The Mecca Restaurant

Mecca Restaurant: A Southern Time Capsule in RaleighNestled off Martin Street in the heart of downtown Raleigh, Mecca Restaurant is a delightful blend of Southern charm and a speakeasy ambiance. The staff, both attentive and professional, contribute to the overall experience, but it's the exceptional food and captivating décor that transport diners straight back to the 1920s.The shrimp and grits I ordered were a highlight--rich and creamy with a satisfying bite that perfectly balanced the flavors of cheese and cornmeal. Reminiscent of gumbo in its heartiness, this dish was a pleasant and unexpected surprise, offering a robust taste of the South.Established in 1880, Mecca is more than just a restaurant; it's a Raleigh landmark. The historic architecture and meticulous preservation provide a backdrop steeped in history, making it not only a culinary experience but also a journey through time.I highly recommend Mecca Restaurant to anyone looking for an authentic taste of the Southeast. It effortlessly captures the essence of Raleigh's heritage, blending traditional Southern cuisine with an atmosphere that feels both timeless and inviting.

What a gem in Raleigh! Love the history of this place and that the interior totally reflects the history and wasn't just totally cleared out. When in for an early-ish breakfast on a Sunday and there were not many people there. The waitress was super friendly and the service was great. I got their french toast, but it wasn't my favorite. I think they shine with the typical diner style breakfast dishes. The eggs and corned beef hash was spot on and definitely something I'd get again. The food came out hot and fresh!

Came to The Mecca for brunch with the family as a recommendation from a local. They're a super retro breakfast spot that's been there for a LONG time and have the classic breakfast/lunch diner vibe. There's two stories of seating - with a larger more open area for large groups upstairs. I got an order of pancakes and bacon and shared the eggs and hash dish with my fiancé. Both were amazing and the portion sizes were great. My expectations were no frills and for the most part it was but was surprised to find that they offered bloody Mary's on their menu. The coffee options were your average cup of Joe but not bad considering. Pricing was also very reasonable. The service was decent considering we had a larger party - it did take a bit to get everyone their food. Overall, this was a great breakfast spot and I would definitely come back for a hearty breakfast. 8/10 recommend!

I have been here several times, and the food is decent. They sorta have an old fashioned type of food with some southern charm to it. The food is also fairly priced, which is great. They make the bakery items, and desserts fresh during the week, which is great. The staff like to treat people like family, and they like to have casual conversations with the guest. I prefer this place over several other places downtown Raleigh.#514

We were walking around after church looking for a breakfast spot, a lot of places are not yet open (until 12am) but Mecca was ready for us! There is seating inside and out. Some of the outside seating has umbrellas and some don't, I love the sunshine so it was perfect for us. The service is friendly and on point. The staff seem to really help each other out. Ann greeted us and helped out with more water and a to go container. DJ told me all about the mimosa options which I appreciated and Nick took our order and have some deets on the menu options. The menu has variety but not 50 options which I appreciate. I treated myself to a strawberry mimosa (there are a lot of options in addition to strawberry) which I hadn't had before. It was good! If we had more people I would have tried the mimosa flight for $30 which comes with the bottle of champagne. My favorite thing is the staff made sure you had enough water, which I always appreciate. Great team! I tried the French Toast and my hubs tried the pancakes. I love the fruit side was not 5 pieces of fruit. It was a decent serving and all v fresh. The flavors of the food were delicious, I am envious of how tall they get their pancakes. The pancakes come with four but you can tell them just to give you two or whatever. We got the 4 and took home leftovers. Mecca is always a solid food spot and we will definitely be back!

I've lived in raleigh for 7 years before i moved out and been wanting to try it.I finally got to try it on my visit back and I'm sad I didn't come here while living here. Ambiance, food, service and prices were all great!

Mecca was the first restaurant I dined at when I was scouting the area before I moved to Raleigh. back then, there weren't many dining choices. I've been back since but it has been a while and the restaurant was closed for a while too.So I was excited to dine here again. The staff was friendly but my food was cold. It took forever to get our food. We ordered before it got crowded and all of those that came later were served first.They said one of the plates had to be redone so I am guessing mine was left sitting on the warmer for an hour. then not all of my order was brought out. I have great memories of Mecca but my visit was either an off day or the quality just isn't there anymore. I won't be back anytime soon.

Appears to be a well established local favorite small diner style joint.Since 1937 they only do breakfast /brunch closing at 2.Maybe 50 seats.Simple good home cooking at amazing prices , nothing over $15 most 10-12.They don't make ''em like this anymore.Nice folks very attentive service too.

We loved the Mecca. Good food, great biscuits and country ham. Good service too! Only small complaints: no stevia sweetener and the decaf was so-so. Typical in a southern diner, so I didn't knock any points off:-).

Great place for breakfast and lunch. They have many fairly priced options to choose from. The decor is pretty and more of an old school style, and the staff members were kind as well.