Big Ed's City Market

I was there yesterday afternoon aroound 2. The waitress i had was unbeliveable very freindly woman! My food was great, My complaint is with the person running this buisness. I overheard a man yelling at my waitress using all kinds of disgusting profanity that i did not see should be used in any kind of family buisness..Especially when there are customers within hearing range! I will not go back to this restaraunt simply because of the way this man treated my waitress who by the way was awesome. I will not support or condone that kind of behavior. more

This place was awesome. We stopped there for our lunch break while visiting the Marbles Museum. The waitress gave my 3 year old daughter FREE applesauce as an appetizer AND gave her TWO free refills. The biscuits were great, as was the rest of our meal. The waitress took extra care of our daughter and us. The food was good, and we all left VERY full. Our friend's meal came with dessert and since the serving of banana pudding was ""smaller than normal"" the waitress brought 2 portions. She even brought us a pitcher of ice to fill our water bottles with. And they have the ""good ice"" that my wife likes- the quarter inch or so cubes like Sonic has. We WILL be going back next time we visit the museum! more

All the food was delicious and tasted like homemade. My scrambled eggs were actually two eggs that were stirred and then cooked instead of the yellow (came from a carton)egg mixture. Something as simple as a good cup of coffee goes a long way. And better even than the food was miss Marilyn our server. She was sweet and genuine, not overly nice and on top of everything . I will try to come in on her shift again! The atmosphere is comfy and a little country but inviting. I love it can't wait to come back. more

What an experience. TELL THeM TO HOLD THE ATTITUDE and LEAVE OUT THE HAIR!!!! Some friends and I were visiting from Atlanta and stop in for something good before we got our day started. When we finished our mbeal and were packing up our food to leave I found a LONG BROWN HAIR in my french toast. I immediately got nauseous. I was waiting for my waitress but it was very busy so I call one that I saw passing by. I told her there was a hair and she starts getting loud with me asking ""were ma'am, I don't see anything!"" When I pointed three times. Then she snatches the plate and goes to her manager. The manager/owner comes over and took an intimidating stance leaned over got in my face accused me of putting the hair there and stating his kitchen staff wears hair nets.... I was so not expecting to be scolded. I could not believe he was accusing me of doing that!! Me nor anyone I travel with would ever do anything underhanded to avoid paying a tab. Although his kitcken staff wears hair nets, my waitress, nor the other consumers do. I am a great tipper because I waited table in the past. My waitress was good and I'm sorry she has to work under that coward. I was more than willing to pay for the rest of my meal I just wanted that portion acknowledged and handled. Instead I had to leave because I wasn't going to allow him to stay in my face much longer without reacting. If the owner is that unprofessional and rude how could I expect anything different from the staff...... SAD\r \r more

I ordered two pancakes. The waitress warned me that they were big and that I should consider having just one. I told her I love pancakes. She was definitely correct. These pancakes were HUGE. And delicious. There didn't appear to be a kids menu. They gave my toddler applesauce (free of charge) and she had some of my food. There was still some left over. Hope to go back sometime to try those pancakes again. more

Very Good Breakfast!! We are from Fla and thought we would try and find some where to go to breakfast that is not a chain restaurant. Not Knowing the area we searched the web and found Big Ed's, which had such great reviews and sounded great. Well it is great. The pancakes are huge, the biscuits are like your grandmother was in the kitchen. The food is real southern cookin. The portions are alot so if you leave hungry, it is your own fault!!!The staff is very friendly and the service is wonderful. Your cup never will get empty. When we come back to Raleigh we will go back to Big Ed's. more

I live in Raleigh and have been going to Big Ed's for years! It was my Grandfather's favorite place to eat and he was a good judge of southern food to include fatback and red eye gravy! We go to eat breakfast there frequently. We fell in love with the staff - they all are a great group of caring, hardworking ladies (& men)!! The food is good 'ole southern style cookin! Lunch is just as delicious as breakfast! Their pancakes are bigger than the plate it comes out on! Good luck if you can eat one by itself!! The service is wonderful, your cup never gets empty before they refill it! Everyone smiles and actually enjoys working there! Everytime my uncle comes to NC from Texas we go to see all the girls at Big Ed's. If you haven't been to Big Ed's then you need to go ASAP.\r As to the ""Editor's Tips"", I have not seen anyone smoking there in a long time! Pros: Staff treats you better than your family does! Cons: Eat to much! more

