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    General Jackson Showboat

    3.4 (268 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndAmerican, Music Venues

    General Jackson Showboat Photos

    Business Info

    GENERAL JACKSON SHOWBOAT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Live music
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - General Jackson Showboat

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    Show in the Victorian Theater
    Diana W.

    Overall, a fabulous experience that everyone should do when visiting Nashville. Photos are taken when you first board the boat for purchase later if you so wish. From 6:15-7:15 is country music on the top floor of the boat with a band playing and a bar. The bartenders on the top floor made the best drinks of the night. I recommend trying a banana pina colada, or a colada/daiquiri mix. After the music, you are ushered to the Victorian theater for a buffet style meal that includes mashed potatoes, broccoli, mac and cheese, chicken, and a carving station with prime rib. The prime rib was fantastic! After dinner, go out on the deck of the ship as you approach downtown Nashville/Broadway street in its lighted splendor. Great views from the boat. The ship is then turned around. Go back inside and enjoy a show that includes pretty impressive vocals and songs from country music legends as the boat makes it way back to the dock. The only reason I did not give this experience 5 stars is that the wait staff at the end of the dinner were very pushy for tips. It made several of us at the table uncomfortable since it was a buffet style meal.... But overall, I think everyone should experience this at least once when visiting Nashville. Nothing quite like it.

    We had a wonderful experience on the General Jackson Showboat. The food and entertainment were both wonderful. I highly recommend it!

    Food was good (brisket, chicken, steamed green beans, carrots, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, rolls) staff was nice, but couldn't understand them as they were foreign. No drinks unless you pay $5 for Pepsi products except unsweetened tea (if you could call it that), coffee, and water. Elvis tribute- Sounded nothing like Elvis and looked nothing like Elvis. He spent 30 minutes talking and 30 minutes singing. If you are a true Elvis fan you'd be mortified. Scenery was pretty. Beautiful boat.

    Jazz ensemble at boarding prior to dinner
    D H.

    Four LOCAL Ladies decided we would take in the 4th of July Fireworks from the General Jackson Showboat. Booked in March, glad we were able to get a table in the theater balcony. LOVELY ambiance, GREAT service, EXCELLENT food served at our table, salad, bread, entree & dessert with Tea, Coffee, Water included. Early Music was Outstanding & Stage Show on way back was very well done! Perfect parking spot on the Cumberland River to watch the Fireworks show. The boat was packed but we never felt cramped or crowded in our space. 6pm till approx 12 Midnight

    Show
    Kelie E.

    This showboat is the final boss of the touristy things you can do in Nashville. BUT- it is incredibly fun. The food, the view, the entertainment. It's worth going at least once. We did the Rollin' on the River evening show and the performers were very talented. I was riveted to my seat the entire time. I loved the virgin strawberry daiquiri I got and props to my husband for bringing the souvenir glass back in one piece in his carry on! Shout out to the random guy in the trees along the dark river bank who screamed at us and revved a chainsaw. We got a good laugh about that. Remember to bring cash to tip your waitstaff!

    Becca W.

    ABSOLUTELY A MUST DO! We did this the first night we were in town. The boat cruise was nice and easy was not rocky at all. You eat dinner first buffet style and there was all types of food for everyone. I loved the fresh cut prime rib they even let you get seconds if you wanted more. The show was absolutely amazing you can tell they love what they do and I love how they did generations over time of country music. About great deal for dinner and a show! So happy to have gone. Everyone was friendly and nice bathrooms were clean and place was clean.

    We took a group of 22 teenagers on this dinner cruise and everyone had a blast! It was a unique experience for everyone. The food was delicious and the Christmas entertainment was nice to get the holidays started. It was also beautiful to see downtown Nashville at night with all of the lights and sounds. Would recommend!

    Nashville, an idea how close you get
    Est D.

    This is a must-do when in Nashville. It's located next to Paula Dean's and Opry Mall. I will be speaking specifically about the dinner cruise. Option for wine and beer before embarking. I had the Chardonnay and it was good. While onboard they have some liquors, wine, soda/pop, and beer. The full bar opens at 7:00 p.m. $12 -$14 Once you check in, get ready to say cheese, and remember your table number. You will get a professional photo op before getting in line. During dinner, they will come to the table number you provided with your photo for you to purchase. There is no line, it's like SouthWest (if flown), you just move forward, and they encourage you to move up. No need to rush anyone, the ship is big enough to walk around and you have an assigned seat (if dining). So once you walk the bridge you are onboard. They have bar-height tables and chairs that seat 2 along the sides, chairs, and tables at the front or back of the boat that can seat up to 6, as well as rocking chairs ( my favorite). Boarding info is available on the site. Boarding 615 Dinner 720 I enjoyed the food, they had chicken and prime rib. I had the prime rib from the carving station!!!! Loved it. Great buffet selection. The dessert I chose was the cheesecake. Delicious. From the bar I ordered a margarita (you can get Patron), slight upcharge but reasonable. Souvenir margarita glass too! The server is friendly and will tell you what to expect. At around 8 p.m., you can go out and take pictures of Nashville! 15 minutes the ship will stay there, then you come back in for the show. The show was fantastic lots of energy, great vocals, and costume changes, they did a great job, very entertaining. You can walk around the ship at any time. I recommend going to the back before take off to see the big red wheel start turning! All in all a memorable time. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!!

    Chicken
    Rosie M.

    I was a little worried because I get seasick and the girls aren't excited about boats. However, this was all of our best boat experiences ever! Everyone that we spoke to was friendly and kind. The kids were just talking about how much they missed salads now that we were not in California, and our first course was a Caesar salad. The kids loved that chicken nuggets were an option for the little kids meals. For the adult meals, the chicken was tender and succulent and the crab cake wasn't too salty. The drinks were so large that when my glass was empty, I was able to put both of my hands into the glass and there was still room for 2 other hands. The service was attentive, and we found out that we were the only ones at our shared table that tipped the waitstaff at the end which is just something that thoughtful people should think about. The ship was so fun for the kids to wander around and look at the large paddle as it makes ripples in the water as we move past. The mild 70 degrees Fahrenheit weather was also a plus for our leisurely walk around the deck. The show was so fun! The kids were dancing when they were listening to music that they never heard before. It was just a wonderful experience that we would love to try again.

    Having fun at check in!
    Lynne P.

    Took the afternoon lunch cruise. The food is served buffet style and it was just ok. Loved our table and seats at table 16. Would not choose the captain's table, not worth the upgraded price. The one hour show was very entertaining. I recommend this activity - it was a clear day and cruising on the river was beautiful and relaxing. My friends and I agree it was a good choice and worth doing when in Nashville!

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    Very nice things to do with family! Seeing downtown by the boat was cool. Music show and dinner was great!

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - General Jackson Showboat

    Review Highlights - General Jackson Showboat

    The captain gave a fun and informative tour of the pilot house and all of the VIP extras made our experiences fantastic!

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    Darfons Restaurant & Bar - Calamari.

    Darfons Restaurant & Bar

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    4.2 miDonelson
    $$$

    This place was recommended by our hotel clerk as it was nearby and had numerous menu choices…read moreaccording to him. He was right! The restaurant is well decorated and clean. We were greeted as soon as we arrived and led to our table. Our server showed up almost immediately for our drink orders which she returned with promptly. The menu has something for everyone and is challenging when you go in hungry as it all looks and sounds good. We had the calamari appetizer which was very good along with a tenderloin meatloaf special that had amazing flavor and texture. I'm not normally a meatloaf person, but this sounded interesting and met all expectations. We found room for dessert and it was outstanding as well. All in all, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an enjoyable and reasonably priced for the quality/ quantity meal. Overall, for the two of us our bill was $130 for 2 drinks each, an appetizer, a salad, a split meal and a dessert. Try it, I don't think you'll be disappointed!@

    I have visited this establishment many times (I've brought in people from out of town and I've…read moredined alone and with family) and have had amazing servers, Tory and Kemma, especially. Today I had a server with green hair--she never introduced herself: she's the server with the green hair. This server decided to ignore our table and talk to another table at length about Ireland, Scotland, her fiancé, etc. I had to wait approximately 15 minutes for my drink, which was in part due to the fact that she neglected us. I sat there with my hand raised as if I was in elementary school: the man who cleared away dishes looked at me sympathetically and other servers glanced at her and shook their heads as if this was commonplace for her. When I finally had to audibly say, "Excuse me", she acted as if doing her job was an inconvenience: the eye roll was inappropriate and rude, seeing as how I had to wait for so long. This happened again when we needed sweet tea refills. We were going to order more food to go, but the service made us want to leave: terrible service affects the restaurant's bottom line. I certainly hope this will never happen again and that I can continue to spend money at Darfon's. If not, I don't mind traveling elsewhere.

    Photos
    Darfons Restaurant & Bar
    Darfons Restaurant & Bar - The Boursin Board

    The Boursin Board

    Darfons Restaurant & Bar - The "Polished Rose" was excellent!

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    The "Polished Rose" was excellent!

    The Nashville Tap House - Bone-In Ribeye

    The Nashville Tap House

    3.9(84 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    First time, but not the last time here, and my first impression was very nice place to come and…read moreenjoy a brew and a game. Saturday or Sunday sports spot for sure. Was greeted by the manager as I searched for a spot to enjoy a couple of College games. I would have given a 5 star rating but the initial server didn't come back when I told him I was waiting on someone and watching the game. There were times when I needed some things and thankfully the other server saw I had a need and came to the rescue. That was greatly appreciated. The tip was definitely left for her, but I'm sure it may have been shared. I had the bacon cheese burger and fries and the fries were delicious; so was the burger, but the fries were top tier! Definitely a place I'd frequent.

    Came here because I got in late around 9:30 pm and there was nothing else open around the Marriot…read more It's a restaurant in the Sonesta hotel nearby. Simple and nice decor with a lot of TVs. I decided to sit at the bar since the championship game of the World Baseball Classic was playing. Too bad USA lost against Venezuela but back to the restaurant . I got the grilled chicken with whipped potatoes and broccolini. It was decent and very filling. The bartender was very friendly and food came out fast. It was an average meal but glad I was able to find a decent place nearby to eat.

    Photos
    The Nashville Tap House - Time for happy hour at the Tap house yet?

    Time for happy hour at the Tap house yet?

    The Nashville Tap House - Wings and salad with blue cheese all around

    Wings and salad with blue cheese all around

    The Nashville Tap House - Tall Stella Draft, ice cold

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    Tall Stella Draft, ice cold

    Keke's Breakfast Cafe

    Keke's Breakfast Cafe

    3.8(67 reviews)
    2.4 miDonelson
    Gluten-free friendly
    Casual dining

    Internal policies and zero autonomy for the manager, triumphs over customer experience…read more My group of 8 asked to be seated in a half empty restaurant. Apparently only one section of the restaurant can accommodate 8 people and we were asked to wait. Despite calling ahead and confirming there was no wait for our group. We were flexible and suggested our group take two booths side by side. And was told no. Two different server sections and "policy " would not allow the split of servers. We happily suggested two servers, two checks, at two tables. Problem solved...but was told no, citing "policy". Ok...how about those two empty booths 4 feet away from each other? Are they in the same section? Yes, but we cannot split you up because you came in as a group? "That's our policy" Again the restaurant was half empty on a Sunday during brunch. And yet they could not seat us in separate booths that were right next to each other?? My questions are as follows: 1) Are you able to forward me a snippet of this "policy" the manager spoke of? The one that says groups cannot be split up at their request into adjacent booths with different servers and checks? 2) Does this policy also state that once server sections are drawn in dry-erase marker at the hostess stand, they are immoveable and permanent regardless of customer experience? 3) Let's assume for a moment that the ENTIRE restaurant was empty, except for a party of 8 in the dedicated larger party section. Moments later, another party of 8 walks in....would policy prohibit that 2nd party from being able to sit until the first party finished? Customer experience gets 1 star. This was our 2nd and final attempt at Keke's in Mt. Juliet. The first attempt - we made it into a booth with 7 people (one on the end), but the restaurant didn't have forks. Back-ordered or something? How do you open without forks? Plastic was not the solution.

    Nice clean spot for breakfast. Service was pleasant and food served quickly. My only small dislike…read morewas the shape of the coffee mug; it felt odd to drink from and the coffee sat on the lip. I'd return if in the area.

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    Keke's Breakfast Cafe
    Keke's Breakfast Cafe
    Keke's Breakfast Cafe

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    Mcnamara's Irish Pub and Restaurant - Reuben with sweet potato fries

    Mcnamara's Irish Pub and Restaurant

    4.4(1k reviews)
    3.0 miDonelson
    $$

    I've been wanting to find a great Irish Pub in Mid TN, and I'm so happy Yelp lead me here!…read more I arrived around 6pm on a weeknight - there was plenty of parking in the lot, and our party was seated immediately. Not long after we ordered, there was live music, which set the perfect tone for the evening. One thing I really appreciated was the noise level in the low ceilinged room. The music brought energy and a great atmosphere, but was never too loud. We ordered the Scotch Eggs (a must!), fish & chips, bangers & mash, and Bailey's cheesecake. The food arrived quickly and was piping hot! The fast service, great vibes, and incredible service have me dreaming of my next visit to Mcnamara's!!

    I had to do another review after going here the Saturday after St. Patrick's Day. We had to get our…read moreCorned Beef & Cabbage fix. We love this place. The staff are always nice and the food is always Delicious. They serve Apps, Salads, Sandwiches, Sides, Soup of the day and Have a Lunch Menu. They also serve some Irish Classics like Shepherds Pie, Irish Stew, Bangers and Mash, Fish & Chips and my personal favorite-- Corned Beef & Cabbage. They have a lounge upstairs and live Irish music almost every night starting around 6:00 p.m. You can go to their website and look at the calendar to see whether artists are playing on what specific night. If you want a little bit more quiet atmosphere, they have a dining area on the other side of the restaurant that is separate from the Stage and Bar Area, which BTW they have a full bar serving Irish Whiskeys, Beers and everything else you could want. It's located in Donelson about halfway in between the Airport and Opry Mills Mall. It's definitely worth checking out. They are closed on Sunday and Monday.. Slan libh

    Photos
    Mcnamara's Irish Pub and Restaurant
    Mcnamara's Irish Pub and Restaurant - Mac and cheese side

    Mac and cheese side

    Mcnamara's Irish Pub and Restaurant - Exterior

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    Exterior

    The Stillery - Pepperoni Pie

    The Stillery

    4.4(3.8k reviews)
    5.3 miDowntown
    $$

    Cute small town and nice, casual eating. We sat outside with our pup and the staff was very…read moreaccommodating to our seating. The pizza was great! Everyone was happy and it was the perfect dinner break for our long road trip!

    After about 15 trips to Nashville, my wife and I have developed a routine…read more Get to town. Drop off the bags. Head to The Stillery. It's usually our first dinner stop every single trip. This time, we switched things up and hit it for lunch instead. Good call. We grabbed seats at the bar, where Todd was holding down the fort. The guy was outstanding. Drinks never sat empty, food came out smoothly, and he somehow managed to be attentive without hovering over us every five minutes asking if everything was okay. My wife started with the Nashville Margue, which goes down way too easy for something packing moonshine. Light, refreshing, and carrying enough kick to remind you you're in Tennessee. Then Todd introduced us to a Bloody Mary made with a new pickle-infused vodka. Now, that sounds like one of those ideas that should either be amazing or a complete disaster. Turns out it's amazing. My wife loved it so much she's already talking about coming back tomorrow for another one. For food, we started with the pretzels and beer cheese. Simple. Warm. Soft. Salty. Exactly what you want while settling into a Nashville afternoon. Nothing fancy, just done right. Then I went all in on the mac and cheese topped with Nashville hot chicken. Yee Haw. Creamy mac and cheese. Crispy chicken. That signature Nashville heat. Comfort food with a little attitude. Just the way it should be. The best thing about The Stillery is that it knows exactly what it is. Good food. Good drinks. Good people. No gimmicks. No trying too hard. Just a fun place to sit down, relax, and enjoy yourself. Fifteen trips to Nashville (together) and it's still one of our first stops. That's probably the strongest review I can give. Five stars.

    Photos
    The Stillery - Bar back

    Bar back

    The Stillery - Mac & Cheese with Hot Chicken

    Mac & Cheese with Hot Chicken

    The Stillery - MC Burger*

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    MC Burger*

    The Finch - The Finch American Grill - greenery, banquettes, open, airy, union station

    The Finch

    4.4(484 reviews)
    5.9 miSobro, Downtown

    The Finch is everything you could want in an upscale restaurant: great atmosphere, great food,…read moregreat service! We had a larger (10) group celebrating two birthdays and the staff handled things without breaking a sweat. We arrived a few minutes late for our reservation but it was no bother as our table was still being prepared. On that note: highly recommend a reservation, this is a popular place! Once we were seated we had the pleasure of Nichelle, a wonderful waitress. She was on top of everything we needed or wanted and we had very little wait time for her return. Great service! And the food... DELICIOUS! As you can imagine, our group of ten had a good selection across the menu and there was not a single person who was disappointed. Everyone loved their amazing food. What tops everything off is the atmosphere here. It's popular so, as you can imagine, it's a bit noisy. However, I like to call it "lively". And they really nailed the physical design, so inviting and upscale. I'll stop there and simply say: check this place out, it's great!

    So many great things about The Finch. My server, Savanna, was EXCEPTIONAL, like AMAZING. She was…read morebright, helpful, and attentive to the max, but not in an annoying way. She even went out of her way to get me a drink that had fallen off the menu a few weeks prior, a delightful cucumber spritz. The ambiance is awesome. As others have said, music isn't too loud, just pleasant in the background, so it would be ideal for having a conversation. The space is open, bright, light-filled, and stylish. Parking is in a private lot behind the restaurant and they validate parking for up to two and a half hours. I wish I could rave the same way about the food. While the cocktails were refreshing and they had a cocktail for every palate, my steak and eggs was bland. It came out a little closer to rare than medium, but I can live with that. But I am not sure I detected a speck of salt or pepper. The steak was at least tender and the sunny side up eggs were cooked appropriately. The potatoes were dry. And I did have the wagyu meatball appetizer. It's a large portion, so easily shared amongst two or three people. Cheesy and saucy with a little spice. The focaccia could've been toasted a little more. I considered the short rib hash, but my server told me it could be salty and hit or miss (I appreciate her honesty and she 100 percent should be praised for it). I came during brunch (even on a weekday). They also serve French toast, desserts, oysters, burrata, potstickers and tuna tartare, salads, burgers and other sandwiches. If you come for lunch or dinner, you can also get grilled salmon, blackened redfish, shrimp and grits, pastas (cajun chicken, pappardelle bolognese, tortellini) as well as various cuts of steak. It's conveniently located right across from the Frist Museum and is part of the Union Station Hotel. I would try this place again for dinner, but would skip the brunch. And again, Savanna was top tier! She deserves all the flowers!

    Photos
    The Finch - Filet mignon with grilled broccolini, whipped potatoes, and house made demi-glace

    Filet mignon with grilled broccolini, whipped potatoes, and house made demi-glace

    The Finch - The Finch American Grill - marble top center bar, people, craft cocktails, happy hour

    The Finch American Grill - marble top center bar, people, craft cocktails, happy hour

    The Finch - Blackened red fish tacos with ancho chile slaw, mango pico and cilantro

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    Blackened red fish tacos with ancho chile slaw, mango pico and cilantro

    General Jackson Showboat - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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