We had the pork roast and cheese burgers. We loved the atmosphere and the food. The portions are big but we wouldn t miss to try the cupcakes so we took them to go. Very friendly for families. read more

Cookie Jar Cafe - Inside the restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Dunlap, Tennessee

What a delightful place. Nestled in the rolling hills outside Dunlap, Tennessee is this blue-roofed beauty of a restaurant and bakery. The hostess seated us in full view of the cupcake case, which was replete with scrumptious concoctions. I could barely look at the menu, as I had one eye fixed on those desserts. The menu holds southern fare, with large portions. I had the chicken and dumplings. My husband had barbecued pork. For sides, we both had green beans and I tried the Mexican cornbread salad. My sides were great, as was the lunch. But, I had to order my dessert to go. I chose the red velvet cupcake, which they wrapped in a darling box. We will definitely be back and I may make it a goal to try every cupcake flavor they offer. read more

Good sweet tea....based on other reviews ordered the meatloaf. It came out cold. Ick. Waited forever for it. Ordered chicken salad thinking it would come out sooner. My husband finished his burger and fries before I could get any food. His burger and fries was great. His chocolate cake was good not excellent just good. My salad was out of a bag with not a lot of vegetables on it. The chicken had been cut and deep fried and thrown on the salad. The chicken was still wet with oil and melted part of the cheese on the salad. Would not order again. Meh. Kinda gross. I don't understand what all the hype is about other than the view in the country. Restaurant itself was nice and clean. read more

Cookie Jar Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Dunlap, Tennessee

Lunch there yesterday with wife & granddaughter. My chicken livers and fried okra were seriously overcooked & quite dry. Wife's roast pork was very good. Pinto beans & turnip greens were good but seemingly out of cans. Granddaughter's cheeseburger seemed average, but her mac&cheese were very good. Desserts (chocolate cake, coconut cake & strawberry torte) were excellent and made up for disappointing chicken livers & fried okra. Portions were gigantic, which would have been excellent if the courses had not been overcooked. read more

Was told this place was great so have gone out of my way a few times to stop by. Always out of 80 percent of what they say they had in the morning and claim they don't make popular items that bakeries in Chattanooga do on a regular basis. Will not be going out of my way to be told they don't have anything again. read more

We certainly enjoyed the Gorgeous view! But the food was just ok. Burned hush puppies. Liked the fish. We had cake for dessert. My husband loved the coconut cake. I had the red velvet. Kind of dry. Glad we made the trip. Checked it off the list. read more

My boyfriend and I were looking for coffee and stumbled upon this cute little place!! The service was quick and friendly & we LOVED the atmosphere! 10/10 read more

Cookie Jar Cafe - Chocolate meringue pie - Cafes Near Me - Dunlap, Tennessee

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Found this place watching youtube vids about the area restaurants. I was looking for mom and pop country food and that's just I found. The staff were nice, the place was clean, and the food was Delicious. I really do not have any complaints about the food; it's country fare. The only thing I didn't like were the fried pickles. They were way too spicy. I mean HOT! Over all, five people and the bill was 73 including the tip. (they didn't add the tip to the bill). Then you get to walk off the meal up the hill to unexplained farm animals in cages. The view is nice though. read more

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My wife and I have eaten here before on several occasions. So today, Thursday, we arrived at 2:10pm local. 2 tables on the porch and 1 table inside had customers; waited several minutes to be seated. Got our drinks and ordered. Our food came pretty quickly and looked very good. After starting to eat we noticed that ALL of our side dishes (potatoes/gravy, fried okra, green beans, baked sweet potato) were cold. My country fried steak and gravy was hot; my wife's chicken and dumplings were almost room temp and only had 1 piece of "dumplings" on the plate. For $38 I expected better. Also waited several minutes at the cash register w/o a guest check (along with 3 other people trying to pay). The cold food has happened to us before, but on a busier day about 2 months ago - almost identical side dishes as we got today. I'm sure the desserts would have been very good but we opted to leave and just go home. What really pushed me to write this review was the initial treatment of a group of 6 people taking an elderly relative (90 yr old lady) out for a late lunch. At the time they came in the restaurant my wife and I were the only people seated inside - the ONLY ones. When this party was greeted, the older lady's niece ask to be seated on the left toward the parking lot. The hostess told them they couldn't do that - something about taking up more than 1 table. Again, we were the only people in the restaurant in the dead of the afternoon. The niece again asked nicely and even suggested that they would be fine seated at 2 tables even with separate checks. The hostess repeated they couldn't do that and that they would HAVE to sit at the only longer table on the right side of the restaurant. She, the hostess, even asked another employee and that person "couldn't make that call". Really? Really?? The party eventually was seated at the "long" table on the side of the near empty restaurant and were beginning to be served when we left. I hope that nice 90 yr old lady's food was good and I hope it was hot, especially after being TOLD EXACTLY were they HAD TO SIT to be served - in an almost empty restaurant on a slow Thursday afternoon. As a former restaurant manager, I was disturbed at the elderly lady's treatment and as a customer - I was disappointed yet again. read more

