Vivian's Table — Restaurant in Virginia

My rating really would be about 4.5 stars if that break was available. Here are some specifics, and I would note, for the sake of fairness, that I'm someone who writes on food and is the author of a number of cookbooks. Accordingly, I might tend to be a bit too critical at times. PROS I had a steak and it was grilled exactly to my specifications. 2.The starter, a fried green tomato and fresh mozzarella combination atop a bed of arugula dressed with balsamic vinegar was inspired, and what made it particularly appealing was inclusion of a few ripe "tommytoes" (cherry tomatoes) with the greens. The banana bread pudding choice for dessert was also excellent, although it would have benefitted from a bit more rum (if rum was used, I could not taste it, but that's a more-or-less standard ingredient in a first-rate bread pudding. CONS The mac & cheese with white cheese was ordinary and uninspired. There were no condiments at the table and I was not offered steak sauce (I wouldn't have used it but should have been asked). I have not idea why salt and pepper were missing. There was a bread plate but no bread. Some toast points or warm bread and butter would have been welcome with the fried green tomato caprese Water was almost warm (no ice) and would have benefitted from a slice of lemon. I've done enough cooking and food prep to have a pretty good idea about portion weight. There is absolutely no way that what was supposed to be a 10-ounce sirloin weighed that much. It was between 6 and 7 ounces. OTHER I was absolutely intrigued by the table knife, which had a sort of cantilever design to the handle which let it stand in two distinct ways. I've never seen anything like it. The meal was a bit pricey, perhaps 20% higher than it's quality and setting merited, but first-rate service helped offset that. For general information, I left a $100 bill to cover everything--that included a $20 tip and a glass of a palatable but certainly not special Malbec--so the meal sans wine was in the $60-$70...

I enjoyed visiting Vivian’s Table, from the atmosphere and the diverse wine list to the food and the presentation. I was a bit apprehensive before arriving, as the food photos looked so beautiful that I questioned their authenticity. However, after receiving my order, I can say that the pictures accurately represent what you will experience.

The restaurant features a modern Southern decor with stained concrete flooring, wooden tables, and lovely chandeliers. The lighting strikes a perfect balance—not too bright or dark. I opted to sit at the bar, as the tall chairs were comfortable, and the bar itself was impeccable.

The wine list is concise yet engaging, with selections from various regions, including Oregon and Argentina. I tried a glass of the 2021 Archival-Ferrer Malbec, which, while pricy, was excellent and full of flavor.

For a starter, I ordered the cornbread, which was distinctive. Its purple hue and flavor deviated from typical dry cornbread. This appetizer was moist with a crust; its aroma reminded me of pancake ends. The side of butter didn’t enhance it much; I would suggest using a butter spread or, even better, a maple spread.

For dinner, I wanted to try a South Carolina favorite: Shrimp & Grits. I was impressed with their elegant approach to this dish. It may seem unusual to describe Shrimp & Grits as elegant, but as Calgacus said, “If an empire can make a call.” The dish was non-spicy, featuring a subtle base sauce or roux with a squash-like flavor. The jumbo shrimp were well-cooked, and a thick strip of bacon was used in place of Andouille sausage. It was a great dish that I recommend to non-purists who don’t prioritize spicy flavors and sausage.

I must add that the bartender who took my order and the runner who brought it were terrific. The presentation was on point, and the timing was excellent.

I definitely recommend Vivian's Table and will be returning—again and again. Next time, I might...

We drive to visit family in Nashville 4-5 times a year. Recently, I discovered the Bristol Hotel, and we have been to Vivian's table four times now. The first two visits in December were great, however, when we dined there over Easter weekend, we left disappointed. We ordered the short rib and salmon. You can see from the picture, you don't get much for a $42 order of short rib. The next morning, I thought we'd have a quick breakfast before leaving the hotel. It was Easter Sunday, so I checked open table. All the slots were available for 8-10 am, so I didn't book anything. We stopped by the restaurant at 9:20 am. The restaurant was completely empty other than one couple. As the host was seating them, I overheard him say, "we can get you in and out of here quickly." He returned and told me that he could not seat us because they were about to get slammed with customers. I asked if we could order at the bar. I was told I could order something at the host stand. About 15 minutes later, we received two orders of eggs benedict with one side of cold potatoes in a styrofoam container (we should have received two, but as the order we received was not very good, I said nothing). We ate in the lobby and returned to our room at 9:50. Only one other family came to the restaurant during this entire time. When we left around 10:20, the restaurant was mostly empty with staff congregating around the host stand in conversation. We won't go back to the restaurant. I thought the Bristol Hotel would be our new place to stay during our frequent trips to Tennessee, but we will probably try another place next time. It's a very nice hotel, but the experience we had on Easter Sunday was a big negative and the last thing we remember about our stay at this hotel. I'm giving 3 stars because we had a better experience in December and perhaps this time was due to different staff than we encountered on the...