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Sushi Row, cr/ Nashville Guru
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Sushi-San
Sushi-San
Sushi Sushi Sushi
SUSHI-SAN
2212 12th Ave S, Nashville; sushisanrestaurant.com/nashville/
Pristine, sustainably sourced fish, an extensive menu of sashimi, maki rolls, sizzling rice, Robata-grilled meats, plus a walk-up soft-serve window and hip-hop vibes make Sushi San on 12South an irresistible destination for lunch or dinner. Recommended: Mr. Maguro San-Set of Balfego Bluefin Tuna cuts, Ponzu Yellowtail, Vanilla soft-serve with matcha shell
SUSHI BY BOU
210 4th Ave N, Nashville; sushibybou.com
Sushi by Boū
Indulge in a speakeasy-style omakase experience in this chic “secret” spot inside the boutique hotel Dream Nashville, downtown on 4th Avenue. Sushi by Bou was conceived by Chef David Bouhadana in the Big Apple and has opened in cities across the country, with the idea of “sushi for the people.” Recommended: The timed 12-course omakase or The Bougie: 17-course omakase
SUSHI ROW
1234 Martin Street #101, Nashville; sushi-row.com/location/sushi-row-nashville/
The team behind Dos Santos launched a second concept in Wedgewood-Houston. Sushi Row features an intimate, sophisticated vibe, offers a progressive beverage program, and serves classics reimagined with innovation. Caviar bump, anyone? Recommended: Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, Baked Crab Handroll, Spicy Lucca Roll
By the numbers, 2025 was a stellar year for Nashville dining — five James Beard Foundation semifinalists, one finalist, and a Best Chef Southeast honor — while the Michelin Guide’s American South edition further validated the scene with three starred restaurants, seven Bib Gourmands, a Green Star, a Sommelier Award, and 12 recommended spots. New openings arrived at a steady clip of roughly three per month, reshaping neighborhoods and expectations alike.
By another measure — our taste buds — the year stacked up as stunning. Food trucks leapt into brick-and-mortar spaces, hospitality groups from major metros planted flags in Music City, and local independents branched into sister concepts. Nashville takes its food seriously, but never at the expense of a good time — and nowhere captures that better than this issue’s cover star, V Modern Italian in the Gulch.
Born from European aperitivo culture and built for all five senses, the 7,000-square-foot see-and-be-seen space blends velvet booths, a leafy patio, DJ nights, and a lively bar with Italian classics reimagined. Collaborations with Michelin-starred Chef Stefano Ciotti shape playful dishes — house-made pastas and Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas made with a sourdough starter tracing back to 18th-century Italy — while cocktails by Federico Pollarolo keep the energy high from brunch to late night. It’s exactly the kind of place Nashville dining has become: ambitious, social, and just as much about atmosphere as appetite.
Led by V Modern Italian, the following is a snapshot of those places that captured our hungry eyes and appetites.