The Alley on Main

Excellent food, service, & atmosphere! I've never had anything here that I didn't like. The food tastes great & is always served @a great temperature & w/a smile. The employees are always happy & kind.

A very wonderful family owned restaurant. The waitress was informative and very friendly, the food was awesome, and the atmosphere was nice. My appetizer was goat cheese bruschetta. It was amazing with a hint of sweetness that made this a unique treat for sure. The salad that came with my meal was the right size and not over loaded with all kinds of stuff. I ordered the meatball pasta which was really good. For dessert I ordered the thoroughbred pie with vanilla ice cream. The pie was warm and extremely tasty.

Wow the staff makes you feel like you’re family which is great when you are traveling alone. The energy of the staff is likewise infectious and everyone seems to actually want to be there. They even accommodated my request to “surprise me” and bring me food, they made great choices. I have found my restaurant when I’m in town!!! Also it was quite affordable!!’nnn

Food was amazing. Steak tip sandwich was juicy and tender. Full of flavor. Every one enjoyed the food. Clean and nice place to have sit down lunch. Prices were what you would expect not high. Only small downside— Server was talkative, really talkative. In town visiting family for lunch and server, no one knew, stayed at table and almost to point of rambling went on and on to one of our members. Would leave table then came back and started back up.

Always a great experience at The Alley. The bruschetta appetizer with goat cheese is the perfect amount of food for a family to share, Or for a person to eat as a meal if they're not all that hungry. That's what I did. It's delicious! My kids enjoy any of the pastas they have to offer, and the salads are good too. My husband enjoys the gumbo.

Everything we ordered (party of 7) was fantastic! I rarely order pasta in restaurants but decided to try the meatball pasta and now I'm addicted and need rehab. My husband and son in law got the ribeye and they were perfect. I don't remember our waiters name but he was on it and kept our drinks filled and kept a good check on us. Can't wait to go back!

We stopped here with friends while traveling through Tennessee, and had one of the best restaurant experiences ever. This restaurant qualifies as a "trifecta" in my book - Great Service, Great Food and Great Atmosphere. We started with appetizers, and they were super good. The Fried Green Tomatoes were plump and juicy and the Comeback sauce gave them a nice zing. The Shrimp Wontons were also a definite hit with our group....Shrimp, bacon, cheese, jalapenos....and a Cherry Mustard that was so good we literally asked for the recipe. Our steaks all came out cooked perfectly....juicy, flavorful and they were huge.....more than enough to bring home some leftovers. The crispy Brussel Sprouts (a house signature item) were ridiculously good. Two of us mentioned that we would literally sit and eat them like potato chips all night long. LOL The atmosphere is a casual, family owned place with a great menu offering steaks, seafood, pasta, salads, etc. They also have desserts, but we were so stuffed, we didn't order any this time. By far, the best thing about this place was our server, Hannah. She is an absolute treasure. She kept us laughing and joking (and well served) thoughout the entire meal. We will definitely request her when we go back again. We are happy that we have friends in the Murfreesboro area, because that gives us an excuse to drive two hours to go back to this amazing downtown gem! Definitely in our Top 5 best restaurant experiences...and we eat out A LOT, so that is saying something!

Great food and service. I ordered the sirloin steak (yes, sirloin) and it was done perfectly. My wife got the beef tips and they were very good. Nice personal service from Ezra! This is definitely a nice stop!

The menu has so much to offer! First visit to the area and I was surprised to find a place with such variety! I ordered the rainbow trout with a side of brussel sprouts. Both were very good. The restaurant was busy on the night I visited, full of positive energy and the service was friendly and helpful.

The chicken fried chicken is good, the fish and chips are good, we enjoy their dinner salad and their service. We always think it would be better if they offered some roles or bread, but they don't. I ordered a steak once and it was horrible. The waitress knew it right away and offered immediately to bring me something different, so I went with the fish again. So they understand customer service here, and they are trying to do good by us. Give them a shot..

