Dining experience! Lyra was recommended to us by a Nashville native, and I am always more than happy to make my way over to East Nashville for some good food and a local business. Everything is meant to be share style on the menu, and so we opted to do a few starting dips with pita bread as well as some salads and two main dishes. The pita bread was honestly the highlight of my night! It was made fresh and it was so simple, but so delectable on its own, even without the hummus, which was also delicious. I think this is one of the best places you can go for good appetizers. I felt that the meat was good, but not as stand out as the hummus and the asparagus salad. I would love to come back for the pita bread alone. The service was exceptional, with an attentive and friendly staff. read more

This place was ... fine. Two years ago I made a reservation and they called and cancelled it due to weather without an option to move me inside, so I wrote them off (I wanted to impress friends but thankfully another spot got us in). Decided to give it another try and probably won't go back. I think I'll give 4 stars because it's probably some people's favorite place but I'd probably rank it lower. Was good but honestly boring. I can get the same meal but better up the street on Gallatin with more decor, great staff, and more reasonable prices. It was pretty slow even with only a few tables taken on a week night. The explanation of the menu items wasn't clear even after asking (I don't think the staff member was fully knowledgeable on the ingredients) so we just picked what sounded okay and went with it. read more

Erin was 100/10 waitress experience / she literally was so attentive and made our Nashville night! THE LAMB IS HANDS DOWN OUT OF THIS WORLD. - the Orange cake wow. Like wow. Scallops were good but honestly wish it came with more for the price. Otherwise THIS PLACE US A MUST IN NASHVILLE. read more

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Cute place and good service but we weren't impressed with the food. The portions were small and nothing spectacular but very expensive.

Food and service was excellent! We had a large party so the chef had a designated menu for us. We were so stuffed. The ambiance is cozy and feels upscale. read more

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First time here and this was a high recommended place and it was overall delicious! Quality was great but some food combination tastes weren't that good. Grilled octopus was burnt and the sauce didn't pair with it. The gravy on the Chicken Tagine is kinda too salty but eating it with the bread helped. I loved the fingerling potatoes! The service was great. The server was very friendly and food came out relatively fast. The ambiance is very nice and the seating is space out well so it's not too clustered. read more

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I had a wonderful experience here with friends on a weeknight. The ambiance is adorable and perfect for a girls night. Despite being some of the only people dining on the patio (by choice), we were never forgotten by the attentive staff. We ordered several well-balanced dishes highlighting my favorite classic Mediterranean flavors. I was most impressed by the pita bread which was warm, pillowy, and paired well with all the small dishes shared by the table. Most of our group was vegetarian, so I'd love to come back to try more of the featured proteins on the menu, as well as some more small plates! read more

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Came here with some friends when I visited Nashville & later brought my co-workers here and it was 10/10 both times. I love a restaurant that brings out food once it's ready versus waiting for everything to be ready and then bring it out. I love when my food is hot, fresh off the grease! The ambience is nice it kind of reminds me of a restaurant in New York that I visited a while back. Do you order family style and we've got a little bit of everything. I will say the lamb hummus, the falafel, lentils, the steak, the cheese bread, were all great! I can't remember everything we got, but I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong with anything there. We finished off with dessert. I believe it was the orange cake loved it. I would highly recommend this place and when I come back to Nashville, I will be visiting again. read more

I've put Lyra into my dinner rotation when I want a healthy, tasty meal. Lyra has a relaxed yet elevated vibe that makes it a great spot for a night out, especially if you're into shareable small plates. The atmosphere is warm, and the service is friendly, but you definitely need to know what to order here -- not every dish hits. I have tried almost the full menu at this point. I tried the lamb, which took longer than expected to come out, and unfortunately, it didn't live up to the wait. For a place with so much potential, that dish missed the mark. My order: Hummus add chili turnips & candied onions Fatayer Pistachio Whipped Feta Batata harra read more

Lyra - Fatayer - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I was visiting Nashville and my friend took me here. My husband and I absolutely loved it. We loved everything we ordered. My friend made a reservation for a Tuesday at 6pm and we were seated right away. We ordered grilled broccolini, fattoush, lamb kefta raas, and the star of the show the hummus collective. Everything was delicious and it was the perfect amount for four people. The service was great. Our waiter was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. The ambiance is really aesthetically pleasing. It has cute decor and outdoor seating. Next time I'm in Nashville, I know where we will have another visit! read more

