We tried to beat the after-church crowd to The Forks by arriving at 11:15 on Sunday, but were met with a line all the way to the door. Fortunately, the line moves quickly so it only took about 10 minutes to make our way to the serving area. This is a traditional, family-run, old-school cafeteria. If you ever ate at the K&W in Raleigh, then this will be familiar. It's a bit like stepping back in time though, because with the exception of a couple of flat-screen TVs you would think you'd traveled in time to 1995 when you walk through the door. As far as the menu, it's all old-fashioned country cooking. I tried beef tips with a side of baked apples. The huge serving of beef tips were excellent and an incredible value for $8. My baked apples were tasty as well. My dining companion tried the baked turkey with dressing and thought it was very good. It was also a very generous serving for $8. Everyone working was, without exception, polite, efficient, and helpful. The restaurant has been around for many years and for good reason: they offer good food and an outstanding value. read more

If you are anything like me and the members of my family, you love a good piece of fish on Friday! The Forks Cafeteria (TFC) is the place to go. The fish is always on point. Actually, it's even better the next day when you put it in the air fryer. The people who are here are always friendly and accommodating. I have yet to have a negative experience. If you are looking to meet up with a women's group or a men's ministry, TFC is a good place to check out. The cafeteria style restaurant gives you an opportunity to see all of the offerings ahead of time. In addition to trying to fish, I have also had an opportunity to sample some of their sweets. It takes are pretty good...some better than others. If you are in Wake Forest area, don't hesitate to get the spot to try. Happy eating. read more

Good home cooked food. I go here regularly, but it is not super cheap. A piece of Carrot cake dessert is $5.50. That's pretty steep. Still, this is a good place to get home cooking - meat loaf, fish, chicken pot pie, country style steak, baked chicken etc. Like mama used to to cook for me. read more

I have been to the Forks many times for lunch but this was my first time for dinner. The menu is extensive with many mains, many vegetables and lots of deserts. I had the vegetable soup with chicken. The flavor was amazing. It was a red based vegetable soup with pieces of chicken. I loved this soup. I had a yummy corn muffin and a delicious piece of pie. Great meal, lots of tables, pleasant staff. Reasonable prices. Can't wait to return. read more

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The food was definitely good. Met with great customer service. The place has a great old school vibe.

First impression is that this place is the ultimate "old folks home" vibe where they play bingo on Wednesday nights. The people there are VERY nice and hospitable. The food is hit and miss...mostly miss. I sure there are some decent individual dishes, my fried catfish was undercooked (raw). The sides we got were ok as was my wife's bbq chicken. This was the only reason for the two stars...otherwise it would have been one star. Not a place we will be going again. Too many other good choices. read more

We recently stopped in for a Sunday lunch after reading several reviews that they offered a buffet. Sadly they no longer offer that buffet. We decided to still order. The food was delicious. We very much enjoyed our meal. The restaurant was busy and everyone was so friendly. I appreciate how the restaurant staff try to accommodate your needs and keep the table clean. read more

Simple country cooking in the best sense. Fried Chicken, Pork Chops, Meatloaf Fried Cat Fish, BBQ and plenty of other choices. Traditional veggies and sides. It's worth checking out. Basic decor with a large open dining room. Cafeteria service goes quick and the food is visible to you as you make your choice of what to eat. Overall a good experience read more

The Forks Cafeteria & Catering - Double Pork Chop dinner - American Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Ordered whole fried chicken. Hot and juicy inside, skin cooked perfectly for the crunch. Turnips and fried apples were the perfect sides to compliment the taste. And yes, I did have the hush puppies. read more

Yesterday was the 3rd time I've dined at The Forks. Each time got better. I miss K & W so this is the next best thing. Good food, fast service, and helpful staff. You can have meetings, clubs, or stay to play games afterwards. For FREE. read more

Food, service and ambiance are okay. I use this cafeteria as my go to place to eat when I don't want to cook. However, lately it seems like the standards are changing. I noticed that the server/cook 's entire arms, and arm pits are exposed, while serving and cooking; which makes me not want to eat the food because of sanitation concerns. Also, the fried chicken which was always so good, is now greasy. Maybe there's a shortage of good service personnel to hire. I wish the Forks the best. I probably will not visit there for while. Disappointed! read more

One of the rudest individuals on the serving line Food is great which is unfortunate that the server has to be so rude read more

I love an old fashioned cafeteria. Great food and nice people. My mother lives close by so we enjoy lunch at The Forks often.

