What a gem of a place. We were on a tour of Nashville and the guide mentioned it as place to try. Served up family style, so you sit with random guests and sate a meal. The server was wonderful and kept the plates coming so there was no chance of running out. The fried chicken was the real deal with light breading and cooked to perfection. Collected greens, beans, pot roast and plenty of other items. If back in town again, we will be back. And for $18 a person, it's more than your moneys worth. read more

Real Southern hospitality, served family style in a gorgeous historic building with a charming courtyard. The fried chicken and biscuits kept coming, and the whole vibe lives up to their motto: "enter as strangers, leave as friends." Heads up -- it's a communal table setup, phones stay off at the table, and the "meal ticket" cards ("I've eaten and I can't get up!") are a fun touch. Great food, great value, great atmosphere. Will definitely be back next time I'm in Nashville. read more

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Delicious food and tons of it! It's an old school, pass the food around the table place. It has all the hits... Fried Chicken Baked Chicken and Dressing Fried Pork Chops Pot Roast And all the classic southern sides including biscuits and gravy! The only thing for me is sharing the table. It wasn't all bad, in fact our people were really nice. But I'm not always in the mood for social conversation so to have to may limit if I feel like going. read more

This was an absolute GEM in Nashville to visit. Family style southern home cooking. Came in here with a decent size group because one of our tour guides recommended it. We were so happy we gave this a chance and waited the hour+ to get in. Without doing much research, the surprises throughout the dining experience made it even better. They pair you up at a large table with other guests. You're introduced as cousins, brothers and sisters, friends, whatever you want! But you're going to be passing dishes the entire start and getting to know your neighbors at the table. So many things came out that were incredibly delicious to try. Chicken, pot roast, mac and cheese, corn mash, coleslaw, potatoes, sweet potato, biscuits, pasta! All of it was incredible. There's peach tea and lemonade too at the table and a pecan dessert at the end. Amazing experience and it was so cheap too. Only recommendation other than to absolutely try this place is to be respectful of the time you're there. They cycle people in and out pretty quick and you're given a card to remind you that when you notice tables near you getting reset for another group, your time is up and it's time to go! read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Came here one morning on my way out Nashville. I wanted a good breakfast, and all my research told me I had to come check this place out. I'm glad I did. This place was a wonderful little experience. We were greeted with the sign outside, "Enter as Strangers and Leave as Friends," which is one of my life philosophies. We got there right at opening, so we got seated first along with one of their years-long regulars. A friendly local lady who provided us with pleasant conversation until the next patrons arrived, who were seated right next to us at the same table, family style. Then the next people, then the next. Sitting, talking, passing the food around the table. It was a nice experience. And the ambiance was nice, too. Plain, wooden chairs, white tile flooring, vintage holiday decor, it was like being in a grandma's house. Very comforting. The food came out one or two dishes at a time. Everything was good enough, but it also was apparent that it was mass produced in a catering style. The basics like the bacon and ham were very good, but the fried chicken, I wouldn't take a big piece, save your stomach room for other things. Whatever other things you grab, make sure you grab a biscuit and get ahold of their homemade peach preserves. That stuff was 10/10 excellent. It's so good, they jar it and sell it at the front desk. I totally recommend. Overall, breakfast is one of the most important meal of the day, so if you find yourself in Nashville, I would implore you to come and check out this city staple of over 30 years now. read more

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Pros: Ambiance was very nice here. Very homey. It was like you were in a big house with a bunch of dinner tables and knickknacks all along the walls. Very comforting. Service was such as homey. The sign says family style, and they sure do treat you like family. And when you have people sit next to you at your table, they treat you like family, too. The most striking thing you'll eat here are the homemade peach preserves. That stuff was delicious and goes well on the biscuits and pretty much everything else, too. Cons: Some of the food was a little under seasoned, or maybe lacking in texture, but when you make such food at such a large scale, I'm sure it's unavoidable. But it was a very enjoyable meal! Tips: Try everything. Don't load up on too much of one thing at once. Don't worry, you'll get more opportunities to get more of everything. read more

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So my friend wanted to go to Monell's for breakfast/brunch while on a weekend trip to Nashville. It ended up being fathers day Sunday but the wait went by very fast. We didn't realize until we were being sat that this is true family style. I hate that but it was too late now so we went with it. Be warned that you are seated with strangers and will all be sharing all you can eat plates. Again, I am not a fan of seating arrangements like this at all but otherwise everything was great. So many different food options are included and almost all were surprisingly good. Good deal for what you pay. read more

Some places feed you. Some places hug your soul and send you home different. Monell's does the second... and yeah, they'll also ruin every other fried chicken you ever thought was "good." Let's just get this out of the way. The food is ridiculous. Not trendy, not overthought, just flat out right. The fried chicken? Best in the South. I said it. Best in the East too while we're at it. Nashville included. It's the kind of chicken that makes you pause mid-bite and question your past life decisions. Then the corn pudding shows up and suddenly you're quiet. Like, actually quiet. It's that good. The cornbread and biscuits? I refuse to choose. That's not a decision any reasonable person should have to make. And the peach jam... if happiness had a flavor, that's it. I'm not saying it'll bring a tear to your eye, but I'm also not not saying that. The meatloaf hit me out of nowhere. First time I've liked meatloaf since I was a kid. That alone deserves recognition. And if you leave without the banana pudding, you've made a critical error. Best of the best. No debate. Now here's where it flips. You walk in and there's a sign that says enter as strangers, leave as friends. Usually that kind of thing feels like a nice idea. Here, it actually happens. You're seated family style. No phones. No distractions. Just people. Real conversation. Passing dishes. Laughing with folks you met five minutes ago. Fold this part in your mind for a second. In a world where everyone is staring at a screen, this place forces you to look up... and somehow it works. And inside those four walls, something clicks. People from everywhere, different backgrounds, different stories, all just sitting down and breaking bread together. It's simple. It's rare. It's magic. This is not just a meal. It's an experience. The kind you remember. The kind you make a point to come back to. I make it a stop every single time I'm in town. Never missed. Never disappointed. Five stars. And if Yelp had more, they'd get those too. read more

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Overall: Such a cool concept of eating family style Southern food and I've been wanting to come here forever. So glad I finally got to visit! It's all-you-can-eat, and literally every single dish that came out was DELICIOUS. Well priced too :) Service: We came in the morning, and waited about 20-25 minutes. Stopped by a nearby cafe during our wait. Once called in and seated, everything comes out timely (started out with the cinammon rolls). You just pass it to the next person at the table! Ambiance: Warm, Southern, lovely, homey! It looks so beautiful from the outside. read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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We had our pre-wedding celebration dinner here and I'm so glad we did! The food was delicious!! Every single thing my husband and I tried was very good. My kiddo loved the rolls and catfish. Everyone else found at least one thing they really liked. They managed to seat 18 of us without issue and without reservations. Loved this place! read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - There's something for everyone here! - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Excellent family-style dinner. We met nice people and had a GREAT meal. Just like farm-to-table without the farm. We ate pork chops, fried chicken, baked chicken, mashed potatoes, Italian green beans, gravey and many more fixins". Loved it!!!! read more

I'm from NYC but coming to Monell's was like stepping into my grandma's house for thanksgiving. For only $20, all you can eat breakfast southern comfort food is amazing. Everything is served family style so you will be socializing with the guest sharing the table. The food was absolutely delicious and so filling. The service was great even though we rarely need anything. Monell's is a Must Go for anyone visiting Nashville read more

Monell's Dining and Catering was a delightful peek into southern comfort food. Our office got catering from here, and I loved trying a little bit of everything! My favorite dish was the egg bake, which had just the right amount of spice and a wealth of potatoes and peppers throughout. Other standouts were the biscuits and gravy, with the gravy being the perfect thick consistency, and the biscuits being soft and warm. The food is a bit heavier than the breakfast I'm used to having, so my only advice would be to prepare and pace yourself! read more

Family style setting where you sit with other people around a large table and pass the food to each other which encourages conversation. The food is incredible, true southern style home cooking. It was a cool experience and absolutely worth trying. read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

It was delicious! Had breakfast and loved the fried chicken. They were out of cinnamon rolls which was kinda of a bummer.

