Where to Eat and Drink in Nashville
Support our LDEI Nashville Chapter Dames!
“Did ya eat yet?” We ask often because it’s how we show we care. The Nashville chapter of LDEI is full of culinary creatives who will not only ask you this question but will be happy to point you in the right direction. So, we’ve given you a head start with this list of Dame-owned or managed businesses you can find around town. —Melissa Corbin
Lockeland Table
Co-owned by Dame Cara Graham (current chapter president) and located in East Nashville, it’s all about community here and you’ll feel it the moment you walk through the door. The community kitchen and bar features signature dishes such as the dry-aged NY Strip, smoked bone marrow, Lockeland Table Pig Pizza, and steamed PEI mussels. 1520 Woodland Street, East Nashville; lockelandtable.com
Co-owned by Dame Naima Walker Fierce, this is one of those “where everyone knows your name” kind of places with its laidback vibes, a step-above bar food, and the best drinks in Germantown. You’ll suffer serious FOMO if you don’t try their Trifecta Wings! 708 Monroe Street, Germantown; thegermantownpub.com
Co-owned by Dame Jenn Sheets, there’s a reason this all-day cafe uses the tag “Frothy Love”: engagement is key to its success. It’s way more than your local coffee shop, even though Frothy coffee and baked goods are front and center. From salads and sandwiches to a full dinner menu, guests are welcome to hang all day if need be. 235 Rep John Lewis Way N and other Nashville locations (see website); frothymonkey.com
Founded by Dame Olivia Bane, you can enjoy Southern-fried and rotisserie chicken in a variety of ways at this Germantown gem: On the Bone, On the Bun, In a Basket, or In a Bowl. Toss in some of their homemade sides, any of their eight original sauces, and signature cheese biscuits, and you’ve found yourself a new favorite chicken spot. Oh, and there’s beer… plenty of it! 1120 4th Ave North, Suite 103 and other Nashville locations (see website); waldoschicken.com
Founded by Dame Crystal De Luna-Bogan, this Hillsboro Village staple is one of Nashville’s favorite food trucks turned brick & mortar restaurants. They serve up gourmet grilled cheese melts and nostalgic treats featuring seasonally inspired, responsibly sourced products. They’ve transformed this classic dish into an entirely new experience by taking a fine-dining approach to its preparation. 2003 Belcourt Avenue, Hillsboro Village; grilledcheeserie.com
Founded by Chef Dame Maneet Chauhan and located in The Gulch, here Southern cuisine has beautifully collided with globally influenced Indian cuisine. The menu highlights aspects of the culinary scene not only in Mumbai and New Delhi, but Nashville as well, perfectly combining Indian fare with traditional Southern dishes. Whatever you do, you must order the Gol Guppa Shots for the table. 123 12th Ave N., The Gulch; chauhannashville.com
Conrad Nashville
Dame Jessica Collins is the Executive Pastry Chef at this luxury hotel’s two fine-dining restaurants located in Midtown 1620 West End Ave, Midtown; hilton.com/en/hotels/bnaleci-conrad-nashville
Coastal cuisine and artful cocktails featuring ingredients from nearby farms and purveyors. blueasternashville.com
Craft cocktails and small plates anchor the menu at this casually chic bar on the third floor. Our cocktails showcase Southern spirits, including our state’s finest whiskeys, while street food-inspired dishes highlight flavors from around the world. thistleandrye.com
Co-owned by Dame Kitty Fawaz, this Green Hills staple is a fast-casual dining concept serving fresh-made Mediterranean classics such as Gyros, Falafel, and Fattoush. 3764 Hillsboro Pike, kalamatasnashville.com
A charming Lebanese bistro that is co-owned by Dame Kitty Fawaz in the heart of the 12 South neighborhood. The wonderful sandwiches are wrapped in pita breads baked by Middle Eastern bakers and are served daily. Brunch is available Saturday and Sunday featuring shakshuka, their famous beyrouti tacos, and one of the best Bloody Marys in Nashville. Dinner offers a great date night or celebration experience with classic Lebanese dishes such as Samak, Lahmeh, and Mishwe. 2902 12th Ave S, 12 South; epicenashville.com
Dame Kitty Fawaz co-owns this fine dining Mediterranean restaurant in the Green Hills neighborhood featuring house made pasta, salads, Middle Eastern spiced lamb, fresh oysters, and rotating flatbreads. 3998 Hillsboro Pke, Green Hills; santonashville.com
Co-owned by Dame Kitty Fawaz, this Spanish tapas restaurant and bar is tucked into the idyllic Sylvan Park neighborhood. The menu creatures a variety of small plates such as Papas Bravas, Beef Montadito, and Tomatoes Tartare. 4401 Murphy Rd, Sylvan Park; lolanashville.com
Co-owned by Dame Caroline Galzin, here you’ll find pasta, pizza, and cocktails at their finest The Nation’s neighborhood. It may sound simple enough, but the bold flavors of this coal-fired Italian favorite are far from it. Get the Chicago Bear Pizza for carnivores. But, herbivores won’t feel left out with the Vegan Supreme. 5026 Centennial Blvd, The Nations; nickysnashville.com
Chef-owned by Dame Elodie Habert, this Midtown cafe and bakery specializes in French cuisine while offering a freshly baked selection of goods for breakfast and lunch, as well as prepared food including: croissants, baguette sandwiches, grain bowls, salads, quiches, French baguettes, and a full coffee bar. 1600 Division St, Suite 120 (first floor), Music Row; cocoricocuisine.com
A French-inspired restaurant with Southern influences, Margot is chef-owned by Dame Margot McCormack and located in Five Points in the heart of East Nashville, just five minutes from downtown. The menu changes daily and focuses on locally sourced products, seasonal ingredients, freshness, and simplicity. Daily menus are listed on the website. 1017 Woodland St, East Nashville; margotcafe.com
