Bell Buckle Cafe

What a neat eating experience in a delightful little town. It was well worth the trip. The food was great and an excellent price. Nothing fancy but great taste. The staff was very cordial. We walked right in about 5 pm on a Friday night but there was quite a crowd by the time we left.

Great food! Service fast and friendly. Waitresses recommendations were spot on. Can’t wait to return for more food!

Great Service, and EVEN Better Food!
I went to The Webb School during my youngin’ days and BEST BELIEVE I took every chance I could to walk down the street to this restaurant. There food is buttered, deep fried, Southern comfort food. Nothing is better! I promise they have some of the best corn nuggets around.
The restaurant is located on a little strip, which is called Bell Buckles town square. You’ll usually see it jam packed with cars and motorcycles, with car tags from everywhere. Get there early, because the rush comes around 9−10am on the weekends. OH! and the famous moon pies! They sell the moon pies all year, but if you come in the Summer months I believe, they have there own Moon Pie Festival.
Keep a LOOK OUT for Bell Buckle; artistry, crafts, desserts at the Blue Bird Café, and festivals.

We came down to Tennessee to visit friends. They recommended dropping into Bell Buckle to eat dinner at the Bell Buckle Café. Bell Buckle is a town of 400 that is south of Nashville. I had never heard of it but people come from all over the states to eat and listen to talented country musicians at the Bell Buckle Café. Home made food, southern style, was a great introduction to the American south for us Canadians. If your near Nashville take the time to head on down.

Outstanding Food & Service!
For an appetizer (s) we ordered the Fried Biscuits, and Corn Nuggets. The biscuits were fried perfectly, and were served w/​Apple Butter, Honey, and powdered sugar… Delicious!
I enjoyed the Smoked Pork Chop w/​Turnip Greens, Red Beans & Rice, and Fried Okra, which was also accompanied with a Corn Bread Johnny Cake… Also Delicious!!!
My lunch partners had, Pulled Pork, and a Rib Eye steak that was cooked PERFECTLY, and was so tender he thought it was an aged steak. When he asked, our server just smiled said no it’s not aged, it’s our supplier!
This town/​place are hidden in the foothills of middle Tennessee below Murfreesboro, if you plug it into your GPS, enjoy the scenery, and prepare for a Delicious Meal, and ambiance!

This is the best little restaurant in Bell Buckle! We are from Chicago and haven’t had good home cooking like this is forever.

This was our first time here. Great comfort food!!! Nice atmosphere & very friendly staff! We will be back!

This weekend I had my first visit to the Bell Buckle Café that was not during the annual RC Cola Moon Pie Festival (if you don’t know what that is, go next year. 3^rd Saturday every June).
On moon pie weekend, expect a long wait and a more limited menu I think. This time we walked right in and the place was relatively full, but not too busy. Wear stretchy pants.
Parking is free and is available either right in front or across the street. We had a debate on whether you are allowed to park on the quilt pattern painted in the middle of the lot, and it turns out that yes, you can park on the quilt. You’ll understand what that means when you get there.
This time I had the chicken pot pie, which comes with 3 (yes, THREE) sides and is topped with a cornbread pancake. My total was around $ 12, including a built in tip (not sure if that’s because there were 5 of us or??? oh well.). Not bad for that much food, and probably one of the most expensive things on the menu. The table also ordered the fried biscuits, which are basically donuts. Yum. Nothing is mind blowing, but it’s perfect when you’re in the mood for some good traditional comfort food.
The service was excellent, and has been each time I’ve been there. They don’t serve any alcohol, but our waitress encouraged us to open the beer we had in a cooler bag that we were planning to bring to our next activity. Not sure how standard that is — she may have just been indulging us since we were there with a bachelorette — so don’t quote me if you they don’t let you BYOB next time. They also didn’t mind us bringing in our own dessert for the occasion.
The front room where you wait to be seated is also where you pay, so that gets a little crowded and confusing when you’re trying to figure out who’s in line for what. The bathroom is a one-​seater, so there’s often a line for that, too. Those are pretty much the only negatives.
I realize how classy this review makes me sound, but don’t judge until you’ve been. Just trust me.

Noël, Tony and I was driving around on the backroads when we happened upon this quaint little town. We noticed a lot of motorcycles and people moving around. The town was so nice, quaint and colorful… it led us to immediately want to pull over and check it out.
We parked across the street (free parking) and we walked over to the lovely little town front. The stores have all been turned into antique shops and one café in the midst. We were hungry and went inside. There was a waiting list we had to put our party on and wait. We waited 40 minutes…40!!!
The waitress was so nice. Once we were finally seated, the waitress was very nice. I ordered the open faced Roast Beef, with three sides of Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans and Carrot Soufflé with dinner roll and butter and sweet iced tea. Tony ordered the same Opened Face Roast Beef sandwich with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Macaroni n’ Cheese and White Beans with Ham, Dinner Roll with Butter and Sweet Iced Tea and Noël went with the Country Fried Steak with Gravy, Dinner Roll and Butter, Macaroni n’ Cheese, French Fries and Fresh Fruit with Sweet Iced Tea.
Tony went with Pecan Pie and Noël with Fudge Pie to go… Desserts had to be taken home. I opted for NO DESSERT… don’t need those extra calories…
The service was relatively fast, which was surprising since it was so full. The waitress was really sweet and attentive she was constantly there checking on us.
The ticket with taxes and tip was $ 56…$ 49.58 before tip… Not bad for some home cooking but when I went to Kroger’s later and bought a weeks worth of groceries for $ 48 …it put a perspective on it that makes you REALLY THINK !!! But the food was good. If in the area, I recommend you stopping and eating even if just a Moonpie and RC!!!

