McLean's Ole Time Cafe

We've been regular customers since we moved to Wendell. Tonight was the last time we will ever eat at McLean's.I ordered the "Hot Ham and Cheese" which the menu says comes on a sub roll. When the food arrived, I wasn't certain this was the what I ordered because it was in sliced loaf bread. We caught the waitress and she was walking by and asked if this was "right?" She immediately reported with "Give to me and I'll fix it!" In a snarky tone. I repeated my question and asked "If this the way the sandwich I ordered is supposed to come", and she immediately replied with "I said give it here and I'll fix it!" I told her to forget and she put her hand on her hip and stormed off saying "Fine!". I didn't eat it, I left without eating anything except a salad because I was out of tea by the time my sandwich arrived and she never came back except to drop off the check. Alyssa M was our waitress and she ruined our experience at McLean's. I paid for it and left it untouched because of her horrible service.

Oh, my goodness, you have to try The Sisco chicken! It's absolutely divine, like a taste that just won't let you stop indulging until someone reminds you to take a breather. This spot has truly mastered the art of making chicken. And let me tell you, the vibe at this place is just fantastic. Perfect for a family of six, we went all out with a feast and maybe splurged around $120. I practically waddled out of there, stuffed to the brim with happiness from all that delicious food. The portions are massive, so sharing is caring unless we're talking about that heavenly chicken I mentioned earlier. Trust me, everything about this place is spot on. I could go on for pages raving about how amazing everything was. If you ever find yourself in Zebulon, North Carolina, you absolutely must pay them a visit!

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.

My first visit to McLean's on a Thursday in June. When we drove up I thought we were at Cracker Barrel! Pretty southern porch decor with rocking chairs. We walked in with no wait and were immediately seated. In a few minutes the waitress came out to get our beverage orders. It was around 1p and not very busy. I ordered the fried shrimp lunch special with broccoli and cheese and field peas. It came with delicious hush puppies and some biscuits. Didn't try the biscuits but those hushpuppies were yummy. The veggies were seasoned well and the shrimp were pretty large, lightly seasoned and tasted fresh. Overall pleased with the meal and good price for what I got. Although I didn't pay as I was treated to lunch. Unfortunately we never got offered drink refills while eating...by the time the waitress got back to us we were ready to leave. I will go back though and try some other things on the menu.

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.

If you are looking for southern style food with an excellent atmosphere, look no further. Staff are attentive, service was good, and I've never had complimentary hush puppies which was awesome. I also have to point out that customers also fit the restaurant so I wouldn't recommend any fancy clothes for here

Just order a breakfast plate from here, and look what I found...........HAIRI am sick to my stomach. It looks like it was cooked with the sausage.

Great country cooking as always. I've been here 5 times now and the food has not disappointed me, or those with me, yet. Prices are reasonable and service was ok.

Good Food, Good Value McLean's has the look and feel of a Cracker Barrel, without the gift shop. It's a great place to eat, especially if you are extra hungry. The portions are enormous, and the food is usually very good. We sampled one of the Lunch Specials - Nanny's Homemade Chicken Salad - creamy and slightly sweet ($10.69 with two vegetables or Small Salad Bar). The Salad Bar includes a wide assortment of greens and dressings plus many extras; such as Broccoli Salad, Pasta Salad, Beets, Boiled Eggs, Mushrooms, Olives, Nuts, Croutons, Cheese, etc. The Crab Cakes (2) were disappointing ($17.69 with Two Sides or Small Garden Salad). They were very large, but somewhat mushy and boring (the zesty Remoulade Sauce did improve the overall experience somewhat). The generous bowl of Sweet Potato Casserole was fantastic, but the Cole Slaw a little bitter. The Grilled Seafood Salad ($12.79) was enormous - and delicious. The dozen Cajun Shrimp were grilled to perfection, and the Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions, Cucumbers, Cheddar Cheese and Croutons were fresh and crispy. The Fried Pork Chops ($14.19 with Two Sides, a Biscuit and Hush Puppies) were my favorite. The two Chops were big, tender and lightly coated in a spicy, zesty breading. The Creamed Potatoes were just right, but the Collard Greens were not good (fortunately, there are many other sides on the menu). Most meals come with an unlimited supply of savory hush puppies and light, fluffy hot dinner rolls. The desert case is brimming with a tempting assortment of homemade goodies. The wedge of Carrot Cake ($6.19) was moist and yummy (and big enough for two). If you like basic, home-style cooking, and are very hungry, then McLean's is the place to go.

Excellent service and food. I had steak tips with fries and coleslaw. All of it was good and hot from the kitchen. Price is also reasonable.