Where to eat on Lower Broadway (or just a block or two off), according to a local

There are plenty of places to eat on Lower Broadway, including big-name restaurants and bars with fancy trappings and long, long lines to get in.

That's not what you'll find in this story.

While restaurants like Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa or Justin Timberlake's Twelve Thirty Club can be fun for the spectacle, they're maybe a bit too much hassle if you're trying to grab a bite before a show. A word on the latter restaurant: Though the food was fine, we ended up with a dour, condescending server, but your mileage may vary.

I would eat at any of the restaurants below, all of which are either right on Broadway or just a block or so away. A note: We left out Printer's Alley, which deserves its own article. Out-of-towners should take some time to stroll it and check out the great bars tucked away there.

On Broadway

Acme Feed and Seed, 101 Broadway, acmefeedandseed.com

This is my go-to spot for pre- or post-show drinks because it always feels fairly chill in there, even though it's right on Broadway. Grab a frosé to cool you down when the weather is insanely hot out. Downstairs, the hot chicken bites are a solid bet when you just want something fast to eat, though people love the overnight-smoked beef brisket sandwich. On the second floor is a serviceable sushi bar with fairly basic but good rolls and sake.

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Robert's Western World, 416 Broadway B, robertswesternworld.com

I mean, this should be on your radar whether you're visiting or a local solely because the music is killer and the place just feels like a slice of Nashville. I never get tired of it. While I prefer to hover around the upstairs bar (it can get pretty hot up there, no doubt), you can also belly up to the ground-level bar and order from the Honky Tonk Grill. The grill serves a basic bar menu, but there's one thing that's worth shouting from the rooftops: The enduring Recession Special is somehow the best deal in town, and it's right there on Broadway. Order it, and you'll get a fried bologna sandwich, chips, a MoonPie and a cold PBR, all for an astounding $6. Thank you Robert's for your service.

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Blanco Cocina + Cantina, 530 Broadway, blancococinacantina.com

Just about everything on the menu at this airy, fun Mexican restaurant is satisfying. But I recommend you start with a pitcher of spicy watermelon margaritas, nachos and that really good ceviche while deciding what you want from the taco menu. And yep, you'll want the house-made corn tortillas.

Boqueria, 5005 Broadway, boqueriarestaurant.com

This Spanish tapas restaurant, part of a small chain mostly concentrated in the northeast, can be hit or miss, but the service is lovely, the wine is very good and the food can be also, if you know what to order. Especially if you're headed to the nearby Ryman or Bridgestone, try to grab a seat at the full-service bar. I love the patatas bravas for carb-loading (hey, I like to dance) and nearly all of the vegetable plates. Add cheese and charcuterie, and you have a light pre-show meal.

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Assembly Food Hall, 5055 Broadway, assemblyfoodhall.com

There are many, many options to choose from in this food hall, which boasts close to two dozen restaurants. Here, you can find a smaller version of the iconic Prince's Hot Chicken, have ice cream at Hattie Jane's Creamery, grab a pizza from DeSano — you name it. Probably my favorite spot to eat here is Dock Local, which serves lobster rolls, classic seafood boils and some pretty delicious fish tacos. Make sure to grab a drink at one of the many bars around the food hall and settle in.

Related: How do the restaurants at Assembly Food Hall in Nashville stack up? We ranked them

Sixty Vines, 5055 Broadway, sixtyvines.com

Above the main food court of Assembly Food Hall is this wine bar with its spectacular outdoor space, great wine selection and good food. I like to snag a seat at the bar here and talk through my drink order with the friendly and knowledgeable staff, many of whom are eager to tell you some geeky little detail about what they're pouring. I like to order the burrata, which is meal enough for me, but the restaurant serves substantial mains as well.

Jack's Bar-B-Que, 416 Broadway, jacksbarbque.com

This is your spot for solid barbecue and Southern sides if you're craving such things while on Broadway. The Tennessee pork shoulder is terrific, and the brisket's good, too. The location near the Ryman can't be beat.

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Just off Broadway

All of these restaurants are just a block or two from Broadway, and worth a visit.

Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer, 140 Third Ave N, blacktap.com

This place serves a solid burger and plenty of fun. I did not like the cake shots, but I'm not the target audience for these. Dessert lovers will get a kick out of them. So too the CrazyShakes, towers of sweet spectacle to rival what's going on just a couple blocks away on Broadway. Why not top milkshakes with entire ice cream bars, Pop-Tarts and brownies? Absolutely fork over a couple of extra bucks to get the wagyu steakhouse burger. It's fantastic.

Southern Steak and Oyster, 150 Third Ave S #110, thesouthernnashville.com

This old-school steakhouse with a Southern twist serves a solid take on exactly what you'd expect given the name: burgers, fried chicken, oysters, aged steaks and some steakhouse sides that would be right at home on grandma's table if she had some tutelage from Martha Stewart.

Etch, 303 Demonbreun St., etchrestaurant.com

Chef Deb Paquette's iconic-to-Nashville spot is solid and lively, yet still a respite from the craziness of downtown Nashville. Expect to find modern American dishes by way of the South, such as buttermilk-brined and cornmeal battered soft shell crab and probably the best, healthiest salads you'll find this close to Broadway. The cocktail menu is great, too.

Layer Cake, 127 Third Ave. S, layercakenashville.com

This just off-Broadway spot is serious fun. It boasts three different well-designed floors, plenty of colorful and irreverent decor, a super-friendly staff, a gorgeous rooftop and a list of cocktails that definitely doesn't take itself too seriously — bright blue Pedia-Lit, I'm looking at you. The Cowboy Crack dip is, as suggested, seriously addictive.

Hampton Social, 201 First Ave S, thehamptonsocial.com

If you can stomach the wall of bachelorettes that will inevitably block both your entrance and your exit, and look past the I-just-can't-anymore attitude of the bartender, this place can be a really fun hang. Book a table on the rooftop for weekend brunch and snack on short rib poutine, or sit downstairs and order the sparkling seafood tower if you're feeling flush. This spot earns a place on this list solely for the fact that many locals love it, but I'd personally head elsewhere for oysters and cocktails.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Best Nashville restaurants on Lower Broadway, according to a local