Maury County, TN Has Thriving Local Restaurant Scene
Bring your appetite and discover what Maury County is cooking up
As Maury County continues to grow, so does its local food scene. The community is home to an array of farmers and growers, as well as plenty of delicious dining spots, many of which serve locally produced food and offer quality entertainment.
Whether your tastes run to grass-fed beef, fresh fruits and vegetables or from-scratch sweets, you can find it in Maury County – maybe even with a side of live music.
Local Producers Enrich Maury County’s Flavor
Located on 17 acres in Santa Fe, Kindred Farm grows USDA-certified organic produce and supplies eggs along with pasture-raised heritage pork. The farm’s products are available in area restaurants and grocery stores and onsite at the farm’s Saturday morning market, but the public can also get a taste of Kindred Farm’s food at their seasonal farm-to-table dinners.
“When people come to our dinners, they get a tour of the farm, plus a fantastic five-course meal with about 130 people,” says Steven Bailey, who owns Kindred Farm with his wife, Christine. “It’s a much-needed opportunity to slow down, enjoy live music and disconnect from our fast-paced world.”
In Columbia, Glendale Farm is a family-owned operation that primarily offers grass-fed beef. The farm also partners with Taylor Family Farm, based in Ethridge, to provide pasture-raised pork, chicken and other products, which are available for purchase in Glendale Farm’s online store and at various retailers and restaurants in Maury County and beyond.
“It’s so beneficial for people to know their local farmers and to understand where their food comes from,” says Sam Kennedy, Glendale Farm’s owner and operator. “Many farmers also consider themselves stewards of the land and implement sustainable farming practices, which is important. We live in such a beautiful place here in Middle Tennessee, and we want to take care of the land and make it better than it was when we found it.”
Looking for more fresh food? Visit Tallgrass Meat Co., a new butcher shop in downtown Columbia, and head to the Columbia Farmers’ Fresh Market, where you’ll find an assortment of vendors selling locally raised meat, produce, eggs, honey, jams, baked goods and other products. The market takes place downtown from May through October on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon.
Hometown Restaurants Offer Eats, Entertainment
When it comes to dining out, Maury County offers plenty of tasty options.
For example, Columbia lays claim to must-visit places like Bubba Gandy Seafood Market & Steamery, the Dotted Line and Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, a down-home dining spot serving up southern staples and featuring live music most Friday and Saturday nights. Nearby, Mt. Pleasant Grille is another restaurant with a menu of Southern favorites, as well as an old-fashioned soda fountain and a stage that’s regularly graced by local musicians.
“Every item we make is truly from scratch; nothing comes in pre-made,” says Jenna Morgan, Mt. Pleasant Grille’s catering leader. “We also offer a unique experience with our soda fountain and two private venue spaces. Our Phosphate City Room is an homage to the phosphate boom that happened in Mt. Pleasant back in the early 1900s, and our Triangle Room, which gets its name from the Americana Music Triangle, is where up-and-coming Grand Ole Opry stars played, such as Little Jimmy Dickens.”
In Culleoka, Campbell Station Country Store and Restaurant offers American classics, while Spring Hill is home to Jack of Hearts BBQ – locals say you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu – as well as Frankie’s Pizza & Grill and The Mockingbird Restaurant, where diners can enjoy southern cuisine in an 1850s farmhouse.
“We use all fresh and locally sourced ingredients where possible at both restaurants,” says Tanya Prifitera, who owns Frankie’s Pizza & Grill and The Mockingbird Restaurant. “We take serving a meal very seriously. When someone chooses to spend their hard-earned money in one of our restaurants, it’s not only a compliment to us but it’s humbling as well. They have so many choices these days and when they choose to dine at Frankie’s or Mockingbird, we promise to give 110 percent back to them.”