Buster's Place, Murfreesboro, TN (Nashville)

Buster's Place, Murfreesboro, TN (Nashville)


I rarely agree with my brother-in-law about anything-politics, religion and, more importantly, food-but I give him full credit for introducing me to Buster's Place in Murfreesboro, TN, outside of Nashville. During my last visit, I had a good burger at Fat Mo's*, a small Nashville burger chain, but the brother-in-law insisted Buster's was better. So I gave it a shot.

Buster's Place


Buster's has the dive bar/restaurant aesthetic down, and business is brisk. The steady flow of customers never slowed in the hour and a half we were there-at one point, the phone was taken off the hook to stop the pick-up orders. Tables were filled with all sorts--cops, families, students, blue-hairs and local politicians (who all seem to know to sit elbows-down with a napkin bib firmly in place to keep the dribbles in check).

The ringside seats at the bar give you prime access to watching owner Steve Crockarell, work the griddle.

Buster's "line"

The guy moves with speed and grace-filling the griddle with hunky balls of fresh-from-the-package ground beef, all while smooshing, flipping and re-arranging other burgers in various states of done-ness. Buns are painted with butter and stacked on the griddle.





Buster Burger


These burgers don't have egg or other binders holding the patty together, so they're loose and crumbly, and the hot, buttery bun disintegrates in your hand with each bite-pretty much the antithesis of MikeG's 30s-style burger, but IMO, an excellent burger.

Buster's Place
1615 NW Broad St
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615) 895-5464

Other useful threads about the Nashville/Middle Tennessee area: Louisville, Memphis & Nashville-Do's and Don'ts

I-65, Chicago to Nashville-late night BBQ

Whole Hog Mecca - Middle Tennessee


* The owner of Fat Mo's, Muhammed Karimy, also owns Genie's Persian Palace, which has an excellent, authentic Persian buffet. (Meaning, the Persian food is authentic. The buffet? Maybe not so much.)

Genie's Persian Palace
6990 Moore's Lane
Cool Springs/Brentwood, TN
615-370-7022

jlawrence01 wrote:Never been to a bad restaurant down South where the owner is wearing overalls ...

True, that.

jlawrence01 wrote:The Murfreesboro area has a lot of great (and inexpensive) places for a relatively small city.

IIRC, you pointed me to Miller's Grocery, another gem in that area.

Miller's Grocery
7011 Main Street
Christiana, TN 37037
(615) 893-1878

When we move down there in about five more years (or sooner), I will find even more great ideas in the Nashville/Jackson/ Murfreesboro areas.

I'm pleased to report that Buster's still delivers an excellent burger, and that they're open on December 26, as well as New Year's Eve and Day. Great place for an early dinner en route to family in Atlanta.