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The Hottest Restaurants in Nashville Right Now, January 2015

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 say farewell to Hattie B's Hot Chicken (which has graduated to the 18 Essential Nashville Restaurants list) and Party Fowl, and welcome Gulch steakhouse Prima.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Thai Esane

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907 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37216
(615) 454-5373
(615) 454-5373
Visit Website
Formerly working the family business at King Market in Antioch, Tim Singto and his wife Nina Sayasack brought those popular Thai flavors to 12 South (almost The Gulch) in early June. It's hard to go wrong when ordering, but don't miss the Esane sausage, a family recipe handed down to Nina by her aunt.

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2. Sinema

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2600 Franklin Pike #102
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 942-7746
(615) 942-7746
Visit Website
Simply speaking, Sinema is like nothing else in Nashville. Top Chef alum and recent Chicago transplant Dale Levitski is at the helm, showcasing his signature take on seasonal ingredients. Think basil buttermilk panna cotta and Colorado rack of lamb with anchovy sauce. The space is a doozy as well, occupying what was originally the historic Melrose Theater. While the ground floor is the main event, don't miss the second floor's cocktail lounge and bar.

3. Adele's

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1210 McGavock St
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 988-9700
(615) 988-9700
Visit Website
Adele's is the new Gulch outpost from New York City celebrity chef Jonathan Waxman. Set inside an old auto repair shop, the space is light and airy, with a large open kitchen. The menu leans towards more rustic offerings, including roasted amberjack and Waxman's signature 'JW' chicken and 'JW' potatoes.

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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 last December. Chef Andrew Little has crafted a concise menu of New American dishes, highlighting seasonal products.

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5. Pinewood Social

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33 Peabody St
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111
(615) 751-8111
Visit Website
Housed within Strategic Hospitality's 13,000 square feet of 'social gathering space' 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. Add with that the additional attractions of bowling, karaoke, ample meeting space and a recently opened outdoor pool area, it makes for a truly unique vision not just for Nashville, but for anywhere.

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6. The 404 Kitchen

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404 12th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 251-1404
(615) 251-1404
Visit Website
This 45-seat restaurant in the Gulch, attached to the just-opened 404 Hotel and housed in a re-purposed storage container, has been drawing crowds since opening last fall. 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 Sutler

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2600 Franklin Pike
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 840-6124
(615) 840-6124
Visit Website
The newest project from M.L. Rose owner Austin Ray, this re-imagining of the much loved original has something for everyone. The upstairs acts as an entertainment venue, restaurant and bar, while the downstairs offers up quite the opposite, housing a large cocktail lounge with an interesting design aesthetic.

8. Love, Peace and Pho

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2112 8th Avenue S
Nashville, TN
615-942-0045
615-942-0045
Visit Website
This new family-run Vietnamese eatery has been open for less than two months, but solid word-of-mouth and some recent positive press have helped it start to pick up steam. Obviously the pho is a can't miss, but be sure to try any of a number of their top-notch banh mis.

9. Chauhan Ale and Masala House

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123 12th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 779-3770
(615) 779-3770
Visit Website
Just a few weeks ago, celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan was finally able to open the doors to her much anticipated first restaurant. The menu is a departure from pretty much any other big opening in town, offering up Indian cuisine with a bit of British pub flare.

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10. Prima

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700 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 873-4232
(615) 873-4232
Visit Website
Opened exactly two months ago, the newest concept from Community Hospitality (Burger Up, Josephine) took over a long empty (and prime) space in the ground floor of the Terrazzo condo tower in The Gulch. Executive chef Salvador Avila is earning praise for his Mediterranean and internationally inspired dishes. And the space is a stunner, with large custom sculptures from famed British artist Bruce Munro.

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1. Thai Esane

907 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37216
Formerly working the family business at King Market in Antioch, Tim Singto and his wife Nina Sayasack brought those popular Thai flavors to 12 South (almost The Gulch) in early June. It's hard to go wrong when ordering, but don't miss the Esane sausage, a family recipe handed down to Nina by her aunt.
907 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37216
(615) 454-5373
Visit Website

2. Sinema

2600 Franklin Pike #102, Nashville, TN 37204
Simply speaking, Sinema is like nothing else in Nashville. Top Chef alum and recent Chicago transplant Dale Levitski is at the helm, showcasing his signature take on seasonal ingredients. Think basil buttermilk panna cotta and Colorado rack of lamb with anchovy sauce. The space is a doozy as well, occupying what was originally the historic Melrose Theater. While the ground floor is the main event, don't miss the second floor's cocktail lounge and bar.
2600 Franklin Pike #102
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 942-7746
Visit Website

3. Adele's

1210 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203
Adele's is the new Gulch outpost from New York City celebrity chef Jonathan Waxman. Set inside an old auto repair shop, the space is light and airy, with a large open kitchen. The menu leans towards more rustic offerings, including roasted amberjack and Waxman's signature 'JW' chicken and 'JW' potatoes.
1210 McGavock St
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 988-9700
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 last December. Chef Andrew Little has crafted a concise menu of New American dishes, highlighting seasonal products.
2316 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 292-7766
Visit Website

5. Pinewood Social

33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
Housed within Strategic Hospitality's 13,000 square feet of 'social gathering space' 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. Add with that the additional attractions of bowling, karaoke, ample meeting space and a recently opened outdoor pool area, it makes for a truly unique vision not just for Nashville, but for anywhere.
33 Peabody St
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 just-opened 404 Hotel and housed in a re-purposed storage container, has been drawing crowds since opening last fall. 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
(615) 251-1404
Visit Website

7. The Sutler

2600 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37204
The newest project from M.L. Rose owner Austin Ray, this re-imagining of the much loved original has something for everyone. The upstairs acts as an entertainment venue, restaurant and bar, while the downstairs offers up quite the opposite, housing a large cocktail lounge with an interesting design aesthetic.
2600 Franklin Pike
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 840-6124
Visit Website

8. Love, Peace and Pho

2112 8th Avenue S, Nashville, TN
This new family-run Vietnamese eatery has been open for less than two months, but solid word-of-mouth and some recent positive press have helped it start to pick up steam. Obviously the pho is a can't miss, but be sure to try any of a number of their top-notch banh mis.
2112 8th Avenue S
Nashville, TN
615-942-0045
Visit Website

9. Chauhan Ale and Masala House

123 12th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203
Just a few weeks ago, celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan was finally able to open the doors to her much anticipated first restaurant. The menu is a departure from pretty much any other big opening in town, offering up Indian cuisine with a bit of British pub flare.
123 12th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 779-3770
Visit Website

10. Prima

700 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203
Opened exactly two months ago, the newest concept from Community Hospitality (Burger Up, Josephine) took over a long empty (and prime) space in the ground floor of the Terrazzo condo tower in The Gulch. Executive chef Salvador Avila is earning praise for his Mediterranean and internationally inspired dishes. And the space is a stunner, with large custom sculptures from famed British artist Bruce Munro.
700 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 873-4232
Visit Website

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