That person you locked eyes with over obscure photography collections at Defunct Books? Follow it up with something at Lou. Brunch is the time for a lively aperture debate over a kale, nduja, and egg sandwich, with some pet-nat to spice up the argument. Dinner winds its way through a discussion on optimal lighting settings and a dry-aged ribeye with caramelized onion butter. And by the time you’ve gotten to the candied fennel ice cream, that second date is a forgone conclusion.

Sure, it might seem hard to get a table at Kisser—this walk-in-only Japanese spot is roughly the size of a two-car garage and is only open four days a week for lunch. At least the experience of waiting for some cod roe-stuffed onigiri is far from that of hanging out in Ticketmaster purgatory. But after that, you’re in for a near-tranquil lunch fueled by those aforementioned rice balls and grilled 24-hour, sake-marinated yellowtail collar that’s so good you’ll murmur expletives under your breath.

A wine bar that serves Lao food in an old converted church every day until 1am? That’s Bad Idea, which is actually a great idea for a restaurant. The space is gigantic and decked out in colorful couches, the dishes like jiggly scallop-mousse-stuffed crepe are interesting and delicious, and the bottles on the natural wine list pair well with everything. This is also one of the better late-night options in town, especially if you’re looking for something like a $16 plate of katsu over rice.

Audrey could be confused with a mad scientist’s lab that turn ingredients like pawpaw and Jimmy Red corn into a culinary wild ride. The space—a two-story building that also houses June, an intimate tasting menu experience upstairs—has a warm minimalist aesthetic with lots of Appalachian art and dried herbs hanging from the ceiling. The menu changes seasonally, but expect things like grits with sorghum-cured egg yolk, pate of Texas deer, and hickory grilled sunburst trout with tomato gravy.

Nashville’s got a solid roster of wood-fire-focused restaurants (see: Pelican & Pig), but this Japanese-minimalist izakaya is somewhere that stands out. They serve half chicken, smoked fish dip, and wagyu brisket dusted in togarashi that are perfect for sharing on a date. It’s not quite an anniversary or engagement situation, but it feels a bit more elevated than your usual Friday night Netflix binge with some Trader Joe’s orange chicken.

No matter the time of day, you’ll find a fast-moving line snaking out the door of Redheaded Stranger. That’s because people queue up at this casual Tex-Mex shop for crunchwraps so good they’ll root out any core memory you might have of fourth meals at that bigger “taco” chain. Also, every single sauce here is packed with flavor. Try the carrot habanero Dreamweaver on your totchos, or the Dr. Pepper sauce with a barbacoa taco.

Cafe Roze is an airy spot that’s a nice choice for an intimate (read: small) weekend breakfast, an effortless Thursday lunch, or a light Monday night dinner. The breakfast menu has some tasty selections that veer into crunchy LA territory, like ginger mango smoothies, sipping broth, and bowls of beet tahini, turmeric eggs, and lentils, but there are also smashburgers and stout waffles on there because, you know, balance. If the morning’s gotten away from you, lunch and dinner are tasty too.

If your partner’s been hounding you about your three-month anniversary for weeks (congrats on finding that gem), Pelican & Pig is the best place to go. Mostly because you should find any reason to inhale the warm, campfire aroma wafting from the wood-fired ovens in the back. The reason you’re here, though, is for the housemade focaccia with crispy garlic, the pork chop or ribeye from Bear Creek Farm, and those stunning chocolate chip cookies with milk jam for dessert.

What started as a trailer at The Dive Motel is now a Pan-Asian brick-and-mortar spot fit for East Nashville. There’s a red theme to the decor, but there’s also a retro diner feel, which is part of what makes it a great first date spot—it’s interesting and cool without that annoying try-hard vibe. The menu has things like Japanese okonomiyaki, Taiwanese gua bao, and Sichuan la zi cauliflower, and it changes frequently, so expect surprises. Get there early, since they don’t take reservations.