Monell's is amazing!! This is one restaurant my husband and I were looking forward to dining at. It is good old southern food. The amount of food they gave us was extraordinary. Due to it being family style we were able to eat a little of everything. To start we had coleslaw and a cucumber salad, biscuits and cornbread. The biscuits were light and fluffy and the corn bread with the apple butter was absolutely delicious!! We had green beans, fried apples, corn, mashed potatoes, white gravy, macaroni and cheese, meat loaf, fried chicken, pulled pork and chicken and dumplings. I personally loved the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, meatloaf, green beans, biscuits and cornbread bread with the apple butter. It was also enjoyable dining with others from around the country. The service was excellent!!! Monell's is a must when in Nashville. We will definitely be back! read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

When you're craving a home cooked meal but far from home, go to Monell's for a meal that tastes like it was made with love! Right when you walk in to Monell's you are sat at a table of around 10 and told they'll be your family for the next hour. There's a set menu each day and plate after plate of delicious Southern style comfort food is then served to you family style. The crispy Southern fried chicken, juicy meatloaf, and sweet corn pudding were my absolute favorite. I would've easily paid double or triple for all the food I ate but the full experience is very reasonable priced.I would've easily paid definitely recommend trying Monell's if you're in the area but be sure to save an appetite. read more

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This restaurant was recommended to me and it definitely made my experience here in Nashville. We were here on Labors Day weekend and waited for about 1.5-2 hours. We walked around the neighborhood during our wait. It was worth the wait. We sat with an another group of family with two kids. The moment we sat down, side dishes started to come out non-stop then the entrées. My favorite dishes were the cat fish, fried chicken, this smashed corn thing and ribs! It was such a fun experience. read more

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What a fun and delicious experience! It's a huge family style meal and it feels like you're just in someone's kitchen. They had all the staples and it seemed like endless plates of food were being passed around. Ribs, fried chicken, mac and cheese, corn pudding, biscuits - you name it. Dessert was phenomenal as well. Price was great for the amount of food we had. Attentive service as well. read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I have no words. YOU MUST. I have gone to midnight breakfast twice now. It's the best. Food incredible, service phenomenal, ambiance immaculate. Bring your mom, siblings, friends, you will have a great time. Midnight breakfast...10/10 read more

This is a unique restaurant. There is no menu. You simply get whatever they are dishing up that day and it is all you can eat for one price (I think around $20 or so per person during our visit). I believe fried chicken is on the menu no matter if you come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or the midnight buffet (seriously). You get seated at a communal table with strangers and then an onslaught of food begins. Dishes of veggies, breads, and proteins are delivered to the table, everything is passed to the left, and you take whatever you want and however much you want. It is an absolute feeding frenzy. I felt like I was training to be a competitive eater. Overall, the food was fine. The best item was the pulled pork which was absolutely delicious. The fried chicken was pretty dry. The biscuits and cornbread were good (the peach preserves were particularly good). There was also green beans, fried okra, mashed potatoes, barbecue beans, coleslaw (very good), corn pudding mac and cheese, and fried catfish (dry as a bone). I am probably missing one or more foods. The banana pudding for dessert was wonderful. It's not fantastic food but you get a ton of it so you will get value. The companionship at the table, like the food, can be hit or miss but that is part of the experience. Our service was wonderful. You want more chicken? Bang, it's on the table in 30 seconds. More lemonade, sweet tea, ice cubes, coleslaw, cornbread, whatever? Bang, no problem, you get it within seconds. There were plenty of staff and they were ever present, slinging new dishes of food left and right. The place looks like an old house and I assume it was a residence at one time. The outside garden area is lovely. I am glad I went once and, if I had not eaten for two days before, I might come back and gorge myself. I just wish the food quality was a touch better. read more

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I LOVE Monell's! The food is unbelievably good. This is hands down my favorite spot for classic Southern comfort food. I was greeted as soon as I walked in and seated right away. The staff was so kind and welcoming! You sit at a big family-style table with other guests and pass dishes around. It's more than just a meal--it's an experience. The fried chicken was incredible, and the banana pudding was the perfect finish. It's all-you-can-eat, so make sure you come with an empty stomach! read more

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Unfortunately I have no pictures - but there are more than enough here. How I missed this review when I was in Nashville is beyond me! Here's the deal - being a single diner is highly in your favor. I came on a super busy Sunday morning and the wait for groups was around an hour. Little old me? Hopped into a single seat at a table with a lovely party of folks in town for a wedding in about 5 minutes. Eat. Drink the sweet tea. Make new friends. Eat some more. Laugh about your whole table being hungover except you. Eat the pie. Roll out. Good old southern food for a good price. Enjoy yourself. 10/10 will return read more

