Update from Nashvull
Just got back from our quick trip to Nashville...here's what I learned:
Josephine (12 South neighborhood) is still one of my favorite "contemporary" places to dine in Nashville. We went full-on exotic with the ordering this time (beef tongue, hot scrapple, veal sweetbreads, etc.) and everything was delicious! We skipped the signature dessert (baked-to-order apple cobbler for two) this time, but get it the first time you go!
Our first trip to Butcher and Bee was a winner. B&B is an import that just a few years ago existed only as a sandwich shop in Charleston, SC, but now has a location in Nashville featuring an nice array of shareable plates...many based on Middle Eastern flavors (bacon-wrapped dates, unbelievable whipped feta with fermented honey, crispy rice with chicken shawarma, etc. Really enjoyed it (although the area's not the greatest and parking is a bit of a pain).
For good NY style pizza, good beer selection, and a super-real neighborhood hangout feel, Five Points Pizza is the place to go! We were able to skip the wait by ordering a pie at the bar before a show at the 5-Spot and we had made friends with the bartender and everyone around us by the time we finished it. Good stuff!
Yellow Porch was our other destination, and while it has a nice menu and isn't a bad choice if you're in the vicinity, the execution and atmosphere weren't as compelling as our Nashville favorites, so it doesn't make "the list" (see related post).
So when you visit Nashville, eat well, enjoy the music, and don't forget to tip your bartender and waitstaff well!