Cock of the Walk
2624 Music Valley Dr, Nashville, TN, 37214
Cock of the Walk Menu
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Address :
2624 Music Valley Dr
Nashville, TN, 37214 - Phone (615) 889-1930
- Website https://www.cockofthewalkrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:30 pm - 8:3
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Touristy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Tart L.
With a name like cock, it better be hot. Lady tourists seem to flock to it (pun intended). Just about a mile from the megagiant Opryland hotel/shopping complex, it attracts a crowd for the variety of its foul, fish and beef. The prices aren't the cheapest, but hey, it's a convenient part of the Oprybubble.
(3)Scott H.
First, the good. The pickled onions. Really good. I mean make yourself sick from overeating good. Now the OK. The coleslaw, hush puppies, fries, and cornbread. The hush puppies were light, but really didn't have any flavor to speak of. The coleslaw was good, but really creamy. Think KFC. the cornbread was good, but again, kind of meh. Now the bad. The catfish. All I have heard since I have been working in Nashville is how good this catfish is. Best anywhere they say. I may have been there on an off night, but it wasn't even close to the best. You could taste the muddy water the fish was raised in. All in all, COTW was Ok, but unfortunately that's all I can say about it. I'll probably be back, but I'll be ordering the fried chicken and I won't be going out of my way.
(2)Sarah W.
I've been coming here with my family since the mid 1980's. There are three reasons to dine here - the ambiance, the family style dining, and the cornbread flips. Situated near Opryland Hotel, it is a nice alternative to the overpriced dining in the hotel with a hokey but fun Southern theme. Avoid the post-church lunch crowd and other usual busy times and you and your large party can be seated rather quickly at long tables. In the meantime, sit yourself down on an array of rocking chairs that puts Cracker Barrel to shame. There is one that is so giant, Lily Tomlin herself would think it overly so! The dining rooms are noisy with many large parties, but not so noisy that you cannot hear your own table. While you can eat here in smaller groups, I have rarely done so. It is designed for large family meals. The accoutrements are a nod to the rustic but can seem a little cheap (and not always immaculately clean.) You'll be dining on old fashioned tin plates and cups with handles that need frequent refills. The servers do stay on top of this and will leave a pitcher if need be. My family always orders platter of catfish and chicken. I don't eat catfish but my family seems to think it is quite acceptable. The chicken fingers are are dry and stringy and I never eat more than a strip or two. What shines are the pots of greens, the fried okra and the famous spicy cornbread. The servers, loosen the cornbread from the iron skillet and give it a flip into the air, ten feet high, to the delight of the children in the party. It is moist and has just enough of a spice to it to make it unique. I've had better cornbread, as I am a Southerner, but not in a restaurant of this caliber. All in all, it is priced fairly and really perfect for parties from 5-20. It's the kind of place you bring visiting relatives from other parts of the country after a ramble around Opryland Hotel, so they can get a taste of Southern cooking if you are not a cook yourself. The servers' costumes are ridiculous and dated and the decor is just as ludicrous. It hasn't changed a whit in the 30 years I have been going - for good or bad. Parking is ample.
(3)S H.
This restaurant is everything I loathe about tourist destinations. Excessive, ridiculous portions of incredibly fattening, greasy food. Wait staff dressed in embarrassing, inappropriate costumes. Grubby dining rooms. Wait staff was attentive, but I could not handle the costumes.
(1)Lauren S.
Overall: I'm embarrassed to admit I've actually walked in the door and smelled like grease for hours afterwards... the slim silver lining is that hush puppies were pretty fantastic. Food/Drinks: There are very few items on the menu with the only semi-healthy option being broiled chicken "on a bed of lettuce" (that's actually iceberg lettuce pretty close to the white.) I know you probably don't go there to eat anything but fried food but even the fried stuff didn't appear to be very flavorful. Maybe if I was a catfish fan? I honestly don't want to poo-poo a "Nashville landmark" and I think they are known for catfish which is not exactly my favorite so give it a try if that's up your alley. Atmosphere/Service: I think my issue with the food was that I couldn't get past the atmosphere. It's a huge barn-type building that's divided up in a maze of rooms. The smell of fried grease is just intoxicating - and not in a good way. Everything is served on tin pie plates and every beverage comes in a tin cup. It is 110% a tourist trap. Price: I think it's a bit expensive for what it is, about $13 for an entree.
(1)chris k.
I was pleasantly surprised. It's a plain place but the food rocks. Very rustic service in tin plates and cups so don't expect china! The catfish was about the best I've eaten. Fries were OK. Hush puppies were excellent. The highlight of the meal was the skillet bread and greens. EXcellent. Our waiter, Charles, was attentive and helpful. Good food and friendly service. Would definitely come again. Chris
(4)Jamie A.
While it is not my favorite place, there is so much nostalgia wrapped up here that I'm giving a little extra credit. I spent many summer evenings here with the family after a trip to Opryland (most of which still soaking wet from the Old Mill Scream). The menu leads you to believe that catfish, chicken and shrimp are the stars (and the catfish is pretty decent); the real star are the sides. I really could enjoy a plate of nothing but white beans, pickled onions, cole slaw and cornbread. The fried pickles are also tasty. I certainly wouldn't make a special trip out here, but it is worth it if you happen to be sucked in to the Music Valley drive vortex.
(3)Chris F.
The chicken was outstanding! Sides were above average as well. The atmosphere was very down home, Southern feel.
(4)Joshua S.
The food was decent, my catfish was actually surprisingly good. However, the ambiance totally ruined it. I see what they were going for, sort of a fishing camp, Huck Finn kinda of thing, but it just came off...wrong. The servers were dressed in semi-period costumes that were appalling, and I felt a little guilty just watching them. The restaurant was a maze and the interior and exterior are mismatched. Serving food on camping tins was a cute idea, but it felt out of touch with the prices. The seats were uncomfortable and creaky. And, while the food was acceptable, the menu was horribly limited. The cornbread also could stand to not have peppers in it. Overall, a cute idea poorly executed ruins otherwise acceptable food.
(2)Allen A.
Service was terrible, food was less than average. Definitely will never go back. It appeared that only two servers were waiting on a large dining room. After being seated we waited about 10 minutes for waiter. He left the slaw and onions. We then waited another 10 minutes or so on our drinks. We ordered tea and my daughter ordered a soft drink. The waiter never offered to refill our drinks nor was he even the dining area for us to ask. He dropped our plates off and never offered cock tail sauce for our shrimp or tarter for our fish and again he was never in the dining room for us to request. My wife and I both ordered shrimp and it was less than average in taste. The platter with our shrimp was piled high with very dried out fries. No one at the restaurant even bothered to ask us how the food or service was. The table across from us complained to the manager and the lady felt it was a joke talking to him.
(1)Nikki S.
I had one night in Nashville and instead of just going to a Cracker Barrel (no offense, love them....but been there done that!) so glad to have gotten experience something so fun and unique! Love the title, naturally! And the whole place has a fun cowboy down home cooking decor (servers in 10 gallon hats). I suppose if I had one wish it is that there is a Sampler Platter that I wish has an option to get broiled in lieu of fried. Personal preference! But I opted for the catfish, that could be served broiled, and it was pretty perfect. Also you get sides of jalapeño corn bread, cole slaw, and marinated raw onions (I was the only one at my table who really likes). O, and all beverages are served in tin cups! Just treat yourself!
(4)Andrew M.
Words are hard to come by to describe this place. The only words the three of us could come up with were expletives. It was truly one of the worst meals any of us had eaten. Greasy, salty, overall grim. Oh and everything being served in tin including our "cups" of beer was not cool it was bad, tin flavored beer and water, yummy. Avoid.
(1)Steven U.
We had just wrapped up a convention at the Radisson and food was a must for the crew we had of about 30. We knew it was a little late on a Sunday so we called ahead and the manager welcomed us to come on in. The staff was very willing (appeared to be anyway) to stay open a little later to accomidate us when we arrived. Yes, I will agree with another reviewer, its a tourist spot that preys on the idea that all we have in Nashville is country music and barefeet. However its not hiding that fact as it sits on a row full of resturaunts and attractions that do just the same thing. Did I like the ice cold tea served in ice cold tin cups that I didn't have to fill with ice? Yep! I also liked that I was given an ice cold tin pitcher so that I could have all I wanted! Our server (I didn't catch her name) was very sweet with what I am gonna guess was an exgerated accent. She played it well and it was certainly not offensive at all. Food was pretty good, but typical bland for a tourist trap kind of place.
(3)Jasper T.
I've lived in Nashville for a while now, and I've kept hearing about this place. So one afternoon when I wanted some souther Catfish I decided it was high time that I give this place a try. Upon entering we were asked to wait about 30 min, which is fine because it was friday evening and their seemed to be a large crowd. After our 30 minute wait we were escorted up a huge flight of stairs to a room that had lots of tables with very few people. I instantly wondered why it took so long for us to be seated. After several minutes our server came over and got us started with some drinks and a few min later brought out some corn bread in a cast iron skillet. We ordered the family style catfish dinner which was ok. It wasn't the best or the worst fish that I'd ever had. My only complaint is being seated upstairs where it felt like we were so far away from everything! I felt almost like it was the staff dinning hall. Oh and the stairs, I think for an older person those stairs would be quite daunting. Overall it is a good restaurant, maybe for tourist.
(3)Howard L.
I don't know what people were expecting when their "friends" told them to check out this restaurant right where Opryland used to be and called "Cock of the Walk". I mean, come on! Were you expecting delicately poached Catfish with microgreens? It's fried food on top of fried food. Go to their website and check out the big platter of fried crap on their front page. It's really meant for families looking for a banquet style meal on a budget, or for guys shooting for their third bypass. As far as fried crap goes, it's pretty good. It's not overly greasy and everything that's supposed to be crunchy is. It's better than Captain D's and it's certainly better than Cracker Barrel. In summation, this is not a small French bistro, it is not a new Thai place, nor even a steakhouse of small repute. This is where you go to get fried bits of meat with plenty of fries, coleslaw and hushpuppies. The skillet cornbread is pretty darn good too. And it's original Nashville.
(3)Jp R.
In the great trek west this was a must stop destination on my fathers list. We were worried that it might not be open since the city had been seen some wicked floods a month before. It was open and bustling. It is very touristy. Tin cups and plates are your fair here. Kids will enjoy seeing the wait staff flip the cornbread through the air and catch it. Speaking of that , the cornbread was amazing. I had them bring me another one for the road. I got a sirloin burger and some fries. Nothing great. My father raved about the catfish though. Nice place to visit but not really my thing.
(3)Jamie H.
Honestly, I almost walked out after sitting down, but decided to give it a try. Really glad we stayed. The fried chicken was fantastic... real crispy, tender, and not greasy. The wife says the shrimp were the best she can remember; the slight heat really was outstanding. My favorite were the hushpuppies. I could eat those all night. They serve pickled onion with every meal. It is real unique. I enjoyed eating some with every bite of chicken.
(5)David S.
I had heard about this place when I first moved to Nashville, but I had never gone and checked it out. But with a name like Cock of the Walk, how could you not be curious? I had to ferry around a bunch of people at work who were from out of town. I decided to haul them all out to the Cock of the Walk one night for some local Nashville flavor. And a haul it was since they were staying down in Brentwood and we had to go up to Music Valley Drive across from Opryland. And Cock of the Walk is far, far down Music Valley Drive. If you think you've gone too far and are about to turn around, just keep on going and you'll get to it. You can look at the menu, but the reason people come here is for the catfish. I've had some pretty tasty fried catfish in my day, and I really enjoyed Cock of the Walk's. Who eats this stuff grilled? If you're going here, you're going to get some southern fried stuff. The batter had a nice flavor, and I didn't find it too greasy. You'll get the usual accompaniments including your hush puppies and slaw. This place has that log-cabing, country, rustic vibe going on. It's fun, it's fried, it's casual. The group I was with enjoyed it and had a good time with it. I bet you will as well.
(3)Pete B.
This place is not as terrible as some make it out to be. It is definitely kitschy in decor, and dimly lit in the area I sat. The fixin's are average. The cornbread was flipped by the waitress. I gave a little "woo" out of respect. The slaw was ok. I happen to like my slaw a little wet and sweet, so I enjoyed it. The pickled onions were pretty good too! They managed to pickle the raw onion bite straight out of them. I got the sampler of catfish, shrimp and chicken tenders. The catfish was a bit overdone for my liking; but, the chicken and shrimp weren't too bad. As for price: a little steep for what's being offered. All-in-all, an average place that didn't make me run screaming; but, not someplace I'd go out of my way to go to. I'm sure there are plenty of other offerings in the area that would be a better experience. Revamping the recipes a little would give a kick-start to the tired-feeling cuisine there.
(2)Greg S.
Very good catfish, like the pickled onions.service was exceptional! For the very hungry and if your not share or it will be a bit pricey.Beer expensive and lacks selection.
(4)Mariela C.
I loved Cock of the walk. This was one of the first tourist must sees that I was dragged to when I moved to Nashville and I totally fell in love. Aside from being the first place that I tried a hush puppie (I had no previous knowledge that there was such a thing) I also really dug their ridiculous costumes and serving utensils. The deal at Cock of the Walk is that you get a bunch of hardly recognizable fried stuff served on old timey tin plates and cups. The family meal that we got included hush puppies, fried catfish, fried chicken, and some other fried stuff (with a side of sweet tea also served in a tin cup). Though I couldn't tell what was what, it was all really good.
(4)Kurt T.
Get ready for some gay ass costumes on your waiters. This place is hilarious. A staple of Nashville. the food's good and the outfits are great. it's worth checking out if you're in town.
(4)Heather K.
Where to start? This place was recommended by some locals (whom we no longer trust). It was a weekend night, so the wait was 20 minutes long to get a table, but we did not mind. The many rocking chairs in the waiting area were fun and my son loved trying them all out. When we were finally called to go to our table, we were led through a MAZE of painted garden trellis walls, adorned with random chunks of shellacked wood emblazoned with burnt-in poetry/river facts/definitions/etc. That's not really too strange, but there is NOTHING else on the walls....just these large pieces of floating wood. Ambience was pretty weak. Our server was friendly and polite, but she must have been having a rough night, because she spilled a bunch of coleslaw right behind my chair. And then minutes later, she accidentally knocked over my VERY WEAK bloody mary. The menu has like, 5 items on it. Not much to choose from. I ordered the catfish and was pleased with my choice. It was tasty (especially with the clear, jalepeno hot sauce). I have only had catfish twice in my life, so my review regarding it may not be the most reliable. Everything is served on kitschy tin plates, but they should have left it at that. Having your beer served in an itsy-bitsy tin mug is lame. Plus, my fiance had to guard his tin mug from the leaning waitress. She almost toppled that too! To sum it up: Food is okay but over-priced. Service is friendly, but accident prone. Ambience is bland and boring. I will probably never go back. There are too many awesome restaurants in Nashville to waste time with this place. I was also disappointed that the wait staff was not dressed in silly costumes as other Yelpers have suggested. They wore boring black pants and red polo shirts.
(2)Michael W.
Big portions so you will want to share. I have visited a few times now. We have yet to clear a platter. The menu has expanded over the years, but we stick with the Fish/Shrimp platter and enjoy.
(4)Ken C.
Seems like a touristy kind of place.....but I was there on a sunday afternoon so it was me and a bunch of blue-hairs gettin' their early bird dinners on. So it's not the hippest place in town, but I was at Cooter's Dukes of Hazzard museum and I was really in the mood for catfish, this place was close, so i checked it out. Pretty damn good. Freshest catfish I've ever had. Great cole slaw, good fries, pan corn bread. Everything was solid. Tons of food for $11.99. If you are in the Grand Ole Opry area, worth checking out.
(4)Anna A.
They get 4 stars from me because I don't think the name has anything to do with roosters and that takes balls.... hee hee... Ok so in reality it's a complete freaking tourist trap and if you are a purist of anything authentic then look for something else. However, if you are looking for the cheesy Nashville experience that embodies the stereotypes that most of us think are retarded then by all means give them a try. All in all, it's fried food including catfish at a premium because you are supposedly paying for an experience. It all taste OK, I mean they can fry food and overcook vegetables with the best of them but again it's really more of a cliche than an honest statement.
(4)Kevin G.
Definitely a tourist experience. Food is fair with a limited number of options. Service was fine. Been twice in 15 years, that's enough.
(3)Tina I.
My brother recommended this restaurant to me a few years ago because he absolutely loved it, when he was visiting Nashville. So, maybe we went in with our expectations too high... When we first were seated at our table, I sat on my chair which was soaking wet!!! And, I proceeded straight to the washrooms ("restrooms" for the Americans who don't understand what a "washroom" is ;) While I was away from the table, the waiter came to take the order from my husband, "do you know what you want to order?" My husband replied, "no, we haven't both had a chance to look at the menu yet, as my wife got soaked when she sat in the seat, and is trying to get it dried off". The waiter says, "do you know what you want to order?" Like he didn't even hear what my husband just said... strange. My brother had loved how they put on a bit of a show and toss the pan bread into the air, and then back into the pan (or that's the ideal scenario ;) While we were there, the waiter flipped the bread into the air, and it came crashing down to the floor... he picked it up, put it in the pan, and walked straight to the kitchen without a word. My husband and I just looked at one another and laughed, at the waiters lack of interaction with the customers. The food, is "ok", and overpriced for what you get. The service definitely needed improvement. It's been a few years since our visit... so maybe they have weeded out the staff with lack of "personality" by now ;) Then we waited FOREVER (felt like it) for a cab to come and get us there. I posed in the "giant" chair by the front door for photo's, while we waited ;) This was our special "New Years Eve" dinner night... lol. We had to laugh at the experience... it was so bad.... you had to laugh!
(2)T F.
Family Reunion w/ 18 people, we needed a restaurant that could accommodate a big group in one room. Sister-in-law found this place while searching on line. We went for dinner and were seated in a semiprivate room at a long table made up of four tables pushed together. Menu is limited and all meals served family style, which include coleslaw, fries, hush puppies, marinated onions & skillet bread. Our waiter seemed harried. He took our orders and once the food started arriving, we found more than one discrepancy. When he brought out the skillet bread, (uniquely served in cast iron mini skillets), he proceeded to show how to flip it in mid air, which instantly fell on the floor, instead of the pan where it belonged. Their signature item is 'fried catfish fillets' which was very good. ($11.95) Children's menu has catfish, and chicken ($6.50) or shrimp (6.95) This is a unique 'theme' type restaurant. Plates are gold pans and cups are tin. Lighting is very dim and with a dark menu, hard to see. Waiters are in period dress. Lots of rocking chairs in the foyer to sit in while you wait to get a table. The ambiance was nice, with added treat of looking out the window at the firefly's flitting by. I would suggest that they put more than one person with such a big group. Our server definitely needed some help. We had to ask more than once for refills on water & sweet tea. Overall a good tasty meal...just need to work on the service, which is why I can only give it three stars. *A bit of history on the name; 'Keelboatmen' brought goods & supplies down the Mississippi river in the early 1800's. Each boat had a 'champion' fighter , the 'Best of the Best'. To signify his rank, he wore a red turkey feather in his hat. It became an unwritten custom that one red feather must challenge another the moment they met, thus the arrival of a large fleet meant many a bloody battle. The toughest man aboard, was then called the "Cock of the Walk".
(3)Jared S.
Reason enough to go to Nashville! Great food at great quantities! Convenient location, great service, and awesome food! If you're in Nashville, this place is a must!
(5)Christopher M.
I've been coming to restaurant for a few years now whenever I'm in Nashville and it has sadly gone downhill. I'll explain why: First...When we walked in, we were not greater with a smile and welcomed. We were merely asked how many and seated in the far back corner of the restaurant as opposed to the best available. After we were seated, it took over 10 minutes for our server to even get to our table and take our drink order, which then took her another 10 minutes to bring to us, then another 10 minutes to return for our order. This pattern continued throughout our visit. She had no customer service etiquette at all, which seemed to be a trend throughout the employees. A manager never approached us to ask how our experience or food was. And when we checked out, the young lady at the front just chewed her gum, barely acknowledged us, ran my card and handed my receipt. No "How was everything?", no "Hello", no "thank you"....not ONE word. This was after we stood there approximately 5 minutes while she was doing something on a piece of paper before she put her hand out for our check. Secondly, when the plates and utensils were brought to our table, they were soaking wet. No one had taken the time to dry them of before bringing them out. Not one employee in the restaurant was smiling. Our food was cold when we FINALLY got it. The gift shop area looked just sad, like there was no attempt to make it look neat, stocked or sell-worthy and they outside (which has SO much potential) looked like it hadn't been maintained in years and appeared very dull. The whole atmosphere was very bland. Honestly, I only give two stars because I have so much hope for this place. My first time here I was thoroughly impressed. And if it was not for the amazing food and good prices, I would not have rated it as high as I did. I love this place and I sincerely hope management or the owners pull their heads out from their butts and get this place and their employees back in shape. I was very disappointed by this experience.
(2)Donald D.
OMG, if you are into fried dinner -- this is the place for you! My company had a business meeting nearby so about a dozen of us tried it out. The service was fine -- our waiter even did a little trick with the cornbread which was kinda cool. The food was ok -- again, if you liked fried food, this is for you! I ordered the 1/2 chicken and 1/2 fish with hush puppies. I am dead serious when I say that I could not tell the three apart as they sat in my little tin pan. My baked potato had been around for a while. Otherwise, as I said, it was all fine. Its a large restaurant clearly designed to accommodate a lot of people -- including the bus load of folks that arrived just as we were leaving. Whew! Bottom line: I would not go out of my way to check it out. Nothing fancy, priced about right... ok.
(3)Teresa H.
Excellent food, nice atmosphere. Ordered the Red Feather Sampler broiled. By far the best shrimp, chicken and catfish I have had in a long time. Got coupon for free fried pickles online...very tasty. Good cole slaw, cornbread and pickles onions. Very good tartar sauce, honey mustard and cocktail sauce. Good fries.
(4)April E.
There was no wait on a Sunday night, but service was very slow and our table was poorly attended to. Not because the house was full, but just because it seemed that is the status quo. Place is gimmicky gone bad. Wet plates, overcooked steak, 15 minutes to take a drink order, so-so fried chicken and fish, which is hard to do wrong. Won't go back.
(1)Rachelle W.
My experience at Cock of the Walk was ok. I was visiting with a large group where someone else chose where we would be meeting. Almost everything on the menu is fried, so beware you won't find many healthy options. I think you can get your fish or chicken grilled. I got the fried catfish and fries. While it was good, it reminded me of catfish and fries I can make at home out of Schwan's frozen items. We did get some fried pickles, my time trying some and I loved them. They were the best part of my visit. I felt like the restaurant was gimmicky. From the staff uniform to the tin cups and plates. I didn't like the cups. They were hard to drink out of. The waitress was doing her best. We had around 40 in our group, and she was by herself serving us. She did a good job considering we brought such a large group on a weeknight out of tourist season.
(3)Sara W.
This place was so interesting for us. Being from California, this was a great experience! The food was great. The pickled onions which I was hesitant to eat at first were surprisingly good. The catfish and shrimp were awesome as was the coleslaw. The service was also pretty good. Just the fact that we ate on tin plates and cups was really cool. All in all the was a great place to experience while in Nashville!!
(4)John F.
If you seek good service with a simple menu and great tasting food then you won't go wrong here. Love the cornbread and coleslaw, it was awesome. Food was great. Service very friendly. Odd name that still don't get, LOL. We'd eat here again.
(4)Russell M.
So my girlfriend and I wanted to go eat dinner around Opry Mills Mall that would be quick. So we chose this place. Definitely a different atmosphere for me and her but we went with it. Service and food were average. I am okay that I tried the place but probably would not go back.
(3)Tart L.
With a name like cock, it better be hot. Lady tourists seem to flock to it (pun intended). Just about a mile from the megagiant Opryland hotel/shopping complex, it attracts a crowd for the variety of its foul, fish and beef. The prices aren't the cheapest, but hey, it's a convenient part of the Oprybubble.
(3)Lindy B.
If you're having one of those days where you have no regard for your health and a country, redneck, touristy atmosphere is ok with you, then I highly suggest you try Cock of the Walk. 90% of the menu is fried. Don't get me wrong, it's all delicious, but fried. The fried pickles are maybe the best I've had around Nashville. The hush puppies and chicken tenders are darn good, too. Oh, AND the cornbread. Let's not forget that. They give you a ridiculous amount of food so you will most likely have leftovers. The 2 main things that I don't care for in this establishment is the atmosphere (just not my thing) and the tin cups and plates. The cups are really small and it makes me feel like a hobo drinking out of them. I would probably never personally pick this place to eat, but if someone else wanted to I would gladly go...........after I changed into my stretch pants.
(4)Sharon B.
The food was good , entertainment was waitress flipping corn bread. Kinda borderline expensive for what you get. The experience was great but don't believe I will go visit there again. But at least give it a try
(3)Dawnita S.
Catfish was nicely seasoned, corn bread and hush puppies were decent as well. I wouldn't say it was the best catfish in town but it's worth a stop in a tour of Nashville
(3)Billy H.
I can't help but like Cock of the Walk. I know it's a tourist trap located by Opryland but I enjoy it. Who wouldn't enjoy a place that brings your FRIED food on a large plate the size of a semi tire?! Now, I don't eat here all the time. I've lived in Nashville for about 5 years now and ate here probably 3-4 times, usually with people visiting the city. I think it's a fun place to take people who want the "country" experience. The fried food doesn't hurt either. The restaurant is located near where the Briley Parkway and the Cumberland river intersect. The building is a large, wooden structure that looks like an old mill that would be found on a steam. Inside its all wood, literally. I think a couple acres of woodlands were lost when they built this place. All the times I've been there, it's never been overly busy. The wait has been no more than ten minutes. The servers are usually friendly, dressed in country attire and they take the cornbread in the iron skillet and toss it and flip it in the air. A little bit of show I guess, I've only had one server drop it on the floor and she got is another one. It was pretty funny. The fare is country cookin'. They've got fried catfish, fried chicken, fried shrimp, fried everything. They've also got a bunch of different steak options. You pretty much pick the main and then you'll get the fixings that come with it, fries, hushpuppies, fried onions, cole slaw and that skillet bread. The drinks are served in little copper cups, so you won't forget you're in a country cookin establishment. The mains from everyone at the table will come on a huge, metal plate, the fried mains and fries that is. You'll pick off what is yours from the plate to your plate. You get 4 pieces of what you order, at least with the chicken or fish. The food is good, it's a lot of food and a lot of fried. I couldn't eat everyday, but it's a nice treat. They've also got amazing fried pickles. If you go on their website, you're able to print off a coupon for a free order of them. I think even one time we just showed our phone and they gave it to us, but don't quote me on that.
(4)Jay R.
Biggest rocking chair I have ever seen. License plates from all 50 states, and pictures of many singers who have been there. It is well designed, has a great atmosphere, and also tremendous steak. I had it, and it was so juicy! Keep up the good work. Long way up Music Valley Dr from the hotel area, but totally worth it.
(5)Michael M.
Food was great service was Also great catfish was cooked to perfection. Authentic southern food
(5)Joseph F.
My review of "cock of the walk" in Nashville, this is just a review, it's not a good review or a bad review, just a review. My first experience was not a promising one, getting there a few minutes before my party, I went to put in my name in since there was about a 20 minute wait. Was told I can't even put my name in till my full party was there, so I have to wait 10 minutes to wait 20 to 30 minutes, and I know there are a few other restaurants that are like that, but then again, I don't eat there either. Finally got back to our table, site has nice everything is wood look to it, but imagine my surprise when I get what looks to be 1920 prison tin plates and cups. I kept calling our server warden when asking for a refill on tea. Apparently the server, when brining out the cornbread, to toss is high in the air and catch it, nice little trick, would be cooler if the cornbread was on fire I ordered the flatboat shrimp and my wife ordered the 8 oz strip sirloin and it was, food, was not great or "oh my god I have eat here again and again" and it was not bad, it was ok, and there are a lot of restaurants that are ok. If you want to pay top dollar for ok food you can get anywhere else and the good old tin plate and cup look, then enjoy.
(3)Meredith S.
I genuinely really, really enjoyed my time at Cock of the Walk! We were having a family reunion in Nashville, and I was a little apprehensive when my uncle suggested this place, just hearing the name, but I'm really glad we went. The atmosphere at the restaurant is definitely interesting. Rocking chairs are in the lobby including a giant, super-sized rocking chair that could fit 2-3 people. Also, hundreds if not thousands of business cards were stapled to the wood paneled walls - pretty cool to look at. We had a group of ten people, and we were seated without a problem. I loved how all the food was served on tin plates and tin glasses.. really went with the country, no-frills atmosphere. I ordered the breaded catfish with all the "fixins" which were hush puppies, pickled onions, cole slaw, french fries, and corn bread. I LOVED it! I'm not normally a huge fan of fried food, but this fried catfish was delicious. Wasn't greasy at all - had really good breading and taste to it. Loved the cornbread too.. I think it had jalapenos or something in it cuz it had just the right amount of kick. I really enjoyed this place, and if you're with a large group and want something a little different, I highly recommend it!
(4)Alex W.
I love the decor and the tin cups but it may not be for every one.Good fresh corn bread. They say the world's best catfish but it is not..it is good but not the best..The tarter sauce on the other hand is out standing. But I would still recommend to a friend
(4)Peter T.
We had plenty of parking, nice landscape. Atmosphere was good, the service is friendly and prompt. The plates are pie tins and the beverages are served in tin cups, everything's rustic. The menu is small, I like that, the food is fried or boiled. We had pickled onions,Cole slaw and corn bread...the gimmick is watching your waiter throw the bread high into the air then catching it... We ordered fried chicken, here's the surprise, we got chicken strips, we had thought , no thanks to the menu, that we'd be getting pieces. Well, it was good, not to dry. Hush puppies came with it and fries, all good. The reason for a three was no flavor, nothen set the fried chicken apart from Sonic or McDonalds chicken.
(3)Liz V.
My most recent visit to the Cock was yesterday evening. I've been here a few times, and I've always been pleased with the generous portions and taste of the food. I've always ordered the Red Feather Sampler which is shrimp, chicken, and catfish along with fries. It is seasoned well and all tastes awesome! I love the sides which is the cole slaw and cornbread. The waitress flips the cornbread in the skillet tableside, and it's always entertaining (sometimes they drop it, lol). The fried pickles are great as well! It's a great place for a family outing or a casual dinner out with friends. I love eating there and it's reasonably priced. I would recommend it to anyone if you want good catfish and shrimp!
(5)Candi R.
I LOOOVED the dish I ordered! The fried pickles were amaaazing and the coleslaw was incredibly delicious! I am not a fan of coleslaw either!
(4)Ralph R.
Whenever I'm in Nashville- I try to stop by. Winner, Winner- Chicken Dinner. Their "Down River Chicken is great and their catfish is "off the hook"! Many other choices are available. Those are my "flavorites"! They are also very entertaining throughout your visit.
(5)Mike L.
Tourist place, been here forever, just went for first time. Sign out front says chicken shrimp steak and catfish and that is everything on the menu. Overpriced steak was cooked right and tasted fine but it was still an overpriced steak at $23.95. Salads never arrived, lots of fried stuff, waiter tried some trick to flip cornbread out of pan and it landed on floor so he picked it up and continued the trick of trying to flip it. So yeah, if you're a tourist and here with kids, have at it, lots of decent fried stuff served fairly quickly but for any other folks, don't bother.
(2)Liz D.
The only time Sweet tea ,Catfish ,Pickled onions,coleslaw ,turnips and all the fixings even came close to Mimi's cookin! Love this place! Brings me back to my Mississippi roots.
(5)Chuck P.
This place was terrible !!! Service was terrible and food was terrible it was your typical tourist trap DON'T GO!!!!!!!
(1)Jennifer W.
High ratings from the kids and mom! Great chicken and great catfish. Cole slaw was great, pickled onions were yummy. Fried pickles not so flavorful. Overall fantastic!
(5)Adam T.
We walked on the Cock. Looked busy and popular, and at 6:30pm on a Tuesday, we were told a 15 minute wait. Put our name on the list, and 40 minutes later got called. Seated for 10 minutes without a sign of a server. We saw a server in our room. He looked unhappy and as though he had a bad attitude. We walked out of Cock of the Walk, and won't be back.
(1)Deborah K.
My husband and I were staying next door at the KOA, which ,by the way is Very nice....We decided to chance it at the Cock of the Walk....I had read some nice things about it from people who were also staying at the KOA. When we first walked in....I thought it was just another dive bar, with greasy food. Much to my surprise...the catfish ( which I had broiled) was delicious We ate at the bar and ended up talking with some other travelers and actually ended up closing the placeThe portions are huge....so you can pretty much plan on having leftovers....The service was good...our bartender was very accommodating....I would definitely recommend it...
(3)Mike L.
Came here on a visit to Nashville. Initially I was not sure about the place since the menu is quite limited. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the food came, We had catfish and chicken and it came on a big platter for the whole table. There was so much food on the platter we could have fed a couple more. The coleslaw was the best I have ever had anywhere, good and peppery. The catfish was tasty and the platter was filled with plenty of fries too. Our server was very good. Overall I was very happy with the place and would definitely go back.
(4)Atlanta F.
I give it 2 stars because the food was good. It was slow and I had to ask repeatedly for tea refills and for the corn bread (which is supposed to be an appetizer). My server, Nykia, would disappear for 8-10 minutes then come out and check in all 4 of her tables at once then disappear to get what we all as for (like refills and missing items) and disappear to go get things, thing bring them all out at once (so you may have been 15-20 minutes now without a drink, etc....) the other servers and workers did not seem to be that way, to be fair, they seemed very active even though the place was only about half full (again, it was an early dinner). I will come back if service would have been even average I would have given 4 stars.
(2)Danielle W.
Probably the best sweet tea I've ever had. They serve it in little metal cups that are chilled. They flip the cornbread at your table which is pretty neat. Along with bucket of coleslaw and puckled onions. I like how simple the menu is. Catfish chicken shrimp or a mixture. I got chicken my husband got fish. They bring it out on one platter piled with fries and hushpuppies. Too much food to eat it all. The place has about a billion rooms. It was valentines day and we didn't even have a wait. Sure it's kinda touristy but that aside it was a great meal. I give the 5 stars if for nothing more that the tea.... and maybe the tin plates and cups :)
(5)Tyler N.
I have memories from coming here as a kid, so when my wife and I were visiting Nashville, we decided to stop by. The staff was hospitable and friendly. Atmosphere made you remember you were in Tennessee: tin plates and cups, county music stars on the walls. We had the catfish and shrimp. It was probably the best catfish I have ever eaten, and the slaw and picked onions were a nice touch. The sweet tea was perfectly sweet and brought the whole meal together. If you're in Nashville, check this place out.
(5)Dave W.
We were stuck in Nashville due to a weather delay and decided to try this place after a number of positive recommendations. Family style dining (numerous small rooms) with attentive waitstaff. We even had a trainee that night and he did just fine. I had the broiled catfish with fries and cole slaw and ordered a side of deep fried pickles. It was very good. Meals came on tin plates which was a nice touch - hope they use really hot water to clean them, however. the beer selection was distressingly small and it all came from AB. Meh All in all a nice diversion and the best thing around since we did not have a car.
(3)Tabitha S.
I heard the buzz about this place and I dont see what the hype is. The best thing about this place is the Rocking Chair made for a GIANT! Kids loved that but besides that nothing great. You eat out of tin cups and eat off tin plates. They flip your mini cornbread in a mini iron skillet right at your table. After two tries and both resulting in our cornbread on the floor she said forget about flipping it and just put it on the table. The food was good and you get alot of it, reminded me of Po'Folks. Who remembers that place??? I miss that place. But anyhow, I personally was not impressed and probably wont make the drive to go back.
(2)Heather K.
Where to start? This place was recommended by some locals (whom we no longer trust). It was a weekend night, so the wait was 20 minutes long to get a table, but we did not mind. The many rocking chairs in the waiting area were fun and my son loved trying them all out. When we were finally called to go to our table, we were led through a MAZE of painted garden trellis walls, adorned with random chunks of shellacked wood emblazoned with burnt-in poetry/river facts/definitions/etc. That's not really too strange, but there is NOTHING else on the walls....just these large pieces of floating wood. Ambience was pretty weak. Our server was friendly and polite, but she must have been having a rough night, because she spilled a bunch of coleslaw right behind my chair. And then minutes later, she accidentally knocked over my VERY WEAK bloody mary. The menu has like, 5 items on it. Not much to choose from. I ordered the catfish and was pleased with my choice. It was tasty (especially with the clear, jalepeno hot sauce). I have only had catfish twice in my life, so my review regarding it may not be the most reliable. Everything is served on kitschy tin plates, but they should have left it at that. Having your beer served in an itsy-bitsy tin mug is lame. Plus, my fiance had to guard his tin mug from the leaning waitress. She almost toppled that too! To sum it up: Food is okay but over-priced. Service is friendly, but accident prone. Ambience is bland and boring. I will probably never go back. There are too many awesome restaurants in Nashville to waste time with this place. I was also disappointed that the wait staff was not dressed in silly costumes as other Yelpers have suggested. They wore boring black pants and red polo shirts.
(2)Michael W.
Big portions so you will want to share. I have visited a few times now. We have yet to clear a platter. The menu has expanded over the years, but we stick with the Fish/Shrimp platter and enjoy.
(4)Pete B.
This place is not as terrible as some make it out to be. It is definitely kitschy in decor, and dimly lit in the area I sat. The fixin's are average. The cornbread was flipped by the waitress. I gave a little "woo" out of respect. The slaw was ok. I happen to like my slaw a little wet and sweet, so I enjoyed it. The pickled onions were pretty good too! They managed to pickle the raw onion bite straight out of them. I got the sampler of catfish, shrimp and chicken tenders. The catfish was a bit overdone for my liking; but, the chicken and shrimp weren't too bad. As for price: a little steep for what's being offered. All-in-all, an average place that didn't make me run screaming; but, not someplace I'd go out of my way to go to. I'm sure there are plenty of other offerings in the area that would be a better experience. Revamping the recipes a little would give a kick-start to the tired-feeling cuisine there.
(2)Greg S.
Very good catfish, like the pickled onions.service was exceptional! For the very hungry and if your not share or it will be a bit pricey.Beer expensive and lacks selection.
(4)Mariela C.
I loved Cock of the walk. This was one of the first tourist must sees that I was dragged to when I moved to Nashville and I totally fell in love. Aside from being the first place that I tried a hush puppie (I had no previous knowledge that there was such a thing) I also really dug their ridiculous costumes and serving utensils. The deal at Cock of the Walk is that you get a bunch of hardly recognizable fried stuff served on old timey tin plates and cups. The family meal that we got included hush puppies, fried catfish, fried chicken, and some other fried stuff (with a side of sweet tea also served in a tin cup). Though I couldn't tell what was what, it was all really good.
(4)Kurt T.
Get ready for some gay ass costumes on your waiters. This place is hilarious. A staple of Nashville. the food's good and the outfits are great. it's worth checking out if you're in town.
(4)T F.
Family Reunion w/ 18 people, we needed a restaurant that could accommodate a big group in one room. Sister-in-law found this place while searching on line. We went for dinner and were seated in a semiprivate room at a long table made up of four tables pushed together. Menu is limited and all meals served family style, which include coleslaw, fries, hush puppies, marinated onions & skillet bread. Our waiter seemed harried. He took our orders and once the food started arriving, we found more than one discrepancy. When he brought out the skillet bread, (uniquely served in cast iron mini skillets), he proceeded to show how to flip it in mid air, which instantly fell on the floor, instead of the pan where it belonged. Their signature item is 'fried catfish fillets' which was very good. ($11.95) Children's menu has catfish, and chicken ($6.50) or shrimp (6.95) This is a unique 'theme' type restaurant. Plates are gold pans and cups are tin. Lighting is very dim and with a dark menu, hard to see. Waiters are in period dress. Lots of rocking chairs in the foyer to sit in while you wait to get a table. The ambiance was nice, with added treat of looking out the window at the firefly's flitting by. I would suggest that they put more than one person with such a big group. Our server definitely needed some help. We had to ask more than once for refills on water & sweet tea. Overall a good tasty meal...just need to work on the service, which is why I can only give it three stars. *A bit of history on the name; 'Keelboatmen' brought goods & supplies down the Mississippi river in the early 1800's. Each boat had a 'champion' fighter , the 'Best of the Best'. To signify his rank, he wore a red turkey feather in his hat. It became an unwritten custom that one red feather must challenge another the moment they met, thus the arrival of a large fleet meant many a bloody battle. The toughest man aboard, was then called the "Cock of the Walk".
(3)Stefanie P.
Local Reviewer - What aren't ALL Nashville restaurants like this? Keep reading... If you've driven to Opry Mills Mall, or Opry Hotel, or the Opry. You've passed this place on Briley. It looks like a Cracker Barel on the outside. Its seated next to a camp resort/fair grounds. Built in 1984, it looks straight out of Dollywood. You will pull open the heavy wooden door to get in. All wood cabin the waiting area is all rocking chairs, and a massive one to take your token 'tourist' kodak moment in (see pic). All the waiters wear red shirts and black caps - a tradition of the short. The walls have a few 8 x 10 press photos autographed by old time country folks you don't know. Some other walls have business cards that were made in the 80's. (see pic) We arrived at our seats to get a tin/silver plate and a limited menu. The sign outside was right. Steaks-Catfish-Chicken. That's it. All the dinners come with cornbread, coleslaw, pickled onions, which as river folk know, you're suppose to all eat together. I got the fried chicken tenders, which come with fries and hushpuppies. The drinks come in small tin cups (I'd call them camping cups) that are ice cold. The server flips your corn bread in the pan for a 'show' - the food was bland, over cooked and not good. Everyone around us was either a tourist or a camper. We had enough fried food call our table the Wisconsin State Fair. The decor was so themed and dusty it felt a little haunted. I bet alot of northerners think this is how all NASHVILLE restaurants look. Only fried food and country music. hell yeah. I had to take some tums in the parking lot on my way home, and the smell of fried oil was on my clothes I had to jump out of them. I am sure 25 years ago this place had a two-hour wait to get in, now-a-days a dusty greasy memory of Opry past.
(1)Ruth B.
Loved the catfish, the chicken was good but not as good as the catfish. Loved the pickled onions, craving more and the coleslaw was excellent as well. Loved the cornbread and it's presentation!! May make a second trip before we leave Nashville.
(4)Marc C.
As a previous reviewer mentioned, this is not fine dining. It is definitely touristy and can best be described as a "cracker barrel on steroids." If you keep you expectations in check, you can have a good meal. The fried catfish is actually pretty good; nice flavor and crunch. The coleslaw cornbread were as good as any other "county cooking" joint. The pickled onions were a treat! Service was friendly and fast. By the way, here is where the name comes from: In the early 1800's, Natchez "Under the Hill" in Mississippi was a gathering place for the "Keelboatmen" bringing goods and supplies down the Mississippi River on their way to New Orleans. Each boat had its own "champion" fighter and when two boats met it was the custom for these "champions" to fight for the honored title of "Cock of the Walk" the "Best of the Best".
(3)David O.
I think the Cock of the Walk does itself a disservice with the name, but how could anyone really suggest changing it? If you want fish, this is the place for fish. Lots and lots of food is provided with your order and the fried Pickles are the best I've ever had. I have no doubt that its location near the Opryland hotel is designed to drive in the tourist crowd, but that shouldn't keep you away. The prices are perhaps a bit high, but the amount of food they give you is more than enough for two meals! I can't really call myself a 'regular' at Cock of the Walk, but I'd be happy to make the trip if I am in the mood for fish, fish, and more fish.
(3)Y H.
We had the catfish fillets dinners w/fixins...everything was so good...hot and delish.....tea was good also...first time for me will definitely go again!!!!
(4)Chris G.
If you like good catfish then I want you mark this place down as just mediocre and keep driving. Now if you like white beans, corn bread and an onion. Well, just pull on in. This place has really good sides and just OK catfish. They do however have a over sized rocking chair that sit 2 adults comfortably. The decor is really cool but other than the flipping of the cornbread, it's just a old building with rickety wood floors. So again the catfish and shrimp are just OK at best but the sides are wonderful.
(3)Scott H.
First, the good. The pickled onions. Really good. I mean make yourself sick from overeating good. Now the OK. The coleslaw, hush puppies, fries, and cornbread. The hush puppies were light, but really didn't have any flavor to speak of. The coleslaw was good, but really creamy. Think KFC. the cornbread was good, but again, kind of meh. Now the bad. The catfish. All I have heard since I have been working in Nashville is how good this catfish is. Best anywhere they say. I may have been there on an off night, but it wasn't even close to the best. You could taste the muddy water the fish was raised in. All in all, COTW was Ok, but unfortunately that's all I can say about it. I'll probably be back, but I'll be ordering the fried chicken and I won't be going out of my way.
(2)Sarah W.
I've been coming here with my family since the mid 1980's. There are three reasons to dine here - the ambiance, the family style dining, and the cornbread flips. Situated near Opryland Hotel, it is a nice alternative to the overpriced dining in the hotel with a hokey but fun Southern theme. Avoid the post-church lunch crowd and other usual busy times and you and your large party can be seated rather quickly at long tables. In the meantime, sit yourself down on an array of rocking chairs that puts Cracker Barrel to shame. There is one that is so giant, Lily Tomlin herself would think it overly so! The dining rooms are noisy with many large parties, but not so noisy that you cannot hear your own table. While you can eat here in smaller groups, I have rarely done so. It is designed for large family meals. The accoutrements are a nod to the rustic but can seem a little cheap (and not always immaculately clean.) You'll be dining on old fashioned tin plates and cups with handles that need frequent refills. The servers do stay on top of this and will leave a pitcher if need be. My family always orders platter of catfish and chicken. I don't eat catfish but my family seems to think it is quite acceptable. The chicken fingers are are dry and stringy and I never eat more than a strip or two. What shines are the pots of greens, the fried okra and the famous spicy cornbread. The servers, loosen the cornbread from the iron skillet and give it a flip into the air, ten feet high, to the delight of the children in the party. It is moist and has just enough of a spice to it to make it unique. I've had better cornbread, as I am a Southerner, but not in a restaurant of this caliber. All in all, it is priced fairly and really perfect for parties from 5-20. It's the kind of place you bring visiting relatives from other parts of the country after a ramble around Opryland Hotel, so they can get a taste of Southern cooking if you are not a cook yourself. The servers' costumes are ridiculous and dated and the decor is just as ludicrous. It hasn't changed a whit in the 30 years I have been going - for good or bad. Parking is ample.
(3)S H.
This restaurant is everything I loathe about tourist destinations. Excessive, ridiculous portions of incredibly fattening, greasy food. Wait staff dressed in embarrassing, inappropriate costumes. Grubby dining rooms. Wait staff was attentive, but I could not handle the costumes.
(1)Lauren S.
Overall: I'm embarrassed to admit I've actually walked in the door and smelled like grease for hours afterwards... the slim silver lining is that hush puppies were pretty fantastic. Food/Drinks: There are very few items on the menu with the only semi-healthy option being broiled chicken "on a bed of lettuce" (that's actually iceberg lettuce pretty close to the white.) I know you probably don't go there to eat anything but fried food but even the fried stuff didn't appear to be very flavorful. Maybe if I was a catfish fan? I honestly don't want to poo-poo a "Nashville landmark" and I think they are known for catfish which is not exactly my favorite so give it a try if that's up your alley. Atmosphere/Service: I think my issue with the food was that I couldn't get past the atmosphere. It's a huge barn-type building that's divided up in a maze of rooms. The smell of fried grease is just intoxicating - and not in a good way. Everything is served on tin pie plates and every beverage comes in a tin cup. It is 110% a tourist trap. Price: I think it's a bit expensive for what it is, about $13 for an entree.
(1)chris k.
I was pleasantly surprised. It's a plain place but the food rocks. Very rustic service in tin plates and cups so don't expect china! The catfish was about the best I've eaten. Fries were OK. Hush puppies were excellent. The highlight of the meal was the skillet bread and greens. EXcellent. Our waiter, Charles, was attentive and helpful. Good food and friendly service. Would definitely come again. Chris
(4)Jamie A.
While it is not my favorite place, there is so much nostalgia wrapped up here that I'm giving a little extra credit. I spent many summer evenings here with the family after a trip to Opryland (most of which still soaking wet from the Old Mill Scream). The menu leads you to believe that catfish, chicken and shrimp are the stars (and the catfish is pretty decent); the real star are the sides. I really could enjoy a plate of nothing but white beans, pickled onions, cole slaw and cornbread. The fried pickles are also tasty. I certainly wouldn't make a special trip out here, but it is worth it if you happen to be sucked in to the Music Valley drive vortex.
(3)Chris F.
The chicken was outstanding! Sides were above average as well. The atmosphere was very down home, Southern feel.
(4)Joshua S.
The food was decent, my catfish was actually surprisingly good. However, the ambiance totally ruined it. I see what they were going for, sort of a fishing camp, Huck Finn kinda of thing, but it just came off...wrong. The servers were dressed in semi-period costumes that were appalling, and I felt a little guilty just watching them. The restaurant was a maze and the interior and exterior are mismatched. Serving food on camping tins was a cute idea, but it felt out of touch with the prices. The seats were uncomfortable and creaky. And, while the food was acceptable, the menu was horribly limited. The cornbread also could stand to not have peppers in it. Overall, a cute idea poorly executed ruins otherwise acceptable food.
(2)Allen A.
Service was terrible, food was less than average. Definitely will never go back. It appeared that only two servers were waiting on a large dining room. After being seated we waited about 10 minutes for waiter. He left the slaw and onions. We then waited another 10 minutes or so on our drinks. We ordered tea and my daughter ordered a soft drink. The waiter never offered to refill our drinks nor was he even the dining area for us to ask. He dropped our plates off and never offered cock tail sauce for our shrimp or tarter for our fish and again he was never in the dining room for us to request. My wife and I both ordered shrimp and it was less than average in taste. The platter with our shrimp was piled high with very dried out fries. No one at the restaurant even bothered to ask us how the food or service was. The table across from us complained to the manager and the lady felt it was a joke talking to him.
(1)Nikki S.
I had one night in Nashville and instead of just going to a Cracker Barrel (no offense, love them....but been there done that!) so glad to have gotten experience something so fun and unique! Love the title, naturally! And the whole place has a fun cowboy down home cooking decor (servers in 10 gallon hats). I suppose if I had one wish it is that there is a Sampler Platter that I wish has an option to get broiled in lieu of fried. Personal preference! But I opted for the catfish, that could be served broiled, and it was pretty perfect. Also you get sides of jalapeño corn bread, cole slaw, and marinated raw onions (I was the only one at my table who really likes). O, and all beverages are served in tin cups! Just treat yourself!
(4)Andrew M.
Words are hard to come by to describe this place. The only words the three of us could come up with were expletives. It was truly one of the worst meals any of us had eaten. Greasy, salty, overall grim. Oh and everything being served in tin including our "cups" of beer was not cool it was bad, tin flavored beer and water, yummy. Avoid.
(1)Steven U.
We had just wrapped up a convention at the Radisson and food was a must for the crew we had of about 30. We knew it was a little late on a Sunday so we called ahead and the manager welcomed us to come on in. The staff was very willing (appeared to be anyway) to stay open a little later to accomidate us when we arrived. Yes, I will agree with another reviewer, its a tourist spot that preys on the idea that all we have in Nashville is country music and barefeet. However its not hiding that fact as it sits on a row full of resturaunts and attractions that do just the same thing. Did I like the ice cold tea served in ice cold tin cups that I didn't have to fill with ice? Yep! I also liked that I was given an ice cold tin pitcher so that I could have all I wanted! Our server (I didn't catch her name) was very sweet with what I am gonna guess was an exgerated accent. She played it well and it was certainly not offensive at all. Food was pretty good, but typical bland for a tourist trap kind of place.
(3)Jasper T.
I've lived in Nashville for a while now, and I've kept hearing about this place. So one afternoon when I wanted some souther Catfish I decided it was high time that I give this place a try. Upon entering we were asked to wait about 30 min, which is fine because it was friday evening and their seemed to be a large crowd. After our 30 minute wait we were escorted up a huge flight of stairs to a room that had lots of tables with very few people. I instantly wondered why it took so long for us to be seated. After several minutes our server came over and got us started with some drinks and a few min later brought out some corn bread in a cast iron skillet. We ordered the family style catfish dinner which was ok. It wasn't the best or the worst fish that I'd ever had. My only complaint is being seated upstairs where it felt like we were so far away from everything! I felt almost like it was the staff dinning hall. Oh and the stairs, I think for an older person those stairs would be quite daunting. Overall it is a good restaurant, maybe for tourist.
(3)Howard L.
I don't know what people were expecting when their "friends" told them to check out this restaurant right where Opryland used to be and called "Cock of the Walk". I mean, come on! Were you expecting delicately poached Catfish with microgreens? It's fried food on top of fried food. Go to their website and check out the big platter of fried crap on their front page. It's really meant for families looking for a banquet style meal on a budget, or for guys shooting for their third bypass. As far as fried crap goes, it's pretty good. It's not overly greasy and everything that's supposed to be crunchy is. It's better than Captain D's and it's certainly better than Cracker Barrel. In summation, this is not a small French bistro, it is not a new Thai place, nor even a steakhouse of small repute. This is where you go to get fried bits of meat with plenty of fries, coleslaw and hushpuppies. The skillet cornbread is pretty darn good too. And it's original Nashville.
(3)Jp R.
In the great trek west this was a must stop destination on my fathers list. We were worried that it might not be open since the city had been seen some wicked floods a month before. It was open and bustling. It is very touristy. Tin cups and plates are your fair here. Kids will enjoy seeing the wait staff flip the cornbread through the air and catch it. Speaking of that , the cornbread was amazing. I had them bring me another one for the road. I got a sirloin burger and some fries. Nothing great. My father raved about the catfish though. Nice place to visit but not really my thing.
(3)Jamie H.
Honestly, I almost walked out after sitting down, but decided to give it a try. Really glad we stayed. The fried chicken was fantastic... real crispy, tender, and not greasy. The wife says the shrimp were the best she can remember; the slight heat really was outstanding. My favorite were the hushpuppies. I could eat those all night. They serve pickled onion with every meal. It is real unique. I enjoyed eating some with every bite of chicken.
(5)Tina I.
My brother recommended this restaurant to me a few years ago because he absolutely loved it, when he was visiting Nashville. So, maybe we went in with our expectations too high... When we first were seated at our table, I sat on my chair which was soaking wet!!! And, I proceeded straight to the washrooms ("restrooms" for the Americans who don't understand what a "washroom" is ;) While I was away from the table, the waiter came to take the order from my husband, "do you know what you want to order?" My husband replied, "no, we haven't both had a chance to look at the menu yet, as my wife got soaked when she sat in the seat, and is trying to get it dried off". The waiter says, "do you know what you want to order?" Like he didn't even hear what my husband just said... strange. My brother had loved how they put on a bit of a show and toss the pan bread into the air, and then back into the pan (or that's the ideal scenario ;) While we were there, the waiter flipped the bread into the air, and it came crashing down to the floor... he picked it up, put it in the pan, and walked straight to the kitchen without a word. My husband and I just looked at one another and laughed, at the waiters lack of interaction with the customers. The food, is "ok", and overpriced for what you get. The service definitely needed improvement. It's been a few years since our visit... so maybe they have weeded out the staff with lack of "personality" by now ;) Then we waited FOREVER (felt like it) for a cab to come and get us there. I posed in the "giant" chair by the front door for photo's, while we waited ;) This was our special "New Years Eve" dinner night... lol. We had to laugh at the experience... it was so bad.... you had to laugh!
(2)Ken C.
Seems like a touristy kind of place.....but I was there on a sunday afternoon so it was me and a bunch of blue-hairs gettin' their early bird dinners on. So it's not the hippest place in town, but I was at Cooter's Dukes of Hazzard museum and I was really in the mood for catfish, this place was close, so i checked it out. Pretty damn good. Freshest catfish I've ever had. Great cole slaw, good fries, pan corn bread. Everything was solid. Tons of food for $11.99. If you are in the Grand Ole Opry area, worth checking out.
(4)Anna A.
They get 4 stars from me because I don't think the name has anything to do with roosters and that takes balls.... hee hee... Ok so in reality it's a complete freaking tourist trap and if you are a purist of anything authentic then look for something else. However, if you are looking for the cheesy Nashville experience that embodies the stereotypes that most of us think are retarded then by all means give them a try. All in all, it's fried food including catfish at a premium because you are supposedly paying for an experience. It all taste OK, I mean they can fry food and overcook vegetables with the best of them but again it's really more of a cliche than an honest statement.
(4)Kevin G.
Definitely a tourist experience. Food is fair with a limited number of options. Service was fine. Been twice in 15 years, that's enough.
(3)David S.
I had heard about this place when I first moved to Nashville, but I had never gone and checked it out. But with a name like Cock of the Walk, how could you not be curious? I had to ferry around a bunch of people at work who were from out of town. I decided to haul them all out to the Cock of the Walk one night for some local Nashville flavor. And a haul it was since they were staying down in Brentwood and we had to go up to Music Valley Drive across from Opryland. And Cock of the Walk is far, far down Music Valley Drive. If you think you've gone too far and are about to turn around, just keep on going and you'll get to it. You can look at the menu, but the reason people come here is for the catfish. I've had some pretty tasty fried catfish in my day, and I really enjoyed Cock of the Walk's. Who eats this stuff grilled? If you're going here, you're going to get some southern fried stuff. The batter had a nice flavor, and I didn't find it too greasy. You'll get the usual accompaniments including your hush puppies and slaw. This place has that log-cabing, country, rustic vibe going on. It's fun, it's fried, it's casual. The group I was with enjoyed it and had a good time with it. I bet you will as well.
(3)Richard E.
The food was good .. Not the greatest. The coleslaw is ok .. But the cornbread is delicious. Steak is really good .. Catfish is exquisite.. Shrimp is good .. Chicken is amazing. The cups are cute .. The mustard is really good and homemade .. The server will flip your cornbread up in the air to the ceiling and catch it in the pan it came it.. It's really cool.
(3)Sharon B.
The food was good , entertainment was waitress flipping corn bread. Kinda borderline expensive for what you get. The experience was great but don't believe I will go visit there again. But at least give it a try
(3)Dawnita S.
Catfish was nicely seasoned, corn bread and hush puppies were decent as well. I wouldn't say it was the best catfish in town but it's worth a stop in a tour of Nashville
(3)Jared S.
Reason enough to go to Nashville! Great food at great quantities! Convenient location, great service, and awesome food! If you're in Nashville, this place is a must!
(5)Joseph F.
My review of "cock of the walk" in Nashville, this is just a review, it's not a good review or a bad review, just a review. My first experience was not a promising one, getting there a few minutes before my party, I went to put in my name in since there was about a 20 minute wait. Was told I can't even put my name in till my full party was there, so I have to wait 10 minutes to wait 20 to 30 minutes, and I know there are a few other restaurants that are like that, but then again, I don't eat there either. Finally got back to our table, site has nice everything is wood look to it, but imagine my surprise when I get what looks to be 1920 prison tin plates and cups. I kept calling our server warden when asking for a refill on tea. Apparently the server, when brining out the cornbread, to toss is high in the air and catch it, nice little trick, would be cooler if the cornbread was on fire I ordered the flatboat shrimp and my wife ordered the 8 oz strip sirloin and it was, food, was not great or "oh my god I have eat here again and again" and it was not bad, it was ok, and there are a lot of restaurants that are ok. If you want to pay top dollar for ok food you can get anywhere else and the good old tin plate and cup look, then enjoy.
(3)Billy H.
I can't help but like Cock of the Walk. I know it's a tourist trap located by Opryland but I enjoy it. Who wouldn't enjoy a place that brings your FRIED food on a large plate the size of a semi tire?! Now, I don't eat here all the time. I've lived in Nashville for about 5 years now and ate here probably 3-4 times, usually with people visiting the city. I think it's a fun place to take people who want the "country" experience. The fried food doesn't hurt either. The restaurant is located near where the Briley Parkway and the Cumberland river intersect. The building is a large, wooden structure that looks like an old mill that would be found on a steam. Inside its all wood, literally. I think a couple acres of woodlands were lost when they built this place. All the times I've been there, it's never been overly busy. The wait has been no more than ten minutes. The servers are usually friendly, dressed in country attire and they take the cornbread in the iron skillet and toss it and flip it in the air. A little bit of show I guess, I've only had one server drop it on the floor and she got is another one. It was pretty funny. The fare is country cookin'. They've got fried catfish, fried chicken, fried shrimp, fried everything. They've also got a bunch of different steak options. You pretty much pick the main and then you'll get the fixings that come with it, fries, hushpuppies, fried onions, cole slaw and that skillet bread. The drinks are served in little copper cups, so you won't forget you're in a country cookin establishment. The mains from everyone at the table will come on a huge, metal plate, the fried mains and fries that is. You'll pick off what is yours from the plate to your plate. You get 4 pieces of what you order, at least with the chicken or fish. The food is good, it's a lot of food and a lot of fried. I couldn't eat everyday, but it's a nice treat. They've also got amazing fried pickles. If you go on their website, you're able to print off a coupon for a free order of them. I think even one time we just showed our phone and they gave it to us, but don't quote me on that.
(4)Jay R.
Biggest rocking chair I have ever seen. License plates from all 50 states, and pictures of many singers who have been there. It is well designed, has a great atmosphere, and also tremendous steak. I had it, and it was so juicy! Keep up the good work. Long way up Music Valley Dr from the hotel area, but totally worth it.
(5)Ralph R.
Whenever I'm in Nashville- I try to stop by. Winner, Winner- Chicken Dinner. Their "Down River Chicken is great and their catfish is "off the hook"! Many other choices are available. Those are my "flavorites"! They are also very entertaining throughout your visit.
(5)Meredith S.
I genuinely really, really enjoyed my time at Cock of the Walk! We were having a family reunion in Nashville, and I was a little apprehensive when my uncle suggested this place, just hearing the name, but I'm really glad we went. The atmosphere at the restaurant is definitely interesting. Rocking chairs are in the lobby including a giant, super-sized rocking chair that could fit 2-3 people. Also, hundreds if not thousands of business cards were stapled to the wood paneled walls - pretty cool to look at. We had a group of ten people, and we were seated without a problem. I loved how all the food was served on tin plates and tin glasses.. really went with the country, no-frills atmosphere. I ordered the breaded catfish with all the "fixins" which were hush puppies, pickled onions, cole slaw, french fries, and corn bread. I LOVED it! I'm not normally a huge fan of fried food, but this fried catfish was delicious. Wasn't greasy at all - had really good breading and taste to it. Loved the cornbread too.. I think it had jalapenos or something in it cuz it had just the right amount of kick. I really enjoyed this place, and if you're with a large group and want something a little different, I highly recommend it!
(4)Alex W.
I love the decor and the tin cups but it may not be for every one.Good fresh corn bread. They say the world's best catfish but it is not..it is good but not the best..The tarter sauce on the other hand is out standing. But I would still recommend to a friend
(4)Michael M.
Food was great service was Also great catfish was cooked to perfection. Authentic southern food
(5)Richard E.
The food was good .. Not the greatest. The coleslaw is ok .. But the cornbread is delicious. Steak is really good .. Catfish is exquisite.. Shrimp is good .. Chicken is amazing. The cups are cute .. The mustard is really good and homemade .. The server will flip your cornbread up in the air to the ceiling and catch it in the pan it came it.. It's really cool.
(3)Peter T.
We had plenty of parking, nice landscape. Atmosphere was good, the service is friendly and prompt. The plates are pie tins and the beverages are served in tin cups, everything's rustic. The menu is small, I like that, the food is fried or boiled. We had pickled onions,Cole slaw and corn bread...the gimmick is watching your waiter throw the bread high into the air then catching it... We ordered fried chicken, here's the surprise, we got chicken strips, we had thought , no thanks to the menu, that we'd be getting pieces. Well, it was good, not to dry. Hush puppies came with it and fries, all good. The reason for a three was no flavor, nothen set the fried chicken apart from Sonic or McDonalds chicken.
(3)Liz V.
My most recent visit to the Cock was yesterday evening. I've been here a few times, and I've always been pleased with the generous portions and taste of the food. I've always ordered the Red Feather Sampler which is shrimp, chicken, and catfish along with fries. It is seasoned well and all tastes awesome! I love the sides which is the cole slaw and cornbread. The waitress flips the cornbread in the skillet tableside, and it's always entertaining (sometimes they drop it, lol). The fried pickles are great as well! It's a great place for a family outing or a casual dinner out with friends. I love eating there and it's reasonably priced. I would recommend it to anyone if you want good catfish and shrimp!
(5)Candi R.
I LOOOVED the dish I ordered! The fried pickles were amaaazing and the coleslaw was incredibly delicious! I am not a fan of coleslaw either!
(4)Mike L.
Tourist place, been here forever, just went for first time. Sign out front says chicken shrimp steak and catfish and that is everything on the menu. Overpriced steak was cooked right and tasted fine but it was still an overpriced steak at $23.95. Salads never arrived, lots of fried stuff, waiter tried some trick to flip cornbread out of pan and it landed on floor so he picked it up and continued the trick of trying to flip it. So yeah, if you're a tourist and here with kids, have at it, lots of decent fried stuff served fairly quickly but for any other folks, don't bother.
(2)Liz D.
The only time Sweet tea ,Catfish ,Pickled onions,coleslaw ,turnips and all the fixings even came close to Mimi's cookin! Love this place! Brings me back to my Mississippi roots.
(5)Chuck P.
This place was terrible !!! Service was terrible and food was terrible it was your typical tourist trap DON'T GO!!!!!!!
(1)Jennifer W.
High ratings from the kids and mom! Great chicken and great catfish. Cole slaw was great, pickled onions were yummy. Fried pickles not so flavorful. Overall fantastic!
(5)Adam T.
We walked on the Cock. Looked busy and popular, and at 6:30pm on a Tuesday, we were told a 15 minute wait. Put our name on the list, and 40 minutes later got called. Seated for 10 minutes without a sign of a server. We saw a server in our room. He looked unhappy and as though he had a bad attitude. We walked out of Cock of the Walk, and won't be back.
(1)Atlanta F.
I give it 2 stars because the food was good. It was slow and I had to ask repeatedly for tea refills and for the corn bread (which is supposed to be an appetizer). My server, Nykia, would disappear for 8-10 minutes then come out and check in all 4 of her tables at once then disappear to get what we all as for (like refills and missing items) and disappear to go get things, thing bring them all out at once (so you may have been 15-20 minutes now without a drink, etc....) the other servers and workers did not seem to be that way, to be fair, they seemed very active even though the place was only about half full (again, it was an early dinner). I will come back if service would have been even average I would have given 4 stars.
(2)Danielle W.
Probably the best sweet tea I've ever had. They serve it in little metal cups that are chilled. They flip the cornbread at your table which is pretty neat. Along with bucket of coleslaw and puckled onions. I like how simple the menu is. Catfish chicken shrimp or a mixture. I got chicken my husband got fish. They bring it out on one platter piled with fries and hushpuppies. Too much food to eat it all. The place has about a billion rooms. It was valentines day and we didn't even have a wait. Sure it's kinda touristy but that aside it was a great meal. I give the 5 stars if for nothing more that the tea.... and maybe the tin plates and cups :)
(5)Tyler N.
I have memories from coming here as a kid, so when my wife and I were visiting Nashville, we decided to stop by. The staff was hospitable and friendly. Atmosphere made you remember you were in Tennessee: tin plates and cups, county music stars on the walls. We had the catfish and shrimp. It was probably the best catfish I have ever eaten, and the slaw and picked onions were a nice touch. The sweet tea was perfectly sweet and brought the whole meal together. If you're in Nashville, check this place out.
(5)Dave W.
We were stuck in Nashville due to a weather delay and decided to try this place after a number of positive recommendations. Family style dining (numerous small rooms) with attentive waitstaff. We even had a trainee that night and he did just fine. I had the broiled catfish with fries and cole slaw and ordered a side of deep fried pickles. It was very good. Meals came on tin plates which was a nice touch - hope they use really hot water to clean them, however. the beer selection was distressingly small and it all came from AB. Meh All in all a nice diversion and the best thing around since we did not have a car.
(3)David O.
I think the Cock of the Walk does itself a disservice with the name, but how could anyone really suggest changing it? If you want fish, this is the place for fish. Lots and lots of food is provided with your order and the fried Pickles are the best I've ever had. I have no doubt that its location near the Opryland hotel is designed to drive in the tourist crowd, but that shouldn't keep you away. The prices are perhaps a bit high, but the amount of food they give you is more than enough for two meals! I can't really call myself a 'regular' at Cock of the Walk, but I'd be happy to make the trip if I am in the mood for fish, fish, and more fish.
(3)Y H.
We had the catfish fillets dinners w/fixins...everything was so good...hot and delish.....tea was good also...first time for me will definitely go again!!!!
(4)Chris G.
If you like good catfish then I want you mark this place down as just mediocre and keep driving. Now if you like white beans, corn bread and an onion. Well, just pull on in. This place has really good sides and just OK catfish. They do however have a over sized rocking chair that sit 2 adults comfortably. The decor is really cool but other than the flipping of the cornbread, it's just a old building with rickety wood floors. So again the catfish and shrimp are just OK at best but the sides are wonderful.
(3)Christopher M.
I've been coming to restaurant for a few years now whenever I'm in Nashville and it has sadly gone downhill. I'll explain why: First...When we walked in, we were not greater with a smile and welcomed. We were merely asked how many and seated in the far back corner of the restaurant as opposed to the best available. After we were seated, it took over 10 minutes for our server to even get to our table and take our drink order, which then took her another 10 minutes to bring to us, then another 10 minutes to return for our order. This pattern continued throughout our visit. She had no customer service etiquette at all, which seemed to be a trend throughout the employees. A manager never approached us to ask how our experience or food was. And when we checked out, the young lady at the front just chewed her gum, barely acknowledged us, ran my card and handed my receipt. No "How was everything?", no "Hello", no "thank you"....not ONE word. This was after we stood there approximately 5 minutes while she was doing something on a piece of paper before she put her hand out for our check. Secondly, when the plates and utensils were brought to our table, they were soaking wet. No one had taken the time to dry them of before bringing them out. Not one employee in the restaurant was smiling. Our food was cold when we FINALLY got it. The gift shop area looked just sad, like there was no attempt to make it look neat, stocked or sell-worthy and they outside (which has SO much potential) looked like it hadn't been maintained in years and appeared very dull. The whole atmosphere was very bland. Honestly, I only give two stars because I have so much hope for this place. My first time here I was thoroughly impressed. And if it was not for the amazing food and good prices, I would not have rated it as high as I did. I love this place and I sincerely hope management or the owners pull their heads out from their butts and get this place and their employees back in shape. I was very disappointed by this experience.
(2)Donald D.
OMG, if you are into fried dinner -- this is the place for you! My company had a business meeting nearby so about a dozen of us tried it out. The service was fine -- our waiter even did a little trick with the cornbread which was kinda cool. The food was ok -- again, if you liked fried food, this is for you! I ordered the 1/2 chicken and 1/2 fish with hush puppies. I am dead serious when I say that I could not tell the three apart as they sat in my little tin pan. My baked potato had been around for a while. Otherwise, as I said, it was all fine. Its a large restaurant clearly designed to accommodate a lot of people -- including the bus load of folks that arrived just as we were leaving. Whew! Bottom line: I would not go out of my way to check it out. Nothing fancy, priced about right... ok.
(3)Teresa H.
Excellent food, nice atmosphere. Ordered the Red Feather Sampler broiled. By far the best shrimp, chicken and catfish I have had in a long time. Got coupon for free fried pickles online...very tasty. Good cole slaw, cornbread and pickles onions. Very good tartar sauce, honey mustard and cocktail sauce. Good fries.
(4)April E.
There was no wait on a Sunday night, but service was very slow and our table was poorly attended to. Not because the house was full, but just because it seemed that is the status quo. Place is gimmicky gone bad. Wet plates, overcooked steak, 15 minutes to take a drink order, so-so fried chicken and fish, which is hard to do wrong. Won't go back.
(1)Rachelle W.
My experience at Cock of the Walk was ok. I was visiting with a large group where someone else chose where we would be meeting. Almost everything on the menu is fried, so beware you won't find many healthy options. I think you can get your fish or chicken grilled. I got the fried catfish and fries. While it was good, it reminded me of catfish and fries I can make at home out of Schwan's frozen items. We did get some fried pickles, my time trying some and I loved them. They were the best part of my visit. I felt like the restaurant was gimmicky. From the staff uniform to the tin cups and plates. I didn't like the cups. They were hard to drink out of. The waitress was doing her best. We had around 40 in our group, and she was by herself serving us. She did a good job considering we brought such a large group on a weeknight out of tourist season.
(3)Sara W.
This place was so interesting for us. Being from California, this was a great experience! The food was great. The pickled onions which I was hesitant to eat at first were surprisingly good. The catfish and shrimp were awesome as was the coleslaw. The service was also pretty good. Just the fact that we ate on tin plates and cups was really cool. All in all the was a great place to experience while in Nashville!!
(4)John F.
If you seek good service with a simple menu and great tasting food then you won't go wrong here. Love the cornbread and coleslaw, it was awesome. Food was great. Service very friendly. Odd name that still don't get, LOL. We'd eat here again.
(4)Russell M.
So my girlfriend and I wanted to go eat dinner around Opry Mills Mall that would be quick. So we chose this place. Definitely a different atmosphere for me and her but we went with it. Service and food were average. I am okay that I tried the place but probably would not go back.
(3)Deborah K.
My husband and I were staying next door at the KOA, which ,by the way is Very nice....We decided to chance it at the Cock of the Walk....I had read some nice things about it from people who were also staying at the KOA. When we first walked in....I thought it was just another dive bar, with greasy food. Much to my surprise...the catfish ( which I had broiled) was delicious We ate at the bar and ended up talking with some other travelers and actually ended up closing the placeThe portions are huge....so you can pretty much plan on having leftovers....The service was good...our bartender was very accommodating....I would definitely recommend it...
(3)Lindy B.
If you're having one of those days where you have no regard for your health and a country, redneck, touristy atmosphere is ok with you, then I highly suggest you try Cock of the Walk. 90% of the menu is fried. Don't get me wrong, it's all delicious, but fried. The fried pickles are maybe the best I've had around Nashville. The hush puppies and chicken tenders are darn good, too. Oh, AND the cornbread. Let's not forget that. They give you a ridiculous amount of food so you will most likely have leftovers. The 2 main things that I don't care for in this establishment is the atmosphere (just not my thing) and the tin cups and plates. The cups are really small and it makes me feel like a hobo drinking out of them. I would probably never personally pick this place to eat, but if someone else wanted to I would gladly go...........after I changed into my stretch pants.
(4)Mike L.
Came here on a visit to Nashville. Initially I was not sure about the place since the menu is quite limited. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the food came, We had catfish and chicken and it came on a big platter for the whole table. There was so much food on the platter we could have fed a couple more. The coleslaw was the best I have ever had anywhere, good and peppery. The catfish was tasty and the platter was filled with plenty of fries too. Our server was very good. Overall I was very happy with the place and would definitely go back.
(4)Stefanie P.
Local Reviewer - What aren't ALL Nashville restaurants like this? Keep reading... If you've driven to Opry Mills Mall, or Opry Hotel, or the Opry. You've passed this place on Briley. It looks like a Cracker Barel on the outside. Its seated next to a camp resort/fair grounds. Built in 1984, it looks straight out of Dollywood. You will pull open the heavy wooden door to get in. All wood cabin the waiting area is all rocking chairs, and a massive one to take your token 'tourist' kodak moment in (see pic). All the waiters wear red shirts and black caps - a tradition of the short. The walls have a few 8 x 10 press photos autographed by old time country folks you don't know. Some other walls have business cards that were made in the 80's. (see pic) We arrived at our seats to get a tin/silver plate and a limited menu. The sign outside was right. Steaks-Catfish-Chicken. That's it. All the dinners come with cornbread, coleslaw, pickled onions, which as river folk know, you're suppose to all eat together. I got the fried chicken tenders, which come with fries and hushpuppies. The drinks come in small tin cups (I'd call them camping cups) that are ice cold. The server flips your corn bread in the pan for a 'show' - the food was bland, over cooked and not good. Everyone around us was either a tourist or a camper. We had enough fried food call our table the Wisconsin State Fair. The decor was so themed and dusty it felt a little haunted. I bet alot of northerners think this is how all NASHVILLE restaurants look. Only fried food and country music. hell yeah. I had to take some tums in the parking lot on my way home, and the smell of fried oil was on my clothes I had to jump out of them. I am sure 25 years ago this place had a two-hour wait to get in, now-a-days a dusty greasy memory of Opry past.
(1)Ruth B.
Loved the catfish, the chicken was good but not as good as the catfish. Loved the pickled onions, craving more and the coleslaw was excellent as well. Loved the cornbread and it's presentation!! May make a second trip before we leave Nashville.
(4)Marc C.
As a previous reviewer mentioned, this is not fine dining. It is definitely touristy and can best be described as a "cracker barrel on steroids." If you keep you expectations in check, you can have a good meal. The fried catfish is actually pretty good; nice flavor and crunch. The coleslaw cornbread were as good as any other "county cooking" joint. The pickled onions were a treat! Service was friendly and fast. By the way, here is where the name comes from: In the early 1800's, Natchez "Under the Hill" in Mississippi was a gathering place for the "Keelboatmen" bringing goods and supplies down the Mississippi River on their way to New Orleans. Each boat had its own "champion" fighter and when two boats met it was the custom for these "champions" to fight for the honored title of "Cock of the Walk" the "Best of the Best".
(3)Tabitha S.
I heard the buzz about this place and I dont see what the hype is. The best thing about this place is the Rocking Chair made for a GIANT! Kids loved that but besides that nothing great. You eat out of tin cups and eat off tin plates. They flip your mini cornbread in a mini iron skillet right at your table. After two tries and both resulting in our cornbread on the floor she said forget about flipping it and just put it on the table. The food was good and you get alot of it, reminded me of Po'Folks. Who remembers that place??? I miss that place. But anyhow, I personally was not impressed and probably wont make the drive to go back.
(2)Peter T.
We had plenty of parking, nice landscape. Atmosphere was good, the service is friendly and prompt. The plates are pie tins and the beverages are served in tin cups, everything's rustic. The menu is small, I like that, the food is fried or boiled. We had pickled onions,Cole slaw and corn bread...the gimmick is watching your waiter throw the bread high into the air then catching it... We ordered fried chicken, here's the surprise, we got chicken strips, we had thought , no thanks to the menu, that we'd be getting pieces. Well, it was good, not to dry. Hush puppies came with it and fries, all good. The reason for a three was no flavor, nothen set the fried chicken apart from Sonic or McDonalds chicken.
(3)Liz V.
My most recent visit to the Cock was yesterday evening. I've been here a few times, and I've always been pleased with the generous portions and taste of the food. I've always ordered the Red Feather Sampler which is shrimp, chicken, and catfish along with fries. It is seasoned well and all tastes awesome! I love the sides which is the cole slaw and cornbread. The waitress flips the cornbread in the skillet tableside, and it's always entertaining (sometimes they drop it, lol). The fried pickles are great as well! It's a great place for a family outing or a casual dinner out with friends. I love eating there and it's reasonably priced. I would recommend it to anyone if you want good catfish and shrimp!
(5)Candi R.
I LOOOVED the dish I ordered! The fried pickles were amaaazing and the coleslaw was incredibly delicious! I am not a fan of coleslaw either!
(4)Ralph R.
Whenever I'm in Nashville- I try to stop by. Winner, Winner- Chicken Dinner. Their "Down River Chicken is great and their catfish is "off the hook"! Many other choices are available. Those are my "flavorites"! They are also very entertaining throughout your visit.
(5)Mike L.
Tourist place, been here forever, just went for first time. Sign out front says chicken shrimp steak and catfish and that is everything on the menu. Overpriced steak was cooked right and tasted fine but it was still an overpriced steak at $23.95. Salads never arrived, lots of fried stuff, waiter tried some trick to flip cornbread out of pan and it landed on floor so he picked it up and continued the trick of trying to flip it. So yeah, if you're a tourist and here with kids, have at it, lots of decent fried stuff served fairly quickly but for any other folks, don't bother.
(2)Liz D.
The only time Sweet tea ,Catfish ,Pickled onions,coleslaw ,turnips and all the fixings even came close to Mimi's cookin! Love this place! Brings me back to my Mississippi roots.
(5)Chuck P.
This place was terrible !!! Service was terrible and food was terrible it was your typical tourist trap DON'T GO!!!!!!!
(1)Jennifer W.
High ratings from the kids and mom! Great chicken and great catfish. Cole slaw was great, pickled onions were yummy. Fried pickles not so flavorful. Overall fantastic!
(5)Atlanta F.
I give it 2 stars because the food was good. It was slow and I had to ask repeatedly for tea refills and for the corn bread (which is supposed to be an appetizer). My server, Nykia, would disappear for 8-10 minutes then come out and check in all 4 of her tables at once then disappear to get what we all as for (like refills and missing items) and disappear to go get things, thing bring them all out at once (so you may have been 15-20 minutes now without a drink, etc....) the other servers and workers did not seem to be that way, to be fair, they seemed very active even though the place was only about half full (again, it was an early dinner). I will come back if service would have been even average I would have given 4 stars.
(2)Danielle W.
Probably the best sweet tea I've ever had. They serve it in little metal cups that are chilled. They flip the cornbread at your table which is pretty neat. Along with bucket of coleslaw and puckled onions. I like how simple the menu is. Catfish chicken shrimp or a mixture. I got chicken my husband got fish. They bring it out on one platter piled with fries and hushpuppies. Too much food to eat it all. The place has about a billion rooms. It was valentines day and we didn't even have a wait. Sure it's kinda touristy but that aside it was a great meal. I give the 5 stars if for nothing more that the tea.... and maybe the tin plates and cups :)
(5)Tyler N.
I have memories from coming here as a kid, so when my wife and I were visiting Nashville, we decided to stop by. The staff was hospitable and friendly. Atmosphere made you remember you were in Tennessee: tin plates and cups, county music stars on the walls. We had the catfish and shrimp. It was probably the best catfish I have ever eaten, and the slaw and picked onions were a nice touch. The sweet tea was perfectly sweet and brought the whole meal together. If you're in Nashville, check this place out.
(5)Dave W.
We were stuck in Nashville due to a weather delay and decided to try this place after a number of positive recommendations. Family style dining (numerous small rooms) with attentive waitstaff. We even had a trainee that night and he did just fine. I had the broiled catfish with fries and cole slaw and ordered a side of deep fried pickles. It was very good. Meals came on tin plates which was a nice touch - hope they use really hot water to clean them, however. the beer selection was distressingly small and it all came from AB. Meh All in all a nice diversion and the best thing around since we did not have a car.
(3)David O.
I think the Cock of the Walk does itself a disservice with the name, but how could anyone really suggest changing it? If you want fish, this is the place for fish. Lots and lots of food is provided with your order and the fried Pickles are the best I've ever had. I have no doubt that its location near the Opryland hotel is designed to drive in the tourist crowd, but that shouldn't keep you away. The prices are perhaps a bit high, but the amount of food they give you is more than enough for two meals! I can't really call myself a 'regular' at Cock of the Walk, but I'd be happy to make the trip if I am in the mood for fish, fish, and more fish.
(3)Joseph F.
My review of "cock of the walk" in Nashville, this is just a review, it's not a good review or a bad review, just a review. My first experience was not a promising one, getting there a few minutes before my party, I went to put in my name in since there was about a 20 minute wait. Was told I can't even put my name in till my full party was there, so I have to wait 10 minutes to wait 20 to 30 minutes, and I know there are a few other restaurants that are like that, but then again, I don't eat there either. Finally got back to our table, site has nice everything is wood look to it, but imagine my surprise when I get what looks to be 1920 prison tin plates and cups. I kept calling our server warden when asking for a refill on tea. Apparently the server, when brining out the cornbread, to toss is high in the air and catch it, nice little trick, would be cooler if the cornbread was on fire I ordered the flatboat shrimp and my wife ordered the 8 oz strip sirloin and it was, food, was not great or "oh my god I have eat here again and again" and it was not bad, it was ok, and there are a lot of restaurants that are ok. If you want to pay top dollar for ok food you can get anywhere else and the good old tin plate and cup look, then enjoy.
(3)Meredith S.
I genuinely really, really enjoyed my time at Cock of the Walk! We were having a family reunion in Nashville, and I was a little apprehensive when my uncle suggested this place, just hearing the name, but I'm really glad we went. The atmosphere at the restaurant is definitely interesting. Rocking chairs are in the lobby including a giant, super-sized rocking chair that could fit 2-3 people. Also, hundreds if not thousands of business cards were stapled to the wood paneled walls - pretty cool to look at. We had a group of ten people, and we were seated without a problem. I loved how all the food was served on tin plates and tin glasses.. really went with the country, no-frills atmosphere. I ordered the breaded catfish with all the "fixins" which were hush puppies, pickled onions, cole slaw, french fries, and corn bread. I LOVED it! I'm not normally a huge fan of fried food, but this fried catfish was delicious. Wasn't greasy at all - had really good breading and taste to it. Loved the cornbread too.. I think it had jalapenos or something in it cuz it had just the right amount of kick. I really enjoyed this place, and if you're with a large group and want something a little different, I highly recommend it!
(4)Alex W.
I love the decor and the tin cups but it may not be for every one.Good fresh corn bread. They say the world's best catfish but it is not..it is good but not the best..The tarter sauce on the other hand is out standing. But I would still recommend to a friend
(4)Michael M.
Food was great service was Also great catfish was cooked to perfection. Authentic southern food
(5)Christopher M.
I've been coming to restaurant for a few years now whenever I'm in Nashville and it has sadly gone downhill. I'll explain why: First...When we walked in, we were not greater with a smile and welcomed. We were merely asked how many and seated in the far back corner of the restaurant as opposed to the best available. After we were seated, it took over 10 minutes for our server to even get to our table and take our drink order, which then took her another 10 minutes to bring to us, then another 10 minutes to return for our order. This pattern continued throughout our visit. She had no customer service etiquette at all, which seemed to be a trend throughout the employees. A manager never approached us to ask how our experience or food was. And when we checked out, the young lady at the front just chewed her gum, barely acknowledged us, ran my card and handed my receipt. No "How was everything?", no "Hello", no "thank you"....not ONE word. This was after we stood there approximately 5 minutes while she was doing something on a piece of paper before she put her hand out for our check. Secondly, when the plates and utensils were brought to our table, they were soaking wet. No one had taken the time to dry them of before bringing them out. Not one employee in the restaurant was smiling. Our food was cold when we FINALLY got it. The gift shop area looked just sad, like there was no attempt to make it look neat, stocked or sell-worthy and they outside (which has SO much potential) looked like it hadn't been maintained in years and appeared very dull. The whole atmosphere was very bland. Honestly, I only give two stars because I have so much hope for this place. My first time here I was thoroughly impressed. And if it was not for the amazing food and good prices, I would not have rated it as high as I did. I love this place and I sincerely hope management or the owners pull their heads out from their butts and get this place and their employees back in shape. I was very disappointed by this experience.
(2)Donald D.
OMG, if you are into fried dinner -- this is the place for you! My company had a business meeting nearby so about a dozen of us tried it out. The service was fine -- our waiter even did a little trick with the cornbread which was kinda cool. The food was ok -- again, if you liked fried food, this is for you! I ordered the 1/2 chicken and 1/2 fish with hush puppies. I am dead serious when I say that I could not tell the three apart as they sat in my little tin pan. My baked potato had been around for a while. Otherwise, as I said, it was all fine. Its a large restaurant clearly designed to accommodate a lot of people -- including the bus load of folks that arrived just as we were leaving. Whew! Bottom line: I would not go out of my way to check it out. Nothing fancy, priced about right... ok.
(3)Teresa H.
Excellent food, nice atmosphere. Ordered the Red Feather Sampler broiled. By far the best shrimp, chicken and catfish I have had in a long time. Got coupon for free fried pickles online...very tasty. Good cole slaw, cornbread and pickles onions. Very good tartar sauce, honey mustard and cocktail sauce. Good fries.
(4)April E.
There was no wait on a Sunday night, but service was very slow and our table was poorly attended to. Not because the house was full, but just because it seemed that is the status quo. Place is gimmicky gone bad. Wet plates, overcooked steak, 15 minutes to take a drink order, so-so fried chicken and fish, which is hard to do wrong. Won't go back.
(1)Stefanie P.
Local Reviewer - What aren't ALL Nashville restaurants like this? Keep reading... If you've driven to Opry Mills Mall, or Opry Hotel, or the Opry. You've passed this place on Briley. It looks like a Cracker Barel on the outside. Its seated next to a camp resort/fair grounds. Built in 1984, it looks straight out of Dollywood. You will pull open the heavy wooden door to get in. All wood cabin the waiting area is all rocking chairs, and a massive one to take your token 'tourist' kodak moment in (see pic). All the waiters wear red shirts and black caps - a tradition of the short. The walls have a few 8 x 10 press photos autographed by old time country folks you don't know. Some other walls have business cards that were made in the 80's. (see pic) We arrived at our seats to get a tin/silver plate and a limited menu. The sign outside was right. Steaks-Catfish-Chicken. That's it. All the dinners come with cornbread, coleslaw, pickled onions, which as river folk know, you're suppose to all eat together. I got the fried chicken tenders, which come with fries and hushpuppies. The drinks come in small tin cups (I'd call them camping cups) that are ice cold. The server flips your corn bread in the pan for a 'show' - the food was bland, over cooked and not good. Everyone around us was either a tourist or a camper. We had enough fried food call our table the Wisconsin State Fair. The decor was so themed and dusty it felt a little haunted. I bet alot of northerners think this is how all NASHVILLE restaurants look. Only fried food and country music. hell yeah. I had to take some tums in the parking lot on my way home, and the smell of fried oil was on my clothes I had to jump out of them. I am sure 25 years ago this place had a two-hour wait to get in, now-a-days a dusty greasy memory of Opry past.
(1)Ruth B.
Loved the catfish, the chicken was good but not as good as the catfish. Loved the pickled onions, craving more and the coleslaw was excellent as well. Loved the cornbread and it's presentation!! May make a second trip before we leave Nashville.
(4)Marc C.
As a previous reviewer mentioned, this is not fine dining. It is definitely touristy and can best be described as a "cracker barrel on steroids." If you keep you expectations in check, you can have a good meal. The fried catfish is actually pretty good; nice flavor and crunch. The coleslaw cornbread were as good as any other "county cooking" joint. The pickled onions were a treat! Service was friendly and fast. By the way, here is where the name comes from: In the early 1800's, Natchez "Under the Hill" in Mississippi was a gathering place for the "Keelboatmen" bringing goods and supplies down the Mississippi River on their way to New Orleans. Each boat had its own "champion" fighter and when two boats met it was the custom for these "champions" to fight for the honored title of "Cock of the Walk" the "Best of the Best".
(3)Tabitha S.
I heard the buzz about this place and I dont see what the hype is. The best thing about this place is the Rocking Chair made for a GIANT! Kids loved that but besides that nothing great. You eat out of tin cups and eat off tin plates. They flip your mini cornbread in a mini iron skillet right at your table. After two tries and both resulting in our cornbread on the floor she said forget about flipping it and just put it on the table. The food was good and you get alot of it, reminded me of Po'Folks. Who remembers that place??? I miss that place. But anyhow, I personally was not impressed and probably wont make the drive to go back.
(2)Jamie H.
Honestly, I almost walked out after sitting down, but decided to give it a try. Really glad we stayed. The fried chicken was fantastic... real crispy, tender, and not greasy. The wife says the shrimp were the best she can remember; the slight heat really was outstanding. My favorite were the hushpuppies. I could eat those all night. They serve pickled onion with every meal. It is real unique. I enjoyed eating some with every bite of chicken.
(5)Joshua S.
The food was decent, my catfish was actually surprisingly good. However, the ambiance totally ruined it. I see what they were going for, sort of a fishing camp, Huck Finn kinda of thing, but it just came off...wrong. The servers were dressed in semi-period costumes that were appalling, and I felt a little guilty just watching them. The restaurant was a maze and the interior and exterior are mismatched. Serving food on camping tins was a cute idea, but it felt out of touch with the prices. The seats were uncomfortable and creaky. And, while the food was acceptable, the menu was horribly limited. The cornbread also could stand to not have peppers in it. Overall, a cute idea poorly executed ruins otherwise acceptable food.
(2)Allen A.
Service was terrible, food was less than average. Definitely will never go back. It appeared that only two servers were waiting on a large dining room. After being seated we waited about 10 minutes for waiter. He left the slaw and onions. We then waited another 10 minutes or so on our drinks. We ordered tea and my daughter ordered a soft drink. The waiter never offered to refill our drinks nor was he even the dining area for us to ask. He dropped our plates off and never offered cock tail sauce for our shrimp or tarter for our fish and again he was never in the dining room for us to request. My wife and I both ordered shrimp and it was less than average in taste. The platter with our shrimp was piled high with very dried out fries. No one at the restaurant even bothered to ask us how the food or service was. The table across from us complained to the manager and the lady felt it was a joke talking to him.
(1)Nikki S.
I had one night in Nashville and instead of just going to a Cracker Barrel (no offense, love them....but been there done that!) so glad to have gotten experience something so fun and unique! Love the title, naturally! And the whole place has a fun cowboy down home cooking decor (servers in 10 gallon hats). I suppose if I had one wish it is that there is a Sampler Platter that I wish has an option to get broiled in lieu of fried. Personal preference! But I opted for the catfish, that could be served broiled, and it was pretty perfect. Also you get sides of jalapeño corn bread, cole slaw, and marinated raw onions (I was the only one at my table who really likes). O, and all beverages are served in tin cups! Just treat yourself!
(4)Rachelle W.
My experience at Cock of the Walk was ok. I was visiting with a large group where someone else chose where we would be meeting. Almost everything on the menu is fried, so beware you won't find many healthy options. I think you can get your fish or chicken grilled. I got the fried catfish and fries. While it was good, it reminded me of catfish and fries I can make at home out of Schwan's frozen items. We did get some fried pickles, my time trying some and I loved them. They were the best part of my visit. I felt like the restaurant was gimmicky. From the staff uniform to the tin cups and plates. I didn't like the cups. They were hard to drink out of. The waitress was doing her best. We had around 40 in our group, and she was by herself serving us. She did a good job considering we brought such a large group on a weeknight out of tourist season.
(3)Sara W.
This place was so interesting for us. Being from California, this was a great experience! The food was great. The pickled onions which I was hesitant to eat at first were surprisingly good. The catfish and shrimp were awesome as was the coleslaw. The service was also pretty good. Just the fact that we ate on tin plates and cups was really cool. All in all the was a great place to experience while in Nashville!!
(4)John F.
If you seek good service with a simple menu and great tasting food then you won't go wrong here. Love the cornbread and coleslaw, it was awesome. Food was great. Service very friendly. Odd name that still don't get, LOL. We'd eat here again.
(4)Russell M.
So my girlfriend and I wanted to go eat dinner around Opry Mills Mall that would be quick. So we chose this place. Definitely a different atmosphere for me and her but we went with it. Service and food were average. I am okay that I tried the place but probably would not go back.
(3)Lindy B.
If you're having one of those days where you have no regard for your health and a country, redneck, touristy atmosphere is ok with you, then I highly suggest you try Cock of the Walk. 90% of the menu is fried. Don't get me wrong, it's all delicious, but fried. The fried pickles are maybe the best I've had around Nashville. The hush puppies and chicken tenders are darn good, too. Oh, AND the cornbread. Let's not forget that. They give you a ridiculous amount of food so you will most likely have leftovers. The 2 main things that I don't care for in this establishment is the atmosphere (just not my thing) and the tin cups and plates. The cups are really small and it makes me feel like a hobo drinking out of them. I would probably never personally pick this place to eat, but if someone else wanted to I would gladly go...........after I changed into my stretch pants.
(4)Mike L.
Came here on a visit to Nashville. Initially I was not sure about the place since the menu is quite limited. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the food came, We had catfish and chicken and it came on a big platter for the whole table. There was so much food on the platter we could have fed a couple more. The coleslaw was the best I have ever had anywhere, good and peppery. The catfish was tasty and the platter was filled with plenty of fries too. Our server was very good. Overall I was very happy with the place and would definitely go back.
(4)chris k.
I was pleasantly surprised. It's a plain place but the food rocks. Very rustic service in tin plates and cups so don't expect china! The catfish was about the best I've eaten. Fries were OK. Hush puppies were excellent. The highlight of the meal was the skillet bread and greens. EXcellent. Our waiter, Charles, was attentive and helpful. Good food and friendly service. Would definitely come again. Chris
(4)Chris F.
The chicken was outstanding! Sides were above average as well. The atmosphere was very down home, Southern feel.
(4)Jamie A.
While it is not my favorite place, there is so much nostalgia wrapped up here that I'm giving a little extra credit. I spent many summer evenings here with the family after a trip to Opryland (most of which still soaking wet from the Old Mill Scream). The menu leads you to believe that catfish, chicken and shrimp are the stars (and the catfish is pretty decent); the real star are the sides. I really could enjoy a plate of nothing but white beans, pickled onions, cole slaw and cornbread. The fried pickles are also tasty. I certainly wouldn't make a special trip out here, but it is worth it if you happen to be sucked in to the Music Valley drive vortex.
(3)Sharon B.
The food was good , entertainment was waitress flipping corn bread. Kinda borderline expensive for what you get. The experience was great but don't believe I will go visit there again. But at least give it a try
(3)Dawnita S.
Catfish was nicely seasoned, corn bread and hush puppies were decent as well. I wouldn't say it was the best catfish in town but it's worth a stop in a tour of Nashville
(3)Y H.
We had the catfish fillets dinners w/fixins...everything was so good...hot and delish.....tea was good also...first time for me will definitely go again!!!!
(4)Billy H.
I can't help but like Cock of the Walk. I know it's a tourist trap located by Opryland but I enjoy it. Who wouldn't enjoy a place that brings your FRIED food on a large plate the size of a semi tire?! Now, I don't eat here all the time. I've lived in Nashville for about 5 years now and ate here probably 3-4 times, usually with people visiting the city. I think it's a fun place to take people who want the "country" experience. The fried food doesn't hurt either. The restaurant is located near where the Briley Parkway and the Cumberland river intersect. The building is a large, wooden structure that looks like an old mill that would be found on a steam. Inside its all wood, literally. I think a couple acres of woodlands were lost when they built this place. All the times I've been there, it's never been overly busy. The wait has been no more than ten minutes. The servers are usually friendly, dressed in country attire and they take the cornbread in the iron skillet and toss it and flip it in the air. A little bit of show I guess, I've only had one server drop it on the floor and she got is another one. It was pretty funny. The fare is country cookin'. They've got fried catfish, fried chicken, fried shrimp, fried everything. They've also got a bunch of different steak options. You pretty much pick the main and then you'll get the fixings that come with it, fries, hushpuppies, fried onions, cole slaw and that skillet bread. The drinks are served in little copper cups, so you won't forget you're in a country cookin establishment. The mains from everyone at the table will come on a huge, metal plate, the fried mains and fries that is. You'll pick off what is yours from the plate to your plate. You get 4 pieces of what you order, at least with the chicken or fish. The food is good, it's a lot of food and a lot of fried. I couldn't eat everyday, but it's a nice treat. They've also got amazing fried pickles. If you go on their website, you're able to print off a coupon for a free order of them. I think even one time we just showed our phone and they gave it to us, but don't quote me on that.
(4)Richard E.
The food was good .. Not the greatest. The coleslaw is ok .. But the cornbread is delicious. Steak is really good .. Catfish is exquisite.. Shrimp is good .. Chicken is amazing. The cups are cute .. The mustard is really good and homemade .. The server will flip your cornbread up in the air to the ceiling and catch it in the pan it came it.. It's really cool.
(3)Jay R.
Biggest rocking chair I have ever seen. License plates from all 50 states, and pictures of many singers who have been there. It is well designed, has a great atmosphere, and also tremendous steak. I had it, and it was so juicy! Keep up the good work. Long way up Music Valley Dr from the hotel area, but totally worth it.
(5)Adam T.
We walked on the Cock. Looked busy and popular, and at 6:30pm on a Tuesday, we were told a 15 minute wait. Put our name on the list, and 40 minutes later got called. Seated for 10 minutes without a sign of a server. We saw a server in our room. He looked unhappy and as though he had a bad attitude. We walked out of Cock of the Walk, and won't be back.
(1)Chris G.
If you like good catfish then I want you mark this place down as just mediocre and keep driving. Now if you like white beans, corn bread and an onion. Well, just pull on in. This place has really good sides and just OK catfish. They do however have a over sized rocking chair that sit 2 adults comfortably. The decor is really cool but other than the flipping of the cornbread, it's just a old building with rickety wood floors. So again the catfish and shrimp are just OK at best but the sides are wonderful.
(3)Scott H.
First, the good. The pickled onions. Really good. I mean make yourself sick from overeating good. Now the OK. The coleslaw, hush puppies, fries, and cornbread. The hush puppies were light, but really didn't have any flavor to speak of. The coleslaw was good, but really creamy. Think KFC. the cornbread was good, but again, kind of meh. Now the bad. The catfish. All I have heard since I have been working in Nashville is how good this catfish is. Best anywhere they say. I may have been there on an off night, but it wasn't even close to the best. You could taste the muddy water the fish was raised in. All in all, COTW was Ok, but unfortunately that's all I can say about it. I'll probably be back, but I'll be ordering the fried chicken and I won't be going out of my way.
(2)Jared S.
Reason enough to go to Nashville! Great food at great quantities! Convenient location, great service, and awesome food! If you're in Nashville, this place is a must!
(5)Deborah K.
My husband and I were staying next door at the KOA, which ,by the way is Very nice....We decided to chance it at the Cock of the Walk....I had read some nice things about it from people who were also staying at the KOA. When we first walked in....I thought it was just another dive bar, with greasy food. Much to my surprise...the catfish ( which I had broiled) was delicious We ate at the bar and ended up talking with some other travelers and actually ended up closing the placeThe portions are huge....so you can pretty much plan on having leftovers....The service was good...our bartender was very accommodating....I would definitely recommend it...
(3)Sarah W.
I've been coming here with my family since the mid 1980's. There are three reasons to dine here - the ambiance, the family style dining, and the cornbread flips. Situated near Opryland Hotel, it is a nice alternative to the overpriced dining in the hotel with a hokey but fun Southern theme. Avoid the post-church lunch crowd and other usual busy times and you and your large party can be seated rather quickly at long tables. In the meantime, sit yourself down on an array of rocking chairs that puts Cracker Barrel to shame. There is one that is so giant, Lily Tomlin herself would think it overly so! The dining rooms are noisy with many large parties, but not so noisy that you cannot hear your own table. While you can eat here in smaller groups, I have rarely done so. It is designed for large family meals. The accoutrements are a nod to the rustic but can seem a little cheap (and not always immaculately clean.) You'll be dining on old fashioned tin plates and cups with handles that need frequent refills. The servers do stay on top of this and will leave a pitcher if need be. My family always orders platter of catfish and chicken. I don't eat catfish but my family seems to think it is quite acceptable. The chicken fingers are are dry and stringy and I never eat more than a strip or two. What shines are the pots of greens, the fried okra and the famous spicy cornbread. The servers, loosen the cornbread from the iron skillet and give it a flip into the air, ten feet high, to the delight of the children in the party. It is moist and has just enough of a spice to it to make it unique. I've had better cornbread, as I am a Southerner, but not in a restaurant of this caliber. All in all, it is priced fairly and really perfect for parties from 5-20. It's the kind of place you bring visiting relatives from other parts of the country after a ramble around Opryland Hotel, so they can get a taste of Southern cooking if you are not a cook yourself. The servers' costumes are ridiculous and dated and the decor is just as ludicrous. It hasn't changed a whit in the 30 years I have been going - for good or bad. Parking is ample.
(3)S H.
This restaurant is everything I loathe about tourist destinations. Excessive, ridiculous portions of incredibly fattening, greasy food. Wait staff dressed in embarrassing, inappropriate costumes. Grubby dining rooms. Wait staff was attentive, but I could not handle the costumes.
(1)Lauren S.
Overall: I'm embarrassed to admit I've actually walked in the door and smelled like grease for hours afterwards... the slim silver lining is that hush puppies were pretty fantastic. Food/Drinks: There are very few items on the menu with the only semi-healthy option being broiled chicken "on a bed of lettuce" (that's actually iceberg lettuce pretty close to the white.) I know you probably don't go there to eat anything but fried food but even the fried stuff didn't appear to be very flavorful. Maybe if I was a catfish fan? I honestly don't want to poo-poo a "Nashville landmark" and I think they are known for catfish which is not exactly my favorite so give it a try if that's up your alley. Atmosphere/Service: I think my issue with the food was that I couldn't get past the atmosphere. It's a huge barn-type building that's divided up in a maze of rooms. The smell of fried grease is just intoxicating - and not in a good way. Everything is served on tin pie plates and every beverage comes in a tin cup. It is 110% a tourist trap. Price: I think it's a bit expensive for what it is, about $13 for an entree.
(1)Kevin G.
Definitely a tourist experience. Food is fair with a limited number of options. Service was fine. Been twice in 15 years, that's enough.
(3)David S.
I had heard about this place when I first moved to Nashville, but I had never gone and checked it out. But with a name like Cock of the Walk, how could you not be curious? I had to ferry around a bunch of people at work who were from out of town. I decided to haul them all out to the Cock of the Walk one night for some local Nashville flavor. And a haul it was since they were staying down in Brentwood and we had to go up to Music Valley Drive across from Opryland. And Cock of the Walk is far, far down Music Valley Drive. If you think you've gone too far and are about to turn around, just keep on going and you'll get to it. You can look at the menu, but the reason people come here is for the catfish. I've had some pretty tasty fried catfish in my day, and I really enjoyed Cock of the Walk's. Who eats this stuff grilled? If you're going here, you're going to get some southern fried stuff. The batter had a nice flavor, and I didn't find it too greasy. You'll get the usual accompaniments including your hush puppies and slaw. This place has that log-cabing, country, rustic vibe going on. It's fun, it's fried, it's casual. The group I was with enjoyed it and had a good time with it. I bet you will as well.
(3)Andrew M.
Words are hard to come by to describe this place. The only words the three of us could come up with were expletives. It was truly one of the worst meals any of us had eaten. Greasy, salty, overall grim. Oh and everything being served in tin including our "cups" of beer was not cool it was bad, tin flavored beer and water, yummy. Avoid.
(1)Jp R.
In the great trek west this was a must stop destination on my fathers list. We were worried that it might not be open since the city had been seen some wicked floods a month before. It was open and bustling. It is very touristy. Tin cups and plates are your fair here. Kids will enjoy seeing the wait staff flip the cornbread through the air and catch it. Speaking of that , the cornbread was amazing. I had them bring me another one for the road. I got a sirloin burger and some fries. Nothing great. My father raved about the catfish though. Nice place to visit but not really my thing.
(3)Steven U.
We had just wrapped up a convention at the Radisson and food was a must for the crew we had of about 30. We knew it was a little late on a Sunday so we called ahead and the manager welcomed us to come on in. The staff was very willing (appeared to be anyway) to stay open a little later to accomidate us when we arrived. Yes, I will agree with another reviewer, its a tourist spot that preys on the idea that all we have in Nashville is country music and barefeet. However its not hiding that fact as it sits on a row full of resturaunts and attractions that do just the same thing. Did I like the ice cold tea served in ice cold tin cups that I didn't have to fill with ice? Yep! I also liked that I was given an ice cold tin pitcher so that I could have all I wanted! Our server (I didn't catch her name) was very sweet with what I am gonna guess was an exgerated accent. She played it well and it was certainly not offensive at all. Food was pretty good, but typical bland for a tourist trap kind of place.
(3)Jasper T.
I've lived in Nashville for a while now, and I've kept hearing about this place. So one afternoon when I wanted some souther Catfish I decided it was high time that I give this place a try. Upon entering we were asked to wait about 30 min, which is fine because it was friday evening and their seemed to be a large crowd. After our 30 minute wait we were escorted up a huge flight of stairs to a room that had lots of tables with very few people. I instantly wondered why it took so long for us to be seated. After several minutes our server came over and got us started with some drinks and a few min later brought out some corn bread in a cast iron skillet. We ordered the family style catfish dinner which was ok. It wasn't the best or the worst fish that I'd ever had. My only complaint is being seated upstairs where it felt like we were so far away from everything! I felt almost like it was the staff dinning hall. Oh and the stairs, I think for an older person those stairs would be quite daunting. Overall it is a good restaurant, maybe for tourist.
(3)Ken C.
Seems like a touristy kind of place.....but I was there on a sunday afternoon so it was me and a bunch of blue-hairs gettin' their early bird dinners on. So it's not the hippest place in town, but I was at Cooter's Dukes of Hazzard museum and I was really in the mood for catfish, this place was close, so i checked it out. Pretty damn good. Freshest catfish I've ever had. Great cole slaw, good fries, pan corn bread. Everything was solid. Tons of food for $11.99. If you are in the Grand Ole Opry area, worth checking out.
(4)Anna A.
They get 4 stars from me because I don't think the name has anything to do with roosters and that takes balls.... hee hee... Ok so in reality it's a complete freaking tourist trap and if you are a purist of anything authentic then look for something else. However, if you are looking for the cheesy Nashville experience that embodies the stereotypes that most of us think are retarded then by all means give them a try. All in all, it's fried food including catfish at a premium because you are supposedly paying for an experience. It all taste OK, I mean they can fry food and overcook vegetables with the best of them but again it's really more of a cliche than an honest statement.
(4)Howard L.
I don't know what people were expecting when their "friends" told them to check out this restaurant right where Opryland used to be and called "Cock of the Walk". I mean, come on! Were you expecting delicately poached Catfish with microgreens? It's fried food on top of fried food. Go to their website and check out the big platter of fried crap on their front page. It's really meant for families looking for a banquet style meal on a budget, or for guys shooting for their third bypass. As far as fried crap goes, it's pretty good. It's not overly greasy and everything that's supposed to be crunchy is. It's better than Captain D's and it's certainly better than Cracker Barrel. In summation, this is not a small French bistro, it is not a new Thai place, nor even a steakhouse of small repute. This is where you go to get fried bits of meat with plenty of fries, coleslaw and hushpuppies. The skillet cornbread is pretty darn good too. And it's original Nashville.
(3)Heather K.
Where to start? This place was recommended by some locals (whom we no longer trust). It was a weekend night, so the wait was 20 minutes long to get a table, but we did not mind. The many rocking chairs in the waiting area were fun and my son loved trying them all out. When we were finally called to go to our table, we were led through a MAZE of painted garden trellis walls, adorned with random chunks of shellacked wood emblazoned with burnt-in poetry/river facts/definitions/etc. That's not really too strange, but there is NOTHING else on the walls....just these large pieces of floating wood. Ambience was pretty weak. Our server was friendly and polite, but she must have been having a rough night, because she spilled a bunch of coleslaw right behind my chair. And then minutes later, she accidentally knocked over my VERY WEAK bloody mary. The menu has like, 5 items on it. Not much to choose from. I ordered the catfish and was pleased with my choice. It was tasty (especially with the clear, jalepeno hot sauce). I have only had catfish twice in my life, so my review regarding it may not be the most reliable. Everything is served on kitschy tin plates, but they should have left it at that. Having your beer served in an itsy-bitsy tin mug is lame. Plus, my fiance had to guard his tin mug from the leaning waitress. She almost toppled that too! To sum it up: Food is okay but over-priced. Service is friendly, but accident prone. Ambience is bland and boring. I will probably never go back. There are too many awesome restaurants in Nashville to waste time with this place. I was also disappointed that the wait staff was not dressed in silly costumes as other Yelpers have suggested. They wore boring black pants and red polo shirts.
(2)Michael W.
Big portions so you will want to share. I have visited a few times now. We have yet to clear a platter. The menu has expanded over the years, but we stick with the Fish/Shrimp platter and enjoy.
(4)Pete B.
This place is not as terrible as some make it out to be. It is definitely kitschy in decor, and dimly lit in the area I sat. The fixin's are average. The cornbread was flipped by the waitress. I gave a little "woo" out of respect. The slaw was ok. I happen to like my slaw a little wet and sweet, so I enjoyed it. The pickled onions were pretty good too! They managed to pickle the raw onion bite straight out of them. I got the sampler of catfish, shrimp and chicken tenders. The catfish was a bit overdone for my liking; but, the chicken and shrimp weren't too bad. As for price: a little steep for what's being offered. All-in-all, an average place that didn't make me run screaming; but, not someplace I'd go out of my way to go to. I'm sure there are plenty of other offerings in the area that would be a better experience. Revamping the recipes a little would give a kick-start to the tired-feeling cuisine there.
(2)Greg S.
Very good catfish, like the pickled onions.service was exceptional! For the very hungry and if your not share or it will be a bit pricey.Beer expensive and lacks selection.
(4)Mariela C.
I loved Cock of the walk. This was one of the first tourist must sees that I was dragged to when I moved to Nashville and I totally fell in love. Aside from being the first place that I tried a hush puppie (I had no previous knowledge that there was such a thing) I also really dug their ridiculous costumes and serving utensils. The deal at Cock of the Walk is that you get a bunch of hardly recognizable fried stuff served on old timey tin plates and cups. The family meal that we got included hush puppies, fried catfish, fried chicken, and some other fried stuff (with a side of sweet tea also served in a tin cup). Though I couldn't tell what was what, it was all really good.
(4)Kurt T.
Get ready for some gay ass costumes on your waiters. This place is hilarious. A staple of Nashville. the food's good and the outfits are great. it's worth checking out if you're in town.
(4)Tina I.
My brother recommended this restaurant to me a few years ago because he absolutely loved it, when he was visiting Nashville. So, maybe we went in with our expectations too high... When we first were seated at our table, I sat on my chair which was soaking wet!!! And, I proceeded straight to the washrooms ("restrooms" for the Americans who don't understand what a "washroom" is ;) While I was away from the table, the waiter came to take the order from my husband, "do you know what you want to order?" My husband replied, "no, we haven't both had a chance to look at the menu yet, as my wife got soaked when she sat in the seat, and is trying to get it dried off". The waiter says, "do you know what you want to order?" Like he didn't even hear what my husband just said... strange. My brother had loved how they put on a bit of a show and toss the pan bread into the air, and then back into the pan (or that's the ideal scenario ;) While we were there, the waiter flipped the bread into the air, and it came crashing down to the floor... he picked it up, put it in the pan, and walked straight to the kitchen without a word. My husband and I just looked at one another and laughed, at the waiters lack of interaction with the customers. The food, is "ok", and overpriced for what you get. The service definitely needed improvement. It's been a few years since our visit... so maybe they have weeded out the staff with lack of "personality" by now ;) Then we waited FOREVER (felt like it) for a cab to come and get us there. I posed in the "giant" chair by the front door for photo's, while we waited ;) This was our special "New Years Eve" dinner night... lol. We had to laugh at the experience... it was so bad.... you had to laugh!
(2)T F.
Family Reunion w/ 18 people, we needed a restaurant that could accommodate a big group in one room. Sister-in-law found this place while searching on line. We went for dinner and were seated in a semiprivate room at a long table made up of four tables pushed together. Menu is limited and all meals served family style, which include coleslaw, fries, hush puppies, marinated onions & skillet bread. Our waiter seemed harried. He took our orders and once the food started arriving, we found more than one discrepancy. When he brought out the skillet bread, (uniquely served in cast iron mini skillets), he proceeded to show how to flip it in mid air, which instantly fell on the floor, instead of the pan where it belonged. Their signature item is 'fried catfish fillets' which was very good. ($11.95) Children's menu has catfish, and chicken ($6.50) or shrimp (6.95) This is a unique 'theme' type restaurant. Plates are gold pans and cups are tin. Lighting is very dim and with a dark menu, hard to see. Waiters are in period dress. Lots of rocking chairs in the foyer to sit in while you wait to get a table. The ambiance was nice, with added treat of looking out the window at the firefly's flitting by. I would suggest that they put more than one person with such a big group. Our server definitely needed some help. We had to ask more than once for refills on water & sweet tea. Overall a good tasty meal...just need to work on the service, which is why I can only give it three stars. *A bit of history on the name; 'Keelboatmen' brought goods & supplies down the Mississippi river in the early 1800's. Each boat had a 'champion' fighter , the 'Best of the Best'. To signify his rank, he wore a red turkey feather in his hat. It became an unwritten custom that one red feather must challenge another the moment they met, thus the arrival of a large fleet meant many a bloody battle. The toughest man aboard, was then called the "Cock of the Walk".
(3)Tart L.
With a name like cock, it better be hot. Lady tourists seem to flock to it (pun intended). Just about a mile from the megagiant Opryland hotel/shopping complex, it attracts a crowd for the variety of its foul, fish and beef. The prices aren't the cheapest, but hey, it's a convenient part of the Oprybubble.
(3)