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The Eater Nashville Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

by Matt Rogers
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by Matt Rogers

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What are the newest and hottest restaurants? For that very reason, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change periodically to highlight where the food-crazed masses are flocking to at the moment. For this edition, we welcome Riffs Cafe at Highland Ridge. Yes, it opened back at the beginning of October, but with a glowing review this past weekend in The Tennessean and a kitchen crew that's hitting its stride, it was time.


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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Riffs Cafe at Highland Ridge

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555 Marriott Dr Ste 105
Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 669-8782
(615) 669-8782
Located in the Highland Ridge business park near the airport, Riffs Cafe, owned and operated by BJ Lofback, best known for his popular food truck Riffs Fine Street Food, serves up breakfast and lunch that is far better than what it needs to be. Grab a hefty breakfast burrito in the morning, then swing back by for the 'Two Dollar Pistol,' chef Drew Whitney's take on Nashville hot chicken. And do not skip pastry chef Audra Dykes' addictive creations.

2. Two Ten Jack

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1900 Eastland Ave #105
Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-2731
(615) 454-2731
Visit Website
The heavily anticipated izakaya and ramen house, Nashville's first, opened last week. The menu features, among other things, a selection of small plates, cold noodle dishes and grilled and skewered proteins and vegetables. But the main event is (of course) ramen, offering several classic variations that can't be found, at least on a daily basis, anywhere else in town.

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3. Epice

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2902 12th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 720-6765
(615) 720-6765
Visit Website
The latest restaurant opening in the growing 12 South neighborhood, this Lebanese bistro is the newest project from Kalamatas owner Maher Fawaz. Set in an intimate, no-frills space, the menu offers up simple, classic dishes with an emphasis on flavor.

Also Featured in:

4. Josephine

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2316 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 292-7766
(615) 292-7766
Visit Website
Josephine, the newest restaurant from Miranda Whitcomb Pontes and her newly formed Community Hospitality group, has been packing them in on 12 South since opening at the beginning of December. Chef Andrew Little has crafted a concise menu of New American dishes, highlighting seasonal products. And with brunch and lunch service in full effect, look for this one to continue to heat up.

Also Featured in:

5. Pinewood Social

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33 Peabody Street
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111
(615) 751-8111
Visit Website
Pinewood Social, the ambitious new 'social gathering space' from the Strategic Hospitality team, is now open. Housed within its 13,000 square feet is breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner from former The Catbird Seat chef Josh Habiger, craft cocktails from Rolf and Daughters/Patterson House alum Matt Tocco and coffee selections from Crema, along with bowling, karaoke and ample meeting space, making it a truly unique vision not just for Nashville, but for anywhere.

Also Featured in:

6. The 404 Kitchen

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404 12th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
Visit Website
This 45-seat restaurant in the Gulch, attached to the soon-to-open 404 Hotel and housed in a re-purposed storage container, has been drawing crowds since opening just a few weeks ago. Executive chef Matt Bolus is turning out creative dishes using products such as house-made burrata and sheepshead, a type of fish not typically found on many menus.

Also Featured in:

7. The Farm House

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210 Almond St
Nashville, TN 37201
Visit Website
This is the first solo project from executive chef Trey Cioccia, a long time veteran of Nashville's restaurant scene. Located in the Encore condo development in SoBro, The Farm House takes its locally sourced aesthetic seriously, bringing in produce and proteins from all over Tennessee, including some from Trey's own family farm. Signature dishes are the pork belly agnolotti and the short rib.

8. The Treehouse

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1011 Clearview Avenue
Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-4201
(615) 454-4201
Visit Website
The newest addition to the Five Points district in East Nashville has a lot of history, with the property having been in the owners' family for decades and a great deal of the original structure being re-used in the restaurant build-out. As for the food, executive chef Todd Alan Martin puts an innovative twist on the cuisines of the Americas, as well as Asia, with a playful menu that changes frequently.

9. Hattie B's Hot Chicken

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112 19th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 678-4794
(615) 678-4794
Visit Website
Bringing one of Nashville's signature dishes to Midtown, Hattie B's has a real winner on its hands. Owned and operated by the Bishops (of Cool Springs' Bishop's Meat and Three), the heat goes from the barely there 'mild' to the insane 'shut the cluck up.' And with the very recent announcement of a second location, look for this one to continue to burn.

