Nashville has a storied culinary history, and some of Music City’s most beloved eateries have been serving their signature dishes for decades.
From family-style eateries to steakhouses and everything in between, we’re taking a look at some of the oldest dining establishments in town and how their legacies—and signature dishes—have lasted through the years.
Tennessean Archive
Sperry’s
In 2000, Al and Trish Thomas purchased Sperry’s from its founders, Al’s dad, Houston, and uncle, Dick. When they took over, they successfully worked to revitalize the Belle Meade icon while preserving its character— they still serve the classics, like delectable steaks, seafood, bananas foster, and Nashville’s first salad bar, the contents of which are vehicles for their marvelous house-made dressings. The Thomas’ have also studiously expanded the brand. 2006 marked the launch of Sperry’s in Cool Springs. In 2015 they added Sperry’s Mercantile, purveying their signature cuts of meat, seafood, and pantry items. Now, coinciding with their 50th anniversary, they are excited to open a second Sperry’s Mercantile in Bellevue, as well as a new concept in the same location: Café Sperry’s. It will feature sweet and savory pastries, grab-n-go sandwiches to accompany coffees and teas, plus a drive-through craft coffee and espresso service. (sperrys.com)
Tennessean Archive
Prince’s Hot Chicken
No one knows the name of the scorned woman who first prepared that infamous plate of hot chicken for Thornton Prince, however, the family does know that Prince’s started circa 1935. As significant a date is 1980, when great-niece Andre Prince Jeffries took over the business. Under her purview, the passion for Prince’s Hot Chicken captured the city, making it a true Nashville original. While it has inspired others to make their own version of the fiery fowl, General Manager Tamara Kelly is helping the family guide the O.G. to a wider audience. With locations in South Nashville, the Assembly Food Hall, and the recently opened Tanger Outlets, folks have greater access to the gold standard of Nashville Hot Chicken. Plus, a North Nashville restaurant in a newly constructed building is in the future. (princeshotchicken.com)
Tennessean Archive
Monell’s
The iconic meat-and-three is a Nashville mainstay, and few places have been serving up the beloved Southern staple quite like Monell’s. Steeped in tradition, from the food served to the building itself, it’s no surprise that diners have flocked to Monell’s since the original Germantown location first opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1995 (a day that remains the restaurant’s busiest day of the year). The Victorian-style home turned restaurant was built in 1905, and the interior still includes many of the home’s original architectural features, complemented by the addition of murals painted on the walls by local artisans that depict prominent historical neighborhood buildings. Adjacent to the restaurant is a charming courtyard where diners mingle while they wait to be seated. The comradery continues once inside, because at Monell’s, the motto is, “Enter as strangers, leave as friends.” The all-you-can-eat spread of Southern classics is served piled high, and shared family-style with your neighbors at long wooden tables that seat up to a dozen people. The menu changes each day, but expect mouthwatering comfort foods like skillet fried chicken, green beans, grits, biscuits and gravy, cornbread, pork chops, pot roast, and more. The set prices include meats, vegetables, and salads of the day, plus a drink and dessert. In addition to the Germantown location, there’s also the equally popular Monell’s at the Manor located on Murfreesboro Pike. (monellstn.com)
Tennessean Archive
Midtown Café
Situated off West End Ave. next to Music Row is a modest, single-story dining room and bar among Nashville’s ever- growing landscape of soaring high-rises. But as the saying goes, sometimes the best things come in small packages, and Midtown Café has been proving that since the cherished Nashville restaurant first opened in 1987. A favorite among locals and visitors alike, Midtown Café is a glimpse into the glory days of “old Nashville,” serving affordable and casual fine dining fare. Despite the low-lit ambiance and exquisite menu options, Midtown Café feels casual and welcoming to everyone from nearby hospital workers finishing up a graveyard shift to tourists exploring the best of Music City. Breakfast, brunch, and lunch are served seven days a week, and dinner is served Monday through Saturday. Each menu has something for everyone, with options ranging from Southern classics like biscuits, meatloaf, and shrimp and grits to elevated entrées including veal, filets, and of course, Midtown Café’s famed lemon artichoke soup. (midtowncafe.com)
Varallo’s
The story of Varallo’s—the downtown chili parlor that holds the title of Tennessee’s oldest restaurant—is one we hear so often in Music City: An artist comes to town to follow his musical dreams, only to have them take him in a completely new, but equally exciting direction he could never have predicted. Frank Varallo Sr. came to the U.S. from Italy in the late 1800s. He moved to Nashville to pursue a career as a violinist, until a hunting accident put an end to his musical journey, and he turned to another passion: chili. He began selling his signature recipe “chile” from a cart in the corner of a local saloon, but as word spread, he built a following that allowed him to open the first Varallo’s Chile Parlor on Broadway in 1907. At the time, chili parlors were as popular as honky-tonks, and the competition was fierce, but 117 years later, Varallo’s chili is the last one standing. While the family no longer owns the beloved downtown dining spot, the new owners, the Peabodys, have continued the tradition Frank Sr. started all those years ago—and added classic Southern cuisine to the menu. Whether you order your chili mix (chili and short spaghetti); hot (chili and a tamale), or straight (chili only); or opt for Chili Mac (with long spaghetti) or Chili Pie (with corn chips and cheese), you can’t go wrong by diving into that day one recipe. Or mix it up with a Southern breakfast—country ham biscuit, biscuits and gravy, and more—or even a burger and fries or a classic meatball sandwich. Varallo’s has stood the test of time thanks to its quality ingredients and variety of dishes, community reputation, and, of course, Frank Sr.’s original recipe chile. (varallosrestaurants.com)