The 10 Restaurants That Defined Nashville Dining in 2022

Sean Brock has found himself on a lot of “best of” lists thanks to his work at his innovative new restaurant June, an ode to his Appalachian roots that takes traditional ingredients to dizzying new heights through the use of innovative techniques. Thanks to a modern R&D lab where his staff isolates individual elements of ingredients like parsnips, buttermilk, and greasy beans thanks to such techniques as microwave extraction, ultrasonic homogenization, and fermentation, Brock has divined, and presents, the very essence of Appalachia as he interprets it.

Those ingredients are used to create a 20-plus course tasting menu (Brock is nothing if not bullish on the format) presented in a parade of artfully-plated dishes. The ambiance exudes a Zen calm as chefs work in an open kitchen surrounded by comfortable lighting and nature-inspired decor. A dinner at June is a commitment of serious time and money; in this case, both are remarkably well-spent.

First off, you can’t talk about Butcher & Bee without mentioning the whipped feta and fermented honey appetizer. Yes, it’s magnificent, and yes, you should definitely order it. But there’s so much more to this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that shouldn’t be missed. In fact, smart diners take advantage of two special experiences: “Order Like a Pro” which delivers all the mezze small plates to the table, and “Eat Like a Chef,” in which the kitchen sends out their favorite current dishes on the menu to the table, timing them appropriately for a complete meal full of delightful surprises.

With its combo of Middle Eastern flavor profiles and local ingredients, Butcher & Bee stands alone when it comes to creativity and variety, much as it did at its Charleston original. A seat at the chef’s counter watching the staff at work in the open kitchen is dinner and a show — among the best in Nashville, on both accounts.

Chef Deb Paquette has run some of the best kitchens in Nashville over her long career. After closing her previous spot, Zola, the chef took some time off with her husband to travel the world and soak up new cuisines. The result is the globally-inspired Etch, the standout SoBro restaurant that was the first (and is still the best) dining destination on the south side of Broadway.

A long chef’s bar offers a view into the open kitchen where the expert kitchen staff layers unexpected flavors to create unique dishes that are plated with artistic swaths of sauces and colorful garnishes. The roasted cauliflower appetizer reigns supreme in Nashville’s pantheon of beloved starters, and the rotating roster of seasonal main dishes feature Middle Eastern flavors mingled with other international influences.

Call 615.522.0685 to make a reservation.

We shy away from the phrase “neighborhood restaurant,” but Margot Café & Bar truly is the epitome of one — the soul of Five Points in East Nashville. Regulars keep standing weekly reservations to dine and catch up with friends while enjoying the fresh seasonal French-inspired cuisine. The atmosphere is casual and amiable, with chefs often coming out to present dishes and chat with customers.

The menu changes constantly based on the freshest ingredients coming through the kitchen door that morning, but fixtures like fried chicken and pan-roasted fish are usually available and always worth consideration. Don’t worry; there’s no going wrong.

In this world where the dining public demands so much choice, it’s rare to find a restaurant that receives great acclaim with a very short menu, but that’s exactly what has happened at Locust. Renowned chef Trevor Moran keeps a laser focus on his tight offering of dishes, usually offering no more than a half dozen options.

Moran spent years crafting his Platonic ideal of the perfect dumpling, and the results of his obsession are spectacular. Meat-filled pillows with noodle wrappings so delicate you can see through them are served fried or steamed with richly flavorful dipping sauces. You can usually find another noodle dish or two and maybe some beef tartare or oysters, but that’s the extent of the savory menu at Locust. And they’re all noteworthy. Don’t miss out on a finishing flourish of Japanese shaved ice topped with fruit, nuts and sweet syrups.

Email info@locustnashville.com for reservations.

In addition to his obsession with Appalachian food, Sean Brock also has a burning interest in the Continental cuisine that dominated much of the last century — the kind of food that made dining out in a hotel restaurant an event instead of a necessary evil. His restaurant at the Grand Hyatt harkens back to the days of the Savoy and Waldorf-Astoria, when carts circled the dining room floor offering slabs of pâté en croûte and slicing prime rib straight to the plate. Both options are available at The Continental, where a meal should always start with a proper cocktail at the throwback bar staffed by talented mixologists-slash-historians.

The list of Continental classics reads like it was ripped from a menu at Delmonico’s in New York, if with “Brockian” updates. Escargot, foie gras, duck à la presse, they’re all there, and they’re cooked perfectly and plated meticulously. And pastry team matches that; their world-class inventions are not to be skipped.

After a year of operating out of a nondescript trailer outside of The Dive Motel, Charleston-based Xiao Bao has finally moved into their own space near McFerrin Park in East Nashville, the city’s current dining hot spot. With the new space comes the ability to order wine, beer or creative cocktails to accompany Xiao Bao’s take on modern Asian comfort food, and the experience has been packing them in since the doors opened.

Fans rave about the infernally spicy som tum green papaya salad and tuna tartare with beef fat hash browns, as well as the section of dumplings and noodles on the menu. A crab fried rice dish became so instantly popular that many diners can’t seem to get past it to try anything else on the menu. Too bad: They’re missing Xiao Bao’s signature okonomiyaki “hash brown pancake” and Viet catfish with rice noodles.

No reservations — first come, first served. Email hello@xiaobaonashville.com for more details.

This outpost of Halls Chophouse is the fifth in a group of classic high-end steakhouses based out of Charleston, and it may yet become the flagship of the chain. Located on the ground floor of the Broadwest building that towers over Midtown, Halls is ideal for closing that big business deal, celebrating a major life milestone or just grabbing a burger and a beer at the bar.

Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of the poor souls caught in West End traffic while you sit down to an array of chilled seafood options from the raw bar and peruse the long list of beef, lamb and pork options. All the steaks are hand-cut from aged beef primals flown in from Chicago, and exotic options like wagyu and bison are also available. Classic steakhouse sides are served for the table, and make sure to save room to at least consider the lengthy dessert menu.

From its fancified honky tonk on street level to a popular rooftop deck overlooking the energetic crowds below on Broadway, the Twelve Thirty Club is a refined destination to step out of the touristy craziness of Downtown to enjoy live music, good food and creative drinks. Co-owner Justin Timberlake has added some panache to the upstairs Supper Club, revitalizing the Nashville tradition of enjoying a meal and a show. The opulent listening room features plush banquette seating to enjoy a proper cocktail before dinner while listening to a roster of talented musical acts.

The dinner menu offers sushi and raw bar selections as a prelude to classic chophouse fare. The addition of the state’s only master sommelier has quickly hoisted the ambitions of the beverage program, with a wine list that is deep and wide.

Call 629-236-0001 to make a reservation.

It was a big deal when Jean-Georges Vongerichten announced that Drusie & Darr would be his first restaurant project located in the American South. Jean-Georges has earned a flurry of Michelin stars at his other establishments; while they were mostly in global culinary centers like Paris, New York, Tokyo and London, the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville has a long history of culinary excellence.

And so, after a remodel from the former Capitol Grill, Drusie & Darr has emerged as a stunner, focused on a commitment to stellar customer service and showcasing the abundance of local ingredients. Open for all three meals of the day, Drusie & Darr has quickly become a favorite dining destination for those who live and work in Nashville’s urban core.