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Where to Grab Lunch on a Patio in Nashville Right Now

17 places taking social distancing, patio dining, and lunch all seriously, simultaneously

by Delia Jo Ramsey@EaterNashville Updated Mar 24, 2021, 1:03pm CDT

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by Delia Jo Ramsey@EaterNashville Updated Mar 24, 2021, 1:03pm CDT

The Local Distro/Facebook

Dining out — for those who feel comfortable doing so — can be a tad more tedious than normal to plan right now. Especially for those looking for lunch. Many places are open for dinner or weekend brunch only, others stick to a strict takeout policy, while others are still closed.

For those who choose to dine out, Eater Nashville has rounded up a curated list of spots doing it right. These places are following social distancing measures, with tables spaced at least 6-feet apart, and following all CDC recommended policies for the current phase of opening (now Phase Three).

Some also have dining rooms open and also offer takeout or delivery options, but for purposes of this list, all restaurants have ample patios for dining al fresco, while that’s still tolerable temperature-wise in Nashville.

As always, things change frequently, so check a restaurant’s social media or website (or just call) before heading in to dine.

*A number of Nashville restaurants have resumed dine-in service. The level of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still safety concerns: for updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the state’s website. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

Coneheads

Open for takeout, delivery, and socially distant dining on the patio (plus indoor seating), Coneheads puts a spin on classic chicken and waffles. Waffle cones are loaded up here with crispy fried chicken and sauce drizzles — which can then be “capped” with a heap of macaroni and cheese, grits, or coleslaw. Current hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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1315 Dickerson Pike, Nashville, TN 37207

Visit Website

Three waffle cones filled with savory fried chicken and sauce

Redheaded Stranger

Bryan Lee Weaver’s Tex-Mex love letter to Nashville in the form of tacos, flour tortillas, and queso is open for indoor dining, takeout, and delivery, but also has a sweet patio for spaced-out indulgence. Currently, they’re open with varied daily hours — so check out their Instagram for the latest.

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305 Arrington St, Nashville, TN 37207

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Rosepepper Cantina

Takeout and delivery orders happen daily beginning at 11 a.m., but diners can also park on the patio for an open-air, distant picnic table dining experience with all tables properly sectioned off and divided, outside and in. The buffalo white cheese dip with chorizo, served with flour tortilla chips is some of the best in town — and that pairs well with one of Nashville’s most popular margaritas.

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1907 Eastland Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

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The Local Distro

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Local Distro accepts call-in and email orders for takeout (or just walk up to the window and order), but also has a dog-friendly space, cornhole, and a patio peppered with picnic tables for socially distant dining. There’s even a locally sourced market with grocery items that can be picked up while ordering hot chicken chili, tacos, or weekend barbecue.

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614 Garfield St, Nashville, TN 37208

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Waldo's Chicken and Beer

Open daily at 11 a.m., Waldo’s Chicken and Beer has a dog-friendly patio following proper social distancing measures. Popular fowl-focused choices here include a spicy chicken sandwich, tenders, and wings plus homestyle sides like mac and cheese or collard greens. Takeout ordering and delivery are also still an option.

Open in Google Maps

1120 4th Ave N #103, Nashville, TN 37208

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Also featured in:

Vui's Kitchen

The popular pho destination with four locations has nice patios for lunch dining — in Germantown, East Nashville, Franklin, and Berry Hill. Online ordering is available from each.

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1120 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

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Also featured in:

D’Andrews Bakery & Cafe

The bakery and cafe from David Andrews has a small patio and also savory lunch options that extend beyond the chef’s incredible pastry offerings. Also available on UberEats for delivery, find a menu of salads, sandwiches, and soups until at least 2 p.m. daily.

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555 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219

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Thai Esane

With a large outdoor patio at the Music Row location, Nine Singto’s crowd-favorite Thai restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Takeout service continues. Check the restaurant’s Instagram for weekend special pop-up dishes, like her famous Thai crawfish and boat noodle soup.

