Clayton Restaurants

We passed through Clayton this morning on our way home from vacation and decided to stop at the café for breakfast. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted, seated promptly, and welcomed by our server. The first thing we noticed was the atmosphere. Unlike many restaurants today, it was peaceful and quiet, allowing people to enjoy conversation without competing with excessive noise. It felt like stepping back to a time when courtesy, respect, and consideration for others were the norm. We truly appreciated that! I’m not sure how they accomplished that but I wish more restaurants would. The second thing we noticed was the soft Christian music playing in the background. It added to the warm, relaxing environment and was a refreshing change from the loud, distracting music often found in public places. The owner or manager made a point of walking around the dining room, greeting guests and checking to make sure everyone was enjoying their experience. That personal touch made us feel valued as customers. Our food arrived quickly and was absolutely delicious. The service was outstanding, with a server who was both friendly and efficient. If we lived closer, this would definitely become one of our regular breakfast spots. We highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area.

We visit friends in Franklin NC every year and took a trip down to Clayton as we were visiting waterfalls. The Clayton Cafe is a great place to stop in for a quick bite. All of our food was amazing but I was blown away by the fried chicken sandwich. Hot, crispy, juicy, tender, well seasoned, and LARGE! Definitely one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had. Come with a big appetite or enjoy your leftovers later. The staff was great and took great care of us. The restaurant as a whole was just outstanding and we will make this a yearly stop. Thank you Clayton Cafe!!!!

Starting with the good: the Sweet Onion Casserole is fantastic! Unfortunately, the country fried steak and macaroni and cheese wete both mediocre, and the key lime pie was an inedible mess. Maybe it was just an off day, but I likely won't be going back.

The Clayton Cafe is under new ownership and we really enjoyed it. Our waitress, Anne, was so kind and welcoming. She made us feel at home and made good recommendations. Apparently the owner has a ranch and serves his own beef. We tried the ribeye, grits and eggs which came with breakfast potatoes. Everything was EXCELLENT and the portions are generous without being over the top. The ribeye was tender and cooked to perfection - pink and juicy. I agree with the other reviews that the music was not obnoxious, so I can take my 83 year old mother in and actually have a conversation. Anne is a treasure - y’all make sure you keep her! We will be back next week, see you then!

Exceptional on all counts. Friendly, happy, informative, great portions, in a beautiful downtown. Limited out on trout early this morning, and then limited out on breakfast immediately after. Go here!