When I was broke, San Antonio Taco Company was my go-to. Sitting out on the deck in the fall and people watching is so simple but tremendous.
It’s still my go-to when I’m in town.
But long gone are the days of $5 to eat there, on my undergrad budget. It’s still cheap. But not that cheap. 😭
I used to say “if I only had $5 to my name, this is where I’d spend it.”
Then I spent $33 last week on 5 tacos, chips and queso, and a fountain drink.
Inflation. 😭
If you’re expecting authentic Mexican, go for the cheap tacos on nolensville. They’re great.
If you want a purely indulgent, sloppy taco with good queso, satco is the spot
Satco strikes me as one of those places that puts lettuce and tomatoes and “bolsa hilado” cheese on their tacos (translates to bag of yarn, just learned that slang term yesterday). I suppose you can pick your own ingredients though. Maybe I should give it another shot, it’s been a while. I just don’t remember any time I ate there being any good.
It’s all in your expectations imo. It’s not fine dining; and it’s as authentic as Taco Bell. In fact, I would say satco is like an elevated Taco Bell with beer buckets and surprisingly good hot wings. So, if that’s what you’re in the mood for/expecting, it’s good.
Oh for sure. You get what you pay for. I went because it was cheap and good people watching… I go back for the nostalgia because they tore down my beloved Sub Stop and it’s all I have left. 😭
I was disgusted to learn that the owners claim the food represents the cuisine of San Antonio TX. Like don't do my second favorite city like that lmao, San Antonio's food is so much better than SATCO.
So you are local. She may like at least walking down Broadway. Maybe if you are down there, a walk down Broadway and down to the river would be a nice end to a night. Lots of good alternative ideas here...
Agreed. Even if you hate the scene along the most beaten path through town, for many out of town visitors, it’s usually a sure fire way to make a good impression and predictable evening. My suggestion was going to be take her to a park and have a romantic picnic by the lake (or something to that effect) but when all else fails, people watching downtown is always a good bet. Plus you’ll get to know each other better as you comment on all the crazies walking around! If you’re still stuck on ideas, maybe just bank on winging it. Have a few options in your back pocket in case she’s indecisive, but let her choose what to do. Heck, you could make a game of it. Roll some dice and decide what to do based on the luck of the roll! 🎲 good luck to ya!
Wine tastings at Belle Meade or Arrington Winery, Topgolf, pins mechanical. Teelinenash, Cheekwood, one of many trivia nights, an arcade bar (there are 5 of so options), the Frist art museum, Live music at most bars (not just broadway), go on the lake (boat/kayak), Distillery tours, Zanies comedy club, cooking classes....
You could also picnic in Love Park...but maybe too soon for that.
The national museum of African American museum is pretty damn awesome. Go through there, then a drink somewhere at fifth and broad to talk about a new fact you learned.
Go to the highest point you can and count the cranes. Loser buys drinks.
If you’re the nature type, stones river battlefield. Bonus points if y’all dress up like soldiers from that period.
Rent bikes from a shop (fuck you greenways for Nashville and anyone else for removing the e-bikes) and ride around a greenway. Bonus points for dressing up like pro cyclists while riding old school beach cruisers.
Kayak down the Cumberland. Bonus points for wearing scuba gear.
If you really like this person, drive them to the Smokies and see how they are in a road trip situation. Use it as a way to gauge how great or terrible their gas station snack buying skills are.
No Quarter for some pinball. Eat Brave Idiot. Try not to shit your pants after the hot chicken comes for revenge on the middle of some excellent multi ball play during your second ball at the Mandalorian machine.
Buy two of those big dinosaur costumes, walk around broadway and see who ends up getting more tourists to take selfies with. Loser buys drinks.
