If one were to summarize the love, laughter, and legacy created by Little Bite of Everything owners Jeff and Heather Manor, one needn’t look further than the metal sign gracing the restaurant’s entryway, which says, “They built a life they loved.”
Now that legacy will be memorialized in media when it is showcased the on Nashville Public Television staple “Tennessee Crossroads.” The crew came to Little Bite of Everything last Monday to film the segment for an upcoming episode to air on a yet-to-be-determined date.
According to the show’s hostess, Miranda Cohen, “Tennessee Crossroads” and its main host, Joe Elmore, have been around for 35 years and travel all over the state finding and showcasing Tennessee’s hidden gems that lie off the beaten path. Cohen said Little Bite of Everything will be the first restaurant featured on the show since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
The single-camera show looks for spots to feature on the show that have strong local reviews online or that generate word-of-mouth recommendations. Cohen said they talk to people who’ve been to the restaurants before choosing to showcase one. For Cohen, it’s important that viewers feel a sense of ownership with the show.
“We always say the viewer is the fourth member of the ‘Tennessee Crossroads’ crew. They’re the ones that give us our ideas and tips. People feel like they have a relationship with the ‘Tennessee Crossroads’ crew,” Cohen said.
Director Jim DeMarco said Little Bite of Everything was chosen for the show because the crew was looking for a highly rated restaurant in the area to showcase, when friends of his in Charlotte recommended the eatery.
When it comes to small, hometown restaurants like Little Bite of Everything, Cohen sees the value they add and the community they foster in places like Dickson and the way they rally when their communities hit hard times. Cohen recalled locally owned restaurants giving free food away to families in need during the pandemic, and it’s kindness like that which she says makes both locals and her show’s viewers want to see those restaurants succeed.
Cohen, who got her start with Fox 17, began doing travel segments with the news station, and felt drawn to those stories because of their positivity, which she now gets to experience in spades with “Tennessee Crossroads.” When it comes to good vibes, Little Bite of Everything has all that and more.
For the regular customers who dined at Little Bite of Everything the day of filming, the restaurant’s success is without question. Quentin Kubesh regularly dines at the restaurant with various family members, such as his maternal grandmother Juanita Stump and paternal grandmother Peggy Griffin, who was quick to praise the now historic downtown Dickson landmark.
“The staff is friendly, the food never disappoints, is always good, and they have stuff with heat. The food is always fresh and generous,” Griffin said.
The crew from “Tennessee Crossroads” was quick to see what all the excitement was about. Cohen, along with DeMarco and Videographer and Editor Armondo Moralez, tried the food for the first time during their visit.
“The food far exceeded my expectations. I see why it is one of the most popular restaurants in Dickson. It has a very homey feel,” Cohen said.
The restaurant is a hit not only with customers but with employees, too. Hostess Gracie Adams, server KK Dykeman, and hostess Gabbie Johnson talked about their experiences working there for the Manors. Adams said she enjoyed the friendliness of the crew and the restaurant’s small-town vibe.
Dykeman has been a server there since the restaurant opened and said she’s met many nice people in her time there. “We all get along, and it’s just a nice atmosphere,” Dykeman said.
Though Johnson has only been at the restaurant two months, feeling at home there happened quickly. “My favorite part is the people, the ones I work with and the customers. I just moved here and didn’t know anyone, but this place has become family,” Johnson said.
Prep cook Brandy Bolton echoed that sentiment. “The people, they treat us all like family. It’s just an enjoyable place to work. Bosses are considerate, keep it entertaining, and provide positive reinforcement all the time,” Bolton said.
The feeling of family is, no doubt, birthed from the foundation of family laid by the Manors in starting the restaurant back in 2017, when it opened at its original location next to Back Alley BBQ on College Street.
“Aside from the food, we put a lot of effort into it. We don’t sacrifice quality. So many of our recipes we developed at home, family recipes. Food is an expression of love,” Heather said.
Starting out as a carryout establishment, the couple added eight tables before moving to its current location on Main Street in April 2021 and evolving into a full-service sit-down restaurant. The restaurant’s name is a play on the title of one of the couple’s favorite songs, “Little Bit of Everything” by the band Dawes.
Heather said that her husband, Jeff, has always loved to host and held a lifelong desire to open his own restaurant. The couple shares a love both of food and for taking their kids out to eat, and the feeling is something they want to bring to each of their customers.
Jeff came from a background of 13 years of making deliveries to restaurants, and he takes pride in not only offering love and quality to his customers but also in the recognition the restaurant has received. “The support we’re getting from Dickson is strong. It feels good to do something good and get recognized for it,” Jeff said.
The couple said their most popular dishes are the hand-breaded fried mac and cheese bites, Tex-Mex salad, mac & cheese burger, and jalapeño ranch dressing.
The local favorite has won several awards, including Main Street Media of Tennessee’s 2021 Main Street Award for Best Burger.
Little Bite of Everything is located at 124 S. Main Street in Dickson. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m-9 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m-10 p.m.
Tennessee Crossroads airs all across the state at various times and also can be viewed from the show’s YouTube channel.
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