We were there a few weeks ago. I ordered the grilled meatloaf, it was not even warm, the mashed potatoes were so salty they were not edible, a family member had chicken livers that were burned. Could have been a bad day for them, but we were very disappointed. read more

The Good- -Cute quaint restaurant in the hills -Family owned -Reasonably priced -Yummy cupcakes -Good size portions (especially on cake!) -My date's fried chicken salad was really good -The bread was yummy The Bad- -My burger was overcooked and dry. -They were out of more than one thing on the menu by 12:30pm (including the special). -The wait staff were doing their best to keep up, but they were WAY understaffed (and my friend who is a local says it's always like that). -The cornbread was dry & salty. I couldn't get past the first bite. -Check out the photo of their "loaded" baked potato that I posted. Enough said. The Ugly- -This is supposed to be a cafe on a DAIRY FARM. There are milk cows in the pasture for goodness sake... but instead of using/offering butter, they only had a hydrogenated vegetable oil spread! Wth? And on their loaded baked potato they had a similar hydrogenated oil cheese-like product that doesn't have any actual dairy. Gross. Being from dairy country, I expected a cafe on a dairy farm to have actual dairy products, but apparently they do not. They went the cheap route and sacrificed quality/taste big time. read more

Cookie Jar Cafe - "Loaded" baked potato. (Sans sour cream) They don't use real cheese and I don't think it was real butter either. - Cafes Near Me - Dunlap, Tennessee

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The cupcakes here were amazing along with the view and outdoor seating. Although our food was so so, we would still come back again because it was so relaxing! We had our dog with us so the outdoor option was wonderful. read more

Pretty disappointing. Maybe 3 stars is even generous. My wife and I drove down from Murfreesboro to enjoy some good home cooking and a beautiful drive. We enjoyed the beautiful drive but the food wasn't homemade AT ALL. I asked the server about the fried okra which she said was frozen. I then asked about the sweet corn and she said, I think they add sugar. The desserts were homemade and were good, but not good enough to drive there again. read more

Sometimes it's all about the wait staff. This was one of those times. Four of us. Easy going (usually) and the restaurant has maybe 10-12 customers at the time. Waitress doesn't know about any of the food selections we ask about or gives very generic answers. Those answers are not very convincing so we're wondering if she's even eaten there (we find out later). She would disappear for periods of time while we needed a refill, or silverware or something. Maybe this was her first day/week? At one point we found her, with her back to us, at the counter eating dinner and she didn't look like she was interested in checking on her customer(s) until she was done. Food was "ok", not bad, dessert was really good (4 slices of pie). Several times, during the meal, we definitely felt abandoned and when we did get our meal we were suspicious that it was sitting on a counter for a bit waiting for her to come get it. This is an 'out of the way' place to drive to. Don't recommend you do that, just stay on the main road and find something better. read more

Do not miss this mountain gem. Excellent food, service, and location. Good comforting food in a relaxed family-style setting. It has a big front porch with rocking chairs and a gorgeous view of the mountains. My friend and I had 1 meat with three sides, one of the best sides being the macaroni and cheese. Mexican cornbread casserole came in a close second. Get the yeast rolls not the cornbread it was a little dry Meatloaf rated a 10 Chicken and dumplings a 10 too For dessert we had Oreo cake and coconut cake. Both 10's PS The bread they bake is too awesome for whipped spread. So ask for real butter if there isn't any on the table. read more

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Atmosphere, service, friendliness is a 5. Had a beautiful view of hills and farm from the porch. They accommodated our request for a very quick turnaround graciously. I had the grilled meatloaf, an excellent baked sweet potato, and hush puppies. The turnip greens might be canned? The bread was good... But the cornbread was a bit dry for my taste. The deserts looked awesome, but we didn't have time to sample them. We did buy two pies to take with us as a gift, so I'm hoping that they are very good. read more

