Busy Bee Cafe has recently relocated from its original home on East Jefferson Pike in downtown Lascassas, Tennessee, to a larger space nearby on Highway 96, within the large white house that sits in front of Lascassas Self Storage. There, proprietor Stacey Blansett continues the traditions of delicious sandwiches, chicken salad and other lunch items, Southern hospitality and decadent desserts.
Since the move, Busy Bee has added to its already popular offerings pizza, Sunday brunch, dinner service, a larger thrift and local goods area and more.
The local cafe aims for comfort and friendliness, and wants guests to sense a welcoming, homey vibe.
“We just want you to feel like you’ve walked in your granny’s house for a bite to eat,” Blansett said. “We want to be part of Lascassas for years to come, where families can make memories and fellowship with their community.”
Busy Bee Cafe’s food and vision of a laid-back community atmosphere has connected with locals.
“We grew so quickly we had to find a bigger location,” Blansett said.
In addition to the excellent menu—which stands on its own—and expanded operating hours, the new space also offers a surprisingly large upstairs thrift area packed with assorted treasures, various manner of antiques, decor, toys, dishes, books and oddities.
The restaurant’s fare covers a broad range of American comfort food territory—burgers, salads, wings, and sandwiches like Stacey’s chicken salad sandwich, which piles a signature chicken salad mixture containing grapes, apples and pecans onto Texas toast.
“The best chicken salad!” reported customer Kimberly Honeycutt.
The Whole Hive Panini [pictured at top]—a flavorful stack of ham, turkey, salami, pepperoni, provolone and a peppery garlic Parmesan sauce pressed between slices of sourdough bread—makes a fantastic sandwich delivering a really pleasant blend of flavors: just a little spice, just a little garlic, a lot of meat; there’s a lot going on in that sandwich.
“I always get their Whole Hive and am never disappointed,” another pleased patron, Devron Brannen, posted after a Busy Bee visit.
Pizzas emerge from the kitchen with thin, but fluffy crusts, just a little puffier than New York-style pies. The pizzas are quite good, maybe with a little more of a section of crust with no toppings on the outer rim than some would prefer, but the crust is soft and good to dip in some ranch or sauce.
Bo’s Bar-Bee-Q pizza combines barbecue chicken, bacon and red onion over barbecue sauce while the Buffalo chicken pizza comes loaded with diced Buffalo chicken, cheese and bacon atop a white sauce base.
Another specialty pie, the Philly cheesesteak pizza, stacks steak, peppers and onions onto a white base.
The cafe’s ranch dressing deserves a mention—thick, creamy and packed with flavor. Try the ranch on the pizza, wings, fries or a salad.
A refreshing fruit tea pairs well with just about anything.
One appetizer selection, the Buffalo chicken dip, arrives cold, rather than bubbling hot like many restaurant versions, served with some standard tortilla chips. Though for those wanting to try the creamy, cheesy concoction hot, it also comes served on a pressed panini.
Busy Bee’s chicken tenders, mac and cheese, mini corn dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and fries help make the place popular for younger diners as well, with kids’ meals served in small cardboard boxes.
The cafe definitely strives for a welcoming atmosphere for those of all ages. Upstairs, in addition to the thrift and antique areas, visitors find an entire “kids zone” family dining area complete with games, toys and a small kid-sized table and chairs, as well as adult-sized dining tables. A baby gate guards the door to this room, designed to help parents relax over their meal and conversion while children play safely within.
“Thoughtfully kid friendly,” Bettina Reed said. “This place is a true gem.”
Meanwhile, downstairs ’80s music videos play on the televisions while locals visit. It’s the kind of place where a spontaneous community “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” sing-along might break out at any moment.
If you don’t already know any of the residents of beautiful Lascassas before entering Busy Bee, you likely will before leaving.
For dinner, served 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, the restaurant now serves evening supper plates including meatloaf with brown sugar ketchup glaze, Cajun chicken pasta tossed in creamy Alfredo sauce, and country fried pork tenderloin smothered in brown gravy, among other specials.
The Sunday brunch menu has developed a following of its own.
The honey pepper chicken and waffles places crispy chicken tenders atop a cornbread waffle finished with strawberry butter and drizzled with a honey pepper glaze.
Other brunch offerings include quiche, avocado toast with house-made lemon ricotta, sausage balls, candied bacon deviled eggs, and French toast made using homemade sourdough bread.
Chef Shashank Dixit helps oversee the expanding Busy Bee kitchen operations.
“The Lord has blessed our journey and placed the exact people we needed in our path to be able to provide this amazing community with what they need,” Blansett said.
For dessert, Busy Bee serves a rotating assortment of indulgent cheesecakes, made right down the road by Couture’s Kitchen, with individual slices already packed into to-go containers near the register, tempting diners on the way out even if they are too full at the moment for dessert.
Rotating cheesecake flavors may include turtle, Oreo, Butterfinger, banana pudding, and pecan caramel varieties.
Ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes and floats add to the sweetness.
The service consistently earns strong praise, many emphasizing not just friendliness, but genuine warmth.
“You can just tell it’s run by wholesome people. I was greeted upon entry. Not a quick hey, but an intentional ‘hello’,” said Kristen Roden. “Thanks for serving us more than just delicious food but serving us like we matter.”
Some find the prices slightly higher than expected for a rural cafe (one that uses plastic cutlery), though the food is from-scratch with some soul.
“Delicious food—like actually delicious,” Bettina Reed continued in her review. “Top-tier customer service . . . cannot recommend Busy Bee Cafe enough!”
Equal parts cafe, antique mall, flea market and community hangout, find two floors of fantastic food and thrifting fun in the heart of Lascassas, at Busy Bee Cafe.
Busy Bee Cafe and Thrift
6854 Lascassas Pk., Lascassas
Wed.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sun.: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
615-268-9804
Whole Hive Panini with chips: $15; Dozen wings: $15; Cheeseburger with fries: $12; Meatloaf with two sides and garlic toast: $16; Honey pepper chicken and waffles $18; Fried bologna and American cheese on Texas toast with chips: $9; Philly cheese steak pizza: $25
Find Busy Bee Cafe and Thrift on Facebook
