The Restaurants We Love Right Now

Nashville is in the middle of a culinary free-for-all. Rather than curate a list of the best restaurants of the year, we decided to focus on the very best of the moment—the places we can’t wait to get into tonight, tomorrow, or this weekend. This could all change by next month…or even next week. But right now, this is where we’re eating.

360 Bistro

Since 2007, 360 Bistro in Belle Meade has provided food-loving wine drinkers with a place to find an exceptional selection of wine and a menu to match. This winter, owner Nick Jacobson upped the ante by bringing in chef Will Uhlhorn, who previously worked at F. Scott’s and Miel, and helped open Table 3. Uhlhorn’s repertoire of refined yet comforting European-inspired fare fits right in with the sophisticated space, not to mention Jacobson’s 5,000-bottle inventory. Whether he’s carefully constructing a spring citrus salad or plating a pillowy light Parisienne gnocchi, Uhlhorn uses a deft hand and just the right balance of acid and seasoning. Plus, 360 is now armed with the talented sommelier Elise Loehr, whom Uhlhorn worked with at F. Scott’s and Table 3—meaning a trip to this Belle Meade haven will net you a dream food and beverage team. 6000 Hwy. 100, 615-353-5604; 360bistro.com

The 404 Kitchen

Within 24 hours of arriving in Nashville five years ago, chef Matt Bolus was showing off his considerable culinary skills as a competitor in the Iron Fork contest. Although he didn’t win, Nashville was put on notice that a young gun was ready to take over the town. Since then, his cuisine has matured, and his mastery in the kitchen is showcased nightly at The 404 Kitchen in The Gulch. Known for his contemporary take on traditional European cuisine, Bolus emphasizes seasonal local ingredients along with seafood sourced from the Atlantic that plays to his strength as a former fish butcher at Mike Lata’s acclaimed FIG restaurant in Charleston. No meal at The 404 is complete without an order of housemade burrata, a fresh cheese made from mozzarella and cream, or a beverage from either the inventive wine list or the cocktail menu, which features an eclectic selection of liquors. With only 56 seats and Bolus at the helm, The 404 is one of the city’s top dining destinations. 404 12th Ave. S., 615-251-1404; the404nashville.com

The Catbird Seat

When it opened in 2011, The Catbird Seat was a game changer. Suddenly, Nashville had a national spotlight, and from there, the floodgates opened. Founding chefs Josh Habiger and Erik Anderson impressed diners with their carefully constructed, multicourse feasts, all whipped up within a tiny kitchen surrounded by bar seats. And then, in 2014, the restaurant rewrote its own rules. Habiger and Anderson had moved on to new projects, opening the door to chef Trevor Moran, who, after a lengthy wait for an international visa, arrived via Noma in Copenhagen. Almost immediately, Moran’s Ireland-by-way-of-Denmark cuisine had the food elite buzzing. Here he was, putting out dishes that incorporated Southern ingredients, recalled his Irish heritage, and looked like Noma masterpieces—all to harmonious effect: Think potato-broth tea infused with herbs; beef tartare served with hibiscus leaves, snail eggs—and no utensils (it works, we swear); and poached oysters with buckwheat hollandaise foam. There’s talk that Moran’s ever-changing menu might soon blow past the typical 11 or more courses, which would certainly raise eyebrows once again. For now, we say get yourself a seat—reservations still fill up fast, but if you’re flexible and check back often, cancellations can quickly work in your favor. 1711 Division St., 615-248-8458; thecatbirdseatrestaurant.com

Arnold's Country Kitchen

When Kahlil Arnold took over the reins of Arnold’s Country Kitchen from his father, Jack, he moved slowly. It’s a venerable meat-and-three steam table, for crying out loud, and with customers who return every week for that one thing, you don’t mess with it. The thing is, Kahlil does mess with it, but in a nuanced way that coaxes the food into the 21st century without leaving the past behind. From hot sauce in his catfish brine to his play on tomatoes and grits, he makes simple Sunday table food an exaltation of Southern art. And with the current expansion, we may finally see three things we all pine for: breakfast, dinner, and hooch. 605 8th Ave S, 615-256-4455; facebook.com/arnoldsmeatand3

