Italian$$$$downtownMon-Fri 17:00-22:00, Sat 10:00-14:00, Sat 17:00-22:00, Sun 10:00-14:00, Sun 17:00-22:00
The Joseph Hotel's Italian fine-dining room in Nashville opened August 2020 with refined regional cooking. Located in Downtown. Priced at $$$$.
Signature: Handmade pasta, Whole grilled fish
Order: Pasta tasting and the whole fish; pair with the Italian-leaning wine list.
Tip: The espresso bar on the ground floor serves the same kitchen at half the price for an aperitivo.
New American$$$$downtownMon-Fri 7:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 7:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00
Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Hermitage Hotel restaurant in downtown Nashville opened 2022 with seasonal cooking, Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.
Signature: Plant-forward tasting, Wood oven pizzas
Order: The plant-forward plates the kitchen builds around Tennessee produce.
Tip: Breakfast at the Hermitage is the unsung meal: best biscuits in the hotel dining circuit.
Pan-asian$$$the-gulchMon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-23:00, Sun 17:00-22:00
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.
Signature: Crispy pork belly bao, Sushi tasting
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.
Californian$$$the-gulchSun-Thu 17:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 9:30-14:00
Jonathan Waxman's Gulch room in Nashville cooks seasonal California-style food in a converted automotive garage. Located in The Gulch. Priced at $$$.
Signature: JW chicken, JW potatoes
Order: JW chicken with crispy potatoes, salsa verde on the side.
Tip: All-you-can-eat Sunday brunch buffet is the value play; carving station, smoked salmon, pastries.
New American$$$the-gulch
Maneet Chauhan's Gulch room in Nashville runs globally inflected American comfort food with strong cocktails, opened 2018 and steady at the top of the area.
Signature: Crispy pork shank, Fried chicken
Order: Crispy pork shank with chili crisp, plus the kale Caesar.
Tip: Happy hour is generous and easy to walk into; book ahead for the patio in warm weather.
New American$$$germantownDaily 17:00-22:00
Chef Philip Krajeck's Germantown Italian-American kitchen in Nashville opened in 2012 inside the Werthan factory and runs handmade pastas and wood-fired.
Signature: Squid ink chitarra, Wood-fired pork chop
Order: Squid ink chitarra with octopus and chickpea, plus the wood-fired pork.
Tip: Reservations open 30 days out on Resy; the bar takes walk-ins from 17:00 and serves the same menu.