The Local Guide To Food And Farms In Middle Tennessee Since 2007
L ast summer, Local Table featured a handful of outstanding eateries that are off the beaten path, but whose offerings are so delicious that they are more than worth traveling the extra miles. The truth is, Middle Tennessee is rife with road trip-worthy restaurants, diners and cafés, so we’ve happily compiled another collection of such restaurants, all of which feature dishes chockful of local ingredients and lovingly prepared.
Located on Pinewood Farms in Nunnelly, Pinewood Kitchen and Mercantile
can trace its origins to the 1920s. In its current iteration, which
opened in 2015, it is a general store (selling gourmet foods, fun
fashions and more) and a farm-to-table restaurant with an
ever-changing menu of updated Southern classics. The majority of
ingredients are raised and grown on the farm, and the menu includes
many items that are vegetarian, vegan, organic and even
gluten-free. “We believe in hospitality and this means serving an
inclusive menu,” says owner and head chef Mee McCormick. Among
Pinewood’s most popular dishes are the Hickman classic organic
Pinewood Farms grass-fed/grass-finished burger with hand-cut fries and
homemade umeboshi ketchup; and the “Buddha Bowl,” featuring organic
quinoa, hijiki and carrots topped with organic chickpeas, mushrooms,
crispy kale, roasted sweet potatoes, squash, broccoli, Brussels
sprouts and cauliflower drizzled with house-made Buddha sauce. And
don’t skip dessert: “We are all about beautiful cakes and our handmade
organic blueberry or strawberry fried pies,” says Mee. “They are
gluten-free and vegan.”
Open Thursday through Sunday; check website for hours.
pinewoodkitchenandmercantile.com
www.facebook.com/pinewoodstore
Instagram: @pinewoodstoreandkitchen
Just outside of Dickson, Tennessee, nestled in a picturesque field,
you’ll find Family BBQ, the establishment of Randy and Vicky
Lynch. The duo’s straightforward menu includes ribs, brisket, pork,
chicken and beef. You choose your sauce—hot or mild—and sides that
include baked beans, slaw, potato salad, cornbread cakes and white
beans. Among visitors’ favorites are the BBQ bologna, served with
jalapenos; and the melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork. All orders are
packed to-go, though patrons are welcome to sit outside at one of the
picnic tables and stay awhile. Family BBQ is oldschool in the best
possible way and, accordingly, accepts cash and checks only—no
plastic, please. Catering is also available.
Open Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
facebook.com/FamilyBBQOnYellowCreek
Watertown’s Nona Lisa Pizzeria is more than just a spot for great pies
and Italian cuisine—it’s an oasis of food, fellowship and fun. “We
really care about the quality of our food and service,” says Katie
Cisco, who owns the pizzeria with her husband, John. “But beyond
that…Nona Lisa is small, friendly and all about connection; games and
cards are available…it’s a warm atmosphere…it’s wonderful to see
families or friends playing and talking while they hang out.” Of
course, the food is still the star of the show. The most popular menu
item is “The Bomb,” a large pizza with six toppings of your choice;
iconic pasta dishes like spaghetti and meatballs and chicken Alfredo
are also big hits. Local ingredients play key roles in the kitchen,
including mixed greens and spinach from Pomona Hill Farm and goat
cheese from Harmony Lane. The Ciscos grow their own herbs, tomatoes
and peppers in season, and source local eggs and fruit for their
house-made gelatos and sorbettos. “We even had a friend bring us
locally grown, just-picked sweet corn one year, and turned that into
gelato—delicious!”
Open Tuesday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Friday
through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
yelp.com/nonalisa
Located in the heart of historic Gainesboro, the Bull & Thistle is a
pub offering Celtic fare from the British Isles and Ireland. With more
than 20 brews on tap, a great wine selection and live music on the
weekends, the Bull & Thistle is a great place to hang for an hour or
an evening. Its menu features pub staples like bangers and mash
(bangers are sausages, for those of us who don’t speak British
cuisine) and the obligatory—and always irresistible—fish and chips, as
well as corned beef and cabbage, roast Cornish hen, bacon-wrapped
Scottish salmon and many more options. Staples like salad, pasta,
steak and burgers are also available. There are separate lunch and
dinner menus, and special menu options for the kids. Food is sourced
locally, when possible, and the pub’s cozy ambience invites lingering.
Open Wednesday through Sunday; please see website for hours.
www.bullandthistle.com
