Sassy Sunflowers Bakery & Cafe

Very expensive.
The food was good but the quantity of the salad was so less that not even two servings of salad can fill you.
The strawberry vinegarette sauce provided was not good.
I liked the sandwich and the bean soup.
Not worth the cost.
Even tough they know that many mobile carriers donot work in Cherokee and further to smokeys, the WIFI did not work here. This is kind of disappointing.

LOVE THAT PLACE !!! Every time I go to Cherokee I HAVE TO stop in. Food and Sweets are best I ever had! Food is just spot on. I wish we could have something that good in Asheville, Always friendly and happy service. I cant say enough how amazing is that place. And if I could make a recommendation they hmmm EVERYTHING !!

If I could break this apart I’d give the food a 4 and staff a 1. It was a shocking experience with total rudeness. I asked to have coffee in my travel mug and was told no, it’s against policy. So I asked to speak to the manager who never came out. The grumpy sour-​faced counter girl came back up front saying fine she can fill my mug (obviously not pleasing her.)
I then asked what was in the strawberry banana smoothie. «Strawberries and bananas.» Straight faced reply. So I decided to forego that. I asked what was in the chicken enchilada soup. «Chicken.» Seriously??? I followed this one up by asking what the base of the soup was. «Chicken.» Omg. So I specified asking if it was a stock base or cream base. «It’s chicken.» Language problem? (She had a thick accent.) If I wasn’t so hungry I would have walked out. But I ordered the soup. She told me everything would be brought to me.
I went and sat outside and she came with the coffee. No milk/​sugar or anything and left before I could say a word. So I walked inside and asked if she had non-​dairy milk. She didn’t respond but walked to the cooler and poured about ¼ ounce into a little pour cup, filling it about a quarter of the way. I wanted to ask for more but was scared of her at this point! So I tried striking up conversation with the other counter woman who was making sandwiches. «Those are some good looking sandwiches you’re making!» She looked at me with a growl and didn’t make eye contact again.
Wow! I finally got the first girl to give me another drop of milk. Not sure why but there was nothing at the coffee station — no milks to be seen, no napkins, etc. My friend whom I told I would get skim milk for was outside waiting for so long that she came in to see what was going on. The counter girl was just as rude to her. It was really disappointing. Especially since the food was pretty decent. Decent sounding menu options, although no descriptions of anything (i.e. Purple Haze smoothie — wasn’t even gonna ask what was in it!) The sandwiches looked really good and there were a decent number of soup offerings. I wouldn’t ever go back here though simply because of the crazy rudeness!!! These ladies need to be infused with some humor! I can only guess it’s a reflection of the management. They may be better off changing their name to Bitchy Sunflowers so as not to confuse people.

The food was OK but the service made us wish we had driven by.
After looking at the menu I asked if there was more info on what was in the smoothies, the server’s face expressed frustration and asked which one, I asked what was in the ‘strawberry & banana’ her reply, «strawberry and banana.» If it was just your haha type of ribbing I would be writing a completely different review. I had to pry info out of her on what was used for a base and whether there was anything else in the smoothie. She then didn’t know the details on many of the other smoothies. I decided to cut my losses and go with the chicken salad.
My partner had similar experience with the same server as well as with another employee.
The coffee was awful and the experience of getting it made it worse. I have made a commitment to waste free coffee, so I always carry my travel mug, or I drink in a «for here» mug. Otherwise I will forgo the coffee. When I asked for my coffee in my travel mug she said she was not allowed to do that. I had been all over the country with my travel mug and had never experienced such a thing, if anything bringing your own mug will result in a discount. So I asked, «that’s interesting, why are you not allowed?» — «I don’t know, that’s just the rules.» — «Is the owner here? Or someone I can ask about it?» — «The manager…» she walks away and comes back saying she can fill my mug. As it turns out, I wish I had just passed on the coffee, it tasted like it had been brewed the night before and left on the burner until I asked for it.
We had high hopes for this place. Other than the coffee, the food was really pretty good, but the whole experience was tarnished by the grumpy, can’t be bothered service.

