Dovie’s

This the best hidden gem of a restaurant! I travel two hours to eat here and as soon as you get to the small-​town and see the building you can’t help but feel as if you took a step back when things where simpler. The small building only has bar sitting and they take cash only. Everything is done the way it was when it opened up in the 1940s. They serve one of the best and simple burgers ever. Live a little, and don’t get it squeezed!

This is a local landmark in town that has kept the authenticity of old days. The recipe for these burgers haven’t changed much but are a staple for those who grew up on them. Anyone that wants a taste of hidden Southern Kentucky food must try a burger.

Superb burgers in a quaint little building. I had the Dovie burger (which comes with special sauce, pickles and onions) unsqueezed with chips and an RC Cola. It was awesome for my taste buds, probably not too awesome for my life expectancy as these burgers are deep fried. Even better news is the price which was under $ 5 including a Little Debbie style dessert. This is a bucket list type place. Highly recommend.

amazing burgers, mixed with some back woods nostalgia. my go to restraunt when I fly in from San diego have to make the trip every time.

First saw this on diners drive-​ins and dives. Had a local take me there and it’s absolutely amazing and unique that a restaurant that deep fry’s hamburgers could do such a vibrant business especially at lunchtime. I make the annual trek to this place and I must admit the hamburgers are absolutely unusually delicious and it’s a lot of fun to simply show up. If you want dessert you can find them in the little Debbies boxes scattered around the bar area in case you’re hungry after your deep-​fried cheeseburger. Absolutely love to visit this place, was a lot of fun and the staff is very friendly

Simply amazing. Very unique and a great value. I love eating here but don’t get to often. My trip to Tompkinsville is usually combined with a trip to Dovies. Small place but worth the trip. I love the cheeseburger with the sauce and the hotdog is equally as amazing.

I was first introduced to this place by my wife and her family. Just a simple place putting out simple, but delicious burgers and chicken sandwiches. Price is great too. Watch them fry up your burger/​chicken/​hot dog right in front of you. Delicious special sauce, pickles, and onions top these sandwiches and either have it squeezed or straight out of the pan. Just yum. Place is always clean. Waitresses/​cooks are always friendly and help you with just about anything. Small town life.

If you’re looking for local flavor, this is it. If you have a high grease tolerance, you can go regular, if you’re a normal human, you’ll want your burger squeezed. I grew up near Tompkinsville, so I eat at Dovie’s every time I visit home. Good, unhealthy cuisine!

The most amazing burger I’ve had in a while coming out of this town, I have to say I had to use the restroom 30 minutes after I had one of their burgers.

A local institution since the 1940s, so you know you had to try it. The locals warned me… you will enjoy it while you eat it, but you will pay for it later. «I only eat there like twice a year, cause my stomach just can’t take it, but man I look forward to those times». I told myself «Chris, you can handle this!» and walked in. Small, small place. Extremely limited menu. Burgers, and a few other sandwiches available (Fried Bologna and Cheese, Egg, and a few others). I had a double cheeseburger. They don’t do fries, only bags of chips. Soda is available in cans only. They cook the burgers in a swimming pool of boiling grease. It’s really rather amazing and disgusting at the same time. So I get my burger, which comes with sweet onions, pickles, and their «special» burger sauce. The patties are literally dripping with grease. I was told later that ordering them «squeezed» was a thing you should really do, but I didn’t know. I ate it. I ATE IT ALL. It was gross and delicious at the same time. The burger practically slid down my throat. Then I went back to work. All felt fine for a while… a little strangely overfull, given that I can usually eat much more at a meal and feel less full. But later that night… oh I experienced the payoff. I won’t share what it was, you can use your imagination.
Was it worth it? Maybe as the locals described: once or twice a year. Definitely something to experience if you are in the area, but go into it knowing the consequences.

You must have the fried Cheeseburger. Not squeezed. With extra sauce. And yes under $ 2.00!!! Fried cheese dogs also amazing!