FATZ Cafe promises their customers delicious homemade food. They are a casual dining restaurant that focuses on southern hospitality. The staff goes out of their way to make everyone feel at home by providing a warm, friendly atmosphere. They treat everyone with respect throughout each restaurant.
They serve lunch and dinner with a southern vibe. They currently have 48 locations that are located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee. They operate under Cafe Enterprises, Inc. and their headquarters is found in Taylors, South Carolina. They strive to have a menu with variety at affordable prices.
| Item | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Apps | ||
| Calabash Appetizer Trio | Jumbo wings, cheese fries, fried green tomatoes, cajun firecracker sticks, pimento cheese, calabash popcorn shrimp. | $9.99 |
| Pimento Cheese Plate | An addictive combination of jalapeño pimento cheese paired with our handcrafted bacon jam. served with crunchy celery and old country crackers for spreading or scooping up every last luscious drop. | $8.79 |
| Cheese Fries | Classic potato fries topped with cheddar and monterey jack cheese, a sprinkle of fresh scallions and applewood-smoked bacon. because, well, it's bacon. | $7.49 |
| Cajun Firecrackers | Tomato-basil tortilla stuffed with spicy shrimp, Andouille sausage, seared onion, peppers, spinach and pepper jack cheese. It's hand rolled and fried crisp. Served with our super secret Onyum sauce a | $10.49 |
| Fried Green Tomatoes | Just like grandma used to make. delicate green tomatoes hand-breaded then lightly fried. they're topped with shredded cheese and a drizzle of tangy sauce and served on our housemade stone ground crea | $6.49 |
| Jumbo Wings | Jumbo, bone-in chicken wings tossed in one of our housemade sauces. served with crunchy celery sticks and ranch or bleu cheese dressing. | $8.99 - $12.29 |
| Salads | ||
| Dressings: Ranch, honey mustard, thousand island, italian, fat-free sundried tomato, bleu cheese, raspberry walnut vinaigrette, housemade balsamic vinaigrette | ||
| Chicken, Bacon & Spinach Salad | Citrus-grilled chicken, applewood-smoked bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, diced red onions, mushrooms, candied pecans and dried cranberries mounded on fresh spinach leaves. Tossed in our apple cider vina | $10.49 |
| The Chopped | Smoked turkey, ham and bacon on a bed of mixed greens with cheddar cheese, bleu cheese crumbles, diced red onions and cucumbers. The salad is tossed lightly in our ranch dressing and topped off with | $10.99 |
| Asian Chicken | Light and fresh with a hint of sweet and sour. Citrus marinated chicken over mixed greens and cabbage, with fresh cilantro, scallions, green peppers, edamame and lightly fried wontons. Tossed in Asia | $9.99 |
| Blackened Chicken Caesar | Blackened chicken on romaine lettuce, tossed in a creamy and garlicky Caesar dressing with Parmesan, Asiago and Romano cheese and crispy baked croutons. | $9.49 |
| Calabash Chicken Salad | Hand-breaded Calabash Chicken on mixed greens with carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, applewood-smoked bacon, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, and crispy baked croutons. Served with our tangy honey musta | $9.99 |
| Side House Salad | Our house salad with crisp, mixed greens topped with shredded carrots, tomatoes, applewood-smoked bacon, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, and crunchy croutons. Served with your choice of dressing. | $3.99 |
| Side Caesar Salad | A caesar salad with fresh romaine lettuce tossed in our garlicky caesar dressing with parmesan, asiago and romano cheese and croutons. | $3.99 |
| Soups | ||
| Loaded Baked Potato | Rustic, hot and hearty baked potato soup topped with a savory cheese blend, warm applewood-smoked bacon and fresh garden scallions. | $3.49 - $4.49 |
| Soup of The Day | Our soups change daily based on what's in season, the weather, a secret family recipe the chef discovered in a shoebox, or the score of the game. Ask your server about today's selection. | $3.69 - $4.69 |
| Chicken | ||
