Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Lemon Tree

    4.6 (75 reviews)
    ModerateCafes, Diners
    Closed 1:00 pm - 5:00 PM

    The Lemon Tree Photos

    THE LEMON TREE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Lemon Tree

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Grilled pimento cheese and tomato basil soup!
    Herman S.

    A great experience! Great service, and an incredible deal. Lunch comes with two sides, a beverage and a dessert square. Love this place. So cute and charming. We will be back!!

    Fresh loaf sold in store. Rosemary - yum!
    Charlotte B.

    It's so easy to call The Lemon Tree charming, a gem, small town friendly - and all those things would be true. But let's talk taste - it's so good. I frequent many of the historic Wake Forest businesses but this was my first, very delayed, visit to Lemon Tree. As you walk in there's a nice open seating area that's shared with the Burger Shoppe. There are numerous lunch specials on a large chalkboard wall. I got two sliders with a choice of two sides. The pimento cheese slider was simple, gooey, crunchy deliciousness. The chicken enchilada slider sounds like something they'd serve at Chili's (no disrespect to Chili's) but it was also very good, simple with chicken tasting as described. My two sides were Italian orzo pasta and cucumber salad. The cucumber salad was refreshing, but on the bland side. The orzo was super tasty, with a little kick to it. They give you quite a generous portion for a side. They include choice of lemonade, iced tea or fruit infused water. All this was around $9.95. Great deal I think! The show stopper was the extremely adorable dessert bite included with the meal. A couple choices were lemon bar and cinnamon brownie. Since I was with my ever self sacrificing mother this day, I got to try both (thanks momma)! Oh wow...oh my goodness wow to both. Such amazing flavor, such perfection! They do sell the desserts in whole as well. They had just received a delivery of fresh rosemary bread from Breaking Bread in Louisburg and a got one. I can't wait to toast a slice!

    Main dining area
    Heather B.

    A good friend treated me to lunch here today and wow, what a great local place! I loved the simple, but very cheery decor and the two ladies working today were so very friendly (one was Heather). We ordered a salad (for my friend) and a petite for me. I chose the mushroom quiche with kale Parmesan salad and marinated tomatoes and cucumbers. The kale salad was so good! Tomato and cucumber salad was marinated but not in a sugary sweet dressing, which is how I used to make mine, but I appreciated their dressing. Onto the quiche, it was just pretty good, but I think next visit, I'll try something else. The service was great, staff was very friendly and checked on us - refilled my unsweetened tea three times! My friend, who's a regular, always orders the strawberry spinach salad and it did look so yummy. Will definitely come back again - love the casual vibe and always like to support a local business. Great job, Lemon Tree!

    Spinach and feta quiche
    Tammy A.

    My favorite part was the broccoli salad, surprisingly, sweet. Few gluten-free options, but what they had was delicious.

    LeAnne W.

    Simple and delicious food. The Lemin Tree is a wonderful spot for lunch. They have a variety of fresh salads, sandwiches, and soups. I have yet to have anything that was not delicious. The pimento cheese and chicken salad are extremely yummy. The people working there are helpful and friendly. They also will prepare your food to go!

    Menu board
    TJ L.

    Loved this little gem. Simple and tasty menu of sliders, salads and sandwiches. For about $8, I opted for the roasted veggie quiche with 2 sides of coleslaw and pasta salad and a chocolate chip dessert bite. All you need to carry you through the day. Inviting interior and very pleasant service on a busy Saturday. As Ahhnold said, 'I'll be Bach.'

    Lunch specials

    See all

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kate R.
    33
    133
    33

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bethany D.
    133
    54
    34

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bob J.
    22
    5
    14

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Fabulous selection of soups, sandwiches and salads. The dessert bars are delicious. I always leave feeling great about the food I ate.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kat B.
    9
    21
    0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brenda B.
    31
    60
    10

    7 years ago

    Great place for lunch!!! Awesome food and friendly service!! Recommended by a local and spot on!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nam P.
    573
    29
    14

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Angela J.
    180
    16
    2

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    The food is wonderful, but the seating/atmosphere is not very inviting. Theres only 3-4 tables. If ordering to go its fine.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    My favorite treat in downtown Wake Forest. The salads, soups, quiche and sandwiches are wonderful.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Lemon Tree

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Cafes 1,080 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Metro Diner

    Metro Diner

    4.3
    (961 reviews)
    9.6 mi
    $$

    My wife and I had lunch here today and everything about it was excellent: service, food…read morerecommendations, ordering, speedy food service, food quality and quantity, price (by 2026 standards) etc. I had the bbq bacon cheeseburger with fries and my wife had the shrimp and grits. Both were excellent. We will dine here again.

