New restaurants so far in '09

New restaurants so far in '09

Jimmy Carl's Lunch Box
Inside the Station Inn, 402 12th Ave. S.
11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday
788-2967

Pat Isbey started smoking meat in his backyard about five years ago. Then people began to ask if he catered. He provided food for a few parties, and then he and his friend, Russell Nelson, started talking about opening a restaurant.

But they didn't exactly have the capital to get started, until Nelson won money on a game show —"Trivial Pursuit: America Plays." They used the money to get the equipment needed for the business, Jimmy Carl's Lunch Box, and Russell moved from Los Angeles to Nashville.

The owners already have repeat customers coming back for the ribs and chicken that are smoked daily right outside. Isbey said the inn has character and he wanted the food to match. So the menu is kept small, as the owners hone and perfect their handful of items.

"People said you should go for the tourists, but we really just wanted to do something for the locals. Besides, this isn't your regular barbecue. Flavor-wise, it's different," Russell said.