My husband took me here tonight for a surprise birthday dinner. One of the most amazing meals I've had in a long time. Started with house pulled buratta and skillet cornbread with bourbon barrel sorghum butter, then had THIS incredibly delicious entree pictured: English peas and roasted potatoes in a lemon-mint creme sauce. The most amazing flavors in every dish. Finished it off with fresh strawberry shortcake with saffron ice cream topped with almonds. All of it was heaven! Service was fabulous and such a nice ambiance as well. Above your usual budget range, but well worth it and we'll be back!
(5)
Sheena T.
The first thing you need to know is that this restaurant is VERY tiny. It's a former shipping container guys. Expect to be on top of other tables. If you know you'll hate this, sit on the patio or at the bar. It will give you a bit more space, though you are still going to be a bit cramped. It's also pretty loud and the wait staff have to kinda lean into your table to talk and take your order. How they don't knock things off the table constantly is quite impressive. I just don't recommend a group more than 4 people unless you are reserving the entire patio. I would find the experience less than ideal if I had to deal with a big party. The perfect size is 2, so grab your SO or a friend and enjoy! The cocktails are pretty whiskey heavy but tasty. I opted for wine and was pleased to see reasonably priced wines by the glass. The second thing you have to do is order whatever dish contains burrata. Burrata is a mozzarella styled cheese that is made in house and is out of this freaking world. Just order whatever dish has it. I also had the lamb sugo and it was excellent with a thick sauce. Very tasty and both are a decent portion size too. I tried the rabbit entree and my bf had some kind of special fish. We really enjoyed them both, the rabbit was slightly sweet but well balanced and I loved it! The fish was very light and delicious as well. Overall... yum! The 404 Kitchen is a unique and delicious experience. Definitely give them a try, but book in advance if you have a specific date or time that you need because it fills up very quickly due to limited capacity.
(5)
Megan K.
Honestly--haven't yet eaten here and likely won't due to the treatment we received after having made our reservation this past summer upon their opening. Two stars instead of one because I had hoped for something great and I've heard good feedback from others. We made a reservation for five, and received a follow-up call on the day of our reservation, confirming the details. The hostess said she was confirming our reservation for four--I corrected her and said there would be five. She curtly replied that there was no room for five ad we'd have to make another reservation for a different night. I completely understand part of the allure of the restaurant is its intimate setting--that being said, the original reservation (made on the phone) was for five. If that was a problem initially, it should have been clarified to me. It's increasingly challenging to collaborate with friends to find good times to meet for dinner--we were all excited about trying out The 404 Kitchen, but after the initial impression we received just after they opened, none of the five of us have tried it out, and no one is rushing too. Too many quality restaurants in this town with pleasant and charming staff welcoming their guests with open arms... no need for the attitude.
(2)
Joe S.
Service was excellent. Drinks were great, too. Burrata was good but under-salted. Both tri-tip and pork were really damn good. Best food I've ever had in Nashville.
(5)
Anthony C.
An absolutely incredible dining experience from the food through the staff. Thank you all. Buratta is not to be missed. Wine list and suggested pairings were on point. Highly recommended.
(5)
Bridget H.
The good/great: 1. The food lived up to the James Beard nomination hype. Try the rabbit, homemade burrata or poached egg salad. All were fresh and delicious. 2. Our server was very knowledgeable and took us through a line-by-line of the entire menu upon request. She was clearly passionate about the food. The bad: 1. The lighting - and by that I mean if you are seated 5-7pm during the summer and facing the window you will be roasted, toasted and blinded by the light. Bring sunglasses (in anticipation of this issue they also have extra pairs), or request to be seated away from the window. The bar is also a safe bet. The verdict: Worth a visit, but plan ahead.
(4)
Queen B.
Gaylen is amazing.. Gaylen is a one man show as a waiter that knows his menu and his wine. He was our waiter the evening we dined. He explained the menu and described every dish, which made it easy for my party to choose. It just sounded better coming from him, than reading the menu. When he brought the wine out, he swirled it around in the wine glass aggressively, breathing in the scent he was trying to find, before handing it to the person who ordered it. Oh... the restaurant. You want to know about the restaurant... Well, if there happens to be a celebrity in the house, sitting near you, it's quite the show to watch everyone fawn over him. He gets the royal treatment, and whether you ordered your dinner before him, he got his cornbread, before me. He got special treatment. It was entertaining for my table. The place is nice. Small, quaint. The noise level is LOUD. VERY LOUD. It's difficult to hear the person across the table, after 7pm.. Food. An interesting menu where texture plays a big role. The different grains used in dishes... chewy, nutty.. along with a little of this and a little of that. Everything made from scratch. Decent portions, although one of my dining partners remarked that his rabbit must have been a baby.. there was hardly any rabbit meat in his dish. The scallop dish was amazing. The mushrooms and scallops are stacked into a pyramid on the plate.. Aesthetically pleasing, delicious with every bite. The chicken dish was good, as was the flavor in the "porridge." My protein portion was on the small side.. small portion for a large price. Cornbread was amazing. Sweetened butter came with the skillet cornbread and there's enough to feed three people, if you slice it like a pizza. Everything was delicious. We had some issues with the food, but Gaylin fixed things to his ability and all was forgiven. Complimentary valet. Glass of wine, entree, side of cornbread = $50 We'll return another time..
(4)
Timothy M.
Amanda and Travis were amazing host and server. The food was impeccable from starters to main course. The mushrooms, rAdishes, drum and cornbread were all out of this world. The rabbit and tartare were enjoyed by my colleagues.
(5)
PW D.
404 never disappoints! Thanks to Matt, Travis & Jordan for another perfect dining experience! 4 of us enjoyed a variety of libations, appetizers & we each chose a different entree. All were excellent!! Dined on patio for first time & it was quite comfortable and truly pleasant. Finished with several interesting & delicious desserts. Attention to detail, amazing combinations, & impeccable service keep 404 as one of our favorites!
(5)
Lauren W.
Located in a former shipping container in the heart of the Gulch, the 404 Kitchen is exactly what you would expect from a James Beard Award semi-finalist (best new restaurant category). This incredibly-small-but-incredibly-neat restaurant is nestled away, almost unassumingly, next to the Station Inn and is dwarfed by the ever-sprouting high-rise condos. And if the uniqueness of the restaurant wasn't enough, it is attached to a small 5 room boutique hotel. The 404 Kitchen is one of the best places in Nashville, and it's hiding in plain sight. The 404 Kitchen has been on my list for quite some time. When my dear friend Kate and I wanted to go out for a girls night, we were surprised when we were able to grab a last minute table for dinner. The dining room is very tiny, with only a handful of tables squished very close together, a patio, and a small bar. The largest party I would recommend here is 4 people, because beyond that you might take up half the restaurant. The decor is simple, woodsy, and is unassuming. The standout is the large window that lets in the most beautiful light. Thank goodness for spring days. We started off with a cocktail from their lovely leather-bound book of offerings. I chose the Flight 404 which our waitress informed me was one of the sweeter drinks. It had gin and creme de violet and what I got was the most visually appealing cocktail: A light purple drink with a dark lovely luxardo cherry at the bottom. The flavor was sweet, but it had a strong earthy gin flavor that I loved. I guess gin is quickly becoming my go-to alcohol of choice. WHO AM I? Kate ordered the Nearest Green which had bourbon, apple brandy, honey, and Benton's bacon. There were little shards of crisp bacon taking a bath in the bourbon. This drink tasted like breakfast; an amalgam of syrup and bacon. It was really strong, traditionally manly, and highly enjoyable. For an appetizer we went with the house made burrata. We had a whole ball of the softest mixture of mozzarella and cream tossed with a dressing made of pine nuts, leeks, grapefruit, celeriac and truffles. Everything about this dish was smooth, except for the occasional crunch the pine nut. Surprisingly, despite all the dairy, the dish was amazingly light. The sauce was so wonderful that I almost jumped for joy when our server brought us fresh bread to sop up the leftovers. For my entree I had the truffled egg study. THIS! JUST THIS- might be the most amazing dish I have ever had that makes the lowly egg rise to the top the culinary pedestal, as it so richly deserves. The egg, perched upon a bed of fresh pasta, was slow cooked for a long time, making it the most delicious poached egg you can imagine. Once tapped, the yolk oozed all over the plate and when mixed together with the caviar and truffles created the richest, creamiest sauce for the pasta. The truffles themselves where thinly shaved and blended in well with the sauce. While $28 might be really pricey for one egg and some pasta, I pretty much guarantee that you have never had egg prepared this way, and with all the fancy accouterments, you will become a believer. Kate ordered the Dry Aged Tri Tip with farro and root vegetables. The meat came out cooked to the exact specifications asked for and the seasoning used really added a nice bit of flavor to the meat. The grilled onion added a nice touch of sweet and the farro underneath created a bed to soak up all the flavors. Every time I try farro I'm reminded that I really quite enjoy it and should consider making it at home sometimes. For our side dish we choose the risotto with mascarpone and ramps. I'm always hesitant to order a risotto because if you have ever watched Top Chef, you know that if you make one, you are going home. (Yet year after year someone dares to tempt fate and make one- only to be sent packing). I can assure that if this dish was served on Top Chef the judges would cheer and the risotto curse would be broken. Ramps made the risotto taste fresh, like spring. With that light garlic and onion taste that reminds you of lying in fresh grass. If only ramps were in season the whole year round *sigh* The 404 Kitchen is top notch. Everything about it is pretty damn near perfect. Our waitress was polite, but very informative, almost as if she cooked everything herself. The presentations were gorgeous, creating a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth. Make a reservation, bring a friend, and prepare to be impressed.
(5)
Boris K.
The softness and texture of the Atlantic Mackarel is amazing! Farro w duck egg was decadent. Nice job @mattbolus @the404kitchen #nashvillefood #404kitchen
(5)
Chris W.
The food was terrific and the wait staff were great. ***** Be warned, if there is any chance that you might be more than 15 minutes late for your reservation, they will cancel it, even if part of your party has arrived. I had a guest from out of town (from the UK) that I wanted to take to a business dinner and I was told in very stern terms that even though I was there, my reservation would be cancelled. I explained that my guest was on his way right now and was told "our policy is clearly on our website". I have NEVER had a restaurant management at this level treat me like that! Need I mention that there were NO people waiting for a table AND that there were plenty of empty tables???!!! **** So, if you need a great place to take someone to dinner, don't go here, unless it is ok if part of your party is late that they cancel your reservation.
(2)
Katie S.
Amazing! Recommend the the Burrata and the skillet cornbread. Oh and also the saffron ice cream! First time I've ever had saffron ice cream and it was delicious!
(5)
Linda A.
Anniversary Dinner! I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. 3 felt way too low but 4 feels generous. I'm going with the 4 because although a lot of our evening at 404 Kitchen was "A-OK", nothing was bad enough to give 2 stars (creating a 3 star average) so we're going with 4. Whew! Tiny place, we knew that going in...but just so a newbie knows...tiny place. So you kind of are on top of each other which doesn't lend itself to a romantic date night atmosphere. We were able to hear everyone's conversations, which is sometimes fun anyway. Also had a front row seat watching the couple who obviously hates each other chew in silence. However it also provides everyone an audience to your table (I'm looking at you, single woman at the bar...the one from The Bay Area who just cannot understand why Nashville is so popular. She kept turning around and watching us until we looked at her then she'd turn back around. Maybe she was bored, in which case...you're welcome honey.) The food...Burrata appetizer. There was a lot of hype about it so I expected to fall off my chair, but it was just good. Good is good enough. My entree....whole Sheepshead fish. I'd never had Sheepshead before (it really needs a new branding). It was delicious and they go to great pains to prepare it in such a way that it tasted like buttery goodness. The bones were there but not a horrible imposition by any means. Served with a succotash of field peas, corn and tomatoes. My dinner was very good. Hubby had the tri tip steak. It's probably the least adventurous item on the menu. He deemed it "pretty good". I didn't try it and it takes a lot for him to go much further for "pretty good." Dessert was kind of a disappointment. I didn't love the saffron ice cream and shortbread is shortbread. They do serve a mean cup of coffee and my husband enjoyed an E.H. Taylor bourbon that you don't get everywhere. The server was perfect, she described the offerings without sounding like she was reciting the alphabet and chatted us up when appropriate. They were packed and we never felt neglected. All in all, a 4 star evening at 404.
I didn't have a reservation but decided to try the 404 Kitchen. The hostess said the were completely booked but they could squeeze us in if we were seated immediately. By the time we left, the restaurant wasn't full (and it's pretty small) so I'm not convinced they were booked on a weeknight. The service and food were good but I guess there are just so many other great restaurants in Nashville at this price range that I'd prefer to go to other places.
(3)
Queen B.
Gaylen is amazing.. Gaylen is a one man show as a waiter that knows his menu and his wine. He was our waiter the evening we dined. He explained the menu and described every dish, which made it easy for my party to choose. It just sounded better coming from him, than reading the menu. When he brought the wine out, he swirled it around in the wine glass aggressively, breathing in the scent he was trying to find, before handing it to the person who ordered it. Oh... the restaurant. You want to know about the restaurant... Well, if there happens to be a celebrity in the house, sitting near you, it's quite the show to watch everyone fawn over him. He gets the royal treatment, and whether you ordered your dinner before him, he got his cornbread, before me. He got special treatment. It was entertaining for my table. The place is nice. Small, quaint. The noise level is LOUD. VERY LOUD. It's difficult to hear the person across the table, after 7pm.. Food. An interesting menu where texture plays a big role. The different grains used in dishes... chewy, nutty.. along with a little of this and a little of that. Everything made from scratch. Decent portions, although one of my dining partners remarked that his rabbit must have been a baby.. there was hardly any rabbit meat in his dish. The scallop dish was amazing. The mushrooms and scallops are stacked into a pyramid on the plate.. Aesthetically pleasing, delicious with every bite. The chicken dish was good, as was the flavor in the "porridge." My protein portion was on the small side.. small portion for a large price. Cornbread was amazing. Sweetened butter came with the skillet cornbread and there's enough to feed three people, if you slice it like a pizza. Everything was delicious. We had some issues with the food, but Gaylin fixed things to his ability and all was forgiven. Complimentary valet. Glass of wine, entree, side of cornbread = $50 We'll return another time..
(4)
Scott G.
Another farm to table restaurant. Very small portions and even smaller drinks. The old fashioned cocktail was made with cherry syrup and the pour of EH Taylor was barely tasted. Wine pours were minimal as well. The app (tomato gallete) was fantastic, the rabbit was a pile of what looked like pulled pork and was really odd. The fish (barracuda) had the skin on and was overly salted. Ambiance was "ok". It's very cramped and loud and just kind of weird. I felt like I was in an entry way to something larger. TLDR - left hungry and came home and made some popcorn.
(2)
Bridget H.
The good/great: 1. The food lived up to the James Beard nomination hype. Try the rabbit, homemade burrata or poached egg salad. All were fresh and delicious. 2. Our server was very knowledgeable and took us through a line-by-line of the entire menu upon request. She was clearly passionate about the food. The bad: 1. The lighting - and by that I mean if you are seated 5-7pm during the summer and facing the window you will be roasted, toasted and blinded by the light. Bring sunglasses (in anticipation of this issue they also have extra pairs), or request to be seated away from the window. The bar is also a safe bet. The verdict: Worth a visit, but plan ahead.
(4)
Timothy M.
Amanda and Travis were amazing host and server. The food was impeccable from starters to main course. The mushrooms, rAdishes, drum and cornbread were all out of this world. The rabbit and tartare were enjoyed by my colleagues.
(5)
Chuck D.
I am seriously delinquent on this review for 2 reasons: 1) I DONT WANT ANY NEW COMPETITION FOR SEATS OR A TABLE HERE 2) Every time I go, the meal I have is so good that I forget what I was going to write about the last great meal. So here we go. There are moments in life that you never forget (i.e., birth of a child, getting married (turns out that is forgettable), getting married again(nice recovery), the Kennedy assassination(or so I am told), the Challenger disaster, the Red Sox breaking the curse in 2004(let it go you Boston haters), etc) and for those that have seen some of my other reviews, my passion for food undoubtedly would eventually have one of these defining moments related to dining. Enter 404 Kitchen. I have had everything on the menu more times than I care to admit, after a particularly fantastic preparation by Chef Bolus, my wife and I decided to buy a "vacation home" in Nashville (food vacation that is) as I was sick of commuting to Nashville from San Francisco for dinner (Sorry United Airlines - the trip experience just isn't all that invigorating). FOOD Sorry to stray off topic - My favorites, Dry Aged Tri tip atop farro with hazelnuts, cherries, horseradish and pesto: BRAISED RABBIT however he prepares it, Pork Ragout - all seasonal preparations. Starters are all out of this world (get the hand pulled Burrata on your first visit - you will wear plastic pocket liners on all future visits so you can sneak some home). DRINK GM/Sommalier Travis B. has all the right wines and whiskeys dialed up to complete an unforgettable experience. SERVICE Be sure to ask for Galen, Amanda, Lindsey, oh hell - you get it.....SERVICE THERE ALSO ROCKS! I would say this is a perfect place for a special occasion, and it is, but that means I wouldn't go there as often as I do. It is the perfect place for dinner, period.
(5)
Ben N.
I wanted to really like this place. Cool atmosphere and interesting menu. However, the execution is very average. Food was ordinary despite sounding unique on the menu. Not likely to return.
(3)
Michael U.
Items Selected: Flight 404 - Martin Miller's gin, Crème de Violette, Luxardo, lemon Pig Plate - Woodlands back bacon, coppa di testa, 14 month Benton's, goldrush apple butter, whiskey apple butter, sourdough Wedge Oak Farm Duck Egg - wild mushrooms, Anson Mills farro, egg yolk, herbs Fava Beans - rock shrimp, orange, honey, pecorino Glendale Farm Chicken - Anson Mills dirty porridge, lacinato kale, button mushrooms Ponce Inlet Bay Scallops - cauliflower, brown butter, paddlefish caviar, white truffle Anson Mills Skillet Cornbread - Kentucky bourbon barrel sorghum butter Lemon Curd - Medjool dates, cashew, Italian meringue Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Budino - almond, port, cherries, crisps Saffron Ice Cream - strawberries, shortcake, Marcona almonds Small in size, and difficult to locate in an area currently high in construction, Matt Bolus' The 404 Kitchen was the finishing piece to a large puzzle of dinner decisions in Nashville and featuring more 'farm to table' cooking inside of what was once a shipping container the cuisine proved every bit as good as highly praised spots like Josephine, Husk, and City House while the setting and service were perhaps even better - the small size and tongue-in-cheek humor providing an excellent experience spread over the course of two hours. Described as 'uncomplicated' by the chef, with a menu that varies almost day-to-day, our arrival at The 404 Kitchen found a four-top ready in waiting despite a late arrival due to difficulties finding the space around orange barrels and joking about how much the city had changed in the last 12 months, not to mention the dozen years past since our last visit, it was almost an immediate connection with the staff that was established - the conversation free-flowing and full of recommendations not only for food and drink, but things to see and do in the area. Eventually deciding on a four-course order to begin with a plate of locally sourced charcuterie paired to housemade preserves and warm sourdough brought in from a local baker it was much to our surprise just how enjoyable the whisky apple butter was alongside the more briny bites of pork and slathering the bread thick with Goldrush Apple compote while sipping a mighty fine spin on the classic Aviation it was with the restaurant quickly filling to capacity that appetizers arrived, the duck egg and faro dish presenting an earthy aromatic bowl of creamy porridge while the fava bean soup was the very definition of vibrant - a fresh seasonal expression that saw every ingredient utilized to the utmost potential for texture, flavor, and balance. Progressing to entrees, and taking into account the amount of eating already done that day, it was in two plates that we invested along with a side of skillet cornbread that easily proved to be the best in the city when soaked in smoky-sweet butter, and although the "jellybeans of the sea" scallops were indeed quite sweet amidst their rich accoutrements both the small size and use of truffle oil were offputting considering the $32 pricetag, a far better appropriation of funds invested in the pan roasted bird atop liver-rich porridge balanced out by the tender mushrooms and kale. Inspired by dessert descriptions, at least enough to order one of each, it was once again here that Tennessee surprised my generally citrus-averse palate, for as good as both the thick port-infused chocolate pudding and innovative take on strawberry shortcake were neither even came close to the mason jar parfait of creamy lemon curd decorated by meringue with roughly chopped dates and cashews, a dish that in many ways supported the Chef's vision of simplicity while still presenting as quite sophisticated, much like the experience as a whole.
(4)
Sheena T.
The first thing you need to know is that this restaurant is VERY tiny. It's a former shipping container guys. Expect to be on top of other tables. If you know you'll hate this, sit on the patio or at the bar. It will give you a bit more space, though you are still going to be a bit cramped. It's also pretty loud and the wait staff have to kinda lean into your table to talk and take your order. How they don't knock things off the table constantly is quite impressive. I just don't recommend a group more than 4 people unless you are reserving the entire patio. I would find the experience less than ideal if I had to deal with a big party. The perfect size is 2, so grab your SO or a friend and enjoy! The cocktails are pretty whiskey heavy but tasty. I opted for wine and was pleased to see reasonably priced wines by the glass. The second thing you have to do is order whatever dish contains burrata. Burrata is a mozzarella styled cheese that is made in house and is out of this freaking world. Just order whatever dish has it. I also had the lamb sugo and it was excellent with a thick sauce. Very tasty and both are a decent portion size too. I tried the rabbit entree and my bf had some kind of special fish. We really enjoyed them both, the rabbit was slightly sweet but well balanced and I loved it! The fish was very light and delicious as well. Overall... yum! The 404 Kitchen is a unique and delicious experience. Definitely give them a try, but book in advance if you have a specific date or time that you need because it fills up very quickly due to limited capacity.
(5)
Megan K.
Honestly--haven't yet eaten here and likely won't due to the treatment we received after having made our reservation this past summer upon their opening. Two stars instead of one because I had hoped for something great and I've heard good feedback from others. We made a reservation for five, and received a follow-up call on the day of our reservation, confirming the details. The hostess said she was confirming our reservation for four--I corrected her and said there would be five. She curtly replied that there was no room for five ad we'd have to make another reservation for a different night. I completely understand part of the allure of the restaurant is its intimate setting--that being said, the original reservation (made on the phone) was for five. If that was a problem initially, it should have been clarified to me. It's increasingly challenging to collaborate with friends to find good times to meet for dinner--we were all excited about trying out The 404 Kitchen, but after the initial impression we received just after they opened, none of the five of us have tried it out, and no one is rushing too. Too many quality restaurants in this town with pleasant and charming staff welcoming their guests with open arms... no need for the attitude.
(2)
Joe S.
Service was excellent. Drinks were great, too. Burrata was good but under-salted. Both tri-tip and pork were really damn good. Best food I've ever had in Nashville.
(5)
Heather D.
My husband took me here tonight for a surprise birthday dinner. One of the most amazing meals I've had in a long time. Started with house pulled buratta and skillet cornbread with bourbon barrel sorghum butter, then had THIS incredibly delicious entree pictured: English peas and roasted potatoes in a lemon-mint creme sauce. The most amazing flavors in every dish. Finished it off with fresh strawberry shortcake with saffron ice cream topped with almonds. All of it was heaven! Service was fabulous and such a nice ambiance as well. Above your usual budget range, but well worth it and we'll be back!
(5)
Anthony C.
An absolutely incredible dining experience from the food through the staff. Thank you all. Buratta is not to be missed. Wine list and suggested pairings were on point. Highly recommended.
(5)
Lauren W.
Located in a former shipping container in the heart of the Gulch, the 404 Kitchen is exactly what you would expect from a James Beard Award semi-finalist (best new restaurant category). This incredibly-small-but-incredibly-neat restaurant is nestled away, almost unassumingly, next to the Station Inn and is dwarfed by the ever-sprouting high-rise condos. And if the uniqueness of the restaurant wasn't enough, it is attached to a small 5 room boutique hotel. The 404 Kitchen is one of the best places in Nashville, and it's hiding in plain sight. The 404 Kitchen has been on my list for quite some time. When my dear friend Kate and I wanted to go out for a girls night, we were surprised when we were able to grab a last minute table for dinner. The dining room is very tiny, with only a handful of tables squished very close together, a patio, and a small bar. The largest party I would recommend here is 4 people, because beyond that you might take up half the restaurant. The decor is simple, woodsy, and is unassuming. The standout is the large window that lets in the most beautiful light. Thank goodness for spring days. We started off with a cocktail from their lovely leather-bound book of offerings. I chose the Flight 404 which our waitress informed me was one of the sweeter drinks. It had gin and creme de violet and what I got was the most visually appealing cocktail: A light purple drink with a dark lovely luxardo cherry at the bottom. The flavor was sweet, but it had a strong earthy gin flavor that I loved. I guess gin is quickly becoming my go-to alcohol of choice. WHO AM I? Kate ordered the Nearest Green which had bourbon, apple brandy, honey, and Benton's bacon. There were little shards of crisp bacon taking a bath in the bourbon. This drink tasted like breakfast; an amalgam of syrup and bacon. It was really strong, traditionally manly, and highly enjoyable. For an appetizer we went with the house made burrata. We had a whole ball of the softest mixture of mozzarella and cream tossed with a dressing made of pine nuts, leeks, grapefruit, celeriac and truffles. Everything about this dish was smooth, except for the occasional crunch the pine nut. Surprisingly, despite all the dairy, the dish was amazingly light. The sauce was so wonderful that I almost jumped for joy when our server brought us fresh bread to sop up the leftovers. For my entree I had the truffled egg study. THIS! JUST THIS- might be the most amazing dish I have ever had that makes the lowly egg rise to the top the culinary pedestal, as it so richly deserves. The egg, perched upon a bed of fresh pasta, was slow cooked for a long time, making it the most delicious poached egg you can imagine. Once tapped, the yolk oozed all over the plate and when mixed together with the caviar and truffles created the richest, creamiest sauce for the pasta. The truffles themselves where thinly shaved and blended in well with the sauce. While $28 might be really pricey for one egg and some pasta, I pretty much guarantee that you have never had egg prepared this way, and with all the fancy accouterments, you will become a believer. Kate ordered the Dry Aged Tri Tip with farro and root vegetables. The meat came out cooked to the exact specifications asked for and the seasoning used really added a nice bit of flavor to the meat. The grilled onion added a nice touch of sweet and the farro underneath created a bed to soak up all the flavors. Every time I try farro I'm reminded that I really quite enjoy it and should consider making it at home sometimes. For our side dish we choose the risotto with mascarpone and ramps. I'm always hesitant to order a risotto because if you have ever watched Top Chef, you know that if you make one, you are going home. (Yet year after year someone dares to tempt fate and make one- only to be sent packing). I can assure that if this dish was served on Top Chef the judges would cheer and the risotto curse would be broken. Ramps made the risotto taste fresh, like spring. With that light garlic and onion taste that reminds you of lying in fresh grass. If only ramps were in season the whole year round *sigh* The 404 Kitchen is top notch. Everything about it is pretty damn near perfect. Our waitress was polite, but very informative, almost as if she cooked everything herself. The presentations were gorgeous, creating a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth. Make a reservation, bring a friend, and prepare to be impressed.
(5)
PW D.
404 never disappoints! Thanks to Matt, Travis & Jordan for another perfect dining experience! 4 of us enjoyed a variety of libations, appetizers & we each chose a different entree. All were excellent!! Dined on patio for first time & it was quite comfortable and truly pleasant. Finished with several interesting & delicious desserts. Attention to detail, amazing combinations, & impeccable service keep 404 as one of our favorites!
(5)
Gretchen G.
Good, just not as good as they think it is. The atmosphere is small and intimate. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable about their food. Quick to tell us the restaurant was nominated for a James Beard, making sure the sommelier visited every table. Our wine was very good; the southern soda cocktail was excellent. Let's talk food.... Good but not mind blowing as all the hype might suggest. The risotto was definitely a highlight, if it had been a main dish with some shrimp thrown on top, rather than a side, I would have been delighted. The gnocchi with lamb was very well seasoned but didn't hold up well enough to get a full gnocchi onto my plate. Their famous cornbread, as others have mentioned, is burnt on top; this is clearly intentional but doesn't help the dish. The rabbit dish was excellent, very well cooked. Sure, go, it is good. It's just not going to rank up on one of my favorite meals.
Not that anyone needs another review. I think most everything that could be said has. Most people who haven't been will still want to go because of the hype (like me) regardless of what's on yelp or urban spoon. So here's my two cents - Pros- Service Drinks Appetizers I didn't love my chicken -it was WAY to salty. And for me to say anything is ever too salty is unbelievable. Husbands rabbit with gemelli pasta was better but still heavy handed with salt. Again. I LOVE salt. The noise has been mentioned ad nauseam. I agree it is extremely loud. I had to almost yell to be heard across a very small table for two. But I had been warned and the space is well advertised as tiny. We were underwhelmed with the dessert options so we paid and left to have dessert elsewhere. Bottom line, glad I went but I doubt we would go back except for a drink at the bar.
(3)
Chris S.
The waiter was obnoxious. The kitchen was inflexible. The food was just okay, but pricey. Seems like the place exists to serve the chef's ego and not for the diner's pleasure. To many other great options in Nashville. We won't be back.
(1)
John C.
Food was incredible and so unique. Menu changes daily which I love. If you are in Nashville this is a must stop. The staff is super energetic and love where they work. I will be going back for sure!
(5)
Holly D.
My husband and I ate here for the first time recently. Each dish was delicious. We started with cracked crab ,as well as wild mushroom and Farro dish. Both were very good but the mushroom dish wins by a nose. Cocktails were very good and they had a small but very nice winelist. I am going completely blank on our mains but I'm guessing you can't go wrong. The menu changes frequently so I wouldn't be much help anyway. Dessert was a lemon meringue with date and pistachio (?) Crust. Just right. Staff is very friendly and atmosphere is cozy but convivial.
(4)
Ginka P.
I must be the only person in Nashville that thinks this place is WAY overrated! I don't mind that it's small. The food is just way over-salted. So much so my wedding ring was tight the next day. It was unbearable. When I read that the chef was formerly at Watermark it all made sense. I have always thought Watermark's food was too salty. I've been steering people clear of this salt lick ever since. Much better are Husk and Silo. Maybe I'll go back to Watermark now that he's gone:)
(2)
Andy H.
Best fish I've had in Nashville. The bartender was super friendly, and the sommelier was a great addition. The Burrata was lacking some of the inspiration I had experienced on the other dishes, but everything else was excellent! It's small and cozy, and is very expensive.
(4)
Marty F.
Service was excellent. Food was better !! Great experience.
(5)
matthew B.
Perfect service. Inventive recipes executed very well. 404 Kitchen is the best restaurant in Nashville right now.
(5)
Lisa E.
404 beat expectations. I had heard food was really good, but questionably great, and its small size made for a noisy experience. Yes, the place is tiny and dark in spots which drove my 4 rating and the food, which is more important than noise/lighting to me, was outstanding - clearly a 5. 404 deserves a 4.5 rating vs a 4. The Burrata cheese app was great with a mix of beans and shaved brussel sprouts - a nice variety of flavors. We heard it runs out nightly so grab it early! Our server Jordan was very good and helped me select the wreck fish - a flaky white fish with tasty winter vegetables and crafted a "chef surprise" for my sister being a selective vegetarian. That chef surprise was a really nice touch. Like food options, the wine list is limited, interesting and pricey by the bottle. We opted to go by the glass and will do that again. 404 is a repeat place for us!
(4)
Nick B.
Really wasn't a detail about this place that I didn't love. Started with the Three Little Pigs and the Lamb Sugo. The Three Little Pigs was very good, but the Sugo was spectacular. For entrees we had the rabbit and Southern Pork Stroganoff. We both immediately liked our courses but upon tasting each other's we switched plates. Both were warming and nuanced in the flavor. Skillet cookie for desert. Again, pretty much perfect. I think the best part of the place is the ambiance though. Sure it's tight, but it's cozy and has perfect energy. The servers are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and the manager stopped at our table for what ended up being a great ten minute chat. The drinks were fantastic too. Quite a little gem.
(5)
Anne R.
One of the very best steak dishes that I have had in a very long time! I am a fan! The pimento app was also fab. I will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Kristina L.
I snagged a reservation for our eighth wedding anniversary and boy am I glad I did. Nestled in a cozy storage container and attached to a boutique hotel, the husband and I were whisked away on a culinary adventure. Yes, it is a small space. Yes, it can feel a bit crowded (our table was literally up against a service station where coffee and the like were prepared). Yes, it can get a bit loud. But let's get to the heart of the matter and talk about food, shall we? We started with our cocktails the Damien's Peach Jack Smash and the Flight 404 (with vodka instead of gin because I am allergic to juniper).Both of our cocktails were quite lovely; however, the highlight to me was the delectable Luxardo cherry. My husband immediately mentioned that it was a "girly" drink due to the ethereal purple hue from the crème de violette. Regardless, it was fabulous as was his whisky based concoction. For appetizers I knew we had to have the burrata after reading so many glowing reviews about it. Our other app was rabbit liver pate. The burrata delivered in its creaminess and was scrumptious when spread upon the crostini. I could have ordered three more servings and called it a night. I am living proof that there is no such thing as too much cheese. It is like saying a diamond is way too big in my book. But let's discuss the pate, shall we? It was an utter delight to say the very least. I am not sure I can come up with words to adequately describe how wickedly decadent this was. It was accompanied by benne wafers, pommery mustard and pickled green almonds and was topped with a smattering of salt. My husband and I did not speak while eating both of these. There were eye rolls and whimpering (out of pure gratification mind you) and then a sad shared glance when we realized we had wiped both plates clean. All we had left was to look forward to the next round of cocktails and entrees. I decided to continue my lapin trend and ordered the rabbit with ricotta gnudi, stinging nettles and king trumpet mushrooms whilst my German ordered the Bear Creek Farms tri-tip (medium rare) with risotto, ramp greens, hon shimeji, mushrooms, red peppers and saba. Both were amazing but to me my rabbit dish won the prize for the evening. Presentation aside on both, I am sure they would have just as good in a blind tasting. We finished with two different desserts - the Carolina Peaches for him and the Gorgonzola Dulce for me. Again, I thought my dish was the winner here. It was a caramelized brioche delicately smothered with gorgonzola and a drizzling of wild flower honey - both sweet and savory and heavenly sublime. The husband's involved a rhubarb compote, bay leaf custard, benne nougatine, basil and, of course, peaches. His was tasty but I am just not a rhubarb kind of girl. The service was marvelous. Jordan, our server, was well voiced regarding the entire menu. She made suggestions and helped us navigate when we were not certain what a particular ingredient. (I was befuddled by the stinging nettles. Jordan described them as a wild spinach of sorts and that guided me along.) All in all a delightful evening and one of the better meals I have had in Nashville. This will definitely go down as a place to return to as both my German and I were smitten kittens and well pleased with our meal and experience.
(5)
Diana S.
Don't come here to share secrets; the place is so small and tables so close together that everyone there will hear them. Also, if you are vegan, don't bother. There is not one single vegan friendly dish on the menu. The food was spectacular: the Burrata, truffle, leek and Benton's bacon starter was extraordinary. My companion is trying to eat a vegan diet, but will make allowances and eat dairy and fish when she has to. We got the bacon on the side, and really, I don't think the dish needed it. The truffles and rich, creamy cheese were perfect together and I thought the bacon was just gilding the lilly. The winter squash soup was silky and nourishing, with the pepitas adding some nice crunch. Both fish dishes were winners: the flounder had a light, crunchy cornmeal crust and lay on a bed of savory lady peas and rice with a light ham broth and the swordfish was meaty and complimented by canneloni beans and Brussels sprouts. The radishes, however were not keepers. Never had them cooked before and probably won't again. They were still fairly hard (they were halved) but lost the beautiful brightness of the raw veg. The key lime tart with some sort of parfait on the side was the perfect sized dessert - enough for 2 to split and get a good taste, not enough to overpower a single eater. One thing we tried that was unequivocally horrible was the Flight 404 cocktail. When the martini glasses arrived with a transparent pale lavender fluid I thought I might have mis-ordered, and one small sip confirmed my suspicion. Gag. My friend had the same reaction. So terribly, terribly sweet! Ugh. Gross. The waitress took it back to the bar for some more lemon juice to counteract what tasted like marshmallow liqueur. This helped, but we switched to wine. And if you must try this cocktail, do yourself a favor and don't eat the blueberry in the bottom. Seriously. Do. Not. Eat. The Blueberry. 4 stars rather than 5 because of close proximity of tables and that one Godawful drink.
(4)
Stephanie C.
Very nice. We started with the housemade cheese and loved it. The cocktails were also well presented. For entrees, my husband loved his tri-tip. My pork ragout was just average. The cornbread was fabulous. Great coffee and nice chocolate cookie. We sat outside in the rain, but stayed completely dry. The valet tried to give us the wrong car. The service was good, but not outstanding. The chairs were quite uncomfortable. I'm being picky though. This place is still worth a try.
(4)
Chaz C.
Spending a couple of days in Nashville and the 404 Kitchen was on our must list. From the complimentary valet parking to an excellent Pinot and great starters, we had a lovely time at the 404 Kitchen. We hadn't fasted all day and we weren't very hungry so we made do with three starters. We were cared for by the lovely Christine. We had the Burrata, the Liver Pate and the cornbread with sorghum butter -- and it filled us up. As everyone knows by now, the restaurant is in a standard shipping container (no kidding) and it was so cool!
(4)
Matt T.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Unique, tons of flavors in layers. There's not much I need to really say about the food, it speaks for itself. The atmosphere is unique. It's literally built in and around a shipping container. Inside looks like it'd seat 10 - 12 people tops. The waitress was a touch hippie and odd but did a very good job. Didn't test the bar as we had a bottle of wine. The wine list is good. Certainly 2 thumbs up after I lick them clean!
(5)
Ryan O.
It was hard coming into the 404 without any sort of expectations. Local food bloggers have been raving about this place plus there was a recent James Beard Award nomination. The chef here bills his food as "simple and unassuming." I feel that's a very accurate and succinct description of the cuisine. In terms of complexity all of the dishes I had here were somewhat minimal. Yet even though the dishes were a bit simple I thought that almost all of them were good. To that end, I think that is the 404 Kitchen's standout quality - doing more with less. That's a very hard thing to do and I give them a lot of credit for that. As great as the food is though I have to say I don't like the space. I knew going it that it is really small. Well, it's smaller than that. I wouldn't mind that so much but the tables end up very close together. I know this might be part of the appeal but that falls apart when the people around you are obnoxious. On our visit we got seated one foot away from an repulsively loud and overly chatty guy who loved to talk about himself and tell bad jokes. Even if we had not been stuck beside this unpleasant fellow the whole space feels cramped and stuffy. It's just not my ideal environment for fine dining. More on the positive side, there is no reclaimed barnwood which is certainly refreshing. The bar was healthy stocked with a variety of whiskey and a lot of it was very affordable. Bonus points for serving my whiskey in a Glencairn when I asked for it neat - I'm not sure any other bar I've been to in Nashville has done that. The service was extremely prompt, accommodating, and attentive without being overbearing. 404 Kitchen is a unique and interesting experience. I'm glad I went and the food was definitely the highlight. The ambiance is a really downer for me though - enough so that I would probably won't return. Given the quality of Nashville fine dining these days I can think of at least 5-6 other places with food as good as or better than the 404 Kitchen that have a much more pleasant setting. Overall, I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars, I wish I could give out 3.5. I'd give the food 3.5 stars, the setting 2 stars, and the service 4 stars.
(3)
Robert W.
So we had a reservation for our anniversary and decided to give this place a try. Probably not the best place for a romantic dinner but after almost thirty years together, we thought why not. The ambience was fine but the place is tiny. I am not sure how they are making it with so few tables. The food and the service were great and we appreciated the owner coming and checking on us more than once. We wish them well and hope that more people would eat there so they can stay open and successful enough for an expansion?
(4)
Tamara G.
It's average at best. I like that they have unique menu items. The flavored of the food were strong and somewhat overpowering. A friend couldn't finish her dish because it was too strong. I didn't eat my side because it was too salty. And, if you are a vodka drinker, don't go here because they don't have vodka.
(2)
Ian F.
*Sustainable *Atmosphere on point *Service perfect My girlfriend and I enjoyed a tremendous meal that included: Entree- Rabbit - Peach and Pork Ragout Sides- Made to order cornbread - fingerling potatoes I would recommend all of the above. Each dish was damn near perfect in our opinion. I would recommend the 404 to anyone out there looking for something unique! This place is top notch. Not overrated. Not too salty. Try it yourself, this place is just right. Great addition to Nashville. Enjoyed it so much that I downloaded Yelp and wrote this review.. Enjoy!
(5)
Karen S.
Don't get me wrong, I like 404 Kitchen, I'm just not a huge fan of it. My boyfriend and I went on a date here at the end of November. The service was phenomenal, the food was "meh". We started with the bean salad with cornbread and the pate. The cornbread was a bit burned, but the pate was indescribable. I would highly recommend the pate if you do go. For entrees, he got the tri-tip and I got the cioppino. The tri-tip seemed a bit under seasoned (but the farro with it was perfect) and the cioppino was just OK. For dessert, we got the cookies and ice cream. It was tasty, but I mean... just cookies and ice cream. Nothing over the top here. Like I said, the food was meh. The pate was the highlight of the meal. It'd be a great place to go just for drinks an appetizers, if it were just a little bit bigger!
(3)
Allison L.
What is the matter with this place! You'll enjoy if you like being squeezed into a tuna can with pretentious wait staff and even more pretentious food. I may be not hip enough to get this concept or smart enough to understand why I would endure it. Luckily I'm small... Not so lucky for another patron who knocked over tables with her bottom. It would be a different story of the food were even remotely good but it just sucks, gamey, patronizing and unoriginal.
(1)
Hunter K.
I ate a second meal at 404 Kitchen this weekend and walked away totally satisfied. The food is flavorful and inventive, and the service is always friendly, which is a great asset in Nashville's competitive restaurant scene. I look forward to my next visit.
(5)
Dj M.
This establishment has the honor of being the most expensive worst meal and service I've ever had. Don't buy the hype. My gut told me in the first few moments to bail when the "mixologist" in a leather blacksmith apron (really?) Said he rather not make what I'D ASKED FOR. And this happened after the host had to ask the pretentious, douchey chef to wrap up his "Me, Me, Me-isms to some slack jawed local hipsters, so he could free up the four bar stools he had so righteously been occupying. Nights like these can sometimes be saved with delicious food and great service. It's not going to happen here. Some places do this concept of precious, genius, dining better than others. Find those. Food, mediocre, at best. Had a better burger at Tavern an hour later served by a lovely young lady who didn't make me wretch with her false sense of expertise. If you've got $200.00 to piss away, knock yourself out. Cheers.
(1)
Matt S.
Great flavor, beautiful presentation, wonderful service. A magnificent job by the entire staff. I will certainly be back to experience the changing menu.
(5)
Larry S.
One of the better restaurant meals I've had in Nashville. Definitely for foodies who aren't looking for a steak or rotisserie chicken. We started with the burrata with zucchini drissled with a turmeric sauce. Fantastic! Then the carpaccio which was traditional but excellent. The main courses were a tri-tip sliced steak with ramp garlic risotto and rabbit with country coarse mustard sauce and gnocchi. Both were ridiculously incredible! The sides were artichoke with potato, excellent, and probably the best cornbread you will ever taste. All in all, a 5 star meal. In a time when most upscale restaurants dumb down with half the menu being traditional to appease those with money and no taste, 404 stands out. And with others who just throw every spice and herb at the chicken or meat and dare you not to like it, 404 truly understands the nuance of taste. The cons; the specialty drinks are, like most new restaurants, too hip and too expensive and the wine pour is lame. For $15, I should get half a glass at least. However, don't miss this restaurant. You will not be sorry.
(5)
Casey M.
Amazing new addition to the Nashville food scene. We were greeted with a smile and given a very great walkthrough of the menu. We were made sure we were taken care of the entire time. Such a good vibe. This a great date spot, and you'll go back again for sure.
(5)
Phil N.
404Kitchen in the OC'd out Gulch district near Downtown was a great little restaurant. It's housed in an old shipping container so you know seating will be limited. I had a view of the kitchen area where the chefs looked to be having a good time, which is a good sign. The service here was outstanding as well; the wait staff and manager attentively making sure you're enjoying your meal. I had the free range chicken and the winter squash soup. Both were great, the chicken bursting with saltiness and flavor and cooked with a crispness that you wouldn't think was possible with a saucy dish. They had a decent wine list, although only one from California. Overall, 404Kitchen delivered exactly what I was looking for... a great meal in a decent environment with terrific service befitting a place that is difficult to get reservations for.
(5)
Holly B.
What a gem in the gulch! We went for our anniversary dinner and was blown away by the amazing service, food and drink selection. The place is small so you may be really close to your neighbor but we were at a private 2 top all by ourselves which was very romantic! Recommend the three little pigs starter, and pork stroganoff was delicious! Better save room for dessert too! Can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu.
(5)
Kristin V.
I helped my boss move to Tennessee and my job was to put together some fun filled days with great food and attractions. I did my research before and found Nashville had several James Beard award finalists for 2014 and 404 was one of them. I'm really picky about restaurants being a foodie and all so I wanted something different. I knew I couldn't go wrong coming here and I was right. We ordered the burrata and lamb sugo to start and they were amazing. Full of unique flavor and you could taste the fresh ingredients. Every thing on their menu looked yummy. It's right in downtown and really unique looking so very cool atmosphere. The restaurant is small so you need reservations in advance and they were really booked up on the weekend. I would definitely recommend it if you haven't tried it yet.
(5)
C B.
Excellent service, a most interesting menu and all well prepared. If you are a foodie and can get a seat, by all means, go. 404 Kitchen is quite small, so reservations are a must.
(5)
Maggy P.
We came here on our second night in Nashville on vacation from the NYC area. Was SO impressed with this place. The setting in the Gulch was awesome- a tiny but very cool storage container- and we sat outside. I had the beef with risotto.. And it may have been one of the best things I've ever tasted. My boyfriend had a pasta with a peach/pork ragout and loved it too. Service was great- there was a mix up with one of our cocktail orders but they have it to us on the house. Would def recommend this place to other friends.
(4)
Pap S.
After hearing good things about The 404, went for the first time this past Saturday night. Right away I liked it. It's modern, yet warm & cozy. I like a restaurant in a small space..I think it reminds of me restaurants I love in NYC. We started with cocktails, and I had an exceptional drink with bourbon, bitters, Benton's bacon, and local honey. They have a wonderful cocktail & wine list - unique offerings, and very delicious and balanced, from what we tried. As far as the food goes, we loved everything we had. To start, shared the summer squash soup & also the cauliflower and zucchini, then for entrees had the Chicken & the Trigger Fish, and ordered the buttered potatoes on the side. Probably ordered a bit too much food, but really wanted to try as many different things as possible. The pumpkin risotto that the Trigger fish is served on was so wonderful..the whole dish was rich, yet light and a bit citrusy. Didn't really save much room for dessert but ordered some anyway! Got the apple/pear crisp, with brioche croutons & caramel sauce..again, delicious. Wonderful attentive staff, even got to chat with the Sommelier, Travis, who was extremely kind & very passionate about what he does. Can't wait to go back! All around a great experience - so happy to have a place like this in Nashville.
(5)
Bob S.
I will give it a 5 and this is a keeper!! We went on there first Saturday and there was no available reservations so we should up at 5 and was able to get a table on the patio, little cool but the heater were turned on and provided enough warmth for the meal. Started with a couple of glass of nice red and a drink. The Aviator was very nice!! For Apps we had the Burrata and the Crudo! The Burrata was nice and flavor was very refreshing with the apple and walnuts. The Crudo was very good and the fluke was great and loved the citrus flavors here. For the main meal we had the Chicken breat, the Sheephead, and the Tri Tip. All work cooked wonderfully!! All dishes were flavorful and the Risotto maybe the best cooked in Nashville i every had. We also had a side of potato there simple but good. You just can not go wrong with Butter and Potatoes. Lastly Service was excellent!! This is going to be a nice addition to the Nashville Scene. Congrats to Chef Matt for a very good meal!
(5)
Stuart M.
Great service, eclectic dishes prepared just right. Chicken, pork, crab, tri-tip beef, rabbit, barracuda, shark, scallops. What's not to like? And the Meyer lemon curd and Italian budino were excellent.
(5)
Jamie B.
in a phrase, this spot is dope. unbelievably comfortable for it's modest size and boasts a great cocktail list. I had the swordfish and am thankful I did. perfectly cooked. the old fashions were great. the owner was bussing tables and making casual conversation with the guests. it was very welcomed and you could see how stoked he was to have everybody enjoying the food. perfect date place but make a reservation! dudes, bring her here. you'll look way smarter than you are!
(5)
Agnes T.
Best meal I've had in Nashville. And I've eaten everywhere. Best burrata I've ever had and you cannot beat the cocktails. Service is impeccable. Enjoy!!
Go! Go! Go!!! This is some seriously fine dining. Esoteric ingredients imaginatively prepared. The dishes we ordered ranged from the very good (radish side dish) to the transcendent (Burrata). My swordfish was perfectly cooked and my wife's rabbit stew (with stinging nettles!) was fantastic. Service was top notch by any restaurant standard, but was absolutely mind-blowingly good given Nashville's "food-first! service...eh, whatever" dining prioritization. While I'm not one to allow an inspired culinary vision to be eclipsed by poor service, it was positively refreshing to have a server so ably conversant in every aspect of the restaurant's offerings.
(5)
Lora L.
Yes yes yes my kind of place. I went for starters and sides as I am want to do when I am trying a place for the 1st time... Not so much for investing the whole meal in 1 dish so I started with the squash soup which was divine, then we shared some amazing little ham biscuits, had a side of the cauliflower (I was a little scared about the olives in this dish but it worked!)... It's a really small place but super cute & well laid out for intimacy without being dark & claustrophobic. I love that they grow some of their herbs on the roof and that they reused shipping containers in the building design. Super warm service, easy to valet park, fantastic beer selection - would def recommend!
(4)
Joe F.
WOW. The wine, the food and the atmosphere is rave-worthy. I can't decide if I'm more excited about the food or about Nashville getting a restaurant of this caliber. Bravo Nashville!
(5)
Min M.
It's fun to go early and dine at the bar. Excellent service. Very cute, little place that feels inviting and cozy. Filled with very good looking people. The chicken liver pate is fabulous. We had tri tip and the chicken. Both beautifully presented and not too salty! The menu is concise and the interesting wine list isn't too big or intimidating. Lots of friendly, smart help from the sommelier. Entrees in the $25 range. I really love the aprons that the servers wear. Whoa! Those hotel rooms in the back! Is this Nashville?
(5)
Trish S.
Totally disappointing. When I see "James Beard" on a restaurant's website, I get really excited and I expect a fantastic evening. This was nothing of the sort. My appetizer was not even decent and my entree was just okay. What really tipped the scale though was that my entire party was unable to finish their food because the staff took our plates away before we were finished. One of my friends had her entree taken away when she had 3/4th of it left! It was very clear that they wanted us out of there as soon as possible, which I didn't understand since no one was waiting for a table. I don't mind paying for great food and a great experience, actually, I really enjoy it. But I'm not okay with going to a restaurant of this caliber with these prices and be treated like someone that needs to leave as soon as possible. I hope my experience is the exception and not the norm, but I won't be going back to find out.
(1)
Randi T.
agree with Bob S. - this place is a keeper! started with Burrata and it was so delish. very different and very flavorful. we had a couple of the specialty cocktails (404 flight and a bacon martini, can't remember the name), they were both really good. dinner we did the chicken and tri tip. they aren't shy on portions which is good bc the food is so good! I actually didn't like the space, I thought it was going to be 'cozy' but it is not. since it is a bit 'loft' style with high ceilings it is very loud so I wouldn't say it is a romantic setting at all. that won't sway me from not going back again though - excited to try other things on the menu. service was amazing, Wendy our server was very knowledgeable. they had 2 desserts that night, we went for the warm cookies and ice cream. can never go wrong with that, perfect way to end a wonderful meal.
(5)
Angela E.
Tri tip was amazing but if you want med-rare, get medium--i'd of of loved to have it cooked a smidgen more so I ate the ends and saved the insides to throw on a salad tomorrow. The flavor was super! Had mushroom risotto to share and I swear I could have ate a full plate of this had it been a meal! I liked the tiny place:) I also would have liked a blue cheese stuffed olive in my martini.
(4)
Thomas G.
My error. I REALLY wanted to impress a nationally known, food business related, guest. I read other reviews but didn't personally scout this place out. Other reviews said the sun is bad. Understatement. The sun shines into this place making one feel like an ant under a magnifying glass and the restaurant has made no observable effort to shade or soften the sunlight. One of our guests asked about "gluten free" not knowing the restaurant had posted that they don't adjust for food allergies, which is understandable, a business can't cover them all, but our server acted like the question was a personal affront. With the sun blinding us and a rather rude server things didn't start well. Our guest ordered the "Tri Tips" and asked to have them cooked between med rare and med and was told "we don't do that."and I'm thinking "I'm really not making the impression I hoped for." Then, as has been mentioned in other reviews THE FOOD CAME and it was excellent. Tri Tips were done perfectly. One guest had chicken. Another hit! I had rabbit and it was super. SO. Go after sunset. Don't have an allergy. Find a pleasant server (there were several) and enjoy the very well prepared food. Pricey. 4.5 on food. 2.5 for location.
