I have not seen a show here so can only speak on the dining experience. I took my mother there for her birthday to try some of the wines and share appetizers. You wouldn't think this would be such a let down. The food was a TERRIBLE let down. we first ordered a flatbread which was supposed to have parmesan, mushroom confit, red onion, apple butter, and red pepper olive oil. When it came out it also had some kind of greens on it....guessing collard. If you are going to put ingredients on a flatbed, you need to have it on the menu. Even though it took a long time to come out, it was still overly doughy with a strange bitterness taste. We sent that back immediately. While looking over the menu to find anything else to eat while we drank our overly priced wine, we thought maybe we would share a bottle of wine. The sommelier came over to us to go over some of them. You would think he would go into detail about a few wines, but instead asked a question or two of what we liked, pointed to a page for us to look over, and then pointed to the most expensive bottle of wine on the page. Still wanting to give it a chance, hoping that the flatbread was a fluke, we ordered the risotto balls (a recommendation by our server). They were BLAND. If you live in the south or are going to have a restaurant in the south, learn how to season your food! We heard the chef came from Holland House so I was really excited to see what it was about. Total Let down. I will NEVER go back. Another thing to mention is the LBTD tax (%15 added on to the wine on the tap) that they slip in there. There is small print on the menu letting you know this, but it is very small. I wouldn't even waste my time.
(1)
Stephanie C.
I think this venue is going to have a successful run. It's quite lovely. There is a bar out front so you can go even if you're not watching a show. There's also additional space upstairs but we didn't check that out. We didn't dine with the winery; we started with dinner at the Omni and walked over. I will say that I was surprised to see the valet charging seven dollars. I do not believe that there is parking available anywhere else, so if you drive, you will likely be paying to valet. We had wine and cocktails in the concert hall as well as at the bar afterwards. Both were very good. Pricey, but I've come to expect that in the new Nashville. The concert was Joan Osborne and she sounded fantastic as always. The acoustics were fine to my ears. Be careful when choosing your seats because some in your party will likely need to crane there necks a little to view the stage. The seats are regular chairs, not stools that swivel. Still, the space is nice, and well presented. I'm very impressed with the lineup they've been able to book thus far. I think that the ticket prices are reasonable and I'm sure I'll be attending shows at this venue for years to come. As a matter fact, I've already bought tickets to a second show.
(4)
Hunter B.
Normally I don't rip restaurants, but passing your cost of business on to your customers is WRONG! An excise and lbtd tax on top of sales tax? This is a joke, right? No, it's not...mediocre food and paying for another meal in tax? Don't think so, never again!
(2)
Mark S.
Dropped into the City Winery for brunch and could have stayed the entire day. One if the coolest new places I have visited in some time. Firstly, the decor and ambiance is super! Even if your not a wine lover, this place has a rich, warm, homey feel that adds to the experience. There is an upstairs and a downstairs area for drinks and food. Both have outdoor patios that give you some great views of Nashville on sunny summer days. In addition, they have a concert venue that provides not only great entertainment, but seating that allows for food and wine during your show. Very cool!! The staff was well versed in the wine and food selections. They were helpful but not pushy with any particular selections. We shared the Huevos Rancheros and Vegetable Frittata, both of which were delicious. The Frittatta was perfectly cooked and was very rich in flavor while not skimping on the vegetables. Likewise, the Huevos Rancheros was fantastic. Perfect blend of spices, black beans and egg. All this topped with a great Pinot..... Life was good this day!
(4)
Edmund B.
This review is just for the restaurant part of City Winery. I didn't go see a show there, since I'm under 40, and their lineup makes me depressed just looking at it. Unfortunately their food made me even more depressed. The menu (like the music lineup) is straight out of the '90s: pretend fancy and bland, dating back to a time when people were probably just easier to impress. I'm vegan and only went to eat there because they had a promising-sounding vegan entree listed on their online menu, but our waitress explained that they took it off since nobody was ordering it. So I ended up paying $17 for a slimy portobello mushroom with a bit of couscous on the side. I'm not against paying $17 for an entree when it's good. But there are much better restaurants in Nashville to spend your money at, and after picking up my car from valet (which you have to pay $7 for, by the way) I wished I had gone to one of them. P.S.: Don't waste your time writing to management. They won't write you back. P.P.S.: The Black Crowes? LOL.
(1)
Donna S.
Service was good. Was a unique setting. We visited for a group event so I can't give a fair review on the food.
(5)
Terry B.
What great venue for eating, drinking, and listening to your favorite music groups. Last night we saw New Riders of the Purple Saga and they blew us away. A trip down memory lane when I hung around San Fran in the early 70s. Jam band elite, although the founding members are dead all but one they still got it. They were working their way toward Chicago for the Greatful Dead 50th and last show over the 4th of July weekend. We started with a Scottish Devil egg, Cobb salad split, peach n Beacon flatbread with a very young Vinhe Vino wine. All in all. A great evening! We will back!
(4)
Timika S.
Great food! Excellent wine! Good place for dinner and a show! Love the atmosphere! The staff was very helpful and friendly. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Corie K.
I went to City Winery last night for a yoga event. First of all, the main reason I am writing a review is that I agree with many of the other reviews on this and just want to reinforce in case it helps the venue create alternate options: The parking situation is not great and I will plan ahead if I decide to return. It's in an area that has the space for parking, in fact, there is parking all around. I can only assume they have already categorized themselves as a leading music venue, like when you arrive at the Ryman and there is a valet option. The trouble is I (and the community seems to agree) that it doesn't warrant itself for this yet. I pulled in seeing the valet (and probably at fault of my own for not asking) assumed it was how all the other valet in town is - complementary because you are visiting that restaurant/bar. I didn't know that it was $5 until I arrived after the event to get my car. I was surprised and though it's not super steep, it was definitely a bummer. The venue isn't even in what is considered "downtown" and there is not enough other stuff around it to feel like a place where paid parking is the only option. I had a couple of small tastings at the event (which I assume) were from City Winery's kitchen - they were yummy, but my friends opted to go someplace else for dinner - one citing she had eaten there before and it was just okay, not great. The decor was a little corporate-cheesy - reminded me of the Cheescake Factory or something you would see in an upscale chain restaurant. While I know there are other City Winery locations in the US, it would have been cool to tailor the decor to more of a Nashville feel. The sound for the DJ/yogi's mics was not quite right - hope that's not indicative of what the sound for shows. I imagine there is a sound tech and soundcheck that would eliminate the poor sound. It was just fine for the purpose for which I was there for, but would be disappointing if it were a concert. I'm sure I will go to a show there soon and be able to update this review based on what I hear then.
(3)
Tammy O.
Nice place great food and excellent service!!! Gemmall was our server and he was fantastic!!!
(5)
Carolyn M.
What a fun music venue. We saw Bobby Bare and Bobby Bare Jr a couple of weeks ago and it was a fantastic show. It's nice to have dinner options beyond the standard bar fare (ahem, 3rd and Lindsley). The wine selection is as good as you'd expect from a place called "winery". A few gripes - we bought VIP tickets and must have been the only ones, because they didn't open that section. They gave us decent seats, but didn't offer to reimburse us. The tables are community, so we got seated with some obnoxious college kids constantly snapping selfies. Service seemed to still be working out the system. But a great show will save a lot of service sins.
(4)
Bill L.
I love Joan Armatrading, but was disappointed with the sound quality (tinny & echoed) on the balcony - the a/v guy was told, but it didn't seem to make much difference - I've been before downstairs and had no complaints re the sound........so my suggestion is to book downstairs (I like that one can pick your own seats)
(3)
Shannon T.
As a music venue, very nice. Great sound, physically spacious yet intimate-feeling. Except for my first experience, for Sturgill Simpson in August which was a crowd of Americana fans and a private event, I have never yet seen the place full, however. it's early, though, and I'm sure it's still getting its footing. It's about a 300-seat venue, which really helps you feel connected with the artist, but a lot of that has to do with the act, as well. It's not really great that you have to share a table for eight with people you don't know for dinner and a show; it'd be nice if there were more tables for two and four, as there are hardly any in the whole house. The menu, however, is less impressive. Pretentious is okay if you can back it up with taste, but it's just not there. So, it's a pretentious and pricey fail. Since City Winery is a wine venue, it thinks it has to offer only complicated dishes, and I enjoy the occasional highbrow reduction or unusual flavor combination. The friend who was with me, however, does not, and that's okay, too. Sometimes wine is best when it accompanies something simple, and there is not even one menu item that might be qualified as uncomplicated or unfussy. Not one. Take a look at your menu, Chef, and relax it a bit. Give us a variety of options, to appeal to a variety of diners, in the way the sommelier offers the wine list. Everybody will win. I will say that our server, whose name was Matt, I believe, was very patient and was happy to take time to explain every description and answer every question we had. I ended up with the beet salad, and when that proved too spicy because of the cayenne pepper, I ordered the cheese plate and made that work, although I did not enjoy the horseradish spread that was one of the accompaniments. Also, when we arrived, the seating staff said that we were to sit at separate tables, and of course, I wasn't going to have any of that. Our arrangements had us seated together, and I was polite, but had to insist that they check their seating chart notes again. After just a few minutes, we were led to one of the few tables for two, off to the side but still well in view of the music. I was happy that they made the effort to correct the error without any attitude at all. I did attend a private event at one of the smaller upstairs rooms that also had a little stage and a bar. I was helping at that event, so did not experience it as a patron, but I did notice that the bartenders were friendly and helpful, and the waiters seemed prompt at the tables. The hors d'oeuvres trays, however, lacked variety and imagination. Anyone can put crackers and cheddar on a plate with strawberries, but to be fair, maybe that is what the client ordered from the catering staff. The parking is what everybody else says it is, but I have had great luck with the valet staff being exceptional every time. I've never waited more than a few minutes for my car. They really ought to offer the valet as complimentary, however, since there aren't any other real parking options. So, it's like this: Main Music venue: B Dining Menu: D Service: B (Matt was a little slow, and rushed us on the check) Private events: B Parking: B- Overall: B-
(3)
Cory G.
I normally only review small businesses and try to stay away from chains, but this is an exception. Valentine's Dinner at the City Winery was a pleasant experience. Seated in the back winery room excluded from the main dining area and the venue was a nice touch. There were several bistro tables for two, for couples that were dining as well. The menu was fixed for the night by head Chef Kristin Beringson was somewhat of a surprise due to the link on the website not working. It featured crab, a nice salad with cauliflower/beets, a lamb tartar, lobster/grits/roasted grape tomatoes, and finished with a fromage blanc mouse with pear dessert. Pros: Nice and secluded. Wine pairings with each course. Good service. Portions were perfect. Cons: Handful of people bringing out dishes which created a few hiccups. Would have preferred fresh silverware for each course. Valet charge (though small at $5, I believe more people would be more generous in tips if it were free) Overall. My lady and I both enjoyed our time there and would go back. I'd love to check out the full menu. This place is large and pretty unique. It tackles multiple feats and seems to do it pretty well.
(4)
Shannon M.
My original rating was a 2 star with the original post below. However, I received an amazing email response from City Winery management. I had emailed them immediately after leaving the venue. The management addressed each one of my concerns with an honest, straight forward response, which is rare. They didn't make excuses. Instead, they thanked me for the feedback and detailed the steps they were taking to improve. Wow!! We will definitely be going to another show there soon! Way to go City Winery management! We love live music and wine so we want you guys to be a success! Original post below: City Winery Nashville has potential! The space itself is gorgeous and a great place to watch a favorite artist. There are several areas that need improvement. - Forced to use/pay for Valet parking, which was slow, unorganized, and unsafe. - Our waiter didn't even know how to open a bottle of wine nor possessed any wine presentation skills. - The food was eatable, but nothing special. If I had it to do over, we'd have eaten somewhere else before the show.
(4)
Jeremy B.
The goods: Beautiful bar, restaurant, venue. The musicians that played were run of the mill singer/songwriters, but the sound was good (although it was really light, mainly acoustic music). Every member of the staff I encountered was a lovely person. The bads: Overpriced. Do you like paying $8-10 per glass of wine or beer? Cause that's the lowest priced stuff. Do you enjoy paying $9 for black bean dip that can barely be shared by two people? Not to mention the chips that came with it were super thin and crumbled everywhere, and were gone by the time we were halfway through the dip. All of the other reviews I've read here say the valet is $7, but it was $5 the night we went (Thursday). So that's it. Everything was pretty much just okay. I will probably stick to the smaller clubs with cheaper drinks and better bands.
City Winery should stick with its namesake-wine. Their attempt at brunch was lackluster, uninspired, and left our party disappointed. City winery has obviously put a great deal of thought into its role as a wine bar, but brunch was clearly an afterthought that has yet to grow to maturity. Nashville has such a great culinary community that we were sad we wasted Sunday brunch here. Service- disorganized and confused. Two servers (one may have been the manager) approached us to take our drink order, and neither was very timely about it. Both food and drinks took a long time to order and come out. The glass bottles of water on the table warmed quickly in the sun, and the server refilled the water only at our specific request. Patio service seemed to be an afterthought. Drinks- the spicy Bloody Mary is vibrant, but the glass was tiny and filled with ice, which made the $9 price tag a shock. Food- when we first sat, we asked the waiter/manager what jumped out on the menu. His response seemed to be that brunch was a way to let people try the food without the price tag of dinner. His response made sense when the food came out much later. Steak and eggs were well prepared, but with small portions and so poorly plated it was more akin to white plate Waffle House. Flavor was lacking, prompting the table to wonder whether salt/pepper shakers should have been on the table. Shrimp and grits were filling, but tails were detached and mixed in with the grits, which required some digging. All in all, at $18 and $15, respectively, the price was far higher than the value. Ambience- great patio, and the venue is beautiful, but didn't meet its potential to entertain. For Nashville, we were amazed there wasn't some form of music, live or otherwise. Thankfully, the next door Rescue Mission had a live band. Overall, city winery seems a classy place to grab a bottle of wine and cheese plate. Otherwise, best avoided.
(2)
Queen B.
Music City Winery opened it's doors on October 2, 2014 with a private media party on October 1, 2014. It was still under construction on 9/19/2014. So any reviews in September have to be false.. Impossible for a place under construction to host any concerts. There is a fake review from September, 2014... --------------------------------------------------Â----------------------------------------- What a lovely venue. What a big surprise! Nashville is maturing into a stately, classy lady with glitz and glam and all these wonderful venues opening around town to host private parties, concerts, whatever you need, and it doesn't have to be in some stark windowless building. City Winery opened their doors on October 1st. They hit the ground running! I came to this venue for a private party and the place rocked smoothly without a hitch. From the moment we all walked in, took the tour of the building, met the owners, sat down to our scrumptious dinner and a variety of wines. Everything was top notch. The wait staff, the manager, the music, the food, the table settings, the wine.. Dear Gussy..... what a magical night they made for my hosts. I'd like to return for a concert venue and dinner. Excellent place to have an event.. Christmas party, engagement party, Manager meetings.. what a great place to have it. From their web site: "We are a unique facility, combining a fully functioning winery with intimate concerts, food & wine classes, private events in a variety of configurations, and fine dining. We have created a compelling mix for our sophisticated clientele of foodies, and active cultural patrons--bringing the wine country experience to the middle of a large city." Go check it out.
(5)
Christian A.
I came here for brunch on Sunday not knowing what to expect. My friend bought a deal on Travel Zoo and we were both pretty excited to actually be able to go out for Sunday brunch, since we are both usually working a brunch shift on Sundays. The place was fairly easy to find, and they had their own parking lot, which is a plus for a restaurant so close to the heart of downtown Nashville. The building was enormous yet beautiful, with lots off wood panels and seating available outside. Their restaurant was fairly full, but it's also spacious enough so it did not feel crowded. They had a full bar, which included wine on tap, and I saw noticed a large party all sitting together, so yes, they are able to accommodate large parties. We made a 12:00 reservation, but arrived 15 minutes early. We were greeted by a friendly manager who was happy to show us to our table, despite our early arrival. We asked him to sit outside since the weather was beautiful, and he gladly showed us to a table outdoors. I felt very welcomed and comfortable. We scanned the menu, which was smaller in size than many restaurants, but I personally find that an attractive feature because it makes decision-making easier We started off with a couple of "brunch cocktails;" mine was called the Spanish Violet (I think) which had a very soft violet color, a citrusy taste, and a lemon peel garnish. My friend ordered some peach mimosa, which wasn't bad. I wish I had stuck with a classic mimosa, or maybe the brunch cocktail that had orange juice in it because the more I drank my Spanish Violet, the less I liked it. For an appetizer, we ordered the pastry platter, which came with a wide assortment of delicious pastries, butter, and apple butter. This was probably my favorite part of my dining experience, and I highly recommend starting with this if you dine hear for brunch. For entrees, I ordered the vegetable frittata and my friend had the huevos rancheros. They were OK I suppose, though I would question what they think a frittata is. Both of our entrees were drizzled with might have been sriracha, which I loved, but my friend did not since she is sensitive to spicy foods. We were full after we finished, so redeemed our coupon, received our check, and that's all she wrote. The manager did a great job creating a great first impression, and really setting us up for a wonderful dining experience. If only our server followed suit. My biggest complaint with her was how long it took her to greet us. I had my phone with me, so I was able to check the time in semi-regular intervals since I had somewhere to be at 2:00, and I remember it took our server at least 5 minutes to even acknowledge us. Luckily, the had water carafes on the table, so we did not have to wait for her to drink some water. After sitting down, it took about 10 minutes to order our brunch cocktails and another 7 minutes or so to order our appetizer. I understand servers get busy and weeded, but we were one of three tables outside, and even though inside was busy, they had plenty of open tables, so surely, our server could not have been that weeded. Luckily, the kitchen was working at a regular pace and there were food runners on the clock because it did not take us very long to get our food. While we were munching on our pastries, our server took our entree order, which was at least 20-25 minutes after sitting down. Afterwards, I only saw her twice; once to actually check on us while we were eating our entrees, and again to deliver the check. On one hand, maybe she thought that my friend and I were the type who needed space, so she didn't have to be around so much, but it was also the way she spoke with us and how promptly she took care of a neighboring table that implied she did not care for us (maybe because we're young? I work in a restaurant, I know how much it sucks to deal with college-aged customers). Our entrees and brunch cocktails were taken care of because of the coupon, but the check was still almost $25 dollars because of the pastry platter (which I knew wasn't included in the coupon) and taxes. Our server ended up charging us for the pastry platter for 4, rather than for 2. I brought it to the attention of the manager, who was the same person who seated us, and he said he would change it. Instead, he took it off of our bill! Overall, I had an OK experience. I would have left four stars if our service was better, but maybe also two stars (perhaps a little harsh?) if the manager wasn't so accommodating. Would I come back? Maybe, but I probably wouldn't recommend this restaurant to a friend looking for a good brunch spot.
(3)
Tim M.
First, it has to be hard to do live music AND good food in the same space, so my expectations were not that high. It was a good time, and the music, environment, stage and service were all good. Food was decent, not excellent and pricey for the quality. Here's the problem: You're forced to Valet ($5 + tip) and they have this LBDT tax; (as far as i know the only establishment in town that does.) Sales Tax + LBD Tax + Food Tax = 20%!!!!!!! Add another 20% tip on your bill and be ready to add 40% to your bill. (A $7 beer will cost you $10. That $22 Trout entree? $31. I'll be back, but will fill up somewhere else before hand......
(2)
Adam L.
Great night last night...tons of energy in the building to watch Yacht Rock Revue.
(5)
Brit K.
The food is really great! The truffle fries, risotto balls, hummus and tacos were all bomb.com ! Can't really go wrong here and the bartenders are super attentive. Love the atmosphere and would like to go back for some live music!
(5)
Erica L.
We went for brunch today and were not impressed. They messed up 3 out of 5 orders. I ordered a build your own biscuit with andouille sausage and the sausage tasted like greasy jimmy Dean breakfast sausage you buy at the grocery store. The server was not attentive. I will say the beignets were good and the wine taps are very cool, I would come back to try that but would not Return for brunch.
I've been to City Winery twice now, once for a movie screening and once for a live show. The atmosphere is really cool. The food is good, though marginally overpriced. I'm no cheapskate, but when I compare the tab to the overall food/drink/service experience, the equilibrium feels off. I think this place has a lot of potential though, and I hope they continue to improve.
(3)
Carolyn F.
Visited City Winery on July 10th to see the Bacon Bros. I was initially impressed with the upscale ambience and decor. After being seated and realizing our evening was to be spent sitting extremely close to another couple, it was downhill all the way. Our server seemed to get confused at every step. We ordered both the risotto balls and fried green tomatoes as appetizers. Only the FGT arrived... Cold and overcooked. I asked about the other appetizer and was told we didn't order it! They arrived slightly prior to our meal. We both ordered the pan seared grouper. It was overcooked, rubbery, tasteless and on top of what were supposed to be smoked bacon grits. The consistency was more like soup. Again, we were both disappointed. Sides of mac and cheese and haricot verts... again lacking flavor. I asked the server for unsweet tea and was brought diet Pepsi..... twice. Getting our car back from valet was another horror story as we waited in line for 40 minutes! All in all, a $300 very underwhelming evening at a venue I had been excited to experience.
(2)
Justin K.
Set up is nice. Music is too loud. Waitress didn't know what kind of meat was on the burger. Enough said. The wine bottle table numbers are cool, but not cool enough. Waitress didn't check on us the entire time we ate. No courtesy stops. Food was less than average at a higher cost. Added taxes of $10 other than sales tax? Table#62 on 1/24/15 didn't meet expectations
(1)
Mathieu B.
Unfortunately, the valet most likely ruined my experience here. For starters, there is NO parking available except for some abandoned buildings across the street from the rear of the winery. However, the valet claims to own ALL of these spots and was EXTREMELY rude and even aggressive towards our party for attempting to park. The valet loudly threatened me that if I didn't try to park on the street he would call a tow truck while I was inside their restaurant. Seeing as how others in our party were waiting inside, (and at this point there was no way I would let the valet near my car) we had to park around the corner and leave the car in front of the Rescue Mission. When we got in, the bar staff was friendly and we ordered some drinks and appetizers. We had the fries, the duck tacos, and something else I don't remember. The fries were not memorable, and the duck tacos might as well have been dry pulled pork because that was what it tasted like. We did not see a show there so I admit I cannot rate the music venue space.
(1)
Margaret F.
We didn't have tickets to last night's show, but I decided that a "scouting trip" was in order before we return to City Winery next month to see Leon Russell. I also wanted to try out my VinoFile membership to see if it worked in person as well as it did online (no fees for ticket purchases - I've bought tickets in Nashville and Chicago already!). First off - FREE VALET is a wonderful benefit at the Nashville location (it's discounted in Chicago). My husband and I didn't have a reservation, but were seated at a high-top that gave us a good view of the bar and the lobby as folks were arriving for the evening show. We got a tasting-sized portion of a house white blend as we were seated - nice! The wine list was a tome - but we weren't really interested in a whole bottle of wine, so we just ordered from the "on tap" selection. Unfortunately, the first two "on tap" reds I tried to order were out of stock. But we ended up with two other "on tap" reds, which were fine. (Side note: Husband noted that Jack Daniel's on the rocks costs $8 at City Winery, which meets with his approval. $10 or above gets him hot under the collar.) Our food orders (lamb shank flatbread and burger-and-fries) were promptly and correctly prepared, and very tasty! I intended to take half of the flatbread home, but promptly left it on the table. Cost for the evening (before tips) was $62. (Looking forward to hitting that $500 spend mark and earning free concert tickets!) Service was friendly, but not overbearing. After we ate, we were allowed to wander around (the show hadn't started), and we thought the performance area looked spacious and lovely, and the upstairs bar/lounge was cool (but deserted). We're really looking forward to our return for Leon Russell, and I'm also excited about visiting City Winery in Chicago next month!
(4)
Nancy M.
We have been to City Winery three times, each time for dinner and a concert. The food is fine. The service is fine. The building is fantastic, although directly beside the homeless shelter. It's nice they have valet service. The sound is fine. Here's my problem...We saw Robert Earl Keen and he was introduced as "Robert Keen Earl." Last night we saw Mac McAnally, 7 time winner of Musician of the Year award, and he was introduced as "Mac McNally." City Winery is getting great acts and there are more shows I look forward to. I wonder how may times they can insult the artists and keep the talent coming. Chris Knight is playing the venue soon. Please be aware the K is silent.
(3)
Lindsay W.
The website lists plaza art supplies as a place for public parking but the valet driver who was parking a car yelled at us for parking in the lot. I offered to show him the website but he didn't want to listen. They either need to change the website or inform their valet drivers. Expect to pay 24% in taxes. Spent $17 on wine and bill ended up being $21.12 because of the sales tax (I'm used to that) and the lbt tax(whatever that is).
(3)
Jennifer M.
I visited City Winery for happy hour last week. I thought everything about the place was lovely--nice ambiance, friendly staff, great happy hour specials. There are just a couple weird things to note--if you want to enjoy happy hour, you must sit at the bar (not near the bar or at a table in the bar, but at the bar, proper). This could quickly translate into you not getting a seat if you don't arrive early. Another note on arriving early--I did, so I could park my own car, which was great. My friends weren't so lucky, they had to valet for $5.00--not cool in a town where free valet is pretty much the norm. I enjoyed the experience and will return for happy hour, for sure.
(4)
Sue W.
I was not impressed. I decided to park on the street because I don't mind walking instead of paying the $5 valet. The atmosphere was great and we were seated immediately. Out of the six items on the menu (it seemed) they were out of half of the things on the menu. I wasn't very hungry so I got the brisket taco. They were $11, micro mini in size, little flavor, cold, and the brisket was tough and dry. The risotto balls were great. It took forever to get our checks. I won't be back. There are too many decent restaurants in Nashville to choose from.
(2)
Amber A.
Great food, unfortunately, horrible customer service.... I made a reservation for 12 people about 3 weeks ago. It was my birthday this past weekend, so I made sure that I made all of my reservations well in advance. We were about 12 minutes late for our reservation, however I called in advance to let them know. Once we arrived at the restaurant they had a table ready for us, for 8 people. I let them know that I made the reservation for 12, and they said that they didn't have our table in the system and it would be a 30 minute wait.. They then tried to blame us, saying that we were 20 minutes late for our reservation. Mind you, we were NOT that late, and I called in advance to let them know. Once we finally got seated, we basically had no service. They switched waiters 3 different times, and no one came to our table. At the end of the dinner, we asked the manager for some sort of compensation for the inconvenience and horrible service, and he refused. He said that we should not have gotten there late and the general manager will not give us any compensation. I refused to tip them, and I let them know that I will not be back again. It was very disappointing because we have been to the City Winery in Napa and we actually love it. I did not expect such horrible service in Nashville.
(2)
Julia R.
This place blows. First, the sound is terrible. How do you open a music venue in Music City and not take the acoustics into consideration? Second, the management was completely rude. The details are a dizzying display of childish manipulation not worth my time attempting to explain but infuriating enough to send me here in the hopes of sparing potential patrons the same treatment. Third, the valet asked me to find the drivers of cars who hadn't returned to claim their keys. A move the management appeared to endorse. It was late and said drivers were no longer at the venue, a suggestion I made to him before going back in to retrieve my purse and husband who had just performed. This request came after paying $7.00 for parking plus $10 in tips. I'm thinking for $17 you can find out for yourself and chalk it up as not your customer's job. I was there as loving supporting spouse, period, end of responsibility. Musicians, if you are coming to Nashville, play 3rd and Lindsley, it's a bigger venue and it sounds better. Spare yourself and your loved ones the headache.
(1)
Kristen H.
In regards to City Winery and their concert menu, it doesn't make sense that they have such a limited menu compared to their dining room. The cheapest wine is $8 for 5.5 oz. with tax it comes close to $10. That's ridiculous for such a small glass of wine. A friend and I tried the beet & bacon flatbread because we didn't have much money to spend. The combination of the cheese, beet, bacon, arugula, balsamic vinaigrette and some other ingredient just wasn't quite right and we weren't up for trying the mushroom and something other gross combination. The seats in the house aren't too bad, we were sitting in the back. Their sound guy had the instruments up louder than the vocals making it hard to hear the 2 bands that played. Their lighting was alright. The server at our table didn't show up very often and so we had to sit a while longer than we wanted to just to wait for the check. Also if you don't want to pay $20 cash for valet you have to park on the street and walk a while. Overall I think this is a great space for intimate shows, but I think it's outrageously overpriced when you're already paying a large amount for tickets. This place is obviously just trying to get every penny squeezed out of you.
(2)
Mac W.
A lot of kinks to workout. Understandable, as they are only 6 days old. However, the staff was not able to answer basic questions; more than 6 different people serviced our table (with little knowledge of the food and which patron placed the order). This is basic training, folks. Management - please spend more time training your people. They have no knowledge of the wine or the food menu.
(3)
Orestes C.
Had a flatbread and was really chewy and tough. My friend dishes didn't look good either (trout and steak)
(1)
Daisy 2.
Love the venue -- classy, intimate, good wine -- great shows. I have not had food here, so can't comment .. But since I really think Nashville in general is missing the mark on classy places --- this gets a 5 star for me. Nashville is a strip of 'bars' and beer drinking joints -- so this is a really great option (one of the few) where you can see a show and drink some nice wine.
(5)
Luis C.
Brunch this morning. Good food huevos rancheros and build your biscuit. The decor is awsome and concert venue looks great. It has a warm fire place right in the middle of the room. Will return for dinner and drinks.
(4)
John M.
Great atmosphere, music, and wine. Service is a little slow but the food is worth the wait! Highly recommend this place for great live music and great food in one setting.
We had a great time last night at the City winery . We enjoyed the music with Andrew Ripp and the food we had was really good . We had the risotto balls , hummus plate, flat bread, chicken, and slaw with cranberries, almonds and Brussels. Everyone enjoyed their food. My only complaint is hard seats which is an issue when you are sitting for hours.
(4)
JIM H.
Went and saw Marty Stuart last night, the place is top notch. Sound ,service,food was top notch, we will be back.
(5)
Daysha M.
I was surprised with this place! I didn't expect it to be anything great, but it was good! The atmosphere is amazing. Inside is beautiful, wood tables, pretty bar, & then they have a neat music venue where you can eat & listen to music. They also asked you if you would like to try a little of the wine of the night when they seat you, which I thought was a nice touch. Our server was great when it came to picking a wine. He asked what I liked & then suggested one, which was very good. He did get a little overwhelmed with other tables & forgot to check on us a couple of times, but hey, it happens. The food was good, but not as good as it could have been. We had the Crispy Risotto Balls & they were not that full of flavor. Somewhat bland, as well as the sauce that came with them. The Alfresco's Cavatelli was good, but it seemed like it had been sitting out for a minute because when it arrived it was cold & the pasta did not seem cooked well. Also, it most definitely could have used more flavoring or sauce. The menu is somewhat confusing & all over the place. I think I need to go back & try a few more things & speak to the waiter more about the menu options. I most definitely will be going back for the atmosphere and wine selection!
(4)
Mike W.
After reading some other reviews I feel that Some people just want to complain. $5 for valet is reasonable. This is a intimate venue. We watched Jason Isbell there last night and the crowd was 412 people. I was amazed an audience could actually be quiet in this day and age. The food seemed a bit pricey but it was very tasty. No complaints about our service, as Ashley took very good care of us. The wine selection was good, the craft beer selection could stand a few more options, but this place is called the winery.... If an artist you like comes to the winery, do yourself the favor and go watch them there.
(4)
Mark H.
We just had lunch at this establishment. Good food and GREAT wine! :) The place is really clean. The bar tender and server was really nice!! We could not have asked for better!!
(5)
A N.
Not a fan of places that Nickel and dime you. They make you valet, as there's no parking lot, and charge $8 for it. They also have a separate wine tax. Additionally, we ordered the roasted red pepper ricotta dip as an appetizer. It was delicious, but they only gave us four chips to eat the whole dip. We asked for extra chips, and the waitress said no problem. When we received the bill, we were charged for additional chips. I have to say, I'm not impressed with their customer service model. That being said, everything we ordered was delicious. However, we won't be returning. I don't enjoy paying fees for every little thing.
(3)
Tart L.
As a music venue City Winery in Nashville downtown near the Music City Center is now in the top ten here. Yesterday I loved the sound of roots music great Rodney Crowell singing the songs he has written, in the big room of this performance venue. The day before the Deslondes performed from the new stage, which features a great sound system and acoustics. I think the City Winery Nashville will be as well known for its music as for its tart Napa Valley wine and wines produced here, in Music City USA.
(5)
Stacey B.
Perhaps the worst food I've ever had in Nashville....maybe even Tennessee. The steak was 2 small pieces and was not even remotely warm when it arrived. The chicken was marginally edible. Out of one of their tap wines. Will not be back and will spread the word to avoid this place.
(1)
Elizabeth H.
I was told to visit City Winery by a friend who frequents their New York location and I was not disappointed! From the moment we walked in we were treated like VIPs. Hosts were there ready and waiting to greet us and we were escorted immediately to our seats. I definitely recommend coming in a little bit before the show to eat because the servers seemed a little overwhelmed after the show started (but they still did an excellent job considering how crowded the room was). As far as food goes I HIGHLY recommend the cheese plate. It's the perfect amount of food if you're not starving and literally everything on the plate goes amazingly with everything else...(I immediately went home to attempt to recreate the dish and failed miserably) The show itself was AWESOME (but when are the wood brothers anything less than fabulous?) and our view was actually a lot better than I was expecting it to be (our seats looked father back on the floor plan) I do concede that the lack of parking forcing you to pay $7 to use the valet was somewhat annoying, but apparently there's a membership program you can join to waive the fee.. Will definitely be looking into that for future shows because I will absolutely be back (JT Hodges anyone??! So psyched about this place and can't wait to come back!
(5)
Mark W.
4 people for a 7:00 reservation. As I got out of my car at Valet, I was informed that CITY WINERY was charging $5.00 for parking, and that did not include the tip. When I asked, the valet person told me I could pay them on the way out. Arrived about 6:40 and had some great cocktails at the bar. We were seated at 7:00 and informed that the restaurant was closing at 8:00 for a private function..WTF!! That information could have upset somebody on a date or out for a nice evening, but we are long time food service professionals, and figured out that the event probably started at 9:00. Nobody ever pressured us to "order up," but at 8:15 they started moving tables and chairs around us. We started with the cheese board and the Falafel. Both were about as predictable as tap water..it's good when you are thirsty(hungry), but not very exciting. Around the table for dinner we had: The trout---apparently very satisfying. Chicken fricassee--the grits were bland Waygu beef tartare--over processed, DRY, flavorless beef. The sweet corn and charred scallion relish didn't help. I think they forgot the mustard seed aioli and the cured egg shavings. Hummus plate--nice hummus. I'm positive that the peppadew feta was replaced by the peppadew ricotta because it had none of the sharpness of feta cheese. I did not see the pickled eggplant, and it was replaced with some kind of sweet honey like concoction. Buratta---it was a glob of bland watery fresh mozzarella, with none of the buttery flavor you might expect. It did melt nicely. It was in a small cast iron serving dish, with halved cherry tomatoes and some mild green peppers. it lacked the pickled garlic and sunflower seed pesto that the menu promised. Speaking for myself, nothing came to the table piping hot, even in the cast iron serving pieces. Nothing was an assult on the taste buds (except for the tartare) , nor was anything memorable. The menu reads a lot better than the actual food tastes. I am not sure if the missing food items would have helped. I realize that the weather has been bad, but if something is on the menu and not going to be on my plate, let me know and I can work around that. We were asked about seeing a dessert menu, but it was difficult to think they were being sincere about offering it as they picked up tables and chairs around us. When I picked up my car at Valet, I was never asked for the $5.00. Not sure what that was about. It was a pleasant evening because the people I was dining with made it pleasant. The food was stunningly adequate.
(2)
Tracie R.
Great music venue! I was lucky enough to catch Lucinda Williams there and it was fantastic. The food was great, too.
(5)
Laura F.
I visited City Winery last night and was very impressed. We only had apps and wine (which were very good - risoto balls, anyone??), so I can't speak to the concert hall in the back, but we did get a tour and it is beautiful. Some folks have complained about parking; our tour guide mentioned that as soon as construction is complete they are going to add a parking lot with space for about 60 cars, to alleviate that "forced valet" option. Which I have to agree, was probably the worst part of the visit. We also got to see the private dining rooms which would be great for small events, and we saw the room where they will eventually make their own wine. Multiple outdoor seating areas have great views of downtown. I also heard a rumor about adding brunch to the menu sometime soon?? This place is a great addition to Nashville!
(4)
Joan W.
I really wanted to give this place more stars, but I can't for a few reasons: 1) as everyone else mentioned, the $7 for valet is way too pricey. I can see charging that if it really is a perk, but since you basically have no other parking options, it's not a perk, it's a requirement. Most other places in Nashville have free valet, and I'm willing to tip well if that's the case. But $7 on top of then a tip? that's kind of crazy for these parts. And while I'm willing to do it for a show, but that price will definitely impact whether or not I decide to go to City Winery for dinner. 2) The food was good (my chicken dish was very good) but some things were overpriced. "Smoked Avocado Dip" was just guacamole with chips (as a previous commenter noted, the chips were way too weak to hold up to the chunky guac, too) and wasn't worth price tag based on the serving size. It was a good evening, though, and it seems to be a good alternative for Nashville's live music venues -- I liked the upscale feeling and the ability to eat and drink while suffering through opening acts waiting for the headliner : ) It seemed they were really trying to impress since they're new, and the staff was conscientious. Over all, though, I probably won't be back until there's a concert I can't live without. It was an expensive night, and I'm not sure it was worth the price tag.
(3)
Mike A.
A beautifully created night spot. It's a perfect 10 on the "cool" rankings. However I probably won't be back and here's why. I went to a show there recently in the upstairs portion. For "regular folks" like me, drinking the the basic house wines are plenty adequate. That way you can get your cost per glass under $10 and not feel like you're getting ripped off too bad. Well, the waitress explains that they don't offer their house selections upstairs. You have to order from the rest of the wines starting at $40 and going way up from there. This is BS and they know it. They don't offer their cheaper menu to patrons of a show because they know those people are a captive audience. They aren't going anywhere and they are going to order something, so why not put the screws to them and remove the cheaper portion of the menu? Great business sense! Well, you got me once but that will be the last time. Additionally, my tab came out to $59 after I ordered only the one $40 bottle of wine. They were trying to run us out of the place the second the show ended so I didn't dispute it. I just signed it and left. Too bad because it's such a neat place. They won't miss me as I'm not their target customer. The whole thing was a racket.
(1)
Susan R.
A fabulous brunch - grits with shrimp, French toast, frittata- yummy. Full bar. The perfect Sunday morning
(5)
Ishmael L.
We managed to get ticket for 2 of the 3 sold-out Jason Isbell shows here in December. We were really pumped, because I managed to get great seats on the first night (4 seats back from the stage). The wife is a huge fan, so she was incredibly happy about the seats and the show. Unfortunately, we happened to be seated next to a VIP investor in City Winery, who didn't happen to know dooku about the talent on the stage. Typical bloated businessmen with trophy wives (one of which was Googling Jason Isbell during the show and blurted out that he had "Played with the Drive By Truckers"). You know these kind of businessmen: hang out at cigar bars, eat at Mortons, and live in the Governors Club. Thankfully however, they realized that they didn't really care for the artist on the stage (other than the fact that someone told them how "great" Isbell is, and they had to see him for prestige reasons), so they left half-way through his set. Bonus for us, we ended up front row! Onto the place itself! 1) Service. Our server was great! In fact, I don't think there is a bad server in the place. They manage to be unobtrusive yet attentive at the same time. They also manage to maneuver through the seating area without disrupting the show (the same can not be said of bloated businessmen!). 2) Venue. The venue is really classy, clean, has a great feel and even better sound. Given the tasteful use of recycled and new wood both inside and out, the backdrop for the stage is a bit corny (City Winery logo on plywood set against a gray Corian panel), But who cares. You get a great show! 3) Food. This is where they need some help. We just had a few appetizers. Risotto balls and truffle fries. Neither was all that tasty. They weren't bad. They just lacked flavor. Maybe the entrees are better? But the prices aren't that bad. You'd hope they have some better stuff to go with the great wine options. Speaking of which... 4) Wine. Well, wine is their schtick, so let's talk about it. We tried a few of the "on-tap" wines. The Syrah was good. The Malbec is better. They sell by the glass, by the carafe or half-carafe. The prices aren't bad on these, UNTIL YOU SEE THE CHECK!!! This may only apply to the the house wines which are dispensed from barrels, but they charge you separately for the Liquor By The Drink (LBTD) tax, which is 15%. I'd like to say I KNEW if it only applied to tap wines, but our server (who was otherwise great) served us tap wine on our second night instead of the bottle wine I ordered. To do the math for you, if you order the $42 carafe of Malbec, you'll be paying $53 after 15% LBTD tax and another 9.25 % sales tax. ANYWHERE else in Nashville, brewers, servers and distillers include this tax into the price of a served drink. There's a tiny footnote on the back of the menu that mentions this tax. So, if you don't like surprises, be sure to ask your server if the tax applies to all beverages, or just barrel wine. If I could sum it all up under pros and cons: Pros: Great wine, great service, great venue, excellent staff all around, good prices on food. Cons: Wine taxes are brutal, food needs a bit more flavor, valet parking when the show gets out looks to be a real CF. But I don't see a solution to that last issue. I'll be back for sure. It's a great new place!
