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Cookeville's Cook Out closes at 4 AM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, not just on weekends, which gives the Jefferson Avenue store about 118.5 open hours a week. That is a longer week than the usual Friday-and-Saturday pattern. The restaurant at 869 S. Jefferson Ave. is a drive-thru without dining room seating, in a Tennessee Tech town where a Target, a Home Depot and possibly an In-N-Out are coming to a new shopping center.
- 118.5 hrs
- Open each week
- 9.75%
- Tax on a meal
- $8.11
- Regular Tray with tax
- 3.4 vs 3.7
- Yelp against Restaurantji
4 AM closes Thursday to Saturday
7% state plus 2.75% Putnam County
Typical chain-wide menu price
42 and 316 ratings
Cook Out Cookeville
Open- Address
- 869 S. Jefferson Ave., Cookeville, TN 38506
- Hours
- 10:30 AM to 3 AM Sunday to Wednesday; 10:30 AM to 4 AM Thursday to Saturday
- Drive-thru
- Yes
- Seating
- No dining room, per reviewers
Why does the Cookeville Cook Out close later on Thursdays?
The listings give the schedule but no reason, and it differs from most Cook Outs on this site, where the 4 AM close starts on Friday. Count the nights: four close at 3 AM and three at 4 AM, so the week adds up to 66 hours from Sunday to Wednesday and 52.5 from Thursday to Saturday. Confirm the hours before a very late run.
| Day | Closes | Hours open |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday to Wednesday | 3:00 AM | 16.5 a day |
| Thursday to Saturday | 4:00 AM | 17.5 a day |
| Full week | 118.5 of 168 |
How do reviewers rate the Jefferson Avenue store?
Close to middle of the road, with agreement on what works. Yelp averages 3.4 from 42 reviews, updated in September 2026. Restaurantji shows 3.7 from 316 ratings, with service at 3.9, food at 3.8 and atmosphere at 3.7. An older Tripadvisor page shows 3.9 from 49 reviews, and its review titles include "Best Burger!" and "Very good then bad." Reviewers praise the burgers, shakes and value. Complaints cover order accuracy, occasional overcooked food and, in one May 2026 review, a foreign object in a milkshake.
What is changing around Cookeville?
A shopping center. The Willows, off Interstate 40 and Willow Avenue, has a Target and a Home Depot under construction with estimated fall openings, according to Cookeville's community development director Jon Ward in the Tennessean. The Board of Zoning Appeals also approved a setback variance for a drive-through canopy, the first step toward an In-N-Out there. In-N-Out's vice president of store development said the project was in the development application process in April 2026, with no timeline.
What does a tray cost in Putnam County?
Tennessee charges 7% and Putnam County adds 2.75%, which makes 9.75%, with no additional city rate, according to Avalara. That matches Nashville, where the same total comes from different parts. Prices here are the chain's typical ones, as the Jefferson Avenue board may differ.
| Order | Menu price | With 9.75% tax |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Tray | $7.39 | $8.11 |
| Jr. Tray | $6.39 | $7.01 |
| Big Double Burger | $3.99 | $4.38 |
| Milkshake | $3.99 | $4.38 |
| Four Regular Trays | $29.56 | $32.44 |
Our Nashville guide shows how the same tax is built in Davidson County, and the price guide has the full board.
Is the Cookeville Cook Out worth a stop on I-40?
Yes, for a late tray between Nashville and Knoxville. Use the drive-thru, since there is no dining room, and check the order before leaving the window. The locations page lists other Tennessee stops.