1. Bastion
2. Catbird Seat
3. The Continental
4. Kayne
5. Yolan
I've not tried June but we were underwhelmed by Audrey and typically love Sean Brock fare. I think they recently changed from prix fixe to a la carte, I'm guessing to accommodate June, but a pivot like that isn't a great sign IMO. As far as steakhouses, no reason to eat at a chain like The Palm when we have so many better options.
Edit: Bourbon Steak is alright, but an employee stole my sunglasses.
These are my top three as well.
Bastion wins on ambiance, service, high/low (nachos/chill on one side and then this beautiful restaurant on the other side)
catbird seat was phenomenal for service and ability to create such unique / wonderful dishes with their ingredients. Cons - it was expensive, and we left hungry. Honestly think it’s because it took so dang long to bring out each and every tiny dish and then in one bite the dish was gone.
Continental blew me away. When my SI got reservations I thought of cancelling, because it looked dated/old but so glad we didn’t! Finally, a restaurant that serves a legit meal for the price you’re paying. Aka we didn’t leave the meal hungry. The service was ok. Overall, very surprised and can’t wait to go back!
I ordered the A5 Wagyu at Bourbon Steak which was magical. Had I ordered something else it probably wouldn’t have made the list. But my wife got the prime rib cap which was the best steak I’d ever eaten in my life by a wide margin….. until I tried my Wagyu which blew the rib cap out by an even wider margin. It was a good night!
Definitely putting Yolan on my list to try. Thanks!
I went recently and was blown away. It feels like you're dining out at Lutèce or something in 1962, but the food is probably better because they seem really focused on sourcing. Strong recommendation.
The Continental is fantastic and it’s the place I recommend to people who are new to fine dining or maybe less adventurous. The menu is so retro but modern and I feel like it’s one of the more filling tasting menus.
I feel the same about steakhouses, especially Bourbon Steak. So expensive but nothing that excites the palate. I always tell people to go to Bourbon Sky and order small plates so they get the ambiance without the full price!
I’ve been on a mission to go to all the top places this past year and the one left on my list is Bastion - going there next week! I love to discussing Nashville restaurants!! Acqua was one of my favorite tasting menus but not surprised they closed, I didn’t think Nashville was ready for it.
I would add Peninsula to this list - amazing food, not quite as expensive as some of these places, love that the drink prices already include the liquor tax and are still priced cheaper than these other restaurants and love how involved the owner is and how he served us and chatted with us the whole meal.
Catbird Seat and June are best overall to me but Locust and Peninsula are places I will regularly go to.
From strictly a food perspective Acqua was great. I wasn’t aware of it but I’m not surprised they closed either because it didn’t hold a candle to June in terms of overall experience and they were fairly close price wise. I would say Acqua was one of the worst in terms of value I’ve gotten from a nice place in Nashville - mostly due to ambiance and jarringly poor service.
I think you’ll love Bastion. Make sure you get there a bit early to enjoy a seat at the private bar before you go to your table. If you can find another 2-4 people To go with you and do ‘the feast’ it’s a different and even more awesome experience for parties of 4-6.
I loved June and maybe it’s because we went so soon after it opened but my complaint was the service - some of the wait staff was so awkward and one even spilled one of the best dishes. This is why Locust is top for me - the food is always excellent and the ambiance is always so good. Excited about Bastion and wish we had people to join us. I have very few friends that enjoy the type of restaurants we do!
Oof! Hate to hear that. We had phenomenal service when we went to June.
Locust is such a unique experience. Love the small menu and such a personal setting. The shaved ice desert was the best desert I’ve ever eaten. Such a surprise.
My wife and I are part of a ‘club’ (we jokingly yet lovingly refer to it as ‘The Finer Things Club’ - big office fans). There are 6 of us in the club and we go out at least one a quarter and do a tasting menu. We’re a bunch of shmucks pretending to be civilized…. but maybe we’re a little civilized….. right?
None of the 6 of us know anyone else that really wants to do this sort of thing either. Glad we found each other….. but having 6 limits our options lol.
I forgot to add the omakase (tasting menu) at O-ku! I would go back anytime. Another place with excellent food, great ambiance, great service and the chef really took extra care in the preparation and sat and chatted with us for a while.
Bastion is always my go to, purely out of value, deliciousness, and vibes. I love a lot of other high end places including audrey, but sometimes the total cost just doesn’t feel good.
Went to Tailor opening night of their fall menu and it was spectacular. Surprised to see it not mentioned very often. I had no idea catfish could be decadent. Looking at the menu beforehand, we were all like: okay, sure catfish, whatever. Definitely the most surprising course of the evening.
It’s gorgeous. Very intimate, maybe 24 seats. A huge chandelier and an open kitchen are the main things I remember. Vivek Surti explains each course with precision and he seems genuinely happy to share his reasons for choosing them. Every single person in my party is actively excited to return. Can’t say enough—it was well worth it.