YUM … Must stop if your passing through. Inexpensive and GREAT taste. We got the pork chop, beans, and the mac salad. I would recommend ALL the above! Friendly staff and great tasting food.

Good. Southern. Eats.
Every time we decide to take a trip out to the country to eat at Bell Buckle Café and explore their small downtown and antique shops, etc., I must admit: I get a little excited. (I know, getting old…)
BBC’s food is excellent, and while their shop is small, and occasionally it might take a while to get you in and seated, once you’re in there, you feel warm and comfortable, and ready to eat! There’s a little area in the back where small bands or musicians can play a little while you eat, and this of course makes the experience while eating all the better.
Highly recommend!

Every time I’m near Bell Buckle, this is where I eat! Have not had 1 thing bad yet! Great country ambiance in an adorable antique town! A must go for anyone in the area. Unless you hate good quality food and friendly service

You guys. This place is so good! Okay, I may be biased since I have used to live in Bell Buckle and ate here all the time. But really that makes it even better because I still want to eat at this place any time i’m in the area. They have delicious chicken strips, pulled chicken, and grilled chicken breast. The smothered chops are sinfully delicious! Burgers are the bomb as well. Not to mention the veggies! If they have fried corn, get it. Just do yourself a favor. Also, their ranch and honey mustard is made there every morning and is utterly delectable! If you are in the area you have to stop here! And lemonade! Get the lemonade.

Just what you would expect from a small hole in the wall restaurant. The staff was very friendly and our waitress was great. Our food arrived in a timely manner and everything was delicious and the portions were large. I left full and the prices were not bad at all. I recommend the bbq platter.

We dine at this restaurant approximately half a dozen times a year, and have been since 2002. We have never had a problem, and I’ll be the first to admit, for me that is saying a lot. Everything has always been just right. Nice portions, service is always attentive, and the food is reasonably priced. I particularly like the grilled smoked pork chop and the pulled pork. The sides are excellent; some of my favorites are the fried corn, green beans, and creamy coleslaw. Their broccoli salad is also an excellent side, although yesterday it was not on the menu. The dinner salad is simple, yet delicious with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and what tastes like homemade salad dressings. Their cobbler’s are outstanding! My only complaint… I just wish they were closer to Nashville!

After our tour at the Jack Daniels distillery, we had dinner at Bell Buckle Café.
This place is a home style country cooking café with a small store & has live bands. Population of this tiny town is a little over 500. You get your neighborhood friendly, home style cooking coming here. I ordered the pot roast with mashed potatoes. The portions are good. My friend let me try his smoked pork chops. It was really good!
Our waitress was a college girl and was so friendly. She was talking to us for a bit & did a magic trick on us. Very nice!
They sell tees that reads «Where the heck is Bell Buckle?» I couldn’t pass that up so I bought one for myself since I’m such tourist a may not be here again.
This place can get crowded where you have to wait a bit but so worth it!

One of my favorite places to go in all of the Nashville area… Being from East Tennessee, and being a chef, I’m hard to please when it comes to my country cookin’, but I gotta say, this makes me think of being at my Mammy’s for supper! Keep in mind that this country food. Beans, bisects, gravy, and greens. Don’t eat here if you don’t like butter or fried food.
Can’t wait to eat here again soon!

argh, i hate to do this, give it a two star rating, but, my experience was just, eh. i had the bbq pork with mac n cheese, okra, and fries.
the serving size of bbq pork was teeny. tiny. teeny tiny. most places give more bbq then that on their kids menu. this made me sad, because it was actually pretty good.
the okra was good. but there was inconsistency in mine and my husbands. maybe they were different batches, cooked longer, etc? but his was better. :(
the mac n cheese was lukewarm. maybe they spooned it out first and then had to wait while the rest was prepared? i don’t know, but it was really on the cool side, not even lukewarm, but more tepid, cool… :(
the fries were okay, but i was so sad about my baby-​size portion of pork, the cold mac n cheese and my husband’s superior okra, that i was too forlorn to even think about the fries.
i’m sad. i had vision of grandeur regarding this place, and i was just let down. i walked away like i had just found out the truth about santa. :(

If you’re standing there and wondering if it’s open, it is. Don’t let the steps up to what looks like a replica of old-​timey doors put you off, they’re old timey doors, they open and are functional.
The food that I’ve had, it’s ok. For vegetarians they have the veggie plate, which is 4 of whatever sides you want. Their fried veggies, let’s not call them vegetarian though, there’s definitely a meaty taste.
The service has been great every time I’ve been. I don’t think I’d change anything about it except to expand the main queuing area a bit and perhaps put up a sign telling you to not come in if there’s someone sitting outside taking names (it means it’s going to be jammed)
Even during the Moon Pie festival the wait was pretty reasonable, the food got to us pretty quickly.
It does its job well, and if you’re looking for a restaurant in Bell Buckle, I think that may be your option. The only other place for food in that area is the coffee shop on the corner as far as I know.
It’s a page out of early 1980’s dining in a 1940’s strip mall.

Great place for the best of country comfort food in a restaurant!
I am still having trouble trying to order something other than the smoked chops, they are that good. Last night, I tried the smothered chops because they are not a regular menu item and a friend recommended them. They were great! Extremely tender, good sized chops with a savory gravy with mushroom pieces in it. As great as they were, I am going back to my smoked chops next time.
The sides are good-​sized portions and you get three sides with a dinner. This is enough for a normal person to wind up too full to have dessert. However, try to save room because the desserts are also good!
I got the new potatoes, cuke and toms salad, and fried corn for sides. Ate everything and didn’t have room for dessert.
There was live music with Emilee and Big Mike and I believe they perform once a month.
The restaurant is in little Bell Buckle and there are antique shops and an ice cream store at the location. Recommend getting there early on Friday or Saturday nights or be prepared to wait a little bit for seats.