Nashville Food Friday: The Stone Fox

The Stone Fox feels like more like you are having dinner at a friends house than eating at a restaurant. I think there is good reason for that. It was brought to my attention that much of the decoration came from owner Elise Tyler's house (like that badass velvet portrait of Burt Reynolds). Everything in this place is beautifully curated to the point where I wish my house looked like the Stone Fox. The vintage Formica tables are my favorite. They have about 4-5 and each one is different and tells its own story. My favorite part of the restaurant is the lounge room off to the right. There are couches and bench seating, a lovely cardboard chandelier (no really, it is beautiful) and a wall full of paintings, knickknacks and doodads. Of course, we had our dinner in this room.

 

The menu is full of down home delicious favorites. It is an array of comfort foods for all diets. There were also several vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu. I like any place that tries to make their menu accommodating. They also have a pretty nice cocktail list and local beer selection. 

For dinner Steve had the kimchi Reuben with a side of kale. If I was feeling more of an appetite, this is what I would have ordered for myself. I'm a Reuben traditionalist, but I always like when places put a modern spin on an old favorite. I have never had a kimchi Reuben before, but I don't know why. The flavors worked really well together. The kimchi was nice and spicy and gave the sandwich a good kick. I guess replacing one fermented vegetable with another can work in some sandwich situations. Also, the cheese was really good and stringy. Yum!

I was looking for something lighter and more on the healthier side. Most bars in Nashville don't have menus where you can eat this way. But Stone Fox does (bonus points). I ordered the Marrakesh Express Salad which is a kale based salad topped with quinoa, onions, peppers, carrots and raisins. It was delicious, healthy, vegan and filling. The raisins provided just the right amount of sweet in the salad. I didn't feel gross or guilty after eating this like I do with most bar dinners.

After dinner we went out to the porch and enjoy the night. The back of the Stone Fox is just as beautiful as the inside. The fence is made out of re-purposed pallets that have lights and planter boxes built in. The patio furniture is a lovely mish-mash of antique garden supplies, including an old metal rocker (I'm a little sad I didn't get to sit in it myself).

I have to say the best part of The Stone Fox is the community feel. It really serves the neighborhood and provides a great place to get together with friends. We ran into a bunch of good people that we know there, and I can't imagine going there without that happening. Nashville is a small town, you know. 

The Stone Fox is also a pretty cool venue space. I have yet to see a concert there, but Steve has and really enjoyed himself. As we were heading home, DJs were getting set up to spin some records for a dance night. I recommend checking their show listings to see what goodness is coming in.

Congrats Tyler family, you have created a winner.