Nashville Eats

We went to Nashville, Tennesee over the weekend.  We enjoyed some good music and food.  Here are a couple of the places we tried.  I recommend them all!


Jacks Bar-B-Que

Jacks is right on Broadway next to our favorite music club, The Stage. The lines are long, but they move fast. They have a small dining room downstairs and a larger area upstairs, as well as a deck outside and up. 

I ordered the pulled pork, macaroni and cheese and baked beans.  While the beans were nothing to brag about the mac and cheese and pork were excellent.  The pork had a nice smokey flavor and I didn't even sauce it, except to try out the sauces.  They have three sauces, and I tried two of them.  The Kansas City style is sweet-spicey and the Original Tennesee style has a little more heat.  Both were good, but if I were buying, I would get the KC style. This is a great lunch stop and I will definitely go back next time I am in town.

Cafe Nonna

This is a small place, with the tables packed in.  We called and made a reservation, but couldn't get in until 8:30.  We sat out on the porch.  Our waiter was attentive and friendly and helped us make our choices. 

Bread and olive oil are complimentary and we ordered the fried calimari as an appetizer.  The breading and texture were nice and the calimari were tender, not chewy.  There may have been a little too much salt in the breading, but nothing worth complaining about.

The pasta menu separates the pasta, sauces and extras so you can build your own dish.  Pasta choices include smoked gouda ravioli, penne, linguini, capellini and rigatoni.  Sauces range from the standard marinara, a sun-dried tomato cream, bolognese, white clam sauce and arrabbiata.  Extras include, meatballs, chicken, shrimp, scallops, portabella mushrooms and other vegetables. 

I had the spinach gnocchi with the amatriciana sauce - a white wine, pancetta and onion combination with a little kick.  The serving was not large, but it was enough and it was so good.

They also have some entrees on the menu if you don't feel like being creative. The Seafood Angelina was loaded with mussels, shrimp, scallops, baby clams, pancetta, onions, tomatoes and garlic over fettucine. 

The wine list is pretty basic, although the prices were much less than we are used to in the Chicago area.  Do yourself a favor and check this place out.  I highly recommend.


Local Taco

This place was amazing.  We stopped for lunch on the spur of the moment.  They use all local fresh ingredients.  The tacos are not your typical fare.  They range from the local BBQ to Texas Brisket to Southern Chicken.  I had the Texas Brisket and it was amazing topped with pickled red onion. 

They also have a Margarita menu and a deck complete with fans, a great place to sit an relax in the afternoon.

Coincidentally, this place was right next to Cafe Nonna, where we went for dinner and it was bustling at night, as well.