"Think of Pinewood Social as the Swiss Army knife of Nashville’s restaurant scene—it’s useful to have in your back pocket for just about any occasion. Pseudo office for remote work and a cappuccino? Check. Casual brunch discussion with the book club followed by a round of bocce? Check. Bowling and snacks to celebrate the fifth anniversary of your 30th birthday? Check again. There are even two small pools on the patio that open up for lounging and boozy drinks from an Airstream during the summer. With all of that going on, you might forgive the food for taking a back seat to all the action. But it doesn’t. photo credit: Pinewood Social photo credit: Pinewood Social photo credit: Pinewood Social Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the rotating dishes on the menu are consistently interesting and solid. They could get away with typical bowling alley eats like pizza and chicken tenders, but instead, you’re getting things like artichoke and white bean hummus with calabrian garlic crunch and blackened chicken topped with candied jalapeños and swiss cheese. And there are similarly quality cocktails and coffee drinks (courtesy of a Crema Coffee mini outpost) to match. Even though the space is big, its location in the historic trolley barns near downtown means it gets quite crowded on weekends (especially during brunch). So keep that in mind if you’re planning on popping in without a reservation. Food Rundown Buttermilk Sticky Bun Big enough to share, this pillowy-soft bun is layered with a blanket of gooey caramel and chopped pecans for crunch. Related: sharing is for chumps. Pork Belly Egg And Cheese This sandwich comes on a toasty ciabatta bun loaded with scrambled eggs, pork belly, molasses onions, and cheddar cheese. This is the move when you’re hungover, or just a hangry breakfast person who’s been forced to wait for a respectable brunch hour to eat. photo credit: Pinewood Social Grain Bowls The salad and bowl options at Pinewood are legit. They’re hefty and filled with interesting textures, and the grain bowl is the best example. It’s got a mix of rice, mustard seeds, pickled onion, charred broccoli, blistered tomatoes, and an onion-almond crumble that’ll keep your palate guessing." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
