Restaurants

Nashville Restaurant Winners: Experts’ Choice 2019

From diner counters and dining room tables filled with breakfast favorites and Southern staples, eat well in Music City.

Recently named a top destination of 2019 by Fodor's Travel, Nashville, Tennessee may be known as Music City, but its many restaurants are what fuel the constant rhythm and sway of the musician-filled town. With more than 150 expert-rated restaurants, there are plenty of options, but the following are a few of our favorites among the Experts' Choice selections. From country-cooking and hot chicken classics to elevated Southern fare, choosing a restaurant is the hardest part of eating well in Nashville.

This light-filled European café offers vegetarian-friendly options and a host of fresh baked pastries. Located in trendy East Nashville, this is a favorite among brunch-goers. Expect a line on weekends, but pass the time by ordering a coffee at the bar and browsing their corner shop while you wait.

With fresh takes on classic Southern dishes, this opulent dining room is located in the historic Hermitage Hotel of Nashville's downtown. Many of the ingredients are grown on the restaurant's own 245-acre farm located just outside of the city while the rest is locally sourced. Take a seat under vaulted ceilings and prepare to be served understated yet artfully plated dishes.

Known for its Sunday night supper, Germantown's City House created inventive pastas, housemade sausage and mouth-watering wood-fired pizzas. The bustling Italian restaurant emanates a homey setting thanks to its open kitchen layout and smiling waiters. With the majority of the menu stemming from local purveyors, every order will burst with fresh flavor.

Set in a former gas station, this trend-setting bistro in East Nashville is warm and welcoming. Though the menu changes often, patrons will find a delightful array of Italian and French cuisine from which to make their selection. The use of seasonal ingredients and daily creations continues to push the dishes in a fresh direction.

Award-winning chef Sean Brock opened this Nashville location of his Charleston original, Husk, in a stunning 19th-century mansion. Though this location of the restaurant still serves elevated dishes inspired by the Lowcountry, several dishes are inspired by the food culture of Music City. Book a reservation in advance to sample Brock's re-envisioned Southern fare.

With high praise from Jerry Seinfeld in 2014, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack is still bringing the heat in six varieties–from mild to mega-hot. An immersive local experience, the diner's original location on Ewing drive is the one to visit. Served with white loaf bread and pickles, this classic Nashville fare is not to be missed for a full experience of the city.

Using seasonal ingredients to create internationally influenced dishes, Rolf and Daughters receives high praise for its new take on simple dishes. Through caringly prepared dishes, this restaurant has become a neighborhood favorite within Germantown. Go for their shared plates, handmade pastas and carefully curated wine list.

Known for its Sunday night supper, Germantown's City House created inventive pastas, housemade sausage and mouth-watering wood-fired pizzas. The bustling Italian restaurant emanates a homey setting thanks to its open kitchen layout and smiling waiters. With the majority of the menu stemming from local purveyors, every order will burst with fresh flavor.

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