| Citrus-Grilled Chicken | Tender chicken breasts marinated in our special citrus blend, fire-grilled and topped with grilled pineapple. Served over garden-blend rice with a Signature Sidekick of your choice. | $10.49 |
| Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie | Pulled white meat chicken with garden peas and carrots in a creamy sauce topped with a crispy, golden brown pastry crust. Served with a house or caesar side salad. | $9.99 |
| Calabash Chicken | Half pound of all-natural chicken tenders gently seasoned, marinated in buttermilk, hand-breaded and perfectly fried. Partner it up with a signature sidekick and you choice of a bowl of soup or side | $12.79 |
| Calabash Combo | This might be more goodness than you can stand. Calabash chicken and calabash popcorn shrimp together on one plate. Served with your choice of signature sidekick. | $11.29 |
| Blackened Chicken Pasta | Linguine tossed in a cajun alfredo sauce with blackened chicken, roasted mushrooms and an italian bruschetta topping. served with parmesan cheese and ciabatta garlic toast. | $10.49 |
| Steaks | ||
| Ribeye Reserve | A 12 oz. Full-flavored ribeye chargrilled to perfection. Pair it with a signature sidekick and your choice of soup or side salad. | $19.99 |
| Center Cut Top Sirloin | Naturally lean, juicy and full of flavor. This thick cut top sirloin comes with your choice of signature sidekick and soup or side salad. | $12.99 - $17.49 |
| Jp's Pot Roast Pie | Down-home cooking at its finest. Our homestyle pot roast is slow-roasted in au jus with carrots and sweet onions topped with red-skinned mashed potatoes. Served with a side salad. | $10.99 |
| Steakhouse Chop | Fire-grilled 12 oz. chopped steak smothered with Burgundy mushroom gravy, roasted mushrooms, peppers and onions. Served with a Signature Sidekick and soup or side salad. | $12.99 |
| Ribs & Chops | ||
| Premium Pork Chops | Two 6 oz. Bone-in chops grilled to perfection and served with any signature sidekick and a choice of soup or side salad. | $12.49 |
| Baby Back Ribs | We dry-rub season all of our slow-cooked ribs to give them a fall-off-the-the-bone perfect kick. Then they're finished on the grill with the sauce of your choice. Choose from bourbon street, traditio | $14.99 - $19.99 |
| Burgers | ||
| Onyum Burger | Stacked high with onion rings, lettuce and tomato and drizzled with Onyum sauce. | $9.99 |
| Hometown Hero | Double stacked 4 oz. Burgers with american cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, thousand island dressing, lettuce, onion and pickle chips. | $10.99 |
| Jammin' Pimento | Topped with a heaping spoonful of our jammin' bacon-infused pimento cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion. | $9.99 |
| Triple B | Barbecue sauce, bacon and bleu cheese. Topped with lettuce, tomato and onions. | $9.49 |
| Old-Fashioned | Fire-grilled burger topped with red onions, dill pickle chips, lettuce and tomato, mustard and mayonnaise. With or without cheddar cheese. Don't mess with a classic. | $8.99 |
| Carolina | Two 4 oz. patties with American cheese, piled high with warm chili, sweet Vidalia onion coleslaw and mustard. | $10.49 |
| Sandwiches | ||
| Peppered Bacon & Turkey | Peppered bacon with thinly sliced turkey and ham on ciabatta bread with melted monterey jack and cheddar cheese. Topped with lettuce, tomato and a dollop of aunt jackie's sandwich spread. Served with | $9.99 |
| Chicken Provolone | Citrus marinated grilled chicken breast, melted provolone cheese and applewood- smoked bacon on a toasted brioche bun with spinach, tomatoes and a zesty aioli. With fries. | $8.99 |
| Calabash Wrap | Tomato-basil tortilla stuffed with calabash chicken, monterey jack and cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, tomatoes and spicy ranch dressing. of course with fries. | $8.79 |
| The Reuben | Delicious, thinly sliced certified angus beef corned beef, sauerkraut, melted swiss cheese and thousand island dressing on a toasted thick-cut marble rye. Served with fries. | $9.49 |
| Seafood | ||
| Triple Catch | Hand-breaded white fish, large shrimp and calabash popcorn shrimp all lightly fried and served with french fries, golden brown hushpuppies and sweet vidalia onion coleslaw. | $13.99 |
