Nashville’s Hottest New Openings

Fine dining is back, Nashville. These past few months have seen a wave of new restaurants (and a few updates), many of which have landed here from other cities and are aiming to raise the stakes (and steaks). It’s not all flashy and new—this year marks 25 years for restaurants like Park Café and Margot Café and Bar (get in before they close their doors on June 5), while other concepts are getting a refresh.

Bad Idea recently welcomed a new menu thanks to consulting chef David Breeden, who came up in the world of Thomas Keller—the new range of wine-friendly dishes fully supports owner Alex Burch’s always-impressive wine program, while also adding a bit of whimsy. Look for chicken “BcNuggets” dolloped with crème fraîche, a caviar-loaded parfait, and a standout strip steak with its potato and comte blini. Present Tense moved to a new location in the heart of Wedgewood-Houston and into a fully realized izakaya and vinyl bar with an omakase, plus Japanese-bistro-inspired dishes and a smart sake program. Meanwhile, chef Julio Hernandez of Maiz de la Vida recently revamped his Clarksville Pike tortilla shop into Fonda Fina, a 12-seat dine-in space serving classics like quesabirria and flautas and the team behind Peninsula opened a new bar concept, Charmers, in Germantown’s Neuhoff District (go, immediately, for the burger).  

There’s also more coming, including Sally’s Stay Awhile from Strategic Hospitality with chef Andy Little at the helm, plus Chicago concepts Momotaro, Middleman, and Alta Vita all arriving in Wedgewood-Houston this summer. 

From dry-aged steaks and pristine seafood towers to Spanish tapas and one not-hotel hotel restaurant, these are the openings we’re most excited about this spring.  

Lost and Found

East Nashville needed a neighborhood hang like Lost and Found. The funky outdoor space is anchored by wine bar Birdie’s, cocktail bar Fortunate Sun, and Pizza Lolo, plus a handful of food trucks—grab a beverage, order a bite, and hang out on the lawn for games, the occasional movie night, wine Wednesdays, and more. The space has already found its fans, with families filling the space on weekends (there’s a 21+ terrace) and small groups gathering on weeknights. Parking is scarce so plan to rideshare.

The Chloe

This winter’s ice storm slightly derailed opening plans for The Chloe, but after regaining power and feeding people in their community after the storm, the New Orleans-based hotel and restaurant concept opened the doors to its two reimagined historic 1920s cottages. The restaurant is blended into the hotel lobby and outdoor patio, with a bar and dining room inside and ample outdoor seating that overlooks the pool (which recently opened for the season). On the menu, you’ll find Creole-inflected dishes like shrimp ravigote salad and blackened butter-crusted redfish—but the space is more than just a menu. Plan your next coffee meeting in the stylish living room, post up for a few hours of work on the patio, or splurge on a staycation to experience Italian bed linens, Marshall turntables, and snug, hand-woven robes in one of 19 guest rooms.

Prime + Proper

Prime + Proper, a steakhouse concept fresh from Detroit, brings next-level service, plus deco chandeliers, crystalline and pearlescent tones, and marble table tops. Servers work as a team, one for beverages, one for food, and play off one another—everyone’s in on the secret: we’re here to have a good time. The steak and seafood-focused menu hits all the highlights, with char-grilled steaks, chops, and rare cuts, plus seafood towers, chopped salads, and tableside action in the form of Dover sole, fileted in front of you and finished with a long drizzle of butter sauce. If steak isn’t your thing, maybe it’s chicken-fried lobster and ricotta gnocchi with truffles? Either way, it’s the place to indulge.

Zaytinya& Bar Mar

Replacing the spots once occupied by Andrew Carmellini’s restaurants inside the W Hotel, José Andrés’ restaurant group has brought his version of Mediterranean flair to town. At Zaytinya, an all-day space, the focus is on the Eastern Mediterranean with Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese dishes stealing the show—the menu is vast with spreads, lots of mezze, salads, mains, and family-style courses. Cut through the noise with the chef’s experience ($95) for a full scope of dishes, from hommus and tzatziki to falafel, kebabs, and lamb chops. (Don’t be shy—ask for more of the freshly baked pita.) At dinner-only Bar Mar, it’s all about seafood with fresh oysters, ceviches, shrimp paella, octopus, plus, for meat-lovers, jamón ibérico, steaks, and roasted chicken. You’ll also find his touch at Butterfly, the rooftop bar, and at Glowbird, the poolside lounge.

Lion’s Share

Chef Robbie Wilson returned to Nashville to open Lion’s Share in Sylvan Park, taking over the space once occupied by McCabe Pub. They gutted and rebuilt the structure leaving a few vestiges of the former building—but that’s where the similarities end. Channeling a British club vibe, the space is more luxe now, filled with rich leathers, taxidermy, vintage furniture, and custom lighting. The open kitchen shows off live-fire action, which shows up on the menu as roasted heirloom carrots, swordfish in curry, and pork belly vindaloo. A bar menu features small bites like crab cakes and a burger, while the cocktail program is all about the ice presentation and the glassware.

Bacco

The Four Seasons has reimagined its dining room into Bacco, a striking Tuscan steakhouse, that aims to be the not-hotel-feeling hotel restaurant. The room is washed in earthy greens, grays, and golds with an open kitchen and dry-aging storage closet on display along one wall. There are nods to Nashville in the fruit tea spritz and live music in the form of a roving saxophone player, but the menu is all Italy: crispy artichokes, bruschettas, braised lamb belly, whipped polenta and an outstanding bucatini granchio with large heaps of lump crab meat tangled up with the light-as-a-feather pasta. The steak program here is one of the best of the new openings, with American wagyu to go along with the angus beef they’re dry-aging in house. Don’t skip the “grapefruit-cello” for a final, settling sip.

Ocean Prime

Nashville Yards continues to see doors open, including this concept from Ohio restaurateur Cameron Mitchell. It sprawls out over 2,400 square feet with 370 seats, private dining, and two covered terraces. Seafood is the play here, so go big with a “smoking” seafood tower or loaded sushi roll to start, then move into mains like blackened snapper or lobster linguine. You’ll find more steaks here, too, plus a range of fun sides like the black truffle mac and cheese.

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