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20 Great Spots for a Monday Meal Out in Nashville

From burgers and fries to steak sushi specials around the city

by Delia Jo Ramsey@EaterNashville Updated Feb 7, 2022, 2:16pm CST

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by Delia Jo Ramsey@EaterNashville Updated Feb 7, 2022, 2:16pm CST

Deacon’s New South/Facebook

Even prior to pandemic woes, dining out options on a Monday in Nashville were always more limited than deciding where to eat on, say, a Saturday night. With labor shortages and cutback hours across the city, it’s now tougher than ever to score a Monday night reservation — enter this Eater list of 20 great restaurants around Music City that can turn around any manic Monday.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; the latest data about the delta variant indicates that it may pose a low-to-moderate risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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O-Ku Sushi Nashville

At Nashville’s outpost of the Charleston-based sushi restaurant, chef Eric Hill adds some Nashville flavor to the standard menu — think tebasaki (Japanese fried chicken wings) with Belle Meade bourbon sauce or Nashville hot-style O-Ku rock shrimp. Get half off sushi rolls throughout the restaurant with O-ku’s standout Monday night sushi happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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81 Van Buren St, Nashville, TN 37208

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The Optimist

Ford Fry’s luxe seafood spot in Germantown is one of the best Monday night options in town. Located at the Hammer Mill development in Germantown with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating (and a breezy bar upstairs), the menu here changes, but an opulent seafood tower and oysters are always a good start. Current menu standouts include the crispy octopus, halibut en papillote, and a side of smoked fish fried rice with mushrooms and peanuts.

1400 Adams St, Nashville, TN 37208

Visit Website

Chilled blue crab with squash blossom, zucchini, and west indies dressing on the current menu at the Optimist.

Also featured in:

Zeppelin Nashville Rooftop Bar & Lounge

Sit atop what the Towneplace Suites in what we’re now calling the “capitol district” and take in both city and stadium views in posh Zeppelin. The menu, from Alabama-born executive chef Chris Calder (formerly of Deacon’s), includes some of the chef’s well-loved hits (like chargrilled oysters in NOLA-style bbq butter) but also sees some fun new stuff like a whole fried fish with lemon caper sauce or lemon ricotta cavatelli with Calabrian chili pesto . On Monday nights, sit at the “Nickel Bar” for $1 oysters and 5 cent from 4-10 p.m.

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505 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201

Visit Website

On Monday nights at Zeppelin, sit outside at “Nickel Bar” for $1 oysters and 5 cent from 4-10 pm.

Also featured in:

A Dozen of the Best Oyster Happy Hours in Nashville

Ellington's

The throwback Fairlane Hotel’s fourth-floor restaurant is surrounded by a large wraparound terrace overlooking the street below. Mid-century vibes, 180-degree views plus comfortable seating add to the overall allure. During happy hour at the bar (4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday), enjoy $5 appetizers, well drinks, and beer plus $6 wine and $7 cocktails.

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401 Union St, Nashville, TN 37219

Visit Website

Curried dusted cauliflower, purée, and daikon salad.

Also featured in:

Where to Eat on Christmas Day in Nashville

Deacon's New South

With a new chef running the show, downtown’s L&C building’s ground floor steakhouse is still a great destination for a Monday happy hour or work dinner. Current menu highlights include fried green tomatoes with pepperjack grits, black truffle-topped carbonara, and of course, any of the house dry-aged steaks.

Open in Google Maps

401 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219

Visit Website

Mussels served with garlic-herb butter, soppressata, and sourdough for sopping.

Also featured in:

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

The swanky seafood and steak chain from Texas opened its first Tennessee location last April, with oyster platters, opulent shellfish towers, prime seafood entrees, and steaks aplenty. In the V Lounge Sunday thru Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m., find happy hour specials like $7 appetizers, $8 hand-shaken cocktails and wines by the glass, and oyster specials.

590 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

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Also featured in:

The River House

New to the downtown dining scene from the owners of Nashville staple BrickTop’s, the expansive River House sets an excellent scene with soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and white linen-clad tables topped with luxurious seafood towers, clams casino, Parmesan souffle, and chicken piccata for sharing. Note, there is a business casual dress code so dress accordingly. Bonus: there’s also complimentary valet parking right out front.

