Home cooked food is to die for and so is the amazing service. They get to know their regulars and know what they like and it's truly a family type atmosphere. If you haven't been there yet, you're truly missing out on a long time Raleigh gem! read more

Friendly service, family atmosphere. Food is always good. Breakfast here to start the day guarantees a good start.

This is one of my favorite lunch spots in the area! Yeah it's kind of dingy and run down, but the food is always amazing! And the prices are great, but they only take cash so you have to keep that in mind. I've had Just about everything on the menu and never once have I had a bad meal! read more

Watkins Grill - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Typical Southern Style grill for early worker's breakfast (5am) 2 eggs over easy, sausage, bacon, grits, biscuits, small orange juice, hot coffee, with quick service in a relaxed atmosphere. Pickup truck parking near the front door. Decor inside is a historical collection of Raleigh for the last 300 years. This is a good place to meet friends, business, and locals. Relaxed casual atmosphere is predictable here in downtown Raleigh. read more

Amazing food and great service. Highly recommend for a great Southern breakfast. One of the last classic spots left in the city. Given them a try. read more

Stopped on a weekday at 725 am with three customers in the restaurant. I waited 30 minutes for burnt toast, a terrible over cooked sausage patty and half decent corn beef hash and eggs. For 13.00, ill go elsewhere. Not at all impressed! read more

Waited :45 for the flattest blandest turkey bacon and egg sandwich. The waitstaff were constantly wiping their noses. One was on his phone the whole time and looked like he hadn't bathed recently. They had a 92. I should've left when I saw that. read more

Watkins Grill is a local favorite that serves affordable meals in a well loved environment. It's so refreshing to see customers greeted by name and settle into a comfortable regime. We ordered a lunch special of chopped bbq, and a breakfast item that included eggs, meat, home fries, and a bread option. Everything was good - however on this particular visit, a tad more seasoning would have been appreciated especially with regard to the turnip greens. We overheard someone stating business was slow due to a ball game - perhaps that factored into other areas as well. Overall, a good meal with friendly service. Cash is king, but cash app is acceptable. read more

Food Quality?? Old tasting items Meat very tough Could not even cut it because it was so tough read more

Food was good and reasonably priced. They don't accept card payments though so go prepared. And it's not a place I would entertain guests especially since they don't take cards. But they take cash and cash app Company and conversation was great though. And Ashley the server was really nice and attentive. read more

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We LOVE this place!! It's kinda "don't blink, or you'll miss it" and that's what we like best. It's small, with limited seating, but gives a "nice vibe". There's table seating and a few "bar type" as well. NOTE: they are CASH Only!! read more

Disappointed with the food but the service was excellent and the coffee was solid. . This was borderline 2 stars. Biscuits and gravy were terrible...tasted like paste you made in kindergarten with water and flour. There was no sausage, or, anything to give it flavor. Such a let down. Biscuit was dry and crunchy. Yuck. Coffee was good. The sausage (on the side) was good. Eggs were ok. Potatoes/hash browns were mushy and tasted "off." The diner is classic old town diner and really made me feel comfortable. The server was friendly and prompt with everything. Too bad the food was a let down. read more

The food was delicious and hot, the wait time was average, and there was a constant flow of customers. Staff were friendly. I recommend this restaurant for southern homestyle cooking. The ambience was original and classic. read more

So understand I am from rural Eastern NC so going in this place was like going home. Good Southern food, friendly and polite staff. Is this where you go for a fancy dinner or date - no. Is this where you go to drink coffee with your family and close friend -100% yes. Think old-school Southern restaurants of your child hood if you are an NC native and those restaurants your grandparents took you to and that's Watkins. Good food that feels like home. read more

Awesome breakfast & lunches. Good people and good service. Just good country cooking at its best. Highly recommend it.

