The Family Wash

This place is great. I was visiting Nashville for a conference, and I got in around 8am, but my AirBnB wasn’t ready until 2pm. I ate breakfast at the Family Wash (it was delicious — the coffee & chai latte were, too), and then they let me hang out for about 4 hours and get some work done while I waited for my room to be ready.

Funky little place. Great burger and grilled cheese along with great selection of beer and other drinks! Really liked the atmosphere and the quickness of service !

So nearly a 5*…and I will definitely go again.
Pretty cool diner décor inside and a great, unique menu to support the usual breakfast menu. We had a problem with the pancakes (hence 4*) but they swapped out the meal AND removed it from the bill.
Both the meals which we did eat were completely brilliant. Great service too. Given the way they dealt with the pancake dish we were left with no room for complaint at all.
Going back to try the other interesting dishes on the menu.

We met a group of friends here and could not have been more pleasantly surprised!
We met with our couples group tonight for dinner and decided to try Family Wash. I’ve heard good things for a while but always passed it by or discounted it when considering spots for dinner. It was a cold night with a wintry mix and the comfort food at Family Wash just sounded right!
The Family Wash’s atmosphere feels like a nicely refinished dive bar. I can see it being a solid neighborhood hangout any time of day thanks to the Garage Coffee being there as well. The outside was welcoming and warm with colored lights and the interior is nice and open with a stage for live music on one end.
I tried the Fried Green Biscuit Sandwich. Okay, this isn’t the menu choice for anyone looking for health foods but it’s so darned tasty! It’s an amazing stack of a fried green tomato, spinach, house pimento cheese, and sausage (in my order) and comes in the midst of some potatoes. The waitress recommended a few other things off the menu but I had one taste of this guy and knew I made the right choice. The fiancée got the shepherd’s pie and it was good, but not as good as the biscuit (she admitted so).
Pros:
The food! All of it looked fresh, house-​made, and unique.
Cons:
Personally, I don’t like loud live music while eating so you might need to keep an eye out for that if you don’t want to have to speak over music. If you’re looking to enjoy some music over dinner, go here!
Overall:
The food was surprising. It was surprising in the way the pimento cheese melted in your mouth, the potatoes were just the right crispness, and the fried green tomato had this breading and seasoning which worked extremely well with the biscuit. Go here. Get the biscuit. Enjoy!

We stopped by for breakfast and bloody Mary’s last Sunday. Hostesses took forever trying to decide where to sit us even though there were lots of open tables, so we volunteered to sit at the bar which was where we usually like to sit anyways. Bar was full aside from the 2 seats we grabbed but bartender was quick and gave us great service. She recommended the green biscuit breakfast which my husband got and added bacon and egg, I figured he would steal my Shepard pie as the green biscuit sandwich did not sound like something he would ever order but the bartender insisted it was so good she eats it almost everyday so he got it.
Green biscuit turned out to be amazing, he actually debated ordering another to go so he could have it for lunch later (haha). Shepards pie was just ok… Had a strange taste, kind of reminded me of gamey meat or a strange instant potato mix… Something was off but it wasn’t so bad I didn’t just eat it anyways… Maybe just different than I make it. Bloody Mary’s were made from a pitcher of mix that left us feeling like we were drinking straight garlic, but again. We drank them… Kept us from ordering another round though & we debated it might have just been that particular pitcher of mix because she was making a ton and I didn’t notice any of them coming back. Decided to order a salted caramel mocha to go and the barista was an artist about it. Best foofoo coffee I’ve ever had and we used to own a coffee shop!!! Amazing! Service was overall excellent and friendly. Décor was great, take the time to look around, a lot of thought went into this place. We will definitely go back!!! I believe if we had been squeaky wheels all of our slight thumbs down issues would have been handled, but I think it was more of a personal preference than just poor tasting product.

I love the inside space and the service was decent. I had the chicken pot pie which was not great. I really was looking for the traditional style but it was a semi warm pile of stuff that was less then appetizing. Great bar and space overall I will certainly go back and try something else when I return. Great service and friendly folks all around…

Love the new location. They maintained the same cozy, eclectic atmosphere but now there’s much more room! Parking is tricky. We were less than thrilled with the cappuccino. Would love if they free-​poured it rather than scoop foam on top. The espresso tasted quite burnt. My mimosa was $ 10! Yikes. We ordered the brunch salmon and it was very tasty. Live music was nice. The sound was fantastic!

