Best Places to Eat in Nashville: A Beginner’s Guide

I may be a brand-new resident of Tennessee, but I am not new to exploring the capital city of Nashville! Before my recent move, Nashville was the city I would travel to when visiting my husband. Seeing as we are both food-obsessed, it only makes sense that our visits were filled with the best eats! Some places we discovered from online research (okay I discovered, research nerd over here 😉), while others were recommended by friends and locals. There is a great food scene in Nashville, and I look forward to discovering many more spots to share with you lovely readers! So, here are my Best Places to Eat in Nashville: A Beginner’s Guide!

Sweets

The Soda Parlor

The first time I visited Nashville was not planned! My flight got canceled out of Memphis and we had to rebook a flight out of Nashville. I was beyond upset that my flight got canceled, so we decided to find a treat to help sweeten the change of plans. The Soda Parlor was recommended to me by a friend, and it did not disappoint!

The shop is a hybrid of a retail spot, arcade, and old-school soda shop. It’s a unique space, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. We had one of the Waffle Mondaes, which was SO FREAKING GOOD. This “Mondae” waffle situation was one of the best things I have ever eaten. Sweet, warm delicious waffle base and completely addictive toppings. You gotta check them out if you are having an ice cream craving!

Five Daughters Bakery

After I started visiting Nashville regularly, I also started following Nashville food via social media (yup, I’m that much of a food fan). One of the treats that regularly popped up on Instagram was Five Daughters 100 Layer Donuts. I had to try them!

Five Daughters is a family-owned business with many spots around Nashville. They serve cookies, pastries, and of course donuts! Since the “cronut” thing got big a few years ago, I’ve always wanted to try one. Five Daughters has what they call a “croissant style 100 layer donut”. They come in seasonal and everyday flavors.

We tried a few seasonal flavors as well as the original. I enjoyed them and felt that they were a fun and unique twist on a traditional donut. My husband thought they were a bit rich for his taste, they are SUPER buttery! A little goes a long way, but I would still recommend trying them and getting all those amazing Instagram shots! 

The Painted Cupcake

Y’all know how much I love cupcakes. It’s kind of a passion… obsession… whatever, they’re amazing. Obviously, I had to look for the best cupcakes in Nashville! The Painted Cupcake has some of the best cupcakes around! They are pretty AND tasty, a treat for all of your senses! Yum!

Casual Eats

The Grilled Cheeserie

An entire restaurant devoted to grilled cheese, is there anything better? I think not! This small local chain is serving up amazing cheesy sandwich creations as well as salads, and some killer side dishes. We may have ordered a wee bit more food than we could eat… but it was all so good! Even the salad was tasty, which you might not expect from a grilled cheese shop! They also serve Tater-Tots, which gets major points in my book. They are a must-try for cheese fans! 

Biscuit Love

The name says it all. You’re in the South, you gotta try some biscuits. I never really got what the big deal was about biscuits until I moved to the South. Let me tell you, it’s a cherished staple here. Biscuit Love continues that tradition in a more modern setting. The food is Southern home cookin’ at its finest, and the restaurant itself feels hip in a comfortable and inviting way. As you would expect, the biscuits were perfection; plus, we tried the hummingbird family reserve, which was such a treat! I’d never had hummingbird cake (which is a classic southern cake) so this experience made me want to try more! Their version is covered in cream cheese frosting, which I’m a huge fan of. So good!

Loveless Café

Speaking of biscuits, and Southern Comfort food, Loveless Café is a Nashville original! It’s a bit of a drive from the city center, about half an hour. But, if you want a fun day trip, Loveless Café is certainly worth the effort! They’ve been serving southern staples since 1951 when the founders converted their home into a motel/restaurant.

The motel portion is no more, but the restaurant is still going strong! I’m not gonna lie, it’s become a bit of a tourist trap. But some things in life are worth the cheese! My husband and I weren’t blown away by our main meals (though they weren’t bad), but the biscuits made everything worth it! They were warm, they were fresh, and they were bottomless! I have no clue how many we ate, it was kind of crazy, but they are straight-up addictive! It may be time for us to go back and see if our lackluster main dishes were just a fluke, and to eat ALL of the biscuits! =)

 Burger Up

In my ongoing quest for the best burgers, I discovered Burger Up. They are committed to serving quality food sourced by local farmers. I love supporting any establishment that prides itself on quality while supporting the community. We’ve eaten here a few times and have never been disappointed. The meat is fresh and flavorful while the produce is right-from-the-garden beautiful. Burger and farm-to-table fans will want to check this place out!

Elevated Cuisine

Husk

When searching for the “best food in Nashville”, Husk will certainly pop up. Though, oddly enough I discovered it from watching the Netflix documentary ‘Chef’s Table’. During the episode, the creator of Husk, Sean Brock, talks about family, food, and tradition. If you’ve never seen ‘Chef’s Table’, you must check it out! It gives you a full picture of some very talented chefs from their personal life to the kitchen where they create masterpieces. I was inspired by Brocks’ passion for Southern cuisine and had to visit his Nashville restaurant location. 

My husband and I have now been to Husk twice and are continually impressed. The food is sophisticated, and well thought out, yet completely approachable. The setting is rustic with plenty of wood and natural elements. It feels like a place you could have a romantic date or an elevated brunch, while not being stuffy. I have no doubt whatever you order, you will not be disappointed. They also mix a mean cocktail, if you’re into that kind of thing 😉

Josephine

The most memorable and delicious meal we have had in Nashville was at Josephine! The restaurant is inviting, the staff is attentive, and the food is phenomenal! Their menu is seasonal, so depending on when you go there will be different entrees available. The Salmon Corn Chowder we had is still one of the best things we have ever eaten. I’ve never had salmon so perfectly cooked; it was heaven. The Cobbler for 2 was the perfect way to end our meal. They have a ‘Tasting Table Experience’ which we must try!    

This is just my Best Places to Eat in Nashville: A “Beginner’s Guide”, I cannot wait to try even more amazing food! Let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations! I have a feeling I am going to enjoy living (and eating) here! =)               

If you love reading about my favorite food joints, check out my Must-Try Food in Austin Texas!

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