"Nashville's newest Italian spot is also one of the hardest reservations to get in town, and prime dinner times at V Modern Italian in the Gulch are booked over two weeks out. Inside: packs of bachelorettes posing in front of the massive tree in the middle of the restaurant and dressy couples sharing a black truffle sourdough pie out on the patio. It can be a bit much with all the marble, gold, mythology-inspired murals, DJs, and a napkin-waving ritual called the “Pedro.” But the food, like scampi reginette in a creamy lobster bisque and tender tuscan chicken, makes all of the over-the-topness worth it." - jackie gutierrez jones 2