Good-Looking Grille

Everyone watching the Hutton Hotel go up on West End anticipated it's opening.  When I heard they would house a high-end restaurant, 1808 Grille, I went into high-gear for an excuse to dine there.  Luckily my friend, Pam, just called in a reservation Saturday and we went for no other reason than hunger.

The hotel's lobby decor and restaurant is gorgeous - textured fabrics, music-inspired art, iron sculpture and wooden accents gives Hutton and 1808 Grille a country meets Music City look.  We loved the napkins (patterned with a flower, unlike the traditional black or white!)  The staff was accommodating but a little hurried.  

The food was good but not great.  We had the pork appetizer on a corn cake - the pork was very tender.  However, we also noshed on their romaine heart salad which was a little bland.  My friend, Mollie, loved her pear salad though.  Pam had the short ribs last time and really enjoyed.  This time she got the sliced tenderloin with guacamole and liked the pairing.  Mollie and I dug into the duck gnocchi with mustard greens.  They served us a side of roasted beets that were ho-hum (wished their had been a mixture of golden and red beets although I'm not sure if they could get them fresh which likely would influence.)

The final word - I hope the food eventually meets the high-end surroundings (and prices.)  As always, get out there and try for yourself so...

KEEP EATING OUT, NASHVILLE!

Featured site:

1808 Grille

(inside the new Hutton Hotel)

http://www.1808grille.com/

1808 West End Avenue

340-0012 reservations required

www.opentable.com

Fill up with food, forget gas

While Miel Restaurant deserves an introspective dive, a real review chocked full of details regarding fresh, local (and some really good ones flown in) ingredients, meats and produce, I just don't have the time. The short is we are losing good restaurants around these parts (people, stop the economic mass hysteria!) While our checkbooks might not seem "fundamentally sound" today, there is still the c'est la vie American attitude when it comes to filling stomachs. We think nothing of picking up a beeper at Cheesecake Factory but pout at a 10 minute gas line...

I digress. Seriously, eating is where we Americans do splurge. Walk on down (as we did) or travel via bus on Charlotte (remember, conserve gas, walk off food) to Miel. Their delectable ribeye topped with ox tail demi-glace, steak fries with mashed potatoes and spinach flan is worth energy conservation. We tried the duck foie gras (ok, I'm not running back for it, but LOVED the pairing with peaches.) Yancy's duck was savory and unlike most orange sauces paired with the bird, this one was not overbearing. Lastly we sipped French press coffee and bittersweet chocolate mousse. The owner, Seema and the manager, Jolly, oversee the wine list which they boasted about tasting and selecting each one personally. They seem to really take pride in their brand new digs (comfortable, large, open kitchen). Seema's husband is at the helm in the back. The menu changes twice weekly to accommodate changes in seasons, shipments and available stock.

So it may be Friday or Saturday when you are reading this so remember...

KEEP EATING OUT, NASHVILLE!

Featured site:
www.mielrestaurant.com
298-3663
343 53rd Avenue North