Margot Cafe & Bar

"A beautifully converted former service station, chef Margot McCormack’s East Nashville institution creates an inviting vibe with bright pops of color and exposed brick across two levels and a patio. Margot Cafe & Bar weaves local produce and goods like Mr. Aaron’s pasta throughout an ever-changing menu that leans French and Italian, offering seasonal hits from roasted cauliflower and tomato fennel bisque to turmeric-marinated cod with basmati rice." - Kellie Walton, Eater Staff

"Margot, a French spot in East Nashville, feels like it was ripped straight out of a '90s rom-com vehicle for Tom Hanks. It’s got that charming, small-town cafe thing going for it, where showing up in a roll-neck fisherman’s sweater and sensible boots feels extremely right. The antique mirrors and copper pots set the scene for a cinematic lunch for two. One that’s warm, cozy, and should include belly-warming bowls of split pea soup and grilled cheeses oozing with brie and duck confit. If things go well after your French-inspired meal, you still have an entire evening ahead full of second-date possibilities." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

"If you only have time for one meal in Nashville, make your reservation. Margot McCormick, the French Chef de cuisine responsible for the alchemy that is Margot, is usually found in the kitchen. And as with most great chefs, she’ll occasionally deliver a plate—or several—throughout brunch or dinner service. The menu changes daily with what’s fresh but some interpretations are ever-present during brunch: steak and eggs, a quiche or two and poached eggs. Dinner is spectacular. With some of the freshest seafood our city sees, she makes decadence using simple, rich ingredients. And don’t ask about dessert. Just order two." - Perky Bros

"If anyone is Nashville’s culinary matriarch, it is Margot McCormack. Her eponymous dinner-only spot in East Nashville has been delighting diners for more than 20 years, in part because it is completely gimmick free. She and her executive chef develop menus based on the day’s ingredients and cook using French-inspired methods. In summer, the result may be tomato pie or tuna with peach tomato relish. A perfectly roasted chicken is never out of season. Dessert could be tres leches cake or a cornmeal cake with fruits, again depending on what is available because they don’t have a freezer in the kitchen. Servers are as devoted to the restaurant as neighborhood diners, so service is warm, welcoming and attentive, efficient, but never rushed. Make a reservation—this small restaurant has a big reputation." - Margaret Littman

"Café Cooks Up Fresh Food, Romance A pioneer of the East Nashville restaurant scene, Margot McCormack created thisstylish spot in a repurposedservice station in the heart of East Nashville's Five Points long before the area was considered a destination for fine dining. The Nashville native, who moved away for the Culinary Institute of America and a stint at restaurants in New York City, serves from her collection of mismatched china in a cozy space with copper pots hanging from exposed brick walls. After more than a decade, the restaurant remains a favorite for dinner and Sunday brunch. The menu changes daily, but entrées might include pan-roasted scallops with parsnip purée, baby carrots, and preserved lemon, or house-made fettuccine with butternut squash, walnuts, and goat cheese."