Where We Eat: Edible's 2023 Local Restaurant List

Geist Restaurant & Bar

Housed in an 1886 historic blacksmith’s shop, this intimate restaurant serves regionally sourced, internationally influenced cuisine. The shrimp and grits and the handmade cavatelli were sublime. But don’t pass on the asparagus with tarragon aioli, hazelnuts and pickled mustard seeds.
Germantown

Blue Aster

If you need a special occasion dinner, or a fancy date night, the swanky Blue Aster in the gorgeous Conrad is the place. The service, food and ambiance are solid gold. Must-tries from the summer menu are the truffle potato soup (poured tableside), the cavatelli and the lamb. The fresh seafood and sushi are fabulous. Finish with the olive oil orange tart. Shout out to server James.
Conrad Hotel, West End

Ellington’s

The steak with manchego potatoes and (the chef’s riff on) A.1. Sauce is life-changing. Tucked away in the Fairlane Hotel is this cozy, date-night restaurant that sports sunset views almost as good as the food. The Spanish-forward cooking of Chef Christopher Ayala is a thing of beauty.
Fairlane Hotel Downtown

Elliston Place Soda Shop

The fried pork chop is crispy, crunchy and fantastic, but the square biscuits are what dreams are made of. The best in town. And the milkshakes, well........hurry.
Vandy West End

Jack’s Bar-B-Que

Opened by Jack Cawthon in 1989, Jack’s is one of the oldest BBQ restaurants in town. However, we just made our way to the Trinity location this spring. The pork shoulder is solid but the brisket is a standout. Tender and melt-in-your-mouth.
Trinity Lane, Broadway and Charlotte Pike

Butcher & Bee

While at the opening of their new event space, the Rose Room, we were reminded of just how damn good their food is. The whipped feta with fermented honey and black pepper is the OG that can’t be beat (see the recipe).
East Nashville

Mitchell Deli

This deli has been around but is new-ish to us. Everything sounds delish on the menu, but the meatloaf sandwich grilled on a hoagie roll with cheese, tomatoes and onions was stellar. No new moves, just the old-fashioned welcome combo of meatloaf with cheese. Enough for two meals.
East Nashville

Hero Doughnuts & Buns

In all honestly, we happened upon the location in Birmingham days before they opened here in Nashville. But we assume the doughnuts here are as good as they were there: light and heaven-sent.
Sylvan Park

The Butter Milk Ranch

Now we know why this breakfast/lunch spot is packed. It’s pretty fantastic. The brown butter beignets and croissants are made at their in-house bakery. The Gruyère and chive French omelette was divine. Sister restaurant to Urban Grub down the street.
12 South

Korea House

Amazing authentic Korean food. Order the dolsot bibimpap — a classic Korean rice dish that's served with various vegetable and meat toppings, which comes SIZZLING HOT in a stone pot, and some kimchi fried rice and you’ll find Korean bliss.
Charlotte Pike

Sweeza

An ode to the Mexican American Cuisine in San Francisco’s Mission District, the Super Quesadilla is perfect for lunch, dinner or a late night in Nashville.
The Wash, East Nashville

Hawkers

Inspired by Asian street food, the menu has plenty of vegetarian and meat options. The five-spice sticky ribs are out of this world, but you really can’t go wrong with this menu. They also serve epic cocktails.
East Nashville

Dozen Bakery

If you stop by their store for a soup, salad, sandwich or tartine, good for you, but if you can’t you’re still in luck; they distribute their baked goods to plenty of coffee shops and cafés around town. Their almond croissants are some of the best in town.
Wedgewood-Houston

Crema

The OG local coffee shop with their first location on Hermitage and First avenues. (The other is in East Nashville.) These folks take their coffee seriously and have been sustainably sourcing beans and taking their staff on field trips to their farms for more than 10 years.

Bay 6 Cocktail Bar

Hands down the most diverse, interesting and “funnest” cocktails around. Seriously clever and genius at the same time. Follow them on Instagram @bay6nashville to see what they’re mixing up.
The Wash, East Nashville

The Picnic Cafe & Party Catering

This classic ladies lunch spot complete with homemade cheese wafers, the best chicken salad in town and their signature fruit tea, just moved to new digs down the street at the Highway 100/70 split.
Belle Meade

Gluten-Free Goose, a Bakery

You don't have to be gluten-free to love these amazing baked goods. It's endorsed by the National Celiac Association and is certified gluten-free. Tell Amy, Edible sent ya.
Brentwood

Saltwater Table

Check out this new Monday night pop-up at Love & Exile featuring charbroiled coastal cuisine by our very own chef, Skylar Bush. With everything from paella to oysters and skewers to the best fried shrimp and potato salad in town.
Love & Exile, East Nashville

Memo’s Mexican Kitchen

Mexico-born chef-owner, Guillermo Murillo (Memo) cooks up authentic Mexican food with modern twists that is top-notch. If you’re lucky enough to get his (grandmother's) mole, which takes a week to make, you’ll never be the same.
Mount Juliet

