Breakfast and Brunch Diners in Gallatin, Tennessee
Gallatin has several breakfast and brunch options ranging from early-opening Southern diners to made-to-order pancake and omelet cafes. Mary’s Place and Ashley & Trixie’s are traditional diner choices, Café 393 and Keke’s focus on breakfast and brunch menus, Martin’s Chicken & Waffles offers a later Southern comfort-food option, and Cracker Barrel provides a familiar all-day breakfast experience. Hours and menus can change, so check the restaurant’s current listing before leaving.
Gallatin’s breakfast scene includes old-fashioned diners, family restaurants, dedicated breakfast cafes and Southern comfort-food spots. The right choice depends less on a single “best” restaurant and more on what you need: an especially early opening, pancakes and waffles, a broad brunch menu, a family-style meal or a later weekend stop.
This guide compares current Gallatin options using publicly available restaurant and city information. It does not rank businesses by personal experience or review score. Hours and menus should be checked before each visit because restaurants may change schedules, prices or daily offerings.
Quick comparison of Gallatin breakfast and brunch diners
Restaurant — Location — Published schedule — What it may suit — Notable menu direction
Mary’s Place — 804 N. Water Ave. — Monday-Saturday, 5 a.m.-2 p.m.; closed Sunday — Early risers and traditional diner breakfasts — Pancakes, biscuits and gravy, Southern comfort food
Ashley & Trixie’s Family Restaurant — 885 N. Water Ave. — Monday-Saturday, 5 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, 6 a.m.-2 p.m. — Families and diners who want an early, down-home meal — Country ham, meatloaf, fried catfish and other Southern dishes
Café 393 — 127 Goodview Way — Tuesday-Friday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; closed Monday — Breakfast, brunch or lunch with a broad menu — Pancakes, hash browns, omelets and other breakfast classics
Keke’s Breakfast Café — 1152 Nashville Pike — Daily, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Pancakes, waffles, French toast and made-to-order breakfast — Pancakes, Belgian waffles, omelets, bowls and Eggs Benedict
Martin’s Chicken & Waffles — 207 S. Water Ave. — Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. — A later meal centered on Southern comfort food — Chicken and waffles, Nashville-hot dishes, catfish and sides
Cracker Barrel — 1005 Village Green Crossing — Check the current official location listing — Familiar chain dining and country-style breakfast — Breakfast items, country-style meals and retail-store atmosphere
Mary’s Place, Ashley & Trixie’s, Café 393 and Keke’s publish breakfast-oriented hours through current city or restaurant listings. Martin’s publishes its schedule on its official website, while Cracker Barrel’s Gallatin location should be checked directly before visiting.
How to choose a breakfast or brunch restaurant in Gallatin
If you need breakfast before most cafes open
Mary’s Place and Ashley & Trixie’s both publish 5 a.m. weekday and Saturday openings. That makes them the most practical options in this guide for an early workday meal, a pre-appointment breakfast or a traditional diner start. Mary’s Place is closed Sundays, while Ashley & Trixie’s opens at 6 a.m. Sunday.
If pancakes, waffles or French toast are the priority
Keke’s is the clearest dedicated breakfast-cafe choice for pancakes, Belgian waffles and French toast. Its official Gallatin page also lists omelets, breakfast bowls, Eggs Benedict, sandwiches and lunch items. The restaurant is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. according to its official location page.
Café 393 is another option for classic breakfast plates, with the city’s restaurant listing identifying pancakes, hash browns and omelets among its menu direction.
If you want a Southern family-restaurant setting
Mary’s Place and Ashley & Trixie’s both lean toward familiar Southern comfort food. Mary’s Place lists pancakes and biscuits with gravy, while Ashley & Trixie’s highlights country ham, meatloaf, fried catfish and banana pudding. These are better fits for diners seeking a traditional, substantial meal than for someone looking for a small coffee-and-pastry stop.
If you want brunch later in the day
Keke’s serves breakfast and lunch through 2:30 p.m. daily. Café 393 serves through 2:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Martin’s Chicken & Waffles opens later, beginning at 11 a.m., and can work for a weekend lunch that carries breakfast-and-brunch flavors into the afternoon.
Mary’s Place for an early traditional breakfast
Mary’s Place is a practical choice when timing matters. The restaurant lists Monday-Saturday hours beginning at 5 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m.; it is closed Sunday. Its Gallatin listing describes a menu built around Southern breakfast staples, including pancakes and biscuits with gravy, along with lunch-oriented comfort food such as pork tenderloin sandwiches.
Choose Mary’s Place if you want an early weekday or Saturday breakfast and prefer a local diner atmosphere over a national chain. Because the restaurant’s menu is described as updated daily, diners with a specific dish in mind should check the current menu or call ahead.
Ashley & Trixie’s for an all-day Southern family-restaurant meal
Ashley & Trixie’s Family Restaurant publishes breakfast-friendly hours seven days a week: 5 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant’s city listing describes a down-home menu that includes country ham, fried catfish, meatloaf and banana pudding.
This may be a good fit for mixed groups that want more than breakfast-only food. Someone can order a morning meal while another diner chooses a Southern lunch plate. The 885 N. Water Avenue location is also close to other north-side Gallatin dining options, making it easy to combine breakfast with additional errands.
Café 393 for a broad breakfast and brunch menu
Café 393 serves breakfast, brunch and lunch at 127 Goodview Way. Its published schedule is Tuesday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the restaurant is closed Monday. The city’s listing identifies pancakes, hash browns and omelets among its offerings.
Café 393 may suit groups with different preferences because it bridges breakfast and lunch rather than focusing on only one meal period. It is also a useful option for a weekend brunch search, although the restaurant closes in the afternoon rather than operating as an evening brunch venue.
Keke’s Breakfast Café for pancakes, waffles and made-to-order classics
Keke’s Breakfast Café is located at 1152 Nashville Pike and publishes daily hours of 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Its official Gallatin page lists pancakes, Belgian waffles, French toast, omelets, breakfast bowls, Eggs Benedict, avocado toast and breakfast wraps. The page also says the restaurant offers takeout, delivery and catering through its online ordering options.
Keke’s is the most straightforward choice in this guide for diners specifically searching for pancakes, waffles or a broad contemporary breakfast menu. The restaurant’s official FAQ says it does not take reservations and welcomes guests on a first-come, first-served basis, so larger weekend groups may want to arrive early.
Martin’s Chicken & Waffles for a later Southern comfort-food meal
Martin’s Chicken & Waffles is a family-owned Gallatin restaurant at 207 S. Water Avenue. Its official website lists Friday and Saturday hours of 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday hours of 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The menu focus includes chicken and waffles, Nashville-hot dishes, catfish, pork chops, macaroni and cheese, loaded fries and wings.
This is not an early-morning diner. It is better suited to a later weekend meal, especially for diners who want chicken and waffles or Southern comfort food rather than a conventional eggs-and-toast breakfast. Its downtown-adjacent location also makes it a possible stop during a broader visit to Historic Downtown Gallatin.
Cracker Barrel for a familiar breakfast stop
Cracker Barrel’s official Gallatin listing identifies the restaurant at 1005 Village Green Crossing, at the U.S. 31 East and Highway 109 Bypass area. The company describes its restaurants as offering family dining, breakfast and country-store shopping.
Cracker Barrel may be useful for visitors or families seeking a familiar menu and a consistent chain-dining format. Because the current location page did not provide a readable schedule in the available research, check the official listing before making a time-sensitive trip. Menu prices and offerings can also vary by location.
Practical tips before you go
- Check the day of the week. Mary’s Place is closed Sunday, Café 393 is closed Monday and several restaurants stop serving in the early afternoon.
- Confirm the menu. Daily specials, brunch items and prices can change. Mary’s Place specifically identifies its menu as updated daily.
- Plan for weekend demand. Dedicated breakfast cafes may be busiest during the late-morning Saturday and Sunday period. Keke’s says it does not take reservations.
- Match the restaurant to the meal. For a 5 a.m. breakfast, start with Mary’s Place or Ashley & Trixie’s. For pancakes and waffles, consider Keke’s or Café 393. For a later chicken-and-waffles meal, Martin’s is the more natural fit.
- Check location details before driving. Gallatin’s breakfast options are spread across Water Avenue, Nashville Pike, Goodview Way and the Highway 109 area.
- Look for related downtown plans. Martin’s Chicken & Waffles is listed among downtown Gallatin dining options, and the city’s downtown guide includes other restaurants, shops and attractions for extending a meal outing...
Gallatin’s breakfast and brunch choices cover both early-rising diner culture and later weekend brunch habits. Start with the opening time and food style you need, then confirm the current menu and schedule directly with the restaurant before leaving.
Frequently asked questions
What time do breakfast diners open in Gallatin?
Mary’s Place and Ashley & Trixie’s publish 5 a.m. openings Monday through Saturday. Ashley & Trixie’s opens at 6 a.m. Sunday. Other options in this guide generally open at 7 a.m. or later.
Where can I get pancakes or waffles in Gallatin?
Keke’s Breakfast Café lists pancakes, Belgian waffles and French toast on its official Gallatin page. Café 393 also lists pancakes among its breakfast offerings.
Which Gallatin breakfast restaurants are open Sunday?
Ashley & Trixie’s, Café 393, Keke’s, Martin’s Chicken & Waffles and Cracker Barrel are options to investigate for Sunday dining. Mary’s Place is listed as closed Sunday. Confirm current hours before visiting.
Is there a breakfast restaurant near downtown Gallatin?
Martin’s Chicken & Waffles is located at 207 S. Water Avenue and is listed among downtown Gallatin dining options. Ashley & Trixie’s and Mary’s Place are also on Water Avenue, north of the downtown square.
Does Keke’s Breakfast Café take reservations?
Keke’s official Gallatin FAQ says the restaurant does not take reservations and welcomes guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Larger weekend groups may want to arrive early.