Opry Backstage Grill To Open at Opryland's Raddison Hotel

NASHVILLE -- The show that made country music famous is about to make its mark on okra fries, Tennessee corn bread salad, skillet fried chicken, pit smoked southern barbecue, and blackberry lemon meringue icebox pie in a new restaurant as unique as the Grand Ole Opry, itself. The Opry Backstage Grill, set to open across from Gaylord Opryland Resort in mid-July, promises a one-of-a-kind dining experience combining the entertainment for which the Opry has long been world-famous with a love for Southern cooking Opry artists and fans have shared for generations.

Guests in the 200-seat restaurant will be immersed in an exciting environment including servers both performing country favorites on the Backstage Grill stage and sharing details about daily specials prepared using Opry member recipes. Songwriters' nights, themed brunches, and special group amenities including private meals with country artists will also be on the menu at the restaurant located in the Radisson Hotel at Opryland.

"Southern cooking has been at the heart of so many great Opry memories and traditions through the years, from backstage holiday gatherings to artists and fans sharing their favorite recipes and home cooking with each other," said Steve Buchanan, Grand Ole Opry president. "The Opry Backstage Grill will give those mealtime traditions a home, just as music is at home on the Opry stage. "A lot about what makes the Opry's backstage so much fun will also be a part of the Opry Backstage Grill. Not unlike being backstage at the Opry, guests will be able to relax and share good food and good times in a comfortable atmosphere, surrounded by friends, family, and great country music."

A menu of home-style dishes made from fresh, locally and regionally-harvested ingredients will include signature entrée offerings such as Cumberland biscuit sandwiches for breakfast and tempting selections from the Backstage Grill smoker for lunch and dinner. Dessert promises to be a grand affair including an array of staple and seasonal cakes and pies, with every pie variety offered also available as an Opry milkshake. (Can't decide? Try both a regular and frozen version!)

"Our guests have told us for years they would enjoy an Opry restaurant," Buchanan said. "We're excited to get cooking!"

Published June 6, 2011