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    Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que

    4.2 (391 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque
    Open • 10:30 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    JACK CAWTHON'S BAR-B-QUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Brisket and ribs with corn bread
    Jeff M.

    This is my favorite bbq spot in nashville! Jack and I are both cancer survivors and that makes it even more special. Come get you some

    Southern pie triumverate (pecan, chess and chocolate) + banana pudding.... all solid
    Wendy G.

    Just desserts review. Visiting Nashville, and as a pie-baking Southern gal, had to sample some local sweets. I ordered the Southern pie triumverate (pecan, chess and chocolate) plus banana pudding. The three pies were fresh and tasty, while the banana pudding was unremarkable. I enjoyed the depth of flavor in each pie filling and while the crust wasn't excellent, it did taste better than store bought.

    2 meat combo everything was 5/5!
    Rana R.

    Mmmhmmm- Jack's BBQ was really good! We got the 2-meat plate which included 2 sides of your choice. You know we had to get the brisket and the ribs. Both were soooo juicy and fall of the bone (ribs). The portion size was definitely enough for sharing. Also came with 2 cornbread which was excellent! The sides we chose were the beans & the mac and cheese. Both really solid choices. Them beans were sweeeeeet and the mac was cheeeesy. Perfect combo! Also tasted the pecan pie, really good without being overly sweet. 5 star meal for sure! The place wasn't busy when we stopped by on a Friday afternoon. The place was clean and there were plenty of seating. All the employees were super nice and helpful. No complaints here!

    Outside entrance
    Paul M.

    Friendly staff. Quick service. One of my go tos for bbq in Nashville. Its been a staple. I enjoy the pork sandwich but I must admit that brisket was looking juicy and tender. The sweet potatoes were delicious. The turnip greens lacked some flavor this time around. I may go with the green beans next time. But still a good meal. Quiet atmosphere

    Three veggie plate with beans cornbread, Mac and Mac & Cheese, and Cole Slaw. This is the best cornbread I have ever had in my life.
    Megan B.

    The service at this bbq place was excellent. The beer was buy one get one and we don't think we were charged for all the food we got. I got two slices of cornbread I think because they didn't want me to just have the end piece of cornbread. It was the best cornbread I've ever eaten in my life. And the best thing between the two of us ordered. The coleslaw tasted like giardiena vinegary and crisp and was wonderful with the bbq. Beans tasted like the Kansas City bbq sauce which was my favorite of them.

    Turkey plate
    Patrick W.

    Stayed at the Townplace Suites, across the street from the Charlotte Ave location and gave this place a try. It was seriously fantastic. I had the turkey plate dinner, with corn bread, mashed potatoes w/gravy and coleslaw. All tasted so good and fresh. Loved how the coleslaw had a crunch. The #5 hot bbq sauce was some good stuff. The place was very clean, nicely decorated and the staff was supper friendly and helpful. Coming back tonight!!! Well done!!! I came back tonight and it was just as great as the first night. Had beef brisket and all was great. Beef was falling off my fork

    Pulled pork regular sandwich
    Michelle C.

    Enjoyed a recent lunch visit during the week. They have free parking available both behind the restaurant and across the street. Cafe style order and go. You can order a plate meal, sandwich and extras for sides. You also can choose a regular vs larger portion too. I ordered the regular pulled pork sandwich and enjoyed it. Size seemed just right with the amount of meat. They have plenty of sauces to choose from as well. The restaurant was clean with available seating. Overall good lunch spot with quick service.

    3 meat Combo Plate with brisket, sausage, and ribs
    Schyler D.

    It is not hard to see why this place is a Nashville institution and how it has lasted so long. The meats are all excellent, with good flavor, perfect tenderness, and nice portion sizes. The sides were so-so but there are definitely some others I'd like to try. The cornbread though is an underrated rockstar. It reminds me a lot of a poundcake. Spongy, thick, and sweet. So good!

    Chance B.

    Even to-go, Jack Cawthon's BBQ brings the kind of comfort and flavor that makes you feel like you're right at the family table. I ordered through Uber Eats, and it arrived fast and fresh -- I plated it myself and added a little of my own homemade sauce on top, but the meat didn't need much dressing up. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone delicious -- tender, smoky, and full of that slow-cooked soul you hope for in Tennessee BBQ. The potato salad was creamy and classic, just like Sunday best. The baked beans had that sweet, rich flavor that instantly brings to mind summertime cookouts and front porch conversations. The slaw was fresh with a nice crunch, though I'll admit I'm partial to a mayo-based version -- Bama roots run deep. The pickles and sliced onions on the side added that perfect final touch, bringing some brightness to the plate. This was the perfect way to spend the 4th of July -- simple, satisfying, and made with care. Whether you're dining in or taking it to-go, Jack Cawthon's delivers the kind of BBQ that reminds you why you love this city.