(3)
Brian N.
Did I miss something here? I had heard much about 404 Kitchen, and finally checked it out. Some random thoughts: A great deal is being made about it being housed in a former container. You know what? It's only the very very front that is a repurposed container; the great majority of the restaurant is new construction. So why is everyone -- including the restaurant itself -- making a big deal about the building's provenance? It's a facade, that's it. To say it's anything more is patently dishonest. Also: I'm a vegetarian, and I just asked the server to bring me what he thought I should eat that's vegetarian. The first course was a wonderful tomato pastry of some sort. Good choice. The main meal was absurd. It was a TINY portion of gnocchi, and I wasl still hungry after I ate it. As a lifelong vegetarian, I get a little annoyed when a "cutting edge" restaurant presents a pasta dish as their veggie option. What is this? 1987?!? I would have thought that they would have been a little more adventurous and interesting. I was still hungry after I ate the entree, so ordered another side and then desert. Both were decent. Then the bill came. It was way too expensive for what I had. I've been to Husk twice in the last week and a half, had a much more interesting and adventurous meal, and spent a fraction of what 404 cost. I hope the restaurant does well, but I can't imagine ever going back there. (Ps -- the service, btw, was good and very attentive. It wasn't his fault the kitchen let me down.)
(3)
Ray C.
Okay, my wife and I are from California and we frequent restaurants in Napa on a regular occasion. So, maybe I was expecting too much. There was one stellar dish that was out of this world and it was the burrata. The flavors combined with the cheese were truly memorable. The next dish we shared had eggs, pasta, truffles (although miniscule), and caviar. The dish didn't work for us. A umami bomb with not enough salt or acid to brighten the richness. Pasta was definately fresh, but the sauce and other ingredients just didn't work, very bland (most expensive dish we had). The swordfish was very good, served with beans. Well seasoned fish, cooked perfectly, but once again, needed acid for balance. Don't get me wrong, the swordfish was seasoned and cooked perfectly, the best swordfish I've ever had, but the dish lacked something. Still very tasty. Desert was carrot cake, but not your mother's carrot cake. More of a decontructed version, with a cream cheese ice cream (missed the mark by being to icy and not rich enough to immulate cream cheese). There was a tasty raisin/bourbon reduction, but the dish needed more of the ice cream and raisin mixture to be an equivalent to regular carrot cake, still tasty. I like the crunch of the outside of the cake, but my wife felt it was too dry. Service was good at the table, other than an oddity of serving bread with the first course, and then taking it away and not bringing it back for the pasta dish, we had to ask for more. They have a person who does a finish on the dishes, making sure they are clean and ready for table presentation, we saw him on his phone the whole time he wasn't cleaning up dishes. He'd clean a dish, look on his phone, clean another dish, look at his phone. It was odd, and probably not the most sanitary way to serve gourmet food. Prices are steep for the amount of food. The pasta dish was an appatizer portion (we didn't eat even the small portion we got). We ate a light meal (considering we didn't eat one of the dishes) and the final cost was $160.00. We had 2 drinks each. So, one stellar dish, a couple pretty good dishes and one flop. Cost for quality earns this place a 3.5 stars. We'd go back just to have the burrata again!
(3)
Jennie V.
I'm conflicted... If I could give the food 10 stars, I would, but the service was not acceptable especially at this price point. I realize that we were eating locally sourced food in a re-purposed storage container, so trendy that there is no sign, but would it hurt the waitstaff to smile? be friendly? helpful? On top of the 'tude problem, our waitress was frequently MIA... you'd think that would be hard in 600 square feet... She had a back up helping her who, I kid you not, never made eye contact! Her brief visits to our table made us feel anxious. Still, the food, oh the food, was incredible. My friend and I shared the poached farm egg (delicious, but not something I'd order again for $9-ish bucks), the southern stroganoff (I literally turned the bowl and started drinking the broth with my spoon. If you tasted that broth, you would understand and excuse my terrible table manners!), the corn bread (Unlike anything I've ever had... in a good way!), and finally the cookie with crispy ham, frozen dulce de leche, and mint (Do not ask me how that works, just know that it is the cookie that dreams are made of, that wars are fought over, and will ensure that I give 404 another shot!) Still, waitstaff, let's cut that pretension down a notch or two. With many great restaurants in town, patrons have tons of excellent food options... ya know, restaurants where they can be greeted with warmth, hospitality AND a great meal...
(4)
John R.
You start to enjoy this quaint restaurant the minute you arrive. With the porch seating and the glass front wall all the modern features of the restaurant welcome you. Step on in and be immediately greeted by the host and then be assisted through your dinner with your farmer's bib wearing servers. The size of the restaurant 40 seats may appear loud and busy but trust me, the experiences is quite and personal. The wine and spirit selection was plentiful and reasonably priced. What about the food? I had the Cioppino (saffron, white shrimp, mussels, squid, tuscan bread). The answer is YES...You can get delicious seafood in Nashville. My wife enjoyed the Top of the World Farms Chicken Breast (sweet potato, hen of the woods, confit, arugula). The hearty \ herbal touch left your taste buds dancing. We will enjoy again and are looking forward to the completion of the hotel and rooftop garden. But them on your to see list.
(4)
Ashley L.
Cozy place, food was amazing- the lamb sugo and pork ragot were incredible. The 404 gin drink wasn't my favorite but still had an amazing dinner.
(5)
Wes A.
Greeted at the door by the manager. It seems this place has been open about 2 months now. Great intimate atmosphere and well thought out menu. Excellent service. The beef tips were excellent.
(4)
Dawn S.
Unfortunately, it appears that I am one of the few people that did not enjoy this restaurant. We visited this restaurant on a recommendation from a friend who visited it during their first week of operation and personally knows the owner. As I walked in, I loved the atmosphere, however, felt the tables were a little to close for my enjoyment. We started with the cheese plate and a bottle of wine. It took a while for them to find the wine we ordered. Once we received the wine (after we finished our appetizer), it was great! I ordered the Sheepshead fish which had a very fishy taste and I could not eat it. My guest had the Tri tip which had a large vein down the center making it very tough to eat. We ended with the cookie for dessert which was good. Our server was great, however the food quality on our meal was poor. I expected more from this restaurant and was greatly disappointed when I left.
(1)
Tart L.
The biggest single recycled item for a restaurant in Nashville houses one of the smallest local gourmet eateries, seating 40 in comfort including the patio. An orange former shipping container now contains the 404 Kitchen in the Gulch. Every centimeter is utilized, including the roof. A veggie garden up there will also grow spices for the meals and even a little fig tree. Fortunately diners will not have to wait to enjoy the figs. Matt Bolus has some pickled figs for his Cheese Board which comes with toast, local honey and three or so cheeses. Another regular item Bolus offers in his restaurant is a basic locally farmed Vegetable Salad prepared with seaonal veggies like radishes and beets garnished with black garlic and buttermilk, for example. I recommend enjoying the organic chicken breast with arugula, and sweet potato. 404 Kitchen dishes are always changing since Bolus uses seasonal ingredients and likes to vary things regardless. A pork ingredient and at least one seafood item will usually be on the menu. Veggies like buttermilk squash with pungent sorghum and vinegar, and butterball potatoes with parsley and plugra butter are delectable here.
(5)
Bobby W.
We couldn't get out of this place fast enough. Horrible customer service. We walked in and were seated on the patio for cocktails. We could tell that the hostess was "inconvenienced" but the place was empty and we wanted a drink...we alleviated her concern by promising to order food. After being seated, the waitress got a big WTF question mark on her face when we didn't order food immediately. Again, I assured her that we would order. We were seated at a four-top but a fifth friend joined us. Apparently this alarmed the manager who promptly asked the 5th person not to sit down (even though there was plenty of room on the banquet seat). To recap, instead of reseating us AT THE EMPTY SIX-TOP DIRECTLY NEXT TO US, he all but asked us to leave. Our additional friends left (who would blame them), but we stayed to finish our drinks and pay our bill. To add insult to injury, the waitress reiterated twice that "they were booked"--as was evidenced by a near-empty dining room and patio. The final zinger was when the waitress reminded us that we "should make a reservation" next time we come. Excuse me, but nothing says "you need a reservation" like a half-empty shipping container. This is unconscionable. Especially considering that the Beard (and other top-notch) restaurants back home would never turn down a full table of hungry & thirsty patrons...after they had already been seated. In short: hipster vibe, unhip. Design is cool but half-full of uncool old people. Looks low-budget, but apparently high-class. Oh yeah, and 5 out of 6 user reviews are a thumbs-down.
(1)
Matt S.
Great flavor, beautiful presentation, wonderful service. A magnificent job by the entire staff. I will certainly be back to experience the changing menu.
(5)
Larry S.
One of the better restaurant meals I've had in Nashville. Definitely for foodies who aren't looking for a steak or rotisserie chicken. We started with the burrata with zucchini drissled with a turmeric sauce. Fantastic! Then the carpaccio which was traditional but excellent. The main courses were a tri-tip sliced steak with ramp garlic risotto and rabbit with country coarse mustard sauce and gnocchi. Both were ridiculously incredible! The sides were artichoke with potato, excellent, and probably the best cornbread you will ever taste. All in all, a 5 star meal. In a time when most upscale restaurants dumb down with half the menu being traditional to appease those with money and no taste, 404 stands out. And with others who just throw every spice and herb at the chicken or meat and dare you not to like it, 404 truly understands the nuance of taste. The cons; the specialty drinks are, like most new restaurants, too hip and too expensive and the wine pour is lame. For $15, I should get half a glass at least. However, don't miss this restaurant. You will not be sorry.
(5)
Casey M.
Amazing new addition to the Nashville food scene. We were greeted with a smile and given a very great walkthrough of the menu. We were made sure we were taken care of the entire time. Such a good vibe. This a great date spot, and you'll go back again for sure.
(5)
Phil N.
404Kitchen in the OC'd out Gulch district near Downtown was a great little restaurant. It's housed in an old shipping container so you know seating will be limited. I had a view of the kitchen area where the chefs looked to be having a good time, which is a good sign. The service here was outstanding as well; the wait staff and manager attentively making sure you're enjoying your meal. I had the free range chicken and the winter squash soup. Both were great, the chicken bursting with saltiness and flavor and cooked with a crispness that you wouldn't think was possible with a saucy dish. They had a decent wine list, although only one from California. Overall, 404Kitchen delivered exactly what I was looking for... a great meal in a decent environment with terrific service befitting a place that is difficult to get reservations for.
(5)
Holly B.
What a gem in the gulch! We went for our anniversary dinner and was blown away by the amazing service, food and drink selection. The place is small so you may be really close to your neighbor but we were at a private 2 top all by ourselves which was very romantic! Recommend the three little pigs starter, and pork stroganoff was delicious! Better save room for dessert too! Can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu.
(5)
Chuck D.
I am seriously delinquent on this review for 2 reasons: 1) I DONT WANT ANY NEW COMPETITION FOR SEATS OR A TABLE HERE 2) Every time I go, the meal I have is so good that I forget what I was going to write about the last great meal. So here we go. There are moments in life that you never forget (i.e., birth of a child, getting married (turns out that is forgettable), getting married again(nice recovery), the Kennedy assassination(or so I am told), the Challenger disaster, the Red Sox breaking the curse in 2004(let it go you Boston haters), etc) and for those that have seen some of my other reviews, my passion for food undoubtedly would eventually have one of these defining moments related to dining. Enter 404 Kitchen. I have had everything on the menu more times than I care to admit, after a particularly fantastic preparation by Chef Bolus, my wife and I decided to buy a "vacation home" in Nashville (food vacation that is) as I was sick of commuting to Nashville from San Francisco for dinner (Sorry United Airlines - the trip experience just isn't all that invigorating). FOOD Sorry to stray off topic - My favorites, Dry Aged Tri tip atop farro with hazelnuts, cherries, horseradish and pesto: BRAISED RABBIT however he prepares it, Pork Ragout - all seasonal preparations. Starters are all out of this world (get the hand pulled Burrata on your first visit - you will wear plastic pocket liners on all future visits so you can sneak some home). DRINK GM/Sommalier Travis B. has all the right wines and whiskeys dialed up to complete an unforgettable experience. SERVICE Be sure to ask for Galen, Amanda, Lindsey, oh hell - you get it.....SERVICE THERE ALSO ROCKS! I would say this is a perfect place for a special occasion, and it is, but that means I wouldn't go there as often as I do. It is the perfect place for dinner, period.
(5)
Chris W.
The food was terrific and the wait staff were great. ***** Be warned, if there is any chance that you might be more than 15 minutes late for your reservation, they will cancel it, even if part of your party has arrived. I had a guest from out of town (from the UK) that I wanted to take to a business dinner and I was told in very stern terms that even though I was there, my reservation would be cancelled. I explained that my guest was on his way right now and was told "our policy is clearly on our website". I have NEVER had a restaurant management at this level treat me like that! Need I mention that there were NO people waiting for a table AND that there were plenty of empty tables???!!! **** So, if you need a great place to take someone to dinner, don't go here, unless it is ok if part of your party is late that they cancel your reservation.
(2)
Boris K.
The softness and texture of the Atlantic Mackarel is amazing! Farro w duck egg was decadent. Nice job @mattbolus @the404kitchen #nashvillefood #404kitchen
(5)
Katie S.
Amazing! Recommend the the Burrata and the skillet cornbread. Oh and also the saffron ice cream! First time I've ever had saffron ice cream and it was delicious!
(5)
Linda A.
Anniversary Dinner! I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. 3 felt way too low but 4 feels generous. I'm going with the 4 because although a lot of our evening at 404 Kitchen was "A-OK", nothing was bad enough to give 2 stars (creating a 3 star average) so we're going with 4. Whew! Tiny place, we knew that going in...but just so a newbie knows...tiny place. So you kind of are on top of each other which doesn't lend itself to a romantic date night atmosphere. We were able to hear everyone's conversations, which is sometimes fun anyway. Also had a front row seat watching the couple who obviously hates each other chew in silence. However it also provides everyone an audience to your table (I'm looking at you, single woman at the bar...the one from The Bay Area who just cannot understand why Nashville is so popular. She kept turning around and watching us until we looked at her then she'd turn back around. Maybe she was bored, in which case...you're welcome honey.) The food...Burrata appetizer. There was a lot of hype about it so I expected to fall off my chair, but it was just good. Good is good enough. My entree....whole Sheepshead fish. I'd never had Sheepshead before (it really needs a new branding). It was delicious and they go to great pains to prepare it in such a way that it tasted like buttery goodness. The bones were there but not a horrible imposition by any means. Served with a succotash of field peas, corn and tomatoes. My dinner was very good. Hubby had the tri tip steak. It's probably the least adventurous item on the menu. He deemed it "pretty good". I didn't try it and it takes a lot for him to go much further for "pretty good." Dessert was kind of a disappointment. I didn't love the saffron ice cream and shortbread is shortbread. They do serve a mean cup of coffee and my husband enjoyed an E.H. Taylor bourbon that you don't get everywhere. The server was perfect, she described the offerings without sounding like she was reciting the alphabet and chatted us up when appropriate. They were packed and we never felt neglected. All in all, a 4 star evening at 404.
(4)
Scott G.
Another farm to table restaurant. Very small portions and even smaller drinks. The old fashioned cocktail was made with cherry syrup and the pour of EH Taylor was barely tasted. Wine pours were minimal as well. The app (tomato gallete) was fantastic, the rabbit was a pile of what looked like pulled pork and was really odd. The fish (barracuda) had the skin on and was overly salted. Ambiance was "ok". It's very cramped and loud and just kind of weird. I felt like I was in an entry way to something larger. TLDR - left hungry and came home and made some popcorn.
(2)
Ben N.
I wanted to really like this place. Cool atmosphere and interesting menu. However, the execution is very average. Food was ordinary despite sounding unique on the menu. Not likely to return.
(3)
Jj L.
Outstanding every single time. Excellent service. Delicious food. Perfect atmosphere. Romantic. Hearty.
I didn't have a reservation but decided to try the 404 Kitchen. The hostess said the were completely booked but they could squeeze us in if we were seated immediately. By the time we left, the restaurant wasn't full (and it's pretty small) so I'm not convinced they were booked on a weeknight. The service and food were good but I guess there are just so many other great restaurants in Nashville at this price range that I'd prefer to go to other places.
(3)
Gretchen G.
Good, just not as good as they think it is. The atmosphere is small and intimate. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable about their food. Quick to tell us the restaurant was nominated for a James Beard, making sure the sommelier visited every table. Our wine was very good; the southern soda cocktail was excellent. Let's talk food.... Good but not mind blowing as all the hype might suggest. The risotto was definitely a highlight, if it had been a main dish with some shrimp thrown on top, rather than a side, I would have been delighted. The gnocchi with lamb was very well seasoned but didn't hold up well enough to get a full gnocchi onto my plate. Their famous cornbread, as others have mentioned, is burnt on top; this is clearly intentional but doesn't help the dish. The rabbit dish was excellent, very well cooked. Sure, go, it is good. It's just not going to rank up on one of my favorite meals.
My husband and I ate here for the first time recently. Each dish was delicious. We started with cracked crab ,as well as wild mushroom and Farro dish. Both were very good but the mushroom dish wins by a nose. Cocktails were very good and they had a small but very nice winelist. I am going completely blank on our mains but I'm guessing you can't go wrong. The menu changes frequently so I wouldn't be much help anyway. Dessert was a lemon meringue with date and pistachio (?) Crust. Just right. Staff is very friendly and atmosphere is cozy but convivial.
(4)
Tina P.
Not that anyone needs another review. I think most everything that could be said has. Most people who haven't been will still want to go because of the hype (like me) regardless of what's on yelp or urban spoon. So here's my two cents - Pros- Service Drinks Appetizers I didn't love my chicken -it was WAY to salty. And for me to say anything is ever too salty is unbelievable. Husbands rabbit with gemelli pasta was better but still heavy handed with salt. Again. I LOVE salt. The noise has been mentioned ad nauseam. I agree it is extremely loud. I had to almost yell to be heard across a very small table for two. But I had been warned and the space is well advertised as tiny. We were underwhelmed with the dessert options so we paid and left to have dessert elsewhere. Bottom line, glad I went but I doubt we would go back except for a drink at the bar.
(3)
Chris S.
The waiter was obnoxious. The kitchen was inflexible. The food was just okay, but pricey. Seems like the place exists to serve the chef's ego and not for the diner's pleasure. To many other great options in Nashville. We won't be back.
(1)
John C.
Food was incredible and so unique. Menu changes daily which I love. If you are in Nashville this is a must stop. The staff is super energetic and love where they work. I will be going back for sure!
(5)
Ginka P.
I must be the only person in Nashville that thinks this place is WAY overrated! I don't mind that it's small. The food is just way over-salted. So much so my wedding ring was tight the next day. It was unbearable. When I read that the chef was formerly at Watermark it all made sense. I have always thought Watermark's food was too salty. I've been steering people clear of this salt lick ever since. Much better are Husk and Silo. Maybe I'll go back to Watermark now that he's gone:)
(2)
Andy H.
Best fish I've had in Nashville. The bartender was super friendly, and the sommelier was a great addition. The Burrata was lacking some of the inspiration I had experienced on the other dishes, but everything else was excellent! It's small and cozy, and is very expensive.
(4)
Stephanie C.
Very nice. We started with the housemade cheese and loved it. The cocktails were also well presented. For entrees, my husband loved his tri-tip. My pork ragout was just average. The cornbread was fabulous. Great coffee and nice chocolate cookie. We sat outside in the rain, but stayed completely dry. The valet tried to give us the wrong car. The service was good, but not outstanding. The chairs were quite uncomfortable. I'm being picky though. This place is still worth a try.
(4)
Chaz C.
Spending a couple of days in Nashville and the 404 Kitchen was on our must list. From the complimentary valet parking to an excellent Pinot and great starters, we had a lovely time at the 404 Kitchen. We hadn't fasted all day and we weren't very hungry so we made do with three starters. We were cared for by the lovely Christine. We had the Burrata, the Liver Pate and the cornbread with sorghum butter -- and it filled us up. As everyone knows by now, the restaurant is in a standard shipping container (no kidding) and it was so cool!
(4)
Matt T.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Unique, tons of flavors in layers. There's not much I need to really say about the food, it speaks for itself. The atmosphere is unique. It's literally built in and around a shipping container. Inside looks like it'd seat 10 - 12 people tops. The waitress was a touch hippie and odd but did a very good job. Didn't test the bar as we had a bottle of wine. The wine list is good. Certainly 2 thumbs up after I lick them clean!
(5)
Kristina L.
I snagged a reservation for our eighth wedding anniversary and boy am I glad I did. Nestled in a cozy storage container and attached to a boutique hotel, the husband and I were whisked away on a culinary adventure. Yes, it is a small space. Yes, it can feel a bit crowded (our table was literally up against a service station where coffee and the like were prepared). Yes, it can get a bit loud. But let's get to the heart of the matter and talk about food, shall we? We started with our cocktails the Damien's Peach Jack Smash and the Flight 404 (with vodka instead of gin because I am allergic to juniper).Both of our cocktails were quite lovely; however, the highlight to me was the delectable Luxardo cherry. My husband immediately mentioned that it was a "girly" drink due to the ethereal purple hue from the crème de violette. Regardless, it was fabulous as was his whisky based concoction. For appetizers I knew we had to have the burrata after reading so many glowing reviews about it. Our other app was rabbit liver pate. The burrata delivered in its creaminess and was scrumptious when spread upon the crostini. I could have ordered three more servings and called it a night. I am living proof that there is no such thing as too much cheese. It is like saying a diamond is way too big in my book. But let's discuss the pate, shall we? It was an utter delight to say the very least. I am not sure I can come up with words to adequately describe how wickedly decadent this was. It was accompanied by benne wafers, pommery mustard and pickled green almonds and was topped with a smattering of salt. My husband and I did not speak while eating both of these. There were eye rolls and whimpering (out of pure gratification mind you) and then a sad shared glance when we realized we had wiped both plates clean. All we had left was to look forward to the next round of cocktails and entrees. I decided to continue my lapin trend and ordered the rabbit with ricotta gnudi, stinging nettles and king trumpet mushrooms whilst my German ordered the Bear Creek Farms tri-tip (medium rare) with risotto, ramp greens, hon shimeji, mushrooms, red peppers and saba. Both were amazing but to me my rabbit dish won the prize for the evening. Presentation aside on both, I am sure they would have just as good in a blind tasting. We finished with two different desserts - the Carolina Peaches for him and the Gorgonzola Dulce for me. Again, I thought my dish was the winner here. It was a caramelized brioche delicately smothered with gorgonzola and a drizzling of wild flower honey - both sweet and savory and heavenly sublime. The husband's involved a rhubarb compote, bay leaf custard, benne nougatine, basil and, of course, peaches. His was tasty but I am just not a rhubarb kind of girl. The service was marvelous. Jordan, our server, was well voiced regarding the entire menu. She made suggestions and helped us navigate when we were not certain what a particular ingredient. (I was befuddled by the stinging nettles. Jordan described them as a wild spinach of sorts and that guided me along.) All in all a delightful evening and one of the better meals I have had in Nashville. This will definitely go down as a place to return to as both my German and I were smitten kittens and well pleased with our meal and experience.
(5)
Lisa E.
404 beat expectations. I had heard food was really good, but questionably great, and its small size made for a noisy experience. Yes, the place is tiny and dark in spots which drove my 4 rating and the food, which is more important than noise/lighting to me, was outstanding - clearly a 5. 404 deserves a 4.5 rating vs a 4. The Burrata cheese app was great with a mix of beans and shaved brussel sprouts - a nice variety of flavors. We heard it runs out nightly so grab it early! Our server Jordan was very good and helped me select the wreck fish - a flaky white fish with tasty winter vegetables and crafted a "chef surprise" for my sister being a selective vegetarian. That chef surprise was a really nice touch. Like food options, the wine list is limited, interesting and pricey by the bottle. We opted to go by the glass and will do that again. 404 is a repeat place for us!
(4)
Nick B.
Really wasn't a detail about this place that I didn't love. Started with the Three Little Pigs and the Lamb Sugo. The Three Little Pigs was very good, but the Sugo was spectacular. For entrees we had the rabbit and Southern Pork Stroganoff. We both immediately liked our courses but upon tasting each other's we switched plates. Both were warming and nuanced in the flavor. Skillet cookie for desert. Again, pretty much perfect. I think the best part of the place is the ambiance though. Sure it's tight, but it's cozy and has perfect energy. The servers are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and the manager stopped at our table for what ended up being a great ten minute chat. The drinks were fantastic too. Quite a little gem.
(5)
John R.
You start to enjoy this quaint restaurant the minute you arrive. With the porch seating and the glass front wall all the modern features of the restaurant welcome you. Step on in and be immediately greeted by the host and then be assisted through your dinner with your farmer's bib wearing servers. The size of the restaurant 40 seats may appear loud and busy but trust me, the experiences is quite and personal. The wine and spirit selection was plentiful and reasonably priced. What about the food? I had the Cioppino (saffron, white shrimp, mussels, squid, tuscan bread). The answer is YES...You can get delicious seafood in Nashville. My wife enjoyed the Top of the World Farms Chicken Breast (sweet potato, hen of the woods, confit, arugula). The hearty \ herbal touch left your taste buds dancing. We will enjoy again and are looking forward to the completion of the hotel and rooftop garden. But them on your to see list.
(4)
Ashley L.
Cozy place, food was amazing- the lamb sugo and pork ragot were incredible. The 404 gin drink wasn't my favorite but still had an amazing dinner.
(5)
Wes A.
Greeted at the door by the manager. It seems this place has been open about 2 months now. Great intimate atmosphere and well thought out menu. Excellent service. The beef tips were excellent.
(4)
Dawn S.
Unfortunately, it appears that I am one of the few people that did not enjoy this restaurant. We visited this restaurant on a recommendation from a friend who visited it during their first week of operation and personally knows the owner. As I walked in, I loved the atmosphere, however, felt the tables were a little to close for my enjoyment. We started with the cheese plate and a bottle of wine. It took a while for them to find the wine we ordered. Once we received the wine (after we finished our appetizer), it was great! I ordered the Sheepshead fish which had a very fishy taste and I could not eat it. My guest had the Tri tip which had a large vein down the center making it very tough to eat. We ended with the cookie for dessert which was good. Our server was great, however the food quality on our meal was poor. I expected more from this restaurant and was greatly disappointed when I left.
(1)
Bobby W.
