4 Best Restaurants in Tennessee, USA

Oliver Royale

$$$ Fodor's choice
Dining outside at this swank bistro feels like settling into a sidewalk café in France with a Southern twist. The extensive whiskey menu tempts you to order an old-fashioned—with sugar muddled slow to perfection—before digging into a plate of local rainbow trout with aged ham and whipped polenta, all sourced sustainably from regional farms.

McEwen's on Monroe

$$ | Downtown

Upscale regional food (described as "contemporary Southern") is served at this popular Downtown restaurant where the menu changes every two months.

Merchants Restaurant

$$ | Downtown

Housed in the former Merchants Hotel, built in 1892, the restaurant retains many of the hotel's original fireplaces, wainscoting, and custom sconces. There's a casual bar–grill atmosphere and menu on the first floor, while the second floor features formal dining in a room with hardwood floors, brick walls, and ceiling fans. The upstairs menu includes traditional meats: roasted chicken and pork loin, blackened tilefish, steak, and short ribs.

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Urban Grub

$$$
A former car wash, Urban Grub is now a sophisticated dining space serving seafood and locally sourced meat that's cured on-site. Outdoor seating offers a view of the oversized fireplace for cooking.