2 Best Restaurants in Nashville, Tennessee

Named for Interstate 55, which cuts through the Mississippi Delta toward New Orleans, this Gulf-inspired restaurant pulls out all the stops: gumbo, po’boys, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, oysters (char-grilled, fried, or in the shell), and even fried green tomato–shrimp rémoulade. Tables are first come, first served, but it’s worth the wait—especially for weekend brunch: Their build-your-own-Bloody-Mary bar has all the fixings for the hair of just about any dog. And their daily cocktail menu, including gems like Honey Hush and the Garden District, drips with Southern twang and Southern flavor.

Drive out to beautiful Whites Creek for live music and authentic New Orleans favorites: po’boys, muffulettas, crawfish étouffé, and (of course) Abita beer. If it isn’t too busy, Ri'chard himself will join the band for a couple of songs on guitar. This place offers laid-back fun for the whole family, and you’ll need your whole family’s help to finish all that fried okra.