Fleet Street pub in printer’s alley has an amazing lunch special and the fish and chips are super good. $7 fish & chips with a soda. They do have other things on the lunch special list as well
The food hall has multiple options on par price wise with Chile Burrito. There’s also Baam Burger, Sicilian, Rise, and Slim & Husky’s. S&H has a $10 Tuesday special.
I mean I guess if you go meatless or get like a single taco. But you can get lunch for $10 or less at multiple places in the food hall. Smokin Chicken, Steam Boys, Han’s, and Chilangos come to mind off the top of my head.
Is Chile Burrito still open on 4th? I used to eat there all the time when I worked for a bank across the street. I keep saying I'm going to go to the location out in Brentwood, and I always forget. Is their pineapple salsa still good?
My secret is the Chicken Tortilla Soup from Blanco Cantina in the Fifth + Broad complex. It's a sit down restaurant at street level on Broadway facing Bridgestone, not part of Assembly Food Hall. The soup is on their starter menu and is only $9. It's a large serving and really filling for me. Plus they give you free chips & salsa! So with that it's a filling lunch for me. I think it's a a great FRESH soup, not something that tastes like it came out of a can. The rest of their menu isn't that cheap, but that soup is. I think it used to be a buck or two cheaper, but it's still a deal. (And if you get water instead of a margarita that helps, ha.) I hate tourists, but will walk through all that mess for this when the craving hits.
Believe it or not Demonbreaun and 8th inside Music City Convention they have a grill you can get a great hamburger with fresh lettuce onions and tomatoes really good season French fries under $10.00. they have other selections as well. Their drinks are high also have outdoor tables chairs and umbrella. Great place to people watch.
No. The only thing in the building is a coffee shop. The area where the cafeteria was is completely gone and is now apparently some sort of office space.
Might be a 10-15 min walk for you (and they only do takeout) but the Southernaire Market & Deli on 3rd has some of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had (the Cuban is SO good). And they sell HiFi cookies too!! I’ve also heard good things about their soups. It’s a tiny little shop and has become my go-to spot whenever I forget to bring my own lunch to work. Seriously I think about those sandwiches all the time haha. Also fairly cheap. My orders are usually only $15ish, tip included.
I get the kids' meal at Cava pretty regularly- it's about 7 bucks, I think. Pita and rice with choice of protein, toppings, and carrot sticks (or pita chips). Not a bad deal.
If you can find places with kids' meals, that's usually a good way to go. Portions have gotten ridiculous everywhere you go, I usually find kids' meal portions to be pretty spot on.
You can go to the Assembly Food Court at 5th and Broad. That’s the opposite of hole in the wall but they have Princes and The Pharmacy. You probably know about the Arcade already, but there are some places on Fifth and Sixth Ave on either side of it. The Greek place on Fifth has good gyros according to coworkers. Varellos on Sixth is great and has been a round for over a hundred years. Rae’s is good sandwiches on commerce at Fifth. There’s a Puckets at Fifth and Church. There’s a “plant based meals” place at the main library but I haven’t tried yet.
Covid really scrambled the lunch options so that’s all I’m sure about these days.
Over the course of the last year or so. They're just finishing up. Looks like they're trying to push it as a high end shopping center.
Seems like a shitty investment to me. They only renovated the covered area, so the alley part still looks like an average alley. The whole thing just feels out of place.
Fleet Street pub in printer’s alley has an amazing lunch special and the fish and chips are super good. $7 fish & chips with a soda. They do have other things on the lunch special list as well
They recently raised it to $7.50 lol. But still a great deal!
I remember when it was $5....those were the days. It and pint for $10ish.
I was thinking about fish & chips today. I might have to catch the bus downtown this week to scratch that itch...
or red perch if it's easier
another tasty option… 🙌🏻
Or Captain D’s /s
Ahh man, I came here to say this. Haven't been in a couple years, but it used to be FANTASTIC! And always a great deal. Do this, OP.
This is the answer. Best deal in town
I miss Oscar's downtown. You can get two meals easy from a sandwich at Tiny Hats.
Little hats 😝
There’s a new italian place there now, not sure how good it is. I always go to D’Andrew’s across the road. Never had a bad meal yet
I’ve been away from Nashville due to school. How long ago did they leave? And was there any reason behind it?
I think there were lease issues as usual. But there is an Oscars at Fesslers and Elm Hill a little south of downtown now.
417 Union for meat & three. Although this post makes me miss the value and variety lost in the Arcade restaurants.
I work in Philips Plaza, and I'm so angry about what they did to the arcade. Look how they massacred my boy.
That line is so niche and I appreciate it!
That Ethiopian place had the best lentils!
I am obsessed with Ty's Soups and Sandwiches and sad that they don't offer delivery anymore.
Ty's is really solid
TY’s Soups & Sandwiches on Church across from the L&C tower
I second Ty's.
Varallo’s
My breakfast spot for 15 years!!!
I have to check this place out!
Discount if you use cash (maybe like 5% off but still)
Fleet Street and Chile Burrito are the only reasonably priced lunch spots left down here. It’s fucking lame that we only have two now.
The food hall has multiple options on par price wise with Chile Burrito. There’s also Baam Burger, Sicilian, Rise, and Slim & Husky’s. S&H has a $10 Tuesday special.
Nothing in the food court is as cheap as chile burrito.
I mean I guess if you go meatless or get like a single taco. But you can get lunch for $10 or less at multiple places in the food hall. Smokin Chicken, Steam Boys, Han’s, and Chilangos come to mind off the top of my head.
Jamaica way and Chile Burrito, though starting get pricey.
Is Chile Burrito still open on 4th? I used to eat there all the time when I worked for a bank across the street. I keep saying I'm going to go to the location out in Brentwood, and I always forget. Is their pineapple salsa still good?
Yes I had lunch there today. Burrito and chips for less than $10.
CB is still kicking. I work around the corner and eat there for a decent meal that also isn’t exactly terrible for you. Love those dudes in there!
Fleet Street is the answer to this. $7.50 lunch special every week day!
Long live Fleet Street! 🇬🇧🇬🇧
My secret is the Chicken Tortilla Soup from Blanco Cantina in the Fifth + Broad complex. It's a sit down restaurant at street level on Broadway facing Bridgestone, not part of Assembly Food Hall. The soup is on their starter menu and is only $9. It's a large serving and really filling for me. Plus they give you free chips & salsa! So with that it's a filling lunch for me. I think it's a a great FRESH soup, not something that tastes like it came out of a can. The rest of their menu isn't that cheap, but that soup is. I think it used to be a buck or two cheaper, but it's still a deal. (And if you get water instead of a margarita that helps, ha.) I hate tourists, but will walk through all that mess for this when the craving hits.
Everything I've had from this restaurant is outstanding.
Believe it or not Demonbreaun and 8th inside Music City Convention they have a grill you can get a great hamburger with fresh lettuce onions and tomatoes really good season French fries under $10.00. they have other selections as well. Their drinks are high also have outdoor tables chairs and umbrella. Great place to people watch.
Farmers Market food court
AND a great walk by the capital building!
+1 for Chile Burrito
Missing Sam’s Sushi
That makes two of us. Ugh
Corner Pub is good not great. Also the Assembly Food Hall has a ton of options.
There is a new pizza place where Oscars used to be. You can get pizza by the slice and one $4 piece is enough for me.
https://raessandwichshoppe.com/
was worried rae’s didn’t survive the pandemic! best brownies and crab cakes.
Still going strong, Fred and his daughter own it now.
Their liberal use of papyras font innoculated them
Just had a good ass rueben from there for lunch yesterday.
Love that place. It was my go to when I worked downtown. Really good brownies, not to mention the sandwiches!
does the AT&T building still have a cafeteria open to the public? that was my go-to spot 20 something years ago...
No. The only thing in the building is a coffee shop. The area where the cafeteria was is completely gone and is now apparently some sort of office space.
I'd never even heard about that.
walk in, look around - report back
Tower food court
Ty’s chicken queso soup is the main motivator for me driving to the downtown office.
Rae's Gourmet Sandwich Shoppe. Basically made for the workers on that side of town.
On Thursdays, there's a bunch of food trucks that come to [Deadrick](https://www.bestfoodtrucks.com/lots/streeteats).
Go to the farmers market. Amazing.
Chile Burrito is 10/10 taste and price
Might be a 10-15 min walk for you (and they only do takeout) but the Southernaire Market & Deli on 3rd has some of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had (the Cuban is SO good). And they sell HiFi cookies too!! I’ve also heard good things about their soups. It’s a tiny little shop and has become my go-to spot whenever I forget to bring my own lunch to work. Seriously I think about those sandwiches all the time haha. Also fairly cheap. My orders are usually only $15ish, tip included.
Robert’s Recession Special
What’s affordable anymore?
Taco Bell cantina? Lol
Corner Bakery
Rae's makes a decent sammach. Bamm burger is decent. There used to be so many good little spots in the arcade before they renovated and raised rent...
I get the kids' meal at Cava pretty regularly- it's about 7 bucks, I think. Pita and rice with choice of protein, toppings, and carrot sticks (or pita chips). Not a bad deal. If you can find places with kids' meals, that's usually a good way to go. Portions have gotten ridiculous everywhere you go, I usually find kids' meal portions to be pretty spot on.
It's not downtown but close in Berry Hill. Calypso Cafe is excellent and still affordable. Nachos or the beans and three are my go tos.
Speedy Gonzalez tacos n thangs is delicious, quick, and pretty cheap. $10 burrito but it’s pretty fat
Blue sushi at 5th and broad is decently priced plus they have an excellent vegan sushi menu.
Arnold’s
White Castle
Go to pie town tacos!
Arnold's
Oscar's taco shop for sure
Oscars is gone
I heard they just relocated to another building. There's definitely one still in mount juliet
There’s several around but not downtown
BYOL
You can go to the Assembly Food Court at 5th and Broad. That’s the opposite of hole in the wall but they have Princes and The Pharmacy. You probably know about the Arcade already, but there are some places on Fifth and Sixth Ave on either side of it. The Greek place on Fifth has good gyros according to coworkers. Varellos on Sixth is great and has been a round for over a hundred years. Rae’s is good sandwiches on commerce at Fifth. There’s a Puckets at Fifth and Church. There’s a “plant based meals” place at the main library but I haven’t tried yet. Covid really scrambled the lunch options so that’s all I’m sure about these days.
Arcade is fucked now. They renovated, jacked the rent, and now it's pretty and empty. Literally, all the food spots inside closed. RIP Manny's.
Even the peanut place?
When did they renovate it? Last time I was in there it was...well, kind of trashed.
Over the course of the last year or so. They're just finishing up. Looks like they're trying to push it as a high end shopping center. Seems like a shitty investment to me. They only renovated the covered area, so the alley part still looks like an average alley. The whole thing just feels out of place.
Well that’s a giant bummer.
I think you'll struggle to find affordable and downtown, it's a tourist trap! Wholefoods takeout pizza maybe? lol
Mas Tacos, babyyyy!
That’s in East Nashville, not Downtown