Fall is the perfect time for laid back outdoor dining, fun festivals and savory tastes. Come with us on a tour of some of the food and drink spots that make Rutherford County the dining center of Tennessee. Great food? Relax, we’ve got it.
Wineries
With cooler weather coming and some of the best seasonal flavors back on menus, don’t miss the chance to try out the new beers and wines offered here in Middle Tennessee. We’ve got a long list of options for you, so no matter what your tastes are, you’ll find something that you love.
If you love wine and beautiful spaces, Arrington Vineyards should be at the top of your list of places to visit. At Arrington, you can also enjoy live music. Between their Food Truck Fridays (May to October) and their Music in the Vines (October and part of November), you’ve got many options to attend a show with the family. This is the perfect place to sit back and relax, as their main goal is to create an inviting atmosphere for wine connoisseurs in the hills of Middle Tennessee. They’re open from 11am to 8pm Monday through Friday, and varying hours on the weekends.
Another spot nearby Rutherford County for wine lovers is Beans Creek Winery. Run by nine local families, Beans Creek embodies the authentic, Middle Tennessee feel.
Breweries
For those of you who enjoy beers and breweries more than wine, we’ve got you covered, too!
A local favorite for Rutherford County is Cedar Glade Brews. If you’re looking for new seasonal options, try the Pony Up Pilsner, Darker Shade of Ale, a black witbier that is “roasty and malty and full bodied,” Bianca's Helles Lager for Oktoberfest (“an easy drinker”), and even the upcoming imperial Double IPA and Barrel Aged Imperial stout in bottles. Additionally, Cedar Glade Brews has a line of canned beers that will arrive in November as they “release [their] first canned flagship beers.” Plan your trip to Cedar Glade Brews to experience a fall season jam-packed with new flavors and menu options.
There’s always something going on at Cedar Glade Brewing, so check out their event calendar to learn more about events like the Low Country Boil with music from Roland Justice on October 21, Halloween in the Glade on October 27, and the first CGB Beer Cheese Contest on November 4.
At BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, the team loves to teach their customers how to pair their award winning beers and ales with the wide variety of foods served. With their experimental brewing, BJ’s offers both classics and a wide selection of new beers to try, and makes it easy to sit back and enjoy a perfect evening of flavors.
The founder and president of Mayday Brewery, Ozzy Nelson, told us they take this time to celebrate with lots of new options for beer connoisseurs. This season, they’re offering a brand-new seasonal Amber Lager that will be on tap and in cans, as well as lots of pumpkin beers. They will even be “introducing two new beers every Thursday for Small Batch Thursday, when friends can enjoy a beer and play bingo.”
Other fall brewery options include:
- Deep South Growlers with unique beers, ciders and seltzers
- Hop Springs Beer Park, the largest brewhouse in Middle Tennessee
- Nearest Green Distillery, a Rutherford County favorite honoring Nearest Green, the formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel the art of distillery
- Panther Creek Brews, constantly creating exciting new flavors
- Short Mountain Distillery, a restaurant and distillery
- The Casual Pint, with an extensive list of draft beers
- Southern Flare Cigar and Social Lounge, named “Nashville’s Mecca of Cigars” by WTVF Channel 5
Seasonal Food
We’ve picked out a few places to grab some fall-flavored food, and gotten personal order recommendations from local chefs.
On your family culinary tour of Rutherford County, you can experience fall flavors from the start to finish of your meal at the Primrose Table. Primrose Table’s chef, Jason Matheson, detailed the many seasonal dishes they’ve been working on, including deep fried deviled eggs with a cucumber-tarragon shrimp and lobster filling, a spinach dip with Benton's bacon and calabrian chile peppers and a pumpkin spice cheesecake. To pair with these phenomenal dishes, Primrose Table will also be offering an apple spice martini, along with a few other drink options that are in the works.
You can also enjoy a seasonal menu at The Tasting Room. In addition to special dishes almost every week, they will offer a Pumpkin Frangelico Cheesecake and Tasting Room bread pudding. They also host regular events, including a magic show every second Wednesday and a wine tasting every third Wednesday. Whether you plan to attend an event or just stop in to try out their seasonal menu, The Tasting Room is a great place to spend an evening.
We have a seemingly endless list of restaurants in Rutherford County that offer exciting, new fall flavors. Other enticing spots include:
- Five Senses Restaurant & Bar, with an emphasis on a fresh, healthy and local approach
- The Goat Murfreesboro, offering Oktoberfest-style beers
- Red Bicycle Depot District, serving coffee, crepes and more!
- Goodness Gracious, with innovative southern cuisine
With the wide variety of cuisines and additional fall flavors at your fingertips, there’s enough to keep you happy and full for the whole season.
Delectable Desserts
For anyone who loves both sweet treats and seasonal flavors, be sure to visit Donut Country. Kristy Davis, a member of the Donut Country team, told us that “fall time brings everyone one’s favorite, pumpkin spice cake donuts” either traditionally glazed or, “for the month of October, you can have them cream cheese iced.” They will also have pumpkin iced glazed donuts, pumpkin iced, cream cheese-filled donuts and caramel apple filled donuts.
Other places to stop include:
- Just Love Coffee’s REAL Pumpkin Spice Lattes and waffle-ironed food creations
- Janarty’s small batch, homemade ice cream with scratch-made waffle cones (gluten-free options available)
- Hattie Jane’s serving modern takes on Southern ice cream traditions
- Brass Horn Coffee Roasters, offering orange-infused honey latte with a kick of cayenne to warm up a cold day, and a wide variety of tea and lunch food
- Simply Pure Sweets with a weekly menu of French-inspired pastries, Southern classics, and fresh beverages
The day is never really complete until you’ve had both your coffee and your dessert, and the fall is never really complete until you’ve tried all the new seasonal flavors available to you! Don’t miss out on so many delicious options offered only in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Explore Fall Flavors in Rutherford County
Start your cuisine tour now in Rutherford County! Explore our Eat & Drink section to learn everything you could want to know about us before you visit. The bartenders, chefs and bakers here can’t wait to give you a taste of fall in Middle Tennessee. We’ll see you soon!