Nashville Top 10 Eats

Nashville may be known as Music City USA, but the food is giving the tunes a run for their money. One of the more recent cities to emerge as a foodie mecca, Nashville actually has a long culinary history based in its combination of Southern roots and influences from the immigrants and visitors from across the globe. With a growing restaurant scene, this list focuses more on the classics that have stood the test of time and those that speak to the roots of this city.

Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack

Hot Chicken had a bit of a moment in recent years, but it has been a mainstay in Nashville for over 70 years. Known for their fried chicken since the 1930s the Prince family introduced the now-famous spicy chicken in the 70s. You can now get Nashville-style hot chicken at many restaurants, but head to Prince’s for a taste of the original.

Biscuit Love

Started as an Airstream food truck, you can now enjoy this fun Southern breakfast/lunch joint in a number of locations. While nowhere near as old as many of the restaurants on this list, Biscuit Love holds a special place for the family feel and their commitment to using local purveyors.

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint

Besides religion and politics, barbecue might be the most polarizing topic in the South. Everyone seems to have an opinion about who does it best, what sauce (or lack thereof) rules supreme, and the perfect cooking method. Martin’s keeps alive the tradition of the whole hog bbq and you can find something to suit any meat lover. We go for the classic pulled pork sandwich, the redneck tacos, or the brisket burger . . . really you can’t go wrong.

Black Rabbit

One of the newer establishments on the list Black Rabbit feels older than most. Located in a 120 year old building near Printer’s Alley, it is an ode to the speakeasies that used to dot the area. With creative cocktails and a gorgeous wood-fired oven and grill as the centerpiece of the open kitchen, this is a place to take your time and enjoy the ambiance along with the meal.

The Patterson House

If you enjoy cocktails The Patterson House is a must stop. The first craft cocktail bar in Nashville opened ten years ago with house-made syrups, fresh-squeezed juices, and artisan ice. Let’s just say it upped the city’s cocktail game. The space is intimate and classic with chandeliers above each booth, tin ceiling tiles, and dim lighting for a slow quiet evening. The food isn’t necessarily anything to write home about, but the drinks put this one on the list. You should nab an order (or two) of the cinnamon sugar doughnuts though. Be aware this spot only seats about 80 people so it can fill up quickly.

Arnold’s Country Kitchen

Meat & 3 is a quintessential Southern thing and Arnold’s has been doing it right for over 30 years. If you don’t know, this belly-filling meal consists of your choice of one meat and three side dishes from a list that typically includes dozens of Southern classics. Think fried chicken, country ham, meatloaf, pork chop with corn, beans, mac ‘n cheese, collard greens, etc. Grab a sweet tea and cornbread to round it all out. Note that Arnold’s is only open for lunch Monday through Friday.

Loveless Cafe

This cafe opened in 1951 by Lon and Annie Loveless is still going strong today highlighting the southern classics they’ve been known for since the beginning. Be ready to fill yourself up on fried chicken, ham, jam and their famous buttermilk biscuits. They serve over 10,000 of their secret recipe biscuits every day and haven’t lost any of the flaky deliciousness.

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip

It gets down right hot and humid in Nashville and Bobbie’s iconic hand-dipped cones, milkshakes, and sundaes are the best way to cool down in the summer heat.

Rotier’s Restaurant

Home to the French bread cheeseburger and many other hearty sandwiches this is old school dining at its purest. Opened after World War II in what was the carriage house to the Ellison mansion it has gone on to gain quite a following as well as praise from many publications and foodies.

Ellison Place Soda Shop

This classic soda shop opened in 1939 and holds the title of Nashville’s oldest continuously operated restaurant in its original location. It is really like being transported back in time with table-side jukeboxes, red vinyl bar stools, and milkshakes made in handheld metal cups. Before you fill yourself up on classic milkshakes, enjoy some Southern classics such as fried bologna sandwich, meat & 3, or a po’ boy sandwich.

We love all the spots on this list and we love that it gets you off Broadway and out into all the parts that make Nashville unique. Grab a bite, listen to the tunes, and enjoy a little slice of Southern hospitality.