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    Mel's Old Times Cafe

    4.4 (35 reviews)
    Closed • Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Mel's Old Times Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    MEL'S OLD TIMES CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Ate as much as I could

    The food was great and the service is too. Very friendly staff. Worth the stop. Perfect little town cafe

    Front of Restaurant
    Lynn C.

    The Spencer/Fall Creek Falls area does have a wide selection of restaurants but we tried Old Times Cafe this morning for breakfast. It was a very good country breakfast! We had eggs and bacon with biscuits and gravy. I also added some country ham. Very good meal and I would definitely eat there again. They do not accept cards but there's a bank with ATM close by.

    Catfish and Onion Rings
    Tim M.

    Great home town cafe experience. No joke, the best cat fish and slaw we've ever had. Burger was good and hush puppies were amazing. If you like country cooking you'll love this place. Don't be snooty about the building, it's old but very clean. We met Mike, the owner and he couldn't have been more personable. If you're traveling up/down HWY 111 or camping at Fall Creek Falls it's worth the trip. Yummy!!!

    Remnants of Bacon Cheeseburger w/ Fries.
    Eric H.

    There isn't a whole lot in Spencer, TN, but the Old Times Cafe is nice little diner to grab something to eat. The restaurant is very affordable and the owners are very nice and stopped to see how the food was. I got the bacon cheeseburger with fries and it was a good diner style burger. Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of the bacon cheeseburger before I ate it. I don't know if I'll ever be back to Spencer, but if I do I'll make sure to stop by Old Times Cafe.

    Fried catfish, slaw, and onion rings.
    Cloey B.

    This place is a hole in the wall with delicious comfort food. We had the fried catfish and it was great! The owner is very nice and has been in business for 24yrs. Definitely swing by if you are in or around Fall Creek Falls.

    Doug B.

    Outstanding cafe in Spencer! During our week at Fall Creek Falls, we had eaten in Pikeville, Crossville, Cookeville and Nashville. The Old Times Cafe is as good and better than other places we tried (we stayed away from chains). There's something for everybody, very well priced, friendly excellent service. We had the seafood buffet, outstanding! Lemon pepper grilled chicken, superb, and chili cheese dog with onion rings, a 10! Just like the good ol' days. Cash only. Highly recommend!!! We would love to try their breakfast.

    BBQ pulled pork sandwich with potato wedges ($7 -ish)

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    1 month ago

    The owner was fabulous! The food was horrible t, fresh and delicious! The establishment was clean and cozy! Highly recommend!!

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    20 days ago

    Went to breakfast barely 10am and was told no more breakfast they were starting on lunch. Will not be back!

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Food is great!!! We really enjoyed the small diner & service was great too. Staff & owner were friendly & welcoming.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    The burger with wedge taters was DELICIOUS! I hate that it's so far away from my home but don't miss it if you are in the area!

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    They had a grease fire and ate currently closed. Be sure to call before you drive to the restaurant.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great food and service!! Each day is a different special. Chicken liver on Thursdays are my favorite. Not open on the weekends.

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Yummmy!! Good food after a long hike at Falls Creek Falls. Inexpensive too. Nothing fancy but full of really nice people!

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    7 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Placed a 2 go order & half the food was not given to us. Cheat!!! When we called multiple times, they would not answer the phone!

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    Ask the Community - Mel's Old Times Cafe

    The Rose Garden Restaurant - BLT with Egg and Hashbrowns with Cheese

    The Rose Garden Restaurant

    4.5(130 reviews)
    27.8 mi
    •$

    best home cooking in town better yet tn. n the pie for desert yes indeed . the service and location…read morewill keep you coming back for more. and if you like swimming well it's close to center Hill lake marinas

    The Rose Garden is an absolute gem and a must stop if you are in the area! It's very close to Canoe…read morethe Caney and perfect after a trip on the river (or before). We came in on a Saturday afternoon and it was pretty busy. It's a no-frills space inside but that's what I want in a classic meat and three! There's a menu on the wall with specials and a physical menu a well which was great. Our table had the chicken and dumpling special, fried catfish sandwich, fried okra, mashed and scallop potatoes, green beans, and cornbread. Everything was excellent and you could tell was home cooked. The fish, okra, mashed potatoes and chicken and dumplings were stand outs though. So good! We decided to grab two pies to go to share with some lucky friends, and got the peanut butter fudge and pecan plus a slice of the lemon meringue. Everything was so good but the peanut butter and pecan is very rich (obviously). Both were excellent but we should've grabbed some vanilla ice cream. The lemon meringue was excellent, and if we had known you need to order it in advance to get a whole pie we would've! Now we know for next time. Be sure to stop by The Rose Garden if you are in the area for excellent homemade southern cooking!

