Showing posts with label Top Nashville Restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top Nashville Restaurants. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

5TH & TAYLOR - NASHVILLE RESTAURANT REVIEW






















Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson 

Featured Restaurant: 5th and Taylor

I'll always remember the first time that we ate at 5th and Taylor...we were relatively new to Nashville and didn't know much about the Germantown area but we had a list of places that we wanted to try.  Peter and I ate there for dinner and I remember thinking how good it was...especially the sausage biscuits (a MUST HAVE if you eat there).

Since my first time, I have been there for many other occasions, the last occasion being a girls night out!  You can enjoy 5th and Taylor for any occasion and this time of year the patio is open, which makes for such a pleasant dining experience outside as well.

The space is warm and inviting with unique and interesting art throughout.  My most favorite thing about the decor at 5th and Taylor is the candlelight.  It makes you feel as if you are in your own home having an intimate dinner with those closest to you. They have the best fiddle leaf fig trees too!

During our recent visit,  Chef Daniel prepared several amazing dishes for us.  Of course we had to start with the sausage cheddar biscuits and as I said, these are a MUST.  I can promise you, try these one time and you will crave them every time.

After devouring the sausage cheddar biscuits, we enjoyed two different salads.  The first salad was an octopus salad with an avocado vinaigrette.  The Spanish octopus was served frisse, avocado, lemon supremes, and crispy sunchoke.  Think fresh, light, and delicious!  We really enjoyed this salad!

Next up...a beet salad!  I'm not a huge fan of beets but I've got to tell you, if I'm ever to eat beets, it will be this particular salad.  The beets are roasted and served with avocado, orange supreme, caramelized onions, olive oil, and micro greens.  Before the beets are strategically placed on the dish, they are tossed in a herb and citrus vinaigrette.  This salad takes beets to a whole new level!

Now onto the main dishes that we tried.  The first dish was wild caught halibut which was pan seared until crispy and lightly browned.  It was served with braised watercress and spinach with a calabrain chili.  It was light airy and satisfying.  The flavors were delicious!

The second main course that we tried as the Venison.  At first I was timid to try this as I had only eaten venison a time or two before but it looked so delicious so it was hard for me to resist.  I'm so glad I tried it!  The venison is free range from New Zealand and it was served atop of caramelized leeks, maitake mushrooms and hen of woods mushrooms.  It was finished with a black trumpet demi glaze and a huckleberry gastrique.  In other words...it was delicious and the various flavors made for a perfect combination.  Oh...and I can't forget, we were served some of the most delicious mashed potatoes I have ever eaten...also a MUST to any main course that you may order!

This is only a tiny peek into the variety of dishes that Chef Daniel and his team create!  I highly recommend that you put 5th and Taylor on our list of restaurants to try.  You won't be disappointed!  Make sure you call ahead and make a reservation!

And while you are there, plan to go to the Back Corner if you are looking to take your night from dinner to dancing!  The Back Corner is a really fun spot off the beaten path!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Marsh House at Thompson Hotel - Nashville Dining Experience Review



















Photography by Madi Henderson

DRESS || MOTO JACKET || BOOTS C/O EUGENIA KIM || RINGS || EARRINGS 

Since 2012, the year that we moved to Nashville, I've been on a personal mission to experience some of Nashville's top restaurants.  So much positive change has taken place over the last several years and there are more and more amazing restaurants popping up all over town.  As you can imagine my list of restaurants continues to grow and I haven't even scratched the surface yet.

On my list of top restaurants to try was Marsh House, which is located inside the Thompson Nashville hotel in the ever so popular Gulch area.  The first time I visited Marsh House was for a breakfast meeting so I only got a very tiny taste of their menu (I've got to say their biscuits and jam are HEAVENLY).

My second visit was for lunch and we got to taste test their weekly lunch specials in addition to a few other dishes and it was quite the culinary experience!

