32 Best American Restaurants in Cookeville

“Absolutely and completely satisfied and impressed. Great food at reasonable prices, the restaurant is extremely clean and the atmosphere is so laid back and relaxing. The decor is beautiful. The restrooms are spotless. I will return and I do and will continue to recommend.“

“Found this little place on our way to Florida. Very friendly man who owns the place also does all the cooking. His daughter, Doodle, served us and was super friendly. The pulled pork sandwich was excellent and the cole slaw was homemade and beyond any we've ever had. There is a pool table and jukebox. Our 8 yr old said he wanted to come back and eat on our way back home. Thanks for the great food!“

“Food and service were amazing! Highly recommend the Rose Water cocktail, grit puppies, honey mustard (not your usual honey mustard and so yummy), sweet potatoes, steak and mushroom wrap, Cobb salad, and probably so much more! These were the items I tried and all were so very tasty! CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!“

“When we are on vacation we have a rule that we do not eat anywhere we can eat at home. We decided on this place, for no reason in particular, we just chose it. Walking in the door it was a comfortable environment. The staff did not appear to be stressed out like at a lot of places we eat. I rarely drink alcohol and the drink I ordered was too strong for me. I simply asked for a little extra juice to help and not only did our server say ok but the bar tender even asked if they could doctor it up more than just extra juice. It was perfect after that. Our server was very attentive but not overly attentive. My 4 year old daughter liked her so much she tried to tip her the only coin she had. Instead I suggested she color her a picture. She drew her a very quick picture of her and our server together with a bright sunshine and a giant purple floating heart. Thank you all for such a great experience and showing us a great service and food!“

“This place was soooo good. The Pearl is one of the best burgers I've ever had. The yellow fin, tots, and chips were excellent. The drinks were well made, strong, and reasonably priced. I was just passing through town but I'd be a regular if I lived closer. They had a family emergency and had to close early or we would have stayed longer. I hope everything is ok.“

“This server was either new or overwhelmed. He took forever to get our bar drinks. Couldn't get his attention to refill my Pepsi. Never asked if we wanted another bar drink or if we need anything until the end. Had to ask for our check and togo boxes. Got the check, but didnt get togo boxes. Finally, I asked a different server for boxes and got them immediately.The food was amazing!! The fried green tomatoes were great & crab dip was wonderful. Ordered the hot chicken sandwich, the pimento burg, the southern and chicken tenders... all were very good.We will be back. Hopefully, the service is better next time“

“We enjoyed lunch today and it was delicious! I had a piled high bbq sandwich and hubby had a delicious burger. The fries were cooked perfectly, browned just right! The atmosphere and decor is fabulous! From the outside you have no idea how pretty and cozy it is. The highlight was meeting Kurt and Victoria, the sweet and young owners. They are doing a fantastic job! Give them a try!“

“I love little Mom & Pop places like this!! The service, food and hospitality was absolutely amazing. If you like great prices and tasty home cooked food this is the place to try. I definitely will be back. The forms of payment they take right now is cash or check so make sure to have that before you go.“

“This is hidden gem in Cookeville. They have higher end meals with great service and a very nice wine selection. I love the duck breast and the seafood I've had here. Putnam Room is my go to for a nice "date dinner". It's also where I always choose for my birthday. Try the lunch menu too.“

“Was really disappointed in the food. Prime rib was awful, stringy, gristly without any seasoning or taste. Couldn't cut it with the steak knife, took it home to the dogs. $11.95 for Caesar salads that were nothing but a pile of dry lettuce with a couple of croutons. Seriously??? Had this not been a birthday meal for my Granddaughter and her friends, I would have pitched a fit!!! Brussels sprouts were delicious. Server was good, but will not spend that kind of money for that kind of food again. A real shame; this used to be our "special" place, but no more!!!Wheelchair accessibility: Diff“

“Food was good. Came out quick. I gave only 4 stars because the drink/bbq sauce station needed cleaning and some of the sauce bottles were empty. Also, our table was soaking wet when we sat down so we had to use paper towels to dry ourselves. Nachos were great and my husband’s brisket was good but his Mac and cheese was very basic.“

“We love Waffle House!! After eating at many different locations, this particular WH was far superior to others with the attention to detail on our order. Eggs over medium were really cooked medium. Extra crispy hashbrowns were beautiful. Thank you for doing such a good job and making our breakfast with love. We are grateful.“

“On our way to Nashville, we considered our lunch options and opted to stop at The Garden Cafe rather than a fast food alternative. I am so glad we did! There were plenty of options for vegetarians and the meat and sides my husband ordered were delicious. The service was 5 Star! The value and flavor of everything we ordered was top notch. I wish we'd saved room for one of the numerous desserts but there was just so much food, we filled up! Check this place out! It's a gem!“

“Crowded and loud but well worth it! The food options allow anyone to eat there and it’s hot! They never run out of anything, as soon as it got low someone was refilling it. I Defiently ate my moneys worth. Sadly this location is almost 3 hours from me and we went while traveling but if I go back that way I’ll be making a stop!Vegetarian options: They have a big salad bar and lots of fruits.Parking: Huge parking lot for cars,vans, trucks ect.Kid-friendliness: They have high chairs and there were lots of kids.“

“I had been wanting to try them for some time that was my first time in and I was very pleased I ordered wings and fries and I had a couple of drinks at the bar the bartender was very nice and the customers close to me were regulars...at least the the beautiful, intelligent and very friendly young woman that came over and introduced herself was... So I walked into a new restaurant I've never been to I didn't know anybody and nobody knows my name and I managed to make a new friend and enjoy a good meal with some laughs before heading home for the night... I look forward to returning to see what else they have... I will update my review after I've had a chance to return... Thanks see you then“

“Just brought home the Family Meal... I started with the wings and couldn't stop, ate every wing. By far my new favorite wing, but the pulled pork is phenomenal, the BBQ beans are amazing... Only think no one cared for was the slaw, but still a win in my book. I'll definitely be back and point others that direction also... Good job Moogies ?!!“

“We ate breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Cookeville, TN. The food, and Ruby, our waitress, were excellent. Ruby was so nice, attentive to customer needs, and professional. However, the new menus were confusing. There were no pancakes or French toast listed anywhere on the menu. There were only combinations with meat and eggs. Ruby said I would be able to order blueberry pancakes. But then, of course, I didn’t know the price of any of these items before ordering. In addition, with all the combinations and “build your own” options on the menu, and the newer “up charge” sides, it was not clear on the menu which sides were up charges. I would suggest figuring out your pricing of sides so they are all the same. In summary, the food and service is consistently very good at Cracker Barrel restaurants.“

“Absolutely loved this place. The staff and the food was great.Looked them up on Google.Msg them and they were exactly what we expected.The customers, regulars were very friendly as well.Hopefully we'll be back in the neighborhood again someday.“

“The food and atmosphere was amazing. Our server got switched in the first half of our visit due to more customers coming in and the second server was not attentive at all. The kitchen staff had to bring our food out to him and told him it had been ready for awhile. He wasn't that busy.“

“I was very impressed with my first visit to the O'Charleys in Cookeville. The restaurant was very clean with a very comfortable ambiance. The food was delicious and came out very fast. Both my sister and I ordered fish/shellfish dishes and they were cooked to perfection! The highlight was our server Sam. She was attentive, friendly, and responsive to our requests. I look forward to my next visit.“

“I recommend Waffle House for Breakfast items. They do those dishes incredibly well. The sausage bowl was very good. Staff well its Waffle House. Same with atmosphere.Kid-friendliness: Very child friendlyWheelchair accessibility: Very wheelchair friendly“

“The Cue is and will always be near and dear to my heart. It is the down home dive bar that every town needs. It also is just a welcoming space; I have seen people from all walks of life singing together here. I highly recommend it if you want to meet the real people of Cookeville.“

“I got the Jr. Tray for $5.99. I got a Burger with everything on it plus 2 sides (onion rings and cheese bites). Not bad. The burger was like a smash burger, flat and well done. The onion rings were real good. Cheese bites were good also.Would I go back? Maybe for one of their milkshakes and onion rings. And one of their hot dogs. ?We went to the outside order window. Girl was really sweet. Everything came out quick and hot.“

“Spankies is that place where the cool kids in college hangout. It's a place for people with good taste in life. The locals grace the dinner with their presence and you can just embrace the chatter and laughter in the atmosphere with good food & a wide selection of drinks. Decorations are classy, woody & gives you a feeling of nostalgia. I had the Hunter's chicken meal, I enjoyed it?“

“I haven't eaten here in years but it was so much better than I remember. The food was fresh and delicious. I didn't go in so idk about the atmosphere, but everyone was nice.Vegetarian options: Just the grilled cheese from what I've seen but you can get creative.Wheelchair accessibility: There is a lowered area on the sidewalk for wheelchair accessibility.“

“Very good customer service skills especially for today's employees. Little girl who waited on me was the extra mile like 10 years ago. Thank you for hiring good employees. Food was delivered fast and was great. I tipped her extra because she was 1 in a million on taking care of customers and making sure to cover everything and upselling without being pushy or too aggressive. Great experience. Will definitely be back.Parking: Very tight parking area with drive through. Very good for small lot they have. Just a small lot.“

“I have been a fan of barbecues since it was at the old location. I love the food. Their barbecue is seriously delicious. They're catfish is also equally amazing. I have never been disappointed by a dish that I've been served at this restaurant. The only thing that I was ever disappointed by was their spicy slaw and it just wasn't my gig. Everything else however, has been above and beyond.“

“Solid restaurant, good food and prices, reliable service. I've enjoyed their offerings since the 90s and have had excellent experiences all along.This location is no different - great for when you're in the mood for decent food with no surprises. Very nice staff.“

“Did take out. This is one of the best Chilis I’ve been to. Haven’t been to one in a while and was craving it. It hit the spot. The curbside was super fast. As soon as I checked in they brought it out.Got the chicken crispers and southwestern egg rolls. Everything was packed right and was still crispy by the time I got back to the hotel.Only complaint is the egg rolls weren’t cut so it was hard to share, but I also get why bc the take out box was big and it would’ve rolled around and lost the fillings.“

“We were a family of 7 and all loved our meals. We have eaten here before when we came to Cookeville to visit family and they didn't disappoint. My New York strip steak was incredible. Gretchen is a fantastic server. Great job. See you the next time we are in town.“

“Went here bc Logan's, Outback, AND Texas Roadhouse were absolutely packed. This place was MUCH less packed, and tbh looked like it was maybe closed...so I was a bit worried it was bc the food wasn't good. Glad we did stop, though! Steak was cooked to absolute perfection. The mashed potatoes were also amazing. Broccoli was steamed very well. My salmon was flaky and delicious, and my corn and Caesar salad were perfect! Only TINY criticism is that there's no asparagus on the menu. All in all I'd eat here again. The prices were actually better than the surrounding restaurants and not sure why they had so many less patrons.“

“I had Niko as my waitress, and she pushed me to get a "Everything Burger" it's a burger on a bagel with everything cream cheese. Sounds weird, BUT it was amazing! Cai was another waitress, and she was spectacular as well! Amazing place, will be back“