Startle

Nashville’s restaurant scene is on board with the rest of the city’s burgeoning cultural evolution. Downtown is buzzing with growth, and new districts like The Gulch and 12South are taking on their own distinct identity. More and more chef-driven restaurants are popping up on the scene, with a strong commitment to locally owned restaurants and a vibrant slow food movement. In short, the art of food matters in Nashville more than ever.

In addition to shinier, more modern takes on cuisine, Nashville has also retained its deeply rooted history of traditional food, often found at restaurants know as “meat and threes,” for the meat entrée and three sides you choose all for one price. An even quieter side story to these better-publicized parts of Nashville’s restaurant scene is found along Nolensville Road in southeast Nashville and West Nashville, where the city’s immigrant community runs restaurants that serve up tasty ethnic cuisine.