The pies at this restaurant don’t hide in the back. The dessert kitchen sits smack in the middle of the building, and you walk right past it to reach the register.
Good luck sticking to your diet with coconut pie and banana pudding staring at you. I believe that layout is either genius or a little bit sneaky. Probably both.
The whole thing lives inside a log cabin that started out as a model home. Two sisters and their family have kept the kitchen running in Tennessee for over four decades.
The menu reads like Sunday lunch at Grandma’s house, with country fried steak under golden gravy and homestyle chicken leading the way. I can’t imagine a cozier place to loosen your belt a notch or two.
Two Sisters With A Golden Maiden Name Started This Whole Thing
Golden Girls Restaurant in Clinton has a name with a twist. It has nothing to do with the famous TV show about four friends in Miami.
The name actually comes from family. Sisters Ann and Jeanne Carden were born with the last name Golden.
The restaurant’s roots stretch back to 1983, giving it more than four decades of history in Anderson County.
The restaurant later settled into its distinctive log cabin setting, where it became known for homestyle Southern cooking. So the Golden sisters became the Golden Girls. It’s hard to think of a better fit for two women running a comfort food kitchen.
Today, Ann’s daughter, Kathy Hill, co-owns Golden Girls Restaurant with Jeanne. That makes it a true family-owned and family-operated spot, which feels rarer every year.
As of March 2025, the restaurant was celebrating 42 years in Anderson County, Tennessee. That’s a lot of biscuits, a lot of gravy, and a lot of hungry neighbors.
I like knowing that the restaurant has remained a family operation. It makes every plate feel a little more personal.
That Log Cabin Started Life As A Model Home
Not many restaurants can say they used to be a sales pitch. The building that holds Golden Girls Restaurant began as a model home log cabin.
The family moved the business here in 1991, and the cabin has been home ever since. Its rustic, old-fashioned style gives every meal a cozy, lived-in feel.
Quilts help set the mood, and so do a few nods to the Golden Girls TV show. The name came from the family, but a little playful decor never hurt anybody.
There’s also a fireplace, which feels exactly right in a log cabin. On a chilly East Tennessee day, that detail alone might win you over.
Because the building was built as a house, the seating spreads across several different areas. Some of those areas have steps, so plan ahead if anyone in your group needs a smoother path.
That house-style layout is part of the fun. Instead of one giant dining hall, you get rooms that feel more like a family gathering than a food court.
I think a log cabin is the perfect wrapper for food this homey. It’s hard to picture meatloaf tasting as good in a shiny glass box.
That Country Fried Steak Comes Dressed In Golden Gravy
Breaded sirloin, fried until golden brown, then covered in gravy. That’s the country fried steak at Golden Girls Restaurant, and it doesn’t need a fancy introduction.
The gravy here is described as golden, which is a fun match for the restaurant’s name. Mashed potatoes and vegetables round out the plate, so nobody leaves wondering where the sides went.
Country fried steak is one of those dishes that tells you a lot about a Southern kitchen. It’s simple food, but it takes patience and a steady hand at the fryer.
Using sirloin gives the dish a solid foundation. Then the breading and gravy turn it into pure stick-to-your-ribs comfort.
Want to build a classic plate? Fried okra and pickled beets are both on the vegetable lineup, and they’d make a tasty pair beside that steak.
Hot rolls and cornbread are part of the home-cooked spread, so save a little room. You’ll want something to swipe through any leftover gravy.
My advice is to skip any plans for a big snack later. A plate like this is built to carry you well into the evening.
Chicken Lovers Get More Than One Way To Be Happy
Grandma-style chicken is the heart of a menu like this one. At Golden Girls Restaurant, the bird shows up in several forms, so choosing is the hard part.
Broasted chicken is a big draw, usually served in two, three, or four pieces with your choice of sides. Broasting is a pressure-frying method, which helps keep the meat juicy under a crisp outside.
Fried chicken and chicken rolls are on the lineup too. Roasted chicken sometimes pops up as a special, so it’s worth asking what’s cooking that day.
And then there’s chicken and dumplings, the dish that sounds like a hug in a bowl. It’s closely linked with this kitchen, though it isn’t always on the printed menu, so ask your server whether it’s available.
That little question is worth asking. Soft dumplings and tender chicken are the kind of food this cabin seems built for.
Daily specials often come with a main course and two sides. That setup makes it easy to pair your chicken with okra, green beans, or corn.
The Vegetable Plate Deserves More Respect Than It Gets
Some folks treat sides as an afterthought, but that would be a mistake here. Golden Girls Restaurant offers vegetable plates that let the sides become the main event.
