The conversation surrounding Nashville’s best burger is a hotly contested one. But, I think the real debate lies in how you like your burger because there are so many different options in town. You can get ’em all dressed up with an insane amount of toppings. You can get ’em served up an inch thick. Or, you can find a good, basic, dialed-back “diner burger.” That’s where Hugh-Baby’s excels – that smaller, burger that gets the most important part of the sandwich right: the meat. Nashville has so many options for different styles of burgers these days that it can feel like comparing apples to oranges. But, with Hugh-Baby’s, you’re going to get the basics done right.
I first tried Hugh-Baby’s back in August of 2021, but considering I was shit-faced from the SoBros Network’s 8th birthday party and 1M hits celebration, that I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to snap some photos and put together a coherent review. So, I included it on my 2022 Nashville area restaurant watch list, and made it a point to get out there to do the review right this year. I recently had to head out to Green Hills Mall for something, so on a leisurely drive back to Mount Juliet (I’m a big time backroads guy, by the way – if I could take back roads to California, I would – wait, can I?), we passed by Hugh-Baby’s. I saw my moment, and I struck. I do apologize for these pictures being ass. My usual photographer wasn’t with me on this trip, so I had to settle for my iPhone 8’s camera like the peasant I am. For more on Hugh-Baby’s, check out their website.
Pics
Ratings
Food: 8/10 – If those photos look appetizing to you, then you’re my kind of people. The rare ‘8’ grade for what I would call a damn good diner style burger. All the ingredients smushed together with a nice greasy flavor without being messy. I mean…this was damn near perfection. If you want to call Hugh-Baby’s the best burger in Nashville, I’m not going to stop you. I immediately think of Brown’s Diner and The Pharmacy, but I might consider Hugh-Baby’s the gold standard in time myself. It’s just exactly what I want when I’m craving a good greasy burger that isn’t going to have my stomach sounding like a 90s dial-up modem afterwards. Hell, maybe I should do a ‘Nashville burger power rankings’ at some point. Nonetheless, I love the thin, skin-on fries with some of their signature comeback sauce. And, you can call me trash, but I’m a sucker for a good fried bologna sandwich. As soon as I saw it on the menu, I knew I had to try it. Fair warning – I’m a big onion guy, but I understand not everyone is. They load their sandwiches up with onions, so be cognizant of that. I’m not sure what they’re using as far as buns go, but it stood out with a soft, buttery, even slightly sweet dare I say it, finish to it. The bun held all of the flavors together well. Like I said, if this is your favorite burger in town, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest bit.
Booze: n/a
Atmosphere: 3.9/10 – Maybe the location at Hunter’s Station is more your speed, but we stopped by the location out in Berry Hill. While it was kind of fun to see an old school soda shop style bar inside that allows you to watch the cooks do your thing, it had similar vibes to a meal enjoyed at a Waffle House or a Wendy’s. That’s not a knock – just a heads up. I don’t know if this is where you’re going to want to be enjoying cocktails in your tuxedo.
Value: 8.1/10 – Where on Earth can two people eat for $24 (tip included) these days? I don’t think I even get off that cheap at Taco Bell anymore. Hugh-Baby’s provides an incredible value for a high quality meal. That’s the most unbelievable part of this whole experience – now, did we have to cop a couple of milk shakes and tack on nine more dollars on our way out the door? Sure, but $33 got us three sandwiches, two orders of fries, two drinks, and two milkshakes to go. That is stupid value for a hungry human.
Overall: 6.66/10 – I don’t know if you’re going to win any points taking your SO to Hugh-Baby’s for a date night, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t some of the best food in this city. It’s the perfect spot for lunch, or to grab some takeout and chow down on the way home. Personally, I have to resist the urge to stop and grab a burger every time I pass by and see that sign, regardless of whether or not I have literally just eaten. If it’s not Nashville’s best burger, it’s definitely on the Nashville Burger Mount Rushmore.
CURRENT NASHVILLE RESTAURANT RANKINGS
- Butcher & Bee (8.5/10)
- Nectar: Urban Cantina (8.44/10)
- Barcelona Wine Bar (8.23/10)
- M.L.Rose (8.19/10)
- Von Elrod’s (8.17/10)
You can check out our full Nashville restaurant rankings here. I’m always looking for new spots to try – don’t be afraid to hit the comments with suggestions!
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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