Here's an old Raleigh diner cafe from a bygone era. Takes only cash or the cash app on your phone. This place serves breakfast and lunch with an ample choice of menu items to satisfy anyone and any taste. The grits with my perfectly cooked eggs were down home old style. Try this place for old style home cooking at a reasonable price. read more

Well I am volunteering to help them when The old building needs some work and the ceiling happened to fall in and lock me nobody was there but they are redoing everything and it's nice the people to come by and see how things are coming and I understand a lot of the customers are also donating money to help out. The owner is just got out of the hospital and will be home for a while but it's nice place especially when you see all these older people have nowhere to go to to really have a good meal and good company and they still showed up just to see and say hello. That's why it's nice to support your family owned businesses cuz all these franchises don't care about you and your family and just have some nice good talk and someplace to go and have some good southern food. read more

Have been wanting to try this little gem on the side of Old Wake Forest Rd for years and finally made our way there for Saturday lunch. Tables were available and we were told to seat ourselves. Soon after our waitress brought us silverware and menus. We were in the mood for breakfast but there were several lunch specials available and a list of the daily vegetables on the wall. I ordered the Greek omelette with home fries. The omelette was a good size with lots of toppings but didn't have aloe of flavor to me. On the flip side, I'm glad that it wasn't overly salty. The home fries were different. They were not crispy on the outside but were well cooked on the inside. Son's girlfriend ordered her omelette with a biscuit and the waitress warned her the biscuits could be hard on the bottom. She decided to get it anyway but the waitress kindly told her if she didn't like it she could have an English muffin. They had sugar free syrup for my health conscious son's pancakes which surprised me. Overall a great lunch. Everyone was friendly and prices were reasonable for the generous portion sizes. What a great place to! read more

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Always good food, a varied menu, fair prices and the friendliest people. A little no-frills diner just like a diner should be. Lots of local regulars. It's cash only but there's an ATM on site. read more

There are some good things, but I'll put them at the end. I was super disappointed coming here for the first time about a week or two ago. I had such high hopes of finding a neighborhood type place that served food that I'd enjoy. And the prices looked very fair. The short of it: the biscuit was very hard and so large that the contents (bacon egg and cheese) got lost as far as flavor goes. The pancake was gummy and tough and required diabetic amounts of syrup to get it down. The sausage patty wasn't browned, and had an unappetizing texture and flavor. More Detail: I'm a pancake snob, admittedly. I grew up with my Mom making my Grandpa's blender pancake recipe for so many years. So good. McDonald's pancakes, and the box mixes were not nearly good enough to waste calories on. Cracker Barrel does pretty good, though... but still not quite worth it to me. What we have been doing for the last decade or so is making Alton Brown's pancakes from Good Eats. Those are amazing. They were thick but light, and they were great with all kinds of toppings, or just lightly buttered! You could even go light on the syrup and you'd still have a great eat. However, these Watkins pancakes were hard to get down! And i was really hungry! I wanna say that they were dense, but you could see some aeration in there. I just know that a normal-sized bite gummed up inside my mouth and made it a real chore to finish. If I drowned it in way too much syrup, that would help lubricate things to get it down. But even for me, it required too much syrup. I would have also had to reduce my bite size, to keep it from gumming up too much, and that just would have made it take too long to eat. The sausage is a "homemade" patty, and I believe it. It doesn't seem to be ground meat, but more like a fine chop. It felt like I was chewing on tough, small, pork shreds. It was cooked, but had only browned a little, so that roasty/seared taste wasn't there. Even if it was browned to the level of your average sausage patty, I don't think I'd like this, because of the texture of the "chopped" pork. but based on other folks at the table, I think this light cook on it is pretty standard. But for it to be on their menu for a while, others must really like it. So maybe you will to. I won't get it again though. Another staple I love to try is the Bacon Egg and Cheese biscuit. I love ones from Hardee's, Bojangles, Buscuitville, etc. But we all agreed at our table, who had biscuits, that they were hard as rocks. The insides were nice and fluffy, though. Pucks like these are often okay for use as a gravy biscuit, when available, though. The biscuits are so large that they make you feel like you didn't get nearly enough filling. If they're going to serve it as this kind of biscuit-sandwich, I'd almost double up on the filling quantity, or advise the customer that it will come like that, so they aren't surprised. I took off the harder of the two halves and was left with an open-faced biscuit, but one in more reasonable proportions. The sweet tea was also lackluster. Often a down-home place like this will have very sweet tea, that you write home about, and look forward to indulging in when you visit. But no, it was just average sweet tea, with actually a little less sugar than most places, I would guess. I won't be getting it again. I didn't even drink half of mine. The service was very friendly, but I'd say we were checked on a little less often than I would have liked. But it was alright. I didn't actually need much tending, since I didn't like eating any of the three things I got, and the sweet tea was the same, with me never needing a refill. The Good: I'll go back for sure, just because I love this kind of place, and generally will make a lot of effort to find something I like. Although the breakfast options are limited for me, since I'm not an omelette fan. Ummm... I interrupt this review to mention something I just found... that a photo seemingly of their menu from as late as 2016 shows that their burgers were named after Civil War events and people. I'm a proud Southerner, so I get that. Fine. However, some of the folks they chose to "honor" seem a little suspect... they seem to have been proud of their Nathan Forrest burger (the first Grand wizard of the KKK). And they named a burger after Henry Wirz, who was hung for war crimes after the Civil War because of the way he managed a prison camp. Did they know these details, or was it just because he was Swiss, and that burger has Swiss cheese on it? I don't know how this all plays out with the owners today, and of what opinion they are regarding issues like racism, etc. read more

