Right across the street from the Opryland Hotel is Music Valley Drive. A road filled with a wide array of places to eat. When we turn onto it from the interstate, I'm immediately filled with nostalgia. My family has been eating at the Cock of the Walk restaurant (https://www.cockofthewalkrestaurant.com/our-locations/nashville-tn-menu/) since I was in elementary school. The restaurant is designed with a riverboat feel to give you the sense that you're stepping off dry land and onto a vessel that is making its way down the Mississippi River. There are several selections on the menu but Cock of the Walk is known for a few specific items: catfish, chicken, hushpuppies, cornbread and their sweet tea. Oh and did I mention that the employees dress in attire typically found on riverboats in the early 1800s? Their hats have red feathers sticking out the top and your first helping of cornbread is served hot in a cast iron skillet. Before serving, the server toss the cornbread high into the air and catches it.
Have you ever found a restaurant that is consistently good every single time you eat there? I've been visiting for over 25 years and have never had a bad meal. The food is always delicious, the staff always friendly, and the atmosphere always inviting. What more could you ask for? If you visit with a small number of people, everyone's food is served together on one large plate and you share the various sides such as fries, hushpuppies, pickled onions, and coleslaw with your party. Their tarter sauce is homemade and is the best I have found anywhere. My favorite thing on the entire menu is their sweet tea. If you are a lover of traditional, Southern sweet tea or perhaps you've always been curious as to what it tastes like, try the tea at Cock of the Walk. It is SO good! All of the food and drinks are served on tin plates and cups which keeps the drinks very, very cold. You can even buy the cups and plates to take home! When we have friends in town, this is always one of our stops. Since I was a child, they have kept an oversized rocking chair in the waiting area. It's the perfect photo op to take home to remember your visit. Put this on your list of "must try's" for your next Nashville visit!
