Tennessee is known for its down-home, Southern food, but no Southern food is quite as satisfying as the food that comes from the hidden gems tucked away in small towns on back roads. Barbecue, catfish, and even pizza! These 11 Tennessee Small Town Restaurants are some of the best in the state, and we found them just for you.
- Family BBQ - Dickson
Family BBQ - Facebook Randy and Vicky Lynch run this sweet little place on a farm in Dickson, but it’s only open on Fridays and Saturdays. They serve up some of the best best brisket and bologna this side of the Mississippi!
- Jack of Hearts BBQ - Spring Hill
Jack of Hearts BBQ - Facebook Located in Spring Hill, about an hour south of Nashville, Jack of Hearts is probably one of the most underrated barbecue restaurants in the state. They’re known for their smoked turkey, covered in white gravy, and the “Man’s Best Friend,” a smoked sausage on a bun smothered in sauce, cole slaw, and jalepenos.
- Bell Buckle Cafe - Bell Buckle
The Bell Buckle Cafe - Facebook The Bell Buckle Cafe is definitely one of the most quintessentially Southern diners that you’ll ever see. Located on the square in downtown Bell Buckle, they also serve up live music on Fridays and Saturdays! You can even order whole cakes and whole gallons of their famous tea!
- Gabriel’s Pizza - Cleveland
Gabriel’s Pizza - Facebook Gabriel’s in Cleveland is a hidden gem of Italian cuisine in Tennessee. They even serve up Chicago-style deep dish pizza, and pizzas that weigh over 9 pounds when they come out of the oven. Feed everybody in the family and then some!
- Corner Pit BBQ - Dellrose
Corner Pit BBQ - Facebook The Corner Pit might not look like much, but this barbecue joint in Dellrose has been in operation since 1965! They pride themselves on slow-smoking all of their barbecue over the finest Hickory wood, so you know you’ll get good food every time you go.
- Pie Sensations - Columbia
Pie Sensations - Facebook Looking for the perfect slice of pie that you can take home with you? Or even a whole pie or 3? Look no further than Pie Sensations in Columbia, where you can grab some of the best pies in the state. Be sure to try out their famous Coconut Cream Pie!
- Blue Ribbon Cafe - Soddy-Daisy
Blue Ribbon Cafe - Facebook This little place in the town of Soddy-Daisy has been described as “Audrey Hepburn’s farmhouse if she was Southern,” which should tell you something about just how cute it is. Get yourself some fried green tomatoes and bask in the coziness of this wonderful Southern eatery.
- Goodness Gracious - Readyville
Readyville Mill - Facebook Located in Readyville, just outside of Murfreesboro, Goodness Gracious at the Readyville Mill serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch every day of the week! The restaurant is in the old mill, which provides for the most picturesque, rustic setting for their classic Southern meals.
- Martin’s BBQ - Nolensville
Martin’s BBQ Joint - Facebook The folks at Martin’s BBQ come in every day at 5 a.m. to make the sides and sauces from scratch, but the meat takes longer than 24 hours to cook, so that all happened the day before. They have locations all over Middle Tennessee now, but you have to try the original in Nolensville to get the true experience.
- Top O’ the River - Michie
Top O’ The River - Michie Nothing says true country cooking like fried catfish, and the folks at Top O’ The River cook up some of the best fried catfish in the state. Make sure to get some alongside their fried dill pickles and their mustard greens.
- Big Ed’s Pizza - Oak Ridge
Big Ed’s Pizza - Facebook Big Ed’s first opened in East Tennessee in 1970, and they’ve been serving up their famous pizza ever since. Both the dough and the sauce are secret family recipes, making Big Ed’s truly unique and wonderful Tennessean pizza. Head on over to Oak Ridge and try some today!
While you’re checking these restaurants out, make sure to hit up 12 Incredible Places In Tennessee That Never Ever Change.
Family BBQ - Facebook
Randy and Vicky Lynch run this sweet little place on a farm in Dickson, but it’s only open on Fridays and Saturdays. They serve up some of the best best brisket and bologna this side of the Mississippi!
Jack of Hearts BBQ - Facebook
Located in Spring Hill, about an hour south of Nashville, Jack of Hearts is probably one of the most underrated barbecue restaurants in the state. They’re known for their smoked turkey, covered in white gravy, and the “Man’s Best Friend,” a smoked sausage on a bun smothered in sauce, cole slaw, and jalepenos.
The Bell Buckle Cafe - Facebook
The Bell Buckle Cafe is definitely one of the most quintessentially Southern diners that you’ll ever see. Located on the square in downtown Bell Buckle, they also serve up live music on Fridays and Saturdays! You can even order whole cakes and whole gallons of their famous tea!
Gabriel’s Pizza - Facebook
Gabriel’s in Cleveland is a hidden gem of Italian cuisine in Tennessee. They even serve up Chicago-style deep dish pizza, and pizzas that weigh over 9 pounds when they come out of the oven. Feed everybody in the family and then some!
Corner Pit BBQ - Facebook
The Corner Pit might not look like much, but this barbecue joint in Dellrose has been in operation since 1965! They pride themselves on slow-smoking all of their barbecue over the finest Hickory wood, so you know you’ll get good food every time you go.
Pie Sensations - Facebook
Looking for the perfect slice of pie that you can take home with you? Or even a whole pie or 3? Look no further than Pie Sensations in Columbia, where you can grab some of the best pies in the state. Be sure to try out their famous Coconut Cream Pie!
Blue Ribbon Cafe - Facebook
This little place in the town of Soddy-Daisy has been described as “Audrey Hepburn’s farmhouse if she was Southern,” which should tell you something about just how cute it is. Get yourself some fried green tomatoes and bask in the coziness of this wonderful Southern eatery.
Readyville Mill - Facebook
Located in Readyville, just outside of Murfreesboro, Goodness Gracious at the Readyville Mill serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch every day of the week! The restaurant is in the old mill, which provides for the most picturesque, rustic setting for their classic Southern meals.
Martin’s BBQ Joint - Facebook
The folks at Martin’s BBQ come in every day at 5 a.m. to make the sides and sauces from scratch, but the meat takes longer than 24 hours to cook, so that all happened the day before. They have locations all over Middle Tennessee now, but you have to try the original in Nolensville to get the true experience.
Top O’ The River - Michie
Nothing says true country cooking like fried catfish, and the folks at Top O’ The River cook up some of the best fried catfish in the state. Make sure to get some alongside their fried dill pickles and their mustard greens.
Big Ed’s Pizza - Facebook
Big Ed’s first opened in East Tennessee in 1970, and they’ve been serving up their famous pizza ever since. Both the dough and the sauce are secret family recipes, making Big Ed’s truly unique and wonderful Tennessean pizza. Head on over to Oak Ridge and try some today!
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