Zero Rating!!!! I had to choose one star to complete this review. Today I asked my brother and my daughter to go to breakfast at McLean's. I ordered my food at 10am. It was not 10:10am, I was hungary, I entered McLean's first and ordered as I knew what I wanted. By 10:45am I still did not have my food. I'm told I ordered my food at 10:30am in which that is when my brother and daughter ordered their food. After not wanting my food AS my daughter and brother wanted their food. THE OWNER TO MY PLATE, MY DAUGHTER'S PLATE WHILE SHE WAS EATING IT AND THE TO GO ORDER, TOLD MY DAUGHTER SHE IS THE OWNER AND SHE COULD NOT HAVE THE FOOD AND TOLD US TO NEVER COME BACK TO HER RESTAURANT. The owner just took all the food. Not just my food that I didn't want ... my daughter's food and my brothers to go order TOTALLY AWFUL EXPERIENCE!!! UNPROFESSIONAL!!!! RACIST!!! I honestly feel if we were white we would have never had this poor treatment from a restaurant and by the owner at that. This is the type of treatment the owner's employees have to mirror after. I'm so disappointed!!! I'm hurt!!!! I'm embarrassed as the owner yelled as the restaurant was full of customers. I really just can not believe what I experienced today! read more

I found it difficult to enjoy my food with the Republican political signs in the window.

It's hard to go wrong with McLeans. They put out a classic mix of breakfasts, in the Southern style, where everything is tasty and served quickly. This is the place to go if you want to try some southern classics like scrapple, fat back, country ham, bologna, country fried steak and I don't remember what else. They have all the classics so you're sure to get your breakfast cravings filled. If you're looking for an free-range egg omelette with cave-aged cheese, nitrite-free bacon, and organic breakfast potatoes, you won't find it here, but you will find a traditional breakfast selection that's sure to make you feel good. Any restaurant that has water cups and coffee cups with local businesses plastered around them must be an institution and been here a while. This is that place. You won't be sorry. read more

McLean's Restaurant - When they have advertisements on their coffee cups, it's a sure sign they've been around a while. - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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This place is a crap shoot. You never really know what level of service to expect or how many tasteless tattoos will adorned the server. Food prep is generally consistently good. Coffee is weak in terms of flavor and boldness and for a place that serves plenty of breakfasts a good cup of coffee is essential. Not so here. Something must be good here cause I find myself eating here often for breakfast, maybe it's the country ham ?? At any rate it's not first on my list but it's easy to find. read more

McLean's is my go-to spot for cheap weekend breakfasts. As other reviewers have noted, the decor isn't much to look at. It's pretty bare bones and the walls are decorated with random movie posters. The area near the register is decorated with photos of family and regulars. There's a counter, tables and booths. The great thing about this place is the quantity of food for the price. My boyfriend almost always gets the biggest breakfast in town, which comes with three eggs cooked your way, choice of meat, home fries or fried apples, toast or a biscuit and a small juice for $5.65. Because he's a big eater, he also almost always adds a side of chipped beef gravy over a biscuit. I've tried it all and everything is freshly cooked and tasty. If you don't like soggy bacon, make sure to ask for it crispy. Also, if you don't like butter, make sure to ask for your toast dry. It comes pre-buttered otherwise. i usually go for the Western Omelet with no onions, add mushrooms. Yeah, the mushroom are from a can, but what do you expect for $6? All meals also come with grits. Again, unless you make a special request, they come with butter too. I've also gone for the Broad Street, which comes with two eggs prepared your way, choices of meat, toast and potatoes for $4.95. The coffee is always fresh and good, and the friendly servers are generous with refills. It's also fun because you see every type of people dining here - families, retired people, couples, college kids, people who are down on their luck, people who are up on their luck, etc. It's makes for a fun morning. read more

Probably for locals only. Friendly enough but a huge waste of all of the calories. Everything was fast but only because it all came out of a can/microwaved. Upsetting :( read more

