The cute little railroad town of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, has become a tourist destination for many. Located between Murfreesboro and Shelbyville, Bell Buckle offers a vintage, small-town charm.

A covered sidewalk connects the establishments of downtown Bell Buckle, making a comfortable area to stroll through even during heat or rain.

Among the antique shops downtown sits the Bell Buckle Cafe in a large building seemingly saturated in history, the memories of many meat-and-three meals mingling in the air along with the scent of bacon, fried catfish and biscuits.

As a group of visitors first enters the Bell Buckle Cafe, they arrive at a small retail area with some Moon Pies, T-shirts, sauces, honey, and a few other items available.

The dining room opens up, with quite a bit of seating available in the restaurant.

It took a little while for an order to arrive for a recent group of diners at the BBC, though the refills of sweet fruit tea were welcome on this summer day.

When the food arrived, the hungry customers were very pleased to find Southern veggies done right.

It’s like Sunday home cookin’ at Bell Buckle Cafe—beans and potatoes, fried okra and cornbread.

Try a smoked pork chop, slammed with smoky, salty, juicy flavor, or the rich and buttery carrot soufflé, as sweet as pie, earning rave reviews from many diners.

Mike, a visitor from Florida, said it was his first time having carrot soufflé and that he needs “more of it in my life!”

Rachel Lane said the dish is her absolute favorite Bell Buckle Cafe side, “basically dessert disguised as a vegetable!”

The menu also includes pulled pork barbecue, burgers, biscuits, and even (thin crust) pizza.

Rachelle Blansit recommends “all of the greens and fried foods they have. Delicious okra, turnip greens, mac & cheese and rolls,” she reported.

Or how about some fried biscuits, served with apple butter?

“My favorite is the meatloaf and red beans and rice,” Cinthia Sanabia said. “The fruit tea is delicious. . . . For dessert, a must-try is the grits cake with strawberries, whipped cream and ice cream.”

As any quality Southern diner should, Bell Buckle Cafe serves a great selection of desserts.

“The Moon Pie sundae is delicious,” said Michael Turner, who appreciates the establishment’s “comfort cooking and a hometown atmosphere.”

Another cafe patron suggests that customers try the coconut cake, while Kim Hinson Moore usually goes with the oatmeal cake with caramel sauce.

Bell Buckle Cafe hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 6–8:30 p.m.

As far as drawbacks, probably the most common critique of the restaurant involves wait time, both the time to get a table and the time for the food to arrive after placing an order.

But “that wait is well worth it,” at least according to Anthony, a pleased Bell Buckle Cafe customer.

Some recommend calling ahead to get added to the wait list before arriving.

Others say skip the chicken salad and go with the fried items, veggies and desserts, but most of the food items receive glowing reviews. It’s interesting how many reference their grandmother or mother when posting about the Bell Buckle Cafe.

“The food tastes just like my grandmother was in the back cooking away, rest her soul,” a Yelper, Samantha C., posted in a review of Bell Buckle Cafe. “My top choices are the turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, fried corn and vinegar slaw.

“Try the blueberry gelatin topped with cream cheese and nuts,” she adds. “You won’t regret it.”

Tom Hill also left the Bell Buckle Cafe satisfied, saying it serves food “cooked like your grandma used to make.”

Another diner adds “the cornbread dressing was comfort food at its best;” this according to a customer named Joe, who also suggests trying the meatloaf and red beans and rice.

Outside the cafe, the nearby surrounding area contains lots to look at. Take a walk following a meal and view small fountains, antiques and displays. A crank-handled penny press producing various images of local scenery further projects the tourist destination vibe.

A train car sits across the road from the cafe and the downtown strip, near the Bell Buckle Post Office and the still-operating train tracks. Climb aboard and peer inside at the old wooden train car interior.

Or, those who want can shift to a slower gear and sit on the sidewalk with the old-timers for a piece and just watch the world and the trains pass by in a charming, rural setting.

“This felt like going home,” Angelina Bisch said. “I was waiting for my Mom to come around the corner . . . I will crave that carrot soufflé until I die.”

Bell Buckle Cafe
16 Railroad Square E., TN-269, Bell Buckle
Wednesday–Saturday: 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
931-389-9693
Country fried steak, or hamburger steak, and 3 sides: $12.99
Large BBQ pork sandwich: $5.99; 2 smoked pork chops and 3 sides: $15.99
Apple, peach or blackberry cobbler with ice cream: $4.49
12-inch thin-crust pizza with sausage, ham, beef, mushroom and pepperoni: $14.99
2 catfish fillets and 3 sides: $14.99
facebook.com/thebellbucklecafe