1 17
1 17
Nashville’s casual spots are turning heads.
Small plates on a rotating seasonal schedule take on a mix of rustic American fare with Latin-inspired elements at this intimate, intricate eatery that also boasts late hours until 1 a.m.
Website: treehousenashville.com
Address: 1011 Clearview Ave.
Phone number: 615-454-4201
Number of seats: 42 in dining room, 40 outside
Entrée price range: $12-$26
Popular dishes: Pork belly with grilled cabbage, Asian pear, braised walnuts and thyme; beef breast with field peas, maitake mushrooms, tomato pomodoro, confit garlic, peanut and sorrel; chanterelle mushroom agnolotti with lady peas, heirloom cherry tomatoes, squash dashi and hibiscus.
What others say: “In our experience, it would be a shame not to share, because there's so much creativity, freshness and flavor on the table.” –Carrington Fox, Nashville Scene
An interior view
Pork belly
Squash
“Always ‘Hot’ & Always a Wait” is a mantra of sorts at the mecca for hot chicken in Nashville, which was recently graced with a second location to help distribute the chicken-fiending crowds at the mothership where the craze began.
Website: princeshotchicken.com
Address: 123 Ewing Drive
Phone number: 615-226-9442
Number of seats: 75
Entrée price range: $5-$22
Popular dishes: Breast quarter all-white-meat with wing attached; leg quarter all-dark-meat with thigh and drumstick attached; whole chicken with two breast quarters, two leg quarters.
What others say: “Whatever the case, do not drive or get your fingers anywhere near your eyes while eating hot chicken. Oh, and delay travel plans for at least 24 hours.” –Nashville Scene
Hot chicken
An exterior view
After making and selling distinctive fresh pasta at farmers markets around town, the two brothers involved in Nicoletto’s opened this small but hearty eatery to take care of preparations from pot to plate.
Website: nicolettos.com/pages/italian-kitchen
Address: 2905A Gallatin Pike
Phone number: 629-202-8102
Number of seats: 16
Entrée price range: $6.95-$8.95
Popular dishes: Spaghetti and meatballs; Italian beef sandwich with house-roasted thinly sliced beef, giardiniera and provolone on French bread; Italian poutine with thick fresh-cut fries, fresh mozzarella and marinara.
What others say: “Their menu is simple and straightforward, just like you hope for at a fast-casual restaurant … Sounds like a savory alternative to late-night Taco Bell!” –Nashville Guru
An interior view
Pasta
Two TV actors — Jonathan Jackson, a star of the series Nashville, and Steve Burton of General Hospital et al. — teamed to open this down-home haven for barbeque and live music in the lively suburban town of Franklin, Tenn.
Website: facebook.com/jackandjamesons
Address: 509 Hillsboro Rd., Franklin, Tenn.
Phone number: 615-465-6253
Number of seats: 98
Entrée price range: $9-$26
Popular dishes: Pulled pork plate with three sides; The Johnny sandwich with smoked sausage on a hoagie with sauerkraut and spicy mustard; Fat Cow burger stuffed with two of the following: mushroom, green pepper, onion, blue cheese, jalapeños, barbecue pork, brisket or “sardines (just kidding).”
What others say: “Jack and Jameson’s is casual — the kind of place you can just swing by and order good food without fanfare, and that’s as it should be for a barbecue joint.” ––Mary Griffith, Battered and Brewed
Beer flight
Chicken wings
This brick-and-mortar home of a former food-truck enterprise plays fast and loose with Korean and Japanese fare refashioned in the form of things like sushi burritos and Korean-barbecue tacos.
Website: funkseoultruck.com
Address: 2057 Scarritt Place
Phone number: 615-891-7690
Number of seats: 45
Entrée price range: $8-$14
Popular dishes: Spicy tuna sushi burrito with tuna sashimi, surimi crab, carrot, cucumber, avocado, tempura flakes and Sriracha aïoli; “Kimchi Crack Rice”: kimchi fried rice with bacon, bulgogi, carrots, cured purple cabbage, Sriracha aïoli and an egg; ponzu kale poke bowl with salmon, red onion, ginger, cilantro, ponzu soy and kale salad.
What others say: “Nothing snapped our heads back like the latest venture from Riffs co-founder B.J. Lofback, who serves Korean short-rib lettuce wraps, bulgogi beef tacos and immaculate rings of kimbap (Korea’s answer to sushi) that deliver knee-weakening payloads of umami.” –Jim Ridley, Nashville Scene
An interior view
Sushi burritos
