McDougal's Village Coop, located in Hillsboro Village
Top of the Pecking Order When It Comes to Fried Chicken
lindsay johnson
Issue date: 2/1/06 Section: features
Versus Magazine Online [Image Edition]
Maybe you are looking for a quick place to grab some hot, delicious chicken on a rainy day during your lunch break. Or, maybe you need a lively, rambunctious atmosphere; one that welcomes you and your friends to sit back, order up beer and appetizers, and watch the game. You might think that this kind of place only exists in a small town-one that knows its locals by their first names and has the usual dishes of its patrons memorized. Believe it or not, Nashville offers such a place-and it is on the Card. McDougal's Village Coop is place to be if you are looking for a restaurant with a down-home, great-outdoors appeal. Whether you are dressed in your crunchy outdoor threads, your favorite Greek T-shirt, your scrubs, or your suit and tie, McDougal's is bound to cook something to delight your taste buds-and to keep you coming back for more.
From the outside looking in, McDougal's resembles a huge outdoor party-complete with picnic tables and a plastic tent. The first time I drove by, I thought someone was having a boisterous house party, especially when I saw the neon lights of a PBR sign illuminating the window and heard popular rock and country tunes emanating from the porch. A few days later, I realized that it was actually a restaurant, so I decided to stop in for some lunch. Upon entering the house, I had to remind myself that I was dining in Nashville-not on a lake or beach somewhere, as the rustic atmosphere inside strongly contrasts all other bistros in Hillsboro Village. The interior is both mellow and spirited; it is laid-back, but in a very upbeat manner. From the collection of license plates and ball caps hanging about to the randomly autographed dollar bills and celebrity photos, it is difficult not to find something to talk about, making McDougal's the perfect place for a casual lunch date or for a gathering of friends for a celebration.