We couldn't get out of this place fast enough. Horrible customer service. We walked in and were seated on the patio for cocktails. We could tell that the hostess was "inconvenienced" but the place was empty and we wanted a drink...we alleviated her concern by promising to order food. After being seated, the waitress got a big WTF question mark on her face when we didn't order food immediately. Again, I assured her that we would order. We were seated at a four-top but a fifth friend joined us. Apparently this alarmed the manager who promptly asked the 5th person not to sit down (even though there was plenty of room on the banquet seat). To recap, instead of reseating us AT THE EMPTY SIX-TOP DIRECTLY NEXT TO US, he all but asked us to leave. Our additional friends left (who would blame them), but we stayed to finish our drinks and pay our bill. To add insult to injury, the waitress reiterated twice that "they were booked"--as was evidenced by a near-empty dining room and patio. The final zinger was when the waitress reminded us that we "should make a reservation" next time we come. Excuse me, but nothing says "you need a reservation" like a half-empty shipping container. This is unconscionable. Especially considering that the Beard (and other top-notch) restaurants back home would never turn down a full table of hungry & thirsty patrons...after they had already been seated. In short: hipster vibe, unhip. Design is cool but half-full of uncool old people. Looks low-budget, but apparently high-class. Oh yeah, and 5 out of 6 user reviews are a thumbs-down.
(1)
Tart L.
The biggest single recycled item for a restaurant in Nashville houses one of the smallest local gourmet eateries, seating 40 in comfort including the patio. An orange former shipping container now contains the 404 Kitchen in the Gulch. Every centimeter is utilized, including the roof. A veggie garden up there will also grow spices for the meals and even a little fig tree. Fortunately diners will not have to wait to enjoy the figs. Matt Bolus has some pickled figs for his Cheese Board which comes with toast, local honey and three or so cheeses. Another regular item Bolus offers in his restaurant is a basic locally farmed Vegetable Salad prepared with seaonal veggies like radishes and beets garnished with black garlic and buttermilk, for example. I recommend enjoying the organic chicken breast with arugula, and sweet potato. 404 Kitchen dishes are always changing since Bolus uses seasonal ingredients and likes to vary things regardless. A pork ingredient and at least one seafood item will usually be on the menu. Veggies like buttermilk squash with pungent sorghum and vinegar, and butterball potatoes with parsley and plugra butter are delectable here.
(5)
Diana S.
Don't come here to share secrets; the place is so small and tables so close together that everyone there will hear them. Also, if you are vegan, don't bother. There is not one single vegan friendly dish on the menu. The food was spectacular: the Burrata, truffle, leek and Benton's bacon starter was extraordinary. My companion is trying to eat a vegan diet, but will make allowances and eat dairy and fish when she has to. We got the bacon on the side, and really, I don't think the dish needed it. The truffles and rich, creamy cheese were perfect together and I thought the bacon was just gilding the lilly. The winter squash soup was silky and nourishing, with the pepitas adding some nice crunch. Both fish dishes were winners: the flounder had a light, crunchy cornmeal crust and lay on a bed of savory lady peas and rice with a light ham broth and the swordfish was meaty and complimented by canneloni beans and Brussels sprouts. The radishes, however were not keepers. Never had them cooked before and probably won't again. They were still fairly hard (they were halved) but lost the beautiful brightness of the raw veg. The key lime tart with some sort of parfait on the side was the perfect sized dessert - enough for 2 to split and get a good taste, not enough to overpower a single eater. One thing we tried that was unequivocally horrible was the Flight 404 cocktail. When the martini glasses arrived with a transparent pale lavender fluid I thought I might have mis-ordered, and one small sip confirmed my suspicion. Gag. My friend had the same reaction. So terribly, terribly sweet! Ugh. Gross. The waitress took it back to the bar for some more lemon juice to counteract what tasted like marshmallow liqueur. This helped, but we switched to wine. And if you must try this cocktail, do yourself a favor and don't eat the blueberry in the bottom. Seriously. Do. Not. Eat. The Blueberry. 4 stars rather than 5 because of close proximity of tables and that one Godawful drink.
(4)
Michael U.
Items Selected: Flight 404 - Martin Miller's gin, Crème de Violette, Luxardo, lemon Pig Plate - Woodlands back bacon, coppa di testa, 14 month Benton's, goldrush apple butter, whiskey apple butter, sourdough Wedge Oak Farm Duck Egg - wild mushrooms, Anson Mills farro, egg yolk, herbs Fava Beans - rock shrimp, orange, honey, pecorino Glendale Farm Chicken - Anson Mills dirty porridge, lacinato kale, button mushrooms Ponce Inlet Bay Scallops - cauliflower, brown butter, paddlefish caviar, white truffle Anson Mills Skillet Cornbread - Kentucky bourbon barrel sorghum butter Lemon Curd - Medjool dates, cashew, Italian meringue Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Budino - almond, port, cherries, crisps Saffron Ice Cream - strawberries, shortcake, Marcona almonds Small in size, and difficult to locate in an area currently high in construction, Matt Bolus' The 404 Kitchen was the finishing piece to a large puzzle of dinner decisions in Nashville and featuring more 'farm to table' cooking inside of what was once a shipping container the cuisine proved every bit as good as highly praised spots like Josephine, Husk, and City House while the setting and service were perhaps even better - the small size and tongue-in-cheek humor providing an excellent experience spread over the course of two hours. Described as 'uncomplicated' by the chef, with a menu that varies almost day-to-day, our arrival at The 404 Kitchen found a four-top ready in waiting despite a late arrival due to difficulties finding the space around orange barrels and joking about how much the city had changed in the last 12 months, not to mention the dozen years past since our last visit, it was almost an immediate connection with the staff that was established - the conversation free-flowing and full of recommendations not only for food and drink, but things to see and do in the area. Eventually deciding on a four-course order to begin with a plate of locally sourced charcuterie paired to housemade preserves and warm sourdough brought in from a local baker it was much to our surprise just how enjoyable the whisky apple butter was alongside the more briny bites of pork and slathering the bread thick with Goldrush Apple compote while sipping a mighty fine spin on the classic Aviation it was with the restaurant quickly filling to capacity that appetizers arrived, the duck egg and faro dish presenting an earthy aromatic bowl of creamy porridge while the fava bean soup was the very definition of vibrant - a fresh seasonal expression that saw every ingredient utilized to the utmost potential for texture, flavor, and balance. Progressing to entrees, and taking into account the amount of eating already done that day, it was in two plates that we invested along with a side of skillet cornbread that easily proved to be the best in the city when soaked in smoky-sweet butter, and although the "jellybeans of the sea" scallops were indeed quite sweet amidst their rich accoutrements both the small size and use of truffle oil were offputting considering the $32 pricetag, a far better appropriation of funds invested in the pan roasted bird atop liver-rich porridge balanced out by the tender mushrooms and kale. Inspired by dessert descriptions, at least enough to order one of each, it was once again here that Tennessee surprised my generally citrus-averse palate, for as good as both the thick port-infused chocolate pudding and innovative take on strawberry shortcake were neither even came close to the mason jar parfait of creamy lemon curd decorated by meringue with roughly chopped dates and cashews, a dish that in many ways supported the Chef's vision of simplicity while still presenting as quite sophisticated, much like the experience as a whole.
(4)
Marty F.
Service was excellent. Food was better !! Great experience.
(5)
matthew B.
Perfect service. Inventive recipes executed very well. 404 Kitchen is the best restaurant in Nashville right now.
(5)
Anne R.
One of the very best steak dishes that I have had in a very long time! I am a fan! The pimento app was also fab. I will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Ryan O.
It was hard coming into the 404 without any sort of expectations. Local food bloggers have been raving about this place plus there was a recent James Beard Award nomination. The chef here bills his food as "simple and unassuming." I feel that's a very accurate and succinct description of the cuisine. In terms of complexity all of the dishes I had here were somewhat minimal. Yet even though the dishes were a bit simple I thought that almost all of them were good. To that end, I think that is the 404 Kitchen's standout quality - doing more with less. That's a very hard thing to do and I give them a lot of credit for that. As great as the food is though I have to say I don't like the space. I knew going it that it is really small. Well, it's smaller than that. I wouldn't mind that so much but the tables end up very close together. I know this might be part of the appeal but that falls apart when the people around you are obnoxious. On our visit we got seated one foot away from an repulsively loud and overly chatty guy who loved to talk about himself and tell bad jokes. Even if we had not been stuck beside this unpleasant fellow the whole space feels cramped and stuffy. It's just not my ideal environment for fine dining. More on the positive side, there is no reclaimed barnwood which is certainly refreshing. The bar was healthy stocked with a variety of whiskey and a lot of it was very affordable. Bonus points for serving my whiskey in a Glencairn when I asked for it neat - I'm not sure any other bar I've been to in Nashville has done that. The service was extremely prompt, accommodating, and attentive without being overbearing. 404 Kitchen is a unique and interesting experience. I'm glad I went and the food was definitely the highlight. The ambiance is a really downer for me though - enough so that I would probably won't return. Given the quality of Nashville fine dining these days I can think of at least 5-6 other places with food as good as or better than the 404 Kitchen that have a much more pleasant setting. Overall, I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars, I wish I could give out 3.5. I'd give the food 3.5 stars, the setting 2 stars, and the service 4 stars.
(3)
Robert W.
So we had a reservation for our anniversary and decided to give this place a try. Probably not the best place for a romantic dinner but after almost thirty years together, we thought why not. The ambience was fine but the place is tiny. I am not sure how they are making it with so few tables. The food and the service were great and we appreciated the owner coming and checking on us more than once. We wish them well and hope that more people would eat there so they can stay open and successful enough for an expansion?
(4)
Tamara G.
It's average at best. I like that they have unique menu items. The flavored of the food were strong and somewhat overpowering. A friend couldn't finish her dish because it was too strong. I didn't eat my side because it was too salty. And, if you are a vodka drinker, don't go here because they don't have vodka.
(2)
Ian F.
*Sustainable *Atmosphere on point *Service perfect My girlfriend and I enjoyed a tremendous meal that included: Entree- Rabbit - Peach and Pork Ragout Sides- Made to order cornbread - fingerling potatoes I would recommend all of the above. Each dish was damn near perfect in our opinion. I would recommend the 404 to anyone out there looking for something unique! This place is top notch. Not overrated. Not too salty. Try it yourself, this place is just right. Great addition to Nashville. Enjoyed it so much that I downloaded Yelp and wrote this review.. Enjoy!
(5)
Karen S.
Don't get me wrong, I like 404 Kitchen, I'm just not a huge fan of it. My boyfriend and I went on a date here at the end of November. The service was phenomenal, the food was "meh". We started with the bean salad with cornbread and the pate. The cornbread was a bit burned, but the pate was indescribable. I would highly recommend the pate if you do go. For entrees, he got the tri-tip and I got the cioppino. The tri-tip seemed a bit under seasoned (but the farro with it was perfect) and the cioppino was just OK. For dessert, we got the cookies and ice cream. It was tasty, but I mean... just cookies and ice cream. Nothing over the top here. Like I said, the food was meh. The pate was the highlight of the meal. It'd be a great place to go just for drinks an appetizers, if it were just a little bit bigger!
(3)
Allison L.
What is the matter with this place! You'll enjoy if you like being squeezed into a tuna can with pretentious wait staff and even more pretentious food. I may be not hip enough to get this concept or smart enough to understand why I would endure it. Luckily I'm small... Not so lucky for another patron who knocked over tables with her bottom. It would be a different story of the food were even remotely good but it just sucks, gamey, patronizing and unoriginal.
(1)
Hunter K.
I ate a second meal at 404 Kitchen this weekend and walked away totally satisfied. The food is flavorful and inventive, and the service is always friendly, which is a great asset in Nashville's competitive restaurant scene. I look forward to my next visit.
(5)
Dj M.
This establishment has the honor of being the most expensive worst meal and service I've ever had. Don't buy the hype. My gut told me in the first few moments to bail when the "mixologist" in a leather blacksmith apron (really?) Said he rather not make what I'D ASKED FOR. And this happened after the host had to ask the pretentious, douchey chef to wrap up his "Me, Me, Me-isms to some slack jawed local hipsters, so he could free up the four bar stools he had so righteously been occupying. Nights like these can sometimes be saved with delicious food and great service. It's not going to happen here. Some places do this concept of precious, genius, dining better than others. Find those. Food, mediocre, at best. Had a better burger at Tavern an hour later served by a lovely young lady who didn't make me wretch with her false sense of expertise. If you've got $200.00 to piss away, knock yourself out. Cheers.
(1)
Kristin V.
I helped my boss move to Tennessee and my job was to put together some fun filled days with great food and attractions. I did my research before and found Nashville had several James Beard award finalists for 2014 and 404 was one of them. I'm really picky about restaurants being a foodie and all so I wanted something different. I knew I couldn't go wrong coming here and I was right. We ordered the burrata and lamb sugo to start and they were amazing. Full of unique flavor and you could taste the fresh ingredients. Every thing on their menu looked yummy. It's right in downtown and really unique looking so very cool atmosphere. The restaurant is small so you need reservations in advance and they were really booked up on the weekend. I would definitely recommend it if you haven't tried it yet.
(5)
C B.
Excellent service, a most interesting menu and all well prepared. If you are a foodie and can get a seat, by all means, go. 404 Kitchen is quite small, so reservations are a must.
(5)
Maggy P.
We came here on our second night in Nashville on vacation from the NYC area. Was SO impressed with this place. The setting in the Gulch was awesome- a tiny but very cool storage container- and we sat outside. I had the beef with risotto.. And it may have been one of the best things I've ever tasted. My boyfriend had a pasta with a peach/pork ragout and loved it too. Service was great- there was a mix up with one of our cocktail orders but they have it to us on the house. Would def recommend this place to other friends.
(4)
Pap S.
After hearing good things about The 404, went for the first time this past Saturday night. Right away I liked it. It's modern, yet warm & cozy. I like a restaurant in a small space..I think it reminds of me restaurants I love in NYC. We started with cocktails, and I had an exceptional drink with bourbon, bitters, Benton's bacon, and local honey. They have a wonderful cocktail & wine list - unique offerings, and very delicious and balanced, from what we tried. As far as the food goes, we loved everything we had. To start, shared the summer squash soup & also the cauliflower and zucchini, then for entrees had the Chicken & the Trigger Fish, and ordered the buttered potatoes on the side. Probably ordered a bit too much food, but really wanted to try as many different things as possible. The pumpkin risotto that the Trigger fish is served on was so wonderful..the whole dish was rich, yet light and a bit citrusy. Didn't really save much room for dessert but ordered some anyway! Got the apple/pear crisp, with brioche croutons & caramel sauce..again, delicious. Wonderful attentive staff, even got to chat with the Sommelier, Travis, who was extremely kind & very passionate about what he does. Can't wait to go back! All around a great experience - so happy to have a place like this in Nashville.
(5)
Bob S.
I will give it a 5 and this is a keeper!! We went on there first Saturday and there was no available reservations so we should up at 5 and was able to get a table on the patio, little cool but the heater were turned on and provided enough warmth for the meal. Started with a couple of glass of nice red and a drink. The Aviator was very nice!! For Apps we had the Burrata and the Crudo! The Burrata was nice and flavor was very refreshing with the apple and walnuts. The Crudo was very good and the fluke was great and loved the citrus flavors here. For the main meal we had the Chicken breat, the Sheephead, and the Tri Tip. All work cooked wonderfully!! All dishes were flavorful and the Risotto maybe the best cooked in Nashville i every had. We also had a side of potato there simple but good. You just can not go wrong with Butter and Potatoes. Lastly Service was excellent!! This is going to be a nice addition to the Nashville Scene. Congrats to Chef Matt for a very good meal!
(5)
Stuart M.
Great service, eclectic dishes prepared just right. Chicken, pork, crab, tri-tip beef, rabbit, barracuda, shark, scallops. What's not to like? And the Meyer lemon curd and Italian budino were excellent.
Go! Go! Go!!! This is some seriously fine dining. Esoteric ingredients imaginatively prepared. The dishes we ordered ranged from the very good (radish side dish) to the transcendent (Burrata). My swordfish was perfectly cooked and my wife's rabbit stew (with stinging nettles!) was fantastic. Service was top notch by any restaurant standard, but was absolutely mind-blowingly good given Nashville's "food-first! service...eh, whatever" dining prioritization. While I'm not one to allow an inspired culinary vision to be eclipsed by poor service, it was positively refreshing to have a server so ably conversant in every aspect of the restaurant's offerings.
(5)
Lora L.
Yes yes yes my kind of place. I went for starters and sides as I am want to do when I am trying a place for the 1st time... Not so much for investing the whole meal in 1 dish so I started with the squash soup which was divine, then we shared some amazing little ham biscuits, had a side of the cauliflower (I was a little scared about the olives in this dish but it worked!)... It's a really small place but super cute & well laid out for intimacy without being dark & claustrophobic. I love that they grow some of their herbs on the roof and that they reused shipping containers in the building design. Super warm service, easy to valet park, fantastic beer selection - would def recommend!
(4)
Joe F.
WOW. The wine, the food and the atmosphere is rave-worthy. I can't decide if I'm more excited about the food or about Nashville getting a restaurant of this caliber. Bravo Nashville!
(5)
Min M.
It's fun to go early and dine at the bar. Excellent service. Very cute, little place that feels inviting and cozy. Filled with very good looking people. The chicken liver pate is fabulous. We had tri tip and the chicken. Both beautifully presented and not too salty! The menu is concise and the interesting wine list isn't too big or intimidating. Lots of friendly, smart help from the sommelier. Entrees in the $25 range. I really love the aprons that the servers wear. Whoa! Those hotel rooms in the back! Is this Nashville?
(5)
Jamie B.
in a phrase, this spot is dope. unbelievably comfortable for it's modest size and boasts a great cocktail list. I had the swordfish and am thankful I did. perfectly cooked. the old fashions were great. the owner was bussing tables and making casual conversation with the guests. it was very welcomed and you could see how stoked he was to have everybody enjoying the food. perfect date place but make a reservation! dudes, bring her here. you'll look way smarter than you are!
(5)
Agnes T.
Best meal I've had in Nashville. And I've eaten everywhere. Best burrata I've ever had and you cannot beat the cocktails. Service is impeccable. Enjoy!!
(5)
Trish S.
Totally disappointing. When I see "James Beard" on a restaurant's website, I get really excited and I expect a fantastic evening. This was nothing of the sort. My appetizer was not even decent and my entree was just okay. What really tipped the scale though was that my entire party was unable to finish their food because the staff took our plates away before we were finished. One of my friends had her entree taken away when she had 3/4th of it left! It was very clear that they wanted us out of there as soon as possible, which I didn't understand since no one was waiting for a table. I don't mind paying for great food and a great experience, actually, I really enjoy it. But I'm not okay with going to a restaurant of this caliber with these prices and be treated like someone that needs to leave as soon as possible. I hope my experience is the exception and not the norm, but I won't be going back to find out.
(1)
Randi T.
agree with Bob S. - this place is a keeper! started with Burrata and it was so delish. very different and very flavorful. we had a couple of the specialty cocktails (404 flight and a bacon martini, can't remember the name), they were both really good. dinner we did the chicken and tri tip. they aren't shy on portions which is good bc the food is so good! I actually didn't like the space, I thought it was going to be 'cozy' but it is not. since it is a bit 'loft' style with high ceilings it is very loud so I wouldn't say it is a romantic setting at all. that won't sway me from not going back again though - excited to try other things on the menu. service was amazing, Wendy our server was very knowledgeable. they had 2 desserts that night, we went for the warm cookies and ice cream. can never go wrong with that, perfect way to end a wonderful meal.
(5)
Angela E.
Tri tip was amazing but if you want med-rare, get medium--i'd of of loved to have it cooked a smidgen more so I ate the ends and saved the insides to throw on a salad tomorrow. The flavor was super! Had mushroom risotto to share and I swear I could have ate a full plate of this had it been a meal! I liked the tiny place:) I also would have liked a blue cheese stuffed olive in my martini.
(4)
Thomas G.
My error. I REALLY wanted to impress a nationally known, food business related, guest. I read other reviews but didn't personally scout this place out. Other reviews said the sun is bad. Understatement. The sun shines into this place making one feel like an ant under a magnifying glass and the restaurant has made no observable effort to shade or soften the sunlight. One of our guests asked about "gluten free" not knowing the restaurant had posted that they don't adjust for food allergies, which is understandable, a business can't cover them all, but our server acted like the question was a personal affront. With the sun blinding us and a rather rude server things didn't start well. Our guest ordered the "Tri Tips" and asked to have them cooked between med rare and med and was told "we don't do that."and I'm thinking "I'm really not making the impression I hoped for." Then, as has been mentioned in other reviews THE FOOD CAME and it was excellent. Tri Tips were done perfectly. One guest had chicken. Another hit! I had rabbit and it was super. SO. Go after sunset. Don't have an allergy. Find a pleasant server (there were several) and enjoy the very well prepared food. Pricey. 4.5 on food. 2.5 for location.
(3)
Brian N.
Did I miss something here? I had heard much about 404 Kitchen, and finally checked it out. Some random thoughts: A great deal is being made about it being housed in a former container. You know what? It's only the very very front that is a repurposed container; the great majority of the restaurant is new construction. So why is everyone -- including the restaurant itself -- making a big deal about the building's provenance? It's a facade, that's it. To say it's anything more is patently dishonest. Also: I'm a vegetarian, and I just asked the server to bring me what he thought I should eat that's vegetarian. The first course was a wonderful tomato pastry of some sort. Good choice. The main meal was absurd. It was a TINY portion of gnocchi, and I wasl still hungry after I ate it. As a lifelong vegetarian, I get a little annoyed when a "cutting edge" restaurant presents a pasta dish as their veggie option. What is this? 1987?!? I would have thought that they would have been a little more adventurous and interesting. I was still hungry after I ate the entree, so ordered another side and then desert. Both were decent. Then the bill came. It was way too expensive for what I had. I've been to Husk twice in the last week and a half, had a much more interesting and adventurous meal, and spent a fraction of what 404 cost. I hope the restaurant does well, but I can't imagine ever going back there. (Ps -- the service, btw, was good and very attentive. It wasn't his fault the kitchen let me down.)
(3)
Ray C.
Okay, my wife and I are from California and we frequent restaurants in Napa on a regular occasion. So, maybe I was expecting too much. There was one stellar dish that was out of this world and it was the burrata. The flavors combined with the cheese were truly memorable. The next dish we shared had eggs, pasta, truffles (although miniscule), and caviar. The dish didn't work for us. A umami bomb with not enough salt or acid to brighten the richness. Pasta was definately fresh, but the sauce and other ingredients just didn't work, very bland (most expensive dish we had). The swordfish was very good, served with beans. Well seasoned fish, cooked perfectly, but once again, needed acid for balance. Don't get me wrong, the swordfish was seasoned and cooked perfectly, the best swordfish I've ever had, but the dish lacked something. Still very tasty. Desert was carrot cake, but not your mother's carrot cake. More of a decontructed version, with a cream cheese ice cream (missed the mark by being to icy and not rich enough to immulate cream cheese). There was a tasty raisin/bourbon reduction, but the dish needed more of the ice cream and raisin mixture to be an equivalent to regular carrot cake, still tasty. I like the crunch of the outside of the cake, but my wife felt it was too dry. Service was good at the table, other than an oddity of serving bread with the first course, and then taking it away and not bringing it back for the pasta dish, we had to ask for more. They have a person who does a finish on the dishes, making sure they are clean and ready for table presentation, we saw him on his phone the whole time he wasn't cleaning up dishes. He'd clean a dish, look on his phone, clean another dish, look at his phone. It was odd, and probably not the most sanitary way to serve gourmet food. Prices are steep for the amount of food. The pasta dish was an appatizer portion (we didn't eat even the small portion we got). We ate a light meal (considering we didn't eat one of the dishes) and the final cost was $160.00. We had 2 drinks each. So, one stellar dish, a couple pretty good dishes and one flop. Cost for quality earns this place a 3.5 stars. We'd go back just to have the burrata again!
(3)
Jennie V.
I'm conflicted... If I could give the food 10 stars, I would, but the service was not acceptable especially at this price point. I realize that we were eating locally sourced food in a re-purposed storage container, so trendy that there is no sign, but would it hurt the waitstaff to smile? be friendly? helpful? On top of the 'tude problem, our waitress was frequently MIA... you'd think that would be hard in 600 square feet... She had a back up helping her who, I kid you not, never made eye contact! Her brief visits to our table made us feel anxious. Still, the food, oh the food, was incredible. My friend and I shared the poached farm egg (delicious, but not something I'd order again for $9-ish bucks), the southern stroganoff (I literally turned the bowl and started drinking the broth with my spoon. If you tasted that broth, you would understand and excuse my terrible table manners!), the corn bread (Unlike anything I've ever had... in a good way!), and finally the cookie with crispy ham, frozen dulce de leche, and mint (Do not ask me how that works, just know that it is the cookie that dreams are made of, that wars are fought over, and will ensure that I give 404 another shot!) Still, waitstaff, let's cut that pretension down a notch or two. With many great restaurants in town, patrons have tons of excellent food options... ya know, restaurants where they can be greeted with warmth, hospitality AND a great meal...
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Dressy Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Heather D.
My husband took me here tonight for a surprise birthday dinner. One of the most amazing meals I've had in a long time. Started with house pulled buratta and skillet cornbread with bourbon barrel sorghum butter, then had THIS incredibly delicious entree pictured: English peas and roasted potatoes in a lemon-mint creme sauce. The most amazing flavors in every dish. Finished it off with fresh strawberry shortcake with saffron ice cream topped with almonds. All of it was heaven! Service was fabulous and such a nice ambiance as well. Above your usual budget range, but well worth it and we'll be back!
(5)Sheena T.
The first thing you need to know is that this restaurant is VERY tiny. It's a former shipping container guys. Expect to be on top of other tables. If you know you'll hate this, sit on the patio or at the bar. It will give you a bit more space, though you are still going to be a bit cramped. It's also pretty loud and the wait staff have to kinda lean into your table to talk and take your order. How they don't knock things off the table constantly is quite impressive. I just don't recommend a group more than 4 people unless you are reserving the entire patio. I would find the experience less than ideal if I had to deal with a big party. The perfect size is 2, so grab your SO or a friend and enjoy! The cocktails are pretty whiskey heavy but tasty. I opted for wine and was pleased to see reasonably priced wines by the glass. The second thing you have to do is order whatever dish contains burrata. Burrata is a mozzarella styled cheese that is made in house and is out of this freaking world. Just order whatever dish has it. I also had the lamb sugo and it was excellent with a thick sauce. Very tasty and both are a decent portion size too. I tried the rabbit entree and my bf had some kind of special fish. We really enjoyed them both, the rabbit was slightly sweet but well balanced and I loved it! The fish was very light and delicious as well. Overall... yum! The 404 Kitchen is a unique and delicious experience. Definitely give them a try, but book in advance if you have a specific date or time that you need because it fills up very quickly due to limited capacity.
(5)Megan K.
