Off the beaten path, but a little surprise in the country. A family member brought us here for a Sunday lunch and we were delighted. It looks like a bed and breakfast with a pool and pool house. There is a garden and shabby chic decor throughout. Inside there are many tables and what looked to be a stage for music, although we didn't see that when we visited. The owner was so friendly. We had a reservation. The buffet changes based on what they have available and you are to take what you can eat to not waste. That day, my favorite items were the salad, dressing, cranberry sauce, green beans, and fruit. I appreciate the pride they take in serving their food. If ever I'm in the area again, I'll surely stop back in. read more

Best place to eat if you like home-grown, delicious food in a uniquely great atmosphere. The friendliest owners are a Christian couple who provide friendly service and live music. Pretty sure their only open on Sundays, so plan your visit and reserve a spot at their home away from home tables. read more

Larry Bruce Gardens - We celebrated Memaw's birthday in her favorite restaurant. Delicious buffet and coffee. - Guest Houses Near Me - Kennard, Texas

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It's a bit of a drive out there but that is a part of the charm. It's a lovely drive there. The food is a large buffet with lots of variety. There is also a band that plays around noon. It's a bit expensive but worth it. read more

My family went here for the Sunday lunch buffet and OH. MY... it was wonderful! Best food we had our entire trip. Check their Facebook to see what they're offering for the week. I also highly recommend calling for a reservation. We didn't and we're lucky they still had a table. It was packed inside. There was even a live band playing! read more

The house we stayed in was very comfortable and nicely decorated. The flowers were beautiful end all the pine trees were also. We were there for the service on Sunday morning and it was a Blessing to us and our friends there with us. After the service we had the buffet lunch and it was delicious! It was very reasonably priced. We enjoyed the music during the service and lunch. As one of our friends said " They were our kind of people" ! Very casual and inviting. We would like to make it a yearly tradition. We would go more often but it's a 5 hour drive from where we live. If we lived near we would go every Sunday. The Host Larry and Sarah were so nice. They made everything so easy. read more

Larry Bruce Gardens - First house - Guest Houses Near Me - Kennard, Texas

My husband and I made last minute plans for an anniversary trip and we couldn't have been happier with our decision! We booked the Jeep back road excursion and the Love Shack. Off we went not knowing how awesome this place really was! Details: First and foremost, The Owners- Mr. Bruce and his Wife are so sweet and welcoming, Mr Bruce gives the message on Sunday morning at 10:45. Jeep- wasn't too expensive, lunch included, the trip/tour had beautiful scenery and the map with directions made it easy to navigate since service is spotty and not many road signs (you are pretty much in the national forest most or all of the trip) When you rent the jeep it's for the whole day but the trip can be as long or as short as you'd like it to be. Just have to have the jeep back by dark! (Just to give you an estimate) we were gone 7 hrs and did everything except get out at the lake. Love shack/rental- clean, cozy, hot tub thats screened in, food delivered for dinner or breakfast from restaurant if you'd like to order it ahead. I don't believe there's anything else to eat near by, but could be wrong! Sunday buffet 12pm/restaurant- AMAZING, no other words! My husband is a picky eater when it comes to a buffet and usually leaves hungry or has to eat larger portions of 1 or 2 things to get full. Here he did not have any issues finding things he liked! Everything was so fresh, true meaning of farm to table. We can't wait to go back soon, we highly recommend Larry Bruce Gardens to everyone even if it's a little trip just to the restaurant! They also deliver on Fridays, give them a call! read more

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We do a lot of road trip vacations, and one of our favorite things about Yelp is finding some out-of-the-way local gem on our route. In this case, that's NOT how we found Larry Bruce Gardens, but it's definitely one of those places. Summary -- if your travels take you anywhere near LBG during their dining hours, do yourself a favor and detour over for a meal. If you're just looking for a not-so-heavy lunch, grab a BLT w/avocado or a club sandwich. If you're willing to take on the Sunday buffet -- well, I only have two words for you: food coma. We stayed on property for a few days (check out their guest cabins on larrybrucegardens.com or VRBO), and managed to do both. The sandwiches are excellent -- my BLT with avocado was fantastic (though I ordered w/o the standard cheddar cheese slice -- a no-no on a BLT, in my view). Sweet tea or unleaded is readily available and quite fresh, and everything involves fresh things from the gardens. LBG has a great combination of down-home food you'd expect, plus plenty of healthier items that you wouldn't. The Sunday buffet typically has 2 smoked meats, and on our buffet visit it was brisket and chicken -- both quite tasty. As you might expect the yeast rolls were to die for, and the cornbread was perfect -- dry, like I like it. A slab of butter was available to burnish these. Lots of sides were available -- vegetables, soups, etc. -- along with a salad bar that included non-standard items from the gardens (like cucumber salad, fresh-sliced tomatoes, guacamole). Something for everyone, in other words. Dessert on our visit was zucchini cake -- you may be making a face right now, but trust me, you need to repent. The cream cheese icing alone would make you slap your grandma. Hosts Larry and Sara (and staff) were all wonderful, and there's a great family atmosphere in the place. If you're in a hurry, hit Whataburger. If you want to enjoy a great meal in a wonderful local spot -- LBG is your place. Check it out! read more

Larry Bruce Gardens - Samples from the Sunday buffet... - Guest Houses Near Me - Kennard, Texas

Wonderful place to eat and relax, quiet place surrounded by the Davy Crockett National Forest, sandwiches and salads are delicious. Service is awesome, my wife and I really enjoy this place and visit them 3-4 times a year. Make sure to reserve a cozy cabin in the property and enjoy. read more

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We stopped here on our way from Texas to Louisiana. We loved the Yelp description and thought we'd give it a try. The food was fresh and delicious. The hospitality was welcoming. The decor and building are somewhat eclectic and mismatched. However, this kind of lends itself to the ambiance of the place. We enjoyed the Turkey and Provolone Croissant and the Southwest Chicken Salad. We tried their freshly made apple dumplings which were warm and sweet. Sweet tea was offered by the pitcher. The owner was there and stopped by to say hello and check on our needs. They have a counter of freshly jarred garden goods for sell. We had a sample of their dill pickles. They were so good we had to buy a quart jar! It's a little out of the way but worth the drive for a fresh dining experience. read more

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This place is on the way to nowhere. It's not a place you stop at because you happen to be driving past. But it's worth every mile you travel out of your way to visit. Once you arrive you'll wonder where you are. The outside gives no hint of what you'll find inside. I shared a Club Sandwich on Croissant and a Strawberry Avocado Salad with my mom. Everything on the salad tasted like it was picked fresh that morning. A delicious spinach base with avocado, cashews, strawberries, dried cranberries, and grilled chicken with a flavorful dressing (I'm not usually a fan of honey mustard dressing but this was the perfect blend of sweet and spicy). And they were kind enough to split the salad on two plates! $6 each for this feast and worth every cent. The croissant sandwich was piled high with turkey, bacon, tomato, avocado, and lettuce. I'm sure the sandwich stood 3-4" high. Served with chips. $10 and we split that between the two of us. And then there was the cheesecake. The best buttery graham cracker crust, topped with cherry sauce. What's not to like? The service was attentive without hovering. Although this was my first visit, the waitstaff made me feel like I was a regular. I love the fact that Larry and Sara have sought out interesting and eclectic furnishings for their restaurant -- it dovetails perfectly with their farm-to-table philosophy. Go meet the Bruces and enjoy their delectable food and genuine hospitality -- you'll be glad you made the drive. read more

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After winding down long dirt roads, we pulled into the driveway of a farm growing a field of veggies. Rows of cars lined the dirt driveway. Church had just gotten out. We walked into the large open room filled with large tables packed with families enjoying fresh homegrown vegetables and tender meat! We were greeted with a warm smile and shown to our table. They set down a couple pitchers of tea. We walked into the next room where we discovered the buffet. We picked up plates and filed them up! Everything was fresh and delicious! Salad, squash, mashed potatoes, pickled okra, coleslaw, rolls & soft butter, sweet carrots that melted in your mouth! Then came the fresh out of the oven dessert. Apple turnovers! Oh yes. Life was complete. Did I mention we enjoyed this meal with the soundtrack of a live bluegrass band? read more

