Charlotte Avenue: Nashville’s New Food Mecca

From July 2016. (March 2018 update: Hugh Baby’s has opened at 4816 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209; Taqueria del Sol has opened at 4500 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209; EIO + The Hive has opened at 5304 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209) 

We used to talk about crossing the river for great food in town and we all knew that meant going to East Nashville. But at this point, crossing the river for good food goes both ways as downtown, the Gulch, Germantown, 12South, WeHo, Sylvan Park and yes, Charlotte Ave, are all claiming some of Nashville’s best restaurants, in addition to East Nashville. Neighborhood restaurants are truly taking off in many parts of Nashville — and that is a great thing.

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All this to say, have you driven down Charlotte Avenue lately? In particular, the section from 40th Avenue to 52nd Avenue has exploded with great restaurants with good reason, as the connecting neighborhoods of Sylvan Park, Sylvan Heights and The Nations are so hot. Here is a cheat sheet for where to eat and why.

Restaurants on Charlotte Avenue in Nashville

(between 40th and 52nd Avenues) 

40th Avenue

Double Dogs: opened July 2016

4017 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 • (629) 777-8500
Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

This sports bars has locations in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Knoxville, Tennessee, as well as a location in Nashville’s Hillsboro Village. And they just opened a second Nashville location in Sylvan Heights. Go for lots of TVs — as in 40 of them — sandwiches, salads, burgers, hot dogs, pizza, wings, beer and, of course, the nachos, which are served in a dog bowl. You read that right. And as a note to all the dog lovers reading this, they will have dog treats on hand for dog walkers — and the patio is fido friendly!

The Urban Juicer: coming soon

4018 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Urban Juicer is a Nashville company that makes freshly juiced-to-order drinks, as well as offers healthy snacks and sandwiches. With no juice bars currently on this side of town, we’re expecting it to really take off and be hugely successful.

Farm Burger: coming soon

Keep your ears open for word of this burger joint opening in Sylvan Heights. They promise chef-driven, seasonal and locally-sourced menu items, with grass-fed, dry-aged beef burgers as the primary focus.

41st Avenue

The Beer Pale: opened 2015

4109 Charlotte Ave., 42nd Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 454-6887
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Known for an excellent selection of local beers, as well as an educated staff to help you select the right brew, The Beer Pale has a loyal following. The dining menu is filled with salads, smoked meats, panini sandwiches, gourmet dogs and more. If you aren’t sticking around for a bite to eat, fill up your growlers with some of the best craft beer found locally. The Beer Pale has a sign that is hard to read from the street but it’s directly to the left of Flip Burger, so that should eliminate any confusion.

44th Avenue

M.L. Rose: opened 2012

4408 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 750-2920
Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

M. L. Rose is sports bar food elevated. In addition to lunch and dinner, they also have a weekend brunch menu, so be sure to go by and check it out — and order the Bloody Mary. While the food menu will delight all, the beer menu is a beer lover’s paradise with options galore. A few staff favorites are the Cobb Salad (and, if you ask nicely, they will substitute a fried egg for the hard boiled one) and the fried okra, which comes with a side of thick, delicious ranch dressing.

49th Avenue

Betty’s Grill: opened 2006

407 49th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 297-7257
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Even longtime residents to this area may have missed knowing about Betty’s but regulars know a good thing and, apparently, the cheeseburger is a damn good thing. Maybe the secret has been kept out of fear of it being another dive bar turned “hipster hangout.” Yes, this is a total dive, in the best of ways: It’s dark, the beer is cheap and there’s a jukebox. It runs down the side of 49th Avenue, hidden from Charlotte Avenue. Once you notice it, you’ll wonder how you never did.

51st Avenue

(For more restaurants in The Nations, see our full article devoted to these restaurants, here.)

Coco’s Italian Market: opened 2006

411 51st Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 783-0114
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m to 8 p.m.

Known for some of the best Italian food in all of Nashville, this casual market/restaurant has been bringing in patrons for the past decade. When you dine at this Italian eatery, you will soon realize the obsession. Look for fresh pastas, delicious pizza and reasonably priced bottles of wine. And the weekend brunch menu is not to be missed (served from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays).

52nd Avenue to 53rd Avenue

Thistle Stop Cafe: opened 2013

5128 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 953-6440
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thistle Stop Cafe now serves both breakfast and lunch. And the coffee is really great, if you just want to run in and grab some to go along with a fresh baked muffin (It’s faster than Starbucks … promise!). An early morning visit to this cafe will help start your day with some positive energy. While the food is amazing and the place is charming (you may even hear live piano playing), know that you are doing good while eating here. The cafe supports the Thistle Farms program, which has been saving women from the streets for years — with a track record for success that is jaw dropping. Find out more about Thistle Farms, Thistle Stop Cafe and the fabulous program it supports.

Miel: opened 2008

343 53rd Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 298-3663
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For a more upscale meal — with all the comforts of eating at your best friend’s home — head to Miel. This Nashville dining staple was using farm-to-table practices well before the term was as ubiquitous as it is today. Miel’s owner, Seema Prasad, is simply delightful and you’ll find her there most nights greeting patrons, bringing food to the table and insuring that everyone is having a great time. Whether it’s for a special occasion or if you just want to grab a stellar meal, Miel is your place.

If the weekend is upon you and you don’t think you can get reservations anywhere, cross your fingers and check with Miel. If there is a table, know that you’ve scored. If there’s not, go ahead and make reservations for your next night out. If you are dining with a large group and need a private dining venue, the barn at Miel is a local insider’s favorite.

To see our full article on Miel — and to read us gush more — please click here.

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Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: opened 2014

5209 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 712-7137
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hot chicken and Nashville go together like … well … hot chicken and Nashville! You can get this Music City staple in a variety of heats, fried or grilled. If you try your chicken Damn Hot, expect to sweat. Or test the waters with a milder version. There is often a line out the door but it’s almost always shorter than the Midtown line and you can always call ahead and get it to go.

Hattie B’s is expanding outside of Nashville and just opened their doors in Birmingham, Alabama. To read all about it, check out our review from our sister city publication, StyleBlueprint Birmingham.

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip: opened 1951

5301 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 463-8088
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Since 1951, Nashvillians have been heading to Bobbie’s Dairy Dip for burgers, hot dogs and fries but it’s the ice cream and milkshakes that really draw a crowd. This restaurant is a long-standing Nashville joint that is embraced by old and new Nashville, alike. You can only visit this sweet eatery in the warmer months, so embrace the line. It can be long but it’s so worth it.

Wendell Smith’s: opened 1952

5300 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 383-7114
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wendell Smith’s, also known simply as “Wendell’s,” opened in 1952 and is one of Nashville’s oldest meat-and-threes. With folks coming to the area to try newly opened restaurants, Wendell’s is being newly discovered (or rediscovered) by many locals. In fact, this is what they have on their website: “In the past year, we have seen many great changes in the ‘hood but we still have that wonderful customer base that carried us thru all the years and the new so-called hipsters that are moving in are a great addition to the clientele we see daily in our little melting pot.” With old-school decor and food, this is the spot to go when you want to eat just like Grandma did.

Whitt’s BBQ: opened 1986

5211 Alabama Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 385-1553
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A long-standing brand for barbecue in Nashville, Whitt’s BBQ offers carryout, catering and wholesale for area restaurants. They first opened their doors in 1978 and have opened 25 locations across the area since then. The Charlotte spot offers drive-thru pickup in addition to carry out.

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See what’s happening in the food scene next to Charlotte Avenue with our article on the exploding food scene in The Nations.

Other articles you may like:

First Impressions: Avo, A Nashville Eatery

Charlotte Ave:: It Just Keeps Givin’

Fabu: A Ray of Sunshine on Charlotte Avenue

The Best Ethnic Eats in Nashville

The Nations, Nashville’s Newest HOT Neighborhood