The Lemon Tree Cafe and Catering

The Lemon Tree is my favorite cafe ever and the competition doesn’t even come close. The people there are incredible. One of a kind. When I lived in Wake Forest, The Lemon Tree felt like a home away from home. It’s tucked away on White Street, which is a lovely area to explore. If you have a slow Saturday, I recommend you park downtown and check out some of the shops on the street and then make your way to The Lemon Tree for lunch. The cafe and space have grown significantly since I started going there. There used to be a clothing boutique between the cafe and the Burger shop but when the boutique moved out, the two restaurants expanded to create a mini food hall vibe. It’s really cozy and homey. I’ve eaten food from the Lemon Tree in almost every capacity they offer: catering for company lunches (it impressed Google reps from NYC), catering for my very own birthday party, at-home meal deliveries during covid, pickup date night boxes, and of course, inside the actual cafe. They even offered breakfast at one point and it was the best way to start my day. I can’t say enough good things about The Lemon Tree. They build community through food. With the date night boxes, they partner with other local spots to shine a light on all of the delicious foods and drinks in the area. Stacey and her incredible crew put good into the world. I’m going to include a lot of photos with this one to represent all the mouthwatering sandwiches and sides I’ve had at this spot (some of the photos are from 2018). It’s the only place I’ve eaten every day in a week. If I had to leave you with a recommendation it would be, “eat everything.” If I had to leave you with a more actionable recommendation it would be, “try the pimento grilled cheese with chicken salad, a dessert bite, and half tea/half lemonade to drink.” I hope you feel the magic this place holds when you visit and please give Heather all my love.

The Lemon Tree An iconic staple in the small but growing town of Wake Forest. This restaurant and catering service is tucked away in the side of an old brick building right on the main drag of downtown Wake Forest. They offer a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, quiche and great little dessert bites. The use of fresh local produce and everything made in small batches really stands out. I really enjoy myself every time I get the chance to pop in this great cafe. My last time around...which was just the other day, I grabbed the salad trio: fresh beat salad, apple broccoli salad and blue cheese potato salad. Yum!

Had an unplanned stop in and had no clue they had anl cafe here so I decided to grab lunch while here. I had the artisan sandwich special with the southwest chickpea and the Caesar pasta and must say it was a fantastic lunch. Definitely worth a stop in for a great quick lunch and even check out the book store but will definitely be returning for lunch again!

The Lemon Tree is amazing! The food is always so fresh and healthy. Everything is made with fresh ingredients. I leave feeling the perfect amount of full. The menu consistently changes based on seasonality and availability, but you are always sure to get something great!

The Lemon Tree Cafe is truly a hidden gem. I just got done eating the most delicious ham/apple/brie sliders teamed with warm chicken enchilada soup and a light-but-filling dill potatoe salad - Yum! Top all that with refreshing lemonade and an a little lemon square dessert... Pretty much the perfect Saturday treat. My husband got a ham/white cheddar/fig sandwich on cinnamon reason raisin toast that was incredible. This is not my typical meal (I'm kind of a picky eater), but it was definitely worth trying something new.

Lemon Tree Cafe is hands down one of my favorite lunch spots downtown! Every single thing I’ve tried has been consistently fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. The portions are generous, and it’s such a great value for the price. It’s clear they put a lot of care into what they serve. We’ve also tried their meal plans, and they’re a total lifesaver on busy weeks—healthy, delicious, and super convenient when we don’t have time to meal prep. Highly recommend whether you’re grabbing lunch or planning ahead for the week!

I love Lemon Tree! I’ve lived in Wake Forest for a few years now and this is one of my family’s favorite spots when we visit the downtown area (which is basically weekly). I’ve had their soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches and most of their sides; all of which have been delicious. Food is fresh and healthy. Some of their menu items they have all of the time but they also change/add new items pretty frequently with the season, which I personally like. Their meals are set up to get a few sides with a small treat, which is such a nice touch. Their syrups are also fun to try with their infused water or lemonade. They also offer a meal delivery service to local Wake Forest and catering. Their staff is always kind and I’ve always experienced great customer service. Highly recommend!

I had the Lemon Tree cater my daughter’s baby shower and it was amazing. They allowed me to pick it up the evening before as the shower was at 11 and we were doing a brunch. They helped me figure out how much food I needed and what impressed me the most was when I suggested something in addition, they said I didn’t need it unless it was something that I just wanted. Most places will sell you whatever they can. I would absolutely recommend them to everyone and I will use them again.