BBQ was great and prices were better! Friendly and efficient service. Fun atmosphere!
(4)
Anne C.
Obsessed! We landed in Nashville at about 10 pm and the first thing I did was open up my yelp app to find some Bbq! So glad we came here. We got a sort of sampler platter with ribs, brisket, hot links, fries and fried pickles. It was SO good! Definitely recommend! Chill spot, good drinks, friendly service and lots and lots of yummy sauces!
(5)
Mary M.
2.5/5 I was passing through on a road trip, thought to check it out for dinner. The atmosphere is charming but the brisket was drrrrryyyyy and I had to smother that sucker in so much sauce to get a sense of flavor. Waitress was lovely and the blues band was great.
(2)
W. John R.
Arrived here late after our flight landed and we checked into our rental down the street. The wait staff was nice and brought our drinks promptly. It was a bit tough to get water refills, though. I had the catfish and the brisket. The catfish was done correctly, but the piece was really small. The brisket was tender but a bit too "mushy" for my taste - as though it had been sitting in water. I loved the "sauce bar" - lots of options, and all very flavorful. The hush puppies were the surprise-and-delight piece of my meal - the sweet onions and pickled jalapeno made for a super unique flavor, and the dipping sauce they came with was great. One side note: we were there for over 2 hours on a Friday night and there was no live music. A band was setting up as we were leaving, after 11pm. We had hoped based on the reviews that we would at least hear live music coming in from outside, but either there was some confusion or a scheduling error.
(3)
Kevin B.
Amazing food and great ambience. Was wanting good barbecue after a long flight from Los Angeles. My girls read some good reviews about Drifters and we set out GPS as soon as we landed. It was on the way to our hotel. We ordered the fried pickles, hush puppies, corn dog and the Hickory Smoked Sampler Platter (pork ribs, beef brisket, pulled chicken and French fries). The ribs are amazing. The meat pretty much falls off the bone. Some of the best barbecue I have ever had in my life! If this place was in LA, I would eat here every day.
(5)
Joi B.
Not bad, not bad at all! Drifters gets a major nod for being a BBQ joint with a dedicated vegetarian menu. Keep your expectations in check, though, after all it *is* a BBQ joint. No culinary wonders for those of us avoiding the offerings from the smoker (however, my guy is a BBQ fanatic and ordered the most monstrous plate of nachos with some kind of BBQ meat splayed across 'em. This looked like a delicious mess, which was confirmed), but utterly basic basics: tofu, which I'm a fan of + Morningstar Farm protein, which I'm not a fan of (and if you're vegan, know that Morningstar Farm is not). I ordered the Tofu Dinner w/o slaw, which also comes with fries and beans (not sure if that was meat swimming around with those beans so I didn't taste them. It sure looked like meat shreds). It's a generous portion and although I wasn't blown away by anything on the plate, I can see it being the perfect late night food (yes! they have late night hours!) and it sure did treat my lingering annual hangover right. As did the Bloody Mary. The staff is nice. The patio is sweet and the interior is the perfect dark, divey BBQ joint kind of atmosphere. I like this place a lot. And I'm just so appreciative of a BBQ place doing something cool for vegetarians that is truly unexpected. What's not to love about that?
(4)
Ted C.
Drifter's was open where most airlines almost weren't. This was the first stop that I brought my friends to when we finally arrived in Nashville. It had been a while so I had to get the Drifter, which has changed a little, no more middle bun in between, because who needs more of that anyway? Other than that, the special was dollar Hi life bottles. Despite the shitty weather the staff was really friendly and my friends were happy with their first Nashville experience after having waited almost 14 hours to arrive.
(4)
Katie B.
Ah, Drifters... No frills at it's finest! It's tucked right in the heart of five points, but doesn't feel "too" hip. You'll see all kinds here... Old, young, couples, families, dogs too! The food is consistently good. I always go for their BBQ pork sandwich, my man goes for the pulled chicken sandwich. It's one of my favorite places for BBQ in Nashville - and I'm the kind of person who has to sample BBQ everywhere I go. LOVE IT. So the food, it's good. The atmosphere is what keeps me coming back though. The staff is so friendly, the crowd is usually really chill, and the outdoor seating is the best! Especially when a local band is playing, which is often. For me, summer is Drifters season..... I'll be there quite a lot over the next few months. See you there!
(4)
Queen B.
I really, really, really, really, really like this place and for so many reasons, but after eating there this afternoon, I have come to realize this place is like any other place IN THAT dependant on cook and waitstaff... it can be a great experience or a shitty experience. Today was a shitty experience. But I will not hold that against Drifters. I will hold that to the staff waiting on me and cooking my burger. they failed miserably today. Bummer too, because today is National Hamburger Day and I had chosen Drifters to spend my hard earned money.
(3)
Oznur A.
Good food, ok atmosphere, good service Would definitely come again and try something different :)
(3)
Hank D.
Good spot for a burger and happy hour is all day on Tuesdays so that is always a good thing. I love this place for staying non smoking so that is plus!
(4)
Katie D.
Quite a divey place for some beers and BBQ. 2 for 1 happy hour drinks was definitely a plus, but after eating all that fried hush puppies, fried green tomatoes and big platters of BBQ meat, I had no room for the 2nd beer. The above mentioned food was decent but nothing mind blowing as many other writers have said.
(3)
Eric R.
Right at the hub of the Five Points area, this place had the feel of an old garage with a covered patio. Not much on decor, but the service was prompt & friendly. I was in the mood for a sandwich, so had the Drifter, a nice pile of brisket and pulled pork. Pretty tasty, a tad on the dry side, but fixed that with plenty of sauce. Cole slaw was really good, and the spicy pickles were a nice surprise. Dinner companions dove into a plate of brisket nachos, which they really enjoyed. Saw others playing corn hole on the covered patio, even though it was raining outside.
(4)
Chad P.
I highly recommend the BBQ nachos! This is one of my favorite places to grab a beer. The staff is so friendly, and they have great deals on beer! During the day the place is slower. Make sure to sit at the bar and make a friend. Signed, A Regular
(5)
John T.
Brisket was good but the fries were not hot and a little overcooked. Service was excellent. Had the pulled pork chili as a started and it was good but the Brunswick stew was not good. Had the brisket dinner with 8oz of chopped beef brisket. It was tender, not stringy and had a good flavor even without any sauce. However the side were just so so. I would come back if for nothing else but to have the brisket.
(4)
Tanya D.
This place was cool. We were visiting Nashville and heard a band playing on a warm afternoon so we stopped by to see what was going on. We had already eaten, and weren't driven by an alcohol frenzy, so we stopped in for lemonade and an iced tea to watch the band. The waiter was totally cool about it, we didn't feel pressured to order more and it was a nice time. I wish we had been hungry enough to try the food. Seems to be a biker hangout, but at the same time not really. who knows, I enjoyed it....
(5)
Hope D.
Great dive-bar scene with plenty of outdoor seating. The food is surprisingly good, but I'm not a bbq fan...so I usually order the veggie burger and it's delicious! Beer is reasonably priced. This is a traditional spot for me to hit, as I usually alternate between Drifter's and Beyond the Edge.
(4)
Caitlin F.
Very happy about the amount of vegetarian options! Got the BBQ black bean nachos and they were awesome. Ate hush puppies for the first time! Server was awesome and patient since we hung out for almost 3 hours.
(5)
S C.
A really fun place. Truly a dive bar but with character. The bartenders were really attentive and friendly. We were visiting from San Diego and they really took care of us. They had live entertainment that night and the band that was playing, The Stoves, were really good. We had the Nachos and pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches. They were all good. The best part were the sauces. Keller brought over a sample of all of their sauces and I couldn't make up my mind which was the best. We will have to come back and test them again.
(5)
Jessica B.
Three stars. BECAUSE of the service. Beer was good, ambiance was good, food was good, service was horrible. We have been driving all day from Texas, we wanted somewhere to hang out an relax. Our waitress was rude, it took us a while before we got any service, though the joint was almost empty besides the bar area which the bartender was taking care of. I would have given more stars if my waitress wasn't so rude.
(3)
Ryan P.
Wife and I had a foodie weekend and we ended up here for lunch one of those days. Service was ok, we had a new server that struggled only because it was her first day, but did a good job of managing through a tough lunch. Got the fried catfish and it was very good. Tarter sauce was spot on and the fries were great. Wife got the small nacho plate and some BBQ and it was good. The vibe here does remind me of a dive bar, but don't get turned off by that because the food is still top notch!
(4)
Søren K.
VERY good BBQ. Bevare that the portions are enorm so do not ordet too much. I was done after my nachos (which was very tasty!)
(4)
Quinn B.
There BBQ is amazing and I LOVE GOING HERE. but... Recently had one of the waitresses steel a pair of my sunglasses then lie to my face after the next time... Only a week in-between I called the day after I forgot them there. Yes my fault. But when I called "'they didn't have them " but she stole them. After me calling and saying they didn't them. I show up today. Full on front lie to my face about they were a roommates, when I could give a reason and " show " that they were mine. Just not cool.
(4)
Cate H.
The ribs!!! Got some just out of the smoker..they were amazing. The smoked pork is perfection. Try the Georgia sauce!
(4)
Courtney A.
As far as East Nashville BBQ joints go, this one is the best. Their smoked chicken quesadillas are phenomenal. (I've eaten them twice this week... Don't judge me.) When you add great drink specials and a low key outdoor patio (that's pup friendly) to the fantastic BBQ, it is easily one of my favorite places to eat out in East Nashville.
(5)
Emily M.
Great food. Good deals, two for ones most days. Also have a great outdoor space with ping pong and corn hole. A lot of fun!
(5)
Allison P.
One of my favorite hangs. Always somewhere to sit, great live music on the weekends and I dig that they have a pong table out for people to play.
(5)
Johnny T.
The music made me curious. I am not much (well, not at all) of a dive bar kind of guy. Eating at said dive bar? Forget it. But, the strains of melodic chords will pique my interest almost every time. Add to that musical curiosity, the siren's smell of smoke? Forget it. There were only so many times I could pass by Drifters without walking in. So it came to pass on a late summer Thursday where I couldn't take any more and had to have some of what I was smelling/hearing. The dining room wasn't too crowded and football played silently on the tv for the few who were watching. I sat down and discovered that Drifters was in the middle of a drink special. Yes, please. Tonight's special was a 2 for 1 sweet tea vodka concoction. 2 boozy drinks for $5? I can do that. I came in thinking about an American Blonde and soon was fist-deep in plastic cups and cheap booze. This was starting well. Because I decided to go all in, I started off with a basket of fried pickles. They came to the table screaming hot and with copious amounts of ranch dressing. No, this was not a meal I could sustain on a weekly basis but as a treat... pass the grease. For my meal, I decided on the BBQ pulled chicken sandwich with a side of fries... and another side o' sauces. On every table are a basket of sauces -- 7 in all -- that will make the trip to Drifters worth your while. SEVEN! I love sauce almost as much as I love juice and strange-colored soda. This was gonna be fun. I tasted the meat on its own first to make sure there was good flavor going on. There was. If I'd had two sandwiches, I would have eaten one plain. That's how good the smoke was. Now, it was time for the sauces. I would try each I was sure of with a bite of meat and dip my fries in the ones I wasn't so sure about. My favorite (to the shock of none) was the sweet & smokey. With a molasses base, it was a forgone conclusion. The Texas & Drifters had the tangy vinegar kick that I look for, but I prefer that flavor profile with more of a texture basis (ie slaw) than meat & bun provide. Georgia had a nice, subtle heat by way of the mustard/pepper base and New Mexico kicked it up with the unabashed pepper profile. I only dabbed Sweet Fire and stayed the h#ll away from Atomic Buffalo. My colon thanked me for the wise move. And guess what happened to make this mess o' BBQ eatin' even the mo' betta: an entire set of '90s hip-hop started to play over the speaker system AND my waitress came up to my table, rapping. Why don't I come here more often?
(4)
Vanessa G.
We stopped in here for a drinks. The location was convenient as it was just a short walking distance from our restaurant. We did not eat any of the food because we were waiting on our restaurant to call us with an open table. The service was prompt and pleasant. Their beer menu was decent. Their are no cocktails on the menu and for good reason...the one I asked them to make tasted like cough syrup.
(3)
Joanna L.
I was introduced to Drifter's by coworkers for a go-to happy hour spot after a long day at work. Happy Hour is great but their BBQ nachos are amazing. Get loaded BBQ nachos with EVERYTHING. Probably some of the best nachos I've had but it must be LOADED with EVERYTHING. Parking is probably the biggest pain but great place to wind down!
(4)
Benjamin B.
It's 11pm. I'm fresh off 30 hours of travel, including an interminable 6hr layover in LA, and the only thing that can save my life is meat. And not just any meat. BBQ meat, yo! King of all the meats, emperor of char-grilled protein. Enter the Yelp app. Hulloooooo Drifters, just 1 km away. Drive, Joshy. Drive like you've never driven before old sport. We're almost the only ones there. We get the chilli, the hush puppies, the 1/3 rack ribs, the brisket sliders, some more brisket, the house salad with brisket dressing. The chilli ain't the best I've had, but urrthang else is freaking sensational. Gobble gobble. Brisket on the chin. Forget it, keep eating, save it for later. Oh, and the best part? I haven't told you this yet - the house-made sauces. Good lord, the sauces! Atomic Fire, New Mexico, Drifter, Sweet Fire . . . there's about 8 of them, and they range from sweet and smoky to vinegar and garlic-laden fire. They need to bottle these and sell them. I'd buy them all. And then resell them in my own country under my own name and make billions, muhaha!
(4)
Kendal H.
Awesome bbq with a ton of different choices on bbq sauce. Atmosphere is dive bar like with super friendly staff and great prices on drinks.
(5)
Matt C.
Love this place. Dive bar but friendly and fun. BBQ is fantastic. Out of brisket tonight though.
(4)
Tres K.
Nice little dive joint hidden in Nashville. The area around is pretty cool. The food is great! Don't let the biker vibe stop you from going. I recommend the wings! They are the size of a pterodactyl.
(4)
Marc E.
Top notch rubs for ribs n chicken. Good service. No tough eating bbq meat...this is the kind you want- the soft yummy kind. A zillion sauces to choose from and they explain the sauces well too. If I can say anything helpful, 1. try to keep smokers away from the doors and windows so us sponsoring fans eating your delicious food dont have the smoke taste mingle with your AWESOME bbq taste. When i eat this stuff you make, its so good I want nothing to interfere with my enjoyment of it. This has become a religous experience for me. 2. Try to anticipate demand for weekends and holidays because I came a few times when you ran out. Since your food is too damn good, I cried when I had to eat ??horsemeat?? somewhere else. I cant handle withdrawal from your food its so good I want a IV of it please? That includes your quesadilla. 3. Your service is fast and excellent. Keep up the soft meat and excellent taste...its paying off... your chicken isnt dry.... I know what good BBQ should taste like. - the BBQ meister..... Ive been here 5 or 6 times allready...
(5)
Zeb M.
Goodness gracious, I love Drifters. We now have Edley's down the road from 5 Points, but where else can you get barbecue and Tex Mex together? This is a beautiful combination, my friends. I highly, highly recommend their pulled pork chimichanga. That sucker always has me coming back for more. If you're not of the meat eating persuasion, however, they have plenty of vegetarian options. I've never been disappointed by anything I order there. Their patio is perfect for warm nights outside and there's also a ping pong table in the back. You're also likely to be there during a drink special! Be sure to take a look at their calendar as they have rotating weekly drink specials.
(5)
Cheryl H.
