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    McLean's Ole Time Cafe

    4.0 (247 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

    McLean's Ole Time Cafe Photos

    MCLEAN'S OLE TIME CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - McLean's Ole Time Cafe

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    Menu Cover
    Cheryl L.

    Food was great. Perfectly seasoned and fresh. Customer service was top tier! The number of desserts available was stellar

    Corn beef hash
    Chastity H.

    McLean Old Time Café is everything you want in a small-town breakfast spot. The service was warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere felt like stepping back in time in the best way. I ordered the corned beef hash and it was absolutely amazing, perfectly seasoned, crispy in all the right places, and clearly homemade. Portions were generous and the prices were more than fair. This is the kind of place you come back to again and again. Highly recommend if you're ever in Zebulon!

    Cat fish and slaw and pickled beets  Before and after pictures

    Food was very good Waitress was very friendly and gave good service Inside is like being at home Atmosphere is great Desserts are delicious

    Chicken  and onions
    Allan A.

    When it's Saturday and you want breakfast while your partner wants lunch this is the place to go. Brunch till 2pm on the weekend. LOVED my eggs, bacon, pancake meal (plus hash browns). The chicken and onions dish was also excellent. First time I did not have to wait and service was as efficient as always.

    Old time decor
    Anissa W.

    10/7/23: I was craving some fried chicken livers like the place I used to go to back home in VA. I didn't know of any places in NC, so I researched Yelp and found this restaurant. It wasn't that far away & when we pulled up, it was packed full of people. To me, that was a good sign that the food must be good. Even though it was packed, there were plenty places to park. When we got inside & waited to be seated, there were people enjoying their food every direction we looked. They looked so happy, so I couldn't wait to order mine. I ordered the livers with cabbage and rice/gravy. My friend ordered fish, shrimp, Mac n cheese, & sweet potato soufflé. We really loved our food. My rice/gravy was bland, so I added salt and pepper to pep it up. It was so yummy. The server wasn't the friendliest though, which is the only reason I'm giving them 4 stars. Maybe she was tired and ready to go???? I don't know. I still gave her a great tip in hopes of making her night. We all have bad days. I will definitely go back in the future. They offer a buffet on Saturdays & they also sell desserts. I didn't indulge this time, but I definitely will next time. Please check this place out.

    Hamburger steak. Potatoes and gravy. Green beans. Comp biscuit and hush puppies.
    Hunter H.

    This place hits every time. Very authentic American southern and great prices. Both the sit down experience and ordering at the take out window were pleasant. The staff is hyper efficient which is great because they are always busy. But you're never really waiting.

    a glass of iced tea
    Charlie F.

    First visit in several years. They have daily lunch specials, and from that menu, I selected the meatloaf with gravy, mac and cheese, rice with gravy, and a roll and hushpuppy. Food was promptly brought to the table. I like the portion size and taste of the meatloaf as well as the mac and cheese. The only ding was there wasn't much gravy on the rice. This is a favorite restaurant for many in the area. All employees I interacted with were friendly.

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    Photo of Terry W.
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    16 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great country cooking! Always go when I'm craving some of Mama's cooking. Been a staple for Zebulon since I was a kid definitely recommend!!

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    William Morris M.

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    13 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Fun place to come where everybody k ows you and supper friendly. An old fasbioned style country restaurant

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Server was amazing! Wish I could remember her name. Remember her face tho so I'll be asking for her next time. Food was great too!

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    5 years ago

    Great food, great people. If you don't live in Zebulon, well worth a trip to eat here!

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    3 years ago

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    William Morris M.

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Photo of Jill E.
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    4 years ago

    Wow. Home cooked everything plus great salad bar and soup bar. Great service. Fast quick food service. Excellent wait staff

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    William Morris M.

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Tina at McLeans is the sweetest most super waitress I know. She kind and caring she is the reason I go there to eat and the food is awesome

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    4 years ago

    Delicious country food and a fantastic price! Love the home town feel. Friendly staff!

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    5 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    Page 4 of 7

    Ask the Community - McLean's Ole Time Cafe

    What time do they stop serving breakfast on Saturdays?

    Our buffet ends at 10:30 on Saturday but we offer menu service breakfast (on Saturday only) until 2:00pm. You can find all our specific hours on a post pinned on top of our facebook page.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Wednesday has officially become my favorite day of the week thanks to Cape Fear Seafood Company!…read moreTheir half-price crab legs are hands down one of the best deals around--and they're absolutely delicious! The crab legs were perfectly cooked, sweet, tender, and came out steaming hot. Crack, dip in butter, repeat... it's basically a workout I don't mind doing! The service was friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was relaxed, and everything about the experience made me want to stay a little longer. Great seafood, generous portions, and an unbeatable Wednesday special? That's a winning combination. If you're a crab leg fan, do yourself a favor and make Wednesday your Cape Fear Seafood day. Just be prepared--you'll leave happy, full, and already planning your next visit!

    First Timers. Hubs had the Crab Bisque complete with fresh crab pieces on top; I had the Cape Fear…read moreChowder. We couldn't decide which was better, they were both delicious, not at all the cafeteria restaurant soup we almost expected, but very homemade. $5 a cup, but $3.90 since we ordered lunch menu items. Well worth the money! Lunch was Fish 'n Chips for me; super good crispy fried white fish, not greasy at all, which is the sure fire way to ruin any fried meal. The fries are really good, too, almost McDonaldy. Comes with tartar, ketchup, malt vinegar (asked for), and a really good garlic aioli. Hubs had Shrimp Risotto, which was blackened shrimp over really creamy risotto with red peppers, scallion, and tomato. Delicious. Also couldn't decide who got the better lunch. Our lunch specials were less than $15 each, a bargain today, and we each took half home. Hubs also had a beer, and I had the house Cabernet, which was really smooth. Around $50 for everything; didn't mind spending that at all since everything was so good. Really glad we found this newer place; fingers crossed it doesn't go the way of so many downhill the longer they're here.

