Arnold's Country Kitchen
Southern restaurant (US) · Edgehill
605 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71818937/arnolds_nashville_exterior.0.0.jpeg "Arnold's Country Kitchen by Bill Addison/Eater")
Highlights
Southern meat-and-three cafeteria with classic comfort food
Southern meat-and-three cafeteria with classic comfort food
"When it comes to meat and threes, Arnold’s in the Gulch is the gold standard. After a brief hiatus in 2023, it reopened with the same cafeteria line and steaming trays of Southern classics that hit the spot for a quick but filling lunch. Our go-to picks are the fried chicken, the hearty and ridiculously tender roast beef, creamy mac and cheese, al dente black-eyed peas, and cornbread with a super satisfying blister on the crust. And no tray is complete without some classic chess pie for dessert." - jackie gutierrez jones 2
"More than just a meat-and-three, Arnold’s is a perfect example of Nashville’s charm, warmth and great taste. Opened in 1982 by Jack and Rose Arnold, the menu consists of simple comfort foods made from recipes passed down through generations. Expect a line out the door and enjoy the wait—it’s worth it. Highlights are the amazing pies, roast beef that’s won a James Beard Award, and little corn cakes that you can almost taste when you close your eyes." - GS&F
"Arnold's is the best meat and three in Nashville. After a brief hiatus in 2023, it reopened with the same red trays and cafeteria line ordering system we all know and love. It’s the type of place you drop in for a quick, casual lunch after running to Home Depot for something to fix that leaky kitchen faucet. Get in line and load your tray with generous portions of Southern classics—chicken fried chicken, roast beef, mac and cheese, and black-eyed peas. But as anybody can attest to, there’s a separate stomach for dessert. Make sure you fill it with one of Arnold’s chess pies." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, ann walczak
"When it comes to meat-and-threes, it’s hard to get any better than Arnold’s in the Gulch. After a brief hiatus in 2023, it reopened with the same cafeteria line and steaming trays of Southern classics that hit the spot for a quick but really filling lunch. Our go-to picks are the home-cooked fried chicken, hearty roast beef, creamy mac and cheese, perfectly al dente black-eyed peas, and cornbread with a super satisfying blister on the crust. And no tray is complete without some classic chess pie for dessert. Arnold's is the spot for a casual midday meal during the work day, or after running to Home Depot to find the right doodad for that leaky kitchen faucet. In both scenarios, you’ll feel right at home with the mix of Downtown suits, fanny pack-sporting tourists, and low-key locals catching up on the weekend’s drama inside one of the red booths or closely-stacked dining tables." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak
"Opened in 1982; closed in 2023 for one year Before it closed in 2023, Arnold’s Country Kitchen was one of the rare places that epitomized old Nashville, serving meat-and-threes on red trays in a cafeteria line filled with Southern classics. The founders had intentions to sell the building, but their son took the reins and re-opened the business at the start of 2024. Fortunately, Arnold’s feels blissfully unchanged. Here’s to hoping for many more years of roast beef and blistery cornbread." - anne cruz
