Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Nashville

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Nashville? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bastion

4.9

4.9 (97)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

South Nashville

About the restaurant

Bastion is the 24-seat restaurant of James Beard Foundation Award Nominee Chef Josh Habiger. It is located in a separate area within the casual cocktail bar of the same name, and it is a part of the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood of Nashville, TN. Bastion's dining room features counter seating around the kitchen for parties of 2 as well as three tables for parties of 3 to 6. Bastion's small team serves a weekly set menu of six dinner courses featuring many dishes with a wide variety of flavors, ingredients, and inspirations. Friendly service guides you through the culinary experience, which also features wine pairings, creative cocktails, and a curated vinyl soundtrack. Come early or stay late in the hidden Little Bar, which is a private offering for guests of the restaurant.

Top review

Christopher

Dined 5 days ago

One of the best restaurants in Nashville! Competes with the best in Chicago, New York and LA

Locust Nashville

4.9

4.9 (108)

$50 and over

Irish

Belmont / Hillsboro

About the restaurant

Locust brings a chaotic elegance to Nashville's dining scene. Chef Trevor Moran and team carefully assemble an ever-changing menu highlighting seafood and local, seasonal products: think raw bar selection, whole grilled fish, a decadent crab omelette, all rounded out with tea and biscuits shaved ice.

Lunch: Friday - Sunday 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM (reservations required)
Dinner: Friday - Sunday 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (reservations required)
Patio Bar: Sunday 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

*Please note that Locust is a CARD ONLY establishment, and does not accept cash payments at this time.

Top review

BethVIP

Dined 7 days ago

A Nashville treasure. Chef Trevor Moran combines unconventional flavors and textures to create exquisite — but never fussy — food. The vibe is casual; the food is fabulous. Reservations can be hard to come by, but well worth the wait.

Koré

4.9

4.9 (142)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

East Nashville

About the restaurant

A new international tapas restaurant called ᴋᴏʀé has opened in 97 Chapel Ave., East Nashville. Don't walk, run!

Top review

Samantha

Dined 1 day ago

12/10 experience!!! Travis was a great waiter and all the food was awesome

The Catbird Seat

4.8

4.8 (232)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

The Gulch & North Gulch

About the restaurant

Award-winning The Catbird Seat will soon open in its new home inside the Bill Voorhees Building on 8th Avenue South. Be among the first to experience this next chapter, where Chefs Tiffani Ortiz and Andy Doubrava will offer a fun and approachable 15-course tasting menu rooted in seasonality and creativity. Beverage pairings - both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, will be available upon arrival.

The Catbird Seat welcomes most dietary restrictions, including allergies, vegetarian, and celiac diets with advanced notice.

Come early, or stay late, and visit The Patterson House, our adjoining cocktail bar, for a pre- or post-dinner drink.

Top review

SuzanneVIP

Dined on Mar 28, 2025

This was a super cool taster menu experience, filled with lots of creativity and new ingredients, even for a person who is lucky enough to eat out often. I was delighted to chat with the chef and was also excited to hear that they are moving to a new location that sounds like it may be more becoming of the excellent standard of food they are producing. With only 20 covers at a time, its a great spot for a special evening (with or without wine pairing).

Peninsula

4.7

4.7 (204)

$31 to $50

Modern European

East Nashville

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of East Nashville, Peninsula serves up sharable plates, old world wines, and Spanish style gin and tonics in an inviting and intimate space. James Beard nominated Chef Jake Howell's menu focuses on sustainable, local ingredients and features seasonal, creative dishes influenced by the Iberian Peninsula. Guests are encouraged to sample the flavors of Spain, Portugal and France while enjoying the rustic, yet modern surrounds.

Top review

Kira

Dined 5 days ago

Perfect as always! Jake is a genius, Craig and Yuriko always welcome us with open arms.

Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (10)

$31 to $50

American

Germantown

About the restaurant

Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen in Nashville's Germantown is the perfect spot for craft beer enthusiasts and food lovers alike. Located next to the Nashville Sounds stadium and just a short trip from downtown, it's an ideal destination for locals and visitors. Our signature dishes include handmade pretzels, slow-smoked BBQ, and house-made sausages, all crafted with scratch cooking techniques. With 38 unique beers on tap served in 1L steins, and our famous Big Ass Mimosas, there's something for everyone.

