276 Best Restaurants in Tennessee, USA

Breakfast is the specialty at this Nashville institution with 20 kinds of pancakes (sweet and savory) and homemade syrups. A favorite with locals, students, and celebrities, there are good soups and sandwiches for lunch—or you can stick with the pancakes, which are served till closing in late afternoon. Get there by 8:15 on weekdays to avoid lines, but be prepared to wait on weekends.

The interior of this attractive "Nash-Mex" cantina welcomes guests with bold accents of color and warm exposed brick walls to create a cozy environment. The menu features comfort food as well, with inventive tacos stuffed with Nashville hot chicken or fried pickles, plus more traditional Mexican fillings like adobo chicken and carnitas. The restaurant is also known for excellent burgers and one of the favorite margaritas in town.

Expect fresh ingredients and friendly neighborhood service at Pancho & Lefty’s. There are plenty of savory tacos (don't miss the barbacoa or adobe chicken), fajitas, and quesadillas to choose from, which we suggest you complement with one or two of their signature margaritas or boozie slushies. There's another location in Melrose. 

Park Cafe serves rich entrées, a selection of small plates, and a full wine program. In addition to their dinner service, they also feature an enticing happy hour with bar favorites like pizzas and fried pickles.

This spacious Italian restaurant located in the ONEC1TY community is known for its pastas and wood-fired pizzas. There are plenty of dish variations with veggies and savory meats, and the kids' menu has classic dishes and a gelato scoop that will pass the taste test for even the pickiest young eaters. 

Celebrity television chef Paula Deen brought her country cooking to Nashville with this all-you-can-eat restaurant where meals are served family-style to your table. Choose from two to four classic Southern main dishes, like fried chicken, pork chops, or chicken and dumplings, along with four side dishes that would be at home on any Southern grandma's table, like green beans, broccoli casserole, and baked mac and cheese. The serving staff will keep the food coming until you say \"whoa,\" and everybody gets a dessert—Paula is partial to her Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, but the cobblers and banana pudding are also great options.

This Overton Square classic, located in a half-timbered house with an elegantly appointed dining room, serves delicious crepes (try the hot chocolate dessert crepe) and salads and excellent grilled chicken, salmon, and swordfish.

Peaceful Side quickly became a prime local hangout when it opened in 2022, thanks to its comfortable outdoor seating area and an appealing menu of sourdough pizzas and a solid local beer selection. They've since opened an adjacent taco bar and have announced plans to brew their own beer on the premises. 

It's not every day in the Smokies you walk past an 80-foot-high redwood tree to eat at a riverfront steak house comprising five historic log cabins. And it's probably just as unusual to have your steak brought table-side and custom cut before being sizzled over Tennessee hickory charcoal while you graze on hot homemade bread and items from the salad bar. Chicken, shrimp, salmon, and fresh boneless English mountain trout are also on the menu, along with desserts like hot blackberry cobbler or Peddler's version of strawberry shortcake.

One of the city’s most inventive brunch experiences puts you in control of your pancakes and more with an in-table griddle set up for a DIY menu. In addition to creative toppings for the all-you-can-eat pancakes, you can also griddle-cook your own grilled cheese sandwich or order from the kitchen if you aren’t up for the task of making your own.

Maybe it’s the graffitied walls, maybe it’s the local bee-pollen honey, but this crunchy sandwich shop inside a converted garage is undeniably cool. Come any time, morning or night, and you’ll find a goat cheese–smothered waffle, a hummus-stuffed veggie wrap, or a late-night cocktail that will suit your needs.

Situated in the bright lobby of Graduate Nashville, this is a great sport for anyone (guest or not) to order classic caffeinated drinks, pastries, and savory sandwiches. Plan to stay a bit, as the mix-matched couches and accent chairs are the perfect place to enjoy your treats.

If you're walking Downtown near 5th and Church, you'll probably pick up the aromas from Puckett's before you see it: Puckett's is an in-town version of the popular Leiper's Fork Puckett's, a Tennessee eatery and music venue. Here you'll find new twists on Southern favorites, including barbecue sliders and \"redneck burritos\" of pulled pork, baked beans, and slaw, as well as salads. Puckett's also serves breakfast and features live music most nights.

If SunDrop and fried chicken set your heart aflutter, this Southern grocery store/restaurant combo is not to be missed. The cherrywood smoker out back churns out piles of pork, chicken, and brisket every day, and you can buy their signature barbecue rub and sauce at the register. On your way out, after you’ve polished off a slice of fruit cobbler with homemade ice cream, shop the produce section for local eggs, milk, and greens. There’s live music every night of the week except Sunday.