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The Sunday buffet was a welcomed change from the norm. When we arrived we found our reserved table, from there we were encouraged to make our way to the buffet line. A few of the items were pork ribs, chicken and a Mexican casserole. There was a great salad bar complete with fruit, salad, pasta and even deviled eggs. The hot rolls had just come out of the oven and the cream peas were the best I've eaten. Carrot cake was the dessert and it was good and the coffee was hot & fresh! The only recommendation I could make, is the steam table (Mexican casserole) was cold. It should be checked to ensure proper temps. When in Kennard, TX., give them a try. Go get Full read more

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I couldn't imagine them ever receiving less than 5 stars. We stayed at their bed & breakfast, and enjoyed their Sunday buffet before leaving. The bed and breakfast cabin was surrounded by flowers and butterfly filled gardens. The cabin quaint, the fridge welcomed us with lunch, the bed super cozy, and the breakfast delicious! The country star gazing was breath-taking. The buffet was so perfect! We felt like family in their HUGE yet quaint dinning hall. Live music was playing and I left with a belly FULL of the best "home cooked" meal. The owners were so welcoming and friendly. Thief servitude alone has me want to vacation there again some day! read more

Oh my goodness, where do I begin.?? This place was more than I expected. I was not expecting to be catered too, I was not expecting to be waited on. Sunday morning service was more beautiful and very spiritual. We came here on the recommendation of friends of ours. I'm very grateful they did recommend. We plan on coming back. The amenities we're top-notch. Very accommodating the food I can't even describe how gourmet delicious it was. Not to mention the scenery breathtaking really. read more

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There are restaurant experiences that I say are so fantastic that I would drive 100 miles just to experience it. Well, Larry Bruce Gardens is a restaurant that you actually have to drive many miles to experience because it is in the middle of nowhere. Yet, this absolute gem of a place is located in the thriving metropolis of Kennard, TX and it is worth it, worth it, worth it! A family run place where everyone involved takes pride in providing high quality foods as well as service. As of September 2020, it is only open for lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We experienced Saturday afternoon lunch (Reuben, California club and tomato basil soup) and it was very filling and tasty. However, the best time to go is for the Sunday afternoon buffet. Not only is the food delicious (included ribs, brisket, spaghetti chicken, many types of vegetables, salad, and carrot cake), but it has a fresh and consistent taste to it. In fact, many of the vegetables used in the restaurant are grown there on their farm. You can tell the family and employees really takes pride in this restaurant. The best part of the experience though is the entertainment. There is a folk band that plays and sings old gospel songs with a country flare (reminded me of episode 1 and 2 of the recently aired Ken Burns PBS documentary on county music). Unbelievable talent there. You will not be disappointed with a Sunday morning visit to Larry Bruce Gardens. We plan on visiting again. read more

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Home to table restaurant. It is more than delicious food, with an atmosphere that is superb.

Since our first visit and my review a year ago yesterday, we have been back 5 more times. We have never had anything that was not superb. The owners/hosts are really good, friendly people, and as I said initially, you get a real communal feeling here. Everybody is friendly. The Sunday buffets are really special with an array of food. There is always live music on Sundays. Now, they are planning to do Saturday and Friday night buffets. We always look forward to going here on our trips to our Texas home. This is truly a special place, at least for us. read more

Larry Bruce Gardens - Today's entertainment - Guest Houses Near Me - Kennard, Texas

We love the owners, the service, the food,the worship time, the music and atmosphere! What else could you want? It's in the middle of no where, and somehow people from all over the place, some how find this hidden gem. Everyone we invite to come with us, have raved about it and have returned again and again. The fresh veggies are the best. Sarah Bruce has such a creative eye for decorating!! The cottages for rent are adorable!! We will be back again and again!! read more

