When Randy Burleson opened the first Aubrey’s in Knoxville more than 30 years ago, he wasn’t just thinking about food—he was thinking about hospitality. A restaurant veteran who cut his teeth at the iconic Grady’s Good Times while studying at the University of Tennessee, Burleson learned early that great dining is about more than excellent service and well-prepared dishes. It’s about the feeling a guest carries with them when they leave.
“Hospitality is everything,” Burleson says. “It’s not just the things you have to do well to survive, like provide great service and serve excellent food, but also the way a guest feels while they are there and the things they say after they leave.”
That ethos has helped Aubrey’s grow into a beloved family of restaurants across East Tennessee, with the newest chapter now unfolding in Lebanon. For Burleson, the decision to open here was simple: it was the people.
Why Lebanon? A Community Worth Believing In
“We’ve been looking to add restaurants in and around Nashville for quite some time,” Burleson explains. “We opened in Spring Hill earlier this year, but honestly, it was your mayor that convinced us to come to Lebanon. His enthusiasm and bullish attitude about the future of Lebanon was hard to pass up. Without a doubt, he was the best goodwill ambassador for this community.”
Since opening, Burleson and his team have discovered firsthand what makes Lebanon so special. “Even when we’ve had a bad night—because things go wrong in a brand-new restaurant—we’ve felt something very unique here. Instead of anger we’ve felt kindness, people saying, ‘It’s ok, we understand! You have no idea how grateful we are that you are here.’ Never in my lifetime have I experienced the kindness of a community like Lebanon.”
Comfort Food, Upgraded for Lebanon
The Lebanon Aubrey’s features a refreshed interior designed specifically with the community in mind: modern, comfortable, and stylish while still warm and welcoming. The atmosphere, like the menu, can adapt to any occasion—whether it’s a celebratory steak dinner or a casual family night after soccer practice.
“Our tagline sums it up: Real Comfort. Real Food. Real Good. We want our guests to feel comfortable, be happy, and leave satisfied by keeping things simple, friendly, and real,” Burleson says.
The menu offers something for everyone: hearty steaks, fresh seafood, sandwiches, burgers, crisp salads, and shareable appetizers. A full bar and expansive wine list round out the experience, making Aubrey’s a go-to for both family dinners and business lunches.
This fall, guests can expect the classics they love alongside new ideas Burleson is exploring, like a veggie burger and—one day—the perfect coconut shrimp. “We’ve always been proud of the consistency of our menu, but I’m always looking for ways to keep people coming back,” he says.
Rooted in Tennessee
While Aubrey’s has built its reputation in Knoxville, Burleson is committed to deepening ties in Middle Tennessee. That means forging relationships with local growers and suppliers whenever possible. “Local sources only make sense if they help us deliver the best plate of food every time,” he notes. “But this will happen—it just takes time. We’re actively recruiting local food producers throughout Middle Tennessee right now.”
For Burleson, the future of Aubrey’s isn’t just about expansion—it’s about embedding the restaurant into the fabric of each community it serves. “In every community we’ve had the pleasure of serving, we’ve always made it a priority to become a part of that community. The managers who are in the restaurant every day are the people who can make this happen. Just give us a call, or stop by and ask for a manager. If we can help, we’ll certainly try to find a way.”
After three decades in the business, Aubrey’s continues to prove that great restaurants are about more than menus. They’re about people and the connections formed around the table. In Lebanon, that philosophy has found a community ready to embrace it.