Blue Aster Review – Fine Dining at the Conrad Nashville
Last updated: 7/1/24
Hotel restaurants don’t always have the best reputation when it comes to quality, but that’s not the case for Blue Aster at the Conrad, one of Nashville’s luxury hotels.
While my typical day doesn’t usually include fine dining, I got a chance to have lunch at Blue Aster recently. Every single dish was put together incredibly well, and the entire experience was definitely on par with the other top high-end restaurants in Nashville. I’m definitely looking for an occasion to come back soon!
For more restaurant suggestions, be sure to bookmark my Nashville guide!
The Blue Aster Experience
The dining area at Blue Aster has a contemporary feel with timeless touches like upholstered seating and linen tablecloths that feel approachable and familiar rather than intimidating. The menu has the same blend of familiar with a twist.
Blue Aster’s cuisine is coastal-inspired while also paying homage to the flavors of Tennessee and the rest of the South. Despite Tennessee being landlocked, the kitchen is able to get fresh seafood in quickly, and other ingredients are sourced locally.
The lunch menu was obviously a bit more select than the dinner menu but still had many of Blue Aster’s most popular dishes. I started with a deliciously creamy seafood chowder followed by the fish and chips, and I would absolutely repeat that choice again.
I love a good fried fish, and I was so impressed with the fish and chips here. It doesn’t exactly sound like fine dining, but the flavors were so clear and sharp. I cannot recommend this one enough. The fries were also delicious as well. There was much more than I could eat in one sitting though (so you don’t have to worry about leaving hungry).
For dessert, I tried the chocolate cake. Of course, it’s no surprise that the cake was delicious as well.
I didn’t try any of the cocktails or drinks, but I would imagine they were equally as carefully crafted as the rest of the menu. I did get a chance to see the Conrad’s bar Thistle & Rye upstairs. I am not an expert when it comes to drinks and cocktails, but I’ve heard that it’s a good spot to go to if you think that nothing can surprise you in the cocktail scene.
Dining at Blue Aster is pricey although there are more expensive spots in Nashville that I’ve been to that were higher priced without being significantly better quality. For a special occasion or even a little date night splurge, it’s worth it.
Blue Aster also offers an afternoon tea on the weekends that looks like a lot of fun. It’s on my (very long) list of things to try in Nashville.
I cannot say enough good things about Blue Aster. I feel like it doesn’t get mentioned as often as some of Nashville’s other restaurants even though it’s located in the popular Midtown area, but it absolutely should be. I even included the restaurant in my 24-hour guide to Nashville.
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Blue Aster is located at 1620 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203. You can make a reservation or check the menu on their website.
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