If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I’m a brag when it comes to my city
I love it y’all! I think this is the best little city there is. We work really hard to maintain the local integrity, while keeping it fun for visitors. There is so much to do here. I could tell you about Broadway Street and the pedal taverns, or all the events that keep our little city humming, but the Nashville Guru covers that and so much more.
I’m going to share my favorite local eats and you can always keep up with me by checking out #EatingWithTheRaymers or #TheNashvilleBrag on the gram.
My favorite meal of the day, Brunch!
There’s going to be a line and it’s going to be ok. The infamous biscuit dough fried like a donut is worth the wait!
A bright and airy option that offers up delicious sweet & savory options. This is the perfect spot for my gals who like to get dressed for their drinks.
I normally don’t fancy fusion food with a southern twist, because most spots don’t get the twist right, but Chauhan’s does. It is Indian food meets Nashville, and the brunch is yum!
You’re in the south y’all! You got to try the BBQ!
There are several Edley’s locations, 12 South is the most packed and the best, suck it up! They only serve brisket for lunch and they only serves ribs for dinner, and they both go fast! My favorites are the wings, the pork nachos, and the brisket — add white sauce.
Start off with the Memphis Sushi
Then listen up, get the pork platter with fries and cole slaw as your sides. Dump your cole slaw on top of your fries, then your pork on top of your cole slaw. Top this mountain of good good with bbq sauce. You’re welcome.
Dinner Time!
Moto is my favorite restaurant in Nashville. A lot of people will tell you to go to Kayne Prime for the best steak, and they are not lying, it’s delicious! But, the steak at Moto is just as delicious, and it’s pepper crusted…
The Brussels sprouts are also amazing and the antipasto is so amazing that sometimes I get it as my meal
If you like meat, then you need to stop at Butchertown Hall and just get one of everything.
I don’t eat hot chicken, I like to taste my food, but hot chicken is Nashville’s thing and so I must tell you about it. Everyone has hot chicken: hot chicken tacos, hot chicken & waffles, hot chicken pizza… it’s on everything and there is a Hot Chicken Festival in July. Hot chicken originally started at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack and locals and tourists alike still pack the place, but beware, the hot at Hattie B’s has nothing on the hot at Prince’s. You been warned.
Hattie B’s commercialized hot chicken and almost every tourist hits the downtown location at some point on their trip. They also have a west location and the lines aren’t as ridiculous. I get the southern recipe. It’s delicious and I can still taste food for the rest of the day.
Every summer, Nashville hosts burger week and I love to participate, but I always know that Gabby’s is the best. My usual is the BBQ burger (shown here) but the June burger special had fried onions & bacon… it was amazing!
Gabby’s is so good at what they do, they aren’t open all day like most restaurants. So, be sure to to check their hours before going. Also, the owner is really great to the employees & they shut down for a week or so around the holidays. Bummer for us, great for them, and I love it!
I would be remiss and divorced if I didn’t mention the pizza scene here in Nashville and we do have one. Both Desano and Bella Napoli are legit, Neapolitan pizza spots.
Desano is a small chain that takes quality so serious that you feel like you are eating at a bakery in Naples. My husband eats here once a week.
I prefer Bella Napoli, which is a local gem and is tucked away in one of the sweetest spots in town, Edgehill Village. I always have the hardest time choosing between the Salsiccia and the Capricciosa.
Sweets for My Sweets!
I don’t even do sweets, but I do do Cupcake Collection and Legato Gelato, and so should you. Think about the best cupcake you have ever had… Cupcake Collection is better, I promise. I don’t even know how you all line up at a Sprinkles Cupcake ATM when there is a Cupcake Collection in the same city. Madness.
Legato is a legit gelataria, right here in Nashville. The flavors are different each day and each one is special and delicious. My favorites are cream cheese and donut. My husband eats here at least three times a weekend.
The best part about Legato is an affogato (gelato + espresso) and I have a small addiction to them.
Both Cupcake Collection & Legato are much like Gabby’s, get it while they got it and are open! Cupcake Collection is known to sell out of red velvet by noon and just like Legato, once a flavor is gone, it’s gone. Legato also closes down for a couple months in the winter and it’s always sadness.
Fun & Food!
Pinewood is another Nashville gem, and I actually hate that I’m telling tourists about it, but you’re bound to find out from Yelp, so here goes… It’s a bowling alley, a restaurant with a well thought out menu, a full bar with great lounge seating, and it has an outdoor patio with… wait for it… plunge pools and an airstream that serves tacos!
If you’re going for dinner, you have to try the fried broccoli; and if you want to bowl, you will need to make a reservation.
Okay now that you know all of my spots, if you see me out, you are obligated to buy me whatever my heart desires!
bon appetit!
Eeeeekkkk!! This is awesome! Thank you!
Welcome!
This is so helpful! I’m visiting Nashville for the first time next month and would LOVE to take a picture in front of that wall. Could you give me a location for it?