276 Best Restaurants in Tennessee, USA

Not surprisingly, music is the theme at this busy restaurant on Beale Street, the city's bluesy entertainment district. Up to 500 people can be accommodated inside and on the two-story outdoor patio. Southern plate lunches, burgers, pork chops, pasta, catfish, and barbecued ribs make up the comforting menu. The kitchen is open until 3 am; on weekends the bar serves until 5 am. Bands play Thursday through Sunday, and there's karaoke Monday through Wednesday.

Since opening in 2018, this eatery has dropped \"coffee\" from its name but certainly not from its menu, which includes coffee, coffee cocktails (espresso martini!), dessert cocktails, and an extensive list of traditional cocktails. The atmosphere is that of a European café with a menu to match: pastries, panini, and desserts that are both delicious and gorgeous. Americano Lounge hosts live jazz performances and cleverly themed events throughout the year.

This chef-driven restaurant, with its relaxed yet upscale feel and menu full of character, fits seamlessly into the Sylvan Park neighborhood that surrounds it. Their laid-back happy hour has familiar favorites with thoughtful touches, and their dinner entrées tout flavors that can satisfy even refined palates.

A stop at this mercantile to browse the locally made crafts and kitschy mountain trinkets is almost a requisite when passing through Townsend, but don't pass up a visit to the cozy café for a sandwich, burger, or salad enjoyed on the rustic shaded porch.

Even if it plays up the "good 'ol days" kitsch, the Applewood is a welcome respite from the other places on the parkway. The two restaurants at either end of the complex have nearly identical menus that feature family recipes developed over time, perfected with effort, and prepared with fresh ingredients. You'll feel welcome from the minute you sit down. Wait times can sometimes extend to an hour during busy seasons, but there are shops and a winery on-site to fill the time.

More than your average food court, Assembly Food Hall offers more than 30 restaurants and bars spread across two levels in two wings. Many of the restaurant stalls are outposts of favorite local establishments like Prince's Hot Chicken and Pharmacy Burger, offering limited menus of their \"greatest hits.\" With bars and live music stages on each level, the atmosphere is always lively. Another bonus is the ability for diners at a single table to order from different restaurants using their phones and then receive a text message when their food is ready. It sure beats having to stand in multiple lines.

Once featured on the Food Network, the Athens Family Restaurant is a diner that has all the appearances of a classic greasy spoon but instead serves delicious Greek food for all three meals. Enjoy gyro, pitas, and Greek sides, as well as American diner favorites like burgers and breakfast sandwiches.

A plant-based restaurant, AVO is located in the mindful-lifestyle district called ONEC1TY. As such, it offers decadent vegan options, a weekday happy hour, and thoughtful waitstaff trained to offer helpful information for those with specific nutritional needs. If you're visiting with a friend, try splitting a few small plates to sample the menu.

One of the better options for a casual meal, Bakersfield specializes in Mexican street food that is authentic and quick. The bar also serves more than 100 types of tequila so you can get the full experience. It's a great place for lunch or a late-night bite after dancing on Broadway.

Serious coffee connoisseurs shouldn't leave the city without a visit to one of Barista Parlor's outposts. The Gulch location is housed on the first level of the W, and everything inside—from the wood tables and platters to the art and barista aprons—are sourced from local makers and craftspeople, so you better believe they're serious about keeping it bespoke. The coffee and food options take time, so don't stop by in a hurry, but the attention to detail is worth it.

The East Nashville location is the spot that started it all for this growing local coffee chain. Barista Parlor is known for paying almost an excruciating level of detail to its coffee beverages, so you know you're getting a quality cup every time you visit. They also sell pastries and small bites, served up in a painstakingly hip environment.

The original East Nashville Barista Parlor was such a hit that the hip shop has since expanded to several locations around town, including this spot in Germantown. Conveniently located right next to popular dinner joint City House, baristas put an extraordinary amount of care into each cup of coffee brewed; you can taste that attention to detail each time you visit.

This location of the national chain is both cozy and airy, with woven baskets as light fixtures; it serves upscale bites influenced by the street food and beach cultures of Southern California, Uruguay, and Brazil. Tacos (Bibb lettuce is available instead of flour shells) and rice bowls dominate the menu, as well as fresh-squeezed juice and cocktails; there's also a kids' menu. Remember that this is a cashless establishment and that you can save your spot in line by joining the waitlist on their website. There's another location in East Nashville.

This is one of Nashville's most exclusive dining options, a 24-seat restaurant where reservations are both required and difficult to get. The reward is a chef's choice multicourse meal that features dishes like swordfish served with pumpkin and marigold, and cocao beef tongue served with vaquero beans. On the other hand, the casual Big Bar is open daily with a good selection of beverages (including several nonalcoholic ones) and a one-item food menu (nachos).

Bella Napoli's brick-oven-baked pizzas and decadent pasta dishes will send you searching for this quaint eatery tucked in an alleyway on the back end of Edgehill Village. On warm nights, you can kick back on the romantically lit patio and enjoy good food, your favorite bottle of wine, and occasional live music.

Deft knife-juggling chefs prepare steaks, shrimp, scallops, and lobsters on a steel cooking table surrounded by diners. Known for the Benihana special (grilled lobster with house dressing of mustard and ginger sauce), this lively place, complete with karaoke, also has a sushi bar. The restaurant is housed in a stunning Japanese-style building near the Memphis Hilton in East Memphis. There's a children's menu and an early-bird supper deal.

Big Shake's juicy hot chicken really holds its own—especially when it comes to its Hot Mess sandwich loaded with coleslaw, pickles, and ghost pepper sauce—but it's also one of the rarer places in town where hot fish is also on the menu. Crispy, golden breaded catfish and whiting fillets also get the famous dry rub treatment here with four different spice levels; there's even a chicken and fish combo platter so diners can get the best of both worlds. Add an order of fried Oreos at the end for a little extra fun.

Biscuit Love opened its first outpost in The Gulch, and the hip new breakfast spot was so popular that lines poured out the door each morning. Now the beloved eatery is open in Hillsboro Village, serving up homemade biscuits and breakfast plates until 3 pm each day. Be warned: unless you get there early, you should be prepared to wait in line.

What started as a beloved Airstream food truck is now a brick-and-mortar staple in the neighborhood that's hailed for its daily scratch-made Southern-style biscuits. There are nine different biscuit entrees to choose from, made with a variety of meats, gravies, and toppings, but there are plenty of tempting \"Without a Biscuit\" options like the surprisingly tasty egg-topped Lindstrom made with shaved brussels sprouts, hazelnuts, and shredded Parmesan. There are additional locations in Hillsboro Village and Franklin. 

What goes better with buttermilk biscuits than a historical Queen Anne Victorian home? This one, affectionately known as the Corn House (after the Corn family who lived there from 1920 to 1980), is home to some of the best Southern brunch around, from the traditional (biscuits and sausage gravy with a side of cheese grits) to the unconventional (a biscuit burger with pimento cheese and tomato jam). There are additional locations in The Gulch and Hillsboro Village. 

Housed in a historic building from the 1890s over a tunnel where Al Capone legendarily smuggled booze from boats on the Cumberland River to Printers Alley nightclubs, Black Rabbit comes by its speakeasy vibe honestly. Exposed brick walls, tall ceilings, and the original hardwood floors maintain the Roaring '20s ambience, as do jumpin' jazz performers that play there frequently on weekends. The long bar is a favorite neighborhood gathering spot, especially during the restaurant's generous happy hour. Plates are designed and sized to be shared over a drink or two, and most of the food benefits from a kiss of smoke and fire from the wood-fired grill and oven.

Breaded and fried to a golden brown, fried catfish is a classic Southern dish that can be found all over the city, but take it a step further with Bolton's hot fish. This is a Nashville mainstay for a reason—they make hot chicken and fish better than anyone else. They even have vegetarian options. 

The eastern outpost of the local Bongo Java empire, this location is in East Nashville's bustling Five Points neighborhood. Stop in for coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches, and more, served up in a refreshingly unpretentious environment by a friendly knowledgeable staff. Bongo also has beer on tap and a selection of board games (thanks to a 2017 merger with Game Point Café), so it's the perfect spot to transition from daytime work to evening play.

Located right across the street from the Ryman Auditorium, Boqueria is an ideal spot for a preshow meal made up of flavorful Spanish tapas that emerge quickly from the kitchen as soon as they are ready. You might not receive your plates in the order you requested them, but everything comes together to create a cohesive meal; favorite dishes include traditional Spanish staples such as patatas bravas (Spanish fried potatoes), grilled octopus, and paella, or diners can opt for a choice between two prix fixe menus that offer culinary tours through Spain. Don't forget about the sangria and creative cocktails to accompany the bold flavors.

Celebrity chef Michael Mina's restaurant on the top floor of the JW Marriott features impressive offerings of both whiskey and beef along with unparalleled panoramic vistas of Downtown and beyond. In addition to wood-fired steaks, the restaurant's signature Maine lobster potpie is prepared table-side as dinner and a show.

Twin brothers joined forces to start up a food truck before moving their operation to a permanent location in this converted house with an expansive patio. The atmosphere is buoyant as diners scarf down gourmet burgers that are more than a handful or po'boy sandwiches overstuffed with fried seafood or chicken. A small bar is a popular gathering spot for the neighborhood to enjoy local beers and a little sports on the television.

For those craving a burger that's a cut above the rest, Burger Republic offers up 12 different variations—like a fancier version of the In-N-Out classic or a Southern-inspired burger with a Jack Daniel's honey glaze—with a focus on locally sourced meats and ingredients. For the full artery-clogging experience, order a handmade shake spiked with your choice of booze.

Popular with all ages, including young families, this comfortable neighborhood hangout serves—you guessed it—burgers, as well as soups and salads. Beef and other meats are sourced from a local farm and butcher shop.