The Resy Hit List: Where In Nashville You’ll Want to Eat Right Now

For more than a decade, Husk has represented the epitome of farm-to-table fare in Nashville — with a laser focus on the mandate by opening chef Sean Brock: “If it doesn’t come from the South, it’s not coming through the kitchen door!” The stately Italianate mansion that is Husk’s home was once the home of a 19th-century Nashville mayor — and is reflected in the courtly hospitality — yet the cuisine continues to combine modernism with historical techniques of preservation, pickling, and some of the finest fried chicken in the land. And both kitchen and the bar staff take full advantage of the restaurant’s garden, where they grow heritage seeds into plants that show up as ingredients and garnishes.

The industrial zen vibe and lo-fi hip-hop soundtrack set the atmosphere at this standout modern izakaya and sake bar. Whether diners opt for á la carte service or offer themselves to the chef’s whim with an omakase experience, they’re sure to be delighted by the precisely plated parade of small dishes coming from the kitchen. Much of the menu focuses on seafood flown fresh to town from across the globe. Pro tip for sake fans: Present Tense has their own brand called Pure Land, crafted in Kyoto, with complex flavors that complement myriad dishes. Don’t be afraid to ask for pairing advice.

Prior to opening his first brick-and-mortar on Gallatin Avenue, chef Edgar Victoria worked out of food trucks, trailers, tiny kitchens in the backs of bars, and even poolside at an East Nashville hotel. But none of those challenging surroundings kept him from creating some of the best Mexico City-style street food in the area. Now with his own home base, he has expanded the menu to show off his considerable culinary talents even more as he experiments with fermentation, heritage Mexican corn for handmade tortillas, and unique ingredients like “pepikake” — his Mexican take on Japanese furikake made with pumpkin seeds. Bold murals mirror the drama of the flavors on the plate.

No reservations. Find more info here.

The Fairlane Hotel is located in a former bank building in the heart of downtown, and it leans into its previous incarnation as a center of commerce. The lobby is filled with mid-century modern furnishings and the vibe continues upstairs to the fourth floor where a meal at Ellington’s feels like being invited to the executive dining room. And the “Mad Men”-era mystique is further reflected in the upscale cocktail service and menu of classic American cuisine. Plush booths surrounded by gilded railings surround the bar area, and a secret table tucked around the corner feels like where corporate VIPs cut deals over platters of oysters and gigantic steaks.

Call 615-988-7333 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, short rib or even chicken hearts. A bracing bowl of tonkatsu ramen in a creamy pork broth with a soft egg is a meal in and of itself.

Michael Hanna spent years perfecting his pizza technique, specifically mastery of the Silicilian-style pies known as sfincione. After various pop-ups at restaurants around town, he finally opened his own home base in the Gulch. Now that he’s working out of his own commercial kitchen, Hanna has dialed in the seemingly impossible combination of airy and crispy crust that sets his pizza apart. The kitchen leans on local purveyors whenever possible to source intriguing toppings and flavor combinations like squash, hazelnuts, and goat cheese, or the popular roasted potato, lemon, and potato cream pie. (It will change the way you think about pizza.) The menu also offers roasted vegetables, seafood and pasta dishes to round out your order, but don’t skip the sfincione.

In a city constantly chasing the latest culinary trend, J. Alexander’s remains a trusted classic. Consistency is key: J. Alexander’s is the very definition of dependability. Featuring burgers, seafood, steaks, and a famous prime rib cooked over wood fire, this contemporary restaurant chain has locations across the country, including three in Middle Tennessee. Beyond the food, J. Alexander’s stands out for its deep wine list, full cocktail service, and a dedication to exceptional hospitality. It’s a reliable choice for those who appreciate a polished yet comfortable dining experience and a favorite among the “power lunch crowd” looking for a quiet place to conduct business over a great meal.

The Southeast meets the Middle East at this Mediterranean- and Israeli-inspired neighborhood favorite. Working with locally-sourced ingredients, the kitchen at the Bee creates vegetable-forward dishes that are filled with exotic flavors and beautiful flourishes of color and texture. The whipped feta and fermented honey dip is legendary and a can’t-miss appetizer, but don’t be afraid to dig deeper into the menu for inventive shareable entrees served family-style to the table. Another favorite option is to make a happy hour grazing meal out of the wide selection dips and mezze small plates while you enjoy cocktails from one of the most talented staffs of mixologists in town. Butcher & Bee defies convention as a restaurant, so feel free to choose your own adventure.

The main dining room is dominated by a massive statue of city namesake Gen. Francis Nash astride a horse looming above the tables. Other colorful works of art (many of which were painted by chef Daniel Lindley) accent the tall walls of the restaurant to create a gallery feel to the experience. Lindley is a big fan of classic American family dinners, and his menu offers homey dishes like pot roast, meatloaf, and beer-can chicken you might have at a family meal (if Grandma were a James Beard-nominated chef.) Steaks off the wood-fired grill are standout options, flavored by smoke and fire and served with comfort food sides like beef-fat onions, oxtail gravy, and family-style mashed potatoes.

Beverage expert Alex Burch founded Bad Idea as a concept to bring a dynamic wine bar to East Nashville. Thanks to Burch’s fantastic wine and cocktail program and the inspired Lao-centric menu created by chef Colby Rasavong, Bad Idea has evolved into much more. The interior of the vaulted dining space is softened by natural materials accented with splashes of bold colors, and the lively bar scene adds energy to the room. A seasonally changing menu of small plates combines traditional Laotian cuisine with fun regional touches along with large format dishes sized for sharing. Open late with a limited, but no less intriguing menu, Bad Idea is the best idea for night owls seeking something more than a “last call” burger.

Call or text 629-729-4332 for reservations.

Nashville is home to the largest population of Kurds in the country, and their contributions to the local culinary scene are finally seeing the national spotlight since the New York Times named Edessa as one of the country’s best restaurants for 2024. For more than 20 years, Edessa has been delighting local diners with Turkish and Kurdish cuisine, including house-made hummus, kebabs, fresh-baked pita, and flavorful meze dishes, including novel preparations of regional favorites. The warm interior of the stylish restaurant creates a welcoming ambiance that is unexpected considering the strip mall exterior, but those who know what awaits inside are rewarded with some of the most flavorful and exciting food in the city.

More info here. 

Walking through the door to this popular ONEC1TY restaurant presents guests with a choose-your-own Italian culinary adventure. The to-go selection of pastas and gelato might prompt a quick grab-and-go trip, but then you’d miss out on the fun of dining in the main dining room, where joyful noise of families gathered around the tables bounces off the high ceilings as they enjoy plates of handmade pasta topped with luxurious sauces. A seat at the pizza bar is a little quieter and offers the ideal view to watch the talented pizzaiolos at work crafting classic regional Italian pies, while the intimate bar in the back of the restaurant is a fine place to hide out with friends over glasses of amaro or vermouth and maybe a plate of marinated olives.

The “MI” in this restaurant’s name stands for “mē,” a term that can refer to taste, beauty, and rice in several languages, including Korean. This represents the driving principle behind this vibrant Korean restaurant that features small plates to combine into a meal for the whole table. In addition to classic noodle dishes, MI Kitchen isn’t afraid to reimagine Korean cuisine with tacos stuffed with bulgogi beef or pork jeyuk, and their K-Pop chicken is a strong contender in a town filled with great fried chicken thanks to its shatteringly crisp crust and sticky, sweet, and spicy sauce. Don’t be surprised if you leave the restaurant believing that KFC now stands for Korean Fried Chicken!

More than just a wine and cheese shop, Culture + Co. has become a favorite destination of Nashville cheese lovers thanks to the imaginative presentation of plates that travel along a conveyor belt around the bar that occupies a prime position in the central hall at L&L Market. Guests belly up to the bar for interesting wine by-the-glass choices while they watch the open kitchen prepare artfully-plated charcuterie and cheese platters. The expert staff is happy to help match cheese to your wine or vice-versa, whether you’re in the mood for something sharp and funky or creamy and fresh. The experience is entertaining and interactive, but most of all delicious!

There are few more sociable ways to enjoy a meal with friends than over a table filled with the sort of Spanish small-plate options offered by Boqueria. The tapas menu ranges from a simple presentation of great olives marinated in citrus to more chef-driven dishes like frittatas or crispy brussels sprouts with Iberico ham. With so many options, Boqueria thoughtfully also suggests prix fixe options that take away the guesswork. A menu of classic Iberian dishes leads guests on a culinary tour, and an abbreviated pre-theatre menu is designed to ensure diners are in their seats at nearby venues like the Ryman Auditorium, Bridgestone Arena, or The Pinnacle in time for the show.

Joining the already popular location in downtown Franklin, Serrato’s opened a second outpost in Brentwood in 2024 that has quickly become a popular destination for anyone seeking a classic chophouse experience in Williamson County. While the stars of the show are hand-cut, rosemary garlic butter-topped steaks, chef Jose Serrato is quite proficient with seafood as well, whether as part of a surf-and-turf dish or as a standalone entree. Other highlights include the chef’s signature shrimp scampi, buttery and briny from the addition of capers, as well as substantially portioned wild-caught Alaskan halibut that should satisfy steak lovers looking for a change-up.