Honestly--haven't yet eaten here and likely won't due to the treatment we received after having made our reservation this past summer upon their opening. Two stars instead of one because I had hoped for something great and I've heard good feedback from others. We made a reservation for five, and received a follow-up call on the day of our reservation, confirming the details. The hostess said she was confirming our reservation for four--I corrected her and said there would be five. She curtly replied that there was no room for five ad we'd have to make another reservation for a different night. I completely understand part of the allure of the restaurant is its intimate setting--that being said, the original reservation (made on the phone) was for five. If that was a problem initially, it should have been clarified to me. It's increasingly challenging to collaborate with friends to find good times to meet for dinner--we were all excited about trying out The 404 Kitchen, but after the initial impression we received just after they opened, none of the five of us have tried it out, and no one is rushing too. Too many quality restaurants in this town with pleasant and charming staff welcoming their guests with open arms... no need for the attitude.
(2)Joe S.
Service was excellent. Drinks were great, too. Burrata was good but under-salted. Both tri-tip and pork were really damn good. Best food I've ever had in Nashville.
(5)Anthony C.
An absolutely incredible dining experience from the food through the staff. Thank you all. Buratta is not to be missed. Wine list and suggested pairings were on point. Highly recommended.
(5)Bridget H.
The good/great: 1. The food lived up to the James Beard nomination hype. Try the rabbit, homemade burrata or poached egg salad. All were fresh and delicious. 2. Our server was very knowledgeable and took us through a line-by-line of the entire menu upon request. She was clearly passionate about the food. The bad: 1. The lighting - and by that I mean if you are seated 5-7pm during the summer and facing the window you will be roasted, toasted and blinded by the light. Bring sunglasses (in anticipation of this issue they also have extra pairs), or request to be seated away from the window. The bar is also a safe bet. The verdict: Worth a visit, but plan ahead.
(4)Queen B.
Gaylen is amazing.. Gaylen is a one man show as a waiter that knows his menu and his wine. He was our waiter the evening we dined. He explained the menu and described every dish, which made it easy for my party to choose. It just sounded better coming from him, than reading the menu. When he brought the wine out, he swirled it around in the wine glass aggressively, breathing in the scent he was trying to find, before handing it to the person who ordered it. Oh... the restaurant. You want to know about the restaurant... Well, if there happens to be a celebrity in the house, sitting near you, it's quite the show to watch everyone fawn over him. He gets the royal treatment, and whether you ordered your dinner before him, he got his cornbread, before me. He got special treatment. It was entertaining for my table. The place is nice. Small, quaint. The noise level is LOUD. VERY LOUD. It's difficult to hear the person across the table, after 7pm.. Food. An interesting menu where texture plays a big role. The different grains used in dishes... chewy, nutty.. along with a little of this and a little of that. Everything made from scratch. Decent portions, although one of my dining partners remarked that his rabbit must have been a baby.. there was hardly any rabbit meat in his dish. The scallop dish was amazing. The mushrooms and scallops are stacked into a pyramid on the plate.. Aesthetically pleasing, delicious with every bite. The chicken dish was good, as was the flavor in the "porridge." My protein portion was on the small side.. small portion for a large price. Cornbread was amazing. Sweetened butter came with the skillet cornbread and there's enough to feed three people, if you slice it like a pizza. Everything was delicious. We had some issues with the food, but Gaylin fixed things to his ability and all was forgiven. Complimentary valet. Glass of wine, entree, side of cornbread = $50 We'll return another time..
(4)Timothy M.
Amanda and Travis were amazing host and server. The food was impeccable from starters to main course. The mushrooms, rAdishes, drum and cornbread were all out of this world. The rabbit and tartare were enjoyed by my colleagues.
(5)PW D.
404 never disappoints! Thanks to Matt, Travis & Jordan for another perfect dining experience! 4 of us enjoyed a variety of libations, appetizers & we each chose a different entree. All were excellent!! Dined on patio for first time & it was quite comfortable and truly pleasant. Finished with several interesting & delicious desserts. Attention to detail, amazing combinations, & impeccable service keep 404 as one of our favorites!
(5)Lauren W.
Located in a former shipping container in the heart of the Gulch, the 404 Kitchen is exactly what you would expect from a James Beard Award semi-finalist (best new restaurant category). This incredibly-small-but-incredibly-neat restaurant is nestled away, almost unassumingly, next to the Station Inn and is dwarfed by the ever-sprouting high-rise condos. And if the uniqueness of the restaurant wasn't enough, it is attached to a small 5 room boutique hotel. The 404 Kitchen is one of the best places in Nashville, and it's hiding in plain sight. The 404 Kitchen has been on my list for quite some time. When my dear friend Kate and I wanted to go out for a girls night, we were surprised when we were able to grab a last minute table for dinner. The dining room is very tiny, with only a handful of tables squished very close together, a patio, and a small bar. The largest party I would recommend here is 4 people, because beyond that you might take up half the restaurant. The decor is simple, woodsy, and is unassuming. The standout is the large window that lets in the most beautiful light. Thank goodness for spring days. We started off with a cocktail from their lovely leather-bound book of offerings. I chose the Flight 404 which our waitress informed me was one of the sweeter drinks. It had gin and creme de violet and what I got was the most visually appealing cocktail: A light purple drink with a dark lovely luxardo cherry at the bottom. The flavor was sweet, but it had a strong earthy gin flavor that I loved. I guess gin is quickly becoming my go-to alcohol of choice. WHO AM I? Kate ordered the Nearest Green which had bourbon, apple brandy, honey, and Benton's bacon. There were little shards of crisp bacon taking a bath in the bourbon. This drink tasted like breakfast; an amalgam of syrup and bacon. It was really strong, traditionally manly, and highly enjoyable. For an appetizer we went with the house made burrata. We had a whole ball of the softest mixture of mozzarella and cream tossed with a dressing made of pine nuts, leeks, grapefruit, celeriac and truffles. Everything about this dish was smooth, except for the occasional crunch the pine nut. Surprisingly, despite all the dairy, the dish was amazingly light. The sauce was so wonderful that I almost jumped for joy when our server brought us fresh bread to sop up the leftovers. For my entree I had the truffled egg study. THIS! JUST THIS- might be the most amazing dish I have ever had that makes the lowly egg rise to the top the culinary pedestal, as it so richly deserves. The egg, perched upon a bed of fresh pasta, was slow cooked for a long time, making it the most delicious poached egg you can imagine. Once tapped, the yolk oozed all over the plate and when mixed together with the caviar and truffles created the richest, creamiest sauce for the pasta. The truffles themselves where thinly shaved and blended in well with the sauce. While $28 might be really pricey for one egg and some pasta, I pretty much guarantee that you have never had egg prepared this way, and with all the fancy accouterments, you will become a believer. Kate ordered the Dry Aged Tri Tip with farro and root vegetables. The meat came out cooked to the exact specifications asked for and the seasoning used really added a nice bit of flavor to the meat. The grilled onion added a nice touch of sweet and the farro underneath created a bed to soak up all the flavors. Every time I try farro I'm reminded that I really quite enjoy it and should consider making it at home sometimes. For our side dish we choose the risotto with mascarpone and ramps. I'm always hesitant to order a risotto because if you have ever watched Top Chef, you know that if you make one, you are going home. (Yet year after year someone dares to tempt fate and make one- only to be sent packing). I can assure that if this dish was served on Top Chef the judges would cheer and the risotto curse would be broken. Ramps made the risotto taste fresh, like spring. With that light garlic and onion taste that reminds you of lying in fresh grass. If only ramps were in season the whole year round *sigh* The 404 Kitchen is top notch. Everything about it is pretty damn near perfect. Our waitress was polite, but very informative, almost as if she cooked everything herself. The presentations were gorgeous, creating a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth. Make a reservation, bring a friend, and prepare to be impressed.
(5)Boris K.
The softness and texture of the Atlantic Mackarel is amazing! Farro w duck egg was decadent. Nice job @mattbolus @the404kitchen #nashvillefood #404kitchen
(5)Chris W.
The food was terrific and the wait staff were great. ***** Be warned, if there is any chance that you might be more than 15 minutes late for your reservation, they will cancel it, even if part of your party has arrived. I had a guest from out of town (from the UK) that I wanted to take to a business dinner and I was told in very stern terms that even though I was there, my reservation would be cancelled. I explained that my guest was on his way right now and was told "our policy is clearly on our website". I have NEVER had a restaurant management at this level treat me like that! Need I mention that there were NO people waiting for a table AND that there were plenty of empty tables???!!! **** So, if you need a great place to take someone to dinner, don't go here, unless it is ok if part of your party is late that they cancel your reservation.
(2)Katie S.
Amazing! Recommend the the Burrata and the skillet cornbread. Oh and also the saffron ice cream! First time I've ever had saffron ice cream and it was delicious!
(5)Linda A.
Anniversary Dinner! I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. 3 felt way too low but 4 feels generous. I'm going with the 4 because although a lot of our evening at 404 Kitchen was "A-OK", nothing was bad enough to give 2 stars (creating a 3 star average) so we're going with 4. Whew! Tiny place, we knew that going in...but just so a newbie knows...tiny place. So you kind of are on top of each other which doesn't lend itself to a romantic date night atmosphere. We were able to hear everyone's conversations, which is sometimes fun anyway. Also had a front row seat watching the couple who obviously hates each other chew in silence. However it also provides everyone an audience to your table (I'm looking at you, single woman at the bar...the one from The Bay Area who just cannot understand why Nashville is so popular. She kept turning around and watching us until we looked at her then she'd turn back around. Maybe she was bored, in which case...you're welcome honey.) The food...Burrata appetizer. There was a lot of hype about it so I expected to fall off my chair, but it was just good. Good is good enough. My entree....whole Sheepshead fish. I'd never had Sheepshead before (it really needs a new branding). It was delicious and they go to great pains to prepare it in such a way that it tasted like buttery goodness. The bones were there but not a horrible imposition by any means. Served with a succotash of field peas, corn and tomatoes. My dinner was very good. Hubby had the tri tip steak. It's probably the least adventurous item on the menu. He deemed it "pretty good". I didn't try it and it takes a lot for him to go much further for "pretty good." Dessert was kind of a disappointment. I didn't love the saffron ice cream and shortbread is shortbread. They do serve a mean cup of coffee and my husband enjoyed an E.H. Taylor bourbon that you don't get everywhere. The server was perfect, she described the offerings without sounding like she was reciting the alphabet and chatted us up when appropriate. They were packed and we never felt neglected. All in all, a 4 star evening at 404.
(4)Num N.
The 404 Kitchen has to one of my favorite restaurants in Nashville. It has to be one of the most romantic spots with dim, romantic lighting and its small space. Everything we had tonight was superb. For starters, we had buttermilk burrata and funghi mushrooms with farro. Both dishes complimented each other so well. Secondly, we had seared scallops on top of a brown butter and cauliflower purée with roasted cauliflower and caviar. That was probably the best thing I've had in Nashville in a long time, it was so good. Lastly, we had the Bear Creek aged tri-tip with farrotto and mascarpone cheese. We didn't leave anything on the plate. So if you're in Nashville and trying to find a place to go for a wonderful date, this is the place to be. I wouldn't suggest going here for a big group but for something more personal. And if you get Jordan as your server, you'll have the best service.
(5)Loralyn D.
I didn't have a reservation but decided to try the 404 Kitchen. The hostess said the were completely booked but they could squeeze us in if we were seated immediately. By the time we left, the restaurant wasn't full (and it's pretty small) so I'm not convinced they were booked on a weeknight. The service and food were good but I guess there are just so many other great restaurants in Nashville at this price range that I'd prefer to go to other places.
(3)Queen B.
Gaylen is amazing.. Gaylen is a one man show as a waiter that knows his menu and his wine. He was our waiter the evening we dined. He explained the menu and described every dish, which made it easy for my party to choose. It just sounded better coming from him, than reading the menu. When he brought the wine out, he swirled it around in the wine glass aggressively, breathing in the scent he was trying to find, before handing it to the person who ordered it. Oh... the restaurant. You want to know about the restaurant... Well, if there happens to be a celebrity in the house, sitting near you, it's quite the show to watch everyone fawn over him. He gets the royal treatment, and whether you ordered your dinner before him, he got his cornbread, before me. He got special treatment. It was entertaining for my table. The place is nice. Small, quaint. The noise level is LOUD. VERY LOUD. It's difficult to hear the person across the table, after 7pm.. Food. An interesting menu where texture plays a big role. The different grains used in dishes... chewy, nutty.. along with a little of this and a little of that. Everything made from scratch. Decent portions, although one of my dining partners remarked that his rabbit must have been a baby.. there was hardly any rabbit meat in his dish. The scallop dish was amazing. The mushrooms and scallops are stacked into a pyramid on the plate.. Aesthetically pleasing, delicious with every bite. The chicken dish was good, as was the flavor in the "porridge." My protein portion was on the small side.. small portion for a large price. Cornbread was amazing. Sweetened butter came with the skillet cornbread and there's enough to feed three people, if you slice it like a pizza. Everything was delicious. We had some issues with the food, but Gaylin fixed things to his ability and all was forgiven. Complimentary valet. Glass of wine, entree, side of cornbread = $50 We'll return another time..
(4)Scott G.
Another farm to table restaurant. Very small portions and even smaller drinks. The old fashioned cocktail was made with cherry syrup and the pour of EH Taylor was barely tasted. Wine pours were minimal as well. The app (tomato gallete) was fantastic, the rabbit was a pile of what looked like pulled pork and was really odd. The fish (barracuda) had the skin on and was overly salted. Ambiance was "ok". It's very cramped and loud and just kind of weird. I felt like I was in an entry way to something larger. TLDR - left hungry and came home and made some popcorn.
(2)Bridget H.
The good/great: 1. The food lived up to the James Beard nomination hype. Try the rabbit, homemade burrata or poached egg salad. All were fresh and delicious. 2. Our server was very knowledgeable and took us through a line-by-line of the entire menu upon request. She was clearly passionate about the food. The bad: 1. The lighting - and by that I mean if you are seated 5-7pm during the summer and facing the window you will be roasted, toasted and blinded by the light. Bring sunglasses (in anticipation of this issue they also have extra pairs), or request to be seated away from the window. The bar is also a safe bet. The verdict: Worth a visit, but plan ahead.
(4)Timothy M.
Amanda and Travis were amazing host and server. The food was impeccable from starters to main course. The mushrooms, rAdishes, drum and cornbread were all out of this world. The rabbit and tartare were enjoyed by my colleagues.
(5)Chuck D.
I am seriously delinquent on this review for 2 reasons: 1) I DONT WANT ANY NEW COMPETITION FOR SEATS OR A TABLE HERE 2) Every time I go, the meal I have is so good that I forget what I was going to write about the last great meal. So here we go. There are moments in life that you never forget (i.e., birth of a child, getting married (turns out that is forgettable), getting married again(nice recovery), the Kennedy assassination(or so I am told), the Challenger disaster, the Red Sox breaking the curse in 2004(let it go you Boston haters), etc) and for those that have seen some of my other reviews, my passion for food undoubtedly would eventually have one of these defining moments related to dining. Enter 404 Kitchen. I have had everything on the menu more times than I care to admit, after a particularly fantastic preparation by Chef Bolus, my wife and I decided to buy a "vacation home" in Nashville (food vacation that is) as I was sick of commuting to Nashville from San Francisco for dinner (Sorry United Airlines - the trip experience just isn't all that invigorating). FOOD Sorry to stray off topic - My favorites, Dry Aged Tri tip atop farro with hazelnuts, cherries, horseradish and pesto: BRAISED RABBIT however he prepares it, Pork Ragout - all seasonal preparations. Starters are all out of this world (get the hand pulled Burrata on your first visit - you will wear plastic pocket liners on all future visits so you can sneak some home). DRINK GM/Sommalier Travis B. has all the right wines and whiskeys dialed up to complete an unforgettable experience. SERVICE Be sure to ask for Galen, Amanda, Lindsey, oh hell - you get it.....SERVICE THERE ALSO ROCKS! I would say this is a perfect place for a special occasion, and it is, but that means I wouldn't go there as often as I do. It is the perfect place for dinner, period.
(5)Ben N.
I wanted to really like this place. Cool atmosphere and interesting menu. However, the execution is very average. Food was ordinary despite sounding unique on the menu. Not likely to return.
(3)Michael U.
Items Selected: Flight 404 - Martin Miller's gin, Crème de Violette, Luxardo, lemon Pig Plate - Woodlands back bacon, coppa di testa, 14 month Benton's, goldrush apple butter, whiskey apple butter, sourdough Wedge Oak Farm Duck Egg - wild mushrooms, Anson Mills farro, egg yolk, herbs Fava Beans - rock shrimp, orange, honey, pecorino Glendale Farm Chicken - Anson Mills dirty porridge, lacinato kale, button mushrooms Ponce Inlet Bay Scallops - cauliflower, brown butter, paddlefish caviar, white truffle Anson Mills Skillet Cornbread - Kentucky bourbon barrel sorghum butter Lemon Curd - Medjool dates, cashew, Italian meringue Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Budino - almond, port, cherries, crisps Saffron Ice Cream - strawberries, shortcake, Marcona almonds Small in size, and difficult to locate in an area currently high in construction, Matt Bolus' The 404 Kitchen was the finishing piece to a large puzzle of dinner decisions in Nashville and featuring more 'farm to table' cooking inside of what was once a shipping container the cuisine proved every bit as good as highly praised spots like Josephine, Husk, and City House while the setting and service were perhaps even better - the small size and tongue-in-cheek humor providing an excellent experience spread over the course of two hours. Described as 'uncomplicated' by the chef, with a menu that varies almost day-to-day, our arrival at The 404 Kitchen found a four-top ready in waiting despite a late arrival due to difficulties finding the space around orange barrels and joking about how much the city had changed in the last 12 months, not to mention the dozen years past since our last visit, it was almost an immediate connection with the staff that was established - the conversation free-flowing and full of recommendations not only for food and drink, but things to see and do in the area. Eventually deciding on a four-course order to begin with a plate of locally sourced charcuterie paired to housemade preserves and warm sourdough brought in from a local baker it was much to our surprise just how enjoyable the whisky apple butter was alongside the more briny bites of pork and slathering the bread thick with Goldrush Apple compote while sipping a mighty fine spin on the classic Aviation it was with the restaurant quickly filling to capacity that appetizers arrived, the duck egg and faro dish presenting an earthy aromatic bowl of creamy porridge while the fava bean soup was the very definition of vibrant - a fresh seasonal expression that saw every ingredient utilized to the utmost potential for texture, flavor, and balance. Progressing to entrees, and taking into account the amount of eating already done that day, it was in two plates that we invested along with a side of skillet cornbread that easily proved to be the best in the city when soaked in smoky-sweet butter, and although the "jellybeans of the sea" scallops were indeed quite sweet amidst their rich accoutrements both the small size and use of truffle oil were offputting considering the $32 pricetag, a far better appropriation of funds invested in the pan roasted bird atop liver-rich porridge balanced out by the tender mushrooms and kale. Inspired by dessert descriptions, at least enough to order one of each, it was once again here that Tennessee surprised my generally citrus-averse palate, for as good as both the thick port-infused chocolate pudding and innovative take on strawberry shortcake were neither even came close to the mason jar parfait of creamy lemon curd decorated by meringue with roughly chopped dates and cashews, a dish that in many ways supported the Chef's vision of simplicity while still presenting as quite sophisticated, much like the experience as a whole.
(4)Sheena T.
The first thing you need to know is that this restaurant is VERY tiny. It's a former shipping container guys. Expect to be on top of other tables. If you know you'll hate this, sit on the patio or at the bar. It will give you a bit more space, though you are still going to be a bit cramped. It's also pretty loud and the wait staff have to kinda lean into your table to talk and take your order. How they don't knock things off the table constantly is quite impressive. I just don't recommend a group more than 4 people unless you are reserving the entire patio. I would find the experience less than ideal if I had to deal with a big party. The perfect size is 2, so grab your SO or a friend and enjoy! The cocktails are pretty whiskey heavy but tasty. I opted for wine and was pleased to see reasonably priced wines by the glass. The second thing you have to do is order whatever dish contains burrata. Burrata is a mozzarella styled cheese that is made in house and is out of this freaking world. Just order whatever dish has it. I also had the lamb sugo and it was excellent with a thick sauce. Very tasty and both are a decent portion size too. I tried the rabbit entree and my bf had some kind of special fish. We really enjoyed them both, the rabbit was slightly sweet but well balanced and I loved it! The fish was very light and delicious as well. Overall... yum! The 404 Kitchen is a unique and delicious experience. Definitely give them a try, but book in advance if you have a specific date or time that you need because it fills up very quickly due to limited capacity.
(5)Megan K.
Honestly--haven't yet eaten here and likely won't due to the treatment we received after having made our reservation this past summer upon their opening. Two stars instead of one because I had hoped for something great and I've heard good feedback from others. We made a reservation for five, and received a follow-up call on the day of our reservation, confirming the details. The hostess said she was confirming our reservation for four--I corrected her and said there would be five. She curtly replied that there was no room for five ad we'd have to make another reservation for a different night. I completely understand part of the allure of the restaurant is its intimate setting--that being said, the original reservation (made on the phone) was for five. If that was a problem initially, it should have been clarified to me. It's increasingly challenging to collaborate with friends to find good times to meet for dinner--we were all excited about trying out The 404 Kitchen, but after the initial impression we received just after they opened, none of the five of us have tried it out, and no one is rushing too. Too many quality restaurants in this town with pleasant and charming staff welcoming their guests with open arms... no need for the attitude.
(2)Joe S.
Service was excellent. Drinks were great, too. Burrata was good but under-salted. Both tri-tip and pork were really damn good. Best food I've ever had in Nashville.
(5)Heather D.
My husband took me here tonight for a surprise birthday dinner. One of the most amazing meals I've had in a long time. Started with house pulled buratta and skillet cornbread with bourbon barrel sorghum butter, then had THIS incredibly delicious entree pictured: English peas and roasted potatoes in a lemon-mint creme sauce. The most amazing flavors in every dish. Finished it off with fresh strawberry shortcake with saffron ice cream topped with almonds. All of it was heaven! Service was fabulous and such a nice ambiance as well. Above your usual budget range, but well worth it and we'll be back!
(5)Anthony C.
An absolutely incredible dining experience from the food through the staff. Thank you all. Buratta is not to be missed. Wine list and suggested pairings were on point. Highly recommended.
(5)Lauren W.
Located in a former shipping container in the heart of the Gulch, the 404 Kitchen is exactly what you would expect from a James Beard Award semi-finalist (best new restaurant category). This incredibly-small-but-incredibly-neat restaurant is nestled away, almost unassumingly, next to the Station Inn and is dwarfed by the ever-sprouting high-rise condos. And if the uniqueness of the restaurant wasn't enough, it is attached to a small 5 room boutique hotel. The 404 Kitchen is one of the best places in Nashville, and it's hiding in plain sight. The 404 Kitchen has been on my list for quite some time. When my dear friend Kate and I wanted to go out for a girls night, we were surprised when we were able to grab a last minute table for dinner. The dining room is very tiny, with only a handful of tables squished very close together, a patio, and a small bar. The largest party I would recommend here is 4 people, because beyond that you might take up half the restaurant. The decor is simple, woodsy, and is unassuming. The standout is the large window that lets in the most beautiful light. Thank goodness for spring days. We started off with a cocktail from their lovely leather-bound book of offerings. I chose the Flight 404 which our waitress informed me was one of the sweeter drinks. It had gin and creme de violet and what I got was the most visually appealing cocktail: A light purple drink with a dark lovely luxardo cherry at the bottom. The flavor was sweet, but it had a strong earthy gin flavor that I loved. I guess gin is quickly becoming my go-to alcohol of choice. WHO AM I? Kate ordered the Nearest Green which had bourbon, apple brandy, honey, and Benton's bacon. There were little shards of crisp bacon taking a bath in the bourbon. This drink tasted like breakfast; an amalgam of syrup and bacon. It was really strong, traditionally manly, and highly enjoyable. For an appetizer we went with the house made burrata. We had a whole ball of the softest mixture of mozzarella and cream tossed with a dressing made of pine nuts, leeks, grapefruit, celeriac and truffles. Everything about this dish was smooth, except for the occasional crunch the pine nut. Surprisingly, despite all the dairy, the dish was amazingly light. The sauce was so wonderful that I almost jumped for joy when our server brought us fresh bread to sop up the leftovers. For my entree I had the truffled egg study. THIS! JUST THIS- might be the most amazing dish I have ever had that makes the lowly egg rise to the top the culinary pedestal, as it so richly deserves. The egg, perched upon a bed of fresh pasta, was slow cooked for a long time, making it the most delicious poached egg you can imagine. Once tapped, the yolk oozed all over the plate and when mixed together with the caviar and truffles created the richest, creamiest sauce for the pasta. The truffles themselves where thinly shaved and blended in well with the sauce. While $28 might be really pricey for one egg and some pasta, I pretty much guarantee that you have never had egg prepared this way, and with all the fancy accouterments, you will become a believer. Kate ordered the Dry Aged Tri Tip with farro and root vegetables. The meat came out cooked to the exact specifications asked for and the seasoning used really added a nice bit of flavor to the meat. The grilled onion added a nice touch of sweet and the farro underneath created a bed to soak up all the flavors. Every time I try farro I'm reminded that I really quite enjoy it and should consider making it at home sometimes. For our side dish we choose the risotto with mascarpone and ramps. I'm always hesitant to order a risotto because if you have ever watched Top Chef, you know that if you make one, you are going home. (Yet year after year someone dares to tempt fate and make one- only to be sent packing). I can assure that if this dish was served on Top Chef the judges would cheer and the risotto curse would be broken. Ramps made the risotto taste fresh, like spring. With that light garlic and onion taste that reminds you of lying in fresh grass. If only ramps were in season the whole year round *sigh* The 404 Kitchen is top notch. Everything about it is pretty damn near perfect. Our waitress was polite, but very informative, almost as if she cooked everything herself. The presentations were gorgeous, creating a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth. Make a reservation, bring a friend, and prepare to be impressed.
(5)PW D.
404 never disappoints! Thanks to Matt, Travis & Jordan for another perfect dining experience! 4 of us enjoyed a variety of libations, appetizers & we each chose a different entree. All were excellent!! Dined on patio for first time & it was quite comfortable and truly pleasant. Finished with several interesting & delicious desserts. Attention to detail, amazing combinations, & impeccable service keep 404 as one of our favorites!
(5)Gretchen G.
Good, just not as good as they think it is. The atmosphere is small and intimate. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable about their food. Quick to tell us the restaurant was nominated for a James Beard, making sure the sommelier visited every table. Our wine was very good; the southern soda cocktail was excellent. Let's talk food.... Good but not mind blowing as all the hype might suggest. The risotto was definitely a highlight, if it had been a main dish with some shrimp thrown on top, rather than a side, I would have been delighted. The gnocchi with lamb was very well seasoned but didn't hold up well enough to get a full gnocchi onto my plate. Their famous cornbread, as others have mentioned, is burnt on top; this is clearly intentional but doesn't help the dish. The rabbit dish was excellent, very well cooked. Sure, go, it is good. It's just not going to rank up on one of my favorite meals.
