It’s that time of year again: Parents Weekend. For all the seasoned veterans, you know that this is the best opportunity to venture off campus, taking advantage of your parents and just how much they’ve missed you. This long-awaited weekend only lasts for three measly days, so it’s important to choose wisely where you want to eat. To help with this difficult decision, here’s a list of the best places to go this upcoming Parents Weekend.
If you want to satisfy your Italian food cravings:
Moto Cucina + Enoteca
The number one thing lacking from Vanderbilt’s campus is quality pasta. This is the point in the year when you start to crave those delicacies that your wallet cannot afford, so Parents Weekend is the time to satisfy these cravings. Moto Cucina + Enoteca is a trendy restaurant with some of the best pasta in Nashville. Situated in the heart of the Gulch, it’s an absolute destination for anything and everything Italian. One particular stand-out dish is the Black Spaghetti, a seafood heavy dish that is sure to put you in the clean plate club at the end of the meal.
If you want to try quality sushi beyond the card:
Virago
Another thing that is hard to come by on the typical college budget is high-quality sushi. Another M Street favorite, Virago is next door to Moto and offers some of the best sushi in town. Nothing can beat the quality, not even Nama. The menu is extensive, offering everything from sushi rolls to sashimi, satisfying all possible raw fish cravings. Oh, and if you want to go even when your parents aren’t in town, check out their half-priced sushi and 2-for-1 cocktails on Maki Sake Mondays.
If you want a trendy restaurant that never fails to disappoint:
The Mockingbird
The Mockingbird is a perfect combination of retro and modern, serving up overall good vibes. Their food vision is to recreate classic, southern dishes with a little bit of a modern twist to spice it up. If you follow brussel sprout trend, this is a must-stop on your journey through town. Now, if you find Brussels sprouts to be absolutely repulsive, there are definitely options that will make you exceedingly happy. The burger is a classic option with their signature sauce to add a little extra flavor.
If you want a classic American meal that is all about the food:
Germantown Café
For those with simpler tastes, Germantown Café is the place for you. It offers your classic American dishes in large portion sizes, making it worth every penny. One of the best items on the menu is the french onion soup. You’ll fall in love with the cheese oozing over the lip of the bowl that makes this soup absolutely to die for. The restaurant itself has a simplistic vibe, giving off the impression that the majority of their focus is on the food, and they definitely succeed.
If you want a quick, cheaper breakfast, especially on tailgate day:
Red Bicycle Café and Crepes
This isn’t one of the pricier spots on the list, but it’s for sure one of the best. Red Bicycle is the perfect place to go Saturday morning before you take your parents to tailgate. It opens early in the morning and will put plenty of food in your system. Their crepes will make you feel like you’re in France, no matter whether you prefer sweet or savory. One particular stand-out is the Nutella with strawberries and bananas. It’s a beautiful creation that tastes just as sweet as it looks and will have you coming back for more even after your parents leave.
If you want to spend the rest of Sunday feeling absolutely full and content with brunch foods:
Adele’s
If you prefer a classic Sunday brunch to share with your parents, head to Adele’s for arguably one of the best brunches in town. They pull out all the stops, setting up an expansive Brunch Buffet that offers everything you could ever want (think: charcuterie, shrimp cocktail, a bacon carving station, and everything in between). Just make sure to come hungry because you’re going to want to try a little bit of everything, which is a mighty feat.
If you want a filling, yet healthy meal:
Avo
For all you healthy eaters, Avo is a one-of-a-kind restaurant that is 100% vegan. Now, for someone who has a particular love for meat, this concept initially freaked me out, but it was one of the most pleasant surprises of my lifetime. The crispy fingerling potatoes were delectable, but the zucchini noodle pasta was definitely the most outstanding dish. Topped with a lump of almond ricotta, the noodles were so full of flavor that you no longer feel like you’re eating vegetables, but rather one of the best meals of your young life.
If you want to take advantage of being able to spend a little bit more and try what was just out of reach:
Barcelona Wine Bar
Now I know most of you have probably been here for a friend’s birthday or what not, but the only way to truly experience everything it has to offer is to come with your parents. Barcelona Wine Bar is known for its hipster vibes and amazing tapas. As you can expect with tapas, each individual dish is on the pricey and smaller side, but in order to do this menu right, you have to try as many high-quality as possible. The Patatas Bravas are an absolute highlight, but there is no way to go wrong with this menu.
If you want fancy Mexican food beyond the classic Nada:
Saint Añejo
In case you haven’t noticed already, the Gulch has some of the best restaurants in all of Nashville. Saint Añejo is no exception; in fact, it is a stand out among the plethora of restaurants in the neighborhood. The restaurant itself is lively and modern with some of the best queso you can find. The menu offers a huge variety, setting it apart from the beloved Nada, featuring everything from fajitas to nachos to many different salads.
If you think dinner is not dinner if it’s not followed by dessert:
Five Daughters Bakery
This is for sure a classic Nashville stop that every visitor and resident must try at some point. Five Daughters Bakery is known for their specially crafted donuts that are unlike anything you have tried before. Each donut has 100 different layers, making it one of the richest, most delicious creations of human kind. They have classic, staple flavors that you will see year-round, but for this weekend, you might as well try the monthly flavors like Cinnamon Cripsy Crunch. Because I mean, it’s only around for so long, right?
No matter where you drag your parents to this upcoming weekend, you can’t go wrong. Just make sure to cherish the weekend while it lasts because your parents will soon leave you to your stereotypical broke college student status.