Nashville's Best Elevated Southern Restaurants

Gray's On Main

Michael and Joni Cole along with Puckett’s owner Andy Marshall, have revived a three-story building in historic downtown Franklin to bring to life Gray’s on Main, a casual dining space, bar, music venue, and private club. A brandy-based cocktail program is one of the only of its kind in the area and the menu tends toward Southern classics with a twist. Shrimp and grits start with a bed of braised collard greens and a cheese-and-butter grit cake; there are also Bear Creek beef sliders and delicious pizzas.
332 Main St., Franklin; 615-435-3603; graysonmain.com

Husk Nashville

Set inside a refurbished 1880s mansion on Rutledge Hill, Husk has a menu that changes daily…twice. Before lunch and again before dinner. The chefs, Sean Brock and Morgan McGlone, consider the availability of the absolute best and freshest ingredients and craft a menu around them. The Nashville version of the Charleston original offers a constantly changing selection of 10 to 12 small dishes, appropriate as appetizers or for sharing, as well as six or seven entrees. An abundant garden sits just outside of the dining room—not only does it set a lovely backdrop for those seated inside at the rustic wooden tables, but will actually supply the kitchen with a host of fresh herbs and small batches of vegetables throughout the growing season.
37 Rutledge St. 615-256-6565; husknashville.com

Mason's

Award-winning executive chef Brandon Frohne tickles your taste buds and transforms your perception on traditional southern cuisine with a French twist. This “Southern Brasserie x93 is infused with modern creativity and elegance from each dish to the edgy interior: the popular Mason Bar is illuminated by a Mason jar chandelier. With a focus on locally-sourced seasonal ingredients, Frohne puts his spin on historic southern dishes.2100 West End Ave.; 615-321-1990; masons-nashville.com

Saffire

Tucked into a corner of the Factory at Franklin, Saffire provides both a lively bar scene as well as a solid selection of inventive dishes. Their chicken-fried chicken is a must-order, as is the brow-wiping Gumbo Ya Ya.230 Franklin Road; 615-599-4995; saffirerestaurant.com

Silo

Located in the up-and-coming culinary neighborhood of Germantown, Silo is the right restaurant in the right place at the right time. From the sleek curves faced with recovered wood, to the clever farm-to-table menu of house-made charcuterie, hearty meat dishes, elevated side dishes, and innovative cocktails, Silo hits Nashville’s best and latest food trends directly on the head—including their take on hot chicken (above).
1121 5th Ave. North; 615-750-2912; silotn.com

Southern Steak & Oyster

This modern bistro invites the click of heels on its black and white tile floor for business lunches, gussied-up brunches, or date nights. But with an oval-shaped bar manned with oyster shuckers as the centerpiece, it also beckons a casual mix of downtown office workers and tourists. A creative menu helps keep it feel Southern, and choices beyond the typical country fare keep it on this list. Look far south to the Dominican-braised pork with mango pico on sweet potato grit cake or the Orleans Parish barbecue shrimp with baguette for sopping as well as classics like the Nudie Suit, which is a tailored steak.
150 3rd Ave. South; 615-724-1762; thesouthernnashville.com

The Farm House

Chef Trey Cioccia marries chicken liver and boiled peanuts over a salad, skillet-frying the livers after a soak in buttermilk, then topping the mix with toasted cheese-biscuit croutons. Everything on his menu at The Farm House reflects this same ethos: delicious Southern classics that are ramped up and treated with respect. Cioccia makes his own bacon, cornbread, and sauces in house and you’ll find a solid selection of local brews on tap.210 Almond St.; 615-522-0688; thefarmhousetn.com