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Certified Angus steak and baked potato at the Hickory House in Pulaski, TN
Delia Jo Ramsey/Eater Nashville

18 Restaurants Worth a Drive Out of Nashville

The best food-focused stops within a short drive of Music City

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Certified Angus steak and baked potato at the Hickory House in Pulaski, TN
| Delia Jo Ramsey/Eater Nashville

Cue the choir: it’s road trip season. And after a long season of sheltering at home, that means it's finally time to explore the vast Tennessee expanse outside these Nashville city limits. And while there are not any major destination cities within an hour or two drive of Music City, there are a handful of restaurants worth the round-trip visit or a stop if you are headed out on the road this summer.

Looking for recommendations in Chattanooga — we’ve got that too.

Otherwise, here’s where to eat within a short drive of Music City.

Did we miss your favorite spot? Show it some love in the comments or send us an email.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Helen’s Bar-B-Q

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Owner Helen Turner, one of only a few female pit-cooks in the country, took over this Brownsville barbecue establishment in 1996, turning out flavorful pulled pork sandwiches, smoked bologna sandwiches, and potato salad worth a detour.

Blake’s BBQ

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Folks flock to the Texas-style BBQ food trailer in Martin, TN for oak-smoked meats aplenty, alongside daily specials (like Chick-fil-A Polynesian-glazed smoked ham), vinegar slaw, baked beans, and homemade desserts.

Blake’s BBQ/Facebook

the freight house

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The historic railroad depot-turned-restaurant in Paducah Kentucky serves up bourbon flights alongside a rotating menu of New American cuisine featuring local farmers and partners from chef Sara Bradley. Shrimp and pimento cheese grits, Brussels sprouts salad, and the griddled burger are all popular picks here.

Scott’s-Parker’s Barbeque

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One of only a handful of barbecue spots continuing to uphold the tradition of whole hog barbecue, Scott's-Parker's was first started by B.E. Scott in 1962, and is worth the round-trip to support a way of barbecue life that is quickly fading.

Located in historic downtown Florence, Alabama, owner Celeste Pillow’s Odette is inspired by her time spent working in Manhattan restaurants and her love of art, designed to be the type of neighborhood restaurant she wants to frequent. The restaurant is named after her paternal great-grandmother, with a farm-focused menu of deviled eggs, crispy pork belly, blackened catfish, and grilled Manchester Farms quail from chef Josh Quick. Save room for peanut butter-pretzel cheesecake with garam masala peanut brittle, hot fudge, and whipped cream.

House of Como

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Since 1969, this cash-or-check-only kitschy Indiana standby is known for its Christmas decor and far-reaching menu of Lebanese fare alongside Italian dishes, steak, and seafood.

Country Kitchen

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Breakfast all day and comfort food are the name of the game at the downhome Bon Aqua restaurant. Nothing on the menu is above $11 (including steaks) so a road trip here won’t break the bank. Popular picks here include the catfish, the biscuits, and the hush puppies.

Country Kitchen/Facebook

The Beacon Light Tea Room

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Located just about an hour west of Nashville, The Beacon Light Tea Room has been a Middle Tennessee tradition since first opening its doors in 1936. It's had a number of owners over the years (including Loveless Cafe's namesake at one point), but it's still turning out Southern cooking (including all day breakfast) worth the drive.

Hickory House Restaurant

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A long-standing essential in Pulaski, Tennessee, Hickory House breathed new life when owners Jonathan and Jackie Perry took over in 2014 and upped the ante for quality by offering fall-off-the-bone beef ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and some of the best Certified Angus Beef steaks in Tennessee. Weathering a pandemic by shifting the model from its former buffet heyday and adding a full bar, the Perry family shows the staying power of a tried-and-true local favorite by pivoting in the toughest of times for the restaurant industry. 

Hickory House/Facebook

The Southern Table

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Chef Ryan Yokley, a Pulaski native, spent seven years working in fine dining establishments across Franklin and Nashville before returning home to Pulaski to open his own place, and its another one worth the drive for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The menu offers little of everything from barbecue poutine with smoked queso to strawberry salad, cauliflower steaks, and yes, even Nashville hot chicken.

1892 Restaurant

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This dining destination in Leiper’s Fork (the adorable unincorporated rural village in Williamson County) is a BYOB establishment oozing with old-school vibes, Southern charm, and a standout menu from chef Dylan Morrison. Named after the year the house it occupies was built, Morrison honors time-old culinary traditions with highlight dishes like a spicy-whipped pimento cheese, Waldorf salad, a Bear Creek Farms burger, and fig ravioli with blue cheese fonduta.

1892/@johnwylie_photography

Huffs Market

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Huffs was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, and is one of the last general stores still operating in Middle Tennessee. They’re known today for great sandwiches, honey, and wide selection of Case knives.

Huffs/Facebook

The Local Cafe

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Head South on 65 to Exit 14 and you can easily venture over to Lynchburg for a Jack Daniels Distillery tour. You can also pop into quaint downtown Fayetteville for a solid Philly cheesesteak (yep). Owned by Fayetteville natives and husband-and-wife duo Chanse and Catherine Bartlett, the Local Cafe boasts a solid lineup of cheesesteaks from traditional to the chicken “Fedvilly”, all served on Amoroso rolls and ready to be loaded up with cheese, peppers, and onions. 

The Local Cafe/Facebook

India Oven Fine Indian Restaurant

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The lunch buffet is open daily at the Bowling Green Indian food destination. At dinner, order off the a la carte menu for vegetable or lamb-filled samosas, Mulligatawny soup, Karahi tandoori chicken saag, and plenty of naan.

India Oven/Facebook

Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House

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If you plan on making the pilgrimage down to Lynchburg to visit the Jack Daniel's Distillery, plan a stop at Miss Mary Bobo's for some traditional Southern cooking. Yes, it can be overrun by tourists, but it's been in business since 1908, making it worth a visit.

Readyville Mill

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Take a weekend drive south of town to this working gristmill, which dates back to the early 1800s. The onsite restaurant serves up hearty, traditional dishes for breakfast, lunch, and brunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Jiffy Burger

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Head to Bonaroo’s hometown for cheeseburgers and crisp tater tots served in a 1950’s-style diner with checkerboard floors, and walls decked out in collectibles.

Jiffy Burger/Facebook

High Point Restaurant

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Lots of people make the journey to Monteagle for this destination restaurant, located inside a historic 1929 mansion with a storied Al Capone history. The 1929 mansion with original hardwood flooring and authentic light fixtures, presumably financed by Al Capone, was put on the National Register of Historic Places in December of 1997. The three-story compound once had escape hatches on the roof and underground tunnels in the basement used by Capone for the transferring of liquor in the twenties and early thirties. Local legend reveals tales of Capone and John Dillinger lounging outside on the mountain stone patio having drinks and playing numerous hands of cards.

High Point/Facebook

Helen’s Bar-B-Q

Owner Helen Turner, one of only a few female pit-cooks in the country, took over this Brownsville barbecue establishment in 1996, turning out flavorful pulled pork sandwiches, smoked bologna sandwiches, and potato salad worth a detour.

Blake’s BBQ

Folks flock to the Texas-style BBQ food trailer in Martin, TN for oak-smoked meats aplenty, alongside daily specials (like Chick-fil-A Polynesian-glazed smoked ham), vinegar slaw, baked beans, and homemade desserts.

Blake’s BBQ/Facebook

the freight house

The historic railroad depot-turned-restaurant in Paducah Kentucky serves up bourbon flights alongside a rotating menu of New American cuisine featuring local farmers and partners from chef Sara Bradley. Shrimp and pimento cheese grits, Brussels sprouts salad, and the griddled burger are all popular picks here.

Scott’s-Parker’s Barbeque

One of only a handful of barbecue spots continuing to uphold the tradition of whole hog barbecue, Scott's-Parker's was first started by B.E. Scott in 1962, and is worth the round-trip to support a way of barbecue life that is quickly fading.

Odette

Located in historic downtown Florence, Alabama, owner Celeste Pillow’s Odette is inspired by her time spent working in Manhattan restaurants and her love of art, designed to be the type of neighborhood restaurant she wants to frequent. The restaurant is named after her paternal great-grandmother, with a farm-focused menu of deviled eggs, crispy pork belly, blackened catfish, and grilled Manchester Farms quail from chef Josh Quick. Save room for peanut butter-pretzel cheesecake with garam masala peanut brittle, hot fudge, and whipped cream.

