4.5 The new year is…read moreas good as time as ever to try a new (to you/me) restaurant in an unvisited (by me/you) part of the midstate. Old Hickory Blvd is to the Nashville area as Peachtree is to Atlanta: it's everywhere and nowhere at the same time and no one knows where you are if you say you're on it. Well, needing lunch on a Friday in the new year, I made my way onto Old Hickory to see where it took me. It led me to... Old Hickory and Granddaddy's Original Hot Chicken Shack. It had been on my radar for a while but I never had a reason to me in this part of the county. I decided to make time on this day. Besides the potential gastric distress I find myself avoiding hot chicken because of how colonized and commodified it's become. What was a community staple (and not a 'Nashville' food) has become something that's turned into a chain item, largely without the very people who made it a thing (creators and patrons). Incredibly frustrating. So, when I decide to eat it, I want to make sure I do so responsibly and with consideration. Hence, Granddaddy's. I parked in the ample lot and walked in to find a small dining room that smelled incredible. I was greeted with an authentic smile (you can see it in the eyes and hear it in the voice) and asked (first) how I was doing and (secondly) what I'd like. I answered ('well; thanks for asking' and 'shredded chicken sandwich & fries to go, please.'). In all my professional eating*, I don't think I'd ever had shredded hot chicken. I was going to learn that day. I sat down and watched TV as my food was prepared. After the conclusion on my show, my food was ready. I thanked the folks behind the counter, smiled, waved, and hit the bricks. I noticed that I made a muscle when carrying the bag. This was a good sign. It was also a long drive back to my house. I got home and realized why I had to exert effort to lift my food: it was huge. You definitely get your money's worth. On an over-sized bun, I had an extremely generous amount of shredded hot chicken (medium), cheese, ranch, and pickles. As you might imagine, the flavor combo was A+. What you might not have bet on, though, was the texture win of the sandwich. The soft bun, shredded chicken, creamy ranch, and crunchy pickles added up to a memorable chew with every bite. The fries weren't merely a side. They demanded your attention: a generous portion of seasoned fries that lost neither heat nor snap on the drive from Old Hickory to my home. No matter where you live in the midstate, if you profess to enjoy hot chicken, you owe it to your mouth to make it to Granddaddy's. It was one of the best lunches I'd had in a while. I still think about it. *It's true.

Grandaddy's Original Hot Chicken - Nashville, TN…read more Grandaddy's is the kind of place that reminds you why Nashville hot chicken is such a phenomenon. I came here because of Yelp and the reviews that drew me in were absolutely right. From the start the hospitality stood out. Tim, the owner, came out to greet me, and I immediately noticed he was wearing a Lakers hat. I told him I was from LA and we connected right there. He showed me some things and we ended up having a quick back-and-forth about it. That kind of personal connection does not happen everywhere, and it gave the visit an even more genuine feel. Kim was working the counter and she carried the same warmth. She was kind, attentive, and went the extra mile by walking me through the menu item by item. That kind of care makes a difference because it shows she wants people to enjoy the food and get what fits them best. When a restaurant has staff who make you feel like you matter, it sets the stage for everything else. I went with the three chicken tenders along with fried corn and greens. The greens come cooked with pork, which I do not eat, so I could only sample a little. Even so, the flavor came through and they were well seasoned. The fried corn was something different and turned out to be a highlight on its own, sweet and savory with just the right texture. Now the chicken. This is where Grandaddy's shines. The tenders were incredibly tender, almost to the point where you wonder what magic they are working in the kitchen. In other words, they had good meat. The quality was impressive and every bite was juicy. What really put it over the top was the crispiness. The crust had that perfect crunch that holds its own bite after bite, not soggy or greasy, just clean and bold. That balance of texture and flavor is what hot chicken is supposed to be. I have had Nashville-style hot chicken in different places around the country, and there are some strong contenders out there. But after eating here I see why Nashville owns the name. There is a depth of flavor and execution that feels rooted here, and Grandaddy's delivers it in a way that makes you understand the hype. The price is right, the service feels genuine, and the food speaks clearly for itself. If you are visiting the city or even if you are local and want a new favorite spot, Grandaddy's Original Hot Chicken should be on your list.

Good food - IF YOU CAN GET IT. Twice we got great service…read morewith the delicious food but that ended quickly. Multiple times we've tried to call in an order for pickup but no one ever answered - only the option to leave a message. Once we went in at noon (2 hours after they "opened") & were turned away because they still had not turned on the ovens. Another day went in at 12:30, the neon sign was not on but the door was open & there was a table full of used dishes with a pizza board. So I went in thinking they just forgot to turn on the sign. The man behind the counter looked at me as if I had 2 heads & asked me what I was doing. Told him I wanted to order & he rudely stated that the sign was not turned on so I should have known they were closed. He was so rude about it that I will never return.

This place was INCREDIBLE! A true treat for anyone who likes pizza and mediterranian food. The…read moreatmosphere is nice and fancy. The staff was super friendly and nice. They uber eats!

I've noticed a few of these places have been popping up east of Nashville. It is a Chain, but I had…read moreto try their version of Nashville Hot Chicken. This restaurant is clean and the staff were friendly. The food came out Hot and fresh, fairly quickly. They serve Sandwiches, Tenders, Wings, Chicken and Waffles, Wraps, Salads and more. There is plenty of free parking. I usually get the Medium spice level when I get Nash Hot Chicken and that's what I got on my sandwich today. It was good for me-- Not too spicy, but hot enough. I say it will make your forehead sweat just a little :) Nice flavor. I will say that the portions are large. The Mac and Cheese bowl is big and the chicken breast sandwich hangs off of the bun. It's worth checking out and if you want to try their hottest spice level ( Angry Hot ) you have to sign a waiver, so it must be pretty dang hot.

Food service. Ambiance…read more The chicken was fresh and the heat level of medium with extra sauce and pickles was great ! I look forward to my next visit.. I waited for this place to open and the wait was worth it .. Hopefully the freshness and quality of food remain a staple along with the cleanliness of the establishment. If you haven't tried Hangry joes ' Don't wait ' you can't be there soon enough!

I think I must have passed out every time after eating here. I have no idea how I have not posted a…read morereview. This Memphis native who also lived in Kansas City for years has a high bar for 'que. Papa Turney's is one of those IYKYK kind of spots. This is the place if you want fall off the bone ribs. That is surprisingly hard to find consistently in most of the barbecue places in Nashville. The pork here has great flavor good, but sometimes is a little dry. I love the beans and the potato salad here. The coleslaw isn't creamy, so it's not for me. I do wish they had bigger cups. They are hilariously small for a drink to go with flavor-filled BBQ. This place is not fancy. That's what is great about it. You get a free view of the marina, and after you eat be sure to visit J. Percy Priest Dam. They champion great music here, and I've enjoyed the solo players on the patio during warm days. I look forward to coming at night when the joint is jumping. Easy counter service and great conversation with the staff solidifies the authenticity of the food. There is magic here. Come and get it!

Papa Turney's is located in a marina, so the view is pretty nice…read more I walked in and went with a two meat combo, pork and sausage. For my sides, I went with Mac and cheese and their baked beans. It took a bit to come out. First, I did not expect two sandwiches, I thought that I would get a platter. Not earth shattering, but different. The sides were both pretty terrible. Like I would not be surprised if the beans came out of a can and the mac and cheese came out of a box. The sausage was not the best, but the pork was pretty good. I guess I will give it three stars overall.

I chose this place on a whim. It was near my hotel. And I had low expectations. But, it surprised…read moreme. The food itself was very tasty. And very satisfying. I ordered the fish + chicken combo, and chose fries and potato salad as my sides. Overall, the food itself was very good. And service was great. The restaurant forgot my potato salad, I called them to let them know. They drove to my hotel nearby and delivered the potato salad (thanks for Freddie for driving out). I'm not in Nashville much, but this place deserves consideration for when I return.

Overall food is great. I recommend the fried mushroom, it has the right amount of crunch and not…read moretoo greasy at all. The wings were delicious- Nashville hot. Kids liked the burger and Mac and cheese. Fried fish salad- wife mentioned it was battered lightly and was not greasy either! Only complaint is that I ordered the jalapeño ranch and did not receive it. Restaurant looked clean in the inside, and looked family friendly. I pre-ordered for pick up and was told it would be ready by a certain time. Had to wait 5 extra minutes but not that big of a deal. Recommend if you are near the Nashville airport hotel area.

Google "Old World Fanceroni" and look at the pictures... then, look at my pizza... awful…read more And since I could only post one picture (Yelp... get on that), just take my word that the Crazy Bread was so undercooked, I had to air-fry it when I got it home. I don't even want my money back... I just don't want anyone else to pay what I paid, and then get what I got.

I was super interested in trying the half cheese stick pizza I saw advertised on tv so decided to…read moregive it a shot. It was good, just your average pizza, cooked well (not doughy) and SO MUCH CHEESE. Honestly the cheesiest pizza I've ever had. I ordered for delivery so I can't speak on the ambiance of the restaurant but the pizza was good.

