Ri’chard’s Cafe
4420 Whites Creek Pike, Whites Creek, TN, 37189
Ri’chard’s Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Whites Creek for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Whites Creek for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Whites Creek for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4420 Whites Creek Pike
Whites Creek, TN, 37189 - Phone (615) 299-9590
- Website https://www.richardscafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Happy Hour : No
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Queen B.
This is my go to place, to bring friends from out of town. This is where the locals go to enjoy very reasonable New Orleans cuisine, listen to some outrageous music and to just be in a neat little place where everyone is friendly. Friend and I went to dinner on a Saturday night. The place was packed, the music was rockin', people were booty shakin' near their table.. Band members walked around the room, playing their guitars.. The food is amazing.. So fresh, so good, so well seasoned, so reasonable.. Found myself conversing with other diners about the taste of the homemade peanut butter pie, or the beignets. Blackened catfish, fried okra, gator bites, gumbo, muffulettas.. This is where you bring your friends for a great night out, and it won't break the bank. Told my friends, "We need to come here more often." Great place for a date. Great place to bring out of town friends. Great place to feel the flavor of happy diners. Everyone around me mentioned they are regulars. So they have quite a following We will be back. No doubt about it.
(5)Skip H.
This has become my favorite place to eat and listen to live music. Richard & his crew make you feel welcome and serve up some of the best meals I've had. I love to hang out when they are playing music because anyone can show up to join in. Great food, great atmosphere & great music!
(5)Alex A.
As a kid who grew up spending my time in the bayou, N'Orleans, and all over the southern coast. I found myself so close to home. If dog river would have been a boat dock away. I would have been there. I'll get on with it. Food: As close as you can get, with out the shrimp and craw babies coming right off the boat. I can say I would take any friend to this place to show them the flavors of the southern coast. Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Crawfish pie was all delicious I had almost the entire menu and was only disappointed with two items listed below. Crawfish Fettuccini: Flavor was alright but the Fettuccini was pasty and ridiculously thick. Beignets: were undercooked and the oil wasn't right causing an off flavor. They weren't terrible they just weren't right. Atmosphere: Hell yeah! Live music. Good beer and this place is out in the boonies away from all the Nashvillians and the visitors. I felt local as Richard came and sat with us to talk. This place is impressive. .
(4)Suzanne D.
We got jambalaya with a side of fried okra, and blackened catfish with a side salad. Jambalaya was mostly rice, cold and not much sausage, okra undercooked. Catfish was kind of bland. It was also undercooked. Side salad was excellent.
(3)Zelda S.
The gumbo cooked by Jacob Boucher under guidance on chef Blues player Richard truest was awesome! andouille sausage, shrimp, peppers, and more of the good stuff is worth coming back for. My husband is picky and a perfectionist ANC a great cook. He had the Jambalaya and proclaimed it to be Beautiful! Always a pleasure, live music each night. We played tonight and it was a sweet atmosphere.
(5)Kathy C.
This will be a brief review because: It was October 2014 when I ate here. My memory isn't good enough to write a detailed account of that day. So, why did it take me so long to write this? I want to eat here again and I'm craving their okra and beignets. My girlfriend from California was in town visiting. We had gone to visit my sister in Goodlettsville and on the way back to Nashville we realized we hadn't eaten all day. I've passed Ri'chards Cafe many times over the months and always wanted to stop. It was late afternoon so we had our choice of seating. The cafe smelled great. A combination of gumbo, coffee and other scents filled the air. We were waited on by a friendly younger woman that had the patience to answer our questions. I don't remember everything we ordered but I do remember how good the fried okra was and how much we enjoyed the atmosphere and food. I love the location. My friend fell in love with the 4 way stop in the middle of nowhere boasting 3 or 4 historic buildings. ( the cafe is on the corner occupying one of the few little spots.) I'm ready to go back. The cold weather makes me want to try the gumbo.
(4)Shad S.
Great atmosphere! Love it. Will be back! Food is very good. Tasty, good portions. Fried okra was prepared as good as anywhere!
(5)Della T.
Stopped here en route from East Tennessee to Nashville area for lunch. The three of us were seeking a casual local lunch stop that might reflect regional flair. This was the perfect choice for us that day and time. We were told to choose our own table. We were immediately served our drinks and presented the menu which was interesting and varied. We chose sandwiches which had a variety of sides to choose, including red beans and rice, fried okra, fried onion rings and or French fries. There was a bit of a wait but we enjoyed looking at the CD music offerings, viewing the little courtyard and the quaint charm of the surroundings. We ordered a take-out of Beignets for later at our next coffee break. We felt this place was a "find" and a place we certainly hope to visit again when we are in that area. It is not a fancy formal dining spot but is off the beaten path and memorable. Would definitely recommend stopping here. They have live music in the evenings, featuring country/Cajun style combo groups. We did not go in the evening since we had to be on our way northbound.
(4)A B.
Delicious food! Nothing on the menu disappoints. Great for families and friends alike-- Live musical entertainment makes it a bit too noisy for much conversation, so I wouldn't suggest a first date take place here.
(4)Chris W.
Awesome little New Orleans style food joint in whites creek. Finally stopped in after seeing it for a few years. We sampled a bunch of stuff on the menu and it was all great ! Nice beer selection too !
(5)Bj C.
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner a few nights ago. We both had cheeseburgers and onion rings. While the food is very good, I thought it was a little too sneaky that the entrees didn't automatically come with sides. The burgers by themselves were $6.50 plus an extra $3 for sides. I guess I can't complain too much because the atmosphere was wonderful with the live music. I will definitely be back. A great place for a date if you're looking for something intimate yet casual.
(4)Angelina T.
I don't really like cajun food, so I didn't come for the food. Of course I tried the fried alligator, fried okra (both proving that all fried food tastes the same) and I also had the red beans and rice for my meal. (I have to admit, I'm a tough customer with their limited menu -- I don't eat pork products and no seafood other than tuna/salmon). I was scared to try the steak. They have entertainment every day of the week (yay!), which is hit or miss, but definitely an experience worth having. We went on a Wednesday night and it was a little dead. There were about 6 tables including us (so about 5 empties and a "bar" area). We heard a very sweet singer and then a duo that wasn't as good, but not bad. I would have given them 4 stars, but the "paying the bill" process was weird. We had to go up to the bar (our waitress wouldn't take it for us) and then it took a couple of minutes (no line) to process the credit card (and it ended up being our waitress that checked us out -- so weird). I'd recommend coming here at least once.
(3)Russ C.
I visited Richard's Cafe on a Saturday afternoon. I had the crawfish etouffee with fried okra and it was very authentic and absolutely delicious. Could not eat it all. As a bonus they had live entertainment from some Nashville local's that was outstanding. Ri'chard, the owner is such a charismatic guy who interacts with the guests and draws them into the fun and is an entertainer himself. This place is a treat!!!! I dare you to go and not leave with a smile on your face.
(5)Kevin B.
Richards is a funky, hip, out of the way place yet very close to downtown Nashville. The food runs the gamut from divine to uh-oh, the service is friendly but if its busy can be slow. So why did I give it 4 out of 5 stars? ATMOSPHERE....very cool place and most of the performers are wonderful to listen to. This is an intimate place with uneven floors and an owner (Richard) who will put on the Zydeco instrument tie and play along with the band from time to time. Or he'll pull out a harmonica and snuggle up the mic and add tasty licks and he's no slouch at picking guitar or writing tunes either! So once and awhile the food is off, but the atmosphere is always a hit! Give it a try, though don't take my seat! LOL.
(4)Megan C.
If you're looking for a slightly out-of-the way bayou experience, you should definitely check this place out. On a Friday night, Ri'chard's was the place to be. It was packed with people enjoying the band and their delicious food (which I have on good authority, from my Louisiana native dinner companion, is the most authentic you'll find in or near Nashville). It has a very laid back and casual atmosphere with assorted entertaining Louisiana themed signage adorning the walls. You're instantly comfortable here, like they've been waiting for you to arrive. The food is great-fried okra (perfectly crispy), gumbo (this is a must), and the alligator bites (if you've never tried, you definitely should) get high marks from me. Finding this place is always a bit of a challenge, as I'm not too familiar with Whites Creek, but it's definitely worth the drive.
