Nashville Reviews: Drake’s

Grab a burger at Drake's on the latest edition of Nashville Reviews.

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I never knew anything about Drake’s. We’d driven by it dozens of times, but any time my wife and I were out in the Cool Springs area, we were dining somewhere else. I think I only noticed Drake’s because it’s next to Carrabba’s, and every time we drive by Carrabba’s, I just gaze in awe at the rooftop landscaping and wonder who the hell ever thought they needed bushes on top of the building. Nonetheless, I went from never having Drake’s to having it twice in the matter of just a few days.

Back on my birthday (6/29), the SoBros Network’s resident film critic, Brandon Vick, and I ventured out to a press screening at Thoroughbred 20. Before the movie, Brandon wanted to grab some grub, and suggested Drake’s. I’m not a picky eater at all (which probably makes me a terrible food critic, but let’s just pretend that’s not the case for now), so I said, “hell, why not?” And, what a menu – I was fiercely tempted by the combo of steak and sushi, but considering I actually wanted to stay awake for the movie, and that Brandon had recommended their burgers, I figured I had to try one.

So, when a few days later, my wife wanted to mosey on out to Cool Springs to see Top Gun: Maverick, I had just the place in mind to introduce to her. You guessed it – I was housing another burger from Drake’s in just a few days. I still haven’t tried the steak and sushi combo, but it’s coming. What follows is a series of photos and thoughts on the meals I had. Weeks later, I noticed Drake’s was participating in the Nashville Scene’s Burger Week, and thought “yeah – I get it.” For more on Drake’s and to scope out their menu, check ’em out here.

Pics

Ratings

Food: 7.2/10 – It’s a great burger. It’s the best kind of burger, the kind with perfect-flavored beef and dripping with juice. But, they also get creative with their toppings as well. I know sometimes I’m just in the mood for the plain ol’ lettuce tomato pickle onion routine, but most of the time, I’m down to get weird. That’s how it went on my second trip, when I tried their ‘Burger of the Month,’ the strom-burger. From their website: “A fresh, never frozen patty with marinara, mozzarella, sautéed onions, mushrooms & banana peppers, parmesan-garlic mayo & Italian seasoning on a warm butter-toasted bun.” The banana peppers provided a nice little zip to the rich flavor of that marinara and mozzarella combination. This was like a culinary science experiment gone incredibly right. I also had a bite of my wife’s buffalo chicken quesadilla, and concluded that a soft flavorful buffalo sauce is the way to go on a dish like a quesadilla that has plenty of other ingredients that a more potent buffalo sauce might overshadow. Solid call. Just get plenty of napkins.

Booze: 6.27/10 – Great beer list with a ton of local options, mixed in with the “old reliable” category. I went with a local IPA (of course I didn’t write it down and I can’t remember, but remember being impressed that they had it), but found this to be a pretty comprehensive beer list featuring just about anything you’d be in the mood for. On my first trip there, I got a couple of gin and tonics, and the bartender made ’em just right…strong enough to pack a punch for a 280-pound man, but not so strong that it drowns out the refreshing nature of that drink. Well done.

Atmosphere: 6.1/10 – I like a good bar area with garage doors that can open up and let the breeze roll through. I will say that if you’re 6’2″ and 280 pounds like me, that bar area can feel a little cramped, but if you’re smaller than I am, hey – you won’t have to worry about that.

Value: 7.13/10 – I give them a higher value grade because of the quality of the food. It’s about what you’d pay for a typical night out in the suburbs, but I think the burger and the beer list makes this a much greater value than you’d get elsewhere.

Overall: 6.68/10 – Hell yeah, what a great overall experience. Elite echelon burger. Great beer list. Great gin and tonic. Good enough vibes and service. And, a good value given the quality of the burger and the booze. I’m definitely going to be adding Drake’s into the regular rotation whenever we find ourselves down in Williamson County.

CURRENT NASHVILLE RESTAURANT RANKINGS

  1. Butcher & Bee (8.5/10)
  2. Nectar: Urban Cantina (8.44/10)
  3. Barcelona Wine Bar (8.23/10)
  4. Dino’s (8.22/10)
  5. M.L.Rose (8.19/10)

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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