Simply Southern Cafe

Well, all the reviews were positive and it had 4.5 stars, but not sure how. They have an…read moreinexpensive buffet, but we ordered off the menu. Coffee was good. Small Juice was large in size. Cheese omelet was 'odd.' Biscuits were just ok. Didn't like the flavor of the gravy. Waitress was sweet and friendly. Place is cute. If you're with a child who likes trains--stop in. Restrooms were very clean.

Great news if you're unaware. They have brought back the lunch buffet. They also have a breakfast…read morebuffet, but I've not tried it. The lunch buffet, $12.99, all you can eat, is excellent. Today I had fried chicken, pinto beans, coleslaw, apples, and fried okra. Everything was delicious. Service was friendly and attentive.

Reviews are great

Check out the Bigfoot burger! It's awesome.

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Club Sandwich served with Tator Tots. ......

High Point Restaurant

4.1(183 reviews)

5.7 mi

•$$$

The food was amazing and the service was great! We really enjoyed our meal. The ambiance was…read morewonderful with building and outside seating. We definitely recommend High Point to everyone interested in a truly memorable dining experience. Don't forget to try the grilled pound cake!! It was delicious!!

Had our Birthday dinner Friday night and it was spectacular. Beautiful restaurant with a very…read morecomfortable atmosphere. We try to make it up here every year. We also had their Ribeye steak and loaded baked potatoes. This place is definitely worth the trip.

Restroom

Ahi tuna

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Beautiful

Mountain Goat Market

4.7(354 reviews)

5.4 mi

This restaurant was repeatedly recommended on social media, and the accolades are justified. When…read morewe arrived, they were packed! But the line to order moved quickly. Hubs ordered the Goodfella Pizza, with a couple of deletions, and loved it. I chose the Elana Ruz sandwich and it was glorious! Not exaggerating, that sandwich was such a delicious combination of flavors. We were able to find seats inside while we waited, and then hubs found a table outside right before our food was ready. The weather was delightful so we enjoyed sitting outside. We loved the overall vibe, although inside was a little loud. Their decor everywhere was so much fun! We also appreciated the drink refills as we headed out. As we left, we saw tons of parking in an adjacent lot, which I've noted for future visits. Mountain Goat Market is now definitely a must-do on our next trip to The Caverns.

Fun fun fun!!!! What a unique and quirky shop! So much to look at! So many pictures and paintings…read more 12:35 on a Tuesday. Party of 4. This place was buzzing with activity. In a very large open room, I was reminded of a high school cafeteria. We were able to get a table right away. Order at the counter and seat yourself. We took turns ordering because our table was the last one and we didn't want to lose it. The meal took only a few minutes to prepare and we were eating by 12:55 The Reuben looked amazing as did the pizza. I was a little jealous. Especially since I ordered the fiesta burrito and found it to be mostly ... just.... okay. I was disappointed that the gift / souvenir shop was closed.

Pesto Sandwich

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Broccoli Salad

La Bella Pearl

4.2(38 reviews)

6.2 mi

You cannot get a more gourmet meal for a better price! The first time we ate here, I actually…read morethought there had been a mistake on the bill because I couldn't believe we had gotten this level of food for the price. The food at La Bella Pearl is thoughtfully created and beautifully executed, with French and Cajun influences woven into a farm-to-table, mountaintop dining experience. Every dish feels intentional without ever feeling fussy. The restaurant itself is set inside a beautiful old home, which makes the experience feel less like going out to a restaurant and more like being welcomed into Chef Tom's home for an incredible meal. The service and atmosphere are warm, relaxed, and unpretentious. You could absolutely dress up for a special date night, but you would feel just as comfortable coming in casually. They do not sell alcohol, but you are welcome to bring your own bottle, and the corkage fee is one of the lowest I have ever seen. La Bella Pearl is a true gem. From the moment you pull up, it feels as though you have stumbled upon the pearl inside an oyster, tucked away on the mountain and waiting to be discovered. Do not sleep on this place. It is easily one of the best dining values I have found anywhere, and the kind of restaurant you almost want to keep a secret.

