Comfort food shouldn't make you sad, but our last visit to Shirley's did just that. I think Shirley's has more business than they can handle, and have clearly cut some corners to keep up. Our meal began with biscuits, which were obviously frozen and out of a bag. Eager to save room for the rest of the meal, I set it aside and waited for our entrees and sides to come. The chicken, which I remembered as being hot and crispy, arrived cold and soggy, and I swear to you those mashed potatoes were out of a box. I tried to soothe myself with some macaroni and cheese to no avail...the recipe had clearly changed since the last time we visited and there was no cheese to be found. COME ON. The final blow was that the yellow cake with caramel icing that I so looked forward to was dry and had obviously sat for a few days before being served. Tragic. The only pleasant things on the plate were the country ham and green beans, but trust me, they aren't good enough to warrant the price tag of this meal. We won't be back. read more

Shirley's is worth the trip! The pot roast is the Best and everything is fresh and homemade. My favorite side is called Pineapple Casserole (I think that's the name of it) and I don't know what's in it, but oh. My. Goodness. It is to die for! The mashed potatoes are a close second! The servers are superstars, even when it's really busy or big groups are there. Don't miss this place!!! read more

Don't miss this restaurant! We're renting a cabin in Butler and went here for breakfast. They have a buffet all you can eat or they will cook you breakfast..whichever you like. Whatever you do...get some biscuits and gravy. Get them. So good and homemade!!!! Friendly staff, friendly crowd there...we'll be back when we're in the area!! read more

While the lady at the register was incredibly friendly and nice, the food left a lot to be desired. We were thoroughly disappointed. If you like hospital food, this is your place. read more

We love Shirley's! Great home cooking! Is a family owned business and they are wonderful people. Highly recommend!!

First of all, I think this place is a victim of its own reputation. This past Sunday my little sweet knees decided to take me to Shirley's Home Cooking in the wilds of Carter County. Now I have heard about this place for years, and I truly do love some good home cookin', so I was eager and hungry to sample whatever miss Shirley could throw at me. We arrived a little before noon (11:45ish) to beat the rush. It seems other people had the same idea because we were followed in by a group of about 8, with several more cars pulling in behind us. Good sign, I thought. We made our way across the large front porch that doubles as an outdoor dining room on warmer days and, from what I can tell a live music venue in other days. I digress, we went inside and were not so much greeted as ignored. They were in the middle of opening duties, and while I understand that, the sign said open and the doors were unlocked. Ok, bad sign #1. We were greeted and informed that they "didn't open until 12", but they could go ahead and seat us. We were seated in a super clean dining room that was spacious and decorated as expected with lots of pictures from scenic Carter County, TN. As we waited sugar lips noticed that the entire wait staff was at the back of the room milling about waiting for opening time. We sat for maybe 5-10 minutes before a waitress came to take our order, we never saw her again. She gave us the choices which were each table picks two meats. She then listed the meats and we chose meatloaf and fried chicken, we chose poorly. Then, this mystery waitress disappeared never to be seen again. As we discussed what had just transpired I realized we hadn't picked sides for our family style meal. As if on cue, another waitress appeared with our drinks and we asked about the sides. We were then told, "we just bring them all to the table", my jaw nearly hit the floor! "You bring them all?", I exclaimed. Stone faced, she replied "yes". You have to realize that there are at least 6 sides on the menu and this just seemed crazy to me, until I saw the portions. Slightly larger than a fruit bowl but the shear quantity of them covered our whole table. The sides were normal fare, green beans, cornbread salad, cooked cabbage, Mac and cheese, etc. Nothing was outstanding, and there was very little seasoning in anything. The fried chicken was a smallish boneless breast that was breaded and maybe pan fried. The meatloaf was just that, a loaf of meat. No other ingredient but meat. I think the waste that is generated must be astronomical with this business model. I feel like they want to be a buffet but are afraid to take the leap. After finishing our meal we strolled through the restaurant to the gift shop, where the cash register is located. Sounds a bit like Cracker Barrel? The place was packed, so they are doing something right. We waited for another 10 minutes for the lady at the register to balance her drawer maybe? She was very busy for an uncomfortable amount of time before taking our money. Finally, I just don't get it. read more

I think it's cruel for me to pick on this classic homestyle staple in Hampton. I'm sure people with shotguns will be looking for me. Fortunately those people don't own computers so here it is.... Go here and get the "cornbread" salad and wait for the chest pain. This side they offer is literally crumbled corn bread marinated in ranch dressing. Be prepared for family style dining in a house full of people eating food so unhealthy in such huge portions that they are sweating through their clothes. I don't eat meat so I ordered a couple other veggie sides as I usually have to do in TN, not exactly going to find BBQ tempeh in Hampton, TN....I sometimes just go hungry. The waitress was thoroughly confused that I didn't want a huge heap of meat with my huge heap of salty veggies. Everything has a dehydrating amount of salt in it. Not even edible. Life expectancy in this town must be down in the mid 50's. I took two bites of my cornbread salad, waited for the waitress go go in the back and then I ran out the door as fast as I could. People were staring at me from the minute I walked in the door...most likely because I was over 25 and didn't have a BUNT. I did see a guy with a respirator eating here...oh the irony. It's like watching someone smoke a cigarette through a stoma. I gave this place two stars...I don't know why...I guess I am glad that Waffle House hasn't bought them out yet. Keep America classic...no matter how toxic and disgusting their food be. read more

Home Cooking at it's best! This is just good food, served family style. We went with a large group & the service was excellent & the food served was warm, fresh and very tasty. I particulary enjoyed the fried chicken, but all the main dishes were good, as well as the many sides that they brought out. Would love to return someday. read more

Every dish feels like it came straight out of your grandma's kitchen. The service is second to none. My favorite is the cornbread salad but truly every dish is a gem. Love Shirley's!!! read more

Excellent home style southern cooking. Delicious all you can eat meat and sides. The drive to the restaurant was amazing too. Great scenic route. I can't rave enough about the taste of the food. Great price as well for all you can eat, it even includes a dessert. read more

Shirley's Home Cooking - 2 meats and sides. All you can eat. So delicious. - New American Near Me - Hampton, Tennessee

First words: Don't stop! We were headed back to Asheville from a loop through Johnson City. We passed by and saw all the cars in the parking lot so we figured it must be great. Did a u turn and went back. ( We were headed to the Boone Inn because we heard first hand it was the best place to eat). It said home style cooking on the sign and we fell for it. They have an all you can eat option or you can order by piece. I now know why the parking lot was so full. It is a place where people can become gluttons. Eat till they drop and never give a thought to the quality. If it was for quality the parking lot would be empty. The creamed corn (which I asked before ordering--if it was home made), looked like canned corn with sweetened milk poured over it. Yuck. The green beans were canned and I doubt they make the coleslaw, but who knows maybe they do. My husband ordered a piece of fried chicken with a side salad. He got one small boneless breast for $2.49 but the kicker was the cereal bowl side salad for $4.99 which only had for a bit of lettuce, with some cucumber and carrot pieces. We asked for lemon with our water and never got it and our server never came back to fill our water glasses. All I can say is....if you want good food....Don't stop at Shirley's! read more

This was a solid meal and generous portions. The food was good and would keep coming until you had your fill. The fried chicken was particularly good. read more

The chicken is the best there is! The cornbread salad is a drug! It's addictive!! Great staff! The waiters are friendly! What a wonderful place to eat! read more

Oh no! I loved Shirley's! LOVED!! It was an institution! Then they changed. Now a family style restaurant, much like Daniel Boone Inn, with low quality food. Even my beloved banana pudding has been remade into something more akin to the stuff you get in the plastic go containers at Food Lion. Heart broken! Try a fish sandwich at the Lakeside restaurant or barbecue at the little store just down the street when you're driving around Watauga Lake. read more

