The February Hit List: Mangia, The Crying Wolf, Cafe Intermezzo, and More

Styled after traditional, luxurious Viennese coffee shops, Cafe Intermezzo is a small island of old-world charm in Nashville’s SoBro neighborhood. The small Atlanta-based chain serves an overwhelmingly large selection of pastries, cakes, and espresso drinks, as well as all-day cafe food from frittatas and crab cake benedicts to burgers and entree salads. It’s an ideal destination for some Valentine’s Day dining, accompanied by an espresso martini or glass of Champagne.

Dining Status: Dine-in, takeout, and delivery are all available. 

Seafood towers draped with high-end crustaceans, dry-aged bone-in strips, ribeyes, and porterhouses, and chic cocktails are part of the clubby vibe at this Gulch steakhouse. Dramatic lighting and white banquettes set the scene for dinner and a bustling happy hour, too. Splurge on a night out with a romantic partner, or round up your coworkers for a discounted after-work drink.

Dining Status: Dine-in and takeout. 

If it’s surf ‘n turf  you’re after, this is the place. A self-described upscale steakhouse, Stoney River Grill delivers the comfort food goods, starting with spinach dip and lobster bisque, and diving into fillet mignon and a bone-in cowboy cut ribeye, with creamed spinach and garlic whipped potatoes. Those not ready to dine indoors can take home a family meal for four, from “grill at home” steaks with sides to roasted salmon or wild mushroom meatloaf with broccoli and mashed potatoes. For warmer days, there’s a patio, where whiskey cocktails, beer, and wine can be enjoyed al fresco.

Dining Status: Dine-in or takeout. 

Nashville has recovered one of its tornado-ravaged hangouts with the reopening of the Crying Wolf. Closed since a storm disastrously tore through a main artery of East Nashville last March, the bar is back open with a new food menu, cocktails, and a very pleasant and roomy patio. Everything on the menu is available vegan or vegetarian, from the chick’n and waffles made with house beer battered seitan, to burgers made with Beyond Meat patties (or grassfed beef).

Dining Status: Dine in only.

Every Saturday night chef Nick Pellegrino and his crew throw an Italian feast at Mangia, complete with dancing, singing, and seemingly endless plates of food and bottles of wine. They’ve worked hard to make it safe in the times of COVID, paring down the reservations and distancing tables throughout the restaurant; the food remains jolly and plentiful, however, with plates of antipasti, focaccia, short-rib bolognese with porcini cream sauce, pork loin stuffed with fennel and apple, zeppole, and more. Saturday’s prix-fixe feast lasts from 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. by reservation only; pick up family meals and à la carte dishes to take out Wednesday-Saturday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Dining Status: Dine-in on Saturdays, curbside pickup Wednesday through Saturday.

Have you ever thought to yourself “I wish I had a conveyor belt in front of me that just delivered cheese?” If yes, hats off to you for your commitment to cheese, and it’s great timing to announce Culture and Co., a cheese, charcuterie and wine bar in Sylvan Park’s L&L Market. Local and imported cheeses sail along the U-shaped bar’s conveyor belt until they’re plucked off by a lucky diner. A long list of wines are designed to pair with the plates, which include cured meats, and will expand to offer sandwiches in the coming months.

Dining Status: Dine-in and takeout. 

Uncle Julio’s exudes extreme Tex-Mex vibes, even in the middle of Brentwood. Bacon-wrapped jumbo shrimp, Baja fish tacos, and rivers of margaritas are to be found within its lively walls, including the must-order guacamole that’s made just for you, tableside. Make sure to order a platter of sizzling steak fajitas to invoke the jealousy of everyone in the restaurant as it’s delivered to your table.

Dining Status: Dine-in or takeout. 

Yes, it’s that Roberta’s, the little New York pizza place that could. Now legendary after its early-aughts debut in an industrial corner of Brooklyn, the restaurant has expanded to include frozen pies available nationwide, plus a semi-permanent pop-up right here in Nashville. The pop-up operates during Urban Cowboy’s bar hours, serving a selection of its famous wood-fired pies, such as the Lil’ Stinker, topped with tomato, Parmesan, double garlic, onion, and pepperoncini; plus salads, and more. Now that the pop-up is going to stick around through the end of 2021, they’ll be adding more dishes to enjoy with a cocktail on Urban Cowboy’s fire pit adorned patio, seven days a week. 

Dining Status: Dine-in or takeout. 

From one of the owners behind East Nashville’s Pearl Diver comes Lucky’s 3 Star, a low-key, divey spot in Wedgewood-Houston. True to the genre, there’s a pool table, a handful of booths and tables, retro decor, and a menu of appropriately casual — but well executed — food to soak up the booze. Snag dressed-up hot dogs, like the Reuben dog with pastrami, swiss, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing; plus pizzas from 312 Pizza Company, nachos, and more to pair with a High Life or a highball.

Dining Status: Dine-in only. 

It’s all “good mood food” at Sonny’s, a new Germantown pub that’s serving a little bit of everything for everyone. Start off with lobster lollipops (chunks of lobster that are battered and fried, served with drawn butter) or fried dill pickles, then go for a picnic plate with pulled pork or brisket and Southern sides. The outside patio has heated cabanas and tons of TVs for various sporting events, as well as bar games like darts and giant Connect 4.

Dining Status: Dine-in or takeout. Call 615-953-7846 for reservations.