Eating & Drinking in Nashville, Part I

Source: Dreamstime

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend had a weekday work conference in Nashville, and we decided that I'd drive up and we'd make a weekend out of it. We packed in so much from 5 p.m. on Friday to noon on Sunday! I'm sharing all of our spots, broken up over three posts. 

Our basic philosophy was that we weren't going to spend an entire night at just one location...we visited different places for pre-dinner drink, dinner, and post-dinner drink. It was a great way to see and experience as much as possible in a short period of time!

At the top of his wish list was The Patterson House, which has been named one of the top 55 bourbon bars in the country. We had some time to kill before it opened (it's a small space, and it fills up quickly, so get there early), so we headed down the street to The Red Door Saloon, a college bar on the edge of Vanderbilt's campus. 

We ordered two pints...and four appeared before us (Happy Hour is two-for-one)...with a whopping total price of $7.50. (We still talk about this. What a deal.)

Love the penny-topped bar!

I can't resist posting a picture of the mirror in the ladies room...you can just make out the sunglasses on top of my head. Apparently, it's a strategic placement to keep girls from lingering and causing a line. Hilarious!

 Back down the street we went...and talk about going from one extreme to the other!

The Patterson House is a gorgeous and intimate space, with bookshelf-lined walls, an expansive bar, and cozy tables. I'm not a bourbon person, so I had a glass of wine. Pat had a delicious (I sampled!) concoction of Belle Meade bourbon, pineapple syrup, and bitters.

We then headed to East Nashville, an eclectic and historic part of town that we fell in love with. It's an area described as being in the midst of a renaissance. 

While we waited on our table for dinner at The Silly Goose to be ready, we went next door to Two Ten Jack, a new Japanese-inspired pub (that is already incredibly popular...it was packed!). I want to go back and have the Nashville Roll, which is made with catfish, tartar sauce, pickled okra and cornbread. Wow!

Back to The Silly Goose...

How cute is the bandanna-wrapped silverware and clipboard for menu?

We started with The Claw, which was grilled wild gulf shrimp, applewood bacon jam, lemon, tuscan bread, fennel pollen, parsley. Light and delicious!

For dinner, I had the Darth Vapor, which consisted of porcini crusted black grouper, lemongrass broth, carmelized parsnips, brussel sprouts, shitakes, cauliflower, cashews, and cilantro rouille. Get out of town...party in my mouth! I particularly loved the nuts on top. This was out of this world!

For a nightcap, we headed over to Holland House Bar & Refuge, another spot named on the best bourbon bars list. 

We were initially disappointed to be led to the "back bar," but this turned out to be the best place to be! We had a very knowledgeable (and young!) bartender, who gave Pat plenty of great bourbon advice. One of the waiters from the neighboring restaurant Pharmacy (a stop next time) was working his way through the menu, and it looked delicious. (And that speaks volumes. I love knowing where restaurant people eat...always a good recommendation!)

We finished off the night with a few songs at The Big Bang dueling piano bar on Broadway! I can't ever pass these establishments up...and we had to hear some music in the Music City!