The October Hit List: Ella’s on 2nd, Lou, Alebrije, and More

Fall is an ideal time to dine on the back patio at Lou, situated behind a cozy 1930s Craftsman that sends major dinner party vibes inside, and a laid-back backyard party outside. Chef Mailea Weger’s menu changes frequently, but some favorites, like the half chicken with peach chamoy and soaked sourdough, and the crispy rice with ever-changing accompaniments, are always available. Autumn is creeping on to the menu now, including a rack of lamb served with caramelized plum, pumpkin butter, and sorrel creme fraiche. Natural wine is all the rage here, where fizzy pet nats, crisp whites, and funky reds are ready for any palate, whether it’s a long dinner or a brunch with pals.

Chef Edgar Victoria is recreating the Mexican street food of his childhood right here in Nashville. He’s making the rounds, too, bringing his exceptional versions of tacos, huaraches, tortas, and more to Bastion every Sunday and Monday night, Bloomsbury Farm each Friday, and the Richland Park Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. The menu is always changing, but prime examples include a crunchy volcano chicken tinga taco with salsa verde, or a hiramasa tostada with yellowtail, purslane, and cucumber. One recent special — a pork sparerib tlayoco with hoja santo beans, pickled jalapeños, nopales, and multiple salsas — is the stuff that keeps diners coming back again and again.

Reservations not required; check here for locations and dates. 

Named after a Nashville socialite, who also happens to be grandmother of one of the restaurant’s owners, Ella’s on 2nd is serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a nod to the style of eating native Nashvillians have grown up enjoying. Collard greens, chow chow, red eye gravy, and pimento cheese are all on the menu, with each of the classics given a little modern twist. A creamy collard dip with salty country ham and a baguette is a great starting place, possibly followed by a 21-day aged rib eye with smoked yam. Cocktails are playful takes on classics too, like the Music City Sour with local Greenbriar Tennessee whiskey, blackberry moonshine, lemon, and a red wine float.  It’s in the Hyatt Centric, so there’s breakfast and lunch too, of course, plus a rooftop pool bar for guests.

Answer is Sylvan Park’s answer to a cozy neighborhood restaurant that’s more than just burgers. Dishes are priced to bring diners back for weeknight dinners, and the open floor plan offers a view into the kitchen. Italian, Latin, and Asian flavors are the focus, giving way to dishes like arancini with fatty pork, shrimp, and sushi rice, served with soy sauce, ginger, herbs, and aioli, and a fall panzanella with butternut squash, apple, kale, maple Dijon vinaigrette, and ricotta. The enclosed outdoor patio is ideal for sipping a rum cocktail, mixed with St. George spiced pear liqueur and chai honey.

Nashville’s premier (only?) focacceria has set up a semi-permanent residency at Sylvan Park’s Hathorne. It’s all happening Sunday nights from 4 p.m.-9 p.m., both indoor and on the very pleasant enclosed patio. In addition to the signature sfincione — Sicilian-style focaccia — that are topped with things like gorgonzola, date, and fermented honey, the menu has a very appetizing selection of shared plates. Make sure to order a handful of them for the full experience, from Calabrian chile-poached shrimp with green apple and smoked butter to cold, salty green beans with lemony wine sauce. 

Call 629-888-4917 for reservations. 

An Atlanta-based brewery has made the leap to Nashville, making its mark as the first business to open in the still-evolving Neuhoff project in Germantown. The Monday Night Preservation Society is a roomy taproom perched on the bank of the Cumberland River, with 24 taps of their own brews, plus wine, cocktails, and alcoholic slushies. There are some snacks, though don’t plan your full meal here: pretzel nuggets, cheese plates, and hummus are pretty much the extent. It’s dog- and kid-friendly, with a very cool deck and outdoor seating area nestled within the historic walls of the former meat-packing plant. 

No reservations required. 

Australian fish and chips have found a home in Nashville’s restaurant community, giving diners shatteringly crisp fried cod and fries, served with Chippy Salt and malt vinegar. The husband and wife team behind it have expanded into a brand new space in Sylvan Supply with indoor and outdoor seating, plus a menu with poke, lumpia, shrimp banh mi, and more. Beer and wine are also available, best enjoyed on the patio facing Charlotte Ave. 

Always a staple amongst Nashville natives, Redlands Grill is an offshoot of perennial favorite J. Alexander’s. The West End location is prime dining before a Vandy football game, concert in Centennial Park, or a night out on Broadway. Steel yourself for what lies ahead with spinach con queso and tortilla chips, a crispy chicken tender platter with fries and coleslaw, and more. A section of sushi and steaks and prime rib set Redlands apart from its sibling restaurants, with spicy tuna and rainbow rolls sharing the spotlight with slow-cooked prime rib and filets with Bearnaise sauce.

Downtown’s swanky new three-story hot spot bills itself as “unapologetically dapper-as-hell,” and we unapologetically agree. The entire shebang is a multi-faceted dining and entertainment experience, with a honky tonk, supper club, cocktail lounge, and rooftop bar all rolled into one high-class building that takes up a whole city block. There’s a different menu in each space, with American bar bites and live music at Honky Tonk, wagyu tartare and rare wine vintages at Supper Club, an extensive cocktail list at the lounge Honorary Member, plus exquisite views and Upper Broadway breezes to be found on the rooftop bar. And it’s worth a mention that Tennessee’s own Justin Timberlake is an investor in the project, alongside one of Nashville’s prolific restaurateurs Sam Fox. How’s that for star power?

Call 629-236-0001 for reservations.

Ramen season cometh as the temps outside start to lower (though we consider ramen season to be all year long, there’s nothing like a steamy bowl of noodles on a chilly evening). Now comes the hard part: choosing between rich, creamy pork tonkotsu, brothless abura soba with Benton’s ham, spicy crab noodles with crab butter and sweet red crab, or any of the restaurant’s carefully curated bowls. There’s also smoky yakitori, neatly rolled sushi, and many other small plates to share with friends. The cocktails on tap are all great choices, or go for a crisp Japanese beer to pair with your hot ramen. It’s always a fun time in this busy izakaya, so snag a table if you can.