@yelp needs to add 1/2 ratings because this place is a solid 3.5 star. Good solid food at a reasonable price. The service is out of this world, those lady's are constantly on the move filling, cleaning, delivering and whatever else is needed. read more

Visited with two of my sorority sisters for breakfast, the food was great the price was even more amazing. I was skeptical at first but definitely an awesome local diner. Great service I would definitely visit again. read more

i was beginning to give up on quick, cheap but good food, breakfast/brunch places but this was actually quite good. naturally, im a big eater so i of course got the BIGGEST breakfast in town. . *Three Eggs(scrambled)-good Bologna,-a bit greasy, but GIANT portion and pretty good turkey Links, 3 of them: good Home Fries - loved these biscuits- loved these Small , cranberry juice-bleeeech, it had a weird metallic taste, not good it also came with free grits-good The cost , with tax , was about $7! For the amount of food you get, that is quite good. service was fast and friendly they have parking! ambience is reminescent of a cafeteria style for the price, this is the best bargain in town for breakfast, hands down! would be happy to come back and try some of their other stuff :) read more

I had super high hopes for McLean. I don't want to say I was disappointed because I am thinking that I may not have chosen the right items from the menu. I was driven here after conducting a search a couple days ago searching for the best chicken fried steak in Richmond. I chose the country fried steak --which I verified that they have on the menu beforehand by calling them-- to satisfy my recent craving for country/chicken fried steak with the sides of mashed potatoes and mac & cheese and a biscuit. I was also pleasantly surprised that I could order merely one pancake to see if it matched up to the good reviews that I've seen on them. Despite the amount of customers packing the dining room, it did not take too long for me to get my food. You can tell that they do an excellent job of managing their service. Right amount of cooks, waitresses, and bus people to provide timely service and turnover tables for new customers. I was disappointed by the country fried steak. (Cue a long face...or maybe this one......yes...appropriate) I got my order to go and maybe the fact that it took me about 15 min to get back to work before I was able to slice or saw (cue sad face) through the steak. I got the country gravy on the side because I didn't want to make the breading on the steak too soggy or mushy and planned on layering gravy then mashed potatoes on top of eat bite of steak. The steak was EXTREMELY tough. Granted I was sawing through it with a plastic fork, but the toughness was confirmed when I began to chew the morsels. Cue a longer sad face... The gravy was kinda bland, but I decided not to add additional salt or dash of pepper to it to jazz it up an itsy bit. Instead after about four disappointing bites, I decided to move on to the biscuit. The biscuit was a whole other experience! I am a fan of biscuits and this one was tasty! I must add I was pleased at the variety of jelly and jams available and wisely chose blackberry jam. I have fingers crossed that they made the biacuits there and smartly keep them warmer in a warmer behind the bar. Kudos for that! The mac & cheese was...um...salty...not the best. The mashed potatoes were seasoned ok, not too dry, and not too runny, but kind of off-ish in consistency. The wait staff was super nice, the cooks were fervently working in the back (I'm a fan of being able to visibly see the chefs/cooks at work on your food. This kind of gives a sense of comfort that no shenanigans or extra special items are going into the food) and I didn't wait long after I popped a squat at the front counter to get a menu and place my order. The menu was vast and provided a nice variety of homestyle comfort breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees and sides. Despite my lunch time mal-xperience (yes...I just made up that word...), I decided I will have to venture back with my family in tow for dinner to partake of a different entree and maybe even instead of selecting from the menu, choosing the daily special posted on the boards that day. They advertised a chicken pot pie and cherry cobbler --which made my mouth appropriately water-- that I probably should have chosen instead. LIKE I SAID, I WILL BE BACK TO TREAT MY FAMILY TO DINNER HERE on a Saturday or Sunday. I have an odd, unexplainable confidence that it will be better on one of those days. read more

Good, solid breakfast, always busy so be prepared for a bit of a wait. A Richmond tradition, McLeans is a popular local breakfast and lunch spot. The menu is pretty extensive, you'll surely find something for every breakfast whim from large meals to small plates. Everything is reasonably priced, you won't leave hungry or broke. read more

Food & staff are great. Breakfast burrito cooked like a quesadilla is a really nice touch. Hashbrowns made from thin sliced potatoes with flavor like Waffle House less the grease bath r great. And the pancakes...OMG, crispy on the outside & fluffy in the middle, think buttermilk Krispy-Kreme glazed doughnut with maple syrup! Much nicer than the old place... they actually have windows... still could do without the cool white commercial lights though... im sure its not appealing @ night or cloudy days (ala the old joint). read more

Great food! The first time I went, it was so packed that we ended up leaving. So I went back, at a different time, and was able to be seated right away. Our food didn't take long coming out and was delicious. It was more than I could eat. The pancakes are huge and fluffy. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because during my first visit, when we walked in everyone just looked at us and no one greeted us or acknowledged us. Customer service 101. If you don't want to wait, get there early! read more

Ok, this place is a true dive (not a bad thing by any means) - VERY casual and laid back, nothing whatsoever "fancy" or upscale about it, and it certainly attracts a wide range of cutomers. Some can be quite interesting in fact! But this is a dive and therefore it's all about the food. I'm talking good, homecooked style breakfasts here. Possibly the best traditional breakfasts in Richmond. The simple pancakes rock! Eggs over easy are cooked to perfection. - just the right consistancy! There are also some menu items that one does not see everyday - brains and eggs anyone? I haven't tried them but if I ever have the desire to it will be at McLeans! Bottom line - it's good, it's inexpensive, it's laid back - if this is what you are lookin for you will not go wrong! read more

Great greasy spoon. Not the healthiest of breakfasts but that definitely means it is good. There can be a bit of a wait in the morning. Come early or later on the weekends to minimize the wait for a table. Once seated the service is excellent. The staff all pitch in to take care of the customer. The food comes out quickly and is delicious. So far I bave had the scrambler, salmon cakes, and the biggest breakfast in town. Always with biscuits. Have not been let down so far. I plan on going back on a weekend at night to see if the quality is still the same and try a few other things on the large menu. They have everything. read more

Really liked McLeans. This is a diner in the Southern style, which means they had really good biscuits* and things like fat back and salt cured country ham on the menu. So to say they are 'just a diner' is really not a fair description. Service was great--friendly and quick--despite being slammed when I came in. I'd definitely like to go back and try some of their other dishes. *If you've ever ordered biscuits at a diner outside of the South, you know what I mean. read more

Home of my favorite breakfast and I really like the assortment of customers they attract. But honestly the salted herrings are the big draw for me, and I think I'm due a visit back there very soon! read more

Food was old and seem like it was leftovers. The bread was hard as a brick. This restaurant still using food from March. Never going back.

Great customer service. Nice atmosphere. Very reasonably priced food. Parking was tight but Overall it was a great experience. I will be returning for the weekly specials and desserts. read more

I have been going to McLeans for a year now. With COVID spiking and our country having the most deaths in the world, I found it disturbing that no one in the kitchen felt the need or respect to wear a face covering. It's hard to believe that with everything we know, this restaurant is not taking the virus seriously. With how this restaurant is set up, the guests can see the entire kitchen. Where are their masks? We are in a pandemic and I hope the leadership improves. Unfortunately I won't be coming back which is a bummer, because I like supporting local restaurants during this difficult time. Please wear a mask people!! read more

Mclean's is my favorite of the Richmond breakfast spots. It's not as interesting interior wise as Perly's, or as hip as Karen's but for cheap breakfast food I think it's one of the best. The wait staff is always very friendly, nice and accommodating. The interior is nothing to write home about, as a matter of fact, it is a little off putting at first glance. Someone had the bright idea of decorating the already drab interior with framed posters of old school celebrities, which does not help the situation at all. But the interior isn't important to me after eating their down home cooking style breakfasts. It's a diner. It's nothing fancy, but the food is good and cheap, the coffee is hot, and well so are some of their waitresses which my boyfriend doesn't seem to mind. Mclean's has stayed consistent for the many years I have been going there. It's always been a good option from my days nursing hangovers to now being a grown up with a toddler. I always get their eggs benedict. It's the cheapest around, and it's consistently good. My son loves their pancakes, but I wouldn't exactly trust his palate because I did once catch him trying to eat a dead bug. I am giving it four stars because the food is a good deal for the price you pay. The only downside of Mclean's is that it's a small restaurant and they allow smoking inside, so it doesn't really matter that they have a non smoking section. And don't try the red eye gravy, no matter how curious you are! read more

Amazing food! Amazing staff! Cheese burgers were good. Pancakes tasted really good. Sausage biscuits is absolutely amazing! USA! USA! USA!

We asked the Budget rental car employee to recommend a place where we could get a late breakfast and McLean's was his suggestion. We're so glad we took his advice even though it was about 20 mins from the airport. It was worth it. Yummy food, friendly staff, and good atmosphere. Nothing fancy but some seriously good country cookin'. The biscuits were really, really good as were the grits. Hubby and son indulged in the Big Breakfast and Country Steak breakfast. I opted for egg white omelet with spinach. All was excellent! Will go definitely go back if we're ever in the area. read more

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I have been coming to this restaurant since my grandmother been bringing me and ALOT has changed,. This morning the food was cold, I had to ask for fresh biscuits and the apples were so cold the sugar wasn't even melting in them. I recommend McDonald's atleast they will be using fresh items. Never again read more

One of my favorite places to go for a hearty inexpensive breakfast! I love being able to substitute my toast for a pancake at no extra charge. PLUS, if you love grits, they give them to you complimentary !! read more

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I have heard so many good things, but this just isn't my place at all. The food is pretty bland. I was expecting something along the lines of a Cracker Barrell--southern homestyle, but still very flavorful. This was definitely salt-and-pepper southern, and not even much of that. The items on the menu are exactly what a good southerner wishes for, but the flavor just doesn't hit the mark at all, not even for a salt-and-pepper joint. read more

Starts coming here with my son for some father son time and we fell in live with McLeans. Service is awesome and food is very good!!!

Food is great, fast, and cheap! However the waitress put a couple people who arrived after us on the list ahead of us without checking. Thus the drop in stars. The home fries and biscuit are really fantastic though. If you're looking for a bargaining at almost any time of day and not watching your waist line, definitely check it out! read more

Had "the better breakfast on broad street" and everything was okay except the chicken. The eggs were scrambled with cheese. The fried chicken was covered with gravy. The fried apples were good, and the toast was average. I typically rate breakfast restaurants based off of waffle house. If I can get the same quality, quantity and value for less, I typically approve of the place. This place met quantity but neither quality or value. The country fried chicken was not tasty. It tasted as if it came from the freezer. On a positive note, the eggs were fresh, and the fried apples were delicious. read more

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Any time I get a chance to come to Mcleans it's always a good filling meal. Food comes out fast, hot, and the ingredients are fresh. Pancakes and French toast are a staple, and the omelette choices are a good selection as well. read more

Living in the burbs, we don't make it into the city for breakfast often, but we started going to a new church on Grace so it brings us into town each Sunday morning. Unassuming on the outside, but packed on the inside we found a lively crowd and attentive staff. We could have waited a bit for a table but there were a couple seats at the counter so we bellied up. I couldn't pass up the daily special, Southern Eggs Benedict. Perfectly poached eggs over crispy bacon on top of fluffy biscuits covered in a strangely colored but tasty sauce! The home fries that accompanied the dish were outstanding as well. The grits were a bit bland but they come will all meals so they were worth a try. Schweety is likely to order a breakfast burrito if one is offered and he was a big fan of this one. The tortilla was above average and grilled to a toasty brown and the fillings were well balanced. On the side he added a country ham biscuit because as I said, the biscuits here are amazing. Last week we had breakfast at another VCU area favorite and though very different, loved them both! Way to go Richmond! read more