(4)Rahel K.
We walked in during Vandy's baseball semifinal championship game. So he is already pissed that this place doesn't have a TV. He tells me we need to make this a quick dinner so he can catch the end of the game. Fast forward 2 hours and 4 courses later. He looked up at me during the entrée and said this was one of the best meals he has ever had. We devoured every bite and morsel and loved every second of it. Game? What game? This is delicious!! Highly recommended.
(5)Tina P.
Not that anyone needs another review. I think most everything that could be said has. Most people who haven't been will still want to go because of the hype (like me) regardless of what's on yelp or urban spoon. So here's my two cents - Pros- Service Drinks Appetizers I didn't love my chicken -it was WAY to salty. And for me to say anything is ever too salty is unbelievable. Husbands rabbit with gemelli pasta was better but still heavy handed with salt. Again. I LOVE salt. The noise has been mentioned ad nauseam. I agree it is extremely loud. I had to almost yell to be heard across a very small table for two. But I had been warned and the space is well advertised as tiny. We were underwhelmed with the dessert options so we paid and left to have dessert elsewhere. Bottom line, glad I went but I doubt we would go back except for a drink at the bar.
(3)Chris S.
The waiter was obnoxious. The kitchen was inflexible. The food was just okay, but pricey. Seems like the place exists to serve the chef's ego and not for the diner's pleasure. To many other great options in Nashville. We won't be back.
(1)John C.
Food was incredible and so unique. Menu changes daily which I love. If you are in Nashville this is a must stop. The staff is super energetic and love where they work. I will be going back for sure!
(5)Holly D.
My husband and I ate here for the first time recently. Each dish was delicious. We started with cracked crab ,as well as wild mushroom and Farro dish. Both were very good but the mushroom dish wins by a nose. Cocktails were very good and they had a small but very nice winelist. I am going completely blank on our mains but I'm guessing you can't go wrong. The menu changes frequently so I wouldn't be much help anyway. Dessert was a lemon meringue with date and pistachio (?) Crust. Just right. Staff is very friendly and atmosphere is cozy but convivial.
(4)Ginka P.
I must be the only person in Nashville that thinks this place is WAY overrated! I don't mind that it's small. The food is just way over-salted. So much so my wedding ring was tight the next day. It was unbearable. When I read that the chef was formerly at Watermark it all made sense. I have always thought Watermark's food was too salty. I've been steering people clear of this salt lick ever since. Much better are Husk and Silo. Maybe I'll go back to Watermark now that he's gone:)
(2)Andy H.
Best fish I've had in Nashville. The bartender was super friendly, and the sommelier was a great addition. The Burrata was lacking some of the inspiration I had experienced on the other dishes, but everything else was excellent! It's small and cozy, and is very expensive.
(4)Marty F.
Service was excellent. Food was better !! Great experience.
(5)matthew B.
Perfect service. Inventive recipes executed very well. 404 Kitchen is the best restaurant in Nashville right now.
(5)Lisa E.
404 beat expectations. I had heard food was really good, but questionably great, and its small size made for a noisy experience. Yes, the place is tiny and dark in spots which drove my 4 rating and the food, which is more important than noise/lighting to me, was outstanding - clearly a 5. 404 deserves a 4.5 rating vs a 4. The Burrata cheese app was great with a mix of beans and shaved brussel sprouts - a nice variety of flavors. We heard it runs out nightly so grab it early! Our server Jordan was very good and helped me select the wreck fish - a flaky white fish with tasty winter vegetables and crafted a "chef surprise" for my sister being a selective vegetarian. That chef surprise was a really nice touch. Like food options, the wine list is limited, interesting and pricey by the bottle. We opted to go by the glass and will do that again. 404 is a repeat place for us!
(4)Nick B.
Really wasn't a detail about this place that I didn't love. Started with the Three Little Pigs and the Lamb Sugo. The Three Little Pigs was very good, but the Sugo was spectacular. For entrees we had the rabbit and Southern Pork Stroganoff. We both immediately liked our courses but upon tasting each other's we switched plates. Both were warming and nuanced in the flavor. Skillet cookie for desert. Again, pretty much perfect. I think the best part of the place is the ambiance though. Sure it's tight, but it's cozy and has perfect energy. The servers are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and the manager stopped at our table for what ended up being a great ten minute chat. The drinks were fantastic too. Quite a little gem.
(5)Anne R.
One of the very best steak dishes that I have had in a very long time! I am a fan! The pimento app was also fab. I will definitely be back soon!
(5)Kristina L.
I snagged a reservation for our eighth wedding anniversary and boy am I glad I did. Nestled in a cozy storage container and attached to a boutique hotel, the husband and I were whisked away on a culinary adventure. Yes, it is a small space. Yes, it can feel a bit crowded (our table was literally up against a service station where coffee and the like were prepared). Yes, it can get a bit loud. But let's get to the heart of the matter and talk about food, shall we? We started with our cocktails the Damien's Peach Jack Smash and the Flight 404 (with vodka instead of gin because I am allergic to juniper).Both of our cocktails were quite lovely; however, the highlight to me was the delectable Luxardo cherry. My husband immediately mentioned that it was a "girly" drink due to the ethereal purple hue from the crème de violette. Regardless, it was fabulous as was his whisky based concoction. For appetizers I knew we had to have the burrata after reading so many glowing reviews about it. Our other app was rabbit liver pate. The burrata delivered in its creaminess and was scrumptious when spread upon the crostini. I could have ordered three more servings and called it a night. I am living proof that there is no such thing as too much cheese. It is like saying a diamond is way too big in my book. But let's discuss the pate, shall we? It was an utter delight to say the very least. I am not sure I can come up with words to adequately describe how wickedly decadent this was. It was accompanied by benne wafers, pommery mustard and pickled green almonds and was topped with a smattering of salt. My husband and I did not speak while eating both of these. There were eye rolls and whimpering (out of pure gratification mind you) and then a sad shared glance when we realized we had wiped both plates clean. All we had left was to look forward to the next round of cocktails and entrees. I decided to continue my lapin trend and ordered the rabbit with ricotta gnudi, stinging nettles and king trumpet mushrooms whilst my German ordered the Bear Creek Farms tri-tip (medium rare) with risotto, ramp greens, hon shimeji, mushrooms, red peppers and saba. Both were amazing but to me my rabbit dish won the prize for the evening. Presentation aside on both, I am sure they would have just as good in a blind tasting. We finished with two different desserts - the Carolina Peaches for him and the Gorgonzola Dulce for me. Again, I thought my dish was the winner here. It was a caramelized brioche delicately smothered with gorgonzola and a drizzling of wild flower honey - both sweet and savory and heavenly sublime. The husband's involved a rhubarb compote, bay leaf custard, benne nougatine, basil and, of course, peaches. His was tasty but I am just not a rhubarb kind of girl. The service was marvelous. Jordan, our server, was well voiced regarding the entire menu. She made suggestions and helped us navigate when we were not certain what a particular ingredient. (I was befuddled by the stinging nettles. Jordan described them as a wild spinach of sorts and that guided me along.) All in all a delightful evening and one of the better meals I have had in Nashville. This will definitely go down as a place to return to as both my German and I were smitten kittens and well pleased with our meal and experience.
(5)Diana S.
Don't come here to share secrets; the place is so small and tables so close together that everyone there will hear them. Also, if you are vegan, don't bother. There is not one single vegan friendly dish on the menu. The food was spectacular: the Burrata, truffle, leek and Benton's bacon starter was extraordinary. My companion is trying to eat a vegan diet, but will make allowances and eat dairy and fish when she has to. We got the bacon on the side, and really, I don't think the dish needed it. The truffles and rich, creamy cheese were perfect together and I thought the bacon was just gilding the lilly. The winter squash soup was silky and nourishing, with the pepitas adding some nice crunch. Both fish dishes were winners: the flounder had a light, crunchy cornmeal crust and lay on a bed of savory lady peas and rice with a light ham broth and the swordfish was meaty and complimented by canneloni beans and Brussels sprouts. The radishes, however were not keepers. Never had them cooked before and probably won't again. They were still fairly hard (they were halved) but lost the beautiful brightness of the raw veg. The key lime tart with some sort of parfait on the side was the perfect sized dessert - enough for 2 to split and get a good taste, not enough to overpower a single eater. One thing we tried that was unequivocally horrible was the Flight 404 cocktail. When the martini glasses arrived with a transparent pale lavender fluid I thought I might have mis-ordered, and one small sip confirmed my suspicion. Gag. My friend had the same reaction. So terribly, terribly sweet! Ugh. Gross. The waitress took it back to the bar for some more lemon juice to counteract what tasted like marshmallow liqueur. This helped, but we switched to wine. And if you must try this cocktail, do yourself a favor and don't eat the blueberry in the bottom. Seriously. Do. Not. Eat. The Blueberry. 4 stars rather than 5 because of close proximity of tables and that one Godawful drink.
(4)Stephanie C.
Very nice. We started with the housemade cheese and loved it. The cocktails were also well presented. For entrees, my husband loved his tri-tip. My pork ragout was just average. The cornbread was fabulous. Great coffee and nice chocolate cookie. We sat outside in the rain, but stayed completely dry. The valet tried to give us the wrong car. The service was good, but not outstanding. The chairs were quite uncomfortable. I'm being picky though. This place is still worth a try.
(4)Chaz C.
Spending a couple of days in Nashville and the 404 Kitchen was on our must list. From the complimentary valet parking to an excellent Pinot and great starters, we had a lovely time at the 404 Kitchen. We hadn't fasted all day and we weren't very hungry so we made do with three starters. We were cared for by the lovely Christine. We had the Burrata, the Liver Pate and the cornbread with sorghum butter -- and it filled us up. As everyone knows by now, the restaurant is in a standard shipping container (no kidding) and it was so cool!
(4)Matt T.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Unique, tons of flavors in layers. There's not much I need to really say about the food, it speaks for itself. The atmosphere is unique. It's literally built in and around a shipping container. Inside looks like it'd seat 10 - 12 people tops. The waitress was a touch hippie and odd but did a very good job. Didn't test the bar as we had a bottle of wine. The wine list is good. Certainly 2 thumbs up after I lick them clean!
(5)Ryan O.
It was hard coming into the 404 without any sort of expectations. Local food bloggers have been raving about this place plus there was a recent James Beard Award nomination. The chef here bills his food as "simple and unassuming." I feel that's a very accurate and succinct description of the cuisine. In terms of complexity all of the dishes I had here were somewhat minimal. Yet even though the dishes were a bit simple I thought that almost all of them were good. To that end, I think that is the 404 Kitchen's standout quality - doing more with less. That's a very hard thing to do and I give them a lot of credit for that. As great as the food is though I have to say I don't like the space. I knew going it that it is really small. Well, it's smaller than that. I wouldn't mind that so much but the tables end up very close together. I know this might be part of the appeal but that falls apart when the people around you are obnoxious. On our visit we got seated one foot away from an repulsively loud and overly chatty guy who loved to talk about himself and tell bad jokes. Even if we had not been stuck beside this unpleasant fellow the whole space feels cramped and stuffy. It's just not my ideal environment for fine dining. More on the positive side, there is no reclaimed barnwood which is certainly refreshing. The bar was healthy stocked with a variety of whiskey and a lot of it was very affordable. Bonus points for serving my whiskey in a Glencairn when I asked for it neat - I'm not sure any other bar I've been to in Nashville has done that. The service was extremely prompt, accommodating, and attentive without being overbearing. 404 Kitchen is a unique and interesting experience. I'm glad I went and the food was definitely the highlight. The ambiance is a really downer for me though - enough so that I would probably won't return. Given the quality of Nashville fine dining these days I can think of at least 5-6 other places with food as good as or better than the 404 Kitchen that have a much more pleasant setting. Overall, I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars, I wish I could give out 3.5. I'd give the food 3.5 stars, the setting 2 stars, and the service 4 stars.
(3)Robert W.
So we had a reservation for our anniversary and decided to give this place a try. Probably not the best place for a romantic dinner but after almost thirty years together, we thought why not. The ambience was fine but the place is tiny. I am not sure how they are making it with so few tables. The food and the service were great and we appreciated the owner coming and checking on us more than once. We wish them well and hope that more people would eat there so they can stay open and successful enough for an expansion?
(4)Tamara G.
It's average at best. I like that they have unique menu items. The flavored of the food were strong and somewhat overpowering. A friend couldn't finish her dish because it was too strong. I didn't eat my side because it was too salty. And, if you are a vodka drinker, don't go here because they don't have vodka.
(2)Ian F.
*Sustainable *Atmosphere on point *Service perfect My girlfriend and I enjoyed a tremendous meal that included: Entree- Rabbit - Peach and Pork Ragout Sides- Made to order cornbread - fingerling potatoes I would recommend all of the above. Each dish was damn near perfect in our opinion. I would recommend the 404 to anyone out there looking for something unique! This place is top notch. Not overrated. Not too salty. Try it yourself, this place is just right. Great addition to Nashville. Enjoyed it so much that I downloaded Yelp and wrote this review.. Enjoy!
(5)Karen S.
Don't get me wrong, I like 404 Kitchen, I'm just not a huge fan of it. My boyfriend and I went on a date here at the end of November. The service was phenomenal, the food was "meh". We started with the bean salad with cornbread and the pate. The cornbread was a bit burned, but the pate was indescribable. I would highly recommend the pate if you do go. For entrees, he got the tri-tip and I got the cioppino. The tri-tip seemed a bit under seasoned (but the farro with it was perfect) and the cioppino was just OK. For dessert, we got the cookies and ice cream. It was tasty, but I mean... just cookies and ice cream. Nothing over the top here. Like I said, the food was meh. The pate was the highlight of the meal. It'd be a great place to go just for drinks an appetizers, if it were just a little bit bigger!
(3)Allison L.
What is the matter with this place! You'll enjoy if you like being squeezed into a tuna can with pretentious wait staff and even more pretentious food. I may be not hip enough to get this concept or smart enough to understand why I would endure it. Luckily I'm small... Not so lucky for another patron who knocked over tables with her bottom. It would be a different story of the food were even remotely good but it just sucks, gamey, patronizing and unoriginal.
(1)Hunter K.
I ate a second meal at 404 Kitchen this weekend and walked away totally satisfied. The food is flavorful and inventive, and the service is always friendly, which is a great asset in Nashville's competitive restaurant scene. I look forward to my next visit.
(5)Dj M.
This establishment has the honor of being the most expensive worst meal and service I've ever had. Don't buy the hype. My gut told me in the first few moments to bail when the "mixologist" in a leather blacksmith apron (really?) Said he rather not make what I'D ASKED FOR. And this happened after the host had to ask the pretentious, douchey chef to wrap up his "Me, Me, Me-isms to some slack jawed local hipsters, so he could free up the four bar stools he had so righteously been occupying. Nights like these can sometimes be saved with delicious food and great service. It's not going to happen here. Some places do this concept of precious, genius, dining better than others. Find those. Food, mediocre, at best. Had a better burger at Tavern an hour later served by a lovely young lady who didn't make me wretch with her false sense of expertise. If you've got $200.00 to piss away, knock yourself out. Cheers.
(1)Matt S.
Great flavor, beautiful presentation, wonderful service. A magnificent job by the entire staff. I will certainly be back to experience the changing menu.
(5)Larry S.
One of the better restaurant meals I've had in Nashville. Definitely for foodies who aren't looking for a steak or rotisserie chicken. We started with the burrata with zucchini drissled with a turmeric sauce. Fantastic! Then the carpaccio which was traditional but excellent. The main courses were a tri-tip sliced steak with ramp garlic risotto and rabbit with country coarse mustard sauce and gnocchi. Both were ridiculously incredible! The sides were artichoke with potato, excellent, and probably the best cornbread you will ever taste. All in all, a 5 star meal. In a time when most upscale restaurants dumb down with half the menu being traditional to appease those with money and no taste, 404 stands out. And with others who just throw every spice and herb at the chicken or meat and dare you not to like it, 404 truly understands the nuance of taste. The cons; the specialty drinks are, like most new restaurants, too hip and too expensive and the wine pour is lame. For $15, I should get half a glass at least. However, don't miss this restaurant. You will not be sorry.
(5)Casey M.
Amazing new addition to the Nashville food scene. We were greeted with a smile and given a very great walkthrough of the menu. We were made sure we were taken care of the entire time. Such a good vibe. This a great date spot, and you'll go back again for sure.
(5)Phil N.
404Kitchen in the OC'd out Gulch district near Downtown was a great little restaurant. It's housed in an old shipping container so you know seating will be limited. I had a view of the kitchen area where the chefs looked to be having a good time, which is a good sign. The service here was outstanding as well; the wait staff and manager attentively making sure you're enjoying your meal. I had the free range chicken and the winter squash soup. Both were great, the chicken bursting with saltiness and flavor and cooked with a crispness that you wouldn't think was possible with a saucy dish. They had a decent wine list, although only one from California. Overall, 404Kitchen delivered exactly what I was looking for... a great meal in a decent environment with terrific service befitting a place that is difficult to get reservations for.
(5)Holly B.
What a gem in the gulch! We went for our anniversary dinner and was blown away by the amazing service, food and drink selection. The place is small so you may be really close to your neighbor but we were at a private 2 top all by ourselves which was very romantic! Recommend the three little pigs starter, and pork stroganoff was delicious! Better save room for dessert too! Can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu.
(5)Kristin V.
I helped my boss move to Tennessee and my job was to put together some fun filled days with great food and attractions. I did my research before and found Nashville had several James Beard award finalists for 2014 and 404 was one of them. I'm really picky about restaurants being a foodie and all so I wanted something different. I knew I couldn't go wrong coming here and I was right. We ordered the burrata and lamb sugo to start and they were amazing. Full of unique flavor and you could taste the fresh ingredients. Every thing on their menu looked yummy. It's right in downtown and really unique looking so very cool atmosphere. The restaurant is small so you need reservations in advance and they were really booked up on the weekend. I would definitely recommend it if you haven't tried it yet.
(5)C B.
Excellent service, a most interesting menu and all well prepared. If you are a foodie and can get a seat, by all means, go. 404 Kitchen is quite small, so reservations are a must.
(5)Maggy P.
We came here on our second night in Nashville on vacation from the NYC area. Was SO impressed with this place. The setting in the Gulch was awesome- a tiny but very cool storage container- and we sat outside. I had the beef with risotto.. And it may have been one of the best things I've ever tasted. My boyfriend had a pasta with a peach/pork ragout and loved it too. Service was great- there was a mix up with one of our cocktail orders but they have it to us on the house. Would def recommend this place to other friends.
(4)Pap S.
After hearing good things about The 404, went for the first time this past Saturday night. Right away I liked it. It's modern, yet warm & cozy. I like a restaurant in a small space..I think it reminds of me restaurants I love in NYC. We started with cocktails, and I had an exceptional drink with bourbon, bitters, Benton's bacon, and local honey. They have a wonderful cocktail & wine list - unique offerings, and very delicious and balanced, from what we tried. As far as the food goes, we loved everything we had. To start, shared the summer squash soup & also the cauliflower and zucchini, then for entrees had the Chicken & the Trigger Fish, and ordered the buttered potatoes on the side. Probably ordered a bit too much food, but really wanted to try as many different things as possible. The pumpkin risotto that the Trigger fish is served on was so wonderful..the whole dish was rich, yet light and a bit citrusy. Didn't really save much room for dessert but ordered some anyway! Got the apple/pear crisp, with brioche croutons & caramel sauce..again, delicious. Wonderful attentive staff, even got to chat with the Sommelier, Travis, who was extremely kind & very passionate about what he does. Can't wait to go back! All around a great experience - so happy to have a place like this in Nashville.
(5)Bob S.
I will give it a 5 and this is a keeper!! We went on there first Saturday and there was no available reservations so we should up at 5 and was able to get a table on the patio, little cool but the heater were turned on and provided enough warmth for the meal. Started with a couple of glass of nice red and a drink. The Aviator was very nice!! For Apps we had the Burrata and the Crudo! The Burrata was nice and flavor was very refreshing with the apple and walnuts. The Crudo was very good and the fluke was great and loved the citrus flavors here. For the main meal we had the Chicken breat, the Sheephead, and the Tri Tip. All work cooked wonderfully!! All dishes were flavorful and the Risotto maybe the best cooked in Nashville i every had. We also had a side of potato there simple but good. You just can not go wrong with Butter and Potatoes. Lastly Service was excellent!! This is going to be a nice addition to the Nashville Scene. Congrats to Chef Matt for a very good meal!
(5)Stuart M.
Great service, eclectic dishes prepared just right. Chicken, pork, crab, tri-tip beef, rabbit, barracuda, shark, scallops. What's not to like? And the Meyer lemon curd and Italian budino were excellent.
(5)Jamie B.
in a phrase, this spot is dope. unbelievably comfortable for it's modest size and boasts a great cocktail list. I had the swordfish and am thankful I did. perfectly cooked. the old fashions were great. the owner was bussing tables and making casual conversation with the guests. it was very welcomed and you could see how stoked he was to have everybody enjoying the food. perfect date place but make a reservation! dudes, bring her here. you'll look way smarter than you are!
(5)Agnes T.
Best meal I've had in Nashville. And I've eaten everywhere. Best burrata I've ever had and you cannot beat the cocktails. Service is impeccable. Enjoy!!
(5)Katie I.
Super super tiny place, and most of the seating is next to each other. Luckily I requested we be moved to the only 2 top away from other tables and they were able to accommodate. Just keep this in mind if you are trying to have an intimate date. Started with the cheese plate, which was nice. They also give bread with a very nice high quality olive oil. Shared the pork ragout and side of pumpkin risotto. The entrée, to me, was a recreation of Rolf & Daughter's highly popular pork ragout gemelli dish. 404's included local pasta from Lazzaroli's, greens and had pockets of cheese on top. It was good, but did have a very earthy taste. I most definitely prefer R&D's. The risotto was nice, but a little underseasoned. I wish we had more of an appetite to try more items, but we just didn't. Service was excellent and friendly. Sat next to the singer Jewel, which made for an interesting evening. I will definitely give another try, perhaps when the weather is warmer to try their outdoor seating.
(4)David R.
Go! Go! Go!!! This is some seriously fine dining. Esoteric ingredients imaginatively prepared. The dishes we ordered ranged from the very good (radish side dish) to the transcendent (Burrata). My swordfish was perfectly cooked and my wife's rabbit stew (with stinging nettles!) was fantastic. Service was top notch by any restaurant standard, but was absolutely mind-blowingly good given Nashville's "food-first! service...eh, whatever" dining prioritization. While I'm not one to allow an inspired culinary vision to be eclipsed by poor service, it was positively refreshing to have a server so ably conversant in every aspect of the restaurant's offerings.
(5)Lora L.
Yes yes yes my kind of place. I went for starters and sides as I am want to do when I am trying a place for the 1st time... Not so much for investing the whole meal in 1 dish so I started with the squash soup which was divine, then we shared some amazing little ham biscuits, had a side of the cauliflower (I was a little scared about the olives in this dish but it worked!)... It's a really small place but super cute & well laid out for intimacy without being dark & claustrophobic. I love that they grow some of their herbs on the roof and that they reused shipping containers in the building design. Super warm service, easy to valet park, fantastic beer selection - would def recommend!
(4)Joe F.
WOW. The wine, the food and the atmosphere is rave-worthy. I can't decide if I'm more excited about the food or about Nashville getting a restaurant of this caliber. Bravo Nashville!
(5)Min M.
It's fun to go early and dine at the bar. Excellent service. Very cute, little place that feels inviting and cozy. Filled with very good looking people. The chicken liver pate is fabulous. We had tri tip and the chicken. Both beautifully presented and not too salty! The menu is concise and the interesting wine list isn't too big or intimidating. Lots of friendly, smart help from the sommelier. Entrees in the $25 range. I really love the aprons that the servers wear. Whoa! Those hotel rooms in the back! Is this Nashville?
(5)Trish S.
Totally disappointing. When I see "James Beard" on a restaurant's website, I get really excited and I expect a fantastic evening. This was nothing of the sort. My appetizer was not even decent and my entree was just okay. What really tipped the scale though was that my entire party was unable to finish their food because the staff took our plates away before we were finished. One of my friends had her entree taken away when she had 3/4th of it left! It was very clear that they wanted us out of there as soon as possible, which I didn't understand since no one was waiting for a table. I don't mind paying for great food and a great experience, actually, I really enjoy it. But I'm not okay with going to a restaurant of this caliber with these prices and be treated like someone that needs to leave as soon as possible. I hope my experience is the exception and not the norm, but I won't be going back to find out.
(1)Randi T.
agree with Bob S. - this place is a keeper! started with Burrata and it was so delish. very different and very flavorful. we had a couple of the specialty cocktails (404 flight and a bacon martini, can't remember the name), they were both really good. dinner we did the chicken and tri tip. they aren't shy on portions which is good bc the food is so good! I actually didn't like the space, I thought it was going to be 'cozy' but it is not. since it is a bit 'loft' style with high ceilings it is very loud so I wouldn't say it is a romantic setting at all. that won't sway me from not going back again though - excited to try other things on the menu. service was amazing, Wendy our server was very knowledgeable. they had 2 desserts that night, we went for the warm cookies and ice cream. can never go wrong with that, perfect way to end a wonderful meal.
(5)Angela E.
Tri tip was amazing but if you want med-rare, get medium--i'd of of loved to have it cooked a smidgen more so I ate the ends and saved the insides to throw on a salad tomorrow. The flavor was super! Had mushroom risotto to share and I swear I could have ate a full plate of this had it been a meal! I liked the tiny place:) I also would have liked a blue cheese stuffed olive in my martini.
(4)Thomas G.
My error. I REALLY wanted to impress a nationally known, food business related, guest. I read other reviews but didn't personally scout this place out. Other reviews said the sun is bad. Understatement. The sun shines into this place making one feel like an ant under a magnifying glass and the restaurant has made no observable effort to shade or soften the sunlight. One of our guests asked about "gluten free" not knowing the restaurant had posted that they don't adjust for food allergies, which is understandable, a business can't cover them all, but our server acted like the question was a personal affront. With the sun blinding us and a rather rude server things didn't start well. Our guest ordered the "Tri Tips" and asked to have them cooked between med rare and med and was told "we don't do that."and I'm thinking "I'm really not making the impression I hoped for." Then, as has been mentioned in other reviews THE FOOD CAME and it was excellent. Tri Tips were done perfectly. One guest had chicken. Another hit! I had rabbit and it was super. SO. Go after sunset. Don't have an allergy. Find a pleasant server (there were several) and enjoy the very well prepared food. Pricey. 4.5 on food. 2.5 for location.
