John A’s Restaurant
2421 Music Valley Dr, Nashville, TN, 37214
John A’s Restaurant Menu
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Appetizers
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Soups & Salads
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Pasta
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Steaks
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Seafood & Chicken
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Sandwiches & Burgers
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Side Items
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Kid's Menu
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Desserts
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Beverages
Diabetics at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets serves burgers which are generally high in sodium and fat. Ensure that you pick the burgers which are light and doesn't contain too much sodium. Try ordering salads if you're concerned about your sugar intake and looking for healthy choices.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for Diabetics:
Johnny Rockets is a fine dining place for burgers, but you must be selective if you're a diabetic. Skip all kinds of dressing when you order a burger at Johnny Rockets as it will only spike the sodium content on your meal. Salads are often considered diabetic-friendly but not the ones at Johnny Rockets. Avoid Crispy Chicken Club Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as they are too high in sodium and fat.
Make sure you opt for water instead of the drinks available on the Johnny Rockets menu. Besides Diet Coke and Coffee, most of the drinks served at Johnny Rockets are high in sugar. Skip the shakes at Johnny Rockets to avoid high sugar intake. Breakfast is always preferred heavy for diabetics but most of the breakfast items on the Johnny Rockets menu are high in sodium and must be avoided.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Johnny Rockets:
Rocket Single Burger (1 Serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Bacon Cheddar Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 280mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Double Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 320mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Original Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 590mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea (8 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sweet Potato Fries, Side (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 370mg sodium, 30g carbs, 10g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side of Fries (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 460mg sodium, 30g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Healthy Meal suggestions for John A’s Restaurant
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Appetizers
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Soups & Salads
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Pasta
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Steaks
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Seafood & Chicken
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Sandwiches & Burgers
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Side Items
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Kid's Menu
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Desserts
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Beverages
High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Fast-food restaurants are your last resort if you are suffering from high BP. Most fast food restaurants including Johnny Rockets offer foods rich in sodium. High sodium intake can be even lethal for people concerned with high blood pressure. However, you can always try the salads or choose food without any extra dressing or side dishes to limit your sodium intake.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Blood Pressure
It is extremely important to avoid any kind of burgers with extra dressing at Johnny Rockets. You must also skip any kind of breakfast items except Pancakes at Johnny Rockets. Also, avoid Breakfast Belt Sandwich and Rocket Breakfast Burger at Johnny Rockets as both these items are too high in sodium. Also, avoid Crispy Chicken Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as well as any kind of dressing on other low-sodium salads available at Johnny Rockets. Skip shakes containing Oreo on the Johnny Rockets menu as Oreo shakes served at Johnny Rockets are high in sodium.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Strawberry Chocolate Swirl Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 810 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 30g), 300mg sodium, 90g carbs, 90g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Rocket Single Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 150 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 260mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 70 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 110mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Apple Juice (10 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 30mg sodium, 30g carbs, 30g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
High Cholesterol at Johnny Rockets
Burgers fall into the fast-food category and most fast-food items are high in cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, then it is advised that you skip any meal with excessive fat and sugar.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Cholesterol
You must skip all types of dressing on your burger. Also, avoid burgers like Smoke House Burger at all costs from Johnny Rockets menu. Skip all the drinks except coffee, iced tea, and diet coke as they are completely unhealthy for people with high cholesterol. Breakfast items on Johnny Rockets are very high in cholesterol and it is strictly recommended to avoid all the breakfast items on their menu including the sandwiches.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Johnny Rockets
Kids Cappuccino Crunch Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 740 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 20g), 310mg sodium, 100g carbs, 80g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Black Bean Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Spicy Houston Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 700mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Kids Banana Shake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 560 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat20g), 190mg sodium, 60g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Johnny's Breakfast Sandwich (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 230mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A on Johnny Rockets
Who owns Johnny Rockets?
Johnny Rockets is founded by Ronn Teitelbaum. Today, the restaurant chain is owned by Sun Capital Partners.
Does Johnny Rockets serve breakfast?
Yes, Johnny Rockets has a separate breakfast section, especially for breakfast meal. Johnny Rockets serves breakfast all day and night.
Where is Johnny Rockets located near me?
There are over 320 Johnny Rockets outlets across the United States. You can find a Johnny Rockets restaurant nearby using our Restaurant Listings directory.
What time does Johnny Rockets open and close?
All Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States opens at 8 AM and stays open till 9 PM. Some Johnny Rockets restaurants stay open till midnight at some locations.
Does Johnny Rockets have gluten-free?
