By Your Nashville Agent
We live in Green Hills, so the restaurants on this list are the ones close to the neighborhoods we know best. Nashville's dining scene gets plenty of attention downtown, but some of the city's top tables sit just off Hillsboro Pike, Harding Pike, and 12th Avenue South. Here's our guide to the best restaurants in Nashville, TN, organized by the areas where we live and work.
Key Takeaways
- Green Hills and Belle Meade pair classic steakhouses with chef-driven menus
- 12South holds a Michelin-starred dining room alongside casual favorites
- Brentwood and Franklin add historic settings and Southern cooking
- Reservations and dress codes vary widely, so plan ahead
Green Hills and Belle Meade: Classic Rooms and Chef-Driven Menus
Dining in this part of Nashville leans toward polished, long-running favorites that work as well for a Tuesday night as for an anniversary. The restaurants here also reflect the neighborhoods around them, with a mix of old-guard tradition and newer, more adventurous cooking.
Both Hillsboro Pike and Harding Pike serve as the main dining corridors. That keeps a great dinner close to home whether you live off Belle Meade Boulevard or near The Mall at Green Hills.
Top Tables Near Hillsboro Pike and Harding Pike
- Sperry's Belle Meade: A Harding Pike steakhouse open since 1974, known for aged beef, fresh seafood, lobster mac and cheese, and a from-scratch salad bar
- etc.: Chef Deb Paquette's globally inspired restaurant on Bedford Avenue, a sister to downtown's Etch, with a stylish room of electric blue and copper accents
- Char: A Southern-style steakhouse in the Vertis building on Hillsboro Pike, with live piano in the lounge nightly and a jazz trio at Sunday brunch
- Santo: A modern Mediterranean restaurant on Hillsboro Pike from the same team behind Epice in 12South
12South and Belmont: A Michelin Star and Neighborhood Staples
12th Avenue South packs a remarkable range into a short stretch, from one of the most celebrated kitchens in the state to easygoing spots for a weeknight burger. Just to the west, Belmont and Hillsboro Village carry the same mix of energy and history. Parking fills fast on weekend evenings in both areas. That makes proximity one of the real perks of owning a home on the surrounding side streets.
Where to Eat Along 12th Avenue South and Beyond
- Locust: Chef Trevor Moran's 12South restaurant earned a Michelin star in 2025 and serves reservation-only lunch and dinner Friday through Sunday
- Epice: Lebanese and Mediterranean cooking at the southern end of the 12South strip, and the sister restaurant to Santo in Green Hills
- Burger Up: A longtime 12South go-to for burgers, just steps from Epice on 12th Avenue South
- The Pancake Pantry: A Hillsboro Village institution on 21st Avenue South, minutes from Belmont, where weekend lines are part of the tradition
Brentwood and Franklin: Historic Settings and Southern Cooking
South of the Davidson County line, restaurants take full advantage of history and space. Settings here tend to be as memorable as the menus, with restored buildings and estate grounds in place of strip-center storefronts. Downtown Franklin's Main Street is a dining destination in its own right. Brentwood's Maryland Farms, meanwhile, holds one of the most distinctive dining rooms in Middle Tennessee.
Where to Eat in Williamson County
- Mere Bulles: Set in the grand manor house of Maryland Farms in Brentwood, with a patio under maple trees, a fireplace room, and Sunday brunch
- Red Pony: An upscale Southern restaurant at 408 Main Street across from the Franklin Theatre, known for shrimp and grits and a strong cocktail program
- Cork & Cow: A steakhouse on Franklin's Main Street with a wine list of more than 100 bottles
- Puckett's: A downtown Franklin favorite on Fourth Avenue South serving Southern cooking from breakfast through dinner
Living Close to Nashville's Top Restaurants
Great restaurants are one of the everyday perks that make these neighborhoods so sought after. When you're weighing homes, it's worth thinking about which dining corridor you'll use most. A short drive to a favorite table can shape how often you go out and how much you enjoy where you live. Each area on this list offers its own version of that convenience.
Which Neighborhoods Sit Closest to Each Dining Corridor
- Green Hills and Forest Hills: Proximity to the Hillsboro Pike restaurant row around The Mall at Green Hills
- Belle Meade and West Meade: Easy access to Harding Pike, home to Sperry's and nearby shops
- 12South and Belmont: Proximity to 12th Avenue South, Belcourt Avenue, and Hillsboro Village
- Brentwood and Franklin: Quick drives to Maryland Farms and historic Main Street
FAQs
Which Nashville restaurant is best for a special occasion?
For a milestone dinner, we'd point you toward Locust in 12South or Sperry's in Belle Meade. Locust holds a Michelin star, while Sperry's has been a Harding Pike tradition since 1974.
Do we need reservations at these restaurants?
For Locust, yes, and booking well ahead is smart since tables seat four or fewer. Char, Mere Bulles, and Red Pony also take reservations, which we recommend for weekend dinners.
Where can we find a great weekend breakfast?
The Pancake Pantry in Hillsboro Village is a classic choice if you don't mind a short wait. Biscuit Love, with locations on Belcourt Avenue and in downtown Franklin, is another top pick.
Contact Your Nashville Agent Today
Finding the right home means finding the right neighborhood, and the restaurants down the street are a big part of that picture. At Your Nashville Agent, we live in Green Hills and focus on the areas featured here, from Belle Meade and West Meade to 12South, Brentwood, and Franklin.
If you're ready to live closer to the places you love most, we'd love to help you find the right fit. Visit Your Nashville Agent to start your search, and let's talk about which part of Nashville fits your lifestyle.
