Another Restaurant in a Historic Building (PLUS)

We'd gone to the Loudon County (TN) Courthouse so Laurie could have her driver's license (TSA Compliant) renewed.  While sitting in the parking lot waiting for her, I was parked next to an adjacent building with a long history...and which has served as a restaurant from time to time.  Despite having had the best shrimp and grits there that I've ever had, restaurants had come and gone...and most of those failures were justified.  Still, a restaurant we hadn't tried had been in operation here for 2 or 3 years...so I decided that we'd have to give it a try.

                             

This is the side entrance for the Carmichael Restaurant and Tavern in downtown Loudon Tennessee.  As you can see, the structure is a mish-mash of architecture and age.  We parked here but entered via what some might consider the front entrance... In any case, when we were done with dinner this was our exit.  Warning - the stairs and stair rails are a bit hazardous and need to be replaced. 

We entered through this alternate entrance with a ramp and a partially covered outdoor dining area.  Note yet another architectural type...a log cabin structure.  We were somewhat concerned when we noted 2 tables on the deck area that hadn't been cleared yet and no patrons were present.  It was early for dinner and lunch was long past...

The Carmichael Inn was a key element in Loudon's history.  John Hudson Carmichael, (of Scottish descent), started building what became the Inn in the early 1800s.  The family gradually opened their home to travelers passing through the area.  At that time, this two-story log structure was on the other side of the Tennessee River...opposite what is now the town of Loudon.  The Inn was a stopping place for stagecoaches from both the west, south and north.  Travelers would be ferried across the Tennessee River and then spend their night at the inn before traveling on the next day. There was a dispute involving the Carmichaels and another family, the Blairs, over ferry operations but eventually they just focused on operating the inn.

When patrons of the Carmichael Inn and Restaurant enter the facility from either direction, they will note the historical information mounted on the walls as well as the former outside walls of the original Carmichael Inn.  In addition to operating the inn, John and Margaret Carmichael also raised 7 children.  

The Inn, which was once on the National Register of Historic Places fell into disrepair after decades of use, both as an inn and as a private residence.  In 1987, the Loudon County Heritage Association raised the money to purchase the crumbling structure.  Ironically, a Carmichael descendant was a member of the Association...and at that time, the old log structure was owned by a descendant of the Blair family...the Carmichael's old business nemesis.  The inn had been scheduled to be sold to an out-of-state buyer who wanted the logs for another project.

As part of the agreement, the building had to be moved.  The decision was made to move it to the south bank of the river next to downtown Loudon.  It was reassembled on its current site next to the old Orme/Wilson warehouse.  That warehouse was built ca. 1852 by Richard Thornton Wilson.  Wilson and his descendants went on to fortune and fame, with family member Marshall Orme running the business in later years.  I didn't see any information as to when or why the 2 very different structures were 'married'.  Over the years, the Inn was used as a museum and, as mentioned previously it has served as 'home' for a number of restaurants, with first dining iteration opening in 2006.

This big bar along with booths for diners, is located in the former Wilson-Orme Warehouse, the all brick portion of the 'joined' structure.  It was a nasty rainy day when we dined at the Inn, but I was a bit surprised that there weren't any patrons in the bar area.  

The 'look' or style of the main dining room in the old log cabin portion of the Carmichael Restaurant is striking and quite attractive.  The fireplace at the south end of the room adds an extra layer of calm ambiance.

Of interest is the fact that John Greenway Greer and Betty Lee (Carmichael) were married here in Loudon.  She was a grand-daughter of the Carmichael Inn's builder, John H. Carmichael.  Her husband John founded the Greer Hardware Company in Loudon back in 1890.  That company is now Greer's Home Furnishings.  It is the longest continually operating family business in Loudon.

Now lets talk about the food!  We started out with Carmichael's warm Cheddar biscuits, 4 warm biscuits brushed with garlic butter. ($6.00) They were a bit greasy with all that cheese and garlic butter, but they were also the best cheddar biscuits we've ever had!  With Laurie dieting, she only ate about half of one biscuit.  So, what could I do?!  I was 'forced' to eat 3 and a half biscuits!  The things I do for my wife...

Given her lack of appetite these day, Laurie tries to order entrees that I can use later as leftovers.  We do have a lot of "eat what's handy" meals these days.  So, Laurie ordered the Cajun Alfredo Pasta. ($10.50) It was OK but nothing distinguished it from most Alfredo pasta dishes. There was just a touch of Cajun seasoning by our reckoning.  Before eating it at home, I added Cajun seasoning, some leftover chicken and some cracked red peppers.  It was a good 'made do' or 'want not, waste not' meal for me.  

For my entree I went for the Open Faced Roast Beef Sandwich with sliced roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, all over a slice of bread or toast. ($13.00) I had pinto beans as my side.  

Where to start... It certainly didn't look appetizing.  The roast beef was good...not sliced but rather it was pieces of what appeared to be pot roast.  The toast or bread was really unnecessary, the gravy was too thick and I'm not sure of its origin.  It was passable as were the mashed potatoes.  Seasoning was lacking all around, including in the Pinto Beans.  They seemed like they might have come directly from a can to my plate.  Conclusion...my meal was fuel only.

I'd tell you more about the other offerings at this restaurant...but the on-line menus I could find on their website or otherwise were not close to being up to date.  FYI, the Vodka and Tonic Tall, with 2 lime wedges...using Tito's Vodka...was only $7.00.  These days that is a very reasonable price and it was a good drink as per my bride. 

The Carmichael Restaurant and Tavern is located at 600 Hackberry Street in Loudon Tennessee.  Phone: 865-657-6603.  Website for what it's worth is at www.carmichaelinn.com.  

Now I'll end this post on an upbeat family note!

This celebratory photo of our Omaha family is all about smiles and positive thoughts!  They were all together recently for our daughter-in-law Amy's birthday.  From the left is our son David II, grandson David III, the birthday girl, Amy, and grandson Emmett Lee.  Amy and David have raised a couple of young men who love their family and especially their parents.  Of course, there is nothing like a close mother-son relationship...

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave