Where to eat in Nashville now

Date

04.25.19 More info+

Tennessee Titan Delanie Walker shares his picks.

After 50 years in New York City, the NFL Draft began rotating among host cities in 2015. This year it heads to Nashville, Tennessee, from April 25 to 27. With thousands of football fans flooding Music City to find out who will become the next Baker Mayfield or Jared Goff, Furthermore caught up with Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker to get his favorite Nashville restaurants.

Originally from Pomona, California, Walker was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2006 and played there for seven seasons before signing with the Titans in 2013. “When I first got here, downtown Nashville didn’t have a skyline,” he recalls. “Coming from San Francisco, that was a complete shock for me because I wasn’t used to playing for an NFL team and not having that city feel. But, as the years passed, you could see Nashville start to grow—at one point we called it ‘Crane City’ because they were building so many high-rises.”

Renowned as the country music capital of the world, Nashville’s cultural scene has expanded its horizons as the city grows. “It is very trendy, very hipster, and very urban now,” Walker says. Though it’s known particularly for its hot chicken (fried chicken doused in hot sauce, said to be invented at local staple Prince's), there are a number of lighter, athlete-friendly options in the area as well. “I don’t eat a lot of fried food and am very healthy, especially during the season,” Walker explains. He cuts out red meat and pork, mostly eating chicken, fish, and vegetables. “I was trying to be vegan—we have a lot of guys on our team who are—but it depends on how I feel. If I lose too much weight then I start eating chicken and seafood again,” he says. Diet restrictions notwithstanding, he still finds time to enjoy the city’s many culinary offerings.

Here, 7 picks in Walker’s adopted hometown:

01 Marché Artisan Foods

"East Nashville is the best area to be in for restaurants, as there are a ton of new places opening there. Marché Artisan Foods is a great European-style brunch place,” says Walker. Though the menu changes daily, they generally offer healthy fare like house-made granola with vanilla yogurt and a fruit tartine topped with strawberries and balsamic glaze. The croissant French toast is Walker’s favorite—he orders it with soft-scrambled eggs, cheese, and turkey sausage.

02 Butcher & Bee

“Butcher & Bee on Main Street is also really popular for brunch—their whipped feta with fermented honey, cracked pepper, and pita is a must-have,” recommends Walker. Try the shakshuka with Israeli salad or the baby greens with shawarma chicken thigh.

03 The Turnip Truck

“The is like Whole Foods but smaller—I usually go in and grab a salad for lunch. You can [get] a healthy plate or a juice and grocery shop at the same time,” says Walker. Choose between the East Nashville and Gulch locations and sip on a Audrey Hepburn smoothie (strawberry, blueberry, açai berry, and apple juice) or the Ninja Turtle juice with cucumber, celery, spinach, and broccoli while you peruse the Paleo-, vegan-, and vegetarian–friendly selections.

04 Mitchell Delicatessen

According to Walker, “Mitchell Delicatessen is the place to go for sandwiches.” They emphasize local, artisanal ingredients and boast a wide selection including the BBQ Asian tofu with avocado, pickled cucumber, and sprouts. They also have a separate menu of exclusively healthy creations available upon request.

05 The Treehouse

“The first restaurant I head to for dinner when I get back to town is The Treehouse. The menu changes all the time as it’s seasonal. I had their grilled squid tacos last time, which were so good. I recommend the baby lettuce salad with mushrooms, sunflower seeds, and kale dressing,” says Walker.

06 The Catbird Seat

“If you want somewhere upscale for a nice date night, go to the in Midtown. It only has 22 seats, so it’s hard to get into. They do a multi-course menu with wine pairings and I really love when I can get in there,” Walker explains. New chefs Will Aghajanian and Liz Johnson recently took over the tasting menu–only kitchen. Reserve seats in advance.

07 Rosemary

“Rosemary in Five Points is a really cool spot. It’s a house that was turned into a bar, so you feel like you’re at a house party. There’s a vegan taco truck in the back and the tacos are so good you can’t even tell they don’t have meat in them,” says Walker.

Where to eat in London now

A local chef shares his picks.

Food