Big taste in a small town
Bell Buckle Cafe is tops in serving real home cooking
Story and photos by Page Haynes
Heidi Heinike, left, and her sister Hillary Heinike Parker oversee the daily operations of the Bell Buckle Cafe, a restaurant known for its quality food and friendly atmosphere.
Craving a delicious Southern homemade meal with a small-town atmosphere? Look no further than Bell Buckle Cafe in Bedford County. The popular eatery has been serving up amazing plates and hospitality there since 1993.
That year, owner J. Gregory Heinike noticed a sign that invited drivers to “visit historic Bell Buckle” while driving on Hwy. 231 between Murfreesboro and Shelbyville during a business trip. Curious, he drove into the small town and saw potential in a small cafe after speaking with some of the townspeople looking to revitalize the area. He ended up buying the cafe soon after.
Heinike was already a successful entrepreneur, getting his start in the food industry in his mid-20s. He owned several delicatessens and some nationally known drive-in restaurants while living in his home state of Oklahoma. He later opened a couple of seafood restaurants in Panama City, Florida, and then a chain of pizzerias in Huntsville, Alabama.
Heinike’s keen instinct told him the quaint cafe could be successful. Although it took a while for diners to discover the restaurant, the family’s hard work and dedication to the venture paid off. Nowadays, there’s usually a wait to get in the door. But patrons say it’s well worth it, and most say they come back regularly.
J. Gregory says his family pours their heart and soul into keeping Bell Buckle Cafe’s standards high. His wife, Jeanette, retired in 2020 from overseeing the daily operations of the cafe, leaving it in the talented hands of daughters Heidi and Hillary. Heidi’s two children, Hunter and Haven, also work in the kitchen.
Bell Buckle Cafe serves a variety of homemade and traditional Southern dishes, including barbecue, grilled pork chops, meatloaf, catfish, and chicken. There are several meat-and-three combinations as well as hamburgers and steaks.
“We smoke our own barbecue,” says Hillary. “We also grill our pork chops with in-house seasoning, and have a smothered pork chop that we bake in the oven until it’s good and tender, falling off the bone.”
Also popular are the homemade meatloaf, grilled chicken breasts, and a bevy of side dishes and made-from-scratch desserts. Customers love the carrot souffle, broccoli salad, white beans and ham, and blueberry gelatin salad, says Heidi, as well as the cafe’s freshly squeezed lemonade.
“Everyone has their favorites,” she points out. “Each dish is carefully prepared to have a scrumptious taste all its own.”
Belle Buckle Cafe’s entrees and side items, like this BBQ Pork Platter with broccoli salad, carrot souffle, red beans, and cornbread, are sure to please even the most selective diners. Top it off with an Arnold Palmer, as shown, Southern iced tea, soda, or fresh-squeezed, homemade lemonade.
A wall of autographed singer/songwriter photos, many written personally to J. Gregory and the cafe, serves as an interesting backdrop in the music room at the cafe where musicians have performed in the past.
Four workers come in each morning to prepare for the busy day ahead, and Heidi and Hillary start by making the desserts. The most popular is an oatmeal cake with a warm caramel sauce that was developed by Heidi, as well as a grits cake with strawberries and whipped cream. Hot apple, peach, or blackberry cobblers with ice cream are also favorites among diners.
The restaurant is known for its consistent, high-quality food, moderate prices, and warm family-friendly atmosphere. It attracts a diverse customer base, including locals, travelers, and visitors from nearby far and wide.
“We get people from all over,” adds Heidi. “We even have some customers from Germany who come in quite a bit, too, because my dad used to tour in a bluegrass band there and got to know some locals.”
Upon arrival, patrons provide their telephone number and are texted when their table is ready. While waiting, there are plenty of stores to visit in the small town, including antique shops, boutiques, a coffee shop, a guitar dealer, and an ice cream store to name just a few. For even more character, a train comes through town, right in front of the eatery, every so often.
“Bell Buckle is just so cute,” says Hillary. “The town also offers several festivals throughout the year, like the Daffodil Festival in March, Moon Pie Festival in June, a big craft fair in October, and a Christmas celebration in December.”
Bell Buckle Cafe is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Hours of operation is Wednesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call (931) 389-9693 or visit their website at facebook.com/TheBellBuckleCafe.
The menu at Bell Buckle Cafe is chock-full of homemade entrees, side dishes, desserts, and kid’s meals.
On Wednesday through Sunday, regardless of the time, there's always lots of diners and activity happening at the cafe and employees stay busy.
Two of the most popular desserts at the cafe are the grits cake with strawberries and whipped cream, left, and an oatmeal cake — developed by Heidi — that features a warm caramel sauce. The oatmeal cake can be topped with an optional scoop of vanilla ice cream. Fruit cobblers with ice cream are also popular.
By Page Haynes,
Contact phaynes@ourcoop.com