(5)Exquisite C.
I am afraid this is not my cup of tea. They advertise "authentic" Cajun food. This i can assure you all of my limited knowledge of the Cajun style of cooking is as far away from authentic as this restaurant is from New Orleans. I would suggest you go for the music and not the food.
(1)Alyssa S.
I think they mean well but I don't know if they really know what they are doing. I asked the very nice waitress what she would get off of the menu and she raved about the frozen black bean burger... Is it just me or is that a red flag?? She loves it?? yikes.. It tasted good for a frozen burger I guess. It also came with sauteed veggies. I never put salt on my food but I was dousing them in hot sauce just to taste something. I also tasted a gumbo dish they have with crawfish in it..it needed a ton of spices and salt..hmm Great live music..really friendly staff and no wait..so it wasn't a terrible experience. I just wish I saved 6 dollars and bought a package of Morning Stars for $2.99 myself.
(2)Jon D.
Pure win. Ri'Chard's is clearly the lovechild of Ri'Chard, a rather eccentric sort of character, who loves his restaurant. The band? Funny and entertaining (with Ri'Chard playing along with a spoon on a washboard hanging around his neck from the kitchen). The server? A dear. The atmosphere? A bit kooky. The food? Like they were hiding the Bayou right out behind the kitchen. The highlight was Ri'Chard coming out by the table and asking us if we've ever had real Louisiana beignets. No matter, he was on a mission to make 'em for us. The best we've ever tasted... we were promised, at least. And after watching him in the open kitchen, cutting some triangles of dough out, putting them in the fryer, taking 'em out, and covering them with powdered sugar, he cheerfully brought out the dessert to the table, where each of us realized with sure delight that each beignet was one of the most delicious things we've had. And apparently we went on Family Night. I think I like Family Night. Bravo, Ri'Chard. Bravo.
(5)Sarah N.
Walked thru the little town because the "James Gang" marker caught our interest. We decided to eat at the cafe on the corner. The porch sale caught my attention but the owner wouldn't sell me anything I wanted. We walked in not knowing it was a New Orleans theme and were very surprised. The was place clean and well decorated. It even has a building next door that you can rent for a private party (the Bank). It is a very musician based open restaurant. There was even a person picking a guitar on the porch when we arrived. The food was good but the beignets were lacking. The did not puff and were greasy. All in all a good place to go and we will get the peanut butter pie next time
(3)Kristy H.
Richard Trest's place in White's Creek is a delicious bite of coastal cuisine in Tennessee. After months of driving by this place, I finally decided to stop in, and Richard and I discovered that we grew up about 20 minutes from each other on the lovely Mississippi Gulf Coast. This is coast food at its finest. Richard makes weekly or bi-weekly trips to Ocean Springs, Biloxi, and Pass Christian, Mississippi for seafood, boudin, and other delectable delights, and his devotion to quality ingredients shows. I've known him to have outrageous homemade seafood boudin on the menu one week because he could get it at Rene's in Ocean Springs, and not have it the following week because Rene was out. Please keep that in mind when you eat there. The chalkboard advertises specials - like the boudin, the gulf shrimp, and the authentic beignets, and the printed menu shows his regular dishes. The live music is usually pretty good. There are times when it's not to my taste, but I've heard some wonderful zydeco and coastal-tinged country while enjoying my shrimp, crawfish, and a long-neck Barqs. It does get loud as the evening goes on. We usually get there as early as we can to chat with Richard and catch him singing early on. Richard's is where I go when I'm homesick. It's my comfort food when I don't want to cook for myself. It's a great place to go out and have a fun evening with friends, and it's not a bad place to make new friends, either. Try it for a little taste of the Mississippi Gulf Coast about seven hours north.
(4)Galen F.
Ri'chard's is the best! Great food and great music!
(5)Shane B.
A good place to get some Cajun food for this former gulf coaster. The gator bites are great if you're not afraid to eat something that can eat you! Really good fried shrimp that seemed to be from the gulf. I do have to say I wasn't impressed with the crawfish étouffée. It was rather bland for a Cajun dish and did not seem to be made with a rouxe. However the night was saved by a great piece of peanut butter pie that's perfect for sharing.
