The Wild Hare

The Wild Hare
316 White Bridge Road
Nashville, TN 37209
(615)818-0219

http://thewildharenashville.com/

The restaurant is a homey space with built-in wooden booths on the periphery and a long communal table in the middle.  The design and the conceptualization of the restaurant is meant to cater to families.  The menu offers classic American dishes at a good price point.  There are appetizers and salads to start; main course options include pizzas, sandwiches, or entrees.  Burgers are offered at half portions, for $5.5 (regular portions: $9)–a good option for kids or not-so-hungry adults.  Basic food, basic pricing makes for good family dinner pit stops, but some of the dishes were a bit too basic.

We ordered three starters, all ample in size to share: The tempura vegetables had a nice texture on the outside and the veggie insides had the right temperature and consistency–but the accompanying jalapeno gouda and onion dip seemed to undercut the dish’s lightness.  The tomato stack ($6) had mozzarella and basil with balsamic dressing. It was light an refreshing.  The fried calamari ($8) was served with a peppercorn aioli.  I appreciated the inclusion of  squid tentacles, but the dish’s taste overall was nondescript.

Our entrees, all ordered to be shared, did not get off to a good start.  After a thirty minute wait–with no explanation for the delay, the Wild Hare pizza ($8) came out.  It was undercooked, so the slices sagged in our hands as we picked them up, and the pie’s caramelized onions, bacon, and ricotta cheese just didn’t seem to come together. Our dining companions, Nick and Nora, had been before and they concluded that it was best to stay away from the pizzas.  The fried catfish ($9) had a nice, cornmeal-textured coating that contrasted nicely with the delicate fish, savory and peppery throughout.  The roasted whole chicken ($13) came halved, and was delicate enough to easily take off the bone. Some at the table liked the flavoring and moistness, though I found it to be somewhat bland.

Wines are now available.  Management has remained true to its vision–keeping the prices low, while selecting great wines, such as the Alamos Malbec ($7).  They’ve even gone so far as to carry the canned Sophia Coppola bubbly Blanc de Blancs ($8) to stay consistent with their selection of canned beers.

We went arrived at the restaurant around 6:30 when it was just beginning to fill up. When we left the lines were out the door. Get there early for a table.

For another review, see Nashville Restaurants.

Our Latest Frequent Spot

Ginger Thai Restaurant
2861 Logan Street
Nashville, TN 37211
615-679-9555
http://www.gingerthairestaurant.com/

These days, when we don’t feel like cooking and we don’t feel like putting up with any restaurant fuss or crowds, we head to Ginger Thai restaurant, right off of Thompson Lane. The food is good, there’s never a wait, and the prices are reasonable. We’ve eaten there a number of times, tried an array of soups, main dishes, whole fish specials, and it always taste like home cooking. Last Sunday we were there for a quick lunch, and had duck soup, one of our favorites, and the house fried rice with squid (pictured below). The total for those two dishes after tax, before tip was $23. Normally, however, we pass on the appetizers.

Note: the link to the menu on their website takes a Borgesian turn and sends you to the Thai Palace in Bloomfield, CT.

P.S. As Rose, a commentator, notes below: on both sides of Ginger are amazing “International” markets. On one side is the Lanexang Oriental Market which stocks SE Asian goods and supplies provisions for Ginger. On the other side is a wonderful Middle Eastern market that provides everything from spices (at great prices) and fresh pita to Amish halal chickens.

Local Taco

Local Taco
4501 Murphy Road
Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 891-3271

Since hearing rumors that Local Taco would be opening up a  restaurant in 12th South, we decided to head to Sylvan Park for lunch. I had been there a few times but my erstwhile Fried had not. I really like the vibe there, the list of local ingredients, and seeing groups of Nashville women drinking margaritas at 12:30 in the afternoon. We ordered the Korean BBQ, the Southern Fried, and the Fish tacos. We started with tortilla chips and salsa, and had sides of rice and beans. The Korean BBQ taco tasted more Teriyaki than Korean,  topped with sesame seeds, cilantro, and a spare amount of Asian slaw. The meat was fresh and well cooked, but the taste was bland. The taco demanded some sort of Korean topping like pickled radish. The Southern Fried was good,  but it was dulled by wilted lettuce pieces. The same with the Fish taco. I am not sure why they went with tartar instead of crema, and some slaw would have been appreciated. The black beans were not to my taste, they had a strange taste and texture. We each got the lunch special, two tacos and a side for $6.75, which is a great deal because the tacos are $3.50 each and the sides $1.75.

I am not a taco purist, but these tacos needed some jazzing up. However, the fresh ingredients and the lunch prices make me want to give the place a second go.

