Hayley ThomasCraving a plate of sizzling escargot drenched in garlic butter? You’re not alone. I constantly dream of shattering the caramelized sugar crust on a perfect crème brûlée.
If you’re hunting for a fantastic French restaurant Nashville locals love, you might feel like you’re searching for a needle in a haystack. But don’t worry, I did the heavy lifting for you.
You can officially swap your cowboy boots for a beret tonight! Below are our reviewed phenomenal spots serving up rich, soul-warming European classics.
Prepare to dive face-first into buttery sauces and crusty baguettes that will transport you straight to Paris!
How much does dining in a French restaurant cost in Nashville?
A standard meal at a casual French restaurant in Nashville runs between $30 and $50 per person, while a multi-course upscale experience easily exceeds $100.
| Dining Category | Typical Price Range | Common Items |
| Wine & Light Fare | $20 – $50 | Crepes, Small Plates |
| Casual Bistros | $30 – $60 | Steak Frites, Boeuf Bourguignon |
| Upscale & Fine | $75 – $150+ | Plats du Jour, Seafood Plateaus |
1. Once Upon A Time In France
Website: http://onceuponatime-infrance.com
Address: 1102 Gallatin Ave
Contact: +1 615-649-8284
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 4:30 PM – 9:15 PM
Once Upon A Time In France is a locally-owned family business that delivers a wonderfully vintage 1920s Parisian bistro vibe. Here, they serve deeply traditional, hearty comfort food without a single ounce of annoying pretense.
I ate here last month, and their rich beef bourguignon practically melted on my tongue. You really can taste the love simmering in their deeply comforting family recipes. You’ll definitely want to try their classic staples like tender steak frites and buttery snails.
Best of all, the owners keep prices surprisingly affordable for such high-quality plates!
While this dimly lit dining room feels exactly like an authentic European neighborhood joint, the space is incredibly tiny. They also don’t accept any reservations, so you should expect a painfully long wait outside on the sidewalk during peak dinner hours.
Highly recommended
We had a wonderful evening at this restaurant. It was like a culinary vacation in Paris. The foie gras was excellent. The lobster truffle cappuccino was exceptional. The beef tartare was perfect; you could mix it to your liking. The petit filet was exquisite and perfectly cooked. The service was friendly and very attentive. Welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommended. We will be back!
Selly Nu | Google Review
The food was exquisite
We were celebrating our daughter’s birthday and really enjoyed the atmosphere in the restaurant. The food was exquisite, made from very good ingredients – we really enjoyed it, and I had no allergic reactions to anything, despite being allergy prone. Highly recommend duck Confit, beef bourguignon and paté there. And chocolate mousse for dessert was excellent 👌
Anna Fominykh | Google Review
2. Margot Cafe & Bar
Website: http://www.margotcafe.com
Address: 1017 Woodland St
Contact: +1 615-227-4668
Hours:Â
Brunch: Wed to Fri 9 am – 2 pm
Dinner: Wed, Thu & Sun 5 pm – 9 pm, Fri & Sat 5 pm -10 pm
Margot Cafe & Bar is a pioneer in the local culinary scene, blending European techniques with fresh Southern ingredients.
They also serve an exciting, daily-changing seasonal menu inside a stunningly renovated 1930s service station. The rustic brick walls and hanging copper pots create a very charming old-world atmosphere.
The brilliant chefs here transform simple local produce into absolute magic on your plate! You might taste a buttery bechamel sauce over fresh farm greens one day, and perfect duck confit the next.
Adding to the experience is the knowledgeable staff, who constantly suggest excellent wine pairings to elevate your meal. Overall, this cozy spot easily rivals the best fine dining restaurants in Nashville.Â
Unfortunately, the rotating menu means your absolute favorite dish might vanish by your next visit. You must embrace the surprise element to truly enjoy eating here.
Wonderful experience
Had such a wonderful experience at this cute French restaurant. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. The herb-infused olive oil with bread was a real highlight, simple yet so memorable. I also loved the tuna with lemon rice; it was perfectly cooked and had a refreshing balance of flavors. The atmosphere is cozy and charming, making it an ideal spot to relax and enjoy a great meal. On top of that, the service was warm and attentive, which made the experience even better. I’ll definitely be coming back!
Paul Chen | Google Review
Fantastic
Fantastic farm to table dining with a bit of a French inspired twist.
Everything was plated well and tasted fantastic. Highly recommend going earlier in the evening as the restaurant only has so much of certain dishes and they will run out!
Menu changes frequently with what’s fresh, so there’s always something new to try.
Michael Damato | Google Review
3. Chateau West
Website: http://chateauwestrestaurant.com
Address: 3408 West End Ave
Contact: +1 615-432-2622
Hours: Lunch: Tue-Fri 11am-3pm | Dinner: Mon-Sun 3pm-10pm | Brunch: Sun 10:45am-3pm
Chateau West is an upscale spot that delivers a quiet dining experience featuring elegant decor and strictly traditional culinary preparations. Here, you sit in a serene, peaceful room wrapped entirely in crisp white tablecloths.
You can expect expertly prepared, labor-intensive regional classics like rich coq au vin. Their deeply savory French onion soup arrives bubbling with toasted cheese and thick broth.
They even have a massive wine list, highlighting major European vineyards alongside great international bottles.
Formal service staff anticipate your every single need throughout the long meal. A close friend celebrated her anniversary here recently and raved about the wildly attentive staff.
The highly formal environment does feel quite stiff for a casual weekday dinner, though. The premium prices also make this much better suited for a rare, fancy celebration.
The food was fantastic
We wanted a French Restaurant to celebrate our 42 anniversary since we celebrated our first and a dozen other anniversaries with French food. Being from Texas we were very lucky to find this small, romantic restaurant. The food was fantastic and the service was excellent
Bobby Dick | Google Review
Wonderful
wonderful French restaurant for a quiet dinner with good friends and conversation. wide array of appetizers and main courses, plus wine 🍷 so everyone will find something they like.
not trendy, packed or lively… and that’s fine too, but quiet dinners are also good.
Andreas Ramos | Google Review
4. Pastis Nashville
Website: https://pastisnashville.com
Address: 512 Houston St
Contact: +1 615-823-4000
Hours: Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm | Brunch: Sat-Sun 10am-3pm | Dinner: Daily 5pm-10pm
Pastis Nashville is a lively brasserie that recreates the vibrant, bustling energy of its iconic New York City origins.
Here, they focus purely on serving rich, comforting classics in a stunningly decorated dining room. You immediately feel transported to a grand Parisian cafe upon walking inside.
Their robust daily special menu lets you sample different regional specialties every single week. The chefs maintain incredible consistency regarding flavor and visual presentation across a massive menu.
Some must-orders here are well-executed staples, like the gooey croque madame and the buttery escargot. My time here was so decadent and sinful that I didn’t get to visit some of the nearby cake shops in Nashville, which I’ve been wanting to visit.
However, the room’s high energy creates a very noisy environment. You’ll likely struggle to hear your date during the peak dinner rush.
Very pleasant dining experience
Really good French style cuisine with the classic escargot, leeks, foie gras. The grilled branzini was perfectly tender, amazing flavors. Was hoping to order the trout amandine from the lunch menu but only brunch on the weekends. The place is cozy casual with lots families. Tiled walls and ceilings made for a somewhat noisy environment but the excellent service and wonderfully prepared entrees made it a very pleasant dining experience!
tish dej | Google Review
Pastis is a gem
Book the reservation, now. Thank me later. Pastis is a gem in the Nashville dining scene. Unmatched French cuisine paired with incredibly detailed surroundings and friendly and quick service. The food was to die for and the service was SO friendly and quick!
Erin Verdi | Google Review
5. Miel Restaurant
Website: https://www.mielrestaurant.com
Address: 343 53rd Avenue North
Contact: +1 615.298.3663
Hours: Happy Hour: Tue-Fri 4:30pm-6pm | Dinner: Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm
Tucked inside a former meat market, Miel Restaurant merges classic cooking methods with strict local sourcing. They focus intensely on sourcing fresh ingredients directly from nearby farm-to-table partners.
The brilliant chefs apply European techniques to seasonal Southern crops with great success. Every plate bursts with fresh ingredients and clever flavor combinations!
With the overall taste and freshness, it wasn’t surprising to hear that they cultivate strong relationships with local purveyors to ensure exceptional food quality.
Sadly, this heavy reliance on small-batch ingredients means portion sizes feel quite modest. You’ll certainly pay a premium price for a somewhat light dinner.
Nonetheless, the personable service staff here gives diners a warm, individualized dining experience. Plus, you can enjoy a wonderfully quiet meal away from the heavy downtown tourist traffic while you’re here.
Excellent food
So happy that this quaint special spot has weathered the pandemic! We’ve primarily done takeout for the last year, but have also dined in a few times for special occasions. The owner and her team have done an excellent job with needed safety measures and offer both indoor and outdoor spaces with comfortably spaced seating. Excellent food focused on French, Mediterranean and Southern styles. Great wine list and cocktails. Farm to table approach, including items from their on-site garden in season.
Alfred D’Onofrio | Google Review
I highly recommend this
I pre-ordered tonight’s takeaway dinner, which was French cassoulet with duck confit, garlicky sausage and white beans, topped with homemade breadcrumbs tossed with duck fat. The accompanying salad had roasted butternut squash and chopped pistachios over mixed spring greens with a lemon vinaigrette. It was super easy to finish at home and absolutely delicious! Every bit as good as the cassoulet I had in France! 🇫🇷 I highly recommend this for a special dinner at home.
Susan Goodwin | Google Review
