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Name: City House
Address: 1222 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN, 37208
Telephone: (615) 736-5838
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.92

City House

1222 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN, 37208

(615) 736-5838
Store is closed

City House Menu

Antipasti

House Cured Salami Parm

Olives with Taralli

Frico

Soup

Zucchini Corn Red Onion Garum Lemon Peanuts Pecorino

Watermelon Red Onion Almond Basil GMRS Pickle Pepper Dressing

Ciccioli Corn Salsa Verde Bread Crumbs

Octopus Eggplant Tomato Garlic Basil Chilies Peanuts and Raisins
Pizza

Margherita

Anchovy Tomato Mozzarella Capers Garlic Oregano Chilies

House Made Belly Ham Mozzarella Grana Padano Oregano Chilies

Potato Lamb Sausage Chili Peppers Pecorino
Pasta

Fettuccine Tesa Green Garlic Vidalia Ricotta Salata Gremolata

Bread Gnocchi Tomato Ragu Grana Padano

Casareccia Lamb Sugo Zucchini Tomato Oregano Chilies Pecorino
Fish And Meat

23House Made Calabrian Sausage Peaches Pickled Onions and Chilies

NC Catfish Cornmeal Crust Peppers Garlic Anchovy Lemon Parsley

Springer Mountain Half Chicken Tomato Vinegar Red Onion Oregano

Carolina Trout Bread Crumbs Peanuts Raisins Lemon Parsley

Painted Hills Tri Tip Red Onion Parm Worcestershire Lemon
Dessert

Chocolate Butterscotch Panna Cotta Bourbon Whip Chocolate Marble Cookie

Peanut Butter Coca Cola Cake Rum and Coke Caramel Vanilla Malt Gelato

Peach Cornmeal Crumb Pie Buttermilk Sherbet Peaches and Preserves

Almond Ricotta Pound Cake Lemon Syrup Lemon Ricotta Gelato

Gelato Sorbetto or Sherbet

Cookie Plate

Healthy Meal suggestions for City House

Antipasti

House Cured Salami Parm [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Olives with Taralli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Frico [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zucchini Corn Red Onion Garum Lemon Peanuts Pecorino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Watermelon Red Onion Almond Basil GMRS Pickle Pepper Dressing [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ciccioli Corn Salsa Verde Bread Crumbs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Octopus Eggplant Tomato Garlic Basil Chilies Peanuts and Raisins [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pizza

Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Anchovy Tomato Mozzarella Capers Garlic Oregano Chilies [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Made Belly Ham Mozzarella Grana Padano Oregano Chilies [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potato Lamb Sausage Chili Peppers Pecorino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta

Fettuccine Tesa Green Garlic Vidalia Ricotta Salata Gremolata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bread Gnocchi Tomato Ragu Grana Padano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Casareccia Lamb Sugo Zucchini Tomato Oregano Chilies Pecorino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fish And Meat

23House Made Calabrian Sausage Peaches Pickled Onions and Chilies [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

NC Catfish Cornmeal Crust Peppers Garlic Anchovy Lemon Parsley [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Springer Mountain Half Chicken Tomato Vinegar Red Onion Oregano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carolina Trout Bread Crumbs Peanuts Raisins Lemon Parsley [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Painted Hills Tri Tip Red Onion Parm Worcestershire Lemon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert

Chocolate Butterscotch Panna Cotta Bourbon Whip Chocolate Marble Cookie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut Butter Coca Cola Cake Rum and Coke Caramel Vanilla Malt Gelato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peach Cornmeal Crumb Pie Buttermilk Sherbet Peaches and Preserves [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Almond Ricotta Pound Cake Lemon Syrup Lemon Ricotta Gelato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gelato Sorbetto or Sherbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cookie Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

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Write An Anonymous Review

Dominic P.

City House is a great casual/mildly dressy Italian restaurant. I went there on a Wednesday evening around 5 dressed up (nice shirt, khakis, dress shoes) to find that not everyone was as dressed up as me. So you an find a casual to semi-formal atmosphere at City House. Food was great (and mostly seasonal), nice wine selection, and the servers are very kind, informative, and helpful. I would recommend City House to anyone. Great place.
(5)
Peter M.

Oh baby. We attended the wine dinner last night and the food was out standing... as good as a long meal in a good restaurant in Italy. The homemade pasta with chucks of salty, juicy, delicious goat meat was a stand out, as was the squiggily gnocci with ever-so-light and fluffy ricotta cheese and fresh, bursting with flavor peas. Great combination of textures and food densities in the gnocci dish. Inventive dishes but still the focus is on great ingredients prepared perfectly. On top of it all, this was a crumbling but architectually significant building that they rescued, expanded, and designed beautifully, in a neighborhood begging for rejuvenation. Good job, City House!
(5)
Yasmine G.

This is probably one of my all time favorite restaurants ever. You really can't go wrong with any dish here. Order one of everything if you can. We almost did! It was so good that we came back 2 nights in a row. The service and ambiance were also really welcoming to this group of San Franciscans. Definitely get the crispy pig ears. Yum!
(5)
Colleen T.

BAR REVIEW: We went in for a drink & it was very unimpressive. We had just ordered the same drink at a place down the street that made it much better. Lighting: Way too bright - felt like a cafeteria Bartender: Not very friendly Drinks: below average After we got our drinks & tasted them we wished we wouldn't have decided to stop. We were going to try the place for dinner but not after that disappointing experience
(2)
Chloe R.

This was our first stop in Nashville and it was a wonderful way to start out weekend! The bartender suggested a bottle of red (Primitivo) that was just what we were looking for and we had the ricotta, grana padano, garlic and mustard greens pizza. The mustard greens were an amazing addition - spicier than the more common arugula! The restaurant is in Germantown, a more up and coming part of Nashville, and it took longer than expected to get an Uber to the bars after eating. Overall, a great date spot and the service at the bar was just what I look for when traveling - the bartender suggested spots to check out in Nashville and in Chattanooga during our trip home!
(4)
W. John R.

We dined here with some friends who moved to Nashville awhile back. When your local friends recommend a place as THE restaurant you have to try when you're in town for the first time, you have a high expectation. And this place most definitely delivered. My first pleasant surprise was the cocktail menu. Whenever you see an assortment of bitters, egg whites, citrus zest, and other creative ingredients beyond the standard liquor-and-soda, you know you're in for a treat. I ordered two different drinks just because I was so curious, and both were pour to perfection. We had a relatively late lunch at Centennial Park, so we weren't starving enough for appetizers. Our friends ordered the calamari and it looked phenomenal. My main course was the chuck steak. I was nervous ordering what is generally looked at as an inferior meat at that price point, but my fears were completely unwarranted. The lemon/Parmesan/onion combo was a different take on steak, and I devoured every bite. I felt badly for our waiter, who tripped going up the steps and lost an entire tray full of empty water glasses. Note: be careful if you're planning to hit this restaurant up on the same day as a baseball game. There isn't a dedicated parking lot, and the street parking is completely packed due to close proximity to the baseball stadium. There were paid lots nearby charging money, but instead I found an open street spot - but it was about 5 blocks away and a ten minute walk back to the restaurant.
(5)
Michael U.

Items Selected: Frico: Buttermilk Cheddar, Sweet Potato, Chilies, Scallion, Cider Vinegar Belly Ham Pizza: Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, Chilies, Egg Cornbread Gnocchi: Chard, Tomato, Tesa, Chilies, GMRS Conchiglie: Mushrooms, Parmesan Fonduta, Garlic, Lemon, Parsley Rice Grits: Chicken Sausage, Greens, Red Onion, Garum, Grit Crumbs Sausage: Rhubarb, Orange, Vidalia, Peanuts, Celery Yellow Corn Grits, Turnip Greens, Pot Liquor Strawberry Ice Box Pie: Preserves + Braccheto Jelly, Vanilla Malt Snickerdoodle Crumbs, Mascarpone Crema Cookies + Cream Panna Cotta: Sipping Cream Caramel, Chocolate Toffee Meringue Crumbs, Mascarpone Crema Tennessee Waltz Cake: Chocolate Buttermilk Praline, Bourbon Zabaglione, Coffee Butterscotch Almond Ricotta Pound Cake: Lemon Marmalade, Lemon Ricotta Gelato Frequently named amongst the best restaurants in Nashville, and yet another in the long list of places proudly promoting a seasonal menu focused on Italian accented Southern fare, it was at City House that the trip's final dinner with family would be enjoyed and although some aspects of the night were marred by an exceedingly loud group of bachelorettes and service that seemed far more interested in tables to whom he could push expensive bottles of wine the food itself was mostly quite good, a few significant highs and the rest at least well enough prepared to let the quality of well sourced ingredients show. Situated in an old home with seating spread amidst a large downstairs and two rooms comprising the space above, it was at first that our seating in a small former bedroom seemed a bit unfortunate but once the bridesmaids became well lubricated even the warm, stagnant air was preferable to the shrieks and shouts echoing off high ceilings - our server more than once pulled to assist another young man that appeared to be an overwhelmed trainee as thirty minutes passed between ordering and first courses that never once saw our party checked in on at all. Eventually mentioning the lack of attention to our server, a confronting attitude offered where an apology would have been far better made, it was thankfully here that appetizers arrived, the crisply fried cheese and vegetables offering a slight bit of heat amidst hefty aromatics while the lightly charred pizza featured a crust robust enough to stand up to several unctuous toppings, the signature cornbread dumplings dotted in pancetta, tomatoes, and greens certainly as hefty a plate as would be expected, a dish best shared to be sure as a half-portion would serve smaller appetites as a meal in itself. Onward to entrees, at this point visibly seeing patrons in the larger room wince at the behavior exhibited from the party of twelve, it was another large bowl of pasta that proved the best of three plates for as good as each sausage was the accoutrements leaned heavily on the use of onions with the chicken version all the more confounded by what seemed like nothing more than raw lettuce, an odd choice to say the least, though certainly not as unpalatable as the side of corn grits that was so bracingly bitter than it went almost untouched, a 'your mileage may vary' plate to say the very least. Having heard many positives of the City House dessert program, enough so that the meal would culminate in an order most easily stated as "one of each, please," it was here that I was glad none of the entrees compelled me to overeat for as much as the prices of some savories seemed a tad excessive the $8 sweets were portioned exceedingly generous, the lightly set panna cotta most certainly the lightest of the quartet despite its bold flavors while the strawberry tart melded cream and fruit flawlessly, both cakes far more decadent with the poundcake potentially containing as much as a stick of butter per slice and the layered Tennessee Waltz just boozy enough to tantalize the tastebuds up front before dissipating into notes of coffee and caramel competing for top billing amidst a buttermilk tinge.
(3)
Sheena T.

Man... I hate when I have to write an update for a place that has gone down, but I had to for City House. Stopped in for dinner the other night and had a very lackluster experience. We started with a raw cauliflower and cabbage dish with a light red wine vinegar that was pretty good. It came out quickly and we thought we were off to a good start. Not so much. It took a long time to get our entrees and we were a party of two. Once they came it was not worth the wait. I had the chicken with a side of mustard coated red onions. If that sounds weird, it tasted really weird too. The chicken wasn't very moist, and I made the comment that I've had better rotisserie chicken at Publix. My dish was very blah and the onions were just not good. My BF had the grits with a lamb sausage that he enjoyed, but again, I thought tasted oddly. It was kind of tart and I just didn't think it went well together. The two highlights of the meal were the chard side and the fuzzy beer drink. Both of those were excellent, but overall, the meal fell very flat.
(3)
Krystal L.

The worst meal I had in Nashville. Seriously sad. DRINK Very very bad cocktails. Ordered the Old Fashion at the bar and it tasted like a cheap berry cocktail. We moved to our table and I asked for a red wine to replace the drink. I was unsure if there was some uncertainty about me not wanting the cocktail so when a man brought the wine and I explained the situation, and attempted to hand him my cocktail back. He refused and said he would tell my server. Unpleasantly, that did not happen and instead we were stuck with the icky cocktail on the bill. Even after I explained to the waitress (she approached us when I wrote her a note on the bill). She profusely apologized and then left. Ok.....you are actually not sorry. Because if you were you would have tried to help us remedy the situation. The cocktail was $10 but at that point it was on principal. FOOD Carrot/cabbage/white sauce/peanuts appetizer: This was basically coal slaw but for $9. Not worth it. Cornbread Gnocchi, Lamb Sugo: Ok....What the HECK. What the heck was this?? I will tell you. Someone cut up pieces of corn bred, fried it, and put it in a bowl. Oh, and sprinkled a little pulled lamb on top of it. It was ridiculous and was basically eating corn bread drenched with olive oil. Belly ham pizza: Actually very good. I would recommend this. SERVICE A bit disorganized. Again, the drink situation was pretty disappointing. Overall, a very poor experience for valentines day, especially with all the great food we had the days prior. Will not recommend to anyone.
(1)
Loralyn D.

I think this is my all-time favorite restaurant in Nashville. Definitely top 5. The food, atmosphere, history of the building, and quaint neighborhood make it a wonderful experience. The menu changes throughout the season, which forces me to order something a little different every time. I think our favorites are the gnocchi and pizza. Delicious! Make a reservation or expect to sit at the bar on a weekend night. The bar is fun to sit at because you can watch the food being prepared.
(5)
Vickie R.

I wasn't expecting to be able to find anything lighter than what most people know as "Southern Food" in Nashville, but my stomach and I were both happy that we did. This was a place that wasn't even on our radar as we were doing research on places to eat in Nashville since our meals were limited and we've never been to the town, so it was extra fortuitous that it was introduced to us by meeting up with friends that have moved there. My dish was a White Corn Grits, Clams, Greens, Red Onion, Garum, Grit Crumbs. The grits was full of the rich clam taste from the broth and the clams were amazingly tender. The dish looked small in size, but there was definitely enough food to make me full. Honestly, I wasn't all that hungry and my stomach wasn't feeling the greatest that day, but I made the special exception for this dish, and I would've licked the dish clean if no one was watching. It was truly a pleasant surprise in so many ways. We had great service and I loved the industrial ambiance of City House. I do hope to return when I visit again.
(5)
Marla S.

Very friendly, but very busy and seemed to need more help behind the bar. The bartender was working non-stop and at a quick pace, but was slow to get drinks because of the volume she had to manage. The food was great, but not excellent. Cool atmosphere - house with screened in porch and somewhat industrial on the interior. A nice little getaway from downtown Nashville that isn't a long drive.
(4)
Jeff D.

With all of the national hype surrounding City House I suppose I was expecting more. Hype can do that. Likely this was a perfectly delightful place and buzz happened. Buzz can be a good thing for a restaurant as it struggles to attract attention. When it gets out of hand it raises expectations to a level only a slim group of places can attain. I believe this is the place City House finds itself. The food was good, the service was excellent and the vibe was lively. This was a perfectly fine meal and under normal expectations I would be satisfied. The hype unfortunately left me wanting. Too bad.
(3)
Cait C.

These guys are trying way too hard to be trendy and failing just as hard. They are trying to force the fried egg on pizza trend, but the eggs were almost raw, and made the pizzas extremely soggy which was disgusting. I can not recommend this option if you are ordering the pizza. The cornbread gnocchi were very large and very dry, which is the opposite of what gnocchi should be. We had the berry tart for dessert which was 3/4 soggy stale shortbread, should have been 3/4 fruit and a nice buttery crumbly shortbread. The pizzas without the eggs were pretty good, but i didn't come here for pizza. We enjoyed the salad and the octopus the best and would eat those again for sure.
(3)
Caroline B.

Was pretty disappointed with this place. Heard great things, but seemed like the place was trying REALLY hard to be pretentious. Half the ingredients on the menu none of us had ever heard of (and I consider myself someone who knows a decent amount about food) and the entire menu we read online wasn't available anymore... Which was the whole reason we came to the restaurant. Would not recommend them unless you are very into trying obscure ingredients/foods.
(2)
Corie K.

A must-try if you haven't yet. I always order a moose to drink ( I'm not a drinker but it's my best cocktail in town ) and we always order the belly ham pizza (it's also the best in town). And always great service. I've been here a handful of times and sat at bar, table, and pizza counter- all provide a great experience. The chefs are serious about quality too - we witnessed them refire our pizza when it came out a bit more charred than they'd like. That's a great sign that they check and care for the food they send out of the kitchen. Every course was amazing- drinks, apps, entrees & sides, coffee & desserts. They are also consistently good, even with a seasonal menu. I always leave full and happy, and most of the time with leftovers for later.
(5)
Joe F.

This food is by far one of the best in Nashville, and would be a strong contender in any major market. In fact, City House could go head to head with any major market restaurant. Wake up James Beard!
(5)
Courtney M.

We came to City House on a recommendation by a local friend -- seems like a great choice for a Sunday dinner! Word from the wise... make a reservation. They were booked up on a Sunday (apparently it's a special rotating menu night which people come specifically to enjoy) and despite there being multiple open tables scattered throughout the restaurant, the only seats available were at the bar... Bar seats aren't awful as they overlook the small kitchen/prep area. I liked being close to the wood burning oven - smelled great, plus it was warm! For food, we had meatballs and split a pizza. The pizza was a bit disappointing -- quite soggy. The meatballs were our favorite part. Service was spotty. When we had a server, he was great. But drink service was seriously lacking as we frequently had empty glasses (as did the folks to our left and right). I would return to give this place another shot and to try their everyday menu that our friend praised.
(3)
Steve E.

Hard to say one restaurant is the best with the food scene explosion in Nashville. But this is the best, IMO. Others (Lockeland Table, Etch) are a notch above but this is like...home. We had the trout and the Calabrian sausage with summer peaches and pickled onion. Sides were a cabbage concoction and pecorino grits. It was all just silly good. Reminder if you haven't experienced it: The Belly Ham Pizza ( I am in the minority, and prefer no egg) is THE BEST SINGLE FOOD ITEM IN NASHVILLE.
(5)
Van T.

Service is always impeccable and engaged. Food is always amazing. Prices are very reasonable. Been here for Sunday supper, weekday dinner, dinner at the bar and dinner by the brick oven. Although menu changes often it's always good and always keeps us coming back. Anything pork related off the menu is going to be prepared to perfection. They know how to treat a pig. My husband's favorite spot for pizza (pork belly add egg).
(4)
Linda A.

Some things were great, others were just OK. We found ourselves at City House on a Sunday evening. Always wanted to visit and had just not gotten around to it. Our son and his gf were visiting so we took the opportunity to finally get there. Pros: The drinks were really good, we probably had 6 different drinks at our table and everyone was pleased with those. The service was great. We had a fun, knowledgeable and accommodating young man (Andrew? That might not be it. He has a rainbow trout tattoo. Anyway, if his manager reads this, give the guy some praise.) Atmosphere was wonderful. Quirky old farmhouse, we love that stuff. The headcheese appetizer was ridiculously good. We devoured it. Andrew(?) said he has a hard time getting people to try it. Probably because it is called headcheese...but it was not that gelatinous stuff you get other places. This was like the most tender brisket ever on a fluffy, perfect biscuit with pickles and some other stuff. Oh my word...fabulous. Also of note: They were very accommodating about my husband's garlic allergy. Cons: The other food was just ok. The meatballs just didn't have any great flavor to jump out at you...they were just meatballs and kind of mushy at that. The lamb sausage pizza didn't taste like anything all that special. We would definitely go back though. We didn't realize that the Sunday Supper menu was limited and the menu we'd looked at online for dinner looked really good. So, we'll go back and maybe I can upgrade next time.
(3)
Jesse Q.

City House off 4th ave is very Wonderful, on sundays the chefs get to make their own menus and theirs no telling what it will be, if your in town visiting or live here this place would be a great place to add on your list of great places to eat at. Xo
(5)
Michelle G.

I had a great meal here on Saturday night. We ate the margherita pizza, breaded fish with broccoli side salad, and cornbread gnocchi. The portions were reasonably generous. Not TGI Fridays generous, mind you, but big enough that an entree item will easily fill you up. (Of course, then you'd miss all the delicious smaller dishes.) Our waitress was attentive and very knowledgable of the menu. Their cocktails were another big highlight! I recommend the herbivore and also the old fashioned, complete with bourbon-soaked cherries. I would eat there again in a heartbeat.
(5)
Bridget H.

The good: Just about everything on the menu is great but I really loved the gnocchi, all of the pizzas (get an egg on top!), the pole bean salad. Don't be afraid to try the butternut squash-cottage pizza- it was my absolute favorite. YUM! The bad: I guess it's bad to be good- it's tough to get a reservation here, but try coming early or late on the weekend to sit at the bar. It has the same menu and a knowledgeable, entertaining bartending staff. The verdict: A Nashville staple, this one is a no brainer- a must eat in Nashville.
(5)
Dawn S.

We had gotten a referral from Top Chef winner, Ilan Hall. So glad we did! Hard to find but well worth the trip! Being gluten and dairy free I am always worried about trying new places. Food here was amazing and the chef accommodated my restrictions with ease. My favorite restaurant in Nashville!
(5)
Karri B.

I debated all week how to review City House. We went for our five year anniversary because we a) wanted to try a place we've never been and b) wanted a place that had been around for a while. Although people rave about their pizza, we knew we didn't want to try the pizza this round. Looking back, I wish I had gotten the pizza. Our server was stellar and we were really happy with the service. The good: Wine and cocktails. I had the Juno cocktail and Fattoria San Lorenzo red wine. Cocktail first, then wine. Both were amazing. The red was fabulous! The husband had two of the Henry cocktails and loved them too. Olives with Taralli. Ever had a buttery soft olive that almost taste like a chocolate? Yeah, me either until we tried these. Simply amazing and the taralli were a great little addition. Kind of like tiny hard bagels with hints of rosemary and caraway seeds. Very delightful and well worth it. The soup. (husband ordered) Hands down one of the greatest soups ever. Flavorful and unique and I really wish I had ordered this too. My husband couldn't get enough. The chuck steak. (husband ordered) Thin slices of well seasoned beef from a local Tennessee farm. Very simple but elegant. I am not a big meat eater but I did enjoy what I tried and my husband really enjoyed it as well. The not so good: The kale salad. Tiny for the price. Kale salad should never be that price. As soon as it came out with my husband's soup, I knew I made the wrong choice. It was okay, but not okay enough for $9. The rigatoni and lamb. I was debating between this and the pizza but because I knew I could come back anytime and try the pizza and it was our anniversary, I stuck with something I don't normally have- lamb. Let's say I didn't leave full by any means. A flat bowl of rigatoni and this weird gray stewed like meat on top. Not much flavor (thank God there was a little hard cheese on top for some saltiness) and really under performing with the textures. When lamb is on the menu, I'm not expecting something stewed at a place like this. I want succulent chunks of meat (even if it's only a few) and some substance. This was by far the low point of the night. I was really sad. Peanut Butter Ice Box Pie- the crust was so hard we almost sent half the pie across the room to the couple sitting next to us. The bad: The lighting. Absolutely the worst. We were in the bar area where the kitchen is and there are these terrible overhead lights that make the place feel like a warehouse. I got a headache with the lights and the place felt stuffy instead of cozy. Someone get some ambiance in there. Was my husband's food good? Yes. He chose well. I think it really depends on what you order. Our overall experience was just average. The waiter, drinks and olives were a five, but as a whole, it under delivered.
(3)
Shane S.

I've heard about this place for a while. Why did I wait so long!? Great atmosphere, extremely friendly staff, and amazing dishes. I had the catfish with greens--i am tough on greens and these were flavorful and the catfish was cooked perfectly with great seasoning. The pizza was also amazing! I must revisit.
(4)
Laura P.

I really was not sure how many points to give City House (2 or 3 stars), but settled on 2 because of the waitress; pretentious, not very friendly, pushy, and rude. She was training a new waiter; who was very nice though. But, unfortunately, first impressions. Yes, this was out first time going to City House and we will not be going back because of the waitress. We stated it was our first time to the restaurant, being from out of town (but going to Nashville quite often), and she explained that it is a family style restaurant with family style portions. Fantastic. My husband and I had decided to forgo appetizers, so we had room for dessert. My husband asked about desserts and we were directed to the appetizers on the menu. It was not a misunderstanding either from what she said; "Yes, but here are our appetizers;" in a kind of stuck-up tone of why are asking about desserts because you need order an appetizer. The whole time we were trying to decide what to have she was pushing us to order more food than we could eat We finally decided on the Belly ham pizza (which was very good and would love to have it again, but somewhere else). We had seen the size and knew it was going to be plenty for the both of us. The waitress was again pushing food on us that we would not be able to eat. (She was saying that everyone orders a grain to go with their pizza. That's nice, but that would be too much for us.) She left the menu with us, "so we could order more food when ready." The pizza was more than plenty for the both of us. The whole time the couple sitting at the next table could not believe how she was treating us; she was not treating them the same way. My husband decided not to order dessert because he did not want to give her any more money. I ordered dessert because I did not want to go somewhere else just for dessert. The dessert (panna cotta) was very nice and the toffee cookies were fantastic. Also, we saw the food portions that our neighbors ordered and they were not all family style portions, but they certainly had family style portions pricing. I guess this is why she was constantly pushing us to order more food. Basically, we were not happy when we left and had wished that we had left and found a different restaurant.
(2)
Julia C.

The food, service & ambiance were all perfect on a recent trip to City House. A large warehouse-like building has been converted into a restaurant with lots of sections. It is open and cozy despite the many different dining areas, the main one having a view of the kitchen. Most of the dining areas have fireplaces and large windows. Our waiter was very attentive and extremely knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in offering suggestions. We started out with the frico - a fried potato cake with cheddar cheese - what's not to like! We also shared a Margarita pizza, which had a crispy thin crust and perfectly seasoned tomato sauce. For my entree I ordered the lamb rigatoni with olives, onions and pecorino cheese. The lamb was the star of this dish - I don't often eat lamb but this stewed lamb hit the spot and the olives and onions complimented the meat's flavor. My group also ordered the catfish and the sausage (made in house) and everyone loved their dishes. This was my favorite restaurant in Nashville!
(5)
Kris T.

Food is exceptional yet also unique. Smaller portions but man is it really tasty. Every time my wife and I leave this place we start talking about when we are coming back...
(4)
Kylie H.

Waited 1.5 hours but didn't mind - the bar area was a fun environment. Seated upstairs and it was freezing! Our server was nice but seemed annoyed that she had to wait on us and wasn't the most attentive. I'm chalking that up to it being 9PM on a Saturday night but wasn't a great experience for the price we paid. The appetizers were small portions - sweet potato and cheese / summer sausage. I got the Margherita pizza and it was basically a cheese pizza with tomatoes. Nothing special. HOWEVER, my friend got the broccoli pizza and it was amazing. I would go back for that. Overall my experience was very "meh". I'll give it another shot and definitely make different menu choices.
(3)
Hart P.

Wife and I came here for an evening out. We enjoyed ourselves. Nice open atmosphere made us comfortable. Enjoyed thin crust pizzas with gourmet toppings. You do pay for the status of the restaurant. i agree that parking is tricky as all the area lots tow, even when the business is closed.
(3)
Nicole B.

Awesome service, first and foremost. Really knowledgable and attentive staff. I really enjoyed the open kitchen. The decor of the place is really tasteful. I had a Rolo from the bar, which was great. For dinner, I had the lamb rigatoni. Highly recommended. The cuisine is a southern take on traditional Italian food. Loved the concept of it. We had after dinner coffee there too. Very yummy espresso.
(5)
Lynnette F.

The atmosphere, staff and food at City House were amazing. I knew before I even looked at the menu I wanted the Belly Ham Pizza. Hands down one of the best things I ate in Nashville.
(5)
Tracey H.

I've been to City House three times now and I wouldn't hesitate to go back again! Their menu is slightly different each time I go, depending on what's in season. The squash pizza was delicious and I loved the lamb rigatoni! The succotash side was also top notch. Our waiter was extremely nice and patient, very knowledgeable about the menu, and able to answer any questions that we had. You should have heard him describing some of the menu items because he was Food Network Star worthy. I did, however feel like the wait was a bit long for a Thursday night dinner. Overall, I can't wait to go back and see what's new to try on the menu!
(4)
Blake B.

This was our first meal in Nashville and we started off on the right foot for sure. City House is in a cool part of town and the building its in is really cool. Our waiter was awesome and we got his life story. I had a few drinks starting off with the Buzzy Beer followed up by the Sazerac. The buzzy beer was just like an alcoholic root beer float. For our meal we started off with the Fricco with strawberries. Who doesn't like fried cheese and strawberries? I had the belly ham pizza and loved it. My wife had the Conchiglie and really enjoyed it as well. My mother in law had the house-made sausage which was the best thing we had. For dessert I forget exactly what we got but it was delicious. Highly recommended and I'd be back again in a heartbeat if I lived in town.
(5)
Kenny Y.

I came in on a Wednesday night and would have totally missed this place if it wasn't for my GPS. The restaurant / house had a warm feeling with an open kitchen and a wooded oven. A nice crowd for a Wednesday evening and my waitress seemed to be very knowledgeable about the menu. I took one tip from yelp and ordered the Octopus Salad and it was very delighting. And for my entree I ordered the Painted Hill. The name caught me off guard and I thought it was a steak. Not the best cut of meat I had and for the price I could have had a better cut of meat. Not much flavor other than the Worcestershire sauce and a little rough. I saw most people ordered pizzas I guess I should have done the same. For desert I had the Almond Ricotta Pound cake, a little dry but it went will with the gelato. I couldn't have eaten the pound cake alone. It was one those Ying and Yang type of food.
(3)
Donna S.

Excellent seasonal menu. Wait staff informative & friendly. Good vibe, love the pizza bar.
(5)
Dean W.

Went here with a group of 7 friends. Was a bit disappointed in the overall experience. Another of the newer hipster trendy places in Nashville (this trend is really overstaying its welcome.) The waiter recommended that we all order plates to share, which was not a bad idea until the food arrived. Appetizers were way too small to share and entrees were clumsy and large. We had to ask for serving/cutting utensils, I supposed the waiter assumed we were all going to eat like 5 year olds from the same plates in the middle of the table? The food, for all the hype, didn't make it for us. Quite good was the octopus, always a difficult protein to cook. It arrived tender if meager on the plate. I think we each had about 1/2 inch of octopus by the time we shared it. (The waiter should have recommended ordering several plates of each app.) The cornmeal or cornbread gnocchi was a disaster. I appreciate fusion cuisine but several Italians in the group ate 1/2 gnocchi and refused to finish it. Dry, heavy, the antithesis of what a great gnocchi should be. Frico heavy and small. Appetizer prices very high for what you get. Roast chicken came in huge mounds on the plate with nothing to cut it. Also dry and overcooked. In fact, thinking back, I could not remember what else we ordered because the meal was entirely forgettable. And it was impossible to have a conversation at the table because the noise level was too high. Drink prices, especially wine, are high. This one misses the mark....a lot of potential but sadly not quite there.
(2)
Allison B.

Spectacular! Went here tonight for a going away dinner. My friends love this place, and I don't know how I didn't get here sooner. Germantown has really came a long way. The cocktail list was different, and nothing really jumped out at me. I tried two different ones but they were meh. For an appetizer I had the soup: Some amazing cabbage, corn, carrot, potato concoction. Wow! Def trying to remake this one. I also tried the salami, but I found it to be sort of bland. For an entree, I got the half chicken. Cooked to perfection with the most tasteful lemon, onion seasoning. For my side I got the grits which weren't the best. Nothing on the dessert menu stood out to any of us (and 2 our of 3 of us are pastry chefs!). So we opted out. Maybe next time. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Pete H.

I did not care for City House. I don't really know how to describe my experience, other than it seemed like they tried too hard to be cool. I normally would rarely go to Germantown in Nashville, but this was for a friend's birthday. The meal started out badly before I even got into the restaurant. There is no parking lot and the street had already been filled up. I had about a quarter of a mile to walk to get there. The first thing our waiter said was, "I just want to let you all know that if you park in the lot next door, your car will be towed". Two of the five couples had parked in the lot, so they had to get up and move their cars. I'm not sure if there is anything that the restaurant could do to help this, but it was no good. The waiter also seemed annoyed to even help us. He was very knowledgeable of the food, but he seemed very annoyed with any questions we asked. The menu was the smallest menu I have ever seen at a restaurant. The food definitely had a "hipster" feel. I'm sure a lot of people really enjoy it, but I did not. I ordered the Olives with Taralli for an appetizer and it was literally like eight olives on plate. For dinner, I got the Catfish, Cornmeal Crust, Cauliflower, Tomato, Anchovy, Garlic, Chilies. This was not horrible, but it was really just not great for me and I really didn't feel full. I had a couple of Dale's Pale Ale, and my dinner came to like $55. Personally, if I'm going to spend that kind of money, I'd prefer a steak. Anyways, I would definitely not go back to City House.
(2)
Carrie H.

Wow! One of the best meals I have had in Nashville. Service and food was amazing. I would go back every day for their delicious drinks. There were four of us and we tried 6 different cocktails and each was as delectable as the last. We had the cornbread gnocchi and the trout for our main course. Octopus and cauliflower for starters, which was also amazing. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Katie K.

We ended up here on a Sunday night, which is apparently "small plates" night, which is a cool concept. But everything seemed overpriced - a bowl of popcorn was 7$ and there were $20 bottles of beer that were nothing special. I ordered catfish which was well-cooked, but the salad that it came with was way too vinegary. So, we didn't feel the need to stay for dessert.
(2)
Chris H.

Order the Oscar- Blue Head Tequilla, Strega, Lime Juice, sugar. Interesting drink, refreshing and very tasty. Was not in mood for whiskey or beer. Bartender is very cool.
(4)
George D.

Belly ham pizza with the fried egg on top will change your life.
(5)
emily p.

My favorite restaurant in Nashville. I truly love this restaurant and everything it serves. I love the pizza. Belly ham pizza was one of the best meals I recall eating. I always get 2 or 3 apps. And a lovely cocktail or glass of wine. Truly could eat here for the rest of my life. Never leave!
(5)
Michael M.

Italian? Really? 3.5 Stars Went here for a boys night out last week. I don't get the Italian part except for the pizza and a few appetizers. Italian to me is Veal Marsala, Veal Scallopine, Portbello Mushrooms, Lamb & Veal Chops not catfish, chicken, and trout but back to the review. Decent affordable wine menu but I'll probably bring my own next time. Decor is open with a cool atmosphere though the bar looks like my Grandmother's basement where we would cram 60 people. Probably a compliment but not very enticing. We started out with a Margherita Pizza which was good but was missing the fourth ingredient - fresh BASIL! We also ordered the Octopus which was cooked to perfection and very good. For entrees we all ordered the same thing but not by coincidence. The menu is a bit anemic with choices and again Catfish and Trout are not my idea of Italiano so we all got the pasta dish Rigatoni w/ Lamb. Portion was good as was the taste of lamb but the pasta was molto al dente in that it needed another 60 seconds to be al dente perfecto. We whacked up a Vanilla Custard Panna Cotta for dessert which was excellent.
(3)
Leif S.

Too noisy. Acoustics are terrible. Can barely hear the person next to you. Would it kill them to put a sound baffle up? Minus one star. Food was blah. Had the rigatoni with lamb. Could barely taste the lamb over the salt. And I like al dente pasta, but the pasta bit back. Minus one star.
(3)
Bill F.

My wife and I have dined here many times, but last week was our first experience with the "Sunday Night Dinner" which has a unique menu that changes each week. The menu and the food did not disappoint as we started with with some good Italian wine (can't remember the name) and a truly amazing arugula, cheese, and ham appetizer. We followed this up with a lamb sausage pizza and lamb meatballs. The pizza was fantastic, but the meatballs were just ok. The service good, attentive, and personal. My only complaint was having a 5:45pm reservation, arriving 10 mins early, and not being seated too 6:10pm when there were seven open tables.
(4)
mag m.

I would watch your final bill - check your statements. They overcharged a credit card a very small amount - sure, could have been an honest mistake, so refund me without questions! BUT NO - they gave me a VERY difficult and RUDE time reconciling it. FACT is the GM Juliette tried to embarrass me for calling over a small overcharge to my credit card and didn't want to readily refund it either. I had to argue over it and DEMAND that they refund my credit card - and then the GM accused me of making a mistake on my math! REALLY!! The entire experience left me feeling like I had been RIPPED OFF and that they were hoping I didn't notice. Wondering if they make overcharge "mistakes" often - hoping you won't call over such a small amount - multiply that by a few more and well, you do the math - it could be hundreds or thousands - who knows! GM also claims they don't keep receipts for over two weeks so used that excuse to say they could not go back and look at my receipt to prove I was overcharged - PROVE!!!! I even offered to scan and send a copy of my original receipt, but Juliette wasn't interested. Facts are, they are required by law to keep them for up to 18 months - so was that lie or lazy or what? I just don't get it! Here's the facts on businesses keeping receipts - i didn't write this stuff! smallbusiness.chron.com/â€¦ . Too bad huh... Not enough, try this one: gopai.com/blog/Merchant-â€¦
(1)
Dawn W.

Not sure I'd go back. City House was recommended by a friend of a friend, and we wanted to try something new. Had no expectation at all one way or the other so this is just an honest review. Notes: 1. Almost impossible to find parking, even on a Sunday night. Parked about half way to the new stadium. Fortunately it was a lovely evening and the walk was enjoyable. But they desperately need complimentary valet parking. 2. No where to wait inside. We had a long wait and stood the whole time. Additionally, we were herded off to the back corner of the bar by the hostess with an attitude who might as well have said "You're in my space, please go somewhere else". In the holding area, there was no seating so we stood for the entire time. 3. VIBE: We ate on the screened porch which was really nice. I recommend this. 4. Our server seemed disinterested in us and irritated when we asked for help finding our gluten-free friend something to eat. When we asked for a side of the corn cake which was listed with the chili, he said they could not accommodate us and said we had to order the chili in order to get the corn cake. Additionally, he seemed slightly irritated when we asked for anything, like ice for my water. 5. The Sunday menu was limited, and they were out of several things on an already limited menu. both things we ordered were already sold out. 6. Not gluten free friendly: no gluten free pizza crust, no gluten free beer etc. And of course, they wouldn't let us order the corn cake which was one thing our friend could have eaten. 7. Slowish service. we sat for a long time to get water, then again to get our drink order. 8. The menu is slightly snobby and not user friendly. i.e., there are acronyms in the food description that no one knew what it meant,like GMRS. We had to google at least 3 ingredients to find out what the menu was talking about and we know a bit about food. 9. PRICES and PORTIONS: simple note, prices too high for the abbreviated portions. 10: Quality of food: my sausage stew with biscuit was delicious. Compliments to the chef. But again the portions were disappointingly tiny for the money. My husband ate again when we got home because he was still hungry, and he is a light eater to begin with. SO, overall, not a lot to be impressed with. For me the highlight was the flavor of the food itself, but so much to put up with just for a few good bites. I might try it one more time with the regular (not Sunday) menu and see if the experience is any better. .
(2)
Caitlin C.

I'm still going to round up to 4 stars for City House because over all you will enjoy your meal and experience. The service and atmosphere is awesome and I do like the vibe. I wouldn't say "elsewhere is better" to anyone planning to go but ultimately I'll only be returning to City House if others are inviting me. It's just not my first choice when it comes to fine dining. I really feel like the strong point of the two meals I've had at City House are the small sides and the desserts. Last night we went for their Sunday dinner, in which you order a bunch of things to share. It was enjoyable. The service was great and the food was satisfying. Honestly, the best things from last night was the popcorn, ice cream sandwiches and the lemon poppy seed cake with buttermilk ice cream and blackberry jam. The pizza was good and the wings were good but like I've said before, I just get this overall sense that I've had similar dishes else where in the city that of a higher caliber in the flavor department. That's how I felt the first time I visited and that's how I felt after last night. ps Rebekah Turshen you rock!
(4)
Jaya D.

We made it a mission to have exceptional meals during our short stay in Nashville...and we accomplished that. However, the best of the best was our time at City House. Before I rave about the food and drinks, our waiter deserves a thank you. Paul made this experience outstanding. From the recommendation for cocktails to dessert, he was spot on. I will confess, I had never heard of most of the ingredients in the cocktails but each (Oscar, Momo, and one I can't remember) was delightfully complex. We had the belly ham pizza for an appetizer. The cheese was ah-mazing. Entrees included the trout, tri tips, and sausage. All were delicious. The sausage is made in house and really rich. The trout is from a preserved stream and was delicate but full of flavor. If you love brussel sprouts, don't miss out. But the califlower was really the best. I know this is getting long but I can't leave out dessert. I don't care how stuffed you are...get it. If you are fortunate enough to visit when the pastry chef is making coffee cream soda cake (I may have the order of adjectives wrong) don't miss it (apparently she only makes it a few months a year). the chocolate pecan praline was also fantastic. I'm running out of ways to talk about it...stop reading and go!!!
(5)
I M.

Very disappointing. We didnt have very high expectations;we just wanted a guaranteed nice meal and nice service, and it turned out to be a noisy place, rude service and pretty bad cooked food for a place like this. Pizza was good, however nothing extraordinary...so would not come back again for the pizza... And as for that linguine that tastes as if eating a bowl of salt.... Come on. I hope this might have been a bad day for the chef, but for a 100$ i expect something at least that tastes OK and not BAD. Waiter was totally unfriendly when we pointed this out. Im not coming back
(1)
Laura C.

I came with friends who are regulars, so the service was great! It is really loud inside, but the food and the drinks were delicious. I had the locally-made shell pasta and it was so good. The part that blew me away was that the cookie dessert plate involved cookies that were actually delicious. I would go back for drinks and cookies, and I usually don't do that kind of thing. The octopus appetizer was also amazing.
(4)
Karen K.

Two stars for the food alone. Blood will run out of your ears from the noise level but you will still be able to hear the sarcasm from "the Manager" when she "responds" to your concerns. There are WAY better restaurants in Nashville with none of City House's pain points. Never again.
(2)
Janet Y.

I heart City House. It has such a homey but urban/hip vibe. The food is excellent, and it was clear that the servers were knowledgeable. We started our meal with a couple of appetizers that were seriously out of this world. The octopus tasted like tender scallops and the frico cheese/potato tasted like a crispy scallop potato! I ended up getting a pasta with anchovy in it-- it was phenomenal. I had leftovers, and I ate it cold the next day, and it was even better! My friend had the springer mountain half chicken, and it was so tender and juicy. I think I'll get that next time! What I like about City House versus some of the other new and hip restaurants in Nashville is that the menu is more extensive with price ranges that can suit more people! For that reason, I think it's perfect for a group dinner or a romantic date for two. Bravo City House!
(5)
Stacy B.

We loved the atmosphere here. Loved. From the open kitchen to the exposed piping. I "oohed" and "aahed" while walking to our table. On to the important stuff: food and adult beverages. I made reservations late in the game and could only get a 5 p.m. seating. Worth it. We were served by a delightful waitress (I wish I could remember her name) who helped us settle on a cocktail called the Samson, featuring Averell Damson Gin (a gin made from plums), Vermouth, Lemon Soda, Bitters, Grapefruit. That started us off on the right foot. Next up was an appetizer of Pole Beans, Chickpeas, Red Onion, Cider Dressing, Basil, and Grit Crumbs. It was a unique alternative to a salad, and I figured eating greens before pizza would lessen my guilt. The truth is that the pizza ended up being so delicious, I couldn't have felt guilty about it if I tried. Yes, the star of the show was definitely the pizza. We split the Tomato, Buttermilk Cottage Cheese, Grana Padano, Garlic, and Oregano. I'm not a cottage cheese fan, so I'm not sure what possessed me to try this, but I'm thankful that I did. In other words, if you aren't a cottage cheese fan, don't let it deter you. Loved the crust, loved the cheese, loved that the tomatoes were so juicy they kept spitting juice everywhere. Everywhere. We polished off the pizza frighteningly quickly, and my boyfriend has since declared it his favorite meal on our trip to Nashville. I highly recommend.
(5)
Missy M.

We were in Nashville for a college visit with no specific dinner plans on a Sunday night. After walking down Music Row, we knew there had to be better places to eat in Nashville! A quick Google search and we found City House. What a find it was! We were seated immediately on a Sunday evening, which we soon learned is the best night to dine. Our server was fabulous and very enthusiastic about the menu. He said we would be remiss if we did not order the pork meatballs. He was correct, they were simply sublime and melted in your mouth. Everything we tried was wonderful. The cocktails were equally good. Leave room for dessert. We had the Apple Pan cake and it left us wanting more. After reading some of the other reviews, I don't know how their bill was so high. We thought it was extremely reasonable $80 for 4 people.
(5)
Caitlin N.

City House is in a beautiful old building and has a great open kitchen. Service was fine but not as attentive as we would have liked. It was hard to get our server's attention as it was very loud. The food seemed unique on the menu but we didn't feel it was anything to write home about once we tasted it There were four in our party and two ordered pizzas which the table felt were the best meals of the night. One of us ordered the corn bread gnocchi. It was extremely heavy and she barely ate it. We did enjoy dessert. Overall we left a little disappointed and wishing we had gone to Germantown Cafe.
(3)
Bethany W.

This place nails it. Packed at 8:30 on a Wednesday night, the service was attentive and personable. There was a nice buzz throughout the space without being too loud, and the architectural details are spot on. We split two antipasti: A) the pole beans, field peas, red onion, pickle dressing, basil, and grit crumbs, and B) the corn, celery, GMRS, red onion, and tomato dressing. While we agreed both were delicious, we enjoyed the corn option a bit more. We then split the tomato, buttermilk cottage cheese, grana padano, garlic, and oregano pizza. The crust was impeccable, and the size was perfect for the two of us. We also tried the Kubric, which is made of Prichard's TN Whiskey, Clear Creek Pear Brandy, bitters, and ginger ale, before enjoying a bottle of the Cascina Roccalini, a Dolcetto d'Alba from Piedmont. My boyfriend - an Italian - proudly calls City House his favorite restaurant in Nashville. After visiting myself, I can see why.
(5)
Olivia S.

Love this place. I've never once been disappointed in food or service. The wait staff is always so knowledgable and quick to fix you up with their favorites. Great drinks, great, simple atmosphere, and great folks. If you get a pizza, get the egg on top! Just do it!
(5)
Alyson W.

City House is actually one of the best cheap eats in Nashville... Yes, I said cheap. One of the great appeals to City House is that you can go and drop some serious cash, or you can go for a quick delicious bite and not break the bank. I always opt for their pizzas... ALWAYS. The belly ham pizza is one of the most unique dishes I've had in Nashville and makes so thankful that I live here, and also that I'm alive. All this from a pizza... indeed. Hint: the chile sauce can be placed on the side because yes, its very spicy.
(5)
Marisa L.

Great food with a seasonal menu. Fun place to share a few dishes family style. Way too loud in the restaurant, though. Love the side porch when the weather is nice.
(4)
Sarah P.

Two words: Sunday Supper. It's their once-a-week, always unique menu that's good for two! Another sweet find thanks to a local! Reservations fill up quick, but the bar because is first come, first serve. I was not angry about the brick-fire oven and being at the bar meant being able to talk to the chef's who were super nice. Their drinks are on point and in typical Tennessee fashion, their bourbon & whiskey selections are seemingly endless.
(5)
D C.

The vibe when you walk in is energetic and upbeat. We started with cocktails that were made terrific. We then had the cheese and sweet potato appetizer and the broccolli appetizer. Both had great flavors and we really enjoyed them. For dinner, we got the margerita pizza and the cornbread gnocchi. The pizza was so light and thin and absolutely scrumptious. The gnocchi was good but very heavy...the least favorite dish of our night. For dessert, we shared the layer cake with zabiglione. It was delicious as well. The waitress was attentive and knew every aspect of the meals and drinks/ how they were made and even made freat suggestions based on our info about what we like. Dinner for two with cocktails was about$100. I would say very reasonable!! And I loved that everything is out in the open and the chefs cook in the dame room we eat.
(4)
Allison T.

LOVED this place. Described to this New Yorker as a Williamsburgh/Greenpoint-type 'trendy' place but with the food to back it up, and that was accurate. City House was accommodating to our difficult party of five: the hostess didn't bat an eye when we showed up an hour early (genuine mistake on our part) and then was able to give us a table in the quiet screened porch to help out the hearing-impaired member of our group.(The noise level in the main restaurant, even the smaller back room, is shattering). As the sole vegetarian in the group, I had fewer menu choices but everything I had was superior: kale salad with Alabama-style creamy BBQ sauce as dressing, a transcendent chard and mayo pizza (I know, sounds gross, but it was perfection), creamy/dreamy strawberry sherbet. Everyone else in the group had good-to-excellent food: the 'scrapple' appetizer was a hit; fried catfish was fine but the portion was almost overwhelming; grits and greens main course needed a little more seasoning; house-made sausage was fine. The cornbread gnocci, which we ordered as a shared dish for the table, was the only disappointment: it's very heavy and 'gnocci' is a misnomer, it's thick cubes of cornbread pan-seared and served in a light marinara. Our server was engaged, involved and entertaining. Pace of the meal was good. My only (minor) complaint is the same for many of the new farm-to-table sourced menus: too many unfamiliar terms that need to be explained by the waitperson (GMRS? Fonduta? Taralli? Tesa?). I would prefer a more wordy menu that explains the dish rather than a list of ingredients that the server has to talk you through. My meal shaded me to the five-star side of a 4.5-star rating.
(5)
Adam H.

A Nashville meal so good I had it twice in my 5 day stay. Food: Appetizers were original and delicious. House cured salami and Wisconsin cheese was great, as was the frico of broccoli. The ciccioli of white beans was surprisingly good and full of garlic. The pork belly pizza was one of the best wood-fired pies I've had. Their trout was fresh and nicely prepared, with peanuts, raisins and lemon. A standout was the bread gnocchi. I don't know how they did it, but it was the perfect combination - and in their delicious tomato sauce? Wonderful. Service: Knowledgeable wait staff, all of whom have beards that, unlike in NY, are not ironic. Amicable and attentive. Ambience: It felt like a classy hipster joint with high ceilings and an industrial look but with nice woodgrain everywhere. Cool atmosphere. Bottom Line: You cannot go wrong at the City House.
(5)
Lindsay R.

The cornbread gnocchi is tasty but quite filling, the cocktails are strong, and if you go in a party of 2 you are likely to get a seat at the bar with no wait. Service is great and so are the sides, thought the entrees were a little above average. Great place to go if you want a good meal but don't want to go over the top. Some portions are overpriced for the amount of food you get. There are not nearly enough wall decorations.
(3)
Sydney S.

This restaurant was so unique. We went for "Sunday dinner" that changes to a completely new menu weekly. With four of us, we shared salads, some small plates and a pizza. It was all uniquely flavored with interesting combinations that were surprisingly very, very tasty. If you are ordering drinks, try the Moose. It's an interesting flavor-- a little dark and kind of bitter, but still very enjoyable. The atmosphere was super chic and hip, but relaxing. Oh! For dessert, we had the ice cream sandwiches. If you don't get anything else out of this review, I hope you understand that these are to die for and WORTH IT.
(5)
Hunter B.

My fiance and I's favorite dinner spot in town. Unique cocktails that are strong, and food that appeals to me in all the right ways. No frills, fresh ingredients and made right in front of your face! We love to sit at the bar and watch the food roll out, it never gets old! Our favorites are the octopus to start and pork belly pizza, although we did try the cornbread gnocchi last time and it was also delicious.
(5)
Katie H.

My dad's sausage was so salty he couldn't eat it. My mom's white bean soup was also inedible and my side of turnip greens were so bitter I had to spit them out. Now, there were great portions of the dinner, however, if I am going to spend $150 on a meal, I don't want any part of it to be unsatisfying...especially given the fact that there are about 45 restaurants in this city that can provide a flawless meal for the same or a lesser price
(1)
Samantha S.

A year ago, this was my go-to spot. Not anymore. The menu has barely changed in YEARS. Literally. Especially the entrees. I came here once in August and our server put in my husband's order but forgot to put in mine. I had ordered chicken so of course this took much longer as expected after she had realized she messed up (as his food was coming out). It's a two top. How do you forget and only put in one order? Cool, no problem. We didn't complain at all but they ended up taking both of our entrees off of our bill which was not needed but very much appreciated because we ended up being there way too long. We came back last week. I had a pizza (blah) and the pasta with lamb (absolutely terrible). The margarita pizza had zero basil on it (the server said was only available for one week of the entire summer? what?) and the "lamb" pasta tasted like noodles, pulled pork (and not the good kind) with cheese sprinkled on top. Barely edible. The server asked how our meal was. My response was, "it was different...." We got our check and left extremely unsatisfied. There are PLENTY of amazing restaurants in Nashville that are killing it in the food scene right now. I'll gladly spend my hard earned money at Rolf and Daughters, Etch, etc.
(3)
Mike W.

Delicious Pizza. The Kale pizza will not disappoint. Love this place. Cool vibe. Nice choice of whiskeys. Bartenders and service was too notch.
(5)
Scott T.

Simply amazing. We went Sunday night, which is a unique experience. On Sunday they create a different menu than the rest of the week. I was told the Sunday menu is never recreated. We started with fried summer sausage, chow chow, and buttermilk cheddar. The trick was to get a little bit of all three in one bite. The combination is salt, sour, and creamy was fabulous. For our main dishes, we had the chicken and jalapeÃ±o sausage over cucumbers, vidalia onions, cabbage and a sausage and potato pizza. The sausage had the flavor of jalapeÃ±o without the heat, so my wife could enjoy it as well. The pizza was so delicious I ate most of it myself. Dessert was a peach cobbler and a caramel pecan chocolate mini pie. The cobbler was one of the best I have ever had. I prefer a more pie type crust, this was more a bread type. Not being a fan of pecans I was wonderfully surprised how good the pie was. This was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. We sat at the kitchen bar so we got to watch the kitchen crew make everything. Our waiter was very professional. The only bad is the dishes we had will not be available again. The next time we are in Nashville we will definitely stop in.
(5)
Sam H.

I came here for dinner with a Nashville friend on my visit from NYC. I'm glad we sat at the bar because our bartender Chris really knew his shit! He welcomed us and we quickly chatted about our options. We went with all of his suggestions and nothing disappointed.. We had the octopus, spinach buttermilk pizza and the coffee cream cake. All I have to say is WOW. Definitely one of the best meals i've ever had. The whole time Chris paired us with the perfect cocktails and laid down a ton of knowledge. All in all a grade A experience.
(5)
Jessica S.

I decided to come here to celebrate my 24th birthday. I have never been here before. I used to live in Italy and after reading their menu online, I knew I had to try their food. So, off we went! We decided to order a pizza as an appetizer (I definitely recommend this). It was fresh, delicious, and came out of the oven pretty quickly. We ordered a bottle of wine and decided to each order an entree and share it. We got the fettuccine with lamb sugo, gnocchi, and trout. AMAZING. It was like a mouth-gasm. So so so so SO delicious. The only downfall was the service. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about each food item but she was pretty slow when it came to serving water and getting our wine. Also, the hostess was just straight up rude to me. Not appreciated. Other than the crappy service, I'm coming here again for the food. It was incredible and too good to pass up. If you're ever in the Nashville area and craving some real Italian food, this is the place to go.
(5)
Anna Y.

Interior, tableware, atmosphere - everything is very contemporary (the branch of contemporary dining fashion tI take to). I hope this place is going to survive the popularity wave and remain relevant. Everything me and my friends had was delicious. I particularly recommend their pizza. In my opinion, it is the best pizza in Nashville, as close to Italian pizza as it can get. According to my Italian friend, it has 'TN flair' but that's totally fine! I also appreciate the size of the servings: these days these fashionable places give you a handful of food, which is not enough to feed a compact lady, let alone a guy. This place has it right. I'll be back for sure!
(5)
Angela P.

The pizza at City House was so good - and I'm from Chicago! We had the peach/red onion/cheddar and the margarita pizza. The peach was my favorite, I ordinarily despite onions on anything, but the onions complimented the peaches and cheddar and weren't overpowering at all. The menu here is very limited. So if you like options, or menus like a novel, go elsewhere. Sometimes though I like not having so many choices. Then I don't get indecisive when the waiter comes around. I made reservations here for our anniversary dinner. We were seated right away. I mistakenly thought City House was an intimate, romantic place. I was caught offguard when we walked into a bustling, lively, open dining room. I didn't mind this, it was my mistake anyway, but I didn't really like that the tables were so close together. When I sat in the booth, I had to squeeze through the tables and felt my ass rub on our neighbors' table. Would it kill them to arrange the tables a few extra inches apart? Because this also meant that I overheard their conversation, and it was difficult to relax and have an enjoyable conversation with my husband. I wouldn't recommend this place for a romantic dinner or a date night since it's a little noisy in here. But our pizzas were outstanding, so I wouldn't take back the night and go elsewhere. I'd suggest this more for nice lunch or with a small group of friends. The food alone is worth the five stars!
(5)
Mick S.

First time tonight to City House. It was really great! I had one of their Belly Ham pizzas and I can honestly say it was fantastic! Adding the egg on top was a crazy but awesome. It was so unique and tasty it's hard to put it into words. I would just recommend you go and try it. Props to our waiter too. Nice lad who hails from the pacific NW, which is where I'm from originally. I'd have given it a 5 star, but I thought their cost of wine by the glass was a bit high. That always bugs me. Great place otherwise.
(4)
Poppy C.

Probably the hottest sophisticated scene in Nashville. Everyone dining seemed young hip and urban. I saw more diversity in this dining room (2 other Asian girls) than the 20,000 people at the Bridgestone Arena the night before... admittedly that was for Iron Maiden... The open kitchen was full of dudes in baseball caps with full on hipster beards and gauges. Our server was NYC cool and everyone had several tattoos and I saw a few full sleeves. Minus a few stars though..... Strong drinks, nice but not carefully crafted and took forever to get. We had to wait quite a bit at the bar. I thought perhaps the two female bartenders were just not very good nor observant but they were quick to help a couple that arrived after us and had no problem getting wine for the servers to bring to diners. The couple that arrived after us also got their drinks before we did. The server had no problem however requesting we close our tab out when we did get our drinks. Kind of annoying and I'm pretty sure I hadn't had time to piss any of them off yet so not sure why the bad service there..... Pizza was okay, looked better than it tasted, crust was average. Octopus was very very good, perfect texture. Catfish was nice, grits were amazing. Chocolate panna cotta extremely yummy and a very nice ending.
(3)
Brooklyn C.

Great food and great service! Beautiful location and interesting menu. Excellent cocktail selection. We had delicious appetizers and pizza baked in their brick ovens. Really fun place to eat with great atmosphere.
(5)
David G.

City House is good. People enjoy City House, and I enjoyed City House. But, this is another "it's good, but there are better" places in Nashville. And, since the 3-star rating says "A-OK" next to it in big capital letters, I have rated City House for what it is: A-OK. The wine and cocktail menus are quite nice -- although disappointing that they did not have spherical ice for my whiskey aperitif but that's OK, I suppose, as so few do here. The whiskey was still nice as were the appetizers: cauliflower served with pomegranate and almonds was one and the other was a Salami and cheese. Good. Yes. Blow me out of the water great. No. The cauliflower at Josephine and Etch are better. For dinner, I ordered a nice chianti (sans fava beans and sans some victim's liver). But, I did order the House Made Belly Ham, Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, and Chilies pizza. The pizzas are thin crusted and can easily serve two normal sized humans. Again, I thought it was good. But, it was not any better than eating at Mafiaoza's and Mafiaoza's is not all that great. Both are just A-OK. Was it edible and good? Yes. Did I leave wanting to shank anyone on Yelp who blasphemed City House's food? No. I wouldn't fight anyone over returning to the place. But I'd go back if asked. So, you can go give it a try. It is OK after all. Just please do not blame me if you leave thinking it was just OK.
(3)
Xander S.

Had a solid belly ham pizza at the bar, the atmosphere was great and I'd highly recommend going if you're in Nashville for a short period of time. I was told to go by many locals and they were spot on. If I'm ever back in Nashville, I'll be there. It's a bit pricy, but worth it. Also a nice date place.
(5)
Stephanie C.

We just tried City House for the first time, and I'll admit I had a great time. The service was stellar, and our waitress was amazing. She knew everything there was to know about the menu. And she took the time to explain without seeming rushed. We ended up trying a variety of appetizers, none of which I was over the moon about. But there wasn't anything that was a huge disappointment either. The cocktails were interesting. I appreciate the fact that there was a mix of herbal, strong, and sweet. I feel like a lot of our new restaurants don't offer the ladies a variety of easily drinkable cocktails. The Scribble was incredible. I had the pork belly pizza with fried egg and the husband had the tri-tip steak. Both were fantastic, though the hubs wished the steak was a little more done. I also really loved the chocolate Graham ice cream. It was just fantastic. But everyone is right about the noise level, it is so incredibly loud in there because of the vaulted ceilings. For my future return visits, I think I'll try to stick to lunchtime, or weekdays that might not be as packed as it was this Friday night.
(4)
M L.

Yup still the best. Keep kickin ass and taking names. City House is the best restaurant in Nashville no question, maybe event Tennessee. Consistently blowing people's minds and taste buds. Cheers!
(5)
Nickie G.

Since there are 200+ reviews here, I will keep it short for once. Hard to find....building is practically unmarked. It is a brick building, entrance is on the side, off the road, so when you see what you think SHOULD be it, park. Look in the window and when you see tables/table cloths you have found it. Go around the side and enter. Specialty cocktails were fucking yummy. My server recommended a gin one that she called an "old lady drink" and, well, call me an old lady because I loved it. (She loved it too...told me she had an "old lady" palatte hehe) The pizza I got (can't even remember which one) was great and made better because they asked me "do you want a fried egg on it?" A fried, runny, over easy egg on my pizza? Yes, yes I do. It was delicious. Verdict: very good. They had things other than pizza too so more things to try. Wish they were open for lunch too.
(4)
Hannah Y.

Called earlier in the day 6x and they never answered...when I arrived I was told there was a 45 minute wait....was totally fine with it....stood near the bar for 10 minutes without being acknowledged....stepped up to the bar...and was told I had no business trying to order a drink because there were people waiting longer than myself by the bartender...zero people were around trying to order a drink... Terrible service. Also....bartender had no bra on and a white shirt....could see her entire areola. Visit before that...the bartender was very poor at making drinks on the menu. Bummer was looking forward to that place :/
(1)
Kristina L.

Girls' night out September style was at City House. How I have not been here before is beyond me. But I have been here now and as Arnie would say "I'll be back". We started with the octopus appetizer. Loved it! Tender, delicious bites atop a delectable quinoa concoction. We also split the pork belly pizza with a sunny-side up egg on it. It was savory with a perfectly crisp crust and plenty of wonderful, soft cheese. But the highlight was the slice with the egg... One of my girlfriends gently pierced the yolk and we split that piece into thirds. Divine! Delightful! Decadent! Delicious! I am always a sucker for foods topped with a runny egg yolk and this did not disappoint. (See how I used so many "D" words?) For the main course, I had the pasta with the lamb ragu. It's amazing how freshly made pasta trumps any of that crap from a box. That simple touch elevates a dish from good to great. My friends had the trout with the sweet potato side (which was my favorite thing of the evening) and the tri-tip with the creamy grits. The trout was moist, flaky and scrumptious. The tri-tip was fork tender and practically melted in my mouth. All in all, we were all very pleased with our food and drinks. We also were far too full to experience a dessert - maybe next time because there will definitely be a next time. Service was pleasant and not overbearing. The ambiance was nice but a bit loud in my opinion. But the overall experience was complimentary for having dinner, drinks and conversation with my friends. If you haven't been, by all means go!
(4)
Alison B.

First of all - I don't think this is an Italian place even though its listed as that. Very eclectic menu. Second - the food is amazing! Try the Brussel sprout salad with the Greek yogurt dressing!!!! Third - EXTREMELY noisy! Couldn't even hear each other by the time we left, which is why we left. We were told the 40s room is the quietest because of the ceilings so ask to be seated there.
(4)
Ali G.

I went to visit a friend, and she was really excited to take me here. The only availability 2 weeks out was a late seating. Totally fine! When we sat, our (incredibly unfriendly) server told us several dishes were done for the night, and that we only had a little while to order because the kitchen was closing. Why do they seat people so late, then? He told us nothing about the menu, was pretty unhelpful when one drink was definitely a little off, and threw the check on the table when we were still consuming dessert. Actually tossed it on the table without muttering a word. It was one of the worst dining experience that I have had, for only decent food. Would not come back..
(3)
Victoria L.

First off, the location and ambiance of this place is great. It's in a gutted house that is very industrial looking on the inside. There is a cozy, netted al fresco dining area that seemed great at nighttime. We got a table in the middle room right in front of the kitchen, which gave us a view of the upstairs room and the bar activity. Our table of 4 started by sharing a bottle of Tasca d'Almerita Lamuri, Nero d'Avola, which we were very pleased with. To start, three of us shared the ciccioli on top of a corn, salsa verde, bread crumbs mixture. The texture and flavors were a great combination. Salty pork, sweet corn, and a little crunch from the bread crumbs. Then we share margherita and belly ham pizzas. The thin-crust pizzas had great charred and chewy crusts, fresh mozzarella, and the ham pizza had a great spice from the chilies. We also tried the linguine with squid and potatoes. I wasn't the biggest fan of the potatoes and one friend mentioned it was overly salted, but it was still good. Our approach to sharing dishes was perfect when it came time for dessert. We couldn't pass up a look at the dessert menu since the rest of our meal had been so good. For the table, we got the sweet potato ice box cake and chocolate butterscotch panna cotta. The cake came with marshmallow fluff, which I haven't seen before; it was definitely interesting. My favorite part of the night was the panna cotta, which came in a jar topped with vanilla whipped cream and cookie crumbles. It rivals the best dessert in Philadelphia: Barbuzzo's salted caramel budino. If I ever come back to Nashville, this place is definitely worth a second visit!
(5)
Victoria F.

My boyfriend & I had been trying to get a reservation here for a while and I'm so glad we finally got to have dinner here last night for my birthday! Being from New York pizza is my favorite...the pork belly ham pizza with an egg on top was out of this world delicious! Everything from the ambiance, unique open kitchen, amazing selection of red wines, friendly and knowledgeable server, just a fantastic experience. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a one of a kind dining experience!
(5)
Bridget S.

What a pleasant surprise! Hubby and I ate at the bar. Such friendly and attentive bartenders. My hubby truly enjoyed the House Made Belly Ham, Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, Chilies pizza, fresh flavors and the egg on top made the meal even more enjoyable. My pasta, Casareccia, Broccoli, Anchovy, Lemon, Garlic, Chilies, Pecorino, Bread Crumbs was so very fresh light and delicious! I think we will be eating here often! The dessert was sinful and yummie...a must try....Butterscotch Panna CottaButtermilk Praline, S + P Pecan Sandies, Mascarpone Crema...
(5)
Kevin C.

Lots of long fingered reviews so... Kale salad, okay I'm with you on this power food Octopus, slightly over cooked perhaps? Bread gnocchi, a bit heavy but the tomato and swiss chard complimented it well Ham pizza, bad ass with a kick of heat, thank you for saving my meal Peanut butter pie, can't go wrong with vanilla gelato Drink menu rivals some places I've been in Chicago. But the uninformed up sell from Jim Beam to Bulleit is not cool. Service was not necessarily happy. Southern hospitality was out the door. Not terrible but she seemed a bit peeved no one ordered any fish + meat ($23 for a half chicken, yikes). Locals say a lot of new places are taking queues from City House and I can see why.
(4)
Jennifer P.

Although a little pricy, I was not disappointed. My friends and I decided to try and array of menu items to get a good feel of what City House was all about. We ordered the belly ham pizza, the fried kale pizza and the bread gnocchi to split amongst us all. Every bite was superb. A lot of complex flavors perfectly paired together. We also tried their signature cocktails and I must say the Bandit was quite tasty. You would think after such a huge meal no one would have room for dessert. WRONG. I had heard such good things about their desserts, that I shamefully convinced everyone to keep eating. The chocolate s'more pie was so good I'd go back just for that.
(4)
Rebecca F.

I don't get the hype about this place. A group of my friends went on a Friday night for dinner, and besides the pork belly pizza, the food was average to say the least. On the menu, it was described much better than it actually looked and tasted. Not to mention we waited over an hour for our entrees, and when we spoke to the manager about the situation she condescendingly responded, "This is a typical wait time in Nashville on a Friday night." We thought that was pretty rude considering we were from a much larger city, yet have never heard that particular excuse before. Anyway, I think there are many better places to try in Nashville that have friendlier staff and better food. We were really looking forward to our visit and heard great things, too; However, this visit was just not the best way to start off our weekend in our favorite city.
(1)
Allison C.

My boyfriend and I were visiting Nashville and decided to eat here based on reviews. Boy are we glad we did! The food quality was excellent. We ordered and split the pork belly pizza and the steak entree. The pizza was was perfectly cooked, and the pork gave it the most explosive flavor. Then came the steak, topped with parmesan cheese. It was perfectly cooked as well and so melt in your mouth tasty. We both agreed it was one of our favorite steaks of all time! Cocktails were equally amazing, and the wine list was impressive. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Overall perfect dining experience! Thanks City House:)
(5)
Melissa H.

Absolutely delish every single time. Great cocktails. Always have had great service. Love!!
(5)
Laura H.

