The Mockingbird — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

I was amazed that I was able to get an opening day reservation for dinner calling just a few hours beforehand, but I was certainly glad I was. Took the whole family, and it felt like the right place for kids, but also like it would be the perfect place for a date. We started with two adult beverages: tequila mockingbird and beach please. The TM was slightly smokey thanks to the mezcal, and went down smooth thanks to the egg whites. Wife really enjoyed the BP, which was fruity and light. Even the kids ended up with drinks tonight. One got the virgin mojito, which was ridiculously delicious and well-balanced, and would be my go-to drink if I were ever the designated driver of a group here; the other got the virgin cherry limeaid, which was tart and refreshing.

After the first round of drinks we decided to share several small plates. The Japancake was made with shredded savoy cabbage, and had a great umami-ness to it. The Rice, Rice, Baby were four of the best rice balls (arancini) I've ever had, and the green sauce that accompanied them added just the right amount of zip. Our favorite of the four was the Tender Love and Carotene. These lightly cooked heirloom carrots were delicious on their own, but the coriander labneh they're laid upon and those crunchy little bits of pistachio...carrots never had it (or tasted) so good! We also got the Feeling Grate! which had a "grate" blend of cheeses but needed just a wee bit more salt--then it would have been great.

Halfway through the small plates I also opted for an Old Fashioned-ish, which stayed pretty closed to the classic old fashioned with just enough deviation (the chocolate bitters do a lot for this one) to be interesting.

For dessert we got the pie, the cake, and the cookies. And also the coffee, which was both smooth and strong. The pie had peaches, ginger, and...something else. And ice cream, definitely get it with the ice cream. It split four ways surprisingly well, and was the best peach pie I've had in a long time. The cake was a browned butter cake with blackberry sauce, peanut butter creme, and some sort of delicious crumble. I was amazed at how well the peanut butter played with the fruit topping...until I remembered PB&J. Definitely had that going on, but SO much better. The cookies come in a quaint birdhouse, and included chocolate chip, toffee, something else, and (my favorite) a citrus shortbread. If I hadn't just eaten both pie and cake I probably would have enjoyed the cookies more, but I do know they were delicious.

For opening day, the service was excellent--none of the typical gaffes or blunders. Our server Samantha was wonderful. Polite, funny, helpful, and everything else you'd want a server to be. Would definitely ask to be put at her table again.

Overall I'd say that the Mockingbird does what it's aiming to do very well, and I look forward to...

Read until the end... * The Mockingbird saved my date night *

This place was a hidden gem on our 5-day Nashville getaway! We did not have a reservation (I would recommend one), but we got blessed with bar seating.

We were helped immediately, had water and menus in front of us before our coats were off. I ordered an "old fashioned-ish" and as a self-proclaimed old fashioned afficionado... the non-traditional chai syrup and chocolate bitters combined to make one of the tastiest combinations I've ever ordered.

Not only was the staff down to earth, friendly, and helpful on local recommendations for the remainder of our trip... the food was simply amazing.

I ordered the Seoul purpose. It was a perfect medium rare cooked hangar steak that was tender enough to rival most beef tenderloins. My girlfriend ordered the pasta la vista with pork meatballs. The meatballs were amazing and intensely flavorful.

To top off this already amazing dining experience... We had reservations at 8:40 for an experience 1 block up the road l. We were cutting our dining experience close to our reservation, so we went with a to go bag.

This place was in no way, shape, or form going to allow us to check our food or leave our food anywhere a homeless man wouldn't take it as his. Me, disappointed in the fact we might have to lose a meal we planned on finishing after a night in Nashville... Decided that it never hurt to ask. I walked the few hundred feet back to the Mockingbird...

This is what you're waiting for *

With my to go bag in my hand. I asked the assistant GM (she is who originally served us and is a phenomenonal front-line leader for the establishment) what time they closed. She told me, "9 o-clock"... slight issue... the time was 8:42. I told her my situation, and she offered to hold it until she was done cleaning up the place... her timeline allowed me just enough time to wrap up my other event and make it back before she would lock up and leave.

SERIOUSLY?! Small acts of kindness like this are slowly creeping out of everyone's lives... This small gesture allowed me to keep the night alive on my night out with my girlfriend in Nashville, allowing us to enjoy Mockingbird twice in one evening.

Would I recommend The Mockingbird? 11/10 times. This place had amazing cuisine and saved a date night...

The bartender at our hotel recommended The Mockingbird to us - we didnt know about the Chef's experience on Chopped until we raved about our meal to the hotel bartender later that night.

We started with the Brie Grilled toasts with jalpeano jam. Delicious and melt in your mouth buttery goodness. They were great and I would completely get a full.sized sandwich if it was on the menu. One of the front of house managers recommended the So sofishticated so in had that. The quinoa was so flavorful and the huge green peas were perfect. I loved the fresh cherry tomatoes and the green sauce was perfect.

My partner ordered the Soeul Purpose because it had a latke waffle. I loved that waffle. The hangar steak was tender and the bulogi sauce spot on. It came with almost an ejolote type of corn. We did order a side of Mac and Cheese. The noodle shaped allowed you to get plenty of sauce in each bite. The cheese sauce is lighter than most mac and cheese so the dish didnt feel heavy.

We ended with the Key Lime Cake which was moist and covered with great graham cracker crumbles. The cheesecake layer between the 2 layers of the cake doesn't really allow the layers to hold together if you want me to be under critical of a great dining establishment. It didnt bother us at all.

The bartender made great drinks. House liquor was Amsterdam gin and 4 Rose's Bourbons so our lunch bag drinks tasted really different from each other.

The wait staff was attentive without being pushy, i loved that our waitress clapped her hands with glee at each item we ordered because, in the times of COVID, who doesnt want some simple affirmation that you are making a great choice? The manager checked in on us as well which i always appreciate.

In all, it was an exceptional date night meal and I highly recommend it.

Parking is in a pay lot (or if you can...