'Omni Dining District' Offers a Variety of Quality Options

The Nashville Scene's Carrington Fox gives an overview of the dining options at the recently opened Omni Nashville Hotel, including 'sports bar-honky tonk' Barlines, three-meal restaurant Kitchen Notes and upscale Bob's Steak and Chop House. On Barlines, Fox says that "[t]he goal of the establishment is to create an authentic Nashville experience, and sure enough, we spotted real-live Nashvillians hanging out watching the Titans on a Sunday." With it's roster of traditional bar food, Tennessee whiskeys and it's "clubby, pubby" vibe, she sees it offering "a more refined experience than your run-of-the mill sports bar-honky tonk."

Heading over to Kitchen Notes, Omni's breakfast, lunch and dinner spot, Fox is impressed by their Breakfast and Biscuit Bars, as well as their burger ("scored high marks for both quality and price") and "the gently seared crab cake ranked among the best we've found in terms of seafood-to-filler ratio."

And finally Fox sits down to dinner at Bob's Steak and Chop House, where "[s]eldom have we seen portions and pours like the chops and cocktails coming out of the kitchen and bar of this low-lit, wood-paneled and white-table-clothed Texas-born steakhouse." She never comments directly on the food or drink, so maybe it's just to be assumed that she enjoyed it?

Nancy Vienneau at the Tennessee files a similar review, taking on Omni's Barlines, as well as East Nashville watering hole The Crying Wolf. First off, The Crying Wolf, former home of French Quarter Cafe, opened its doors back in August. Commenting on the space, she sees owners Dan and Erica Ness, Dave Young and Jake Manny as "hav[ing] created a neighborhood bar that melds lounge, gallery, live music and event space." The bar features well-made classic cocktails, local beer and even a selection of that most sought after 'brown water,' Pappy Van Winkle. And while the food menu is small, "if you want burgers or sausages, you are in luck. Very good luck. The meats are ground in house. The burgers are fat and flavorful, and the varieties of sausages are inventive and spicy. This is substantial fare — the right stuff with heady drink."

Vienneau's notes on Barlines are similar to Fox's, commenting on its sports bar aesthetic, as well as its "new, polished feel." On the menu, it "offers pub grub — wings, nachos, quesadillas, potato skins — all given a Southerly spin." Highlights are the hot artichoke dip, stone-fired flatbread pizzas and the Shrimp Louis salad.
· The opulent Omni hotel brings dining choices for tourists and locals alike [The Nashville Scene]
· Vibes differ at Crying Wolf and Barlines, but not quality [The Tennessean]