As quickly as I introduced my semiregular (or extra precisely, irregular) new sequence “Good Hangs,” native PR reps started to fill my inbox with nominations of shoppers who is perhaps featured. I do know that’s their job, and I don’t pay for my inbox by the e-mail, so it actually doesn’t price me something aside from the time to learn their ideas. And good PR individuals usually make my job simpler by sharing data or serving to to arrange interviews, supply pictures, schedule hard-hat excursions upfront of openings and extra. Nashville is blessed with a variety of good culinary PR professionals.
However earlier than diving into my subsequent installment, it would assist to clarify my definition of a superb cling is. It’s a spot the place you’ll need and can be allowed to hang around for an prolonged time period. You may watch a complete school soccer recreation with out receiving the stink-eye from a supervisor or server. These spots may not actually have a supervisor, they usually do not take reservations.
A great cling is just not precisely the identical factor as a dive bar, though one could be each. There must be a welcoming angle at a superb cling the place even first-timers can really feel comfy and never rushed to depart. I’ve been to welcoming dive bars, however I’ve additionally turned on my heels and walked out of locations after I instantly felt the symbolic needle scratch of all dialog halting as quickly as I walked in.
Although smoking is now banned in Nashville bars that aren’t cigar lounges, good hangs usually have a nook of the parking zone or some barely coated outside space the place people who smoke simply inherently know the place to congregate. Non-smokers in these spots usually tolerate the people who smoke, however there may be an unwritten legislation that it’s OK to eat the additional hen wing in case your buddy takes a smoke break earlier than he’s had all of his share.
One other factor of a superb cling: seeing a canine within the bar. Maybe the pup is sitting quietly below the desk whereas his ingesting companion enjoys a e book and a cocktail served in a pint glass. If pooches are solely allowed outside, that’s a canine park that permits ingesting, not essentially a superb cling.
With all that standards in thoughts, I consider the unique Neighbors in Sylvan Park qualifies. I actually don’t begrudge them for experiencing sufficient success to open new places in The Gulch, Germantown and Murfreesboro, however I nonetheless keep in mind when the primary Neighbors opened on Murphy Highway. Pat Martin would pop up on weekends to cook dinner a complete hog on a smoker he trailered behind his truck. The parking zone behind the constructing was free, and there have been plentiful spots. (Though just a few of them disappeared when a wood deck popped up seemingly in a single day because of a crew of workers and buddies armed with hammers.)
On a latest go to, I used to be the one buyer after I walked in for a late lunch, though the place crammed in just a little bit by the point I departed. One pleasant fellow labored the entire ground, and the cook dinner seen within the kitchen made fast work of assembling my wonderful made-to-order buffalo hen wrap and candy potato fries.
Yeah, the tv was just a little loud, blaring Pat McAfee whereas different screens displayed muted speak exhibits, however I’m certain the quantity would have been wonderful as soon as the gang crammed in later that evening.
The decor was primarily alcohol-related: beer indicators, liquor posters, neons and stickers, simply appropriately. I evaluate all potential good hangs to my private favourite, the upstairs bar on the erstwhile Sportsman’s Grill within the Village.
Neighbors positively has that Sportsman’s vibe, and also you’d all the time be welcome to remain so long as you’d like at each locations. What actually sealed it for me was after I visited the screened-in again porch and spied two eyelets with clips hooked up screwed into the principle assist submit. An indication learn, “Pets should be on leash always.” Two water bowls have been positioned on the base of the submit inside simple attain of any tied-up pup.
Yeah, that’s an important cling and a few good neighbors!