Elegy Coffee

We’re lovin’ the vibe of this sleek coffee shop tucked away in the Optimist/Griff complex. Yes, there’s some construction and parking is a challenge, but once you get there you’ll be rewarded with a great cappucino, baked goods from Dozen and a quiet outdoor courtyard for sippin’.
Germantown

Drusie & Darr, Hermitage Hotel

Capitol Grille in the Hermitage was the bee’s knees for the Nashville upper crust for years. Last year, the hotel made a stunning shift to Drusie & Darr, the first Chef Jean-George Vongerichton concept in Tennessee. With all the class and elegance you’d expect from the Hermitage, Drusie & Darr provides a chic, cozy hipness with warm pink hues, retro pendant lamps circa the 1940s and great French fare taboot.
Downtown

Two Hands

This Australian restaurant has us rethinking our lackluster enthu- siasm for the “bowl” concept. The brassica bowl was full of brassicas (a cruciferous vegetable), charred broccolini, kale and Brussels sprouts and had a schmear of hummus, an egg and an avocado. Perfection. We’ll be back for the miso mushroom bowl soon. Two Hands sits across from the now-shuttered Arnold’s Country Kitchen.
The Gulch, 8th Avenue

Earnest Bar & Hideaway

After an event at Soho House, we popped into Earnest for a late dinner and a glass of wine. WOW! Their artisan bread service was truly amazing, with unbelievably tasty house butters, plank-fired bread and an assortment of finely diced tomato, pepita, chia, sunflower seeds and microgreens. We followed that with the shrimp and grits, which we savored until the cast iron skillet it was served in was clean.
Wedgewood-Houston

Otto’s Bar

Two words here: Taco Tuesday. Their tacos overflow with fillings, an unsung benefit of this neighborhood bar.
Charlotte Pike

Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine

A hidden gem in Nashville since 2004, the vegetarian lunch and dinner buffet is life-changing whether you’re vegetarian or not. Try every single thing, including the rice kheer (rice pudding dessert). They also have amazing à la carte and takeout dishes.
West End

Simply Thai

Cheap, fresh and delicious Thai food. The tom kha gai soup is legit!
Old Hickory, Lakewood

Yolan

Michelin-starred chef Tony Mantuano and wife Cathy offer serious fine Italian dining at their boutique hotel downtown. Watch for their special dinners featuring regional Italian food and wines.
The Joseph Hotel Downtown

Village Pub

Although Mitchell Delicatessen is right next door, don’t sleep on the sandwich specials here. Best staff in town, great happy hour specials, pet-friendly, insane patio space...truly a great place to enjoy the end of a workday.
East Nashville

Birria Babe Taco Truck

Bringing the birria craze to tacos (and even ramen), Chef Nadine Moore is serving up some delicious tacos at her food truck. The traditional lamb birria is juicy and flavorful, requiring lots of napkins and a cold beer.

Lola

Sister of Epice and Santo, this unassuming restaurant in Sylvan Park is fantastic. The smart staff is exceptional and will lead you through the menu perfectly. We skipped the entrées and opted for a bottle of wine and tapas; the eggplant dip was dreamy and the crispy artichokes were perfectly fried.
Sylvan Park

International Market

Risen from the ashes of its scrappy sister market torn down to make way for Belmont growth, this restaurant is sleek and just as good as you would expect from Arnold Myint (aka Suzy Wong). On a cold, drizzly day we popped in for the curried chicken bowl, which is a thing of beauty: noodles, gutsy curry broth and tender chicken.
Belmont

Xiaobao

Insanely good Asian comfort food. Bao buns and hand-pulled noodles anchor this menu with fried dumplings, stir fries, curry and other fusion delights. Check out their wine pairings, beer and unique cocktails too.
East Nashville

Maiz De La Vida Tortilleria

You can find Julio Hernandez and his homemade tortillas and authentic Mexican dishes at his tortilleria on Clarksville Pike and his food truck located at Chopper tiki bar in East Nashville. Do not miss the mole negro, made with the ashes of pepper seeds and roasted plantains. Unbelievable. So are the empanadas.
North Nashville

Common Ground

Denim

Chef Matthew Scully is cooking up seriously good food, a Rueben (even we liked), duck confit flatbread, a creamy artichoke dip loaded with garlic, and a genius riff on the Caprese salad with persimmons and burrata. Food as dreamy as the cabanas.
The Joseph Downtown

Hathorne

To draw more weekday customers, this cozy refurbished church on Charlotte started Tuesday Burger Night. We tried the fried pickle and slaw smashburger which was delish, but all of the burgers sound divine. Served on a brioche bun with Bear Creek beef and Giffords bacon. Yesss!
Sylvan Park

Mimo

Tucked into the bottom floor of the New Four Seasons Hotel with an “almost” view of the river, this airy bright restaurant is luxury at its best. Grab a seat in one of the comfy banquettes and watch the peaceful kitchen in action. Get the porcini mushroom soup poured tableside over toasted buckwheat and button mushrooms as well as the cacio e pepe dotted with buttery shrimp.
Four Seasons Downtown