Explore Best Nashville Lunch Spots
Nashville, Tennessee, a city renowned for its vibrant music scene, is also a haven for food lovers. The city's culinary landscape is as diverse and exciting as its music, offering a wide array of lunch spots that cater to every palate. From traditional Southern comfort food to innovative fusion cuisine, Nashville's lunch scene is a delightful exploration of flavors and experiences. Whether you're a local looking for a new place to try, or a tourist wanting to experience the city's gastronomic delights, this article will guide you through some of the best lunch spots in Nashville.
Sun diner
4.5
(1972)
Classic Southern favorites & breakfast specialties served in a nostalgic Sun Records–themed diner.
Reviews:
I was here visiting, and this was one of the last spots I ate at. I want to say it is worth it, from start to finish. The service was great! The seating is different, but I truly enjoyed it. The food was amazing definitely have to try the chicken and waffles. The French toast was out of this world. This is a must stop if you are just visiting.
HJC Car
What a great place! Tucked away on 3rd Ave next to Luke’s place. Ambiance was awesome - Memorabilia adorned the walls. Stand along the wall to wait for an open spot. Stool seating around wood tables. (Two booths in the back.). We went on a Friday morning and waited maybe 5 minutes. Food was excellent - Million Dollar Breakfast was great amount of food. Get the sausage - so good. Belgian waffle - large enough for two! And the peanut drizzle .. so good. Servers were fantastic. Hustling, taking care of every need and attentive. A definite must when you’re in Nashville.
Roberta Cappon
Five stars all around! Went here for lunch during the Titans vs. Vols game and it was a pleasant experience with phenomenal food. Wait staff was extremely attentive. Due to the busy nature of the street, they won't seat you until all of your party is with you, but is completely understandable. Would be back again! The chicken fried steak was delicious and filling.
Peter Reckling
Wow!! I was blown away with the food! It has great atmosphere with some great artwork and amazing food! Our waitress Mariana was awesome and so helpful with helping on deciding what to order couldn’t decide between a couple dishes! The place was packed but we got seating within 5 minutes. Definitely would recommend you try if your in the Nashville area.
Ceaz G
Ah, the Sun Diner, Nashville's little gem that marries retro charm with modern culinary flair. One step inside and you're hit with a layout that seems plucked straight out of a 1950s sitcom with its bar-style tables encircling a centralized hub where the staff hold court. But you don't achieve iconic status on nostalgia alone—your hash browns better have game. And the Sun Diner does not disappoint. Their menu might not require a table of contents, but what it lacks in length, it makes up for in flavor. In a nutshell, the Sun Diner is like that classic album you can listen to on repeat—every track is a hit.
Y. Cherski
107 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201, USA
Kitchen notes
4.3
(539)
Elevated spins on traditional Southern fare served in a bright, brick-lined space in the Omni Hotel.
Reviews:
I was really debating on giving 4 or 5 stars because I give it a 4.5 overall. The half star deduction comes from the oatmeal and gravy not being hot enough to my liking. But I had the buffet, which I rarely do, and that is the biggest issues with buffets, right? That being said, the flavors and choices were unique and wonderful. Absolutely loved the biscuits and the sausages and even though I'm not a pancake fan (prefer French toast or waffles), the skillet pancakes were amazing. Very unusual and nothing like a pancake. Probably why I loved it so much! Get it with the fluffy butter and fabulous jam. My husband ordered the fish sandwich with fries and a side of hot chicken. Fish sandwich was salmon which he wasn't expecting. It was decent. Fries were great and piping hot (and I AM a fry connoisseur) and the hot chicken was not very spicy. So if you are expecting Nashville burn-your-mouth-hot, this isn't it but, it had a wonderful flavor and if you enjoy lower spiciness that doesn't hurt, this is great. Bread underneath was yummy too. Beautiful space, excellent service.
Justine Vild
I read that this place was one of very few places that offered a gluten free biscuit in Nashville. I thought it would be a sin to come home biscuit-less after a trip there, so I grabbed one to go before I left the airport. Service was friendly and fast. I didn't eat the biscuit right away, so it may have been better fresh. It was a little dense than I hoped for, but in GF baking, it has come to be expected. Overall, it was a solid biscuit and I was satisfied.
Rachael Yong
Lovely gluten free breakfast for the two of us. Food came out minutes after we ordered it. Yogurt was a little plain but the honey was enough to even it out. Great quality fruit!
Matthew Davis
We went to Kitchen Notes for Sunday Brunch and it was very good! A good selection of food, everything from fruit, yogurt, and oatmeal, to eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes and a several types of biscuits with either gravy or multiple choices of jam and honey. Everything was presented nicely and was fresh and hot. The atmosphere of the restaurant is chic kitchen farm to table. Elegantly decorated and plenty of room for all guests. We enjoyed our food and we will be back!
Jennifer Curtiss
Rasha, our server, made our family's brunch experience today amazing! The food is fresh and inventive, truly a culinary delight. Upscale comfort food.Thank you Kitchen Notes staff;)
matthew kyzer
250 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
Lockeland table
4.7
(1088)
Rustic, rehabbed storefront setting for Southern-accented American grub & wood-fired pizzas.
Reviews:
I really liked the aesthetic and intimacy of the restaurant here. It’s a small main dining room with a smaller side room plus a bar. Visit during the community hour for great small plate specials and $7 drinks. There is also a $22 pizza of the day. Ours was really really good with sausage, jalapeño, and honey. It was really well balanced and filling. Our server recommended an after dinner drink across the street at Urban Cowboy and that was also a blast. 5/5 food, service, and vibe. Make sure to make a reservation! The pork belly tacos would be an immediate order on future visits. The queso fundito was good but would be a pass to try something different. The sauce on the wings were also really unique and some of the best I’ve had even if the wings themselves were small. 5 wings for $7 was still an excellent value. It’s easy to see why this restaurant consistently makes “best of” lists
Scott Moore
We went to celebrate a birthday and everything was delicious! We got a steak, the pork chops, and the spinach fettuccine. Oh, and of course we got the banana fosters bread pudding AND the skillet cookie for deserts. Our waiter, Bo, was super friendly and attentive.
Julie M
We stayed in East Nashville and decided to come here for happy hour! We were not disappointed; it was a cute & cozy neighborhood spot with wonderful and attentive service, dishes served on eclectic local pottery, and great apps/cocktails! We tried a variety of things on the menu - hummus, maple glazed wings, pork belly tacos and the steak! We were most impressed by lovely and balance cocktails and an excellent wine selection. Don’t sleep on the blackberry mezcal drink (pictured)!!
Janine Burdette
We happened to be staying in East Nashville, very close to this neighbourhood gem.. We decided to share a few dishes from the menu as there were too many good ones to choose from.. particularly recommend the pork belly! The staff were very friendly and attentive and even gave us great advice on venues to visit after dinner.. 🥳
Nicholas Ryan
Ventured over to the east side of Nashville to indulge at a restaurant that supports locally grown produce. Our reservation was for 6:45 pm. The host graciously seated us early to partake in their community hour. Shout out to the lovely hostess! Go all in for the wings and embrace that beautiful sweet/hot and a delicate crunch from the peanuts. I wanted to gnaw on the bones, but did not want to appear un-ladylike. I went in like a warrior and ordered the dry-aged NY strip steak. The Chef recommended medium rare. Let me just say, I wanted to find the chef and curtsy before him, because he prepared my steak as if I was royalty. The steak was well rested, juicy and bursting with flavor. The ensemble of green beans, sweet tomato, pecan sauté and chimichurri provided a delicious bed of flavor for the steak. My bestie ordered the grilled pork chop and all I heard her say repeatedly is: “This is Amazing!!!!” I will be back to try the pizzas and other palete pleasing options on the menu.
Lowanda Hill
1520 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206, USA
The stillery
4.6
(3612)
Mason jar cocktails, burgers & brick-oven pizza in a modern space with live music on weekends.
Reviews:
We were really surprised at how awesome the service and the food were so delicious. Especially after we had a bad experience at the Black Tap in Nashville. We will not be going back there again. We were treated well at The Stillery also and felt very comfortable in the atmosphere. Recommended it to anyone to "The Stillery." Chicken wings were little 😋 hot, but delicious with a nice flavor and my lady's fish was awesome 👌🏿 too. You saved our day. We give it a 10 yo.....
NY
Some of the best food we all had! The spicy chicken pizza was probably in my top 5 pizzas I ever had. The spicy mac and cheese was the best Mac and cheese I ever had! The wontons were incredible as well. The Brussels were a little soft but still tasted good. The service was quick, professional, and made great recommendations. Ambiance was quieter but could still talk at a normal level.