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    Cape Fear Seafood Company
    Coleslaw and hush puppies
    Coleslaw and hush puppies
    Cape Fear Seafood Company

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    0.8 mi
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    Stopped by Golden China Zebulon NC coming home from Duke Health Durham. Hubby decided to treat me…read morewith Chinese. Front door open, held by chair. Large folds of hanging plastic hiding cook area. Floor dirty with torn vinyl, tables dirty. We circled items desired on a menu, ie, Wonton Soup, NO taste, 1 Veggie & 1 Shrimp Egg Rolls NUKED, Chick Cantonese served on pork fried gummy rice, sm bits of chick?? encased in soggy crust the size of hush puppies, NO veggies, Sweet Sour Pork??? sm bits of ??? meat over gummy rice encased with same & hush puppy size. (1 ) container of a dark rank liquid??? (1) container Sweet Sour Sauce actually looked and smelled as it should...$48.00. Don't know how they have a Grade A, should be closed. This place is definitely at the bottom of a pit. Pat D

    Place: Easy to find, next to Belk, plenty of parking space…read more Service: Friendly and fast. Food: Fried rice doesn't look like fried rice as it had no peas and no carrots, rice was just yellow with thin strips of chicken (chicken fried rice), maybe another version of rice who knows ... Kung Pao Chicken and Walnuts chicken was less than flavorful, flavor and presentation was so disappointing. Both dishes looked exactly the same the only difference was that one had walnuts. If I say more I'd probably ask for a refund but lesson learned. Portions are good size though, btw say hi to the roaches when you see them, they seem to like the place too.

    Photos
    Kung Pao Chicken: no red peppers , flavor was disappointing
    Kung Pao Chicken: no red peppers , flavor was disappointing
    Chicken Fried rice: what version of fried rice is this ???
    Chicken Fried rice: what version of fried rice is this ???
    Honey Walnut Chicken: flavor was disappointing

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    Honey Walnut Chicken: flavor was disappointing
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    Shuckers Oyster Bar & Grill

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    We decided to go here when everything was closed and I had seen a Facebook post saying they offered…read morea free app. We chose not to get an appetizer. But did get the baked oysters which were absolutely delicious. The kids chose a cheeseburger, and fried shrimp. My husband got a steak, and I got the stuffed mahi. Everything we ate was delicious. Stuffed mahi was okay. I forgot I wasn't a huge fan of this. I just got extra sauce. Everything else was really good. Definitely updating my review. Go check them out!!!

    Great Seafood This…read moreupscale seafood restaurant offers a comprehensive menu, generous portions, excellent service and great food at slightly above average prices (but reasonable). You really do 'get what you pay for'. The bar and dining area are casual, modern and inviting. There is also a spacious patio for al fresco dining when the weather is nice. I was particularly impressed with the Salmon BLT. This enhanced version of the classic BLT is hearty, meaty, slightly crunchy and simply delicious. Another favorite of ours is the Honey-Chipotle Shrimp Wrap with lettuce and roasted red peppers. There are plenty of lightly fried, slightly briny shrimp crammed into an interesting spinach tortilla wrap. The unlimited basket of golden brown, almost sweet Hush Puppies comes with semi-soft honey butter - addictive. There are several lunch options on the 'Small Plate' menu (we found the servings to be more than adequate). That old standard, Fish and Chips was done to perfection. The thick piece of delicate, mild white fish was was covered in a light, golden-brown batter. I substituted Fried Okra for the Potatoes, and it was delicious. The Flounder and Oyster small plate is another winner. The ten crunchy, juicy fried oysters and a large founder filet were cooked just right. Small plates also include a small cup of Cole Slaw. The colossal slice of Coconut Cheesecake was simply scrumptious - creamy, smooth and so coconutty. Do yourself a favor and indulge.

    Photos
    Shuckers Dining Area
    Shuckers Dining Area
    Alaskan Snow Crab Legs
    Alaskan Snow Crab Legs
    Decor

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    Decor
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    Ok follow up review,…read more I went back 62 miles again and had the same dish in a taco this time! Fantastic!! Worthy of the drive, great service again! Thank you so much

    Food and atmosphere are good, but the service is terrible! The servers are anything BUT friendly…read more There are like only 2 friendly servers there, and I think 1 of them quit, cause I've not seen her for a while. So now they're down to only 1 friendly server. All the rest are unfriendly or apathetic. I suspect it's due to upper management and/or the owners. I can't believe they are still in business with how disorganized they are. One time we came in, waited like 1/2 an hour before someone even came to take our order. Then, when someone finally did, I thought it was a customer taking our order, because she came in with her kids, who where running all over the place, then she randomly came to our table, with no company uniform indicating she was an employee, to take our order. Another time, we waited like 45 minutes for our food, and we came in AFTER another couple at a nearby table who had been there 30 minutes longer than us. And we got our food before them! They were mad. I understand why! They'd been waiting an hour and 15 minutes for their food and we came later, but got our food first. Just disorganized and NOT friendly!

    Photos
    Charged for a little lettuce and a sliver of tomato and a tablespoon of cheese...outrageous
    Charged for a little lettuce and a sliver of tomato and a tablespoon of cheese...outrageous
    First time visiting.
    First time visiting.
    Plaza Del Mariachi

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    McLean's Ole Time Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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