The Tennessee Truffle

Came here one day with some family. We went out for dinner before a show at the wonderful West End Theatre. Ambiance was quaint. It was very home kitchen in a wooden cabin, almost upscale Cracker Barrel? Anyway, it was nice, very cozy. They do a lot with a strip mall space. Service was excellent as well. Very nice folks who were very aware of our refill needs and the cleaning off of excess silverware and plates. No complaints there. As for the food, man, we got a lot of food. We started off with two apps. The Tea Braised Sticky Spare Ribs (Crispy garlic, scallions). Ummm, insanely good. Very sticky sweet ribs with an air of earthiness from the tea. I didn't see any crispy garlic anywhere, but there were plenty of scallions, adding a nice fresh veg that I never knew I needed with ribs. Very good. Charred Corn and Scallion Hoecakes (Whipped whole grain honey better, cane syrup). These were nice, too. An elevated hoecake. The cane syrup added a touch of sweet, the honey butter added a fatty unctuousness, and the hoecakes themselves were soft and moist. Like eating a whole wheat pancake. So good. One of the main dishes, I can't remember what it was, and I can't find it on the menu, but it was good. I think it came with a side of barley risotto, which was very nice. It was creamy, but had a nice barley bite to it. Very interesting. For my main event, I ordered the Pan Fried Catfish (Golden graham/pecan/cornmeal crusted, chorizo cream, red rice, braised collards, rehydrated golden raisin). Very interesting dish. The crust was a lot of fun. Not sure if the other stuff shone through, but the cornmeal was very appreciated. Cream was nice, a little spice to it. I loved the bite from that very Southern red rice. This place uses whole grains and rices very well! Just a nice dish, elevated respectfully. Overall, I love places like this. I love places that are considered the best in a small town. I love it even more when those places could compete with the big players in all of Orlando. Finding this place was a treat. I would come back.

I love the experience at the Tennessee truffle in Sanford . The ambience is amazing. Food was great. Service was amazing. Definitely would come back again. Here are a few pictures of our meals number one appetizer tea braised sticky rib .. must try ..

My mother and I had a phenomenal dining experience here. We showed up for dinner without a reservation, and we were able to sit outside. Every dish we sampled was creative and tasted incredible. They serve elevated, Southern inspired cusine. The watermelon salad was so refreshing, and the blue corn hoecakes were uniquely scrumptious. The salmon was crackling with crispiness on top and cooked to perfection. I highly recommend dining here.

I was in Sanford visiting a friend and thats when he took me to this restaurant. Definitely a charming restaurant for a small town like Sanford. The menu looked really good I had to choose between Lamb Chops, Salmon and Cat fish. The cat fish looked good but it was a bit gamy, I dont know if it was suppose to be like that or just my bad luck. The food was good but there was something missing may be little salt or flavor I cannot pin point. The atmosphere was really awesome and so was the service.

Our server was great! The food is yummy and fresh. Cute interior with great people-watching window seats. We really liked the sticky ribs

Dining here is an experience that makes my soul feel at home. Chef Nat’s food makes me emotional, I’m not afraid to admit it. so what if I teared up, my heart is blissfully happy and so is my tummy. You can tell he genuinely loves creating dishes that linger on your taste buds and in your memories. The service is exceptional. The atmosphere is perfect. 100/10 I can’t rave about this restaurant enough. Give this man some Michelin stars already!

A great example of a chef and their team focusing on doing a few things exceptionally well! It's a small, cozy place, so be sure to get your reservations in ahead of time. The appetizers were delicious and for entrees, we had the lamb chops, seared salmon, shrimp & grits, and the special red snapper. All were excellent and we can't wait to be back!

My mom and I ate here last weekend and it was such an amazing experience! Everything was delicious from the appetizers, to the entrée, and finally dessert. 10/10 recommend their peach pie for dessert! I've been dreaming about it ever since. I can't wait to come back and try more on the menu!

First time in Sanford Incredible town Went in for the first time for dinner ended up having 6 fantastic appetizers for less then $100 Wow what a great meal so good we went the next morning went back for brunch The owner/chef Greg and crew was really friendly Will be back

We stopped in for a brunch. The space is small but we made a reservation for Saturday at 11. The servers were all so nice. The food was amazing. I loved the unique dishes and pairings. Definitely not your run of the mill brunch spot!

