These 13 Tennessee Meat-And-Three Cafeterias Prove The Sides Are The Real Stars
There’s something magical about a Tennessee meat-and-three that hits differently than any other dining experience. You walk in, grab a tray, and suddenly you’re faced with the most delicious dilemma: choosing just three sides from a lineup that could easily fill your entire plate twice over.
Sure, the meat gets top billing in the name, but let’s be honest, those sides are what keep us coming back, from buttery mac and cheese to tangy collard greens that taste like someone’s grandmother spent all morning perfecting them.
1. Arnold’s Country Kitchen
Walking into Arnold’s feels like stepping into your favorite aunt’s kitchen, except she’s cooking for about a hundred people and doing it with the kind of precision that comes from decades of practice. The line forms early here, and for good reason—the sides rotate daily, but classics like the creamy mac and cheese and perfectly seasoned green beans never disappoint.
What really gets me is how they nail that balance between homestyle comfort and restaurant consistency.
You’ll find this legendary spot at 605 8th Avenue South in Nashville, tucked into a modest building that doesn’t need fancy décor when the food speaks this loudly. The turnip greens come with just the right amount of pot liquor, and don’t even get me started on the chocolate pie.
Every vegetable tastes like it was picked that morning, seasoned with care, and cooked until it reached that perfect tender point that makes you close your eyes and smile.
2. Wendell Smith’s
Wendell Smith’s has been slinging some of Nashville’s most soul-satisfying sides since way back, and they’ve perfected the art of making vegetables taste like the main event. The candied yams here are borderline legendary—sweet, buttery, and topped with just enough marshmallow to make you feel like you’re getting dessert with your meal.
Their okra and tomatoes simmer together in a way that converts even the pickiest eaters into okra enthusiasts.
Located at 407 53rd Avenue North in Nashville, this place embodies everything a meat-and-three should be: no-frills, family-friendly, and absolutely packed with flavor. The cornbread comes out warm and crumbly, perfect for soaking up the pot liquor from whatever greens you’ve chosen.
What I love most is how the staff treats everyone like regulars, even if it’s your first visit, creating that welcoming atmosphere that makes good food taste even better.
3. Centennial Cafe
Centennial Cafe brings a slightly more contemporary vibe to the meat-and-three tradition without losing any of that essential down-home goodness. Their squash casserole is creamy, cheesy, and topped with a buttery cracker crust that adds just the right amount of crunch.
The black-eyed peas come seasoned with ham hock, giving them a smoky depth that makes you want to order them every single time.
You’ll discover this gem at 2600 West End Avenue in Nashville, conveniently located near Vanderbilt University, which means they’ve perfected feeding hungry students and locals alike. The fried okra here deserves its own fan club—crispy on the outside, tender within, and never greasy.
Their mashed potatoes hit that sweet spot between rustic and smooth, and the white beans with cornbread will make you understand why Tennesseans take their sides so seriously. Each dish reflects careful seasoning and cooking techniques passed down through generations.
4. Elliston Place Soda Shop
Elliston Place Soda Shop has been a Nashville institution since 1939, and stepping inside feels like time-traveling to an era when soda fountains and meat-and-threes ruled the lunch scene. The pinto beans here are creamy perfection, slow-cooked until they practically melt on your tongue, and the coleslaw provides that crisp, tangy contrast that cuts through richer dishes beautifully.
Their fried green tomatoes bring a delightful crunch that makes them disappear from your plate embarrassingly fast.
Find this nostalgic treasure at 2111 Elliston Place in Nashville, where the vintage décor and counter seating add to the authentic experience. The macaroni and tomatoes might sound simple, but it’s comfort food elevated to an art form.
What makes this place special is how they’ve maintained their recipes and atmosphere for decades without becoming a museum—it’s still a working restaurant serving daily specials that locals plan their weeks around, proving that sometimes the old ways really are the best ways.
5. Silver Sands Cafe
Silver Sands Cafe might be small, but the flavors coming out of this kitchen are absolutely mighty. Their turnip greens pack that perfect bitter-sweet punch, cooked down with just enough seasoning to make them addictive without overwhelming the natural vegetable flavor.
The corn pudding here walks the line between savory side and dessert, with a custard-like texture that’s downright luxurious.
Nestled at 937 Locklayer Street in Nashville, this unassuming spot has been quietly serving some of the city’s best home cooking for years. The fried corn tastes like summer in a bowl, sweet and buttery with a slight char that adds complexity.
Their purple hull peas come perfectly tender, seasoned with bacon that infuses every bite with smoky goodness. What really impresses me is the consistency—you can visit any day of the week and know you’re getting sides that taste like they were made with genuine care and attention, not just churned out assembly-line style.
6. Lil Cee’s
Lil Cee’s brings that neighborhood cafeteria energy where everyone knows your name and your usual order before you even reach the counter. The green beans here are cooked low and slow with bacon until they’re tender but still have a little snap, exactly how they should be.
Their mac and cheese achieves that holy grail status—creamy without being soupy, cheesy without being overwhelming, with edges that get just slightly crispy and golden.
Located at 3000 Clarksville Pike in Nashville, this spot has built a loyal following among locals who appreciate honest, flavorful cooking that doesn’t try to be anything other than delicious. The cabbage comes out tender and slightly sweet, cooked with just enough seasoning to enhance rather than mask its natural flavor.
The butter beans are another standout, creamy and rich with a silky texture that makes them irresistible. Every side here tastes like someone’s grandmother is back in that kitchen, making sure each dish meets her exacting standards before it hits your tray.
7. City Cafe East
City Cafe East does meat-and-three with a side of genuine hospitality that makes you feel like part of the family from the moment you walk through the door. Their mashed potatoes are whipped to creamy perfection, with real butter and just enough garlic to make them interesting without taking over.
The fried okra here stays crispy even after sitting for a few minutes, which tells you everything about their frying technique.
You’ll find this welcoming establishment at 4506 Gallatin Pike in Nashville, where the daily specials board always features at least a dozen side options that change with the seasons. The lima beans come buttery and tender, cooked until they practically dissolve on your tongue.
Their slaw brings that essential crunch and acidity that balances out richer dishes beautifully. What keeps me coming back is how they manage to make even the simplest vegetables taste extraordinary—it’s all about proper seasoning, careful timing, and cooking with genuine passion rather than just going through the motions of cafeteria service.
8. Doll’s Family Cafe
Doll’s Family Cafe serves up sides that taste exactly like Sunday dinner at someone’s house—assuming that someone is an incredibly talented cook who knows their way around southern vegetables. The crowder peas here are seasoned to perfection, with just enough ham hock to give them depth without making them too heavy.
Their squash and onions get caramelized just right, bringing out natural sweetness that makes this simple dish absolutely sing.
Find this family-friendly spot at 4529 Lebanon Pike in Nashville, where the portions are generous and the prices remind you of a simpler time. The fried cabbage comes out tender with crispy edges, cooked in bacon grease that adds incredible flavor to every bite.
Their white acre peas offer a slightly different flavor profile from other pea varieties, with a delicate taste that pairs beautifully with cornbread. The atmosphere here is warm and unpretentious, focused entirely on serving good food to good people, which is really what the meat-and-three tradition is all about at its core.
9. Bishop’s Meat & 3
Bishop’s Meat & 3 brings the classic cafeteria experience to Franklin with sides that could easily steal the show from any main course. Their green bean casserole goes beyond the traditional recipe, with fresh beans and a topping that’s crunchy without being overly heavy.
The sweet potato casserole walks that perfect line between side dish and dessert, with a pecan topping that adds texture and nuttiness.
Located at 1606 West Main Street in Franklin, this spot has become a go-to for locals and visitors exploring the charming downtown area. The collard greens come cooked down with ham hock until they’re tender and flavorful, with just the right amount of vinegar to brighten everything up.
Their cornbread dressing during the holidays is worth planning your entire meal around, but honestly, the everyday sides are equally impressive. What I appreciate most is how they’ve maintained traditional preparation methods while keeping everything fresh and vibrant, proving that classic doesn’t have to mean boring or tired.
10. Wally’s Restaurant
Wally’s Restaurant has been feeding Chattanooga since 1970, and they’ve spent those decades perfecting sides that make you understand why this format has endured for generations. The baked beans here are sweet, smoky, and studded with bacon pieces that add little bursts of flavor throughout.
Their cucumber and onion salad provides a cool, refreshing contrast to heavier dishes, with a vinegar-based dressing that’s tangy without being harsh.
You’ll discover this Chattanooga institution at 5209 Brainerd Road, where the meat-and-three tradition thrives in a city that takes its comfort food seriously. The fried apples taste like fall in Tennessee, tender and cinnamon-spiced without being cloyingly sweet.
Their creamed corn is rich and velvety, with whole kernels suspended in a sauce that’s perfectly balanced between sweet and savory. Each side reflects decades of experience and refinement, with recipes that have been tweaked and perfected over the years until they reached that ideal state where you can’t imagine improving them further.
11. Bea’s Restaurant
Bea’s Restaurant dishes out soul food sides that have earned a devoted following among Chattanooga residents who know where to find the real deal. The yams here are candied to perfection, with a glaze that’s sweet but not overwhelming, letting the natural vegetable flavor shine through.
Their mustard greens bring a spicier, more assertive flavor than collards, cooked until tender and seasoned with smoked meat that adds depth.
Find this beloved establishment at 4608 Bonny Oaks Drive in Chattanooga, where the lunch rush proves just how popular their cooking has become. The black-eyed peas come seasoned with ham and cooked until creamy, perfect for mixing with rice or soaking up with cornbread.
Their potato salad is the kind that inspires passionate debates—creamy, tangy, and studded with celery for crunch. What makes Bea’s special is the authenticity—this isn’t fusion or reimagined soul food, it’s the traditional recipes executed with skill and served with genuine warmth that makes every meal feel like a celebration.
12. The Cupboard Restaurant
The Cupboard Restaurant serves Memphis-style meat-and-three with sides that could make a vegetarian out of the most dedicated carnivore. Their fried green tomatoes are perfectly crispy with a cornmeal coating that adds texture and flavor, while the tomato inside stays juicy and slightly tart.
The turnip greens here are cooked down with ham hock until they’re tender and flavorful, with just enough pot liquor to make you want to sop it up with cornbread.
Located at 1400 Union Avenue in Memphis, this Midtown favorite has been serving comfort food to locals since the early 1940s. The macaroni and cheese achieves that ideal consistency—creamy, cheesy, and baked until the top gets golden and slightly crusty.
Their white beans come seasoned simply but perfectly, allowing the bean flavor to shine while still having enough depth to keep things interesting. The key to The Cupboard’s success is consistency and quality—you know exactly what you’re getting every time, and what you’re getting is absolutely delicious home cooking that tastes like it came from someone’s kitchen rather than a restaurant.
13. The Four Way
The Four Way stands as a Memphis landmark where civil rights history and incredible soul food intersect, with sides that have been perfecting their craft since 1946. The candied yams here are legendary—sweet, buttery, and cooked until they’re tender enough to cut with a fork but still hold their shape.
Their collard greens come seasoned with smoked turkey, giving them that essential depth without being too heavy.
You’ll find this historic restaurant at 998 Mississippi Boulevard in Memphis, where the walls hold stories of the civil rights movement alongside decades of satisfied diners. The mac and cheese is baked until bubbly and golden, with a cheese blend that’s rich without being overwhelming.
Their cornbread comes out slightly sweet and incredibly moist, perfect for accompanying any of the vegetable sides. What makes The Four Way truly special is how it honors tradition while remaining vital and relevant—the recipes may be decades old, but the execution is fresh and vibrant, proving that great food and important history can coexist beautifully on the same plate.