Jack Arnold started his restaurant career as a dishwasher at age 12. He studied art at Vanderbilt University, managed the campus cafeteria, and in 1982 purchased a concrete block building on 8th Avenue South in Nashville’s Gulch neighborhood, installed a steam table and a tray line, and named it Arnold’s Country Kitchen. His son Kahlil took over operations in 2008 and has kept every recipe intact. Arnold’s appeared in Season 9, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Old Time Attitude,” which aired August 9, 2010. Guy came not for the roast beef but for the plump chicken dumplings and what he called “super tasty” turnip greens. In 2009 Arnold’s won a James Beard American Classic Award. Food and Wine named it one of the best cafeterias in America and called its cooking “some of the highest-quality ever to grace a cafeteria line.” The Michelin Guide recognizes it. After a brief closure scare in 2023 when the building was listed for sale, Arnold’s returned to lunch service in January 2024 and continues operating.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Arnold’s Country Kitchen
City: Nashville, Tennessee
Cuisine: Southern Meat-and-Three
DDD Season: 9
DDD Episode: 13
Episode Title: Old Time Attitude
Original Air Date: August 9, 2010
Address: 605 8th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-256-4455
Website: https://www.arnoldscountrykitchen.com
Status: Open (verify current hours before visiting)
What to Eat
The Meat-and-Three format means you choose one protein and three vegetables from the steam table — the classic Southern cafeteria format at its finest. The Roast Beef is the protein most considered the house signature. The Chicken and Dumplings, plump and rich, are what Guy specifically ordered and highlighted. The Turnip Greens — long-simmered with smoky pork — are the vegetable that earned Guy’s “super tasty” endorsement and the reason the vegetables at Arnold’s are considered the main event, not the supporting cast. The Fried Green Tomatoes, perfectly crisp, the Black-Eyed Peas, and the Mac and Cheese are the other sides worth filling the tray with. The Cornbread, made to order, and the Chess Pie are the reasons to save room at the end. Find a Nashville hotel on Booking.com.
Plan Your Visit
Arnold’s serves lunch only, Monday through Saturday 10:30 AM to 2:45 PM (Saturday until 3:00 PM). Closed Sundays. The cafeteria line moves quickly — grab a tray and check the chalkboard specials before deciding. Call ahead or check current social media to confirm status before visiting.
Address: 605 8th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-256-4455
Website: https://www.arnoldscountrykitchen.com
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Arnold’s is a James Beard Award winner and a Michelin-recognized Nashville institution. Stream the Old Time Attitude episode on Amazon and bring Southern cooking home with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Cluckin’ Chicken Dry Rub.
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Arnold’s Country Kitchen appeared in Season 9, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Old Time Attitude,” originally aired August 9, 2010. Jack Arnold opened the restaurant in 1982. Arnold’s received a James Beard American Classic Award in 2009 and is recognized by the Michelin Guide.