McLean’s Ole Time Cafe

These guys rock… had a last minute change of plans for rehearsal dinner I was hosting. Being from outta town I had only 12hr to come up with a back up plan due to a catering company that misrepresented themselves as competent. Called Mcleans last min… they quoted me 250 bux less then the other company. Food was amazing everyone was super happy about the food. I grabbed 4 of there homemade pies on the way out. Manager loaded everything in and made sure I had everything I needed for place settings. Thanks sooo much for attention to detail and prompt service.

Home style cooking. When I’m too tired to cook it’s a good option. There’s something on the menu for everyone.

The food was good and the service was even better. I wa not happy with my take out dessert. It wa some sort of chocolate cake. I think it was suppose to be served warm. I ate it cols but though the cake was a bit dry.

Downhome country fare with daily specials and great desserts. If you are looking for comfort food or food just like mom would make, this is a great choice. Good family atmosphere, lots of seating, heaping piles of biscuits and hushpuppies upon your arrival. The menu is extensive, but the photos help make choices easier. My favorites are the Sisco Chicken and the Chicken and Dumplings. Country cookin’ right in Downtown Zebulon. It is tucked back in beside Carlie C’s, so if you don’t know where you are going just look for that or Compare Foods, it is tucked in behind them.

Dinner in Zebulon
Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce (no meat) Paul Koehler could have joined us and would probably be happy
Collards also appearing (and tasting) meatless… tender though not mushy
Fried Okra Perfekt!
Biscuits were pretty good
Hush Puppies were pretty good
Chicken and Dumplings of course this is the Country version! Noodles (called dumplings) taste to be made in-​house, rolled out, knife (not machine) cut and cooked in Chicken Broth! Not quite Grandmas though for a Restaurant, very good!
Service was Great
The Place looks Very New and for the Theme it is a Casual Country fancy (you can wear jeans and a sleeveless shirt)!

I loved eating here until tonight. Our waitress Landy was terrible. I would say out over every bad restaurant experience this by far was the worst. She was so rude and no where to be found when you needed her. She dropped some of the food off my plate and said oops I will get you more… and never did. Asked for honey mustard 5 times. I placed my cut near the edge of the table so she could fill it without reaching over my plate. She asked would you like a refill. I replied sure thank you. She only had a cup of diet Coke in her has and nothing else. She said well can you hand me your cup… I don’t like leaving bad reviews but she was horrible. The food was find but a little over priced. I spike with a manager and he apologized and offered to take money off the meal or free dessert or a gift card. I told him thanks so much but I will not be back. I drove from Lake Royale in Louisburg over 30 minutes to eat there. We have a restaurant in the lake. The bill for 2 adults one teenager and one child was over $ 60…

Excellent food and service! We had the Cisco chicken and the tenderloin smothered with onions and gravy special. One word — awesome!!! Get the biscuits over the hush puppies. Both are good but the biscuits are great. Even have a homemade dessert tray loaded with about 9 desserts! Coming back for sure.

Always killer food breakfast and lunch if I could I would eat every meal from here! And everybody is nice and treats u like family been eating for years!

If Southern comfort food is what you crave then look no more McLeans is your place! Amazing food great quality unbelievable taste!

Great southern comfort food at an affordable price, there chicken livers are some of the best around!

I am not quite sure about some of the bad reviews I have read about this restaurant. We had Sunday brunch here and it was a hearty southern breakfast. Keep in mind this is small town North Carolina and not Charlotte or Raleigh. The Olé Time Café has a lot of charm and decorated with random farm implements and antiques.
The food was good solid southern breakfast. I enjoyed the grits and fried pork chops.
I am not sure about lunch or dinner but Breakfast is great.

Tried this restaurant based on the reviews. Cisco chicken was yummy. Was told the pancakes and omelet was tasty. We received great service.

The food has always been great here. I have gotten several items including the patty melt, San Francisco chicken, fried catfish, Mac and cheese, fried okra, green beans, and omelettes.
The only thing that keeps me from giving five stars is the service. There have been several times where it took 10 minutes just to get drink orders in or a ridiculous wait between ordering and getting the food. The waitresses always seem to get caught up chatting with the other tables… being friendly is good, but not if it causes you to ignore your other tables!

Party of four and each of us left disappointed. «Hey shug and baby» is how we were addressed. I strongly believe in respect and professionalism and it was not displayed.
Small proportions for an average $ 8 – 10 per plate. Beef tips appeared to look and taste no different from Campbell’s Chunky and the rice was over cooked and mushy. Mac and Cheese were watery and nowhere close to what was described in the menu. Collard greens were the only thing on my plate that were editable.
Waitress was extremely «chatty» at other tables so we had to wait about 15 minutes before she chatted her way around to us.

When we first moved here a year ago McLean’s was one of our favorite places to go, but recently it has started to go down hill. The food that once fresh and home cooked has started to become more and more prepackaged. For example my wife ordered country fried steak the last time we dined at McLean’s and we could tell it was a pre made uniform frozen patty, and the gravy was from a packet. I don’t know if costs are forcing them to go to cheaper ingredients, but it is really has killed the experience.

I’ve only been here once, and it was for lunch, but it was great food. The sweet potato casserole especially!

Seconding Betty’s review, the food was far below average. My girlfriend ordered the honey BBQ, butter beans, and sweet potato casserole. I had fried catfish, broccoli, and fried okra. In her words, the butter beans were disgusting, after having been recommended as the best vegetable on the menu. The rest of the food was equally displeasing, cold and with a bad flavor. The casserole was split chunks of sweet potato, the okra was mushy, and the fish was in edible without heavy use of tartar sauce.
The staff and atmosphere was decent. Sweet tea was very sweet, but I liked it. Bottom line, if you’ve ever been in a kitchen you can do better for yourself and for less than here. I should mention that this was the restaurant that inspired me to sign up for Unilocal to review it.

#3wordreview
Good
Cheap
Home Cooking

I have been to McLean’s several times and with a big group and small group. I have always had great service. The food has always been good.
They have a great menu of southern favorites, I’ve tried the chicken pastry, barbecue chicken, cisco chicken, and more.
One of my faves is the cisco chicken, it is fried chicken cutlet, served over rice and sawmill gravy with cheese and broccoli. It also comes with two sides.
Your side dish choices are things like field peas, mac and cheese, collards, green beans. All are yummy, my faves are the field peas and mac and cheese.
I have only had lunch and dinner, so can’t comment on the breakfast choices.
I haven’t tried desserts yet, but they look yummy in the case.
Great place to try!

Nice clean place. Chicken SW is good. Excellent pricing and it is a 4^th generation establishment. Give it a try, fun family place. It has Wi Fi also.