Are you up for a road trip? Not a long one, but definitely one worth considering. Destination: Cosby, TN, where Carvers Orchard and Applehouse Restaurant are just waiting to be discovered.
Discovered might not be the right word, as Carvers has been in business since the 1940s and has welcomed thousands of customers every year.
The Dining Duo recently heard about Carvers and decided that the short trip would be worth it if the restaurant was as great as everyone said it was. Was it ever!
We started our meal with warm apple fritters and apple butter. We could both have eaten nothing else as long as they kept coming, but we had ordered lunch, so we had to restrain ourselves from begging for more.
Duo One ordered chicken and dumplings, fried apples, and green beans, while Duo Two chose catfish and a loaded baked potato. Hot bread and never-ending glasses of sweet tea helped make our meal unforgettable. The chicken and dumplings were delicious, as were the veggies. The catfish was nice and crisp, and the potato was piled high with butter, cheese, bacon, and sour cream.
Having done everything shy of licking our plates clean, we left the restaurant for the apple barn with the fried pie kitchen and the Sweet Shop next door.
I didn’t count, but there were at least two dozen types of apples available, by the pound or the bushel. Along with fresh-picked vegetables of all kinds, Carvers offers jams, jellies, and ciders along with just about everything that you could pickle.
Eggs, okra, asparagus, green beans, and corn are among their pickled items. The Sweet Shop offered chocolate guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth, as well as taffy and “penny” candy by the pound.
Carvers Apple Barn is open Monday through Saturday, 8 to 5, Sunday, 11 to 5. The Applehouse Restaurant is open 11 to 5 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and is closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The Sweet Shop is open 9 to 5, being closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Cosby, TN is definitely the place to head for if you are craving good food, great service, and reasonable prices. The Applehouse Restaurant will become one of your new favorites.
Wait! I forgot to tell you about the hot fried apple pies. On second thought, I don’t think I know enough positive adjectives to describe them. I will let you make up your own mind when you try one, but I’m not sure that even Heaven will have a better one.
Dining Duo is always searching for hidden-gem eateries where locals gather for breakfast and lunch—favorite neighborhood spots tucked off the beaten path or hiding in plain sight. Know a place we should visit? Email your recommendation to knoxtndiningduo@gmail.com.
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