Food was fabulous!! Farm to table . Very friendly staff and decor of restaurant epically rustic and stylish . Had the biscuit , Tennessee home made ,bacon and egg , over easy, sandwich. OMG , best biscuits EVER!!

I had been wanting to come here for over a year after drooling over their menu online - but every time I go to Sanford, I end up going to Hollerbach's. Well, let me tell you, there's more than just Hollerbach's in Sanford! We wanted to try a few things, so my girlfriend and I split 3 items - the Caesar Salad ($12), Lemon Ricotta Angolotti ($14), and the Tea Braised Sticky Spare Ribs ($19). The Caesar is unlike any I've had before and easily one of my favorites ever. Creamy dressing over romaine, topped high with frisée, chopped cucumbers and corn nuts. Delicious! The Angolotti is homemade pasta with local mushrooms and a glorious truffle butter sauce. Incredible. But the stars of the night were the Spare Ribs. They were perfectly crispy and falling off the bone, coated in a sticky, sweet sauce; a dish so decadent that my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The scallions and herbs on top really cut through the richness, and I found myself cleaning the plate of these little garnishes. Our server was welcoming and accommodating. All in all, a memorable meal and a place I'll tell others about and add to my Sanford rotation.

This place is amazing! Try the watermelon salad, it's a fantastic blend of flavors. I had the lamb chops which were flavorful and cooked to perfection. The service is great and the wine was an added bonus. Tucked away on first street, great ambiance too.

We went here for brunch, they have 5 menu items and 2 of them were off the menu so there were only 3 items to choose from. I got the bacon egg and cheese buiscuit, it was subpar, the biscuit was dry and it could use more flavor. The corn cakes are interesting I liked them but my significant other did not. The honey butter with the fig glaze and corn cakes was such a unique flavor. The price though for me is insane for what you get, I hate to say it but it just isn't worth the price. The service was good and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere.

Couldn't wait to try this Restaurant.. It was smaller than expected but quite Quaint, Rustic like and romantic, perfect for a date night, a night out with friends or any occasion. I ordered the Chicken special with Peppers, Tomatoes and Beans with an Au Jus sauce. It was delicious!! Everything was cooked to perfection. We also ordered a bottle of Red Wine it was so good but I didn't get the name, it was from Italy if that helps lol Dessert I ordered the Cornmeal Pie and it was much better than I expected, so glad I chose this one. They have such a unique menu unlike nothing I've tried before, can't wait to go back.

Wonderful place. We had reservations and were greeted at the door and escorted to our table. We were treated with water and menus. We ordered our food and the servers were attentive yet discrete, never interfering with conversation but always there for service. Well done. Our food was perfectly cooked and served as it came out of the oven or of off the stove. The wine was excellent. This is what a fine restaurant should be. Tennessee Truffle should be famous.

This is a regular spot for us and a restaurant that you really need to visit in frequent. Chef Nat is a master of flavor in his kitchen and does an amazing job using his French culinary training with his southern roots. Some of our favorites on the menu are his Mac and tomato appetizer, the perfectly dressed blue cheese & black pepper salad, the Pan Seared Salmon, Shrimp and Grits, and a personal favorite, the Grilled Lamb. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and you always feel like you're coming home. Visit this amazing restaurant soon and don't forget to try something from their incredible wine and beer selection.

Everything was delicious! Service was kind and courteous, but not the fastest. I don't mean that in a bad way, I really appreciated not being rushed and the dishes came out as they were ready - so they were hot and fresh. Would happily come back for more, and I plan to, next time in I'm in Sanford.

I love this place. I go early so parking is plentiful and I can go without a reservation. This week, along with great service, I had one of the best meals I've had recently. I tried the Shrimp and Grits that is a regular on the menu. Now, I'll be hard-pressed to get anything else. A great combination of textures and flavors. I had leftovers the next day and literally licked my plate. It was that good. Highly recommend!

So, this is a Yelp issue. This place looks great but it should not be included in the list of brunch and lunch options since it is closed.

Everything was amazing. Between the spectacular food, the service & the ambiance of the little shop was just five stars all around. Friends were in town and we wanted a nice place to catch up on but also eat some good food and they tackled both. We will absolutely be coming back!

