This Tennessee Buffet Serves the Best Southern Food in the State
If you crave old fashioned Southern comfort, Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store in Jackson is where your plate and your heart feel full. The buffet is generous, the flavors are homey, and the 19th century general store setting makes every bite feel nostalgic. With a retro ice cream parlor and shelves of curios, it is more than a meal, it is a Tennessee time capsule. Come hungry, leave smiling, and probably planning your next visit.
1. The Legendary Southern Buffet
You walk in and the buffet greets you with steam curling over pans of golden fried chicken, slow cooked greens, and buttery mashed potatoes. The room feels like a small museum, with jars, signage, and wood counters framing the spread. It is comforting, abundant, and proudly Tennessee.
Load a plate with cornbread, country ham, and creamy mac and cheese, then add a spoonful of tangy slaw for balance. The flavors are familiar yet vibrant, like the Sunday suppers you grew up loving. Every station invites one more taste.
Staff keep the pans hot and replenished, so nothing sits tired. You will appreciate the care. This buffet does not coast on nostalgia, it earns its reputation daily.
2. Fried Chicken That Sets the Bar
The fried chicken here crackles as you lift it, promising a shattering crust and juicy center. Seasoning runs deep, not just on the surface, so every bite stays lively. A drizzle of honey or a flick of hot sauce sends it over the top.
You can taste heritage cooking in the balance of salt, pepper, and paprika. It is the sort of chicken that makes you slow down, nod, and reach for another piece. Pair it with greens or mashed potatoes to round things out.
Even on busy nights, it stays remarkably crisp. The kitchen times batches smartly, so freshness holds. If you come for one thing, let it be this.
3. Biscuits, Cornbread, and Sides Galore
Comfort lives in the sides, and this place gets them right. Buttermilk biscuits bake up tender and steam when you split them, ready for butter or sorghum. Skillet cornbread carries a gentle sweetness and a proud crumb.
Collard greens simmer with smoke and vinegar, while black eyed peas are soft but not mushy. Mac and cheese lands creamy and rich, with a familiar sharpness. You will find pickles, slaw, and green beans for brightness.
Build a plate that balances textures and flavors, then steal a second biscuit for good measure. The buffet format invites creativity. Here, sides are not supporting players, they are the comfort chorus.
4. Retro Ice Cream Parlor Treats
After the buffet, the retro ice cream parlor lures you with chrome stools and glass sundae boats. Banana splits, hand dipped cones, and thick milkshakes bring back summer memories. It is playful, colorful, and irresistibly sweet.
Choose a couple scoops of butter pecan or strawberry and watch them crowned with whipped cream. Hot fudge drips over the edges in the happiest way. Kids light up here, and honestly, so will you.
Grab a sundae and wander the store displays, or sit and savor slowly. The parlor makes dessert an event. It finishes the Southern meal with a grin you cannot fake.
5. Historic General Store Atmosphere
The setting wraps you in history before your first bite. Wooden shelves stacked with vintage tins and curios create a living backdrop. It feels like stepping into a friendly Tennessee time machine.
Music hums softly, servers chat, and families linger over second helpings. The décor is not staged perfection, it is lovingly collected. You sense stories in every sign and jar.
That atmosphere matters because it slows you down to savor. Food tastes better when a place feels personal. Here, hospitality and heritage turn a meal into memory.
6. Breakfast at 6:30 AM
Early risers get rewarded when doors open at 6:30 AM most days. Plates fill with biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, country ham, and grits that stick with you. Coffee arrives hot and plentiful.
It is the kind of breakfast that steadies a busy day or fuels a road trip. You can eat hearty and still feel taken care of. The staff move quickly but never rush.
Check hours before you go, since Sundays start later and evenings vary. That said, morning regulars know the rhythm well. Set your alarm, bring an appetite, and start strong.
7. Sunday Comforts and Family Gatherings
Sunday brings a slower pace and the kind of comfort you crave after church or errands. Tables fill with families sharing stories and trading bites of casserole and pie. It feels welcoming, unrushed, and sincerely local.
The buffet leans classic on Sundays, with roasts, vegetables, and extra desserts. Kids wander toward the parlor while grandparents top off coffee. You will find room for one more spoonful, somehow.
Service stays attentive without hovering, which makes lingering easy. This is where traditions breathe and grow. Bring your people and let the meal stretch into the afternoon.
8. Plan Your Visit: Essentials
You will find Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store at 56 Casey Jones Ln A, Jackson, TN 38305. It is an American restaurant with a Southern buffet and a retro ice cream parlor. Expect a warm crowd and steady flow.
Hours generally run Monday through Thursday 6:30 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday until 9 PM, and Sunday 8 AM to 7 PM. Prices land around mid range. Call +1 731-668-1223 or check caseyjones.com for updates.
Arrive hungry and leave time to browse the historic displays. Parking is easy, and families feel comfortable. If you love Southern cooking, this spot delivers consistently.
