9 Family-Owned Tennessee Steakhouses That Still Cook Beef The Old-Fashioned Way

A former antique shop in Tennessee became a steakhouse in 1968, and the same family is still running it today. Another restaurant traces its roots all the way back to 1921, when charcoal grilling was already part of its story.

Those histories are impressive, but the cooking traditions are what really catch my attention.

Open flames, hand-cut beef, thick ribeyes, and homemade sides still play a big role at these restaurants. One kitchen grills steaks over an oak fire, while another keeps its old-fashioned salad bar as a centerpiece of the dining experience.

I also like how different these places are. Some have elegant dining rooms and prime cuts, while others serve generous steak dinners in casual settings where fancy clothes aren’t necessary.

Family traditions, familiar recipes, and years of experience give these restaurants something that newer chains can’t easily copy.

And with so many different approaches to a classic steak dinner, each stop brings something interesting to the table.

1. Ye Olde Steak House

Antiques used to fill this log building on Chapman Highway, and now the most treasured thing inside is a flame-kissed steak. The King family opened the restaurant in 1968 and still runs it today.

That’s more than five decades of the same family minding the grill. The founders’ three children carry the torch now, and the meat is still hand-cut in-house.

The beef here is Iowa grain-fed, then cooked over open flame for a thick, charred crust. You can go big with a porterhouse or keep it classic with a sirloin strip.

Prime rib is on the menu too, for slow-roasted comfort. Steak combos also pair your cut with shrimp, flounder, or swordfish when choosing feels impossible.

Entrees come with a house salad, a side, and homemade bread. Make the Woodshed Potatoes your side, because they’re the house’s famous pick.

A fireplace and rustic log walls set the scene, so the room feels more lodge than strip mall. Save space, because the desserts are made in-house.

Knoxville has plenty of newer steak options, but few can claim this kind of family streak. Honestly, a grill that’s outlasted disco deserves a little respect.

Doors open Monday through Saturday at 4 PM, and Sundays are closed. Friday and Saturday evenings get busy, so a reservation is a smart move.

Address: 6838 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920

2. Gondola Pizza & Steak House

Pizza and steak sharing top billing might sound like a menu that can’t decide. In Crossville, that combo has turned a mall restaurant into a small-town favorite.

Gondola Pizza & Steak House is family-owned and keeps things relaxed. You won’t need a fancy outfit, just an appetite and maybe a friend who likes to share.

The steaks are charbroiled, which gives them that classic smoky char from direct heat. A ribeye is a solid pick if you want a juicy cut with plenty of flavor.

Now about that salad bar. It’s big and fresh, and it might be the best opening act in town.

The Italian side of the menu is no afterthought either. Lasagna, chicken parmesan, garlic bread, and the House Special Pizza give picky eaters plenty of room.

Cheesecake makes a sweet finish if you saved any space. Families will appreciate the kids’ menu and high chairs.

Prices stay friendly here. It’s the kind of place where a steak dinner doesn’t feel like a special-occasion splurge.

Unlike many steakhouses, this one serves lunch, opening at 10:30 AM Tuesday through Saturday. It closes at 8:30 PM, so late-night steak cravings need an earlier plan.

Friday and Saturday afternoons into evening tend to be the busiest stretch. Mornings run quieter, which makes an early lunch an easy win.

Address: 36 Woodmere Mall, Crossville, TN 38555

3. Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House

White linens, a piano, and prime beef make for a pretty clear dress code hint. Memphis may be famous for barbecue, but this family-owned steakhouse sticks to chophouse classics.

Prime steaks and seafood specialties lead the menu here. The service carries that family-run touch, attentive without feeling stiff.

The petite filet is a top pick, known for being tender and cooked just right. Feeling bolder, try the blackened New York Strip for a spicy crust on a classic cut.

Start with a bowl of she-crab soup, a rich Southern favorite. Fried pickles add a fun, crunchy twist if your table likes to snack.

Sides lean comforting, like jalapeno mac and cheese and grilled asparagus with lemon. The mashed potatoes taste homemade in the best possible way.

Dessert gets serious with bread pudding on the menu. If you’re celebrating, birthday cake is there to make it official.

The room feels polished and quiet, perfect for anniversaries or a long talk over dinner. It’s Tennessee steakhouse dining with its Sunday best on.

Private dining rooms make it a strong choice for big family dinners and milestones. Reservations are recommended, and valet parking helps on busy nights.

Dinner starts at 5:30 PM Monday through Saturday and at 5 PM on Sunday. Weeknight evenings stay busy, so booking ahead saves you a hungry wait.

Address: 551 S Mendenhall Rd, Memphis, TN 38117

4. Hermitage Steak House

Bubble bread and duck wontons on a classic steakhouse menu? That’s the kind of curveball that makes an old-school spot on Lebanon Pike fun.

Hermitage Steak House is a longtime neighborhood restaurant with traditional steak and seafood dishes at the center of its menu. It feels like a mom-and-pop chophouse, the kind many neighborhoods once had.

The Center Cut New York Strip is a natural starting point for beef fans. Salmon offers a lighter option for anyone at the table who prefers seafood.

Before your entree, swing by the salad bar. It’s fresh and a little unexpected, which makes building a plate half the fun.

A fireplace sets a relaxed mood, and live music is part of the experience here. Private dining space works well for birthdays, rehearsal dinners, or office gatherings.

Dessert deserves a plan of its own. Bananas Foster brings some old-school flair, while creme brulee keeps things smooth and simple.

The doors open at 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday, with later hours on Friday and Saturday. Mondays and Sundays are closed, so plan your steak night around that.

Weekend evenings usually draw a wait, so a reservation is wise. You’re only a short drive from downtown Nashville, which makes this a handy break from the city crowds.

Address: 4342 Lebanon Pike, Hermitage, TN 37076

5. Jim’s Place Grille

The Taras family has kept Jim’s Place grilling steaks over charcoal for more than a century. That history started in Memphis in 1921, long before the restaurant settled into its current Collierville home in 2006.

Three generations have helped preserve the tradition. The family still emphasizes hands-on ownership, and the kitchen continues using open-fire grilling instead of relying on a modern steakhouse gimmick.

For beef lovers, the ribeye and New York strip are familiar favorites. Both are seasoned and charcoal-grilled, giving the meat a crust that makes the cooking method easy to appreciate.

The petite filet offers a smaller option, while Jim’s Signature Filet gives the dinner menu another classic choice. Steaks come with a choice of sides, including baked potatoes, house-cut fries, and signature spinach.

The Greek influences are worth noticing. Souflima, a family recipe built around pork tenderloin and lemon-oregano seasoning, has survived through the restaurant’s many changes.

Grecian lamb chops and charcoal-grilled shrimp carry that same tradition.

A house salad or Grecian rice rounds out a meal without pulling attention away from the grill. That is the balance this restaurant has been working on for generations.

Jim’s Place is more polished than a roadside diner, but the important part remains remarkably straightforward. Good cuts, hot charcoal, and a family determined to keep doing things its own way.

Address: 3660 S Houston Levee Rd, Suite 112, Collierville, TN 38017

6. Sperry’s Restaurant

A steakhouse that opened in 1974 and still celebrates the salad bar has clearly decided some traditions are worth keeping. Sperry’s in Nashville’s Belle Meade neighborhood makes that argument every evening.

Brothers Houston and Dick Thomas started the restaurant and named it after their great-grandfather, Burton W. Sperry.

The business remained in the family, with Houston’s son Al Thomas continuing its ownership.

Inside, dark wood and warm lighting give the dining room a familiar, old-school feel. The setting is polished, but the real attraction is the kitchen’s commitment to steakhouse standards.

Prime rib is a major reason to visit. The menu also features filet mignon, New York strip, and ribeye, along with seafood for diners who prefer something different.

Then there is the salad bar. Sperry’s credits itself with introducing Nashville’s first, and it remains a signature feature rather than a forgotten piece of restaurant history.

Side dishes keep the classics close. Twice-baked potatoes, creamed spinach, sautéed mushrooms, and shoestring potatoes can accompany a steak without making the plate complicated.

Save dessert space for Bananas Foster for Two. The restaurant’s tableside preparation brings a little theater to a traditional finish.

Sperry’s has expanded beyond its original location, but the Belle Meade dining room remains the clearest reminder of where the family started. The old formula still has an audience.

Address: 5109 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205

7. Alamo Steakhouse

At Alamo Steakhouse in Gatlinburg, the fire is made from oak, and the steaks are cut by hand in the kitchen. That is a pretty convincing start for diners who care how their beef is cooked.

The restaurant belongs to the Johnson Family of Restaurants, a Tennessee family business that began with Bennett’s Pit BBQ in Pigeon Forge in 1991.

Instead of treating steak preparation like a shortcut, Alamo ages its beef, seasons it, and grills it over an open oak fire. The goal is a flavorful crust with the tenderness diners expect from a good steakhouse.

Ribeye is an obvious place to begin. Filet mignon and New York strip offer other familiar choices, and the menu includes more than beef for mixed groups.

The from-scratch approach extends to burgers, which the kitchen grinds itself. Soups, sauces, and gravies are made in-house, and even the mozzarella sticks are breaded to order.

That extra work helps distinguish the place from a standard tourist-area restaurant. Gatlinburg attracts plenty of visitors, but an oak-fired steak still makes a reliable reason to choose this dining room.

The atmosphere is casual enough for a family dinner, with a full menu suited to diners who want seafood or chicken instead.

There is also an Alamo location in Pigeon Forge. For this list, the Gatlinburg address gives readers a straightforward place to experience the family’s oak-fire method.

Address: 705 East Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

8. Junkyard Dog Steakhouse

License plates, old signs, and other roadside memorabilia cover the walls at Junkyard Dog Steakhouse in downtown Hohenwald. The name is playful, but the emphasis on a properly cooked steak is serious.

Husband-and-wife team Danny and Mandy Weigel opened the restaurant in 2006 after spending years working in the restaurant business. They built a casual dining room rather than a formal chophouse.

Ribeye and sirloin are among the steak choices, and the menu also includes filet mignon, New York strip, and porterhouse. Diners looking beyond a basic steak can consider the Ragin Cajun or a smothered steak.

Hand-cut beef has been part of the restaurant’s reputation, along with generous portions and traditional sides. A baked potato or salad keeps dinner familiar, while ribs provide another hearty option.

There is plenty for the rest of the table too. Burgers, chicken, pasta, and seafood make this an easier choice when everyone orders something different.

The interior gives the place much of its personality. Old memorabilia surrounds the tables, turning a meal into a small tour of roadside history.

Travelers using the Natchez Trace Parkway can reach downtown Hohenwald with a short detour. The steakhouse feels connected to its town rather than designed around passing trends.

Sometimes an old-fashioned steak dinner works best without a dress code or elaborate presentation. That is exactly the appeal here.

Address: 18 N Maple St, Hohenwald, TN 38462

9. The Butcher’s Block

The Butcher’s Block in Greeneville doesn’t try to look like an expensive downtown steakhouse. Its own description stresses a casual atmosphere, family ownership, and a history stretching back roughly three decades.

That approach fits its menu. Ribeye and filet mignon are familiar options, and the Texas Tail has become a frequent favorite among regular customers.

The ribeye is a sensible choice for diners who want rich beef flavor without complicated toppings. A baked potato and salad help keep the meal grounded in steakhouse basics.

The Texas Tail offers another reason to visit. Customers mention it repeatedly, making it one of the restaurant’s most recognizable steak orders.

You won’t find a dining room built around fancy decorations here. The emphasis is on a comfortable meal, straightforward service, and food people can enjoy without dressing for a special occasion.

A steak salad gives lighter appetites an alternative, while burgers and other items expand the choices for families and groups.

The restaurant has spent years serving Greeneville residents, and its family-run identity is central to the way it presents itself. That is a useful distinction in a dining landscape full of national chains.

For visitors passing through East Tennessee, this is a different sort of steak stop. The cooking and portions matter more than ceremony, and a classic cut of beef remains the main attraction.

Address: 125 Serral Dr, Greeneville, TN 37745