You owe it to yourself to spend a weekend at LARRY BRUCE GARDENS hosted by Larry and Sara, in the middle of the Davy Crockett National Forest in Kennard Texas. Only a 2.5 hour drive from Dallas. We found this gem several months ago by chance (it was featured on a local Dallas television station) and we put it on our bucket list. We've been there 3 times now. From the moment you arrive you're treated with old country charm. Surrounding the farm are fields of home grown vegetables, flowers, and 4 lovely B&B cottages. For exercise we hiked among tall forest trees that must be hundreds of years old. Later we sat on our cottage back porch and watched the stars and fireflies and drank champagne. Sunday morning a simple breakfast came at the exact minute we requested. Nothing better than freshly brewed coffee on the porch to watch the sun rise as it peaks in. Perfect quiet . . . then the sound of birds as they began to chirp and the rustling of trees. Oh, I almost forgot- there was a rooster beginning to crow on our front porch till I confronted him. I only got about 19 feet out of a right foot punt. Don't get too comfortable lounging in the morning. There's much more to do. Walk 50 feet to the dining hall to be at the 10:45 inspiring worship service headed up by Pastor (and cook) Larry Bruce himself. Old church hymns and the great Word to remind you how blessed we are and to get you ready for one of the best buffet lunches you will ever experience. People come from all around. Locally grown vegetables and fruits. Homemade everything. The zucchini cake for dessert was so good we had to take a loaf home. (Also a jar of Larry Bruce dill pickles). You will leave both inspired and full. We liked this place so well WE GOT MARRIED THERE YESTERDAY!! So be cautious. . . this place can be magical. Let me know what you think when you go. read more

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Very peaceful place to stay if you want to just enjoy quiet surroundings. We stayed in Serenity and it was very clean with a comfortable bed. We didn't get to stay long enough to enjoy the pool and restaurant but the provided breakfast was delicious read more

Larry Bruce Gardens - Guest Houses Near Me - Kennard, Texas

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Dreadful, poor facility, nothing there. We were promised a refund for 3 nights, it never came. We were so pleased to get away. NOT as advertised. Don't book, miles from anywhere. Shit in for the night with only a sandwich and cold tea. No food or drink in shack. No breakfast as promised. read more

Delicious! We stopped here on a whim and were greeted with warm smiles (even though they had just finished a serving their sunday buffet) and an invitation to take as much as we wanted. We learned about the history of the place while eating homemade mashed potatoes, baked beans, and fresh from the garden salads. There were also meat options that I didn't try but was told everything is local. Will be coming back here our next time camping in the area! read more

An excellent Sunday buffet with Blue Grass entertainment. Get there at 1045 for the fellowship with Larry Bruce bringing the message. You will not believe this place out in the Davy Crockett National Forest. I suggest making reservations. read more

Absolutely worth the few miles off the highway to this gem. It is so nice, clean, and real linens used on the tables. Food is exquisite, the farm to table vegetables and home made desserts are awesome!. The pickled okra, and other vegetables are for sale as well as home made jellies and jams. Later Bruce and his family are great host, offering only the finest in chandeliers and table settings. read more

My wife & I have been hearing good things about this eatery for some time now. Today,Sunday, we took two of our friends there for their birthday lunch. It was all we'd heard and more. The food was outstanding plus they had live music. This is an out of the way place, but well worth taking the time to go there. read more

Such a unique and delicious place! Sweet and simple country setting but walk inside and it's absolutely beautiful, yet warm and inviting. We immediately felt at home, with one of the owners greeting us and seating us quickly and friendly. Sunday buffet was perfect. Everything we tried was appealing to the eye and taste buds...pulled pork, mashed potatoes, green beans, yeast rolls, cornbread, salad/fresh veggies, and more, including fresh baked carrot cake! Dining was made even more enjoyable thanks to the talented blue grass style musicians that played in the background. All impressive and in the Davey Crockett National Forest to boot! read more

This place is a must if you are any where near Crockett tx. We have stayed there twice and enjoyed the Sunday buffet each time. It is like Sunday dinner at your grandma's when you where a kid. Great food and great people. Would give more stars if it where allowed! read more

A year ago while traveling to and from Crockett, TX, I saw a sign on TX-7 for Larry Bruce Gardens, but had no time to check it out. I was amazed to discover this farm-to-table restaurant today (having looked it up on internet). With a group of 13 others, I experienced wonderful home style food, served on s buffet (Sunday special). The food was so fresh and cooked perfectly, the atmosphere filled with joy, and a lot of friendly folks working to make everyone happy. Thank you, Larry & Sara Bruce, for making my weekend perfect!! Look forward to next time!! read more