Not a good experience.
Because we had red so many good Unilocal reviews, we stopped in around 9:00 AM to get a pastry and coffee before our morning drive. First, we thought they were closed because the place looked deserted. To get to the front door, we had to take a large step up onto the deck — this would likely present a challenge for some people. There were 2 ladies working there, and no other customers. We felt like we were intruding on whatever they were doing behind the counter. We were still a little unsure as to whether they were open, because the place looked so bare. The display case was totally empty — not a pastry in sight. No cinnamon rolls or turnovers. When we asked the young lady if there were pastries, she simply said «no, not now». So, we went to the only display case that had anything in it. About 6 different cookies, and 4 different cupcakes. So, we selected a couple of cookies. Then we ordered 2 coffees. We asked for vanilla flavoring in one of the coffees. Be aware that the flavoring is very sweet and syrupy — she put way too much in it, and we had to ask for it to be re-​poured. The coffee is nothing special. It was poured from a pot that had likely been sitting on the burner all morning. Most of the positive reviews here are about their lunch. Maybe they are better later in the day. We did not find this place to be at all friendly, and we are not sure why they call themselves a bakery. We found the whole experience very disappointing.

We were so lucky to find this place on our visit to the Cherokee museum. The atmosphere is cute, and classy. The menu was small-​but everything looked delicious. They have 4 – 5 different soup varieties and 8 – 10 sandwich options and a handful of salads. They have a full coffee bar and make healthy smoothies as well as a variety of cookies and cupcakes.
I ordered the chicken salad sandwich and split pea soup-​both of which were delicious. My husband had a special ordered grilled cheese with bacon and the tomato soup – both of which were also delicious! We finished our meal with their fresh baked cookies – which were delicious!
The sanwiches are about $ 8 – 10 each and a cup of soup was around $ 3.5. Delicious and worth it for some light and fresh fare.

It was a beautiful, dark rainy day in the Smokey Mountains. Our slow, meandering drive through the wet Hills was conjuring a sound from deep within our bellies for which only the perfect sandwich and warm soup would do. We Unilocaled it and Alas, discovered what we had been searching for. Great find. Great vibe. Great food. Find your soup!

Unfortunately, Cherokee is blessed with some of the worst dining options in the South. Yes, it’s that bad, if we’re being honest (except inside the casino). Meanwhile, Sassy Sunflowers bucks that trend. They succeed at doing what most dining establishments on the reservation don’t: providing friendly, wonderful service, with affordable, fresh, quality, tasty food.
Sassy Sunflowers doesn’t offer wait service or an extensive menu. However, if you’re in the mood for a salad, soup or sandwich for lunch, highlight this spot. In addition to free wifi (cell coverage can be poor locally), the bake wonderful pastries and cookies on site daily, have several teas to choose from (raspberry, peach, sweet, unsweet, etc) and daily homemade soups.
Sassy Sunflowers belongs in downtown Asheville, Greenville, Chattanooga and Knoxville, rather than Cherokee, but let’s be glad it’s here. They are one of the scarce shining stars within a dozen miles. Don’t get me wrong, the sandwiches aren’t world class, but compared to their peers, this food will impressed. Enjoy bread baked on sight, quality meats and cheeses and fresh greens in a relaxing, safe, comfortable setting and plan on coming back. This place belongs on your must-​eat list when in town.

Even the locals love this place. We are from out of town but when I mentioned the place to others they raved as well.
The selection is small but everything looks wonderful. We did not have dessert but they looked great.
I am normally a water drinker but could not pass up the peach lemonade. Wholly goodness.
The chicken salad on cranberry walnut bread was good. I do not care for waterly/​mayo-​y type salad but it was good. Drier would have been better. The chicken enchiladas soup was great.
The turkey Ruben was large and very good.

It’s always been great, but the fact that they now close earlier whenever they feel like it’s a big turn off.

Setting was cute but we spent 20 dollars for an average egg salad sandwich that had a side of what was supposed to be chicken and corn chowder but was more like broth, and a half (more like a quarter) of a chicken salad sandwich with a cup of split pea soup that again… was a watery broth. Doubt we will ever return.

