Another vote for Jimmy Kelly's, our favorite "special date" restaurant when my wife and I were in college and still the best in town. There is a Ruth's Chris, but for local flavor (in two senses of the word), JK's is where you want to go.

I'd also like to agree with the poster who suggested Monell's--this is where I send/take visitors to Nashville. It's a good way to get to know our hospitality, by eating with complete strangers. (Sweet Willie, if you come to town again, get in touch with me and we'll go.)

And, on yet another tangent, for mn3guy--as a meat-and-three devotee, I have a couple of updates for the Tennessee section (one closure and another new place you should know about). I'll drop you an email.

Another steakhouse that hasn't been mentioned that personnally I think is the best in Nashville is Fleming's. Fleming's has a great atmosphere and if you are into wine, it has one of the biggest and best selections in the city. Nothing against other's opinions, and I do like TKs, but I think Fleming's is better.

A couple of other great restaurants around town that one should visit.

Italian --
Sole Mio. It's near downtown, but just far enough out to have great views of the city. All of the pasta/sauces are homemade. Have been here numerous times and have yet to be disappointed.

American --
Green Hills Grille. Located near the Green Hills mall, great food, great service. Have never had a bad meal here.

Quick Sandwich --
Bread & Company -- There are 4 locations around town, I believe. One in Green Hills, one on West End, one in Brentwood, and I honestly do not recall where the other is. They have GREAT sandwiches. Second to none. I wish we had them in Atlanta (where I now live).

Burger --
I know it's been mentioned, but Rotier's has the BEST hamburger around. Ask for a hamburger on french roll. It is outstanding.

These are four of the places that I always hit when I'm in town visiting family. I wish some of them would move to the ATL!

Any Chinese food suggestions
 

Will be in Nashville in 3 weeks, I will be with a person that loves Chinese food. any thoughts?

P.F. Chang’s is for people who don’t like their Chinese too Chinese. Popular in Nashville but may not be what your looking for.
Location: 2525 West End Ave. , 329-8901

Golden Coast. serving authentic Chinese food—and only then on weekends buffet from 11 a.m-2:30 p.m. Location: 1722 West End Ave. , 321-8882

The China Hut out in Brentwood area.

Chinatown Restaurant 3900 Hillsboro Pike Green Hills area

Unfortunately, there is no good Chinese food in Nashville. (There is PF Chang's, but that of course is a chain that you can eat at in many other cities and it's not real Chinese either.)

There is some decent Japanese food--Ken's Sushi, Goten and anotehr place on Elliston Place, but no good Chinese to speak of.

While I agree that Jimmy Kelley's WAS once "the" place Nashvillians go for a good steak, that hasn't been true for quite a few years now. It is far past its prime. The best steaks, as this poster suggests, are unfortunately at national steak chains and the best one in town, hands down, is Fleming's. Ruth's Chris and Morton's would be runners up. But the quality of steak and the service at Fleming's is very high--unfortunately it is a homogenous chain and lacks the "local flavor" of JK's

The Nashville Palace was sold and I don't think they reopened it (could be wrong).

Steak Places: Stoney River (Cool Springs or West End), Mortons, Flemings, Ruth Chris are all good.

Japanese Steak House: Kobe, Sakura, or Mikado's are good.

My all-time favorite: The New Orleans Manor (dinner only, open Tues - Sat). It's buffet, but they do it nice. Linen table cloth, linen napkins, all you can eat crab legs, FRESH oysters on the half-shell, frog legs, prime rib... so much to choose from and enough for even the non-seafood lovers. Decent wine list, and everything from appetizers (oysters rockafeller) to awesome desserts (save room for Derby Pie!) --- located very close to the airport, the runway runs right past it. In fact, I think the airport owns the property ??

For a burger, go to Toot's in Murfreesboro or Smyrna. Hooters replica without the Hooters girls. Same good food at a REAL good price. Local favorite.

Fat Mo's is also good in the Nashville area for a quick, BIG burger.

Well you may want to try this place for a good steal. It is near Vanerbilt and a friend of mine owns it.www.nickandrudys.com

Tell him Peter sent you we have been friends for 30 years.

Bumping an old thread.... any recommendations "near" BNA (saythe triangle bordered roughly by Briley Pkwy, BNA, and the town of Hermitage)? Price range for dinner should be <$35/person most of the time, but the occasional splurge is ok.

I've been going back and forth to Nashville for the last 11 years for work, but for the last 4-5 it's only been two overnights per year. Our team just landed a more travel-intensive project which will have us there 3-4 nights monthly for the next 15 months. We're going to be staying out near BNA at the beginning, but might move downtown if the new Homewood Suites (our team is Hilton-loyal) will extend the state government rate to us as contractors when it opens in November.

Willie mentioned Darfon's, which I end up at a lot as it's close to the airport and the airport hotels. Nothing fancy, don't get too ambitious and you'll be fine. The service is a bit pokey. He also mentioned Bar-B-Cuite, and we were really underwhelmed when we tried it - it's better than the awful Whitt's at the airport, but not great.

I'm not all that familiar with what's in the airport area as I'm in the Vandy area of town (specifically Sylvan Park which has great places to eat)...but I could try to help out. Particular cuisines you like?

If you go downtown and like BBQ, please check out Jack's BBQ on Broadway. I'm not a BBQ fan, but wow...it was GOOD.

I think I've been to Jack's, but it's been a few years. I did stay in the Vandy area in January and had two very good dinners - I just can't remember the names of the places!

What about the Hermitage Steak House? It has been a number of years since I last ate there, but it used to be very good. Its a nice steak at a 'local' restaurant and they used to have a great salad bar too.

Another place that I have forgotten about is Ellendale's Restaurant, located on Old Elm Hill Pike, probably about 2 miles from airport.

Unfortunately Herbert's BBQ in Franklin, mentioned in an early post, is now closed. I loved their cornbread.