09/21/09

VERY mediocre

by NashvilleNative75

As a Nashville native, as well as someone who loves to travel and eat great food wherever I go, trust me on this one: skip the Sunset Grill. This is a dinosaur of a restaurant. The menu has not changed in 10 years, and the wine list is unimpresive and equally dated. The food itself is average, at best - and certainly not worth the price paid.

The Sunset Grill comes from a bygone era in Nashville dining, and can not compete with the many other, BETTER restaurants that are populating our fine city. The Sunset refuses to update their menu, and refuses to embrace culinary change of any sort. And perhaps more importantly, the food is uninspired, uninteresting, lackluster, and overall pretty terrible. It's kind of sad, but in the same vein, if they can't grow or move forward then they deserve the dwindling business they've been getting.

Also to note, this place is popular with two types of Nashvillians: Vanderbilt sorority & frat types who think it's posh based solely on its location, and who really don't have any discriminating culinary tastes of their own, and the geriatric Belle Meade crowd. And that's it.

Don't spend your time or money on this dying waste of good real estate.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Dated menu, dated wine list, mediocre food

07/20/09

Venerable Classic Still Kicking

by bjaneg13

My boyfriend and I had dinner here last week with our parents. We had a great server - who knew the menu and offered great suggestions. We all ordered a starter plus an entree. Everyone was impressed by the starters - sonoma salad, summer salad of cucumbers and tomatoes, scallops. The main entree's were decent - lamb was tasty, pork tenderloin was yummy, vegetarian loved her stuffed pepper, etc.

All in all, I would recommend Sunset to anyone. It's not some fancy new place in town, but rather a classic that's been here for a while and will more than likely stay around for a while. While the food might not be on the cutting edge, it's good portions and tasty.

The patio is the place to be in great weather...

• Pros: Wine specials, patio, late night menu
• Cons: Patio Chairs

06/29/09

What a deal!

by Sunnydale

Two of us tried the Prime Grillin specials...what a deal! The steaks were cooked to perfection, and I would definitely recommend the shrimp scampi side. The wine sale is awsome--by the glass or bottle. We will definitely be back for more!

• Pros: Fantastic steaks at a steal
• Cons: No room for dessert

04/02/09

what has happened to the Sunset Grill?

by ggeering

I have dined at Sunset Grill many times during the last few years and have just recently watched the quality and quantity of the food and service deteriorate. The menu is uninteresting and the food is bland, as is the service. Fortunately, there are are many other other restaurants keeping their food and service up to standards during these difficult times. I will be patronizing them.

• Pros: Example: best croissants in town
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

03/22/09

Awesome Experience!

by cat13

My boyfriend and I recently dined at Sunset and had a really great time! We were greeted warmly at the door and had our choice of where we wanted to sit. It was a beautiful day so we sat in the atrium area where the windows were open. We were happily surprised to find a whole list of wines at a discounted price, some were even 50% off so we got an excellent Williamette pinot for under 50 bucks! Since the last time we had visited the menu had expanded and we could barely make up our minds! Everything was fantastic-- mussels, filet mignon and the duck. We finished with the apple crisp and nearly slipped into a food coma. Our server was knowledgeable but not pushy (I hate that) and we had a nice time talking with her. All in all, it was an awesome experience and we will definitely be going back!

• Pros: great wine list, yummy food, friendly staff
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

02/15/09

So OVERPRICED, you will leave hungry and having spent your life savings! Do Not WASTE YOUR MONEY!!