(4)
John P.
This is a great venue for a concert but the food leaves a lot to be desired. I've been there a few times, and the risotto balls are good but everything else I've tried is unimpressive and expensive. I'll definitely come back for a concert but I will dine elsewhere beforehand.
(3)
Ann K.
I will start by saying I hope they make it and I am surprised they are not more together being a chain(4) in major metropolitan areas. So to start there was a bit of confusion upon arrival due to the fact that we had a reservation in the restaurant and not the music venue. Some how within 10 minutes (time it took us to be taken to our seats in the music venue side only to find out that is not where the reservations were for) our reservation for 8 was lost and we were now going to have to wait 3o minutes to get seated. We finally got that worked out so the wait was only 15 minutes, ok. The server was very nice but not overly attentive. We waited for our food for 1.5 hours, then it came out over a 15 minute time frame and for some it was cold. The food was mediocre at best, the pizza was cold, the duck tacos were gamy and the burger was just ok. Oh did I mention we had to ask 2X to get some silverware for 2 of the people at the table. After dinner and coffee we waited another 40 minutes to get our bill. Parking was not an issue for us as we took a lyft but I have to say upon departure and trying to get a taxi the people at the Valet stand were very, very rude. So my experience was not fun, I did not feel like a patron but more like a nuisance. I have to say the experience inside the music venue may be better but I do not think I will spend the $$$'s to try again.
(2)
Amy C.
Great food, sommelier David was awesome! Very interesting venue, Joan Osborne was singing in adjacent room and sounded good! Overall delicious food and great atmosphere, the room got a bit loud but it was lively and fun.
(5)
Derek D.
Went for a show with the Americana Music Fest. Excellent service, good food. Limited choice of beers in the menus though. Seemed like 50% were IPAs, and I'm over those. Not many other choices.
(4)
Russell V.
I attended a concert at City Winery on July 9,2015. The layout, decor, and overall space is promising for a concert. They of course have an incredible wine selection, upscale bar food, and descent amenities to offer you during your visit. Although the positives for City Winery are plenteous, I would say there are a few areas they kept me from giving them 5 stars. The first opportunity I found was with the valet. Although I read previous post about the price, which is $5, my concern was simply with the staff. These people are your first experience with the venue and they were very unfriendly and uninviting to my wife and I. Yes, you took my car and brought it back to me at the nights end but try and be as upbeat and excited as the workers inside the facility. Secondly, would have to deal with the food. I will openly admit that these opportunities fall solely on personal preference and not solid data but I believe there were some concerns. First, if you are offering a special, only allowed for the restaurant and not the stage area, don't put it on the projectors and show it to me every four minutes. Secondly, 98% of the food offered was not sharable but was also too large. I understand I'm at a restaurant but at the same time I am not. I have experienced in other locations shareable, medium size dishes worked better. Lastly, I didn't enjoy my food. My wife and I purchased the truffle fries and risotto balls for an appetizer then a hamburger, which was a burnt on the outside and raw in the middle, and a chicken dish which my wife enjoyed. The dining is attempting to be upscale and new age but seemed to miss the mark with each selections. The fries come with a garlic mayo which does nothing except take away from the fry. The risotto ball, which should come with marinara sauce, is accompanied with BBQ sauce and spicy mustard. Both offering nothing to highlight the flavors of their counterparts. You can see the definite potential with City Winery but these are just a few areas where attention could be shown. Lastly, on a side note. If you are going to a concert and truly care about your view and sound quality, I would definitely recommend forgetting the front sections of sits. Although this is usually my section of choice, the venue and atmosphere of food, wine, and conversation with your neighbors really demands you sit in the second section and back. Thank you City Winery, Victor Wooten and friends for an amazing night. Honestly, despite the few comments here in this review I look forward to returning and recommending your venue to others.
(4)
Inessa M.
There was plenty of free parking on the nearby streets but the area did not look safe to me so I paid $5 for a valet parking. We came early and enjoyed our dinner there. The flat bread had a generous amount of goat cheese and mushrooms. I was glad I brought a mini flesh light with me because it would have been a challenge to read the menu without it. Our waitress was very attentive and our overall experience was very positive.
(4)
Yourie T.
I was so looking forward to loving this place- but sadly, no. And I was so looking forward to seeing one of my favorite bands- Toad the Wet Sprocket. Again, sadly no. This was my experience: 1. Bought VIP balcony tix $60. Seemed reasonable at the time, now I feel dirty. 2. Ordered the $15 burger. Asked for it medium rare, came out medium well. Tasted more like a $5 burger. Couldn't talk to our server about it because he was busy with other tables. Only ate it because I was starving. 3. The band comes on stage after the the opener- the opener dude was good especially if you like hearing the same sad song over and over again. He was however, funny between songs- whatever he said because the audience on the floor laughed. 4. Toad takes the stage. Expectations high. Unfortunately, I was highly disappointed. The sound/acoustics sucked. And maybe it's because I was in the VIP balcony seats- it was very difficult to hear and understand the vocals. The band was too loud and the vocals were buried. 5. Toad played a lot of their new stuff off their new album. Not a lot of the stuff that made them famous. I was surprised at the lack of their older and more popular music they DIDN'T play. 6. Because of this experience, I probably will not eat or see another show at City Winery for a long while and Toad has broken my heart. I left feeling empty (crappy burger) and not just in my stomach and wallet- my heart as well. I spoke to a few others standing in the valet line and they agreed. They didn't play nearly enough of their older stuff. It hurts me to write this, but $60 on tickets and $50 dinner (burger, two glasses of wine + tip) and I feel dirty. I took tonight off from work for this. Not worth it what so ever. Not at all. Essentially I lost money. Good bye and good night Toad the Wet Sprocket and City Winery. You both were a HUGE disappointment.
(1)
Hye Eun C.
I had bought concert tickets here and decided to eat dinner here last minute, as well. First impression walking in: gorgeous ambiance. The lounge area is very open with lots of wood finishings and a round staircase surrounded by wine bottles. Very pretty. Our dinner included: fried risotto balls, chicken fricasse, pork belly, lemon olive oil cake, and a few glasses of wine. Overall, I was pretty pleased with the meal, especially the pork belly which was crisp and succulent. The risotto balls were also good and reminded me of falafel. The sweet jam that comes with the lemon olive oil cake was the best part of the dish, but next time I'll probably order the chocolate stout cake which I couldn't stop drooling over from looking at it from the table next to me. Dinner here is definitely not cheap. Our meal (for 2) came out to be $140 without tip. Plus, they charge an exorbitant amount of tax since they charge you liquor tax as well. Why the establishment (a "winery") doesn't pay it itself is kind of strange. Also, valet parking is $5. Good luck finding parking elsewhere. The concert itself was pretty good, although considering that this establishment hosts many musicians and artists, the acoustics weren't the best. Maybe it was an off night. Overall, I'm glad I was able to have the full dining experience here although next time there's a show, I'll probably eat dinner elsewhere first; It's hard to justify the price.
(4)
Kristie F.
I went to the City Winery during my one day Nashville whirlwind. I went into town for the glaad concert for Love and Acceptance to see Meghan Linsey. As others have said parking is pretty impossible unless you do valet - which is $5. Don't try to park in the adjacent lot unless you want to be stopped by security in a golf cart. Since I had a ViP ticket, I was escorted to my seat. I don't know if the tables are always that close together, but I am on the lower end of a "normal" weight range and I felt like it was a tight squeeze. Not just on each side but even scooting my chair out. The person at the table behind me could not have pulled his chair out simultaneously with me. We were that close. The bathrooms were okay. They ran out of paper towels and they stayed out through the evening. The wine list is not as impressive as the name would lead you to believe. No Moscato anywhere on the list if you can believe that... Not even available by the bottle. I am such a Moscato fanatic (my dog is named after it if that gives you any indication), I would have bought a whole bottle despite being a two drink max girl. But alas it was not meant to be. I wound up getting a burger with those truffle fingerlings with some Chardonnay (sweet, but moscato you were not). The food was... Ok. I hadn't eaten all day. All I had had was caffeine. Caffeine and adrenaline. And somehow I didn't even manage to eat half the burger. I don't know... And I love truffle oil. Truly do. On fries. Tater tots. Grilled cheese. You name it. But, I found these needed salt and some (gasp!) ketchup to go with as they lacked seasoning. Service during the show was good. And quiet. She literally managed to get me my bill without me noticing she had placed it down. I also love the water at the table - reminds me of Bailey's Chocolate Bar in St Louis. It also saves the waiters time. But after the concert, the service was not so nice. A hostess came up to me to ask me where I got where I was wearing. She said another hostess absolutely loved it. I told her it wasn't a dress but a top and skirt but that only the petticoat was still available. She huffed off. Told the other hostess and not so nice commentary ensued after as if they didn't believe me when I said it was no longer available - it sold out circa 2013... Not making it up. The same girl didn't recognize Jamie O Neal later and it wasn't until someone informed her of who it was that she let them up the stairs... Whoopsies! They were quick getting my car out from the valet too.
(4)
Ira W.
Great music venue. Had their personal pizza which was very good. Wines are over-priced. This is the first establishment I've been in that triples the retail price of the bottle and then adds the TN liquor tax on top of that making the bottle four times the retail price.
(3)
Megan K.
My initial review on 5.6.15 was very ho-hum. That being said, I was very quickly contacted by and apologized to by manager, Emilee. She explained the extenuating circumstances of the day I visited, and was clear, concise and very sincere. This speaks volumes about the impression they're working on, and the relationship they're building with the Nashville community. I was incredibly impressed with the initiative and honest approach and am genuinely excited to return and experience City Winery once again. This follow-up had been truly rewarding for me to witness--I've told several people how impressed I am with the response from the business.
(5)
Carly B.
Let's talk parking: valet cost $5. The only free parking is located to the left of the valet lines. There are about 4 spots that don't have "no parking - tow zone" signs above them along the chain link fence. The other spots clearly state you will be towed. The valet told my friend it was okay to park there despite the signs and she wasn't towed, but it's rather confusing on your first visit. F&B: pricy. Drinks & appetizers run about $10 a price. Entrees are $15+. For ballers on a budget, this won't be a regular stop. I went with the cocktail described by the waiter as the strongest available: Tri-Spritz. It did not disappoint in flavor or alcohol %. I also couldn't resist the truffle fries that were of course uber delicious. 3 stars for lame parking; food was 4 stars.
(3)
Tyler B.
I went to City Winery with 6 other girls for brunch today. After reading all the other negative reviews on yelp, I was a bit apprehensive, especially about the valet parking and the liquor tax, but I promised myself I would keep an open mind. I'm happy to report that I was able to park my own car in the parking lot. (Apparently they don't have valet parking at brunch so I was able to save $5-$8 there, according to varying other reviews.) I also did not order an alcoholic beverage, but the girls who did had double the tax on their bill. City Winery, paying your liquor taxes is a cost of doing business. Shame on you for passing that onto your customers! I got the huevos rancheros. They were okay. Not impressive. Please note that they put hot sauce on several of their brunch items although it is not listed on the menu. Several of the girls had to send their items back because they can't eat spicy food. Once everyone was done with their meals, it took an hour for us to receive our checks. Yes, an HOUR. I'm not exaggerating. I timed it. The other girls were caught up in conversation so I didn't say anything but had I been alone or with my husband, I would not have let that fly. The ambience here is nice. I love the decor and atmosphere, so I'm going to give it another shot. Probably for dinner next time.
(3)
Kayla W.
The food was just okay, nothing special. The service was terrible! So slow and they just didnt pay attention. Don't waste your time or money. But the whiskey 101 class we took there was great!
(2)
Adam V.
My wife and I hit City Winery last Friday to see Matthew Sweet play. This is already one of my favorite music venues in Nashville. First off, it's just awesome to be able to sit and have a drink while watching a concert. I think I'm getting too old to stand throughout a show. The service was very good and I was impressed with the wine and beer list. We were told that they would actually have wine for sale that they personally made (as any winery should) within a few months. We weren't sure about the menu because the show started at 10:00, but they were still serving. We had already eaten, but did order dessert. It was a peach dish and was very good--reminded me of creme brulee a bit. The menu appeared to have an excellent selection and you're probably looking at about $20 per dish. However, there are appetizers and desserts if you don't want to a whole meal (or, you could just drink). This place is great. Check out their calendar as they do have a diverse list of acts. I look forward to trying their food on the next visit and could easily see myself adding a fifth star.
(4)
James M.
My girlfriend and I tried City Winery for a Griffin House show in mid-November one Wednesday night. Mostly we wanted to see the new concert behemoth of SoBro (I still hate the name SoBro). First off, the atmosphere. This place is beyond superlatives beautiful and tasteful, all at the same time. They've made it obvious it's a nicer place without overwhelming the concert-goer seeking to just enjoy a show with a nice glass of wine. They'll start making their own wine here in 2015 so we'll be interested to go back and see even more of this gorgeous venue. The wine. I'm just starting to understand different types of wines and an amateur at best in describing what I want in a wine. The waiter was well-trained and did not lead us astray when we were making our selection from the multiple wines on tap, available for a glass, and those available by a bottle. We tried a couple of these before we left and weren't disappointed. The food. It was good, not great. I had the leg of lamb pizza, which was tasty with a good mix of spices, crunchy pine nuts, and melty cheese. She got the Chicken Fricassee which was good but reminded me of much less expensive items I've had elsewhere. The food was tasty and good to munch on during a show or for dinner. I'm probably going to have dinner elsewhere the next time we visit City Winery, however. Pros: Amazing building and predictably great wine selection. Cons: Food was kind of expensive and didn't blow me away. The parking was pretty terrible. They offered paid valet or you can park on the streets, which is not the best option in this neighborhood. Overall: This a relaxing, romantic place to take a date for a concert. You will win friends and influence people if you bring someone from out of town in for a concert. If you can stand the parking situation and high-priced food, you'll be elated to make this spot one of your regulars!
(4)
Heather R.
Have you ever fallen in love? Felt your heart race, and excitement course through you, and all you can think about is your next encounter with the object of your affections? That is how I will describe the truffle fries at City Winery. I will be honest, that I can only speak to the truffle fries and wine, but, on the basis of truffle fries alone, I am granting this place four stars. They are perfectly cooked wedges of potato, seasoned with truffle, parmesan, and prosciutto; they are a culinary romance of the tongue, so much so that, after splitting an order with a friend, we decided to promptly order a second order. Following that, we started plotting how we could get the waiters to bring us additional free orders. And therein lies the problem. City Winery is somewhat like a beautiful gold-digger, tempting you and asking for everything you have, all at the same time. It is so pricey that you (at least if you make a teacher's salary) are left wanting more. More free parking spaces (valet is $5), more alcohol (the cheapest wine glass was, I believe, $8), and more food (one order of fries was $8). The vibe is cool, the servers are great, and the truffle fries are absolutely worth the trip; however, don't come here for a quick and cheap rendezvous.
(4)
Steve S.
I went to see Art Alexakis lead singer of Everclear and a special guest Leigh Nash from Six Pence. Great Venue. Based from New York this is the 4th location. They will start making their own wine in a few months. They just been around since October 2014. This was dinner and music and great atmosphere. I found this show through "bands in town" app on my phone and popped up. Glad I did and glad Art picked this place. My server was great. Connor. Seemed all the servers that night were on it, when looking around. I actually came in with my wheelchair and they accommodated me. Staff was nice. I was greeted and offered a beverage. That came out fast and he had knowledge of wine and suggested. Food came out fast and flat bread was plenty big!! Enough for 1 or three to share. But for a 2 hour show it lasted me the night. They do serve Sat and Sun brunch. Burgers look amazing and will have to try next time I'm in. Their regular menu is different than their "Show menu" so keep that in mind. You won't find a burger if you're craving during a show. Save that for lunch or dinner time on a non show night. Pros: -great for friends, pop in and have a glass of wine, or something to eat. great atmosphere and cool hang out. - Great artists too they have playing there from all around big or small. -State of the art sound system, digital and Line Array speaker system. -You can see no matter where you sit. Cons: -parking limited. Valet is $5. Nice its cheap to park but if I'm already coming in to spend $10 on a glass of wine or more plus a meal walking out paying over 50 bucks. At least cover parking if you're limited!!? But again, 5 bucks isn't much. -Food looks great but flat bread I got was bland. I had to spice it up. But don't get me wrong it was great, just needed little more flavor! Over all great experience and will be back!
(4)
Brooke R.
I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately I was very disappointed. Our service was lacking. The waiter barely checked on us and we had to ask other servers for wine and water refills. The sides were lacking in flavor. The fried zucchini needed salt and a dipping sauce or something. It was extremely bland. The entrees were okay but nothing special. Very over priced for what we got. We took some out of town friends here and we're really upset that we wasted a night going here. I definitely won't go back and would not recommend. We only went for dinner and didn't see a concert.
(2)
Sheena T.
I was sold when I discovered they offer wine on tap! Yes please! I actually came in on Saturday night for dinner and then returned again yesterday. I was impressed with this place, and have only gone to the restaurant area. It is cozy and welcoming with wine barrels directly built into the wall above the bar. They also have a private room that can hold 10-15 people. When you sit down, you are greeted with a taste of white wine that is delicious and the perfect start to the meal. The wine list is crazy long and separate, but I stuck with the smaller portion of the wines on tap that can be found in the food menu. The syrah is delicious and you can get it in 3 different portion sizes. For food, I sampled the risotto balls and the Mezze plate with multiple dips. I liked them both, but probably wouldn't order them again. Luckily there are tons of other appetizers that look delicious and will try next time! For entrees, I sampled the fish specials, and they offered barracuda which was unique and delicious! Last night I had the lamb loin and my SO had the flat iron steak, both were great, but I enjoyed the lamb best. They also offer cheese and meat plates and flat breads as well. Everything was very delicious and reasonably priced too. My lamb was only $26.00! City Winery is fantastic and I haven't even seen a show yet! There are a few things that could use some improvement; the $7.00 valet is pricey, and I think some of the appetizers need some slight tweaking, but overall I very much enjoyed it and know I will be back and soon!
(4)
Jim V.
Went to City Winery for an event last weekend. Besides the sub par food, the atmosphere really rounds out your entire experience. Couldn't really see myself frequenting to this establishment if I didn't have a reason too. Examples, event/concert. The drinks were over priced and the food was just ok. My girlfriend and I decided to split a flatbread. The crust was exceptional. However, the flavors that were included didn't really compliment each other. Hopefully I can give this place another try because it really does have the potential.
(3)
Melanie B.
I enjoyed my time at the City Winery. The menu is limited, but nice. Also, the items are a bit pricey for dinner. However, there are more affordable items like the appetizers. We ordered the Margherita Flat Bread, and it was delicious! The portion size was large enough for a dinner portion. The parmesan truffle fries were yummy as well. I was disappointed to see they did not have sangria on the menu. However, when I told the bartender, she whipped me up something on the fly, and it was incredible!! They need to add it to the menu!!! The service was great. We also saw an improv show that evening, and it was a great time. I would love to go back for another show. It was a great venue and nice place for a date!
(4)
Penny W.
The food was good & the waitress was very polite & attentive. I only gave 3 stars due to the fact they were out of their key prosecco wine for their brunch, & they didn't have any sweeter wines, all dry! When I think of a winery, I thought I was going to get a taste of Nashville wine & possibly bring home a few bottles. Not the case. The price of the breakfast would have been $63 without our coupon deal which is crazy! I don't think we'll be back.
There's too much against this place for me to give it a higher review. I want to like it more! My first time was confusing-I didn't know where I was supposed to go, and no one greeted me when I came inside. I had to go up to a hostess and ask, and she was not the friendliest. Seemed like I was inconveniencing her for not knowing how things worked. It wasn't crowded, otherwise I would have watched other people. Things I like: environment is very nice. Love the Isle of Printing piece on the wall. Acoustics were good (not that I'm a pro). Service was attentive. Spicy pork tacos were tasty. Things I don't like: Paying for parking. Encountered a rude hostess (Won't get into that story). Tacos were good but had to be eaten w/ fork & knife, which kind of defeats the purpose of tacos... Also, SO not worth $12. Very pricey overall for just ok items. TINY tables, uncomfortable chairs.
(2)
Jacoby D.
Such a cool music venue! I have not had their wine or their food, but I am happy City Winery brought this unique music venue to Nashville. From what I observed, the table service was very professional and nice. Only concern: the venue is not in a location with a lot of street parking close by...or in an area I would feel comfortable parking in. We were pretty much required to use valet for $7.
(5)
Sissy D.
Great place to catch a live music show! Fair ticketing and great prices....cheap valet parking. Eats and drinks are somewhat overpriced but getting a great seat for your favorite musician makes it all work out. Pros- fair ticketing, clean, lots of drink choices, pretty good menu of food, they don't give you grief about taking a vid. Cons-sort of pricey drinks, they pack you like sardines at little tables and its reminiscent of "family style" seating in fact you share table water, sometimes hard for servers to hear you. So the seating is 3 tiny tables (if not more!) pushed together and 6 seats at those tables. Just hope you sit next to someone nice! As you will be VERY close, actually its ridiculously close. End seats are the best I think. The shows never seem to drag out like they might at other venues. They seem to stick to the time very close.
(4)
Bridgette C.
I have only ever been here for shows. And even though it hasn't been open long I've been to several. I know there's a restaurant and bar space out front (the live music venue is in the back) but I haven't eaten there or even sat there so this review is focused solely on the gigantic slice of heaven that is the stage in the back. Despite the large space the venue manages to be intimate, and the artists they book are not only talented but may not be your usual fare. Many of them are older, classic performers, with amazing stories, or newcomers with some serious lyrical soul. The acoustics are fantastic as well, and there's something about being able to just sit and enjoy some great food, drink, and entertainment without needed to dance or run around. Its relaxing and enjoyable. The staff is incredible in their ability to move around quickly without blocking your view of the stage or having to shout at you to ask if you want another drink. And the drinks and food are just wonderful. I am a huge fan of their beet and bacon flatbread and their burger. They have so many delicious wines to choose from, as well as other alcoholic offerings, but if you love wine I recommend a bottle or two for a good show. Most of the shows start by 8pm and are done by 11pm. The servers are great at getting your tabs to you before the end of the show so you're not scrambling. Its really just an overall fantastic dining and musical experience. They offer free valet most nights, and even at soldout shows are great about getting your cars quickly. The whole experience is just so laid back and enjoyable, and I've never had a bad time. I highly recommend taking in a show here and coming early to eat. The tickets for the concerts are usually more than reasonable, as is the food. It's a great way to spend a Nashville night.
(5)
Robin M.
Nice atmosphere, mediocre food. My wine drinking friends sermed to enjoy the wine. Excellent service. We sent a salad back that was soo horrid I'd be embarrassed to serve my dog. But they took it back with no hesitation and without charge. My "medium rare" lamb was so rare it was barely lukewarm. Again...they took it back for more fire. When it came back...hardly more cooked... it was only tolerable. An attempt at some "interesting" flavor combinations was mostly unsuccessful. Someone is trying too hard. Sapphire Restaurant in the Factory succeeds in the style in which City Winery currently fails. I won't be back for the food.
(2)
Paul K.
Reviewing this mostly as a music venue: This is one of those reviews that it's kind of painful to look at that two stars, but I'll try to justify it since there's no 2.4 star option. Valet parking - despise it, despise it more when it takes forever in the freezing cold because of a valet issue, which it did after the show. Friends bought us tickets to see a show there. We had front-table seats, this should have been great. Unfortunately the assigned seating up there meant I spent the time faced almost completely away from the performers. I was jammed next to a couple I didn't know, had very little space behind me, so turning my chair was not particularly a feasible option. Very little room behind or to the sides. I took a break from looking at the stage after a while because my neck hurt so much from craning it. I noticed there were plenty of free and open seats and tables, and the aisles they had constructed were huge so they could have given people a lot more space at the tables simply by not allowing 4 people to walk side by side in the aisles. If we'd just had enough space to turn the chairs 90 degrees in the viewing situation would have been pleasant. We were packed in the sardine fashion, which was absurd because there were plenty of free tables. Got up a couple of times to hit the restroom, just stayed standing off at the side of the stage until I felt like getting into the table pit again. The food was alternately great and just ok, but the prices for everything were on the pricey side. I'll remind I was there for the performance, not for the food. My neck, back, and ears were annoyed by nearly everything at about five songs in. Basically a slightly layout change to the tables would solve most of it, open seating after a certain point would have been nice, ability to get the car parked and unparked sans valet would be great. By the time I left I was in a mood. For a music venue they could be so great, but it's just not set up for that and the way they have the up front seating. It was a very expensive, neck pain inducing night. Maybe I should just say I'm old, this music venue made me grumpy. Get off my lawn. Food was tasty though. Not on my lawn!
(2)
Dennis I.
I had truffle fries for an appetizer. Great stuff with cheese and bacon. My meal was pork braciola and that was tremendous! It is a rolled tenderloin stuffed with spinach, cheese and a white bean. All covered in a marinara sauce. Sides were potatoes augratin an a brussel sprout warm slaw. The brussel sprout was done perfectly. Really good meal that was unique and flavorful. We had stout chocolate cake which was good but not an OMG experience. Atmosphere is very pleasant and service was excellent. Waiter was knowledgeable and interacted with us on a personal level.
(4)
Jennie D.
Really enjoyed this venue , food, and service. We will definitely return! Had 1/2 carafe of wine, the risotto balls and a flatbread. All were very good, brought out promptly and reasonably priced. Didn't mind the $5 valet as that seems cheap to me and love not fooling with parking, worth the money everyday. It was slightly odd sharing a table with people since we had 2 tickets but it was a table for 4. However, we chatted and had a lovely time. Think we may have found our go to date night spot especially when a favorite is in town. Love living in Nashviile!
(5)
Aisha M.
I really wanted to love this place.Unfortunately, it missed the great mark for me. Let me start with the pros... Beautiful ambiance, happy hour specials, great event venue, solid menu The restaurant itself is gorgeous. There is an upstairs event space, a spacious bar area and a great stage set up. A group of 6 of us ordered dinner while watching the Marc Cohn show last week. Dinner: Everyone enjoyed the food. The service was less than impressive though. The server seemed to be overwhelmed by the tables he had. It took forever for him to take orders for cocktails. Then an even longer forever to come back with cocktails. Then add on some more forever to take out orders. Nothing ruins a beautiful dining experience like subpar service. You can correct an underwhelming dish, but underwhelming service can ruin an experience for me. Having been a server/bartender for a number of years I am both very critical (internally) but also forgiving (externally) when it comes to service. I am never rude, even if the service is subpar. That being said, it is an absolute pet peeve of mine when a server cannot keep up with who ordered what at a table of 6. In an establishment as nice as City Winery that just should not be the case. It is a complete moodkiller for the server to have people at the table check off what they had on a printed out receipt. It is even more annoying when the server encourages the table to split the check evenly because "it's easier that way". Unless there is a policy against separate checks that is indicated to a party at the outset, it is the server's responsibility to separate checks. It is a pain in the a** to do so, but that is what is expected. Ultimately we ended up splitting it evenly because after the 2nd return everyone was irritated. I will note that the show was over completely before we even got to the even split of the checks, though everyone was done eating before that. All and all, I would go back again and hope that this experience was an aberration from the norm.
(3)
Jonathan B.
Definitely will have to come back and take in a show. Atmosphere: The entrance reminds me of a theater hall - which it pretty much is. We went the day after Christmas so the crowds were extremely low - like maybe 1 or 2 other groups with ours so we were able to enjoy an empty restaurant. You should be able to park on the street but it can be sketchy. (This place is next to the Nashville Rescue Mission - I think they tow if you park there.) Valet is available as well. Service: Since there was not a crowd we didn't have to wait. We didn't even have reservations so I couldn't tell you how the peak hours are. They sat us near the bar but we could still see everything happening. The food came out promptly. Food: We decided to go with the prefix menu with the wine pairing. I would highly recommend doing so as it was delicious, and the servings were surprisingly large. (Make sure to ask if you've got food allergies as they may substitute some dishes for you.) However the wine pairings you can leave out. I would suggest if you're familiar with your wines that you just choose yourself. Some of the pairings were a bit overwhelming. Overall: I enjoyed the food very much. I was hesitant when this place first opened because it was next to the Nashville Rescue Mission but knew eventually I would have to give it a shot. I'm glad I did.
(4)
Scott T.
I'll echo what some other reviews have stated as far as seeing shows at City Winery. The tables are absolutely small and the chairs are way too close together. If you want to actually see the stage you'll have to sit uncomfortably sideways while packed in there like sardines. Sitting at tables that small, and in chairs crammed that close together while seated at tables with strangers isn't my thing. At all. I'll reserve attendance here in the future for those very few things that I absolutely can't live without seeing. The valet thing. The not-free valet. Annoying. We were warned beforehand and parked on the street in the neighborhood. Not the safest feeling neighborhood at night but it sure beats waiting in the huge line we saw after the show. If you valet you're gonna have to wait a while to get out of there. The food isn't cheap. The drinks really aren't cheap. I think the beer list consists of 8 choices? That's total. That's not just the draft list. Or the bottles list. So when I ordered one of the beers off the list (a stout) and something other than what I ordered showed up I questioned it (after several minutes of trying to flag a waiter down). Supposedly they had run out of the stout I ordered and sent this other stout as a replacement. With no explanation. Or apology. It was weird. If you're going to have a beer list that small at least make sure you have the few that are on the damn menu. And ask if it's ok with the customer before sending out a substitute. So for that...2 stars.
(2)
Robert B.
Music venue is great Service was way off again! Party of six, 2 meals come out lukewarm, the other 4 plates start to trickle out 17 minutes later. They tried to deliver plates that we did not order three different times. Ordered espresso and the cookie plate, espresso comes out Luke warm and cookies come out 14 minutes later. It seems like the kitchen really let the wait staff down again. We left 20% because we know how hard servers work but we will not be ordering anything to eat here again The people that were crushed next to us also had the same horrible service. We were all laughing about it by desert. Six different main courses ordered and the standout was the shaved kale salad....big miss on the food but it is hard to get a clear feel for the food when all the plates showed up lukewarm or cold Super disappointing! Saw one review stating "best food in Nashville" my advise is go to City House, Sinema or Adele's and then recant your statement respectfully
(2)
Helene C.
My third time here and still the parking problem ruins the experience. I don't feel safe parking anywhere but valet (it's a long walk to other lots) and don't mind paying for it. However, last night I spent 20 mintues getting into valet and 45 minutes getting out. Since there was a late show scheduled, the actual show, while magnificent, was 75 mintues. I spent almost as much time waiting for my car.
(1)
Mod F.
We really wanted to like this place since they are getting some music on the books that we like, and want to see, but I will be hard pressed to return. We have been to City Winery twice now. The first time we went, we did as the website had suggested which was to come between 6-7 for dinner before the show. WAY too early, as it was awkward to be in the music venue with all these empty tables around you. It just felt weird. The food wasn't that great either. The only thing we ordered that we liked was the truffle fingerling potatoes. The flatbread was soggy, and the cheese plate was underwhelming and expensive for the stingy portions. We were disappointed that a winery boasting such a large list doesn't sell any bottle of wine for under $40. The second time we went, we ate dinner beforehand and decided to just have some wine during the show. We ordered a 2010 Malbec that she opened right when she got to the table (in the dark - you can't see!) and poured for us to taste, BUT we were never shown the bottle until she had poured it out and walked away. It was 2011. Not a big deal for inexpensive wine, but if I had been buying a $200 bottle that was wrong, I would have been incensed. When we got the bill, (it had slipped past us on our previous visit) we noticed that they charged the Liquor By The Drink tax that EVERY other restaurant in the ENTIRE STATE builds into their pricing, but City Winery charges it ON TOP of your already overpriced drink. So a $40 is really $46, a $15 whiskey is $17.25 plus sales tax etc...it is in small print on the menu, but you feel gouged already, and then that tax just seems like a big F-You. Paying for rude valets who don't even unlock the door for you, much less open it, plus overpriced food that isn't good, and really overpriced drinks just made us feel nickeled and dimed. Unlike others, we did have good service inside the venue. Again, I wanted to like this place - the upstairs patio has beautiful views of downtown and it's a nice space, but we just feel like it's not worth what you end up spending for an evening there.
(2)
Karri B.
I went there last night with a group to see Johnny Swim play and it is a great venue to hear/see a band and sit down (the older I get the more I like the idea of sitting down). The venue area is spacious but intimate and our seats were great. The wine selection was good and the pours were above average sized. I didn't eat, but the food coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled great! Valet parking is $5 and although most people valeted, the line to get the cars after the show moved quickly. It's a unique venue and worth going to to see a show!
(4)
Savannah R.
First, I want to start by saying that before I write a review I give establishments ample visits to earn the rating. I've now been to City Winery 3 times and remain less than impressed. SERVICE: The service at City Winery is either on overdrive and in your face or non existent and there doesn't seem to be a happy medium. During my last visit to City Winery on Friday (upstairs in the "lounge") our waiter asked for our drink orders and food orders at the same time. Our food came out first, after about 20 min (without even water on the table) and then about 10 min later, we got our drinks. Also, on a previous visit I was denied a taste of one of CW's on-tap wines because the bar was "too busy". PRICE: Pricing for shows is competitive. PARKING: Valet - I've been charged $5 sometimes then they didn't collect payment another time..not sure what the deal is, but they never seem to have enough attendants working for when a show that seats a few hundred lets out at one time. FOOD: The food is tasty, nothing extraordinary, especially with the great food scene in this city. A little pricy. SEATING: Unless you buy seats at an entire table you'll be sitting with strangers, which can be fun, but not when you're literally rubbing elbows with them. The tables are tiny and wayyyy to small to seat strangers together. Also, it's a bummer that you have to buy a seat - City Winery is more about selling the "experience" than a ticket to a great show. Also, you're SOL if you have more people in your group than a table can accommodate, so I would be very hesitant to say this place is group friendly. Overall, Nashville has such wonderful, unique and historic venues (lookin at you Ryman, Marathon Music Works, War Memorial Auditorium) that I'm not really sure how or why City Winery has a place here. I would much rather go to a show at any of these other venues or a laundry list of others not mentioned before coming to CW. In short, go back to New York. However, I'll likely return because they book great shows.
(2)
Kyle C.
The venue is amazing, but the food and wine recommendations (keyword: recommendations) was not so great. 2 appetizers, 2 glasses of wine and we were out for no less than $60. Ouch. Will go back for music, but not for food or wine.
(3)
Aubrey C.
Rissoto balls are excellent. Scallops are fantastic. Great place to be able to have good conversation due to the dining area being small and quaint.
(4)
Lesilie S.
The Venue is beautiful. But the service sucks. Management was not friendly at all. I think I spoke to the GM about why the food was cold and he did not try to get me another plate or offer to comp my meal. I think with this is going to have a lot of bad reviews if the management doesn't get changed. As the rest of the community has discussed the parking situation is not favorable. I was their for a corporate party is how they handled where to go was not organized.
(1)
Brett B.
Stopped in to meet my mom for a lunch 1st time going was impressed by the building and set up inside (it does have a strange location) had their selection for Nashville burger week the KLD far burger it was good but didn't get my vote they did offer s smaller portion due to the promotion which worked out fine for a hot day added on the zucchini fries and they were the best I have ever tried will eventually go back to try out some other items
(4)
Gary M.
Amazing restaurant/wine bar/concert hall. Food and wine list A+. Service was best in Nashville. We will be regulars
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Heather S.
I have not seen a show here so can only speak on the dining experience. I took my mother there for her birthday to try some of the wines and share appetizers. You wouldn't think this would be such a let down. The food was a TERRIBLE let down. we first ordered a flatbread which was supposed to have parmesan, mushroom confit, red onion, apple butter, and red pepper olive oil. When it came out it also had some kind of greens on it....guessing collard. If you are going to put ingredients on a flatbed, you need to have it on the menu. Even though it took a long time to come out, it was still overly doughy with a strange bitterness taste. We sent that back immediately. While looking over the menu to find anything else to eat while we drank our overly priced wine, we thought maybe we would share a bottle of wine. The sommelier came over to us to go over some of them. You would think he would go into detail about a few wines, but instead asked a question or two of what we liked, pointed to a page for us to look over, and then pointed to the most expensive bottle of wine on the page. Still wanting to give it a chance, hoping that the flatbread was a fluke, we ordered the risotto balls (a recommendation by our server). They were BLAND. If you live in the south or are going to have a restaurant in the south, learn how to season your food! We heard the chef came from Holland House so I was really excited to see what it was about. Total Let down. I will NEVER go back. Another thing to mention is the LBTD tax (%15 added on to the wine on the tap) that they slip in there. There is small print on the menu letting you know this, but it is very small. I wouldn't even waste my time.
(1)Stephanie C.
I think this venue is going to have a successful run. It's quite lovely. There is a bar out front so you can go even if you're not watching a show. There's also additional space upstairs but we didn't check that out. We didn't dine with the winery; we started with dinner at the Omni and walked over. I will say that I was surprised to see the valet charging seven dollars. I do not believe that there is parking available anywhere else, so if you drive, you will likely be paying to valet. We had wine and cocktails in the concert hall as well as at the bar afterwards. Both were very good. Pricey, but I've come to expect that in the new Nashville. The concert was Joan Osborne and she sounded fantastic as always. The acoustics were fine to my ears. Be careful when choosing your seats because some in your party will likely need to crane there necks a little to view the stage. The seats are regular chairs, not stools that swivel. Still, the space is nice, and well presented. I'm very impressed with the lineup they've been able to book thus far. I think that the ticket prices are reasonable and I'm sure I'll be attending shows at this venue for years to come. As a matter fact, I've already bought tickets to a second show.
(4)Hunter B.
Normally I don't rip restaurants, but passing your cost of business on to your customers is WRONG! An excise and lbtd tax on top of sales tax? This is a joke, right? No, it's not...mediocre food and paying for another meal in tax? Don't think so, never again!
(2)Mark S.
Dropped into the City Winery for brunch and could have stayed the entire day. One if the coolest new places I have visited in some time. Firstly, the decor and ambiance is super! Even if your not a wine lover, this place has a rich, warm, homey feel that adds to the experience. There is an upstairs and a downstairs area for drinks and food. Both have outdoor patios that give you some great views of Nashville on sunny summer days. In addition, they have a concert venue that provides not only great entertainment, but seating that allows for food and wine during your show. Very cool!! The staff was well versed in the wine and food selections. They were helpful but not pushy with any particular selections. We shared the Huevos Rancheros and Vegetable Frittata, both of which were delicious. The Frittatta was perfectly cooked and was very rich in flavor while not skimping on the vegetables. Likewise, the Huevos Rancheros was fantastic. Perfect blend of spices, black beans and egg. All this topped with a great Pinot..... Life was good this day!
(4)Edmund B.
This review is just for the restaurant part of City Winery. I didn't go see a show there, since I'm under 40, and their lineup makes me depressed just looking at it. Unfortunately their food made me even more depressed. The menu (like the music lineup) is straight out of the '90s: pretend fancy and bland, dating back to a time when people were probably just easier to impress. I'm vegan and only went to eat there because they had a promising-sounding vegan entree listed on their online menu, but our waitress explained that they took it off since nobody was ordering it. So I ended up paying $17 for a slimy portobello mushroom with a bit of couscous on the side. I'm not against paying $17 for an entree when it's good. But there are much better restaurants in Nashville to spend your money at, and after picking up my car from valet (which you have to pay $7 for, by the way) I wished I had gone to one of them. P.S.: Don't waste your time writing to management. They won't write you back. P.P.S.: The Black Crowes? LOL.
(1)Donna S.
Service was good. Was a unique setting. We visited for a group event so I can't give a fair review on the food.
(5)Terry B.
What great venue for eating, drinking, and listening to your favorite music groups. Last night we saw New Riders of the Purple Saga and they blew us away. A trip down memory lane when I hung around San Fran in the early 70s. Jam band elite, although the founding members are dead all but one they still got it. They were working their way toward Chicago for the Greatful Dead 50th and last show over the 4th of July weekend. We started with a Scottish Devil egg, Cobb salad split, peach n Beacon flatbread with a very young Vinhe Vino wine. All in all. A great evening! We will back!
(4)Timika S.
Great food! Excellent wine! Good place for dinner and a show! Love the atmosphere! The staff was very helpful and friendly. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Corie K.
I went to City Winery last night for a yoga event. First of all, the main reason I am writing a review is that I agree with many of the other reviews on this and just want to reinforce in case it helps the venue create alternate options: The parking situation is not great and I will plan ahead if I decide to return. It's in an area that has the space for parking, in fact, there is parking all around. I can only assume they have already categorized themselves as a leading music venue, like when you arrive at the Ryman and there is a valet option. The trouble is I (and the community seems to agree) that it doesn't warrant itself for this yet. I pulled in seeing the valet (and probably at fault of my own for not asking) assumed it was how all the other valet in town is - complementary because you are visiting that restaurant/bar. I didn't know that it was $5 until I arrived after the event to get my car. I was surprised and though it's not super steep, it was definitely a bummer. The venue isn't even in what is considered "downtown" and there is not enough other stuff around it to feel like a place where paid parking is the only option. I had a couple of small tastings at the event (which I assume) were from City Winery's kitchen - they were yummy, but my friends opted to go someplace else for dinner - one citing she had eaten there before and it was just okay, not great. The decor was a little corporate-cheesy - reminded me of the Cheescake Factory or something you would see in an upscale chain restaurant. While I know there are other City Winery locations in the US, it would have been cool to tailor the decor to more of a Nashville feel. The sound for the DJ/yogi's mics was not quite right - hope that's not indicative of what the sound for shows. I imagine there is a sound tech and soundcheck that would eliminate the poor sound. It was just fine for the purpose for which I was there for, but would be disappointing if it were a concert. I'm sure I will go to a show there soon and be able to update this review based on what I hear then.
(3)Tammy O.
Nice place great food and excellent service!!! Gemmall was our server and he was fantastic!!!
(5)Carolyn M.
What a fun music venue. We saw Bobby Bare and Bobby Bare Jr a couple of weeks ago and it was a fantastic show. It's nice to have dinner options beyond the standard bar fare (ahem, 3rd and Lindsley). The wine selection is as good as you'd expect from a place called "winery". A few gripes - we bought VIP tickets and must have been the only ones, because they didn't open that section. They gave us decent seats, but didn't offer to reimburse us. The tables are community, so we got seated with some obnoxious college kids constantly snapping selfies. Service seemed to still be working out the system. But a great show will save a lot of service sins.
(4)Bill L.
I love Joan Armatrading, but was disappointed with the sound quality (tinny & echoed) on the balcony - the a/v guy was told, but it didn't seem to make much difference - I've been before downstairs and had no complaints re the sound........so my suggestion is to book downstairs (I like that one can pick your own seats)
(3)Shannon T.
As a music venue, very nice. Great sound, physically spacious yet intimate-feeling. Except for my first experience, for Sturgill Simpson in August which was a crowd of Americana fans and a private event, I have never yet seen the place full, however. it's early, though, and I'm sure it's still getting its footing. It's about a 300-seat venue, which really helps you feel connected with the artist, but a lot of that has to do with the act, as well. It's not really great that you have to share a table for eight with people you don't know for dinner and a show; it'd be nice if there were more tables for two and four, as there are hardly any in the whole house. The menu, however, is less impressive. Pretentious is okay if you can back it up with taste, but it's just not there. So, it's a pretentious and pricey fail. Since City Winery is a wine venue, it thinks it has to offer only complicated dishes, and I enjoy the occasional highbrow reduction or unusual flavor combination. The friend who was with me, however, does not, and that's okay, too. Sometimes wine is best when it accompanies something simple, and there is not even one menu item that might be qualified as uncomplicated or unfussy. Not one. Take a look at your menu, Chef, and relax it a bit. Give us a variety of options, to appeal to a variety of diners, in the way the sommelier offers the wine list. Everybody will win. I will say that our server, whose name was Matt, I believe, was very patient and was happy to take time to explain every description and answer every question we had. I ended up with the beet salad, and when that proved too spicy because of the cayenne pepper, I ordered the cheese plate and made that work, although I did not enjoy the horseradish spread that was one of the accompaniments. Also, when we arrived, the seating staff said that we were to sit at separate tables, and of course, I wasn't going to have any of that. Our arrangements had us seated together, and I was polite, but had to insist that they check their seating chart notes again. After just a few minutes, we were led to one of the few tables for two, off to the side but still well in view of the music. I was happy that they made the effort to correct the error without any attitude at all. I did attend a private event at one of the smaller upstairs rooms that also had a little stage and a bar. I was helping at that event, so did not experience it as a patron, but I did notice that the bartenders were friendly and helpful, and the waiters seemed prompt at the tables. The hors d'oeuvres trays, however, lacked variety and imagination. Anyone can put crackers and cheddar on a plate with strawberries, but to be fair, maybe that is what the client ordered from the catering staff. The parking is what everybody else says it is, but I have had great luck with the valet staff being exceptional every time. I've never waited more than a few minutes for my car. They really ought to offer the valet as complimentary, however, since there aren't any other real parking options. So, it's like this: Main Music venue: B Dining Menu: D Service: B (Matt was a little slow, and rushed us on the check) Private events: B Parking: B- Overall: B-
(3)Cory G.
I normally only review small businesses and try to stay away from chains, but this is an exception. Valentine's Dinner at the City Winery was a pleasant experience. Seated in the back winery room excluded from the main dining area and the venue was a nice touch. There were several bistro tables for two, for couples that were dining as well. The menu was fixed for the night by head Chef Kristin Beringson was somewhat of a surprise due to the link on the website not working. It featured crab, a nice salad with cauliflower/beets, a lamb tartar, lobster/grits/roasted grape tomatoes, and finished with a fromage blanc mouse with pear dessert. Pros: Nice and secluded. Wine pairings with each course. Good service. Portions were perfect. Cons: Handful of people bringing out dishes which created a few hiccups. Would have preferred fresh silverware for each course. Valet charge (though small at $5, I believe more people would be more generous in tips if it were free) Overall. My lady and I both enjoyed our time there and would go back. I'd love to check out the full menu. This place is large and pretty unique. It tackles multiple feats and seems to do it pretty well.
(4)Shannon M.
My original rating was a 2 star with the original post below. However, I received an amazing email response from City Winery management. I had emailed them immediately after leaving the venue. The management addressed each one of my concerns with an honest, straight forward response, which is rare. They didn't make excuses. Instead, they thanked me for the feedback and detailed the steps they were taking to improve. Wow!! We will definitely be going to another show there soon! Way to go City Winery management! We love live music and wine so we want you guys to be a success! Original post below: City Winery Nashville has potential! The space itself is gorgeous and a great place to watch a favorite artist. There are several areas that need improvement. - Forced to use/pay for Valet parking, which was slow, unorganized, and unsafe. - Our waiter didn't even know how to open a bottle of wine nor possessed any wine presentation skills. - The food was eatable, but nothing special. If I had it to do over, we'd have eaten somewhere else before the show.
(4)Jeremy B.
The goods: Beautiful bar, restaurant, venue. The musicians that played were run of the mill singer/songwriters, but the sound was good (although it was really light, mainly acoustic music). Every member of the staff I encountered was a lovely person. The bads: Overpriced. Do you like paying $8-10 per glass of wine or beer? Cause that's the lowest priced stuff. Do you enjoy paying $9 for black bean dip that can barely be shared by two people? Not to mention the chips that came with it were super thin and crumbled everywhere, and were gone by the time we were halfway through the dip. All of the other reviews I've read here say the valet is $7, but it was $5 the night we went (Thursday). So that's it. Everything was pretty much just okay. I will probably stick to the smaller clubs with cheaper drinks and better bands.
(3)Thomas G.
I don't normally post reviews (actually, I have never posted one) but, maybe I should have. My wife and I have eaten at many of the newer restaurants around town and have enjoyed the majority of them. We went to City Winery last night to watch a show and eat dinner. Here are my thoughts: First, the good: Cool place, nice outdoor seating for just drinks or a meal. The inside is really nice and the concert area is cool and spacious. Now for the bad: No parking and forced to pay $7 for valet service--that is in addition to the tip. The food is edible but not special. Smoked avocado dip is just run of the mill and very thin chips that broke when we tried to dip with them. The entrées--my wife had bacon and beet flatbread and I had the chicken--were overpriced for the quality of the food. Chicken was very average and the side of grits was nothing special. The flatbread was just flatbread--nothing special. For the name--City Winery--the wine selection was poor and the beer list was also limited (Nashville has awesome local brews, but there were only two on the menu). The acoustics were not good either. We were seated in the upper deck and couldn't even understand the musicians when they talked and sang (maybe the sound quality is better on the main floor); I was expecting much better in such a new and intimate setting. Overall, this would be a decent place to go to hear a band or singer if you could be fairly close to the stage, but I would recommend eating elsewhere since there are many options nearby. I was dissatisfied to spend $100 to $150 or even more (depending on choice of drinks, appetizers, etc.) for tickets, food, drinks, and parking and not have a memorable experience.
(2)Daniel K.
City Winery should stick with its namesake-wine. Their attempt at brunch was lackluster, uninspired, and left our party disappointed. City winery has obviously put a great deal of thought into its role as a wine bar, but brunch was clearly an afterthought that has yet to grow to maturity. Nashville has such a great culinary community that we were sad we wasted Sunday brunch here. Service- disorganized and confused. Two servers (one may have been the manager) approached us to take our drink order, and neither was very timely about it. Both food and drinks took a long time to order and come out. The glass bottles of water on the table warmed quickly in the sun, and the server refilled the water only at our specific request. Patio service seemed to be an afterthought. Drinks- the spicy Bloody Mary is vibrant, but the glass was tiny and filled with ice, which made the $9 price tag a shock. Food- when we first sat, we asked the waiter/manager what jumped out on the menu. His response seemed to be that brunch was a way to let people try the food without the price tag of dinner. His response made sense when the food came out much later. Steak and eggs were well prepared, but with small portions and so poorly plated it was more akin to white plate Waffle House. Flavor was lacking, prompting the table to wonder whether salt/pepper shakers should have been on the table. Shrimp and grits were filling, but tails were detached and mixed in with the grits, which required some digging. All in all, at $18 and $15, respectively, the price was far higher than the value. Ambience- great patio, and the venue is beautiful, but didn't meet its potential to entertain. For Nashville, we were amazed there wasn't some form of music, live or otherwise. Thankfully, the next door Rescue Mission had a live band. Overall, city winery seems a classy place to grab a bottle of wine and cheese plate. Otherwise, best avoided.
(2)Queen B.
Music City Winery opened it's doors on October 2, 2014 with a private media party on October 1, 2014. It was still under construction on 9/19/2014. So any reviews in September have to be false.. Impossible for a place under construction to host any concerts. There is a fake review from September, 2014... --------------------------------------------------Â----------------------------------------- What a lovely venue. What a big surprise! Nashville is maturing into a stately, classy lady with glitz and glam and all these wonderful venues opening around town to host private parties, concerts, whatever you need, and it doesn't have to be in some stark windowless building. City Winery opened their doors on October 1st. They hit the ground running! I came to this venue for a private party and the place rocked smoothly without a hitch. From the moment we all walked in, took the tour of the building, met the owners, sat down to our scrumptious dinner and a variety of wines. Everything was top notch. The wait staff, the manager, the music, the food, the table settings, the wine.. Dear Gussy..... what a magical night they made for my hosts. I'd like to return for a concert venue and dinner. Excellent place to have an event.. Christmas party, engagement party, Manager meetings.. what a great place to have it. From their web site: "We are a unique facility, combining a fully functioning winery with intimate concerts, food & wine classes, private events in a variety of configurations, and fine dining. We have created a compelling mix for our sophisticated clientele of foodies, and active cultural patrons--bringing the wine country experience to the middle of a large city." Go check it out.
(5)Christian A.
I came here for brunch on Sunday not knowing what to expect. My friend bought a deal on Travel Zoo and we were both pretty excited to actually be able to go out for Sunday brunch, since we are both usually working a brunch shift on Sundays. The place was fairly easy to find, and they had their own parking lot, which is a plus for a restaurant so close to the heart of downtown Nashville. The building was enormous yet beautiful, with lots off wood panels and seating available outside. Their restaurant was fairly full, but it's also spacious enough so it did not feel crowded. They had a full bar, which included wine on tap, and I saw noticed a large party all sitting together, so yes, they are able to accommodate large parties. We made a 12:00 reservation, but arrived 15 minutes early. We were greeted by a friendly manager who was happy to show us to our table, despite our early arrival. We asked him to sit outside since the weather was beautiful, and he gladly showed us to a table outdoors. I felt very welcomed and comfortable. We scanned the menu, which was smaller in size than many restaurants, but I personally find that an attractive feature because it makes decision-making easier We started off with a couple of "brunch cocktails;" mine was called the Spanish Violet (I think) which had a very soft violet color, a citrusy taste, and a lemon peel garnish. My friend ordered some peach mimosa, which wasn't bad. I wish I had stuck with a classic mimosa, or maybe the brunch cocktail that had orange juice in it because the more I drank my Spanish Violet, the less I liked it. For an appetizer, we ordered the pastry platter, which came with a wide assortment of delicious pastries, butter, and apple butter. This was probably my favorite part of my dining experience, and I highly recommend starting with this if you dine hear for brunch. For entrees, I ordered the vegetable frittata and my friend had the huevos rancheros. They were OK I suppose, though I would question what they think a frittata is. Both of our entrees were drizzled with might have been sriracha, which I loved, but my friend did not since she is sensitive to spicy foods. We were full after we finished, so redeemed our coupon, received our check, and that's all she wrote. The manager did a great job creating a great first impression, and really setting us up for a wonderful dining experience. If only our server followed suit. My biggest complaint with her was how long it took her to greet us. I had my phone with me, so I was able to check the time in semi-regular intervals since I had somewhere to be at 2:00, and I remember it took our server at least 5 minutes to even acknowledge us. Luckily, the had water carafes on the table, so we did not have to wait for her to drink some water. After sitting down, it took about 10 minutes to order our brunch cocktails and another 7 minutes or so to order our appetizer. I understand servers get busy and weeded, but we were one of three tables outside, and even though inside was busy, they had plenty of open tables, so surely, our server could not have been that weeded. Luckily, the kitchen was working at a regular pace and there were food runners on the clock because it did not take us very long to get our food. While we were munching on our pastries, our server took our entree order, which was at least 20-25 minutes after sitting down. Afterwards, I only saw her twice; once to actually check on us while we were eating our entrees, and again to deliver the check. On one hand, maybe she thought that my friend and I were the type who needed space, so she didn't have to be around so much, but it was also the way she spoke with us and how promptly she took care of a neighboring table that implied she did not care for us (maybe because we're young? I work in a restaurant, I know how much it sucks to deal with college-aged customers). Our entrees and brunch cocktails were taken care of because of the coupon, but the check was still almost $25 dollars because of the pastry platter (which I knew wasn't included in the coupon) and taxes. Our server ended up charging us for the pastry platter for 4, rather than for 2. I brought it to the attention of the manager, who was the same person who seated us, and he said he would change it. Instead, he took it off of our bill! Overall, I had an OK experience. I would have left four stars if our service was better, but maybe also two stars (perhaps a little harsh?) if the manager wasn't so accommodating. Would I come back? Maybe, but I probably wouldn't recommend this restaurant to a friend looking for a good brunch spot.
(3)Tim M.
First, it has to be hard to do live music AND good food in the same space, so my expectations were not that high. It was a good time, and the music, environment, stage and service were all good. Food was decent, not excellent and pricey for the quality. Here's the problem: You're forced to Valet ($5 + tip) and they have this LBDT tax; (as far as i know the only establishment in town that does.) Sales Tax + LBD Tax + Food Tax = 20%!!!!!!! Add another 20% tip on your bill and be ready to add 40% to your bill. (A $7 beer will cost you $10. That $22 Trout entree? $31. I'll be back, but will fill up somewhere else before hand......
(2)Adam L.
Great night last night...tons of energy in the building to watch Yacht Rock Revue.
(5)Brit K.
The food is really great! The truffle fries, risotto balls, hummus and tacos were all bomb.com ! Can't really go wrong here and the bartenders are super attentive. Love the atmosphere and would like to go back for some live music!
(5)Erica L.
We went for brunch today and were not impressed. They messed up 3 out of 5 orders. I ordered a build your own biscuit with andouille sausage and the sausage tasted like greasy jimmy Dean breakfast sausage you buy at the grocery store. The server was not attentive. I will say the beignets were good and the wine taps are very cool, I would come back to try that but would not Return for brunch.
(2)Joe K.
Headline: mediocre food (for the price) that's overshadowed by really bad service. We had a reservation for Mother's Day, but they didn't have a table ready for us so told us we could either wait or sit outside. It was a nice night, so we chose to sit outside, which was empty except for one table of loud, drunk a-holes. Even though the patio was completely empty, they sat us (a family of 4 celebrating Mother's Day) within arm's reach of the other table. I understand that waiters have sections and want tables close together, but seriously, this was ridiculous. For the first hour of our meal, we listened to them (we had no choice...THEY WERE YELLING!!!) discuss the finer experiences in life...you know, like finishing an entire bottle of vodka in one sitting. Our waiter was a nice guy but never told us anything about the wine, menu, or specials. Interesting, for a place with "winery" in the name, that they hand you a wine menu that's longer than "The Odyssey" and don't tell you anything about it. Our 4 entrees came out in 3 trips...2 at first, the 3rd about 5 minutes later, and then the 4th about 15 minutes after that. The food was good, but nothing special for comparably priced places (~$25/entrée). The pork belly dish MAYBE covered half the plate. It's a small piece of meat with some mashed potatoes and a few peas. It was good (both bites!), but I left hungry. Maybe they could use the $5 you have to pay for parking to put some food on the plates. We won't be back.
(2)Kristi R.
I've been to City Winery twice now, once for a movie screening and once for a live show. The atmosphere is really cool. The food is good, though marginally overpriced. I'm no cheapskate, but when I compare the tab to the overall food/drink/service experience, the equilibrium feels off. I think this place has a lot of potential though, and I hope they continue to improve.
(3)Carolyn F.
Visited City Winery on July 10th to see the Bacon Bros. I was initially impressed with the upscale ambience and decor. After being seated and realizing our evening was to be spent sitting extremely close to another couple, it was downhill all the way. Our server seemed to get confused at every step. We ordered both the risotto balls and fried green tomatoes as appetizers. Only the FGT arrived... Cold and overcooked. I asked about the other appetizer and was told we didn't order it! They arrived slightly prior to our meal. We both ordered the pan seared grouper. It was overcooked, rubbery, tasteless and on top of what were supposed to be smoked bacon grits. The consistency was more like soup. Again, we were both disappointed. Sides of mac and cheese and haricot verts... again lacking flavor. I asked the server for unsweet tea and was brought diet Pepsi..... twice. Getting our car back from valet was another horror story as we waited in line for 40 minutes! All in all, a $300 very underwhelming evening at a venue I had been excited to experience.
(2)Justin K.
Set up is nice. Music is too loud. Waitress didn't know what kind of meat was on the burger. Enough said. The wine bottle table numbers are cool, but not cool enough. Waitress didn't check on us the entire time we ate. No courtesy stops. Food was less than average at a higher cost. Added taxes of $10 other than sales tax? Table#62 on 1/24/15 didn't meet expectations
(1)Mathieu B.
Unfortunately, the valet most likely ruined my experience here. For starters, there is NO parking available except for some abandoned buildings across the street from the rear of the winery. However, the valet claims to own ALL of these spots and was EXTREMELY rude and even aggressive towards our party for attempting to park. The valet loudly threatened me that if I didn't try to park on the street he would call a tow truck while I was inside their restaurant. Seeing as how others in our party were waiting inside, (and at this point there was no way I would let the valet near my car) we had to park around the corner and leave the car in front of the Rescue Mission. When we got in, the bar staff was friendly and we ordered some drinks and appetizers. We had the fries, the duck tacos, and something else I don't remember. The fries were not memorable, and the duck tacos might as well have been dry pulled pork because that was what it tasted like. We did not see a show there so I admit I cannot rate the music venue space.
(1)Margaret F.
We didn't have tickets to last night's show, but I decided that a "scouting trip" was in order before we return to City Winery next month to see Leon Russell. I also wanted to try out my VinoFile membership to see if it worked in person as well as it did online (no fees for ticket purchases - I've bought tickets in Nashville and Chicago already!). First off - FREE VALET is a wonderful benefit at the Nashville location (it's discounted in Chicago). My husband and I didn't have a reservation, but were seated at a high-top that gave us a good view of the bar and the lobby as folks were arriving for the evening show. We got a tasting-sized portion of a house white blend as we were seated - nice! The wine list was a tome - but we weren't really interested in a whole bottle of wine, so we just ordered from the "on tap" selection. Unfortunately, the first two "on tap" reds I tried to order were out of stock. But we ended up with two other "on tap" reds, which were fine. (Side note: Husband noted that Jack Daniel's on the rocks costs $8 at City Winery, which meets with his approval. $10 or above gets him hot under the collar.) Our food orders (lamb shank flatbread and burger-and-fries) were promptly and correctly prepared, and very tasty! I intended to take half of the flatbread home, but promptly left it on the table. Cost for the evening (before tips) was $62. (Looking forward to hitting that $500 spend mark and earning free concert tickets!) Service was friendly, but not overbearing. After we ate, we were allowed to wander around (the show hadn't started), and we thought the performance area looked spacious and lovely, and the upstairs bar/lounge was cool (but deserted). We're really looking forward to our return for Leon Russell, and I'm also excited about visiting City Winery in Chicago next month!
(4)Nancy M.
We have been to City Winery three times, each time for dinner and a concert. The food is fine. The service is fine. The building is fantastic, although directly beside the homeless shelter. It's nice they have valet service. The sound is fine. Here's my problem...We saw Robert Earl Keen and he was introduced as "Robert Keen Earl." Last night we saw Mac McAnally, 7 time winner of Musician of the Year award, and he was introduced as "Mac McNally." City Winery is getting great acts and there are more shows I look forward to. I wonder how may times they can insult the artists and keep the talent coming. Chris Knight is playing the venue soon. Please be aware the K is silent.
(3)Lindsay W.
The website lists plaza art supplies as a place for public parking but the valet driver who was parking a car yelled at us for parking in the lot. I offered to show him the website but he didn't want to listen. They either need to change the website or inform their valet drivers. Expect to pay 24% in taxes. Spent $17 on wine and bill ended up being $21.12 because of the sales tax (I'm used to that) and the lbt tax(whatever that is).
(3)Jennifer M.
I visited City Winery for happy hour last week. I thought everything about the place was lovely--nice ambiance, friendly staff, great happy hour specials. There are just a couple weird things to note--if you want to enjoy happy hour, you must sit at the bar (not near the bar or at a table in the bar, but at the bar, proper). This could quickly translate into you not getting a seat if you don't arrive early. Another note on arriving early--I did, so I could park my own car, which was great. My friends weren't so lucky, they had to valet for $5.00--not cool in a town where free valet is pretty much the norm. I enjoyed the experience and will return for happy hour, for sure.
(4)Sue W.
I was not impressed. I decided to park on the street because I don't mind walking instead of paying the $5 valet. The atmosphere was great and we were seated immediately. Out of the six items on the menu (it seemed) they were out of half of the things on the menu. I wasn't very hungry so I got the brisket taco. They were $11, micro mini in size, little flavor, cold, and the brisket was tough and dry. The risotto balls were great. It took forever to get our checks. I won't be back. There are too many decent restaurants in Nashville to choose from.
(2)Amber A.
Great food, unfortunately, horrible customer service.... I made a reservation for 12 people about 3 weeks ago. It was my birthday this past weekend, so I made sure that I made all of my reservations well in advance. We were about 12 minutes late for our reservation, however I called in advance to let them know. Once we arrived at the restaurant they had a table ready for us, for 8 people. I let them know that I made the reservation for 12, and they said that they didn't have our table in the system and it would be a 30 minute wait.. They then tried to blame us, saying that we were 20 minutes late for our reservation. Mind you, we were NOT that late, and I called in advance to let them know. Once we finally got seated, we basically had no service. They switched waiters 3 different times, and no one came to our table. At the end of the dinner, we asked the manager for some sort of compensation for the inconvenience and horrible service, and he refused. He said that we should not have gotten there late and the general manager will not give us any compensation. I refused to tip them, and I let them know that I will not be back again. It was very disappointing because we have been to the City Winery in Napa and we actually love it. I did not expect such horrible service in Nashville.
(2)Julia R.
This place blows. First, the sound is terrible. How do you open a music venue in Music City and not take the acoustics into consideration? Second, the management was completely rude. The details are a dizzying display of childish manipulation not worth my time attempting to explain but infuriating enough to send me here in the hopes of sparing potential patrons the same treatment. Third, the valet asked me to find the drivers of cars who hadn't returned to claim their keys. A move the management appeared to endorse. It was late and said drivers were no longer at the venue, a suggestion I made to him before going back in to retrieve my purse and husband who had just performed. This request came after paying $7.00 for parking plus $10 in tips. I'm thinking for $17 you can find out for yourself and chalk it up as not your customer's job. I was there as loving supporting spouse, period, end of responsibility. Musicians, if you are coming to Nashville, play 3rd and Lindsley, it's a bigger venue and it sounds better. Spare yourself and your loved ones the headache.
(1)Kristen H.
In regards to City Winery and their concert menu, it doesn't make sense that they have such a limited menu compared to their dining room. The cheapest wine is $8 for 5.5 oz. with tax it comes close to $10. That's ridiculous for such a small glass of wine. A friend and I tried the beet & bacon flatbread because we didn't have much money to spend. The combination of the cheese, beet, bacon, arugula, balsamic vinaigrette and some other ingredient just wasn't quite right and we weren't up for trying the mushroom and something other gross combination. The seats in the house aren't too bad, we were sitting in the back. Their sound guy had the instruments up louder than the vocals making it hard to hear the 2 bands that played. Their lighting was alright. The server at our table didn't show up very often and so we had to sit a while longer than we wanted to just to wait for the check. Also if you don't want to pay $20 cash for valet you have to park on the street and walk a while. Overall I think this is a great space for intimate shows, but I think it's outrageously overpriced when you're already paying a large amount for tickets. This place is obviously just trying to get every penny squeezed out of you.
(2)Mac W.
A lot of kinks to workout. Understandable, as they are only 6 days old. However, the staff was not able to answer basic questions; more than 6 different people serviced our table (with little knowledge of the food and which patron placed the order). This is basic training, folks. Management - please spend more time training your people. They have no knowledge of the wine or the food menu.
(3)Orestes C.
Had a flatbread and was really chewy and tough. My friend dishes didn't look good either (trout and steak)
(1)Daisy 2.
Love the venue -- classy, intimate, good wine -- great shows. I have not had food here, so can't comment .. But since I really think Nashville in general is missing the mark on classy places --- this gets a 5 star for me. Nashville is a strip of 'bars' and beer drinking joints -- so this is a really great option (one of the few) where you can see a show and drink some nice wine.
(5)Luis C.
Brunch this morning. Good food huevos rancheros and build your biscuit. The decor is awsome and concert venue looks great. It has a warm fire place right in the middle of the room. Will return for dinner and drinks.
(4)John M.
Great atmosphere, music, and wine. Service is a little slow but the food is worth the wait! Highly recommend this place for great live music and great food in one setting.
(4)Krash T.
Good: A beautiful space, located in an up-and-coming area you wouldn't have wanted to visit 3 years ago. You walk in and immediately feel at home. The whole club, from bar area to bathrooms to the showroom, is intimate without being cloying. It fills a huge gap in this city, which has needed an upscale club inbetween tiny 75-100 seaters (eg Bluebird Café) and larger halls (Ryman). Very clean, great bathrooms, nice bar area. Lots and lots of wood. They're making their own wine next year, and the gigantic barrels are eye candy if you like good vino. The wine lists (there are 2) are comprehensive. Some very reasonably priced , but that's because they charge YOU the liquor tax. Be forewarned. Food is better than expected. Risotto balls, recommended by our waitress, were excellent (though I'd go for spicier mustard). Pork tacos ditto. The steak was two lovely pieces of meat - though the chef has a heavy salt hand. (Maybe they're salting and letting it sit to tenderize? Still, it shouldn't be that salty.) I don't recommend the mussels, and the cheese tray is absurdly small for what you pay, but the ravioli was gorgeous. The burgers are very good, and there's a vegetarian option too. I'd recommend the meze platter, except that we had it our first visit (opening night) and it was large enough for four. Last visit it had shrunk considerably. The bad: Five dollar parking charge? Really? The attendants make it clear that your $5 goes to the venue, so you're expected to tip on top of it. But there's NO street parking!! Getting seated is a work in progress. I've been here 5 times so far, alone, with family, with business associates. Each time, we arrived at 6 pm, when they opened. Each time, wait staff weren't ready. Each time, there's a meaningless cluster of hosts and hostesses? standing by the entry doors, doing anything but paying attention to the customers. Each time we were sent to the "concierge" for tickets and information. Forgive my being snotty about it, but how many City Winery employees does it take to seat someone? If it happened once, all right. But every time? Food service is slooooow. Don't come hungry. I don't know if the wait staff are over-loaded or what, but when you go out for an expensive evening like this, you expect better service. My waitrons have all been nice, but far from the kind of competency I experienced at the NY or Chicago clubs. Food is expensive for what you get. (Online menu prices changed?) Our party of four had a bottle of inexpensive wine, 3 Tito's vodkas, and two beers, plus mains and 2 appetizers) was $310 before tip. I think that's expensive. Portions aren't big enough for leftovers. If this were The Palm, I'd expect it, and I'd be satisfied knowing the quality would be wonderful AND I'd have enough for another meal next day. The wait staff are friendly, but scattered. Ask for salt and pepper. Ask again. And again. Finally ask a bus boy, who brings it eventually. My wife's burger arrived with fries, everything looked great, but by the time salt and ketchup arrived everything was cold. This is not unusual here, but I can no longer excuse it as growing pains. And they don't pay the liquor tax?!?! This is the only restaurant in Nashville charging the customers for it - even Kayne Prime, home of 50 cent charge per blue cheese olive in your drink, doesn't charge liquor tax. Really, between food prices and liquor tax, I would not suggest eating here. The ugly: Sound problems. It carooms off the back wall so you can't hear vocals at all if there's a band - of the 3 we've seen, this was a problem with all of them. It's all right for an acoustic act like Taj Mahal, but something needs to be done. Who opens a club in Nashville without consulting a sound engineer? Everyone in my party, each time, was disappointed in the sound quality. Seating is, to put it bluntly, horrendous. At first glance, it's very pretty - until you realize that a) no matter where you sit, you're not facing the stage, and b) chairs are tiny, and tables are about a foot shy of the standard 2 or 4 seat table length. What this means is that no matter how much you pay, or what you reserve, you're going to be miserably uncomfortable. My wife is petite, our daughter is likewise, but even they complained that they couldn't eat without elbowing one another. The sideways-only seating means you don't get to enjoy the show the way you would with concert-style. I understand you can't do the concert-style and serve dinners, but I'd love to see this place change up so half the table is facing the stage. The other half could just turn their chairs around for the show. As it is, no one was happy with the seats. All in all, I will continue to attend when I'm in town, because they're bringing in a lot of acts you wouldn't normally see in Nashville. But I'll dine elsewhere. And I'll try to get validated, even if I'm not a "vinofile" (because I resent paying $75 a year for what I would get), and I'll avoid ordering liquor.
(2)Debbie W.
We had a great time last night at the City winery . We enjoyed the music with Andrew Ripp and the food we had was really good . We had the risotto balls , hummus plate, flat bread, chicken, and slaw with cranberries, almonds and Brussels. Everyone enjoyed their food. My only complaint is hard seats which is an issue when you are sitting for hours.
(4)JIM H.
Went and saw Marty Stuart last night, the place is top notch. Sound ,service,food was top notch, we will be back.
(5)Daysha M.
I was surprised with this place! I didn't expect it to be anything great, but it was good! The atmosphere is amazing. Inside is beautiful, wood tables, pretty bar, & then they have a neat music venue where you can eat & listen to music. They also asked you if you would like to try a little of the wine of the night when they seat you, which I thought was a nice touch. Our server was great when it came to picking a wine. He asked what I liked & then suggested one, which was very good. He did get a little overwhelmed with other tables & forgot to check on us a couple of times, but hey, it happens. The food was good, but not as good as it could have been. We had the Crispy Risotto Balls & they were not that full of flavor. Somewhat bland, as well as the sauce that came with them. The Alfresco's Cavatelli was good, but it seemed like it had been sitting out for a minute because when it arrived it was cold & the pasta did not seem cooked well. Also, it most definitely could have used more flavoring or sauce. The menu is somewhat confusing & all over the place. I think I need to go back & try a few more things & speak to the waiter more about the menu options. I most definitely will be going back for the atmosphere and wine selection!
(4)Mike W.
After reading some other reviews I feel that Some people just want to complain. $5 for valet is reasonable. This is a intimate venue. We watched Jason Isbell there last night and the crowd was 412 people. I was amazed an audience could actually be quiet in this day and age. The food seemed a bit pricey but it was very tasty. No complaints about our service, as Ashley took very good care of us. The wine selection was good, the craft beer selection could stand a few more options, but this place is called the winery.... If an artist you like comes to the winery, do yourself the favor and go watch them there.
(4)Mark H.
We just had lunch at this establishment. Good food and GREAT wine! :) The place is really clean. The bar tender and server was really nice!! We could not have asked for better!!
(5)A N.
Not a fan of places that Nickel and dime you. They make you valet, as there's no parking lot, and charge $8 for it. They also have a separate wine tax. Additionally, we ordered the roasted red pepper ricotta dip as an appetizer. It was delicious, but they only gave us four chips to eat the whole dip. We asked for extra chips, and the waitress said no problem. When we received the bill, we were charged for additional chips. I have to say, I'm not impressed with their customer service model. That being said, everything we ordered was delicious. However, we won't be returning. I don't enjoy paying fees for every little thing.
(3)Tart L.
As a music venue City Winery in Nashville downtown near the Music City Center is now in the top ten here. Yesterday I loved the sound of roots music great Rodney Crowell singing the songs he has written, in the big room of this performance venue. The day before the Deslondes performed from the new stage, which features a great sound system and acoustics. I think the City Winery Nashville will be as well known for its music as for its tart Napa Valley wine and wines produced here, in Music City USA.
(5)Stacey B.
Perhaps the worst food I've ever had in Nashville....maybe even Tennessee. The steak was 2 small pieces and was not even remotely warm when it arrived. The chicken was marginally edible. Out of one of their tap wines. Will not be back and will spread the word to avoid this place.
(1)Elizabeth H.
I was told to visit City Winery by a friend who frequents their New York location and I was not disappointed! From the moment we walked in we were treated like VIPs. Hosts were there ready and waiting to greet us and we were escorted immediately to our seats. I definitely recommend coming in a little bit before the show to eat because the servers seemed a little overwhelmed after the show started (but they still did an excellent job considering how crowded the room was). As far as food goes I HIGHLY recommend the cheese plate. It's the perfect amount of food if you're not starving and literally everything on the plate goes amazingly with everything else...(I immediately went home to attempt to recreate the dish and failed miserably) The show itself was AWESOME (but when are the wood brothers anything less than fabulous?) and our view was actually a lot better than I was expecting it to be (our seats looked father back on the floor plan) I do concede that the lack of parking forcing you to pay $7 to use the valet was somewhat annoying, but apparently there's a membership program you can join to waive the fee.. Will definitely be looking into that for future shows because I will absolutely be back (JT Hodges anyone??! So psyched about this place and can't wait to come back!
(5)Mark W.
4 people for a 7:00 reservation. As I got out of my car at Valet, I was informed that CITY WINERY was charging $5.00 for parking, and that did not include the tip. When I asked, the valet person told me I could pay them on the way out. Arrived about 6:40 and had some great cocktails at the bar. We were seated at 7:00 and informed that the restaurant was closing at 8:00 for a private function..WTF!! That information could have upset somebody on a date or out for a nice evening, but we are long time food service professionals, and figured out that the event probably started at 9:00. Nobody ever pressured us to "order up," but at 8:15 they started moving tables and chairs around us. We started with the cheese board and the Falafel. Both were about as predictable as tap water..it's good when you are thirsty(hungry), but not very exciting. Around the table for dinner we had: The trout---apparently very satisfying. Chicken fricassee--the grits were bland Waygu beef tartare--over processed, DRY, flavorless beef. The sweet corn and charred scallion relish didn't help. I think they forgot the mustard seed aioli and the cured egg shavings. Hummus plate--nice hummus. I'm positive that the peppadew feta was replaced by the peppadew ricotta because it had none of the sharpness of feta cheese. I did not see the pickled eggplant, and it was replaced with some kind of sweet honey like concoction. Buratta---it was a glob of bland watery fresh mozzarella, with none of the buttery flavor you might expect. It did melt nicely. It was in a small cast iron serving dish, with halved cherry tomatoes and some mild green peppers. it lacked the pickled garlic and sunflower seed pesto that the menu promised. Speaking for myself, nothing came to the table piping hot, even in the cast iron serving pieces. Nothing was an assult on the taste buds (except for the tartare) , nor was anything memorable. The menu reads a lot better than the actual food tastes. I am not sure if the missing food items would have helped. I realize that the weather has been bad, but if something is on the menu and not going to be on my plate, let me know and I can work around that. We were asked about seeing a dessert menu, but it was difficult to think they were being sincere about offering it as they picked up tables and chairs around us. When I picked up my car at Valet, I was never asked for the $5.00. Not sure what that was about. It was a pleasant evening because the people I was dining with made it pleasant. The food was stunningly adequate.
(2)Tracie R.
Great music venue! I was lucky enough to catch Lucinda Williams there and it was fantastic. The food was great, too.
(5)Laura F.
I visited City Winery last night and was very impressed. We only had apps and wine (which were very good - risoto balls, anyone??), so I can't speak to the concert hall in the back, but we did get a tour and it is beautiful. Some folks have complained about parking; our tour guide mentioned that as soon as construction is complete they are going to add a parking lot with space for about 60 cars, to alleviate that "forced valet" option. Which I have to agree, was probably the worst part of the visit. We also got to see the private dining rooms which would be great for small events, and we saw the room where they will eventually make their own wine. Multiple outdoor seating areas have great views of downtown. I also heard a rumor about adding brunch to the menu sometime soon?? This place is a great addition to Nashville!
(4)Joan W.
I really wanted to give this place more stars, but I can't for a few reasons: 1) as everyone else mentioned, the $7 for valet is way too pricey. I can see charging that if it really is a perk, but since you basically have no other parking options, it's not a perk, it's a requirement. Most other places in Nashville have free valet, and I'm willing to tip well if that's the case. But $7 on top of then a tip? that's kind of crazy for these parts. And while I'm willing to do it for a show, but that price will definitely impact whether or not I decide to go to City Winery for dinner. 2) The food was good (my chicken dish was very good) but some things were overpriced. "Smoked Avocado Dip" was just guacamole with chips (as a previous commenter noted, the chips were way too weak to hold up to the chunky guac, too) and wasn't worth price tag based on the serving size. It was a good evening, though, and it seems to be a good alternative for Nashville's live music venues -- I liked the upscale feeling and the ability to eat and drink while suffering through opening acts waiting for the headliner : ) It seemed they were really trying to impress since they're new, and the staff was conscientious. Over all, though, I probably won't be back until there's a concert I can't live without. It was an expensive night, and I'm not sure it was worth the price tag.
(3)Mike A.
A beautifully created night spot. It's a perfect 10 on the "cool" rankings. However I probably won't be back and here's why. I went to a show there recently in the upstairs portion. For "regular folks" like me, drinking the the basic house wines are plenty adequate. That way you can get your cost per glass under $10 and not feel like you're getting ripped off too bad. Well, the waitress explains that they don't offer their house selections upstairs. You have to order from the rest of the wines starting at $40 and going way up from there. This is BS and they know it. They don't offer their cheaper menu to patrons of a show because they know those people are a captive audience. They aren't going anywhere and they are going to order something, so why not put the screws to them and remove the cheaper portion of the menu? Great business sense! Well, you got me once but that will be the last time. Additionally, my tab came out to $59 after I ordered only the one $40 bottle of wine. They were trying to run us out of the place the second the show ended so I didn't dispute it. I just signed it and left. Too bad because it's such a neat place. They won't miss me as I'm not their target customer. The whole thing was a racket.
(1)Susan R.
A fabulous brunch - grits with shrimp, French toast, frittata- yummy. Full bar. The perfect Sunday morning
(5)Ishmael L.
We managed to get ticket for 2 of the 3 sold-out Jason Isbell shows here in December. We were really pumped, because I managed to get great seats on the first night (4 seats back from the stage). The wife is a huge fan, so she was incredibly happy about the seats and the show. Unfortunately, we happened to be seated next to a VIP investor in City Winery, who didn't happen to know dooku about the talent on the stage. Typical bloated businessmen with trophy wives (one of which was Googling Jason Isbell during the show and blurted out that he had "Played with the Drive By Truckers"). You know these kind of businessmen: hang out at cigar bars, eat at Mortons, and live in the Governors Club. Thankfully however, they realized that they didn't really care for the artist on the stage (other than the fact that someone told them how "great" Isbell is, and they had to see him for prestige reasons), so they left half-way through his set. Bonus for us, we ended up front row! Onto the place itself! 1) Service. Our server was great! In fact, I don't think there is a bad server in the place. They manage to be unobtrusive yet attentive at the same time. They also manage to maneuver through the seating area without disrupting the show (the same can not be said of bloated businessmen!). 2) Venue. The venue is really classy, clean, has a great feel and even better sound. Given the tasteful use of recycled and new wood both inside and out, the backdrop for the stage is a bit corny (City Winery logo on plywood set against a gray Corian panel), But who cares. You get a great show! 3) Food. This is where they need some help. We just had a few appetizers. Risotto balls and truffle fries. Neither was all that tasty. They weren't bad. They just lacked flavor. Maybe the entrees are better? But the prices aren't that bad. You'd hope they have some better stuff to go with the great wine options. Speaking of which... 4) Wine. Well, wine is their schtick, so let's talk about it. We tried a few of the "on-tap" wines. The Syrah was good. The Malbec is better. They sell by the glass, by the carafe or half-carafe. The prices aren't bad on these, UNTIL YOU SEE THE CHECK!!! This may only apply to the the house wines which are dispensed from barrels, but they charge you separately for the Liquor By The Drink (LBTD) tax, which is 15%. I'd like to say I KNEW if it only applied to tap wines, but our server (who was otherwise great) served us tap wine on our second night instead of the bottle wine I ordered. To do the math for you, if you order the $42 carafe of Malbec, you'll be paying $53 after 15% LBTD tax and another 9.25 % sales tax. ANYWHERE else in Nashville, brewers, servers and distillers include this tax into the price of a served drink. There's a tiny footnote on the back of the menu that mentions this tax. So, if you don't like surprises, be sure to ask your server if the tax applies to all beverages, or just barrel wine. If I could sum it all up under pros and cons: Pros: Great wine, great service, great venue, excellent staff all around, good prices on food. Cons: Wine taxes are brutal, food needs a bit more flavor, valet parking when the show gets out looks to be a real CF. But I don't see a solution to that last issue. I'll be back for sure. It's a great new place!
(4)John P.
This is a great venue for a concert but the food leaves a lot to be desired. I've been there a few times, and the risotto balls are good but everything else I've tried is unimpressive and expensive. I'll definitely come back for a concert but I will dine elsewhere beforehand.
(3)Ann K.
I will start by saying I hope they make it and I am surprised they are not more together being a chain(4) in major metropolitan areas. So to start there was a bit of confusion upon arrival due to the fact that we had a reservation in the restaurant and not the music venue. Some how within 10 minutes (time it took us to be taken to our seats in the music venue side only to find out that is not where the reservations were for) our reservation for 8 was lost and we were now going to have to wait 3o minutes to get seated. We finally got that worked out so the wait was only 15 minutes, ok. The server was very nice but not overly attentive. We waited for our food for 1.5 hours, then it came out over a 15 minute time frame and for some it was cold. The food was mediocre at best, the pizza was cold, the duck tacos were gamy and the burger was just ok. Oh did I mention we had to ask 2X to get some silverware for 2 of the people at the table. After dinner and coffee we waited another 40 minutes to get our bill. Parking was not an issue for us as we took a lyft but I have to say upon departure and trying to get a taxi the people at the Valet stand were very, very rude. So my experience was not fun, I did not feel like a patron but more like a nuisance. I have to say the experience inside the music venue may be better but I do not think I will spend the $$$'s to try again.
(2)Amy C.
Great food, sommelier David was awesome! Very interesting venue, Joan Osborne was singing in adjacent room and sounded good! Overall delicious food and great atmosphere, the room got a bit loud but it was lively and fun.
(5)Derek D.
Went for a show with the Americana Music Fest. Excellent service, good food. Limited choice of beers in the menus though. Seemed like 50% were IPAs, and I'm over those. Not many other choices.
(4)Russell V.
I attended a concert at City Winery on July 9,2015. The layout, decor, and overall space is promising for a concert. They of course have an incredible wine selection, upscale bar food, and descent amenities to offer you during your visit. Although the positives for City Winery are plenteous, I would say there are a few areas they kept me from giving them 5 stars. The first opportunity I found was with the valet. Although I read previous post about the price, which is $5, my concern was simply with the staff. These people are your first experience with the venue and they were very unfriendly and uninviting to my wife and I. Yes, you took my car and brought it back to me at the nights end but try and be as upbeat and excited as the workers inside the facility. Secondly, would have to deal with the food. I will openly admit that these opportunities fall solely on personal preference and not solid data but I believe there were some concerns. First, if you are offering a special, only allowed for the restaurant and not the stage area, don't put it on the projectors and show it to me every four minutes. Secondly, 98% of the food offered was not sharable but was also too large. I understand I'm at a restaurant but at the same time I am not. I have experienced in other locations shareable, medium size dishes worked better. Lastly, I didn't enjoy my food. My wife and I purchased the truffle fries and risotto balls for an appetizer then a hamburger, which was a burnt on the outside and raw in the middle, and a chicken dish which my wife enjoyed. The dining is attempting to be upscale and new age but seemed to miss the mark with each selections. The fries come with a garlic mayo which does nothing except take away from the fry. The risotto ball, which should come with marinara sauce, is accompanied with BBQ sauce and spicy mustard. Both offering nothing to highlight the flavors of their counterparts. You can see the definite potential with City Winery but these are just a few areas where attention could be shown. Lastly, on a side note. If you are going to a concert and truly care about your view and sound quality, I would definitely recommend forgetting the front sections of sits. Although this is usually my section of choice, the venue and atmosphere of food, wine, and conversation with your neighbors really demands you sit in the second section and back. Thank you City Winery, Victor Wooten and friends for an amazing night. Honestly, despite the few comments here in this review I look forward to returning and recommending your venue to others.
(4)Inessa M.
There was plenty of free parking on the nearby streets but the area did not look safe to me so I paid $5 for a valet parking. We came early and enjoyed our dinner there. The flat bread had a generous amount of goat cheese and mushrooms. I was glad I brought a mini flesh light with me because it would have been a challenge to read the menu without it. Our waitress was very attentive and our overall experience was very positive.
(4)Yourie T.
I was so looking forward to loving this place- but sadly, no. And I was so looking forward to seeing one of my favorite bands- Toad the Wet Sprocket. Again, sadly no. This was my experience: 1. Bought VIP balcony tix $60. Seemed reasonable at the time, now I feel dirty. 2. Ordered the $15 burger. Asked for it medium rare, came out medium well. Tasted more like a $5 burger. Couldn't talk to our server about it because he was busy with other tables. Only ate it because I was starving. 3. The band comes on stage after the the opener- the opener dude was good especially if you like hearing the same sad song over and over again. He was however, funny between songs- whatever he said because the audience on the floor laughed. 4. Toad takes the stage. Expectations high. Unfortunately, I was highly disappointed. The sound/acoustics sucked. And maybe it's because I was in the VIP balcony seats- it was very difficult to hear and understand the vocals. The band was too loud and the vocals were buried. 5. Toad played a lot of their new stuff off their new album. Not a lot of the stuff that made them famous. I was surprised at the lack of their older and more popular music they DIDN'T play. 6. Because of this experience, I probably will not eat or see another show at City Winery for a long while and Toad has broken my heart. I left feeling empty (crappy burger) and not just in my stomach and wallet- my heart as well. I spoke to a few others standing in the valet line and they agreed. They didn't play nearly enough of their older stuff. It hurts me to write this, but $60 on tickets and $50 dinner (burger, two glasses of wine + tip) and I feel dirty. I took tonight off from work for this. Not worth it what so ever. Not at all. Essentially I lost money. Good bye and good night Toad the Wet Sprocket and City Winery. You both were a HUGE disappointment.
(1)Hye Eun C.
I had bought concert tickets here and decided to eat dinner here last minute, as well. First impression walking in: gorgeous ambiance. The lounge area is very open with lots of wood finishings and a round staircase surrounded by wine bottles. Very pretty. Our dinner included: fried risotto balls, chicken fricasse, pork belly, lemon olive oil cake, and a few glasses of wine. Overall, I was pretty pleased with the meal, especially the pork belly which was crisp and succulent. The risotto balls were also good and reminded me of falafel. The sweet jam that comes with the lemon olive oil cake was the best part of the dish, but next time I'll probably order the chocolate stout cake which I couldn't stop drooling over from looking at it from the table next to me. Dinner here is definitely not cheap. Our meal (for 2) came out to be $140 without tip. Plus, they charge an exorbitant amount of tax since they charge you liquor tax as well. Why the establishment (a "winery") doesn't pay it itself is kind of strange. Also, valet parking is $5. Good luck finding parking elsewhere. The concert itself was pretty good, although considering that this establishment hosts many musicians and artists, the acoustics weren't the best. Maybe it was an off night. Overall, I'm glad I was able to have the full dining experience here although next time there's a show, I'll probably eat dinner elsewhere first; It's hard to justify the price.
(4)Kristie F.
I went to the City Winery during my one day Nashville whirlwind. I went into town for the glaad concert for Love and Acceptance to see Meghan Linsey. As others have said parking is pretty impossible unless you do valet - which is $5. Don't try to park in the adjacent lot unless you want to be stopped by security in a golf cart. Since I had a ViP ticket, I was escorted to my seat. I don't know if the tables are always that close together, but I am on the lower end of a "normal" weight range and I felt like it was a tight squeeze. Not just on each side but even scooting my chair out. The person at the table behind me could not have pulled his chair out simultaneously with me. We were that close. The bathrooms were okay. They ran out of paper towels and they stayed out through the evening. The wine list is not as impressive as the name would lead you to believe. No Moscato anywhere on the list if you can believe that... Not even available by the bottle. I am such a Moscato fanatic (my dog is named after it if that gives you any indication), I would have bought a whole bottle despite being a two drink max girl. But alas it was not meant to be. I wound up getting a burger with those truffle fingerlings with some Chardonnay (sweet, but moscato you were not). The food was... Ok. I hadn't eaten all day. All I had had was caffeine. Caffeine and adrenaline. And somehow I didn't even manage to eat half the burger. I don't know... And I love truffle oil. Truly do. On fries. Tater tots. Grilled cheese. You name it. But, I found these needed salt and some (gasp!) ketchup to go with as they lacked seasoning. Service during the show was good. And quiet. She literally managed to get me my bill without me noticing she had placed it down. I also love the water at the table - reminds me of Bailey's Chocolate Bar in St Louis. It also saves the waiters time. But after the concert, the service was not so nice. A hostess came up to me to ask me where I got where I was wearing. She said another hostess absolutely loved it. I told her it wasn't a dress but a top and skirt but that only the petticoat was still available. She huffed off. Told the other hostess and not so nice commentary ensued after as if they didn't believe me when I said it was no longer available - it sold out circa 2013... Not making it up. The same girl didn't recognize Jamie O Neal later and it wasn't until someone informed her of who it was that she let them up the stairs... Whoopsies! They were quick getting my car out from the valet too.
(4)Ira W.
Great music venue. Had their personal pizza which was very good. Wines are over-priced. This is the first establishment I've been in that triples the retail price of the bottle and then adds the TN liquor tax on top of that making the bottle four times the retail price.
(3)Megan K.
My initial review on 5.6.15 was very ho-hum. That being said, I was very quickly contacted by and apologized to by manager, Emilee. She explained the extenuating circumstances of the day I visited, and was clear, concise and very sincere. This speaks volumes about the impression they're working on, and the relationship they're building with the Nashville community. I was incredibly impressed with the initiative and honest approach and am genuinely excited to return and experience City Winery once again. This follow-up had been truly rewarding for me to witness--I've told several people how impressed I am with the response from the business.
(5)Carly B.
Let's talk parking: valet cost $5. The only free parking is located to the left of the valet lines. There are about 4 spots that don't have "no parking - tow zone" signs above them along the chain link fence. The other spots clearly state you will be towed. The valet told my friend it was okay to park there despite the signs and she wasn't towed, but it's rather confusing on your first visit. F&B: pricy. Drinks & appetizers run about $10 a price. Entrees are $15+. For ballers on a budget, this won't be a regular stop. I went with the cocktail described by the waiter as the strongest available: Tri-Spritz. It did not disappoint in flavor or alcohol %. I also couldn't resist the truffle fries that were of course uber delicious. 3 stars for lame parking; food was 4 stars.
(3)Tyler B.
I went to City Winery with 6 other girls for brunch today. After reading all the other negative reviews on yelp, I was a bit apprehensive, especially about the valet parking and the liquor tax, but I promised myself I would keep an open mind. I'm happy to report that I was able to park my own car in the parking lot. (Apparently they don't have valet parking at brunch so I was able to save $5-$8 there, according to varying other reviews.) I also did not order an alcoholic beverage, but the girls who did had double the tax on their bill. City Winery, paying your liquor taxes is a cost of doing business. Shame on you for passing that onto your customers! I got the huevos rancheros. They were okay. Not impressive. Please note that they put hot sauce on several of their brunch items although it is not listed on the menu. Several of the girls had to send their items back because they can't eat spicy food. Once everyone was done with their meals, it took an hour for us to receive our checks. Yes, an HOUR. I'm not exaggerating. I timed it. The other girls were caught up in conversation so I didn't say anything but had I been alone or with my husband, I would not have let that fly. The ambience here is nice. I love the decor and atmosphere, so I'm going to give it another shot. Probably for dinner next time.
(3)Kayla W.
The food was just okay, nothing special. The service was terrible! So slow and they just didnt pay attention. Don't waste your time or money. But the whiskey 101 class we took there was great!
(2)Adam V.
My wife and I hit City Winery last Friday to see Matthew Sweet play. This is already one of my favorite music venues in Nashville. First off, it's just awesome to be able to sit and have a drink while watching a concert. I think I'm getting too old to stand throughout a show. The service was very good and I was impressed with the wine and beer list. We were told that they would actually have wine for sale that they personally made (as any winery should) within a few months. We weren't sure about the menu because the show started at 10:00, but they were still serving. We had already eaten, but did order dessert. It was a peach dish and was very good--reminded me of creme brulee a bit. The menu appeared to have an excellent selection and you're probably looking at about $20 per dish. However, there are appetizers and desserts if you don't want to a whole meal (or, you could just drink). This place is great. Check out their calendar as they do have a diverse list of acts. I look forward to trying their food on the next visit and could easily see myself adding a fifth star.
(4)James M.
My girlfriend and I tried City Winery for a Griffin House show in mid-November one Wednesday night. Mostly we wanted to see the new concert behemoth of SoBro (I still hate the name SoBro). First off, the atmosphere. This place is beyond superlatives beautiful and tasteful, all at the same time. They've made it obvious it's a nicer place without overwhelming the concert-goer seeking to just enjoy a show with a nice glass of wine. They'll start making their own wine here in 2015 so we'll be interested to go back and see even more of this gorgeous venue. The wine. I'm just starting to understand different types of wines and an amateur at best in describing what I want in a wine. The waiter was well-trained and did not lead us astray when we were making our selection from the multiple wines on tap, available for a glass, and those available by a bottle. We tried a couple of these before we left and weren't disappointed. The food. It was good, not great. I had the leg of lamb pizza, which was tasty with a good mix of spices, crunchy pine nuts, and melty cheese. She got the Chicken Fricassee which was good but reminded me of much less expensive items I've had elsewhere. The food was tasty and good to munch on during a show or for dinner. I'm probably going to have dinner elsewhere the next time we visit City Winery, however. Pros: Amazing building and predictably great wine selection. Cons: Food was kind of expensive and didn't blow me away. The parking was pretty terrible. They offered paid valet or you can park on the streets, which is not the best option in this neighborhood. Overall: This a relaxing, romantic place to take a date for a concert. You will win friends and influence people if you bring someone from out of town in for a concert. If you can stand the parking situation and high-priced food, you'll be elated to make this spot one of your regulars!
(4)Heather R.
Have you ever fallen in love? Felt your heart race, and excitement course through you, and all you can think about is your next encounter with the object of your affections? That is how I will describe the truffle fries at City Winery. I will be honest, that I can only speak to the truffle fries and wine, but, on the basis of truffle fries alone, I am granting this place four stars. They are perfectly cooked wedges of potato, seasoned with truffle, parmesan, and prosciutto; they are a culinary romance of the tongue, so much so that, after splitting an order with a friend, we decided to promptly order a second order. Following that, we started plotting how we could get the waiters to bring us additional free orders. And therein lies the problem. City Winery is somewhat like a beautiful gold-digger, tempting you and asking for everything you have, all at the same time. It is so pricey that you (at least if you make a teacher's salary) are left wanting more. More free parking spaces (valet is $5), more alcohol (the cheapest wine glass was, I believe, $8), and more food (one order of fries was $8). The vibe is cool, the servers are great, and the truffle fries are absolutely worth the trip; however, don't come here for a quick and cheap rendezvous.
(4)Steve S.
I went to see Art Alexakis lead singer of Everclear and a special guest Leigh Nash from Six Pence. Great Venue. Based from New York this is the 4th location. They will start making their own wine in a few months. They just been around since October 2014. This was dinner and music and great atmosphere. I found this show through "bands in town" app on my phone and popped up. Glad I did and glad Art picked this place. My server was great. Connor. Seemed all the servers that night were on it, when looking around. I actually came in with my wheelchair and they accommodated me. Staff was nice. I was greeted and offered a beverage. That came out fast and he had knowledge of wine and suggested. Food came out fast and flat bread was plenty big!! Enough for 1 or three to share. But for a 2 hour show it lasted me the night. They do serve Sat and Sun brunch. Burgers look amazing and will have to try next time I'm in. Their regular menu is different than their "Show menu" so keep that in mind. You won't find a burger if you're craving during a show. Save that for lunch or dinner time on a non show night. Pros: -great for friends, pop in and have a glass of wine, or something to eat. great atmosphere and cool hang out. - Great artists too they have playing there from all around big or small. -State of the art sound system, digital and Line Array speaker system. -You can see no matter where you sit. Cons: -parking limited. Valet is $5. Nice its cheap to park but if I'm already coming in to spend $10 on a glass of wine or more plus a meal walking out paying over 50 bucks. At least cover parking if you're limited!!? But again, 5 bucks isn't much. -Food looks great but flat bread I got was bland. I had to spice it up. But don't get me wrong it was great, just needed little more flavor! Over all great experience and will be back!
(4)Brooke R.
I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately I was very disappointed. Our service was lacking. The waiter barely checked on us and we had to ask other servers for wine and water refills. The sides were lacking in flavor. The fried zucchini needed salt and a dipping sauce or something. It was extremely bland. The entrees were okay but nothing special. Very over priced for what we got. We took some out of town friends here and we're really upset that we wasted a night going here. I definitely won't go back and would not recommend. We only went for dinner and didn't see a concert.
(2)Sheena T.
I was sold when I discovered they offer wine on tap! Yes please! I actually came in on Saturday night for dinner and then returned again yesterday. I was impressed with this place, and have only gone to the restaurant area. It is cozy and welcoming with wine barrels directly built into the wall above the bar. They also have a private room that can hold 10-15 people. When you sit down, you are greeted with a taste of white wine that is delicious and the perfect start to the meal. The wine list is crazy long and separate, but I stuck with the smaller portion of the wines on tap that can be found in the food menu. The syrah is delicious and you can get it in 3 different portion sizes. For food, I sampled the risotto balls and the Mezze plate with multiple dips. I liked them both, but probably wouldn't order them again. Luckily there are tons of other appetizers that look delicious and will try next time! For entrees, I sampled the fish specials, and they offered barracuda which was unique and delicious! Last night I had the lamb loin and my SO had the flat iron steak, both were great, but I enjoyed the lamb best. They also offer cheese and meat plates and flat breads as well. Everything was very delicious and reasonably priced too. My lamb was only $26.00! City Winery is fantastic and I haven't even seen a show yet! There are a few things that could use some improvement; the $7.00 valet is pricey, and I think some of the appetizers need some slight tweaking, but overall I very much enjoyed it and know I will be back and soon!
(4)Jim V.
Went to City Winery for an event last weekend. Besides the sub par food, the atmosphere really rounds out your entire experience. Couldn't really see myself frequenting to this establishment if I didn't have a reason too. Examples, event/concert. The drinks were over priced and the food was just ok. My girlfriend and I decided to split a flatbread. The crust was exceptional. However, the flavors that were included didn't really compliment each other. Hopefully I can give this place another try because it really does have the potential.
(3)Melanie B.
I enjoyed my time at the City Winery. The menu is limited, but nice. Also, the items are a bit pricey for dinner. However, there are more affordable items like the appetizers. We ordered the Margherita Flat Bread, and it was delicious! The portion size was large enough for a dinner portion. The parmesan truffle fries were yummy as well. I was disappointed to see they did not have sangria on the menu. However, when I told the bartender, she whipped me up something on the fly, and it was incredible!! They need to add it to the menu!!! The service was great. We also saw an improv show that evening, and it was a great time. I would love to go back for another show. It was a great venue and nice place for a date!
(4)Penny W.
The food was good & the waitress was very polite & attentive. I only gave 3 stars due to the fact they were out of their key prosecco wine for their brunch, & they didn't have any sweeter wines, all dry! When I think of a winery, I thought I was going to get a taste of Nashville wine & possibly bring home a few bottles. Not the case. The price of the breakfast would have been $63 without our coupon deal which is crazy! I don't think we'll be back.
(3)John H.
The new Nashville. This place puts it all together. Intimate setting, plenty of room, purpose built music venue, great food, great wine list, full bar and prompt service. What more could you ask for? Here first time for Leon Russell. Quite surprised about this place. Like sitting in a restaurant with restaurant menu and servers only 50 feet from the stage. The food was really good. Pan seared mackerel was a favorite for our table. Perfectly cooked and expertly paired with purple Brussel sprouts, lentils and a cranberry purée. The wine selection was ample and we never even looked at the reserve list. The sprits list was also plentiful with plenty of bourbon selections among others. Once the music started the acoustics worked well and the sight lines were excellent. Everyone remained comfortably seated throughout the performance. This place is worth visiting regardless of who is performing and can only be improved by the level of talent on stage.
(5)Emily C.
There's too much against this place for me to give it a higher review. I want to like it more! My first time was confusing-I didn't know where I was supposed to go, and no one greeted me when I came inside. I had to go up to a hostess and ask, and she was not the friendliest. Seemed like I was inconveniencing her for not knowing how things worked. It wasn't crowded, otherwise I would have watched other people. Things I like: environment is very nice. Love the Isle of Printing piece on the wall. Acoustics were good (not that I'm a pro). Service was attentive. Spicy pork tacos were tasty. Things I don't like: Paying for parking. Encountered a rude hostess (Won't get into that story). Tacos were good but had to be eaten w/ fork & knife, which kind of defeats the purpose of tacos... Also, SO not worth $12. Very pricey overall for just ok items. TINY tables, uncomfortable chairs.
(2)Jacoby D.
Such a cool music venue! I have not had their wine or their food, but I am happy City Winery brought this unique music venue to Nashville. From what I observed, the table service was very professional and nice. Only concern: the venue is not in a location with a lot of street parking close by...or in an area I would feel comfortable parking in. We were pretty much required to use valet for $7.
(5)Sissy D.
Great place to catch a live music show! Fair ticketing and great prices....cheap valet parking. Eats and drinks are somewhat overpriced but getting a great seat for your favorite musician makes it all work out. Pros- fair ticketing, clean, lots of drink choices, pretty good menu of food, they don't give you grief about taking a vid. Cons-sort of pricey drinks, they pack you like sardines at little tables and its reminiscent of "family style" seating in fact you share table water, sometimes hard for servers to hear you. So the seating is 3 tiny tables (if not more!) pushed together and 6 seats at those tables. Just hope you sit next to someone nice! As you will be VERY close, actually its ridiculously close. End seats are the best I think. The shows never seem to drag out like they might at other venues. They seem to stick to the time very close.
(4)Bridgette C.
I have only ever been here for shows. And even though it hasn't been open long I've been to several. I know there's a restaurant and bar space out front (the live music venue is in the back) but I haven't eaten there or even sat there so this review is focused solely on the gigantic slice of heaven that is the stage in the back. Despite the large space the venue manages to be intimate, and the artists they book are not only talented but may not be your usual fare. Many of them are older, classic performers, with amazing stories, or newcomers with some serious lyrical soul. The acoustics are fantastic as well, and there's something about being able to just sit and enjoy some great food, drink, and entertainment without needed to dance or run around. Its relaxing and enjoyable. The staff is incredible in their ability to move around quickly without blocking your view of the stage or having to shout at you to ask if you want another drink. And the drinks and food are just wonderful. I am a huge fan of their beet and bacon flatbread and their burger. They have so many delicious wines to choose from, as well as other alcoholic offerings, but if you love wine I recommend a bottle or two for a good show. Most of the shows start by 8pm and are done by 11pm. The servers are great at getting your tabs to you before the end of the show so you're not scrambling. Its really just an overall fantastic dining and musical experience. They offer free valet most nights, and even at soldout shows are great about getting your cars quickly. The whole experience is just so laid back and enjoyable, and I've never had a bad time. I highly recommend taking in a show here and coming early to eat. The tickets for the concerts are usually more than reasonable, as is the food. It's a great way to spend a Nashville night.
(5)Robin M.
Nice atmosphere, mediocre food. My wine drinking friends sermed to enjoy the wine. Excellent service. We sent a salad back that was soo horrid I'd be embarrassed to serve my dog. But they took it back with no hesitation and without charge. My "medium rare" lamb was so rare it was barely lukewarm. Again...they took it back for more fire. When it came back...hardly more cooked... it was only tolerable. An attempt at some "interesting" flavor combinations was mostly unsuccessful. Someone is trying too hard. Sapphire Restaurant in the Factory succeeds in the style in which City Winery currently fails. I won't be back for the food.
(2)Paul K.
Reviewing this mostly as a music venue: This is one of those reviews that it's kind of painful to look at that two stars, but I'll try to justify it since there's no 2.4 star option. Valet parking - despise it, despise it more when it takes forever in the freezing cold because of a valet issue, which it did after the show. Friends bought us tickets to see a show there. We had front-table seats, this should have been great. Unfortunately the assigned seating up there meant I spent the time faced almost completely away from the performers. I was jammed next to a couple I didn't know, had very little space behind me, so turning my chair was not particularly a feasible option. Very little room behind or to the sides. I took a break from looking at the stage after a while because my neck hurt so much from craning it. I noticed there were plenty of free and open seats and tables, and the aisles they had constructed were huge so they could have given people a lot more space at the tables simply by not allowing 4 people to walk side by side in the aisles. If we'd just had enough space to turn the chairs 90 degrees in the viewing situation would have been pleasant. We were packed in the sardine fashion, which was absurd because there were plenty of free tables. Got up a couple of times to hit the restroom, just stayed standing off at the side of the stage until I felt like getting into the table pit again. The food was alternately great and just ok, but the prices for everything were on the pricey side. I'll remind I was there for the performance, not for the food. My neck, back, and ears were annoyed by nearly everything at about five songs in. Basically a slightly layout change to the tables would solve most of it, open seating after a certain point would have been nice, ability to get the car parked and unparked sans valet would be great. By the time I left I was in a mood. For a music venue they could be so great, but it's just not set up for that and the way they have the up front seating. It was a very expensive, neck pain inducing night. Maybe I should just say I'm old, this music venue made me grumpy. Get off my lawn. Food was tasty though. Not on my lawn!
(2)Dennis I.
I had truffle fries for an appetizer. Great stuff with cheese and bacon. My meal was pork braciola and that was tremendous! It is a rolled tenderloin stuffed with spinach, cheese and a white bean. All covered in a marinara sauce. Sides were potatoes augratin an a brussel sprout warm slaw. The brussel sprout was done perfectly. Really good meal that was unique and flavorful. We had stout chocolate cake which was good but not an OMG experience. Atmosphere is very pleasant and service was excellent. Waiter was knowledgeable and interacted with us on a personal level.
(4)Jennie D.
Really enjoyed this venue , food, and service. We will definitely return! Had 1/2 carafe of wine, the risotto balls and a flatbread. All were very good, brought out promptly and reasonably priced. Didn't mind the $5 valet as that seems cheap to me and love not fooling with parking, worth the money everyday. It was slightly odd sharing a table with people since we had 2 tickets but it was a table for 4. However, we chatted and had a lovely time. Think we may have found our go to date night spot especially when a favorite is in town. Love living in Nashviile!
(5)Aisha M.
I really wanted to love this place.Unfortunately, it missed the great mark for me. Let me start with the pros... Beautiful ambiance, happy hour specials, great event venue, solid menu The restaurant itself is gorgeous. There is an upstairs event space, a spacious bar area and a great stage set up. A group of 6 of us ordered dinner while watching the Marc Cohn show last week. Dinner: Everyone enjoyed the food. The service was less than impressive though. The server seemed to be overwhelmed by the tables he had. It took forever for him to take orders for cocktails. Then an even longer forever to come back with cocktails. Then add on some more forever to take out orders. Nothing ruins a beautiful dining experience like subpar service. You can correct an underwhelming dish, but underwhelming service can ruin an experience for me. Having been a server/bartender for a number of years I am both very critical (internally) but also forgiving (externally) when it comes to service. I am never rude, even if the service is subpar. That being said, it is an absolute pet peeve of mine when a server cannot keep up with who ordered what at a table of 6. In an establishment as nice as City Winery that just should not be the case. It is a complete moodkiller for the server to have people at the table check off what they had on a printed out receipt. It is even more annoying when the server encourages the table to split the check evenly because "it's easier that way". Unless there is a policy against separate checks that is indicated to a party at the outset, it is the server's responsibility to separate checks. It is a pain in the a** to do so, but that is what is expected. Ultimately we ended up splitting it evenly because after the 2nd return everyone was irritated. I will note that the show was over completely before we even got to the even split of the checks, though everyone was done eating before that. All and all, I would go back again and hope that this experience was an aberration from the norm.
(3)Jonathan B.
Definitely will have to come back and take in a show. Atmosphere: The entrance reminds me of a theater hall - which it pretty much is. We went the day after Christmas so the crowds were extremely low - like maybe 1 or 2 other groups with ours so we were able to enjoy an empty restaurant. You should be able to park on the street but it can be sketchy. (This place is next to the Nashville Rescue Mission - I think they tow if you park there.) Valet is available as well. Service: Since there was not a crowd we didn't have to wait. We didn't even have reservations so I couldn't tell you how the peak hours are. They sat us near the bar but we could still see everything happening. The food came out promptly. Food: We decided to go with the prefix menu with the wine pairing. I would highly recommend doing so as it was delicious, and the servings were surprisingly large. (Make sure to ask if you've got food allergies as they may substitute some dishes for you.) However the wine pairings you can leave out. I would suggest if you're familiar with your wines that you just choose yourself. Some of the pairings were a bit overwhelming. Overall: I enjoyed the food very much. I was hesitant when this place first opened because it was next to the Nashville Rescue Mission but knew eventually I would have to give it a shot. I'm glad I did.
(4)Scott T.
I'll echo what some other reviews have stated as far as seeing shows at City Winery. The tables are absolutely small and the chairs are way too close together. If you want to actually see the stage you'll have to sit uncomfortably sideways while packed in there like sardines. Sitting at tables that small, and in chairs crammed that close together while seated at tables with strangers isn't my thing. At all. I'll reserve attendance here in the future for those very few things that I absolutely can't live without seeing. The valet thing. The not-free valet. Annoying. We were warned beforehand and parked on the street in the neighborhood. Not the safest feeling neighborhood at night but it sure beats waiting in the huge line we saw after the show. If you valet you're gonna have to wait a while to get out of there. The food isn't cheap. The drinks really aren't cheap. I think the beer list consists of 8 choices? That's total. That's not just the draft list. Or the bottles list. So when I ordered one of the beers off the list (a stout) and something other than what I ordered showed up I questioned it (after several minutes of trying to flag a waiter down). Supposedly they had run out of the stout I ordered and sent this other stout as a replacement. With no explanation. Or apology. It was weird. If you're going to have a beer list that small at least make sure you have the few that are on the damn menu. And ask if it's ok with the customer before sending out a substitute. So for that...2 stars.
(2)Robert B.
Music venue is great Service was way off again! Party of six, 2 meals come out lukewarm, the other 4 plates start to trickle out 17 minutes later. They tried to deliver plates that we did not order three different times. Ordered espresso and the cookie plate, espresso comes out Luke warm and cookies come out 14 minutes later. It seems like the kitchen really let the wait staff down again. We left 20% because we know how hard servers work but we will not be ordering anything to eat here again The people that were crushed next to us also had the same horrible service. We were all laughing about it by desert. Six different main courses ordered and the standout was the shaved kale salad....big miss on the food but it is hard to get a clear feel for the food when all the plates showed up lukewarm or cold Super disappointing! Saw one review stating "best food in Nashville" my advise is go to City House, Sinema or Adele's and then recant your statement respectfully
(2)Helene C.
My third time here and still the parking problem ruins the experience. I don't feel safe parking anywhere but valet (it's a long walk to other lots) and don't mind paying for it. However, last night I spent 20 mintues getting into valet and 45 minutes getting out. Since there was a late show scheduled, the actual show, while magnificent, was 75 mintues. I spent almost as much time waiting for my car.
(1)Mod F.
We really wanted to like this place since they are getting some music on the books that we like, and want to see, but I will be hard pressed to return. We have been to City Winery twice now. The first time we went, we did as the website had suggested which was to come between 6-7 for dinner before the show. WAY too early, as it was awkward to be in the music venue with all these empty tables around you. It just felt weird. The food wasn't that great either. The only thing we ordered that we liked was the truffle fingerling potatoes. The flatbread was soggy, and the cheese plate was underwhelming and expensive for the stingy portions. We were disappointed that a winery boasting such a large list doesn't sell any bottle of wine for under $40. The second time we went, we ate dinner beforehand and decided to just have some wine during the show. We ordered a 2010 Malbec that she opened right when she got to the table (in the dark - you can't see!) and poured for us to taste, BUT we were never shown the bottle until she had poured it out and walked away. It was 2011. Not a big deal for inexpensive wine, but if I had been buying a $200 bottle that was wrong, I would have been incensed. When we got the bill, (it had slipped past us on our previous visit) we noticed that they charged the Liquor By The Drink tax that EVERY other restaurant in the ENTIRE STATE builds into their pricing, but City Winery charges it ON TOP of your already overpriced drink. So a $40 is really $46, a $15 whiskey is $17.25 plus sales tax etc...it is in small print on the menu, but you feel gouged already, and then that tax just seems like a big F-You. Paying for rude valets who don't even unlock the door for you, much less open it, plus overpriced food that isn't good, and really overpriced drinks just made us feel nickeled and dimed. Unlike others, we did have good service inside the venue. Again, I wanted to like this place - the upstairs patio has beautiful views of downtown and it's a nice space, but we just feel like it's not worth what you end up spending for an evening there.
(2)Karri B.
I went there last night with a group to see Johnny Swim play and it is a great venue to hear/see a band and sit down (the older I get the more I like the idea of sitting down). The venue area is spacious but intimate and our seats were great. The wine selection was good and the pours were above average sized. I didn't eat, but the food coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled great! Valet parking is $5 and although most people valeted, the line to get the cars after the show moved quickly. It's a unique venue and worth going to to see a show!
(4)Savannah R.
First, I want to start by saying that before I write a review I give establishments ample visits to earn the rating. I've now been to City Winery 3 times and remain less than impressed. SERVICE: The service at City Winery is either on overdrive and in your face or non existent and there doesn't seem to be a happy medium. During my last visit to City Winery on Friday (upstairs in the "lounge") our waiter asked for our drink orders and food orders at the same time. Our food came out first, after about 20 min (without even water on the table) and then about 10 min later, we got our drinks. Also, on a previous visit I was denied a taste of one of CW's on-tap wines because the bar was "too busy". PRICE: Pricing for shows is competitive. PARKING: Valet - I've been charged $5 sometimes then they didn't collect payment another time..not sure what the deal is, but they never seem to have enough attendants working for when a show that seats a few hundred lets out at one time. FOOD: The food is tasty, nothing extraordinary, especially with the great food scene in this city. A little pricy. SEATING: Unless you buy seats at an entire table you'll be sitting with strangers, which can be fun, but not when you're literally rubbing elbows with them. The tables are tiny and wayyyy to small to seat strangers together. Also, it's a bummer that you have to buy a seat - City Winery is more about selling the "experience" than a ticket to a great show. Also, you're SOL if you have more people in your group than a table can accommodate, so I would be very hesitant to say this place is group friendly. Overall, Nashville has such wonderful, unique and historic venues (lookin at you Ryman, Marathon Music Works, War Memorial Auditorium) that I'm not really sure how or why City Winery has a place here. I would much rather go to a show at any of these other venues or a laundry list of others not mentioned before coming to CW. In short, go back to New York. However, I'll likely return because they book great shows.
(2)Kyle C.
The venue is amazing, but the food and wine recommendations (keyword: recommendations) was not so great. 2 appetizers, 2 glasses of wine and we were out for no less than $60. Ouch. Will go back for music, but not for food or wine.
(3)Aubrey C.
Rissoto balls are excellent. Scallops are fantastic. Great place to be able to have good conversation due to the dining area being small and quaint.
(4)Lesilie S.
The Venue is beautiful. But the service sucks. Management was not friendly at all. I think I spoke to the GM about why the food was cold and he did not try to get me another plate or offer to comp my meal. I think with this is going to have a lot of bad reviews if the management doesn't get changed. As the rest of the community has discussed the parking situation is not favorable. I was their for a corporate party is how they handled where to go was not organized.
(1)Brett B.
Stopped in to meet my mom for a lunch 1st time going was impressed by the building and set up inside (it does have a strange location) had their selection for Nashville burger week the KLD far burger it was good but didn't get my vote they did offer s smaller portion due to the promotion which worked out fine for a hot day added on the zucchini fries and they were the best I have ever tried will eventually go back to try out some other items
(4)Gary M.
Amazing restaurant/wine bar/concert hall. Food and wine list A+. Service was best in Nashville. We will be regulars
(5)