New on Resy: The Green Pheasant, Little Octopus, Lyra

The Green Pheasant is a striking SoBro restaurant that’s got one foot in Japan, and the other in Tennessee. Here, the kitchen transforms traditional Japanese dishes with Nashville produce—think Japanese fried chicken, steamed pheasant dumplings, and wok-fried Tennessee trout. Drink-wise, there’s an extensive sake and shochu list, cocktails on tap, wine and beer, and a sake sommelier to guide you through it all.

Little Octopus offers an eclectic family-style dining experience where vegetables take center stage. Inspired by the melting pot culture of LA, chef-owner Sarah Gavigan cooks a seasonal menu that blends Tennessee produce with flavors from Peru, Italy, China, and more. Also on offer: an excellent natural wine program and herbaceous cocktails.

A restaurant ten years in the making, Lyra reimagines Middle Eastern cuisine for East Nashville. Helmed by a husband-and-wife duo, the bright and airy restaurant combines traditional flavors with modern techniques. Expect Aperol-cured tuna, lamb-stuffed bulgur dumplings, and apricot-braised beef cheeks.

Located in the historic district of Printers Alley, Black Rabbit is a speakeasy-meets-tavern nestled in an 120-year-old building. In the kitchen, a wood-fired grill spits out embered vegetables, roasted meats, and flame-licked bread. Try the rabbit rolls or pig head sandwich with a barrel-aged Old Fashioned that does justice to its Prohibition-era roots.

Classic American fare is the highlight at this stunning mid-century supper club. And Ellington’s is as cozy as its food—think tufted leather banquettes, sleek furniture, and a dining room decked out in warm woods. Expect roast chicken with truffle jus, pork chops with bourbon-smoked peaches, and an inventive cocktail menu.

Butchertown Hall sits at the intersection of Germantown’s butcher shop history and the Texas barbecue culture restaurateur Terry Raley grew up with. The imposing eatery sports an open-fire hearth and a custom-built smoker, where wood-fired premium cuts, charred garden vegetables, craft tacos, and the finest brisket outside of Austin are served alongside craft brews and Nashville’s most extensive tequila and mezcal collection.

Set to the technicolor whirlpool of the late 50s, early 60s tiki vibe, Pearl Diver is a tropical dining and cocktail destination. On the menu, habanero jerk wings toy with lo mein, along with yakitori skewers and Cubano sandwiches. Order the pupu platter and a couple of rounds of wildly inventive drinks (we like the Ting Wray and the Banana! Banana!).

At Pastaria, the motto is “La Verità”—a tribute to James Beard Award-winning chef Gerard Craft’s commitment to honoring “the truth” in Italian cuisine. Housed in the oneC1TY development project, Pastaria is an Italian concept where minestrone soup, fresh salads, organic pasta, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and wood-fired vegetables are cooked with quality ingredients and simplicity in mind.

At Kitchen Notes, treasured familial recipes steeped in Southern tradition are handed down from generation-to-generation, to satiate the soul and belly. Consider the cracklin’ Nashville hot pork, creamy Carolina gold rice, coffee-rubbed prime sirloin, and a notorious biscuit bar among the highlights.

A pioneer of the Downtown renaissance, Sapphire is a Knoxville staple where residents and out-of-towners come for a spirited nightlife experience. On the fine food side, expect a locavore menu, with charcuterie boards, seabass Provençal, and steak frites. Creative cocktails are prepared with house-made bitters, syrups, and liqueurs.

A French-inspired restaurant with Southern influences, Margot Café & Bar is a cozy neighborhood spot with an ever-changing menu. Mainstays include salmon rillettes, a grilled lamb T-bone, and house fettuccine Bolognese. Don’t skip out on the dessert: spice cake tiramisu with a rum glaze.

As one of the oldest family-owned and operated restaurants in Nashville, Darfons is a Donelson mainstay. Here, regulars feast on seasonal American fare, from almond-crusted trout to smoky-sweet pepper wings. Pro-tip: ditch airplane food and grab a bite at Darfons, located just minutes away from the Nashville International Airport.