The Iberian Pig — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

My wife and I moved from Nashville to Barcelona in January, and we have been looking for some authentic Spanish food. The Iberian Pig is the closest we have come. (Barcelona – the restaurant – is good but not great, and we haven't tried Boqueria.)

It's tasty (though expensive), but it's not as all-out Spanish as we had hoped.

Quality/Flavor: 5 (Delicious dishes) Service: 3.5 (Kind and attentive, extremely slow bringing food out, and not well-spaced, either) Value: 3 ($139.43 (incl. tip) for two with no alcohol) Authenticity: 3.9 (Great flavor, but not exactly like being in Spain)

I understand the desire (and necessity) to Americanize plates that might not be as palatable or visually appealing to locals, but there were some that just don't belong on a Spanish menu – St. Louis Ribs?? Tacos?? Leave those to the BBQ and Mexican spots – and others that do but weren't prepared as they would be in Spain.

The charcuterie board (we picked three) was very good, but extremely expensive. We were most looking forward to the ham, but it was $15 (a little less if you pick three items) for five slices. But these aren't lunch-meat slices. They are palm-sized slices, as is normal and acceptable for Spanish ham. But we're talking $3 per slice here. I know how expensive it must be to import, but you gotta put more ham on the board. You could get 100g of pata negra for that price in Spain. The chorizo and salchichón were good, as were the other little surprises on the board, but $38 for the quantity was too much.

The KM 39 cheese for $6 was very good, and about right for the price.

The "Gilda" were delicious. You get three, which is a bummer for two people, but they only cost $6. (Put 4 for $8!) B.W.D. was probably our favorite plate. Genius combo of dates, bacon and manchego over a thick puddle of romesco. 10/10.

The gambas al ajillo was also wonderful (six shrimp!), though we would have put a little more garlic. Excellent sauce as well. 9/10.

The croquettes were fine. Most (not all) Spanish croquettes are oblong and not round, and they're stuffed to the brim. These were round, partially hollow and had a good but not particularly authentic sauce accompanying. 6/10 Of all the dishes, this one of the two that veered furthest from España de verdad...

...The other was the Basque cheesecake. If someone were to set this in front of you, you would probably love it. (We did.) It's not too sweet, and with the nata and berries, it was a really well-balanced, delicious dessert. It's a bit small for $11, but very good.

My gripe, however, is that if you go to Bilbao or San Sebastian, Basque cheesecake will look nothing like this. A Basque cheesecake is considerably more burnt (not simply caramelized) on the outsize, and it's so oozy on the inside that it runs all over your dish as soon as you cut it. What we were served was simply cheesecake, though a very good one.

Finally, the service. Alex was a great waiter. Very attentive, kind and patient. The rest of the team was on point as well. No qualms whatsoever. The big issue was that we waited 20+ minutes for any food, and then it came quite fast and close together (charcuterie, cheese, Gilda, B.W.D.). This was followed be a gap of probably 20+ more minutes, at which point came the croquettes, and then about 10 more minutes until the shrimp came. Finally, we ordered dessert, and that came quickly.

Perhaps it's just a new restaurant getting its rhythm, but for a Tuesday night, the speed and spacing of the dishes coming was pretty bad. The saving grace, of course, is that it was delicious.

One other thing: we were offered a QR code to pay the bill on our phone, but weren't told this came with a fee. That should be mentioned when being presented with this option.

We will likely go back – but not often – mostly for the price:value ratio. Basically $140 for two people without alcohol is simply too high. For $90 – or with bigger portions – would be worth it.

P.S. Re: PIQUILLO RELLENO on the menu, "queso" is spelled "quese"

P.P.S. Jazz (or Spanish!) music would be way...

The Iberian Pig proves itself to be an excellent destination for a date night, offering a warm, ambient setting that strikes the perfect balance between contemporary sophistication and cozy intimacy. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this establishment prides itself on service, presentation, and overall guest experience.

Our server, TJ, exemplified professionalism and attentiveness throughout the evening. He was knowledgeable about the menu, guided us with genuine enthusiasm, and ensured we felt well taken care of at every stage of our meal. The staff's commitment to high service standards certainly contributed to the overall positive impression of our visit.