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If you need a space for a group dinner, I highly recommend Lyra's back room for a private, beautiful, scrumptious setting. We had a custom group menu for a communal table experience. You can't go to a Middle Eastern inspired restaurant and not have pita! Their pita was absolutely wonderful and the hummus - I'm not sure I'll have that good of hummus again. I loved the wood oven roasted cauliflower and the market steak. To top it off, the tahini brownie - chef's kiss! read more

Lyra - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Another great meal at Lyra. Easy to snag a 7:30 reservation on a Monday night. Lively, but not crowded. Again, service is on it. This time we had the rich, savory chili turnip and candied onion hummus. Superb. And of course their famous fatayer, which is Swiss chard, sumac, red onion, and feta inside a crisp dough shell. Tangy and top notch. Again, this is a tapas/shareable plate type situation, so we split the cauliflower (sweet yet smoky with tahina, currants, and Aleppo). We also had the mushroom socca, made with herbs, zucchini, dried cherries, walnut vinaigrette, and radishes. I could appreciate the flavors of this dish, but it wasn't my favorite and a little TOO earthy for me. Would not order again for 21 dollars, but my husband really liked it. We also split the steak again. Good as always. Next time I would like to try the lamb kefta raas (caramelized onion tahina, confit tomatoes, almonds, and Aleppo), I had their limeade in lieu of a cocktail this time and it was refreshing. read more

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Lyra is in my top 5 favorite restaurants in Nashville. I often think about how creamy and amazing their hummus is. I absolutely love everything I have gotten here - their menu chances seasonally but they still keep some of the best hits on the menu year-round. I recommend getting a reservation because others know how great this place is and it is always packed. Also try any of their cocktails - they're always fantastic as well! read more

Lyra - Ice cream sesame cookie - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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10/10 for ambiance and service! The interior is stylish and intimate, great for a dinner date. The food is decent, but the portions are on the smaller side for the price. read more

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So good! Came here for dinner before the Opry and it was great! We got a bunch of the apps and the lamb. I didn't love the sauce for the lamb and I wish it was on skewers but it was still great! The waitress was super nice and the atmosphere was nice! read more

Lyra - Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Food: 4/5 Lyra serves up classic middle eastern cuisine with a modern twist of cocktails. The hummus and pita were by far the stars of the show and highly recommend. The lamb steak and strip steaks were nice but left some to be desired. Always a bit off when you aren't asked how you'd like your steak cooked. Service: 3/5 Incredibly friendly yet slow service. Nobody was at the host stand when we arrived with a reservation and a line was forming for several minutes. Environment: 5/5 Plenty of seating and fantastic vibes to fit the food. A great spot to kick off the night with the whole east side of Nashville right out the front door to explore. Fantastic patio as well when it's cool outside. read more

Lyra - Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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While visiting a friend we stumbled upon this precious little spot! Its adorable exterior was so inviting and we both adore Mediterranean so we had to try it and now.... All the way in Dallas, I dream about going back to those crispy potatoes and melt-in-your-mouth Fatayer!! We didn't have a reservation but were able to snag 2 seats at the bar. Madison (??) the bar manager was a delight and so knowledgeable as we watched and listened to her train a new staff member. It's refreshing to see people so passionate about their craft! I will be back and would also like to formally request a location in Dallas read more

Lyra - Outside - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Best meal and experience we had while visiting Nashville. It was nothing like what we were expecting. It was much, much better. Our server (wish I could remember her name) was amazing and was so helpful with deciding what to order. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Every time my uncle comes into town, he asks for us to come here. The last three times he has been in town, we came to Lyra! The menu rotates seasonally which is nice because we try something new every time we dine in. The dishes are served family style and the prices are pretty affordable. The ambiance, service, food and drinks are all what keep us coming back to Lyra! read more

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We were in Nashville and drove by Lyra, noting a full crowd outside. Upon investigating this modern Middle Eastern haunt and reading their reviews, we were curious. The building is simple with exposed ceiling beams, ac duct- work and lite stars luminaries across the front. The in-house wood fire oven is cranking out fresh pitas and other savory dishes. This place has a magical feel and we are excited at what lies ahead. Our waiter is Lebanese and walks us through the menu that we are not familiar with. My mouth is watering. I walked the restaurant to see the dishes being served as I am a visual eater, remember don't over eat. We started with pistachios whipped feta, olive caramel and cucumber wedges. What a clean and delightful taste. The cucumber spears are cold and crisp. The mutabal, beet, tahini, feta and hazelnut hummus was like nothing I've never tasted before. Stealing this dip recipe! The roasted mushrooms, black lime, scallions, date molasses, tahini and chickpeas were good. The hot and fresh wood oven baked pita was decadent when served with the hummus. Now I don't have to lick the bowls. The zaatar fries were hot and lightly dusted with an unctuous flavor. We are eating to much but why stop. Finally, the lamb kebabs in a tahini drizzle were inhaled. There are still 10-15 items we need to try. Lyra is a grand slam with flavor profiles that will shake you to your core. One Huge Attaboy to the wait staff (Jedidiah), the chef's and the management that cares enough to give their vision to the staff. We had a truly wonderful evening, great tasting food, and an exposure into really good Middle Eastern food. A heart felt thank you. We can't wait to return. read more

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Great food. Great hummus - get the collective so you can try them all. The pita comes so nice and warm. Their pistachio whipped feta was also excellent. All our drinks were made perfectly. Their grilled asparagus was delicious and definitely worth trying. Servers were well informed and gave great suggestions. The ambiance is nice. Great for a date night or evening with family. read more

Lyra - Drinks - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We had a great dining experience at Lyra. Lyra serves modern middle-eastern food in a relaxed atmosphere. Easy to come here for a gathering or a quick bite before going elsewhere. All the dishes were delicious. What stands out is their service. We made a reservtion and listed an allergy. Not only was the server aware fo the allergy, a menu had been prepared that listed the foods that were possibly problematic. This was especially helpful as we ordered serveral courses and knew which foods were concerns. Thank you. read more

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Lyra is fantastic! The food was all incredible. Everything from the whipped feta to the lamb to the apple cider cake was absolutely delicious! The staff were very nice, knowledgeable about everything, and very attentive. The atmosphere, decorations, music, all made the place feel very warm and inviting. I would for sure come here again. read more

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Good music, and there is an area separate for the family and the bar. Food wow love it. Barman is great, he explained the difference and gave good food suggestions. Lamb Kafta Raas - It's an interesting mix of flavors, check it out!! read more

Lyra - Lamb Kefta Raas - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Great meal here for 5. Everything was incredibly fresh. The hummus was smooth and creamy, not tough. The cauliflower salad was ok. The crisp bread with the oven baked feta wasn't my favorite but I loved the large pita bread with the hummus. That was chewy and soft to tear. Halloumi was one of my favs. Desserts were terrific. The white sesame seeds with the pistachio ice cream sandwich were new and exciting. The brownie was different and tasty. read more

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What a gem Lyra is. The best middle eastern food in the city and that's nowhere near hyperbole. The ambience is warm and inviting, the food and drinks are unique and the server's are just wonderful. All dishes are meant to be shared so when the food is ready it's brought out immediately. They have a special fig and feta dip that was otherworldly. So go soon and try it before it's off the menu. Your life will be changed! Make a reservation too so you can ensure you have a spot to enjoy this wonderful eatery. read more

Lyra - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Blown away by the quality of food! I love tapas style dining and Lyra is just that! Every item on the menu is well thought out, unique, and delicious! They're the perfect portion for sharing. The homemade pita that comes with the hummus is out of this world (weird thing to be my favorite haha). The Fattoush salad is incredible and the limeade is a must have! read more

Lyra - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I've been here on two occasions and they have both been phenomenal. The food is so tasty and well priced for the area. I love the cocktails and the appetizers. This restaurant is a vegetarians dream. There are so many options and they are all delicious. We sat in the front room the first time and it was busy but intimate and the lighting was so cozy. This last time we sat in the back and it's much more private and personal, both areas being great options. read more

We chose Lyra for our anniversary dinner and loved every bit! The food was unique and delicious, the ambiance and service were excellent, and we had a wonderful experience. Try it if you like Mediterranean food and are looking for something a little different. read more

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Amazing service, food, and drinks. We started with the hummus and pita, 10/10, the pita was the best we have had. The string cheese pastry was a highlight for us as well. Potatoes, steak, and crispy rice dishes were also incredible. I don't think you could go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

We made reservations for dinner at Lyra on a family trip to Nashville! It was a FANTASTIC experience and I would highly recommend visiting! First, the ambiance is very trendy. The muted lighting allows for a more intimate, relaxed atmosphere and the tables are well spaced out from each other which allows for natural conversation. It would be a great date night spot for someone looking for a relaxed, yet elevated atmosphere. The restaurant wasn't loud, which made it easier to hear one another at the table! Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable. She gave us great recommendations from the menu and explained the restaurant concept upon realizing it was our first time. Most importantly, she set a great pace for the meal between orders, which allowed us to truly enjoy and savor each part of the meal without feeling overwhelmed by the amount of dishes coming through. The restaurant specializes in shareable, smaller dishes and the presentation is as exquisite as the taste! In regard to the menu, we ordered a total of 6 dishes and some naan - all to share. There were 6 of us and we were stuffed by the end, so I don't think we would have ordered more! My personal favorites were the za'atar fries from the happy hour menu, the Aleppo oil hummus, the pistachio whipped feta, and the sumac fried chicken! The pomegranate molasses for the sumac chicken were the perfect addition to the dish - they gave a slightly sweet taste that complimented the savoriness of the dish well! The other items were fantastic, including the lamb, which was perfectly savory, rich, and tender. I would genuinely re-order any of the items we had, because they were all exquisite. I also got the Rose Moon Mocktail, which was a perfect balance between sweet and tart! So much so, that I got a second one. And then 2 other people got one after trying mine! I'd say that was a HUGE hit at our table! It was recommended by our waitress and I'm grateful for her recommendation. This is a gem of a restaurant that allowed us to explore a different side of town on our trip to Nashville. East Nashville is so cool and it was great to spend some of our time in the area at Lyra for dinner. Thank you for the Lyra staff for such an incredible experience! read more

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The food was delicious, flavorful and hot! The menu is not large so it makes it easy to make choices and the staff were great. Our server Amelia gave great recommendations and knew the menu. I love that there were no TV's! read more

This restaurant is on my wife and I's rotation. We love this spot. It's not super pricey and it is very great Mediterranean food! We love their hummus and feta dip. I also love their fried chicken. It is honestly all so good you can't go wrong. You can typically get a spot on the weekend too without a reservation if you are fine with sitting at the bar with your partner. Vibes are great too. Overall, highly recommends read more

Service was great and the cocktails were good too. Hummus was excellent served with fresh warm pita bread. The Feta was god with the cucumbers as well. As for the mushroom skewers the trumpet mushrooms were a little woody due to the size and not easy to chew. My wife had the steak and for a hand cut NY Strip it was a bit grist-lie. I had the grilled octopus and though cooked properly (not chewy) it was a bit to salty even for my taste. It was the service that made it a 4 star instead of 3. read more

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Typically when Yelp reviews are so consistently high, the food looks good, and I also receive personal recommendations; it's a slam dunk, but there was a disappointing disparity with Lyra. The hummus is absolutely lovely, shouldn't change a thing. The variety of toppings offered are superfluous, and I tried a few. The turnips and candied onions were nice but lacked seasoning, similarly the jalapeño relish was mildly spicy but completely lacking any other flavor. If you like hummus, I recommend enjoying with the freshly baked & browned pita, no extra condiments required. The whipped feta is too firm to live up to its name, over salted - surprising after the relishes, but the date compte is a nice counter-balance. Overall, lovely flavors balanced by the very neutral pita bread or fresh cucumbers served alongside. The Lamb Manti came highly recommended, but mine was over cooked, dry, and under seasoned. Very sad to see this one fall through. The VERY BEST parts of my evening were the service (Joey and Gavin were knowledgeable, attentive, and kind, despite my feedback on the menu), the LOVELY wine list, especially exotic finds from the Middle East, thoughtful pairings by aforementioned gentlemen, and the ORANGE & ALMOND CAKE - to DIE. It is perfectly moist and exquisitely balanced with a touch of citrus and warming amaro finish. I could forget the entire menu and eat ALL THE CAKE. Last bit of constructive feedback - the website needs an "About" section. Would love to know more about the owners and the wizardry behind that amazing almond cake!! read more

I had been wanting to try Lyra after hearing great things from a friend who has been several times. I made reservations for the back room at 6:30 on a Wednesday night & it was a good call because they were quite busy. The atmosphere was lovely & loud, even in the back room which is significantly quieter than the main room it was pretty loud but still my wife & I were able to have a fairly intimate dinner. The menu changes often & at first glance I wasn't sure my wife would order anything given the amount of onion heavy dishes & seafood options (her two least favorite options) however, she loves hummus & went with the Hummus Collective plate & the Fatteh. I ordered the lamb Kefta and a mushroom dish that was fantastic. The hummus collective was quite good & probably the shared favorite, I loved the mushroom dish (name escapes me) & everything else was pretty good too but those items were the best. For dessert we tried the pineapple orange upside down cake & a coffee chocolate pudding dish. The cake was exceptional & my favorite item of the night. I didn't love the other item as I'm not a coffee drinker. My wife enjoyed it though. Would like to try this place with a different menu & see how it is. Service was exceptional & atmosphere is nice. Only docking a star because we were never informed of the chef daily special but the two tables sat beside us were & they both got it & it looked really good, read more

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I enjoyed my experience at Lyra. By experience I mean food + ambiance + service. Our server was absolutely fantastic, she was accommodating, quick to notice when our water glasses were empty or when we needed another drink. Food was average at best. We ordered the hummus platter, and I found hummus to be very basic. Pita bread, on the other hand, was terrific! There were three different dips, and I liked none of them. The main dishes were very small, almost tapa size, but we did enjoy drinks on happy hour. The variety was excellent, and the price was just right. I really liked the overall atmosphere. It was very busy, but chaos was organized and controlled by the staff to make it feel like it's normal business for them (it probably is...). Overall, I would come back to try different dishes, but it would not be my first choice. read more

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I went here for a business meal and overall had a positive experience. This is a modern Mediterranean place so that hints tapas style and slightly upscale ambience and prices, which I expected going in. I made a reservation for 6pm just to be safe, and it was good because the place got fairly busy by then. I personally got an Arak (Brun) which has star anise / licorice flavor and it is an herbal based alcoholic drink - Brun is one of the "sweeter" tasting ones which was what I was craving at that moment. It is a good pairing for Mediterranean-like dishes. Then, I ordered the hummus which came with 2 pita breads. By default, the hummus will have aleppo oil which is olive oil with some chili powder, but I opted to add lamb merguez and sweet pepper puree for additional richness. To be honest, when the waitress recommended getting 1 starter, 1 vegetable, and 1 main dish, and possibly dessert, that feels a bit too much and I am glad I trusted my instincts. Maybe I just didn't have that large of an appetite that day. Technically, the hummus itself was more than enough for a good meal, but I decided to also order the octopus to get a better gauge of the quality of the place. The octopus is marinated very well, and it comes with a broth, but it was a bit way too salty so it was hard to just consume the broth to really finish the dish. Service can be a bit slow - water refills took forever so that somewhat hindered the dining experience. Otherwise, the waitress is very nice and is appreciative of my visit. She is patient and explains the menu well, thoughtfully answering my questions and not rushing me when I decided to order dishes one at a time to not over-order. This place in itself is a good modern Mediterranean place in town, but I have had better in some restaurants in Chicago and Seattle overall. read more

Lyra - Hummus with lamb merguez and sweet pepper purée, and Arak Brun - IG @bougiefoodieboi - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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My roommate and I arrived here a little late for a Friday night dinner and had to wait to be seated. Place was packed! Kind of loud with the setup. We ordered 4 dishes since we wanted to keep it light and got vegetarian dishes. Seared halloumi - really good and nicely balanced with the peach Fried cauliflower - my favorite dish that was ordered that night. I need to figure out how to make this back in Austin Hummus - Bread was super soft and warm. Another highlight of the night Baba ganoush - this was a big miss for me. I'm not quite sure why since I'm an eggplant fan. Would skip this. The bread was also more dense compared to the pita so there wasn't too much I liked from this dish. They do have a lot of red onion on this top portion too that I think was overkill. read more

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I love tapas style dinning. The portions are Lyra are meant to be shared and I got to try many dishes. The whipped feta dip was amazing. It was served with large slices of cucumber. We also tried the appetizer dip platter and that was served with warm bread. The beet appetizer was delicious, a little lemony, herbal and sweet. We tried the steak, the fried chicken and the scallops. Everything was flavorful and perfectly seasoned. I didn't really take pictures because the ambience of the restaurant is dark. I quite like a little darkness, makes the dining experience feel more intimate. Our server was pleasant. Got everything we needed and replaced spoons often for sharing. My one complaints would be that my plate was not changed at any point. Totally a personal preference but I enjoy having a clean plate when I switch from apps to entrees. The cocktail list was inventive and interesting. Definitely a must try. read more

Lyra - Middle Eastern Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee