Local food

Two world-class restaurants within fifteen minutes, and the places the locals eat.

Monteagle

Two world-class restaurants within fifteen minutes

We recommend both of them.

The Mountain Goat Market

109 Main St, Monteagle. Rated #51 on Yelp’s 2019 best restaurants in America. Fun and touristy, offering excellent deli-style sandwiches, pizza, salads, and desserts, along with a quirky gift shop, always bustling.

High Point

224 Main St, Monteagle. The other world-class restaurant, five-star fine dining worth it for a special occasion, no dressing up required. Built by Al Capone for one of his mistresses at the highest point on his run from Chicago to Miami. Call for a reservation.

Papa Ron’s Italian Steak House

402 W Main St, Monteagle. Same ownership as High Point. Good Italian food at mid-range prices.

Mooney’s

1265 W Main St, Monteagle. A quirky little novelty store that combines many things natural, from yarn dyed with natural pigments to healthy foods. The place to provision your cabin with something healthier.

Tracy City

Where we eat when we eat local

If you want good food, it probably won’t be fast food. Slow down and smell the burgers, fries, catfish and blackboard specials.

Potbellie’s

Tracy City. Under new (better) management: breakfast all day, a drive-through pickup window (call ahead), dine-in, decent pizza if you like a lot of cheese, a broad menu. One of our favorites.

Hank’s Corner Grille

24 Main St, Tracy City. Good times, local energy and excellent food. Thursday night trivia (the whole town turns out), the massive soldier burger, an outstanding summer salad. A sports bar, so the best local place to catch a game if your campsite has no TV.

The Dutch Maid Bakery

109 Main St, Tracy City. A mountain icon: the oldest bakery in the South, with the nicest, hardest-working owner. Bus loads come for the pastries and the signature salt bread; country breakfast and lunch in the cafe. Tell Cindy that Grant sent you.

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant

106 Colyar St, Tracy City. Big portions, reasonable prices, authentic Mexican food. We usually share a plate of the fajita special on Tuesdays.

Rosie’s Farmhouse Kitchen

13947 US Hwy 41, Tracy City. A family restaurant owned and run by Vonna Layne, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. One of our local favorites.

The Annex Cafe

375 Railroad Ave, Tracy City. Authentic Appalachian color: where the locals exchange the latest gossip. Don’t ask for a menu; the owner will ask what you want and make it if the fixin’s are in the fridge. The best Denver omelette Grant has ever had, and he once ran IHOP’s national training department.

Up the mountain

Sewanee

The Dining Hall at Sewanee

634 University Ave, Sewanee. Plenty of Southern fried comfort food lives on the mountain, but for “healthy” food make the trek to the University of the South. The dining hall is massive, reminiscent of an updated Hogwarts, with many choices at reasonable prices, and non-students are welcome.

Local food

Two world-class restaurants within fifteen minutes

The Mountain Goat Market

High Point

Papa Ron’s Italian Steak House

Shan’s Chinese Buffet

Mooney’s

Where we eat when we eat local

Potbellie’s

Hank’s Corner Grille

The Dutch Maid Bakery

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant

Rosie’s Farmhouse Kitchen

The Annex Cafe

Sewanee

The Dining Hall at Sewanee

Pearl’s

Local food

Two world-class restaurants within fifteen minutes

The Mountain Goat Market

High Point

Papa Ron’s Italian Steak House

Shan’s Chinese Buffet

Mooney’s

Where we eat when we eat local

Potbellie’s

Hank’s Corner Grille

The Dutch Maid Bakery

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant

Rosie’s Farmhouse Kitchen

The Annex Cafe

Sewanee

The Dining Hall at Sewanee

Pearl’s