The May Hit List: Rosepepper Cantina, Drusie and Darr, Xiao Bao Biscuit, and More

John-Georges Vongerichten’s Nashville restaurant continues to shine as it settles into the gorgeous, historic Hermitage Hotel. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner incorporate produce from the Hotel’s garden at Glen Leven, the historic 64-acre farm just miles away. Served in the stunning dining room, dishes like sweet pea soup with Parmesan foam and porcini-crusted Faroe Island salmon with warm leeks vinaigrette are available a la carte, while a tasting menu option kicks off with a delicate egg toast generously topped with caviar. It’s a great spot for a celebratory meal, but an excellent location for an impromptu lunch with friends and cold wine, too.

“Asian comfort food” is the name of the game at Xiao Bao Biscuit, where hand-pulled noodles are studded with chili cumin brisket and sesame, and Sichuan chicken and chili stir fry is loaded up with numbing pepper. Their current set-up at the retro-themed Dive Motel is only temporary while the team builds out a proper space at 830 Meridien Street, but it’s definitely worth a stop by for a spicy pick-me-up and a cocktail by the pool; Doordash delivery is also available.

Get thee to the shady patio of Butchertown Hall forthwith for brisket tacos, rich queso, and buckets of margaritas of all types. The entire menu of tacos is filled with wood-fired goodness, from shrimp and chicken to pulled pork, brisket, and even jackfruit for the non-carnivorous among us. Barbecue is also available straight up by the pound, with hot links, ribs, Carolina pulled pork, and more. Dinner is always a great option, but brunch really does some heavy lifting with huevos rancheros, a double brisket-grind burger, and ca cowboy breakfast with Texas toast and smoked onion potato hash (and choice of brisket, pulled pork, or TX-wurst, of course).

Nashville’s location of Chicago-based Parson’s Chicken and Fish never did reopen after its early pandemic closure, but the team behind the concept, Land and Sea Department, has slotted in something just as fun in the form of Dicey’s Pizza and Tavern. It’s got a low-key retro vibe with party-cut Chicago pizzas, hefty sub sandwiches, and a decidedly un-divey list of great natural wines, cocktails, and “fun shots,” like the Dr. Pibb with Budweiser, Amaretto, and rum. And high on the list of priorities: A very roomy patio with umbrella-shaded picnic tables for drinking those ice-cold Budweisers and putting back some fried pickles.

Ever-sweet Margot Cafe & Bar is a perennial favorite of Nashville diners for its laid-back, inviting interiors with exposed brick walls and copper pots hung about. The patio is charming too, excellent for watching foot traffic in Five Points over a glass of French wine and a plate of pan-roasted duck with mustard greens and hot water cornbread. An excellent choice for a casual dinner with friends or a romantic dinner for two, this cozy spot is a true taste of Nashville life.

Downtown Nashville’s Fifth + Broadway development keeps on adding restaurants, and the city can’t seem to get enough. Following the recent opening of Spanish tapas spot Boqueria is Blue Sake Sushi Grill, a chain specializing in—you guessed it—sushi and sake. Their main point of advertising is a commitment to sourcing fish sustainably; next up is the sushi, a large selection of nigiri, maki, sashimi, and share plates like poke and lettuce wraps. Cocktails, beer, and wine are all here, too, plus a nice selection of hot and cold sakes. In a city where consistently high-quality sushi still isn’t quite always up to par, this spot seeks to fill the gap.

Call 913-236-6100 for reservations.

Rosepepper Cantina has been one of Nashville’s go-tos for Tex-Mex for decades, and it’s not stopping now. Grab a seat inside or on the bustling covered deck patio for pitchers of margaritas, excellently drippy queso, and crispy chips. It’s open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, giving it icon status; there’s usually a line and pretty much nowhere to wait, so plan accordingly.

A rowdy wine bar with an auspicious name has burst onto the nightlife scene in East Nashville. From the co-owner of Once Upon a Time in France, Overlord is named after Project Overlord, the codename for the amphibious D-Day assault by allied forces that led to the defeat of German forces in Europe. Owner Melvil Arnt created an appropriately French and ornate interior to match the ’40s European vibes, with elegant cocktails and wines, and a dance floor to accompany the live jazz that is often playing.

The Gulch is an everchanging neighborhood with new restaurants, shops, hotels, and condos springing up seemingly overnight. One constant: Emmy’s Squared’s excellent lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch that’s awash in thick-crust pizzas, hefty sandwiches, and a truly craveable wedge salad topped with hot chicken. Emmy’s Squared also has one of the best burgers in town, Le Big Matt, which comes stacked with two grass-fed beef patties, American cheese, special sauce, and pickles on a pretzel bun. The petite patio overlooking the hustle and bustle is a great place to unwind at any time of day.

From the duo behind the already very popular East Side Banh Mi comes a pho-filled followup, East Side Pho. Married couple and business partners Gracie Nguyen and Chad Newton have expanded into The Wash, the much-anticipated multi-concept spot on Gallatin Road. The menu is broken up into pho and “not-pho,” though the star of the menu will certainly be Nguyen’s long-simmered bone broths and noodles. Rice bowls, spicy pork noodles, chicken wings, and bao will also be available at this petite, counter-service spot.