Cuisine & Drinks

The menu at The Iberian Pig is a creative showcase of Spanish-inspired fare with a modern twist. Each plate is carefully crafted, delivering refined flavors and elegant presentation. One standout dish was the "Bistec con Papas" – a truly delicious entrée with tender meat and well-seasoned potatoes. While the flavor profile was spot on, the portion size left much to be desired, particularly given the price point. A slightly more generous serving of both steak and potatoes would elevate this dish from delightful to outstanding.

On the other hand, the Broccolini dish was perfectly executed – crisp, flavorful, and beautifully presented. In fact, combining the best elements of the Broccolini plate with the "Bistec con Papas" could result in what I would cheekily call the perfect hybrid dish: “Bisteccolini.” Such a creation would undoubtedly be a crowd-pleaser and may even become a signature plate in its own right.

The drinks menu was equally impressive, featuring a curated selection of wines and craft cocktails that complement the bold, savory flavors of the food. Whether you’re looking for something classic or more adventurous, the bartenders seem well-versed in balancing complex flavor notes with a refined touch.

Atmosphere & Accessibility

The ambiance inside The Iberian Pig is undeniably well-suited for a date night – dim lighting, stylish decor, and an inviting energy that encourages conversation and connection. However, one potential downside is the parking situation. Finding a spot nearby can be a challenge, and parking fees in the area are notably high. For this reason, I recommend arriving via Uber or a rideshare service to avoid the stress of parking and start the evening off on a smoother note.

Final Thoughts

While portion sizes, especially for certain entrées, could be reconsidered to better match their pricing, the overall experience at The Iberian Pig is memorable and highly enjoyable. The culinary creativity, excellent service, and vibrant atmosphere make it a strong contender for one of the city’s best date-night spots.

Would I return? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? Without hesitation. Just be prepared that this is more of a place to savor flavor and atmosphere than to satisfy a...

Recently went on a family trip to Nashville and made reservations at The Iberian Pig for one of our dinner meals! It ended up being our favorite stop of the week. Fantastic service - everything came out in a timely fashion, everything was well prepared, and it felt like we rarely needed to ask for drink refills because they are on top of it! Our waiter, Monte, was incredibly knowledgeable about the selections! When we asked him to explain the differences between the cheese and ham selections in the Charcutería section, he patiently went through each one. He also went ahead and explained how the version on the special was different than the version on the menu, which ended up helping us choose the special! The ambiance was lovely - the moodier lighting created a relaxing atmosphere, which would be perfect for anyone looking for a date night spot. Conversation was easy to carry within our group, because it wasn't loud! You could easily hear the people at your table and converse naturally. It was the perfect way to end a busy day around Nashville! Gabby, the dining room manager for the restaurant, is absolutely delightful and was going around checking on the restaurant, including our table. She keeps the restaurant running smoothly! Her interactions with her staff were gracious and you could feel the strong relationships she has formed with the overall team.

The food was EXCELLENT - if you love Spanish Tapas, this is the place to be! Each dish was perfectly cooked, brought out with artistic styling, and a perfect blend of the different flavors described for the menu item. We were a group of 6, so we did have to order more items, since we were all sharing them around the table and this restaurant is specialized in tapas (smaller dishes). Keep this in mind if you're going with a larger group! My favorite entrees were the croquetas de Ibérico (not pictured - forgot to take one!), piquillo peppers, the calabaza, the zanahorias, and the tocino! The Patatas Bravas are always a fave wherever you go for Spanish Tapas, but these were perfectly crisp and delicious. The tocino was melt in your mouth delicious - incredibly tasty and juicy. And the burnt basque cheesecake was perfectly soft and the top layer was beautifully burnt. We also got Pan Con Tomate to start, one of my fave Spanish tapas, but we forgot to grab a photo - it was a great way to start the meal, as it was a perfect and quick shareable dish! My father in law loved the Empanadas so much he almost made a second order, haha! Shout out to the Chefs - absolute culinary masters!

Overall, it was an incredible experience! Definitely a restaurant I will revisit next time we are in Nashville. Thank you to the incredible staff at The Iberian Pig for making our experience one...