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Located in a hidden alley between Margot Café & Bar and Marché Artisan Foods in the Five Points area of East Nashville, The Treehouse was a neighborhood icon long before it opened as a dining destination last fall. Legendary fiddle virtuoso Buddy Spicher lived in the house for almost 25 years and constructed the namesake tree house in the backyard. When Spicher moved out in 2012, his son Matt, along with Matt's nephew (Buddy's grandson) and business partner Corey Ladd (who also lived in the house), chef Todd Alan Martin, and beverage manager Matt Fisher, saw an opportunity to create a community watering hole.
The crew did most of their own demo work to convert the living space into a dining area, even salvaging many original materials to add thoughtful touches to the room: Old doors were cut to decorate the front of the bar; doorknobs were repurposed as purse hooks along the bar and coat hooks near the front door; timbers that were removed were rehewn to construct tables and chairs.
With a tight menu divided into 'Pantry,” 'Plates,” and 'After” sections, many dishes are perfect for passing around the table or mixing and matching to make a heartier meal. 'Pantry” dishes revolve around the freshest vegetables and fish that Martin can source, which he then updates with international twists inspired by his interest in the cuisines of Europe and South America. The heartier 'Plates” can be enjoyed as a small meal or combined to create a culinary world tour. Rotating selections of empanadas and tamales are particular highlights. Desserts demonstrate more playful flavor combinations, like a Purple Cow made from grape soda and chocolate ice cream.
The cocktail menu features similarly complex drink recipes, like you might find at some other Nashville houses, but with the aim of quick service. Considering the space's musical background and the fact that several members of the culinary team come from the music industry, it's no surprise that the staff performs together like a well-rehearsed band. We'd say they're well on their way to creating a symphony of flavors in The Treehouse.
The Treehouse 1011 Clearview Ave. 615-454-4201 • treehousenashville.com Serving food until 12:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.