Johnny Rockets offers a wide range of gluten-free items. You can opt for the gluten-free bun to turn your burger into a gluten-free burger. For assurance, you can check out Johnny Rockets gluten-free menu.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a restaurant franchise headquartered in the United States. The American restaurant chain features 1950s diner-style restaurant format with individual jukebox stations, red vinyl seats, chrome accents, etc. There are around 320 Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States.
Ron Teitelbaum from Los Angeles, California founded Johnny Rockets as a recreation of the 1940s vintage themed malt shops of his childhood. The first Johnny Rockets began its operations on June 6, 1986. Johnny Rockets specializes in American burgers and sandwiches as well as offers salads, starters, and shakes to enrich your dining experience at Johnny Rockets.
Healthy Food Options at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a fast-food restaurant and finding healthy food at Johnny Rockets can be a bit tricky. While you can always opt for the salads and healthy shakes at Johnny Rockets for healthy options, there are also some healthy burgers and sandwiches which you can bet on. Ensure that the sugar, sodium, and cholesterol is in check when you order food at Johnny Rockets.
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Address :
2421 Music Valley Dr
Nashville, TN, 37214 - Phone (615) 885-1540
- Website https://www.johnasrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :3:00 pm - 12:00pm
Specialities
- 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 : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Peter T.
It's bar food, it's poor bar food... If I was drunk and horny it would of been average... The music was worst than a Chinese ferry boat entertainment. ...this man couldn't sing or play the piano. I had the prime rib sandwich with ajus. The camel must of been a road kill., bread was from save alot. Fries were good, the same as my house...Spouses food was average... This place makes it on drinks I guess? I hope you have a better time, I will be back just on fairness. ..later
(2)Missy C.
Whenever I'm in town, I make it point to stop in and eat. We have been going for years now. Live music every night, and the atmosphere is family friendly. It seems on our last few visits, they have been working out some kinks (like a kitchen expansion, an addition, new staff) but any issues or growing pains they were experiencing seem to have been worked out on our most recent visit on July 11. My kids love the kids' burgers, mini-corn dogs and fried catfish nuggets. Often, the servers will work with us to make an appetizer into a meal for the kids by adding a side veggie or fries. As for the adults, my husband loves the prime rib, and I often choose one of daily specials but there is something for everyone here ranging from salads to pasta to broiled or fried fish and then some! As a family, we make it a point to share a fried moon pie for dessert too! We were surprised to see such an awesome deck had been built to accommodate more live music and create and outdoor dining room! We love John A's!
(5)Trevis G.
I don't ever remember being so frustrated with such poor service in a long time. It was close to an hour before our food was brought out from the time we arrived. No drink refills. My chicken topped dinner salad came with no chicken. Hostess seated our party of 4 at a table with 3 chairs then left. Finally, a waiter brought another chair after about 10 minutes of me standing around. Not a good visit. The house salad was way over priced at $7. It was a tiny side salad.
(1)Kay L.
We were totally happy with the food, Danny our waiter and the music! The ribs were so good I couldn't stop and finished all the rack...I might not be able to walk out...bring me a stretcher! The huge baked potato loaded with butter. Oh gads, what have I done?
(5)Jay R.
My waitress was kind & friendly, and she brought out hot, fresh catfish bites fairly quick. I like this place a lot! Good mix of sports, drinks, Southern cooking, and music.
(5)Anastasia M.
Bad food. Awful service. We waited over an hour for food that should have been up in under 15; when we asked our server how much longer, her nonchalant reply over her shoulder was: "I have no idea."
(1)Carl B.
Roach infested - stay clear. I had 2 roaches run across my food as I watched in horror. See my attached photo.
(1)Laura R.
A very laid back place where the food tastes more like restaurant than bar. The live music was great, kept the mostly "older" crowd entertained. I know others complained of the service, but we had no problems at all. Everything was quick, and it was a full house for us! I had the chicken fried chicken which was a huge juicy chicken breast, and the coating was just right. The mashed potatoes had a definite home style taste, loved them. We also tried the ribs which were cooked just right; falling off the bone. Very strong, smoky flavor. Catfish wasn't bad either, I'm not a seafood person and these weren't real fishy, which I appreciate. (Sample platter) Over all it's a place we definitely will come back too.
(4)Martà M.
