Green Hills is a bustling area known for mall and boutique shopping, as well as its traffic — but the culinary offerings should not be overlooked. Brand new and longstanding eateries offer respite for a hearty pizza, delicious donuts, and a stylish space to relax and sip wine. Take the back roads to reach these restaurants and avoid the action on Hillsboro Pike. This map covers a few of the top spots in the neighborhood.
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Where to Eat in Green Hills
Old and new eateries offer solid options for great food without leaving the traffic-heavy neighborhood

etc. restaurant
Drawing influence from around the world, etc. wows with dishes that are as interesting as the surroundings. A spunky counterpart to sister restaurant, Etch, etc. embodies the creativity and deliciousness for which Deb Paquette is known and revered. Count on an open seat at the bar for last-minute dinner, lunch, or brunch plans.
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Kalamatas
This fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant should not go unnoticed by dinners looking for quality food on the go. At Kalamatas, find fresh food with a brilliant balance of flavors — including creamy hummus, traditional falafel, meat and vegetable-stuffed pitas, kabobs, and standout salads.
Emmy Squared – Green Hills
Emmy Squared won over diners with Detroit-style pizza after opening in the Gulch in 2018. The eatery, known for its square-shaped pies and award-winning burger, opened its second Music City location in Green Hills a year later before expanding again with two additional locations across town. The Green Hills location adds salads, gluten-free crust, and a kids’ menu to the list of offerings, best enjoyed on its corner patio overlooking the movie theatre and mall goers.
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RH Courtyard Restaurant
Enjoy surprisingly delicious food in a stylish space on the first floor of the massive Restoration Hardware, which totals 70,000 square feet of showroom space. Brunch and dinner menus are served daily, and the offerings are tasty and filling. The lobster roll and shrimp cocktail are always good choices, each pairing well with one (or two) of the 40 wines offered by the glass. The food, like the furniture, comes with a high price tag, but the ambiance is hard to match. Plus, you can pass time while waiting for your table or walk off your meal with a stroll through the multiple gallery-style levels.
Fox's Donut Den
Look for the bright lights of the classic neon sign that hangs over this nostalgic donut den. A draw for decades, the institution is well-loved for its classic donuts, as well as the pastries, sausage rolls, and kolaches. Go early to snag the most popular flavors.
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Green Hills Grille
Many Nashville newcomers may not know the history of this local gem: a go-to in the ‘90s and beyond, Green Hills Grille returned in 2015, seven long years after the restaurant closed its doors. Diners homesick for the tortilla soup and chicken salad melt find comfort in the re-opened and revived restaurant that serves familiar dishes and delivers new flavors. The varied menu offers something for everyone — even gluten-free folks, vegetarians, and kids. Head there for weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays to fill up on Southern favorites like steak and eggs or a hot chicken waffle.
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The Food Company
All longtime Nashvillians are quick to name The Food Company as one of the best casual spots in the city — and they are right to do so. A menu consisting of sandwiches, soups, and salads satisfies daytime hunger and makes dinners easy. Under the same ownership and located next door, Greenhouse Bar is another neighborhood go-to with a great margarita sipped inside — as its name suggests — a functioning greenhouse.
Char Restaurant
This Southern-style modern steakhouse, boasting handsome interiors, occupies a ground-floor space in the Vertis Green Hills development. A contemporary approach to an old-school menu of meat and seafood means prime cuts paired with sharable sides and buttery, rich seafood dishes. The bar serves up classic cocktails as jazz music flows throughout the restaurant and piano bar.
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True Food Kitchen
Another well-received transplant, this health-focused chain follows a philosophy that food should make diners feel better, not worse. Expect filling edamame dumplings, kale salads, pizzas, grain and noodle bowls, and seasonal entrées. Plus, find healthier takes on cocktails made with organic spirits and fresh fruits.
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Santo
This modern Mediterranean restaurant, from the team behind Epice as well as neighboring Kalamatas, is a stunning spot that’s welcomed diners since opening in spring 2019. Bright, fresh flavors are found in everything from the white bean puree and the shaved vegetable salad to the market catch.
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Doughbird
Fox Restaurant Concepts’ latest Nashville venture — which has previously included downtown’s Twelve Thirty Club, Pushing Daisies, and Blanco Cocina + Cantina — opened in early 2023. Visit with friends and share an order of truffle cheese bread and a Detroit-style pizza, or call ahead to order the Family on the Fly combo, which includes a whole rotisserie chicken, Caesar salad, two sides, and a choice of sauce for only $40. Mains, cocktails, desserts, and allergy-friendly options are also on the menu.
Noshville Delicatessen
A neighborhood staple, this New York Delicatessen serves all-day breakfast and homemade soups, plus quintessential deli staples: pastrami sandwiches, hot dogs, corned beef and cabbage, and smoked fish. Plan to go early — this spot is only open for breakfast and lunch.
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The Bluebird Cafe
Green Hills is the home of one of Nashville’s most infamous venues — one that’s credited with launching the careers of artists like Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, and Garth Brooks, among others. The Bluebird Cafe amasses a line of visitors eager to snag a good seat at one of two shows per night, which range from songwriter’s rounds to special events and performances. The food menu here is limited, but the apps, burgers, sandwiches, and desserts on the menu are the perfect addition to a show that’s sure to be memorable.
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