# Nashville restaurant recommendations? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008 "2009-05-01T19:31:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/1 "2009-05-01T19:31:33Z")
My wife and I will be there tomorrow, and would like some suggestions on a good place for dinner. Preferably downtown, or close to it. We live in Alabama so we’re _not_ looking for BBQ or “typical Southern comfort food.” Though we wouldn’t rule out good Southern-style restaurants of course. Last time we were there we ate at Zola which looked like the kind of place we normally enjoy, but the food didn’t seem anything special. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/2 "2009-05-01T20:19:31Z")
What’s your definition of “downtown?” If you’re really talking about the central business district and close thereby, look at Germantown Cafe, Mad Platter, or City House. If you want some higher-end NY Italian made by a real Italian and a real New Yorker, try Sole Mio. Across the river in East Nashville, I like Eastland Cafe. There’s also a new place, Allium, that’s owned by the Germantown Cafe people. Another really well-regarded place is Margot. In The Gulch, there’s Watermark, also Sambucca, although Sambucca can be uneven. Flyte is between The Gulch and Downtown. If you want to venture into midtown/Vanderbilt/West End territory, I like Lime. I liked Miro District but they’ve changed chefs and cuisines since I was there last so I can’t say what it’s like now. 1808 Grill is supposed to be good but it’s new and I haven’t been there yet. A little off the beaten path is another new place, Miel on Charlotte. Totally blue-collar neighborhood, expensive French food. Also, Yellow Porch in Berry Hill is one of my favorites in the whole city. For reviews, check out [www.tennessean.com](http://www.tennessean.com) and [www.nashvillescene.com](http://www.nashvillescene.com) ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/3 "2009-05-01T21:02:53Z")
Thanks! We’re staying close to the Ryman Auditorium - what do you call that part of downtown? ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/4 "2009-05-01T21:06:27Z")
The Ryman is definitely in the core of downtown. The reason I asked the question is that a lot of visitors will call “downtown” anything that’s not the suburbs. Still, everything I mentioned is within 15 minutes driving time at MOST. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/5 "2009-05-01T22:41:52Z")
Demos’. They are a steak and spaghetti place. One of the best steaks I’ve had in a long, long time. Pretty affordable, too, IMO. [Link](http://www.demosrestaurants.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/6 "2009-05-01T23:15:43Z")
eh … I’ve never been impressed with Demo’s. Old school, heavy food. Like restaurants I went to when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/7 "2009-05-01T23:34:43Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > eh … I’ve never been impressed with Demo’s. Old school, heavy food. Like restaurants I went to when I was a kid. Ah. My apologies to **scr4**. I didn’t realize he only wanted edgy, light food. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/8 "2009-05-02T00:25:09Z")
I just thought that someone who was interested in Zola wouldn’t be excited about Demos. And, personally I’ve never been impressed with it. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/9 "2009-05-02T00:42:43Z")
Yeah, you’re right. I’m not sure what I was thinking, posting in the “In My Humble _Opinion_” forum, trying to make a suggestion to a fellow doper that _wasn’t impressed with Zola’s food_ and was looking for suggestions for a good place for dinner. I am of the opinion that an excellent steak is part of a good dinner. Perhaps I should bow out to your obviously superior taste buds… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nashville-restaurant-recommendations/495008/10 "2009-05-02T00:44:42Z")
The Midtown Cafe or the Acorn. Both are within a short driving distance from your location. Oh, also the Capitol Grille.