The top 25 restaurants in Nashville in 2023

Nashville is growing, and its restaurant scene is keeping pace. We have big-name chefs choosing the city for their expansions. Our neighborhood haunts are being called some of the most exciting in the country. New restaurants open seemingly every day.

That's why after finishing our list of the Top 25 Restaurants in Nashville for 2022, it wasn't long before we launched into another year of eating and drinking around town to figure out who would make this year's roster. And you'll see quite a few new faces this year.

Read the full list below, with our No. 1 pick placed at the very bottom of the page. We love suspense.

But first, a bit about us.

Mackensy Lunsford: I've been writing about food for about 20 years. I joined the USA Today Network in 2012, fresh from the alt-weekly world, and became part of The Tennessean's staff in 2021. Before journalism, I worked every restaurant position from dishwasher to co-owner.

I've previously served on the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Committee, have written a barbecue cookbook and am a certified competition barbecue judge. I'll eat almost anything except hákarl.

Brad Schmitt: Impressive credentials, Mack! Me? I got none a that. What I do have is 33 years of eating at Nashville restaurants, and 30 years of being a journalist here. Oh, and one day in The Tennessean newsroom, I started what turned out to be a heated discussion about which are Nashville's best burgers.

That launched me on a path eight years ago of cranking out dozens of top-5 food lists, and I've loved (almost) every bite. I'll eat most anything except, well, stuff I find gross. (Olives, cucumbers and anchovies are on that list.) 🤷

25. East Side Pho, East Nashville

1101 McKennie Ave. at The Wash, www.eatesp.com

Mack: Listen, I probably eat at this Vietnamese pho shop more than any place in town. The location is convenient to me, sure. But it's just so dang consistent. The pho is always good, and it better be since it's in the name. But it's the other dishes that really reel me in. I could live on the ESP salad. The daily special rice bowls are fantastic, whether they're served with Verlasso salmon or local eggplant. I could eat the spicy pork noodles every day. Always, always order a side of the delicious chili crisp and store it in your fridge for your morning eggs.

Brad: For me, it's the really fresh, flavor-packed rice bowls, all day long. Yummy!

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24. Pinky Ring Pizza, Madison

414 Gallatin Pike S., pinkyringpizza.com

Brad: Am I gonna employ an overused New York expression because this pizza joint's name is a nod to mob tropes? Fuhgeddaboudit! What I am gonna say is this is simply the best pizza made in Nashville. Excellent ingredients, the most spice-packed thick slices of pepperoni, delicious rarely-seen-in-Nashville porchetta and fresh, housemade dough and pizza sauce make Pinky Ring really special. I'm not the only one who thinks so: I spotted celeb chef Sean Brock (you'll see him later in this list) carrying a half a dozen or so pies out of here one day.

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And I love that you can get the city's best pizza in working-class Madison, not hipster East Nashville or semi-snooty Germantown. A big Chicago bear hug to Windy City-raised owner Don Hernandez for opening this spot two years ago.

Mack: I can't stop thinking about the pickle pizza here. And while the pies are stellar, I think it's the vibe that pushes this place over the top for me. It's a true neighborhood restaurant. When I walked in with my young energetic daughter bouncing through the roof, the woman behind the counter simply smiled and offered me a CBD soda. That's hospitality.

23. St. Vito Focacceria, The Gulch

605 Mansion St., stvitonashville.com

Brad: I just love love love the fresh, airy focaccia here, whether it's used for tangy pizza squares or for those mouth-watering sandwiches at lunch. Here's the awesome surprise: Chef Michael Hanna serves a couple of pasta dishes that could be among Nashville's best. I particularly freaked out about the richness of the Rigatoni Alla Buttera, which you, Mack, described earlier this year as having "deeply concentrated tomato flavors, rendered pork fat and a touch of fermenty goodness."

Mack: Yep, it's important for people to note that there's much more to St. Vito than Hanna's admittedly delicious sfincione pies, including smart little vegetable plates, larger format proteins like porchetta and pasta dishes that shouldn't be missed.

