THE UNITY LIST / FOOD & DRINK
Favorite places to eat, drink and linger around Nashville and Mount Juliet
The best local list is useful before it is exhaustive. These are our strongest current picks across Nashville and Mount Juliet—three per area when the category has three places we can recommend with confidence.
Italian
Nashville
Rolf and Daughters ↗
Handmade pasta and inventive, seasonal plates in a warm Germantown setting. Book ahead for dinner.
Iggy’s ↗
A pasta-focused neighborhood restaurant with a playful menu and an easygoing room.
Yolan ↗
Refined Italian cooking downtown for a polished dinner, tasting menu or special occasion.
Mount Juliet
Two strong local picks make this cut today.
Calabria Brickoven Pizzeria ↗
Brick-oven pizza, fresh pasta and elevated Italian dishes on North Mount Juliet Road.
Fayzano’s Pizza ↗
A casual stop for New York-style pizza, pasta and an unfussy weeknight meal.
French
Nashville
Miel ↗
An intimate restaurant and wine destination with French technique and a menu that changes with the season.
Chateau West ↗
Classic French dishes in a comfortable dining room suited to a relaxed dinner.
Cocorico ↗
A French bakery and café for croissants, pastries, sandwiches and coffee near Midtown.
Mount Juliet
We do not have a dedicated French restaurant in Mount Juliet that we can confidently place on the list today. Nashville is the better choice for this category.
New American
Nashville
The Catbird Seat ↗
A chef-led tasting-menu experience for the night when dinner is the whole event.
Bastion ↗
A compact, creative tasting-menu restaurant with a lively cocktail bar next door.
Cafe Roze ↗
An all-day neighborhood café for breakfast, dinner, coffee and cocktails in East Nashville.
Mount Juliet
The Paper Mill ↗
A locally focused brunch and dinner spot with Southern-leaning plates and a relaxed room.
Barrel House ↗
Chef-driven American comfort food, brunch and cocktails on North Mount Juliet Road.
M.L.Rose ↗
A neighborhood pub for burgers, weekend brunch and an easy group meal in Providence.
Latin
Nashville
Maiz de la Vida ↗
Nixtamal tortillas, tacos and Mexican cooking rooted in heirloom corn.
Lola ↗
A polished Spanish restaurant with tapas, wine and a room made for sharing plates.
Little Rey ↗
Charcoal-roasted chicken, tacos and breakfast on weekends, close to the Midtown condos.
Mount Juliet
Memo’s Mexican Kitchen ↗
A local favorite for Mexican cooking and a straightforward lunch or dinner.
Cuerno Grill ↗
Made-from-scratch Mexican dishes, authentic tacos and a full margarita menu.
Margarita House ↗
A familiar neighborhood option for combination plates, fajitas and margaritas.
Asian & Mediterranean
Nashville
Mount Juliet
Tholos Mediterranean ↗
Turkish and Mediterranean dishes including mezze, kebabs and clay-pot specialties.
Thai Samurai ↗
A modern menu that moves between Thai dishes, Japanese favorites and sushi.
Fukutoku ↗
A casual choice for hibachi, ramen and sushi near Providence.
Breakfast, coffee & dessert
Nashville
Crema ↗
Thoughtful coffee and a calm downtown café that works equally well for a quick stop or a slow morning.
Dozen Bakery ↗
Excellent bread, pastries and daytime food from a Nashville bakery with a loyal following.
Proper Bagel ↗
Kettle-boiled bagels, bialys, smoked fish and breakfast on Belmont Boulevard.
Mount Juliet
Billy Goat Coffee Cafe ↗
A relaxed local café for coffee, pastries, breakfast and lunch.
Chocolate Whisper ↗
Turkish breakfast, coffee, handmade pastries and desserts in a bright café setting.
Just Love Coffee Cafe ↗
A dependable early-morning stop for coffee, breakfast and free Wi-Fi on Belinda Parkway.
Bars & entertainment
Nashville
Attaboy ↗
A small cocktail bar with no printed menu; tell the bartender what you like and let them take it from there.
The Patterson House ↗
A polished cocktail bar with table service and a quieter pace than Broadway.
Le Loup ↗
A refined cocktail and wine bar above The Optimist in Germantown.
Mount Juliet
Barrel House ↗
Craft cocktails, wine, beer and a full food menu, with regular specials and events.
M.L.Rose ↗
A full bar, covered patio, televisions and recurring trivia make it an easy social option.
Regal Providence ↗
The straightforward choice for a movie night in Providence Marketplace.
A living list
We checked every place against its current website on September 16, 2026. Hours, menus and reservation policies change, so use the direct links before heading out. We will keep refining the list as new standouts open and residents share the places they return to.