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.

Really enjoyed the vibe at Maru. Food was great as well…read more Had the "Hot Night" deep fried roll. Hit the spot. Enjoy!

Loved the service, fresh food, and PORTIONS! Space is clean and modern…read more Seating is fast especially compared to Limo Peruvian

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!

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.

I'm huge fan of O-Ku! Located in Germantown, it is a perfect addition considering all the changes…read morethe area is currently experiencing. So far on all my visits, we've arrived without a reservation and were able to find seating at the bar where we were able to order food and beverages. That said, considering how busy the place always seems to be, I recommend a making a reservation if you are looking to sit in the main dining area. The place has a cool, upscale, modern- Japanese feel to it and is always well maintained. The main dining area is spacious and consists of table/chair combos along with booth seating. From the staff at the door to the bartenders, service is always 5-star. Everyone is always welcoming and helpful. Everything I've had here is always tasty. Some of my favorites include the Crispy Rice, the Shogun and the Tennessee Two Step. While they do have a full bar, they have some unique cocktails on the menu which I highly recommend trying. I always look forward to visiting O-Ku whenever I'm in the area.

O-ku has a cool, upscale atmosphere, but the food doesn't quite live up to the setting or the…read moreprice. The sushi was fine, but at this price point, I expected it to be much more memorable. The biggest miss was the rice, which was surprisingly bland and lacked the seasoning and flavor you'd expect from a sushi restaurant of this caliber. The rolls were beautifully presented, but there wasn't anything that stood out. When you're paying a premium for sushi, "fine" just isn't enough.

Koshō made sure that our 20th anniversary dinner was memorable. We were greeted so warmly and…read morewished a genuine happy anniversary. I love when restaurants notice these details on the reservation. We were seated at our corner booth in a quiet area. The atmosphere is stunning. I was delighted to see that even the menus had a "Happy 20th anniversary, lovebirds" message printed on them. So thoughtful! Our lovely waitress recommended that we order about 5 dishes between us which was super helpful. She gave us some recommendations and guided us through the menu. Everything we tried was delicious but the bao buns and the lamb were probably my favorites of the night. Thank you so much for a lovely and unforgettable evening.

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!

Two Ten Jack is one of my East Nashville favorites! Came in on a Tuesday evening (group size -2)…read moreand was able to get seated inside right away. The patio was packed on this evening of beautiful fall weather. The service was great - quick, kind, super attentive. The food - amazing as always! We had two different ramen options and the volcano roll! Everything was yummy. If you like spice, ask for some chili oil. Scrumptious! As we waited for our food, we kept seeing small plates and sushi that looked soooo hood getting run to other tables. We will be back!

Always a great evening sitting at the spacious bar receiving great service by Haley, Kyle, &…read moreAshley! Came in to try their Monday night specials. We were pleasantly impressed with everything! The $5 rolls were tasty. Our favorite was the Fire Crunch...so good! Cold 5 oz sake hit the spot. Can't leave without my favorite ramen, Tori Paitan Shoyu. Already craving more!

I visited Kore on a Tuesday evening, and I was pleasantly surprised by how busy it was for a…read moreweeknight! Parking was easy, and even with the crowd, we were seated pretty quickly. The service was a 10/10--truly superior. Our waitress was attentive, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain the menu and how almost everything could be ordered as shareable plates. The ambiance was also really nice and made it a great spot for trying several dishes and enjoying the evening. We ordered the plantains, duck tacos, sticky ribs, truffle mac & cheese, gnocchi, and crispy tuna. The STICKY RIBS were absolutely the star of the night! Crispy on the outside, moist and tender inside, plenty of meat, and packed with flavor. Oh my goodness...these alone are worth going back for! I already can't wait to have them again. The duck tacos were another favorite--well seasoned with a crispy wonton shell that gave them the perfect crunch. The crispy tuna was really tasty as well. The gnocchi had a little more sauce than I personally prefer, but it was still very good. The truffle mac & cheese was okay, but fairly average compared with some of the other dishes. The only dish I didn't enjoy was the plantains. They had a combination of sweet, salty, and a little spice that just didn't work for me. And don't skip the drinks! I had a frozen margarita that was DELICIOUS and the perfect addition to the meal. Overall, Kore was a great experience--from the service and atmosphere to several standout dishes. I'm definitely returning, especially for those sticky ribs! If you haven't tried Kore yet, add it to your Nashville list.

