With Carnival season already underway in 2017, I figured
I’d look back in my travel archives for a blog-worthy place where they decorate
for Mardi Gras year-round. It also
happens to have excellent food and drink, along with a pretty cool name. It’s the Tenn Sixteen Food & Drink Co. in
Nashville, Tenn.
Located among a group of popular night spots on Woodland
Street in East Nashville and named for its address, Tenn Sixteen has been
bringing a New Orleans-style vibe to Nashville since 2013, and that’s exactly
what put it on my radar when I was working in Nashville last winter.
Once inside, you can easily see the connection. They’re certainly not subtle with their
decorating. The two main side walls are primarily a vibrant red.
The artwork on the walls is fun, bright and eclectic (and
given my complete lack of expertise as an art critic, that’s about all I can
say).
The chandeliers are weighed down with Mardi Gras
beads.
And the U-shaped bar, which is the centerpiece of Tenn Sixteen’s open floor design, is seemingly always busy – at least that was the
case the couple of times I visited. The
edge of the bar, which is reportedly made from African bubinga wood (whatever
that is), is lined with bark – another quirky touch that really doesn’t quite
seem to fit in with the New Orleans vibe, but it’s sure a good conversation
piece. The exposed wood ceiling and air
ducts help make the place feel even more spacious even when crowded.
As you can imagine, it didn’t take me long to feel right
at home at the bar, especially with more than 80 beer choices to select
from. As fate would have it, I lucked
into a two-for-one happy hour, which prompted me to be a tad adventurous with
my selections. The chill in the air seemingly
called for an Atwater Vanilla Java Porter, followed by some fuzzy selfie taking
and a Yazoo Pale Ale – locally made in Nashville – to go with dinner.
Before too long, I was discussing menu favorites with
several regulars seated around me. With
all the Southern-inspired appetizers and happy hour until 7 p.m. I was tempted
to eat light and sample more off the beer menu.
It was a tough decision, but in the end I went with a
full dinner selection from their list of “large plates” – the classic blackened
catfish. Resting on beds of red cabbage slaw
and jalapeno cheese grits surrounded by a Creole puree, this dish was an ideal
combination of spicy, sweet and sour.
The sides made an excellent complement to the flaky yet meaty catfish, which
was perfectly seasoned. As a first-timer,
the meal accomplished something very important – it made me want to come back
for more, which I did. (The fried green
tomato BLT and gumbo at Tenn Sixteen are pretty darn tasty, too).
For food or drink, Tenn Sixteen is a good choice for a
night in East Nashville. The service can
get bogged down at its busiest times, but it’s also a statement to this place’s
popularity. If you’re looking to enjoy
some Nashville nightlife but avoid downtown, I recommend putting Tenn Sixteen Food & Drink Co. on your to-do list.
No comments:
Post a Comment