Tennessee has earned a serious reputation for incredible food, and critics from across the country have taken notice. From Memphis to the Smoky Mountains, chefs are crafting unforgettable meals that honor Southern tradition while pushing culinary boundaries.
Whether you’re craving refined tasting menus, wood-fired Appalachian fare, or whole-hog barbecue cooked the old-fashioned way, these thirteen restaurants represent the very best dining experiences Tennessee has to offer right now.
1. The Catbird Seat — Nashville
When a restaurant earns a Michelin star in the inaugural guide for an entire region, you know something extraordinary is happening. The Catbird Seat delivers one of Tennessee’s most exclusive dining experiences, seating just 32 guests around a horseshoe-shaped counter where every course unfolds like a carefully choreographed performance.
The tasting menu changes constantly, reflecting whatever inspires the culinary team that week. You might encounter unexpected flavor combinations, innovative techniques, and presentations that blur the line between cooking and art…