Updated December 29, 2021.
If you’re in the market for some home cookin’ you can savor, I have just the place for you: My home town of Carthage, Tennessee. Whether it’s biscuits and gravy, a burger you can sink your teeth into, or real peach cobbler that slides right down, you’ll find something you love to eat in and around Carthage. And more new places are coming! I can’t wait to see what’s to eat in the coming months and years while Carthage comes into a new age.
Roja’s Kitchen
We’ll call this Mexican with Southern flair! Their regular menu involves quesadillas, enchilladas, tacos… and catfish. Because you gotta have catfish, y’all. Their breakfast menu is only served on Saturdays, however, so I made sure to take advantage of that as well. You’ll find all the good stuff: bacon, eggs, biscuits with gravy, French toast, pancakes, and more. I went with the Classic Country Breakfast, which came with bacon, two eggs, fried skillet potatoes, and biscuits and gravy. I left full and happy!
Yeah, I ate solo. It’s fun! More here: How to Enjoy Dining Solo
Pleasant Shade Cafe
This little restaurant and store is in an old gas station. You read that right! I love seeing restaurants in repurposed buildings. I just think it’s fun! But what’s better than a good location is good food. If you’ve ever wanted to try “real” Southern style food, you need to put their collard greens and fried okra on your list. Their BBQ pulled pork sandwich was pretty fantastic, too!
If you have a larger appetite than we did and you want a truly indulgent event, you’ll need to get their “Railroad Fries,” which is French fries, cheese, and bacon, all topped with ranch dressing. If you’ve never had ranch dressing on anything besides salad, you haven’t lived.
The real treat for me, however, was the peach cobbler. I’m very particular about my cobbler. If see it on the menu, I always order it. But if it comes out and it’s really pie, I get disappointed. For everyone who doesn’t know yet: cobbler never involves crust! It should be cakey and gooey and delicious.
More here: The Best Desserts in the World
Ebel’s Tavern
This is the happening place to be! Believe it or not, even in a small town, you need to have reservations here, especially for dinner, and especially on the weekends. They have live music in the evenings, and their food is truly some of the best around town. They have quite a variety, from down home cooking to Asian flair. I highly recommend the potstickers, and this is the first place outside of Florida where I saw grouper on the menu–so I had to get it!
Keep eating: The Most Exotic Foods I Ever Ate
The Candy Bar
This is your friendly, neighborhood sweet shop! They have candy of all varieties, from vintage to retro, ice cream sundaes, shakes, and my favorite… coffee! The shop itself is absolutely adorable. It’s fun, it’s bright, it’s really got to be on your list! And don’t forget to walk around the corner and get a photo with the fun, beautiful, uplifting mural on the side of the building.
Read next: Your Ultimate Guide to Where Coffee Comes from Around the World
Sparta Greek Grill 2
One of the best restaurants in the county is just a quick drive across the river. It’s a Greek place that also does… Crepes! They truly do have some of the best Greek and Middle Eastern food I’ve ever eaten, but I love that they have a variety so that everyone can find something they like. I’ve had both a savory and sweet crepe here before, and both were out-of-this-world delicious.
They don’t open until 10:00am, but they serve their breakfast crepes all day. My mom raved about her ham, egg, and cheese crepe, which came with mustard. I got the Gyro Schwarma (thinly sliced meat), which came on the softest pita bread, with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cheese.
My brother had the Gyro Plate, which came with the pita, thinly sliced meat, rice, and side salad. He was a fan! And to top it all off, I got the Baklava. It’s truly some of the best I’ve had in the world. I could eat a whole pan of the stuff!
Read on: Where to Find the Best Food in the World
Rokabilly Coffee
One of the best new additions to the Carthage small business community is this AMAZING coffee shop! Though known for their cinnamon rolls and seasonal flavor combos, I also love their scones and a good ol’ fashioned latte. I love that their seating is inviting and comfortable–they’re not trying to shoo you away with hardback chairs and no outlets–and the fact that there is usually a line out the door is all you need to know about their local credibility. Don’t forget to follow them on Instagram, too, @rokabilly_coffee!
Rokabilly is conveniently adjacent to the Historic Walton Hotel!
Want more? Check out my World Foods Page for all my most epic food adventures!
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Something 2 wing about is also in Carthage and the food is amazing
Thank you! It will go on my list for the next trip! 🙌
Michael & Hannah’s restaurant has been a staple in Carthage for almost 40 years. Operating under the name Brenda’s for 34 years prior to becoming Michael & Hannah’s in 2017.
I remmebre it as Brenda’s growing up! I wanted to stop by on my last trip, but my timing didn’t workout. I’ll make sure it’s on the list for next time!