National chains in Cookeville are consistent and convenient. A Chipotle burrito bowl in Cookeville matches the size and temperature of the same order in Chattanooga or Cleveland. The local restaurants below are the ones this page ranks ahead of those chains, category by category. Some chains still fill a convenience slot.
Burgers: Dave's Old Fashioned Burger vs. Five Guys
Dave's Old Fashioned Burger is a food truck at 172 W Broad St. The burger is smash-style, with a crust from the griddle. Dave's has no dining room. Five Guys serves fresh beef, never frozen, cooked to order, with free peanuts during the wait. Five Guys is the fallback when the truck is closed. Five Guys is priced above McDonald's. This section ranks Dave's Old Fashioned Burger ahead of Five Guys. McDonald's is the known fast-food burger.
Pizza: Big Tony's Pizzeria vs. Domino's
Big Tony's Pizzeria is at 866 E 10th Street and has a 4.7-star rating across a large set of reviews. The pie is New York-influenced, with chew in the crust, tomato sauce, and cheese. Domino's is built around delivery speed. Pizza Hut pan pizza in 1993 and the current Pizza Hut pan pizza are different products. This section ranks Big Tony's ahead of Domino's. Order ahead.
Mexican: Rey's Mexican Grill vs. Chipotle
Rey's Mexican Grill is at 780 W Jackson Street. Rey's has 540 reviews and a 4.5-star average. The menu includes tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and fajitas. The salsas are made in-house. Portions are large. Chipotle is fast-casual Mexican, and the bowl is an assembly-line order. Taco Bell is the 11 p.m. option named in this section. This section ranks Rey's Mexican Grill ahead of Chipotle. The page places Rey's about a mile from Chipotle. Rey's is at 780 W Jackson.
Coffee: Vertical Coffee Company vs. Starbucks
Vertical Coffee Company is at 8 W Spring St and has a 4.9-star rating across 418 reviews. The shop is downtown on West Spring Street and has seating. Pour-over and espresso are on the menu. Milk for espresso drinks is steamed to a set temperature. Soul Craft Coffee is the other local coffee shop named here, in a city of 36,000 people. Soul Craft has its own following. Starbucks is the consistent chain option. This section ranks Vertical Coffee Company ahead of Starbucks. Weekend mornings fill up. Arrive early.
BBQ: Hardwoods Smokehouse vs. Sonny's
Hardwoods Smokehouse is at 851 S Willow Ave. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 6:45pm. Hardwoods is closed Sunday and Monday. The menu is ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and sausage, smoked on site. Brisket is the order for a first visit. The brisket standard named here is time, temperature, and discarding a batch that misses the mark. Hardwoods also runs a food truck and catering at events in the Upper Cumberland. Sonny's BBQ is a chain with smoked meat, set portions, and a predictable order. This section ranks Hardwoods Smokehouse ahead of Sonny's. Plan around the hours.
Breakfast and Brunch: Local vs. IHOP
The Old Barrel Grill and Old Town Pancake Company both have regulars. Old Town Pancake Company draws a weekend morning crowd for pancakes made from the kitchen's recipe. IHOP is the no-surprise breakfast when four people need to eat at 7am. Waffle House is open at 3am, when other restaurants are closed, and is cheap at that hour. Waffle House is a separate category from the local breakfast restaurants. This section ranks a local breakfast spot ahead of IHOP for a sit-down morning, Waffle House for 3am, and IHOP after those two.
Are the Chains Worth It When Local Options Are Available?
Chains are predictable, fast, consistent from city to city, and often cheaper than local restaurants. In Cookeville, the local list includes a burger food truck, Big Tony's Pizzeria at 4.7 stars, Rey's Mexican Grill with 540 reviews, and Vertical Coffee Company at a 4.9 average. Chains remain the app-order option.
A first week of local meals named here: Vertical Coffee Company, then Rey's on a weeknight, Big Tony's Pizzeria on a Friday, Hardwoods Smokehouse on a Saturday (call ahead), and Dave's food truck at 172 W Broad when the truck is open.
Where Should You Start if You're New to Cookeville's Food Scene?
Vertical Coffee Company is the first stop, with a 4.9 rating to check against a repeat visit. Rey's is the weeknight dinner. Big Tony's Pizzeria is the Friday slice. Hardwoods Smokehouse is the Saturday stop. Call ahead. Dave's food truck is at 172 W Broad when it is open.