Comment Archives: stories: Restaurants: Bites
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
1. Kayne Prime
2. Baja Burrito
3. City House
4. Husk
5. Kien Giang
Re: “Hungry for Sourdough: How-to and When-to?”
Thanks for the link, Lesley! Will be saving this read and helpful comment notes for when I finally think I'm ready to tackle sourdough. Hopefully, soon!
Re: “First Bite: Husk Nashville”
My only quibble about the price points is the very tiny difference between vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. Usually a vegetarian plate is upwards of $10 cheaper, depending on the "protein." A $3 difference in a green plate and one with high-end beef or pork just seems odd to me. That $25 plate looks more like an $18 plate.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
I just can't. Can't list just five because I will list them and then remember five others.
Re: “Kale Salad: A Healthy Midnight Refrigerator Snack — No, Really”
just made this recipe! Tasted pretty much exactly like the kale salad at the Tavern. I added extra red pepper flakes for some extra spice :) The lemon juice (to me) is really key in this dish because it cuts from the grassy taste that kale normally has.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
This may be a double post; if so, pls forgive.
Thank you Nashvillenicole on the reservation comments. I was making similar comments on Lockeland Table on Twitter -- not in a demanding or ugly way, just "Hey, it would be really nice if LT & R&D used OT." Got a snippy response and then UNfollowed by the chef-owner because of it. Surprised they let me in when I made a res after that. So, while LT would be high on my list otherwise, they don't make the cut here for being kind of ugly about it. I am a big fan of Eastland Cafe, also not on OT, but the difference there is they typically answer the phone when you call and you don't have to wait 1/2 a day to even hear back.
Also, +1 on Lime. I really liked it.
I like casual places and I like the "snooty" places. Although, it's hard to call City House or Husk snooty - even though they are downtown and aren't dinner-under-$10 places, and the decor is nice, there are no white tablecloths, the food is rustic, and you'll see clientele in a wide variety of dress.
My top 5? Tough question. Lots of places I've only been to once, and liked but wasn't bowled over with that one meal to the point I'd include 'em at this stage.
In a class by itself: Catbird Seat.
City House is number one. After that, in no particular order: Eastland Cafe, Porta Via, Yellow Porch, Germantown Cafe.
Casual joints: Edley's (when you can get a seat ...), B&C, Siam Cafe. Haven't been to Martin's or Gabby's - need to.
Places I HAVE been, but just the once, or not in a long time: Silo, Husk (watch for a write-up on the blog ...), Capitol Grille, flyte, etch, Margot, blvd, Arnold's.
Haven't been to Rolf & Daughters, that's next on my to-try list. I've tried three times to make reservations more than a week or two out and been denied each time. One more try and I may give up.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
Thank you Nashvillenicole on the reservation comments. I was making similar comments on Lockeland Table on Twitter -- not in a demanding or ugly way, just "Hey, it would be really nice if LT & R&D used OT." Got a snippy response and then UNfollowed by the chef-owner because of it. Surprised they let me in when I made a res after that. So, while LT would be high on my list otherwise, they don't make the cut here for being kind of ugly about it. I am a big fan of Eastland Cafe, also not on OT, but the difference there is they typically answer the phone when you call and you don't have to wait 1/2 a day to even hear back.
Also, +1 on Lime. I really liked it.
I like casual places and I like the "snooty" places. Although, it's hard to call City House or Husk snooty - even though they are downtown and aren't dinner-under-$10 places, and the decor is nice, there are no white tablecloths, the food is rustic, and you'll see clientele in a wide variety of dress.
My top 5? Tough question. Lots of places I've only been to once, and liked but wasn't bowled over with that one meal to the point I'd include 'em at this stage.
In a class by itself: Catbird Seat.
City House is number one. After that, in no particular order: Eastland Cafe, Porta Via, Yellow Porch, Germantown Cafe.
Casual joints: Edley's (when you can get a seat ...), B&C, Siam Cafe. Haven't been to Martin's or Gabby's - need to.
Places I HAVE been, but just the once, or not in a long time: Silo, Husk (watch for a write-up on the blog ...), Capitol Grille, flyte, etch, Margot, blvd, Arnold's.
Haven't been to Rolf & Daughters, that's next on my to-try list. I've tried three times to make reservations more than a week or two out and been denied each time. One more try and I may give up.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
Catbird Seat, Silo, City House, Midtown Cafe and Etch.
Re: “First Bite: Husk Nashville”
Hopefully one day we can stop talking about how expensive nice things are. People charge the same prices for inferior products all day, every day. Misrepresentation of product on menus is rampant these days with all of this call for ingredients that are sustainable, local, etc. To me this really makes the items that truly are nice seem like a steal at the same prices.
I like it when you say, "Some diners may conclude that $28 is steep, but since I don't have access to pristine grouper nor the patience to stew up all the vegetables, it was worth it to me. A very memorable dish." This is so true. I do not want to meet these diners.