A co-worker told me about Big Ed's two years ago. My husband loves home-cooked food so I decided to take him to Raleigh to try out Big Ed's for his birthday. IT WAS WELL WORTH THE TRIP!!!. We got there right before they closed but the staff treated us like we were the first customer of the day. Cee-Cee (not sure if this is how she spells it) was our waitress. She not only took our order but she was a big ""cheerleader"" of the restaurant and its owners. She was familiar with the history of the restaurant and the food. She even told us how she was from California and how she is shocked on how more people don't know about Big Ed's! The food was absolutely terrific - collard greens, black eye peas and country style steak that puts you in your grandmother's kitchen on a Sunday after church!! I appreciate good food, great atmosphere but most imporantly fabulous service. I am a strong advocate of supporting businesses where I am celebrated and not just tolerate. At Big Ed's I definitely felt CELEBRATED. (Thanks Cee-Cee for being attentive enough to catch that it was my husband's birthday- we loved the siren and the apple cobbler! :-) I WILL DEFINITELY GO BACK AND TELL LOTS OF OTHERS IN EASTERN CAROLINA ABOUT YOU!!!!!! Pros: Great service, TERRIFIC FOOD, Cons: A little difficult to find more

Large portions, high quality food, friendly and competent service, and lots of stuff to distract you. I have never been anywhere like it and there's nowhere I would rather be. Before I moved to Raleigh, I visited 3 or 4 times per year and Big Ed's was always my first stop on arrival. Great Southern cooking using the freshest ingredients. My only problem is that almost everything on the menu looks so good, it is hard to decide. The staff is friendly and helpful, but not pushy at all. I ate there this morning and I think I'll go back tomorrow! Pros: Spectacular Food, Incredible Atmosphere more

This is a cute little place that has a lot to offer. Although I live in Raleigh, I am not a southener. And saying that, there are things on the menu that I don't know what they are. The store has lots of space and is usually pretty efficient. The lunch time menu of the day is the best deal to have, so I wouldn't even look at the rest of the menu. The place itself is heavily decorated in nicknacks like an old grandma's house, where nothing really matches the next but it doesn't matter. The best part though is definitely the banana pudding. Definitely worth the trip. Pros: Banana Pudding more

I've had fried oysters at numerous seafood places and was a bit skeptical at 1st. I typically think of Big Eds as just country cooking but I have to say these were the absolute best oysters I've had anywhere! They were lightly breaded and very light all around. they were recommended by one of the most courteous employees ever and he didn't steer me wrong!\r Keep up the good work Big Eds..I will be back! Pros: Best fried oysters I've ever eaten! more

Breakfast at Big Ed's will make you want to cartwheel, it's so good! Hands down best country breakfast around. We arrived around 10am on a Saturday morning and parking was not really an issue, just a block walk. Fantastic live music out front on Saturday's from 10am-noon, high-spirited New Orleans horns will make you think it's Mardi Gras in downtown Raleigh! Inside was crowded, but our wait was less than 10 minutes and there's tons of personalized little greetings to Big Ed and reviews to read while you are in line. Service was prompt and courteous. Perfect eggs - slightly runny yolks and firm whites - made me happy when I had a big ol bite along with the grits and country link sausage. Grilled biscuits and molassas will have your taste buds whooping for joy. Top it all off with a Pepsi and this, my friends, is the good life ;) Pros: did i mention the red-eye gravy?!? Cons: Parking could be a little iffy, if you aren't familiar with the area more

I like Bid Ed's, whether it's breakfast or lunch. They've got good country food. A little pricey though. Pros: Good country food Cons: A little pricey more

Wow this place is great, when it comes to country cooking they really know what they are doing! I had the hot cakes and it was the best! I also must say the decorations and all the smiles create a atmosphere of fun and happiness. No one can stay down in the dumps here! Im still missing those homemade biscuits, how delicious! Id just like to tell everyone that you havn't seen country cooking (unless you grew up in the country) until youve gone to Big Ed's!!!!! (just a quickie, there are non-smoking and smoking sections) Pros: Decorations, Food, Atmosphere Cons: No parking lot, Sometimes Full more

Big Ed's is the best. When I came to college I missed my grandmother's cooking. This place really rocks. A big plus - smoking is available. If you can't smoke in NC, where can you smoke? I highly recommend this to everyone! Pros: GOOD FOOD, VALUE, Service with a smile! Cons: Parking, Hours not long enough more

When I was younger, my family and I would go there every Sunday. We would bring our relatives, and any one else we would have staying w/ us! It was a great place for kids to go, for they have many things hanging from the ceiling, its just a really fun and cool place... plus they have great food! Pros: great food, fun, located downtown, great environment Cons: long wait, smoking section more

THE BEST BIG BREAKFAST IN RALEIGH!!!! YA GOTTA HAVE THE GRITS....AND THE AWESOME BISCUITS & COFFEE....GET THERE EARLY FOR THE BEST SEATS....KEEP IT UP, BIG ED!!!! more

Big Ed's has great biscuits, molasses and country ham. Their grits are OK. I do not eat eggs. Great sweet tea. Pros: ambiance, biscuits Cons: parking, crowded more

Great food, great service. Not snotty or pricey. Great place to bring friends from out-of-town. more

I think Big Ed's scrambled eggs and sausage with grits, gravy and bisquits( with a couple slices of tomato on the plate) like they always do is undoubtedly the BEST breakfast anywhere. more