Five Interesting Restaurants to Try in Nashville

By Emily Graham

Nashville has always been a city that boasts an incredible variety of restaurants and foods, with eight chefs from the city being semifinalists for the James Beard Award, which recognizes exceptional talent within the culinary arts. There have been many celebrities, including Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, and Gavin Degraw that have opened restaurants and bars around Nashville’s downtown area. Nashville has also been featured many times in popular television shows such as Diners, Drive-in, and Dives, Man vs. Food, and Iron Chef Eats. This story features a list of five restaurants that have been showcased on hundreds of travel and food blogs about Nashville

Bastion

Bastion, located at 434 Houston Street, has been described by many as a choose-your-own adventure foodie dreamland. The small restaurant is hidden behind a nondescript door, and only boasts 24 seats, plus a large bar right next door. They offer a six course dinner and an ever-evolving menu, as it is based on chef inspiration and product availability. The restaurant is only open from Wednesday to Saturday starting at 5:30pm, but their bar is open 7 days a week from 5pm to midnight. Due to the small availability of seats, Bastion is a reservation-only 21 and over experience.

Redheaded Stranger

Redheaded Stranger, located at 305 Arrington Street, is an upscale Tex-Mex restaurant. The interior is very minimalistic and clean, and the menu offers new takes on classic Mexican food for a reasonable price, with everything from homemade tortillas, tater tot nachos and brisket tacos. The restaurant is open all week from 8:00am to 10:00pm. This restaurant is a comfortable size for small groups, and doesn’t require reservations.

City House

City House, located at 1222 4th Avenue, is an "Italian meets Southern" Nashville staple that many locals rave over. The interior features a dining hall style open floor plan, and the menu has a dinner menu that changes weekly and is only available on Sundays. The menu also features a wide variety of alcoholic drinks, ranging from cocktails and beer to dessert wine and bourbon. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday 5-10pm, and Sundays from 5-9pm, and only take reservations for parties of 12 or less, but reservations are not required.

Hawker’s Asian Street Food

Hawker’s, located at 626A Main Street, is an Asian fusion restaurant that boasts a wide and interesting variety of alcoholic beverages for sale including sake, Japanese whiskey, and craft cocktails that use innovative ingredients and alcohol from both America and Asia. Their menu has an incredible variety of traditional Asian foods, from Lo Mein and Pad Thai to Curry and Korean fried wings. The restaurant is open from 11:00am-10:00 from Sunday-Wednesday and from 11:00am-midnight from Thursday-Saturday. Reservations are not required but parking is very limited.

Lou Nashville

Lou Nashville, located at 1304 McGavock Pike, Nashville, Tn, is an all-day brunch establishment operating out of a renovated 1930s craftsman style home. Their menu is locally sourced and all natural, and they offer a wide selection of natural wines from around the area. It is not clear whether or not a reservation is needed, but the restaurant only boasts a little over 1300 square feet of space and 35 floor seats with an additional five seats at the bar. Lou Nashville is open from Wednesday to Friday from 5:30-9:30pm, on Saturdays from 10:00-2:30pm and 5:30pm-9:00pm, and on Sundays from 10:00am-2:30pm and 5:30pm-8:30pm.

To learn more about Lou Nashville visit their website here

To learn more about Redheaded Stranger visit their website here

To learn more about City House visit their website here

To learn more about Hawker's Asian Street Food visit their website here

To learn more about Bastion visit their website here