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313 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37210

Visit Website

Also featured in:

21 Excellent Date Night Restaurants in Nashville

Chauhan Ale & Masala House

Chef Maneet Chauhan breathed new life and star power into the Nashville dining scene through her eponymous restaurant, Chauhan. The menu taps into Chauhan’s Indian roots while also tapping into the local southern flavor. The tandoori chicken poutine, lamb keema papadi nachos, and her own interesting ode to a Nashville meat-and-three are all distinctive choices.

Open in Google Maps

123 12th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Tandoori chicken poutine is a must-try starter at Chauhan.

Also featured in:

Virago

Serving modern sushi rolls and sashimi in swanky surroundings since 2000, M Street’s sushi-focused restaurant is a long-time Monday night favorite for its Maki Sake Monday — featuring half-price sushi and two-for-one cocktails/sake. A wide menu of nigirizushi (composed sushi), sashimi, and sushi rolls gives plenty of options — or just trust the chef with their omakase option.

1120 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Virago’s Maki Sake Monday runs weekly from 5 to 10 p.m. with half-price sushi and 2-for-1 cocktails and sake.

Also featured in:

Adele's

This restaurant’s name honors Jonathan Waxman’s late mother, and its kitchen celebrates seasonal ingredients showcased in comfort food. While some items — such as the meatballs, kale salad, and JW chicken — have rightfully held their place on the menu since the restaurant’s opening, new dishes are introduced each season.

1210 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

A classic Adele’s duo: the kale Salad and JW chicken

Also featured in:

Oak Steakhouse Nashville

The steakhouse transplant from Charleston opened in 2017, bringing Prime Certified Angus Beef selections, small plates, and entrees incorporating local Tennessee ingredients to a space adjacent to the Westin Hotel. There are plenty of classic steaks here, from an 8-ounce CAB filet to a 36-ounce tomahawk that easily feeds 2.

Open in Google Maps

801 Clark Pl, Nashville, TN 37203

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Also featured in:

Del Frisco's Grille

The more casual spin-off of upscale chain, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Del Frisco’s has locations in the Gulch and Brentwood in Nashville. Fan favorites here include the ahi tuna tacos, cheesesteak egg rolls, double stacked cheeseburgers, and signature steaks.

1201 Demonbreun St Suite 104, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Jimmy Kelly’s Steakhouse

A landmark in West End, the storied steakhouse has served cocktails, corn cakes, and crowd-favorite blue cheese-stuffed filets since 1934. Many of the staff have been there for decades too — so you’re in good hands when placing a steak order here.

Open in Google Maps

217 Louise Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Also featured in:

15 Unforgettable Steakhouses Around Nashville

Midtown Cafe

Charming long-time Music Row destination Midtown Cafe is a Nashville staple from Randy Rayburn. Open for over 30 years, the cozy little cafe known for its lemon artichoke soup transports diners back to the Nashville before the influx of bro-country and bachelorettes. Midtown Cafe offers a free shuttle service for travelers to downtown hotels, and for locals who need transportation to downtown performances after dinner (must reserve ahead of time).

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102 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Sunset Grill Original Combo Nachos are now available on Midtown’s day and night menus.

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Sambuca

One of the last restaurants standing from a time when Nashvillians never thought to dine in the Gulch, Sambuca offers live music nightly and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

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601 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

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The Chef and I on Ninth

Built on a love story with rock and roll accents, the Gulch restaurant from chef and Nashville native Chris Rains and his wife Eric features a “show kitchen” with the option of a tasting menu or a la carte dining.

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611 9th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

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Crispy farm-raised duck breast sliced over sriracha-infused miso sauce, with pan-roasted fingerling potatoes, locally grown mushrooms, and shishito peppers

Henley

Since taking the helm as chef de cuisine of the Kimpton Aertson Hotel and its brasserie and standout bar in 2021, Kristin Beringson has made the Southern-leaning seasonal menu her own, churning out stellar plates featuring ingredients from the Nashville region. Fast favorites include the country fried brie, beef and beet tartare, braised brisket reginetti, crispy pork belly with smoked peaches, and the scallops and grits with popcorn butter and XO sauce.

