Apple Cake Tea Room in Knoxville

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More than 25 years ago, an old family recipe provided the inspiration for what would become Mary Henry’s successful West Knox County restaurant, the Apple Cake Tea Room. Situated near the interstate in a cozy, inviting log cabin, the quaint lunch spot is a favorite among local folks and travelers alike.

Apple Cake Tea Room in Farragut, TN - Knoxville Restaurant

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Her homemade, heirloom apple cake is Henry’s signature item, but the menu features a number of tantalizing specialties.

“The Tea Room Medley is very popular,” Henry says. “It includes chicken salad, glazed fruit, homemade banana bread with cream cheese and chips. We also get a lot of orders for our Pineapple Boat – a hollowed out pineapple half filled with chicken salad.”

In defiance of tea room stereotypes, the helpings are anything but dainty. “We get a lot of men,” Henry says. “If you can get them in the door, they realize we serve adequate portions.”

What’s more, the food is prepared with care. “Our chicken salad is made fresh daily,” Henry explains. “A lot of places just don’t make their own foods anymore, but that’s something we’ve always done, and we’ll never change that.”

Even the tea is made on site. In addition to the standard English breakfast, Earl grey and green teas, the Apple Cake Tea Room serves its own special recipe Friendship Tea, a Russian spice tea mix that customers can enjoy by the cup or purchase by the jar to take home.

For dessert, there’s the apple cake, of course, which customers say is to-die-for. There’s also brownie pie with ice cream and homemade fudge sauce, or if you want to go all out, the Ice Cream Cornucopia, a waffle-type pastry in the shape of a cornucopia filled with vanilla ice cream and then drizzled with butterscotch and fudge sauce and topped with sautéed bananas.

Apple Cake Tea Room in Farragut, TN - Knoxville Restaurant

The homey, two-story log cabin is decorated with antiques, quilts, pine tables and many of Henry’s family heirlooms. A fire burns in the open fireplace every day. Upstairs, an array of old fireplace mantels and antique wedding dresses provides the perfect backdrop for wedding showers and private parties.

All in all, it’s no wonder this long-standing lunch spot has so many loyal customers.

Apple Cake Tea Room in Farragut, TN - Knoxville Restaurant

“I think the community appreciates our longevity and reliability. I consider it a big compliment that my staff has been here for 15, 16, 17 years, and I’ve greatly enjoyed the relationships I’ve built with my regular customers,” Henry says. “It’s a special place. A lot of memories have been made here.”

The Apple Cake Tea Room, located at 11312 Station West Drive in Knoxville (Farragut), is open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Call (865) 966-7848 to inquire about rental space for parties and special events.

16 Comments

  1. Judy says:

    The Chicken Salad is great..especially in half of a fresh pineapple. The Bananna bread with cream cheese is to die for.

    • Gretta Holcom says:

      Yes, it is GREAT!! And I would like the receipe for their Banana Nut Bread. Everytime I go to TN. always go to the TEA ROOM. Neat place.

    • Linda Sentell says:

      My daughter and I ate at the tea room yesterday and it was as delicious as when we started eating there 15 years ago. The best food by far anywhere. And the atmosphere so relaxing you don’t get in any hurry to leave. Thank you for keeping things traditional;and everything on the menu is always delicious!

  2. Mary Jayne says:

    Please note that you have an incorrect address for the Apple Cake Tea Room. It should be “Campbell” Station. It is such a lovely place to eat at, I would hate to see people not be able to find it. Thank you.

    • Jessy Yancey says:

      Mary Jayne,

      Thanks for the feedback. I’m still a little confused, because the Apple Cake Tea Room’s Facebook page also lists the address above. I’ve contacted them to make sure we have the correct location.

      Thanks again,
      Jessy Yancey
      editor, Tennessee Home & Farm

    • Becky says:

      Campbell Station is just the exit you get off of I-40. The address is 11312 Station West Dr. Knoxville TN. I was just there yesterday with my resident’s. And I love to bake. Would love to have that Apple cake recipe, it is maybe the best thing I have tasted that wasn’t mine.

  3. Angie Henry Vallely says:

    The address you have is correct. There is a road off of Campbell Station which is where the Tea Room is located. This is my Momma’s place! Thanks for such a nice article.

  4. Mary Rose says:

    Would love your recipe for your Banana Nutbread. Best have ever eaten. Thank you.

    • Rachel Bertone says:

      Hi Mary,

      Thanks for your comment! We suggest contacting the Apple Cake Tea Room directly for more information on their recipes. You can reach them at (865) 966-7848. Hope this helps! Thanks!

      Rachel Bertone
      editor, Tennessee Home and Farm

  5. TAMILLA GOODSON says:

    I want you send me the Apple Cake tea Room RECIPE and Chicken Salad with Pineapple Recipe. I need it.

  6. Dortha Paschall says:

    I love the Apple CAKE Tea Room. When my daughter and granddaughters are traveling and go thru Knoxville we try to make sure we can stop for lunch. Do you have a cookbook or share recipes? I would love to have the chicken salad with pineapple and the chicken pecan quiche recipes. We have not had anything that was not delicious. Thank you DP

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