oUR NASHVILLE ROOTS RUN DEEP
Pancho & Lefty’s is known for the unmistakable flavor and gusto of modern Mexico combined with the Southern soul food of Nashville. But oddly enough, its roots are steeped in barbecue sauce.
In 2017, Catharine and Will Newman, founders of Edley’s Bar-B-Que, were asked to bring the low and slow-smoked meats of Edley’s to downtown Nashville’s oldest building. The bad news? The space was too small to house their beloved barbecue eatery. The good news? The Newmans had another dream up their sleeve – a taco joint focused on tacos, beer, and tequila.
It’s possible some of that tequila came in handy when Will locked himself in a closet to hatch a name for the new restaurant. Nevertheless, he emerged two hours later with the outlaw-inspired name in his head: “Pancho & Lefty’s Cantina.”
It only took seven weeks—about the same amount of time it would take one to visit all the honky-tonks on lower Broadway—to open the doors of the very first Pancho & Lefty’s Cantina. This was just in time to host the waves of visitors in town for the Nashville Predators 2017 Stanley Cup run at Bridgestone Arena.
In 2019, the second Pancho & Lefty’s Cantina joined the Edley’s Bar-B-Que family across the street on Murphy Road in the Sylvan Park neighborhood in Nashville.
In 2022, Pancho & Lefty’s will relocate to Nashville’s Melrose neighborhood. There, it will carry on the Edley’s tradition of wholeheartedly serving its community.
And the cantina continues to stack up awards as tall as a pile of Nash-Mex nachos, including Nashville Scene’s “Best Tacos in Nashville” 2022 and “Best Margarita in Nashville” 2018, 2019, and 2022.
“We want to bring together the best of what we know and foods we love and create an oasis—and fun place— in the neighborhoods that we call home”
Will & Catharine Newman
WE ALL WANT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
We all want the best of both worlds. The ultimate flavor that makes us wonder if life can be any better. That’s why, at Pancho and Lefty’s Cantina, we bring together the two worlds we love most: Nashville and Mexico.
We take the rich, Southern soul food of Nashville, Tennessee and combine it with the unmistakable flavor and gusto of modern Mexico. We call it “Nash-Mex.” But you can just call it the best you’ve ever had.
This powerful combo is what Pancho and Lefty’s is all about. It’s why we’re inspired by the timeless outlaw country song about two unlikely amigos seeing eye to eye. It’s also why we welcome you with Southern-charming service in our lively, yet comfy, cantinas with a “love it” guarantee you’ll find freshly made margaritas and tacos that blow your boots off.
So, if you’re looking for the best of both worlds, vámanos! Delve into a refreshing, fun experience you can’t find anywhere else and return to the real world liberated, rejuvenated, and ready for anything.
Pancho and Lefty’s Cantina