Fried okra, corn, green beans, and pickled beets are all part of the mix. That’s a lineup that feels straight out of an Appalachian Sunday dinner.
Pickled beets are a fun pick if you’ve never tried them. They bring a tangy, bright bite that cuts through heavier fried foods.
Fried okra is the opposite kind of fun. It’s crunchy, salty, and very hard to share once the plate hits the table.
A vegetable plate is also a smart move for anyone who wants a lighter meal. Well, lighter by Southern comfort food standards, anyway.
Meatloaf, roast beef, fried catfish, and meat pies are on the menu too. Mixing one of those with a couple of veggies is a great way to sample the kitchen.
I love that a restaurant this focused on classic meats still gives vegetables a real stage. Grandma would definitely approve of you cleaning your plate.
Ask about the day’s options when you order. A good side can steal the show.
Pancakes At Supper Time? Nobody Here Will Judge You
Breakfast is served all day at Golden Girls Restaurant. That means pancakes at 6 p.m. are completely fair game.
The doors open at 8 a.m., so early birds can start the day with biscuits and a hot cup of coffee. Tea is on hand too, for anyone who prefers a gentler wake-up call.
Biscuits and gravy are one of the kitchen’s best-known breakfast plates. It’s the kind of meal that makes a morning drive feel completely worth it.
Pancakes bring a sweeter option to the table. Pair them with a side of something savory, and you’ve got the classic sweet-and-salty combo covered.
All-day breakfast is a lifesaver for groups that can’t agree. One person can order country fried steak while another goes full pancake stack.
That flexibility makes the restaurant easy for families and road-trippers alike. Nobody has to give up their craving just because the clock moved past noon.
Lunch and dinner are served too, of course. Still, I believe a place that respects breakfast at any hour has its priorities in the right order.
Just remember the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Plan your biscuit run for later in the week.
Those Pies Sit Right Where You Can’t Miss Them
Talk about a sneaky setup. The dessert kitchen at Golden Girls Restaurant sits smack dab in the middle of the building.
It even serves as the pathway to the back seating and the payment area. So you’ll stroll right past the sweets on your way to pay, which is either rude or brilliant.
Homemade desserts are a big part of the experience here. Coconut pie, Italian cream cake, and banana pudding all have spots on the menu.
Pecan pie is another Southern favorite you can find. Fresh pies are often available too, so the lineup can change from visit to visit.
Coconut pie is a great pick for anyone who loves a creamy, old-school dessert. Italian cream cake is a fancier option, perfect for a special treat.
Banana pudding, meanwhile, is pure Southern nostalgia in a dish. It’s the dessert many folks remember from church potlucks and family reunions.
My best tip is to decide on dessert before you even order your meal. That way you can leave just enough room for a slice.
Takeout is available too. A pie slice for the ride home sounds like a very good plan.
Grandma’s Table Has Room For The Whole Crew
Bringing the little ones? High chairs are ready, so even the tiniest diners can pull up to the table.
That family-friendly spirit fits a restaurant run by family for more than 40 years. The place feels made for big gatherings and multi-generation meals.
Wheelchair access is covered with an accessible parking lot, entrance, seating, and restroom. If anyone needs a certain kind of seat, just mention it when you arrive.
Planning a birthday lunch or a big Sunday get-together? Call ahead to ask about seating arrangements and whether reservations are available.
The restaurant offers a cozy indoor dining area, with a TV for anyone who wants to catch a score.
Paying is easy since credit cards are accepted. Parking is on site too, which is always a relief after a long drive.
Can’t stay? Takeout works for busy weeknights, and home-cooked food tastes just as good on your own couch.
I like that the restaurant thinks about every kind of guest. Toddlers, grandparents, and everyone between them get a real seat at the table.
Plan Your Pit Stop Just Off The Interstate
Road trips get a lot tastier with the right exit. Golden Girls Restaurant sits at 2211 N Charles G Seivers Blvd, Clinton, TN 37716.
Clinton is in Anderson County, Tennessee, just north of Knoxville. That makes the cabin an easy stop for travelers along Interstate 75.
Hours run Wednesday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., including Sundays. Mondays and Tuesdays are the off days, so plan around them. Showing up hungry to a locked door is nobody’s idea of fun.
Clinton itself makes a nice add-on to your meal. The town sits along the Clinch River, which is great for a scenic stroll after a big lunch.
Norris Dam State Park is also not far away. A little hiking after country fried steak might be the smartest plan you make all day.
I can’t imagine a better way to break up a long drive through East Tennessee. A hot plate, a slice of pie, and a cozy cabin beat any drive-thru.
Just don’t blame me if you start planning your next trip around this exit. Some detours are worth making twice.
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