In the middle of the Davy Crockett National Forest in the middle of a garden, Larry Bruce Gardens provides the best food at a very reasonable price. We are there most Sundays for their noon, endless buffet with the best BBQ in Texas! That's at the beginning of the buffet with homemade rolls warm from the oven with butter & homemade fruit preserves. You think it can't get better but it does. Chicken spaghetti, veggies in season from the garden, salad with endless ingredients with several homemade dressings. Then you get to the fruit, fruity treats, deviled eggs & so much more. When you get back to your table you will find a pitcher of sweet and unsweetened tea. Service is friendly and helpful, the coffee is self-service. There is abundant peace and deliciousness there, full of happy friendly people all so graciously accepting & appreciating what is there. Owners are present meeting & greeting guests, hands on in all things. Larry Bruce Gardens is our favorite restaurant. It's a must for us, followed by a nap when we get home. I highly recommend this surprise in the pines if you haven't been there yet. And if you've been there, I know you're anxious to return, like us. read more

We stayed in the Sweetness and Granddaddy cabins. We turned the hot tub on in Sweetness at 1pm to be ready upon our return from hiking all day. The hot tub was still cold 6 hours later. I called the main number and left a message. No one bothered to return the call or even check with us the next day. I contacted the owner the day after check out and she confirmed they had received the message. She said you have to leave the hot tub running with the cover on and it takes a very long time for it to warm up. However, 6-9 hours seemed a sufficient amount of time for it to heat up. She offered no apologies or compensation. Extremely disappointed to have paid $350 for a one bedroom cabin with an uncomfortable bed and a cold hot tub. Be forewarned, that there is no after hour number for emergencies or issues with your cabins, no instructions on how to operate the hot tub and that no one will follow up with you on issues with your stay. Furthermore, they messed up our food orders, not once, twice, but 3 times and then got snippy with us that it was our fault. We even paid for the extra food we did not order. I will say that the food we did receive was very good. A simple follow up, an acknowledgement or an apology would have gone a long way and if received, this review would never have been written. read more

Very friendly staff and superb lunch in a very large dining room. No breakfast or dinner is served unfortunately but they deliver a hot breakfast to your room if staying overnight!. Each cottage is laid out differently and they are very unique. We stayed in the Love Shack but in our opinion it is not as nice as the other units. The others have a larger patio and more seating along with more standard features inside. No bar on premise so make sure and bring your own liquor and bottle water if staying overnight. The pool is super clean and well maintained plus the water is nice and cool. In fact their pool is in nicer condition than most resorts! Huge wood smoker out back by the pool offers a great aroma! The entry roads are pretty rough so drive slowly and don't bring a sports car. read more

Words can only describe Larry Bruce Gardens: fresh, homemade, organic, creative, delicious, unique, made-to-order, and soulful. My favorite lunch is sitting in their modern, stand-alone chef's kitchen surrounded by their beautiful gardens enjoying a wonderful meal feeling like family. read more

Serendipity is all I can say. Some friends took us to lunch here, and it was marvelous. I had a chicken salad salad, and it was surrounded by fresh fruit and was more than I could eat. To-go boxes are provided. The apple turnovers are small but scrumptious. For lunch, there are all kinds of sandwiches, and something for vegetarians, too. All the sandwiches were $10! The bread was delicious. The dining room is an eclectic mix of Chinese lanterns, crystal chandeliers, and other light fixtures. There is dining on the lower level, too. The dining room overlooks the vegetable garden, where the tomatoes are growing vigorously. There are 5 cabins for rent, all furnished differently and, also, eclectically. Most of them have screened-in porches with hot tubs. Some have mini-kitchens, others mini-bar type set-ups with refrigerators. This was a surprising discovery in the midst of Crockett National Forest. The road is a bit rough, but the drive is beautiful. There is, also, a nice swimming pool area with part sun, part shade, chairs. What a nice place. read more

Awesome place , food for the soul as well as for the pallet . We spent the night before for Sunday service and buffet it was great . Food was perfect, pulled pork , brisket , and all the fixings . I have to come back read more

This place is a must. The staff is friendly and accommodating. The restaurant was beautiful and unique. I had the taco salad. It was delicious, and I will definitely order it again. The homemade dressing was fabulous. We then topped off our meal with an apple turnover. I don't even really like apples, but it was one of my favorite desserts ever!! The restaurant is definitely out of the way, but worth the detour!! read more

