Miss Annie's Rustic Park Tavern & Beer Garden — Restaurant in St. Joseph

We have lived in Lawrence county for 8 years and have always thought that this would be a cool restaurant if they ever opened, well they opened a few weeks ago and I must say I was sadly disappointed.

We were very excited about the experience after my dad's girlfriend told him that they had recently opened. We arrived around 5:15, and we were seated about 5:45. Which we were expecting a wait, as we went on a Saturday night.

As soon as we sat down I ordered an appetizer which was their version of the blooming onion, after about 20 minutes I saw a guy walk out with one and I thought he was coming to our table, but he delivered it to another table. After another 10 minutes I asked our waitress if she had put in our order for our blooming onion and she told me that she had. Then after another 20 minutes she brought us out some side salads, that we had not ordered, and said that our onion was due to be brought out any minute.

57 minutes after our onion was ordered it was delivered.

Total time spent in the restaurant was 2 hours.

The service is horrible, either that or they are severely understaffed, but either way we will not be going back.

We asked to speak to a manager to see about having some if not all of the bill comped, and the lady they sent out, could care less about our complaints and just continued to repeat her script back to us something about that we didn't have a reservation and that's how we why we had to wait so long. They have a great location and a great atmosphere, but this restaurant is managed so poorly that I cannot imagine them being in business very long.

The manager never returned to speak to us and when we got our check they had discounted the bill by $10. Also after our entrees were delivered our waitress never returned. We just finished our meal with empty water glasses and empty tea glasses.

On a side note, I am a local guide with Google reviews and have reviewed hundreds of restaurants, I normally only leave five star reviews, but this place was so horrible that it was...

We've visited this restaurant three times—twice right at opening (5pm) and once at 5:30pm. The food has generally been very good. The salmon was overcooked on our second visit, but it was cooked perfectly the first and third time. Portions are generous, and the Alcoholic Rootbeer Milkshake we tried on our first visit was excellent.

That said, there are operational issues that need attention. Tonight, we waited over an hour for our food. After 45 minutes, we asked about the delay and were told there was a large party of 30 on the other side of the restaurant. Once the food arrived—delivered by someone other than our server—we weren’t checked on for another 10 minutes.

From my background in restaurant management, full-service benchmarks matter: drinks should arrive within 5–10 minutes, salads/appetizers within 10–20, and entrees within 30. Delays beyond that, especially without proactive communication, diminish the guest experience.

Here are a few suggestions that might help improve service:

Strengthen kitchen operations – Consider hiring additional cooks or reorganizing roles. A dedicated expediter and salad station might help streamline output.

Use food runners on busy nights – Bring in staff specifically to run food and bus tables. Tip pooling among waitstaff and runners (e.g., 1–5% shared) can make this viable.

Train staff on efficiency and hospitality basics – No one should walk empty-handed. Drinks should be refilled automatically before glasses are near empty. If the kitchen is backed up, staff should stay attentive, communicate delays, and keep guests comfortable—especially those enjoying drinks at the bar.

Offer complimentary bread – A simple bread starter can help ease wait times and improve the perception of value. It doesn't have to be elaborate—just warm and comforting.

I genuinely hope this team finds its rhythm. The atmosphere and food are promising. With a few service tweaks, this could be a truly standout...

Miss Annie’s – A Hidden Gem in St. Joseph, TN If you're looking for a place that embodies true Southern hospitality, look no further than Miss Annie’s in St. Joseph, TN. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was inviting—rustic charm with a clean, cozy feel that instantly made us feel at home.

Our server, Jacie, was an absolute delight. She greeted us with a warm smile and a genuine interest in making sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. Her friendly, down-to-earth approach made the experience feel more like dining with friends than just another restaurant visit.

We were lucky enough to meet “Smiley,” the owner and chef, who was making his rounds to greet guests and check in on their meals. His presence added a personal touch that’s rare to find. He stopped by our table, chatted with us like old friends, and then surprised us by bringing out samples of his specialty dishes: Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, and Cheesy Grits with Shrimp. Each bite was bursting with flavor—clearly made with love and fresh ingredients.

Just when we thought the meal couldn’t get any better, Smiley returned with a complimentary bread pudding for dessert. It was the perfect sweet finish to an already outstanding meal. I also had a side salad with their homemade lemon vinaigrette, which was light, zesty, and incredibly tasty.

Everything at Miss Annie’s is made fresh daily, and you can taste the care in every dish. My husband and I left with full bellies and fuller hearts. We’ll definitely be back—and we’ll be bringing friends.

Thank you, Miss Annie’s, for the unforgettable experience. Southern hospitality at...