Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Pinewood Social

My new favorite Nashville find is this very unique place called Pinewood Social, located at 33 Peabody Street, just a few minute walk from downtown Broadway. This place is a favorite to many Nashvillians because unlike other bars particularly in the area, it does NOT focus on music. Rather, the atmosphere is hip yet comfortable, elegant yet casual, and fancy yet homey. It's a place you could dress up nicely with the girls and hangout or just show up in casual clothes after work. 


The schematics basically divides the area into a few distinct sections. As seen above, there's a coffee section right when you walk in that opens early in the morning for breakfast, but is also available all day long. They brew their own coffees and make their own pastries. There's a Geek Squad area, as I call it, that has a bunch of tables and cool couches and chairs where people can sit to do work. WiFi is available all day long and the people don't mind if you set up shop and camp for a while.

From there you get to the bar, which is unlike most in downtown Nashville. These tenders, or as I like to refer to them as - mixologists, make the fanciest of cocktails and love fixing drinks to perfectly fit your pallet. I've only found a handful of places that have Chartreuse in Nashville, and this is one of them. They make the perfect Ramos Gin Fizz made with half Green Chartreuse, which has literally kept me coming back for more.

All along the bar are dining tables, with a few hidden nooks and crannies for private, more intimate parties. There are a few rooms you're able to rent out for special events, in addition to corners used for karaoke. In the back there's a 6-lane bowling alley that just sets this place apart from others in town. I've yet to bowl there, as I hear it's quite expensive to do so, but it adds an awesome unique touch to the place that just knocks it out of the park. There's also a small pool outside during the summer months for you to put your feet in and catch some rays.

Thus far the service I have received at Pinewood Social has been nothing but the absolute best. My favorite barkeep is Tanner, but they're all super nice and willing to shake my unique drink for 12 minutes to put a smile on my face.

Drinks are typically $12 and food ranges from $10-$30. To me, it's worth it. I love the atmosphere, the decor, and the people who have found themselves hanging out there. Here are a few pictures of my first experience at Pinewood Social - a must visit for everyone!


For reservations, call 615-751-8111

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Boscos

Last night 6 of us went out to Boscos in Hillsboro Village to celebrate my friend, Cody's, birthday. Having only recently been introduced to the Hillsboro Village area, I was pretty excited to see what this restaurant was all about, especially since it came so highly recommended by the birthday boy. 

Upon arrival we sat at the bar for a bit while we waited for everyone to arrive. Boscos is a brewery, so all the beers on tap are their own. Beer flavors and densities range from light to extremely dark and heavy. I was the DD, so I did not partake in the alcohol consumption, but everyone seemed to love their beer.

The environment of the restaurant was great - open, clean, and recent. There was actually a wedding reception going on in part of the restaurant while we were there, which we all thought was a little bit odd...but cool. The back of the restaurant features their brewing casks/mechanisms in addition to their brick ovens for baking pizzas.

The menu was, by far, my favorite part of the place. While they had simple foods like pizza and burgers, they also had unique dishes such as grilled watermelon with prosciutto. I had the watermelon and prosciutto (different, but good), some grilled bread with spinach and artichoke dip, and a margherita pizza. I also tried a slice of my friend's buffalo chicken pizza, and it was all amazing. 

The waitstaff was friendly, clean, and prompt. Our particular server was very witty, which is always a bonus if you ask me...and the manager gave us a free appetizer for shifting our table over to accommodate more people at an abutting table.

All in all, it was an amazing place to eat and I will definitely be back! Check out some pics I found online...



Thursday, May 22, 2014

The Rudder

Last night a few friends and myself went to The Rudder at Anchor High Marina in Hendersonville, TN. Having been in Nashville for two years, I really haven't seen much water since we're so landlocked...but this place was a mini water oasis. As seen by the pictures below, the bar/restaurant was basically on a peninsula jetting out into Old Hickory Lake. The inside bar and dining area was simple and basic, but the outside patio was amazing. The patio featured several tables, a good sized stage, a dancing area, and a tiki bar. The yellow strand lights and canopies above made the whole experience complete.

We made it there in time for happy hour (before 7pm) where we received half off drinks (limited menu). The menu offered a large variety of foods, including a large seafood section. Our food took a very long time to reach the table, but the staff was friendly and accommodating and brought out complementary chips and salsa for the long wait. Wednesday night was a writers' round, and the later night artists did not disappoint. Obviously Joshua Melton was our favorite act.

Needless to say, The Rudder is an amazing place to bring family and friends or to go for after work drinks. The atmosphere is relaxing and the view is beautiful. Be sure to call ahead for seating as it is a very busy place!







Tuesday, May 20, 2014

The Pharmacy

Sunday night a few new friends from Wisconsin, Jenn, and myself took a trip into East Nashville and landed at The Pharmacy for food and drinks. I had heard a lot of great things about this place, but never had the chance to go. When you walk in it's a very old-school vibe. Wooden tables and chairs that lead to a large indoor/outdoor bar and eventually an outside garden patio is the basic schematics of the place. There are old style prescriptions, articles, and doctors notes on the walls that make this place fit for the name.

The menu features rare beers, homemade flavored sodas, and of course...BURGERS. Everyone at our table tried a different beer and they did not disappoint. I got this raspberry beer that honestly tasted more like a wine cooler than a beer...so it was absolutely perfect for me. I then got a regular cheese burger and it was one of the best burgers I've ever had. The bun was amazing...not your typical bun, but super soft and delicious. The tater tots that accompanied were great and the bottomless glass bottle of water at the table helped soak it all down.

The Pharmacy is very reasonably priced, for a beer and burger my tab was about $14. I will definitely be going there again to soak in the atmosphere and have some delicious eats!


Friday, May 16, 2014

The Treehouse

Have you been to Nashville before? Do you want to try something new? Check out The Treehouse located in East Nashville. I just discovered this place two nights ago and I've already been there twice! The atmosphere is amazing - a little granola-y - but very comfortable and trendy. You walk through the door into a wooden oasis. The inside dining/bar facility looks like you're in the middle of a treehouse. Everything is made of wood...from the chairs and tables to the fixtures and bar, this place is amazing. What's ultra amazing about this place is that it's nearly all vegetarian. Surely they have the occasional salmon or pork on the menu, but they offer a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. While they have the usual beers like Miller Lite (only $4 for a bottle), they also have an awesome mixologist on hand to create amazing drinks. I got one that wasn't on the menu last night, a Ramos Gin Fizz made with Green Chartreuse, and it was amazing. Cocktails are reasonably priced (around $10) and keep you coming back for more.

Going from the main dining room back you encounter the men's and women's bathrooms that are very trendy. The men's features old PlayBoy magazines and trinkets, while the women's features pictures of Mic Jagger, an enormous mirror, and a hand-painted wall of vines.

As you travel through the bar you open the back door to discover the best part -- the treehouse!!! As pictured below, there are two enormous tree houses out back where you can kick back and chill like you were a kid again. The fanciful paint job, unique artistry, and one-of-a-kind furnishings (yes, they have a table made out of an airplane wing) make this place perfect for after dinner drinks or a spot to bring the family. If you want to sit in the best spot on the property, in the top treehouse, be sure to call ahead for reservations at (615)454-4201.

I'm already excited to go back to The Treehouse and try some more amazing drinks and food. Enjoy!

*photo credit: http://treehousenashville.com