The Beacon Light has been around forever but I never frequented it when I grew up in Fairview. Honestly I thought it was a place that little ole ladies went in their Sunday best to have tea and crustless sandwiches. But that's not it at all. I drug the parents here for a late lunch so I could try the fried chicken. Ambiance is like a house really, with nooks and crannies stuffed with tables. Religious decor is on the wall, as well as light houses. There are even scripture quote cards on the table. We were seated and got our drinks. Thank God for Coke products - love it. They brought out biscuits immediately. Yum. Not puffy biscuits, more flat, but buttery and pretty much like crack. Soft butter served with them as well as some peach and strawberry preserves. I could eat these all damn day. The menu consists of things like fried chicken, country ham, fried chicken tenders, and even breakfast all day (except pancakes, those are only served until 11AM so keep that in mind. I ordered up the half chicken that is skillet fried with green beans and fried okra. This a'int no diet place so order up some fried items! Hells yeah, this is GREAT fried chicken. The breading doesn't have spices in it, which I like, but it is a fine example of perfect Southern fried chicken. Juicy on the inside, crispy but not too greasy on the outside. I ate the leg, the wing, and most of the breast. If I can almost polish off a half chicken then you know it is gooooood. Green beans were good but I just can't find any that are just like my Granny's, you know? And fried okra, well, that's always good. I wanted to stuff my face forever, calories be damned! It was delicious and I'm putting it on the "where to go eat" list when I visit my parents from here on out. When you get done eating, tip on the table and take the check up to the register. They take credit cards so you don't have to scramble for cash. Dinner for three people and a to go order to bring to my Granny was only $44 and WELL worth every penny. Once you pay, hobble out to the car and fall into it, fat and happy, dreaming of your next taste of their delicious fried chicken. If you are out this way, you MUST try this place. Even if you aren't, drive out one day and give it a shot - you are going to love it. read more

Five stars for the amazing fried chicken - succulent, juicy, tender with an incredibly thin and flavorful crust. Five stars also for the wonderful country ham. Our favorite side dishes were the fried okra (as with the chicken, the kitchen seems to have a deft hand with light and flavorful frying) and the baked apples. Five stars for the bisquits - smaller than the famous Loveless variety, but just as good in their own way. The homemade strawberry and peace preserves were fantastic. I was especially impressed by the peach in which the peach pieces were huge, but so tender that they practically dissolved in your mouth. On the recommendation of Holly Eats (http://www.hollyeats.com/BeaconLight.htm) I tried the icebox pie. It was good, but a little too sweet for my tastes. It would probably be just right if shared among 3-4 people (or one person with a huge sweet tooth). Similarly, I'm usually a sweet tea guy, but Beacon Light's tea was even a little too sweet for me. Atmosphere is definitely unique and local. Many of the other patrons seemed to be regulars judging from their conversations with the friendly waitstaff. Even though we were first-timers, we also received excellent service. It's definitely a little bit of a hike for Nashvillians to get to Bon Aqua and the Beacon Light Tea Room, but the drive takes you through some lovely Tennessee countryside and can make a nice evening out. Do be aware that the winding country roads (Route 100) get very dark and slightly challenging after sunset. If you're looking to make a day out of your trip to Bon Aqua, you could combine it with a visit to the Natchez Trace Parkway (http://www.yelp.com/biz/bowie-park-and-nature-center-fairview) PS - If you're looking to adopt a kitten, there are several cuties romping in the field behind Beacon Light. Apparently someone dropped off a couple of adult cats and nature took its course. read more

We love this place as the 100% beef hamburger steak is our favorite and they have the best around! Not to mention you feel like family here

Been here several times. Lard biscuits, homemade preserves, homemade whipped butter. As I've never been to Loveless Cafe up the road I've heard that the people who started the cafe used to work at The Beacon Light before they opened the cafe. It's a small place but they do have extra seating in the back. The food inspector gave them a 100 when I was in there last. They serve breakfast all day long with a perfect side item to those biscuits, country ham. The last time I went I got the beacon burger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mayo, bacon and an over easy fried egg on it. I got fries as a side item. The burger is very nice size and the vegetables were fresh. If your out an about just enjoying the day it's a great place to stop by and grab a great meal. read more

Southern fried chicken at its best! Taste like my grandma's. The biscuits and home made preserves are so good. The mashed potatoes & fried okra were our favorite sides. On pulling in the building is older but inside is quaint. Rare find! read more

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Yummy fried chicken. Excellent people. Nice farm setting. The jelly is delicious alongside the biscuits. I would highly recommend this for family dinner night. read more

Was shocked that I hadn't ever reviewed this place as I've been here over 10 times. This place is a hidden gem, the biscuits are amazing, the preserves are awesome. The food is worth the drive and the prices are very reasonable. Overall come here once and I guarantee you will come back a second time. Also don't forgot the to go box and an order of hash town casserole. read more

Great food in a rustic setting. We were greeted when entering and thanked when leaving. Server was courteous and attended to everyone at the table. read more

My family and I went here for breakfast. The pancakes were dry and the rest of the food lacked flavor. Nice people & staff, but no one cared for any of the food. That is why we go out to restaurants - so that someone else can cook something edible. Just didn't happen for us. read more

This was my first visit. I have to say the biscuits took me back in time to when I was a kid growing up eating my grandmother's. The Preserves are also on point. Can't go wrong with Peach and Strawberry. The food is also very good and can tell the whole meal from start to finish was homemade quality. Very personable people make you feel right at home. I used to go to Loveless, but another 20 min and you have better biscuits and better wait time. For the locals not wanting to wait 3 hours I suggest driving another 20 min right off hwy 100 past Fairview. Diffidently not the last time I'm going to Beacon Light! read more

Saw these folks written up in a magazine, and since I love biscuits and I am new to the South, we decided to take the trek from Nashville to check them out. This place is super quirky. I found the little bread loaves of bible verses on each table and all the religious artwork endearing. The feel is country rustic with oilcloth red check table cloths and everything. We got biscuits and jam, along with a burger and chicken fingers. We were there for the biscuits. I'd never had this kind of little biscuit, they were tasty, and I'm looking forward to trying out more Southern biscuits. read more

Most of my road trips revolve around food. Ok, most of my LIFE revolves around food. But especially when planning a trip it's important to find the local establishments that people in the community continue to flock to. The Beacon Light Tea Room stood out as just one of those establishments. From the outside the place looks more like a country inn than a restaurant, but sometimes those are the best kinds of restaurants. The atmosphere is a little like what it would feel like if someone cleared all of the furniture out of your grandma's living room and put a bunch of tables and chairs up instead. Cozy in a family kind of way. It seems they are known generally for their country cooking and homemade jams. So, naturally, that's what we had to have. I ordered up the classic breakfast with country ham, eggs, and the (homemade of course) hashbrown casserole. They also make their own biscuits served warm directly to your table so that you might enjoy the spread of homemade jams made readily available. The experience was great, but the ham was quite salty, almost to the point of being difficult to eat. The breakfast was very good, but nothing really stood out as exceptional. If I had to do it over again I'd probably ask a local what I should have ordered, but for the family atmosphere and the wonderful service we received, this place is all right in my book. read more

been here for breakfast twice. i really want to like it's close and the people seem nice, but the breakfasts are unremarkable, the biscuits are really not great and there were so many flies buzzing around inside and around the tables, it kind of ruins it for you read more

We found this place on TV / tennessee crossroads not long ago. So on 7-5-2020 we drove 40 miles to try it. Nice appearence inside and out. The buscuits were really great. The county ham truly great. However, the fried chicken we were served was over cooked / dried out. We sent it back pointing out why. The order that replaced it was again dried out / over cooked. We again complained. Not much was said by the mgr/owner. No adjustment in price for the error. We payed full price, we did not offer a tip and we are usually very generious at 20 to 25 %. We told the mgr of our disappointment and how they had made a very bad 1st impression. We wiil not give them a 2nd chance. The Johnson,s Ashland City,TN read more

Tiny biscuits and jam are better than Loveless in my opinion. Other food is kind of non eventful. It's local which is a plus but otherwise I wouldn't go out of my way to visit. read more

Go. Fried chicken and the biscuits are both out of this world. Biscuits are made fresh with buttermilk and lard and are delish. Add some fresh peach preserves and it's got to as close to heaven on earth as you can get. Chicken (you get half of one) is fried in a cast iron skillet and I have never had anything like it. Once fried chicken dinner was enough for two. I had the fried okra and hash brown casserole - both just perfectly yummy. Service was friendly and warm. Jan and Michael Stern from Roadfood was how I heard about this place. It was worth the short deviation from our trip. I mean it - go. read more

Good southern food cooked in LARD! Just like granny used to make. Biscuits, sawmill gravy, fried chicken and country ham steak are my favorites read more

Worth the trip for sure. Awesome tiny biscuits, served hot throughout meal. Be careful or you'll eat 5 or 6 before you know it! Country ham was outstanding, not too salty. And fried chicken & biscuits remind you of grandma's Sunday dinner. We'll be back soon. read more

Excellent Food, Excellent Service. Everything is fresh & hot & Prices are super. Just as good, if not even better than the Loveless Cafe!

Knowing that Beacon Light is THE place to go for good down-home-fried-chicken, we were looking forward to our visit. The first couple of bites of chicken did not disappoint...but then the multiple cockroaches on the wall ruined our appetite. read more

Hands down some of the best biscuits around. The service is great with delicious comfort food and huge portions. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu but I recommend the fried chicken and the coconut ice box pie! This place is way less touristy and crowded than Loveless but is even better. read more

Great food, great prices. It's a hidden gem! We love the veggies! Actually we haven't found anything that isn't delicious! We want to try the desserts but always too full by that time! The wait staff are friendly and efficient. read more

They have delicious fried chicken, country ham and more. Oh, and their famous biscuits...delicious!

Absolutely amazing down home country cooking with an exceptional atmosphere. All the staff are friendly and service was great. The steak and eggs are delicious and the biscuits and jam out of this world. Definitely a must stop and will be returning frequently. YUM..... read more

We tried to go to the Loveless Cafe on the way home to Memphis from Nashville but with a 2 hour wait, we said no and kept driving. We do not regret passing on the Loveless Cafe at all because we found the Beacon Light Tea Room and it was AWESOME! The biscuits and country ham were delicious - the ham was not too salty and not too fatty, it was just right. The biscuits were small, round, tender pillows of deliciousness - oh my! My husband had the fried chicken with fried okra (yes, that's a lot of fried but worth the splurge!) - it was also very good. I got eggs with my country ham and biscuits and next time, I would skip the eggs. They weren't bad, they just weren't necessary with the rest of the goodness on our table. We bought the homemade pear preserves to bring home and they were also really great - tastes like what my grandmother used to make! If you are headed west from Nashville to Memphis, the Beacon Light Tea Room is worth the detour. read more

Older establishment in a rural area. Not really a " tea" room type place. Very friendly and good home style cooking. Homemade preserves on table were very watery. I had the vegetable plate with green beans, fried okra, hash brown casserole, and apples. The okra and hash browns were excellent. Limited seating. read more

A favorite of family and relatives when we come home for a visit. Dinner with a large group yesterday and we got seated in the back room. Very good service. They were spot on with the country ham and fried chicken on this visit. Sometimes the ham can be on the tough side but they nailed it this visit. Biscuits are always a hit too. Good red eye gravy too- a lost art. read more

I have eaten at the Beacon Light for many years. For most that have eaten here, I'm sure their reviews are good as well. Let me start by saying that the food here is not like your typical mom and pop restaurant. For the food brings you back to those good ol southern days on the farm, the kind of food granny used to make. I love the southern touches to all the food. Even something as simple as a burger, is fresh right off the grill and always cooked medium to medium well which is perfection! The homemade biscuits are out of this world and you can tell they are made fresh everyday. The homemade preserves are also amazing and there is nothing like them. I've seen a few people say they were too juicy. But to me, the juice is what makes the preserves so tasty. The service is usually pretty fast and the staff is always so friendly and helpful. The owner will even sign autographs if you ask, for this is a well know and popular restraunt, making it into several magazines and tv shows across the country. The only negative I have on this restaurant is the prices. It is exquisite food, but for this restaurant to compare to its similar competitors, the prices are too high. That's the only reason for not giving the 5th star, but for what it is and overall, a really great place to eat! read more

Wow !!! The fried chicken was wonderful , take the back seat loveless cafe , beacon light tea room is worth the drive , service is great to match the food! Will be back!! Thanks for the great meal !!! read more

I would have given 5 stars but the place is so dingy and way old fashioned. The food though is amazing! My wife commented that the biscuits tasted just like her Mama's (my wife grew up in Covington Tn 50+ years ago). Very friendly service brought us 4 biscuits each with butter and a strawberry and peach preserves. They were delish. I already knew from other reviews what to order...1/2 chicken fried in a cast iron skillet, green beans, fried okra, for me and fried onion petals and a loaded baked potato for my wife. A generous portion of food was delivered to our table quite quickly making me think the food was precooked but after biting in to a perfectly crisp chicken breast I knew it just came out of the pan. My green beans were, as commented upon by other posts, tangy and savory. I ate all of my food but my poor wife could only eat 3 biscuits, 3 pieces of chicken, all of her petals, and the majority of my okra. We were offered desert, and the banna cream cake looked phenomenal, but no room left. We left with lunch for my wife in a box. We drove about an hour from Clarksville to get here but did not regret the time spent. Kudos to the owners for such fine food. read more

We visited this place in early July and I've been dreaming about it ever since! The BEST place to eat authentic southern food with a down home atmosphere. They bring homemade biscuits and preserves to the table like chips and salsa. My kids were sticky up to their elbows! Great food, great price and great for families. read more