Co-owned by Chef Dame Deb Paquette, this globally inspired fine-dining restaurant in Downtown/SoBro features an eclectic menu offering flavors from around the world. The roasted cauliflower is truffled pea puree, salted almonds, feta crema, and red bell essence is her signature. 303 Demonbreun St, Downtown; etchrestaurant.com
Located in Green Hills, etc. is co-owned by Chef Dame Deb Paquette, the little sister to her restaurant Etch. Look for adventurous globally influenced flavors in an intimate venue. 3790 Bedford Ave, Green Hills; etc.restaurant
If Nona and MawMaw opened a restaurant, City House in Germantown could be their guide. It’s where Italian food and Southern food converge in a most thoughtful way. And, Pastry Chef Dame Rebekah Turshen assures that the desserts are far from an afterthought. You can’t go wrong with any of the rotating menu of Turshen’s creations. So, order several for the table to share. Just make sure her cookie plate is in the mix. 1222 4th Ave N, Germantown, cityhousenashville.com
Co-owned by Dame Katie Rose Tyson, this East Nashville 21+ wine bar and bread house’s motto is “Let in Bhutan as a practice to spread gratitude and positivity, like offering food and drink to friends.” It’s all about the bread and wine, but you’ll also find a smattering of delicacies to accompany your pairing of choice. 1101 Chapel Ave, East Nashville; butterlampnashville.com
Co-owned by Dame Sarah Worley, you bet your biscuits this is Nashville’s go-to for the quick bread with a Southern accent. But, beyond the biscuits, you’ll find all the breakfast and lunch goodies to accompany with Dame Chef Lisa Marie White at Biscuit Love’s helm. 316 11th Ave S and other Nashville locations (see website); biscuitlove.com
Founded by Dame Claire Crowell, this small-batch creamery and scoop shop features modern takes on Southern traditions like Nana Puddin’, Brown Butter Pecan, Goo Goo & Jack, and dairy-free Strawberry Jam. Look for other A. Marshall Hospitality properties, including Deacon’s New South and Puckett’s. 5055 Broadway located on the second floor of the South Hall within Assembly Food Hall, and other Nashville locations (see website); hattiejanescreamery.com
Co-owned by Dame Kelly Boutwell, this East Nashville coffee shop favorite is also a specialty roastery sourcing mostly washed green coffees, as its processing helps retain the seeds’ inherent flavors and aromas, giving exceptional clarity in each cup. 1305 Dickerson Pke and other Nashville locations (see website); retrogradecoffee.com
A small-batch bakery with a walk-up service counter that also offers a full-service breakfast and lunch menu curated by Chef Dame Alyssa Gangeri in the 12 South neighborhood. Did someone say “Croissants and Queso”?!? Oh, yeah we did! With all sorts of reimagined Southern classics on the menu, you may need a nap after a visit to The Buttermilk Ranch. But, we won’t tell. 2407 12th Ave S, 12 South; buttermilkranch.com
Co-owned by Dame Chef Julia Jaksic, this all-day cafe in East Nashville specializes in fresh and simple breakfast, lunch and dinner options, as well as top-notch cocktails at night. Two things you’ll feel cheated if you don’t order are the Roze Bowl with a turmeric egg add-on, and French fries for the table. Her secret to those fries is the duck fat! 1115 Porter Rd, East Nashville; caferoze.com
Co-owned by Dame Chef Julia Jaksic, this all-day cafe in Belle Meade feels similar to its East Nashville big sister with its signature color (Roze means pink in Croatian, a nod to Jaksic’s Croation father), but with more of a brasserie approach to its menu offerings that include a large takeout counter and an evening raw bar along with a tableside martini service. 5133 Harding Pke, Belle Meade; rozepony.com
The Café at Thistle Farms is a restaurant, tea service, and event space located in West Nashville. A social enterprise, the Café heals, empowers, and employs women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Dame Tasha Kennard is the nonprofit’s CEO. 5122 Charlotte Pke, West Nashville; thecafeatthistlefarms.org
This Climate Neutral Certified bakery provides pastries and bread to many local Nashville restaurants and serves customers from Nashville and beyond with a full line of bread, pastries, and menus for breakfast, lunch, and brunch. Founded by Dame Chef Claire Meneely, it’s just four miles outside of downtown offering breads and pastries along with sandwiches, salads, soups, and a daily tartine. 2522 Grandview Ave, Woodbine; dozen-nashville.com
Located within the Nashville Farmers Market in Germantown, SVT was co-founder Dame Chef Adriana Ortega who has developed a fully vegan concept that maintains authentic Mexican recipes and flavors for Nashville’s first vegan taqueria. 900 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Germantown; succulentvegantacos.com
An authentic French patisserie and market by Chef and owner Dame Guenievre Milliner. Menu offerings include breads, pastries, sandwiches, quiche, and other sweet and savory delicacies. 2209 Bandywood Dr, Ste D and other Nashville locations (see website); littlegourmand.us
Dame Bailey Spaulding is the brewmaster, co-founder, and CEO of Nashville’s first brewery to can its beer. Originally dubbed The Ranch, Jackalope Brewing Company’s bar and brewery is located in the heart of Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood in Nashville. The campus specializes in brewing and canning Jackalope’s year-round beers, seasonal beers, and a wide variety of limited release beers to get even more Jackalope brew to you. Bar Jackalope, open Tuesday through Sunday, has original beers on tap, a dog-friendly patio, weekly events, and The Loft Private Event Space. 429 B Houston Street, Wedgewood Houston; jackalopebrew.com