Food & Local Life · Dining guide
Where to Eat Near Center Hill Lake
Hungry after a day on the water? Explore the top places to eat near Center Hill Lake, from casual marina dining to local favorites in Smithville.
Smithville is a small town, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to places worth eating. From a relaxed marina restaurant with sunset views to a brick oven pizza spot with karaoke that locals treat like a religion, here's the honest dining guide for your stay at The Little Lake House at Center Hill Lake — organized by vibe, not just alphabetically.
Lakeside Dining
The Twisted Oar is Hurricane Marina's current lakeside restaurant and hangout, replacing the permanently closed Blue Water Grille. It offers a relaxed setting for casual lunches and sunset dinners, with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the marina.
Come for an easy post-lake meal, refreshing drinks and the view rather than a formal dining experience. Seasonal hours, menus and events can change, so check the marina's current information before making the drive.
A lakeside fish camp in the truest sense — casual, fresh, and specializing in exactly what you want after a day on the water. Earl's does seafood right: crab-stuffed flounder, Tennessee trout, catfish, and shrimp paired with sides that make the South proud — smashed potatoes, white beans, greens, and grits. Start with the deviled eggs or the dill pickle dip, and don't overthink the rest.
Date Night & Special Occasions
The most consistently acclaimed restaurant in Smithville — and the clear first choice for a proper sit-down dinner. Ace's covers serious ground: hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, and Italian classics done with real care. Reviewers call it "well worth the price" and return trip after return trip. If you're celebrating something or just want a genuinely excellent meal away from the lake, this is it.
Located in historic downtown Smithville, it's an easy drive from The Little Lake House and a completely different vibe from marina dining — quieter, more polished, and the kind of place that earns its reputation.
Smithville Staples
A Smithville institution — brick oven pizza, karaoke, and a room full of people who clearly come back every week. Singer's Landing does NY-style brick oven pizza that reviewers call "one of the better pizzas in Tennessee," and the atmosphere is pure local energy. Wings, garlic knots, calzones, handmade spaghetti noodles, and a Saturday night that stays alive until midnight.
This is the place to go when you want to feel less like a tourist and more like someone who actually lives here. The karaoke is earnest and enthusiastic. Order the Rockstar pizza, get some garlic knots, and stay longer than you planned.
The best Mexican in Smithville — and people are emphatic about it. New ownership brought real seasoning and personal attention back to a spot that locals now treat as a weekly ritual. Bold flavors, generous portions, excellent shrimp cocktail, and a salsa that hits right. The go-to for a quick, satisfying lunch after a morning on the water.
A Smithville charmer — part café, part boutique shop, entirely worth a stop. Locals rave about the chicken salad, the Southern cooking, and the warm, unhurried atmosphere. The kind of place where you sit longer than intended because nobody's rushing you out. Perfect for a late breakfast or early lunch before a day on the lake.
A reliable, unpretentious bar and grill that shows up consistently in local top-ten lists. Good burgers, cold drinks, and a casual vibe that fits naturally after a day on the water when you want something solid without fuss. A neighborhood joint doing its job well.
A family-owned American restaurant and saloon with a rustic, lively atmosphere, hearty Southern-leaning food, a full bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and regular entertainment such as live music and karaoke. A good choice when dinner is meant to become the evening.
A straightforward local restaurant known for generous portions, friendly service and satisfying home-style food. Kilgore's is the practical pick when you want a casual meal away from the marina crowds without turning dinner into an event.
Fast, Fresh & Worth It
The only Bumpers location in Tennessee — a classic drive-in experience with a no-frills menu that hits every craving: burgers, chili cheese fries, catfish, tenders, Philly steak, and cheese coney. Fried pickles and mozzarella sticks as sides. The drive-in format is genuinely fun, and it's one of the most family-friendly stops in Smithville. Don't overthink it.
A welcome addition to Smithville's dining scene for guests looking for something lighter and fresher. Café Healthyish brings a wellness-forward menu to downtown Smithville — a good option for breakfast or a midday reset when you want something that won't slow you down for an afternoon on the water.
Wine, whiskey and Tennessee back roads
Pair lunch or dinner with DelMonaco, Northfield Vineyards or Short Mountain Distillery—plus Tony’s designated-driver advice and official tour links.
Open the Wineries & Distilleries Guide →Smithville's dining scene is small but genuine — the kind of town where the best places are run by people who actually care, and the regulars know it. Whether you're after a sunset dinner on the dock, a no-fuss pizza night with locals, or a proper steak after a long day on the water, Center Hill Lake has you covered. And after dinner? The deck at The Little Lake House at Center Hill Lake is waiting.
Good food tastes better after a day on Center Hill Lake.
Book The Little Lake House and make yourself at home in the middle of all of it.
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