Went here for the Yelp reviews, came away very, very full and pleased! The brisket and pulled pork were fantastic (the husband got this!) and I got a delicious (HUGE!) chimichanga. Loved it! I ate half that night and had the second half for lunch the next day. The hush puppies were also great, though I preferred dipping them in the bbq sauce as opposed to the sauce they sent them out with. It was also rather inexpensive! We JUST missed happy hour, so our waitress brought us two 2-for-1 coupons to make up for it, which was great! Great vegetarian selection too, the others aren't lying (!), which is definitely unusual for Nashville. We'll definitely be going back, and not just because we got coupons.
(5)
Nicholas H.
Nothing special. I'd say below average BBQ/Tex-mex. I had the brisket nachos and fried pickes. Probably won't go back there cause there's some many better BBQ places in Nashville.
(2)
Maly N.
Drifter's is a cool little spot in the 5 points area just outside of Nashville. The hood has a bunch of food and live music options and is definitely worth a visit. We sat out on the patio to watch the live music and WTF, no country music. Darn! Our food was tasty but nothing special. We were looking for a real down south vibe and Drifter's was more of hipster joint with more mustaches than cowboy boots. I can get that at home. I should have known when I saw the vegan menu.
(4)
Leisha U.
Black bean burger is great! very vegetarian friendly and fun environment.
(5)
Peter V.
Oh man, this vegan has a big heart-on for Drifters. You may not expect a barbecue joint to be frequented by the vegan crowd, but that tofu sandwich is to die for. Not only that, but there is a full vegetarian section on the menu! I have mainly had the tofu sandwich but one time got experimental with the vegetarian burrito (that can be vegan). The tofu sandwich is 4 pieces of plain fried tofu on a bun toasted with olive oil and lettuce, tomato, and onion. This may sound plain, but then you slather on the BBQ sauce and stuff your face. They have three BBQ sauces on the tables and then three hot BBQ sauces that you can ask for. I like to put a good layer of the Atomic and then supplement with the Drifter and Texas style. I was told that a couple of the sweeter sauces have honey in them, I make an exception here. I also make vegan exceptions for Bloody Mary's on Sundays. They put BBQ sauce in them and put a rim of BBQ rub. OMG , best thing ever. Sundays are 2-4-1 so it is a good day to go get day drunk with double pours. The beer selection is also pretty good and when it warms up the patio is great with live music in the evenings. This is my go-to on the east side. I take people here a lot. I've had first dates here. I've invited out of town guests. I just take anyone who is willing to go with me. It is well worth it.
(5)
Eric B.
I've been to this place a few times and it is one of the few places in town that gets the right amount of smoke in the meat to not hurt the flavor. I've had the wings, pulled pork, and tonight I had the ribs. Each of these did not disappoint. The only thing preventing a 5th star is the service. Each time I've been there's been some kind of problem .Technically this should be a three star review, but the food was good enough to overcome the poor service. Tonight our server was a very attractive woman who really knew the store. But when she brought our first round of drinks where we were sitting outside, she dropped the lemon of one of them on the not so clean picnic table where we were sitting. She actually attempted to put that dirty lemon back on the glass it fell off of. That is horrid and appalling. Our faces made her see that she was grossing us out so she removed the lemon but did not replace the drink as she should have. This kind of service is unacceptable. The outside tables are like the outside tables that many have in his or her backyard. Would you want anything in your drink that just bounced of a table that has been exposed to the elements? Hell no! Drifters is great other than the weird service you get from time to time. East Nashville is the kind of area where the Carla from Cheers mentality rules the day. But it's fun and well worth the occasional headache.
(4)
Frank R.
Our first meal in Nashville. It was great!! Perfect atmosphere. Perfect service. Perfect hush puppies. Two for one happy hour beers was a nice Friday night surprise. Ribs are nice. Smoked nicely. Pulled pork and brisket done nice. Sweet bean side nice. Nachos very good. Fried pickles very good. Cole slaw a little to "creamy". Sausage good. Overall, great pub feel with great food and service. Add: big whisky selection. Nice effort.
(5)
Sheena T.
Drifters has great BBQ! And this is a great feat considering this type of food is hit or miss in Nashville. A large birthday party I was attending decided to eat here after realizing we had no reservations on a Friday night. Woops! But Drifters had some open tables and were able to accommodate our big group quickly. We had to try the BBQ brisket nachos, and they were exceptional! They have a variety of BBQ sauces in bottles on your table, and the sweet and spicy was my favorite. I also had the pulled chicken burrito, and I loved it! Decent salsa and good fillings. I sampled the wings, and they were great too, I like that they use a dry rub on them. Their menu is great, and I had a specialty vodka cocktail that was tasty too! All around a great meal, Drifters will be my stop when I need good BBQ!
(4)
Sean S.
Nashville is bursting with great BBQ restaurants, such as Martin's and Edley's, but Drifter's shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath. My meal, a plate of dry, under-seasoned pulled chicken, oily hush puppies, goopy cole slaw, and sweet sugary baked beans left me disappointed and feeling ill the rest of the night.
(2)
Taylor S.
Awesome food!! Brisket was sooo juicy and we loved all the different BBQ sauces to try! Pretty good beer selection too! Very friendly staff!! Nice outdoor seating as well!
(5)
Bridgette C.
I've been here on Friday nights with live bands, Monday nights for trivia (which I am so not good at) and eaten and drank all the times in between and I really love this little biker-bar-style place in East Nashville. The service has always been great no matter how busy it is (and its usually very busy), the food is good BBQ-style smoky goodness and the beer is always cold. You can sit inside, admittedly a smaller space, or they have a very spacious patio, and the stage for previously mentioned live music is outside. I highly recommend their nachos (can be had with or without meat for my veggie-loving brethren) and their spicy black bean burger is a thing of beauty. The patio can get smoky, and parking is limited in their small back lot, so keep that in mind. But there's always something fun going on here, and its become a go-to place with friends, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good time that its too fancy or pricey. Drifters is one of those places you cross the river to enjoy willingly.
(4)
Allie R.
Went out to drifters last night for the second time for some drinks and to listen to the band. Very fun atmosphere, sat outside under near lights and the band was fantastic. Their food is really great as well. In the past I've had their sliders, yummy pulled chicken and pork and brisket, great fries. Last night I only had a cup of chili, big chunks of meat in it, very filling and it was a big serving. This is a great bar and hang out spot, I know we will be back soon enough!
(4)
Anthony C.
Oh jeez. I wanted BBQ but I had no idea this was hipster central. I am surrounded by losers with crappy beards and no jobs. I will admit, I get what they were going for with the way this place is. The atmosphere is different and I liked it. Sadly, after that, everything else sucked. The service was garbage. Our waitress interacted with us maybe twice. She directed us to the bbq sauces, which is another positive for this place. There is a multitude of bbq sauces and I appreciate the variety. The food is mehhhhh. The french fries are so salted that after I ate 2 or 3, I needed a coke to re-hydrate my mouth and wipes to get all the salt off my fingers as well as the grease. The pork was dry and not salted at all. Maybe if they took some of the salt off the fries and put it on the pork it would have tasted better.This place wasnt all that, especially for the price. I would skip out on this place and invest that cash somewhere better
(2)
Brandon C.
Visited here a couple times recently for their ribs. They always fall off the bone and some of the best I have tried in Nashville. I have only visited during lunch and the waitress/bartender is awesome and has a great personality. Looking forward to my next return!
(4)
Adri P.
We picked this place on a whim because we wanted to replace the bad taste of our last rib experience elsewhere. Our bar tenders Kellen and Matthew were attentive, friendly and made great suggestions for both food and drinks. The ribs, fried pickles, hush puppies and pulled pork chimichanga were outstanding. We had a great time and we'll definitely be back.
(5)
Heather S.
There are very few things that frustrate me in life. Vegetarians are up there on that list. I was headed down to Nashville for a girls weekend early this fall & had a vegetarian in the group. As a self-proclaimed food aficionado I am pretty big on keeping people happy when it comes to dining options - and I spent hours looking for vegetarian friendly spots in Nashville leading up to our trip. God, what a difficult task in Nashville! Most places that I came across had one or two items that catered to vegetarians, but for the most parts the menus were sparse. ...and a person can only eat so many veggie burgers in the course of a long weekend. Luckily for me (and the vegetarian in the group) I stumbled upon Drifters. The menu had plenty to offer in terms of Tennessee-style BBQ & it had an extensive vegetarian section. We got there right when they opened, so we had no problem finding prime real estate outside on the back deck. Our waitress was friendly & knowledgable, especially when it came to the beer selection. I was happy that they had so many local beers on tap. We started with an order of the hot fried pickles to share and they were certainly delicious. I did a BBQ combo that I wasn't in love with, but it did keep me full for the rest of the day. A couple of others in the group opted for the chicken tenders which they gobbled up. For whatever reason though my vegetarian friend opted for veggie burger - A VEGGIE BURGER. Vegetarians... they kill me.
(4)
Nichole D.
This place took so long to deliver any service what so ever AND when we finally did get our food it was cold. Never again.
(1)
Danielle O.
Beers were all canned and the few that we chose were overpriced. Seems that they charge more than they should so that when they do their extended happy hour specials they are not blowing profit. Service was extremely slow on a Thursday night. The brisket was great, the sauces were so-so, and the sides bland. Wish I could have had a larger portion of meat and none of the sides that came along with it. Parking lot was full, but I did get a spot about two blocks down in a more residential area.
(2)
Amanda D.
went there on a sunday after a flag football game with our team. we normally go to beyond the edge but decided to try drifters. it was great. the waitress was awesome and patient since there was many of us and we were still pumped up after the exercise so it was hard to get us to pay attention. we ordered food which was came quickly and was good. the beer was all on happy hour. good service and plenty of seats. also way less smoky than the neighboring bte. only thing that i didn't like was the band. it was kind of loud once they started playing but that was really our problem not theirs. on any other night it would have been welcomed. if you are in east nashville, try this place out!
(4)
Dailoc N.
Looks a little shady but is actually a fun little place. Lots of good beer. Lots of good food. I had the pulled pork chimi and it was awesome! Corn hole in the back. Live music in the front. Within walking distance of a lot of places if you want to do a pub crawl. Nice place to hang outside in the summers. I keep hearing about the corndogs so I'll try that next time.
(4)
Robert H.
Loved the BBQ. Great music. Bar-like and a tad rowdy, which fit the place well. Service was really quick and attentive. Place is behind the fish joint, just up the alley. Parking was scarce, so we went across the street and paid ($3/hr). East Nashville section know as the five points. Nice scene with a lot of bars around it. Highly recommend.
(4)
Clayton B.
Horrible. The worst BBQ I've had in years. The meat is burnt and dry. The sauces are below average. Cole slaw is heavy helping of mayonnaise. The other menu items might be better, but this place should not call itself a BBQ joint.
(2)
Adam P.
Ahh, Drifters. I will start off by saying that the BBQ is only mediocre and overpriced. However, it is good enough to serve as good drunk food when the opportunity creates itself. This place is not about the food, it is about the people and moderately priced booze. Plus, they feature great music in their outdoor space on weekend nights. While Drifters has a fairly large group of employees who tend bar throughout the week, they are all the kindest and most attentive that you will find anywhere in East Nashville. The same goes for the clientele-everyone I've come across at this place is very nice, interesting, and not stuffy (which can be an issue at times at other East Nashville joints). Bottom line-when you're at Drifters, you feel at home. Great drinks, great people, and your tab won't break the bank.
(5)
Kevin G.
Nice low key atmosphere. Outdoor dining. Live music.
(4)
Jessica P.
I used Drifter's to cater my wedding and couldn't have been more pleased. Marc, the catering director was responsive and easy to work with. No weird hidden costs or surprises on the bill, and my guests loved the food.
(5)
Chris H.
Excellent beer selection. The half chicken and ribs looked amazing. Was not in the mood to eat, but if I did THAT is what I would have ordered. They have ping-pong and cornhole. Great outdoor seating.
(4)
Russ I.
We loved this place. Good BBQ, good music, great beer selection, cool patio. We were just passing through Nashville for one night, but if I lived here or nearby this might become my new favorite hangout spot.
(4)
McKenna D.
I've got to be honest- I'm not a fan. The food seems very plain and bland to me. Maybe it's all the years of surviving on hot chicken, chicago dogs, and everything doused in jalepenos and hot sauce. I know I'm at least a little biased because growing up, everything my 'rents cooked tasted like cardboard and they had never heard of spice. I could probably live off of condiments. When I last went, the service in an empty house was sub-par. I was told someone was going to get my refill and then waited a very long time (10-15 minutes) before that ever happened. With a mild esophogeal condition, I can't guarantee dry food will make it down the throat completely without some liquid to wash it down, so I literally have to pause eating if I wait on a refill. I'm normally quite understanding, but felt that a 10 minute wait in an empty house was a little excessive. Call me a typical American, but I like my food to have flavor.
(3)
Stephen C.
I was immediately addressed by everyone on shift. Great beer selection and I went with their signature pulled pork sandwich "The Drifter" and was blown away. Great meat, great bread, and I'm from Texas. Would recommend even if they were cheering for Alabama.
(5)
Stephanie C.
Best happy hour, best staff, best live music, and best food all in one place! Drifters does an amazing happy all beer and single liquor pours are 2 4 1 Monday-Friday from 11-7, and all day Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday! The inside is non smoking but they have a huge patio which allows smoking and is dog friendly. Some of my favorite menu options are the BBQ nachos, hush puppies, corn dogs, ribs, and actually I love their fries! They have a great assortment of BBQ sauces that range from sweet and smokey to fiery hot. It is a little dive barish but I think that leads to the charm and appeal! A must try!
(5)
Jasen F.
If I wrote this after my first visit, I think it would have been a five star review. I think Drifters has potential to be a four star joint but it's uneven in presentation and the food. Pros: Service - fast, friendly, and funny Fried pickles! Amazing Happy hour prices and duration Outdoor seating Ping pong tables and a friendly ping pong league Local beer on draft Wonderful Vegan and Vegetarian options Cons: BBQ - I've had the sampler plate several times and like the sausage and ribs but the pulled pork and brisket are just ok. BBQ Sauces - Not really a huge fan of any of them. Not terrible but not great Hush puppies - just ok. Perhaps since we're so far from an ocean but they're not worth ordering We've been a bunch and I might return but it's more for the location, service, and prices rather than the BBQ.
(3)
Ryan B.
The Drifter sandwich is pretty tasty. It's a great concept. The pork is cubed (not pulled) and the brisket is outstanding. This is more of a dive bar than a restaurant. I had a very long wait to get my sandwich to go (at a pretty quiet time of night) and was glad I wasn't eating in. The service was not very friendly and the place wasn't very welcoming.
(2)
Paul B.
Great food. Here's a secret- ask for the Alabama sauce if you get chicken! So good!
(4)
Leia A.
I've only had their BBQ sampler platter. It's big-- can easily be shared between 2 or 3 people. It comes with 1/3 of a rack of ribs, 3 oz of pulled chicken, 3 oz of brisket and 3 oz of smoked sausage. The BBQ itself was pretty good. The brisket was really good as was the sausage. Their hush puppies are super delicious though! And often times you'll go there and there will be some kind of live music going on.
(4)
pheadrus t.
Went in on a whim on a slow cold day and ended up staying for over 2 hours chatting with the staff and a couple of regulars. Could not have had a better time. Everyone was incredibly friendly, funny, helpful and laid back and the drinks were refreshingly well priced. The only food we got were the hush puppies but they were fantastic. Can't wait to get back. Kudos to Marie, Patty, Adam and Ben for such a great afternoon.
(5)
Paul K.