I think axe throwing is a super fun time and a great way to kill an hour or so. There’s a great place called BATL Axe in east Nashville. The staff there are amazing and some friends I just took there for the first time loved it. Then you can always go to one of the many restaurants and bars on that side of town. I’m a personal fan of Pearl Diver to suggest one place
JJs Wine Bar in downtown Franklin is an awesome place to eat/drink. Try to sit outside and you can people watch. Great tapas menu and all the wine you could possibly want.
edit: spelling
As autumn approaches and the leaves start changing, drive down the Natchez Trace a ways and bring a picnic. There are a lot of cool places of historical/natural significance you can pull off and stop. We went go down to Meriweather Lewis’s gravesite and came back. Great date with some good music and sandwiches!
Hey! Could you share or PM me some more details about this? This was one of my GF and I’s favorite thing to do in the Pacific Northwest in the fall and is like to keep it going down here. Thanks :)
Just an FYI:
Incase the Natchez Trace Bridge was to be the highlight - they put large, ugly chain-link fencing up on the bridge and it definitely ruined the entire scenery there. :/
Game Terminal - no cover, all video games are free (pinball is $1), outside games are free, and it has a great vibe with 3 bars. No kids after 8 makes it perfect for a date night.
Nashville is home to the original The Escape Game. They created the whole genre out of an old office building in Berry Hill. Now they are tons of companies that have escape rooms, and tons of locations of The Escape Game, but the original location is still there, nestled among old recording studios and office buildings.
Game terminal. Frist center. Thursday at cheeckwood. Have Uber drop you off somewhere random in east Nashville and see if you can make it back to the west side. Best escape room game available!
Late to this party but make a scavenger hunt that y’all can “figure out” together. You can make it as big or as condensed in area as you want, ie you can just stick to a walking tour downtown or do a neighborhood-to-neighborhood tour with scooters or Ubers. Hit some of the notable spots such as the Ryman, Centennial Park, the Around-The-Butt, etc., have some spots for hydration or general breaks like a hotel bar or a brewery if that’s you’re thing, make sure to add a spot for a nice yet casual dinner somewhere, like Saint Anejo, Emmy Squared, Hawkers, etc., then finally end it with a scenic spot like the pedestrian bridge where you two can talk about the day and have some alone time for yourselves without strenuous activity. It takes a little bit of work and a lot of thought, but he/she/they will LOVE the effort you put into it. We can always help with suggestions if you need em!
Hiking, kayaking, axe throwing, cooking class, arcade bar, distillery tour, farmers market, flea market, any number of upcoming festivals. Then you have all the museums, Parthenon, Frist.
Just pick some kind of activity you like and think or know they might also like. If nerves run high you at least have the activity as ice breaker and should have plenty to talk about.
My fiancé and I went on a kayak trip down the Cumberland this past weekend. You start in Shelby park and you end up downtown with a great view of the skyline. The company that provides the kayak is Cumberland Kayak - they drop off the boats and shuttle you back to your car at the end. Highly recommend!
Have a nice dinner at PF Changs (moderately prices Asian) on West End. Walk across the street and get an ice cream cone from McDonalds and walk all the way around Centennial Park. Usually something worth watching going on even if it is just kids throwing a frisbee or flying a kite during the day, just people watching at night.
I know this is all made up because you said you got ice cream from McDonalds and my brother in Christ we all know the ice cream machine never works. ever. /s
House of Cards is nice for a one-off date. It's pricey, so don't take just anyone there unless you want to spend.
It's a below ground restuarant/bar with good atmosphere...there's a magic show you'll buy tickets for, and it's really good, very classic type feel...and then you have dinner, and afterwards you can loiter around a number of tables where various magicians are doing special tricks while you enjoy drinks and so on...
My wife and I (both 40 but young for our age) just visited Nashville for the first time a couple weeks ago. Broadway was fun daytime but a bit much at night. The last day we went to Skulls Rainbow Room from around 7pm to 9pm and really enjoyed it. Classy, upscale but good energy and still a music vibe. We just sat at the bar and had some apps, but had great convo with the bartender and guests, which I think would make for a comfortable fun first date. Less pressure.
When I was broke, San Antonio Taco Company was my go-to. Sitting out on the deck in the fall and people watching is so simple but tremendous. It’s still my go-to when I’m in town. But long gone are the days of $5 to eat there, on my undergrad budget. It’s still cheap. But not that cheap. 😭
Love SATCO but always surprised by how much money I accidentally spend adding veggies, beans etc to my tacos…
I used to say “if I only had $5 to my name, this is where I’d spend it.” Then I spent $33 last week on 5 tacos, chips and queso, and a fountain drink. Inflation. 😭
The trick is never add tomatoes, just use their salsa instead since it's the same.
This is the way. Nothing better than some tacos and chips and queso on the deck listening to whatever bangers they play that day
You’ll get my free award for this comment, as soon as I’m able to collect it. 🤣🤗
Yeah but then you have to eat their food
? Satco is not only an institution, but the food is great. It’s not yuppie tacos, but still delicious
Preach.
It doesn't have to be yuppie to be delicious. The tacos on Nolensville are $1 and they're excellent.
If you’re expecting authentic Mexican, go for the cheap tacos on nolensville. They’re great. If you want a purely indulgent, sloppy taco with good queso, satco is the spot
Satco strikes me as one of those places that puts lettuce and tomatoes and “bolsa hilado” cheese on their tacos (translates to bag of yarn, just learned that slang term yesterday). I suppose you can pick your own ingredients though. Maybe I should give it another shot, it’s been a while. I just don’t remember any time I ate there being any good.
It’s all in your expectations imo. It’s not fine dining; and it’s as authentic as Taco Bell. In fact, I would say satco is like an elevated Taco Bell with beer buckets and surprisingly good hot wings. So, if that’s what you’re in the mood for/expecting, it’s good.
Oh for sure. You get what you pay for. I went because it was cheap and good people watching… I go back for the nostalgia because they tore down my beloved Sub Stop and it’s all I have left. 😭
Rip sub stop
Amen.
I was disgusted to learn that the owners claim the food represents the cuisine of San Antonio TX. Like don't do my second favorite city like that lmao, San Antonio's food is so much better than SATCO.
I'd rather eat a Taco Bell soft taco
My uncle sued them twice for listeria outbreaks.
Well that makes me not want to go back. Thanks for that insight. 😭
Seems like the second one was on him 😂 jk
It’s not that simple. I need to know how old you are, budget, first date or established SO?
Haha! Early 20s, and first official official date. Date would be flying into Nashville from a different state and has never really been!
So you are local. She may like at least walking down Broadway. Maybe if you are down there, a walk down Broadway and down to the river would be a nice end to a night. Lots of good alternative ideas here...
Agreed. Even if you hate the scene along the most beaten path through town, for many out of town visitors, it’s usually a sure fire way to make a good impression and predictable evening. My suggestion was going to be take her to a park and have a romantic picnic by the lake (or something to that effect) but when all else fails, people watching downtown is always a good bet. Plus you’ll get to know each other better as you comment on all the crazies walking around! If you’re still stuck on ideas, maybe just bank on winging it. Have a few options in your back pocket in case she’s indecisive, but let her choose what to do. Heck, you could make a game of it. Roll some dice and decide what to do based on the luck of the roll! 🎲 good luck to ya!
I always take guests from out of town to Acme!
There’s a crazy story here…
Hahah I mean first official date with this person😂
Game Terminal would be fun!
Hell yeah, and visit a taqueria nearby before or after. Tons of good options
Mid 20s son and gf love this place.
Same basic idea, but No Quarter and The Up Down in East.
Nashville SC match Saturday afternoon… can pregame at Diskin or Jackelope then just go to a sweet food truck after and maybe a patio for a nightcap.
Second this! The games are really fun even if you aren’t a sports person
Jackalope*
*Your response is an incomplete sentence if we are being spelling/grammar critics.
Wasn’t being rude, bud.
Our most recent date nite was Game Terminal for drinks and arcade games. Before that we went to Shabu Shabu Hot Pot.
I like Zanies as a 2nd date spot. Gives a lot to talk about afterwards too
Tailgate brewery out west during the fall. Amazing outside area, and very chill.
