This is an opinion piece.

To get my favorite burger in Nashville, you’re going to have to attend WWE Friday Night Smackdown at Bridgestone Arena. Stay with me on this.

Alabama football travels to Vanderbilt Saturday, and so are Crimson Tide fans. FirstBank Stadium has historically been a home away from home for schools within driving distance of the SEC’s least successful program.

Fortunately for Tide fans, this time around, you have a beat writer who was born 3.1 miles from the stadium and raised in and around Nashville. I can provide all sorts of local knowledge, like the presence of Rotier’s in Bridgestone Arena.

Rotier’s used to be a beloved burger joint close to Vanderbilt’s campus, known for its use of French bread as a bun. Unfortunately, due to the forces of aggressive development that are changing all the good parts of the city, it closed down in 2021.

However, the home of my beloved Nashville Predators stepped in. Rotier’s lives on, but now as concessions stand inside of the arena. I’d highly recommend a trip, even if it means buying a ticket for the WWE event that’s taking place inside Bridgestone Arena Friday. Well worth it for both the french bread burgers and excellent milkshakes on offer.

That’s one recommendation. I’ve got a bunch more.

Read on for some of my favorite spots around my home city.

Robert’s Western World

Look, I know you’re going to Broadway. I can cry and moan about how there’s better things to do in the city besides visit every tourist’s vomit-covered playground full of $19 domestics and lousy country singer-themed bars.

You’re going anyway. I’ve accepted that. But do yourself this favor.

Spend your Broadway time at Robert’s. For one thing, it’s among the cheapest beers in town, with $2 PBRs, not to mention a solid food menu that includes a fried bologna sandwich.

There’s also some of the best bands on Broadway. Do yourself a favor and hang out here, avoid the rest of the street, then wake up and enjoy some of the other recommendations.

Brown’s Diner

I know I just said Rotier’s is my favorite burger. If I’m honest, there’s a tie at the top.

Brown’s has been a Nashville institution forever, holding the city’s oldest beer license (with only Budweiser on tap). It’s more of a traditional burger, but it’s still excellent, and the setting, an old train car with a dining room and deck haphazardly attached, rules.

I’d love for the new ownership to bring back the Fritos pie that used to be on the menu. But in the meantime, enjoy the best burger in town that doesn’t require a WWE ticket.

Arnold’s Country Cookin’

Nashville invented the meat-and-three. If you take one piece of advice from me for your trip to town, find one and enjoy a meal.

Arnold’s is one of the rare places locals love just as much as tourists. It actually closed temporarily in 2023, but after the sale of its building fell through, reopened.

Get whatever you want off the menu. John Prine loved the meatloaf, I usually get the roast beef, but you really can’t go wrong.

Swett’s Restaurant

Another great meat-and-three. All the standard fare is perfect, from the fried chicken to the beef tips and rice, to the turnip greens.

I especially love the candied yams. If I can find the time during this trip home, this is one I’ll be hitting myself.

And if not, I’ll be sure to hit it the next time around.

A note on hot chicken

This might sound like sacrilege, but I generally think you can skip it if there’s a time crunch. I love hot chicken, but it’s not like you can’t find it on menus across the country these days.

There’s a Hattie B’s in Birmingham. Though if you’ve never had the dish, any of the Nashville locations will work, and the heat levels listed on the menu are a bit more accurate than some of the city’s other spots.

Prince’s is the original and remains excellent if you want to go that route. And if you’re a hot chicken veteran and want to mix it up, head over to Bolton’s for the hot fish.

But again, if you only have a few meals in town, I’d recommend one of the aforementioned meat-and-threes over our city’s signature dish.

Hugh-Baby’s

Brought to you by the same culinary geniuses behind Martin’s BBQ, which has a location in Birmingham, comes the best fast food joint you’ll find. The burgers are some of the city’s best, and everything else, including the barbecue, and the slugburger, only available on Friday, is great too.

My go-to is the smoked bologna sandwich. It comes with mustard, pickles and onion, and is one of the best bites you’ll find in the Music City.

The milkshakes are also great, definitely grab one of those as well.

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip

It’s an old-school ice cream joint that specializes in soft-serve. I should not have to sell you on it any more than that.

Kalen DeBoer, if you’re reading this, knowing your love of ice cream, you should go here.

Peg Leg Porker

Most Alabama fans are familiar with the rib war in Tuscaloosa between Archibald’s and Dreamland. Given the difference in styles, I think fans of either will be able to find peace over a plate of Peg Leg Porker.

The Gulch staple’s best dish is the dry-rub ribs, and I can’t recommend them enough. If you’re more into poultry, the yardbird is also to die for.

Like most SEC beat writers, I’ve eaten a ton of incredible barbecue throughout my travels. These ribs might be my favorite.

Bearded Iris

It’s Nashville, this list wouldn’t be complete without a beer stop. There are a million good places for a local brew in Nashville, but I think Bearded Iris is my favorite.

You have to like hops though. IPA fans will feel perfectly at home here, but if that’s not your speed, I’d recommend looking elsewhere, not like you’re hurting for brewery options.

Station Inn

You thought I was going to let you go without a music recommendation. Come on now, I know what you’re looking for.

There’s live music all over Nashville, but regardless of the band on the schedule, Station Inn is a marvelous experience. Bluegrass reigns here, and the venue attracts some of its best practitioners.

Anyway, that’s all I’ll put on this list, not trying to bore anyone. But if you’re making the Nashville journey, enjoy your trip. It’s a pretty great city, regardless of what a jaded beat writer might say about it whenever greedy real estate developers ruin another of his favorite spots.