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We enjoyed the hometown small local owned business feel. Everything cooked to order. Food was delicious will def be back.

Great breakfasts. The Hobo Scrambled eggs with their homemade sausage and the Southern Omelette are my favorites. Their pancakes are huge, larger than the plate! read more

Nothing fancy going on here but breakfast isn't a fancy meal. This place is diner / hole in the wall but it's good, clean and CHEAP. I had a Western omelet with sliced tomatoes (instead of home fries) and enough coffee to float a small boat. Service was friendly and quick. The omelet was loaded, tasty and filling. Coffee was refilled often. There's nothing special here except good inexpensive food. Worth it! [Review 12278 overall, 2062 of 2019.] read more

Watkins Grill - Watkins Grill, Raleigh NC - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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first time for a cold breakfasT.Good coffee, sweet and fast service,good prices.Sorry but only one star! Glad I tried it but not going back.

When you need arose of "normal"- please stop in and see the crew at Watkins Grill. Times have been tough all around but this place has not changed for the worse. New low Formica tables and benches replaces the plywood booths. It's a little more open, a little more sunny. The old flag and civil war memorabilia are gone from the walls but the faces are all the same. It's a nice slice of regular folk from all sections of Raleigh. Visit and get you some hamburger steak w/gravy! read more

Watkins Grill - Register and counter. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Food is great, service is slow but everyone is really friendly. Prepare to wait 30ish minutes after ordering. Don't come if you're in a rush. Cash only but does take cash app! read more

Down Home Country cooking at its best. The staff is so friendly and inviting. Don't miss the Cornbeef if your a fan! It's the good ole kind! read more

The best hidden gem in Raleigh! Great breakfast and lunch. I've been there several times and everything has that home cooked flavor. It's family owned and the service and friendly staff makes it even more special. I have several favorites to eat there, but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It's VERY reasonably priced as well. Try it.. you'll be glad you did. read more

I love this restaurant!! This place is 100% down-home country cooking. The atmosphere reminds me of one of those rare gems that you stumble upon after a long country drive; but it's in Raleigh! The decor is very Civil War oriented, but don't let that scare you away! This place has some of the best breakfast food I've ever eaten. And you can't beat the prices! I had the 2 eggs (scrambled) plate with turkey sausage links (I was so happy that they had turkey sausage and turkey bacon), home fries and a biscuit. The biscuits are perfection; very buttery, soft and amazing with strawberry jam. The home fries are crave worthy and honestly, the turkey sausage was some of the best I've ever had. My boyfriend had the same thing except with real bacon and an English muffin. He loved his meal too. The coffee is also really good. Our waitress was wonderful. Definitely stop in here and be transported back in time! I can't wait to go back. read more

Watkins Grill - Turkey sausage, eggs, home fries and a biscuit!! Delicious! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

