BBQ was authentic and delicious. The view, atmosphere, and service was top notch. I'd like to come back when live music is happening:)

Great barbecue and even greater people! Delicious turnip greens, cabbage, cole slaw, everything delish!

Papa Turney's is a hidden gem! We were looking for legit barbecue and Papa Turney's did not disappoint! I got the barbecue nachos with chicken and it was excellent! My husband got the 3 meat platter with ribs, pulled pork, and brisket and it was so good he devoured it in minutes! The peaceful views of lake Pearcy Priest make you want to stay here all day. We even got to meet the boss man himself, Papa Turney! He came out and talked with us for about 5 minutes and was so friendly and welcoming. They also have live music in the evenings. We will definitely be returning here! read more

This place has the most delicious barbecue! The vibe is completely cool with live music and a lakeside setting. Me and my wife had a wonderful time that exceeded our expectations. I definitely recommend read more

Wow. What a gem. Everything was delicious! Ribs. Pork. Brisket. Owner came by to say hello and check on everything. Live music. Relaxed friendly chill marina vibe. read more

Far from the bright lights of downtown Nashville, Turney's offers a great menu of bbq in a nice low key atmosphere off Marina shores. We went on a Saturday and there was live blues music. The bbq was good, but I became obsessed with the grilled cabbage. Also get the chess pie! I think we got the last one and it was worth every bite. It's a tiny place, and there is a wait to get your food after you order, so if you go on a weekend night be prepared. Parking is available on site, but again it can be limited during peak times. I'd love to go back the next time I'm in Nashville. read more

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We came to Nashville for our anniversary & we happened on this little spot. The owner was so welcoming & gracious! The live music was a pleasant surprise. We will definitely come back when we're in town again. read more

Papa Turney's Old Fashion BBQ - 2 Meat Combo Plate Mac and Cheese Turnip Greens - Barbeque Near Me - Hermitage, Tennessee

Wow!! The food was fantastic. We arrived at around 6PM on a Friday night and the ribs were gone. The Chicken was gone. So we had the brisket. What a great choice. Coleslaw, beans, and mac n cheese. Next time we'll be going a bit earlier to get the ribs. Service was out of this world, and so, so very friendly. Highly recommend!! read more

I used to LOVE Papa Turney's. Any time I had a craving for BBQ, that was my go-to place! Super-friendly owners that make you feel very welcome! It pains me to give them a negative rating, but since they moved locations, the quality of the food has gone down. The meat seems to be either too dry or to fatty. The sides are so-so, which I hate because they're mac n cheese used to be SO good. (the baked beans are still pretty nice and flavorful though!). The bbq sauce they use now seems store-bought, and they are very stingy with giving it to you. I placed a to-go order the other day, and I would not have had any sauce had I not thought to ask about it on a whim. And on that note, i was given two little half-filled cups of the sauce which is nothing when compared to the nice sized proportions they give you. The only upside I can see in their move to the new location is that there is more space. Plenty of room to sit down and eat, and even for a live band. read more

Great food (mostly pork, but the sides are awesome) Great views (water...) Great hospitality. Depending on when you come there is live music! read more

Very kind and friendly staff who took our orders at the table (even though people generally walk up to the counter to order). The food was great. (I had smoked catfish which came with two sides, and it was all delicious.) There are lines of picnic-style tables. They did not have a beer/liquor license, but at this point it might be a few weeks away. We went for the live music, and the quality of the musicians was fantastic beyond belief, playing to an enthusiastic group of listeners! You will enjoy your visit. I hope this place stays around for a good, long time! read more

The food was so tasty, but they didn't have any desserts left when we arrived after 4pm. It's right off the reservoir so the parking was a challenge during this beautiful, hot weather. read more

This is a place you don't want to miss on your visit to Nashville! The BBQ is good, the view will make it even sweeter, but nothing makes it feel like home like the hospitality of Mike and Carrol! I got the 3 meat plate - brisket, ribs, and chicken- with Mac and Cheese, beans, and sweet tea. The seating outside gives a front view of the marina, and the blues band plays on a Saturday. I'm a newcomer, but this is my favorite local spot. read more