(3)Brian N.
Did I miss something here? I had heard much about 404 Kitchen, and finally checked it out. Some random thoughts: A great deal is being made about it being housed in a former container. You know what? It's only the very very front that is a repurposed container; the great majority of the restaurant is new construction. So why is everyone -- including the restaurant itself -- making a big deal about the building's provenance? It's a facade, that's it. To say it's anything more is patently dishonest. Also: I'm a vegetarian, and I just asked the server to bring me what he thought I should eat that's vegetarian. The first course was a wonderful tomato pastry of some sort. Good choice. The main meal was absurd. It was a TINY portion of gnocchi, and I wasl still hungry after I ate it. As a lifelong vegetarian, I get a little annoyed when a "cutting edge" restaurant presents a pasta dish as their veggie option. What is this? 1987?!? I would have thought that they would have been a little more adventurous and interesting. I was still hungry after I ate the entree, so ordered another side and then desert. Both were decent. Then the bill came. It was way too expensive for what I had. I've been to Husk twice in the last week and a half, had a much more interesting and adventurous meal, and spent a fraction of what 404 cost. I hope the restaurant does well, but I can't imagine ever going back there. (Ps -- the service, btw, was good and very attentive. It wasn't his fault the kitchen let me down.)
(3)Ray C.
Okay, my wife and I are from California and we frequent restaurants in Napa on a regular occasion. So, maybe I was expecting too much. There was one stellar dish that was out of this world and it was the burrata. The flavors combined with the cheese were truly memorable. The next dish we shared had eggs, pasta, truffles (although miniscule), and caviar. The dish didn't work for us. A umami bomb with not enough salt or acid to brighten the richness. Pasta was definately fresh, but the sauce and other ingredients just didn't work, very bland (most expensive dish we had). The swordfish was very good, served with beans. Well seasoned fish, cooked perfectly, but once again, needed acid for balance. Don't get me wrong, the swordfish was seasoned and cooked perfectly, the best swordfish I've ever had, but the dish lacked something. Still very tasty. Desert was carrot cake, but not your mother's carrot cake. More of a decontructed version, with a cream cheese ice cream (missed the mark by being to icy and not rich enough to immulate cream cheese). There was a tasty raisin/bourbon reduction, but the dish needed more of the ice cream and raisin mixture to be an equivalent to regular carrot cake, still tasty. I like the crunch of the outside of the cake, but my wife felt it was too dry. Service was good at the table, other than an oddity of serving bread with the first course, and then taking it away and not bringing it back for the pasta dish, we had to ask for more. They have a person who does a finish on the dishes, making sure they are clean and ready for table presentation, we saw him on his phone the whole time he wasn't cleaning up dishes. He'd clean a dish, look on his phone, clean another dish, look at his phone. It was odd, and probably not the most sanitary way to serve gourmet food. Prices are steep for the amount of food. The pasta dish was an appatizer portion (we didn't eat even the small portion we got). We ate a light meal (considering we didn't eat one of the dishes) and the final cost was $160.00. We had 2 drinks each. So, one stellar dish, a couple pretty good dishes and one flop. Cost for quality earns this place a 3.5 stars. We'd go back just to have the burrata again!
(3)Jennie V.
I'm conflicted... If I could give the food 10 stars, I would, but the service was not acceptable especially at this price point. I realize that we were eating locally sourced food in a re-purposed storage container, so trendy that there is no sign, but would it hurt the waitstaff to smile? be friendly? helpful? On top of the 'tude problem, our waitress was frequently MIA... you'd think that would be hard in 600 square feet... She had a back up helping her who, I kid you not, never made eye contact! Her brief visits to our table made us feel anxious. Still, the food, oh the food, was incredible. My friend and I shared the poached farm egg (delicious, but not something I'd order again for $9-ish bucks), the southern stroganoff (I literally turned the bowl and started drinking the broth with my spoon. If you tasted that broth, you would understand and excuse my terrible table manners!), the corn bread (Unlike anything I've ever had... in a good way!), and finally the cookie with crispy ham, frozen dulce de leche, and mint (Do not ask me how that works, just know that it is the cookie that dreams are made of, that wars are fought over, and will ensure that I give 404 another shot!) Still, waitstaff, let's cut that pretension down a notch or two. With many great restaurants in town, patrons have tons of excellent food options... ya know, restaurants where they can be greeted with warmth, hospitality AND a great meal...
(4)John R.
You start to enjoy this quaint restaurant the minute you arrive. With the porch seating and the glass front wall all the modern features of the restaurant welcome you. Step on in and be immediately greeted by the host and then be assisted through your dinner with your farmer's bib wearing servers. The size of the restaurant 40 seats may appear loud and busy but trust me, the experiences is quite and personal. The wine and spirit selection was plentiful and reasonably priced. What about the food? I had the Cioppino (saffron, white shrimp, mussels, squid, tuscan bread). The answer is YES...You can get delicious seafood in Nashville. My wife enjoyed the Top of the World Farms Chicken Breast (sweet potato, hen of the woods, confit, arugula). The hearty \ herbal touch left your taste buds dancing. We will enjoy again and are looking forward to the completion of the hotel and rooftop garden. But them on your to see list.
(4)Ashley L.
Cozy place, food was amazing- the lamb sugo and pork ragot were incredible. The 404 gin drink wasn't my favorite but still had an amazing dinner.
(5)Wes A.
Greeted at the door by the manager. It seems this place has been open about 2 months now. Great intimate atmosphere and well thought out menu. Excellent service. The beef tips were excellent.
(4)Dawn S.
Unfortunately, it appears that I am one of the few people that did not enjoy this restaurant. We visited this restaurant on a recommendation from a friend who visited it during their first week of operation and personally knows the owner. As I walked in, I loved the atmosphere, however, felt the tables were a little to close for my enjoyment. We started with the cheese plate and a bottle of wine. It took a while for them to find the wine we ordered. Once we received the wine (after we finished our appetizer), it was great! I ordered the Sheepshead fish which had a very fishy taste and I could not eat it. My guest had the Tri tip which had a large vein down the center making it very tough to eat. We ended with the cookie for dessert which was good. Our server was great, however the food quality on our meal was poor. I expected more from this restaurant and was greatly disappointed when I left.
(1)Tart L.
The biggest single recycled item for a restaurant in Nashville houses one of the smallest local gourmet eateries, seating 40 in comfort including the patio. An orange former shipping container now contains the 404 Kitchen in the Gulch. Every centimeter is utilized, including the roof. A veggie garden up there will also grow spices for the meals and even a little fig tree. Fortunately diners will not have to wait to enjoy the figs. Matt Bolus has some pickled figs for his Cheese Board which comes with toast, local honey and three or so cheeses. Another regular item Bolus offers in his restaurant is a basic locally farmed Vegetable Salad prepared with seaonal veggies like radishes and beets garnished with black garlic and buttermilk, for example. I recommend enjoying the organic chicken breast with arugula, and sweet potato. 404 Kitchen dishes are always changing since Bolus uses seasonal ingredients and likes to vary things regardless. A pork ingredient and at least one seafood item will usually be on the menu. Veggies like buttermilk squash with pungent sorghum and vinegar, and butterball potatoes with parsley and plugra butter are delectable here.
(5)Bobby W.
We couldn't get out of this place fast enough. Horrible customer service. We walked in and were seated on the patio for cocktails. We could tell that the hostess was "inconvenienced" but the place was empty and we wanted a drink...we alleviated her concern by promising to order food. After being seated, the waitress got a big WTF question mark on her face when we didn't order food immediately. Again, I assured her that we would order. We were seated at a four-top but a fifth friend joined us. Apparently this alarmed the manager who promptly asked the 5th person not to sit down (even though there was plenty of room on the banquet seat). To recap, instead of reseating us AT THE EMPTY SIX-TOP DIRECTLY NEXT TO US, he all but asked us to leave. Our additional friends left (who would blame them), but we stayed to finish our drinks and pay our bill. To add insult to injury, the waitress reiterated twice that "they were booked"--as was evidenced by a near-empty dining room and patio. The final zinger was when the waitress reminded us that we "should make a reservation" next time we come. Excuse me, but nothing says "you need a reservation" like a half-empty shipping container. This is unconscionable. Especially considering that the Beard (and other top-notch) restaurants back home would never turn down a full table of hungry & thirsty patrons...after they had already been seated. In short: hipster vibe, unhip. Design is cool but half-full of uncool old people. Looks low-budget, but apparently high-class. Oh yeah, and 5 out of 6 user reviews are a thumbs-down.
(1)Matt S.
Great flavor, beautiful presentation, wonderful service. A magnificent job by the entire staff. I will certainly be back to experience the changing menu.
(5)Larry S.
One of the better restaurant meals I've had in Nashville. Definitely for foodies who aren't looking for a steak or rotisserie chicken. We started with the burrata with zucchini drissled with a turmeric sauce. Fantastic! Then the carpaccio which was traditional but excellent. The main courses were a tri-tip sliced steak with ramp garlic risotto and rabbit with country coarse mustard sauce and gnocchi. Both were ridiculously incredible! The sides were artichoke with potato, excellent, and probably the best cornbread you will ever taste. All in all, a 5 star meal. In a time when most upscale restaurants dumb down with half the menu being traditional to appease those with money and no taste, 404 stands out. And with others who just throw every spice and herb at the chicken or meat and dare you not to like it, 404 truly understands the nuance of taste. The cons; the specialty drinks are, like most new restaurants, too hip and too expensive and the wine pour is lame. For $15, I should get half a glass at least. However, don't miss this restaurant. You will not be sorry.
(5)Casey M.
Amazing new addition to the Nashville food scene. We were greeted with a smile and given a very great walkthrough of the menu. We were made sure we were taken care of the entire time. Such a good vibe. This a great date spot, and you'll go back again for sure.
(5)Phil N.
404Kitchen in the OC'd out Gulch district near Downtown was a great little restaurant. It's housed in an old shipping container so you know seating will be limited. I had a view of the kitchen area where the chefs looked to be having a good time, which is a good sign. The service here was outstanding as well; the wait staff and manager attentively making sure you're enjoying your meal. I had the free range chicken and the winter squash soup. Both were great, the chicken bursting with saltiness and flavor and cooked with a crispness that you wouldn't think was possible with a saucy dish. They had a decent wine list, although only one from California. Overall, 404Kitchen delivered exactly what I was looking for... a great meal in a decent environment with terrific service befitting a place that is difficult to get reservations for.
(5)Holly B.
What a gem in the gulch! We went for our anniversary dinner and was blown away by the amazing service, food and drink selection. The place is small so you may be really close to your neighbor but we were at a private 2 top all by ourselves which was very romantic! Recommend the three little pigs starter, and pork stroganoff was delicious! Better save room for dessert too! Can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu.
(5)Chuck D.
I am seriously delinquent on this review for 2 reasons: 1) I DONT WANT ANY NEW COMPETITION FOR SEATS OR A TABLE HERE 2) Every time I go, the meal I have is so good that I forget what I was going to write about the last great meal. So here we go. There are moments in life that you never forget (i.e., birth of a child, getting married (turns out that is forgettable), getting married again(nice recovery), the Kennedy assassination(or so I am told), the Challenger disaster, the Red Sox breaking the curse in 2004(let it go you Boston haters), etc) and for those that have seen some of my other reviews, my passion for food undoubtedly would eventually have one of these defining moments related to dining. Enter 404 Kitchen. I have had everything on the menu more times than I care to admit, after a particularly fantastic preparation by Chef Bolus, my wife and I decided to buy a "vacation home" in Nashville (food vacation that is) as I was sick of commuting to Nashville from San Francisco for dinner (Sorry United Airlines - the trip experience just isn't all that invigorating). FOOD Sorry to stray off topic - My favorites, Dry Aged Tri tip atop farro with hazelnuts, cherries, horseradish and pesto: BRAISED RABBIT however he prepares it, Pork Ragout - all seasonal preparations. Starters are all out of this world (get the hand pulled Burrata on your first visit - you will wear plastic pocket liners on all future visits so you can sneak some home). DRINK GM/Sommalier Travis B. has all the right wines and whiskeys dialed up to complete an unforgettable experience. SERVICE Be sure to ask for Galen, Amanda, Lindsey, oh hell - you get it.....SERVICE THERE ALSO ROCKS! I would say this is a perfect place for a special occasion, and it is, but that means I wouldn't go there as often as I do. It is the perfect place for dinner, period.
(5)Chris W.
The food was terrific and the wait staff were great. ***** Be warned, if there is any chance that you might be more than 15 minutes late for your reservation, they will cancel it, even if part of your party has arrived. I had a guest from out of town (from the UK) that I wanted to take to a business dinner and I was told in very stern terms that even though I was there, my reservation would be cancelled. I explained that my guest was on his way right now and was told "our policy is clearly on our website". I have NEVER had a restaurant management at this level treat me like that! Need I mention that there were NO people waiting for a table AND that there were plenty of empty tables???!!! **** So, if you need a great place to take someone to dinner, don't go here, unless it is ok if part of your party is late that they cancel your reservation.
(2)Boris K.
The softness and texture of the Atlantic Mackarel is amazing! Farro w duck egg was decadent. Nice job @mattbolus @the404kitchen #nashvillefood #404kitchen
(5)Katie S.
Amazing! Recommend the the Burrata and the skillet cornbread. Oh and also the saffron ice cream! First time I've ever had saffron ice cream and it was delicious!
(5)Linda A.
Anniversary Dinner! I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. 3 felt way too low but 4 feels generous. I'm going with the 4 because although a lot of our evening at 404 Kitchen was "A-OK", nothing was bad enough to give 2 stars (creating a 3 star average) so we're going with 4. Whew! Tiny place, we knew that going in...but just so a newbie knows...tiny place. So you kind of are on top of each other which doesn't lend itself to a romantic date night atmosphere. We were able to hear everyone's conversations, which is sometimes fun anyway. Also had a front row seat watching the couple who obviously hates each other chew in silence. However it also provides everyone an audience to your table (I'm looking at you, single woman at the bar...the one from The Bay Area who just cannot understand why Nashville is so popular. She kept turning around and watching us until we looked at her then she'd turn back around. Maybe she was bored, in which case...you're welcome honey.) The food...Burrata appetizer. There was a lot of hype about it so I expected to fall off my chair, but it was just good. Good is good enough. My entree....whole Sheepshead fish. I'd never had Sheepshead before (it really needs a new branding). It was delicious and they go to great pains to prepare it in such a way that it tasted like buttery goodness. The bones were there but not a horrible imposition by any means. Served with a succotash of field peas, corn and tomatoes. My dinner was very good. Hubby had the tri tip steak. It's probably the least adventurous item on the menu. He deemed it "pretty good". I didn't try it and it takes a lot for him to go much further for "pretty good." Dessert was kind of a disappointment. I didn't love the saffron ice cream and shortbread is shortbread. They do serve a mean cup of coffee and my husband enjoyed an E.H. Taylor bourbon that you don't get everywhere. The server was perfect, she described the offerings without sounding like she was reciting the alphabet and chatted us up when appropriate. They were packed and we never felt neglected. All in all, a 4 star evening at 404.
(4)Scott G.
Another farm to table restaurant. Very small portions and even smaller drinks. The old fashioned cocktail was made with cherry syrup and the pour of EH Taylor was barely tasted. Wine pours were minimal as well. The app (tomato gallete) was fantastic, the rabbit was a pile of what looked like pulled pork and was really odd. The fish (barracuda) had the skin on and was overly salted. Ambiance was "ok". It's very cramped and loud and just kind of weird. I felt like I was in an entry way to something larger. TLDR - left hungry and came home and made some popcorn.
(2)Ben N.
I wanted to really like this place. Cool atmosphere and interesting menu. However, the execution is very average. Food was ordinary despite sounding unique on the menu. Not likely to return.
(3)Jj L.
Outstanding every single time. Excellent service. Delicious food. Perfect atmosphere. Romantic. Hearty.
(5)Num N.
The 404 Kitchen has to one of my favorite restaurants in Nashville. It has to be one of the most romantic spots with dim, romantic lighting and its small space. Everything we had tonight was superb. For starters, we had buttermilk burrata and funghi mushrooms with farro. Both dishes complimented each other so well. Secondly, we had seared scallops on top of a brown butter and cauliflower purée with roasted cauliflower and caviar. That was probably the best thing I've had in Nashville in a long time, it was so good. Lastly, we had the Bear Creek aged tri-tip with farrotto and mascarpone cheese. We didn't leave anything on the plate. So if you're in Nashville and trying to find a place to go for a wonderful date, this is the place to be. I wouldn't suggest going here for a big group but for something more personal. And if you get Jordan as your server, you'll have the best service.
(5)Loralyn D.
I didn't have a reservation but decided to try the 404 Kitchen. The hostess said the were completely booked but they could squeeze us in if we were seated immediately. By the time we left, the restaurant wasn't full (and it's pretty small) so I'm not convinced they were booked on a weeknight. The service and food were good but I guess there are just so many other great restaurants in Nashville at this price range that I'd prefer to go to other places.
(3)Gretchen G.
Good, just not as good as they think it is. The atmosphere is small and intimate. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable about their food. Quick to tell us the restaurant was nominated for a James Beard, making sure the sommelier visited every table. Our wine was very good; the southern soda cocktail was excellent. Let's talk food.... Good but not mind blowing as all the hype might suggest. The risotto was definitely a highlight, if it had been a main dish with some shrimp thrown on top, rather than a side, I would have been delighted. The gnocchi with lamb was very well seasoned but didn't hold up well enough to get a full gnocchi onto my plate. Their famous cornbread, as others have mentioned, is burnt on top; this is clearly intentional but doesn't help the dish. The rabbit dish was excellent, very well cooked. Sure, go, it is good. It's just not going to rank up on one of my favorite meals.
(4)Rahel K.
We walked in during Vandy's baseball semifinal championship game. So he is already pissed that this place doesn't have a TV. He tells me we need to make this a quick dinner so he can catch the end of the game. Fast forward 2 hours and 4 courses later. He looked up at me during the entrée and said this was one of the best meals he has ever had. We devoured every bite and morsel and loved every second of it. Game? What game? This is delicious!! Highly recommended.
(5)Holly D.
My husband and I ate here for the first time recently. Each dish was delicious. We started with cracked crab ,as well as wild mushroom and Farro dish. Both were very good but the mushroom dish wins by a nose. Cocktails were very good and they had a small but very nice winelist. I am going completely blank on our mains but I'm guessing you can't go wrong. The menu changes frequently so I wouldn't be much help anyway. Dessert was a lemon meringue with date and pistachio (?) Crust. Just right. Staff is very friendly and atmosphere is cozy but convivial.
(4)Tina P.
Not that anyone needs another review. I think most everything that could be said has. Most people who haven't been will still want to go because of the hype (like me) regardless of what's on yelp or urban spoon. So here's my two cents - Pros- Service Drinks Appetizers I didn't love my chicken -it was WAY to salty. And for me to say anything is ever too salty is unbelievable. Husbands rabbit with gemelli pasta was better but still heavy handed with salt. Again. I LOVE salt. The noise has been mentioned ad nauseam. I agree it is extremely loud. I had to almost yell to be heard across a very small table for two. But I had been warned and the space is well advertised as tiny. We were underwhelmed with the dessert options so we paid and left to have dessert elsewhere. Bottom line, glad I went but I doubt we would go back except for a drink at the bar.
(3)Chris S.
The waiter was obnoxious. The kitchen was inflexible. The food was just okay, but pricey. Seems like the place exists to serve the chef's ego and not for the diner's pleasure. To many other great options in Nashville. We won't be back.
(1)John C.
Food was incredible and so unique. Menu changes daily which I love. If you are in Nashville this is a must stop. The staff is super energetic and love where they work. I will be going back for sure!
(5)Ginka P.
I must be the only person in Nashville that thinks this place is WAY overrated! I don't mind that it's small. The food is just way over-salted. So much so my wedding ring was tight the next day. It was unbearable. When I read that the chef was formerly at Watermark it all made sense. I have always thought Watermark's food was too salty. I've been steering people clear of this salt lick ever since. Much better are Husk and Silo. Maybe I'll go back to Watermark now that he's gone:)
(2)Andy H.
Best fish I've had in Nashville. The bartender was super friendly, and the sommelier was a great addition. The Burrata was lacking some of the inspiration I had experienced on the other dishes, but everything else was excellent! It's small and cozy, and is very expensive.
(4)Stephanie C.
Very nice. We started with the housemade cheese and loved it. The cocktails were also well presented. For entrees, my husband loved his tri-tip. My pork ragout was just average. The cornbread was fabulous. Great coffee and nice chocolate cookie. We sat outside in the rain, but stayed completely dry. The valet tried to give us the wrong car. The service was good, but not outstanding. The chairs were quite uncomfortable. I'm being picky though. This place is still worth a try.
(4)Chaz C.
Spending a couple of days in Nashville and the 404 Kitchen was on our must list. From the complimentary valet parking to an excellent Pinot and great starters, we had a lovely time at the 404 Kitchen. We hadn't fasted all day and we weren't very hungry so we made do with three starters. We were cared for by the lovely Christine. We had the Burrata, the Liver Pate and the cornbread with sorghum butter -- and it filled us up. As everyone knows by now, the restaurant is in a standard shipping container (no kidding) and it was so cool!
(4)Matt T.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Unique, tons of flavors in layers. There's not much I need to really say about the food, it speaks for itself. The atmosphere is unique. It's literally built in and around a shipping container. Inside looks like it'd seat 10 - 12 people tops. The waitress was a touch hippie and odd but did a very good job. Didn't test the bar as we had a bottle of wine. The wine list is good. Certainly 2 thumbs up after I lick them clean!
(5)Kristina L.
I snagged a reservation for our eighth wedding anniversary and boy am I glad I did. Nestled in a cozy storage container and attached to a boutique hotel, the husband and I were whisked away on a culinary adventure. Yes, it is a small space. Yes, it can feel a bit crowded (our table was literally up against a service station where coffee and the like were prepared). Yes, it can get a bit loud. But let's get to the heart of the matter and talk about food, shall we? We started with our cocktails the Damien's Peach Jack Smash and the Flight 404 (with vodka instead of gin because I am allergic to juniper).Both of our cocktails were quite lovely; however, the highlight to me was the delectable Luxardo cherry. My husband immediately mentioned that it was a "girly" drink due to the ethereal purple hue from the crème de violette. Regardless, it was fabulous as was his whisky based concoction. For appetizers I knew we had to have the burrata after reading so many glowing reviews about it. Our other app was rabbit liver pate. The burrata delivered in its creaminess and was scrumptious when spread upon the crostini. I could have ordered three more servings and called it a night. I am living proof that there is no such thing as too much cheese. It is like saying a diamond is way too big in my book. But let's discuss the pate, shall we? It was an utter delight to say the very least. I am not sure I can come up with words to adequately describe how wickedly decadent this was. It was accompanied by benne wafers, pommery mustard and pickled green almonds and was topped with a smattering of salt. My husband and I did not speak while eating both of these. There were eye rolls and whimpering (out of pure gratification mind you) and then a sad shared glance when we realized we had wiped both plates clean. All we had left was to look forward to the next round of cocktails and entrees. I decided to continue my lapin trend and ordered the rabbit with ricotta gnudi, stinging nettles and king trumpet mushrooms whilst my German ordered the Bear Creek Farms tri-tip (medium rare) with risotto, ramp greens, hon shimeji, mushrooms, red peppers and saba. Both were amazing but to me my rabbit dish won the prize for the evening. Presentation aside on both, I am sure they would have just as good in a blind tasting. We finished with two different desserts - the Carolina Peaches for him and the Gorgonzola Dulce for me. Again, I thought my dish was the winner here. It was a caramelized brioche delicately smothered with gorgonzola and a drizzling of wild flower honey - both sweet and savory and heavenly sublime. The husband's involved a rhubarb compote, bay leaf custard, benne nougatine, basil and, of course, peaches. His was tasty but I am just not a rhubarb kind of girl. The service was marvelous. Jordan, our server, was well voiced regarding the entire menu. She made suggestions and helped us navigate when we were not certain what a particular ingredient. (I was befuddled by the stinging nettles. Jordan described them as a wild spinach of sorts and that guided me along.) All in all a delightful evening and one of the better meals I have had in Nashville. This will definitely go down as a place to return to as both my German and I were smitten kittens and well pleased with our meal and experience.
(5)Lisa E.
404 beat expectations. I had heard food was really good, but questionably great, and its small size made for a noisy experience. Yes, the place is tiny and dark in spots which drove my 4 rating and the food, which is more important than noise/lighting to me, was outstanding - clearly a 5. 404 deserves a 4.5 rating vs a 4. The Burrata cheese app was great with a mix of beans and shaved brussel sprouts - a nice variety of flavors. We heard it runs out nightly so grab it early! Our server Jordan was very good and helped me select the wreck fish - a flaky white fish with tasty winter vegetables and crafted a "chef surprise" for my sister being a selective vegetarian. That chef surprise was a really nice touch. Like food options, the wine list is limited, interesting and pricey by the bottle. We opted to go by the glass and will do that again. 404 is a repeat place for us!
(4)Nick B.
Really wasn't a detail about this place that I didn't love. Started with the Three Little Pigs and the Lamb Sugo. The Three Little Pigs was very good, but the Sugo was spectacular. For entrees we had the rabbit and Southern Pork Stroganoff. We both immediately liked our courses but upon tasting each other's we switched plates. Both were warming and nuanced in the flavor. Skillet cookie for desert. Again, pretty much perfect. I think the best part of the place is the ambiance though. Sure it's tight, but it's cozy and has perfect energy. The servers are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and the manager stopped at our table for what ended up being a great ten minute chat. The drinks were fantastic too. Quite a little gem.
(5)John R.
You start to enjoy this quaint restaurant the minute you arrive. With the porch seating and the glass front wall all the modern features of the restaurant welcome you. Step on in and be immediately greeted by the host and then be assisted through your dinner with your farmer's bib wearing servers. The size of the restaurant 40 seats may appear loud and busy but trust me, the experiences is quite and personal. The wine and spirit selection was plentiful and reasonably priced. What about the food? I had the Cioppino (saffron, white shrimp, mussels, squid, tuscan bread). The answer is YES...You can get delicious seafood in Nashville. My wife enjoyed the Top of the World Farms Chicken Breast (sweet potato, hen of the woods, confit, arugula). The hearty \ herbal touch left your taste buds dancing. We will enjoy again and are looking forward to the completion of the hotel and rooftop garden. But them on your to see list.
(4)Ashley L.
Cozy place, food was amazing- the lamb sugo and pork ragot were incredible. The 404 gin drink wasn't my favorite but still had an amazing dinner.
(5)Wes A.
Greeted at the door by the manager. It seems this place has been open about 2 months now. Great intimate atmosphere and well thought out menu. Excellent service. The beef tips were excellent.
