The March Hit List, Lunch Edition: Margot Cafe, Epice, Pastaria, and More

East Nashville has expanded its lunch offerings greatly over the years, but Margot remains the grand dame of daytime dining. Its French-inspired interior is warm and inviting, with walls adorned by copper pots and cheerful art, but die-hard Margot lunchers know that the patio is the place to be. It’s undergoing a rebuild after last year’s tornado damage, but there’s sidewalk dining aplenty in the meantime, ideal for snacking on chicken liver pâté with mustard and cornichons, leek-and-goat-cheese tarts with local lettuces, and sipping on a glass of Sancerre.

Dining Status: Dining room and sidewalk dining are open; reservations suggested. 

Downtown worker bees can transport themselves away from their desks to points afar at Cafe Intermezzo, where crepes, eggs Benedict, sandwiches, and salads are served all day. The vibe inside matches the menu, with a black and white-tiled floor, cozy cafe tables, and wood-paneled walls and chandeliers set the scene. There’s a lengthy glass case of pastries and other treats, too, which must be ordered for dessert with a cup of coffee. We don’t make the rules; we just abide by them.

Dining Status: Dining room is open, takeout and delivery are available. 

The most extra lunch in town can be found atop the Graduate Hotel in the wildly pink, Dolly Parton-inspired White Limozeen. The entire space is ultra-glam, from the gold bar and pink crushed velvet couches to the rooftop patio’s pink and white-fringed umbrellas. On the weekdays it’ll be a late lunch, since the restaurant opens at 3 p.m.; there’s also a truly decadent brunch on the weekends. Luckily, the French-leaning menu of oysters, bavette steak with bordelaise and sourdough onion rings, and poached shrimp is right for any time of day, particularly when enjoyed with a cocktail overlooking Music City.  

Dining Status: Dining room is open.

Eating lunch at this 12th South restaurant feels like taking a vacation to the Mediterranean. The menu of modern Lebanese food is best enjoyed on the patio in the warm sun, though the airy dining room is just as charming. Share a plate of fresh hummus or charred sweet peppers with labneh to start, before diving into a falafel sandwich topped with pickles and herbed tahini on fluffy pita. The wine list has plenty of by-the-glass options from around the world, including interesting Lebanese choices. 

Dining Status: Dining room is open, takeout and delivery are available.

Located right off the Charlotte corridor and in the heart of HCA country (aka land of doctor’s offices), Pastaria is a worthy destination for those hoping to ditch their desks. The dining room and patio are spacious and cheerfully appointed with yellow walls, chalkboards with pizza and pasta specials scrawled across them, and a wood-fired pizza oven at the center. The shaved kale salad with anchovy dressing is always a leafy green foil to accompany a hefty serving of lasagna bolognese, which could require a nap period after the fact. 

Dining Status: Dining room is open, takeout and delivery are available. 

Meat and three at lunch is a Southern institution, and so is Arnold’s Country Kitchen. For years its downtown location has attracted lawyers from the nearby federal courthouse, construction workers, and locals from every walk of life for plates crammed with daily specials like fried chicken, pot roast, mashed potatoes, fried okra, and cold sweet tea. It’s guaranteed to please, not least because of the staff that’s always smiling as they heap your plate high with yeast rolls and fried green tomatoes. Pro tip: Always get pie. 

Dining Status: Dining room open, takeout and delivery are available. 

Lunch at the Yellow Porch is a glimpse of Nashville’s true spirit, complete with eclectic art lining the walls, a menu of casual, thoughtful dishes, and a hidden gem of a patio. Long before Nashville became an It City, Yellow Porch was offering neighborhood fine dining with tablecloths and entree salads at lunch; thankfully it has maintained its gentle spirit during the boom. It’s also a very vegetarian-friendly place, with a top-notch black bean burger, a portobello sandwich, and more. Hence it’s the ideal place to meet a friend for a lunchtime glass of wine and a salad, ensconced in the garden. 

Dining Status: Dining room is open, takeout and delivery are available by calling 615-386-0260. 

Known both for its extensive tequila selection and Instagram-famous sign, Rosepepper has been an East Nashville Mexican food destination for decades. It’s particularly pleasant at lunch, when platters of sizzling fajitas and bowls of chili verde flood the dining room, and daytime margaritas make an appearance. The large, covered patio is heated and enclosed in anticipation of Nashville’s fickle spring weather, too, making it a cozy alternative to sad home-desk lunches. 

Dining Status: Dining room is open, takeout and delivery are available. 

In a city saturated with fried chicken and burgers, Radish Kitchen has been a welcome addition to the lunch landscape. Choose from creative salads and grain bowls like the rad Thai, featuring grilled steak, mango, mint, toasted almonds, and jalapeño ginger dressing, or create your own. There’s also very good soft serve with homemade magic shell topping, should you need another reason to head over to Sylvan Heights for your midday meal.  

Dining Status: Dining room is open, takeout and delivery are available. 

The family behind Antioch’s King Market has expanded its empire in past years with Thai Esane, a chic interpretation of their homey Lao-Thai food with cocktails to pair with it. Excellent pad Thai, curries, rice dishes, and papaya salad are all there at lunch, a perfect spicy midday pick-me-up. There are two locations to choose from in Nashville and Brentwood; the original Antioch market is still a great option for dining and shopping for Asian ingredients, too. 

Dining Status: Dining room is open, takeout and delivery are available.