For some incredibly decadent and delicious cheesecakes, a variety of coffee and tea beverages, meaty stuffed hand pies, local artwork and cozy hospitality, stop in Oflow Brews and Bakes on the Murfreesboro Public Square.

Specialty cheesecakes found at this local bakery may include Twix, strawberry shortcake, Oreo, peach or espresso caramel varieties. Miniature cheesecakes, which are beautifully decorated and detailed, go for $8 apiece, and while they may not appear large upon first glance, these are ample for two to split and each get a large serving of a rich, creamy indulgence.

One customer, Robin, a local Yelper who says she considers herself a cheesecake critic of sorts, said the Oreo cheesecake was “out of this world . . . amazing, smooth and yummy.

“I will make it a point to try them all at some point,” she said, adding that the shop also contains “comfy areas to sit and work or socialize.”

Of course, during the holiday months, pumpkin cheesecake will typically be among the offerings at Oflow, with all of the pumpkin spice notes.

And holy moly, the Oflow brownie . . . shop co-owner Douglas Berg says many people, himself included, may not always gravitate towards the ubiquitous brownie when visiting a bakery. However, the rich, rich, fudgy brownies made with real Belgian chocolate behind the glass at Oflow are something special.

“Most brownies are cake-based, this one is fudge-based,” Doug says. “We also add some espresso to it; it really brings out the chocolate flavor.”

Doug and his wife, Sally, launched Oflow (short for Overflow, the shop’s original moniker) on Maple Street in 2022. Doug now handles the operations and baking and can often be found onsite, while Sally, who still has a full-time job aside from the bakery, takes care of the Oflow finances and marketing.

Prior to formulating the idea for Oflow, Doug said he was part of a small group that would meet at another coffee shop.

“We kept giving money to these coffee shops that would openly bash the Christian way of life,” he shares. “We started to joke that we should open our own coffee shop—and we did!”

A friend who had worked as a baker professionally helped the couple create recipes for the new shop, and Doug found himself running the kitchen at his bakery on the Murfreesboro Public Square.

“I’ve had to learn how to do the baking,” Doug said. “I liked cooking, but baking wasn’t my first idea [of being involved with the business]. I thought I would be at the front of the house greeting customers, but I am surprised at how much I get lost in the baking.”

Another visitor recently raved about the eatery’s blueberry scone with orange glaze after trying this one warm and just out of the oven.

“The orange glaze really adds to the scone versus overpowering it,” according to the customer, Joe. “Loved the flavors and texture on this one . . . so moist and flavorful.”

Find more than just sweets at Oflow. For something meaty, have a delicious, warm and hearty chicken curry hand pie, stuffed in a flaky crust.

This surprisingly flavorful creation, packed with what Berg describes as a “Japanese-style curry,” has a flavor profile a little more subtle than Indian curry that “doesn’t make you sweat,” according to the shop owner.

Oflow also serves a ground beef version of its hand pies, which makes a very tasty, filling and just-greasy-enough lunch itself.

Another item that may be sufficient to lure a carnivore into a bakery is the sweet, thick candied bacon.

Have this as a snack on its own, or served with egg and cheese on a house-made English muffin, another warm and comforting selection at the downtown Murfreesboro establishment.

“We make our own sausage,” Doug continues, sharing how he adds fresh sage, rather than the more common dried herbs, to the Oflow pork sausage.

Work from various talented local artists adorns the walls of the shop, much of it for sale, along with beautiful pottery pieces from the Redheaded Potter, leather work and other items.

The shop carries Slothee Wants Coffee books and stuffed animals, a concept by Tennessee-based mother-and-son duo Cameron Fica and Nikki Pezzopane about a sloth who travels the world in search of the perfect cup of coffee. Sally says she would like to arrange a book signing at the shop in the future.

Oflow uses coffee from Middle Tennessee’s Narrow Gate Coffee, a Franklin-based outfit that, in addition to its coffee-roasting division, brings in men in recovery from addiction and teaches them woodworking and leather skills along with positive living in an effort to redirect their lives.

On the coffee menu at the shop, find pour-over coffee, drip coffee, cappuccinos and lattes with various flavor choices, a bold nitro brew and other options.

One patron was pleased that the business serves coffee somewhat on the strong side.

“I’m paying for real coffee, and not colored water that smells like coffee, unlike at other places,” he said, adding that the desserts “are works of art!”

Additionally, as far as its beverage sourcing, Oflow gets its teas from the Murfreesboro based Music City Tea (which used to be located just a few doors down from the bakery, before Music City Tea owner Jenny Zhong moved her business to Murfreesboro Street).

Berg desires to offer the community a “full drink experience,” with a large selection of beverage choices for many different tastes.

OFlow has all sorts of fruit and milk boba tea options (taro, honeydew, Thai tea, lavender, Earl Grey, green apple, chai tea, coconut, Taiwanese mango, blueberry, white peach and guava, just to name a few) with various popping and jelly boba flavors available for those who may not care for coffee.

Parking to get to the shop on the bustling Murfreesboro Public Square can be tricky in the middle of the day at times. And Oflow may not be the spot for one looking for vegetables (some salads could be a good addition to the menu, though acquiring and keeping fresh vegetables is a whole other element for a restaurant).

What Oflow does—baked goods, coffee, teas, hand pies and cheesecakes—it does very well. Pay a visit to this cozy and welcoming downtown Murfreesboro local business sometime and try a breakfast sandwich or begin sampling the many desserts and bubble teas the shop has to offer.

Hot Cocoa Bombs

Also, this holiday season, on Saturdays Dec. 2, 9 and 16, Oflow will host photos with the Grinch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those who would like a photo with the well-known green Christmas character.

___

IF YOU GO:

Oflow (Overflow – Brews & Bakes)
overflowb.com
115 N. Maple St., Murfreesboro
Mon.–Wed.: 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m.; Thurs.–Fri.: 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sat.: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
615-900-1676
4-inch cheesecake: $8.50
12-ounce cappuccino: $3.50
Beef or chicken hand pie: $7
16-ounce boba tea $5.45
English muffin with sausage, egg and cheese: $7
Espresso shot: $2
Slice of cake: $6.50