22. Black Dynasty Secret Ramen House, Charlotte corridor

4101 Charlotte Ave., blackdynastyramen.com

Mack: It's the totality of the experience at this Japanese comfort food spot that does it for me. I love the ramen. It's outstanding! But there are so many little surprises here, like a fresh, sweet and spicy crab dish that was served perfectly ice cold on one of the hottest days of the year. I also love that it's located within Bearded Iris's Sylvan Park location so I can grab an excellent fruited sour or IPA on tap, which is exactly what this food needs.

Brad: One surprise I didn't love is the stinky yeasty/hopsy smell permeating everything here. I've been sober for 13 years, but even in my drinking days, that odor wasn't my fave. What I did love, though, was the rich, salty broth and the perfect noodles in the ramen.

21. Xiao Bao, East Nashville

830 Meridian St., xiaobaonashville.com

Mack: I have a soft spot for restaurants that feel a little rough around the edges while serving fantastic food and drinks. That's the story here. To me, the pan-Asian Xiao Bao feels wholly unpretentious. But it also has an excellent little natural wine list, terrific small plates and a salmon crudo that just about put me on the floor recently it was so good. A nice little secret: this place has the best fries in town. They're fried in beef tallow and taste just like old-school McDonald's fries, but better.

Brad: You had me at old-school McD's fries! I've only been here once, but I really dug the energy and the food. And they put little scissors in one of their noodle dishes! Totes adorbs and super fun.

20. 400 Degrees, Bordeaux

3704 Clarksville Pike, 400degreeshotchicken.com

Brad: Yes, I love the hot chicken here, truly. But if I'm being honest, it's the powerhouse, hilarious force-of-nature owner, Aqui Hines, who makes this place really special. You'll probably hear her laugh before you ever open the door. She says super charming (and true) things like, "My husband's a firefighter, honey; I start the fires and he puts 'em out!" If Dolly Parton made hot chicken...

I call her a force of nature because Aqui has attracted a bunch of international media attention and won a coveted spot at the Nashville airport. (I do wonder, though, about the wisdom of eating hot chicken right before a flight.)

Mack: Me. I'm that person who eats hot chicken before the plane takes off. But I prefer the Bordeaux location.

19. The Optimist, Germantown

1400 Adams St., theoptimistrestaurant.com

Mack: This is certainly not the only place in town to get great seafood, but the patio and the attentive but appropriately casual, welcoming and knowledgeable service push this place into excellent date night territory. I just want to spend every nice night in that lovely outdoor space sipping excellent seafood-friendly wine and eating my weight in oysters, OK?

Brad: Um, OK. 😀 I'll be the guy in the corner eating dozens of those amazing little rolls the restaurant serves before the meal.

Mack: Came back to freak out over the buttery rolls!

18. Bourbon Steak, Downtown

201 8th Ave. S., nashvillebourbonsteak.com

Mack: In some ways, I don't want to like Bourbon Steak as much as I do. It's so expensive, so upscale, so everything that makes the rebel in me somewhat object. And then I get there, the service is so outstanding it's silly, the steaks excellent, the views phenomenal, the cocktails and wine list perfect — it can be an exceptional experience if you let it. And I have.

Brad: I was really surprised during my first visit when the steak came out overcooked, twice. When I returned in September, though, the beef was perfect. Perfect cook, perfect texture, perfect simple seasoning. And Mack's right about the incredible service − the restaurant comped the steaks, not because I'm a food writer but because they had a note in the system that there were "issues" with my last visit, issues management wanted to make right.

17. Lockeland Table, East Nashville

1520 Woodland St. www.lockelandtable.com

Mack: This restaurant's place in my heart endures for many reasons, but it's the way that it serves the neighborhood ― and really feels as though it's for the neighbors ― that puts it on many locals' list of favorite restaurants. The community hour is not to be missed with its little wood-fired pizzas and fun snacks, from Nashville hot pig ears to local vegetable plates.

