Where to eat on Lower Broadway (or just a block or two off), according to a local
There are plenty of places to eat on Lower Broadway, including big-name restaurants and bars with fancy trappings and long, long lines to get in.
But while restaurants like Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa or Justin Timberlake's Twelve Thirty Club can be fun for the spectacle, they can be a bit too much hassle if you're trying to grab a bite before a show. A word on the latter restaurant: Though the food was fine, we ended up with a dour, condescending server, but your mileage may vary.
I would eat at any of the restaurants below, all of which are either right on Broadway or just a block or so away. A note: We left out Printer's Alley, which deserves its own article. Out-of-towners should take some time to stroll it and check out the great bars tucked away there.
On Broadway
Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ, 200 Broadway, rodneyscottsbbq.com
Far and away the best barbecue on Broadway can be found at Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ, which takes over the top two floors of Chief's on Broadway, Eric Church's massive six-story bar and live music hub.
Yes, you may find a line to get in, but the barbecue is excellent, especially considering it's created for the masses. Even so, this is a craft product. It's real deal whole hog barbecue, which means the place runs nearly around the clock just to keep up with the crowds.
Do yourself a favor and order the whole hog plate with collards on the sides. The mac and cheese is also stellar. You sort of can't go wrong unless you decide to skip the barbecue altogether. Please don't do that.
Acme Feed and Seed, 101 Broadway, acmefeedandseed.com
This is my go-to spot for pre- or post-show drinks because it always feels fairly chill in there, even though it's right on Broadway. Grab a frosé to cool you down when the weather is insanely hot out. Downstairs, the hot chicken bites are a solid bet when you just want something fast to eat, though people love the overnight-smoked beef brisket sandwich. On the second floor is a serviceable sushi bar with fairly basic but good rolls and sake.
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Robert's Western World, 416 Broadway B, robertswesternworld.com
I mean, this should be on your radar whether you're visiting or a local solely because the music is killer and the place just feels like a slice of Nashville. I never get tired of it. While I prefer to hover around the upstairs bar (it can get pretty hot up there, no doubt), you can also belly up to the ground-level bar and order from the Honky Tonk Grill. The grill serves a basic bar menu, but there's one thing that's worth shouting from the rooftops: The enduring Recession Special is somehow the best deal in town, and it's right there on Broadway. Order it, and you'll get a fried bologna sandwich, chips, a MoonPie and a cold PBR, all for an astounding $6. Thank you Robert's for your service.
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Blanco Cocina + Cantina, 530 Broadway, blancococinacantina.com
Just about everything on the menu at this airy, fun Mexican restaurant is satisfying. But I recommend you start with a pitcher of spicy watermelon margaritas, nachos and that really good ceviche while deciding what you want from the taco menu. And yep, you'll want the house-made corn tortillas.
Boqueria, 5005 Broadway, boqueriarestaurant.com
This Spanish tapas restaurant, part of a small chain mostly concentrated in the northeast, can be hit or miss, but the service is lovely, the wine is very good and the food can be also, if you know what to order. Especially if you're headed to the nearby Ryman or Bridgestone, try to grab a seat at the full-service bar. I love the patatas bravas for carb-loading (hey, I like to dance) and nearly all of the vegetable plates. Add cheese and charcuterie, and you have a light pre-show meal.
The best of the rest at 5th + Broadway, 5036 Broadway, fifthandb.com
Aside from Assembly Food Hall, Boqueria and Blanco Cocina, there's a whole host of restaurants to explore at the massive live, work and play complex that is 5th + Broadway.
You can grab a casual meal of pizza, salads and cinnamon rolls at Slim and Huskies Pizza Birria, get very good sushi at Blue Sushi Sake Grill, some of the best coffee in the neighborhood at Elixr Coffe Roasters and, of course, the much sought-after hot chicken from Hattie B's.
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Assembly Food Hall, 5055 Broadway, assemblyfoodhall.com
There are many, many options to choose from in this food hall, which boasts close to two dozen restaurants. Here, you can find a smaller version of the iconic Prince's Hot Chicken, have ice cream at Hattie Jane's Creamery, grab a pizza from DeSano — you name it. Probably my favorite spot to eat here is Dock Local, which serves lobster rolls, classic seafood boils and some pretty delicious fish tacos. Make sure to grab a drink at one of the many bars around the food hall and settle in.
Related: How do the restaurants at Assembly Food Hall in Nashville stack up? We ranked them
Sixty Vines, 5055 Broadway, sixtyvines.com
Above the main food court of Assembly Food Hall is this wine bar with its spectacular outdoor space, great wine selection and good food. I like to snag a seat at the bar here and talk through my drink order with the friendly and knowledgeable staff, many of whom are eager to tell you some geeky little detail about what they're pouring. I like to order the burrata, which is meal enough for me, but the restaurant serves substantial mains as well.
Jack's Bar-B-Que, 416 Broadway, jacksbarbque.com
This is your spot for solid barbecue and Southern sides if you're craving such things while on Broadway. The Tennessee pork shoulder is terrific, and the brisket's good, too. The location near the Ryman can't be beat.
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Just off Broadway
All of these restaurants are just a block or two from Broadway, and worth a visit.
Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer, 140 Third Ave N, blacktap.com
This place serves a solid burger and plenty of fun. I did not like the cake shots, but I'm not the target audience for these. Dessert lovers will get a kick out of them. So too the CrazyShakes, towers of sweet spectacle to rival what's going on just a couple blocks away on Broadway. Why not top milkshakes with entire ice cream bars, Pop-Tarts and brownies? Absolutely fork over a couple of extra bucks to get the wagyu steakhouse burger. It's fantastic.
Etch, 303 Demonbreun St., etchrestaurant.com
Chef Deb Paquette's iconic-to-Nashville spot is solid and lively, yet still a respite from the craziness of downtown Nashville. Expect to find modern American dishes by way of the South, such as buttermilk-brined and cornmeal battered soft shell crab and probably the best, healthiest salads you'll find this close to Broadway. The cocktail menu is great, too.
Southern Steak and Oyster, 150 Third Ave S #110, thesouthernnashville.com
This old-school steakhouse with a Southern twist serves a solid take on exactly what you'd expect given the name: burgers, fried chicken, oysters, aged steaks and some steakhouse sides that would be right at home on grandma's table if she had some tutelage from Martha Stewart. And here you can, of course, get your fill of oysters if that's something you're craving (and I usually am).
Hampton Social, 201 First Ave S, thehamptonsocial.com
If you can stomach the wall of bachelorettes that will inevitably block both your entrance and your exit, and look past the I-just-can't-anymore attitude of the bartender, this place can be a really fun hang. Book a table on the rooftop for weekend brunch and snack on short rib poutine, or sit downstairs and order the sparkling seafood tower if you're feeling flush. This spot earns a place on this list solely for the fact that many locals love it, but I'd personally head elsewhere for oysters and cocktails.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Best Nashville restaurants on Lower Broadway, according to a local
