While restaurants continue to struggle in Nashville and beyond because of COVID-19, the hospitality industry is still hopeful about the future of restaurants in Music City. Nashville Eater just posted an update of seven new restaurants, covering everything from Vietnamese to fine dining to coffee, slated to open in Nashville later this year, and our mouths are watering.
1. The Continental
Famed chef Sean Brock is opening The Continental at the bottom floor of The Grand Hyatt, located on Broadway. The restaurant will offer both “fine-dining” with “throwback service style,” including an entire roasted chicken, carved tableside.
2. East Side Banh Mi
The website for East Side Banh Mi doesn’t give a specific opening date, but the menu is already up, and it looks DELICIOUS. From Gracie’s Big Salad, which is described as “Farm Greens, Green Papaya, Pickles, Herbs, Fried Shallots, Roasted Peanuts, Citrus-Soy Vinaigrette” along with choice of protein, to the No. 1, a “Classic Cold Cut Combo: Ham Hock Terrine, Pate, Smoked Giffords Bologna.” East Side Banh Mi might be just what Nashville needs.
3. White Limozeen
The restaurant’s name is derived from the Dolly Parton album and title track, and the interior is drawing inspiration from the country music icon as well. Located on the roof of the Graduate Nashville hotel. White Limozeen is an indoor and outdoor bar and restaurant, with the restaurant’s decor also a nod to Dolly as well, since the owner of The Graduate is from East Tennessee, much like Dolly.
“After moving here, I discovered the reverence that Nashville and the whole state has for Dolly, even when I’m eating a burger at Dino’s and see her on the wall,” owner Marc Rose told the Nashville Scene. “I can see that she’s the patron saint of Tennessee, and now she’s reading books to my daughter on YouTube. Our obsession is inspired by Nashville’s reverence.”
4. Star Rover Sound
Star Rover Sound also doesn’t have an official opening date, but the upcoming Germantown eatery will combine live music with an eclectic mix of bar snacks, including Tijuna-style street tacos and churro soft serve, along with an equally eclectic mix of music, covering everything from jazz to Americana and more.
5. Locust Nashville
The Instagram page for Locust Nashville promises “booze, dumplings, desserts.” Currently still under construction in 12 South, the unique restaurant will also have a walk-up window, offering kakigōri, which is a Japanese version of shaved ice, and other items.
6. Le Loup
Opening at the top of The Optimist, which is already in business on Adams Street, Le Loup is an upscale cocktail lounge offering both Japanese-inspired cocktails and unique food items, such as their Scallop Crudo, with fennel and black salsa, and Foie Gras and Duck Liver Parfait.
7. Hearts Cafe
Nashville may not need another run-of-the-mill coffee shop, but Hearts Cafe might be just what the city does need. The Australian-inspired cafe will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with beer, wine and other spirits, taking their own spin on the food of Melbourne.
“The cafe is the central meeting point for us in Melbourne,” Sam Ross, co-founder of Hearts, said in a statement (via BizJournals.com). “We start our day there, pop back periodically for caffeine and often finish up there for a glass of wine. To have the opportunity to add this to the already vibrant food and drink scene of East Nashville makes us very excited. And to have my twin sister Kate [Ross] at the helm is a bonus.”