We just moved to the Nashville area and one of the very first restaurants we wanted to try was…read moreTennFold Brewing. We sat outside and enjoyed the breeze. There were fans blowing which was nice for a hot day. The patio is completely shaded and there are lots of seats both inside and out. Jaime was our waitress and she was outstanding! She made us feel welcome and was attentive throughout our meal. One of my favorite things waiters do is bring out another drink before the first one is done. Those waiters are a dime a dozen and Jaime came back with a refill when my first cup was half full. My husband ordered a pizza and I ordered the blueberry chicken sandwich. I think that was the first time in my entire life that I ordered a sandwich at a restaurant and holy moly, am I glad that was my first! The bread was crispy on the outside and had a nice sponginess on the inside. The pesto and blueberry combination was so delicious and unique. My husband's pizza was really good, too. He kept stealing my fries (rightfully so, I could order an entire bowl of those by themselves). The sweet tea was comforting and my husband's IPA was smooth (I had taken a pain reliever prior to lunch so I only had a small sip). I want to come back for drinks on the patio again because his beer tasted great. TennFold Brewing is awesome and was definitely the best choice for our first few days in our new home state. We will be back for more delicious food and drinks!

The patio! We love hanging out on the patio. The pizza here has flavorful crust, and there are…read moretraditional and adventurous selections. Our last visit we had the Korean BBQ and the Smoke Show (seasonal). We did not love the Cauliflower Wings. Our group agreed, there needs to be crunch and char vs. lightly cooked with a sauce. The ingredients are fresh and they update the menu every few months. The staff is helpful when picking out a beer. It's typically busy, but service has been good every time we have been. One of the managers stopped to talk to us, which I really appreciated.

This is one of the rare times the Yelp reviews don't live up to my expectations. I'm giving 4 stars…read morebecause the staff was so friendly and kind, and I don't want to trash a small business. This is a no-frills, smaller restaurant inside a strip of stores in a questionable-looking area of town. As I parked the car, I thought twice about actually going in, but based on the Yelp reviews, I decided to give it a try. It was clean inside, and, as I mentioned, the service and staff were 5-star! My food was where it went wrong for me. I started with the summer rolls (the ones in rice paper); they serve sushi and Thai food here. I have been craving summer rolls; I love the freshness of the mint and herbs, combined with crunchy peanuts and peanut sauce. However, that fell short for me here. The peanut sauce was reddish and tasted more like ketchup, so that was a letdown. No little peanuts anywhere in the sauce or on the plate. It was jam-packed with iceberg lettuce, which you would typically put on a Taco, so it wasn't very fresh-tasting, and it contained the tiniest piece of shrimp I've ever seen inside. Following my gut, I decided not to order my usual sushi selection, which is always raw, unfried, and unsauced. However, I decided to play it safe, so I opted for a Mexican roll instead. I asked for no eel sauce, but I should have also specified that I wanted spicy mayo on the side. It covered my roll, and I had to use a napkin to remove what I could. This is usually a roll that is around $6 to $10, but for some reason, they were charging $14. They made the rolls bigger, but not by filling them with more shrimp, avocado, etc.; instead, they added more rice. This may be someone's cup of tea, but it wasn't mine, and I won't be back, but wish them the best!

There was this favorite sushi place. I used to visit in Brentwood Tennessee that closed after the…read morepandemic. Sushi Thai reminds me of that place and fills that hole in my tastebuds. The sushi is so fresh here. Service is nice and efficient. It's a small place with a few tables and no waiting area, but don't let a wait deter you. And, if you have any room in your tummy after dinner, definitely order the mango sticky rice for dessert. I say I will try some of the hot dishes here, but the sushi always wins.

The food was delicious. I did the three piece at medium heat and it was the perfect amount of food…read more I also ordered the cheesecake and was impressed. The staff was very friendly as well. Would definitely go back!

Really enjoyed the meal here. Service was very friendly, and the hot chicken sandwich was made…read morefresh. If you are a serious hot chicken fan, add plus one to your normal spice - I had medium and it was mild. Great flavor though. I thought the inside was nice, they have beers and TVs with the sports games on. This would qualify as fast casual but its comfortable inside and they also have a patio. Walking distance to all the hotels, ita perfect for a quick meal. Id eat here again for sure.

Sat in the spacious bar area and had Tosha take exceptional care of us. Never had to wait for…read moreanything. She was on top of wine refills ($5 house wine special on Wednesdays), dessert recommendations, and good conversation. Enjoyed a half pepperoni/half mushroom asiago pizza. Be sure to order the cannoli!!!

Dinner on a Thursday evening in Mount Juliet. We came and tried Calabria's. My wife had been here…read morebut I have not. We had the garlic knots, wood fired buffalo wings and a pepperoni pizza. Nothing fancy tonight. Garlic knots were good. Just the right amount of butter and garlic and crisp to it. Buffalo wings were a mix of well cooked and overcooked/charred. They were good but a bit overdone. Pizza was a very thin crust, but we like it that way. Unfortunately the crust was also very charred. Not typical brick oven char, but much heavier. My wife could not eat it. She said it must be "an acquired taste". I believe they may just need to clean their brick oven. Restaurant has cute decor and ambience. Not very crowded either with the amazing weather we are having. If you are a brick oven connoisseur this may be the place for you, probably not a restaurant we will frequent in the future.