Permitting issues and construction and equipment shortages continue to cause frustrating delays for restaurant owners hoping to open their new establishments by the end of the year. However, a handful of long-awaited restaurants will finally debut in neighborhoods throughout Nashville this fall.
Eater Nashville is tracking the progress of the following 11 restaurants anticipated to open this fall, from Sean Brock’s stunning, long-awaited flagship restaurant to two exciting openings at Sylvan Supply bringing spicy biang biang noodles and fantastic fish and chips to visitors at the rapidly growing complex.
Location: East Nashville/McFerrin Park, 809 Meridian St
Who: Sean Brock
Projected opening: October?
Sean Brock’s oh-so-long awaited dream flagship restaurant has been ready and waiting for a while to open its doors — and rumor has it the time is near. Located in East Nashville’s McFerrin Park neighborhood, Audrey is an absolute stunner inside, with Brock’s attention to detail at every turn. The restaurant is a tribute to and named after Brock’s maternal grandmother — who the celebrity chef credits as his biggest inspiration for his career and cooking in general. Brock describes his grandmother as a “classic Appalachian grandmother’’ who worked as a butcher in her father’s grist mill, kept bees, always tended to a garden, and had preservers aplenty lining her basement. Audrey’s signature is the logo for the restaurant, and every diner who walks in sees it on the door. Beyond, of course, the food, the design is also a dream — featuring the chef’s museum-worthy artwork collection, photographs, and a world-class kitchen. The chef is sharing the story behind Audrey on his Instagram — so follow along there as anticipation builds.
Location: The Nations/4901 Centennial Blvd
Who: Carey Bringle
Projected opening: late October
The Nations lands bourbon cocktails and smoked meats from legendary pitmaster Carey Bringle this fall. For years, Bringle said there’d only ever be one location — the smoked meat temple in prime Gulch territory — but clearly, something changed his mind. Located in a small triangle of property in a former service station, Bringle is keeping the gas station vibes in his second smokehouse, where he’ll also change up the menu. The meat situation here will be more “mission-style” — which is traditional among the German Hill Country part of Texas — priced by the pound and served as part of shared platters. Bringle will also dabble in Texas essential beef brisket alongside ribs, turkey, and chicken and offer fried chicken on special occasions. Look for sides like roasted street corn and Texas-style baked beans, plus plenty of kid- and dog-friendly outdoor seating where he’ll serve hamburgers and hot dogs.
Location: Downtown, 231 6th Ave North
Who: Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Projected opening: late October
Earlier this year, the historic Hermitage Hotel announced that internationally celebrated chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten is tapped to revamp the hotel’s entire culinary program, from top to bottom, while the hotel also sees design updates throughout. The two new dining spots are Drusie & Darr and The Pink Hermit — with Drusie & Darr serving as star of the show. Vongerichten plans to showcase the abundance of Tennessee’s regional produce at D&D, some of which will be sourced from The Hermitage Hotel’s Garden at Glen Leven. The menu, inspired by the seasons and Tennessee’s rich culinary heritage, will welcome hotel guests and neighbors alike for everything from cocktails and a sophisticated evening out to a glass of wine and pizza from the wood-fired oven, or a relaxed family dinner.
Location: The Gulch, 300 12th Ave S,
Who: Chef Andrew Carmellini
Projected opening: October/fall
The Dutch Nashville and Carne Mare, two restaurants from award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini, are set to open this October inside the W Nashville hotel. Located in the heart of the Gulch, both The Dutch and Carne Mare will be neighborhood-focused spots with street-facing entrances. Acclaimed New York chef, restaurateur, and author Carmellini has been dreaming this project up for seven years now and is excited to finally serve the Nashville community. The Dutch, which will open first of the two restaurants, offers a livelier atmosphere with a laid-back American comfort food menu, whereas Carne Mare, opening second, will be a more formal night out as a contemporary Italian chophouse.
International Market
Location: Belmont, 2013 Belmont Blvd.
Who: Arnold Myint
Projected opening: fall 2021
One of the most exciting openings of the year is the reemergence of the much-missed International Market, sometime “very soon” according to social media posts. The Myint family’s longtime Nashville mainstay will reopen in the former Blvd space right across the street sometime this fall, and Arnold Myint has been sharing some sneak peeks on social media as the opening menu is finalized. Dishes teased include Burmese tomato relish with shrimp powder and shrimp paste — served with prawn crackers and pork rinds for dipping, smoked char siu tofu, and lots and lots of comforting heaps of noodles.
Location: Sylvan Park, 4101 Charlotte Avenue
Who: Clay Greenberg (Silo)
Projected opening: mid-October
An izakaya-influenced casual restaurant from Clay Greenberg of Germantown’s much-missed Silo, Punk Wok slides into Sylvan Supply with an eclectic blend of Japanese and Chinese dishes. Pop-ups this summer and teases on Instagram show dishes from executive chef Grant Smith like xinjiang lamb, katsu sandos, and spicy biang biang noodles plus beef bulgogi-loaded waffle fries with beer cheese. Greenberg is operating closer to home now, as the chef is a longtime Sylvan Park resident, who led the kitchens at MStreet’s Virago and Lime before opening Silo.
Location: Sylvan Park, 4101 Charlotte Avenue G120
Who: Cameron and Nicole Payne
Projected opening: late September (update, according to social media posts, Red Perch opens today, September 22)
The Arcade’s essential fish and chips shop from Nicole and Cameron Payne moved to larger digs, and with it, got an expanded menu, more seating, and alcohol service. Red Perch first opened in the arcade alleyway in the summer of 2018, and since became a crowd favorite for chef Payne’s expertly beer-battered fish and chips, calamari, and shrimp banh mi during weekday lunch. Owners Cameron and Nicole Payne moved to Nashville from Hawaii, where the couple met. Cameron relocated there from Australia, where he spent time cooking at highly acclaimed tasting restaurant Attica. Payne also spent time as an executive chef in Turkey and as a private chef on a boat traveling the world.
Location: Edgehill, 1200 Villa Place
Who: Chef Margaret LaVetty, Red Pebbles Hospitality
Projected opening: early fall
The former home of Taco Mamacita in Edgehill gets new life this fall — Sadies, an all-day cafe that’ll serve Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a casual environment. Red Pebbles Hospitality has tapped chef Margaret LaVetty (formerly of Barcelona Wine Bar) to run matters in the kitchen. NY native LaVetty, a classically trained chef and graduate of the California Culinary Academy, returns to Nashville after some time in Florida. Sadie’s will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner — with everything from lamb shank sloppy joe’s, poutine burgers, mezze platters, Slovaki chicken kebabs, and vegetarian friendly choices like baked halloumi and a daily grilled vegetable board.
Location: Downtown, 550 Broadway (Fifth + Broadway)
Who: Sam Fox, Justin Timberlake
Projected opening: September 28
The Twelve Thirty Club is ready to make its full debut on Broadway when it opens the self-dubbed “dapper-as-hell,” 400-seat Supper Club on September 28, unleashing the final component of the progressive, three-story experience headlined by food and music. On the menu, find starters like Wagyu steak tartare, truffle cheese garlic toast, and an over-the-top raw bar menu. The menu pays homage to classic steakhouse dishes, with whimsical twists — with prime, grass-fed, and bone-in steak cuts alongside decadent seafood dishes and interesting sides. An impressive wine collection of over 1,800 bottles is housed in a custom-built wine wall is a show stopper, plus of course, there are cocktails aplenty at the supper club.
Location: West End, 1808 West End Ave
Who: Executive chef Hector Campos
Projected opening: mid-October
Urban Farmer Nashville is the next restaurant on tap for West End’s Hutton Hotel. While this is the fifth location of Urban Farmer (others are in Denver, Portland, Cleveland, and Philadelphia) executive chef Hector Campos gets to make Nashville’s menu all his own, adding to some favorite classics served throughout all locations. With over twenty years of experience and casual, fine dining restaurants, and prestigious five-star resorts and hotels around the world, Campos and the team are working to partner with farmers and farmers markets around middle Tennessee for the first Southeast outpost of the self-described “down to earth, modern steakhouse”. On the menu, expect the usual suspects like beef tartare and charcuterie boards alongside a NY steak tasting flight of 5-ounce steaks — where guests can taste the nuances between grass-fed, grain-fed, and cattle raised by different ranch partners. There are also seafood and vegetarian-friendly options, sides, and a crowd-pleasing butterscotch sundae for dessert.