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Review by Pamela Holz, Realtor with Reliant Realty

It is amazing how powerful food can be. Certain tastes and smells can take a person back to a time or place with just one bite. My lunch experience at Lovin’ Spoonful Cafe had that groovy power.

Having not been before, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was surprised upon entering to be surrounded by hundreds of paint-by-number paintings, arranged by theme. I was invited to sit in a booth of my choice—I ended picking the booth by the bird paintings—and was told of the specials of the day.

Listening to the specials made me realize this was not going to be a typical restaurant experience. Who makes Chicken Divan these days? But that is what Lovin’ Spoonful Café is all about- the menu items are recipes from the 60s and 70s.

While waiting for my friend to arrive, I went ahead and ordered the Frito Pie. Who doesn’t like Fritos served with a sweetly rich, meaty chili, topped with melted cheddar cheese and sour cream?

Chicken Divan was a meal I ate often as a child… But would it be as good as I remembered? There was a simple way to find out. As the jalepeno grit cakes were presented as a popular side, I ordered those, while my friend ordered the chicken salad croissant and the creamy cucumber salad.

My food arrived on a melamine plate that I am certain was the exact pattern my Grandma had… and the sight of that Chicken Divan on “Grandma’s” plate actually made me feel like a little girl again, sitting in her kitchen. There is something so delightful about a simple Chicken Divan—chicken and broccoli in a creamy mushroom sauce with a buttery crunchy stuffing topping—Divine! My friend and I shared our side dishes. The cucumber salad was the perfect complement to my Chicken Divan, though the grit cakes were very good.

Wanting to finish off this delightful journey down memory lane, we ordered a piece of the pecan-encrusted orange cake to share. I know I had that recipe at many childhood church potlucks… and it was so fun to have it again!

Such an unexpected pleasure to find this little treasure of a restaurant! If you want to take a food trip to the past, I whole-heartedly recommend giving Lovin’ Spoonful Café a try!

Lovin’ Spoonful Cafe
128 University Ave.
Clarksville, TN 37040
Monday- Saturday 10:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Sunday 10:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Atmosphere: Casual