Some of the best homemade Southern country cooking you will eat. They offer a variety of meats,…read moreincluding steaks and other beef dishes, poultry, pork, and seafood, all cooked any way you like. You get your choice of two sides with your meal, plus homemade biscuits and hushpuppies. McLean's offers 19 side dishes, 20 if you include the one-trip salad bar. As a side salad, there may be an additional charge or you may choose it as your main meal. Be sure to save room for their delicious homemade desserts, including cakes and pies, and cheesecake with various toppings. Don't miss the hot fudge cake, topped with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge sauce, whipped cream and a cherry. This is generous enough for two to share! The cuisine ranges from country meals to burgers, Italian, and Mexican dishes. The servers are attentive and ensure you have everything you need, making your dining experience is an A-plus. The atmosphere at McLean's gives you a feeling of home, from the front porch to the inside seating and decor. Plus, they can accommodate large groups. They are open 7 days a week, from 7 AM - 8 PM; however, you will need to check on their breakfast, brunch, and their lunch specials cut-off times. McLean's also provides catering and bakery services for your special events.

I wanted to take a friend to a nice spot Friday June 12, he had never had the pleasure of…read moreexperiencing. I've been here many times however it was his 1st visit. I let him know the food was great, home cooked and good portions. The one thing that ruined the evening was the RUDE waitress, he walked up to the table and before he could sit down she bought my drink out, she asked what will you have to drink, he's looking confused and responds still standing, well what do you have? She rambles all the options so fast I'm not sure he understood all but made a choice. Then he sat down. She came back and slid it on the table like a fly by.. Soon she bought a hush puppy basket they were cold, I dare not complain she was so nasty and distant. Next she came back, order book open and I was like it's his 1st time, she didn't say anything, she just looked out the window and waited, so we just knew we needed to order, so I named my meat before I could finish SIDES??then he simply asks did they have bone in chicken ( I didn't know he was going to ask or I would have told him beforehand) she says no we have , fried chicken breast tenders, sisco chicken etc, she named every chicken dish on the menu without taking a breath.. I can give her props for knowing that..we both were looking at her confused and she never looked at us it was always "looking out the window " He said just give me "Flounder " one piece or two??? He replies one, SIDES??? Like we needed to be on point. She took the menus and left. She asked the questions she needed but was mean, not engaging and just rude. The WAY she asked.. When our food came this waitress walked by and literally slid our food on the table in a way that was like HERE! And kept walking I don't even think she stopped when she put them on the table she may have slowed down. We had to reach towards the end of the table to slide our plates in front of us. We both looking at each other in agreement she just nasty! The next time she came back she walked by and sat down a half glass of refill for his drink, she hadn't asked she just did it, suppose he wanted a glass of water? When we put our forks down she came over to get his plate and bought me a to go box as I still had half my food on my plate and she left the ticket. She didn't say is there anything I can get you or anything the entire time. He put his pymt with the ticket and put it on the edge of the table, I hadn't been in a while so I forgot we would pay on the way out. She was cleaning the floor near us and slid our ticket/pymt farther on our table, as if it was in her way, again he's confused so he said this is ready and she let him know to pay up front. I have never experienced such a nasty waitress at this restaurant and because of this I probably will never go back. I don't like not feeling comfortable and welcomed in a place where my money and time is going into. I started to complain before I left but in reality I don't think it would have mattered, and we left a tip not as much as we would have if she was more pleasant. I don't know whether she was having a bad day, a long day or to take it personal but I can't deal with attitude like that and won't take a chance on it again. This man drove a hour to experience this was just unbelievable!!!!

A Classic Done Right at Zack's Char-grill. Sometimes the…read morebest meals are the simplest ones, and Zack's Chargrill in Smithfield proves this perfectly. My wife and I stopped in for what we thought would be a quick bite, but ended up with something much more satisfying. The menu isn't fancy - just good, honest burgers and fries - but the execution is spot-on. My wife ordered a double cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato, while I went full Carolina style with chili, slaw, mustard, and onions. Both burgers were cooked exactly right, with that perfect char-grilled flavor you can only get from doing things the traditional way. What really struck me was how this meal brought back memories of old-school burger joints where quality ingredients and proper technique mattered more than gimmicks. The fries were crispy and hot, the perfect complement to these substantial burgers. If you find yourself in Smithfield and craving a burger that tastes like it should, you really can't go wrong with Zack's Char-grill. It's old-time goodness served fresh, and sometimes that's exactly what you need. Sorry about the photos. Phone screen went blank and couldn't see what I was aiming at. :-)

The place was jamming today. Great food and great service. Just a good down home feeling.read more

I visited Vinson's after church on a Saturday evening. This place is always a safe bet when they…read moreare able to seat you. The wait staff is always cordial, polite, and full of recommendations that always hit! The ambiance is casual and light and lively. Always a good vibe when you walk in the menu is diverse with something for everyone. You can't go wrong with the popular trash can nachos. Burgers are large and cooked to order. Salads and seafood choices are also available. We always enjoy our experiences at Vinson's.

The new drive through has been a hit for those on the go!…read more But slow down on entry, the stop can be quite jarring.

Love stopping at White Swan. Everyone is so friendly and the food is delicious. Great place to have…read morea home cooked meal.

