Cookeville has local steak restaurants and national steak chains. The introduction uses a $50 ribeye as the price under review.
1. Nick's Restaurant & Lounge
895 S. Jefferson Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501 Hours: Tue-Fri 11am-9:30pm, Sat 4pm-9:30pm, Sun 10:30am-2:30pm
Nick's Restaurant & Lounge is at 895 S. Jefferson Ave. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 11am to 9:30pm, Saturday 4pm to 9:30pm, and Sunday 10:30am to 2:30pm. The prime rib is seasoned and slow-cooked, with a crust and a pink interior. The loaded baked potato is the side named with it. The filet mignon is the tenderloin option, cooked to the temperature requested. Nick's has a full bar. The room has dim lighting and booths. Nick's is a long dinner. Reservations are the weekend plan.
2. The Putnam Room
319 E Spring St, Cookeville, TN 38501 Hours: Tue-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 4pm-10pm
The Putnam Room is at 319 E Spring St. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 11am to 9pm, and Saturday 4pm to 10pm. Reservations can be made by phone or online. Taylor Douglas and Chef Thomas Hobson own The Putnam Room. The Putnam Room is a tapas and small plates restaurant. This list includes it for the beef. More than one Cookeville diner has called a steak there the best they have had in town. Pan Seared Scallops and Sticky Shrimp are on the menu. Beef preparations rotate. The cocktail list includes a chocolate raspberry martini and a bourbon list. Happy hour is 3pm to 5pm on weekdays. Saturday happy hour is 8pm to 10pm. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.
3. The Doodle
2331 W Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501 Hours: Tue 6am-2pm, Wed-Sat 6am-8pm
The Doodle is at 2331 W Broad St. Hours are Tuesday 6am to 2pm, and Wednesday through Saturday 6am to 8pm. The Doodle is a diner and calls itself the home of the Giant Cheeseburger and Mile High Pie. Breakfast runs into the afternoon. The Hamburger Steak Dinner is a thick hamburger steak with southern sides and gravy. The gravy is made from drippings. The plate is around $17, which this page sets below a chain appetizer. The catfish dinner and chicken liver dinner are on the menu. Mile High Pie is made in-house and includes chocolate and coconut cream. A slice is $4. The booths are worn. The portions are large. Cash and cards are accepted. A hamburger steak and a slice of pie can come in under $25.
4. LongHorn Steakhouse
1000 S Jefferson Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501 Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
LongHorn Steakhouse is at 1000 S Jefferson Ave, near the hospital corridor. The parking lot is full on weekend evenings. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 11am to 10pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm. The Outlaw Ribeye is the signature steak. LongHorn states the steaks are fresh, never frozen. The exterior char is consistent. Flo's Filet is the tender cut. Medium or medium-rare is the doneness named for that cut. The house salad comes with honey mustard dressing. Fresh-baked bread comes to the table. Service varies by daypart. Weekday evenings are the quieter service window. Sunday lunch is the busy window. The price sits between local independents and budget chains.
5. Texas Roadhouse
1275 Interstate Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501 Hours: Mon-Thu 3pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm
Texas Roadhouse is at 1275 Interstate Dr. Hours are Monday through Thursday 3pm to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm, and Sunday 11am to 10pm. The steaks are hand-cut. Rolls come with cinnamon butter. Peanut shells are on the floor. The bone-in ribeye and the Dallas Filet are on the menu. Sides are made from scratch. The loaded sweet potato is the side named ahead of the fries. Rattlesnake Bites are fried jalapeño cheese bites, and they are the starter during a long wait. The wait on busy nights can run long. Most tables do not take reservations. The call-ahead waitlist runs online and is the Friday and Saturday plan. Most steaks are under $25.
6. Outback Steakhouse
1390 Interstate Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501 Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm
Outback Steakhouse is at 1390 Interstate Dr. Outback is on this list because Cookeville has few dedicated steakhouses. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm, and Sunday 11am to 9pm. The Bloomin' Onion is the named appetizer. Victoria's Filet is the top cut on the menu. The Outback Special sirloin is the lower-priced steak. The seasoning is a pepper-heavy crust, which is the blend that separates Outback from LongHorn and Texas Roadhouse on this list. The dine-in room has changed over the past few years. The room has Australian-themed details. The bar is the faster seating area. An online waitlist and curbside pickup are available. Outback has a happy hour.
7. Savor Cookeville
35 W Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501 Hours: Tue-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Savor Cookeville is at 35 W Broad St. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 11am to 9pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm. Call to confirm hours, or check the website. Savor is in the former Seven Senses space, across the street from the original location, with a larger footprint and an outdoor patio. Savor is not a traditional steakhouse. The menu is Southern American, with Southwestern, Creole, and Asian dishes. Beef preparations change. Fried green tomatoes and bacon cheese grit puppies are the starters named most often. The patio is the outdoor seating on this list when the weather is clear. Check the current menu before a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best steakhouse in Cookeville TN? Nick's Restaurant and Lounge on South Jefferson Avenue is the first local steakhouse on this list. The prime rib is slow-cooked and seasoned. The Putnam Room on East Spring Street serves beef in a small-plates format downtown.
Where can I get a good steak in Cookeville? Nick's Restaurant and Lounge (895 S Jefferson Ave) is the independent steak pick. LongHorn Steakhouse on South Jefferson Avenue and Texas Roadhouse on Interstate Drive are the chain picks. The Putnam Room downtown serves rotating steak preparations in a small-plates format.
Best steak restaurant Cookeville Tennessee Nick's Restaurant and Lounge is the traditional steakhouse on this list. Prime rib and filet mignon are the orders named there. LongHorn Steakhouse is the chain pick, and the Outlaw Ribeye is the signature item. Savor Cookeville at 35 W Broad Street serves a Southern menu with beef preparations.
Is there a nice steakhouse in Cookeville? Nick's Restaurant and Lounge serves prime rib and filet mignon in a dim room with booths. Reservations are recommended on weekends. The Putnam Room has cocktails and a rotating menu that includes beef.