The Best Luncheonette In The South Is Right Here In Tennessee
By Meghan Kraft|Published April 07, 2022
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
Visiting the town of Tullahoma, Tennessee is like stepping back in town. Small and community-oriented, this rustic enclave straddles both Coffee and Franklin Counties on the southern edge of the state. Tullahoma was founded in 1852, once a work camp along the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, and to this day you can visit historic railroad sites and Civil War memorials in the area. Downtown, however, you will find the Sundrop Shoppe and Luncheonette, an inspired eatery that boasts homestyle cooking and true Southern hospitality. IF you’re looking for a nostalgic experience in the heart of Tullahoma, you’ve found it.
You will find the Sundrop Shoppe and Luncheonette in downtown Tullahoma, tucked away right on NE Atlantic Street. A focus on American cuisine and nostalgic, homespun dining space make this old-school eatery a must-visit for locals and tourists. You can’t miss the green and yellow signage!
The restaurant is meant to be an authentic recreation of a drugstore, inspired by the early 20th century. There is a full soda fountain as well as a lunch menu. Owner David Prescott opened the Sundrop Shoppe in the spring of 2019, and it has garnered incredible reviews and gained plenty of regular customers in the years since.
The dining room is welcoming to both small and larger parties, and you can contact the team at the Sundrop if you’d like to host an event on-site. Private events are available for up to 48 guests, and catering is also available. What a great spot to set your next party apart!
Perhaps most impressively, this local restaurant doesn’t hesitate to give back. Sundrop Shoppe donates a percentage of gelato profits to the Eli Grow Legacy Foundation, and all unused food is sent to a local non-profit, the Shepherd’s House. If you purchase Out of the Blue Granola and honey on-site then you are supporting Blue Monarch, a residential treatment center in the area.
Breakfast is served throughout the day, and you can choose from selections like massive breakfast sandwiches and the Queen City Platter: a plate complete with two fresh eggs, toast, and your choice of breakfast meat. There are plates for children as well, and make sure you add a mug of freshly brewed coffee to round out the meal.
The lunch menu is just as impressive, with a long list of cold sandwiches and soups, and salads. Make sure you snag an order of dessert from the soda fountain, too! The classic banana split is a dream, and the signature Sundrop float is swirled with gelato and fresh whipped cream. What decadence!
