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Pei Wei Asian Diner Opens in Hill Center

IN THE NEWS: The Rage and The Tennessean's Dana Kopp Franklin reports that Pei Wei Asian Diner, the national restaurant chain, has opened its first location in Nashville proper in the new Hill Center in Green Hills. Pei Wei is a sister concept to the popular P.F. Chang's, but it's considered faster and more casual. Customers order at a counter, take a number and their meal is delivered to their table. (4017 Hillsboro Pike in the Hill Center, 615-514-3230. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. To view the menu, visit www.peiwei.com. Pei Wei's other Middle Tennessee locations are 101 Creekside Crossing in Brentwood and 1911 Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro. ... Franklin also reports that new Indian restaurant Madras Bhavan on Church Street already has closed after just a few weeks, due to its chef leaving. Owner Naresh Kumar (21st Avenue Indian spot Sitar) is exploring other options for the space, including moving adding a branch of his Nolensville-based Italian restaurant, Brickstone Cafe. ... Critic Jim Myers features Darrell Breaux, owner/chef of Bro's Cajun Cuisine (3214 Charlotte Ave., 615-329-2626). tennessean.com ...

The Murfreesboro Post's Erin Edgemon reports that "the buzz around sibling restaurateurs Mitchell and Mollie Murphree’s upcoming downtown pizza joint is almost deafening. The owners of the more upscale Five Senses restaurant plan to open Tomato Tomato (Toe-May-Toe Toe-Ma-Toe) Pizza Kitchen at 223 W. Main St., the former location of Casa Burrito, in early October." ... Edgemon also reports that studio musician Kevin Ray and partners Ronnie Pittman and Jesse Zane plan to open Graffiti's country music nightclub and restaurant at 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. in Murfreesboro by mid-November. murfreesboropost.com ... The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews the results of new management at Belle Meade contemporary Whitfield's (106 Harding Place, 615-356-5450) and reports that Rumours East, from co-owners Whitney Ferre and Christy Shuff, finally opened over the weekend in the former Red Wagon Cafe space on Woodland Street. ... Fox also reports that extended renovation time has pushed the opening date back to late November for Mad Donna's, the casual American-burger joint/nightclub taking the place of East Nashville's Radio Cafe (1313 Woodland St.). nashvillescene.com ...

Nashville City Paper's Alexa Hinton profiles Andre Prince of Prince's Hot Chicken Shack (123 Ewing Drive, 226-9442) -- who reveals she hates okra -- as well as Brett Corrieri of Corrieri's Formaggeria (1110 Caruthers Ave., 615-385-9272, cfcheese.com). nashvillecitypaper.com ... InsideVandy.com's Jessica Miles spotlights Asian fusion spot Virago (1811 Davidson Street, 320-5149). ... The Shelbyville Times-Gazette reports the hiring of chef Bill Hall at Wartrace's The Walking Horse Hotel, which recently was purchased by Joe Peters from previous owners Jim and Bea Garland. Peters has many exciting ideas for the historical landmark. One of the most exciting new editions is the hiring of Chef Bill Hall. A local native, Hall began his career at Parish Patch near the Normandy area and is best known for his own restaurant in Haley, Our House. Expect the hotel to reopen after renovation by Thanksgiving. t-g.com ...

Metroblogging Nashville visits Chocolate Expressions (624 Jefferson St. Suite A, Nashville). ... Nashville Foodies visits The Greek Islands (1516A Demonbreun St.) and Antonio's of Nashville (7097 Old Harding Road, Nashville, 615-646-9166). ... SlowFoodNashville.org reports, "The first "official" Slow Food Dinner of the season is set for October 23 at Margot's Cafe and Bar. Margot is planning the menu - demonstrating the resourcefulness that is sometimes necessary when you choose to eat local. This summer's drought has made for a less-than-bountiful harvest. But the food will be delicious and the evening informative. It's from 7-10 p.m. Cost is $75 per person. Seating is limited to 60. Please call Margot's Cafe directly at 615-227-4668 to make your reservations."

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Star Chef Flay Set for Barbecue Cook-Off

Food Network star chef Bobby Flay will be featured at the third annual Fiddlin', Brewin', Bar-B-Q'N Cook-Off at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Sept. 28-29. Barbecue enthusiast Flay will grill specialties of his own in a 90-minute Celebrity Chef Series seminar on Saturday during the cook-off weekend. Go to www.gaylordopryland.com for more info. ... The Nashville City Paper spotlights soul food staple Silver Sands' chef/owner Nellie McAdoo (937 10th Ave. N., 742-1652) and reports that MafiaoZa's, a popular Italian pizza and pasta restaurant and bar at 2400 12th Avenue South, will expand with a second location in the new Cumberland Yacht Harbor luxury waterfront community near the intersection of Briley Parkway and Lebanon Road. The new restaurant will include a 2,400-foot outdoor dining area. ... The paper also reports that The Palm has passed its Metro Public Health Department inspection after failing both an inspection and a reinspection in August. General manager Scott Denney attributes the trouble primarily to issues with pluming and cooling. nashvillecitypaper.com ... The Tennessean's Rachel Stults reports the Sept 13 opening of Tossed, a salad-focused restaurant that originated in New York, in Cool Spring’s Aspen Brook Village at the corner of Aspen Grove Drive and Cool Springs Boulevard. The restaurant, which will serve a variety of salads, soups and sandwiches, anchors the 45,000-square-foot center. Aspen Brook Village, when completed, will house office spaces above restaurants and shops and will feature an outdoor plaza with chairs and couches for office workers or customers. In addition to Tossed, some tenants have already been announced, including Cafy’s Roast House, an independently-owned café and bistro that will serve freshly-roasted coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner. ... Critic Jim Myers reviews the new make-your-own pancake joint The Pfunky Griddle (2800 Bransford Ave., 298-2088) and profiles Paul Komanelis, owner/chef of Pizzereal (203 N. 11th St., 226-2206). ... Dana Kopp Franklin reports on new restaurant replacing Hendersonville's closed September's Cafe. Riyad and Linda Alkasem plan a soft opening for their restaurant, Cafe Rakka and Espresso Bar, as early as Sept. 17-18. A ribbon-cutting and grand opening party will take place in October. Riyad Alkasem describes the menu as Mediterranean and American cuisine. ... The paper also reports that three-story office condominiums are going into the former site of three closed restaurants onn Westgate Circle in Cool Springs, starting with the former Copelands of New Orleans restaurant site. Neighboring Westgate II will be built at a later date on the site of the former Green Hills Grille, followed by the development of Westgate III at the former Sahara restaurant site. tennessean.com ...

The Scene's Carrington Fox compares and contrasts East Nashville pizzerias Pizzereal, Little Italy (412 Woodland St., 248-4949), and Castrillo’s Pizza (1404 McGavock Pike, 226-2900). ... Fox also notes the Sept. 12 birth of Duke Ranier Rayburn, son of noted restaurateur (and first-time papa) Randy Rayburn (Sunset Grill, Midtown Cafe, Cabana) and wife Sonata (a noted Princess Grace Kelly fanatic). nashvillescene.com ... Veggie blogger Lesley Eats stops by Mirror. lesleyeats.blogspot.com ... Given the number of Nashville-area travelers to the Destin/Seagrove area in Florida, news of interest from the Walton Sun in Santa Rosa, Fla: Oli Petit will close 3Thirty1 Café at the end of September. "Petit knew it was coming as U.S. Highway 331 was on the state highway department’s list of roads to be widened and speculation circulated around the community on a regular basis as to when it would happen. The general consensus was hopefully later than sooner. Petit said he found out a month ago. The popular restaurant is ideally situated on the bay at the southern foot of the 331 Bridge. For the time being, Petit said he will be content to just have The Red Bar in Grayton Beach, which he also owns. waltonsun.com ... Nashville Restaurants reviews Fido (1812 21st Avenue South, 615-777-FIDO). nashvillerestaurants.blogspot.com ... Nashville Foodies visits Jonathan's Grille in Bellevue (7563 Hwy 70 S, 615-646-5233). nashvillefoodies.blogspot.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Noted Restaurateur Frank Varallo Jr. Dies

IN THE NEWS: The Tennessean's Colby Sledge reports the passing of longtime Nashville restaurateur Frank Varallo Jr., who died Sept. 9 at age 93. Varallo ran the legendary Varallo's Restaurant, which was founded in 1907, from age 14 after his father's death until he and his wife of 70 years, Eva, retired and closed the popular Church Street chili and meat-n-three emporium in 1999. Visitation was Sept. 10 at Christ the King Church, with a memorial mass set for 1 pm Sept. 11. Popular with downtown business people, politicians, and country music stars, Varallo's remains a part of the downtown scene with Varallo's Too, run by two of Varallo's grandchildren, a weekday lunch spot on Fourth Avenue North. ... Critic Jim Myers reviews Knock Out Wings (130 Jefferson St., 320-322) and profiles Callie Cottrell, chef at Stoveworks (at The Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Road, Franklin, 791-6065). tennessean.com ...The Rage's and The Tennessean's Dana Kopp Franklin reports that chef September Norman, owner of the popular Hendersonville restaurant September’s Cafe, will close it for good after lunch on Sept, 12. Norman is working to open a bigger upscale restaurant in another part of Hendersonville. The ambitious new restaurant, called simply September’s, is scheduled to open March 5 in The Streets of Indian Lake, an open-air retail development under construction. ... Franklin also reports that the newly opened Muddea's Famous Chicken and Waffles, the family-owned restaurant in north Nashville (2805 Clarksville Pike. 732-0149. Hours: 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday), has expanded its menu to include combos and expects to add a breakfast buffet in three weeks. nashvillerage.com ...The City Paper's Alexa Hinton profiles Corrado Savarino, owner of Savarino's Cucina (2121 Belcourt Ave., 460-9878). nashvillecitypaper.com ... The Scene's Carrington Fox blogs an obituary of Frank Varallo Jr. , reviews stuffed baked potato joint SPUDZ INC. (5908 B Charlotte Pike, 353-5611) and also blogs that it's looking like October for the owners of Parco Cafe (207 Third Ave. N., 259-7863) to return from their summerlong teaching trip to Asia. ... Fox also notes the Sept. 6 release of food columnist Tom Parker Bowles' book "The Year of Eating Dangerously". The son of Prince Charles' second wife, Camilla, chronicles a year's worth of culinary adventures, including stops throughout Asia, Europe and Middle Tennessee. He writes about dining at Prince's Hot Chicken Shack with Mayor Bill Purcell, a devout Prince's disciple. nashvillescene.com ... Blogger Lannae's Food and Travel visits Margot Cafe (1017 Woodland St, 615-227-4668) and Ombi (2214 Elliston Place, 615-320-5350). lannaelong.blogspot.com ... Blogger Nashville Restaurants considers Lopez Taqueria and Mariscos (3901 Nolensville Road, 615-833-6434) and San Luis Taqueria (Murfreesboro Road at Millwood).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Sitar Opens South Indian Branch on Church

IN THE NEWS: The Tennessean and The Rage's Dana Kopp Franklin reports the owners of the popular Indian restaurant Sitar have opened a second restaurant, Madras Bhavan, on Church Street in the space formerly held by Taste of India. The restaurant specializes in the cuisine of South India, though it serves familiar northern Indian dishes, as well. (1805 Church St., 327-5400. Hours: lunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and dinner 5-10 p.m. daily.) ... Franklin also reports that the vacant space next to Belle Meade Drugs (85 White Bridge Road) that housed Martha Stamps' former project, Molly P, will become a new cafe, Bridges, by mid-September. Caterer Ann Ainsworth has teamed up with Belle Meade Drugs owner Tom Zazzi to open the cafe, which will serve breakfast and lunch and host private dining in the evening. nashvillerage.com ... The Tennessean features Murfreesboro's downtown diner institution, the City Cafe, where new owner Scott Perkins has become just the fifth proprietor since the restaurant opened on the public square in 1900. ... Dining critic Jim Myers reviews the new traditional Chinese restaurant Shanghai Cafe (5574 Nolensville Pike. 737-0117), which has area foodies buzzing, and profiles executive chef Kevin Kimmel of Frist Center for the Visual Arts' Frist Center Cafe. tennessean.com ... Let the record show that blogger Lannae's Food and Travel is the first to review Shanghai Cafe. lannaelong.blogspot.com ...

