FLYING HIGH

Four Seasons Nashville’s Mimo Restaurant and Bar brings Southern Italian cuisine with local Southern accents

Written by Dave Mahanes / Photos courtesy of Four Seasons Nashville

Melissa and I had the privilege of dining at one of Nashville’s newest fine restaurants, Mimo, at the spectacular new Four Seasons Nashville. Mimo Restaurant and Bar, which translates to “mockingbird” in Italian (and is the state bird of Tennessee), features Southern Italian cuisine with local Southern accents. All dishes are prepared from scratch using fresh, locally sourced ingredients with a menu emphasizing seafood, including standout dishes like Seafood Alzantina Tower, Mimo’s Caviar Linguini, and Clams Conchiglie.

Chef Aniello “Nello” Turco is a Michelin-starred chef from Naples, Italy at the helm of Mimo. Chef Turco specializes in creative fermentation techniques, which can lead to some marvelous tangy and original taste experiences.

The interior design of the restaurant is breathtaking. The entrance to Mimo is open to the hotel lobby, which creates a welcoming atmosphere. The ceilings are two stories tall and anchored by wooden parquet floors with a three-dimensional geometrical pattern, forming an elegant Italian feel. The glass curtain wall provides a spectacular view of Nashville’s Riverfront Park and the Pedestrian Walking Bridge, while the tables feature highly figured grey marble tabletops. All of this creates a sophisticated but relaxed vibe.

We were fortunate to sit in a semicircular booth facing the open kitchen (I highly recommend asking for one of these tables). A marble counter packed with dozens of raw oysters on ice separates the kitchen from the dining room. The bustling crew working behind a glass wall of flames was fascinating to watch as they assembled dishes with their giant tweezers and attention to elegant plating.

After seeing one pass by on a tray, I had to have a vodka martini, straight up. It arrived in a classic frosted conical martini glass where a thin veneer of ice covered the top of the drink, garnished with four speared green olives–the absolute perfect martini. For an appetizer, we had raw blue point oysters served with a sweet champagne mignonette sauce and lemon wedges. Their flavor was fresh and “of the sea” (raw oysters are a personal favorite of mine, and they did not disappoint). For our pasta dish, we chose Mimo’s Caviar Linguine made with osetra caviar, homemade vinegar and for that Southern twist, crumbled fried okra. It was creamy and slightly crunchy, and the pasta was cooked to perfection. I predict this will become that dish that you crave and will want to return for time and time again!

to this Italian steak dish, it was accompanied by collard greens with pancetta and puffed grits. To complement our entrée, we shared the Carbonara Creamed Corn. This was certainly not your meat and three creamed corn! Finally, we wrapped up our wonderful evening with a salt and sugar tart—a delectable treat with molasses, sea salt, and salted caramel ice cream. What a delicious way to end a perfect dining experience.

In my opinion, fine dining must have the following elements: 1. Fresh ingredients, 2. Excellent preparation, 3. Innovative recipes, 4. Elegant plating and presentation, 5. Hospitable and attentive waitstaff, and 6. A beautiful and inviting ambiance. Mimo has all the above. So, fly on over to Mimo, and you will be glad you ventured downtown.

Mimo Restaurant and Bar at The Four Seasons Nashville / 100 Demonbreun Street, Nashville, TN 37201 (615) 610-6990 / www.mimorestaurant.com

Monday-Friday: Breakfast 7:00am-10:00am, Lunch 11:00am-3:00am, Dinner 5:00pm-10:00pm and Saturday-Sunday: Brunch 7:00am-3:00am

Mimo Bar / Sunday-Thursday: 2:00pm-midnight and Friday-Saturday: 2:00pm-1:00am