Matt Menold and Stephanie Sabelli opened this 21-and-over Inglewood bar back in September and it’s built a loyal fan base that enjoys kicking back with a draft beer. Accompanying those drinks: Mediterranean bites like falafel, a Bakara bakery pita stuffed with spiced beef and garlic hummus, and quarter-pound burgers topped with tzatziki, tabouli, arugula, and feta. There’s also a dog-friendly patio if your dining companion happens to be of the four-legged variety.

What started as a part-time pop-up out of Nelson Drum Shop/Weak Coffee in Nashville, has evolved into a permanently parked funky Airstream doling out sourdough bagels from a wood-fired oven thanks to the tenacity of owner Kathleen Sharpe. Bagels can be ordered one of two ways: the eponymous “all” (loaded with homemade schmear) or “nothing” (plain). It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., but sell-outs happen, so err on the early side.

Alex Burch, an advanced sommelier who’s led the wine programs at Bastion and Henrietta Red, and Colby Rasavong, a 2022 StarChefs Rising Chef Award recipient, have brought Lao cuisine and a dizzying array of fantastic wine to East Nashville. Starters like nam khao croquettes segue into scallop-stuffed crepes with nam prik blanquette and bucksnort trout served alongside turmeric crepes. You can count on a perpetually full glass thanks to the 3,000 bottles in the custom-made wine cellar.

Nashville loves a good steakhouse, but Harper’s in SoBro has a different energy than your typical chophouse with vibrant floral wallpaper, cozy dining nooks, lush greenery, and intricate stonework and archways. The buzzy, see-and-be-seen atmosphere is mirrored in a showy menu of tuna crudo on a cloud of dry ice, delicate slices of elk tenderloin in a blackberry demi-glace, and massive desserts (like a creme brulee that’s torched tableside) that feed four to six people.

Pat Martin (Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint and Hugh-Baby’s) is at it again, this time, with a traditional Southern breakfast joint in Donelson. Breakfast starts at 7 a.m. with sock sausages, mill-ground grits, pancakes with hickory syrup, and pecan cinnamon rolls. SweetMilk will also bake a limited number of cast iron-baked biscuits every day using White Lily Flour, so consider getting there on the earlier side to snag a few to go with the restaurant’s housemade raspberry jelly.

Wedgewood-Houston’s on a roll this year with another new opening, this one courtesy of chefs Ryan and Matthew Poli. This time, the brothers are laser-focused on Italian cuisine with a 70-seat main dining room centered around a large open kitchen. From there, guests can watch as the chefs prepare housemade brioche garlic bread with whipped cheese, Maine crab tortellini, and seaweed garganelli with Japanese green chiles and scallop bottarga. Gluten-free pasta is also available as a substitute for most dishes.

The sister restaurant to Butchertown Hall, Mercado has opened the doors to its coastal, Baja-influenced eatery in Wedgewood Houston. The multi-story space offers various seating options including a communal dining table, raw bar accommodations, and outdoor patio space where you can order picadillo tacos with pickled red onion, seared scallop tostadas with lime crema, Mexican aguachiles, and different flavored margaritas. Don’t forget to check out its rooftop oyster and cocktail bar, Ramone’s, with scenic views of the city.

Curry and Tikka doles out a mean dahi puri, a tender lamb vindaloo, and buttery naan from its unassuming new digs on Thompson Lane — that’s thanks to chef Agni Ranjit, who honed his skills in Maneet Chauhan and Brian Riggenbach’s kitchens. Locals have been flocking in and raving about its dishes (most of which are exclusively prepared in a tandoor oven), including inventive twists on the standards like a tikka mac and cheese. The restaurant recently launched a lunch buffet that features all of the menu’s greatest hits for $14.99 per person.

Bestia Mare is Culaccino owner and executive chef Frank Pullara’s second concept in Franklin. But this eatery pulls its inspiration from the Italian South with a strong focus on coastal Mediterranean dishes and seafood. The light, airy space utilizes sustainable seafood sources and features a raw bar with oysters, caviar-topped tuna tartare with house-made chips, and octopus carpaccio. For the main course, expect heartier dishes like the snapper al cartoccio (baked in parchment), Faroe Island salmon, and land-based dishes like Cornish hen and a pork rib chop.