Tag: Nashville

I was going to a Predators hockey game in Nashville and I got downtown early. Since I had some time till the game started it was recommended that I try the Southern Steak and Oyster. The restaurant was just a short walk from the arena.

It smelled wonderful as soon as I walked in. The menu was diverse having everything from steak and burgers to hot chicken and Cajun. I was not in the mood for steak but got excited at the thought of oysters.

I took a seat at the bar because I got to watch them shuck all the oysters. It is cool to me how fast those guys can open them up. I can barely open one. They had several varieties of oysters to try from around the country. When it came to which variety to try, I left it up to the experts to choose for me.

I went for the Lemon Herb chargrilled oysters and asked them to top them off with parmesan cheese.

The kitchen grilled them up flawlessly. They were still bubbling when they came out. There was an awesome smoky flavor from the grill and a tangy bite from the lemon that was a nice change from the usual flavor I get.

Sticking with the New Orleans theme of my dinner I saved room to try their homemade gumbo. The cup was a great size. It was a savory broth with lots of fresh shrimp. It was the perfect finish to my meal.

If you are in downtown Nashville and want to try a fancy place, check out The Southern Steak & Oyster. http://www.thesouthernnashville.com/

Enjoy!

T

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone!

Irish pubs are fun places to go to. What makes McNamara’s so unique from other pubs I’ve been to is the building – it use to be a funeral home. Now some people may be freaked out by this, but trust me when I say there is no resemblance to a funeral home inside. When you walk through the door it really feels like you are stepping into someone’s home. There are different rooms set up with tables, booths, a bar area, and an upstairs that they use for events.

     

They have an extensive menu with all the classics. I knew I had to order the Scotch Eggs. For anyone not familiar with this dish, it’s a hardboiled egg that is wrapped in ground sausage, breaded and then deep fried. They serve theirs with a homemade sauce that has a hint of mustard in it. Their Scotch Eggs have a great crunch when you bite in. The salty flavor from the sausage is complemented by the sweetness of the dipping sauce.

Instead of ordering the traditional Shepherd’s Pie, I decided to try their “Irish Nachos” – which combines French fries with shepherd’s pie ingredients, cheese and fresh tomatoes on top. It was a fun twist on the classic that is much better for sharing with the table.

If you are in the mood for some good Irish comfort food then you must visit McNamara’s. Visit their website at: www.mcnamarasirishpub.com

Enjoy!

T

I found myself in Nashville right after a snow storm. Most places were shut down, but it was a lucky chance that when I drove by Chauhan they were open, and packed with customers. They are one of the newer restaurants in the city, specializing in Indian cuisine. It’s in a restored brick building that adds to the mystery of what is inside.

When you walk in you are greet with wonderful aroma of spices. The décor had an exotic and romantic feel, with the lighting just right to set the mood. They had these fun digital pictures that were projected on the walls that moved and changed. It made me feel like it was something out of Harry Potter.

Since it was so crowded and I didn’t have a reservation, I found a seat at the bar. It’s where I like to sit anyway because you can watch everything that is going on and strike up a conversation with the other guests.

They have a wonderful selection of cocktails and beers. Watching the bartender make a cocktail was fascinating – they treated it as a true art form. They have all these different bottles with flavors in them (for example one bottle was labeled orange) that they use in the different drinks. I tried a fruity beer that was similar to a Belgium Framboise.

For a snack I tired the Tandoori Chicken Poutine. I knew I needed to try their interpretation of this Canadian dish. It was a blend of tandoori chicken, cheese curds, and makhani sauce on top of French fries. The makhani sauce was amazing and made the dish! I could have eaten just the chick and the sauce all by itself.

 

 

The customers continued to flow into the restaurant as I sat there. Every dish that came out of the kitchen looked delicious. This is definitely a place I have to come back to.

If you want to try something very unique in Nashville visit Chauhan: www.chauhannashville.com

Enjoy!

