MSTP Foodies: Restaurant Reviews
Garden Brunch Café
This delightful restaurant in Germantown was one of the first restaurants in Nashville that we went to together, and it is a restaurant we always take guests to when they come to visit. This restaurant is only open Friday through Sunday, but wow do they know how to make a perfect breakfast. Their most famous item is the bananas foster pancakes, which is one of the most sugary but well-worth-it and delicious meals we have ever had. It is large, so we do highly recommend splitting it with at least one person. Not only are the city-famous pancakes delicious, but they also make the best omelets that we have had in Nashville. The staff here is incredibly friendly, and you are sure to have a smile on your face during your whole meal. The only downside to this restaurant is that they do not take reservations, and the wait can get long. We definitely recommend getting there early!
Nicky’s Coal Fired
This hot new restaurant in West Nashville is unlike any other Nashville pizza experience. Everything, including their charcuterie meats, cheeses, pizza, and gelato, is made in-house and will leave your mouth watering. The charcuterie items were so delicious that we tried to take them home! After trying a red sauce-based and white sauce-based pizza, they were both delectable, but the red-pizza is definitely our go-to pie. The restaurant can often be loud at times, and we have not had the best service to date. They also have limited pizza options, and the pizzas are slightly small for the cost. However, this has not kept us from planning future trips to this restaurant. Nicky’s Coal Fired would be great for a fun date night or evening out with a few friends, but don’t choose this if you’re hoping to fill up with pizza while watching a sports game.
Red Pony
This restaurant is not new to the restaurant scene having opened in 2006, but it is often overlooked because it is located in downtown Franklin. We find many of the new upscale Nashville restaurants to be very similar with their Bear Creek Farm beef selections, and some standard chicken dishes on their menu, but The Red Pony is the best value for your money and your taste buds. With a rotating menu and unique, flavorful items, this restaurant is one that you will want to come back to. During your first visit, they will give you an extra appetizer compliments of the chef, just as a thank you for trying their restaurant. The wait staff is incredibly attentive, and they always recognize you on return visits. We have been to this restaurant now multiple times, and there are no items on the menu that will disappoint! Some dishes that you must try are their hummus, Red Pony B.L.T., and the truffle parmesan potatoes.
Siam Cuisine
Although most people’s favorite Thai restaurant in Nashville is Smiling Elephant, there are some other outstanding Thai restaurants, including Siam Cuisine. We decided to try this restaurant the day after we got our dog, Johnny, and realized we could pick up our order and take him on a walk at the same time. For us, that was the best walk of Johnny’s life because it allowed us to discover the tastiness that is Siam Cuisine. While their classic dumplings and curries were a delight, our best find yet is their Kang Karee Gai dish, in which tender chicken is wrapped with potatoes and avocado in a special curry sauce. Our second favorite item is the Sassy Pineapple Curry, which is served in a hollowed-out pineapple and comes with a house soup, salad, and choice of ice cream or fried bananas at a great price! Next time you’re in the mood for Thai food, give Siam Cuisine a try.
Tartufo
Tartufo is Nashville’s newest Italian restaurant. Some say it is also one of Nashville’s most expensive restaurants, so it is definitely one to visit on a special occasion or with your parents when they are in town. This small restaurant does not look like much from the outside and could be easily bypassed by a person walking near West End or Centennial Park. We chose to come here for Sumeeth’s birthday. We both selected the five-course tasting menu, where we tried a variety of items. The fantastic quality of the food was consistent, from the initial bread and olive oil to the perfectly seasoned meatballs and, finally, to the extravagant Risotto al Tartufo, which the head chef makes in front of you. Sumeeth’s favorite part of this experience was having the head chef come to our table. However, the main entrees were very disappointing. They did not have any unique flavors, and they were not cooked as instructed. You should definitely try the Tartufo dish, but we advise only one party member to get the tasting menu. It was simply too much food and made the dinner pricier!