Swett's
Southern restaurant (US) · Hadley - Washington
2725 Clifton Ave, Nashville, TN 37209
Highlights
Homestyle Southern fare served cafeteria-style, fried chicken, greens
Homestyle Southern fare served cafeteria-style, fried chicken, greens
"The pictures of celebrities on its walls only tell part of Swett’s story. The North Nashville family-run diner first opened in 1954, serving those A-listers along with civil rights activists and local sports legends. And after all these years, this iconic meat and three isn’t resting on its laurels. You’ve got the typical cafeteria-style setup here and booths for tucking into the massive portions. Both the baked and fried chicken are classics, but the pork chops and beef ribs don’t disappoint either. Throw in some squash casserole as one of your three sides, and for the love of all things lard, do not forget the cobbler." - jackie gutierrez jones 2
"Swett’s first opened in 1954, serving everyone from civil rights activists and local sports legends to Mary J. Blige and other celebrities (all pictured on the wall as you walk in). And after all these years, this iconic meat and three isn’t resting on its laurels. Make your way through the cafeteria-style set-up, shimmy into a booth, and dive into the huge portions of down-home cooking. The baked barbecue chicken—drizzled in an irresistible tangy, peppery sauce—falls off the bone, and the fried chicken is moist and well-seasoned. Swett’s continues its march of masterpieces with sides like the cheesy potato casserole, the fluffy squash casserole, and peach cobbler or chess pie. Don’t plan anything for after lunch—you’re gonna need to sleep this off. photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin Pause Unmute Food Rundown Baked Barbecue Chicken The texture of this melt-off-the-bone chicken is one that you would be hard-pressed to replicate as a mere mortal. And its peppery, slightly sour sauce brings it together in a way that makes you question all the barbecue chicken that you've had before this. This one is often swapped on the menu for a Nashville Hot version, which we haven’t tried yet, but we have a feeling it’ll be just as transcendent. photo credit: Casey Irwin Squash Casserole This is THE elite side on the menu. A Southern classic, this casserole is almost dessert-like in its decadence. The inside texture resembles a souffle—airy and delicate, full of tender squash pieces—while the top layer of cheese acts as a savory crust that pulls it all together. Cobblers Served piping hot from the pan, Swett’s cobblers are summer in a bowl. Whether you choose peach or blackberry, you’ll lose yourself in the flaky, buttery crust with hints of cinnamon and vanilla and the sweet-tart fruit filling." - Bailey Freeman
"Swett’s first opened in 1954, serving everyone from civil rights activists and local sports legends to Mary J. Blige and other celebrities (all pictured on the wall as you walk in). And after all these years, this iconic meat and three isn’t resting on its laurels. Make your way through the cafeteria-style set-up, shimmy into a booth, and dive into the huge portions of down-home cooking. The baked barbecue chicken—drizzled in an irresistible tangy, peppery sauce—falls off the bone, and the fried chicken is moist and well-seasoned. Swett’s continues its march of masterpieces with sides like the cheesy potato casserole, the fluffy squash casserole, and peach cobbler or chess pie. Don’t plan anything for after lunch—you’re gonna need to sleep this off." - bailey freeman, jackie gutierrez jones 2, ann walczak
"Tennessee natives Susie and Walter Swett had 10 children to care for, an education capped at second grade, and faced pervasive racism. Despite the odds, they opened Swett’s Restaurant in 1954, creating what has become a Nashville institution. The family’s homey meat and three has served meats, vegetables, and desserts cafeteria-style on the city’s west side ever since, from pork chops to ribs, turnip greens, cornbread, and cobbler." - Kellie Walton
"“Swett’s is unreal. Over the years, I have frequented it quite often. Their fried chicken, their breaded pork chops, and their banana pudding are just out of this world. I just love meat and three. I love soul food. I love eating turkey neck and collards. That is my favorite food, genuinely. It's just all the fixings and good fried chicken or good fried pork chops. There's something to that, where you're just able to eat that and then instantly be reclined on a La-Z-Boy—just put to bed, maybe watch all of the Lord of the Rings at once. I don't think Swett’s really gets enough love. You go there on a Sunday after church and it is the Super Bowl of love and food. And it is just an amazing place, and the food there is world-class.”" - brennan carley
