Great spot. From the outside it doesn't look like much but upon entry you are greeted like you are a friend of the owners. Everything on the menu is priced cheap and the food portions are large. The food is incredible and you can't put into words how good it actually is. Gotta try it for yourself
Cameron P.
Want to support a local business and eat better than anywhere else in Nashville for a good price come here !! Healthy portioned sized plates with everything on it being a 10/10. Hospitality was a 10/10 big al really makes his customers feel welcomed. You won't get any live music or bull riding but you will leave highly satisfied like myself.
Alicia H.
Been trying to eat here for a while, but hours aren't consistent with website, and no one answers the phone.
Ashley M.
Let's start with the phone call we made to get clarity on their business hours. AJ was kind from the first interaction over the phone. He explained they had altered hours because his father was out due to a knee surgery. They closed at 2pm we arrived roughly at 1pm. We pulled up in a residential neighborhood to the restaurant. I thought that was pretty dope! Inside it's like going into someone's living room and enjoying a home cooked meal. AJ was at the register, he explained we could sit wherever we wanted and gave us menus. He engaged with us asking about where we were from and what brought us to town. Told us some of his menu favorites and what paired well together. Overall the customer service was a 10/10. We ordered: Note - Proteins came with two sides and a hot cake. Meal 1: Fried catfish, okra rice, and apples. Meal 2: Fried catfish, skillet beans, and green beans. Catfish (10/10) - fried to perfection. The catfish was also seasoned to perfection. Likely the best fried catfish either of us ever had. You're not mad at getting one piece because the size of the fish is more than enough. Honestly, anything more would be too much. Also, it came with a tartar sauce that was like a miniature coleslaw. Crunchy, not too mayonnaisey. The perfect addition. Okra Rice (8/10) - New territory. I tried it. I really enjoyed it. Gave me Spanish rice vibes. Apples (10/10) - sweet with notes of cinnamon, and crispy-tender if that makes sense. Skillet Beans (8.5/10) - they were like multidimensional baked beans. They were sweet, savory and multi-layered from a texture perspective with the onion in it giving it a nice crunch. Green Beans (6/10) - weren't the star of the dish, they could've been seasoned a little better. A bit vinegary but I know that's some people's preference. Overall they were a solid side. Hot cakes (10/10) - basically a pancake but made with cornmeal. It was sweet, crispy, and the cornmeal adds an element of gritty-ness. No additions are needed like syrup or butter, these babies carry their own weight. They were so good we had to ask for two more!!!
Miles H.
Writing this as an FYI they open at 8 not 7. I mentioned to the owner the website says 7. He wasn't happy about that. (Don't suggest you point it out). But I'm giving 5 stars bc people have bad moments and I'm sure the food is great. Spread kindness and support local businesses.
Jeff T.
Big Al's is not just for Breakfast! I've visited Big Al's several times for breakfast, and i have always had a fresh and delicious meal. Recently, my friend and I visited for lunch. I ordered the Shrimp & Grits and my friend ordered the Pork Loin special. I appreciated seeing the bacon and shrimp being cooked with the sauce for my grits. My meal was made to order and it was delicious. The smoky red color of the sauce and the smokiness from the bacon made this meal so delicious. The grits were perfectly cooked and there were lots of shrimp included. I also enjoyed the corn pancake that accompanied my grits. It was perfectly cooked. I would definitely order the shrimp and grits again! My friend received way too much food for him to eat. There were 3 large, juicy slices of pork loin that he raved about. He also had an order of greens, white beans, and a corn pancake. He took half of that meal home and told me he had a wonderful dinner. The food here is always fresh and tasty, whether you visit for breakfast or lunch. I highly recommend Big Al's for their delicious food.
Dean H.
Don't tell anyone how good the food and service and atmosphere here. No tourists please. All that aside: want to find your soul. Come here. Period. Thank you, Big Al!
Andrea W.
Came here for breakfast on a weekday morning, last day in Nashville! I came specifically for the shrimp and grits, and it did not disappoint. The place feels super homey, and Al and his son are both so warm and friendly. Shrimp and grits were super flavorful, had a kick to it (which we were warned about), and had the perfect balance of grits, sauce, and shrimp. Love this spot, would highly recommend it! Shrimp and grits were a bit pricier, came out to be around $20 post-tax but super worth it (other items on the menu are more affordable).
Michelle O.
11/18/23: The reason I had to walk across a highway after breakfast. BIg Al and Miss Andrea are so personable and welcoming. He is at the grill cooking up deliciousness. She takes the orders and handles the flow of customers. My travel buddy suggested this spot I'm not a big fan of "regular breakfast items, eggs, pancakes etc so when I saw the menu had alternate items such as Porkchops and shrimps and grits I quickly called. Big Al himself picked up and stated he had one more and do I want him to hold it. Heck yes was my response. Upon arrival he asked were you the one that called I said yes he replied you look as you sound New York...lol. Folks please note it is a small establishment in the event you need to wait it will have to be outside. Once it was our turn we ordered the Porkchops...folks the "one pork chop" he saved was 3 huge pieces. It came with potatoes, eggs, and a biscuit. We also ordered the shrimp and grits with crab, biscuits with sausage gravy and cinnamon roll. Portions were huge although we shared we still each had leftovers to take. The sausage gravy for the biscuits had chunks of sausage, it was well seasoned and spicy we have like 4 biscuits. As our hotel was not far about a 10 minute walk we decided to walk instead of calling for the hotel shuttle that dropped us off. When in Nashville this a MUST but plan accordingly as its first come first serve. It's basically similar to mom and pop establishment so do not look for fine dining the cups plates etc mismatch which I think adds to the character. So happy we partaked and happy to say we dined at Big Al's.
Kristen R.
I may be the minority here, but I was not impressed at all. I was so excited to try the food, but when walking in and looking around, it didn't feel clean at all. I ordered the shrimp and grits. It was just ok. The biscuit had about a pound of butter on the top and was cold and a little hard. My husband got meatloaf, and it was not good. At all. Loaded with grease. Probably won't go back other than to try breakfast.
Wife and I were on a road trip vacation and wanted to try some authentic local breakfast food. We saw some pretty good reviews for Big Al's so we decided to stop by. It doesn't look like much on the outside and is very small on the inside (only room for about 20 patrons) but what it lacks in beauty and size, it makes up in delicious food! I had the biscuit sandwich with egg, cheese, sausage and bacon along with hash fries. The wife had French toast with bacon and a biscuit. Fantastic!!! Biscuits are light and fluffy. You have to go if you're in the area. Biggest drawback is that you may have to wait, but it will be worth it!!!
CMHeidi
Says they are open Saturday starting at 9, got there at 11 and the place was closed. Not in a great area so probably for the best.
Anthony B.
When I landed in Nashville, this was the first place I visited. It opened at 9:00 am on a Saturday morning.There was a line of about 15 people, and it's small, tables very close, and very friendly patrons that don't mind striking up random conversations. There's also an outdoor table that can hold an additional 8-12 guests Homemade cinnamon rolls were offered immediately as you sat down. They were uniquely delicious.I had the blueberry pancakes, and the vegetable omelette. Please note... the omelette will cover an entire plate. You won't finish it.I can't wait to try the shrimp and grits and other menu items next time.
John M.
I have had Al cater two different luncheons for 50+ people. Al is always on time (if not a few minutes early) sets everything up but most of all the food is absolutely fantastic. You can taste the love Al puts into his food with every bite. I can't say enough great things about not only the food but Al as a person.
dspindler
Wow, what a disappointment. Despite having very friendly service, Big Al's was disappointing in that I spent an hour waiting for and eating lunch and it was much more expensive than the quality of the food would indicate. Big A's is situated in a residential neighborhood with very little street parking which makes in tough to find a spot. It's a tiny dilapidated building with only four or five tables. There were also about 4 seats at the counter. It's very cramped but just be aware of that before you visit. I'm not holding that against Big Al's. Big Al's has a small breakfast menu and typical meat and 2 type menu for lunch as well as burgers and a few other sandwiches. On this day my companion and both ordered fried chicken and different side dishes. It took about 10 minutes to get waited on. The servers are also washing dishes and staying busy so they weren't screwing around, but it was very slow service. The two servers were friendly and outgoing though. The fried chicken was overcooked and it made the breading very dark. The chicken pieces were very small. The accompanying potato salad was okay but the coleslaw had a weird pepper heavy dressing and I only ate a few bites. I had peach cobbler for dessert which was nothing special. Canned peaches in a brown sugar and oat toping were amateurish and not particularly good. All they have for beverages are soda cans and iced tea I had to ask another customer to retrieve a drink for me because I couldn't get to the refrigerator case to get one myself. Again, not holding that against them. For two of us for a plate lunch of two very small overcooked fried chicken with two sides a cobbler and two drinks was $45. It was worth about 30. Don't expect the food to blow you away. I walked away not feeling like I got my money's worth and it took way too long.
Great spot. From the outside it doesn't look like much but upon entry you are greeted like you are a friend of the owners. Everything on the menu is priced cheap and the food portions are large. The food is incredible and you can't put into words how good it actually is. Gotta try it for yourself
Want to support a local business and eat better than anywhere else in Nashville for a good price come here !! Healthy portioned sized plates with everything on it being a 10/10. Hospitality was a 10/10 big al really makes his customers feel welcomed. You won't get any live music or bull riding but you will leave highly satisfied like myself.
Been trying to eat here for a while, but hours aren't consistent with website, and no one answers the phone.
Let's start with the phone call we made to get clarity on their business hours. AJ was kind from the first interaction over the phone. He explained they had altered hours because his father was out due to a knee surgery. They closed at 2pm we arrived roughly at 1pm. We pulled up in a residential neighborhood to the restaurant. I thought that was pretty dope! Inside it's like going into someone's living room and enjoying a home cooked meal. AJ was at the register, he explained we could sit wherever we wanted and gave us menus. He engaged with us asking about where we were from and what brought us to town. Told us some of his menu favorites and what paired well together. Overall the customer service was a 10/10. We ordered: Note - Proteins came with two sides and a hot cake. Meal 1: Fried catfish, okra rice, and apples. Meal 2: Fried catfish, skillet beans, and green beans. Catfish (10/10) - fried to perfection. The catfish was also seasoned to perfection. Likely the best fried catfish either of us ever had. You're not mad at getting one piece because the size of the fish is more than enough. Honestly, anything more would be too much. Also, it came with a tartar sauce that was like a miniature coleslaw. Crunchy, not too mayonnaisey. The perfect addition. Okra Rice (8/10) - New territory. I tried it. I really enjoyed it. Gave me Spanish rice vibes. Apples (10/10) - sweet with notes of cinnamon, and crispy-tender if that makes sense. Skillet Beans (8.5/10) - they were like multidimensional baked beans. They were sweet, savory and multi-layered from a texture perspective with the onion in it giving it a nice crunch. Green Beans (6/10) - weren't the star of the dish, they could've been seasoned a little better. A bit vinegary but I know that's some people's preference. Overall they were a solid side. Hot cakes (10/10) - basically a pancake but made with cornmeal. It was sweet, crispy, and the cornmeal adds an element of gritty-ness. No additions are needed like syrup or butter, these babies carry their own weight. They were so good we had to ask for two more!!!
Writing this as an FYI they open at 8 not 7. I mentioned to the owner the website says 7. He wasn't happy about that. (Don't suggest you point it out). But I'm giving 5 stars bc people have bad moments and I'm sure the food is great. Spread kindness and support local businesses.
Big Al's is not just for Breakfast! I've visited Big Al's several times for breakfast, and i have always had a fresh and delicious meal. Recently, my friend and I visited for lunch. I ordered the Shrimp & Grits and my friend ordered the Pork Loin special. I appreciated seeing the bacon and shrimp being cooked with the sauce for my grits. My meal was made to order and it was delicious. The smoky red color of the sauce and the smokiness from the bacon made this meal so delicious. The grits were perfectly cooked and there were lots of shrimp included. I also enjoyed the corn pancake that accompanied my grits. It was perfectly cooked. I would definitely order the shrimp and grits again! My friend received way too much food for him to eat. There were 3 large, juicy slices of pork loin that he raved about. He also had an order of greens, white beans, and a corn pancake. He took half of that meal home and told me he had a wonderful dinner. The food here is always fresh and tasty, whether you visit for breakfast or lunch. I highly recommend Big Al's for their delicious food.
Don't tell anyone how good the food and service and atmosphere here. No tourists please. All that aside: want to find your soul. Come here. Period. Thank you, Big Al!
Came here for breakfast on a weekday morning, last day in Nashville! I came specifically for the shrimp and grits, and it did not disappoint. The place feels super homey, and Al and his son are both so warm and friendly. Shrimp and grits were super flavorful, had a kick to it (which we were warned about), and had the perfect balance of grits, sauce, and shrimp. Love this spot, would highly recommend it! Shrimp and grits were a bit pricier, came out to be around $20 post-tax but super worth it (other items on the menu are more affordable).
11/18/23: The reason I had to walk across a highway after breakfast. BIg Al and Miss Andrea are so personable and welcoming. He is at the grill cooking up deliciousness. She takes the orders and handles the flow of customers. My travel buddy suggested this spot I'm not a big fan of "regular breakfast items, eggs, pancakes etc so when I saw the menu had alternate items such as Porkchops and shrimps and grits I quickly called. Big Al himself picked up and stated he had one more and do I want him to hold it. Heck yes was my response. Upon arrival he asked were you the one that called I said yes he replied you look as you sound New York...lol. Folks please note it is a small establishment in the event you need to wait it will have to be outside. Once it was our turn we ordered the Porkchops...folks the "one pork chop" he saved was 3 huge pieces. It came with potatoes, eggs, and a biscuit. We also ordered the shrimp and grits with crab, biscuits with sausage gravy and cinnamon roll. Portions were huge although we shared we still each had leftovers to take. The sausage gravy for the biscuits had chunks of sausage, it was well seasoned and spicy we have like 4 biscuits. As our hotel was not far about a 10 minute walk we decided to walk instead of calling for the hotel shuttle that dropped us off. When in Nashville this a MUST but plan accordingly as its first come first serve. It's basically similar to mom and pop establishment so do not look for fine dining the cups plates etc mismatch which I think adds to the character. So happy we partaked and happy to say we dined at Big Al's.
I may be the minority here, but I was not impressed at all. I was so excited to try the food, but when walking in and looking around, it didn't feel clean at all. I ordered the shrimp and grits. It was just ok. The biscuit had about a pound of butter on the top and was cold and a little hard. My husband got meatloaf, and it was not good. At all. Loaded with grease. Probably won't go back other than to try breakfast.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wife and I were on a road trip vacation and wanted to try some authentic local breakfast food. We saw some pretty good reviews for Big Al's so we decided to stop by. It doesn't look like much on the outside and is very small on the inside (only room for about 20 patrons) but what it lacks in beauty and size, it makes up in delicious food! I had the biscuit sandwich with egg, cheese, sausage and bacon along with hash fries. The wife had French toast with bacon and a biscuit. Fantastic!!! Biscuits are light and fluffy. You have to go if you're in the area. Biggest drawback is that you may have to wait, but it will be worth it!!!
Says they are open Saturday starting at 9, got there at 11 and the place was closed. Not in a great area so probably for the best.
When I landed in Nashville, this was the first place I visited. It opened at 9:00 am on a Saturday morning.There was a line of about 15 people, and it's small, tables very close, and very friendly patrons that don't mind striking up random conversations. There's also an outdoor table that can hold an additional 8-12 guests Homemade cinnamon rolls were offered immediately as you sat down. They were uniquely delicious.I had the blueberry pancakes, and the vegetable omelette. Please note... the omelette will cover an entire plate. You won't finish it.I can't wait to try the shrimp and grits and other menu items next time.
I have had Al cater two different luncheons for 50+ people. Al is always on time (if not a few minutes early) sets everything up but most of all the food is absolutely fantastic. You can taste the love Al puts into his food with every bite. I can't say enough great things about not only the food but Al as a person.
Wow, what a disappointment. Despite having very friendly service, Big Al's was disappointing in that I spent an hour waiting for and eating lunch and it was much more expensive than the quality of the food would indicate. Big A's is situated in a residential neighborhood with very little street parking which makes in tough to find a spot. It's a tiny dilapidated building with only four or five tables. There were also about 4 seats at the counter. It's very cramped but just be aware of that before you visit. I'm not holding that against Big Al's. Big Al's has a small breakfast menu and typical meat and 2 type menu for lunch as well as burgers and a few other sandwiches. On this day my companion and both ordered fried chicken and different side dishes. It took about 10 minutes to get waited on. The servers are also washing dishes and staying busy so they weren't screwing around, but it was very slow service. The two servers were friendly and outgoing though. The fried chicken was overcooked and it made the breading very dark. The chicken pieces were very small. The accompanying potato salad was okay but the coleslaw had a weird pepper heavy dressing and I only ate a few bites. I had peach cobbler for dessert which was nothing special. Canned peaches in a brown sugar and oat toping were amateurish and not particularly good. All they have for beverages are soda cans and iced tea I had to ask another customer to retrieve a drink for me because I couldn't get to the refrigerator case to get one myself. Again, not holding that against them. For two of us for a plate lunch of two very small overcooked fried chicken with two sides a cobbler and two drinks was $45. It was worth about 30. Don't expect the food to blow you away. I walked away not feeling like I got my money's worth and it took way too long.