Fantastic restaurant and LOVE that they are Republican. All the negative covid comments are always shocking to me because at this point who doesn't get that covid was a lie?!! Wake up sheeple! My go to is the meatless breakfast. read more

I will never go back. My food was good until I ate my steak and it was every salty. I complained to my waitress, the manager was called and yes me they cook there food to perfection. I told him it was not perfect. I was not happy. Told him I would pay for what I ate, nothing more. He calls the police, cause a huge scene, I paid for most o my bill. He followed me outside to get a pic of my plates to give to police. I waited for the police , even paid my bill. For something I never ate. I was told people like are the problem, I ask people like who. The manager yelled in my face like a child, was very disrespectful and called the police. The police agreed that I didn't eat, I should not have paid. So please use this review as a disclaimer of bad service. I am to in customer service and would never treat anyone like this. I dont want even give them 1 star. read more

I honestly wanted to love this place but I can't deal with the piss poor service . Now don't get me wrong the food is good! But to have to deal with the front staff is just utterly disgusting. I pray they get a better front end end then me and my husband will consider coming back read more

This place gets three stars because I think that's the maximum allowable for a cheap, greasy 24-hour breakfast joint. So consider it a 3 out of 3. Went here for post bar crawl food with a bunch of friends. The waitress was really sweet, sassy, but sweet. The food is what it is but I will note that I wasn't hungover in the morning, so i'm going to attribute it to the chicken fried steak and two fried eggs that I ate. So freaking good that just writing about it is making my mouth salivate. I haven't been here for brunch before and probably won't go but the prices are great for breakfast food and they seem to know what they are doing. Another plus, the ice they use is shaved ice....so good. Take care (of that hangover) & savor it up! read more

I stumbled upon this gem last weekend and everything was really good. It's breakfast food, mind you. But if you have eaten at enough places you know how easy it is for a restaurant to screw up the easiest meal of the day. McLeans did not! And I had to give them an extra star because not only was everything in the order correct and piping hot, this was a to go order! Now you know people get lazy on take out orders! Not McLeans. I will gladly be back for more and maybe even dine in when I do it. Nothing fancy here, just very good breakfast at a very reasonable price. read more

Disclaimer: my boyfriend brought me home breakfast - so this is solely a review on the food. I ordered the country scramble with sausage. While the food was good, the fact that the scramble and 2 slices of toast (cut into 4 pieces) was able to fit on the large side of the tri-compartment of the styrofoam container left me less than satisfied. I get that it's cheap, but I can't imagine the portion size is this small if you eat in (anyone know?). Literally 8 bites - I counted. Also, who serves a breakfast sandwich on a hamburger bun? My parents when I was young because we were poor and out of bread and it wasn't pay day yet. I don't care if it's cheap - so is bread. read more

Well McLean's has a few of my favorite things. Cheap, tasty breakfast food. When I have a hangover, this is the place. When I need a fast home-cooked breakfast for a good price, this is the place. I had the country fried steak, home fries and eggs. Eggs were cooked perfectly, steak was delicious, good gravy. It was super satisfying. The place is always jammed, so expect to wait a bit... but it's a breakfast worth waiting for and I think better than most of the chain breakfast joints. It's also fun to watch them pump out copious plates of breakfast food in their open kitchen set up. If you're looking for a nice, family cheap breakfast in Richmond, this won't disappoint. read more

My wife and I enjoyed our visit. She had pancakes, bacon and eggs. Her breakfast also came with potatoes which weren't the best. I opted for the lunch special, hamburger steak with mashed potatoes, brown gravy and cabbage. The staff was very friendly, and I will definitely go back again. read more

This is definitely my go to place for a good and fast breakfast/brunch. Very good coffee and food is pretty good. There are better places around town if you are looking for something a little fancier, but this place does hit the spot if you are looking for a cheap diner-type breakfast. read more

McLean's Restaurant - Southern scramble - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia