This restaurant has been a crowd favorite for over 70 years, so it's definitely worth a visit. Service was great and the staff have a wonderful relationship with each other and their customers--many of whom appeared to be regulars. My breakfast plate was just okay. The biscuits were prepared to perfection. The ham was thin and on the dry side, and the grits were creamy & smooth, but thick. I plan to return to try their lunch or dinner options. read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Parking lot - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Did this change me? Quite possibly. I felt like I was sitting in a chair that took me back in time to the tastiest meal my Granny ever made me. I cleared my plate like there was a prize at the end. I cannot wait to go back. Every employee is so gracious and kind. The service is quick. I love how many regulars stopped by just while I was there for lunch. The nostalgia in the restaurant made me feel at home and comfortable. Thank you! read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Baked Ham, Meatloaf, Fried Corn, Mac N Cheese, deviled eggs, fried okra, creamed potatoes, Lima beans. - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Zero--and I do me NO complains while dining at this establishment. It's definitely an old school--feel good establishment with great service and amazing food. The waitresses have been around for a while and the regulars definitely have their favorites. It was difficult to choose between breakfast and lunch, but I ultimately opted for the breakfast. Once ordered, the food didn't take long at all. I will never be in Nashville and not visit this establishment. read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Pancakes+sausage+eggs+tomatoes. - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Slow mornings. Sipping coffee longer than I should. Amanda keeps my cup full. I love the chatter, the check ins with regulars. The nods of familiarity with questions about the family, the fishing trip, the weekend. The clinking plates, the punching buttons of the cash register. This place is a storyteller. Those walls talk. Take a seat wherever you like. read more

Best meat-n-three in Nashville, food is consistently great tasting, hot and fast. Service is fast and always friendly. A must stop! read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Fried pork chop, cream potatoes and pinto beans. - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We ate biscuits/gravy, pancake, and the ham biscuit, and obviously coffee. It was exactly as we anticipated to be, home cooking that did the job well. Everything was delicious and quick with a charming interior. read more

Good, old fashioned, non pretentious southern food at its finest. Everything is delicious, and very well priced. It's the cure for whenever you need a food hug. read more

One of my favorite Meat & 3's. Wednesday and Saturday is fried chicken day, and it is some of the best I've ever had. Sides are all great; coleslaw, green beans, white beans, everything I've ever tried. Service is always personable and efficient. Like stepping back in time when you enter the restaurant, but very clean and well kept. read more

I always have to preface these reviews with maybe I ordered the wrong thing.... But it was not good. I was looking through reviews, the locals seem to love it here. The 'menu' was like handwritten on a piece of paper and the writing was not the most legible to be honest. The building is run-down at best, it did not feel clean. We sat in the back corner and the walls were visibly sticky/ had several colors of schmutz. As other people mentioned, the tables are very close together. It was too close for comfort. It was also loud. I ordered a plate with BBQ, creamed corn, parsley potatoes, and mac and cheese. It also came with a roll. It was unappealing when it came out, but I thought I would try to taste it without judgment. But after I tasted it, I did judge and it was not good. The Mac and cheese 100% came out of a bag. No flavor and not even warmed up all of the way, watery, and overcooked noodles. The overcooked noodles were extra sketchy because on my plate it was cold. The meat was without a doubt made 2-3 days prior to it being served to me. Absolutely not fresh and also I suspect warmed up in the microwave, it was in a pool of watery juices that infiltrated all other items served on the plate. The parsley potatoes were ok, but they were not appetizing to look at. The roll was good and the creamed corn most likely from a can was also fine. I did not finish my plate and I still felt sick afterwards. My son did not eat the chicken strips, they didn't look appealing to me either. I would be willing to bet they were cooked in a microwave. The service was also not very good. Maybe it's because we weren't locals or regulars. It took quite a while to get our food as well. We didn't get offered refills on our drinks either. I simply cannot recommend people to come here. You'd be better off warming up canned and frozen food at your own house. read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Creamed corn and parsley potatoes - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Great grits and gravy the biscuits are fire . Sausage is perfect for biscuit dimension. I've been 3 times in a week and half for breakfast. See ya Monday. read more

A classic diner experience that hasn't changed a bit in the years I've been in Nashville! The food is solid and the prices can't be beat. Feels like a slice of home amongst all the other Nashville restaurant craziness! read more

