Miel is one of Nashville’s original farm-to-table restaurants, a Sylvan Park staple that’s been around for over 17 years. It’s a not-so-well-kept neighborhood secret that courts a loyal group of repeat diners who ride or die for Miel. That’s because the food and wine have remained interesting, and the deeply intimate service makes it feel like a home away from home. And just like home, you’ve got a couple of settings for your dinner: the indoor dining room, the outside patio, and the barn (what, you don’t have a barn?). We’re suckers for the patio, though, with its charmingly overrun garden bursting with whatever’s in season. It’s the perfect scene for a solo happy hour, where you can drift away under the golden hour light with a chilled glass of lambrusco in hand, oysters on ice, and a plump, juicy cheeseburger. But Miel also does a dinner date really well. The dining room has that cozy rustic thing going for it. French-ish plates with the occasional Southern twist pop up on the menu, like escargot with maitre d'butter and a smoked carrot with Alabama white sauce. And since the owner is an accomplished sommelier who also runs a wine shop, you can count on the grapes in your glass to be interesting—like a crisp and biting furmint tokaji from Hungary that plays well with those oysters.