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    Drifters BBQ

    4.0 (331 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Drifters BBQ Takeout or Delivery

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    DRIFTERS BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Live music
    Juke Box
    Divey

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    Theresa S.

    The corn dogs were so good. Reminded us of the state fair! I had the Smokin Botanical Mary and it did not disappoint. Smoky, spicy and potent. But the best part of our experience was our server, Dee. She was so pleasant and attentive without hovering. She helped us choose sides to compliment our food and never made us feel rushed. We'll be back.

    PICK THREE DINNER. Added a  SIDE COLLARD GREENS.

    ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Food came out fast and was hot. Great value for the price. Highly recommend.

    Bushwhacker. Tasty like a mudslide
    Janice J.

    We picked this place while on the road because it was dog friendly,had live music and bbq. We were not disappointed. It's located in a nice area of east Nashville with lots of little restaurants and shops. Staff and service were fast and friendly. Bailey ordered the chicken from the pup menu. The humans share a bbq combo dinner. Pork and chicken were our favorites. Bailey wolfed down the chicken so we assumed she loved it.

    Excellent half a rack of St. Louis ribs with Mac n cheese, four hush puppies and Cole slaw.
    Jerry T.

    Food: Although this is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant their signature St. Louis ribs are to die for. The sweet sauce was perfect. The meat falls off the bone just looking at it. Heck, the bones are even edible they are done so well. For sides we tried the hush puppies, which the spicy sauce was good but the puppy was too hard. Might have been left in the fryer just a little long. The Mac n cheese was good. And this also comes with Cole slaw, also good. The waitress was super accommodating and let us split the half slab of ribs because we were having dinner in four hours. Service is great. Numerous employees helped out and asked how things were. Drinks were filled as needed. Friendly. Parking: found a free spot out on the street as mentioned in numerous reviews. We came at almost 2p so this probably helped. Can see why this place gets great ratings. They do food the delicious way and take care of their clientele. Pricing is good with half a rack of ribs and two sides at $20 in Oct 2024.

    Mary A.

    We stopped here as part of a food tour. We loved the "dive bar" feel and food was good! The bushwhacker was tasty and we would love to visit again in the area.

    1/3 rack of ribs shown in menu however they said they have never offered it!
    Michael F.

    Rude on the phone and said they didn't offer what was printed on the website menu. As a visitor from another state I was looking for the Tennessee hospitality however not here even when the manager got on the phone it got worse. I'm sure there are many other place that have fine bbq. They were so short with me and condescending ( the manager)

    Ronn S.

    I'm getting ready to leave Nashville but had to stop and find a hole in the wall rib joint and Drifters was absolutely perfect. The Staff service was great and late afternoon was not a busy time so I was served my food quickly. I ordered a 1/2 rack of their St. Louis ribs with a side of coleslaw and baked beans with their home made barb sauce. Every part of the meal was scrumptious, the rib meat fell right off the bone and had wonderful flavor with their sauce. The home made baked beans and slaw were a perfect combo. My desert was a frozen Brushwacker a combo drink with 151 rum, light rum, chocolate and coffee liquor , cream of coconut and milk. Wow it was tasty on this hot afternoon .... So again if you're passing through Nashville and want so authentic local ribs - it's a must do!!! until next time, bon appétit! Ronn just Ronn The whole in the wall food guy! If you like my reviews, follow me as a friend on Yelp, be safe. Have a great day.

    Brisket Sandwich
    Jenessa H.

    We sat outside since it was nice out. The band playing was a nice touch! We both got the brisket sandwich. I do wish the sauce was tossed with the brisket, and there was a bit more than just meat in the burger. However, those are just my personal preferences. The service was great!

    The teaser was teasing
    Juices2240 S.

    We stopped here on our food tour. Didn't have enough food to actually give a real review. Will say the hot chicken wing we had was good. The staff was friendly. We stopped by around 2pm and the place was empty but clean.

    Pulled pork,  smoked chicken and brisket with a Mezcal margarita (on point) YUP!!! ALL GONE!!!

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    1 month ago

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    1 month ago

    Dee had excellent service and was attentive got my order fast please let Mrs. Wendy know she has great employee

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    13 days ago

    Went during the tomato festival. Food and vibe was great. The BBQ nachos were fire. Our server Dee was the best!!!!

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    1 year ago

    Brisket was cold for everyone at the table and when we got the wrong beer basically got told it is what it is. Staff was friendly.

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    Josef G.

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    2 years ago

    The food, the service, the location, the music,the vibe was all on point! I would come back in a heartbeat!

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    2 years ago

    Angie is the best! She's so friendly and professional and is always happy to chat about what's going on around town.

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    Page 1 of 9

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    Ask the Community - Drifters BBQ

    Is there dedicated parking?

    There is a pay by the hour lot across the road/alley from them.

