If you are looking for fun, entertainment, tours and great southern home-cooking, The Fontanel is a great place to go for the entire family. The Fontanel Farm and Mansion is one of Nashville’s newest and fastest growing attractions for tourist and local Nashvillans.
The Fontanel Mansion was built in 1988 for country-music-star Barbara Mandrell and her husband, Ken Dudney. The large immaculate Mansion now stands as a tourist attraction with lingering artifacts from some of Nashville’s greatest country stars. The Mansion is 27,000 square feet long with 13 bathrooms, five fireplaces, 20 rooms, two kitchens and an unbelievable indoor pool.
Not only does the historic Mansion make The Fontanel such a highly recommended summer experience, but the food at Fontanel’s Farm house Restaurant “is to die for.” The wait is at least fifteen minutes for some weekend days, but one will definitely find it to be worth it. With the covered porch, hillside view and gift shop right outside of the restaurant the wait time flies by.
The menu is combined with options for anyone with an appetite for a fresh southern home-cooked breakfast, lunch or dinner. For my visit, I tried the Good OL’ Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes, skillet greens and corn on the cob — and it was absolutely magnificent. The prompt service, filling meal and live jazz band that played softly in the background truly made my visit to The Fontanel a very enjoyable one. To top it all off the prices are very reasonable, especially for the taste and size of the meal.
It’s not highlighted on the menu, but I thought the biscuits were stellar too. These biscuits are a bit different – less fluffy, more substantial but wonderful in their own right. The buttered biscuits were served with a light fruit jam that leaves your mouth watering for more.
Bottom line, if you want Southern home-cooking with a bit more thought and unique approach than a meat and 3, Fontanel’s Farm and Mansion is the place to go to experience fun, shopping, tours, live music, and great food.
For more information please visit www.fontanelmansion.com.