Moby Dicky's, the lakeside seafood restaurant and sports bar that's been a Hendersonville staple for a decade, just failed a health inspection for the first time — racking up 15 violations and an overall score of 57. Inspectors found employees skipping handwashing, food stored on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator, and uncovered dishes sitting in the cooler, among other problems. Despite the F grade, the restaurant on Old Hickory Lake was still packed Friday afternoon, with no open parking spaces to be found.
The violations, first reported by WKRN News 2, also included an employee eating in the dishwashing area, food that wasn't labeled with dates, and cleaning cloths that weren't returned to their sanitation bucket. Under Tennessee Code § 68-14-317, restaurants that score below 70 on a health inspection are legally required to begin correcting every violation within 48 hours, and to fix any critical or priority items — like the handwashing and food-storage lapses cited at Moby Dicky's — within 10 days, according to the Tennessee General Assembly. Restaurants typically have 10 days to return to code, per WKRN's report.
Owner Dicky Moran, a longtime Hendersonville resident, wasn't at the restaurant when News 2 visited and didn't respond to the outlet's request for comment. He did, however, post a response on Facebook, telling followers the restaurant had several small violations that were already being corrected and that there were no issues with roaches or mold. Moran said the restaurant had gotten complacent on smaller issues but would fix them, and he added on social media that he expects a new health score sometime next week.
How the Score Adds Up
Tennessee's inspection system runs on a 100-point scale, with non-priority violations shaving off 1 to 2 points and priority violations — the kind tied directly to food-safety risks like handwashing and temperature control — costing 4 to 5 points each, according to the Nashville Metro Public Health Department. A cumulative score of 57 reflects a stack of both violation types, which is why the corrective timeline under state law kicks in so fast. A statewide study of 167,574 Tennessee restaurant inspections found that establishments scoring below 60 improved by an average of 16 points on their follow-up inspection, according to research from the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
Before this inspection, Moby Dicky's had a track record of perfect or very high health scores, making the 57 a sharp departure for a restaurant that's operated on Sanders Ferry Road for 10 years. That reputation is part of what's kept the parking lot full even after the failing grade made headlines. Moby Dicky's has built a following well beyond routine lakefront dining, and the restaurant's cultural footprint in Sumner County runs deep.
A Waterfront Landmark With a Country Music Connection
Moby Dicky's opened in 2015 at 155 Sanders Ferry Road, serving as a seafood spot and sports bar with views of Old Hickory Lake, according to Giftly. The restaurant carries extra star power in Hendersonville because country singer Lainey Wilson and her husband, former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges, went on their first date there in 2021 before marrying in May 2026, as reported by WSB-TV. Wilson and Hodges went on their first date at Moby Dicky's.
Eater Nashville has also featured Moby Dicky's in its guide to the best waterfront restaurants near Nashville, pointing to its covered patio with retractable screens, live music stage, and seafood menu along the lake, per a listing on Postcard. The Local Palate similarly named Moby Dicky's a Sumner County culinary staple in 2024, citing its daily fresh-delivered seafood and its pull with both locals and visiting celebrities.
Part of a Bigger Lakefront Dining Scene
Moby Dicky's also has a philanthropic side, co-hosting the annual Sanders Ferry Pizza & Pub / Moby Dicky's Golf Tournament at Twelve Stones Crossing Golf Club, which raises money for the nonprofit Live Love Nashville. The restaurant sits within a cluster of popular lakefront dining spots along Sanders Ferry Road and Old Hickory Lake, alongside Sanders Ferry Pizza, Sam's Sports Grill at Blue Turtle Bay, and The Rudder at Anchor High Marina, according to the Holloway Home Group.
For now, Moby Dicky's remains open while it works through the corrective process required under state law. Moran has said he expects an updated health score sometime next week, and the coming reinspection will show whether the popular waterfront spot can shake off its first failing grade in a decade.
