Country Haven

Pros

• The food has always been good.
• The owners are very nice and the employees are cool.
• The food was really good home cooking.
• The waitress was great and polite.
• The restaurant serves wonderful Southern-style food with super friendly staff.
• It offers great country food and a friendly atmosphere.
• It serves home cooking with a welcoming atmosphere.
• First-time visitors were impressed and the food was great.
• The atmosphere is comfortable with old-style family farm tables, evoking sweet memories.
• Mr. Terry is a stand-up guy who leads a great team with his wife and daughter.
• The catfish dinner is great and the staff is friendly.
• One of the best burgers in Franklin County.
• Breakfast was great, including a large pancake.
• The restaurant now opens on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Cons

• The reviewer noted the Google listing said the place was open, but it was actually closed upon arrival.
• They described Paw Paw's as not the best place to eat and criticized the attitude.
• A patron called the owner a bully and suggested he could use de-escalation training.
• The owner was portrayed as volatile and even making indirect threats.
• One review said the restaurant ran out of food and had no one to seat customers.
• Breakfast was criticized for poor quality and being overpriced (eggs runny, biscuits not great, gravy thick).

Review

Paw Paw's Cafe in Cowan, Tennessee, comes up in a wide patchwork of online voices that together paint a picture of a place built on southern comfort, family feel, and a menu that leans heavily on classic home cooking. Several visitors found the hours or the status of the Google listing a little confusing, noting that they rolled up to find the doors closed or that the listing suggested it should be open when it wasn't. That tension between expectation and reality didn't seem to dampen the general sense that this spot is rooted in a down-home hospitality vibe, even if hours aren't always perfectly aligned with what you might anticipate from the online posting.

The enduring through-line across many reviews is food as the main attraction. Descriptions call it true "home cooking" and "old-style" southern fare, with items made from scratch and plated with a comforting, unpretentious approach. Guests consistently highlight the catfish as a standout, along with burgers that many consider among the best they've had in the area, and a Friday night ritual centered on a ribeye that regulars swear by. Breakfast and lunch are praised for hearty, plate-filling choices - fried chicken, fried okra, mashed potatoes, green beans, and gravy all earn nods for flavor and heartiness. A few visitors note that the kitchen seems to turn out big, satisfying portions quickly, making it a reliable stop for families and travelers alike.

The atmosphere appears to be the other great draw. Reviews frequently describe a warm, family-friendly environment with "old-style family farm tables," a sense of being welcomed into an ongoing local story. The owners and staff get a lot of the positive credit here: several writers mention the owner, Mr. Terry, and his wife as personable figures who check in with guests, making the rounds to ensure everyone's happy, and sometimes even sharing a sense of community beyond the dining room. One reviewer even mentions Mr. Terry as an MMA instructor in town and recounts how a casual invitation to involve their child created a lasting memory. Across many visits, customers talk about the staff as "super friendly," "great," and attentive, contributing to a feeling that this is a place where you're treated like family.

There is clearly a strong sense that Paw Paw's has become a hub for locals and visitors who crave a comforting, no-frills dining experience. Several entries point to the restaurant as a dependable place to return to - "will definitely be back," "we'll be stopping by again," and "a must stop for a visit" are common refrains. A few reviews emphasize that the vibe supports easy conversation and good service as much as the food itself, with patrons noting enjoyable conversations and a welcoming staff dynamic that can make even a first visit feel like you've walked into a familiar space.

Not every note is uniformly glowing, however. A handful of reviewers describe less ideal experiences that remind readers this is a beloved, busy corner spot rather than a polished tourist trap. One account recounts encountering a tense moment with a large Harley rider who owned the vehicle parked near the entrance, describing an indirect threat and a heated exchange about space and courtesy. The same review notes that the waitress was wonderful and that the food - a point of pride for many patrons - was "just fine," while suggesting the owner could benefit from de-escalation training and a softer touch in tense moments. Others mention inconsistencies such as "out of food" at busy times or being unable to get seated, which can happen in popular, small-town eateries. There are also occasional remarks about price being high for the quality, illustrating that expectations can swing depending on what you order and when you visit.

Despite these fluctuations, the overall sentiment skews positive, with many people expressing genuine affection for Paw Paw's. Guests proudly share that they've moved through life in the area, traveled to other parts of the country, and still find themselves drawn back to this spot for its steady flavors and reliable warmth. Some visitors talk about specific dishes that have become favorites - fried catfish with a tangy dill-tampered tartar sauce, a well-loved fried chicken option, the savory pleasures of mashed potatoes and okra, or the indulgence of a perfectly cooked ribeye on a Friday night. The repeated insistence on the "best" burgers and the sense that the kitchen can tailor tastes to longtime customers' preferences reinforces the impression of a place that knows its audience and leans into those core strengths.

In practical terms, the experiences conveyed here suggest a recipe for what Paw Paw's often delivers: a strong emphasis on home cooking and comfort, a friendly, if sometimes bustling, dining room, and a sense of community that makes it feel worth the journey for many families and travelers alike. If you're drawn to classic southern plates - the catfish, the fried staples, the ribeye on Friday, the scratch-made feel - and you don't mind a little variability in hours or occasional minor hiccups, Paw Paw's seems likely to deliver the kind of food-and-friendliness balance a lot of visitors crave in a small-town cafe. It's a place where you might walk in for a familiar dish and leave with stories of the people who run it and the memories created around a shared, comforting table. Before you go, a quick check of the current hours and a heads-up about parking near the entrance can help you plan, but once you're seated, many reviewers say you'll feel the pull of the warm welcome and the dependable, hearty flavors that keep bringing people back.

This part of Cowan, Tennessee offers a variety of amenities that cater to seniors looking for a peaceful and convenient living environment. There are several places of worship nearby, including Mt Sinai Baptist Church and Cowan Cumberland Presbyterian Church, providing spiritual support and community engagement. Additionally, there are multiple dining options such as Brown's Poolroom and El Charro, ensuring easy access to delicious meals. For medical needs, there are reputable physicians and hospitals like Southern Tennessee Cardiology and Southern Tennessee Regional Health System within a short distance. Parks like Abbo's Alley and Winchester City Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Pharmacies like Sewanee Market provide convenient access to medications, while cafes such as Stirling's Coffee House offer cozy spots to enjoy a cup of coffee. Overall, this area in Cowan provides a well-rounded living experience for seniors seeking quality healthcare services, dining options, and recreational activities.

Places of Worship

• Mt Sinai Baptist Church (0.5 miles)
• Cowan Cumberland Presbyterian Church (0.6 miles)
• Church of Christ At Little Mountain (4.1 miles)
• Winchester Church of Christ (4.2 miles)
• First Baptist Church of Decherd (4.8 miles)
• General Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists (5 miles)
• St Marys Convent (5 miles)

Restaurants

• Brown's Poolroom (0.5 miles)
• Chicken Itsa (0.7 miles)
• Crossroads Cafe (3.1 miles)
• El Charro (4.6 miles)
• Hardee's (4.9 miles)
• McDonald's (5 miles)
• KFC (5 miles)

Physicians

• Cowan Family Medicine (3.2 miles)
• Southern Tennessee Cardiology (3.2 miles)
• Winchester Urgent Care (3.3 miles)
• Southern Tennessee Primary Care (3.4 miles)
• Tn Oncology Winchester (3.4 miles)
• Cumberland Neurology (3.4 miles)
• Murfreesboro Dermatology Clinic PLC (3.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Southern Tennessee Cardiology: Dr Basaraba MD (3.3 miles)
• Renal Care Group (3.3 miles)
• Southern Tennessee Regional Health System (4.1 miles)
• Womens Center (4.1 miles)
• Southern Tennessee Cardiology (4.1 miles)
• Emerald (6.3 miles)
• Emerald-Hodgson Hospital (6.8 miles)

Parks

• Abbo's Alley (6.2 miles)
• Winchester City Park (6.7 miles)
• Greenway Talyor Creek (9.8 miles)
• Harton Park (11.8 miles)
• Fiery Gizzard Trail (16.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Sewanee Market (6.3 miles)
• Fred's Pharmacy (10.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (11.5 miles)
• Tullahoma Drug Store (17.5 miles)

Cafes

• Sewanee Inn (6.3 miles)
• Stirling's Coffee House (6.6 miles)
• Mountain Goat Market (11.7 miles)
• Gallery 41 (12.9 miles)

Theaters

• Sewanee Union Movie Theatre (6.3 miles)