You might recognize this list or something like it if you’re a longtime reader of SoBros Network. Alas, we adapt and evolve throughout the years. For one, our list of our favorite restaurants in Nashville needed sprucing up by virtue of all the restaurants that have closed throughout the years since this list was first compiled. It’s a sad reality of our growing city – we’ve been around and writing about food long enough to see some of our favorite spots open and close. But, I promise I’m not here to go down my rabbit hole about the inevitable passing of time today.
For another, I’ve mulled it over and ended up changing the way that I write about restaurants. For so long, I had a template where I’d just plug in numbers and photos and make it easier on myself to write up a review. But, to me, it’s difficult to really grade such a subjective experience, and it’s just plain better writing to cover a meal as an event instead of compiling analytics like you would in football or something. So, I wanted this list to reflect that spirit more so than rankings by grade. You’ll also notice that I’ve changed the headline from “best” to “our favorite.” That’s done to acknowledge the subjective nature of writing about food. Just because it’s one of my favorites doesn’t mean it’s the best. We’re just taking a little different of an approach to how we organize this list – that’s all.
Throughout the years, I’ve written about well over a hundred Nashville area restaurants. Instead of giving you a compendium of every single review we’ve ever published on SoBros Network, I wanted to slim the list down a little bit and just hit the highlights. Also, as a reminder, these are only the restaurants that we have reviews for on the site. If something is missing, sure, there’s a chance it’s just not one of my favorite spots in town. But, it could just be that I haven’t written about it yet. For example, I’ve been going to Brown’s Diner for years because I love it. But, I haven’t written about it, and so…it ain’t in this list! That’s how it works.
With that said, I’ll shut my trap and share with you guys our list of our favorite restaurants in or around Nashville, and I will be aiming to keep this list up to date with all of our latest reviews.
Nashville
My Mount Rushmore
Audrey – full review – “While the food alone made for one of the best meals I’ve ever had in this city, it was the combination of the restaurant experience provided by Audrey, and the character of the place around me that made it such an enriching experience. The folks at Audrey clearly understand the core of what a solid night at a good restaurant means beyond simply making good food. It’s the slowing down of the outside world. It’s the pacing – taking the time to enjoy a fulfilling meal, course by course. It’s understanding the importance of a good conversation between friends to a dining experience and letting that marinate (or soak in beer and wine, if you will). It’s providing a comfortable environment that fosters a sense of calm and openness. At the end of the evening, I felt as though I was a better, more relaxed man, hearty and satisfied – the same way I feel after reading a particularly profound poem. It’s art in restaurant form.”
Daddy’s Dogs – full review – “I’ve gone off record and called Daddy’s Dogs some of the best comfort food in the city. I stand by that – whether you get your’s loaded up with all of the fixins, or you just like it plain, this is a physically and emotionally satisfying meal.”
Dino’s – full review – “I didn’t get a load of weird/fancy toppings. Just a warm bun, fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and a burger that tasted like it was cooked in the same grease they’ve been using for a hundred years. It was like a century’s worth of history dripping down my chin. It was juicy and flavorful, but not greasy – I didn’t have to pop a TUMS, and I didn’t have a stomach ache afterwards. That feels like sorcery to me. The fries were my favorite style – little bit of crispy flaky action going on there. And, Brittany told me I had to get their special sauce, so I did. I have no idea what it is, but it is indeed special. So….aptly named. Something about the meal just felt like simpler times. Like the good old days.”
Sixty Vines – full review – “Sixty Vines is a fantastic spot to enjoy scenic views of Nashville perched atop the murmur of steel guitars and dance floors down on Broadway. You can really kill some time savoring their extensive wine list, charcuterie, and a damn good meal. It’s the type of place that you can really relax in and enjoy the moment – to me, those places are few and far between downtown these days.”
The Elite Tier
Barcelona Wine Bar – full review – “Barcelona is a charming place with a dinner experience that’s different from anything else I’ve experienced in the city, and a menu and wine list that is as creative as it is mouth-watering to boot. My word of advice, though? Make reservations. Otherwise, you’re going to be waiting a while if you show up during the dinner rush.”
Butcher & Bee – full review – “…the word I kept coming back to when describing the food itself was vibrant. The flavor was immense and the texture was perfect. [This is] the highest official grade I’ve given something on a restaurant review we’ve done. This is the perfect spot for date night.”
Emmy Squared – full review – “I’ve yet to have a bad dish at Emmy Squared. In fact, I’d go as far to say I’ve never had something that was just ‘okay’ or simply ‘satisfying.’ Every meal I’ve eaten there has stood out, and been memorable. In terms of the quality of the food alone, and not the overall restaurant experience, it’s not unreasonable to say that Emmy Squared is among the elite in the city. The Nashville hot katsu sandwich was great – a unique, creative, different take on the Nashville hot chicken craze. I’m not usually a fan of bread and butter pickles on hot chicken, which is what these pickles closely resembled, but it worked to sort of sweeten the sandwich to contrast the tang of the ‘Bama white sauce and the bite of the radish. It might sound odd, but it really works well together. And, of course, the waffle fries quite simply never fucking miss.”
Little Hats Market – full review – ” Little Hats really runs the gamut of flavor and texture with the Spicy Italian sandwich. It’s grounded and balanced, never leaning too far into one flavor. I won’t take any issue if you want to call this the best sandwich in Nashville.”
Maiz de la Vida – full review – “This steak was something worthy of celebration – a 9oz NY strip served under chiles toreados and with garlic potatoes and herb butter. With a distinct flavor cooked to perfection, I felt like I had stumbled upon some hidden gem in this city. Sure, there’s a great steakhouse or two in town, but for my money ($48 in this case), this Carne Asada stacked up with any steak I’ve had in Nashville before.”
Prince’s Hot Chicken – full review – “Prince’s offers up a good, classical style Nashville hot chicken and a quality of meal that you just won’t get everywhere else.”
Red’s 615 Kitchen – full review – “A solid, straight up, and well above average ‘7’ for Red’s 615 Kitchen. How a menu can be simple and diverse at the same time is impressive – even if Nashville hot chicken isn’t your thing, Red’s boasts chicken and waffles, a catfish sandwich, and a BLFGT (bacon, lettuce, fried green tomatoes) that I can’t wait to try in the future. I dare say this has become my favorite food truck in Nashville, and one of my favorite all around meals in town.”
Slim & Husky’s – full review – “I got their hot chicken pizza, and it made for an interesting combination of ingredients – Nashville hot chicken, jalapenos, banana peppers, spicy honey drizzle, and served with some jalapeno ranch on the side. Hot chicken AND jalapenos always make for a dangerous combination, but with this pizza, I found that it added a nice bit of crunch to it without overbearing heat. The chicken itself was all about the Nashville hot flavor. To me, it wasn’t a violent heat, but a more subtle enjoyable heat that was balanced out by the cheese blend, and the crust itself dipped in some of that jalapeno ranch. The banana peppers gave the dish a nice tang that had me thinking we need to combine banana peppers and hot chicken more often. I’m not a crust eater, but I consumed every bit of this pizza (one of only two places I’ll do that – the other being Calabria out here in Mount Juliet). Between the flavor of the hot chicken, the heat and the crunch from the fresh jalapenos, the tang of the banana peppers, and the sweetness of the honey drizzle, this made for a creative combination of flavors that made a lasting impression on me. I can’t wait to get another one of these bad boys.”
The Stillery – full review – “The food is the strong suit of this spot for me. It may be mixed in with a lot of the Broadway noise, but it stands out as one of the few places you can get a damn good meal to go with your booze and live music. I believe I’d call it a “bona fide dinner spot,” but not a “shit, I need to wear actual shoes and not just my flip flops” spot. There’s a tang to their “house hot” flavor that sets it apart from other hot flavors around town. And, I’ve only ever had the highest quality of chicken, whether it’s on a salad, tenders, or sliced and set upon a bowl of mac and cheese. It’s juicy, tender, coated with the perfect amount of sauce, nice, and crispy. I loved the flavor of it paired with the freshness of this salad, and for sure think that helped me survive the inferno that was Nissan Stadium that night. The fried pickles were a surprise – they can run pretty oily and greasy at some places, but The Stillery cooked them just right so that they weren’t a wet mess and had a little more crisp to ’em. And, for goodness’ sake, please go try that catfish some time.”
