A very busy restaurant and it is wise to get there a little before they open because it is really busy. Everything is pretty much fried but it tastes great. Our server seemed really busy and didn't really smile but she was really good at making our order complete and had made sure we got additional items when we asked for it. Not fine dining but good food nonetheless.
Overview
Discover Mclin's Restaurant, a longtime Southern dining favorite located at 2 Old Newton Rd, Daleville, AL 36322, United States. Specializing in steaks, seafood, fried favorites, and classic comfort food, this locally popular restaurant offers the kind of hearty cooking that suits both family dinners and relaxed meals with friends. From a food blogger’s perspective, Mclin's Restaurant succeeds through generous portions, straightforward recipes, and an old-school approach where hot food and friendly service matter more than elaborate presentation.
The menu combines American steakhouse fare with Southern seafood traditions. Current selections include a New York Strip around $31.95, Sirloin around $26.95, Mate’s Plate around $25.95, and the larger Captain’s Platter around $47.95. Fried catfish, flounder, jumbo shrimp, oysters, scallops, chicken tenders, chicken livers, onion rings, baked potatoes, coleslaw, and hush puppies provide plenty of variety. Dine-in and takeaway are available, alongside reservations, private dining, wheelchair accessibility, highchairs, free parking, and credit-card payments.
A first-time visit to Mclin's Restaurant in Daleville should seriously include the McLin’s Special Ribeye. Steaks have long been one of the restaurant’s signature strengths, and customer feedback repeatedly praises their doneness and satisfying portions. The ribeye is an especially appealing option for diners who want rich beef flavor paired with a baked potato and traditional sides.
Seafood lovers should look toward the Fried Crab Claws. Served hot with a crisp exterior and naturally sweet crab flavor inside, they work equally well as a shared appetizer or part of a larger seafood feast. Crab claws appear repeatedly among customer favorites, often alongside shrimp, oysters, and onion rings.
The Whole Catfish is another classic choice. Fried until crisp outside while keeping the fish moist within, it pairs naturally with French fries, coleslaw, and hush puppies. Recent customer favorites also include blackened catfish for diners who prefer a less heavily fried preparation. One guest summed up the restaurant’s appeal with praise for “good Ole southern food”, while another longtime customer noted that everything was consistently cooked well and complemented by wonderful service.
The atmosphere at Mclin's Restaurant is casual, cozy, and distinctly family-oriented. This is not a quiet fine-dining steakhouse; tables can fill quickly, and current listings note that a wait is common during popular meal periods. Still, ample parking, friendly staff, and private dining options make it practical for groups and celebrations.
One especially memorable touch is the traditional pickle-and-onion plate served alongside meals. Finish with Coconut Pie or Key Lime Pie, both inexpensive, old-fashioned desserts that suit the restaurant’s Southern identity.
For diners comparing the best restaurants in Daleville for authentic local dining experiences, Mclin's Restaurant deserves consideration for its ribeye steaks, fried seafood, generous plates, and welcoming Southern character. Visit hungry and leave room for hush puppies, crab claws, and a slice of pie.
Good to know
Service options
âś“ Takeaway âś“ Dine-in âś“ DeliveryHighlights
âś“ Great tea selection âś“ Serves local specialtyPopular for
âś“ Lunch âś“ Dinner âś“ Solo diningAccessibility
âś“ Wheelchair-accessible car park âś“ Wheelchair-accessible entrance âś“ Wheelchair-accessible seating âś“ Wheelchair-accessible toiletOfferings
âś“ Coffee âś“ Comfort food âś“ Private dining room âś“ Small platesDining options
âś“ Lunch âś“ Dinner âś“ Dessert âś“ Seating âś“ Table serviceAmenities
âś“ ToiletAtmosphere
âś“ Casual âś“ Cosy âś“ Historic âś“ TrendyCrowd
âś“ Groups âś“ Locals âś“ TouristsPlanning
âś“ Accepts reservations âś“ Usually a waitPayments
âś“ Credit cards âś“ Debit cards âś“ NFC mobile payments âś“ Credit cardsChildren
âś“ Good for kids âś“ High chairs âś“ Kids' menuParking
âś“ Free of charge street parking âś“ Free parking lot âś“ ParkingPhotos
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Location
Reviews
- No ratings yet 1378 reviews
We stopped in after a graduation on Fort Rucker. We would eat here on a regular basis if we lived close. Everyone's food was good. There was 6 of us. The servers knew what to recommend and they were also great!!!
This is the best restaurant in Dale County! The fried catfish is so good. Love coming here whenever we are in town. Great food, service and staff. Thank you.
McLin's is a steakhouse that is well known and established here in Daleville. I enjoy walking in and immediately seeing the busy kitchen. It isn't something that you see at many restaurants. They serve something here called a pickle plate before your meal and it's basically a plate of pickles, raw onion, and some lemon. As odd as it sounds it was pretty tasty, even the onions with the lemon juice on them. I ordered some chicken tenders and fries with coleslaw. All my food tasted great and was served promptly. The service was also great, they checked on us several times to make sure that we had everything that we needed to enjoy our lunch.
Truly a wonderful establishment. Family run and very ma and pa styled restaurant. The food is always phenomenal and delicious. You get the bang for your buck. Their ribeye is mouthwateringly good, it’s always cooked perfect and seasoned well when we’re there. We get it cooked medium rare and it’s hands down the best steak anywhere I’ve had. Melt in your mouth delicious. Their fried chicken is heavenly. The breading on it is crispy while the meat remains perfectly soft and juicy, the seasoning is the cherry on top to its perfection. I can’t eat the full order by myself so I tend to get the half plate or I split the full one with someone else. The hushpuppies are an experience all in themselves, please try them out if you’re fond of a good hushpuppy. The rolls are like no other. Warm, fluffy, buttery, and the perfect little add on to the meal’s experience. Their baked potatoes are scrumptious, a little butter and a dash of salt make it perfect. Their coca-cola’s are wonderful to have after a bite. My brother is fond of their sweet tea, they have an unsweetened option too! While I don’t have a picture of them their onion rings are to die for! Just delicious. Their homemade ranch pairs wonderfully with it. And their crab claws are also a family favorite. If you want to support local, this is the place to go. It’s tasty, it’s family run, and it’s simply just a good place to go for a filling lunch or dinner.
Best restaurant in the Wiregrass area! Although it was extremely busy, wait time was under 10min & staff was super nice! The food was absolutely delicious!!! The shrimp and crab claws tasted like they just pulled them out the water! Gizzards & livers were my friends childhood fav & she said they tasted like her grandma cooked them!
This was my first time and it's is A have if your in Alabama the service is impressive,speedy and well mannered . Definitely a family restaurant the food is delicious and fried to protection . Happy I went on non busy day so it wasn't a wait in the food I hear you could be waiting up to an hr. It's worth the wait so just get comfortable cause your stomach will thank you later.
Great food, the steaks can't be beat. No atmosphere, looks exactly the same as it did when I was 15 and im 56 now. The food is always wonderful