Below I’ve pasted the Nashville Michelin Awards from November 2025.
Just offering this as a starting place for further discussions on “Good restaurants in Nashville”. (I’m not here to argue the merits or non-merits of Michelin etc.)
I’ve added a little additional info on most of these spots. This is all in response to a recent post on Nashville Fine Dining… just figured I’d make it a bit more broad-based.
Note that lots of these have quite limited hours/days. For example, Thu-Sat dinner only.
As for me, I have been to Catbird, and Audrey (several times) in the past.
Later this week I am going to Nashville again (from Cary NC) and will be dining at Bastion, Locust, Kisser, Peninsula, Bad Idea, Sho Pizza, and maybe a few others.
I love visiting town in the middle of winter, and during the week, when I can get some great food and also enjoy a great time in the few remaining real-deal country music spots on Broadway (Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, and most of all, Robert’s Western World).
Yes, you can avoid the horrible spots - if you know where to look, and when to go. Anyway, on to the restaurants…
Michelin One Star:
Catbird Seat: Chefs Tiffani Ortiz (Uprooted, Slow Burn) and Andy Doubrava (Rustic Canyon). Set menu only.
Bastion: 24-seat restaurant of JBF Award Nominee Chef Josh Habiger (2023 Best Chef Southeast). Set menu only.
Locust: Helmed by chef Trevor Moran, James Beard Foundation Best New Chef Semifinalist 2023. Fri/Sat/Sun Only.
Michelin Bib Gourmand:
St Vito Focacceria – Inventive takes on pizza, foccicioa (“sfincione”) and more Italian-themed dishes, from Chef Michael Hanna.
Red-Headed Stranger – Casual Southwestern spot, highlighting hatch chilies, homemade tortillas, tacos, brisket and classic Tex Mex staples, from Bryan Lee Weaver (Butcher & Bee).
Peninsula: Sharable plates spotlighting Spanish and Portuguese fare accented with French techniques. Executive Chef Jake Howell won 2025 JBF Best Chef: Southeast.
Kisser: Husband and wife team Brian Lea and Leina Horii offer Japanese comfort food at this small, 2024 JBF Best New Restaurant finalist.
Uzbegim: Central Asian comfort food - traditional Uzbek food, kabobs and more.
SS Gai: Thai street-style fried chicken and more with an unexpected twist. Located in a refurbished car wash.
Sho Pizza Bar – Sean Brock’s elevated take on Japanese pizza. Opened with a pair of investors who were equally obsessed with pizza with a Japanese spin.
Michelin Selected:
Audrey: Sean Brock has departed, but this temple to Appalachian cuisine continues on, now helmed by Brock’s previous right-hand man, Samuel Jett. Larger groups can order a “Feast” which is a family-type dinner, we enjoyed this with 4 people.
Bad Idea: Wine-forward spot previously with a Lao focus, just now bringing in Chef David Breeden (TFL, Per Se). “Breeden says his philosophy for restaurants is “E.L.F: Energetic, loud and fun.””
Rolf and Daughters: Chef/owner Philip Krajeck (finalist for Best Chef: Southeast) keeps the doors open 7 days a week with a menu offering something for everyone.
Folk: Italian / Pizza casual spot also from Chef/owner Philip Krajeck.
Arnold’s Country Kitchen
Tailor
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Café Roze
Iggy’s
International Market
Shotgun Willie’s BBQ
Other Spots I have Enjoyed:
Xiao Bao – Creative Chinese, the second outpost of the Charleston spot that I really like.
Henrietta Red - Airy, fun spot for oysters & elevated seafood small plates. Solo diners can have a drink and seafood at the bar / counter. From Chef Julia Sullivan.
Rodney Scott’s BBQ – On the rooftop of Eric Church’s music complex. Also a small-menu window on the ground floor.
Fried Chicken – I think I tried 4 or 5 of the “big names” but honestly they all blended together without me taking notes.
Other Listicles:
Eater Nashville “38 Best”:
Infatuation Best Restaurants in Nashville
Okay, that it from me (and from some others).
What have we missed? Which did you love (or not)?
