We were originally trying to go to the Broadway location but our Uber dropped us here and honestly it was for the better. We didn't have to wait and were able to order food and find seating right away. Good thing because we were starving. There were plenty of options to choose from too. Loved the plate options with a base meat or all veggie options with sides and cornbread, bun, or toast. I had the chicken plate with green beans, sweet smashed potatoes, and corn bread. Absolutely all delicious and so much food! Easy to find seating inside as well. read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Chicken Plate with green beans, sweet mashed potatoes, and corn bread - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Top tier Bbq joint. This was our first meal after touching down in Nashville and it truly delivered on the value. We got seated fast and for the price it was delicious. The brisket was so tender and the ribs were falling off the bone. Mac and cheese and macaroni salad were good too. Ambiance was quintessential southern BBQ. It somewhat reminded me of Texas BBQ. Comparing it to North Carolina BBQ it was interesting because it had more of a tangy flavor which I tended to prefer. I'd def come here again! read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Outside - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Order at the counter and then sit down style. We each got a two meet combo plate. My sides were mac and mash potatoes. Yum! Friendly staff. Random and probably a one off but there were giant flies buzzing around so we opted to return to our Airbnb and eat there. read more

I love good BBQ. I went here because I was hungry. I didn't read any yelp reviews or try to find the closest bbq place to me. Just pulled in and was ready for the adventure. First impression: it has a Nashville feel, clean country with class and a welcome feel. The interior and exterior is well kept. That shows that your restaurant employees have pride! A kind smile at the order line is always nice too. I placed my order, which was the three meat combo, reasonably priced. $24. Now I know what your thinking, that's seems on the high end for one person. Check out the picture of what you get. It totally can feed two people. I took my leftover to my hotel room for later. They are generous with their servings and even more generous with the flavor. Loved the ribs, which was a mistake, I ordered some chicken, but sooo glad they gave me ribs. Not overly seasoned so you can add sauces with your meat. All in all it's a fantastic place! read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - 3 meat Combo Plate - sausage brisket and ribs with corn bread, baked beans and mashed potatoes - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This was my first meal at like 8pm after a LONG day of traveling (flying + driving + train) but it sure was DELICIOUS. Definitely one of the best meals I've had in my life. The sweet potatoes were nice and sweet, they were definitely different to any sweet potato based dish I've had, but I'd get them again. The black beans were nice and hearty. The pork shoulder was DELICIOUS. Not sure what kind of bread they gave me as a side but I ate some of my friends leftovers lol because she didn't finish her bread. It was an interesting texture but likewise to the pork shoulder it was so so so yummy. Food was fast (They scoop it into these trays like cafeteria side), you get a GOOD portion (still doesn't mean I can't finish it all, lol), and I'd def come back here if visiting TN. Overall some of the best Southern food I've had (I think it was my first time) and I'd come back in a heartbeat. YUM. read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Sweet Potato, Baked Beans, Bread, Pork Shoulder - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Rick says best BBQ- ever. That means a lot. Rode bikes here from our place- people were helpful in showing us where to park our bikes. So, friendly place even before we entered. Great meat treats and sides are stellar. GO! read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Strolled into JCs for an early dinner during my visit to Nashville . Definitely a classic as you can see right upon entering the venue . Unassuming yet the food is king here with an open cutting station featuring the goods . I ordered the ribs and brisket combo with greens on the side . They have a main sauce offered but don't pass up the sweet , packaged option which was my favorite . The verdict : Damn good BBQ! The meats were hot, tender and flavorful yet not over-seasoned like most . Combined with the greens ( and sauce ) , I was very satisfied and will be back ! read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - 2 Meat Combo Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Awesome barbecue away from the noise of Broadway.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Ribs, brisket, pulled pork, all spectacular. Sauces were stellar as well. Will for sure go back. read more

The barBecue was excellent, the brisket was moist, tasted great and plentiful! The cornbread was excellent too!

We thoroughly enjoyed the food here! I don't eat that much American BBQ so I can't compare to anything. However, there are so many choices and sauces to choose from. I would definitely make a return if in the area again. At this restaurant, it works like fast food (self-service). You go up and tell them what you want, pay for it, and then find a place to sit. Depending on how long the line is, you could probably get in and out quickly. They also have parking lot so no need to scramble and pay for parking. read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Two meat platter with chicken and pulled pork. - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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The need for an armed security guard on a Wednesday afternoon makes you wonder.....why? If you get past that question, there is some solid bbq ribs and brisket coming. Now, $25 for a combo before a drink and tip seems a little extreme considering you're on Charlotte and not lower broad. Sides seemed to be made on site. Definitely the real deal read more

Best baked beans and ribs ever! Loved the apples. Can't wait to come back for some more. read more

Staying at the Marriott just outside of Nashville, there was a small barbecue restaurant almost across the street. After speaking to the hotel manager about the local restaurants, we did a quick Yelp review (as we always do) and found it highly recommended. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It had a family style feel to it and the staff was welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I asked a gentleman that seemed to be a regular what he would recommend, to which he replied that the ribs were the main attraction. They were, however the sausage and brisket were some of the best I ever had. The price was also very reasonable for the portions. We would recommend it to anyone that wants Nashville Barbecue when visiting. read more

After a morning/afternoon of sightseeing, we made our way back to our hotel. We were both hungry, and luckily this place was within walking distance of our hotel. As we neared the entrance, the smell of smoke was easily noticeable and tempting. We placed our order at the counter, similar to cafeteria style. The guy taking the order was friendly. I went with the two meat combo plate, selecting brisket and turkey. The plate came with two sides and a choice of bread. My two sides were mac & cheese and creamed corn and I went with cornbread to top it off. They had 5-6 different sauces to accompany the meats. The dining room was a decent size and there were a few other patrons dining in. The brisket was really tender but not as great as what I've had here in TX. It didn't seem to have much of a smoke flavor. I found the turkey to be damn good. I found the smoke flavor that the brisket was missing and it was moist too. The sides were good, but nothing that particularly stood it. I tried three different sauces but I found one that I really liked. The cornbread was really good as well. They really load up the plate so I had plenty of leftovers for the next day. I found it a little odd they did not have pickles, onions, or jalapeños out to go with plates. Overall, I thought it was pretty good, but not as great as I've experienced here in TX. read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - 2 Meat Combo Plate with brisket, turkey, mac & cheese, creamed corn, and cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I was craving Mac and cheese one night and thought the pictures here looked good. So we came in. Getting out of the car in the parking lot I was meet with the heavenly smell of smoked meats. It made my mouth water. Of course I got Mac and cheese, then got brisket and corn bread. My BF got Mac and cheese, ribs and green and corn bread. The meat was so TENDER and juicy. When the lady working pulled the brisket out to cut it prices started falling off. I particularly love the bark so I asked and she hooked me up! The ribs were also tender, juicy and flavorful. They were dry rubbed with the sauce on the side and the dry rub was well incorporated and tasty. We tried several of the BBQ sauces. We liked the Texas sauce and the XXX911 sauce best. The texas one was the perfect combo of heat and sweet. The 911 sauce was hot but not a killer to me. We were split on the corn bread. It was a hint sweet and I loved it. He on the other hand did not. Overall an Awesome experience and I will be back. read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Ribs Greens Mac & Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I'll admit, I was starving when I walked in here. That may or may not affect how much I loved this food. The staff was super helpful even though they were pretty hopping. The turkey was delicious, not at all dry. The pork was amazing too. I loved the sides too. We tried mashed potatoes, green beans, and the cucumber salad. All of them were delicious. The cornbread came with the platter and was a nice white cornbread ... not too sweet. The chess pie was delicious. I would... and probably will... come back here again before we leave. read more

The portions are huge! Cornbread is amazing and given to you warm. Mac and cheese didn't have much flavor. Meats were good but nothing amazing. Turkey was a bit dry. Sausage we've had better. The ribs were the best meat we had, flavor was great but we've had better. Didn't live up to the hype. read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I always get the chopped BBQ plate and pie or banana pudding, and everything is top notch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Laid back casual dining as it's meant to be.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 1)delicious 2)good portion size 3)not too expensive for the food you get. read more

Great home style BBQ. Convenient location to downtown. Pretty good value as well - about $16 for a BBQ plate, two sides and cornbread.

