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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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