T

I was intrigued by this place when I heard that they grill their wings, no frying. I do not find that very often. I was also surprised that in addition to wings they did serve up grilled chicken thighs – hence the name of the restaurant.

My waitress was wonderful and I asked her what appetizer she would recommend. Hands down she said I must try their Buffalo Chicken Dip. She was 100% right, this dip was amazing. It had a smoky flavor from the chucks of chicken thigh meat plus it was loaded with shredded chicken breast meat that was mixed with melted cheese. They topped it off with jalapeno peppers and tomatoes. There was so much cheesy chicken in this dip it was like I was eating a cheesy chicken salad. If it came in a little larger on a bowl it could have been a whole meal.

On their listing of side dishes I noticed that they had Chicken and Dumplings. I was really interested to see what their take would be on this southern classic. They use a peppery gravy and thick dumplings and it was then topped off with more of their chicken thighs.

Now it was time for their wings, the main reason I wanted to stop in. They have many different flavors to choose from so I decided to try one dry rub and one sauce. For the dry rub I went with their Nashville Hot Chicken. It was not too spicy but had a slight kick. The sauce I chose was the Asian Persuasion, a sweet and spicy combination. I loved this sauce. Not only was it perfect on the wings, but I used the rest of the tortilla chips from the appetizer to eat the rest of it.

While I was eating I got to enjoy their wall of televisions that were showing a bunch of football games. Since I was going to be there for a little while, I ended up ordering one more thing on the menu. It was big so I had to share it, their Thighs on Texas Toast. I saw a note on the menu that is was a “Fan Favorite” so I had to see what the fuss was about and it ended up being my favorite item of the day. It’s a simple dish: Texas toast that has been grilled a little (to add some crispiness) and it was topped with their homemade mac & cheese and crumbled bacon. It was a sweet mac and cheese which I have never had before and it was a perfect way to end the entire meal since the earlier dishes were more salty. If you can only try one thing on their menu it needs to be this.

See all their mouth watering choices at: www.smokinthighs.com

Enjoy!

T

I found another great place to get a hearty breakfast in Nashville – Athens Family Restaurant. And like most breakfast places I’ve tried there was a line out the door for a table.

Since I had to wait, I made the best use of my time by combing through the menu to decide what I wanted to try. They serve both Greek and American dishes. It was a lot to choose from but my eyes fell upon the “Morning Paradise” – French toast covered in powdered sugar, cinnamon, blueberries, bananas, and then covered in whipped cream. Was this breakfast or dessert? I didn’t care, I just knew it was a must try.

It was sweet from the whipped cream and powdered sugar and it was off set by the sour taste of the blueberries. It was a great complement. The french toast was cooked to perfection with the crust nice and crispy from the grill but soft in the center as it soaked up the melting whipped cream.

If you want breakfast – this is the spot to go since it is served all day. They do have a large lunch and dinner menu so it’s worth going back to try what else they offer.

You can see their whole menu at: www.athensfamilyrestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

One of the oldest highways in the United States is the Natchez Trace Parkway. It starts in Tennessee and extends south into Mississippi. If you have ever driven on this road, you have probably come across The Loveless Cafe that looks like something out of the 1950’s and that’s because it is. What started out as motel that offered travelers are great place to stop along their journey it is now a popular place for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I was there for breakfast because I heard that their biscuits were award winning and a must try. There was a wait for a table, but in my experience that is always a good sign. But don’t fear, if you don’t have the time to sit and eat, you can get your food to go. They even have a cute gift shop where you can get homemade jams and jellies to take home.

I loved the biscuits. They were light and flaky. They were perfect with the homemade jam and very filling when you add the homemade sausage gravy on top.

So get in your car or hop on a motorcycle and head to The Loveless Cafe. It will be worth the drive.

www.lovelesscafe.com

Enjoy!

T

It has taken me several tries to get into Pancake Pantry – there is ALWAYS a line out the door AND around the block. This place has continued to be a hot spot not just for locals but for tourists as well. You need to plan your day around a visit. If you are an early bird, then get there at 6:00am when they open, that will help avoid the rush. But don’t wait too long, they close at 3:00pm during the week and 4:00pm on the weekend.

