Our Barbecue
At the Gambling Stick, we pride ourselves on using all local, seasonal, ingredients, including pasture-raised meat from Porter Road Butcher to make our Appalachian heritage inspired barbecue. Our meats are dry-rubbed and smoked with native Tennessee cherry until tender and juicy. No dry meat here. All sides are handmade in small batches using locally grown produce.
In addition to ethical sourcing, we do everything we can to reduce waste and minimize out impact on the environment. It might mean more work for us, but being a positive part of our community means taking pride in more than just our great barbecue.
Our Story
What is The Gambling Stick? Will it inevitably lose you your spouse, partner, sanity and/or respectability? The short answer is no… unless you have addictive tendencies and a proclivity towards pork like the rest of us. The gambling stick is a old Appalachian name for a stick used to hang a pig from the limb of a tree or staked down sapling. The stick is riddled on both ends, threaded through the heels of the pig to supports its weight while being harvested. The gamble is whether or not the stick will support the weight of the pig, if not the whole thing could come crashing down on the butchers head. The Gambling Stick, unlike its namesake, won't have any risk involved. It is a tip of the hat to the men and women of Appalachia who made their living in the mountains and foothills of Tennessee. Like those before us, we want to utilize Tennessee's abundance and natural diversity to source and create food that is unique to Appalachia.
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Currently, The Gambling Stick takes form at Porter Road Butcher in East Nashville, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 until 8pm.
““A gambling stick is eighteen inches long and two inches in diameter and is sharpened on both ends with a rope in the middle. The sharpened ends are stuck into the tendons in the hog’s feet.” ”
Meat
We believe that great barbecue starts with great meat, and the best meat is that which is raised and processed locally with care. All of our meat is sourced through Porter Road Butcher Meat Company. Meat provided by Porter Road Butcher is local, pasture-raised, and antibiotic free with no added hormones. All farms are regularly visited by the butcher shop owners to ensure that the animals, land, and employees are being treated with the care the deserve.
Produce
Making fresh and seasonal sides means that we have to work with local farmers to find the produce that is in season and looking great. The Gambling Stick get it's produce from Farmer Dave at Rock Bridge Trees.
Bread
Great bread is the foundation for many of the items we serve at The Gambling Stick. Charpiers, a local Nashville bakery provides all of the rolls on which our sandwiches are served.
At Rittenberry Farms, the hogs and beef have plenty of space to explore, socialize, and play.
Ask Us About Catering your Event! Give us a Call at 615-521-9742 with any questions.
Click here to purchase an e-gift card for any amount!
The Nashville Scene, December 22, 2015, The Gambling Stick Barbecue at Porter Road Butcher Sets Regular Menu.
Spoon University, December 2, 2014, The Gambling Stick in Nashville.
The Barbecue Fiend, August 2, 2014.
The Tennessean, March 28, 2014, The Gambling Stick Kicks of Weekly Barbecue Lunch Series at Porter Road Butcher.
Nashvile Scene, 2016, Writers Choice Best Place to Eat Barbecue in a Civil War Mess Tent
Thrillist, March 27th, 2017, The Best Barbecue Joints in Nashville
Nashville Scene, 2018 Writers Choice Best Barbecue
Eater Nashville, 2019 4 Essential Barbecue Restaurants
Contact Information
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- Have questions about food or what we do?
Phone: 615-521-9742
Email: [email protected]
Let us know what you think. Either way, good or bad, we would love to hear from you...
We are located at 501 Gallatin Ave. in the heart of East Nashville. Stop by and see us!