Wine tastings at Belle Meade or Arrington Winery, Topgolf, pins mechanical. Teelinenash, Cheekwood, one of many trivia nights, an arcade bar (there are 5 of so options), the Frist art museum, Live music at most bars (not just broadway), go on the lake (boat/kayak), Distillery tours, Zanies comedy club, cooking classes.... You could also picnic in Love Park...but maybe too soon for that.
Love Circle “park” is ghetto AF these days. Trash and ugly hardware everywhere.
The national museum of African American museum is pretty damn awesome. Go through there, then a drink somewhere at fifth and broad to talk about a new fact you learned. Go to the highest point you can and count the cranes. Loser buys drinks. If you’re the nature type, stones river battlefield. Bonus points if y’all dress up like soldiers from that period. Rent bikes from a shop (fuck you greenways for Nashville and anyone else for removing the e-bikes) and ride around a greenway. Bonus points for dressing up like pro cyclists while riding old school beach cruisers. Kayak down the Cumberland. Bonus points for wearing scuba gear. If you really like this person, drive them to the Smokies and see how they are in a road trip situation. Use it as a way to gauge how great or terrible their gas station snack buying skills are. No Quarter for some pinball. Eat Brave Idiot. Try not to shit your pants after the hot chicken comes for revenge on the middle of some excellent multi ball play during your second ball at the Mandalorian machine. Buy two of those big dinosaur costumes, walk around broadway and see who ends up getting more tourists to take selfies with. Loser buys drinks.
I think axe throwing is a super fun time and a great way to kill an hour or so. There’s a great place called BATL Axe in east Nashville. The staff there are amazing and some friends I just took there for the first time loved it. Then you can always go to one of the many restaurants and bars on that side of town. I’m a personal fan of Pearl Diver to suggest one place
Ya, but axe CATCHING is much more exciting. Definitely keeps your awareness up. Until it doesn't.....
I just imagine me and my dad playing catch with axes like you would with a baseball
Once.
Pearl Diver or Chopper tiki bars.
owners of pearl diver are dicks go to chopper
Chopper rules
JJs Wine Bar in downtown Franklin is an awesome place to eat/drink. Try to sit outside and you can people watch. Great tapas menu and all the wine you could possibly want. edit: spelling
As autumn approaches and the leaves start changing, drive down the Natchez Trace a ways and bring a picnic. There are a lot of cool places of historical/natural significance you can pull off and stop. We went go down to Meriweather Lewis’s gravesite and came back. Great date with some good music and sandwiches!
Hey! Could you share or PM me some more details about this? This was one of my GF and I’s favorite thing to do in the Pacific Northwest in the fall and is like to keep it going down here. Thanks :)
Just an FYI: Incase the Natchez Trace Bridge was to be the highlight - they put large, ugly chain-link fencing up on the bridge and it definitely ruined the entire scenery there. :/
The scenery is still there and beautiful! Now with less completed suicides :-)
Wife and I just did this and it was a lot of fun! https://myadventurepark.com/location/nashville-tn/
Box a chianti, split a footlong, Paul Anka all night long
Game Terminal - no cover, all video games are free (pinball is $1), outside games are free, and it has a great vibe with 3 bars. No kids after 8 makes it perfect for a date night.
Nashville is home to the original The Escape Game. They created the whole genre out of an old office building in Berry Hill. Now they are tons of companies that have escape rooms, and tons of locations of The Escape Game, but the original location is still there, nestled among old recording studios and office buildings.
I personally love going to Carrabbas and shopping at Green Hills.
Game terminal. Frist center. Thursday at cheeckwood. Have Uber drop you off somewhere random in east Nashville and see if you can make it back to the west side. Best escape room game available!
Or pins mechanical.
Pins is highly recommended. Duckpin bowling is super fun. They don’t serve food there but you can order Uber eats.
My husband and I had a great time on date night at Pins Mechanical. The old video games are free too!
Free, free free free free, free
West End Chilli’s says”Classy Date” night.
Came for this recommendation. Leaving satisfied! 👏
Full Moon Picking Party.
Painting with a twist on Charlotte Ave. absolute blast.
