A Most Unusual Pharmacy

Hello and welcome to June.  

I'm going to begin this post with a trivia question about song lyrics. 

Play fair, no "googling" please.  Here is the question:  

Since today is June 3, can you name two pop music hits that begin with the words "It was the 3rd of June"?

Hint: They were hits ten years apart (1967 & 1977, respectively); each by a solo artist.  

I will give you the answer at the end of this post.

My plans for this month include a couple of interesting things. In a couple of weeks I will have a new travel experience to write about. 

My wife and I are going to a wedding in a place that's a well known midwest vacation destination but we've never been there. More on that later in the month. 

At the end of the month I will be returning to one of my life long passions. Of course, I will share the details in a post about it early in July. 

Today, I'm going to be sharing with you my return experience at a small but popular restaurant in north west Nashville. 

Last Tuesday, I went to Hendersonville, which is just north of Nashville, to buy some new clothes for the wedding I mentioned earlier. 

While I was there I decided to get some lunch before heading home. I wanted a place unique to the area but all I saw were chain restaurants or fast food places. 

Then I remembered one of the most unique places I ever eaten in Music City called "The Pharmacy". 

My wife and I went there with our friend, Patty and her daughter, Amy, a few years ago before going to a Brad Paisley concert. Amy lived in Nashville at the time and it was her suggestion. Here's a picture of my dinner companions from that visit. 

A quick search on my GPS showed me that getting to the place was a short 20 minute trip by way of the Briley and Ellington parkways. I decided, since I had nothing else to do in the city that day, I'd go get some lunch. 

The place is known for American and German cuisine, as well as a wide selection of beers. Their website and signage on the building promotes the place as a "Burger Parlor and Beer Garden." 

But what made me want to go back, and also explains the reason for it's name is  their "soda shop" selection. 

They serve a wide variety of flavored sodas and ice cream based drinks. Just like the soda fountains that were a part of every neighborhood pharmacy back in the 1930s & 40s. 

The best example of what these were can be seen in the first half hour of the classic Christmas movie, "It's A Wonderful Life." Here's a link to a You Tube clip that shows a 12 year old George Bailey working behind the a soda fountain at the Bedford Falls Pharmacy. 

It's A Wonderful Live Soda Fountain Scene

The most unique thing The Pharmacy serves from the fountain is called a phosphate. It's a specially mixed flavored soda. I've never had one but from what I've been told they are pretty good. I won't go into detail about them. You can find out more with a web search. 

The first time I went to The Pharmacy, in order to keep peace with my digestive system, I didn't partake of anything from the Soda Shop menu. I have to admit, getting a chocolate malt was my main motivation for my return visit. 

It's located on Mcferrin Avenue in a quite area known as Greenwood. It's in what seems like a nice lower middle class suburban neighborhood. 

During peak time, parking behind the restaurant can be at a premium. Spaces are very limited. I was lucky enough to get the one and only handicapped spot.

Except for the sign on the window, to say the building is not anything elaborate is an understatement. 

The door is only wide enough for one person to go through it at a time. This is rather inconvenient during busy times.

I got there just a little after 11:30. The lunch crowd had not yet arrived. i was seated right away. There are 4 seating options. You can sit at the bar, or at a small table in the same room. 

There's a 2nd level of inside seating with picnic tables; then there's the outside patio area. I was going to sit out on their patio. But because it was very sunny and quite warm already I opted for the 2nd indoor level. 

I was led to the 2nd level and the host placed my menu directly in the middle of a picnic table. Because of the brace I wear I had a bit of difficulty negotiating between the seat and the table in order to sit down. Eventually, i did manage to get somewhat comfortable. 

The place has a rather extensive menu. With all the choices I mentioned before and more. Here's a link to their food menu as listed on their website. 

The Pharmacy Food Menu

Since I had a burger the last time, and it was delicious, I opted for some German kielbasa with a side order of fries. When the waiter asked if I wanted sauerkraut, I requested to have it on the side. 

I only waited about 10 minutes until my food arrived. Here's a picture of my meal. 

The fries are some of the best I've ever had; but like most fries have to be eaten while they are still hot. Also, there is way too many of them for one person to eat. The kielbasa was served on a bun but I only ate the meat. It was good but not what I had expected. 

When I order Kielbasa, I expect something similar to smoked sausage but The Pharmacy's Kielbasa was more like a bratwurst.

After I was finished with my meal, I ordered a chocolate malt milkshake to go. I was a little disappointed that it was only the size of a small Starbucks coffee and it cost about the same. It was very good but nothing special about it. It was just like a malt you'd get from anywhere else. That being said, I really like chocolate malts. However, I think next time I'll try a phosphate soda. 

I paid the check which included my drink, meal, milk shake and tip. It was about $25. I think that's on the pricey side for lunch but I was treating myself so I figured it was okay. 

Although there is a wait staff to serve you and the food quality is well above your average burger joint; there are things about The Pharmacy that makes it feel like your local counter service casual dinning barbecue place rather than a table service restaurant. The picnic table seating, the single supply of straws and napkins in a wooden dispenser at the center of the table to be used by everyone even if they aren't with you are some of them.In addition, the fact that the waiter brought the diet coke I ordered in a can with a cup of ice and I had to pour it myself was kind of disappointing as well. 

The juxtaposition of the 2nd level full of picnic tables of being just a few steps up from tavern atmosphere of the bar area kind of sends a mixed message as to just what kind of dinning experience you are supposed to be enjoying. But if you can handle the ambient contradiction and focus on the food it's a nice place to eat. 

If you happen to find yourself in the Opry Mills/Gaylord Opryland/Opry Mills Mall area or the downtown Nashville and are looking for some good food in a unique setting; make the 15 minute drive to McFerrin Avenue to have a meal at The Pharmacy. 

Here's a link to their website if you want directions and more information. 

The Pharmacy Restaurant. 

Now, as promised, here's the answer to the music trivia question I asked at the beginning of this post. 

The words, "It was the 3rd of June" begin the 1967 #1 Bobby Gentry hit, Ode To Billy Joe and also Neil Diamond's 1977 #16 hit, Desire. 

Did you get the answer? Did you look it up? Feel free to use this little fun fact to impress your friends the rest of the day. 

Thanks again for taking the time to read this post. I hope you enjoy it. If you've been to "The Pharmacy" restaurant let me know what you thought of it. 

Or if you ever get the chance to visit Nashville I hope you'll try it out and then let me know what you think. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Come back again on Friday for another edition of the "Yankee Near Nashville" blog.