The staff are great! The food is just like home cooked food your Grandma used to make! You want real down home southern cooking come eat here! The restaurant is clean and the food is reasonably priced! read more

Local Joe's - One of the owners and a customer. We will eat here again for sure!!! - Southern Near Me - Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

As soon as I walked in, I was welcomed. The staff are very sweet and helpful. The sweet tea is pretty good and balanced perfectly with tea and sugar. The food was delicious, I had fried steak , Mac and cheese and green beans. Seasoned and cooked perfectly. This is a perfect hang out spot or meeting up with friends. read more

Local Joe's - Southern Near Me - Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

See all

The say they are open until 5 pm on Thursday - don't believe it. Got there before 4:55 pm today and already closed. Don't trust their stated hours. read more

I go to Local Joe's quite a bit. My husband is completely southern. I was raised on wonderful southern food made with love by my Mama Yvonne . Everytime I walked in to Local Joes Mrs. Lori would greet me with her rosy cheeks and a beautiful smile and hello. She looks like Mrs Santa Clause in July. The owner or manager is so kind and nice. He is very generous with the portions. Everyone is kind. The food is delicious. We tried most of it. We love everything especially the catfish andthe banana pudding that Mrs Lori made from scratch. My mama passed away in 2011. This wonderful southern food reminds me of my mama Yvonne's food . Also i cook some of my mama in law's recipies from my husband words of mouth. Turn out really good. Some the food there taste like hers too. Thank you. read more

Local Joe's - Me. Happy to be at local Joes - Southern Near Me - Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

Amazing food. I had baked chicken, green beans, cabbage. She had pork chops, salad, green beans- all good. Just like grandma's cooking- I'll be back. read more

This local meat and three is nice to have available but the food is at best mediocre. Everything I have had here could stand to be seasoned better. Not sure I will be returning anytime soon. read more

Local Joe's - Catfish, hush puppies, corn, crowder peas - Southern Near Me - Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

Came here on a trip from California and wanted to experience my first meet in three we looked up YouTubes of where to eat and came across a promotional video for local Joe's so I was so excited. But honestly left disappointed the food was definitely cafeteria/ Hospital quality almost canned food like ...the chicken and meatloafs themselves were good but that was about it also staff seemed flustered with each other that day maybe? and it was not a busy day... we had so much amazing food on this trip this was just unfortunately at the bottom. read more

Came here tonight at 4:30pm for turkey and dressing but they were out. So I ordered the chicken and dumplings, not bad, The green beans were so salty, you could not eat them. The Mac and cheese and cornbread were so dry, you could not eat them. What a waste of money and time! ‍ read more

We ate there yesterday after not going for quite awhile and found it was under new ownership. It was excellent we got meatloaf and turkey which were excellent. The sides were good green beans and boiled cabbage were also very good also. I'm glad we tried it again and will be going back for sure. read more

We are always looking for local mom & pop restaurants when we travel and found Local Joe's via the iExit app. It is located in a strip shopping center, but don't let that fool you. The food was really good (meats cooked perfectly and veggies seasoned well.) and the portions were large. The service was excellent and we enjoyed chatting with the folks who work there. This will be a repeat eat any time we are in the Mount Juliet area. read more

This place is billed as a "Meat & 3" which is a Nashville tradition of homemade fresh food. But the twice-baked potatoes were basically leftover spuds thinned down with water rather than milk or cream, and no gravy was offered or available. Plus the green beans were a canned mushy mess - even though it's midsummer. Maybe when Sprouts opens later this year this place will have fresh veggies. And no bread or cornbread with the meal, that was unusual. My fried chicken salad was great, but my girlfriend was not pleased with her meal, especially at the high prices they charge. The loud redneck country music made it feel more like a biker bar than an upscale restaurant with upscale prices. Sorry, we won't be back. There are simply too many REAL Meat & 3s around town. read more

