DINING, RESTAURANTS & CATERING: BIG SOUTH FORK NATIONAL RIVER & RECREATION AREA, TENNESSEE/KENTUCKY |
Dining around Big South Fork CATERING RESTAURANTS COFFEE TIME CAFÉ CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN GENERAL STORE *THE GARDEN GRILL |
*GREY GABLES BED & BREAKFAST HARROW ROAD CAFÉ AT HISTORIC RUGBY *PORK RYAN’S BAR-B-Q RON’S RESTAURANT and PIZZARIA *SUNSET MARINA & RESORT RESTAURANT WOODSON BEND RESORT |
Dining in the Big South Fork can be a lot of fun. There are many great places to eat, but some of the best are a bit off the beaten track or hidden in a general store. One of my family’s favorites is the Rock-a-Billy Café & Soda Fountain, the 50’s diner in the Cumberland Mountain General Store (CMGS). I love to shop, so this is half the fun and the attraction; however, deep down inside I know I am going to have a great burger and a milkshake. CMGS is an authentic old fashioned general store with the big wrap around porch, filled with lots of antiques, collectibles, furniture, and home decorative items. One of the biggest treasures is in the back of the store. There you will find the wonderful, nostalgic 50’s diner serving up homemade milkshakes, juicy all beef hamburgers, and onion rings or French fries at the old counter lined with diner stools from yesteryear. This place is fun and boy the motorcyclists love this place as a stop off. The ladies love to come for a day outing and explore the antique stores along the way. There is plenty of BBQ in the Big South Fork with the newest Pork Ryan’s BBQ located just off of Hwy. 127 and Hwy. 52, adjacent to Henbos BP Station. Jim Ryan and his famous pig are offering slow hickory smoked barbecue chicken, pork and ribs with all the homemade sides. Their convenient drive through makes it easy to call in an order and pick it up to take back to the horse camp or cabin. Jim Ryan has a fun personality which can keep you on your toes and laughing. Laughter is one of the best medicines and folks love to be around happy people. Jim found his way back to Jamestown after spending many years in a career in Florida, building businesses and working towards retirement. When Jim and his wife finally retired to Jamestown, he realized that retirement was not what it was cracked up to be, and he needed to get back into something. Loving to cook, and delighting some of his friends and clients in Florida with his barbecue wagon, he decided to take the barbecue that everyone raved about and make a business out of it. Spending the first months with his friend and colleague, Greg, pulling the Pork Ryan Pigmobile around, he barbecued for parties, special events, and festivals around the region and gained quite a following. Their slow cooked barbecue ribs, pork, chicken and their signature bratwursts, along with all the homemade sides, has their loyal customers following Pork Ryan’s around Jamestown. Pork Ryan’s is currently offering catering services for events and weddings and carry out at Henbo’s in Jamestown. At press time, Pork Ryan’s is building a carryout/limited dining restaurant off of Hwy. 127 and Hwy. 52 at the Henbo’s parking lot. Visit Pork Ryan’s online and become a fan. Say hello to Jim and give him one of your famous Pork Ryan’s “grunts” and have a chance to win the Pork Ryan’s “Grunt of the Year” award. Visit Pork Ryan’s at www.PorkRyansBBQ.com or call them at 931-397-9189 to place your order. The Garden Grill is a nice, sit down restaurant that will put a smile on your face with their personal service, high quality food, and the memorabilia on the walls portraying Jamestown/Fentress County’s history and the legendary people of this diverse community. Mr. Ray Hancock, a successful businessman and entrepreneur has been in the retail food business, owned Save-A-Lot stores, fast food establishments, and a successful restaurant equipment business. He is at home in the restaurant trade. Garden Grill features wonderful daily specials like Chicken Marsala, homemade lasagna, homemade soups, fried chicken, and amazing side dishes with a fresh salad bar in the company of a variety of homemade salads including potato salad, coleslaw, chicken salad, and pasta salad made fresh daily. Now, I love salads, and was delighted by the fresh produce, the cleanliness of the bar, and the homemade salads. The specials bring the local business community in as well as visitors who are learning about THE “place to be” in Jamestown. Open seven days a week, from 7:00 AM through the evening hours offering blintzes, homemade French toast, eggs, and fresh hash browns for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also have a large room that is perfect for family reunions, weddings, receptions, and meetings. It seats up to 60 people with multimedia available. Mr. Hancock is known to throw a PowerPoint presentation together for viewing on the big screen TV for visiting dignitaries, the Car Club, and the motorcycle group that rides from Red Boiling Springs’ Cyclemos Motorcycle Museum to Garden Grill and back for a fun day out on the scenic roads. Visit the Garden Grill, behind the new Union Bank in downtown Jamestown, TN for a great meal, excellent service, and a memorable experience. They are located at 331 North Main St., Jamestown, TN. You can reach them by phone at 931-879-2344. Prestons Steakhouse in the Big South Fork is the place for steak. Folks love the rustic décor, exposed log beams, and stone fireplace making the atmosphere very intimate and cozy. They have a great selection of grilled or broiled seafood, wonderful appetizers, Tex-Mex and some delicious salads. If you are looking for a unique experience full of character and old world charm, Bacara’s is the place to impress a date or to celebrate a great day out on the trails. Owner, Kurt Schlegel offers excellent German food, including Wiener schnitzel, German noodles, spaetzle, and an excellent cowboy platter with grilled steak, potatoes, and roasted vegetables. The