Finally got over to alley on main to join in on the hype of this place. We have always heard about it and it seems to have a great reputation in the boro. We heard about them originally because of the catering side of their business which was very good. Had their penne vodka which I wished was on the menu because it was very good. Chicken parm as well. We tried the chicken parm in restaurant and thought it was better for the catering meal we had. Still good! It was such a long wait on a weekend for dinner so be prepared to wait. Overall solid restaurant and you'll have a great time.

Service was great, very quick service. Tried the Mushroom Goat Cheese Coquettes and they were amazing, wish it came with more peach jam though because that was a fantastic pairing. Also got the grilled rainbow trout with Brussels sprouts. Nothing special about them but cooked extremely well. Parking was easy enough to find but beware because street parking is usually only 2 hours and my friend ended up getting a ticket even though we weren't there for 2 hours. Inside was clean and windows were so clean it was hard to tell there was a window between us and the street, loved being able to look out onto the street.

We love this place. Feels just like home every time we are passing thru. Love sitting at bar and meeting the locals. Food, service and ambiance consistently excellent.

Sometimes restaurants make life difficult, especially when they post pictures of dishes I've never had or heard of. The Alley on Main is guilty, and I was there early to be sure I was able to try the new offerings. Sat at the bar and Kailee got me set up with a water and an Einstok Icelandic White Ale...this is an exceptional beer and goes well with most any dish. I went for the new appetizer...Crab Coquille - Lump Crab. If you are a fan of crab cakes, this will BLOW YOU AWAY!!! This dish is loaded with tender crab meat, a creamy bechamel sauce, and topped with Panko bread crumbs. Just take your fork and dig in...you don't need anything else. The Shrimp Bucco Pasta arrived and the initial smell was incredible. The components of this dish...perfectly al dente pasta, sweet red bell peppers, small asparagus sprouts, and a light wine/butter/lemon sauce merged a lot of different flavors together but adding the breaded shrimp was the crown jewel to this dish. The seasoning/coating on the shrimp really pulled together the combination of pasta, sauce, and shrimp causing one of those "OMG" moments on my palate. This pasta dish would rank in the top three pasta dishes I have enjoyed...ever. They say it took them awhile to get these dishes ready for the menu, all I can say is "well done Chef"! The service here is always exceptional and Kailee took marvelous care of me. Bottom line...this is the BEST meal I have enjoyed here at The Alley!!!

I loved my time here! The other patrons were so polite and this wait staff was impeccable. The cocktails are affordable and great and this home cooked style food is just what this KY gal needed. I will become a regular. Just go and see for yourself yall!

I can't say enough about Alley on Main. Great service, fabulous atmosphere. We brought friends from out of state, loved the food, service, everyone was so friendly, great prices too!

I typically LOVE the Alley, but was really disappointed tonight. I ordered the shrimp and grits special and was brought a plate of mainly sausage. It never said anything about sausage (and I don't eat pork) I chose something else while my out of town guests ate. The waiter apologized and all but this was NO fault of mine and I was never offered a complimentary drink or an app while I waited another 15 min for my food. I was just really disappointed in the experience.

Really good piece of fresh fish here, which I was skeptical of in the middle of Tennessee. Sat at the bar for lunch and bartender highly recommended, did not disappoint

This is our favorite date night restaurant. The wait staff is always helpful and attentive. The fried tomatoes and bruschetta are great starters. The wedge salad is phenomenal. I had the rack of lamb and my husband had the crab cakes... both were amazing. We shared a carrot cake and it was so rich and delectable. We highly recommend visiting this Boro gem!

Small restaurant, dim lightening, full bar, with spacious seating and pretty good food. This dah you could tell they were short staffed. If patience isn't something you possess this probably wouldn't be a place to visit if you're on a strict time schedule. We came during lunch hour on a Thursday and was told they had cut several servers and then they got busy... understandable. Carson was apologetic and ensured we were taken care of throughout the remainder of our visit. Carson was outstanding. I mean he seems like he was covering every guest within this establishment. I definitely had grace considering the workload he took on. First time here, but won't be the last. Fried pork chop with mashed potatoes 5/5 Grilled chicken with Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes 5/5

Aint no way you suppose to get all this food for $16....had a party of 7 and were seated in 15 minutes. Had a nice waitress and her support staff was great as well. I had thr chicken parm and my wife had the N.O. Pasta. Both were flavorful and plenty.