Drifters, I was a little surprised. My bean nachos were meh, my drinks were yay, and the overheard conversation involving a bartender seeing how far one could run up the tab of a very inebriated customer by shoving drinks in his face and saying he ordered them made me think that either this was the greatest bar in the world or they really should be shut down for getting someone trashed and running up his tab to see how much Firefly they could push. Jury still is out on that one as there might have been other factors I didn't hear. The veggie offerings I sampled from my friends were ok - hush puppies were alright but not great, fries were ok, fried pickle chips were a bit off but I think that's unusual as I have had them before and they were ok. For bar food, it was above average, I don't consider it to be a veggie paradise, but their offerings are better than you'll get anywhere else that serves beer. The AC was failing the day I last went in but seemed to recover as half the bar left after we walked in. Interesting place, it's good, not great, and I'd keep my drunken wits about me and not take any drinks you didn't order from the bar
(3)
Matt M.
Drifters has the potential to be a powerhouse BBQ provider here on the east side, but the past several visits have been somewhat disappointing. I'll be the first to admit that they have some great items on their menu, and the pricing is wonderful for what they offer, but the quality of the BBQ leaves a bit to be desired. During the most recent visit, I ordered the combo with three sliders (chicken, brisket and pork) and fries. Starting with the pulled chicken, I found the flavor to be slightly questionable. I could immediately see that it was dry and not juicy at all, and there was something unusual about aftertaste that I just couldn't put my finger on. Next, I moved on to the brisket and found the same issues - dry and not very flavorful (especially compared to some amazing brisket I've had at some other local places). The final slider - the pork - was pretty good, but nothing too spectacular. What helped was their selection of sauces. We had a sampler of the Georgia, Sweet & Smoky and Sweetfire (which are just 3 of the 9 they offer), and they helped provide some of the flavor that was absent in the meat. The fries were great, though, and I easily could have polished off another order. In past visits, I had the chance to try the hush puppies, which are really something special. Sweet onions and jalapenos encased in a battered shell and coupled with their Alabama sauce - how can you beat that? I've also had the pork plate during past visits and it's been OK. Maybe we caught them on a bad night for this recent trip, but as much as we love having a BBQ joint here in the neighborhood, we'll probably continue to fulfill our BBQ needs outside of the 5 Points area.
(3)
Marcia M.
Veg paradise! With several affordable vegetarian and vegan options on the menu that include a very tasty Vegan Burrito and BBQ Tofu Sandwich... this could be the place I go this Summer to nosh between cocktails! Patio is pet-friendly and the staff is always super duper nice. Gotta love it. Tip: An order of tortilla chips and salsa only sets you back $1.25! You'd pay more than that at Taco Bell, right?
(4)
David H.
One of the best meals I had in Nashville, if not the best. The combination of great food, great service, good sauces, and live music are hard to beat! The ribs here are fall of the bone delicious, and the sausage absolutely to die for. The pulled chicken and the brisket are just ok, but seriously, the ribs and sausage more than make up for it. That, and the fact that they not only have three normal sauces, but also spicy variations make this one of the best experiences in town. That, and the fact that our server was super attentive and didn't mind telling us that the iced tea was not up to their standards, and they'd comp us free iced tea on the house once a fresh batch was brewed. Outdoor seating here is a must, especially when live music is involved!
(5)
Katie Y.
I'm giving this place 2 stars because the fried pickles were delicious. I stopped here while driving cross country, and my famous last words were "It's a BBQ place in Nashville, how bad can it be?" It can be terrible, apparently. They should change their name to Drifters Fried Pickles because their BBQ is inedible. My boyfriend and I split the BBQ Platter with brisket, pulled pork and smoked sausage. The smoked sausage was covered in BBQ sauce, which I had never seen before and did not understand or enjoy, but that was the least of their offenses. The other meats tasted like they had been soaked in water. Literally. Each chew resulted in a spray of water into my mouth. Does that make you want to throw up too? I hope so because it's gross. And confusing. Neither of us are picky eaters or the type to send food back, but I couldn't eat it. At all. We debated for a good 10 minutes about what to do, and finally decided we should let the management know in case it was a fluke that they were selling awful, waterlogged BBQ. He apologized profusely (like it wasn't his first time, just sayin'), and took half off our check. But, I couldn't NOT review this place in case it wasn't a fluke at all.
(2)
Tara A.
LOVED their sauces. Wish they were a big enough place to bottle and sell them, would have been worth checking my luggage to being them home! Fun atmosphere too.
(4)
Kim Y.
If you love corndogs, you have to try this place. It is a big old tasty dog hand dipped in the hushpuppy batter. So good. The person below who complained about it being greasy?! Um, so...clearly she's never had a corndog? Mmmmm, I love me a baked healthy battered mystery meat log. Seriously. Even if you don't love corndogs and are over on the East side drunk - go to Drifters and eat a corndog. As mentioned below you can also bring along your veggie friend and they will be stoked to find tons o' options which for a BBQ joint is pretty unheard of. The meat is average, but the sauce variety is really tasty. I'd stick with the above mentioned and the appetizer plates. The beer is reasonable, they have good happy hours/specials and my whiskey+diet was plenty strong. The service is awesome, we had Jessica and I remember because she was so friendly and adorable as well as helpful in aiding us getting a great bang for our buck!
(4)
Jennifer P.
Nothing better than stumbling in after a night hitting up Five Points and ordering a late night PBR and hand battered corn dog. Mmm. The jalepano hush puppies are a must too. For those vegetarian/vegan they didn't forget you either! They have quite a few options. The BBQ grilled tofu quesadilla and tofu tacos are both delicious though! Pair their delish food with cheap beer, open mic nights, pub crawls and a nice staff and you have the recipe for bar excellence.
(5)
Traci W.
My first taste of Nashville came on a cross country trip, and I'd give a pinky toe to have this place in my hometown of San Diego. As a vegan, I wasn't expecting much in the way of vegetarian options in Tennessee, but Drifters proved me wrong. WAIT.....you're telling me vegetarians can get BBQ too?!? They had the most mind-blowing tofu BBQ. It was prepared by people who clearly knew what to do with tofu - not served up like an afterthought. Even my husband, the tofu-averse closet carnivore loved it. And Drifters offered a vast array of BBQ sauces. I couldn't find a single one that I *didn't* like. Service was fantastic. For you beer drinkers, they offer a buy-1, get-1 coupon for happy hour. Happy hour just became a little happier. And though I'd highly recommend the hush puppies, either come REALLY hungry or order them when you're with a party bigger than 2. They are both delicious and super-filling. So you can't stop eating them......and then you're stuffed before your entree arrives. I ended up taking a lot of my BBQ with me for later. You know what, worse things have happened. Also have to give a shout-out to the local musicians who were playing that night. Between the BBQ Tofu, the great service, and the laid-back deck with the live music, I cannot wait until my next trip to Tennessee --- specifically to Drifters.
(5)
Sari H.
Small place with great garage atmosphere and good barbeque, including vegetarian! It really is kid-friendly even though it sure looks like a bar (TN is that way, it seems). We also had a super awesome bartender/server. The hush puppies were especially tasty. The fried tofu wasn't mind-blowing or anything, but it was pretty exciting just to be able to go to a BBQ place with the carnivorous family and be able to eat something other than just sides. The coleslaw and black beans were also delicious, and I'm told the brisket and chicken were amazing.
(4)
Allison B.
Drifters is the kind of place where everyone knows your name. The staff is friendly and the food is good. I have had several different things off the menu, but my favorite is the BBQ brisket sliders. They are tender and Drifters has several different sauces, so you will surely find one you like. I also really love the hush puppies. There are a little spicy and are served with a white BBQ sauce. I haven't had anything bad here. Drifter's also has vegetarian selections. They have 2 for 1 nights a few times a week, and with their beer selection makes for a fun night. They also have a full bar and knowledgeable bar tenders that will whip up your favorite treat. They also have a whiskey of the month that they have a special price on. Drifters also has live music, karaoke and trivia nights. I'm a fan of the trivia, but that might be because my table came in 2nd place the last time we were there. Drifters is always my go to place for drinks or a quick dinner. The patio is spacious and dog friendly.
(4)
Melody B.
Adam was our server and he was so informative about the menu and also other places we should visit while we were there. The BBQ was really good but the sides we just average. It's a cool hole in the wall bar if that's what you are looking for... Adam made our experience exceptional!!
(4)
Dean F.
This place is not easy to find but once you have get ready! Great atmosphere, killer BBQ, and friendly service. The wall lists the music schedule and I 'm going back.
(5)
Scott H.
Great outdoor patio! Love drifters...almost always live music and drink specials! best place in 5 points to sit outside with friends and enjoy the nice weather!
(5)
Dale T.
BBQ was very disappointing. Got the sampler platter, and most of it was dry. Left off the sausage, but waitress was nice enough to give me a discount off the bill. The rub was good on the ribs, but none of it was smoked that much. Staff is nice, dive bar feel is nice. But the food was definitely not good.
(2)
Ray D.
Good fried pickles, DRY, DRY, BBQ, got the sliders, dry as roofing shingles. Good beer though.
(2)
Taylor T.
I visited Drifters BBQ this past summer and was a huge fan because of one of their flavors of BBQ sauce. It was very vinegar-y, and tasted so delicious! I swear I probably poured that whole bottle of sauce onto my pulled pork sandwich. It was THAT good. The fries were decent, nothing special. Just go there for the sauce. It's heavenly. Also I love the location! 5 points is such a cute up-and-coming area. I've been wanting to go back to Drifters for a while now, but my mom and sister never want to come with me. I guess they didn't have the same experience I had...but man, THAT SAUCE! (:
(4)
Kendyl S.
I love Drifters! I should start this by saying that Im a vegetarian. I dont eat meat at all and thats why Drifters is so great! They offer tons of vegetarian options along with their meat options so no matter if you have a group full of carnivores and a token vegetarian or vice Versa, everybody wins! The food is always consistently pretty good. Get the HUSH PUPPIES. Jalapeno hush puppies. So good! Also a good patio for sitting and talking and drinking on a warm evening. I guess they have live music some nights I never go for that.
(4)
Matt P.
More uninspired East Nash grub from the folks who brought you the same bland garbage at Batter'd N Fried and Beyond The Edge. I feel bad negatively reviewing a BBQ joint without having their BBQ, but here goes. The catfish was thin, salty, surely previously frozen and inedible. It's a tough task to pull off red-skin mashed potatoes, and this place fails miserably. The chicken tenders are identical to the frozen crap you get at Kroger. At least the beer was cold.
(1)
Chris C.
Hard to find but well worth the effort. Had the half pulled pork and brisket sandwich. 4 oz. each and super flavorful, Try the super hot sauce. Fries were hot and seasoned to a T.
(4)
Jenn Z.
I really must update my review, my first experience with Drifter's was lack luster to say the least. Cold corn cakes, mediocre service needless to say we left less than impressed, but, I continued to read other Yelper's reviews and like always I feel that we should give places a second chance, namely those in our hood. So that is precisely what we did! We returned on another week night with our youngest in tow, still the age where he sits in a high chair and guess what? they have them, so to those who glared at us while being seated at about 5:30 pm in the evening for dinner at a place that boasts it is family friendly, obviously they welcome us you should mind your business! I digress..... We were seated, waitress was very friendly, the place was pretty empty save for a large group apparently having a work function dinner. We came early to avoid the "bar crowd" because honestly as snarky as I may sound, I am not into taking my kids to bars, just so happens most eateries here have a bar. We decided to steer clear of the corn cakes this time, ironically our very attentive waitress brought us a basket for our little one to munch on without us even asking, and they were warm and soft. We both ordered the BBQ Brisket Nachos (this is pre-veggie eating), we enjoyed every bit of the nachos! Good balance of meat and toppings, the sauce was just sweet enough and the serving is very large. Now that I have given up meat, I am excited to return again and try some veggie options! Which by the way, how impressive is it that a BBQ place boasts a veggie friendly menu?? We were definitely far more impressed with this second visit than our first, and would now recommend friends enjoying something to eat there, namely those nachos! If I ever return sans kiddos, I will let you know how I feel about the drinks.....sigh.
(4)
KMP G.
Every time I'm in Nashville, I make sure to stop in at Drifters for a veggie protein BBQ Burrito. Seriously. Crazy delicious. This is our favorite place in Nashville. They're usually pretty busy and slightly understaffed, but that doesn't mean we get bad service. I can never remember his name, but the guy that usually helps us is attentive, incredibly friendly, and knowledgeable. He's a chess tutor as well, which surprised us at first, but makes so much sense. Super cool guy.
(5)
Joe H.
I know I'm a carpet-bagging damn yankee and that disqualifies my barbecue opinion to a certain degree, but damn! Everything - the pork, the beef, the sausage, the sauce, the beer selection, even the fries - was amazing. The weather was great, too, so I was able to sit outside and read while I ate. I'm definitely coming back here if/when I'm ever in Nashville again.
(5)
Michelle P.
I only had drinks here but the people I was with ordered food. It looked good but I cant attest. I went on a Saturday afternoon and our server was really nice. They have great drink specials and I definitely see myself returning soon.
(4)
Ian R.
I kind of wish that Drifters didn't have BBQ in the title. If it was called Drifters Roadhouse I would not have the same expectations, and would probably rate it slightly higher. The three stars really comes from three things that I enjoyed at Drifter BBQ. The outdoor porch area was perfect on the warm spring night that we went, the corndog and BBQ nachos were pretty damn good, and I am a sucker for a wide selection of BBQ sauces so I can create my own flavor. Those three things meant that me and the family had a good time and left happy. As for everything else it was kind of hit and miss. I had the BBQ sliders so I got to sample three food groups, pork, chicken and beef. They were fair and I enjoyed dosing them in the sauces (the Texas and New Mexico were my favorites) but as any good southerner knows real barbecue shouldn't need sauce. Drifters BBQ is more like "oven barbecue" than real BBQ. What I mean is that the meat was well cooked, but there is not much smoke flavor at all. I think I remember reading when they opened that they have some kind of high tech oven that slow cooks the meat and then they finish it on the grill. I have done this myself when it is cold out and I don't want to fire up the grill. Slow cooked meat with a good sauce is tasty, but that doesn't make it barbecue. Wasn't bad, but I can see how hard core BBQ fans would be less than impressed. I did highly enjoy the BBQ nachos as it is a great idea that more places should go for. It is crazy simple, just use BBQ sauce instead of salsa, cheese, sour cream and meat and you have a delicious tangy treat. If you want to stay on the safe side an order of Nachos and a corndog would probably leave you very satisfied. At least till the stomach ache later that night kicks in. Still. when the weather is nice and I need some guilty pleasure type food and a cold beer I could definitely see myself going back. I will probably even leave happy.
(3)
Kristin Marie S.
Tim you rock! We went this past Saturday and I ate like a Vegan Queen. Tim was well versed in the menu items, did you know the fried pickles are vegan? The hush puppies are not. His girlfriend is a vegan so he totally understood the in's and out's. I also got the vegan burrito which hit the spot, especially after the previous night's disaster at Suzy Wongs. I've eaten here as a non-Vegan last year too and it has a delicious pork quesadilla. The chicken wings are also full chicken wings. The pescetarians really enjoyed the catfish. Which we learned was farmed so it has more of a cod taste. Overall, I always have a great time and it's non-smoking!!! I can't wait for a nice day so I can go dominate on the ping pong table!
(4)
Pete B.
Yeah! Great sandwich called the Drifter. Amazing side sauces and cool little inside. Great friendly staff. Give it a go.
(5)
Rachel S.
If you are looking for a friendly, quick, finger licking good meal this is the place. They have happy hour from 11am-7pm everyday and on Weds and Thurs ALL day. That is damn amazing. Food is good, not amazing, but the sauces make up for what the food is slightly lacking. Service was great and friendly. Place is on the verge of a dive which is nice. Great place to stop in for a beer or a full meal.
(4)
Kris C.
It's a fun place--I was attending a party but I had a great time! The service was awesome and the pulled pork BBQ nachos were out of this world!! I will be back!
(4)
Hanna H.
For my husband's birthday he wanted to keep the evening low key, get a couple beers and have some conversation with a small group of people. He decided on a bar in East Nashville and he and I arrived first. We sat down and quickly realized just about everyone in the place was smoking and while I don't have a problem with that in general, I knew we'd all enjoy our food a little more if we weren't eating cigarette smoke too (I know when they have the windows open it isn't as stuffy). So, I gracefully told our waitress that we'd have to leave (I hated doing that!) and we ventured out to find an alternative. Once our friends arrived we spent some time looking for somewhere else to go and around the corner from where we were was Drifters BBQ. Our friend poked his head inside and then gave us the thumbs up (no smoking inside). Why not try a little hole in the wall, right? We were pleasantly surprised by the food and great service. Our waiter was very eager to please and made great conversation with the whole table. The vibe was very low-key and quiet enough to talk without needing to shout. We started with an appetizer of Fried Pickles which were really good! They have a hint of jalapeno spiciness, but the ranch sauce helped keep it cool. I generally eat vegetarian if there are decent options (which there definitely are at this place), but I decided to go with the Fiesta Chicken Salad (a bit pricey at $10.99). My husband got the pulled pork sandwich with fries (as did one friend) and our other guest went with the sliders (pulled chicken, pulled pork and I think pulled brisket) with hush puppies and slaw. Everyone was very pleased with their meal and the fries were amazing! Just the right kind of crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. The BBQ sauce choices were all very different and we enjoyed testing each one. The waiter also offered suggestions of what to use on our individual meals. We got there for happy hour so the two-for-one special was nice and all but one of us took advantage of that. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience here and we were excited to have another local place to add to our "must frequent often" list!
(4)
Carolyn M.
I don't like the food here, but for friendly service, good patio, good bar, good layout, kid-friendly, good specials, and good hours, I am willing to overlook it. Definitely not where you bring an out of towner for the Nashville BBQ experience, but great for regular hang out.
(3)
Sarah M.
Kind of went here by accident, but I'm so glad we did! First of all, we were in Nashville for a weekend from Chicago and my husband wanted to have some BBQ although I'm not a big fan. I was so surprised by the variety on their menu. My husband was able to order a variety of BBQ sliders (which he said were fantastic) and I had the vegetarian black bean nachos. I'm not even a vegetarian, but these were like the best nachos I've ever had. We were planning to go out to dinner later that night, but canceled because we outdid ourselves here. The service was great and we had fun playing ping pong outback - great spot! oh - and I should mention we almost went to the larger bar/restaurant next door (don't remember the name) and we walked in and it was a big cloud of smoke - yuck. Where can you still smoke in restaurants? or even bars? I don't get it. Anyway, drifters had no smoking inside which is how we ended up there!
(4)
Erin J.
Things I like about Drifters: great happy hour, lots of vegan & veggie friendly items on the menu, awesome deck that they allow our dog to hang out on Things I don't like about Drifters: the food. I've had the nachos which had an off balance chip to topping ratio (WAY too many chips, not enough toppings), the veggie burger (which was ok but total mush - very difficult to eat), the BBQ "pit tater" (baked potato tasted like it was baked a couple of days before I ate it), and the chips & salsa (the salsa had so much bottled lime juice it was inedible). They also play scream-rock music sometimes which I despise. That has improved though. I know we'll go back for the things we like, but we'll probably skip the food.
(3)
Daniel S.
My wife, daughter, and I ate here last night. The place was empty. This might have been due to the rain. They had great 2 for 1 drink specials although not that many beers on tap. My wife had the Tofu Dinner with Black Beans and Cole Slaw, which she says was good; it didn't look that great to me. My daughter had the Corn Dog, which looked like standard pub fare. The hilight was the BBQ Chimichanga with brisket. Surprisingly this was the best chimichanga I have ever had. Perhaps it would get a lower rating if I had higher expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised with that chimichanga.
(4)
Anthony N.
1am - 1 server. Slow service. Overpriced frozen food served. Large cockroaches walking on the tables outside, one which came out of the bbq sauce holder. I wouldn't recommend this place, even if it was the only late night place open (which it isn't).
(1)
Jamie D.
Drifters is a local BBQ spot that also features live music via the attached art venue (some nights). They have a full service bar with seats, an outdoor patio and plenty of places on the inside. The food here is great. We always get the hush puppies. They are like Ruffles; you can't have just one. And, that goes for the beverages; you can't have just one. Drifters is a great place to eat and equally in a hangout spot. The thing here that lights my fire is the array of BBQ sauces. They have lots to chose from. One great menu item - the BBQ tofu sandwich. For reals, it's goooood. I really get into it. Or, rather, it gets into me! The owners of this spot also own Beyond the Edge and Battered n' Fried. So, they are well known around Five Points. Also, they are open as late as the bars. Although you may over look Drifters (it is set back behind Beyond the Edge at the back of the parking lot), you will be in the "in" once you have had the experience.
(4)
Jamie A.
Holy corndogs, Batman! I wish I could say the same for the barbecue, but it didn't really do it for me. We got brisket and it was wearing a pulled pork disguise...way too watery/greasy. The bun literally disintegrated halfway through the sandwich. The hand-dipped corndog, however, more than made up for the lackluster meat. Service was polite, but almost corporate-like minus the "flair". Kind of off-putting. I should probably give it a 2...but that corndog saved the day.
(3)
Tom S.
Service wasnt the best but hell. Who really cares when your at a fun place. My wife and I were passing through and felt in the mood for bbq. I yelped this place and decided to try it out. The only other place that I really loved was phill's in sd (5/5). If you know of that place we got a base to gague. If not then, my bad. The pulled pork was good. They have these ketchup bottles filled with bbq sauce on the table. Like 4 or 5. I went to get some drinks for me and the chick and the bartender said, "hold on ill get your drink tickets". Drink tickets? (I went on sunday) he came back with two drink tickets. Buy one get on free on any drink. The price at the bar were same as any other place but 2 for 1. That was cool. I want to do 5 but the server was so so. Plus, I would like to believe I am still giving a good reference as I think 4 or 5 stars are pretty much the green light. I say go for it. Its a little divey, but that adds to the fun, Esp. For a gen y crowd
(4)
Stefanie P.
Wanna grab a beer in a quiet, clean, but has good food bar-? this is your place. 2 for 1 drinks from 4pm-7pm- so 2 Coors lights for $3.25 We always get a hush puppies with the special sauce = awesome Friends of mine rave about the brisket nachos Had the full slab of ribs- they're dry rub. Good rub, ribs were good. But not the best I ever had. They have a cart full of sauces, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Drifter. The waitress will tell you why they're special and what you may like. Server was friendly and I like how its non-smoking Outside they have a shuffleboard table and tons of outdoor seating, where some of the smokers were :-) Hooray for locally owned business, 2 for 1 drafts, and some alright bbq. Can have some bikers in there, but they're friendly :-)
(4)
Mary L.
Currently my favorite East Nashville bar. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the drinks are so good, the food is delicious (and they have vegan options!!), AND it's dog friendly! We've come in a large group several times and the staff is always helpful and treats us really well. They have heaters on the patio so I'll continue to go there through the winter months.
(5)
Peter A.
On a cool spring night, the patio can't be beat anywhere in Easty Nasty. Corn hole and ping pong in the back, a good bluegrass (sort of) band playing out front, $13 buckets of Yuenling (reminds me of other countries where the bucket is the primary beer special). Chill place...not a bad way to spend a couple hours.
(4)
Mary F.
BBQ sandwich was really tasty, very skimpy on the meat though. Basic beer selection, not much of a choice, no imports. Service was very good. The atmosphere was laid back. Overall it was a good experience.
(3)
Talon F.
This is a place for cheap beers and PORK NACHOS! The rest of the food is fine, but the nachos is really their forte in my opinion. 2 for 1 beer specials all the time. Live music most weekends and evenings. It's really more like a bar with good BBQ. Great place to chill.
(4)
Nicole B.
Great food, good service. Outdoor seating. I love the five different sauces they bring to the table (Drifter's sauce is the BEST!) and their collard greens are really delicious. BBQ Nachos? Helllooo nurse!
(5)
Darcy L.
The sauces are really good here, with 4 different regional types. The Texas sauce and the New Mexico sauce were both awesome. The service was good, and they have really reasonable prices here. I think my total was $11 for a beer and a pulled pork sandwich with fries. They also have dj's here, trivia nights, etc. Overall a great place to chill out with a group or a date. I had to knock it down to 4 stars because the pulled pork I had was pretty mediocre. (Which brings me to life's eternal question: Why is it so hard to get good bbq in Nashville, when we are only 3 hours from Memphis?) BUT, I will definitely try it again, might've just been an off night.
(4)
Grace G.
I was a little nervous to visit Drifters for the first time because of all of the mixed reviews. I'm glad I didn't let the bad reviews scare me off because I ended up having a great experience. They had a good selection of beer on tap including my favorite - Yazoo Sly Rye Porter. Our waitress was super friendly and helpful. We ordered the Nachos appetizer, which were definitely enough for a full meal. I also tried the brisket burrito, which was delicious. There were a good variety of BBQ sauces to choose from to spice up your dish. The New Mexico was definitely my favorite. I will definitely be back!
(4)
James J.
We went to Drifters at the recommendation of a relative who lives close to the restaurant. It's a dive, in a good way, but sits off the road in such a way that sherpas and pack animals are required to get there. Abandon hope of parking close by. We had a party of 10, which was accommodated nicely with a set of tables on the patio. Our server, Tim, was nice, if a bit scattered, and made an odd first impassion by telling us his name is Tim about 6 times. Tim, got it. The menu was diverse, with a ton of vegetarian selections. Being carnivorous, i ignored these and ordered a brisket platter. The brisket was tender if a bit bland. The selection of sauces ranged from ketchup to somewhat-spicy-ketchup. It did the job, though. The brisket came with slaw, beans and corn cakes. The corn cakes were great, and the beans were impressive. Others had corn dogs, chicken and fish. All agreed the food was decent if not spectacular. Tim survived his shaky start and was quite good, handling our large group promptly and with good humor. Overall, a nice night out. I'd return mainly for the atmosphere and music, and less for the food.
(4)
Avonel R.
I placed a to go order over the phone, so I can't review the service. It was getting kind of late, and on a Sunday its hard to find anything open that has food for carryout so I ended up at Drifters. I tried the pulled chicken sandwich and it was okay. Not the best I've had, but not the worst. I have to say I expected more for the price. Also, the fries were very mediocre. I'm not sure if I'll end up here again.
(3)
Patrick S.
OK, it's been a while since my first visit to Drifters, but i've probably been back 3-4 times. And not to sound like a pessimist, but i'm waiting on them to screw up the ribs. I ordered the ribs the first visit, and i can't seem to order anything else because there so damn good! And normally i'm one to try a bunch of stuff on the menu, but i usually just pick off other people plate, and give them a small taste of heaven on a bone. That's why i'm upgrading them to CINCO stars purely on the weight of their ribs. Oh, and there hush-puppies are money too!
(5)
Lisa M.
They have a great fried tofu sandwich with lots of choices of bbq sauce. Very relaxed vibe.
(4)
JJ D.
Ran across this place while driving through Nashville. The prices were very reasonable and the selection was great. They have live entertainment or at least some type of entertainment every night. The food was incredible. They smoke all their meat throughout the day. Their rib meat literally fell off the bone. I will definitely be going back the next time I'm in Nashville.
(5)
Renae M.
I am a vegetarian, so it seems a little weird that I would review a BBQ joint but.....Drifter's rocks! They have a few veg. options like a pretty good veggie burger and a nice BBQ Tofu dish. The cole slaw is on time, and the hush puppies are nice as well. Their regional sauces are a big draw for me....I'll put BBQ sauce on anything! My fave is the TEXAS. It's sweet, rich, and has just the right amount of bite. If you like a hotttt sauce, then try the New Mexico...it has chipotle and habanero peppers. The Tennessee is a traditional vinegar based sauce, and there mustard based sauce (can't remember the name) is yummy as well. Food is great, atmosphere is casual and friendly, and they have a patio! This hidden East Nashville Gem is a must-try!
(4)
Alan W.
I'll keep this simple: Drifter's has great food (and quite a variety of it), as well as fantastic service. Their staff will go out of their way to make sure you are completely satisfied. You cannot go wrong with this place.
(4)
jerry a.
I'm a big bbq nerd and drifters didn't really hit the spot. I got pick 2 meat dinner combo and chose the brisket and sausage which cost me $14. Hands down I give the bbq sausage 5 stars and will definitely have it again. I'm used to sliced brisket, which this is not, it's either pulled or ????. the meat did not have an outstanding flavor and was a little on the dry side so I decided to sauce it up. on to the sauces; the drifter sauce had the runny consistency not very well blended tomatoes and was bland as far as a sauces go. The hot bbq sauce had some spice to it, but not much else, definitely lacking there to. After later reading the mustard based sauce was .... tada.... mustard and jalapeno's, which is exactly what it resemble and tasted like. it literally looked like someone had squirted some spicy brown in a cup and placed it with my meal. It came with cole slaw and baked beans, neither warranted a positive comment. The main problem with this place is close parking, there usually isn't any and since it was raining last night, you have to make the decision do I want to walk back to my car in the rain, or find somewhere with parking. I do however try not to judge a business on one visit and will definitely be back to check out some other items AND those delicious looking corn dogs!
(3)
Samma A.
Drifters barbeque is actually smoked nearby at another of the owners restaurants; not enough room at Drifters. But it comes good and hot. Three things special I appreciate are the nice patio, barbeque chicken and serving their food all nite. It's the only place in east Nashville where you can sit down and order up some good BBQ at one in the morning.
(4)
David W.
Refreshingly good service and tasty bbq. Fried pickles were great and so was my vegan bbq burrito. The rest of the table loved their food, as well. After some bad service somewhere else the night before, it was a great change of pace to get a knowledgeable and friendly server.
(4)
Trey T.
one of my favorite low key hang out places. get the corn dog ask for Alabama sauce.
(4)
steven c.
This place has the sexiest hush puppies on the planet. And some really good bbq too. The Texas sauce is awesome.
(4)
Rachael S.
This place is very casual and cute , I love bbq but this place is missing what I feel is a BBQ stapel in pulled chicken, they only have roasted chicken, which to me is not too BBQ'Y if you ask me. I do love the New Mexico and Texas sauce they are so so good! I could probably drink them, and there is great service as well, meg is the best ;)
(3)
sherri M.
the corn dogs are absolutely amazing. when i am splurging & having something deep fried, they are top on my list. fries are thin ones, which my hubby loves. i haven't tried the bbq. i had the veggie burger the first time i went to drifters, it was ok in flavor, but it fell apart & had to be eaten with a fork. they have trivia weekly, which i'm told is fun but don't attend due to hours.
(3)
Tommy F.
If you go to Drifter's you must try their fantastic corn dog. It's like nothing I've ever had.
(3)
Justin W.
This place has some incredible recipes that i dont think any other restaurant im nashville can touch. The pulled pork is great...melts in your mouth with a subtle smoke flavor. The brisket is delicious as well...tender and flavorful. Any Texas expatriot should be pleased..I know this one is. Though, neither of those are the big rockstars on the menu. The standout mindblowers are the catfish and the absolute best without a doubt is THE CORNDOGS. First of all the catfish is better than any catfish I have ever had. I'm not exagerating...try it. And I know corndogs may seem like novelty fair food, but trust me...they will change your life. And if you really want to do the right thing eat them with the Georgia mustard. The flavor is that good. The baked beans are so good, I don't even want to call them baked beans. They are literally the best I've ever had. Other than that, they have five sauces...well six if you mix the Texas sauce and the New Mexico sauce which my wife calls West Texas sauce (that's our favorite). Oh and great beer and booze specials. Drop by and stuff yourself. You'll thank me later.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Loud Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Katie R.
