The Road, No. 2: La Hacienda [Eating Our Way Down Nolensville Pike]

Welcome to The Road, my column in which I'm going to attempt — key word: attempt — to eat at every non-chain restaurant on Nolensville Pike between I-440 and the county line. I'll readily admit that even though I live right off Nolensville — Paragon Mills represent! — and revel in the diversity and quantity of its eateries, I have barely scratched the surface of what the strip has to offer. But now I'm going to rectify that, and hopefully you'll join for what's likely to be a wild ride.

Episode 2: La Hacienda

Address: 2615 Nolensville Rd.

Phone: 256-6142

Do I really even need to review La Hacienda? If you've been living in Nashville for more than 15 minutes then you've already been there, you already know. It's an institution, the flagship shop for the entire neighborhood, the longtime favorite of all your friends and a cornerstone of the community. But then again, it's also the very next restaurant down the street from Dunya Kabob, and I'm trying to be very thorough with this project. You can't tackle Nolensville Pike without mentioning La Ha. That, and my wife nixed the idea of eating at Mixed Grill Cafe. (Insert joke about headaches and hot beef sandwiches.) So, um, yeah, La Hacienda is this week's installment of The Road.

Just to be upfront: La Hacienda is not my favorite Mexican restaurant in town. I also don't have a favorite, because that would be like picking a favorite child, and the reality is I love them all. But I've probably been berated more for my non-allegiance to La Ha than just about any other contrarian opinion I've expressed in this town — even more than for that "Radiohead is dumb" comment I made at Bonnaroo. People love this spot like it was their own kin, and admittedly, had I been around when they opened, I probably would, too. As it stands, I just really enjoy the place. No harm in that, right?