Brad: Look, I do think Lockeland Table is lovely, and I appreciate the neighborhood vibes here for sure. But I'm going to say something that may cause hipster hell to rain down on me ― it's overrated. The food is good, yes, but not great. And I get uncomfortable when my table is right next to another, and that's often the case here.

Mack: Coming back to say, "hipster?" Every time I've been there, I've had more tattoos than the rest of the dining room combined. (Yeah, I used to work in kitchens. How many tattoo-free line cooks do you know?).

16. Shotgun Willie's, Inglewood

4000 Gallatin Pike, sgwbbq.com

Brad: This place is as fun and folksy as the name suggests. I love the carefully curated old-timey signs on the walls, the kind staff, the wooden picnic tables and the way you have to turn sideways to go down the narrow-ish hallway to the bathrooms. But what I love most is the tender, thick smoke- and flavor-filled brisket!

Mack: This Texas-style barbecue joint feels like a well-kept secret, even though the secret is most definitely out. Though it would eventually kill me I bet, I could eat that jalapeno-cheddar sausage every day for the rest of my life and never get sick of it. And that brisket? Get out of here.

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15. Lyra, East Nashville

935 W. Eastland Ave., lyranashville.com

Brad: Oh man, when the sizzling lamb kafka hit the table, the smell of exotic Mediterranean spices wafted up, and my dining group (Mackensy didn't make this particular dinner) was transported to a magical place. And the hummus and bread were, as always, extraordinary. I love it when the chefs change the menu, leaving me rocking on my chair a little in anticipation of the new dish. This place is 9/10 for me. Mack?

Mack: I love Lyra, but boy if it hasn't slipped a bit for me. The eggplant dish I used to aggressively rave about has changed and while I agree that change is generally good, I haven't been as thrilled with recent iterations. Service has been clunky the last few times I've been. However, this spot still has plenty to recommend it. The hummus is still spectacular, the drinks and wine list are great and there are still some fantastic dishes on the menu.

14. answer., Sylvan Park

132 46th Ave N., www.answerrestaurant.com

Mack: This Sylvan Park neighborhood restaurant gets packed early, and it's easy to see why. Between the cocktails, the small plates, the warm service and the decor, this is simply a lovely place to spend a happy hour. But you'd be remiss not to stay for dinner. This seasonal menu has many standouts, but the kitchen seems to have a particularly strong hand with seafood, from poke to perfect diver scallops which, on a recent visit, were served with smoky-sweet creamed corn and pickled plums — a beautiful combo.

Brad: Yeah, because I'm old and Mackensy is nice, we sat down for dinner at 4:30 p.m. Within 45 minutes, the place was crowded and loud. But in a good way. The energy was terrific, and neighbors and friends seemed really psyched to see each other. I agree the seafood slapped, as the kids say. I also loved the perfectly tart-and-sweet strawberry rhubarb crumble with rich and creamy housemade ice cream.

13. Silver Sands Cafe, North Nashville

937 Locklayer Street, www.silversandsnashville.com

Mack: I'm sorry, but this may actually be the gold standard for meat and threes, open or closed. I know, strong words, right? I adore everything about Silver Sands, including some of the best fried fish and hot water cornbread I've ever had in Nashville hands down. If you don't believe me, ask your Uber driver or that nice person at the grocery store who's lived here for the past 50 years. I did, and they directed me to Silver Sands. I'm glad they did.

Brad: Ooooo, a subtle swipe at dearly departed Arnold's Country Kitchen, eh? Mack, you're so edgy! Truth be told, I agree with you that Silver Sands is and likely always has been the best meat-and-three/soul food place in town. That firm-but-tender meatloaf swimming in tangy tomato sauce. The wafer- and banana-rich nanner puddin' for dessert. The hilarious, firm-but-folksy Ms. Sophia perched like royalty behind the cash register. It's all magic.

12. Pelican & Pig, East Nashville

1010 Gallatin Ave., pelicanandpig.com

Mack: I love the modern-American fire-forward Pelican & Pig all the time, but for me, it really shines in the fall when a trip inside this dining room feels like slipping into a cozy living room with a fireplace. I love to sit at the bar and watch the line turn out giant wood-fired chops and more delicate plates of smoke-kissed vegetables like the always-good grilled carrots.

Brad: Yeah, I love anything that comes out of their giant wood-burning ovens, especially the big ol' pieces of meat. And it's super charming and comfy. Bonus: During the day, I enjoy the Slow Hand Coffee + Bakehouse attached to it.

11. Henrietta Red, Germantown

1200 4th Ave. N., henriettared.com

Mack: It's taken me a while to come around to this restaurant, which seems to have had some sort of second wind. I can think of no other place in Nashville where I'd rather while away an evening eating impossibly delicious and meticulously prepared oysters and seriously fresh and flavorful seafood dishes. Crab gnocchi with 'nduja? I love you.

Brad: The crab gnocchi? Gno thank you − the sauce overpowers the delicate crab meat. Otherwise, I'm super high on Henrietta Red. This Germantown treasure serves the best scallops I've had in town, with this magical, creative combo of mushrooms and pickled shrimp on the side as a garnish. The other seafood dishes also are spectacular, and I'm sorry Henrietta Red isn't higher on this list. For me, this certainly is a top 10 restaurant in Nashville.

10. Maiz de la Vida Tortilla Shop, Bordeaux

3101 Clarksville Pike, maizdelavida.com

Brad: In a city with dozens and dozens of Mexican restaurants, this one stands out by a mile. Everything is excellent in this unassuming tortilla shop, which really is a tortilla shop, one with a few tables out front and magic happening in the kitchen in the back. For me, holy moles! OK, terrible pun, but the mole sauces are extraordinary, always served on the freshest proteins.

Mack: Yep, excellent moles, chilaquiles, exceptional little sopes and tacos on house-made heirloom corn tortillas? Sign me up. I've been a fan of Julio Hernandez since the first time I tried his quesabirria tacos at his food truck. The dishes he serves at his tortilla shop prove he continues to evolve.

9. Folk, East Nashville

823 Meridian St., goodasfolk.com

Mack: This remains a go-to recommendation for me to anyone with guests from out of town. This American neighborhood restaurant from chef Philip Krajeck is accessible and friendly. With gorgeous but unfussy vegetable-forward small plates, meaty mains that can sometimes come in a large format and excellent pizzas, this is very much a choose-your-own-experience type of menu.

Brad: I also love Folk, but I have to say my last visit there a couple of months ago was a little disappointing. I know, I know, this is blasphemy, and chefs at other restaurants adore Folk! Me too. The peaches and ham appetizer was exquisite, and a Sicilian sausage slice of pizza may be the best sausage pizza I've ever had. The tiramasu was excellent. The whipped ricotta and veggie squash pizza, though, were a bit bland. And the chicken parm sandwich was plain old dry.

8. Kisser, East Nashville

747 Douglas Ave., kisserrestaurant.com

Mack: At once elegant and comfortable as your grandmother's kitchen, this Japanese comfort food restaurant is the first of its kind in Nashville. And what a strong showing it's had since it first opened in March. I love the fish collar, the curry noodles and could eat the always-perfect inari every day.

Brad: OK, so this may be a Japanese comfort restaurant, but the menu items likely will be unfamiliar to most folks. They certainly were to me. And I brought along another old curmudgeon reporter, Keith Sharon, who was equally mystified and a bit intimidated by words like "inari", "onigiri" and "chirashi."

Welp, surprise! We loved almost everything we ate, often without knowing what we were eating. The only thing I might stay away from was the fried chicken sandwich, which was a bit dry and probably the least interesting thing on the menu. Props to Kisser for being the only Nashville restaurant last month on The New York Times' list of the 50 most exciting restaurants in the U.S.

7. City House, Germantown

1222 4th Ave. N., cityhousenashville.com

Mack: The first place I ever dined when I moved to Nashville, City House felt like a welcoming hug. It still does. I love the vegetable-forward seasonal small plates (please don't ever try to tamp down your love for beans and peas, City House) and creative pizzas. The entrees, where sometimes restaurants with ambitious menus fall off, are thoughtfully composed and, more importantly, delicious.

Brad: Have a fave place where you are just pumped all day knowing you're going to have dinner there that night? For me, it's City House. I agree, Mack, it's a wonderful combo of comfy, creative and incredibly tasty. Wonder if they have any openings tonight....?

6. Yolan, downtown

In The Joseph hotel, 403 4th Ave. S., yolannashville.com

Mack: If you haven't yet been to Yolan, Nashville's most exceptional Italian restaurant, just go. Full stop. My mouth is watering thinking about a spaghetti alla chitarra with ramp pesto and a sweet corn and crab risotto I had months ago. And if you skip Noelle Marchetti's desserts, I intend to have a word with you.

Brad: Folks, just get the desserts! Trust me, you do NOT want to be on the receiving end of Mackensy "having a word with you." Oh, and by the way, Mackensy also happens to be 100% on point here − almost all the dishes here are outrageously good. And when the servers walk by with huge baskets of super-fresh bread, well, it kinda takes my breath away.

5. Peninsula, East Nashville

1035 W. Eastland Ave., peninsulanashville.com

Mack: What's the secret to endless creativity? I'd love to ask Chef Jake Howell. The kitchen in this East Nashville gem, which focuses on food inspired by the Iberian peninsula, continues to absolutely knock it out of the park. Howell remains innovative, putting together unlikely flavors that work absolute magic. A recent standout was an octopus dish finished with burnt onion, which rendered the dish almost entirely black. But underneath the moody blanket of charred allium was a spectrum of bright flavors punctuated with passionfruit that challenged everything I thought the dish would be. Outstanding wine and cocktails, too.

Brad: Ooooo, you fancy, Mack! "Underneath the moody blanket of charred allium was a spectrum of bright flavors...." Uh, what? As for me, well, I think the food tastes real real good! 😅 For real, though, the food is excellent, and I love the open, bright look of the space. Peninsula certainly belongs in the top 5. One thing that bugs, though: The portions, for me, are small and the prices are big, which is a bit hard to swallow.

4. Bastion, Wedgewood-Houston

430 Houston St., bastionnashville.com

Brad: No. 1 on our Top 25 list last year, Bastion remains my favorite prix fixe tasting menu in Nashville. So fun to chat with the chefs! But so relaxed at the same time. And the food is excellent. I just love it here.

Mackensy Lunsford: Still hanging in comfortably near the top, though. Bastion is just an exceptional experience, from start to finish. I love the staff and how this place never feels stuffy. I adore the playful flavor pairings, like cocoa nib with lamb tartare and shrimp and huckleberry with crab fat on a recent menu. Bastion should be at the top of the list of places to book for an incredible Nashville meal.

3. Audrey, East Nashville

809 Meridian St., audreynashville.com

Brad: Well, I have had a total turn-around on my feelings about this flagship restaurant for celeb Chef Sean Brock. Last year, I got turned off by being served a pre-set meal with few choices and by the servers regularly telling you how incredibly innovative Chef Brock is.

This year, the prix-fixe menu is gone, as is the arrogance. I found the servers to be laid back, friendly and sparse with their words. And guess what: I thought Chef Brock's dishes were incredibly innovative while still being down-home delicious. In fact, my three faves were an heirloom tomato, the dinner rolls and the peach cobbler (made with cornbread). For quite a while, I argued for Audrey to be No. 1 on this list.

Mackensy: I lived in Southern Appalachia for 23 years and every single one of the generations who came before me lived their whole lives in the region. The food at Audrey speaks to me on a soul level. Salt risen bread. White cornbread. Killed lettuces. Tomatoes served without much adornment. Country ham. Sunburst trout. All stuff I've eaten half my life, taken to new heights.

2. The Catbird Seat, Midtown

1711 Division St., thecatbirdseatrestaurant.com

Mack: At this prix fixe modern American restaurant, Chef Brian Baxter and his team turn out absolutely phenomenal food, and Nashville's dining scene is better for it. Can it feel like a bit much after hour two of the tasting menu? Sure. But you're here for an experience and that's what you'll get here — an exceptional show.

