Mallard’s Country Cooking
A local favorite since 1993. In addition to the usual suspects on the menu, you can order off the grill (but why?) Good gravy, they’ve got country cooking in their name. If you have a hefty appetite, go Wednesday for all-you-can-eat spaghetti, Friday for all-you-can-eat catfish or on weekends for the breakfast buffet. Closed Monday.
Madison Family Restaurant
It’s been around since the Sixties and, judging by the faded photos of Conway Twitty, Porter, and Dolly, the decor has too. Seemed a bit cheaper than other meat-and-threes. For a little place, their menu is big spanning from American grill to Greek food. It gets very mixed reviews online. I got the sense that it’s somewhat of an institution for folks in the community. Foodwise, I wasn’t fond of the hush puppies but the catfish gets my thumbs up.
Bailey & Cato
The reincarnation of a soul food joint formerly located in the East Nashville/Inglewood area, it’s now in Due West Plaza, a strip center anchored by a Sav-A-Lot grocery. My barber raved about it so I stopped in for a late lunch. I went with some old reliables: The green beans were well-seasoned, the mac’n’cheese creamy with a bit of a kick. Their version of hot water cornbread is slightly sweet with the look and chew-factor of a fritter–not bad, just different. Proof that it’s into soul food: the rotating menu includes pig’s feet and ribs. (Top photo)