Staff is friendly and food was great!! We had the chicken salad sandwich which was fabulous, not boring. I had the Hungarian mushroom soup and my husband had a side salad. Both items were very tasty. I would rerun when in the area. It is cute inside and it appears to be many locals.

This is exactly what a southern hipster restaurant should be. The southern food is elevated, but not warped by unnecessary creativity. Ate the fried pork chop. I told my wife, this is what fried chicken wishes it tasted like...right before she stole my plate.

Had the fried mahi and some fries, the food was great, as well as the service. Nice atmosphere, and had some good craft beer selections

Super cute place with delicious food. Our server was very nice and attentive. Enjoyed the experience and will definitely return.

We visited with a group of five on the Saturday evening before Easter. We arrived around 5:30 and asked to sit outside since it was such a nice evening. We only had to wait about five minutes for our table. The server was delightful, I'm so sorry I didn't catch her name. All of the staff were attentive and polite! We had drinks, dinner and dessert. Everyone at the table was very happy with the meal! We will absolutely be back! I only got a photo of my pomegranate margarita but everything we had was great! :)

Great food and nice atmosphere and service. The three of us have varied tastes but all enjoyed our meals.

I was a fan and food is good but the portions have reduced significantly. I went back for sirloin steak Did not have much flavor and overcooked/tough.. I got my salad and there were like 6 pieces of lettuce, got brussel sprouts, there were less than 5 I got a side order of them to go and the box they put it in could not even fit a cupcake in. If I had paid $12, would not be so critical but spent over $20

Great service and good food. Two of the cocktails were great, two so-so. The gumbo was good, the chicken fried steak amazing, and the beef and broccoli wonderful. Only downside was that there were many flies where we dined outside on the deck. A good fan would have made all the difference and we would have stayed for dessert,

The food was great The service was very good. Our server was very attentive and friendly. The ambiance was just a little loud, and it was hard to have any conversation while dining.

Service was great! (reason for 2 stars) The first warning was it was 4:30 and they were out of gumbo. Said they ran out at lunch. We had avocado salsa which was so tangy and lemony, chips extremely salty. Main dishes were pasta, the Cajun Chicken and Tuscan Chicken.The Cajun was 'mei' and the Tuscan was horrible. No taste at all even after I asked for additional sauce. Chicken by itself has no taste at all. Dry and cubed. The Brussels sprouts were almost burned Mr but good-tad sweet. Wedge salad had vinegary dressing with few crumbled blue cheese. Friend had tenderloin and said it was dry and tough. Blackberry cobbler was okay-sponge cake (picture) with blackberry topping. Parking can be an issue too. Thankfully we got there early. Food wasn't cheap and definitely not worth it.

Was easy to get a table, and service was timely. The waitress was friendly and made sure we had everything. The food was good but I didn't care for the green beans. The ambiance was warm and welcoming and would go back.

Disappointed. They're not what they used to be. The salad with salmon had a tiny portion, maybe 3 ounces of salmon, same for the steak salad. I left hungry after paying top dollar. Never again.

Omg, i have never in my life tater a scotch dip and chips that was so good. I frequent 100s of restaurants a year and let me tell you. This place was it. Very nice atmosphere and overall good vibe. My waitress was amazing, the service was great and I will return.

Omg where do I start! Just wished I had visit this place before! Everything is delicious, made from scratch. Quality ingredients, you can tell it's made with love and home cooking. The atmosphere is cozy, rustic and a little southern charm. Our waiter was so friendly, on top of everything. Can't wait to return.

The food at this place was great! But, it was very busy and exceptionally noisy. I had the fillet mignon with crispy Brussels sprouts which were both delicious! If I'm going to be honest, it was the cobbler for dessert that drew me to the restaurant in the first place and, it certainly did not disappoint! The only thing that keeps it from 5 stars was the noise level and having to eat at the bar which not an issue- aside from the stool didn't get close enough to the bar due to the foot rail which had me "perching" on the edge of the stool.

Great spot, but PLEASE train your staff proper service. I went to dinner with a friend recently and the waiter brought our check and told us there was no rush but I HAD MY FORK IN MY HAND STILL EATING! Felt super rushed. Servers should clear the table after everyone has finished, ask guest if they want tea/coffee and dessert or maybe another drink and THEN present the check. Never enter or leave kitchen area empty handed. Help your other servers out; if you see a dirty table, bus it. If there is food in the window, run it. Don't hold glasses where guests will be drinking (side of rim). Did we learn nothing during Covid? Just a thought...

Our family has been to The Alley on multiple occasions and have loved everything we've tried! Favorites include Chicken fried chicken, Chicken Parmesan, Gumbo, and the Brussel Sprouts. Not only is the food delicious, but the service is fast, kind, and attentive! Don't miss this Murfreesboro classic.

My go-to when in Murfreesboro. Can't say enough good things(and we're here about every 2 weeks). The food is cooked from scratch. We've had the rib-eye steak, chicken fried chicken (best sawmill sauce I've ever had), pasta with one large meatball, deconstructed steak medallions with a homemade dipping sauce and all were absolutely delicious! Love the patio outside when the weather is great. Great atmosphere. Clean. Excellent service! Highly recommend. Also, I take photos of food all the time but not here for some reason. I am usually so hungry and just dig in. P.S. Get the carrot cake. So good. I just wish they put more of that cream cheese icing on it. So good!

I can't say enough good things about this restaurant, its owners, its staff or its food. This past Monday I arrived early to meet my son for lunch. It was 10 minutes before they opened and I had found a parking place right in front of the restaurant. It was still cold outside, in the mid-thirties. A lady and her daughter walked over to the door, realized it was still locked 5 minutes before opening. One of the staff saw the two outside, immediately invited them to come inside out of the cold advising that they would start service in another 5 minutes. That was exactly the way to endear a customer to a business. And this day, the blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream also had that endearing effect.

Let me start by saying our service was great. Ordered deconstructed kabob special but they had run out so switched to the sirloin...I knew better than to order a sirloin but the menu said it was so tender it cut like butter or something of that nature. That was false. It was a good portion but chewy and the steak knives wouldn't really cut it without sawing on it for a while. No flavor. Salad was ok, lettuce with two giant and I do mean giant slices of red onion. Ranch dressing was good. Side item I ordered was crispy brussel sprouts and they were the star of the show. Delicious...crunchy and salty I loved those! Possibly would go back to try lunch but wouldn't be my first choice. Ambiance was a nice laid back casual vibe.

Extremely fun atmosphere with great service. This place is ALWAYS busy so I would recommend getting there early or being prepared to wait since they don't take reservations. They have good food and great cocktails. I only wish they had a few more vegetarian options but all in all, a great experience

If you are seeking the perfect place for your next dining out adventure, look no further. Everything about our visit to The Alley on Main was impeccable. Seldom can I say that we had a flawless dining experience but this was certainly what we enjoyed. The staff, management and owner of The Alley on Main very apparently understand that for many people, dining out is as much about entertainment as it is about having a meal. We were encouraged to chill out and savor our experience without the slightest hint of being rushed. The beer and wine selection is carefully curated and I feel that anyone should be able to find something that they will enjoy with their meals. We can't wait for our next visit to The Alley on Main.

The best wedge salad ever and we told them so. Good service too. We're from out of town but were treated like regulars. Don't miss a chance to go there!

My husband and I have been here twice and the food and service have been top notch both times. My husband ordered the pork chops both times and raved about it each time. I ordered the beef deconstructed beef skewers and they were delicious. I do wish they had more options so I could try different things as their menu is quite small. But that aside what they do offer is wonderful.

Fried green tomatoes, deconstructed kebabs, Nashville hot chicken, green beans with bacon, and gumbo all great. Fish was good. Wedge salads was one of the the best I've had, they chill the lettuce and add a layer of vinegar and it pops. Wine was an actually dry dry Riesling, very nice, good price. Birthday cake was the only meh aspect. Not bad but not special. The outdoor seating was comfy and fun, kids playing on the lawn with the games provided, staff were super friendly and helpful. I'll be back for sure.

Amazing food and spectacular service. We had bruschetta appetizer, meatball pasta, & chicken Parmesan. Every bite was delicious. Prices are quite reasonable in relation to the quality and amount of food. Our server, Seth, was knowledgeable, professional and kind. We'll definitely eat there again.

I'm based in Nashville and am on a TN state commission that brought in a speaker to talk at MTSU. We needed to have dinner for a dozen in the 4:00 hour in order to fit the speaker's schedule. The Alley's people were patient with our laggards who were stuck in I-24 traffic. I sat next to our speaker and could tell he was delighted with the sirloin strip. I had blackened redfish with a Cajun dip that I wish I could just install as a feeding tube. Enjoyed a fine Manhattan, though my only mild critique is that the Alley's website had left me with the impression it had no bar. I don't order fries unless they really call to me. I had a suspicion tonight that they would be great, and they were. As best I could tell, we had only one server, a young feller who was perhaps an MTSU student. He was good at his trade, handling a big table with aplomb. Thanks much! -Tom

This place does not miss! So on a Wednesday night there was a 45 min wait for 2. After about ten minutes a place opened up at the first come bar. After getting our drink we ordered in about 10 minutes, with the food arriving another 10-15 after that. The fried pork chops were juicy with a crunchy crust. The potatoes and cream gravy were amazing, but IF YOU DONT ORDER THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS DONT GO! These are the best vegetable I've ever had. I will order double sides of that next time. I never liked them anywhere and now these have me trying them wherever I go. Bar service is good as always with a very skillful bartender and happy to make suggestions servers. And get the MF Brussel sprouts!

Classy food and classy employees. Went here when my family visited me. They loved it too.

Delicious and affordable. A bit cramped for space but nobody seemed to mind! Happy servers

Had a really nice time in The Alley the other night. Terrific server that just relocated from Hawaii. We had the shrimp cocktail with a Park's Old Fashion and were off to a good start food wise. We shared a 16oz ribeye steak which came out medium rare , but that was corrected fairly quickly to medium. The steak was well seasoned and flavorful but not real tender. Still enjoyable. We also got 2 salads and they were very good. We ended the meal with a blackberry cobbler, which was on the bitter side and could've used a bit more sugar, which is rare in the south. We got some vanilla ice cream with it though and that helped. A couple little issues are holding back a five star rating. Our table was uneven so it was tipping all night. Our server tried to fix it, but the floor was so slippery that our table was also sliding around and slipping off the makeshift shim. Also, there were a couple of used napkins around the floor and all the servers stepped right over them without picking them up. That puzzled me, because even in an office I'd pick up trash on the floor immediately, and even more so a restaurant. You never want to annoy the guests with a wobbly table and you NEVER want the guest thinking that you don't keep the place clean! If we are in the area again, we'd go back, but unfortunately, it's not a "must do."

Was there for lunch today, asked waitress what was good. She recommended the Alley Sammie with the creamy horseradish sauce. Excellent choice. Garlic mash potatoes were good.

Family owned & ran. An active community member of Murfreesboro. I always get the kabobs that are insanely tender! Service has always been great. Expect a wait. They've even expanded to the outside lot. They've been a great addition to our downtown.

I went to the Ally today for lunch. I saw lamb chops on the menu, so I decided to splurge a little and get them. Oh my God...they were great!!! Try the lamb chops! You won't be disappointed!

So many great options at this local gem! Try their deconstructed sirloin kebabs or rainbow trout...fantastic brussels sprouts and wedge salad as well. Excellent service!

Giving it 5 stars because they were overwhelmingly accommodating to our tables allergies. This was my first visit to Alley on Main as I'm new to the area. I brought my mom and aunt with me and each of us have an annoying list of allergies. Our server was so kind! He bent over backwards to check ingredients and let the kitchen know. We had the fried green tomatoes, one of the specials - a steak sandwich, and the trout with shaved Brussel sprouts. Can't wait to bring my husband here as it looked like they had a fantastic bar. It would be a great place to have a few cocktails on the weekend.