    The Metro Diner is always busy, so I did expect a little bit of a wait. I was told 20-25 minutes…read moreand waited that long outside. Then, I moved inside to see what the delay was, and the host tried to seat me at the counter. Really? I'd been waiting 30 minutes, and you won't seat me at the empty table. So I declined and said I'd wait for my table. I never got a notice on my phone either, so what was the point of that system if you need to be inside the small waiting area to be called? I could see the open table, but I was not seated for another ten minutes. They didn't want me at the big table. Then it was interesting to watch all the staff walk by and ask who had my table. How do they not know which tables each person has? Someone eventually came by, asked if I'd been helped, and took my drink and food orders, since I'd been waiting quite a while. I ordered a half-and-half tea. I'm not sure she knew what that was, as she kept saying "unsweet". The first tea was half-and-half, but the refill was unsweetened. I went with the chicken pot pie, as that is what caught my eye. I expected a delicious dish, but what I received was disappointing. The ratio of the chicken, gravy and veggies was way off. I'd say there was enough low-quality processed chicken for three to four people, a little gravy and even less veggies. I had a bowl of processed chicken cubes with a splash of sauce, not what I had in mind. I usually skip the pastry part, but I ate that as I needed something other than chicken. I left some of the chicken in the dish. The waitress didn't even offer me a to-go box. It was that bad that I wouldn't eat it anyway. My check was brought out soon after I got my food. I don't understand the rush, but bringing the check early won't get me out any faster and lowers your tip. This was just a really bad experience, and I don't see myself returning. I have liked the food in the past.

    Photos
    Metro Diner
    Metro Diner
    Metro Diner

    See all

    Ideal Dental Rolesville

    Ideal Dental Rolesville

    5.0
    (1 review)
    4.8 mi
    Kid friendly
    Free WiFi

    LeBron of dentistry 10 out of 10 I highly recommend he pulled all six of my teeth and put needles…read morein my mouth. I felt absolutely nothing. He is gentle, caring soft to touch and go at your pace and make you feel extremely comfortable. I love it here front desk, assistant, Jason makes you feel right at home always has a big smile and welcoming. The whole team is just highly amazing. I'm 37 years old and this is the best Dentist I've ever had in my life and the best dental office I've ever been to you won't be disappointed I promise I can bet my life on ithis assistant kristen amazing they like Kobe & shaq together don't miss out having the best caring dentist I use to be scared to go to the dentist now I have no problem with running straight to the dentist all because of this amazing Dr nathani

    From the owner: Led by Dr. Ajay Nathani, Ideal Dental Rolesville in Rolesville, NC provides general and restorative…read moredentistry, Invisalign®, cosmetic procedures, orthodontics, oral surgery, and emergency care for patients of all ages. Our modern office uses advanced technology to deliver high-quality care in a comfortable, compassionate environment. Conveniently located near Louisburg Rd and Virginia Water Dr, we serve Granite Crest, Cedar Lakes, Heritage South, and Old Towne. New patients are welcome! We offer same-day appointments when available. Book your visit today. We are open select Saturdays, which may change our Tuesday or Wednesday hours. Please check our online scheduler or call us to verify current hours.

    Photos
    Ideal Dental Rolesville
    Ideal Dental Rolesville
    Ideal Dental Rolesville

    See all

    El Chapin - Wake Forest

    El Chapin - Wake Forest

    4.7
    (37 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    We live in North Raleigh, so it's about a 25-minute drive to Wake Forest. The upside is that once…read moreyou're there, shopping and dining are all close together--making it a convenient outing. After running errands, we drove just six minutes to El Chapin, a Guatemalan restaurant. Forget Tex-Mex--this is a completely different Latin cuisine experience. The two of us spent $76 (including tax and tip), but we intentionally ordered extra to take home leftovers. Parking was easy, right out front, and the restaurant itself is spacious. Since we arrived just a few minutes after opening, we had the place to ourselves at first and were seated immediately. Service was prompt and very helpful--the server even suggested we might have ordered too much food (he was right, but we didn't mind!). Here's what we tried: Plato Chorizo y Longaniza - a sausage platter with salad, rice, refried black beans, and two delicious housemade corn tortillas. Pollo Adobado - marinated chicken with rice, salad, refried black beans and two housemade corn tortillas . Ceviche de Camarón - fresh and tangy, though light on shrimp, which tasted a bit tough Fried Plantains - perfectly done, sweet, and satisfying. Plus, I had an unsweetened iced tea with lemon. The highlights for me were the flavorful rice (with vegetables mixed in, including carrots and squash), the marinated chicken, and the sausages. The plantains were also excellent. The ceviche had great flavor but could've used more shrimp. The only miss for me was the salad--generous in portion but iceberg-based, so a bit bland. Overall, the food was fresh, flavorful, not heavy or greasy, and we left with enough for another one or two meals. We'll definitely be back.

    First time visiting. Food is authentic. I had the Sopa de Mariscos; was very good. Definitely…read morewill return to try other items on the menu.

