Algood is a small bedroom community at the northeastern tip of Cookeville, Tennessee. While it is technically separate from Cookeville and has its own police department and city hall, it is still part of the Cookeville Micropolitan area. In this article we’re going to be looking at a handful of the restaurants in and around the city of Algood.
Restaurants in Algood, Tennessee
The population in Algood as of the 2020 census is just under 4,000 people. Most people simply live in Algood and drive into nearby Cookeville when they need to visit a store. With that said, there are some restaurants within the limits of Algood, and some that are pretty close by. Let’s have a look at these restaurants, with a description for each about my personal experiences for each.
1. Pueblo Viejo
Location: Main st.
Pueblo Viejo is a little Mexican restaurant right in the middle of Algood. They’ve been here for quite a while, I’ve been eating at this place for over ten years easy. My kids have grown up eating here and they all know what they like here. It’s pretty typical American Mexican food, and a ton of us like that.
The food is pretty good here, they have all the staples. They just recently passed liquor by the drink in Algood, so Pueblo Viejo is serving Margaritas now! We’ve had them a couple of times. The first time they were pretty so-so, but it seems after a few months they had the hang of it and they had improved.
They do not have a full bar here, but just a small corner where they’ve set up a mini-bar where they can make drinks. It works for them. The food and drinks here are moderately priced, but I think maybe a little on the high side compared to other Mexican restaurants. Maybe it’s just me, but I always seem to be a little surprised by the bill. I’m used to Mexican restaurants being cheap, that’s really part of the allure.
In comparison to other Mexican places in the area, I’m not sure how high I would rank Pueblo Viejo. Don’t get me wrong, it’s pretty good food. I have been going here for 10 years or more. But there are just a lot of Mexican restaurants in Cookeville to choose from. This is the only one that is technically in the Algood city limits, so if you’re in Algood and don’t want to venture out, it will work. If you’re willing to drive just a few minutes outside of Algood you’ll have a lot more options. Like the one below.
2. Algood Diner
Location: Main st.
I’ve eaten here several times, but I wouldn’t say that I know every item on their menu. Algood Diner is a lunch and breakfast only meat and 3 type diner. The parking situation here is kind of out of control, people just park anywhere they can fit their cars.
The inside is nice, it’s got a diner/muscle car garage feel on the inside. I believe you can choose from the meat and 3 option and walk over to the counter, or order off the menu from the server. I typically get a cheeseburger and fries here and it’s always tasty.
They have regular items that they rotate for their meat and 3 like pork chops, meat loaf, and stuff like that. I’ve had it once or twice and it was good as well.
3. Manny’s Woodfire Pizza
Location: Main st.
I had high hopes for Manny’s, and I’m not totally giving up on them, but thus far my experiences here have not been stellar. I’ve gotten takeout twice and sat down for dinner once.
The pizza itself is decent, but it’s not really that big and not on the level it’s priced at. The pizza just doesn’t blow me away, and all I can remember is the high price. Additionally, they poured the sorriest excuse for a glass of wine I’ve ever seen when we went.
There aren’t many parking spaces here, and there ones they have are tight fits. The inside is pretty nice with a full bar and several tables for customers that are dining in.
Aside from my mediocre experiences so far, I still hope that Manny’s gains focus and sticks around. They haven’t been open very long at the time of writing this, so they’ve got time to turn things around for me.
4. Birdie’s Grill
Location: White Plains Golf Course
I’ve never eaten here myself, but from what I’ve heard Birdie’s is pretty much your typical clubhouse sandwich shop and grill that you find in many golf courses around the United States.
White Plans Golf Course is located not far from Main st. in Algood. If you take First ave in Algood towards Buck Mountain Road, you’ll turn left into the golf course neighborhood.
I would say that this restaurant is mainly for residents of White Plains and the neighboring streets, but I don’t see why anyone can’t go here.
Fast Food in Algood
These don’t really require being mentioned, but here they are.
1. Zaxby’s
Location: Main st. – Big Mac Dr.
Zaxby’s serves chicken tenders and fries, along with some decent salads and a few other items like fried mushrooms. If Zaxby’s is on their game, the food here is pretty good. I love getting the Blue Zalad (I think that’s what it’s called?) or the Big Zax Snack Meal.
I have been to this location a few times when it just wasn’t good. The chicken was old and chewy and the fries weren’t fresh. The salads are usually pretty good and that’s what I try to stick to here.
2. Taco Bell
Location: Main st. – Big Mac Dr.
Your typical Taco Bell, not much to say here. They usually aren’t too busy, even for lunch.
3. Mcdonald’s
Location: Main st. – Big Mac Dr.
This Mcdonald’s is usually pretty busy, especially during rush hours. All three of these restuarants; Zaxby’s, Taco Bell, and Mcdonald’s are right next to each other on Big Mac Dr.
4. Sonic
Location: Main st.
Sonic is the final fast food restaurant you’ll find in Algood. They are on the other side of the Wal-Mart from the Mcdonald’s and can also be busy at times. I don’t have a lot to say about this one, it’s Sonic.
Restaurants near Algood
These restaurants are technically outside of Algood, but not by too far. Most are in northern Cookeville.
1. El Magueyal Mexican Restaurant
Location: 10th st.
You’ll find El Magueyal in a little strip center kind of far back off the road behind a CVS. I’ve been here several times and the food is always pretty good. It’s not a large restaurant, but I think it has a bar and a good amount of seating.
The food is good and they have a pretty typical Mexican restaurant menu that includes things like fajitas, burritos, nachos, and tacos. If I remember correctly the menu pricing was pretty on par with other restaurants in its category.
2. 19th Hole Clubhouse Bar & Grill
Location: 10th st.
I think this is one of the last places in Cookeville that you can smoke in. So know that going in, this place smells like an ashtray and even if you’re just getting takeout you will smell like an ashtray after walking in.
With that said, I’ve order appetizers from here once. They were actually pretty good, we got wings and fried mushrooms during a supper bowl a couple of years ago. The food was reasonably priced and tasted good.
3. Big Tony’s Pizzeria
Location: 10th st.
In my opinion, Big Tony’s has the best pizza in Cookeville. I haven’t tried the Pizza Machine yet, so I guess I can hold off final judgement until I have. Nonetheless, this is our go-to place for pizza in Cookeville. They make big New York style pizzas with huge slices that you have to fold to eat.
Big Tony’s also several other Italian menu items like a great stromboli and some delicious desserts too. Try the cannoli shells (get 2 for one person), cannoli chips, and New York cheesecake. You really can’t go wrong at this place. You can do takeout and I think they may deliver as well.
4. Irrationale Kitchen
Location: N. Washington
Irrationale is new to Cookeville, maybe mid to late 2022. I’ve personally eaten here twice. Once for lunch and once for dinner.
The interior is totally new from floor to ceiling. They went all out giving this place the industrial look with an ultra tall ceiling and exposed pipes, but there are also some personal touches you’ll notice once you start to look around.
The bar is made of old doors and some sort of epoxy, there are antique window hanging up everywhere, things like that. Someone put the extra effort into this place to make it unique.
The exterior is a bit confusing if you’ve never been to this building. It’s on North Washington, right next to the railroad tracks. There is a large parking lot to the left of the building that you’ll have to find a spot in. They are often busy because the parking is for the whole complex. Enter through the front door and make your way to the restaurant to the right.
The food here was tasty both times we went! The fried green tomatoes were honestly about as good here as the other places on this list. Maybe better because of how they were served.
A couple of other menu items I can vouch for are the cheeseburgers and the blackened fish sandwiches. It was a pretty standard pub style menu that contains the usual suspects. We’ll be returning here and may add it into our normal rotation.
5. El Jimador
Location: N. Washington
This is the third and final Mexican restaurant on this list, and also my least favorite. It’s not that the food was bad here, it just wasn’t great. Parking is always busy here because it’s in a little grocery store strip center, and being right next to the college this place attracts a younger crowd.
I noticed some margarita towers being served, so if that’s your thing then maybe check them out. This location also has a nice deck with seating which could be enjoyable if the weather was nice. I honestly can’t see myself going here again because there are better options within a 5 minutes drive.
6. The Garden Cafe
Location: Hwy 111
Only about a 5-10 minutes drive north on Hwy 111, between Algood and Rickman, you’ll find this quaint little diner. You can tell a lot of locals frequent this place and the servers all know the customers.
The food is pretty good here and you’ll find typical diner food like cheeseburgers, sandwiches, and some options for salads and other things. I’ve been here many times and try to stop and eat here every once in a while.
Final notes
As someone who spends a lot of time in and around Algood, that’s about it for the restaurants in the vicinity of North and Northeast Cookeville. Cookeville has many other great dining options, including several of my favorites in the historic west side area.