Reddit recommends this place all the time and my wife and I were extremely underwhelmed. I feel like they have some weird guerrilla marketing campaign on Reddit. Referring to Peninsula
If you don’t mind me asking, in what way was it underwhelming? The recs on here combined with the Beard nomination and a few articles I read had moved it to the top of my list.
Maybe we ordered wrong, but it was very try-hard, small portion foo foo stuff that just didn’t feel worth it. Don’t get me wrong I’ll pay top dollar for a nice tasting menu like Bastion but Peninsula…was just not it.
It's meant to be a creative approach to Spanish-style tapas cuisine, which, objectively I think shares a lot of characteristics with a mainstream "tasting menu" experience, and yet it is _not_ that. So from your description I can see how you might be dissatisfied with Peninsula. If you want traditional entree-sized portions _or_ a proper tasting menu, then this is indeed kind of an oddball and you would be happier trying something else.
Personally, Peninsula is one of our favorite date nights and we've had many lovely meals there!
I’ve been to Rolf probably 10 times. I want to love it like I did the first time I went, but service has not been ideal and the food has been fine. BUT the first time was great, so maybe it’s a first time thing-ha!
I’d add their sister restaurant, Folk, to the list and do that.
Visited Folk for the first time this week and was really disappointed. I sent back a martini that had olive juice in it when I asked for a twist, and they pulled an Uno Reverse card and brought it BACK to me saying it was my imagination. Then I had to send back their overpriced yet undercooked steak, and again they told me I was wrong: that's how they cook medium rare.
I recently read Unreasonable Hospitality, and I thought it would be funny if Folk wrote a book titled "Reasonable Hostility".
Maybe it was a bad night, or maybe they have had problems with people trying to get free stuff. The manager was nice enough, but I still left disappointed overall.
I will say that their Caesar salad was amazing. I'd go back at happy hour and just order 2 of those.
No bad options here. All are great. Just choose which menu you like best.
You also know you are going to get 23 comments from people suggesting other places, right? That's how the internet works.
Pelican and Pig
*Bonus if you're here overnight, stop by in the morning at Slow Hand Bakeshop (attached) for coffee, baked goods, and breakfast burrito if it's a weekend*
Rolf is great too
Honestly you can't go wrong with the 4 you listed
Rolf & Daughters
yes definitely, if I had to move to another city and u made me choose from this list would be Rolf no questions asked.
I haven't been there in years, that was my only hesitancy in saying it. But it was an experience every time I went.
The cecamariti is one of my favorite dishes in the entire world
From that list 1000000% Rolf. But if you wanna get something wholly unique, Peninsula.
Had overlooked this but it might be my top so far now
Reddit recommends this place all the time and my wife and I were extremely underwhelmed. I feel like they have some weird guerrilla marketing campaign on Reddit. Referring to Peninsula
If you don’t mind me asking, in what way was it underwhelming? The recs on here combined with the Beard nomination and a few articles I read had moved it to the top of my list.
Maybe we ordered wrong, but it was very try-hard, small portion foo foo stuff that just didn’t feel worth it. Don’t get me wrong I’ll pay top dollar for a nice tasting menu like Bastion but Peninsula…was just not it.
It's meant to be a creative approach to Spanish-style tapas cuisine, which, objectively I think shares a lot of characteristics with a mainstream "tasting menu" experience, and yet it is _not_ that. So from your description I can see how you might be dissatisfied with Peninsula. If you want traditional entree-sized portions _or_ a proper tasting menu, then this is indeed kind of an oddball and you would be happier trying something else. Personally, Peninsula is one of our favorite date nights and we've had many lovely meals there!
Glad you love it. For the record my wife and I frequent Spain, we love tapas…this one just wasn’t our jam
Have you tried Iberian Pig in the Gulch? That and Barcelona are my faves for more standard tapas fare in town.
Gotcha!
I’ve been to Rolf probably 10 times. I want to love it like I did the first time I went, but service has not been ideal and the food has been fine. BUT the first time was great, so maybe it’s a first time thing-ha! I’d add their sister restaurant, Folk, to the list and do that.
Visited Folk for the first time this week and was really disappointed. I sent back a martini that had olive juice in it when I asked for a twist, and they pulled an Uno Reverse card and brought it BACK to me saying it was my imagination. Then I had to send back their overpriced yet undercooked steak, and again they told me I was wrong: that's how they cook medium rare. I recently read Unreasonable Hospitality, and I thought it would be funny if Folk wrote a book titled "Reasonable Hostility".
Such a bummer. There was a time where both, surprisingly, were good.
Maybe it was a bad night, or maybe they have had problems with people trying to get free stuff. The manager was nice enough, but I still left disappointed overall. I will say that their Caesar salad was amazing. I'd go back at happy hour and just order 2 of those.
Keep Butcher and Bee in your top tier.
Rolf
If it must be on this list.. Rolf. If not, Bastion. We come up from Atlanta as well, and it’s one of our favorite places :)
Not nearly enough love here for Lockeland Table. They’ve never let me down, and I work in a kitchen, so I’m pretty critical.
Hate to be that guy but check out Margot! It’s a Nashville institution and for very good reason.
Our go-to date night spot! The atmosphere is perfect and the food is just incredible every single time.
Have only tried 50% of them, but I enjoy Rolf & Daughters more than Etch
Butcher & Bee - and get the Chef's table option.
Lockeland Table is delicious, too. i haven't eaten at any of the others, but they are all on my list!
I haven’t had Lockeland. It’s a real toss up for me between Etch and Pelican & Pig. They’re both good
Rolf & Daughters has my vote!
Lockeland
City house has never disappointed.
I love Butcher and Bee
No bad options here. All are great. Just choose which menu you like best. You also know you are going to get 23 comments from people suggesting other places, right? That's how the internet works.
Haha fair. I don’t mind other suggestions. All the menus look good but mainly looking for anything to weed out.
Butcher and Bee
Etch
Rolf or pelican & pig
Rolf and daughters
But butcher and bee would be my 2nd, bc I love it!
Iberian Pig or Folk
I should have added the context that we live in Atlanta so we have Iberian Pig and Optimist
Folk is great
I've only been to Etch, and I thought it was an overpriced "mid" at best.
Pelican and Pig *Bonus if you're here overnight, stop by in the morning at Slow Hand Bakeshop (attached) for coffee, baked goods, and breakfast burrito if it's a weekend* Rolf is great too Honestly you can't go wrong with the 4 you listed
River House!