    Photos
    Chorizo sausage
    Chorizo sausage
    Breakfast
    Breakfast
    Cocktails

    See all

    Cocktails
    Brigs

    Brigs

    4.1
    (236 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Brigs is a solid 3-star brunch spot in Wake Forest. I'm not from the area--just visiting…read morefriends--so I turned to Yelp to find a good place to eat. The restaurant was packed and had a strong 4-star rating, so with limited standout options nearby, it felt like an easy choice. My husband ordered the shrimp and grits, and I went with the chicken and waffles with a side of grits. I'm giving it 3 stars mainly because of the chicken. What came out were chicken tenders, which was disappointing. All the photos I saw beforehand showed full pieces like breasts or thighs, so getting two small tenders felt a bit underwhelming--I was honestly caught off guard. That said, the waffles were phenomenal. The grits were phenomenal. And the service was phenomenal. Overall, the ambiance, curb appeal, and especially the chicken brought this down from what could have easily been a 4.5 or even 5-star experience.

    We went to Brigs in the Forest for brunch after church on Sunday. If you go mid to late morning on…read moreSunday, be ready to wait with the rest of Wake Forest getting out of church; we waited 45 minutes. But as always, it's worth the wait. No frills, good service, and consistently delicious and reasonably priced meals. I had The Beast - pictured below: a protein-packed go-to for my fellow weightlifting and fitness enthusiasts. Ok, yes, I went carb heavy but we're all allowed to splurge at times . PS for the manager, please get with the times and get a text service to notify patrons their table is ready. That poor young lady at the check-in desk ran the entire time inside and outside every time she had to let someone know their table was ready.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Mardi Gras month: Jambalaya
    Mardi Gras month: Jambalaya
    September special

    See all

    September special
    Border Restaurant

    Border Restaurant

    4.1
    (58 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $

    Great home cooked breakfast. Good prices. Very good service and very friendly. And they are open…read morevery early mornings.

    We had breakfast here with our baby and asked for a well-cooked scrambled egg for her. The waitress…read morebrought an egg that was still coated in raw egg all over, one of the runniest most undercooked eggs I've ever been served, no exaggeration. I asked if they could cook it more, which I never do, I never send things back bc I'm afraid of insulting the person's cooking skills who is handling my food. But this egg was still clucking. She took the plate, walked into the kitchen, we heard chopping sounds for 2 seconds and she brought it immediately back. She was gone with it for seriously under 30 seconds. She set it on the table and announced "I didn't want to turn it brown" and walked away. The egg was exactly the same doneness, but now chopped up. I don't know why I let this peer pressure make me second guess my judgment and intuition, but we were traveling due to a family tragedy and I was just tired and stressed and needed to feed my hungry baby. So I fed her the egg. Halfway through, my breakfast was brought to the table with a well-cooked egg on the plate, so I swapped hers for mine. I guess Border just feels really strongly that adults need fully cooked eggs and babies need raw ones. Later that night, my baby vomited. Then again. And again. She vomited 7 times all through the night. I vomited once. Diarrhea all day yesterday for both of us. We didn't get to go see our sick family member, for whom we flew across the country. It was just such a huge stroke of bad luck that I felt the need to share... I hate to ream a humble business, but serving a raw egg to somebody for a baby is not cool. Especially when they asked it well cooked. And then to refuse to cook it more when asked. By a mom who is trying to protect her baby. And to pretend they had cooked it more when they clearly hadn't. Please listen to mothers when we advocate for our children. We truly know best for them.

    Photos
    Inside booth view
    Inside booth view
    Pancakes with bacon and eggs
    Pancakes with bacon and eggs
    Bagel with cream cheese

    See all

    Bagel with cream cheese
    Farm Table

    Farm Table

    3.9
    (304 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I don't know it's GREAT...lot of people using the word "great"...it was all right. The dishes…read morerotate from what I understand so speaking on specific dishes seems pointless. We had one app (tuna poke nachos if you must know) that were very good, but everything else was sort of mid. The ideas are good...execution comes across a bit flaccid. No bold flavors, only bold ideas. Draft beer selection was definitely good. Mixed drinks tasted fresh (no sour mix etc) and the ambience was welcoming and chill. Staff were all nice. Place seemed clean. Flavor Score: 3 Experience Overall : 4

    Easily one of the best restaurants we've been to in the area! Had a family birthday celebration…read morehere and it was an amazingly great experience! Our server, Dawn, was easily one best servers I've had in a long time. Knowledgeable about the menu, made a point to explain everything and no questions were too obscure. We had a variety of dishes, and out of everything the pork schnitzel wasn't really a schnitzel if you've ever had one in Germany, it was more like a breaded, fried bone-in pork chop, really good but not a traditional schnitzel. The asparagus, the risotto, the pasta, the chicken were all absolutely superior. The stars were the appetizers, especially the kung pao fried Brussels, those are a meal by themselves, some of the best I've ever had! The fried burrata cheese, worth the drive to Wake Forest. Their Cherry cobbler one word: YUM! The Farm Table is a roomy restaurant with tables well suited for family style dining and while a bit loud, certainly not uncomfortably so Totally recommended and thank me later for those Brussel Sprouts!

    Photos
    Farm Table
    Dinner w KC, Whit and Avery. WF, NC 3/24
    Dinner w KC, Whit and Avery. WF, NC 3/24
    Rosamary grapefruit refresher cocktail

    See all

    Rosamary grapefruit refresher cocktail

    The Lemon Tree - cafes - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...