5 stars for vibes and fresh sashimi…read more The other cooked dishes were either too salty, oily, or overdone. But, definitely willing to come back and try other menu items. The interior is such a good date night vibe!!! We sat at the bar and had a wonderful time. No complaints with service.

My husband and I were staying at the JW and decided to try 888. We enjoyed everything we ordered…read more Love that they offer cavier bumps- it's a delicious addition to a lot of what we had. Ambiance was perfect. Polished causal without being over the top. Enjoyed the music as well. Service was meh though. Even with reservations we felt rushed and as if our server didn't want to be there. We actually left and got dessert at the hotel because we felt so rushed. If we return we would sit at the bar next time.

Very rarely do I agree that the hype is worth it but for Noko, the hype is definitely worth it!…read more We came for our book club meeting without a reservation and were luckily able to get a spot within ten minutes! Our server (I believe his name was Mitch) was phenomenal! We started off with the guava girlies, anti-hero, tan lines and good times - our favorites were the guava girlies and the anti- hero. The tan lines didn't have a deep enough flavor profile for us. For food, we got the Caesar salad, the green beans, the tuna crispy rice, the hurricane fries, charred scallion noodles, and burnt end lettuce wraps! Every dish was a hit but our favorites were the green beans (we were obsessed with the sauce) and the burnt end lettuce wraps. We also tried the lipstick marks, second hand smoke (sub mezcal with regular tequila), and guava girlies with tequila - all of these were also delicious! Despite being full, we had to try the dessert and tried the brookie with ube ice cream. We were also surprised with a scoop of pandan ice cream. This may be one of the most unique flavor profiles for a brookie I've ever had and it paired beautifully with the ube and pandan gelato! This was truly a fantastic dining experience and we will definitely be back!

Had a reservation for Sunday night at 7. Arrived early and they were able to seat us by the bar…read more The ambience is nice, upscale but nothing super fancy. By the bar we got to see some of the dishes being made. Great date night spot. Limited parking. This is a tapas spot and our serve did a good job recommending how many dishes to get. The only reason Noko is not getting 5 stars is because the server said that they would time out the dishes for us, so it was best to place our entire order all at once. However, we got 3 dishes and then it took about 30 minutes for other two to come out. Maybe we were eating too fast but felt like we were waiting a while for our food. The food itself was absolutely delicious. There was nothing we ordered that I did not like. Some favorites include the burnt ends lettuce wraps and Korean chicken wings. The Sando, shrimp and tuna crispy rice was also spectacular. The tuna was so flavorful and refreshing on the tuna crispy rice. The sauce of the east side shrimp really makes the dish. I'm not a huge shrimp person but this was really good. This is a must go to spot in Nashville and would definitely want to come back.

We were looking on Google Maps for a place to eat nearby when we came across Kosho and noticed all…read morethe great reviews. We decided to give it a try, and I'm so glad we did! The restaurant is on the smaller side with a mix of table seating and counter seats overlooking the kitchen. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation because it filled up quickly. Even though the restaurant was packed, the noise level was perfect--we could still have a conversation without shouting. The bar service for drinks was a little slow, but the staff kept us updated throughout and were incredibly friendly. Everyone was hustling--they handled check-ins, took orders, ran food, and kept everything moving despite how busy they were. The food completely exceeded my expectations. The ahi toast and seared yellowtail were absolute must-orders. Both had incredible flavor, and the fish practically melted in your mouth. The cucumber salad was fresh, flavorful, and a great appetizer while we waited for our drinks. The dumplings took quite a while to come out (they actually arrived after our hot pot), and while they were tasty, they weren't nearly as memorable as everything else we ordered. The shabu shabu was outstanding. We chose the miso broth with the NY strip, and the portion was huge! There was more than enough food for the three of us to happily share, and everything was fresh and delicious. Our cocktails were excellent and well worth the wait. Overall, Kosho delivered a fantastic dining experience with amazing food, friendly service, and a fun atmosphere. We'll definitely be back!

This is currently my favorite new restaurant in Nashville. I have been missing a true shabu shabu…read moreexperience and this hits on a very high note. The atmosphere is very contemporary. A good amoutn of tables, but does not feel too crowded. To get Shabu Shabu, you either sit at the bar or you grab a table that is condusive to shabu shabu. If you have multiple people ordering shabu shabu with different broths, you should grab the bar. The New York strip is better than the short rib, in my view. I did the miso broth, which is not overly salty, like some. A definite win for me. Adding in the spicy chile oil, fresh garlic, and scallions added the proper kick to the broth. The handroll was truly a handroll. She said she preferred when they sent it out rolled, as there was more rice than she normally likes. But the salmon itself was done well and tasty. The lamb lollipops were excellently done. I would return for this alone. Having numbers on the drinks is likely authentic, but I love creative names. The 35 is a Japanese twist on an Old Fashioned. The sishito pepper is a nice touch as a garnish (or appetizer?). The 34 was even better. It did not quite hit the high note of a similar drink at Sushi-San, but it did not disappoint. I can safely recommend this to anyone wanting to get shabu shabu without the all you can eat buffet option you get at shabu shabu on West End.

Jennifer and the team at O-Ku Nashville made my wife's birthday celebration truly memorable. From…read morethe moment we arrived, the service was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The food was outstanding. Our favorite rolls were the Crispy Tempura Roll and the Shogun Roll--both were packed with flavor and showcased the freshness and creativity that O-Ku is known for. Miles, our server, was exceptional. He knew the menu inside and out, offered excellent recommendations, and struck the perfect balance between being attentive and giving us space to enjoy our evening. His friendly, down-to-earth personality made the experience even better.Combined with O-Ku's beautiful atmosphere, this was easily the best dining experience we've had in Nashville so far. Thank you to Jennifer, Miles, and the entire team for making our celebration so special. We can't wait to return.

Nice place that was very clean, fresh smelling and well decorated. Very spacious dining room and…read moreattentive staff. Our waiter was very helpful and attentive during the entire dining experience. The food was very good from the appetizers to the sushi rolls. Fish was very fresh and the wines were good. The only shock was the tax rate which couldn't be explained by the waiter other than to say that's how they maintain the roads. On a bill of exactly $100, our taxes added $14.09 to the total. It's definitely not the restaurants' fault, but TN or Nashville specifically needs to address the 14.1% taxes on a restaurant bill. It's egregious, but again I can't fault the restaurant hence the 5 star review.

One of the hardest tickets to get in Nashville and it is evident why for anyone who has had the…read moreopportunity to get in. They book out 6 weeks in advance; with only 14 seats and 3 seatings per night, they are sold out in seconds when they go on sale at midnight. I have lucked out twice, once even getting a duo, so not impossible, but not easy. When you enter, you walk into a small bar area, where you can order a cocktail or two. I opted for the Shibuyu Nights, which had a slight coffee note on top of the whisky and bourbon. At the prescribed time, you are led into the omekase and the experience begins. Cue fanfare music now. This is nearly the definition of perfection. Each dish was both art and culinary genius. Pacing is perfect. Chefs interact with the patrons, enhancing the experience and the wait staff is well versed on which types of sake work best with different course. At the end of the meal you can add on extras, some from the menu and others off. If you are not full, I recommend considering the add ons. Kudos to the chef for handling my shellfish allergy with wonderful subsitutions. At $75, this is a steal. WIth extras, sake, and drinks, I ran over $200 for 1, but it was worth every minute. Once of the best restaurants in Nashville.

We FINALLY got the chance to snag a reservation here. Seriously, it's challenging. They only have…read morelike (14? 15?) seats and only do two servings a night. First, let me say I was nervous. I don't typically like sushi and sashimi even less. The texture of a raw fish concerned me. Hubby loves it though, so I wanted to give it a chance. I figured if I was going to try, it needed to be at a place that knew what they were doing. James our sushi chef, definitely knew what he was doing. The servings were one piece at a time, served at a comfortable pace. Each piece was a different sort of fish, or a piece of wagyu beef! I enjoyed myself. The flavors made up for my personal wariness of the textures. Each piece was filled with delicious flavors. We ended up super full and content, and happy with our time here. I highly recommend.

Soooo good. A nicely elevated take on Japanese food but at very reasonable prices. We made…read morereservations on a Sunday at 11 which is recommend because they were pretty busy. They have some seating in the hall outside the restaurant and then a somewhat small dining area inside the restaurant. We got the onigiri to start and was able to add an extra piece since we were a group of 4. For food our table got the chirashi bowl, the curry rice, chicken katsu sandwich and the creamy bacon udon. The three different onigiri were all delicious and different but our favorite was the yaki since the grilled rice added such a depth of flavor with the cod roe. The seasoning they serve on the side is great too. My chirashi bowl even though it was "mini" ate like a full meal. They really put a good amount of rice and salmon. Very well seasoned and everything tasted fresh. The curry rice was a very large portion and the curry tasted homemade. The chicken itself was the thigh and tasted like it had been marinated before being breaded so it was flavorful even without the curry.

Saw that Kisser was on Michelin Bib Gourmand so had pretty high expectations. And I would have to…read moresay that it is well deserved! We had reservations and showed up a little bit earlier but was seated right away. They overall had a decent amount of tables separated between inside and outside the restaurant. We ordered the Onigiri which included a Japanese Curry, Snow Crab and Yaki (we ordered an extra Yaki). Each one of them were extremely well made with excellent quality ingredients! My favorite was the Yaki so much flavor and you can taste the grill! For an entree, I got the Curry Rice which came with a chicken katsu. The portion was very generous which I appreciated. Chicken had so much flavor and had a nice crunch. The curry had a nice smooth flavor with small bites of potato and carrots. Highly recommend checking this place out!

OutSTANDING Japanese izakaya. WOW! YUM!…read more The place is quaint and classy, and the staff are incredibly poised yet friendly. Here is what we tried: -Hiramasa crudo: 10/10 - Amazing bite, and blew me out of the park. There was no fishy aftertaste, and yet the fish was fresh and flavorful. Paired with the cherry tomatoes and whatever magical sauce, it was a rich and subtle bite of heaven. -Tuna toast: 6.5/10 - To be honest, not my favorite. It wasn't bad, by any means, and the tuna had a lovely flavor and texture to it. It was clearly good quality. However, I felt as though I wasn't tasting enough of the wagyu fat aioli, or even the seaweed bread. -Squid ink pasta: 9/10 - I would describe this as a spicy sausage bolognese with squid. Divine, frankly. The noodles were thick and chewy and the depth of flavor to the sauce was perfection. -Wagyu Burger: 9/10 - I am not normally a burger girl but this one was STELLAR. It was OH SO moist and the cheese, the caramelized onions, the sauce, the sesame seeds... UGH. Yummmmm. My date said this was better than most burgers at burger week. -Hojicha Tiramisu: 9/10 - Jeez louise I am also not normally a tiramisu girl but the chocolate and cream and cake on this one paired so beautifully together. And add the miso soft serve and you honestly have a sin. -Miso Soft Serve: 7/10 - So, I was really excited about this. The soft serve itself was pretty good, though I wanted more savoriness to it, almost. More miso punch. The thing that threw me off the most was the peanut caramel. I felt as though it overpowered the miso. Anyways, would 10/10 recommend and come again.

My husband and I met his brother at Present Tense for dinner on a Saturday night a couple of…read moreweekends ago when we were back in town for my husband's high school reunion. None of us had been to Present Tense before, and we were excited to try it (we picked it because the menu looked great and it was central - we were heading to Green Hills after and my brother in law was heading downtown). Present Tense is a Japanese-izakaya inspired restaurant and natural wine bar. It's tiny, with only 14 chef's counter seats, a few indoor tables, and even fewer outdoor tables. We had a reservation for 5:30pm. We waited a bit to be seated but were soon sat at an indoor table (the outdoors remained busier throughout our dinner). Reservations are recommended. We shared several dishes from their menu: a half dozen Miyagi oysters with yuzu leche de tigre and tarragon oil; yellowtail amberjack sashimi with citrus, orange wine, and olive oil; mushroom rice with an egg yolk and hemp seed furikake; Wagyu flat iron steak with black sesame mole and lime; and blood orange and prickly pear soft serve for dessert. We enjoyed everything, and I think it says a lot that argued about our favorite courses; one of us made an argument for almost every course. In addition to our food, we each had 2 glasses of wine or 2 cocktails (wine for me; cocktails for the boys). The wines are natural and interesting, and the cocktails were creative and delicious. The restaurant is modern and cool, and the ambiance was great. If anything is holding me back from giving Present Tense five stars, it is probably the service. It just wasn't the most welcoming/friendliest spot. And beware - the location is great (surrounded by lots of bars to go to after dinner - if you don't stay at Present Tense to keep drinking their great wine), but parking in Wedgewood-Houston is worse and worse all the time as it keeps expanding and growing. We found street parking a couple of blocks away, but our dinner was on the earlier side. Give yourself some time to find parking if you drive there. Overall, we had a really good time at Present Tense. The food was creative and delicious, and we enjoyed eating it and being surprised by it. And I loved their focus on natural wines. I'd come just to drink great wines and have a small plate or two. Anytime, really. Someone invite me, please.