BBQ was great and prices were better! Friendly and efficient service. Fun atmosphere!
(4)Anne C.
Obsessed! We landed in Nashville at about 10 pm and the first thing I did was open up my yelp app to find some Bbq! So glad we came here. We got a sort of sampler platter with ribs, brisket, hot links, fries and fried pickles. It was SO good! Definitely recommend! Chill spot, good drinks, friendly service and lots and lots of yummy sauces!
(5)Mary M.
2.5/5 I was passing through on a road trip, thought to check it out for dinner. The atmosphere is charming but the brisket was drrrrryyyyy and I had to smother that sucker in so much sauce to get a sense of flavor. Waitress was lovely and the blues band was great.
(2)W. John R.
Arrived here late after our flight landed and we checked into our rental down the street. The wait staff was nice and brought our drinks promptly. It was a bit tough to get water refills, though. I had the catfish and the brisket. The catfish was done correctly, but the piece was really small. The brisket was tender but a bit too "mushy" for my taste - as though it had been sitting in water. I loved the "sauce bar" - lots of options, and all very flavorful. The hush puppies were the surprise-and-delight piece of my meal - the sweet onions and pickled jalapeno made for a super unique flavor, and the dipping sauce they came with was great. One side note: we were there for over 2 hours on a Friday night and there was no live music. A band was setting up as we were leaving, after 11pm. We had hoped based on the reviews that we would at least hear live music coming in from outside, but either there was some confusion or a scheduling error.
(3)Kevin B.
Amazing food and great ambience. Was wanting good barbecue after a long flight from Los Angeles. My girls read some good reviews about Drifters and we set out GPS as soon as we landed. It was on the way to our hotel. We ordered the fried pickles, hush puppies, corn dog and the Hickory Smoked Sampler Platter (pork ribs, beef brisket, pulled chicken and French fries). The ribs are amazing. The meat pretty much falls off the bone. Some of the best barbecue I have ever had in my life! If this place was in LA, I would eat here every day.
(5)Joi B.
Not bad, not bad at all! Drifters gets a major nod for being a BBQ joint with a dedicated vegetarian menu. Keep your expectations in check, though, after all it *is* a BBQ joint. No culinary wonders for those of us avoiding the offerings from the smoker (however, my guy is a BBQ fanatic and ordered the most monstrous plate of nachos with some kind of BBQ meat splayed across 'em. This looked like a delicious mess, which was confirmed), but utterly basic basics: tofu, which I'm a fan of + Morningstar Farm protein, which I'm not a fan of (and if you're vegan, know that Morningstar Farm is not). I ordered the Tofu Dinner w/o slaw, which also comes with fries and beans (not sure if that was meat swimming around with those beans so I didn't taste them. It sure looked like meat shreds). It's a generous portion and although I wasn't blown away by anything on the plate, I can see it being the perfect late night food (yes! they have late night hours!) and it sure did treat my lingering annual hangover right. As did the Bloody Mary. The staff is nice. The patio is sweet and the interior is the perfect dark, divey BBQ joint kind of atmosphere. I like this place a lot. And I'm just so appreciative of a BBQ place doing something cool for vegetarians that is truly unexpected. What's not to love about that?
(4)Ted C.
Drifter's was open where most airlines almost weren't. This was the first stop that I brought my friends to when we finally arrived in Nashville. It had been a while so I had to get the Drifter, which has changed a little, no more middle bun in between, because who needs more of that anyway? Other than that, the special was dollar Hi life bottles. Despite the shitty weather the staff was really friendly and my friends were happy with their first Nashville experience after having waited almost 14 hours to arrive.
(4)Katie B.
Ah, Drifters... No frills at it's finest! It's tucked right in the heart of five points, but doesn't feel "too" hip. You'll see all kinds here... Old, young, couples, families, dogs too! The food is consistently good. I always go for their BBQ pork sandwich, my man goes for the pulled chicken sandwich. It's one of my favorite places for BBQ in Nashville - and I'm the kind of person who has to sample BBQ everywhere I go. LOVE IT. So the food, it's good. The atmosphere is what keeps me coming back though. The staff is so friendly, the crowd is usually really chill, and the outdoor seating is the best! Especially when a local band is playing, which is often. For me, summer is Drifters season..... I'll be there quite a lot over the next few months. See you there!
(4)Queen B.
I really, really, really, really, really like this place and for so many reasons, but after eating there this afternoon, I have come to realize this place is like any other place IN THAT dependant on cook and waitstaff... it can be a great experience or a shitty experience. Today was a shitty experience. But I will not hold that against Drifters. I will hold that to the staff waiting on me and cooking my burger. they failed miserably today. Bummer too, because today is National Hamburger Day and I had chosen Drifters to spend my hard earned money.
(3)Oznur A.
Good food, ok atmosphere, good service Would definitely come again and try something different :)
(3)Hank D.
Good spot for a burger and happy hour is all day on Tuesdays so that is always a good thing. I love this place for staying non smoking so that is plus!
(4)Katie D.
Quite a divey place for some beers and BBQ. 2 for 1 happy hour drinks was definitely a plus, but after eating all that fried hush puppies, fried green tomatoes and big platters of BBQ meat, I had no room for the 2nd beer. The above mentioned food was decent but nothing mind blowing as many other writers have said.
(3)Eric R.
Right at the hub of the Five Points area, this place had the feel of an old garage with a covered patio. Not much on decor, but the service was prompt & friendly. I was in the mood for a sandwich, so had the Drifter, a nice pile of brisket and pulled pork. Pretty tasty, a tad on the dry side, but fixed that with plenty of sauce. Cole slaw was really good, and the spicy pickles were a nice surprise. Dinner companions dove into a plate of brisket nachos, which they really enjoyed. Saw others playing corn hole on the covered patio, even though it was raining outside.
(4)Chad P.
I highly recommend the BBQ nachos! This is one of my favorite places to grab a beer. The staff is so friendly, and they have great deals on beer! During the day the place is slower. Make sure to sit at the bar and make a friend. Signed, A Regular
(5)John T.
Brisket was good but the fries were not hot and a little overcooked. Service was excellent. Had the pulled pork chili as a started and it was good but the Brunswick stew was not good. Had the brisket dinner with 8oz of chopped beef brisket. It was tender, not stringy and had a good flavor even without any sauce. However the side were just so so. I would come back if for nothing else but to have the brisket.
(4)Tanya D.
This place was cool. We were visiting Nashville and heard a band playing on a warm afternoon so we stopped by to see what was going on. We had already eaten, and weren't driven by an alcohol frenzy, so we stopped in for lemonade and an iced tea to watch the band. The waiter was totally cool about it, we didn't feel pressured to order more and it was a nice time. I wish we had been hungry enough to try the food. Seems to be a biker hangout, but at the same time not really. who knows, I enjoyed it....
(5)Hope D.
Great dive-bar scene with plenty of outdoor seating. The food is surprisingly good, but I'm not a bbq fan...so I usually order the veggie burger and it's delicious! Beer is reasonably priced. This is a traditional spot for me to hit, as I usually alternate between Drifter's and Beyond the Edge.
(4)Caitlin F.
Very happy about the amount of vegetarian options! Got the BBQ black bean nachos and they were awesome. Ate hush puppies for the first time! Server was awesome and patient since we hung out for almost 3 hours.
(5)S C.
A really fun place. Truly a dive bar but with character. The bartenders were really attentive and friendly. We were visiting from San Diego and they really took care of us. They had live entertainment that night and the band that was playing, The Stoves, were really good. We had the Nachos and pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches. They were all good. The best part were the sauces. Keller brought over a sample of all of their sauces and I couldn't make up my mind which was the best. We will have to come back and test them again.
(5)Jessica B.
Three stars. BECAUSE of the service. Beer was good, ambiance was good, food was good, service was horrible. We have been driving all day from Texas, we wanted somewhere to hang out an relax. Our waitress was rude, it took us a while before we got any service, though the joint was almost empty besides the bar area which the bartender was taking care of. I would have given more stars if my waitress wasn't so rude.
(3)Ryan P.
Wife and I had a foodie weekend and we ended up here for lunch one of those days. Service was ok, we had a new server that struggled only because it was her first day, but did a good job of managing through a tough lunch. Got the fried catfish and it was very good. Tarter sauce was spot on and the fries were great. Wife got the small nacho plate and some BBQ and it was good. The vibe here does remind me of a dive bar, but don't get turned off by that because the food is still top notch!
(4)Søren K.
VERY good BBQ. Bevare that the portions are enorm so do not ordet too much. I was done after my nachos (which was very tasty!)
(4)Quinn B.
There BBQ is amazing and I LOVE GOING HERE. but... Recently had one of the waitresses steel a pair of my sunglasses then lie to my face after the next time... Only a week in-between I called the day after I forgot them there. Yes my fault. But when I called "'they didn't have them " but she stole them. After me calling and saying they didn't them. I show up today. Full on front lie to my face about they were a roommates, when I could give a reason and " show " that they were mine. Just not cool.
(4)Cate H.
The ribs!!! Got some just out of the smoker..they were amazing. The smoked pork is perfection. Try the Georgia sauce!
(4)Courtney A.
As far as East Nashville BBQ joints go, this one is the best. Their smoked chicken quesadillas are phenomenal. (I've eaten them twice this week... Don't judge me.) When you add great drink specials and a low key outdoor patio (that's pup friendly) to the fantastic BBQ, it is easily one of my favorite places to eat out in East Nashville.
(5)Emily M.
Great food. Good deals, two for ones most days. Also have a great outdoor space with ping pong and corn hole. A lot of fun!
(5)Allison P.
One of my favorite hangs. Always somewhere to sit, great live music on the weekends and I dig that they have a pong table out for people to play.
(5)Johnny T.
The music made me curious. I am not much (well, not at all) of a dive bar kind of guy. Eating at said dive bar? Forget it. But, the strains of melodic chords will pique my interest almost every time. Add to that musical curiosity, the siren's smell of smoke? Forget it. There were only so many times I could pass by Drifters without walking in. So it came to pass on a late summer Thursday where I couldn't take any more and had to have some of what I was smelling/hearing. The dining room wasn't too crowded and football played silently on the tv for the few who were watching. I sat down and discovered that Drifters was in the middle of a drink special. Yes, please. Tonight's special was a 2 for 1 sweet tea vodka concoction. 2 boozy drinks for $5? I can do that. I came in thinking about an American Blonde and soon was fist-deep in plastic cups and cheap booze. This was starting well. Because I decided to go all in, I started off with a basket of fried pickles. They came to the table screaming hot and with copious amounts of ranch dressing. No, this was not a meal I could sustain on a weekly basis but as a treat... pass the grease. For my meal, I decided on the BBQ pulled chicken sandwich with a side of fries... and another side o' sauces. On every table are a basket of sauces -- 7 in all -- that will make the trip to Drifters worth your while. SEVEN! I love sauce almost as much as I love juice and strange-colored soda. This was gonna be fun. I tasted the meat on its own first to make sure there was good flavor going on. There was. If I'd had two sandwiches, I would have eaten one plain. That's how good the smoke was. Now, it was time for the sauces. I would try each I was sure of with a bite of meat and dip my fries in the ones I wasn't so sure about. My favorite (to the shock of none) was the sweet & smokey. With a molasses base, it was a forgone conclusion. The Texas & Drifters had the tangy vinegar kick that I look for, but I prefer that flavor profile with more of a texture basis (ie slaw) than meat & bun provide. Georgia had a nice, subtle heat by way of the mustard/pepper base and New Mexico kicked it up with the unabashed pepper profile. I only dabbed Sweet Fire and stayed the h#ll away from Atomic Buffalo. My colon thanked me for the wise move. And guess what happened to make this mess o' BBQ eatin' even the mo' betta: an entire set of '90s hip-hop started to play over the speaker system AND my waitress came up to my table, rapping. Why don't I come here more often?
(4)Vanessa G.
We stopped in here for a drinks. The location was convenient as it was just a short walking distance from our restaurant. We did not eat any of the food because we were waiting on our restaurant to call us with an open table. The service was prompt and pleasant. Their beer menu was decent. Their are no cocktails on the menu and for good reason...the one I asked them to make tasted like cough syrup.
(3)Joanna L.
I was introduced to Drifter's by coworkers for a go-to happy hour spot after a long day at work. Happy Hour is great but their BBQ nachos are amazing. Get loaded BBQ nachos with EVERYTHING. Probably some of the best nachos I've had but it must be LOADED with EVERYTHING. Parking is probably the biggest pain but great place to wind down!
(4)Benjamin B.
It's 11pm. I'm fresh off 30 hours of travel, including an interminable 6hr layover in LA, and the only thing that can save my life is meat. And not just any meat. BBQ meat, yo! King of all the meats, emperor of char-grilled protein. Enter the Yelp app. Hulloooooo Drifters, just 1 km away. Drive, Joshy. Drive like you've never driven before old sport. We're almost the only ones there. We get the chilli, the hush puppies, the 1/3 rack ribs, the brisket sliders, some more brisket, the house salad with brisket dressing. The chilli ain't the best I've had, but urrthang else is freaking sensational. Gobble gobble. Brisket on the chin. Forget it, keep eating, save it for later. Oh, and the best part? I haven't told you this yet - the house-made sauces. Good lord, the sauces! Atomic Fire, New Mexico, Drifter, Sweet Fire . . . there's about 8 of them, and they range from sweet and smoky to vinegar and garlic-laden fire. They need to bottle these and sell them. I'd buy them all. And then resell them in my own country under my own name and make billions, muhaha!
(4)Kendal H.
Awesome bbq with a ton of different choices on bbq sauce. Atmosphere is dive bar like with super friendly staff and great prices on drinks.
(5)Matt C.
Love this place. Dive bar but friendly and fun. BBQ is fantastic. Out of brisket tonight though.
(4)Tres K.
Nice little dive joint hidden in Nashville. The area around is pretty cool. The food is great! Don't let the biker vibe stop you from going. I recommend the wings! They are the size of a pterodactyl.
(4)Marc E.
Top notch rubs for ribs n chicken. Good service. No tough eating bbq meat...this is the kind you want- the soft yummy kind. A zillion sauces to choose from and they explain the sauces well too. If I can say anything helpful, 1. try to keep smokers away from the doors and windows so us sponsoring fans eating your delicious food dont have the smoke taste mingle with your AWESOME bbq taste. When i eat this stuff you make, its so good I want nothing to interfere with my enjoyment of it. This has become a religous experience for me. 2. Try to anticipate demand for weekends and holidays because I came a few times when you ran out. Since your food is too damn good, I cried when I had to eat ??horsemeat?? somewhere else. I cant handle withdrawal from your food its so good I want a IV of it please? That includes your quesadilla. 3. Your service is fast and excellent. Keep up the soft meat and excellent taste...its paying off... your chicken isnt dry.... I know what good BBQ should taste like. - the BBQ meister..... Ive been here 5 or 6 times allready...
(5)Zeb M.
Goodness gracious, I love Drifters. We now have Edley's down the road from 5 Points, but where else can you get barbecue and Tex Mex together? This is a beautiful combination, my friends. I highly, highly recommend their pulled pork chimichanga. That sucker always has me coming back for more. If you're not of the meat eating persuasion, however, they have plenty of vegetarian options. I've never been disappointed by anything I order there. Their patio is perfect for warm nights outside and there's also a ping pong table in the back. You're also likely to be there during a drink special! Be sure to take a look at their calendar as they have rotating weekly drink specials.
(5)Cheryl H.
Went here for the Yelp reviews, came away very, very full and pleased! The brisket and pulled pork were fantastic (the husband got this!) and I got a delicious (HUGE!) chimichanga. Loved it! I ate half that night and had the second half for lunch the next day. The hush puppies were also great, though I preferred dipping them in the bbq sauce as opposed to the sauce they sent them out with. It was also rather inexpensive! We JUST missed happy hour, so our waitress brought us two 2-for-1 coupons to make up for it, which was great! Great vegetarian selection too, the others aren't lying (!), which is definitely unusual for Nashville. We'll definitely be going back, and not just because we got coupons.
(5)Nicholas H.
Nothing special. I'd say below average BBQ/Tex-mex. I had the brisket nachos and fried pickes. Probably won't go back there cause there's some many better BBQ places in Nashville.
(2)Maly N.
Drifter's is a cool little spot in the 5 points area just outside of Nashville. The hood has a bunch of food and live music options and is definitely worth a visit. We sat out on the patio to watch the live music and WTF, no country music. Darn! Our food was tasty but nothing special. We were looking for a real down south vibe and Drifter's was more of hipster joint with more mustaches than cowboy boots. I can get that at home. I should have known when I saw the vegan menu.
(4)Leisha U.
Black bean burger is great! very vegetarian friendly and fun environment.
(5)Peter V.
Oh man, this vegan has a big heart-on for Drifters. You may not expect a barbecue joint to be frequented by the vegan crowd, but that tofu sandwich is to die for. Not only that, but there is a full vegetarian section on the menu! I have mainly had the tofu sandwich but one time got experimental with the vegetarian burrito (that can be vegan). The tofu sandwich is 4 pieces of plain fried tofu on a bun toasted with olive oil and lettuce, tomato, and onion. This may sound plain, but then you slather on the BBQ sauce and stuff your face. They have three BBQ sauces on the tables and then three hot BBQ sauces that you can ask for. I like to put a good layer of the Atomic and then supplement with the Drifter and Texas style. I was told that a couple of the sweeter sauces have honey in them, I make an exception here. I also make vegan exceptions for Bloody Mary's on Sundays. They put BBQ sauce in them and put a rim of BBQ rub. OMG , best thing ever. Sundays are 2-4-1 so it is a good day to go get day drunk with double pours. The beer selection is also pretty good and when it warms up the patio is great with live music in the evenings. This is my go-to on the east side. I take people here a lot. I've had first dates here. I've invited out of town guests. I just take anyone who is willing to go with me. It is well worth it.
(5)Eric B.
I've been to this place a few times and it is one of the few places in town that gets the right amount of smoke in the meat to not hurt the flavor. I've had the wings, pulled pork, and tonight I had the ribs. Each of these did not disappoint. The only thing preventing a 5th star is the service. Each time I've been there's been some kind of problem .Technically this should be a three star review, but the food was good enough to overcome the poor service. Tonight our server was a very attractive woman who really knew the store. But when she brought our first round of drinks where we were sitting outside, she dropped the lemon of one of them on the not so clean picnic table where we were sitting. She actually attempted to put that dirty lemon back on the glass it fell off of. That is horrid and appalling. Our faces made her see that she was grossing us out so she removed the lemon but did not replace the drink as she should have. This kind of service is unacceptable. The outside tables are like the outside tables that many have in his or her backyard. Would you want anything in your drink that just bounced of a table that has been exposed to the elements? Hell no! Drifters is great other than the weird service you get from time to time. East Nashville is the kind of area where the Carla from Cheers mentality rules the day. But it's fun and well worth the occasional headache.
(4)Frank R.
Our first meal in Nashville. It was great!! Perfect atmosphere. Perfect service. Perfect hush puppies. Two for one happy hour beers was a nice Friday night surprise. Ribs are nice. Smoked nicely. Pulled pork and brisket done nice. Sweet bean side nice. Nachos very good. Fried pickles very good. Cole slaw a little to "creamy". Sausage good. Overall, great pub feel with great food and service. Add: big whisky selection. Nice effort.
(5)Sheena T.
Drifters has great BBQ! And this is a great feat considering this type of food is hit or miss in Nashville. A large birthday party I was attending decided to eat here after realizing we had no reservations on a Friday night. Woops! But Drifters had some open tables and were able to accommodate our big group quickly. We had to try the BBQ brisket nachos, and they were exceptional! They have a variety of BBQ sauces in bottles on your table, and the sweet and spicy was my favorite. I also had the pulled chicken burrito, and I loved it! Decent salsa and good fillings. I sampled the wings, and they were great too, I like that they use a dry rub on them. Their menu is great, and I had a specialty vodka cocktail that was tasty too! All around a great meal, Drifters will be my stop when I need good BBQ!
(4)Sean S.
Nashville is bursting with great BBQ restaurants, such as Martin's and Edley's, but Drifter's shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath. My meal, a plate of dry, under-seasoned pulled chicken, oily hush puppies, goopy cole slaw, and sweet sugary baked beans left me disappointed and feeling ill the rest of the night.
(2)Taylor S.
Awesome food!! Brisket was sooo juicy and we loved all the different BBQ sauces to try! Pretty good beer selection too! Very friendly staff!! Nice outdoor seating as well!
(5)Bridgette C.
I've been here on Friday nights with live bands, Monday nights for trivia (which I am so not good at) and eaten and drank all the times in between and I really love this little biker-bar-style place in East Nashville. The service has always been great no matter how busy it is (and its usually very busy), the food is good BBQ-style smoky goodness and the beer is always cold. You can sit inside, admittedly a smaller space, or they have a very spacious patio, and the stage for previously mentioned live music is outside. I highly recommend their nachos (can be had with or without meat for my veggie-loving brethren) and their spicy black bean burger is a thing of beauty. The patio can get smoky, and parking is limited in their small back lot, so keep that in mind. But there's always something fun going on here, and its become a go-to place with friends, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good time that its too fancy or pricey. Drifters is one of those places you cross the river to enjoy willingly.
(4)Allie R.
Went out to drifters last night for the second time for some drinks and to listen to the band. Very fun atmosphere, sat outside under near lights and the band was fantastic. Their food is really great as well. In the past I've had their sliders, yummy pulled chicken and pork and brisket, great fries. Last night I only had a cup of chili, big chunks of meat in it, very filling and it was a big serving. This is a great bar and hang out spot, I know we will be back soon enough!
(4)Anthony C.
Oh jeez. I wanted BBQ but I had no idea this was hipster central. I am surrounded by losers with crappy beards and no jobs. I will admit, I get what they were going for with the way this place is. The atmosphere is different and I liked it. Sadly, after that, everything else sucked. The service was garbage. Our waitress interacted with us maybe twice. She directed us to the bbq sauces, which is another positive for this place. There is a multitude of bbq sauces and I appreciate the variety. The food is mehhhhh. The french fries are so salted that after I ate 2 or 3, I needed a coke to re-hydrate my mouth and wipes to get all the salt off my fingers as well as the grease. The pork was dry and not salted at all. Maybe if they took some of the salt off the fries and put it on the pork it would have tasted better.This place wasnt all that, especially for the price. I would skip out on this place and invest that cash somewhere better
(2)Brandon C.
Visited here a couple times recently for their ribs. They always fall off the bone and some of the best I have tried in Nashville. I have only visited during lunch and the waitress/bartender is awesome and has a great personality. Looking forward to my next return!
(4)Adri P.
We picked this place on a whim because we wanted to replace the bad taste of our last rib experience elsewhere. Our bar tenders Kellen and Matthew were attentive, friendly and made great suggestions for both food and drinks. The ribs, fried pickles, hush puppies and pulled pork chimichanga were outstanding. We had a great time and we'll definitely be back.
(5)Heather S.
There are very few things that frustrate me in life. Vegetarians are up there on that list. I was headed down to Nashville for a girls weekend early this fall & had a vegetarian in the group. As a self-proclaimed food aficionado I am pretty big on keeping people happy when it comes to dining options - and I spent hours looking for vegetarian friendly spots in Nashville leading up to our trip. God, what a difficult task in Nashville! Most places that I came across had one or two items that catered to vegetarians, but for the most parts the menus were sparse. ...and a person can only eat so many veggie burgers in the course of a long weekend. Luckily for me (and the vegetarian in the group) I stumbled upon Drifters. The menu had plenty to offer in terms of Tennessee-style BBQ & it had an extensive vegetarian section. We got there right when they opened, so we had no problem finding prime real estate outside on the back deck. Our waitress was friendly & knowledgable, especially when it came to the beer selection. I was happy that they had so many local beers on tap. We started with an order of the hot fried pickles to share and they were certainly delicious. I did a BBQ combo that I wasn't in love with, but it did keep me full for the rest of the day. A couple of others in the group opted for the chicken tenders which they gobbled up. For whatever reason though my vegetarian friend opted for veggie burger - A VEGGIE BURGER. Vegetarians... they kill me.
(4)Nichole D.
This place took so long to deliver any service what so ever AND when we finally did get our food it was cold. Never again.
(1)Danielle O.
Beers were all canned and the few that we chose were overpriced. Seems that they charge more than they should so that when they do their extended happy hour specials they are not blowing profit. Service was extremely slow on a Thursday night. The brisket was great, the sauces were so-so, and the sides bland. Wish I could have had a larger portion of meat and none of the sides that came along with it. Parking lot was full, but I did get a spot about two blocks down in a more residential area.
(2)Amanda D.
went there on a sunday after a flag football game with our team. we normally go to beyond the edge but decided to try drifters. it was great. the waitress was awesome and patient since there was many of us and we were still pumped up after the exercise so it was hard to get us to pay attention. we ordered food which was came quickly and was good. the beer was all on happy hour. good service and plenty of seats. also way less smoky than the neighboring bte. only thing that i didn't like was the band. it was kind of loud once they started playing but that was really our problem not theirs. on any other night it would have been welcomed. if you are in east nashville, try this place out!
(4)Dailoc N.
Looks a little shady but is actually a fun little place. Lots of good beer. Lots of good food. I had the pulled pork chimi and it was awesome! Corn hole in the back. Live music in the front. Within walking distance of a lot of places if you want to do a pub crawl. Nice place to hang outside in the summers. I keep hearing about the corndogs so I'll try that next time.
(4)Robert H.
Loved the BBQ. Great music. Bar-like and a tad rowdy, which fit the place well. Service was really quick and attentive. Place is behind the fish joint, just up the alley. Parking was scarce, so we went across the street and paid ($3/hr). East Nashville section know as the five points. Nice scene with a lot of bars around it. Highly recommend.
(4)Clayton B.
Horrible. The worst BBQ I've had in years. The meat is burnt and dry. The sauces are below average. Cole slaw is heavy helping of mayonnaise. The other menu items might be better, but this place should not call itself a BBQ joint.
(2)Adam P.
Ahh, Drifters. I will start off by saying that the BBQ is only mediocre and overpriced. However, it is good enough to serve as good drunk food when the opportunity creates itself. This place is not about the food, it is about the people and moderately priced booze. Plus, they feature great music in their outdoor space on weekend nights. While Drifters has a fairly large group of employees who tend bar throughout the week, they are all the kindest and most attentive that you will find anywhere in East Nashville. The same goes for the clientele-everyone I've come across at this place is very nice, interesting, and not stuffy (which can be an issue at times at other East Nashville joints). Bottom line-when you're at Drifters, you feel at home. Great drinks, great people, and your tab won't break the bank.
(5)Kevin G.
Nice low key atmosphere. Outdoor dining. Live music.
(4)Jessica P.
I used Drifter's to cater my wedding and couldn't have been more pleased. Marc, the catering director was responsive and easy to work with. No weird hidden costs or surprises on the bill, and my guests loved the food.
(5)Chris H.
Excellent beer selection. The half chicken and ribs looked amazing. Was not in the mood to eat, but if I did THAT is what I would have ordered. They have ping-pong and cornhole. Great outdoor seating.
(4)Russ I.
We loved this place. Good BBQ, good music, great beer selection, cool patio. We were just passing through Nashville for one night, but if I lived here or nearby this might become my new favorite hangout spot.
(4)McKenna D.
I've got to be honest- I'm not a fan. The food seems very plain and bland to me. Maybe it's all the years of surviving on hot chicken, chicago dogs, and everything doused in jalepenos and hot sauce. I know I'm at least a little biased because growing up, everything my 'rents cooked tasted like cardboard and they had never heard of spice. I could probably live off of condiments. When I last went, the service in an empty house was sub-par. I was told someone was going to get my refill and then waited a very long time (10-15 minutes) before that ever happened. With a mild esophogeal condition, I can't guarantee dry food will make it down the throat completely without some liquid to wash it down, so I literally have to pause eating if I wait on a refill. I'm normally quite understanding, but felt that a 10 minute wait in an empty house was a little excessive. Call me a typical American, but I like my food to have flavor.
(3)Stephen C.
I was immediately addressed by everyone on shift. Great beer selection and I went with their signature pulled pork sandwich "The Drifter" and was blown away. Great meat, great bread, and I'm from Texas. Would recommend even if they were cheering for Alabama.
(5)Stephanie C.
Best happy hour, best staff, best live music, and best food all in one place! Drifters does an amazing happy all beer and single liquor pours are 2 4 1 Monday-Friday from 11-7, and all day Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday! The inside is non smoking but they have a huge patio which allows smoking and is dog friendly. Some of my favorite menu options are the BBQ nachos, hush puppies, corn dogs, ribs, and actually I love their fries! They have a great assortment of BBQ sauces that range from sweet and smokey to fiery hot. It is a little dive barish but I think that leads to the charm and appeal! A must try!
(5)Jasen F.
If I wrote this after my first visit, I think it would have been a five star review. I think Drifters has potential to be a four star joint but it's uneven in presentation and the food. Pros: Service - fast, friendly, and funny Fried pickles! Amazing Happy hour prices and duration Outdoor seating Ping pong tables and a friendly ping pong league Local beer on draft Wonderful Vegan and Vegetarian options Cons: BBQ - I've had the sampler plate several times and like the sausage and ribs but the pulled pork and brisket are just ok. BBQ Sauces - Not really a huge fan of any of them. Not terrible but not great Hush puppies - just ok. Perhaps since we're so far from an ocean but they're not worth ordering We've been a bunch and I might return but it's more for the location, service, and prices rather than the BBQ.
(3)Ryan B.
The Drifter sandwich is pretty tasty. It's a great concept. The pork is cubed (not pulled) and the brisket is outstanding. This is more of a dive bar than a restaurant. I had a very long wait to get my sandwich to go (at a pretty quiet time of night) and was glad I wasn't eating in. The service was not very friendly and the place wasn't very welcoming.
(2)Paul B.
Great food. Here's a secret- ask for the Alabama sauce if you get chicken! So good!
(4)Leia A.
I've only had their BBQ sampler platter. It's big-- can easily be shared between 2 or 3 people. It comes with 1/3 of a rack of ribs, 3 oz of pulled chicken, 3 oz of brisket and 3 oz of smoked sausage. The BBQ itself was pretty good. The brisket was really good as was the sausage. Their hush puppies are super delicious though! And often times you'll go there and there will be some kind of live music going on.
(4)pheadrus t.
Went in on a whim on a slow cold day and ended up staying for over 2 hours chatting with the staff and a couple of regulars. Could not have had a better time. Everyone was incredibly friendly, funny, helpful and laid back and the drinks were refreshingly well priced. The only food we got were the hush puppies but they were fantastic. Can't wait to get back. Kudos to Marie, Patty, Adam and Ben for such a great afternoon.
(5)Paul K.