Two Ten Jack – full review – “The food itself was undoubtedly the strength of our experience. This might be a weird thing to lead off with, but my skewer of tomatoes roasted in wasabi oil was my absolute favorite part of the dinner. What can I say? I’m a true southern man at heart – nothing speaks to me like a ripe tomato. They were rich and juicy, baby. In addition to the gyoza, JFC, and crispy rice + spicy tuna, we also got an order of the brussel sprouts that were fantastic, but we didn’t snap a photo of those. The crispy rice + spicy tuna was the highlight of the appetizer round, offering a nice crunch accentuated by the dull heat of the spicy tuna. My wife got the spicy crab noodles and I tried the tonkotsu, which was just what I wanted on a cold winter’s night. It was a tasty combination of ingredients that offered the palate a little bit of everything. The crispy pork belly gave the dish a salty bite, but it was mellowed out by the broth and noodles. I added a scoop of corn and ratcheted up the spice level with some of their miso paste. That shit cleared out my sinuses, but I’m addicted to the heat. It was awesome. I also could’ve eaten an entire bowl of the eggs. Fantastic stuff.”
Wendell Smith’s – full review – “So, I went with the traditional meat and three, my choices being the beef steak with gravy, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and white beans with a piece of cornbread to go with it. You want to talk about a fulfilling meal, I swear this plate had some sort of mystic healing properties. On a rainy day, it just made me feel whole again. The crunch on the beef steak added a nice texture to the main course, but the way the rich, hearty gravy melded all of the flavors together, salty enough to dance across my tongue but not overbearing, made for a bite that celebrated the simplicity of a good old fashioned southern staple. The mac and cheese, creamy as can be, balanced that out nicely. The slaw tasted fresh and crunched with every bite as if it had just been chopped and prepped when I ordered it. The savory white beans were cooked to perfection, done enough to melt in my mouth, but not so done that they turned mushy. For journalistic purposes, of course, I had to try a bite of the roast beef and corn. Like the slaw, the corn tasted and crunched like it was freshly-prepped. The roast beef was tender, bursting with rich flavor enhanced by the gravy. Every bit of it was good. It’s a meal that reminds you of the good old days.”
The Great Tier
Butchertown Hall – full review – “The Smoke Stack is a flawless blend of flavor and texture that pays homage both to the quintessential southern meat-and-three and the smoke and spice of Texas BBQ all the same. Incredible and poetic – this is what I want my dining experiences to be in Nashville!”
Chang Noi Thai-Lao (6.65) – full review – “If you’re craving pad Thai, this is as good of a meal as you’ll find around. The ingredients all tasted fresh, but let’s be real here – the sauce can make or break a pad Thai….this sauce is the truth.”
CHIVANADA – full review – “When I say that this was a hearty meal, I mean it was H E A R T Y. But, the flavor – my goodness – I described the carne empanada to my mother as a “taco in a piece of cornbread.””
Hugh-Baby’s – full review – “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.”
Von Elrod’s – full review – “I went with the Nashville hot chicken schnitzel…I added a side of the broccoli sriracha slaw and this instantly became one of my favorite meals in town.”
The Solid Tier
Applebee’s – full review – “That’s right. You can make your jokes about Applebee’s, but this meal is as satisfying as they come. I left that Saturday afternoon, and I felt that Bourbon Street chicken and shrimp in my soul. It came out on a skillet that was sizzling, so you know all the girls were looking my way (taken ladies, sorry).”
Brothers’ Burger Joint – full review – “…a cool hangout spot with one of the best burgers in town.”
M.L.Rose – full review – “This was a meal for the ages. It was one of those meals that just nourish your soul – beyond the satisfaction of a full stomach, you’re just left sitting there, feeling whole, appreciating the sunshine and the wind blowing through the trees….that type of spiritual shit. M.L.Rose is like a fucking natural high. I could not have asked for a better burger, better pretzel bites, any possible beer desire I had could be met with that beer list, and the vibe and service was impeccable. They deserve every compliment they get, but one thing I think they do particularly well is putting a creative touch on their menu while also doing the basics right – they’re different, yet classic at the same time. A little bit of something different for everyone.”
The Rolling Recipe – full review – “Take notes, aspiring food truck vendors. This is how you design a food truck menu. Decadent sandwiches built with hearty meats and cheeses, sides smothered in toppings, all cooked to perfection. I always say that a good food truck can cure any hangover, and by that logic, The Rolling Recipe might be curing cancer.”
Rosepepper – full review – “… deserves to be considered among the upper echelon of Nashville restaurants in terms of value. Plus, the margaritas are the absolute gold standard in the Music City.”