Stopped in this evening with my Main Squeeze For what smelled like some good BAR-B-Que from the parking lot. Located right at the Marina this place had a stunning view. After we stepped in we were immediately greeted by Mike the Owner. He filled us in about all the smoked Specialties from the menu that included Smoked Catfish and Smoked Wings. Between the two of us we got Ribs, Pork Shoulder, Brisket, Chicken and Catfish. WOW! Everything was perfectly smoked and super tender. Even the Catfish was done just right without being overly strong. Mike even told me where to get the best Sunset photos. We will definitely remember this spot the next time we're in Nashville. read more

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Had the pleasure of meeting papa turney as I left his unique establishment. Quite the man and his smile when I told him " I got the ribs, wings and links 3 Meat Combo" told me I had it right. "Did you get the Smoked Cabbage as the side. Nope. "Let me get you one". True hospitality. My wife had the BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. Ribs were fall off the bone, tender and moist. Link had a nice smoke with a hint of heat, wings just a tender as the rib. Pulled pork was tender and not over seasoned. Spot on cabbage with papa's rub. Beans, Mac and slaw was ok. Made for a great to go campground meal. Being down from MN I'll be back. Appreciate Papa Turney's welcome. We all will be better for this. Lean forward! read more

We were staying nearby and looking for a restaurant that wasn't all tourists. It's the small, off-the-mainline, local places locals favor that we prefer to find. Papa Turney's is one of those places: it's not fancy but the food is good and the service is very personable and welcoming! It was a nice change from what seems to be the new normal. read more

Best bbq in Nashville. Love this place. Local small business. Owner is awesome. Took family and friends here and they were very impressed with the food. read more

There's hundreds of BBQ spots in the Nashville area, none of which hold a note to Papa Turney's, at least not one I or any of my friends (who have lived here for decades) have found. Papa Turney's does what most BBQ places dream of: offer chicken and spare ribs where the meat literally falls off the bone. And, when we say fall off the bone, we mean it. You don't need your teeth to pull it off. It's that impressive. On the other hand, Papa Turney's isn't your typical restaurant. Positioned at the marina above Percy Priest Dam, you'll find plenty of boats, anglers and bikinis during the summer, which is why it's so odd to find such a hidden gem here. The building isn't contemporary. You're fed with Styrofoam plates and on tabled you'd expect to find in a backyard at grandmas, but the food is exceptional. From the homemade sides to the spare ribs, pulled pork, and chicken, no corners are cut. Everything is done with the objective that no customer should ever take a bite that isn't exceptional. And, speaking of that, there's no better brisket around, literally. I've been to almost every Travel Channel BBQ spot in the US and this brisket holds a note against the best. It's that good. One thing not to overlook are the desserts. The pies are incredible. I was sad when we found out they have sweet potato pie seasonally. We missed it by a week, but as good as the chocolate pie was I can only imagine how good the others are. The folks here can bake and cook and are some of the kindest you'll find in The South, period. You'll feel like you've been a part of their family for years, with your first bite. Special Note: Their sweet tea is different, too. They add plenty of lemon to provide an added flavor. It's not traditional Southern all-sugar sweet tea. Give it a try. You'll probably enjoy it while listening to the awesome live music while you eat. read more

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I am giving Papa Turney's a conditional 4-star rating. Here's the deal. Anyone who has been there knows it should get 5 stars, all the time, no questions asked. But seriously, run out of beer AND brisket, and then blame it on a busy Saturday? Sounds like lazy to me. Ok, so the distributers can't deliver beer on Sunday - does that stop you from BBQing some brisket? Apparently so. Not chickens or ribs, just brisket. It just pissed me off is all. So we settled for the ribs and chicken. My daughter inhaled her ribs before I could even think of taking a picture, but I did snap one of my chicken plate. The chicken was very moist and flavorful and wow, did they get the smoke into the meat! Not overpowering at all, but a pleasant smokiness through and through. The mac and cheese was tasty but cold and a bit congealed and the greens were just a bit over seasoned (read too much salt) but I'm not really complaining because we were eating out of styrofoam containers and using plastic utensils. Talk about a landfill nightmare, but it is the south so I guess it ain't nobody's business. Loved the ambiance. We sat outside because it was a wonderful day and the singer inside, while pretty good, was so loud we couldn't even hear the guys behind the counter. They couldn't hear us either and did apologize for how loud it was. I was hoping we could hear him outside but with the windows closed it was a pretty well sealed building. Looking over the docks was fantastic. This is another reason to want to live in Nashville. I just hope Papa Turney's doesn't let the atmosphere lead them down a path to indifference. They could be a BBQ go-to place. I plan on making it a point to go back there the next time I am in town. They will either go up to 5 stars or drop to 3. It will just depend on whether they want to be great or just another restaurant in a great location. I hope the former. read more

