The 25 Best Restaurants In Nashville - Nashville - The Infatuation

"When it comes to meat-and-threes, it’s hard to get any better than Arnold’s in the Gulch. After a brief hiatus in 2023, it reopened with the same cafeteria line and steaming trays of Southern classics that hit the spot for a quick but really filling lunch. Our go-to picks are the home-cooked fried chicken, hearty roast beef, creamy mac and cheese, perfectly al dente black-eyed peas, and cornbread with a super satisfying blister on the crust. And no tray is complete without some classic chess pie for dessert. Arnold's is the spot for a casual midday meal during the work day, or after running to Home Depot to find the right doodad for that leaky kitchen faucet. In both scenarios, you’ll feel right at home with the mix of Downtown suits, fanny pack-sporting tourists, and low-key locals catching up on the weekend’s drama inside one of the red booths or closely-stacked dining tables." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak