Where to Eat in March: Henrietta Red, Sojourner, The Co-op, and More

Henrietta Red recently celebrated six years of serving fine-tuned seafood in Germantown, and the neighborhood has certainly embraced the fun, approachable food coming out of chef Julia Sullivan’s open kitchen. Featuring probably the city’s best list of oysters from both the east and west coasts, Henrietta Red is an ideal spot for a happy hour at the bar enjoying sweet or briny bivalves along with selections from a well-chosen wine list or some inventive cocktails. Diners can also build an entire meal from small plates to create their own culinary ocean voyage.

After years of anticipation, the luxury resort at Southall has finally opened its doors to locals to take advantage of the amenities offered to hotel guests. Among these is Sojourner, a cozy restaurant/bar in the lobby that offers views of the fields that surround the property. The menu of elevated Southern fare features many ingredients actually grown on the property along with other regionally-sourced products. A crackling fire warms the dining room on chilly days, but an order of wagyu short rib with horseradish gremolata could accomplish that, too.

Call 615-282-2000 for reservations.

This flagship restaurant of the tony Thompson Hotel in the Gulch is true to its name, featuring bayou-inspired Louisiana cuisine raised to the level of fine dining. Focusing on responsibly-sourced sustainable seafood, Marsh House offers three different sizes of decadent seafood towers and an extensive raw bar to kick off a meal of inventive fish dishes, plus some mighty fine fried chicken and steaks as options for landlubbers. Make sure to consult the extensive Franco-centric wine list to find the perfect bottle to accompany your meal.

So, where can you go to get a breakfast sandwich and a frozen rosé drink in Nashville at 10 a.m.? That’s the question answered by The Co-op, a cheeky little restaurant tucked behind Hillsboro Village. Offering an impressive array of breakfast sandwiches along with salads and larger sandwiches during the rest of the day, The Co-op is more than just a spot for adult slushies, but make no mistake that the multiple varieties of frosés are the festive stars of the show!

No reservations.

This straight-ahead steakhouse has been a favorite destination of Vanderbilt students dining on Dad’s dime during Parents’ Weekend. Known for exemplary service and a classic chophouse menu, Stoney River is classy without being stuffy. Sure, the dark wood interior and marble bar tops exude a clubby vibe, but there’s no need to dress up to enjoy a steak dinner and a few wines by the glass. Come as you are and eat like a king.

It’s almost like 5 Points Diner becomes a series of different restaurants throughout the day, starting out with a celebratory meal that they call “Frunch” on Fridays through Sundays before morphing into an elevated diner at dinner when the menu switches from egg dishes to salads, steaks, sandwiches, and burgers. As the evening moves along, they pump up the volume on the party music as the menu skews more toward liquid libations and late-night munchies from the kitchen. No matter when you visit, it’s always a good time.

Call 615-747-9955 for reservations.

This three-meal restaurant at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel steps outside of the usual hotel menu to offer farm-to-table cuisine using ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. From their coffee service to the spirits in their signature cocktails, Mason’s strives to showcase Middle Tennessee purveyors and give guests an authentic taste of the region. The menu is cleverly divided into expected hotel staples like a Caesar salad labeled “Because We Have To,” fun regional specialties like pimento cheese fritters under “Because We Want To,” and innovative plates like the wagyu beef and short rib burger named The Mason proudly listed under the section “Because We Can.”

This New Orleans-based brunch chain is, indeed, a breath of sunshine in Hillsboro Village, serving indulgent Southern breakfast dishes like pancakes, omelets, biscuit and gravy with bacon and fried green tomatoes, shrimp & grits, migas with chorizo, and more than a half-dozen versions of eggs Benedict. Accompanied by a selection of boozy cocktails, it’s a meal to get your day started in a merry manner or to recover from last night’s festivities.

No reservations, but patrons can join the waitlist online.

Mangia is more of a dinner party than a traditional restaurant. Bring a group of friends or make some new ones as you eat your way through a multi-course fixed menu of Italian specialties while Louis Prima plays in the background and The Godfather runs on a loop in televisions around the dining room. Breaks between courses are filled with singing and dancing, and it’s not unusual for a spontaneous conga line to break out, snaking between tables around the room.

This novel wine bar in the L+L Marketplace is run by a mother and daughter who have designed a unique manner of service. Order a glass or bottle of wine and then select small plates of cheese and charcuterie from a conveyor belt that passes through the communal dining room, like a high-tech dim sum. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available, so no one needs to feel left out.