The aorta is the largest and most important artery connected to the human heart– and that’s what Broadway Street is to Nashville. Broadway runs through the center of downtown and pulsates with energy. It’s Middle Tennessee’s hotspot for diversity. Here, you can find music and restaurants, pubs, and people, of all varieties except boring.
If a restaurant wants to thrive on or near Broadway, it has to offer more than great food– it has to plug into the ambiance you come downtown for. Below are a handful of eateries that excel at joining great food with that unmistakable Nashville vibe:
The aorta is the largest and most important artery connected to the human heart– and that’s what Broadway Street is to Nashville. Broadway runs through the center of downtown and pulsates with energy. It’s Middle Tennessee’s hotspot for diversity. Here, you can find music and restaurants, pubs, and people, of all varieties except boring.
If a restaurant wants to thrive on or near Broadway, it has to offer more than great food– it has to plug into the ambiance you come downtown for. Below are a handful of eateries that excel at joining great food with that unmistakable Nashville vibe:
No, this isn’t a local farm supply store. Instead, ACME Feed & Seed is a one-of-a-kind southern dining experience in the Lower Broadway historic district. Housed within the original ACME Farm Supply structure built in 1890, ownership kept the original design and name to preserve a part of the city’s unique identity. Recognized as a notable honkey-tonk, ACME Feed & Seed is a four-story building providing live country music, a rooftop bar, and delicious southern cuisine. A few standout dishes include dry rub ribs, smoked brisket, and shrimp and grits.
One of the best places if you love colorful drinks, indie bands, and rooftop patios. Dierks Bentley's looks like something out of a tv show, with its generous natural lighting and aesthetic. The open space converts from a restaurant to a dance floor. The place boasts fantastic signature drinks, including Dierks' lemonade, a smiting mixture of Jack Daniel's and other ingredients. You can also sip the Little Heartbreaker, Dierk's Dram, or the timeless Tequila Mockingbird.
No, this isn’t a local farm supply store. Instead, ACME Feed & Seed is a one-of-a-kind southern dining experience in the Lower Broadway historic district. Housed within the original ACME Farm Supply structure built in 1890, ownership kept the original design and name to preserve a part of the city’s unique identity. Recognized as a notable honkey-tonk, ACME Feed & Seed is a four-story building providing live country music, a rooftop bar, and delicious southern cuisine. A few standout dishes include dry rub ribs, smoked brisket, and shrimp and grits.
One of the best places if you love colorful drinks, indie bands, and rooftop patios. Dierks Bentley's looks like something out of a tv show, with its generous natural lighting and aesthetic. The open space converts from a restaurant to a dance floor. The place boasts fantastic signature drinks, including Dierks' lemonade, a smiting mixture of Jack Daniel's and other ingredients. You can also sip the Little Heartbreaker, Dierk's Dram, or the timeless Tequila Mockingbird.
This bar offers good drinks, lively nights, and some of the most discounted appetizers in the city. And while it may not be fine dining, it is excellent bar fare. The grilled cheese is only $5, and the "Recession Special" is a low $6. This special includes chips, a Moon Pie, a fried bologna sandwich, and a PBR to wash it down.
This Nashville icon has a location a few blocks from the Vanderbilt campus. Hattie B's is one of the restaurants that put Nashville Hot Chicken on the map. Locals and tourists form lines that wrap around the building to taste the spicy, savory goodness. They offer signature bone-in wings, tenders, chicken sandwiches, or even 1/2 of a chicken. They offer six levels of heat, from the "Southern" no heat to the "Shut The Cluck Up," their spiciest. For first-timers, ordering one level lower than desired is best because the chicken is spicy already.
A Broadway staple. With a building from 1892 and a restaurant 30 years in the running, this place has been tested by time and has passed with flying colors. Swing by for some duck fat tater tots and a tasty build-your-own burger; a single large patty, cooked to preference, stacked with topping choices on a brioche. The Jambalaya is also a satisfying dish. This traditional Cajun stew is full of chicken, jumbo gulf shrimp, andouille sausage, and dirty rice, all swimming in a spicy creole tomato sauce.
This open kitchen is where you can watch chefs craft artisan, globally-inspired dishes. The setting is cozy, making it an excellent place for intimate conversation. The smaller interior, coupled with the closeness of the chiefs, makes for a unique experience. For appetizers, try the curried monkfish tart, poached monkfish paired with Mcintosh apple, and hibiscus gastrique on a caramelized onion puff pastry. This unique dish showcases the skill of the kitchen in blending the tartness of the apple with the mild flavors of the monkfish. In terms of main dishes, the grilled porkchop served with mashed potatoes, sour cream, red beet chimichurri, and popped quinoa. This is a satisfying dish that showcases the flavors of Etch.
Less than a block from Broadway, The Southern Steak & Oyster delivers a more elegant southern experience than the honky tonks surrounding it. As its name implies, expect a savory steak and flavorful oysters that makes everyone feel at home in the south. But the menu doesn’t end there. Its weekend brunch specials offer chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, steak benedict, and much more. A tasteful cocktail menu is also provided.
To sit back and relax while still enjoying Broadway vibes, try the Stillery. Eatables include brick-fired pizzas, crispy salads, and signature cocktails made from the best spirits in the South. The second-floor features live music but a more laid-back atmosphere than some Broadway honky-tonks. The sriracha deviled eggs are fantastic, and the pickle chips are fried in just enough batter not to drown out their taste. For a unique experience, ask for the jalapeno bacon Rangoon.
Peg Leg Porker set the gold standard for BBQ in Nashville and has flourished since. Pitmaster and founder Carey Bringle’s reputation for juicy meat has twice earned the prestige of being asked to cook at the James Beard House. But he prefers dedicating his talents to his home in Nashville– and everyone who stops by Peg Leg reaps the benefits! The dry rub ribs are Peg Leg’s most famous offering. Barbeque nachos and mac n’ cheese make fantastic appetizers.
Across from the African American Museum of Music stands the first black-owned restaurant on Broadway. Here, you can get artisan pizzas. Their 8 signature offerings include a vegan pizza with plant-based pepperoni and sausage, ‘The Smokin’ Herb’ (which boasts mushrooms and smoked salmon, and an old-fashioned cheese pizza with a house-made cheese blend. And if none of the options on the menu sound tempting, you can order a custom pizza. And it’s not just pizza– Slim and Husky’s excels at infusing their garlic rolls and cinnamon rolls with an extra burst of flavor.
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