The Unassuming Restaurant That May Just Be The Best Kept Secret In Tennessee
The south is known for its wit and charm. It’s known for fostering beauty in the midst of a humid summer, serving up tea and cake with a smile and sweating behind softly fluttering fans with a glass of iced tea. For visitors and locals alike, it almost becomes addicting, trying to find the siren’s call of the past somewhere in the “new south.” Well – we found it. A bit of history tucked away in the heart of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and it’s one of the best spots to indulge.
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Southern Charm Gift Shop & Tea Room in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, is one of the sweetest hidden gems in the state - have you been? The town itself is known for the RC Cola + Moon Pie Festival in the middle of June, but we're fans of the quaint downtown and kind locals.
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Southern Charm has a doily draped dining room in the back, past a darling gift shop, that hearkens back to a time gone by. You can enjoy a pot of tea with a tray of cakes in the afternoon, surrounded by a space of delicate beauty and flower-encrusted draperies.
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Doesn't this table setting look divine? Although you can indulge in tea sandwiches or soup, we'd recommend a delicate cup of tea paired with scones any day.
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Afternoon tea includes one homemade scone with clotted cream and jam, a tartlet with delicious cream cheese and lovely pepper jelly, six finger sandwiches, and six mini desserts - all for $15!
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The cakes on display definitely caught our eye, and the different flavors keep you coming back again and again. If you have the chance to try the scone pudding served with ice cream, though, it's a must!
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Would you ever visit? Have you ever been? All meals come with hot tea on the side, so come ready for a toasty sip of something yummy. If you're making a reservation, you can even request gluten-free eats.
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You can visit for yourself at 29 Railroad Square in the heart of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. We'll see you in Small Town, USA!
Beat the heat this summer by checking out this truly Tennessee swimming hole in the mountains of East Tennessee.
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