"Before the big-name chefs and NYC transplants started spreading like peddle taverns all over Nashville, there was City House in Germantown. This Italian-Southern neighborhood hang was one of the restaurants that put Nashville on the map, and it still holds up today. It’s situated in the former home of a sculptor with a screened-in patio that’s great for a post-art-walk dinner over bottles of wine and plates of pasta. photo credit: Andrea Behrends The menu changes frequently, but they still keep around the classics that made City House a local legend. Let’s be clear though: If the cheesy frico or the blistering belly ham pizza (topped with a fried egg) ever come off the menu, the people of Nashville will riot. Dessert is where you’ll find a lot of the innovation, as City House puts out some of the best versions of icebox cake in the city. That’s our totally not subtle way of telling you to order it. Food Rundown photo credit: Casey Irwin Frico It’s hard to mess up potatoes and cheese. But the frico is a next-level pairing, with a satisfyingly crispy crunch on the exterior that leads to ooey-gooey molten cheese blanketing tender hunks of spuds. photo credit: Casey Irwin Belly Ham Pizza This is City House’s signature pie, a legend in its own right. There’s sliced mozzarella, oregano, parmesan, chili, and perfectly rendered pork belly as a topping that comes together on a doughy, yet crispy crust. Adding a runny fried egg to the top is mandatory and it’ll tilt those umami receptors into overload. photo credit: Casey Irwin Roast Chicken The chicken at City House remains one of its best mains. What it’s served with rotates depending on the time of year—a recent iteration with charred lemon and whole roasted pepper tasted like a seasoned summer grill—but know you can always count on it. After cracking through the crispy skin, you’re rewarded with steamy, juicy bits of poultry that are perfect for swirling in the sauce or dressing of the season. Icebox Cake We’re not here to debate whether icebox cake is really a cake or not, but City House manages to elevate this seemingly basic dessert with decadent summery peaches or lemon pistachio." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
