Nashville's sophisticated dinner restaurant for those wanting excellent food without the tasting-menu commitment — Deb Paquette's downtown flagship serves globally influenced contemporary American food with extraordinary technique and one of the eclectic and creative menus in the city.
Why It Belongs on the List
Etch is the restaurant that Nashville's engaged local diners recommend most to visitors who want a serious dinner without committing to the Catbird Seat's counter experience — a large, vibrant downtown dining room by chef Deb Paquette with a menu that draws on Middle Eastern, Asian, and Latin American influences applied to the finest Tennessee ingredients available. The octopus, the Korean-inflected dishes, and the vegetable preparations are frequently cited as the best in the city. The cocktail program is sophisticated. The energy is high and social — this is a place for a meal rather than an experience, and it delivers a meal of remarkable quality and originality. Reservations are available; walk-ins at the bar are usually possible.
What Stands Out
- Nashville's best recommendation for a serious dinner without a tasting menu
- Deb Paquette: the celebrated chef in Nashville's mainstream restaurant scene
- Globally influenced menu: Middle Eastern, Asian, Latin American applied to Tennessee ingredients
- Octopus and Korean-inflected dishes are the most-ordered items
- Large, vibrant downtown location: social and accessible without sacrificing quality