We were staying at an Airbnb in East Nashville recently and read about other's very positive…read moreexperiences at Kore so we decided to give it a try! :) Also because of recommendations, we made a reservation ahead of time! After some fairly lengthy confusion at the hostess stand, despite having had a confirmed reservation - it took quite a while for her to decide which table she wanted to give us out of the many open spots. She left us standing there, without explanation, to go put out the placements that seemed necessary to have set before we could sit, then finally came back to take us over to a spot - this didn't feel like a greatest start to the evening. It was very awkward. You know what they say, first impressions are important! Thankfully we were greeted by a very friendly waitress who was very knowledgeable about the menu, both food and drinks! She took great care of us throughout our meal. We dove in with drinks - A Sapporo, they have it on tap, and it's delicious! As well as an Old Fashioned! Both fantastic! It took us a little while to decide which food items we wanted to choose! This is a small plates restaurant so the options are numerous, they all sound so good!! We tried to pick at least one thing from of each category! We decided on the Kalbi dumplings, the Cauliflower, Kalbi Steak, the Crispy tuna, and Gochujang Mole. Every single dish was absolutely amazing and filled with the most rich, full flavors!! My absolute favorite was the crispy tuna! So delicious!! The mole dish - Chorizo, fingerling potato, red onion, red veined sorrel, crema was also next level exceptional! SO much flavor!! Something that was a little strange about our visit, and the reason for only giving 4 stars is this: We made our reservation off of the times offered by the restaurant. We chose 8:30 due to other things we had going on in our day - they offered as late as 8:45. This is the type of place that it's nice to work slowly through the menu and try a few dishes and then order a few more, etc... Unfortunately, right after we placed our initial order we were informed that we would need to have all of our food AND drink orders or refills in to the kitchen within the next 10 mins as the kitchen would be closing. This was too rushed and disappointing for what we were planning on for our dinner. We wished that the restaurant would have been more clear about this when we made the reservation, or at least when we first began perusing the menu. We did not have enough time for what we would have preferred and did not end up ordering any more food or drinks, as we definitely would have - however, what we did try was worth it! I would just HIGHLY suggest going earlier in the evening, much longer before they close!!

Incredible Asian food for rather affordable prices. The service was excellent with our server being…read moreextremely helpful in explaining what the dishes were as well as getting our food to us on time. The ambiance was phenomenal, making Hawkers a go-to for a night on the town in Nashville.

We aren't from Nashville but knew we had to try Hawker's before we left. The atmosphere was great,…read morethe food was even better, and the service was fantastic. We enjoyed it so much that we went the next day before we left! The food is priced very fairly and the menu has a really fun twist where there isn't the traditional appetizer, main, dessert. Everything is meant to be shared and you're encouraged to try new dishes and choose from anywhere on the menu. I have a peanut allergy and they were very accommodating and automatically made any necessary adjustments to dishes we ordered. We tried a couple different drinks and they were all very good and fairly priced. We went on weekend nights and only had to wait around 20 minutes to be seated indoors, which was to be expected as this place was packed with people and we would have been willing to wait longer if needed. We had two different servers, I unfortunately can't remember our first one's name but she was the one with stretched ears that normally wears her hair up. She was great and very thorough in explaining how the menu worked. The second night we had Lexi and she was super sweet. They were both fantastic and I hope to be seated with either one of them when we eventually go back!

Nashville's best omakase spot!…read more Arrive early and grab yourself a seat at the bar. The cozy, dimly lit atmosphere sets the mood for the night. Whether you're looking for an alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage, they have plenty of tasty options. When it's time for dinner, you'll head into a separate room with a 14-seat sushi bar, where you get to experience some delicious bites! The chairs are comfortable, and there are hooks right by your seat for purses or bags. The friendly chefs guide you through the experience and do a wonderful job describing each bite. If you have any questions, they're happy to answer! You get to watch the chefs make each one right in front of you. The servers and the rest of the crew are absolutely amazing!!! Attentive without being smothering. Honestly, some of the best dining service in Nashville. Every single bite is thoughtfully prepared and put together perfectly! Toward the end of the 14-course meal, they'll ask if you'd like anything from the add-on menu. I highly recommend the Kreme De La Kreme! You can also order another serving of any of your favorites from the meal. The worst part is having to leave. I never want the experience to end!

The hardest reservation in Nashville turned out to be the easiest room I have ever eaten in. That…read moreis not what I expected walking into a counter with fourteen seats and a chef standing three feet in front of me. We came for my partner's birthday, which felt like a gamble for a place this small and this structured. It was the right call. The space is low lit and built out of dark wood and a playlist underneath that leans R&B and hip hop. It sounds like a contradiction and it absolutely works. Personally, I was reliving my 90s childhood and loving it. Everyone faces forward, so there is no table of strangers across from you and no lull you have to fill. You are next to people rather than opposite them. The experience is fourteen courses in ninety minutes, $75. My favorite of the lineup was the zuke maguro, the leanest cut of tuna they served, sourced from Spain. Clean and lean where so much of omakase leans rich, and the marinade does the work without covering up the fish. The salmon caviar was the other standout, those little bursts of salt and brine. Then the A5 wagyu. Its marbling is a different category of eating. Rich and fatty, which was a nice break from the line up of fish. Around course 9, they come around and ask if you want to revisit anything or order additional add on items off their menu. This is an extreme value. You get your money's worth and then some, especially measured against what a tasting menu this long costs anywhere else in town. Practical notes: Reservations release on OpenTable at midnight, six weeks out, every single night. Three seatings at 5:30, 7:00 and 8:30, and they start promptly, so arrive a little early. They cannot accommodate vegetarians or fish allergies. Parking is a small shared lot with some street parking nearby. The four seat cocktail bar next door is walk up only and is, fittingly, the smallest bar in Tennessee. Let me be honest about this one. Four seats is a harder room than fourteen. If you are the type to feel exposed standing in a space that small, skip the pre-dinner drink and go straight to the counter. One more thing worth knowing. Kase donates one percent of net profits to the Nashville Children's Alliance, which provides services at no cost to children in Davidson County who have experienced sexual or severe physical abuse. Restaurants run on thin margins as it is. A place this small choosing to give a cut of that away says something about how they operate, and it is a cause worth supporting (beyond the fantastic meal you also get).