I have been to Pope’s twice so far but want be back!!! I went to breakfast n the service n food was good so I decide to try the meal out Saturday but the service sucks n the salad bar was awful.Some of the containers were about empty so I asked the blonde waitress if she wud refill them n she told me when gets time but there wasn’t about 5 people in there.She never refilled them while we was there.2 waitresses working n were standing by the cash register on there phones laughing.We had to get there attention just to get refills on drinks cause they never came to the table n asked if we needed anything n don’t let me get started on the floor cause it was filthy looking.So if your looking for service I wouldn’t recommend there!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
paul smith
Food good and warm but it's kinda hard to stir your coffee with your finger ! Had to get silverware ourselves. Otherwise I would come back again. Please when they bring menu have silverware in hand.
James Bowen
I first tried them back in October for breakfast on my birthday. I was not disappointed, great food and service for a good price. When they posted on Facebook they would be taking reservations for Thanksgiving dinner I booked myself a spot. The dinner was buffet style like my mom used to do. The service was excellent as well as the food. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings! I live in Murfreesboro but it's a short drive over to Shelbyville and well worth it for some real home style cooking
TasteTestimony
Let me paint you a picture of Pope's Cafe, a Shelbyville treasure that's been around since 1945. When those daily specials caught my eye, I knew I had to pull up a chair to this piece of Tennessee history. Walking in, you're hit with a collision of eras - classic black and white tiles that've seen more footsteps than a country mile, paired with a counter that's probably heard every story this town has to tell. Then there's this quirky back room that can't quite decide if it's dining space or antique shop, complete with - you guessed it - a salad bar. (That's two joints with salad bars in a row. Someone up there must be trying to tell me something. The staff hits you with that down-home welcome that makes you feel like you've just walked into your favorite aunt's kitchen. After being told to sit wherever I’d like I decided to slip into the back room for more privacy. Now, forget what you've heard about Pope's being just another meat-and-three like restaurant. This joint's got range - breakfast to dinner, burgers to hot plates, and those daily specials that'll make you rethink your plans. Let's talk chicken livers - and before you scroll past, hear me out. These babies were clean as a whistle and cooked to perfection. Add some tabasco hot sauce, and hot damn, we're in business, although I should have gotten some honey mustard too. The white beans needed a bit more pepper for my taste (sorry, Grandma, yours are still the benchmark), but that okra? Light, crispy, and spot-on - the kind that makes you remember Sunday dinners. The salad bar's nothing fancy - think Shoney's scaled down - but it gets the job done. Seven bucks for one trip might make your wallet flinch, but sometimes you just need to load up on the good stuff. Here's where things get rough - the dessert situation. My heart was set on chess pie, but no dice. Settled for peach cobbler that looked like it needed a pep talk. Canned peaches I get - it's not season - but where's the cinnamon sugar? Where's the soul? It was like eating a cobbler that forgot it was supposed to be dessert. Bottom line: Pope's Cafe is like that reliable pickup truck - not flashy, but gets the job done with character. Those chicken livers? Worth the trip alone. Service? Solid as oak. That cobbler might've been a swing and a miss, but I'm coming back for that chess pie. Mark my words. The damage: $25 well spent for a taste of local flavor. Rating: 4.2/5 - Would recommend Pro tip: If you’ve never tried it, try chicken livers with honey mustard. Trust me on this one.
Jalene Clemons
Cute location. Sweet tea was sweet. French toast was liquid, uncooked egg isn’t my preference. For a 20 minute wait, fully cooked should be the bare minimum. Tried to handle my concerns with staff, but was snapped at for taking a picture. So, here y'all go, the liquid french toast I took a picture of to send group chat. (Restrooms dirty)
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
crosscheck ministries
Best hidden place in shelbyville
Paul Beecher
Had a bacon cheeseburger yesterday and it was really good…..the pies looked awesome but was too full from the burger. First time there but will be back for breakfast sometime soon.
Angela Conner
Items on salad bar were stale. The cornbread was a pancake.There was no corn meal in it.The buttermilk pie tasted like metal.waitress was kind enough to tell a customer they had gained a lot of weight
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Matt
First time at Pope's Cafe and my wife and I were very pleased. I got a biscuit breakfast sandwich with home fries and my wife got a breakfast platter with biscuits and gravy. Coffee was hot and fresh, our hostess Karen was warm and welcoming. She made us feel right at home. We finished the meal with a piece of homemade pie (they have many to choose from) and couldn't be happier with our visit. We plan to come back for breakfast again, maybe another time to try the lunch menu. They also have a great, fresh salad bar. And we plan to bring the kids, too! A sweet, cozy local find. Come try it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bo Wheeler
This place is nice and charming. I liked the counter, but sat at a table. The food was mixed. Some mains were pretty good, others not as much. Sides were hit and miss. So I guess it's about what you order. It was nice to be on the square.
Great food and best salad bar around! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming! We love eating here!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sam Lauren
Everything was great. I wasn't disappointed and I tend to be picky. They have a salad bar. Great burgers! A+ and reasonably priced.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
OnAir29620798032
Wonderful service. Karen always made sure our coffee cup stayed full and hot and that we had everything we needed! Definitely recommend giving this place a try!
duckerd41
Amazing food and service, one of the best steaks I've ever had. Chicken fried steak was awesome as well. Everything was excellent.