by smokies

My fiance' and I made reservations at Sunset Grille for Valentine's Day. We stood and waited at the entrance by hostess stand for nearly ten minutes before we were seated. We overlooked it and remained positive. I don't know where to begin...But, the menu is sort of limited. The salad selection is very poor and the entrees are very, very expensive. We were prepared to indulge in the amount of food, the wine and the price because of the occasion. So, we decided on a 29.50 bottle of wine that was "50%" off, when she brought it to the table realized it was "Red Rosso from Sonoma", it's a blend that I've bought several times at the store because it's $9.00. I had to tell her we made a mistake. So we picked another for about $30 and it was decent. My fiance' ordered the scallops entree at $25.00 and I ordered the salmon entree at $20.00. No appetizers. We just munched on the bread. We both drank water and wine. Our waitress was pleasant but lacked personality and enthusiasm you would expect from such fine dining. We got our meals and I was shocked. We didn't get a salad with them or any sides or anything so I expected decent portions. His plate had TWO, yes, TWO scallops on it with some green peas scattered around and a sauce. The sauce was lukewarm, as if it had been sitting out in room air. My fish was a normal size I suppose and over some risotto and a cream sauce. That's it. We spent, with the tip, $97.00 on two scallops and a piece of small salmon and a cheap bottle of red wine. No appetizer, no dessert, no sodas, no tea, no coffee. It was such a huge disappointment. It wasn't fine dining, it was poor service. Not only were we afraid of the portion of dessert we might get but we wondered if we could afford it! We were so ready to get out and wished we had just gone to Maggianos or something tasty and affordable that would fill us up! Do not go to this place, it is such an incredible RIP OFF!!! It's a joke. So sad we went here and spent $100

• Pros: A large wine list, although don't be fooled, most are cheapo and marked up; location
• Cons: Food quality, food price, service, decor, PRICE

01/19/09

90's Chic

by GreenGold

Average, at best. The service was average; the food was less than delicious. The fried calamari was nearly inedible.

Great half-priced wine!

As a side note, I also felt as if Frasier Crane might walk in at any moment... very 90s.

07/04/08

fresh seafood & local products

by zep924

i was in for dinner last tuesday with my partner & a couple of friends. it had been awhile since we had last been in because we don't go out too often & when we have we've wanted to try some of the newer fine dining establishments that nashville has recently given us (like watermark & flyte-both fabulous by the way!)but we were drawn in by the 50% off wine sale. how can you go wrong with cheap wine?! as far as the decor not much has changed (except for some new paintings on the wall by dave turner? which were nice but looked a little out of place in contrast to the drab dining room). the food however has changed quite a bit since the last time we were in. they seem to be on the same bandwagon that alot of the other independent restaurants in town that we have been to are on-the whole local/sustainable thing that seems to be sweeping the nation. when we asked our server about a few of the items & where they came from he gave us very informative answers. we started with appetizers-fried homemade pickles (which sound hokey but were really good!), local smoked trout spring rolls & a red beet hummus which was a nice twist on your normal hummus. for an entree i had the special bluefish which i haven't had since i lived up north. i was pleasantly reminded of how good the seafood was when i lived in boston & surprised to be eating it in nashville of all places! my partner had a grouper special that was served with a duck fat fried potato & cabbage hash that was to die for. our friends ordered off the menu. one had a moroccan barbecued tennessee farm raised chicken dish which was light & full of flavor-especially for a chicken dish. the other had the scallops which he enjoyed but were a little bit overdone in my opinion. the desserts hadn't changed much since we were in last but we did have a fresh local berry cobbler with creme fraiche ice cream that was quite yummy. we'll definitely be back sooner next time-especially if we can eat good food with cheap high end wines!

• Pros: fresh seafood, local food

07/03/08

great menu

by mehereinnash

great menu good service and half price wine by the bottle a great deal, one of Nashvilles classic's alway's getting better

• Pros: half price wine, food
• Cons: parking

07/02/08

Filthy Coaches!!!

by tnc925

Disclaimer: Citysearch won't let me say what I want so instead of the word I need to use we will use another, it is the word that rhymes with "coaches"

Oh how disappointed I am! This used to be my favorite restaurant but alas it is no more. I used to long for their chocolate sushi and the dimly lit ambiance that is Sunset but my last visit has stopped me in my tracks forever from going back. I was eating with a friend in the bar and suddenly my friends face froze and the waitress was called over. I never looked but when the waitress pulled a napkin out of her apron and started beating the back side of my booth I knew it was bad. My friend told me then that it had been a "coach". I could not believe that this happened at my FAVORITE restaurant. It was terrible. At the time I was just so grossed out at the situation that I couldn't really think but we actually paid for the meal - which is totally not okay. Anyway, "coaches" only live around filth and where there is one there are a thousand. Seriously, I know that it is hard to keep a restaurant clean, I have worked in a few myself, but "coaches" are where you just have to draw the line. Eat at your own risk.

• Pros: Pretty on the outside
• Cons: Ugly on the "inside"