Barbecue$$the-gulchMon-Tue 11:00-21:00, Wed-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-16:00
Carey Bringle's Gleaves Street BBQ joint in The Gulch, Nashville smokes Memphis-style dry-rub ribs since 2013. Family-owned, catering-strong, taproom-tight.
Signature: Dry-rub ribs, Pulled pork plate
Order: Half rack of dry-rub ribs, smoked beans, banana pudding.
Tip: Lines build by 12:00; come at 11:00 for an easy table. Bourbon list is unusually deep for a BBQ joint.
Pizzeria$north-nashvilleMon-Thu 11:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Three Tennessee State alumni opened Slim & Husky's Buchanan Street pizzeria in Nashville in 2017, anchoring North Nashville's restaurant revival with hip-hop.
Signature: Build-your-own pizza, Cinnamon rolls
Order: Build your own pizza on hand-tossed dough, plus a gourmet cinnamon roll.
Tip: Counter ordering, no table service; the patio gets busy on Saturday afternoons. Cinnamon rolls run out by 14:00.
Pan-asian$$$the-gulchMon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-23:00, Sun 17:00-22:00
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.
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.
New American$$$the-gulch
Maneet Chauhan's Gulch room in Nashville runs globally inflected American comfort food with strong cocktails, opened 2018 and steady at the top of the area.
Signature: Crispy pork shank, Fried chicken
Order: Crispy pork shank with chili crisp, plus the kale Caesar.
Tip: Happy hour is generous and easy to walk into; book ahead for the patio in warm weather.
American$$downtownSun-Thu 9:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 9:00-23:00
Strategic Hospitality's 13,000 square-foot Peabody Street complex in downtown Nashville combines a restaurant, copper-bar cocktails, six vintage bowling.
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.
Southern$$south-nashvilleMon-Fri 8:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 7:00-21:00
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.
Signature: Scratch biscuits, Country ham with redeye gravy
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.