If you are going to eat breakfast out in Raleigh, make this the spot. A local institution for decades, this hidden gem's casual vibe conceals the fact that often the most powerful people in the state can be found eating breakfast or fried shrimp on Fridays (brought in fresh from the coast). The food is a wonderful slice of classic, southern diner fare and the staff is like family, greeting most customers by name. They are being careful about wearing masks and cleaning, plus the place is usually not super packed so it is a great spot to go during covid for your safety and to support a local, family-owned small business. While I gravitate toward their breakfast and fried shrimp when available, my friend loves their club sandwich at lunch. You truly can't go wrong at Watkins plus it's cheap and fast. What's not to love? read more

Watkins Grill - Breakfast of champions! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great food, everything is made there, there isn't anything I don't like, you look if you're looking at breakfast they got an excellent pancake and homemade sausage, lunch, everyday is something different as far as specials. I really like even more is there stir-fry cabbage. Service is nice and the ambience is like antique. The business has been there since the '40s I think. read more

Great place for a real southern breakfast. My grits were the best I have had, and the Western Omelet was excellent. I will return to this restaurant for more meals. read more

Wow what a gem! Hidden near downtown, reminds one of the diners from years past. Great breakfast! Fantastic people who make you feel at home. Don't miss this place! read more

Best breakfast in town. Great owner Rhonda and her sister Judy and daughter Summer. yummy lunch also especially Friday shrimp and fish.

It's the best breakfast in Raleigh You get what you order with a smile.. The staff continues to come back with refills on your drinks Love the fact that there are no TV's or radio you can actually talk to each other Food is great .. lots of choices Family run Try it and it will become your favorite breakfast place.. extremely great prices and great quantities Susan Raff read more

Just was in Raleigh and saw this place is still in business... Remember years ago eating at this down home restaurant...The people were friendly and the food was amazing.....must get back there soon....last time i was there was with a lady I was dating at the time..Might be time for a return trip ... read more

Decor: The long-haired, confederate-flag-waving troll perched on a shelf near the entrance seems to be an appropriate ambassador for this wood-paneled shrine to the Confederacy and Bobby Lee. Sanitation: The sanitation rating may test your will. That number made my imagination run wild as I looked at the food on the table directly below ceiling vents in desperate need of some serious swiffering. I ordered. I ate. I survived. Food: The home fries were tasty. Somewhat crispy skins mixed with soft chunks of potato. Think potato salad fried on a hot grill. The cheese omelet and biscuit were both okay. Nothing spectacular to report. All washed down with coffee waving an imaginary one-star bonnie blue confederate flag. Service: Good service reminiscent of a country diner. Cash or checks only. But no worries, you can use the miniature atm bolted to the concrete wall just outside the front door. Overall, Watkins Grill is probably an enjoyably familiar place for some. While it's important to support locally-owned, family businesses, I would prefer to stumble across confederate-flag-waving trolls in a museum exhibit designed to enlighten visitors on the history of human injustices. read more

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With my Mom's favorite breakfast place closed for a holiday, we went a few miles down the road to this Raleigh staple. Mom ordered her usual - a sausage biscuit. I ordered the Hobo Egg - sausage and ham cooked into the scrambled egg and grits. It was more than ample portion of food. Like the Hobo egg and as a bit of a grits snob, I liked the texture and taste (I hate watery grits). Very reasonably priced. Staff was pleasant. Good group of locals dining there. Couple of important notes. Parking lot is small and TIGHT. They do not accept Credit Cards - only cash and checks. An ATM machine is oddly located on the outside of the building. read more

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Food was so good here and the staff was very attentive. I had the catfish with a side of Mac and cheese and slaw. The catfish was fried to perfection and every bite was a savory-themed party in my tastebuds. I didn't care for the Mac and cheese because it was too runny and the slaw was very fresh. I took a carrot cake slice to go and it was irresistible. I ate the whole slice of cake when I was only planning to ate half. Please note, if the staff is busy, go ahead and sit yourself. Also it's a very low key type of place and it's cash or check only establishment. read more

What a great place! Authentic, down home cooking. We were lucky to show up on a Saturday - the only day biscuits and gravy is on the menu. Got a side of "homemade" sausage to try as well. All was amazing. Jordan, our server was fantastic. As many stars as I can give! read more