Marsh House is located in a prime location of Nashville as I mentioned, called the Gulch.  This is a very popular area for locals and visitors alike.  You can certainly dine and shop your way through the Gulch...this area has so much to offer.  Thompson Nashville is a chic modern hotel situated in the Gulch and Marsh House is situated in the lobby of the hotel.  Not only do I highly recommend that you consider staying at Thompson Nashville when visiting Nashville but I also highly recommend that you eat at Marsh House and that you enjoy the popular rooftop bar, LA Jackson.  The views from LA Jackson are something to see (more on that coming soon)!

Let's dive into our experience at Marsh House...

You first should know a bit about Executive Chef, Nathan Duensing.  We spent some time chatting with Nathan, as he presented each dish to us, and I've got to say we were so impressed with his background and his culinary knowledge/experience.  Nathan grew up on a farm so he knows first hand what it takes to grow and preserve food.  Learning much from his Grandfather & Father, Nathan took that knowledge and has applied it throughout his successful career as a Chef.  He understands the importance of high quality food and he also works with local Nashville farmers as often as possible to bring fresh locally sourced produce/meats to the tables at Marsh House.  Much of what is offered at Marsh House is influenced by traditional southern cuisine with a hint of Louisiana flare.

The atmosphere of Marsh House is chic and modern with a touch of urban charm.  There are different textures, colors, and elements to the restaurant that easily make you feel like you are dining in style.  It is a comfortable, not stuffy at all, atmosphere.  Marsh House is one of those restaurants that you will go to for a business lunch, date night, girls night out, and everything in between and leave there feeling like you had the best experience from start to finish.  It will be a memorable experience and Marsh House will be a place that you will want to recommend to others and return to as well!

We went for lunch during the workweek and were pleasantly surprised to learn that Thompson Nashville offers complimentary valet from 11am-3pm during the week.  Being able to take advantage of this complimentary service made it so easy to drop in for lunch and it also added to our overall positive experience!

Okay...whose ready to talk about food?!  If the pictures didn't make your mouth water, I'm not sure what will.

We started off with their rolls...I mean rolls are rolls but these rolls are not just rolls.  Could I possibly say ROLLS anymore in a sentence.  With every bite we could taste how fresh they were.  So light and so delicious.  It would be easy to eat an entire skillet of these but we had to pace ourselves because we had a lot more to try!

Here comes Monday's lunch special...

Red Beans & Rice - this dish wasn't just your average red beans & rice...it was the most flavorful red beans & rice I have ever had!  The pork chop was mouth watering and so tender.  The combination of the dishes flavors served with a side tomato cucumber salad was...sigh, what good southern cooking dreams are made of!  A bite of this and a bite of that...YUM!

Wednesday's lunch special took us down to the deep south of Louisiana...

Shrimp Creole - if you like shrimp and grits, you will LOVE this dish as it is very similar.  It's spicy but not too spicy...the perfect combination of creole flavors.  This dish is served with a grilled squash and beet salad which is truly the perfect compliment to offset the mild spiciness of this dish.

Thursday's special...what a southern girls dreams are made of...

Fried Chicken - It's not often that I eat fried chicken but this is hands down some of the best fried chicken I have EVER had.  I don't say that lightly because I've had some of the best.  The method that Chef Nathan uses to flash fry the chicken creates a moist (yes, I don't like that word either) and super flavorful dish.  This was probably my favorite dish of the 4 that we tried and one that I will order time and time again!  Everything about this dish was perfection, truly!

Friday's special...finishing it off light and healthy...

Blackened Catfish - Opt in for a lighter lunch option with this dish...the fish was tender and cooked perfectly and the wild rice salad, roasted tomatoes, and sautéed spinach were the perfect compliments to this stand out fish.  I LOVED this dish as well...it fought hard for the top spot!  I truly felt that I was eating a very healthy lunch while still feeling very satisfied!  You've got to try this one as well.

The only special that we did not try was Tuesday's lunch special but I am certain that it would be just as divine as the other four.  We also ate a side of their brussel sprouts and let me just tell you...I could have eaten bowl after bowl of just brussel sprouts.  They were so dang good!!!

What I love most about the lunch specials at Marsh House, besides the fact that they are all freaking fantastic, is that they all only cost $15!  You get a delicious hand crafted meal that will leave you feeling satisfied at such a great price!  There aren't many places that you can go for lunch, spend $15 dollars, and receive a high quality meal.

So for all of you who work in or near the Gulch area, you need to make it a point to lunch at Marsh House!

For those coming to Nashville to visit...stay at Thompson Nashville and dine in at Marsh House for breakfast, lunch, or dinner...I assure you that you will have a wonderful experience and be delighted with their culinary prowess!

As always, thank you for stopping by!  Special thanks to the Marsh House team and Chef Nathan for such a wonderful, memorably delicious, culinary experience.  We will be back soon!
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Monday, February 19, 2018

Pastaria Nashville - Dining Experience Review












Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson


Is your mouth watering yet?!  Mine is and I am honestly sitting here, as I write today's post, reminiscing about my meal at Pastaria Nashville a couple of weeks ago.  To say it was good is an understatement...it was SOOOO GOOD!  

I'm excited to write today's dining experience review because I honestly would tell anyone who lives here or is planning to visit to try Pastaria!  I'm already planning my second visit and this time, I am taking Peter along to enjoy the experience.  We both LOVE Italian food...pretty certain it's at the top for both of us.

Pastaria is located in an up and coming area.  It was great to see so much being built around Pastaria...it just goes to show how quickly our city is growing and how many amazing restaurants and experiences we have to offer!

When we arrived to Pastaria, I could tell that it would be adorable on the inside just by looks of the outside and it was!  The restaurant takes on an chic yet old world feel and definitely showcases many nods to what would be an authentic Italian eatery in Italy.  It is a very charming space.  You can dress casually for lunch or get dressed up a bit more for dinner!

We started with the crispy risotto balls, which were so yummy!  Think cheesy risotto rolled into a ball, lightly deep fried, and served hot with marinara sauce.  A fancy and even more delightful twist to something like a mozzarella stick.

Next up...their Caponata Bruschetta!  WOW...just WOW!  This was one of my absolute favorite dishes that I tried at Pastaria.  Grilled bread, lemon and basil ricotta, eggplant caponata, and mustard greens...need I say more?!  These flavors were perfect together and we just raved and rave about how much we loved it.  I could have eaten that just for my lunch!

Because we dined in for lunch, we then tried items from their lunch menu which included their lunch size Shaved Kale Salad and their Mixed Greens salad.  Both salads were really good and we especially loved the kale salad.  I'd recommend ordering both if you go with another person and sharing so you can experience both salads!  

Finally...PASTA!  After all, isn't that what we came for?!  All of the other dishes leading up to the pasta dishes were great compliments to the entire experience but I was definitely looking forward to trying their pasta and they did not disappoint!  Their pasta is made fresh on site so you know you are getting a very authentic Italian experience.

Funny enough I had been stalking their Instagram feed before dining in and I had my eye on a certain pasta dish.  I showed the picture to our Waiter and he immediately knew which pasta I was talking about...Papardelle with smoked pork, mascarpone, and apples!  I'm guessing this is one of their most popular dishes because it was a homerun The sweet with the savory was such a perfect combination so it was easy for me to clean my plate.  No shame. 

The other pasta dish that we tried was Canestri Cacio e Pepe with pecorino, grana padano, and black pepper.  This was also very good and reminded us much like an elevated macaroni and cheese!  Although we did not try their pizza's I'm certain that they would be just as good as their pasta.

I'm excited to return to Pastaria and try some of their other dishes and maybe even try a pizza!  Everything on their menu sounds amazing and after our personal experience with the dishes that we tried, I am certain every dish would be a winner in my book!  They are also able to switch out regular pasta noodles for gluten free noodles!

Pastaria is a great spot for lunch but also perfect for a night out!  I love that they have a bar area overlooking the wood fire oven/kitchen and they have plenty of space to serve both small and large parties!  Not to mention Pastaria is very family friendly too, which is so important to me and I would totally take my family there!

Have you tried Pastaria yet?!  What did you think?!  If you haven't and are looking for a new place...give it a try and let me know how your experience was!  I think you will be as pleased as we were.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!