Kisser — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

First Impressions The moment I walked into the restaurant, the first word that came to mind was “cute.” Everything from the interior design to even the smallest dishes felt thoughtfully chosen. Some were honestly so adorable that I wanted to take them home.

Food Review

Green Tea There was an option to add strawberries, but I wanted to try the original flavor, so I ordered it without. It was served in a simple glass like a water cup, but the taste was surprisingly good. It had a clean, light flavor that made it perfect for refreshing your palate before a meal. Honestly, I think this kind of green tea would sell really well at Starbucks.

Inari It felt more like a combination of salad and rice rather than traditional sushi. The style was closer to an American-style salad bowl. The flavor was mild, so it was easy to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed. The portion of rice was slightly generous, but overall the balance was decent. It wasn’t a particularly memorable taste, but the texture was enjoyable.

Beef Tartare This was a fragrant and mild tartare with a chewy base that left a strong impression. However, the base slightly overshadowed the natural flavor of the beef. If you really want to enjoy the tartare itself, I’d recommend trying them separately. Each element had its own charm, but when combined, they felt like they competed with each other rather than enhancing one another. The presentation was clean and overall satisfying.

Beef Tataki Udon The broth in this dish was the highlight. It had a deep, savory flavor with subtle notes of beef and mushrooms. The beef itself wasn’t particularly impactful, and the noodles were a bit ordinary. However, adding a touch of chili oil and wasabi brought out much more flavor. Definitely give that a try! The quality of the wasabi was also quite good (and they’ll give it to you if you ask).

Blackberry Yuzu Parfait This was the most impressive dish of the day. The presentation was cute, and the refreshing yuzu combined beautifully with the smooth cream, creating a lovely texture. The sweetness was well-balanced and satisfying. I think the texture could have been even better if the crumble pieces were a bit bigger, but overall it was a very well-crafted dessert.

Space & Atmosphere There was already a line forming 20 minutes before the place opened, showing how popular it is. The inside wasn’t exactly quiet, but the atmosphere was still good enough to have a conversation with someone. There was a unique layout with central communal tables, and some seating gave the feeling of sitting by a windowsill, adding to the cozy and distinctive vibe.

The staff had their own unique styles, yet their outfits felt cohesive like uniforms. The service was friendly and polished. A special shoutout to Leina, who gave a great dessert recommendation—thank you!

Other Info

The restroom is located outside the main building.

No Wi-Fi is available.

A service tip of 18% is automatically included.

Final Thoughts & Recommendation Overall, the food was clean and pleasant. There wasn’t anything with a strong “wow” factor, but the effort behind the ingredients, plating, and service definitely came through. I’d especially recommend the parfait and the tartare. Next time, I’m thinking of trying the onigiri or the chicken katsu sandwich.

It’s a good spot for both date nights and solo dining. The food style is unlikely to be too polarizing, so it should suit most people’s tastes.

Rating: 3.8 / 5 The dessert, ambiance, and friendly service were very satisfying. The food was decent overall, but none of the dishes made me think, “I’d come back...

Dining at Kisser in Nashville, TN, is an absolute delight for the senses! From the moment you step inside, the restaurant exudes a sophisticated yet cozy ambiance, setting the stage for an unforgettable meal.

Let’s start with the food, which is nothing short of spectacular. The Yellotail Collar is a standout—perfectly cooked to juicy perfection, and the 24-hour marinade ensures it’s packed with flavor. The portion is generous enough for two, and honestly, the dish stands so well on its own that you don’t even need the ponzu sauce.

The Beef Tataki Udon was another highlight. The soy-based dashi broth is a bit on the salty side, but the beef is tender and has a delightful smokiness that’s out of this world. While the noodles are good, I’m looking forward to trying them in a cold udon dish next time to experience that chewy texture even more.

The Curry Rice with Chicken Katsu was a comforting and delicious treat. As someone familiar with Asian cuisine, I was impressed by the lightly breaded, perfectly cooked chicken katsu that stayed crispy throughout the meal. The curry had a spicy kick at the end, but overall, it brought back fond memories of curry rice from Japan.

The Miso Creme Brulee was an adventurous choice. While the idea of combining miso with creme brulee is intriguing, the dish was too salty for my taste. I prefer the classic version for its perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess.

The service at Kisser is exemplary. Even though an 18% gratuity is automatically added to the bill, the service exceeded expectations. The staff was attentive, food was served promptly, and they were quick to clear the table, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable dining experience.

The ambiance is equally impressive. The interior design is chic and inviting, and the kitchen's cleanliness speaks volumes about its commitment to quality.

Overall, Kisser offers an exceptional dining experience with delicious food, top-notch service, and a lovely atmosphere. I highly recommend it and can’t...

Three suggestions to make this place more efficient: Put your waitlist on your website to where it’s accessible for people so that they don't have to plan an outing only to find out that they have to see the QR code for the waitlist in person. The website mentions dine-ins and walk-ins only. This is contradictory and very confusing. Leave a grace period for your waitlisted customers so that when there are 5 police cars on the highway stopping traffic, we don't lose our spot immediately only to find out when arriving we have to wait a whole other hour. This restaurant is a James Beard Award semifinalist for 2024 so that stands out as a beautiful achievement, but please develop a system that respects a person’s time just as much as it respects your needs as a restaurant which is very successful.

Driving back and forth for an hour is extremely frustrating, and its even more frustrating when it has to be done twice. Please fix this.

The food and service is to the standard of a James Beard Award semifinalist and I still believe that this restaurant delivers on its promise on a culinary experience. As someone who frequents one star Michelin restaurants, the quality of food, attention to detail and presentation, and creativity in approach to Japanese food while holding to the essence of the culture are very easily reminiscent of a one star Michelin restaurant. I'm excited to see where Leina and Brian take this place. Also important to note: I took one bite of that beef tartare and just had to change my review 😅.

Since my wife has a tree nut allergy and we do not eat pork or any pig products, it was wonderful to know that none of these ingredients are ever used in...