I am so excited about Sassy Sunflower! (Now read in a lisp…) This shop is such a great spot in Cherokee! The food was excellent, and very well priced as well! I got a green juice, which was a perfect cleanser, and also the veggie sandwich which was FANTASTIC! The atmosphere of this small, local café is just cheery inside and out. Cherokee is lucky to have this prized possession!

What a fabulous little café. Smiling faces and finger licking good food made this a highlight of our trip.
It is well worth driving a bit off the main drag to try this little gem. They have an extensive menu of sandwiches, salads and dessert items to choose from. I tried the Chicken Salad Sandwich on Cranberry Bread which – paired with a cookie– was just enough to fill me up without weighing me down for the rest of a busy day.
I would love to go back and try even more of their awesome cookies and cakes. Nothing looked less than mouthwatering.

Love the chicken salad on cranberry and fruit water! Great atmosphere! Open for dinner too!

Obsessed with this place. We wished we could have eaten every meal of our trip here. Healthy, fresh options and sweet treats too.
I went with the chicken salad on cranberry walnut bread per the other reviews, and it did not disappoint. My friend had a smoothie and said it was the best smoothie she ever had.
We sat on the deck, in the sunshine for lunch and couldn’t be happier.

We ate here twice on a family trip. This is a great, upper scale deli. We had the Chicken Salad on Cranberry Walnut Bread, the Turkey Reuben on Rye and the Hamlet (grilled ham on a butter croissant roll topped with melted provolone cheese, grilled onions without peppers, lettuce, tomato and adobo beer sauce), Prime Rib (grilled prime rib on a toasted flat bread topped with melted Provolone cheese, grilled onions without peppers, tomato, spinach and horsey mayo) and the Rosemary Bash (grilled bacon on toasted rosemary potato bread topped with melted Havarti cheese, avocado and spinach). Then we had Strawberry cupcakes.
This is the VERY BEST Cherokee has to offer. Cherokee needs some very good, every day, everybody place and this is it.
We will return and eat more yumminess.
The décor is bright, cheerful and VERY CLEAN.
Another MUST STOP place.

Nice little coffee place.
Friendly and clean.
Green smoothie was excellent.
Ended up stopping here a few times.

We got two chicken salad sandwiches for our day in the SM park. The chicken was a little bit dry, but in general the sandwich was very good.
It was supposed to open at 9:00 and we were there at 9:15 and still had to wait 10 minutes. It’s a shame that they don’t open earlier because it looks like a very nice place to have breakfast.
The owner was very friendly, but the waiter not so much.

After hiking some trails in the Smoky Mountains my family and I were looking for something light to eat that would also fill us up for a few more hours before dinner, the Sassy Sunflower was the perfect place to stop.
The woman who helped us was very friendly and helpful. My sister and I ordered the chicken salad on cranberry walnut bread and it was as delicious as it sounds. She got the potato salad while I got the twice baked potato soup and both were very yummy.
We all ordered something different and everyone walked away very satisfied. We would definitely recommend this place and come back again.
Thank you sassy sunflower!

My folks and I stopped in Cherokee and this was definitely the best dining option. Even though it was more of an «only resort» for us, everything was great!
The staff were extra friendly. The food was good — a great portion size and tasted great as well. The dining area and bathroom were kept very clean.
My mom and I split a salad (the one with cranberries and sunflower seeds w/​dill dressing) and chicken salad. The chicken salad came on a cranberry bread which was very good. My dad had a turkey sandwich and a cup of tomato soup which tasted great.
Definitely recommend coming here if you’re in Cherokee for a great lunch!

Stopped in for dessert. Pecan pound cake was delicious and portion was huge.
Came in again the next day for lunch. We had the chicken salad, the rosemary bash, and twiced baked potato soup. chicken salad was very good especially the cranberry walnut bread. The rosemary bash was delicious but needed a bit more avocado. The twice baked potato soup was just okay… thin and a little bland. However by far best food in Cherokee thus far. Only downside is owners are VERY excited about their alkaline water and will tell you all about it. Oh and free wifi that actually works.