It has been a long time since I've called the East side of Davidson County home. However, I have been using the same veterinarian for damn near ten years and refuse to go elsewhere - which led me to search for a nearby bar and patio while waiting for my pup. I noticed a billboard advertising this place, and whipped out my Yelp app to map me there. As I drew closer to my destination via back roads, I realized this little place is right in the heart of the Opry madness. (Obviously a very touristy part of town that I don't particularly care for.) Despite this revelation, I decided to proceed as I just wasn't thinking all that clearly anyway. When I pulled up to the place, I thought "Good gawd, what have I gotten myself into?" I wasn't even sure they were open until the neon sign told me otherwise. There were zero cars in the lot, but it WAS mid-afternoon on a weekday. The interior surprised me though...in more ways than one! Ha! It was decorated far better than one would imagine, and I even caught a glimpse of Navy memorabilia displayed on the wall. (Brownie points for that from this lady.) I didn't spend much time inside though. I wanted the patio. The interstate noise is pretty loud, but the patio is large and equipped with fans to aid in beating the summer heat. The server was super nice, but wasn't the best at being attentive throughout the entire visit. The beer selection was minimal for my preferences, so I opted for their $1.00 draft PBR. Hey...it may not be the best beer, but pretty damn good for only $1.00 each. I was surprised to discover the offer Honey Jack, but was saddened when it became apparent it had been sitting on the rocks too long, likely waiting to be delivered. The food definitely didn't win any points with me. The hushpuppies were overcooked, and the nachos...ugh...I just don't have words. They were awful. While I'm glad I made use of downtime by venturing somewhere new, I seriously doubt I will ever return to this little "palace".
(2)Cindy C.
Prime Rib dinner was great. We had a party of 10 and all enjoyed the food and live entertainment. Reuben sandwich scored high with the group as well. Don't miss this place.
(4)David I.
Great little gem in an area of mostly overpriced restaurants. The prices are reasonable and the food was very good. I recommend the prime rib sandwich, catfish, and the moon pie dessert. Not necessarily all at the same time unless you're very skinny or just simply don't care about your appearance in which case, load it up!
(4)Joe K.
Went there and had a couple beers and wings! They don't have the biggest tap selection but it's not bad, happy hour =2 dollar taps! There was a wing special so I ordered half a dozen buffalo wings and they were great! Orders a club sandwich to go and it was also amazing! I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)L A.
Went there Saturday night and while the band was nice, had the worst service ever. We waited well over 2 hours for a meal and watched people who came in well after us get their meals, eat and leave. Finally we complained ( and so did another couple a few tables away who didn't get their food). That couple just left and no one seemed to care. We complained and the manager and waitress could really care less. She told us we could wait another 15-20 mms or just leave. Stupidly we waited. So about 2 1/2 hours after we sat, our lukewarm food arrived. Ultimately the manager discounted our meals...but that doesn't make up for the horrible experience. Coincidentally ( or maybe not) the guests who left early and us are African American...the only ones in the restaurant who had issues being served.
(1)John M.
Wife and I tried to have dinner yesterday. When we arrived we told the greeter we only had about 30 mins to eat. Asked about the wait. Her reply was it will depend on what you order. We sat and immediately ordered cokes and Two appetizers. Cokes came quickly from what seemed to be a new or confused server. After 40 mins of waiting for potatoes wedges and wings. I left to drive back downtown to pick up a client. Since I had to return to get anything to eat, my wife waited and ordered steaks for us. Upon returning from the Broadway area of downtown with our client to the Opry, I went straight back to John A's where our food had actually just arrived at our table. Wife said server was unaware I had even left. I returned sat down, ate my meal. Never saw our server after being gone for 45 mins. Server never checked on us. When we were done we had to beg for a check which was far more than expected. That and non existent service isn't a very good business model. We will NEVER return to this venue as it is now.
(1)AnnaMarie R.
The fried pickles were amazing!! You could tell they were hand battered we loved them. My husband and I also had the prime rib sandwich it was also really good. The service was great it was pretty busy they only had two servers on I was very impressed with the service. They music was good too. We would definitely go again. Prices were great too!
(5)Keith P.
We stopped into John A's for dinner before heading to the nearby Grand Ole Opry. It was a fun warm-up for the evening. We started off with the fried pickles, per the many recommendations here. They were a great way to begin and went wonderfully with the beer! The Catfish was everything it was advertised to be...moist and cooked to perfection. Being sensitive to highly spiced items and fried, we had it broiled and it was GREAT! We also had the Prime Rib, which was served exactly at the medium rare as ordered. The walls are filled with country memorabilia and while the staff was a bit pressed, when we mentioned we had to make the show, they were very prompt to get us out the door and help us with directions. Well worth the stop!!
(4)Esther K.
I read a great review on here saying that this is the place to get away from the drama. Well I couldn't agree more. Every place after John A's just makes me want to ditch the young crowd and get back to this lil ol' oasis of calm. The walls are adorned with faces of people I can only imagine are John A's pals - or kinfolk I guess, too. Some of them are cheersing you with a black rectangle. One senior lady is wearing a delightful matching floral hat and overcoat. Others are conveying the dining experience, just having the time of their life right as John A snaps 'em mid-bite. Inexplicably, there are also Disney decals on the walls. Find YOUR favorite why dontcha and get a photo with it. John A supports amateur photography. Ladies be warned: if you go to the bathroom, you will be tempted to open the cat-flap over the privates of an Adonis. Don't be alarmed: it's just a photograph! But alarmed is just what that photograph is! Your comrades back in the bar will know just what you're up to, you cheeky minx. In summary, I would recommend John A's Little Palace if you enjoy the sensation of having scores of old folks watch you while you eat delicious hush puppies and onion rings.
(5)Linda G.
Staying at the KOA down Music Valley Drive, John A's was one of the suggested restaurants with country music entertainment at night to try. We had fabulous steak dinners..cooked to our medium rare delight. Staff were very kind & friendly. Home made peach cobbler & pecan pie to die for. That night's singer came by every table to welcome & chat a little. Locals all knew her well it appeared. John A's really added to our Nashville vacation! Linda.
(5)Ned T.
This is a great spot! Coming from Indianapolis I thought Sunday open night mic ohhhnoo. Complete opposite experience really great performers and food. Real Nashville experience.
(5)Dennis C.
So I walked in thinking a 3 star. Its a classic country place and im a little younger. I ordered my steak and started thinking a 4 stars then the classic band kicked off the drinks were so good and cold and to be honest it was awesome to hang out with an older crowd and not have to worry about drama so I started thinking 5 stars. Well all that thinking needed more beers. And yes they kept them coming. I decided on a 4 stars. Long and short. This is an awesome place. Dont come here expecting more than a good ol fashioned country club with good music and good food. Oh and when I come back. And yes I will be back. Ill see you at the best local country spot in Nashville.
(4)Brian T.
Great service and good food at a good value.
(4)Kathie H.
I agree that the catfish was the best thing on the menu, but it wasn't anything special. and the fries were cold. It was pretty crowded the night we were there and the waitress never came back to see if we wanted another drink. What we really enjoyed here was the group "The Classics". I would definitely go back to listen to them.
(3)Brad K.
Third time back to John E's and have not been disappointed yet. Cabbage and sausage soup was better than I have had and the Chicken Salad Wrap was fresh and large. Wife had Beef Stroganoff which was average. Staff are always personable and the house band is entertaining. Fair price and good Nash Vegas atmosphere. I would recommend trying if you are staying up near Opryland Hotel and Resort.
(4)R. W.
Tonight I had the best fried catfish, best deep fried pickles, best mushroom soup, and best hush puppies ever! And I heard the best Willie Nelson impersonation ever, (lead guitar player for the Chad Wesley band). Our waitress was Nadilyn, service was great too! I could have said it's the best cole slaw I've ever had, but my wife is sitting next to me and them is fightin' words.
(5)Lucas S.
Food was excellent, atmosphere was homie, small town feel with big town food! Was really shocked at how excellent the food and service was for such a small hometown place in Nashville.
(5)Jen H.
I was out of town, on business and was looking for a bar to grab a few drinks with some coworkers. The hotel's front desk recommended that we try John As. Didn't want anything fancy nor did we want to deal with a crowded restaurant. This place had a full bar, hot food, good wait staff and live music. It just seemed like the decor and ambience was plucked right out of my grandparent's basement back in the 80s. It looks very out dated and has tons of weird photos of people from the 70s and 80s. However, the food was good...especially the hush puppies...and it was perfect for what we were looking for.
(3)Brandon M.
I liked this spot a lot. In fact it was one of the few places we went back to during our week long stay. The first time we went we just drank and had dessert (the cobbler was outstanding). The second time we had dinner and of course added some adult beverages in there too. I had the salmon and veggies. It was one of the few (Mrs. Obama Approved) healthy meals I had during our Nashville stay. The food didn't blow off my hat but it was good and I would definitely eat there again. The music was great both times. The first night was an open mic night but everyone seemed to have a good voice. The second was a local band. The service was great. More importantly the people and vibe was awesome. Local feel... local acts... and they didn't make you feel bad for being a tourist. Stroll on in my friends, I think you will like this place.
(4)Linda A.
Oh come on...so it's not for hipsters. There's one thing about John A's that a lot of places could learn from...know your clientele! It's "old school before old school was cool" so to speak. But we've been there many times and we always have a good time. Friendly folks...pretty good food (sometimes DARN good food), nice music, ice cold beer. On top of that, the decor is interesting in that you can spend a lot of time just wondering how it all got put together. We have out of town guests who love it. I can take my parents here and they can hear some old country tunes live, are able to hear us when we speak to them and sit down at the same time. So yeah...it's not a place with the beautiful people and $17 martinis...but you don't leave feeling ripped off or like you dropped $150 on a disappointing dinner served by snooty wait staff. Not that there's anything wrong with that sometimes.
(4)Glenn S.
I am in Nashville on business. When traveling I like to try local restaurants. I tried John A s based on the recommendation of the hotel clerk. It was a short walk from my hotel. I ordered the half rack of ribs with a side of vegetables. Both items were disappointing. The ribs lacked flavor and the visual matched the flavor. The vegetables were mushy and tasteless. The only item interesting was the large photo of Tommy Lasorda outside the entrance. I was told my the bartender Lasorda is a friend of the owner.
(2)Jeffrey A.
Horrible service not from wait staff but from kitchen. Waiter did his best. Waited over an hour for 2. When the food did arrive the chicken was dry and stringy. I had the prime rib sandwich which being from Chicago was nothing more than an expensive Italian Beef sandwich. Offered us free desert but we couldn't get out of there fast enough. Wont be back.
(1)Carie S.
I love local, so I really wanted to like this place. Never again. Probably the worst meal I've ever had. Three of us came for lunch. My chicken tastes like sour meat. My husbands "club" sandwich was a pile of meat on dry bread without lettuce or any veggies. My sons ribs were blah and tasted like cafeteria buffet ribs. I really regret spending a dime here. It ruined my day and sucked me out of $60.
(1)Jen P.
The food is really good. The service is okay. The atmosphere is very laid back. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich & asked for a loaded baked potato, reported to be the "Best in Nashville!" They never brought the baked potato to me, but I was totally okay with that because I was stuffed! We got caught in traffic after hitting the grocery store, so I ate some Doritos on the way in the car. By the time they brought the grilled chicken sandwich, the potato didn't sound like a great idea anymore. The guy I ate dinner with ordered some onion rings as a side. The waiter told him if he ordered the appetizer, he'd get more and it would cost less, so that's what we did. And holy cow! They were so good we ordered a second plate. Overall, a great place to go for an easy, affordable, relaxed meal with your friends.
(4)Jen B.
I've been here a dozen or so times over the years. We are always some of the youngest folks in here by 15 years or so, but these folks are here for fun too and are always super nice and very welcoming. There is a big bar with lots of seating, plus a huge dining area and a lovely deck area out back. They also feature live music most nights after 8pm. It's Grandpa's favorite place to go, but that isn't to only reason we like it here. I find myself craving the fried catfish nuggets and hush puppies as we cross over the Tennessee boarder. The food is great, although not in the healthy sort of way. I usually get a token side salad to balance the deep-fried goodness. The favorite things we order are fried to perfection and since we are always here while on vacation we don't think about the calories, we only think about the YUM! I had the onion rings for the first time yesterday and now I have ANOTHER fried thing that I love here. Hand cut, think slabs of onion, lightly floured and perfectly fried, I wish there were more in an order, but i am thankful that there aren't. The fried pickles are made with the long sandwich cut pickles and not the little hamburger style slices. We also love the catfish nuggets, the fried zucchini, the nephews like the cheeseburger and the fried chicken sandwich. p.s. Ladies, don't forget to check under that flap in the bathroom. (hee-hee)
(4)Sarah R.
Went here on vacation it was near my hotel. Went here for some apps. I got the fried pickles yummm they were good and they give you a lot. My mom and dad got the twice baked potato they said it was alright that they had much better. My dad took a bite and then did not even eat the rest so thats a clue of the taste. They have bands that play old country music if you like that type of music or are more into the newer stuff. Tend to attract older people was not aware of this. Jim Ed Brown was there he sang some, saw him at the Grand Ole Opry earlier that day.
(2)Frank S.
Best fried catfish I've ever had. Great live music nightly.
(5)Holly C.
Music was ok food was ok ... We wouldn't go out of our way to go back but it was a good time ... But I'm skeptical now bc of the review 2 down from me
(3)Deanna P.
Food was great! The crowd is a little bit older but we still enjoyed the live music and food.
(4)Jesse O.
Visiting Nashville for a couple of weeks and staying nearby. A local place across yhe street was packed, not 1 seat, so we decided to try this place. Let me just say not 1 person sitting at the bar on a Friday night at 6 pm, should have known then. Percooked frozen food.
(1)Devin A.
Fun local hangout for good food and great music....Staying at the cluster of hotels across the street from Opryland for a recent convention, I ventured onto the streets to find a taste of Nashville. Being a Sunday night, my options were a bit limited as many of the restaurants I was interested in were closed. I started at the Opryland Backstage Grille, which promised a singing waitstaff and above average food. When I stepped in, however, I was immediately turned off by the karaoke setup and its Applebee's-like decor/menu. It was getting late and it was starting to rain, so I went next door to John A's. John A's is not a fine dining establishment, but its also not a kitschy, corporate tourist magnet. It has the feel of a hometown sports bar, with better than average food, and a warmth and personality that grows on you with each successive beer. I ordered the full rack of ribs with a side of green beans and a salad. The house salad was what you would expect. The green beans were delicious, though a hair saltier than I would've liked. The ribs were fantastic, with a fall off the bone tenderness and just the right combination of smoke and sweet. The food was good, but what will keep me coming back to John As was the music. The house band, along with a rotating group of guest musicians and vocalists, was great. Their sets didn't feel like over produced productions, they felt like impromptu jam sessions. If you're looking for a five star restaurant, then you won't find it here. But what you will find is good food, great music, and fabulous hometown Nashville experience.
(4)Daniel B.
Good food, clean place, good service, and fun place to be. This is a great spot to visit for homestyle food and country music. The sandwiches and appetizers here are "good eating." However, it's not the food that draws me in as much as it is the LIVE music aspect. It's especially fun when diners step up the mic backed by the house band and surprise you with their talent.
(3)Jenny M.
I was visiting Nashville and was looking for somewhere to eat before going to the Oprey. I was using Yelp in the area, and this place popped up...and after reading the reviews I thought why not? It is a weird little dive but that is one of the coolest things about it! The menu has lots of variety and I was with a group of 7...so that was a plus for us. We all got something different and everyone was very happy. When they say they have the best fried pickles they aren't kidding! In fact the onion rings were the best I've ever had as well. The breading is super light and they are the perfect amount of crunch! Also...we got 2 pitchers of margaritas and they did not disappoint! Lola was our server and she was awesome! Great way to start the night off, I recommend it to anyone in the area looking for something funky and delish!
(4)Kara Z.
What a strange place, but we really liked it! One of the hotel staff at the Hampton Inn Opryland recommended it, but did warn me that "it tends to attract an older crowd". We went after a conference with a group of four- one each in our 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's. As we approached the restaurant we laughed because the hotel person was right- there were actually giant pictures of older adults/seniors on the outside of the restaurant! Our server was kind of weird- we couldn't hear or understand half of what he said and he kind of seemed to have an attitude we couldn't quite grasp- we couldn't tell if he was trying to be funny or what. This is a very casual restaurant. We sat at one end of a long table and the next group of people who came in sat right next to us, kind of at the same table, which made for less private conversation. But it's kind of loud in the restaurant anyway, and it was OK. They had an AWESOME band that blended so well with one another and they all took turns singing. We were so impressed. One couple near us even got up to dance- so sweet. We had the fried pickles- the basket has 10 spears in it which was perfect for the four of us. They were delicious! This seems like a menu item we are starting to see in Illinois but these were much better than any I've had elsewhere. I ordered a steak. It came with a house salad and that was surprisingly good- probably because they sprinkled bacon on top- that gets me every time. :) The honey mustard dressing was spicier than honey mustard dressing usually is but it was very good. I didn't particularly care for my steak- it had a lot of fat. The coleslaw, however, was delicious! It is a generous portion and was so good. The baked potato was also very good. My husband had the catfish sandwich and thought it was great. We should have tried the fruit cobbler but were just too full. We had a fun time- awesome band and casual experience with good food!
(4)Casey R.
Yep I agree with other reviewers.... Catfish was good. Old country tunes live. Same side sitters. Would go back.
(4)Chris H.
Behind the Radisson across the street from the Gaylord...this place is a dive. We went for two reasons 1) it was close 2) it wasn't in the Gaylord. Anything is better than the food served at the Gaylord. I saw a food menu but John A's doesn't feel like a restaurant. It's a bar that happens to serve more than a bag of chips. We had a large group for Super Bowl and we were all from out of town, it was close and they graciously accommodated our large group. There is plenty of space and TVs to watch a game. Our server (name escapes me) was on it all night. I doubt she would skip a beat serving a hundred by herself. We were all impressed. Great owner and staff, even better service.
(3)Lori J.
Music good but we've been here almost an hour and 45 minutes and still no food. Waitress comment: I told you it was going to take a long time. Seriously?? She did give us some chips/salsa to tide us over until the food finally arrived. Afraid it was mediocre at best. Unless it was just an off night, I would not recommend this place.
(1)Gary P.
Very very, nice and attentive wait staff. They made us feel like regulars right from the start. We went for beers in the afternoon and went back for dinner later on. The fried catfish nuggets were good but not the best I've had. Coleslaw was very good and the chicken and sausage gumbo was very tasty. The entertainment was live and very good. Even some of walk-ons were impressive. We'll go back just because we felt welcomed.
(3)Dee M.
We had a blast here! Our hotel was across the street so we decided to walk on over and Glad we did! We enjoyed the Music and Locals were lots of fun.We also enjoyed sitting at the bar conversing with others that were just traveling thru like us! I'm a huge fan of country music and they did their best to play our All of our request! The funniest thing is that when we walked in this place they started singing "All my Exes live in Texas" and I knew we were staying.. We just got married a week ago and moving from Texas to Va.. My Hubby and I Just laughed, and made our selves at home. PS the food was great too!
(3)Mike M.
Service great. Catfish sandwich was very good. Had a bite of club sandwich and was a different but good version which had prime rib in it. I'd come back here again. Bathrooms were clean but smelled like stronger than usual urine odor.
(4)AM S.
This was our first stop for food in Nashville. Our server was amazing, she was very interesting and was able to tell us all about the history of John As. The atmosphere was eclectic of pictures signed for John A. There was live music and it was a fun place to be. Food: We ordered fried pickles to start, they were average for fried pickles, granted I am not the biggest fan of them. For our meals I had the Ruben and my husband had the club. Both were very good and we practically devoured them. The club was very good they use hamburger instead of the usual turkey. I loved this place, its a MUST to eat at!!
(4)David G.
Went to John A's based off a recomendation front a front desk staff memeber from a hotel around the corner. Initially passed on the restuarant, however due to downtown holiday parade circled back and decided to give it a go. Not much of a wait for a Friday night, which was nice change of pace. However upon seating we were sat down with complete strangers as we were a party of two, and this continued with other couples throught the night. We ordered with them and everything, definetely different. So hopefully you get set with a good group. They push the catfish and Pabst Blue Ribbon is their main beer. Also, it seemed to draw a much older crowd, 60 and up. Live band, but again an older band. Food was ok, wouldnt go for the catfish even though it was pushed as their #1 dish.
(2)Kristy K.
My family and I went here for my mother's birthday. We had heard great things about the restaurant and wanted to try it out!!! The band that was playing was great!! They played a lot of oldies,which was great!! Our service was probably about the worst. It took 10 min for the waiter to greet us, 15 min to take our order, and forever on our food. He never even came to check on us after we got our food. Also, my mom and I ordered a pitcher of margaritas to split, we got 3/4 of the way done and realized we were not feeling it at all. At the beginning we tried so hard to taste a hint of tequila. But there was nothing. We waved down the waiter and he said they put 6 shots in it, there's no way, my mom and I are light weights and definitely would have felt it. So we paid 22 dollars for a slushy with no alcohol and a ton of calories. The food was okay.
(2)Kenny H.
If there was such a thing as guilty pleasure restaurants, much like guilty pleasure TV, movies or music, John A's would fit into that category. The food is not great, it's mostly good, but the overall kitchyness (is that a word?) of the place puts a smile on my face. The reason is because it is unashamedly tacky. It knows what it is, and it is fine with it. It is also kind of stuck in 1970s, early 1980s country music scene. I have been in there a few times, and they are playing the same tape of a bunch of country music stars sitting around singing songs and talking. It's even got a skinny Vince Gill in it. It just kind of reminds me of an era of Nashville that doesn't really exist much anymore, for better or worse. And part of the reason is it doesn't try to hard to capture that. It just is. Since it is a throwback to an older era of country music, it is frequented by older folks. Even the live bands that play there generally older people. But if you don't mind all that, head down there.
(3)Katie W.