I had very high expectations of City House, and my meal last night far exceeded them. We were a party of 4 and decided just to order a bunch of dishes and share them as so many menu items looked good, and we couldn't decide upon just one entree. We started with the octopus, frico and a special last night - two lamb chops accompanied by fingerling potato salad. The octopus was not like any I've ever had. It was light and delicate (not chewy at all) and the pickled red onions, carrots and mint resulted in an explosion of flavors in my mouth. The frico was perfectly fried cheesy goodness served over fresh tomatoes - two of my favorite foods. We then moved onto belly ham pizza, tomato and cottage cheese pizza and catfish. I'm not a huge meat eater, so I would have never ordered the belly ham pizza on my own, but I'm so glad I tried it. Topped with a fried egg and a combination of mozzarella and grana padano with house made belly ham resulted in heaven in my mouth. The cottage cheese pizza was also tasty, but if I had to choose between the two, I'd definitely go with the belly ham. The catfish was lightly breaded and baked. By itself it did not have a lot of flavor but the relish on top added flavor with delightful crunchy sweet bites of corn. Although we were all ready to explode at this point, we could not pass on the dessert menu. The oatmeal cream pie with blackberry preserves was creamy and sweet enough, but not overly so. The honey vanilla panna cotta was so light it felt as if I was eating pure sunshine. Eaten with the slightly salty cornmeal cookies, I simply could not decide upon a winner between the two desserts. City House and Chef Tandy Wilson deserve every honor bestowed upon them. Hands down the best meal I've had in Nashville and one of the best in my life.
(5)
Ben B.

Underpriced gem. Fabulous seasonal menu, fresh and filling. Had the kale salad, roast chicken with sweet potatoes, and panda cotta.
(5)
Brooke S.

I cannot say enough good things about this place. We went for Sunday Supper during our trip to Nashville and it was our best meal out. Everything we tried was delicious (and there were so many other menu items we wanted to try!). The Pork meatballs with a red ragu sauce were splendid and the mozzarella apple walnut pesto pizza was perfection. If I lived here I would go eery Sunday to see what's on the ever-rotating menu. Very cool atmosphere as well, fantastic experience from start to finish.
(5)
Scott D.

I like this spot. Our new friend Kim highly recommended it and I'm glad she did. It's in Germantown in an unexpected dark street, so that was a plus for hidden ambiance. Great service from a typically Nashvillian bearded man who was able to provide consistently good answers steering us to the best place on the menu. The barman steered me to a Henry which didn't move the needle, but the Death's Door martini was a crowd pleaser. We had the anchovy pizza with arugula and the farm fresh egg, the cauliflower salad and the octopus. I thought all three were super solid. My wife loves salads and desired more leafy green salads and for the mostly vegetarian-set this isn't your first choice. My thanks to Kim, it's a fun place to go with country/family style farm-to-table goodness that I appreciate.
(4)
Brian M.

Spent the weekend in Nashville (from Philadelphia), and extensively researched each place we'd want to eat along the way. Saturday night was City House, a place we'd seen mentioned again and again as one of the top spots in the city, even so far as receiving a James Beard semifinal nomination. So we were pumped for the food here to say the least. Much the same as the night before where we thought the venue would outshine the food at Capitol Grille and found it to be the opposite, we found the venue to stand above the food at City House. Not that the food was bad, but that...well, this going going to sound pretentious...we're from Philadelphia. We have like 4-5 places pretty similar to City House. We're lucky. Point being the food here wasn't super special (and yes, I checked the menu coming in so had an idea of what to expect). To whit, the quirky server had to confirm with me "Is it OK if we put an egg on your pizza?" Yeah, duh. "Oh okay, because I've never seen that before working here" he says. Oh. I didn't tell him it's kind of a standard pizza (a tartufo or variant) nowadays to throw an egg on top, but I was thinking it. Act like you've been there. Plus they charge $3 extra to crack an egg on your pizza? Come on. Now I sound like a dick. Whatever. Quick hits: - Gnocchi was heavy. Guess that's the bread part? I don't know, but don't expect pillowy soft stuff here. The lamb ragu was phenomenal though. Spicy. - Frico - when you burn some cheese on the edge of a pan and also have some light potato in there? Yeah, but better. Not worth $11 though. - Octopus was well prepared, which is nice since it can be tricky. Chickpea/fennel bed it was on was excellent. Order this. - Loved the drinks. Nice price too. - Super nice service start to finish. Called a cab for us since we were headed to Opry straight from here (shutup, I told you we're tourists) and we walked from our Downtown hotel. I feel this is a completely foreign concept in this city: walking from place to place. Bicentennial park is gorgeous. Enjoy it, Nashvillians! In the end I get this feeling City House is a new, and really cool, direction for the Nashville dining scene. So props for that. It just didn't stand out for me like I hoped it would given the accolades.
(4)
Brian N.

I had dinner here once, about a year ago, and just didn't care for it. I didn't hate it, but I just wasn't overwhelmed. I know so many people who list this as one of their favorite restaurants, though, so I thought I'd try it again. I liked it so much more! I had a few starters -- mozzarella and corn, which was kind of bland, and okra and buttermilk, which was freakin' fantastic. I had a squash pizza, and I'm disgusted with myself that I ate the whole thing by myself, but it was too good to stop! I'm a fan now. I get what the others see in this place. I'll go back, for sure.
(4)
Ang R.

Excellent. Small shareable plates. Mix of pasta, pizza, interesting veggies. Awesome peanut butter pie. Oh and amazing craft cocktails.
(5)
Monica E.

MUST try the belly ham pizza and make sure to have the egg cracked on top. It's perfection! Also, the trout is absolutely awesome. I get it every time and share another dinner!
(4)
Diana T.

This is my favorite restaurant in Nashville because it suits me perfectly for any occasion. It might not suit you. First, the food: Real, rustic Italian. Emphasis on pork. To start with, you can't go wrong with a pizza. The belly ham is a classic, but a margherita hits the spot. On to the entrees: The stuffed trout is hard to pass up, but the bread gnocchi are equally interesting. Sides great, too; always ask to hear them as they're not listed on the menu. Dessert, if you make it there, is worth the calories, even though I'm no sweets-fiend. Drink: A large selection of cocktails, a thoughtful wine list, some high-alc bottles of beer. Something for everyone. Ambiance: Sitting at a table on the ground floor gives you a great view of the action. The chef and his crew are in full view, manning the oven and the hot stations. You're just as likely to see music row elite as an average couple; if you go early you'll even see a family or two. Most people are dressed "trendy" and up -- designer jeans and a blazer, etc. -- but the attitude of the service is that all are welcome. It can get a little noisy; ask for a seat upstairs or, in warm weather, on the screened patio if you are looking for a more intimate experience. I've had everything from a celebratory meal with multiple apps, drinks, entrees, and dessert to a simple affair with a couple of pizzas before heading out on the town. The pizza truly is the best in Nashville for those looking for an authentic Italian experience, and not to go all, "when I was in Naples," on ya, but... let's just say this place takes me back.
(5)
Jeremy E.

This was the last restaurant in Nashville I hadn't been to yet but really wanted to try, and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed the atmosphere and decor. Spartan decor, a little noisy, but in a good way. I was there with 5 others and we could talk at a normal level, without feeling loud but being able to hear everyone. Randy was our server and was on point. I have certain expectations when eating at a nice restaurant, and he met each one. 1. Drinks were well attended to. When we wanted one, he was there to take the order and get it out. Side note: The cocktails are OUTSTANDING here. 2. Great pace to the meal. We had two pizzas and drinks to start. Then apps and drinks, then main entree and a few more bevs. At no point did any of the food overlap the prior course. There was a nice 5-10 minutes in between each course which allowed for some digestion and appreciation. All in all, we were there for 3 hours. On to the food, which IMO was the best part of the experience. Apps were tasty. They won't get you full, but will whet your appetite and hit you with flavor that you rarely get in town. The house cured salami and bresaola were above average. The six of us ordered different entrees and we all shared, which was a great way to get an idea of what we liked/didn't like so much. I had a duck pasta dish which was meaty, hearty and seasoned perfectly. The tri tip sirloin was also fabulous. My favorite dish I tried by far was actually the half chicken. It was unbelievable. I don't know how you make chicken that delicious, but they did. Crispy skin, juicy, tender meat. (not too juicy). And the greens were hands down the best I have ever had. Dessert was two scoops of homemade gelato. The almond flavor was good. The caramel candy corn was unreal. I could have had 10 scoops and destroyed every bite, but thankfully my wife was the cooler head and didnt want me getting sick/fat. I will most definitely be back. I put this meal up against the best spots in town, all for a pretty affordable click. Two people could eat and drink well for $65-70. We spent $350 between the 6 of us, but also wanted to try out everything as it was our first time there.
(5)
Matt T.

Another one of those farm-to-table places frequented by the stereotypical crowd, so if it's not your thing, you've been warned. Of course, being the socially inept and awkward person I am anyway, I'm always concentrating solely on the food and the service. Came here on a business dinner in the late evening. Sat out on the porch. Ended up feeling like being out at a good friend's home. Weather was beautiful about mid 70s and sun was setting. Had a wonderfully knowledgeable server who hailed from Seattle of all places and was able to compare City House to places I know to give me a rough idea of what to expect. Started with a Momo cocktail, then a Juno. Wow! The food was superb and since there were a lot of us, we all got to sample a bit from everyone's plate. I highly recommend the ciccioli, the pork belly on watermelon, and the carolina trout. My coworker wanted to try the bourbon marshmallow fluff for dessert and it was pretty awesome too. Overall, I'd consider City House able to hold its own on the food front and if you go with the right people, you'll have a memorable time.
(4)
David L.

This was a great experience, with really good food, good service, and a nice atmosphere. We had the octopus salad (best cooked octopus I've ever had), ham pizza w/ egg (f'n bomb), bread gnocchi (not the best gnocchi I've ever had but most creative), and pecan pie (very solid).
(4)
Stephanie T.

Cute, good atmosphere, food was good. Southern :-)
(3)
Rudy L.

Great place to have a cocktail and food. Great interpretation of Southern food and various other cuisines. Tucked away in Germantown, one can miss the location, but once someone finds it there is no turning back. As their food will keep bringing you back. The staff was very professional and knowlegeable about the menu. The best place to sit is by the chef table. Overall a great experience.
(5)
Angela L.

Amazing drinks and high quality food. Prices can be steep and your check can really start to add up with all the yummy beverages and apps. the inside is cozy but also modern, kinda reminds me of an old building converted as an art gallery. They have a garden out back that they get their fresh ingredients from which is a big plus!
(4)
Carly B.

I loved everything about my experience here. Awesome food, friendly and knowledgeable servers and fun environment. I will take all of my Nashville visitors here. Highlights: Pork Gnocchi, Any Pizza, Amazing Wine List
(5)
Sean S.

Very cool atmosphere- old cottage house. Good menu. I had squid linguine. Flavor was a bit overwhelmed by saltiness. Everything else was great!
(4)
Lyndi S.

Did I really eat here during Passover??? Yes. I did. And you know what? It. Was. Awesome. When I first glanced at the menu, I kept trying to read past the pizza, but it kept screaming "MARGHERITA! MARGHERITA!" and well, I started to get extremely flustered and frustrated over the whole matter. So much so, that I was visibly upset, and the boyfriend started to feel overcome with guilt over making such a reservation. Luckily, the waiter arrived shortly after, and eased all of our concerns. Sweet potatoes and cauliflower in garlicky matrimony, and an entire trout on a plate. And yes, it was delicate, flaky, seasoned and cooked to absolute perfection. One bite and I smiled and thought "Margherita who?" Don't worry, I ate the entire thing. And I'd do it again! In addition to the impeccable service and absolutely delicious meal, I thoroughly enjoyed the wine list. We shared a bottle of wine between the four of us at our table, and each glass was good to the last drop. By the time we were ready to go, our plates and wine glasses were empty, and our bellies and smiles were full. If you're looking for simple, rustic Italian, look no further. City House is definitely on my list of places to go back. Just not on Passover. Will. Eat. Pizza.
(4)
AJ R.

The food is good. (kale...meh...). The rest of this rating is based on the last 5 minutes of our meals. The manger asked us to leave, not because we were being loud, but because we hadn't finished our drinks/desserts and hadn't successfully transferred our table to the next 4 top. Our reservation was at 6:45 and we were asked to move to the bar at 9:30. So for you foodies that want to make an evening of it, I suggest you go elsewhere. When you're ready to blame the manager, you'll realize that this was driven from the wait staff. For me, never again. Good luck. Nashville is just beginning to find its way. Hopefully the rest of you let this be a lesson to pretentious douchebags and go elsewhere. Our waitress was Leslie. I trust the 20% was worth asking us to leave early.
(1)
Rachel M.

I've always enjoyed everything I've ordered here. The chocolate cake dessert was one of the best desserts I've ever had! The wait staff understands the menu well and even though the menu is small, the dishes are intricate and delicious.
(5)
E. D.

I would put this on my list for top fine dining restaurants in Nashville. Never had a bad experience, super tasty, love the pizza and the drinks...
(5)
Ellen O.

It was nice to get away from the bbq joints and have a nice meal during our trip to nashville. city house was buzzing on a sunday night - packed and busy. our food was mostly really really good. the wings were the stand out for sure. i love it when i enjoy something and can honestly say "i've never had anything like this before". really good. i wouldn't classify the style of food as italian though - it seemed more like upscale southern to me. dessert and espresso were great. if i lived in nashville, i'd definitely be back.
(4)
Emily A.

I was prepared to love City House for all its cool trendy glory. Except I didn't love it. Darn! The decor/vibe is going for the cool industrial thing but it seemed overall too bright. Not that that really matters if the rest of the place is amazing. But it wasn't. Just ok, trying a teensy bit too hard. I did like the option to add an egg to your pizza because I'm all about over easy eggs right now. I got the magharita pizza + egg. It was quite good, but nothing exceptional. After spending the last 4 days surrounded by all the friendly love of Nashville I was disappointed at the cool-ness of the staff. Awww, I want more friendly Nashville. Maybe it's too cool for that? I will go back because I really want to like this place.
(2)
Benjamin R.

Everything was very good and its a great little building. Got the gnocchi and the pork belly pizza.
(4)
Leigh J.

The Belly Ham Pizza is so delicious it's stupid. The crust is soft and crisp, the circles of mozzarella are heavenly, the belly ham (made in-house by chef Tandy Wilson, who specializes in pork) is as good as it gets, the grano padano, chilis, and oregano add a lovely little kick...and if that wasn't enough, there is a fried egg sitting on top (and what ISN'T good with the addition of a fried egg?). When it's in season, they will throw a handful of fresh arugula over top as well if you'd like (I thought this sounded strange at first, but trust me, it is super tasty). Decadent, sinful, and worth every bite.
(5)
Rachel H.

The food was amazing....loved their gnocchi. This place is a favorite of many locals and I can see why!
(5)
Tammie N.

Delicious food, yet Unsettled Stomach Interesting Contemporary Italian concept: wood-fired pizza oven, Italian-cured meats, Southern dishes, colossal wine glasses, sparse dÃ©cor, chef's table/bar, hardwood floors, mediocre lighting, with high ceilings in a charming rehabbed brick sculptor studio. Dear Chef/Owner, Your failure to return my phone calls and email were a catalyst for my joining the exciting community of Yelp. One Saturday evening in January 2010 a group of friends and I dined in your charming city eatery. We dined in the upstairs dining room and were greeted by a male server whose name rhymes with 'Granule.' He seemed a bit unprepared to discuss specifics about the short menu, but we were excited to take a few risks based on some previous online reviews. I have to say the Crispy Octopus . . . . Yum-O! Housemade Salami . . . . . tasty! Olives with Tarrali . . . . . . Mediocre at best. Crispy Potatoes with Gorgonzola . . . . So Stellar we ordered two servings! I indulged in the Springer Mountain Half Chicken, which was quite delicious, but I did not take a liking to the Creamed Collards, or the less than eventful cheese grits. Other members of my dinner table ordered the House Made Belly Ham pizza, which they enjoyed, but if you don't like a lot of spices the chilies have quite a kick to them. The catfish was bland, the pasta bolognese was delectable, and the pumpkin pasta tasteless. We highly recommend the Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Caramel Cake, it was a nice finish to our meal. Here are the facts, and where my unsettled stomach comes in. One week after dining at City House I reconcile my bank account and notice a large $400 debit to my account. Whah? I have my receipt right here and my agreement states that $50.12 was what I agreed to pay. My 7 friends, had a similar receipt, and we all were charged equally. I call the restaurant on three different days, and left voicemail messages since no one answered the phone. My friend also sends the owner an email, no response. I file a claim with my bank, and it quickly gets rushed to the 'Fraud' department. ELEVEN days after my meal at CityHouse my $350 is finally deposited back into my account. My friends' accounts were not charged. Now hear this Tandy, my family owns a small business, and if we made an error on a customer's account we would take full responsibility right away, I would credit the account ASAP, and make a phone call to sincerely apologize for the mishap. I would probably go as far as to comp the entire party's meals. I certainly wouldn't charge her friends accounts 13 days later. If I went back I would probably sit at Chef Tandy's bar anticipating a sincere apology, I would order the Bandit mixed cocktail, eat some starters, finish with a decadent dessert, and then pay my bill in CASH. Sadly, however I have yet to get a phone call or apology, I will not return, and I will gladly use my debit card at your competitor's establishment. Questionable business transactions, coupled with poor service leave a very sour taste in my mouth, eek.
(1)
Seth H.

Everything about this place screams date night. Incredible atmosphere, great bar, a pig-atarian's dream. One of the best pizzas I've ever eaten came from here: pimento cheese and pulled pork. Lots of great other options, especially the brussels sprouts. Sunday night is especially grand, no telling what they will cook up!
(5)
Rahel K.

I haven't been to Italy, but I now have tasted it..... I finally followed the hype and tried this new authentic Italian restaurant in Germantown last Friday night. We called at 7 pm and got a reservation for 2 at 8. Atmosphere: It is literally a city house....true Germantown architecture on the outside, industrial on the inside. Inconspicuous from the street....entrance on the side. A cozy patio with seating outside. Small lively bar. Sit downstairs and see the open kitchen - lighting not so becoming. Sit upstairs for more intimate ambiance. Appetizers: I started with the tripe stew. That's right. Tripe. Google it. I LOVE going to a restaurant and eating things that I can't make at home nor get anywhere else. Although it lacked a little salt, it was delicious. I highly recommend going here JUST for the tripe - for those that are not afraid. He got the salami with Parmesan. You must order their cured meats if you visit here. Main course: I had the Tri Tip. Didn't know what that was, but Ben our waiter explained to me it was the three-sided cut of the sirloin of a cow. It was sliced long and topped with an onion, cheese and cilantro oil mixture. So fresh and savory. He had the Trout that he loved, I had only a taste. We finished with the chocolate tort with blackberries. I thoroughly enjoyed this unique culinary experience. Will be back next time I want a night in Italy....
(5)
Mark M.

What an unexpected surprise. Food was very good. Local ingredients and interesting historic building. Service was local and attentive. Germantown isa great neighborhood for this interesting gem. Price was $75 with tip and two glasses of wine. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
(4)
BBQ B.

Very cool place. The food is average. My pizza was burned and the trout was decent. A fun place to go, but the food doesn't match the hype.
(3)
Stan K.

City house might be nashville's best restaurant. Between the food and great cocktails you can't lose. Love the trout and pizza's. The decor is simple yet stylish. Service is always top notch. One of my favorite places in Nashville. It's not cheap but definitely worth it. Go and enjoy. Thank me later for sure.
(4)
Diane S.

I can only give 2 stars because of the environment. It's crazy hot in there! They have these tiny fans on the floor and the servers are dripping in sweat so it appears to be a long time problem. It was my birthday and we were all dressed up and just sweating! We would have ate more and drank more if we weren't so hot. The food was pretty good but parties over 8 have to do family style which wasn't ideal. They would have made more money off of us if we could have each ordered what we wanted. The gnocchi was amazing! My suggestion is go in the winter with 7 or less people.
(2)
Amber ..

I heard great things about City House so had to try it. Unfortunately it was awful!! The menu is odd, but not in a good, ecelectic way. The atmosphere was poor, extrememly loud. And the server's description of the food was terrible. She offered mashed tongue and testicles!! Her description was incredibly unappetizing. When we finally decided the food was average at best and very expensive. I will not be returning.
(1)
Lara L.

Just visiting in town from San Francisco and thought I'd try this place out because (a) it was one of the few places open on a Sunday evening and (b) it had relatively good reviews for an Italian restaurant. My sister lives in Nashville but had not been here yet so it was new for all of us. The area is cute, though developing, so there are not a lot of other places nearby to hop to (e.g. we wanted to have desert so we ended up going downtown). The restaurant itself is fantastic, great design, the atmosphere is open and city-urban with exposed brick and an open kitchen. The tables are spaced relatively well so you aren't having dinner with your neighbor as well as your guests. There are two 'bar' areas - one for drinking and one for dining and they both look inviting. The food however was a bit of a disappointment. The good: My friend absolutely loved the meatballs and I agree they were quite tasty (he ordered two portions!). The bruschetta (we had the chicken salad and sweet potato) were also tasty and simple, a smallish portion but shared easily among the three of us. The cocktails were original and good - we had the Hemmingway, the Bandit and a bottle of Amarone. All solid and yummy. The bad: The spicy sausage pizza my sister and I split was not spicy nor terribly tasty. Of course we ate it - it's pizza after all, but I've had better pizza from take out to be honest. We also had the one salad on the menu, which was radicalism and it was reasonable, not amazing. I was disappointed that there are not very many green or healthy vegetable items on the menu. The service was good and relatively timely. Overall it was a good dinner, I just was disappointed with our pizza for the most part. I'd go back and give it another shot.
(3)
Judy D.

FUn place with family style food and one of the best wood fired pizzas I've ever had. I hear the catfish was fabulous too. Great waiter...wish I remembered his name. He learned all of ours and called us by name. Nice touch.
(4)
Erica D.

My husband and I came here for dinner to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. Although we've only been here once it left a very good impression upon us and we look forward to trying it again soon. We made reservations for dinner on a Sunday night and were promptly seated upon arriving. Sunday night is a bit different from other nights in that it is more about sharing (tapas style). Being a vegetarian I wasn't sure what their options would be, but our waiter (Paul) was most helpful. He was the best! He suggested we try the broccoli, onion, peanut, peanut, buttermilk dressing salad to start ~ it was fabulous. Then we ordered 2 entrees: Papa Pomodoro and the cauliflower pizza. Both were fabulous. For drinks we ordered the Thelonious monk beer and the Bandit (cocktail) both of which were great. For dessert we the apple streudel with buttermilk sherbert ~ amazing! All in all the experience was great and the food was too! I will def. be back and highly recommend both the restaurant and Paul.
(5)
B C.

Meh...We went for my friend's bday since she has been raving about how wonderful their pizza is. Their pizza is pretty good - I think it's the sauce/topping combo that I loved b/c it seems like most of their pizzas have some kind of chili oil or crushed pepper flakes added for heat, which I love. The spicier the better. Another friend also is a big fan of this restaurant and raved about how anything sausage there is good because they roll their own. Eh, not so much. Did not enjoy my sausage AT ALL. It was too salty and salty is fine if the accompanying vegetable is not and complements, which it did not. Was served with a white bean cabbage something and horseradish. The horseradish was so faint I could not taste it so asked for a larger portion side of it. That totally changed the flavor of the sausage - was much better. Anyhow, too salty, poor execution. Pizzas were tasty but like another reviewer said, the middle was very soggy which I excused because I loved the spiciness so much. Most disappointing of all was that I wanted to order the fennel pizza to take home to my husband so I put the order in at the end of the meal before we ordered desserts. Not to be had! They were out of pizzas. The kitchen ran out of pizza dough? Exccuuuuse me? I'm sorry, but it's JUST pizza dough. Who runs out of pizza dough? So disappointing. All other dishes were meh. Nothing to write home about, really. The fried potatoes with blue cheese sounded delicious. Again, execution was a little off. Basically a plate of fried potatoes served with a little chunk of blue cheese. I am sorry, but at other restaurants where I have eaten where they offer potatoes with blue cheese it's a lovely melted blue cheese sauce over potatoes so every potato gets dressed with a touch of blue cheese. Here, it was like okay, fork off a piece of blue cheese then spear a piece of potato and eat. Boring.
(3)
Joanna V.

Caramel flan made the entire table I was with melt in our seats. I would never have ordered it...it was truly amazing. The kale salad was soooo good...also, I wouldn't have normally ordered. The gnocchi was good, but not great. Server knew a lot and helped with dietary restrictions. Would go again and again...when I had money. :)
(5)
Linda M.

Great service - awesome food.
(4)
Sarah A.

We heard a few good things about this place and decided to try it out. It seemed like a good sign that it was booked solid Friday and Saturday, so we went on Sunday.The server was great and very knowledgeable about the menu. I liked the ambiance and the cocktails, but overall the food was disappointing.
(3)
Brooklyn M.

We went here for a late dinner Thursday night. Were only able to get a reservation for 9:15pm. Get your reservations early! It was SO hot in the restaurant. Now, it has been the hottest week on record ever for Nashville, so that could be what it was. This guy brought my husband and I each a glass of water. Not sure why, but there was no ice in it. My husband's glass was cold. My water was WARM. It was horrible. I have no idea why that happened either, but when I asked our waiter for ice for it, he brought it immediately. I got some iced tea, which was wonderful. Our waiter was great. He offered suggestions to us, as we had never been there before. We went with a pizza and the catfish and grits. He had suggested getting 3 items, and we should have listened, but didn't think we could possibly be that hungry. So, my advice, order more food than you think you want. And share! That's what makes this place great. Everyone can get different things and share. Pizza was fabulous. We had heard great things about it before coming. The catfish was amazing. The grits were perfection. We ended up getting a blackberry dessert which was also great since we were still kind of hungry. I will definitely try this place again..
(4)
Ryan C.

I called this restaurant 10 times and emailed them twice..all in 5 days to make an important reservation for me and some customers. They never called me or emailed me back.
(1)
David S.

Definitely a lot of buzz and hype surrounds this restaurant in Germantown. I think City House lives up to the hype. They've done a splendid job transforming the space which I believe used to be the sculptor Alan LeQuire's studio. Very nicely done interior. I'm not a serious foodie, so I'm not up on the regional differences in Italian cooking, but I thought the flavors were clean and fresh. I really enjoyed a salad that was a special the evening I went -- I wish I could remember what was in it; I think a variety of peas. Nice, simple, had some great crunch to it. My friend had some fish that she really really liked, and I had to try the pasta. We had great service, and the table next to us sent a dish back which the waiter was happy to replace with something else. Supposedly they have great pizza as well which I hope to go back and enjoy at the bar one night. I think for the quality of the food, the great service, and the atmosphere it's actually kind of a bargain. Entrees aren't crazy expensive with most dishes around the $20 mark. I didn't try any cocktails, but they did have a nice, homemade lemonade on the menu that was nice. I would reduce their score by half of a star only because one night I called to get a reservation and no one answered the phone. They were closed for a private party which is understandable, but there wasn't anything to that effect on their answering machine. Details, details. Anyway, this place is one of the handful of restaurants I keep in my cell phone and for good reason.
(5)
Ken J.

Went for dinner and sat at the bar in front of the kitchen - the restaurant has an incredible atmosphere, chic yet still inviting. I had the bread gnocchi with pork for dinner and could have licked my plate. The waitress suggested a great Italian red to go with it. For dessert I had the almond cake served with buttermilk sorbet, again incredible. You must eat here even if you only have one night in Nashville.
(5)
Vincent K.

Great food and service, I didn't cringe when I got the rather expensive check because they lived up to their prices.
(5)
Taylor D.

Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Nashville. City House is my number one restaurant recommendation, and I've been known to go twice in one weekend. You can't go wrong with the Pork Belly Pizza or Trout, and be sure to go to Sunday Supper. (Chef) Tandy Wilson has done wonders for this city, and I will happily thank him with my patronage. It's worth noting that dishes are prepared as is--- no substitutions or changes.
(5)
Kara S.

Thanks to the helpful suggestions of yelp nashville folks, I booked a reservation for my birthday dinner here. It was far and away one of the best meals I've had in recent years, trumping even the best meals I've had in my own city. I loved that it was in a house, I loved the intimate feel it provided. I loved the open kitchen, which you get a great view of as you walk up the stairs to the upper level dining area. The service was great, they were so helpful in suggesting what dishes we should try. I honestly can't even remember what we ate (update: See my photos for what we ate, it was all spectacular!) & the menu has changed since we went, but we sampled a couple antipasta dishes, one pasta dish, one fish dish, and a margherita pizza. It was the perfect amount to share between three of us, and it was all so flavorful and perfectly prepared. The only thing I don't like about City House is that it's in Nashville and not Boston. Once they fix that problem, then all will be perfect :)
(5)
J L.

This place is hands down inspiring. The atmosphere, the service, THE FOOD. It's all so so good. We went on a Sunday and got in with no wait but it was on the early side of the evening. On Sundays the menu is basically chefs choice and it is bomb! We had the sweet potato pizza and THE MOST DELISH PORK MEATBALLS I'VE EVER HAD! Definitely want to go back to try the amazing standard menu as well. Must try!
(5)
alana v.

Love the space! Good food!
(4)
Jessy Y.

City House is on everyone's Best Of Nashville list, and I just. Don't. Get. It. I've only been here twice, but each time I have been overwhelmingly let down by my menu choices. Maybe I'm just bad at selecting entrees, but, I mean, they have a pasta section on the menu. I'm a pasta fanatic, so of course that's where I went. Gnocchi is one of my favorites, but the City House bread gnocchi is just abominable. It's heavy, chewy and just not at all what I was expecting. I realize that bread and potatoes, while both carbtastic, are not the same thing, but I didn't even want to take my leftovers home -- and that NEVER happens. The second time, I went against my better judgment and ordered pasta again. I think I even had it narrowed down to two choices and asked the server which he preferred (which I'm sure servers probably hate since it's all subjective and they know jack about my personal tastes), so I ended up with the conchiglie -- basically a dressed-up version of mac and cheese. Not as horrible as the gnocchi catastrophe, but still... as the two-star rating says, "Meh. I've experienced better." (At Eastland Cafe, for one.) And don't be afraid call a spade a spade -- it was fancy pasta with cheese, hiding behind a "Conchiglie, Pork Ragu Bianco, Calabrian Chilies, Pecorino" menu listing. The appetizers weren't bad... I split a salad and the "Frico: Montasio Cheese, Potato" -- yeah, you can't really mess up cheesy potatoes. And everyone else ended up happy, with their pizzas and huge portions of chicken. And maybe third time's the charm. But in the meantime, two stars for you, CIty House, until you improve your pasta.
(2)
Mark S.

**City House revisited** During the past couple of months we've eaten at City House three times. This is a favorite place for my father to entertain and there's certain things you can always count on. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and obviously well-trained. I've eaten there on instances when Chef Tandy is there and other times when he wasn't and the food quality is maintained. When the bell rings (indicating that food is ready) servers practically run to the service area to get it out hot. The last two visits I had the homemade sausage entree and the half chicken. I can't say enough about both - neither are pretentious and I will have both again. I typically expect a sausage entree to be "heavy" but City House balances the heartiness of the sausage with citrus flavors, it was really wonderful. Tonight I had the half-baked chicken and it seemed like somebody learned Thomas Keller's approach to cooking a chicken! The skin of the chicken was perfectly seasoned and crisp, I was told by our waitress that it was finished in the stone ovens (why don't other restaurants do that?) The chicken was cooked perfectly inside and came from a good supplier in Georgia - one thing I really like about City House is the insistence on good quality ingredients. The sides are great to choose from and the desserts are really worth trying, it's a shame I'm diabetic and I have to enjoy just a tiny bite. I wish there were a four and a half star rating, however City House lacks a quality beef entree. I've written about this before; tri-tip is a restaurant food cost cut of beef. I've had bad tri-tip entrees at both City House and Margot's - both great restaurants with quality chefs. Which leads me to believe that the cut of beef is the culprit; I was informed by my waitress tonight that it is best served medium which rules me out (I like my beef mid-rare.) Why not try a better cut of beef and price it $4 more? I'll pay it. If you haven't been to City House recently try it - it's a good restaurant to go to on your special evening out in Nashville.
(4)
Raymon J.

Of all the great places to enjoy an evening in town, and we ended up here. What are you people all talking about. The rigatoni tasted mysteriously like tuna helper. All it needed was freeze dried peas and carrots. One and done.
(2)
Bobby C.

Wow...okay this was interesting. My traveling compadre and professional foodie...heard about this place from a bartender at the Patterson House...review on that still to come.... Perfectly average....it is indeed a cute place....Italian fare...$$$$...so you'd expect certain things. I understand what was across the table from me is an incredibly pretty woman....and a waiter might be a bit dumbfounded...but when he asked about drinks....he took her order...and somehow I was Mr, Cellophane from the musical Chicago. He noticed me when we ordered our food...which was remarkably bland, and portion-wise...appetiserish. I wanted this place to live up to the recommendation...but it did not. I had the rigatoni, she had the fettuccine...and we both seemed to have wished we went to the Olive Garden....no bread served with pasta? Never seen that before either.
(2)
Heidi W.

My Favorite Restaurant- hands down! I've been there 10-15 times, have probably eaten 90% of the menu and still they wow me with every visit. I'm shocked it's taken me so long to write this... Best way to 'do' City House is to graze. Get a couple appetizers- the frico and the octopus salad are our faves, although the homemade salami is pretty incredible as well; a pizza- with an egg on top of course, and a main dish to share- pastas are always a great suggestion, as they are cooked perfectly, but something as simple as chicken is even amazing here. The sides are always fun an inventive- last night I had potatoes and kale with a vinaigrette-so light, yet full of flavor. Make sure to save room for dessert though- the homemade sorbettos and gelato are awesome. If you're with a small group, try to sit at the chef's bar so you can watch Tandy and his team make everything- it is really a cool experience. The wait staff, for the most part is wonderful. We've had a few little 'blips' with a couple servers that either A) didn't have much of a personality or B) wasn't as knowledgeable about the amazing food as they should be at a place like that, but our food is always timely, and great attention is always paid to us- and those are really what's important about a wait staff. I know I sound like a promotional brochure for this place, but I really can't stress enough how amazing this place is, and how lucky I am (and Nashville is) to have this place. City House- you started as a crush, and it's bloomed into full on obsessive love!
(5)
Chris G.

This place is always a good choice. I have been a lot of places in my quest to find the perfect place to eat around town and this place is up pretty high on my list. It's just fun eating here. The pizza is great and the drinks are mixed well. All in all if you haven't been here you need to swing by on Sunday and give it a shot.
(4)
Amy B.

Get your frico on! Really. As our waiter said, "how can you go wrong with cheese and potato?!" And boy was he right! My party decided to split it as an appetizer. The frico came out golden brown and it was hard for me to split it four ways! I could have eaten the entire thing on my own! I went with the margherita pizza because well, I've been completely obsessed with margherita pizza lately! It did not disappoint! In fact, it was quite large and 2 of the other girls at my table ate a few slices. The other girls got the gnocchi and raved about it. I tried it, but have had better. Overall, City House was a great experience. I just could have used a bit more romance in the place. I felt like the decor was not very inviting with wooden tables and stainless steel looking chairs. I would have preferred a nicer ambiance for the menu.
(4)
Em P.

I have to admit, I went into City House expecting to be let down. So often I go somewhere based on people's sparkling reviews only to be disappointed by unattainable hype. City House cleared the bar and stuck the landing! We split a belly ham pizza as an appetizer. I ALMOST wasn't going to order a pie. I just got back from visiting my mom up north and ate my weight in real pizza, and I didn't want to ruin the afterglow. But I did, and it was SO GOOD. Perfectly cooked, perfectly chewy/crispy crust, cheese was fresh and smooth, and the pork...ooooh the pork. MMM melts in your mouth. I had the house-made sausage for dinner after much deliberation, but I think I would have been equally happy with any choice. The motif of the menu is the lovechild between Southern American and Northern Italian, and everything sounded good. Finished off with a divine lemon ricotta pound cake with gelato (retooled my conception of how good pound cake can be). Drinks were solid. I'm enjoying this towns newfound love of lovely cocktails that aren't of the appleblackberrypinktini variety. Carry on! The vibe was comfortable, a welcomed shock to my expectations. Usually the uber hip places are populated by people who still use the words uber hip and want loud house music pumped in so they don't have to think about their empty shell of an existence. City House was bustling in a good way, loud with the sounds of happy diners and a busy open kitchen. Only problem was we were seated in a 25% full dining room at a table between two other parties, one of which was a little douche-y. There was room for spacing, but not a huge deal. When distracted by deliciousness, I'm much more amiable.
(5)
Erin J.

I hate to do this, but.....I feel like I have to. The only reason I give two stars is because delicious Jake Gyllenhaal made an appearance the last night I went! Anyway, here are my complaints. Number one, although we had a reservation, we got one of the small 2 seaters in the large open area (open to the kitchen), and it was so loud I could barely hear what my husband was saying. Number two, the service sucked. The guy seemed kind of irritated by us which kind of killed it. Any time we wanted something from him we had to flag him down. Third, you want to charge $10 for a wine pour, and give me a dribble? Really? We should have just bought a bottle. Fourth, you raise the price on the Frico AND the octopus by $2 each? Really? The portion just does not reflect the price. Even before the $2 price increase it felt like they were a little too expensive, but now they REALLY feel too expensive. I can't be sure but it seems like all menu prices went up. All of these negatives together don't leave me wanting to run back to City House. This is a serious shame because I've told many people in the past that this is my favorite restaurant in Nashville.....but not anymore.
(2)
Katherine M.

City House is the new "it" spot in Nashville, particularly in Germantown. The revitalization in this area is amazing. But on to the food. Two thumbs up! It is a traditional Italian spot, but they also have lighter items for those not wanting a heavy meal. The manila clam pizza is fantastic and very light. I tasted my friend's rigatoni with marinara and veggies, and I would totally order it next time. But, the hit of our table was the trout topped with raisins and peanuts. Sounds weird, I know, but it was yummy yummy. And you have to try the lemon pound cake with apple butter. Worth every bite! We didn't order any dessert cocktails, but they looked good. The Lotus, which is kahlua, espresso, vodka, and maple syrup is on my list of things to try there next time. They have a wonderful Sunday brunch menu which is always changing and perfect for sharing. Just the chef's creations each week. The prices are great! Compared to what you can pay at similar restaurants in Nashville, these entrees range from $9-$24. Wow! I had a great experience, and I'll hurry back.
(4)
Stephanie K.

Sunday menu is divine. I'm pretty sure I have a crush on Tandy's pork snacks. All manner of meat treats to delight in. I heard from a vegan it was good for her too, but who cares, come for the pork belly pizza and enjoy whatever sounds interesting on this pitch perfect, creative menu.
(5)
Rebecca D.

We went to City House with high expectations following several rave reviews from friends. My girlfriend and I had 7:45 reservations on a Thursday night ready for a spectacular meal, great drinks and fine service. We were seated promptly and were quickly greeted by the server. Sadly, that was the first and last time our server was quick and attentive about anything. We ordered cocktails and waited about fifteen minutes before we received them. We then ordered several things to share including the frico, zucchini, rigatoni with duck, gnocchi and clams/octopus. We also ordered a bottle of wine to share. The wine took a full 20 minutes to arrive at our table. The food was promptly served by food runners. The frico, zucchini and gnocchi were phenomenal (though the gnocchi had a meat sauce, not indicated on the menu, so inedible for my vegetarian friend, she ordered pizza instead). The rigatoni was terribly oversalted though (and I like my salt), so we had to send that back. The clams and octopus were also underwhelming and terribly salty. By the middle of the evening, my friend and I were starting to wonder if perhaps we just weren't cool enough for the hipster vibe of City House to deserve great service as the tables adjacent and behind us were seated, served and out the door after we had arrived and long before we had even ordered after dinner drinks and dessert. Once we did order that last time our drinks took another 10 minutes and dessert never arrived. We sat at the table with empty glasses for a full 30 minutes. We tried to flag down our waiter but he was nowhere to be found. Finally, we just got up and asked a hostess if she could help us settle up. The server then came over to awkwardly provide excuses (thinking we were just enjoying our (clearly empty) drinks and didn't hear us when we ordered dessert), and the manager was apologetic and did remove the rigatoni from the check. I understand servers land "in the weeds" sometimes and there was a large table that came in halfway into our time there, but if he had simply asked for some support, we would have likely ordered more and he would have had a more lucrative evening for himself and his restaurant. For the innovative cocktails, unique wine list, pizzas and fresh fare made with seasonal veggies, I'd be eager to give them another shot, but when service is that poor, it unfortunately casts a pall over the entire experience, making it an overall disappointment.
(2)
Julia G.

City House does not have many options on the menu for gluten free people, although they did make one of their dishes gluten free for me by substituting bread crumbs with cornmeal! The waiter was knowledgeable about gluten, and did a great job of knowing everything on the menu and the ingredients used in each dish. And the food was DELICIOUS!
(4)
whitney D.

One of my favorite Nashville spots. Excellent food, drinks and service. Miss it terribly as we no longer live in TN. Great spot for special dinner with significant other, friends or family.
(5)
Curt H.

City House came highly recommended by a friend who's restaurant opinion in the past has been good. City House totally missed the mark despite having a great space for a restaurant. We sat at the chefs table/bar, and noticed poor sanitary practices by "chefs" & servers. Appetizers: Salami w/parm cheese & octopus w/butter beans were average, over priced, and jokingly small by portion size. Shared the anchovy pizza which was good, but not great. Ordered a dessert hoping to salvage the experience, but alas it didn't happen. The chocolate fudge pie was prepared & presented as if your teenager had been watching the Food Channel, and wanted to try being creative in the kitchen. I dine out 98% of the time due to travel, and believe I have a grasp of the experience & expectation at restaurants. Upon leaving another couple walking out at the same time heard us talking, and shared a very similar opinion. Far better places to eat in Nashville, and hope this will save someone and/or another couple time & $$ with this review.
(1)
Lannae L.

This is my favorite restaurant. Salads, frico, pork dishes are all good. The desserts are great, and I am not usually a dessert person. The belly ham pizza is really good. The crust is just right, and the pizzas are made in a wood fired oven. Tandy Wilson, chef and owner, strives to use seasonal, local and fresh ingredients. Most meat he serves is local, organic and free range. The vegetables, when he can, are also local organic. The pasta is made by Lazzaroli's a fresh pasta maker right down the street. The caution is, that some dishes and greens have a lot of salt, and some dishes don't. The last time I ordered pasta there, I requested no salt added, but bring a salt tableside, and it was fine.
(5)
Sam R.

Nashville's only real world-class restaurant. You've got to know your way around the menu because there are a couple of pitfalls -- getting adventurous can get you into trouble. The belly ham pizza is the best I've ever had. The roast chicken is similarly wonderful. Pastas almost always deliver. The cheese frico is a great appetizer. Damn I want to go tonight, but alas it's Tuesday.
(5)
Rita C.

Love their food here. It is so hard to find a good quality meal here in Nashville that is decently priced. Most of the nice restaurants in Nashville are way overpriced in my opinion. City House is a great little find!! Their pizza is huge and their pasta (i believe) is handmade. Great little date place or casual girls night out dinner :)
(4)
Courtney H.

I've been visiting Nashville for 5 years & have eaten at many restaurants in Franklin & Nashville. Our hotel recommended City House, & they were right on. The ambiance is rustic, industrial & cozy. The service was great, we love Ben! And our appetizers, dinner & dessert were all delicious. Organic succulent chicken, trout with nuts & cranberries, to-die-for octopus with chickpeas, insanely good potato cheese app & a yummy dessert...oh & great wine!!! This is our new fav spot in Nashville!!
(5)
Pepper L.

Hi, I'm Pepper and I'm a "foodie". There, I confessed it, finally. Yes, my husband and I will travel hundreds of miles to eat food prepared by a world class chef. Last night I went to City House based upon your recommendations, fellow yelpers. It was the most miserable of my week stay in Nashville thus far. Why? Because I literally gorged myself to the outer bounds of gluttony and beyond! The food was THAT good. There were no mistakes. I had to eat everything! The trout was an inexplicable gastronomical delight. I often try to recreate favored meals at home. I won't even try this one. I will just suffer a 5 hour drive return trip. I cannot replicate Tandy's culinary devices - at least not yet. First off, I don't have a wood burning oven in my kitchen. Secondly, I was too engaged in the pleasurable consumption of my meal to dissect the unusual combination of ingredients used in the preparation - raisins and peanuts in trout? End result - heavenly! The crisp smokiness of the skin combined with the moist tenderness of the flesh insured perfection.... My husband loves chicken. As he is a master of understatement I was gratified when I heard those guttural sounds of utter satisfaction emanating from his mouth. He related that this moist, flavorful, crisp chicken exceeded even the best he had at the Four Seasons in Kona, Big Island, Hawaii... And then there was the side dish of sweet potatoes cooked in a manner in which I would never have conceived. I was seated at the chef's bar so some of their preparations I could witness. I believe they roasted the potatoes first, nurturing it in that wood fired oven. The dish was a sweet potato goodness that I can only ineptly describe as a cross between momma's home fries and baked sweet potatoes? So I could have ended it all there on that tempestuous yet gratifying note, knowing the miserable night awaiting me, but I didn't. I never get deserts because I don't want to overdo, but I did. And I am glad of it! The desert arrived. It's benign outward appearance belying its lustful bounty. As I bit into it, the moist warmth of the almond ricotta pound cake paired with a type of creamy gelato robbed me of any sense of caloric propriety. Now, to set the record straight, did I mention we started with a sauteed octopus? Although steeply priced, the taste sensation lulled my sense of economy into a submissive somnolence. What I won't mention, however, is that we also consumed an entire margarita pizza with homemade mozzarella on thin crisp crust prior to devouring the aforementioned profusion of delights. Ok, there, I said it anyway. And I must mention the wait staff. They knew the vital role they play in making patrons feel not only welcome, but necessary. They were perfect - attentive, friendly but not overbearing, anticipatory and unpretentious. In fact, it is there fault that they kept recommending just the right food and drink for our appetites. So, as I mentioned in the beginning I had a miserable night, but boy was it a worthy extravagance!
(5)
Valerie D.

Came here on a recommendation from someone at Jamaicaway (Farmers Market), which was also delicious. Came to city house for sunday dinner and loved the pork snacks! City house had absolutely delicious house-smoked trout, pork meatballs, pizza and pork belly. Service is EXCELLENT - never missed a beat! Everything was wonderful and the restaurant was beautiful to boot. Congrats on the James Beard nomination - well deserved!
(5)
katie l.

i chose to go to city house in december in large part because it was open for dinner relatively late (10) compared to most restaurants around here (closed at 8 or 9). we enjoyed drinks at the bar first, which were a little bit pricey but inventive and good. the bar area was pretty busy, and the restaurant has a soho sort of feel to it. it's a huge space open to the kitchen with somewhat spare decor, but the tables are adequately intimate and comfortable. the best thing we had, i think, was a cauliflower salad with almonds, pomegranate seeds and citrus. it was just amazing, and i don't even like cauliflower that much--very crunchy and fresh, with a lot flavors i wouldn't have expected to experience together. the pizza with house-made ham was good (though i was a little underwhelmed by the ham), and the tri-tip with gremolata was also very tasty (but the portion was a little small for the price). people near us had some of the pastas, which looked delicious. i thought that it was a tad overpriced in some respects, but i had a really fun time there--city house doesn't really feel like any other place i've been in nashville. the area around it also feels a bit abandoned and desolate, which was a little creepy on the way home. but i definitely plan to go back!
(4)
Jennifer M.

It was good, but not fabulous. Service was so-so...our waiter was fairly attentive, but we ordered family style so we could all share and stuff came out with a -long- gap between some of the entrees. Like they forgot about part of the order kind of long gap. That said, the food was good. The margherita pizza tasted like fresh tomatoes and the apple salad was incredible. Dessert was ok. Overall, good food, decent service, but seriously overpriced for what we got.
(3)
Morgan J.

Excellent food from a chef who cares about excellent food. Get anything on the menu, no matter how scary it might sound. You won't be let down. Also, drink whatever the bartender recommends.
(5)
Harper B.

Best dinner in a long time. Food was unpretentious, service was great, whiskey list is exceptional!
(5)
Oliver G.

Interesting location on the rise, nice modern-rustic decor inside, the food here is arguably the best in town, fresh and made to order. Finally, someone around here knows how to use a brick oven. We went on a Sunday night, which has a different menu than the rest of the week, a little experimental. All of the appetizers were pork snacks which was really interesting. Pizzas are brick oven, very thin, with creative flavor combinations (salt cod, garlic and new potatoes), always changing. The wine list and cocktail menu are great, moderately priced and diverse. Our entree items were a cured salmon succotash salad, mackerel spiedini, and heirloom tomato crespelle. Service was good, a little slow, but it was a really busy Sunday night. I can't wait to try it again!
(4)
ALEXIS P.

i think city house has really hit its stride. i had issues with it in the beginning that i think have totally worked themselves out, and the food is nothing short of fantastic. the service has improved, the menu has evolved (and continues to), and the food has actually gotten better. i love the different seating options, sitting at the bar with a girlfriend after work and splitting a pizza, or sitting at the chefs bar on a sunday night sampling whatever the chefs suggest, or sitting in the main dining room for a special occasion. the swiss chard & ricotta pizza is to die for (i have even had dreams about it), all of their house-cured meats are impeccable, and i always get whatever seasonal produce/salad they are offering because it is always done so simply and perfectly. this is one of the last places in nashville that continues to impress me, and i hope they keep it up.
(5)
Robert K.

City House is a really authentic Italian style restaurant in Germantown. The restaurant itself is pretty cool and has a big open kitchen that just screams "fresh". It is always nice to be able to see into the kitchen, so you know nothing sketchy is happening with your food! The prices are pretty good too, they have pizzas for around ten bucks that are gourmet and ooh so tasty. The margarita is defiantly good and has fresh mozzarella. Also, try the sausage which has lemon, red onion, and parsley. It is really good in pasta!
(5)
Lauren A.

i finally ate at city house after a year of talking about it - i don't know why it took me so long! This is now one of my favorite places - thanks for my boyfriend. It has a very charming atmosphere that seems rustic yet modern. I enjoy the fact that the main dining area looks into the small kitchen. I think seeing the size of the kitchen makes you appreciate your meal all the more... the menu is small and obviously changes frequently or with the seasons. We started with a house-cured salami plate... which i found very interesting considering they served up two kinds of salami, one which had been aging for 6 months and the other for 3. Very high constrast in flavors! I had their house made gnocchi for dinner and it was fantastic. I want to go back and have it again! For dinner I had their cornmeal cake, buttermilk gelato, and peaches - It was a very simple dish that, when combined together worked perfectly. The cornmeal cake was essentially cornbread, but when combined with the tangy smooth buttermilk gelato, it was perfection. Anyway - I highly recommend this place. I hope I can go back again soon!
(5)
Happiness L.

Very unimpressive. Service and food both need revamping to make anything of this restaurant. Atmosphere is ok. Perhaps a good place for drinks....going for dinner elsewhere would be best.
(1)
Ryan B.

Awesome. The space is beautiful (only complaint was that it was quite loud in the room we were in), the service was superb and the food was just perfect. The menu is simple, but this is it's charm - City House sticks to basic ideas done with the highest quality of ingredients. No complicated flavors and things thrown together for the sake of being creative, just fresh quality food. We stuck to the smaller first plates and pizzas on this visit but the entrees also sounded fantastic and the prices were very reasonable. Also the chef's bar and cocktail bar area looking great for grabbing a nice pizza and glass of wine dinner. I will definitely be back to sample more of their fantastic house-cured salami and sausage.
(5)
Luis O.

had a mixed experience. The restaurant is in a cool location in German town. We sat in the room with the kitchen, and it was way way way too loud to enjoy dinner. It has to do with the room itself being so large which the restaurant could fix if they had some sort of sound dampening material on the walls. We ordered the Salami plate as an appetizer. While it was tasty, I must say I was disappointed in the serving size. it was basically pepperoni slices with some cheese crumbles on top. I know salami itself is expensive, but for $11 I expected more. My dinner partner ordered the Fettuccine with catfish, and mint salsa Verde, and I ordered the pig belly pizza. We waited quite a while for our food to come out, and the restaurant itself was basically cleared out after our appetizer, so service wasn't that quick. The food itself : My girlfriend absolutely did not enjoy her pasta. I must agree, the flavors did not go well together at all. However, the pizza was excellent. The crust was thin, the cheese was freshly made, and it came out piping hot (which may explain why we waited so long). In conclusion, If I am to return to the city house, I will only order pizza. I would probably not return again to sit and have dinner. Only take out.
(3)
Gary Z.

In Atlanta, GA we have an abundance of great restaurants. City House would hold it's own against any restaurant here in our city. I've never been to Italy but if I had I'll bet the food there would taste just as good as it does at City House. They embrace the "farm to fresh" table concept. Our waitress, Jocelyn, was very nice and did a superb job! We sat at the kitchen bar and if you like to watch the chef's at work I would recommend sitting here. We got to know Jesse who is one of the chefs and he let us try a small item each night that he was preparing our meal. What a nice treat! The first time I dined here I tried one of their salads with sun gold tomatoes, celery, and cannellini beans. The combination of flavors with their vinegar, oil, and fresh lemon juice dressing was delightful. I tried their house made belly ham, mozzarella, grana padano, oregano, chilies pizza and it was excellent! My friend had their homemade sausage stuffed with just a little bit of lamb. I tried it and it was very good. When I returned the next night my friend was disappointed as he had to fly back to Seattle so I went solo. I dined on a Sunday and that's the day when they offer a special chef's menu. The chef's have some fun there on Sundays and it shows. The wine menu there is great and my overall dining experience on both occasions was superb. If your looking for fresh food prepared and served with a smile in a fun and lively atmosphere I can highly recommend City House in Nashville, TN. I can't wait to return!!!
(5)
Fumiya S.

By far the best restaurant in Nashville if you are looking for unique dishes. Many of the dishes seem unusual but the flavors that these unexpected combination creates are amazing. Upscale hipster vibe. Great whiskey selection. Have to try the trout and the pizzas here.
(5)
First P.

So I have heard by so many Nashville people that this is their favorite restaurant. Now, I thought this was a northern Italian restaurant with local flare, but I think I was wrong. First good things: Octopus salad was terrific, perfectly tender octopus with the juxtapose of the breadcrumb fried lima beans. It was a nice combo, only thing I enjoyed this night. Chicken liver was good. Very typical, but done well. I've never screwed up a chicken liver dish. You can usually tell what your getting into by the way liver is delivered. Boring. The menu was dominated by pizza. So i guess if you want a pizza, then go here. I had this horrible house cured ham pizza with a famine of ham on my pizza. I think maybe one small sliver was on there, and then cheese. Bleh bleh bleh on the pizza. The bread gnocchi was just HORRIBLE!!! It was like a dense dry donut covered in house made ricotta. Which, I'm never fooled by house made ricotta, I make that at home too, its simple. Their wine list is child's play. Had some of the worst wines recommended by our waitress that I have EVER had! Really. They have serious problems with playing with flavors with their main dishes. It was just a dull, sloppily put together mess, and I don't get the hype.
(2)
Ian R.

It is a rare thing when you can walk out of a restaurant and honestly say that you had the best "whatever" of you life there. The older and more jaded you get the harder it is. At the City House I didn't walk out with a best "whatever" of my life, I walked out with four. By my reckoning I had the best octopus, the best turnip greens, the best Italian sausage and the best testicles of my life in one trip. One of those might seem odd, but the veal balls were one of the best things I have ever had in my life. Pizza and pasta were also exceptional and would make a great trip on their own. Everything about the meal was as close to perfect as I have had in the USA. The only negative about the meal was that the food was so good I bit my tongue in the enthusiasm of the meal. The City House is an establishment that could stand up in any major city in the country. I am glad that it is here in Nashville. If you love food you owe it to yourself to make a trip and try to find a best "whatever" of your own.
(5)
Josh K.

Very Good Meal and great experience overall. but Just not sold on it being one of the best restaurants in nashville. just is missing something to me. just Kind of misses that wow factor.
(4)
Victoria C.

This restaurant has no sense of arrival. We drove right past it. If the owners want a hidden secret restaurant, they have achieved it. Once inside, the decor is great. The brick oven is warm, and so is the staff. The pizza was wonderful, as was the wine. The waiter was accommodating to our daughter, and provided helpful info and suggestions. The fettuccine was not as good though. It lacked flavor entirely. On the whole, this was a good experience.
(3)
Marilee S.

I love a restaurant that slacks off after reading their own press, that serves pure, not muddled flavors, uses fresh, not Cisco ingredients, coaches their servers to watch and read their customers' body language versus bugging and chit-chatting away. Sorry, I typically don't go to a restaurant to make friends with the servers. Maybe 35 years ago, but not now. Met a friend here on a Wednesday night. No reservation so couldn't get a table. Instead sat at the end of the bar overlooking the kitchen. The room's a little loud, well, a lot loud until a party of six behind us finally finished. (Might recommend the front room or when it's nice outside, maybe their side/garden room.) Ordered a cauliflower salad with wheat berries, orange slices, red onion and almonds, their octopus with fennel bread crumbs and field peas and the turnip green/Pecorino Sardo/chilies/garlic pizza. The antipasti courses were just the right sampling to showcase this restaurant's ability to blend flavors perfectly. I'm not a fan of cauliflower, but I'd order that again (low-cal and filling). The octopus was tender succulent, meaty tentacles. The pizza was perfect. Even though we split everything, I still took home half the pizza because there was so much food. Just the right amount of everything on top of a crisp, yet moist crust. As if on cue, the server removed our plates and brought the check. Not pushy, yet prompt. Perhaps that's why I gave City House 5 stars - the three main components of a meal that are out of every customers control - food, service and atmosphere - came together to create a meal. I'll be back.
(5)
Michelle R.

When we went to Nashville with 2 kids and 3 adults we wanted some good food. The serving staff was very nice to the kids. I had their special Clams they taste like the inside of a Italian sausage which was good but they must have used all the salt in this dish because the other thing I tried was the White Beans soup it was so bland. My sister got the Margherita pizza for the kids that was average. My sister had the Anchovy Pizza which the server said the Chef recommends. It was nothing special and had some burnt crust. My Brother in law had the Bread Gnocchi it was very dense and the sauce was very watered down just like the pizza sauce. We had the olives with taralli how can you mess that up right the Taralli was yummy the kids really like them. The drinks were good we had Samson, Juno and the buzzy bear. Again nothing to awesome. We called a head on a thursday and they said they cant get a reservation with in our time frame so we made a reservation for friday same time and when we got there there was no wait and no people. I wonder if we would have just went there on Thursday if we could have eat then ?? Go to Germantown Cafe instead much better and one street down.
(2)
Meribon W.

So 3 stars and an ahhhhhhhhhhh...okay rating is what I say. The food was a bit overpriced, but good. I wasn't too bothered by the waiter like the other girls in the group were, but maybe that was because I was fairly tipsy and not able to notice as much. The problem I had was with the bill. We ended up splitting it on each of our cards and they totally effed that one up, charging the whole dinner to only one girl. It was resolved only after endless calling and aggravation. Needless to say if I were that girl I would have given this place one star instead of three.
(3)
brewgirl b.

Another great restaurant find in Nashville. Great interior decor in what looks to be a converted barn, with an open kitchen. Our server was so friendly and helpful. Wish I could have explored the cocktail list more, but I enjoyed the Soloman (Jim Beam Rye, Orchard Apricot, Honey, Salt, Orange) and the Mona (Bulleit Rye, Chocolate Mole Bitters, Boylan's Cherry Cola). Loved the soup comprised of white beans, kale, pecorino cheese and cornbread crumbs, and the appetizer of grilled octopus, with fennel bread crumbs and field peas. The gnocchi entree was a bit odd, but still tasty. It wasnt made from pasta, but from pizza dough. They were certainly doughy, but it just wasnt the same as true gnocchi. For dessert, we had the interesting and delish combo of chocolate panna cotta and chocolate mousse, served with hazelnut brittle and crema. What an awesome combo. It was chocolaty, but still light. Yum! Reasonable prices.
(4)
Sarah S.

We went here on a Wednesday night with another couple. Loved the atmosphere- modern yet classy. You walk in and there is a bar to your right and then another eating bar where they cook along with tables to sit. There is another area upstairs for dining. There menu is seasonal so be sure to check out there website to see what they have. We had the braised squid and cured salami as an appetizer. Delicious. For the main course, the other couple had the rabbit and the potato pizza, we had the tri tip and cured ham pizza. I tried them all. All the food is amazing but I admit the my pizza was the best. We did have the lemon pound cake and pannacotta for dessert. The pannacotta was a bit disappointing as the cream cheese taste was strong. I recommend making reservations and go a little early if you have never been there. The building looks like an old brick house and you can barely see the sign from the street. Also, parking is on the street.
(4)
Christine S.

Update: losing a star because of the consistently meager wine pours and ever shrinking appetizer portions. Mgmt, if you're going to charge $11 for a 6 oz pour, I'm expecting a brunello at least, not a $20 (retail) bottle of pinot. Probably the best restaurant in Nashville, for what that is worth. I would give the place a higher rating if it were a bit more ambitious. I'm not inclined to be a regular since the much of the menu hardly changes except for once a week for Sunday dinner. The trout, chicken, sausage, and catfish (the vast majority of the second courses) prepared exactly the same way seem to have been on the menu since day one. The complacency might be chalked up to lack of any real competition or restaurant criticism in Nashville. On the plus side, the food is great and the cocktails reasonably priced.
(2)
Michael S.

City House is the type of restaurant every city needs. The ingredients and menu are constantly changing with the seasons. The freshness of every dish is unmatched. With this type of quality cooking you normally find yourself in a ritzy place but the home- like feel and open kitchen allows you relax and have some wine/ cocktails with amazing food!
(5)
Chef X.

Not always perfect but damn close. He's maybe the only chef in town who is untethered by an overlord and has the chops to back it up. Probably the most knowledgeable staff in Nashville, too. Pork snacks, pig ears, AND pizza? Come on, what else do you want?
(4)
mumin k.

I have been at City House 3 times now. This restaurant has always been very noisy which some people might actually like but I personally did not like as it was impossible to hear what the person next to you is talking. The appetizer portions are very small and way overpriced. We tried the octopus, the house salami and something else that i don't remember and all of these appetizers were just average. Now, probably the only thing I like here is the pizza. I really liked the pizza which is prepared in the brick oven. On all three of my visits I ordered pizza and was very happy with my choice. The prices of the pizza are also very reasonable. We tried the desserts on our first visit but the dessert felt like it was one of these ready desserts that you buy from Kroger, heat in the microwave and serve it with a ball of ice cream and charge something like $7-8...if you sit in the bar overlooking the kitchen, you can actually witness the process (which i did on my second visit) of how they prepare the desserts. I was actually happy to see that the desserts were not from Kroger but have confirmed the rest, preheat, combine with ice cream and serve. Now, if somebody tells me that I am oversimplifying it and blah blah blah, my response: my wife is a Pastry Chef who went to Le Cordon Bleu in Paris so I know a thing or two about making desserts. The service was good on our first visit but terrible on the other 2 of my last visits. Our server kept disappearing and my wine glass arrived after I finished half of my pizza. The server disappeared before we asked for the check and we had to ask another server for our check which was really unpleasant. Overall, i would only consider going back here if I feel like having a nice pizza. So this would put City House to my good pizza places list (along with Bella Napoli) but not anywhere on the fine dining establishments list. I think there are much better restaurants in Nashville where you can have a better experience at comparable prices. The only reason I give this restaurant 2 stars is because of their reasonably priced brick oven pizza.
(2)
Sarah M.

I was so excited to go here for my birthday as I was spending the long weekend in Nashville. I can't say I was very impressed - maybe I'm spoiled by the Chicago food scene, but the food just wasn't great. We ordered the frico to start - which was fine, again not anything super impressive. I love gnocchi so I ordered that and my husband had the catfish. I will say I wish I would have noted that it was bread and not potato gnocchi - I think it was the least impressive gnocchi I've ever had at a restaurant. Sure, the bits of lamb were nice and tender, but the gnocchi itself was terribly dry. If you cut a piece open it just crumbed apart - I know it's bread, but it wasn't moist like you'd expect it to be - just not good at all. My husband enjoyed his catfish and his side, but again, not anything special. Our server was good and the desserts helped make up for the lackluster entrees, but if I'm ever in Nashville again I wouldn't give it another visit.
(2)
Kimberly N.

My boyfriend and I just had our first Valentine's Day at City House. We were seated far in the back of the restaurant where it was quiet, which was nice, though the main dining room looked very cool. Our server really knew his stuff. He could describe drinks (suggested one for me that wasn't on the menu), and all the food options in detail and make personal recommendations. Some servers make me nervous from their discomfort but he had such ease and was a delight. And the food. THE FOOD! We were thrilled with everything we had but the gnocchi is by far my favorite dish they offer, not counting the cherry cola chocolate cake covered in marshmallow fluff. The prices are fair. I highly suggest you visit city house for a great date spot or a fun night with friends (pizza is a popular option there).
(5)
Yao Z.

Went there twice in the last 2 week and each time the quality is consistent. The Belly Ham Pizza is absolutely delicious, make sure you ask to add the egg in the middle. :)
(4)
Catherine S.

We went without reservations on Thursday, 10/24/13 and were able to sit at the bar. (If you want to sit at a table I recommend reservations.) Alisa the bartender was fantastic with her menu and wine suggestions. For an appetizer we chose the Frico which was amazing. I went with the fettuccine with lamb & my husband chose the house made belly ham pizza for the main course. Both entrees were perfectly prepared and better than imagined. While we were there we chatted with regulars at the bar and listened to their recommendations as well. I highly recommend this place for something that's not like your run of the mill Italian chain.
(5)
Bailey W.

Very disappointed. In town from Los Angeles on business, made reservations weeks ago for a special occasion with high expectations. First and foremost, there was a long curly hair in the middle of our table right when we sat down. We were willing to overlook that, even though the hostess had already rushed us to the table saying she needed us to finish our meal in an hour and a half...then the octopus was chewy and fishy, the steak had to be sent back twice for being cold and rubbery, and the catfish was overly salty. Your chefs sure do love fennel! We had a terrible table in the middle of the restaurant. Regardless of all that, the worst part of our dining experience was the service. Absolutely abysmal. Our waitress was cold and disinterested, barely even making eye contact and giving up on us entirely after we sent the tri tip back the first time. No apologies, no sympathy, zero hospitality whatsoever. Drinks were dropped without bussing empty glasses, food left without silverware, we had to flag down another server for a new napkin, just all around very sub par. I'm disappointed that the experience was no where near deserving of the hype and we were treated with no respect or courtesy. The only saving grace was a pizza with delicious crust an a friendly sommelier. Everyone else needs a reality check. We are willing to forgive a lot in trade for food that's worth it, but not wiling to forgive in this case. Will be spreading the word.
(1)
Michael P.

We actually drove to Nashville to go to City House. - true story - it was recommended - we are cuckoo = it was well worth the trip! (If Nashville only had donut shops we'd go back) City House is the real deal = roasted octopus - whomp whomp = seriously this was the place to go = read reviews below agree with almost everyone - the place is a little loud but that's due the weak decor - wood varnished walls are gonna echo = that's cool the super friendly/smart staff = wow nothing makes an experience better than smart staff = excellence training/recruiting. minus for the bar area - not so cute - and I am a bar hanger = but that is cool= back to the food = we ordered almost every first course - OMG egg plant - yummy, bresola= now I know what it is and now I want more.....did I mention roasted octopus - have you made your reservations yet ? Dessert !! Dessert - caramel cake - with caramel BUTTERCREAM icing - yea you read that right - Oh jeez I almost for got my cocktail was violet - like Liz Taylor's eyes = please please please don't call it the Junior - call it Liz Taylor I am reminded that the bartending is weak - we asked for a pretty standard cocktail on the menu and the bartender asked US for the ingredients -um surely the bartender has a) a book b) an iphone - i was a little embarrassed for the server who asked surely he had an iphone? so fine order off the menu! Hah! quite the spot -
(5)
Kay D.

To begin, we showed up a little before our 5:00 reservation thinking we could grab a cocktail at the bar. The door was locked, the hostess looked up, unlocked the door, told us (through a crack in the door) that they opened in 7 minutes, re-locked the door, and sat back down. With that less-than-warm welcome, we almost just left. Not a good start, and unfortunately it never really picked up from there. Everything was just okay for us. I don't get what the fuss is about with the ham belly pizza! It was an average crust with a few sparse pieces of overly-salty belly... Even my usual "an egg on top can save anything" didn't make it work for me. The portions of pasta were fairly small for the price, and I never mind that IF I feel the quality justifies it. These, for me, didn't. Neither pasta stood out, but were just okay. Even so early in the evening, my boyfriend and I could barely hear each other, it was so loud. Our waiter did a nice job, though. He was professional and knew the menu. With all of the other options popping up all over Nashville, I don't see myself going back.
(3)
Lynda G.

My favorite restaurant in Nashville. If you are expecting a red checkered tablecloth, traditional American-Italian restaurant, you will not find it here. Whtat you will find is innovative and delicious.
(5)
Bill B.

