Nashville, Indiana draws thousands of tourists each year due to its beauty and many shopping and dining options. With many specialty shops located in town for the shopping enthusiast, the nearby restaurants and cafes must be just as special. Nashville prides itself on the fact that there are not many chain businesses in town as they would take away some of the hometown feel of the quaint town. Visitors can find a good old home cooked meal about anywhere they look in Nashville. There are many good restaurants in and around Nashville, but there are some hidden gems if visitors know where to find them.
Inside city limits, visitors do not have to go far to find Hobnob Corner. This restaurant is housed in the oldest commercial building in town and is a hub of activity most any day. Hobnob Corner serves breakfast and lunch daily as well as dinner from Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Owners, Betsy and Warren Cole have been in this same location for the 22 years that they have owned the Hobnob and are proud of the original oak fixtures and the original soda fountain that are still a part of the business today. They are also proud to show the many pictures that are on the walls of what the streets of Nashville looked like when the building was in its early years.
The Hobnob serves many traditional foods and offers fresh vegetables whenever possible and fresh baked breads and pastries, which are baked on site daily. Many of those vegetables come from local couples that the Coles purchase from. They do offer a fine selection of wine to accompany your meal. In the fall, be prepared to stand in line to enjoy a meal here as I have seen the line, especially at lunch, to be out the door and around the corner. Locals will say that the Hobnob serves some of the finest food around.
Another hidden treasure when it comes to the culinary arts is that of the Little Gem Restaurant located within the Abe Martin Lodge at Brown County State Park. With rustic charm and quaint elegance, this is one of the most loved in Brown County. Guests are welcomed to sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the unique buffet meals or a Hoosier classic from the menu. Anyone visiting the area for the first time should take advantage of the patio seating where they will be able to enjoy the fabulous wooded views of the park. The scenic patio seating makes even locals appreciate the natural beauty of the area.
Little Gem is open for breakfast and lunch until 2 p.m. each day and then they open each evening for dinner. Here every meal is considered fine dining for the guests. The meals are artistically prepared and served as some of the finest meals in the county. No one will be disappointed by coming here for a beautiful dining experience.
Another gem among food critics is The Farmhouse Café. Located outside of Nashville on the grounds of a local nursery, this restaurant uses locally grown ingredients to prepare many of their meals. Whether guests choose to sit in the beautiful landscaped patio or in the antique laden dining room, they will certainly feel welcomed by the charm of this place. Dining inside the 1800s brick farmhouse is a treat but visitors need to be sure that they also take a leisurely stroll through the trees, plants, and shrubs outside as well. Guests can easily spend an entire afternoon here enjoying a meal and a tourist attraction all in one.
The foods served by The Farmhouse are a treasure as unique as the building itself. Guests will enjoy the tortilla chips and fresh herb dip as their appetizer and will be amazed that the herbs and sour cream dip also offers a unique mix of shredded carrots and peppers. There is always a variety of sandwiches, soups, and salads for guests to enjoy. The lunch menu will also include several unique foods such as the Brown County’s best BLT, which is served with a special sun dried tomato herb mayo dressing. Dinner options are also always unique and cooked with as many fresh herbs and seasonings as possible. This is fine dining inside an old fashioned building where the idea of eating an evening meal in a farmhouse makes the food come to life.
Although there are many restaurants within Nashville, sometimes the best are located within just a few miles of the city and some are tucked away in hidden areas to make them even more of a gem to find. Visitors will be thankful that they spent the time looking for these once they have eaten a meal.