Let me just start by saying I'm a long time fan of the food at the Forks having dined here for many, many years, particularly the Sunday buffet. I always recommend it to people and on social media. Since the thick of the pandemic they stopped letting people serve themselves on the Sunday buffet, which is understandable and I applaud all their efforts. However, when you can't take what you want yourself, you can't control the portions being dished out by the staff no matter if you ask for just a small amount. I brought it up to the son of the original owner, asked the staff to just give me a little bit, but to no avail. I'm not one to waste food, having grown up with parents who lived through the Great Depression, so I feel compelled to eat what's on my plate, begrudgingly, because I know in other places of the world starving people would give their life for it. I was hoping they would ease things on the staff doing the serving on Sunday's as things are getting better with covid and go back to letting customers serve themselves. Some restaurants provide disposable gloves for buffets now, but unfortunately I was told they are going to keep it this way permanently. We were there this Sunday and they had a new setup for cold sides, namely the slaw, beets, and cranberries being already served up in foam bowls for customers to take themselves. This took up a lot of space so instead of having the veggies at the beginning of the line and then the hot entrees, it was the opposite. They ended up not have room to put the turkey in the warmers with the other hot food, so they were serving it cold. Not okay! Then on the dessert table where they normally have each individual slice of pie or cake wrapped, none of them were at all and it was help yourself. It seems like with the help yourself area for unwrapped desserts and cold sides they're defeating their purpose of wanting to make things as sanitary as possible during covid. Plus they took down their sign on the door requiring customers to wear masks and most of their staff, including the owner, are not wearing them either. Sadly, I think this was our last visit to the Forks. read more

Service was fast and friendly. Beef tips were delicious. My adult kids enjoyed their meals, too. My son loved his chicken and dumplings. The catfish was saltier than we would have preferred, but still good. My daughter thought the sauce was excellent for the spaghetti, though the pasta was a bit overcooked. The atmosphere is institutional, but strangely comforting, like a really pleasant nursing home or school. Overall a win. read more

Great old school style cafeteria. Priced fair and good was great! Reminds me of being back in middle school.

When the handicap spaces are all full, you know you're in a good spot. So much food. Delicious too. We got country steak and meatloaf, mashed potatoes and Mac& cheese, string beans, and a roll. Also yea, which was some of the best I've had (I prefer unsweet, sweet was also good.). We had to get a to go box... the portion size is huge! read more

The Forks Cafeteria & Catering - American Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

The nicest cafeteria you'll ever eat at. Very clean environment hosting friendly folks serving heaping portions from a wide selection of southern favorites, Forks is the John Deere cafeterias. (That's Cadillac of cafeterias to you city folk) read more

Finally visited Forks after living here for 12 years! As others have commented, prepare for a dated interior, very friendly employees and good ol' Southern cooking! Place was empty when we visited, lunch had just started. We got fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes with brown gravy and salad. Also, grabbed a slice of carrot cake. I grabbed some white turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving, too. Perfect to bring home and heat up, in addition to serving ham. The lady serving the food was very friendly, she pulled up the menu and prices for us on the large tv behind the counter. The food was very good. Fried chicken was delicious. Mashed potatoes were darn good. Gravy was great, tomato cucumber salad was good. Carrot cake was just ok, but the lady pointed out that that was not made by Forks. Two lunches, drinks, and two servings of turkey and dressing came to $34 out the door. The cashier was very nice and offered to keep my to go order warm for me - nice touch. Glad we finally tried Forks. If you are expecting genuine southern cooking and friendly folks, you won't me disappointed! read more

The Forks Cafeteria & Catering - Yum - American Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

It's a great cafeteria with good food and service. If you like a cafeteria or you just yearn for the nostalgia of a cafeteria by all means give it a shot. read more

David and team catered my daughter's wedding reception. The food was amazing as was the service. 10/10 recommend and will look forward to using The Forks for events in the future. read more

Folks found a New Good Place for you to take your Family to. Yes a Friend of mine stop by and had a Good Lunch. So we went for Dinner and let me say I will be back!!! So many choices and then some. Staff is so helpful and prices are very reasonable too. Do yourself and family a favor stop and enjoy!!! read more

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This place is a gem. Great food. Wonderful people. JR is great. Love the meat loaf. Catfish Sweet Potato's read more

Excellent home style cooking. Fried chicken, meat loaf, and pork chops are excellent combined with your favorite vegetables e.g., mashed potatoes, butter beans, green beans, macaroni & cheese, green beans, turnip and collard greens with hush puppies. Also the slow cooked smoked pork bbq is excellent and is flying under the radar among the local community...probably because it's not expected from a cafeteria. Highly recommend the chopped pork bbq sandwich. read more

