Workmen’s Cafe

Reviews

• Roger F.

  star star star star star 28 June 2026

  We are visiting the city and was in the area.  Thanks to Yelp app and posted recommendations we stop in for lunch.  We had a great lunch.  This is home cooking for sure and this little place did not disappoint us.  It is well worth the effort and a good price for a very good lunch.

• Carl H.

  star star star star star_border 25 June 2026

  Great tasting soul food. Appearance wise this place is a dive, but the food is outstanding. Saw some reviews showing excellent looking fried shrimp and crab cakes so came here during lunch. Unfortunately, "Fish" day is only on Friday's. Served cafeteria style, you select your items and are charged per item. That day, for meats, there were fried chicken, fried pork chops and Country Fried steak. I asked the owner/chef if she preferred the chops or the steak and she said she doesn't eat either and country fried steak only ruins a good steak. She also said her pork chops were her number one selling meat, but she had just put the steak on the menu. I went with the country fried steak (with gravy) and OMG. Crispy, tender and well flavored. I also really loved the lima beans with ham hocks. I will definitely come again, next time on a Friday.

• Frances T.

  star star star star star_border 13 June 2026

  Named appropriately. This unassuming little house converted to a cafe has that roadside local yocal appearance. Nothing fancy outside or inside. I like that.
  
  When you walk in the door you are immediately in front of a buffet of country offerings. Mac and cheese, collards, ribs, pork chops, broccoli casserole, red rice and more. Daily specials are offered and fish fried to order.
  
  When I was there it was a one woman show. She was serving, cooking, making drinks and cashiering. Hats off to that gusto!
  
  I had the fried chicken, broccoli casserole and Mac and cheese. The chicken was crispy and well seasoned. It could of been a bit juicier but it was still good. The broccoli casserole was really nice and brought me right back to Thanksgiving. The Mac and cheese was custard style, light, fluffy and cheesy. First time I didn't salt Mac and cheese because it was perfectly salted.
  
  No this isn't a fancy pants eatery. It is good simple soul food cookery that makes you totally jealous of her family.

• Linda W.

  star star star star star 10 June 2026

  If you are looking for a place with good old soul cooking in the vein of Bertha's or Martha Lou's, look no further than Workman's Cafe on James Island. Open Monday through Friday for Lunch only and offering daily specials, this one-woman show makes the kind of stick to the ribs food your Momma always wanted you to eat.  
  Lima beans and green beans cooked with fat and love. Mac and cheese firm and cheesy. Fried Chicken, fish, or meatloaf, cornbread and a drink for a small price.
  Get there early (11:00 am) before all the good stuff is sold cause when it's gone, it's gone till the next day.
  Miss Angie has recently added her homemade peach cobbler to the menu. Man-o-man is it good!!
  Only thing missing is the vanilla ice cream.

• Erin T.

  star star star star star_border 7 June 2026

  A small one woman show! Only open for lunch Mon-Fri. Cafeteria style with no table service. We grabbed carryout fried chicken dinners. The chicken was gone by the time we got there but she made us a fresh batch since we could wait. Delicious! We got mac n cheese and rice for a side and both were very good. They were out of cornbread so she sent along a dessert for free instead. Peach cobbler was very good. I definitely want to get some cornbread next time! Very reasonably priced with big portions. Check their facebook page for daily menu and hours. As this is a one woman show, there are weeks that they are shut down for vacation so check before you go!