Ali Miller Photography Co
It’s been another uber-busy month in Nashville’s restaurant world, especially in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood, which is clocking in with five new openings, each distinct, different, and delicious. Add to those two independents, one in Germantown and the other in West Nashville, plus the comeback of a locally founded favorite, and it all adds up to terrific summer dining in Music City.
Read on to discover Nashville's latest culinary hot spots.
ALLA VITA
523 Houston St., Nashville, TN 37203
In Italian, Alla Vita means "To Life!" And what a beautiful dining life you’ll find inside this space, one of three concepts from Chicago-based BOKA Restaurant Group recently opened in WeHo. Escape into a contemporary Italian garden setting, complete with hanging greenery and sheer fabric rippling from the ceiling, and savor handcrafted pastas, pizzas, wood-fired entrées, and vegetable dishes from renowned Chef Lee Wolen.
Start with a limoncello spritz, which sparkles with Prosecco and Sicilian soda. Share plates of whipped ricotta seasoned with honey, oregano, and crushed red pepper, 20-year San Daniele prosciutto, and wood-fired table bread. Indulge in decadent arancini with scamorza cheese tucked into those fried rice balls. Choosing a pasta is difficult: paccheri with melted cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic, and mustard greens; cappelletti with pickled ramps and guanciale; or the multilayered lasagna verde. Save room for the house-made gelato. The Pistachio Stracciatella is silken.
ANTOINETTE'S WINE + PROVISIONS
331 54th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37209
Longtime resident of The Nations, Lauren Maranto had a persistent idea that the community needed a homey hangout for good wine, food, and fellowship, and she would be the one to bring it to life.
At Antoinette's Wine + Provisions, that feeling is uncorked. Maranto transformed a vintage home into a welcoming gathering place with tall ceilings, large windows, hardwood floors, and an original fireplace. Her approachable wine selection is grouped by flavor profiles with fun "real people notes" like "citrus + peaches + grippy" and "goes down like H2O."
Chef Luke Williams has created a menu of shareables including cheese straws, sautéed blue crab claws, grilled lamb chops, focaccia and specialty butter, charcuterie, heirloom tomato salad, and Mom-Mom’s Shrimp, a family recipe. The space also features a large, kid-friendly backyard perfect for relaxing.
CHRISTIE COOKIE CO.
17 Platform Way, Nashville, TN 37203
Christie Cookie lovers were disappointed when the Nashville-founded company closed its Germantown operations and later its 12South retail location. Now, the beloved brand is back with a cheerful bakery and storefront in Nashville Yards.
The display case features classics like sugar, snickerdoodle, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chunk, white chocolate macadamia, and the incomparable Doubletree cookie. A rotating Cookie of the Moment keeps things fresh. On our visit, the Celebration cookie featured Funfetti and petite marshmallows. Other offerings include Dot Cake, strawberry lemonade, limeade, cookie-crumble milkshakes, and catering options including cookie boxes, dessert trays, and custom tins.
EM & ME VIETNAMESE CAFE
1244 Third Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37208
In Vietnamese, "em" means younger sibling and "me" means mother. Owners Beckham and Tu Trieu and JB Pounders chose the name because it reflects the family connections at the heart of the café.
The cozy Germantown space feels like stepping into someone’s home in Saigon, featuring flowers, plants, bamboo details, books, and personal memorabilia. Cool off with a traditional iced Vietnamese coffee made with sweetened condensed milk, an herbal hibiscus tea, or cold brew. Food offerings include fresh spring rolls, bánh mì sandwiches, and a standout Bún noodle bowl with your choice of protein.
MIDDLEMAN
521 Houston St., Nashville, TN 37203
The second of BOKA Restaurant Group’s three new concepts in Wedgewood-Houston, Middleman serves as a stylish cocktail lounge situated between Alla Vita and Momotaro.
Centered around a dramatic bar beneath a skylight, the space offers curved couches, comfortable chairs, and lush greenery. Brown spirits take center stage, with a strong selection of bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys, alongside wines, beers, and nonalcoholic options. Highlights include the tropical Banana Daiquiri, refreshing Cubanito, and Ride the Bike, a Boulevardier variation made with Buffalo Trace, sweet vermouth, and Espresso Campari.
MOMOTARO
519 Houston St., Nashville, TN 37203
Designed in a grand, modern Japanese aesthetic, Momotaro showcases clean lines, warm woods, and jewel-toned finishes that reflect the precision and craftsmanship of Chef Gene Kato and his team.
The menu spans sashimi, nigiri, makimono, temaki, robata yaki, and inventive dishes like hot chicken mapo. Standouts include tea-smoked duck bao buns, king crab temaki hand rolls, and ishiyaki American wagyu cooked tableside over hot rocks. Dessert is equally memorable thanks to a partnership with Sarabha’s Creamery supplying house ice creams.
SALLY'S STAY AWHILE
611 Wedgewood Ave., Nashville, TN 37203
Conceived by Chef Andy Little and the team at Strategic Hospitality, Sally's Stay Awhile is an all-day café inspired by nostalgic American dining with a contemporary twist.
Breakfast ranges from pastries and coffee to steak and eggs. Lunch options include a Cobb Salad and Club Sandwich. Happy hour favorites include sour cream, onion and chive dip with house chips, pigs in a blanket, and other comfort-food classics. Dinner highlights include rotisserie-roasted chicken with herbed brown gravy and crispy fries. Sally's lives up to its slogan: "A Nice Place to Be."