How to eat at Arnold's Country Kitchen during its triumphant return to Nashville

Beloved and currently closed meat and three restaurant Arnold’s Country Kitchen is staging a return of sorts. It's starting slow, with pop-ups and special events, the first of which take place Thanksgiving week.

Co-owner Kahlil Arnold said, sometime in the future, he plans to open Arnold's Country Kitchen in another location, one that enables him to sell the restaurant's famous fried chicken but also fire up the smoker.

"Whatever I do there, will be some barbecue involved," Arnold said.

More: Before closing, Arnold's owners talk about famous friends, favorite foods − and a pie caper

In late 2022, Arnold's Country Kitchen announced on social media its imminent closure.

"We’ve decided the timing is right for us to now step away for some rest and to begin a new journey," the post said. "There is no way for us to encapsulate in words our gratitude to Nashville."

Kahlil Arnold, son of the original Country Kitchen legend and co-founder Jack Arnold, said the restaurant will temporarily return to service the week of Thanksgiving, in part to show just how deep that gratitude runs.

"It's unreal," he said. "I think the Nashville community has always been so supportive of us, and it almost leaves you speechless. All we've ever tried to do was treat everyone like family, be good to our customers and we've always wanted to make everyone feel like they were at home."

Details about Arnold’s Country Kitchen's pop-up

Arnold's will be open Nov. 20-22 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., no reservations required, with another reservation-only service on Thanksgiving Day.

The first three days of service will feature the same familiar "old-school daily menu with a few twists," Arnold said.

On Thanksgiving Day, the restaurant will be open for two reservation-only seatings, one from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and another from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Those seats are likely sold out, but hopeful customers can try to score a place at the table by emailing arnoldsmeatand3@gmail.com.

Arnold said he's planning more pop-ups and special events. He also looks forward to reopening the restaurant permanently elsewhere someday.

He was heartbroken by the restaurant's sudden closure, he said. The Arnold family had planned to sell their Eighth Avenue property, but that deal fell through.

"It's inevitably going to sell one day," Arnold said. "But we're not in any rush now."

Though he was dismayed initially by the way things happened, Kahlil said the closure of the restaurant enabled him to spend some time with his father Jack Arnold, who died at 85 years old this fall.

"Everything happens for a reason," Kahlil Arnold said. "I never would have gotten to do that otherwise."

Continuing the Nashville meat and three legacy

Arnold intends to continue his father's legacy with a new Arnold's location, one that will bear the same name as the original but won't aim to replace it.

"There will never be another Arnold's, at least exactly the way it is now," Arnold said. "It would be a disservice to try to replicate it exactly, because that place is so special."

But for now, he said, the pop-ups will be the best way to get a taste of Arnold's. It's also an opportunity for the Arnold family to show their love for their community.

"I just want to say how grateful we are to the people of Nashville," Arnold said. "Thanks for always being supportive and sharing the love. Thanks for sharing your family with our family."

Arnold's is at 605 8th Ave. South.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Arnold's Country Kitchen: Reopening plans for iconic Nashville eatery