Great food with a wonderful wait staff friendly and experienced…read more Fast service Wonderful cocktails

Dining room

Grape leaf. The red sauce was Devine. Tasted like Vodka sauce to me. The grape leaf was tough

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La Bella Pearls Restaurant entrance

Jim Oliver's Smoke House Restaurant

3.4(228 reviews)

5.3 mi

JD and Smokehouse is the best food you did anywhere love that place. Great easy great drinks great…read morepeople and just overall a great place to spend an afternoon or an evening you should visit the Smokehouse anytime you can stay in their cabins. Have a great time we've always loved the Smokehouse. What a great experience and what great people and great food.

We were in the mood for some live music and good southern food so we decided to checkout Smoke…read moreHouse on Monteagle. The restaurant is located behind the namesake lodge and has ample parking. They had a nice fireplace going on outside due to chilly weather. Inside was a super cozy southern vibe kind of a place. There were a lot of music memorabilia on the walls. The live music was really good. Randy Finchum kicked off the music and played original and sometimes hilarious songs. He made sure to crack a lot of jokes and stories between the songs. For food we tried fried pickles, fried okra, fried brussels sprouts, and sausage with onions and peppers. Yep...no sight of greens but man was everything delicious. Also, they have cheap beers available but only in bottles. If you're in the mood for some good southern food with a cozy funky vibe then checkout Smoke House.

Grilled Chicken Tenders, real chicken white meat, real good!

Fried Chicken Tenders, real chicken white meat. Great for the kids and for snacking.

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Hand Pulled Pork Shoulder, smoked to perfection, lean goodness.

Shakerag

4.2(14 reviews)

7.2 mi

Nice, classic, resort ambiance. Friendly local service. Dining on patio was perfect on a spring…read moreevening. One of us had the burger and fries. Very good! Fried Brussels appetizer was huge, but also very delicious. Seafood pasta was rich but also savory with a hint of heat. We will be back.

Beautiful hotel right on the campus at the University of the South. The restaurant is tucked inside…read moreand they serve up a nice meal. Options from steak, to meatloaf and burgers. They also have a nice bourbon list if that interests you. Service has always been good and we enjoy visiting for dinner.

Sewanee Inn lobby

Sewanee Inn Double Burger

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Greens View Point, right down the road from shakerag and Sewanee Inn

The Blue Chair Cafe, Bakery & Tavern

3.9(129 reviews)

8.2 mi

Wow! Smoked wings, proper Manhattan, caesar done right, hazy IPA, beyond nice bartender and…read morewaitress. Nirvana

Great beer. Nice selection of greasy-fork foods. Generous person for the hungry diner. The service…read moreis friendly, and the owner is present and funny. This cafe is more of a bistro or bar, but with a country-style. The food was yummy. A lot of fried food, but very satisfying.

What a great place,

The town pub

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Hanks Corner Grille

4.5(73 reviews)

8.7 mi

Amazing steak. Juicy, flavorful with a nice char grilled taste. Broccoli was also cooked perfectly…read more There was live music and the place was loud and fun.

This place was lively and fun as we walked in on trivia night. We came as hungry travelers from…read morehiking, and weren't disappointed. Between the for of us we had the wings, which were smoked, the ribeye was big and cooked perfect, salmon was also very, and be sure to get the burger and try the Hank sauce and Hogwash sauce. DELICIOUS and Taylor is awesome! Sorry no picture but we were hungry. Also get the BIG Beer it comes in a large Mason jar.

Hank's corner

Salmon brocolli bowl

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Beautiful corner view!

Close to Home

5.0(4 reviews)

12.3 mi

Great service, great food! LOVE the small town eats! Philly Steak was excellent! Mya sister got…read morethe steak burger and onion rings, crazy good!! Homemade onion rings!

Hidden gem... inviting family owned restaurant that offers a substantial menu. Friendly staff and…read morefresh food. The hand breaded fried pickles were delicious and the burgers were juicy. Definitely recommend stopping by!

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Pixie R.

15 years ago

simply amazing. eat here and love it.

Simply Southern Cafe - southern - Updated September 2026

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The Mercantile Cafe

4.7

(49 reviews)

This place is a jewel. The food is great! Wonderful catfish and all the veggies are delicious…read more Comfortable booths or bigger tables. Lots of desserts that are so hard to choose. Take some to go like we did! Anytime that we are passing through, we will stop here

While in Manchester Dana and Steven remembered it the first Friday of the month and that means it…read moreShrimp Boil time 5 pm till close with kielbasa, red potatoes and Fried Catfish with their fabulous fries. Be sure and come in, its worth stopping for.

The Roost

5.0

(1 review)

Our second stop here which we expect will grow into many more! Amazing little stop with both…read moreindoor and outdoor seating. Delicious sandwiches and wraps. Creative combinations of great flavors. Spicy chicken wrap was a treat. Buffalo sauce and ranch included. Figgy Piggy and BarBQ are also faves. Chicken salad has a hint of curry. Chips are excellent and of course a pickle spear. Then, dessert. Chess bars big enough for the whole chess "board". Brownies and cookies also generous and really good. Creative coffees and drinks. Ice cream too!

Mountain Top

4.4

(20 reviews)

Definitely becoming one of our favorites, if not the favorite local restaurant in Monteagle. Serves…read moreamazing farm to table options with a diverse menu. Didn't realize they had lunch weekdays and brunch on Saturdays. Every time we've gone, we're treated kindly with attentive service. Our most recent visit, Stephanie offered guidance on their sides, shared information on the brunch, and made sure we had a good experience. From the burgers to the shrimp Poboy at lunch, you also have steak and fresh fish options for dinner. The truffle fries are a favorite for our group as well as the pasta specials. If you have a little one, be sure to ask your server if they have any options available for children. They've been very kind to our granddaughter when she's gone along with us and we are grateful. While there is a small bar, it's quaint and cozy and actually holds more than you expect as they're seating near the kitchen. UPDATE: return the next day for the brunch. Had the Nashville hot chicken and waffles. Mic drop!

Positive - Except for the watery, chunky, bitter tasting remoulade sauce, the Po Boy was excellent…read more Large, flavorful shrimp, nice bun, and fries were good. It would have been one of the best ever if not for the remoulade, which appeared to be either homemade (poorly), spoiled, or both. Negatives - Arriving, waiting to be seated, a young man behind the bar (dark hair, beard), glanced our way but never acknowledged us. A young woman finally seated us, and took our drink orders. Friendly, but incompetent. My wife ordered the Club Sandwich, NO AVOCADO, NO TOMATO. I ordered the Po Boy. My wife then asked for some mayo on the side. Since the server wrote down nothing, I then had to repeat my order. Food arrives, my wife's sandwich is loaded down with avocado and tomato. And here's why we will NEVER return. I went to the restroom. It's early, 11:30, only 3 other tables were occupied. The restroom was disgustingly FILTHY. Long ago dried excrement on the bottom of the seat, no toilet paper, and to top it off, NO SOAP in the dispenser, or anywhere. Meaning, employees using that restroom were not sanitizing their hands. Given that, do you want to eat food that's been handled by them? Attractive restaurant, obviously a lot of money invested to renovate it, so unfortunate no one is properly running it.

Sunrise the Breakfast Place

4.3

(97 reviews)

We had a large party on a Saturday morning. We were easily accommodated and the separate checks…read morewere not an issue. Basic breakfast, chocolate gravy, and pancakes were all great! Good hot coffee and special hot cocoa for the littles. We will definitely be back.