| Low Country Shrimp & Grits | A lowcountry classic. Housemade cream cheese grits topped with cajun spiced shrimp, finished with an andouille sausage gravy, parmesan cheese and scallions. | $13.49 |
| Grilled Salmon with Herb Cream Sauce | Fresh, hand-cut atlantic salmon grilled and served with jalapeño cream sauce, garden-blend rice and you favorite signature sidekick | $15.99 |
| Shrimp Boat Platter | A hearty platter of large crispy, golden fried shrimp, french fries, hushpuppies and sweet vidalia onion coleslaw. | $15.99 |
| Garlic Shrimp Pasta | Lightly seasoned shrimp on a bed of linguine tossed with sundried tomatoes, roasted garlic, shredded parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley. Server with ciabatta garlic toast. | $10.99 |
| Fatz Famous Fish Platter | Light, flaky white fish filets hand-breaded and fried to a carolina sunset golden color. Served with our seasoned fries, crispy hushpuppies and sweet vidalia onion coleslaw. | $12.99 |
| Calabash Popcorn Shrimp Platter | Hand-breaded popcorn shrimp perfectly fried Calabash style. Served with our seasoned fries, hushpuppies and sweet Vidalia onion coleslaw. | $10.49 |
| Grilled Salmon with Cilantro Lime Rice | A hand-cut, 7 oz. fresh Atlantic salmon filet fire-grilled and served over cilantro lime rice with a side of steamed broccoli. | $15.99 |
| Duos and Trios | ||
| Steak & Ribs | A perfectly fire-grilled 6 0z. Certified angus beef top sirloin steak alongside our baby back ribs, dry rubbed and basted with our traditional BBQ sauce. Served with a signature sidekick and your cho | $18.49 |
| Steak & Calabash Chicken | A 6 0z. Certified angus beef top sirloin and mind blowing calabash chicken. Served with your choice of signature sidekick and soup or side salad. | $16.99 |
| Steak, Calabash Chicken & Shrimp | Naturally lean and juicy 6 0z. Certified angus beef top sirloin steak, hand-breaded and lightly fried shrimp and a serious portion of calabash chicken. Your choice of a signature sidekick and either | $18.49 |
| The Original Fatz Sampler | Get a half rack of our slow-cooked baby back ribs, calabash chicken and hand-breaded fried shrimp. Served with a signature sidekick and your choice of soup or side salad. | $17.99 |
| Calabash Chicken & Ribs | Our tender, slow-cooked baby back ribs, dry rubbed and basted with our southern gold bbq sauce, plus a heaping helping of calabash chicken. Your choice of signature sidekick and either soup or side s | $13.99 |
| Ribs, Chicken & Shrimp | A perfect trio of southern gold baby back ribs, hand-breaded fried shrimp and citrus-grilled chicken. Served with a signature sidekick and your choice of soup or side salad. | $15.99 |
| For Goodness Sake | ||
| Chile Lime Shrimp | Chile seasoned grilled shrimp served on a bed of cilantro lime rice with a light citrus cream sauce on the side. | $9.99 |
| Mediterranean Tilapia | Mediterranean seasoned tilapia filet drizzled in a light lemon mustard sauce topped with sundried tomatoes, capers, minced garlic and red onion. Served with fresh steamed broccoli. | $8.99 |
| Carolina Peach Chicken | Citrus chicken fire-grilled and topped with carolina peach salsa. Served with cilantro lime rice. | $9.49 |
| Center Cut Top Sirloin | A 6oz. Certified angus beef top sirloin steak paired with steamed broccoli. | $12.49 |
| Sides - Featured | ||
| French Fries | $1.99 | |
| Baked Potato with Butter and Sour Cream | $1.99 | |
| Red-Skinned Mashed Potatoes | $1.99 | |
| Sweet Vidalia Onion Coleslaw | $1.99 | |
| Steamed Broccoli | $1.99 | |
| Cinnamon Apples | $1.99 | |
| Sides - Premium | ||
| Sweet Potato Fries | $2.79 | |
| Cheese Fries | $2.79 | |
| Baked Sweet Potato | $2.79 | |
| Loaded Baked Potato | $2.79 | |
| Sweet Fried Brussels | $2.79 | |
| Housemade Mac n Cheese | $2.79 | |
| Sweets | ||
| Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie | A warm, soft and gooey chocolate chip cookie topped with breyers vanilla bean ice cream. our cookies are baked to order and take 10 minutes. And yes, you can lick the bowl. | $5.99 |
| Classic Cheesecake | Silky sweet new york-style cheesecake covered with strawberry sauce. | $3.99 |
