The Stable

Nashville Restaurants and Food
The Stable
1203 Old Hydes Ferry Pike
Ashland City
615-792-5003

Update 8/11: This restaurant has closed.

A roadhouse is a place you can taste the warm burn of whiskey and barely hear the cue ball crack through the din of a pumping juke box. People tend to holler for no apparent reason and the waitresses are all big Southern smiles, unless they’re getting ready to toss someone out. That’s the vibe on the bar side at the Stable in Ashland City and interestingly it’s right next to a family oriented, sit-down dining room; a place where grandma would be perfectly comfortable. They keep the two sides of the house completely separated, to the point that we didn’t even realize they had a bar until we asked. You open a door and step from family land to beer land (you can also get that beer in the dining room, without the pool players.) We can’t tell you how much sense this makes for Ashland City. It means everyone can have a good time and in whatever fashion they please.

The Stable has been well run from the get-go by co-owners Ginger Lewis and Joe Davis and that’s not surprising: Davis has plenty of experience from South Street, Gold Rush and Bound’ry in Nashville. The good people of Cheatham County are responding. The Stable was doing brisk business on the weekend evenings we visited. We must say at the outset that we dined on both occasions in the bar room. I’m not sure what that says about us. The waitresses are quick to spot you and take your order. The hospitality extends to just about everyone we met on the staff.

Meat rules at the Stable and that’s great for a Meat Eater and not so great for a Veggie Eater. They know how to use a smoker and the resulting barbecue is very good. The pulled pork is tender, well seasoned and has enough bits of bark for texture. The brisket is moist, smoky and has a little fat to it, for a great flavor. The smoked sausage looks like kielbasa, but has an almost creamy texture, with a bit of char from the grill and well balanced smoke. They serve a sassy tomato based sauce, but there doesn’t seem to be much reason for it- the meat is just fine solo.

The Drunken Beer Chicken has a spicy, peppery rub and a light smoke. Get the white sauce on the side- it’s savory with a chili pepper kick that is nearly addictive. The sides are all-out Southern. The sweet potato casserole is super-sweet with brown sugar and pecans. Mac and cheese is served up Velveeta sticky and yet with decent flavor. The green beans are probably straight out of the can, but when whipped up with a bit of spice and smoke they become dark and creamy.

Veggie Eater: Veggie options are pretty much limited to apps here. One our first visit, we opted for the cheese and sausage platter to start. The meat eater raved about the sausage, but I found the cheese (sharp cheddar) a bit generic and as it was cut into large cubes, unmanageable with crackers. Next, opting for more cheese, I ordered the potato skins. First time out, they came adorned with bacon bits. Our waitress was quick to notice the gaffe and had a new set in front of me in no time. The next time I opted for the nachos, with chili on the side for the Meat Eater (decent chili-m.e.) It’s standard bar fare and probably not fair to judge the items when they are missing key ingredients. The ambience is fun (bar side, not meat and three side); love a place that has the juke box blasting the White Stripes, Dixie Chicks, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and George Jones. I can often times be enticed to tolerate Meat centric dining as long as there are good tunes and readily available beer, which thankfully is the case at The Stable.

Meat Eater: Don’t worry about the confusing address. The Stable is located just off of Highway 12 and just north of the Ashland City Wal-Mart. It’s in the location formerly occupied by the much loved Bill’s Catfish House. The Stable is a welcome addition to the North Davidson/Cheatham County area. Now, if they can take the plunge to do the same in Joelton we would be really happy (I know, it’s a bit crazy up here, but please try again.) We paid $55 with a bunch of drinks, tax and tip on one visit and $62 on another visit.