Omg this place was an EXPERIENCE! I didn't do any research beforehand as my friend suggested we go and we were tired and hungry so I just went with the flow. I did not expect this at all but this place is a vibe! Even at 2am it was bustling and people were lively and having fun, all with the lights on. The food came out so fast as soon as I had finished realizing we were sitting with strangers and sharing a meal together. And wow, the food was so good. Maybe it was after a couple drinks and it being so late at night but this hit the spot and it was truly unlimited although we couldn't finish a single thing out of a 6 person table. Definitely a spot to hit up if you're in town! read more

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First time coming to Monell's and wow I was not expecting this. I'm from the Midwest so I already knew southern hospitality was a thing and was so excited. You walk in and they sit you at a huge table with total strangers and everyone just shares food like it's Thanksgiving! They're from all across the world or just neighbors. At first it felt kind of weird but then you get used to it fast and it felt homey. They give you so much food like I'm multiple courses and will give you more if you ask. Appetizers, main dishes, sides, dessert cake at the end. It's all you can eat and super affordable. I think it was around 15 to 20 per person which is wild for how much you get. There's something for everyone. I'm not vegetarian but I noticed there were plenty of options! The vibe was really welcoming. All ages, all races, everyone!! The workers are so so friendly too! Insanely nice and I understand southern hospitality now :) read more

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I don't know why I keep forgetting about this location bc i have always enjoyed Monells when they had the location by the airport. This was my first time here and it definitely won't be the last. It's really nice just walking in and being seated with strangers and sharing a whole meal. So much food!! Went on a Friday and they had ribs, lasagna, fried fish, fried chicken and all the sides. And it was cheap! Service and staff was super friendly and attentive. The place itself is nice and has a nice patio as well. I have to go and try the midnite menu! read more

Feels like home! Atmosphere is like a big Sunday dinner with family. Down home cooking including corn pudding, fried chicken, meat loaf. Chicken was fabulous. I really enjoyed the cucumber salad and green beans. Tables are communal and seat about 12 people, so prepare to get to know your neighbor. Food is served family style and you just pass it to the left. Take what you like and skip what you done. Cell phones are prohibited at the table so you get the chance to chat with those around you. I highly recommend. read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - House Rules - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This restaurant is absolutely one of the best places!! A great experience!! You sit at a large table with other people the food comes out family style and everyone passes bowls and bowls of the most delicious southern homemade food around. Everyone was warm and so....friendly and the food keeps coming!! Met some lovely people at the table. We'll be back for sure just LOVED it!! read more

We arrived for Father's Day at 11am which is lunch time and was told they were still serving breakfast and would not seat us until 1pm. Absolutely poor customer service and I highly recommend you stay away from this low down trashy place. read more

What a unique experience! Food served family style where their saying is "enter as strangers and leave as friends" and that's exactly what we did. Monell's is in a beautiful house, with big tables to accommodate about 10 people more or less per table. Reservations are not accepted, just put your name on the list and wait outside in the cute garden. Once called and seated inside you get a little rundown of the foods to come and that all dishes once served are passed to your left. Shortly after food starts to come out and at a pretty quick pace, easy to see you're in for a feast! A different main dish is offered daily while still serving all the popular items. On this day it was meatloaf and bbq pulled pork along with fried chicken, collard greens, biscuit, banana pudding, just to name a few of the items we got. Food was so good, had seconds on just about everything because it was that delicious. Everyone was so nice, checking up on us to see if we needed more of anything. Our table mates were also all very sweet even giving us a little bit of Nashville history. I highly recommend checking Monell's out, either for breakfast, lunch, dinner and now even serving midnight breakfast on Saturdays, how cool is that! Eating at Monell's is like eating at a friend's house! read more

