Step1
Start with good breakfast. The Loveless Cafe requires a drive to get there (it's on the outskirts of town near the Natchez Trace), but this local staple is celebrated for it's ham, biscuits and gravy. The charm of the old place (it used to a roadside hotel) and the friendly staff will make the trip worthwhile. The Pancake Pantry is a favorite haunt of those music industry types, and it serves up so many different kinds of pancakes, the customers have count. This restaurant sits in the middle of Hillsboro Village near the Vanderbilt Campus. Prepare to wait for a table. Noshville is new but it already has a reputation for yummy omelets, pancakes and French toast. This restaurant is located in midtown Nashville, not too far from Music Row, Vanderbilt and downtown.
Step2
Lunch at a Meat'n Three. A "meat and three" means you can order a meat, such as pork chops, roast beef, meatloaf, fried chicken or chicken fried steak, and three sides, including corn, okra, potatoes, green beans or macaroni and cheese. At the White Trash Cafe, you'll be laughing as you dine among the toilet seats and lawn chairs. However, the food is awesome. The cafe is near the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, so you'll probably need some local directional assistance. You'll find Arnold's southern fried goodness on 8th Street, just a few blocks away from downtown Nashville. Monell's, located in the Germantown neighborhood in a wonderful old house, offers family-style dining. Each day, the menu features a different meal and diners will be seated at large tables with other diners. Once seated, the food just keeps coming out of the kitchen, served up in big bowls and passed around the table - just like at grandma's! Get ready to loosen your belt.
Step3
End the day with a great dinner. East Nashville offers some of the best food in town. And East Nashville is just a quick trip over the bridges that cross the Cumberland River) from downtown. Some of the great places to eat include Margot's, Alley Cat (awesome Tex-Mex), Battered & Fried (fish & sushi), Eastland Cafe and The Rose Pepper. These restaurants are locally owned, charming and moderately priced.
Other restaurants worth checking out include The Palm (located near the Nashville Convention Center and Sommet Center) or the award winning Capitol Grill in the historic Hermitage Hotel. Although The Palm is technically a chain, the food and service are impeccable. The Capitol Grille is unrivaled for fine dining in Nashville.
Step4
For more dinner options, visit the Hillsboro Village area near the Vanderbilt Campus, and try the Sunset Grille (a long-time local favorite), and Cabanna's (for upscale southern faves). Midtown Cafe is another long-time favorite that you simply can't go wrong with for great food and a wonderful dining experience. The Stockyard Restaurant, just beyond the edge of downtown, sets the local standard for great steak and traditional fixins.
Novice 