Dynamite nouveau Italian/Southern fare in a lovely and spacious and somewhat industrial conversion space. 15? Ft ceilibgs and whitewashed walls create the airy atmosphere with lively service/servors and a variety of diners. The menu is interesting and the wines focus on the Italians which I love. Delicious salami and parmesan starter along w a nother, a apple, peanut, fennel, cranberry, raisin and lemon juice and olive oil salad that stole the show. Tri tip entree was satisfying as was the linguini and mussels. The cookie and coffee dessert was just right to cap a splendidly satisfying meal leaving us refreshed, sated and energized for our evening. Server was quite pleasant, personable, informative and helpful without being overbearing Perfecto
(5)
greg s.

Went here on a recommendation from a local shop owner, and what a good recommendation! We drove right by a few times, because the restaurant blends right in. We did not have reservations, but decided to eat at the bar. We showed up at 8 PM on a Saturday, and the place was packed. We got a well made Old Fashioned and a glass of cab, and waited for a spot. The drinks were great, and the bartenders were friendly, and took their time with each customer (in the right way, but don't expect them to just sling Bud Lights quickly they put the nice touches on their drinks). We told them we wanted to eat, and when 2 seats became available, they held them for us, and got us seated. We were torn between all of the interesting options. We went with a kale salad, thinly sliced meat (name starts with a B I think, bartender recommended), and split the gnocchi. Everything was delicious. The kale was well dressed, and nice leafy greens. The B named meat slices were delicious, great recommendation. The gnocchi were soft but crispy due to a searing, and the sauce was very yummy. It was a great experience, and the staff were so nice.
(5)
Tim O.

We - my wife, four and a half year old son, and I - had a memorable dining experince at Nashville's City House last week. First off I sped right past the restaurant as it lies on a quiet street in Germantown. Great location and a very cool entryway and bar area. We were seated in a spacious unpstairs dining area with a view to the street. We were a bit worried about bringing our 4.5 year old to City House but the worry ended as soon as the hostess and our server went out of their ways to say hello and welcome the youngster. Our server, Wilder, was the best we had during our four days of eating our way through Nashville. He offered precise description and well thought suggestions as we waded through the special Sunday evening menu. We had no idea they did "something special" on Sundays, but we were so glad to have dined here on the Lord's day. Pork snacks - Eat first and ask questions later. Outstanding. Pizzas - Fresh ingredients and a great oven. Excellent. Salads - I remembered (again) just how much one can love brussel sprouts. Buttermilk dressing. Great! Fried Catfish - Fresh and perfectly breaded with a sweet/spicy relish. Dynamite. Unfortunately our little time bomb ( the previoulsy mentioned 4.5 year old ) was near detonation and we could not stay for dessert. Great, interesting, fresh food + Great Service + Great music = James Beard Nominee We enjoyed City House and we will return when we are in Nashville again.
(5)
Rainu I.

The food at City House is incredible! From the octopus to chicken, then amazing panna cotta dessert- it was certainly impressive. The pizza is incredible too. Though a higher-end place, the food is as comforting as it is impressive. The portions are large, but it's has that kind of Southern influence too. Love love love it.
(5)
Spencer S.

The decision to visit City House for a dinner outing with good friends was dead on. Everything was perfect. The restaurant was full, but our wait was a mere ten minutes, max. The atmosphere is loud and friendly, lively and welcoming. We ordered two pizzas with arugula (seasonal) and fried egg. We also ordered the salad with beets. Next came the fettuccine. Next, the octopus, chick pea, and fennel plate. WOW! Everything was perfect! Our evening here turned out to be the most fun and best experience I've had in a while! Visit City House and you won't miss out.
(5)
Trish T.

My husband and I were delighted to hear about a James Beard Award winning restaurant that happens to be in Nashville. This restaurant serves "rustic" Italian, and you have to make reservations because this place gets packed. We wanted a Saturday reservation but the only opening they had was at 9:00 PM, so we opted to do a Sunday dinner instead. Little did we know, the menus change on Sunday. Our sever informed us that they don't offer pasta on Sunday, yet a few customers sitting at the bar had pasta on their tables. (Whatever..fine) The Sunday menu consists of a few pizzas, meatballs, and a few appetizers. That sucked, but we were still game to eat. To start, I ordered their pork cracklings. It was pretty good (that's why they got 2 stars instead of 1) My husband ordered their meatballs which our waitress raved about. The order consists of 3 decent sized meatballs, and I ordered their "pork belly" pizza. My husband said the meatballs were pretty tasty, but not enough to make him come back for it. I know his dish was less than $15 but more than $10, and my pizza was $18. We don't mind paying "X" amount for a meal, but if a pizza is going to be more than $10 (some else said) than the "[pizza] fairy better be dancing on my tongue." My pizza was such a disappointment. A few people mentioned something about adding an egg on top, but our server didn't mention that. (It must not be "available" on Sunday) In addition, I don't think an egg could save the pizza I had. If "bacon" doesn't fix it, nothing will. The dough looked thin which I like, and I was expecting it to be crispy. Instead it was the opposite :( It didn't have any sauce which I know not all pizzas "require" a sauce, but it needed something, and there was little pork belly on the pizza. If I picked off all the bacon, and lined them up side-be-side, the size would equate to 1/4 of a regular slice of bacon (I'm not kidding). I basically paid for cheesy bread with a sprinkle of bacon. Next, desert. We ordered their corn-meal pound cake, with fruit, homemade ice-cream, and whipped cream ($10-$14). Sounds tasty right? Our server said the cornmeal was just for texture. When we ate it, it tasted exactly like sweet corn-bread with fruit preserves and ice-cream :( The ice-cream was the star of the show. Not only was the food disappointing but so was our service. We literally had the "dinning" experience (i.e. we were there for more than 2 hours). Our server forgot about us. How do I know? Everyone sitting at the tables around us, came in after us, yet they got their pizzas and/or order before us. When my pizza came out, it was "cool." The cheese wasn't stringy, and the cheese started getting that "skin" because it was getting cold :( I didn't complain because having to wait an hour and 15 minutes for my dinner = I'm pretty hungry. She never came by to tell us why we had to wait so long, or why the people that came after us started eating before us. As I mentioned earlier, if I didn't have the cracklings to start off with, this place would've received 1 star.
(2)
Richard F.

Gnocchi to die for and the moistest pound cake I've ever eaten. The service was top notch and I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Shannon C.

Dinner there Sunday night. They had run out of 3 items on an already extremely limited menu. Menu is pretentious, and service was mysterious. I won't be back.
(2)
Jen L.

I wrote one review already but it was pulled by Yelp HQ due to my being too mean in regards to our server. I won't name names but his name rhymes with "Spaniel". Anyway, I enjoyed my food. I did not enjoy our terrible service. Read on. Our server was rude and dismissive, continuously dropped silverware, and actually SCOLDED us for not giving him our 100% attention while he was reciting the dessert specials. Lame. We spent just about $400 on dinner for eight of us and unfortunately, 18% gratuity was already included. Too bad. He did not deserve even close to that amount. Pros: crispy potatoes with gorgonzola, the white beans in red sauce served with the octopus and my pasta dish, which was wide noodles in a chicken/pork liver bolognese. Cons: No bread, and poor service. Update, one week later: There were eight of us and we were assured that we could split the check evenly, and we did so, providing eight credit cards. We all signed our own receipts, for a total of about 50 bucks each. Later, we found out that one of us was charged the entire amount on her debit card which is just too ridiculous. She discovered the problem on Friday 1/29 and has left repeated messages with City House Nashville. No one has gotten back to her yet. IT'S BEEN FIVE DAYS. I've had better service at Pizza Hut. Update, Two Weeks Later: My friend filed a claim with her bank and she was refunded $350. The rest of us were all each charged $50.12, as originally agreed upon. Am I happy? No. Tammie should have gotten a phone call from the terrible management at City House Nashville, apologizing for the mixup. There is no excuse for this.
(1)
Tony L.

Great location, feel at home when you walk in. Juliet seated me, may go back just to see her again...very professional. Each dish has REAL flavor and is worthy of savoring it a bit as you try the first bite. Texture is part of the taste experience, so take time to enjoy. Great team on the service side. Ben was great. Enjoyed every minute.
(5)
John P.

i had the pizza and my wife had pasta. Both were excellent. Service was very good as well. I thought the atmosphere was great. Perhaps trendy yet still very comfortable.
(4)
Shane M.

great meal, pizza with egg was really good, good wine list, accommodating staff, quiet section of restaurant in front room, well done menu w/ lots of options
(5)
Paul B.

Great Hospitality and great Southern presentation of Italian inspired dishes. Well executed plates! Go!
(4)
Gertrude T.

Good food. Sides really shined. Unfortunately, service was slow and bratty. I felt like there might be a quiz after the meal. Clearly our waiter was unhappy we hadn't memorized The Food Lovers Companion. I will give them another try.
(3)
Joram C.

So, let me start by saying the kitchen closes at 10 pm on a Friday night. I know because I was 30 mins late for my reservation due to my flight landing late at the airport. Once I did get there my date and I were in formed we had 5 mins to order, so, we did and it was TOTALLY WORTH IT. This place reminds me of a little italian joint back in my home city of Chicago. The building is very distinctive, the crowd is younger and hip, but not pretentious or without diversity. we had salami with parmesan for antipasti, which was SUPER well cured and the parm was awesome in the little chunks it was presented as. The Rabbit confit with rigatoni and parmesan KICKED ASS. and finally the beef dish we had with fennel, red onion and feta( I think?) slaw was a perfect main that rounded out a very italian mean. Our server Emily was super cool about us showing up late, was not pushy, and spent extra time with us helping us make our decisions. OH, also, we got this cauliflower salad starter with some red sauce that was great as well. seriously, if you take a date there and dont get any play....then its totally not going to work between the two of you AND he/she/non-gender identifying individual just got you to spend about 100 bucks on dinner. Lose/Lose
(5)
Michelle M.

City House is in a charming brick building in Germantown. (Oh my god, is it ever loud in there.) I chose this place for dinner for a party of eight based on the strength of the Yelp reviews. Most of the reviewers must have had better service than we had. We were there FOREVER. The waiter dropped a dirty fork on me. Blah, blah, blah. You know what bad service is. The starters were delicious. The house-cured salami was yummy. I wish I could have just ordered a salami sandwich. This would have been a very different review. The crispy potatoes with gorganzola were super crunchy but not dry. The crispy octopus with white beans was delicious. For my entree, I got the something crusted catfish with the something potato puree and garlic pesto with something. The catfish was tender and moist but the crust was lacking flavor and seasoning. The potato puree on top was delicious but cold. I had the grits with pecorino as a side. The grits were also a little cold and pretty boring with just a little bit of pecorino thrown on top. All the other sides sounded unappetizing. Actually, all of the other dinners sounded unappetizing, which is why I ordered the catfish to begin with. Two friends ordered the belly ham pizza, which was good but too fricking spicy and was served with an optional over-easy egg in the middle. That's just weird. Two friends ordered the pumpkin pasta, which they thought was disappointing and bland. One friend ordered the chicken liver and pig liver bolognese pasta, which she liked very much. The friend who ordered the roasted chicken also enjoyed her meal. I forget what the other one ordered. None of the desserts sounded good either but I did like the orange mint sorbetto one of my friends ordered. I didn't think the chocolate caramel cake was anything special. Oh, I did like my cocktail. I ordered the Bandit. It contained grapefruit juice, ginger ale and some booze I can't remember. A Bad Service Epilogue I just found out that, even though we got separate checks and split evenly among eight cards and all signed our own receipts, one person in our party was charged the entire $400. Way to go, Daniel (the bad server). He's lucky the 18% gratuity was built in; we certainly wouldn't have tipped that much. A Bad Service Epilogue Sequel After five days of leaving messages with City House and not receiving a phone call from them, my friend final got a $350 refund from her bank by disputing the charge. And, I removed one star from this review. And, I added them to my boycott list.
(1)
Laura K.

On my first trip to Nashville we celebrated at City House. Celebrating what, our server wanted to know? We were just celebrating Saturday night. He then criticized us for not acting celebratory enough. Overall we had an odd staff-customer dynamic with him. The restaurant atmosphere and food reminded me a lot of a place at home, Sette Luna in Easton PA. In case you're local. Same kind of fancy drinks and good homemade food and rustic brick oven pizza. The kind of urban-chic place that is a standout in a marginal/upcoming/transitional/trendy -- whatever adjective --neighborhood. Well, on this night, my belly was feeling unsettled by drinking too much honkytonk beer on Broadway during my visit, so to drink I had the Tina (prosecco, grapefruit and aperol. I don't know what aperol is but I've had this drink at, yes, Sette Luna, and I like it. I know it's picky but when I drink sparkly drinks I like them in a champagne glass, not in an old-fashioned glass.) Also had a ginger-syrup-soda yummy thing that really helped my palate prepare for my spicy salty house cured belly ham and fresh mozzarella cheese giant pizza! Even on a good night I would not have been able to eat this thing by myself, so it was good sharing. The waiter asked if I wanted an egg on top. Why yes, my tummy would love an egg on top. Again, I had this exact pizza at my hometown restaurant. I love dippy eggs. The egg added a creamy flavor and balanced out the salty-spiciness of the ham and chilies. And it felt decadent. Also loved the housemade salami! But the food at our table was inconsistent, some of it really well seasoned, some over-salty, some kind of bland. Somewhat of a crapshoot. Service could have been quicker. I had to wait for drinks to be delivered, and it took seemingly forever to get a dessert menu, our sweets, and the check. Meh.
(2)
Billy D.

Never has it been so easy to give a restaurant 5 stars. I had the "ham on ham" pizza... which is basically a ham pizza, with an egg right in the middle of it. After finishing it the waiter said that you can actually get TWO eggs on it. It's like a genie granting you a wish, and then telling you that you could have asked for unlimited wishes as your wish instead. My date had the special which was a shrimp pasta. It was really salty. "It's real salty. Like a mouthful of sea water". That's what she said. No. Seriously. That's what she said. The waiter wasted no time taking it off the bill and giving her something else instead - for free. I'll definitely be going back. I may even push the limit and ask for three eggs on my pizza.
(5)
Robby W.

Was in Nashville for work and ate here twice it was so good. Very cool venue and I had perhaps the best pizza I've ever had at City House. It doesn't look like it is on the menu anymore but it had a little bit of potato on it, some delicious cheese and an over easy egg on top.
(5)
Don E.

Just a quick comment ... At the recommendation of a friend, I came here last night. We only got a couple of appetizers and split a pizza ... Great! The appetizers, house cured salami parm, and a cheese potato concoction called frico were both good, and the pizza was absolutely the best I've had outside of Italy. We arrived without reservations and were seated at the "counter" which overlooks the kitchen and the genuine wood fired brick oven. Very fun watching it all happen. Service was fast but not rushed, friendly and helpful. Prices were actually reasonable for the level of quality. Totally recommend! I plan on coming back next time I'm in Nashville for sure!
(5)
Kirsten H.

I've been to City House a few times, and just went there for a Sunday Dinner for the first time and it was great. It's a little bit hard to find, but certainly worth the search. we shared one of the Pork Snacks (we tried the Porky Joes) which were very tasty. I was the only person in our party not to get pizza, and I'm not going to lie, I definitely had a bit of ordering envy. My grits with cheese and pork were quite good, but the pizzas looked absolutely incredible. I had a fava bean pizza on a previous visit and was blown away with it, this time around I tasted my friend's pimento cheese pizza and it was also very good. I really like the decor in the main room getting to watch some of the food preparation, but that can get noisy, so it's best to sit in one of the side rooms if you really want to have a conversation.
(4)
Gage L.

One of my favorite places for a fabulous dinner...pizzas are great but dinner menu even better...mixologist so drinks are amazing.
(5)
Alex Z.

Best restaurant in Nashville that I've been to. The clearly put a lot of effort into the dishes and care about fresh quality ingredients. Their food is nice and simple and done right. Nothing crazy rather each dish is meant to be what it's supposed to be and I have to stress it's done right and with care. Real gem of Nashville.
(5)
Brianne S.

Great food, great service and cute atmosphere. A nice change of pace from many places in Nashville. They offered a nice selection of drinks and wine and have a neat open style kitchen. The margherita style pizza is heavenly!
(4)
Samuel L.

There are not many places I have been in Nashville that get a return,mbut this is definitely one of them. Fantastic food, every time. Ths time on Sunday we went and just ordered one of every starter. Tandy is a fantastic chef, andnthismplace is always consistent. Well done.
(5)
Janet S.

Cant believe I have not reviewed this place since we have been a zill times. Sunday supper is delicious, no margarita pizza but some other pizza choices and a kitchen pie with capers hit the spot. We clawed our way through crawfish, sucking and scraping, dined on beet salad and washed it down with a delicious mocktail. City House always consistent, sit kitty kat at the bar and split a pizza and glass of wine, easy in easy out. $13 pizza and a $11 glass of wine A-OK. Hey Christine S I saw you there two nights running last week so guess you are a regular after all!
(4)
Dara S.

Good drinks. Bartender really knows her wine. Great pizza. Average food. Order pizza at either bar for an added experience. Not worth a 3 week wait for a reservation at a table.
(4)
Houston A.

My favorite restaurant in Nashville. Eclectic menu, very original dishes, the gourmet cocktails are fantastic, outstanding service. Great, unique ambiance. Love this place.
(5)
Joe R.

I travel for a living and spend time in some incredible food cities. I must say that City House ranks with the best of them! Went there for a date with my wife last night and we were blown away. Our server, Randy, was great and extremely knowledgeable! I understand the the menu is constantly evolving but I'll go ahead and run down what we had. We started with the octopus appetizer which was cooked to perfection. It sat on bed of chick peas that complemented the octopus perfectly. We ordered some delicious cocktails and enjoyed the atmosphere while we waited for our food. I ordered the house-made sausage with a fig and pear mustarda. My wife had the ham-belly pizza with an egg sunny-side up. Of course we shared and were blown away by the way all of the flavors worked together. We will be back very soon. Can't believe it took us this long to get over there.
(5)
Ben Z.

Ok, let me preface this by saying I'm not actually a huge fan of this place.. It's just that it's not for me. There's no doubt they serve quality food and I'll certainly write it up to the fact that my pallet isn't able to appreciate a lot of what they have to offer. I really have nothing negative to say about the one time I have actually eaten there. Fair enough? Hope that made sense... Anyway... Now.. What I do want to address is the service I was provided last Friday night.. It was my friends birthday and she was dining at Citi House to celebrate. I was out of town in Louisville and wanted to make sure and have a drink delivered to her table. Unfortunately I came up with this brilliant idea at 5:45 PM on a Friday night. I called anyway and Anne (hostess) was more than happy to accomodate me. Maybe people do this more often than I realize because she was prepared as if she did this kind of thing all the time. My friend didn't even have a reservation so I had to call back during what I'm sure was a crazy dinner rush to explain where she was sitting... I never once was made to feel as though I was inconveniencing her in any way and I really appreciated that so I thought a shout-out was in order given how many people out there are so quick to complain about the smallest of things... Thanks again Anne.
(4)
Deane M.

We stopped in to City House on a recent trip to Nashville, on recommendations from my sister. I should remember to thank that sister properly... I think it's fair to say that the word is out about this place and its epic Sunday Supper menu - so if you're going to roll in sans reservation, best to do it as soon as the doors open. We arrived promptly at 5, and were told that they were all booked solid for the evening, but we could sit at the bar, which we did. The bar was quickly full of people in similar situations, including a family of four, with two little ones... and the bartender was so busy churning out cocktails for the rest of the restaurant that she had little time to spend with us, meaning that it took almost fifteen minutes to flag her down for the check. But before the mad rush, we were able to put in an order for a delicious pizza with potatoes and figs, some epic meatballs, and a cheese plate. Being as their Sunday menu rotates and changes frequently, it's hard to repeat your experiences here, except in the cocktail pages, where I'd recommend both the Bandit and the Kubric. No signs of Rose's lime juice here; all ingredients are fresh-squeezed at the bar, which, if you're sitting there, provides quite the mixology seminar. The food was delicious, as many can and have attested, and the drinks were on par. Just be sure to make a reservation so you don't get turned away hungry.
(4)
Dusty K.

Having gotten lost twice on the way (lousy gps navigation), I was dreading the thought that my reservation would be wasted. I tried to play it off as though I didn't care but inside the sadness was growing. I had called 2 weeks in advance ensuring a seat at this popular find. Was it truly Nashville's best restaurant? My anticipation of a dinner here was nothing short of legendary. 15 minutes late, we finally arrived...at least we thought. The building looked like the setting of a horror movie. It's dark and eerily lit on the outside without a sign in sight. And strangely enough, quiet. Almost too quiet. We walked past an outdoor patio full of tables and chairs with each spot perfectly laid out for diners. But there was not a soul around. I wasn't sure if we were heading in for dinner or making our way towards the set of Friday the 13th. Reaching the bottom of the hill the words City House appeared in stone. A smile made it's way across my face. Words really can't describe how much I loved this restaurant. It really is the coolest place in Nashville. It's hip and vibrant but very casual. Smiling faces were everywhere to be seen. Anyone donning dresses or shirts and ties to those sporting t-shirts and jeans will feel welcome. In a nutshell it's my kind of place. I sat in the main dining area adjacent to the kitchen. What a view. Watching that group of guys move back and forth between pizza preparation to stove top was a trip. The wall behind me had a stone inlay which added to the charm. I spent the better part of my dinner gazing around the room finding new things to peak my interest. The service deserves credit. I never once felt that our server was doing a job. That's a hard quality to find. And it's not everyday you see a white dude with dreadlocks. Each server had their own personality which added to the restaurant's character. Great restaurants have a certain smell. It's very muted but noticeable if you pay attention. It's the smell of the best ingredients simmering, pizza slowly rising in a hot oven, and the freshest food being prepared by loving chefs. City House has that mouthwatering smell. And the food was divine. I was not leaving without trying a pizza and the margherita was fabulous. Great pizza shines in simplicity and simple was what we received. Crust, sauce, small discs of fresh mozzarella and whole basil leaves. Nothing complicated. It was a great way to start our dinner. I switched gears for my entree to the house made sausage with ale mustard. Another home run. My plate was cleared in five minutes. On the side I had an heirloom tomato 'salad' with fresh vegetables. In season tomatoes have a flavor chefs kill for and these were spot on. We closed with the chocolate fudge pie and caramel gelato. Very chocolaty, very creamy, and damn good. I enjoyed the contrasting textures of the pie and shell as well as the cool creaminess of the gelato against the warm pie. Perfect. City House impressed. I'm in love. I'll fully admit that I was wowed. This restaurant would stand proud in any city. Without a doubt, I will be back.
(5)
Jerome O.

Really great food - amazing house cured sausage & delicious chicken (I usually don't get too excited about chicken). Montepulciano good & reasonably priced. Good service, cute location (a tadbit noisy). Also, our waiter did know & understand the wine list really well & made really relevant suggestions.
(4)
Tabitha T.

Nashville's never had a restaurant like this. At least not in the 17 years I've been eating there. Here is an establishment that offers house-made mozzarella and sausage. They've paired unique, fresh food components in a deceptively simple way to create a memorable eating experience. Menu items I tasted: squash and sweet potato appetizer; fried potatoes with gorgonzola cheese; pizza with mozzarella and belly ham; pizza with peppers, garlic, oregano and grana padano; stuffed trout and collard greens; and apple walnut crostata with mascarpone gelato. The wine list seemed to be mostly populated by Italian labels. They offer half a dozen or so really good microbrew beers, as well. I cannot say enough about how delicious and well-prepared the food was. The only sour note was that the trout and collard greens were significantly over-salted. I found this surprising and disappointing when every other aspect of the meal was so well-executed. It is clear that someone knows what they are doing and knows how to get the food to the customer the way it was intended. Nashville has been strangely lacking in this kind of restaurant. I'm glad to see City House arrive and hope it has many years of success.
(4)
Russell S.

The Bread Gnocchi is something that I will get a craving for and everything was delicious. Their cocktails are amazing. Definitely a top ten meal.
(5)
Maxwell H.

Absolutely outstanding. This is one of the best restaurants that I've eaten at this year. Over the course of the evening, I enjoyed pig heart, side meat bruschetta, pig liver po' boy (complements of the chef), crispy octopus, seared short ribs, and a cannolo -- as well as a couple of great beers (Schmaltz's Sword Swallower and BBC's Bourbon Barrel Stout), as well as a great Pimm's cocktail and a Sweet Lucy after dinner. Food was on point start to finish. Just simply amazing. (If you don't order the octopus, you're doing yourself a great disservice.) Only gripe would be a server who disappeared when I needed a fresh beverage (Travis--where were you running off to? A smoke break??) Really, I can't wait to go back to Nashville to hit up City House again. I wish to God I had a place like this in San Antonio. I'd haunt it! Keep up the good work, Tandy!
(5)
David W.

Let me start off by saying that I loved how hidden this place was. The outside looks like an old worn out house just hiding in some trees. Walked in and liked the industrial atmosphere, although I would assume it can get pretty loud. I was solo for the evening so I sat at the chef's bar. I was excited to be served by the chef's as I was hoping to tell them to make me some off the menu type stuff. Unfortunately this did not happen. I did have a waitress who was very knowledgeable and helpful. The kitchen staff did not interact with the bar clientele, which was a bit disappointing being a food lover. No worries though, surely did not ruin the meal, but would have made it better for sure. Started off with their Lardo Bruschetta. two large slices of bread with yellow tomato and lardo sliced thin. Olive oil and herbs on top. Very tasty. I never order chicken out, but frankly nothing else was very appealing. Pizzas did look amazing but had a slice earlier in the day. Ended up with the half a roasted chicken. The flavor was amazing. they do it in a cast iron skillet in their wood oven. Crispy skin, simple seasoning made for a great entree. It was huge too! As per usual I have found the wine prices in Nashville obscene. I did have two solid glasses, but both were $9 and $10 respectively. I collect wine, know where to buy it, and have a good sense of cost. I do understand restaurants need to make their money at the bar, so I will just say the pours were good, and the wine was solid. Would go back again for sure.
(4)
Nathan W.

Pizza is pizza right? WRONG!!!! The Martguerita pizza at City House is sublime. I am not joking here people. Normally I like my pizza stacked with meaty and delicious toppings, not here. This pizza is as perfect a food as I have found in my entire life. They will add a fresh cracked egg, or arugula to the pizza, but don't do it. Not to this one. That egg and that arugula are great but let them be. This pizza transcends description and leaves you breathless wanting more. If I could do it and not see an early grave I would eat this pizza morning noon and night and feel no guilt at all about it. It's worth noting that the other food is pretty great as well. Pasta is sourced from a shop 2 blocks away (review to come shortly) and most all of the rest of the food comes from within 250 miles. The bar is a stand out as well. Cocktails are creative and delicious and the scotch menu is a standout. Sundays are chef supper days. Get ready for a nose to tail pig experience. If you are squeemish you shouldn't avoid this day (or maybe not) as it takes courage. Its amazing though and getting your head in a place where the rest of the world already has theirs is not the worst thing you will ever do. Make a reservation, you're going to need it.
(4)
Sondre Lerche And Herremannen V.

After our escapade in nature's hole, we decided to take some showers at our friend Keegan DeWitt's in Nashville. Our friend, Josh Day, recommended we have dinner at "City House." DJ Murphy (Heypenny) and Jeremy Bullock (Keegan DeWitt) all concurred this was a fine choice. Upon walking up to the front door, Sondre ran into some colleagues from Rolling Stone and The Strokes. We took this as a good sign. Upon walking up to the bar, we saw Ke$ha sitting next to us. We took this as a ... sign. The atmosphere was real pleasant, great lighting indoors and outdoors, nice wooden tables and chairs, an enclosed patio, interesting floors, and plenty of exposed brick. The host was ALSO very pleasant in mannerisms, but was too old for Bonnaroo and made us wait for a table that was already available. I suspect this is policy with non-reservation holders to instill a reverence and/or respect for the establishment's busy schedule. As if to say: 'Listen, I don't care if this is a slow Monday or not... you WILL call ahead. We're in demand! Even if we're not right now, at this very moment, oftentimes we ARE, so in those cases you should REALLY call ahead to make a reservation, and since you didn't think to do so tonight, we're gonna make you wait, to show you what it would feel like if you came stroooooolling in, all LAHDEE-DA like, on a busy Tuesday night; so grab a seat at the bar, yup, right there next to Ke$ha, and watch your pre-set table just sit and do nothing while we pretend people are using it. Learned your lesson? Good...follow me, right this way please...' We took a table in the patio and, again, I'd like to reiterate our happiness with the lighting, decor, and attractive wooden tables, but the height of said table was so unreasonably high that it was both uncomfortable and comical at the same time. Perhaps with a higher chair one could enjoy themselves at the table without feeling like a toddler, but we're not exaggerating here. It was ridiculous. We ordered a round of fancy cocktails ($10 range) and none of us were particularly blown away. K and Sondre got the "Mona" and respectively felt it was "not that bad" and "tasted like a cheap drink at a cheap bar." Both of which, they were not. K was impressed with their selection of bourbon. Giancarla got something a little more simple, the "Lucy," and felt it was "refreshing." Jane ordered the "Solomon" and hated it. My original choice was the "Buckley" and not one single person at the table liked it. It was pretty awful, so I just gave it to the waiter to send back. (this became an interesting moment at the end of the night, when that terrible "Buckley" drink found its way to my bill. We thought this a simple oversight so I explained to our waiter that I had sent it back and asked if he would mind removing it from the bill. He replied, "I dunno. I'll go ask and see..." Ummm....what??? He returned with the following words, "You got lucky! We don't usually do that, so just so you all know, we usually don't do that." Wow. Way to represent! One has the opportunity to modestly please their customer by comping an unpleasant item, however, mr. Waiter here decides to make us all aware that City House will USUALLY forego the customer's satisfaction for a more standard policy of having them pay for a shitty drink that 5 out of 5 people deemed puke-worthy. NICE WORK!) K, Sondre, and Jane all had their food brought out by 2 waiters we'd never seen. Giancarla and I both sat there and gave them our blessing to begin eating. After about 7 minutes or so, our friends were halfway through their meal when our waiter came strolling through the patio for the first time since we ordered. He walked right past our table with a a causal and unconvincing, "Your soups will be out in just a minute....I'm sure." At this point, we decided this was a restaurant with a classy look, but just couldn't deliver on the service. (or table height). Eventually our soups came out, but there was no real apology or effort to compensate for such a huge oversight. I mean really. 2 of the 5 guests sat there hungry, watching their friends eat dinner. That's ridiculous. The Gnocchi at City House was the BEST. ever. Giancarla and I had the white bean, kale soup and freaked out over. so good! K had the catfish and was unimpressed, as was Sondre with his sirloin steak. But, the side dish of green beans were REAL REAL good.... We had the chocolate fudge pie with salty caramel gelato and it was UNBELIEVABLE!!! There's just a few words here about the food and A LOT of words about the experience. (That's probably NOT a good sign...perhaps that was the symbology of Ke$ha?) This was a tough review because some things about City House are amazing, but unfortunately, our experience was not a good one... ~Dave "Herremannen" Heilman
(3)
Vanessa P.

Fantastic. We came in around 10pm on a Saturday and were seated at the bar in front of the chefs - it was awesome watching them cook while we waited. I had a great whiskey drink to start (don't remember what it was), the kale salad, and shared the belly ham pizza with an egg with the hubs. The creativity and quality was a refreshing experience as a Nashville newcomer. The pizza was really great - I loved the smokiness and slightly charred crust and the egg made for a creamy topping. Kudos to City House for doing something slightly different and completely yummy.
(4)
Jan H.

Tom of Lazzaroli Italian market that provides fresh pasta for City House recommended them highly. He told me to order the 'bacon pizza with egg on top'. The menu has 'ham bellie' pizza, so I figured that was bacon. When I ordered the egg on top (not on the menu) they knew exactly what I meant and called it 'Sicilian style'. Maybe it's Sicilian style, but it's my style now. Best pizza I have ever eaten. My former favorite was in Rome. Rome's was nudged aside for this wonderful treat. I can't wait to return to Nashville just for this pizza! We also ordered octopus on chickpeas - delicious, gnocchi (so-so) and kale salad - very nice. The wine was good, the server was too. Our seat in this hotspot was at the kitchen bar where we could see the pizza dough being tossed and the flames licking at the boiling pots of pasta. We didn't have a reservation and were seated just before the big dinner rush. There were people waiting to be seated when we left. Our seatmates at the kitchen bar were from Atlanta, we were from Louisville, and I'm sure there were many locals there as well.
(5)
Michael M.

Really good meal here recently. Shared a bunch of different plates with a group. Standout dish was the Carolina Trout -- perfectly prepared, had a nice combination of flavor with lemon, raisins, light but crispy bread crumps. A great dish. Also really enjoyed the salami and beet salad appetizers. Good but not great items included: crispy octopus appetizer, bruschetta with guanciale, and the margherita pizza and spinach and ricotta pizza. I expected a little more from the pizzas. The ingredients were good but the pizzas became soggy near the middle very quickly. A recommended egg on top of the ricotta and spinach pizza only made this sogginess worse and did not add much flavor wise. Overall though - a number of really great dishes and a number of good dishes. A good, casual dining environment with quality ingredients and quality service.
(4)
Coll P.

The best meal I had in Nashville! Biggest complaint of the night-three dollars for an egg on a pizza? I'll do it, but I'm not happy about it. Other than that, we had great service and great food!
(4)
Shay G.

Pretty damn tasty I must say! We started with some pizzas, the salami/cheese, octopus and salads. All were very good. Our waiter was amazing and super helpful in guiding our food and drink choices. The star of the night was the linguini - simply delicious. I can't wait to go back :)
(4)
Jennifer R.

We had a list of places to try in Nashville, but unfortunately, we didn't think about the majority of them being closed on a Sunday. After a lengthy search, we found City House and their popular Sunday Supper menu. We did not have reservations, but I would recommend them, as our choices were limited to sitting at the community patio tables or the bar. We opted to sit at the bar, and the bartenders were super friendly and very helpful. They do a special Sunday menu, and I would say that in general, it seems like the choices are pretty limited - this is definitely a "foodie" spot, as a picky water would have a difficult time finding something to eat. We split the supreme pizza and pork burger. The pizza was delicious and paper thin with a nice crust (you know it's good when two kids from Jersey loved a Nashville pizza!). The pork burger was awesome. The bun was perfect, and the cucumbers were a great touch to bring out the pork flavor. For dessert, we got the ice cream sandwiches - buttermilk cornmeal sandwiches with caramel gelato. Soooo good! I'm not familiar with Nashville and this place seemed to be a bit off the beaten path, but it seems worth a visit.
(4)
Anna B.

Cool trendy spot. Very noisy. Egg on the pizza was overrated as it wasn't incorporated with the rest of the flavors. The gnocchi was way too hearty/starchy for my taste.
(3)
Mad C.

Absolutely everything here is excellent, especially dessert. It's predominately Italian with a Southern flare. The re-purposed building housing this joynt in Germantown is pretty cool as well. Chris the bartender is exceptionally friendly and competent. We loved it so much, we might eat there again tonight.
(5)
Krsna V.

The man and I have an agreement that we have to fly out for dinner at least once a month. This way nobody gets hurt :) We picked Nashville for our monthly dinner date out of Chicago. We heard about City House from a friend and decided to have Saturday night dinner at the restaurant. Imagine my surprise when the earliest reservation I could get was 9pm, that was a sign of popularity. The restaurant looks like a dilapidated house on the outside, but modern and sharp on the inside. It is an old house converted in to a restaurant. There is a bar area near the entrance, you then walk in to a cavernous living room with open kitchen, and head up the stairs to a more intimate area with 4 tables in each room. The ambiance was energetic even with only 4 tables in our room. We started off with drinks. I ordered the Moose - Cynar, House-Infused Lemon Vodka, Peach Bitters, and Bitter Lemon Soda. The man ordered the Junior - Death's Door White Whiskey, Creme de Violette, Dr. Enuf, and Lemon. Two perfect drinks that set the stage for our meal. We started our meal with the octopus: roasted octopus, october beans, chow chow, and parsley. Two long tentacles of octopus roasted with a very light breading on some areas, served atop beans. Pure bliss. it is probably the best innovative octopus dish I have eaten lately. The meal started off on a 5 star note already. Since I like variety, just like my men, I convinced the man we should do tapas style and order different appetizers and share an entree. Next, we ordered the eggplant - Eggplant Caponata, Tomato, Olives, Peanuts & Raisins, and Pecorino. Sensing that we are in an Italian restaurant, we ordered a cured meat appetizer - House Cured Bresaola, Sliced Tomato, Sea Salt, Pepper, and Parmigiano. Both appetizers were quite delightful. The earthy flavor of roasted eggplant was perfectly balanced by peanuts, tomatoes and olives. The bresaola had a nice kick to it and the tomatoes provided the perfect accompaniment. For an entree we shared the anchovy pizza - Anchovy, Mozzarella, Tomato, Garlic, Chilies, and Oregano. Sounds very simple, but it was impressively delectable. Thin crust pizza with just the right amount of anchovies (one full anchovy per slice) made with fresh mozzarella. It was a definite winner. The pizza is big enough to share for two. We also ordered a side of roasted okra to go along with the pizza. It completed our winning entree section. By this time I was in the mood for a Vesper. Their cocktail menu didn't have one and the bartender did not know what a Vesper is, but after I told our waiter what goes in a Vesper, the bartender made the perfect one. Impressive. The man decided to go with wine, he liked his Chardonnay. Since we both are dessert fiends, we decided to order dessert. Part of me was hoping that nothing on the dessert menu would interest me, so I don't have to ingest any more calories, but my wishing failed once I saw the buttermilk pannacotta with peach preserves. The man ordered a caramel cake. We both inhaled our dessert before you could count to ten, they were that good. Service was stellar, we never felt rushed or intruded. Chris allowed us the right amount of privacy while checking on us at regular intervals. We stayed for almost 2 hours eating and drinking without feeling rushed at any point. Who knew Nashville would deliver when it comes to incredible food? That's the beauty of America, you go to a town expecting country music and southern food and you are surprised/ impressed with delectable cuisine. Thank you City House for making our date night lovely. We will definitely return.
(5)
Karen C.

4 stars or 5...hard to say. As a San Francisco resident I can be hard to impress and this restaurant really hit the mark. I visit Nashville on business often and have loved trying all the new restaurants. This place is a great dining experience. It is in an old house nestled in the Germantown neighborhood, if your not careful you could drive right past it. It has a very southern feel with rustic decor which suits it just fine. We had a group of 5 and order a bunch of starters to share. The pork belly pizza w/ egg - Amazing. ** even my carb conscience friend dove in. The octopus, I agree with Todd & Kevin below that this was over cooked and not how it should be served. Kale Salad - very nice! Salumi plate Fettuccine - Not too heavy and very delicious Homemade sausage on the recommendation of the server and I am glad I did. YUM I also felt the wine list had a good selection and some excellent Italian names. I would definitely go back and recommend this restaurant. I went to Southern the night before and it was also a winner. Tomorrow Lockland Table.
(4)
D M.

The food and the service is awesome. I've been there twice now and the food didn't fail to meet my expectations the 2nd time. I will continue to go. I Recommend the pizza but be sure to get the egg on top.
(5)
John S.

We ate at City House last night. Food was great as was the service. Octopus app was perfect. Soup was amazing. Kale salad was dressed as it should be. Sausage main course, which is made inhouse is amazing
(5)
Krissi W.

Reservations were made to dine here over the weekend. We started out with the olive taralli which was really good. This was the first time I had ever had this appetizer. The pretzel-like crackers really complimented the olives. I had the bear creek steak which was really seasoned well and cooked perfectly. My husband had the trout. They brought the salads out with the meal which was not ideal. I can't remember which type of salad we ordered. The leaves had more flavor than most salad greens but had a lot of stems in it. The salad had croutons and dressing only. It left something to be desired. The restaurant was a little bit loud for the amount of people in it, but I think it was because a lot of the cooking/prep was done in visible areas.
(4)
Tom K.

I don't get the attraction to this spot. I have dined at City House on 4 occasions. I was there 3 weeks ago and that will be my last visit. We ordered a pizza as an appetizer and requested garlic on the pizza. The waitress told us that the chef takes exception to customers who request any deviation from the standard recipe. Are you kidding me??? Our tab was in excess of $300. I take exception to overly pretentious cooks. I had the short ribs. It was nothing more than a plate of overcooked meat. No garnish or anything else... City House is just not that good...
(1)
Fabiana H.

Very hip ambiance. I sat by the counter and it was so interesting to watch them prepare all the meals. Everything i tried, from the most simple items like "popcorn" was absolutely delicious!!!
(5)
Todd B.

I'm a Nashville native, and I know the food scene quite well. This restaurant now joins Etch, Cat Bird and Lockeland Table among my favorite places to eat. I've been waiting for over a year to go, and I finally got a reservation. The very charming house caused me to wonder how they ever found this place, and the landscaping makes it feel as if you're in a mountain or country village. The decor is minimalistic, and reminds me of several places in the San Francisco Mission District. I loved the charcoal grilled pork belly pizza (Lockeland Table and this place doesn't need to be offering the same thing), and the cheese and egg on top made it so amazing that I couldn't stop eating it. The kale salad was amazing -- with the peanuts, I could eat it for a meal alone. The octopus -- don't follow the reviews of others on this one. See Kevin C. and me -- it's over cooked like over done bacon. Octopus should be more chewy and tender, not brown and crispy. My server was incredibly friendly, attentive and authentic. This should be on anyone's food list for Nashville, but there was some room for improvement in my humble estimation.
(4)
Konefkta K.

I have actually had to wait a significant amount of time to write this review, because of how angry I was after visiting this place. We were in Nashville for a bachlorette party, and decided to go to City House for a nice dinner. After looking at the menu online, we were all pretty excited. Unfortunately, we went on a Sunday night. Apparently on Sundays they serve a limited menu, however, this fact is not very visible from their website...only if you scroll aaaaaallllllll the way down past the wine and cocktails menu. So we get there, and we're already upset that we are forced to choose from THREE entrees or pizza (we were there for a nice dinner and didn't want pizza). Out of those three items, they were out of one. Out of the other entrees, one had peanuts. Since I'm allergic, I asked if they could make it without. The supreme b**** of a waitress informed me that the "chefs" did not want to compromise the integrity of the food and so no, they could not make it without. Seriously? You have a menu with three entrees and one contains an incredibly common (deadly) allergen that you won't compromise on? This meant I was down to ONE ENTREE. ONE. ENTREE. What was it? Meatballs. F****** meatballs. No pasta, no bread, nothing. We asked if we could get a side of pasta or something--FOR THE MEATBALLS TO GO ON--and again were met with "the chefs can't compromise the integrity of the dish...." The girls who decided to go ahead and order pizza were informed that there were only three left, so they had better hurry up and order. My question is, how does this restaurant operate without any fricking food? For their part, they comped my cocktail that I didn't drink because it tasted like trash. TL;DR: They didn't have any food and I wish I could give them negative stars.
(1)
Michael S.

I was in town for business and had one night for a real meal. A friend recommended this place and I was blown away by the pizza and gnocchi. It will be worth another trip to eat here. It is a HOUSE in a somewhat residential area and I passed it up twice thinking I was in the wrong spot. But truly a diamond in the rough.
(5)
Chris M.

I'm visiting Nashville for the holidays and wanted to find a great place to go with my family for dinner -- a place that would accommodate a range of palettes and diets. After some research, which included some rave Yelp reviews, I landed on City House. We booked for five on a Sunday night. On some many levels, the experience was mediocre, at best. But before I get into that, let me say two very positive things about this place: 1). The people who work here are great. From the hostess who greeted us at the door to the bartenders who made us awesome cocktails while we waited for our table to the waiter who (among other things) kept our water glasses very full, the staff here was very nice. 2). The atmosphere is pretty cool. From the outside, you feel like you're walking into an old colonial home, but inside mixes urban decay with urban chic (along with high ceilings and minimal aesthetic all around) to create a space that is well worthy of a good meal. But the meal.... Well, more than that, the menu. After waiting fifteen minutes past our reservation for a table (which really isn't a big deal, except that we were supposed to be seated at 8:15p and by the time we were seated at 8:30p, you really got the sense that the 9p closing time was a big deal), we were led to our table and quickly informed of two things: 1). Probably 20% of the menu was not available because they'd sold out. 2). On Sundays they go with a "cool and cozy" menu that isn't much like what you see online. As in, three entrees, some pizza, and a listing of sides (half of which revolve around pork). Now I selected this place to suit some general foodie taste buds as well as my dad, who's a salt-of-the-earth fella who reviewed the typical menu in advance to make sure they had some selections that would suit his (honestly, pretty picky) preferences, and my sister, who's a vegetarian and also took a gander at the menu in advance. As it turned out, the Sunday menu did not resembled what we saw online, and the website doesn't give any indication that we should expect massive changes on Sunday. (Nor does it really clarify that this is a place that specializes in pork, which, had I known that, would've been a bad selection for the crowd I'd assembled this night.) So, we ordered. The waiter didn't ask if we wanted starters and didn't try to upsell us on any of our entrees; he was nice, but it was clear that we should keep things moving. We ordered, half the table unexcited about the options -- and within FIVE MINUTES all of our entrees appeared. Seriously. Is this McDonald's? I ordered a crusted North Carolina trout, which was tasty, but it was literally a piece of fish BY ITSELF on a plate. The most boring plate you've ever seen in your dining life. This was one of three entrees. The others I was with ordered the meatballs (which were literally three meatballs in a bowl with two cold, toasted pieces of bread for $20+) and two pizzas, one of which was good and one of which was pretty gross -- tasted like it had been sitting around for a while. We threw the second one away, eating only two of six slices. I had enormous hopes for this place (this was actually my birthday dinner -- big up to the Capricorns -- so I carefully selected it and made it a central part of our night in Nashville) but aside from the tasty cocktails, the big industrial walls, and and kind souls who waited on us, I can't say much good about this place. Which is a bummer. My only redeeming thought is that this was the last night before they close for an extended holiday break, and maybe we just received terrible menu options and food because they were low on supplies, energy, and interest.
(2)
Walter M.

I was drawn to this place with the lure of Kentucky Whiskey and Bourbon, but enchanted by the entire experience. Southern Food and Italian, not Southern Italian. And here I was all ready to pour down. Good thing my people know me better than I know myself they are becoming more and more foodie by the day and it's great for any out of towner to be shown the ropes by someone who had never used chop sticks before meeting me. Thanks George, you've come a long way and I'm glad you scouted this for us. Literally half the whiskey's, bourbons I'd never seen or heard of, but wanted to. I'd recently had some bad run ins with the "white dog" and figured it would be better to try something "homegrown". Prichard County White Lightning which unlike most corn whiskey uses white corn instead of yellow. A twist and cringe and a whisper "smoove" and my run in with the white dog was over. Prichards Double Chocolate was complex, slightly undertoned with cacao. Eagle rare 17 yo was the best and priciest, right up there with single malt scotches imo. Velvety, spicy with a controlled sweetness. So with all this liquor you bet their cocktails were good. Many, single named proprietary coctails like the Samson (sloe berry gin, lemon soda, bitters, grapefruit and vermouth). Now we slowly move into the Italian part of the night. House curing slami, parm. Lonza, garlic and lemon. Octopus, fennel and fregola. All of these should be found in an upscale Italian restaurant. They have a pizza with peaches and buttermilk cheddar which turned my head twice. I'd never seen anything like it. House made ham, chilies, scallions, wow. The pizza crust was a little weak, but in the spirit of firsts I was willing to pass on that as they do use a stone wood fire oven. For dinner I split the Half chicken because the celery heart, pecorino and garum dressing sounded enticing. Fermented fish paste in Nashville? Loved the chicken it was perfectly seasoned, but the garum to me tasted more like steaksauce and tasted better on the tri tip which is split than the chicken. Tri tip was crisp, not over powered by the lemon on Worcestershire. Cooked night and hot and not BBQ's like many tri tips. Service is excellent, loved being schooled on the drinks by the server no less. It's got great dÃ©cor and a very rooted feeling. You can feel the Italian and the sense the country throughout. I do love how much of what they do is done in house like the ham and salami, herbs and spices I'm also told. Price is up there, not a normal night out for drinks or food level. Open kitchen keeps you entertained a little bit. I don't recall, but someone got a fresh cracked egg on their pizza nearby. I was extremely jealous by the Sunday menu which is once a week and unique to Sunday only. Boy do they expand their culinary skill adding more to the already diverse menu. The # of snacks they offer on Sunday is like double what they usually do. Nashville is not longer just music, but I may write a country song about City House. Protip: come for the Sunday menu which is unique and ever changing.
(5)
Jeff B.

Just had an amazing Sunday Supper at City House. The service was a little slow. But all was forgiven when the food arrived. The Scrapple Chili, Salads and Lamb Sausage pizza were highlights! Don't forget to order the Ice Cream Sandwiches too! I will be back!!!
(5)
Ashley K.

With all of the new restaurants in Nashville opening up, City House is our favorite restaurant in the city. The octopus, belly ham pizza + egg, and gnocchi are the perfect meal. We love City House!
(5)
Joel B.

City House is our favorite restaurant in Nashville. This fine establishment has everything: succulent dishes, fresh ingredients, creative cocktails, and a smart urban vibe. We visited twice this past week, once with my wife's parents and once with my own. The entire menu is exceptional, but I especially recommend the trout and, of course, the Belly Ham Pizza. Also make sure to save room for dessert and order the oatmeal cream pie!
(5)
Janet N.

We were only in Nashville for two nights for New Years Even 2012/13, but after reading the reviews I knew we had to try City House, even if we couldn't fit in a meal there. We made the trek up to German Town (Bonus tip - don't do this, at least not on a Sunday. Nothing was open during the day and there is nothing between downtown and German Town - get a cab or take a bus when you're ready to start hitting the restaurants in the area.) We lined up at the door before they opened at 5:00, hoping to grab a few seats at the bar, which we were able to do without a reservation, but we would have been standing if we'd arrived later. They have a respectable craft beer list, so we ordered a few drinks and some popcorn while we perused the snack menu. We settled on what the bartender described as "Our take on tuna salad" - a seared tuna and grilled vegetable mixture that was like a Nice-meets-Greece food combination - and the scrapple, which was fried up and served on a biscuit. Both were just amazing. I so wish we could have stayed for a meal because these snacks were some of the best food I ate in 2012. The bartender was friendly, attentive and helpful. The decor is very cool (the dartboard by the bar left me wondering how I could copy it at home) and the place is very, very busy. I would highly recommend a visit, and reservations when you do. But even if you don't have time for a full meal i can't recommend stopping in here for snacks like we did highly enough. It was just delicious - a solid five stars for our experience, though I'd love to go back and rate it for a full dinner.
(5)
Joy B.

Really lived up to its reputation. We went for the Sunday supper and found the portions to be quite substantial. I had Prosecco,husband had a beer,both well priced and tasty. We split a pizza which had a perfect crispy crust-too many places overcook pizzas and the crust turns out like a cracker. We had the ice cream sandwiches for dessert ;there was two large ones and plenty for the two of us. Great coffee.City House has attentive service;lovely interior and the hostess was happy to call us a cab after our meal;happily,this place lives up to its reputation. We had a disappointing experience at the Husk which was pretentious to the point of being ridiculous performance art so it was wonderful to have a good meal with excellent service here.
(5)
Jimmy W.

From the atmosphere to the food and drink, City House nailed it across the board. I've eaten here a few times and is my go to restaurant whenever I'm in town. I've never been disappointed with anything I've tried.
(5)
Brooke S.

WONDERFUL!! Best place in town. Gnocchi is amazing.
(5)
Allison H.

I had a really nice time at City House this past Sunday night. Didn't have a reservation but was lucky enough to have some spots open up at the kitchen bar right as we walked in. Apparently the menu on Sundays is a little different, with mostly small plates, a few pizzas, and four entrees to choose from. Especially enjoyed the pork belly with chickpeas and olives; great comfort food that wasn't too heavy. I rarely order dessert but the peanut butter icebox pie was out of this world. Loved watching the chefs work from where we sat and I kept thinking "I want that too!" every time they made something different. Service was super friendly, though we were kinda wondering where our server went a couple times at the beginning. Hoping to go back again before I leave Nashville.
(4)
A. C.

(6/21/2014) We were downtown visiting and had heard about City House through Saveur. I heard the thing to get was Chef Tandy Wilson's pizza, but unfortunately they were all out by the time we got there. It was kind of a long ways (walking) from Lower Broad and little dark and isolated. Tried a bunch of smaller plates, good simple preparations with very fresh ingredients. Octopus was marinated and tender, flavorful, moist, nice char on outside. Ciccioli was like pork hash with skin/rind chopped in, savory, fatty. Both dishes accentuated by a mix of crisp carrots and/or zucchini, something tart (brined or lime juice) and something cooling (cilantro and mint). Great formula! The frico of the night, a buttermilk cheddar with peaches was tasty (salty cheese and sweet, very ripe peaches) but disappointing in texture, somewhat soft and squishy, not like the expected lacy cheese crisp we knew as a frico. The Cornbread Gnocchi seemed to be the true dud of the night, very heavy dense lumps of cornbread pan-seared and served with white beans and squash. Flavors were all right, but the mix of dough and beans was a little much, especially for a hot summer's night (do they have A/C in this place?). Craft cocktails were delicious combinations (rather small and pricey). Dessert was over the top, great way to cap the meal. I'm not usually a dessert fan. Each we tried was not too sweet (Oatmeal Chocolate Pecan Pie, Poppyseed Layer Cake, Lemon Pound Cake), accompanied by something cool and creamy (Sorghum and Vanilla Gelato) and accented by something sweet and crunchy. Def a successful formula for the desserts. Surprisingly, very reasonably priced for hipster cool these days. Place was ear-splitting loud inside, very tight tables, very high ceilings. Overall would recommend to visitors (if you can get there), def will need to try the pizza.
(4)
John James S.

Not a fan of the loud cafeteria vibe but the food is fantastic. Very small menu but focused, if that makes sense. Would like even more if they had valet or were in an area of town where I didnt feel like I would get mugged as I walked to my vehicle
(4)
Melissa L.

Perfect except one minor thing that just seems to be the way it is these days - the noise level is higher than I would like - so while they can accomodate groups, it can be hard to hear from one end of the table to another. We always seem to get Kris and we LOVE him. I'll start with the service because it's impeccable. From making a reservation to the moment you walk in and are greeted, it's very good service. It's everything I want and nothing I don't want. The waiters are very knowledgeable about the food they are serving and the wines. On the current menu, I have to say that I love the conchiglie pasta with cauliflower. They make these incredible bread crumbs that they use on a lot of things. I had never had them on any of the dishes in the past and was reluctant but they were incredible and made the pasta. So much so that I now have figure out how to replicate them at home and serve them on everything. Two in our party that night had the Springer Mountain half chicken with a mosto sauce which was so good they both asked for more of it. The chicken was really nicely flavored and well cooked. Another had the trout stuffed with the bread crumbs and other things. It was all heavenly. The side that everyone got was a roasted broccoli with nuts and raisins and it was delightful. On a recent Sunday visit I had the crispy fried pig ear and the pappa pomodoro. The pig ear was wonderful. Crispy on the outside and yet almost melt in the mouth tender on the inside served on a bed of perfectly balanced marinara type sauce with just a hint of heat from red pepper flakes. Several of the party had the special which I can't recall the name of but it was a brisket stuffed with the breadcrumbs and braised until it was falling apart tender. We've also had the belly pizza and love it. I've never been disappointed with the pastas. In the summer the gelatos were all nice but I loved the lemon basil and the fig was also quite nice. This has become our 'go-to' place to take folks.
(5)
Ryan B.

Awful service. Overpriced. Wait staff rude. I want my night back. My friends and I won't return!!
(1)
Abby L.

We were recommended to try City House from friends as we are from out of town. We love a good hidden gem and local joint, this is just that. Food was fantastic, we sat at the bar and the bartender was just a sweetheart, and we made some pretty decent friends by the time our night was done. We stayed for 3 hours, enjoying the food and atmosphere, and wanted to go back the next day!
(5)
Kathleen K.

This is my favorite restaurant in Nashville. From the house-made cheese to the belly ham pizza, the orechiette to the little fennel bagels, everything I have ever put in my mouth here has been outstanding. I've been 6 or 7 times now and have never been disappointed. Even the desserts are terrific! Even though you can't go wrong with anything on the menu, it's really all about the house-made pork products and the perfectly crispy wood-fired pizzas. This place is one of a handful that is really putting Nashville on the contemporary culinary map. Way to go, City House!
(5)
Jason B.

i PREFACE that this review is only based on one visit however i dont live in nashville any longer so i have to just go by my one visit but will modify as needed when/if i go back. i went into this place with high hopes. it was voted best restaurant on some nashville website and tandy was recently nominated for a james beard in the SE. maybe my hopes were too high?!?!? the good: food was GREAT. however not great enough to overcome the negatives aka not good enough where it produces tears like really good french fries can make me do. i got the pork pasta special (forgot the fancy schmancy name) but i wish i had gotten my cousins trout which had the SKIN and it was CRIPSY and NOT greasy either. was so good. i ate some of it. i may go back for the trout and also the caramel custard. that dessert was freakin amazing. so so so good. blows the ocharleys caramel pie away. actually i need to do side by side comparison. also we started with the margharita pizza. no basil to be found but home made mozarella was legit. the bad: service as sllllllllllooooowww. honestly the ONLY thing i care about in terms of service is that i get refills as needed. i dont even care if i find a piece of hair in my food. thats how low maintenance and/or tolerable i can be. (plus how small/thin is hair?) so you know it had to be slow. also i hated the seating by the open kitchen. i think its a great placement to have this open kitchen but it seemed tiny which im sure the cooks don't like. the open seating area near the open kitchen was just dull in colors and lighting was boring and bleh. it all looked generic and i rarely notice design and artsy elements. i mention these things because i truly feel whether its mcdonalds or a 5 star that restaurants are an EXPERIENCE. food was the only legit thing about the place but the other components failed to support city house the experience. our waiter seemed hesitant in her attitude towards us till she realized we were ordering a ton aka going to have a fat bill aka going to leave a decent up. then again we look like we're stil in college. she wasn't mean but not overly welcoming or energized which i think is a third of the necessary traits of a good server. i'll take a great attitude over perfect service any day. again maybe my expectations were too high but the slow service might have been worse had it been for a more discerning guest so you know it was bad if i noticed. food was great but the experience failed to execute overall. or as they say they won the battle but lost the war.
(3)
Chris S.

Pasta and pizza were superb. The sausage special sounded interesting but was ultimately disappointing. The service was timely, friendly, appropriately attentive and professional. A courtesy that warrants mention: our waiter made an excellent wine recommendation without trying to "upsell" us.
(4)
Kathryn S.

City House, another one of my favorites that I tend to want to drag my boyfriend to once a week, He does love it though. One complaint though on appetizers is the Frico which has gotten more expensive somehow and is $9 for tasty melted cheese over potatoes sorta in a pancake like form which is SO GOOD but too pricey. I literally always get the Margarita pizza because it is so good yet they only put basil on it when they have it from their own garden so it really isn't a margarita pizza without it but it's still to die for. They have a huge pizza oven which they have blazing every night (except tuesdays when they are closed) and the pizzas cook perfectly on that hot hot surface. I love sitting at the Chef's Bar in front of the kitchen and watch all the action going on. My favorite drink is the Thriller with Chambord and it's very refreshing. Love love! Justin ( boyfriend) tends to always get some sort of pizza with an egg on top (which they offer to you as your order your pizza) and they have a pretty good beer selection for his liking. I am a big fan of all things City House.. BUT i do wish they'd change their menu/or add new items more frequently!
(4)
Ben B.

Outstanding food prepared with creative passion. Favorite dish was actually a side dish of broccoli sauteed with raisins and cured pork. Very hip, but sophisticated atmosphere with aluminum chairs and wooden tables. Chef's bar brings the cooking right out in the open. Love this place.
(5)
Paulette D.

Good service and good food. I read some of the reviews that said the food was bland but I would say the flavors are subtle. We had the linguine with muscle and the sirloin coulette and both were wonderful. Our server was nice, friendly and attentive without bring intrusive. I would come here again.
(4)
Kate O.

We weren't all that impressed with our first experience here; while the place is gorgeous in an urban rustic way, the food seemed a little too salty and not worth the money. But since we live in the neighborhood, we ended up going back for another try, and I'm glad we did: it has quickly become one of our favorite places. Believe it or not, for a restaurant that's all about cured meats, the kitchen is actually vegan-friendly. My husband and I are both vegan, and we've gotten comfortable just showing up and asking the waiter to bring us something vegan -- what arrives is always fantastic. The bar is deserving of a great rating all on its own. Word is that when Robert Plant was living in the neighborhood while working with Alison Krauss, he was sometimes seen at this bar. It's a bit cramped and they don't have every imaginable drink, but they specialize in a menu of stylish cocktails. Of course, having tried several, I haven't found any that I love. Still, it's fun to experiment, and if you're not in the mood for cocktails, they have a great wine list. And while the bar menu, with inventive hors d'oeuvres, is considerably less suitable for vegans than the dinner menu, we've heard from friends that it's nearly as good. All in all, while there may be a dish or two on the menu that won't please your palate for whatever reason, the overall experience is so good and the food in general so incredible it's definitely worth trying again.
(5)
Kat J.

I really want to give City House a higher review but I don't think they really deserve it. I love the location, it's completely hidden in an semi-populated area of Germantown, surrounded by warehouses and debris. So when I walked in for the first time I was really impressed by the decorating and the attention to detail that the waiters appeared to have. But for the price, I just don't feel like to food lives up to the restaurant's reputation. The wine is fantastic but the food overall is not quite up to par for the price level (I have never had the pizza however and I hear it's fantastic - so I may go back soon and edit this entry). They also don't have many gluten free options and with a cluster of my best friends developing allergies and intolerances to gluten that's a little disappointing, especially since a lot of restaurants in the city are starting to catch up to that need. We had to mishmash a bunch of side items together to make a gluten-free meal out of it and it ended up being ridiculously expensive and frustrating. It also seems like the waiters are often overwhelmed by something when they are serving. I haven't found the staff to be extremely personable yet although they seem to have a good relationship with each other. Which I like. I would recommend City House for the atmosphere and the wine but maybe cook something fabulous at home before you go.
(3)
Paul H.

One of the best meals I've had in a while. Granted, I was there for the wine dinner (w/Woodland wine Merchant) but the quality and freshness of the food was still exceptional. Plus, the service was super friendly and made our meal all the better. We had a food allergy at our table (I confess, it was me) and the server totally looked out for us, which I totally appreciate after some other places I've been where they don't get the concept of cross-contamination. So, back to the food. Fresh, seasonal, handmade, well-seasoned and well-balanced all describe the meal. I would go back for the handmade pasta with goat meat alone. I know, I know...goat meat? But it was truly a stand out dish. The rest of the meal was full of hand-made cheeses, fresh veggies, and perfectly cooked meats (lamb!). All made better by the perfect pairing of wine. Good job and kudos all around. I'm certainly looking forward to my next visit to City House.
(5)
Lance W.

Great atmosphere, great staff who could really properly recommend beer and wine. Loved the pork belly pizza. Also had the gemelli pasta with octopus ragu, which was wonderful. great place for a date
(5)
Lindsey S.

My husband and I went to City House on our recent vacation to Nashville. We thought it was a good restaurant, but not great. The service was a little spotty ... it seemed as though our waiter was quite overwhelmed. We had a pizza as an appetizer which was very good. The entrees we had (trout for him and gnocchi for me) were okay. Nothing spectacular.
(3)
Caitlin D.

I can't believe I had not heard of this gem previously. Tucked away in Germantown, this place has a modern feel to it, with exposed brick and an open kitchen. I only saw one part of the restaurant, but I understand that there are other rooms as well. The staff was incredibly professional and knowledgeable, and more importantly, friendly. We shared an appetizer of shrimp bruschetta, marscapone and pepper jelly, which was exquisite. I can't recall what wines we had, but I assure you they were perfectly paired with my meal. For entrees, we ordered gnocchi with squash, chestnut, ricotta and lemon... it was SO creamy and flavorful! We also had half chicken with oregano and peanuts, which was cooked perfectly (tender, juicy meat and a flavorful and crisp skin). Every bite of this meal was pure ectasy! Ladies and gentlemen, my trifecta of favorite restaurants may have just taken a re-ordering...
(5)
Tara R.

De-freakin-lish. House made sausage....have I died and gone to heaven? I cleaned my plate! Could've licked it if there weren't people around. I thought that may not go over so well so I passed. We also had the margherita pizza and it was fabulous. Everyone in our group of 4 tried a different cocktail (or 3) and they were all VERY good. Great atmoshphere, great staff and cool location. Loved it and will absolutely be back.
(4)
J V.

Amazing cocktails! Good food too.
(4)
me t.

My boyfriend and I gave City House a second try last week because our first bad experience there nearly 6 months ago mostly had to do with the food although our waitress was very cold and unfriendly. We can over look rude service if the food is worth it. So we returned and decided to order the pizza since that seemed to be their "thing". It was just not that great. But what made us decide to cross them off the list of Sunday places to eat was the waitress. The waitress rolled her eyes and seemed irritated that we wanted her to describe an entrÃ©e on the menu. The rest of our experience with her she never smiled once. In fact the only person in there that smiled is the hostess. We got the general feeling that is wasn't that we just caught them all on a bad night.I have confirmation from others about similar service issues and we will not return.
(1)
Jessica N.

Good variety, fresh ingredients, nice atmosphere. Maybe a bit overpriced, but I would go again.
(4)
Siri K.

Decor, staff and pizza get 5 stars - cute spot, pizza has great crust (coming from a NY pizza snob). Other dishes were good but VERY salty. Lemon cake was awesome. It's in a totally shady area of town, though - I walked from my hotel but I think that was a mistake.
(4)
Taylor Ann D.

You have got to check this place out.
(5)
Amelia L.

Out-of-towner passing through. Here's what I liked about City House: 1. The special Sunday menu with pork snacks etc. What a great idea! 2. The decor and atmosphere. Unlike other yelpers, I didn't find it too loud. 3. Generally, the food was very good and the cocktails were right up my alley with a great selection of bitter-savory concoctions. The buffalo-style pig ears were a true revelation. 4. Low prices on the food (perhaps not so much on the booze - see below). What I didn't like: 1. Beers are all expensive and high gravity. Sometimes you just need a High Life to wash it all down. Ths is especially true when you're eating pizza, burgers, and wings. I hear this is because you need a hard-to-get beer permit in Nashville to serve lower gravity drinks. Boo. Sucks for the restaurant and sucks for the eaters! 2. I am a salt freak, but everything I sampled here was a bit oversalted. 3. My pizza was reeeeal soggy except for the very outer edge of crust. The taste was spot-on, it was just the texture that needed a bit more attention. 4. Service was sometimes awkward, with the host turning away from us in the middle of our conversation to greet and chat at length with a party that had just come in the door. It was also weird to sit at the bar, have absolutely no interaction with the open kitchen in front of me, and half-swivel (inevitably elbowing the stranger sitting next to me) every time I wanted to talk with the server behind me. Work these issues out, however, and City House would be the kind of place you wanna visit over and over and over again!
(3)
Justin D.

I wanted to go to the City House to get a good meal and have some wine with my girlfriend. I was told the chef was doing some great food there. The service was the best part of the meal. The server was well informed about the menu and wine. Wine list was really cool and had some outstanding stuff that could hang with tons of entrees. The food was blah. Not bad but just ok. It had no soul and lacked any thought. With tons of places to go to these days, chefs need to bring it on every meal. The menu was forgetable and i will not be back..
(1)
Lisa J.

great relaxed venue with awesome decently priced cocktails. try all the whiskey cocktails, they were great! great food and nice ambience. definitely going back many times.
(5)
mark s.

Another 3.5 .This is little eclectic spot with an open kitchen. It's a neat place to take someone off the beaten path for a good meal with some anti-chain atmosphere A simple menu with good flavors and friendly service. My pasta was a little heavy on the salt, but I will give it another try as everything else was worthy.
(3)
David M.

I'm always a fan of sitting at the bar at nicer restaurants if I'm going stag - the bartenders often are more bluntly honest about what the best dishes are than a waiter - but City House one ups this by having a Chef's Bar. No bartender, but instead the bar is the only divider between you and the kitchen. For my appetizer, the sous chef (or prep cook? I can't tell the difference) prepared lonza - a prosciutto like pork - right in front of me, and was eager for feedback after I took a couple bites. It did not disappoint. For the main course I was excited to see they had gnocchi, which I rarely see on menus but am always eager to order. Again, delicious, although their "bread gnocchi" didn't have the same satisfying texture as the conventional potato based kind (however, I'm hoping that making bread gnocchi at home may be easy - anyone have a recipe?). I was pretty full, which was unfortunate, because their caramel and chocolate cake with Jack Daniel's rum was pretty large and I had to eventually turn some of it away. My server Jocelyn was friendly, prompt, and helpful with putting together a fantastic meal. An exciting menu with plenty of unique options to satisfy almost any palate.
(5)
dave b.

firstly, the place should be called 'suburban house'. I think my Gradfather's retirement home would be an overwhelming metropolis in comparison. The 2 stars are mainly awarded for ambience, though the prominence of the white walls may have provided comfort to our server (Ricky Williams with twice the social anxiety disorders). He literally ran away in mid-sentence (multiple times). The food had a consistent theme of 'bland'. Somewhere Bryant Gumbel is raving about the white bean soup, the chicken and the conchiglie. The meal felt sponsored by pepto (a) bismol to ensure no spices or heartburn. There was an odd pattern of patrons receiving huge discounts and rewarding massive tips in turn (full course meals for 40 bucks with 60 dollar tips). Something incestuous is taking place. Finally, when asked to order a 'cab' (to return from oblivion), the hostess ordered a lincoln town car, doubling our fare home. We were serenaded with an armageddon-esque alarm to cap off the evening, alerting us to the impending doom of lacking washer fluid (ok, I digress). If you have tastebuds, I'd suggest an alternative.
(2)
Robin S.