Biscuit Love Brunch

They paid their dues serving biscuit sandwiches from a borrowed food truck. Then they renovated an Airstream to do the same. And now they have a bright, airy space with no wheels attached. You can’t help but root for Karl and Sarah Worley of Biscuit Love Brunch for their hard work and creative interpretations of our regional fare—from mod bonuts (yes, biscuit doughnuts) to the all-but-forgotten beaten biscuit offered as homage to beloved writer John Egerton through the restaurant’s “John’s Ham Bar. x93 The line can wind out the door on weekends, so it’s best to visit weekday mornings. The early bird gets the biscuit, after all. 316 11th Ave. S., 615-490-9584; biscuitlovebrunch.com

Caffe Nonna

For more than 15 years, chef Dan Maggipinto has been serving traditional Italian dishes inspired by his grandmother, Nonna. While some would call the closely stacked tables a little cramped, fans consider the ambiance to be cozy and romantic. Couples can enjoy quiet conversation accompanied by a tight and affordable wine list plus choose-your-own-pasta dishes that include a variety of sauces. We can’t resist the capellini with spicy arrabbiata sauce, which turns up the heat. For one of the city’s more authentic Italian experiences, Nonna never disappoints. 4427 Murphy Rd., 615-463-0133; caffenonna.com

City House

Among the new restaurants and “It x93 city-ness in Nashville, this place feels like a warm quilt we can count on. It’s still a great space for getting dressed up and celebrating over family-style bowls of cornbread gnocchi and sopping up egg with slices of wood-fired pies. And it offers a bevy of clever surprises at Sunday Supper, like pork snacks, wings, and lamb chops under Sunday gravy. But it’s also a safe spot to grab a seat at the bar for some of the best cocktails in town. Do dessert first with pastry chef Rebekah Turshen’s modern takes on classic cakes or cookie plates, or split a simple off-menu kitchen pizza pie (just tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, grana padano, and chili oil used to test the heat of the oven). With chef Tandy Wilson melding his travels, Southern studies, and Nashville roots, it’s way more real than any newfangled showplace, but you still can’t spell “It city x93 without it. 1222 4th Ave. S., 615-736-5838; cityhousenashville.com

Epice

Maher Fawaz’s Lebanese bistro, situated on 12th Avenue South, is still a hidden gem in Nashville’s restaurant scene. Fawaz, who also owns the popular fast casual joint Kalamata’s, named his more upscale endeavor after the French word for spice. On the menu? A journey of exotic Mediterranean flavors. Start with the makdous (pickled eggplant with walnuts and olive oil) and work your way through the kabobs (especially samak, the spiced fish) before ordering the fassoulya (lamb shank with white beans). Finish off with a glass of hot tea—then sit back and savor one of the city’s coolest dining rooms. 2902 12th Ave. S., 615-720-6765; epicenashville.com

Etch

There’s no stopping Deb Paquette. The chef-owner of Etch continues to rack up accolades, like being named top restaurant in Nashville last year by Zagat. And with an inventive roster of dishes such as a cornmeal-fried catfish with walnut, red bell pepper, and pomegranate sauce, fiery plum preserve, lime crema, pickled onion, pumpkin seeds, and greens, it’s easy to see why. Desserts, like a vanilla bean baked meringue, are the icing on the cake and weekday happy hour (from 4 to 6:30 p.m.) finds discounted drinks and small bites. 303 Demonbreun St., 615-522-0685; etchrestaurant.com

Nashville Farmers' Market

Change isn’t easy, and the fits and convulsions over the market’s plans to redefine what is local have a lot of folks on edge. However it shakes out, we think the interior Market House is on a good track. There are the stalwart offerings, like the spicy goat curry at Swagruha, as well as newer selections, like the Sloco sandwiches. An all-time favorite? The pizzas at Bella Nashville. Their meat pizza with Hamery ham from Bob Woods, great cheese from Bloomy Rind, and fantastic dough is worthy of a regular pilgrimage. 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., 615-880-2001; nashvillefarmersmarket.org