A guide to local favorites in Germantown

Technically not a meat-and-three and 100 percent not a deli, Big Al’s puts a loving spin on coma-inducing Southern classics, with generous helpings of decadent sides highlighted by skillet beans and long-simmered greens. Spark up a conversation with Big Al himself, who lives in the house next door and brims with colorful, behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the city’s restaurant industry and his own compelling life story. Menu highlights include hot-chicken lasagna and orange-marmalade chicken. The burger, not listed on the menu, might be the best in town.

The best of Nashville’s new throng of microbreweries, Bearded Iris specializes in IPAs but usually includes at least one option for non-hopheads. The taproom is embedded within the production facility, a cozy and dark respite where a pool table and Nintendo 64 help hours disappear. Weather allowing, the outdoor deck boasts a festive vibe and drastically improves kid-friendliness. Arrive early on Fridays for fresh-brewed can releases.

Rolf and Daughters’ cacophonous, industrial setting belies some of the finest dining in Nashville. The corn agnolotti (available seasonally) is one of the city’s best dishes, but it’s hard to make a mistake from the menu of crafty American dishes with a touch of Italian inspiration. Rolf and Daughters fosters its role as a locals’ favorite with communal tables and only a small number of tables set aside for reservations. If you can’t secure one and want to avoid a wait, arrive early for dinner.

Opened to celebrate Tennessee’s 200th anniversary in 1996, Bicentennial Mall offers a one-stop course on state history via historical markers and is home to a splash pad for the kiddos, the newly relocated Tennessee State Museum, the Nashville Farmers’ Market and minor league baseball’s First Tennessee Park, the most family-friendly outdoor outing in town. The market has an eclectic collection of farm merchants and food vendors. Start at the Picnic Tap and grab a to-go pint to sip as you browse.

For fresh and delicious Vietnamese food, a shady outdoor patio and a killer happy hour, stroll up to Vui’s Kitchen. Parking is a hassle during the weekday lunch hour, but Vui’s is manageable in the evenings. Grab a patio seat and order from the outdoor bar (specifically, anything, including the perfectly charred lemongrass chicken). The 4 p.m. happy hour features criminally underrated $5 cocktails such as a basil-lemongrass Old Fashioned and bento boxes.