Best Restaurants in Nashville Spotlight on: FLYTE WORLD DINING AND WINE
If the restaurant scene of Nashville was cast as your senior class, Flyte would be the handsome loner who drove a ’69 Camaro and got straight A’s without ever showing up to class. Flyte ignores formulaic popularity and achieves genuine cool; edgy yet graceful, not always perfect, but never boring.
Flyte is located in a funky brick building a few blocks west of the Gulch. Although it will likely soon be joined by other industrial-chic establishments, for now Flyte’s semi-isolated location imparts on diners the sense that they are privy to a warmly-glowing speakeasy tucked away in a row of abandoned, dilapidated factories. Inside, Flyte is decorated with earthy tones and artful furnishings, and a beautifully white-tiled bar.
Flyte’s wonderfully yummy wine list is divided into Old World and New World reds and whites. Flyte offer many varied wines by-the-glass and, of course, thematic “flights” of wine are available as well. For the most part, the servers are extremely knowledgeable regarding wines in general. If you want to do some real tasting, come later in the evening when things have slowed down a bit. (Also, you won't be disappointed if wine is not your bag. Flyte offers interesting beers, both bottled and on tap, such as Monty Python's Holy Ale. Also, they also know how to mix a fine dirty martini!)
On to dinner...
To start, a la carte antipasti are offered, which guests order by quantity on a slip of paper, as one would order rolls at a sushi restaurant. On the main menu, salads, soups, and desserts are available as "flights" - a trio of three smaller portioned selections. Not only are these offerings creative variations on a theme, but they serve as godsends for both the experimental and the indecisive. The menu changes often, due to co-executive chefs Jake Stearns and Bobby Benjamin's unfaltering ambitiousness and emphasis on seasonality. Although the same dish will rarely appear week in and week out, try not to miss the Pan Seared Salmon ($27). This Scandinavian-inspired entree includes beet kumquat salad, whole grain mustard sabayon, and a rice medley. In typical Flyte fashion, this dish offers surprising combinations that subtly challenge the palate without being too cryptic. Stearns and Benjamin create a cuisine that is intuitive and passionate rather than practiced and predictable. Although this approach creates a certain margin of error, with these two the errors have been few and far between.
Although quite spacious, you will definitely need reservations on a Friday or Saturday night for the main dining room. The most coveted tables are in an alcove that overlooks the kitchen, offering diners a view of the action. Flyte is trendy, but not pretentious. Despite the occasional local celebrity and an attractive, hipster waitstaff, Flyte remains welcoming even if you show up in your college sweatshirt. No matter who you are, you may find the one of the executive chefs bringing out your entree or one of the owners dropping by your table to chat about wine. Cheers!
There is a free lot right out front and also ample street space available.
718 Division Street, Nashville 37203
615.255.6200
Tue-Thurs: 5 PM-10 PM
Fri-Sat: 5 PM-11 PM
Sun-Mon: Closed
www.flytenashville.com