Drifters, I was a little surprised. My bean nachos were meh, my drinks were yay, and the overheard conversation involving a bartender seeing how far one could run up the tab of a very inebriated customer by shoving drinks in his face and saying he ordered them made me think that either this was the greatest bar in the world or they really should be shut down for getting someone trashed and running up his tab to see how much Firefly they could push. Jury still is out on that one as there might have been other factors I didn't hear. The veggie offerings I sampled from my friends were ok - hush puppies were alright but not great, fries were ok, fried pickle chips were a bit off but I think that's unusual as I have had them before and they were ok. For bar food, it was above average, I don't consider it to be a veggie paradise, but their offerings are better than you'll get anywhere else that serves beer. The AC was failing the day I last went in but seemed to recover as half the bar left after we walked in. Interesting place, it's good, not great, and I'd keep my drunken wits about me and not take any drinks you didn't order from the bar
(3)Matt M.
Drifters has the potential to be a powerhouse BBQ provider here on the east side, but the past several visits have been somewhat disappointing. I'll be the first to admit that they have some great items on their menu, and the pricing is wonderful for what they offer, but the quality of the BBQ leaves a bit to be desired. During the most recent visit, I ordered the combo with three sliders (chicken, brisket and pork) and fries. Starting with the pulled chicken, I found the flavor to be slightly questionable. I could immediately see that it was dry and not juicy at all, and there was something unusual about aftertaste that I just couldn't put my finger on. Next, I moved on to the brisket and found the same issues - dry and not very flavorful (especially compared to some amazing brisket I've had at some other local places). The final slider - the pork - was pretty good, but nothing too spectacular. What helped was their selection of sauces. We had a sampler of the Georgia, Sweet & Smoky and Sweetfire (which are just 3 of the 9 they offer), and they helped provide some of the flavor that was absent in the meat. The fries were great, though, and I easily could have polished off another order. In past visits, I had the chance to try the hush puppies, which are really something special. Sweet onions and jalapenos encased in a battered shell and coupled with their Alabama sauce - how can you beat that? I've also had the pork plate during past visits and it's been OK. Maybe we caught them on a bad night for this recent trip, but as much as we love having a BBQ joint here in the neighborhood, we'll probably continue to fulfill our BBQ needs outside of the 5 Points area.
(3)Marcia M.
Veg paradise! With several affordable vegetarian and vegan options on the menu that include a very tasty Vegan Burrito and BBQ Tofu Sandwich... this could be the place I go this Summer to nosh between cocktails! Patio is pet-friendly and the staff is always super duper nice. Gotta love it. Tip: An order of tortilla chips and salsa only sets you back $1.25! You'd pay more than that at Taco Bell, right?
(4)David H.
One of the best meals I had in Nashville, if not the best. The combination of great food, great service, good sauces, and live music are hard to beat! The ribs here are fall of the bone delicious, and the sausage absolutely to die for. The pulled chicken and the brisket are just ok, but seriously, the ribs and sausage more than make up for it. That, and the fact that they not only have three normal sauces, but also spicy variations make this one of the best experiences in town. That, and the fact that our server was super attentive and didn't mind telling us that the iced tea was not up to their standards, and they'd comp us free iced tea on the house once a fresh batch was brewed. Outdoor seating here is a must, especially when live music is involved!
(5)Katie Y.
I'm giving this place 2 stars because the fried pickles were delicious. I stopped here while driving cross country, and my famous last words were "It's a BBQ place in Nashville, how bad can it be?" It can be terrible, apparently. They should change their name to Drifters Fried Pickles because their BBQ is inedible. My boyfriend and I split the BBQ Platter with brisket, pulled pork and smoked sausage. The smoked sausage was covered in BBQ sauce, which I had never seen before and did not understand or enjoy, but that was the least of their offenses. The other meats tasted like they had been soaked in water. Literally. Each chew resulted in a spray of water into my mouth. Does that make you want to throw up too? I hope so because it's gross. And confusing. Neither of us are picky eaters or the type to send food back, but I couldn't eat it. At all. We debated for a good 10 minutes about what to do, and finally decided we should let the management know in case it was a fluke that they were selling awful, waterlogged BBQ. He apologized profusely (like it wasn't his first time, just sayin'), and took half off our check. But, I couldn't NOT review this place in case it wasn't a fluke at all.
(2)Tara A.
LOVED their sauces. Wish they were a big enough place to bottle and sell them, would have been worth checking my luggage to being them home! Fun atmosphere too.
(4)Kim Y.
If you love corndogs, you have to try this place. It is a big old tasty dog hand dipped in the hushpuppy batter. So good. The person below who complained about it being greasy?! Um, so...clearly she's never had a corndog? Mmmmm, I love me a baked healthy battered mystery meat log. Seriously. Even if you don't love corndogs and are over on the East side drunk - go to Drifters and eat a corndog. As mentioned below you can also bring along your veggie friend and they will be stoked to find tons o' options which for a BBQ joint is pretty unheard of. The meat is average, but the sauce variety is really tasty. I'd stick with the above mentioned and the appetizer plates. The beer is reasonable, they have good happy hours/specials and my whiskey+diet was plenty strong. The service is awesome, we had Jessica and I remember because she was so friendly and adorable as well as helpful in aiding us getting a great bang for our buck!
(4)Jennifer P.
Nothing better than stumbling in after a night hitting up Five Points and ordering a late night PBR and hand battered corn dog. Mmm. The jalepano hush puppies are a must too. For those vegetarian/vegan they didn't forget you either! They have quite a few options. The BBQ grilled tofu quesadilla and tofu tacos are both delicious though! Pair their delish food with cheap beer, open mic nights, pub crawls and a nice staff and you have the recipe for bar excellence.
(5)Traci W.
My first taste of Nashville came on a cross country trip, and I'd give a pinky toe to have this place in my hometown of San Diego. As a vegan, I wasn't expecting much in the way of vegetarian options in Tennessee, but Drifters proved me wrong. WAIT.....you're telling me vegetarians can get BBQ too?!? They had the most mind-blowing tofu BBQ. It was prepared by people who clearly knew what to do with tofu - not served up like an afterthought. Even my husband, the tofu-averse closet carnivore loved it. And Drifters offered a vast array of BBQ sauces. I couldn't find a single one that I *didn't* like. Service was fantastic. For you beer drinkers, they offer a buy-1, get-1 coupon for happy hour. Happy hour just became a little happier. And though I'd highly recommend the hush puppies, either come REALLY hungry or order them when you're with a party bigger than 2. They are both delicious and super-filling. So you can't stop eating them......and then you're stuffed before your entree arrives. I ended up taking a lot of my BBQ with me for later. You know what, worse things have happened. Also have to give a shout-out to the local musicians who were playing that night. Between the BBQ Tofu, the great service, and the laid-back deck with the live music, I cannot wait until my next trip to Tennessee --- specifically to Drifters.
(5)Sari H.
Small place with great garage atmosphere and good barbeque, including vegetarian! It really is kid-friendly even though it sure looks like a bar (TN is that way, it seems). We also had a super awesome bartender/server. The hush puppies were especially tasty. The fried tofu wasn't mind-blowing or anything, but it was pretty exciting just to be able to go to a BBQ place with the carnivorous family and be able to eat something other than just sides. The coleslaw and black beans were also delicious, and I'm told the brisket and chicken were amazing.
(4)Allison B.
Drifters is the kind of place where everyone knows your name. The staff is friendly and the food is good. I have had several different things off the menu, but my favorite is the BBQ brisket sliders. They are tender and Drifters has several different sauces, so you will surely find one you like. I also really love the hush puppies. There are a little spicy and are served with a white BBQ sauce. I haven't had anything bad here. Drifter's also has vegetarian selections. They have 2 for 1 nights a few times a week, and with their beer selection makes for a fun night. They also have a full bar and knowledgeable bar tenders that will whip up your favorite treat. They also have a whiskey of the month that they have a special price on. Drifters also has live music, karaoke and trivia nights. I'm a fan of the trivia, but that might be because my table came in 2nd place the last time we were there. Drifters is always my go to place for drinks or a quick dinner. The patio is spacious and dog friendly.
(4)Melody B.
Adam was our server and he was so informative about the menu and also other places we should visit while we were there. The BBQ was really good but the sides we just average. It's a cool hole in the wall bar if that's what you are looking for... Adam made our experience exceptional!!
(4)Dean F.
This place is not easy to find but once you have get ready! Great atmosphere, killer BBQ, and friendly service. The wall lists the music schedule and I 'm going back.
(5)Scott H.
Great outdoor patio! Love drifters...almost always live music and drink specials! best place in 5 points to sit outside with friends and enjoy the nice weather!
(5)Dale T.
BBQ was very disappointing. Got the sampler platter, and most of it was dry. Left off the sausage, but waitress was nice enough to give me a discount off the bill. The rub was good on the ribs, but none of it was smoked that much. Staff is nice, dive bar feel is nice. But the food was definitely not good.
(2)Ray D.
Good fried pickles, DRY, DRY, BBQ, got the sliders, dry as roofing shingles. Good beer though.
(2)Taylor T.
I visited Drifters BBQ this past summer and was a huge fan because of one of their flavors of BBQ sauce. It was very vinegar-y, and tasted so delicious! I swear I probably poured that whole bottle of sauce onto my pulled pork sandwich. It was THAT good. The fries were decent, nothing special. Just go there for the sauce. It's heavenly. Also I love the location! 5 points is such a cute up-and-coming area. I've been wanting to go back to Drifters for a while now, but my mom and sister never want to come with me. I guess they didn't have the same experience I had...but man, THAT SAUCE! (:
(4)Kendyl S.
I love Drifters! I should start this by saying that Im a vegetarian. I dont eat meat at all and thats why Drifters is so great! They offer tons of vegetarian options along with their meat options so no matter if you have a group full of carnivores and a token vegetarian or vice Versa, everybody wins! The food is always consistently pretty good. Get the HUSH PUPPIES. Jalapeno hush puppies. So good! Also a good patio for sitting and talking and drinking on a warm evening. I guess they have live music some nights I never go for that.
(4)Matt P.
More uninspired East Nash grub from the folks who brought you the same bland garbage at Batter'd N Fried and Beyond The Edge. I feel bad negatively reviewing a BBQ joint without having their BBQ, but here goes. The catfish was thin, salty, surely previously frozen and inedible. It's a tough task to pull off red-skin mashed potatoes, and this place fails miserably. The chicken tenders are identical to the frozen crap you get at Kroger. At least the beer was cold.
(1)Chris C.
Hard to find but well worth the effort. Had the half pulled pork and brisket sandwich. 4 oz. each and super flavorful, Try the super hot sauce. Fries were hot and seasoned to a T.
(4)Jenn Z.
I really must update my review, my first experience with Drifter's was lack luster to say the least. Cold corn cakes, mediocre service needless to say we left less than impressed, but, I continued to read other Yelper's reviews and like always I feel that we should give places a second chance, namely those in our hood. So that is precisely what we did! We returned on another week night with our youngest in tow, still the age where he sits in a high chair and guess what? they have them, so to those who glared at us while being seated at about 5:30 pm in the evening for dinner at a place that boasts it is family friendly, obviously they welcome us you should mind your business! I digress..... We were seated, waitress was very friendly, the place was pretty empty save for a large group apparently having a work function dinner. We came early to avoid the "bar crowd" because honestly as snarky as I may sound, I am not into taking my kids to bars, just so happens most eateries here have a bar. We decided to steer clear of the corn cakes this time, ironically our very attentive waitress brought us a basket for our little one to munch on without us even asking, and they were warm and soft. We both ordered the BBQ Brisket Nachos (this is pre-veggie eating), we enjoyed every bit of the nachos! Good balance of meat and toppings, the sauce was just sweet enough and the serving is very large. Now that I have given up meat, I am excited to return again and try some veggie options! Which by the way, how impressive is it that a BBQ place boasts a veggie friendly menu?? We were definitely far more impressed with this second visit than our first, and would now recommend friends enjoying something to eat there, namely those nachos! If I ever return sans kiddos, I will let you know how I feel about the drinks.....sigh.
(4)KMP G.
Every time I'm in Nashville, I make sure to stop in at Drifters for a veggie protein BBQ Burrito. Seriously. Crazy delicious. This is our favorite place in Nashville. They're usually pretty busy and slightly understaffed, but that doesn't mean we get bad service. I can never remember his name, but the guy that usually helps us is attentive, incredibly friendly, and knowledgeable. He's a chess tutor as well, which surprised us at first, but makes so much sense. Super cool guy.
(5)Joe H.
I know I'm a carpet-bagging damn yankee and that disqualifies my barbecue opinion to a certain degree, but damn! Everything - the pork, the beef, the sausage, the sauce, the beer selection, even the fries - was amazing. The weather was great, too, so I was able to sit outside and read while I ate. I'm definitely coming back here if/when I'm ever in Nashville again.
(5)Michelle P.
I only had drinks here but the people I was with ordered food. It looked good but I cant attest. I went on a Saturday afternoon and our server was really nice. They have great drink specials and I definitely see myself returning soon.
(4)Ian R.
I kind of wish that Drifters didn't have BBQ in the title. If it was called Drifters Roadhouse I would not have the same expectations, and would probably rate it slightly higher. The three stars really comes from three things that I enjoyed at Drifter BBQ. The outdoor porch area was perfect on the warm spring night that we went, the corndog and BBQ nachos were pretty damn good, and I am a sucker for a wide selection of BBQ sauces so I can create my own flavor. Those three things meant that me and the family had a good time and left happy. As for everything else it was kind of hit and miss. I had the BBQ sliders so I got to sample three food groups, pork, chicken and beef. They were fair and I enjoyed dosing them in the sauces (the Texas and New Mexico were my favorites) but as any good southerner knows real barbecue shouldn't need sauce. Drifters BBQ is more like "oven barbecue" than real BBQ. What I mean is that the meat was well cooked, but there is not much smoke flavor at all. I think I remember reading when they opened that they have some kind of high tech oven that slow cooks the meat and then they finish it on the grill. I have done this myself when it is cold out and I don't want to fire up the grill. Slow cooked meat with a good sauce is tasty, but that doesn't make it barbecue. Wasn't bad, but I can see how hard core BBQ fans would be less than impressed. I did highly enjoy the BBQ nachos as it is a great idea that more places should go for. It is crazy simple, just use BBQ sauce instead of salsa, cheese, sour cream and meat and you have a delicious tangy treat. If you want to stay on the safe side an order of Nachos and a corndog would probably leave you very satisfied. At least till the stomach ache later that night kicks in. Still. when the weather is nice and I need some guilty pleasure type food and a cold beer I could definitely see myself going back. I will probably even leave happy.
(3)Kristin Marie S.
Tim you rock! We went this past Saturday and I ate like a Vegan Queen. Tim was well versed in the menu items, did you know the fried pickles are vegan? The hush puppies are not. His girlfriend is a vegan so he totally understood the in's and out's. I also got the vegan burrito which hit the spot, especially after the previous night's disaster at Suzy Wongs. I've eaten here as a non-Vegan last year too and it has a delicious pork quesadilla. The chicken wings are also full chicken wings. The pescetarians really enjoyed the catfish. Which we learned was farmed so it has more of a cod taste. Overall, I always have a great time and it's non-smoking!!! I can't wait for a nice day so I can go dominate on the ping pong table!
(4)Pete B.
Yeah! Great sandwich called the Drifter. Amazing side sauces and cool little inside. Great friendly staff. Give it a go.
(5)Rachel S.
If you are looking for a friendly, quick, finger licking good meal this is the place. They have happy hour from 11am-7pm everyday and on Weds and Thurs ALL day. That is damn amazing. Food is good, not amazing, but the sauces make up for what the food is slightly lacking. Service was great and friendly. Place is on the verge of a dive which is nice. Great place to stop in for a beer or a full meal.
(4)Kris C.
It's a fun place--I was attending a party but I had a great time! The service was awesome and the pulled pork BBQ nachos were out of this world!! I will be back!
(4)Hanna H.