One of Nashville's oldest meat & three restaurants. Consistently good food for breakfast or lunch, served in a casual setting. Servers are prompt, friendly, and efficient. I recommend the open face roast beef sandwich, or any of the hamburgers on the menu. I also highly recommend their "Fresh Fried Corn." It's a delicious homemade creamed corn that is hard to find anywhere else. Wendell Smith's serves wonderful comfort food and it's a place you'll enjoy again and again. I highly recommend it. read more

A Nashville staple! It feels like you're walking into grandma's house by the cooking smells, vibe, and design. It's true nostalgia at it's finest. I got the meat + three and it's the perfect amount to fill you up at a great price. Go, go, go! Support Wendell Smith's. read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Pulled pork and sides (mashed potatoes, creamed corn, roll, mac & cheese, fried apples). - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

We have visited Wendell's for years. I truly enjoy all the dishes, until I ordered a fried chicken plate with veggies. This was a to go order as I didn't check my meal until I got home. The fried chicken plate was served with a chicken back. There is absolutely no meat on a back. I think in the future I will make sure th specified no back pieces. Otherwise, I recommend everything on the menu, just specify no back fried chicken. read more

Good food, good service, reasonable prices. Decorations in the atmosphere made it feel like a trip back in time.

I always love a basic diner style restaurant. You can't go wrong with the no frills of Wendell Smith's. We went for a late breakfast. My wife had a starchy meal. Eggs with grits, potatoes and biscuits. Everything was excellent I had perfectly cooked eggs and the potatoes were very good, definitely get the onions on the potatoes If you are looking for trendy, this is not it If you are looking for good basic food with nice people, try this. I don't think you will be disappointed. read more

Funny how WHITE PRIVILEGEGE WORKS! You can delete someone's post because it doesn't fit your narrative! Kiera, your business management skills ars HORRIBLE! You don't get to tell me how to review any place I have had a HORRIBLE experience at! Again like I said (& I'll KEEP POSTING ) Food: WAS NASTY AS FUCKKKKKKKK! How do you make yams with marshmallows sitting on top of the yams, with Lima beans & pineapple? That is NOT REAL SOUL FOOD AT ALL SERVICE: 0/10 now that the business lady is doing microaggression over the internet! I would NEVER recommend this place. This is NOT traditional soul food. This is unseasoned, over cooked, and under cooked food! This is NOT WHAT BLACK SOULFOOD IS! I was sick and on the toilet that whole night from the food. read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - The nastiest FAKE BLACK SOUL FOOD - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Well I walked right in and sat right down. You seat yourself. And it ain't nothing fancy but the food is really good. My cousin told me about this place and if you sneeze too hard you'll pass it up on Charlotte street. I always thought it was a liquor store, cause that's what's in front. (they own that too) Nothing but old fashioned service and food. And everyone knows each other. I never got the servers name but she was nice and you don't see many restaurants that serve 3 sides with a meat! Well here's one! Thanks y'all, I'll be back! P. S. The 3rd Generation owner (70 years they been in business), introduced himself when I went to the counter to check out. He was very nice and he gave me a lunch menu if o wanted to call in ahead of time and pick it up. read more

See all

If you are looking for a cheap place then this place is it. I didn't enjoy any of the food really. It was bland and ok but nothing to brag of. I tried biscuits, sausage and biscuits, bacon and an omelet. The omelet had a lot of veggies in the middle that weren't cooked into the omelet. read more

Great meat & 3 restaurant! All the vegetables are great, but they serve different veggies on different days. They also serve the fried chicken on different days, so call ahead! read more

Amazing southern style breakfast. Service is top notch. Highly suggest a visit. Get the biscuits and gravy.

