Nashville continues to add new dining options to its already impressive roster. Eighteen, to be exact, just since last August! This diverse list of new restaurants in Nashville includes some much-needed breakfast options, an animatronic karaoke bar and a secret 1920s speakeasy to usher in a new decade. Try a new spot each week to taste them all before our next batch … that is, if you can stop yourself from a few return trips.
18 NEW NASHVILLE RESTAURANTS (since late August 2019)
Once Upon A Time In France
1102 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206 • (615) 649-8284
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Closed Monday and Tuesday
Set in a cozy 1920s Parisian bistro, Once Upon A Time In France is any Francophile or food lover’s dream. This friendly neighborhood corner bistro is French family-owned and -operated and serves up delicious, authentic French dishes, more than 75 French wines and an array of European beers. There is no better cure for these chilly winter nights than some classic beef Bourguignon and escargots in garlic and parsley butter! Bon appétit!
Inviting, bistro-style décor is the perfect backdrop for some serious French cuisine. Image: Instagram
Setsun
700 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206 • (615) 326-4866
Hours: Sunday through Monday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
If you’ve not heard the buzz about this new Nashville restaurant yet, it’s time to bump Setsun to the top of your must-try list. While this pop-up concept has been on the scene since last June, the hours have become more regular — and we’re hoping it’s here to stay. Jason Zygmont (former head chef at Treehouse) has commandeered daytime eatery Sky Blue Cafe at night, showcasing flavor-packed and digestible food and wine menus — with fewer than 10 items on each. Don’t miss the raw oysters with black vinegar, the pole bean Caesar, and whatever pasta they’re serving that night. (We still think about the ricotta agnolotti!)
If you buy a bottle of wine, you get to choose the next vinyl record that spins. Image: Setsun
Mother’s Ruin
1239 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 365 days a year, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Mother’s Ruin is exactly what Germantown — and all of Nashville — needed. This casual, lively bar is open late and every day of the year, serving up quirkily named cocktails and flavor-packed sharable plates. The crowds are mighty and intimidatingly hip, but both the kitchen line and the expert bartenders are trained to craft your sustenance quickly and with the warmest attitudes. We don’t see this spot leaving the spotlight anytime soon.
The diverse menu at Mother’s Ruin has everything from this crushed beet salad to green chile queso with chorizo to a double cheeseburger. No TVs, no menus, just old-fashioned letter boards and fantastic service. Image: Facebook
lou.
1304 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37216 • (615) 499-4495
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
This hip little East Nashville all-day brunch spot-meets-wine bar is having a serious moment. A visit to lou. feels like you’re leaving Nashville and walking into part lively Southern California wine bar, part chic cafe in Paris’ Le Marais. Chef and owner Mailea upholds the West Coast health consciousness with seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Every dish is packed with color and flavor and can be paired with lou.’s all-natural wine program. Brace yourselves — you’ll want to try one of everything on the menu. Do not skip dessert! Pastry chef Sasha Piligian is one of the best in the country.
We love the warm coastal and floral details of lou.’s interior. And the wine list. We love the wine list. Image: Ben Rice courtesy of lou.
‘za
2005 Belcourt Ave, Nashville, TN 37212 • (615) 622-4457
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
This casual pizza joint opened back in September but is still bringing the heat … from its wood-fired oven. The duo behind Biscuit Love, Karl and Sarah Worley, opened ‘za in the heart of Hillsboro Village, serving up handcrafted pies and a variety of salads and appetizers — all made from locally sourced, Southern ingredients.
You’ve got to try a ‘za pie fresh from the oven. Image: Facebook
Parson’s Chicken & Fish
425 Chestnut St, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 649-8823
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m to 10 p.m.
We didn’t know how much we needed Parson’s Chicken and Fish until its opening last fall. For the spice-weary who might want a hot chicken alternative, this Chicago-born concept is the place for delicious fried chicken, raw bar seafood, local brews and craft cocktails — all in a fabulous indoor-outdoor setting in the heart of the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood.
Parson’s has an all-star cast of creative cocktails including the original Negroni slushy. Image: Facebook
RELATED: Nashville’s Delicious Cocktails Under $9
The Hampton Social
201 1st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201 • (615) 622-7772
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Downtown just got a new gem that is The Hampton Social. The group’s seventh Hampton Social location and the restaurant group’s first three-story venue totals 17,890 square feet and features a first-floor rosé lounge, second-floor restaurant and a private dining space. The third-floor rooftop opens in March. Take a breath of fresh air from the honky-tonk hullabaloo and try this new spot before — and after — your next downtown concert or game.
We love the oyster-shell-shaped large-format cocktail vessels. And the goat cheese crispy Brussels are terrifically tasty. Image: Zoe Yarborough
E3 Chophouse
1628 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212 • (615) 301-1818
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Hillsboro Village has added a new multi-level steakhouse to its restaurant repertoire. All-natural, antibiotic- and hormone-free beef comes straight from the family-owned E3 Ranch in Fort Scott, Kansas, and we’re ready for it. Aside from the cut-to-order steaks, the menu also features shareable starters and sides, a bar snack menu and a full cocktail and wine list with an impressive by-the-glass selection that can be enjoyed at dinner or around the rooftop fire pit.
E3 Chophouse is a great new option for group dining or business meals. Image: E3 Chophouse
Big Bad Breakfast
5304 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 610-3403
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Nashvillians who gripe about the lack of true breakfast spots have found an antidote in Big Bad Breakfast. This company and its dynamic owner have a storied history throughout the South, and now Nashville gets a taste of their serious breakfast and lunch delicacies. Might we suggest the Yard Work Skillet? … a mix of scrambled eggs, avocado, potatoes, lots of fresh veggies and cheese. Behold the rest of the loaded menu here.
Head to BBB for your next breakfast meeting or weekend brunch, and you can thank us later. This walk-in only spot is worth the deserved wait. Image: Big Bad Breakfast
CAVA
2171 Green Hills Village Dr, Nashville, TN 37215 • (615) 301-8455
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.
With multiple locations across the country, CAVA brings colorful, healthy fast-casual Meditteranean to Green Hills. Lines are long but move quickly, and the staff is so kind and ready to pile on all the goodness that your grain bowl could ever want.
North Italia
2159 Green Hills Village Dr, Nashville, TN 37215 • (615) 622-7423
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m..; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
North Italia brings consistent, high-quality Italian to its various locations throughout the country, and we can now enjoy it in Green Hills. For starters, we cannot get enough of the Zucca chips and the fried mushroom risotto arancini. The expansive menu is filled with tempting salads, fresh pastas, and dishes for every type of eater. The top-notch service makes this a great pick for every occasion — family dinner out, a girls’ night or even a business lunch!
The Burrata Tortelloni is a mouthwatering combination of cherry tomato, basil, pecorino and a rustic tomato sauce. Image: North Italia
RELATED: 3 Highly Anticipated Restaurants Expand to Nashville: We’ve Tried Them All
Boston Commons
1008A Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206 • (615) 226-9283
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
No place in Nashville does New England-style seafood like Boston Commons. This no-fuss East Nashville seafood pub took over Batter’d & Fried, restructured the menu, and has wowed Nashville with its straight-from-the-source — without preservatives or chemicals —sushi and seafood delicacies including clam chowder, fish-n-chips and perhaps the best pan-seared scallops in town. Red Sox fans and everyone else needs to try this place out next time you’re in Five Points.
Fried whole belly clams can be found on the rotating specials list at Boston Commons. Image: Facebook
Fable Lounge
114 28th Ave N Nashville, TN, 37203 • (615) 645 5150
Hours: Monday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
West End — just near Centennial Park — just got a new upscale eatery and 1920s speakeasy bar where Jed’s Sports Bar used to be. Fable Lounge opened quietly this month and serves up fabulous prohibition-style cocktails and a mouthwatering menu of elevated American fare. We can’t wait to build a charcuterie board from their impressive menu. The multi-story complex is dimly lit with a rich wood interior and unexpected art throughout. There’s even a piano bar and a rooftop cigar lounge with a firepit. Hire a babysitter for the kids because this new one is 21+.
New happy hour spot? Check. Image: Facebook
The Dogwood
1907 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 730-8006
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The Dogwood, a two-level, indoor-outdoor bar and restaurant, took over the space formerly occupied by Soulshine Pizza in December. The Dogwood has three other locations in Texas and offers a packed lineup of live music, expected bar fare and libations to the usual suspects in Midtown. They’ve also got a special hangover menu to soak up patrons’ questionable decisions every Friday to Sunday until 3 p.m.
Before you earn the hangover, you’ve got to put in the work. The Dogwood serves up a variety of amazing cocktails to help. Image: Facebook
Red Phone Booth
136 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 915-3876
Hours: Monday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m. to midnight
Maybe you read our piece about prohibition and you’re ready to experience a 1920s speakeasy. Located in a 100+-year-old building, Red Phone Booth is a 5200-square-foot upscale cocktail lounge with a collection of rare bourbon, whiskey, scotch and Japanese whiskey. Although this spot is booze-centric, they do offer an authentic Italian menu of true Neapolitan-style pizzas, chef-selected small plates and delectable desserts. Guests must know a secret code (not given out by the staff) and enter through a restored London-style phone booth. Make sure to ask a member or someone who’s been for the code to call so you’re not stuck outside like a schmuck!
Enter Red Phone Booth through the … red phone booth. Just make sure you know the secret code. No code? No entry. Image: Facebook
Poindexter
101 20th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 551-2700
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Located within the obsessed-over Graduate Nashville, Poindexter is a sparkly new coffee shop and casual eatery poised to become a nucleus for hungry travelers and collaborating locals alike. Breakfast sandwiches, smoothies and espresso drinks grace this small-but-mighty menu. And you’ll never want to leave the brightly hued, stadium-style sofas. You’ve been warned.
Poindexter is just the cutest, light-drenched coffee and breakfast spot we’ve ever seen. Image: Graduate Nashville
Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole
101 20th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 551-2700
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Also at Graduate Nashville, this quirky karaoke joint features a first-of-its-kind animatronic band (yes, similar to the nostalgic one at Chuck E. Cheese) to back brave singers. Cross-Eyed Critters currently offers a snacky bar menu (chips and guac, sliders, Tajin fries with cheese sauce, avocado tostadas, cinnamon-sugar churros and more), but the plan is to open an in-house taco truck on the patio.
Even if karaoke isn’t your thing, you can sit back and revel in the happy nostalgia of these critters. Image: BRND HOUSE on Instagram
Hunters Station Food Hall
975 Main St, Nashville, TN 37206
Hours differ by restaurant. Click here for all individual hours.
Remember passing Hunters Automotive, that glitzy auto sound system and rims shop on the East Side? This prime real estate is now a food hall that features six locally owned Nashville restaurants: Citizen Market, Hugh-Baby’s, Vui’s Kitchen, Taco Aurora, The Picnic Tap and The Grilled Cheeserie. Now you can choose from a slew of Nashville’s favorite fast-casual cuisines under one roof!
SWITCHED OR ADDED LOCATIONS
- Pancho & Lefty’s opened a second location — in addition to the downtown post — in Sylvan Park where Local Taco was located.
- Jonathan’s Grille opened in Germantown, its seventh casual American eatery throughout Middle Tennessee.
- Thai Esane changed locations to Midtown on the ground floor of the Element building on Demonbreun.
- Riverside Grillshack — The East Nashville burgers-and-fries mainstay — is now just Grillshack and has opened a second location in Germantown/Salemtown on Fifth Avenue North next to Scout Barbershop.
- Pepperfire closed its East Nashville shop and plans to move into Marathon Village come March.
COMING SOON
- Thai Ni Yom Thai (currently in the Nashville Farmer’s Market) will open another location at the newly opened L&L Marketplace.
- Roze Pony is bound for Belle Meade in 2020, courtesy of chef and restaurateur Julia Jaksic (Cafe Roze), and everyone is talking about it.
- Sean Brock will man the yet-to-be-named restaurant at the Grand Hyatt — part of the new Nashville Yards complex slated to open fall 2020.
Stay tuned for our next roundup bound to have plenty more delicious spots to try. Until then, mark these new hot spots off your list, and find more local restaurants in the SB Guide and SB App!
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