Varallo’s Chili Parlor and Restaurant

Really enjoyed our quick breakfast. Food was hot and tasty. A little early for chile, which is their special and I really wanted to try it. Well priced, friendly and clean to boot.

I have been a few times for breakfast and it is by far the best food you can get quick downtown. Good value for the money. The staff are great. $ 5.75 total for 2 eggs, bacon, 2 pieces of toast and hash browns. Can’t beat that.

Excellent food & great service! The biscuits are great and the people are very nice. Also open earlier than most things around…

Great value hot breakfast all day, typical diner options, meat & three and their famous chili. Add to all that the amazing history and friendly service. Why would I eat at a sandwich place or fast food chain when I can get all this for the same price?

Yummy awesome mom and pop place ran by the originally family! I love this place it oozes awesomeness!!! The chili is a must have!!!

This joint is on the list of divey spots downtown. Don’t let that bother you because the portion adjusts to price ratio of food is on point. The staff is always friendly. Downtown does have a high population of homeless people, and you’ll see them eating in here sometimes. That’s never stopped me from getting a really good omelet first thing in the morning.

This place is fantastic place to grab a quick lunch. Chili is good and fried catfish is good too. Collard greens and sweet corn are tight too.

Last year one of my uncles invited me to go to lunch at Varallo’s Chili Parlor. Until then, I had never heard of this place after being in Nashville for over 15 years. Last week I was headed across town for lunch break errands, and traffic on 40 was gridlocked. Me and a buddy got off the interstate, and ventured downtown. After circling a few times looking for a place to park, we finally found a place on the street a block or so away.
Probably my favorite part of the trip was walking through the arcade. Again, being in Nashville for over 15 years, I didn’t know this place existed. Most of my downtown experiences had been on Broadway, 2^nd ave, and SoBro. I was blown away at the atmosphere and dining selections in the arcade. There were so many choices that it was difficult to make it all the way to Varallo’s.
Once we arrived, there was a steady line and a nice lunch crowd. It was easy to tell the crowd were regulars by the conversations they were having with the staff. At a chili parlor, what else do you order besides chili? I was expecting some revolutionary chili that would blow my mind. Honestly, if you would’ve told me that I was eating Hormel, I wouldn’t have been surprised.
This little diner had the greasy spoon ambiance that is so closely associated with a great burger, so I also ordered a steak burger. The burger was good, but was obviously made from a frozen patty that lacked the flavor and sear that only comes from fresh beef. I was expecting something different, something better.
Overall, I’m glad I tried a place with such a rich history in Nashville. Unfortunately, I wasn’t overly impressed with the food or the experience. I’d go again, but wouldn’t make this part of a regular routine.

Service was poor. Corn bread was reheated dry and tasteless. Chili was decent though. Nice dive charm though?

The best chili in Nashville. Look, there’s a reason that this place has been around «forever», it’s practically a landmark. They do one thing well, chili. I can’t recommend anything else they may serve, because in 20+ years, I’ve only ever had the chili.

My favorite place downtown to grab a bite of breakfast. Simple, authentic, good value, good food, friendly folks. The only bad thing is they are not open on the weekends!

(6÷24÷2014) Decided to stop by Varallo’s for lunch, so glad I did! Super-​friendly, like I was one of the regulars, and there were lots of them. It’s the kind of old school place where people know your order, ask you how your daughter’s prom went and promise to meet you at the Little League game, and it’s right in downtown Nashville. It’s not a stylish or trendy place, and don’t even dare call it retro. It’s def a little sticky, got the red-​white checked plasticized picnic tablecloths, greasy hot sauce bottles, but it just feels real. Chili is thick, salty, dark-​colored, I got it «Hot» (over a meat-​filled tamale). It does have kind of a canned vibe to it, let’s just say it’s not «artisinal or haute cuisine.» Got some delicious piping-​hot turnip greens on the side (awesome with several splashes of pepper vinegar). Homemade Banana Pudding made the day, chock full of overripe (almost boozy) banana slices and moistened ‘Nilla wafers.

The chicken biscuit I just ate for breakfast has me emotional. It blew my mind. It was hot, crispy and just the right amount of spiciness. I really don’t need another one, but I think I will have one. What a great place. If your hungry eat here!