Amazing home cooking and the friendliest staff. A lot of people dining were regulars, the staff knew them by name, and they were extremely friendly. We talked to several tables around us. The food is nothing fancy, but it's well made. It taste like home (pending someone in your home knew how to cook), but in the best way. You can feel the love in the food. So far I've tried I tried the ham, chicken and dressing, yams with mashmellow, Mac and cheese, green beans, stuffing, cranberries, pickled beets, squash, both types of bread, and a chocolate pecan pie (and I'm sure a few other items I'm forgetting. Everything was great! The best meat and three I've tried! I will say this is not for everyone. It's not fancy, trendy, new Nashville, or a hip aesthetic. It's no frills, quick service, home cooking. read more

See all

Incredible old school meat-and-three. If you are in Nashville, you must go! Staff are friendly and helpful, the handwritten menu changes daily and the food... straight from grandma's kitchen. read more

See all

Enjoyed my visit to a Nashville establishment that has been here for a long time. Parking is tight, but if you drive around you are able to find close parking to the restaurant. Inside the restaurant is a 1960-70 vibe of an old dinner. Help yourself to a seat and take a look at the menu. Staff was good with taking order and bringing out food. We tried the cheeseburger with fries and was good. A fried burger with your choice of toppings. When you check out, you go to the register by the door. They take credit card, but charge an additional 3.5% fee, so cash is preferred. read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Menu - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Blast from the past! Growing up in wood paneled diners, with DIY repairs, and home-styled cooking- this felt like home. The biscuits and gravy, scrambled egg: delicious- honestly the half order was perfect to lift my Broadway inspired hangover. This place feels homey and old, in a good way. Places like these should be protected. Its character is created overtime and not built in like newer Nashville. Service was chill! Not trying to be anything they aren't. Probably isn't for everyone, obviously, but diners hold a special place in my heart and this place had it all- 4/5 stars. We went around 10 and there was no line/wait- a little busier at 11. Must try for fans of Nashville! read more

Five star for a no-frills, meat n three dive. Solid breakfast and lunch/dinner options. Great desserts (big) as well. Check the website for daily meat n vegetables. Quick service. Fresh food. Multi-generational, Local family owned place. Hope the Nashville growth doesn't wipe this place out. Pretty efficient take-out system. Call or walk-in to get takeout. Tables turn pretty quick if there's a wai read more

See all

Been to this place many times and always enjoyed a breakfast that's the closest I can get to my grandmothers. Chose them for my birthday breakfast a few days ago & rolled in about 11:30. The place was slammed - good for them. We were seated quickly but no one came to our table for a good 10 minutes. Then several minutes later the waitress came to take our order (seated for about 15 minutes) I ordered biscuits and gravy and at that time was told they're out of biscuits, gravy, grits and several other breakfast items. Ok no worries it's later in the morning - but tell me that when you sat me 15 mins ago. 10 minutes go by and she comes back to get the new order. I get sausage egg and cheese sandwich with delicious looking French fires. My wife got chicken and dressing with macaroni & mashed potatoes. 15 minutes go by and we get our food. My sandwich was on wheat toast and dry as a bone. Nothing on the plate was even warm. My wife's chicken and dressing was absolutely disgusting. The chicken was canned chicken and the gravy was nothing more that cream of chicken soup cut with water. Also not even warm and so bland no amount of salt and pepper could fix it. Terribly disappointing. We left 80% of it on the plate. The cashier asked how it was and I was honest and said it was a disappointing visit. I'm pretty sure she didn't believe me. No apology, no correction to the ticket, no remorse at all, nothing. Really disappointing that a Nashville landmark like WS was so terrible. It was easily one of the worst meals I've ever attempted to eat. I don't leave food on my plate ever. I'd like to say I'll still go back bc I know their breakfast is (or was) good - but the poor service and lack of care from the staff about our experience was off putting. I guess that's what you get when you know every customer by name and know they'll be there, at their same table to eat whatever un salted or seasoned, bland mess they put out these days. Sad. read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Dry sausage, egg and cheese sandwich w/ cold fries. canned chicken for chicken & dressing- cream of chicken soup as gravy. Nasty. - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I travel with a service dog. I came in with 2 girlfriends on Wednesday evening for dinner. I have been there thru-out the years with my service animals. If you have ever been to Wendell Smith's in the past, you will remember how cordial and friendly they used to be. You could always count on getting a nice warm reception, a really feel-good place. The reception we got on Tuesday evening was anything but! This was an egregious act of ignorance in the tenth degree, in my opinion... As we entered, a younger man in front said in a gruff voice; 'If I see you give that dog one morsel of food, you will be asked to leave.' At first I thought he was kidding, not so. We sat at a table and an old man came up to us told us to leave, that he would not serve us. As he marched us out of the place, he showed us some small signage at the front door that said something that he thought was a legal document. It was after dark and none of us could read it. He insisted my animal had to wear a vest and therefore we could not be served. I tried, to no avail, to tell him that this was not a federal mandate, but he insisted that we leave. So we left and went across the street to Hattie B's. I want as many people as possible to know how Wendel Smith's has changed to a place so horrible. From such a nice friendly place to rudeness and total disregard for ADA and disabled people. read more

Good Food, Speedy Service, Friendly Environment....don't believe me, go pay them a visit! read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Sausage w/2 Eggs....Biscuits & Home Fried Potatoes - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Always the best Meat 'N 3 In NASHVILLE TN!!!! Come see Cathy, Shawnee & Caitlyn for the best absolute service you can find!!!!! Love y'all!!!! read more

Awesomeness place friendly staff great food its always cooked fresh the staff including the owner. The staff.even the line chefs are always friendly to the guests of your ever around this location your love the meat &3 read more

See all

4 stars for now with a definite possibility of becoming a 5 star after a few return visits, particularly to explore the lunch options. Based on our one visit for breakfast, however, I am very impressed. This is an old-school, no-frills, meat and three + breakfast diner. Prices are INCREDIBLY fair. We had breakfast in September of 2022 and the majority of diners we've been in for the past 6 months or more have posted signs about rising costs/inflation leading to higher menu prices and staff shortages leading to increased wait times. Understandable, of course--but whatever they're doing at Wendell Smith's, they're able to keep prices low and service fast. We dined for less than $20 (pre-tip) and had heaping plates of food. I had the biscuits and gravy platter, a full order. 2-3 biscuits covered in sausage gravy. Now, there are a lot of places in Nashville that tout the quality of their biscuits and most of them charge 3x what this place does for half the amount of biscuits...and those biscuits are usually barely better than average. Not so here--these biscuits are crispy on the outside, fluffy and soft in the middle, and able to stand up and deliver even when covered in gravy. Impressive. I added two eggs, over-easy, and an order of home fries. Those home fries were easily the best I've had in a restaurant in years. Crispy on the outside, soft in the middle just like the biscuits. The eggs were cooked perfectly over easy and tasted farm-fresh. My dining partner had pancakes and said they were very good as well. Service was super friendly, atmosphere is casual to the max. We were here on a Saturday morning and seated in less than 3 minutes, food was brought out in less than 15. No complaints whatsoever. read more

See all

Very old school meat and three. It has not been remodeled in years the surface of the Formica countertops have been scrubbed off. Consistently good food. read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Menu August 2022 - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

When you get into the restaurant you expect it to just be any old restaurant but once you get the food you will be surprised. There isn't one thing that I've ordered from the menu that wasn't good. The servers are all really attentive and friendly. My son swears they have the best grilled cheese he's ever had in his whole life so we make it a point to try to visit when in the area. read more

Best Home Cooking Anywhere. Best operations and Owner as well. I take family here every time they are in town. The owner and his Son who also works here are great. read more

Great country cooking except for the BBQ. Most of the food is good. It's always busy but the service is good and courteous. The walls have pictures of country stars but mostly it's not too fancy of a place. It's still worth trying and it's worth a second visit read more

A hidden gem! I got out of school and was craving some classic home cooking! Tired of nashville fast food! It did not disappoint! the meat and three was amazing and the staff was friendly! Definitely felt like an outsider but the food made me feel right at home! Oh yeah-the chess pie? ITS THE BEST PIE IVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE!!!! (sorry grandma). Definitely recommend! I plan on regularly eating here now! read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - Cool sign! - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Steady flow of customers with easy going, efficient servers - the food is consistently delicious, and the service kind and speedy! read more

Wendell Smith's Restaurant - BLT with a fried egg - Diners Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

The service is helpful and the ambiance is nothing but Country Diner. No white table cloths: not even checkered ones. The food is NOT GOURMET!! It is very eatable if you grew up with this type of cooking. I go back there anytime that I want to travel back in time...about mid fifties. read more

I go here frequently. Have for 15 yrs. It's still good but as a friend who goes often said to me "it's good but not as good". Maybe new cook? Not sure, but still one of the best remaining meat 'n threes around. New pricing leaves me with sticker shock $17.50 plus tip, with a senior discount, I know it's the same just about everywhere but... read more