Arnold's Country Kitchen

"Opened in 1982; closed in 2023 for one year Before it closed in 2023, Arnold’s Country Kitchen was one of the rare places that epitomized old Nashville, serving meat-and-threes on red trays in a cafeteria line filled with Southern classics. The founders had intentions to sell the building, but their son took the reins and re-opened the business at the start of 2024. Fortunately, Arnold’s feels blissfully unchanged. Here’s to hoping for many more years of roast beef and blistery cornbread." - anne cruz

"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. Depending on what they’re serving that day, our go-to picks from the line 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 dessert. In Arnold’s case, that means chess pie. There are a few varieties, but the classic is always spot-on. photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin Arnold’s is the spot you go to 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. Food Rundown photo credit: Casey Irwin Roast Beef The roast beef is a regular on Arnold’s daily rotation. You’ll find it sitting on a carving board, ready to be sliced up and served onto your tray. There’s the famous savory rub that crusted on the outside—the one that people have unsuccessfully tried to crack the ingredient code for. It’s slightly salty and offers a peppery kick to Bear Creek Farm’s beef. Mac & Cheese Made with a mix of american and parmesan, Arnold’s version has a thicker and cheesier consistency than most. Because of that, it tastes extra buttery and slightly tangy with a bright pop of sweet spice, thanks to the dash of paprika. It’s a meal within itself. Cornbread Every meal comes with your choice of cornbread or biscuit. If you have to pick one, the sweet cornbread muffins with the occasionally blistering crust are the way to go. But in the spirit of YOLO, get both. photo credit: Casey Irwin Chess Pie Arnold’s nails the sugary simplicity of a chess pie. The crust has the right amount of flakiness, the filling is sweet and custardy, and the whole thing elicits vivid nostalgic happiness. We’re talking about the feeling of sneaking some after-school baked goods from the refrigerator and washing them down with a cold glass of milk." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

"Nashvillians have been flocking to lunch at Arnold’s since it opened in 1982, serving classic country fare like fried chicken, pork chops, chicken and dumplings, and meat loaf. The neighborhood has changed quite a bit since then, with posh boot shops and high-rises closing in on all sides, but its stream of regulars has stayed the same. Join the line, grab a tray, head down the line to choose from daily specials, sides like turnip greens and whipped potatoes, and a plethora of Southern pies for dessert." - Ellen Fort

"When meat-and-three staple Arnold’s announced it’d be closing in January of 2023, the ripple of grief throughout Nashville was felt. The good news is that, like Westley in The Princess Bride, Arnold’s was only “mostly dead,” and its revival only took about a year. The food and experience are just the same as those legendary glory days, if not better, now that our hearts have grown fonder from their momentary absence. Anything sliding toward the register on those red plastic trays is the standard to which we hold all Southern cooking. The roast beef with collard greens and mac and cheese are paramount, but the fried catfish mimics the beef in tenderness and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Whatever you do, be sure to leave with a slice of spicy chocolate pie. " - ann walczak, carlo mantuano, jackie gutierrez jones 2

"When meat-and-three staple Arnold’s announced it’d be closing in January of 2023, the ripple of grief throughout Nashville was felt. The good news is that, like Westley in The Princess Bride, Arnold’s was only “mostly dead,” and its revival only took about a year. The food and experience are just the same as those legendary glory days, if not better, now that our hearts have grown fonder from their momentary absence. Anything sliding toward the register on those red plastic trays is the standard to which we hold all Southern cooking. The roast beef with collard greens and mac and cheese are paramount, but the fried catfish mimics the beef in tenderness and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Whatever you do, be sure to leave with a slice of spicy chocolate pie. " - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak