Sometimes the only thing that will do is a sandwich. Prepared well, there can be no finer meal than some sandwiches, and the offerings at Rae's are just right. Deli classics like beef and cheddar, ham and Swiss and tuna are joined by hot options like decadent Monte Cristos, Reubens and hot browns. In addition to their regular menu, Rae's has daily specials as well, like crab cakes on Friday, shrimp po' boys on Tuesday and whatever the chef chooses on Monday. Soups also rotate daily and the offerings are a veritable tour of the US - think gumbo from New Orleans, beer and cheese from Wisconsin and, of course, New England clam chowder.
Recommended for Lunch because: They do one thing and they do it well. If you crave a sandwich downtown, this is your spot.
Hollie's expert tip: Rae's only operates during lunch hours during the week, so don't bother coming by on a Saturday.
The Wild Cow is a restaurant on a mission. Serving vegetarian, vegan and sometimes gluten-free fare in casual East Nashville, the aim of the restaurant - other than to serve incredibly delicious food - is to make sure that food is cruelty-free and as local and organic as possible. Nearly all of their food is purchased in it's whole form, cooking everything on sight from sauces to soup stocks. In fact, they don't even have a microwave and their one freezer is only stocked with beer mugs and vegan ice cream. Menu items include Mexican options like sweet potato and black bean or chipotle seitan tacos and sandwiches so delicious you won't miss the meat. Don't believe us? Try the soy-free black bean patty burger animal style with onions and homemade Thousand Island dressing. Beverages run more toward hot tea, coconut water and kombucha than sugary sodas - they refuse to support corporations like Coke and Pepsi. Come during off-peak hours to avoid parking nightmares.
Recommended for Lunch because: Vegetarians will love their creative menu options, and fresh fans will love the local ingredients.
Hollie's expert tip: Try and dine on Thursday when they donate 10 percent of their sales to a rotating charity of the month.
Monell's occupies n historic Victorian house in Germantown. Dining is communal, and long wooden tables and an all-you-eat menu (choices of entree, vegetables, breads, and desserts) set the scene. Simply ask fellow diners to pass around the family-style dishes and you'll have all you'll need while the attentive staff refills dishes chicken, green beans, cheese grits, cornbread, biscuits, pork chops or pot roast as it comes by, so don't even try. With multiple locations including Gallatin, the Cafe Monell's offers takeout meals seven days a week so you never have to go too long without.
Recommended for Lunch because: The menu changes each day but you know you will always find a bit of comfort on your plate.
Hollie's expert tip: Bring newbies from out of town for the quintessential meat-and-three experience.
Mitchell Delicatessen first opened its doors in 2008 with the idea to provide East Nashville with a full service delicatessen that only used the highest quality, natural ingredients from local sources. Residents responded - they ran out of food their first day - and Mitchell's has been bustling ever since. Their sandwiches are what made them famous, including the Reuben with locally-raised corned beef and turkey, apple and brie with jalapeno-cranberry relish. Most of their meats are cured or smoked in house and they even hand make their own sausages and roast beef. A small selection of carefully picked cheeses, dairy, fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms are also available, as it a self-serve salad bar. Mitchell Deli is also available for catering weddings and special events.
Recommended for Lunch because: With locally-sourced ingredients on tasty sandwiches and a rare self-serve salad bar, Mitchell Deli is a no brainer.
Hollie's expert tip: Pick up a package of Benton's bacon and a dozen farm fresh eggs to cook for breakfast tomorrow.
Swanky, elegant, and eclectic, Germantown Cafe showcases straightforward cuisine is at its best. The fresh, delectable cuisine comes at affordable prices and they are known for their classics with a twist - like the BrieLT with fried green tomatoes, lettuce, bacon and brie on Tuscan bread with red pepper sauce, served with a black bean salad. Situated just blocks from downtown, Germantown is the perfect place to start a night out, or cap a night off with one of their lip-smacking-good desserts. At lunch, try their classic French onion soup, simmered to salty-gooey perfection.
Recommended for Lunch because: Conveniently located just blocks north of downtown and LP Field, the café is a great choice for business lunches.
Hollie's expert tip: Make a reservation - this Music City fave gets busy fast and stays that way.
At Burger Up you won't find anything but the utmost respect for the meat. The menu and ingredients revolve around the notion of thoughtful consuming, sourcing as many products as possible from local sustainable farms, with new locales and their goodies added all the time. Start with fried oysters with spicy lemon-lime remoulade and seasonal cheese plate, then move on to one of the burgers that includes more than beef. Guests can enjoy turkey, veggie, salmon, bison and lamb burgers too. Custom cocktails are a draw all their own, but of course go down great with a burger too. The Doc Holiday with Bellemeade bourbon, muddled orange and cherry goes down smooth, as does the Humphrey's Primm's Cup.
Recommended for Lunch because: Now a staple of 12South a symbol of its growth, they now have a second location in Cool Springs.
Hollie's expert tip: If you love the wood used in the design, you can find your own reclaimed planks at Woodstock Vintage Lumber.
Located in a charming little house on Thompson Lane, The Yellow Porch features intimate indoor and outdoor dining options. Diners enjoy mains like Black Angus filet mignon, Greek salad, Mediterranean vegetable lasagna, and paella complemented by an extensive by-the-glass wine list. While a great place for dinner, locals also flock here for lunch to escape the work day, and after some tuna carpaccio and portabella sandwich on grilled Tuscan bread with spinach, tomatoes, caramelized onions and Dijon mustard it is easy to see why. In fact, go ahead and finish your meal with the bananas Foster white chocolate pudding and take the rest of the afternoon off.
Recommended for Lunch because: The lunch menu is sophisticated and full of classics, but still feels fresh.
Hollie's expert tip: With a frequently updated lunch menu and daily special, even biggest die-hards can't get tired of it.
You don't get more fresh than your own backyard, and since Butterbean is located on 33 green acres in Gallatin, you can bet the ingredients used in the completely gluten-free menu are as fresh as you can get. Chef Meredith Jones is committed to keeping everything as local as possible, and even meets with area schools at the start of the growing season to learn what she will be able to buy from what the students grow in class, then makes sure not to plant those items herself. The Miss Piggy with caramelized bacon, fresh spinach, tomato and avocado is the perfect mix of salty and sweet while the Gettin' Figgy With It panini capitalizes on the delicious combo of prosciutto, fig preserves, caramelized onions and brie. With a cup of the homemade soup like creamy corn and poblano, Butterbean is mouthwatering.
Recommended for Lunch because: With a produce stand onsite, you can buy the fresh veggies you just ate at lunch.
Hollie's expert tip: You are making a big mistake if you don't try one of the gluten-free cupcakes.
Ordering off the menu at Woodland's can be intimidating, so go ahead and ask for recommendations. Or, go crazy and just guess - the food is really that good that you will not be disappointed. Some can't fail picks include the samosa chat topped with onion, tomtatos, mint, tamrind, yogurt and crispy noodles, or the aloo gobi curry, with cubes of potato and cauliflower cooked in the tomato and onion sauce. Trying it out a few times at lunch for the buffet is the most delicious introduction you will get. Servers are quick with the water refills as long as its not slammed, and at some point they will drop enough dosas (a huge crepe with potato filling) so everyone at the table has one. There are also gluten-free and vegan options a plenty.
Recommended for Lunch because: From the moment Woodland's opened it has been converting people to Indian and vegetarian food.
Hollie's expert tip: With one of the best lunch buffets in the city, you never knew you liked vegetables so much.