about sweetmilk
SweetMilk is a return to a time when life wasn’t so rushed, when folks took time to sit down and eat together over a meal. For Co-Founder Pat Martin’s family, that meal was always breakfast made by his grandmother, Nonie Sue Martin. Today, our biscuits are still made the way the Martins made them at home - always hand-cut and cooked in a cast iron skillet, whole fat buttermilk, Crisco, and, of course, only White Lily Flour. It’s our pleasure to bring these family recipes along with today’s Southern favorites to our guests. Because the best traditions are meant to be shared.
We look forward to y’all joining us for a big Southern breakfast or lunch. All are welcome—just make sure you come hungry!
what is sweetmilk?
Back in the day, many Southern families used the term “sweet milk” to differentiate between buttermilk and whole milk (with the former being more of a cooking or sipping staple, and the latter more of a treat). The name is a nod to our Nonie Sue who always yelled for “sweet milk” when a recipe called for whole milk.
live simply,
live seasonally.
Generation after generation, people lived and ate with the seasons. At SweetMilk we want to carry on that tradition - our jams, jellies, preserves, and vegetables are all served seasonally. You won’t find us offering Sliced Tomatoes except from July to Late September because, well, that’s when they are in season! Sometimes, you just need to do things the old way and enjoy what the season brings.
meet pat
Around these parts, Pat is best known for being one of the few pitmasters who still carry the torch of West Tennessee-style whole hog barbecue. He’s also a cookbook author, host of the TV show Life Of Fire, and a dedicated restaurateur. His deep passion for sharing food with his community led to the founding of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint back in 2006. Building upon the success of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Pat opened Hugh-Baby’s BBQ & Burger Shop in 2017 as a tribute to the small-town barbecue and burger spots that dotted the mid-South of his youth. In 2023, Pat partnered with his longtime friend and fellow Nashville restaurateur, Bill Darsinos, to open SweetMilk, paying homage to his family’s recipes and traditional Southern meals.
Meet Bill
Bill Darsinos began his culinary journey in 1992 when he joined his family's restaurant. He worked there until 2000 before moving to Chicago, where he gained valuable experience in various Greek restaurants over a two-year period. In 2002, Bill returned to Nashville to open Brentwood Grille, which he successfully operated until 2005.
Following the sale of Brentwood Grille, Bill opened Sofie's Bistro in 2005. He rebranded it to SouthSide Grill in 2008, a venture that Bill continues to own and manage to this day. Expanding his culinary repertoire, he launched East Nashville favorite GreKo in 2017. In 2023, Bill partnered with longtime friend and fellow restauranteur Pat Martin to open SweetMilk. Most recently, in 2024, he opened Salento Italia next door to SweetMilk and continues to have an impact on Nashville’s culinary community.