K & W Cafeteria

The food is typical of a K&W so that wasn’t the issue. The staff were horrible. The servers behind the counter had the personality of a limp noodle. A woman became angry with me when I asked her to identify a specific food, then rolled her eyes. The attitude wasn’t warranted and is likely the effect of job disdain. I won’t be going back. The only reason I gave this 2 stars was because the food wasn’t terrible but typical of K&W.

I’ve always enjoyed cafeteria dining, and I guess it goes back to when I was a child. We didn’t eat out often, but when we did it was usually at a cafeteria. I loved that you could see how the items looked before you made your choices. Of course, as soon as you picked the entrée, you got «buyer’s remorse» and wished you’d picked something else — and it’s not just a kid thing, I still do it.
You pretty much can be assured of what you’ll get here — food, service, value, and atmosphere. The food is solid if not spectacular, the service is always good, the value is simply hard to beat, and the atmosphere is bright and clean, maybe a touch noisy at times.
Our choices today were typical for us — Baked Chicken, Tossed Salad, & Broccoli for one; Fried Whiting, Lima Beans, & Watermelon for the other — total cost just over $ 14. Nothing at all great, nothing at all bad — lunch accomplished quickly and inexpensively, which, after all, was the goal.

Two stars for food people who are friendly and hard working. Poor quality food and hygiene of some of the workers and the facilities is very questionable. The cafeteria smells like mildew and sometimes a backed up septic tank. I’ve had food that was edible but would not recommend the restaurant unless you like much lower end cafeteria food.
I’ve been four times and only go because of convenience and the good people who work there make it manageable to eat there.

This is a hit or miss restaurant. I usually come on Saturdays for the Chicken Ranch Casserole. It usually is very good, however today not so much. The casserole had large chucks of chicken & it wasn’t hot.
But the worse thing I witnessed was the manager serving food with her blonde hair hanging down not up. She also wasn’t wearing gloves. Then she came out from the serving line to go and carry boxes, a ladder, then a trash can to the back. Only to go back behind the serving line! Then back out get a dust can/​sweeper.
They seem to require employees to wear hair nets & gloves, but it must not apply to management.

K&W Cafeteria is just a tried and true cafeteria. Nothing fancy, just a great selection of comfort foods. It’s a great change of pace from other restaurants.
We recently ordered several pies for take out and man were they good! And very reasonable prices. This is one of the best kept secrets in town. Takeout at K&W is not a secret, the line was kinda long, but they fill orders quickly so the wait to pick up our pies was not bad.
Next time you’re invited for dinner at your mother-in-law’s, offer to bring desert and order a takeout pie from K&W.

Eating at this restaurant reminded me of all the times I have eaten at a hospital cafeteria. You walk down an assembly line and pick out which food looks the least disgusting (which isn’t easy to do) and have to ask the grouchy looking employees behind the counter to hand you a portion of whatever misery you’ve selected. They begrudgingly slop some mess on a plate, hand it to you, and send you on your way to the end of the line where you are given a cup of ice with some drink splashed on it and a receipt.
While eating my food, I began to regret all of my life choices. Not just the choice I made to eat at this restaurant, but every life choice I have ever made that led me to this point. The mashed potatoes were watery and cold, the mac and cheese was slimy and bland, and the fried chicken was just this side of tolerable. The only good part of the meal was the strawberry shortcake. I don’t even think it was that good, it was just amazing compared to the physical manifestations of tragedy that I’d just forced down my throat.
Food aside, the ambiance was much like that of a day room at an old folks home. It was dimly lit and the décor was dull and drab. Also, I kept getting a whiff of urine and mold. I don’t know if this was coming from the patrons or the restaurant itself, but it really tied the Nursing Home theme together quite nicely.
Needless to say, I will be avoiding K&W for the foreseeable future. I recommend you do the same. Unless you really, really hate yourself.

Take out service is pretty fast, which is awesome!
The food is typical cafeteria, and this location seems to serve fresh food on the occasions that I have had it.
My favorite is the chicken pie. And the broccoli with cheese sauce is pretty good on most occasions.
The service is fast and friendly. Ok, but not a representation of southern food.
Very convenient to Friendly Center shopping.

This Winston-​Salem founded cafeteria chain of 33 restaurants recalls the cafeteria concept that was particularly prevalent in mid twentieth century. While competitors have come and gone (S&W et al), K&W is a mainstay in the Triad that likely won’t be leaving us anytime soon. The Northline Ave. location opened in 1976 as an anchor to the then Forum VI Mall, Friendly Center’s answer to Four Seasons Town Centre. K&W has outlasted all other tenants in a building that now solely houses office space. The cafeteria stays packed at lunch throughout the week, and draws a respectable early dinner crowd as well.
I have been dining at this location since I was a child, and very little has changed on the menu. The most earth shattering shake-​up I can recall was the addition of chicken fingers in the 1990’s. The cafeteria offers a dual line system with a shared interior dining space that is always spotless. Once you get through your line, you are confronted with many choices, including salads, meat options, veggies, breads, and desserts. For vegetarians, K&W offers a value priced vegetable plate with your choice of three vegetables. Add a bread side item, and you’ll have a budget conscious meal that will hold you for most of the day. They have used the same Mac and Cheese recipe for as long as I can remember, which is a standout «vegetable» item. The German chocolate pie is a consistent, delicious dessert menu item. Since the choice is yours, you can decide just how healthy your meal will be.
While some may deride the restaurant as barely above hospital food, I think the cafeteria offers a lot to the foodie crowd who craves old fashioned southern food items at a decent price. What many may not realize, is that K&W strives to source their ingredients from local NC farmers, and is a participant in the «Got to be NC» program. A recent Sunday lunch with Brittany A. included two vegetable plates, an extra vegetable side, bread, dessert, and drinks for $ 15 and change. The nostalgia factor, price point, and handed-​down recipes combine for an experience worth trying.

I love me some K&W’s! Food is always on point with so much variety. I grab up the Real Meal Deal which is an entrée, 2 sides, bread and a drink for 5.99 it’s the best deal around for what you are getting. This time around was the chicken stew which is basically chicken and dumplings. Brocolli and cheese, creamed corn, cornbread and I added some hush puppies all was so good. Seems like I have no room for dessert but they always have plenty to choose from… So much that I have to fight the urge every time to keep away because I don’t need it. The staff here are some of the best people around just fine folks that are lovely to be around. I wish they opened for breakfast because I would go.

I have eaten here since I was a child and enjoy coming back from time to time. I wanted an inexpensive lunch at Friendly Center and when I saw the sign for K&W I knew were to go. The prices are very low, I spent under 10 bucks and had a ton of food plus a drink. I had their lunch special which was an entrée, 2 sides, bread, and a drink for 6.99. I also got pie and a salad since my eyes were bigger than my tummy that day. The seven layer salad was good. They use fresh bacon as one of the layers. I had their chicken pot pie which was delicious. I would say this is one of the things to get here. My sides were the creamed corn and yam soufflé. I love their yams. They brought my order fresh to my table since they were out on the line. The creamed corn was ok; I prefer mine a little sweater. Their cornbread is a mini loaf that is moist but not on the sweet side which I prefer. I should have gotten a yeast roll, get the yeast roll. The pie was really delicious. The chocolate cream is very rich and chocolatey. I love their crust. The tea is also good. Waitress come around to give you more drinks which is nice and you pay on the way out. This is a must try if you have never been.

Cafeteria food this good is in short supply these days! This location is usually busy and crowded but for some reason today had a very light crowd at 12:30.
I got a sampling of vegetables: black eye peas, broccoli, and green beans all of which were great! For a place that is usually very busy this particular K&W still seems to keep the tables cleaned off and the floor clean! It brings back many memories of eating at cafeterias (Hot Shoppes) in years gone by! I wish that there were more K&W’s around and that they were all this awesome!

If you have a hankering for hospital food, K & W will hit the spot! This is southern food at it’s worst; everything has been cooked to death and it is the consistency of baby food. Your taste buds have gone into retirement if you think this mush is good.

It’s a cafeteria, so go in with that attitude, and you’ll be fine.
I usually get the vegetable plate with three vegetables, about $ 1.25-$ 1.50 each, veggie. Always, it seems like I am parched afterwards, for all the sodium or even MSG added.
Like other Unilocalers, the workers seem to carry on their own conversations, and ignore you, the customer. The ones that can’t hear, sing off key to themselves, so it’s difficult to order from them as well. Anyway, eventually you get what you ordered, and have to waltz past the tempting desserts on the way to the table.
If you are a regular, your portions are twice the size of mine. Mine go in the bowl or plate, yours are heaping over the brim. That’s something I’ve noticed time after time. Plus, regulars tend to get the choice cuts– the center cut of meat, the heart of a casserole or salad, etc. Others get the scrapings, so you might have all breading with a few okra for decoration, or all salad toppings and no lettuce.
It’s cafeteria food like you’d find at any cafeteria. K&W does tend to have a Southern flair, often offering greens, black eyed peas, cornbread, etc. Staples include fried chicken, ground steak, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, and broccoli.
It’s basic food, not what you’d find in your Mother’s kitchen, but quick and edible nevertheless. It’s a slightly healthier option to fast food, and takes just moments more for a more satisfying meal.
Cafeterias will never have Michelin stars, but, they’re in a class of their own, and should be treated as such. K&W is one of the better chain style cafeterias, despite having an updated 80’s décor.

Have been there twice and was very disappointed with the quality of food both times.

For the price K & W goes unmatched in the Triad. Besides the cleanliness, their consistency of having great tasting food makes me frequent the spot more than I need to. I always leave full and elated. I am also not overwhelmed with anxiety when receiving the bill. K & W is budget friendly for the family. The kids will always find something that they want without much hassle. There are no long wait times, nor are reservations needed. As long as a smile accompanies refilling my tea, I’m pretty much easy to get along with. The food is always great and fresh. Especially the hamburger steak topped with A1 sauce with a side of mashed potatoes. That is my favorite meal. For the price K & W can not be topped in my personal opinion.

Ok, K&W is country! But, when you want country cooking, there’s no other cafeteria like this.
One of my favorite things about K&W is that you can eat very healthy or you can throw down and eat a cheat meal. K&W is whatever you want it to be whenever you want it. That’s just how it is.
Some of my favorite healthy selections include the Spinach Salad and the Stuffed Bell Pepper. If you’re splurging, try the chicken pan pie (yes, it’s pan pie and not pot pie b/​c it’s cooked in a giant pan), baked spaghetti, and salisbury steak. And, of course, ALL of the desserts are delicious!
If you visit the Friendly Center location, be sure to look for the nice older female server who wears matching headbands and scarfs every day. There’s nothing like a friendly face to welcome you to the K&W :-) On the other hand, beware of the over zealous servers who attempt to rush you as you make your food choices. You can quickly spot these employees because they are constantly chatting statements like, «salad ma’am?,» «meat sir?,» etc.
Finally, if you’re looking for atmosphere, K&W is not where it’s at. It is what it is – a «move ‘em in /​move ‘em out» restaurant where you can get some down home comfort food. The food line and dining room are very institutional looking – that is, the décor was ripped right from the Golden Girls era. However, if none of this matters to you, and you’re just looking for a good, home-​cooked style meal, then K&W is the place you want to be!

Take me home country road to the place I belong! That place is HERE! If you’re hungry, and need a little southern comfort food lovin’, then get yourself to K&W. The building reminds me of a car dealership, but once you walk it, it reminds you of a hometown buffet or something of that sort. You basically go down the line and tell the people what you want to eat and then you keep your receipt and pay at the end.
So as i’m walking down this line looking at all the succulent food they have available, I knew i’d have to hold back. There was catfish, grits, fried everything, salads, pies, cakes, fruit salads. The list goes on and on. The food is actually decent. I loved it. I ended up getting sole or halibut or something, mac n cheese, fried okra, and garlic toast. Their portions are quite generous and the pricing is ridiculously cheap. i don’t think i paid more than $ 10 for my meal. YUM!
The thing about this place is that old people make up 90% of their clientele. Seriously, its like a retirement home in there, but good food is good food and old people know this too. Its nicknamed Kanes and Walkers for a reason.

K&W has very good food, especially when you want some good comfort food! Just be careful if you go on Sunday’s after church as it can get very busy, but it’s still normally not very bad. The food is great and it’s relatively inexpensive! I have a group of friends that try to go once a month!

I ate here with my boyfriend last weekend. I guess it’s a popular place and the food was pretty good. There was a large selection and the staff was very attentive.