Nashville: Beyond fried chicken in Music City

Nashville’s food scene has come a long way from the days when “rhinestoned cowboys” had to survive on a strict diet of “gut-busting fried chicken,” said Tasting Table. This music-mad city is now embracing everything from “quinoa tacos” to a “growing craft-cocktail scene.”

Holland House Bar & Refuge New, but already one of the “best restaurants in the city,” Holland House is

reinventing Southern classics. Consider the “cola-marinated skirt steak with fried jalapeños” while

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sampling a julep from the “deep, innovative” cocktail menu. 935 W. Eastland Ave., (615) 262-4190

Mas Tacos Por Favor Nashville’s best taco truck has finally put down roots with a bricks-and-mortar taqueria. The new place features a great jukebox and such inventive taco fillings as fish with spicy dill yogurt and quinoa with fried avocado. 732 McFerrin Ave., twitter.com/mastacos

Southern Bred “Catering guru” Sharon Johnson shows why she’s also a master of the meat-and-three at this “nondescript-looking diner.” It’s the place to go for meatloaf, fried chicken, or chicken livers, served with sides of ham-packed collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and baked apples. 1048 E. Trinity Ln., (615) 262-1717