Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina

"Head to the very top floor of the JW Marriott for a luxe dining experience overlooking Nashville. Three private dining rooms are available for larger groups (12, 18, and 24), but the spacious dining room easily seats groups under 12. Set menus are available for larger groups; smaller groups can choose from favorites like the Maine lobster pot pie or Japanese wagyu by the ounce." - Ellen Fort

"For those that prefer to observe New Year’s celebrations from above, rather than in the throngs below, Bourbon Steak feels miles above — or at least 34 floors. The menu is always designed for luxury — lobster pot pie, caviar service, and Japanese wagyu are frequent fliers — but New Year’s Eve brings even more luxury and celebratory dining. Choose from two seatings: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a three-course prix fixe, or 7:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. with access to the bar, Bourbon Sky until 1 a.m. where there’ll be live music, dancing, and an excellent firework view of downtown’s fireworks. More info and reservations can be found on the website." - Ellen Fort

"Bourbon Steak is a high-end chain with outposts in LA, Miami, and DC. What’s specific to this location—and what makes it our top steakhouse in Nashville—is the 360-degree view you’ll get from its perch on the 34th floor of the JW Marriott Downtown. Add in the fact that the place runs like a well-oiled machine with expert service, and you have the perfect place to impress someone, so long as you’re prepared to drop some serious coin. While the view is indeed incredible, the food gives it some stiff competition. Most of the steaks are poached in butter before they’re seared, and you can especially taste that richness in any of the eight cuts of wagyu—including a 40-ounce tomahawk that comes hay-smoked tableside. Beyond filets of beef, you have fresh oysters, a pot pie filled with brandied Maine lobster cream, and a ridiculously decadent smoked Valrhona chocolate s’mores cake. All of it holds up to the greatness of the steaks. photo credit: Emily Dorio photo credit: Eliza Kennard photo credit: Eliza Kennard photo credit: Eliza Kennard And talk about service. Crumbs you couldn’t even see are scraped off the table before each course, napkins are folded in Bugatti-esque speed when someone leaves their seat, and each waiter is unfailingly polite and intimately familiar with each item on the menu. They’ve even got details on the farm your beef came from and how the chef gets their fries so darn crispy. One fact about a meal here: You’re going to spend a lot of money. Expect about $300-$500 per person, but it can go much higher if you really plan to ball out. Especially if you add some of Bourbon Steak’s tip-top wine selections and a few pours of their barrel-selected bourbons and whiskies. But hey, at least the fries are free. Food Rundown photo credit: Eliza Kennard Trio Of Duck Fat Fries Screw a stale bread basket. At Bourbon Steak, you’ll get a trio of duck-fat fries with three different seasonings: white cheddar, truffle parmesan, and dill pickle-spiced. You’ll also get three sauces for dipping: a spicy ranch, lemon aioli, and bourbon barbeque. The truffle parmesan with lemon aioli combo never fails to set off the umami buzzers. photo credit: Eliza Kennard Maine Lobster Pot Pie The Maine lobster pot pie is a Bourbon Steak classic for a reason. Like those fuzzy flannel pajamas, it’s homey and comforting, with some over-the-top flair in the form of black truffles and a silky lobster cream. The Tomahawk The fatty marbling and rich flavor of this 40-ounce cut make it one of the finest steaks in the city. But Bourbon Steak can’t seem to leave good enough alone. And thank god. They take things one step further by hay-smoking the beef tableside, bringing out the earthy, grassy notes in the American wagyu. Sides The term “side” is an unfair misnomer to these spotlight-stealing accompaniments, with a nearly-over-indulgent lobster mac and cheese or the devastatingly tender brussels with a satisfying crispy exterior. Order a number of these to add to any steak dinner. Smoked Valrhona Chocolate S’mores Your childhood campfire favorite with a Paris Hilton complex. And we dig it. The plate comes out under a smokey dome, revealing a hunk of rich devil’s food cake cozying up to hazelnuts and a scoop of toasted marshmallow ice cream. Never skip this dessert." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

"It isn’t just the experience of sitting 34 stories above Nashville with a full, unobstructed view of the city below you (although that doesn’t hurt), the quality of the dishes and services here are consistently some of the best in the city. Instead of the usual bread basket, your meal starts off with a trio of fries and high-end sauces, before you segue into platters of shellfish, butter-poached steaks, and crispy Brussels sprouts. Throw in a whiskey cocktail from the roving cocktail cart before wrapping up the meal with a slice of bourbon pecan pie. —JGJ" - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones, Ellen Fort

"Bourbon Steak is an innovator in the field of pre-meal bread baskets. And by that, we mean they’ve gotten rid of the bread altogether and replaced it with a trio of different fries and dips. Beyond the free spuds, you can look forward to fresh oysters, a pot pie filled with brandied Maine lobster cream, and a juicy Australian wagyu. The steakhouse is on the 34th floor of the JW Marriott, and they definitely capitalized on that real estate. There are windows all around the room giving you a 360-degree view of the Nashville skyline, and the rest of the space looks like a jazzed-up hotel ballroom. Regardless of where you sit, the service and menu make you feel like you’re dining in an oligarch’s private villa." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, ann walczak