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Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

4.1 (3.7k reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 1 week ago

Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint Photos

Business Info

MARTIN'S BAR-B-QUE JOINT ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

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Full Slab (12 Bones) Mac and Cheese Baked Beans Potato Salad
Felicia C.

Was craving BBQ so my husband and I came here while we were in town. Since this was one of the most highly rated BBQ spots, we decided to give it a shot. The lines were long but the service was actually pretty quick. It was a hot day and the inside was hot as well unfortunately. Full Rack - Solid BBQ but a bit inconsistent. Some parts were tender while some parts were tough. Overall flavor was really good and we had lots of leftovers after our meal. Mac and cheese was good but wish that it was less mushy. Beans and potato salad were a great accompaniment to our meal. Overall, if I was in town, I would probably try somewhere else for ribs, but solid option!

Max W.

I had Martin's not once but TWICE this week... back-to-back nights. Is there better barbecue in Nashville? Maybe. But do you get better, more centrally located, with ease of access? Absolutely not. The place is very easy going and all of the staff is super helpful and knowledgeable - especially when guiding you to a meal that balances what you want without totally over ordering (although that can't help me). Then you circle around to the food itself... the smoke on the meats is perfectly balanced with the natural flavor of the meat with the seasoning. The meats are also WET and JUICY in the best way and what you wanted to be fatty was the right level of fatty. My favorite is probably the ribs, followed by the wings with the Alabama white, and then a close tie for third but the big bologna takes the cake. GO TO MARTINS IF YOU WANT GOOD BBQ! And then go again the next night.

Menu (Sept 27, 2026)
Gregory B.

One thing I love about Martin's is it is always consistent. While I do think there are better joints in the city, I have never had any issues with Martin's. I wish I could say that for other BBQ joints. This time I shared the Big Brother Sampler with Green Beans and Brocolli Salad. Somehow it got sent out with mac & cheese, so they sent out the brocolli salad for free. I appreciate when they make good and leave a little something. Great service. Brocolli salad was a bit sweet, but still tasty. Green beans were pretty average. Mac & cheese a step higher. Ribs a dry rubbed. I prefer Peg Leg's, but these are decent. Brisket was nicely done, as well. This location has a downstairs area with two bars and tables in between. There is also an upstairs area where bands play, if you are interested in music. There is a way to escape via Almond Street, if you don't want to walk back down the stairs. I tried the BBQ sauce, but did not really feel it added much to the food. As a downtown place, it is also useful they have less expensive cocktails than Lower Broad.

Susie T.

I feel sad to say this but I did not enjoy any of the food here. This place gets so busy and its so popular. I see many many people just walking by to take a picture of the sign! I love the decor in the inside. They have a live band upstairs. The line to order is awesomely place with rubs and bottles of sauce. Now, back to the food. The brisket is tooooooo soft. It breaks apart just sticking a fork in it. The ribs are too dry and the bbq sauce didnt hit. The fish fry just falls apart. I really didn't enjoy the food but I really enjoyed the atmosphere. I wouldn't come again as I feel maybe other spots could be better.

Robert W.

In search of a bbq place that's walking distance from downtown. This place kept popping up as highly recommended in different blogs and sites. Gave it a try- line was long but moved relatively quickly. Staff were friendly and gave suggestions in what to order. I had the beef brisket bbq tray which came with two slices of bread and 2 sides. I had the baked beans and the corn bread not cake. The brisket was ok but a bit consistent. Some pieces were pretty tender and juicy but others were actually quite dry and had to soak it in the bbq sauce. Baked beans were absolutely delicious. Cornbread was so so. It was more of a pancake. The spicy bbq sauce had a kick to it but I loved it. Price is on par with downtown prices. I took it to go but the ambience was lively and fun. I didn't get a chance to check out their beer garden. Overall would give it 3.5.

Mascot
Lisa-Marie B.

martin's barbecue what can I say but delicious finally got a chance to have your brisket while I was in Nashville last month and chefs kiss love the pulled brisket or chopped or whatever it is highly recommend chopped versus sliced baked potato was succulent and the mac & cheese was even better. Keep up the great work and please never run out of meat again.

Beverage Menu
Winston L.

Came here for a late Saturday dinner and they were busy, but there was still plenty of seating available. Order at the counter, they bring out the food to your table, and they'll also bus the table. We ordered 3 things to feed 5 medium hungry people and that was about right. The quantity of meat on the full rack of ribs felt like it was 2+ entrees. The beef brisket and whole pig (pulled pork) plates came with 2 sides and the full rack of ribs came with 3 sides. The ribs were meaty and cooked to a firm more chewy consistency. Brisket came with 3 half slices (probably the only plate I could have finished on my own) - cooked to a firmer consistency with a few drier bits. Whole hog was what I assume pulled pork from different parts of the pig (they have a separate pulled pork from pork shoulder). Thought the pulled pork had the right consistency. All the meats were reasonably seasoned. For the table, there was a very thin vinegar based sauce. The ribs came with a sauce that was the consistency that I would expect from a barbecue sauce. The rib sauce might have had a little ketchup and brown sugar in it to give it some body, but it was still very vinegar-forward. I would give the slight nod to the sauce that came with the ribs. We tried seven different sides - Slaw, Broccoli Salad, Baked Beans, Hoecakes, Green Beans, Fries, Mac & Cheese. I liked Fries the most - slightly thinner cut and really nice crust. Cornbread Hoecakes were the most interesting item being a Cornbread version of a pancake. Nothing particularly notable about the Slaw, Broccoli Salad, and Mac & Cheese - thought they roughly met expectations. Baked Beans were also on the tarter side. Green beans were Italian Green Beans and a bit softer than I'd like. I can't recall having other Nashville Barbecue, so this is really my first time having it. Meats were a bit firmer than what I'm used to. I've also been heavily conditioned to sweet sauces, so vinegar-forward Nashville style was a shock to the system. Sides were ok. Good amount of food for the price (with the brisket being a portion that most people could finish)

Fried Chicken Tenders and Margarita
Katherine C.

Delicious food, fun ambiance, and awesome live music! Definitely don't forget to get the margarita, it's delicious!

Brisket sandwich with hush puppies and beans
Jennifer C.

Came on a weekday for lunch. It's a flew blocks away from Broadway. The space itself is pretty big and we didn't have any trouble getting a seat even though it was busy. You order at the counter and they bring your food out to you. Got the brisket sandwich with a side of hush puppies and added an extra side of beans. The brisket was really tender and well seasoned. The beans were a bit on the sweet side for me but I did like that they had chunks of meat in it. The hush puppies are still amazing. Perfectly fried and not too heavy. Also not sweet at all which I really liked. It also has an onion forward flavor that I liked. I will say it's a bit pricey with my meal with tax and tip ended up being close to $30.

Brisket sandwich with hush puppies and baked beans
Denny V.

First time in Nashville so definitely had to try their BBQ. Saw rave reviews for Martins so was super exited to try! They had open seating and there was a decent line but moved very quickly. Food also came out fast as well! Got the brisket sandwich with hush puppies and bake beans. The brisket was so tender! It paired well with their Jack Creek sauce which had nice kick and sweet and sour taste. The hush puppies are a must! They were had a nice crunchy exterior with a pillowy soft inside. I appreciated that they werent too sweet as well! Baked beans were also solid. It came with a decent amount of bacon in it! Definitely will be back when I'm back in Nashville. And excited tol try something else on the menu!

Terrance G.

Of course when in Tennessee from Texas you have to try their bbq and brisket. It was good but i still take Texas bbq at day. The restaurant is pretty large and the line moves quickly. The inside is a little toasty though but they do have Full bar to help cool you down.

look at the size of that chicken... $15 doesn't buy what it once did.
Jöshua M.

I dined at this Martin's BBQ after an interview. I parked close by and expected a memorable meal. I certainly got that, but in all of the wrong ways. I wanted something cheaper and lighter so I grabbed a chicken plate. At ~$15 pre-tax, it certainly isn't cheap. That said, that's the cost of doing business in Nashville these days. I was deeply disappointed by the portion size. Yes, smaller chicken often times tastes better because it likely is a bit more natural than the massive birds you sometimes find. I still really didn't like how the caloric content of my meal was almost exclusively from the sides. If portion size is small, flavor has to be big. Sadly, flavor was pretty mid. It wasn't bad, but it's nothing special. So, this was a deeply unsatisfying meal, but it wasn't bad. That's easily a 2- or 3-star meal. Why is it 1-star? Well, I have no choice but to give it 1 star because the greedy owner/proprietor/whomever the decision maker is decided not to validate parking. I had to pay an absurd $15 extra for parking due to this restaurant's disgusting greed. So now instead of paying $15 + tax + tip for a mid-at-best chicken meal, I paid over $30. It's frankly absurd to allow reckless greed to take hold when you operate in the same city as Jack Cawthon, Carey Bringle's establishments and Edley's BBQ. I'll pick one of those restaurants 10 of 10 times over giving the obnoxiously greedy Martin's BBQ another try.

Madelynn F.

We just arrived in town and dropped our bags off at the hotel. I was hungry and we started walking and this was one of the first places we saw. We Popped in and I was not disappointed. We had the baked beans, the potato salad, the brisket, and the St. Louis style ribs. Food was hot fresh and served quick. We also had the pecan pie for dessert.

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Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

Is the food halal ? Does the place serve pork Want to double check is the beef lamb…

Hi Martin's does serve pork. Not sure if anything is halal, I would call to inquire.

Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible?

Yes, they have a ramp right at the front entrance and an elevator to the outdoor deck area.

Are you dog friendly?

The outdoor patio was , but not inside

UPDATE: Thanks all for the quick answers. Sitting at their bar now- mask free;)... (Original question: It says mask required. Is that just outdated?)

No mask required.

Is there a cover when a show is on? If so, how much?

No cover, just a great show!

On a Friday, what would be the best time for a group of 8 to get there and be able to sit outside?

I'm not from TN, but i would assume the best time is before peak time/line starting build up. So i would say between 4-5 pm; not too early and not too late.

Is the outdoor seating area dog friendly?

No dogs are not allowed in the outdoor seating area

Where is the best, closest free parking?

You can park on third avenue on the street (one block up). There isn't a ton of spots but its free if you can find it. There is a $5 pay lot directly across the street on 4th

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4.4(3.9k reviews)
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This place put Nashville in my heart! Not only was the music amazing and the waitress such a great…read moreperson who was quick with drinks and food. The food was to die for! 10 years ago, we went to Nashville and stopped at this bar and we have the giant for patty burger, and we have been looking for ever since we could not remember the name of the bar and the one behold we will be able to find them on Yelp and figure out what they were the correct ones. 10/10 we will be back.

Went with my boyfriend & parents on a Saturday evening to catch a football game. The place was…read moreabsolutely mobbed and the host was running around like crazy, but everyone was SO friendly and SO helpful! I would have expected (and forgiven) some hasty replies given the state of chaos, but the staff was genuinely so wonderful while working their butts off. We ended up finding a spot in the upstairs seat-yourself section within 10 minutes and had excellent service from the bartenders up there. Great TVs and fun atmosphere to watch a game. The food was excellent overall. The hot honey pepperoni pizza with feta was phenomenal, so delicious. The pesto chicken sandwich was also great. We had 2 hot chicken sandwiches which were good. Everything was hot and fresh. Reasonably priced & good quantity of food for the prices. I would definitely come back, and will make a reservation next time to make everyone's life easier!

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Gannons Nashville - Make a reservation at Gannons tonight!

Gannons Nashville

4.5(242 reviews)
0.5 mi•Downtown
•$$$
Private events
Happy hour specials

If you come to Nashville, this place is a must try. Especially for it being a 10 minute walk to…read moreBroadway, the after party street lol. We came here for late dinner, 8.30 and this place was not packed which is very surprising, bc they play music jazz music, and you can have a lovely dinner and still hear ppl talk. But the best thing is their pork chop !!! This is a must get. Thank me later. We got the pork chop medium well bc we like our pork more cooked bc ain't no one trying to get salmonella from undercooked pork. But it was sooo good, has a nice char on the outside, and perfectly seasoned. Additionally, it sits on top of a bed of allegedly "rice" according to our server. But to me, it reminded me of a tendon brisket texture. I would've bet money on it too. But delicious with sweet peach sauce that came with it. For the prime rib, it was a huge cut of meat, but it was lacking flavor, needed some more salt and some rosemary to bring out the meat. Both main dishes can serve 2 people each, so worth the price and food. Definitely come back! And a shout out to our server Cole, who was great

We walked in toward the end of the evening, not realizing the restaurant was getting ready to…read moreclose. There were still a couple of people at the bar and a few tables with guests finishing their meals, so nothing immediately indicated that we were arriving near closing time. The hostess was very friendly and seated our party of four right away, but she never mentioned that the restaurant would be closing soon. Had we known, we would have gladly chosen somewhere else to eat rather than risk feeling rushed or unwelcome. The ambiance was nice, and we each ordered a cocktail. Unfortunately, our experience with the service was disappointing from the start. Our server seemed visibly annoyed with us and had an attitude that made us feel as though we were an inconvenience. I understand that being seated with a table near the end of a shift can be frustrating. I've worked in the service industry myself, and I know what it's like to be sat late in the evening. However, that comes with the job, and I would have much rather been told upfront that the restaurant was closing soon so we could have made other arrangements. We were visiting from Nashville to celebrate our wedding anniversary and were looking forward to a nice dinner to kick off our trip. Unfortunately, the food was a mixed experience. I ordered the turtle soup and prime rib, requesting the prime rib medium rare. It arrived medium, if not slightly more well done. While the flavor was good, it was not cooked to the doneness I had requested. The turtle soup was also excessively salty, and everyone at our table agreed. My wife ordered the beef en croute, which was cold in the center, although the pastry on top was cooked nicely. Our friends ordered the lamb and halibut, and both dishes were prepared well and enjoyed. For a restaurant where we spent over $400 on dinner, I expected a much higher level of food quality and service. Mistakes can happen, and I understand that no restaurant is perfect. However, the combination of the unwelcoming service and the issues with several dishes made for a disappointing evening. What made the experience especially frustrating was that this was supposed to be a special dinner to celebrate our anniversary and start our trip on a high note. Instead, we left feeling disappointed and as though our business was an inconvenience. If the restaurant was closing soon, a simple heads-up when we arrived would have gone a long way. We would have understood and happily taken our business elsewhere. The following evening, we dined at Sinatra's and had a fantastic experience, which made the contrast even more noticeable. Overall, the ambiance was pleasant, and some of the food was good, but the service and inconsistency in the dishes fell well short of what I would expect from a restaurant at this price point. When spending over $400 on a dinner for a special occasion, you expect to feel welcomed, enjoy a well-prepared meal, and leave with a positive impression. Unfortunately, that was not our experience, and this restaurant was a disappointing way to begin our anniversary trip.

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The Mockingbird Nashville - The Mocking Burger

The Mockingbird Nashville

4.2(826 reviews)
0.8 mi•Downtown
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Nashville, y'all showed OUT for this bachelorette brunch!…read more A little bride time, a little girl time, and a whole lot of GOOD FOOD! My daughter, my BFF, and I headed to The Mockingbird in Nashville, Tennessee for a bachelorette brunch, and let's just say the food did not disappoint! The menu was full of creative dishes, and everything we tried was delicious. From the burger and seasoned fries to the steak and eggs, crispy Brussels sprouts, and everything in between, we had ourselves a proper brunch! But can we talk about that GRILLED CHEESE?! Listen... we LOVED it! Sometimes the simplest dishes end up being the ones you remember most, and that grilled cheese definitely made an impression! And the sweetest little touch? The Mockingbird surprised us with a "Congrats, Bach!" card that made our celebration feel even more special. Good food, great company, and making memories with two of my favorite girls before the big day. That's what this season is all about! She Eats He Eats: Bachelorette Edition! The Mockingbird | Nashville, TN Now tell me... are you ordering something adventurous for brunch, or are you sticking with a classic grilled cheese?

Solid family dinner in the downtown dining room. I had the wedge salad, my son ordered the bird…read moredinner, and my wife had the burger. All three plates landed well and the kitchen kept things simple and consistent. The mocktail program deserves a mention. I had the Punchin' Bag (mocktail version) and my wife had the virgin mojito, and both were done right, not an afterthought. Their signature punch is the house calling card. Easy room to sit and talk through a meal. We will be back.

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Harper's

Harper's

4.6(362 reviews)
0.3 mi•Downtown
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Food was excellent as well as the service. The ambiance is perfect for special occasions.read more

A Chef's Kiss Ambiance…read morePulling up to the valet was a breeze, which was a big help when you're from out of state and don't know where to park. The front of the building was elegant and well lit. The hostesses greeted us warmly, and with our reservation we were seated within five minutes. The crowd was dressed in business casual, which set a nice tone. The one drawback was the noise: the main dining room was louder than I'd expect from a fine dining spot. Then again, it's downtown Nashville on a Friday night. The Staff Every staff member we encountered was polished and professional, exactly what you'd hope for at a restaurant like this. Our server, Yay, was exceptional, an absolute joy. She was kind and knowledgeable, and her balance of professionalism and playfulness was spot on. The Food and Drinks Nearly everything we ate was delicious. The smoked old fashioned was one of the smoothest, most refined I've had in a long while. The Tomahawk was cooked to perfection, and the sides were excellent across the board, with one small exception: the potatoes that came with the Tomahawk were on the bland side and could have used some salt. That's a pretty easy fix, and it was the only miss of the night. Otherwise, the chef and kitchen were right on the mark. The Verdict Would I come back? In a heartbeat, just maybe not on a Friday night. Three thumbs up, and thanks to the staff for a memorable evening. Chef's miss? Not even close. This one's a Chef's Kiss.

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Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint - bbq - Updated October 2026

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