Nutritious dishes brimming with fresh vibrant ingredients served in your choice of a grain bowl, wrap, or salad characterize the offerings at Radish Kitchen. Choose from hearty proteins like tamari-glazed salmon, crispy chicken, and falafel; colorful greens like chopped kale or a spring mix; grains (a mix of rice and quinoa); and toppings that range from almonds and goat cheese to lentils and mango at this convenient counter-service stop.

There are a lot of coffee shops in Germantown, but only Red Bicycle has an extensive menu of sweet and savory crepes. This neighborhood café also serves a variety of sandwiches, tacos, pastries, and small snacks, all complemented by a menu of seasonally rotating coffee and espresso drinks and served by one of the friendliest staffs in town.

More than just a coffee shop, Red Bicycle offers a wide selection of sweet and savory crepes, sandwiches, and tacos. A variety of seating options in the large space, including outdoor tables, make this a popular meeting place and workspace.

This sophisticated eatery serves innovative Southern cuisine in an upscale environment for a dining experience that’s elegant without compromising on fun. The menu changes six times a year to keep up with the freshest ingredients, and their award-winning wine menu shouldn’t be overlooked. There’s bar seating on both the first and second floors, but for a table, a reservation is your best bet.

At this all-day Mexican diner in East Nashville's Cleveland Park neighborhood, expect a variety of tacos on offer, including breakfast tacos, homemade Crunchwraps, and a green chile cheeseburger that is not to be missed. There's ample indoor and outdoor seating, though it's a popular spot so expect to wait in line during peak hours.

Part of a restaurant group, this spot has a decidedly upscale feel, with dark wood paneling, low lighting, and a great wine list. The menu includes wood-fired pork chops, rotisserie chicken, hearty salads, and fresh seafood.

Serving a wide variety of barbecue, burgers, Tex-Mex-inspired appetizers, and some of the best catfish in Nashville, this counter-serve spot is a great place to watch a game or celebrate happy hour. Located in a converted Sylvan Park house, the restaurant's excellent down-home cuisine is backed by its many cooking competition accolades that adorn the walls; don't miss a stop in The Attic Bar for a cocktail or two.

Even if you haven't been to Rosepepper, it's possible you've seen a photo of the restaurant's front sign, which features humorous comments like, \"We love margaritas as much as Kanye loves Kanye.\" Luckily for guests, the food and drinks—which span classic Mexican fare like tacos as well as Americanized hybrids like the Mexican Caesar salad—are as good as the restaurant's sense of humor. They have a great outdoor space, too, so visit when the weather's nice.

Serving up classic Mediterranean fare with an American twist, this light and airy space is a go-to lunch spot in the Edgehill neighborhood; a few dishes are guaranteed to have you in and out in 30 minutes. Menu items range from whipped feta with honeycomb or grilled romaine salad to traditional falafel or kebabs grilled over an open flame. If pistachio baklava is on the menu, order it. Happy hour options, offered Monday through Thursday, make for a great stop while out exploring. 

For those who are serious about tasting 120 different tequilas and mezcals, head to this modern Mexican cantina with à la carte taco options like Korean barbacoa, hot chicken, and brisket birria. Sugar skulls adorn most surfaces, and the giant mural in the main dining room is just begging for a photo op. Note that this is a walk-in-only place with an online waitlist; reservations of 6 or more can be made over the phone. 

This pleasantly low-key coffee shop is decorated with quirky local art and is typically quiet, making it a relaxing place to work or chat. In addition to coffee, Sam + Zoe’s offers tea, breakfast food, salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and desserts.

Good drink specials, hot chicken, and chill karaoke characterize this sports bar and restaurant. There’s a rustic/modern dissonance here, with old-timey features like log-cabin-style booths and a cigarette vending machine (although smoking indoors is now banned) right next to more updated fixtures like pool tables, televisions, and a virtual golfing game. This is a great pick for sports fans especially, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a menu full of game-day essentials like burgers, wings, and nachos.

This country café in Madison, Tennessee, has a home-cooked appeal. Try a loaded biscuit for breakfast or a pimento-cheese-and-bacon sandwich for lunch, and don’t forget to check the cabinet for a daily selection of house-made pastries and desserts. By the time you leave, the staff will know you by name.

Manhattan meets Palm Springs at this homage to Ol' Blue Eyes; the walls are covered with photographs of Frank Sinatra with his famous pals and artwork painted by the legendary singer, some of it sourced directly from the Sinatra family. The main upstairs dining space looks into the kitchen, where the staff creates a classic chophouse menu and some of Sinatra's personal favorite pasta and classic Italian dishes. The luxurious cocktail bar offers a customizable martini menu, and plenty of the classic cocktails feature Frank's favorite spirit, Jack Daniel's. The atmosphere is both cool and hot at the same time, just like the Chairman of the Board in his prime.