Nashville's Meat and Threes

Close to Downtown and Lower Broadway, Arnold's has been a longtime favorite with recording musicians and locals. Food here is served cafeteria style and includes the usual Southern favorites of roast beef, fried chicken, turnip greens, and whipped potatoes. Check out their wall of signed celebrity photos to see who else frequents the … place. [link]

Entering this diner feels like entering a time warp as little has changed at Elliston in over five decades. The tables have jukeboxes, the chairs are made of … chrome and vinyl, and the shakes are sublime. We know some natives from Nashville who have been coming here for over 30 years. They serve a noteworthy meat and three, but the real draw here is the atmosphere. [link]

The Loveless is one of Nashville's most famous diners and has a real unpretentious nostalgic feel. Their biscuits are outstanding, and they are famous for their … red eye gravy and Southern fried chicken. Like other meat and threes, the portions here are beyond huge, so it's best to bring a group. [link]

Located in a refurbished 1880 Victorian home, Monell's is a great family style joint serving meat and threes and a popular brunch. The space is set up with long wooden tables seating over a dozen people, and plates are all shared. Specialties include the fried chicken, country fried steak, pork chops, and dumplings. The owners recently … opened two express locations with take out only menus. [link]

Rotier's kind of looks like a dingy dive from the outside but is well known across the city for its excellent thick burgers. In addition to the famed burger, … Rotier's serves a tasty meat and three hot lunch. Their fried okra and field peas are especially good [link]

Sylvan Park is a simple little place but is a big hit at lunchtime for their meat and threes. Mains here include Tennessee ham, breaded pork chops, and barbecue chicken. Save room for dessert here as they make some of the most tempting homemade pies in the city including butterscotch, chocolate, egg custard, and the southern favorite … sweet potato. [link]

Another Nashville institution, Swett's has been run by the same family for decades and is known for their meat and three meals. They offer more variety than many of the other diners with specialties including fried chicken, spice encrusted baked chicken, fish, roast beef, beef tips and over a dozen home cooked veggies. Like Arnold's the … food here is served cafeteria style. [link]

Wendell Smiths, aka Booze and Biscuits because the front half of the building is a liquor store, serves an excellent meat and three. The fried catfish and chicken are cooked fresh every day and their sides, especially the turnip greens, cornbread dressing, and fried corn, are delicious. If you're not feeling the meat and three, Wendell's … serves breks all day and has outstanding grits. [link]

Relatively new to the Nashville meat and three scene, the White Trash Cafe already has a loyal following among locals. The name of the restaurant refers to the space's kitschy and trashy decor which includes quirky art and knickknacks. The entree changes every day but they always have the staple veggies and breads. [link]