Korean and Southern Fried tacos with rice:

Korean and Fish tacos with black bean:

 

Peaches and Cream from the Nashville Farmers Market

We love summers at the Nashville Farmers Market. This year the peaches have been spectacular. We are big fans of JD Country Milk for their drinkable yogurts and other delights. This week we indulged in  heavy cream. You have to get there by noon on a Saturday or else they will have sold out of most of the good stuff. This week we also bought Alabama peaches, which have more tang than the furry South Carolina peaches we’ve been eating lately. We bought them from the back shed where we also found some sweet ripe, local doughnut peaches. Those we devoured before we could take a photo. This morning we indulged in the peaches and cream with some local blueberries. It was decadent. If you go to the market check out the new Louisiana Seafood Company. Their fresh yellowtail, grouper, and shrimp have been selling out weekly.

Another Rich, Runny Cheese

We had written about Noble Springs Dairy’s “Harpeth Fleur,” and now we have found another ripe, runny cheese that is blog-worthy:  the “Green Hill” from Sweet Grass Dairy, from of Thomasville, Georgia (pictured below, right).  We purchased it at the Turnip Truck Urban Fare in the Gulch ($6.49 for half a wheel).  Made from “grass-based milk,” this cheese is, literally, oozing with goodness and taste.

According to pastoralartisan.com, where you can order “Green Hill” and other cheeses online:

Sweet Grass Dairy’s commitment to producing delicious and healthful milk from pasture-fed cows shines through in this small Camembert-style cheese. The unctuous paste is rich with sweet, buttery and grassy flavors. Though based on an old-world recipe, this cheese is a shining example of the finest in American artisan cheesemaking.

Korean Tacos near Vandy

Peter Chinn’s Korean Barbecue Taco
400 21st Avenue South
Nashville
www.peterchinns.com

Peter Chinn’s Korean BBQ Tacos and Burger’s move to the Vandy area from Clarksville Pike has stirred up a buzz (see, for example, comments on Eric and Kate’s post), and deservedly so.  The business logic of the move captures the concept and history of the Korean taco:  you keep the shell, maintain the form, though change it dramatically by adding Korean BBQ meats.  The old Cheeseburger Charley’s locale has maintained its basic form–from the counters and tables to the service areas, (though there has been a new paint job).  The menu has still offers the good ol’ burger, fries, and onion rings (which are noticeably better, probably because they’ve changed the frying oil).  Peter Chinn has infused life into the joint by offering Korean short rib bbq and fish tacos ($2.5), chicken and spicy pork tacos ($2), and burritos with aforementioned fillings ($5).  To top it all off, the background music was a playful variety of funk and soul.

I wandered into the joint late in the afternoon, and ordered a short rib and chicken taco.  The folks at the counter told me that business has improved quite a bit:  before the tacos, they’d do something like 80 tickets a day, but that day, at 3 pm,  I was ticket #120.  Some folks were still ordering burgers and fries, and a few came in to inquire about the tacos.  As for my tacos: the tortillas had the right combination of warmth, crispness, and texture.  I could taste the distinct marinade. The pickled cucumbers enhanced the taste of the meats, and a hint of spice gave the tacos a nice kick.

The Vandy area is in desperate need of dining spots, particularly of the non-chain type, and this is a welcomed addition.

Side note:  If you’re worried about  Vandy crowds, particularly at lunch, visit this upcoming week, since students are off for Thanksgiving.

Bella Napoli

R and I decided to have lunch at Bella Napoli Pizzeria in  Edgehill village. The folks at Valentino’s on West End opened Bella Napoli this August, building on Nashville’s wave of Italian wood-fired pizza, following the likes of City House and Porta Via.  Bella Napoli is a great addition to the 12th south, Belmont, Vandy neighborhood, and to the Nashville pizza scene. The pizzeria has a large dining room and roomy outdoor seating area, with just-delivered patio furniture. I ordered the Margherita Pizza ($9). The crust was thin and crispy on the edges and the tomato sauce was tart and flavorful, not like the overly sweet sauce in American pizza. My only complaint was the sad piece of basil, wilted and brown on the corner of the pizza. I am looking forward to eating the left overs for breakfast. R had the San Gennaro panini with a healthy portion of prosciutto crudo, mozzarella, and marinated egg plant ($10). The flavors on the sandwich were great, and the eggplant was a real standout. R noted that bread was especially delicious. The side salad, mostly colorless pieces of lettuce, and the chips were a real miss. I think they should just serve the sandwich on its own. It is quite substantial.

While the place is great for lunch I think it needs to work on its atmosphere to attract dinner patrons. Also, while we were there “That’s Amore” was on repeat.

SE Asian Crawfish in Nashville

V&V Seafood Market
4021 Nolensville Pike
Nashville, TN 37211-4515
(615) 832-6214

Monday-Saturday: 11-9
Sunday: 12-8

SE Asian entrepreneurs have been spreading Cajun love and food in various American cities…and now in Nashville:

V&V Seafood Market occupies the old Las Chivas location on Nolensville.  It’s run by a family from Atlanta, that saw an opportunity to bring Gulf seafood to Nashville.  Needless to say, their plans were derailed due to the oil spill, and they’ve had no choice but to shift the balance of their business to the food-service aspect.  (This is not to say that they’re not selling seafood.  They offer everything from whole tilapia and shrimp to red snapper and frog legs.)  The menu is a melange of Vietnamese cuisine and Cajun seafood.

They’ve brightened the place up and given it a paint job.  The place is austere and manages to convey that it’s serious, a propos of its name, about seafood–particularly of the Cajun boil variety.  Besides the crawfish, they boil up blue crab and white shrimp–as well as snow crab leg and mussels.  All of the cajun boils are sold by the pound.  We had some of the crawfish, and it was tastefully prepared, with some of the spices coating the firetruck-red shells.  The crawdads were a good size, and the spices weren’t overpowering–subtly layered with different tastes of cayenne, pepper, onion, and garlic.  (The corn and potatoes that often goes in crawfish boils were not offered to us.)

We also had fried shrimp and tilapia po-boys.  Pickled thought the shrimp sandwich had a good balance between fried-goodness, fresh lettuce and tomoto, and sauces, while I found my tilapia sandwich a bit cumbersome.  The zigzagging lines of mayo and sauce were off-putting to me.  Nashville’s lack of bread varieties and quality has been a challenge for V&V.  After trying a number breads around town, they settled on baguettes from, believe it or not, Sam’s Club–which they claim to have the best texture.  We thought that V&V worked well with the bread–toasting and serving it at the right temperature.  But it proved a bit thick for our taste.

I had the Vietnamese iced milk coffee.  They did not use condensed milk, and the drink came out diluted and distastefully sweet.  This led to distrust in their pho, egg noodle soups, and home-made wonton soup.  We’ll be back for the seafood, and to give the soups a try.

New Cajun Seafood/Vietnamese Restaurant

A few months ago, we blogged [here] about SE Asian restaurateurs spreading their interpretation of Cajun seafood to the rest of the country.  Well, Nashville now has such a place:

V&V Seafood Market
4021 Nolensville Pike
Nashville, TN 37211-4515
(615) 832-6214

It’s an actual seafood mart that also dishes up boiled crawfish and blue crabs, as well as traditional beef pho and, of course, seafood pho.  [Go here for a photo of their combined offerings, plated and tabled.]  They just opened last Monday–not exactly the best timing due to BP’s underwater geyser, butV&V are working things out and sourcing their products from elsewhere.

We’ll definitely be writing more about this place.

Rich, Runny Cheese

Our penchant for ripe, runny, pungent cheese was completely satiated by Noble Springs Dairy’s “Harpeth Fleur,” a goat cheese.  We purchased it at the original Provence on 21st, but the products from this Franklin, TN can be purchased at a number of places around town.  On their website, they’ve got a list of merchants who carry their products, as well as general information about their farm.

Mas Tacos

I was working  hard at Portland Brew this morning. Hungry for lunch, I headed back home for a sandwich when I eyed the Mas Tacos truck in front of imogene and willie on 12th South. I’d eaten from the truck once before when they first started out and were working out the kinks in the operation. They serve up tacos out of a blue and yellow retro RV. The line moves very slowly, sometimes too slowly. However, this time the wait was worth it.

I had one cast-iron chicken taco and one fried avocado taco ($3 each). The chicken  taco was filled with generous amounts of shredded chicken, tomatillo salsa, sour creams, cilantro, and lime. I was so hungry I couldn’t wait to take a photo. The taco was tangy and delightful. The fried avocado taco made me wistful for my favorite East Nashville bar, The Alley Cat, which used to serve a deep fried whole avocado that was spectacular. The Mas Taco fried avocado slivers were ok, but there was nothing particularly special about them. I might have preferred the avocado fresh. I couldn’t taste the spicy dill but the cabbage slaw was crisp and tart. The watermelon aqua fresca ($2) was light and refreshing with a dash of lime. I almost ordered a second. All in all it was a perfectly delightful to happen upon. Dining on 12th south keeps getting better. Also over the summer on Thursday evenings  the good folks at imogene and willie will be showing movies in their backyard accompanied by Mas Tacos.

For a low down on traditional taco trucks in Nasvhille read about them here.

Burger Up Is Open to the Public Today (May 1)

2901 12th Ave. South
Nashville, TN
615.279.3767‎

12th South’s newest burger joint is up and running.  Click here for a preview and background.

Burger Up and Green Light (12th & Paris) Update

Burger Up and Green Light update:  Burger Up will have a soft, soft opening for family and friends this Friday evening and will be open to the public as of May 1st.  The chef is a South Carolinian, whose partner will be managing the Green Light organic market next door.  That’ll be opening soon as well.  Cat, the manager says there’ll be veggies, meats, cheeses, and prepared foods.  She promises me that I’ll never have to go to Whole Foods ever again.

Holland House

Holland House
935 W. Eastland Ave.
Nashville, TN 37206
615-262-4190
http://www.hollandhousenashville.com/

The skinny:  Great experience.  We’d go back for their drinks, knowing that we’re paying coinage for the urban vibe and din, as well as the cocktail know-how and history.  The food is good gastro-pub affair.

At center stage in this newly renovated brick building is a large, welcoming four-sided bar. Natural wood, exposed roof beams and brick walls give the place an urban, organic feel, barely lit by ornate chandeliers.  The dimmed light glimmers off the crystal prisms and the myriad of liquor bottles.  The crowd–from hipsters and neighborhood folks to trans-river visitors–seemed comfortable and content in the dark milieu.  (It was too dark for photos.)

Holland House is quickly gaining a reputation, as a cocktail and food establishment.  It’s a venture led by folks from the now-closed Ombi (one of our old favorite haunts), Terry Raley and Laura Wilson, along with Christian Dye, who hails from Miro District and Watermark.  (Go here for more of HH’s origins.)

They focus on elaborate, historical cocktails.  There’s an entire menu of hand-crafted drinks that span from the late nineteenth century to the prohibition period, stateside–a period heavy on the gin, aka the “Golden Age of the American Cocktail”. The cocktail names alone are delectable: Chelsea Sidecar, Straits Sling, Rum Swizzle, Caravella Mojito, Peach Julep.  All for the flat price of $10/each.  Pickled ordered an enjoyable Ramos Gin Fizz and then a glass of white wine.  The server was spot on with her suggestion of a sauvignon blanc, L’Arpent des Vaudons Francois Merieau.  I, however, am going through a vodka phase and just wanted either a vodka martini or vodka on the rocks.  Due to their allegiance to a historical period preceding the importation of vodka, their vodka selection was limited, and there was a reluctance to make a vodka martini. We respect the historical fidelity, but wonder how long it will last.  The bar didn’t stock cocktail olives, so they brought some out from the kitchen.  Accommodating, though they still charged me a pricey $10 for each drink.  Besides a boutique-ey wine list, they also have high gravity, high octane beers.

Food-wise:  The menu offers a couple of salads, some samplers and dip snacks, small plates, and featured entrees.  The entrees looked a bit too meat-heavy ($12-$19)–with the exception of a local veggie plate, and no seafood.  So we opted for a bunch of small plates ($8-$12), sized in between tapas and entree portions.  From our most to least favorite:  grilled crab sausages, house steak tartare, fish and chips, spinach and fennel salad, and the pork belly confit.  We could taste all the sausages’ subtle elements, which went well together.  The tartare, with a raw quail egg on top, rivaled some of the better tartare we’ve had.  The fish and chips had the right crisp-, fried-, and hot-ness.  The portion, however, was tiny, even for a “small plate.” The pork belly confit was an open-face BLT, the pork was overcooked–killing all tenderness and richness of pork belly.  Didn’t work.  Our meal for two just exceeded the Benjamin mark, plus tip.

Initially, the good folks attempted to push Nashville’s taste buds with dishes like “honeyfire” duck feet and steamed littleneck clams.  But Nashville wasn’t quite open-minded enough for such gnawing.  Let’s hope that all of the Holland House’s vision and artistry–from their cocktails to their food–aren’t hemmed in by our un-adventurous tastes.

Make your reservations.

Bacon and Caviar Wings

B&C BBQ (on Franklin, near Melrose Kroger) has become a regular pit stop for me, in the late afternoons for a post-lunch, pre-dinner meal. (We’ve written about them here.) I like the vibe, the people behind the counter, and the prices. The food does the job. But I’ve recently discovered something to really scream about: their wings, smoked and fried. I like the dry, plain variety–which brings out the love that goes into smoking and frying chicken. The hot, buffalo-sauced versions masked all the goodness.  Try the dry versions.

Their website: http://www.baconandcaviar.com/