Billy Dec's Chicago import in The Gulch, Nashville runs modern Southeast Asian small plates and a strong sushi programme since 2022, with a deep cocktail list.
Signature dishes: Crispy pork belly bao, Sushi tasting
Must order: Crispy pork belly bao buns and the chef's sushi tasting.
Tip: Late-night service runs until 23:30 Friday and Saturday; the bar is the easy walk-in seat.
Address: 592 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Maneet Chauhan's Gulch room in Nashville runs globally inflected American comfort food with strong cocktails, opened 2018 and steady at the top of the area lists.
Signature: Crispy pork shank, Fried chicken
Order: Crispy pork shank with chili crisp, plus the kale Caesar.
Tip: Happy hour is generous and easy to walk into; book ahead for the patio in warm weather.
Maneet Chauhan's Gulch room in Nashville runs globally inflected American comfort food with strong cocktails, opened 2018 and steady at the top of the area lists.
Signature: Crispy pork shank, Fried chicken
Order: Crispy pork shank with chili crisp, plus the kale Caesar.
Tip: Happy hour is generous and easy to walk into; book ahead for the patio in warm weather.
Strategic Hospitality's 13,000 square-foot Peabody Street complex in downtown Nashville combines a restaurant, copper-bar cocktails, six vintage bowling lanes and a coffee shop.
Signature: Burgers, Brunch with bowling
Order: Burger at the bar; banana cream pie on weekends.
Tip: Bowling books out for weekend nights; the patio with mini bocce takes walk-ins year-round.
The Loveless Cafe on Highway 100 in Nashville has served scratch biscuits, country ham and redeye gravy since 1951, anchoring the Natchez Trace's tourist circuit.
Signature: Scratch biscuits, Country ham with redeye gravy
Order: Plate of biscuits with peach preserves; country ham and redeye gravy with eggs.
Tip: Lines build by 09:00 weekends; put your name down and shop the on-site Hams & Jams Country Market while you wait.
Monell's family-style Southern dining in Germantown, Nashville has run since 1995, seating strangers at communal tables in a Victorian house north of the Capitol.
Signature: Family-style Southern lunch, Skillet fried chicken
Order: The full family-style spread: fried chicken, country ham, mac and cheese, greens.
Tip: Reservations available; tables seat ten. Sunday brunch is the marquee meal, books a week ahead.
Chef Hal Holden-Bache's Five Points room in East Nashville opened 2012 in a corner storefront, running wood-fired pizzas and Southern-accented neighbourhood plates.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Pork chop with redeye gravy
Order: Margherita pizza from the wood oven and the pork chop.
Tip: Happy hour 16:00 to 17:30 runs half-price pizza and pours at the bar; James Beard Community Kitchen nominee.
Margot McCormack's Five Points room in East Nashville has cooked French-Italian country food since 2001, with a daily menu and a wood-burning fireplace.
Signature: Daily-changing menu, Cassoulet in winter
Order: Whatever the daily menu lists; the cassoulet in cold months is the move.
Tip: The bar runs an aperitivo menu Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday brunch books out a week ahead.
