No, you haven’t made a wrong turn in Cyberspace, this is indeed a Kentucky Blog. I just HAD to write a review of Jack’s Bar-B-Que in Nashville because…
- It’s so darned good I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t tell you all about it.
- A lot of us Kentuckians frequently visit Nashville. From shopping, sporting events, and the Grand Ole Opry to medical procedures and cultural events – Nashville is always a great call for a weekend getaway or even just a day-cation. After this post, you’ll know – without a doubt – where you have to eat on your next trip to Nashville!
Our family goes to Nashville fairly regularly. Not only for some of the reasons listed above but also because one of our friends (the kind that’s more like family) lives just outside of Nashville. More times than not, when we’re in the area we eat at Jack’s Bar-B-Que. If we’re downtown, we go to the Broadway location (416 Broadway to be exact). However, the Jack’s we go to the most often is the fantastic one at 334 West Trinity Lane. If you love fantastic Bar-B-Que, go ahead… grab a pencil and write down that address.
As I’ve often mentioned, my husband (Michael) is the biggest barbecue fan in the world. Popeye has his spinach, Cookie Monster has his cookies, Garfield has his lasagna, I have my 3 Cs (coffee, chocolate, and catfish), and Michael has his Bar-B-Que. The boy could eat barbecued pork or ribs every single day of the week and his only complaint would be that there weren’t 8 days in the week.
Suffice to say, when we walk into Jack’s Bar-B-Que, he all but weeps with joy. After my first visit, I must admit, I was right there with him!
Each time we’ve gone to Jack’s, I’ve gotten the Pulled Pork Sandwich Plate. The pulled pork is simply amazing. It’s so tender and juicy and saying it’s full of flavor just doesn’t seem to do it justice. It ought to be a sin for pulled pork to taste so delicious.
Equally delicious are my favorite sides (you can choose 2 when you order a “plate”): mashed potatoes, coleslaw, green beans, and baked beans. I’m not a fan of the potato salad and I’ve heard (from owners of much trusted taste buds) that the macaroni and cheese is just “okay.” Not a problem because the mashed potatoes, coleslaw, green beans, and baked beans are so delicious you don’t need any other choices. According to the husband, the greens are also really good.
If I were to name one side that you simply had to choose, I’d say the mashed potatoes. Not only are they fantastic, but on the table where you select your sauces (beside the drinks), you can (and should!) top your mashed potatoes off with some of the best brown gravy I’ve ever had in my life.
Holy cats, I could drink this gravy!
I’ve never had better brown gravy anywhere, anytime, anyway. It’s spectacular.
Also spectacular is the cornbread. It’s slightly sweet with an amazing flavor that’ll make you want to hug someone. Anyone. At one point in our last visit, my husband was dipping a piece of his cornbread into one of Jack’s outstanding sauces and I was so envious and covetous I asked God to forgive me. Thankfully, His forgiveness knows no bounds. Plus, I’m sure He makes allowances for this cornbread.
Speaking of Jack’s sauces, there’s a wide variety to choose from which makes things extra fun. Little plastic cups are provided, so you can fill up with a little bit of each sauce. My favorites are the Tennessee Original (tangy vinegar sauce) and Kansas City Style (mild, sweet, and smoky). My husband and youngest daughter are flipping crazy about the Carolina Style Sauce (a tangy mustard based sauce). They’re all fantastic, so you really can’t go wrong.
We wanted to bring home a little Jack’s with us, so we bought the Jack’s 4 Pack. You choose 4 bottles of Bar-B-Que Sauce and you get a free bottle of Jack’s Hand Rub. As I’m typing this review, I’m cooking a pork loin with this rub. If it tastes anything like it smells, we’re in for something special.
Jack’s Bar-B-Que is one of those places that you look for reasons to visit the city it’s in. I’m pretty sure we’re going to stop looking for reasons to go to Nashville and accept that we have the best reason of all: The best barbecue in Tennessee.
I hope you’ll pay a visit to Jack’s on West Trinity or Broadway soon. I read on Jack’s website this morning that they’ve announced a new location on Charlotte Avenue. I’m so head over heels in love with the Trinity location, it’ll be hard to convince me to go anywhere else. It’s THAT good. 334 West Trinity Lane. Just follow your nose.
Click on any of the images below to launch the slideshow for larger, mouth-watering pictures!
