The Green Pheasant is an exploration of parallels between Tennessee and Japan, through both its cuisine and environment, serving up inspired seasonal cooking, reflective of both places, in its fun, beautiful space in Downtown Nashville.
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The team behind The Green Pheasant - husband-and-wife duo Chefs Jess Benefield and Trey Burnette, and restaurateur Patrick Burke, have created a unique concept to explore these interconnections between the cuisines and cultures of Tennessee and Japan. Already successful with Two Ten Jack locations in East Nashville and Chattanooga, The Green Pheasant is a culinary playground for the team to explore flavors and dishes inspired by seasonal ingredients from the two cultures.
“The two concepts are meant to complement each other,” Burke says. “They both allow us to push our creative boundaries in different ways.”
The team decided on a downtown location to establish a go-to place for locals and visitors alike; close enough for pre-show dining at multiple venues, but removed from the Honky Tonk mania on Broadway.
“We wanted to claim a corner of downtown Nashville for a chef-driven, locally-owned restaurant that both locals and visitors would love coming to,” Burke continued.
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“I think it’s important at this moment in our city’s growth that our culinary community lean into downtown, and establish outstanding restaurants so this district can develop into something like you’d see in Chicago, D.C., or New York. We love the honky tonks, we love Southern food, but we know Nashville is so much more than that. We put The Green Pheasant downtown, and built out this beautiful, fun space, to showcase the incredible talent within our own community.”
And what a space it is. Every inch of The Green Pheasant is an expression of thoughtful detail. From the funky Kitto Katsu signage, to the kitschy vibes of the private dining room, to the one-of-a-kind origami installation that soars above the bar, The Green Pheasant is meant to give guests an experience not found anywhere else in town. It’s upscale but not fussy, cool but not too hip, trendy but welcoming. The design is a celebration of Nashville’s creative community, featuring furniture, art installations, lighting, and more, all handcrafted by Nashville’s own.
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The same can be said for the thoughtfulness behind the menus. The Green Pheasant’s bar program is run by one of the only sake sommeliers in Tennessee and boasts an authentic Japanese highball machine to further compliment the experience. Japanese whiskys are abundant, and the team is trained in the tap cocktails, sake, and wine that complement the menu of shareable dishes.
Standouts include Spicy Crab Noodles (a crowd favorite from the get-go); sizzling Ikinari steak; do-it-yourself trout bao buns; dumplings and shumai; and Japanese-style fried chicken. The menu functions in a steakhouse-like fashion, with cravable seafood, steak, and other mains accompanied by shareable seasonal vegetable dishes.
Locals post up at the spacious bar with its beyond-comfortable chairs before heading out to a show or a game. Travelers find a hidden gem to tell their friends about after their trip. As the The Green Pheasant’s first anniversary draws near, the concept and team will continue to welcome everyone through the doors and invite them to take a seat, sip on something delicious, and enjoy new and familiar flavors and dishes.
The Green Pheasant, 215 1st Avenue South; thegreenpheasant.com