House of Como

Since 1969, this cash-or-check-only kitschy Indiana standby is known for its Christmas decor and far-reaching menu of Lebanese fare alongside Italian dishes, steak, and seafood.

Country Kitchen

Breakfast all day and comfort food are the name of the game at the downhome Bon Aqua restaurant. Nothing on the menu is above $11 (including steaks) so a road trip here won’t break the bank. Popular picks here include the catfish, the biscuits, and the hush puppies.

Country Kitchen/Facebook

The Beacon Light Tea Room

Located just about an hour west of Nashville, The Beacon Light Tea Room has been a Middle Tennessee tradition since first opening its doors in 1936. It's had a number of owners over the years (including Loveless Cafe's namesake at one point), but it's still turning out Southern cooking (including all day breakfast) worth the drive.

Hickory House Restaurant

A long-standing essential in Pulaski, Tennessee, Hickory House breathed new life when owners Jonathan and Jackie Perry took over in 2014 and upped the ante for quality by offering fall-off-the-bone beef ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and some of the best Certified Angus Beef steaks in Tennessee. Weathering a pandemic by shifting the model from its former buffet heyday and adding a full bar, the Perry family shows the staying power of a tried-and-true local favorite by pivoting in the toughest of times for the restaurant industry. 

Hickory House/Facebook

The Southern Table

Chef Ryan Yokley, a Pulaski native, spent seven years working in fine dining establishments across Franklin and Nashville before returning home to Pulaski to open his own place, and its another one worth the drive for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The menu offers little of everything from barbecue poutine with smoked queso to strawberry salad, cauliflower steaks, and yes, even Nashville hot chicken.

1892 Restaurant

This dining destination in Leiper’s Fork (the adorable unincorporated rural village in Williamson County) is a BYOB establishment oozing with old-school vibes, Southern charm, and a standout menu from chef Dylan Morrison. Named after the year the house it occupies was built, Morrison honors time-old culinary traditions with highlight dishes like a spicy-whipped pimento cheese, Waldorf salad, a Bear Creek Farms burger, and fig ravioli with blue cheese fonduta.

1892/@johnwylie_photography

Huffs Market

Huffs was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, and is one of the last general stores still operating in Middle Tennessee. They’re known today for great sandwiches, honey, and wide selection of Case knives.

Huffs/Facebook

The Local Cafe

Head South on 65 to Exit 14 and you can easily venture over to Lynchburg for a Jack Daniels Distillery tour. You can also pop into quaint downtown Fayetteville for a solid Philly cheesesteak (yep). Owned by Fayetteville natives and husband-and-wife duo Chanse and Catherine Bartlett, the Local Cafe boasts a solid lineup of cheesesteaks from traditional to the chicken “Fedvilly”, all served on Amoroso rolls and ready to be loaded up with cheese, peppers, and onions. 

The Local Cafe/Facebook

India Oven Fine Indian Restaurant

The lunch buffet is open daily at the Bowling Green Indian food destination. At dinner, order off the a la carte menu for vegetable or lamb-filled samosas, Mulligatawny soup, Karahi tandoori chicken saag, and plenty of naan.

India Oven/Facebook

Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House

If you plan on making the pilgrimage down to Lynchburg to visit the Jack Daniel's Distillery, plan a stop at Miss Mary Bobo's for some traditional Southern cooking. Yes, it can be overrun by tourists, but it's been in business since 1908, making it worth a visit.

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Readyville Mill

Take a weekend drive south of town to this working gristmill, which dates back to the early 1800s. The onsite restaurant serves up hearty, traditional dishes for breakfast, lunch, and brunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Jiffy Burger

Head to Bonaroo’s hometown for cheeseburgers and crisp tater tots served in a 1950’s-style diner with checkerboard floors, and walls decked out in collectibles.

Jiffy Burger/Facebook

High Point Restaurant

Lots of people make the journey to Monteagle for this destination restaurant, located inside a historic 1929 mansion with a storied Al Capone history. The 1929 mansion with original hardwood flooring and authentic light fixtures, presumably financed by Al Capone, was put on the National Register of Historic Places in December of 1997. The three-story compound once had escape hatches on the roof and underground tunnels in the basement used by Capone for the transferring of liquor in the twenties and early thirties. Local legend reveals tales of Capone and John Dillinger lounging outside on the mountain stone patio having drinks and playing numerous hands of cards.

High Point/Facebook

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