Ole Red — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

Ole Red is as touristy as they come, but it's located on Nashville's most famous street, so what did you expect? I came here around 11 am for a solo lunch and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

A long line had formed out front before opening, but when you have a famous country music star's name attached (this is Blake Shelton's place), you should assume most visitors will want to check it out!

The dining area is centered around a stage and on the day I visited, local celebrity Jessica Rose was performing live. She was so talented, and did a good mix of original songs and covers. Of course, the Blake Shelton covers she sang are what brought the house down!

I was seated at a small table with a fantastic view of the stage, and I was so impressed with the service. First, I wasn't rushed at all. It was an unspoken given that I would be hanging out and listening to the music. My server was on the ball, ready to take my order less than five minutes after I sat down! The place filled up quickly, to the point it was standing room only just thirty minutes after opening.

I ordered the Nashville Burger ($16) sans bun, which was a good portion of a decent hamburger loaded with tangy pimento cheese (totally a Southern comfort food). At the suggestion of my waitress, I got the housemade tater tots as a side (so good and worth every carb)! Since I was blowing it out, I also ordered the biscuits ($6) to start (do I even need to tell you they were delicious)? I am ashamed to admit that I ate the entire basket except for one. They were that yummy!

I also enjoyed the housemade pickles (so good) and the freshly brewed iced tea ($2.75) -- although I'd expect nothing less than perfection when it comes to tea in the South!

The food had tourist prices, but it was very good quality. It wasn't gourmet dining, but the portions were generous and the food tasty. I can't complain, even though I spent almost $40 on a lunch for one (and I didn't even order any liquor)!

Overall I loved the atmosphere and the live music was A+. A great place to visit when...

It was my first time back to Nashville in years. We were walking up and down Broadway looking for a place for lunch. When we first walk by Ole Red's there was a huge line out the door so we kept walking and checked out a couple other places. When we walk by again there was no line so we thought we'd give it a try. At that time I didn't realize it was a chain restaurant.

The tables were well spaced apart for covid-19 reasons and the menu was available on our phones by scanning a QR code. I opted for some kind of firecracker shrimp that was one of the specials. It was served with corn and sriracha sauce and Chili Peppers. It was quite tasty and tasty but I think it is a spring break seasonal item. I asked the waitress for a suggestion and she said the nachos were very popular so we gave it a try. The nachos were done with thick kettle chips and pork and a whole bunch of other stuff. Definitely a fun choice.

The highlight of our visit was the server, Lauren. She was extremely attentive friendly and fun. The band was also great playing very popular song. So I didn't I know that it seems to be the culture that the band after every song tells us that they received tips by venmo and that is also how they come up with their playlist. Apparently, if you tip 5 bucks are more than your song requests gets played. However, if you tip 20 bucks then your song jumps to the head of the line. Certain songs require $100, can you believe it? I couldn't. I usually enjoy tipping a few dollars on the way out if I don't have a song request but I was really turned off by the fact that it seemed like a commercial after every song being reminded what their venmo account is and how much money to pay. I realize the band count on tips for money but wow, there's got to be a better way than making a commercial...

I still can’t believe what happened to me at this bar. I walked in with nothing but good vibes — just wanting to enjoy the night, unwind, and feel part of something. At first, everything was perfect. The music, the energy, the people — it felt like one of those rare nights where everything lines up and you’re just grateful to be there. I was at the bar, then joined the crowd, dancing and vibing like everyone else. I wasn’t loud, I wasn’t bothering anyone, I was just present, happy, and respectful.

Then out of nowhere, security comes up to me and tells me I need to leave. No warning, no reason, nothing. I asked why, and the only thing I was told was that “women wanted me out.” That hit me hard — because not a single woman had even been around me. No one complained to me, no one said I made them uncomfortable, because I didn’t. I was just existing in that space. And the more I asked for an explanation, the more they avoided it. I got nothing — just emotion, just pressure to leave.

And it makes you wonder… is it because of how I look? Is it because of my skin? Because I’m not from here? I don’t want to believe that — I really don’t. But when you’re kicked out of a place for zero reason, with no one willing to stand up and say what really happened, your mind starts racing. You start feeling small. Invisible. Misjudged.

This was more than getting kicked out of a bar. It was being made to feel like I didn’t belong — like I was guilty of something just by being there. It broke something in me. I’m sharing this because I want people to know how they treat others. One star isn’t even enough for what this did to me...