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ItalianDowntown
The Joseph Hotel's Italian fine-dining room in Nashville opened August 2020 with refined regional cooking. Located in Downtown. Priced at $$$$.
OrderPasta tasting and the whole fish; pair with the Italian-leaning wine list.
TipThe espresso bar on the ground floor serves the same kitchen at half the price for an aperitivo.
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New AmericanDowntown
Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Hermitage Hotel restaurant in downtown Nashville opened 2022 with seasonal cooking, Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.
OrderThe plant-forward plates the kitchen builds around Tennessee produce.
TipBreakfast at the Hermitage is the unsung meal: best biscuits in the hotel dining circuit.
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Pan-asianThe Gulch
Billy Dec's Chicago import in The Gulch in Nashville runs modern Southeast Asian small plates and a strong sushi programme since 2022, with a deep cocktail.
OrderCrispy pork belly bao buns and the chef's sushi tasting.
TipLate-night service runs until 23:30 Friday and Saturday; the bar is the easy walk-in seat.
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CalifornianThe Gulch
Jonathan Waxman's Gulch room in Nashville cooks seasonal California-style food in a converted automotive garage. Located in The Gulch. Priced at $$$.
OrderJW chicken with crispy potatoes, salsa verde on the side.
TipAll-you-can-eat Sunday brunch buffet is the value play; carving station, smoked salmon, pastries.
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New AmericanThe Gulch
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.
OrderCrispy pork shank with chili crisp, plus the kale Caesar.
TipHappy hour is generous and easy to walk into; book ahead for the patio in warm weather.
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New AmericanGermantown
Chef Philip Krajeck's Germantown Italian-American kitchen in Nashville opened in 2012 inside the Werthan factory and runs handmade pastas and wood-fired.
OrderSquid ink chitarra with octopus and chickpea, plus the wood-fired pork.
TipReservations open 30 days out on Resy; the bar takes walk-ins from 17:00 and serves the same menu.