Edley's 12 South barbecue counter in Nashville smokes pork shoulder over hickory and serves the city's reliable BBQ-and-beer lunch since 2011.
Signature dishes: Pulled pork sandwich, Tuck Special
Must order: The Tuck Special: smoked brisket with pimento cheese and bacon on Texas toast.
Tip: Late-night kitchen runs Friday and Saturday until 22:00; patio gets the runoff from 12 South strolling.
Address: 2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
Pat Martin's Nashville BBQ joint in downtown runs old-school whole-hog barbecue, a massive beer garden and live music nightly behind the Music City Center.
Signature: Whole-hog pulled pork, Redneck Taco
Order: Pulled pork sandwich with Alabama white sauce on top, and a side of mac.
Tip: The beer garden out back is the move on warm nights; live music starts at 19:00 most days.
Carey Bringle's Gleaves Street BBQ joint in The Gulch, Nashville smokes Memphis-style dry-rub ribs since 2013. Family-owned, catering-strong, taproom-tight.
Signature: Dry-rub ribs, Pulled pork plate
Order: Half rack of dry-rub ribs, smoked beans, banana pudding.
Tip: Lines build by 12:00; come at 11:00 for an easy table. Bourbon list is unusually deep for a BBQ joint.
Three Tennessee State alumni opened Slim & Husky's Buchanan Street pizzeria in Nashville in 2017, anchoring North Nashville's restaurant revival with hip-hop and pies.
Signature: Build-your-own pizza, Cinnamon rolls
Order: Build your own pizza on hand-tossed dough, plus a gourmet cinnamon roll.
Tip: Counter ordering, no table service; the patio gets busy on Saturday afternoons. Cinnamon rolls run out by 14:00.
Billy Dec's Chicago import in The Gulch, Nashville runs modern Southeast Asian small plates and a strong sushi programme since 2022, with a deep cocktail list.
Signature: Crispy pork belly bao, Sushi tasting
Order: Crispy pork belly bao buns and the chef's sushi tasting.
Tip: Late-night service runs until 23:30 Friday and Saturday; the bar is the easy walk-in seat.
Maneet Chauhan's Gulch room in Nashville runs globally inflected American comfort food with strong cocktails, opened 2018 and steady at the top of the area lists.
Signature: Crispy pork shank, Fried chicken
Order: Crispy pork shank with chili crisp, plus the kale Caesar.
Tip: Happy hour is generous and easy to walk into; book ahead for the patio in warm weather.
Strategic Hospitality's 13,000 square-foot Peabody Street complex in downtown Nashville combines a restaurant, copper-bar cocktails, six vintage bowling lanes and a coffee shop.
Signature: Burgers, Brunch with bowling
Order: Burger at the bar; banana cream pie on weekends.
Tip: Bowling books out for weekend nights; the patio with mini bocce takes walk-ins year-round.
