A restaurant’s bar space can really make or break said restaurant.
If the space is too cluttered, or small, or a seeming afterthought to the restaurant, then that’s a huge negative for me.
On date nights, my wife and I love to show up 30 minutes before our reservation and grab a pre-dinner cocktail. That experience sets the tone for the evening–and if the bar’s vibe is off, or the service is mediocre, it’s hard to get past that. I’m also the type of guy who will occasionally grab a drink and an appetizer by myself after a long day of work. So a stop at Chili’s just ain’t cuttin’ it. I want a nice bar.
And that, my friends, is one of the big reasons I’m ranking Sinema as #8 on my top 10 list of restaurants in Nashville.
We first visited Sinema not long after it opened, when Dale Levitski of Top Chef fame (we’re Top Chef groupies), was running the kitchen. The food did not disappoint. I recall a grilled octopus dish, which is no longer on the menu, that just blew me away.
But our biggest takeaway from that visit was the space. This is a beautiful restaurant. Sinema is located in the booming Melrose district of the city, situated in the refurbished Melrose Theater that opened in 1942.
This is a grand space, and the upstairs lounge featuring one of the nicest bars in the city takes the restaurant to the next level. Old movies are constantly playing in the lounge, adding to the historic theater vibe of the restaurant.
The always changing cocktail menu features clever concoctions with names like “When Rande met Cindy,” “Burnt Reynolds,” and “Pretty in Pink”–all, of course, nods to famous movies and actors.
The bourbon list is extensive–a big plus for me. And the food, well Sinema continues to improve with executive chef Kyle Patterson, who replaced Levitski a couple of years ago.
The scallop dish (currently $34) has always been a winner–with many variations over the years. It currently features a spinach orzotto with black garlic brown butter, fried capers and a lemon mignonette.
The trout dish ($25) is simple and flavorful, served with carolina gold rice, roasted carrots and haricot vert, almonds and a brown butter sauce. And my wife, who loves a good burger or steak, has never had a bad experience with Sinema’s red meat offerings.
Whether you want to just grab a quick drink and app in the gorgeous lounge, or experience a full-on four-course dinner with outstanding wine selections, Sinema doesn’t disappoint.
That’s why we’ll keep going back.
Find out more about Sinema on their website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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