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.
- Arnold's Country KitchenThe Gulch
Get: A meat and three sides, with cornmeal cakes
James Beard America's Classic (2009).
- 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.
- 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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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
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated November 7, 2026.