Eric Graham
Great place to eat in the heart of Nashville! They also have a rooftop bar. We waited 45 minutes for a table. All the staff were friendly. The food was definitely worth the wait. We loved the Hot Chicken sandwich and Sonoran burger. The fries were not very good. They seemed a little soggy. I would have preferred them with some crispness.
Wanderluster
There was no wait, a nice comfortable booth, service was quick, though our food came out a few minutes apart it was fresh and well made. We enjoyed the bacon and jalapeno rangoons to start. The Mac n cheese is very creamy and they toast up the top for a little extra crunch. The hot chicken comes in house and Nashville hot so you can adjust the heat level, I'm not a fan of the cheese they used on the hot chicken sandwich but it was mostly easy to scrape off. The steak sandwich with greens was very tender and thinly sliced to make it easier to eat, it was one of the best constructed higher quality steak sandwiches I've seen.
Cary Pool
We got in around 8pm so it’s pretty crowded, we waited for 45 minutes before getting seated. Since it’s our first time, we chose the special and recommended dishes. I got myself the Mac & Cheese with Hot chicken- the popular one in the restaurant. We also got a Hanger Steak (pic not included), Catfish & Chips- as my waiter’s favorite one, and Steak’Sand Burger. My Mac&Cheese is creamy and makes a great combination with spicy chicken wings, which is understandable why people love it. Personally, I love and recommend the Steak’Sand Burger because of its crunchy bread and juicy meat with cheese and greens. Great amount and all is delicious. Got so full quickly. Our waiter is friendly and helpful. Good atmosphere.
DbGA지안
113 2nd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201, USA
Adele's nashville
4.5
(1959)
Farm-to-fork restaurant with a cool vibe offering New American dishes, cocktails & patio seating.
Reviews:
This might be my new favorite brunch spot in Nashville. Make sure you have reservations and if you want an earlier time, it’s a good idea to book on open table a few weeks out. Brunch runs from 11-2 on Saturday and Sunday. All the food was great, but I especially loved the bacon made in the wood fired oven and the shrimp and grits. The shrimp has enough flavor to enhance the grits. The home fries are also really good. The food was replenished several times throughout the service, so everything was fresh. The desserts were also really good. The aesthetic is clean, basic and low key. Dress is casual but you wouldn’t look out of place in a nice brunch dress, or a dress shirt tucked into khakis. I enjoyed my mocktail very much and we both enjoyed the service throughout the meal.
Scott Moore
Upscale American place with good service and overpriced mains with small portion size. We got the meatballs , sourdough bread with the butter as our appetizer to share at the table. Was decent, not a lot to complain. The cocktails were okay , nothing to rave about. The mains was disappointing. The vegan and gnocchi options were very okay and the meat options were very small for the price we are paying . I had to go to my room and eat a cookie because i wasn’t full. Not recommending this place unless your company is paying for it!
Gaurav Hegde
Best. Meal. Ever. Travis was such a great waiter We LOVED him. So attentive! We felt as if we were his only table. He handled all of our food allergies. The food was a great mix of a healthy gourmet meal and incredibly delectable. The pumpkin dessert was Christmas in my mouth. There is not one thing that was bad. Delicious. Plus…we got to see Bob Jovi!
Tara Beauchesne
Sunday Brunch is amazing. It’s all you can eat from 10-2 for $32. The dishes are incredible. Some of the best salmon I’ve had. Coffee is nice and strong. The truffle Mac N Cheese was my favorite.
Sarah Upton
We enjoyed our evening at Adele’s. Great cocktails, highly recommend the meatballs and the new peach salad was delicious. We all had something different and everything was really good. The salmon and the gnocchi were our favorites. Our server, Kimberly was fantastic!
Sherri Crandall
1210 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
The pancake pantry - nashville
4.5
(906)
Pancakes, egg dishes & sandwiches in a contemporary outpost of a diner in operation since 1961.
Reviews:
Stopped here before heading home after a weekend trip to Nashville. Although the line was a long (it was a Sunday around brunch hours, so duh), it was worth the wait. The pancakes were definitely delicious. And so was everything else we got. We sat on the small outdoor patio which is on a busier street so we got to see all the people already peddling and drinkin. Our server was very sweet and attentive. I would definitely recommend this place, maybe on a week day if you can!
