Nashville Best Dining Bets
Best Spot for a Romantic Dinner: The sumptuous country-French ambience and top-tier service alone would qualify Zola, 3001 West End Ave. (tel. 615/320-7778), as a perfect setting for an intimate meal with that certain someone. Award-winning chef Debra Paquette’s creative cuisine makes it deliciously ideal. Start with gourmet cheeses accompanied by orange-apricot bread and apple crackers, then sample the signature paella or the pistachio salmon with black-bean bread pudding and spicy banana yogurt. Best Spot for a Business Lunch: Capitol Grille, 231 Sixth Ave. N. (tel. 615/345-7116), at the Hermitage Hotel, is very popular with the downtown business set. Why? It could be the prime spot next to the state capitol, or the traditional ambience, or perhaps the secret is in the exclusive wine list, grilled steaks, and espresso fudge cake. Best for Kids: It’s not everywhere that you get to eat in a restaurant next to a full-size trolley car, and anyway, isn’t spaghetti one of the major food groups? For less than most restaurants charge for a round of drinks, the whole family can eat at The Old Spaghetti Factory, 160 Second Ave. N. (tel. 615/254-9010), in the heart of The District. Best for Big Families: You’ll think it’s Sunday dinner at Grandma’s when you enter the cozy Victorian home that houses Monell’s. You’ll share a big table with family and fellow travelers, passing dishes of old-fashioned Southern staples such as fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and greens. Monell’s, 1235 Sixth Ave. N. tel. 615/248-4747, downtown. Best Soul Food: One of Nashville’s oldest minority-owned restaurants, Swett’s is still the benchmark for home-style comfort foods such as pork chops, slow-simmered green beans, cornbread, and macaroni and cheese. That first bite of banana pudding may bring tears to your eyes. Swett’s Restaurant, 2725 Clifton Ave. tel. 615/329-4418. www.swettsrestaurant.com. Unforgettable Dining Experiences
Slurping a Chocolate Shake at the Elliston Place Soda Shop: Sure, every city has its retro diner these days, but the Elliston Place Soda Shop, 2111 Elliston Place (tel. 615/327-1090), is the real thing. It’s been in business since 1939 and makes the best chocolate shakes in Nashville. Sopping up Red-Eye Gravy with Homemade Biscuits at the Loveless Cafe, 8400 Tenn. 100 (tel. 615/646-9700): This perennially popular country cookin’ outpost serves the best traditional Southern breakfasts in the entire area. But be prepared to wait for a table. Sipping Wine while Perusing the Extensive Menu at Sunset Grill, 2001 Belcourt Ave. (tel. 615/386-FOOD): The Sunset Grill abounds with fresh, flavorful fare such as salads with field greens, apples, blue cheese, and almonds, and interesting fusions of tastes and styles. For years now, this has been one of the trendiest restaurants in town — and consistently one of the best.
Nashville Travel Guide
- What’s New
- Introduction
Frommer’s Favorite Experiences,
Best Dining Bets,
Best Hotel Bets,
Best Free Things to Do,
…
- Planning a Trip
When to Go,
Calendar of Events,
Getting There,
Escorted & Package Tours,
Health & Insurance,
…
- Getting to Know
Fast Facts,
Orientation,
Neighborhoods in Brief,
Getting Around,
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- Hotels (List all)
- Restaurants (List all)
Cafes,
…
- Attractions (List all)
Neighborhoods Worth a Visit,
Parks & Gardens,
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- Nightlife (List all)
The Performing Arts,
The Club & Music Scene,
Bars & Pubs,
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- Shopping (List all)
- In Depth
Dateline,
History,
Recommended Music,
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- Side Trips
Franklin, Columbia, & Scenic U.S. 31,
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- Organized Tours
- Walking Tours
- Active Pursuits
- Spectator Sports
- Suggested Itineraries
In One Day,
In Two Days,
In Three Days,
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Excerpted from Frommer's Nashville & Memphis, 8th Edition, © 2009, Wiley Publishing, Inc.
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