7 restaurants every newcomer should try
Recent transplants to the Nashville area may find some of our restaurant traditions a bit anachronistic, but isn't food always that way?
Rather than point newcomers to the latest and hippest, much of which can be found in other cities, or to the growing number of global cuisines, here's a list of some Nashville peculiarities to help get you grounded in how the locals eat.
First, there's the meat-and-three, which pretty much is a holdover from the plate lunch restaurants of the South. The fact that they have endured so well in Nashville is one of our historical quirks, but, still, the numbers have dwindled. Here are two truly iconic places that attract celebrities, pro athletes, judges and pipe fitters in their shared appreciation for authentic Southern comfort food.
• Arnold's
605 Eighth Ave. S.
615-256-4455
www.arnoldscountrykitchen.com
• Swett's
2725 Clifton Ave.
615-329-4418
http://swettsrestaurant.com
Nashville's love of barbecue has always been a constant, but the city is reawakening to the old-school joys of slow-cooked hogs. These places do it right with attention to method and a stable of proper side dishes. Some have even brought back the art of cooking whole hogs, which adds new meaning to the the phrase "pit in my stomach."
• Edley's BBQ
908 Main St.
615-873-4085
www.edleysbbq.com
• Martin's BBQ Joint
3108 Belmont Blvd.
615-200-1181
www.martinsbbqjoint.com
• Peg Leg Porker
903 Gleaves St.
615-829-6023
www.peglegporker.com
While other states such as Mississippi might have a lock on the catfish farming industry, Tennessee is no stranger to this ugly yet delicate whitefish. Just west of Nashville, Ashland City on the Cumberland River used to be home to several great catfish joints, but time and the flood of 2010 have reduced them to one. The Riverview was, in fact, deep underwater, but it's been built as a riverfront attraction. Take Charlotte to River Road for a great leisurely drive and don't forget to try the hushpuppies.
• Riverview Restaurant and Marina
110 Old River Road, Ashland City
615-792-7358
www.riverviewrestaurantandmarina.com
I saved the hottest for last. For aficionados of Nashville hot chicken, a scorching local specialty that has garnered national praise and attention, just the mention of the mean bird causes scalps to pop and brows to sweat. Start slow and work your way up to the really hot stuff or you'll be clearing your calendar for the next 48 hours. I'm only giving you one option here because you have to worship at the altar before becoming a hot chicken acolyte.
• Prince's Hot Chicken Shack
123 Ewing Drive #3
615-226-9442
www.facebook.com/PrincesHotChicken
Remember, these are just to get your bearings and gain an appreciation for Nashville's original food scene. After that the city is your oyster.
Reach Jim Myers at 615-259-8367 and on Twitter @ReadJimMyers.