Middle TN DU'ers - help me out (restaurants).

[TNDemo]

I have some people coming from the northwest who want to do the whole southern thing and are visiting all the major cities across Tennessee. I am to meet them in Nashville next week and they want me to recommend a restaurant. I asked them what type of ethnicity, whatever, they preferred and much to my dismay they would like "southern" cooking - whatever that might end up being, hopefully not all deep fried. Any suggestions? Any B&B's or tea rooms or interesting places you can think of to eat???

[Jackson4Gore]

1. Calhoun's or Sweatt's

[lyrical di]

2. Waffle House

Hey, do the entire southern Redneck thing. Ya' gotta go to Waffle House and make sure you get the grits with cheese.

Cracker Barrel is common chain and started in Lebanon. People love to shop while they wait and it's big for Northerners.

Stay Away from some local places like Our Place in Mount Juliet which is a Republican base. I spit as I drive by.

[FreedomAngel82]

6. I LOVE Cracker Barrel

I'd definitley take them there!

[HamstersFromHell]

3. Don't know how "southern" they might consider it, but...

The Shack on Gallatin Rd. at the Sumner/Davidson county line is *excellent* seafood for a bit more than what you'd pay at someplace like Red Lobster. I've been a faithful patron of theirs for over 25 years.

Don't forget Loveless as well. Cherokee Steak House out in Gallatin is also highly recommended.

[NashVegas]

10. Yeah, Loveless

For the biscuits alone.

[Fly by night]

14. Loveless' food is not as good as it was before the new ownership.

And it's twice as expensive. Paying $16 for a meat and three is absurd.

Almost every TN city has at least one good meat & three that provides good, inexpensive food. I think the food at Harper's (on Jefferson St) is excellent, and you would be supporting a family of good Democracts. (The restaurant is owned by Sen. Thelma Harper's husband.)

Your friends might enjoy a ride out in the country to Puckett's in Leiper's Fork. The food there is great and a tour of the town would be fun too.

[H2O]

12. That's pretty good

As far as Gallatin Restaurants go, I like Larrivierre's on the Square. Good food there.

[HamstersFromHell]

13. Never been there...might have to try it.

And Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[H2O]

15. Thanks!

You can tell I'm new ay?

:hug:

[thegman]

4. City Cafe on the square in M'boro

Or if you want "soul food" there is The Kleerview on Highland Blv.

[Name removed]

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[FreedomAngel82]

7. There's a place here

in Chattanooga called "Cheeseburger Cheeseburger" or something like that. It's downtown near the Aquarium and it's SOOOooo good! Their burgers are really big and come with great fries and they have home-made shakes. It's really good. Plus there's a lot to do downtown here for a day or so. The music festival is now over though (tonight was the last night). Next door to that restaurant is this one restaurant where you get to watch a mystery show and eat dinner. I've never been but it seems like a lot of fun. It might be a lot more expensive though. There are some other good places down there to eat at.

[Lars39]

8. I second City Cafe in Murfreesboro.

The Loveless Cafe, too.
http://www.lovelesscafe.com/

[NashVegas]

9. Mad Platter, Monell's

Mad Platter at 6th & Monroe is one of the best places in town (it's expensive, mind you). New American cuisine meets the South.

For pure South, Monell's is right around the block and much less expensive. You get pub-style seating, they put the food out in baskets, based on whatever is coming out of the kitchen. There's no menu, you eat what they give you, and it is good. The fried chicken is wonderful and the bread puddings are major yummage.

http://monellsdining.citysearch.com/


From the "Cheap doesn't necessarily mean bad" department, take them to La Hacienda on Nolensville Road. There's also a great Thai place off of N'ville near Hayes lane.

[Elidor]

11. I'll second Mad Platter in Nashville and add Paula's Platter in Cookeville

Paula's is excellent. Four-star dining.

If you're looking for BBQ, I'd recommend Bubba Peppers in Algood. The pulled pork is excellent and the vinegar-based "slaw" is a must-have. Avoid the ribs.

[Duppers]

16. Cracker Barrel (maybe ?) / lemon pie question

Yes, I know it's a chain, but the food / prices are very decent.

I've a question--my family and I ate at a cracker barrel the other day and they served "Lemon Ice Box" pie and it was FROZEN!!

Lemon Ice Box is a southern euphemism for cream-based Lemon pie without the meringue. Well, this is what I thought.

They claimed it was supposed to be frozen.

What do y'all think?

[Lars39]

17. Welcome to DU, Duppers.

Did they expect you to gnaw on it until it thawed out? :shrug:
The ones I make are usually just verrrry cold. :)

[Duppers]

18. thank you kindly :)

I've a buddy in Knoxville named Lars. :)

[TN al]

19. Sunset Grill in Lebanon

Good food. Low key. Inexpensive. Southern. Love the cheeseburger and onion rings.

[4_TN_TITANS]

20. Definitely CrackerBarrel...

for traditional Southern. I've eaten at many farmer's tables, and it's the real deal.

For something completely different, there used to be an authentic Cajun restaurant in a little community called Milton east of Murfreesboro on hwy 96. You might try to look them up and make sure it's still there. People drive there from all over the state on the weekends for live Cajun music and food straight from the Bayou. You can take them all the way down to LA without leaving the state!

Here, I did a quick Google...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/yp/geo/TN/Milton/102-5162659-9437743