GAY FAVES 2015: Dining

Statisticians say that over eighty people are moving to Nashville every day, and it seems like at least one new restaurant joins them! As Nashville’s profile continues to rise, so does its reputation for having a diverse and refined culinary scene. From celebrity chefs to local favorites, sometimes one and the same, Nashville’s LGBT community had a wide range of options to choose from, but overall we showed ourselves to be nothing if not loyal to our perennial favorites.

 

 

Best Overall Restaurant and Best First DateSuzy Wong’s House of Yum

Suzy Wong’s House of Yum is always a favorite with our readers, having won most recently in Best Overall Restaurant in 2013 and Best First Date in 2014! With its prime location on Church Street—I mean, you don’t have to go outside to get to LGBT Nashville’s favorite happy hour (Tribe)—Suzy has an automatic leg up on the competition!

With its creative menu of Asian fusion dishes designed by local star chef Arnold Myint, who is also behind PM and Boulevard, Suzy Wong (Myint’s drag alter ego) serves up a lot more than convenience. Signature appetizers such as Asian Wonton Nachos are renowned, but Myint is constantly updating his menu with such goodies as Chicken Naan Pizza. And Suzy’s sushi is a delight, if a little pricey: but that’s just one more reason to go on Tuesday, when Sushi is half price!

 

 

VegetarianThe Wild Cow

The Wild Cow is a popular and well-reviewed restaurant in East Nashville, featuring a creative menu of vegetarian and vegan fare. Looking over their menu is a bit like looking at a high-end bar menu, from its Buffalo Tempeh Strips to its high gravity beers and ciders.

Cody Hawkins gave The Wild Cow highest praise, when writing, “I'm not a vegetarian. In fact, I love a seared, juicy ribeye whenever I get the chance. However, the Wild Cow has amazing food that makes you welcome the cow apocalypse knowing that all of their delicious food doesn't come from an animal. Personally, I'm hooked and I'm glad I went out on a limb to give it a try.” So even meat-atarians agree it’s a place you should try!

 

 

Local Chef — Sarah O’Neill

This year, Sarah O’Neill barely edged out Margot McCormick for Best Local Chef—a big accomplishment given Margot’s reputation. O’Neill is a chef at Batter’d and Fried, one of East Nashville’s best places for seafood, having previously worked at Watanabe. She has also worked at The Silly Goose and participated in Dinner Lab.

 

 

Fine DiningMargot McCormick

Margot McCormack retains her crown as the purveyor of Nashville’s Best Fine Dining. Margot, whose restaurant has been a fixture of East Nashville fine dining for twenty years now, has been featured on the cover of O&AN and has received accolades from all of Nashville’s major print outlets. Margot manages to keep us on our toes, with new dishes like “Calico Bay Scallops with Red Pepper Sauce, Roasted Shallots & Pistachio Gremolata” and “Grilled Quail, with Polenta, Collard Greens & Benton’s Bacon.” For the patron with a taste for something both refined and exciting, Margot’s daily menu change is required reading!

 

 

PizzaFive Points Pizza

We Americans love our pizza (though they may duel over exactly the ‘right’ way of making it), and Nashvillians are no exception. And for a FOURTH year in a row, Five Points Pizza is LGBT Nashville’s pizzeria of choice. So if you haven’t already, you should give it a try. Even if you’re a sucker for Chicago-style—there still isn’t a place to get a truly authentic Chicago pie down here—you’ll have to admit that Five Points Pizza is the best at what it does serve!

 

 

BrunchMad Donna’s

Mad Donna’s remains our readers’ favorite brunch, and it manages that in the midst of a glut of brunches in that neighborhood. From Lipstick Lounge to the Vine, East Nashville seems to have an insatiable appetite for this most LGBT of invented meal times.

Mad Donna’s infuses their own vodkas, including a fiery habanero blend that is sure to have patrons of brunch’s “Bloody Mary Bar” reaching for a glass of water. But no doubt with a smile on their faces.

 

 

CoffeeFrothy Monkey

With multiple locations, you can enjoy a hot Frothy Monkey all around Nashville! They’ve got a drink menu that will make any warm beverage enthusiast happy, with coffees on tap and rotating seasonal beverages.

Frothy Monkey patrons appreciate it for more than its coffee though. As one patron wrote, “The place has a real cosy feel, in addition to its hipness. The coffee was great, but I was really pleasantly surprised that their food was also very good. They serve some really nice combinations in perfectly sized portions.”

 

 

Patio3 Crow

Last year’s GayFave Best Non-Gay Bar retains the title of Best Patio this year. Our readers find this bar’s porch an almost irresistible draw, and it is particularly beautiful as the leaves change on the little shade trees surrounding it. It’s a prime Sunday stop for the Nashville Grizzlies, and pretty much everyone else. The vibe is so laid back and fun, it’s the perfect place for nice weather casual drinks with friends. And it’s at the back of the building, so if someone drives another car through the front wall, you won’t even spill your drink.

 

 

 

 

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

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Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

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Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

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