Great atmosphere! Good service and food is good. They’ve changed their chicken pot pie, which now isn’t a «pot pie» to me anymore. More like a creamy pot pie soup with an herb biscuit on top, even though this seemed to have more chicken than the old one, I Really liked the old pot pie MUCH better. Shepard’s pie and fish sticks are great though!

Delicious! Great food for kids and adults. Easy vibe! Beer cheese is my new mommy. We were huge fans at the old location and the new space and menu expanded our love affair. Pancakes delicious. Grits with greens even better. I’d like a fried green tomato in my casket and the biscuit green tomato breakfast sandwich delivers. Go hungry, go often.

Love this place. The food is outstanding (I highly recommend anything on the brunch menu, as well as the burger and tomato soup/​grilled cheese. I haven’t had the pot pie or shepards pie, but they’re supposed to be amazing). Nice bar, good atmosphere. Great place for food, to see a band, or just to sit at the bar. Oh and they make THE BEST Bloody Marys with house-​made mix, bacon, pickled ginger … YUM.

We ate here and food was ok. The potatoes were good. The burger was average. We wanted the chicken pot pie but they were out (it was 11am). Service was slow. We wanted a mixed drink but they said the bartender was gone, and didn’t know if they had the ingredients we wanted.

We stopped in on a Saturday morning for some breakfast/​lunch (not brunch). We found a spot to park across the street. Parking can be a little funny since they’ve got a small lot, but that’s how much of East Nashville is. The building is new. The space is clean and open. They’ve got a nice sized stage towards the back of the restaurant and a large bar along the side.
Our server was very friendly and attentive. She answered all our questions and helped me decide between the burger and the catfish sandwich. I picked the catfish sandwich and the potatoes. We also ordered the masa hush puppies, you get 5 of them for 7 bucks. I didn’t have any of the coffee as I’m not a coffee drinker.
Our food came out shortly after we finished the masa hush puppies. For the price, I would probably skip the hush puppies, they were good, but not great. The catfish sandwich came with two bottom buns, odd I guess. The sandwich came with either potatoes or a salad. Being that I love carbs, I picked the potatoes, which are roasted potatoes. I enjoyed the potatoes, I’m glad they’ve got the skin on them. The catfish sandwich was interesting. It comes with cole slaw and hot sauce on it. The hot sauce wasn’t too hot if you’re not a fan of hot sauce. I liked the catfish sandwich, but if I go back again I think I will try the burger.

We have been to FW a few times. Always been happy. Good service, decent food, good prices, fine live music.
Last night failed on most counts
Good IPA. One catfish sandwich, more bun than fish. Diner described the fish as «eviscerated»
Hamburger was rated as just fine. Two (2) Ruben sandwiches were grilled to death. The bread almost burnt and cardboard like.
Got the bill, but I had a question. I looked around for our server, Jameson, or for that matter ANY server. None were in sight or attendance for 10 minutes. I waited, and waited, and waited, and finally left.
One Week Later
5 Stars (five stars)
I received a nice note from the owner, and all our problems were resolved. Business that don’t respond to complaints from loyal customers, just aren’t worthy of my $$$

My friend lives in Nashville and told me that had really great southern food, specifically the Shepard pie (which was their staple item when the restaurant first opened) and the stoned cheesy grits. I tried both and they lived up to their expectations. Truly comforting and mouthwatering dishes. The bloody Mary’s were not bad too. Not the best but definitely fresh!

The chicken pot pie is awesome
The kids pancakes have a nice mix of regular pancakes with cinnamon
Very cute retro décor

I love the location! They kept the best elements of the original (stage, Christmas lights, shepherds pie) and added some great improvements (space, insulation, coffee, better/​expanded menu). I love the veggie burger with jalapeños. The bucatini and meatballs is great too and my kiddo adores the fish sticks. Great beer selection and live music most nights. Awesome patio.

I think sometimes I’m a little generous with the stars, but this one deserves every one. Located in East Nashville, hipster mecca. But we are very hip so we fit in nicely. LOL Apparently, they have moved recently. This was their first Sunday open, so hopefully Unilocal will update that they are now open on Sunday. I guess that is why they weren’t that crowded. Nashville is a great breakfast city. Tons of places open on Sunday morning serving breakfast not named Cracker Barrel or Waffle House. And they are all packed. In Chattanooga, I think all we have is Bluegrass Inn, which I don’t like.
We got a little app called «snacks.» It was pretzels, oyster crackers, raw almonds and pecans that, I think, were maybe coated with butter, sprinkled with a cajun powder, and then baked. They were served quite hot (temperature). The chef deserves the Nobel Prize for gastronomy for inventing this. He could make a fortune selling this in stores. We got our leftover to go and it was just as good cold. Maybe better.
I got a ground corn soup with gruyère cheese with caramelized onions with a slice of toasted bread. It was incredible.
Wife got a sandwich made of potatoes and eggs served with a hot sauce. Awesome.
Honestly, these were probably the two worst choices on the menu. But we were not that hungry and got these smaller entrees. And they were great. This is one place we can’t wait to return to.

Ah! The new Family Wash is the best. THE BEST!
I will miss the old space, but no looking back. This was the right decision for them. They needed to expand and by partnering with Garage Coffee they really hit the jackpot. They also have a larger stage for the music so you don’t feel like you are on top of them.
I really have nothing bad to say about the new Wash. Their expanded menu is wonderful! I loved the buccatini. A lot. I smelled it one night and I had to come back and eat it. The new cocktails are fun, especially the peach one. The wine on tap was also delightful.
They really nailed it with the seating. The outdoor benches are great for groups or cozying up in the corner. The inside tables let you still feel like you are in the action, but you can lean back a bit. The inside has a bunch of tables with the stage raised in front.
This place is perfect for larger groups, families, intimate dinners with live music, and guests. You cannot go wrong with the new Wash!

Two of my lady coworkers and I came here on the recommendation from a local. I’d heard that East Nashville was the cool/​hipster place to go, so I’m glad I got a chance to stop by here. I came in not knowing anything (almost never happens since people usually rely on me to throw out recommendations). It was actually awesome to be in that situation. I was pleasantly surprised by a wonderful band whose music I really enjoyed – can’t tell you the name, but the lead singer was a pretty blonde girl. The décor was definitely a throwback, and I thought it was really cool that there was a coffee shop inside (wish I was trying to stay awake). We all had a variation of the shepherds pie, which was solid as far as shepherds pies go. I might have rushed it and burnt my tongue on the cheesy mashed potato goodness.
The server was incredibly nice but new, and we practically had to beg for our checks at the end of the night. Although the pro is that we weren’t rushed out the door or bothered too much.

Ok I had to brave crazy game day traffic to get here but it was well worth the wait. The shepherd’s pie which they are known for was excellent. I had the fish sticks, these are not freezer fish sticks by a long shot. They were seasoned and breaded and cook just right. Everything was served hot. Our server was a little distracted at first but improved quickly. I enjoyed my meal and would come back to try some of their other menu items.
Almost forgot had the hot beer cheese for an appetizer it was very good and the items they give you to dip into it are very interesting. Well worth a try.

I really love the new Family Wash. It’s night and day different from their old location. With soaring ceilings, bright colors and modern décor, it makes the old location seem like a cave (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I was there for a book release party but ordered off the regular menu. It’s a great space for an event such as this, with plenty of seating and a nice stage for bands. The music is very loud, so save your conversation for the breaks and instead savor the food and talented musicians gracing the stage.
I ordered the Family Wash burger, and it was phenomenal. Two patties of beef, cheese and jalapeño mayo — perfection. If you’re not a fan of spicy foods, order it anyway. The mayo is not hot, and I only had a couple bites where I could really taste the heat. As a side, I selected the FW salad. It was simple, but so good. With lettuce (maybe bibb or a combination of a couple lettuces), pickled onions, a few croutons and vinaigrette, it proves less is more sometimes. It was really one of the best salads I’ve ever had and left me wanting more. The vinaigrette paired perfectly with the pickled onions, and the salad was light and refreshing.
The only complaint I have is the parking. There is very limited onsite parking, which forced me to park on the street in a not so ideal location. I know that’s the crux of larger cities, I just wish parking were more plentiful. However, my car was just fine where I had to parallel park (gasp — I’m so not good at that), so I really shouldn’t complain. I’m very impressed with the new Family Wash and had excellent service and food.

The new build out of this place is great. The menu also sounds amazing.
However, the food and service have been lacking the two times I’ve been. The first time I went, I ordered the Bucatini and Meatballs. The bucatini was overcooked and mushy, but the meatballs were quite tasty. My dining companions were all fairly happy with their selections but not blown away. The service left something to be desired. Our waitress was a little short with us and didn’t follow up on our requests.
The second time, we went back for brunch. Our waitress was very nice but seemed very inexperienced. We had to ask for items like silverware, extra plates, ketchup, etc… multiple times before receiving them. Coffees took upwards of ten minutes to receive. My food, the Fried Green Tomato Biscuit with an add on egg, was fine. The biscuit was weird– very dense without great flavor. The fried green tomato, pimiento cheese and egg were pretty good but didn’t complement each other very well.
Overall, each of my experiences has been meh. I will not go out of my way to return.

I’ll be back.
The new location for Family Wash is great and has an awesome stage, a private event room, plenty of outdoor space for patio season, and the most clever «I came alone to just catch a show and have a beer /​coffee /​food» bar setup totally separate from the regular bar, but with viewing of the stage!
Lots of staff on hand, all super nice and the owner even sang on stage while we were there — yes, that stage is booked every night with bands, check their website to see. Still working on sound a bit, but staff hopping around to figure it out on the spot.
Beer list was awesome as was the coffee. My favorite shepherd’s pie is still there and still tasty and they still have giant bottles of sriracha to cover your potatoes in. The husband raved about his pasta — sauce wad legit!
Best of all, our simple grab dinner out randomlu turned into drinks, dinner and an awesome show. Aside from stepping into an enormous puddle in the parking lot and despite wet feet all night I loved my dinner and the whole night here.

I am so happy that the Wash reopened. I will go out of my way to keep this place open. The new space is gorgeous.
The music is iconic. At any given night you can wander in and accidentally run in to some of the most important musicians in the world. You may not even realize who is sitting at the bar next to you.
The community, if you are willing to invest in it, truly lends itself to a second family.
The food, under the new chef, is getting there. But to me, the food has always been secondary to the importance and history of the space and the owner himself. A true Nashville landmark. If they create a gluten free shepherds pie, I will never leave. :-)

BEST BURGER I’VE HAD IN NASHVILLE. Yes. Seriously. Butchertown Hall, watch out. There’s a better burger than yours (and yes, I love their burger too). 2 thin patties, grilled to perfection on a soft, buttery bun that melts in your mouth. Jalepeno mayonnaise. melted cheddar cheese. The taste was wonderful. The textures were perfect. You want this burger. If I wasn’t so full I’d eat it again.
We sat at the bar. Sarah was a our bartender. She is just lovely and answered all of my millions of questions with a smile.
My husband had the shepherd’s pie and it was just as delicious as ever. We also ordered the hushpuppies – these are a must – with romesco and pickled cabbage. The beer cheese was amazing as well (and, yes. If you’re wondering, they did have to roll me out).
To top it off, we got hot chocolate chip and sea salt cookies for dessert (these take about 10 minutes to come out BECAUSE THEY BAKE THEM FRESH). so so good.
Guys, it’s my new favorite. And I can’t wait to go back. And for you breakfast heads, they serve breakfast all day. I’ll try breakfast someday I’m sure, but I’m going back for the burger.
I’ll be honest. As an East Nashville resident who has loved the Family Wash for years, I was a little nervous that it would lose it’s charm in a bigger, clean space. Not so. They have gone through great pains to move our beloved family wash to a better location and I’m happy to report that it’s just as charming as it has always been. In addition, the new menu is wonderful (I would know. I tried ½ of the things on it tonight). It’s so refreshing to be met with simplicity that still maintains culinary greatness. I’m under the impression that Family Wash is not here to impress anyone because, simply put, they don’t need to, nor do they want to. They serve food that is good, that delights, that brings people together. And this is what’s all about anyway, right?
I just have one word of caution: make sure you wear your eating pants.