set their sights on audacious improvement...and that they get serious, stop going through the motions, and make it better than ever.

Eliza, very competent, manned the deck and served the majority of customers, for 12,bucks u can get…read morea combo plate of meat ( I got bacon) 2 eggs and French toast , all cooked to order all delicious , I will be back ,

It's now called Havelock Cafe and they serve breakfast and lunch from start to finish great wait…read morestaff and you know the food is good bc they only stay open till 2:00 pm

I live in NJ and my Aunt passed 2 weeks ago. I called Queen and spoke to a very helpful individual…read moreand she was able to help me create a beautiful sandwich platter with 2 sides dishes. Within an hour of me calling they were delivered to my cousin who lives in LaGrange. She could not stop raving about everything in particular the chicken salad sandwich and the pasta salad. Kudos to them!! Thank you for all your telephonic help! Made the unfortunate task somewhat very smooth! I've ordered many salads from them when I visit family and it's a very casual and family oriented cafe/deli!

I enjoyed lunch At Queens St Deli this afternoon prior to meeting with my attorney a couple doors…read moredown from the restaurant. This location is conveniently located downtown and across from the courthouse. The perfect location. The staff offered wonderful southern hospitality. Sarah greeted us upon arrival and provided recommendations on menu items. My mother was very undecided. Sarah recommended the Queens panini and I ordered the Queens Chicken salad and a tomato bisque. Everything was excellent. I loved how spacious this restaurant is. The library was a nice touch as well.

The owner (Ipock) of this restaurant has a family lineage in New Bern. They've owned several…read morerestaurants over the decades with the same "home cooked" type meals that can be eaten by young and old alike. Nothing fancy, nothing overly spicy, just plain good food. Children would especially enjoy some of the selections. The atmosphere and aroma may have a "bar" twinge because some people use it as a bar, so you'll have wet floors in the bathroom sometimes at night. This smell is hard to cover so, you'll have to deal with that, maybe. The selections my wife enjoy most are: the Hot Hamburger Plate, Hamburger Steak (both with onions and mushrooms added to the gravy for $1 extra), Shrimp & Scallops and BBQ Baby Back Ribs. The sides are less impressive, but if you know what to order, you get extract some great veggies. The mashed potatoes are REAL potatoes (not instant) and taste great (don't add salt before eating). The steamed Broccoli is excellent and is the only other vegetable I get with my meals. The Baked Potato is nominal and French fries are frozen crinkle cuts. My wife use to get the baked beans but they were discontinued. I order with my cell phone from my truck on my way home. I go to the back "take out" entrance. There is a camera with closed circuit television that they can see your vehicle with. (I never sit down to eat) Therefore I can't really comment on the service or the sanitary conditions. The place use to have more employees and they had a register w/cashier next to the back entrance. This dedicated position in now usually the responsibility of the head waitress at the bar. Since she is busy serving drinks or doubling as the main check tallying station for other waitresses,...I usually just go inside to pay for the meal rather than wait for her to come out to my truck. If it's gonna be a little while (if it's very busy, wait times can be longer) I'll sit outside and wait. She brings it out cheerfully and I always give a nice 15-20% tip. (even though she didn't really wait on me but once) I find it makes me feel good. The prices are quite reasonable if not a bargain compared to some other places. Expect to pay $10-$14 per plate, but sometimes small plates on special can be under $7. Within the last two years, I've seen the Hot Hamburger Plate be on special for $5.99. Ask for the specials of the day, there are usually two or three.

Ordered smothered chicken. It was awful. No flavor, chicken was tough and very dry. Hardly any…read morecheese on it. My husband Ordered the fried shrimp. It was extremely greasy and only got 6 shrimp. Spent thirty dollars on bad food. Will never eat there again.