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Winter’s knocking on Nashville’s door, and as chilly days begin to dwindle into long frosty nights, it’s easy to dream of a sun-drenched escape to a Grecian isle, where billowy curtains catch the breeze and carafes of local wine make their rounds to convivial diners delighting in grilled meats and fresh, lightly spiced veggies.
Short of hopping a transatlantic flight that Mediterranean fantasy might have to stay exactly that—a fantasy. Except at Sadie’s, a new sun-dappled neighborhood bistro in Edgehill, where you can indulge your Mediterranean reverie without ever touching foot in BNA.
Chef Margaret LaVetty—formerly of Barcelona Wine Bar—is back in town and helming the kitchen. Inspired by the fresh and sublime simplicity of Mediterranean cooking, she’s brought a creative passion to the dishes here, elevating locally sourced ingredients to a tasty zenith. The veggie-heavy menu leans into grilled and roasted produce, like the hearty sumac roasted butternut squash stuffed with quinoa, kale, and cranberry. Crispy artichokes play well with a side of creamy dill aioli sauce, while a piquant plate of lemon potatoes balance the rich starch with bright, citrus notes.
Central to the offerings here: traditional Middle Eastern kebabs. Skewers of souvlaki chicken, Moroccan spiced lamb, and plump Gulf prawns are grilled over an open flame and served alongside an array of traditional Mediterranean accompaniments, including tabbouleh, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, tzatziki, garlic sauce, and pita bread. Instead of beer, the draft lines here fill glass carafes with house white, red, or rosé wine, or the Kali Mera Sour cocktail, a mix of rye whiskey, prickly pear, cardamom, and lemon. But beer afficionados need not worry, Sadie’s keeps a tightly curated list of bottles on hand, including Bearded Iris’s Homestyle IPA and Little Harpeth’s Chicken Scratch. The low-to-no ABV trend is also alive and well here, with sessionable spirits like the classic spritz mingling with alcohol- free riffs on the limonata and paloma.
Playing on the Grecian summer fantasy is a frozen Greek yogurt machine that doles out a cool and rich version of the breakfast/snack staple with pomegranate molasses in place of chocolate syrup and coconut crunch for added texture. Order up a bowl after your mezze or walk in and take a cup to go—no need to wait for a table to bite into this treat. But the truth is, you’ll want to grab that table and stay a while. The spacious interior mirrors the culture behind the food: a bright, airy space that invites swaths of sunlight from its generous windows. Raw brick walls with dark stone and white stucco accents are complemented by a stark white tile floor and a
long stretch of white-washed concrete that serves as a bar. Overhead, ornate vintage metal light fixtures dangle between skylights and illuminate a large, light blue banquet that sits at the center of the dining room. A large outdoor patio positioned at the front of the restaurant overlooks one of Edgehill’s main thoroughfares and provides plenty of opportunity for mid-meal people watching.
Right now, Sadie’s is focused on offering dinner service but plans on expanding to weekend brunch and lunch hours soon. Greece may be thousands of miles away, but Sadie’s will make you feel like it’s in your very own backyard. (Sadie’s, 1200 Villa Place; 615-988-1200; sadiesnashville.com)