Do not let the location detour you because it's next to a gas station! This diner is a well hidden gem off interstate 40!! We stopped for brunch and had delicious locally sourced breakfast ingredients. Some of their ingredients are also made in house. The meal was light, amazing, and my kiddos requested to stop back if we drove through again! read more

Awesome spot for a homemade dessert. My friends loved their choices (soup of the day and a BBQ sandwich with homemade sides) even though I just tagged along for coffee and dessert. The staff were incredibly attentive, friendly, and made the restaurant feel like a pit stop at home. Clean facilities and quick service (despite the fact that we definitely stayed longer than planned)! P.s. the pecan coffee cake cured my depression. 10/10. That is all. read more

Amy was great! Food was delivered fast and was a great bargain. I had eggs over medium rye toast the local sausage party and potatoes. My husband had the bacon with his eggs and a side of oatmeal with craisons. Lots of good food for the money right off the interstate. read more

We are tourists, twice a year, in the Waynesville area. We used to eat here, once on every trip. Then, a year and a half ago, we drove all the way out to Haywood 209 and they had a sign up in the window stating they had taken the day off (aka closed). That wasted precious vacation time, so we didn't go back there anymore. Then, last Sunday, we were hungry (starving) and coming into town from a different direction than usual - we were coming in from Knoxville, so we decided to hit up Haywood 209 for some of those cinnamon rolls and a good breakfast. When we showed up, right around noon - there were customers inside and staff standing around - and a sign on the door saying they were closed for at least 2 hours. The door wasn't locked - (customers would've been locked in) so we went in to ask what was going on. They got too busy - so they closed until they got less busy enough to open back up. Strange that we've only been there twice in the last 2 or 2 1/2 years and they were closed both times (during normal business hours). I can't say if the food was good or bad - but the service was non existent. We won't be wasting time there, again. I recommend if you decide to drive all the way out there (they're kinda on the outskirts of the Waynesville area) give them a call. If they're open - ask them to promise to STAY OPEN until you get there. read more

Stopped here bc there was nothing else for miles and I'm so glad we did! We ordered a BLT, fried okra, chili, Philly, kids burger and kids Mac n cheese and everything was so good! Service was great, very friendly staff. It is connected to a gas station but don't let that deter you. The whole restaurant down to the bathrooms was very clean. Highly recommend! read more

We stopped in for lunch and enjoyed eating out on the patio. We had the hotdogs and chips and tots. Everything was delicious and the waitress was very attentive to all our needs. We will be back. read more

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We stopped to eat here while on the road traveling. I got the country fried steak sandwich and my wife got the chicken plate. The sandwich was delicious - perfect amount of batter and fresh vegetables! The chicken was cooked perfectly as well and the okra was excellent. Super friendly staff and incredibly clean restaurant! Has lots of seating inside and outside as well. Food is $10-20 which is incredibly reasonable. Also they have excellent coffee... highly recommend! read more

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Darling little diner that is clean, fresh and staffed with the most friendly and cheerful servers. Restrooms just as clean and fresh. Side garden salad was delicious and more fresh ingredients than expected for $5-not just lettuce. Chicken salad sandwich (no bread) was plentiful portion and hamburger steak plate was best my hubbys ever had. Diner food at its best! Clearly the locals think so!! Don't miss this one! read more

If my wife and diet would let me, I'd eat at The 209 Diner every single day. The food's that good, and the people are even better. Drake runs the place like it's an extension of his own home -- you can tell he takes real pride in what he serves and in how he treats folks. The whole crew, from the cooks in back to the waitresses up front, runs on heart and hard work. You won't find a more generous member of the Haywood County community, either. Summer's been there for something like forty years, and she still remembers everyone's name and coffee order. That tells you everything you need to know about what kind of place this is -- steady, familiar, and honest. The food always hits: perfectly cooked breakfast, solid burgers, awesome cheesesteaks, and the best diner specials around. It's not fancy -- it's real, and that's exactly why it's special. The 209 is what every small-town diner ought to be: great food, exceptional people, and a community that's stronger because it's here. read more

Staying in the area for a week and tried this place for lunch. It was clean, decent menu selection, fast and friendly service - all pros and can make an experience. The food though - not great. Crinkle cut fries were hot and good; fried chicken - not your traditional but good. The mashed potatoes were horrible, the dinner roll was stale, the pintos were good and the country fried steak was average. Not a horrible experience but not sure I'd go back. Ok - tried again for breakfast - I'm all about second chances. The place was busier this morning which gave me hope. Sadly - our experience was less pleasant than the first. Our waitress took our order quickly, food arrived in 10-15 min which was good. And it stops there. How do you over cook scrambled eggs? A side of hash browns that looked like 1/4 of a small potato - if it came with the meal that's one thing. But to pay extra - not worth it. Bacon was cooked as asked for - yay! French toast was soggy. Like eating raw bread. Husband's toast was cold. Drinks - never refilled and the waitress never came back until she left the bill. We spend $40 on a breakfast that neither of us ate. You'd think if she came to the table and saw all of the food left she'd ask a question. Nope. I stand with - drive the extra distance to Waynesville and steer clear of this diner. read more

Bright, Friendly and clean diner. Don't let the fact that it's connected to a gas station keep you away. The food is well prepared, generous, and tasty. read more

Service is very good and friendly service, food is very good , every time we come to the Maggie valley area we always come by to eat dinner and Kayley is always polite and is always attentive very pleased with food and service. read more

I love it every single time I go with the food is amazing. Their service is amazing plus you get a car watch read more

Haywood 209 Cafe - A bus I saw there ( it was just suggested from my camera roll lol) - Steakhouses Near Me - Waynesville, North Carolina

Ok I've always loved this place!! When I'm in town visiting family this is a MUST!! Not only are the staff incredibly friendly and so much fun!! Marsha is my favorite so far!! Also if you have to eat gluten free they have the BEST gf buns!!!! read more

A great respite for the weary traveler or the knowing local, this cafe serves up hearty, honest diner food as well as a welcoming family atmosphere. The servers feel like relatives (the ones you actually like, haha), and provide both quick service and friendly conversation. I visited HC 209 twice during a weekend staycation with my wife. For supper the server recommended the Iron Duff Burger as a good vegetarian choice. I was skeptical - black bean burgers can be gushy, flavorless wastes of time - but took her advice. This baby was epic! It had beautifully crispy edges and the spicy flavors really popped. The fries were excellent as well. At breakfast, my omelette was liberally stuffed with the veggies and cheese of my choice and, served with hash browns and toast, was wonderfully satisfying. Don't miss the treasures within the display case, made with love by a wonderful mystery lady who goes by the name Mamaw. I'm already dying for another cherry turnover. Bless you Mamaw, whoever you are! read more

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Audra is the best waitress delicious food clean restaurant just ask for Audra is is the friendly girl just go by and they will take care of your order read more

Great diner! Food was delicious and the waitress was super nice and helpful! Definitely worth stopping for lunch.

The food was fine, but expensive. But, I guess that is par for the course with restaurants now. The inside is nondescript, but clean. The initial service was great, but I sat for 15 minutes after I finished to get my check. My waitress disappeared for a while and then returned and was on her phone. She never acknowledged me. I believe she was the exception because the other waitress's appeared to be doing their job. I will go back because the food is good and I've had excellent service in the past. read more

We stopped in yesterday on our way back from a camping trip in TN. Ivory, "like the soap" was our server. BEST COAT OF MANY COLORS EVER! And glasses to match!!! I was craving pancakes and I was very happy with my meal. Thank you Ivory for your warmth, caring, and humor. We will be back. read more

Haywood 209 Cafe is always a great stop when I'm wanting to get a bite to eat. The service is consistently good, and Ivory was exceptional at being my server. I'll definitely be back! read more

This place is fantastic, the atmosphere is always pleasant, service is great and the wait staff is always on point. Food is delicious hometown comfort food,from there entrees to their deserts, if you leave hungry it's your own fault. Ed and Lara read more

Fresh home cooked meals like grandma would have made!!! The service is excellent. Such a cool relaxed vibe in this diner. Lots of locals eating here too. We have stopped twice while traveling to Asheville. Saw the sign on the highway and so glad we stopped. I wasn't too sure about it since it was attached to a gas station but boy were we glad we found it. The food was fresh hot and tasty!!! We got a cinnamon roll to go so i could have it the next morning with my coffee wt home. Yum!! Definitely worth the stop!! Their breakfast is incredible too!! read more

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Food was absolutely great! Service was excellent. Abby did a great job! I eat their frequently and it never lets me down!

Haywood 209 Cafe was a great find on our road trip to TN. The menu offered a variety of sandwiches, burgers, entrees and desserts. The burger was cooked just right. Catfish sandwich was hot and delicious. Service was excellent, fast & attentive. read more

Do NOT pass this place by! STOP!!! You will be so glad you did. When you drive up you'll think uh oh but walk thru the doors and realize this place is special. The servers and greeters were so kind and the food, well let's say, off the chart good! Don't forget to check out the homemade desserts! So yum! read more

Food was good . Went @ 5pm , out of several items such as :. Country fried steak , onion rings , okra ,biscuits ... but biscuits came. . Waitress had to come back for another order due to limited selection. Ordered soup beans never got them . The restaurant was too cold!! Had to move sit on patio . It had be 60 degrees inside . Heard other patrons saying same on patio which was cool this time year . Not hating on yall but who is in charge of temperature control? U could hang meat inside restaurant! Would visit again but will bring a parka! read more

I love this diner!!! We stop here anytime we are driving thru town. The food is wonderful and the staff are always very nice.

This was a cute, clean, happy diner. Food was basic but tasty and fresh. Easy on and off the highway. We were there pre-hurricane so I hope they are still there. Service was great. Would definitely return, read more

I decided to try this place for a late lunch (3:00ish) on a Monday afternoon as I had heard great reviews from locals about it. There were a few tables with customers but mostly empty. I was promptly greeted with a "welcome in" and "sit wherever you like" which I did. And then the wait was on. There were no less than 4 waitresses working (mostly just standing behind the counter chatting) and finally one asked another to "get the lady" and the other said no. I couldn't hear her reason but then the one said "will someone at least give her a menu?" Long story shortened, I was given a menu and then forgotten again. Two additional single customers came in and were helped. I was tempted to walk out the door and then come back in stating "let's try this again" but I eventually caught the eye of one of the waitresses who sent someone else to wait on me. My lunch was a BLT and coleslaw and it was ok. I'm pretty patient and I didn't make any fuss but it definitely didn't go as I had hoped and expected. I may give it another try in a few weeks just to see if it goes better next time. The atmosphere is diner/truck stop. It's very clean and comfortable. read more

First of all, I LOVE diners. Where else can you order a plate of lasagna and garlic bread in the middle of the night? This place does not disappoint. All the normal "diner food". Great breakfasts with non-stop GOOD coffee. Today, it's a club sandwich. Fresh and flavorful is all I can say. I passed on their fries for some applesauce today. But, the fries are good! Gym visit later today, so I don't want to hear from the fries later. The club is huge. Lots of turkey and loaded with bacon, lettuce and tomato as well. I won't order one anywhere else. Next visit will be either their burgers, which are excellent (bacon/mushroom/swiss) or the Philly cheesesteak, both excellent choices. It's been rated as one of the best truckstop diners in America...for a reason! read more

Delicious food and great service close to the highway. Clean place with cute decor. Also purchased a cinnamon bun about the size of a plate! Will upload a pic and review of it once we enjoy it. (Unless I forget to take a pic, then I may have to just post a pic of the crumbs!) read more

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My husband and I chose to eat at Hayward Café because of its rating on Yelp. It has earned every star it's received! The food was absolutely delicious and our waitress, Marietta, was a true delight. Coming from the west coast, it is hard to find meats that don't come from a feed lot; it was so refreshing to have locally-sourced farm fresh meats and real southern pies. The okra was exactly as it should be as was the coleslaw and hash brown casserole. I can't recommend Hayford Cafe enough. read more

Haywood 209 Cafe - Front counter - Steakhouses Near Me - Waynesville, North Carolina

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209 cafe is our favorite. Always great food and wonderful service. Emma is of course our favorite server and never disappoints. we enjoy the food and atmosphere. highly recommend. read more

We had great service and a wonderful patty melt and fried chicken sandwich. Delicious!

A really good local joint. The food is homemade and a great value. It is always busy with locals. The do uncomplicated food extremely well. The menu is vast and everything I have had has always been good. The desserts are not to be missed as well Highly recommended. read more

SERVICE straight up sucks, waitresses are not worth anything. Sign said seat yourself. After 20 minutes not one waitress even came by or look at us. Spend your money somewhere else! read more

Amazing food and customer service...would definitely recommend folks traveling or living in that region to enjoy the southern hospitality of Haywood 209 Cafe! read more

Great find on a long road trip. Food and service was very good. Clean bathroom and conveniently close to the interstate.

What an amazing place. I love the small town restaurants they have the best foods. Our server fit the place. She was amazing as well!!!

I live near 209, and have been there several times. As a matter of fact, they were hired to cater our mother's 90th birthday party and were amazed at how personal and professional the experience was! Today, my sister and I had lunch and were amazed at the attentiveness and delicious service we received. It never matters what you order, it's amazing... and the service is always fun and memorable. ;) read more