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Though the 5th & Main building has watched concepts come and go in its corner restaurant space, the latest tenant has plans to dig deep and stay rooted. Framed as a casual American restaurant and wine bar, The Vine comes from two corporate restaurant pros, Greg Swafford and Luke Belsito, who both hail from Nashville and met while working at Texas Roadhouse as the director of purchasing and culinary director, respectively. Years later, back in Nashville, they're applying the many lessons they learned from successful national chains to a small, independent restaurant.
'My vision was really to create a wine bar with chef-inspired food, and it all came together when we found this space,” Swafford says.
On the menu, Belsito offers a familiar assortment of snacks like buffalo deviled eggs and lobster mac and cheese. He keeps the vegivores in mind with a thoughtful selection of salads (listed as 'leaves” on the menu), like marinated mushroom nestled in a pile of arugula, and standards like kale and Caesar salads. Entrees are straightforward takes on American favorites, from Denver lamb chops smothered in a rosemary-chevre fondue and served over Asiago risotto to shrimp and grits. Belsito plans to change up the menu items, sometimes daily, as well as month-to-month. For now, The Vine serves dinner daily and brunch on Sundays, with plans to open for lunch in the warmer months. To drink, wine is the thing to order, with 150 bottles to choose from, including 80 by the glass. There's also a small cocktail and beer list.
For both Swafford and Belsito, the homecoming has been one of the best parts of their collaboration. 'Seeing all our old buds and being in a spot where everyone can get to, it's just been a delight,” says Belsito. And The Vine is just the beginning, Swafford adds with a smile: 'I've got dozens more ideas.”
501 Main St., 615-730-5355; v-thevine.com