Although still known and loved for Southern traditions such as meat-and-threes, Nashville has come into its culinary prime. With chefs and restaurants earning national acclaim, the dining scene is more sophisticated and diverse than ever before. Chain restaurants abound, but know this: Everywhere there’s a chain, there’s also a nearby locally owned eatery serving much, much better food and atmosphere. Nashville’s culinary range means you can start your day with biscuits and gravy, slurp ramen for lunch, hit a killer coffee shop or brewery in the afternoon, and feast on elevated Italian fare with a craft cocktail for dinner. On that front, drinking in Nashville is practically a sport (though people who choose not to imbibe have plentiful options, too). The city boasts tons of dive bars, breweries, trendy cocktail spots, and gourmet restaurants with extensive wine lists. The hard stuff is also a point of pride with Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel, and Uncle Nearest whiskey distilleries nearby, and distilleries such as Corsair and Nelson’s Green Brier within the city limits.
Classic highlights of the city's dining scene include:
* Best Meat-and-Three: Arnold’s Country Kitchen is the granddaddy of Nashville meat-and-threes. People line up outside the 8th Avenue diner every weekday to get their hands on a rotating assortment of country classics including fried chicken, mac and cheese, butter beans, and tomato pie. Nowhere does Southern home-style cooking better.
* Best Laid-Back Fine Dining: Urban Cowboy Public House is quietly serving up some of the city’s least expensive, most inventive “fancy food.” From oysters with ginger and fish sauce to abalone mushroom broth, it’s a can’t-miss spot for anyone serious about food.
* Best Hot Chicken: While I enjoy several of Nashville’s newer hot chicken haunts (Hattie B’s is excellent despite its super-touristy nature), there’s no substitute for Prince’s Hot Chicken. Their salty, spicy, crispy, juicy hot chicken is the standard against which all others are measured; it’s a must for food fanatics.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