Papa Turney's Old Fashion BBQ - Smoked chicken, greens, mac and cheese. The m/c was a bit cold and congealed and the greens a bit salty, but overall a good plate. - Barbeque Near Me - Hermitage, Tennessee

Wow wow wow, could not recommend more. My friends and I were in Nashville for the night and looking for somewhere to get barbeque. We saw Papa Turney's had good reviews and decided to swing by. Loved that it was on a lake and off the beaten path. We had called ahead because we wanted to make sure our party of 6 would have a table. When we entered the restaurant we were greeted by the owner, Papa Turney himself. He walked us through the whole menu and we then ordered from a younger girl who I assume to be his daughter. We took a seat and watched the band get set up. Live music is a very regular thing there. Our food came out pretty quick and wow. I got the ribs with mac and cheese and potato salad. SO GOOD! Plenty of meat on the bones with lots of great flavors. All 6 of us were happy with our meals. Papa Turney came back to thank us again as we were leaving, saying to come back soon! Great food and great service, you can bet I will be returning! read more

Papa Turney's Old Fashion BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Hermitage, Tennessee

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Love this place! Tried Pulled Pork, Brisket, Smoked links , ribs, grilled cabbage and beans!!! We will definitely be back!! read more

Papa Turney's Old Fashion BBQ - Our view from the deck?!! - Barbeque Near Me - Hermitage, Tennessee

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My friend and I was looking for a meat and three and Papa Turney's was listed in the search. I was not expecting it to be on the lake and was surprised when the GPS led me into a boat dock. It is a very laid back setting inside, most evenings there is live music to entertain you as you dine. The view of the lake and boat dock is very relaxing. I felt like I was on vacation. I had the brisket, mac & cheese, and greens. It was delicious!!! I want to go back to try more menu items. There are a lot of choices on the menu that look so good. Go check it out for yourself. You will be glad you did. Highly recommended. read more

First time in Nashville and craving something legit and local, Yelp brought us to Papa Turneys. Getting to Papa Turneys included lots of turns (or as I want to call them, "turnies") off the beaten path, which brought us to the marina, a beautiful view to take in while grubbing on the 'que. When we arrived, it was around 2 pm and it wasn't too busy. Feeling like we were taking a chance, we walked up the creaky wooden stairs to the entrance overlooking the marina, and was greated by Papa Mike Turney himself! We explained that we were first timers and he recommended we go with the two meat combo so we did just that. The restaurant is decorated with everything music related and has a nice stage area for live music. We ordered the two meat combo to share with ribs and pulled brisket saddled with coleslaw and baked beans. The server explained the different hot sauces to us and only moments later, a to go box was brought to the table with barbeque steaming throughout. It smelled so good...we opened the to go box and dug in! Best ribs I have ever had. Best baked beans I have ever had, too. Everything was on point and the employees were the best of the rest. Everyone made us feel right at home. This place is an eclectic gem overflowing with Nashville hospitality. Although Papa Turneys is off the beaten path, it's worth every turn to get there! We will be back when in Nashville. read more

Papa Turney's Old Fashion BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Hermitage, Tennessee

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The food has no taste! Where is the seasoning! It has lost its way of making bbq.

Delicious BBQ. All staff and customers required to wear masks which made me feel confident getting takeout from here and supporting the small business. Down home cooking with excellent flavor, the best bbq sauce, and good portions. The potato salad was my favorite part of the meal! read more

5 stars As good a BBQ as I've had. Really,really good! The beautiful disposition of the owners is icing on the cake, and the Blues night open mic on Wednesday is fantastic too. High marks here. read more

Come hungry! The food is excellent and the service is down home charm! We had the brisket and pulled pork. Cannot wait to return.

