tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331739432012-02-02T12:59:32.132-08:00News and notes on Nashville, TN restaurant openings, closings, reviews, happenings, chefs, and more.Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09196210319558772294noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-38062577201461650972007-10-09T12:06:00.001-07:002012-02-02T12:12:20.286-08:00

Find my new posts at LocalEats.com, look under blogs in the top menu.

Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09196210319558772294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-73790453819030881912007-09-25T08:27:00.000-07:002007-09-25T08:51:52.637-07:00

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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-86518372625500854142007-09-18T10:36:00.000-07:002007-09-18T10:51:37.488-07:00

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

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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

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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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-789232838894176342007-08-27T12:30:00.000-07:002007-08-27T12:39:03.848-07:00

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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-29040024481309453322007-08-21T15:10:00.000-07:002007-08-21T15:20:45.482-07:00

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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-37799434772997984572007-08-13T12:55:00.000-07:002007-08-13T13:01:49.513-07:00

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-86829797753201636542007-07-10T07:06:00.000-07:002007-07-10T07:16:15.734-07:00

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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-62629175924243195202007-07-03T10:30:00.000-07:002007-07-03T10:43:42.306-07:00

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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-79355513565340875862007-06-26T08:37:00.000-07:002007-06-26T14:39:22.830-07:00

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

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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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-35174995935921621092007-06-11T09:02:00.000-07:002007-06-11T09:29:14.772-07:00

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

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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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-50277397684167564432007-05-29T10:11:00.000-07:002007-05-29T10:27:55.800-07:00

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

Pat Embryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06734644548207391775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33173943.post-50231401100672048522007-05-21T13:32:00.000-07:002007-05-21T13:42:40.564-07:00

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.;

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"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

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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

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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

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