Family Diner

A small Black owned & operated down home southern food quite popular in the community and surrounding areas. Conveniently Located off the Oxford loop- very good food at reasonable prices & discounts available on daily plate specials. The meatloaf day- usually Thursdays- will give out if the order not giving early enough. Usually a packed house during the lunch hour. This is a family restaurant- offering take out & inside seating - Breakfast & Lunch offered Mondays through Saturdays normally except holidays - vacations & special occasions.The team strives to make the food experience pleasant as possible. My favorite- usually available on Fridays- the catfish plate with homemade potato salad and string beans- delicious. Daily specials that offer a balanced lunch plate- meat- veggie & a starch if so desired. The usual breakfast fare during breakfast hours and of course hotdogs and cheeseburgers available upon request

The kid was home from college, and after we hit the local thrift, we were looking around for some Oxford grinds. The street situation precluded a few spots downtown, and since we weren't in the mood for our go-to taco place, we decided to head out to the Family Diner. The walk-in was awkward on our part- cash register or hot bar line first? A sweet call from the kitchen of "Y'all's first time?" got us headed in the right direction.Full disclaimer: I've been nostalgic for the southern cafeteria lately. While talking to some food industry friends last week, we realized there is something powerful about the food we all remember from K and W. And while Family Diner doesn't have a giant dining room or a 5-snake velvet rope line to get to the counter, it does take me back.Here's how we made our choices: the hot bar was a choice of three types of chicken- the baked and fried were tempting until the gentleman serving us says: "We can fry you fish to order. Flounder, trout, and catfish." The chicken got skipped for a plate of flounder (plentiful plate, btw), and a side of the Mac and cheese and cooked cabbage. The kid sampled the catfish plate, same sides. Sweet tea. And yes ma'am, I'd like the cornbread. Done.We sat down at a table in the main, cozy dining room. The first thing that I noticed: this place is clean- tidy, even. There was a super polite young man moving around and busing tables, tidying up unassumingly and doing it in a way that is lacking in some finer dining places I've been in recently.The food came out, piping hot. I used one of the malt vinegar packets to douse my flounder (a cafeteria habit) and dug in. The first bite was light and flaky, cooked perfectly. Nothing greasy-tasting, at all, just clean. The sides were great- nothing over seasoned, and like cooking at home, there was room for you to season things to your taste. Well played, Family Diner.The owner (I think? She was the one who guided us down the right path when we walked in) came out to make sure that we were happy, and yes ma'am, it's great, and holy cow, you just dropped this cornbread into the skillet and fried it? Yes, we will be back. It's unassuming, and it's just what the doctor ordered. It's a cafeteria, but it's clean and polite and makes you feel good that you ate there. It's soul food, but not just from an ethnic standpoint- it makes me happy and full and feel welcome and I'll be back.

This place is the real deal! Authentic southern breakfast with delicious options. The biscuits are the best. Real southern cat head biscuits. Every item we tried was outstanding. They really have something for everyone. Ask for the buttered biscuits. The service was great too, and we really enjoyed our meal. Worth a drive from anywhere.

We always enjoy the food here breakfast or lunch it's nothing fancy just delicious food served by a great group of people. It's a family atmosphere and great food like mom would make

Love their fried catfish along with side dishes. Breakfast was ok. The grits I expected were different.

Good Down-Home Soul FoodVisited on 7/31/18. Was cheerfully greeted by owner Mary Harris, who asked if it was our first time. (That says she knows her regular customers & there were a lot of them getting food that day.) She told me her specials for the day. I had fried pork chop (cooked to order) with sides and my friend had smothered baked chicken with sides. Excellent! Pork chop was moist and tender. Veggies fresh and cooked just right. They even have fried corn bread!Only mark down was that this is cafeteria style and menu is at end of the line and on tables. Menu needs to be available when you enter restaurant. Don't need it after I've ordered. I will go back next time I'm in Oxford!

Spoke with owner, who was very pleasant, and received a refund for my purchase. They seem focused on not only serving good food but really hoping each customer has a great overall experience!! Bumping them up a star.

The best fried chicken I ever had, but the smothered pork chop is a close second. Best cornbread I ever had too. I try to drive the 45 mins from Raleigh to have lunch here with a few neighbors every few weeks. Well worth the drive!

Amazing fried chicken. Homemade pies. 2 lunches with two sides, 2 teas and 4 pieces of homemade pie for under $30. Oh. Did I mention that the tea (sweet of course) was done right. Brewed hot and saturated with sugar then taken to a refrigerator.

Hubby and I happened to find ourselves in Oxford while doing some genealogy research and needed a bite to eat for lunch. A quick Yelp search turned up this gem and we decided to give it a try. Oh, my. Think going to grandma's house. It was delicious. I had baked chicken (that literally fell off the bones), green beans and stewed potatoes. Dessert was chocolate pie. Yum. Hubby had fried chicken (same veggies) and said the skillet fried cornbread took him back in time. If you find yourself in the area, you owe it to yourself to get some of this goodness. You're worth it.