1520 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

exterior shot of the restaurant, a brick building, and Thai Esane sign in large red capital letters

Also featured in:

Otaku Ramen

Sarah Gavigan’s Gulch ramen shop is open for daily lunch and dinner dining, both inside and on the enclosed patio (plus continued takeout and delivery). She’s also added boba plus some Bar Otaku favorites to the menu, and hard-to-find pantry items to bring home.

1104 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Edley's Bar-B-Que

If the barbecue and hot chicken nachos weren’t enough to book a lunch reservation alone, there’s also a newly renovated patio at the 12 South location.

2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

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Also featured in:

Big Machine Distillery & Tavern

The Berry Hill tavern from the music label and distillery of the same name started making hand sanitizer when the pandemic started. Now they’re back with strong patio vibes, boozy frozen beverages, and fried bar favorites like cheese curds, buffalo cauliflower. and whiskey-glazed wings. There’s also a Nashville hot cheeseburger, fried Oreos, and plenty of boozy frozen beverages. For those not ready to leave the house just yet, you can order food online for takeout locally — and hand sanitizer is available in multiple sizes for shipping nationwide.

*opens daily at 11 a.m.

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2824 Bransford Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

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The Yellow Porch Restaurant

The cozy Berry Hill restaurant has a covered front porch, open for lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Order salads, soups, burgers, and tacos to-go, or for socially distanced dining outside. (No reservations for lunch, walk-in only.)

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734 Thompson Ln, Nashville, TN 37204

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food on the table at the yellow porch in berry hill including celery blue cheese soup

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etc. restaurant

Open for lunch on Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Deb Paquette offers diners unique menu items like golden-spiced cauliflower and roasted beet grilled cheese (with pastrami-seasoned beets). The outside patio is open as well as the inside dining room, plus takeout continues.

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3790 Bedford Ave, Nashville, TN 37215

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spread of plates at etc. Nashville

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Green Hills Grille

With a patio, takeout, and in-house delivery, the Green Hills go-to has plenty of options for lunch. Some tried and true favorites include the spinach dip, the seared tuna, pan seared scallops, and a solid burger.

*Opens daily at 11 a.m.

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2002 Richard Jones Rd #104A, Nashville, TN 37215

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Also featured in:

Where to Eat in Green Hills

Santo

The Green Hills restaurant has added a beautiful extended patio, open for lunch daily starting at 11 a.m. The lunch menu offers everything from onion and gouda quiche and roasted beets

to lavender coriander chicken and a lamb smash burger.

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3998 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215

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Mere Bulles Restaurant

Open for lunch Monday through Friday starting at 11 a.m., the Brentwood mainstay has a spacious patio studded with umbrellas, plus still offers curbside takeout and delivery of items like jumbo lump crab cakes, black kale salad, shaved prime rib rolls. Bonus: they also always offer half-off wine bottles.

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5201 Maryland Way, Brentwood, TN 37027

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Also featured in:

20 Great Spots for a Monday Meal Out in Nashville

Wild Ginger

For those in Williamson County, things look a bit different than in Davidson County when dining out. With social distancing and patios plus good food in mind, Wild Ginger is a standout for it all. Grab colorful rainbow rolls and edamame for takeout, and eat it on the patio.

Open at 11 a.m., Monday through Saturday.

101 Market Exchange Ct, Franklin, TN 37067

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Also featured in:

© 2022 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Coneheads

1315 Dickerson Pike, Nashville, TN 37207

Three waffle cones filled with savory fried chicken and sauce

Open for takeout, delivery, and socially distant dining on the patio (plus indoor seating), Coneheads puts a spin on classic chicken and waffles. Waffle cones are loaded up here with crispy fried chicken and sauce drizzles — which can then be “capped” with a heap of macaroni and cheese, grits, or coleslaw. Current hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Open in Google Maps

1315 Dickerson Pike, Nashville, TN 37207

Visit Website

Three waffle cones filled with savory fried chicken and sauce

Redheaded Stranger

305 Arrington St, Nashville, TN 37207

Bryan Lee Weaver’s Tex-Mex love letter to Nashville in the form of tacos, flour tortillas, and queso is open for indoor dining, takeout, and delivery, but also has a sweet patio for spaced-out indulgence. Currently, they’re open with varied daily hours — so check out their Instagram for the latest.

Open in Google Maps

305 Arrington St, Nashville, TN 37207

Visit Website

Rosepepper Cantina

1907 Eastland Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

Takeout and delivery orders happen daily beginning at 11 a.m., but diners can also park on the patio for an open-air, distant picnic table dining experience with all tables properly sectioned off and divided, outside and in. The buffalo white cheese dip with chorizo, served with flour tortilla chips is some of the best in town — and that pairs well with one of Nashville’s most popular margaritas.

Open in Google Maps

1907 Eastland Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

Visit Website

The Local Distro

614 Garfield St, Nashville, TN 37208

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Local Distro accepts call-in and email orders for takeout (or just walk up to the window and order), but also has a dog-friendly space, cornhole, and a patio peppered with picnic tables for socially distant dining. There’s even a locally sourced market with grocery items that can be picked up while ordering hot chicken chili, tacos, or weekend barbecue.

Open in Google Maps

614 Garfield St, Nashville, TN 37208

Visit Website

Waldo's Chicken and Beer

1120 4th Ave N #103, Nashville, TN 37208

Open daily at 11 a.m., Waldo’s Chicken and Beer has a dog-friendly patio following proper social distancing measures. Popular fowl-focused choices here include a spicy chicken sandwich, tenders, and wings plus homestyle sides like mac and cheese or collard greens. Takeout ordering and delivery are also still an option.

Open in Google Maps

1120 4th Ave N #103, Nashville, TN 37208

Visit Website

Vui's Kitchen

1120 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

The popular pho destination with four locations has nice patios for lunch dining — in Germantown, East Nashville, Franklin, and Berry Hill. Online ordering is available from each.

Open in Google Maps

1120 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

Visit Website

D’Andrews Bakery & Cafe

555 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219

The bakery and cafe from David Andrews has a small patio and also savory lunch options that extend beyond the chef’s incredible pastry offerings. Also available on UberEats for delivery, find a menu of salads, sandwiches, and soups until at least 2 p.m. daily.

Open in Google Maps

555 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219

Visit Website

Thai Esane

1520 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

exterior shot of the restaurant, a brick building, and Thai Esane sign in large red capital letters

With a large outdoor patio at the Music Row location, Nine Singto’s crowd-favorite Thai restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Takeout service continues. Check the restaurant’s Instagram for weekend special pop-up dishes, like her famous Thai crawfish and boat noodle soup.

1520 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

exterior shot of the restaurant, a brick building, and Thai Esane sign in large red capital letters

Otaku Ramen

1104 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

Sarah Gavigan’s Gulch ramen shop is open for daily lunch and dinner dining, both inside and on the enclosed patio (plus continued takeout and delivery). She’s also added boba plus some Bar Otaku favorites to the menu, and hard-to-find pantry items to bring home.

1104 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Edley's Bar-B-Que

2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

If the barbecue and hot chicken nachos weren’t enough to book a lunch reservation alone, there’s also a newly renovated patio at the 12 South location.

2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204

Visit Website

Big Machine Distillery & Tavern

2824 Bransford Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

The Berry Hill tavern from the music label and distillery of the same name started making hand sanitizer when the pandemic started. Now they’re back with strong patio vibes, boozy frozen beverages, and fried bar favorites like cheese curds, buffalo cauliflower. and whiskey-glazed wings. There’s also a Nashville hot cheeseburger, fried Oreos, and plenty of boozy frozen beverages. For those not ready to leave the house just yet, you can order food online for takeout locally — and hand sanitizer is available in multiple sizes for shipping nationwide.

*opens daily at 11 a.m.

Open in Google Maps

2824 Bransford Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

Visit Website

The Yellow Porch Restaurant

734 Thompson Ln, Nashville, TN 37204