Lockeland Springs Restaurants

As Nashville's first izakaya restaurant, Two Ten Jack (it's named after a Japanese card game) kind of blew everybody's minds when it first opened. The East Nashville spot was opened by Patrick Burke, a restaurant owner who has some experience in this space, as he's also behind The Green Pheasant, which opened in November. The thing to order is definitely chef Jessica Benefield’s homemade ramen, which is so fresh and delicious that they actually won't let you take it home as leftovers.

A daily-changing menu of French and Italian dishes comes out of this restaurant in East Nashville where the emphasis is always on local and seasonal ingredients. It’s one of the pioneers of the neighborhood and helped to put East Nashville on the culinary map. The cocktails change with the seasons, as well, and are worth a stop in themselves.

Formerly of Eastland, chef Hal Holden-Bache’s first solo venture lives in an unexpected residential neighborhood in East Nashville—but he still manages to pack the house almost every night. The focus here is Nashville, of course: The fresh produce comes from local farms, and most of the booze and beer is Tennessee-sourced. The menu is packed with hearty, deeply satisfying dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, shepherd’s pie, and the crowd favorite: crispy pig ears. Reservations are highly recommended.