Sir Pizza – full review – “…there’s something so different and yet so comforting about a meal at Sir Pizza. The Farmer’s Almanac is a goldmine of fresh ingredients. That’s one thing that has always stood out to me about this pizza – the olives, the peppers, and the onions ALL taste fresh. I love the small cubed pepperoni, and I love the smaller diced sausage. I love the smaller, square cut slices, and it’s one of the few pieces of pizza of which I will actually devour the crust. I might sound like a savage, but there’s something inherently satisfying about eating an entire slice of Sir Pizza pizza in one bite.”
Velvet Taco – full review – “Fresh ingredients are the hallmark of Velvet Taco, and it’s something I could taste in every bite. I loved the combination of flavors in each taco, and they were pretty large to boot. They are a solid effort in the Nashville taco scene, but the real MVPs of the meal were the queso, the red velvet cake, and the fact that we could get such a filling and satisfying meal without breaking the bank. Not too shabby, Velvet Taco.”
Wedge Pizza & Pub – full review – “A good, solid, above-average effort on the pizza front. Aura and I had the barbecue chicken pizza, and I have to say, adding banana peppers was a nice touch. I love the tang, and the slightest bit of heat, that they provide to the pizza. Nothing was overbearing – perfect amount of sauce, good amount of chicken, and all the banana peppers I could eat because my wife was picking them off of her slices. The garlic parm wings were fantastic too, and cooked about as well as any wing I’ve had in this city. They were nice and crispy on the exterior, but not cooked so long that they were dry on the inside. Very good plate of wings.”
Nashville Area
Donelson
Darfons – full review – “To think we could get downtown dining without heading downtown felt like accessing an entirely new world. It made me realize what a hidden gem Darfons is in the Nashville area dining scene.”
Nectar: Urban Cantina – full review – “Living in Hermitage, whether I’m stopping by for a quick lunch, heading out for a date night, or celebrating a friend’s birthday, Nectar is always the first place that comes to mind. You won’t find a more creative and delicious menu East of town, and you won’t find a better bang for your buck. It’s no wonder so many of our readers labeled this the best spot in Nashville. It’s going to be incredibly difficult for them to lose that honor in my book.”
Phat Bites – full review – “It’s a fun setting, for sure, but this breakfast proved to be one of the heavy hitters in town. An excellent start to the day.”
Lebanon
Cedar City Brewing – full review – “I was sitting there on Sunday just buzzing right along thinking, “y’know, this is a strong 7.5/10 kind of experience.” And, I held onto that once I sobered up. The fact that something like Cedar City Brewing exists out east of town is exciting, but to go and have the beer, food, atmosphere, and value overdeliver sent me to the moon. This pretty well instantly became one of my favorite spots out here in Wilson County, where we desperately need more unique spots. Let’s hope the trail Cedar City Brewing has blazed opens the way for more craft brewery and restaurant experiences out east.”
Snow White Drive In – full review – “In a word, it’s “hearty.” If you like the quintessential southern meat and three, Snow White is your place. But, speaking from experience outside of just the meal pictured, you can get a damn good burger and a damn good milkshake there too. I loved how savory every item I had was, seasoned as sure as the south has a reputation for seasoning its food. The gravy was rich and creamy…hell, the white and the brown…and complemented the meal perfectly. I’m a huge fan of pinto beans, and these were cooked to the perfect texture and seasoned just right (pro-tip: get it with onions and relish). The squash was fresh, fried nice and crispy. It’s the perfect down home country style meal, but again, don’t feel obligated to stick to the meat and three format. The menu at Snow White is reminiscent of those old time diners.”
Town Square Social – full review – “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.”
Mount Juliet
Green Onion Deli – full review – “I like a good deli. And, I mean a real deli. There are places around Nashville that call themselves delis, but few of them really fit the bill. I want a Boar’s Head sign hanging in the window. I need about 60 sandwiches to choose from on the menu. I need something like I’d see up in the northeast when we go to visit family in New Jersey. That isn’t something that’s easy to come by down here in Middle Tennessee. So, you can imagine my delight when I scope out the vast menu at Green Onion Deli and realize it’s like reading the thesauras.”
