Old Hickory Steakhouse

Hotel restaurants get a bad rap, oftentimes, it’s well deserved. The case isn’t true for Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN. Set in an antebellum-style mansion, Old Hickory Steakhouse is southern hospitality meets solid food.  Upon arriving at the restaurant, I was warmly greeted by the hosts on the front porch of the mansion where white rocking chairs give a hint of the relaxed atmosphere I’m about to experience. The interior of the mansion is richly appointed with dark woods, leather and luxurious area rugs.  I was taken outside where every table has a gorgeous view of the indoor river.

The wait staff is simply what you’d expect at a high-end southern steakhouse – warm, welcoming and charming. Freddi was the gentleman helping my party on a recent visit and he was wonderful.  The wait staff is mostly male, but to my delight, the sommelier who assisted me with wine selection was a young woman.

The menu, while not extensive, covers more than the basics and features the dishes you want to see of such an establishment.  A pleasant surprise to the menu is the selection of artisanal cheeses from around the globe hand-selected by a Maitre Fromager (plate of 3 – $17 and plate of 6 – $30).

Tempting and tasty starters are the Old Hickory iceberg ($8), a half lettuce head with tart blue cheese, bacon and sundried tomatoes, the rich and velvety lobster bisque ($12) and the jumbo lump crab cakes ($15).

As far as entrees are concerned, there should be no questions about trying a steak.  The 20-ounce Hickory Char-crusted Kansas City Strip ($44), the 22-ounce cowboy bone-in rib eye steak ($42) and either the corn-fed ($39) or grass-fed ($44) filet mignon.  All steaks are served to the perfect doneness and can be paired with flavorful sauces such as the Cabernet reduction, the peppercorn, the Béarnaise and the chimichurri for an additional $2.  There are some non-steak items on the menu worth trying like the caramelized salmon with orange reduction ($34) and the diver scallops with a foie gras pinot noir reduction ($38).

Entrees are a la carte and some of the “for the table” sides to consider are the to-die-for garlic truffle ‘mac & cheese’ ($12) and the Marscapone-Creamed Spinach ($9).

In case dinners are still hungry or simply want to satisfy a sweet-tooth, favorites are the Molten Valrhona Chocolate Cake ($12), the crème brulée ($8) or my choice, the plate of three artisanal cheeses ($17).

The wine list is extensive and interesting and offers 32 wines by the glass, 14 “green” wines by the bottle and various wines from around the world.

A neat treat to consider while departing Old Hickory Steakhouse is a stop at the adjacent Library at Old Hickory Steakhouse for a night cap.  The comfortable atmosphere will make you glad you did.

Yes, the dining experience at Old Hickory Steakhouse will not be inexpensive, but the food, wine and staff are worth the splurge.  Go for a romantic night out, a family celebration or any other special occasion, you won’t be disappointed.