Date night dinner. Let's start with the biscuits. Oh my! Biscuits were arguably the best I ever had. The side of pimento cheese dip with candied jalapeño was so good that we scrapped every last morsel of it up. (creamy,cheesy with hint of jalapeno flavor, not spicy at all) delish. Beef tartare was a delightful treat with an egg yolk to pop and long baguette spears perfectly roasted. (Must try) Shrimp n Grits.,, The grits were fresh chunky ground corn grits as a savory base and sweet cream style corn accompaniment circled around the savory mound of grits. (Best of both worlds that Zellwood corn can offer.) Savory and sweet. Topped with bbq dry rub style fresh shrimp. Yummy to say the least! Been wanting to eat here for a long time. I'm only sad that I didn't come sooner. Tasty food, fantastic service. Biscuits so good, we can't wait to come back to try the brunch offerings. Wonderful meal. Thank you Tennessee Truffle

We've come here for brunch a few different times. The prices are good, the environment inside is cozy and consistent. The prices for the brunch food is also good. Go to breakfast joint for us when they are open for brunch.

The best food in the entire Orlando metro area. Even a dish as common as Mac 'n Cheese is special, different, and delicious! Read the other reviews -- everyone agrees!

So I've been here twice for brunch and each time there is an issue. I want to love this spot. I want it to be my go to Sunday brunch fav. Will have to try it again for dinner to give it a fair and honest shot but what I've seen so far has me disappointed. First time we went for brunch. We made reservations and were seated promptly. The food was underwhelming. We got the egg biscuit sandwich.The biscuits were hard and the egg was raw. They kindly made me another over easy egg. Second time was for Mother's Day brunch and the food took forever to arrive: got the same thing which was better this time around but the waffles were soggy and so gross. We ordered mimosas and the server poured our OJ from a glass so it spilled everywhere. Can you not afford carafes? The service is lackluster each time with aloof servers who look disconnected. Hopefully dinner is better!

Place is super cute and the service was good. Food selection is limited but does well for a pricey quick bite.

Chef Nat loves food and it comes through his staff and his wonderful creative menu. We came for dinner on a Friday night and came back for brunch Saturday afternoon. The restaurant is small and sweet. Everything we ate was delicious and unique. Chef and staff are warm & welcoming. This is a very special place. Opened limited days so check ahead.

This place!!!! We HAVE to come for brunch soon!!!! We stumbled in here one a rainy night and sat down. They make a different menu everyday and use local and fresh ingredients to make their dishes. I will be honest my palette was not wanting anything on the menu. I noticed the pork belly looked AMAZING and I ordered it. Our order came out with the sauce when I asked for it on the side but I kid you not they came our and the chef apologized and was the sweetest man. Our waitress was phenomenal and bubbly. The chef fixed me something different and this pork belly you see in the photos is what he fixed. This place was beautiful atmosphere. It only seats 12 tables I believe but its worth it. We want to come to the brunch as soon as possible. We will be back soon.

One of the BEST restaurants in central Florida!! Every meal we've had here has been excellent. They serve elevated farm to table southern cuisine and they do it better than anyone else in the game. We always bring out of towners here when we want to impress them. It's located right on the edge of downtown Sanford in a really cute part of town. Perfect place to have a big meal and then walk around downtown Sanford. It's a small place so definitely call to make a reservation. They are only open Thursday-Sunday. We heard the chef spends the other days sourcing ingredients from local farms and vendors!

Delicious first experience at The Tennessee Truffle, a local Sanford restaurant serving good food in a charming rustic setting with lovely staff on hand. I arrived first thing this morning and was thrilled to score the high top at the window. I knew the popular French Toast would be my order but I also splurged for a Lake Meadow scrambled egg. I must admit missing out on smoked syrup this long in my life is a tragedy. My God! You can just imagine the taste and how it enhanced each morsel of what was already delicious French Toast (in a generous portion, too). Also pleasantly surprised by the addition of scallions and the wee bit of soft crunch they gave. The egg arrived a bit "wet" which I don't typically go for, but then I tried it. Imagine a scrambled egg that doesn't need anything - no salt, no pepper, nothing...because it's PERFECT. My meal was washed down with a refreshing glass of OJ and I left very much sated. Granted, you may pay a few more pennies for the treats here at Tennessee Truffle, but I guarantee you will taste the quality.

