One favorite restaurant I always visit when I come home to Nashville is the Itty Bitty Sandwich Shop in Hendersonville. It's a MUST! I save up my calorie cheats for this day and indulge in a boxed lunch with my best friend, Jenny.
Jenny and I often share our sandwich halves so we can try two flavors. Today, I chose creamy chicken salad and she had pimento cheese. Itty Bitty's sandwiches are homemade and served on fresh baked yeast rolls with crispy lettuce. I chose pasta salad - also homemade - as my side item and finished with their hot fudge cake topped with fresh churned vanilla ice cream. (I'm a sucker for anything chocolate!) I washed it down with their sweet fruit tea. Sooooooo yummy!
Itty Bitty is set in a quaint home at 706 West Main St in Hendersonville, decorated with an Apple Theme. Often you will hear 40's Big Band Music playing and the waiters are young and friendly. There is a short menu and the desserts are listed on a dry erase board. The serving sizes are perfect for lunch - no need to loosen the belt - and you will always walk away satisfied. It's a casual atmosphere, which leaves you free to relax and enjoy your meal and the company of your friends.
The couple who own the Itty Bitty Sandwich Shop are retired from their former careers and do it for the joy of it. The wife learned to bake with a fleischmann's yeast cookbook when she started raising children. She was making homemade yeast rolls for years and also learned to bake different desserts and breads that friends would ask for and encourage her to sell. One day, she decided to open a bake shop. She had good business, but not enough to break even. She realized she should sell sandwiches and boxed lunches for the lunch crowd that often stopped in for a sweet treat. She learned to roast turkey and chicken, how to make the perfect Mikey hot dog, and created delicious egg and chicken salads to go on her famous yeast rolls. It was a hit!
In the past few years, the Itty Bitty Bake Shop moved to Hendersonville, TN and became the Itty Bitty Sandwich shop. You'll see the owners in the kitchen and the husband usually meets you at the check out to ask how you enjoyed your meal. They are open only for lunch, so don't be surprised to find it full of customers!
I'm a huge fan and wanted to share this local hidden gem with you. I truly believe Food Network should visit this sweet couple and share their story with the world!
So...if you ever find yourself in Hendersonville, stop by and have a boxed lunch at the Itty Bitty Sandwich Shop! You will not be disappointed and I bet it will become one of your favorites!
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