(3)Jessie G.
Shrimp and crawfish fettuccini is perfectly seasoned and cooked amazingly. Love it. Always a lively crowd and great music.
(5)Tim P.
Ri'chard's is a destination for fans of Cajun cooking and handmade music. I found the gator tail appetizer to be well-prepared, not too chewy like it has been on other places. The blackened redfish was nicely seasoned, not too little, not too much. The service was really fast. My only disappointment was that I had to leave. The open mic night was really a blast to listen to. :-)
(5)Brett K.
I ordered a bowl o gumbo and a shrimp po' boy sandwich. The soup was barely warm and devoid of flavor. The sandwich was soggy and the grilled shrimp too salty. I was epically disappointed. The atmosphere was decent but the waitresses seemed quite disorganized of course the restaurant was near capacity.
(2)Alex S.
I found this restaurant heading over to a buddies house. It was honestly so unexpectedly charming that I had to go there. I went to my buddies first for a spell, and he told me all about it, he gave the food a "pretty good", but warned to sit in the back of the restaurant away from the stage. Why? Apparently droves of wistful, wanna-be somebody, songwriters go there to croon their oaksy, rural journal entries to song. Not that it's a bad thing, he assured me. It just didn't go well for him when he went there once for a discrete meal, and was constantly hassled to engage in banter by a performer onstage, who wasn't very entertaining to begin with. Nightmare of a setting in that respect. I don't think the owner would have it any other way though. The setting is friendly with kind of a western-y vibe, serving seafood and Cajun specialties at fairly reasonable prices, really many items I have tried were very good. The highlight for me personally was the Crab Bisque, it was amazing, fresh, reasonably priced, real Crab. Bravo! Delicious! However the five times since I have been back it has been unavailable. I gave up, after realizing that, more than once, they were out of menu items all together, to the point of asking, "What do you actually have?". How can a restaurant be out of soup at 5:30 pm? All in all most Cajun places I have been to have been unoriginal, uninspired, and for the most part a ripoff for a plate of beans and rice, with a few slices of sausage. Ri'chard's is much better than this, for being able to raise itself murkily from the depths of an entire cuisine that is marketed solely on burnt Cajun seasoning, to the corn syrup clogged taste buds of the American public. Overall it's a friendly atmosphere, but problems occur and these problems effects the level of cuisine and service. I just don't think the owner is really into running a restaurant as much as he is into some grand aquarian episode onstage, jammin'. I personally was subjected to about 15 minutes of harmonica playing because the owner decided to jump onstage. That's great, be a showman, but at the same time give one of you other employees the capabilities of ringing customers out. The five notes played over, and over may have evoked angels in his reality. But not ours, or the other people waiting to leave. We all just wanted to be on with our plans, thanks for the lesson in all things that are crappy about grass roots music scenes. Go there and hope they are having a good day, it will be worth it sooner or later. Final Thought: When you buy your dessert's at grocery stores you may want to at least keep the packaging away from the counter. It's a poor reflection of your kitchens abilities. From Ri'chard's Website: this nails it on the head. Ingredients: 30 measures of great songs (crispy original style) 3 tons of talent (well shaken and marinaded) 10 gallons of supreme filler such as gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp, crawfish ... whatevers good. a yatch of rice Many handfulls of fun loving people A smattering of caring staff Served in laid back party atmosphere Method: Stir up everything together (add zydeco if desired) in a small town north of Nashville and watch it cook!
(2)E. D.
This was my best discovery of last year! Located north of downtown, Ri'chards Cafe is a New Orleans/Cajun style restaurant that serves up jambalaya and gumbo as well as a heaping dose of singer/songwriter style music. Ri'chard's is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner and on Sunday for brunch. In my visits here, I've seen Ri'chard cook a meal while simultaneously playing an instrument only to later jump on stage and take the mic. While some of the music is not my taste, this place has so much ambiance that I barely noticed. Everyone that I've told about this place has come back boasting their own rave reviews. I'm a little worried about posting this here as this has been a place I could go to without a reservation, even on Mardi Gras, and grab a meal with no problem. This is the place to go for a dose of New Orleans just outside of Nashville.