Such a cute, quaint breakfast spot! (Although I just found out they do dinner too!) My husband and I never go out to breakfast just the two of us but we did this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it! I had the Bacon Egg and Cheese biscuit, which was to die for. Biscuit was perfect. The flavors of everything inside was just a party in my mouth. My husband got the biscuits and pork gravy (soooo tasty, I had to try!) and we also got some hoecakes with our waitresses recommendation. These were just ok. A little burnt on the bottom and I wished they were a little sweeter or had syrup. But we were very very impressed with the menu, the service, and loved the atmosphere! We will be back!

Cute little joint that we have been meaning to eat at. We had brunch. Walked in and were seated on a Saturday morning at 10:15. Honestly, it wasn't as impressive as I'd expected. Fancy names for small basic meals. If you want to get an egg Al A Carte, it's $2.50. The Hash is $9. And it's a cup of sweet and russet potatoes with onion/ peppers. Two eggs and the hash = $14. And it wasn't much food. The sandwiches are $12-14. Hoecakes were $12 for 3. The sweet honey butter really pulled that side item together, but otherwise they tasted like a pancake with a few pieces of corn it them. There are no sides with these items. The food IS TASTY. It's just over priced for what it is. I don't think I'll return. We spent $50 on breakfast and didn't get much food. I was hoping for much more. The service was the best part. The servers were very attentive and kind / helpful.

Food was very good every thing was very fresh! Service was great our waitress would always come and check on us. The restaurant was very cute and in a great location:

When my husband and I were looking for a place for breakfast in Sanford, FL, my trusty Yelp app did not disappoint when reading reviews for The Tennessee Truffle. This cozy (picture a small space with a modern, kitschy, country feel) is nestled in the heart of downtown Sanford, FL. The menu is small but each dish is thoughtfully cooked to order and I love that they focus on local, seasonal fare. It was also neat to hear so many loyal, repeat customers enter the restaurant (that's when you KNOW it's good!) like it was home. You can eat outside (for some great downtown atmosphere and people watching) or inside - we opted for inside this go around. Now for the food: I ordered the drool-worthy bacon egg and cheese sandwich. It was savory and filling! My husband ordered their unique take on French toast and thoroughly enjoyed his choice as I did mine. And we couldn't leave without trying an order of the Duroc bacon - yum! It's was juicy, bacony goodness! We can wait to return to try their ever changing menu!

Small portions but very tasty. I can see the challenge of wanting to pay that price tag and seeing small portions for some folks. The food was tasty and unique. Customer service was great.

Little hidden gem, loved the experience!!! Chef came out to check on everyone and the staff was very nice.

Love to support the locals!! Great coffee, small, cozy setting, farm to table freshness. I had the special which was the frittata it was flavorful and delicious. The bacon, egg and cheese biscuit was yummy as well. The menu is small but awesome selections, stop by and check it out!

A gem in Sanford. The choices are great. We had the shrimp and grits and the seared salmon - both were spectacular! Our other guest was a vegetarian - no choices on the menu - not to worry the chef Nat Russell prepared one with items on hand. We all tried it and it was the highlight of the night. Sanford you're lucky to have this restaurant and we cannot wait to be back.

I love that this restaurant is farm to table and the chef really cares about quality. The menu changes based on what's available, in season, and fresh. They post every farm they get their food from, most of it local. The appetizers were absolutely the best part of the meal. While my fiancé was hesitant to try the chicken liver mousse, it actually ended up being both of our favorites from the evening. It was so silky and rich, bursting with flavor. When layered on the toast with the whole grain mustard and some of the fresh salad, it was just the most delectable bite. I couldn't rave enough about it (I even ate a few bites by the spoonful). The sweetbreads were also fantastic, prepared in this creamy broth alongside bacon, cabbage, and apples. It was a wonderful combination. I could just drink the broth alone it was so good. Before you count out sweetbreads because of what they are, give them a try! They were so yummy, with a crunchy exterior and meaty, almost creamy interior. Really interesting try, full of flavor. For dinner I ordered the pecan crusted catfish and my fiancé got the airline chicken. While I thought his chicken was tasty, I wasn't blown away and didn't think it was anything special. However, my catfish I can't rave enough about. The crust was a combination of cornmeal and pecans. Normally I don't go for fried foods, but this was only lightly pan fried, just enough to give it a crispy exterior but not drowning in oil or having that heavy fried quality. There was a garlic aioli served on top, and the hot crispy outside with the flaky fish inside and the creamy aioli was really delicious. It came with purple grits, and even if you're not a grits fan, they way these were served would make you one. Very creamy and very flavorful. Dessert was just ok. I give the utmost credit to the chef's creativity in preparing the dishes. Bacon cotton candy? Bacon ice cream? Popcorn powder? I mean, who does that. It's genius. And the dishes were beautifully presented. I just wasn't blown away by the flavors that much. The restaurant is very small but I like this because it gives you that homey, intimate feel without feeling pretentious at all. You are getting fine dining in a comfortable setting. The dishes are creative and so much care goes into cooking and plating them. You definitely get what you pay for. Quality and quantity (the portions are actually pretty big!) The chef even came by to personally talk to us and see how everything was. Talk about care! I'm definitely going to go back during another season to see what the chef comes up with.

