Located in Encore Tower near the Country Music Hall of Fame and downtown´s tony SoBro (South of Broadway) district, this dozen-year-old restaurant is sleek and modern both in aesthetic and menu, with innovative items such as venison coated with za´atar (an herb from the Mediterranean Middle East): roasted cauliflower with truffle-infused pea purée, salted almost, feta crema, and essence of red bell pepper: and a rhubarb almond tart. Fun fact: owner-chef Deb Paquette, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, became this state´s first certified executive chef some 30 years ago.

Read more in Tripatini contributor Lowest Flight Fares´ post 11 Excellent Eateries in Tennessee.

Etch