The line was long? But it went a lot faster than you would think. The food was great. The fried chicken was juicy and crispy. Definitely recommend. The atmosphere is relaxing. Good place to visit with friends and family read more

Good food, large portions, moderate prices. Menu has much variety of choices of main course, sides and deserts. Staff is friendly and helpful. read more

I found this place while out for lunch running some errands. I was confused as to whether or not it was for the public or private events (was new to the area). I decided to go in and noticed it is "cafeteria" style. You go through the line and pick out your entree, veggies, deserts, etc and they charge you at the end. I was familiar with that because I had been to a few restaurants like that before. Nice and spacious atmosphere. Good southern country type cooking. I ate here 3 days in a row!! I had to stop myself from making it an everyday lunch spot because I would end up broke plus my pants would hate me! lol Nice place for lunch meetings or family outings. They also serve breakfast, an all you can eat buffet on Sundays, they rent out the rooms for events, and have TV's and WIFI! read more

What can I say? "Meat and potatoes!" It doesn't get much better than that. I always enjoy talking to the workers here. I've never had a bad experience. read more

Always love the Sunday buffet they have. Fried chicken meatloaf and usually several other meats as well as tons of great vegetables at a price that can't be beat. Great place for groups to go after church. read more

If you want food that reminds you of Sunday suppers and grandma's house then this is the place for you! We've eaten here several times and I've never had a bad meal! If you haven't been there yet give it a try and don't let the 80s decor fool you, the food is good. read more

This is the kind rich Southern cooking the Andy and Barney would have adored in Mayberry. This place is always busy. My favorite entrees include Deep fried pork chops, fried chicken and beef tips in green pepper gravy. Add turnip or collard greens, Lima beans or sweet corn as your veggie of choice. Top the whole meal with a huge slice of pie and sweet tea and you'll have covered the very best of traditional Southern greatness. Dinners cost about $8.00 per person. read more

Okay, so this may not be the hipster place you're dreaming of - but they have damn good food. You walk in and you'll feel like you've stepped right back into 1982 with the decor, the smell of the building, and the gray haired patrons at the circular group style dining tables. You pay at a seated cashier - for pete's sake! Sundays offer all you care to eat buffet style lunches. Some of this food is seriously good. Things to gravitate to: Fried Chicken - Its moist, its flavorful, its damn good. Green Beans - These are like my grandma used to make. Cooked Carrots - Does this sounds like a tv dinner yet? Well, it should - only 1000% better. Mashed Potates - These are good real mashed potatoes. The best thing about the entire place is that its Sunday lunch is all you can eat and with our family (baby included) that's a lot of chicken! read more

I live in Wake Forest and I love The Forks! The best home cooked food next to mine. Lol! I go some evening which is Cafeteria style... But Sunday is Buffet! I go at least 2 Sunday's out of the month. Love love love the fried chicken - the BEST... they have me beat there!! :-) I have been going since they first opened ...I don't even know how many years! I also enjoy the vegetables and desserts, sweet potato pie yum!! So if you are in the area check it out! You can get food to go also! read more

Our Son in Law passed away on Thursday and we had planned a small house Memorial which Early Friday a.m. turned into a much larger event. We called David and he agreed to cater for us.. We had never met or used his services before. Only one day to plan!!!! We were blown away when they arrived. They set up and had things organized within minutes and were so kind in asking us what we wanted where. I was still nervous because we seldom have others cook for us.. The guests raved about the food and not one person was disappointed. The chicken and barbecue were fabulous! I never like purchased potato salad but it was even better ever. The volume of food was amazing as well. Our warmest thanks to these folks, we will certainly be calling them again soon. Thank you so much David..... The Sheen/Ewart Family read more

The food was AMAZING especially the Lima beans (which I had two servings of). The staff was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a friendly southern style place. This is Nora age 9 (Paul's daughter). read more

The last time our family dined in, the veggies didn't seem to be seasoned as well as in the past. Been coming here for years and the service wasn't as attentive as before. Must be the price of progress. read more

Love this place. Best fried chicken,and catfish refreshing to see there is still places like this anywhere!

I will never eat here again. Rude staff, high prices and undercooked food. Plus, there's a lack of safe, ample parking.

terrible service resting on past laurels? don't get in line behind folks who "bulk" order as your food will be warm at best at table this delay on top of two workers walking away when my turn to order food from them. How rude! and im not having a nice day in their eyes?!? country style "meat "was soso go to food lion and buy French's brown gravy powder packet and you have their gravy. lol all in my opinion read more

We tried the country style steak, cream potatoes, pintos, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and tea. It was all very good. Well come back read more