The City Paper profiles Lee Guidry, chef/owner of The Italian Market (411 51st Ave. N., 615-298-3811, theitalianmarket.net). ... The Schlotzsky's deli change plans to add 10 restaurants to the Nashville market within the next five years, the City Paper reports. nashvillecitypaper.com ... The Nashville Business Journal reports that restaurateur and club owner Benjamin Goldberg will open Aerial, a glass-covered meeting and events venue, on the roof of his Paradise Park Trailer Resort honky tonk diner on Lower Broadway in late September. Unlike the redneck themes of Paradise Park - with its trailer park theme - the 2,000-square-foot Aerial is designed to have a sophisticated appeal. ... The Journal also interviews David W. Head, president and COO of locally based fast-casual seafood chain Captain D's. nashville.bizjournals.com ... The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews the Korean restaurant Seoul Garden (4928 Edmondson Pike #101, 445-3613) and reports on the plans for Red Pony chef-owner Jason McConnell to open the nuevo Mexican restaurant Sol in the former Sandy’s Downtown Grille space (108 Fourth Ave. S) across the street from the Red Pony on Franklin's downtown square. An early November launch date is planned ... Fox also reports on the expected mid-October opening of Prime 108 in the former Arthur's space at the Union Station Hotel (1001 Broadway). Prime 108 takes its title from The Bully 108, the first train engine to come through Union Station. A bas-relief of the train still adorns a wall in the hotel lobby. Chef Tom Cook, who has led catering services for the hotel since late 2005, will head the kitchen. ... Fox also blogs on the Franklin's Saffire restaurant's plans to go green, including the use to-go containers composed of recycled materials. ... And Fox also blogs about the impending Sept. 3 liquor license for Mexican restaurant El Tejado (6317 Charlotte Pike), and the soon-to-open hot dog joint Zackie's is hanging its awning in Germantown in the ground floor of the Summer Street Lofts. nashvillescene.com ...

Chicken wings chain Wingstop has opened an Antioch location in The Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing at Hamilton Church Road and Murfreesboro Pike, the Green Hills News reports. ... Memphis-based bloggers Dining with Monkeys stops by San Antonio Taco Co (416 21st Ave S, 615-327-4322). diningwithmonkeys.blogspot.com ... Bloggers Nashville Foodies stops by Bobbie's Dairy Dip (5301 Charlotte Ave, 615-292-2112, Open Late Apr-Late Oct: Mon 11am-6pm, Tue-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 12pm-9pm). nashvillefoodies.blogspot.com ... Bloggers Nashville Restaurants review Best of India (5815 Charlotte Pike, 615-352-5335). nashvillerestaurants.blogspot.com ... Metroblogging Nashville reviews the new chain McFadden's Restaurant & Pub (134 Second Ave. N) and reports that another Panera Bread is coming to the former Ham 'n Goody's space next to Bittner's on West End Avenue. nashville.metblogs.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

California Pizza Kitchen to Open Sept. 1

IN THE NEWS: California Pizza Kitchen will open its first Nashville restaurant on Sept. 1 inside the new Hill Center in Green Hills, The Tennessean reports. The Los Angeles-based company said it plans to donate 100 percent of its dine-in pizza sales on Sept. 10 to the PENCIL Foundation, a local non-profit group that benefits public schools. ... Jim Myers reviews Knife and Fork meat-n-three spinoff K&F Cafe (324 Gallatin Pike S., 868-9288) and profiles Ellen and Dan Einstein of Sweet 16th -- A Bakery (311 N. 16th St., 615-226-8367)l, while John Boan features Maher Fawaz, owner of Kalamata's Mediterranean Restaurant in Green Hills. tennessean.com ... The City Paper's Elexa Hinton profiles owners Stephen Reed, Sam Houston and Gayle Houston of the new Muddea's Famous Chicken and Waffles (2805 Clarksville Pike, at the MetroCenter Boulevard split, 615-732-0149). nashvillecitypaper.com ... The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews the new Rosario's (1200 Villa Place, 329-1977) and reports on the expansion plans of Bellevue's City Limits Bakery & Cafe (361 Clofton Drive, 646-0062) to the Shops on the Harpeth retail strip off at 8080 Highway 100, with a hoped for early January 2008 opening. ... Fox also reports that Nolensville Pike's Uncle Gio's Ristorante and bar has opened a sister restaurant, Uncle Gio's Italian Buffet, at 401 Harding Place (332-8391), site of a former Shoney's and of late The Olympic Flame Greek restaurant. ... Fox also reports that Shop at Home network chef Freddy Brooker, formerly of The Trace in Nashville, will help recast the former Chicago Wrigleyville outpost of The Twisted Spoke bar and grill into Brodey's Neighborhood Bar & Grill ((3365 N. Clark St.), named after Nashville investor Bill Thomas' infant son. The Twisted Spoke closed on July 28 but its owners are redoing the original Chicago location at 501 N. Ogden Ave, according to Chicago magazine's Dish column (chicagomagazine.com) ... And Fox also blogs that local restaurant pioneer Jody Faison (Faison’s, 12th & Porter, Iguana, Pub of Love, Café 123, Jody’s Hot Chicken Shack and Jody’s Bar Car) plans to enroll at Nashville School of Law in January, three years after leaving the restaurant business. When he graduates, he’ll have a job waiting for him at the law firm of Durham & Dread, where fellow NSL alumnus Adam Dread plans to ramp up the restaurant-related part of his practice. Dread was Faison's original manager at Faison's. nashvillescene.com ... Nashville-based barbecue chain Bar-B-Cutie has announced the signing of two master franchise aggreements for up to 55 new locations to be developed in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Franchising.com reports. Bar-B-Cutie has been in business for 57 years, opening its doors in 1960 on Murfreesboro Road. Eddie and Mildred McFarland purchased the restaurant in 1958, expanding the menu with Southern comfort foods and adding a much larger dining area. The McFarland Family is in its third generation of management. ... The Rage's Dana Franklin reports on the openings of bubble tea cafe Fat Straw (1200 Villa Place, Suite 113, in the Edgehill Village development off Edgehill Avenue, 320-4999) and the lunch-only Mexican spot La Cantina, part of the year-old nightclub LongShot (1524 Demonbreun. 780-0020). nashvillerage.com ... NashvilleFoodies.blogspot.com reviews Green Hills Grille ... NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com reviews El Jaliciense Taqueria (6321 Charlotte Pike, 615-354-5600). ... Lannae's Food and Travel stops by Loveless Cafe (8400 Hwy 100, 615.646.9700) and Boscos (1805 21st. Ave. S., 615-385-0050). lannaelong.blogspot.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Einstein Bros., Max & Erma's Eye Nashville

IN THE NEWS: Einstein Bros. Bagels and Max & Erma's are both launching aggressive expansions and looking to enter the Nashville market, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Einsten Bros. Bagels is owned by Lakewood, Colo.-based Einstein Noah Restaurant Group. According to Securities and Exchange Commission filings in April, the company operates more than 400 stores in 33 states, including 336 company-owned locations and 97 franchised locations. Ohio-based casual dining restaurant Max & Erma's operates 78 casual dining full-service restaurants and franchises 23 restaurants and wants to open an additional 30 franchised locations in the next two years. nashville.bizjournals.com ... Nashville City Paper's Amy Griffith reports on Belmont University-area neighborhood opposition to a Subway restaurant in the Belmont Boulevard space now occupied by longtime Middle Eastern-Italian restaurant Tabouli's. Arnold Myint, chef/owner of next-door neighbor PM restaurant, says he has gathered nearly 1,000 signatures in a petition protesting the entrance of Subway or any other chain restaurant into the area. Subway restaurants are owned by individual franchises. Bob Bernstein, owner of neighboring Bongo Java coffeehouse, also is quoted. ... The City Paper also profiles Michael King, owner of Monell's Dining and Catering, who says he likes to eat at Zola, Italian Market and Calypso Cafe. nashvillecitypaper.com ... The Tennessean's Jim Myers reviews Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and also profiles Arnold Myint of PM (2017 Belmont Blvd.), and reports that Myint is buys getting ready to open a second restaurant, Cha-Chah, two doors down from PM at the former Mad Mod space. ... Todd Pack reports the opening of four restaurants at the airport: locally owned Baja Burrito, as well as chains Famous Famiglia Pizzeria, Quiznos Subs, and Burger King. tennessean.com ... The Scene's Carrington Fox also weighs in on Cha-Cha -- it will focus not on the Asian cuisine of PM but on a roster of global tapas, wines and teas. Arnold, who leases the property from mother Patti Myint of International Market restaurant across the street , plans to add patios to both the front and back of the building. ... Fox reviews Los Happy Belly's (895 Murfreesboro Road) and also stops by the new coffeehouse The Mystic (603 Eighth Ave., next to Arnold's. The Mystic serves sandwiches, muffins and the like from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. ... Fox also reports that Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management has a new on-campus dining option. Maher Fawaz, owner of Kalamata’s Mediterranean restaurant, is partnering with second-year student Andrea Jacome to provide food to the student-run 8:10 Café. ... In the Bites blog, Liz Garrigan swills cheap wine at Brandon's in the Arcade, while Tracy Moore is in a pfunk after dining at Pfunky Griddle. nashvillescene.com ... The Rage's Dana Franklin reports that struggling Vino wine bar in East Nashville (700 Fatherland St.) has a new chef and a bigger menu that changes daily. She also reports on the openings of Caffe di Pranzo (2806 Columbine Place) in Berry Hill, and McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon (134 Second Ave. N), and the expected opening in another two or three weeks of Rumours East (1112 Woodland St.). nashvillerage.com ... NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com review Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack (123 Ewing Drive) and The Standard (167 8th Ave North).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

East Nashville Awaits Rumours East Debut

IN THE NEWS: This past weekend's East Nashville Tomato Art Festival served as a sneak preview for the tapas and wine from Rumours East, a wine bar owned by Christy Shuff and Whitney Ferre. The new business, which fills the spot of the former Red Wagon Cafe at 1112 Woodland St., is a spinoff of the 12 South favorite, Rumours Wine and Art Bar. Their website, www.rumourswinebar.com, says to expect a mid-August opening, so it's any day now ... Indianapolis-based chain Steak n Shake recently began testing a build-your-own burger concept in its Nashville-based locations (5000 Old Hickory Blvd, 5426 Target Dr, 719 Myatt Dr), the Indianapolis Star reports. indystar.com ... The Tennessean's Jim Myers reviews Smyrna's The Chicken Shack (37 S. Lowry, Smyrna) and profiles Guerry McComas, executive chef at The Yellow Porch (734 Thompson Lane). ... Ken Beck looks at Lebanon and the upcoming Wilson County Fair (Aug. 17-25) and mentioned local eateries Sunset Restaurant (640 S. Cumberland, Lebanon) and Snow White Drive-In (1714 West Main St., Lebanon). tennessean.com ... The City Paper reviews I Dream of Weenie (1108 Woodland St.) nashvillecitypaper.com ... Grand opening parties were scheduled for Aug. 10-12 at McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon (134 2nd Avenue S.), former site of Market Street Brewery, nashvilledowntown.com reports. ... The Rage's Dana Franklin notes the relatively new pizza place NYPD Pizza at 401 S. Mt. Juliet Road in Mt. Juliet, part of a Florida-based chain. ... Will Ayers reviews Sub Stop (1701 Broadway). nashvillerage.com ... Nashville.metblogs.com takes another visit to the new Rosario's. ... NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com reviews Scoreboard Bar and Grill (2408 Music Valley Drive) and Muddea’s Famous Chicken and Waffles (2805 Clarksville Pike). ... The Scene's Carrington Fox stops by the new Caffe di Pranzo, the new eat-in-or-take-out Italian spot in Berry Hill, in the location of the now-departed Mothership BBQ (2806 Columbine Place). nashvillescene.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Several Locals Win 'Wine Spectator' Honors

