Church and Union is the newest food concept in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee by the 5th and Union Group of Charlotte, North Carolina. Joe had the honor of attending the Grand Opening Event on September 18th, 2021 and is here to give you the inside look.
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Cuisine: New American
Cost: Higher End
Joe Nashville Overall Description: Nuovo Upscale
Chefs: Two time “Top Chef” contestant Jamie Lynch and Chef Adam Hodgson as mentioned in the Tennessean
Bar/Wine Selection: Extensive
Private Dining Rooms: Yes
Reservations: Yes (Joe Nashville always suggests reservations)
Date Friendly: Yes
Outside Dining Option: Yes
Gluten Free Options Available: Yes (on request)
Menu Link: Menu
Address: 201 4th Ave. N. Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 864-0977
Where it all Began. Joe Meets Alejandro
In early July, Joe Nashville was working on his mantra, “Joe Knows Nashville”, by meeting new folks to continue his quest of knowing as much about Nashville as possible.
While hanging out at a local favorite Holston House Hotel and chatting with Nashville visitors, Joe meets concept owner, Alejandro Torio (5th Street Group).
Alejandro mentioned he was in Nashville working on his newest restaurant Church and Union and prepping for an early fall grand opening. Joe found the owner of 5th Street Group very personal and welcoming. He quickly grabbed Joe’s attention and interest. Alejandro shared his vision of the new Nashville eatery and discussed his other venues in Charlotte, North Carolina ( 5 Church ) and Charleston, South Carolina (5 Church, Tempest, & La Belle Helene). Joe knew, If this guy can make it work in these reputable cities, his new Nashville place must be worth a visit. Joe immediately marked his calendar and was there front and center on opening night September 18, 2021, to bring you the scoop.
*Joe actually went twice, back-to-back, in mid-September 2021 to experience the bar scene/appetizer and dinner the next evening. Read on for his in-depth review.
Joe Reviews Church and Union, Nashville
THE FOOD
Bar Visit/Appetizer:
I was able to make an unplanned visit to the bar at the grand opening just after 5:30PM. I went with a glass of the house Cabernet Sauvignon (Evolution) and the BURRATA asparagus, country ham, pistachio pesto, peperonata appetizer. Now, I am not a wine connoisseur, but the pairing went very well. The mix worked out great and the pesto was quite remarkable. I now have a go-to appetizer for my return…. unless I venture to the CHARCUTERIE BOARD or BEEF TARTAR on my next visit. This drink and appetizer hit the spot!
Dinner:
I secured reservations for the 2nd night after the grand opening and was very pleased with my second visit. The dinner came with complimentary bread and balsamic/oil. And who doesn’t love free bread? Since I had an appetizer the night before, I went straight to the main course, Kurobuta Pork Chop, Calamansi, burnt orange, celery root salad and added a side of Crispy Brussel Sprouts. I re-visited my now familiar Evolution Cabernet Sauvignon on the beverage side. I have to say, the pork chop dish was delightful, especially with the accompanying glaze. That glaze would go well with anything! However, my hands down favorite of the night was the CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUTS. I’ll have to disclose, I’m a sucker for baked or broiled brussel sprouts; so take that into account in my raving review of this particular dish. The presentation and taste could not have been better. Understandably, it was a great course to go with the pork chops, but I could have enjoyed this “side dish” as the main course to be honest. It was that good. Bursting with flavor and had my inner dialogue saying, “and this is healthy too!”. I give 5 stars to this meal.
THE EXPERIENCE
- Top notch.
- Courtesy and professional staff from the welcome through the entire meal.
- The elevated food choices and quality match the positive vibe.
- Text of the entire book, The Art of War (Sun Tzu) handwritten on the ceiling and walls.
- Church and Union has a unique optional tip policy for kitchen staff. They call it the “Tip The Kitchen Initiative.” How it works: you can voluntarily add a tip designated for kitchen staff. The kicker is: 5th Street Group ownership pledges on the menu they will match dollar for dollar total kitchen staff gratuity up to $500.00 each day.
- Complimentary pamphlet copy of Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” accompanies your check at the end of the meal.
- Ambience and décor that creates a relaxed but upscale vibe. There were seemingly endless candles which made for the perfect amount of lighting.
THE VERDICT
Would I give this place another visit?
Heck yes. Overall, the feel of the restaurant, the quality food, and the atmosphere are all unique to this part of town. I would say Church and Union is a definite must visit if you are looking for a top quality dining experience while in Nashville.
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