Foglight Foodhouse: Where Good Food Shines

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Foglight Foodhouse in Walling, TN

At the end of a busy Saturday night at the Foglight Foodhouse, chef Edward Philpot steps out of his kitchen, wipes his hands on a black apron, and smiles.

His guests still linger at their tables, and the low hum of conversation fills the air. Tinkling glasses, chirping crickets, and the occasional burst of laughter add to the music of happy diners. The chef takes a moment to drink it all in.

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“It doesn’t make any sense,” Philpot says, with a laugh. “I still can’t believe people come all the way out here to eat at my restaurant.”

“Out here” is a tiny, unincorporated town called Walling, about 15 miles north of McMinnville. Though it’s just a couple of miles off U.S. 70S, a broad four-lane highway, it feels a world away. Yet, the location doesn’t keep people from finding the Foglight Foodhouse. In fact, it seems to make it more enticing.

The tin-roofed restaurant sits in the woods, atop a steep bluff overlooking the Caney Fork River and Rock Island State Park. Pickup trucks and SUVs fill the parking lot and spill onto the gravel road that leads to the establishment. A friendly dog lies near the door, and guests gather around a fire pit as darkness settles on the woods.

A neon sign to the left of the front door reads, “Welcome to Paradise.” If true, Philpot’s idea of heaven must be part fish camp, part country lodge. Burlap sacks line the ceiling, while strings of tiny lights twinkle overhead. The walls are made of pine board and corrugated steel, and they’re covered with vintage signs, collectibles, and local memorabilia.

Guests who love nature often prefer a table on the wide, wrap-around porch outside. Here, lanterns grace the tables and large-bulbed Christmas lights hang from the rafters. Even at night, guests can see the nearby river.

Charleston Fruit Juice Chicken at Foglight Foodhouse

Once presented with a menu, guests quickly figure out this is no country diner. Traditional favorites that range from ribeye to fettuccine Alfredo, but more adventuresome dishes include a smoked bone-in pork shank, Ahi tuna, and an entire page of Cajun food.

The Dish on Foglight Foodhouse

Foglight Foodhouse, located at 275 Powerhouse Road in Walling, is open from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and 5-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Their entrees range in price from $15 to $30. For more details, call (931) 657-2364, visit www.foglight-foodhouse.com or find them on Facebook. As always, please call ahead before driving long distances.

Because the meals come at a somewhat leisurely pace, ordering an appetizer is a must.  Fresh-baked French bread, a double knot pretzel, and crab cakes crowd the list, but the stuffed mushrooms are the chef’s signature dish. The marinated button mushrooms are served piping hot, oozing with Parmesan stuffing and swimming in butter.

With a water view, you’d expect a “From the Water” section, and you get it. The crispy crab cakes make another appearance here, along with golden fried catfish, Alaskan salmon, and smoked lemon trout.

Cajun dishes include red beans and rice, étouffée, and jambalaya, as well as blackened catfish and chicken. Though he was born and raised just up the road in Cookeville, Philpot says his authentic Cajun recipes are “spicy enough to warm you up, but they won’t burn you down.”

Philpot and his two brothers opened the original Foglight Foodhouse in 1997, less than a mile down the road. Though his siblings have since gone their own separate ways, the self-taught chef still dedicates his restaurant to his mother, a Cookeville caterer who passed away in 1996. Philpot believes she would have loved what he’s accomplished here.

“People come here the first time because a friend has told them about it or they’ve read about us somewhere,” Philpot explains. “But people come back because it’s comfortable. It’s like dining at someone’s home. We cook for them, and we take care of them. All we want is for people to leave happy.”

It’s a recipe that works quite well.

7 Comments

  1. Veronica Rogers says:

    Salmon was great ,green beans were way over cooked and mushy like baby food. Prime rib didn’t even taste like prime rib left bad taste in your mouthand highly fatty. Would not drive the 200 miles to go again.

    • Jessy Yancey says:

      Hi Veronica,

      We’re sorry to hear about your bad experience at the Foglight, but we always appreciate feedback from our readers. Thanks for sharing.

      Jessy Yancey
      editor
      Tennessee Home & Farm

  2. chuck hays says:

    I took my wife to dine there based solely on this review and the fact that we live about fifteen minutes away from Rock Island. We both were very pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. What a treat to find the perfect combination of ambiance, setting, timing,presentation and fine dining in the middle of nowhere! We can’t wait to take our family back for another meal there. Edward and his staff are very gracious,friendly and have hit a food home run!

    • Jessy Yancey says:

      Very happy to hear that, Chuck! Thanks for sharing. We love the Foglight!

      Jessy Yancey
      editor
      Tennessee Home & Farm

  3. dennis scott says:

    party of two ordered red beans and rice and salad with crabcake on top
    had two miller lite beers and two glasses for bottle of wine we had with us. red beans and rice was so hot with pepper barely edible had maybe two pieces of sausage and three pieces of mushrooms rest of it was beans and rice. The bill was 44.22, I will not be back that’s for sure.

  4. Robert says:

    Thanks

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