IN THE NEWS: Recent winners of Wine Spectator's prestigious Awards of Excellence include: Capitol Grille, Fleming's, Morton's, Old Hickory Steakhouse, Ruth's Chris, Sperry's, Stock-Yard, Sunset Grill, The Melting Pot, The Palm, Trace, Valentino's, and Watermark. winespectator.com ... The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews the new Blue Moon Lagoon (525 Basswood Drive) and reports on the expected week of Aug. 7 opening of Highway 100 neighborhood bistro Wildwood Oak-Fired Kitchen (8128 Highway 100). It's a joint venture between an unnamed well-known local restaurant industry vet and chef John David Crow, a California Culinary Academy grad and former chef at SkyCity, the Space Needle restaurant in Seattle. nashvillescene.com ... Mr. Greek, the Ontario, Canadian-born Greek chain, has signed a multi-unit franchising agreement to bring three restaurants to the Nashville area. The new franchisees, who are also owners of several gas stations in the Tennessee area, expect to open their first by early 2008. Mr. Greek serves authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine in both casual dining and fast casual restaurants. mrgreek.com ... Fox also reports, "Arnold Myint, owner of PM restaurant on Belmont Boulevard, is circulating a petition to customers and friends asking them to help preserve the independent culture of the neighborhood. At issue is the future of the building located next door to PM, which currently houses Tabouli's restaurant. Myint says that Tabouli's is closing and that a Subway franchisee is planning to lease the space. (The owner of Tabouli's hasn't returned phone calls for several days.) Desperate to keep the ubiquitous sandwich chain from invading the street where he grew up (Arnold's parents Patti and Win founded the International Market), Myint is looking for any alternative. Separately, chef Jason Brumm, owner of Radius10 in The Gulch, is trying to solve the problem in his own way. Having heard about the possible encroachment of Subway, Brumm hoped to take over the lease of 2015 Belmont Blvd. Things were looking good for a while last week, but negotiations stalled [Aug. 6]. If you want to sign Myint's petition, stop by PM, located at 2017 Belmont Blvd. ... Naresh Kumar, owner of Sitar restaurant on 21st Avenue, is taking over the space on Church Street that formerly housed Taste of India restaurant. Kumar, a native of Punjab in northern India, is renovating the space and expects to launch Madras Bhavan sometime [soon] ... It took a little longer than originally anticipated, but it looks like Judge Bean's Frijoles will open in the former location of Hap Townes legendary restaurant by [this week]. Aubrey Bean, whose Judge Beans Bar-B-Que is a little bit of Texas at the north end of The Gulch, is expanding his brisket empire to 493 Humphreys Street. Judge Bean's Frijoles will be open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and will serve breakfast tacos as well as the Texas-style barbecue brisket that has made the 12th Avenue North restaurant a local landmark." ... P.J. Tobia reports, "Alexia Cabrera, owner and chef of Nola’s on West End, will be going back to her native Uruguay following the death of her father. Anyone interested in buying Nola’s could contact her directly: (615) 341-3693." nashvillescene.com ...

The Nashville City Paper profiles Autumn Stone, pastry chef at Murfreesboro's Front Porch Café. nashvillecitypaper.com ... The Rage and The Tennessean's Dana Kopp Franklin notes the opening of Woodline Wine Merchant (1001 Woodland St., woodlandwinemerchant.com) and the new Korean restaurant Seoul Garden (4928 Edmondson Pike). ... Critic Jim Myers raves about the mole sauce in his review of the new Mexican eatery Rosario's (1200 Village Place). ... Kimberly Daly previews East Nashville's Tomato Art Festival, set for 10 am-6 pm Saturday, Aug. 11. www.tomatoartfest.com and mentions area restaurants Marche Artisen Foods (100 Main St., marcheartisanfoods.com), 3 Crow Bar (1020 Woodland St.) and Pied Piper Creamery (114 S 11th St.). tennessean.com ... The Rage looks at ice cream shops, including Pied Piper Creamery, Ben & Jerry's (416 21st Ave S.), Mike's Ice Cream Fountain (208 Broadway), Shake's Frozen Custard (1210 Murfreesboro Road, Franklin), and The Marble Slab (Cool Springs Crosss, 1745 Galleria Blvd, Franklin). nashvillerage.com ... USA Today rounds up tiki bars, including: Portland's Alibi Lounge, River Grove (Ill.)'s Hala Kahiki, Los Angeles' Tiki-Ti, San Francisco's Tonga Room, Atlanta's Trader Vic's, Saugus (Mass.)'s Kowloon, Fort Lauderdale's Mai-Kai, and Smyrna (Tenn.)'s Omni Hut. usatoday.com ... Lannae's Food and Travel blog visits Prince's Hot Chicken Shack (123 Ewing) and Germantown Cafe (1200 Fifth Avenue). lannaelong.blogspot.com ... NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com review Thai Taste (395 Haywood Lane), and Old Timers Pit Barbecue (4003 Clarksville Pike).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Franklin's Sandy's Downtown Grille Closes

IN THE NEWS: The Tennessean's Kevin Walters reports July 30 that Sandy’s Downtown Grille in Franklin has closed its doors: "Brown paper covers the windows of the popular downtown Franklin restaurant and signs announcing its closing are hung in the doorway windows. "We want to thank the community and our loyal customers who have kept us in business for the last five and a half years," reads the signs’ text. Neither the restaurant's owner, Sandy Ligon, nor the building’s owner, Tommy Shell, could be reached for comment. The restaurant is located in the Harrison Building, which was once the home of the Bennett Campbell Hardware Store. The building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and won the 1986 Heritage Foundation Preservation and Restoration Award of Excellence." ... The Tennessean's Anne Paine reports on Boscos and other restaurants getting a head start on the statewide Oct. 1 ban on smoking in most public buildings. ... Jim Myers reviews F. Scott's (210 Crestmoor Road) and profiles Kazuhira Hishida, chef/owner of Kazu Restaurant (209 10th Ave. S.), while John Boan profiles The Bluebird Cafe and F. Scott's, celebrating their 25th and 20th anniversaries, respectively. ... The paper reports that now Nashville-based Mexican fast food chain Del Taco has opened its first Tennessee branch, combined with sister company Captain D's in Mt. Juliet. tennessean.com ... The Rage's and The Tennessean's Dana Kopp Franklin notes Berry Hill's new cook-your-own-pancake eatery The Pfunky Griddle (2800 Bransford Ave.) and reports that Cool Springs' Criallo's Bistro & Bar (1935 Mallory Lane, Franklin) has a new chef, Robert "Gus" Baker. nashvillerage.com ... Nashville City Paper profiles Margot McCormack of Margot Cafe and Bar, who says she likes to eat at Hot Kabob, Sitar, Kien Giang, Benkay (aka Sonobana) and Siam Cafe. nashvillecitypaper.com ...

The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews the new menu at East Nashville's The Family Wash (2038 Greenwood Ave.) and blogs about: the opening of Will Motley's Woodland Wine Merchant (1001 Woodland St.) in East Nashville ... Mack & Kates Cafe & Wine Bar in Kingston Springs has a new chef, David Billings, who joins Michael Czapleski in the kitchen of Bernie and Jan Strawn's Kingston Springs landmark. With a résumé that includes time as a sous chef at The Inn at Blackberry Farm, Billings replaces chef Devon Malcolm. In March, Malcolm took over the kitchen at the Strawns' sister restaurant, Macke's, in Green Hills, replacing Darrell Manhold. Manhold left Macke's last spring has most recently landed at the Pineapple Room Restaurant at Cheekwood, where he is in the process of updating the menu, which is expected to be ready in early September. ... Fox also notes the opening of Korean eatery Seoul Garden (4928 Edmondson Pike, in the H.G. Hill Center across from Southern Hills) and has an interesting blog item about the restaurant preferences of Nashville's mayoral candidates: "... David Briley likes Pancake Pantry, Rotier's and Margot. Howard Gentry likes Shoney's. Bob Clement likes to dine at home—or at Bistro 215. Guess who likes Jimmy Kelly's? (Not exactly man-of-the-people grub there, Karl Dean.) Used car salesman Kenneth Eaton is a McDonald's man. Dozier, touted as the meat-and-three mayor, likes Swett's. No matter who wins the Sept. 11 runoff, the runaway winner in this poll is Noshville, named as the favorite breakfast spot by Clement, Dean and Buck Dozier. J. Alexander's got shout-outs from Gentry and Eaton ..." nashvillescene.com ...

After adding two new stores with another in the works for Memphis, Bach's Lunch is setting its sights on other markets, including Nashville and Orlando, the Memphis Business Journal reports. The company recently added Memphis locations at the First Tennessee Building Downtown and Southwind Office Center B, bringing the total number of Bach's Lunch locations to five. Expansion continues with a planned location in a southeast Memphis office building. ... Following up on a previously reported story, Nashville Post's Richard Lawson reports that DWC Construction is renovating 1,695 square feet of space at 1222 Fourth Ave. N. in Germantown for a restaurant named City House, a new Italian restaurant scheduled to open this fall with Tandy Wilson III, sous chef at Margot Café in East Nashville and his wife Anne Kostroski, pastry chef at Margot’s. The permit is valued at $350,000. nashvillepost.com ... Bloggers NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com review PM Restaurant (2017 Belmont Blvd.) and takeout stand Real Deal Bar-B-Q (Clarksville Hwy/West Hamilton). ... The Rage's Will Ayers visits PM, and the paper also rounds up other sushi joints, including: Hanabi Japanese Restaurant (214 Ward Circle, Brentwood), Ru San's (505 12th Ave. S.), Sam's Sushi (220 Fourth Ave. N.), Samurai Sushi (2209 Elliston Place), Sushin (528 N. Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro), and Virago (1811 Division St.), while also reporting that Virago recently has gone to an age 21-and-over policy. nashvillerage.com ... Nashville.metblogs.com discovers South Nashville's Thai Taste. ... Blogger Lannae's Food and Travel visits Noshville (1918 Broadway). lannaelong.blogspot.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Sullivan's Steakhouse Set for Downtown

IN THE NEWS: Sullivan's Steakhouse is getting ready to replace the long-dormant Seanachie pub at the corner of Broadway and Fourth Avenue, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The Wichita, Kansas-based high-end steak chain went private last December and separated from Lone Star, its former publicly traded parent. That slowed plans for the prime spot in Nashville, says Mark Mednansky, CEO of Sullivan's. nashville.bizjournals.com ... The Rage and The Tennessean's Dana Kopp Franklin visits the new Lazzaroli Pasta (1314 Fifth Ave. N.) and reports, "Muddea's Famous Chicken & Waffles, a new restaurant specializing in fried chicken, omelets and a multitude of different kinds of waffles, is scheduled to open its doors at the end of July. The restaurant at 2805 Clarksville Pike is owned and operated by Atlanta hospitality veteran Sam Houston and his wife, Gayle. Her son Stephen Reed is the chief cook, and other members of the family are helping in the business, as well. The name Muddea comes from "my dear," a common endearment in Southern black families. Gayle Houston says her 97-year-old aunt Anna Floyd is the Muddea who inspired the restaurant. The menu will also feature recipes from Houston's 99-year-old mother, who goes by the name Miss Dee. Look for the menu to include Miss Dee's macaroni and cheese. Restaurant hours will be 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Saturday hours will be until 8 p.m. with the opening time still to be determined. Muddea's is set to open with a ribbon-cutting on July 30. A grand opening celebration will come about a month later." ... Critic Jim Myers doesn't care a lot about the Gulch's new Lot 7 and also profiles Wolfgang Ebenbichler, vice president of food and beverage at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. ... The paper's Jenny Song reports on the increase of diners using online reservations services such as OpenTable.com and ReServe Interactive to make reservations. Local restaurants using OneTable include: B.B. King's Blues Club, Cabana, Capitol Grille at the Hermitage Hotel, Commerce Street Grille at Renaissance Hotel, Flyte World Dining and Wine, Midtown Cafe, Morton's the Steakhouse, Radius 10, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Sambuca Restaurant, Sperry's Restaurant, Sunset Grill, The Mad Platter, The Palm, The Trace, and Watermark Restaurant. ... The July 22 travel section includes a Ken Beck feature on neighboring Smyrna, including restaurants Andrea's Home of Baking Bread (119 Front St.), The Chicken Shack (37 S. Lowry St.), and Mac-A-Licious Ice Cream and More (120 Front St.) ... The paper's Juanita Thouin reports that renovations will begin next month on the Lower Broadway building that houses Big River Grille and Brewing Works. The brewpub will continue at the site as renovations include adding a Second Avenue entrance. tennessean.com ...

