"Joe Muer Seafood is an over 100-year-old Detroit institution. And rumor has it, a restaurant bigwig from Motor City came to town for CMA Fest in 2016 and decided Nashville needed a Joe Muer of its own. The result: a bright and shiny steakhouse that’s giving the city something it very badly needs—really spectacular seafood. Everything here feels like a throwback to a 1950s steakhouse, right down to the waiters with bow ties pulling out your red velvet tufted chairs and couples sitting at a gilded bar drinking frosted martinis served by a guy named Mac. If the decor hasn’t already clued you in, this is definitely a place for a special celebration. photo credit: Eli Greiss They have quite a few steaks, but it’s really all about the seafood, which is flown in fresh daily—landlocked state be damned. The shrimp here are practically the size of a ribeye, the king crab legs generously hang off the edge of your plate, and a crab-stuffed Atlantic flounder is the kind of oceanic inception we fully support. And when the dessert cart stacked with cakes, pies, and pastries comes wheeling toward your table, this isn’t the time to say “no thanks.” Try and grab a seat at the bar, which feels a bit sexier and more glamorous than the tables. Chat up the bartenders as they deftly mix your vesper made with freshly melted glacial water. Food Rundown Colossal Shrimp Cocktail Colossal is not a misnomer here. These things are easily the size of your fist, if not bigger. And while shrimp of this size can sometimes be dry, these are exceptionally juicy and eat like a tender steak. Lobster Bisque A steakhouse classic executed with aplomb. Thick hunks of buttery poached lobster bob around like snowy narwahls in a pool of creamy, sherry-laced broth. The dollop of creme fraiche is the piece de resistance. photo credit: Tyler Woods Crab-Stuffed Atlantic Flounder This is the culinary Inception we can get behind. The flounder gets punched up with a crab cake-like stuffing and a drizzle of stone ground mustard beurre blanc. Decadent and delicious. photo credit: Minnie Morklithavong Tristan South African Lobster Tail Joe Muer is the only place in Nashville where you’ll find the elusive Tristan South African lobster—it’s caught in a really remote area, so it’s a rarity on menus. This variety of lobster is extra plump, delicate, and slightly sweet. All it needs is the lightest dunk in a ramekin of butter to really make it stratospheric. Desserts The dessert cart here is a multi-tiered roving extravanganza that’s as tall as the server. The coconut cake with layers of airy white chiffon is what the restaurant is known for, but it’s the spiced carrot cake you really need to focus on. Schmears of cream cheese icing are sandwiched in between layers of moist, spiced cake. The candied walnuts add a nice level of crunch to the mix. We’d come here just for this." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