(5)Russ C.
I visited Richard's Cafe on a Saturday afternoon. I had the crawfish etouffee with fried okra and it was very authentic and absolutely delicious. Could not eat it all. As a bonus they had live entertainment from some Nashville local's that was outstanding. Ri'chard, the owner is such a charismatic guy who interacts with the guests and draws them into the fun and is an entertainer himself. This place is a treat!!!! I dare you to go and not leave with a smile on your face.
(5)Della T.
Stopped here en route from East Tennessee to Nashville area for lunch. The three of us were seeking a casual local lunch stop that might reflect regional flair. This was the perfect choice for us that day and time. We were told to choose our own table. We were immediately served our drinks and presented the menu which was interesting and varied. We chose sandwiches which had a variety of sides to choose, including red beans and rice, fried okra, fried onion rings and or French fries. There was a bit of a wait but we enjoyed looking at the CD music offerings, viewing the little courtyard and the quaint charm of the surroundings. We ordered a take-out of Beignets for later at our next coffee break. We felt this place was a "find" and a place we certainly hope to visit again when we are in that area. It is not a fancy formal dining spot but is off the beaten path and memorable. Would definitely recommend stopping here. They have live music in the evenings, featuring country/Cajun style combo groups. We did not go in the evening since we had to be on our way northbound.
(4)A B.
Delicious food! Nothing on the menu disappoints. Great for families and friends alike-- Live musical entertainment makes it a bit too noisy for much conversation, so I wouldn't suggest a first date take place here.
(4)Chris W.
Awesome little New Orleans style food joint in whites creek. Finally stopped in after seeing it for a few years. We sampled a bunch of stuff on the menu and it was all great ! Nice beer selection too !
(5)Bj C.
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner a few nights ago. We both had cheeseburgers and onion rings. While the food is very good, I thought it was a little too sneaky that the entrees didn't automatically come with sides. The burgers by themselves were $6.50 plus an extra $3 for sides. I guess I can't complain too much because the atmosphere was wonderful with the live music. I will definitely be back. A great place for a date if you're looking for something intimate yet casual.
(4)Angelina T.
I don't really like cajun food, so I didn't come for the food. Of course I tried the fried alligator, fried okra (both proving that all fried food tastes the same) and I also had the red beans and rice for my meal. (I have to admit, I'm a tough customer with their limited menu -- I don't eat pork products and no seafood other than tuna/salmon). I was scared to try the steak. They have entertainment every day of the week (yay!), which is hit or miss, but definitely an experience worth having. We went on a Wednesday night and it was a little dead. There were about 6 tables including us (so about 5 empties and a "bar" area). We heard a very sweet singer and then a duo that wasn't as good, but not bad. I would have given them 4 stars, but the "paying the bill" process was weird. We had to go up to the bar (our waitress wouldn't take it for us) and then it took a couple of minutes (no line) to process the credit card (and it ended up being our waitress that checked us out -- so weird). I'd recommend coming here at least once.
(3)Tim P.
Ri'chard's is a destination for fans of Cajun cooking and handmade music. I found the gator tail appetizer to be well-prepared, not too chewy like it has been on other places. The blackened redfish was nicely seasoned, not too little, not too much. The service was really fast. My only disappointment was that I had to leave. The open mic night was really a blast to listen to. :-)
(5)Brett K.
I ordered a bowl o gumbo and a shrimp po' boy sandwich. The soup was barely warm and devoid of flavor. The sandwich was soggy and the grilled shrimp too salty. I was epically disappointed. The atmosphere was decent but the waitresses seemed quite disorganized of course the restaurant was near capacity.
(2)Queen B.
