Chef Trey Cioccia artfully crafts plates of seasonal vegetables from some of the region’s best farmers—and from the gardens he tends himself on the estate at East Nashville’s Riverwood Mansion. Not just an afterthought presentation of veggie side dishes, the Farm Plate at The Farm House is a fully composed meal that represents the best of each season’s bounty. For just $12 at lunch (or a bigger version available for dinner), diners can expect beautiful field peas, corn, tomato, torpedo onion salad, charred okra, and citrus crème fraîche to adorn the plate. 210 Almond St., 615-522-0688; thefarmhousetn.com
As healthy as it is indulgent, this standout entrée shows off the true beauty of Fido: an inexpensive, reliable oldie-but-goodie within the city’s ever-growing roster of shiny fast-casual restaurants. A full meal on one plate, this is a solid serving of salmon, boasting a faint char, served with a stew of collards and tomatoes that packs a peppery, yet pleasant, punch to the back of the throat. A pile of the kitchen’s addictive baked cheese grits evens out the plate, offering up a bit of down-home goodness to go along with such a fine and thoughtful dish. 1812 21st Ave. S., 615-777-3436; bongojava.com/fido-cafe
Picture this: a sushi roll, crossed with a Mission-style burrito. Actually, don’t just picture it; order it from this novel food truck, a spin-off of the popular Riffs Fine Street Food. Particularly delicious is the Capistrano, a nori-wrapped rice roll stuffed with salmon, cream cheese, carrots, cucumber, avocado, romaine, Masago, ponzu-citrus aioli, and—get this—potato chip bits. 210 Almond St., 615-522-0688; funkseoultruck.com
Don’t let the literal translation of the name of this dish deter you. Ropa vieja means “old clothes x93 in Spanish, but it’s possible they named it that to keep the hands of the foolish and gullible far away. (At least, that’s our theory.) This Caribbean specialty features beef, which has been-slow cooked until it’s tender enough for easy shredding, and is served in a tomato-based stew with beans and rice. Savory and aromatic, it’s the ultimate Cuban comfort food. 4683 Trousdale Dr., 615-837-6711
This is an irresistible, two-fisted wonder. Slices of roasted pork loin, drenched in savory juices, are piled onto a hoagie roll, capped by braised bitter greens and a melt of sharp provolone. The roll works hard to capture it all, but it’s a hot, delicious mess nonetheless. P.S. The side of hand-cut fries is mighty fine, too. 1402 McGavock Pk., 615-645-5167; rudiesnashville.com
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Much like our escalating real estate costs, prices on Music City restaurant menus only seem to be climbing higher. But, luckily, there are still a handful of stellar dealsand mealsto be found around town. We've gathered a sampling of the most delicious and satisfying finds, all for $11-15. Note: Prices are listed according to the menu; tax and tip are not necessarily included.
