The Loveless Cafe on Highway 100 in Nashville has served scratch biscuits, country ham and redeye gravy since 1951, anchoring the Natchez Trace's tourist circuit.
Signature dishes: Scratch biscuits, Country ham with redeye gravy
Must order: Plate of biscuits with peach preserves; country ham and redeye gravy with eggs.
Tip: Lines build by 09:00 weekends; put your name down and shop the on-site Hams & Jams Country Market while you wait.
Address: 8400 Hwy 100, Nashville, Tennessee 37221
Monell's family-style Southern dining in Germantown, Nashville has run since 1995, seating strangers at communal tables in a Victorian house north of the Capitol.
Signature: Family-style Southern lunch, Skillet fried chicken
Order: The full family-style spread: fried chicken, country ham, mac and cheese, greens.
Tip: Reservations available; tables seat ten. Sunday brunch is the marquee meal, books a week ahead.
Chef Hal Holden-Bache's Five Points room in East Nashville opened 2012 in a corner storefront, running wood-fired pizzas and Southern-accented neighbourhood plates.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Pork chop with redeye gravy
Order: Margherita pizza from the wood oven and the pork chop.
Tip: Happy hour 16:00 to 17:30 runs half-price pizza and pours at the bar; James Beard Community Kitchen nominee.
Margot McCormack's Five Points room in East Nashville has cooked French-Italian country food since 2001, with a daily menu and a wood-burning fireplace.
Signature: Daily-changing menu, Cassoulet in winter
Order: Whatever the daily menu lists; the cassoulet in cold months is the move.
Tip: The bar runs an aperitivo menu Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday brunch books out a week ahead.
Philip Krajeck's casual East Nashville room in Nashville opened 2018, running naturally leavened pizza and a vegetable-forward menu with natural wine on tap.
Signature: Naturally leavened pizza, Vegetable plates
Order: The mushroom pizza and whatever bitter green is currently on the menu.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays. Walk-in seats at the long marble bar are the best move on a weeknight.
Patrick Burke's Eastland Avenue ramen and izakaya counter in Nashville opened 2014. The tonkotsu and miso ramens are the canonical bowls in East Nashville.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Izakaya plates
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with extra egg and chashu, plus karaage chicken.
Tip: Happy hour 16:00 to 18:00 runs $5 plates and discounted sake; counter seats easier than booths.
Sarah Gavigan's Division Street ramen shop in The Gulch, Nashville opened 2014 and remains the Gulch's reliable bowl. Walk-in friendly, kid-friendly, full bar.
Signature: Tonkotsu Original, Karaage chicken
Order: Tonkotsu Original with the runny egg, karaage to share.
Tip: The private karaoke room books for groups of six; happy hour 16:00 to 19:00 runs $5 small plates.
