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    Jackson's Cafeteria

    3.5 (54 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:15 pm

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    JACKSON'S CAFETERIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Jackson's Cafeteria

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    My friend and I grabbed a quick lunch yesterday! A lot of good food for the money!!

    I love this place! The people are so friendly, clean inside, and the food is so good! You can't get home cooked food like this many places anymore. Plus, the added nostalgia of a place so like the J&K Cafeteria I went to so much as a kid just takes it over the top!

    Shu B.

    Cafeteria food never appealed to me much, but i do love that Hambrosia Salad they got with the marshmallows. Turnip Greens are adequate and menu seems overall reasonably priced. Can not vibe with the chicken fried steak. Broccoli casserole was way too watered down. Who would do that a cow? Its a crime on a plate. Bit of a local staple with the older crowd I have noticed.

    Sugar-free strawberry pie, cream corn, Salisbury steak over mashed potatoes
    Keela D.

    This food was very mediocre. So here's what I thought. 1. The sugar free strawberry cake was actually pretty good. The crust was awesome to be sugar free. 2. I mean you can't mess up corn. A little dash of salt, a couple shakes of the pepper, and the corn was actually pretty good. 3. The mashed potatoes was bland as can be. It was almost like they made them from Idaho instant mashed potatoes. 4. The Salisbury steak, that was covered in gravy, was not appetizing at all. Once again, another food item that lacked flavor. I think somebody need to rework this whole recipe before serving this again.

    Jacksons Cafeteria food and menu
    Gerald F.

    They have pretty good service, but the food isn't fit for a dog. Roast beef was mushy and gravy tasted like water, flour and browning, broccoli casserole tasted like they ran it through a blender . Wasted $12, went straight into the garbage.

    roasted chicken, corn, seven-layer salad, big fluffy roll, plus pie and coffee...
    Daniel P.

    can't really say as I actually remember being in an actual cafeteria since high school, fairly certain that I have but kinda fuzzy on the details... regardless, we were cafetering it up Saturday in Gastonia. windy, wet, and cold and possibly running late but not excessively so. still, we needed sustenance but wanted to get in, get fed, and get out in a reasonable time and by chance we ended up here, in front Jackson's Cafeteria! who'd have thunk it? after a short hike back to the serving line you grab a tray and some flatware and pick your portions on the way back towards the dining room starting with dessert and finishing at bread with meats, mains, salads, and sides in between priced as marked (Pro Tip: the daily specials include two veggies except for lunch on Saturday) and if you have questions about what's what just ask. get your total at the end of the line and pay on the way out. nifty... today's fare was roast chicken - dark, 7-layer salad, corn, slice of pie and a roll plus coffee. and MLB had fried fish special with carrots and green beans plus deviled eggs, jalapeno corn bread, and tea... not real adventurous or exciting but filling and tasted alright which was the goal today ;-)

    Sue G.

    First I have to say we thought this place had to be good they always seem to be busy so we decided to go here. When we walked in we had no clue where to go, I thought we walked in the wrong door. I have to say it was a long walk just to get to where you start getting your food. It is cafeteria style and it's all per piece what you get. I was a bit confused because if you wanted a dinner you just pay per piece unless they have a special of the day then everything is included in one price. Not a fan of eating this way. They stand behind the counter asking what you want before you even get to where you look. I felt pressured to order and order fast even though no one was behind me. So going through the line we decided to get deviled eggs to share. I got baked chicken, asked for a breast. I had çarrots and green beans. The other meal was Mashed potatoes with gravy, corn with some sauce a piece of bread and meatloaf.i started to get worried when the guy behind the counter had to use a electric knife, looked like a saw to cut through the meatloaf. We both got water. So there is a girl who sits at the end and does a ticket up for you with the food. We had no clue what to do , I started to pay and she said you pay after you eat It Would be nice maybe to have a sign of the process because I felt stupid for not knowing. When we sat down I made a comment on how small my chicken breast was for over $4!! And each side was $1.99. The deviled eggs were actually not too bad. The mashed potatoes, not sure what to think, almost a instant mashed taste with a gravy that is hard to explain how horrible tasting it was, no taste to the potatoes other wise. The corn was not bad, kind of a buttery taste, hard to mess up corn. The Carrots not too bad, the green beans were so salty!!! It was like someone dumped a salt shaker full in as they were heating up. The meatloaf was almost $6, I had to taste, it was so nasty I literally spit it back out!! I am not joking it was gross. The flavor and texture was unlike any meatloaf I have ever had. The piece of chicken I had was dried out and stringy I just couldn't eat it. We left so disappointed. Shocked at how many people actually went there and ordered take out. When we went to pay the cashier said we could have gave back what we didn't like and get something else. It was a bit too late at this point, she did say stop back and try us again. I honestly doubt we ever would. There are other places in the area, this just happened to be what we decided on we figured would be fast because we had a long ride home. We just weren't fans and don't recommend it unless you just want something fast but even then think again. I just can not say either of us enjoyed it and still don't feel it was worth the money. We won't go back.

    Michelle K.

    Yes there was a lot of older individuals here but I don't mind that one bit. It was pretty quiet inside for the most part so how can you beat that. My boyfriend got to see me pig out since I've been craving food like this. Thanks to him I wound up in a food coma after eating majority of my food.

    Turkey and dressing, corn, macaroni and cheese and a yeast roll
    Matthew T.

    Jackson's is the premier place for cafeteria-style dining in the Gastonia region. Service is friendly and prompt. Prices are average, and the selection can't be beat. Plenty of parking. Open seven days a week. Specials each day.

    Jackson's at Akers Center
    Ken M.

    I've just enjoyed some really good Chicken & Dumplings,rice with chicken gravy, green beans,buttered rolls and of course when at Jackson's you've got to have the sweet tea. Jackson's is one place I could literally have anything on the menu and leave satisfied. I

    Meatloaf, stuffing, broccoli casserole.  Don't forget to grab a couple of pieces of fatback at the register!

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    10 months ago

    The food was good and they give you a lot of food. The staff was nice and the ambiance was good.

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    1 year ago

    Good food. The Salisbury steak was tough and very salty. Stuffing, Mac and cheese good, cornbread muffin was good as well. A bit pricey.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Love the food service and overall vibes of the establishment. owners and staff are super friendly and the food is such good southern cooking

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Stop here by chance. Me and son actually really enjoyed this. Gave me nostalgia two meals for $22. Can't beat it.

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    3 years ago

    Everything was great as always! I had the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, cream style corn, mac and cheese, cornbread muffin and banana pudding.

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    The Southern Pecan

    The Southern Pecan

    4.3
    (423 reviews)
    20.2 mi
    $$

    I relocated to Charlotte from Louisiana and this place is spot on from food to service.read more

    As a girl born in Texas, a really good chicken fried steak is practically part of my DNA. It's one…read moreof those comfort foods I don't eat often because it's so rich--but when I see it on a menu, it absolutely catches my attention. That's exactly what drew me to The Southern Pecan in SouthPark. Here in the South, they call it country fried steak, and I'm happy to report this one did not disappoint. I met a colleague there for lunch, and everything about the experience felt easy from the start. The restaurant is located in Phillips Place, a lovely little shopping area that feels a bit polished and upscale--with shops like Orvis, Tory Burch, and even a Restoration Hardware restaurant nearby. They do offer valet parking, which is a nice touch, though honestly parking is easy enough on your own. We had reservations through OpenTable and were seated on the patio, which was absolutely delightful for this time of year in Charlotte. The weather was perfect, the setting was relaxed, and the service started off warm and welcoming right away. Now, the food. The country fried steak was beautifully cooked--crispy on the outside, tender inside, and served with creamy mashed potatoes and gravy that hit all the nostalgic notes from my Texas upbringing. I paired it with a vegetable side (I believe it was broccoli or corn), and it was a classic Southern plate done right. We also enjoyed a couple of cocktails, and to finish, we split a praline bread pudding, which felt like the perfect Southern ending to the meal--sweet, comforting, and indulgent without being overwhelming. The staff was friendly and attentive, and one of the things I continue to appreciate about Charlotte is how easy it is to connect with people. We even chatted with diners at nearby tables, which added to that welcoming, community feel that makes dining out here so enjoyable--especially for someone coming from the Bay Area. Prices felt fair for the quality, the setting, and the portion sizes, and overall the experience left a great impression. Bottom line: If you're craving a solid Southern classic like country fried steak--or just want a relaxed patio lunch in a charming part of SouthPark--The Southern Pecan is definitely worth a visit. And as someone happily eating my way through Charlotte and the Southeast, this stop was another reminder that the journey has been a delicious one.

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    Jackson's Cafeteria - cafeteria - Updated June 2026

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