The 15 Most Essential Nashville Food Experiences
These dining experiences should be at the top of your culinary bucket list.
While Nashville has only hit the national culinary radar in the past decade or so, Music City has a long tradition of putting out some amazing food and inventing important dishes—like Nashville chicken and the concept of the “meat & three.” That’s why any list of “can’t miss” dining experiences in Nashville has to include some of the latest and greatest developments alongside the creators and culinary pros who have been feeding the city for a long time. Here are the must-hit options to fill your bucket list and your belly.

Order the whole menu at Locust
12 South
A warning right off the bat, this is an experience you’re gonna have to work for. Since being named the 2022 Best Restaurant in America by Food & Wine magazine, reservations are snatched up quickly for weeks in advance as soon as they open. But it’s definitely worth the effort to experience Noma-trained chef Trevor Moran’s meticulous cuisine. The menu is short, never more than 10 items or so, but every dish is worth consideration. From beef tartare (with an “add too much caviar” option) to an unbelievable take on shrimp toast to the Platonic ideal of pork dumplings, Locust is truly a special, special dining experience. Read More…