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    Review Highlights - Drifters BBQ

    Some of my favorite menu options are the BBQ nachos, hush puppies, corn dogs, ribs, and actually I love their fries!

    Mentioned in 38 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Mother's Ruin in Germantown is a great spot for dinner and drinks or a place to stop before going…read moreout. The whipped feta is definitely a must order. It comes with a lot of bread and is so good. Their smashburger is also really good, and the waffle fries are amazing. The drinks are a highlight too. I loved the skinny margaritas, and the frozen blackberry mule was so good. They have a really nice patio that's perfect for hanging out. The only downside is that I feel like they close the patio/space a little early around 10 PM, and after that the inside gets extremely packed and it's hard to move around. The mozzarella sticks were good, but a lot of them were missing cheese, which was disappointing. Overall, still a really fun spot with great food, drinks, and atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out for a casual dinner or drinks before heading out.

    Great spot with a lot of character…read more While staying in Clarksville, one of the locals recommended that try Mother's Ruin. Luckily it was walking distance from one of the trolley stops (Farmers Market). We came in on a Sunday afternoon. It was busy but we were able find a spot. We started with drinks. We then ordered a falafel sandwich with the waffle fries and a queso dip. The fries and the dip were delicious. The falafel sandwich was also good. The service was quick and we picked up a t-shirt on the way out. Definitely recommend if you are in the area.

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    5th & Taylor

    5th & Taylor

    4.4
    (1.6k reviews)
    2.2 mi
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    Oh, this place is soooo good and worth the price!…read more I came here for a birthday dinner with a couple of friends and seriously you cannot go wrong with anything you order. We ordered some sausage cheddar biscuits, tomato pie, and bacon wrapped quail as appetizers and they were all delicious especially the tomato pie. Nobody had a bad word to say about entrees either! I ordered a seasonal sea bass dish and it was seriously one of the best things I have ever eaten. My husband got the short rib, and it was really tender and so yummy. If you're looking for somewhere to go for a special occasion this place will not disappoint.

    What a find! After a year in Nashville, we finally made it here! Sad it took us so long because our…read moreexperience was fantastic! The server was friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was lively but not over-the-top. And the menu was full of delicious options. There was also a special menu for folks with various dietary restrictions, which came in handy for our gang. We started with shishito peppers, beef tartare and mellon balls with shaved ham. All were delicious! For the mains, we had beef cheek "pot roast", short rib and a NY strip, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes. Elevated "comfortable food" that leaves one quite satisfied. The wine list was mainly US wines (I'm a fan of Italian reds), but they had one of our favorite Napa cabs at a reasonable price, so all good! The bar serves a range of interesting cocktails that we plan to try next time. I usually pass on desserts, but the fried peach pie and ice cream was too good to pass up. The blackberry trifle was also yummy! 5th and Taylor became one of our favorites after this visit. We'll return for date nights and to bring large parties of out of town guests. Enjoy!

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    Entrance
    Entrance
    Meatloaf sandwich
    Meatloaf sandwich
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    Fishmonger

    Fishmonger

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    Rox: this place is so cute! Typically I'm a Maine roll gal but this hot buttered one was really…read moretasty! Beet salad was great, love that they add horseradish. Only thing I wasn't a fan of was the too sweet cocktail sauce. Bartender was great and they make a perfect martini as well. Mike: I'm torn here with my favorite oysters from Seaworthy in NOLA. I'm a sucker for good oysters and mignonette sauce and these were on point giving an easy 5 for the review! The lobster roll was amazing, but those are Rox's jam, not as much mine. The beet salad was simple and perfect!

    We've been meaning to come to fishmonger and finally made it! We went for a birthday celebration. I…read moredid not make a reservation, they estimated about a thirty minute way, however two bar stools opened up right on time for us! I love the vibe in here. You walk in and can see the raw bar and part of the kitchen. All of the staff welcomed us in and were very friendly. The restaurant feels like a fish market with the open concept. I liked how it was nice and high quality food and drinks, without being too fancy. That makes it so much easier to enjoy a good meal without dressing to the Ts. I opted out of getting a drink this time, but they had three Floyd's canned beer which my boyfriend ordered. It was good and they did serve it with a glass which is always appreciated. We both ordered the grouper sandwich (mine with no bun) and then shared the hamachi crudo. The crudo was delicious, but the hibiscus sauce was slightly over powering in my opinion. I really liked the sauce, I just prefer to be able to taste the fish a little bit more. The fish itself was very good. The group was huge! (Yes we both ate the entire thing). That "Florida sauce" they serve with it is a game changer. Might have to order more to go next time. Definitely will be back to Fishmonger! This time with a reservation!

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Blackened Grouper Sandwich
    Blackened Grouper Sandwich
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    Henrietta Red

    Henrietta Red

    4.3
    (644 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$$

    This place was great, somehow I got out without anything from the raw bar, but I don't think I…read moreactually missed it since everything was so good. We were seated in the back room patio, and at first I got really worried since it was in the nineties and super humid, but pleasantly it was airconditioned and had some low speed fans so it was pretty comfy. The bench seating was firm, but plenty of pillows, so, although seated a little high, it was great. Chairs were fine as well. Service was great, our server was super friendly and really knew the menu and could speak not just to what we asked, but also made some great suggestions. Now, pretty sure this menu is super seasonal, so my choices may not be available when you read this, but highlights: Wood Fired Bread with Anchovy butter: solid, crusty (but not too) with a rich whipped butter, devoured quickly, but enjoyed the light smoke char. Snapper Crudo: Okay, the peaches threw me when I read the menu, but they were fantastic! Just a little spice on the agua chile, perfectly cured fish and really nice presentation. Tomato Salad: Perfectly ripe and sweet, the cherries and olives were easy to confuse until you bite into them, but they were both fantastic Wood Roasted Carrot: the carrots were a little inconsistent in size, and thus in softness. They were all good, but some were absolute heaven Octopus: generous portion, and perfectly cooked. The wood fire was not overbearing as it didn't taste smoked or burnt. just a great dish. Parisian Gnocchi: Didn't interest me on the menu, ordered as a recommendation and even though by this point I was not at all hungry, it was fully devoured. The snapper was great, however we did enjoy the Whiskey rebellion, an old fashioned and a tommy's margarita, so this dish was fantastic, but the memory is a bit fuzzy. Desserts are a not to miss, and the peach cobbler (foreshadowed but the fantastic peaches in the crudo) delivered in a great way to end a great meal. Thank you again for a great time!!!

    Must try brunch spot in German town. This restaurant is included in the Chase Sapphire Reserve…read moredining credit (as of June 2026) and it is totally worth it. We were able to try a few of their brunch menu options and loved them all. The oyster selection is phenomenal and the descriptions they provide are really helpful and accurate! My favorite was the breakfast sandwich! I can't wait to come back and try out their lunch and dinner as well!

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    Henrietta Red
    Sundae Special
    Sundae Special
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    Big Al's Deli

    Big Al's Deli

    4.8
    (545 reviews)
    2.5 mi
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    I did want to rate this as four stars. I really did. The place is tiny, there's nowhere to sit…read morewhile waiting, and their management of waiting customers needs serious work. I am absolutely sure that in the hour my friend and I were waiting, six other other customers were seated ahead of us. Standing for an hour is okay but only if they're actually taking the customers in order. But then we were seated and with the small menu, I was able to order. A few minutes later, Big Al shouts, "Does anyone want a cinnamon bun?" and I have never been closer to taking a walk from my keto diet. But I was good and only drooled a little watching the couple sitting next to us split theirs. It smelled so good. Brunch arrived and we've now been at Big Al's for 90 minutes. I had selected the day's special, the FOUR egg steak omelet which I had with peppers and onions *filled* the plate. Sloppy and tasty and loaded with probably half a pound of sliced steak. I only took one small bit of my biscuit - fluffy and light but heavy and dense. Delicious. My friend had a concoction that I can only call The Coronary Plate: Fried eggs, fried potatoes, fried chicken. Half of a fried chicken that looked better than anything I've ever seen at KFC or Popeye's or my own beloved Bojangles. Crispy, slightly burned but a light batter and a juicy center. Yeah, get that. Big Al's is an anachronism. The food is cooked by hand, it's delicious and it stands halfway down the block of a completely residential neighborhood. You'll be driving the last couple of blocks and wondering, what am I getting in to? Trust me, they're probably open. Pro tip: Try the gravy. It's spicy! [Review 801 of 2026 - 616 in Tennessee - 25981 overall]

    This feels like home cooking in the best way. The restaurant is small and in a residential area, so…read moreour ride share driver initially missed it. Turnover is quick, so even when they are at capacity, and the waiting list looks daunting, you should still put your name down. We were told the chalkboard has the specials, and shrimp and grits are available on the weekends. I loved my shrimps and grits. The grits were so hearty and buttery, and the shrimp had a good amount of spice. We also got the sweet potato chorizo hash, which had the perfect amount of slight heat and special spice blend. (The spices looked red, but I don't know what they were other than paprika??) Both dishes came with biscuits, generously buttered. We were told the biscuits and gravy were special, because the chef does a brown gravy instead of the white gravy. We felt like we had enough food, but if I am ever back in town, I'd try this dish. You'll want to walk off this meal, but don't miss it if you're in Nashville!

    Photos
    Interior, Big Al's
    Interior, Big Al's
    Smashburger with greens and white beans
    Smashburger with greens and white beans
    Outside

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    Outside

    Drifters BBQ - bbq - Updated August 2026

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