Restaurants in the Upper Cumberland

The Brass Rail is the oldest bar and restaurant in Cookeville, operating continuously since 1950 on the downtown square. This no-frills neighborhood bar is a true Upper Cumberland institution, cold beer, great burgers, and a worn-in atmosphere that no modern restaurant can fake. If you want to understand Cookeville, you need to sit at the Brass Rail.

A specialty coffee house on Rich Froning Way - steps from CrossFit Mayhem - serving quality coffee and light fare to the fitness community and surrounding neighborhood.

Calfkiller Brewing Company in Sparta is one of Tennessee's most acclaimed craft breweries, producing award-winning ales and lagers from a rural White County location since 2012. The taproom is the kind of place that draws beer enthusiasts from Nashville and Knoxville specifically to make the drive.

A downtown Cookeville steakhouse and bar on S Washington Avenue with over 1,100 reviews - one of the city's anchor dining destinations for steak and American food.

Chapahali is a family-owned Ethiopian restaurant on S Jefferson Ave, serving authentic East African cuisine to Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland. It's one of the most genuinely unique dining experiences in the region, dishes are served on injera (a tangy fermented flatbread), meant to be eaten communally by hand. Whether you're new to Ethiopian food or a longtime fan, Chapahali is a special place.

The most-reviewed restaurant in Cookeville with nearly 4,000 ratings - Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen on Interstate Drive serves scratch-made American food at a price that makes it one of the best value sit-down restaurants in the area.

A bar and grill on N Cedar Ave in downtown Cookeville with a 4.7-star rating - a locally loved spot for lunch and dinner with a laid-back atmosphere that keeps regulars coming back.

Crawdaddy's West Side Grill brings Cajun-inspired Southern cooking to downtown Cookeville's West Broad Street. Their menu is rooted in Louisiana tradition, crawfish, po' boys, gumbo, and rich seafood dishes, served in a lively, character-filled space with exposed brick, an upstairs dining area, and a patio that's perfect when the weather's right. Described by regulars as 'a slice of New Orleans in the middle of Cookeville,' it's one of the most distinctive dining options in the Upper Cumberland and one of TripAdvisor's top-ranked restaurants in the city.

Cream City is a beloved Cookeville institution on W Broad St, serving handmade ice cream in 40+ rotating flavors alongside locally roasted coffee. Family-owned and operated, Cream City is famous for its handmade waffle cones and one of the oldest working neon signs in Tennessee. It's a downtown gathering spot that spans generations, the kind of place grandparents bring their grandkids and college students hit after dinner. With a 4.8-star Google rating from over 800 reviews, it's one of the highest-rated spots in the entire city.