Maiz de la Vida is a food truck permanently parked in front of Chopper Tiki that happens to serve some of the best tacos in the city. They transcend just about anything else you’ll find locally thanks to their top-notch tortillas, which are made through a traditional nixtamalization process using corn imported from Mexico. The quesabirria tacos—served with a side of rich consomme that’s perfect for dipping—is the move here, but don’t forget to throw in an order of churros to finish to your meal.

Lockeland Table is like the Mr. Rogers of restaurants—it’s comforting, kind, and happy to be your East Nashville neighbor. The wood-and-brick dining room and menu are equally homey, and the latter includes platters of smoked bone marrow, empanadas, and wood-fired pies. Instead of your usual Happy Hour, Lockeland hosts a “community hour” Monday through Saturday from 4-6pm with $7 drinks and snacks, with a portion of proceeds going to parent-teacher groups of schools in and around Nashville.

You can find plenty of fancy burger joints around town. You know, the gastropub-type places with toppings like foie gras and eggs. Then you have Grillshack, which has no indoor seating, just a few tables outside, and a takeout window doling out some of the best burgers in the city. There’s hardly anything to distract from the ⅓-pound patty from Bear Creek farms. Their fries, which are hand-cut and generously piled next to your burger, are a masterclass in crafting the perfect thick-cut spuds.

When it comes to hot chicken, it seems like the whole world wants to duke it out over Hattie B’s and Prince’s. That’s fine. We’ll happily be at Bolton’s sweating it out to the spiciest, and best, hot chicken and hot fish sandwich in town. This little red-and-gray bungalow has been punishing hungry masochists with off-the-chart heat levels for over 25 years. There’s only a handful of tables inside, so if the shack’s at capacity, place your order at the carryout window and take your feast outside.

Every neighborhood needs a go-to sandwich shop, and Bill’s is the one in East Nashville. It’s a simple space focusing on hand-helds using fluffy bread stacked with a kaleidoscope of meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Take the towering CBP that’s stuffed with a fried chicken thigh, or the Mamma Mia, with garlic-ginger chicken meatballs. Pair one of their creations with some housemade pizza party puffs and you’ve got a lunch guaranteed to make Subway’s “sandwich artists” weep footlong-shaped tears.

Yes, The Wash is technically one of those culinary incubators that’s made up of multiple micro-restaurants testing out their concepts before making the leap to a permanent brick and mortar. So, you’re going to find some pretty interesting and hard-to-find stuff (for Nashville, at least). Plan to eat your way around the different concepts before making a final stop at Bay 6 for some beer, wine, or a Baby Jessica—a riff off a piña colada that uses tequila, banana liqueur, coconut water, and lime.

This isn’t your typical neighborhood pizza shop, but the vibe is still chill enough that you can feel comfortable leaving your designer Birks at home. Folk is owned and run by the same team behind Rolf & Daughters, so you can count on perfectly-blistered sourdough littleneck clam pies with bonito and lemon. The menu also has some great meat and seafood dishes, like beer tartare and a smoked trout spread, that nicely round out the meal.

Brewery food is typically a bit of an afterthought, but Lauter doesn't stand for that. After all, it would be wrong to pair one of Southern Grist’s inventive brews with something basic. So the next time you’ve settled at one of the picnic-style tables with a pint of their oated New England IPA, see if the pork soup dumplings with garlic scape, smoked burnt end oil, and porcini salt are on special. No? Go for the fried chicken sandwich that’s been marinated in koji and coated with hot honey.

East Side Bahn Mi is our go-to spot for Vietnamese sandwiches in East Nashville. One of the best things about the bánh mì here is the crispy homemade baguettes. But the fillings just might edge out the bread—there’s black-pepper-caramel-roasted pork shoulder, lemongrass chicken, and griddle-seared smoked bologna. They also dish up some mighty tasty rice and salad bowls, which might be a nice thing to eat on a “feels-like” 105-degree Nashville day.