10:25 on a Thursday morning. Party of four. Although it was kinda late for breakfast there were…read morestill a few people there. I get the feeling this joint stays steady because they're so swift and efficient. We didn't have to wait for a table and had coffee within 5 minutes. We placed our orders and received our meal at 10:37. I mean we just walked in 13 minutes ago!!! Anyhoo- talk about delicious!! We tried to eat everything!! Couldn't. But I tried. We made a mess of the table and left at 11:10. Fat, full, happy .

Granny Fishes' House

4.5

(57 reviews)

This was my 3rd time at Granny Fishes. I always look forward to eating here when I'm in town…read morevisiting family. But something is changing and not for the better. Don't get me wrong, it's still down home fried catfish. And they have some of the best hush puppies you can find. But the quality of the fish, the declining service, and the uneven cooking is concerning. First off, you will have to wait to be seated. That is a given no matter what time you go. They are simply that popular. I expect that and have no problem with waiting. But don't seat my party and make us wait another 10-15 minutes to be acknowledged by the server. There is clearly not enough staff to handle the tables they have. I'd rather sit out front talking with friends and family than be sitting at a table being ignored. Once our server came and took our food and drink orders (she was really nice but obviously overwhelmed), she came back with all of the beverages but one iced tea. When we flagged her down, she apologized and said she'd be right back with it. She didn't return until our food was served. She apologized again about the missing tea and finally got it. The hush puppies were outstanding as always. But the fried catfish had an off taste. And she forgot one of the side dishes on three of our plates. I'm not sure if that was her fault or the kitchen but that doesn't make it right. My baked potato was not cooked through (yes, I had the baked potato instead of the standard fries, an odd choice I admit). The white beans were tasty but on the verge of mush, nothing like the saucy beans I'd had here previously. And our drinks sat empty for long periods of time before anyone noticed. This place is a hidden gem, out in the middle of nowhere, and people drive quite a distance to come here. It's a shame that the food and service seem to be declining because I always enjoy coming here....until this trip.

OK. So this one's kinda tough to rate because it's atypical of the regular dining experience you…read moreread reviews for on Yelp. First and foremost: The food is all homemade and awesome! Waitress brings out a basket of huge hush puppies and is quick and generous with drink refills. I had fried catfish and grilled trout with beans and baked potato. It was all delicious (beans needed a little salt). By the way, my friend had a thick, juicy ribeye; probably one of the best restaurant steak values you could find these days. Now here's the caveat: go with friends and have a nice, relaxing conversation either on the front porch or in the comfy waiting room while you wait to be seated. It's a long wait. When you finally do get seated and place your order, continue that conversation over drinks and those delicious hushpuppies. Did I mention it's a long wait? If you're not in a hurry to get somewhere else, I'd recommend this out-of-the-way little place for a nice, long, laid-back, old-fashioned casual experience. If you go expecting quick seating and a fast kitchen, you'll likely ruin your day.

Eighteen58

3.9

(8 reviews)

Food was good. Server was super friendly. The interior is lovely... and given so few options in the…read morearea it was AWESOME to have this spot for a quick dinner after a long drive. The inn and restaurant are both super lovely inside.

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Big Bad Breakfast - Lodge

4.4

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5 stars for the type of restaurant this is. You can't come here expecting fine dining, but for the…read moreprice, I think they deserve the 5 stars. We come here when we're in the area for lunch. We've gotten the buffet both times. The buffet is only around $10. I think it's pretty good for that price. I haven't had anything bad here. I like their fried chicken. It's not overcooked or undercooked. The flavor is also good. The skin has a nice crunch to it. I also didn't think their bbq ribs were bad, either. It was nice and tender. I haven't had a bad side dish here. So I really don't have complaints about their sides. They also had a nice salad bar going. They had a lot on their salad bar. The staff were also pretty friendly. Will definitely be back if I'm ever in the area again!

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