Brown's Diner - Nashville, TN

Brown’s Diner in Nashville, Tennessee is another recommendation from Hamburger America. When we showed up at Brown’s, we were glad to see it was open. An unassuming double-wide tacked onto an old bar, Brown’s definitely does not bring the folks in for its beauty.

We entered the dark dining room and took a seat at one of the booths made up of a parquet wood table top and a slatted, pew-style seat. Mom was not that up for a burger and asked about the chicken sandwich. “It’s okay if you like Tyson frozen chicken.” Our server said this purely objectively and without judgment. “But you really should get the cheeseburger.” So we did. I ordered the cheeseburger with fries ($4.75) Mom got the hushpuppies as her side.

We had arrived around 11:30 am, so the place was only about one-third full, by the time our burgers arrived 10 minutes later, Brown’s was almost full. All walks of people rolled in; contractors, business people, a grandfather and teenage granddaughter and every other demographic one could think of.

Our burgers were very minimalist and classic. The patty was thick and griddle-fried, just like my Mom used to make on the farm. A toothpick pierced the basic white bun, holding in place three pickle slices on top. I had gotten my onions grilled. They sat on top of nicely melted American cheese. Lettuce, tomato and mayo nestled under the patty.

The first bite transported me back in time to all those handmade fresh burgers of my youth. The burger was cooked medium-well as we had been told, but the thicker patty kept it juicy. Everything balanced nicely together and Mom and I both really enjoyed the burger.

I guess I love Brown’s the most because like all my favorite burger joints it is just about the burger. No gleaming 50s retro theme, because it really existed like it is now in the 50s. My guess is that Brown’s will outlast all the chains, mega burger places and national gimmicks and be serving their burgers on the same parquet tables for years to come.

Burger 5 spatulas out of 5
Fries 3 spatulas

Brown’s Diner
2102 Blair Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37212
615-269-5509

Drive Across the Smokeys

After a great breakfast burger in Greenville at the Northgate Soda Shop, we headed north toward Asheville. Pulling into town after a beautiful trip up through the hills, we found our next destination. I usually don’t do two burgers in a day, but I really wanted to try the burger at Burgermeister's in Asheville. Most of the reviews on line had been good and it sounded like a cool place. Sure enough when we pulled up it looked like a lot of fun with a big burger sign and blue and white façade.

My excitement faded as I noticed only a carpet-cleaning truck parked in front. Sure enough they were closed. I went inside and asked the manager what the scoop was. “Always closed on Tuesday’s.” He said. My burger bad luck continued.

Mom and I enjoyed Asheville and had a very nice lunch in the river district at the Clingman Cafe, but I couldn’t help thinking of my lost opportunity.

We set off for Knoxville, making our way through Smokey Mountain National Park. I had never been here before ad the country really is beautiful all verdant and spring lively.

As we drove over the river into Knoxville, we saw a restaurant right on the river. Calhoun’s. We made our way to the parking lot after a few wrong turns. Calhoun’s is a barbeque place, but claimed to have a great burger. I wanted to try their barbeque, so we ordered up a burger as an appetizer before the brisket. Our server was a lovely young lady who had moved out from California, and told us how at 25 she already owned three houses and was working in the restaurant to keep busy in the evenings.

She brought out the burger first. It looked impressive, but a little overcooked. I figured it was just the fact that it was cooked on a charcoal grill. I cut it in half and verified that it was overcooked. Biting in, it was dry and tasted like charcoal and not much else. The brisket was similarly overcooked and Mom had to send back her ribs because they too were overcooked. Our server cheerily replaced the ribs and we finished dinner. Really the service and the great views of the river were the only thing to recommend Calhoun’s.

Thank goodness I had opted for my breakfast burger at Northgate that morning.

Burger 1.5 spatulas out of 5

Calhoun’s
400 Neyland Drive
Knoxville, TN
865-673-3355
www.calhouns.com