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Monell's is a Nashville classic, and a must-visit for locals and visitors alike. (Also a very deserving spot for my 600th Yelp review!) I can't believe it took me two years to stop in ... I won't make that mistake again! The food is hearty and comforting, but it's the family-style experience that makes Monell's so memorable. I arrived with a friend around 5 PM on a Thursday, and was surprised to see the dining room wasn't busy at all! If you're not in the mood for a crowded meal, I definitely recommend stopping in on a weeknight. Food is brought out every few minutes or so, and it's all you can eat! Take your share, pass your plate to the left, and let your server know if you need another serving of anything. You definitely want to come hungry! I was most excited for the fried chicken, and it definitely delivered with a crispy crust and a juicy interior. The banana pudding for dessert was also a highlight, along with the biscuits. I'd love to come back again soon for their Midnight Breakfast on Saturdays - what a great way to fuel up after a night on the town! read more

What a delightful place. Very interesting breakfast place in a cute location with were friendly decor. Be sure to bring your appetite. Everything is served family style and you sit at a communal table, so know that going in. The food is excellent and all you can eat. Numerous breakfast favorites along with great chicken. Service is warm and attentive. The cost is very reasonable for how much you get. read more

Bringing back memories of my childhood experiences in Pennsylvania with freshly-made, traditional American comfort foods served family-style, this dining experience was in a delightful, historic home, served by gracious, accommodating staff in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Our original dining plans were canceled due to another venue's scheduling conflicts, but this was an excellent second choice! The menu included fried chicken, pork chops, mac 'n cheese, and lots of other tasty dishes. read more

Delicious southern cooking family style at a reasonable price. Everything was good, but the standouts to me were the fried chicken, ribs, corn pudding, and greens. Didn't get a chance to take pictures, as the food came fast and was passed around quickly. read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - House rules - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

This is a MUST DO when in Nashville. It's busy. You may wait a bit but it's worth it. Family style seating. Enjoyed the new friends we made. Food and service was fantastic. Just doesn't het any better. read more

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This was hands down one of the most delicious and enjoyable dining experiences I've had in Nashville. I originally came for the fried chicken, and it did not disappoint--it was absolutely amazing. Perfectly crispy, not greasy or oily at all, just done right. But what really blew me away was the fish. It was honestly one of the best I've ever had--crispy on the outside, light, fresh, and not soggy in the slightest. You can tell everything is made with care. I also tried the corn pudding, and wow... I've been trying to find something like it ever since and haven't had any luck. It was that good. I came here while on vacation, and I'm honestly so sad I didn't get the chance to go back again before leaving. I would've ordered everything all over again without hesitation. Definitely a must-visit if you're in the area. read more

This was one of my favorite dining experience of all time, and I really mean experience. The concept is really one of a kind, they seat large tables of strangers all at once and they serve just whatever's on the menu that day in an all you can eat, take it and pass it down fashion. If you want something specific, you're going to have to ask the strangers who have your dish to pass it up to you, and after a couple bites, people just naturally get chatty. When we went, we were seated with a really diverse group - all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds in Nashville for all kinds of reasons. And yet at the end of that meal and sharing jokes and stories, we realized we had so much more in common than looks might suggest. A really amazing and eye opening experience for sure, I'd highly recommend anyone in Nashville to try it. Oh and the food was amazing too, the mac and cheese, fried fish, ribs, green beans, etc etc, all of it was amazing. read more

Had dinner tonight with 7 work colleagues and then two couples joined our table. We had fried chicken, baked chicken, smothered pork chops, roast beef, green beans, cabbage, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, cucumber and onion salad, cornbread, biscuits, and peach preserves. Dessert: banana pudding. Drinks: Tea and Lemonade. Our group enjoyed ourselves and the meal. read more

Take friends, family, neighbors. Loved this family style local favorite. Asked 3 separate people where to go for dinner... all three said Monell's. Reasonably priced for all meals, one price, enjoy everything! read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

What a way to cap a special graduation weekend. We did not have reservations so we ended up waiting a little over an hour. No worries, the courtyard was lovely and we struck up a few conversations with other folks. It's a family style restaurant so as soon as you are seated, the food starts coming out! Ooohhh weee! It was almost overwhelming- never had so much food come at me at once BUT I'm not complaining. There were three meats, three veggie dishes, delicious sides and lovely desserts. Ah-mazing! The fried chicken was my favorite but honestly, I loved it all! Best of all is sitting with complete strangers. In the beginning and by the end of the meal feeling as though you had dinner with your own family. It was a beautiful experience! read more

Monell's Dining & Catering - Entrance to great southern cooking! - Southern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee