Father Tom's Pub

Father Tom’s Pub in Cookeville feels like a local’s secret—brick walls, low light, and the kind of bar that makes you want to settle in for a few hours and see what happens. It’s unpretentious but deliberate, the beer list thoughtful, the menu full of quiet surprises.

We went with The Fresh Prince and The Nine-Iron, two sandwiches that sound playful but eat like serious contenders. The Fresh Prince was stacked with filet tips, smoky bacon, and melted cheese, balanced with just enough sweetness to keep it interesting. The Nine-Iron leaned richer—turkey, ham, and cheese layered with a sauce that felt like a nod to club sandwiches everywhere, only better. Both came hot off the press, crisp and perfect in that way pub sandwiches should be.

Two P-Nit-Butta Porters rounded things out—dark, velvety, and unmistakably peanut-forward. A beer that drinks like dessert but still knows when to stop. The roasted malt and peanut notes played perfectly with the salt and smoke of the food, each sip chasing down the last bite in a slow, satisfied rhythm.

Father Tom’s isn’t a place that needs hype. It’s a place that delivers—good food, good beer, and the kind of steady comfort that reminds you why pubs like this still matter.