The October Hit List: Pelato, White Limozeen, Common Ground, and More

Even though pool season might be over for the year, the rooftop of the Graduate Nashville is still the place to be in Midtown. Enjoy time by the pool noshing on updated classic French snacks, salads, seafood, and shareables along with a selection from White Limozeen’s excellent cocktail menu. The sweeping views from the pool deck offer 360-degree vistas that are unrivaled unless you have access to a helicopter.

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Anthony Scotto brings a taste of his youth in Brooklyn to Germantown, serving “red-checkered tablecloth” Italian fare that is unpretentious and delicious. The restaurant’s novel electronic ordering system allows a table to build their own meal out of small plates for sharing, which parade quickly out of the kitchen, or individual diners can choose their own adventure if they don’t feel like sharing. Sunday service revolves around family-style Sunday gravy that would be the talk of Brooklyn.

More than six months after closing, this beloved Belmont cantina has reopened under new management, including the team behind Nashville favorites Mere Bulles and Green Hills Grille. Aiming to be an all-day destination, Chago’s has added burgers and salads to the traditional cantina options of tacos and burritos. The bar is quite proud of a new top-shelf Tequila program and a list of clever margarita variations made with fresh ingredients.

Find more info here. Call 615-873-1260 for reservations.

Locals and Nashville visitors alike really love their brunches, and sometimes you just don’t want to wait until the weekend for a slightly decadent midday meal. Hathorne obliges these desires with a new brunch service from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. Start out with wine by the glass or one of Hathorne’s signature cocktails before plunging into a menu of sweet and savory treats. Particularly worth consideration are the breakfast sandwich with eggs and wagyu beef bacon jam, and an earthy dish of mushroom toast served with housemade ricotta.

Find more info here. Call 629-888-4917 for reservations.

Already a neighborhood mainstay at its Sylvan Park location in the former home of Chaatable, Common Ground continues its hot streak with a new outpost in Berry Hill after moving into the shell that previously housed The Yellow Porch. After a quick coat of new paint and some rearranging of seating options, guests can now take even better advantage of the outdoor patio while they enjoy Common Ground’s upscale bistro fare, coffee service, and full bar. Brunch is an especially popular option on weekends.

Detroit mainstay Joe Muer Seafood has made its first foray outside of Michigan with a new restaurant in the growing Capitol View just west of Downtown. Premium seafood is Joe Muer’s calling card, from an extensive raw bar and sushi menu to platters of fresh fish imported from around the world. Landlubbers can pick from a selection of prime steak dishes, but don’t be afraid to create your own surf n’ turf with the optional addition of some lobster or scallops on top of that beef.

Find more info here. Call 615-433-6837 for reservations.

While lou might spell their name with a small “l,” the inventive East Nashville bistro has big news to celebrate as they have reached five years in operation. To commemorate this milestone, lou has added a new Sunday night chicken roast menu in lieu of their usual offering. Meant for sharing, the dinner features a whole or half bird served atop roasted root vegetables and a changing selection of seasonal side dishes.

With pro and college football seasons in full swing, it’s the ideal time to revisit this SoBro sports fan paradise. The big games are always playing on multiple screens, the beer is cold and free-flowing, and the bar food is exemplary and large-format. What else do you need to enjoy a full day of football? There are also plenty of arcade and bar games in case you need a little distraction from your favorite team’s performance on the field.

With two already-successful locations in the Atlanta area, The Iberian Pig has rooted itself into the Nashville dining market with an attractive new restaurant in the Gulch. Featuring dining areas on the ground floor and upstairs plus two bars, the interior design of The Iberian Pig is gorgeous. Textured banquette seating, interesting light fixtures, and natural materials juxtaposed with exposed industrial ducts and conduits draw the eye all over the space, but try to concentrate on your plate filled with Spanish-inspired tapas. A special jamón happy hour promises deals on charcuterie, sangria, and snacks, so that would be an excellent time for a first visit.

Find more info here. Call 615-844-4242 for reservations.

Although the rooftop restaurant atop the Sheraton Grand Nashville no longer rotates like it did decades ago, it still affords stunning views of downtown through the tall windows. Reimagined as a premium sushi and cocktail lounge, Sora offers a tight menu of specialty rolls and sashimi. It’s a fine spot to start or end an evening out downtown, far above the party crowd below.