While vacationing at Watauga Lake we took the family to Shirley's Home Cooking, there was live music playing on the deck and a fairly crowed parking lot. I entered and waited for 7-10 minutes before someone came to the reception desk. You could see servers looking in our direction but no one came right over. There were 2 parties ahead of me and 1 party that came in after me. The hostess sat the two ahead of me and took the person behind me because they knew them and never even acknowledging me making me feel like an outsider. Finally returning several minutes later I was asked how many in my party and when I replied 13 I got the daggers stare which surprised me because this is a family style restaurant I would have thought they would serve large parties all the time. I was informed it would be a few minutes while another party finished then we could have their table. When we were led to our table it was set up for 10? Must be the new math. The hostess just walked away leaving us to fetch chairs from surrounding tables and squeeze them in to accommodate our 13. Upon arrival to our table it was apparent that our server drew the small straw for the large party as her attitude was snippet. She took our drink orders and when I ordered lemonade (88 degrees in July) was told that lemonade was not available. I felt like a naughty kid for asking.. I would have checked the menu to see what was available but I think we were only given two and they were at the other end of the table. When the drinks were served we did not receive any straws. When the server finally returned a few minutes later we asked for some straws, then had to give a count of those who needed one and laughed as she counted out the 9 straws ordered like she was counting out change. We ordered fried chicken and roast beef for our two choices of meat. Family dinners also come with 10 sides, bread and desert. We were given salad plates for our dinner? When the food server brought our sides we were given two small bowls of each side. Remind you that this was for 13 people. The small plates helped you keep your portions small and ofcourse you had to skip others and have them later when they've cooled. A few of us were out of luck when it came to mash potatoes and mac n cheese. Of course you can have as much as you want if you are lucky enough to find someone to ask for refills. When the server finally returned 10-15 minutes later and was asked for more sides an angry quick I'll need to have the empty bowls? Take them please as they should have been cleared as emptied. As for home cooking, I figure maybe some of the meat but everything else seemed to be canned. The chicken was good but the roast beef was dry and chewy. We did not receive any rolls or biscuits and probably would never have known until we heard a different server ask another table if they would like some more of those delicious biscuits. At 15.00 a person I would rather eat at Denny's or Bob Evans type of establishment but I don't care to eat at places like that nor would I ever eat at Shirley's Home Cooking again. read more

Just terrible, Home cooking and instant mashed potatoes, are you kidding me. The corn bread salad was slop, my 93 year old mother in law who has lived in these mountains all her life never heard of it. Everything was over salted and it was just opened cans with warming, the mac and cheese wasn't even warmed. The creamed corn was anything but creamed canned corn dumped into a white sauce and served, the roast beef was tough and stringy and the ham so tough you couldn't tear it apart less chew it. Oh yes it was Mother's Day and instead of the $14 price Shirley's charged $18 for inedibile slop. NEVER again read more

Once was enough for me. Everything tasted like it started out frozen or canned. Not my idea of home cooking.

0 stars!!!! We arrived at 140 on Sunday November 4, 2018 expecting an awesome lunch. We were told that we had a 30 minute wait, no problem. At 250 we were finally taken back to our seats. We had a party of 6, 3 adults and 3 kids. So after we were seated and had to wait a little while on our waitress to come take our drink orders and bring biscuits. By the time she came back to take our meat orders for the family style dinning it was 310. We ordered fried chicken and roast beef. Roast beef because they told us they were out of meatloaf. They brought out food out and everything tasted bland. We asked for more chicken and they told us they were out!! The waitress then came back and offered country ham or MEATLOAF!!! After we had ordered it and she told us they were OUT!!! We finished our meal and ordered desserts. 2 of us ordered Carmel cake. Oh we are out of that too!! So we all settled for peach cobbler and guess what she brought out 2 slices of Carmel cake. Thankfully we finally got what we had ordered. They still charged us the full price of 16$ per person even though they were nearly out of food. So please save your money and drive to the FARMERS DAUGHTER in chucky Tn. Best family style restaurant around!!!! read more

We have been going to Shirleys for years and the food has always been delicious.We always get the fried chicken and country ham.I have seen some bad reviews but we have always had great food. Since they expanded we have not had to wait.It is also a beautiful drive.I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

i love the food hear! i have lived in butler my whole life and until this year had never ate at shirleys. my favorite is the sides because i am not a bit meat eater. love the corn bread salad and cabbage. I always fell right at home their and have only had to wait one time. as for the outer reviews of it being just poured out of a can. i have never experienced this and i went Saturday the day before mothers day and it was a little full with a line. I still received the best service out their. cant wait to go back this weekend read more

I had to write because it seems Walter A. had more to say about the people of the community than he did about the food. Shirley's is a staple in our community and yes we do have computers.First, why is a vegetarian eating at a place that serves good home cooked meals? If he would not have run out so quickley he could have gotten a free copy of the recipe for cornbread salad and noticed it was not just cornbread marinated in ranch. People come for miles just to eat at Shirley's. The food is always fresh, including the vegetables. And no they do not skimp on the portions, because after all it is family style. Their fried chicken, country ham, mashed potatoes, cabbage, macaroni and cheese and cole slaw are some of the best around! This is an awesome place to eat. The service is amazing as well. Almost ALL the time you will find Shirley herself greeting customers and running the cash register, that is almost unheard of these days to have the owner right there. So Walter A. if you don't like the people then stay away. read more