    Nicholaus W.

    Tucked away in a nice location with parking. Smell of bbq lingered in the air. The gentleman behind the counter was sharp and tentative with healthy portions per order. Food tasted amazing, pull pork was a delight. Carolina bbq sauce was spot on

    Beef Brisket plate with 2 sides and garnishes. OUTSTANDING!
    Michael S.

    Stopped in last night with a couple of friends and I was thinking about the plate of beef brisket with two sides. The Man at the cutting board offered me a taste of the brisket that he had just pulled out. It was TENDER, BEEFY, FATTY, JUICY, SUCCULENT and DEEELICIOUS! The free sample made up my mind! For my two sides I chose the collard greens and macaroni and cheese. The collard greens were cooked properly and not wilted. The mac and cheese was cheesy and not too salty. Service is cafeteria style and everyone behind the counter was polite and helpful. The ambiance is family friendly, clean and hospitable. The portions are of a good size and I had leftover beef brisket and cornbread to take home for breakfast. Total after tax and tip was about $26. It was a good value for a dinner in these times of Bidenflation.

    three meat platter with greens, cucumbers, brisket, ribs, and turkey
    Swapna Y.

    The service here was really great. They allowed us to sample the sausage and it had a lot of flavor. I ordered the three meat platter with turkey, ribs, and brisket. Everything was perfectly seasoned and tender. I loved that the brisket wasn't too fatty and that the ends was perfectly caramelized. The turkey was so moist; I'm not sure I've had moister turkey before. The ribs were magnificent and again not too fatty. I got greens and a cucumbers for a side and they were also both perfectly seasoned and flavorful. Definitely got a huge portion. I was very very happy with our meal. And we were able to get our food quickly and we didn't have any trouble finding seating.

    Two 2 Meat Combo Plate
    Alexa L.

    Stopped in town and was looking for a bar-b-que spot and found Jack's. It's a serve-at-the-front and sit-down type of atmosphere, which I love because you get to see the meat and sides in front of you. The service was great, extremely helpful, and steered us in the right direction when it came to getting a little bit of everything without breaking the bank. Got the two meats, wet brisket and sausage, and a 1/4 of pulled pork. I could have done without the sausage, as it wasn't anything spectacular, and gone with more brisket (wow!!!) and pulled pork. The brisket had a charred outside but was exceptionally moist and tender inside. The pulled pork was also incredible. For the sides, we got mac and cheese, which lacked in flavor a bit, and their mashed potatoes and gravy, which hit a home run. I wasn't a fan of their cornbread, it was a bit dense and tasted more like a cake consistency. I also had a bit of my MIL half chicken, smokey and juicy. Overall, glad we stopped by and would definitely come back.

    A pint of Brunswick Stew with Cornbread and an iced tea- fabulously delicious combination!

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    5 months ago

    Food was fabulous! Variety of sauces and sides were incredible!! Employees were friendly! A must do!

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    9 months ago

    The food is amazing. The service was great. It smells soooo good in there. Great value for fresh smoked meats.

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    11 months ago

    So good! Is a must when in town! I had pork, mashed potatoes and corn. With cornbread. Yum. Staff was nice.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que

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    Peg Leg Porker

    Peg Leg Porker

    4.3(3.9k reviews)
    1.0 mi•The Gulch, Downtown
    •$$

    Ribs were solid…read more Pulled pork - nothing special Mac and cheese - really good flavor, a touch watery? Baked beans - solid Potato salad - I'd get it again Coleslaw - mid Pork rinds - I'd get them again, kids loved them. Pimento cheese - decent but not super special. Great spot for bbq but was expecting really amazing as the "best bbq in Nashville " and it was just "pretty solid" spot, I'll still give it a 5 stars though. If I came back I'd buy a full rack of ribs with baked beans, potato salad and Mac.

    Continuing my journey to find the best BBQ outside of Texas, my recent stop brought me to Peg Leg…read morePorker in Nashville. This place kept coming up as one of the better places in town, so my friends and I showed up on a Friday night for dinner. We took an Uber in, but they do have a paid lot where parking is free the first hour. You also have street parking in the area. The place looks big on the outside, but half of the space is a spacious outdoor patio. Inside is a bit small and cramped, but people eat and go. They have a full bar as you walk in and on the other side is where you order. Customer service was good and the staff was very helpful helping us decide what was best to get. They have a full bar with a nice selection of bourbon and whiskey and a pretty impressive lineup of local tap beers. When you go to other cities, you should definitely research what the local specialties are in order to give it a fair chance. Nashville BBQ is completely different from Texas BBQ. Nashville is more pork ribs and dry rub centric whereas Texas is all about the beef. Peg Leg is known for their competition style ribs. They have lots of awards and trophies showcasing their dominance in that category. They smoke their meats daily and make from scratch sides. Their menu isn't huge. You have a variety of appetizers and entrees mainly focused around chicken or pork of some sort. If you come looking for some beef, you ain't gonna find it here. We went straight to real food and skipped on apps. My friend and I decided to share a rack of ribs and two sides. The food was ready after a little wait. First impressions just from looking at it, I knew we were in for a treat. They were heavily seasoned and I expected a salty bite, but their mix of spicy was just right. The ribs itself fell right off the bone. They have sauces on the side which were pretty good. Dry rub was good on it's own though. For our sides, we got potato salad and baked beans. I liked the beans a lot, but the taters were just ok. We also got some banana pudding to get a little something sweet. It was mid at best. It didn't really have a pronounced banana flavor. Overall, this was a good BBQ outing. Does it beat Texas BBQ? I don't think it's quite there, but it's great BBQ nonetheless. I'd return if in the area.

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    Edley's Bar-B-Que - Rib & brisket platter

    Edley's Bar-B-Que

    4.1(1.7k reviews)
    2.5 mi•12 South
    •$$

    This seems to be the new tourist shopping section of Nashville. And Edley's is a great option for a…read moremid-shopping lunch. The prices are on par with BBQ anywhere. I had the brisket and pork tacos, both delicious. The brisket taco was especially delicious. It's fast-casual. You order at the front and they give you a number. Service was ok, not much table service, but that's perfectly fine for a lunch vibe. I'd stop by here again if I was in the neighborhood.

    Nashville may quietly be an underrated barbecue mecca. You've got the Jack Cawthon's legendary…read moreJack's Bar-B-Que, pitmaster Carey Bringle's incomparable Bringle's Smokin' Oasis, and then you have Edley's. For the longest time, Bringle's was my absolute favorite in town, but Edley's may have just managed to take the crown. I almost feel like I'm cheating on Mr. Bringle by saying that, but as he famously put it, "You don't have to hate somebody else's barbecue to like mine." My default order at any top-tier joint is either a brisket plate or a multi-meat combo platter with brisket as the anchor. Edley's plates come properly equipped with two sides and a slice of cornbread. Where they really set themselves apart, though, is the menu flexibility: -The Add-Ons: You can throw on a $5 upcharge to add an extra 3 oz of meat or a jalapeño cheddar smoked sausage. -Burnt Ends: Edley's offers burnt ends, which is a bit of a rarity in town and something you don't easily find over at Jack's or Bringle's. If they're available when you order, grab them. Price-wise, Edley's isn't cheap, but it's far from overly expensive. It sits at fair market value, costing roughly what you'd pay for a comparable meal at any of the other major players in Nashville. The meats are high quality, wonderfully smoked, and packed with deep flavor. Beyond the rare burnt ends, the sauces here are what truly elevate the meal. Across the board, Edley's house sauces--from their classic red to their white sauce--are probably my personal favorites in the city. Between Jack's, Bringle's Smokin' Oasis, and Edley's, you genuinely cannot go wrong--Nashville barbecue is in great hands. But right now? Edley's holds my top spot. It is my ultimate "treat yourself" meal in town.

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    Fireplace in covered dining area

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    HoneyFire BBQ

    HoneyFire BBQ

    4.3(613 reviews)
    10.0 mi•Bellevue
    •$$

    food was good overpriced and the service was lackluster no customer service just "what you want"read more

    I found myself over at Bellevue for dinner, 2 hours before my hockey game. I wanted quality food…read morebut not super carb heavy but also not something that could potentially wreck my stomach. After all, can you imagine having digestive problems while playing hockey? I love barbecue so I thought I'd try this place. I walked in and it wasn't at all busy at 5:32. However when I finished my order, the line was out the door. I asked the cashier what was good and the manager (maybe owner) walked over and I asked him. I wanted ribs or brisket, but needed a 2nd opinion. He said he would choose brisket because theirs is USDA Prime and he would put it against any other barbecue restaurant in Tennessee. Those are some bold words. So I ordered the brisket platter (fatty portion) with green beans and cinnamon baked apples. What I received was 3 good sized portions (1/2 pound) of fatty brisket. The meat was tender, melt in your mouth without an overbearing amount of fat clumped together. The bark was salty and very peppery. It was actually good enough to eat without a sauce. Speaking of, there was only one sauce on the table, so I used that. It was a sweet sauce, definitely honey-based but not overly sweet like other honey-based sauces I've had in the past. The thing is I love everything honey-related, so I would definitely buy this to take home. It was so good, I was scavenging for brisket fibers on my plate. So I praised the brisket but I think the shocker was the green beans. These were hands down, the best green beans I've ever had...ever. Salty, tender, peppery, with chunks of meat and fat, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. Who would have thought that a side could be that good? Last but not least, the Cinnamon Baked Apples. I love baked/fried apples. Something about the tart and sweetness brings me back every time. The apples were soft, but not mushy. I would have liked them to be a little more tender and more slices of apples. I think there was more sauce than apples but nevertheless, they were great. Overall I'm glad I visited Honeyfire for the first time. I'm here often (near Bellevue) so I'll definitely be coming back again and again.