atmosphere is great. Folks from as far away as a two hours drive come to Bacara’s for a night of fun, good food, and gemuetlichkeit! Their Oktoberfest is a tradition for many. German food, authentic German music, and specialty dishes like sauerbraten, apple strudel and braised red cabbage (rotkraut) are served. Oktoberfest is being held October 1, 2, 8, & 9, 2010. The Boutique is a hip fashion boutique and tea room offering stylish clothing, jeans, tops, sweaters, jackets, accessories, jewelry, hats, handbags, the newest trends seen in Vogue or Glamour magazines, and a delicious selection of exotic teas to accompany their daily menu items. They are conveniently located just off the Jamestown square. Allison Barta, owner, has transformed the interior of this historic crab-orchard stone façade structure into a contemporary core with trendy pink and chocolate décor which accentuates her signature colors. This charming boutique offers personal advice for mom’s trying to buy something special for their teenage daughter or to anyone wishing to update their wardrobe with a trendy top, slimming jeans, or a special accessory in a comfortable stress-free environment. If you’re on vacation or a romantic getaway, have your beau bring you to The Boutique to buy a new outfit for your special weekend. Allison is a joy to be around and she makes every person that walks through the door feel welcome. She enjoys sharing her fashion expertise and knowledge to help make you look your best or choose a perfect gift. Allison pays attention to the fine details and it shows. She has gone to great lengths to create an environment that her customers will enjoy spending time in and will come back to often. The window dressings are updated each week, keeping everyone looking in to see the latest trends and outfit combinations. You can also find a wonderful selection of gift items including candles, bath and body products, a wonderful collection of exotic teas (over 30 different loose teas) and tea pots, and the accompanying items to serve tea in your home, office, vacation home, or houseboat. The Boutique loves to let you try their teas. They offer a $1 Tea of the Day that can be ordered alone or with any of their wonderful daily menu items. Quiche is one of my favorites, and Allison offers a Quiche of the Day, as well as, homemade soups, succulent chicken salad, Panini’s, and decadent homemade desserts. The Boutique is truly a trendy boutique and bistro all in one, just like you would expect to find in Chicago, New York or Los Angeles. Allison lovingly operates her business with the help of her friendly, customer service oriented team. Visit The Boutique in downtown Jamestown or give them a call for your catering needs, special group, or event planning at 931-879-8585. Coffee Time Café is a stylish restaurant conveniently located on Hwy. 127 in Clarkrange, TN. The black and white cow themed restaurant serves the best breakfast in the Big South Fork area. Their omelets are to die for! Their hand cut, country, Idaho potatoes compliment the breakfast dishes that folks from all over come to eat. This is a place that makes you feel at home. Heather Thomas, owner, makes each person feel welcome. She has many regulars that visit daily for a bottomless cup of coffee or their signature fruit parfaits, burrito quesadillas to go, or to sit down and have a hearty country breakfast. Some of Coffee Time’s signature lunch dishes include their Crazy Chicken Salad and delicious Taco Salad. Coffee Time is generally only open for breakfast and lunch, but on Friday nights they have their Fish Fry featuring an excellent Pollock served with handmade coleslaw, special recipe hush puppies, fries, and corn fritters. Swing by Coffee Time and give your cook a break. Enjoy a great breakfast or lunch next time you are out in the Big South Fork area. Coffee Time can be contacted at 931-863-5577. Ron’s Restaurant & Pizzaria is the best place in the Big South Fork for pizza and breadsticks. I don’t know about you, but there is nothing like fresh, hand-tossed pizza dough covered with natural ingredients, high quality mozzarella cheese, and lots of meat, vegetables, and for me - I must have my banana peppers. Ron’s Restaurant & Pizzaria is a hit with families. The excellent pizza, breadsticks, lasagna, and all-you-can eat salad bar (for those dieting) is affordable comfort food. Ron Beaty is no stranger to the restaurant business. He’s been tossing pizzas and a restaurateur for over 23 years. After retiring from Florida several years ago, he decided to open his own place, catering to the families of Fentress County with his family atmosphere. Every restaurant has their signature dish. Ron’s Restaurant & Pizzaria is known for its superb homemade Stromboli’s, oozing with cheese and a homemade slow cooked meat sauce. Need a sandwich for on the go or a picnic? Their submarine sandwiches are way better than the chain store sandwiches, and their all beef, hand formed hamburgers are dripping with flavor. Weekends at Ron’s Place offer grilled steaks, extensive salad bar, and delicious baked potatoes. Ron’s family atmosphere is evident with the Clarkrange Buffalo’s school colors, and the big screen TV’s and monitors tuned to the local games and the beloved UT Vols. Come over and kick back, watch a game or two, and enjoy the food and the atmosphere. Their friendly wait staff and delicious food will have you coming back for more. Take out pizza and delivery within a certain area is available. Call Ron’s at 931-863-8227. Bon Appétit! Make a weekend of it. Stay at one of our bed and breakfasts like my favorite, Grey Gables Bed and Breakfast Inn and let innkeeper, Linda, spoil you in her Victorian home. Linda serves a wonderful, hearty, country breakfast and is known for her magnificent meals and spacious surroundings in historic Rugby. There are also cabins, horse camps or a campground nearby. Come enjoy the beauty of fall. Happy Trails! |