Joplin MO - Memphis TN - Nashville TN- restaurant

[Sunshineminnie]

I am hoping that you fine group of Dissers can help me! I hope that it's okay to post on this forum as this is budget related!:good vibes

We have a group of 90 5 - 10 graders (youth orchestra) traveling to Nashville this summer. I am in charge of finding places for us to eat. My problem is that many of the places that I have called are very expensive and certainly out of the price range of our group. I am hoping that someone can give me some leads on restaurants to call.

We want the kids to experience the culture of the city they are in. I am hoping to avoid chain restaurants. For instance, when we were in Chicago, we had Chicago style pizza, Kansas City - BBQ.

We are first stopping in Joplin Missouri. We will be doing a service project there for the tornado victims and giving a concert. What says Joplin to you? Any recommendations?

We will then perform at Graceland. And off to a day time trip to Beale street. What says Memphis to you? Any great restaurants in that area?

Last stop Nashville. We are looking for two different dinner spots.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[happygirl]

I am hoping that you fine group of Dissers can help me! I hope that it's okay to post on this forum as this is budget related!:good vibes

We have a group of 90 5 - 10 graders (youth orchestra) traveling to Nashville this summer. I am in charge of finding places for us to eat. My problem is that many of the places that I have called are very expensive and certainly out of the price range of our group. I am hoping that someone can give me some leads on restaurants to call.

We want the kids to experience the culture of the city they are in. I am hoping to avoid chain restaurants. For instance, when we were in Chicago, we had Chicago style pizza, Kansas City - BBQ.

We are first stopping in Joplin Missouri. We will be doing a service project there for the tornado victims and giving a concert. What says Joplin to you? Any recommendations?

We will then perform at Graceland. And off to a day time trip to Beale street. What says Memphis to you? Any great restaurants in that area?

Last stop Nashville. We are looking for two different dinner spots.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

Fred and Red says Joplin to me but there is no way it could hold that many at one time.

 

[Mom 2 Two]

The Rendezvous is the best place for Memphis style ribs. Their website is www.hogsfly.com

Demos is a good cheap local restaurant in downtown Nashville.

 

[Sunshineminnie]

Thanks!!!!

 

[DisneyLover83]

Neely’s Barbecue located at 670 Jefferson in Memphis has seating for up to 200 people. Its the Neely family from "Down Home with the Neelys" on the Food Network. There site is http://neelysbbq.com/ I lived in Memphis for 12 years, been there several times and wouldn't hesitate to return!

 

[sookie]

Have you guys arranged your service project? They are deep in the rebuilding stage now. The clean up that is dangerous (well it was all dangerous)is going on now and is being handled by professionals.


Just some advice: if you haven't already, arrange your service project so you can go where you are really needed and so you can be most effective. Try contacting the Americorps office there in town.

There are a lot of great places in town. Hackett Hot wings downtown is a favorite and could handle a large group. But they get busy so call ahead (at least a few days before).

 

[Toystoryfan32]

Rendezvous in Memphis is great. If it's on your way just south of Springfield MO, not far from Joplin is Lambert's "Home of the throwed rolls". It is one of the most popular places around. Kids love it.

 

[mama2ella]

I live in Nashville and I will try to think of some ideas. Being in the south I would say things like BBQ and "meat and 3's" would be authentic but may not appeal to kids.

If you want to do downtown (which is where the Titans stadium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, sympthony hall, the new convention center are) there are tons of options. Demos' is great but I am not sire if they can handle that many at once?? Another option is The Spaghetti Facotry. I know it doesn't scream "Nashville" but it is downtown in an old warehouse with beautiful hard woods, they cater to large groups, are inexpensive and yummy. Just an option if you can't find anything more "authentic".

 

[iheartpeterpan]

Rendezvous for Memphis, for sure. If you don't go there, Memphis = BBQ so Nelly's would be my 2nd choice, Corky's would be my 3rd.

I am from Nashville, and also thought of the Spaghetti Factory on 2nd Ave would be great for a big group of teens. Will you be performing at the symphony hall downtown? Just curious what you are in town for.

 

[sookie]

Rendezvous in Memphis is great. If it's on your way just south of Springfield MO, not far from Joplin is Lambert's "Home of the throwed rolls". It is one of the most popular places around. Kids love it.

I used to like Lamberts but I had a really bad customer service issue there. Also, you can't call ahead and to get everyone seated can often take at least an hour (the wait is huge).

And, I got burned on face my by a roll (I'm not kidding). After that I was done.
LOL

But it is all you can eat and the food itself is decent - and if you can get a roll and not be burned by it, they are great too. But Lamberts DOES take huge groups - just expect to be there waiting at least an hour to be seated and then eat and check out after that.

 

[Sunshineminnie]

Have you guys arranged your service project? They are deep in the rebuilding stage now. The clean up that is dangerous (well it was all dangerous)is going on now and is being handled by professionals.


Just some advice: if you haven't already, arrange your service project so you can go where you are really needed and so you can be most effective. Try contacting the Americorps office there in town.

There are a lot of great places in town. Hackett Hot wings downtown is a favorite and could handle a large group. But they get busy so call ahead (at least a few days before).

Yes, they have their service project arranged. This will be a good thing for the kids. We were hit hard by a couple of tornados a few years ago. The little town that my husband grew up in was directly in the path. They lost the grade school, high school and middle school as well as the church we were married in. I talked to Hacketts. What a wonderful lady!

 

[Sunshineminnie]

Have you guys arranged your service project? They are deep in the rebuilding stage now. The clean up that is dangerous (well it was all dangerous)is going on now and is being handled by professionals.


Just some advice: if you haven't already, arrange your service project so you can go where you are really needed and so you can be most effective. Try contacting the Americorps office there in town.

There are a lot of great places in town. Hackett Hot wings downtown is a favorite and could handle a large group. But they get busy so call ahead (at least a few days before).

Rendezvous for Memphis, for sure. If you don't go there, Memphis = BBQ so Nelly's would be my 2nd choice, Corky's would be my 3rd.

I am from Nashville, and also thought of the Spaghetti Factory on 2nd Ave would be great for a big group of teens. Will you be performing at the symphony hall downtown? Just curious what you are in town for.

They kids are giving several concerts on the way to Nashville. They get to play at Graceland! They will be at the symphony hall for a clinic. They'll also get to record in Studio B! We can't wait!

 

[Toystoryfan32]

I used to like Lamberts but I had a really bad customer service issue there. Also, you can't call ahead and to get everyone seated can often take at least an hour (the wait is huge).

And, I got burned on face my by a roll (I'm not kidding). After that I was done.
LOL

But it is all you can eat and the food itself is decent - and if you can get a roll and not be burned by it, they are great too. But Lamberts DOES take huge groups - just expect to be there waiting at least an hour to be seated and then eat and check out after that.

Yeah, my sister in law had one land in her chicken dumpling bowl one time and it splashed everywhere. Luckily she had a good sense of humour about it. We still laugh about it to this day. It never detered my kids though, they love that place. The seem to be pretty accommodating to large groups but the wait is rather long sometimes.

 

[AmandaRG]

Make sure your kids wear cool clothing when down this way this summer. The past two summers Memphis has had unbelievable heat. It is humid here, too, so it feels really icky. Crossing my fingers for cool weather while you are here!

Enjoy your trip! I have lived in the Memphis area for 75% of my life and have never been to Graceland!

 

[Sunshineminnie]

Thanks everyone! I knew that I'd get some great advice from my friendly dissers. You all are AWESOME!!!!!! I'll let you know what we end up doing!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Where are you trying to keep the dinner price at?

I also say the Spaghetti factory in Nashville is a viable option, although not authentic to Nashville.
Jacks BBQ would not seat 90, at least I don't think so.
Loveless Café is about 12-15 miles SW of Nashville and is great, but could get pricey for dinner.

Most of our large group trips during school resulted in eating at random mall food court, that way there was something for everyone.

We are having the same issue as we have a 234 member band heading to DC in the spring for a concert.

 

[Pamlur]

This thread was a year and a half ago, I assume the trip is over.

 

[Chelley00]

Rendezvous in Memphis is great. If it's on your way just south of Springfield MO, not far from Joplin is Lambert's "Home of the throwed rolls". It is one of the most popular places around. Kids love it.

Ate at Lamberts on Saturday and we had the BEST time ever. We got there 30 minutes after opening and it was already and hour wait!