Must-see restaurants in Tennessee

Behind a nondescript sliding door hides this choose-your-own-adventure foodie dreamland. Chef Josh Habiger (Catbird Seat, Patterson House) has cultivated…

For the 22 lucky diners perched around an open kitchen, chefs Will Aghajanian and Liz Johnson choreograph an unforgettable 10- to 12-course dining…

From the communal tables on the patio to the standing-room-only bar to the buzzing dining room, this convivial joint – a former gas station – exudes a…

Since 2010, East Nashville’s Pepperfire has been slinging spicy bird to heat seekers who appreciate a creative twist on classic hot chicken. A thin,…

When it comes to hot chicken supremacy, based on sheer numbers, Hattie B's reigns supreme in Nashville. The ultra-popular fried chicken spot serves up…

Looking for a fresh and flavor-packed meal in East Nashville? Then hit up this small but inviting vegetarian eatery, where photos of happy livestock beam…

Set in a Victorian house overlooking downtown and the river, Husk provides an authentic, farm-to-table Southern food experience. It offers a daily…

Arguably Nashville’s best-known and -respected Thai restaurant, the Smiling Elephant is a treasure not to be missed. This homey little joint welcomes…

The epicenter of Germantown's foodie revival is this stunning kitchen run by Belgian chef Philip Krajeck. His earthy pastas, rustic sauces and seasonally…

You'll want to reserve ahead for the privilege of noshing on James Beard Award–winning chef Joseph Lenn's modern Appalachian comfort cuisine. Lenn, who…

The redneck taco? It's pulled pork stuffed in cornbread (called a hoe-cake) and topped with slaw and BBQ sauce. It's also a beloved choice at this packed…

The downtown location of this iconic Memphis barbecue joint is the perfect side dish to an afternoon at the National Civil Rights Museum. The transcendent…

For an inviting and delicious respite from exploring the shops of 12South, pop into this bright and sparkling Lebanese bistro. The highlight at lunch? The…

In a joint that's just a cow's tail bigger than a shack, the hard-working Gabby's crew cranks out grass-fed-beef burgers, which many say are Nashville's…

Well-known Nashville chef Deb Paquette's Etch serves some of the city's most inventive cuisine – comfort food whose flavors and textures have been…

Carnivores, welcome to your happy place. The locally sourced and all-natural burgers here groan under decadent toppings such as fried eggs, pimiento…

Served in a simmering hug of chili-garlic butter, spinach and Parmesan, the grilled oysters are an oh-so-delicious introduction to this newcomer, where…

It may be a contentious statement, but here goes: this converted gas station has the best chopped-pork sandwich in town.

This barbecue joint, with its simple, down-home decor and some seriously great aromas wafting from the kitchen, is a Nashville staple. The pork platter is…

This brick building in smart Germantown hides one of the city's best restaurants. The food, cooked in an open kitchen in a former art studio space, is a…