Pinewood Social: Nashville’s New Place to Meet

The Bitter Wife cocktail at Pinewood Social

Perhaps the most highly anticipated opening on the Nashville scene this year (at least for me!), Pinewood Social will open their doors tomorrow morning at 7 a.m.

Yesterday I got a little sneak peek, so I thought I’d share with you.

I know from conversations I’ve had recently that many of you are bewildered by this concept. It is perplexing. Definitely hard to completely understand until you’ve seen it with your own eyes. Not just restaurant, not just a bar– it’s a gathering place. A place to have meetings. Grab a bite to eat. Caffeinate. Karaoke. Bowl with friends. (And in a few months, take a dip in the pool!)

The bowling lanes at Pinewood Social

It seems like every concept that brothers Ben and Max Goldberg come up with turns to gold, and I don’t think this one will be any different. Actually, I’m sure of it. Chef Josh Habiger, who opened Patterson House with them, and then Catbird Seat, has come along for this new project too.

I’m fairly certain Josh’s food has some sort of magic dust sprinkled on it. That’s the only explanation I have for his ability to make me eat things I don’t think that I like, yet I end up loving.

Yesterday, it was a Reuben. Not just any old Reuben, but a Reuben with beef tongue. Beef tongue, Thousand Island and sauerkraut sounds like my worst nightmare, but it was truly delicious. Magic dust, I tell ya.

Fried Broccoli at Pinewood Social

While all the food we tried was great, there are two items that I definitely must insist that you order. Oddly enough, they are actually both cruciferous vegetables, of all things! More magic dust?

The fried broccoli appetizer with lemon zest, sea salt and almond/garlic dipping sauce and the cauliflower salad with peanuts and raisins will certainly be ordered by me many, many times in the future.

Pinewood Social’s pork belly salad, winter soup, and turkey/cranberry sandwich with cauliflower salad

Even though I was checking out the new space in the middle of the day, you know me- I couldn’t pass up ordering a cocktail.

No doubt I had high expectations for the bar program here. I mean, these guys opened Patterson House, still my #1 favorite place to get drinks in town. Add to that, Matt Tocco, who was at Patterson House before moving over to Rolf & Daughters to develop their bar program, is now at Pinewood Social. Verdict: high expectations met. So thrilled to add a new bar to my short list of places I enjoy going for a drink with friends.

Matt, Josh, Ben, Max. They are quite a team.

Speaking of Max, he’s the one that mentioned to my friend Kristin and I that Pinewood Social not only has amazing Crema coffee, but they also have coffee cocktails! He had no idea how much I love a good coffee cocktail. Of course we had to try them. I mean, duh.

The ‘Southern Limerick’ had coffee, bourbon, sorghum and heavy cream. The ‘Easy Like Sunday Morning’, a cortado with fernet and demerara sugar. So in L.O.V.E.

Of course, the coffee bar and surrounding area is good for other things besides just boozing it up. Drink a few cups of java while working at the big communal table or lounging in one of the comfy couches or chairs.

So think about it. This place could, in fact, house you for an entire day. You could take a breakfast meeting and then work over coffee. Meet business associates for a power lunch. Have a friend join you for after work drinks at the bar. Then your honey meets you for a dinner date, followed by bowling.

Get a few drinks in her, and she might even sing “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” in one of the karaoke rooms. Maybe. If you’re lucky.

Pinewood Social

33 Peabody Street
(Trolley Barns on Rolling Mill Hill)
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 751-8111

M – F 7 am – 1 am
Sat & Sun 9 am – 1 am