I went here last night for the first time--don't know why I haven't been before! I was with a large group for a birthday party, and we had the entire screened in porch area--love it! I had heard their pizzas were delish, and that was right on the money! We tried, let's see: a "meat and potatoes" pizza--yes, actually topped with roasted new potatoes and and some sort of Italian meat--not sure--but it was delightful. Also, the sausage (apparently cured there?) with eggplant, goat cheese, garlic and onions was phenomenal. Two other pizzas we tried were the tomato basil/garlic and the 4 or 5 cheese. All so good! For appetizers, we had a variety--fresh sardine bruschetta (I don't normally like sardines but this was amazing and tasted so fresh! Not fishy at all), fried green tomatoes, red pepper chicken wings, and melon marinated in olive oil with peanuts and onions and topped with Parmesan. YUM. That was my favorite! The menu changes often, so you never know what you'll get. I didn't eat inside, but did check it out, and it's pretty cool. Apparently you can sit at the bar area and watch them cook. I'll most definitely be back! Especially in the fall when the weather is nice, the screened in porch will be wonderful!
(4)
Timothy H.

We went to city house for the first time last week and had a good experience. For an appetizer, my wife and I ordered the frico, which was a delicious cheese and poatato dish. Potatoes were cooked perfectly and the cheese was great. Next, we ordered the fettuccine lamb sugo, and while we could have eaten the delicious feshly made fettuccine all night, the lamb was a bit lacking and tough to find. We finished things off with the anchovy pizza with an egg added on. The egg was a great addition and the pizza was quite good, though not particularly filling. For their beer selection, city house offers a number of bottles mostly focusing on higher gravity options. I had the timber beast rye IPA, an outstanding beer by lazy magnolia, but would have liked to see a few more low gravity options and a tap or two. The service was great, no complaints at all. Overall, I thought the food was good, but that it didn't quite live up to the competition at its price point. I would recommend stopping in to try out their unique take on pizzas, but don't think I would suggest this spot for a special occassion. Admittedly, I think my expectations may have been a little too high from the number of times city house had been recommended to me. My wife felt it should receive four stars and I was on the fence when I made the final call.
(3)
Stephen S.

Talk about execution. I went to City House with a small group and was disappointed we couldn't order the whole menu as everything sounded fantastic. We ordered the Frico, Kohlrabhi salad, Margherita Pizza, Anchovy Pizza, and Carolina Trout for the table. I thought the pizza was superb, thin crust, nice char on the bottom and delicious flavor. The anchovies were some of the best I've ever had on top of a pizza. The Carolina Trout was cooked exceptionally with a bit of crisp on the skin. In addition to excellent culinary technique I was impressed with all the pieces that thoughtfully came together into the dishes. They were really throwing bread crumbs around on a lot of dishes but it worked really nicely for them.
(4)
G. B.

The food and drinks were fantastic, as was the service. The only thing I didn't mind much was at the atmosphere. The place looks beautiful, very industrial chic, but I thought it was a bit too loud and too bright. We had the homemade salami (so amazing), corn bread gnocchi, the house made sausage and a couple of the deserts. Everything was sublime. The best part is that I live a block from here, so I can visit the place often.
(4)
Jason C.

Really cool place. Love the historic feel. The female manager and server were great! Food was just ok. We did just have the pizza though. I want to give this place another shot.
(3)
Phil N.

The best food in Nashville. Ask any chef in town for their top 5 choices and I'm sure CH will be in each top 10. I'd venture a guess that I've eaten there more than 100 times and have never been dissatisfied. Great people too. Tandy has been mentored by the best (Margot) and he's passing on his talents to others.
(5)
allison m.

I research restaurants to a fault, thus my weekend in Nashville was no different - tried to find the newer places getting some press at the moment. We sat at the bar at the City House (I love a good bar dining table). My dinner date is a huge eater and thus ordered almost everything. Writing full sentences is difficult right now, so let me list: 1. Salami WisAntigo - essentially a minimalist charcuterie plate....it was delish. House made sausage with Parmesan or pecorino it sounds simple and it was, but in a great way. 2. Frico - Broccoli - very, very lemony, but just the way I like it, surprisingly light - a great starter. 3. Octopus and Kale - perfectly cooked Octopus, great flavor, charred, but not overpowering....highly recommended for those that love eight arm water creatures. 4. House Made Belly Ham pizza - even though I'm kind of a pizza-purist (I like red sauce), this was really nice. It's not too heavy, likely enough for a meal, but doesn't feel like a gut bomb as pizza can. Flavorful, but a bit salty (yes, I realize ham is salty). 5. Linguine w/ Chickpea - we were told this is a popular menu order, I see why, it's quite good and refreshing with the lemon, however, chickpeas and linguine? I felt that I could easily replicate at home, loved the lemon and is a very good option for veggie people. 6. House Made Sausage w/ tomato Ragu - exactly as it sounds, no surprises here, would have been very good if there was about 1/4 of the salt. Yes, Sausage is salty, so the reasonable thing to do would be don't add salt to the remainder of the dish. 7. We had the greens as sides - greens are greens, except these were SO salty, they're greens! my goodness, just over vinegar them or something, but not salt - almost inedible. 8. cookie plate and sorbet - can't go wrong here Yes, there were only two of us. The food was overall very nice, but my one complaint, as I've said with other Nashville restaurants, is the salt. Please stop with the salt - you can add more, but you can't undo. I don't know what it is, but it seemed to be a trend all weekend. We mentioned it to the bartender in a pleasant manner (who was really nice and helpful, by the way - made the night more enjoyable) and hopefully word gets back. Since I'm complaining, the last thing I'll say is, what's with the bright lights? Yes, I like to see my food, but it feels rather concrete and institutional. I'm a strong believer that the environment in which you eat can, at times, excuse the food, drinks and service. Luckily, everything (minus the sodium chloride) was otherwise lovely - just tone down the bulbs. p.s. martinis in jelly jars - fantastic touch
(3)
Drew H.

Favorite restaurant ever. Get the pizza. Or the frico. Or the catfish. Or anything on the menu.
(5)
Chris M.

This place is awesome. Just moved here and am trying to get a feel for the Nashville food scene. Was referred to City House by a neighbor and I can tell you, if this is the the start, I hope the rest of the Nashville eateries can keep up. The Bandit is my go to drink and I don't even want to start on the pork belly pizza. Just order it, don't ask questions.
(5)
patrick g.

So good... terrific atmosphere.... great food. Fun. Just go and have a nice night.
(5)
Ben G.

Our search for Nashville's culinary excellence brought my wife & I to City House, consistently cited by respectable food folks as the most consistent restaurant in town. Consistently GOOD. It was the only reservation I made before our arrival to Nashville. We were stoked, but cautious. An exciting surprise was the serious nature with which they approach cocktails. They seem to be doing this whole mixology thing correctly, and it's a real pleasure to see what they're doing and how they're doing it. I had a "Big". My wife had the "Bandit". On to the appetizers, where we had house cured salami plate. The portion was a bit small for my liking, but perhaps that was because we were sharing it. Regardless, it was delicious. We could not resist ordering the cornmeal crusted catfish, which my wife declared to be the best she's ever had. I am inclined to agree with her; it was simply outstanding. The breading was crisp, the fish was cooked perfectly, and the cucumber/pickled onion relish really enhanced the fairly standard flavor of the meat itself. Top notch, and a large portion, too. When ordering dessert we decided to split the peach cobbler with sweet biscuit crumbles which still stands out as one of the top, all-time desserts I've ever had. Unreal. It could have used 1 more scoop of ice cream, but then I'm a little bit gluttonous. And the bet surprise of the night? The bill (sans tip) was less than $100. A true shocker for a couple from Napa, California, where this caliber meal would have run us another $20 - $30 without us batting an eye. BIG IMPORTANT NOTE ON ATTIRE: this place is cited as "Dressy", although for dinner service I saw plenty of people there in shorts & t-shirts. If you're wondering if you need a button down w/ slacks & $300 shoes, you can totally pull off khakis and a polo without looking like a schlub, no problem.
(5)
Adam H.

Moderate quality for the price. I expected a better quality of ingredients from my dinner than I got. With that said, the wait staff was exceptionally poor. I'm surprised at the level of service they offer considering the reputation. Avoid if possible. Excellent wine list though.
(1)
Stacie F.

Based on my first visit, I'm not sure what all the fuss was about. Friends have been raving about how great this place is, so the expectations were high. Here's what you'll find: Lots of hipsters. Fancy drink names with descriptions that force you to ask, "what's is this", "what is that", "is it really $13". A long wait for your drinks, food, bill. A little menu. The saving grace - yes, the food is good.
(3)
Phil E.

Was in Nashville on business and took out a few business clients for dinner. Everything about this restaurant was fantastic: Service was amazing, friendly, helpful and courteous without being obtrusive or arrogant. Food was so fresh, tasty and plentiful. The homemade sausage, recommended by our waiter, was the best meal that night. Truly great and makes me want to come back here just for the sausage. The only negative was the anchovy pizza we ordered. It was burnt/black on the edges. Also, it was spicy hot, too hot to eat. We were unaware this was going to include so many chilies. Also, the pizza didn't have many anchovies on it which was why we ordered it. Lessen the spice, more anchovy! Regardless of the pizza letdown, the meal was top notch. The frico with peaches was amazing as well and a big hit at our table. I would definitely recommend this place and I will return next trip to Nashville
(4)
Derek C.

This was the initial wave of modern hipster/foodie culture in Nashville. Ever heard of Southern fusion? You've already got a reason to go. The food is all above average but what really sets this place apart is the best cocktail bar I've experienced in Nashville. The bar area is small but I definitely recommend coming in for a Schmancy Sazerac or an Old Fashioned before you head out to the Ryman even if you don't have time for dinner. This place could hold its own against any of the cocktail bars in Chicago or New York. The interior is an amazing reuse of an older building. It's nothing terribly spectacular but being able to expose the brick and the beams and let the original construction speak for itself does the job.
(5)
Jason S.

I really wanted to have an amazing meal here. I did not have an amazing meal here. Came here with the wife on a Friday right before we saw Brandi Carlile at the Schermerhorn. I was also very glad that I had gotten reservations. I had heard from all of my friends that this place is amazing and that especially Sunday dinner is the jam. We started off with cocktails, and I have to tell you, the list is impressive and inventive. Whomever is consulting with them on this list is doing the right things. I started off with the "Buzzy Beer" because I've had a bottle of Art in the Age's "Root" sitting in my liquor cabinet for two years, and I have no idea what to do with it. (side note, it was a delicious cocktail). And then the server tried to give my wife a suggestion or two on libations, whereupon she mentioned that she loved Yellow Chartreuse the best. At this point, being the bantery type that I am, I opined that Green Chartreuse was the superior of the two, and that I'd fight her over it. I was completely kidding. Just being a goof. It was like a record scratched. From that point on in the evening, the server was very pleasant to my wife, but a turbo bitch on rollerskates to me. Seriously. It didn't matter how many times I thanked her or said "ma'am", or how polite I was, she treated me like I was made out of dog shit. So while I wanted to enjoy the cool ambiance, or while I wanted to talk about how frigging delicious the bresaola (cured dried beef) with strawberries was, or how tasty my tri tip I had was, it was all kind of over because of the attitude of our waitress. I tipped her 20%, even though her attitude towards me ruined the meal, and I'd have to say that if I happened to come here again and saw her serving, I'd turn on my heels and head to Rolf and Daughters, or hell, just about anywhere else. Last but of advice, bread gnocchi is really not good, especially if you are expecting the delicate, tender, moist, morsels of potato gnocchi that most are used to. It is like wads of dry bread that will suck the moisture from your head - much more sauce is needed here.
(3)
R H.

City House is not expensive - the prices are extremely reasonable for the quality of food you receive. The pizzas are great (try it with the egg on top - it adds a creamy texture and makes for a heartier dish.) I very much enjoyed the squash appetizer as well. The atmosphere is rustic trendy, laid back and a little loud. I appreciated the open kitchen and watching the chefs work (our table was near the back). I look forward to trying additional dishes in the future.
(4)
Bob S.

I am torn, should i give it a two or a three. I will say this about the sunday menu, i will never go back on a sunday. What made it worse, is this is supposed to be a traditional sunday Itailian meal on Sunday!! Guess who house i am not going to. Lastly, it was Father day, the chef surely could of been more creative on Father day. Starters we had pork meatballs, chicken wings and a pizza. The pork meatballs were fried, dried and died!!! The pizza was good, but the dough does not come close to De Sano. Chicken wings were cook well but the sause was uneventfull. Entrees we ordered the Pork Burger, The trout, and the Chicken thigh, the only other entree was a veggie dish which one of our party could not order because of the use of pork stock. Just like the pork meatballs this Pork Burger should not of made it to the menu, It absolutely had no flavor. The Burger came with potato salad, which was not edible because the potato were not cooked!! The trout was good piece of fish, cook well, but was not great. The chicken thigh were cook very well, but i am not going to this caliber of restrauant to eat chicken. The Panna Cotta for desert was runny!! and the cookie tray was not very creative. Service, well this was Father day, you think you are at dinner at a fine place with 3 kids you would maybe have a happy father day!!! LOL The waitress once again was uneventfull!!! Guess maybe she wanted to be home with her dad!!! So, execution not good, menu creativity not good, service was not all that good, creativity not good! Maybe my expecations were too high going in. But maybe i am be generouse by giving this place a 2 star after i read what i wrote. Maybe I will give them another shot. But it sure wont be a Sunday. Sorry guys you missed the boat on this one.
(2)
Paul K.

This falls into the category of reviews "I paid what for a snack!??!". The food was good, nothing tasted particularly bad. Had their margherita pizza + egg which presented like it was a freezer pizza thrown into a wood oven stove. Tasty mind you, but the smoke/charring on the bottom of the pizza were more where it was at than any flavors of spices, cheeses, etc. Not bad, but nothing that would draw me there as opposed to Boscos or NY Pie. I'm sure there's more to it than freezer pizza but most of the taste was the burned and not the content. Crunch with cheese + egg in middle. Wife had some drink that smelled like methanol, we put a flame up to it at one point and the fumes snuffed the flame. Everyone agreed it smelled nasty. No idea on that one. Had a couple of beers I enjoyed. Other people's food looked/was ok, if not very filling. Maybe I'm just a fat ass though. Server was fast, service was slow. I don't really know how long we were there, but it seemed like we ordered and then waited and waited and waited. The bathroom I was directed to was a 1-seater unisex that seriously needed some work. Toilet never filled so it never flushed right, bathroom sink leaking water. It looked like it was nice, just needed a plumber to take it on. It was an ok place, I have nothing against it. I'd go again, however I think you're either impressed by tiny expensive food or you're not - sort of the Derick Zoolander Restaurant For Kids That Don't Eat So Big (my god man, who will manufacture the tiny forks?). This is a place to be seen, or a good date place. Well, except the main floor sounded like a freight train was going through, but where we were seated was relatively regularly noised.
(3)
Atul B.

Very good. Adequate portions you can finish and don't have to doggy-bag. All entrees very good. Ambiance like a corner eatery in Italy.
(4)
Alka J.

Visited Nashville for a weekend and a friend recommended City House. We arrived about 15 min before our reservation on a Saturday evening, but it was no problem and we were immediately seated. My boyfriend and I split the gnocchi which was good but a little too doughy and pretty heavy. The sauce and fresh swiss chard were a nice touch though. For my main I had the half chicken which was beyond salty. Every time I took a bite I felt more and more dehydrated. The celery heart and turnip side was also dressed too heavily and tasted like a garden - not in a good way. My boyfriend had the house made garlic sausage which he seemed to enjoy. Finally, wasn't impressed by their drink menu (hey, not everyone is a whiskey or rye fan). The bar also couldn't put together a vodka-based concoction for me...if it wasn't on the menu, they had no idea what to do. Service was okay.
(2)
Kevin K.

This was the first place we went to eat in Nashville. We drove by the building twice before we realized it was the right place. There is nothing on the street side that tells you it's City House. We were wondering how many people give up and go to the 312 pizza place down the street. The menu was tiny and didn't have many options. The food was good, but when we ordered gelato the waiter came back 3 or 4 different times saying they were out of one, but had another one. Then would come back and say oh wait, we were out of this one, but not this one. Took us forever to actually get our desert (but he was very nice through it all). The food was decent but I don't think I'd need to go back next time I go to Nashville.
(3)
Yifei W.

Service was fine. However the food is not worth the price. I ordered the belly ham pizza. In theory, wood fired ovens are a great rustic sounding idea. In practice, if you can't control how much you're burning the pizza then that's something else. I'm fine with a bit of burnt edges on the crust that are easily removed. It's a much less acceptable pizza though, when the bottom is burnt as well. Shame on you, City House, for charging 15 bucks for burnt pizza. Just so you know, pizza hut does not burn theirs.
(2)
Peter P.

Thought highly of City House the first time I went so was excited to go back. The ambiance is great, the people are great, and the menu looks great. I started off with a frico appetizer, which was my first frico but I couldn't help think it was a bit lackluster. For my entree I got the tri trip, a nice cut of beef, I'm sure, and dressed with red onion, parm, Worcestershire, and lemon but sadly all I could focus on was the acidity of my dish. Just too much lemon in my opinion. Ended with a caramel panna cotta, which, if blindfolded, I could not distinguish from a fat free pudding pack that you buy at Kroger. I still feel amiable toward City House but this visit was just not what I wanted it to be.
(3)
Melanie B.

Great casual place in nashville! Pizzas are great and appetizers top notch too. Cocktail menu unique and the server did a fantastic job explaining. The drinks.
(4)
Lonnie B.

Second time to try City House. Can't decide what I think. Some things a good and good value, some things are just ok and not good value. We have been with 7 people each time so had a chance to try a few different things. Pizzas are a pretty good bet and everyone enjoyed them both evenings. However last night we were disappointed in the main courses. 3 Pork Meatballs were very rich/ meaty but sort of mushy almost seemed undercooked. They had a nice tomato sauce though. The trout was oversalted and just ok. It included a nice salad though. So my husband and I both think things here a hit or miss. I really like the pizzas though, very fresh, good homemade cheese and optional egg in the center- nice addition. We tried the spinach/ ricotta and lamb sausage pizza last night and I liked them both. Had the belly ham pizza on another night and really liked it also.
(3)
Chelsea J.

I came here on a Wednesday night, and for two people we couldn't get a reservation until 8:45pm so definitely try to book your table a few days ahead of time because this place is pop-u-lar. Our waiter was Paul and he was great, he suggested drinks for us and different types of alcohol we could substitute to get a different flavor. They also had a nice wine list, and Paul was really great about letting us know what he would pair with our meals. The food was excellent, on all accounts. I kept reading about the pizza and my first thought was 'the pizza cant be THAT good' but we tried it and you must get it. We split the margerita as an appetizer and it came out very quickly and was delish. We finished our feast with the butterscotch pudding which I highly recommend. House-made butterscotch? Wow. I loved the feel of the restaurant, it had a very minimalist industrial feel and was a really cool little secluded place. My ONLY complaint is that it was very loud, and not the most romantic spot since you and your dining partner are shouting at each other. All the Yelp reviews tell you it is loud so I don't know why I was surprised, but something to keep in mind depending on who you are dining with.
(5)
Meredith D.

Great spot! I love the building this restaurant is in, very quaint, earthy and inviting. I have to say, the pizza is the real stand-out at this place for me. If you like thin crust, this pizza is for you. Gin cocktails were great too. I tried the vodka cocktail, the Moose, and a gin drink called Samson. I had pasta as my entree and it was so-so. I definitely should have gotten the mozzarella and ham pizza as my entree rather than splitting it as an appetizer with my party. Service was great. I'd like to come back.
(4)
Erik M.

Although the competition gets stiffer by the day, this place is still my favorite in Nashville. The menu is always changing but is consistently good and obviously uses fresh ingredients. I always enjoy the pizza and order it with an egg over easy. The drinks are inventive and stiff. Get a cab or a DD cuz after two of these your eyes will begin to cross. A couple can have a fabulous meal for $30. Can't beat it.
(5)
Jules L.

Good: Pizza crust, cocktails, octopus, kale salad. Bad: Service, timeliness of seating, attitudes Ugly: Wine List We were seated almost 20 minutes late and were TOLD by our server that we would be rushed because it was close to closing time. Our 3 courses came out together/on top of each other. Bottom Line: The food was good, but next time I would go without a reservation, sit at the bar, and just order a pizza, app, and cocktail. Not a place to make a night out of or have a special meal.
(2)
Kate V.

City House is one of my favorite restaurants in Nashville for the environment it offers and the fabulous food. The exposed-brick main room allows guests to witness the excitement of the kitchen. The chef is experimental and cracks fried eggs on pizzas, offers toppings such as pork belly and serves fried octopus as appetizers. (The fried octopus is DELICIOUS, I might add.) If you are interested in an innovative take on Italian cooking, make a reservation here.
(5)
Sharmeela S.

Eccentric atmosphere. Delicious unique piazza.
(4)
Lisa E.

City House delivers really good food and a fun time. We have had two good dinners at City House. Pizza and pasta dishes have been great with the exception of the bread gnocchi which was crunchy and disappointing. A trusted friend told us to try anything with beans and/or octopus. We did both! The black eye pea soup was very good and the octopus was even better. Please try the octopus appetizer if brave enough! The chicken entree was good yet far short of similar dish at Rolf & Daughters. Service was very knowledgable both visits with food/drink delivery very slow. We will be back yet like some other places in the downtown area better. You won't go wrong eating here.
(4)
Charlene L.

Thank you Food and Wine for recommending this restaurant. We dined in with our little scion and the three of us had a delicious time. I went in with low expectations but was pleasantly surprised by everything: atmosphere, service, food, wine, and value. I felt like City House could strive in the San Francisco food scene and surpass most restaurants here with its genuine hospitality (must be a Southern thing that is missing here). The food was fresh, well seasoned and overall delicious. We started with the white bean soup with cabbage that warmed the soul and braised octopus with chickpeas that was absolutely tender. Our entrees included the tri-tip with fennel and maytag blue cheese which was a bit chewy (order it at least medium, medium-rare was too rare) but great flavor profile and the trout with peanuts, raisins and bread crumbs which was a surprisingly amazing combination of flavors and textures. We ended the meal with one of the most moist and delicious pound cakes I've ever had with almond and ricotta. My husband and I have discerning tastes having worked as pastry professionals in the industry but appreciated its simplicity but was executed with high standards. Thank you for a memorable meal, we will definitely be dining here again if we are ever back in Nashville!
(5)
S C.

A favorite in Nashville! Beautifully restored building with a unique design and vibe-- well suited for the cuisine which is also polished and daring. The bread gnocchi is one of my favorites-- made with wonder bread and intended to be dense and more dumpling-like, I have had many different preparations and I always enjoy it. The pizzas are fantastic, always order whatever has fish on it, especially if that fish is octopus. The drinks are perfection and some of the cheapest in town at this type of restaurant. I love what this place is doing and I always look forward to a meal there.
(5)
Garrett J.

This is an absolute must for any foodie living in or visiting Nashville. Everything from the white clams appetizer to the ham pizza (add egg on top for something truly amazing) was spectacular. Great flavors all around. I would also recommend the catfish and gnocchi. Both amazingly tasty, yet classic. And you cannot beat the prices. In addition to the sensational food, the service was spot on. Our server was one of the most knowledgeable, personable people we had the pleasure of meeting. She truly enhanced our dining experience. I will return to Nashville one day. I WILL be stopping by City House when I do.
(5)
B L.

Disappointing. As a disclaimer, I am writing this review after a dinner at the city house in a group of 9 to celebrate a birthday. I mention the disclaimer status b/c apparently large groups are treated differently that the regular customer, so maybe going with a small party would be a different experience. They have some type of 'family stye' rule with large parties. We were never given an adequate explanation of what this is, how much food it would be, what it would cost etc... We were however, told "not to worry about it - it's great, everyone will love it" by the way - it's not great and no one loved it. On the upside, I did get to try several of the menu items. The highlights: the pizza crust is really good. light, flavorful. I envy it. I wish I could make a homemade pizza crust this good. (However, I am of the belief that the first compliment received on a legitimate Italian restaurant should not be regarding the pizza). The octopus was tasty. You don't often see octopus on the menu around here, but this was really good. Well cooked, and the chickpea accompaniment was delicious. If I go back, I will get this again. The Average: The cauliflower with cracked wheat was somewhat interesting. The greens with sausage was good, while nothing special. The cured house salami was exactly what you would imagine. It was perfectly acceptable. The fried catfish was well fried, while not particularly Italian. The creamed potatoes with cheese were tasty. (how can that be bad?) The Bad: The pasta. The gnocchi is UNFORGIVABLE. HORRIBLE. It is described as a 'bread' gnocchi. Imagine pingpong sized balls of really dense flour - in what universe could this be called gnocchi?? it also looked as though it had been pan seared?? The ragu that came with it was bland and the pasta balls were so dense I felt sick after eating them. The rigatoni is a farce. I asked if the pasta was freshly made. I was told that it is in fact freshly made by someone down the street. This rigatoni tastes freshly made as much as box barilla tastes freshly made. very disappointing. the sauce that came with the rigatoni was bland and tasteless. The steak in the salad was really tough. Another problem with the 'family style' is that aside from the bread balls, our dishes came out cold. Despite the 'family style' were were offered to each order our own desert?? One person ordered the almond cake. It was fine, nothing special. The family style thing really ruined it for me. I'm not sure why it was compulsory. I think this place might be good, but I was so irritated with the experience, I don't think I'll be back. My advice - go with a small group, avoid the pasta.
(2)
Carolyn S.

Laid back fancy, and trendy! I went on a Sunday which is like a Tapas affair - try a bunch of pricey, innovative, things to share. It was good, although I needed a little more explanation of the menu items. Expect to pay for your dining experience. They had super fancy drinks
(3)
Hoa T.

This is a real gem in Germantown. A very cool space that is always bustling. I was lucky when someone canceled their reservation so no waiting was necessary. The service was fast and friendly for a place so busy. I had the anchovy pizza with an egg in the middle. Never wanted to try anchovy pizza before but the server sold it. It was really good, not overwhelming at all. The cocktail was also great. The rest of the menu looked adventurous but if it's anything like my pizza I would definitely give it a shot. The best part was the price, everything was surprisingly decently priced...a huge plus. I love that I'm walking distance to places like this. Can't wait to come back.
(4)
Larry R.

A favorite. I've been to Nashville twice, and eaten there on both occasions. I love the atmosphere and the venue. The food is incredibly creative, but approachable, and very reasonably priced (we spent less for 5 people, including drinks and tips, on Sunday night, than we did for 3 people at Kayne Prime on Sunday, but that's for another review). Sunday features their Sunday Supper menu. A limited, but wonderful menu of items that typically don't appear on their regular menu. We started with an assortment, including their Scrapple & White Bean Stew. Unlike any scrapple I've ever had (I won't eat the scrapple in Pa.). A soup like consistency with intense flavors. Also had the Corn, carrots, zucchini, salad with roasted tomato dressing an biscuit crumbs, and the Apples, mustard greens, Ricotta Salata, red onion and lemon salad. Both were light and delicious. I had the Ricotta, pecorino, corn, turnip greens and chillies salad for my main course. I didn't want to share, but I did. Couldn't stop eating it. And my son had the pork meatballs. The next day, he told me he was dreaming about them. I don't know how to give half stars, but if I could, I would give it 4 1/2. My only hesitation for 5 is that it's a bit noisy. But don't let that stop you. It's a wonderful dining experience.
(4)
Leslie J.

We finally visited City House after hearing good things for a long time. We definitely enjoyed it, but I don't think it lives up to the hype. My boyfriend can't remember what he had (that says a lot), and my pasta was average. The service was good. The wine was good and affordable. We also enjoyed the atmosphere. I know the pizza is supposed to be spectacular. We would like to return and give it a try. The pizza with pork belly looked phenomenal. We'll definitely be back to try other options!
(3)
Michelle M.

City House is definitely a restaurant I will visit again if I ever make it back to Nashville. As a first time tourist of Nashville, I was surprised when our cab dropped us off on a residential street away from the downtown area... but that is the exact charm this place can boast of, as its patrons will definitely feel "at home." Food & Drink: Delicious! Our table of 3 ordered the salami and the octopus to start, followed by a margherita pizza and the house made belly ham pizza (with egg on top). Everything tasted great and portions are perfect. To drink, I had the Solomon: Whiskey, Apricot, Honey, Salt, and Orange. Mmm :)
(5)
Maggie T.

Absolutely the WORST service of any place in Nashville. Despite the brillantly good food, my husband will never step foot in this place again. Totally sucks too. Our meal rocked, but to spend $150 and be treated like crap, well it didn't go over too well. Maybe we weren't hipster enough...I don't know. Luckily Nashville has some amazing options for food, I don't think we will have any trouble finding a great meal and decent service elsewhere.
(1)
Sam T.

We came on Sunday night at 5 pm right at opening because we didn't have a reservation. It was no problem and we sat at the kitchen bar, which is always my favorite. We got to feel the warmth of the wood fire oven as we pursued the menu. The restaurant is nestled in a very unsuspecting location in a neighborhood which by the looks of it is becoming quickly gentrified. But don't let the location fool you. Your GPS isn't wrong when you pull up. Parking on the street right up front is easy to come by which is a nice plus. The bar is off set around the corner when you walk in and the drink menu is full of twists on old favorites and some creative and delicious concoctions. I had the mock tail, sans alcohol, which was also exquisite. While they do have bit of an Italian theme, hence the pizza selections, their menu although brief is really much more. The flavors of the different vegetables and meats complement each other gracefully and combine to make something so much more than comfort food. It's upscale and beautiful combinations are a perfect balance of perfection. We enjoyed the pork butt on a biscuit and the broccoli on the other snack menu as well as the chard and potato pizza. While still delicious, the pizza was probably my least favorite as the chard's sweatiness was something I wasn't prepared for. However, the wildflower honey bunt cake with buttermilk sherbet was superb! I could have had three orders of that and been perfectly content for the evening. The stark contrast of a plain building and the warmth of the food combined the friendly hipster crew working there made it our favorite restaurant during our trip to Nashville. In fact, we may have to plan another trip from Cincinnati just to come down and eat here again. We loved it!
(5)
Sara E.

I've eaten here at least four times and have yet to have a good experience. The last three times I kept hoping it was a fluke, but after the fourth time I'm convinced it's just bad. The food is overhyped and underwhelming - you can get a better meal at the Farmers' Market. The Food - The last time I ordered pizza it came out cold and was a big mess of sauce with exactly three small dollops of mozzarella. When I asked for it to be reheated they just went ahead and got me a new pizza (which was awkward since everyone else at my table had finished eating by the time the new pizza came out). The new pizza came out with a burnt crust and the sauce had no flavor. At that point I just gave up and ate it rather than deal with the surly waitress again. The previous three times I've tried three different pasta dishes (one was some sort of gnocchi) which were all equally bland and disappointing. The entire dessert menu is also mediocre at best and tastes like something out of the frozen food aisle at Publix. The Service - The icing on the cake for this restaurant is the terrible service. Most recently, we had a red-headed waitress who was rude and condescending. I think I asked for tomatoes on my pizza which she treated like a suggestion to disfigure the Mona Lisa. She ignored our table for the rest of the night after my blasphemous request for tomatoes.
(1)
Julie C.

Before I go any further, this review is based entirely on the service experience we received from start to finish at City House this week. I would like to start by saying that their food is consistently amazing, full of flavor and creative. My husband and I appreciate great food and as far as that goes, City House is second to none in Nashville. When we want a nice night out or when we have friends in town we alway take them to City House. We do so because it is a great experience all around and is worth every penny spent. Unfortunately, this time was a little bit different. We were sat upstairs and rudely and swiftly greeted by our waiter, Ben. That was about as good as he got. From there, he was rude, short and condescending with regards to any questions we had about food or drink on the menu. He couldn't have acted like he cared less that we were spending our hard earned dollars on a this meal. He was hardly around, and when he was he was beyond rude to all four of us. Not exactly the impression I wanted our out of town guests to have. When we were finished with our meal, I had enough to take home, which became a non option because he took my plate with no regard. He then proceeded to throw the dessert menus down on the table. Needless to say we not only not impressed, but totally offended that we were treated in such a way. My husband and I never complain, always leave great tips and are always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. This time, we just couldn't let it slide. We asked to talk to the manager after the meal, and upon voicing our concerns, he knew precisely who we were talking about. I was even more unimpressed by his response. He asked if we made reservations, to which I replied yes. His solution was for us to make reservations next time, but request we not sit in this waiter's section. So, you're telling me at a restaurant of this caliber, that you want me to work harder to get service that we should be getting. I'm sorry, but I love Nashville, I love that there is some good food coming in here, and I want to see people succeed. But, if I'm going to get treated like this in a restaurant like this, then I will take my money elsewhere. It is simply poor service all around. Sorry City House. I hope you can further consider what this waiter is saying to your guests about your restaurant.
(1)
C K.

Very overrated! It was OK, but way overpriced Service was decent, food was just alright
(3)
Jessie R.

City House is exactly the kind of unpretentious, farm-to-table food that makes me talk pretentiously about how awesome the food is in the South. It is worth coming to Nashville just to grab dinner here. The food is consistent, delicious, and interesting. The atmosphere is fun, laid-back, and still memorable. For $120, my boyfriend and I ate and drank our way through: a round of old fashioneds and cocktails, a bottle of wine, a plate of perfectly cooked calamari and chickpeas, a deliciously crispy anchovy pizza, a huge and flavorful entree of trout with raisins and peanuts, broccoli salad, blue cheese and Benton's bacon salad, tri-tip steak and radishes, and after dinner drinks and the best piece of cake I've eaten probably ever - lemon almond ricotta cake with lemon sorbet. Get yourself over to City House asap!! That lemon cake is calling your name!
(5)
Caroline H.

My visit to the City House was over six months ago, but I still dream of that grilled octopus appetizer. Our group also shared the olives and while I'm not a huge fan of those, the mini bagel toast it came with were so cute and delicious! I had the gnocchi dish, which admittedly wasn't the best food of my life, but it was very tasty, albeit a bit heavy. I tried my dinner-mates' pork belly special, beef dish and pasta with peas -- all yummy. So good food? Check. Next let's talk atmosphere. It's going for that posh rustic-in-the-city feel (if that's a thing?) and can get a little noisy, but the waitstaff is knowledgeable and the creative menu can pull it off. We sat upstairs which was smaller and less noisy than I suspect the downstairs area may be. I've wanted to go back, but alas, my wallet only permits a once-in-awhile City House visit. Totes worth it, though.
(4)
Katie I.

After coming back to city house with another group this time, the service was decent and the food was great again. I did not care for my drink which was called a Bellini or something like that. Too bitter with a cough syrup-y aftertaste..yuck. However it was nice experiencing their Sunday supper for a change. The catfish was great, pork meatballs were moist, lamb was flavorful and pizza with squash was good, too. Also had a broccoli salad with peanuts which was quite delish. No dessert this time. I think they may have redeemed themselves from my last review, but our poor server forgot about us and thought we had paid when we didn't. She was a little flustered *bless her heart, but enjoyed chatting with another server who was from Portland. Yes, I will return.
(4)
Zach W.

Simply the best restaurant experience in Nashville. Delicious food, incredible cocktails, great service. Highly recommended.
(5)
Marcia M.

My supper on Sunday at City House was filled with witty convos, delicious glasses of vino, and an inspiring and savory pizza... can't beat that, eh? Being a vegan, the City House menu can at first, scare you off. However, with a little communication to your server and imagination, a veg-head can enjoy a tasty meal without much fuss. For the life of me, I can't recall the name of the pizza but the bartender suggested it after she went to the kitchen to get input on what would satisfy my palate. For $13, I was able to enjoy a filling meal and yes, I ate the whole thing all by myself. City House always offers an evolving menu and spectacular libations which makes them a solid choice for a meal. My only gripes are that they don't accommodate groups very well and the noise level can sometimes be distracting. Besides those small infractions, I love City House and hope that I will get to come back again sooner than later!
(4)
Richard R.

I loved the vibe of the place and was hoping it would be a great experience. Really nice server. The descriptions on the menu sounded good, food LOOKED delicious, but it unfortunately tasted just slightly better than decent. It wasn't just my meal, my sister, our friend and his wife all had mediocre meals. I wouldn't be opposed to trying it again, but it's definitely not at the top of my list.
(3)
Maura D.

What a disappointment. This place has great reviews so my girlfriends and I were excited to add it to our bachelorette weekend itinerary. Mind you, we are in our late 20s/early 30s and NOT the matching t-shirted group stumbling down Broadway. We arrived on time for a reservation. Our waitress was rude, snippy and kept trying to up sell us on everything. When one girl asked for a specific type of wine, she said they didn't have it. Later we saw it listed on the menu and asked again. She said (with a big attitude), "Oh they must have added it since I've seen that last." She also neglected to tell us that family style included an additional charge and never gave us a choice of sides. She told us that they combined our double pasta order into one dish but upon leaving I noticed another table had the exact same size dishes as their entrees. The food was pleasing but the service was so bad that we couldn't even enjoy it. Our group was so surprised by how she was acting. When we decided not to get another drink (so we could just get out of there), I had to physically go and find her to get our bill. She completely ignored us. When the bill came, we realized why she was so up-sell happy - her tip was guaranteed at 20% since we had a group of 8. We should have complained to the management but since we were just visiting, we let it go. Not a great experience.
(2)
Jeff G.

City House is one of my favorite restaurants in the US. Tandy Wilson does a great job of combining Southern food, comfort food, and country Italian all into one dish. With the majority of the dishes being created or finished in the wood fired oven, everything has a great flavor. Some of the descriptions of the dishes may be confusing, but trust me the ingredients speak for themselves and you won't be disappointed. The decor is simple and casual, so you feel comfortable here for any occasion. The service is always attentive and the entire staff is knowledgeable of every ingredient used. I really like the way they make suggestions (adding a farm fresh egg to my pizza, pairing wines, etc). When you visit City House, I would suggest ordering plate for the table and sharing. Here are some of my favorites that shouldn't be missed: Octopus Salad Belly Ham Pizza (add the egg) Seasonal Gnocchi Carolina Trout Dessert (any) House Cocktail (any) Take in the atmosphere, pay attention to the thought that's put into the menu, and eat a lot! You'll see why Tandy Wilson has multiple James Beard nominations and why I make special trips to Nashville just to eat here.
(5)
John R.

Make this your "New favorite"!!!! It has been interesting to me that "City House" has not typically came to the tip of the tongue of those asked about GermanTown dinning. After this experience, you can ensure it will be on the top of my list. It all starts with the pleasant walk along house entering to a welcoming smile. The open atmosphere allow you to see the cooks, the food, and really enjoy a family style dinner. The service is spectactular; knowledgeable, efficient, smiling & friendly. The selection is amazing, pizza, pasta, fish & meat with classic Italian traditions built in. The wine selection parallels you favorite wine store and then some. My wife enjoyed the Casareccia, Broccoli, Anchovy, Lemon, Garlic, Chilies, Pecorino, Bread Crumbs.....Amazing. I indulged in the House Made Belly Ham, Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, Chilies pizza, fresh flavors and the egg on top for yolk dipping.....Fun and Yummy. Remember! Place "City House" at the top of your GermanTown list!
(5)
John R.

City House probably saved my otherwise dismal opinion of dining in Nashville. In what is truly a vast culinary wasteland, City House stands above the mediocrity. I went with a party of five and quickly found (through their website) that you can't book more than four persons without calling City House and giving them a credit card to hold the reservation. You can book four or less through open table. Another note, this place is closed on Tuesdays as we found out one night. Our party had the House Made Belly Ham, Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, Chile pizza as an appetizer. This was very good and I recommend! I had the Tri-Tip, which was pretty good. For those of you who have no idea what Tri-tip is, it is generally a cut that can only be found in California. It came sliced and had a great taste. You are given a choice of sides and I chose the squash with bread crumbs. To be honest, I chose this side as the least carby side and was not terribly excited about eating it. The squash side dish made the meal. It was fantastic. We had a few bottles of wine and passed on dessert, so I can't comment on the sweet stuff. This is a very inexpensive place for what you receive. It should be on your list of restaurants when dining in Nashville.
(4)
JD C.

I've been compelled to come back to City House multiple times because it fills a "trendy-yet-accessible" niche in Nashville. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I've always had great service and for the most part the food has been simple, fresh, and well executed. The price is very reasonable for the quality. The cocktails are always a high point, and that's coming from someone who hates "cocktails" for the most part because the cocktail menu at most restaurants is comprised of ten different types of "tini" made with kool-aid and rotgut liquor. I'm a beer freak and they also have a limited (read - carefully selected) beer list that's diverse and well-priced. My recommendation for how to approach City House, especially on a first visit, would be to go on a Sunday, stick to the pizzas and small plates, get a few cocktails and share everything. I guarantee nobody will leave unsatisfied, unless as with most groups you have a real Debbie downer in your group. With that said, if you get Debbie downer shi%faced on cocktails its a non-issue.
(4)
Big E.

Walked in on a rainy Saturday night without reservation and sat at the open kitchen countertop immediately. Frissee salad, grilled octopus, margharita pizza and a bowl of gnocchi. Split between 2 of us was perfect taste of everything. Coupled with a 23 yr Pappy V Winkle and I was a happy traveler. Would return.
(4)
Jason P.

I often try for one really nice meal per road trip. For this fall (2012) this was that meal. We made reservations a few weeks in advance for a Sunday night, but we inquired about moving our reservation from 7:30pm to 6:30pm and they were able to accommodate us, which was a nice start. We were also able to eat upstairs, which was great as I think that is the older part of the restaurant and quieter...think special occasion. Everything we ordered was superb. Stew, Pizza, Squash, Pork Meatballs. The beer and wine we had was also great. Service was awesome too!!! I would return in a heartbeat!!! Do yourself a favor and make a reservation for a Sunday night (or any other night).
(5)
Gabriella H.

City House food is really, really good. Last night was no exception, but several things happened that, combined, make me doubt if I can go there again. City House has a policy of "family style" food for ten or more people. When I asked over the phone prior to our meal what this meant, I could not get a straight answer. After several calls, I was told don't worry, everyone loves it and everyone will have what they want, just in larger portions. Eventually I nailed someone down to say a limit of 3 appetizers, mix of pizzas and pastas, and 4 entrees--"but everyone can have what they want." Things started to go awry once we were seated--late. 1. They should have been clearer about what family-style meant. - I had such a hard time getting a clear answer on the phone, but the server had no problems concisely explaining it to the table--and the answer was different. They were pushing to get a chef's tasting (that's fine, sounded like an exciting idea) even though we could choose our own: 2 appetizers, 2 pizzas, don't bother with pasta, and 3 entrees. The numbers were different, and the general attitude was it was now more about the kitchen than us getting what we wanted. 2. They weren't accommodating. - When I made the reservation, I explained that a friend would be late. I was told that they would find a way to keep her food warm. When I brought this up to the server, she (rather snidely) said they didn't have a microwave (which wasn't what I was asking) and that my friend would just have to deal and miss out. I dropped the issue. - I asked if we could do individual serving instead of family-style because we were 9. Nope, couldn't do it even though the 10th wasn't there and would miss out on half the food. I dropped the issue. - My friend can't process corn, and we wanted a dish that had corn. Nope, they can't take anything out of their food. I dropped it and ordered a different pasta. 3. My glass of wine had a noticeably smaller pour. I put my fresh glass next to someone who'd been drinking from hers for a while, and mine had less. Didn't want to make a fuss, so I didn't bring it up with the server. 4. (THE BIG ONE) When we asked for our check, our server told the table to "not be angry with her and take it out on the tips." The table was flummoxed, and I was so embarrassed because I had been the go-to person. Your restaurant has rules and can't modify their menus? The inflexibility is a pain but understandable. I'm a rule follower. I did not complain, debate, etc. I asked questions once and politely accepted all of the negative answers. Furthermore, I was on the receiving end of a slightly bullying and condescending server all evening. To actually say that to the entire table was not only unprofessional but also rude and petty, particularly because, as a group, we immediately get charged 20% gratuity anyway. So why say it? We did not complain about her attitude throughout the dinner because we wanted to keep things convivial. It left a sour note for an evening that already had so many bumps. I honestly don't think my feedback will make a difference because City House food is stellar and that is reason enough to go. I realize there are two sides to every story, and she must have her reasons too, but restaurants and their staff shouldn't treat people like that.
(1)
Stephen W.

house cured meats, unique cocktails, wood fired pizzas ... what more do you want? Well there's more! Excellent pasta dishes. Vegetable plates that make you forget you're eating vegetables. Original desserts. Nashville is lucky to have City House and perhaps one fewer Shoney's.
(5)
Sean H.

Best place in Nashville! Great staff great food!!!
(5)
Stephie Z.

My boy, Matt L. and wifey sure know how to show a fat girl a good time. Not sure how I would have found this spot, due to the lack of signage and random location, but I'm glad that they wanted to show me a foodlicious good time. For an app I ordered the octo on butterbeans. It was damn good and I would get it again if I ever go back. My entree was by far my least favorite out of the table due to lack of solid flavor. I ordered the linguini with chickpeas, chopped mussels, and parsley. I could have made this dish at home, and if I ever did make it at home I would put more mussels in it so you could actually taste them, unlike this sad little dish. Other items that hit the table running were: -Anchovy pizza - if you dig on these mini fishies order away, it's mighty fine. -Corn, field peas, and potato soup- hot damn, I wish I had ordered this. I took a couple of slurpy spoonfuls from my friends bowls and the regret sat heavy on my stomach.. or maybe that was the linguini. BadaBing ;) -Corn, Cabbage, Red Onion, Citrus, Mint, Grana Padano salad - This was so perfectly done that I had to copy the whole line from the online menu so that at some point I can try and configure this little diddy at home. Sweet, tingly, mingly, and very, very good. Order this ASAYG (as soon as you go).
(4)
Caroline K.

Ambiance, Service, Cocktails, Food: A+ We had the cauliflower salad, roasted root vegetables, and pork belly pizza, and we'd do it all over again. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Brandon G.

I want to give this place 4 stars but I can't justify it. On the surface it has everything going for it: the look, location, environment, ambiance, etc. Even the food and menu sound great. The food was "pretty good", but it just didn't knock my socks off. I had opened with a pizza, had a pasta for entree, and a dessert. They were all executed well and "pretty good" dishes but the taste just didn't follow through with everything else they have going on.
(3)
Tuck L.

Overrated. We ate at Citi House tonight. We sat in a little room - total of 4 tables. It was like eating in a closet. This I will say: Citi House is great for the "in the know" people of Nashville. Nough said.
(2)
Esther L.

I love City House. This is a wonderful restaurant to visit for a casual dinner with friends or a celebration with a loved one. We have dined there between 5 and 10 times, each one delicious. The service is attentive and knowledgeable; food arrives rather promptly. The menu changes to reflect seasonal availability, but common themes can be found from one visit to another. The Frico is a savory appetizer of crispy, pungent cheese and soft potatoes; we get it every time, along with the braised octopus: phenomenal in texture and flavor. The pizza--especially belly ham, topped with an egg--never disappoint, and pastas and housemade gnocchi feature sauces that are subtle with hints of spice. In short, this place is the best.
(5)
Peter K.

Let's see, I've been back twice in the past 2 months, most recently last night for Sunday supper, I'm long overdue for an update. I love eating a million different things, so Sunday supper is perfect for sharing amongst a group. Last night we had the lamb fries, aka the family jewels, which were lightly breaded and fried to perfection. The flavor of the fries were extremely mild with a very subtle gamey finish. One of the table favorites was the Sequatchie Cove Farm Cumberland cheese served with a killer peach jam and crostinis. The cheese is local to the Chattanooga area and a must have if you ever see it on a menu. We also sampled the country ham pizza with mustard greens, and the mushroom pizza with asparagus. You can't go wrong with any of the pizza offerings. For dessert we sampled the chocolate bread pudding and an Olive & Sinclair chocolate plate with homemade marshmallows, and peanut brittle. It was chocolate, it was good, not much else needs to be said. Dessert goes really well with a lotus cocktail made with vodka and espresso, a perfect end to any meal. City House is still king in the Nashville culinary circle. They do everything right and with so much attention to detail, you're not going to leave unhappy with the food. For anyone that likes a quieter dining scene, ask to be seated in one of the upstairs side rooms. I personally love the hustle and bustle of the main dining room and watching the kitchen run like a well tuned machine.
(5)
Blake L.

Went to City House last weekend in Nashville with a bachelorette party - we sat upstairs on Saturday night and did have some complaints about the amount of smoke from the open kitchen. It was a bit overwhelming but as the crowd cleared out, so did the smoke. They also cannot open the windows. THE FOOD - INCREDIBLE!! Highly highly recommend City House for their food and drinks - just amazing!!
(5)
Ashley B.

Let me just start by saying "sparse" and "modern" are not words I usually associate with places I like. I am, however, going to make an exception in the case of CITY HOUSE. (Incidentally I also generally take issue with words spelled in all caps because I feel like someone is YELLING AT ME FOR NO REASON, but again, I'm willing to overlook it this time.) The reason I am being so uncharacteristically generous here is because CITY HOUSE has both great food and an exciting atmosphere, and restaurants rarely manage to achieve both of those things at once. CITY HOUSE is a somewhat recent addition to historic Germantown, and in keeping with that Old Worldly theme, the entrance looks like a beautifully weathered Italian home. It is attractive but rustic, which is something you might say about the family-style food you'll find inside. They even have an outdoor "room" that is evocative of a screened-in porch, and I have no doubt it will be prime real estate once spring actually arrives. The inside of CITY HOUSE is modern and spacious. The dining room has exposed brick walls, an insanely high ceiling and an open kitchen. The bar to the right of the entry way is a long, back-lit space that is usually full of well-dressed Nashvillians waiting for a table on any weekend night. (If you'd prefer to skip that step, make a reservation the week you want to go. Also make sure you bring cash if you'll need to split your tab more than 4 ways.) My favorite part of the decor, though, is the small personal touches you'll find throughout. Like the - shall we say - friendly pigs that make themselves at home on the dining room bar. Most delightful, however, are the intriguing Italian-based menu items your group will get to choose from. The menus are seasonal and Chef Tandy Wilson makes the most of what's fresh. The Roasted Vegetable Salad with Walnut Pesto and Pecorino is a prime example of this - - the sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts are perfectly cooked and seasoned. And these are far from the "icky" brussel sprouts kids are always feeding to dogs on 1950s sitcoms, so have no fear. If you're looking for something a little more adventurous, try out the Potato Pizza or the Octopus Pasta. The latter is slightly fishy, but in the good taste-of-the-ocean way, not the stale can-of-tuna way. Their House Cured Salami and Olive antipasti are also satisfying ways to start out your meal. And speaking of starting yourself out right, let me suggest one of CITY HOUSE's signature cocktails to take the edge off. I fell in love with the Dark & Stormy, a drink that packs an unexpected zing and is made up of Goslings Rum, Ginger Beer and Lime. (I was once told by an orthopedic tech who was putting me in a cast that I was "dark and stormy" myself, so I pretty much order this whenever it's offered. To be fair, who is light and cheery when their foot is being encased in plaster for the second time in one year? Yeah, that's what I thought.) ------ If you're in a slightly more sparkly place than my decidedly downbeat demeanor allows, test out The Classic, a cocktail served martini-style that consists of Moscato D' Asti (sparkling white wine) and House Infused Lemon Vodka. This was the perfect pairing with their dessert du jour, some fluffy cake concoction, the name of which I do not know because I was too busy stuffing my face with it to ask the waiter. I could care less about anything sweet if it doesn't come in a wine glass, but this strawberry-sauced slice of heaven had the best icing I've ever tasted. It was more like fresh whipped cream than it was like icing, and I literally took it out of the birthday girl's hands because I have no shame. Well I think with that disclosure of personal fatness this post has reached its logicalconclusion. Suffice it to say CITY HOUSE offers a completely unique and modern take on universal, classic food, and its personality shows from the waitstaff to the decor. It's also a great place to go with a group because the food and drink are themselves conversation pieces. And hey, with enough of those Dark & Stormies you might even feel as frisky as the pigs by the night's end. Here's to hoping. CITY HOUSE 1222 4th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37208-2714 615.736.5838 Also, make sure to check out the CITY HOUSE News & Events page here. They host Sunday Suppers (among other events) that are undoubtedly good eats and good times.
(5)
Kim C.

So not impressed! I was looking forward to my dining experience at the City House, especially considering that reservations are in high demand and this place is constantly packed. I have to note that our server was awesome and very attentive. The food: meh! Maybe we went on an off night, but the infamous belly ham pizza was simply a cheese pizza lightly sprinkled with "meat." Might be ideal for some, but not me! My hubby had the gnocchi, which was ok, nothing special. On the bright side, my adult beverage was very tasty!
(3)
Olga P.

Tandy Wilson is a great chef. I'm a New Yorker and he served the best pasta I've probably ever had anywhere: chopped liver, wild mushroom fettuccini sprinkled with lime and topped with a soft-poached egg. Perfect dish with really great, well-developed flavor. Nothing I can write here can do it justice.
(5)
Chris W.

The menu is not vast but the flavor combinations are quite good and the fresh ingredients were tasty. Not a too die for Italian restaurant but we were pleased.
(4)
Kim Y.

My main event tip for eating at the city house - eat the meat. The salami is GOOD. My other favorite dish was the olives app, sadly not for the olives but for the rosemary flavored crunchy bread rings served along side of it. So simple, but so addictive, literally I want to go back to just eat those and have a cute-sie lavender drink out of a mini-mason jar. My pasta dish (and my friends pasta) was a-ok, nice and creamy but neither 'knocked my socks off' like so many other reviewers. Next time - a meat heavy dish it is ;) The ham pizza looked amazing and was served with chili sauce (mmmm) but the margherita was just cheese and sauce. A little bland to be honest - although the egg was a nice touch. I really liked the atmosphere, really minimalist, but in a homey way. Not the traditional minimalist that makes you feel like you're in a German nightclub, more like a lovely Italian kitchen on Anthony Bourdain's show ;D I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I felt like I definitely got away from Nashville for awhile. Mini-vacay for the win! From the reservations, to the hostess and the waitress - I thought the service was great. Well timed and very friendly. No 'we are too awesome for you' vibe and no sarcastic answers to our tipsy questions. I thought the prices were fair enough, not a place my cheap butt would frequent regularly, but I left full and tipsy for about $45. For a sweet treat try the homemade sorbetto. Creamy and tasty - a friend got the brownie which I was sadly disappointed with - very average. The 'rum marshmallow sauce' just tasted like marshmallow fluff. E'eryone go channel your inner sausage fiend and try it!
(4)
J R.

Visiting Nashville from the West Coast... Glad we found this place on Yelp. Walked the one mile from downtown and had amazing apps and cocktails. Highly recommend the chicken livers, cauliflower salad, and octopus. Being a little hungry still, we decided to grab their pizza with the belly ham. If you get this pizza, make sure you ask for the egg in the middle to dip your crust. Creative cocktails, great bar and wait staff and delicious food.
(5)
Leah H.

City House is a contemporary rustic Italian restaurant in up-and-coming Germantown. We discovered this restaurant in December and have literally been back every other weekend! Their pizzas are amazing, the atmosphere is so chic and urban, and the wait staff is knowledgable and friendly. Downstairs is a more open, clean look, and the upstairs space is cozy with exposed brick and fireplaces. City House is now our favorite restaurant in Nashville!
(5)
Graham S.

good hearty food. the chicken. yum.
(4)
Jack D.

Travelling from San Francisco, my wife and I found this place recommended by a local. Really good. Perfect Neopolitan style pizza. We ate there twice. Definitely not a "meat & three."
(5)
Jay Kay G.

First and for most, the pizza crust is so good! I love a good wood fire pizza oven crust and they do it right here! We went to City House for an early dinner-snack before a night on the town. We got there when they opened on a Friday night without reservations and had no prob getting a seat. In fact we had options. I'm sure they have busier nights though. We each ordered a cocktail, I had the Solomon, Jay had the Old Fashioned. Mine was good though served in the tiniest mason jar ever. His was ok, though nothing special. We ordered a couple of salads for appetizers and they were both unique, tasty, and fresh but seemed a bit over priced for what we got. Because neither of are super foodies, many of the ingredients on the menu were foreign to us so ordering was a bit of a guessing game. The belly ham pizza we split was by far the best part of the meal. The crust, fresh cheese, seasonings, and ham were simply delicious. We also got the egg on top of the pizza which was good but be forewarned the egg is 3 bucks extra. And Jay was wishing for more ham on his pizza. We weren't starving when we went there and would have spent a lot more if we wanted entrees. To be clear, we don't mind spending 25 bucks for a good steak or fish, but we are from the tri-tip capital of the world and know how much a whole tri-tip costs (even though I was excited just to see tri-tip on a menu in Nashville). I will say entrees going out to tables did look interesting and we may try one next time we go back. Overall we had a great experience, good but laid back service, and left satisfied. We would have given it 5 stars but the place did seem to be a little over priced. Still, we will definitely be back for pizza at the very least!
(4)
Brien W.

Went to my favorite Nashville restaurant on Sunday with the family and was really disappointed. They have fallen off their perch. Onion and fennel pizza was too salty for anyone to eat more than 1 slice. Pork spread appetizer (think thick mouse) was pedestrian almost oatmealy, one note w salt. Wings were good but all other dishes left us disappointed. One meal wont lose us as fans but last Sunday was uninspired and mailed in!
(3)
Nicki R.

Ok, I went back. I ordered the right things. The food was good, the service was good, the ambiance was good. :)
(4)
Hunter K.

I live in Germantown and have had several great dining experiences at City House. However, trying to get a drink at the bar is a different experience altogether. I can honestly say I have never successfully sat at the City House bar and been served a drink. This restaurant has an odd policy of closing the bar early before the rest of the restaurant closes. The dark-haired female server behind the bar strictly enforces this rule, and will embarrass you if you challenge her on it. Be warned, she is running a club for her favorites and is not concerned with customer service. Overall -- food is interesting with decent wait service. Bar is a customer service nightmare.
(2)
Ryan O.

City House sets the culinary bar for Nashville and in my opinion is the best dining experience in town. This place is really THE quintessential Nashville restaurant. The only place I can think of that might top them is the Catbird Seat but 1) I have yet to go there and 2) that is not a place you can visit without a bucket of money and reservations 30 days in advance. So what makes City House so good? - The best pizza you will find in the volunteer state. I've tried all the competition and it is not even close. The wood fired oven Neapolitan style pizza here is as close to perfect as I have ever experienced. The crust is decedent and the most pristine balance of fluff to crispy charred goodness I have ever witnessed. Don't forget to add an egg to your pizza. If you don't, well you're just a dummy (auto exceptions for vegans). The potato and pea pizza is unlike no other. As good as that pizza may be, it isn't even as good as the ham, mozzarella, and chillies which is without question the best pizza I've ever had. - In house smoked/cured meats, particularly of the pork variety. The house smoked belly ham that you can get on the featured pizza is nothing short of meat bliss as is the cured salami you can order as an app. - The cocktail menu is enormous. No matter what your spirit base of choice, there is at least one centered on something you love here. I've had a few of the drinks and even if i didn't like them I could tell the recipe was well thought out and I could still respect the personal attention that was payed to its composition. My personal favorite is the sultry "Henry" which is based on one of Nashville's very own acclaimed distillery spirits, Corsair Triple Smoke. Peaty, ludicrously smokey, and topped off with cynar, bitters, and a burnt orange, this drink is truly a craft cocktail enthusiasts wet dream. Now the negatives... like any successful restaurant, this place is really a victim of its own success. You will not be getting a table during peak hours (or even off-peak hours TBH) without a reservation. That being said, there is a large bar with ample seating and a full menu available for first come first serve that I have seen open even when the place is swarmingly busy. So, City House is pretty much the best there is in Nashville. If you don't believe me, you can take it on the word of the James Beard Foundation as chef/owner Tandy Wilson has been nominated the past two years in a row for best chef in the southeast, even making it to the semi-finals this year.
(5)
Earl R.

My wife and I had one of our more memorable meals at City House. Starting with an unusual olive and pretzel (not what you might think) appetizer, my wife ordered the homemade sausage and I the North Carolina catfish. Neither sounds remarkable, but the way they were prepared and served was. We each ordered a side of cannolini beans with turnip greens, and it was incredible! For dessert we had pannacotta with espresso syrup. The whole meal was, in a word, sublime. Also note, when you arrive at the restaurant, it may first look like you're in the wrong place. Hang in there--walk around the right side as you view it from the street and enter near the rear. What awaits inside is a very special, unique restaurant. Wishing we had a clone of it in Austin, Texas--a serious food town. --Earl R.
(5)
M R.

I did not enjoy my experience at City House. We went there on a Sunday night and on Sundays they have a very limited menu. I did not know this and I was disappointed that I could not order many of the items listed on their website menu. The food that we did order was SO SALTY that it was practically inedible. The server was cold and distant and made no effort to do anything when we mentioned the salty food. Prior to that I made reservations and requested an outdoor table, but was told that the outdoor space was for walk-ins only but if an outdoor table was available when we arrived, then we could have it. Of course an outdoor space won't be available if you cannot reserve it! I thought this was really silly; those who have the foresight to reserve are denied the most desirable space. Sure enough, upon arrival the patio was packed. We sat inside, and the indoor space is so loud that we had to shout at one another in order to hear. Not only that, but the pizza oven fills the room with smoke. Needless to say, I won't be returning and cannot for the life of me figure out what everyone else sees in this place. Also, if you want fabulous pizza in Nashville, go to DeSano's. They are the best!
(1)
Jemina B.

Oh my. OH. MY. My brain is too fried to put my thoughts about City House together in a coherent paragraph, so I'll just write in blurbs: Drink Menu - fantastic. House cured salami - SO GOOD. Margherita Pizza - my fave. With an egg on top, of course. Belly Ham Pizza - sinful. I want to go to there every day.
(5)
Blair S.

My food was OK, the service was OK. The menu was unique (the first five or six items were "pork snacks"), but fairly limited. I heard after talking to friends that the limited menu is only on certain days. Why not a full menu every day of the week? The smoked trout appetizer was my favorite part of the meal. The "Movie Theater Popcorn" had a great pitch, so I splurged out of curiosity, then felt slightly ripped off. Those at my table who had cocktails raved about them. The pizza not bad but not particularly memorable. I guess I have to try another day, and I'll be sure to ask if they have a full menu or the abbreviated quirky menu before making a reservation.
(3)
Douglas B.

Great pizza....great pasta with lamb dish. Outstanding vibe, nice bartenders and staff. Ate at the bar. Busy but they TCB with ease. Would visit often if i lived there.
(5)
Carine D.

Food was good. Beware of tricky waitresses who will try and rack up your bill with $3 egg add ons to pizza and not take ownership when questioned about bill. The customer is always right.
(3)
G. L.

I'd heard a lot about this cool new place so my group and I were very excited to visit. Not to mention it was the last stop in an afternoon of birthday celebration for my good friend. With all the neat places Nashville has to offer, the City House had the honor of being our final destination. It's a cool looking place inside and out and had a great vibe as one of those hidden gems tucked away in a neighborhood that hadn't quite caught on yet. Unfortunately, it didn't meet expectations for us that night for a few reasons. It was very hot inside, service was slow (or maybe it just felt slow since it was so darn hot), the food was mediocre and they were out of several items when we arrived at 7pm. I've heard good things about City House and hope that we just happen to have stopped by on a bad night. But with all Nashville has to offer, I'll likely not be back.
(2)
Emmet K.

City House is a sneaky little spot hidden in the Germantown neighborhood about a mile away from downtown Nashville. A fantastic find while we were visiting! Their house made sausages and charcuterie were top notch! Authentic Italian style wood-fire pizzas were as good as you will find anywhere. The menu is a perfect mix of regional soul food and Italian classics. You can tell this place is run by some young chefs who are passionate about what they are doing for their customers. Great cocktails too!
(4)
Shooter S.

Well, I finely had the Belly Ham Pizza. It was stupid good! It took a while, probably because six of us showed up with no reservation and it was a Friday night, but it was so worth it.
(5)
Justin R.

Who decided to go to an Italian restaurant during Passover? This guy did. I didn't really think about it before I booked the reservations with my girlfriend and my parents, I just read fellow Yelper reviews and decided that this was the place. This first thing I noticed when we walked in was the mouth watering smell coming out of the kitchen. The second thing I noticed, was how open the whole place was. It looked almost like an old warehouse. We were immediately greeted by the hostess and shown to our table. Now, the first thing my step-mom noticed was how loud the place was. I admit it was loud, but I can put up with a little noise for some delicious food. We started off with a great bottle of red wine off of their extensive wine list. After all, wine is one of the only Kosher things we could drink, right? Our waiter was extremely knowledgable of the wine menu and the food menu. He was able to help us all find dished that would suit our tastes and dietary restrictions. I order the a steak dish and my girlfriend ordered a trout dish the a chef whipped up for her on the fly. The trout was one of the best pieces of fish I have ever had, and growing up in South Florida, I have had my fair share. We ordered a side of the sweet potato and cauliflower cold salad. At first read this may not sound that appetizing, but needless to say it was delicious. All and all we had a great experience at City House, even though it was in fact Passover. I cant wait to go back for another delicious dinner here.
(4)
Amanda B.

We always have a good time at City House, though we never go on any night but Sunday. Sunday is the chef's night to do what he likes, and the restaurant takes the opportunity to regale its patrons with all manner of "pork snacks." As a lover of all things pork and a celebrator of the noble swine, Sunday at City House is my favorite. And since most other notable restaurants in town don't stay open for dinner on Sunday nights, City House has carved itself a niche not only for interesting uses of offal, but as one of the only places where one can get a decent meal on Sunday evenings. So last night, we went in and had a lovely time. For starters, I was especially intrigued by the Mortadella "corndogs," which, in point of fact, were actually more like lollipops than corndogs. Either way, they were spectacular: battered and fried crispy, the mortadella (made with peanuts in lieu of the usual pistachios) was tasty and stood in for the hot dog easily, and the housemade mustard was heavenly. Each bite was a blend of crunchy, fatty, tangy deliciousness. The low point of the meal (though not that low) was the pork belly, which was served with garlicky broccoli rabe. The belly was roasted, but was very fatty, rendering it more of a textural accompaniment to the rabe than anything else. Tasty, but a little off the mark. I would have preferred it less gelatinous, but if it's what the chef intended, it's what he intended. For mains, Husband went with the Kitchen Pie. He always goes with the Kitchen Pie. Surprisingly simple, it's basically a cheese pizza, but done up with chili oil in addition to the sauce and Grana Padano cheese, a cousin of Parmigiano Reggiano. It's very flavorful and the chili gives it an unexpected bite. I went with one of the nightly specials, the pork meatballs, served with a rich, yet thin, tomato ragu, and a large piece of cheese and garlic toasted bread in lieu of pasta. The meatballs were gigantic and cooked perfectly, herbs throughout. As I've stated in my reviews before, I can't eat much wheat in my diet, but I did try some of the bread as it was so tempting: crunchy and wonderful, and when sopping up the ragu, perfect. For dessert, I always get the "Lemon Thing." It never seems to fail, everytime we go in, there's a lemon-related dessert on the menu. I don't know who their pastry chef is, but he or she is a genius with lemon. Last night was a lemon and almond pound cake with a side of lemon sorbet. Sweet and crunchy, the cake was delicious: I almost forgot to share a bite with husband. Husband's dessert was a chocolate torta with peanut butter sauce. It was good, but not as good as the "Lemon-Thing." All in all, the meal was great.
(4)
Lada W.

Somebody told us this is one of the best restaurants in Nashville so we went there on Sunday night. There weren't many selections on the menu but I was impressed with the decor. The food was way too salty. I don't know if it was a different chef because my bf told me that he had a great experience there before. The three dishes we ordered were all salty. I don't know why. I would say it's a bit overrated.
(2)
Mel G.

No no no. Against my better inclinations, I agreed to Italian for dinner on a weekend trip to Nashville from Chicago. It was as stupid of a decision as I thought. Actually, a little worse. I'll give this place props. It's got all the ambiance of a great foodie joint, and a decent cocktail list to match. Regardless, I didn't really fall for the decor trickery of industrial piping and random exposed brick. I got the gemelli trout pasta dish. I ate maybe 20 percent of it. It had so much lemon in it and no seasoning to balance the lemon or the trout. The pasta was cooked to a nice al dente, but the flavor was overpoweringly awful. I thought I was just being whiny because I didn't want to eat there in the first place, but neither of my 3 companions liked it either. And anytime a dish costs over $10, it annoys me immensely when the server doesn't ask if something is wrong when I don't eat it. Just please acknowledge that there's clearly something bad with my experience. I did get to sample everyone else's food as a result. The pizza was good. Not great. Or at least I didn't think the quality matched the price point (i.e. a pizza for each person would mean you spent more than $50 on pizza, in which case it should taste like pizza fairies dancing on my tongue, imo). The option to add an egg is pretty awesome, since I'm convinced eggs make everything better. But I think I would've been just as happy with my pizza experience if I ordered a dominos thin crust and cooked my own egg to put on top. The dough is fresh, but not crispy enough. The sauce lacked garlic or herb or both. The ham belly (what I presume meant pork belly, but I'm not sure), was a decent serving size and nice and crisp. The cheese was average. So no, this is not on my Nashville return list.
(1)
Elizabeth H.

