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PizzeriaNorth Nashville
Three Tennessee State alumni opened Slim & Husky's Buchanan Street pizzeria in Nashville in 2017, anchoring North Nashville's restaurant revival with hip-hop.
OrderBuild your own pizza on hand-tossed dough, plus a gourmet cinnamon roll.
TipCounter ordering, no table service; the patio gets busy on Saturday afternoons. Cinnamon rolls run out by 14:00.
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Pan-asianThe Gulch
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.
OrderCrispy pork belly bao buns and the chef's sushi tasting.
TipLate-night service runs until 23:30 Friday and Saturday; the bar is the easy walk-in seat.
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New AmericanThe 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.
OrderCrispy pork shank with chili crisp, plus the kale Caesar.
TipHappy hour is generous and easy to walk into; book ahead for the patio in warm weather.
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AmericanDowntown
Strategic Hospitality's 13,000 square-foot Peabody Street complex in downtown Nashville combines a restaurant, copper-bar cocktails, six vintage bowling.
OrderBurger at the bar; banana cream pie on weekends.
TipBowling books out for weekend nights; the patio with mini bocce takes walk-ins year-round.
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SouthernSouth Nashville
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.
OrderPlate of biscuits with peach preserves; country ham and redeye gravy with eggs.
TipLines build by 09:00 weekends; put your name down and shop the on-site Hams & Jams Country Market while you wait.
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Meat-and-threeGermantown
Monell's family-style Southern dining in Germantown, Nashville has run since 1995, seating strangers at communal tables in a Victorian house north.
OrderThe full family-style spread: fried chicken, country ham, mac and cheese, greens.
TipReservations available; tables seat ten. Sunday brunch is the marquee meal, books a week ahead.