Best of Nashville

The best meat-and-three in Nashville

Start with Arnold's Country Kitchen in The Gulch for A meat and three sides, with cornmeal cakes, Swett's in North Nashville for meat-and-three plate and Monell's in Germantown for skillet fried chicken with whatever sides come to the table. Here are all 4, with what to get at each.

4 places · Updated November 7, 2026

  1. Arnold's Country KitchenThe Gulch

    Get: A meat and three sides, with cornmeal cakes

    James Beard America's Classic (2009).

  2. Swett'sNorth Nashville

    Get: Meat-and-three plate

    Family-run since the 1950s.

  3. Monell'sGermantown · Meat-and-three

    Get: Skillet fried chicken with whatever sides come to the table

    Family style at communal tables in a Victorian house since 1995; the skillet fried chicken comes with every meal.

  4. Elliston Place Soda ShopMidtown (Elliston Place)

    Get: A plate lunch, then a milkshake

    A soda fountain since 1939 that serves meat-and-three plates and a long list of shakes; it moved a few doors east to 2105 Elliston Place.

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The best meat-and-three in Nashville: questions people ask

Where is the best meat-and-three in Nashville?

Chef Amazing’s picks start with Arnold's Country Kitchen (The Gulch), Swett's (North Nashville) and Monell's (Germantown). All 4 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.

What should I order?

At Arnold's Country Kitchen, get A meat and three sides, with cornmeal cakes. At Swett's, get meat-and-three plate. At Monell's, get skillet fried chicken with whatever sides come to the table. At Elliston Place Soda Shop, get A plate lunch, then a milkshake.

How does Chef Amazing pick these?

From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Nashville: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.

More in Nashville

Where to eat in NashvilleThe Nashville food mapBreakfast and brunchNashville food calendar

Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated November 7, 2026.

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