Where to Eat in November: Rolf & Daughters, Deacon’s New South, and More

Chef Philip Krajeck’s two restaurants in Nashville are both top-notch dining destinations known for pushing the envelope of European cuisine. However, the original is still the closest in many hearts. Rolf & Daughters continues to impress with innovative fermentation techniques adding fascinating flavors and textures to vegetables, pastas and bread. The menu changes seasonally, and at the whim of the chef, but the beloved heritage pork ragu is a fixture.

This Nashville fixture recently celebrated 35 years in business in Midtown. Whether you’re dressed up for a business meeting or dressed down for a show at the Ryman, the staff treats all guests with impeccable customer service. Midtown Cafe’s lemon artichoke soup is a long-time favorite, and dinner entrees like shrimp and grits or Coca-Cola BBQ beef short ribs never disappoint. Pro tip: You can make a reservation to ride the restaurant’s shuttle bus to and from downtown concerts and theater performances.

Call 615.320.7176 to make reservations.

When a restaurant is as dependable as City House, it sometimes gets left off of various “Best of” lists, but James Beard Award-winning chef Tandy Wilson is still bringing the heat. The menu still features rustic Italian creations made with regional Southern ingredients and the wine and cocktail lists remain among the best in town. Sunday Suppers are a particular treat as the kitchen gets even more creative and the mood in the dining room is decidedly festive.

New York-based chef Andrew Carmellini’s first two forays into Nashville have already gained legions of local fans, but the announcement that Levi Raines has been elevated to senior chef de cuisine means that diners can expect a steady hand to manage the kitchens at Carne Mare and The Dutch even when Carmellini is cooking elsewhere. Carne Mare exudes a classy Italian steakhouse aura thanks to lots of leather and dark wood, while The Dutch is a little homier, with its live plants, airy architecture and convivial fireplace.

Call 615.379.9000 to make reservations.

Krajeck’s second Nashville restaurant is a fun East Nashville neighborhood hang specializing in vegetable-forward dishes. In addition to delightful snacks that are perfect with a glass of natural wine at the bar, the menu features a few large-format meat and seafood plates plus some of the most creative and delicious pizzas in town. Topped with unusual treats like littleneck clams and bonito and then passed through a blazing wood oven, these pies are unlike any other in town.

Soon after closing the original location downtown in a historic building across the street from Bridgestone and Arena, Pancho & Lefty’s backed like a hermit crab into a new shell, taking over the former home of The Sutler in Melrose. With the new home came a new menu featuring items not found at the taqueria’s other location in Sylvan Park. Standout new items include hot chicken and pimento cheese taquitos, spicy fried pickle tacos and a grilled chile-braised chicken.

No reservations.

This lifestyle brand-turned-restaurant recently opened in a strategic location between the Titans’ home at Nissan Stadium and the Preds’ home ice at Bridgestone Arena. Fans of either team can pregame at this luxury sports bar or watch the big game on huge screens situated around the bar. A robust cocktail and beer list complements intentionally ludicrously-scaled entrees like a tower of chicken tenders, corn dogs, sweet potato tots and french fries or a burger that weighs in at five pounds designed for sharing by a hungry table.

Occupying the ground floor of the L&C Tower,  Deacon’s New South offers a delightful juxtaposition of mid-20th century architecture and design with the warm wood and open fire cooking associated with Southern food. Don’t miss out on a visit to the window revealing huge racks of dry aging meats that they use to great effect on the grill in the open kitchen. The largest steak is a mammoth 48-oz .tomahawk ribeye, but smaller options like the filet or bone-in KC strip are certainly worthy of consideration.

Call 615.994.1994 to make reservations.

Lyra consistently exceeds expectations with chef Hrant Arakelian’s take on modern Middle Eastern cuisine. Combining traditional flavors with seasonal ingredients, the kitchen at Lyra creates dishes that are rooted in Arakelian’s native region of Lebanon but updated for today’s diner. Meat and seafood lovers will find plenty to like, but there’s nothing wrong with filling up on hummus and other veggie-centric appetizers along with a few shareable small plates of vegetables served with delightful sauces and bread.

Cabana Taps specializes in casual Southern comfort food, but the restaurant’s vibe leans a little more formal than that. From a long martini list to semi-private cabanas equipped with personal sound systems and televisions, guests can enjoy an upscale personalized experience. Other options include sitting on the front veranda with a view of the action in Hillsboro Village or enjoying live music in the energetic lounge at the back of the restaurant.