Named for the famous strip of recording studios—despite being nowhere near the actual "row"—this music-themed, roadhouse-style eatery does darn good versions of all the soul-food faves.  These range from a tender chicken fried steak to Nashville's own fried hot chicken (warning: even the "mild" is fiery here) to one of the best banana puddings I've ever tasted. For an opener, you can't do better than flaky biscuits with four types of jam (including a sweet-sour tomato jam). Sides like the braised greens and the cheddar grits are just as rich as they should be, and the fried green tomatoes are perfectly crisped and nicely tangy. For tipples, the Row features 24 craft beers from across the South. While the "Hall of Fame"-esque walls of the restaurant, with their photos and biographies of famous country crooners, make for fun reading, I prefer to sit in the open-air (but covered) section of the restaurant, with its long, buzzy bar, breezes, and high top tables and stools. Final perk: live music nightly.

By the way: The Row is a very short walk from Vanderbilt University, so the go-to place if you're visiting campus and need a good breakfast, lunch or dinner.