NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Just six weeks into the new year and looking ahead to spring, it’s time for Nashville diners to brace themselves for the next wave of the city’s restaurant explosion.
While concerns remain about the pace of this growth, the dining public remains filled with gustatory anticipation. The variety of places lurking on the horizon also shows that there’s a little something for (almost) everyone.
This year actually looks to be ahead of the pace of fine-dining openings compared to last year, which saw fewer than a dozen noteworthy places emerge. We should double that mark if all opens as planned.
After a quick survey of the more than two dozen places slated to open this year, I spoke with some of the ambitious entrepreneurs who remain in the throes of construction and staff training.
One of the most anticipated openings among the chef community is Henrietta Red, the Germantown restaurant and oyster bar dream of homegrown talent Julia Sullivan and her partner Allie Poindexter. Scheduled to open at the end of this month, it’s been a steep learning curve even for an industry veteran like Sullivan.