Country music stars may be the face of Nashville, but the culinary stars are a big part of what keeps folks returning. In a city like this, it’s inevitable for the music and food scenes to crossover. While the Music City is home to a variety of cuisine, there’s one element that all restaurants are rooted in: country-style southern food.
If you’re visiting or just moved to Nashville, get familiar with these delicious, downhome establishments. From traditional meat-and-three offerings and award-winning barbeque to reimagined southern classics and locally sourced, health-conscious options, Nashville’s culinary scene does not skimp on the Deep South’s staples of farm ingredients and regional cuisines.
Can you fathom something better than a home-cooked meal while enjoying local, live music? The following are several well-known southern food restaurants that are musts in Nashville.
Country music stars may be the face of Nashville, but the culinary stars are a big part of what keeps folks returning. In a city like this, it’s inevitable for the music and food scenes to crossover. While the Music City is home to a variety of cuisine, there’s one element that all restaurants are rooted in: country-style southern food.
If you’re visiting or just moved to Nashville, get familiar with these delicious, downhome establishments. From traditional meat-and-three offerings and award-winning barbeque to reimagined southern classics and locally sourced, health-conscious options, Nashville’s culinary scene does not skimp on the Deep South’s staples of farm ingredients and regional cuisines.
Can you fathom something better than a home-cooked meal while enjoying local, live music? The following are several well-known southern food restaurants that are musts in Nashville.
Famous for its hot biscuits and country ham, The Loveless Cafe has been a landmark serving scratch-made southern meals for over 70 years. Going here is a blast to the past of a small-town eatery from half a decade ago. Along with the cafe, Loveless has a smokehouse, a country market, eclectic gift shops, and event venues. Their menu is full of southern food classics such as pit-cooked pork BBQ, chicken salad, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, and fried okra. They also feature a fantastic breakfast menu, which the cafe serves all day, every day. What’s more southern than that?
This is another local hotspot. The eatery was opened by Jack and Rose Arnold in 1982 and is now run by their children. This classic mom-and-pop cafe is everything a country diner should be, with biscuits, sweets, and barbeque. Arnold's has a community that will defend the honor of the establishment. And while most people go for the BBQ, it would be a shame not to try the fried green tomatoes; farm-fresh, breaded, and fried till golden and crispy, these are an ideal side.
Famous for its hot biscuits and country ham, The Loveless Cafe has been a landmark serving scratch-made southern meals for over 70 years. Going here is a blast to the past of a small-town eatery from half a decade ago. Along with the cafe, Loveless has a smokehouse, a country market, eclectic gift shops, and event venues. Their menu is full of southern food classics such as pit-cooked pork BBQ, chicken salad, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, and fried okra. They also feature a fantastic breakfast menu, which the cafe serves all day, every day. What’s more southern than that?
This is another local hotspot. The eatery was opened by Jack and Rose Arnold in 1982 and is now run by their children. This classic mom-and-pop cafe is everything a country diner should be, with biscuits, sweets, and barbeque. Arnold's has a community that will defend the honor of the establishment. And while most people go for the BBQ, it would be a shame not to try the fried green tomatoes; farm-fresh, breaded, and fried till golden and crispy, these are an ideal side.
Husk is the ideal blend of French bistro and classic southern food. Executive chef Ben Norton handcrafts the menu daily with one rule: if it is not from the south, it does not go on the plate. This rule is not so much in place to rediscover southern recipes; instead, the goal is staying true to local foods and seeing southern food reach its full potential. The menu changes based on availability but is always full of quality dishes. The wine list is selected according to terroir and soil type, and Husk purchases wines from small, family-style producers that share the goal of sustainable, clean sourcing for all of their products.
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.
As Nashville's hot chicken has become a national trend, many folks visiting the Music City are curious about where this phenomenon started. The answer is at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack. The hilarious origin story began as an act of revenge when peppers and spices found their way into a batch of fried chicken. The plan backfired, and the legend of hot chicken was born. Nearly 100 years later, it's a menu staple at all southern restaurants. But while everyone else gets in on the hot chicken business, Prince’s remains home to the gold standard original.
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.
The heart of downtown Nashville accommodates a cozy diner and bar known as The Farmhouse. The Chef, Trey Cioccia, a Nashville native, is innovating what a southern dining experience is. Pairing locally-sourced ingredients with gracious service, The Farmhouse is nothing less than memorable. Whether visiting The Farmhouse for dinner or brunch, expect a twist on favorite southern classics. Try the Roasted buttermilk chicken served with cauliflower puree, peas, mushrooms, carrots, and pistu. This meal, along with a dozen others, is gluten-free. All the food is made with fresh ingredients that support local and family-owned businesses.
Puckett's started as a general store in Leiper's Fork in the 1950s and has become a beloved local chain. This Nashville staple is decorated with vintage signs and exposed wood. Though the focus of Puckett's is the smoked meat, they still serve a hearty breakfast menu full of traditional southern food. The skillet-sized cinnamon roll (served in a cast iron skillet) will satisfy any sweet tooth. The breakfast burrito is in an oversized tortilla stuffed with eggs, pork sausage, cowboy caviar (a refreshing, prickly black bean salad), home fries, and pepper Jack cheese. If that isn't enough, they smother it in gravy and serve grits on the side.