Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Nashville

OpenTable

Updated March 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 favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

etc.

4.9

4.9 (2869)

$31 to $50

Fusion / Eclectic

Green Hills

About the restaurant

Located in the Bedford Commons complex of the Green Hills neighborhood, etc. offers lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and dinner on Saturday. At the second, smaller version of sister restaurant Etch, Chef Deb Paquette incorporates her favorite spices, produce, and global recipes into the menus for an adventurous dining experience. The bar program offers a succinct wine list with selections from around the world, select craft beer, and an array of elevated craft cocktails.

The cozy 2400 square foot layout features simply adorned tables, comfortable banquette seating, a large inviting bar, along with plenty of open-air seating. Funky light fixtures, striking electric blue tile, copper and glass accents, and warm woods fill out the intimate space.

Top review

SamuelVIP

Dined 3 days ago

I love ETC. It’s one of my favorite restaurants. I love the relaxed atmosphere, consistently good food and drinks, interesting food options, and outstanding customer service.

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Popular dish

Roasted Cauliflower Bowl

Experience

Mother's Day

Bastion

4.9

4.9 (79)

$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

DanVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Amazing experience…each course is carefully crafted with creative approach to the traditional restaurant.

Locust Nashville

4.9

4.9 (83)

$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.

On Sunday nights, the team pumps out dumplings folded to order for a more casual, walk-ins-only experience.

Lunch: Friday - Sunday 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM (reservations required)
Dinner: Friday - Saturday 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM (reservations required)
Sunday Walk-Ins: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (first come, first served)
Patio Bar: Friday - Sunday 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 1 day ago

The best dinner and experience, every single time!

Koré

4.9

4.9 (115)

$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

RachelVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Food was incredible, we will absolutely be back! Service is as excellent as well.

The Catbird Seat

4.8

4.8 (224)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Music Row

About the restaurant

The Catbird Seat is an intimate, chef-driven restaurant and culinary incubator that provides chefs a creative outlet in an interactive and open kitchen setting. With just 20 seats arranged around a U-shaped counter, guests are offered a front-row view of the chefs at work, crafting a 10-12 course tasting menu that evolves with the seasons.

Currently led by Chefs Tiffani Ortiz and Andy Doubrava, the menu features a dynamic selection of dishes that emphasize sustainability and innovation. Drawing on ingredients preserved from past seasons, foraged finds, and items from their larder, Ortiz and Doubrava showcase their commitment to creativity, resourcefulness, and a modern approach to sustainable cooking.

Since its opening, The Catbird Seat has received numerous accolades, including recognition as one of GQ Magazine’s Best New Restaurants, Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants, Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wine Restaurants, and Opinionated About Dining’s Top 100 North American Restaurants.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined today

Absolutely outstanding. We often eat in highly regarded chef’s restaurants and this food, staff, and overall experience rivaled that of any 5 star food experience. These people love what they do and they are Friends and it shows in every aspect of the evening. We did the pairing as well which was outstanding. Thank you for a beyond special first evening in Nashville.

Rolf and Daughters

4.8

4.8 (408)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Germantown

About the restaurant

Located in the historic Werthan factory, Rolf and Daughters offers a casual, vibrant atmosphere that pairs well with its sharable plates, evolving natural wine list, and house cocktails. Since opening in late 2012, Philip Krajeck's Germantown restaurant has been named one of America's Best New Restaurants by Bon Appétit and Esquire magazines. Fun, seasonal, and inventive, the menu highlights produce from local farms and handmade pastas.

Reservations are accepted for the dining room, communal tables, and bar. We also keep a portion of the restaurant open for walk-ins, both at the bar and communal tables!

Top review

BethVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Always an excellent experience!! The food is perfection !

Peninsula

4.8

4.8 (188)

$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

AaronI

Dined 1 day ago

Omg! Yas! Delicious! Sexy! Beets. Octopus. Endive. All that. We enjoyed it.

Kokomo Trading Company

4.6

4.6 (134)

$30 and under

Caribbean

Franklin

About the restaurant

Island inspired, music city infused. Kokomo Trading Company is a fusion of delicious chef-created cuisine, extraordinary beverages, and exceptional live music. Familiar and exotic flavors that satisfy and immerse our guests in an atmosphere of warmth, relaxation, adventure and the Spirit of community.

Executive chef and one of three owners, David Morrow, was born and raised on the Emerald island of Ireland. David was recognized early on for his outstanding ability in the Culinary Arts. He was eventually recruited and trained by Irish Celebrity Chef and television personality, Neven Maguire, at the world famous MacNean House. Chef Morrow brings his passion for excellence in food along with years of experience and love for agriculture, farming, producing and sourcing only the finest, nutrient rich products.

Top review

ConstanceVIP

Dined on Feb 17, 2025

Great food and service…just close to nearby tables of louder clients. Hope they grow more popular and and have a larger space to share their great menu and service!

Bad Idea

4.5

4.5 (67)

$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

Allen

Dined 2 days ago

Great wine selection and tasty bites. Perfect place for a quiet and relaxing dinner.

Top Note

4.0

4 (25)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located in between Germantown and Downtown Nashville we are your go to spot for good times and great views. We were previously known as Zeppelin, but we have rebranded with a new name, new concept, and a new menu. Don't worry though- we still have the same great staff and atmosphere!

We are:
a 15-minute walk to Broadway
a 2-minute walk to the Municipal Auditorium/ Musician's Hall of Fame
a 20-minute walk to Nissan Stadium
a 7-minute walk to Bicentennial Park
a 10-minute walk to First Horizon Park
a 10-minute walk to Printer's Alley
a 9-minute walk to the Tennessee State Capitol

Top review

diner01

Dined on Mar 3, 2025

Great view from the roof with a friendly server and delicious food. Will be back!

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Experience

Top Note Jack Daniel's Dinner

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