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ABA

4.1 (100 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - ABA

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Marinated Olives, Vegetables & Feta - green olives were delicious - black olives were terrible.
Victor H.

We finally tried Aba in Nashville after hearing the hype for a while, and honestly, it confirmed my suspicion that giant trendy restaurants often struggle to maintain quality. There were definitely a few standout items. The sweet potato hummus was genuinely great, topped with pecans, pumpkin seeds, and all these warm autumn flavors that somehow worked really well with the Mediterranean vibe. Weird in concept, delicious in execution. The pita bread was also fantastic. We also loved parts of the olive and feta plate. The feta was incredible, the pickled onions were great, the almonds were delicious, and the green olives were excellent. The black olives, though? Mushy, weird, and honestly kind of shocking for a restaurant at this price point. Somebody needs a new olive supplier immediately. The biggest disappointment was probably the tuna and watermelon dish. On paper it sounded amazing. Fresh tuna, watermelon, cucumber, beautiful presentation. We were hoping for something bright and flavorful, maybe even compressed watermelon texture-wise, but it ended up tasting almost completely flat. Even adding salt didn't really save it. Pretty to look at, not exciting to eat. The lamb and beef kafta was fine. Not bad, not memorable. The rice underneath it was honestly the best part of the plate. I'd happily eat a bowl of just that rice. The falafel was also surprisingly underwhelming. I'm not some falafel connoisseur, but I've had enough of it to know this wasn't great. Very mid, maybe below mid. Still trying to get the weird after taste out of my mouth. We also tried the shrimp dish, which was flavorful enough, but it honestly felt more like something you'd get at Bubba Gump than at an upscale Mediterranean restaurant charging Nashville prices. Cocktails were also kind of a miss. The first mezcal drink was okay. Very "California juice bar meets cocktail menu," complete with what felt like an entire cilantro plant hanging off the glass. Then I ordered a negroni, and somehow they managed to make one of the easiest classic cocktails taste off. I genuinely don't know how you mess up a negroni that badly. The whole restaurant feels confused about its identity. It's trying to be Mediterranean, California-cool, trendy patio spot, tourist destination, all at once. The decor felt kind of gaudy and artificial, with lots of fake greenery and an atmosphere that felt more like a giant tourist trap than a thoughtful restaurant experience. The service was perfectly fine. The patio was beautiful. But overall, I left disappointed, especially for the price. I'd give the sweet potato hummus 5 stars. The overall experience? Much lower than that. And that's a bummer, because I really wanted to love it. Nashville has plenty of incredible Mediterranean restaurants *cough* Epice *cough* Middle Eatz, and unfortunately this just isn't one I'd ever feel excited to return to.

Crispy Potatoes
John S.

I was so excited to snag a last-minute reservation at Aba, a restaurant that's been on my radar since it opened last year. After much deliberation, we ordered five different dishes (all small plates) for the table. The dishes come out as they are ready, which prevented us from being overwhelmed by so many options at once. First up, the whipped feta was a standout. It was creamy and tangy, with just the right crunch from pistachios and citrus notes from lemon zest. Next, the marinated olives, vegetables and feta had a robust flavor profile with pops of sweetness from the peppers and citrus. But I could have done without the caperberries, which were way too salty for my liking. Third, the Greek Village Salad was classic but well-executed, with crisp vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette. Next was the crunchy, crispy green falafel, with a fresh, herb-forward flavor that paired well with the avocado tzatziki and garlic tahini. By the time the crispy potatoes arrived at the table, I wasn't sure I had room left. But I'm so glad that I gave them a try, as they were perfectly crispy and golden. They were flavorful as is, but the dusting of herbs and sprinkling of mizithra cheese took the dish up a notch. I also tried the Ancient Oak Espresso Martini, which was my favorite style of espresso martini -- smooth and rich without being overly sweet. We ate on the patio, which was lovely. But the interior is where Aba shines. It is stunningly beautiful and is definitely worth checking out, even if you dine outside. I hope to return soon to explore more of the menu. There were so many other menu items that I would have liked to try.

Pork Belly
Cleo G.

