Nashville Restaurants

Nashville may be famous for its country music, but the city also offers a good time when it comes to eating. Practically every type of food imaginable is served here, from a spicy lunch at a Mexican cantina to a romantic dinner at a French bistro.

The indispensable tourist restaurants like Hard Rock Café are on Second Avenue, but they certainly don’t rule the strip. Popular local establishments such as Mulligan’s Pub and Big River Grill and Brewing offer variety for diners who can’t stomach another pricey cheeseburger.

Local cuisine

Not many doctors would prescribe Nashville’s brand of cooking. Southern people love to eat and they love fried food. And don’t expect tiny cuts of steak in the city’s restaurants, more than a few of which boast about their 40-ounce Porterhouse steaks.

Tennessee barbecue is virtually a food group in Nashville. Lean pork, beef and chicken are hand pulled from the bone and smoked in a rich, tangy sauce. A typical feast includes a huge serving of barbecue, baked beans and a slice of cornbread.

Nearly every kind of food in Tennessee is thrown into a vat of hot grease at some stage, but catfish is especially suitable for deep-frying. Native to the rivers surrounding the Tennessee Valley, catfish have a very sweet taste. The crispy breaded outside perfectly complements the light flaky texture inside.

Real fried chicken starts with whole chickens, which are boned and breaded and then fried in a cast iron skillet. Served with buttermilk biscuits and creamy mashed potatoes, this dish is absolute bliss. No Sunday afternoon dinner is complete without a plate full of fried chicken, and there’s nothing like some leftover chicken legs served cold from the refrigerator.

Where to eat

In Nashville, it is possible to eat at any time of the day, with several downtown diners offering 24-hour service. The Arcade in downtown Nashville is a popular lunchtime venue. Assorted upscale dining establishments accompany exclusive shops in Belle Meade, southwest of downtown. Some of Nashville’s more happening restaurants are on 12th Avenue South, a formerly down-at-heel stretch currently undergoing an astonishing renaissance.