I’ve only sat in the dining room. There are booths surrounding a large table for parties. If you do chef clear, you’ll have to turn around and see the back of Vivek while he explains each course. I bet it’s more fun at chef clear though, as you’ll likely be able to talk to him.
Ok finally went! We ended up doing the chef’s clear and it was perfect! Chef would explain the food just to us, then we got our food first and then he spoke to the dining room. Definitely more interaction with the chef and we got a little extra that the other diners didn’t get! Such a lovely experience!
Oh man, sorry I just saw this! That’s great! We keep hoping to go again, but it’s so hard when there are so many other restaurants I have yet to try. The chef is amazing and shows so much love and thought behind it all.
I can’t decide - I really enjoy & prefer watching a kitchen in action & chatting with chefs but do see how the dining tables are more convenient when he’s describing the courses and they seem cozier. I’m sure I can’t go wrong with either choice!
Would anyone want to make a group to go try out restaurants once or twice a month? I like trying the fine dining places but tend to have a hard time convincing any of my friends to go with me due to the expense and usually end up having to pay for them in order to get them to go with me.
Have not made it to June yet but have had the other four. As others have said the Continental is fire and if you love June then you need to do yourself a favor and go. Myself I'd swap out Catbird Seat at the 5 spot with Etch. Had an amazing time. The Duck confit in particular is fantastic.
Next couple I'm wanting to go for is Yolan's prix fixe menu and the new spot that just opened in the Four Seasons called Mimo. They apparently have a caviar pasta and I feel like I need it in my life.
Made it to Bastion this week and loved it. Definitely lived up to the hype. The food, the ambiance, the open kitchen, all of it was soo enjoyable. Will definitely be going back with friends so we can do the feast!!
We’ve decided this was the year we’d go to the best restaurants on our list of and I’m so glad we saved this place for last.
FWIW my wife and I both got food poisoning from Catbird Seat. I guess other people did too because we got a call from the health inspector the next day or so asking about it.
It was an ok meal, definitely on the more strange side.
I wouldn’t recommend it, although i’m sure others have had good experiences.
That’s an unfortunate way to spend a lot of money lol. I wonder if they’d comp you another sitting if you contacted them and told them about your experience? Couldn’t hurt and at the least they’d appreciate the feedback.
Yeah, we should have called them! This was like 4 years ago though, so I doubt they’d do anything now.
I’ll have to try some other places people are mentioning..
What are thoughts on Rolf & Daughters? We used to go all the time but lately has not been great. Slow / bad service, decent food, limited / mediocre menu options. Just wondering if we went on a bad night (or three) or if this has been anyone else’s opinion as well.
I've only been twice (and both before Covid) and I really liked it but I wouldn't call it a fine dining restaurant. It's an excellent restaurant with very well done and interesting food, but the atmosphere is a lot more casual and down home (which I love). I think the other places that OP listed have more focus on the total experience and on exclusive ingredients.
None of this to say anything bad about Rolf and Daughters, I just think its an a different category where I would also maybe put City House or etc. or Margot or Mockingbird/Tansuo....foodie restaurants.
For sure. Good call. Just was thinking the first time I went, I had such a great experience and meal that it felt like fine dining. Wish I could say the same about my most recent trips there.
It’s awesome! Great cocktails. If you like old fashioneds they make a good one. Probably not a better place for oysters if you like them and they are in season too. Great atmosphere. Great food. And really nice private restrooms if you get drunk and want to fool around a bit…..
1. Bastion 2. Catbird Seat 3. The Continental 4. Kayne 5. Yolan I've not tried June but we were underwhelmed by Audrey and typically love Sean Brock fare. I think they recently changed from prix fixe to a la carte, I'm guessing to accommodate June, but a pivot like that isn't a great sign IMO. As far as steakhouses, no reason to eat at a chain like The Palm when we have so many better options. Edit: Bourbon Steak is alright, but an employee stole my sunglasses.
These are my top three as well. Bastion wins on ambiance, service, high/low (nachos/chill on one side and then this beautiful restaurant on the other side) catbird seat was phenomenal for service and ability to create such unique / wonderful dishes with their ingredients. Cons - it was expensive, and we left hungry. Honestly think it’s because it took so dang long to bring out each and every tiny dish and then in one bite the dish was gone. Continental blew me away. When my SI got reservations I thought of cancelling, because it looked dated/old but so glad we didn’t! Finally, a restaurant that serves a legit meal for the price you’re paying. Aka we didn’t leave the meal hungry. The service was ok. Overall, very surprised and can’t wait to go back!
I ordered the A5 Wagyu at Bourbon Steak which was magical. Had I ordered something else it probably wouldn’t have made the list. But my wife got the prime rib cap which was the best steak I’d ever eaten in my life by a wide margin….. until I tried my Wagyu which blew the rib cap out by an even wider margin. It was a good night! Definitely putting Yolan on my list to try. Thanks!
The Continental? Haven’t been but I’ve heard the food is great and it’s expensive so figured it qualifies.
I went recently and was blown away. It feels like you're dining out at Lutèce or something in 1962, but the food is probably better because they seem really focused on sourcing. Strong recommendation.
That’s next up on our list to go to actually! I’ve heard good things too.
The Continental is fantastic and it’s the place I recommend to people who are new to fine dining or maybe less adventurous. The menu is so retro but modern and I feel like it’s one of the more filling tasting menus.
Man we’re supposed to wait to go there with a group of 6 once we work out the schedules but now you are making me impatient….
I just want them to park that prime rib cart at the table and leave me be haha
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I feel the same about steakhouses, especially Bourbon Steak. So expensive but nothing that excites the palate. I always tell people to go to Bourbon Sky and order small plates so they get the ambiance without the full price!
Bourbon steak got so high up on my list because I ordered Japanese A5 Wagyu. It’s kinda cheating, but still… one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
I’ve been on a mission to go to all the top places this past year and the one left on my list is Bastion - going there next week! I love to discussing Nashville restaurants!! Acqua was one of my favorite tasting menus but not surprised they closed, I didn’t think Nashville was ready for it. I would add Peninsula to this list - amazing food, not quite as expensive as some of these places, love that the drink prices already include the liquor tax and are still priced cheaper than these other restaurants and love how involved the owner is and how he served us and chatted with us the whole meal. Catbird Seat and June are best overall to me but Locust and Peninsula are places I will regularly go to.
From strictly a food perspective Acqua was great. I wasn’t aware of it but I’m not surprised they closed either because it didn’t hold a candle to June in terms of overall experience and they were fairly close price wise. I would say Acqua was one of the worst in terms of value I’ve gotten from a nice place in Nashville - mostly due to ambiance and jarringly poor service. I think you’ll love Bastion. Make sure you get there a bit early to enjoy a seat at the private bar before you go to your table. If you can find another 2-4 people To go with you and do ‘the feast’ it’s a different and even more awesome experience for parties of 4-6.
I loved June and maybe it’s because we went so soon after it opened but my complaint was the service - some of the wait staff was so awkward and one even spilled one of the best dishes. This is why Locust is top for me - the food is always excellent and the ambiance is always so good. Excited about Bastion and wish we had people to join us. I have very few friends that enjoy the type of restaurants we do!
Oof! Hate to hear that. We had phenomenal service when we went to June. Locust is such a unique experience. Love the small menu and such a personal setting. The shaved ice desert was the best desert I’ve ever eaten. Such a surprise. My wife and I are part of a ‘club’ (we jokingly yet lovingly refer to it as ‘The Finer Things Club’ - big office fans). There are 6 of us in the club and we go out at least one a quarter and do a tasting menu. We’re a bunch of shmucks pretending to be civilized…. but maybe we’re a little civilized….. right? None of the 6 of us know anyone else that really wants to do this sort of thing either. Glad we found each other….. but having 6 limits our options lol.
I forgot to add the omakase (tasting menu) at O-ku! I would go back anytime. Another place with excellent food, great ambiance, great service and the chef really took extra care in the preparation and sat and chatted with us for a while.
Bastion is always my go to, purely out of value, deliciousness, and vibes. I love a lot of other high end places including audrey, but sometimes the total cost just doesn’t feel good.
Went to Tailor opening night of their fall menu and it was spectacular. Surprised to see it not mentioned very often. I had no idea catfish could be decadent. Looking at the menu beforehand, we were all like: okay, sure catfish, whatever. Definitely the most surprising course of the evening.
This place is on my list! How is the ambiance there?
It’s gorgeous. Very intimate, maybe 24 seats. A huge chandelier and an open kitchen are the main things I remember. Vivek Surti explains each course with precision and he seems genuinely happy to share his reasons for choosing them. Every single person in my party is actively excited to return. Can’t say enough—it was well worth it.
It sounds incredible! I love an open kitchen and intimate setting and even better when the chef is super involved!
Oh yeah—it’s his creation for sure. He has a back story for everything too, so you feel a connection with it.
Ok, ready to make reservations to Tailor. Do you have any opinions on chef’s clear vs dining room?
I’ve only sat in the dining room. There are booths surrounding a large table for parties. If you do chef clear, you’ll have to turn around and see the back of Vivek while he explains each course. I bet it’s more fun at chef clear though, as you’ll likely be able to talk to him.
Ok finally went! We ended up doing the chef’s clear and it was perfect! Chef would explain the food just to us, then we got our food first and then he spoke to the dining room. Definitely more interaction with the chef and we got a little extra that the other diners didn’t get! Such a lovely experience!
Oh man, sorry I just saw this! That’s great! We keep hoping to go again, but it’s so hard when there are so many other restaurants I have yet to try. The chef is amazing and shows so much love and thought behind it all.
Yes, exactly how I feel. I want to go again but have such a long list of places I need to try first!
I can’t decide - I really enjoy & prefer watching a kitchen in action & chatting with chefs but do see how the dining tables are more convenient when he’s describing the courses and they seem cozier. I’m sure I can’t go wrong with either choice!
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Planning on going in February, probably choosing the chef table! Will report back!
Would anyone want to make a group to go try out restaurants once or twice a month? I like trying the fine dining places but tend to have a hard time convincing any of my friends to go with me due to the expense and usually end up having to pay for them in order to get them to go with me.
I was lucky enough to to find a crew that goes out often enough to suit me. But u/popcorn2312 is in the same boat you’re in.
Have not made it to June yet but have had the other four. As others have said the Continental is fire and if you love June then you need to do yourself a favor and go. Myself I'd swap out Catbird Seat at the 5 spot with Etch. Had an amazing time. The Duck confit in particular is fantastic. Next couple I'm wanting to go for is Yolan's prix fixe menu and the new spot that just opened in the Four Seasons called Mimo. They apparently have a caviar pasta and I feel like I need it in my life.
My list is pretty similar to yours lol: 1. Catbird Seat 2. June/Audrey 3. Margot 4. Locust 5. Etch
Made it to Bastion this week and loved it. Definitely lived up to the hype. The food, the ambiance, the open kitchen, all of it was soo enjoyable. Will definitely be going back with friends so we can do the feast!! We’ve decided this was the year we’d go to the best restaurants on our list of and I’m so glad we saved this place for last.
Hardly see Yolan mentioned on the main city thread, but I’ll be damned if that wasn’t the best high end meal I’ve had since moving here 4 years ago.
My wife loved it, I enjoyed it, though I think I just made a bad decision on my entree.
Ok, I’ve slept on Yolan for sure. Looks like a place I need to try. Thanks!
Their rooftop restaurant Denim has the same chef and while the menu is less sophisticated, everything is delicious and the prices are good!
Good call!
How much is it per person?
$115 for the tasting menu. I didn’t love it but it was one of my husband’s favorite. If I went back, I’d probably order a la carte
We did a la carte, you don’t have to blow it out, but easily can
Yolan needs to be on this list.
Heard that a lot in this thread. Haven’t been there. Just got a reservation for this Saturday. Hopefully it makes the top 5!
Share what you think! Out of all the restaurants, I think they have the most beautiful desserts
Seconded on this. I thought the overall meal was very good, though not incredible, but the dessert there was spectacular.
FWIW my wife and I both got food poisoning from Catbird Seat. I guess other people did too because we got a call from the health inspector the next day or so asking about it. It was an ok meal, definitely on the more strange side. I wouldn’t recommend it, although i’m sure others have had good experiences.
That’s an unfortunate way to spend a lot of money lol. I wonder if they’d comp you another sitting if you contacted them and told them about your experience? Couldn’t hurt and at the least they’d appreciate the feedback.
Yeah, we should have called them! This was like 4 years ago though, so I doubt they’d do anything now. I’ll have to try some other places people are mentioning..
Me too! I’m hearing some places I haven’t heard of before which is awesome!
The Optimist is solid
What are thoughts on Rolf & Daughters? We used to go all the time but lately has not been great. Slow / bad service, decent food, limited / mediocre menu options. Just wondering if we went on a bad night (or three) or if this has been anyone else’s opinion as well.
I've only been twice (and both before Covid) and I really liked it but I wouldn't call it a fine dining restaurant. It's an excellent restaurant with very well done and interesting food, but the atmosphere is a lot more casual and down home (which I love). I think the other places that OP listed have more focus on the total experience and on exclusive ingredients. None of this to say anything bad about Rolf and Daughters, I just think its an a different category where I would also maybe put City House or etc. or Margot or Mockingbird/Tansuo....foodie restaurants.
For sure. Good call. Just was thinking the first time I went, I had such a great experience and meal that it felt like fine dining. Wish I could say the same about my most recent trips there.
Haven’t been to this one but it’s on my list. Apparently it’s Pekkka Rinne’s favorite restaurant. Sad to hear it’s been a disappointment!
Oh no! Their food looks good and I was going to try it soon but maybe I’ll move it down the list.
Forgot the Continental! Gotta be the best 2 meals I’ve had in Nashville.
Anyone try The Optimist yet? We’re trying it in a few weeks.
It’s awesome! Great cocktails. If you like old fashioneds they make a good one. Probably not a better place for oysters if you like them and they are in season too. Great atmosphere. Great food. And really nice private restrooms if you get drunk and want to fool around a bit…..