I have been to Pope’s twice so far but want be back!!! I went to breakfast n the service n food was good so I decide to try the meal out Saturday but the service sucks n the salad bar was awful.Some of the containers were about empty so I asked the blonde waitress if she wud refill them n she told me when gets time but there wasn’t about 5 people in there.She never refilled them while we was there.2 waitresses working n were standing by the cash register on there phones laughing.We had to get there attention just to get refills on drinks cause they never came to the table n asked if we needed anything n don’t let me get started on the floor cause it was filthy looking.So if your looking for service I wouldn’t recommend there!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Food good and warm but it's kinda hard to stir your coffee with your finger ! Had to get silverware ourselves. Otherwise I would come back again. Please when they bring menu have silverware in hand.
I first tried them back in October for breakfast on my birthday. I was not disappointed, great food and service for a good price. When they posted on Facebook they would be taking reservations for Thanksgiving dinner I booked myself a spot. The dinner was buffet style like my mom used to do. The service was excellent as well as the food. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings! I live in Murfreesboro but it's a short drive over to Shelbyville and well worth it for some real home style cooking
Let me paint you a picture of Pope's Cafe, a Shelbyville treasure that's been around since 1945. When those daily specials caught my eye, I knew I had to pull up a chair to this piece of Tennessee history. Walking in, you're hit with a collision of eras - classic black and white tiles that've seen more footsteps than a country mile, paired with a counter that's probably heard every story this town has to tell. Then there's this quirky back room that can't quite decide if it's dining space or antique shop, complete with - you guessed it - a salad bar. (That's two joints with salad bars in a row. Someone up there must be trying to tell me something. The staff hits you with that down-home welcome that makes you feel like you've just walked into your favorite aunt's kitchen. After being told to sit wherever I’d like I decided to slip into the back room for more privacy. Now, forget what you've heard about Pope's being just another meat-and-three like restaurant. This joint's got range - breakfast to dinner, burgers to hot plates, and those daily specials that'll make you rethink your plans. Let's talk chicken livers - and before you scroll past, hear me out. These babies were clean as a whistle and cooked to perfection. Add some tabasco hot sauce, and hot damn, we're in business, although I should have gotten some honey mustard too. The white beans needed a bit more pepper for my taste (sorry, Grandma, yours are still the benchmark), but that okra? Light, crispy, and spot-on - the kind that makes you remember Sunday dinners. The salad bar's nothing fancy - think Shoney's scaled down - but it gets the job done. Seven bucks for one trip might make your wallet flinch, but sometimes you just need to load up on the good stuff. Here's where things get rough - the dessert situation. My heart was set on chess pie, but no dice. Settled for peach cobbler that looked like it needed a pep talk. Canned peaches I get - it's not season - but where's the cinnamon sugar? Where's the soul? It was like eating a cobbler that forgot it was supposed to be dessert. Bottom line: Pope's Cafe is like that reliable pickup truck - not flashy, but gets the job done with character. Those chicken livers? Worth the trip alone. Service? Solid as oak. That cobbler might've been a swing and a miss, but I'm coming back for that chess pie. Mark my words. The damage: $25 well spent for a taste of local flavor. Rating: 4.2/5 - Would recommend Pro tip: If you’ve never tried it, try chicken livers with honey mustard. Trust me on this one.
Cute location. Sweet tea was sweet. French toast was liquid, uncooked egg isn’t my preference. For a 20 minute wait, fully cooked should be the bare minimum. Tried to handle my concerns with staff, but was snapped at for taking a picture. So, here y'all go, the liquid french toast I took a picture of to send group chat. (Restrooms dirty)
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Best hidden place in shelbyville
Had a bacon cheeseburger yesterday and it was really good…..the pies looked awesome but was too full from the burger. First time there but will be back for breakfast sometime soon.
Items on salad bar were stale. The cornbread was a pancake.There was no corn meal in it.The buttermilk pie tasted like metal.waitress was kind enough to tell a customer they had gained a lot of weight
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
First time at Pope's Cafe and my wife and I were very pleased. I got a biscuit breakfast sandwich with home fries and my wife got a breakfast platter with biscuits and gravy. Coffee was hot and fresh, our hostess Karen was warm and welcoming. She made us feel right at home. We finished the meal with a piece of homemade pie (they have many to choose from) and couldn't be happier with our visit. We plan to come back for breakfast again, maybe another time to try the lunch menu. They also have a great, fresh salad bar. And we plan to bring the kids, too! A sweet, cozy local find. Come try it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is nice and charming. I liked the counter, but sat at a table. The food was mixed. Some mains were pretty good, others not as much. Sides were hit and miss. So I guess it's about what you order. It was nice to be on the square.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and best salad bar around! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming! We love eating here!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything was great. I wasn't disappointed and I tend to be picky. They have a salad bar. Great burgers! A+ and reasonably priced.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful service. Karen always made sure our coffee cup stayed full and hot and that we had everything we needed! Definitely recommend giving this place a try!
Amazing food and service, one of the best steaks I've ever had. Chicken fried steak was awesome as well. Everything was excellent.
It was amazing great food great service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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