Discover Home | Best New Restaurants from 2017

Get the down-low on the best new restaurants in Middle Tennessee! We’ve picked our top 10 favorites, let us know which is yours! 

Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria

911 Buchanan St | Nashville

Slim & Husky’s is the wildly popular cafeteria-style pizza joint that opened in March of 2017. The restaurant’s casual, hip-hop aesthetic and carefully crafted flavor combinations were an instant hit, with lines reportedly stretching out the door before April.

The owners, all three of whom are locals, opened Slim & Husky’s in “The Buc” area in historic North Nashville in part to help revitalize the struggling community. Their efforts have been so successful that they have since opened other locations in the city, with plans to expand further.

Visitors to Slim & Husky’s can design their own pie or choose one of the menu’s Signature Artisan Pizzas. Boasting diverse options ranging from sweet and spicy meat pizzas that would make any local proud to vegan and vegetarian pizzas that are rumored to be the best in town, they’re sure to have something for everyone.

When you visit Slim & Husky’s, we recommend that you toss out your preconceived notions of what a pizzeria should be. Kick back, enjoy the nostalgic 90s music, indulge in unlimited toppings for no extra charge, and savor local craft brews, frozen blended specialties, or cans of wine with your meal. Patio seating is available. Parking is limited, but the lot is attended.

Headquarter’s Beercade

114 2nd Ave. S | Nashville

This unique experience combines a bar with a retro arcade and a classic full-menu sports cuisine. Headquarter’s Beercade offers visitors 21 and over an escape from the stressful and the mundane.

The decor heavily features reclaimed, re-purposed outdated technology, so from the moment you enter, you will be transported to another time and place. The walls feature huge, detailed murals, and one massive wall is covered entirely in cassette tapes. You can choose from many smaller tables or sit at the long bar.

At Headquarter’s Beercade, the games are all on the house (except for a few rare games). Players can choose from 30 vintage arcade machines.

The full menu at Headquarters features mainly classic – and delicious – American appetizers and sandwiches. They also have a catering menu and a game-day menu.

The drinks options are numerous: choose from 12 craft cocktails, 12 craft beers on tap, and 40 craft beers in cans with rotating seasonal options.

Headquarter’s Beercade is located on the street level. The beercade operates 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and can be reserved for both large and intimate events. The interior spans 2 floors and more than 6,500 square feet.

Pancho and Lefty’s Cantina

104 5th Ave. South | Nashville

Conveniently located right across the street from Bridgestone Arena, this casual cantina is “the newest restaurant in the oldest building in downtown Nashville.” The decor is understated, fresh, and bright, which makes it well suited to the feel of the neighborhood.

The menu at Pancho and Lefty’s features authentic street-style cuisine like tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and burritos, but they made sure to infuse these classics with a Nashville twist. Visitors especially recommend the crispy pork tacos, mijas tacos (great for vegetarians), and the street corn (great for young diners).

Pancho and Lefty’s Cantina is usually busy and they don’t take reservations, so arrive with the expectation that you will wait a bit and seat yourself at one of the high-top tables. On warm Nashville nights, visitors can head up to the roof to enjoy beautiful rooftop seating above the city.

Learn more about Pancho and Lefty’s. 

Henrietta Red

1200 4th Ave N | Nashville

Henrietta Red serves New American cuisine, and rumor has it that all of their seafood dishes are especially delicious. Perhaps most enticing is their marble raw oyster bar which features not the standard one or three but rather sixteen different types of oysters from various regions. Oysters are served on flavorful house-made crackers and offered fresh at Happy Hour for only $2 until 6 pm.

The wood-burning oven allows the chef to impart a smoky richness to her cooked seafood dishes as well, so if you get carried away with the oysters on your first visit, you’ll definitely want to return to try an entree another time.

The beverage menu centers around wine, all of which is curated by Poindexter. Beer and specialty cocktails are also available.

The bright, breezy interior marries perfectly with the coastal theme of the menu; reviewers have made special mention of the creativity and precision of the decor. Perfect for a special brunch or an intimate dinner, this upscale yet cozy spot is located in the white brick building at the corner of 5th and Madison.

GReKo Greek Street Food

704 Main St | Nashville

GReKo Greek Street Food is owned and operated by a family that moved from Greece but has now thrived in Nashville’s restaurant scene for 40 years. The family believes that bringing authentic Greek street cuisine to Nashville allows them to remain true to their roots while adding the best of their (culinary and decorative) art to their beloved home.

Well before you enter the restaurant, you’ll catch the mouthwatering aroma of grilled meats. Once inside, the beautiful interior will transport you to the streets of Greece via lively street art and mosaics. You can sit indoors in the bright, minimalist cafe area, or move outdoors onto one of the beautiful patio seating areas.

More about that aromatic grilled meat: you’ll choose from chicken, pork, or lamb as a filling for your warm pita, then choose the fresh greens and toppings you’re craving. Alternatively, you can order a platter with the meat and sides of your choice.

Located just outside downtown, GReKo boasts ample parking, making it an especially great choice on busy weekends and during events.

Fort Louise

1304 McGavok Pike | Nashville

Located within a converted bungalow, Fort Louise has the warm and welcoming feel you’d expect to feel when attending a friend’s dinner party. The main dining room is open and bright, but still cozy.

Focusing on infusing classic American cuisine with fresh twists, Fort Louise’s comfort food is underpinned by Chef Bigger’s classical training. The Alabama native says this is her first truly personal project, so visitors will have the full benefit of tasting the recipes and techniques she’s learned throughout her career. The beverage selection is fun and varied, featuring a bit of everything.

Answer.

132 46th Ave. N | Nashville

Answer. is a modern, global fusion tapas and entrees restaurant, which means you can get almost any combination of flavors you might be in the mood for. Once you see the menu, though, you might find that you’re in the mood for a bit of everything. With prices ranging from $5 – $30, the diverse and flexible menu at Answer makes this smash hit the destination for the indecisive diner in your life.

The beverages menu includes wine, beer, and specialty cocktails.

Answer. has indoor and outdoor seating and is gorgeously furnished with selections from Hannah Collins Designs and Chattanooga’s Range Project.

Street parking available. Answer. does not serve to-go orders.

Top Cold Grill Ice Cream and Tea

2855 Medical Center Pkwy. | Murfreesboro 

When you’re in the mood for ice cream, consider heading to this new gem for rolled ice cream, a modern Thai specialty that’s recently gone global. To make rolled ice cream, or stir-fried ice cream, milk is poured onto a steel plate that has been chilled to below freezing. The milk is quickly hand-mixed with fruit or other add-ins until the desired consistency is reached; then the custom dessert is served.

Top Cold Grill’s interior is fresh, cute, and simple – similar to other frozen dessert shops you’ve visited, but the Thai-inspired add-ins here along with the bubble tea are extra draws to this new sweet shop. Reviewers have consistently praised the matcha ice cream, so if you’re a matcha fan who’s never found the right ice cream, visit Top Cold Grill for that perfect toasty rich flavor.

Sweetness levels in the milk tea drinks are customizable so you may wish to talk to the staff about your preference before you order. Non-dairy options are plentiful here, which is sure to please vegans and the lactose-intolerant among us.

The Goat

1127 Westwood Blvd. | Mt. Juliet

The Goat serves Classic American cuisine at their lively, community-centric location. If you’re looking for somewhere to get to know your neighbors, head to The Goat to shoot some pool, play competitive volleyball, cornhole, and euchre. You can also enjoy live music or take a dip in their on-site pool.

The upscale interior offers locals a beautiful venue where they can kick back and socialize. Vaulted ceilings over appealingly trendy decor gives The Goat a comfortably familiar yet fresh feel.

The menu offerings at The Goat are traditional with a kick, with comfort options like the farmhouse tots already garnering a loyal fanbase. The tacos, decidedly authentic and reminiscent of flavorful taco truck fare, are another standout option. The contemporary menu will allow visitors to choose their favorite entrees and then focus their attention back on conversation and cocktails.

The drink menu here is impressive, with a full page dedicated to each of these categories: wine, brews, blended drinks, bourbons, and spirits.

Parking is available on-site. Reservations recommended for larger parties.

Ludlow & Prime

330 Franklin Road Suite 226 B | Brentwood

Ludlow & Prime is Brentwood’s newest steak and seafood house! This new restaurant serves artisan food in an effort to bring Nashville’s exemplary cuisine to the Brentwood area. A true neighborhood spot, they source their food locally as much as possible from as close as Leipers Fork!

Located in the same busy parking lot as Nordstrom Rack, Ludlow & Prime offers the perfect atmosphere for your next meal. The bright and open space is paired with dark woods and accents to create a cozy and refined dining experience. The wood fire oven fills the restaurant with a smoky scent that adds to the casual but gourmet feel.

Reviewers highly recommend their crawfish hushpuppies and blackened redfish. The rest of their menu features southern favorites with Nashville flair. They especially feature a 45-day dry-aged ribeye which pairs perfectly with their plentiful wine list.

Ludlow & Prime also features a number of specialty cocktails especially tailored to the region. These include a “Bless Your Heart” and “Brentwood Bubble” that are sure to impress your taste buds.

Private events are also welcome. Ludlow & Prime offers everything from their exclusive Boardroom to buyout options to best suit your needs.

Parking available on-site. Reservations available through OpenTable or by phone.

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