Nashville is home to a plethora of restaurants, ranging from Southern comfort to fine dining and everything in between. For the foodies making their way to music city, here’s a guide to my favorite restaurants in Nashville.
Cilantro’s Mexican Restaurant
Yes, I know this may be an unexpected first pick, but Cilantro’s is one of my favorites that I go back to again and again. Located on 8th Avenue, Cilantro’s is the perfect place for a casual night out, with classic Mexican flavors and a great vibe. My personal favorite is the Baja Burrito, but there is much to choose from for any adventurer.
Baja Burrito
Out of all the restaurants in Nashville, there is not a single one I go to more than Baja Burrito. It’s just the best, hands down. Located in Berry Hill, Baja Burrito is a locally owned restaurant known for their California style comfort foods. With a build-your-own style line, guests pick their tortilla, meats, and all the toppings, making it a fully customizable experience. I highly recommend the grilled chicken with all the fixings … especially the pineapple salsa. I get it every time and it never disappoints! Make sure to try their agua fresca for a refreshing addition to your burrito meal.
Two Hands
The next option on the list is more on the fine dining side … a perfect place for a date night out in town or for a special dinner. Two Hands specializes in Australian cuisine, with dishes such as coconut and key lime pavlova (my personal favorite), pesto cavatelli, roasted fish, and more. If you’re looking for a perfect taste of all that Two Hands has to offer, consider getting the prix fixe dinner, where you choose a starter, main, and dessert to guide you through your Two Hands experience. Electing to take that route myself the last time I went, I chose the corn and jalapeno fritters, the pesto cavatelli, and the coconut and key lime pavlova, and I highly recommend them all.
Martin’s BBQ
Leaning more on the side of classic Southern comfort, Martin’s BBQ is one of my go-to restaurants! With a few locations across town, Martin’s is known for their smoky BBQ and signature Jack’s creek BBQ sauce. Without fail, every single time I order the BBQ baked potato with pulled pork, sometimes with a side of their creamy mac n’ cheese and BBQ baked beans. You simply can’t go wrong with pulled pork and mac n’ cheese, but Martin’s offers a variety of options for any BBQ lover.
Greenhouse Bar
Greenhouse is easily one of the most unique restaurants I’ve ever been to … like the name suggests, it is literally a restaurant inside a greenhouse! Pretty cool if I do say so myself. Though I frequently visit just for the environment itself, there are a few go-to’s that I gravitate towards every time: the bacon popcorn and the grilled cheese with tomato soup.
Crieve Hall Bagel Co.
I like to describe Crieve as my go-to boujee bagels. For a filling breakfast or brunch, Crieve is a must-stop for all the bagel lovers out there. My personal favorites are the Fig and Pig (your choice of bagel with whipped feta, fig jam, bacon, and arugula) and a make-your-own with half an everything bagel, half a cheddar bagel and sun dried tomato schmear.
The Buttermilk Ranch
Though I’ve never taken part in Buttermilk Ranch’s sit-down dining options, their pastries are a must-try. With croissants, cookies, and more, the options from Buttermilk Ranch’s small-batch bakery are some of my favorite sweet treats in town. My personal favorite is the crannoli croissant – a take on the classic cannoli, with a croissant filled with mascarpone filling, dipped in chocolate, and topped with pistachios.
Bar Taco
Located on 12 South, Bar Taco is one of the first restaurants I tried in Nashville and is still one of my favorite spots. With a menu featuring – you guessed it – tacos, Bar Taco is home to a variety of options from fish tacos, chicken, chorizo, veggie options, and more. My personal favorite is the pistachio cauliflower taco, made up of roasted cauliflower on top of a chickpea hummus, topped with pistachio chimichurri, pomegranate seeds, and fresh cilantro. A light taco that is fresh and filling, it’s definitely my top choice. However, Bar Taco is famed for its glazed pork belly tacos, with the tuna tatako taco also being a fan favorite.
But the options don’t stop there. A trip to Bar Taco wouldn’t be complete without indulging in some of the sides. My favorites are the street corn and black beans with sofrito, but there are many more options including spicy cucumber salad, rice, and tajin pineapple with lime. You also simply have to get the classic dip trio to taste their guac, salsa roja, and salsa verde.
Maggiano’s Little Italy
Like a few options on this list, Maggiano’s is not unique to Nashville but is a delicious option in the city nonetheless. Maggiano’s is a perfect option for special occasions or a date-night out, featuring a range of dishes from classic pastas to grilled salmon, steak medallions to house salads and soups. My personal favorite is the four-cheese ravioli topped with pesto and an asiago cream sauce. If you’re looking for upscale dining with the comforting taste of Italian home cooking, Maggiano’s is for you.
Sweet Treat Honorable Mention – Poppy and Peep
The bonbons from Poppy and Peep are some of the best that I’ve ever had! Though they are on the pricier side, with each chocolate being around the $4.00 mark, Poppy and Peep is the perfect place to treat yourself to a decadent, fancy sweet treat. Poppy and Peep has a variety of flavors to choose from, but my absolute favorite is the lemon strawberry: a white chocolate bonbon filled with lemon ganache and a strawberry jam. For a sweet treat to complete your night out, Poppy and Peep is definitely worth stopping by.
Though there are so many restaurants you should try on your trip to Music City, these are some of my personal favorites! If you have any questions about any of these foodie recommendations, be sure to let me know in the travel questions form! Any recommendations on where I should go next? Let me know in the recommend an adventure form.
