Must-see restaurants in Tennessee

  • Bastion

    Nashville

    Behind a nondescript sliding door hides this choose-your-own-adventure foodie dreamland. Chef Josh Habiger (Catbird Seat, Patterson House) has cultivated…

  • Catbird Seat

    Nashville

    For the 22 lucky diners perched around an open kitchen, chefs Will Aghajanian and Liz Johnson choreograph an unforgettable 10- to 12-course dining…

  • Hattie B's

    Nashville

    When it comes to hot chicken supremacy, based on sheer numbers, Hattie B's reigns supreme in Nashville. The ultra-popular fried chicken spot serves up…

  • Smiling Elephant

    Nashville

    Arguably Nashville’s best-known and -respected Thai restaurant, the Smiling Elephant is a treasure not to be missed. This homey little joint welcomes…

  • Rolf & Daughters

    Nashville

    The epicenter of Germantown's foodie revival is this stunning kitchen run by Belgian chef Philip Krajeck. His earthy pastas, rustic sauces and seasonally…

  • Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

    Nashville

    The redneck taco? It's pulled pork stuffed in cornbread (called a hoe-cake) and topped with slaw and BBQ sauce. It's also a beloved choice at this packed…

  • Central BBQ

    Memphis

    The downtown location of this iconic Memphis barbecue joint is the perfect side dish to an afternoon at the National Civil Rights Museum. The transcendent…

  • Epice

    Nashville

    For an inviting and delicious respite from exploring the shops of 12South, pop into this bright and sparkling Lebanese bistro. The highlight at lunch? The…

  • Gabby's Burgers

    Nashville

    In a joint that's just a cow's tail bigger than a shack, the hard-working Gabby's crew cranks out grass-fed-beef burgers, which many say are Nashville's…

  • Gray Canary

    Memphis

    Served in a simmering hug of chili-garlic butter, spinach and Parmesan, the grilled oysters are an oh-so-delicious introduction to this newcomer, where…

  • Payne's Bar-B-Q

    Memphis

    It may be a contentious statement, but here goes: this converted gas station has the best chopped-pork sandwich in town.

  • Edley's Bar-B-Que

    Nashville

    This barbecue joint, with its simple, down-home decor and some seriously great aromas wafting from the kitchen, is a Nashville staple. The pork platter is…

  • City House

    Nashville

    This brick building in smart Germantown hides one of the city's best restaurants. The food, cooked in an open kitchen in a former art studio space, is a…

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    Loveless Cafe

    Nashville

    Stop at the landmark Loveless Cafe, a 1950s roadhouse famous for its biscuits with homemade preserves, country ham and ample portions of Southern fried…

  • Crosstown Concourse

    Memphis

    It's not your typical food hall – you won't find rows of kiosks – but there's an international array of casual eateries in the city's newest hot spot…

  • Sinema

    Nashville

    With a seasonal menu of gluttonous meals and an art-deco feel straight out of a noir flick, an evening at Sinema will have you seeking the nearest…

  • Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria

    Nashville

    Slim & Husky's is the real pizza deal, turning out impeccably toasted oblong pizzas made with fresh ingredients, creative sauces and a house-made cheese…

  • St John's Meeting Place

    Chattanooga

    The culinary anchor of Chattanooga's Southside is widely considered the city's best night out. It's Johnny Cash black (black-granite floor, black-glass…

  • Dozen Bakery

    Nashville

    Since opening in Wedgewood-Houston in 2015, this modern and airy bakery has earned some deservedly positive buzz. Owner Claire Meneely's passion for bread…

  • Red Pony

    Tennessee

    If Jason's Bacon is gracing the menu at this stylish ode to the South's finest foods and flavors, just say yes. Or yum. This morsel of smoked pork belly…

  • Restaurant Iris

    Memphis

    In stylishly revamped digs, chef Kelly English crafts special, avant-garde Southern fusion dishes that delight foodies, hence the James Beard nominations…

  • Aretha Frankenstein's

    Chattanooga

    A skeleton riding a skateboard doubles as the chandelier. Old concert posters cover the walls – can you spot Sleater-Kinney? You might see discarded…

  • 55 South

    Tennessee

    Named after the interstate connecting Memphis and New Orleans, 55 South jovially serves up Southern-inspired cuisine and drinks. Sidle up to the open,…

  • Alchemy

    Memphis

    A flash spot in the Cooper-Young district, serving tasty Southern tapas like truffled deviled eggs with smoked salmon, shrimp and grits with smoked Gouda…

  • Hog & Hominy

    Memphis

    The chef-driven, Southern-rooted Italian at this Brookhaven Circle hot spot has grabbed the nation's attention, winning best new this and best new that…

  • Wendell Smith's

    Nashville

    With all the fuss about 'authentic' experiences, it's easy to forget what the word really means. You'll be reminded at Wendell's, a beloved diner where…

  • Prince's Hot Chicken South

    Nashville

    If you're looking for the heat that started the hot-chicken craze in Nashville, make your way to Prince's. Take your pick of heat, then sit back and let…

  • Wild Ginger

    Tennessee

    Everything about this place looks effortlessly stylish, from the glossy bar flanked by stonework to the chic after-work tipplers to the sushi rolls with…

  • Monell's

    Nashville

    In an old brick house just north of downtown, Monell's is beloved for down-home Southern food served family style. This is not just a meal – it's an…

  • King Market Cafe

    Nashville

    An authentic Southeast Asian cafe set inside an Asian grocer in the Antioch Pike area – an east Nashville suburb where the city suddenly seems much less…

  • Sunrise Memphis

    Memphis

    Breakfasts are as pretty as a country morning at Sunrise Memphis, where the delicious biscuits and breakfast plates are loaded with eggs, cheese and every…

  • Bluegrass Grill

    Chattanooga

    Warm hospitality and simple food done right keep this unassuming spot filled with a diverse range of diners, even on a cold and rainy Tuesday. Breakfast…

  • Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

    Memphis

    Fried-chicken connoisseurs across the globe twitch in their sleep as they dream about the gossamer-light offerings at this downtown concrete bunker, with…

  • Urban Stack

    Chattanooga

    Perfection? The medium-rare guacamole cheeseburger slathered with a fine chipotle aioli and topped with bacon. And hey, fried chickpeas, why you got to…

  • Five Daughters Bakery

    Nashville

    The famous 100-layer doughnut (it's actually 144, but who's counting?) is a sight to behold. Part doughnut, part croissant, this $4.50 beauty is rolled in…

  • 5th & Taylor

    Nashville

    Chef Daniel Lindley sent the Nashville scene abuzz when he announced plans to build a restaurant in the chic Germantown neighborhood. Housed in a sweeping…

  • AVO

    Nashville

    Just a few miles from Downtown, but light years away from traditional Tennessee food, this vegan restaurant is an unexpected but welcome addition to the…

  • Five Daughters Bakery – Franklin

    Tennessee

    Franklin residents Isaac and Stephanie Meek own this popular doughnut and cupcake shop, which is named for their five adorable young daughters. The house…

  • Big Shake’s Hot Chicken & Fish

    Tennessee

    Fans of the fiery fowl can get a fix at Franklin's Big Shake’s, where the bird takes the prize for the most flavorful meat – its yellow-green tint…

  • Old School

    Nashville

    Philanthropy, fresh food and fun times collide in this 1936 red-brick schoolhouse in Bells Bend, 10 minutes west of Nashville. The nonprofit restaurant…