If You’re Looking For A Great Place To Eat While In Nashville…

Many years ago I was attending a Sugar Bowl game at the Superdome in New Orleans, and asked my friend – who lived just outside of New Orleans – where were we going to eat.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “We’ll find something.”

Wrong answer.

Having travelled for a living most of my life, I’ve found going to another city offers a great opportunity to have a meal that’s unique, if you do some homework in advance. The television show Diners, Driveins and Dives sort of capitalizes on that (although I’ve gone to several features on the show and the meals weren’t all that good). The most useful recommendations I’ve found come from friends who have been to the town you’re traveling to.

With that in mind, I asked a friend who had lived in Tennessee to give me a few places in Nashville. Many UVA fans who will be at the game tomorrow didn’t know a week ago they’d be going there, and a few recommendations of good places to eat might be helpful. I tweeted them, then got even more recommendations of great places to go to while in town for the game.

I’ve taken 20 of them and compiled them into a list below. Included is the link to the restaurant’s website so not only can you see the address and get directions, but see the menu. I’ve often been disappointed when I’ve heard someone rave about a restaurant, gone there, then looked at the menu and discovered I really didn’t like what they were serving. So here, you’ve got 20 shots at something that may appeal to you, and if the pictures are any indication, it doesn’t really look like you can go wrong. That is, unless you don’t like chicken, biscuits or fresh country cooking.

Here’s the list:

Biscuit Love: As you would expect, it involves biscuits and country breakfast foods. Several comments indicate the lines can be long so get there early. I particularly enjoyed one menu item that is named “East Nasty.” Website: http://biscuitlove.com

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: As you’d expect, they specialize in hot chicken, but also have fresh vegetables, cobbler and banana pudding. You can order the heat from Southern (no heat) to something they call “Shut The Cluck Up.” Website: http://hattieb.com/

Monell’s: Was told by one person on Twitter this was mandatory for brunch. They do meat & 3s, country breakfasts and have a boatload of awards on the front page of their website. Website: https://monellstn.com/

Pancake Pantry: Several recommended this place. If there’s a Southern breakfast dish that’s ever been created, they seem to have it on a very extensive menu. Website: https://www.thepancakepantry.com/

Rotier’s: Extensive menu features such items as Poutine and “Hand Battered Gizzard Dinner.” Website: http://www.rotiersrestaurant.com/

Arnold’s: It’s only open during the week so you won’t be able to visit it during the weekend game. But I’m guessing some will come back to this story if business takes them to Nashville, and people seem to rave about the place. Simple country “meat & 3 cooking” with different combinations every day. The desserts look pretty amazing. Website: https://www.arnoldscountrykitchen.com/

Edley’s BBQ: Several places were recommended as tremendous barbecue joints, and this was one of them. Multiple locations and they’ve won awards for their food. Website: https://www.edleysbbq.com/

Martin’s BBQ: Another highly recommended barbecue place. Their tagline is “Spreading The Gospel Of Whole Hog Barbecue…and a whole lot more.” Website: https://www.martinsbbqjoint.com/

Jack’s Barbecue: The third of the highly recommended barbecue places we received feedback on. Big portions, reasonable prices, great atmosphere. Website: http://www.jacksbarbque.com/

Loveless Café: Every flavor of chicken you can imagine, from chicken and dumplings to hot chicken along with some pretty good looking biscuits. Website: https://www.lovelesscafe.com/

Demos: Recommended as a very good steakhouse, but their menu goes far beyond that. Very affordable prices. Website: https://www.demosrestaurants.com/

Rolf and Daughters: A very interesting place with a menu that is a stark contrast to many of the down-home country cooking fares listed in this story. Items like sourdough with seaweed butter and dry aged beef tartare with togarashi and green tomato, for example. Website: https://www.rolfanddaughters.com/

Capital Grille In The Hermitage Hotel: Upscale southern cuisine combined with the incredible ambiance elegant atmosphere of The Hermitage Hotel. Website: https://www.capitolgrillenashville.com/

12 South Tap Room: Live music, good food, great atmosphere, wide selection of beer. Near Vanderbilt. Website: http://12southtaproom.com/

Acme Feed and Seed: You’ll laugh at the name, but the menu is no hayseed. Different menus and atmospheres for the first floor, second floor and rooftop. Website: http://theacmenashville.com/

Hattie’s Orchid Lounge: Several recommended this and it bills itself as the “No.1 Honky Tonk In The World.” Website: http://www.tootsies.net/

Bluebird Café: Another great place for drinks and live entertainment. Website: http://www.bluebirdcafe.com/

Snow White’s: Just outside of Nashville in Lebanon. Have read of many who drove past it for years, then stopped and instantly regretted not stopping before. Good, simple, reasonably priced food. No website, but here’s a link to their menu on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/menu/snow-white-drive-in-lebanon