Thursday, October 8, 2009
First Bite First Bite: Whiskey Kitchen
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Last month, Carrington told you all about the opening of Whiskey Kitchen, the first outpost in Chris Hyndman's M Street project along McGavock Street. Early Bitester reports were primarily positive with the only complaint being about the music volume. That's an easy fix, so I figured I'd check it out.
Expect a full review to probably show up our dead tree edition some time soon, but at first blush the joint has potential. The ambiance of the restaurant hasn't changed too much since its days as Agave with the basic substitution of wood for adobe and 100 bottles of whiskey for 100 bottles of tequila. There is a slightly disconcerting master server computer station constructed of huge railroad ties that looms over the corner of the dining room like some sort of cowboy DJ booth, but it was easy to look past.
Actually lots of things were easy to overlook in the face of the friendly and attentive service their staff offered to me and the surrounding tables I observed during their startup process. Right there on the menu was was my first sign. Emblazoned over the list of ultra high end bourbons and whiskeys was the disclaimer that "Whiskey is served in a glass with two cubes of ice unless otherwise requested." That's just how I like it, but I thought it was darned courteous to point that out in advance.
When I ordered a glass of water with lemon before my lunch (the cheap bastard cocktail), my server delivered it and then came scurrying back to my table with a bev nap. "That lemon has a lot of seeds in it. I just thought I'd warn you before you squeezed it and give you a napkin to put the seeds in." Dang, I don't get that kind of service from my own mother. And I tip her way more than 20%.
After just one meal, I can't comment too much about the food. I asked what was popular so far and my server recommended Fire Roasted Stuffed Jalapenos, Scott's Famous Chicken Fried Chicken and the Dublin Pub Fish and Chips. I wasn't hungry enough for an appetizer with lunch and I make it point to avoid anything that uses the word "chicken" as an adverb, so I went with the Fish and Chips.
At $13.00, it was definitely a pricey lunch, but not necessarily a bad deal. The serving was enormous and served over a heaping helping of perfectly salted shoestring fries in one of those huge wooden salad bowls that reminded me of the best of 1970's dining. It would have been a perfect size to share, and the nicely crispy beer battered cod and dill tartar sauce would not be difficult to find takers for. Unfortunately I was dining alone, and it wasn't really much of a carry-home meal. Of course that just meant I ate too much. Again.
Go check out Whiskey Kitchen and report your findings back here in the comments. If you need somebody to share your fish and chips, call me.
* Bonus Bites Contest-I have an airplane-size bottle of whiskey for the first commenter who can tell me where the accompanying photo comes from and any of the story behind it. (Hint-Nicki is not eligible.)
Comments (8)
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Bonus question: It's a headstone in the O'Dear (or Dear) Cemetary in St. Marys, TN. It has a relief etching of the man and his still on the back.
Unsure of the history, but that's where it is.
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Tried to go there last night night. It was closed for a private party. If anyone at the Kitchen had picked up the phone when I called or if the website had listed "Closed for private party" under the "special events" section it would have been helpful.
Instead we ended up at the Wine Loft and probably won't be back. Back to the Wine Loft that is. It was nothing special at all. We're still holding out hope that the Kitchen will be good.
Ding ding ding!
Well done, D.A. You can see the picture of his still at my old blog, http://thedryspot.wordpress.com/2006/11/26/mountain-pix/ Ignore the picture of me 30 lbs. ago at the bottom of the post.
I drive past Garnertown Rd. (twice-it's a loop)on the way to and from my cabin every weekend I can.
Drop me a line at cchamberlain (at) nashvillescene (dot) com and I'll arrange to (legally) get you your prize.
I've been to Whiskey Kitchen twice now for drinks and enjoyed myself thoroughly both times (perhaps too thoroughly). We were invited to the "grand opening" party last night but already had reservations for the chef's table at tayst to celebrate our anniversary, so couldn't go.
Haven't tried any of the food yet, but hope to get over there again within the next week to do so and will report back!
That headstone is a plain dogface lie -- Hamper McBee was the best damn moonshiner on the mountain, and everyone knowed it.
HS Batman!
Did you get on the Russian Diet?
Coffee for breakfast
A sensible lunch
Vodka for donner
Didn't eat yet(the food that passed by at least looked good), but I like what they've done at WK. I think the space is massively improved over Agave, more open, better sight lines, it will probably be a good space to catch games too. Nashville is severely lacking in good sports bars, so if it could serve that purpose in addition to being a decent hangout spot, then I think it might make it.