Lauren LaPinta
I was really anticipating eating here, because I love pancakes. So, I decided to wait in the 45 min line. While waiting, there was a menu being passed around, so that people could kind of get an idea of what they wanted. So, once I get in and get seated, the server came to me and asked my drink order, I told her & I also advised that I knew what I wanted to eat, but I had a question. She advised that she would put the drink order in first and come back. Mind you, it's just me. I said, okay. When she came back I said, "I see that the eggs & bacon are under pancake meals, but I wanted to know if I could substitute the pancakes for Pigs in a Blanket, or do I have to buy them all separately?" She gave me the most ugliest look you could imagine and said, "what?" At this point, I compose myself & ask the question a different way, because maybe she didn't understand me. So, we came to the conclusion that I should order separately, which is what I did and added grits. When I got my food, the grits were inedible because they had sooooooo much butter in them. When I pulled my silverware out of the paper, the fork had food particles from another diner on it, so I waited for the server to come back to ask for a new set. She never came, so I asked another server & she looked at me like, "why are you talking to me?" She gave me a new set though. But my server came to serve people around me and just placed my Sprite refill on the table & walked away. I'm usually a big tipper, but I was satisfied with giving her a big fat zero dollar tip while she stood there. I felt so out of place in this restaurant, that I will NEVER go back. Not saying that they are racist, but I felt that feeling. It's a no for me.
Kimberly Hawkins
This little spot didn't disappoint. Totally worth the line outside. Only about a half-hour wait. Wasn't just hype. The food was awesome. Everything tastes good. Would have given it a 4.5 if it was available. The reason I couldn't give it a 5 is because though the sweet potato pancakes were nice and the special cinnamon sauce goes well with the coffee and cakes, seriously you have to add nutmeg and use vanilla abstract or else the sweet potato pancakes will have a bit of a harsh bite. Gravy on the chicken fried steak and the steak itself was seasoned to perfection. Bottomless coffee was perfect for Nashville night recovery and the eggs, bacon and cheese scramble were very well prepared.
Lee Lewis
Delicious pancakes! Cheery and bright inside. We arrived around 10 on a Monday and waited about 20 minutes to be seated. Service wasn’t the best, we had to ask a few times where our bacon was and when we finally received it, it was cold.
L C
FANTASTIC BREAKFAST....I would have left a 5 star but our waiter was not having a good morning and let it show through BUT no worries. The food was great and highly recommended the French toast and avocado toast. Not to mention the incredibly delicious pancakes!
Randy
220 Molloy St, Nashville, TN 37201, USA
Varallo's
4.7
(301)
Classic Southern cooking offered in a bare-bones luncheonette open on weekdays only.
Reviews:
I only wish I had found this place earlier.... It is not fancy, it is an old school diner with fabulous food! Foam plates, plastic utensils, and damn.... I so want to come back and try their chili. I will be back. Great history, great food! Nice staff.... This breakfast bowl was to die for...literally... So good.....
David Whitehouse
True southern breakfast. Fresh and tasty yet reasonably priced. The biscuits are to die for. The owner is so thoughtful. Loved the Christian music playing in the background. It’s these owner operated restaurants that make places like Nashville wonderful!
Scott Carson
We stopped by for lunch. My Little Princess had the spaghetti combo. I had a chili dog, cheese burger, and chilli with tamale. The food was good, but nothing exceptional. Counter service with food delivered, and service was excellent. The chili dog is a fork and knife eat as opposed to hand held, so make sure to get a fork and knife before you sit down. The burger would be better with thin slices onions and tomato. My Little Princess would have been happier if the meatballs were more like home made meatballs. Regardless, it's a landmark, of this menu offerings are of your liking, give it a try.
Darryl McKoon
We feel so lucky to have found this place! Inexpensive but delicious food in Nashville? Unheard of! Staff was delightful! We will definitely be back.
Ivets
A ‘joint’ for sure - which usually means amazing food. Super nice people, cool old vibe, less than memorable food. Chili tasted like #10 can of hormel. Tamale tasted like food service canned tamale. Omelet was just an omelet. Prices were decent for Nashville. Honestly, we would not go back. Sorry they would need to kick it up for a better review.
Brad Simmons
239 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219, USA