I visit Sanford once every two years for our Family Reunion and this spot is a must visit. Last time I had the biscuits and gravy which were to die for. This time I tried the French Toast and had no regrets. Simply amazing.

The place was great. The food... ok. Service was excellent. Ordered the biscuit with gravy, was very dry and hard. The breakfast sandwich, also on a biscuit, and also hard and dry. Coffee was very good. That, i would agree on. I wanted a coffee to go, and they had no lids.

5 Stars always. Nat win's best chef of Sanford every year for a reason. Absolute best brunch and dinner in Sanford. A+++++++. Enjoy!

I waited so long to eat at this spot. It's like every time I was in the area I was either too early or too late but man it was worth the wait the waitresses were very nice. The food was amazing. It was such a good vibe everyone was happy. I highly recommend to everyone.

Stopped in with family for breakfast. It's a nice cozy small place. I ordered French toast plain which I enjoyed. It comes with smoked maple syrup in which I wasn't a fan of. We also got biscuits and gravy, dulac bacon, waffles, biscuit egg sandwich, Mac and tomato and French toast with the fixings. All the food tasted good. I really enjoyed the Mac & tomato. The bacon was more like pork belly, very good as well. Service was excellent and we will go back to try dinner.

Open Saturday morning for brunch. The real star of the show is dinner. The tomato pasta salad is to die for. The salads are fresh and incredible. The shrimp and grits is my favorite and gluten free. My favorite restaurant in Sanford FL.

Very good food. The crispy ribs and pork belly were delicious. Friendly and attentive staff as well. Will definitely be back.

Despite waiting a long time for our food, the waitstaff and owner took very good care of us. The waffles and French toast were delicious. Since it was my birthday, the restaurant bought me a dessert which was some type of olive oil, smoked, sea salty ice cream. It was incredible! The place is small so I would recommend either making a reservation or arriving early.

Great tasting food, but very small entrees. We [2] were so glad we had ordered an appetizer once we saw the entrees. Everything was superbly plated and quite delicious...but TINY. We shared dessert and left feeling...meh. I'm not certain we will return.

The food is tremendous and Nat is a true artist in the way he blends spices and herbs with the finest ingredients. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys fine food!

Enjoyed the variety of selections on the menu. We were very pleased with our selections. The items we ordered were flavorful and had a beautiful presentation which further enhanced our experience. The staff were friendly and very attentive. Pleased to see that this restaurant is in Sanford's downtown area. We will definitely be back.

Salmon dish is excellent! Lots of interesting things to try on their menu. The only downside is this restaurant is only opened 3 days a week.

You can't go wrong with their grits or the trifecta dessert. Cozy spot - nice place if you want to actually have a conversation with your dining companion.

Every dish we had was bursting with flavor with the right balance and beautiful presentation. The service was friendly and our server Jade was really helpful and nice.

Nice little brunch spot w/ small town feel. Flea market nearby. All the menu options seemed unique especially the French toast and smoke syrup (oddly intriguing). The biscuits soft and gravy savory with nice seasonings. The breakfast sandwich seemed pretty standard except the biscuit was fresh. Unfortunately we couldn't try the duroc bacon! We would come back for the biscuit&gravy and to try the duroc bacon.

I have been here for brunch and dinner multiple times and this place does not disappoint! It is an intimate restaurant where you truly feel like a member of the family. The service is unparalleled in the Sanford area and is one of my top spots!

Authentic Southern Food. One of the best breakfasts I've ever had. My whole family enjoyed it. The biscuits and gravy are the best!

Every single bite of every dish was legit amazing. The atmosphere is chill, the service is friendly and the food is memorably and consistently delicious. I love this place, just make sure you leave room for dessert!