Great Food! Great Service! Hot and served fresh and with lots of warmth , Ambience was inviting and friendly and welcoming

The kid was home from college, and after we hit the local thrift, we were looking around for some Oxford grinds. The street situation precluded a few spots downtown, and since we weren't in the mood for our go-to taco place, we decided to head out to the Family Diner. The walk-in was awkward on our part- cash register or hot bar line first? A sweet call from the kitchen of "Y'all's first time?" got us headed in the right direction. Full disclaimer: I've been nostalgic for the southern cafeteria lately. While talking to some food industry friends last week, we realized there is something powerful about the food we all remember from K and W. And while Family Diner doesn't have a giant dining room or a 5-snake velvet rope line to get to the counter, it does take me back. Here's how we made our choices: the hot bar was a choice of three types of chicken- the baked and fried were tempting until the gentleman serving us says: "We can fry you fish to order. Flounder, trout, and catfish." The chicken got skipped for a plate of flounder (plentiful plate, btw), and a side of the Mac and cheese and cooked cabbage. The kid sampled the catfish plate, same sides. Sweet tea. And yes ma'am, I'd like the cornbread. Done. We sat down at a table in the main, cozy dining room. The first thing that I noticed: this place is clean- tidy, even. There was a super polite young man moving around and busing tables, tidying up unassumingly and doing it in a way that is lacking in some finer dining places I've been in recently. The food came out, piping hot. I used one of the malt vinegar packets to douse my flounder (a cafeteria habit) and dug in. The first bite was light and flaky, cooked perfectly. Nothing greasy-tasting, at all, just clean. The sides were great- nothing over seasoned, and like cooking at home, there was room for you to season things to your taste. Well played, Family Diner. The owner (I think? She was the one who guided us down the right path when we walked in) came out to make sure that we were happy, and yes ma'am, it's great, and holy cow, you just dropped this cornbread into the skillet and fried it? Yes, we will be back. It's unassuming, and it's just what the doctor ordered. It's a cafeteria, but it's clean and polite and makes you feel good that you ate there. It's soul food, but not just from an ethnic standpoint- it makes me happy and full and feel welcome and I'll be back. read more

Family Diner - Fried flounder, cooked cabbage, Mac and Cheese. - Southern Near Me - Oxford, North Carolina

Very congenial staff and excellent home-cooked meals! The fried chicken was mist and delicious. We'll be back!

A small Black owned & operated down home southern food quite popular in the community and surrounding areas. Conveniently Located off the Oxford loop- very good food at reasonable prices & discounts available on daily plate specials. The meatloaf day- usually Thursdays- will give out if the order not giving early enough. Usually a packed house during the lunch hour. This is a family restaurant- offering take out & inside seating - Breakfast & Lunch offered Mondays through Saturdays normally except holidays - vacations & special occasions.The team strives to make the food experience pleasant as possible. My favorite- usually available on Fridays- the catfish plate with homemade potato salad and string beans- delicious. Daily specials that offer a balanced lunch plate- meat- veggie & a starch if so desired. The usual breakfast fare during breakfast hours and of course hotdogs and cheeseburgers available upon request read more

See all

I must say the food is delicious. It reminds me of down home fashion soul food that you choose Monday through Friday. The food reminds me of the food I ate growing up in the Mississippi Delta. read more

This place is the real deal! Authentic southern breakfast with delicious options. The biscuits are the best. Real southern cat head biscuits. Every item we tried was outstanding. They really have something for everyone. Ask for the buttered biscuits. The service was great too, and we really enjoyed our meal. Worth a drive from anywhere. read more

Family Diner - Egg breakfast special and I added two pancakes. - Southern Near Me - Oxford, North Carolina

Very good Southern cooking at reasonable prices plus the staff is so friendly. You will never walk away hungry or disappointed in food or service. read more

Excellent restaurant with an extremely friendly ambiance. If you have the time, bring your family and friends to this place. You will not be disappointed. read more

Good Down-Home Soul Food Visited on 7/31/18. Was cheerfully greeted by owner Mary Harris, who asked if it was our first time. (That says she knows her regular customers & there were a lot of them getting food that day.) She told me her specials for the day. I had fried pork chop (cooked to order) with sides and my friend had smothered baked chicken with sides. Excellent! Pork chop was moist and tender. Veggies fresh and cooked just right. They even have fried corn bread! Only mark down was that this is cafeteria style and menu is at end of the line and on tables. Menu needs to be available when you enter restaurant. Don't need it after I've ordered. I will go back next time I'm in Oxford! read more

See all

We always enjoy the food here breakfast or lunch it's nothing fancy just delicious food served by a great group of people. It's a family atmosphere and great food like mom would make read more

Love their fried catfish along with side dishes. Breakfast was ok. The grits I expected were different.