Wonderful view. Casual atmosphere and fantastic food . I love this place . I haven't experienced it but hear the entertainment is great

Delicious food and atmosphere. The owner really lets people know how much he appreciates the business. Great place!

Fantastic pulled pork, chicken and more. Incredible bbq sauce. Great people. A fantastic restaurant in hermitage opened three days a week. read more

My wife found this place on Yelp on our road trip back home. Thank God! This place was a peace of heaven. Located right at the marina. We were greeted by the most warmest, down to earth people you would ever wish to encounter. The food was the best bbq we ever ate. The ribs were huge!!! I loved it but couldn't finish. The lemonade was beyond fresh and so good. After our meal we were greeted by Papa the owner of this wonderful gem. Papa showed us around and told stories about his family and his place. What an honor. He obviously loves his family and has a huge heart. We just instantly connected with him. Before we left he said you now have a family in Tennessee. Indeed we do and we are so blessed. You must go to Papa's and enjoy his unique spin on bbq and his warm hospitality. FYI there is also live music at night which sounds like a blast but we had to get back on the road. Papa if you are reading this we love you. read more

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Food and service were great. I had ribs and hubby had a smoked bologna sandwich which was awesome. I had a bite. The ribs were 'fallin off the bone' delicious. The atmosphere was relaxed. The beer was cold. We will stop here on our way back home. read more

So wow. We're tourists. Food lovers. And we love meeting amazing people. These PEOPLE and THIS FOOD. I've been in Nashville for a week now. This has been my favorite spot to eat. Family owned restaurant and recipes that you won't want to miss. read more

Papa Turney's Old Fashion BBQ - Amazing staff!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Hermitage, Tennessee

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I did not have the bbq. And the people with us who did said it was great. The rest of us left very unhappy with our choices. One order was the Catfish sandwich and it was swimming in water from presumably being reheated and slaw was just okay. Next plate was catfish with veggies. Same thing soggy catfish sitting in water and some okay veggies. Last order was the wings. $11 + for some soggy water logged wings. Skin was rubbery and completely unappealing. I asked for sauce - it's hot bbq or mild! I didn't even taste them, but thought rather than make a scene I could bring them home crisp them up and add some buffalo sauce. Nope put them in the skillet with a smidge of oil and they disintegrated immediately because they were so over cooked. Not sure what the raves are about. Cool location. Poor beer choices and kinda mediocre food. read more

Good God, I love this place. I come to Nashville at least once a year and I make it a point to visit, have dinner and enjoy the live music. Papa Turney "Mike" is a amazing. If you look up southern hospitality in the dictionary, Papa T's picture will pop up. I'm a fan of the Big Beef and Link. ---- One year later... 2/25/2016 Welcome Family says it all. So much love in this BBQ! Papa T (Mike) is the real deal. I've traveled around and had a lot of BBQ and I can honestly say this is some of the very BEST BBQ I have ever had. Been going to Papa T's for 5 years now and I love it. The staff is ultra friendly and the food is excellent. If in Nashville, take the short drive and make Papa Turney's a dinner spot for sure. Best Wishes, Mike from California :) read more

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Ribs and smoked wings were fall-off-the-bone fantastic !! Excellent service as well! Super friendly staff. Will definitely be returning!

This restaurant has really good food and a great atmosphere and with the location on the lake you can't beat it.

It's Ok, sort of a run down spot, has dedicated customers from Nashville Shores Amusement Park. I had the brisket chopped sandwich and was more like a pot roast. Great owners and people but the food was lacking. read more

I heard good reviews about this place so I went. I was very happy I went as their brisket is the best brisket i have had. The sides are cooked to perfection. The Mac and Cheese is amazing. Staff are very friendly and make you feel at home there. I mean really, you have to try out this place. I stopped here twice in two days that I was in Nashville during my road trip. It is by far the best bbq i've had in Nashville. read more

I've been thinking about Papa Turney's since my last visit four years ago. I'm finally back and am NOT disappointed. Ordered the three meat combo...chicken, brisket and ribs with cole slaw and baked beans as the sides. Sheesh...the BBQ can't get any better. And that hot bbq sauce, so delicious! Staff are friendly and attentive making the experience all that much better. It was well worth the wait but I sure hope it won't be another four years before I make it back to Papa Turney's again. read more