This establishment was recommended by a co-worker and what can I say, it was an outstanding meal. It was easy to find, easy parking for Nashville and the restaurant was very clean. I ordered the Brisket plate with two sides and corn bread, wife had the smoked Turkey plate. Brisket I cut with a plastic fork no knife. It was juicy and full of flavor with a beautiful smoke ring around it. The mac and cheese was creamy and smooth and the baked beans were also very good. My wife's Turkey was very tender not dry and full of flavor. We were served very quickly with no issues. Their dipping sauces were very good, tried all of them. It is a cafeteria style restaurant with ample seating. Most definitely a great place to eat. I will be back! read more

As soon as we walked in we were greeted, and asked what we would like. We said that we needed a moment because it was our first time and he was so kind and patient while we decided. We ordered the three meats: sausage links, fall off the bone ribs, and (marbled) brisket. Our sides were Mac and cheese, greens, and green beans. We ordered the corn bread and toast. I did not even ask for bbq sauce and that is how good it was. Y'all I am in no way a meat lover and I devoured this food. I normally rarely finish the meat on my plate and I went back for seconds. The ribs were amazing and fell off the bone, so yummy. The cornbread was so tasty and the toast was toasted just right. The greens and green beans were seasoned to perfection. The Mac and cheese was ok. The marbled brisket was to die for - I definitely love this place! I would definitely come here over and over again!!!! Oh, and it was so good and so appetizing to my eyes that I got no pictures, so that means you should go in and try it! :) read more

First time visit here for lunch. It is cafeteria style so you get your food quick. Which is a plus because it is really tasty bbq. We got the 2 meat plate - brisket and Turkey and a pork sandwich plate. There are 5 types of bbq sauce you can try- the Carolina gold and St. Louis were our favorite. There are 5 self serve bbq sauce stations so you can help yourself and get as much as you need for your bbq. Not a big place but clean and good seating. Jack's and Martin's are right there for top bbq in the city. read more

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Their "brisket" is actually pot roast. I've had worse brisket only once, and that was from a theme park in southern Indiana

I was looking for a place to eat after the amazing Nelson's Green Bier distillery tour, that review is coming soon! Most everyone at the distillery suggested Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Q. This BBQ spot is about three blocks from the distillery, very walkable, and is a meat and two or three place. I went with the brisket (recommended) two sides and some sausage to share with my dining partner. The brisket was off the hook! So unbelievably tender and packed with flavor. The tenderness of the meat blew my mind, I could have spread it on the delicious cornbread that came with my meal. The sides, mac and cheese and sweet potato were good, but par for the course as far as sides go. The sausage was an awesome extra to share, because I was stuffed by the end of the meal. This place is a great alternative to all of the "popular" bbq spots in Nashville. GET THE BRISKET! read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Meat and two with a side of sausage. - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I was actually a little disappointed in the flavor of the meats here. The texture was great, tender and fall off the fork. And the 6-7 sauces are all a great complement to the meats, with unique delicious flavors. But the pulled pork was relatively bland, and didn't have much smoke flavor. The ribs were better, but had a slight livery flavor. And the brisket, while the best of the bunch, was still bland and somewhat one note compared to other BBQ places I've loved. The sides were all pretty good. I liked the collard greens and baked beans. The mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were, ok. But the brown gravy tasted just like canned. The dining room was about what we expected for aesthetic. But was oddly quiet without music or a lot of patrons present. read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Rear entrance. - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Busy as heck usually, but the lines go fast. Not always easy to find tables due to the crowds, but there are two stories to find a table. Food was decent. Ordered the brisket combo. Mac and cheese was my favorite out of everything. Would recommend before getting hammered lol read more

