We’re out in Mount Juliet…have been for three years now. While the area has grown up considerably since I was a kid here in the 90s, it’s still littered with chain restaurants and major retailers. Outside of our favorites – Memo’s Mexican Kitchen, Yummy Pho Bac, Prost & Riot – there’s not a whole lot of original options. Don’t get me wrong – I love a good lap around Target and a Banzai burger at Red Robin. But, there are times when I want something a little more out of the routine. Usually, you have to go downtown for that sort of action, but I am becoming an old curmudgeon who hates crowds and noise in my old age (of 37). So, what’s a man to do when he wants to do something a little different but can barely see the road driving under all the neon lights at night?
Well, thankfully, I think my wife and I came up with the perfect day date if you ever find yourself out in our neck of the woods east of town and are feeling those same feelings. “Damn it, Janet…all they have is an Olive Garden out here!” Hell, even if you don’t just end up here, you could actually plan for this day date. We decided to visit our favorite local store, Danger Zone Video, one cold Saturday morning. Without any plans for the day, my wife thought it’d be a good day to visit our favorite book store, Harper’s Books, as well. So, we took a ride out US 70 to the town square in Lebanon. Since we were there, we figured we’d take the opportunity to try out Town Square Social since we’d been hearing so much about it throughout the neighborhood for so long. It was a nice break in our personal routine and we got to try a spot that has been getting plenty of buzz throughout the community for awhile now. The new DVDs and books didn’t hurt either. I came home saying, “we did it – we’ve broken up the monotony in our lives and have concluded a genuine adventure.” Now, you can draw inspiration from us and do the same. For more on Town Square Social, check out their website here.
Pics
Ratings
Food: 5.87/10 – For my main entree, I went with the Nashville hot chicken tacos. The flavor profile was perfect. I could’ve stood for something a little hotter, but I’m not going to hold it against an establishment that isn’t hot-chicken-specific that they don’t want to annihilate their patron’s intestines right off the bat. Each taco was piled high with slaw and pickles, which I love (the perfect complement to hot chicken – cooling and fresh). They clearly didn’t overthink it – good slaw, pickles, good flavor…that’s all you really need. However, the real star of the show for us was the first course. We split an order of their smoked wings, and buddy, if you smoke a wing, you’re going to get automatic points for that. It’s the best way to cook a chicken wing. I loved their buffalo sauce – it had a little more tang to it with just the right amount of heat. Combined with savory, juicy wings, it made for one hell of an appetizer.
Booze: 7.98/10 – High marks for the booze. I mean, I was taken aback by the selection of whiskey and bourbon they had on the wall. It wasn’t that kind of day for me, but I could absolutely see myself sitting at the bar trying a new glass every 30 minutes or so until I had to call my wife to come pick me up and get me home safely. They also earn high marks for a good beer tap, too. I’m a fan of Cedar City Brewing (also right there on the town square), and having a lot of their stuff on tap makes for a unique drinking experience. Prost & Riot in Mount Juliet is the only other place I know that has Cedar City selections on tap. I went with a coconut porter that was delightful, and I had to give their black cherry seltzer a shot too. Town Square Social has a damn good bar.
Value: 6.45/10 – All in all, our meal was $58.78 before tip, which is a pretty good value for an appetizer, two entrees, an extra side, and two beers these days.
Atmosphere: 6.45/10 – Our service was good. Town Square Social has that trendy farmhouse style going for it, and the bar looked like a hell of a spot to sit and watch a ball game. I felt like I was in tight quarters in there, but I’m also 6’2″ and 280 pounds so that’s not going to be the case for everyone.
Overall: 6.69/10 – It’s a solid option if you find yourself in Lebanon. Its proximity to boutique shopping (and Harper’s Books) make it an even more attractive option. It’s awesome that the town square in Lebanon is cool again. I know I’m behind on that, but please allow me the opportunity to simply say that out loud. There was a time in my life when it was nothing but boring antique malls and I used to beg my parents not to go in there. Now, I’m like “hell yeah, let’s go to the book store and crush beers at Cedar City.” This is a moment for me, okay?
CURRENT NASHVILLE RESTAURANT RANKINGS
- Audrey (8.82/10)
- Hathorne (8.62/10)
- Butcher & Bee (8.5/10)
- Nectar: Urban Cantina (8.44/10)
- The 404 Kitchen (8.41/10)
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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