John-naaaays! This is what I feel like chirping when I think about good ol' John As, much like the "Timmay!" from South Park, ahh memories... My sister and I had just run from a sticky, awkward as ass situation - literally, we RAN. And we were 2 Girls on the tail end of a vacation of eating. It was effort, y'all. As we were running, we noticed the Cracker Barrel yellowed sign and took it as a symbol of salvation. Me thinking of apple crisp, Emily of fried chic chic chickeeen!! But, as we were running from our "situation" behind, I saw a sign for John's and we headed 'cross the street. As we panted up the ramp I noticed, hm. There are pictures of all Senor Citizens. Everywhere. Life-size. Outside. Why are there pictures? Outside? Why are they all - ALL Over 60's? Why are we walking up a RAMP?? We stepped in - perhaps out of the burst of unwelcome exercise and I wanted to burst back out. All the people in the pictures were, in fact, inside. And there were more. Did we walk into a Geriatric Trap of sorts? Were we unwelcome pre-menopausal Girls? Mere whippersnappers trying to hoard in on the fried goods? Unsure to the max, we were approached by a waitress who asked us "2?" and I said "uuuhhh. well...I...uh-uuuuuhh" and then stammered, "sure...could we see the menu?" Right away, I saw hush-puppies AND sweet potato fries, so since it seemed we were welcome, we walked through the early 70's decor to our platform seating area and awaited our fate. We ordered the puppies, as one simply must do when in Rome, battered prawns, sweet potato fries and of course the chicken salad, since we are ALL about the health... We received. We ate. We didn't stop. We ordered more. Our waitress divulged a dessert secret, they had an Elvis Special - to which I said; don't even tell me what it is, we'll take 2! Each served a little ramekin of pudding-like substance that was gooey, sticky, messy & sweet. A concoction of oreos, peanut butter and banana pudding, we were told - some of The King's favorite things. Julie Andrews, your raindrops on flippin' roses were just upstaged. Not only was the food real, authentic Southern style good - there was live music too, which they have every night. Our waitress kept asking us to stay so that we could hear her sing. We ordered more hush-puppies and sat in a fried corn stupor as she sang her country hits and then dedicated a song to "Her California Girls." The whole town's in on this place and we were happy to be included too. Southern Food, True Southern Hospitality.
(3)Bret s.
Of the few days I stayed in Nashville I came to find that many of the places are very similar, John A's is no exception. The only thing that sets it apart is that it is not downtown with the rest of them like Robert's, Tootsie and a few others that all have the small place, live band, so so food, old posters and records on the wall from the Music city heyday. I do however like that atmosphere so I would recommend it. They do have a pretty good reuben and catfish sandwich that are worth a try. I am only giving three stars though because it just did not have anything that stood out among the others.
(3)Ann D.
John A's Little Palace does an okay job, but it wasn't spectacular. My family met me in Nashville for a long weekend, and we ate dinner the first night at John A's. I'd never been there before, so we didn't know what to expect. We went around 5pm on a Thursday evening for dinner, and there was no crowd at all. Since we were literally four out of 10 customers, I couldn't understand why once we ordered our food it took almost 30 minutes to get it. Then when we got it, my hamburger steak was overcooked, the tomato casserole was cold, and the parsley potatoes were lukewarm. Although overdone, the hamburger steak did have a good flavor. I will say, the blue cheese dressing I got with my salad was the highlight of my meal. There were large, tasty chunks of blue cheese in the dressing which is always a plus in my book. My Uncle must have been living right though... he had the beef and potato soup to start, it smelled fabulous and tasted great. He also ordered the 12 ounce prime rib cooked medium and it arrived perfectly cooked and was so tender it could be cut with a butter knife. My aunt ordered a cheeseburger and fries and said her meal was good. My mom ordered the same thing as me, and she liked it well enough, but then she likes her meat cooked well done and charred on the outside. Ladies, if you use the restroom, beware the beefcake poster offered as temptation on the wall above the paper towel dispenser. You're in for public embarrassment if you give in to temptation. That's all I'll say about that. I doubt I'll go back to John A's the next time I'm in town. There are too many good places to eat in Nashville to use one of my meals here.
(2)Tom K.
This was right across my hotel so I went there with a group for dinner on a Saturday night after the Opry show. There was music playing as soon as we walked in and didn't stop when we left. There was a woman singing and she was pretty good; she did lots of cover songs and was very entertaining. I had the fettuccine alfredo which was nice and firm.
(4)diane m.
I loved John A's, not just for the fantastic music, but the Fried Pickles were out of this world! Amazing how something so unusual could be so fantastic but they were so perfectly done we ordered some fried catfish too that was excellent. The banana pudding was as good as any my grandmother used to make. It had been a loooong time since I had that and will definitely order it again. The service was fast, friendly and the prices reasonable. Absolutely a great place to go with friends or a casual date, even the family.
(5)