Restaurant recommendations, Highlands and Blowing Rock, NC, Indianapolis, Nashville. Rally content!

Budgeezer

We have the chance to participate in another Crown Rally.  We will be heading from Chicago to Indianapolis to Nashville over a two day period of amazing back roads. Then we will be heading to NC for a couple of days of mountain roads. Looking for some recommendations for some restaurants.  We like all kinds of food from Hattie B's to the St Elmo's.  Any cool spots worth checking out?

Feature of last years South Rally.

http://https//youtu.be/fJw2TQvJuTQ

Finishing in downtown Chicago for CR6 earlier this year.

mEGG_My_Day

Paoletti and Wolfgang’s in Highlands are both very good.  Paoletti is my favorite but pricey.  Also Ugly Dog is a pretty good pub/bar with a decent menu for hamburgers and such.  They sometimes have live music.   Sounds like a great trip - have fun and be careful on those NC mountain roads.

Chief9

Knights in blowing rock used to be good

ColtsFan

A great little tamale place in Indy

http://thetamaleplace.com/

Also a GREAT deli! 

https://shapiros.com/

kersh13

Nashville - 

 - Martin's BBQ. whole hog BBQ at it's finest
 - BurgerUP - the truffle fries are too good
 - Husk - Sean Brock restaurant. His take on southern dining. Make a reservation if you want to eat here. 
 - Pharmacy (East Nashville) - great burger, neat beer garden. 

kjs

It’s tough to have a bad dinner in Highlands. Madison’s at the Old Edwards Inn and Cyprus were my favorite.

In Blowing Rock, Story Street Grill is pretty good. I suggest going to Canyons, somewhat of a dive, for a drink at sunset. 

stlcharcoal

In Indianapolis on the west side there's a Cajun place called Papa Roux.  Really good and unlimited sides dishes!  

AppStateDDS

I'll second Storie Street Grill, but also Bistro Roca in Blowing Rock - probably need a reservation for Roca though.  If you want BBQ, Woodlands in Blowing Rock has been a mainstay.  If you make it to Boone, Proper is a cool, small restaurant - we like it for lunch.  

Budgeezer

Thanks everyone, appreciate your input!

Eggdicted_Dawgfan

My folks retired to Highlands. Love that area. Wolfgang’s is excellent. The beef rib is outstanding. Just make sure they don’t sit you in the front area. Much better atmosphere in the back or by the gardens. Also, if you like wine, stop by the wine store (that’s the name) in town, on Main Street and sample some wines. They have everything from $10-$2000 bottles of wine. You can buy a bottle and take it outside and drink it at one of the tables if you like. Or just get a card and drink from the machines. Nice little spot to chill. Make time for some of the waterfalls as well, if you can. 

northGAcock

In Blowing Rock...best Butter Pecan ice cream I ever had. Ice cream shop in the downtown area...can’t miss it.

AppStateDDS

Haha, that’s Kilwins - it’s a chain ice cream/fudge/dessert shop.  My wife worked there during college.  It’s definitely good!  

Possumtrot

In what area of Nashville are you staying.

Budgeezer

Possumtrot said:

In what area of Nashville are you staying.

We will be downtown, not far from the Honky Tonk area.

Budgeezer

Heading out in a day, one last bump.

Possumtrot

If I could pick only one in downtown Nashville, I would pick ETCH.  The chef also has one in the Green Hills area of Nashville called ETC.  Deb Paquette is the chef and her food is top notch.

Eater magazine is another good source of info:

https://nashville.eater.com/

Another my daughter recommends is:

Tansuo - 12th and Porter

Acme Feed and Seed

The Southern Steak and oyster

Bakersfield.

@theyolksonyou and @northGAcock were both here within the past 12 months or so and stayed downtown Nashville -maybe they can give a more egghead perspective - I'm a native (and old and slow) so my viewpoint might be a little different.

Kent8621

Monells in Nashville is amazing for breakfast, there is typically a wait but as soon as you sit down they bring out food and its all good.  I mean fried chicken with breakfast is hard to beat.  the tamale place in indy is great as well.  St elmo's is good, if you don't get a reservation try for the lounge area upstairs, same food better less stuff atmosphere.  there is also a new sun king location in carmel, it is definitely worth stopping at. 

Teefus

Weber grille in downtown Indy is fantastic. Good Brisket. Stop at Shapiro’s deli on South Meridian for the Ruben sandwich. It’s the best in the Midwest. 

northGAcock

Possumtrot said:

Another my daughter recommends is:

Tansuo - 12th and Porter

Acme Feed and Seed

The Southern Steak and oyster

Bakersfield.

@theyolksonyou and @northGAcock were both here within the past 12 months or so and stayed downtown Nashville -maybe they can give a more egghead perspective - I'm a native (and old and slow) so my viewpoint might be a little different.

I did The Southern Steak and Oyster and enjoyed it....a good choice but no a must do by any means. I will point you to a string earlier regarding Merchants....a great restaurant and bar. We mostly imbibed at this place and at at the bar downstairs. The have multiple eating options for you to choose. I would highly recommend visiting there if only for a beverage.  https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/2314310#Comment_2314310

The_Stache

Merchants in Nashville is one of the older establishments in the downtown area and has always served in the finest southern manner a great selection of food (and booze!)... 

Boileregger

If you're in Indy you have to get a deep fried pork tenderloin sandwich.  Best one in town is at Sahm's.  Get the deep fried cauliflower as your side, trust me.  I go there every time I go home.

Jeremiah

I’d love to see more photos of the rally. Looks really cool. 

Hairless_Hand

I spend a ton of time in all of these cities and these guys are giving you some great advice.  I just had a fried pork tenderloin sandwich with a side of fried mushrooms from Sahms in Indy last week.  

Budgeezer

Jeremiah said:

I’d love to see more photos of the rally. Looks really cool. 

You can check out their YouTube channel for a bunch of videos for the last few years.  I have a few photos from the rally last month. 

Budgeezer

Thanks to everyone that contributed.  We hope to hit up Merchants, Hattie B's and the Peg Leg Porker in Nashville, Wolfgang's and Ugly Dog in Highlands and still deciding on Blowing Rock and Indianapolis. 

Possumtrot

Go to the Hattie B's in Melrose (8th ave so.)as it has plenty of room - still crowded, though

DoubleEgger

The Golf needs a BGE sticker. Just sayin’ 

DoubleEgger

Budgeezer said:

Thanks to everyone that contributed.  We hope to hit up Merchants, Hattie B's and the Peg Leg Porker in Nashville, Wolfgang's and Ugly Dog in Highlands and still deciding on Blowing Rock and Indianapolis. 

Here are two pro tips for Nashville:
1) Get the two breast plate at Hattie B’s. You’ll be pissed at yourself if you don’t after standing in that line (especially in August). 
2) Get the smoked green beans at Peg Leg. 

buzzvol

On the way from Highand to Blowing Rock, stop at Sierra Nevada brewery.  The food is really good and well, beer.

Hi54putty

I spend a lot of time in Boone. In my opinion, the best two restaurants in Blowing Rock are the New Public House and Twigs. 

jones2289

Indianapolis -

Burger - Workingman's Friend.  Hole in the wall little bar where you'll find everyone from bikers to state house workers for lunch.  It's usually pretty slow on Saturdays, but has the best crispy, diner style burger I've ever had.  Still has an old cigarette machine by the door, too.

Lunch/Brunch - Northside Kitchenette.  Great quality, scratch made, local food.  They have amazing eggs benedict, and also great salads and sandwiches, depending on what you're in the mood for.  In the same building is Northside Social, which is only open for dinner, and is supposed to be good.

Drive in food, sourced locally - The Mug.

Sandwiches / charcuterie - Goose the Market.  Sandwiches from their lunch counter are amazing, as are all of their smoked and cured meats.  http://www.smokinggoose.com

Lunch - Turf. Just a little lunch counter tucked into a building shared with a Midas.  Most of their business comes from catering, but they're open for 11-2 during the week for lunch.  Check their Facebook page to make sure they're open that day, and to see the specials.  As boring as it sounds, their turkey club is amazing, as is the pimento cheese, and really, everything else I've had there. 
https://www.facebook.com/turfcateringkitchen/

For anything Egg related - Check out Chef JJs downtown or Sullivan Hardware.  If you're downtown at Chef JJs, want to take a trip back in time, check out Landwerlen Leather, which should pop up on MapQuest.  It's a few blocks from Chef JJs, and is an old store that's been in the same family for over 100 years. They sell everything from belts, to boot care and repair supplies, to huge hides and leather for upholstery.  It's like the hardware store from everyone's youth: creaky old wood floors, huge, beat up oak counters, and old wooden shelves behind the cash register stacked to the ceiling with every kind of leather or shoe sole imaginable.