Tennessee’s Very First Chili Restaurant Has Literally Been Around Forever
Tennessee has tons of history, but when it comes to historic restaurants, there aren’t many that stand out. That is, there aren’t many that aren’t named “Varallo’s.” This chili parlor in downtown Nashville first started operating at the turn of the 20th century, and the Varallo family has been serving up the same chili recipes ever since. From the moment you walk in, you’ll not only feel like you’re walking into a piece of living history, but you’ll also feel like you’re a part of the Varallo family.
Varallo's boasts that it still uses the same chili recipe that they started with all those years ago. Their three-way chili is particularly popular, consisting of spaghetti, tamales, and of course chili.
While Frank is long gone, his grandsons currently own and operate the location on Church Street, and they still have the same care for their customers that their grandfather had.
Varallo's is a Tennessee institution, and you should definitely make the trip to take in a little history the next time you're in Nashville. They're open 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and they're located at 239 Fourth Ave. N.
After all that chili, you’re probably going to want to go on a hike to work it off. We recommend this bridge trail that will take you to one of Tennessee’s most secluded waterfalls.
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Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