Wonderful authentic atmosphere, very welcoming staff. Got two breakfast sandwiches on biscuits, egg and bacon and country ham plus grits and hash browns. Really excellent sandwiches, and the biscuits are perfect and can be a meal on their own. Grits were okay and hash browns too, need salt. Great quick place for breakfast.

I came here for my meat and 3.
I had the ¼ dark fried chicken with creamed corn, collard greens and boiled cabbage.
The chicken was only OK, not much taste and not very crispy.
The creamed corn was bland.
The collard greens was very bitter.
The boiled cabbage was overcooked and bland despite being flavored with bacon.
The 2 pieces of corn bread they gave me was only OK.
I got my first taste of chess pie (Nashville specialty) that was decent.
Varallo is known for their chili (I could not eat chili in 98 degrees weather).
Varallo is the oldest restaurant in Nashville, opened up in 1907.
Maybe, I should have try the catfish. It look OK.
Nice and friendly staff.

Meat and three and/​or meaty chili? Yes, please. If you’re looking for a lunch that will fill you up, Varallo’s is the place. This is pure comfort food. The catfish is quite good and their take on 3-​way Chili gives Cincy a run for its money. Tip: they deliver anywhere downtown and there’s no delivery fee (but do please tip them for the trouble).

My «breakfast bowl» had biscuits (yum!), gravy (mmm), eggs (eh), hash browns in shredded form (yeaah!), and bacon.
Oh baby.
Had a fun chat with Ted, the great-​grandson of the founder of this spot known for chili. And Victor, a guy who works there. They are the friendly sort.

BEST BISCUITS AND GRAVY EVER!
My wife and I made the much awaited trip to Nashville and this is the down south breakfast I had been waiting for. Being from California… I’ve never been blessed with real southern cooking. I know their chili is their signature, but give the biscuits and gravy a try, you will love it.
Also, the owner and staff are fantastic people. Very nice, Southern hospitality at its finest.

Varallo’s is one of those time machine type restaurants where as soon as you step in the door you feel like you have been transported to a different era. Makes sense as Varallo’s has been around since 1907. To stick around that long you have to be doing something right. In Varallo’s case they do a couple of things pretty darn well, specifically, homestyle southern cooking and old school chili.
The chili is probably the best place to start since it is right there in the restaurant title. I called it old school and I think that is the best description. This is straight up middle america chili. It is red, beefy and tastes a lot like chili powder. If you grew up eating your mom’s chili then this is probably not too far from your childhood memories (unless your mom is from the southwest in which case this is not the chili you are looking for.) I am partial to the hot chili which comes with tamales in the bottom and is extremely filling for under $ 5. They also have chili on spaghetti for those from North of Kentucky. Adding on a grilled cheese sandwich also seams like the move for long time customers and makes sense as it just backs up the whole comfort food/​mom factor. For my $ 5 there are not many better meals on a cold dreary day than a hot bowl of Varallo’s chili.
The Southern meat and 3 options are also surprising good. I have not explored many of the main course options as the fried fish is the only thing I ever get. I am not a huge fried fish fan (usually gives me a stomach ache from the grease), but the fish at Varallo’s is crispy, fresh, and to my taste almost grease free. Add a some greens and beans and bit of hot sauce and you have got a mean meal.
Allegedly, they also have some tasty breakfast options with the county ham biscuit being the standout, but since I am usually running late to work I have not sampled them myself.
Overall Varallo’s is a great establishment for the downtown crowd. It is good, cheap, and historic. Not bad for a place that your great– grandfather might have visited.

My thanks to Michelle L. for mentioning the biscuits and sweet tea. I was looking for a new breakfast place and saw her review. I scored a parking space across the street and went in. The staff are so incredibly warm and welcoming with their smiles and greetings. I ordered an egg biscuit and one pancake, and then my mouth starting watering for lunch. The egg biscuit was superb and the pancake average. I tried to save the sweet tea for later, but after one sip, it was over.
I got the 3 way chili with the tamale and it was so, so, so good, and reminded me of my Ohio roots. Of the veggie plate to make me not feel so guilty about the biscuit and pancake from earlier, the real mashed potatoes were very good, the turnip greens ok flavored but gritty, and the cabbage cooked too long to have much flavor.
All that said, I will go back and even thought about taking the bus down one day with daughter so I don’t have to worry about parking. I would definitely try more of the breakfast items and the chili again.