The September Hit List: Miel, MI Kitchen, Black Rabbit, and More

This Sylvan Park favorite turns 15 this year, and proprietor Seema Prasad is celebrating the occasion with, basically, more of the same locally grown seasonal cuisine that has carried Miel through the years. Why change anything when you already serve sustainably sourced seafood, meats, and vegetables procured from farmers within a short drive of the restaurant, and a wine list informed by Seema’s encyclopedic knowledge of international wineries? We can’t think of any reason to change course, but we are ready to keep enjoying all the things that delight us.

Middle Tennessee is always hungry for more great East Asian food, and the Korean offerings in and around Franklin were admittedly a bit sparse before MI Kitchen hit the scene. Offering small plates of inventive modern Korean cuisine, MI’s chefs draw flavor inspiration from different parts of Asia while keeping the spotlight on their Korean heritage. Thanks to the tapas-style menu, a party of four can easily sample the entire menu — and you should.

The Four Seasons brand exudes luxury and style, and its upscale Nashville property downtown certainly confirms the hotel’s premium status. However, this being Music City and all, their flagship lobby restaurant, Mimo, manages to maintain a casual attitude toward southern Italian cuisine without sacrificing a few dramatic flourishes such as tuna tartare prepared tableside. Fresh pastas and seafood are menu highlights, and be sure to save room for dessert because there might be flames involved.

Call 615-610-6990 for reservations.

Common Ground recently opened a second outpost in the former Berry Hill location of longtime neighborhood stalwart The Yellow Porch. After a fresh coat of paint and some light remodeling, the space feels fresh and new again, and the menu mirrors that of the original Sylvan Park location. Shifting from toasts and tacos in the daytime to steak, fish, and pasta in the evening, the menu maintains one constant at all times: a fantastic wagyu smashburger made with beef from nearby Black Hawk Farms.

When the stately Hermitage Hotel announced that internationally renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten was creating a quaint streetside cafe named The Pink Hermit, it was easy to assume that it might be some stuffy spot serving precious petit fours and tea in dainty china cups. What a pleasant surprise to see that Jean-Georges circa 2023 is more into wine and wood-fired pizzas  than tea and crumpets. Now that the cafe has extended its hours, it’s an ideal spot for a post-work happy hour or a pre-show dinner and drinks.

Although it’s definitely aimed at the tourist crowd, anyone in the mood for a good time can find something at Layer Cake, a four-story drinking and dining establishment that offers unique experiences on each level of the restaurant. From the eminently Instagrammable Wonder Room at street level to the pulsing DJ-fueled beats and VIP table service of The Rooftop bar and lounge, it’s not difficult to find the vibe you’re seeking.

Call 615-988-7698 for reservations.

Fans of the speakeasy vibe at Black Rabbit can now enjoy the culinary delights emerging from the wood-fired kitchen during the lunch hour from Thursday through Saturday. The tight international midday menu runs the very short gamut from unexpected, as in housemade gyro meat and pita bread, humble — as with their simple, delicious smoked bologna sandwich. The bar extends happy hour prices during lunch, so you can make lunch hour a little merrier.

It’s worth celebrating when a restaurant makes it five years in this crowded dining environment, but the fact that Sperry’s has enjoyed almost 50 years serving West Nashville is a truly significant milestone. A new generation of families have discovered the retro-cool experience of salad served on an ice-cold plate covered with green goddess dressing alongside classic surf-n-turf fare and decadent desserts. For grown-ups only, Sperry’s weekday happy hour is a special bargain with discounted bar bites and half-price martinis.

Call 615-353-0809 for reservations.

Just about any hour is a great time to visit Folk for the kitchen’s take on rustic Italian food made using local seasonal ingredients, but if you plan wisely, you’ll find even better deals during their Apero Hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. In addition to discounts on selected wines, draft beers, cocktails, and spritzes, Folk offers small plates at bargain prices. From small bar bites like marinated olives to more substantial options such as pizza by the slice or a chicken Parm sandwich, there’s something for just about all the folks at Folk.

Expectations for hotel restaurants often are set pretty low: Just have a great burger on the menu to feed a hungry traveler after a long day of work or long night of partying on Lower Broad. As the restaurant at Noelle Nashville Hotel, Makeready does offer an exemplary cheeseburger on their brunch menu, but they go so much further. The menu skews Italian with classics like spaghetti pomodoro and pappardelle Bolognese alongside inventive takes such as a vegetarian charred corn carbonara and a decidedly carnivore mezzaluna ravioli filled with succulent short rib.