It costs a lot of money to get nice fish. Even if you have the money, it isn't easy to find. It takes work.
There aren't many folks buying whole grouper, just based on how big they usually are. I'm not sure if Husk does or not, they very well may be. For the sake or being realistic however, lets say that we are buying nice sides of very fresh grouper, skin off, for $18/lb.
So, we have bought 10# of this grouper. Now we need to pay someone to fabricate 6.5oz portions. Allowing for about 4# of waste, due to bones, unusable flesh, trimming to make pretty, etc. We are now at 6# of grouper for $180, plus 30-45 minutes at $13-14/hr for someone to do the knife work and portion. This gives us $190 to work with. With 6# we can get 14 portions. If we sell these portions for $28 we will get $328, giving us $138. Now we need to factor in many other things. The locally handmade plate it goes on? The tables, the chairs. The cook to cook it, the management, the water, electric, gas bills, the list goes on and on. By the time it gets to you, perfectly cooked and delicious. $28 is a good deal. If you want cheap fish, there is plenty of it around. /rant
Re: “First Bite: Husk Nashville”
Hopefully one day we can stop talking about how expensive nice things are.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
In order: City House, Rolf and Daughters, Catbird Seat, Etch, Silo.
Still have not been to Husk in Nashville but I would put all my experiences at City House over the one in Charleston. Good to see so much love for City House here, looks to be the unanimous favorite.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
in no particular order: Catbird Seat, Lockeland Table, Rolf & Daughters, Giovanni's, and Kayne Prime.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
Oh yeah, Barbara Please has a point, and I forgot to add Hot Diggity Dog to my Top 5! They are so good!
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Where Should CMA Fest Folks Eat?”
Monell's! It's soooo Nashville! And for late night, Cafe Coco.
I realize that Hillbilly Fest is over, but maybe some savvy editor will dig this thread up for next year’s! XD
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
I'm missing a few and I can't count Catbird Seat since I've only been once and it'd be a different experience now since the menu changes so much but: City House, Gabby's, Marché (over Margot by a mile), Kien Giang, and strangely, La Plaza up in Goodlettsville (it's Mexican, but not slop and plop...pineapple burritos!).
A few that might have made the list but didn't because I haven't been in quite a while: Germantown Cafe, Watermark, Hot Diggity Dogs.
By the way, I was in Columbia on a camping trip two weeks ago and had the best sushi I've ever had in Tennessee at Fujiyama. Order the Love Boat!
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
I'm with FancyPants- I know there's lots of nice places in town, but I don't ever seem to go. I go to these restaurants a lot. Very consistent food & great customer service, especially from Pepperfire & Lee's.
My top 5, no particular order: pepperfire (tenders royale), Lee's Philly (authentic? Probably not. delicious? yes!) Sax Deli (best GD patty melt I've ever had, love their fries), la hacienda (shrimp fajita quesadilla), Angelo's picnic pizza (XL sausage pizza, great individual tiramisu)
I had the burger of my life at Betty's last week. Classic burger, cooked medium, with good old fashioned american cheese & all the fixins on a toasted bun. Has anyone heard anything else about the bakery/patisserie Cafe Fundamental plans on opening?
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
Edley's, Kalmata's, El Amigo, Bro's, Joey's House of Pizza
I know there are nicer, fancier places but I rarely get to go to City House or Husk or "Fru-Fru Look-At-Me places. These are places I eat at all the time and they are all comfortable. Oh, and get-up-on-deez-nutz.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
@Jill
thanks for the Lebanon info. my friend just got a job out there and he is struggling to find something to eat at lunch.
@Gio -
I've always heard deez nuts was good. what do you get there?
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
Top 5 across the board?
1: Flyte-consistent excellence. 2: Silo over Rolf because Silo uses Open Table and makes it so much easier to get a table as such. (same for lockeland and Margot-if you want to be a regular anywhere, all fine-ish dining establishments NEED a good resv system, so that kicks them out of the top 5 for me). 3: Etch. 4: Catbird, but I'm a bit skeptical now that Josh is leaving. Just had my 5th visit. 5: Cafe Fundamental right now. All of my choices I have dined at at least 5 times, but Husk only once so far, so too new to tell.
Runners up: all those without resv systems mentioned above, plus Marche (amazing and fresh food w great prices), Park Cafe (keeps getting better and better!), City House (the eclectic menu can be difficult for some), Germantown Cafe is a wonderful lunch spot and Wild Hare. Looking forward to trying Mason's and Riveria Provincial soon.
Place I miss the most? Lime. Bar none.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Give Us Your Top 5 Restaurants”
Just an FYI, Rolf and Daughters sets aside several seats for walk-ins every night, and the now open patio is totally reservation free. I met a friend there last Thursday at 6ish and snagged two primo seats at the bar. And the patio had space even an hour later. Been several times and loving everything----food, drinks, service, ambiance and price point.