Since we've had a few jam-packed and lengthy lessons in recent weeks, I thought I'd lighten the load a bit this week with a dose of casual reading. When I first moved to Nashville, it didn't take long before I was comfortable with considering it, "my city." That's because it is a city that welcomes you with arms wide open, which is becoming less and less common in today's world, especially in the US. To be sure, there is a shared sense of pride among native Nashvillians concerning the fact that they were there before it was cool, when it was just a small city full of big country music stars. However, those same people will be the first to tell you how delighted they are to share their city with you.
This week, our lesson all about Music City should read like a greatest hits album. My goal is not for this greatest hits collection to be similar to one created by, say, the Beatles; although I love the Beatles and such an album would be filled with brilliant songs, they would be songs that everyone has heard. For comparison, I'll choose another musician from the UK: I want these greatest hits to have more of an Ed Sheeran vibe. Sure, there will be some classics, and a few of you out there may know about every entry, but I hope for there to be some surprises along the way. Keep in mind also that, aside from a handful of visits, Erin and I haven't been in Nashville for over a year. That means this list will not claim to be hip, trendy, or up-and-coming...and to quote Tracy Byrd, "we like it that way." Last thing before we get to the fun stuff: these are just my opinions! Like always, I encourage you to get out there and explore, since that's the only surefire way to find your own greatest hits. I love you Nashville...don't get mad if you don't see your favorites here.
Best Karaoke - Santa's Pub
I chose Santa's for the karaoke category, but the truth is, I could've chosen it for best alotta things. This place is the only one of it's kind, probably in the entire world. There are a lot of good karaoke bars, there are tons of fantastic dive bars, a plethora of holes-in-the-wall, but please, I beg you, go find me another Christmas-themed, double-wide trailer that sells cheap beer, features karaoke and is owned by a real-life, cigarette-smoking, beer-drinking, country Santa. You will find every type of person in this off-the-beaten-path paradise, topping the long list of reasons why you NEED to go check it out.
Best Indian Food - Woodland's
You all know by now how much Erin and I love Indian Food. You may have also noticed how carnivorous we are. So when we endorse a 100% vegetarian Indian joint, I hope it convinces you just how flavorful and filling the food at Woodland's is. They have an outstanding lunch buffet every day (except Mondays), and the prices are very affordable. You will definitely need a Mysore coffee afterwards to rouse you from your food coma.
Best BBQ - Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint (4th Ave. Location)
When you walk in the front door, it looks and smells just like any other great BBQ spot. But Martin's separates itself with the second floor. Just upstairs is a semi-open-air area with a bar, a variety of games, and a stage for live music. Pair that with mouth-watering BBQ, and I might never leave. There are MANY fantastic BBQ places in Nashville, but location and atmosphere give Martin's the edge in my book.
Best Local Brew - Tennessee Brew Works
I might get some push-back on such a hotly debated topic as craft beer, but Tennessee Brew Works is doing it right. They keep their selection relatively small, and when they make a beer they make it great. Southern Wit is my favorite beer (anywhere) to have when it's warm out, which is good, because it is always warm out in Nashville. And if you have the good fortune to stumble upon the Tennessee No. 12 Imperial Porter, you better snatch up as much as you can, because that, my friends, is the correct way to get a buzz going. Go say hi to my good bud Thomas at the brewery to try all they have to offer - including some incredible food!
Best Sushi - Samurai
Traditionally, in Japan, sushi is reserved for special occasions or splurging, much like a good steak here in America. For this reason, I love it when I can find an unassuming, no-frills sushi place. For one, it's a clever juxtaposition of luxury against modesty, but it is also an unmistakable indication that the proprietors are pouring all their energy and resources into the quality of the food and nothing else, which is how it should be. I will gladly endure a tiny upstairs bathroom and write my order on a pad of paper if it means my sushi is going to be the best in town. This is Samurai.
Best Cocktail - Patterson House
I'm not sure if one single item is affected more by trends and creative whims than the cocktail. I don't think there's anything that hasn't been mixed with alcohol and put in a glass throughout the course of history. Along the same lines, the unadvertised, unmarked, speak-easy type cocktail bars seem to be popping up all over the place. However, we're going with a Nashville classic. Patterson House and The Catbird Seat - the exclusive, spectator-kitchen dining experience upstairs - look like any other home-turned-music-office along Music Row. It's the type of place you have to hear about. Now, after years of excellent cocktails and multiple James Beard-nominated chefs upstairs, pretty much everyone has heard about this gem hidden in plain sight. Nevertheless, the allure and mystery are still alive as you step behind the curtain into the dimly lit, luxurious lounge and bar. The cocktails are all hand-crafted and fantastic, and, as you can imagine with one of the greatest chef-driven concepts in the city upstairs, the bar bites are to-die-for.
Best Country Store - Loveless Cafe
Do you, like me, LOVE Cracker Barrel? If so, please make your way to The Loveless Cafe. Enjoy some classic southern recipes in the kind of epic portions that necessitate loosening the belt a notch or two. After dessert (you must order dessert), head over to the country store, where you can buy pretty much any ingredient from the meal you just enjoyed! This is southern hospitality at its finest and most delicious.
Best Bite by the Water - Blue Moon Waterfront Grille
There's something about a marina restaurant that makes me feel complete. Blue Moon is situated in a cove on the banks of the Cumberland River, and is surprisingly quiet despite its proximity to downtown and the interstate. I'm sure you can already picture some fried fish, hushpuppies, cole slaw, a basket of fries, a cold beverage, boats bobbing at the docks and some summery music playing. Y'all can have your rooftops and patios, this is my kind of outdoor dining.
Best Park - Vanderbilt Campus
Nashville is a green town. Yes, sustainability is a point of emphasis here, but also there are a multitude of green spaces to enjoy a sunny afternoon. In my completely biased opinion, the Vanderbilt University Campus is the best green space that nobody knows about. It's close to downtown, it's quiet, there's tons of shade and it's big enough to do some exploring. If you don't mind sharing with some hard-working students, this is a place where the noise and bustle of the city disappear.
Best Bar - Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge
First of all, what a name. You'll have to travel out to Madison to experience this one-of-a-kind venue, but let me tell you, it is worth the 15-minute drive. Part dive bar, part something you can't really put your finger on, there is always live music, there are always 70's and 80's classics on the TVs and the drinks are always cheap. Any bar menu that features a walking taco (AKA a Frito pie) is a bar I want to be at often! Throw in the fact that they have Old Style, a beer that pretty much only Cubs fans like me have heard of, and I would gladly make the drive (or Uber) out here several nights a week.
Best Golf - Ted Rhodes Golf Course
Nashville has a great selection of public golf courses and they all have their own style. The one thing I look for as a golfer is how well a course takes care of its greens. In my experience, Ted Rhodes does the best job in that department. It also has a course that presents a great mix of challenging and fun golf. There are other courses in the area that may be more scenic or have better clubhouses, but Ted Rhodes gets my vote.
Best Day Trip - Rock Island State Park
This is a tough one, because there are so many fun and exciting things to explore surrounding the Nashville area. We love Rock Island State Park because you get to take a scenic drive through the country, they have large, well-developed campsites and the waterfalls make for great hiking views. In addition, it's a long enough drive to get to the park that it feels like a mini-vacation from city life. On the way back into town, we stopped at Stones River National Battleground. It's hard to describe the feeling you get while imagining the beautiful countryside in front of you transformed to a chaotic battlefield. This was an eventful and memorable trip for us, and we barely left our own backyard!
Best Veggie Sausage - Fido
I know this is a strangely specific category, but this isn't just best veggie sausage in Nashville, but of all-time. I love meat, it's not secret. However, I also love animals and I love the idea of not being fat all the time, so I will occasionally go for the veggie sausage. I can honestly say that if I ate every meal at Fido, I could be vegetarian: the sausage and veggie burger are that delicious, as is the rest of the menu and the coffee. Be prepared for a line, but don't skip Fido!
Best Home-Cooked Meal - TJ's Bar-B-Q & Fish
How do you know your meal is home-cooked? When it's served steaming hot through the back door straight into your front seat. This place is about as off-the-beaten-path as it gets, but please go...do it for me. The people who work here are incredibly friendly, the food is amazing and the price is right. The fish sandwich is the showstopper, but they have an unexpectedly diverse menu, and there are no wrong choices.
Best Date Night - Josephine
When you're together for almost four years, you go on lots of dates. Some are casual, some are fancy, some are experiments and some are tried-and-true. Our most consistently great date spot in Nashville is Josephine in the 12 South neighborhood. We love that it is set smack dab in the middle of this neighborhood, giving it a cosmopolitan sort of feel. The decor is just our style: rustic, yet still chic, but not pretentious. The food and service are infallibly outstanding, and executive chef Andy Little is always coming up with new creations to keep us on our toes. You get a meal that you'd expect from a fine-dining restaurant, you are treated like you're at a fine-dining restaurant, yet the prices are nowhere near exorbitant and the atmosphere is a perfect mix of casual and sophisticated. Oh and the wine list is expertly-curated and not overwhelming, like it tends to be in other restaurants of the same caliber. Can you tell that we love it here?
Best Coffee Shop - Dose Coffee and Tea
If we were to rank establishments based on how many times we've visited, Dose would be número uno. If you don't have a favorite coffee shop that you frequent, you may not understand where I'm coming from, but even so, you will feel right at home at Dose. They have great local options for breakfast and lunch. Inside, it is delightfully minimalist and everyone is cheerful (patrons and employees). The coffee is particularly addictive, and they have all the beans and accessories you could want available for purchase. The menu may have changed, but my go-to was always the breakfast BLT and Erin always wanted the Spicy Egg. Brb I am now starving.
Now for some rapid-fire:
Best Free Activity - Bachelorette Party-Watching
Best Hike - Garrison Creek Trail
Best Time to Drive on the Interstate - 9pm to 5am (Take the back roads!)
Best Way to Beat the Heat - Cabrewing
Erin's Picks:
Best Yoga - Hot Yoga Plus
Best Hangover Cure - Hugh-Baby's BBQ & Burger Shop
Categories I will not touch with a 10-foot pole:
Best Hot Chicken
Best Brunch
Best Neighborhood
Best Patio/Rooftop
I hope this was helpful for y'all! Firstly, get to Nashville pronto; it's a unique and amazing place to visit and to live. Secondly, when you go, tell me all about your experiences and the places you loved the most. Hopefully, you can create your own greatest hits collection! Thanks Nashville, we'll be back soon!
If you haven't read Lesson One yet, it gives you a good background on my vision for Graduate School...go check it out! I lived in Nashville from August, 2012 to March, 2018. If you like the pictures here, there are so many more in the gallery for all of our Nashville adventures over the years. Any questions about specific locations mentioned or pictured, or about our journey in general? Visit Office Hours! My door is always open.
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