Seafood$$$germantownSun-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 16:30-23:00
Ford Fry's Atlanta-born seafood concept landed in Nashville's Germantown Hammer Mill in 2023, anchoring a seafood tower programme and Le Loup cocktail lounge.
Signature: Seafood tower, Oysters and grilled fish
Order: The opulent seafood tower for two, plus the wood-grilled fish of the day.
Tip: Skip the line by booking the bar; downstairs at Le Loup serves the same raw bar with cocktails.
Southern$$$downtownSun-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-22:30, Sat-Sun 10:00-14:00
Sean Brock's Rutledge Hill institution in Nashville cooks ingredient-driven Southern food on a wood hearth, run today by chef de cuisine Brian Baxter.
Signature: Cornbread skillet, Pork belly with peas
Order: The cornbread skillet, then whatever the menu lists from the wood hearth.
Tip: Lunch is a quieter seat with the same kitchen. Book the porch in spring; it overlooks downtown.
Appalachian$$$$east-nashvilleDaily 17:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-14:00
Sean Brock's East Nashville Appalachian fine-dining room opened 2021, named for his grandmother and in the 2025 Michelin Guide. Sam Jett runs day-to-day.
Signature: Heritage pork, Cornmeal and grits
Order: The full tasting if you can; otherwise heritage pork from Brock's own farm.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. June, the upstairs counter, is on hiatus for guest chef sessions in 2026.
Southern$$$east-nashvilleMon-Sat 16:00-22:00
Chef Hal Holden-Bache's East Nashville room in Nashville opened in 2012 in a Lockeland Springs corner storefront, running wood-fired pizzas and Southern.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Pork chop
Order: Margherita pizza from the wood oven, the pork chop with redeye gravy.
Tip: Happy hour 16:00-17:30 runs half-price pizza and pours at the bar; a James Beard nominee for Community Kitchen.
Spanish$$$east-nashvilleThu-Sat 17:00-22:00
Jake Howell's 38-seat Iberian room in East Nashville off the Gallatin corridor in Nashville. Michelin Bib Gourmand 2025 and a James Beard win for Howell.
Signature: Braised rabbit, Oyster croquetas
Order: The braised rabbit in garlic broth with piment d'espelette aioli and the oyster croquetas.
Tip: Open Thursday to Saturday only with 38 seats. Reservations recommended; bar walk-ins early are the move.
Italian$$east-nashvilleMon-Wed 17:00-21:00, Thu-Sat 17:00-22:00
Philip Krajeck's casual East Nashville sibling to Rolf and Daughters opened in 2018, running naturally leavened pizza and a vegetable-forward menu.
Signature: Naturally leavened pizza, Vegetable plates
Order: The mushroom pizza and whatever bitter green is currently on the menu.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays. Walk-in seats at the long marble bar are the best move on a weeknight.