Everything is fresh and made with care. So very thankful for the delivery service to Crockett. I absolutely love the salads, all of the dressings are amazing. The sandwiches are big enough for two meals. My favs are the BLT with avocado and the new buffalo chicken sandwich. I cant recommend Larry Bruce Gardens enough. Great family, Great food. read more

I saw this place on a Texas bucket list episode a few weeks ago , so the wife and I decided we would make a road trip and this is one of my top priorities. Being after Christmas, roads were rather busy, but were determined to make this trip. We left our house from Ravenna Tx on Thursday evening and headed to Fredericksburg Tx, since we had a day or two before the Sunday buffet was to open. So after one night, we left Fredericksburg, an over rated city, and we traveled thru Austin and shopped a bit and then on over to Madisonville, Tx where we decided to stay overnight just to visit Larrys Garden to eat.( remember this was a priority of this whole trip) Here is where the diamond was found!! As I knew they also have some Bed and breakfast cabin rentals, I was a little scheptical as driving in the parking lot as there were only a few cars in the parking lot, but we arrived a little early @ 11:30 am Sunday and they don't open until 12 pm. So I pulled in and backed up the motor home in an open spot, so I could get out in case there was a crowd, then I sat in the drivers seat and waited, As my wife was powdering up some , within a few mins before opening. Then came the vehicles pulling in the parking lot, I started saying, honey, there's 2 cars, oh another car, now a Jeep, a truck, then another car. Then I knew that even being so deep tucked away off a narrow paved road, that all the locals were connected in a way that I have never seen. This place must have some great food for this kinda rush. Here is where the doors opened, the wife and I went on behind a couple and there was already a line inside, so we got in line a few mins. Then, I said uh oh, I noticed name tags on the table. Wow we should have called and reserved a table, I felt out of place at this time, so I stepped out of line and I politely asked the Tea girl ( that's the name she called herself) , did I need reservations? she said oh. You don't have any? Let me see what I can do. She then said , I can just seat you downstairs if that's ok, I replied "sure, that's would be fine " as I didn't care if we sat outside at this time, the food smelled amazing and must be really great to draw such a crowd in such a short period. REMEMBER, This isn't the big city, but sure had the customers lined up like a Black Friday sale. So back to seating, she took us down the corner down a ramp and wow, the floor was old brick pavers. Now this is my kind of home style. Nothing fancy but let's see how the food was. After she took our drink order, the tea lady (thanks for being so nice) told us to grab us a plate and we could make as many trips back to buffet as we wanted. So the wife and I got us a plate of food , oh and piece of pecan pie each. Oh my the sweet tea,smoked chicken, smoked brisket, cooked carrots, and oh the chicken salad, I'm not a fan of chicken salad either,but when i finished my plate, there wasn't any leftovers, not even a crumb for the mice was left. The pecan pie was Sooo delicious also. Not a thing that I had gotten, did I have any complaints. I decided to go have a small salad, but saw they had some fruit, had a couple slices and then they were playing some live music. It just set the mood so great, that when eating some homemade pickles, just remind me of my mother's pickles that she used to make when I was a child. She had lived canning, as this was a part of of family to make ends meet. We paid out at the door for our meal and of course we purchased a quart of pickles and a jar of fresh made blackberry jam for my next meal that I hope is near as great as this meal was. So I would definitely say that this does need to be a Bucket list on everyone's list to do, but for me, I think I will have to make this a few times a year a one way trip 219 miles to fill my belly and soul of the blessings that are served here. AMEN read more

Very rarely can you get filled physically and spiritually at the same place. This was our first visit to the Gardens but will certainly not be our last. The church service with two speakers was so spiritually uplifting and the music was just an added bonus. Then, some of the most sumptuous food that we have had the privilege of partaking in. All home grown and prepared right there. read more

What a great find! And right in the middle of the Davy Crockett National Forest! Food is WONDERFUL! Straight out of the garden outside the windows of the dining room. The owners are so welcoming and nice. You instantly feel right at home. I definitely recommend it to everyone! read more