I reviewed ABA 4 months ago and it was not the best experience. The team reached out and were gracious in taking care of us to try it again, so we came for Brunch. I'd love to say it was outstanding this go around but it was still pretty sub par. Whipped feta: 7/10 - Pretty good! I've had better ones but it was fairly tasty. The pita bread was AMAZING. It was soft fluffy, and perfectly seasoned. Braised beef shakshuka: 2/10 - Something was not good in this sauce. Everything tasted of it and had this odd aftertaste. There was also barely any meat. Feta frittata: 9/10 - This was actually one of the best egg dishes I've had in a bit. The phyllo pieces were a bit weird in it but the eggs were perfectly cooked and the feta was a great creamy addition. Chocolate babka French toast: 7/10 - chocolatey, but kind of dry in parts. Mostly just chocolate flavor, and tasted no "French", all toast. Overall, again, not somewhere I'd come again. If I did have to, I'd suggest brunch though.

Entrance
Sasha P.

New in Nashville and as pretty as ever! I went to the Chicago location a couple of years ago and was absolutely blown away by the beauty of the restaurant and the quality of the food and service. I was excited to try the new location for dinner this past week. Reservations were tight and even on a Tuesday at 5:15pm, it was BUSY! Both indoors and outdoors. Our server was solid and helped us with some recommendations -- lots of options depending on what you want to try. Hot, cold, small, big, sweet, savory. I thought all of the food we had was solid. I liked the temperatures and the presentation. My only issue was the saltiness -- of pretty much every single dish we ordered. I can appreciate that this restaurant is new and adjusting, but every plate was over salted. My friend and I both agreed, and we both don't usually mind a little extra touch of salt. The watermelon and tuna was amazing and fresh, the green falafel was solid, the chicken was tender. Again, just too much salt on everything. The crispy chickpeas on the smoky garlic hummus were inedible due to salt. We had wine with dinner and they had a solid selection; my friend also had an espresso martini that was an A! Overall -- I know they are new, so I would come back again for another shot. Rating 4 stars in fairness for overall experience. Cheers!

Smoky Garlic Hummus
Caroline L.

We made a super early 4:00 rez and I'm so glad we did, by 5:00 the restaurant was packed! As others have noted, it looks like a Restoration Hardware inside, but the effect works and is lovely. And it's open air to the outside so it's very fresh inside. The food was very good. Our server recommended 2-3 dishes per person. We got 5 between the two of us and it was too much food, I was butsting at the end of the meal. We got: smoky garlic hummus, strawberry rhubarb labneh, halloumi in hot honey, green falafel, & green chili shrimp. We loved all of them (the halloumi was fine but our least favorite). Hubs said the shrimp was outstanding. I got a mocktail. We would definitely come back. Service was great, I was really surprised how much staff they had, not something you see often post-pandemic, so that was great.

Krista K.

TEN STARS!!!!! If that's even possible! Whoever the chef is needs a serious raise! You have to taste it to believe it. The Artichoke Tapenade was out of this world. It was perfectly balanced, sweet, salty, crunchy, creamy and all my friend and I could say when trying this and the Chard Eggplant, was mmmm and wow, for Iike a minute straight. The ambiance matches the menu! It's no just good food and a good vibe, it's a feeling you leave with. Truly one of my favorite meals of all time. They deserve a Michelin star! I'm wishing they had one in Los Angeles.

Indoors
Austin F.

Aba is such a cool restaurant - the atmosphere and service are exceptional. It's truly one of the prettiest restaurants I've been to. We were able to try a number of tapas - - Smokey garlic hummus - tuna and watermelon - crispy chicken - green falafel - beef tenderloin kebabs - sticky date cake The entire meal was good, call outs were the hummus, tuna, and falafel. 4/5 - only thing holding this back from a 5 was that the table agreed nearly every dish was just a touch too salty. Will be back!

Braised beef short rib - excellent!
Steve S.

Four of us had dinner here and it was excellent. It's small plates of delicious Mediterranean food. We all shared all the dishes. We had: Hummus Muhammara Labneh Kefta Greek salad Beef short rib Chicken kabob Shawarma steak frites They were all excellent with the exception of the steak frites, they had great flavor but were chewy and somewhat greasy. The price is what you would expect in a fine dining restaurant, this ain't Taco Bell. I'd certainly come back and I'd like to try more items!

Entry
Michael S.

Amazing food - enjoyed everything we ordered. Highly recommend starting with the whipped feta and ending with the banana pudding cake with frozen green yogurt.

This place is worth EVERY pic you can take!!
Indigo P. N.

The establishment, 5 stars. The service (everyone whom I came into contact with) 5 stars! Hell 10!!! The food.... I just think it was a bad day for the chef! My lamb chops missed seasonings!! And the biggest disappointment of the lamb chops.... they had more FAT than MEAT!!!! But the brocolini... perfectly seasoned and cooked! Super delicious!! And the garlic hummus.... firrrrrreeeeee in my Gap Band voice! But those lamb chops.... bland af!! And I tried to even eat the fat. Yuck! Should have stuck with my 1st choice of the Branzino! But I'll give them another try! Because I want to try the mushroom hummus. Just won't order any meat! Hummus and Brussels Sprouts! The chef on sides duty on 03.15.2026, Sunday, you rock!! The chef on meats.... no partying the night before a shift... PLEASE!!

Banana Pudding Cake
Javier B.

I really wanted to love this place. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful,vibrant, thoughtfully designed, and it truly creates the atmosphere of a luxurious dinner date experience. Unfortunately, the food and service did not live up to the ambiance. As someone who genuinely enjoys Mediterranean cuisine, I found the dishes underwhelming. The flavors lacked depth, and one of the dishes in particular had a combination of ingredients that did not pair or complement each other well. The standout of the night was definitely the banana pudding dessert, which was easily a 10/10. I would absolutely return just for that alone, as it was the highlight of the entire meal. I typically do not enjoy leaving negative reviews, as I understand every restaurant can have an off night, but I was disappointed overall. That said, I do see strong potential here and would still consider giving the restaurant another chance in the future. The service was pleasant, but there is room for improvement. Our table was quite small, and it became crowded very quickly with finished plates and drinks. While additional dishes continued to arrive, the used items were not being cleared from the table in a timely manner, which became a bit frustrating during the meal. However, I do understand weekends can be especially busy and demanding for staff.

Whipped Feta
Makaylin M.

This is the cutest new spot to hit Nashville! I loved all the food in these shareable portions with pita bread! Tons of flavor and the ambiance is immaculate as you're transformed into the Mediterranean! I will be back + excited for when they have a happy hour!

Sticky Date Cake
Lana B.

I have such mixed feelings. The food overall was bomb, but the service was so so so unbelievably slow. We went for a birthday celebration a few weeks ago. Since we had a large party the birthday girl chose a set menu and all we had to order was drinks. Granted, there were 13 of us and of course the server has other tables as well. I just feel if there is a set menu with a large party who made a reservation well in advance we can plan for these things. We were there for almost four hours. We had a personal driver for the night and did not account for this long of a dinner so we had to extend our driver which was not ideal for either party. The spirtz tower is so fun and each spritz is delicious. My dirty martini with hendricks was not very good. I switched the a henricks and tonic instead. The espresso martini was delicious though! I appreciated the amount of food brought to us, but at a certain point it felt almost sad how much we weren't eating. I couldn't stop thinking about how much was being wasted. We brought our own cake for the birthday girl and we were told we still had to choose two desserts. We porbably should have declined and just sucked it up and paid for the dessert but not have it come out. I dont think we even touched it. I want to emphasize that the food was in fact very delicious and our server was very friendly and great. She was set up for failure as the courses were not appropriately coursed out. I gotta say, this might have been the best pork belly I've ever had. It was perfect. I took one bite of the chicken skewers, didn't love it, and decided to focus my attention to the pork belly. The cucumber salad was so good and the best way to start our meal. The short rib hummus and whipped feta as a starter were also very good. It was kinda weird going between the two so I would suggest either just getting one or eating one portion of one and move to the next instead of a bite back and forth.

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Ask the Community - ABA

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My wife saw this dish online called a Testi Kababi and wanted to try it so we went for lunch. It's…read morea clay pot covered with bread and they cut the bread off of the top tableside. I thought that was cool and all of the food we tried was Very good, fresh and flavorful. The staff were nice and friendly and the food came out in about 15 minutes. They serve Cold Apps, Hot Apps, Entrees, Salads, Pasta, Sandwiches, Shawarma, Vegetarian Dishes, Kabobs, Desserts and they also do a Family Style Menu if you Group Dine in a private room. You may have to reserve that room. I would call first for that option. They have been serving Turkish and Kurdish Cuisine for over 20 years, so they know what they're doing. They are located about 13 minutes out of Nashville down Nolensville Road close to the Nashville Zoo. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. To finish the review I will say they aslo cater and there is plenty of free parking. Enjoy!

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Taste Of Persia - Complimentary Special Persian Tea was the star of the meal

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4.6(59 reviews)
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my god. so good. we ordered the herb stew and the chicken with ground up, i think, walnut (good for…read moreyour brain) stew and they were both incredible. our eyes opened to the apple in the garden of eden. we ordered the tadig and were told they might be out and we both gasped, terrified. well the waiter went back to check and see if they could make us more tadig. to our relief, she told us they could, it was last of the day. we felt we had just found salvation in the underground railroads of the north and we died in ecstasy when it finally came out. It was so crunchy and we cry ate it. the savory sauce full of tender delicate pieces of beef each one heaven sent, like a cherub's sweet cuddles. as the waiter set it on our table the angel of mercy gave us a smile of pure love. We ordered some tea and I also cried while drinking that. if Taylor Swift were there, she would have been inspired to write the song tears in my tea. I can't stand it. I hope I can go again. I might go by myself because I don't want to annoy the person I go with. actually, she says she wants to go too, so I'm not annoying her, and we know we should be trying other places to eat, but we just can't make it. If you go there, you might get trapped too. I haven't had a chance to try the lubbia polo, but it's like imagining your favorite lover in a new piece of lingerie. Have you ever been caressed by saffron? I finally understand when people say something hurt so good. the single, final, true lover for whom we're forced to forsake all the other lovers. I feel deep inside , a tortuous hunger, and the longing is relentless. all because they have my soul now..this player quit the game.

I've been a devoted fan of Persian cuisine for almost 30 years, ever since a dear Persian friend…read moreintroduced me to it back in 1998. After relocating from California to Tennessee in 2022, I've sampled several local spots, but I was eager to try this one--especially on my birthday, right before heading to a nearby show in Nashville. The location is straightforward to find, with ample parking--a rare treat in Music City! While the decor isn't the most elaborate I've seen in Persian restaurants, it's clear the owners prioritize what truly matters: exceptional staff, outstanding service, and masterful chefs who deliver incredible food. My absolute favorite is Chicken Soltani (known as Joojeh Soltani in traditional terms)--a regal combination of succulent saffron-marinated grilled chicken kebab and flavorful ground beef koobideh, served with fragrant saffron rice and grilled tomatoes. Both the chicken and koobideh here were perfectly executed and absolutely delicious. I'm thrilled to have discovered this gem--another fantastic Persian restaurant to add to my rotation! Highly recommended.

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Anatolia - Kunefe

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4.2(371 reviews)
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Took a friend here for lunch who had never had Turkish food. She was quite pleased with the…read moreVegetable Sampler and took leftovers home for dinner. The complimentary bread and dipping oil appetizer was delicious. The service is always very good here. I enjoy the calm and quiet atmosphere. You can easily have conversation.

Anatolia Turkish restaurant is a tucked away little gem (also a hidden gem nearby is Sonobana sushi…read morebut different story.) I can't speak to the authenticity of the Turkish cuisine here, but I can speak to the food quality. Starting off is a beautiful focaccia loaf with a mix of light spices and olive oil. It's odd to say bread is relaxing and refreshing but here it is. The hummus is quite the same, lightly spiced but bright and refreshing. The ezme is interesting. To me it resembles a Turkish version of chips and salsa, very tomato forward but lightly spiced. Only complaint of the meal for me was the lamb kabobs. I am notorious for over seasoning things, and that is simply how my palette is. The lamb was cooked perfectly, not dried out and moist, however I would've liked a little more seasoning. The Billur kabob has been a repeat favorite of mine over the years. The combination of sautéed eggplant, pashamal sauce and onions/peppers/mushrooms creates an explosion of varying textures and tastes. Everything sort of melds together perfectly once it's cooked on the stone oven and becomes a cohesive entree better than the sum of its parts. The servers are always very attentive, respectful and knowledgeable about the menu. When I first started coming here they always had fantastic recommendations. All in all this has been and continues to be a delicious meal no matter what I have ordered here.

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ABA - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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