Nashville Spotlight: Monell’s

Monell’s is a Nashville institution famous for its authentic Southern comfort food and unique, communal dining experience.

Here is a detailed breakdown of what makes it special, its history, menu highlights, and contact information.

What Makes Monell’s Unique: The Communal Experience

Monell’s is known for its family-style, all-you-can-eat concept. The experience is centered on the saying: “Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends.”

• Communal Seating: Guests are seated at large, shared tables with other patrons, and food is passed around in serving dishes, just like a family dinner at home.
• Set Menu: There is no traditional menu for the table; instead, a daily-changing selection of Southern classics and side dishes is brought out in large portions until you can’t eat any more. The price is fixed and includes meats, vegetables, salads, bread, drink, and dessert.
• Historic Atmosphere: The original location is housed in a stately, Victorian-style home built in 1905 in Nashville’s historic Germantown neighborhood, adding to the cozy, home-like ambiance.

History

The original Monell’s in Germantown was built in 1905. The restaurant, as it is known today, was founded by Michael King and officially opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1995. King found the historic Victorian home while driving around and immediately knew it was the perfect setting for his vision of a Southern, family-style boarding house restaurant.

Highlight Menu Items

While the menu rotates daily, every meal is served with their most famous dish, Skillet Fried Chicken.

The Country Breakfast, which has been named “Best Brunch in Nashville” by the Nashville Scene, is a highlight and is served seven days a week. Breakfast offerings often include:

• Skillet Fried Chicken
• Biscuits and Gravy
• Smoked Sausage and Bacon
• Country Ham
• Fried Apples
• Pancakes
• Scrambled Eggs and Cheese Grits
• Corn Pudding

For lunch and dinner, guests feast on daily rotating Southern comfort foods such as:

• Pot Roast
• Meatloaf
• Barbecue Ribs
• Fried Catfish
• Chicken and Dumplings
• Hot Southern Vegetables (Green Beans, Turnip Greens, Macaroni & Cheese)
• Desserts like Chess Pie and Pecan Pie

Customer Feedback and Accolades

Monell’s is highly praised for its exceptional Southern hospitality and flavorful food, holding a high 4.8-star rating on Google Maps.

• Praise: Customers consistently rave about the delicious, authentic “Southern cooking at its best,” the “outstanding” food, and the friendly staff. Many mention the fried chicken and the overall fun, welcoming atmosphere created by the shared tables, emphasizing that the communal style enhances the entire experience. One reviewer stated: “The food, the decor, the engaging and wonderful staff…these 3 meet to bring you and yours a new dining experience.”
• Awards: The restaurant has been recognized with multiple honors, including:
  • TripAdvisor’s #1 Best American Cuisine
  • USA Today’s #1 Soul Food
  • Nashville Scene’s Best Brunch in Nashville
  • Zagat’s Best Soul and Southern Food

Significant Events

Beyond being a regular dining fixture, Monell’s has been the setting for significant events and has itself been at the center of local news:

• Victorian Christmas Dinners: The restaurant is known for hosting special seasonal events like its popular Victorian Christmas Dinners, which feature caroling and special holiday traditions.
• Weddings and Rehearsal Dinners: The historic and elegant setting of its locations, including the Monell’s at the Manor location (housed in an old Greek Revival-style mansion), has made it a favorite venue for weddings, rehearsal dinners, and other special events.
• The Manor Demolition Debate: One of the restaurant’s multi-location operations, Monell’s at the Manor, was built in 1898 and has been listed as one of Nashville’s endangered historic properties due to an impending demolition, which drew opposition from local patrons concerned about losing a piece of the city’s history and unique dining options.

Location and Contact Information

This information pertains to the Original Monell’s in Germantown: