First time couple weeks ago. Stopped after golf with 2 friends on a Saturday about 5 pm. Busy with 45 min wait but were told we could wait in the separate bar with first come basis seating. That's what we did and got seated and drinks ordered and dinner menus promptly, Bar /wait staff was very good for a busy time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Live music and crowd in the bar in a living room type atmosphere too loud for an intimate dinner more a sing along fun time place, separate from the main more quiet dining area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Got fried mushrooms appetizer and filet mignon as entree. The filet was high quality very tender perfectly prepared and had a wood grilled flavor. Also got a fresh garden salad and giant baked potato ...excellent well worth the $48 price. Others had a huge burger and cheese steak with fries. Both also very good. Too stuffed for desert but it looked yummy. Was impressed with bar drinks, beer and wine selections. Best steak I've had in this area from Lexington Ky to Knoxville TN. [[HIGHLIGHT]]On par with nineteen 19 in Cumberland gap as nicest restaurant in the local area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'll be back. read more

A very nice restaurant in the heart of Middlesboro. The food is good, but can be a tad salty to my liking, although that's rather subjective. The service is good, the waitresses are very friendly and welcoming. They have a good variety of desserts as well. read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Sirloin - 6 oz. Sweet Potato. Sauteed Brussel Sprouts - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

Food took 40 minutes and came out luke warm. Very disappointed. Last year this place was delicious. Huge decline and disappointment!! read more

The meatloaf was so flavorful! It was moist and served with delicious mashed potatoes and green beans. We also had the strawberry salad. It was ok and would have been great if the lettuce was a spring mix or spinach and not iceberg. The fruit and feta cheese were fresh, the candied pecans were a sugary treat. The raspberry vinaigrette was light and refreshing. The fresh made bread was filling and I swear I could eat just that! Gretchen was our waitress, she was a delight and very efficient. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant has ample seating with lots of rooms and had some beautiful photographs displayed throughout[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] . This restaurant is a wonderful local place with a variety of options on the menu. read more

See all

Was in town for the weekend and stopped in to eat on Saturday night. The manager Steve Ausmus greeted us as we are former 'Pinevillians' who were now visiting. Very nice guy, and his staff follows his lead. Waitresses were sweet as the pecan pie and the food was great. Love that Middlesboro has this kind of place. 5-stars! read more

Amazing food, always great service! You will not be disappointed by shades café [[HIGHLIGHT]]great inside and outside seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Cobb Salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

Starting this off by saying yes I am a vegetarian. Went with some friends to this steakhouse seeing it was the only other restaurant open at the time. Other than the appetizers there were no other vegetarian options on the menu. They mentioned they could make all the salads vegetarian which was accommodating? The appetizers had good portion sizes to them and were $8-9 each. The chips for the spinach dip were very very fried, was not the biggest fan of this. Service was nice and friendly! There's a good amount of parking around the restaurant & they have a very cute bar area around the back. I will definitely have to check that out later! The restaurant is pretty massive and was fairly busy on a Saturday evening! read more

See all

we were a party of 4. We had the best lunch. everything was excellent! my brother is a retired chef and he and my husband said the burgers were the best they had had in years. great smoked flavor and both were so juicy and tasty. I had fried chicken salad. it was fantastic! my sister in law had pot roast and it was so flavorful. we had fried cauliflower for ap. also, awesome. all meals were large. ap size was large and fed us all. We had Gretchen as a server and we laughed so hard. she was amazing. OMGOODNESS she was so funny and great. I would suggest asking for her. we will be back and bring friends read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Mushroom Burger with onion rings - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

See all

I had this restaurant picked out as a potential dinner spot on our drive from Ohio to Tennessee and it turns out my colleague agreed to stop here right around dinner time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The menu is a decent size and we arrived at a great time actually because tons of customers started pouring in just minutes after we were seated.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I chose the small ribeye since it was priced right and seemed like a good bet at a steakhouse. I added sauteed brussel sprouts and a loaded baked potato as my sides. Service was nice and friendly. There seemed to be a lot of local high school kids working the front if the house, but they did a good job surprisingly. Some of the bacon bits were burnt and too hard to eat on my loaded baked potato. The brussel sprouts were not that good and looked even worse. My colleague ordered the chopped steak after having a miserable burger for lunch back in Ohio. He said the meal was pretty good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This seemed to be a pretty popular place to eat in town, if not the most popular.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

After three separate visits, third "x" puts this one off the list for me. First time was dirty glasses, fingerprints and lipstick on the glasses served. Second time it was flat and skunked beer, all served at room temp. Then finally , today, hair in the food. Do not recommend . read more

The food was delicious, and the service was excellent. We were initially served a selection of drinks, followed by handmade croissants for the side salads. They were incredible. We received the salmon, spaghetti, fish, and tips. They were all quite good. When paired with brown sugar and butter, sweet potatoes are delicious. Although the desserts looked delicious, we were too full. It's one of the best restaurants in the area. I recommend Shades. read more

Grilled shrimp, sirloin steak or fried fish, we all had a different entree and they were ALL delicious!! Then you add sides and appetizers, that taste as good as the entrees and you have a fantastic meal!!! I highly recommend the spinach and artichoke dip, sweet potato casserole and the bread was all amazingly good!! The service was perfect!! Our waitress was friendly, polite and efficient!! Can't wait to go back and enjoy some more amazing food!!! read more

Service was great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute bar area with couches while you wait.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was good. Had filet and baked potato with grilled mix veggies. Husband had salmon which was good. Maybe a little on the dry side but overall it was good and would probably get it again. Fresh baked bread was fabulous. read more

My favorite restaurant! They offer a variety of fish, seafood, chicken, steak, burgers, chicken salads, and specialty items. Their deep friend mushrooms are a meal in itself. I've eaten at Shades numerous times and the service, food, and experience have always been top notch. Steve and his crew offer a great meal at reasonable prices. Why drive to Knoxville or Lexington to find a good restaurant when you got one in your hometown. read more

Probably Middlesbrough best restaurant, owner constantly on site to address any customer concern, even the flag flying outside the front door needing a minor adjustment (corrected on spot). read more

Great food and excellent service. First time eating at this restaurant today and will definitely be a returning customer!

Great food my only complaint is if you go there during prime hours, there's a high probability you'll have wait for a table. On the bright side, it's worth the wait. read more

It doesn't matter what day of the week nor what time of day, Shades is always lovely and delicious! My favorite is The Grilled Atlantic Salmon with Bourbon Sauce. It has a crisp outer layer, but then just falls apart as you break into the meat. It is divine! I get the grilled vegetables which are equally delicious and flavorful. Then, as my other side, I sinfully choose the sweet potato casserole to pretend as if I'm not eating the most delightful dessert as part of my meal read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice place for lunch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Haven't been there for dinner. Food is good. Service is good for a small town diner. Would recommend read more

RUN TO GET THE BEST STEAK! Hands down my top place to stop for steak! Gluten free options as well! This locally owned restaurant is great place for friends, family or just to get a drink! Have amazing desserts but No GF desserts as of right now. NOAH is a server who does amazing job! Absolutely best customer service /friendly staff Can't wait to come back! Love love love love shades read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

See all

Great atmosphere, loved the music. Got the Ribeye and was cooked perfectly. Service was great and really friendly. Definitely the place to go in Middlesboro!! read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Outside - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

See all

Amazing food, with a good selection of appetizers and entrees! Service is always wonderful, promt and friendly! Our favorite place on special occasions! read more

if you like a salt shaker then you will love food!!! Everything was saturated with salt

Food was amazing and service was great. We first enjoyed a variety of drinks and then the side salads had homemade croutons. They were amazing. We got the tips, fish, pasta, salmon. They were all excellent. The sweet potato is amazing as it comes with butter and brown sugar. Desserts looked so good but we were too full. Highly recommend read more

Low-key, non-fussy, meat and sides. A nice, flavorful ribeye with potato and veg was my meal of choice. My waitress was super friendly and made sure I was well taken care of. When you walk up, it looks like takeout...don't be fooled, there is a huge dining area in the back. A treat in an unexpected place!!! read more

Food was very good and staff was very nice and helpful. Opens at 11 am best time to go. Lots of seating indoor and outdoor . Has a curb side pick up front. Great atmosphere and building is historic looking. Well worth going out of the way a bit to eat. read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Shades Cafe - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

We went back and this time it was fantastic! I just asked for no seasoning on the salmon. It was perfect. Our guests loved their steaks and Brussels! read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Salmon and fries. Cosmo was gross. - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

See all

One of the better restaurants in the area. The bread is along with the steaks. I would definitely recommend Shades

On an out of town venture to see the Cumberland Tunnel we stopped for a late lunch at Shades Cafe. The food was excellent as was the service. We both had the ribeye steaks with baked potato and macaroni and a sweet potato casserole. The steak was cooked just right and seasoned. read more

See all

Great restaurant, food was excellent and so was the service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice place in the old part of town with plenty of parking[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Absolutely delicious. We got the ribeye, the filet, the mac and cheese, the salads, the chicken bacon ranch piatto (we just did an 8 mile hike and were freaking starving!), everything was hot and perfectly cooked. The service was alsp great and they were also wearing masks. We'll be back! read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Chicken bacon ranch piatto - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

First timers. Three of our foursome had the prime rib which was cooked to order and melted in your mouth. Served with a nice helping of au jous. Bread was warm and served with honey butter. Great Brussels sprout side. Not your typical steakhouse, a little rough around the edges (no bar to sit at while waiting), restrooms were just ok, seating was ok as well. Overall, a 4/5 and a place we will visit again! read more

Amazing establishment! The service was great and the food was good. We are gluten free which is not common here and they took care of us. Most food is fried and looks amazing. The bread looked homemade and yummy. Our daughter ate the whole thing since she is lucky and not GF. Definitely sucks to be gluten free when you see such good food but the steaks were amazing, the Brussels sprouts good and mashed potatoes yummy!!! This has been the best food we have had here and can't wait to come back. read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

Pancakes are thicker than the ribeye I was served. My steak was so fatty I should have asked for a side plate for the little bit of meat I had. I've had better quality steaks at Denny's. The sprouts were awful, and according to the server they received numerous complaints about them tonight. Seems like they're made in a large batch and kept in a warmer. Idk why they didn't either just take them off the menu or make a new batch. Highlights of the night: the surprise straw in the silverware roll, the bread w/butter and the salad. Shades Cafe & "steak house" ftfy read more

Shades Café and Steakhouse is a gem in Eastern Kentucky. Who knew that humble Middlesboro could be the home to such a wonderful spot in such an unlikely setting? First of all, the restaurant is essentially a diner in town. There is a café in the front with a sandwich and salad focused menu, a full menu of coffee options and lots of tasty desserts in the case. Then, you walk down a crooked hallway around the kitchen (or at least part of it) into an odd series of "dining rooms" that have laminate wood looking tables and lacquered wood chairs. The menu is simple and to the point - various steaks and sides with sauces. It is simple and to the point. The service is friendly and warm. If you want a drink, just ask - there is no menu but there is a friendly keeper of the bar who will ask what you are looking for and deliver. I recommend going for the 16 oz ribeye and splitting it with a friend. The meat was excellent quality and well seasoned. Cooked to a perfect rare as requested, I didn't need the bourbon sauce that I ordered. But, I recommend getting it. The grilled veggies are delicious on their own but you can totally take the cauliflower to another level with that sauce. (I doubled the grilled veggies in lieu of a starch, because I love grilled veggies, but I also did taste the baked sweet potato which is very good. I recommend asking for it without topping and get the bourbon sauce to go with it. SO good. By the time you have finished the starter salad with chopped iceberg, grape tomatoes and bits of bacon and your choice of dressing, half a pound of steak, and a generous serving of crisp tender grilled veggies, you will be sated. But, do not stop. You need to keep going. The chocolate coffee mousse torte is served out of the ice box so it is sort of a cross between fudge and mud pie. The cookie crumb crust and the chopped nut filling adds just the right amount of texture to this deeply chocolatey treat. Personally, while the family preferred the chocolate, I think that you cannot skip the coconut passionfruit cake. It is like passionfruit pie filling topped with a light layer of buttercream and then a crazy moist coconut cake and a generous layer of coconut buttercream and sweetened coconut flakes. Am I in Eastern Kentucky or in a tropical paradise? I forgot for a moment while sitting in a windowless cubby with a table for 8. The people in this restaurant are the cherry on top of an excellent experience. You will not find warmer service in all of Kentucky. I got close in one spot near Frankfort, but little Middlesboro stole my heart. If you go to Shades Café and Steakhouse, it just might steal yours too. read more

See all

Went for my anniversary. Took 30 minutes for them to offer to take our order after being seated. Then took an hour and a half to get our food and only got it because we had to stop a random waitress where our food was. Then when they brought out the food his fish was almost raw. Never again. read more

Always a great local place to go with a friend or with a party. Make reservations if possible cause it's tough to get in sometimes. Everything on the menu is great. Brussel sprouts are the best but seam to b getting a little salty as does the ribeye. All in all, don't leave town for a steak. This place has it covered. Service 10. Bathroom 10. Cleanliness 10. Price 9. Wait 8. Table cleanliness 10. Item availability 10. read more

Not that there's many great places around this town to grab a quality dinner, but this is by far the best. These are legit steak dinners and the rest of the menu is pretty good too. I've had the salmon here and a burger as well. The sweet potato is so good too. read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky

It was super busy on a Friday night, we did t have reservations but they have a bar connected to the restaurant. So we waited there, had a nice drink and listened to live music. Totally worth the wait. The stark was amazing! read more

The wait for this Veggie Piatto was 40 minutes. The to-go ordering process was very difficult because the 3 menus (online, in person, and via the front desk clerk) I came across had different options. I've never heard of a piatto and was very happy with that option. I wish the menu noted that the house salad includes bacon (for us veggie lovers). The clerks were also very welcoming and made great conversation while ordering. read more

Shades Cafe & Steak House - Veggie pesto piatto with side salad (which had bacon on it) - Steakhouses Near Me - Middlesboro, Kentucky