The June Hit List: The Continental, Casa Rosa, Liberty Common, and More

The ground floor of the Grand Hyatt is the swanky home of chef Sean Brock’s newest opening, an homage to midcentury American cuisine. The chef’s deep-dive into the great hotel restaurant dishes of yore have yielded new classics like a Pacific red crab parfait with green tomato, lovage, and brioche croutons, and raw oysters topped with California white sturgeon caviar, Pernod glacé, a puree of spinach and celery, and finger limes. Tableside presentations are the star, with rolling carts of prime rib cut by the ounce with horseradish cream, and an array of expertly prepared pâté en croute, served with gooseberry gelée. Pro tip: Do not skip dessert for any reason.

Though New York chef Jonathan Waxman is no longer involved with the restaurant he opened in Nashville, several of the his signature items remain, including the legendary JW chicken with salsa verde, and kale salad with anchovy dressing and pecorino. Now under the influence of the restaurant group behind 404 Kitchen, Adele’s menu is a gentle mingling of Southern and Italian influences: salmon with Carolina gold rice, blood orange, leeks, and watercress; or a rack of lamb for two with pea puree, fingerling potatoes, and pistachio butter. Cocktails are a big focus here as well, along with a large selection of whiskies.

Head to one of Nashville’s best — and only — izakayas for yakitori, takoyaki, and gyoza. Two Ten Jack’s menu of tori paitan and rich tonkotsu ramen are excellent even on a warm summer day, though the brothless offerings like spicy crab butter mazemen with sweet red crab are a less steamy alternative. Sushi lovers can find maki rolls, nigiri, and perfectly sliced sashimi. Cocktails with Japanese spirits, and ingredients like yuzu, are particularly refreshing when consumed on the patio.

Country star Miranda Lambert has joined the ranks of the many male performers who have opened their own honky tonks and restaurants downtown (her ex-husband Blake Shelton, plus Jason Aldean, and Kid Rock are just a few). At her lively new hot spot the menu is Tex-Mex — “a little taste of Texas in Tennessee” — with smoked brisket nachos, queso fundido, and a Nashville hot-chicken burrito bringing it home. Meanwhile, there’s a long list of Tequilas and a good selection of cocktails that are strong and bold, just like the restaurant’s namesake.

Perched 13 stories atop the Noelle Hotel on Fourth Avenue is Rare Bird, a gorgeous, partially covered rooftop bar. Snack on peel and eat shrimp, and deviled eggs with bacon jam and Calabrian pepper, or prepare yourself for the night out with the L+L burger topped with bacon jam, caramelized onion, smoked American cheese, and bread-and-butter pickles. Cocktails are Instagrammable and skew to the refreshing, ideal for a sunny evening socializing amidst Nashville’s skyline.

A four-story dining and drinking complex has opened within the new Fifth + Broadway development, offering multiple experiences in one. For now, the first floor is the only open component — aptly named The First Level, offering a swanky atmosphere and a menu of shareables like pork belly dumplings, truffle fries, and Old Bay-rubbed wings, and heftier dishes like NY strips, prime rib sandwiches, and shrimp cacio e pepe. When the other levels open, the second floor will be a cocktail lounge called Honorary Member (though all are welcome), the third will serve as the Twelve Thirty Club, a decadent supper club with live music, and a rooftop terrace on the fourth floor.

Call 629-236-0001 for reservations.

The kitchen at 404 Kitchen is back in full swing with chef Matt Bolus’s menu of cleverly updated Southern food. Classic pimento cheese is paired with smoked garlic jam, crab salad, and deep fried cheese wafers, while local trout with Benton’s ham, salt and vinegar potatoes, chow-chow, and trout roe, and a daily catch with crawfish and étouffée sauce are lightened up for summer. Never visit 404 Kitchen without trying a new whiskey from the restaurant’s very deep list, while enjoying a prime seat on the patio.

French bistro dishes are at the heart of Liberty Commons’ menu — with a Southern twist, of course. That means oysters, burgers, chicken and waffles, and croque madame are all on the menu at this rivefront-adjacent downtown restaurant. Grab a reservation on the patio for brunch or happy hour, and don’t forget to order a pairing of bubbly and pomme frites.

Located on the third floor of the new Assembly Food Hall within the expansive Fifth + Broadway development is Sixty Vines, a new, massive wine-focused restaurant. Inspired by the bright, airy vibes found in Napa, this location of the Texas-based chain serves up a staggering number of wines on tap, available as a flight, by the glass, or in reusable bottles. The menu leans Mediterranean and shareable, with hummus, salumi, pizzas, pastas, and more. And though wine is headliner at this restaurant, there’s a list of well-mixed cocktails and beers to please every member of the group.