Nashville is one of our favorite quick getaways — just a few hours from home and full of great places to eat. Below are some of our top lunch spots in the city. Many of these are great for dinner as well, but we tend to stop in for midday meals.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, The Pharmacy, Two Boots Pizza, Rippy’s Bar and Grill
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
http://www.hattieb.com
112 19th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
615-678-4794
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken is not to be missed.
We found Hattie B’s at a Hot Chicken Festival and fell in love. There’s usually a line, but it moves quickly and the food is worth the wait.
Hattie B’s heat levels range from mild to extreme:
Southern – No heat
Mild or Medium – light burn
Hot! – noticeable heat
Damn Hot – very spicy
Shut the Cluck Up!!! – extremely spicy
My go-to is Hot! and I plan to try Damn Hot next time. That final level looks intense.
The sides are excellent. We love the Black-Eyed Pea Salad (I have the recipe on the blog) and the pimento mac and cheese is a favorite as well.
Black-Eyed Pea Salad Recipe
I also made a quick Nashville Hot Chicken Bites recipe inspired by Hattie B’s.
Nashville Hot Chicken Bites Recipe
Make sure to save room for banana pudding — it’s delicious.
Hattie B’s is expanding with a location in Birmingham — we can’t wait to try it.
The Pharmacy Burger Parlor and Beer Garden
http://thepharmacynashville.com
731 McFerrin Ave
Nashville, TN 37206
615-712-9517
The Pharmacy serves some of the best burgers in Nashville. The tater tots are addictive and the buns really make the burger — they’re that good.
They use 100% Tennessee-raised beef and pure cane sugar in their handmade sodas. Every wurst is ground, stuffed, and smoked in-house, and they even make their own condiments — the maple mustard is a standout.
There’s an excellent beer selection — we discovered a new favorite (Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro) — and a lovely biergarten out back that’s perfect for a burger and a beer.
Two Boots Pizza
http://twoboots.com
1925 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203
615-340-4343
Two Boots brings New York–style pizza to Nashville. Pizza is my favorite food, so I’m always trying new spots — we stumbled on Two Boots and kept coming back.
They offer slices and whole pies, and they’ll do half-and-half on a whole pizza, which is great when you want fresh, hot slices to share.
We’ve tried the Miss Kitty (topped with Hattie B’s hot chicken, blue cheese dressing, jalapeños, and a side of pickles), the Traditional Pepperoni, and The Newman (sopressata and sweet Italian sausage on a white pizza). The Newman, named after Newman from Seinfeld, surprised us — even a reluctant white-pizza skeptic loved it.
Miss Kitty is very spicy — they use Hattie B’s higher heat levels — but it’s a fantastic flavor combination. The traditional pepperoni is excellent as well. Try a slice of a few varieties when you visit.
Rippy’s Bar and Grill
http://www.rippysbarandgrill.com
429 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203
615-394-3457
Rippy’s is a convenient stop when you’re near the Bridgestone Arena — it sits right across the street. They offer live music, good drinks, and solid pub-style food.
On a recent visit before a show we shared nachos, chicken fingers, and the Super Sampler Platter (ribs, pork loin, wings, sausage, cheddar, and onion rings). Everything was tasty, and the atmosphere is lively. I’m looking forward to trying more of their cocktails and shooters — several include RumChata, which sounded great.
The location on Broadway is ideal for grabbing a bite or a drink before a concert or to kick off a night on the strip.
Here are more posts on Nashville Eats:
Biscuit Love – Nashville
Husk – Nashville
Adele’s – Milk Punch Cocktail
Music City Eats
Nashville Roundup
Where are your favorite places to eat in Nashville?
What should we try on our next trip?
