Nashville is growing increasingly more and more popular as a hot spot for new restaurants, great chefs, and unique dining experiences. And not surprisingly, since it seems that no matter how many start-up eateries hang a sign and open their doors, both locals and tourists alike stream in and fill the tables, eager to try the latest twist on menu offerings and to test out the social scene. Although Yelp and other such apps can serve as dependable guides for eating out, the sheer volume of options has led me to mostly rely on word-of-mouth recommendations when planning an evening out.
If you can trust that a bit of a drive past the city limits and navigating a maze of country roads all just lends to a sense of adventure in discovering an exceptionally fun evening, then you might soon find yourself in Santa Fe, Tennessee, enjoying authentic Cajun food and great live music. I suppose the remote location of the little yellow brick building (about an 45-60 minute scenic drive out of Nashville) was part of a plan to keep the crowd size down and the food top-notch for this small, family-owned business. It is best to call ahead as they are only open on weekend evenings (Fri-Sun) and seating capacity tops out at around 25 (and they fill up fast!).
The appetizer of Boudin balls is absolutely worth the drive there. And although I was too full after the main course to have the fresh beignets for dessert, the other guests at our family-style table couldn’t stop raving about them. They offer sweet tea and sodas, but are otherwise a friendly BYOB establishment, so you can carry a little cooler in with you if you’d like. The solo musician squeezed into the corner with his guitar probably caused them to sacrifice seating for 2 additional customers; but the music creates a festive and cozy ambiance that enhances the overall experience for all the contented diners who ventured from near and farther to savor the tastes of New Orleans in the beautiful backwoods of Tennessee. 🙂
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