The tiny tomato pie that served as my first taste of a recent meal there was one of the best bites I had all year. The way the chefs played the briny umami of sea urchin off the flavors of rose and kaffir lime? Unbelievable pairing. The wines are spot on. If you haven't been here in a while, it may be time to return, because the kitchen is on fire (figuratively speaking). That having been said, I had more fun dining at our No. 1 spot.

Brad: I agree 100 percent, the food is outstanding. And it's much more; this is an adventure, not just dinner. You'll come away having had an exquisite meal and a ton of Instagrammable pics. It's a costly adventure, though, $185 to $245 a person (plus more if you add alcohol flights). And I do find the experience just a tad stuffy; you'll have more fun at Bastion or Locust, to be sure.

1. Locust, 12 South

2305 12th Ave. S., locustnashville.com

Mack: I pushed hard for this restaurant to be No. 1 last year. Since then, each time I've eaten at Locust somehow gets better, even with all of the hype including a James Beard nomination this year for Chef Trevor Moran.

The secret appears to be in Moran's unbridled enthusiasm for his product, the warm and charming irreverence of the staff (yeah, I meant that), incredible products and a knowledgeable group of people who exude appreciation for where they work.

And it's hard to blame them when they're shaving showers of truffle over topnotch steaks and just-flown-in fresh fish or serving steaming baskets of dumplings with impossible flavor folded into almost-translucent skins. But beyond all of the stellar ingredients and obvious talent is what makes this restaurant the best in Nashville: it's, plainly, a really fun place to be.

Brad: Yeah, I pushed back against Locust being No. 1 because I thought the prices and tough-to-get reservations made it inaccessible. I still have those concerns.

But now that I've eaten here again, I find Locust simply is undeniable, worth the money and also worth waiting for a reservation. The sumptuous dumplings are magnificent, and that silky-smooth beef tartare in a handroll with perfect, fluffy white rice with a hint of creamy horseradish? So damn good.

I've long resisted foie gras and caviar, dismissing it as rich-people food that I thought was gross. I mean, liver and fish eggs? (I know, I know, I have the palate of a sixth grader.) At Locust, though, I finally discovered how decadently delicious these exclusive dishes can be, in the hands of the right chefs, anyway.

And like Mackensy said, metal music and super-nice servers take any pretentiousness out. It's world-class food in a fun place.

Brad and Mack's honorable mentions

Mack: Sometimes Brad has so many doubts I can't sway him (which is part of what's so fun about this). Here are the top three restaurants I would have put on this list.

• Lou, Inglewood: I love this neighborhood restaurant and implore everyone, including Brad, to choose heavily from the fish, cheese and charcuterie side of the menu.

• Noko, East Nashville: The wood-grilled tomahawk ribeye here was easily among the top 10 dishes I've eaten in Nashville this year.

• SS Gai, The Wash, East Nashville: I can't get enough of the Thai-style fried chicken here, and the chargrilled chicken is equally as good. The perfect small family meal.

Brad: And here are my shout-outs to three restaurants not on this list.

• Edessa, South Nashville: This Turkish-Kurdish restaurant is a stand out among all the wonderful global food places along Nolensville Road. Wonderful dishes at reasonable prices. Order the clay pot and you'll be happy the rest of the day.

• Shugga Hi Bakery & Cafe, East Nashville: It's not so much the down-home food as the vibe, to be honest. At a recent brunch, the owner came out and introduced every restaurant worker to the diners. She then explained how her nurse mom always found time to prepare a full meal for the family, that her mother's table was a place of love, and that the owner wants to share that with everyone. I loved it, and I'll keep going back.

• Sinatra Bar & Lounge, Downtown: This could've been an over-the-top, kitschy tribute spot for Ol' Blue Eyes. But start spreading the news — Sinatra's is an excellent, old-school, classy Italian restaurant.

What's your favorite spot in Nashville? Did we get it right? Find Mackensy at mlunsford@tennessean.com and Brad at brad@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 2023 Top Nashville restaurants: Our 25 best places to eat