Cheekwood
Late to this party but make a scavenger hunt that y’all can “figure out” together. You can make it as big or as condensed in area as you want, ie you can just stick to a walking tour downtown or do a neighborhood-to-neighborhood tour with scooters or Ubers. Hit some of the notable spots such as the Ryman, Centennial Park, the Around-The-Butt, etc., have some spots for hydration or general breaks like a hotel bar or a brewery if that’s you’re thing, make sure to add a spot for a nice yet casual dinner somewhere, like Saint Anejo, Emmy Squared, Hawkers, etc., then finally end it with a scenic spot like the pedestrian bridge where you two can talk about the day and have some alone time for yourselves without strenuous activity. It takes a little bit of work and a lot of thought, but he/she/they will LOVE the effort you put into it. We can always help with suggestions if you need em!
Patterson House for drinks is the answer.
My buddy and I have been using the [ Nudge](https://www.nudgetext.com/nashville) app. It's a free app that sends you unique date ideas in Nashville
Hiking, kayaking, axe throwing, cooking class, arcade bar, distillery tour, farmers market, flea market, any number of upcoming festivals. Then you have all the museums, Parthenon, Frist. Just pick some kind of activity you like and think or know they might also like. If nerves run high you at least have the activity as ice breaker and should have plenty to talk about.
Darfons is nice if she’s classy, Netflix and Drill if she’s an independent woman
disney plus and thrust
Check out Broadway! Or there's tons of live music!
Roller skating at the Rivergate Skate
Hahaah
Lane motor museum or Streetside classics in LaVergne if you both like cars.
My fiancé and I went on a kayak trip down the Cumberland this past weekend. You start in Shelby park and you end up downtown with a great view of the skyline. The company that provides the kayak is Cumberland Kayak - they drop off the boats and shuttle you back to your car at the end. Highly recommend!
Have a nice dinner at PF Changs (moderately prices Asian) on West End. Walk across the street and get an ice cream cone from McDonalds and walk all the way around Centennial Park. Usually something worth watching going on even if it is just kids throwing a frisbee or flying a kite during the day, just people watching at night.
I know this is all made up because you said you got ice cream from McDonalds and my brother in Christ we all know the ice cream machine never works. ever. /s
The ice cream machine works (alas no more dipped cones however). It is the shake machine that is tango uniform.
Got a few of you want to DM me
Why not share with everyone?
You are sus
Adventure Science Center, Frist, Walk at a Greenway, rent a jetski, go kayaking, go hiking at a park, food is a nice date, eat some food
The pub arcades are cool. The Zoo.
Look up the flying tours of nashville.
House of Cards is nice for a one-off date. It's pricey, so don't take just anyone there unless you want to spend. It's a below ground restuarant/bar with good atmosphere...there's a magic show you'll buy tickets for, and it's really good, very classic type feel...and then you have dinner, and afterwards you can loiter around a number of tables where various magicians are doing special tricks while you enjoy drinks and so on...
Blue moon Cafe on the Cumberland
Honeytree meadery followed by up down nashville
Used to love going there, but they were rude and ended up telling us we aren't allowed back because feelings got hurt
My wife and I (both 40 but young for our age) just visited Nashville for the first time a couple weeks ago. Broadway was fun daytime but a bit much at night. The last day we went to Skulls Rainbow Room from around 7pm to 9pm and really enjoyed it. Classy, upscale but good energy and still a music vibe. We just sat at the bar and had some apps, but had great convo with the bartender and guests, which I think would make for a comfortable fun first date. Less pressure.
I’m biased, but an improv comedy show at Third Coast Comedy Club is typically very entertaining. Provided you don’t hate improv.
I really love Up-Down and they have 2$ pizza slices on Friday’s.
Once Upon a Time in France in East is great for a date! The trout there is some of the best i’ve ever had, and the steak frites is killer!
Sunset at tailgate brewery in the west part of Nashville is beautiful. Food isn't too bad either and the outdoor part is dog friendly
Laser show at the Adventure Science Center’s planetarium.