(4)Dawn S.
Unfortunately, it appears that I am one of the few people that did not enjoy this restaurant. We visited this restaurant on a recommendation from a friend who visited it during their first week of operation and personally knows the owner. As I walked in, I loved the atmosphere, however, felt the tables were a little to close for my enjoyment. We started with the cheese plate and a bottle of wine. It took a while for them to find the wine we ordered. Once we received the wine (after we finished our appetizer), it was great! I ordered the Sheepshead fish which had a very fishy taste and I could not eat it. My guest had the Tri tip which had a large vein down the center making it very tough to eat. We ended with the cookie for dessert which was good. Our server was great, however the food quality on our meal was poor. I expected more from this restaurant and was greatly disappointed when I left.
(1)Bobby W.
We couldn't get out of this place fast enough. Horrible customer service. We walked in and were seated on the patio for cocktails. We could tell that the hostess was "inconvenienced" but the place was empty and we wanted a drink...we alleviated her concern by promising to order food. After being seated, the waitress got a big WTF question mark on her face when we didn't order food immediately. Again, I assured her that we would order. We were seated at a four-top but a fifth friend joined us. Apparently this alarmed the manager who promptly asked the 5th person not to sit down (even though there was plenty of room on the banquet seat). To recap, instead of reseating us AT THE EMPTY SIX-TOP DIRECTLY NEXT TO US, he all but asked us to leave. Our additional friends left (who would blame them), but we stayed to finish our drinks and pay our bill. To add insult to injury, the waitress reiterated twice that "they were booked"--as was evidenced by a near-empty dining room and patio. The final zinger was when the waitress reminded us that we "should make a reservation" next time we come. Excuse me, but nothing says "you need a reservation" like a half-empty shipping container. This is unconscionable. Especially considering that the Beard (and other top-notch) restaurants back home would never turn down a full table of hungry & thirsty patrons...after they had already been seated. In short: hipster vibe, unhip. Design is cool but half-full of uncool old people. Looks low-budget, but apparently high-class. Oh yeah, and 5 out of 6 user reviews are a thumbs-down.
(1)Tart L.
The biggest single recycled item for a restaurant in Nashville houses one of the smallest local gourmet eateries, seating 40 in comfort including the patio. An orange former shipping container now contains the 404 Kitchen in the Gulch. Every centimeter is utilized, including the roof. A veggie garden up there will also grow spices for the meals and even a little fig tree. Fortunately diners will not have to wait to enjoy the figs. Matt Bolus has some pickled figs for his Cheese Board which comes with toast, local honey and three or so cheeses. Another regular item Bolus offers in his restaurant is a basic locally farmed Vegetable Salad prepared with seaonal veggies like radishes and beets garnished with black garlic and buttermilk, for example. I recommend enjoying the organic chicken breast with arugula, and sweet potato. 404 Kitchen dishes are always changing since Bolus uses seasonal ingredients and likes to vary things regardless. A pork ingredient and at least one seafood item will usually be on the menu. Veggies like buttermilk squash with pungent sorghum and vinegar, and butterball potatoes with parsley and plugra butter are delectable here.
(5)Diana S.
Don't come here to share secrets; the place is so small and tables so close together that everyone there will hear them. Also, if you are vegan, don't bother. There is not one single vegan friendly dish on the menu. The food was spectacular: the Burrata, truffle, leek and Benton's bacon starter was extraordinary. My companion is trying to eat a vegan diet, but will make allowances and eat dairy and fish when she has to. We got the bacon on the side, and really, I don't think the dish needed it. The truffles and rich, creamy cheese were perfect together and I thought the bacon was just gilding the lilly. The winter squash soup was silky and nourishing, with the pepitas adding some nice crunch. Both fish dishes were winners: the flounder had a light, crunchy cornmeal crust and lay on a bed of savory lady peas and rice with a light ham broth and the swordfish was meaty and complimented by canneloni beans and Brussels sprouts. The radishes, however were not keepers. Never had them cooked before and probably won't again. They were still fairly hard (they were halved) but lost the beautiful brightness of the raw veg. The key lime tart with some sort of parfait on the side was the perfect sized dessert - enough for 2 to split and get a good taste, not enough to overpower a single eater. One thing we tried that was unequivocally horrible was the Flight 404 cocktail. When the martini glasses arrived with a transparent pale lavender fluid I thought I might have mis-ordered, and one small sip confirmed my suspicion. Gag. My friend had the same reaction. So terribly, terribly sweet! Ugh. Gross. The waitress took it back to the bar for some more lemon juice to counteract what tasted like marshmallow liqueur. This helped, but we switched to wine. And if you must try this cocktail, do yourself a favor and don't eat the blueberry in the bottom. Seriously. Do. Not. Eat. The Blueberry. 4 stars rather than 5 because of close proximity of tables and that one Godawful drink.
(4)Michael U.
Items Selected: Flight 404 - Martin Miller's gin, Crème de Violette, Luxardo, lemon Pig Plate - Woodlands back bacon, coppa di testa, 14 month Benton's, goldrush apple butter, whiskey apple butter, sourdough Wedge Oak Farm Duck Egg - wild mushrooms, Anson Mills farro, egg yolk, herbs Fava Beans - rock shrimp, orange, honey, pecorino Glendale Farm Chicken - Anson Mills dirty porridge, lacinato kale, button mushrooms Ponce Inlet Bay Scallops - cauliflower, brown butter, paddlefish caviar, white truffle Anson Mills Skillet Cornbread - Kentucky bourbon barrel sorghum butter Lemon Curd - Medjool dates, cashew, Italian meringue Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Budino - almond, port, cherries, crisps Saffron Ice Cream - strawberries, shortcake, Marcona almonds Small in size, and difficult to locate in an area currently high in construction, Matt Bolus' The 404 Kitchen was the finishing piece to a large puzzle of dinner decisions in Nashville and featuring more 'farm to table' cooking inside of what was once a shipping container the cuisine proved every bit as good as highly praised spots like Josephine, Husk, and City House while the setting and service were perhaps even better - the small size and tongue-in-cheek humor providing an excellent experience spread over the course of two hours. Described as 'uncomplicated' by the chef, with a menu that varies almost day-to-day, our arrival at The 404 Kitchen found a four-top ready in waiting despite a late arrival due to difficulties finding the space around orange barrels and joking about how much the city had changed in the last 12 months, not to mention the dozen years past since our last visit, it was almost an immediate connection with the staff that was established - the conversation free-flowing and full of recommendations not only for food and drink, but things to see and do in the area. Eventually deciding on a four-course order to begin with a plate of locally sourced charcuterie paired to housemade preserves and warm sourdough brought in from a local baker it was much to our surprise just how enjoyable the whisky apple butter was alongside the more briny bites of pork and slathering the bread thick with Goldrush Apple compote while sipping a mighty fine spin on the classic Aviation it was with the restaurant quickly filling to capacity that appetizers arrived, the duck egg and faro dish presenting an earthy aromatic bowl of creamy porridge while the fava bean soup was the very definition of vibrant - a fresh seasonal expression that saw every ingredient utilized to the utmost potential for texture, flavor, and balance. Progressing to entrees, and taking into account the amount of eating already done that day, it was in two plates that we invested along with a side of skillet cornbread that easily proved to be the best in the city when soaked in smoky-sweet butter, and although the "jellybeans of the sea" scallops were indeed quite sweet amidst their rich accoutrements both the small size and use of truffle oil were offputting considering the $32 pricetag, a far better appropriation of funds invested in the pan roasted bird atop liver-rich porridge balanced out by the tender mushrooms and kale. Inspired by dessert descriptions, at least enough to order one of each, it was once again here that Tennessee surprised my generally citrus-averse palate, for as good as both the thick port-infused chocolate pudding and innovative take on strawberry shortcake were neither even came close to the mason jar parfait of creamy lemon curd decorated by meringue with roughly chopped dates and cashews, a dish that in many ways supported the Chef's vision of simplicity while still presenting as quite sophisticated, much like the experience as a whole.
(4)Marty F.
Service was excellent. Food was better !! Great experience.
(5)matthew B.
Perfect service. Inventive recipes executed very well. 404 Kitchen is the best restaurant in Nashville right now.
(5)Anne R.
One of the very best steak dishes that I have had in a very long time! I am a fan! The pimento app was also fab. I will definitely be back soon!
(5)Ryan O.
It was hard coming into the 404 without any sort of expectations. Local food bloggers have been raving about this place plus there was a recent James Beard Award nomination. The chef here bills his food as "simple and unassuming." I feel that's a very accurate and succinct description of the cuisine. In terms of complexity all of the dishes I had here were somewhat minimal. Yet even though the dishes were a bit simple I thought that almost all of them were good. To that end, I think that is the 404 Kitchen's standout quality - doing more with less. That's a very hard thing to do and I give them a lot of credit for that. As great as the food is though I have to say I don't like the space. I knew going it that it is really small. Well, it's smaller than that. I wouldn't mind that so much but the tables end up very close together. I know this might be part of the appeal but that falls apart when the people around you are obnoxious. On our visit we got seated one foot away from an repulsively loud and overly chatty guy who loved to talk about himself and tell bad jokes. Even if we had not been stuck beside this unpleasant fellow the whole space feels cramped and stuffy. It's just not my ideal environment for fine dining. More on the positive side, there is no reclaimed barnwood which is certainly refreshing. The bar was healthy stocked with a variety of whiskey and a lot of it was very affordable. Bonus points for serving my whiskey in a Glencairn when I asked for it neat - I'm not sure any other bar I've been to in Nashville has done that. The service was extremely prompt, accommodating, and attentive without being overbearing. 404 Kitchen is a unique and interesting experience. I'm glad I went and the food was definitely the highlight. The ambiance is a really downer for me though - enough so that I would probably won't return. Given the quality of Nashville fine dining these days I can think of at least 5-6 other places with food as good as or better than the 404 Kitchen that have a much more pleasant setting. Overall, I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars, I wish I could give out 3.5. I'd give the food 3.5 stars, the setting 2 stars, and the service 4 stars.
(3)Robert W.
So we had a reservation for our anniversary and decided to give this place a try. Probably not the best place for a romantic dinner but after almost thirty years together, we thought why not. The ambience was fine but the place is tiny. I am not sure how they are making it with so few tables. The food and the service were great and we appreciated the owner coming and checking on us more than once. We wish them well and hope that more people would eat there so they can stay open and successful enough for an expansion?
(4)Tamara G.
It's average at best. I like that they have unique menu items. The flavored of the food were strong and somewhat overpowering. A friend couldn't finish her dish because it was too strong. I didn't eat my side because it was too salty. And, if you are a vodka drinker, don't go here because they don't have vodka.
(2)Ian F.
*Sustainable *Atmosphere on point *Service perfect My girlfriend and I enjoyed a tremendous meal that included: Entree- Rabbit - Peach and Pork Ragout Sides- Made to order cornbread - fingerling potatoes I would recommend all of the above. Each dish was damn near perfect in our opinion. I would recommend the 404 to anyone out there looking for something unique! This place is top notch. Not overrated. Not too salty. Try it yourself, this place is just right. Great addition to Nashville. Enjoyed it so much that I downloaded Yelp and wrote this review.. Enjoy!
(5)Karen S.
Don't get me wrong, I like 404 Kitchen, I'm just not a huge fan of it. My boyfriend and I went on a date here at the end of November. The service was phenomenal, the food was "meh". We started with the bean salad with cornbread and the pate. The cornbread was a bit burned, but the pate was indescribable. I would highly recommend the pate if you do go. For entrees, he got the tri-tip and I got the cioppino. The tri-tip seemed a bit under seasoned (but the farro with it was perfect) and the cioppino was just OK. For dessert, we got the cookies and ice cream. It was tasty, but I mean... just cookies and ice cream. Nothing over the top here. Like I said, the food was meh. The pate was the highlight of the meal. It'd be a great place to go just for drinks an appetizers, if it were just a little bit bigger!
(3)Allison L.
What is the matter with this place! You'll enjoy if you like being squeezed into a tuna can with pretentious wait staff and even more pretentious food. I may be not hip enough to get this concept or smart enough to understand why I would endure it. Luckily I'm small... Not so lucky for another patron who knocked over tables with her bottom. It would be a different story of the food were even remotely good but it just sucks, gamey, patronizing and unoriginal.
(1)Hunter K.
I ate a second meal at 404 Kitchen this weekend and walked away totally satisfied. The food is flavorful and inventive, and the service is always friendly, which is a great asset in Nashville's competitive restaurant scene. I look forward to my next visit.
(5)Dj M.
This establishment has the honor of being the most expensive worst meal and service I've ever had. Don't buy the hype. My gut told me in the first few moments to bail when the "mixologist" in a leather blacksmith apron (really?) Said he rather not make what I'D ASKED FOR. And this happened after the host had to ask the pretentious, douchey chef to wrap up his "Me, Me, Me-isms to some slack jawed local hipsters, so he could free up the four bar stools he had so righteously been occupying. Nights like these can sometimes be saved with delicious food and great service. It's not going to happen here. Some places do this concept of precious, genius, dining better than others. Find those. Food, mediocre, at best. Had a better burger at Tavern an hour later served by a lovely young lady who didn't make me wretch with her false sense of expertise. If you've got $200.00 to piss away, knock yourself out. Cheers.
(1)Kristin V.
I helped my boss move to Tennessee and my job was to put together some fun filled days with great food and attractions. I did my research before and found Nashville had several James Beard award finalists for 2014 and 404 was one of them. I'm really picky about restaurants being a foodie and all so I wanted something different. I knew I couldn't go wrong coming here and I was right. We ordered the burrata and lamb sugo to start and they were amazing. Full of unique flavor and you could taste the fresh ingredients. Every thing on their menu looked yummy. It's right in downtown and really unique looking so very cool atmosphere. The restaurant is small so you need reservations in advance and they were really booked up on the weekend. I would definitely recommend it if you haven't tried it yet.
(5)C B.
Excellent service, a most interesting menu and all well prepared. If you are a foodie and can get a seat, by all means, go. 404 Kitchen is quite small, so reservations are a must.
(5)Maggy P.
We came here on our second night in Nashville on vacation from the NYC area. Was SO impressed with this place. The setting in the Gulch was awesome- a tiny but very cool storage container- and we sat outside. I had the beef with risotto.. And it may have been one of the best things I've ever tasted. My boyfriend had a pasta with a peach/pork ragout and loved it too. Service was great- there was a mix up with one of our cocktail orders but they have it to us on the house. Would def recommend this place to other friends.
(4)Pap S.
After hearing good things about The 404, went for the first time this past Saturday night. Right away I liked it. It's modern, yet warm & cozy. I like a restaurant in a small space..I think it reminds of me restaurants I love in NYC. We started with cocktails, and I had an exceptional drink with bourbon, bitters, Benton's bacon, and local honey. They have a wonderful cocktail & wine list - unique offerings, and very delicious and balanced, from what we tried. As far as the food goes, we loved everything we had. To start, shared the summer squash soup & also the cauliflower and zucchini, then for entrees had the Chicken & the Trigger Fish, and ordered the buttered potatoes on the side. Probably ordered a bit too much food, but really wanted to try as many different things as possible. The pumpkin risotto that the Trigger fish is served on was so wonderful..the whole dish was rich, yet light and a bit citrusy. Didn't really save much room for dessert but ordered some anyway! Got the apple/pear crisp, with brioche croutons & caramel sauce..again, delicious. Wonderful attentive staff, even got to chat with the Sommelier, Travis, who was extremely kind & very passionate about what he does. Can't wait to go back! All around a great experience - so happy to have a place like this in Nashville.
(5)Bob S.
I will give it a 5 and this is a keeper!! We went on there first Saturday and there was no available reservations so we should up at 5 and was able to get a table on the patio, little cool but the heater were turned on and provided enough warmth for the meal. Started with a couple of glass of nice red and a drink. The Aviator was very nice!! For Apps we had the Burrata and the Crudo! The Burrata was nice and flavor was very refreshing with the apple and walnuts. The Crudo was very good and the fluke was great and loved the citrus flavors here. For the main meal we had the Chicken breat, the Sheephead, and the Tri Tip. All work cooked wonderfully!! All dishes were flavorful and the Risotto maybe the best cooked in Nashville i every had. We also had a side of potato there simple but good. You just can not go wrong with Butter and Potatoes. Lastly Service was excellent!! This is going to be a nice addition to the Nashville Scene. Congrats to Chef Matt for a very good meal!
(5)Stuart M.
Great service, eclectic dishes prepared just right. Chicken, pork, crab, tri-tip beef, rabbit, barracuda, shark, scallops. What's not to like? And the Meyer lemon curd and Italian budino were excellent.
(5)Katie I.
Super super tiny place, and most of the seating is next to each other. Luckily I requested we be moved to the only 2 top away from other tables and they were able to accommodate. Just keep this in mind if you are trying to have an intimate date. Started with the cheese plate, which was nice. They also give bread with a very nice high quality olive oil. Shared the pork ragout and side of pumpkin risotto. The entrée, to me, was a recreation of Rolf & Daughter's highly popular pork ragout gemelli dish. 404's included local pasta from Lazzaroli's, greens and had pockets of cheese on top. It was good, but did have a very earthy taste. I most definitely prefer R&D's. The risotto was nice, but a little underseasoned. I wish we had more of an appetite to try more items, but we just didn't. Service was excellent and friendly. Sat next to the singer Jewel, which made for an interesting evening. I will definitely give another try, perhaps when the weather is warmer to try their outdoor seating.
(4)David R.
Go! Go! Go!!! This is some seriously fine dining. Esoteric ingredients imaginatively prepared. The dishes we ordered ranged from the very good (radish side dish) to the transcendent (Burrata). My swordfish was perfectly cooked and my wife's rabbit stew (with stinging nettles!) was fantastic. Service was top notch by any restaurant standard, but was absolutely mind-blowingly good given Nashville's "food-first! service...eh, whatever" dining prioritization. While I'm not one to allow an inspired culinary vision to be eclipsed by poor service, it was positively refreshing to have a server so ably conversant in every aspect of the restaurant's offerings.
(5)Lora L.
Yes yes yes my kind of place. I went for starters and sides as I am want to do when I am trying a place for the 1st time... Not so much for investing the whole meal in 1 dish so I started with the squash soup which was divine, then we shared some amazing little ham biscuits, had a side of the cauliflower (I was a little scared about the olives in this dish but it worked!)... It's a really small place but super cute & well laid out for intimacy without being dark & claustrophobic. I love that they grow some of their herbs on the roof and that they reused shipping containers in the building design. Super warm service, easy to valet park, fantastic beer selection - would def recommend!
(4)Joe F.
WOW. The wine, the food and the atmosphere is rave-worthy. I can't decide if I'm more excited about the food or about Nashville getting a restaurant of this caliber. Bravo Nashville!
(5)Min M.
It's fun to go early and dine at the bar. Excellent service. Very cute, little place that feels inviting and cozy. Filled with very good looking people. The chicken liver pate is fabulous. We had tri tip and the chicken. Both beautifully presented and not too salty! The menu is concise and the interesting wine list isn't too big or intimidating. Lots of friendly, smart help from the sommelier. Entrees in the $25 range. I really love the aprons that the servers wear. Whoa! Those hotel rooms in the back! Is this Nashville?
(5)Jamie B.
in a phrase, this spot is dope. unbelievably comfortable for it's modest size and boasts a great cocktail list. I had the swordfish and am thankful I did. perfectly cooked. the old fashions were great. the owner was bussing tables and making casual conversation with the guests. it was very welcomed and you could see how stoked he was to have everybody enjoying the food. perfect date place but make a reservation! dudes, bring her here. you'll look way smarter than you are!
(5)Agnes T.
Best meal I've had in Nashville. And I've eaten everywhere. Best burrata I've ever had and you cannot beat the cocktails. Service is impeccable. Enjoy!!
(5)Trish S.
Totally disappointing. When I see "James Beard" on a restaurant's website, I get really excited and I expect a fantastic evening. This was nothing of the sort. My appetizer was not even decent and my entree was just okay. What really tipped the scale though was that my entire party was unable to finish their food because the staff took our plates away before we were finished. One of my friends had her entree taken away when she had 3/4th of it left! It was very clear that they wanted us out of there as soon as possible, which I didn't understand since no one was waiting for a table. I don't mind paying for great food and a great experience, actually, I really enjoy it. But I'm not okay with going to a restaurant of this caliber with these prices and be treated like someone that needs to leave as soon as possible. I hope my experience is the exception and not the norm, but I won't be going back to find out.
(1)Randi T.
agree with Bob S. - this place is a keeper! started with Burrata and it was so delish. very different and very flavorful. we had a couple of the specialty cocktails (404 flight and a bacon martini, can't remember the name), they were both really good. dinner we did the chicken and tri tip. they aren't shy on portions which is good bc the food is so good! I actually didn't like the space, I thought it was going to be 'cozy' but it is not. since it is a bit 'loft' style with high ceilings it is very loud so I wouldn't say it is a romantic setting at all. that won't sway me from not going back again though - excited to try other things on the menu. service was amazing, Wendy our server was very knowledgeable. they had 2 desserts that night, we went for the warm cookies and ice cream. can never go wrong with that, perfect way to end a wonderful meal.
(5)Angela E.
Tri tip was amazing but if you want med-rare, get medium--i'd of of loved to have it cooked a smidgen more so I ate the ends and saved the insides to throw on a salad tomorrow. The flavor was super! Had mushroom risotto to share and I swear I could have ate a full plate of this had it been a meal! I liked the tiny place:) I also would have liked a blue cheese stuffed olive in my martini.
(4)Thomas G.
My error. I REALLY wanted to impress a nationally known, food business related, guest. I read other reviews but didn't personally scout this place out. Other reviews said the sun is bad. Understatement. The sun shines into this place making one feel like an ant under a magnifying glass and the restaurant has made no observable effort to shade or soften the sunlight. One of our guests asked about "gluten free" not knowing the restaurant had posted that they don't adjust for food allergies, which is understandable, a business can't cover them all, but our server acted like the question was a personal affront. With the sun blinding us and a rather rude server things didn't start well. Our guest ordered the "Tri Tips" and asked to have them cooked between med rare and med and was told "we don't do that."and I'm thinking "I'm really not making the impression I hoped for." Then, as has been mentioned in other reviews THE FOOD CAME and it was excellent. Tri Tips were done perfectly. One guest had chicken. Another hit! I had rabbit and it was super. SO. Go after sunset. Don't have an allergy. Find a pleasant server (there were several) and enjoy the very well prepared food. Pricey. 4.5 on food. 2.5 for location.
(3)Brian N.
Did I miss something here? I had heard much about 404 Kitchen, and finally checked it out. Some random thoughts: A great deal is being made about it being housed in a former container. You know what? It's only the very very front that is a repurposed container; the great majority of the restaurant is new construction. So why is everyone -- including the restaurant itself -- making a big deal about the building's provenance? It's a facade, that's it. To say it's anything more is patently dishonest. Also: I'm a vegetarian, and I just asked the server to bring me what he thought I should eat that's vegetarian. The first course was a wonderful tomato pastry of some sort. Good choice. The main meal was absurd. It was a TINY portion of gnocchi, and I wasl still hungry after I ate it. As a lifelong vegetarian, I get a little annoyed when a "cutting edge" restaurant presents a pasta dish as their veggie option. What is this? 1987?!? I would have thought that they would have been a little more adventurous and interesting. I was still hungry after I ate the entree, so ordered another side and then desert. Both were decent. Then the bill came. It was way too expensive for what I had. I've been to Husk twice in the last week and a half, had a much more interesting and adventurous meal, and spent a fraction of what 404 cost. I hope the restaurant does well, but I can't imagine ever going back there. (Ps -- the service, btw, was good and very attentive. It wasn't his fault the kitchen let me down.)
(3)Ray C.
Okay, my wife and I are from California and we frequent restaurants in Napa on a regular occasion. So, maybe I was expecting too much. There was one stellar dish that was out of this world and it was the burrata. The flavors combined with the cheese were truly memorable. The next dish we shared had eggs, pasta, truffles (although miniscule), and caviar. The dish didn't work for us. A umami bomb with not enough salt or acid to brighten the richness. Pasta was definately fresh, but the sauce and other ingredients just didn't work, very bland (most expensive dish we had). The swordfish was very good, served with beans. Well seasoned fish, cooked perfectly, but once again, needed acid for balance. Don't get me wrong, the swordfish was seasoned and cooked perfectly, the best swordfish I've ever had, but the dish lacked something. Still very tasty. Desert was carrot cake, but not your mother's carrot cake. More of a decontructed version, with a cream cheese ice cream (missed the mark by being to icy and not rich enough to immulate cream cheese). There was a tasty raisin/bourbon reduction, but the dish needed more of the ice cream and raisin mixture to be an equivalent to regular carrot cake, still tasty. I like the crunch of the outside of the cake, but my wife felt it was too dry. Service was good at the table, other than an oddity of serving bread with the first course, and then taking it away and not bringing it back for the pasta dish, we had to ask for more. They have a person who does a finish on the dishes, making sure they are clean and ready for table presentation, we saw him on his phone the whole time he wasn't cleaning up dishes. He'd clean a dish, look on his phone, clean another dish, look at his phone. It was odd, and probably not the most sanitary way to serve gourmet food. Prices are steep for the amount of food. The pasta dish was an appatizer portion (we didn't eat even the small portion we got). We ate a light meal (considering we didn't eat one of the dishes) and the final cost was $160.00. We had 2 drinks each. So, one stellar dish, a couple pretty good dishes and one flop. Cost for quality earns this place a 3.5 stars. We'd go back just to have the burrata again!
(3)Jennie V.
I'm conflicted... If I could give the food 10 stars, I would, but the service was not acceptable especially at this price point. I realize that we were eating locally sourced food in a re-purposed storage container, so trendy that there is no sign, but would it hurt the waitstaff to smile? be friendly? helpful? On top of the 'tude problem, our waitress was frequently MIA... you'd think that would be hard in 600 square feet... She had a back up helping her who, I kid you not, never made eye contact! Her brief visits to our table made us feel anxious. Still, the food, oh the food, was incredible. My friend and I shared the poached farm egg (delicious, but not something I'd order again for $9-ish bucks), the southern stroganoff (I literally turned the bowl and started drinking the broth with my spoon. If you tasted that broth, you would understand and excuse my terrible table manners!), the corn bread (Unlike anything I've ever had... in a good way!), and finally the cookie with crispy ham, frozen dulce de leche, and mint (Do not ask me how that works, just know that it is the cookie that dreams are made of, that wars are fought over, and will ensure that I give 404 another shot!) Still, waitstaff, let's cut that pretension down a notch or two. With many great restaurants in town, patrons have tons of excellent food options... ya know, restaurants where they can be greeted with warmth, hospitality AND a great meal...
(4)