Hibachi Jr. – full review – “The quality of this steak really sealed the deal on this dish, but I don’t want to overlook the rest of the entree. The vegetables were crisp, even after sitting in the box for 20 or so minutes during my commute. The rice was just the right amount of “sticky” and balanced flavor-wise. They also included plenty of Yum-Yum sauce, which most people in this area will truly appreciate.” –Cadbury
Hurt’s Hot Chicken – full review – “This instantly becomes our highest rated Nashville hot chicken, and deservedly so.”
Jersey Oven – full review – “Maybe I am being a little generous given how stoked I am just to be able to go somewhere nearby and get a pork roll, egg, and cheese. But, it’s damn good, and it’s damn different from any other breakfast you’ll get in the area. We’ll be making this apart of our regular breakfast rotation.”
Memo’s Mexican Kitchen – full review – “Memo’s has an extensive menu of great items, but I haven’t been able to shake the profound effect their quesabirria has had on me since the first time I tried it late in 2020. I don’t know how to describe it other than “I would bathe in this if no one stopped me.” That’s what I had for this particular meal, and it was fantastic as always – it’s smooth, rich, and hearty, but it has just the right amount of spice to dazzle the palate. The guacamole autentico might not be what you think of when you think of ‘guacamole,’ but for me, it’s the superior version of guacamole. You can’t get much more fresh than this appetizer, and I absolutely love the sting that the jalapenos on top provide. For the sake of getting a thorough review of course, I had to try some of Aura’s fajitas and found the chicken to be seasoned and cooked to perfection. I’ve yet to have a bad meal at Memo’s.”
Tholos Mediterranean – full review – “We started out with the hummus, the freshest I believe I’ve ever had. Aura ordered the chicken shish kabab while I went with the beef gyro plate. Simple ingredients form a classic combination – each piece of the entree speaks for itself, bringing something unique to the dish. Hearty beef and lamb, the crunch of the mixed green salad as well as the onions with sumac and grilled tomato, and the grounding nature of the rice adding balance across the entree makes for a complete dining experience. It was one of the freshest meals I’ve had in Mount Juliet, and it comes highly recommended from this writer.”
Yummy Pho Bac – full review – “I’m not kidding when I say it’s some of the best Pad Thai I’ve ever had. It’s definitely the best in the Mount Juliet area east of Nashville, and I’d put it right up there with the best in the entire region.”
Elsewhere
Crow’s Nest (Green Hills, TN) – full review – “For me, it’s one of the best bar experiences around Nashville. Good bar food. Good beer list. Good vibes. That’s all you need.”
Don Julio (Madison, TN) – full review – “Hidden gem in Nashville – Brittany and I have “our spot.” That spot is Don Julio in Madison. Hands down our favorite Mexican food in Nashville. I’ve never had a bad meal here.” -RighteousJesse
The Glade Diner (Gladeville, TN) – full review – “You go to The Glade Diner for the food, plain and simple. Fairly priced and loaded with down home flavor, there isn’t a substitute for miles.”
Kilgore’s (Smithville, TN) – full review – “I’m trying to tell y’all…it’s a peaceful drive up 70. Head out to Smithville one day, enjoy the scenery, check out the town square, move a little slower, eat a big meal at Kilgore’s, and live fat and happy for an evening.”
Metro Diner (Murfreesboro, TN) – full review – “A really strong overall experience for Metro Diner. It hit just right after a long weekend, and in particular, a Saturday night that may or may not have left me slightly hungover. It was good solid diner food served in a traditional diner setting. More of this in Middle Tennessee, please and thank you.”
Mojo’s Tacos (Franklin, TN) – full review – “Our plan was to just grab a few to sample. We’d take a nice quiet moment to sit and enjoy one another’s company and take in this plate of tacos. However, we were quite surprised when the food arrived. We vastly underrated the size of these things. I mean, usually when it comes to ‘bang for your buck,’ what you get when you pay the type of prices that Mojo’s Tacos sets is scant. They certainly provide value for your dollar, and our eyes widened when we saw just how stuffed these tacos were.”
Nadeen’s Hermitage Haven (Hermitage, TN) – full review – “It’s one of the best spots in Hermitage for their down-home Southern cooking and generous portions. I’ve yet to find a dish unsatisfying. Make it one of your Hermitage mainstays.”
If there’s a restaurant out there around Nashville somewhere that you think I should try, shout it out to me and we’ll get something on the books.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, second on Football & Other F Words, analyst for Stacking The Inbox, 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, the NFL Draft, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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