I can't believe I've waited so long to try Local Joe's! Stopped in for lunch today. The food was fresh & GOOD! The service was top notch, friendly and proactive. The place is clean. They even brought warm, out of the oven, chocolate chip cookies to our table for dessert. Well done! Chicken & dumplings, green bean casserole & baked apples for the win. Only problem is I went home and took a nap for a half hour instead of logging back into work.... It was that kind of satisfying read more

Local Joe's - Chicken dumplings Green bean casserole Baked apples - Southern Near Me - Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

Local joes is one of the last good meat and threes in MJ. I'm not from Tennessee originally but when I moved here the idea of a cafeteria being available in many different places was amazing (I may have gained 20 lbs my first few years cuz I can't say no to a meat and some sides!)! After the closure of Courtney's, Local Joes has been a good replacement. They have fun family events like balloon animals sometimes and even when it's busy they deal with it pretty well. It's somewhere I would be proud to take my family if they ever decided to come to Tennessee to visit! I'm giving 4/5 because their food consistency is not always 100. In my photo my food was lukewarm and kinda just OK, but I've definitely gone before and it's been some of the best food I've ever had. They also go around giving cookies sometimes and that home style touch is what MJ is all about! read more

Local Joe's - Country fried chicken, potatoes, Mac and cheese - Southern Near Me - Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

I ate here last week and was not impressed by the food at all. I have to say that the restaurant is very clean and the young ladies that were working there were very pleasant. I ordered the catfish and hushpuppies and was shocked that they would still be offering fish that clearly, was sitting in the heating tray for a long time. It was cold and had the feel of leather. the hushpuppies were good, so I ordered a few more of them. Stayed away from the fish while the others in my party ate their dinners. I have to say that the other two dinners were good, but nothing to write home about. I will not be back again! read more

Been here a few times. The staff was very friendly and community oriented. Both times thatI went there, it was after 5pm and it seemed as if the food was what was left at the end of the day. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. However, the price was much either. read more

Good food at good prices. Friendly staff and warm cookies. Recommend going early though.

The food and service were incredible. Great food, great service. Today was my first visit, it definitely won't be my last read more

First time here. Not sure how to order so we asked, very politely, and a young lady, looked at us and sternly stated, "stay right there, and I will be with you in a moment." Well she didn't but another young lady helped and also looked unhappy or stressed. The blackened fish was not well cooked, so afraid to eat it, the mashed potatoes had no flavor, and green beans had old bacon grease taste. The ham was fairly good. Spent over $40 for 2 and very disappointed. No warm welcome or smiles at any customers. read more

I wish I could do 3.5 stars, but alas, not possible! This is a bonafide cafeteria style meat and three. The place is clean and has friendly staff! Extra points for hiring handicapped staff, too! Loved my very generous portion of baked ham. It was perfectly cooked and moist. The peas and carrots were canned and a bit regrettable, but passable. They also had cinnamon apples that were very tasty and not too sweet. The husband went with the turkey and dressing, and seemed rather pleased by it. The yams that they served likely were canned. However, it was amply good. He enjoyed the potato soup. They passed fresh cookies today. And it was very good. The husband was so full that couldn't finish his pecan pie. I only took a little bite, but it was a smart choice for a pie. The price was very flaky, and the filling was on point. I could not finish my food either. Portions are very generous here. Prices are moderate - possibly a little on the high side, but the saving grace is portion size! We did enjoy the change of pace, and can't put a price tag on that. Thank you, Local Joe's! read more

Had a wonderful lunch at Local Joe's Café in Mt Juliet. This is a standard cafeteria style Meat & 2 (or 3 if you want) but I must say the people who work there make it special and vibrant. I decided on the ham (although all of the meats looked delicious) with mashed potatoes and peas for the sides and a slice of red velvet cake. The ham was delicious with a slight smoky/salty flavor and the potatoes and peas were good. The red velvet cake was moist and sooo good...the desserts come from a local bakery. Overall this is a solid Meat & 2 and the service was exceptional. From getting you drinks to clearing the tables, everyone was so friendly and helpful. When you have good food and exceptional people...you have a great combination for a successful place. read more

