OCOEE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Its a restaurant that reflects the history and culture of the community in Polk County, Tennessee. The menu is inspired by favorites and has traditional flavors. The Ocoee Dam Deli and Diner is located on Highway 64 where the owners take pride in naming many of the menu items after notable dams from across the county. Check out this week’s destination Ocoee.
“In 2005, we opened the damn deli. Pretty young for a restaurant, folks, I’d like to say that we kind of knew what we’re doing, but we really, as most folks that start a small business, they think that it’s going to be awesome. We know we love food and you know, we love people. And we’d already been in the restaurant business for about ten years since we were teenagers. So we kind of had our feet wet, like in the kitchen part of it and serving people. I always worked in the front then. I love seeing guests and I love seeing new people and the babies and their families and in that time, not only have our children grown up, we’ve seen a lot of families and their children grow up. So that’s been like such an awesome thing to witness Over time, we’ve expanded to a bigger dining room, and our kitchen was just a small little area with a seat cramped inside it and then eventually we grew the kitchen side for the small little building. People are surprised at how their kitchen actually is. And would you say saved and just expanded as we went?” said Michelle Anderson, co-owner of Dam Deli & Diner.
“Things I’m most proud of about the Damn Deli is definitely my wife, Michelle. As a leader in the community, the leader here at the deli, I’ve never seen anybody with more compassion care for our employees, for our guests, the willingness to make a pleasurable experience for every guest that walks through here, she leads with, love in her heart. If you come down and, join us, you’ll see that it’s so evident. It just. She just oozes that.” said Dennis Anderson co-owner of Dam Deli & Diner.
“During the winter months, this is a tough climate for business to make it. Rafting included. We are just so seasonal here, so we appreciate all the local support we can get,” said Michelle.
“I don’t think there’s a better place to hike in the winter. But you the water gets cold. There’s a great fishing opportunity out here with the trout. So anybody that gets up in our area here, we encourage you to come out, enjoy our outdoors in the wintertime We will fill your belly with some warm food. Today we’ve seen nothing but growth in the area. It is such a, a different time from 20 years ago when we first started. We’ve we’ve seen rafting companies come and go. We’ve seen more rafting companies take over in the area. We’ve seen hotels and places to stay in the area grow. We’re happy, we’ve grown ourselves. We’ve gone to 35 to 40 employees at a time. From the first two that started here. What a great opportunity. Great outdoors, great place to come and visit. So after 20 dam years, we’re still rocking and rolling. Okay. We invite you to come out for the next 20 years. Be a part of our story. Be a part of our adventure. We would love to see you out here. We’d love for you to be our story. And you always have been. Anybody that hasn’t experienced the dam deli, I challenge you. Come on out. Try the food. Experience What we got going on out here? We’d love to see you.” said Dennis.