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1. Riffs Cafe at Highland Ridge

555 Marriott Dr Ste 105, Nashville, TN 37214
Located in the Highland Ridge business park near the airport, Riffs Cafe, owned and operated by BJ Lofback, best known for his popular food truck Riffs Fine Street Food, serves up breakfast and lunch that is far better than what it needs to be. Grab a hefty breakfast burrito in the morning, then swing back by for the 'Two Dollar Pistol,' chef Drew Whitney's take on Nashville hot chicken. And do not skip pastry chef Audra Dykes' addictive creations.
555 Marriott Dr Ste 105
Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 669-8782

2. Two Ten Jack

1900 Eastland Ave #105, Nashville, TN 37206
The heavily anticipated izakaya and ramen house, Nashville's first, opened last week. The menu features, among other things, a selection of small plates, cold noodle dishes and grilled and skewered proteins and vegetables. But the main event is (of course) ramen, offering several classic variations that can't be found, at least on a daily basis, anywhere else in town.
1900 Eastland Ave #105
Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-2731
Visit Website

3. Epice

2902 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
The latest restaurant opening in the growing 12 South neighborhood, this Lebanese bistro is the newest project from Kalamatas owner Maher Fawaz. Set in an intimate, no-frills space, the menu offers up simple, classic dishes with an emphasis on flavor.
2902 12th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 720-6765
Visit Website

4. Josephine

2316 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37204
Josephine, the newest restaurant from Miranda Whitcomb Pontes and her newly formed Community Hospitality group, has been packing them in on 12 South since opening at the beginning of December. Chef Andrew Little has crafted a concise menu of New American dishes, highlighting seasonal products. And with brunch and lunch service in full effect, look for this one to continue to heat up.
2316 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 292-7766
Visit Website

5. Pinewood Social

33 Peabody Street, Nashville, TN 37210
Pinewood Social, the ambitious new 'social gathering space' from the Strategic Hospitality team, is now open. Housed within its 13,000 square feet is breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner from former The Catbird Seat chef Josh Habiger, craft cocktails from Rolf and Daughters/Patterson House alum Matt Tocco and coffee selections from Crema, along with bowling, karaoke and ample meeting space, making it a truly unique vision not just for Nashville, but for anywhere.
33 Peabody Street
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111
Visit Website

6. The 404 Kitchen

404 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
This 45-seat restaurant in the Gulch, attached to the soon-to-open 404 Hotel and housed in a re-purposed storage container, has been drawing crowds since opening just a few weeks ago. Executive chef Matt Bolus is turning out creative dishes using products such as house-made burrata and sheepshead, a type of fish not typically found on many menus.
404 12th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
Visit Website

7. The Farm House

210 Almond St, Nashville, TN 37201
This is the first solo project from executive chef Trey Cioccia, a long time veteran of Nashville's restaurant scene. Located in the Encore condo development in SoBro, The Farm House takes its locally sourced aesthetic seriously, bringing in produce and proteins from all over Tennessee, including some from Trey's own family farm. Signature dishes are the pork belly agnolotti and the short rib.
210 Almond St
Nashville, TN 37201
Visit Website

8. The Treehouse

1011 Clearview Avenue, Nashville, TN 37206
The newest addition to the Five Points district in East Nashville has a lot of history, with the property having been in the owners' family for decades and a great deal of the original structure being re-used in the restaurant build-out. As for the food, executive chef Todd Alan Martin puts an innovative twist on the cuisines of the Americas, as well as Asia, with a playful menu that changes frequently.
1011 Clearview Avenue
Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-4201
Visit Website

9. Hattie B's Hot Chicken

112 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Bringing one of Nashville's signature dishes to Midtown, Hattie B's has a real winner on its hands. Owned and operated by the Bishops (of Cool Springs' Bishop's Meat and Three), the heat goes from the barely there 'mild' to the insane 'shut the cluck up.' And with the very recent announcement of a second location, look for this one to continue to burn.
112 19th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 678-4794
Visit Website

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