Where to Eat in April: Two Ten Jack, Kisser, Two Hands, and More

For more than three decades in three different locations, Green Hills Grille has made itself a neighborhood favorite through a simple formula of exceptional hospitality and excellent food. A menu of California-revival style cuisine offers something for just about any diner, and classic dishes such as tortilla soup, spinach and artichoke dip and rib rolls have been on the menu since Day 1. Why mess with success?

Located in the historic Maryland Manor, Mere Bulles brings a casual elegance to Brentwood dining as an alternative to the many fast-casual options in the area. The food is a combination of seafood and chophouse classics plus decadent à la carte side dishes such as truffle mac n’ cheese gnocchi and duck fat mushrooms. The bar at Mere Bulles is a popular after-work gathering spot for patrons seeking to wait out the rush hour traffic of the busy Old Hickory Blvd. corridor.

Call  615-467-1945 for reservations.

Two long-time hospitality professionals have come together to create a stylish new restaurant and lounge designed to be a neighborhood hub. The approachable menu of shareable small plates and more substantial entrees with an international bent complements a cutting-edge cocktail program. Happy hour food and drink deals are exceptional, and the wagyu smashburger is a standout.

Fat Bottom Brewing gets into the full-service restaurant business with this new casual concept across from the main entrance to Bridgestone Arena. The Teddy’s Tavern team took on the task of renovating one of the oldest brick buildings in Nashville to construct a three-story experience with a different vibe on each level. The ground floor hosts bands on an elevated stage and serves Fat Bottom beers from an antique bar. The second floor is cozier with an emphasis on reminding locals what downtown listening rooms were like before the huge tourism boom, and the covered rooftop bar offers views of Broadway’s neon canyon from a safe perch above the fray.

No reservations. See the menu at Teddy’s Tavern’s website. 

The Southern takes full advantage of the loophole that everything on their eclectic menu is “south of somewhere,” and most of their food is indeed classic Southern comfort food. If you’re having trouble choosing what to order, just follow the advice of the restaurant’s name and start with a cold dozen from a daily rotating selection of oysters followed up by “The Belle,” a half-pound filet mignon glazed with a red wine-balsamic reduction served with whipped potatoes, and vegetables. 

The husband and wife team behind this new Japanese comfort food restaurant have worked in some of the city’s best restaurants, but Kisser is their first venture on their own. Watching them dance around each other as they work together in the compact, but efficient open kitchen is half the fun, and the tiny dining room affords great views from every seat. Currently open for lunch only, Kisser serves up a stellar fried chicken katsu sandwich on house-baked milk bread and a rich curry udon that is perfect for warming up on a chilly day.

No reservations. See the menu here.

If you didn’t know how big a thing cafe culture is in Australia, Two Hands will show you the light from Down Under. From their extensive specialty coffee service in the morning until the cocktails come out at night, Two Hands serves brunch all day. An emphasis on ingredients sourced from local farms ensures freshness and demonstrates their focus on sustainability. Healthy chicken, mushroom and salmon-quinoa bowls are popular midday choices for filling meals if you’re in a hurry.

The Row is one of the rare spots outside of downtown where guests can enjoy live music accompanied by a full meal instead of just bar food. The bands kick off at 6:00 every night and at 2:00 on Saturday, so it’s a great place to treat yourself to a musical weekend brunch. Because they start serving at 7:00 in the morning, The Row is also a popular spot for breakfast meetings as long as you don’t have anything constructive to do in the afternoon after a hearty meal of biscuits and gravy, pancakes or an egg and hash brown scramble.

You don’t have to be a guest at the trendy Waymore’s Guest House to take advantage of their all-day cafe. The casual coffee shop vibe is a great place to grab a cuppa and some breakfast while getting a little work done. With multiple seating options available from banquettes to bar stools, patrons are invited to sit a spell after a morning meal of baked eggs under pecan pesto or avocado and gravlax toast. Evening visitors can grab creative cocktails at the lobby bar along with a short menu of savory snacks like pretzel bites or Texas corn dogs.

Call 615-650-9075 for reservations.

Nashville’s premier izakaya and ramen house introduced many local diners to the concept of Japanese bar culture. Beers and highball cocktails are accompanied by small plates like edamame, shishito peppers or dumplings followed by courses that become increasingly more substantial. Yakitori skewers range from vegetable bites such as corn in miso butter or wasabi avocado to heartier options like pork belly or short rib. A bracing bowl of tonkatsu ramen in a creamy pork broth is a meal in and of itself.