The best fried chicken I ever had, but the smothered pork chop is a close second. Best cornbread I ever had too. I try to drive the 45 mins from Raleigh to have lunch here with a few neighbors every few weeks. Well worth the drive! read more

Amazing fried chicken. Homemade pies. 2 lunches with two sides, 2 teas and 4 pieces of homemade pie for under $30. Oh. Did I mention that the tea (sweet of course) was done right. Brewed hot and saturated with sugar then taken to a refrigerator. read more

every time I go in, the food is always delicious, the people are always friendly, and I always leave with a full belly! Family Diner is an appropriate name, it feels like family in there! read more

Spoke with owner, who was very pleasant, and received a refund for my purchase. They seem focused on not only serving good food but really hoping each customer has a great overall experience!! Bumping them up a star. read more

If you're looking for a "great" (home cook) meal - look no further Excellent flavor, great prices and a friendly atmosphere Stop by and give these ladies a try!!! read more

Found Family Diner by asking a complete stranger if there was a local restaurant where we could get fried liver and onions. She referred us to the Family Diner. It was Friday so fried fish was on the menu. The fried whiting was delicious with sides of mac n cheese, cabbage and green beans. All perfectly seasoned. My friend loved her meal as well. She even got a to go plate for later, w/ fried catfish and sides. Service was friendly and courteous. The wait staff checked on us frequently to see if we needed anything. We'll definitely be back the next time we travel to Oxford! read more

The food is amazing along with the service. They are very friendly and always greet me with a smile. Very down to earth people and deserving of our support. read more

Soooo, I gave this place a second chance because of the reviews. The first time I came here I thought the food was...meh. But not memorable enough to bring me back...that was over a year ago. Fast forward to today and I'm in Oxford looking for a quick bite...lemme run in here real quick. The verdict is out...while the chicken is moist and the food is seasoned both times my food has been REALLY OILY. Like, I get it it is soul food so I'm not expecting keto meals here but DAMN! It's like SWIMMING in damn grease. So basically, the food isn't bad but I've had and made better soooooo, Issa pass for me. read more

Hubby and I happened to find ourselves in Oxford while doing some genealogy research and needed a bite to eat for lunch. A quick Yelp search turned up this gem and we decided to give it a try. Oh, my. Think going to grandma's house. It was delicious. I had baked chicken (that literally fell off the bones), green beans and stewed potatoes. Dessert was chocolate pie. Yum. Hubby had fried chicken (same veggies) and said the skillet fried cornbread took him back in time. If you find yourself in the area, you owe it to yourself to get some of this goodness. You're worth it. read more

My husband and I had breakfast there today. Delicious food for an affordable price. We will definitely return. read more

Family Diner - Southern Near Me - Oxford, North Carolina

See all

Family Diner is a must stop for me when I visit my family in Oxford, NC. The food lives up to their restaurant's slogan/tagline "A Taste of Love in Every Bite!" I would take up too many characters trying to describe the food flavours that dance in my mouth but the homemade biscuits, home fried potatoes, and salmon cakes are my breakfast favorites. Mac-n-cheese, creamed potatoes and cabbage are fav sides. I'm so addicted to the homemade coconut pie - it's like a dieter's kryptonite! Everything homemade and freshly prepared. The Owners and Staff are awesome! Best regards, read more

Good home style food. Impressed by the cleanliness of the kitchen area. Priced reasonably. Fried pork chop cooked and seasoned perfectly. Good variety of meats and vegetables. read more

Advertise Friday Fish Day.... go there at 4 on a Friday, and are told that we have to call in for the fish plates. We asked for 4 fish plates, were told we could only have 1. They do not say anywhere on their social media accounts to call in for the fish plates. We ended up getting 3 fried chicken plates. read more

Ate there twice and will be coming back when I'm back in Oxford again. Thanks for some soul-comforting food - both breakfast and dinner! Hoping things will work out just fine for the Bullock Family Reunion this summer. Looking forward to it!! Excited!! read more

This place is so amazingly good I almost don't want to review it so it's not busy when I come back. Country home style cooking with super friendly service, a true find. If you're traveling up or down 85 it's worth the stop for sure. If you live here, well I'm jealous. We were here on a Tuesday. Baked chicken, stewed beef, chicken livers, butter beans (to die for) , mac n cheese, collards and creamed potatoes, all outstanding. read more

Wow! This is a family style restaurant you don't want to miss out on and the staff are super friendly. I ordered the baked chicken with gravy, macaroni and cheese, corn and cornbread. EVERYTHING was delicious! The chicken was so tender it fell off the bone! The corn was fresh and the macaroni and cheese was delicious. I'm definitely coming back and bringing friends along. Bravo! read more

This is as simple and delicious as southern food gets. Never had a bad meal here - everything is homemade and served up by some of the nicest folks in town. My go-to is the BBQ chicken, whatever greens are available and the mac/cheese. Definitely save room for dessert, the homemade pies are phenomenal. You'll be hard pressed to find a better deal for breakfast - everything served a la carte, get exactly what you want and nothing more or less. read more

Hubby and I found this eatery on Yelp. What a find! Good old fashioned country style home cooking. Fried chicken livers cooked to order were great. Cooked cabbage and green beans were perfection. Fried cornbread patties reminded me of my grandmother's cooking. My one request would be less salt in preparation and let diners add to taste. My fingers are swollen today from all of the sodium. read more

If your in the area and want some awesome home cooking then stop by and say hey to the ladies here at the family diner. Friend/baked chicken is great, and all their sides are home made. No complaints from our first of hopefully many visits. The ladies can cook! (Get the cornbread!!!) read more

Oxford is the halfway point between my home and my parents. We were looking for something casual, welcoming, and delicious, and we were not disappointed. The food is very soulful and the family that runs the diner are extremely kind and friendly. We will definitely be back. read more

Good home cooking, pleasant people, and reasonable prices. Can't ask for anything more!

Rarely see any 5 star ratings so decided to come see if it was really a 5. Highly recommend the food! Cornbread is the best I've ever had!! Service was great and the community is so friendly! read more

This is a great family diner. Great customer service and clean establishment. The food is wonderful too. I never had to complain about the quality of the food nor my satisfaction of the food read more

We were passing through decided to stop. I would definitely come back if I come back this way. Everyone enjoyed. Food was good! chess pie not. read more