Instead of using traditional maple syrup, you MUST try their Cinnamon Cream Syrup. It is so unique and is usually served with their sweet potato pancakes. Just ask your server for it because it is delicious on the classic buttermilk pancakes.

Instead of serving basic scrambled eggs with their pancakes, they do a scrambled egg with chopped ham mixed in. It brought back memories of Christmas morning when my dad would make scrambled eggs with pieces of the Christmas Eve ham. It always amazes me how food can help create lasting memories.

Make sure Pancake Pantry is on your list to visit the next time you are in Nashville. www.thepancakepantry.com

Enjoy!

T

I’ve had lots of fried chicken and hot chicken across Tennessee. Each place I go to is unique and different, putting their own spin on the chicken.

Hattie B’s offers 5 different heat levels to choose from – they start out with just a plain no spice chicken (basic fried chicken) all the way up to their hottest called “Shut the Cluck Up”. This makes me laugh but I am too afraid to try it. I have heard it is so hot you need to bring a gallon of milk just to calm the heat.

I went for the “Hot”, which for me was the perfect blend of heat. The breading was extremely crispy and kept the chicken juicy.

They also have many sides to choose from that complement the chicken. I went with the baked beans, which offered a sweet flavor. I also tried the red skin potato salad, which helped calm the heat from the chicken.

I am excited to go back and see if I can increase my heat level. You should check them out but be prepared to wait in line. www.hattieb.com

Enjoy!

T

Who would expect to find an authentic New York delicatessen in Nashville. But  as soon as you pull up to the restaurant you are greeted by the Statue of Liberty.

Noshville is a great place to go for breakfast. However, make sure you don’t get there too late because they do not serve breakfast all day.

They have a large breakfast menu. I went with classic scrambled eggs. All of their egg and omelette dishes come with your choice of a side. I would recommend trying their silver dollar potato cakes. They are like hash browns but with more flavor. They are crispy on the outside and inside the seasoned potatoes are creamy. It reminds me of a potato au gratin.

If you are not hungry for breakfast they also have a full menu for lunch and dinner. You can get anything from matzo ball soup to a Reuben sandwich.  Check the out at: www.noshville.com

Enjoy!

T

It doesn’t matter if you have been to Broadway a hundred times or visiting for the first time – the sounds of country music pull you in every direction. Where do you start? It can be so overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be because you can’t go wrong with any choice. So just follow the crowds and see where they lead you.

On my adventure, I was lead to Honky Tonk. It’s 3 levels of open windows and balconies – reminding me of a place in the French Quarter in New Orleans.

As soon as I walked in I was greeted to my first live band – playing a Florida/Georgia Line hit song. Already I knew the vibe was going to be fun. Tons of people dancing and singing on the dance floor, with many more surrounding the bar.

I danced my way over to the bar to order something – but I wanted something new, since traveling to me is all about trying something new. I asked the bartender what she recommended and her suggestion was a “Bushwacker”. After laughing at the name, I tried it an WOW – it was like a chocolate frosty – but the adult version. It was perfect for a hot afternoon. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys something sweet.

Now that I had my drink I started exploring. I headed up to the 2nd floor. To my surprise there was a completely different band playing, and it wasn’t country music. They were covering a wide variety of artists. Plus the 3rd floor offered yet another option for live music.

I worked my way over to the balconies since this is what grabbed my attention outside. Let me just say AMAZING! The view was a spectacular way to see up and down Broadway.  All the people, car, and neon lights – right there in front of you. Other people on the balcony were yelling down at the people on the sidewalks – all that was missing was the Mardi Gras beads. Just in my 30 minutes there I counted 5 bachelorette parties and 1 bachelor party.

If you love people watching and listening to live music you have to check this place out. Go to their website: www.honkytonkcentral.com to see the music schedule.

Enjoy!

T