The nine blocks that stretch from 51st Avenue North between Charlotte Avenue and Centennial Boulevard in West Nashville make up the neighborhood known as The Nations. It is a rapidly growing part of town with plenty of shops, restaurants and things to do. It is said to have been named after the Chickasaw Nations Native American tribe that lived in the area in the 1700s. If you’re ever in The Nations and looking for the best place to grab a bite to eat, here are the places that top our list.
The family-friendly Fifty-First Kitchen & Bar is a crowd favorite. It’s so dedicated to families that there’s even a fenced-in dog park where furry friends can play as patrons dine. With a rotating menu of dishes, the restaurant strives to provide delicious food and impeccable personal service. Popular menu items include cider-brined pork chops, sorghum BBQ chicken, vegetarian pasta and build-your-own street tacos. Happy Hour takes places Tuesday through Friday between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Award-winning chef Tony Galzin and Caroline Galzin are the duo behind Nicky’s Coal Fired. The menu features coal fire dishes cooked in a four-ton oven using locally sourced ingredients. Everything at Nicky’s is made from scratch, including the doughs, which are made with a non-GMO Italian flour. Coal-fired pizzas are the restaurant’s speciality, but there are additional items on the menu, such as pastas, charcuterie and antipasto.
Offering a weekly to-go meal service and boutique catering, Tinwings was created to help people eat healthier while having more time to focus on fun. Owner Lee Ann Merrick has always wanted the food service to be an extension of her home kitchen. Customers sign up to receive weekly emails of the menu each Wednesday, when they can place an order and pick up the following week. Delivery is available to select Nashville neighborhoods for a small fee. Because menus are planned from scratch each week, no two Tinwings menus are ever the same.
Named for the neighborhood, The Nations Bar & Grill strives to offer customers great food and drinks and a fun place to hang out. A former auto repair shop, the restaurant underwent renovations and now has a large sign that pays tribute to the neighborhood. The menu features dishes such as burgers, sandwiches, cheese fries and smoked wings. Guests can also enjoy a variety of spirits during Happy Hour, Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
At House, you’ll find a menu full of variety. Soups, salads, burgers, tacos, wraps and sandwiches are all available, as well as appetizers and desserts. With the motto “Our house is your house,” the restaurant welcomes guests with open arms and encourages a sense of community among patrons. Private events can be booked at the restaurant and feature dishes from the menu.
Founded by wellness expert Jennifer Masley, EiO & The Hive is focused on organic sourcing and sustainability. The menu features healthy comfort foods that help our bodies and our economy by being made from locally sourced ingredients. A few of the dishes you’ll find are shrimp-fried quinoa, grilled eggplant Parmesan, kale Caesar salad and avocado toast. Executive chef of EiO & The Hive is Chicago-born Dale Levitski, who was runner up on season three of the television show Top Chef.
Fat Bottom Brewing Co. launched in August 2012 and has since grown to include The Hopyard restaurant. The small taproom and beer garden still exist, and now a small menu of sandwiches and shareable dishes is available to guests. Offerings include crab cakes, black eyed pea hummus, burgers and Bavarian soft pretzels.
At M.L. Rose Craft Beer & Burgers, you’ll find foods like grilled chicken nachos, cheesy fries, brisket & bacon sandwiches and sweet potato waffle fries. There is a large selection of craft beers and a few cocktails as well. The restaurant offers online ordering, which allows customers to pick up their food at a specified time. You’ll also find weekly specials and Happy Hour Monday through Friday, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
