| At some time in our lives, we have all wondered exactly what things were like back in the �Good Old Days�. TV shows and movies like Happy Days and Back to the Future help to remind us of how simple and great life was in this country during the 1950�s. That sense of nostalgia is exactly what owners Jenny Vaden and Randy Roth were trying to capture when they opened Thunderbird Caf� in Livingston back in May 2001. They are located at 104 W. Court Square, and as soon as you walk inside, you will swear you have gone back in time about 50 years. |
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| Thunderbird Cafe |
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| When you visit, you will be able to see the vintage 1957 Seeburg Juke Box and the 1954 Telephone Booth. These items help to create an overall atmosphere of the small-town dining experience would have been like many years ago. The real highlight of the visit is the completely restored 1947 Soda Fountain. It is fully operational and continues to turn out wonderful treats even in 2002. |
| The food at Thunderbird Caf� is excellent. You can start with the any of several appetizers, including Garlic Bread, Potato Skins, Hot Wings, Black Bean & Cheese Quesadilla Rolls, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, and Mozzarella Sticks. The selection of salads was fresh and delicious. They include a Garden Salad, Tuna Stuffed Tomato, Fried Chicken Salad, Chef Salad, Greek Salad, and an Italian Grilled Chicken Salad. They have a fabulous sandwich menu, which includes Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Mushroom Swiss Burger, Bacon Cheeseburger, Big Moe Burger, BBQ Bacon Burger, BLT, Grilled Chicken, Breaded Chicken, Club Sandwich, Tuna Salad, Turkey Bacon Swiss, Grilled Turkey with Provolone, and Roast Beef with Provolone. If you like Sub Sandwiches, you will love the selection at Thunderbird Caf�. They offer a French Dip that is out of this world, Philly Cheese steak, Italian Combo, Veggie Sub, Chicken Philly, Ham & Swiss, Roast Beef & Ham, and Chicken Parmesan. |
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| On the day of our visit, they offered Black Bean Soup and Mushroom Barley Soup as the Soups of the Day. Vetta Eads accompanied us for lunch, and she highly recommends the Bacon Cheeseburger. Everything on the menu is exceptional, but the soda fountain is the real art is created. There is nothing like a handmade Milk Shake, Soda, or Malt. The flavors available are too numerous to mention. We recommend the Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake and the Carmel Brownie with Ice Cream. The Banana |
| Splits are wonderful also. A treat from their soda fountain is a must and worth a trip to Livingston. Thunderbird Caf� pays special attention to details. Your meal will consist of more than just food, it will be an experience. For more information, call them at 931-823-EATS (3287). The hours of operation are Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are closed on Mondays. If you organization or group is looking for a great place to have a party, Thunderbird Caf� can also be rented for private parties. We want to thank all the readers for their continued support. Thanks also for all the letters and e-mails. You can reach us at [email protected] or Write to us at P.O. Box 3393, Cookeville, TN 38502-3393. We are now in the process of putting together a list of our favorite restaurants and dishes that we have sampled in 2002. Your suggestions are welcome. We wish you health, wealth, and a good appetite! |
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