Let’s be honest: we’re eating in more than ever before. Even as Nashville restaurants begin to reopen their dining rooms across, many consumers are still opting for take-out and delivery; shifts in consumer behavior so sharp that the ripple effects could be long lasting within the restaurant industry.

Still, even with the added ease of online ordering and new contactless pickup and delivery options, it’s hard to account for the loss in experience that just doesn’t translate through a Toast tab. I’ve always reveled in the knowledge of my servers when dining out at Nashville restaurants, as they expertly explain unknown ingredients and deftly make correlations to more commonly held knowledge on an otherwise hieroglyphic wine list. While take-out options change regularly, especially throughout the summer months, we have ordered our fair share of take-out and hope to eliminate some of the guess work for you in trying to determine what on a menu translates well in a to-go context.

1) Mas Tacos: Elote on the cob

732 McFerrin Avenue, Nashville, TN 37206

Open: Tuesday - Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Mas Tacos has been Nashville’s favorite taco joint for over a decade, known for creative combos like quinoa and sweet potato or cactus and chorizo. Tucked away on the sides section of the menu between Cuban black beans and sweet plantains sits elote; grilled corn slathered with cheese and spices. Traditionally the corncob is served skewered on a stick by street vendors in Mexico, but I always order it shaved “off the cob” in a gesture of kindness for the others at my table. Elote is definitely better on the cob but it’s messy and social etiquette dictates it isn’t polite to pick corn silks out of your teeth at the table. The beauty of ordering elote on the cob to-go is the ability to devour it in the privacy of your own home, plus easy toothbrush access for any post-corn cleanup.

2) Two Ten Jack: Garlic Noodles

1900 Eastland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37206

Open: Monday - Saturday, 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

These noodles are the epitome of comfort food, with a twist. Think cacio e pepe pasta but from a modern izakaya and infused with crab butter and extra garlic. The texture of the noodles is delightfully chewy (more on: kansui) and the glossy butter-sauce coating the noodles will please even the pickiest of palates. The dish travels particularly well, and the noodles work surprisingly well cold from the fridge the next day, if you have any left. And for our fellow Green Pheasant fans in mourning, Chef Jess is still whipping up the spicy crab noodles that became beloved downtown out at the Two Ten Jack kitchen.

3) Big Al’s: Jerk Chicken

1828 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208

Open: Tuesday - Saturday, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Big Al’s has long been a haven for locals, but the biggest barrier for anyone who lives or works outside the neighborhood was making it there before Al closed up for the day. Previously open for just breakfast and lunch, Big Al’s is now accepting orders for dinner until later in the afternoon. The jerk chicken using Big Al’s house-made marmalade is phenomenal, and all the southern sides are exactly what you’d hope: brimming with love. Since it feels wrong to eat his food without so much as a conversation, feel free to put on the Tennessee Crossroads episode featuring Big Al’s to set the right ambiance for your at-home meal.

4) D’Andrew’s Bakery: Pastry Boxes

555 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

Open: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

To enjoy one of Chef David Andrew’s cookies warm and fresh from the oven, you have three options:

a) time your arrival at D’Andrew’s Bakery perfectly;

b) join a Downtown Walk Eat Nashville tour; or

c) cheat a little: order a pastry box and pop one into the toaster-oven at home for 45 seconds

Guests joining our Downtown tour indulge in the Double Chocolate Dulcey Cookie for dessert; warm, straight from the oven, the chocolate and caramel gooey and melty. For anyone who hasn’t experienced this singular delight you can now order a Pastry Box, complete with an assortment of fresh-baked cookies and croissants delivered straight to your doorstep on Saturday morning. Simply, divine.

5) TKO: Spicy Pork Fried Rice

4204 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216

Open: Wednesday - Monday, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

This east-side favorite serving Szechuan-style, southern-inspired food has seen some of its most successful months during the pandemic, meaning they’re doing something right. A great spot for diners with dietary modifications (i.e. vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free) TKO offers an array of dishes ranging from comforting carbs to spicy sides. There really aren’t any misses on the menu, but the standout is the spicy pork fried rice with a side of spicy mustard greens.

6) Black Rabbit: Sourdough loaf

218 3rd Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

Open: Tuesday - Saturday, 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Nashville-native Chef Trey Cioccia’s prohibition-era cocktail lounge may be more known for its specialty cocktails and vibey atmosphere, but it was the food that garnered rave reviews from the New York Times. The center point of the space has always been the wood-fired oven; roasting and charring a number of house-cured meats, locally-grown vegetables and sourdough loaves on any given night. While the sourdough may be easier to skip when dining in, it’s one of the best take-home finds I’ve encountered throughout this pandemic. Use it to make tartines, a breakfast strata, or simply cover it with the best butter you can find and eat it by the slice.

7) Butcher & Bee: Whipped Feta

902 Main Street, Nashville, TN 37206

Open: Thursday - Monday 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Chef Bryan Weaver and team at Butcher & Bee have answered our prayers: we can now buy Whipped Feta by the pint. If you haven’t yet experienced the mother of all spreads, imagine a sweet and tangy tango between light, airy feta, and chili-fermented honey. It keeps very well in the fridge and is the secret weapon I’ve kept stocked in the back of my fridge. I slather it on burgers, schmear it on everything bagels, and once even dolloped some atop shakshuka. The possibilities with this versatile spread are truly limitless.

8) Capitol Grill: Brunch Kits

231 6th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Open: Daily, 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

What are weekends anymore? Do they still exist? Capitol Grille says yes, making one weekend mainstay easier for all of us staying separated: brunch at home! Capitol Grille’s new Brunch kits are available for pickup on Friday or Saturday, with the ability to add on a Bellini or Bloody Mary bundle if you’re so inclined. Choose a starter and a main entree designed to feed four people for just $40; plus the juices and garnishes that accompany the drink kits are infinitely better than anything I could cobble together at home and well worth the extra expense. My favorite is the garden vegetable frittata, loaded with produce from the Hermitage Hotel’s own garden at Glen Leven, making Capitol Grille a locally-sourced, convenient way to have your brunch and eat it too.

9) Shugga Hi: Chicken and Waffles

1000 Dickerson Pike, Nashville, TN 37207

Open: Friday & Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

It may be a while before we’re brunching from the Sunday buffet at Shugga Hi Bakery & Cafe, but sisters and owners Kathy Leslie and Sandra Austin are back open and serving breakfast and lunch for their loyal customers Fridays - Sundays. Cafe staples dot the menu, but it’s the chicken and waffles for which Shugga Hi has become famous. Comfort food at its finest, chicken and waffles deftly balances sweet and savory for a sublime sensory experience. Shugga Hi elevates the dish one extra level by using master-baker Sandra’s freshly made cake batter for the waffles, creating a dense yet slightly-sweet base layer for the crunchy chicken.

10) Anzie Blue: Lavender Lemonade

4239 Harding Pike, Suite 4, Nashville TN, 37205

Open: Monday - Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

This west-side newcomer just outside Belle Meade has solidified its staying power during the pandemic, pivoting to provide for consumer demand multiple times over the last few months. Initially part CBD-retailer, part-coffee shop, Anzie Blue has seen a 700% surge in business since March. Part of that shift came from the time owners, husband-and-wife team Marcie Allen and Derek Van Mol, spent living in New York frequenting neighborhood bodegas. Now offering a more robust menu filled with sandwiches, spreads and snacks, the shop still stays true to its core mission of health, wellness and coffee and the lavender lemonade offers a refreshing moment of respite from an otherwise relentless world.