A Local’s Guide to the Best East Nashville Restaurants
Admittedly, I might be biased, but East Nashville seems to be home to a greater proportion of the best restaurants in Nashville than any other part of the city. There are so many good choices for where to eat.
I covered a lot of the top East Nashville restaurants in my East Nashville neighborhood guide, but there are even more that deserve to be highlighted.
The Best Restaurants in East Nashville
I haven’t made it to every restaurant in East Nashville, but I’m working on it. (So if I haven’t included your favorite, I either haven’t been there, or I’ve been and didn’t like it).
Here are the ones you need to know about so far, in my opinion.
Peninsula
Peninsula is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in East Nashville. It’s a small and intimate spot on Eastland serving Spanish and French dishes. The menu changes frequently depending on what’s in season. The staff does a great job of helping you pick what you’ll like the most.
The restaurant makes a great date night spot. Peninsula feels special without feeling stuffy or extravagant. It’s on the pricier side, but fair for the quality of food and the care that goes into the entire experience.
People also get really excited about their gin and tonic menu, so that’s good to know if you like cocktails.
Joyland
It’s easy to find burgers all over Nashville, and Joyland’s are some of the best in the city. The restaurant is a one of Sean Brock’s projects, but it’s very different from his other restaurants in the area.
Joyland is a very casual restaurant serving basic, but delicious burgers. The menu also includes fried chicken and fries plus milkshakes.
I haven’t tried every burger in Nashville yet, but I’m pretty sure these are some of the best!
Read my full review of Joyland here.
Five Points Pizza
The East location of Five Points Pizza is incredibly popular for good reason – the pizza is delicious! If you’re able to get the lunch special, you can get two slices plus a drink for under $10, which is an amazing price for lunch in Nashville.
My personal favorite is the Dave’s pie topped with prosciutto and basil, but there isn’t a bad pizza on the menu. You can either get a pizza to go or eat at the restaurant. I do both on a pretty frequent basis.
Read my full review of Five Points Pizza here.
Folk
Another great place for a pizza is at Folk, but it’s much more than just a pizza place. The menu is Italian-inspired and based around local, seasonal produce. I’ve loved basically everything I’ve tried here.
The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. It feels very much like a neighborhood spot. I would eat here every week if I could. (And, I can’t wait for my daughters to be old enough to join me every once in a while.)
Redheaded Stranger
Redheaded Stranger is super popular thanks to its photo-friendly decor. You might have to wait in line for a while on some days, but the food is good. The Tex-Mex-inspired restaurant has great tacos and margaritas. Plus, I absolutely love their “totchos,” which are tater tots topped with loaded nachos toppings!
Read my full review of Redheaded Stranger here.
Audrey
Audrey is an upscale East Nashville restaurant by Sean Brock that pays tribute to his Appalachian background. Obviously, the food quality and the experience as a whole is outstanding. You will probably need to make reservations well in advance.
I’d recommend Audrey for serious foodies only. When I went the only option was for a prix fixe menu, and while the food was good, it was very pricey and more than we could actually eat. It looks like you can order individual dishes now though so that might be less of an issue.
BoomBozz Pizza
For families with children, BoomBozz Pizza is a favorite. The food is good. You really can’t go wrong with any of their pizzas. (And the jumbo tater tots filled with cheese, called tater kegs, are absolutely worth ordering as an appetizer!)
However, the real draw for families is the playground area outside. Kids can have fun on the slides and other equipment while waiting for the food. It’s a nice, low-pressure outing for all ages.
Butcher and Bee
Butcher and Bee is a Mediterranean restaurant offering a selection of small plates perfect for sharing with the table. The whipped feta is one of the most popular dishes. Some people think the restaurant is overhyped, but we’ve been multiple times and always enjoyed the experience.
The Treehouse
For a unique experience (and delicious food), the Treehouse is the place to go. It’s a farm-to-table restaurant that does, in fact, have a tree house.
I’ve never gotten a reservation for the treehouse portion, but the rest of the restaurant is also very charming. It’s a great place to go with friends!
Bolton’s Famous Hot Chicken and Fish
Bolton’s is the go-to place for hot chicken in East Nashville. The menu is small with just a couple options for chicken, fish, and sides, but they do it well.
Personally, I get the non-spicy option because I like my taste buds intact, but you can get as hot as you can handle. We always get our order to go, but there is some outdoor seating available.
Boston Commons
Boston Commons is a New England-inspired pub, which sounds like an odd choice for East Nashville. However, the restaurant’s previous name was “Batter’d and Fried,” so it really isn’t that out of place among Southern cuisine.
Honestly, the only thing I’ve tried here was the fish & chips sampler, but every single type of fish was so good that I had to include this as a recommendation. I don’t know whether anything else on the menu is good–the fish & chips is absolutely worth getting though!
Also, someone else in the restaurant ordered the cobbler for dessert, and it looked amazing. So, consider adding that to your order. I regret not getting one.
Hearts
Hearts is only open for breakfast and lunch, but you need to make time in your day to eat there! The restaurant serves Australian-style brunch. I love the twice-baked French toast. They have to be making their own bread because if they aren’t I need to know where I can get it for myself.
The East Nashville Hearts location is cozy and very vibey. Any time that there’s a parking spot open, I’d recommend stopping. It’s just that good!
Read my full review of Hearts here.
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Thanks for reading my recommendations for restaurants in East Nashville. I’m constantly trying out new places in East (and across Nashville) so be sure to come back for updates.
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