New (ish) Nashville Food On My To Do List
A few months ago, I posted a list of several Nashville spots that were supposed to be coming before years’ end. Since writing that, a couple have been delayed and won’t open until 2014. But in the meantime, even more new businesses that weren’t mentioned in that list have launched, or have announced they’re opening soon.
The following are a few that I, personally, am particularly excited by. This is by no means an all-encompassing list of what is opening in the next few months or what has already opened– nowhere close to it! Really this is a way for me to create a “to do” list for myself in hopes that it’ll keep me on task to try each of these before the end of the year.
If you’ve experienced any of these already, I’d love to get your feedback, so leave a comment!
Porter Road Butcher West
4816 Charlotte Ave.
(615) 454-2995
Breakfast served Mon – Fri 7 – 10 am
Lunch served Mon – Fri 11 am – 2 pm
Porter Road Butcher opened their new West location in August, and not long after, I dropped in to buy a couple of things and welcome them to the neighborhood. A few weeks after my visit, they announced they would start serving breakfast out of their drive-thru window (Note: can ONLY get it through the drive-thru!!) , and then in early October, they put the word out that they were serving lunch.
And boy oh boy, some of the offerings look incredible! Think big, Southern biscuits with sausage, egg, and Kenny’s Farmhouse cheese for breakfast (WAY better than a drive-thru Egg McMuffin, right??), Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls, and house made pear butter Pop-Tarts (I think I even saw a savory butternut squash and goat cheese Pop-Tart on the menu one day!!). Plus I just caught wind that they are now carrying Glazed donuts, which have also been on my radar for a while but haven’t yet tried.
And that’s just breakfast. Lunch specials that have tempted me: roasted cauliflower soup topped with crispy chorizo, spicy beef empanadas, meatball sub with marinara and Kenny’s Farmhouse swiss, Mexican style Torta with fresh avocado and a jalapeño lime crema, and a PRB Philly cheesesteak sandwich made with pasture raised beef, sliced thin and topped with caramelized onion and housemade cheese sauce. Uh hello. Gotta make my way over to Charlotte soon!
Like their Facebook page to see the daily menu.
Churro Queen Churros
Churro Queens
When I lived in San Diego, I ate many a churro as I crossed the border to and from Mexico. Fresh, warm, sugary churros – ah, how I loved those things.
Since moving to Nashville I can’t say that I’ve had a really great churro. So when I heard about the newly launched Churro Queens food truck, my interest was definitely piqued. Then pastry chef extraordinaire Audra Dykes sang their praises, and I knew these ladies must be doing something really awesome.
Started by two cousins from El Salvador, Churro Queens make their churros fresh, one at a time, using traditional recipes but are also adding in new, creative ideas. A churro banana split? The Milky Way churro? Check out their website or Facebook page to see what they’re cooking up and where they’ll be next!
Antica Sour
Bourbon, lavender infused local honey, blood orange shrub, egg white
Antica
507 Main Street
(5th and Main, East Nashville)
Nashville, TN 37206
(615)-266-1233
I’ve moaned and groaned about this city’s lack of tapas restaurants before. So word of Antica, described as a “Tapas and craft cocktail bar” pretty much had me doing cartwheels. Is this the small plates place I’ve been dying for ever since Rumba closed???
Very possible since at least one of the members of the restaurant group’s team came from Rumba. One of the other owners has a background that includes Holland House, so the potential for incredible cocktails is also there.
It looks like they’ve been in a soft open phase for a couple of weeks now, with the Grand Opening happening this Tuesday, the 19th!
You can view the full menu on their website and keep up to date on their Facebook page.
Two Ten Jack
1900 Eastland Ave
Nashville, TN 37206
Last week Eater broke the news that Chef Jessica Benefield is in as the chef of East Nashville’s soon to be opened izakaya and ramen house, Two Ten Jack. While this restaurant was on my radar, I’ll be honest, it wasn’t one that I was super duper excited about. Sure, I like ramen fine, but we’ve got Otaku South already doing a great job with it around town.
However, now that I know that Jessica is a part of it, my interest level has definitely gone up several notches. You see, Jessica won the Iron Fork competition that I judged back in the Spring and her food was out of this world. I can’t wait to see what she does at this new spot!
Check out their Facebook page to learn more and keep up to date on their opening.
Chef Kevin Ramquist
The Unicorn
There are a handful of chefs here in town that I simply adore. I love their food, but I also love their personalities. Kevin Ramquist is one of them. Over the past 3 years, while Kevin was the Executive Chef of F Scott’s, the restaurant was named Best Restaurant in the Nashville Scene Readers’ Poll twice and landed on Nashville Lifestyles’ Top 10 Best Restaurants list. In 2012, Kevin even took home the top prize at Nashville Lifestyles’ Savor Chefs Challenge.
Heck, there could have been even more awards that I missed, but I just tell you all of that to say – he’s good, people.
In October he created a Facebook page called “The Unicorn” and posted: “soon, very soon I will be starting a pop up dinner experience here in Nashville.” Of course, I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to hear more about what he had up his sleeve.
Then, just a few weeks later, he made an even bigger announcement to his Facebook friends — he was leaving F Scott’s to pursue his dream of owning a restaurant! Between now and whenever that opening happens, he’ll be throwing those promised Unicorn pop up dinners plus offering his services for catering.
So, I suggest you all “Like” The Unicorn’s Facebook page to stay in the know on what is to come and reach out to him if you have catering needs. I promise you will not be disappointed!
Note: All photos courtesy of respective businesses’ Facebook pages and Instagram feeds.
OMG WE HAVE A CHURRO TRUCK?!? Must. Try.
I can wholeheartedly attest to how good everything Churro Queens does… So, soooo good!
Mr. Eats got breakfast this past Saturday at PRB. He was first in line for it! He loved it. Said the biscuits (no doubt made with lard) reminded him of childhood. He also got a cinnamon roll, which he loved. But no donuts. AND NOTHING FOR ME. :(
I’d be looking forward to the ramen restaurant more if it weren’t already in an area that is a total pain. Too much traffic there for that tiny intersection and the parking situation is not great. But it’s wonderful for the many people who can walk there, for sure.
I will be seeking out the Antica Sour…YUM. You can’t go wrong with blood orange or lavender!
I am dying to get a breakfast sandwich from PRB. I think my coworkers and I are going to sneak away one morning to get some! Research, right?
I stop at PRB a couple times a week for bacon/egg/cheese or just a sausage/biscuit and I usually stop on Friday’s for lunch. The torta sandwich is really good and you cannot eat the philly cheesesteak while driving as it covered in melted cheese.
I will definitely keep an eye ouy for churros.