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My family loves The Cookie Jar Cafe. We discovered it a few years ago during the World's Longest Yardsale and have been coming back ever since. We were there the Friday after Thanksgiving for a late lunch (chicken casserole, potatoes, okra, salad).. Both the food and the service was excellent...as usual! Plus, we took home a few casseroles and a coconut pie which were big hits at dinner the next day. Highly recommended...Oh, and the chicken livers are divine!! read more

Super nice people and good home cooked food! The staff there will gladly joke and make you feel right at home. They even helped us take family pictures and turned out great! Everything is always clean read more

This place is worth the drive to the country outside Dunlap! The food is country cooking at its finest and the best desserts this side of heaven! It's an adorable restaurant displaying every cookie jar you can imagine! read more

We had the vegetable plates (only $7.49 each) and omg, the Mac n cheese (& mashed potatoes) were so good. We sat on the front porch with beautiful view of mountains and the farm land. We had the chocolate cream pie for dessert and I seriously cannot think of anything that could be improved upon. The rolls and cornbread are amazing too. Really everything is made from scratch and a great value. This is not just a dessert place! read more

Fantastic food! I had the grilled meatloaf, which had the softer texture and taste of meatloaf with a grilled kick to it. Totally exceeded my high meatloaf standards. For sides, I had mac n cheese and Mexican cornbread salad (don't judge the odd mix-I was starving). The mac n cheese was average-prepared well, tasty, but nothing to make it "cravable". The MCS, however...I'm ready to walk all the way back to Dunlap for another dose of that tasty goodness! Service was great, too-friendly, quick, and attentive! Loved the view and the atmosphere. read more

I understand why my family meets up at this place. First of all you don't accidentally find this place. You definitely go there on purpose. There are no signs to guide you but it is still easy to find. The location has amazing scenery, encouraging the use of the front porch and rocking chairs if you have to wait. The food is really good. But what I discovered was that the other patrons are very friendly also. We had a lengthy wait because we didn't call ahead of time and my elderly aunt and uncle needed a place to sit. The two ladies at the table near the door let them join them at their own table while they waited. read more

Not great food, probably a step up from cafeteria food. Don't get the hushpuppies, really dry and crumbly. Chicken and Dumplings was bland and watery. Only good thing was the pepper jack bites, but they were 11 dollars for cheese and breading (and it's hard to mess that up). Service was below average and probably won't come here again lol read more

The first two trips to the Cookie Jar were among the most awesome restaurant adventures ever! Loved it! However the third visit was very disappointing. My chicken livers were very over cooked. A member of our table asked the market price for the steak and ordered it. What she got was the hamburger steak. Three members got the meatloaf and didn't like it at all. My turnip greens were canned and very watery. Just not a good trip at all. Our waitress refilled one and a half glasses with tea and ran out. She never returned except to allow us to order dessert to go. Our service was not as good as it usually is. There was five teenage girls who stayed in a huddle talking about life and pretty much ignored most of the customers. I stood at the register for several minutes waiting to pay before anyone noticed. I will likely go back one more time to see if anyone else has made changes that are needed. I think there needs to be a more mature person leader and all would be great. read more

Great comfort food! My favorite thing are the desserts.

Our first visit from Chattanooga & won't be our last. Our good friends drove us the 45 beautiful mins to the restaurant. The restaurant was set in a beautiful TN valley. It was a little too cool to sit outside, but we wish to return to eat dinner on the porch when it is warmer. We were grated at the door and seat promptly. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. The food was good, but you should See the desserts!! Huge slices of cake, pies, all sorts of cup cake and fried pies! YUM! A big thing for us is the fact that the vegetables are Not cooked with any meat products, i.e. hambone etc. This gave my vegan the chance to enjoy a great meal. read more

Wow, amazing food. Try the chocolate cake. My wife was fascinated with the meat loaf. Great prices and friendly service. read more

Cookie Jar Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Dunlap, Tennessee

My meal was good. Friend on one side did not like her cornbread salad and my wife was served a very small burned sweet potato. Did not order desert. read more

I have been to this place on numerous occasions. I think its mostly known for its desserts, cakes and pies galore! All are amazing! My favorite is the chocolate torte... mmm. Mmm. Good. The scenery is beautiful and i highly recommend this place. I always leave very full and very happy! To the ones that have had a bad experience here, i suggest another chance at it.. we all have our off days.. so maybe it was just that.. but my visits have always been pleasant. And i will continue coming back for more.. read more

I was in Chattanooga for a few days and wanted to take a drive in the country. I asked a friend for suggestions, and she told me about the Cookie Jar, so I made it the destination for the halfway part of my drive. I'm not sure I would have found it without help from Siri, because it's in the middle of nowhere, but when you pull up the gravel drive into the parking lot one thing is instantly clear: this is what Cracker Barrel wishes it was, an honest to goodness "country" restaurant where locals and hungry travelers can get some great food at great prices in a family friendly environment. I had the barbecue, and while barbecue isn't their "specialty," it was quite good and the portions were more than sufficient. I sat at the counter and got to talk to the staff. It's a family-run business where the people who work there seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs and the turnover is probably non-existent. The food is good and the atmosphere friendly, but in a sincere way, not the forced friendliness of a chain restaurant. In this day and age where everything is homogenized and every exit on every freeway from coast to coast has the same handful of chain restaurants, it's nice to know places like the Cookie Jar still exist. Forget the Cracker Barrels of the world: this is the real deal. read more

Cute little place located out on the back roads. Food was very good. read more

Cookie Jar Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Dunlap, Tennessee

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This is definitely where I think of when I hear the phrase "home style cooking." Perfectly placed in the countryside, while keeping its charm. The food is good, but the people are better. It's really fun to look at all the different cookie jars they have stashed around. It's worth visiting if you ever want that country experience! read more

Awesome country food, good service, clean bathrooms. Not too out of the way. Worth it! Oh and they have homemade pies and cupcakes. read more

Cookie Jar Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Dunlap, Tennessee

Beautiful location. Good good. Daily specials. Grilled meatloaf was a first. Friendly people. I will be back. read more

Cookie Jar Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Dunlap, Tennessee

The three stars is purely for the magnificent location and views of rolling hills and livestock. They also have a fancy cookie jar collection. My family went together and we enjoyed.... didn't enjoy anything we ordered except the desert. The cornbread was extraordinary dry, and the fried pickles were steaming hot on the outside and COLD INSIDE at the same time. The chicken casserole was again dry and could pass a a turkey and dressing dinner,,,(dry) we had to order gravy ( for a casserole) the chicken and dumplings were basically pepper and gravy water. Wife sent it back and waitress ( doing everything in entire restaurant including taking cake orders) said everyone says the same thing ( insert ‍ here) the vegetable plate was just a bunch of saw vegetables fried. I repeat vegetables were room temperature covered in soggy fried flower. MY GOODNESS THE ITALIAN CREAM PIE WAS FANTASTIC. Chocolate pie was MoISt, strawberry pie was ok, three of us split those and made a Neapolitan cake. Cakes are huge. They seem to know everything there is terrible except the views and cakes. This would have been a two star but service was Honest and they were knowledgeable about the area and helping grandma not be cold. read more

Cookie Jar Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Dunlap, Tennessee

everything is frozen or canned, desserts are attractive but tasteless, pinto beans are properly cooked, cornbread is dry and tasteless restrooms are filthy read more

I was visiting my mom and stepdad in Chattanooga last weekend, and they wanted to drive to Dunlap (me: "Where's THAT?") to eat at the Cookie Jar Cafe. I wouldn't make this drive all the time (it's a hike from Chattanooga), but it was a surprisingly good country meal. I ordered the catfish and two sides (corn pudding and hush puppies). The catfish (fried) was among the best I've ever had - flaky, not dry, not over-breaded, cleaned properly. The hush puppies were great, and the corn pudding was fine. I may have stuck my fork in my grandfather's mac and cheese by accident, and it tasted basic but in a way that gave me nostalgia feels. It tasted like mac and cheese I loved when I was five. I was surprised by the quality (and the classic quality) of the food, and the restaurant is charming. Very country. And your view - it's country, too. Cows, trees, barns, all from the front windows. You can also enjoy the view from one of several rocking chairs on their wrap-around porch. Definitely a charming, country experience, if you don't mind a drive from Chattanooga! read more

Country cooking and a huge selection of yummy desserts! Walked through the petting zoo section afterwards with the grandkids. An old favorite of ours and we will definitely be back. read more

First time atet e Cookie Jar Cafe while visiting our daughter in East Tennessee. At the time we visited I was on a low carb diet but there were plenty of options and I did not leave hungry. Personally, I enjoyed my wife's grilled catfish. The service was excellent and there is a huge display case of homemade cakes and whatnot which looked delicious. We will be back! read more

Just had lunch there. Absolutely the best homemade food in Dunlap TN. Had the chicken and dumplings and oh so delicious. Husband had meatloaf his was excellent too. Had no room for desert but man did it look good too. If you are in the area highly recommended going there. read more