| Carolina Peach Cobbler | Sweet peach cobbler with carolina peaches, brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts oven-baked in house and set on the windowsill to cool. Served warm with breyers vanilla bean ice cream. | $5.49 |
| Sip Pages | ||
| Iced Tea | Freshly brewed iced tea. Sweet or unsweetened. | $2.49 |
| Arnold Palmer | $2.49 | |
| Coffee | $2.09 | |
| Soft Drinks | ||
| Pepsi | $2.49 | |
| Diet Pepsi | $2.49 | |
| Mountain Dew | $2.49 | |
| Diet Twist | $2.49 | |
| Dr Pepper | $2.49 | |
History
FATZ began in 1988. A group of friends had become tired with the same old chain restaurants. Their goal was to create a place that was different than the rest. They focused on building a restaurant to serve the community. The first restaurant was a converted roadside peach stand in Spartanburg, SC.
The cornerstone to their existence has been their relationship with the communities they serve. With their Short Stacks for Big Change program, they take big steps make sure they can give back. Although they do not normally offer breakfast, they open their doors early on Sunday mornings in order to help raise funds for local organizations.
Not only do they open their doors, but they provide the staff and food as well. Even their public relations department chips in with templates for flyers, banners, signs, tickets, and a press release. They have raised over two million dollars with these events. Their commitment to their community reflects on their commitment to serving great meals.
They make sure that the people who run their restaurants are active in the community as well. The connection ensures that there is a vested interest in serving great tasting food with friendly service. They have built their business on making sure that their guests are taken care of and happy. Guests are urged to speak with management about any issue.
Review
FATZ promises great homemade meals and they deliver. Their menu is packed with variety so there is certainly something for everyone. There is a kids menu available. For adults, there are bar selections as well. To start, they have appetizers such as fried green tomatoes and onion rings. Their loaded baked potato soup is popular and they offer daily specials. The salad menu includes several choices from the simple house salad to their Asian chicken salad.
They offer various types of steaks, seafood, ribs, and chops. Even the best cut of steak is priced for less than $20. They also have chicken – their famous Calabash chicken included. Their Calabash is based on a style of cooking from the small beach town of Calabash located in North Carolina. They use a secret blend of seasonings, marinate in buttermilk, and hand-breaded chicken. They have a special way of frying the chicken so that it comes out light and golden while keeping the meat juicy and tender. The chicken items run less than $15. If it is too hard to make a decision between steak, seafood, or chicken, there is a menu section reserved for duos and trios that have combination dishes. They range from under $15 to $20.
Angus beef is used in their selection of burgers and they are served on a brioche bun. Sandwiches such as the Calabash wrap are available. Burgers and sandwiches are about $10. There is even a menu section reserved for those who would like tasty food in a smaller portion. To go along with a meal, they offer signature sides including steamed broccoli, cinnamon apples, red-skinned mashed potatoes, and more. There are also premium sides available like baked sweet potatoes and stone-ground cream cheese grits. Meals can be finished off with a delicious dessert – classic cheesecake, Carolina peach cobbler, or a deep dish chocolate chip cookie.
FATZ Cafe not only has a day with special pricing for their guests “50 years young and up,” but they also run a variety of promotional days and specials. They have special to-go items, such as the Calabash N Dash that can serve a family of four. They offer catering for parties or for tail gating with a wide selection of menu items. Between their community service and friendly service, FATZ is a great place to visit and feel at home.