The Mecca Restaurant

The Mecca has been feeding downtown Raleigh from East Martin Street since 1930, and it is still a family business. Sliding into one of the vintage booths or taking a counter stool is half the reason to go.

The food is Southern comfort cooking, hearty and built on traditional ingredients. The menu runs to breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch, and the old motto still stands: he profits most who serves the best. Two sister restaurants downtown, The Morning Times and The Raleigh Times, come from the same family.

What to know

• Online ordering is available for those who want the food to go.
• Gift cards are sold at the restaurant.
• The restaurant takes donation requests from local groups.
• Job openings are posted through a careers page.
• A newsletter goes out to customers who sign up.