This is my go to place, to bring friends from out of town. This is where the locals go to enjoy very reasonable New Orleans cuisine, listen to some outrageous music and to just be in a neat little place where everyone is friendly. Friend and I went to dinner on a Saturday night. The place was packed, the music was rockin', people were booty shakin' near their table.. Band members walked around the room, playing their guitars.. The food is amazing.. So fresh, so good, so well seasoned, so reasonable.. Found myself conversing with other diners about the taste of the homemade peanut butter pie, or the beignets. Blackened catfish, fried okra, gator bites, gumbo, muffulettas.. This is where you bring your friends for a great night out, and it won't break the bank. Told my friends, "We need to come here more often." Great place for a date. Great place to bring out of town friends. Great place to feel the flavor of happy diners. Everyone around me mentioned they are regulars. So they have quite a following We will be back. No doubt about it.
(5)Skip H.
This has become my favorite place to eat and listen to live music. Richard & his crew make you feel welcome and serve up some of the best meals I've had. I love to hang out when they are playing music because anyone can show up to join in. Great food, great atmosphere & great music!
(5)Alex A.
As a kid who grew up spending my time in the bayou, N'Orleans, and all over the southern coast. I found myself so close to home. If dog river would have been a boat dock away. I would have been there. I'll get on with it. Food: As close as you can get, with out the shrimp and craw babies coming right off the boat. I can say I would take any friend to this place to show them the flavors of the southern coast. Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Crawfish pie was all delicious I had almost the entire menu and was only disappointed with two items listed below. Crawfish Fettuccini: Flavor was alright but the Fettuccini was pasty and ridiculously thick. Beignets: were undercooked and the oil wasn't right causing an off flavor. They weren't terrible they just weren't right. Atmosphere: Hell yeah! Live music. Good beer and this place is out in the boonies away from all the Nashvillians and the visitors. I felt local as Richard came and sat with us to talk. This place is impressive. .
(4)Suzanne D.
We got jambalaya with a side of fried okra, and blackened catfish with a side salad. Jambalaya was mostly rice, cold and not much sausage, okra undercooked. Catfish was kind of bland. It was also undercooked. Side salad was excellent.
(3)Zelda S.
The gumbo cooked by Jacob Boucher under guidance on chef Blues player Richard truest was awesome! andouille sausage, shrimp, peppers, and more of the good stuff is worth coming back for. My husband is picky and a perfectionist ANC a great cook. He had the Jambalaya and proclaimed it to be Beautiful! Always a pleasure, live music each night. We played tonight and it was a sweet atmosphere.
(5)Kathy C.
This will be a brief review because: It was October 2014 when I ate here. My memory isn't good enough to write a detailed account of that day. So, why did it take me so long to write this? I want to eat here again and I'm craving their okra and beignets. My girlfriend from California was in town visiting. We had gone to visit my sister in Goodlettsville and on the way back to Nashville we realized we hadn't eaten all day. I've passed Ri'chards Cafe many times over the months and always wanted to stop. It was late afternoon so we had our choice of seating. The cafe smelled great. A combination of gumbo, coffee and other scents filled the air. We were waited on by a friendly younger woman that had the patience to answer our questions. I don't remember everything we ordered but I do remember how good the fried okra was and how much we enjoyed the atmosphere and food. I love the location. My friend fell in love with the 4 way stop in the middle of nowhere boasting 3 or 4 historic buildings. ( the cafe is on the corner occupying one of the few little spots.) I'm ready to go back. The cold weather makes me want to try the gumbo.
(4)Shad S.
Great atmosphere! Love it. Will be back! Food is very good. Tasty, good portions. Fried okra was prepared as good as anywhere!
(5)Kevin B.
Richards is a funky, hip, out of the way place yet very close to downtown Nashville. The food runs the gamut from divine to uh-oh, the service is friendly but if its busy can be slow. So why did I give it 4 out of 5 stars? ATMOSPHERE....very cool place and most of the performers are wonderful to listen to. This is an intimate place with uneven floors and an owner (Richard) who will put on the Zydeco instrument tie and play along with the band from time to time. Or he'll pull out a harmonica and snuggle up the mic and add tasty licks and he's no slouch at picking guitar or writing tunes either! So once and awhile the food is off, but the atmosphere is always a hit! Give it a try, though don't take my seat! LOL.
(4)Megan C.
If you're looking for a slightly out-of-the way bayou experience, you should definitely check this place out. On a Friday night, Ri'chard's was the place to be. It was packed with people enjoying the band and their delicious food (which I have on good authority, from my Louisiana native dinner companion, is the most authentic you'll find in or near Nashville). It has a very laid back and casual atmosphere with assorted entertaining Louisiana themed signage adorning the walls. You're instantly comfortable here, like they've been waiting for you to arrive. The food is great-fried okra (perfectly crispy), gumbo (this is a must), and the alligator bites (if you've never tried, you definitely should) get high marks from me. Finding this place is always a bit of a challenge, as I'm not too familiar with Whites Creek, but it's definitely worth the drive.
(5)Exquisite C.
I am afraid this is not my cup of tea. They advertise "authentic" Cajun food. This i can assure you all of my limited knowledge of the Cajun style of cooking is as far away from authentic as this restaurant is from New Orleans. I would suggest you go for the music and not the food.
(1)Alyssa S.
I think they mean well but I don't know if they really know what they are doing. I asked the very nice waitress what she would get off of the menu and she raved about the frozen black bean burger... Is it just me or is that a red flag?? She loves it?? yikes.. It tasted good for a frozen burger I guess. It also came with sauteed veggies. I never put salt on my food but I was dousing them in hot sauce just to taste something. I also tasted a gumbo dish they have with crawfish in it..it needed a ton of spices and salt..hmm Great live music..really friendly staff and no wait..so it wasn't a terrible experience. I just wish I saved 6 dollars and bought a package of Morning Stars for $2.99 myself.
(2)Shane B.
A good place to get some Cajun food for this former gulf coaster. The gator bites are great if you're not afraid to eat something that can eat you! Really good fried shrimp that seemed to be from the gulf. I do have to say I wasn't impressed with the crawfish étouffée. It was rather bland for a Cajun dish and did not seem to be made with a rouxe. However the night was saved by a great piece of peanut butter pie that's perfect for sharing.
(3)Jessie G.
Shrimp and crawfish fettuccini is perfectly seasoned and cooked amazingly. Love it. Always a lively crowd and great music.
(5)Jon D.
Pure win. Ri'Chard's is clearly the lovechild of Ri'Chard, a rather eccentric sort of character, who loves his restaurant. The band? Funny and entertaining (with Ri'Chard playing along with a spoon on a washboard hanging around his neck from the kitchen). The server? A dear. The atmosphere? A bit kooky. The food? Like they were hiding the Bayou right out behind the kitchen. The highlight was Ri'Chard coming out by the table and asking us if we've ever had real Louisiana beignets. No matter, he was on a mission to make 'em for us. The best we've ever tasted... we were promised, at least. And after watching him in the open kitchen, cutting some triangles of dough out, putting them in the fryer, taking 'em out, and covering them with powdered sugar, he cheerfully brought out the dessert to the table, where each of us realized with sure delight that each beignet was one of the most delicious things we've had. And apparently we went on Family Night. I think I like Family Night. Bravo, Ri'Chard. Bravo.
(5)Sarah N.
Walked thru the little town because the "James Gang" marker caught our interest. We decided to eat at the cafe on the corner. The porch sale caught my attention but the owner wouldn't sell me anything I wanted. We walked in not knowing it was a New Orleans theme and were very surprised. The was place clean and well decorated. It even has a building next door that you can rent for a private party (the Bank). It is a very musician based open restaurant. There was even a person picking a guitar on the porch when we arrived. The food was good but the beignets were lacking. The did not puff and were greasy. All in all a good place to go and we will get the peanut butter pie next time
(3)Kristy H.
Richard Trest's place in White's Creek is a delicious bite of coastal cuisine in Tennessee. After months of driving by this place, I finally decided to stop in, and Richard and I discovered that we grew up about 20 minutes from each other on the lovely Mississippi Gulf Coast. This is coast food at its finest. Richard makes weekly or bi-weekly trips to Ocean Springs, Biloxi, and Pass Christian, Mississippi for seafood, boudin, and other delectable delights, and his devotion to quality ingredients shows. I've known him to have outrageous homemade seafood boudin on the menu one week because he could get it at Rene's in Ocean Springs, and not have it the following week because Rene was out. Please keep that in mind when you eat there. The chalkboard advertises specials - like the boudin, the gulf shrimp, and the authentic beignets, and the printed menu shows his regular dishes. The live music is usually pretty good. There are times when it's not to my taste, but I've heard some wonderful zydeco and coastal-tinged country while enjoying my shrimp, crawfish, and a long-neck Barqs. It does get loud as the evening goes on. We usually get there as early as we can to chat with Richard and catch him singing early on. Richard's is where I go when I'm homesick. It's my comfort food when I don't want to cook for myself. It's a great place to go out and have a fun evening with friends, and it's not a bad place to make new friends, either. Try it for a little taste of the Mississippi Gulf Coast about seven hours north.
(4)Galen F.
Ri'chard's is the best! Great food and great music!
(5)Alex S.
I found this restaurant heading over to a buddies house. It was honestly so unexpectedly charming that I had to go there. I went to my buddies first for a spell, and he told me all about it, he gave the food a "pretty good", but warned to sit in the back of the restaurant away from the stage. Why? Apparently droves of wistful, wanna-be somebody, songwriters go there to croon their oaksy, rural journal entries to song. Not that it's a bad thing, he assured me. It just didn't go well for him when he went there once for a discrete meal, and was constantly hassled to engage in banter by a performer onstage, who wasn't very entertaining to begin with. Nightmare of a setting in that respect. I don't think the owner would have it any other way though. The setting is friendly with kind of a western-y vibe, serving seafood and Cajun specialties at fairly reasonable prices, really many items I have tried were very good. The highlight for me personally was the Crab Bisque, it was amazing, fresh, reasonably priced, real Crab. Bravo! Delicious! However the five times since I have been back it has been unavailable. I gave up, after realizing that, more than once, they were out of menu items all together, to the point of asking, "What do you actually have?". How can a restaurant be out of soup at 5:30 pm? All in all most Cajun places I have been to have been unoriginal, uninspired, and for the most part a ripoff for a plate of beans and rice, with a few slices of sausage. Ri'chard's is much better than this, for being able to raise itself murkily from the depths of an entire cuisine that is marketed solely on burnt Cajun seasoning, to the corn syrup clogged taste buds of the American public. Overall it's a friendly atmosphere, but problems occur and these problems effects the level of cuisine and service. I just don't think the owner is really into running a restaurant as much as he is into some grand aquarian episode onstage, jammin'. I personally was subjected to about 15 minutes of harmonica playing because the owner decided to jump onstage. That's great, be a showman, but at the same time give one of you other employees the capabilities of ringing customers out. The five notes played over, and over may have evoked angels in his reality. But not ours, or the other people waiting to leave. We all just wanted to be on with our plans, thanks for the lesson in all things that are crappy about grass roots music scenes. Go there and hope they are having a good day, it will be worth it sooner or later. Final Thought: When you buy your dessert's at grocery stores you may want to at least keep the packaging away from the counter. It's a poor reflection of your kitchens abilities. From Ri'chard's Website: this nails it on the head. Ingredients: 30 measures of great songs (crispy original style) 3 tons of talent (well shaken and marinaded) 10 gallons of supreme filler such as gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp, crawfish ... whatevers good. a yatch of rice Many handfulls of fun loving people A smattering of caring staff Served in laid back party atmosphere Method: Stir up everything together (add zydeco if desired) in a small town north of Nashville and watch it cook!
(2)E. D.
This was my best discovery of last year! Located north of downtown, Ri'chards Cafe is a New Orleans/Cajun style restaurant that serves up jambalaya and gumbo as well as a heaping dose of singer/songwriter style music. Ri'chard's is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner and on Sunday for brunch. In my visits here, I've seen Ri'chard cook a meal while simultaneously playing an instrument only to later jump on stage and take the mic. While some of the music is not my taste, this place has so much ambiance that I barely noticed. Everyone that I've told about this place has come back boasting their own rave reviews. I'm a little worried about posting this here as this has been a place I could go to without a reservation, even on Mardi Gras, and grab a meal with no problem. This is the place to go for a dose of New Orleans just outside of Nashville.
(5)