Sometimes a BBQ restaurant located alongside a convenience store is a hidden find. Other times,…read moreit's like this White Swan, nothing special. We had lunch at this White Swan to start an early kickoff to the weekend. The restaurant was mostly full when we arrived, which we hoped meant the food was much better than the dingy interior. I tried a BBQ sandwich with slaw and an order of yams. My sandwich had a generous serving of eastern NC BBQ with slaw. The BBQ was OK, but nothing special and I would not be surprised to learn the slaw was purchased somewhere else. My yams, however, were served warm and very good. I also received a few hushpuppies which would have been excellent if they had been served hot, but they were cold. My dining companion tried the "steak sandwich" and fried squash. The "steak" turned out to be a fried chuckwagon patty which would have been better if served right out of the fryer but was OK. She thought the squash, clearly fresh and just cooked, was very good. You stand in line to place your order and as expected these days, they suggest all sorts of generous tips for themselves. All the employees were friendly and clearly aiming to please. If you eat in they bring your food to the table and if you get it to go, they call your order out when its ready. You're expected to clean your table when you leave and they are kind enough to leave a bucket with rags soaked in sanitizer to clean make sure the table is ready for the next customer, even though they already hit you up for a tip when you ordered. This is a low 3-star BBQ restaurant. It's not bad, but there's better to be had not too far away.

BBQ can vary greatly from place to place. SCNB has true eastern North Carolina BBQ. it is always…read moregood. Covered in their own vinegar sauce I find it hard to beat. When we lived in Virginia SCNB was a definite stop while traveling in North Carolina. For many years we only ordered the bbq, until one year, my wife tried the fried chicken. OMG. They do chicken right. It reminds me of fried chicken when growing up. The seasoning is the best. Not hot and spicy but just gooood. Publix fried chicken comes close but SCNB always comes out on top. Next come the sides. The Brunswick stew tastes like the recipe is generations in the making. It is thick, meaty, and loaded with vegetables. If you're looking for pulled pork and excellent fried chicken, then SCNB is a fantastic choice.

This place had an old diner vibe when we walked in. We were greeted immediately and walked up to…read moreorder. It's counter service and they bring it to your table if you're dining in. We made 2 trips during the week we were here. The first time I got the chicken and bbq plate, also came with fries and hush puppies and also Cole slaw. As a Florida native. My idea of bbq is different. I'm used to sweet and tangy sauce or a golden mustard sauce. Their sauces are vinegar based with a bit of tomato paste for color and red pepper flakes. I will say it's an acquired taste. It wasn't bad. Their fried chicken was really crispy and it was really juicy, hot and fresh. I also tried their banana pudding which was pretty good. Could have more cookies and add whipped cream, but that's my personal taste. My second trip on the advice of my boyfriend I got the bbq sandwich which you can get with Cole slaw on and then add their vinegar bbq sauce and that was WAY better!! The tangy and creamy together was great. I also go their 3 piece tender snack pack. Wow these tenders were enormous! I had to take them home. One was as big as my hand! Also shared a hotdog with slaw on it and that was meh. I wouldn't get that again didn't care for the hotdog wasn't big enough or juicy enough.

I'm afraid I'm knocking off a few stars right off the bat. Despite a nice location, great venue,…read moreand easy parking, our experience was far from stellar. We arrived during a slow time of day--around 3:45 PM for "linner." First issue: a chip in my pint glass cut my lip. They gave me a fresh glass, which I appreciate, but comping something (anything!) for the trouble would have gone a long way. I'm not reviewing the food out of fairness to them , because everything had a (bloody) metallic taste Second issue: the staff "entertainment." Someone went off in the kitchen, yelling loudly enough that it spilled out into the bar area. The unhappy server then proceeded to vent to patrons at the bar. Look, it's Garner--I get it. Having worked in Garner for several years, I know the "Garner Way." Everyone knows everyone, and a strong sense of community exists once you cross the city limits. I love that, and I'm even curious about the history behind the "Cleveland" name in this area (though that's for another review). However, after venting behind the bar to what I assume were regulars, someone finally came out to quiet things down. That same server then made an interesting pivot: since she couldn't vent in the kitchen or at the bar, she pulled out her cell phone right in the middle of the dining area. She stood just far enough away to qualify as outside the bar zone, but close enough for us to hear every detail about her car trouble and personal life. Dinner and a show--Garner style!

After many visits to the Garner location, I'll keep coming back. They are consistent in their…read moreservice, quality of food and comfortable atmosphere. The booths are quite large - perhaps 4 people on each side on some of the big ones. Round tables in the center for families or large groups. There is one wait-staff that stands out to me. Her name is Cheyen, and we are happy while in her section. She is full time, and she knows everything. She accommodates us with extra sauces (in take-home), and even had a BLT rolled in a wrap. That was special. She'll provide drink refills, and even asks us if we want them "to go." Extra napkins, no problem. There is a bar section with pool tables. Looks like fun.

Grabbed lunch for 7 guys here, ordered over the phone. Was made fast and fresh and on time, all…read morehad different items but they all raved about how good it was, including me. Highly recommend!

Been a couple of years so decided to stop in. Menu had changed and there is now breakfast all day…read more Open 8 to 4 six days weekly. Enjoyed my Mushroom philly, loved the potato salad, thought the chocolate mousse pie was average. They were busy today so things must be going well. Next time I will get my sub roll toasted to add some crunch to the experience.

Okay y'all. Wrapping up my summer sojourne. Took family out to brunch. This was a perfect choice…read more The decor evinces a real farmhouse environment, ie: rustically charming. Very welcoming atmosphere. When you come in you're instructed to peruse the menu and order/pay at the register. Or you can seat yourself first, gather your utensils, and order from the menu more leisurely. I chose the latter option. Totally worth careful consideration of the menu IMO. I chose the Eye Opener Breakfast with extra side of grits, sausage and home fries. My family ordered the Salmon Smorrebord and the BLT&E on Crossant. Absolutely delectable. I'm definitely a fan and look forward to my next occasion to visit.

I moved here two months ago and I swear I come here several times a week!…read moreSuch a fun atmosphere. Staff is super friendly (which matters ) and the food is great! Highly recommend