Connie Britton Dishes on Her Favorite Restaurants in Austin and Nashville

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25:  Actress Connie Britton lights The Empire State Building ahead of 2015 Global Citizen Festival at The Empire State Building on September 25, 2015 in New York City.  (Photo by Noam Galai/WireImage)

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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Actress Connie Britton lights The Empire State Building ahead of 2015 Global Citizen Festival at The Empire State Building on September 25, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/WireImage)

Photo by: Noam Galai ©2015 Noam Galai

Noam Galai, 2015 Noam Galai

Connie Britton knows her way around a Southern accent, and her time on the sets of Friday Night Lights (in Austin) and Nashville (in, well, Nashville) have taught her about great local cuisine, too.

When we caught up with the actress at the Empire State Building lighting in honor of the 2015 Global Citizen Festival in New York, she took us on a food tour of two of her favorite cities, and shared the memories she has of “hazy” afternoons drinking margaritas in Texas and lounging on the back patios of Tennessee haunts.

If that's not enough for y'all, we also chatted with some of her other Friday Night Lights costars – check out their favorite Austin eats here. Clear eyes, full hearts (and stomachs), can’t lose.

Austin

1412 South Congress Ave.

Austin, TX 78704

“It gets hazy the more margaritas you have, but of course I remember [where we used to drink]. It was Guero’s — we went there every afternoon. They have a margarita there called The Purest, which is… well, we used to say it was probably hallucinogenic. [Ed. note: It’s Patrón Silver, Patrón Citrónge and fresh-squeezed lime juice.] Guero’s is one of our favorite spots, and it has some of the best fish tacos I’ve ever had. I like ‘em grilled and really clean, kind of as clean as you can. They have really great homemade corn tortillas, and it’s just deliciousness.”

1610 South Congress Ave.

Austin, TX 78704

“Vespaio is an incredible Italian restaurant, and I used to always get the cioppino, which is this seafood stew. It comes with this toast and just … oh, it’s so good. My mouth is watering!”

801 South Lamar Blvd.

Austin, TX 78704

“Uchi is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in all the world — which is surprising, considering you’re in a landlocked town, but they manage to make the most incredible dishes there. I have so many favorites, but I’d have to say the best is probably the Shag Roll. I don’t even know what’s in it. It’s like … it’s crack cocaine. That’s what it is. [Ed. note: The Shag is a tempura roll with salmon, avocado and sun-dried tomato.] Austin was like being high on life all the time with good food and drinks.”

Nashville
1411 5th Ave. North
Nashville, TN 37208

“There’s a great restaurant that just opened up in Nashville called 5th & Taylor. It is phenomenal and also just a really beautiful and unique space for Nashville, because there’s a big back patio and the whole vibe of it is very comfortable and specific to the city, which feels really nice. I also really like Adele’s, Margot — a really old Nashville standard with great food — and there are so many great places that have popped up. 404 is excellent, and Prima. There’s a lot happening in Nashville.”

1210 McGavock St.

Nashville, TN 37203

1017 Woodland St.

Nashville, TN 37206
404 12th Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37203
700 12th Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37203

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