The atmosphere at Von Elrod's is vibrant and welcoming, featuring a spacious outdoor beer garden complete with games, making it a great place to relax with friends. Our cozy yet lively setting is perfect for any occasion, and we proudly offer the best weekend brunch in Nashville. Whether you're looking for a fun night out or a leisurely brunch, Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen delivers an unforgettable experience.

Top review

Racheal

Dined 6 days ago

Amazing atmosphere, service, and food! Had the best time!! Highly recommend

Sushi by Bou - Nashville @ Dream Nashville

4.6

4.6 (94)

$50 and over

Sushi

Downtown / Sobro

About the restaurant

With Nashville's ever-growing culinary scene, we are delighted to bring Sushi by Boū to Music City. Offering high-quality sushi crafted by masters of the traditional Japanese technique in a unique, high-energy atmosphere course after course. We are excited to launch our first Nashville location at the Dream Hotel, as it's the perfect setting to bring omakase to the people. Reserve your seat today!

Top review

Malika

Dined 3 days ago

I'm so glad I stopped by this place to try the fresh omakase from Chef Johnny. The atmosphere was incredibly welcoming, and the entire team was fantastic. Kim and the bartender (sorry I forgot his name!) were both awesome, very friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. The drinks were delicious, and the omakase was a memorable experience. I learned a lot from Chef Johnny and really appreciated the care and craft behind each dish. Thank you for a great evening!

Discover more

Experience

60 MINUTE, 12-COURSE SIGNATURE OMAKASE $65

Experience

60 MINUTE, 17-COURSE BOUGIE OMAKASE $125

The Countrypolitan Bar & Kitchen

4.5

4.5 (253)

$30 and under

American

Downtown / Sobro

About the restaurant

The Countrypolitan Bar & Kitchen hosts authentic Nashville musicians in a fun bar and restaurant atmosphere within historic Printers Alley. Good Times are created with our local cocktails paired with a southern inspired kitchen and Americana, Blues, and Alternative country music. We feature live music every night of the week starting at 6 pm. For parties of 10 or more please contact the restaurant by phone (615-891-6000) or by email (Dhaas@arborlodging.com).
Head Chef - Michael Bressler
Food and Beverage Manager - Derek Haas

Parties of 6 or more will be subject to 21% Automatic Gratuity

Top review

Tonia

Dined 6 days ago

Fantastic cocktails! So good! The food was incredibly delicious too. The chef’s soup de jour was the highlight of our meal and their homemade Chow Chow (pepper jam) was delightful! Highly recommend for a fancy date night.

Bad Idea

4.5

4.5 (95)

$50 and over

Wine Bar

East Nashville

About the restaurant

Bad Idea is East Nashville's buzziest new restaurant from Sommelier Alex Burch and Executive Chef Colby Rasavong. It was honored as one of the 50 Best Restaurants in America in 2024 by the New York Times. New York Times food writer Brett Anderson remarks “Bad Idea may well be what many seasoned diners thought when they heard there was a wine bar specializing in envelope-pushing Lao food opening inside an East Nashville church. But given the level of cooking here, the name turned out to be a self-aware joke, rather than a
self-own…[Rasavong] invests the weight of his life experience in food that stretches the boundaries of
Southeast Asian cooking to the edge of Appalachia. And the wine list is wise beyond this restaurant’s
years, mixing tantalizing obscurities, affordable crowd pleasers and connoisseur selections you’ll rarely
find poured by the glass.” Bad Idea was also named a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in the 2025 James
Beard Awards.

Top review

MellVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Amazing unique food... Cool vibe and very clever menu!!

Discover more

Experience

Lao New Year Dinner Collab

Onda

4.5

4.5 (39)

$30 and under

Korean

North Nashville

About the restaurant

Onda is a native Korean word that means "to come" or "is coming" or "comes"

We come here to bring Korean culture to Nashville. Korean cuisine isn't just about Korean BBQ or Korean fried chicken but Korean cuisine offers delicate and sophisticated dishes as well.

We come to Nashville to introduce Korean cuisine through traditional cocktails, dishes, and desserts. Our belief is not just about serving food, but ultimately about creating a 'good time'.

Top review

EricVIP

Dined on Apr 14, 2025

I continue to go back to Onda b/c the food is so good. Do not miss out on the Korean wings - Fire!

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