Jack's in a quintessential Nashville eatery. Their sauces perfectly complement the meats - we particularly loved the Carolina & Kansas City sauces. The pulled pork and brisket are especially tasty, and they give you big portions so you'll never leave hungry. The sides (we loved the coleslaw, mac n cheese, cornbread, & sweet potatoes) taste amazing as well. You really can't go wrong ordering at Jack's. Freida, the customer service manager, checked on us while we were eating; she was very sweet & welcoming. It was our first time visiting Jack's and definitely will not be the last! read more

Fast friendly service. Best baked beans ! Their coleslaw is vinegar based and wasn't sure if we would like it so they let us have a taste. It was amazing! read more

Put this on your must visit list.. Great food and very friendly staff. Want a step away from the swarm on Broadway for a great bbq brisket or delicious Chess Pie? Oh, gotta try the Sweet n spicy bbq sauce. read more

I am ashamed to say I am from Nashville and just visited Jack's for the first time. The service was friendly and fantastic from the moment we walked in. We tried the pork, because if you're a Tennessee barbecue restaurant, you must have good pork. Jack's did not disappoint. You can smell the smoke as you walk in, and the results was smoky pork with a nice pink ring and good bark. The sides were generous and fresh. We loved the crispy fresh slaw and Brunswick Stew. Sweet corn light bread was wonderful too. The sauce bar was awesome. I loved all of the sauces, and we took two bottles home with us. My husband had the banana pudding, and said it was outstanding. This was our first trip to Jack's, but we plan to visit often! read more

A good BBQ joint in Nashville, TN. This is a classic fast-ordering BBQ joint. This location is actually located on the Historic site what used to be the corner of the first State Penitentiary in Tennessee. This is the location that holds Jack's full name, Jack Cawthon's BBQ. I was visiting family and they wanted us to have some classic Nashville BBQ. I got the brisket, a salad with cucumber and some type of vinagrette dressing, and some mashed potatoes. I'm not much of a BBQ gal so me saying this was good is a pretty great statement. The BBQ itself was a tender piece but the sauces that you can get make all the difference. The sides were also good for me because I love potatoes and the cucumber salad offered a fresh taste to its more heavy counterparts. It came with cornbread and it was alright. I'm also not much of a cornbread fan so I may be a bit biased. Overall, this place was good and the location wasn't too crowded. There's ample seating and the food was as good as expected! read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Texas Beef Brisket, Potato Salad, Vegetable & Salad Du Jour & Loaf of Cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Food & Drink: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 If you're looking for good food while exploring Broadway, Jack Cawthon's is the place to go! Like many food places right on or around Broadway, you'll wait in line to order your food and it is served carry-out style. To not be deterred by a longer line; it moves pretty quickly. The workers behind the counter move quickly and are mostly friendly. I went with my brother and mom, and all three of us ordered the Texas Beef Brisket. We were given a decently large portion. The brisket was perfectly tender and rich. I tried both the sweet hot and house bbq sauces. The sweet hot was perfect for me: it had a little bit of heat, but not too much. Their house bbq is vinegar based and the vinegar taste really comes through, which can be a plus if that's the kind of sauce you prefer. The cole slaw is also vinegar based and tasted great with the brisket. The mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy, but doesn't taste like it came out of a can like many mac and cheeses from some places tend to. The apples were also delicious. I'm hesitant to give a fifth star for food and drink because their drink selection was not as satisfying. Their beer selection was a somewhat random selection. They have non-alcoholic Corona, but not Corona Extra or light (what's up with that??) They have a ton of seating options, including front-of-house, a back patio, and an upstairs. If you sit upstairs there are big windows that are perfect for people watching while you eat. The walls are covered in signed photos of celebrities, a signed Peyton Manning, and more. If you stop into Jack Cawthon's for a good quick bite while out on the town you will not be disappointed! read more

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This place used to be great. Consistent and worth the trip. It's become a slop house of half measures. Recently I ordered a brisket plate with two sides and a coke. 30 bucks with tax/tip. The staff is very friendly and kind. 1. The brisket was mostly thick fat. Yuck. I'm not talking a bit of fat for flavor, I'm talking the whole cut was pretty much fat. 2. Cornbread was tasteless and dull. How do you muck up cornbread??? In the trash it went. 3. Corn was a stewed pile of mush. Didn't even taste like corn. Yep, In the trash it went. 4. Baked Beans were okay. Ate those. Do the owners even taste this stuff??? If this is the way it's gonna roll, it should just roll off the cliff and save us time. read more

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Meh. Ribs are dry and over cooked. Everything is super salty. Green beans have soggy texture. Only thing I really like there are the cinnamon baked apples. There are better places for BBQ around here. Sadly this one is right down the street from us read more

I have been to Jack's on Broadway and thought we would stop at this location on our way into town. It is easy to find and there is plenty of parking. When we entered, a strong smell of meat and smoke hit us. Three hours later my clothes smell like the BBQ which is great, but my eyes burn because of the smoke. The gentlemen that out our orders together were helpful and very good at explaining the different choices. The lady at the register was less friendly. Maybe because of Covid they do not have sauces out so they come in a plastic package. There are no signs or anything that let customers know this. The restaurant is dated but has good character and the portions were large and tasty!!!!! read more

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First off the bat, this is one of the best BBQs I have had in a while. We ordered the chicken plate with sweet potatoes, beans, corn bread and the brisket plate along with potato salad and the mac& cheese. When the server gave me half of a chicken, I knew then these people were not stingy with the portion sizes. They were heavyhanded with everything, and I loved it. The chicken and brisket were so tender. The chicken just fell off the bone. I could have eaten it both the chicken and brisket with a spoon, thats how soft and juicy it was. All our sides were really good, the potato salad was my favorite. It had the right amount of mustard or horseradish, whatever was in there. The sweet potatoes, baked beans, and mac & cheese were all good side options as well read more

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Great find! Looking for a place to grab some BBQ and this place was amazing. Went with a group of 4 and we all couldn't stop raving about to the food. Baked Beans we're out of this world. If you have the chance check this place out. The staff was so friendly and welcoming and really were the icing on the cake. Jacks was worth the stop and we'll likely be back before we leave again. read more

Jack Cawthon's Bar-B-Que - Table area - Barbeque Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Structurally, this is cafeteria style BBQ. You begin by ordering your meat, and then select one or more sides from the trays spread out along the counter on the opposite side of the glass. This is where you will find the banana pudding as well. Because I always wonder about how warm the food is being kept, and how dry it might get over time, I opted to come here for dinner, arriving about 75 minutes before the close. A two meat combo platter (4 rib bones and chopped brisket off the fatty end) paired with sides of greens and baked beans. Add in a small banana pudding, and the whole came to $28.50. The ribs were surprisingly good if a little dry, separating cleanly at the bite. The rub was light, but offered good flavor. The brisket, in contrast, was so lightly seasoned that even the bark was bland. Others might try saucing it to save the day. The greens were solid, but the baked beans unremarkable. The corn bread was nice and moist, with a texture like pound cake (recommended). There were no wafers in the banana pudding, but it was otherwise pretty well balanced, and not overly sweet. On the whole, then, I would choose ribs over brisket and greens over baked beans. If you stop here, definitely try the cornbread. read more

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I had carry out from here on an overnight stop. Overall the meat and the sides were quite decent. I was only provided the Jack's BBQ sauce even though I ordered different sauce. The drinks were ridiculously over priced. Overall, I won't go out of my way to eat here again, however, if I stay nearby, I would try it again. read more

Best brisket, baked beans and coleslaw anywhere, period! We will definitely be back for another great meal.