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    Edley's Bar-B-Que

    Edley's Bar-B-Que

    4.4(416 reviews)
    7.3 mi•Donelson
    •$$

    Stopped here on our way out of town. We were in TN for just a couple days and hadn't had BBQ yet,…read morewhich needed to be resolved. Food was phenomenal. I had the brisket and rib combo platter with Mac & cheese, and grits casserole. Everything was terrific, I loved every bite. Service is up at the counter, and they give you a number and deliver to your table. Nice folks all around working here. They also do something I absolutely LOVE that most bbq places do not - ask if you want fatty or lean brisket. I have never been asked this before, I always have to ask for fatty brisket myself. Place inside looks how a bbq joint should - lots of wood, lots of TVs, and lots of tables. If you're heading out of town it's only like 8 minutes from the airport, perfect place to stop.

    I gotta say.... I am way more impressed than I thought I would be when I first heard we were coming…read morehere. I am glad I was "brought" here because I may not have ever coon my own. I had heard of Edley's but had never seen one before. I do love BBQ so I am always down for some new versions of smoked meats I haven't tried. I might be a Nashville BBQ hater at heart, but I am trying to broaden my horizons and give people chances. This one is pretty damn good. I put them to the real test with a brisket plate on my first visit. They have better brisket than I can find in Memphis unfortunately. The trim was unique and I do not care for sauce on brisket (my fault for not reading), but this was some good BBQ. It's a typical setup for BBQ. You order at the counter, grab your drinks, find a table, and wait for the feast to arrive. They have all of the usual suspects. Brisket, pulled pork, ribs, burnt ends, turkey, and they have another menu with something they call "Nashville Style BBQ". I bet it's spicy, what ya wanna bet? I'll have to try that next time. I'll come back. I am curious now. I wonder if their sausage is any good. I guess I have to know now. See you next time, Edley's. '26 - 110

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    Edley's Bar-B-Que - Ribs & Brisket with Collard Greens, Banana Pudding, Cornbread & Edley's Margarita

    Edley's Bar-B-Que

    4.6(225 reviews)
    10.3 mi
    •$$

    Visited Edley's in Nolensville on a Monday night with my husband and three young kids. I've been to…read moreall of the Edley's locations around Nashville, but this one is by far the best for families, mostly because of the outdoor play area. Parking was super easy, and the woman at the counter was friendly and helpful. The bathrooms were clean, and the restaurant itself is spacious with plenty of tables and room to spread out, which is always appreciated when dining with little kids. My kids played outside while we waited for our food, but the food came out quickly. The kids' meals are some of the best values in town. One tip: the bun on the kids' cheeseburger is huge compared to the patty. I asked if they could add an extra patty, and they did for just $1. After removing some of the bun, it made for a much better burger and still kept the meal incredibly affordable. The spicy chicken tacos are also some of the best tacos in town. Our family of five ate for about $50. We usually buy Edley's gift cards at Costco, so our actual cost was closer to $40. It's refreshing to have a restaurant in Nashville that truly welcomes families while still serving great food. Highly recommend for anyone dining with kids.

    I had been here before , road construction is a little delay in the area but when I went for lunch…read moreit wasn't bad at all. The food is really good I like the burnt ends myself but pulled pork is good too. Cornbread has a bit of a kick, kind of a surprise lol. But the ambiance is real bar b q and smells awesome coming in. Order at cashier and then give you a number so no service. I went a few months ago early evening and the bar was packed inside and out looks like a fun crowd if there had been a seat I would have sat there . Have it on my list to go back for happy hour to eat as it looked fun. Plenty of parking construction hasn't hurt them on that .

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    Edley's Bar-B-Que - Counter

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    Nashville Style Pulled Pork Sandwich

    Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - bbq - Updated October 2026

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