Local Joe's - a plate of food on a tray - Southern Near Me - Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

Everything by far was excellent. Beat ham ever along with the smoked turkey! Sweet service. They love to have your business. Cute little place. So glad we turned around when we happed upon this little gem on a 21 day road trip. We had to stop back by and purchase 2 smoked hams to bring back home! read more

Food, cornbread was over done and dry, potatoes tasted funny and brisket was not good.

Ate there for lunch today and got the chicken and waffles. It was one frozen Tyson chicken tender and one waffle not even the size of the palm of your hand for 10 dollars. That is a joke. One tiny chicken tender and one tiny waffle. Also ordered the chopped steak with 2 sides for 14 dollars. It was a banquet frozen Salisbury steak dinner. Expected for the price the food to be kinda homemade. Don't understand how this place stays in business. read more

I don't know how you could leave Local Joe's without a smile. The staff are so friendly and helpful, a lot of times there are young people and teens working and they are so polite and kind. The customer service is top notch. The food is like grandma homemade it, I love the variety and they walk around and offer a fresh baked cookie that reminds me of my mom's. (I love the fried chicken, okra, Mac and cheese, biscuit and banana pudding) :) We also joined balloon night during the summer, my 3.5 year old loved it! Such a great business you can be happy to support in Mount Juliet. read more

Food was delicious! If you are wanting good home cooking and home made desserts. This is your place.

Could NOT ask for a better meat & 3 style spot in Mt Juliet. As long time purveyors of a different local meat & 3 in town, Local Joe's is a very welcome change of pace. Why? Because their food actually has FLAVOR. The folks who own Local Joe's and all their waitstaff are the friendliest and most helpful folks you could possibly want to patron.They thoroughly want you to enjoy your experience, and if you leave upset, you clearly didn't ask to talk to someone to offer your thoughts to help make things better for others. I don't know what the crazy person who gave them a one-star rating was thinking. I guess you can't please everyone, but this is the furthest from a 1-star restaurant I've ever set foot in (and believe you me, I've been to several establishments truly deserving of a 1-star rating... Local Joe's is not one of them - by FAR.) We've been 5-6 times now and every time we've been their food is stellar. Perhaps it's because if you're comparing them to other spots around town, Local Joe's food is actually correctly and appropriately SEASONED? It's also always fresh, hot, and prepared safely and sanitarily. Their fried catfish is killer, as is their jalapeno cornbread, but all the sides are always delicious. We seriously have not had a bad thing to eat any time we've been. Go, but expect a line to get in. There's a reason for that line! They have great food and service! read more

UPDATED (after dessert) and they have lost a star. Dang it. How is place 5 stars? My husband and I also ordered dessert, a banana pudding and piece of Chess Pie, which alone was over $7. The banana pudding was blah, and the Chess Pie.... see the picture... no way this tiny amount should cost that much! And it wasn't even good. My disappointment has deepened and rating has decreased... Not even close to 5 stars... Man, I really wanted to love this place! It's local, so I wanted to support them and their menu looked amazing, but it sadly tasted like cafeteria food. I gave it 2 stars because my 4 year old loved his meal. However, my husband and I were underwhelmed and highly disappointed. The Country Fried Steak was decent. The mashed potatoes were okay but I had to add my own butter to get them more creamy. The jalapeño corn bread was dense and dry. The green bean casserole was creamy enough, but loaded with onion. Meh. I was so wanting to love this place. I really was. Please work on your recipes. I want you to be better and be successful. I'm a food snob, so I'm happy to give feedback, but I can't honestly say at this point that I will ever be back. read more

Local Joe's - I split the Chess Pie with my hubby, but are you serious with this portion? It wasn't even good and cost $4. - Southern Near Me - Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

I ate here with my mother in the evening time and could not be more pleased with our experience. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the prices were very reasonable. I would highly recommend this place and will be coming back to try other items in my future visits! read more

I have no idea how this place has 4.3 stars. It is 100% canned cafeteria food. We have heard good things from locals and decided to come here and give it a shot bc Cracker Barrel just tastes like cafeteria food these days. So very unimpressed. We knew when we walked in we should have left, but I was hopeful it tasted better than it looked- it didn't. The mashed potatoes were ok and tasted like the real thing, the roll was very good. The cucumber & onion salad is sitting in a congealed Italian dressing, the black eyed peas taste like dirt. The smothered steak did take me right back to 8th grade tho. My husband and son just borrowed my steak knife to cut their fish. The service was about what one can expect from a kitchen full of teenagers, not great service but I feel like they tried. It's a cute little place inside, very clean. But unless you're really craving Kenneth o Lester cafeteria food I'd skip it. read more

Local Joe's - Smothered steak, cucumbers & onion salad, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, yeast roll. - Southern Near Me - Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

We stumbled upon this place 6 months ago or more when we were look for dog friendly providers. They were super accommodating then and nothing has changed today. Great food, service and hospitality. read more

Our third week in Mt Juliet and have been eating out once a day, trying local places. Finally am able to try this place. Found it clean, inviting, quiet. Staff were welcoming and showed me what they have for the day. (Menu changes everyday). Loved the food...fish, garlic mashed potatoes, green mustard & corn bread. Will be back before heading back to the west coast. read more

See all

Quality hearty lunch on build your plate options. Simple selections but all was very high quality. Really nice atmosphere and wonderful staff. read more

If you haven't experienced this place put it on your list. The people are amazing people and the food is like home only better.

This was my first time, will definitely return! I can't stop thinking about the blackberry cobbler

Oh my goodness...this is definitely the place to go for a good home town cooking meal! As soon as you walk in you are greeted with smiles and great customer service! The friendly staff checked on us and refilled our beverages...This business is family owned and operated...one of the owners made us feel right at home I would recommend anyone to stop here for some good eats! Great price..fantastic service..delicious food you can't go wrong! read more

See all

I forgot to take photos because I couldn't get this good Southern comfort food in my mouth fast enough. Next time! Lots and lots of choices like catfish, pulled pork, crab cakes, etc. But I ordered the meatloaf, green beans and mashed potatoes. These potatoes had bits of the skin inside. Oh my! This IS like the food your grandma used to make. You will devour it with glee. The place was busy, but we found a seat. I bet 2-3 employees (including Mr. Joe himself) came up and asked if we needed any refills or anything. Then they bring out a tray of hot cookies to the table and offer us a free, hot cookie. What? Everyone here is happy! Southern hospitality at its best! I'm coming back soon with the wife to try another dish! I love this place!!! We need one in Lebanon! read more

Love this local meat & three. The food really hits the spot when you want that home cooking without having to cook yourself. The staff is always friendly & attentive. The fresh chocolate chip cookies are a nice touch. Haven't tried too many things I didn't like, and quite a few new things that I now love. Definitely recommend a visit! read more

This place is a MUST try. The staff was incredibly friendly, polite and truly cared if everyone liked their meal and experience. We had a "meat & three" and enjoyed our selections. This isn't gourmet food, it is true homestyle taste that grandma made. Two lunches with dessert were about $25 and very reasonable. We will go back when in the area! read more

Food was so dry and they have fruit but I'm pretty sure it's canned fruit and the corn was bland

We go occasionally the food is great pork chop is a bit spicy we remember why we don't go often country music is way too loud and softer not bar music would have been nice, service on seeing our drinks are refilled could have been better, and portions are good prices have gone up at all restaurants but it's great meat and three we had worked all day so loud music was not welcomed. read more