For my husband's birthday he wanted to keep the evening low key, get a couple beers and have some conversation with a small group of people. He decided on a bar in East Nashville and he and I arrived first. We sat down and quickly realized just about everyone in the place was smoking and while I don't have a problem with that in general, I knew we'd all enjoy our food a little more if we weren't eating cigarette smoke too (I know when they have the windows open it isn't as stuffy). So, I gracefully told our waitress that we'd have to leave (I hated doing that!) and we ventured out to find an alternative. Once our friends arrived we spent some time looking for somewhere else to go and around the corner from where we were was Drifters BBQ. Our friend poked his head inside and then gave us the thumbs up (no smoking inside). Why not try a little hole in the wall, right? We were pleasantly surprised by the food and great service. Our waiter was very eager to please and made great conversation with the whole table. The vibe was very low-key and quiet enough to talk without needing to shout. We started with an appetizer of Fried Pickles which were really good! They have a hint of jalapeno spiciness, but the ranch sauce helped keep it cool. I generally eat vegetarian if there are decent options (which there definitely are at this place), but I decided to go with the Fiesta Chicken Salad (a bit pricey at $10.99). My husband got the pulled pork sandwich with fries (as did one friend) and our other guest went with the sliders (pulled chicken, pulled pork and I think pulled brisket) with hush puppies and slaw. Everyone was very pleased with their meal and the fries were amazing! Just the right kind of crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. The BBQ sauce choices were all very different and we enjoyed testing each one. The waiter also offered suggestions of what to use on our individual meals. We got there for happy hour so the two-for-one special was nice and all but one of us took advantage of that. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience here and we were excited to have another local place to add to our "must frequent often" list!
(4)Carolyn M.
I don't like the food here, but for friendly service, good patio, good bar, good layout, kid-friendly, good specials, and good hours, I am willing to overlook it. Definitely not where you bring an out of towner for the Nashville BBQ experience, but great for regular hang out.
(3)Sarah M.
Kind of went here by accident, but I'm so glad we did! First of all, we were in Nashville for a weekend from Chicago and my husband wanted to have some BBQ although I'm not a big fan. I was so surprised by the variety on their menu. My husband was able to order a variety of BBQ sliders (which he said were fantastic) and I had the vegetarian black bean nachos. I'm not even a vegetarian, but these were like the best nachos I've ever had. We were planning to go out to dinner later that night, but canceled because we outdid ourselves here. The service was great and we had fun playing ping pong outback - great spot! oh - and I should mention we almost went to the larger bar/restaurant next door (don't remember the name) and we walked in and it was a big cloud of smoke - yuck. Where can you still smoke in restaurants? or even bars? I don't get it. Anyway, drifters had no smoking inside which is how we ended up there!
(4)Erin J.
Things I like about Drifters: great happy hour, lots of vegan & veggie friendly items on the menu, awesome deck that they allow our dog to hang out on Things I don't like about Drifters: the food. I've had the nachos which had an off balance chip to topping ratio (WAY too many chips, not enough toppings), the veggie burger (which was ok but total mush - very difficult to eat), the BBQ "pit tater" (baked potato tasted like it was baked a couple of days before I ate it), and the chips & salsa (the salsa had so much bottled lime juice it was inedible). They also play scream-rock music sometimes which I despise. That has improved though. I know we'll go back for the things we like, but we'll probably skip the food.
(3)Daniel S.
My wife, daughter, and I ate here last night. The place was empty. This might have been due to the rain. They had great 2 for 1 drink specials although not that many beers on tap. My wife had the Tofu Dinner with Black Beans and Cole Slaw, which she says was good; it didn't look that great to me. My daughter had the Corn Dog, which looked like standard pub fare. The hilight was the BBQ Chimichanga with brisket. Surprisingly this was the best chimichanga I have ever had. Perhaps it would get a lower rating if I had higher expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised with that chimichanga.
(4)Anthony N.
1am - 1 server. Slow service. Overpriced frozen food served. Large cockroaches walking on the tables outside, one which came out of the bbq sauce holder. I wouldn't recommend this place, even if it was the only late night place open (which it isn't).
(1)Jamie D.
Drifters is a local BBQ spot that also features live music via the attached art venue (some nights). They have a full service bar with seats, an outdoor patio and plenty of places on the inside. The food here is great. We always get the hush puppies. They are like Ruffles; you can't have just one. And, that goes for the beverages; you can't have just one. Drifters is a great place to eat and equally in a hangout spot. The thing here that lights my fire is the array of BBQ sauces. They have lots to chose from. One great menu item - the BBQ tofu sandwich. For reals, it's goooood. I really get into it. Or, rather, it gets into me! The owners of this spot also own Beyond the Edge and Battered n' Fried. So, they are well known around Five Points. Also, they are open as late as the bars. Although you may over look Drifters (it is set back behind Beyond the Edge at the back of the parking lot), you will be in the "in" once you have had the experience.
(4)Jamie A.
Holy corndogs, Batman! I wish I could say the same for the barbecue, but it didn't really do it for me. We got brisket and it was wearing a pulled pork disguise...way too watery/greasy. The bun literally disintegrated halfway through the sandwich. The hand-dipped corndog, however, more than made up for the lackluster meat. Service was polite, but almost corporate-like minus the "flair". Kind of off-putting. I should probably give it a 2...but that corndog saved the day.
(3)Tom S.
Service wasnt the best but hell. Who really cares when your at a fun place. My wife and I were passing through and felt in the mood for bbq. I yelped this place and decided to try it out. The only other place that I really loved was phill's in sd (5/5). If you know of that place we got a base to gague. If not then, my bad. The pulled pork was good. They have these ketchup bottles filled with bbq sauce on the table. Like 4 or 5. I went to get some drinks for me and the chick and the bartender said, "hold on ill get your drink tickets". Drink tickets? (I went on sunday) he came back with two drink tickets. Buy one get on free on any drink. The price at the bar were same as any other place but 2 for 1. That was cool. I want to do 5 but the server was so so. Plus, I would like to believe I am still giving a good reference as I think 4 or 5 stars are pretty much the green light. I say go for it. Its a little divey, but that adds to the fun, Esp. For a gen y crowd
(4)Stefanie P.
Wanna grab a beer in a quiet, clean, but has good food bar-? this is your place. 2 for 1 drinks from 4pm-7pm- so 2 Coors lights for $3.25 We always get a hush puppies with the special sauce = awesome Friends of mine rave about the brisket nachos Had the full slab of ribs- they're dry rub. Good rub, ribs were good. But not the best I ever had. They have a cart full of sauces, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Drifter. The waitress will tell you why they're special and what you may like. Server was friendly and I like how its non-smoking Outside they have a shuffleboard table and tons of outdoor seating, where some of the smokers were :-) Hooray for locally owned business, 2 for 1 drafts, and some alright bbq. Can have some bikers in there, but they're friendly :-)
(4)Mary L.
Currently my favorite East Nashville bar. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the drinks are so good, the food is delicious (and they have vegan options!!), AND it's dog friendly! We've come in a large group several times and the staff is always helpful and treats us really well. They have heaters on the patio so I'll continue to go there through the winter months.
(5)Peter A.
On a cool spring night, the patio can't be beat anywhere in Easty Nasty. Corn hole and ping pong in the back, a good bluegrass (sort of) band playing out front, $13 buckets of Yuenling (reminds me of other countries where the bucket is the primary beer special). Chill place...not a bad way to spend a couple hours.
(4)Mary F.
BBQ sandwich was really tasty, very skimpy on the meat though. Basic beer selection, not much of a choice, no imports. Service was very good. The atmosphere was laid back. Overall it was a good experience.
(3)Talon F.
This is a place for cheap beers and PORK NACHOS! The rest of the food is fine, but the nachos is really their forte in my opinion. 2 for 1 beer specials all the time. Live music most weekends and evenings. It's really more like a bar with good BBQ. Great place to chill.
(4)Nicole B.
Great food, good service. Outdoor seating. I love the five different sauces they bring to the table (Drifter's sauce is the BEST!) and their collard greens are really delicious. BBQ Nachos? Helllooo nurse!
(5)Darcy L.
The sauces are really good here, with 4 different regional types. The Texas sauce and the New Mexico sauce were both awesome. The service was good, and they have really reasonable prices here. I think my total was $11 for a beer and a pulled pork sandwich with fries. They also have dj's here, trivia nights, etc. Overall a great place to chill out with a group or a date. I had to knock it down to 4 stars because the pulled pork I had was pretty mediocre. (Which brings me to life's eternal question: Why is it so hard to get good bbq in Nashville, when we are only 3 hours from Memphis?) BUT, I will definitely try it again, might've just been an off night.
(4)Grace G.
I was a little nervous to visit Drifters for the first time because of all of the mixed reviews. I'm glad I didn't let the bad reviews scare me off because I ended up having a great experience. They had a good selection of beer on tap including my favorite - Yazoo Sly Rye Porter. Our waitress was super friendly and helpful. We ordered the Nachos appetizer, which were definitely enough for a full meal. I also tried the brisket burrito, which was delicious. There were a good variety of BBQ sauces to choose from to spice up your dish. The New Mexico was definitely my favorite. I will definitely be back!
(4)James J.
We went to Drifters at the recommendation of a relative who lives close to the restaurant. It's a dive, in a good way, but sits off the road in such a way that sherpas and pack animals are required to get there. Abandon hope of parking close by. We had a party of 10, which was accommodated nicely with a set of tables on the patio. Our server, Tim, was nice, if a bit scattered, and made an odd first impassion by telling us his name is Tim about 6 times. Tim, got it. The menu was diverse, with a ton of vegetarian selections. Being carnivorous, i ignored these and ordered a brisket platter. The brisket was tender if a bit bland. The selection of sauces ranged from ketchup to somewhat-spicy-ketchup. It did the job, though. The brisket came with slaw, beans and corn cakes. The corn cakes were great, and the beans were impressive. Others had corn dogs, chicken and fish. All agreed the food was decent if not spectacular. Tim survived his shaky start and was quite good, handling our large group promptly and with good humor. Overall, a nice night out. I'd return mainly for the atmosphere and music, and less for the food.
(4)Avonel R.
I placed a to go order over the phone, so I can't review the service. It was getting kind of late, and on a Sunday its hard to find anything open that has food for carryout so I ended up at Drifters. I tried the pulled chicken sandwich and it was okay. Not the best I've had, but not the worst. I have to say I expected more for the price. Also, the fries were very mediocre. I'm not sure if I'll end up here again.
(3)Patrick S.
OK, it's been a while since my first visit to Drifters, but i've probably been back 3-4 times. And not to sound like a pessimist, but i'm waiting on them to screw up the ribs. I ordered the ribs the first visit, and i can't seem to order anything else because there so damn good! And normally i'm one to try a bunch of stuff on the menu, but i usually just pick off other people plate, and give them a small taste of heaven on a bone. That's why i'm upgrading them to CINCO stars purely on the weight of their ribs. Oh, and there hush-puppies are money too!
(5)Lisa M.
They have a great fried tofu sandwich with lots of choices of bbq sauce. Very relaxed vibe.
(4)JJ D.
Ran across this place while driving through Nashville. The prices were very reasonable and the selection was great. They have live entertainment or at least some type of entertainment every night. The food was incredible. They smoke all their meat throughout the day. Their rib meat literally fell off the bone. I will definitely be going back the next time I'm in Nashville.
(5)Renae M.
I am a vegetarian, so it seems a little weird that I would review a BBQ joint but.....Drifter's rocks! They have a few veg. options like a pretty good veggie burger and a nice BBQ Tofu dish. The cole slaw is on time, and the hush puppies are nice as well. Their regional sauces are a big draw for me....I'll put BBQ sauce on anything! My fave is the TEXAS. It's sweet, rich, and has just the right amount of bite. If you like a hotttt sauce, then try the New Mexico...it has chipotle and habanero peppers. The Tennessee is a traditional vinegar based sauce, and there mustard based sauce (can't remember the name) is yummy as well. Food is great, atmosphere is casual and friendly, and they have a patio! This hidden East Nashville Gem is a must-try!
(4)Alan W.
I'll keep this simple: Drifter's has great food (and quite a variety of it), as well as fantastic service. Their staff will go out of their way to make sure you are completely satisfied. You cannot go wrong with this place.
(4)jerry a.
I'm a big bbq nerd and drifters didn't really hit the spot. I got pick 2 meat dinner combo and chose the brisket and sausage which cost me $14. Hands down I give the bbq sausage 5 stars and will definitely have it again. I'm used to sliced brisket, which this is not, it's either pulled or ????. the meat did not have an outstanding flavor and was a little on the dry side so I decided to sauce it up. on to the sauces; the drifter sauce had the runny consistency not very well blended tomatoes and was bland as far as a sauces go. The hot bbq sauce had some spice to it, but not much else, definitely lacking there to. After later reading the mustard based sauce was .... tada.... mustard and jalapeno's, which is exactly what it resemble and tasted like. it literally looked like someone had squirted some spicy brown in a cup and placed it with my meal. It came with cole slaw and baked beans, neither warranted a positive comment. The main problem with this place is close parking, there usually isn't any and since it was raining last night, you have to make the decision do I want to walk back to my car in the rain, or find somewhere with parking. I do however try not to judge a business on one visit and will definitely be back to check out some other items AND those delicious looking corn dogs!
(3)Samma A.
Drifters barbeque is actually smoked nearby at another of the owners restaurants; not enough room at Drifters. But it comes good and hot. Three things special I appreciate are the nice patio, barbeque chicken and serving their food all nite. It's the only place in east Nashville where you can sit down and order up some good BBQ at one in the morning.
(4)David W.
Refreshingly good service and tasty bbq. Fried pickles were great and so was my vegan bbq burrito. The rest of the table loved their food, as well. After some bad service somewhere else the night before, it was a great change of pace to get a knowledgeable and friendly server.
(4)Trey T.
one of my favorite low key hang out places. get the corn dog ask for Alabama sauce.
(4)steven c.
This place has the sexiest hush puppies on the planet. And some really good bbq too. The Texas sauce is awesome.
(4)Rachael S.
This place is very casual and cute , I love bbq but this place is missing what I feel is a BBQ stapel in pulled chicken, they only have roasted chicken, which to me is not too BBQ'Y if you ask me. I do love the New Mexico and Texas sauce they are so so good! I could probably drink them, and there is great service as well, meg is the best ;)
(3)sherri M.
the corn dogs are absolutely amazing. when i am splurging & having something deep fried, they are top on my list. fries are thin ones, which my hubby loves. i haven't tried the bbq. i had the veggie burger the first time i went to drifters, it was ok in flavor, but it fell apart & had to be eaten with a fork. they have trivia weekly, which i'm told is fun but don't attend due to hours.
(3)Tommy F.
If you go to Drifter's you must try their fantastic corn dog. It's like nothing I've ever had.
(3)Justin W.
This place has some incredible recipes that i dont think any other restaurant im nashville can touch. The pulled pork is great...melts in your mouth with a subtle smoke flavor. The brisket is delicious as well...tender and flavorful. Any Texas expatriot should be pleased..I know this one is. Though, neither of those are the big rockstars on the menu. The standout mindblowers are the catfish and the absolute best without a doubt is THE CORNDOGS. First of all the catfish is better than any catfish I have ever had. I'm not exagerating...try it. And I know corndogs may seem like novelty fair food, but trust me...they will change your life. And if you really want to do the right thing eat them with the Georgia mustard. The flavor is that good. The baked beans are so good, I don't even want to call them baked beans. They are literally the best I've ever had. Other than that, they have five sauces...well six if you mix the Texas sauce and the New Mexico sauce which my wife calls West Texas sauce (that's our favorite). Oh and great beer and booze specials. Drop by and stuff yourself. You'll thank me later.
(5)