    Photos
    The Rose Garden Restaurant - Inside

    Inside

    The Rose Garden Restaurant - French Toast

    French Toast

    The Rose Garden Restaurant

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    Family Ties Restaurant

    Family Ties Restaurant

    4.4(109 reviews)
    28.3 mi
    •$

    We ended up here by mistake while meeting our son and his girlfriend in Crossville. Our original…read moremeeting spot was a different restaurant but their dog threw up in their car so they pulled into this parking lot. After dealing with the dog we checked the reviews and they were good so we decided to stay here and eat. We all really enjoyed our breakfasts. I got the breakfast with biscuits and gravy, even though she said they don't make the biscuits in house. It was very good. I also got grits and scrambled eggs. My husband got 2 eggs over easy with English muffins, bacon and grits. Our son got the breakfast with pancakes. The service was excellent and the interior was cute. Our server was really nice but I can't remember her name.

    Make you wanna slap your Mama!…read more Now... before you say "it's only biscuits and gravy." You should know that I Love Biscuits and Gravy. Read my reviews and you'll see that B&G is a frequent mention, especially when I travel away from home. And if there was a Mount Rushmore for B&G, I'm would put Family Ties' up on it... right next to Mom's Restaurant in Franklin, Ohio (formerly located in Red Lion). , Small order for $4.95. Large for $5.95. I added two eggs over easy. This is 2026 pricing! The plate came out looking unassuming. I ordered a small plate which is one open face biscuit with plenty of Gravy on top. (I didn't take a pic because I was in the small booth next to what I assume is the back door. The sun was casting shadows so I missed a great photo op). Looks are deceiving. This is some seriously good stuff. So simple but Sooooooo Good. Please don't ever change this recipe. I will be back!

    Photos
    Family Ties Restaurant - Interior

    Interior

    Family Ties Restaurant - Breakfast with pancakes, grits, sausage links and scrambled eggs.

    Breakfast with pancakes, grits, sausage links and scrambled eggs.

    Family Ties Restaurant - Outside of the restaurant. It appears old but don't let that fool you.

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    Outside of the restaurant. It appears old but don't let that fool you.

    Screen Door Kitchen - Fried Chicken Sandwich

    Screen Door Kitchen

    4.3(157 reviews)
    30.3 mi
    •$$

    Absolutely great place. The food was outstanding and look of the place was great. It's an old house…read moreand it looks like it. Such a cool little historical building. The service was great and some by the owner mostly. We had a nice chat with the owner who's quite the traveler. Even has some family in my home state of New Jersey. Our order was a simple lunch. I had the turkey avocado club and the Mrs had a dill chicken salad sandwich. Both were outstanding and the fried green tomatoes were the best we've had. I didn't ask but it seemed the fries were hand cut. I definitely recommend a stop there.

    Love everything about this place. Historical converted…read moreschoolhouse w remnants of the past; chalkboards & shelves. Etc Some original hardware and nice quilts hanging up, along with the family run feel and vibe, I've always felt welcome & taken care of. I don't have many vegetarian options but I love the mashed potatoes w red skin, and delicious homemade Mac and cheese. Oft times I just get sides like the aforementioned along with a house salad and their delicious homemade ranch. A great burger & I love the absolute delicious fresh-ground French-pressed coffee. A bit but pricey, so I can't share ha ha sorry/ I need more than one cup! Tho the quality is a nice change, so I splurge. Friends and family have ordered catfish, meatloaf, and chicken parm- all enjoyed. I appreciate the fact that it's delicious home-cooking yet quality clean ingredients such as I love. I also like the fact that the staff seem artistically able to express themselves whether it's the tattoos or clothing or whatever; it's professional but welcoming, and I appreciate that. A lot.

    Photos
    Screen Door Kitchen
    Screen Door Kitchen - Arugula and butternut squash salad

    Arugula and butternut squash salad

    Screen Door Kitchen

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    Mel's Old Times Cafe - diners - Updated October 2026

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