Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House

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#1 of 10 Restaurants in LynchburgAmerican, Vegetarian friendly, $$ - $$$

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Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House

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About

No Lynchburg visit is complete until you’ve enjoyed a meal at Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant, where every dish is served with a warm Tennessee welcome and a heaping side of friendly conversation. Pull up a chair and join us at the table for a family-style dining experience unlike any other. Dinner is served family-style Monday through Saturday throughout the mid-day. Closed on Sunday and all major holidays. Reservations are required.

Features

CUISINES

American

Meal types

Lunch

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

American Express

Discover

Highchairs Available

Mastercard

Parking Available

Private Dining

Reservations

Seating

Table Service

Visa

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

295 Main St, Lynchburg, TN 37352-8300

Parking Available

Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed today

Sunday

Closed

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Saturday

Closed

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4.6

984 reviews

Excellent

728

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159

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Yes

ViaggiatoreGoloso

Milan6488 contributions

Eating feeling among friends

Nov 2024 • solo

In the booking confirmation email of the Jack Daniel's factory tour it was recommended to eat at Mary Bobo's and, since a colleague of mine who had been there also recommended it, I booked and as soon as I arrived in Lynchburg I went there. A quick visit to the gift shop and after a few minutes it's time to sit down at the table with Mary Ette, our host, and a group of Japanese tourists. The table is already laden with inviting dishes arranged on a turntable to be able to get to all courses easily. We sit down at 11:00 local time and just one taste of the various dishes to feel already full for how many different courses there are. Moreover, all the stories that our host tells us do nothing but make time fly and for when we get up I have to hurry to reach the visitor center of Jack Daniel's so as not to arrive late missing, alas, the opportunity to take a couple of jams and gadgets that I had eyed during the short wait. That's too bad. Ah needless to say, you eat very well dishes cooked as at home light years away from the dishes we have become accustomed to in restaurants in America. Great experience but I wish I had more time to visit the house and buy souvenirs.

Automatically translated

Written December 3, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bernard

Matran298 contributions

Friendly it feels good

Mar 2025 • friends

We are destabilised on arrival, a reception desk where we assign you a group number and then go to the souvenir shop. We wait for the bell to ring and follow the people in group 3. A lounge per group, a different decoration, a communal table as for a family meal. Here no menu is unique, the dishes arranged on the table, we serve and rotate. A family kitchen: chicken, chopped roast, green beans, pasta gratin, melted apples... Cold tea or water. A local grandmother chaired the table, distilled local stories and answered our questions. It was our second time and who knows...

Automatically translated

Written March 15, 2025

Deborah H

Oakville2 contributions

Not to be Missed if in Lynchburg

Sep 2024 • couples

My husband and I decided to try this restaurant before our tour of the Jack Daniel's distillery in Lynchburg. We had read such great reviews and the restaurant did not disappoint. What a unique and warm dining experience Mary Bobo's was! The food was authentic southern fare and very tasty. Shout-out to the fried okra, which was a first for us Canadians. We were seated in the main floor Tolley Room around a table of people from all over the United States. Conversation flowed effortlessly (just like the sweet tea). Our hostess Miss Diane was absolutely welcoming, charming, and engaging. The experience was like being invited to lunch at a private family home. A true experience of Southern hospitality. We have been back in Canada 2 days and are still talking about the experience, and when we might return.

Written September 27, 2024

M W

2 contributions

oh no!

Jan 2025 • friends

We live in the area, & frequently visit Jack Daniel’s Distillery either for ourselves and/or for our personal & professional guests or as recommendation & are never disappointed. We had not been to Miss Bobo’s in years, but the front desk suggested the full experience for our Italian guest. So, we break out the visit as two fold: 1) people 2) food *** #1 The Jack Daniel’s employees & volunteers were a 5/5 … the gentleman in the drawing room, his wife who was our host for lunch and the server were all delightful, knowledgeable & well informed! The other guests were friendly & we enjoyed the social aspects! The host and servers kept the lunch entertaining & fun. ***However, #2 the food was TERRIBLE (we are southerners, so this is not due to us not liking or understanding the food “category”). Food luke warm. Inconsistent. Unappealing. Poorly prepared & presented. Lacking in flavor and correct texture. Offered only coffee with dessert - not even hot tea for those of us allergic to coffee. Really … for the price paid? Contemplated, but have to say not even one of the dishes were actually good (closest apples). Granted the menu can change, but to go from the promised southern fried chicken and meatloaf to scrawny catfish and beef/pork heated plain with excessive bbq sauce just poured over the top right before serving instead. To be honest, it was truly embarrassing as our guest is a Tuscany restaurant and bar owner. We feel really ripped off, especially when one considers the $30 a person lunch price plus any taxes & tips (for us more than a $120 for a one hour lunch for 4). Three of the four of us are “squires” and so you need to understand that we love your company and products. A refund surely is in order but have not heard from anyone yet ..:

Written January 28, 2025

Kate Illinois1

Illinois5249 contributions

Room temperature food that lacked southern flavors

Jan 2025 • couples

You are called to your dinning room. Everyone is trying to figure out where to sit at the table. The table already had food waiting for us. Our hostess talks first then we can start to serving ourselves the Room Temperature food that has been sitting there. The catfish was over fried and super dried out, the casserole had no flavor, the BBQ country ribs were fatty and had a bitter sauce, collards were okay, fried okra and beans were fine and can be eaten cold. Then the dessert came and most of us didn't eat it. Dry blackberry bread pudding that the seeds were not sieved out. This was a waste of our time and money.

Written February 14, 2025

gingerbear16

Star128 contributions

Major Disappointment on My Birthday

Oct 2024 • couples

I made this reservation months ago to eat lunch before our Jack Daniels tour on my birthday. We understood the food is served in various rooms family style. Unfortunately we were assigned to the Fanning Room which should not be used when the adjoining room is also used as it was today. In fact Jo, our hostess at the table, said there was another private room available today that would have solved the problem we experienced. When the adjoining room is used, it is a much larger group and the noise of all of them talking is so loud we couldn’t hear our hostess. She said they’ve been asking for a curtain or some noise barrier but our experience was ruined by not being able to hear what our hostess was explaining throughout the meal about the history of the property, the visitors she has met and the town itself. We traveled across the country to be here and left feeling very frustrated and cheated out of a memorable experience.

Written October 23, 2024

Adam T

York897 contributions

Wonderful experience

Mar 2023 • none

We were visiting for a morning tour of the distillery, so thought we’d stop for lunch and some proper Southern food. We weren’t disappointed, though I don’t think I’d appreciated how much of an experience rather than just a meal we’d be getting. As there is only one sitting time on a Wednesday lunch, every guest was packed into the front part of the house and the gift shop when we arrived. We were given our little card for which dining room we’d be in, and eventually a bell was rung and we followed our hostess through. Initially things felt a little uncomfortable, and the atmosphere was a little awkward with no background noise or music, just a group of strangers sat at a big round table with the expectation of conversation. However, our hostess Ardis started things going by getting us all to introduce ourselves over the course of the meal and telling us about the history of the house. We felt a little conscious of our 10 month old baby, who was going through quite a loud stage (though not crying thankfully), but we were put at ease so I would say it’s worth still going if you have a baby. The food was excellent as well, all laid out on a massive lazy susan, with dishes being refilled as soon as they were emptied. The menu changes every day, but on our visit we had fried chicken, fried okra, stuffed peppers, tomato casserole, corn bread muffins, sprouts, whiskey apples, pinto beans, red pepper sauce, and finished with a lovely carrot cake. There was iced tea throughout and coffee at the end too. We had a great time and it’s well worth a visit, particularly if you’re going round the distillery.

Written April 17, 2023

87vette

Conyers340 contributions

Home Cooking Supreme

Apr 2023 • couples

Wow!! Country cooking supreme! Several meat selections, many vegetables and a desert selection, all served on lazy Susan tables . selections differ each day. Table comes with Hostess to tell the stories of the town and Jack Daniels. All food is delicious. Enjoy

Written April 21, 2023

Janice P

79 contributions

Southern Cooking

Feb 2023 • couples

We were served fried chicken which I thought was excellent. Pork roast was tender but a little to salty for my liking. Excellent Mac n cheese, green beans, fried okra which was crunchy the way it's supposed to be, Cole slaw, bread rolls and candid apples. The apples have Jack Daniels poured over them. They were actually way to sweet for my liking. You were served sweet or unsweetened tea, coffee or water with chess pie. Also to sweet for my liking. Our table host was Randy. He didn't eat with us but made sure we had plenty of food and stories about Miss Mary Bobo! Very knowledgeable about the area. If you leave hungry it is your fault! A must if you come to Lynchburg. You must have reservations. They are stairs but they do have an elevator! Make sure you visit the gift shop!

Written February 18, 2023

Ella_Salita

Philippines318 contributions

A must try when in Lynchburg

Nov 2022 • business

Eating here gives you the experience of enjoying a hearty sumptuous home cooked meal. Food is served family style in this historical home / dorm. What is unique too is an in-house hostess is assigned to eat with each group. She explains about the food, the town, the dorm, their student scholars who are also servers in this restaurant. They refill the food - so it is eat as much as you can! Their fried chicken is a favorite. You can even request for your special part of the chicken! Definitely a feast to remember.

Written February 10, 2023

XAJB

Huddersfield36 contributions

Shared lunch with strangers - all a bit peculiar!

Sep 2024 • couples

Quite a bizarre experience. We were sat at a large round table with 8 other strangers. The food was on a lazy susan in the centre so it felt quite awkward taking from shared plates. Our host was lovely with great anecdotes however, we didn't like the "tell us about yourself" part! The food was good, not great! We were told that there is plenty and more would come if we ran out, but it felt impolite to take lots so neither of us felt full after the meal. Definitely an experience! I think if we'd have known we'd be expected to share the mean with strangers we wouldn't have booked.

Written October 8, 2024

Cara M

5 contributions

Where to eat in Lynchburg TN

Apr 2022 • none

Miss Mary Bobo’s is wonderful! They serve a family style lunch with 2 meat options and 6 side dishes for larger groups, but you can also order a meat and 2 or 3 sides for individuals or couples. Our hostess gave us a short tour around the restaurant with lots of history about the renovated home. The staff is friendly and attentive. The food was excellent! Let me warn you; make reservations and show up 15 minutes before your reservation time. The staff is hustling and you are either on time or someone else gets your table. I also loved how the old rooms are divided up into small seating areas which adds to the family atmosphere.

Written April 19, 2022

TheChooChooTravelers William & Christal

Chattanooga40 contributions

Anniversary Lunch

Apr 2022 • none

We snagged a reservation for our anniversary, and we are so glad we did! from the moment you step foot on the property you feel like you step back in time. At the door you are greeted by several people with warm smiles. After checking in you are taken to your room to eat. Our room was downstairs with the cutest fireplace. Even though this is a family style restaurant due to Covid precautions you are sat with your party only. HOWVER, do NOT let that discourage you! This works out in your favor! You have the option to do only a meat and two or the family style. Since we were celebrating, we did the family style. As we waited for our food several ladies that remind you of your favorite grandmother came to the table to tell us the story of the house and Miss Mary Bobo. When the food arrived, it was beyond our expectations. Everything was fresh and top quality. With the family Style it is all you can eat so if you need more of anything they will bring it to you if you ask. The best part is that since this is not the traditional style due to Covid, you get to take any leftovers home with you! You will NOT be disappointed with this stop. It is now a number one must do every time we are in the area.

Written April 12, 2022

Michael C

Old Bar98 contributions

Feels like family

May 2024 • family

We headed here not really knowing what to expect and had a superb time. Miss Brenda was our host where we had lunch at a large table with 12 of us there. A simple lunch but great tasty food with great stores and an atmosphere like a family meal. I was even lucky enough to have everyone sing happy birthday which made my day.

Written July 5, 2024

Deborah C

1 contribution

Two couples

Mar 2021 • couples

We’ve never been so dissatisfied in our life at a southern restaurant and especially one that is highly recommended. We made reservations and arrived on time. We were in the main part of the house and then ushered downstairs to a dark hallway with a room in the basement. It was heated with space heaters. The only menu items to choose from were catfish and ribs. The sides were okra, greens, white beans and green bean casserole plus fried whiskey flavored apples. We were given six miniature bite sized muffins with frozen pats of butter for four adults. The only beverage is canned soda or tea. The ribs were sparse and before serving them poured BBQ sauce over them. We got three ribs each about three inches long. Each veggie was in a small dish of about half a cup. My wife couldn’t eat the ribs due to the fact that she cannot take real spicy BBQ sauce. Needless to say the green bean casserole was also spicy. I never expected to go to a highly recommended restaurant and be told that I can only choose from two meat items and the veggies listed. We didn’t even get a potato or salad. Will not go back. I feel putting people in a basement room to eat in a Victorian house is a disgrace. Also the limited menu was not conducive to everyone’s taste. They told us it changes daily. We will not be back. My wife and I had a Bill of 43 dollars for a lunch that was substandard, to say the least. However our waiter was very nice and superb. That’s about all we could say that was satisfying. Curlis and Reinharts of Ohio

Written March 12, 2021