Noko

Nashville’s got a solid roster of wood-fire-focused restaurants (see: Pelican & Pig), but this Japanese-minimalist izakaya is somewhere that stands out. They serve edamame, half chicken, smoked fish dip, and wagyu brisket dusted in togarashi that are perfect for sharing on a date. It’s not quite an anniversary or engagement situation, but it feels a bit more elevated than your usual Friday night Netflix binge with some Trader Joe’s orange chicken. In a stroke of why-didn’t-we-think-of-that genius, there’s a small Japanese zen garden in front of the bathrooms to help channel some peaceful patience when a parent with a toddler “emergency” cuts you in line.