The Nashville City Paper profiles Jimmy Kelly's owner Mike Kelly, who says he likes to dine at Sunset Grill, Midtown Cafe, Mambu, Noshville, and Tin Angel. ... The paper's Amy Griffith reports on the struggles of East Nashville's new Vino Wine Bar, in an historic building at Fatherland and Seventh streets, whose owner Clinton Doss is looking for a buyer for the building. Vino owner Linda Forceno is now on a month-by-month lease plan and has had a difficult time attracting customers to the out-of-the-way spot. nashvillecitypaper.com ... In a New York Times story on Nashville's Kurdish gangs, the Kurdish restaurant al-Rasoul on Nolensville Pike is mentioned. nytimes.com ... The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews The Italian Market (411 51st Ave. N) and notes that Parco Cafe (207 Third Ave. N, facing Printer's Alley) is now open only for dinner Thurs-Sat, and chef-owner Tsuo Chuan and wife Chun Fu are considering relocating back to their native Asia permanently. ... The Scene also has launched a new foodie blog called Bites nashvillescene.com/blog/bites. ... NashvilleFoodies.blogspot.com stops by Las Paletas for Mexican Popsicles, as well as Nola's (2912 West End Avenue). ... NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com visits Ed’s Fish House (1801 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd.). ... LannaeLong.blogspot.com raves about House of Pizza (15 Arcade), and visits Basil Asian Bistro in Cool Springs.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

J. Gumbo's Cajun Chain Eyes Nashville

IN THE NEWS: Business First of Louisville reports, "The name might no longer be "Gumbo A Go-Go," but the rechristened restaurant company is ready to go-go across the nation with what a new group of franchising executives believe will be the next hot Louisville-based franchise concept. The owners of the J. Gumbo's Down-Home Cajun Cookin' chain plan to add stores during the next few months in such markets as Chicago, Las Vegas, Nashville and New Orleans, said Don Larose, president of the parent company, Gumbo Development LLC." ... The Nashville City Paper profiles Juanita Lane, baker/owner of Dulce Desserts on Village Place, who eats chicken salad from Edgehill Studio next door and also frequents Kien Giang, F. Scott's, and Cabana ... The Tennessean's Danica Booth profiles Barbara Kuzma of Noshville in Green Hills, a veteran waitress with past stints at Shoney's and Uncle Bud's. ... The paper also profiles Joe Townsend, chef at Plumgood Food (www.plumgood.com). ... Wendy Lee reports on the opening of an O'Charley's branch at the renovating Nasville International Airport. Other restaurants being phased in at the airport over the next two years: Whitt's Barbecue, Bongo Java, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Swett's, Noshville, and Neely's Bar-B Que. ... Critic Jim Myers reviews The Savannah Tea House on Eighth Avenue South. tennessean.com ... The Rage's Will Ayers reviews Second Avenue's Pita Pit. ... The Rage's Dana Kopp Franklin reports, "Rosario's, the long-awaited Mexican restaurant in the Edgehill Village development (1200 Villa Place, suite 100, in Edgehill Village. 329-1977. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday), opened its doors last weekend (July 6-7-8). The staff aims to serve Mexican food made from scratch using family recipes, all presented in a hipper environment than a standard taco house. The owners, Daniel Barragan and Robert Shelton, moved to Nashville from Southern California specifically to open Rosario's. Barragan is a native of Mexico City who moved to the U.S. as a teen. He says he's using authentic Mexican recipes crafted by his mom, Rosario (hence the restaurant's name). He brings years of experience as a restaurant manager, mostly with California's Hof's Hut chain.The recipes are mostly Rosario's, but Barragan and Shelton have recruited chef Byron Bernal, who has worked in the kitchen at Caffe Nonna, to be in charge of executing the cuisine. ... Kopp also notes the upcoming opening of Mad Donna's, the new restaurant going into the former Radio Cafe space. nashvillerage.com ... In the July 2007 issue, Nashville Lifestyles' Kay West reviews Eastland Cafe. nashvillelifestyles.com ... The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews The Acorn (114 28th Ave. N.) and notes East Nashville's new I Dream of Weenie and The Veggie Café. nashvillescene.com ... Nashville Restaurants nashvillerestaurants.blogspot.com review 3 Crow Bar (1020 Woodland Street), the Whites Creek Farmers Market (4409 Whites Creek Pike, Whites Creek at Old Hickory Blvd.), and 400 Degrees (2012 Clarksville Pike).

By Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Shake's Custard Closes Lipscomb Branch

IN THE NEWS: Shake's Frozen Custard at 4002 Granny White Pike near Lipscomb University has closed as of its last day, July 7. (A last root beer float will be long remembered ...) The Franklin Shake's (1210 Murfreesboro Pike) remains in operation, however. ... The Tennessean's Angela Patterson reports that Mad Donna's Restaurant and Lounge is aiming for an August opening. The owners are in the process of transforming the structure at 1311 Woodland (the former Radio Cafe) to accommodate a restaurant downstairs, and a separate bar and entertainment area upstairs. The restaurant will follow a casual dining concept; salads and appetizers will share space on the menu with steaks, chicken and fish entrees. For the first few months, Mad Donna's will open at 5 p.m. for dinner--lunch hours may be added later, a spokeswoman said. ... The Tennessean's Heather Donahue reports on the June 30 closing after 18 years of China Hut restaurant on Pewitt Drive in Brentwood, which could be the catalyst for a new era in the Town Center corridor. Kwan Ming and Susie Lo opened China Hut in 1989, leasing the modest space from building owner Jon Norris. Susie Lo, 50, said she and her husband, 60, are closing China Hut for health considerations. ... The Tennessean reports Austin, Texas-based Schlotzsky's deli plans to open 10 additional restaurant in Nashville over the next five years. tennessean.com ... The Nashville City Paper profiles Rick Bolsom, owner of Tin Angel, and reports on the first-ever Music City Hot Chicken Festival on July 4. The East Nashville festival attracted a crowd of thousands to sample from the likes of Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish, and 400 Degrees. nashvillecitypaper.com ...The Scene's Jack Silverman spotlights the resurgence of East Nashville in a July 5 cover story, mentioning restaurants Margot Cafe, Marche Artisan Foods, and Batter'd and Fried. ... Carrington Fox reviews tayst. ... The Rage's Dana Kopp Franklin details the recent openings of Sip Cafe (1402 McGavock Pike), I Dream of Weenie (1108 Woodland St.), and The Veggie Cafe (1312 McGavock Pike). nashvillerage.com ... NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com reviews Eastland Café (97 Chapel Ave).

Compiled and reported by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Kix Brooks' Winery Opens in Arrington

In THE NEWS: The Tennessean's Charles Booth reports the July 1 opening of Arrington Vineyards, which is owned by country music star Kix Brooks and Brentwood residents Fred Mindermann and Kip Summers, will have its 11 different varieties of wine available for tasting and purchase beginning at noon. The winery, located in rural Arrington off Patton Road, will be the only place the locally produced wine will be sold. Wine tasting is free, but patrons will only get a half-ounce of each wine. Bottles can be purchased and consumed on the property, and a large deck with a view of the surrounding hills is equipped with tables for this purpose. Arrington Vineyards will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. ... The Rage and Tennessean columnist Dana Kopp Franklin reports on the recent opening of Blue Moon Lagoon, the long-awaited new seafood-centric restaurant at Rock Harbor Marina. The restaurant space at the marina had been empty since 2005, when Buddy ''Uncle Bud'' Rogers closed his catfish-centered restaurant there. The current owners are Steve Ford and music business veteran Erv Woolsey; they hired high-profile chef Scott Alderson to create the menu. (525 Basswood Drive. 354-1318. Hours: 5-9:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 5-10:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. The bar opens at 2 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday-Sunday, and it stays open later than the kitchen.). bluemoonlagoontn.com ... The Veggie Cafe will open its temporary location July 1 at 1312 McGavock Pike, the Tennessean's Angela Patterson reports. A subsidiary of Prestige Consulting Group, LLC, The mobile kitchen will serve delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes including sandwich wraps, soups and salads and non-dairy smoothies. Co-owner Dawn Fears said the menu that is 90 percent vegetarian, with an emphasis on organic foods grown here in Tennessee. Prestige plans to open a brick-and-mortar Veggie Café this fall. Until it opens, the company will use its mobile kitchen. The mobile Veggie Cafe will open from 10:30 am–6 pm Monday-Friday. Orders can be called in at 495-8888. ... The Tennessean profiles chef Donald Main of Tin Angel, whose favorite area restaurants include Kien Giang, Mambu and Caffe Nonna. tennessean.com ... The Rage looks at wine and cheese pairings. nashvillerage.com ...

The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews Belmont Boulvard's superlative PM. ... Fox also reports on the scheduled late summer opening of a Cool Springs (401B Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 220) branch of Hillsboro Village's popular McDougal's chicken fingers and wings joint as well as the recent departure of chef Joe Shaw from Watermark. Writes Fox, "Citing an amicable departure with Watermark’s owner, health care executive Jerry Brown, Shaw is exploring other culinary opportunities but has no clear next step. “I very much want to stay in Nashville. It has become my home in the last two years,” says Shaw, an Alabama native who worked in catering and at Frank Stitt’s Bottega restaurant in Birmingham before the launch of Watermark in November 2005. Chef de cuisine Sean Norton will oversee the kitchen and the current migration to the summer menu. nashvillescene.com ... Nashville City Paper profiles Restaurant Zola chef and co-owner Deb Paquette, who reveals a fondness for peanut M&Ms, and a talent for riding a unicycle. ... The City Paper also reports that Dippin Dots, which is headquartered in Paducah, Ky., but whose founder Curt Jones and company president Tom Leonard both live in the Nashville area, may move some of their operations to Nashvillle. Dippin' Dots recently opened a franchise store at the Kroger Plaza on Nolensville Pike in Brentwood and plans to open another location in Spring Hill sometime in July. ... Bloggers Nashville Restaurants nashvillerestaurants.blogspot.com review Piranha’s (113 2nd Ave. North).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Critic Picks His Favorite Baker's Dozen

IN THE NEWS: Tennessean tennessean.com critic Jim Myers lists his 13 favorite area restaurants of the moment:

Capitol Grille (231 Sixth Ave. N.)
Carolyn's Homestyle Kitchen (330 Charlotte Ave.)
Eastland Cafe (97 Chapel Ave.)
Hanabi Japanese Restaurant (214 Ward Circle, Brentwood)
International Market (2010 Belmont Blvd.)
Margot Cafe & Bar (1017 Woodland St.)
Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint (7215 Nolensville Pike, Nolensville)
Ombi (2214 Elliston Place)
Parco Cafe (207 Third Ave. N.)
Prince's Hot Chicken Shack (123 Ewing Drive)
Sportman's Grille (1601 21st Ave. S.)
Watermark (507 12th Ave. S.)
Woodland's Indian Restaurant (3415 West End Ave.)

...The Tennessean's Dana Kopp Franklin reports that Caffeine, a coffeehouse and music venue that was a key business on the Demonbreun restaurant row, has closed. No explanation is posted on the locked front door at 1516 Demonbreun St., and the phone number has been disconnected. The interior appears partly dismantled, with tables and chairs removed and a couple of lone bottles of Italian soda lingering on an abandoned counter. ... The paper also profiles Patrick Martin, owner-pitmaster of Martin's BBQ Joint, 7215 Nolensville Pike, Nolensville. ... The Rage's Will Ayers nashvillerage.com features power tables, and celebrities who love them, at Watermark (507 12th Ave. S), The Loveless Cafe (8400 Highway 100) and Midtown Cafe (102 19th Ave. S). ... The Rage also samples the coolest cocktails in town at Cabana, Rumba, Saltgrass Steakhouse, South Street Smokehouse & Crab Shack, and Virago ... San Antonio-based Church's Chicken, operator and franchiser of more than 1,600 fast-food chicken restaurants in 18 countries, announced a new partnership with a business brokerage outfit that will accelerate its new store opening program through strategic franchisee-recruitment methods, CoStar.com reports. Markets targeted for growth include Jacksonville, Orlando, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Detroit, Raleigh/Durham, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Nashville. .. Nashville City Paper profiles Sri Laka native Patricia Nalini Paiva, owner and proprietor of Aurora Bakery, who says she likes to eat at Nolensville Pike neighbor Istanbul Cafe. nashvillecitypaper.com ...... The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews the new Greek eatery Olympic Flame Family Restaurant (401 Harding Place in the old Shoney's at Harding and Nolensville). ... Fox reports on the hoped-for July 7 opening of Berry Hill's all-day breakfast joint The Pfunky Griddle (2800 Bransford Ave.) and notes the recent opening of Lot 7 in the Gulch (125 12th Ave. N), Lazzaroli Pasta in Germantown (1314 Fifth Ave. N) and Sip Cafe in East Nashville's Riverside Village (1402 McGavock Pike next to Castrillo's Pizza). nashvillescene.com ... Nashville Foodies nashvillefoodies.blogspot.com visits Edgehill Studios Cafe (1201 Villa Place). ... Nashville Restaurants nashvillerestaurants.blogspot.com stops by the Latin-Caribbean eatery Los Happy Belly’s (895 Murfreesboro Road). ... Metroblogging Nashville nashville.metblogs.com reviews Brentwood's China Hut and stops by Sip Cafe. ... The Painter family is now offering Painturos, their pizza restaurant in Lebanon and Gallatin, as a regional franchise, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Tennessee is the initial focus of the franchise push, but the Painters say in a news release they expect to expand nationally. Nick Painter is a former general manager of the former Houston's restaurant in Nashville. ... The Dallas Morning News' dallasnews.com Larry Bleiberg writes on taking Roadfood editors Michael and Jane Stern's recent guided dining tour of Nashville, with stops at Loveless Cafe, the original Sylvan Park diner, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, Swett's, Monell's, and Henpeck Market outside Franklin.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Fifth Quarter Closes After 30 Years

IN THE NEWS: The Fifth Quarter, a longtime staple in the local restaurant community, closed without warning June 18 after more than 30 years in business, The Tennessean's Jim Myers reports. Opened in 1973 by Ray Danner, former chairman of Shoney's Inc., the Thompson Lane restaurant anchored a chain that grew to 13 locations at its peak. "The Nashville location was no longer viable for that concept," said Frances Guess, executive vice president of the Danner Co., which owns the two remaining Fifth Quarter restaurants, in Kentucky and West Virginia, along with three Wendy's franchises and three Davy Crockett's Roadhouse locations in Middle Tennessee. Guess said it was strictly a business decision, and the company has no plans at this time to close the remaining locations. ... The Mall at Green Hills' owner has purchased the site of the La Paz restaurant at 3808 Cleghorn Ave. for $3.15 million, the Tennessean reports. ... The paper profiles chef-owner Carolyn Simmons of downtown soul food restaurant Carolyn's Homestyle Kitchen (330 Charlotte Ave.), who explains the origin of her odd 1:50 pm closing time. ... Myers reviews Genie's Persian Palace (1133 Murfreesboro Road, 6990 Moores Lane, Brentwood). tennessean.com ... All the Rage and Tennessean columnist Dana Kopp Franklin reports, "The ambitious Lot 7 has quietly opened its doors at 125 12th Ave. N. next to Judge Bean's BBQ and across from 12th & Porter. It's a restaurant and lounge with an eye-popping interior, including a glassed-in waterfall illuminated in morphing colors, 20-foot stone columns and mood-enhancing video projected on sheer curtains and windows. Ben Lowe (formerly of Virago, B.B. King's and Cheesecake Factory), who co-owns Lot 7 with Jacob Williams and Charles Beller, describes the atmosphere as a West Coast-style lounge. It has a lighter feel than the typical converted warehouse, with walls and ceilings painted a creamy white. It's blissfully non-smoking indoors, though smoking is allowed "on the patio, under the stars," Lowe says. The moderately priced dinner menu looks comfortable and enticing; dishes include pumpkin ravioli filled with three kinds of mushroom and Mongolian beef with coconut-jasmine rice. The menu was created by Edgar Pendley, recruited from Sperry's in Cool Springs to serve as executive chef. Originally, the Lot 7 team had said chef Jason Brumm of radius10 would create the menu, but Brumm proved too busy for the venture, according to Lowe." Lot 7 is at 125 12th Ave. N. 252-9519. Hours: 6-11 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday for dinner; the bar opens at 5:30 and stays open later. ... Kopp also reports the not-unexpected closing of Mothership BBQ in Berry Hill. Owner Jim Reams is actively seeking a new location, this time at a spot with a beer license. Check his blog at www.mothershipbbq.blogspot.com for updates. ... The Rage's Will Ayers reviews Back to Cuba. nashvillerage.com ...

Quick-service restaurant chain Back Yard Burgers Inc. of Memphis is being acquired by an investment partnership that includes Nashville restaurant executive C. Stephen Lynn (former Shoney's and Sonic exec) and local private equity firm Pharos Capital Group LLC, the Nashville Business Journal reports. ... Off The Grill is expanding in the Nashville area, opening a new store in Antioch and planning to open two additional stores in the Hendersonville and Lenox Village areas later this year, the Journal reports. Including the new Antioch store at 811 Hamilton Crossing, there are five Nashville area Off The Grill restaurants. The company plans to open 10 to 12 restaurants before the end of the year. Off The Grill restaurants specialize in delivery and offer items such as steaks, burgers, chicken, pork chops and salmon. ... The Nashville City Paper profiles Sole Mio owner and executive chef Giancarlo Agnoletti, who says he enjoys dining at Peter's Sushi in Brentwood. nashvillecitypaper.com ... The Peanut Shop (19 Arcade), the longest running business in downtown's historic Arcade, was to host an 80th Birthday Celebration on June 20 from 11 am-3 pm with free cake, prizes, peanut samples and an appearance by Mr. Peanut. ... Morton's The Steakhouse (618 Church St) recently finished renovations by expanding the bar and dining room areas. The bar area has its own name, Bar 12 21, and special menu. Items include prime cheeseburgers, chicken strips, petite filet mignon sandwiches, and crab, spinach and artichoke dip. Prices range from $7-$11 and during "power hour" prices are $4 each. Morton's offers "power hour" from 5-6:30 pm and 9:30-11 pm, Mon-Fri. www.mortons.com ... The Scene's nashvillescene.com Carrington Fox reviews the newly revived Nero's Grill (2122 Hillsboro Pike in Green Hills, www.nerosgrill.com) and notes the upcoming Taste of Music City benefit on Saturday, June 23, from 5 to 9 p.m. on downtown's Gateway Bridge. Sponsored by Nissan, the event will feature food from restaurants such as Bound’ry, South Street, Dan McGuinness, Boscos and MaFiaoZa’s Pizzeria. Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 at the door and $10 for children ages 4 to 10. Fifteen percent of net ticket sales will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. For tickets, visit tasteofmusiccity.com. ... Nashville Foodies nashvillefoodies.blogspot.com reviews Savannah Tearoom. ... Nashville Restaurants nashvillerestaurants.blogspot.com reviews Joe’s Bar-B-Que (3716 Clarksville Pike).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Market Street Brewery Sold; McFadden's Set

Reports the Nashville Post's nashvillepost.com Richard Lawson, "Market Street Brewery & Pub, one of the early businesses in Second Avenue’s revival, has been sold to a restaurant and bar chain spreading from the Northeast. New York-based East Coast Saloons bought the pub, and as of (June 6), Market Street is under new management, making new job offers to all existing staff and managers. East Coast Saloons has several concepts, the biggest of which is McFadden's Restaurant & Pub. Market Street will become a McFadden’s after the (CMA Music Fest, which ended June 10). The original McFadden’s was opened in 1977 in New York City and the chain has spread to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky. "We've been planning on doing this for some time," Market Street's founder Lindsay Bohannon said of his decision to sell. "My passion was in brewing the beer and building the brand, but we just found that the dynamics of that industry were difficult." Bohannon launched the brewery in the late 1980s. His beer, brewed on the premises, gained a reputation for quality that spread around Nashville. In 2004, he shut down the brewing operations, and in 2006 his Bohannon Brewing Co. sold the historic building housing the restaurant, at 134 Second Ave. N., to Savannah, Ga.-based Trustees Garden Development LLC for $3.2 million."

IN THE NEWS: Metroblogging Nashville nashville.metblogs.com reports that Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries is coming to Nashville. "The new outpost of D.C.'s favorite burger joint, which was actually started by five friends in a Washington suburb a few years back, will be at the corner of West End Ave. and 21st Ave. That's the new retail development on the old Fuddrucker's/Salathai site that will also feature a T.G.I. Friday's and a Jason's Deli." ... A Cincinnati-based sandwich shop chain says it is targeting Nashville for the expansion of its franchise. Penn Station East Coast Subs said in a news release that it plans to open as many as 20 stores in the city and metropolitan area, the Cincinnati Business Courier reports. The company already has three locations in Nashville and is talking to potential franchisees and looking at several potential sites. ...

Chris Hyndman, creator of the popular sushi restaurant and lounge Virago and the splashy night spot Layl'a, will open a third venture, Lime, in late summer or early fall, The Tennessean's tennessean.com Dana Kopp Franklin reports. Lime is being built from the ground up on a former warehouse site at 1904 Broadway (next to the original Broadway Brewhouse). Hyndman says his new restaurant will serve up “modern Latin fusion cuisine,” with a menu created by high-profile chef Scott Alderson and a bar specializing in premium tequilas and mojito cocktails. Though Alderson no longer lives in Nashville, he’s fondly remembered for his work at the groundbreaking former restaurant 6 degrees and the original Moroccan-inspired dinner menu at Layl'a (which used to be called Layl’a Rul but now goes by the shortened name). Alderson has signed on as a consultant; chef Clay Greenberg of Virago will take charge of opening the kitchen at Lime. “It’s a restaurant, bar and lounge with a big, huge patio,” Hyndman says of Lime. The patio wraps around the building, and three of the walls roll up completely, allowing patio diners a view of the action inside." ... The manufacturing operation of Mike's Ice Cream Fountain on Broadway will relocate to Riverside Village, a new development in East Nashville, owner Mike Duguay tells The Tennessean. Homemade ice cream could be made at the East Nashville location, tentatively named Mike's Ice Cream Factory, for the downtown location as early as July. Duguay said business is growing at the downtown location, and he wanted to move the manufacturing portion in order to make more room for customers and seating. The East Nashville location will also have a retail component; if customers visit during certain times of the day, they can see ice cream being made while they enjoy a cone or a sundae. Duguay said that considering the success of the downtown location at the moment, it could be several months before the retail portion of the East Nashville location is open. ... The Tennessean profiles chef Kevin Randolph of Millennium Maxwell House Nashville, while critic Jim Myers reviews the new East Nashville wine bar Vino (700 Fatherland St.) ... The City Paper spotlights Saffire executive chef Michael Reitman, who name-checks the $3 burgers at Murfreesboro's Toot's. nashvillecitypaper.com ... Bloggers NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com visit King Fish (708 Monroe Ave.) ...

The Scene's Carrington Fox reviews the new Abay Ethiopian Restaurant (3792 Nolensville Pike). She also reports that Margot McCormack and Jay Frein's Marché Artisan Foods (1000 Main St. in East Nashville) has now added dinner to its breakfast-lunch lineup. Marché now serves an early full-service dinner from 4-7 pm Tues-Fri, featuring five or six entrées that include pasta, fish and vegetarian options. Debut dinners have offered pan-seared trout with roasted red potatoes and a corn-spinach sauté. Meals range between $11 and $15 and are all available for takeout. ... Fox also reports on: the opening of former Margot Cafe server Alisa Martin's mobile food cart serving gourmet hot dogs in the lot that formerly housed Gardens of Babylon nursery at 1108 Woodland St. I Dream of Weenie is a joint venture by Martin, Bret MacFadyen of Art & Invention Gallery and Wayne Goodwin, owner of the bygone Gardens of Babylon. I Dream of Weenie will serve six specialty hot dogs on buns made by Provence. Beef, tofu and turkey dogs will be available. As a mobile vending cart, I Dream of Weenie is prohibited from placing permanent seating on the premises, but Martin says people are free to bring their own picnic blankets and folding chairs. The cart will start by opening for lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will possibly expand to late-night hours. ..."

Fox also reports, Quinn O’Sullivan is expanding his popular Dan McGuinness Pub on the Music Row Roundabout and has opened a second Dan McGuinness (open 11 am-3 pm) at 9200 Caruthers Parkway in Cool Springs ... The tea shop and cafe Fat Straw is set for an early July opening at 1200 Villa Place. Californians Monica Miaou and Scott Chang will offer bubble teas, bubble smoothies and flavored shaved ice (sweet red bean, almond pudding, banana and peach) alongside a simple lunch menu of sushi rolls supplied by fellow Californian and friend Ryan Chen, who opened Fujiyama sushi restaurant in January at 3736 Annex Ave., off Charlotte Pike. ... "When estate sale maven Berenice Denton moved her twee shop of antiques and collectibles from Bandywood in Green Hills to the rolling strip malls of Bellevue (162 Belle Forest Circle), she added a tearoom to her retail portfolio. With Rhonda and Craig Sparks, owners of Say Cheese restaurant, manning the kitchen, The Cottage Café serves soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has plans to begin offering takeout." nashvillescene.com ... The Rage's nashvillerage.com Will Ayers also reviews Vino ... Add the White Trash Cafe and PM to the list of area restaurants that have banned smoking. A pending state bill is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Phil Bredesen and go into effect on Oct. 1. ...

Blogger MisterNashville.typepad.com stops by the new hot dog joint The Dog of Nashville (3302-A Nolensville Rd., open 11 am-7 pm Mon-Sat) and reports, "Rumor has it they are planning on opening a location in the Hillsboro Village area. Hopefully they'll stay open later than 7pm." ... NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com reviews Center Point Bar-B-Que (1212 West Main Street, Hendersonville). ... June 21 is the expected opening date for Cincinnati's Cadillac Ranch Rock 'n' Country Bar and Grille, which will feature an outside bar and patio that accommodates up to 75 people, the Cincinnati Post reports. cincinnati.com. "I felt that in Cincinnati, there were no concepts like this," said Eric Schilder, owner of FS Cincinnati LLC, the company that will run the Cadillac Ranch. Schilder opened the first Cadillac Ranch a month ago in Nashville. Cincinnati's will be the second, and he said his company is looking at four other cities, including Indianapolis.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Restaurant Smoking Ban Nears Reality

IN THE NEWS: As expected, the Tennessee House and Senate has approved a watered-down bill to ban smoking in restaurants and some workplaces May 31 but allow it in bars and certain small businesses, the Nashville City Paper nashvillecitypaper.com reports. Gov. Phil Bredesen was expected to sign the measure into law. Starting Oct. 1, 2007, the bill would prohibit smoking in “all enclosed public places within the state of Tennessee,” which includes restaurants and businesses that employ more than three employees. But the bill’s exemptions make it far less stringent than a measure the Senate passed last week, which would have banned smoking in restaurants and bars. ... Boscos managing partner Jeremy Feinstone calls Where the Locals Eat to remind that the Memphis-based collection of brewpubs, including a longtime Hillsboro Village site, plans to open a Cool Springs location in October. As the Nashville Post www.nashvillepost.com has reported, Boscos will join Noshville at Meridian Cool Springs, a mixed-use development next to the former Primus headquarters building being done by Boyle Investment in partnership with Northwestern Mutual. The property sits between Carothers Parkway and Interstate 65. Boscos will go into the ground floor of a 41,000-square-foot building that was scheduled to be completed in July. Nucci's Italian Ice and Gelato will be located in the same building, the Post reported. ... City Paper wine critic Hoyt Hill remembers gone but not forgotten local restaurants, including Vizcaya, The Hearth, and Julian's Restaurant Francais, which he calls the best-ever Nashville restaurant ... Alexa Hinton profiles Ombi chefs Kim Totzke and Laura Wilson ... Amy Griffith profiles 27-year-old entrepreneur Benjamin Goldberg (Bar Twenty3, City Hall), owner of the new Paradise Park Trailer Resort diner on Lower Broad, who reveals he's hoping to expand the Paradise Park concept to other cities after a couple of years. ... Griffith also interviews downtown business owners concerned about the possible exit of the Nashville Predators hockey club after a soon-to-be official ownership change. Among those quoted: Ronnie Giddus, manager of Bailey's sports bar and grill, and Kevin Bigbee of Rippy's BBQ and Grill. ...

The Tennessean profiles Dickson native Jay Luther, executive chef/co-owner of Germantown Cafe (1200 Fifth Ave. N.). The East Nashville-centric Luther visits 3 Crow Bar, Watermark, Eastland Cafe and the brunch at Margot's when he's dining out. ... Critic Jim Myers reviews the new Texas steakhouse chain Saltgrass Steak House (1646 Westgate Circle in Cool Springs). ... Eat Beat columnist Dana Kopp Franklin reports on the impending fall opening of traditional Italian restaurant City House (1222 Fourth Ave. N. in historic Germantown) from Margot Cafe sous chef Tandy Wilson III and wife Ann Kostroski, Margot's pastry chef. Franklin also notes the opening of Genie's Persian Palace's (from Fat Mo's Shiva Karimy) second area location (1133 Murfreesboro Pike), and the expected June opening of Rosario's Mexican Restaurant in the new Edgehill Village (Edgehill Avenue and Village Place). Co-owner Daniel Barrigan, a Mexico City native, and business partner Robert Shelton are veterans of the Hof's Hut chain in California. tennessean.com ... The Rage's Will Ayers reviews Thai Star in Woodbine. nashvillerage.com ... The Scene's Carrington Nelson reviews Chappy's on Church (1721 Church St.) nashvillescene.com ... The Murfreesboro Post murfreesboropost.com readers have voted Buster’s Place (1615 NW Broad St. in Murfreesboro) as the city's best burger joint. Kirkenburt’s Smokehouse Grill (517 Cason Lane, Murfreesboro), winner of The Post’s Top 10 chicken wing contest, is also among the Top 10 with readers for its burgers. Others in Murfreesboro's Top 10: the chain Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (1986 Medical Center Parkway), Toot's (860 NW Broad St), Nashville offshoot Fat Mo's (1301 Memorial Blvd.), The Boro (1211 Greenland Drive), Pardner’s Bar and Grill (915 Old Fort Parkway), Bunganut Pig (602 W. Northfield Blvd.), Pawbowsky’s Dog House (3080 S. Church St.), Murfreesboro's oldest restaurant City Cafe (City Cafe, 113 E. Main St.) and Karin's Kustard (470 S. Lowry St. in Smyrna). ... In its review of Hardcore Troubadour, Lauren St. John's new biography of singer-songwriter Steve Earle, PlaybackStl.com reveals that Earle first met songwriting icon and longtime Nashville resident Guy Clark at Bishop's Pub (now the site of Tin Angel restaurant). Writes St. John, "Guy also warmed to Steve himself-his quick intelligence and fizzing energy-although on the whole he preferred him when he drank because ‘he didn't talk so much.'"

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Green Hills Grille Leaves Cool Springs

IN THE NEWS: Green Hills Grille has closed its Cool Springs location, apparently to concentrate on its relatively new Green Hills mall area spot ... Nashville City Paper nashvillecitypaper.com profiles Daniel Maggipinto, executive chef and co-owner of Sylvan Park Italian gem Caffe Nonna, who says his young children like to eat at Kien Giang, the Charlotte Pike Vietnamese restaurant. ... Make welcome the new blog Nashville Restaurants http://nashvillerestaurants.blogspot.com, which reviews Mothership BBQ, Mexican eatery Oasis Restaurant on Nolensville Road, a new meat 'n' three called Family Kitchen on Dickerson Pike, and Bro's Cajun Cuisine on Charlotte. ... The Scene's Carrington Fox previews the monthly Gnocchi Day at the combination New Orleans/South American-influenced Nola's Restaurant (2912 West End Ave.) and notes expected August opening of the Gulch area's Agave Tequila Lounge, an upscale tequila bar/Mexican restaurant at the former site of Pie Wagon (118 12th Ave. S.) Owners are music industry insiders Ken Levitan, Chris Ferran and Ross Schilling. ... Fox also reports on the opening of a second Genie's Persion Palace at 1133 Murfreesboro Road, a Middle Eastern eatery from Shiva and Mo Karimy of the local Fat Mo's burger chain. ...

The Tennessean's Nicole Keiper reports on the May 24 reopening of 12th and Porter nightclub and restaurant, which was padlocked for two days by the state Department of Revenue for nonpayment of taxes. Club co-owners Jennifer Lee and Paula Willigar have filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and subsequently have picked up a new investor, Frank DiLeo, a Nashville music industry vet and former manager of Michael Jackson. Opened by Nashville restaurateur Jody Faison in 1984, 12th and Porter has been one of the city's top nightclubs, hosting album recordings for Emmylou Harris and Townes Van Zandt and getting mentioned in song by ex-Nashvillian Ryan Adams. ... Three months after Nashville steakhouse icon Sperry's went completely smoke-free, owner Al Thomas tells Tennessean columnist Gail Kerr he would do it again. "I cannot count the number of positive responses I've gotten," Thomas said. "I've gotten two nasty e-mails and one comment from a guest that was disappointed." State lawmakers have been contemplating the passage of a bill that would be a complete workplace smoking ban, with lobbying efforts being made for a compromise bill that would limit smoking to bar areas only. ... The paper's Williamson A.M. section profiles longtime Cicero, Ill., residents Tony and Margie Viramontes, who opened Chicago Grill & Market recently in Spring Hill. ... Critic Jim Myers reviews the new Texas-based chain sandwich shop Which Wich? (3001 West End Ave, 839 Cool Springs Blvd, Franklin. ... Tennessean/All the Rage columnist Dana Kopp Franklin reports on coffee king Bob Bernstein's plans to move his Bongo Java Roasting Co. operation from his Bongo Java East location to a new site on Ninth Avenue North next to Level 88 Jazz Bistro, with Manuel Zeitlin designing the space withprivate meeting space built in. That should happen by the end of the year, with Bongo East becoming a full-service coffeehouse and restaurant similar to his original Bongo Java and Fido locations. ... Franklin also notes a June 1 opening date for Lazzaroli Pasta, a fresh gourmet grocery featuring fresh pasta at 1314 Fifth Ave. N in historic Germantown. tennessean.com ... All the Rage's Will Ayers reviews Cornerstone Bar, 101 Church St. nashvillerage.com ... Hickory Hollow Mall has added Coffee Plus and soon will add Churros King, which will open in the food court in June, the Nashville Business Journal reports.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Tootsie's, Robert's on Esquire Bars List

Esquire magazine's second annual Best Bars of America list is out in the June 2007 issue. They include:

Lou's Pub & Package, Birmingham, Ala.; J Lounge, Golden Gopher, The Edison, The Broadway Bar, La Cita, Bordello, Redwood, and Bar 107, Los Angeles; Musso & Frank Grill, Hollywood, Calif.; The Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills; Beach Ball, Newport Beach, Calif.; Brennan's Pub, Marina Del Ray, Calif.; Bourbon & Branch, The Owl Tree, Vesuvio, and Zeitgeist, San Francisco; The Sportsman, Sonora, Calif.; Cruise Room, and El Chapultepec, Denver; Jimbo's, and Churchill's Pub, Miami; The Clermont Lounge, Atlanta; Lewers Lounge at the Halekulani Hotel, and La Mariana Sailing Club, Honolulu; The California Clipper, The Red Lion Pub, Bungalow, The Matchbox, Hideout, and Chipp Inn, Chicago; The Red Key, and Nicky Blaine's, Indianapolis; The Old Seelbach Bar, Louisville; The Chart Room, The Bar at Tujague's, Fritzel's European Jazz Pub, and Napoleon House, New Orleans; The Brewer's Art, and Shamrock Inn, Baltimore; B-Side Lounge, Cambridge, Mass.; No. 9 Park, Boston; Doyle's Cafe, Jamaica Plain, Mass.; The Bar at Seldom Blues, Detroit; Miller's Bar, Dearborn, Mich.; Bulldog NE, and Nye's Polonaise Room, Minneapolis; Half Time Rec, St. Paul; John D. McGurk's, St. Louis; Any bar on the Strip, Double Down Saloon, and Petrossian Bar, Las Vegas; Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel, Little Branch, The Bar at Keens Steakhouse, Minetta Tavern, Jimmy's Corner, The Angel's Share, The Brooklyn Inn, The Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel, Flatiron Lounge, The Saloon, San Domenico Restaurant, Spuyten Duyvil, 21 Club, Grassroots Tavern, Bill's Gay 90s, Julius', and Pegu Club, New York City; Freddy's Bar & Backroom, Brooklyn; Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, Queens; Thomas Street Tavern, Charlotte, NC; Andyman's Treehouse, Columbus, Ohio; The Library Bar & Grill, Norman, Okla.; Friendly Lounge, The Grey Lodge, and Southwark, Philadelphia; Dee's Cafe, Pittsburgh; Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, and Robert's Western World, Nashville; La Tuna, San Antonio; Donn's Depot, Austin; The Inwood Lounge, Dallas; Shooting Star Saloon, Huntsville, Utah; Sambar, Zig Zag Cafe, and Fu Kun Wu, Seattle; Hawk 'n' Dove, and The Tune Inn, Washington, DC; Holler House, Milwaukee.

