Favorite Tennessee Restaurants (Cookeville, Clinton, Algood: college, buffets, best)

[Mr. Mudd]

I'm glad somebody finally spoke up for west Tennessee! But I did want to update Shenandoah's list as follows:

A-Tan, Chinese. A-Tan is the owner's name. She's over eighty years old but is there practically every day, at least every day I'm there.

Corky's BBQ, Cordova. Great food and outstanding service.

Jim's Place East. Greek restaurant. Beautiful décor. First class. Somewhat pricey.

Leonard's Pit Barbeque. Stay away if you're trying to diet – they offer a buffet! And on Thursday the buffet includes ribs! Most buffets suck, if you'll pardon the expression. But this place is fantastic!

Regarding the Blue Plate Cafe. The one in Cordova on Germantown Pkwy. is closed. But I understand they have opened two others – downtown and in Bartlett. And a historic note: the Blue Plate Cafe on Poplar was built as a home by Kemmons Wilson, the founder of Holiday Inn, in the early fifties, when the location was considered to be in the far east part of Memphis (not really Memphis back then).

And on a sad note: Buntyn's no longer exists. It seems like their business went down after they relocated to East Memphis and then expanded to Collierville.

Regarding having food shipped, you're in luck! Corky's will overnight via FedEx (a Memphis company, of course).
Corky's BBQ - Ship our World Famous BBQ via FedEx

[hew2a]

Puleo's in Murfreesboro...YUCK!!!

Bangkok Cafe in Murfreesboro. I've had friends from Chicago and New York say they have some of the best Thai food in the country.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mudd

And on a sad note: Buntyn's no longer exists. It seems like their business went down after they relocated to East Memphis and then expanded to Collierville.

Regarding having food shipped, you're in luck! Corky's will overnight via FedEx (a Memphis company, of course).
Corky's BBQ - Ship our World Famous BBQ via FedEx

It was a sad, sad day when Buntyn's closed. They had the best of everything: homemade pies and cobblers, country vegetables, and holy cow the best yeast rolls ever.

As for Corky's, they're all over Tennessee, including a couple of locations here in East Tennessee (Knoxville and Pigeon Forge). They're also in Nashville and Murfreesboro. I gladly go there when I want a reminder of why Memphis has the best BBQ in the world.

[Mike in TN]

Originally Posted by hew2a

Puleo's in Murfreesboro...YUCK!!!

Bangkok Cafe in Murfreesboro. I've had friends from Chicago and New York say they have some of the best Thai food in the country.

Most people seem to like Puleo's, but I agree w/you. My wife and I went soon after they opened and we didn't care for it.

Where is Bangkok Cafe?

[hiknapster]

JMT: I'll try Corky's. I tried Buddy's and hated it.

I've heard that Puelo's in Murfreesboro is as equally bad as the one in Strawberry Plains is good. Same people. Definitely a different chef!

[rubytue]

I've been out of TN for about 15 years (save for the annual 4th of July and Christmas visits). We just returned from a visit to lovely East Tennessee (Kingston and Oak Ridge). We stopped for Buddy's on the way out of town. It doesn't seem as good as I remembered, but still good. Love their hushpuppies! Is Calhouns still in Knoxville? I loved their BBQ!

One of my favorite fast-food places in the 80s/90s was Petros Chili and Chips! Loved it! Especially the chicken chili. If I recall, they started at the 1982 Worlds Fair. There don't seem to be many (any?) still around.

[hiknapster]

Yes, Calhoun's is still around. I think they make a decent sauce. Petros WAS started because of the World's Fair. I think they are at convenience stores, and the like. Never tried it. Really don't care to.

I hate Buddy's. I think their sauce is vile.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Yes, Calhoun's is still around. I think they make a decent sauce. Petros WAS started because of the World's Fair. I think they are at convenience stores, and the like. Never tried it. Really don't care to.

I hate Buddy's. I think their sauce is vile.

Yeah I'm not too wild about Buddy's sauce, but I do like their meat. Actually, what I like about Buddy's is you can go through their drive-thru and get a BBQ pork sandwich with cole slaw, just like they serve them in Memphis. I mean the cole slaw is in the sandwich, not on the side. I love that. And since Buddy's is about the only BBQ place I know of in these parts with a drive-thru window, I can live with it.

[jimj]

corkys is pretty darn good bbq for a chain! Love their sauce and pulled pork sandwichs. Very expensive to get delivered (trust me we know) but if you really want it delivered by mail QVC has a deal with them. Not bad baby backs but again kind of pricey but when you need a Memphis fix and live where we do any port in a storm will do

[hiknapster]

I can so live with a sandwich with coleslaw. I think all things should have coleslaw. That sandwich has to be spectacular.
Well, except peach pie.

That's good on it's own.

JMT, when I went to Buddy's the meat was dry. We had it catered in at work, and it was still dry.


I see that Bill Clinton endorses Corky's. Now we know Bubba can eat. I don't know about his taste in women...