A Visitor’s Guide to Nashville: Sightseeing, My Favorite Restaurants and the Best Bars in Town.

Favorite Restaurants

Kayne Prime –This restaurant has received many well-deserved accolades in various publications. THIS IS MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN NASHVILLE.  Kayne is an upscale steakhouse which also offers seafood, pork, and chicken entrees on their menu. The appetizers and side dishes have a creative farm to table essence. They have an extensive wine selection as well as some artistic craft libations. Located near downtown Nashville, the bar has a large window offering a beautiful view of the city skyline.  Reservations are recommended and I suggest you request Dakota as your server. Not only does he provide excellent service, but he has some of his own creative cocktails not found on the drink menu. Be sure to ask him about these.

Monell’s at the Manor – Monell’s serves southern food which is served family style.The dining area consists of large tables which seats 10 people per table. Come on in and sit down and do not be surprised if you are sitting next to someone you do not know. In the south there is a saying “there is no such thing as a stranger, only friends we have not met yet”. The menu changes daily but you can always expect to see fried chicken on the menu 7 days a week, with every meal and when you taste it you will understand why it is a favorite. The meal is a set price and is all inclusive of at least 3 different kinds of meats plus vegetables, salads, drinks, and dessert.  Monell’s has three different locations around Nashville but my recommendation is “the Manor” which is a renovated historic southern mansion located right next to the Nashville airport.  Reservations are not accepted. Check their website for hours and the daily menu.

The Loveless Café – this restaurant is an institution in Nashville.  The Loveless Café started in 1951 when Lon and Annie Loveless opened their home to hungry travelers on Highway 100.  Their fried chicken and homemade biscuits became so popular that they eventually expanded and built a 14-room motel for overnight guests.  Today, the Loveless Café still serves those homemade biscuits sometimes making over 10,000 of them a day. The motel rooms have been renovated into small gift shops. Reservations are not accepted, and you can expect to wait for a table…. but it is worth every minute of it.

Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack South – Nashville hot chicken is popping up on menus all over the country, but this is the ORIGINAL Nashville hot chicken.  For almost 100 years, Prince’s has been serving hot chicken from the mid-morning until the late evening.  The story of this renowned dish was created by an angry girlfriend.  Thorton Prince was a good-looking man and had the reputation of being a womanizer. One night after being out late, his girlfriend decided to get even with him. Prince woke up in the morning to the smell of fried chicken cooking but this time she prepared it with as many hot spices and peppers hoping to make it so fiery, he would suffer. Instead Prince loved it and asked for a second helping. It was at that moment that Nashville hot chicken was born. Prince improved the recipe and opened his own restaurant “Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack.” Today, Prince’s great niece, Ms. Andre Prince Jeffries is running this restaurant.

Franklin Dining

The Red Pony – this is another one of my favorites and they have received several accolades. This upscale restaurant has a stylish décor offering diners an intimate ambiance, excellent service, and fabulous food. The fare served here is an eclectic version of southern classics. Reservations are recommended. 

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant – this restaurant was developed after the original Puckett Grocery in Leiper’s Fork Tennessee. This restaurant has the ‘’feel” of a small grocery store but the store shelves have been removed.  They serve an authentic meat and three; you pick your meat and three side dishes. Puckett’s is also famous for its slow smoked BBQ.  The restaurant offers a casual laid-back atmosphere and if you are lucky you will be able to listen to some live music while you eat. Reservations are not accepted but both Puckett Grocery and downtown Franklin are well worth the visit.