IN THE NEWS: From The Tennessean tennessean.com, "The Loveless Café plans to add a banquet hall, events lawn and additional retail space. A request to double the size of the existing complex was unanimously approved by the Metro Planning Commission last week. “The bill was passed on consent, meaning no one signed up to speak out against it during the public hearing,” said Craig Owensby, Metro Planning Department spokesman. Currently, the total land area within the Loveless complex is about 4½ acres. According to plan details, Loveless officials want to add an 8,000 square foot banquet hall, 12,612 square feet of additional retail space and an outdoor events lawn. The additions will be located behind the existing café and retail shops, with the exception of one retail building that will be housed along Highway 100. A secondary parking lot, which will contain about 320 spaces, will be accessed from McCrory Lane. “There is so much interest and so many requests for events that we can’t keep up with them,” said Jesse Goldstein, president of Nashville operations for TomKats, owner of Loveless Café. “We try to never close down the café because of an event, and with the addition of the events lawn and banquet areas we can have a spot for the overflow. We are looking at this as an opportunity to have this facility become part of the community. It is our dream to have numerous events at the Loveless like antique car shows and public garage sales.” The plans for expansion are slated to go before the Metro Council on June 5 for first reading. The second reading along with a public hearing is scheduled for July 3, and the final vote is scheduled for July 17.." ... Nashville City Paper reviews the East Nashville wine bar Vino, the creation of local businesswoman Linda Forceno, and passes along rumours that 12 South's Rumours Wine Bar is moving across the river, as well. (It's ticketed for the former Red Wagon restaurant site on Woodland Street, WTLE hears.) nashvillecitypaper.com ... Kay West returns to the Nashville Scene nashvillescene.com to review F. Scott's Restaurant. ... The Scene's Carrington Fox speculates on the fate of a Hillsboro Village parking garage purchased by restaurauteur Randy Rayburn and his business partner last fall. Rayburn's Sunset Grill and Cabana eateries are across the street. Rayburn also denies rumours that he's interested in buying The Trace, which has been beset by legal woes. ... Fox also notes the May 17 opening of the new Public Square Farmers' Market in front of the Metro Courthouse. It will sell produce, cheese, eggs meats, milk, breads and crafts from area farmers and artisans each Thursday from 11 am-3 pm through Oct. 25. www.nashvilleurbanharvest.org

... The Tennessean's critic Jim Myers bemoans his trip to Lower Broad's new Paradise Park Trailer Resort diner, from the BarTwentyThree co-owner Ben Goldberg. ... Eat Beat columnist Dana Kopp Franklin reports on the new Eighth Avenue North coffee joint The Standard Cafe, inside Mad Mod furniture store and across the street from The Standard tearoom, which will start serving dinner from 5-9 pm Tues-Thurs beginning May 22. ... Franklin also reports: chef John Stephenson of Hillsboro Village's Fido coffee shop will expand its food offerings with dinner items such as fried catfish tacos and a green chili and coconut tamale with mole espresso sauce, as well as adding a small selection of wines, including sparkling wine and mimosas at weekend brunch; Saltgress Steak House from the Houston-based Landry's chain (Olive Garden) is to open in April in Cool Springs at the site of the former Joe's Crab Shack. ... The Nashville Business Journal reports, "Country music superstar Kix Brooks of the duo Brooks & Dunn has shelled out $2 million in start-up money for Williamson County's first winery. Brooks and his partners plan to make and distribute wines under the name Arrington Vineyard, which is named for the Williamson County community where it's located." ... Elliston Place's Ombi restaurant has started a happy hour, 2 for 1 well drinks and draft beer from 4-7pm in its bar area and on the patio, seven nights a week. ... All the Rage nashvillerage.com visits The Breeze (formerly Greek Islands), 1516 Demonbreun St. ... The Business Journal reports that Lebanon-based chain Cracker Barrel Old Country Store plans to eliminate artificial trans fats by the middle of 2008. The family dining chain has been reviewing and testing recipes and working with its suppliers since late 2006 to make changes in the products that are used to prepare the comfort foods the restaurant chain is known for. "Our goal is to eliminate trans fats where they are not naturally occurring without making any change in the quality of the food we serve," says Michael A. Woodhouse, president and CEO in a news release.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

America's Best Restaurant Cities

"Today ... most major cities in the U.S. have the kind of gastronomic diversity and regionality that is rich in every department, and even if you’ve visited recently, you can be sure that next time you go, there’ll be more new and enticing restaurants than you could possibly visit," writes Donald Burnam in a recent ForbesTraveler.com piece, "America's Best Restaurant Cities." "It’s getting hard not to have a great meal anywhere in the U.S.." Burnam continues.

Forbes' Top 10 Restaurant Cities:
1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. San Francisco
4. Los Angeles
5. New Orleans
6. Houston
7. Washington, D.C.
8. Atlanta
9. Boston
10. Las Vegas

Rankings were based on: Overall number of restaurants above the fast food level; Number of fine dining restaurants with national and international standing; Solid representation of regional American food; A wide segment of second-tier restaurants that would include seafood, steakhouses, and independently chef-owned restaurants; Breadth and depth of ethnic restaurants, especially if the city has neighborhood such as a Chinatown; A significant number of neigborhood restaurants where the locals tend to eat out regularly; A well-traveled clientele that regards eating out in that city one of the real pleasures of going there.

O'Charley's Gets New Head Chef
Nashville-based O'Charley's Restaurants has brought on Stephen Bulgarelli as the company's vice president of culinary development, Nashville City Paper nashville.bizjournals.com reports. "Bulgarelli will be responsible for creating all of O'Charley's permanent menu items, as well as items that will be on the menu for limited amounts of town. Bulgarelli says "the casual-dining segment is drowning in a sea of sameness," in a news release. He hints that he'll "reinvent the baked potato", mix and match ethnic foods, add non-fattening desserts, but keep the chain restaurant's standard steak dishes. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Bulgarelli most recently was senior director/executive chef culinary innovation for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide. Previously, he was executive chef/menu design for LSG Sky Chefs, where he developed new menu items for American Airlines International and Domestic Flagship Services.Bulgarelli has appeared on numerous programs about food, including the Bravo Network program "Top Chef"."

IN THE NEWS: Well-received The Yellow Duck restaurant in Fairview has closed ... The Tennessean spotlights the business of sports bars, featuring Hillsboro Village's Sam's Sports Bar & Grill and The Long Shot on Music Row ... The paper also profiles Brian Uhl, executive chef of Sunset Grill, Midtown Cafe and chef and part-owner of Cabana, who offers recipes for grilled trout with crab and corn ragout and yellow squash casserole. ... Dining critic Jim Myers reviews Peter's Sushi-Thai, 330 Franklin Road in Brentwood. .. The paper also notes the recent opening in Spring Hill of Asuka Japanese Hibachi Steak House at 2029 Wall St. Co-owner Annie Chang cites a bamboo room and patio as the setting for of sushi and hibachi grill-cooked food, a rarity in the growing Williamson County town. The Sultan Table, a Mediterranean restaurant, also opened recently. ... The Tennessean also reports that Eagle Ridge Investments, which recently bought country music star Tanya Tucker's Williamson County estate off State Route 840 in Arrington for $13.5 million, plans a full-service restaurant for the site in addition to a golf club and subdivision ... The paper also detailed a drug bust on May 9 at the Corner Bar on Elliston Place that resulted in the arrest of cook Majid Rejeb for of engaging in a cocaine-distribution conspiracy and possession of cocaine for resale. Rejeb is the cousin of co-owner Merdan Mohammed, a Kurdish native who now has been forced into double-duty as boss and chef. tennessean.com ... Nashville Scene critic Carrington Fox reviews Savannah Tea House, 2206 Eighth Ave. S. nashvillescene.com ... The Green Hills News follows up a recent Tennessean story about the sale of Gallatin Pike meat 'n' three mainstay The Knife & Fork, 805 Gallatin Road, to Eleanor Clay, the owner of Sylvan Park meat 'n' three restaurants, who has placed one of her restaurants in the spot (with former Bluebird Cafe/Sportsman's Grille/White Trash Cafe waitress Deborah "Stretch" McEwen as manager. The News reports the Knife and Fork has moved its newspaper memorabilia, which has hung on the walls for generations, down the road to reopen on the site of the former B&B Cafe, 324 Gallatin Pike S. Owner is Michelle Bobbitt, the daughter of longtime proprietress Opal Kittrell.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

James Beard Awards Announced

Chicago's Frontera Grill won Outstanding Restaurant of the Year and Michel Richard of Michel Richard Citronelle in Washington, D.C. was named Outstanding Chef at the 2007 James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony. Hosted by CBS Early Show anchor Hannah Storm, the Beard Awards were held May 7 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York's Lincoln Center. More than 60 awards were presented by the country's pre-eminent nonprofit culinary organization, in its 20th anniversary celebration, and more than 1,600 industry leaders attended the ceremony. Other top awards went to: New York's L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, named Best New Restaurant; Thomas Keller (The French Laundry, Yountville, Ca.) received the award for Outstanding Restaurateur; and David Chang (Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York) received the Rising Star Chef of the Year award. Celebrity and culinary superstar attendees included Stephanie March, Ted Allen, Katie Lee Joel, Martha Stewart, Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay, Thomas Keller, Jose Andres, Tom Colicchio, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Padma Lakshmi, and Marcus Samuelsson. The Foundation's Media Awards took place at a separate event at the Hudson Theatre at Millennium Broadway Hotel on May 6. All Award winners received a bronze medallion etched with the image of the late James Beard, the esteemed chef, cookbook author, and food journalist. There are no cash awards. Established in 1990, the James Beard Foundation Awards recognizes outstanding achievement within the fine food and beverage industry in North America. For full awards results, please visit http://www.jamesbeard.org.

Beard Award highlights are:

AMERICA'S CLASSICS: Primanti Brothers, Demetrios Patrinos, Pittsburgh, Pa.; The Pickwick, Christopher Wisocki, Duluth, Minn.; Doe's Eat Place, The Signa Family, Greenville, Miss.; Aunt Carrie's, Elsie Foy, Narragansett, R.I.; I

Brookville Hotel, Mark and Connie Martin, Abilene, Kan.; Weaver D's, Dexter Weaver, Athens, Ga.

BEST CHEF, GREAT LAKES: Grant Achatz, Alinea, Chicago

BEST CHEF, MID-ATLANTIC: R.J. Cooper, III, Vidalia, Washington, DC

BEST CHEF, MIDWEST: Celina Tio, The American Restaurant, Kansas City, Mo.

BEST CHEF, NEW YORK CITY: David Waltuck, Chanterelle, New York, NY

BEST CHEF, NORTHEAST: Frank McClelland, L'Espalier, Boston

BEST CHEF, NORTHWEST: John Sundstrom, Lark, Seattle

BEST CHEF, PACIFIC: Traci Des Jardins, Jardinière, San Francisco

BEST CHEF, SOUTH: Donald Link, Herbsaint, New Orleans

BEST CHEF, SOUTHEAST: Scott Peacock, Watershed, Decatur, Ga.

BEST CHEF, SOUTHWEST: Nobuo Fukuda, Sea Saw, Scottsdale, Ariz.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT: L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Chef-Owner: Joël Robuchon, New York, NY

OUTSTANDING CHEF: Michel Richard, Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington, DC

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF: Michael Laskonis, Le Bernardin, New York, NY

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT: Frontera Grill, chef-owner: Rick and Deann Bayless, Chicago

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR: Thomas Keller, The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE: Rick Tramonto, Gale Gand, and Richard Melman, Tru, Chicago

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL: Paul Draper, Ridge Vineyards, Cupertino, Calif.

OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE: Mark Slater, Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington, DC

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR: David Chang, Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York, NY

IN THE NEWS: The owner and landlord of popular Hillsboro Village restaurant The Trace are in a legal battle, WTVF-TV Channel 5 reported May 2, with the Trace's owner served a lawsuit and eviction notice. Ken Perry owns the 10-year-old eatery, which he took over in 2004 from the original owners. Since then, he said he's had his share of problems. "We just had a rough patch we went through, got behind on some payments," he told the TV station. "It really boils down to someone not doing what they promised to do," said property owner Larry Hayes Jr. Hayes' family has owned the building on Belcourt Avenue, site of Jody Faison's influential restaurant Faison's throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, for more than three decades. He claims Perry has been late on rent, taxes and other payments too many times and he's given him too many chances to make good. "For whatever reason, he didn't do that, so we terminated the lease," Hayes said. "It's pretty cut and dry." Not only did Hayes terminate the lease, he filed a $1.2 million lawsuit against Perry Restaurant Inc. A lawsuit could mean the end of The Trace, the TV station reports. With a long term lease that ends in 2020, Perry said his landlord just wants his restaurant gone. "They have said they have somebody else who wants to come in here. They know that this business is very valuable," Perry told Channel 5. But it will be up to a judge to decide if the eatery can stay in the area. The business remains open during this legal battle. newschannel5.com ...

Orlando-based Darden Restaurants shut down more than 50 of its Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill locations across the country on May 5 and said it will sell the remaining 73, The Orlando Sentinel reported May 6. The closings include a store in Cool Springs ... The Tennessean's Davidson A.M. section reports on construction of the Hill Center retail complex in Green Hills, which will include popular chain restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen, Pei Wei Asian Diner and Zoes Kitchen, as well as the chain organic grocery store and deli Whole Foods Market. The complex plans a September opening. The Tennessean's Jim Myers reviews the recently revived Nero's Grill, 2122 Hillsboro Road in Green Hills, while Eat Beat columnist Dana Kopp Franklin reports on a fund-raising benefit at Cabana on Wednesday, May 9 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Soceity. Cabana's managing partner Craig Clifft's 5-year-old daughter recently completed successful treatment for leukemia. cabananashville.com for more details. ... Franklin also reports, "Popular meat-and-three Sylvan Park Restaurant has opened a location in East Nashville. Owner Eleanor Clay purchased the Knife and Fork Restaurant at 805 Gallatin Road and reopened it (last) week as Sylvan Park East. Clay, who owns the original Sylvan Park Restaurant on Murphy Road along with the Sylvan Park Melrose on Franklin Road, purchased the new restaurant from Opal Kittrell, who decided to retire after operating Knife and Fork since 1971. Clay's Sylvan Park restaurants specialize in homestyle Southern food, including fried catfish, fresh pies and banana pudding. Plates range $6.50 to $7.50. Sylvan Park East (228-4504) is open 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday." ...

Nashville Scene critic Carrington Fox reviews Lower Broad's new 24-hour Paradise Park Trailer Resort and reports on the impending opening of the new business above it, The Big Bang bar and restaurant. "As you look at the facade of Paradise Park Trailer Resort, the bar entrance is on the left, the door to the restaurant on the right. Smack in the middle, there’s a stairway that appears to lead nowhere. But not for long. On Memorial Day weekend, The Big Bang bar and restaurant is slated to explode onto the second floor of the former Heilig-Myers showroom on Lower Broadway (411 Broadway), upstairs from the new Paradise Park Trailer Resort diner. Part of a six-year old, St. Louis-based chain of piano sing-along-themed bars, The Big Bang is to feature big salads, big sandwiches, and big desserts with dinners first, and later lunches as well." ...

Nashville City Paper spotlights chefs Guerry McComas of Yellow Porch and Martha Stamps of Martha's at the Plantation, who reveals her guilty food pleasure: $6 mochas from Starbucks. ... The Tennessean profiles chef-owner Michael DeGregory of Mirror, who got his start in the business bussing tables at a pancake house. ... All the Rage gives a rundown of three Nolensville Road taco trucks: El Tapatio, Nolensville and Northcrest; Taqueria San Juan, Nolensville and Brewer; and Taqueria Express, parking lot in front of K&S World Market near Nolensville and Edmonson. ... The Nashville Business Journal reports that Pie In The Sky Restaurant has opened as the newest tenant in the Lennox Village mixed-used development off Nolensville Road near Brentwood. The pizzeria is the second Pie In The Sky restaurant in the Nashville area, joining its sister location in Cool Springs.

Nashville Downtown Partnership reports the openings of two new downtown eateries:
-- Dunn Bros. Coffee, 401 Church St. 252-2567. "Spacious coffee shop featuring coffee and non-coffee beverages, plus light fare for breakfast and lunch. Additionally, free Wi-Fi, two computers for searching the internet, small conference space and live music on various nights. Hours are Mon-Thurs, 6 am-7 pm; Fri, 6 am-10 pm; and Sat, 7 am-10 pm."
-- Pita Pit, 121 2nd Avenue N. 251-9151. "This restaurant is open for lunch, dinner and late night eating. Menu items include an assortment of meat and vegetarian pitas with a large number of stuffing options, plus soups and salads. Hours are Mon-Sat, 10:30 am-4 am and Sun, 11 am-3 am."

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Mothership BBQ's Woes

Well-regarded Mothership BBQ's owner has put out a plea for $50,000 to relocate from his cramped Berry Hill space or he vows to close down the joint, open since June 2006. "I am hamstrung by this awful location. I am on a little side street in Berry Hill. I get a decent crowd of regulars at lunch, but no dinner business. I can't even sell beer because of the zoning. Imagine, trying to turn a profit with a BBQ place without selling beer," Jim "Knucklehead" Reams, owner/pitmaster, writes from mothershipbbq.blogspot.com ... Expect Rosario's Mexican Restaurant, 1200 Villa Place in the new Villa Place development off Edgehill Avenue in the Music Row area, to open within the next month or so, sources tell Where the Locals Eat. ...

There's a mix of old and new in Nashville Lifestyles list of the city's seven best restaurants in its April 2007 edition. Opened in fall 2006, Flyte World Dining and Wine joins long-time Contemporary faves Zola, F. Scott's, Park Cafe, Capitol Grille, Margot Cafe and Bar and the late-2005 entry Watermark ... Accompanying sidebars include: a roundup of high-end chain steakhouses -- all just holding their own compared to the independently owned, circa 1934 Jimmy Kelly's, in WTLE's estimation; profiles on Randy Rayburn's newly refurbished 20-year-old Midtown Cafe, and Goodlettsville's venerable Chef's Market; and a list of the city's five best happy hours, including Radius 10, Virago, Buffalo Billiards, Red Door Saloon, and Brewhouse West. The magazine also includes a lengthy Q&A with critics Kay West of the Nashville Scene and Nashville Lifestyles and Jim Myers of The Tennessean, which also owns Nashville Lifestyles. West's praiseworthy restaurants of late: Flyte, where she hosted a recent dining benefit evening; Korean entries Tofu House, Hai Woon Dai, and Korea House on Charlotte Pike and Korea House on Charlotte Pike. She'd take out-of-town guests to Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, Martha's at the Plantation, Margot, Watermark, Radius 10, Tayst and Flyte. Myers adds meat-'n'-three stalwarts Arnold's and Swett's to the list. ...

IN THE NEWS: Nashville City Paper spotlights longtime nightclub owner Malcolm Hare (Bourbon Street Blues Bar), whose new nightclub and restaurant The Place opened recently on 217 Second Ave. S, former site of Bluesboro and Have a Nice Day Cafe. The club features blues and R&B music and sports a menu that includes jambalaya, red beans and rice, prime rib, and various bar foods. It's now also serving brunch beginning at noon each Sunday. ... The Scene's Carrington Fox spotlights Genie's Persian Place, 6990 Moores Lane at the corner of Moores Lane and Franklin Road in Brentwood. Run by Shiva and Mohammad “Mo” Karimy, the family behind Fat Mo’s popular area burger stands, Genie's has had local foodies buzzing for several months. (www.nashvillescene.com) ... Tennessean/All the Rage columnist Dana Kopp Franklin notes Linda Forceno's new wine bar Vino, 700 Fatherland St. in East Nashville, and the addition of hot pasta dishes at Bread & Company locations. www.tennessean.com, while Tennessean colleague Myers stays on the east side to review chef Margot McCormack's (Margot Cafe) new Marché Artisan Foods, 1000 Main St. ... All the Rage's 2 for $20 column spotlights Anatolia on White Bridge Road. ...Nashville City Paper profiles Germantown Cafe chef and co-owner Jay Luther, who cites Eastland Cafe, Watermark and The Sub Shop as local restaurants he frequents. ... The Tennessean spotlights Daniel Maggipinto, chef and co-owner of Caffe Nonna, who mentions Kien Giang and Noshville as among his favorite local eateries. ... Zahran "Eddie" Mawaly and Victor Patel, owners of Tarboosh, a Middle Eastern/Mediterrean restaurant with locations near Vanderbilt and MTSU campuses, are looking for a second Nashville spot, The Murfreesboro Post reports.

Roughly the dining out equivalent of The Academy Awards, The James Beard Foundation annual awards ceremony takes place Monday, May 7, at the Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. Go to www.jamesbeard.org for the complete list, but here's a partial list of national nominees:

-- Outstanding Restaurant: Boulevard, San Francisco; Frontera Grill, Chicago; Magnolia Grill, Durham, N.C., Picholine, New York; Spiaggia, Chicago.
-- Best New Restaurant: A Voce, New York City; Chochon, New Orleans; Cut, Beverly Hill, Calif; L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, New York City; Momofuku Ssam Bar, New York City; Restaurant Guy Savoy, Las Vegas.
-- Outstanding Restaurateur: Thomas Keller, The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif; Keith McNally, Balthazar, New York City; Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (R.J. Grunts, Wildfire, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!), Chicago; Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group (Tribeca Grill, Nobu, Rubicon), New York City; Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean Georges restaurant, New York City.
-- Outstanding Chef: Tom Colicchio, Craft, New York City; Lee Hefter, Spago, Beverly Hills, Calif.; Jean Joho, Everest, Chicago; Paul Kahan, Blackbird, Chicago; Michel Richard, Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington, D.C.
-- Rising Star Chef: Nate Appleman, A16, San Francisco; Graham Elliot Bowles, Avenues at The Peninsula Hotel, Philadelphia; David Chang, Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York; Patrick Connelly, Radius, Boston; Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park, New York City.

Restaurant magazine just released its list of the world's top 100 restaurants. (http://www.theworlds50best.com/2007_list.html) Here are the U.S. entries:

The French Laundry, Yountville, Ca. (No. 4)
Per Se, New York City (No. 9)
Jean Georges, New York City (No. 18)
Le Bernardin, New York City (No. 26)
Charlie Trotter's, Chicago (No. 30)
Daniel, New York City (No. 32)
Alinea, Chicago (No. 36)
Chez Panisse, Berkeley, Ca. (No. 40)
Masa, New York City (No. 56)
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon at the Four Seasons, New York City (No. 64)
Peter Lugar, Brooklyn, NY (No. 69)
Nobu New York, New York City (No. 89)
Gramercy Tavern, New York city (No. 90)
WD-50, New York City (No. 91)
Zuni Café, San Francisco (No. 98)
Alex at Wynn, Las Vegas (No. 100)