Monell’s at the Manor
1400 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN, 37217
Monell’s at the Manor Menu
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Address :
1400 Murfreesboro Pike
Nashville, TN, 37217 - Phone (615) 365-1414
- Website https://www.monellstn.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Angie Q.
We have eaten here several times and it is always good, simple, southern comfort food. We usually try to make it on a meatloaf day, as it is perfect with the mashed potatoes and corn pudding. The only thing that consistently disappoints us are the desserts. They are just not that great... the last time we went, it was some sort of strawberry pie, but it was all gelatin, no actual strawberries. We did not eat it, as they were just sitting on the tables unattended when we arrived. We never leave hungry, so we consider it a bargain.
(4)M P.
Thank you fellow Yelpers!! You were right on!! I was in town for business and thoroughly enjoyed not eating by myself. The family style dining was fun and the meal was delicious. I arrived on a rainy Wednesday night around 5:30pm to a empty parking lot and the building that looks as if it could stand a new coat of paint. If it wasn't for the multiple reviews I would have missed this experience. Highly recommend you treat yourself to some southern cooking. Dinner was under $20.
(5)Michael L.
The seating arrangement for this place was a new experience for me. They seat everyone, in which they try to fit as many families or couples in a table. Moving onto the food. The food was great southern home cooking. It was fresh. If I were to be nit-picky, I wish they would not offer 3 similar tasting casseroles. Service was above average. I thought they were not as attentive as they should have been. Then again, I went on an Easter Sunday. It was exceptionally busy. All in all, I would come back here again. It is an experience for people who have never dined like this before.
(4)Matt M.
I am at a loss for words, and that alone is saying something. To put it in the words of another Yelper, "Monell's isn't a restaurant--it's an experience" Southern charm, hospitality, and food combine together with family-style dining at this converted manor-turned-restaurant (dishes all passed to the left at the beginning of the meal, although seconds are a must in my book!). A great place for Sunday Brunch, especially if you are in a small group, this is a great place to bring out-of-towners. You will be promptly paired with more people, sitting at large tables of 10-16: an opportunity to dine with strangers, make new friends, and experience fellowship in a whole new way (actually an old way, but few remember anymore). Food-wise: This may have been the best skillet-fried chicken I have ever had, but the biscuits and peach preserves are not far behind in ranking as "best". The fried chicken was simple yet flavorful, super juicy, tender, and tasted like chicken (I know, chicken that tastes like chicken!?!?! In a day when so many hormone-injected chickens taste anything but? Yes!) The fruit tea and sweetened tea are also very fine, although I never like so much sugar and just took small sips. Nevertheless, it was popular at our table. The food was plentiful and varied, with something for everyone. I suspect it is a rolling menu from reading other reviews, but on the Sunday I went we had: Fried chicken, corn pudding, pot roast (that tastes just like my grandma used to make), green beans, corn bread, cucumber salad, mashed potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, biscuits, coleslaw, squash casserole. There was also mac&cheese made with Velveeta, which some Yelpers slam them for, but now living in a home surrounded by soul food, this is how we do nachos and mac&cheese! Get over it! Let's talk dessert: These too rotate. I hear if you go on most other days the banana pudding is out of this world, although we had chocolate pie for dessert. Nothing special. Frankly the biscuit with peach preserves was the better dessert! ;) The price was right too. Sunday brunch for four adults for $21 a person? A steal!
(5)Steven W.
The Fried Chicken is mentioned in 49 reviews here...the meatloaf is mentioned in 6...That is a travesty! I am here to speak on behalf of the meatloaf... I am by no means a southern food connoisseur. I will say though, that I can appreciate the fine cooking at Monell's. If you want good old southern cooking, this is a great place to get it, and for a reasonable price...but I have digressed. While the fried chicken is very good, as well as all of the sides, what I really fell in love with was the meatloaf. They use a blend of beef and pork, and the flavor and consistency works. It's just the right mix of dense, juicy and crumbly. It's succulent meat loaf. The beef pork mix also gives is a lot of flavor...just an absolute winner on this menu!
(4)Kenisa H.
This is a Nashville must. Great food, family-style dinner, and good chatting with new friends. Service is excellent. We we're sat within about 5 minutes at a huge table with 15-20 other people who were already there. The server started to bring out baskets and plates full of freshly cooked southern soul food to those of us who were newer to the table. "Take one and pass it around" like you used to do at family dinner. The food was amazing. We met a young family from Europe and shared stories. This is not a quick dinner, don't come if you don't have an hour on your hands. This place is a must and I can't wait to go to Nashville again so I can eat here!!
(5)Gerald E.
It has been a few days, and I have not stopped talking about this place yet. I keep telling this amazing story of how I was driving through Nashville and decided to stop and meet a friend for brunch/early dinner before I got back on the road. He had the perfect spot in mind for me to try but it closed at 4pm so I had to push it a bit. We made it in plenty of time. We pulled into a large gated private plantation looking place. Directly next door to the airport with planes taking off, is this large white house that sits about a football field away from the road. There is a shooting water fountain out in the yard and parking to the left of the residence. Once inside, there is a large foyer and 2 over sized dining halls, maybe 3 as I did not walk around the entire floor. There is only 1 menu. Sunday Brunch. This is family style seating. Something I have not seen in years, if ever! You can come in with a party of 5, a couple, group of 20, by yourself...it does not matter you are all sitting at the same tables. Yes, with people you do not even know. Interesting. It gets better. They start bringing out the food. All of the food was eye rolling, look back at it type good. The catfish, which I have not had since I was a child, was the best! It was tender and perfectly, perfectly seasoned. OMG, my mouth is watering thinking about! Also on the menu this Sunday was cucumber salad, biscuits, roast, fried chicken, mac n cheese, green beans, BBQ ribs, coleslaw and more! If a bowl got low, the staff just refilled it. If the food was not good, I would have a different opinion of this place. The food was so good that I want to go back to Nashville just to dine here again. I am not easy to impress, but rightfully so, I am impressed by Monell's. FYI: They have 3 locations, all with the same recipes but this is the biggest location. The meal ticket brought me to a real LOL. I have so much more to say but I think you get my drift.
(5)Dan G.
Was invited to join people we were working with for lunch. The building looks great an old southern manor or mansion. Does look like it needs a little work, when you step inside all wood floors and impressive entry way. Now we didn't realize when you got here that it was two things, a buffet and family style. Even though we had a group of 9, the large tables we had the people join us that we didn't know. A really interesting concept for a restaurant. So if I've confused you, you get seated with your party. If there is more room at the tables others who come in are seated with you. Great way to meet other people. Then the servers bring out food starting with salad and veggie and bread. Then comes the meats, hot veggies, and some fruit. Then finally dessert. If you need more of something they will get it and being it to you. Oh and drinks are water, tea (sweet and unsweet), lemonade. I understand the food offered rotates depending on the day. There wasn't a thing I was disappointed in, everything was very good, tasted home cooked. Servers were quick and attentive. They have a pineapple casserole that is amazing. Don't let the ingredients fool you. Definitely will have to come back next time I'm in town. Give it a try, a new experience.
(4)Sac M.
Visiting family so we went out by grandmas request I was expecting better it wasn't good at all especially for a place in the south I've had better soulfood in California but I did like how they keep passing u food and they were friendly
(2)Errol M.
Okay, this one's a stretch, but play along anyway: 1. Picture everything you love about Golden Corral. 2. Multiply the goodness factor about twenty times. 3. Now picture everything you hate about Golden Corral. 4. Poof! It's gone. You are now having lunch at Monell's at the Manor. Pretty lame? I can't hit home runs all the time. The bottom line is $13.95 gets you the best weekday lunch deal in Nashville, with two meats & a whole bunch of sides. This particular Monell's appears to be a two-story mansion, and I bet they do a lot of weddings here. Very picturesque, and the second floor is fun to explore. You're going to sit with a bunch of other people, you pass to your left, and no one wants to hear your cell phone. It's Southern Comfort family style. Vegheads will go nuts with the sides. I could argue my fried chicken was a bit dry & the catfish a tad batter-heavy, but that's small stuff - I kept feeling I was a foreign exchange student invited to some Southern professor's family home. I'm sure this place is an icon, and I kept wanting to call everyone "Colonel." Monell's at the Manor is definitely worth the trip. "More corn puddin', Colonel, Suh?"
(4)Dave M.
A surprisingly good, family-style restaurant near the Nashville International Airport (BNA). In case you don't understand what "family-style" means, it is not just the portion sizes. It means you sit at a picnic table-like setting with people you do not necessarily know next to you. Pass the food to the left and you will get along just fine. You get seated almost immediately. On the table were the cold salads (coleslaw, cucumber salad, pasta salad, etc.) and rolls. Then comes the entrees - fried chicken, roast beef, meatloaf, potatoes, vegetables, apple sauce and more (I'm sure that I am forgetting something, since there was a lot of everything. Cap it off with strawberry shortcake and a nap! This place offers good quality food, an authentic southern environment and a reasonable price. If you don't mind sharing the table with your fellow citizens of the world, stop in and bring an appetite - you'll need it.
(4)Katie H.
What a treat! A friend flying in requested something close to the airport and having not yet been I picked Monell's. She raved about how it reminded her of her Nana's meals and I must say it was a fun experience. The fried chicken was without a doubt the crunchiest, most perfectly seasoned chicken I've had in town. In addition to that I enjoyed starting my morning off with a small bite of the sweet, perfectly frosted cinnamon roll. Good food and a fun experience.
(5)Chain B.
We hit this place whenever we are in Nashville. Honestly, sharing a table with strangers is a little awkward, but the food more than makes up for it. You get a variety of tasty items and more than enough in quantity. It all tastes great. The service is quick and the price is reasonable. Go here. Eat. Be happy.
(5)Josh C.
Good, honest food at a good price. Our friday night menu was fried chicken, pulled pork, meat loaf and fried catfish. I was most impressed with the meat loaf and pulled pork. Both were delicious. Everything was very good. It is a little uncomfortable for me to sit "family style",/at the same table as strangers, but wasn't as bad as I feared. We went on a Friday night and it only took us 30 minutes to get seated, which was great for his busy it was. The beginning dishes included a great coleslaw, bean salad, a vinagarie salad, biscuits, and cornbread. The side dishes were onion rings, mashed potatoes, green beans and corn pudding. All were good, except the mashed potatoes were very thin. The banana pudding desert was good, but would have liked to have something a little better to be end such a strong meal. Overall, it was a great, unique experience and we'll be back!
(4)Larry S.
I went with a group of 10 guys, and it was funny that they made us all sit at one end of the table, even though they didn't sit anyone else with us. I appreciated their rule about shutting off the cell phone. We got there a little early for lunch, so we got breakfast instead. Not that I'm complaining, because I'm a fan of breakfast. And the food kept coming and coming. Bacon, sausage, ham, biscuits, gravy, eggs, and even pancakes. It just kept coming. I really enjoyed it, and am looking forward to bringing my family there.
(4)Valerie B.
First time to this Nashville institution. Loved the family style dining. Met some really interesting people while we were here. Great food and service too. Two thumbs up for the cinnamon rolls, corn pudding, country ham and cheesy grits. Heck two thumbs up for the whole place!
(4)Larisa N.
It's a unique experience. You gotta tried it while in South. It's an authentic southern family style dining. It's very cozy and you feel like among your family if you were seated with the right people. It's southern food, but even if you aren't a fan of it, you still should try it, for the sake of experience. And check out the upstairs room! It has figurines from "Gone with the wind"! And a piano. Awesome interior. It made me sentimental.
(4)John B.
I went yesterday for my first time. The atmosphere is amazing. On the outside it actually altars to be a very old fashioned southern style home. The inside is very unique. The decorations are very antique like. We sat down at a the table with strangers who were very friendly. The biscuits were amazing especially with a peach compote. Then they pass around huge plates of breakfast items. The eggs, potatoes, fried chicken, and corn pudding was amazing! This place was definitely worth the experience and I can't wait to visit again for dinner!!!
(4)Heidi C.
We've been to Monell's at the Manor and the location in Germantown and both are delicious. The waiters are great and the food is amazing. I feel like I'm eating in my Southern grandma's kitchen (if I had a Southern grandma) and have never had better food, for the value, anywhere else. It's a must-have in Nashville!
(5)Jeffrey M.
The family style is out of the norm for me and if you are looking for a quiet dinner with that someone special, this is not the place for you. The food was okay, not great and more like I used to get a grandma's house when I was a kid. We got lucky and were joined by two very nice families and were able to have excellent dinner conversation and a lot of laughs. Fun environment, great staff, okay food. Worth what I spent for dinner.
(3)Jenny W.
A Yankee like me have never experienced southern hospitality like I have here. You sit down with strangers in a large family style table and break bread together. Some of the best southern cooking I've had. Absolute must try. You eat until you can't get up. Ps: don't leave anything behind
(5)Jennifer H.
Another favorite of mine when i'm in nashville. the breakfast NEVER EVER EVER dissapoints.
(5)Lana N.
This place is really cool, it's located next to Nashville airport. We came to the manor for breakfast and we're seated right away. They have large long tables that are already set up and they seat you down family style. Once you are seated they bring you coffee and orange juice if you want, otherwise they have water and sweet tea on the table. You sit next to strangers, but it's a lot of fun and you get to meet new people. It's all you can eat, so come prepared. They served the following for breakfast: - Biscuits and gravy - warm and moist and adding the gravy to it made it perfect. The gravy was creamy and enhanced the flavor of the biscuit - Cinnamon rolls - I didn't try this but it smelled so good. - Fried chicken - crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The seasoning was good, a little salty, but the sides balanced out the flavor. - Country style potatoes - I love potatoes and this was well seasoned and cook perfectly. - Creamed corn - the consistency reminded me a lot of oatmeal. Very good and I had to stop myself from eating more. - Pancakes - tasted like any other pancakes, light and fluffy. - Apple cinnamon - I added this on top of my pancakes instead of syrup and it was amazing. - Sausage and bacon - I had the sausage and skipped the bacon and it was a good choice Overall I really love the experience here. When we normally go to a restaurant, we wouldn't choose to sit next to strangers because you are seated with your own group. This concept is pretty unique and we get to meet people that we would normally not talk to. It was a lot of fun and I will be coming back to visit in the future!
(5)Grant C.
What can I write that hasn't been written? It's home style service, It's true Southern style cooking.Good/great fried chicken, fried pork chops, baked chicken, biscuits, corn bread, homemade peach preserves . . . And on and on. The ONLY downsides are: the macaroni and cheese is not homemade. To me, it is more akin to bag in a box/heat and serve Mac and. Cheese, or Kraft Mac and cheese with the squeezable cheese pouches. AND - if you want to eat healthy, it is a challenge. Home style meals are difficult enough to have portion control- and add in most of your meal is fried for meats or some sort of bread concoction for your sides. If you visit Nashville, Monell's at the Manor or Monell's in Germantown is a must do.
(4)Alison L.
Monell's is such a cool Nashville experience! It's family-style comfort food so basically Thanksgiving with strangers. This particular location is extra special because the old house gives you a real Southern feel, it reminded me of Green Pastures in Austin. My generous neighbor started passing me food as soon as I sat down, it was pretty much a conveyor belt of calories. We were joking that it was taking us so long to pass around all the different dishes that we wouldn't even get a chance to eat. The menu rotates a bit but I got to try fried chicken, fried catfish, hush puppies, and lasagna...oh my god the LASAGNA is so great! It's a good vegetarian option too because there were so many different sides. I certainly can't remember them all but my favorites were the corn pudding, coleslaw, and green bean casserole. Bonuses include: making new friends, pitchers of tea and lemonade sitting on the table, paying individually at the register.
(4)Leigh M.
Monell's at the Manor is about as good as it gets for a true Southern dining experience. It doesn't get much better than enjoying some fantastic homestyle food in a beautiful old mansion. First and foremost, it's family style dining. If that isn't your thing, then just stay away instead of coming here and then giving it a negative review and complaining about it. Just sit at home with your microwaved TV dinner and be antisocial while I'm Monell's meeting some friendly new faces and enjoying a spread that puts most people's Thanksgivings to shame. The food. Oh sweet lord, the food. Once you're seated at the table, you're presented with an unending parade of traditional Southern delights. I have yet to try anything there that wasn't delicious. The pork chops, the fried chicken, the roast beef.. it's all amazing. The sides are every bit as good, and the desserts I've had there so far was assorted pies and the most incredible bread pudding ever. Seriously, just leave your calorie and carb counting at the door, otherwise you won't be properly enjoying the experience. Some people may complain that this place doesn't allow them to talk on their cell phone at the table, but I rather appreciate it. Conversing with one's dining partners is becoming a lost art. Not to mention, talking on your phone in a restaurant is really an obnoxious white trash thing to do, so I'm glad there's none of it here. One word of advice; don't come here for lunch if you plan on being highly productive for the rest of the day. This is the sort of food that makes you want to just kick back and relax. Even if you just try a small sample of everything brought to the table, you're going to be incredibly stuffed at the end. There are a few places in Nashville that I simply cannot recommend enough, and Monell's at the Manor is one of them.
(5)Donald P.
Incredible Meal!!!!! All of the food was fantastic. It will be a definite stop when traveling from the Nashville Airport. If you don't go there you are missing some of the best southern cooking there is!!!!!
(5)Russ M.
As is typically the case, the Yelpers get it Right!!! I found this place on Yelp and could not have been more pleased with my choice for lunch on my way out of town. The descriptions of others are spot on... Seating w/strangers who become dining companions (GREAT) Family Style service (GREAT) No Cell Phones in Dining Room policy (GREAT) and the Food... Great just isn't a good enough term for it. The Skillett Fried Chicken is a real treat!!! Awesome!
(4)Liz P.
Yummy yummy. I have been to Mrs. Wilkes' in Savannah and was expecting it to be similar, it was and it was not. You are ushered in and sit down, the first courses are already on the table and so is your dessert, which I found kind of strange. I dislike iced tea but the sweet tea was GREAT. The fruit (punch?) was also very good. Favorite courses were the ribs - fall-off-the-bone good - the fried chicken, though it could use some salt, and the apples. Also the mashed potatoes. The cucumber/tomato salad was okay, as was the meatloaf and the chicken & dumplings. We were all too stuffed to move near the end, haha, but somehow managed to get up. It was pretty empty there that day (today is the day after Mother's Day) and we only had 2 others at our (huge) table. I can see this being more fun if the table is completely full, but we were looking to stay and talk a while, so it worked out. I'd like to try the Germantown location next time I'm in town, it looked cute. Prices and meals/entrees vary, so check the website before going.
(4)K N.
Epic fail. As an African American family with a history in the Civil Rights Movement, I wish that we had passed and went to the Cheesecake Factory instead. We obviously looked up the wrong Monell's online when we agreed to have our family reunion dinner at this location. 70+ black folks came from Miami, Atlanta, D.C., Indiana, Chicago to find that our prepaid banquet dinner was at a plantation. I don't think that there's an emoji for the look on our faces. My cousin's description summed up the house. "Django Unchained" A big white southern home in the middle of a road near the airport with nothing to the East or West of the home. Silence. So everyone tried to be mature about the situation and move forward instead of just heading to a chain restaurant and making it stop. We were led to the back room with 3 long tables with chairs, unmatching plates for a family style meal. It was freakin hot so if they had an AC, it was not hitting our room. I guess that the slaves brought the fans. MENU Salad - How do you mess up a salad? Beautiful salad with pecans, but the dressing was some sort of Mandarin Orange, sugary stuff with balsamic vinegar. The after taste - YUCK Corn Pudding: Just NO, just don't do it Green Beans: Why were they drenched in fat/oil/lard? Mac n' Cheese: Side eye Chicken: Okay- Popeye's is probably just as good and cost way less. Fried Fish: Okay - Local fish spot somewhere in Nashville probably just as good and way less Rolls/Corn Muffins: Okay Hushpuppies: Hack cough Mashed Potatoes: Aight Banana Pudding: Ewww Lemonade: Could you have given us real lemons for $35/pp? See MixIt or Dollar General Drink Mix. IJS. Service: They were rude. There was one female server who actually made an effort, but the older guy working our table who was just rude. He reached over us with no excuse me with hot bowls, dishes, etc. Our ice melted. Did I mention that it was HOT? When we asked about replenishing water pitchers on the table because it was so freakin hot, he disappeared. Extra tip? Uh no. 30 minutes before we were scheduled to leave, they were already cleaning the table and sweeping the floor. Rude, much? It seemed like they were ready for us to leave. LOL! And to top it all off, a few hours later, my nephew got sick and ended up in the bathroom for hours. Followed by a few other relatives for the rest of the evening. If you are a person who thinks that plantations are historical landmarks of the South reminiscent of Gone with the Wind, this is your spot. Undoubtedly, this will be a reunion where we will laugh in years to come, but I will never ever return.
(1)William G.
Good ole fashion southern food. This restaurant is located inside a mansion and pretty cool. This is a family style restaurant where you sit with nice strangers and make great conversation. The food is amazing, everything from southern fried chicken, meat loaf, pot roast, greens, Mac and cheese and so on. They give you so much, desserts are fantastic! Cost are very reasonable.
(5)Ann R.
Extremely rude service. I met here with family who were on their way to the airport to move to Ethiopia. I won't see them for 2 years, so I hoped to enjoy a nice lunch. We were sat for about 30 minutes (after a 30 minute wait) before we began to be rushed off and harassed due to the large party behind us. Don't accept business if you cannot handle it - we would have gladly spent our money elsewhere!
(1)Lesley K.
Poor service, rude hostess, inattentive wait staff, crowded seating, greesy food. I enjoyed Hottie B's fried chicken and sides more. We got seated immediately since we are a smaller party compared to other groups waiting to get entire table for themselves. The community table seats 12 people. It'a rectangle table 5 on each side and one on each end. There's peacan pie already on the plates. Sugar free iced tea in the middle lazy suzan with condiments. A set of Sweet tea and some kind of peach drink on each end of the table. We started off with corn bread. Then the sides: corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, collard greens. The mashed potatoes are good. So pile it up. Then we got grilled chicken and catfish. I enjoyed both of them. I think they were seasoned very well. The catfish fillets did not look appetizing as they came stacked on a plate and you can see the oil on the plate. Not everyone helped themselves with the fish. But definitely try it. If you don't like it you can just leave them on your plate. Last came the fried chicken! What everyone was waiting for. The food are passed to the left. It sucks for you if you are the last. This guy on my right took two pieces of chicken legs! The ladies before him helped themselves with all yhe chicken wings. My group was left with choice of thighs or breast. This is not cool. The sweet tea ran out and the server never refilled the pitcher. I wasn't done with my food yet and we were being hurried out. You pay at the cashier. We were all handed a card at the table. We give that to the cashier and he take payments. Cashier was not friendly. Looks like she is dead tierd of her job. Not even a thank you when we gave her more than 30% tip. Come here to experience it at least once and never go back.
(1)Brent B.
Fantastic food with a twist on the dining experience. You share a table with 9 or 10 strangers and do family style dining. If you leave this place hungry there is something wrong.
(5)Kalynne M.
Great place for the family to eat to their heart or stomach's content!!! Food is served family style, so if you come in a party of 4 you will be sat with another group. The tables can sit 12 people on average. The drink offerings are limited to tea or water, no soda which was disappointing given the expensive price. It's $19 for adults and $11 for kids on Sunday. Kids under 4 eat free. Prices are lower during the week. There was also no real southern desserts such as pie, just banana pudding which no one at our table even touched. The entrees and sides were very delicious: fried chicken, pot roast, blackened catfish, ribs, Mac n cheese, cream potato mash, peas, green beans, coleslaw, watermelon, tomato salad and bread. Service was great and servers were always asking if you needed more food. At one point one server brought me a small bowl of 1/2 dozen fried chicken wings just for me because I liked them so much. Neat older home could use some tlc and new hvac. Might go back on a weekday to pay lower price.
(4)Emily H.
I've only been on Sundays for breakfast but it is hands down the best southern breakfast in Nashville (or at least a close tie with Loveless). Prepare to overeat a ton of greasy food! The gravy tastes like liquid bacon (but not like bacon grease), biscuits are thick and soft, thick bacon, country ham, juicy sausage patties, cheesy grits, fried chicken (yes, for breakfast!), and fried apples. Friendly/fast service, beautiful building, awesome food. The family style idea is that you sit at a table with about 10 people (strangers), when the table fills up, the food is served -basically a buffet brought to your table. Eat as much as you want ... Or can.
(5)Gen M.
We go here often and it has always been great! Brought the parents and have recommended to friends and everyone always loves it. This is the place to go if your in Nashville! Fried chicken is awesome! Love the chicken and dressing, beef and gravy and meatloaf. So many sides coleslaw, cucumbers, rolls, Mac and cheese, potatoes, corn pudding, sweet potatoes, beans. I'm missing half of them. And of course dessert which changes all the time. Oh and the fruit tea, can't forget that! Yum!!
(5)Trista D.
I am never disappointed when I go to any of the Monells locations. The food is amazing but definitely something I only do when I'm calorie splurging. I haven't eaten inside a location in some time because I have found that take out is super quick and convenient. Also, I honestly don't even eat that much when I eat inside so by utilizing take out I'm still getting more than enough food for a fraction of the price. Regarding the restaurant itself, I have been here for meetings and events and the staff is so attentive and knowledgeable. They pay attention to detail and will meet the needs of your event.
(4)John M.
Fabulous Southern Cooking and Hospitality!!!
(5)Jenn M.
I've never been to Nashville and this was my 1st stop. Holy southern goodness. It was the definition of comfort. Let's start off with the fruit tea. It's a mixture of sweet tea and fruit juices... Hence fruit tea. It's delish. We had macaroni and cheese, baked apples, a ridiculously good coleslaw, biscuits, mash potatoes and a ton of other dishes. I don't eat meat but everyone at the table was fighting for the chicken and pork. I just wanted the banana pudding. Keep it coming!!! Mmmmmm banana pudding!
(4)Adri S.
So worth the 9.5 hour drive from Dallas! And the southern hospitality is as they say. I was traveling alone and everyone made sure I was taken care of. Food was delicious and best catfish I've had. I was seated with random mix of families and it was like pass the dutchie on the left hand side as we all shared the meal. A generous family even paid my bill. Thank you to them!
(5)Michelle C.
Wow. As I get ready to write this review, my mouth is watering just thinking about the place. The Manor is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. Very southern and charming. You're greeted by very friendly staff who will seat you at one of their large tables, sometimes, with other people (depending on the size of your party). They'll start with bread (we had biscuits and cornbread muffins). Do not forget to drench whatever carb you're having with their peach preserves. SO GOOD. And the fried chicken. WOW THE FRIED CHICKEN. Our table of 8 got 3 helpings of fried chicken. It is so crispy on the outside. Juicy on the inside. And just perfectly seasoned. You don't need anything but your appetite and your fingers. I am looking for a reason to go back to Nashville just so I can get my hands on these fried chicken and buy some more of their peach preserves. There are many side dishes- we had corn puddding (mmmmmmm), collard greens, cole slaw, along with meat loaf, some more meat I can't think of, and more fried chicken. All you can eat served family style, this place is absoultely incredible. Remeber these 3 things: $16 dinner. Fried chicken. Peach preserves. That's it!
(5)Carline S.
Any place were desert is the firsr thing on your plate is alright with me. Great food and great atmosphere. Down home cooking and great compnay. Wait was average. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE IF YOUR WATCHING YOUR WEIGHT OR TRYING TO EAT HEALTHY. After all this the south were mac and cheese is a vegetable. And I'm soooooooooo okay with that. Family style- pass the peas please! And for the amount of food you can consume the price is extremely fair. If your a one plate person....then you should consider the to go option. Definitely worth a second trip. Didn't get 5 stars because no real options for diet restrictions. And really they don't have too. Ps. The building itself was very impressive as well.
(4)Danny N.
Monell's at the Manor is the best place to go if you would like a sit down dinner near the airport if you are from out if town and want a family style dinner of the south.
(4)Aaron B.
We drove into Nashville from Chicago and on the recommendation of a friend went to Monells. We had a great time enjoyed every aspect of the meal. No cell phones, communal tables, pass food to the left etc. The food was absolutely delicious, fried chicken, country ham. This will be a must for every visit to Nashville going forward.
(4)Kylie W.
Food was ok, I didn't like sharing with several other people that I didn't know. No mimosas or bloody Mary's :(
(3)Heather P.
We stopped by on a Sunday morning around 10:30. My husband and I ate the German Town location the morning before and decided that we couldn't beat $15+ for the family style dishes that they serve. They sat my family of three with a local family of three. Again, a very friendly, true experience of southern hospitality. This location is a few dollars more than the Germantown location but a completely different atmosphere. I like both but the mansion is an experience in itself. The food is phenomenal. The fried chicken is my favorite. Do not fill up on the biscuits which is what they bring out first. If you're one of the last ones seated then the biscuits may be cold but don't be shy, ask for a warm order. If you're in the Nashville area, this is definitely a must experience restaurant. Heck, this place would be worth the trip from KY.
(5)Courtney G.
I love coming here for lunch when I'm in the area. I always get takeout and the food has never disappointed me!
(5)Sarah A.
What a unique experience! Monell's is a Nashville staple and this is a MUST stop for locals and visitors alike. This review is for the Manor location - the big mansion in an odd location by the airport. Their Germantown location is their staple and the most common, but this is where we went. First, if you're not familiar, Monell's is a family style service with family style food. They do home cooking right and serve it to their guests like they would if you were in their home. Everyone is seated in groups to fill the large tables. This means you are most likely to sit with people you don't know. Our dining guests were nice, but we didn't talk to them much. This part of the experience is solely dependent on the stranger - so it can clearly be hit or miss. Everyone get's the exact same thing. All of the food is served in large bowls and passed around the table. The food comes out often and you can ask for as many helpings as you want. Several different teas are available for the table as well. Check their website for hours and their primary items for the day - those rotate around some every day staples like biscuits, friend chicken etc. The food is all really good, service is nice and it's a stunning home to enjoy a meal in. You won't get an experience like this anywhere else, so I highly recommend you stop at one of the Monell's locations if you're in town! Tip: When you arrive, make your way to the register and let them know how many are in your party. After your meal, they will give you a ticket which you then take up to pay - you don't pay beforehand.
(5)Jessica G.
I loved the fact they were family style and we sat at huge long tables! The atmosphere was amazing too. Their food on the other hand was bland. The variety of food was good but there's a difference between good food and great and most places forget that and don't add salt and pepper or other spices. I definitely DO NOT agree with how they deal with leftover food and their waste plan. There was tons of food left that wasn't eaten from the dishes. I asked what they did with the waste and they said they threw it out. I'm simply not ok with that.
(3)Hang T.
When you dine here, you feel like you are living back in the south. The place is so elegant on the outside, but has a homely, country decor to it on the inside. The place services meals family style so you will be eating your meals with strangers. Remember to pass the plates around. They have water, ice tea (sweetened and unsweetened), and lemonade at the table. Best lemonade I've ever had by the way. This was undoubtedly the BEST southern cooking I've ever had. They gave us everything they had. - Fried Chicken, - Hush puppies - Green bean casserole - Ribs - Deep fried Catfish - Mash potatoes - Cucumber Salad - Pasta Salad - Mac and Cheese - Banana or bread pudding for dessert There were more items, but I don't remember some because I was too busy passing entrees around. My favorites were the cucumber salad, pasta salad, and fried chicken. Could not ask for any better. The pudding was also heavenly and light. I've never had that before, but now I'm a fan. Gotta order it when I see it on the menu now. You could tell that everything was probably cooked with a whole lot of butter or lard, but also with a lot of love and care.
(5)Yanik C.
food was good but nothing that knocked my socks off. enjoyed the experience more than the food.
(3)Jennifer P.
I really enjoyed this Monell's location. The building and decor just seemed to be oozing with history and Southern charm. From spiral stair cases and chandeliers to oak bookcases and busts of heroes past, this restaurant gives you down home cooking with an ambiance full of rich Southern heritage. The food, service and prices were all what you'd expect of Monell's: delicious, friendly and affordable. If you are a fan of Monell's and haven't been to the manor, definitely check it out!
(4)Licinius S.
monells is good.. who doesn't like fried chicken at every meal..?!?! you are seated and food is served "family style".. if you don't know what this is, you are seated as if you're at the family table and once food is brought, you take and pass to the left.. a little weird at first, but you get used to it.. you also get to know the people you sit with, if you didn't come in with a group.. daily menu of food.. if you leave hungry, it's your own fault.. no take-out.. no alcohol..
(4)Carrie W.
A great addition to the Monell's empire! Beautiful, historic location! Same great food I've enjoyed at all the other Monell's locations.
(5)Richard C.
Ok....I really don't get it. Sitting at a table with a bunch of strangers and having large amounts of mediocre food passed around. I have tried it a couple of times and feel it is a 2 (at best).
(2)Sheena T.
Monell's is good if you are looking for classic Southern food and a whole lot of it. I'm pretty sure everything is covered in bacon grease and/or butter. For these reasons, I only come here when I'm not picking the meal and it is being paid for. However, I'll give it props for being a good meat and three place, but these types of restaurants are not my cup of tea (unless it's at breakfast). Monell's is family style, so you don't order what you want off a menu, they bring you bowls and bowls of food that gets passed around and you then spoon out what you want. They change up their menu each day of the week but always have fried chicken which is lightly battered and has a good flavor. I went with a group today, and they had the fudge pie already sitting on our plates along with coleslaw and a black eyed pea salad that was probably my favorite item of the meal. They set out pitchers of sweet and unsweet tea and lemonade (wish they would give us water). They also have great biscuits and cornbread that they bring out almost immediately. The peach preserves were SUPER sweet; too much for me. Today the specials were the vegetable lasagna (tons of cheese) and a pot roast that was very soggy and seemed more like pulled pork. They also passed around turnip greens, corn pudding, broccoli salad, green beans, mashed potatoes, and turkey stuffing. It's SO much food that you really have to put small portions on your plate and it's still full. It's all very Southern and greasy, so I only come here once every couple of months. The building is very pretty, it's in an old manor house with hardwood floors and looks like something from Gone with the Wind, and the staff are always very friendly. I'll go here for a free meal by clients or my employer but only as a treat very occasionally because my waistline wouldn't be able to tolerate it!
(3)Diana B.
The food is wonderful and the manor house is beautiful. You sit at a large table and eat with other guests. It feels like a Thanksgiving feast while meeting new people. Make sure you come hungry as there is a lot of food to share. I believe I had ten or more selections on my plate. Once the meal is over check out the rooms on the second floor. You'll step back in time.
(5)Brooke S.
Sunday Breakfast!!!! I had the pleasure of eating Sunday breakfast at Monell's with several friends. I have not had other meals at Monell's and I was visiting town, so this was the only location I visited. I was there with about 12 friends, so that was perfect for the family style set up. The service was excellent and the food was just as good. You must try the fried chicken (ask for hot sauce if you like more seasoning) and try the cheese grits. Both were fantastic. I thought the value was really good for what you get and the service. If you are in Nashville, you have to try it!
(5)Kristian C.
This place was exactly what we expected! There was no wait even on a Sunday and the food was out of this world. Definitely worth a visit!
(5)Eugene R.
I did not enjoy my time here at all.
(1)Kathleen K.
Ok so I had no idea what to expect when we showed up here. We saw the reviews and decided to come here with a couple coworkers on a business trip. This was the first time I'd been to a resturant where "family style" was a set menu and you were sharing with EVERYONE at the table. we were a bit confused at first when we were sat directly next to some people at a large table. I have to say, I didn't necessarily mind the way they did things, but there were 3 of us and at this very wide table, it didn't make for good conversation for the person sitting alone across from us. Not to mention since you are right next to another group, the noise level goes up. I think this place is probably better suited to large groups. The food was pretty good. I did feel like I was at someone's grandmas house or something. It was a nice change of pace from the typical restaurant food.
(3)Laila S.
Maybe its me (or maybe it was the restaurant) but I thought the food was pretty bland. I'm not a huge fan of southern cuisine, but I keep trying it as heck, were in the south! The house itself is very cool and definitely a pretty venue. The staff is sort of military about how dining works, no use of cell phone, bring cards to the front to check out. I'm also not a huge fan of family dining, where you don't get to pick out what you want. Sometimes its fun, but only if the food was better.
(3)Noelle T.
Delicious as always. Be prepared to eat family style but they serve a variety that should please everyone. I've never had a bad meal here. I've certainly had dishes I didn't like but I just moved on to something else. There are not many options in the area and this one is a winner!
(4)Sarah S.
A-OK is a good description, Yelp. The friend chicken IS good. The rest tastes mass produced and / or canned. I will say the environment is charming, and I enjoy the family style, no cell phone allowed setting. However, for what it is, $19 for dinner is OUTRAGEOUS. Seems like a lot of other people fully enjoy it, so I don't think my "meh" feelings will do them any harm :) .
(3)Natalie T.
I was so surprised to see that this location has 4 stars on yelp. Yes the building is pretty, but the food was awful, and the servers were obviously stretched thin. I'm astonished to see so many fans, as the food was below the standard fare that I ate as a student in Metro schools--and that's saying something. The biscuits were tough, cold, and flavourless. I couldn't tell if they were serving fried green tomatoes or fried pickles--the server didn't know either. Most of the food was cold, bland, or strangely sweet. Then the horror of horrors (to this Nashville native)--what they called Banana Pudding. I believe I found one sliver of actual banana, while the rest of the "banana flavouring" was due to banana flavored pudding. If you're looking for a nashville dining experience, please look elsewhere. Anyone's grandma could cook better with their eyes closed and with only a microwave.
(1)Chet L.
Perhaps I am just not the bed and breakfast type. Perhaps I don't like sitting and eating with strangers hearing about their day or accolades. Perhaps I just didn't read the instructions on this place. Perhaps family style isn't my thing. Perhaps, just perhaps, I should have gone somewhere else. So we walk in, after using the Yelp app to find something to eat while driving 65 MPH past the Nashville Intl Airport....I make a U-turn. We end up here, walk inside and before being able to gather ourselves and read anything on the wall we were whisked to our table where two other strangers were seated and they greeted us warmly as we sat. We were "just in time for lunch".....the server said. The server kept pressuring me to sit closer to the unknowns. I thought we were just sharing the table but indeed we were to be sharing serving spoons, forks, and food with perhaps "patient zeros" with any number of unknown communicable diseases reaching into my fried chicken and corn casserole. **To be clear, I am commenting on our unknown table partners when referring to catching a pathogen due to their nasty fingers in my food. Apparently (So I'm told) Monells' health scores are in the 90's so nothing to worry about there..... To say our dinner companions were a little off is an understatement. While trying to satisfy our 7 year old and still trying to figure out what was going on, unknown #1 asked where my wife worked...a large, known auto club he was told, then his complaints and horror stories about my wife's employer came spewing forth and ended with his writing his name on a napkin and insisting my wife use her company's computer systems to look him up so she can read the travesties bestowed upon him while waiting for a tire change. The food was okay. Fried chicken, green beans, pecan pie, corn casserole, mashed/sweet potatoes....all fairly good. A fancy and beautiful mansion, but food and weird family style eating has us baffled...
(2)Tommy P.
As I walked into Monell's at the Manor it was like walking back into time. Southern hospitality at its best in and old plantation house. The seating is "family style" as they bring out dish after dish for you to serve yourself and pass to the left or right. The food was very tasty and reminded me of Sunday lunch at grandma's house. Their fried chicken and pork chops anchored the meal. Side items such as squash casserole, macaroni and cheese, cut green beans, coleslaw, broccoli salad and cucumbers in vinegar. If you still needed more food to stick to your ribs then you could dive into their made from scratch biscuits with buttermilk gravy. Just when you think you can't eat another bite a nice slice of pecan pie with whip cream should top you off nicely. As we checked out at the register we saw for sale their homemade peach preserves which was priced to buy. A very unique, traditional dining experience with a casual, friendly staff.
(4)Lee F.
I love places like this. They serve huge amounts of southern style food family style. When we were there, they served fried chicken, baked chicken, chicken fried steak, green beans, banana pudding, sweet tea, etc. All very good.
(4)Tracy F.
My boyfriend discovered this place when searching for Nashville's best fried chicken. We both enjoyed our first experience; the marinated cucumbers are especially delicious--the cheesy potato casserole is a favorite as well. We were slightly disappointed by the fried chicken, which was hot and fresh, but poorly seasoned. The other side dishes were fair, but nothing spectacular. We've since returned twice with out of town guests looking for a true "Nashville" culinary experience, and they've loved the food and atmosphere. My aunt even wished she had a bigger purse to sneak home some chicken and biscuits! Overall, we'll probably return when a homestyle food craving hits or when we have guests in town, but we'll save our appetites for better fried chicken elsewhere.
(3)Joshua S.
Let me start by saying that I've only had food from the Monell's Cafe location, not the Germantown location, before I tried Monell's at the Manor. Then let me say I'm very happy to have eaten here. The location is somewhat strange. It is a gorgeous old home right up against the airport, surrounded by empty lots, that Monell's bought out a few years back. They do weddings along with food just like the Germantown location. The location is a bit off-putting, and they should consider planting trees to hide some of the empty space (and the airport) from view. That said, the "manor" itself is gorgeous. The interior is decorated half like an antique store and half like a movie set. Upon entering, we were greeted immediately and taken to our table. We were seated with several other customers in the very "family style" manner other reviewers and the Monell's website make clear is how things work. Fear not, it works pretty well. They didn't pack the table for our breakfast seating, leaving a few empty seats. You are supposed to pass to the left, apparently, but we worked out a system of just asking within a few minutes. The staff attentively resupplied our items as needed, both with and without prompting. The breakfast selection was as advertised and excellent. There were some items, like cheese grits, that I did not try. The meal started with biscuits and cinnamon rolls. The biscuits were just good, but the cinnamon rolls were amazing. They then brought all the other items in seemingly random order. The eggs were good. The bacon was great and very crisp. The sausage was patty style. The flavor was already excellent and they came coated in syrup which just improved the experience. Ultimately, it was the chicken that I was waiting for, and the chicken upon which I feasted. Their skillet fried chicken is epic. I would say second only to Prince's in terms of crust/skin texture in Nashville. Very tender chicken and great flavor. Didn't see any breasts, maybe those are reserved for lunch and dinner? Like Cafe Monell's, the chicken wouldn't mind a little more seasoning, but it is just find by itself. Actually, for breakfast, the lack of more seasoning is probably a good thing. Hygiene wise...If I had any complaints, it would be that they store their dish ware next to old books (dusty, dusty old books), but otherwise everything was copacetic. Checkout was a little corny, using plastic cards, but I understand the need for the system. Very recommended. I cannot say it is as good as the Germantown location yet, but I cannot imagine they aren't equal. This seems like a much less crowded option.
(5)John S.
Came here for a coworker's good-bye luncheon last month, and I then learned that Monell's is a small chain (I'd been to the Monell's Cafe) and that this is a buffet.... so I may have eaten a bit too much. Either way, we came in a large party with all our coworkers (18) at around lunchtime, and they seated us as soon as our whole party arrived, which was nice. Then it really started to feel like southern style, with the food being passed around starting with the appetizer and then the entree items, down to the dessert. Not to mention most of the food I tried was pretty delicious, and the server was very polite and helpful. I wouldn't say the food is the best ever either, but it's definitely good and the environment, service, and experience makes this a cool place.
(4)Lisa R.
We love Monel's and have been going to the Manor for breakfast, for years. We took an out of town guest to one of our favorite places on a Sunday, late morning. We were shocked to find that we'd missed breakfast and they were switching out to Sunday lunch. We weren't too upset because the food is ALWAYS good there! This day was the exception! The food was average, at best, and the price is ridiculous on Sunday! I love Monel's for breakfast or dinner but I will never go back on a Sunday!
(4)Ted C.
I definitely think breakfast is the way to go here. I think it's just all right for lunch but every time I come here breakfast, here or the Germantown location I'm never disappointed. My last visit we sat with another couple and we ended up staying to talk long after the plates were cleared. Go for breakfast, it will be great, I promise you. Be sure to pencil in nap time right after.
(5)Kristina C.
If you're looking for a true southern brunch this is your place. Pros Quaint atmosphere - the restaurant is a converted house. Huge portions - the food is served family style so take as much (or as little) as you like Lots of variety on the menu - our brunch included 10 different dishes! Affordable - brunch for 2 = $30 Cons Small space - limited seating Long wait times - Our hostess advised that guests should arrive before they open at 8:30am in order to be seated quickly. Family style service - not a problem for us but some people find this uncomfortable. Favorite dishes - biscuits and gravy, fried chicken (INCREDIBLE!!) and corn pudding. Word to the wise - plan ahead and arrive early. You will be well rewarded for your efforts!
(5)Nicholas E.
Incredibly good southern food and such a bargain for lunch. Monell's is an experience you shouldn't pass up. The fried chicken is amazing.
(5)Tiffany M.
Wow! This place is delicious. I was visiting from Denver and saw the good reviews so I had to try it for myself. This could have easily been a $25 meal. But for $13.95 you get a very large portion of food including fried chicken and tons of sides like corn pudding which was my favorite. Monell's at the Manor is definitely worth trying!
(5)Nicole L.
My absolute favorite! Amazing food and great service. I love bringing out-of-town guests here! You can not beat the amazing deal and atmosphere.
(5)Tim M.
Some things you love and can't get enough of. Staying on hotel row on Elm Hill, decided to give the new Monell's a try. Pushed back from the main road and only a sign at the road, it's easy to miss Monell's or know what it's all about unless YOU ARE IN THE KNOW. Once you arrive, the mansion and interior decor takes you back a step with the spiral staircase, the older books on the shelves in the dining room. Seated quickly by ourselves - table of 2. Servings were big enough to serve.... 5-6. Some of the few noticeable differences: paper plates for dessert. All the plates at this location are identical like a set. Silverware is set on the left (on the right at the original location). But you don't lose sight of the real reason for coming: GOOD FOOD! Had more sides than I could've imagined - green beans, corn pudding, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, tuna something salad, pasta salad. The meatloaf is more flavorful than my fond memories recall, fried chicken was excellent that I almost couldn't stop. This location had bread pudding for dessert. Ok... the only 2 times that Monell's has not had banana pudding - dessert has left me disappointed. Things I miss: It's not like coming home that I feel at the original location where the owner and a few of the staff always remember me and say hello.
(4)Bonnie B.
This place was awesome! A little bit of a different dining experience, but all-around a great place to eat. We were seated at a fairly large table - could have easily sat 12-15 people. There was food already on the table and it was WONDERFUL. Great southern cooking! Another couple came in and were seated at our table. Luckily they were nice and very fun to talk to. They brought more food out and it was EVEN MORE WONDERFUL. Their mac and cheese is the best thing ever. You definitely get what you pay for, though it isn't expensive to begin with considering all the food you get to eat. We will definitely be back!
(4)Marcus H.
Food was good. Took the wife for her birthday during the bluegrass christmas dinner. We had a pretty good time. Although the staff was mediocre and they seated us in a corner of the room where we couldnt even see the live music. I would not come again unless a huge group was going and they were picking up my tab. Too many other good places to eat!
(3)Abbie F.
I love this place!! The woman who sat me was so sweet. My tablemates explained to me what chess pie was. The food was delicious! Chicken and dumplings, greens, beans, bbq pork, corn bread, biscuits, Mmmm.... Hungry just thinking about it!!
(5)Bridget O.
One of our favorite spots for comfort food in Nashville. The food is always hot and tasty. LOVE the fried chicken, fried catfish, pork chops and the corn pudding is soooo good! The desserts aren't the best, but with so many food options on the table, usually you don't have room!
(5)Jeannie G.
If you're visiting Nashville and want some authentic southern cooking, you must visit Monell's. If you're local and have never been, shame on you! Remedy this immediately! There are several Monell's locations around Nashville, but Monell's at the Manor is my personal favorite. It's in a historic mansion, which means it is large and there is plenty of room to accommodate large groups of people. What you should know about this restaurant: THE GOOD -Everything is served family style -- meaning you sit at a large table and that usually means you sit with other guests. Don't think of them as strangers though -- think of them as new friends you eat fried chicken with. I think it's cool that you meet new people -- some tourists and some local. -Speaking of fried chicken, it is the BOMB! And Monell's serves it for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner! Because it's that good, y'all. YUM! -The pulled pork and fried catfish is really good, too! -The side dishes are great, but the corn pudding is the best, in my opinion. If you like corn, you will like this. -Two words -- peach preserves. Slap it on a biscuit or cornbread. It's really sweet so a little goes a long way. -The servers are very attentive. If you ever need a refill of anything, they are quick to return with it. Southern hospitatlity at its best. -If you're curious about what's on the menu, you can call and listen to the recording that they update daily. THE BAD -The mac & cheese is disappointing and they have confessed to me that they use Velveeta. I think they should change the recipe because this mac & cheese tastes like something you could whip up at home in 15 minutes. Nothing special. -The banana pudding is just plain bad. And again, they have confessed to me that it's instant pudding. Homemade banana pudding is the way to go. Monell's will be no match to your mom's banana pudding. It's not good -- even by instant pudding standards. -They do not serve soft drinks. My husband hates this. I really don't care. But if you're planning on ordering a Coke, expect to be told no. They serve water, iced tea (sweet and unsweet) and sometimes lemonade. And coffee on request. -It can be a little pricey, especially on the weekends. If you're on a budget, Monday-Thursday is your best bet. BOTTOM LINE Monell's at the Manor is a fun dining experience and a great place to enjoy some old-fashioned southern cooking. This location is a great place to bring out of town guests and an excellent location for a private party or rehearsal dinner.
(4)Maggie K.
I was mixed about coming to Monell's after reading the reviews and but I went against my better judgment and decided to have our first meal in Nashville, here. Not a good decision. I love the concept of walking into a lovely house and eating family style. I expected to put on couple of lbs with fried food, buttered biscuits, BBQ etc... also expected higher than normal salt intake, after all, it's supposed to be good southern food. Well...it was really not good. Reviews saying, this is good southern food, obviously have never had good southern food! Popeyes has better biscuits and the hushpuppies had no flavor. Fried chicken was ok, not great, the fried cat fish was the best thing they served. Maybe the breakfast is better or go there super hungry. That's right, I gave it a "Meh." I've experienced better.
(2)Mary B.
Great fried chicken, delicious coleslaw, well seasoned pork chops, tasty beans, Excellent Biscuits!!, and plenty of food. Great value. Great menu. Very polite and kind waitstaff/hostess.
(4)Annie S.
I had the best experience eating at Monell's Manor recently with my family. Other than a somewhat cold reception upon arrival, i cannot say enough good things. Not only was the food some of the best southern food I have enjoyed in Nashville to date but our waiter, I think his name was Metty, or Mehhdy, he was just delightful and friendly which made the experience that much better! We will certainly be back if he can be our waiter again! He took such great care of our party and made us definitely want to return to Monells very soon! He also made me aware that Monells caters, which I am often in need of with my business, so I plan to use Monells more often now that I know you can get the same great food for special events! Thanks Monells and Mehhdy (Metty) for making our experience a perfect 10!
(5)Tammy M.
A wonderful meal in a lovely old home! The food just kept coming, and everything I tried was great! It is family-style, so we were lucky to meet a bunch of lovely ladies in Nashville on a girls' trip. Good food and fun company!
(5)Margaret R.
A great, atmospheric meal. You sit,as other reviewers have indicated, with other diners at long tables, and you share big family-style bowls of everything. You start with salads:cole slaw, pickled beets, and cucumber and tomato salad, plus a basket of biscuits and corn muffins. Resist the temptation to fill up on these, because the entrees then arrive: our evening,it was fried chicken, pot roast,corned beef and cabbage (it was St. Patrick's day) and stuffed shells with a vast array of sides: mashed potatoes,corn pudding, squash pudding, green beans, and turnip greens. I liked everything I tasted, but the fried chicken was the best: absolutely fantastic. While there's a lot to eat and you can get pretty full, you can try just a little of everything; I left feeling comfortably satisfied rather than overstuffed. My only disappointment: only one dessert, though it was tasty, homey banana pudding. Dinner (on a Tuesday) was $16.
(5)Ryan T.
Sometimes the experience overwhelms the food at a restaurant. Such is the case at Monell's. Don't get me wrong, the food is pretty darn good. But you go here to experience food in the south. The setting is fantastic. The atmosphere is excellent. The family-style dining is unique. The house is amazing. The service is good. And the food is pure south. It's not epic, but it's good. And in abundance. If you want to "experience" southern food, eat here.
(4)Ray H.
Hands down best fried chicken I've ever had. All the other sides dishes are good but nothing fantastic. The experience is also worth mentioning. The location is wonderfully unique and they let you explore the entire manor. The family-style all you can eat setting is extremely unique and a true taste of Southern culture.
(4)Angie L.
My sister was in town for Christmas, well actually to hit the sales the following day. Haha. We both got the shopping gene it seems, but not the cooking one. A friend who went to this Monell's last Christmas told us it would be worth the drive out there. It's next to the Nashville airport but not the Interstate 40 side that I knew how to get to. Once we found it, our wait was 35 minutes and they had tea and snacks available while we waited. The old house was beautiful and once seated at a large table with about a dozen others, the food started coming and coming... Lots of sides and all were good. i really loved the one with carrots and potatoes, think it was roasted. For meats, they served fried chicken (my favorite), ham that was a bit salty for my taste, turkey & dressing. It was actually a bowl of the dressing with some pieces of turkey mixed in. It was ok, but not as good as my second piece of fried chicken! Our table ran out of a couple of dishes and the friendly servers were quick to bring us more. It seemed a little strange at first to be eating with people we didn't know but by dessert time (chocolate pie - yum) we were all friends. Overall, we had a great time and weren't hungry for a long time.
(4)Matt V.
Great experience! Went for Christmas celebration dinner during the full month of Dec. My family had a great experience, including: food, atmosphere, music, and service. Home cooked and family style seating. Service was prompt and pretty accurate durning the corse of the evening. I look forward to trying this place again during a traditional meal service.
(5)Terrell L.
I try never to be late for a good meal. Knowing that Monell's at the Manor serves lunch until 2:PM and showing up at 1:58 PM, I was expecting to be turned away. Quite the contrary, I was welcomed and served a lunch with wonderful southern leisure. The very kind gentleman showed me to a table and poured me a big glass of Iced tea, he brought out the Cole Slaw, Cucumber & Onion Salad, Freshly Sliced Home Grown Tomatoes, Fresh from the Garden Green Beans, Mashed Potato's, Corn Bread Dressing and Monell's signature Corn Pudding, like they were waiting for my arrival. Before my plate was loaded with all these savory salads, vegetables and trimmings, the gentleman introduced himself as D.J. as he delivered the homemade biscuits, cornbread and peach preserves, Wonderful ! But that's not all, I'm no vegetarian. The Pork Chops, Gravy Smothered Chicken and of course the Skillet Fried Chicken graced the table just in time for me to ask the family seated at the table, where are y'all from and how did you find this Hidden Gem of a restaurant. Of course a Nashville local had told this Reno, NV family where to find a Great Meal and they were really enjoying the Southern Food & Hospitality. My eyes were bigger than my stomach, but, I couldn't help myself and ate all that I had put on my plate. I can still hear my Grandmother telling me to eat everything on your plate and you can have some Peach Cobbler, and sure enough, the very kind lady at Monell's came by the table and asked if everyone had saved room for homemade Peach Cobbler ? My reply, Yes Ma'am ! I Love Monell's, their Meals, Service and Hospitality take me back to Sunday Dinners around my Grandmothers Table, and the Beautiful 1890's Manor location was brilliant, a great addition to the Monell's growing tradition and popularity. As Always, Thank You Monell's !
(5)Travis A.
Monell's at the Manor... perfect fit for this Nashville landmark. Went here the other day with a group from work. Had a great lunch. Like most meat and three's, they had 3 main entrées and a large selection of sides. Everything is served family-style, all-you-can-eat at a large, 12 person table. Iced tea, lemonade and water are at your table along with biscuits and cornbread. Be sure to check their website for the weekly menu. Fried chicken is a staple here, like other Monell's. It doesn't disappoint. They also serve country breakfast here on Saturdays and Sundays. That will be my next trip here. Tips: Bring a large party... the more people you have to fill up a table, the quicker you will get seated. Save room for dessert. The banana pudding is great!
(4)Christian S.
Amaaaazing. Maybe it's because I'm from the west coast and haven't had much real southern cooking (although I've been to plenty of soul food feasts), but I was blown away. I went with my best friend and girlfriend and we were told that it's all you can eat. We were surprised when it wasn't buffet style... they sat us down at the end of a long table and put bowls and bowls and BOWLS of food in front of us. We each tried everything. The chicken, the greens, the banana pudding... and about 15 other dishes! It was all incredible and waaaay filling. One of the best all around meals I've ever had. To finish the review, I would just like to say that my best friend liked the food so much, that he ate too much. Not the normal too much, though. He was honestly in a food coma like I've never seen for several days afterward. Lesson? Be careful because this is some bomb food.
(5)Mitch S.
Think of A Brazilian steakhouse,but w southern food in a mansion.the food quality is awesome service is good remember its family sTyle so no one eats alone. Nice concept great for kids and seniors alike.
(4)Randez H.
All I can say is WOW! My wife and I ventured to Nashville for the weekend and ended up here for Sat breakfast. What a meal and experience. It's family style so be prepared to get to know those at your table and all is shared. Meat plate filled with country ham sausage bacon sides grits fried apples potatoes and more. Think of big mommas on Sunday or the Walton's table without the depression! Highly recommended.
(5)Ravon B.
I really enjoy This place. What it does is brings back memories of my grandparents cooking. They really keep it simple and it really works. You will never leave hungry. This is simple Southern cooking. You also should try thier breakfast. You will not be sorry
(4)Jeff M.
I ate Christmas dinner at Monells last night and it was incredible. The food was served family style and the quality was second to none. I ate Chicken, Catfish, Pulled Pork, Northern beans, Green Beans, Fried Green Tomatoes, Mash Potatos, home mad biscuits and cornbread, ice tea, coffee and the best strawberry shortcake ever. The service was great and the atmosphere put you in the christmas spirit. Thanks Monells for a memorable dinner.
(5)Peter F.
Having eaten at their Germantown location at least a half dozen times in just a couple of months, I was intrigued by their new location at the Manor. It was a must for me to check out during my Nashville trip on New Year's Eve 12/31/2011. The drive and parking is much much easier being by the airport and the roads relatively quiet. They have their own lot too, which makes for no-pressure parking situation. The drive from the road to the Manor was majestic, and I can only imagine it would be even more so in warmer weather when the lawn and flowers and trees would be greener. Entering the beautiful and spacious building, I was greeted with the sight of a gorgeous staircase and lobby area, and then swept to a table by the friendly host. All this hype and atmosphere... could the food live up? You bet! The food was the same amazing stuff as their Germantown location. The fried chicken was absolutely perfect (crispy outside and moist inside), as was the juicy meat loaf, with its delicious topping (I was told it was ketchup -- which I still don't believe). There was also excellent pulled pork (love the vinegar based sauce!), corn pudding, baked apples, green peas, green beans, mashed potatoes, fantastic chicken salad, cole slaw (best I've ever had), and a few other great plates, followed by a very nice banana pudding desert. All this for the great price of about $12. It's not only the best value for brunch, but it's excellent in quality as well. It's a win-win for the customer. I did arrive at about 2:30pm even though they stop brunch service at 3:00pm, but the host and the waiters/waitresses never rushed us at all and brought out plenty of food, and kept telling us we could take our time. That kind of hospitality is really so unusual to see in this day and age, and much appreciated! I'll be back at this location again. The saddest and worst part about this restaurant is that it's not closer to where I live in NYC! I'd be there every week!
(5)Sara C.
Their brunch is great. Fried chicken, bacon, ham, sausage, biscuits, peach preserves, gravy, cheese grits, pancakes (which I coud have done without) tea, coffee, juice. Good homestyle comfort food, definitely not healthy. Might have been nice to have some fruit or something. Family style...you are sat with other parties at the same table but it is no problem unless you are socially awkward : )
(4)Anna S.
Monell's is a great place, but you really have to embrace the experience. The food, without question, will make you drool like a starved dog the second you see it. Before you get yours, you'll see the servers walking around with trays of bacon, fried chicken, biscuits, etc. But you also cannot take your cell phone out and you have to share a table with others as the restaurant is going for a "family dinner" type situation. Chances are, you'll chat with the people sitting next to you and welcome the cell phone break. And gain 50 pounds.
(4)Brian K.
This is the second location for Monell's which occupies a much larger seating area than the Germantown location. The food is what you would expect from this type of restaurant and is the same as the other location. Since it is larger, the restaurant does get rather loud during the busier times of the month. Overall, a nice location and decent food.
(3)Jason B.
i shed tears as i write this. tears of saddness that i dont live in nashville to eat at this wonderful establishment regularly. they took my breath away when at the first moment of seating there were two items already ready for consumption PLUS the fact you dont even have to pick through a menu is what makes my eyes well up. i love they take all the guess work out and just serve what is awesome that day. they do all the thinking, all you have to do is eat. and yes i did go into a slight food coma on the day i went we had fried chicken, baked chicken and fried pork chops as our main entrees. not sure what the baked chicken was there for. probably the chef did it as a joke. silly chef. the sides were sweet potatoes, stuffing, loaded mashed potatoes, corn bread, biscuits, green beans, and some other stuff im forgetting. they just bring all of it out still you cant eat any more. its family style. also the seating is community in case you are REALLY anti social. PERFECT spot for a wedding rehearsal dinner. plus its super cheap, only $14 for dinner. i have to end this because im going to start welling up if i keep thinking about monells. also one may think the staff can take a break with all the food overload but they are super friendly - just like you'd imagine in the south. its a GREAT stop if you're making a quick layover in nashville (oxymoron?) since its so close to the airport. taxi cab would be less than 5-10 bucks. id honestly gest $5 TIP: dont get hypnotized by the amazing biscuits at the beginning of the meal. its just going to occupy space in your stomach and before you know it, you've had 33 of them before the entrees start. i would need to do a side by side by side comparison vs cracker barrel and loveless. loveless wins on biscuits and preserves. the preserves at monells are 5% fruit and 95% sugar. the big thing that got me was the lack of a menu and food just being delivered like a king would in his castle. ("king the castle, king the castle!" sorry that borat line came to my head when i wrote castle.) JEANS: OK by far ORDER: none! they just starting bring out bowls of everythign upon seating. UPDATE: ive read some hatin on the community style seating but all i have to say, build a bridge and get over it! ive seen community tables ALLLLLLL throughout the south at soul food type places. its part soul food culture. plus just in life in general, life is too short to live too confined in our bubbles. POP THOSE BUBBLES! plus if they are crazy you can just ignore them right?!?!
(5)Kim G.
Disappointing. Food was pretty good not great. The chicken cuts were really odd. The only one that was distinguishable was the wing. Went for breakfast but the greeter made us wait 30 minutes while watching others be brought in for breakfast. Then, by the time they called us we could only have lunch. They claimed that they came to get us and two people went in so they thought our party of 9 was taken care of. When we asked why they thought we were still sitting in the lobby asking if we were still supposed to be waiting while the breakfast hour passed, they said they didn't know... Ok... We were forced to eat lunch which was just ok. I don't think I will give it another try. It just wasn't worth it. Don't believe the hype.
(2)Edwina S.
The seating is family style at long tables, so you are sitting with people you don't know. I did not find this to be detrimental, although one person I was with did not like it at all. That said, I found Sunday brunch to be a great value. The food was delish and there was plenty. It was eclectic. I think there were 3 meats. I put some of their famous peach jam with the chicken. Would recommend the fruit tea. I did not see any hot or alcoholic beverages so that may be a surprise for some. There was one dessert... you either like it or you don't. It was a banana pudding. It was great to sit in a historical looking home. I would bring guests as it is unique and a good value.
(4)Tran T.
I went here on Monday July 4th for lunch. The food was excellent! My favorite is the corn bread! Hmmmm can't get enough of it! I also love the family style dining, I got to get to know other people and had interesting conversation while enjoying the wonderful food!
(5)Fernando D.
Great meatloaf and biscuits. Also the the first time I had ever had chicken and dumplings, they were very good. The fried chicken was also fantastic.
(4)John L.
Delicious food, and plenty of it! Terrific place to go with a group of friends or family for a great meal at a great price!
(5)Trevor T.
I have heard of Monell's by several people and my colleague recommended/planned for our team to have lunch there after our Sickle Cell Walk. He truly loves this restaurant. The house and atmosphere was really nice. The family style dining is a nice concept, however, I found my self limited in my conversation because we were sitting with strangers. Additionally, other tables took the family style eating concept to another level because they thought they were at home being very loud and disturbing. The restaurant serves Southern comfort food and you can't order off the menu (which I did not like). The food was okay, but I definitely have had better. The best part of my meal was tasting the peach preserves. The preserves are great and should be sold in grocery stores. I probably would not go back on my own, but I would go again if the team wants to eat there. I must admit that I brought some preserves to take back home :).
(3)Kim L.
This is the best Monell's I've been to. The building is beautiful and the food is fantastic.
(4)Lisa B.
I would definitely not return. Way too expensive for the quality of food. My first bite of chicken included a long hair. Could only hope it was mine. People at our table were not very friendly which made the meal even worse. Food was less then good.
(2)Lisa C.
We absolutely love Monell's at the Manor! We are from AZ and while traveling to Nashville we discovered this wonderful place. We make sure to stop in for a meal every time we are in Nashville. The food is excellent.....traditional southern food that can only be described as Delish!!!! If you haven't tried it yet, you have to go!
(5)Karen S.
The food was great, the holiday ambiance was superb, and the staff went out of the way to make sure we were well attended. The hostess even didn't mind to take family photos on the magnificent staircase! Bravo all the way around!
(5)Phil Michal T.
Having eaten at the Germantown location, when my friend suggested meting here for Friday dinner, I jumped for the opportuniy. Somethings are better left alone. The magic was gone. Replaced were barely speaking staff. I felt somewhat sorry for one young lady at my table simply inquiring as to an optional dessert whose head was literally chew off by a waitress that spoke her mind as she hurried away never to be seen again until time to pass out the meal cards for this $19.00 meal. The drink selections were water, weak lemonade, and tea. The warm liquids melted the few ice cubes quickly. I asked for more ice and was given a little less than half glass. Now the food...really! If I closed my eyes, I would not be able to determine what I was eating. Extremely bland. Food appeared mouth watering until a few morsel touched the palate. Was my first and last. Quality not much different than a local Shoneys!
(2)