Undercover Diner Visits Belties

A trip to Nelson County isn't complete without breakfast — and a little farm life — at Belties.

There’s something especially fun about a restaurant where the setting is just as much a part of the experience as the food. At Belties, that means breakfast or lunch comes with a little farm life on the side — including chickens wandering around while you eat.

Belties is a farm and restaurant centered around Belted Galloway cattle, a distinctive breed known for the white band around its middle. The restaurant embraces that farm identity in a way that feels genuinely original.

There’s even a drive-through designed to look like a barn, where customers can order their food without ever leaving the car. On occasion, areas of the farm are opened so diners can get a glimpse of the cattle, too.

We visited for breakfast and chose to sit outside on the porch. After ordering at the counter, we were given a pager and found a table to wait for our food. It wasn’t long before the pager went off and breakfast arrived.

I ordered the made-from-scratch chicken biscuit, and “huge” is the best way to describe it. It was a substantial biscuit sandwich, and while it was incredibly good, I couldn’t quite finish the whole thing.

I also ordered the stone-ground grits with cheese, which turned out to be a surprisingly big hit with my husband. He normally is not a fan of cheese grits, but he ended up eating some of mine.

My husband ordered the French toast, which was a special that day. The slices were thick and nicely prepared, and the warm maple syrup made a good accompaniment. The meal also came with sausage made from the farm’s own pork. The sausage had an unusual, less-than-appetizing color, but appearances were deceiving. I tried a piece and thought it was good, and my husband enjoyed it as well.

We both ordered sweet tea, which was refreshing and went nicely with the hearty breakfast.

Of course, the food was not the only thing that made the meal memorable. Chickens were roaming around the outdoor dining area while we ate, casually going about their business. They didn’t bother us or seem particularly interested in our food, but their presence added to the unmistakable farm atmosphere.

Belties manage to feel like more than just a restaurant. It’s a place where the farm itself is part of the experience, from the cattle to the barn-style drive-through to the chickens wandering past your table. The food is hearty, portions are generous, and there’s something charming about eating a made-from-scratch meal while watching farm life continue around you.

We’d go back — if only to see what the chickens are up to next time.

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