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2023 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

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etc. restaurant

Etc. chef Deb Paquette’s spunky counterpart to sister restaurant, Etch, embodies the creativity and deliciousness for which the veteran chef is known and revered. Hidden off the main Green Hills drag, don’t miss the furikake fried green tomatoes, grilled pork loin, whatever soup she’s whipped up for the day, or the daily ice cream or sorbet.

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3790 Bedford Ave, Nashville, TN 37215

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Mere Bulles Restaurant

Open on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., this Brentwood mainstay with a lovely patio offers classic favorites like jumbo lump crab cakes, she crab soup, and juicy prime rib. Bonus: they also always offer half-off wine bottles.

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5201 Maryland Way, Brentwood, TN 37027

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Also featured in:

Where to Grab Lunch on a Patio in Nashville Right Now

Chrysalis Modern Italian

Chrysalis Modern Italian snuck into the Cool Springs/Corothers stretch in early 2021. It’s not your everyday mom-and-pop style Italian joint, but a cozy neighborhood restaurant dishing out create-your-own cheese/charcuterie boards alongside housemade rosemary focaccia, pasta, seafood, and meat specials with modern flair.

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9040 Carothers Pkwy Suite A201, Franklin, TN 37067

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Also featured in:

15 Incredible Italian Restaurants in Nashville

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O-Ku Sushi Nashville

81 Van Buren St, Nashville, TN 37208

At Nashville’s outpost of the Charleston-based sushi restaurant, chef Eric Hill adds some Nashville flavor to the standard menu — think tebasaki (Japanese fried chicken wings) with Belle Meade bourbon sauce or Nashville hot-style O-Ku rock shrimp. Get half off sushi rolls throughout the restaurant with O-ku’s standout Monday night sushi happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Open in Google Maps

81 Van Buren St, Nashville, TN 37208

Visit Website

The Optimist

1400 Adams St, Nashville, TN 37208

Ford Fry’s luxe seafood spot in Germantown is one of the best Monday night options in town. Located at the Hammer Mill development in Germantown with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating (and a breezy bar upstairs), the menu here changes, but an opulent seafood tower and oysters are always a good start. Current menu standouts include the crispy octopus, halibut en papillote, and a side of smoked fish fried rice with mushrooms and peanuts.

1400 Adams St, Nashville, TN 37208

Visit Website

Chilled blue crab with squash blossom, zucchini, and west indies dressing on the current menu at the Optimist.

Zeppelin Nashville Rooftop Bar & Lounge

505 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201

Sit atop what the Towneplace Suites in what we’re now calling the “capitol district” and take in both city and stadium views in posh Zeppelin. The menu, from Alabama-born executive chef Chris Calder (formerly of Deacon’s), includes some of the chef’s well-loved hits (like chargrilled oysters in NOLA-style bbq butter) but also sees some fun new stuff like a whole fried fish with lemon caper sauce or lemon ricotta cavatelli with Calabrian chili pesto . On Monday nights, sit at the “Nickel Bar” for $1 oysters and 5 cent from 4-10 p.m.

Open in Google Maps

505 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201

Visit Website

On Monday nights at Zeppelin, sit outside at “Nickel Bar” for $1 oysters and 5 cent from 4-10 pm.

Ellington's

401 Union St, Nashville, TN 37219

The throwback Fairlane Hotel’s fourth-floor restaurant is surrounded by a large wraparound terrace overlooking the street below. Mid-century vibes, 180-degree views plus comfortable seating add to the overall allure. During happy hour at the bar (4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday), enjoy $5 appetizers, well drinks, and beer plus $6 wine and $7 cocktails.

Open in Google Maps

401 Union St, Nashville, TN 37219

Visit Website

Curried dusted cauliflower, purée, and daikon salad.

Deacon's New South

401 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219

With a new chef running the show, downtown’s L&C building’s ground floor steakhouse is still a great destination for a Monday happy hour or work dinner. Current menu highlights include fried green tomatoes with pepperjack grits, black truffle-topped carbonara, and of course, any of the house dry-aged steaks.

Open in Google Maps

401 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219

Visit Website

Mussels served with garlic-herb butter, soppressata, and sourdough for sopping.

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

590 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

The swanky seafood and steak chain from Texas opened its first Tennessee location last April, with oyster platters, opulent shellfish towers, prime seafood entrees, and steaks aplenty. In the V Lounge Sunday thru Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m., find happy hour specials like $7 appetizers, $8 hand-shaken cocktails and wines by the glass, and oyster specials.

590 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

The River House

313 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37210

New to the downtown dining scene from the owners of Nashville staple BrickTop’s, the expansive River House sets an excellent scene with soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and white linen-clad tables topped with luxurious seafood towers, clams casino, Parmesan souffle, and chicken piccata for sharing. Note, there is a business casual dress code so dress accordingly. Bonus: there’s also complimentary valet parking right out front.

Open in Google Maps

313 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37210

Visit Website

Chauhan Ale & Masala House

123 12th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203

Chef Maneet Chauhan breathed new life and star power into the Nashville dining scene through her eponymous restaurant, Chauhan. The menu taps into Chauhan’s Indian roots while also tapping into the local southern flavor. The tandoori chicken poutine, lamb keema papadi nachos, and her own interesting ode to a Nashville meat-and-three are all distinctive choices.

Open in Google Maps

123 12th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Tandoori chicken poutine is a must-try starter at Chauhan.

Virago

1120 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203

Serving modern sushi rolls and sashimi in swanky surroundings since 2000, M Street’s sushi-focused restaurant is a long-time Monday night favorite for its Maki Sake Monday — featuring half-price sushi and two-for-one cocktails/sake. A wide menu of nigirizushi (composed sushi), sashimi, and sushi rolls gives plenty of options — or just trust the chef with their omakase option.

1120 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Virago’s Maki Sake Monday runs weekly from 5 to 10 p.m. with half-price sushi and 2-for-1 cocktails and sake.

Adele's

1210 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203

This restaurant’s name honors Jonathan Waxman’s late mother, and its kitchen celebrates seasonal ingredients showcased in comfort food. While some items — such as the meatballs, kale salad, and JW chicken — have rightfully held their place on the menu since the restaurant’s opening, new dishes are introduced each season.

1210 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

A classic Adele’s duo: the kale Salad and JW chicken

Oak Steakhouse Nashville

801 Clark Pl, Nashville, TN 37203

The steakhouse transplant from Charleston opened in 2017, bringing Prime Certified Angus Beef selections, small plates, and entrees incorporating local Tennessee ingredients to a space adjacent to the Westin Hotel. There are plenty of classic steaks here, from an 8-ounce CAB filet to a 36-ounce tomahawk that easily feeds 2.

Open in Google Maps

801 Clark Pl, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Del Frisco's Grille

1201 Demonbreun St Suite 104, Nashville, TN 37203

The more casual spin-off of upscale chain, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Del Frisco’s has locations in the Gulch and Brentwood in Nashville. Fan favorites here include the ahi tuna tacos, cheesesteak egg rolls, double stacked cheeseburgers, and signature steaks.

1201 Demonbreun St Suite 104, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Jimmy Kelly’s Steakhouse

217 Louise Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

A landmark in West End, the storied steakhouse has served cocktails, corn cakes, and crowd-favorite blue cheese-stuffed filets since 1934. Many of the staff have been there for decades too — so you’re in good hands when placing a steak order here.

Open in Google Maps

217 Louise Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website

Midtown Cafe

102 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

Charming long-time Music Row destination Midtown Cafe is a Nashville staple from Randy Rayburn. Open for over 30 years, the cozy little cafe known for its lemon artichoke soup transports diners back to the Nashville before the influx of bro-country and bachelorettes. Midtown Cafe offers a free shuttle service for travelers to downtown hotels, and for locals who need transportation to downtown performances after dinner (must reserve ahead of time).

Open in Google Maps

102 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit Website