Very charming upstairs, with a cool open atmosphere downstairs. A bit loud all over. Service was pleasant while our food was delivered warm ,not hot, but was tasty. It would be nice to have some bread served with the salads or soups for the early course. Probably will not go back unless invited to go along in a group. So many other great choices in Nashville. It was worth the try though...
(3)
Craig W.

One of my favorite spots in Nashville. The atmosphere is nice, the service is good, but more importantly the food is good. It reminds me of a place in New York City. This is a great gem in Nashville, and a great establishment for the people of Germantown. The Margarita pizza with the fried egg in the center tastes great. My favorite thing on the menu us the spaghetti with white clam sauce.
(4)
erica e.

City House is consistently wonderful. It's always on a mental list of great places to take friends from out of town to showcase what Nashville has to offer in food culture. Highlights: - The Belly Ham Pizza (with egg, of course) is always ordered. No matter what. - Great wine list and a staff that knows how to help select. - Always using in season produce, with enough variation to make almost every occasion slightly different. - Great atmosphere and super friendly staff. Definitely a must-go if you want to eat great food in town.
(5)
Jack D.

Travelling from San Francisco, my wife and I found this place recommended by a local. Really good. Perfect Neopolitan style pizza. We ate there twice. Definitely not a "meat & three."
(5)
D C.

The vibe when you walk in is energetic and upbeat. We started with cocktails that were made terrific. We then had the cheese and sweet potato appetizer and the broccolli appetizer. Both had great flavors and we really enjoyed them. For dinner, we got the margerita pizza and the cornbread gnocchi. The pizza was so light and thin and absolutely scrumptious. The gnocchi was good but very heavy...the least favorite dish of our night. For dessert, we shared the layer cake with zabiglione. It was delicious as well. The waitress was attentive and knew every aspect of the meals and drinks/ how they were made and even made freat suggestions based on our info about what we like. Dinner for two with cocktails was about$100. I would say very reasonable!! And I loved that everything is out in the open and the chefs cook in the dame room we eat.
(4)
Karen K.

Two stars for the food alone. Blood will run out of your ears from the noise level but you will still be able to hear the sarcasm from "the Manager" when she "responds" to your concerns. There are WAY better restaurants in Nashville with none of City House's pain points. Never again.
(2)
Janet Y.

I heart City House. It has such a homey but urban/hip vibe. The food is excellent, and it was clear that the servers were knowledgeable. We started our meal with a couple of appetizers that were seriously out of this world. The octopus tasted like tender scallops and the frico cheese/potato tasted like a crispy scallop potato! I ended up getting a pasta with anchovy in it-- it was phenomenal. I had leftovers, and I ate it cold the next day, and it was even better! My friend had the springer mountain half chicken, and it was so tender and juicy. I think I'll get that next time! What I like about City House versus some of the other new and hip restaurants in Nashville is that the menu is more extensive with price ranges that can suit more people! For that reason, I think it's perfect for a group dinner or a romantic date for two. Bravo City House!
(5)
Allison T.

LOVED this place. Described to this New Yorker as a Williamsburgh/Greenpoint-type 'trendy' place but with the food to back it up, and that was accurate. City House was accommodating to our difficult party of five: the hostess didn't bat an eye when we showed up an hour early (genuine mistake on our part) and then was able to give us a table in the quiet screened porch to help out the hearing-impaired member of our group.(The noise level in the main restaurant, even the smaller back room, is shattering). As the sole vegetarian in the group, I had fewer menu choices but everything I had was superior: kale salad with Alabama-style creamy BBQ sauce as dressing, a transcendent chard and mayo pizza (I know, sounds gross, but it was perfection), creamy/dreamy strawberry sherbet. Everyone else in the group had good-to-excellent food: the 'scrapple' appetizer was a hit; fried catfish was fine but the portion was almost overwhelming; grits and greens main course needed a little more seasoning; house-made sausage was fine. The cornbread gnocci, which we ordered as a shared dish for the table, was the only disappointment: it's very heavy and 'gnocci' is a misnomer, it's thick cubes of cornbread pan-seared and served in a light marinara. Our server was engaged, involved and entertaining. Pace of the meal was good. My only (minor) complaint is the same for many of the new farm-to-table sourced menus: too many unfamiliar terms that need to be explained by the waitperson (GMRS? Fonduta? Taralli? Tesa?). I would prefer a more wordy menu that explains the dish rather than a list of ingredients that the server has to talk you through. My meal shaded me to the five-star side of a 4.5-star rating.
(5)
Mick S.

First time tonight to City House. It was really great! I had one of their Belly Ham pizzas and I can honestly say it was fantastic! Adding the egg on top was a crazy but awesome. It was so unique and tasty it's hard to put it into words. I would just recommend you go and try it. Props to our waiter too. Nice lad who hails from the pacific NW, which is where I'm from originally. I'd have given it a 5 star, but I thought their cost of wine by the glass was a bit high. That always bugs me. Great place otherwise.
(4)
Adam H.

A Nashville meal so good I had it twice in my 5 day stay. Food: Appetizers were original and delicious. House cured salami and Wisconsin cheese was great, as was the frico of broccoli. The ciccioli of white beans was surprisingly good and full of garlic. The pork belly pizza was one of the best wood-fired pies I've had. Their trout was fresh and nicely prepared, with peanuts, raisins and lemon. A standout was the bread gnocchi. I don't know how they did it, but it was the perfect combination - and in their delicious tomato sauce? Wonderful. Service: Knowledgeable wait staff, all of whom have beards that, unlike in NY, are not ironic. Amicable and attentive. Ambience: It felt like a classy hipster joint with high ceilings and an industrial look but with nice woodgrain everywhere. Cool atmosphere. Bottom Line: You cannot go wrong at the City House.
(5)
Lindsay R.

The cornbread gnocchi is tasty but quite filling, the cocktails are strong, and if you go in a party of 2 you are likely to get a seat at the bar with no wait. Service is great and so are the sides, thought the entrees were a little above average. Great place to go if you want a good meal but don't want to go over the top. Some portions are overpriced for the amount of food you get. There are not nearly enough wall decorations.
(3)
Sydney S.

This restaurant was so unique. We went for "Sunday dinner" that changes to a completely new menu weekly. With four of us, we shared salads, some small plates and a pizza. It was all uniquely flavored with interesting combinations that were surprisingly very, very tasty. If you are ordering drinks, try the Moose. It's an interesting flavor-- a little dark and kind of bitter, but still very enjoyable. The atmosphere was super chic and hip, but relaxing. Oh! For dessert, we had the ice cream sandwiches. If you don't get anything else out of this review, I hope you understand that these are to die for and WORTH IT.
(5)
Hunter B.

My fiance and I's favorite dinner spot in town. Unique cocktails that are strong, and food that appeals to me in all the right ways. No frills, fresh ingredients and made right in front of your face! We love to sit at the bar and watch the food roll out, it never gets old! Our favorites are the octopus to start and pork belly pizza, although we did try the cornbread gnocchi last time and it was also delicious.
(5)
Katie H.

My dad's sausage was so salty he couldn't eat it. My mom's white bean soup was also inedible and my side of turnip greens were so bitter I had to spit them out. Now, there were great portions of the dinner, however, if I am going to spend $150 on a meal, I don't want any part of it to be unsatisfying...especially given the fact that there are about 45 restaurants in this city that can provide a flawless meal for the same or a lesser price
(1)
Samantha S.

A year ago, this was my go-to spot. Not anymore. The menu has barely changed in YEARS. Literally. Especially the entrees. I came here once in August and our server put in my husband's order but forgot to put in mine. I had ordered chicken so of course this took much longer as expected after she had realized she messed up (as his food was coming out). It's a two top. How do you forget and only put in one order? Cool, no problem. We didn't complain at all but they ended up taking both of our entrees off of our bill which was not needed but very much appreciated because we ended up being there way too long. We came back last week. I had a pizza (blah) and the pasta with lamb (absolutely terrible). The margarita pizza had zero basil on it (the server said was only available for one week of the entire summer? what?) and the "lamb" pasta tasted like noodles, pulled pork (and not the good kind) with cheese sprinkled on top. Barely edible. The server asked how our meal was. My response was, "it was different...." We got our check and left extremely unsatisfied. There are PLENTY of amazing restaurants in Nashville that are killing it in the food scene right now. I'll gladly spend my hard earned money at Rolf and Daughters, Etch, etc.
(3)
Scott T.

Simply amazing. We went Sunday night, which is a unique experience. On Sunday they create a different menu than the rest of the week. I was told the Sunday menu is never recreated. We started with fried summer sausage, chow chow, and buttermilk cheddar. The trick was to get a little bit of all three in one bite. The combination is salt, sour, and creamy was fabulous. For our main dishes, we had the chicken and jalapeÃ±o sausage over cucumbers, vidalia onions, cabbage and a sausage and potato pizza. The sausage had the flavor of jalapeÃ±o without the heat, so my wife could enjoy it as well. The pizza was so delicious I ate most of it myself. Dessert was a peach cobbler and a caramel pecan chocolate mini pie. The cobbler was one of the best I have ever had. I prefer a more pie type crust, this was more a bread type. Not being a fan of pecans I was wonderfully surprised how good the pie was. This was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. We sat at the kitchen bar so we got to watch the kitchen crew make everything. Our waiter was very professional. The only bad is the dishes we had will not be available again. The next time we are in Nashville we will definitely stop in.
(5)
Sam H.

I came here for dinner with a Nashville friend on my visit from NYC. I'm glad we sat at the bar because our bartender Chris really knew his shit! He welcomed us and we quickly chatted about our options. We went with all of his suggestions and nothing disappointed.. We had the octopus, spinach buttermilk pizza and the coffee cream cake. All I have to say is WOW. Definitely one of the best meals i've ever had. The whole time Chris paired us with the perfect cocktails and laid down a ton of knowledge. All in all a grade A experience.
(5)
Jessica S.

I decided to come here to celebrate my 24th birthday. I have never been here before. I used to live in Italy and after reading their menu online, I knew I had to try their food. So, off we went! We decided to order a pizza as an appetizer (I definitely recommend this). It was fresh, delicious, and came out of the oven pretty quickly. We ordered a bottle of wine and decided to each order an entree and share it. We got the fettuccine with lamb sugo, gnocchi, and trout. AMAZING. It was like a mouth-gasm. So so so so SO delicious. The only downfall was the service. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about each food item but she was pretty slow when it came to serving water and getting our wine. Also, the hostess was just straight up rude to me. Not appreciated. Other than the crappy service, I'm coming here again for the food. It was incredible and too good to pass up. If you're ever in the Nashville area and craving some real Italian food, this is the place to go.
(5)
Anna Y.

Interior, tableware, atmosphere - everything is very contemporary (the branch of contemporary dining fashion tI take to). I hope this place is going to survive the popularity wave and remain relevant. Everything me and my friends had was delicious. I particularly recommend their pizza. In my opinion, it is the best pizza in Nashville, as close to Italian pizza as it can get. According to my Italian friend, it has 'TN flair' but that's totally fine! I also appreciate the size of the servings: these days these fashionable places give you a handful of food, which is not enough to feed a compact lady, let alone a guy. This place has it right. I'll be back for sure!
(5)
Mike W.

Delicious Pizza. The Kale pizza will not disappoint. Love this place. Cool vibe. Nice choice of whiskeys. Bartenders and service was too notch.
(5)
Angela P.

The pizza at City House was so good - and I'm from Chicago! We had the peach/red onion/cheddar and the margarita pizza. The peach was my favorite, I ordinarily despite onions on anything, but the onions complimented the peaches and cheddar and weren't overpowering at all. The menu here is very limited. So if you like options, or menus like a novel, go elsewhere. Sometimes though I like not having so many choices. Then I don't get indecisive when the waiter comes around. I made reservations here for our anniversary dinner. We were seated right away. I mistakenly thought City House was an intimate, romantic place. I was caught offguard when we walked into a bustling, lively, open dining room. I didn't mind this, it was my mistake anyway, but I didn't really like that the tables were so close together. When I sat in the booth, I had to squeeze through the tables and felt my ass rub on our neighbors' table. Would it kill them to arrange the tables a few extra inches apart? Because this also meant that I overheard their conversation, and it was difficult to relax and have an enjoyable conversation with my husband. I wouldn't recommend this place for a romantic dinner or a date night since it's a little noisy in here. But our pizzas were outstanding, so I wouldn't take back the night and go elsewhere. I'd suggest this more for nice lunch or with a small group of friends. The food alone is worth the five stars!
(5)
Poppy C.

Probably the hottest sophisticated scene in Nashville. Everyone dining seemed young hip and urban. I saw more diversity in this dining room (2 other Asian girls) than the 20,000 people at the Bridgestone Arena the night before... admittedly that was for Iron Maiden... The open kitchen was full of dudes in baseball caps with full on hipster beards and gauges. Our server was NYC cool and everyone had several tattoos and I saw a few full sleeves. Minus a few stars though..... Strong drinks, nice but not carefully crafted and took forever to get. We had to wait quite a bit at the bar. I thought perhaps the two female bartenders were just not very good nor observant but they were quick to help a couple that arrived after us and had no problem getting wine for the servers to bring to diners. The couple that arrived after us also got their drinks before we did. The server had no problem however requesting we close our tab out when we did get our drinks. Kind of annoying and I'm pretty sure I hadn't had time to piss any of them off yet so not sure why the bad service there..... Pizza was okay, looked better than it tasted, crust was average. Octopus was very very good, perfect texture. Catfish was nice, grits were amazing. Chocolate panna cotta extremely yummy and a very nice ending.
(3)
Brooklyn C.

Great food and great service! Beautiful location and interesting menu. Excellent cocktail selection. We had delicious appetizers and pizza baked in their brick ovens. Really fun place to eat with great atmosphere.
(5)
David G.

City House is good. People enjoy City House, and I enjoyed City House. But, this is another "it's good, but there are better" places in Nashville. And, since the 3-star rating says "A-OK" next to it in big capital letters, I have rated City House for what it is: A-OK. The wine and cocktail menus are quite nice -- although disappointing that they did not have spherical ice for my whiskey aperitif but that's OK, I suppose, as so few do here. The whiskey was still nice as were the appetizers: cauliflower served with pomegranate and almonds was one and the other was a Salami and cheese. Good. Yes. Blow me out of the water great. No. The cauliflower at Josephine and Etch are better. For dinner, I ordered a nice chianti (sans fava beans and sans some victim's liver). But, I did order the House Made Belly Ham, Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, and Chilies pizza. The pizzas are thin crusted and can easily serve two normal sized humans. Again, I thought it was good. But, it was not any better than eating at Mafiaoza's and Mafiaoza's is not all that great. Both are just A-OK. Was it edible and good? Yes. Did I leave wanting to shank anyone on Yelp who blasphemed City House's food? No. I wouldn't fight anyone over returning to the place. But I'd go back if asked. So, you can go give it a try. It is OK after all. Just please do not blame me if you leave thinking it was just OK.
(3)
Xander S.

Had a solid belly ham pizza at the bar, the atmosphere was great and I'd highly recommend going if you're in Nashville for a short period of time. I was told to go by many locals and they were spot on. If I'm ever back in Nashville, I'll be there. It's a bit pricy, but worth it. Also a nice date place.
(5)
Stephanie C.

We just tried City House for the first time, and I'll admit I had a great time. The service was stellar, and our waitress was amazing. She knew everything there was to know about the menu. And she took the time to explain without seeming rushed. We ended up trying a variety of appetizers, none of which I was over the moon about. But there wasn't anything that was a huge disappointment either. The cocktails were interesting. I appreciate the fact that there was a mix of herbal, strong, and sweet. I feel like a lot of our new restaurants don't offer the ladies a variety of easily drinkable cocktails. The Scribble was incredible. I had the pork belly pizza with fried egg and the husband had the tri-tip steak. Both were fantastic, though the hubs wished the steak was a little more done. I also really loved the chocolate Graham ice cream. It was just fantastic. But everyone is right about the noise level, it is so incredibly loud in there because of the vaulted ceilings. For my future return visits, I think I'll try to stick to lunchtime, or weekdays that might not be as packed as it was this Friday night.
(4)
M L.

Yup still the best. Keep kickin ass and taking names. City House is the best restaurant in Nashville no question, maybe event Tennessee. Consistently blowing people's minds and taste buds. Cheers!
(5)
Nickie G.

Since there are 200+ reviews here, I will keep it short for once. Hard to find....building is practically unmarked. It is a brick building, entrance is on the side, off the road, so when you see what you think SHOULD be it, park. Look in the window and when you see tables/table cloths you have found it. Go around the side and enter. Specialty cocktails were fucking yummy. My server recommended a gin one that she called an "old lady drink" and, well, call me an old lady because I loved it. (She loved it too...told me she had an "old lady" palatte hehe) The pizza I got (can't even remember which one) was great and made better because they asked me "do you want a fried egg on it?" A fried, runny, over easy egg on my pizza? Yes, yes I do. It was delicious. Verdict: very good. They had things other than pizza too so more things to try. Wish they were open for lunch too.
(4)
Hannah Y.

Called earlier in the day 6x and they never answered...when I arrived I was told there was a 45 minute wait....was totally fine with it....stood near the bar for 10 minutes without being acknowledged....stepped up to the bar...and was told I had no business trying to order a drink because there were people waiting longer than myself by the bartender...zero people were around trying to order a drink... Terrible service. Also....bartender had no bra on and a white shirt....could see her entire areola. Visit before that...the bartender was very poor at making drinks on the menu. Bummer was looking forward to that place :/
(1)
Kristina L.

Girls' night out September style was at City House. How I have not been here before is beyond me. But I have been here now and as Arnie would say "I'll be back". We started with the octopus appetizer. Loved it! Tender, delicious bites atop a delectable quinoa concoction. We also split the pork belly pizza with a sunny-side up egg on it. It was savory with a perfectly crisp crust and plenty of wonderful, soft cheese. But the highlight was the slice with the egg... One of my girlfriends gently pierced the yolk and we split that piece into thirds. Divine! Delightful! Decadent! Delicious! I am always a sucker for foods topped with a runny egg yolk and this did not disappoint. (See how I used so many "D" words?) For the main course, I had the pasta with the lamb ragu. It's amazing how freshly made pasta trumps any of that crap from a box. That simple touch elevates a dish from good to great. My friends had the trout with the sweet potato side (which was my favorite thing of the evening) and the tri-tip with the creamy grits. The trout was moist, flaky and scrumptious. The tri-tip was fork tender and practically melted in my mouth. All in all, we were all very pleased with our food and drinks. We also were far too full to experience a dessert - maybe next time because there will definitely be a next time. Service was pleasant and not overbearing. The ambiance was nice but a bit loud in my opinion. But the overall experience was complimentary for having dinner, drinks and conversation with my friends. If you haven't been, by all means go!
(4)
Alison B.

First of all - I don't think this is an Italian place even though its listed as that. Very eclectic menu. Second - the food is amazing! Try the Brussel sprout salad with the Greek yogurt dressing!!!! Third - EXTREMELY noisy! Couldn't even hear each other by the time we left, which is why we left. We were told the 40s room is the quietest because of the ceilings so ask to be seated there.
(4)
Ali G.

I went to visit a friend, and she was really excited to take me here. The only availability 2 weeks out was a late seating. Totally fine! When we sat, our (incredibly unfriendly) server told us several dishes were done for the night, and that we only had a little while to order because the kitchen was closing. Why do they seat people so late, then? He told us nothing about the menu, was pretty unhelpful when one drink was definitely a little off, and threw the check on the table when we were still consuming dessert. Actually tossed it on the table without muttering a word. It was one of the worst dining experience that I have had, for only decent food. Would not come back..
(3)
Allison C.

My boyfriend and I were visiting Nashville and decided to eat here based on reviews. Boy are we glad we did! The food quality was excellent. We ordered and split the pork belly pizza and the steak entree. The pizza was was perfectly cooked, and the pork gave it the most explosive flavor. Then came the steak, topped with parmesan cheese. It was perfectly cooked as well and so melt in your mouth tasty. We both agreed it was one of our favorite steaks of all time! Cocktails were equally amazing, and the wine list was impressive. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Overall perfect dining experience! Thanks City House:)
(5)
Melissa H.

Absolutely delish every single time. Great cocktails. Always have had great service. Love!!
(5)
Victoria L.

First off, the location and ambiance of this place is great. It's in a gutted house that is very industrial looking on the inside. There is a cozy, netted al fresco dining area that seemed great at nighttime. We got a table in the middle room right in front of the kitchen, which gave us a view of the upstairs room and the bar activity. Our table of 4 started by sharing a bottle of Tasca d'Almerita Lamuri, Nero d'Avola, which we were very pleased with. To start, three of us shared the ciccioli on top of a corn, salsa verde, bread crumbs mixture. The texture and flavors were a great combination. Salty pork, sweet corn, and a little crunch from the bread crumbs. Then we share margherita and belly ham pizzas. The thin-crust pizzas had great charred and chewy crusts, fresh mozzarella, and the ham pizza had a great spice from the chilies. We also tried the linguine with squid and potatoes. I wasn't the biggest fan of the potatoes and one friend mentioned it was overly salted, but it was still good. Our approach to sharing dishes was perfect when it came time for dessert. We couldn't pass up a look at the dessert menu since the rest of our meal had been so good. For the table, we got the sweet potato ice box cake and chocolate butterscotch panna cotta. The cake came with marshmallow fluff, which I haven't seen before; it was definitely interesting. My favorite part of the night was the panna cotta, which came in a jar topped with vanilla whipped cream and cookie crumbles. It rivals the best dessert in Philadelphia: Barbuzzo's salted caramel budino. If I ever come back to Nashville, this place is definitely worth a second visit!
(5)
Victoria F.

My boyfriend & I had been trying to get a reservation here for a while and I'm so glad we finally got to have dinner here last night for my birthday! Being from New York pizza is my favorite...the pork belly ham pizza with an egg on top was out of this world delicious! Everything from the ambiance, unique open kitchen, amazing selection of red wines, friendly and knowledgeable server, just a fantastic experience. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a one of a kind dining experience!
(5)
Kevin C.

Lots of long fingered reviews so... Kale salad, okay I'm with you on this power food Octopus, slightly over cooked perhaps? Bread gnocchi, a bit heavy but the tomato and swiss chard complimented it well Ham pizza, bad ass with a kick of heat, thank you for saving my meal Peanut butter pie, can't go wrong with vanilla gelato Drink menu rivals some places I've been in Chicago. But the uninformed up sell from Jim Beam to Bulleit is not cool. Service was not necessarily happy. Southern hospitality was out the door. Not terrible but she seemed a bit peeved no one ordered any fish + meat ($23 for a half chicken, yikes). Locals say a lot of new places are taking queues from City House and I can see why.
(4)
Mel G.

No no no. Against my better inclinations, I agreed to Italian for dinner on a weekend trip to Nashville from Chicago. It was as stupid of a decision as I thought. Actually, a little worse. I'll give this place props. It's got all the ambiance of a great foodie joint, and a decent cocktail list to match. Regardless, I didn't really fall for the decor trickery of industrial piping and random exposed brick. I got the gemelli trout pasta dish. I ate maybe 20 percent of it. It had so much lemon in it and no seasoning to balance the lemon or the trout. The pasta was cooked to a nice al dente, but the flavor was overpoweringly awful. I thought I was just being whiny because I didn't want to eat there in the first place, but neither of my 3 companions liked it either. And anytime a dish costs over $10, it annoys me immensely when the server doesn't ask if something is wrong when I don't eat it. Just please acknowledge that there's clearly something bad with my experience. I did get to sample everyone else's food as a result. The pizza was good. Not great. Or at least I didn't think the quality matched the price point (i.e. a pizza for each person would mean you spent more than $50 on pizza, in which case it should taste like pizza fairies dancing on my tongue, imo). The option to add an egg is pretty awesome, since I'm convinced eggs make everything better. But I think I would've been just as happy with my pizza experience if I ordered a dominos thin crust and cooked my own egg to put on top. The dough is fresh, but not crispy enough. The sauce lacked garlic or herb or both. The ham belly (what I presume meant pork belly, but I'm not sure), was a decent serving size and nice and crisp. The cheese was average. So no, this is not on my Nashville return list.
(1)
Elizabeth H.

Very charming upstairs, with a cool open atmosphere downstairs. A bit loud all over. Service was pleasant while our food was delivered warm ,not hot, but was tasty. It would be nice to have some bread served with the salads or soups for the early course. Probably will not go back unless invited to go along in a group. So many other great choices in Nashville. It was worth the try though...
(3)
Craig W.

One of my favorite spots in Nashville. The atmosphere is nice, the service is good, but more importantly the food is good. It reminds me of a place in New York City. This is a great gem in Nashville, and a great establishment for the people of Germantown. The Margarita pizza with the fried egg in the center tastes great. My favorite thing on the menu us the spaghetti with white clam sauce.
(4)
erica e.

City House is consistently wonderful. It's always on a mental list of great places to take friends from out of town to showcase what Nashville has to offer in food culture. Highlights: - The Belly Ham Pizza (with egg, of course) is always ordered. No matter what. - Great wine list and a staff that knows how to help select. - Always using in season produce, with enough variation to make almost every occasion slightly different. - Great atmosphere and super friendly staff. Definitely a must-go if you want to eat great food in town.
(5)
Diana T.

This is my favorite restaurant in Nashville because it suits me perfectly for any occasion. It might not suit you. First, the food: Real, rustic Italian. Emphasis on pork. To start with, you can't go wrong with a pizza. The belly ham is a classic, but a margherita hits the spot. On to the entrees: The stuffed trout is hard to pass up, but the bread gnocchi are equally interesting. Sides great, too; always ask to hear them as they're not listed on the menu. Dessert, if you make it there, is worth the calories, even though I'm no sweets-fiend. Drink: A large selection of cocktails, a thoughtful wine list, some high-alc bottles of beer. Something for everyone. Ambiance: Sitting at a table on the ground floor gives you a great view of the action. The chef and his crew are in full view, manning the oven and the hot stations. You're just as likely to see music row elite as an average couple; if you go early you'll even see a family or two. Most people are dressed "trendy" and up -- designer jeans and a blazer, etc. -- but the attitude of the service is that all are welcome. It can get a little noisy; ask for a seat upstairs or, in warm weather, on the screened patio if you are looking for a more intimate experience. I've had everything from a celebratory meal with multiple apps, drinks, entrees, and dessert to a simple affair with a couple of pizzas before heading out on the town. The pizza truly is the best in Nashville for those looking for an authentic Italian experience, and not to go all, "when I was in Naples," on ya, but... let's just say this place takes me back.
(5)
Jeremy E.

This was the last restaurant in Nashville I hadn't been to yet but really wanted to try, and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed the atmosphere and decor. Spartan decor, a little noisy, but in a good way. I was there with 5 others and we could talk at a normal level, without feeling loud but being able to hear everyone. Randy was our server and was on point. I have certain expectations when eating at a nice restaurant, and he met each one. 1. Drinks were well attended to. When we wanted one, he was there to take the order and get it out. Side note: The cocktails are OUTSTANDING here. 2. Great pace to the meal. We had two pizzas and drinks to start. Then apps and drinks, then main entree and a few more bevs. At no point did any of the food overlap the prior course. There was a nice 5-10 minutes in between each course which allowed for some digestion and appreciation. All in all, we were there for 3 hours. On to the food, which IMO was the best part of the experience. Apps were tasty. They won't get you full, but will whet your appetite and hit you with flavor that you rarely get in town. The house cured salami and bresaola were above average. The six of us ordered different entrees and we all shared, which was a great way to get an idea of what we liked/didn't like so much. I had a duck pasta dish which was meaty, hearty and seasoned perfectly. The tri tip sirloin was also fabulous. My favorite dish I tried by far was actually the half chicken. It was unbelievable. I don't know how you make chicken that delicious, but they did. Crispy skin, juicy, tender meat. (not too juicy). And the greens were hands down the best I have ever had. Dessert was two scoops of homemade gelato. The almond flavor was good. The caramel candy corn was unreal. I could have had 10 scoops and destroyed every bite, but thankfully my wife was the cooler head and didnt want me getting sick/fat. I will most definitely be back. I put this meal up against the best spots in town, all for a pretty affordable click. Two people could eat and drink well for $65-70. We spent $350 between the 6 of us, but also wanted to try out everything as it was our first time there.
(5)
Matt T.

Another one of those farm-to-table places frequented by the stereotypical crowd, so if it's not your thing, you've been warned. Of course, being the socially inept and awkward person I am anyway, I'm always concentrating solely on the food and the service. Came here on a business dinner in the late evening. Sat out on the porch. Ended up feeling like being out at a good friend's home. Weather was beautiful about mid 70s and sun was setting. Had a wonderfully knowledgeable server who hailed from Seattle of all places and was able to compare City House to places I know to give me a rough idea of what to expect. Started with a Momo cocktail, then a Juno. Wow! The food was superb and since there were a lot of us, we all got to sample a bit from everyone's plate. I highly recommend the ciccioli, the pork belly on watermelon, and the carolina trout. My coworker wanted to try the bourbon marshmallow fluff for dessert and it was pretty awesome too. Overall, I'd consider City House able to hold its own on the food front and if you go with the right people, you'll have a memorable time.
(4)
David L.

This was a great experience, with really good food, good service, and a nice atmosphere. We had the octopus salad (best cooked octopus I've ever had), ham pizza w/ egg (f'n bomb), bread gnocchi (not the best gnocchi I've ever had but most creative), and pecan pie (very solid).
(4)
Stephanie T.

Cute, good atmosphere, food was good. Southern :-)
(3)
Rudy L.

Great place to have a cocktail and food. Great interpretation of Southern food and various other cuisines. Tucked away in Germantown, one can miss the location, but once someone finds it there is no turning back. As their food will keep bringing you back. The staff was very professional and knowlegeable about the menu. The best place to sit is by the chef table. Overall a great experience.
(5)
Angela L.

Amazing drinks and high quality food. Prices can be steep and your check can really start to add up with all the yummy beverages and apps. the inside is cozy but also modern, kinda reminds me of an old building converted as an art gallery. They have a garden out back that they get their fresh ingredients from which is a big plus!
(4)
Carly B.

I loved everything about my experience here. Awesome food, friendly and knowledgeable servers and fun environment. I will take all of my Nashville visitors here. Highlights: Pork Gnocchi, Any Pizza, Amazing Wine List
(5)
Sean S.

Very cool atmosphere- old cottage house. Good menu. I had squid linguine. Flavor was a bit overwhelmed by saltiness. Everything else was great!
(4)
Lyndi S.

Did I really eat here during Passover??? Yes. I did. And you know what? It. Was. Awesome. When I first glanced at the menu, I kept trying to read past the pizza, but it kept screaming "MARGHERITA! MARGHERITA!" and well, I started to get extremely flustered and frustrated over the whole matter. So much so, that I was visibly upset, and the boyfriend started to feel overcome with guilt over making such a reservation. Luckily, the waiter arrived shortly after, and eased all of our concerns. Sweet potatoes and cauliflower in garlicky matrimony, and an entire trout on a plate. And yes, it was delicate, flaky, seasoned and cooked to absolute perfection. One bite and I smiled and thought "Margherita who?" Don't worry, I ate the entire thing. And I'd do it again! In addition to the impeccable service and absolutely delicious meal, I thoroughly enjoyed the wine list. We shared a bottle of wine between the four of us at our table, and each glass was good to the last drop. By the time we were ready to go, our plates and wine glasses were empty, and our bellies and smiles were full. If you're looking for simple, rustic Italian, look no further. City House is definitely on my list of places to go back. Just not on Passover. Will. Eat. Pizza.
(4)
AJ R.

The food is good. (kale...meh...). The rest of this rating is based on the last 5 minutes of our meals. The manger asked us to leave, not because we were being loud, but because we hadn't finished our drinks/desserts and hadn't successfully transferred our table to the next 4 top. Our reservation was at 6:45 and we were asked to move to the bar at 9:30. So for you foodies that want to make an evening of it, I suggest you go elsewhere. When you're ready to blame the manager, you'll realize that this was driven from the wait staff. For me, never again. Good luck. Nashville is just beginning to find its way. Hopefully the rest of you let this be a lesson to pretentious douchebags and go elsewhere. Our waitress was Leslie. I trust the 20% was worth asking us to leave early.
(1)
Rachel M.

I've always enjoyed everything I've ordered here. The chocolate cake dessert was one of the best desserts I've ever had! The wait staff understands the menu well and even though the menu is small, the dishes are intricate and delicious.
(5)
E. D.

I would put this on my list for top fine dining restaurants in Nashville. Never had a bad experience, super tasty, love the pizza and the drinks...
(5)
Ellen O.

It was nice to get away from the bbq joints and have a nice meal during our trip to nashville. city house was buzzing on a sunday night - packed and busy. our food was mostly really really good. the wings were the stand out for sure. i love it when i enjoy something and can honestly say "i've never had anything like this before". really good. i wouldn't classify the style of food as italian though - it seemed more like upscale southern to me. dessert and espresso were great. if i lived in nashville, i'd definitely be back.
(4)
Emily A.

I was prepared to love City House for all its cool trendy glory. Except I didn't love it. Darn! The decor/vibe is going for the cool industrial thing but it seemed overall too bright. Not that that really matters if the rest of the place is amazing. But it wasn't. Just ok, trying a teensy bit too hard. I did like the option to add an egg to your pizza because I'm all about over easy eggs right now. I got the magharita pizza + egg. It was quite good, but nothing exceptional. After spending the last 4 days surrounded by all the friendly love of Nashville I was disappointed at the cool-ness of the staff. Awww, I want more friendly Nashville. Maybe it's too cool for that? I will go back because I really want to like this place.
(2)
Benjamin R.

Everything was very good and its a great little building. Got the gnocchi and the pork belly pizza.
(4)
Leigh J.

The Belly Ham Pizza is so delicious it's stupid. The crust is soft and crisp, the circles of mozzarella are heavenly, the belly ham (made in-house by chef Tandy Wilson, who specializes in pork) is as good as it gets, the grano padano, chilis, and oregano add a lovely little kick...and if that wasn't enough, there is a fried egg sitting on top (and what ISN'T good with the addition of a fried egg?). When it's in season, they will throw a handful of fresh arugula over top as well if you'd like (I thought this sounded strange at first, but trust me, it is super tasty). Decadent, sinful, and worth every bite.
(5)
Rachel H.

The food was amazing....loved their gnocchi. This place is a favorite of many locals and I can see why!
(5)
Ken J.

Went for dinner and sat at the bar in front of the kitchen - the restaurant has an incredible atmosphere, chic yet still inviting. I had the bread gnocchi with pork for dinner and could have licked my plate. The waitress suggested a great Italian red to go with it. For dessert I had the almond cake served with buttermilk sorbet, again incredible. You must eat here even if you only have one night in Nashville.
(5)
Vincent K.

Great food and service, I didn't cringe when I got the rather expensive check because they lived up to their prices.
(5)
Taylor D.

Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Nashville. City House is my number one restaurant recommendation, and I've been known to go twice in one weekend. You can't go wrong with the Pork Belly Pizza or Trout, and be sure to go to Sunday Supper. (Chef) Tandy Wilson has done wonders for this city, and I will happily thank him with my patronage. It's worth noting that dishes are prepared as is--- no substitutions or changes.
(5)
Kara S.

Thanks to the helpful suggestions of yelp nashville folks, I booked a reservation for my birthday dinner here. It was far and away one of the best meals I've had in recent years, trumping even the best meals I've had in my own city. I loved that it was in a house, I loved the intimate feel it provided. I loved the open kitchen, which you get a great view of as you walk up the stairs to the upper level dining area. The service was great, they were so helpful in suggesting what dishes we should try. I honestly can't even remember what we ate (update: See my photos for what we ate, it was all spectacular!) & the menu has changed since we went, but we sampled a couple antipasta dishes, one pasta dish, one fish dish, and a margherita pizza. It was the perfect amount to share between three of us, and it was all so flavorful and perfectly prepared. The only thing I don't like about City House is that it's in Nashville and not Boston. Once they fix that problem, then all will be perfect :)
(5)
J L.

This place is hands down inspiring. The atmosphere, the service, THE FOOD. It's all so so good. We went on a Sunday and got in with no wait but it was on the early side of the evening. On Sundays the menu is basically chefs choice and it is bomb! We had the sweet potato pizza and THE MOST DELISH PORK MEATBALLS I'VE EVER HAD! Definitely want to go back to try the amazing standard menu as well. Must try!
(5)
alana v.

Love the space! Good food!
(4)
Jessy Y.

City House is on everyone's Best Of Nashville list, and I just. Don't. Get. It. I've only been here twice, but each time I have been overwhelmingly let down by my menu choices. Maybe I'm just bad at selecting entrees, but, I mean, they have a pasta section on the menu. I'm a pasta fanatic, so of course that's where I went. Gnocchi is one of my favorites, but the City House bread gnocchi is just abominable. It's heavy, chewy and just not at all what I was expecting. I realize that bread and potatoes, while both carbtastic, are not the same thing, but I didn't even want to take my leftovers home -- and that NEVER happens. The second time, I went against my better judgment and ordered pasta again. I think I even had it narrowed down to two choices and asked the server which he preferred (which I'm sure servers probably hate since it's all subjective and they know jack about my personal tastes), so I ended up with the conchiglie -- basically a dressed-up version of mac and cheese. Not as horrible as the gnocchi catastrophe, but still... as the two-star rating says, "Meh. I've experienced better." (At Eastland Cafe, for one.) And don't be afraid call a spade a spade -- it was fancy pasta with cheese, hiding behind a "Conchiglie, Pork Ragu Bianco, Calabrian Chilies, Pecorino" menu listing. The appetizers weren't bad... I split a salad and the "Frico: Montasio Cheese, Potato" -- yeah, you can't really mess up cheesy potatoes. And everyone else ended up happy, with their pizzas and huge portions of chicken. And maybe third time's the charm. But in the meantime, two stars for you, CIty House, until you improve your pasta.
(2)
Mark S.

**City House revisited** During the past couple of months we've eaten at City House three times. This is a favorite place for my father to entertain and there's certain things you can always count on. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and obviously well-trained. I've eaten there on instances when Chef Tandy is there and other times when he wasn't and the food quality is maintained. When the bell rings (indicating that food is ready) servers practically run to the service area to get it out hot. The last two visits I had the homemade sausage entree and the half chicken. I can't say enough about both - neither are pretentious and I will have both again. I typically expect a sausage entree to be "heavy" but City House balances the heartiness of the sausage with citrus flavors, it was really wonderful. Tonight I had the half-baked chicken and it seemed like somebody learned Thomas Keller's approach to cooking a chicken! The skin of the chicken was perfectly seasoned and crisp, I was told by our waitress that it was finished in the stone ovens (why don't other restaurants do that?) The chicken was cooked perfectly inside and came from a good supplier in Georgia - one thing I really like about City House is the insistence on good quality ingredients. The sides are great to choose from and the desserts are really worth trying, it's a shame I'm diabetic and I have to enjoy just a tiny bite. I wish there were a four and a half star rating, however City House lacks a quality beef entree. I've written about this before; tri-tip is a restaurant food cost cut of beef. I've had bad tri-tip entrees at both City House and Margot's - both great restaurants with quality chefs. Which leads me to believe that the cut of beef is the culprit; I was informed by my waitress tonight that it is best served medium which rules me out (I like my beef mid-rare.) Why not try a better cut of beef and price it $4 more? I'll pay it. If you haven't been to City House recently try it - it's a good restaurant to go to on your special evening out in Nashville.
(4)
Raymon J.

Of all the great places to enjoy an evening in town, and we ended up here. What are you people all talking about. The rigatoni tasted mysteriously like tuna helper. All it needed was freeze dried peas and carrots. One and done.
(2)
Bobby C.

Wow...okay this was interesting. My traveling compadre and professional foodie...heard about this place from a bartender at the Patterson House...review on that still to come.... Perfectly average....it is indeed a cute place....Italian fare...$$$$...so you'd expect certain things. I understand what was across the table from me is an incredibly pretty woman....and a waiter might be a bit dumbfounded...but when he asked about drinks....he took her order...and somehow I was Mr, Cellophane from the musical Chicago. He noticed me when we ordered our food...which was remarkably bland, and portion-wise...appetiserish. I wanted this place to live up to the recommendation...but it did not. I had the rigatoni, she had the fettuccine...and we both seemed to have wished we went to the Olive Garden....no bread served with pasta? Never seen that before either.
(2)
Heidi W.

My Favorite Restaurant- hands down! I've been there 10-15 times, have probably eaten 90% of the menu and still they wow me with every visit. I'm shocked it's taken me so long to write this... Best way to 'do' City House is to graze. Get a couple appetizers- the frico and the octopus salad are our faves, although the homemade salami is pretty incredible as well; a pizza- with an egg on top of course, and a main dish to share- pastas are always a great suggestion, as they are cooked perfectly, but something as simple as chicken is even amazing here. The sides are always fun an inventive- last night I had potatoes and kale with a vinaigrette-so light, yet full of flavor. Make sure to save room for dessert though- the homemade sorbettos and gelato are awesome. If you're with a small group, try to sit at the chef's bar so you can watch Tandy and his team make everything- it is really a cool experience. The wait staff, for the most part is wonderful. We've had a few little 'blips' with a couple servers that either A) didn't have much of a personality or B) wasn't as knowledgeable about the amazing food as they should be at a place like that, but our food is always timely, and great attention is always paid to us- and those are really what's important about a wait staff. I know I sound like a promotional brochure for this place, but I really can't stress enough how amazing this place is, and how lucky I am (and Nashville is) to have this place. City House- you started as a crush, and it's bloomed into full on obsessive love!
(5)
Chris G.

This place is always a good choice. I have been a lot of places in my quest to find the perfect place to eat around town and this place is up pretty high on my list. It's just fun eating here. The pizza is great and the drinks are mixed well. All in all if you haven't been here you need to swing by on Sunday and give it a shot.
(4)
Amy B.

Get your frico on! Really. As our waiter said, "how can you go wrong with cheese and potato?!" And boy was he right! My party decided to split it as an appetizer. The frico came out golden brown and it was hard for me to split it four ways! I could have eaten the entire thing on my own! I went with the margherita pizza because well, I've been completely obsessed with margherita pizza lately! It did not disappoint! In fact, it was quite large and 2 of the other girls at my table ate a few slices. The other girls got the gnocchi and raved about it. I tried it, but have had better. Overall, City House was a great experience. I just could have used a bit more romance in the place. I felt like the decor was not very inviting with wooden tables and stainless steel looking chairs. I would have preferred a nicer ambiance for the menu.
(4)
S C.

A favorite in Nashville! Beautifully restored building with a unique design and vibe-- well suited for the cuisine which is also polished and daring. The bread gnocchi is one of my favorites-- made with wonder bread and intended to be dense and more dumpling-like, I have had many different preparations and I always enjoy it. The pizzas are fantastic, always order whatever has fish on it, especially if that fish is octopus. The drinks are perfection and some of the cheapest in town at this type of restaurant. I love what this place is doing and I always look forward to a meal there.
(5)
Em P.

I have to admit, I went into City House expecting to be let down. So often I go somewhere based on people's sparkling reviews only to be disappointed by unattainable hype. City House cleared the bar and stuck the landing! We split a belly ham pizza as an appetizer. I ALMOST wasn't going to order a pie. I just got back from visiting my mom up north and ate my weight in real pizza, and I didn't want to ruin the afterglow. But I did, and it was SO GOOD. Perfectly cooked, perfectly chewy/crispy crust, cheese was fresh and smooth, and the pork...ooooh the pork. MMM melts in your mouth. I had the house-made sausage for dinner after much deliberation, but I think I would have been equally happy with any choice. The motif of the menu is the lovechild between Southern American and Northern Italian, and everything sounded good. Finished off with a divine lemon ricotta pound cake with gelato (retooled my conception of how good pound cake can be). Drinks were solid. I'm enjoying this towns newfound love of lovely cocktails that aren't of the appleblackberrypinktini variety. Carry on! The vibe was comfortable, a welcomed shock to my expectations. Usually the uber hip places are populated by people who still use the words uber hip and want loud house music pumped in so they don't have to think about their empty shell of an existence. City House was bustling in a good way, loud with the sounds of happy diners and a busy open kitchen. Only problem was we were seated in a 25% full dining room at a table between two other parties, one of which was a little douche-y. There was room for spacing, but not a huge deal. When distracted by deliciousness, I'm much more amiable.
(5)
Erin J.

I hate to do this, but.....I feel like I have to. The only reason I give two stars is because delicious Jake Gyllenhaal made an appearance the last night I went! Anyway, here are my complaints. Number one, although we had a reservation, we got one of the small 2 seaters in the large open area (open to the kitchen), and it was so loud I could barely hear what my husband was saying. Number two, the service sucked. The guy seemed kind of irritated by us which kind of killed it. Any time we wanted something from him we had to flag him down. Third, you want to charge $10 for a wine pour, and give me a dribble? Really? We should have just bought a bottle. Fourth, you raise the price on the Frico AND the octopus by $2 each? Really? The portion just does not reflect the price. Even before the $2 price increase it felt like they were a little too expensive, but now they REALLY feel too expensive. I can't be sure but it seems like all menu prices went up. All of these negatives together don't leave me wanting to run back to City House. This is a serious shame because I've told many people in the past that this is my favorite restaurant in Nashville.....but not anymore.
(2)
Fumiya S.

By far the best restaurant in Nashville if you are looking for unique dishes. Many of the dishes seem unusual but the flavors that these unexpected combination creates are amazing. Upscale hipster vibe. Great whiskey selection. Have to try the trout and the pizzas here.
(5)
First P.

So I have heard by so many Nashville people that this is their favorite restaurant. Now, I thought this was a northern Italian restaurant with local flare, but I think I was wrong. First good things: Octopus salad was terrific, perfectly tender octopus with the juxtapose of the breadcrumb fried lima beans. It was a nice combo, only thing I enjoyed this night. Chicken liver was good. Very typical, but done well. I've never screwed up a chicken liver dish. You can usually tell what your getting into by the way liver is delivered. Boring. The menu was dominated by pizza. So i guess if you want a pizza, then go here. I had this horrible house cured ham pizza with a famine of ham on my pizza. I think maybe one small sliver was on there, and then cheese. Bleh bleh bleh on the pizza. The bread gnocchi was just HORRIBLE!!! It was like a dense dry donut covered in house made ricotta. Which, I'm never fooled by house made ricotta, I make that at home too, its simple. Their wine list is child's play. Had some of the worst wines recommended by our waitress that I have EVER had! Really. They have serious problems with playing with flavors with their main dishes. It was just a dull, sloppily put together mess, and I don't get the hype.
(2)
Ian R.

It is a rare thing when you can walk out of a restaurant and honestly say that you had the best "whatever" of you life there. The older and more jaded you get the harder it is. At the City House I didn't walk out with a best "whatever" of my life, I walked out with four. By my reckoning I had the best octopus, the best turnip greens, the best Italian sausage and the best testicles of my life in one trip. One of those might seem odd, but the veal balls were one of the best things I have ever had in my life. Pizza and pasta were also exceptional and would make a great trip on their own. Everything about the meal was as close to perfect as I have had in the USA. The only negative about the meal was that the food was so good I bit my tongue in the enthusiasm of the meal. The City House is an establishment that could stand up in any major city in the country. I am glad that it is here in Nashville. If you love food you owe it to yourself to make a trip and try to find a best "whatever" of your own.
(5)
Josh K.

Very Good Meal and great experience overall. but Just not sold on it being one of the best restaurants in nashville. just is missing something to me. just Kind of misses that wow factor.
(4)
Marilee S.

I love a restaurant that slacks off after reading their own press, that serves pure, not muddled flavors, uses fresh, not Cisco ingredients, coaches their servers to watch and read their customers' body language versus bugging and chit-chatting away. Sorry, I typically don't go to a restaurant to make friends with the servers. Maybe 35 years ago, but not now. Met a friend here on a Wednesday night. No reservation so couldn't get a table. Instead sat at the end of the bar overlooking the kitchen. The room's a little loud, well, a lot loud until a party of six behind us finally finished. (Might recommend the front room or when it's nice outside, maybe their side/garden room.) Ordered a cauliflower salad with wheat berries, orange slices, red onion and almonds, their octopus with fennel bread crumbs and field peas and the turnip green/Pecorino Sardo/chilies/garlic pizza. The antipasti courses were just the right sampling to showcase this restaurant's ability to blend flavors perfectly. I'm not a fan of cauliflower, but I'd order that again (low-cal and filling). The octopus was tender succulent, meaty tentacles. The pizza was perfect. Even though we split everything, I still took home half the pizza because there was so much food. Just the right amount of everything on top of a crisp, yet moist crust. As if on cue, the server removed our plates and brought the check. Not pushy, yet prompt. Perhaps that's why I gave City House 5 stars - the three main components of a meal that are out of every customers control - food, service and atmosphere - came together to create a meal. I'll be back.
(5)
Michelle R.

When we went to Nashville with 2 kids and 3 adults we wanted some good food. The serving staff was very nice to the kids. I had their special Clams they taste like the inside of a Italian sausage which was good but they must have used all the salt in this dish because the other thing I tried was the White Beans soup it was so bland. My sister got the Margherita pizza for the kids that was average. My sister had the Anchovy Pizza which the server said the Chef recommends. It was nothing special and had some burnt crust. My Brother in law had the Bread Gnocchi it was very dense and the sauce was very watered down just like the pizza sauce. We had the olives with taralli how can you mess that up right the Taralli was yummy the kids really like them. The drinks were good we had Samson, Juno and the buzzy bear. Again nothing to awesome. We called a head on a thursday and they said they cant get a reservation with in our time frame so we made a reservation for friday same time and when we got there there was no wait and no people. I wonder if we would have just went there on Thursday if we could have eat then ?? Go to Germantown Cafe instead much better and one street down.
(2)
Meribon W.

So 3 stars and an ahhhhhhhhhhh...okay rating is what I say. The food was a bit overpriced, but good. I wasn't too bothered by the waiter like the other girls in the group were, but maybe that was because I was fairly tipsy and not able to notice as much. The problem I had was with the bill. We ended up splitting it on each of our cards and they totally effed that one up, charging the whole dinner to only one girl. It was resolved only after endless calling and aggravation. Needless to say if I were that girl I would have given this place one star instead of three.
(3)
brewgirl b.

Another great restaurant find in Nashville. Great interior decor in what looks to be a converted barn, with an open kitchen. Our server was so friendly and helpful. Wish I could have explored the cocktail list more, but I enjoyed the Soloman (Jim Beam Rye, Orchard Apricot, Honey, Salt, Orange) and the Mona (Bulleit Rye, Chocolate Mole Bitters, Boylan's Cherry Cola). Loved the soup comprised of white beans, kale, pecorino cheese and cornbread crumbs, and the appetizer of grilled octopus, with fennel bread crumbs and field peas. The gnocchi entree was a bit odd, but still tasty. It wasnt made from pasta, but from pizza dough. They were certainly doughy, but it just wasnt the same as true gnocchi. For dessert, we had the interesting and delish combo of chocolate panna cotta and chocolate mousse, served with hazelnut brittle and crema. What an awesome combo. It was chocolaty, but still light. Yum! Reasonable prices.
(4)
Sarah S.

We went here on a Wednesday night with another couple. Loved the atmosphere- modern yet classy. You walk in and there is a bar to your right and then another eating bar where they cook along with tables to sit. There is another area upstairs for dining. There menu is seasonal so be sure to check out there website to see what they have. We had the braised squid and cured salami as an appetizer. Delicious. For the main course, the other couple had the rabbit and the potato pizza, we had the tri tip and cured ham pizza. I tried them all. All the food is amazing but I admit the my pizza was the best. We did have the lemon pound cake and pannacotta for dessert. The pannacotta was a bit disappointing as the cream cheese taste was strong. I recommend making reservations and go a little early if you have never been there. The building looks like an old brick house and you can barely see the sign from the street. Also, parking is on the street.
(4)
Christine S.

Update: losing a star because of the consistently meager wine pours and ever shrinking appetizer portions. Mgmt, if you're going to charge $11 for a 6 oz pour, I'm expecting a brunello at least, not a $20 (retail) bottle of pinot. Probably the best restaurant in Nashville, for what that is worth. I would give the place a higher rating if it were a bit more ambitious. I'm not inclined to be a regular since the much of the menu hardly changes except for once a week for Sunday dinner. The trout, chicken, sausage, and catfish (the vast majority of the second courses) prepared exactly the same way seem to have been on the menu since day one. The complacency might be chalked up to lack of any real competition or restaurant criticism in Nashville. On the plus side, the food is great and the cocktails reasonably priced.
(2)
Michael S.

City House is the type of restaurant every city needs. The ingredients and menu are constantly changing with the seasons. The freshness of every dish is unmatched. With this type of quality cooking you normally find yourself in a ritzy place but the home- like feel and open kitchen allows you relax and have some wine/ cocktails with amazing food!
(5)
Chef X.

Not always perfect but damn close. He's maybe the only chef in town who is untethered by an overlord and has the chops to back it up. Probably the most knowledgeable staff in Nashville, too. Pork snacks, pig ears, AND pizza? Come on, what else do you want?
(4)
mumin k.

I have been at City House 3 times now. This restaurant has always been very noisy which some people might actually like but I personally did not like as it was impossible to hear what the person next to you is talking. The appetizer portions are very small and way overpriced. We tried the octopus, the house salami and something else that i don't remember and all of these appetizers were just average. Now, probably the only thing I like here is the pizza. I really liked the pizza which is prepared in the brick oven. On all three of my visits I ordered pizza and was very happy with my choice. The prices of the pizza are also very reasonable. We tried the desserts on our first visit but the dessert felt like it was one of these ready desserts that you buy from Kroger, heat in the microwave and serve it with a ball of ice cream and charge something like $7-8...if you sit in the bar overlooking the kitchen, you can actually witness the process (which i did on my second visit) of how they prepare the desserts. I was actually happy to see that the desserts were not from Kroger but have confirmed the rest, preheat, combine with ice cream and serve. Now, if somebody tells me that I am oversimplifying it and blah blah blah, my response: my wife is a Pastry Chef who went to Le Cordon Bleu in Paris so I know a thing or two about making desserts. The service was good on our first visit but terrible on the other 2 of my last visits. Our server kept disappearing and my wine glass arrived after I finished half of my pizza. The server disappeared before we asked for the check and we had to ask another server for our check which was really unpleasant. Overall, i would only consider going back here if I feel like having a nice pizza. So this would put City House to my good pizza places list (along with Bella Napoli) but not anywhere on the fine dining establishments list. I think there are much better restaurants in Nashville where you can have a better experience at comparable prices. The only reason I give this restaurant 2 stars is because of their reasonably priced brick oven pizza.
(2)
Sarah M.

I was so excited to go here for my birthday as I was spending the long weekend in Nashville. I can't say I was very impressed - maybe I'm spoiled by the Chicago food scene, but the food just wasn't great. We ordered the frico to start - which was fine, again not anything super impressive. I love gnocchi so I ordered that and my husband had the catfish. I will say I wish I would have noted that it was bread and not potato gnocchi - I think it was the least impressive gnocchi I've ever had at a restaurant. Sure, the bits of lamb were nice and tender, but the gnocchi itself was terribly dry. If you cut a piece open it just crumbed apart - I know it's bread, but it wasn't moist like you'd expect it to be - just not good at all. My husband enjoyed his catfish and his side, but again, not anything special. Our server was good and the desserts helped make up for the lackluster entrees, but if I'm ever in Nashville again I wouldn't give it another visit.
(2)
Kimberly N.

My boyfriend and I just had our first Valentine's Day at City House. We were seated far in the back of the restaurant where it was quiet, which was nice, though the main dining room looked very cool. Our server really knew his stuff. He could describe drinks (suggested one for me that wasn't on the menu), and all the food options in detail and make personal recommendations. Some servers make me nervous from their discomfort but he had such ease and was a delight. And the food. THE FOOD! We were thrilled with everything we had but the gnocchi is by far my favorite dish they offer, not counting the cherry cola chocolate cake covered in marshmallow fluff. The prices are fair. I highly suggest you visit city house for a great date spot or a fun night with friends (pizza is a popular option there).
(5)
Yao Z.

Went there twice in the last 2 week and each time the quality is consistent. The Belly Ham Pizza is absolutely delicious, make sure you ask to add the egg in the middle. :)
(4)
Catherine S.

We went without reservations on Thursday, 10/24/13 and were able to sit at the bar. (If you want to sit at a table I recommend reservations.) Alisa the bartender was fantastic with her menu and wine suggestions. For an appetizer we chose the Frico which was amazing. I went with the fettuccine with lamb & my husband chose the house made belly ham pizza for the main course. Both entrees were perfectly prepared and better than imagined. While we were there we chatted with regulars at the bar and listened to their recommendations as well. I highly recommend this place for something that's not like your run of the mill Italian chain.
(5)
Bailey W.

Very disappointed. In town from Los Angeles on business, made reservations weeks ago for a special occasion with high expectations. First and foremost, there was a long curly hair in the middle of our table right when we sat down. We were willing to overlook that, even though the hostess had already rushed us to the table saying she needed us to finish our meal in an hour and a half...then the octopus was chewy and fishy, the steak had to be sent back twice for being cold and rubbery, and the catfish was overly salty. Your chefs sure do love fennel! We had a terrible table in the middle of the restaurant. Regardless of all that, the worst part of our dining experience was the service. Absolutely abysmal. Our waitress was cold and disinterested, barely even making eye contact and giving up on us entirely after we sent the tri tip back the first time. No apologies, no sympathy, zero hospitality whatsoever. Drinks were dropped without bussing empty glasses, food left without silverware, we had to flag down another server for a new napkin, just all around very sub par. I'm disappointed that the experience was no where near deserving of the hype and we were treated with no respect or courtesy. The only saving grace was a pizza with delicious crust an a friendly sommelier. Everyone else needs a reality check. We are willing to forgive a lot in trade for food that's worth it, but not wiling to forgive in this case. Will be spreading the word.
(1)
Michael P.

We actually drove to Nashville to go to City House. - true story - it was recommended - we are cuckoo = it was well worth the trip! (If Nashville only had donut shops we'd go back) City House is the real deal = roasted octopus - whomp whomp = seriously this was the place to go = read reviews below agree with almost everyone - the place is a little loud but that's due the weak decor - wood varnished walls are gonna echo = that's cool the super friendly/smart staff = wow nothing makes an experience better than smart staff = excellence training/recruiting. minus for the bar area - not so cute - and I am a bar hanger = but that is cool= back to the food = we ordered almost every first course - OMG egg plant - yummy, bresola= now I know what it is and now I want more.....did I mention roasted octopus - have you made your reservations yet ? Dessert !! Dessert - caramel cake - with caramel BUTTERCREAM icing - yea you read that right - Oh jeez I almost for got my cocktail was violet - like Liz Taylor's eyes = please please please don't call it the Junior - call it Liz Taylor I am reminded that the bartending is weak - we asked for a pretty standard cocktail on the menu and the bartender asked US for the ingredients -um surely the bartender has a) a book b) an iphone - i was a little embarrassed for the server who asked surely he had an iphone? so fine order off the menu! Hah! quite the spot -
(5)
Kay D.

To begin, we showed up a little before our 5:00 reservation thinking we could grab a cocktail at the bar. The door was locked, the hostess looked up, unlocked the door, told us (through a crack in the door) that they opened in 7 minutes, re-locked the door, and sat back down. With that less-than-warm welcome, we almost just left. Not a good start, and unfortunately it never really picked up from there. Everything was just okay for us. I don't get what the fuss is about with the ham belly pizza! It was an average crust with a few sparse pieces of overly-salty belly... Even my usual "an egg on top can save anything" didn't make it work for me. The portions of pasta were fairly small for the price, and I never mind that IF I feel the quality justifies it. These, for me, didn't. Neither pasta stood out, but were just okay. Even so early in the evening, my boyfriend and I could barely hear each other, it was so loud. Our waiter did a nice job, though. He was professional and knew the menu. With all of the other options popping up all over Nashville, I don't see myself going back.
(3)
Lynda G.

My favorite restaurant in Nashville. If you are expecting a red checkered tablecloth, traditional American-Italian restaurant, you will not find it here. Whtat you will find is innovative and delicious.
(5)
Bill B.

Dynamite nouveau Italian/Southern fare in a lovely and spacious and somewhat industrial conversion space. 15? Ft ceilibgs and whitewashed walls create the airy atmosphere with lively service/servors and a variety of diners. The menu is interesting and the wines focus on the Italians which I love. Delicious salami and parmesan starter along w a nother, a apple, peanut, fennel, cranberry, raisin and lemon juice and olive oil salad that stole the show. Tri tip entree was satisfying as was the linguini and mussels. The cookie and coffee dessert was just right to cap a splendidly satisfying meal leaving us refreshed, sated and energized for our evening. Server was quite pleasant, personable, informative and helpful without being overbearing Perfecto
(5)
greg s.

Went here on a recommendation from a local shop owner, and what a good recommendation! We drove right by a few times, because the restaurant blends right in. We did not have reservations, but decided to eat at the bar. We showed up at 8 PM on a Saturday, and the place was packed. We got a well made Old Fashioned and a glass of cab, and waited for a spot. The drinks were great, and the bartenders were friendly, and took their time with each customer (in the right way, but don't expect them to just sling Bud Lights quickly they put the nice touches on their drinks). We told them we wanted to eat, and when 2 seats became available, they held them for us, and got us seated. We were torn between all of the interesting options. We went with a kale salad, thinly sliced meat (name starts with a B I think, bartender recommended), and split the gnocchi. Everything was delicious. The kale was well dressed, and nice leafy greens. The B named meat slices were delicious, great recommendation. The gnocchi were soft but crispy due to a searing, and the sauce was very yummy. It was a great experience, and the staff were so nice.
(5)
Tim O.

We - my wife, four and a half year old son, and I - had a memorable dining experince at Nashville's City House last week. First off I sped right past the restaurant as it lies on a quiet street in Germantown. Great location and a very cool entryway and bar area. We were seated in a spacious unpstairs dining area with a view to the street. We were a bit worried about bringing our 4.5 year old to City House but the worry ended as soon as the hostess and our server went out of their ways to say hello and welcome the youngster. Our server, Wilder, was the best we had during our four days of eating our way through Nashville. He offered precise description and well thought suggestions as we waded through the special Sunday evening menu. We had no idea they did "something special" on Sundays, but we were so glad to have dined here on the Lord's day. Pork snacks - Eat first and ask questions later. Outstanding. Pizzas - Fresh ingredients and a great oven. Excellent. Salads - I remembered (again) just how much one can love brussel sprouts. Buttermilk dressing. Great! Fried Catfish - Fresh and perfectly breaded with a sweet/spicy relish. Dynamite. Unfortunately our little time bomb ( the previoulsy mentioned 4.5 year old ) was near detonation and we could not stay for dessert. Great, interesting, fresh food + Great Service + Great music = James Beard Nominee We enjoyed City House and we will return when we are in Nashville again.
(5)
Rainu I.

The food at City House is incredible! From the octopus to chicken, then amazing panna cotta dessert- it was certainly impressive. The pizza is incredible too. Though a higher-end place, the food is as comforting as it is impressive. The portions are large, but it's has that kind of Southern influence too. Love love love it.
(5)
Spencer S.

The decision to visit City House for a dinner outing with good friends was dead on. Everything was perfect. The restaurant was full, but our wait was a mere ten minutes, max. The atmosphere is loud and friendly, lively and welcoming. We ordered two pizzas with arugula (seasonal) and fried egg. We also ordered the salad with beets. Next came the fettuccine. Next, the octopus, chick pea, and fennel plate. WOW! Everything was perfect! Our evening here turned out to be the most fun and best experience I've had in a while! Visit City House and you won't miss out.
(5)
Trish T.

My husband and I were delighted to hear about a James Beard Award winning restaurant that happens to be in Nashville. This restaurant serves "rustic" Italian, and you have to make reservations because this place gets packed. We wanted a Saturday reservation but the only opening they had was at 9:00 PM, so we opted to do a Sunday dinner instead. Little did we know, the menus change on Sunday. Our sever informed us that they don't offer pasta on Sunday, yet a few customers sitting at the bar had pasta on their tables. (Whatever..fine) The Sunday menu consists of a few pizzas, meatballs, and a few appetizers. That sucked, but we were still game to eat. To start, I ordered their pork cracklings. It was pretty good (that's why they got 2 stars instead of 1) My husband ordered their meatballs which our waitress raved about. The order consists of 3 decent sized meatballs, and I ordered their "pork belly" pizza. My husband said the meatballs were pretty tasty, but not enough to make him come back for it. I know his dish was less than $15 but more than $10, and my pizza was $18. We don't mind paying "X" amount for a meal, but if a pizza is going to be more than $10 (some else said) than the "[pizza] fairy better be dancing on my tongue." My pizza was such a disappointment. A few people mentioned something about adding an egg on top, but our server didn't mention that. (It must not be "available" on Sunday) In addition, I don't think an egg could save the pizza I had. If "bacon" doesn't fix it, nothing will. The dough looked thin which I like, and I was expecting it to be crispy. Instead it was the opposite :( It didn't have any sauce which I know not all pizzas "require" a sauce, but it needed something, and there was little pork belly on the pizza. If I picked off all the bacon, and lined them up side-be-side, the size would equate to 1/4 of a regular slice of bacon (I'm not kidding). I basically paid for cheesy bread with a sprinkle of bacon. Next, desert. We ordered their corn-meal pound cake, with fruit, homemade ice-cream, and whipped cream ($10-$14). Sounds tasty right? Our server said the cornmeal was just for texture. When we ate it, it tasted exactly like sweet corn-bread with fruit preserves and ice-cream :( The ice-cream was the star of the show. Not only was the food disappointing but so was our service. We literally had the "dinning" experience (i.e. we were there for more than 2 hours). Our server forgot about us. How do I know? Everyone sitting at the tables around us, came in after us, yet they got their pizzas and/or order before us. When my pizza came out, it was "cool." The cheese wasn't stringy, and the cheese started getting that "skin" because it was getting cold :( I didn't complain because having to wait an hour and 15 minutes for my dinner = I'm pretty hungry. She never came by to tell us why we had to wait so long, or why the people that came after us started eating before us. As I mentioned earlier, if I didn't have the cracklings to start off with, this place would've received 1 star.
(2)
Richard F.

Gnocchi to die for and the moistest pound cake I've ever eaten. The service was top notch and I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Shannon C.

Dinner there Sunday night. They had run out of 3 items on an already extremely limited menu. Menu is pretentious, and service was mysterious. I won't be back.
(2)
Jen L.

I wrote one review already but it was pulled by Yelp HQ due to my being too mean in regards to our server. I won't name names but his name rhymes with "Spaniel". Anyway, I enjoyed my food. I did not enjoy our terrible service. Read on. Our server was rude and dismissive, continuously dropped silverware, and actually SCOLDED us for not giving him our 100% attention while he was reciting the dessert specials. Lame. We spent just about $400 on dinner for eight of us and unfortunately, 18% gratuity was already included. Too bad. He did not deserve even close to that amount. Pros: crispy potatoes with gorgonzola, the white beans in red sauce served with the octopus and my pasta dish, which was wide noodles in a chicken/pork liver bolognese. Cons: No bread, and poor service. Update, one week later: There were eight of us and we were assured that we could split the check evenly, and we did so, providing eight credit cards. We all signed our own receipts, for a total of about 50 bucks each. Later, we found out that one of us was charged the entire amount on her debit card which is just too ridiculous. She discovered the problem on Friday 1/29 and has left repeated messages with City House Nashville. No one has gotten back to her yet. IT'S BEEN FIVE DAYS. I've had better service at Pizza Hut. Update, Two Weeks Later: My friend filed a claim with her bank and she was refunded $350. The rest of us were all each charged $50.12, as originally agreed upon. Am I happy? No. Tammie should have gotten a phone call from the terrible management at City House Nashville, apologizing for the mixup. There is no excuse for this.
(1)
Tony L.

Great location, feel at home when you walk in. Juliet seated me, may go back just to see her again...very professional. Each dish has REAL flavor and is worthy of savoring it a bit as you try the first bite. Texture is part of the taste experience, so take time to enjoy. Great team on the service side. Ben was great. Enjoyed every minute.
(5)
John P.

i had the pizza and my wife had pasta. Both were excellent. Service was very good as well. I thought the atmosphere was great. Perhaps trendy yet still very comfortable.
(4)
Shane M.

great meal, pizza with egg was really good, good wine list, accommodating staff, quiet section of restaurant in front room, well done menu w/ lots of options
(5)
Paul B.

Great Hospitality and great Southern presentation of Italian inspired dishes. Well executed plates! Go!
(4)
Gertrude T.

Good food. Sides really shined. Unfortunately, service was slow and bratty. I felt like there might be a quiz after the meal. Clearly our waiter was unhappy we hadn't memorized The Food Lovers Companion. I will give them another try.
(3)
Joram C.

So, let me start by saying the kitchen closes at 10 pm on a Friday night. I know because I was 30 mins late for my reservation due to my flight landing late at the airport. Once I did get there my date and I were in formed we had 5 mins to order, so, we did and it was TOTALLY WORTH IT. This place reminds me of a little italian joint back in my home city of Chicago. The building is very distinctive, the crowd is younger and hip, but not pretentious or without diversity. we had salami with parmesan for antipasti, which was SUPER well cured and the parm was awesome in the little chunks it was presented as. The Rabbit confit with rigatoni and parmesan KICKED ASS. and finally the beef dish we had with fennel, red onion and feta( I think?) slaw was a perfect main that rounded out a very italian mean. Our server Emily was super cool about us showing up late, was not pushy, and spent extra time with us helping us make our decisions. OH, also, we got this cauliflower salad starter with some red sauce that was great as well. seriously, if you take a date there and dont get any play....then its totally not going to work between the two of you AND he/she/non-gender identifying individual just got you to spend about 100 bucks on dinner. Lose/Lose
(5)
Michelle M.

City House is in a charming brick building in Germantown. (Oh my god, is it ever loud in there.) I chose this place for dinner for a party of eight based on the strength of the Yelp reviews. Most of the reviewers must have had better service than we had. We were there FOREVER. The waiter dropped a dirty fork on me. Blah, blah, blah. You know what bad service is. The starters were delicious. The house-cured salami was yummy. I wish I could have just ordered a salami sandwich. This would have been a very different review. The crispy potatoes with gorganzola were super crunchy but not dry. The crispy octopus with white beans was delicious. For my entree, I got the something crusted catfish with the something potato puree and garlic pesto with something. The catfish was tender and moist but the crust was lacking flavor and seasoning. The potato puree on top was delicious but cold. I had the grits with pecorino as a side. The grits were also a little cold and pretty boring with just a little bit of pecorino thrown on top. All the other sides sounded unappetizing. Actually, all of the other dinners sounded unappetizing, which is why I ordered the catfish to begin with. Two friends ordered the belly ham pizza, which was good but too fricking spicy and was served with an optional over-easy egg in the middle. That's just weird. Two friends ordered the pumpkin pasta, which they thought was disappointing and bland. One friend ordered the chicken liver and pig liver bolognese pasta, which she liked very much. The friend who ordered the roasted chicken also enjoyed her meal. I forget what the other one ordered. None of the desserts sounded good either but I did like the orange mint sorbetto one of my friends ordered. I didn't think the chocolate caramel cake was anything special. Oh, I did like my cocktail. I ordered the Bandit. It contained grapefruit juice, ginger ale and some booze I can't remember. A Bad Service Epilogue I just found out that, even though we got separate checks and split evenly among eight cards and all signed our own receipts, one person in our party was charged the entire $400. Way to go, Daniel (the bad server). He's lucky the 18% gratuity was built in; we certainly wouldn't have tipped that much. A Bad Service Epilogue Sequel After five days of leaving messages with City House and not receiving a phone call from them, my friend final got a $350 refund from her bank by disputing the charge. And, I removed one star from this review. And, I added them to my boycott list.
(1)
Laura K.

On my first trip to Nashville we celebrated at City House. Celebrating what, our server wanted to know? We were just celebrating Saturday night. He then criticized us for not acting celebratory enough. Overall we had an odd staff-customer dynamic with him. The restaurant atmosphere and food reminded me a lot of a place at home, Sette Luna in Easton PA. In case you're local. Same kind of fancy drinks and good homemade food and rustic brick oven pizza. The kind of urban-chic place that is a standout in a marginal/upcoming/transitional/trendy -- whatever adjective --neighborhood. Well, on this night, my belly was feeling unsettled by drinking too much honkytonk beer on Broadway during my visit, so to drink I had the Tina (prosecco, grapefruit and aperol. I don't know what aperol is but I've had this drink at, yes, Sette Luna, and I like it. I know it's picky but when I drink sparkly drinks I like them in a champagne glass, not in an old-fashioned glass.) Also had a ginger-syrup-soda yummy thing that really helped my palate prepare for my spicy salty house cured belly ham and fresh mozzarella cheese giant pizza! Even on a good night I would not have been able to eat this thing by myself, so it was good sharing. The waiter asked if I wanted an egg on top. Why yes, my tummy would love an egg on top. Again, I had this exact pizza at my hometown restaurant. I love dippy eggs. The egg added a creamy flavor and balanced out the salty-spiciness of the ham and chilies. And it felt decadent. Also loved the housemade salami! But the food at our table was inconsistent, some of it really well seasoned, some over-salty, some kind of bland. Somewhat of a crapshoot. Service could have been quicker. I had to wait for drinks to be delivered, and it took seemingly forever to get a dessert menu, our sweets, and the check. Meh.
(2)
Billy D.

Never has it been so easy to give a restaurant 5 stars. I had the "ham on ham" pizza... which is basically a ham pizza, with an egg right in the middle of it. After finishing it the waiter said that you can actually get TWO eggs on it. It's like a genie granting you a wish, and then telling you that you could have asked for unlimited wishes as your wish instead. My date had the special which was a shrimp pasta. It was really salty. "It's real salty. Like a mouthful of sea water". That's what she said. No. Seriously. That's what she said. The waiter wasted no time taking it off the bill and giving her something else instead - for free. I'll definitely be going back. I may even push the limit and ask for three eggs on my pizza.
(5)
Robby W.

Was in Nashville for work and ate here twice it was so good. Very cool venue and I had perhaps the best pizza I've ever had at City House. It doesn't look like it is on the menu anymore but it had a little bit of potato on it, some delicious cheese and an over easy egg on top.
(5)
Don E.

Just a quick comment ... At the recommendation of a friend, I came here last night. We only got a couple of appetizers and split a pizza ... Great! The appetizers, house cured salami parm, and a cheese potato concoction called frico were both good, and the pizza was absolutely the best I've had outside of Italy. We arrived without reservations and were seated at the "counter" which overlooks the kitchen and the genuine wood fired brick oven. Very fun watching it all happen. Service was fast but not rushed, friendly and helpful. Prices were actually reasonable for the level of quality. Totally recommend! I plan on coming back next time I'm in Nashville for sure!
(5)
Kirsten H.

I've been to City House a few times, and just went there for a Sunday Dinner for the first time and it was great. It's a little bit hard to find, but certainly worth the search. we shared one of the Pork Snacks (we tried the Porky Joes) which were very tasty. I was the only person in our party not to get pizza, and I'm not going to lie, I definitely had a bit of ordering envy. My grits with cheese and pork were quite good, but the pizzas looked absolutely incredible. I had a fava bean pizza on a previous visit and was blown away with it, this time around I tasted my friend's pimento cheese pizza and it was also very good. I really like the decor in the main room getting to watch some of the food preparation, but that can get noisy, so it's best to sit in one of the side rooms if you really want to have a conversation.
(4)
Gage L.

One of my favorite places for a fabulous dinner...pizzas are great but dinner menu even better...mixologist so drinks are amazing.
(5)
Alex Z.

Best restaurant in Nashville that I've been to. The clearly put a lot of effort into the dishes and care about fresh quality ingredients. Their food is nice and simple and done right. Nothing crazy rather each dish is meant to be what it's supposed to be and I have to stress it's done right and with care. Real gem of Nashville.
(5)
Brianne S.

Great food, great service and cute atmosphere. A nice change of pace from many places in Nashville. They offered a nice selection of drinks and wine and have a neat open style kitchen. The margherita style pizza is heavenly!
(4)
Samuel L.

There are not many places I have been in Nashville that get a return,mbut this is definitely one of them. Fantastic food, every time. Ths time on Sunday we went and just ordered one of every starter. Tandy is a fantastic chef, andnthismplace is always consistent. Well done.
(5)
Janet S.

Cant believe I have not reviewed this place since we have been a zill times. Sunday supper is delicious, no margarita pizza but some other pizza choices and a kitchen pie with capers hit the spot. We clawed our way through crawfish, sucking and scraping, dined on beet salad and washed it down with a delicious mocktail. City House always consistent, sit kitty kat at the bar and split a pizza and glass of wine, easy in easy out. $13 pizza and a $11 glass of wine A-OK. Hey Christine S I saw you there two nights running last week so guess you are a regular after all!
(4)
Dara S.

Good drinks. Bartender really knows her wine. Great pizza. Average food. Order pizza at either bar for an added experience. Not worth a 3 week wait for a reservation at a table.
(4)
Houston A.

My favorite restaurant in Nashville. Eclectic menu, very original dishes, the gourmet cocktails are fantastic, outstanding service. Great, unique ambiance. Love this place.
(5)
Joe R.

I travel for a living and spend time in some incredible food cities. I must say that City House ranks with the best of them! Went there for a date with my wife last night and we were blown away. Our server, Randy, was great and extremely knowledgeable! I understand the the menu is constantly evolving but I'll go ahead and run down what we had. We started with the octopus appetizer which was cooked to perfection. It sat on bed of chick peas that complemented the octopus perfectly. We ordered some delicious cocktails and enjoyed the atmosphere while we waited for our food. I ordered the house-made sausage with a fig and pear mustarda. My wife had the ham-belly pizza with an egg sunny-side up. Of course we shared and were blown away by the way all of the flavors worked together. We will be back very soon. Can't believe it took us this long to get over there.
(5)
Ben Z.

Ok, let me preface this by saying I'm not actually a huge fan of this place.. It's just that it's not for me. There's no doubt they serve quality food and I'll certainly write it up to the fact that my pallet isn't able to appreciate a lot of what they have to offer. I really have nothing negative to say about the one time I have actually eaten there. Fair enough? Hope that made sense... Anyway... Now.. What I do want to address is the service I was provided last Friday night.. It was my friends birthday and she was dining at Citi House to celebrate. I was out of town in Louisville and wanted to make sure and have a drink delivered to her table. Unfortunately I came up with this brilliant idea at 5:45 PM on a Friday night. I called anyway and Anne (hostess) was more than happy to accomodate me. Maybe people do this more often than I realize because she was prepared as if she did this kind of thing all the time. My friend didn't even have a reservation so I had to call back during what I'm sure was a crazy dinner rush to explain where she was sitting... I never once was made to feel as though I was inconveniencing her in any way and I really appreciated that so I thought a shout-out was in order given how many people out there are so quick to complain about the smallest of things... Thanks again Anne.
(4)
Deane M.

We stopped in to City House on a recent trip to Nashville, on recommendations from my sister. I should remember to thank that sister properly... I think it's fair to say that the word is out about this place and its epic Sunday Supper menu - so if you're going to roll in sans reservation, best to do it as soon as the doors open. We arrived promptly at 5, and were told that they were all booked solid for the evening, but we could sit at the bar, which we did. The bar was quickly full of people in similar situations, including a family of four, with two little ones... and the bartender was so busy churning out cocktails for the rest of the restaurant that she had little time to spend with us, meaning that it took almost fifteen minutes to flag her down for the check. But before the mad rush, we were able to put in an order for a delicious pizza with potatoes and figs, some epic meatballs, and a cheese plate. Being as their Sunday menu rotates and changes frequently, it's hard to repeat your experiences here, except in the cocktail pages, where I'd recommend both the Bandit and the Kubric. No signs of Rose's lime juice here; all ingredients are fresh-squeezed at the bar, which, if you're sitting there, provides quite the mixology seminar. The food was delicious, as many can and have attested, and the drinks were on par. Just be sure to make a reservation so you don't get turned away hungry.
(4)
Dusty K.

Having gotten lost twice on the way (lousy gps navigation), I was dreading the thought that my reservation would be wasted. I tried to play it off as though I didn't care but inside the sadness was growing. I had called 2 weeks in advance ensuring a seat at this popular find. Was it truly Nashville's best restaurant? My anticipation of a dinner here was nothing short of legendary. 15 minutes late, we finally arrived...at least we thought. The building looked like the setting of a horror movie. It's dark and eerily lit on the outside without a sign in sight. And strangely enough, quiet. Almost too quiet. We walked past an outdoor patio full of tables and chairs with each spot perfectly laid out for diners. But there was not a soul around. I wasn't sure if we were heading in for dinner or making our way towards the set of Friday the 13th. Reaching the bottom of the hill the words City House appeared in stone. A smile made it's way across my face. Words really can't describe how much I loved this restaurant. It really is the coolest place in Nashville. It's hip and vibrant but very casual. Smiling faces were everywhere to be seen. Anyone donning dresses or shirts and ties to those sporting t-shirts and jeans will feel welcome. In a nutshell it's my kind of place. I sat in the main dining area adjacent to the kitchen. What a view. Watching that group of guys move back and forth between pizza preparation to stove top was a trip. The wall behind me had a stone inlay which added to the charm. I spent the better part of my dinner gazing around the room finding new things to peak my interest. The service deserves credit. I never once felt that our server was doing a job. That's a hard quality to find. And it's not everyday you see a white dude with dreadlocks. Each server had their own personality which added to the restaurant's character. Great restaurants have a certain smell. It's very muted but noticeable if you pay attention. It's the smell of the best ingredients simmering, pizza slowly rising in a hot oven, and the freshest food being prepared by loving chefs. City House has that mouthwatering smell. And the food was divine. I was not leaving without trying a pizza and the margherita was fabulous. Great pizza shines in simplicity and simple was what we received. Crust, sauce, small discs of fresh mozzarella and whole basil leaves. Nothing complicated. It was a great way to start our dinner. I switched gears for my entree to the house made sausage with ale mustard. Another home run. My plate was cleared in five minutes. On the side I had an heirloom tomato 'salad' with fresh vegetables. In season tomatoes have a flavor chefs kill for and these were spot on. We closed with the chocolate fudge pie and caramel gelato. Very chocolaty, very creamy, and damn good. I enjoyed the contrasting textures of the pie and shell as well as the cool creaminess of the gelato against the warm pie. Perfect. City House impressed. I'm in love. I'll fully admit that I was wowed. This restaurant would stand proud in any city. Without a doubt, I will be back.
(5)
Jerome O.

Really great food - amazing house cured sausage & delicious chicken (I usually don't get too excited about chicken). Montepulciano good & reasonably priced. Good service, cute location (a tadbit noisy). Also, our waiter did know & understand the wine list really well & made really relevant suggestions.
(4)
Tabitha T.

Nashville's never had a restaurant like this. At least not in the 17 years I've been eating there. Here is an establishment that offers house-made mozzarella and sausage. They've paired unique, fresh food components in a deceptively simple way to create a memorable eating experience. Menu items I tasted: squash and sweet potato appetizer; fried potatoes with gorgonzola cheese; pizza with mozzarella and belly ham; pizza with peppers, garlic, oregano and grana padano; stuffed trout and collard greens; and apple walnut crostata with mascarpone gelato. The wine list seemed to be mostly populated by Italian labels. They offer half a dozen or so really good microbrew beers, as well. I cannot say enough about how delicious and well-prepared the food was. The only sour note was that the trout and collard greens were significantly over-salted. I found this surprising and disappointing when every other aspect of the meal was so well-executed. It is clear that someone knows what they are doing and knows how to get the food to the customer the way it was intended. Nashville has been strangely lacking in this kind of restaurant. I'm glad to see City House arrive and hope it has many years of success.
(4)
Russell S.

The Bread Gnocchi is something that I will get a craving for and everything was delicious. Their cocktails are amazing. Definitely a top ten meal.
(5)
Maxwell H.

Absolutely outstanding. This is one of the best restaurants that I've eaten at this year. Over the course of the evening, I enjoyed pig heart, side meat bruschetta, pig liver po' boy (complements of the chef), crispy octopus, seared short ribs, and a cannolo -- as well as a couple of great beers (Schmaltz's Sword Swallower and BBC's Bourbon Barrel Stout), as well as a great Pimm's cocktail and a Sweet Lucy after dinner. Food was on point start to finish. Just simply amazing. (If you don't order the octopus, you're doing yourself a great disservice.) Only gripe would be a server who disappeared when I needed a fresh beverage (Travis--where were you running off to? A smoke break??) Really, I can't wait to go back to Nashville to hit up City House again. I wish to God I had a place like this in San Antonio. I'd haunt it! Keep up the good work, Tandy!
(5)
Kathleen K.

This is my favorite restaurant in Nashville. From the house-made cheese to the belly ham pizza, the orechiette to the little fennel bagels, everything I have ever put in my mouth here has been outstanding. I've been 6 or 7 times now and have never been disappointed. Even the desserts are terrific! Even though you can't go wrong with anything on the menu, it's really all about the house-made pork products and the perfectly crispy wood-fired pizzas. This place is one of a handful that is really putting Nashville on the contemporary culinary map. Way to go, City House!
(5)
David W.

Let me start off by saying that I loved how hidden this place was. The outside looks like an old worn out house just hiding in some trees. Walked in and liked the industrial atmosphere, although I would assume it can get pretty loud. I was solo for the evening so I sat at the chef's bar. I was excited to be served by the chef's as I was hoping to tell them to make me some off the menu type stuff. Unfortunately this did not happen. I did have a waitress who was very knowledgeable and helpful. The kitchen staff did not interact with the bar clientele, which was a bit disappointing being a food lover. No worries though, surely did not ruin the meal, but would have made it better for sure. Started off with their Lardo Bruschetta. two large slices of bread with yellow tomato and lardo sliced thin. Olive oil and herbs on top. Very tasty. I never order chicken out, but frankly nothing else was very appealing. Pizzas did look amazing but had a slice earlier in the day. Ended up with the half a roasted chicken. The flavor was amazing. they do it in a cast iron skillet in their wood oven. Crispy skin, simple seasoning made for a great entree. It was huge too! As per usual I have found the wine prices in Nashville obscene. I did have two solid glasses, but both were $9 and $10 respectively. I collect wine, know where to buy it, and have a good sense of cost. I do understand restaurants need to make their money at the bar, so I will just say the pours were good, and the wine was solid. Would go back again for sure.
(4)
Nathan W.

Pizza is pizza right? WRONG!!!! The Martguerita pizza at City House is sublime. I am not joking here people. Normally I like my pizza stacked with meaty and delicious toppings, not here. This pizza is as perfect a food as I have found in my entire life. They will add a fresh cracked egg, or arugula to the pizza, but don't do it. Not to this one. That egg and that arugula are great but let them be. This pizza transcends description and leaves you breathless wanting more. If I could do it and not see an early grave I would eat this pizza morning noon and night and feel no guilt at all about it. It's worth noting that the other food is pretty great as well. Pasta is sourced from a shop 2 blocks away (review to come shortly) and most all of the rest of the food comes from within 250 miles. The bar is a stand out as well. Cocktails are creative and delicious and the scotch menu is a standout. Sundays are chef supper days. Get ready for a nose to tail pig experience. If you are squeemish you shouldn't avoid this day (or maybe not) as it takes courage. Its amazing though and getting your head in a place where the rest of the world already has theirs is not the worst thing you will ever do. Make a reservation, you're going to need it.
(4)
Sondre Lerche And Herremannen V.

After our escapade in nature's hole, we decided to take some showers at our friend Keegan DeWitt's in Nashville. Our friend, Josh Day, recommended we have dinner at "City House." DJ Murphy (Heypenny) and Jeremy Bullock (Keegan DeWitt) all concurred this was a fine choice. Upon walking up to the front door, Sondre ran into some colleagues from Rolling Stone and The Strokes. We took this as a good sign. Upon walking up to the bar, we saw Ke$ha sitting next to us. We took this as a ... sign. The atmosphere was real pleasant, great lighting indoors and outdoors, nice wooden tables and chairs, an enclosed patio, interesting floors, and plenty of exposed brick. The host was ALSO very pleasant in mannerisms, but was too old for Bonnaroo and made us wait for a table that was already available. I suspect this is policy with non-reservation holders to instill a reverence and/or respect for the establishment's busy schedule. As if to say: 'Listen, I don't care if this is a slow Monday or not... you WILL call ahead. We're in demand! Even if we're not right now, at this very moment, oftentimes we ARE, so in those cases you should REALLY call ahead to make a reservation, and since you didn't think to do so tonight, we're gonna make you wait, to show you what it would feel like if you came stroooooolling in, all LAHDEE-DA like, on a busy Tuesday night; so grab a seat at the bar, yup, right there next to Ke$ha, and watch your pre-set table just sit and do nothing while we pretend people are using it. Learned your lesson? Good...follow me, right this way please...' We took a table in the patio and, again, I'd like to reiterate our happiness with the lighting, decor, and attractive wooden tables, but the height of said table was so unreasonably high that it was both uncomfortable and comical at the same time. Perhaps with a higher chair one could enjoy themselves at the table without feeling like a toddler, but we're not exaggerating here. It was ridiculous. We ordered a round of fancy cocktails ($10 range) and none of us were particularly blown away. K and Sondre got the "Mona" and respectively felt it was "not that bad" and "tasted like a cheap drink at a cheap bar." Both of which, they were not. K was impressed with their selection of bourbon. Giancarla got something a little more simple, the "Lucy," and felt it was "refreshing." Jane ordered the "Solomon" and hated it. My original choice was the "Buckley" and not one single person at the table liked it. It was pretty awful, so I just gave it to the waiter to send back. (this became an interesting moment at the end of the night, when that terrible "Buckley" drink found its way to my bill. We thought this a simple oversight so I explained to our waiter that I had sent it back and asked if he would mind removing it from the bill. He replied, "I dunno. I'll go ask and see..." Ummm....what??? He returned with the following words, "You got lucky! We don't usually do that, so just so you all know, we usually don't do that." Wow. Way to represent! One has the opportunity to modestly please their customer by comping an unpleasant item, however, mr. Waiter here decides to make us all aware that City House will USUALLY forego the customer's satisfaction for a more standard policy of having them pay for a shitty drink that 5 out of 5 people deemed puke-worthy. NICE WORK!) K, Sondre, and Jane all had their food brought out by 2 waiters we'd never seen. Giancarla and I both sat there and gave them our blessing to begin eating. After about 7 minutes or so, our friends were halfway through their meal when our waiter came strolling through the patio for the first time since we ordered. He walked right past our table with a a causal and unconvincing, "Your soups will be out in just a minute....I'm sure." At this point, we decided this was a restaurant with a classy look, but just couldn't deliver on the service. (or table height). Eventually our soups came out, but there was no real apology or effort to compensate for such a huge oversight. I mean really. 2 of the 5 guests sat there hungry, watching their friends eat dinner. That's ridiculous. The Gnocchi at City House was the BEST. ever. Giancarla and I had the white bean, kale soup and freaked out over. so good! K had the catfish and was unimpressed, as was Sondre with his sirloin steak. But, the side dish of green beans were REAL REAL good.... We had the chocolate fudge pie with salty caramel gelato and it was UNBELIEVABLE!!! There's just a few words here about the food and A LOT of words about the experience. (That's probably NOT a good sign...perhaps that was the symbology of Ke$ha?) This was a tough review because some things about City House are amazing, but unfortunately, our experience was not a good one... ~Dave "Herremannen" Heilman
(3)
Jan H.

Tom of Lazzaroli Italian market that provides fresh pasta for City House recommended them highly. He told me to order the 'bacon pizza with egg on top'. The menu has 'ham bellie' pizza, so I figured that was bacon. When I ordered the egg on top (not on the menu) they knew exactly what I meant and called it 'Sicilian style'. Maybe it's Sicilian style, but it's my style now. Best pizza I have ever eaten. My former favorite was in Rome. Rome's was nudged aside for this wonderful treat. I can't wait to return to Nashville just for this pizza! We also ordered octopus on chickpeas - delicious, gnocchi (so-so) and kale salad - very nice. The wine was good, the server was too. Our seat in this hotspot was at the kitchen bar where we could see the pizza dough being tossed and the flames licking at the boiling pots of pasta. We didn't have a reservation and were seated just before the big dinner rush. There were people waiting to be seated when we left. Our seatmates at the kitchen bar were from Atlanta, we were from Louisville, and I'm sure there were many locals there as well.
(5)
Michael M.

Really good meal here recently. Shared a bunch of different plates with a group. Standout dish was the Carolina Trout -- perfectly prepared, had a nice combination of flavor with lemon, raisins, light but crispy bread crumps. A great dish. Also really enjoyed the salami and beet salad appetizers. Good but not great items included: crispy octopus appetizer, bruschetta with guanciale, and the margherita pizza and spinach and ricotta pizza. I expected a little more from the pizzas. The ingredients were good but the pizzas became soggy near the middle very quickly. A recommended egg on top of the ricotta and spinach pizza only made this sogginess worse and did not add much flavor wise. Overall though - a number of really great dishes and a number of good dishes. A good, casual dining environment with quality ingredients and quality service.
(4)
Coll P.

The best meal I had in Nashville! Biggest complaint of the night-three dollars for an egg on a pizza? I'll do it, but I'm not happy about it. Other than that, we had great service and great food!
(4)
Peter M.

Oh baby. We attended the wine dinner last night and the food was out standing... as good as a long meal in a good restaurant in Italy. The homemade pasta with chucks of salty, juicy, delicious goat meat was a stand out, as was the squiggily gnocci with ever-so-light and fluffy ricotta cheese and fresh, bursting with flavor peas. Great combination of textures and food densities in the gnocci dish. Inventive dishes but still the focus is on great ingredients prepared perfectly. On top of it all, this was a crumbling but architectually significant building that they rescued, expanded, and designed beautifully, in a neighborhood begging for rejuvenation. Good job, City House!
(5)
Dominic P.

City House is a great casual/mildly dressy Italian restaurant. I went there on a Wednesday evening around 5 dressed up (nice shirt, khakis, dress shoes) to find that not everyone was as dressed up as me. So you an find a casual to semi-formal atmosphere at City House. Food was great (and mostly seasonal), nice wine selection, and the servers are very kind, informative, and helpful. I would recommend City House to anyone. Great place.
(5)
Melissa L.

Perfect except one minor thing that just seems to be the way it is these days - the noise level is higher than I would like - so while they can accomodate groups, it can be hard to hear from one end of the table to another. We always seem to get Kris and we LOVE him. I'll start with the service because it's impeccable. From making a reservation to the moment you walk in and are greeted, it's very good service. It's everything I want and nothing I don't want. The waiters are very knowledgeable about the food they are serving and the wines. On the current menu, I have to say that I love the conchiglie pasta with cauliflower. They make these incredible bread crumbs that they use on a lot of things. I had never had them on any of the dishes in the past and was reluctant but they were incredible and made the pasta. So much so that I now have figure out how to replicate them at home and serve them on everything. Two in our party that night had the Springer Mountain half chicken with a mosto sauce which was so good they both asked for more of it. The chicken was really nicely flavored and well cooked. Another had the trout stuffed with the bread crumbs and other things. It was all heavenly. The side that everyone got was a roasted broccoli with nuts and raisins and it was delightful. On a recent Sunday visit I had the crispy fried pig ear and the pappa pomodoro. The pig ear was wonderful. Crispy on the outside and yet almost melt in the mouth tender on the inside served on a bed of perfectly balanced marinara type sauce with just a hint of heat from red pepper flakes. Several of the party had the special which I can't recall the name of but it was a brisket stuffed with the breadcrumbs and braised until it was falling apart tender. We've also had the belly pizza and love it. I've never been disappointed with the pastas. In the summer the gelatos were all nice but I loved the lemon basil and the fig was also quite nice. This has become our 'go-to' place to take folks.
(5)
Vanessa P.

Fantastic. We came in around 10pm on a Saturday and were seated at the bar in front of the chefs - it was awesome watching them cook while we waited. I had a great whiskey drink to start (don't remember what it was), the kale salad, and shared the belly ham pizza with an egg with the hubs. The creativity and quality was a refreshing experience as a Nashville newcomer. The pizza was really great - I loved the smokiness and slightly charred crust and the egg made for a creamy topping. Kudos to City House for doing something slightly different and completely yummy.
(4)
Ryan B.

Awful service. Overpriced. Wait staff rude. I want my night back. My friends and I won't return!!
(1)
Abby L.

We were recommended to try City House from friends as we are from out of town. We love a good hidden gem and local joint, this is just that. Food was fantastic, we sat at the bar and the bartender was just a sweetheart, and we made some pretty decent friends by the time our night was done. We stayed for 3 hours, enjoying the food and atmosphere, and wanted to go back the next day!
(5)
Jason B.

i PREFACE that this review is only based on one visit however i dont live in nashville any longer so i have to just go by my one visit but will modify as needed when/if i go back. i went into this place with high hopes. it was voted best restaurant on some nashville website and tandy was recently nominated for a james beard in the SE. maybe my hopes were too high?!?!? the good: food was GREAT. however not great enough to overcome the negatives aka not good enough where it produces tears like really good french fries can make me do. i got the pork pasta special (forgot the fancy schmancy name) but i wish i had gotten my cousins trout which had the SKIN and it was CRIPSY and NOT greasy either. was so good. i ate some of it. i may go back for the trout and also the caramel custard. that dessert was freakin amazing. so so so good. blows the ocharleys caramel pie away. actually i need to do side by side comparison. also we started with the margharita pizza. no basil to be found but home made mozarella was legit. the bad: service as sllllllllllooooowww. honestly the ONLY thing i care about in terms of service is that i get refills as needed. i dont even care if i find a piece of hair in my food. thats how low maintenance and/or tolerable i can be. (plus how small/thin is hair?) so you know it had to be slow. also i hated the seating by the open kitchen. i think its a great placement to have this open kitchen but it seemed tiny which im sure the cooks don't like. the open seating area near the open kitchen was just dull in colors and lighting was boring and bleh. it all looked generic and i rarely notice design and artsy elements. i mention these things because i truly feel whether its mcdonalds or a 5 star that restaurants are an EXPERIENCE. food was the only legit thing about the place but the other components failed to support city house the experience. our waiter seemed hesitant in her attitude towards us till she realized we were ordering a ton aka going to have a fat bill aka going to leave a decent up. then again we look like we're stil in college. she wasn't mean but not overly welcoming or energized which i think is a third of the necessary traits of a good server. i'll take a great attitude over perfect service any day. again maybe my expectations were too high but the slow service might have been worse had it been for a more discerning guest so you know it was bad if i noticed. food was great but the experience failed to execute overall. or as they say they won the battle but lost the war.
(3)
Chris S.

Pasta and pizza were superb. The sausage special sounded interesting but was ultimately disappointing. The service was timely, friendly, appropriately attentive and professional. A courtesy that warrants mention: our waiter made an excellent wine recommendation without trying to "upsell" us.
(4)
Kathryn S.

City House, another one of my favorites that I tend to want to drag my boyfriend to once a week, He does love it though. One complaint though on appetizers is the Frico which has gotten more expensive somehow and is $9 for tasty melted cheese over potatoes sorta in a pancake like form which is SO GOOD but too pricey. I literally always get the Margarita pizza because it is so good yet they only put basil on it when they have it from their own garden so it really isn't a margarita pizza without it but it's still to die for. They have a huge pizza oven which they have blazing every night (except tuesdays when they are closed) and the pizzas cook perfectly on that hot hot surface. I love sitting at the Chef's Bar in front of the kitchen and watch all the action going on. My favorite drink is the Thriller with Chambord and it's very refreshing. Love love! Justin ( boyfriend) tends to always get some sort of pizza with an egg on top (which they offer to you as your order your pizza) and they have a pretty good beer selection for his liking. I am a big fan of all things City House.. BUT i do wish they'd change their menu/or add new items more frequently!
(4)
Ben B.

Outstanding food prepared with creative passion. Favorite dish was actually a side dish of broccoli sauteed with raisins and cured pork. Very hip, but sophisticated atmosphere with aluminum chairs and wooden tables. Chef's bar brings the cooking right out in the open. Love this place.
(5)
Paulette D.

Good service and good food. I read some of the reviews that said the food was bland but I would say the flavors are subtle. We had the linguine with muscle and the sirloin coulette and both were wonderful. Our server was nice, friendly and attentive without bring intrusive. I would come here again.
(4)
Kate O.

We weren't all that impressed with our first experience here; while the place is gorgeous in an urban rustic way, the food seemed a little too salty and not worth the money. But since we live in the neighborhood, we ended up going back for another try, and I'm glad we did: it has quickly become one of our favorite places. Believe it or not, for a restaurant that's all about cured meats, the kitchen is actually vegan-friendly. My husband and I are both vegan, and we've gotten comfortable just showing up and asking the waiter to bring us something vegan -- what arrives is always fantastic. The bar is deserving of a great rating all on its own. Word is that when Robert Plant was living in the neighborhood while working with Alison Krauss, he was sometimes seen at this bar. It's a bit cramped and they don't have every imaginable drink, but they specialize in a menu of stylish cocktails. Of course, having tried several, I haven't found any that I love. Still, it's fun to experiment, and if you're not in the mood for cocktails, they have a great wine list. And while the bar menu, with inventive hors d'oeuvres, is considerably less suitable for vegans than the dinner menu, we've heard from friends that it's nearly as good. All in all, while there may be a dish or two on the menu that won't please your palate for whatever reason, the overall experience is so good and the food in general so incredible it's definitely worth trying again.
(5)
Kat J.

I really want to give City House a higher review but I don't think they really deserve it. I love the location, it's completely hidden in an semi-populated area of Germantown, surrounded by warehouses and debris. So when I walked in for the first time I was really impressed by the decorating and the attention to detail that the waiters appeared to have. But for the price, I just don't feel like to food lives up to the restaurant's reputation. The wine is fantastic but the food overall is not quite up to par for the price level (I have never had the pizza however and I hear it's fantastic - so I may go back soon and edit this entry). They also don't have many gluten free options and with a cluster of my best friends developing allergies and intolerances to gluten that's a little disappointing, especially since a lot of restaurants in the city are starting to catch up to that need. We had to mishmash a bunch of side items together to make a gluten-free meal out of it and it ended up being ridiculously expensive and frustrating. It also seems like the waiters are often overwhelmed by something when they are serving. I haven't found the staff to be extremely personable yet although they seem to have a good relationship with each other. Which I like. I would recommend City House for the atmosphere and the wine but maybe cook something fabulous at home before you go.
(3)
Paul H.

One of the best meals I've had in a while. Granted, I was there for the wine dinner (w/Woodland wine Merchant) but the quality and freshness of the food was still exceptional. Plus, the service was super friendly and made our meal all the better. We had a food allergy at our table (I confess, it was me) and the server totally looked out for us, which I totally appreciate after some other places I've been where they don't get the concept of cross-contamination. So, back to the food. Fresh, seasonal, handmade, well-seasoned and well-balanced all describe the meal. I would go back for the handmade pasta with goat meat alone. I know, I know...goat meat? But it was truly a stand out dish. The rest of the meal was full of hand-made cheeses, fresh veggies, and perfectly cooked meats (lamb!). All made better by the perfect pairing of wine. Good job and kudos all around. I'm certainly looking forward to my next visit to City House.
(5)
Lance W.

Great atmosphere, great staff who could really properly recommend beer and wine. Loved the pork belly pizza. Also had the gemelli pasta with octopus ragu, which was wonderful. great place for a date
(5)
Lindsey S.

My husband and I went to City House on our recent vacation to Nashville. We thought it was a good restaurant, but not great. The service was a little spotty ... it seemed as though our waiter was quite overwhelmed. We had a pizza as an appetizer which was very good. The entrees we had (trout for him and gnocchi for me) were okay. Nothing spectacular.
(3)
Caitlin D.

I can't believe I had not heard of this gem previously. Tucked away in Germantown, this place has a modern feel to it, with exposed brick and an open kitchen. I only saw one part of the restaurant, but I understand that there are other rooms as well. The staff was incredibly professional and knowledgeable, and more importantly, friendly. We shared an appetizer of shrimp bruschetta, marscapone and pepper jelly, which was exquisite. I can't recall what wines we had, but I assure you they were perfectly paired with my meal. For entrees, we ordered gnocchi with squash, chestnut, ricotta and lemon... it was SO creamy and flavorful! We also had half chicken with oregano and peanuts, which was cooked perfectly (tender, juicy meat and a flavorful and crisp skin). Every bite of this meal was pure ectasy! Ladies and gentlemen, my trifecta of favorite restaurants may have just taken a re-ordering...
(5)
Tara R.

De-freakin-lish. House made sausage....have I died and gone to heaven? I cleaned my plate! Could've licked it if there weren't people around. I thought that may not go over so well so I passed. We also had the margherita pizza and it was fabulous. Everyone in our group of 4 tried a different cocktail (or 3) and they were all VERY good. Great atmoshphere, great staff and cool location. Loved it and will absolutely be back.
(4)
J V.

Amazing cocktails! Good food too.
(4)
me t.

My boyfriend and I gave City House a second try last week because our first bad experience there nearly 6 months ago mostly had to do with the food although our waitress was very cold and unfriendly. We can over look rude service if the food is worth it. So we returned and decided to order the pizza since that seemed to be their "thing". It was just not that great. But what made us decide to cross them off the list of Sunday places to eat was the waitress. The waitress rolled her eyes and seemed irritated that we wanted her to describe an entrÃ©e on the menu. The rest of our experience with her she never smiled once. In fact the only person in there that smiled is the hostess. We got the general feeling that is wasn't that we just caught them all on a bad night.I have confirmation from others about similar service issues and we will not return.
(1)
Jessica N.

Good variety, fresh ingredients, nice atmosphere. Maybe a bit overpriced, but I would go again.
(4)
Siri K.

Decor, staff and pizza get 5 stars - cute spot, pizza has great crust (coming from a NY pizza snob). Other dishes were good but VERY salty. Lemon cake was awesome. It's in a totally shady area of town, though - I walked from my hotel but I think that was a mistake.
(4)
Amelia L.

Out-of-towner passing through. Here's what I liked about City House: 1. The special Sunday menu with pork snacks etc. What a great idea! 2. The decor and atmosphere. Unlike other yelpers, I didn't find it too loud. 3. Generally, the food was very good and the cocktails were right up my alley with a great selection of bitter-savory concoctions. The buffalo-style pig ears were a true revelation. 4. Low prices on the food (perhaps not so much on the booze - see below). What I didn't like: 1. Beers are all expensive and high gravity. Sometimes you just need a High Life to wash it all down. Ths is especially true when you're eating pizza, burgers, and wings. I hear this is because you need a hard-to-get beer permit in Nashville to serve lower gravity drinks. Boo. Sucks for the restaurant and sucks for the eaters! 2. I am a salt freak, but everything I sampled here was a bit oversalted. 3. My pizza was reeeeal soggy except for the very outer edge of crust. The taste was spot-on, it was just the texture that needed a bit more attention. 4. Service was sometimes awkward, with the host turning away from us in the middle of our conversation to greet and chat at length with a party that had just come in the door. It was also weird to sit at the bar, have absolutely no interaction with the open kitchen in front of me, and half-swivel (inevitably elbowing the stranger sitting next to me) every time I wanted to talk with the server behind me. Work these issues out, however, and City House would be the kind of place you wanna visit over and over and over again!
(3)
Justin D.

I wanted to go to the City House to get a good meal and have some wine with my girlfriend. I was told the chef was doing some great food there. The service was the best part of the meal. The server was well informed about the menu and wine. Wine list was really cool and had some outstanding stuff that could hang with tons of entrees. The food was blah. Not bad but just ok. It had no soul and lacked any thought. With tons of places to go to these days, chefs need to bring it on every meal. The menu was forgetable and i will not be back..
(1)
Lisa J.

great relaxed venue with awesome decently priced cocktails. try all the whiskey cocktails, they were great! great food and nice ambience. definitely going back many times.
(5)
mark s.

Another 3.5 .This is little eclectic spot with an open kitchen. It's a neat place to take someone off the beaten path for a good meal with some anti-chain atmosphere A simple menu with good flavors and friendly service. My pasta was a little heavy on the salt, but I will give it another try as everything else was worthy.
(3)
Taylor Ann D.

You have got to check this place out.
(5)
David M.

I'm always a fan of sitting at the bar at nicer restaurants if I'm going stag - the bartenders often are more bluntly honest about what the best dishes are than a waiter - but City House one ups this by having a Chef's Bar. No bartender, but instead the bar is the only divider between you and the kitchen. For my appetizer, the sous chef (or prep cook? I can't tell the difference) prepared lonza - a prosciutto like pork - right in front of me, and was eager for feedback after I took a couple bites. It did not disappoint. For the main course I was excited to see they had gnocchi, which I rarely see on menus but am always eager to order. Again, delicious, although their "bread gnocchi" didn't have the same satisfying texture as the conventional potato based kind (however, I'm hoping that making bread gnocchi at home may be easy - anyone have a recipe?). I was pretty full, which was unfortunate, because their caramel and chocolate cake with Jack Daniel's rum was pretty large and I had to eventually turn some of it away. My server Jocelyn was friendly, prompt, and helpful with putting together a fantastic meal. An exciting menu with plenty of unique options to satisfy almost any palate.
(5)
dave b.

firstly, the place should be called 'suburban house'. I think my Gradfather's retirement home would be an overwhelming metropolis in comparison. The 2 stars are mainly awarded for ambience, though the prominence of the white walls may have provided comfort to our server (Ricky Williams with twice the social anxiety disorders). He literally ran away in mid-sentence (multiple times). The food had a consistent theme of 'bland'. Somewhere Bryant Gumbel is raving about the white bean soup, the chicken and the conchiglie. The meal felt sponsored by pepto (a) bismol to ensure no spices or heartburn. There was an odd pattern of patrons receiving huge discounts and rewarding massive tips in turn (full course meals for 40 bucks with 60 dollar tips). Something incestuous is taking place. Finally, when asked to order a 'cab' (to return from oblivion), the hostess ordered a lincoln town car, doubling our fare home. We were serenaded with an armageddon-esque alarm to cap off the evening, alerting us to the impending doom of lacking washer fluid (ok, I digress). If you have tastebuds, I'd suggest an alternative.
(2)
Robin S.

I went here last night for the first time--don't know why I haven't been before! I was with a large group for a birthday party, and we had the entire screened in porch area--love it! I had heard their pizzas were delish, and that was right on the money! We tried, let's see: a "meat and potatoes" pizza--yes, actually topped with roasted new potatoes and and some sort of Italian meat--not sure--but it was delightful. Also, the sausage (apparently cured there?) with eggplant, goat cheese, garlic and onions was phenomenal. Two other pizzas we tried were the tomato basil/garlic and the 4 or 5 cheese. All so good! For appetizers, we had a variety--fresh sardine bruschetta (I don't normally like sardines but this was amazing and tasted so fresh! Not fishy at all), fried green tomatoes, red pepper chicken wings, and melon marinated in olive oil with peanuts and onions and topped with Parmesan. YUM. That was my favorite! The menu changes often, so you never know what you'll get. I didn't eat inside, but did check it out, and it's pretty cool. Apparently you can sit at the bar area and watch them cook. I'll most definitely be back! Especially in the fall when the weather is nice, the screened in porch will be wonderful!
(4)
Tammie N.

Delicious food, yet Unsettled Stomach Interesting Contemporary Italian concept: wood-fired pizza oven, Italian-cured meats, Southern dishes, colossal wine glasses, sparse dÃ©cor, chef's table/bar, hardwood floors, mediocre lighting, with high ceilings in a charming rehabbed brick sculptor studio. Dear Chef/Owner, Your failure to return my phone calls and email were a catalyst for my joining the exciting community of Yelp. One Saturday evening in January 2010 a group of friends and I dined in your charming city eatery. We dined in the upstairs dining room and were greeted by a male server whose name rhymes with 'Granule.' He seemed a bit unprepared to discuss specifics about the short menu, but we were excited to take a few risks based on some previous online reviews. I have to say the Crispy Octopus . . . . Yum-O! Housemade Salami . . . . . tasty! Olives with Tarrali . . . . . . Mediocre at best. Crispy Potatoes with Gorgonzola . . . . So Stellar we ordered two servings! I indulged in the Springer Mountain Half Chicken, which was quite delicious, but I did not take a liking to the Creamed Collards, or the less than eventful cheese grits. Other members of my dinner table ordered the House Made Belly Ham pizza, which they enjoyed, but if you don't like a lot of spices the chilies have quite a kick to them. The catfish was bland, the pasta bolognese was delectable, and the pumpkin pasta tasteless. We highly recommend the Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Caramel Cake, it was a nice finish to our meal. Here are the facts, and where my unsettled stomach comes in. One week after dining at City House I reconcile my bank account and notice a large $400 debit to my account. Whah? I have my receipt right here and my agreement states that $50.12 was what I agreed to pay. My 7 friends, had a similar receipt, and we all were charged equally. I call the restaurant on three different days, and left voicemail messages since no one answered the phone. My friend also sends the owner an email, no response. I file a claim with my bank, and it quickly gets rushed to the 'Fraud' department. ELEVEN days after my meal at CityHouse my $350 is finally deposited back into my account. My friends' accounts were not charged. Now hear this Tandy, my family owns a small business, and if we made an error on a customer's account we would take full responsibility right away, I would credit the account ASAP, and make a phone call to sincerely apologize for the mishap. I would probably go as far as to comp the entire party's meals. I certainly wouldn't charge her friends accounts 13 days later. If I went back I would probably sit at Chef Tandy's bar anticipating a sincere apology, I would order the Bandit mixed cocktail, eat some starters, finish with a decadent dessert, and then pay my bill in CASH. Sadly, however I have yet to get a phone call or apology, I will not return, and I will gladly use my debit card at your competitor's establishment. Questionable business transactions, coupled with poor service leave a very sour taste in my mouth, eek.
(1)
Amber ..

I heard great things about City House so had to try it. Unfortunately it was awful!! The menu is odd, but not in a good, ecelectic way. The atmosphere was poor, extrememly loud. And the server's description of the food was terrible. She offered mashed tongue and testicles!! Her description was incredibly unappetizing. When we finally decided the food was average at best and very expensive. I will not be returning.
(1)
Rahel K.

I haven't been to Italy, but I now have tasted it..... I finally followed the hype and tried this new authentic Italian restaurant in Germantown last Friday night. We called at 7 pm and got a reservation for 2 at 8. Atmosphere: It is literally a city house....true Germantown architecture on the outside, industrial on the inside. Inconspicuous from the street....entrance on the side. A cozy patio with seating outside. Small lively bar. Sit downstairs and see the open kitchen - lighting not so becoming. Sit upstairs for more intimate ambiance. Appetizers: I started with the tripe stew. That's right. Tripe. Google it. I LOVE going to a restaurant and eating things that I can't make at home nor get anywhere else. Although it lacked a little salt, it was delicious. I highly recommend going here JUST for the tripe - for those that are not afraid. He got the salami with Parmesan. You must order their cured meats if you visit here. Main course: I had the Tri Tip. Didn't know what that was, but Ben our waiter explained to me it was the three-sided cut of the sirloin of a cow. It was sliced long and topped with an onion, cheese and cilantro oil mixture. So fresh and savory. He had the Trout that he loved, I had only a taste. We finished with the chocolate tort with blackberries. I thoroughly enjoyed this unique culinary experience. Will be back next time I want a night in Italy....
(5)
Mark M.

What an unexpected surprise. Food was very good. Local ingredients and interesting historic building. Service was local and attentive. Germantown isa great neighborhood for this interesting gem. Price was $75 with tip and two glasses of wine. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
(4)
BBQ B.

Very cool place. The food is average. My pizza was burned and the trout was decent. A fun place to go, but the food doesn't match the hype.
(3)
Stan K.

City house might be nashville's best restaurant. Between the food and great cocktails you can't lose. Love the trout and pizza's. The decor is simple yet stylish. Service is always top notch. One of my favorite places in Nashville. It's not cheap but definitely worth it. Go and enjoy. Thank me later for sure.
(4)
Seth H.

Everything about this place screams date night. Incredible atmosphere, great bar, a pig-atarian's dream. One of the best pizzas I've ever eaten came from here: pimento cheese and pulled pork. Lots of great other options, especially the brussels sprouts. Sunday night is especially grand, no telling what they will cook up!
(5)
Yasmine G.

This is probably one of my all time favorite restaurants ever. You really can't go wrong with any dish here. Order one of everything if you can. We almost did! It was so good that we came back 2 nights in a row. The service and ambiance were also really welcoming to this group of San Franciscans. Definitely get the crispy pig ears. Yum!
(5)
Lara L.

Just visiting in town from San Francisco and thought I'd try this place out because (a) it was one of the few places open on a Sunday evening and (b) it had relatively good reviews for an Italian restaurant. My sister lives in Nashville but had not been here yet so it was new for all of us. The area is cute, though developing, so there are not a lot of other places nearby to hop to (e.g. we wanted to have desert so we ended up going downtown). The restaurant itself is fantastic, great design, the atmosphere is open and city-urban with exposed brick and an open kitchen. The tables are spaced relatively well so you aren't having dinner with your neighbor as well as your guests. There are two 'bar' areas - one for drinking and one for dining and they both look inviting. The food however was a bit of a disappointment. The good: My friend absolutely loved the meatballs and I agree they were quite tasty (he ordered two portions!). The bruschetta (we had the chicken salad and sweet potato) were also tasty and simple, a smallish portion but shared easily among the three of us. The cocktails were original and good - we had the Hemmingway, the Bandit and a bottle of Amarone. All solid and yummy. The bad: The spicy sausage pizza my sister and I split was not spicy nor terribly tasty. Of course we ate it - it's pizza after all, but I've had better pizza from take out to be honest. We also had the one salad on the menu, which was radicalism and it was reasonable, not amazing. I was disappointed that there are not very many green or healthy vegetable items on the menu. The service was good and relatively timely. Overall it was a good dinner, I just was disappointed with our pizza for the most part. I'd go back and give it another shot.
(3)
Chloe R.

This was our first stop in Nashville and it was a wonderful way to start out weekend! The bartender suggested a bottle of red (Primitivo) that was just what we were looking for and we had the ricotta, grana padano, garlic and mustard greens pizza. The mustard greens were an amazing addition - spicier than the more common arugula! The restaurant is in Germantown, a more up and coming part of Nashville, and it took longer than expected to get an Uber to the bars after eating. Overall, a great date spot and the service at the bar was just what I look for when traveling - the bartender suggested spots to check out in Nashville and in Chattanooga during our trip home!
(4)
W. John R.

We dined here with some friends who moved to Nashville awhile back. When your local friends recommend a place as THE restaurant you have to try when you're in town for the first time, you have a high expectation. And this place most definitely delivered. My first pleasant surprise was the cocktail menu. Whenever you see an assortment of bitters, egg whites, citrus zest, and other creative ingredients beyond the standard liquor-and-soda, you know you're in for a treat. I ordered two different drinks just because I was so curious, and both were pour to perfection. We had a relatively late lunch at Centennial Park, so we weren't starving enough for appetizers. Our friends ordered the calamari and it looked phenomenal. My main course was the chuck steak. I was nervous ordering what is generally looked at as an inferior meat at that price point, but my fears were completely unwarranted. The lemon/Parmesan/onion combo was a different take on steak, and I devoured every bite. I felt badly for our waiter, who tripped going up the steps and lost an entire tray full of empty water glasses. Note: be careful if you're planning to hit this restaurant up on the same day as a baseball game. There isn't a dedicated parking lot, and the street parking is completely packed due to close proximity to the baseball stadium. There were paid lots nearby charging money, but instead I found an open street spot - but it was about 5 blocks away and a ten minute walk back to the restaurant.
(5)
Michael U.

Items Selected: Frico: Buttermilk Cheddar, Sweet Potato, Chilies, Scallion, Cider Vinegar Belly Ham Pizza: Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, Chilies, Egg Cornbread Gnocchi: Chard, Tomato, Tesa, Chilies, GMRS Conchiglie: Mushrooms, Parmesan Fonduta, Garlic, Lemon, Parsley Rice Grits: Chicken Sausage, Greens, Red Onion, Garum, Grit Crumbs Sausage: Rhubarb, Orange, Vidalia, Peanuts, Celery Yellow Corn Grits, Turnip Greens, Pot Liquor Strawberry Ice Box Pie: Preserves + Braccheto Jelly, Vanilla Malt Snickerdoodle Crumbs, Mascarpone Crema Cookies + Cream Panna Cotta: Sipping Cream Caramel, Chocolate Toffee Meringue Crumbs, Mascarpone Crema Tennessee Waltz Cake: Chocolate Buttermilk Praline, Bourbon Zabaglione, Coffee Butterscotch Almond Ricotta Pound Cake: Lemon Marmalade, Lemon Ricotta Gelato Frequently named amongst the best restaurants in Nashville, and yet another in the long list of places proudly promoting a seasonal menu focused on Italian accented Southern fare, it was at City House that the trip's final dinner with family would be enjoyed and although some aspects of the night were marred by an exceedingly loud group of bachelorettes and service that seemed far more interested in tables to whom he could push expensive bottles of wine the food itself was mostly quite good, a few significant highs and the rest at least well enough prepared to let the quality of well sourced ingredients show. Situated in an old home with seating spread amidst a large downstairs and two rooms comprising the space above, it was at first that our seating in a small former bedroom seemed a bit unfortunate but once the bridesmaids became well lubricated even the warm, stagnant air was preferable to the shrieks and shouts echoing off high ceilings - our server more than once pulled to assist another young man that appeared to be an overwhelmed trainee as thirty minutes passed between ordering and first courses that never once saw our party checked in on at all. Eventually mentioning the lack of attention to our server, a confronting attitude offered where an apology would have been far better made, it was thankfully here that appetizers arrived, the crisply fried cheese and vegetables offering a slight bit of heat amidst hefty aromatics while the lightly charred pizza featured a crust robust enough to stand up to several unctuous toppings, the signature cornbread dumplings dotted in pancetta, tomatoes, and greens certainly as hefty a plate as would be expected, a dish best shared to be sure as a half-portion would serve smaller appetites as a meal in itself. Onward to entrees, at this point visibly seeing patrons in the larger room wince at the behavior exhibited from the party of twelve, it was another large bowl of pasta that proved the best of three plates for as good as each sausage was the accoutrements leaned heavily on the use of onions with the chicken version all the more confounded by what seemed like nothing more than raw lettuce, an odd choice to say the least, though certainly not as unpalatable as the side of corn grits that was so bracingly bitter than it went almost untouched, a 'your mileage may vary' plate to say the very least. Having heard many positives of the City House dessert program, enough so that the meal would culminate in an order most easily stated as "one of each, please," it was here that I was glad none of the entrees compelled me to overeat for as much as the prices of some savories seemed a tad excessive the $8 sweets were portioned exceedingly generous, the lightly set panna cotta most certainly the lightest of the quartet despite its bold flavors while the strawberry tart melded cream and fruit flawlessly, both cakes far more decadent with the poundcake potentially containing as much as a stick of butter per slice and the layered Tennessee Waltz just boozy enough to tantalize the tastebuds up front before dissipating into notes of coffee and caramel competing for top billing amidst a buttermilk tinge.
(3)
Sheena T.

Man... I hate when I have to write an update for a place that has gone down, but I had to for City House. Stopped in for dinner the other night and had a very lackluster experience. We started with a raw cauliflower and cabbage dish with a light red wine vinegar that was pretty good. It came out quickly and we thought we were off to a good start. Not so much. It took a long time to get our entrees and we were a party of two. Once they came it was not worth the wait. I had the chicken with a side of mustard coated red onions. If that sounds weird, it tasted really weird too. The chicken wasn't very moist, and I made the comment that I've had better rotisserie chicken at Publix. My dish was very blah and the onions were just not good. My BF had the grits with a lamb sausage that he enjoyed, but again, I thought tasted oddly. It was kind of tart and I just didn't think it went well together. The two highlights of the meal were the chard side and the fuzzy beer drink. Both of those were excellent, but overall, the meal fell very flat.
(3)
Jeff D.

With all of the national hype surrounding City House I suppose I was expecting more. Hype can do that. Likely this was a perfectly delightful place and buzz happened. Buzz can be a good thing for a restaurant as it struggles to attract attention. When it gets out of hand it raises expectations to a level only a slim group of places can attain. I believe this is the place City House finds itself. The food was good, the service was excellent and the vibe was lively. This was a perfectly fine meal and under normal expectations I would be satisfied. The hype unfortunately left me wanting. Too bad.
(3)
Krystal L.

The worst meal I had in Nashville. Seriously sad. DRINK Very very bad cocktails. Ordered the Old Fashion at the bar and it tasted like a cheap berry cocktail. We moved to our table and I asked for a red wine to replace the drink. I was unsure if there was some uncertainty about me not wanting the cocktail so when a man brought the wine and I explained the situation, and attempted to hand him my cocktail back. He refused and said he would tell my server. Unpleasantly, that did not happen and instead we were stuck with the icky cocktail on the bill. Even after I explained to the waitress (she approached us when I wrote her a note on the bill). She profusely apologized and then left. Ok.....you are actually not sorry. Because if you were you would have tried to help us remedy the situation. The cocktail was $10 but at that point it was on principal. FOOD Carrot/cabbage/white sauce/peanuts appetizer: This was basically coal slaw but for $9. Not worth it. Cornbread Gnocchi, Lamb Sugo: Ok....What the HECK. What the heck was this?? I will tell you. Someone cut up pieces of corn bred, fried it, and put it in a bowl. Oh, and sprinkled a little pulled lamb on top of it. It was ridiculous and was basically eating corn bread drenched with olive oil. Belly ham pizza: Actually very good. I would recommend this. SERVICE A bit disorganized. Again, the drink situation was pretty disappointing. Overall, a very poor experience for valentines day, especially with all the great food we had the days prior. Will not recommend to anyone.
(1)
Loralyn D.

I think this is my all-time favorite restaurant in Nashville. Definitely top 5. The food, atmosphere, history of the building, and quaint neighborhood make it a wonderful experience. The menu changes throughout the season, which forces me to order something a little different every time. I think our favorites are the gnocchi and pizza. Delicious! Make a reservation or expect to sit at the bar on a weekend night. The bar is fun to sit at because you can watch the food being prepared.
(5)
Vickie R.

I wasn't expecting to be able to find anything lighter than what most people know as "Southern Food" in Nashville, but my stomach and I were both happy that we did. This was a place that wasn't even on our radar as we were doing research on places to eat in Nashville since our meals were limited and we've never been to the town, so it was extra fortuitous that it was introduced to us by meeting up with friends that have moved there. My dish was a White Corn Grits, Clams, Greens, Red Onion, Garum, Grit Crumbs. The grits was full of the rich clam taste from the broth and the clams were amazingly tender. The dish looked small in size, but there was definitely enough food to make me full. Honestly, I wasn't all that hungry and my stomach wasn't feeling the greatest that day, but I made the special exception for this dish, and I would've licked the dish clean if no one was watching. It was truly a pleasant surprise in so many ways. We had great service and I loved the industrial ambiance of City House. I do hope to return when I visit again.
(5)
Marla S.

Very friendly, but very busy and seemed to need more help behind the bar. The bartender was working non-stop and at a quick pace, but was slow to get drinks because of the volume she had to manage. The food was great, but not excellent. Cool atmosphere - house with screened in porch and somewhat industrial on the interior. A nice little getaway from downtown Nashville that isn't a long drive.
(4)
Cait C.

These guys are trying way too hard to be trendy and failing just as hard. They are trying to force the fried egg on pizza trend, but the eggs were almost raw, and made the pizzas extremely soggy which was disgusting. I can not recommend this option if you are ordering the pizza. The cornbread gnocchi were very large and very dry, which is the opposite of what gnocchi should be. We had the berry tart for dessert which was 3/4 soggy stale shortbread, should have been 3/4 fruit and a nice buttery crumbly shortbread. The pizzas without the eggs were pretty good, but i didn't come here for pizza. We enjoyed the salad and the octopus the best and would eat those again for sure.
(3)
Caroline B.

Was pretty disappointed with this place. Heard great things, but seemed like the place was trying REALLY hard to be pretentious. Half the ingredients on the menu none of us had ever heard of (and I consider myself someone who knows a decent amount about food) and the entire menu we read online wasn't available anymore... Which was the whole reason we came to the restaurant. Would not recommend them unless you are very into trying obscure ingredients/foods.
(2)
Corie K.

A must-try if you haven't yet. I always order a moose to drink ( I'm not a drinker but it's my best cocktail in town ) and we always order the belly ham pizza (it's also the best in town). And always great service. I've been here a handful of times and sat at bar, table, and pizza counter- all provide a great experience. The chefs are serious about quality too - we witnessed them refire our pizza when it came out a bit more charred than they'd like. That's a great sign that they check and care for the food they send out of the kitchen. Every course was amazing- drinks, apps, entrees & sides, coffee & desserts. They are also consistently good, even with a seasonal menu. I always leave full and happy, and most of the time with leftovers for later.
(5)
Joe F.

This food is by far one of the best in Nashville, and would be a strong contender in any major market. In fact, City House could go head to head with any major market restaurant. Wake up James Beard!
(5)
Courtney M.

We came to City House on a recommendation by a local friend -- seems like a great choice for a Sunday dinner! Word from the wise... make a reservation. They were booked up on a Sunday (apparently it's a special rotating menu night which people come specifically to enjoy) and despite there being multiple open tables scattered throughout the restaurant, the only seats available were at the bar... Bar seats aren't awful as they overlook the small kitchen/prep area. I liked being close to the wood burning oven - smelled great, plus it was warm! For food, we had meatballs and split a pizza. The pizza was a bit disappointing -- quite soggy. The meatballs were our favorite part. Service was spotty. When we had a server, he was great. But drink service was seriously lacking as we frequently had empty glasses (as did the folks to our left and right). I would return to give this place another shot and to try their everyday menu that our friend praised.
(3)
Steve E.

Hard to say one restaurant is the best with the food scene explosion in Nashville. But this is the best, IMO. Others (Lockeland Table, Etch) are a notch above but this is like...home. We had the trout and the Calabrian sausage with summer peaches and pickled onion. Sides were a cabbage concoction and pecorino grits. It was all just silly good. Reminder if you haven't experienced it: The Belly Ham Pizza ( I am in the minority, and prefer no egg) is THE BEST SINGLE FOOD ITEM IN NASHVILLE.
(5)
Van T.

Service is always impeccable and engaged. Food is always amazing. Prices are very reasonable. Been here for Sunday supper, weekday dinner, dinner at the bar and dinner by the brick oven. Although menu changes often it's always good and always keeps us coming back. Anything pork related off the menu is going to be prepared to perfection. They know how to treat a pig. My husband's favorite spot for pizza (pork belly add egg).
(4)
Linda A.

Some things were great, others were just OK. We found ourselves at City House on a Sunday evening. Always wanted to visit and had just not gotten around to it. Our son and his gf were visiting so we took the opportunity to finally get there. Pros: The drinks were really good, we probably had 6 different drinks at our table and everyone was pleased with those. The service was great. We had a fun, knowledgeable and accommodating young man (Andrew? That might not be it. He has a rainbow trout tattoo. Anyway, if his manager reads this, give the guy some praise.) Atmosphere was wonderful. Quirky old farmhouse, we love that stuff. The headcheese appetizer was ridiculously good. We devoured it. Andrew(?) said he has a hard time getting people to try it. Probably because it is called headcheese...but it was not that gelatinous stuff you get other places. This was like the most tender brisket ever on a fluffy, perfect biscuit with pickles and some other stuff. Oh my word...fabulous. Also of note: They were very accommodating about my husband's garlic allergy. Cons: The other food was just ok. The meatballs just didn't have any great flavor to jump out at you...they were just meatballs and kind of mushy at that. The lamb sausage pizza didn't taste like anything all that special. We would definitely go back though. We didn't realize that the Sunday Supper menu was limited and the menu we'd looked at online for dinner looked really good. So, we'll go back and maybe I can upgrade next time.
(3)
Jesse Q.

City House off 4th ave is very Wonderful, on sundays the chefs get to make their own menus and theirs no telling what it will be, if your in town visiting or live here this place would be a great place to add on your list of great places to eat at. Xo
(5)
Michelle G.

I had a great meal here on Saturday night. We ate the margherita pizza, breaded fish with broccoli side salad, and cornbread gnocchi. The portions were reasonably generous. Not TGI Fridays generous, mind you, but big enough that an entree item will easily fill you up. (Of course, then you'd miss all the delicious smaller dishes.) Our waitress was attentive and very knowledgable of the menu. Their cocktails were another big highlight! I recommend the herbivore and also the old fashioned, complete with bourbon-soaked cherries. I would eat there again in a heartbeat.
(5)
Karri B.

I debated all week how to review City House. We went for our five year anniversary because we a) wanted to try a place we've never been and b) wanted a place that had been around for a while. Although people rave about their pizza, we knew we didn't want to try the pizza this round. Looking back, I wish I had gotten the pizza. Our server was stellar and we were really happy with the service. The good: Wine and cocktails. I had the Juno cocktail and Fattoria San Lorenzo red wine. Cocktail first, then wine. Both were amazing. The red was fabulous! The husband had two of the Henry cocktails and loved them too. Olives with Taralli. Ever had a buttery soft olive that almost taste like a chocolate? Yeah, me either until we tried these. Simply amazing and the taralli were a great little addition. Kind of like tiny hard bagels with hints of rosemary and caraway seeds. Very delightful and well worth it. The soup. (husband ordered) Hands down one of the greatest soups ever. Flavorful and unique and I really wish I had ordered this too. My husband couldn't get enough. The chuck steak. (husband ordered) Thin slices of well seasoned beef from a local Tennessee farm. Very simple but elegant. I am not a big meat eater but I did enjoy what I tried and my husband really enjoyed it as well. The not so good: The kale salad. Tiny for the price. Kale salad should never be that price. As soon as it came out with my husband's soup, I knew I made the wrong choice. It was okay, but not okay enough for $9. The rigatoni and lamb. I was debating between this and the pizza but because I knew I could come back anytime and try the pizza and it was our anniversary, I stuck with something I don't normally have- lamb. Let's say I didn't leave full by any means. A flat bowl of rigatoni and this weird gray stewed like meat on top. Not much flavor (thank God there was a little hard cheese on top for some saltiness) and really under performing with the textures. When lamb is on the menu, I'm not expecting something stewed at a place like this. I want succulent chunks of meat (even if it's only a few) and some substance. This was by far the low point of the night. I was really sad. Peanut Butter Ice Box Pie- the crust was so hard we almost sent half the pie across the room to the couple sitting next to us. The bad: The lighting. Absolutely the worst. We were in the bar area where the kitchen is and there are these terrible overhead lights that make the place feel like a warehouse. I got a headache with the lights and the place felt stuffy instead of cozy. Someone get some ambiance in there. Was my husband's food good? Yes. He chose well. I think it really depends on what you order. Our overall experience was just average. The waiter, drinks and olives were a five, but as a whole, it under delivered.
(3)
Shane S.

I've heard about this place for a while. Why did I wait so long!? Great atmosphere, extremely friendly staff, and amazing dishes. I had the catfish with greens--i am tough on greens and these were flavorful and the catfish was cooked perfectly with great seasoning. The pizza was also amazing! I must revisit.
(4)
Laura P.

I really was not sure how many points to give City House (2 or 3 stars), but settled on 2 because of the waitress; pretentious, not very friendly, pushy, and rude. She was training a new waiter; who was very nice though. But, unfortunately, first impressions. Yes, this was out first time going to City House and we will not be going back because of the waitress. We stated it was our first time to the restaurant, being from out of town (but going to Nashville quite often), and she explained that it is a family style restaurant with family style portions. Fantastic. My husband and I had decided to forgo appetizers, so we had room for dessert. My husband asked about desserts and we were directed to the appetizers on the menu. It was not a misunderstanding either from what she said; "Yes, but here are our appetizers;" in a kind of stuck-up tone of why are asking about desserts because you need order an appetizer. The whole time we were trying to decide what to have she was pushing us to order more food than we could eat We finally decided on the Belly ham pizza (which was very good and would love to have it again, but somewhere else). We had seen the size and knew it was going to be plenty for the both of us. The waitress was again pushing food on us that we would not be able to eat. (She was saying that everyone orders a grain to go with their pizza. That's nice, but that would be too much for us.) She left the menu with us, "so we could order more food when ready." The pizza was more than plenty for the both of us. The whole time the couple sitting at the next table could not believe how she was treating us; she was not treating them the same way. My husband decided not to order dessert because he did not want to give her any more money. I ordered dessert because I did not want to go somewhere else just for dessert. The dessert (panna cotta) was very nice and the toffee cookies were fantastic. Also, we saw the food portions that our neighbors ordered and they were not all family style portions, but they certainly had family style portions pricing. I guess this is why she was constantly pushing us to order more food. Basically, we were not happy when we left and had wished that we had left and found a different restaurant.
(2)
Julia C.

The food, service & ambiance were all perfect on a recent trip to City House. A large warehouse-like building has been converted into a restaurant with lots of sections. It is open and cozy despite the many different dining areas, the main one having a view of the kitchen. Most of the dining areas have fireplaces and large windows. Our waiter was very attentive and extremely knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in offering suggestions. We started out with the frico - a fried potato cake with cheddar cheese - what's not to like! We also shared a Margarita pizza, which had a crispy thin crust and perfectly seasoned tomato sauce. For my entree I ordered the lamb rigatoni with olives, onions and pecorino cheese. The lamb was the star of this dish - I don't often eat lamb but this stewed lamb hit the spot and the olives and onions complimented the meat's flavor. My group also ordered the catfish and the sausage (made in house) and everyone loved their dishes. This was my favorite restaurant in Nashville!
(5)
Kris T.

Food is exceptional yet also unique. Smaller portions but man is it really tasty. Every time my wife and I leave this place we start talking about when we are coming back...
(4)
Bridget H.

The good: Just about everything on the menu is great but I really loved the gnocchi, all of the pizzas (get an egg on top!), the pole bean salad. Don't be afraid to try the butternut squash-cottage pizza- it was my absolute favorite. YUM! The bad: I guess it's bad to be good- it's tough to get a reservation here, but try coming early or late on the weekend to sit at the bar. It has the same menu and a knowledgeable, entertaining bartending staff. The verdict: A Nashville staple, this one is a no brainer- a must eat in Nashville.
(5)
Dawn S.

We had gotten a referral from Top Chef winner, Ilan Hall. So glad we did! Hard to find but well worth the trip! Being gluten and dairy free I am always worried about trying new places. Food here was amazing and the chef accommodated my restrictions with ease. My favorite restaurant in Nashville!
(5)
Kylie H.

Waited 1.5 hours but didn't mind - the bar area was a fun environment. Seated upstairs and it was freezing! Our server was nice but seemed annoyed that she had to wait on us and wasn't the most attentive. I'm chalking that up to it being 9PM on a Saturday night but wasn't a great experience for the price we paid. The appetizers were small portions - sweet potato and cheese / summer sausage. I got the Margherita pizza and it was basically a cheese pizza with tomatoes. Nothing special. HOWEVER, my friend got the broccoli pizza and it was amazing. I would go back for that. Overall my experience was very "meh". I'll give it another shot and definitely make different menu choices.
(3)
Hart P.

Wife and I came here for an evening out. We enjoyed ourselves. Nice open atmosphere made us comfortable. Enjoyed thin crust pizzas with gourmet toppings. You do pay for the status of the restaurant. i agree that parking is tricky as all the area lots tow, even when the business is closed.
(3)
Nicole B.

Awesome service, first and foremost. Really knowledgable and attentive staff. I really enjoyed the open kitchen. The decor of the place is really tasteful. I had a Rolo from the bar, which was great. For dinner, I had the lamb rigatoni. Highly recommended. The cuisine is a southern take on traditional Italian food. Loved the concept of it. We had after dinner coffee there too. Very yummy espresso.
(5)
Lynnette F.

The atmosphere, staff and food at City House were amazing. I knew before I even looked at the menu I wanted the Belly Ham Pizza. Hands down one of the best things I ate in Nashville.
(5)
Tracey H.

I've been to City House three times now and I wouldn't hesitate to go back again! Their menu is slightly different each time I go, depending on what's in season. The squash pizza was delicious and I loved the lamb rigatoni! The succotash side was also top notch. Our waiter was extremely nice and patient, very knowledgeable about the menu, and able to answer any questions that we had. You should have heard him describing some of the menu items because he was Food Network Star worthy. I did, however feel like the wait was a bit long for a Thursday night dinner. Overall, I can't wait to go back and see what's new to try on the menu!
(4)
Blake B.

This was our first meal in Nashville and we started off on the right foot for sure. City House is in a cool part of town and the building its in is really cool. Our waiter was awesome and we got his life story. I had a few drinks starting off with the Buzzy Beer followed up by the Sazerac. The buzzy beer was just like an alcoholic root beer float. For our meal we started off with the Fricco with strawberries. Who doesn't like fried cheese and strawberries? I had the belly ham pizza and loved it. My wife had the Conchiglie and really enjoyed it as well. My mother in law had the house-made sausage which was the best thing we had. For dessert I forget exactly what we got but it was delicious. Highly recommended and I'd be back again in a heartbeat if I lived in town.
(5)
Kenny Y.

I came in on a Wednesday night and would have totally missed this place if it wasn't for my GPS. The restaurant / house had a warm feeling with an open kitchen and a wooded oven. A nice crowd for a Wednesday evening and my waitress seemed to be very knowledgeable about the menu. I took one tip from yelp and ordered the Octopus Salad and it was very delighting. And for my entree I ordered the Painted Hill. The name caught me off guard and I thought it was a steak. Not the best cut of meat I had and for the price I could have had a better cut of meat. Not much flavor other than the Worcestershire sauce and a little rough. I saw most people ordered pizzas I guess I should have done the same. For desert I had the Almond Ricotta Pound cake, a little dry but it went will with the gelato. I couldn't have eaten the pound cake alone. It was one those Ying and Yang type of food.
(3)
Donna S.

Excellent seasonal menu. Wait staff informative & friendly. Good vibe, love the pizza bar.
(5)
Dean W.

Went here with a group of 7 friends. Was a bit disappointed in the overall experience. Another of the newer hipster trendy places in Nashville (this trend is really overstaying its welcome.) The waiter recommended that we all order plates to share, which was not a bad idea until the food arrived. Appetizers were way too small to share and entrees were clumsy and large. We had to ask for serving/cutting utensils, I supposed the waiter assumed we were all going to eat like 5 year olds from the same plates in the middle of the table? The food, for all the hype, didn't make it for us. Quite good was the octopus, always a difficult protein to cook. It arrived tender if meager on the plate. I think we each had about 1/2 inch of octopus by the time we shared it. (The waiter should have recommended ordering several plates of each app.) The cornmeal or cornbread gnocchi was a disaster. I appreciate fusion cuisine but several Italians in the group ate 1/2 gnocchi and refused to finish it. Dry, heavy, the antithesis of what a great gnocchi should be. Frico heavy and small. Appetizer prices very high for what you get. Roast chicken came in huge mounds on the plate with nothing to cut it. Also dry and overcooked. In fact, thinking back, I could not remember what else we ordered because the meal was entirely forgettable. And it was impossible to have a conversation at the table because the noise level was too high. Drink prices, especially wine, are high. This one misses the mark....a lot of potential but sadly not quite there.
(2)
Allison B.

Spectacular! Went here tonight for a going away dinner. My friends love this place, and I don't know how I didn't get here sooner. Germantown has really came a long way. The cocktail list was different, and nothing really jumped out at me. I tried two different ones but they were meh. For an appetizer I had the soup: Some amazing cabbage, corn, carrot, potato concoction. Wow! Def trying to remake this one. I also tried the salami, but I found it to be sort of bland. For an entree, I got the half chicken. Cooked to perfection with the most tasteful lemon, onion seasoning. For my side I got the grits which weren't the best. Nothing on the dessert menu stood out to any of us (and 2 our of 3 of us are pastry chefs!). So we opted out. Maybe next time. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Colleen T.

BAR REVIEW: We went in for a drink & it was very unimpressive. We had just ordered the same drink at a place down the street that made it much better. Lighting: Way too bright - felt like a cafeteria Bartender: Not very friendly Drinks: below average After we got our drinks & tasted them we wished we wouldn't have decided to stop. We were going to try the place for dinner but not after that disappointing experience
(2)
Pete H.

I did not care for City House. I don't really know how to describe my experience, other than it seemed like they tried too hard to be cool. I normally would rarely go to Germantown in Nashville, but this was for a friend's birthday. The meal started out badly before I even got into the restaurant. There is no parking lot and the street had already been filled up. I had about a quarter of a mile to walk to get there. The first thing our waiter said was, "I just want to let you all know that if you park in the lot next door, your car will be towed". Two of the five couples had parked in the lot, so they had to get up and move their cars. I'm not sure if there is anything that the restaurant could do to help this, but it was no good. The waiter also seemed annoyed to even help us. He was very knowledgeable of the food, but he seemed very annoyed with any questions we asked. The menu was the smallest menu I have ever seen at a restaurant. The food definitely had a "hipster" feel. I'm sure a lot of people really enjoy it, but I did not. I ordered the Olives with Taralli for an appetizer and it was literally like eight olives on plate. For dinner, I got the Catfish, Cornmeal Crust, Cauliflower, Tomato, Anchovy, Garlic, Chilies. This was not horrible, but it was really just not great for me and I really didn't feel full. I had a couple of Dale's Pale Ale, and my dinner came to like $55. Personally, if I'm going to spend that kind of money, I'd prefer a steak. Anyways, I would definitely not go back to City House.
(2)
Carrie H.

Wow! One of the best meals I have had in Nashville. Service and food was amazing. I would go back every day for their delicious drinks. There were four of us and we tried 6 different cocktails and each was as delectable as the last. We had the cornbread gnocchi and the trout for our main course. Octopus and cauliflower for starters, which was also amazing. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Katie K.

We ended up here on a Sunday night, which is apparently "small plates" night, which is a cool concept. But everything seemed overpriced - a bowl of popcorn was 7$ and there were $20 bottles of beer that were nothing special. I ordered catfish which was well-cooked, but the salad that it came with was way too vinegary. So, we didn't feel the need to stay for dessert.
(2)
Chris H.

Order the Oscar- Blue Head Tequilla, Strega, Lime Juice, sugar. Interesting drink, refreshing and very tasty. Was not in mood for whiskey or beer. Bartender is very cool.
(4)
Michael M.

Italian? Really? 3.5 Stars Went here for a boys night out last week. I don't get the Italian part except for the pizza and a few appetizers. Italian to me is Veal Marsala, Veal Scallopine, Portbello Mushrooms, Lamb & Veal Chops not catfish, chicken, and trout but back to the review. Decent affordable wine menu but I'll probably bring my own next time. Decor is open with a cool atmosphere though the bar looks like my Grandmother's basement where we would cram 60 people. Probably a compliment but not very enticing. We started out with a Margherita Pizza which was good but was missing the fourth ingredient - fresh BASIL! We also ordered the Octopus which was cooked to perfection and very good. For entrees we all ordered the same thing but not by coincidence. The menu is a bit anemic with choices and again Catfish and Trout are not my idea of Italiano so we all got the pasta dish Rigatoni w/ Lamb. Portion was good as was the taste of lamb but the pasta was molto al dente in that it needed another 60 seconds to be al dente perfecto. We whacked up a Vanilla Custard Panna Cotta for dessert which was excellent.
(3)
Leif S.

Too noisy. Acoustics are terrible. Can barely hear the person next to you. Would it kill them to put a sound baffle up? Minus one star. Food was blah. Had the rigatoni with lamb. Could barely taste the lamb over the salt. And I like al dente pasta, but the pasta bit back. Minus one star.
(3)
George D.

Belly ham pizza with the fried egg on top will change your life.
(5)
emily p.

My favorite restaurant in Nashville. I truly love this restaurant and everything it serves. I love the pizza. Belly ham pizza was one of the best meals I recall eating. I always get 2 or 3 apps. And a lovely cocktail or glass of wine. Truly could eat here for the rest of my life. Never leave!
(5)
Bill F.

My wife and I have dined here many times, but last week was our first experience with the "Sunday Night Dinner" which has a unique menu that changes each week. The menu and the food did not disappoint as we started with with some good Italian wine (can't remember the name) and a truly amazing arugula, cheese, and ham appetizer. We followed this up with a lamb sausage pizza and lamb meatballs. The pizza was fantastic, but the meatballs were just ok. The service good, attentive, and personal. My only complaint was having a 5:45pm reservation, arriving 10 mins early, and not being seated too 6:10pm when there were seven open tables.
(4)
Dawn W.

Not sure I'd go back. City House was recommended by a friend of a friend, and we wanted to try something new. Had no expectation at all one way or the other so this is just an honest review. Notes: 1. Almost impossible to find parking, even on a Sunday night. Parked about half way to the new stadium. Fortunately it was a lovely evening and the walk was enjoyable. But they desperately need complimentary valet parking. 2. No where to wait inside. We had a long wait and stood the whole time. Additionally, we were herded off to the back corner of the bar by the hostess with an attitude who might as well have said "You're in my space, please go somewhere else". In the holding area, there was no seating so we stood for the entire time. 3. VIBE: We ate on the screened porch which was really nice. I recommend this. 4. Our server seemed disinterested in us and irritated when we asked for help finding our gluten-free friend something to eat. When we asked for a side of the corn cake which was listed with the chili, he said they could not accommodate us and said we had to order the chili in order to get the corn cake. Additionally, he seemed slightly irritated when we asked for anything, like ice for my water. 5. The Sunday menu was limited, and they were out of several things on an already limited menu. both things we ordered were already sold out. 6. Not gluten free friendly: no gluten free pizza crust, no gluten free beer etc. And of course, they wouldn't let us order the corn cake which was one thing our friend could have eaten. 7. Slowish service. we sat for a long time to get water, then again to get our drink order. 8. The menu is slightly snobby and not user friendly. i.e., there are acronyms in the food description that no one knew what it meant,like GMRS. We had to google at least 3 ingredients to find out what the menu was talking about and we know a bit about food. 9. PRICES and PORTIONS: simple note, prices too high for the abbreviated portions. 10: Quality of food: my sausage stew with biscuit was delicious. Compliments to the chef. But again the portions were disappointingly tiny for the money. My husband ate again when we got home because he was still hungry, and he is a light eater to begin with. SO, overall, not a lot to be impressed with. For me the highlight was the flavor of the food itself, but so much to put up with just for a few good bites. I might try it one more time with the regular (not Sunday) menu and see if the experience is any better. .
(2)
Caitlin C.

I'm still going to round up to 4 stars for City House because over all you will enjoy your meal and experience. The service and atmosphere is awesome and I do like the vibe. I wouldn't say "elsewhere is better" to anyone planning to go but ultimately I'll only be returning to City House if others are inviting me. It's just not my first choice when it comes to fine dining. I really feel like the strong point of the two meals I've had at City House are the small sides and the desserts. Last night we went for their Sunday dinner, in which you order a bunch of things to share. It was enjoyable. The service was great and the food was satisfying. Honestly, the best things from last night was the popcorn, ice cream sandwiches and the lemon poppy seed cake with buttermilk ice cream and blackberry jam. The pizza was good and the wings were good but like I've said before, I just get this overall sense that I've had similar dishes else where in the city that of a higher caliber in the flavor department. That's how I felt the first time I visited and that's how I felt after last night. ps Rebekah Turshen you rock!
(4)
mag m.

I would watch your final bill - check your statements. They overcharged a credit card a very small amount - sure, could have been an honest mistake, so refund me without questions! BUT NO - they gave me a VERY difficult and RUDE time reconciling it. FACT is the GM Juliette tried to embarrass me for calling over a small overcharge to my credit card and didn't want to readily refund it either. I had to argue over it and DEMAND that they refund my credit card - and then the GM accused me of making a mistake on my math! REALLY!! The entire experience left me feeling like I had been RIPPED OFF and that they were hoping I didn't notice. Wondering if they make overcharge "mistakes" often - hoping you won't call over such a small amount - multiply that by a few more and well, you do the math - it could be hundreds or thousands - who knows! GM also claims they don't keep receipts for over two weeks so used that excuse to say they could not go back and look at my receipt to prove I was overcharged - PROVE!!!! I even offered to scan and send a copy of my original receipt, but Juliette wasn't interested. Facts are, they are required by law to keep them for up to 18 months - so was that lie or lazy or what? I just don't get it! Here's the facts on businesses keeping receipts - i didn't write this stuff! smallbusiness.chron.com/â€¦ . Too bad huh... Not enough, try this one: gopai.com/blog/Merchant-â€¦
(1)
Jaya D.

We made it a mission to have exceptional meals during our short stay in Nashville...and we accomplished that. However, the best of the best was our time at City House. Before I rave about the food and drinks, our waiter deserves a thank you. Paul made this experience outstanding. From the recommendation for cocktails to dessert, he was spot on. I will confess, I had never heard of most of the ingredients in the cocktails but each (Oscar, Momo, and one I can't remember) was delightfully complex. We had the belly ham pizza for an appetizer. The cheese was ah-mazing. Entrees included the trout, tri tips, and sausage. All were delicious. The sausage is made in house and really rich. The trout is from a preserved stream and was delicate but full of flavor. If you love brussel sprouts, don't miss out. But the califlower was really the best. I know this is getting long but I can't leave out dessert. I don't care how stuffed you are...get it. If you are fortunate enough to visit when the pastry chef is making coffee cream soda cake (I may have the order of adjectives wrong) don't miss it (apparently she only makes it a few months a year). the chocolate pecan praline was also fantastic. I'm running out of ways to talk about it...stop reading and go!!!
(5)
I M.

Very disappointing. We didnt have very high expectations;we just wanted a guaranteed nice meal and nice service, and it turned out to be a noisy place, rude service and pretty bad cooked food for a place like this. Pizza was good, however nothing extraordinary...so would not come back again for the pizza... And as for that linguine that tastes as if eating a bowl of salt.... Come on. I hope this might have been a bad day for the chef, but for a 100$ i expect something at least that tastes OK and not BAD. Waiter was totally unfriendly when we pointed this out. Im not coming back
(1)
Laura C.

I came with friends who are regulars, so the service was great! It is really loud inside, but the food and the drinks were delicious. I had the locally-made shell pasta and it was so good. The part that blew me away was that the cookie dessert plate involved cookies that were actually delicious. I would go back for drinks and cookies, and I usually don't do that kind of thing. The octopus appetizer was also amazing.
(4)
Stacy B.

We loved the atmosphere here. Loved. From the open kitchen to the exposed piping. I "oohed" and "aahed" while walking to our table. On to the important stuff: food and adult beverages. I made reservations late in the game and could only get a 5 p.m. seating. Worth it. We were served by a delightful waitress (I wish I could remember her name) who helped us settle on a cocktail called the Samson, featuring Averell Damson Gin (a gin made from plums), Vermouth, Lemon Soda, Bitters, Grapefruit. That started us off on the right foot. Next up was an appetizer of Pole Beans, Chickpeas, Red Onion, Cider Dressing, Basil, and Grit Crumbs. It was a unique alternative to a salad, and I figured eating greens before pizza would lessen my guilt. The truth is that the pizza ended up being so delicious, I couldn't have felt guilty about it if I tried. Yes, the star of the show was definitely the pizza. We split the Tomato, Buttermilk Cottage Cheese, Grana Padano, Garlic, and Oregano. I'm not a cottage cheese fan, so I'm not sure what possessed me to try this, but I'm thankful that I did. In other words, if you aren't a cottage cheese fan, don't let it deter you. Loved the crust, loved the cheese, loved that the tomatoes were so juicy they kept spitting juice everywhere. Everywhere. We polished off the pizza frighteningly quickly, and my boyfriend has since declared it his favorite meal on our trip to Nashville. I highly recommend.
(5)
Missy M.

We were in Nashville for a college visit with no specific dinner plans on a Sunday night. After walking down Music Row, we knew there had to be better places to eat in Nashville! A quick Google search and we found City House. What a find it was! We were seated immediately on a Sunday evening, which we soon learned is the best night to dine. Our server was fabulous and very enthusiastic about the menu. He said we would be remiss if we did not order the pork meatballs. He was correct, they were simply sublime and melted in your mouth. Everything we tried was wonderful. The cocktails were equally good. Leave room for dessert. We had the Apple Pan cake and it left us wanting more. After reading some of the other reviews, I don't know how their bill was so high. We thought it was extremely reasonable $80 for 4 people.
(5)
Caitlin N.

City House is in a beautiful old building and has a great open kitchen. Service was fine but not as attentive as we would have liked. It was hard to get our server's attention as it was very loud. The food seemed unique on the menu but we didn't feel it was anything to write home about once we tasted it There were four in our party and two ordered pizzas which the table felt were the best meals of the night. One of us ordered the corn bread gnocchi. It was extremely heavy and she barely ate it. We did enjoy dessert. Overall we left a little disappointed and wishing we had gone to Germantown Cafe.
(3)
Bethany W.

This place nails it. Packed at 8:30 on a Wednesday night, the service was attentive and personable. There was a nice buzz throughout the space without being too loud, and the architectural details are spot on. We split two antipasti: A) the pole beans, field peas, red onion, pickle dressing, basil, and grit crumbs, and B) the corn, celery, GMRS, red onion, and tomato dressing. While we agreed both were delicious, we enjoyed the corn option a bit more. We then split the tomato, buttermilk cottage cheese, grana padano, garlic, and oregano pizza. The crust was impeccable, and the size was perfect for the two of us. We also tried the Kubric, which is made of Prichard's TN Whiskey, Clear Creek Pear Brandy, bitters, and ginger ale, before enjoying a bottle of the Cascina Roccalini, a Dolcetto d'Alba from Piedmont. My boyfriend - an Italian - proudly calls City House his favorite restaurant in Nashville. After visiting myself, I can see why.
(5)
Olivia S.

Love this place. I've never once been disappointed in food or service. The wait staff is always so knowledgable and quick to fix you up with their favorites. Great drinks, great, simple atmosphere, and great folks. If you get a pizza, get the egg on top! Just do it!
(5)
Alyson W.

City House is actually one of the best cheap eats in Nashville... Yes, I said cheap. One of the great appeals to City House is that you can go and drop some serious cash, or you can go for a quick delicious bite and not break the bank. I always opt for their pizzas... ALWAYS. The belly ham pizza is one of the most unique dishes I've had in Nashville and makes so thankful that I live here, and also that I'm alive. All this from a pizza... indeed. Hint: the chile sauce can be placed on the side because yes, its very spicy.
(5)
Marisa L.

Great food with a seasonal menu. Fun place to share a few dishes family style. Way too loud in the restaurant, though. Love the side porch when the weather is nice.
(4)
Sarah P.

Two words: Sunday Supper. It's their once-a-week, always unique menu that's good for two! Another sweet find thanks to a local! Reservations fill up quick, but the bar because is first come, first serve. I was not angry about the brick-fire oven and being at the bar meant being able to talk to the chef's who were super nice. Their drinks are on point and in typical Tennessee fashion, their bourbon & whiskey selections are seemingly endless.
(5)
Stephanie K.

Sunday menu is divine. I'm pretty sure I have a crush on Tandy's pork snacks. All manner of meat treats to delight in. I heard from a vegan it was good for her too, but who cares, come for the pork belly pizza and enjoy whatever sounds interesting on this pitch perfect, creative menu.
(5)
Rebecca D.

We went to City House with high expectations following several rave reviews from friends. My girlfriend and I had 7:45 reservations on a Thursday night ready for a spectacular meal, great drinks and fine service. We were seated promptly and were quickly greeted by the server. Sadly, that was the first and last time our server was quick and attentive about anything. We ordered cocktails and waited about fifteen minutes before we received them. We then ordered several things to share including the frico, zucchini, rigatoni with duck, gnocchi and clams/octopus. We also ordered a bottle of wine to share. The wine took a full 20 minutes to arrive at our table. The food was promptly served by food runners. The frico, zucchini and gnocchi were phenomenal (though the gnocchi had a meat sauce, not indicated on the menu, so inedible for my vegetarian friend, she ordered pizza instead). The rigatoni was terribly oversalted though (and I like my salt), so we had to send that back. The clams and octopus were also underwhelming and terribly salty. By the middle of the evening, my friend and I were starting to wonder if perhaps we just weren't cool enough for the hipster vibe of City House to deserve great service as the tables adjacent and behind us were seated, served and out the door after we had arrived and long before we had even ordered after dinner drinks and dessert. Once we did order that last time our drinks took another 10 minutes and dessert never arrived. We sat at the table with empty glasses for a full 30 minutes. We tried to flag down our waiter but he was nowhere to be found. Finally, we just got up and asked a hostess if she could help us settle up. The server then came over to awkwardly provide excuses (thinking we were just enjoying our (clearly empty) drinks and didn't hear us when we ordered dessert), and the manager was apologetic and did remove the rigatoni from the check. I understand servers land "in the weeds" sometimes and there was a large table that came in halfway into our time there, but if he had simply asked for some support, we would have likely ordered more and he would have had a more lucrative evening for himself and his restaurant. For the innovative cocktails, unique wine list, pizzas and fresh fare made with seasonal veggies, I'd be eager to give them another shot, but when service is that poor, it unfortunately casts a pall over the entire experience, making it an overall disappointment.
(2)
Julia G.

City House does not have many options on the menu for gluten free people, although they did make one of their dishes gluten free for me by substituting bread crumbs with cornmeal! The waiter was knowledgeable about gluten, and did a great job of knowing everything on the menu and the ingredients used in each dish. And the food was DELICIOUS!
(4)
whitney D.

One of my favorite Nashville spots. Excellent food, drinks and service. Miss it terribly as we no longer live in TN. Great spot for special dinner with significant other, friends or family.
(5)
Curt H.

City House came highly recommended by a friend who's restaurant opinion in the past has been good. City House totally missed the mark despite having a great space for a restaurant. We sat at the chefs table/bar, and noticed poor sanitary practices by "chefs" & servers. Appetizers: Salami w/parm cheese & octopus w/butter beans were average, over priced, and jokingly small by portion size. Shared the anchovy pizza which was good, but not great. Ordered a dessert hoping to salvage the experience, but alas it didn't happen. The chocolate fudge pie was prepared & presented as if your teenager had been watching the Food Channel, and wanted to try being creative in the kitchen. I dine out 98% of the time due to travel, and believe I have a grasp of the experience & expectation at restaurants. Upon leaving another couple walking out at the same time heard us talking, and shared a very similar opinion. Far better places to eat in Nashville, and hope this will save someone and/or another couple time & $$ with this review.
(1)
Lannae L.

This is my favorite restaurant. Salads, frico, pork dishes are all good. The desserts are great, and I am not usually a dessert person. The belly ham pizza is really good. The crust is just right, and the pizzas are made in a wood fired oven. Tandy Wilson, chef and owner, strives to use seasonal, local and fresh ingredients. Most meat he serves is local, organic and free range. The vegetables, when he can, are also local organic. The pasta is made by Lazzaroli's a fresh pasta maker right down the street. The caution is, that some dishes and greens have a lot of salt, and some dishes don't. The last time I ordered pasta there, I requested no salt added, but bring a salt tableside, and it was fine.
(5)
Sam R.

Nashville's only real world-class restaurant. You've got to know your way around the menu because there are a couple of pitfalls -- getting adventurous can get you into trouble. The belly ham pizza is the best I've ever had. The roast chicken is similarly wonderful. Pastas almost always deliver. The cheese frico is a great appetizer. Damn I want to go tonight, but alas it's Tuesday.
(5)
Rita C.

Love their food here. It is so hard to find a good quality meal here in Nashville that is decently priced. Most of the nice restaurants in Nashville are way overpriced in my opinion. City House is a great little find!! Their pizza is huge and their pasta (i believe) is handmade. Great little date place or casual girls night out dinner :)
(4)
Courtney H.

I've been visiting Nashville for 5 years & have eaten at many restaurants in Franklin & Nashville. Our hotel recommended City House, & they were right on. The ambiance is rustic, industrial & cozy. The service was great, we love Ben! And our appetizers, dinner & dessert were all delicious. Organic succulent chicken, trout with nuts & cranberries, to-die-for octopus with chickpeas, insanely good potato cheese app & a yummy dessert...oh & great wine!!! This is our new fav spot in Nashville!!
(5)
Pepper L.

Hi, I'm Pepper and I'm a "foodie". There, I confessed it, finally. Yes, my husband and I will travel hundreds of miles to eat food prepared by a world class chef. Last night I went to City House based upon your recommendations, fellow yelpers. It was the most miserable of my week stay in Nashville thus far. Why? Because I literally gorged myself to the outer bounds of gluttony and beyond! The food was THAT good. There were no mistakes. I had to eat everything! The trout was an inexplicable gastronomical delight. I often try to recreate favored meals at home. I won't even try this one. I will just suffer a 5 hour drive return trip. I cannot replicate Tandy's culinary devices - at least not yet. First off, I don't have a wood burning oven in my kitchen. Secondly, I was too engaged in the pleasurable consumption of my meal to dissect the unusual combination of ingredients used in the preparation - raisins and peanuts in trout? End result - heavenly! The crisp smokiness of the skin combined with the moist tenderness of the flesh insured perfection.... My husband loves chicken. As he is a master of understatement I was gratified when I heard those guttural sounds of utter satisfaction emanating from his mouth. He related that this moist, flavorful, crisp chicken exceeded even the best he had at the Four Seasons in Kona, Big Island, Hawaii... And then there was the side dish of sweet potatoes cooked in a manner in which I would never have conceived. I was seated at the chef's bar so some of their preparations I could witness. I believe they roasted the potatoes first, nurturing it in that wood fired oven. The dish was a sweet potato goodness that I can only ineptly describe as a cross between momma's home fries and baked sweet potatoes? So I could have ended it all there on that tempestuous yet gratifying note, knowing the miserable night awaiting me, but I didn't. I never get deserts because I don't want to overdo, but I did. And I am glad of it! The desert arrived. It's benign outward appearance belying its lustful bounty. As I bit into it, the moist warmth of the almond ricotta pound cake paired with a type of creamy gelato robbed me of any sense of caloric propriety. Now, to set the record straight, did I mention we started with a sauteed octopus? Although steeply priced, the taste sensation lulled my sense of economy into a submissive somnolence. What I won't mention, however, is that we also consumed an entire margarita pizza with homemade mozzarella on thin crisp crust prior to devouring the aforementioned profusion of delights. Ok, there, I said it anyway. And I must mention the wait staff. They knew the vital role they play in making patrons feel not only welcome, but necessary. They were perfect - attentive, friendly but not overbearing, anticipatory and unpretentious. In fact, it is there fault that they kept recommending just the right food and drink for our appetites. So, as I mentioned in the beginning I had a miserable night, but boy was it a worthy extravagance!
(5)
Valerie D.

Came here on a recommendation from someone at Jamaicaway (Farmers Market), which was also delicious. Came to city house for sunday dinner and loved the pork snacks! City house had absolutely delicious house-smoked trout, pork meatballs, pizza and pork belly. Service is EXCELLENT - never missed a beat! Everything was wonderful and the restaurant was beautiful to boot. Congrats on the James Beard nomination - well deserved!
(5)
katie l.

i chose to go to city house in december in large part because it was open for dinner relatively late (10) compared to most restaurants around here (closed at 8 or 9). we enjoyed drinks at the bar first, which were a little bit pricey but inventive and good. the bar area was pretty busy, and the restaurant has a soho sort of feel to it. it's a huge space open to the kitchen with somewhat spare decor, but the tables are adequately intimate and comfortable. the best thing we had, i think, was a cauliflower salad with almonds, pomegranate seeds and citrus. it was just amazing, and i don't even like cauliflower that much--very crunchy and fresh, with a lot flavors i wouldn't have expected to experience together. the pizza with house-made ham was good (though i was a little underwhelmed by the ham), and the tri-tip with gremolata was also very tasty (but the portion was a little small for the price). people near us had some of the pastas, which looked delicious. i thought that it was a tad overpriced in some respects, but i had a really fun time there--city house doesn't really feel like any other place i've been in nashville. the area around it also feels a bit abandoned and desolate, which was a little creepy on the way home. but i definitely plan to go back!
(4)
Jennifer M.

It was good, but not fabulous. Service was so-so...our waiter was fairly attentive, but we ordered family style so we could all share and stuff came out with a -long- gap between some of the entrees. Like they forgot about part of the order kind of long gap. That said, the food was good. The margherita pizza tasted like fresh tomatoes and the apple salad was incredible. Dessert was ok. Overall, good food, decent service, but seriously overpriced for what we got.
(3)
Morgan J.

Excellent food from a chef who cares about excellent food. Get anything on the menu, no matter how scary it might sound. You won't be let down. Also, drink whatever the bartender recommends.
(5)
Harper B.

Best dinner in a long time. Food was unpretentious, service was great, whiskey list is exceptional!
(5)
Oliver G.

Interesting location on the rise, nice modern-rustic decor inside, the food here is arguably the best in town, fresh and made to order. Finally, someone around here knows how to use a brick oven. We went on a Sunday night, which has a different menu than the rest of the week, a little experimental. All of the appetizers were pork snacks which was really interesting. Pizzas are brick oven, very thin, with creative flavor combinations (salt cod, garlic and new potatoes), always changing. The wine list and cocktail menu are great, moderately priced and diverse. Our entree items were a cured salmon succotash salad, mackerel spiedini, and heirloom tomato crespelle. Service was good, a little slow, but it was a really busy Sunday night. I can't wait to try it again!
(4)
ALEXIS P.

i think city house has really hit its stride. i had issues with it in the beginning that i think have totally worked themselves out, and the food is nothing short of fantastic. the service has improved, the menu has evolved (and continues to), and the food has actually gotten better. i love the different seating options, sitting at the bar with a girlfriend after work and splitting a pizza, or sitting at the chefs bar on a sunday night sampling whatever the chefs suggest, or sitting in the main dining room for a special occasion. the swiss chard & ricotta pizza is to die for (i have even had dreams about it), all of their house-cured meats are impeccable, and i always get whatever seasonal produce/salad they are offering because it is always done so simply and perfectly. this is one of the last places in nashville that continues to impress me, and i hope they keep it up.
(5)
Robert K.

City House is a really authentic Italian style restaurant in Germantown. The restaurant itself is pretty cool and has a big open kitchen that just screams "fresh". It is always nice to be able to see into the kitchen, so you know nothing sketchy is happening with your food! The prices are pretty good too, they have pizzas for around ten bucks that are gourmet and ooh so tasty. The margarita is defiantly good and has fresh mozzarella. Also, try the sausage which has lemon, red onion, and parsley. It is really good in pasta!
(5)
Lauren A.

i finally ate at city house after a year of talking about it - i don't know why it took me so long! This is now one of my favorite places - thanks for my boyfriend. It has a very charming atmosphere that seems rustic yet modern. I enjoy the fact that the main dining area looks into the small kitchen. I think seeing the size of the kitchen makes you appreciate your meal all the more... the menu is small and obviously changes frequently or with the seasons. We started with a house-cured salami plate... which i found very interesting considering they served up two kinds of salami, one which had been aging for 6 months and the other for 3. Very high constrast in flavors! I had their house made gnocchi for dinner and it was fantastic. I want to go back and have it again! For dinner I had their cornmeal cake, buttermilk gelato, and peaches - It was a very simple dish that, when combined together worked perfectly. The cornmeal cake was essentially cornbread, but when combined with the tangy smooth buttermilk gelato, it was perfection. Anyway - I highly recommend this place. I hope I can go back again soon!
(5)
Happiness L.

Very unimpressive. Service and food both need revamping to make anything of this restaurant. Atmosphere is ok. Perhaps a good place for drinks....going for dinner elsewhere would be best.
(1)
Leah H.

City House is a contemporary rustic Italian restaurant in up-and-coming Germantown. We discovered this restaurant in December and have literally been back every other weekend! Their pizzas are amazing, the atmosphere is so chic and urban, and the wait staff is knowledgable and friendly. Downstairs is a more open, clean look, and the upstairs space is cozy with exposed brick and fireplaces. City House is now our favorite restaurant in Nashville!
(5)
Graham S.

good hearty food. the chicken. yum.
(4)
Ryan B.

Awesome. The space is beautiful (only complaint was that it was quite loud in the room we were in), the service was superb and the food was just perfect. The menu is simple, but this is it's charm - City House sticks to basic ideas done with the highest quality of ingredients. No complicated flavors and things thrown together for the sake of being creative, just fresh quality food. We stuck to the smaller first plates and pizzas on this visit but the entrees also sounded fantastic and the prices were very reasonable. Also the chef's bar and cocktail bar area looking great for grabbing a nice pizza and glass of wine dinner. I will definitely be back to sample more of their fantastic house-cured salami and sausage.
(5)
Luis O.

had a mixed experience. The restaurant is in a cool location in German town. We sat in the room with the kitchen, and it was way way way too loud to enjoy dinner. It has to do with the room itself being so large which the restaurant could fix if they had some sort of sound dampening material on the walls. We ordered the Salami plate as an appetizer. While it was tasty, I must say I was disappointed in the serving size. it was basically pepperoni slices with some cheese crumbles on top. I know salami itself is expensive, but for $11 I expected more. My dinner partner ordered the Fettuccine with catfish, and mint salsa Verde, and I ordered the pig belly pizza. We waited quite a while for our food to come out, and the restaurant itself was basically cleared out after our appetizer, so service wasn't that quick. The food itself : My girlfriend absolutely did not enjoy her pasta. I must agree, the flavors did not go well together at all. However, the pizza was excellent. The crust was thin, the cheese was freshly made, and it came out piping hot (which may explain why we waited so long). In conclusion, If I am to return to the city house, I will only order pizza. I would probably not return again to sit and have dinner. Only take out.
(3)
Gary Z.

In Atlanta, GA we have an abundance of great restaurants. City House would hold it's own against any restaurant here in our city. I've never been to Italy but if I had I'll bet the food there would taste just as good as it does at City House. They embrace the "farm to fresh" table concept. Our waitress, Jocelyn, was very nice and did a superb job! We sat at the kitchen bar and if you like to watch the chef's at work I would recommend sitting here. We got to know Jesse who is one of the chefs and he let us try a small item each night that he was preparing our meal. What a nice treat! The first time I dined here I tried one of their salads with sun gold tomatoes, celery, and cannellini beans. The combination of flavors with their vinegar, oil, and fresh lemon juice dressing was delightful. I tried their house made belly ham, mozzarella, grana padano, oregano, chilies pizza and it was excellent! My friend had their homemade sausage stuffed with just a little bit of lamb. I tried it and it was very good. When I returned the next night my friend was disappointed as he had to fly back to Seattle so I went solo. I dined on a Sunday and that's the day when they offer a special chef's menu. The chef's have some fun there on Sundays and it shows. The wine menu there is great and my overall dining experience on both occasions was superb. If your looking for fresh food prepared and served with a smile in a fun and lively atmosphere I can highly recommend City House in Nashville, TN. I can't wait to return!!!
(5)
Judy D.

FUn place with family style food and one of the best wood fired pizzas I've ever had. I hear the catfish was fabulous too. Great waiter...wish I remembered his name. He learned all of ours and called us by name. Nice touch.
(4)
Erica D.

My husband and I came here for dinner to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. Although we've only been here once it left a very good impression upon us and we look forward to trying it again soon. We made reservations for dinner on a Sunday night and were promptly seated upon arriving. Sunday night is a bit different from other nights in that it is more about sharing (tapas style). Being a vegetarian I wasn't sure what their options would be, but our waiter (Paul) was most helpful. He was the best! He suggested we try the broccoli, onion, peanut, peanut, buttermilk dressing salad to start ~ it was fabulous. Then we ordered 2 entrees: Papa Pomodoro and the cauliflower pizza. Both were fabulous. For drinks we ordered the Thelonious monk beer and the Bandit (cocktail) both of which were great. For dessert we the apple streudel with buttermilk sherbert ~ amazing! All in all the experience was great and the food was too! I will def. be back and highly recommend both the restaurant and Paul.
(5)
B C.

Meh...We went for my friend's bday since she has been raving about how wonderful their pizza is. Their pizza is pretty good - I think it's the sauce/topping combo that I loved b/c it seems like most of their pizzas have some kind of chili oil or crushed pepper flakes added for heat, which I love. The spicier the better. Another friend also is a big fan of this restaurant and raved about how anything sausage there is good because they roll their own. Eh, not so much. Did not enjoy my sausage AT ALL. It was too salty and salty is fine if the accompanying vegetable is not and complements, which it did not. Was served with a white bean cabbage something and horseradish. The horseradish was so faint I could not taste it so asked for a larger portion side of it. That totally changed the flavor of the sausage - was much better. Anyhow, too salty, poor execution. Pizzas were tasty but like another reviewer said, the middle was very soggy which I excused because I loved the spiciness so much. Most disappointing of all was that I wanted to order the fennel pizza to take home to my husband so I put the order in at the end of the meal before we ordered desserts. Not to be had! They were out of pizzas. The kitchen ran out of pizza dough? Exccuuuuse me? I'm sorry, but it's JUST pizza dough. Who runs out of pizza dough? So disappointing. All other dishes were meh. Nothing to write home about, really. The fried potatoes with blue cheese sounded delicious. Again, execution was a little off. Basically a plate of fried potatoes served with a little chunk of blue cheese. I am sorry, but at other restaurants where I have eaten where they offer potatoes with blue cheese it's a lovely melted blue cheese sauce over potatoes so every potato gets dressed with a touch of blue cheese. Here, it was like okay, fork off a piece of blue cheese then spear a piece of potato and eat. Boring.
(3)
Joanna V.

Caramel flan made the entire table I was with melt in our seats. I would never have ordered it...it was truly amazing. The kale salad was soooo good...also, I wouldn't have normally ordered. The gnocchi was good, but not great. Server knew a lot and helped with dietary restrictions. Would go again and again...when I had money. :)
(5)
Linda M.

Great service - awesome food.
(4)
Sarah A.

We heard a few good things about this place and decided to try it out. It seemed like a good sign that it was booked solid Friday and Saturday, so we went on Sunday.The server was great and very knowledgeable about the menu. I liked the ambiance and the cocktails, but overall the food was disappointing.
(3)
Diane S.

I can only give 2 stars because of the environment. It's crazy hot in there! They have these tiny fans on the floor and the servers are dripping in sweat so it appears to be a long time problem. It was my birthday and we were all dressed up and just sweating! We would have ate more and drank more if we weren't so hot. The food was pretty good but parties over 8 have to do family style which wasn't ideal. They would have made more money off of us if we could have each ordered what we wanted. The gnocchi was amazing! My suggestion is go in the winter with 7 or less people.
(2)
Brooklyn M.

We went here for a late dinner Thursday night. Were only able to get a reservation for 9:15pm. Get your reservations early! It was SO hot in the restaurant. Now, it has been the hottest week on record ever for Nashville, so that could be what it was. This guy brought my husband and I each a glass of water. Not sure why, but there was no ice in it. My husband's glass was cold. My water was WARM. It was horrible. I have no idea why that happened either, but when I asked our waiter for ice for it, he brought it immediately. I got some iced tea, which was wonderful. Our waiter was great. He offered suggestions to us, as we had never been there before. We went with a pizza and the catfish and grits. He had suggested getting 3 items, and we should have listened, but didn't think we could possibly be that hungry. So, my advice, order more food than you think you want. And share! That's what makes this place great. Everyone can get different things and share. Pizza was fabulous. We had heard great things about it before coming. The catfish was amazing. The grits were perfection. We ended up getting a blackberry dessert which was also great since we were still kind of hungry. I will definitely try this place again..
(4)
Ryan C.

I called this restaurant 10 times and emailed them twice..all in 5 days to make an important reservation for me and some customers. They never called me or emailed me back.
(1)
David S.

Definitely a lot of buzz and hype surrounds this restaurant in Germantown. I think City House lives up to the hype. They've done a splendid job transforming the space which I believe used to be the sculptor Alan LeQuire's studio. Very nicely done interior. I'm not a serious foodie, so I'm not up on the regional differences in Italian cooking, but I thought the flavors were clean and fresh. I really enjoyed a salad that was a special the evening I went -- I wish I could remember what was in it; I think a variety of peas. Nice, simple, had some great crunch to it. My friend had some fish that she really really liked, and I had to try the pasta. We had great service, and the table next to us sent a dish back which the waiter was happy to replace with something else. Supposedly they have great pizza as well which I hope to go back and enjoy at the bar one night. I think for the quality of the food, the great service, and the atmosphere it's actually kind of a bargain. Entrees aren't crazy expensive with most dishes around the $20 mark. I didn't try any cocktails, but they did have a nice, homemade lemonade on the menu that was nice. I would reduce their score by half of a star only because one night I called to get a reservation and no one answered the phone. They were closed for a private party which is understandable, but there wasn't anything to that effect on their answering machine. Details, details. Anyway, this place is one of the handful of restaurants I keep in my cell phone and for good reason.
(5)
Katherine M.

City House is the new "it" spot in Nashville, particularly in Germantown. The revitalization in this area is amazing. But on to the food. Two thumbs up! It is a traditional Italian spot, but they also have lighter items for those not wanting a heavy meal. The manila clam pizza is fantastic and very light. I tasted my friend's rigatoni with marinara and veggies, and I would totally order it next time. But, the hit of our table was the trout topped with raisins and peanuts. Sounds weird, I know, but it was yummy yummy. And you have to try the lemon pound cake with apple butter. Worth every bite! We didn't order any dessert cocktails, but they looked good. The Lotus, which is kahlua, espresso, vodka, and maple syrup is on my list of things to try there next time. They have a wonderful Sunday brunch menu which is always changing and perfect for sharing. Just the chef's creations each week. The prices are great! Compared to what you can pay at similar restaurants in Nashville, these entrees range from $9-$24. Wow! I had a great experience, and I'll hurry back.
(4)
Jennifer P.

Although a little pricy, I was not disappointed. My friends and I decided to try and array of menu items to get a good feel of what City House was all about. We ordered the belly ham pizza, the fried kale pizza and the bread gnocchi to split amongst us all. Every bite was superb. A lot of complex flavors perfectly paired together. We also tried their signature cocktails and I must say the Bandit was quite tasty. You would think after such a huge meal no one would have room for dessert. WRONG. I had heard such good things about their desserts, that I shamefully convinced everyone to keep eating. The chocolate s'more pie was so good I'd go back just for that.
(4)
Rebecca F.

I don't get the hype about this place. A group of my friends went on a Friday night for dinner, and besides the pork belly pizza, the food was average to say the least. On the menu, it was described much better than it actually looked and tasted. Not to mention we waited over an hour for our entrees, and when we spoke to the manager about the situation she condescendingly responded, "This is a typical wait time in Nashville on a Friday night." We thought that was pretty rude considering we were from a much larger city, yet have never heard that particular excuse before. Anyway, I think there are many better places to try in Nashville that have friendlier staff and better food. We were really looking forward to our visit and heard great things, too; However, this visit was just not the best way to start off our weekend in our favorite city.
(1)
Laura H.

I had very high expectations of City House, and my meal last night far exceeded them. We were a party of 4 and decided just to order a bunch of dishes and share them as so many menu items looked good, and we couldn't decide upon just one entree. We started with the octopus, frico and a special last night - two lamb chops accompanied by fingerling potato salad. The octopus was not like any I've ever had. It was light and delicate (not chewy at all) and the pickled red onions, carrots and mint resulted in an explosion of flavors in my mouth. The frico was perfectly fried cheesy goodness served over fresh tomatoes - two of my favorite foods. We then moved onto belly ham pizza, tomato and cottage cheese pizza and catfish. I'm not a huge meat eater, so I would have never ordered the belly ham pizza on my own, but I'm so glad I tried it. Topped with a fried egg and a combination of mozzarella and grana padano with house made belly ham resulted in heaven in my mouth. The cottage cheese pizza was also tasty, but if I had to choose between the two, I'd definitely go with the belly ham. The catfish was lightly breaded and baked. By itself it did not have a lot of flavor but the relish on top added flavor with delightful crunchy sweet bites of corn. Although we were all ready to explode at this point, we could not pass on the dessert menu. The oatmeal cream pie with blackberry preserves was creamy and sweet enough, but not overly so. The honey vanilla panna cotta was so light it felt as if I was eating pure sunshine. Eaten with the slightly salty cornmeal cookies, I simply could not decide upon a winner between the two desserts. City House and Chef Tandy Wilson deserve every honor bestowed upon them. Hands down the best meal I've had in Nashville and one of the best in my life.
(5)
Ben B.

Underpriced gem. Fabulous seasonal menu, fresh and filling. Had the kale salad, roast chicken with sweet potatoes, and panda cotta.
(5)
Bridget S.

What a pleasant surprise! Hubby and I ate at the bar. Such friendly and attentive bartenders. My hubby truly enjoyed the House Made Belly Ham, Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, Chilies pizza, fresh flavors and the egg on top made the meal even more enjoyable. My pasta, Casareccia, Broccoli, Anchovy, Lemon, Garlic, Chilies, Pecorino, Bread Crumbs was so very fresh light and delicious! I think we will be eating here often! The dessert was sinful and yummie...a must try....Butterscotch Panna CottaButtermilk Praline, S + P Pecan Sandies, Mascarpone Crema...
(5)
Brian M.

Spent the weekend in Nashville (from Philadelphia), and extensively researched each place we'd want to eat along the way. Saturday night was City House, a place we'd seen mentioned again and again as one of the top spots in the city, even so far as receiving a James Beard semifinal nomination. So we were pumped for the food here to say the least. Much the same as the night before where we thought the venue would outshine the food at Capitol Grille and found it to be the opposite, we found the venue to stand above the food at City House. Not that the food was bad, but that...well, this going going to sound pretentious...we're from Philadelphia. We have like 4-5 places pretty similar to City House. We're lucky. Point being the food here wasn't super special (and yes, I checked the menu coming in so had an idea of what to expect). To whit, the quirky server had to confirm with me "Is it OK if we put an egg on your pizza?" Yeah, duh. "Oh okay, because I've never seen that before working here" he says. Oh. I didn't tell him it's kind of a standard pizza (a tartufo or variant) nowadays to throw an egg on top, but I was thinking it. Act like you've been there. Plus they charge $3 extra to crack an egg on your pizza? Come on. Now I sound like a dick. Whatever. Quick hits: - Gnocchi was heavy. Guess that's the bread part? I don't know, but don't expect pillowy soft stuff here. The lamb ragu was phenomenal though. Spicy. - Frico - when you burn some cheese on the edge of a pan and also have some light potato in there? Yeah, but better. Not worth $11 though. - Octopus was well prepared, which is nice since it can be tricky. Chickpea/fennel bed it was on was excellent. Order this. - Loved the drinks. Nice price too. - Super nice service start to finish. Called a cab for us since we were headed to Opry straight from here (shutup, I told you we're tourists) and we walked from our Downtown hotel. I feel this is a completely foreign concept in this city: walking from place to place. Bicentennial park is gorgeous. Enjoy it, Nashvillians! In the end I get this feeling City House is a new, and really cool, direction for the Nashville dining scene. So props for that. It just didn't stand out for me like I hoped it would given the accolades.
(4)
Brian N.

I had dinner here once, about a year ago, and just didn't care for it. I didn't hate it, but I just wasn't overwhelmed. I know so many people who list this as one of their favorite restaurants, though, so I thought I'd try it again. I liked it so much more! I had a few starters -- mozzarella and corn, which was kind of bland, and okra and buttermilk, which was freakin' fantastic. I had a squash pizza, and I'm disgusted with myself that I ate the whole thing by myself, but it was too good to stop! I'm a fan now. I get what the others see in this place. I'll go back, for sure.
(4)
Ang R.

Excellent. Small shareable plates. Mix of pasta, pizza, interesting veggies. Awesome peanut butter pie. Oh and amazing craft cocktails.
(5)
Monica E.

MUST try the belly ham pizza and make sure to have the egg cracked on top. It's perfection! Also, the trout is absolutely awesome. I get it every time and share another dinner!
(4)
Todd B.

I'm a Nashville native, and I know the food scene quite well. This restaurant now joins Etch, Cat Bird and Lockeland Table among my favorite places to eat. I've been waiting for over a year to go, and I finally got a reservation. The very charming house caused me to wonder how they ever found this place, and the landscaping makes it feel as if you're in a mountain or country village. The decor is minimalistic, and reminds me of several places in the San Francisco Mission District. I loved the charcoal grilled pork belly pizza (Lockeland Table and this place doesn't need to be offering the same thing), and the cheese and egg on top made it so amazing that I couldn't stop eating it. The kale salad was amazing -- with the peanuts, I could eat it for a meal alone. The octopus -- don't follow the reviews of others on this one. See Kevin C. and me -- it's over cooked like over done bacon. Octopus should be more chewy and tender, not brown and crispy. My server was incredibly friendly, attentive and authentic. This should be on anyone's food list for Nashville, but there was some room for improvement in my humble estimation.
(4)
Konefkta K.

I have actually had to wait a significant amount of time to write this review, because of how angry I was after visiting this place. We were in Nashville for a bachlorette party, and decided to go to City House for a nice dinner. After looking at the menu online, we were all pretty excited. Unfortunately, we went on a Sunday night. Apparently on Sundays they serve a limited menu, however, this fact is not very visible from their website...only if you scroll aaaaaallllllll the way down past the wine and cocktails menu. So we get there, and we're already upset that we are forced to choose from THREE entrees or pizza (we were there for a nice dinner and didn't want pizza). Out of those three items, they were out of one. Out of the other entrees, one had peanuts. Since I'm allergic, I asked if they could make it without. The supreme b**** of a waitress informed me that the "chefs" did not want to compromise the integrity of the food and so no, they could not make it without. Seriously? You have a menu with three entrees and one contains an incredibly common (deadly) allergen that you won't compromise on? This meant I was down to ONE ENTREE. ONE. ENTREE. What was it? Meatballs. F****** meatballs. No pasta, no bread, nothing. We asked if we could get a side of pasta or something--FOR THE MEATBALLS TO GO ON--and again were met with "the chefs can't compromise the integrity of the dish...." The girls who decided to go ahead and order pizza were informed that there were only three left, so they had better hurry up and order. My question is, how does this restaurant operate without any fricking food? For their part, they comped my cocktail that I didn't drink because it tasted like trash. TL;DR: They didn't have any food and I wish I could give them negative stars.
(1)
Michael S.

I was in town for business and had one night for a real meal. A friend recommended this place and I was blown away by the pizza and gnocchi. It will be worth another trip to eat here. It is a HOUSE in a somewhat residential area and I passed it up twice thinking I was in the wrong spot. But truly a diamond in the rough.
(5)
Chris M.

I'm visiting Nashville for the holidays and wanted to find a great place to go with my family for dinner -- a place that would accommodate a range of palettes and diets. After some research, which included some rave Yelp reviews, I landed on City House. We booked for five on a Sunday night. On some many levels, the experience was mediocre, at best. But before I get into that, let me say two very positive things about this place: 1). The people who work here are great. From the hostess who greeted us at the door to the bartenders who made us awesome cocktails while we waited for our table to the waiter who (among other things) kept our water glasses very full, the staff here was very nice. 2). The atmosphere is pretty cool. From the outside, you feel like you're walking into an old colonial home, but inside mixes urban decay with urban chic (along with high ceilings and minimal aesthetic all around) to create a space that is well worthy of a good meal. But the meal.... Well, more than that, the menu. After waiting fifteen minutes past our reservation for a table (which really isn't a big deal, except that we were supposed to be seated at 8:15p and by the time we were seated at 8:30p, you really got the sense that the 9p closing time was a big deal), we were led to our table and quickly informed of two things: 1). Probably 20% of the menu was not available because they'd sold out. 2). On Sundays they go with a "cool and cozy" menu that isn't much like what you see online. As in, three entrees, some pizza, and a listing of sides (half of which revolve around pork). Now I selected this place to suit some general foodie taste buds as well as my dad, who's a salt-of-the-earth fella who reviewed the typical menu in advance to make sure they had some selections that would suit his (honestly, pretty picky) preferences, and my sister, who's a vegetarian and also took a gander at the menu in advance. As it turned out, the Sunday menu did not resembled what we saw online, and the website doesn't give any indication that we should expect massive changes on Sunday. (Nor does it really clarify that this is a place that specializes in pork, which, had I known that, would've been a bad selection for the crowd I'd assembled this night.) So, we ordered. The waiter didn't ask if we wanted starters and didn't try to upsell us on any of our entrees; he was nice, but it was clear that we should keep things moving. We ordered, half the table unexcited about the options -- and within FIVE MINUTES all of our entrees appeared. Seriously. Is this McDonald's? I ordered a crusted North Carolina trout, which was tasty, but it was literally a piece of fish BY ITSELF on a plate. The most boring plate you've ever seen in your dining life. This was one of three entrees. The others I was with ordered the meatballs (which were literally three meatballs in a bowl with two cold, toasted pieces of bread for $20+) and two pizzas, one of which was good and one of which was pretty gross -- tasted like it had been sitting around for a while. We threw the second one away, eating only two of six slices. I had enormous hopes for this place (this was actually my birthday dinner -- big up to the Capricorns -- so I carefully selected it and made it a central part of our night in Nashville) but aside from the tasty cocktails, the big industrial walls, and and kind souls who waited on us, I can't say much good about this place. Which is a bummer. My only redeeming thought is that this was the last night before they close for an extended holiday break, and maybe we just received terrible menu options and food because they were low on supplies, energy, and interest.
(2)
Walter M.

I was drawn to this place with the lure of Kentucky Whiskey and Bourbon, but enchanted by the entire experience. Southern Food and Italian, not Southern Italian. And here I was all ready to pour down. Good thing my people know me better than I know myself they are becoming more and more foodie by the day and it's great for any out of towner to be shown the ropes by someone who had never used chop sticks before meeting me. Thanks George, you've come a long way and I'm glad you scouted this for us. Literally half the whiskey's, bourbons I'd never seen or heard of, but wanted to. I'd recently had some bad run ins with the "white dog" and figured it would be better to try something "homegrown". Prichard County White Lightning which unlike most corn whiskey uses white corn instead of yellow. A twist and cringe and a whisper "smoove" and my run in with the white dog was over. Prichards Double Chocolate was complex, slightly undertoned with cacao. Eagle rare 17 yo was the best and priciest, right up there with single malt scotches imo. Velvety, spicy with a controlled sweetness. So with all this liquor you bet their cocktails were good. Many, single named proprietary coctails like the Samson (sloe berry gin, lemon soda, bitters, grapefruit and vermouth). Now we slowly move into the Italian part of the night. House curing slami, parm. Lonza, garlic and lemon. Octopus, fennel and fregola. All of these should be found in an upscale Italian restaurant. They have a pizza with peaches and buttermilk cheddar which turned my head twice. I'd never seen anything like it. House made ham, chilies, scallions, wow. The pizza crust was a little weak, but in the spirit of firsts I was willing to pass on that as they do use a stone wood fire oven. For dinner I split the Half chicken because the celery heart, pecorino and garum dressing sounded enticing. Fermented fish paste in Nashville? Loved the chicken it was perfectly seasoned, but the garum to me tasted more like steaksauce and tasted better on the tri tip which is split than the chicken. Tri tip was crisp, not over powered by the lemon on Worcestershire. Cooked night and hot and not BBQ's like many tri tips. Service is excellent, loved being schooled on the drinks by the server no less. It's got great dÃ©cor and a very rooted feeling. You can feel the Italian and the sense the country throughout. I do love how much of what they do is done in house like the ham and salami, herbs and spices I'm also told. Price is up there, not a normal night out for drinks or food level. Open kitchen keeps you entertained a little bit. I don't recall, but someone got a fresh cracked egg on their pizza nearby. I was extremely jealous by the Sunday menu which is once a week and unique to Sunday only. Boy do they expand their culinary skill adding more to the already diverse menu. The # of snacks they offer on Sunday is like double what they usually do. Nashville is not longer just music, but I may write a country song about City House. Protip: come for the Sunday menu which is unique and ever changing.
(5)
Jeff B.

Just had an amazing Sunday Supper at City House. The service was a little slow. But all was forgiven when the food arrived. The Scrapple Chili, Salads and Lamb Sausage pizza were highlights! Don't forget to order the Ice Cream Sandwiches too! I will be back!!!
(5)
Brooke S.

I cannot say enough good things about this place. We went for Sunday Supper during our trip to Nashville and it was our best meal out. Everything we tried was delicious (and there were so many other menu items we wanted to try!). The Pork meatballs with a red ragu sauce were splendid and the mozzarella apple walnut pesto pizza was perfection. If I lived here I would go eery Sunday to see what's on the ever-rotating menu. Very cool atmosphere as well, fantastic experience from start to finish.
(5)
Scott D.

I like this spot. Our new friend Kim highly recommended it and I'm glad she did. It's in Germantown in an unexpected dark street, so that was a plus for hidden ambiance. Great service from a typically Nashvillian bearded man who was able to provide consistently good answers steering us to the best place on the menu. The barman steered me to a Henry which didn't move the needle, but the Death's Door martini was a crowd pleaser. We had the anchovy pizza with arugula and the farm fresh egg, the cauliflower salad and the octopus. I thought all three were super solid. My wife loves salads and desired more leafy green salads and for the mostly vegetarian-set this isn't your first choice. My thanks to Kim, it's a fun place to go with country/family style farm-to-table goodness that I appreciate.
(4)
Ashley K.

With all of the new restaurants in Nashville opening up, City House is our favorite restaurant in the city. The octopus, belly ham pizza + egg, and gnocchi are the perfect meal. We love City House!
(5)
Joel B.

City House is our favorite restaurant in Nashville. This fine establishment has everything: succulent dishes, fresh ingredients, creative cocktails, and a smart urban vibe. We visited twice this past week, once with my wife's parents and once with my own. The entire menu is exceptional, but I especially recommend the trout and, of course, the Belly Ham Pizza. Also make sure to save room for dessert and order the oatmeal cream pie!
(5)
Chris M.

This place is awesome. Just moved here and am trying to get a feel for the Nashville food scene. Was referred to City House by a neighbor and I can tell you, if this is the the start, I hope the rest of the Nashville eateries can keep up. The Bandit is my go to drink and I don't even want to start on the pork belly pizza. Just order it, don't ask questions.
(5)
patrick g.

So good... terrific atmosphere.... great food. Fun. Just go and have a nice night.
(5)
John James S.

Not a fan of the loud cafeteria vibe but the food is fantastic. Very small menu but focused, if that makes sense. Would like even more if they had valet or were in an area of town where I didnt feel like I would get mugged as I walked to my vehicle
(4)
Janet N.

We were only in Nashville for two nights for New Years Even 2012/13, but after reading the reviews I knew we had to try City House, even if we couldn't fit in a meal there. We made the trek up to German Town (Bonus tip - don't do this, at least not on a Sunday. Nothing was open during the day and there is nothing between downtown and German Town - get a cab or take a bus when you're ready to start hitting the restaurants in the area.) We lined up at the door before they opened at 5:00, hoping to grab a few seats at the bar, which we were able to do without a reservation, but we would have been standing if we'd arrived later. They have a respectable craft beer list, so we ordered a few drinks and some popcorn while we perused the snack menu. We settled on what the bartender described as "Our take on tuna salad" - a seared tuna and grilled vegetable mixture that was like a Nice-meets-Greece food combination - and the scrapple, which was fried up and served on a biscuit. Both were just amazing. I so wish we could have stayed for a meal because these snacks were some of the best food I ate in 2012. The bartender was friendly, attentive and helpful. The decor is very cool (the dartboard by the bar left me wondering how I could copy it at home) and the place is very, very busy. I would highly recommend a visit, and reservations when you do. But even if you don't have time for a full meal i can't recommend stopping in here for snacks like we did highly enough. It was just delicious - a solid five stars for our experience, though I'd love to go back and rate it for a full dinner.
(5)
Joy B.

Really lived up to its reputation. We went for the Sunday supper and found the portions to be quite substantial. I had Prosecco,husband had a beer,both well priced and tasty. We split a pizza which had a perfect crispy crust-too many places overcook pizzas and the crust turns out like a cracker. We had the ice cream sandwiches for dessert ;there was two large ones and plenty for the two of us. Great coffee.City House has attentive service;lovely interior and the hostess was happy to call us a cab after our meal;happily,this place lives up to its reputation. We had a disappointing experience at the Husk which was pretentious to the point of being ridiculous performance art so it was wonderful to have a good meal with excellent service here.
(5)
Jimmy W.

From the atmosphere to the food and drink, City House nailed it across the board. I've eaten here a few times and is my go to restaurant whenever I'm in town. I've never been disappointed with anything I've tried.
(5)
Brooke S.

WONDERFUL!! Best place in town. Gnocchi is amazing.
(5)
Allison H.

I had a really nice time at City House this past Sunday night. Didn't have a reservation but was lucky enough to have some spots open up at the kitchen bar right as we walked in. Apparently the menu on Sundays is a little different, with mostly small plates, a few pizzas, and four entrees to choose from. Especially enjoyed the pork belly with chickpeas and olives; great comfort food that wasn't too heavy. I rarely order dessert but the peanut butter icebox pie was out of this world. Loved watching the chefs work from where we sat and I kept thinking "I want that too!" every time they made something different. Service was super friendly, though we were kinda wondering where our server went a couple times at the beginning. Hoping to go back again before I leave Nashville.
(4)
A. C.

(6/21/2014) We were downtown visiting and had heard about City House through Saveur. I heard the thing to get was Chef Tandy Wilson's pizza, but unfortunately they were all out by the time we got there. It was kind of a long ways (walking) from Lower Broad and little dark and isolated. Tried a bunch of smaller plates, good simple preparations with very fresh ingredients. Octopus was marinated and tender, flavorful, moist, nice char on outside. Ciccioli was like pork hash with skin/rind chopped in, savory, fatty. Both dishes accentuated by a mix of crisp carrots and/or zucchini, something tart (brined or lime juice) and something cooling (cilantro and mint). Great formula! The frico of the night, a buttermilk cheddar with peaches was tasty (salty cheese and sweet, very ripe peaches) but disappointing in texture, somewhat soft and squishy, not like the expected lacy cheese crisp we knew as a frico. The Cornbread Gnocchi seemed to be the true dud of the night, very heavy dense lumps of cornbread pan-seared and served with white beans and squash. Flavors were all right, but the mix of dough and beans was a little much, especially for a hot summer's night (do they have A/C in this place?). Craft cocktails were delicious combinations (rather small and pricey). Dessert was over the top, great way to cap the meal. I'm not usually a dessert fan. Each we tried was not too sweet (Oatmeal Chocolate Pecan Pie, Poppyseed Layer Cake, Lemon Pound Cake), accompanied by something cool and creamy (Sorghum and Vanilla Gelato) and accented by something sweet and crunchy. Def a successful formula for the desserts. Surprisingly, very reasonably priced for hipster cool these days. Place was ear-splitting loud inside, very tight tables, very high ceilings. Overall would recommend to visitors (if you can get there), def will need to try the pizza.
(4)
Timothy H.

We went to city house for the first time last week and had a good experience. For an appetizer, my wife and I ordered the frico, which was a delicious cheese and poatato dish. Potatoes were cooked perfectly and the cheese was great. Next, we ordered the fettuccine lamb sugo, and while we could have eaten the delicious feshly made fettuccine all night, the lamb was a bit lacking and tough to find. We finished things off with the anchovy pizza with an egg added on. The egg was a great addition and the pizza was quite good, though not particularly filling. For their beer selection, city house offers a number of bottles mostly focusing on higher gravity options. I had the timber beast rye IPA, an outstanding beer by lazy magnolia, but would have liked to see a few more low gravity options and a tap or two. The service was great, no complaints at all. Overall, I thought the food was good, but that it didn't quite live up to the competition at its price point. I would recommend stopping in to try out their unique take on pizzas, but don't think I would suggest this spot for a special occassion. Admittedly, I think my expectations may have been a little too high from the number of times city house had been recommended to me. My wife felt it should receive four stars and I was on the fence when I made the final call.
(3)
Stephen S.

Talk about execution. I went to City House with a small group and was disappointed we couldn't order the whole menu as everything sounded fantastic. We ordered the Frico, Kohlrabhi salad, Margherita Pizza, Anchovy Pizza, and Carolina Trout for the table. I thought the pizza was superb, thin crust, nice char on the bottom and delicious flavor. The anchovies were some of the best I've ever had on top of a pizza. The Carolina Trout was cooked exceptionally with a bit of crisp on the skin. In addition to excellent culinary technique I was impressed with all the pieces that thoughtfully came together into the dishes. They were really throwing bread crumbs around on a lot of dishes but it worked really nicely for them.
(4)
allison m.

I research restaurants to a fault, thus my weekend in Nashville was no different - tried to find the newer places getting some press at the moment. We sat at the bar at the City House (I love a good bar dining table). My dinner date is a huge eater and thus ordered almost everything. Writing full sentences is difficult right now, so let me list: 1. Salami WisAntigo - essentially a minimalist charcuterie plate....it was delish. House made sausage with Parmesan or pecorino it sounds simple and it was, but in a great way. 2. Frico - Broccoli - very, very lemony, but just the way I like it, surprisingly light - a great starter. 3. Octopus and Kale - perfectly cooked Octopus, great flavor, charred, but not overpowering....highly recommended for those that love eight arm water creatures. 4. House Made Belly Ham pizza - even though I'm kind of a pizza-purist (I like red sauce), this was really nice. It's not too heavy, likely enough for a meal, but doesn't feel like a gut bomb as pizza can. Flavorful, but a bit salty (yes, I realize ham is salty). 5. Linguine w/ Chickpea - we were told this is a popular menu order, I see why, it's quite good and refreshing with the lemon, however, chickpeas and linguine? I felt that I could easily replicate at home, loved the lemon and is a very good option for veggie people. 6. House Made Sausage w/ tomato Ragu - exactly as it sounds, no surprises here, would have been very good if there was about 1/4 of the salt. Yes, Sausage is salty, so the reasonable thing to do would be don't add salt to the remainder of the dish. 7. We had the greens as sides - greens are greens, except these were SO salty, they're greens! my goodness, just over vinegar them or something, but not salt - almost inedible. 8. cookie plate and sorbet - can't go wrong here Yes, there were only two of us. The food was overall very nice, but my one complaint, as I've said with other Nashville restaurants, is the salt. Please stop with the salt - you can add more, but you can't undo. I don't know what it is, but it seemed to be a trend all weekend. We mentioned it to the bartender in a pleasant manner (who was really nice and helpful, by the way - made the night more enjoyable) and hopefully word gets back. Since I'm complaining, the last thing I'll say is, what's with the bright lights? Yes, I like to see my food, but it feels rather concrete and institutional. I'm a strong believer that the environment in which you eat can, at times, excuse the food, drinks and service. Luckily, everything (minus the sodium chloride) was otherwise lovely - just tone down the bulbs. p.s. martinis in jelly jars - fantastic touch
(3)
Drew H.

Favorite restaurant ever. Get the pizza. Or the frico. Or the catfish. Or anything on the menu.
(5)
Ben G.

Our search for Nashville's culinary excellence brought my wife & I to City House, consistently cited by respectable food folks as the most consistent restaurant in town. Consistently GOOD. It was the only reservation I made before our arrival to Nashville. We were stoked, but cautious. An exciting surprise was the serious nature with which they approach cocktails. They seem to be doing this whole mixology thing correctly, and it's a real pleasure to see what they're doing and how they're doing it. I had a "Big". My wife had the "Bandit". On to the appetizers, where we had house cured salami plate. The portion was a bit small for my liking, but perhaps that was because we were sharing it. Regardless, it was delicious. We could not resist ordering the cornmeal crusted catfish, which my wife declared to be the best she's ever had. I am inclined to agree with her; it was simply outstanding. The breading was crisp, the fish was cooked perfectly, and the cucumber/pickled onion relish really enhanced the fairly standard flavor of the meat itself. Top notch, and a large portion, too. When ordering dessert we decided to split the peach cobbler with sweet biscuit crumbles which still stands out as one of the top, all-time desserts I've ever had. Unreal. It could have used 1 more scoop of ice cream, but then I'm a little bit gluttonous. And the bet surprise of the night? The bill (sans tip) was less than $100. A true shocker for a couple from Napa, California, where this caliber meal would have run us another $20 - $30 without us batting an eye. BIG IMPORTANT NOTE ON ATTIRE: this place is cited as "Dressy", although for dinner service I saw plenty of people there in shorts & t-shirts. If you're wondering if you need a button down w/ slacks & $300 shoes, you can totally pull off khakis and a polo without looking like a schlub, no problem.
(5)
Adam H.

Moderate quality for the price. I expected a better quality of ingredients from my dinner than I got. With that said, the wait staff was exceptionally poor. I'm surprised at the level of service they offer considering the reputation. Avoid if possible. Excellent wine list though.
(1)
Stacie F.

Based on my first visit, I'm not sure what all the fuss was about. Friends have been raving about how great this place is, so the expectations were high. Here's what you'll find: Lots of hipsters. Fancy drink names with descriptions that force you to ask, "what's is this", "what is that", "is it really $13". A long wait for your drinks, food, bill. A little menu. The saving grace - yes, the food is good.
(3)
Phil E.

Was in Nashville on business and took out a few business clients for dinner. Everything about this restaurant was fantastic: Service was amazing, friendly, helpful and courteous without being obtrusive or arrogant. Food was so fresh, tasty and plentiful. The homemade sausage, recommended by our waiter, was the best meal that night. Truly great and makes me want to come back here just for the sausage. The only negative was the anchovy pizza we ordered. It was burnt/black on the edges. Also, it was spicy hot, too hot to eat. We were unaware this was going to include so many chilies. Also, the pizza didn't have many anchovies on it which was why we ordered it. Lessen the spice, more anchovy! Regardless of the pizza letdown, the meal was top notch. The frico with peaches was amazing as well and a big hit at our table. I would definitely recommend this place and I will return next trip to Nashville
(4)
Derek C.

This was the initial wave of modern hipster/foodie culture in Nashville. Ever heard of Southern fusion? You've already got a reason to go. The food is all above average but what really sets this place apart is the best cocktail bar I've experienced in Nashville. The bar area is small but I definitely recommend coming in for a Schmancy Sazerac or an Old Fashioned before you head out to the Ryman even if you don't have time for dinner. This place could hold its own against any of the cocktail bars in Chicago or New York. The interior is an amazing reuse of an older building. It's nothing terribly spectacular but being able to expose the brick and the beams and let the original construction speak for itself does the job.
(5)
Jason S.

I really wanted to have an amazing meal here. I did not have an amazing meal here. Came here with the wife on a Friday right before we saw Brandi Carlile at the Schermerhorn. I was also very glad that I had gotten reservations. I had heard from all of my friends that this place is amazing and that especially Sunday dinner is the jam. We started off with cocktails, and I have to tell you, the list is impressive and inventive. Whomever is consulting with them on this list is doing the right things. I started off with the "Buzzy Beer" because I've had a bottle of Art in the Age's "Root" sitting in my liquor cabinet for two years, and I have no idea what to do with it. (side note, it was a delicious cocktail). And then the server tried to give my wife a suggestion or two on libations, whereupon she mentioned that she loved Yellow Chartreuse the best. At this point, being the bantery type that I am, I opined that Green Chartreuse was the superior of the two, and that I'd fight her over it. I was completely kidding. Just being a goof. It was like a record scratched. From that point on in the evening, the server was very pleasant to my wife, but a turbo bitch on rollerskates to me. Seriously. It didn't matter how many times I thanked her or said "ma'am", or how polite I was, she treated me like I was made out of dog shit. So while I wanted to enjoy the cool ambiance, or while I wanted to talk about how frigging delicious the bresaola (cured dried beef) with strawberries was, or how tasty my tri tip I had was, it was all kind of over because of the attitude of our waitress. I tipped her 20%, even though her attitude towards me ruined the meal, and I'd have to say that if I happened to come here again and saw her serving, I'd turn on my heels and head to Rolf and Daughters, or hell, just about anywhere else. Last but of advice, bread gnocchi is really not good, especially if you are expecting the delicate, tender, moist, morsels of potato gnocchi that most are used to. It is like wads of dry bread that will suck the moisture from your head - much more sauce is needed here.
(3)
R H.

City House is not expensive - the prices are extremely reasonable for the quality of food you receive. The pizzas are great (try it with the egg on top - it adds a creamy texture and makes for a heartier dish.) I very much enjoyed the squash appetizer as well. The atmosphere is rustic trendy, laid back and a little loud. I appreciated the open kitchen and watching the chefs work (our table was near the back). I look forward to trying additional dishes in the future.
(4)
G. B.

The food and drinks were fantastic, as was the service. The only thing I didn't mind much was at the atmosphere. The place looks beautiful, very industrial chic, but I thought it was a bit too loud and too bright. We had the homemade salami (so amazing), corn bread gnocchi, the house made sausage and a couple of the deserts. Everything was sublime. The best part is that I live a block from here, so I can visit the place often.
(4)
Bob S.

I am torn, should i give it a two or a three. I will say this about the sunday menu, i will never go back on a sunday. What made it worse, is this is supposed to be a traditional sunday Itailian meal on Sunday!! Guess who house i am not going to. Lastly, it was Father day, the chef surely could of been more creative on Father day. Starters we had pork meatballs, chicken wings and a pizza. The pork meatballs were fried, dried and died!!! The pizza was good, but the dough does not come close to De Sano. Chicken wings were cook well but the sause was uneventfull. Entrees we ordered the Pork Burger, The trout, and the Chicken thigh, the only other entree was a veggie dish which one of our party could not order because of the use of pork stock. Just like the pork meatballs this Pork Burger should not of made it to the menu, It absolutely had no flavor. The Burger came with potato salad, which was not edible because the potato were not cooked!! The trout was good piece of fish, cook well, but was not great. The chicken thigh were cook very well, but i am not going to this caliber of restrauant to eat chicken. The Panna Cotta for desert was runny!! and the cookie tray was not very creative. Service, well this was Father day, you think you are at dinner at a fine place with 3 kids you would maybe have a happy father day!!! LOL The waitress once again was uneventfull!!! Guess maybe she wanted to be home with her dad!!! So, execution not good, menu creativity not good, service was not all that good, creativity not good! Maybe my expecations were too high going in. But maybe i am be generouse by giving this place a 2 star after i read what i wrote. Maybe I will give them another shot. But it sure wont be a Sunday. Sorry guys you missed the boat on this one.
(2)
Shay G.

Pretty damn tasty I must say! We started with some pizzas, the salami/cheese, octopus and salads. All were very good. Our waiter was amazing and super helpful in guiding our food and drink choices. The star of the night was the linguini - simply delicious. I can't wait to go back :)
(4)
John S.

We ate at City House last night. Food was great as was the service. Octopus app was perfect. Soup was amazing. Kale salad was dressed as it should be. Sausage main course, which is made inhouse is amazing
(5)
Erik M.

Although the competition gets stiffer by the day, this place is still my favorite in Nashville. The menu is always changing but is consistently good and obviously uses fresh ingredients. I always enjoy the pizza and order it with an egg over easy. The drinks are inventive and stiff. Get a cab or a DD cuz after two of these your eyes will begin to cross. A couple can have a fabulous meal for $30. Can't beat it.
(5)
Paul K.

This falls into the category of reviews "I paid what for a snack!??!". The food was good, nothing tasted particularly bad. Had their margherita pizza + egg which presented like it was a freezer pizza thrown into a wood oven stove. Tasty mind you, but the smoke/charring on the bottom of the pizza were more where it was at than any flavors of spices, cheeses, etc. Not bad, but nothing that would draw me there as opposed to Boscos or NY Pie. I'm sure there's more to it than freezer pizza but most of the taste was the burned and not the content. Crunch with cheese + egg in middle. Wife had some drink that smelled like methanol, we put a flame up to it at one point and the fumes snuffed the flame. Everyone agreed it smelled nasty. No idea on that one. Had a couple of beers I enjoyed. Other people's food looked/was ok, if not very filling. Maybe I'm just a fat ass though. Server was fast, service was slow. I don't really know how long we were there, but it seemed like we ordered and then waited and waited and waited. The bathroom I was directed to was a 1-seater unisex that seriously needed some work. Toilet never filled so it never flushed right, bathroom sink leaking water. It looked like it was nice, just needed a plumber to take it on. It was an ok place, I have nothing against it. I'd go again, however I think you're either impressed by tiny expensive food or you're not - sort of the Derick Zoolander Restaurant For Kids That Don't Eat So Big (my god man, who will manufacture the tiny forks?). This is a place to be seen, or a good date place. Well, except the main floor sounded like a freight train was going through, but where we were seated was relatively regularly noised.
(3)
Atul B.

Very good. Adequate portions you can finish and don't have to doggy-bag. All entrees very good. Ambiance like a corner eatery in Italy.
(4)
Jason C.

Really cool place. Love the historic feel. The female manager and server were great! Food was just ok. We did just have the pizza though. I want to give this place another shot.
(3)
Alka J.

Visited Nashville for a weekend and a friend recommended City House. We arrived about 15 min before our reservation on a Saturday evening, but it was no problem and we were immediately seated. My boyfriend and I split the gnocchi which was good but a little too doughy and pretty heavy. The sauce and fresh swiss chard were a nice touch though. For my main I had the half chicken which was beyond salty. Every time I took a bite I felt more and more dehydrated. The celery heart and turnip side was also dressed too heavily and tasted like a garden - not in a good way. My boyfriend had the house made garlic sausage which he seemed to enjoy. Finally, wasn't impressed by their drink menu (hey, not everyone is a whiskey or rye fan). The bar also couldn't put together a vodka-based concoction for me...if it wasn't on the menu, they had no idea what to do. Service was okay.
(2)
Kevin K.

This was the first place we went to eat in Nashville. We drove by the building twice before we realized it was the right place. There is nothing on the street side that tells you it's City House. We were wondering how many people give up and go to the 312 pizza place down the street. The menu was tiny and didn't have many options. The food was good, but when we ordered gelato the waiter came back 3 or 4 different times saying they were out of one, but had another one. Then would come back and say oh wait, we were out of this one, but not this one. Took us forever to actually get our desert (but he was very nice through it all). The food was decent but I don't think I'd need to go back next time I go to Nashville.
(3)
Yifei W.

Service was fine. However the food is not worth the price. I ordered the belly ham pizza. In theory, wood fired ovens are a great rustic sounding idea. In practice, if you can't control how much you're burning the pizza then that's something else. I'm fine with a bit of burnt edges on the crust that are easily removed. It's a much less acceptable pizza though, when the bottom is burnt as well. Shame on you, City House, for charging 15 bucks for burnt pizza. Just so you know, pizza hut does not burn theirs.
(2)
Peter P.

Thought highly of City House the first time I went so was excited to go back. The ambiance is great, the people are great, and the menu looks great. I started off with a frico appetizer, which was my first frico but I couldn't help think it was a bit lackluster. For my entree I got the tri trip, a nice cut of beef, I'm sure, and dressed with red onion, parm, Worcestershire, and lemon but sadly all I could focus on was the acidity of my dish. Just too much lemon in my opinion. Ended with a caramel panna cotta, which, if blindfolded, I could not distinguish from a fat free pudding pack that you buy at Kroger. I still feel amiable toward City House but this visit was just not what I wanted it to be.
(3)
Melanie B.

Great casual place in nashville! Pizzas are great and appetizers top notch too. Cocktail menu unique and the server did a fantastic job explaining. The drinks.
(4)
Chelsea J.

I came here on a Wednesday night, and for two people we couldn't get a reservation until 8:45pm so definitely try to book your table a few days ahead of time because this place is pop-u-lar. Our waiter was Paul and he was great, he suggested drinks for us and different types of alcohol we could substitute to get a different flavor. They also had a nice wine list, and Paul was really great about letting us know what he would pair with our meals. The food was excellent, on all accounts. I kept reading about the pizza and my first thought was 'the pizza cant be THAT good' but we tried it and you must get it. We split the margerita as an appetizer and it came out very quickly and was delish. We finished our feast with the butterscotch pudding which I highly recommend. House-made butterscotch? Wow. I loved the feel of the restaurant, it had a very minimalist industrial feel and was a really cool little secluded place. My ONLY complaint is that it was very loud, and not the most romantic spot since you and your dining partner are shouting at each other. All the Yelp reviews tell you it is loud so I don't know why I was surprised, but something to keep in mind depending on who you are dining with.
(5)
Krsna V.

The man and I have an agreement that we have to fly out for dinner at least once a month. This way nobody gets hurt :) We picked Nashville for our monthly dinner date out of Chicago. We heard about City House from a friend and decided to have Saturday night dinner at the restaurant. Imagine my surprise when the earliest reservation I could get was 9pm, that was a sign of popularity. The restaurant looks like a dilapidated house on the outside, but modern and sharp on the inside. It is an old house converted in to a restaurant. There is a bar area near the entrance, you then walk in to a cavernous living room with open kitchen, and head up the stairs to a more intimate area with 4 tables in each room. The ambiance was energetic even with only 4 tables in our room. We started off with drinks. I ordered the Moose - Cynar, House-Infused Lemon Vodka, Peach Bitters, and Bitter Lemon Soda. The man ordered the Junior - Death's Door White Whiskey, Creme de Violette, Dr. Enuf, and Lemon. Two perfect drinks that set the stage for our meal. We started our meal with the octopus: roasted octopus, october beans, chow chow, and parsley. Two long tentacles of octopus roasted with a very light breading on some areas, served atop beans. Pure bliss. it is probably the best innovative octopus dish I have eaten lately. The meal started off on a 5 star note already. Since I like variety, just like my men, I convinced the man we should do tapas style and order different appetizers and share an entree. Next, we ordered the eggplant - Eggplant Caponata, Tomato, Olives, Peanuts & Raisins, and Pecorino. Sensing that we are in an Italian restaurant, we ordered a cured meat appetizer - House Cured Bresaola, Sliced Tomato, Sea Salt, Pepper, and Parmigiano. Both appetizers were quite delightful. The earthy flavor of roasted eggplant was perfectly balanced by peanuts, tomatoes and olives. The bresaola had a nice kick to it and the tomatoes provided the perfect accompaniment. For an entree we shared the anchovy pizza - Anchovy, Mozzarella, Tomato, Garlic, Chilies, and Oregano. Sounds very simple, but it was impressively delectable. Thin crust pizza with just the right amount of anchovies (one full anchovy per slice) made with fresh mozzarella. It was a definite winner. The pizza is big enough to share for two. We also ordered a side of roasted okra to go along with the pizza. It completed our winning entree section. By this time I was in the mood for a Vesper. Their cocktail menu didn't have one and the bartender did not know what a Vesper is, but after I told our waiter what goes in a Vesper, the bartender made the perfect one. Impressive. The man decided to go with wine, he liked his Chardonnay. Since we both are dessert fiends, we decided to order dessert. Part of me was hoping that nothing on the dessert menu would interest me, so I don't have to ingest any more calories, but my wishing failed once I saw the buttermilk pannacotta with peach preserves. The man ordered a caramel cake. We both inhaled our dessert before you could count to ten, they were that good. Service was stellar, we never felt rushed or intruded. Chris allowed us the right amount of privacy while checking on us at regular intervals. We stayed for almost 2 hours eating and drinking without feeling rushed at any point. Who knew Nashville would deliver when it comes to incredible food? That's the beauty of America, you go to a town expecting country music and southern food and you are surprised/ impressed with delectable cuisine. Thank you City House for making our date night lovely. We will definitely return.
(5)
Jennifer R.

We had a list of places to try in Nashville, but unfortunately, we didn't think about the majority of them being closed on a Sunday. After a lengthy search, we found City House and their popular Sunday Supper menu. We did not have reservations, but I would recommend them, as our choices were limited to sitting at the community patio tables or the bar. We opted to sit at the bar, and the bartenders were super friendly and very helpful. They do a special Sunday menu, and I would say that in general, it seems like the choices are pretty limited - this is definitely a "foodie" spot, as a picky water would have a difficult time finding something to eat. We split the supreme pizza and pork burger. The pizza was delicious and paper thin with a nice crust (you know it's good when two kids from Jersey loved a Nashville pizza!). The pork burger was awesome. The bun was perfect, and the cucumbers were a great touch to bring out the pork flavor. For dessert, we got the ice cream sandwiches - buttermilk cornmeal sandwiches with caramel gelato. Soooo good! I'm not familiar with Nashville and this place seemed to be a bit off the beaten path, but it seems worth a visit.
(4)
Anna B.

Cool trendy spot. Very noisy. Egg on the pizza was overrated as it wasn't incorporated with the rest of the flavors. The gnocchi was way too hearty/starchy for my taste.
(3)
Mad C.

Absolutely everything here is excellent, especially dessert. It's predominately Italian with a Southern flare. The re-purposed building housing this joynt in Germantown is pretty cool as well. Chris the bartender is exceptionally friendly and competent. We loved it so much, we might eat there again tonight.
(5)
Phil N.

The best food in Nashville. Ask any chef in town for their top 5 choices and I'm sure CH will be in each top 10. I'd venture a guess that I've eaten there more than 100 times and have never been dissatisfied. Great people too. Tandy has been mentored by the best (Margot) and he's passing on his talents to others.
(5)
Karen C.

4 stars or 5...hard to say. As a San Francisco resident I can be hard to impress and this restaurant really hit the mark. I visit Nashville on business often and have loved trying all the new restaurants. This place is a great dining experience. It is in an old house nestled in the Germantown neighborhood, if your not careful you could drive right past it. It has a very southern feel with rustic decor which suits it just fine. We had a group of 5 and order a bunch of starters to share. The pork belly pizza w/ egg - Amazing. ** even my carb conscience friend dove in. The octopus, I agree with Todd & Kevin below that this was over cooked and not how it should be served. Kale Salad - very nice! Salumi plate Fettuccine - Not too heavy and very delicious Homemade sausage on the recommendation of the server and I am glad I did. YUM I also felt the wine list had a good selection and some excellent Italian names. I would definitely go back and recommend this restaurant. I went to Southern the night before and it was also a winner. Tomorrow Lockland Table.
(4)
D M.

The food and the service is awesome. I've been there twice now and the food didn't fail to meet my expectations the 2nd time. I will continue to go. I Recommend the pizza but be sure to get the egg on top.
(5)
Krissi W.

Reservations were made to dine here over the weekend. We started out with the olive taralli which was really good. This was the first time I had ever had this appetizer. The pretzel-like crackers really complimented the olives. I had the bear creek steak which was really seasoned well and cooked perfectly. My husband had the trout. They brought the salads out with the meal which was not ideal. I can't remember which type of salad we ordered. The leaves had more flavor than most salad greens but had a lot of stems in it. The salad had croutons and dressing only. It left something to be desired. The restaurant was a little bit loud for the amount of people in it, but I think it was because a lot of the cooking/prep was done in visible areas.
(4)
Tom K.

I don't get the attraction to this spot. I have dined at City House on 4 occasions. I was there 3 weeks ago and that will be my last visit. We ordered a pizza as an appetizer and requested garlic on the pizza. The waitress told us that the chef takes exception to customers who request any deviation from the standard recipe. Are you kidding me??? Our tab was in excess of $300. I take exception to overly pretentious cooks. I had the short ribs. It was nothing more than a plate of overcooked meat. No garnish or anything else... City House is just not that good...
(1)
Fabiana H.

Very hip ambiance. I sat by the counter and it was so interesting to watch them prepare all the meals. Everything i tried, from the most simple items like "popcorn" was absolutely delicious!!!
(5)
Lonnie B.

Second time to try City House. Can't decide what I think. Some things a good and good value, some things are just ok and not good value. We have been with 7 people each time so had a chance to try a few different things. Pizzas are a pretty good bet and everyone enjoyed them both evenings. However last night we were disappointed in the main courses. 3 Pork Meatballs were very rich/ meaty but sort of mushy almost seemed undercooked. They had a nice tomato sauce though. The trout was oversalted and just ok. It included a nice salad though. So my husband and I both think things here a hit or miss. I really like the pizzas though, very fresh, good homemade cheese and optional egg in the center- nice addition. We tried the spinach/ ricotta and lamb sausage pizza last night and I liked them both. Had the belly ham pizza on another night and really liked it also.
(3)
Meredith D.

Great spot! I love the building this restaurant is in, very quaint, earthy and inviting. I have to say, the pizza is the real stand-out at this place for me. If you like thin crust, this pizza is for you. Gin cocktails were great too. I tried the vodka cocktail, the Moose, and a gin drink called Samson. I had pasta as my entree and it was so-so. I definitely should have gotten the mozzarella and ham pizza as my entree rather than splitting it as an appetizer with my party. Service was great. I'd like to come back.
(4)
Jules L.

Good: Pizza crust, cocktails, octopus, kale salad. Bad: Service, timeliness of seating, attitudes Ugly: Wine List We were seated almost 20 minutes late and were TOLD by our server that we would be rushed because it was close to closing time. Our 3 courses came out together/on top of each other. Bottom Line: The food was good, but next time I would go without a reservation, sit at the bar, and just order a pizza, app, and cocktail. Not a place to make a night out of or have a special meal.
(2)
Kate V.

City House is one of my favorite restaurants in Nashville for the environment it offers and the fabulous food. The exposed-brick main room allows guests to witness the excitement of the kitchen. The chef is experimental and cracks fried eggs on pizzas, offers toppings such as pork belly and serves fried octopus as appetizers. (The fried octopus is DELICIOUS, I might add.) If you are interested in an innovative take on Italian cooking, make a reservation here.
(5)
Sharmeela S.

Eccentric atmosphere. Delicious unique piazza.
(4)
Lisa E.

City House delivers really good food and a fun time. We have had two good dinners at City House. Pizza and pasta dishes have been great with the exception of the bread gnocchi which was crunchy and disappointing. A trusted friend told us to try anything with beans and/or octopus. We did both! The black eye pea soup was very good and the octopus was even better. Please try the octopus appetizer if brave enough! The chicken entree was good yet far short of similar dish at Rolf & Daughters. Service was very knowledgable both visits with food/drink delivery very slow. We will be back yet like some other places in the downtown area better. You won't go wrong eating here.
(4)
Charlene L.

Thank you Food and Wine for recommending this restaurant. We dined in with our little scion and the three of us had a delicious time. I went in with low expectations but was pleasantly surprised by everything: atmosphere, service, food, wine, and value. I felt like City House could strive in the San Francisco food scene and surpass most restaurants here with its genuine hospitality (must be a Southern thing that is missing here). The food was fresh, well seasoned and overall delicious. We started with the white bean soup with cabbage that warmed the soul and braised octopus with chickpeas that was absolutely tender. Our entrees included the tri-tip with fennel and maytag blue cheese which was a bit chewy (order it at least medium, medium-rare was too rare) but great flavor profile and the trout with peanuts, raisins and bread crumbs which was a surprisingly amazing combination of flavors and textures. We ended the meal with one of the most moist and delicious pound cakes I've ever had with almond and ricotta. My husband and I have discerning tastes having worked as pastry professionals in the industry but appreciated its simplicity but was executed with high standards. Thank you for a memorable meal, we will definitely be dining here again if we are ever back in Nashville!
(5)
B L.

Disappointing. As a disclaimer, I am writing this review after a dinner at the city house in a group of 9 to celebrate a birthday. I mention the disclaimer status b/c apparently large groups are treated differently that the regular customer, so maybe going with a small party would be a different experience. They have some type of 'family stye' rule with large parties. We were never given an adequate explanation of what this is, how much food it would be, what it would cost etc... We were however, told "not to worry about it - it's great, everyone will love it" by the way - it's not great and no one loved it. On the upside, I did get to try several of the menu items. The highlights: the pizza crust is really good. light, flavorful. I envy it. I wish I could make a homemade pizza crust this good. (However, I am of the belief that the first compliment received on a legitimate Italian restaurant should not be regarding the pizza). The octopus was tasty. You don't often see octopus on the menu around here, but this was really good. Well cooked, and the chickpea accompaniment was delicious. If I go back, I will get this again. The Average: The cauliflower with cracked wheat was somewhat interesting. The greens with sausage was good, while nothing special. The cured house salami was exactly what you would imagine. It was perfectly acceptable. The fried catfish was well fried, while not particularly Italian. The creamed potatoes with cheese were tasty. (how can that be bad?) The Bad: The pasta. The gnocchi is UNFORGIVABLE. HORRIBLE. It is described as a 'bread' gnocchi. Imagine pingpong sized balls of really dense flour - in what universe could this be called gnocchi?? it also looked as though it had been pan seared?? The ragu that came with it was bland and the pasta balls were so dense I felt sick after eating them. The rigatoni is a farce. I asked if the pasta was freshly made. I was told that it is in fact freshly made by someone down the street. This rigatoni tastes freshly made as much as box barilla tastes freshly made. very disappointing. the sauce that came with the rigatoni was bland and tasteless. The steak in the salad was really tough. Another problem with the 'family style' is that aside from the bread balls, our dishes came out cold. Despite the 'family style' were were offered to each order our own desert?? One person ordered the almond cake. It was fine, nothing special. The family style thing really ruined it for me. I'm not sure why it was compulsory. I think this place might be good, but I was so irritated with the experience, I don't think I'll be back. My advice - go with a small group, avoid the pasta.
(2)
Carolyn S.

Laid back fancy, and trendy! I went on a Sunday which is like a Tapas affair - try a bunch of pricey, innovative, things to share. It was good, although I needed a little more explanation of the menu items. Expect to pay for your dining experience. They had super fancy drinks
(3)
Hoa T.

This is a real gem in Germantown. A very cool space that is always bustling. I was lucky when someone canceled their reservation so no waiting was necessary. The service was fast and friendly for a place so busy. I had the anchovy pizza with an egg in the middle. Never wanted to try anchovy pizza before but the server sold it. It was really good, not overwhelming at all. The cocktail was also great. The rest of the menu looked adventurous but if it's anything like my pizza I would definitely give it a shot. The best part was the price, everything was surprisingly decently priced...a huge plus. I love that I'm walking distance to places like this. Can't wait to come back.
(4)
Larry R.

A favorite. I've been to Nashville twice, and eaten there on both occasions. I love the atmosphere and the venue. The food is incredibly creative, but approachable, and very reasonably priced (we spent less for 5 people, including drinks and tips, on Sunday night, than we did for 3 people at Kayne Prime on Sunday, but that's for another review). Sunday features their Sunday Supper menu. A limited, but wonderful menu of items that typically don't appear on their regular menu. We started with an assortment, including their Scrapple & White Bean Stew. Unlike any scrapple I've ever had (I won't eat the scrapple in Pa.). A soup like consistency with intense flavors. Also had the Corn, carrots, zucchini, salad with roasted tomato dressing an biscuit crumbs, and the Apples, mustard greens, Ricotta Salata, red onion and lemon salad. Both were light and delicious. I had the Ricotta, pecorino, corn, turnip greens and chillies salad for my main course. I didn't want to share, but I did. Couldn't stop eating it. And my son had the pork meatballs. The next day, he told me he was dreaming about them. I don't know how to give half stars, but if I could, I would give it 4 1/2. My only hesitation for 5 is that it's a bit noisy. But don't let that stop you. It's a wonderful dining experience.
(4)
Leslie J.

We finally visited City House after hearing good things for a long time. We definitely enjoyed it, but I don't think it lives up to the hype. My boyfriend can't remember what he had (that says a lot), and my pasta was average. The service was good. The wine was good and affordable. We also enjoyed the atmosphere. I know the pizza is supposed to be spectacular. We would like to return and give it a try. The pizza with pork belly looked phenomenal. We'll definitely be back to try other options!
(3)
Michelle M.

City House is definitely a restaurant I will visit again if I ever make it back to Nashville. As a first time tourist of Nashville, I was surprised when our cab dropped us off on a residential street away from the downtown area... but that is the exact charm this place can boast of, as its patrons will definitely feel "at home." Food & Drink: Delicious! Our table of 3 ordered the salami and the octopus to start, followed by a margherita pizza and the house made belly ham pizza (with egg on top). Everything tasted great and portions are perfect. To drink, I had the Solomon: Whiskey, Apricot, Honey, Salt, and Orange. Mmm :)
(5)
Maggie T.

Absolutely the WORST service of any place in Nashville. Despite the brillantly good food, my husband will never step foot in this place again. Totally sucks too. Our meal rocked, but to spend $150 and be treated like crap, well it didn't go over too well. Maybe we weren't hipster enough...I don't know. Luckily Nashville has some amazing options for food, I don't think we will have any trouble finding a great meal and decent service elsewhere.
(1)
Sam T.

We came on Sunday night at 5 pm right at opening because we didn't have a reservation. It was no problem and we sat at the kitchen bar, which is always my favorite. We got to feel the warmth of the wood fire oven as we pursued the menu. The restaurant is nestled in a very unsuspecting location in a neighborhood which by the looks of it is becoming quickly gentrified. But don't let the location fool you. Your GPS isn't wrong when you pull up. Parking on the street right up front is easy to come by which is a nice plus. The bar is off set around the corner when you walk in and the drink menu is full of twists on old favorites and some creative and delicious concoctions. I had the mock tail, sans alcohol, which was also exquisite. While they do have bit of an Italian theme, hence the pizza selections, their menu although brief is really much more. The flavors of the different vegetables and meats complement each other gracefully and combine to make something so much more than comfort food. It's upscale and beautiful combinations are a perfect balance of perfection. We enjoyed the pork butt on a biscuit and the broccoli on the other snack menu as well as the chard and potato pizza. While still delicious, the pizza was probably my least favorite as the chard's sweatiness was something I wasn't prepared for. However, the wildflower honey bunt cake with buttermilk sherbet was superb! I could have had three orders of that and been perfectly content for the evening. The stark contrast of a plain building and the warmth of the food combined the friendly hipster crew working there made it our favorite restaurant during our trip to Nashville. In fact, we may have to plan another trip from Cincinnati just to come down and eat here again. We loved it!
(5)
Sara E.

I've eaten here at least four times and have yet to have a good experience. The last three times I kept hoping it was a fluke, but after the fourth time I'm convinced it's just bad. The food is overhyped and underwhelming - you can get a better meal at the Farmers' Market. The Food - The last time I ordered pizza it came out cold and was a big mess of sauce with exactly three small dollops of mozzarella. When I asked for it to be reheated they just went ahead and got me a new pizza (which was awkward since everyone else at my table had finished eating by the time the new pizza came out). The new pizza came out with a burnt crust and the sauce had no flavor. At that point I just gave up and ate it rather than deal with the surly waitress again. The previous three times I've tried three different pasta dishes (one was some sort of gnocchi) which were all equally bland and disappointing. The entire dessert menu is also mediocre at best and tastes like something out of the frozen food aisle at Publix. The Service - The icing on the cake for this restaurant is the terrible service. Most recently, we had a red-headed waitress who was rude and condescending. I think I asked for tomatoes on my pizza which she treated like a suggestion to disfigure the Mona Lisa. She ignored our table for the rest of the night after my blasphemous request for tomatoes.
(1)
Julie C.

Before I go any further, this review is based entirely on the service experience we received from start to finish at City House this week. I would like to start by saying that their food is consistently amazing, full of flavor and creative. My husband and I appreciate great food and as far as that goes, City House is second to none in Nashville. When we want a nice night out or when we have friends in town we alway take them to City House. We do so because it is a great experience all around and is worth every penny spent. Unfortunately, this time was a little bit different. We were sat upstairs and rudely and swiftly greeted by our waiter, Ben. That was about as good as he got. From there, he was rude, short and condescending with regards to any questions we had about food or drink on the menu. He couldn't have acted like he cared less that we were spending our hard earned dollars on a this meal. He was hardly around, and when he was he was beyond rude to all four of us. Not exactly the impression I wanted our out of town guests to have. When we were finished with our meal, I had enough to take home, which became a non option because he took my plate with no regard. He then proceeded to throw the dessert menus down on the table. Needless to say we not only not impressed, but totally offended that we were treated in such a way. My husband and I never complain, always leave great tips and are always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. This time, we just couldn't let it slide. We asked to talk to the manager after the meal, and upon voicing our concerns, he knew precisely who we were talking about. I was even more unimpressed by his response. He asked if we made reservations, to which I replied yes. His solution was for us to make reservations next time, but request we not sit in this waiter's section. So, you're telling me at a restaurant of this caliber, that you want me to work harder to get service that we should be getting. I'm sorry, but I love Nashville, I love that there is some good food coming in here, and I want to see people succeed. But, if I'm going to get treated like this in a restaurant like this, then I will take my money elsewhere. It is simply poor service all around. Sorry City House. I hope you can further consider what this waiter is saying to your guests about your restaurant.
(1)
C K.

Very overrated! It was OK, but way overpriced Service was decent, food was just alright
(3)
Jessie R.

City House is exactly the kind of unpretentious, farm-to-table food that makes me talk pretentiously about how awesome the food is in the South. It is worth coming to Nashville just to grab dinner here. The food is consistent, delicious, and interesting. The atmosphere is fun, laid-back, and still memorable. For $120, my boyfriend and I ate and drank our way through: a round of old fashioneds and cocktails, a bottle of wine, a plate of perfectly cooked calamari and chickpeas, a deliciously crispy anchovy pizza, a huge and flavorful entree of trout with raisins and peanuts, broccoli salad, blue cheese and Benton's bacon salad, tri-tip steak and radishes, and after dinner drinks and the best piece of cake I've eaten probably ever - lemon almond ricotta cake with lemon sorbet. Get yourself over to City House asap!! That lemon cake is calling your name!
(5)
Caroline H.

My visit to the City House was over six months ago, but I still dream of that grilled octopus appetizer. Our group also shared the olives and while I'm not a huge fan of those, the mini bagel toast it came with were so cute and delicious! I had the gnocchi dish, which admittedly wasn't the best food of my life, but it was very tasty, albeit a bit heavy. I tried my dinner-mates' pork belly special, beef dish and pasta with peas -- all yummy. So good food? Check. Next let's talk atmosphere. It's going for that posh rustic-in-the-city feel (if that's a thing?) and can get a little noisy, but the waitstaff is knowledgeable and the creative menu can pull it off. We sat upstairs which was smaller and less noisy than I suspect the downstairs area may be. I've wanted to go back, but alas, my wallet only permits a once-in-awhile City House visit. Totes worth it, though.
(4)
Katie I.

After coming back to city house with another group this time, the service was decent and the food was great again. I did not care for my drink which was called a Bellini or something like that. Too bitter with a cough syrup-y aftertaste..yuck. However it was nice experiencing their Sunday supper for a change. The catfish was great, pork meatballs were moist, lamb was flavorful and pizza with squash was good, too. Also had a broccoli salad with peanuts which was quite delish. No dessert this time. I think they may have redeemed themselves from my last review, but our poor server forgot about us and thought we had paid when we didn't. She was a little flustered *bless her heart, but enjoyed chatting with another server who was from Portland. Yes, I will return.
(4)
Zach W.

Simply the best restaurant experience in Nashville. Delicious food, incredible cocktails, great service. Highly recommended.
(5)
Marcia M.

My supper on Sunday at City House was filled with witty convos, delicious glasses of vino, and an inspiring and savory pizza... can't beat that, eh? Being a vegan, the City House menu can at first, scare you off. However, with a little communication to your server and imagination, a veg-head can enjoy a tasty meal without much fuss. For the life of me, I can't recall the name of the pizza but the bartender suggested it after she went to the kitchen to get input on what would satisfy my palate. For $13, I was able to enjoy a filling meal and yes, I ate the whole thing all by myself. City House always offers an evolving menu and spectacular libations which makes them a solid choice for a meal. My only gripes are that they don't accommodate groups very well and the noise level can sometimes be distracting. Besides those small infractions, I love City House and hope that I will get to come back again sooner than later!
(4)
Richard R.

I loved the vibe of the place and was hoping it would be a great experience. Really nice server. The descriptions on the menu sounded good, food LOOKED delicious, but it unfortunately tasted just slightly better than decent. It wasn't just my meal, my sister, our friend and his wife all had mediocre meals. I wouldn't be opposed to trying it again, but it's definitely not at the top of my list.
(3)
Maura D.

What a disappointment. This place has great reviews so my girlfriends and I were excited to add it to our bachelorette weekend itinerary. Mind you, we are in our late 20s/early 30s and NOT the matching t-shirted group stumbling down Broadway. We arrived on time for a reservation. Our waitress was rude, snippy and kept trying to up sell us on everything. When one girl asked for a specific type of wine, she said they didn't have it. Later we saw it listed on the menu and asked again. She said (with a big attitude), "Oh they must have added it since I've seen that last." She also neglected to tell us that family style included an additional charge and never gave us a choice of sides. She told us that they combined our double pasta order into one dish but upon leaving I noticed another table had the exact same size dishes as their entrees. The food was pleasing but the service was so bad that we couldn't even enjoy it. Our group was so surprised by how she was acting. When we decided not to get another drink (so we could just get out of there), I had to physically go and find her to get our bill. She completely ignored us. When the bill came, we realized why she was so up-sell happy - her tip was guaranteed at 20% since we had a group of 8. We should have complained to the management but since we were just visiting, we let it go. Not a great experience.
(2)
Jeff G.

City House is one of my favorite restaurants in the US. Tandy Wilson does a great job of combining Southern food, comfort food, and country Italian all into one dish. With the majority of the dishes being created or finished in the wood fired oven, everything has a great flavor. Some of the descriptions of the dishes may be confusing, but trust me the ingredients speak for themselves and you won't be disappointed. The decor is simple and casual, so you feel comfortable here for any occasion. The service is always attentive and the entire staff is knowledgeable of every ingredient used. I really like the way they make suggestions (adding a farm fresh egg to my pizza, pairing wines, etc). When you visit City House, I would suggest ordering plate for the table and sharing. Here are some of my favorites that shouldn't be missed: Octopus Salad Belly Ham Pizza (add the egg) Seasonal Gnocchi Carolina Trout Dessert (any) House Cocktail (any) Take in the atmosphere, pay attention to the thought that's put into the menu, and eat a lot! You'll see why Tandy Wilson has multiple James Beard nominations and why I make special trips to Nashville just to eat here.
(5)
John R.

Make this your "New favorite"!!!! It has been interesting to me that "City House" has not typically came to the tip of the tongue of those asked about GermanTown dinning. After this experience, you can ensure it will be on the top of my list. It all starts with the pleasant walk along house entering to a welcoming smile. The open atmosphere allow you to see the cooks, the food, and really enjoy a family style dinner. The service is spectactular; knowledgeable, efficient, smiling & friendly. The selection is amazing, pizza, pasta, fish & meat with classic Italian traditions built in. The wine selection parallels you favorite wine store and then some. My wife enjoyed the Casareccia, Broccoli, Anchovy, Lemon, Garlic, Chilies, Pecorino, Bread Crumbs.....Amazing. I indulged in the House Made Belly Ham, Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, Chilies pizza, fresh flavors and the egg on top for yolk dipping.....Fun and Yummy. Remember! Place "City House" at the top of your GermanTown list!
(5)
John R.

City House probably saved my otherwise dismal opinion of dining in Nashville. In what is truly a vast culinary wasteland, City House stands above the mediocrity. I went with a party of five and quickly found (through their website) that you can't book more than four persons without calling City House and giving them a credit card to hold the reservation. You can book four or less through open table. Another note, this place is closed on Tuesdays as we found out one night. Our party had the House Made Belly Ham, Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Oregano, Chile pizza as an appetizer. This was very good and I recommend! I had the Tri-Tip, which was pretty good. For those of you who have no idea what Tri-tip is, it is generally a cut that can only be found in California. It came sliced and had a great taste. You are given a choice of sides and I chose the squash with bread crumbs. To be honest, I chose this side as the least carby side and was not terribly excited about eating it. The squash side dish made the meal. It was fantastic. We had a few bottles of wine and passed on dessert, so I can't comment on the sweet stuff. This is a very inexpensive place for what you receive. It should be on your list of restaurants when dining in Nashville.
(4)
JD C.

I've been compelled to come back to City House multiple times because it fills a "trendy-yet-accessible" niche in Nashville. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I've always had great service and for the most part the food has been simple, fresh, and well executed. The price is very reasonable for the quality. The cocktails are always a high point, and that's coming from someone who hates "cocktails" for the most part because the cocktail menu at most restaurants is comprised of ten different types of "tini" made with kool-aid and rotgut liquor. I'm a beer freak and they also have a limited (read - carefully selected) beer list that's diverse and well-priced. My recommendation for how to approach City House, especially on a first visit, would be to go on a Sunday, stick to the pizzas and small plates, get a few cocktails and share everything. I guarantee nobody will leave unsatisfied, unless as with most groups you have a real Debbie downer in your group. With that said, if you get Debbie downer shi%faced on cocktails its a non-issue.
(4)
Big E.

Walked in on a rainy Saturday night without reservation and sat at the open kitchen countertop immediately. Frissee salad, grilled octopus, margharita pizza and a bowl of gnocchi. Split between 2 of us was perfect taste of everything. Coupled with a 23 yr Pappy V Winkle and I was a happy traveler. Would return.
(4)
Jason P.

I often try for one really nice meal per road trip. For this fall (2012) this was that meal. We made reservations a few weeks in advance for a Sunday night, but we inquired about moving our reservation from 7:30pm to 6:30pm and they were able to accommodate us, which was a nice start. We were also able to eat upstairs, which was great as I think that is the older part of the restaurant and quieter...think special occasion. Everything we ordered was superb. Stew, Pizza, Squash, Pork Meatballs. The beer and wine we had was also great. Service was awesome too!!! I would return in a heartbeat!!! Do yourself a favor and make a reservation for a Sunday night (or any other night).
(5)
Gabriella H.

City House food is really, really good. Last night was no exception, but several things happened that, combined, make me doubt if I can go there again. City House has a policy of "family style" food for ten or more people. When I asked over the phone prior to our meal what this meant, I could not get a straight answer. After several calls, I was told don't worry, everyone loves it and everyone will have what they want, just in larger portions. Eventually I nailed someone down to say a limit of 3 appetizers, mix of pizzas and pastas, and 4 entrees--"but everyone can have what they want." Things started to go awry once we were seated--late. 1. They should have been clearer about what family-style meant. - I had such a hard time getting a clear answer on the phone, but the server had no problems concisely explaining it to the table--and the answer was different. They were pushing to get a chef's tasting (that's fine, sounded like an exciting idea) even though we could choose our own: 2 appetizers, 2 pizzas, don't bother with pasta, and 3 entrees. The numbers were different, and the general attitude was it was now more about the kitchen than us getting what we wanted. 2. They weren't accommodating. - When I made the reservation, I explained that a friend would be late. I was told that they would find a way to keep her food warm. When I brought this up to the server, she (rather snidely) said they didn't have a microwave (which wasn't what I was asking) and that my friend would just have to deal and miss out. I dropped the issue. - I asked if we could do individual serving instead of family-style because we were 9. Nope, couldn't do it even though the 10th wasn't there and would miss out on half the food. I dropped the issue. - My friend can't process corn, and we wanted a dish that had corn. Nope, they can't take anything out of their food. I dropped it and ordered a different pasta. 3. My glass of wine had a noticeably smaller pour. I put my fresh glass next to someone who'd been drinking from hers for a while, and mine had less. Didn't want to make a fuss, so I didn't bring it up with the server. 4. (THE BIG ONE) When we asked for our check, our server told the table to "not be angry with her and take it out on the tips." The table was flummoxed, and I was so embarrassed because I had been the go-to person. Your restaurant has rules and can't modify their menus? The inflexibility is a pain but understandable. I'm a rule follower. I did not complain, debate, etc. I asked questions once and politely accepted all of the negative answers. Furthermore, I was on the receiving end of a slightly bullying and condescending server all evening. To actually say that to the entire table was not only unprofessional but also rude and petty, particularly because, as a group, we immediately get charged 20% gratuity anyway. So why say it? We did not complain about her attitude throughout the dinner because we wanted to keep things convivial. It left a sour note for an evening that already had so many bumps. I honestly don't think my feedback will make a difference because City House food is stellar and that is reason enough to go. I realize there are two sides to every story, and she must have her reasons too, but restaurants and their staff shouldn't treat people like that.
(1)
Stephen W.

house cured meats, unique cocktails, wood fired pizzas ... what more do you want? Well there's more! Excellent pasta dishes. Vegetable plates that make you forget you're eating vegetables. Original desserts. Nashville is lucky to have City House and perhaps one fewer Shoney's.
(5)
Sean H.

Best place in Nashville! Great staff great food!!!
(5)
Stephie Z.

My boy, Matt L. and wifey sure know how to show a fat girl a good time. Not sure how I would have found this spot, due to the lack of signage and random location, but I'm glad that they wanted to show me a foodlicious good time. For an app I ordered the octo on butterbeans. It was damn good and I would get it again if I ever go back. My entree was by far my least favorite out of the table due to lack of solid flavor. I ordered the linguini with chickpeas, chopped mussels, and parsley. I could have made this dish at home, and if I ever did make it at home I would put more mussels in it so you could actually taste them, unlike this sad little dish. Other items that hit the table running were: -Anchovy pizza - if you dig on these mini fishies order away, it's mighty fine. -Corn, field peas, and potato soup- hot damn, I wish I had ordered this. I took a couple of slurpy spoonfuls from my friends bowls and the regret sat heavy on my stomach.. or maybe that was the linguini. BadaBing ;) -Corn, Cabbage, Red Onion, Citrus, Mint, Grana Padano salad - This was so perfectly done that I had to copy the whole line from the online menu so that at some point I can try and configure this little diddy at home. Sweet, tingly, mingly, and very, very good. Order this ASAYG (as soon as you go).
(4)
Caroline K.

Ambiance, Service, Cocktails, Food: A+ We had the cauliflower salad, roasted root vegetables, and pork belly pizza, and we'd do it all over again. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Brandon G.

I want to give this place 4 stars but I can't justify it. On the surface it has everything going for it: the look, location, environment, ambiance, etc. Even the food and menu sound great. The food was "pretty good", but it just didn't knock my socks off. I had opened with a pizza, had a pasta for entree, and a dessert. They were all executed well and "pretty good" dishes but the taste just didn't follow through with everything else they have going on.
(3)
Tuck L.

Overrated. We ate at Citi House tonight. We sat in a little room - total of 4 tables. It was like eating in a closet. This I will say: Citi House is great for the "in the know" people of Nashville. Nough said.
(2)
Esther L.

I love City House. This is a wonderful restaurant to visit for a casual dinner with friends or a celebration with a loved one. We have dined there between 5 and 10 times, each one delicious. The service is attentive and knowledgeable; food arrives rather promptly. The menu changes to reflect seasonal availability, but common themes can be found from one visit to another. The Frico is a savory appetizer of crispy, pungent cheese and soft potatoes; we get it every time, along with the braised octopus: phenomenal in texture and flavor. The pizza--especially belly ham, topped with an egg--never disappoint, and pastas and housemade gnocchi feature sauces that are subtle with hints of spice. In short, this place is the best.
(5)
Peter K.

Let's see, I've been back twice in the past 2 months, most recently last night for Sunday supper, I'm long overdue for an update. I love eating a million different things, so Sunday supper is perfect for sharing amongst a group. Last night we had the lamb fries, aka the family jewels, which were lightly breaded and fried to perfection. The flavor of the fries were extremely mild with a very subtle gamey finish. One of the table favorites was the Sequatchie Cove Farm Cumberland cheese served with a killer peach jam and crostinis. The cheese is local to the Chattanooga area and a must have if you ever see it on a menu. We also sampled the country ham pizza with mustard greens, and the mushroom pizza with asparagus. You can't go wrong with any of the pizza offerings. For dessert we sampled the chocolate bread pudding and an Olive & Sinclair chocolate plate with homemade marshmallows, and peanut brittle. It was chocolate, it was good, not much else needs to be said. Dessert goes really well with a lotus cocktail made with vodka and espresso, a perfect end to any meal. City House is still king in the Nashville culinary circle. They do everything right and with so much attention to detail, you're not going to leave unhappy with the food. For anyone that likes a quieter dining scene, ask to be seated in one of the upstairs side rooms. I personally love the hustle and bustle of the main dining room and watching the kitchen run like a well tuned machine.
(5)
Blake L.

Went to City House last weekend in Nashville with a bachelorette party - we sat upstairs on Saturday night and did have some complaints about the amount of smoke from the open kitchen. It was a bit overwhelming but as the crowd cleared out, so did the smoke. They also cannot open the windows. THE FOOD - INCREDIBLE!! Highly highly recommend City House for their food and drinks - just amazing!!
(5)
Ashley B.

Let me just start by saying "sparse" and "modern" are not words I usually associate with places I like. I am, however, going to make an exception in the case of CITY HOUSE. (Incidentally I also generally take issue with words spelled in all caps because I feel like someone is YELLING AT ME FOR NO REASON, but again, I'm willing to overlook it this time.) The reason I am being so uncharacteristically generous here is because CITY HOUSE has both great food and an exciting atmosphere, and restaurants rarely manage to achieve both of those things at once. CITY HOUSE is a somewhat recent addition to historic Germantown, and in keeping with that Old Worldly theme, the entrance looks like a beautifully weathered Italian home. It is attractive but rustic, which is something you might say about the family-style food you'll find inside. They even have an outdoor "room" that is evocative of a screened-in porch, and I have no doubt it will be prime real estate once spring actually arrives. The inside of CITY HOUSE is modern and spacious. The dining room has exposed brick walls, an insanely high ceiling and an open kitchen. The bar to the right of the entry way is a long, back-lit space that is usually full of well-dressed Nashvillians waiting for a table on any weekend night. (If you'd prefer to skip that step, make a reservation the week you want to go. Also make sure you bring cash if you'll need to split your tab more than 4 ways.) My favorite part of the decor, though, is the small personal touches you'll find throughout. Like the - shall we say - friendly pigs that make themselves at home on the dining room bar. Most delightful, however, are the intriguing Italian-based menu items your group will get to choose from. The menus are seasonal and Chef Tandy Wilson makes the most of what's fresh. The Roasted Vegetable Salad with Walnut Pesto and Pecorino is a prime example of this - - the sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts are perfectly cooked and seasoned. And these are far from the "icky" brussel sprouts kids are always feeding to dogs on 1950s sitcoms, so have no fear. If you're looking for something a little more adventurous, try out the Potato Pizza or the Octopus Pasta. The latter is slightly fishy, but in the good taste-of-the-ocean way, not the stale can-of-tuna way. Their House Cured Salami and Olive antipasti are also satisfying ways to start out your meal. And speaking of starting yourself out right, let me suggest one of CITY HOUSE's signature cocktails to take the edge off. I fell in love with the Dark & Stormy, a drink that packs an unexpected zing and is made up of Goslings Rum, Ginger Beer and Lime. (I was once told by an orthopedic tech who was putting me in a cast that I was "dark and stormy" myself, so I pretty much order this whenever it's offered. To be fair, who is light and cheery when their foot is being encased in plaster for the second time in one year? Yeah, that's what I thought.) ------ If you're in a slightly more sparkly place than my decidedly downbeat demeanor allows, test out The Classic, a cocktail served martini-style that consists of Moscato D' Asti (sparkling white wine) and House Infused Lemon Vodka. This was the perfect pairing with their dessert du jour, some fluffy cake concoction, the name of which I do not know because I was too busy stuffing my face with it to ask the waiter. I could care less about anything sweet if it doesn't come in a wine glass, but this strawberry-sauced slice of heaven had the best icing I've ever tasted. It was more like fresh whipped cream than it was like icing, and I literally took it out of the birthday girl's hands because I have no shame. Well I think with that disclosure of personal fatness this post has reached its logicalconclusion. Suffice it to say CITY HOUSE offers a completely unique and modern take on universal, classic food, and its personality shows from the waitstaff to the decor. It's also a great place to go with a group because the food and drink are themselves conversation pieces. And hey, with enough of those Dark & Stormies you might even feel as frisky as the pigs by the night's end. Here's to hoping. CITY HOUSE 1222 4th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37208-2714 615.736.5838 Also, make sure to check out the CITY HOUSE News & Events page here. They host Sunday Suppers (among other events) that are undoubtedly good eats and good times.
(5)
Garrett J.

This is an absolute must for any foodie living in or visiting Nashville. Everything from the white clams appetizer to the ham pizza (add egg on top for something truly amazing) was spectacular. Great flavors all around. I would also recommend the catfish and gnocchi. Both amazingly tasty, yet classic. And you cannot beat the prices. In addition to the sensational food, the service was spot on. Our server was one of the most knowledgeable, personable people we had the pleasure of meeting. She truly enhanced our dining experience. I will return to Nashville one day. I WILL be stopping by City House when I do.
(5)
Kim Y.

My main event tip for eating at the city house - eat the meat. The salami is GOOD. My other favorite dish was the olives app, sadly not for the olives but for the rosemary flavored crunchy bread rings served along side of it. So simple, but so addictive, literally I want to go back to just eat those and have a cute-sie lavender drink out of a mini-mason jar. My pasta dish (and my friends pasta) was a-ok, nice and creamy but neither 'knocked my socks off' like so many other reviewers. Next time - a meat heavy dish it is ;) The ham pizza looked amazing and was served with chili sauce (mmmm) but the margherita was just cheese and sauce. A little bland to be honest - although the egg was a nice touch. I really liked the atmosphere, really minimalist, but in a homey way. Not the traditional minimalist that makes you feel like you're in a German nightclub, more like a lovely Italian kitchen on Anthony Bourdain's show ;D I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I felt like I definitely got away from Nashville for awhile. Mini-vacay for the win! From the reservations, to the hostess and the waitress - I thought the service was great. Well timed and very friendly. No 'we are too awesome for you' vibe and no sarcastic answers to our tipsy questions. I thought the prices were fair enough, not a place my cheap butt would frequent regularly, but I left full and tipsy for about $45. For a sweet treat try the homemade sorbetto. Creamy and tasty - a friend got the brownie which I was sadly disappointed with - very average. The 'rum marshmallow sauce' just tasted like marshmallow fluff. E'eryone go channel your inner sausage fiend and try it!
(4)
J R.

Visiting Nashville from the West Coast... Glad we found this place on Yelp. Walked the one mile from downtown and had amazing apps and cocktails. Highly recommend the chicken livers, cauliflower salad, and octopus. Being a little hungry still, we decided to grab their pizza with the belly ham. If you get this pizza, make sure you ask for the egg in the middle to dip your crust. Creative cocktails, great bar and wait staff and delicious food.
(5)
Olga P.

Tandy Wilson is a great chef. I'm a New Yorker and he served the best pasta I've probably ever had anywhere: chopped liver, wild mushroom fettuccini sprinkled with lime and topped with a soft-poached egg. Perfect dish with really great, well-developed flavor. Nothing I can write here can do it justice.
(5)
Chris W.

The menu is not vast but the flavor combinations are quite good and the fresh ingredients were tasty. Not a too die for Italian restaurant but we were pleased.
(4)
Hunter K.

I live in Germantown and have had several great dining experiences at City House. However, trying to get a drink at the bar is a different experience altogether. I can honestly say I have never successfully sat at the City House bar and been served a drink. This restaurant has an odd policy of closing the bar early before the rest of the restaurant closes. The dark-haired female server behind the bar strictly enforces this rule, and will embarrass you if you challenge her on it. Be warned, she is running a club for her favorites and is not concerned with customer service. Overall -- food is interesting with decent wait service. Bar is a customer service nightmare.
(2)
Jay Kay G.

First and for most, the pizza crust is so good! I love a good wood fire pizza oven crust and they do it right here! We went to City House for an early dinner-snack before a night on the town. We got there when they opened on a Friday night without reservations and had no prob getting a seat. In fact we had options. I'm sure they have busier nights though. We each ordered a cocktail, I had the Solomon, Jay had the Old Fashioned. Mine was good though served in the tiniest mason jar ever. His was ok, though nothing special. We ordered a couple of salads for appetizers and they were both unique, tasty, and fresh but seemed a bit over priced for what we got. Because neither of are super foodies, many of the ingredients on the menu were foreign to us so ordering was a bit of a guessing game. The belly ham pizza we split was by far the best part of the meal. The crust, fresh cheese, seasonings, and ham were simply delicious. We also got the egg on top of the pizza which was good but be forewarned the egg is 3 bucks extra. And Jay was wishing for more ham on his pizza. We weren't starving when we went there and would have spent a lot more if we wanted entrees. To be clear, we don't mind spending 25 bucks for a good steak or fish, but we are from the tri-tip capital of the world and know how much a whole tri-tip costs (even though I was excited just to see tri-tip on a menu in Nashville). I will say entrees going out to tables did look interesting and we may try one next time we go back. Overall we had a great experience, good but laid back service, and left satisfied. We would have given it 5 stars but the place did seem to be a little over priced. Still, we will definitely be back for pizza at the very least!
(4)
Brien W.

Went to my favorite Nashville restaurant on Sunday with the family and was really disappointed. They have fallen off their perch. Onion and fennel pizza was too salty for anyone to eat more than 1 slice. Pork spread appetizer (think thick mouse) was pedestrian almost oatmealy, one note w salt. Wings were good but all other dishes left us disappointed. One meal wont lose us as fans but last Sunday was uninspired and mailed in!
(3)
Nicki R.

Ok, I went back. I ordered the right things. The food was good, the service was good, the ambiance was good. :)
(4)
Kim C.

So not impressed! I was looking forward to my dining experience at the City House, especially considering that reservations are in high demand and this place is constantly packed. I have to note that our server was awesome and very attentive. The food: meh! Maybe we went on an off night, but the infamous belly ham pizza was simply a cheese pizza lightly sprinkled with "meat." Might be ideal for some, but not me! My hubby had the gnocchi, which was ok, nothing special. On the bright side, my adult beverage was very tasty!
(3)
Ryan O.

City House sets the culinary bar for Nashville and in my opinion is the best dining experience in town. This place is really THE quintessential Nashville restaurant. The only place I can think of that might top them is the Catbird Seat but 1) I have yet to go there and 2) that is not a place you can visit without a bucket of money and reservations 30 days in advance. So what makes City House so good? - The best pizza you will find in the volunteer state. I've tried all the competition and it is not even close. The wood fired oven Neapolitan style pizza here is as close to perfect as I have ever experienced. The crust is decedent and the most pristine balance of fluff to crispy charred goodness I have ever witnessed. Don't forget to add an egg to your pizza. If you don't, well you're just a dummy (auto exceptions for vegans). The potato and pea pizza is unlike no other. As good as that pizza may be, it isn't even as good as the ham, mozzarella, and chillies which is without question the best pizza I've ever had. - In house smoked/cured meats, particularly of the pork variety. The house smoked belly ham that you can get on the featured pizza is nothing short of meat bliss as is the cured salami you can order as an app. - The cocktail menu is enormous. No matter what your spirit base of choice, there is at least one centered on something you love here. I've had a few of the drinks and even if i didn't like them I could tell the recipe was well thought out and I could still respect the personal attention that was payed to its composition. My personal favorite is the sultry "Henry" which is based on one of Nashville's very own acclaimed distillery spirits, Corsair Triple Smoke. Peaty, ludicrously smokey, and topped off with cynar, bitters, and a burnt orange, this drink is truly a craft cocktail enthusiasts wet dream. Now the negatives... like any successful restaurant, this place is really a victim of its own success. You will not be getting a table during peak hours (or even off-peak hours TBH) without a reservation. That being said, there is a large bar with ample seating and a full menu available for first come first serve that I have seen open even when the place is swarmingly busy. So, City House is pretty much the best there is in Nashville. If you don't believe me, you can take it on the word of the James Beard Foundation as chef/owner Tandy Wilson has been nominated the past two years in a row for best chef in the southeast, even making it to the semi-finals this year.
(5)
Earl R.

My wife and I had one of our more memorable meals at City House. Starting with an unusual olive and pretzel (not what you might think) appetizer, my wife ordered the homemade sausage and I the North Carolina catfish. Neither sounds remarkable, but the way they were prepared and served was. We each ordered a side of cannolini beans with turnip greens, and it was incredible! For dessert we had pannacotta with espresso syrup. The whole meal was, in a word, sublime. Also note, when you arrive at the restaurant, it may first look like you're in the wrong place. Hang in there--walk around the right side as you view it from the street and enter near the rear. What awaits inside is a very special, unique restaurant. Wishing we had a clone of it in Austin, Texas--a serious food town. --Earl R.
(5)
M R.

I did not enjoy my experience at City House. We went there on a Sunday night and on Sundays they have a very limited menu. I did not know this and I was disappointed that I could not order many of the items listed on their website menu. The food that we did order was SO SALTY that it was practically inedible. The server was cold and distant and made no effort to do anything when we mentioned the salty food. Prior to that I made reservations and requested an outdoor table, but was told that the outdoor space was for walk-ins only but if an outdoor table was available when we arrived, then we could have it. Of course an outdoor space won't be available if you cannot reserve it! I thought this was really silly; those who have the foresight to reserve are denied the most desirable space. Sure enough, upon arrival the patio was packed. We sat inside, and the indoor space is so loud that we had to shout at one another in order to hear. Not only that, but the pizza oven fills the room with smoke. Needless to say, I won't be returning and cannot for the life of me figure out what everyone else sees in this place. Also, if you want fabulous pizza in Nashville, go to DeSano's. They are the best!
(1)
Jemina B.

Oh my. OH. MY. My brain is too fried to put my thoughts about City House together in a coherent paragraph, so I'll just write in blurbs: Drink Menu - fantastic. House cured salami - SO GOOD. Margherita Pizza - my fave. With an egg on top, of course. Belly Ham Pizza - sinful. I want to go to there every day.
(5)
Blair S.

My food was OK, the service was OK. The menu was unique (the first five or six items were "pork snacks"), but fairly limited. I heard after talking to friends that the limited menu is only on certain days. Why not a full menu every day of the week? The smoked trout appetizer was my favorite part of the meal. The "Movie Theater Popcorn" had a great pitch, so I splurged out of curiosity, then felt slightly ripped off. Those at my table who had cocktails raved about them. The pizza not bad but not particularly memorable. I guess I have to try another day, and I'll be sure to ask if they have a full menu or the abbreviated quirky menu before making a reservation.
(3)
Douglas B.

Great pizza....great pasta with lamb dish. Outstanding vibe, nice bartenders and staff. Ate at the bar. Busy but they TCB with ease. Would visit often if i lived there.
(5)
Carine D.

Food was good. Beware of tricky waitresses who will try and rack up your bill with $3 egg add ons to pizza and not take ownership when questioned about bill. The customer is always right.
(3)
Victoria C.

This restaurant has no sense of arrival. We drove right past it. If the owners want a hidden secret restaurant, they have achieved it. Once inside, the decor is great. The brick oven is warm, and so is the staff. The pizza was wonderful, as was the wine. The waiter was accommodating to our daughter, and provided helpful info and suggestions. The fettuccine was not as good though. It lacked flavor entirely. On the whole, this was a good experience.
(3)
G. L.

I'd heard a lot about this cool new place so my group and I were very excited to visit. Not to mention it was the last stop in an afternoon of birthday celebration for my good friend. With all the neat places Nashville has to offer, the City House had the honor of being our final destination. It's a cool looking place inside and out and had a great vibe as one of those hidden gems tucked away in a neighborhood that hadn't quite caught on yet. Unfortunately, it didn't meet expectations for us that night for a few reasons. It was very hot inside, service was slow (or maybe it just felt slow since it was so darn hot), the food was mediocre and they were out of several items when we arrived at 7pm. I've heard good things about City House and hope that we just happen to have stopped by on a bad night. But with all Nashville has to offer, I'll likely not be back.
(2)
Emmet K.

City House is a sneaky little spot hidden in the Germantown neighborhood about a mile away from downtown Nashville. A fantastic find while we were visiting! Their house made sausages and charcuterie were top notch! Authentic Italian style wood-fire pizzas were as good as you will find anywhere. The menu is a perfect mix of regional soul food and Italian classics. You can tell this place is run by some young chefs who are passionate about what they are doing for their customers. Great cocktails too!
(4)
Shooter S.

Well, I finely had the Belly Ham Pizza. It was stupid good! It took a while, probably because six of us showed up with no reservation and it was a Friday night, but it was so worth it.
(5)
Justin R.

Who decided to go to an Italian restaurant during Passover? This guy did. I didn't really think about it before I booked the reservations with my girlfriend and my parents, I just read fellow Yelper reviews and decided that this was the place. This first thing I noticed when we walked in was the mouth watering smell coming out of the kitchen. The second thing I noticed, was how open the whole place was. It looked almost like an old warehouse. We were immediately greeted by the hostess and shown to our table. Now, the first thing my step-mom noticed was how loud the place was. I admit it was loud, but I can put up with a little noise for some delicious food. We started off with a great bottle of red wine off of their extensive wine list. After all, wine is one of the only Kosher things we could drink, right? Our waiter was extremely knowledgable of the wine menu and the food menu. He was able to help us all find dished that would suit our tastes and dietary restrictions. I order the a steak dish and my girlfriend ordered a trout dish the a chef whipped up for her on the fly. The trout was one of the best pieces of fish I have ever had, and growing up in South Florida, I have had my fair share. We ordered a side of the sweet potato and cauliflower cold salad. At first read this may not sound that appetizing, but needless to say it was delicious. All and all we had a great experience at City House, even though it was in fact Passover. I cant wait to go back for another delicious dinner here.
(4)
Amanda B.

We always have a good time at City House, though we never go on any night but Sunday. Sunday is the chef's night to do what he likes, and the restaurant takes the opportunity to regale its patrons with all manner of "pork snacks." As a lover of all things pork and a celebrator of the noble swine, Sunday at City House is my favorite. And since most other notable restaurants in town don't stay open for dinner on Sunday nights, City House has carved itself a niche not only for interesting uses of offal, but as one of the only places where one can get a decent meal on Sunday evenings. So last night, we went in and had a lovely time. For starters, I was especially intrigued by the Mortadella "corndogs," which, in point of fact, were actually more like lollipops than corndogs. Either way, they were spectacular: battered and fried crispy, the mortadella (made with peanuts in lieu of the usual pistachios) was tasty and stood in for the hot dog easily, and the housemade mustard was heavenly. Each bite was a blend of crunchy, fatty, tangy deliciousness. The low point of the meal (though not that low) was the pork belly, which was served with garlicky broccoli rabe. The belly was roasted, but was very fatty, rendering it more of a textural accompaniment to the rabe than anything else. Tasty, but a little off the mark. I would have preferred it less gelatinous, but if it's what the chef intended, it's what he intended. For mains, Husband went with the Kitchen Pie. He always goes with the Kitchen Pie. Surprisingly simple, it's basically a cheese pizza, but done up with chili oil in addition to the sauce and Grana Padano cheese, a cousin of Parmigiano Reggiano. It's very flavorful and the chili gives it an unexpected bite. I went with one of the nightly specials, the pork meatballs, served with a rich, yet thin, tomato ragu, and a large piece of cheese and garlic toasted bread in lieu of pasta. The meatballs were gigantic and cooked perfectly, herbs throughout. As I've stated in my reviews before, I can't eat much wheat in my diet, but I did try some of the bread as it was so tempting: crunchy and wonderful, and when sopping up the ragu, perfect. For dessert, I always get the "Lemon Thing." It never seems to fail, everytime we go in, there's a lemon-related dessert on the menu. I don't know who their pastry chef is, but he or she is a genius with lemon. Last night was a lemon and almond pound cake with a side of lemon sorbet. Sweet and crunchy, the cake was delicious: I almost forgot to share a bite with husband. Husband's dessert was a chocolate torta with peanut butter sauce. It was good, but not as good as the "Lemon-Thing." All in all, the meal was great.
(4)
Lada W.

Somebody told us this is one of the best restaurants in Nashville so we went there on Sunday night. There weren't many selections on the menu but I was impressed with the decor. The food was way too salty. I don't know if it was a different chef because my bf told me that he had a great experience there before. The three dishes we ordered were all salty. I don't know why. I would say it's a bit overrated.
(2)

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Address : 1222 4th Ave N
Nashville, TN, 37208
Phone (615) 736-5838
Website https://www.cityhousenashville.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Mon : 5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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City House

1222 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN, 37208

City House Menu

Antipasti

Pizza

Pasta

Fish And Meat

Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for City House

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Fish And Meat

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