Great southern food buffet!
- Robin Blackstone Verified
Delicious food and spectacular service 🥰 This is the first restaurant I've found where I like the collard greens 💚
- Stephanie Falls Verified
Great breakfast buffet. Friendly happy staff.
- Timothy Harrison Verified
The best fried chicken and okra! Exactly like my grandmother used to cook. Did I mention the cooked cabbage and the best iced tea anywhere? And all of the staff love it there for it shows in their service. A most wonderful experience after church.
- Sandra Bokan Verified
I told a friend of mine that hubby and I were going to Tellico Community Farmers Market today so she suggested we try Donna's. We were heading to the market early this morning so we decided to stop for breakfast on the way. From the moment we walked through the door, we felt at home! The decor and atmosphere were very inviting, and the place was so clean! Our server, Hunter, was very polite, friendly and attentive! We decided to get the buffet so we could try a variety of things. At one point when Hunter was checking in on us, he asked if we had ever tried Chocolate Gravy. I told him I hadn't but that I saw it on the buffet. So he took the time to share with us how he liked to eat it on pancakes with a little syrup along with some country ham. He said that the sweetness of the gravy and the saltiness of the ham really complimented each other. We chatted comfortably with him about a few other things, feeling as if we were "regulars" instead of it being our first time there. You can just tell he was raised right! Toward the end of our meal a very nice woman with blonde hair and glasses (Hunter mentioned her name, but I'm sorry it slipped past me! I'm not sure if she was the owner, manager or what) came to our table to see how we liked everything and we went on to chat with her for a few minutes. It's this kind of hospitality that makes you want to keep coming back! Now to the food. Like I said we got the buffet and it had a large variety of breakfast items as well as a salad bar. Everything we tried was fresh and delicious! Our favorites were the egg scramble (eggs, peppers, onions, sausage and cheese), the home fries and the bacon. I did go back and get a couple pancakes with chocolate gravy on top and it was pretty darn good! And the price!! How can you beat an all-you-can-eat eat buffet of home-cooked food for under $13.00?! Now I'm not one to give free advertising for many places, but because of this great experience, I gladly purchased one of their cute t-shirts and will wear it proudly to promote this fantastic Mom & Pop family-run business! So do yourself a favor and the next time you find yourself in or near Madisonville, stop in to Donna's for some great food, great service and hospitality, and some good conversation with your new friends....you won't be disappointed!! We can't wait to go back! Thank you, Donna's Cafe 🩷☀️🌸
- Vicky A Verified
Great food and great service! Our waitress, Lexxi, was phenomenal!
- Becky Jones Verified
The food and service was awesome! Food was hot and seasoned just perfectly.
- Sandra Jackson Verified
Toletters Lowe left a 5 star review!
- Toletters Lowe Verified
We stumbled upon Donna’s Old Town Cafe while visiting The Lost Sea Adventure. Since the area is a bit remote with limited options, we were surprised to see this "hole-in-the-wall" looking spot had so many rave reviews, but after eating here, I totally get it! The Atmosphere & Service The staff was incredibly friendly from the moment we walked in. It feels like a genuine local favorite rather than a tourist spot. Even though we arrived during the lunch rush, there was no wait and plenty of seating available. The Food We opted for the buffet ($14.99 per person). While the buffet area looks small, it is packed with high-quality Southern comfort food. Everything was prepared perfectly: The Meats: The fried chicken was crispy and juicy, and the fried fish and meatloaf were both delicious. The Sides: The potato cakes were my absolute favorites, you can really tell they are homemade. Value: At $14.99, it is an excellent value for the quality and amount of food you get. Parking: Parking is street-side. Even at lunch, we easily found a spot just around the corner. Verdict: If you are in Madisonville, skip the fast food and come here for an authentic, delicious meal!
- E Z Verified
We stumbled upon Donna’s Old Town Cafe while visiting The Lost Sea Adventure. Since the area is a bit remote with limited options, we were surprised to see this "hole-in-the-wall" looking spot had so many rave reviews, but after eating here, I totally get it! The Atmosphere & Service The staff was incredibly friendly from the moment we walked in. It feels like a genuine local favorite rather than a tourist spot. Even though we arrived during the lunch rush, there was no wait and plenty of seating available. The Food We opted for the buffet ($14.99 per person). While the buffet area looks small, it is packed with high-quality Southern comfort food. Everything was prepared perfectly: The Meats: The fried chicken was crispy and juicy, and the fried fish and meatloaf were both delicious. The Sides: The potato cakes were my absolute favorites, you can really tell they are homemade. Value: At $14.99, it is an excellent value for the quality and amount of food you get. Parking: Parking is street-side. Even at lunch, we easily found a spot just around the corner. Verdict: If you are in Madisonville, skip the fast food and come here for an authentic, delicious meal!
- EZ E Verified
Nice little place. Buffet was good especially small salad bar. Coleslaw was excellent. Our waiter was easily distracted.
- David Stanchak Verified
The Hiawassee burger really hit the spot! Cooked to order, fresh, and delicious!
- sellarsfive Verified
Steven Kinkead left a 5 star review!
- Steven Kinkead Verified
Twinkie Heart left a 5 star review!
- Twinkie Heart Verified
Absolutely loved it...we definitely will be back
- Carlene Michaels Verified
Great food , great price, great tea ,great service
- Vernon carpenter Verified
Had breakfast at Donna’s Old Town Cafe and it honestly felt like walking into someone’s home. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff treats you like they’ve known you forever. The food is exactly what you want from a local spot, real, home-cooked, and full of flavor. The buffet had a great variety, and everything tasted fresh and made with care. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. Service was quick and friendly, and overall it was just a great experience. Definitely one of those places you keep coming back to.
- Bridgett Green Verified
My family was traveling through and decided to explore the downtown Madisonville area. While driving down the main strip, we saw Donna's Cafe and decided to stop in. Upon walking in, the Cafe is very welcoming, cozy and the hostess was super kind. We were seated immediately and saw that they had a country style buffet with all sorts of home cooking. Something for everyone. The buffet was clean, the food smelled great and tasted just as good. Our waitress was very sweet and made sure our table was kept clean from plates and kept our drinks full. This is a wonderful place to try! We will definitely be back.
- Ashton Fergle Verified
Melissa Fields left a 5 star review!
- Melissa Fields Verified
James Bacon left a 5 star review!
- James Bacon Verified