Good food, but not a worth the trip alone
There are days when you want a real burger, not a frozen fast-food patty and not something you have to cook yourself. Today was one of those days. My girlfriend mentioned Kilpatrick’s Tavern & Grill because she had been there once before, so we pulled it up on Google, confirmed lunch hours, and headed out. Here’s my honest review of Kilpatrick’s Tavern & Grill in Hohenwald and whether it actually satisfied the burger craving.
First Impressions of Kilpatrick’s Tavern & Grill
Kilpatrick’s sits right down the street from Southern Skillet, marked by a big neon green sign you can’t miss. Walking in, the vibe is exactly what you’d expect from a small-town bar. Booths along the walls, a pool table, a couple TVs, and what looked like a big buffet line that wasn’t running during lunch.
There are two entrances, and the one we used dropped us into an elevated viewpoint over a large room. The other door seems to take you straight into the bar section. It feels like a place that’s expanded over time. And yes, there was a faint cigarette smell lingering from years past, but nothing overpowering. If it was bad, my girlfriend would’ve walked right back out.
At 1 PM on a Friday, the place was far from crowded. That’s lunch in small-town Tennessee.
Kilpatrick’s Tavern Hohenwald: Service
We grabbed a booth, got greeted immediately, and drinks landed on the table fast. Service was friendly and paced right. Not pushy, not absent. Just normal, solid service.
Appetizers: A Mixed Bag
For starters, we ordered the sample platter where you choose three fried items. We went with fried mushrooms, fried pickles, and jalapeño poppers.
We got asked what sauces we wanted which threw me off because usually these items come paired with something by default. I digress, here’s how they stacked up:
- Mushrooms & Pickles: Standard fried bar food. The batter fell apart pretty easily, so dipping them kind of made them disintegrate. Still tasted fine, but nothing to write home about.
- Jalapeño Poppers: The curveball. These were stuffed with cheddar instead of cream cheese. I’ve never had cheddar poppers in my life, but they were good. Just insanely hot. That cheese held heat like lava.
It was all edible, but the sampler is basically a $16 fried craving scratcher, nothing more. However, you can select up to 3 different appetizers excluding a few items so your platter won’t look like ours.
Kilpatrick’s Tavern Hohenwald: The Burger (Mission Accomplished)
We both ordered the smash burger with American cheese, grilled onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and their in-house zesty smash sauce. Presentation was clean. The burger hit exactly how I needed it to, simple, flavorful, and filling.
The Fries
I got regular fries; she got curly fries. Both came out near perfect. Not burnt, not soggy, not limp. Right in the dead center where fries are supposed to be. Could they be a little browner? Sure. But then you risk ruining them. These were solid.
The Menu & Prices
Kilpatrick’s has a massive menu for a bar:
- Breakfast
- Burgers
- Chicken
- Steaks
- Seafood
- Appetizers
- Sandwiches
Price-wise, it leans a bit expensive for Hohenwald, but not insane.
Our bill:
- Sample Platter: $16
- Smash Burgers: $9.98 each
- Drink: $2.58
- Water: Free
Total: $43.89
If you skip the sampler and order like a normal human, you’re looking at $4–$15 for most items.
Would We Eat Here Again?
Yeah, absolutely. Not every week, my wallet would hate me, but as far as a dependable small-town burger goes, Kilpatrick’s delivers. I’d come back just for the burger and fries.
If you’re in Hohenwald or passing through and want a legit burger without dealing with fast-food disappointment, Kilpatrick’s Tavern & Grill is worth a stop.
More Hohenwald Food Reviews
If you’re building a food list for Hohenwald, TN, I keep an updated guide of the places I’ve personally eaten at. No sponsored fluff.
