Present Tense

145 reviews

301 Hart St, Nashville, TN 37210

www.liveinthepresenttense.com

+16292314006

About

Present Tense is a Restaurant located at 301 Hart St, Nashville, TN 37210. It has received 145 reviews with an average rating of 4.4 stars.

Photos

Hours

Monday5-9PM
Tuesday12-2:30PM
Wednesday12-2:30PM
ThursdayClosed
FridayClosed
Saturday5-9PM
Sunday5-9PM

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of Present Tense: 301 Hart St, Nashville, TN 37210

  • Present Tense has 4.4 stars from 145 reviews

  • Restaurant

  • "I recently had the pleasure of dining at Present Tense and I must say, it was an absolute delight for all the senses"

    "Where to begin"

    "We've been wishing for a proper izakaya experience in Nashville and Present Tense nailed it! We came in on a quiet weeknight and sat at the bar, which I highly suggest"

    "My husband and I had reservations for Saturday at 5:30"

    "We almost skipped this place after reading a few of the 2 star and 3 star reviews"

Reviews

  • B. C.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Present Tense and I must say, it was an absolute delight for all the senses. From the moment I stepped through the doors, I was greeted with warm hospitality, an inviting ambiance. Present Tense truly exceeded all my expectations, and I cannot wait to share my exceptional dining experience with you. Exquisite Cuisine: The menu is a masterpiece, showcasing a fusion of flavors and innovative culinary techniques. Starting with Shishito & Okra and the Shigoku Oysters followed by the Lamb & X.O. and finishing with the Ube Soft Serve. Each dish is thoughtfully crafted with the finest ingredients, resulting in a symphony of flavors that dance on the palate. From the first bite to the last, every dish was a revelation. The presentation was impeccable, with each plate resembling a work of art. The attention to detail and the balance of flavors in every dish truly showcased the skill and passion of the talented chefs. Ambiance and Atmosphere: The ambiance is both elegant and inviting. The tasteful decor, soft lighting, and comfortable seating create a warm and intimate atmosphere that is perfect for a romantic dinner or a special celebration. The attention to detail in the interior design, from the beautiful artwork to the carefully chosen table settings, adds to the overall charm of the restaurant. The soothing background music further enhances the dining experience, allowing for easy conversation without overpowering the senses. Conclusion: In conclusion, The exceptional cuisine and inviting ambiance make it a must-visit for any food enthusiast. Whether you are looking for a memorable fine dining experience or simply want to indulge in a culinary adventure, Present Tense will exceed your expectations. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I am already eagerly planning my next visit.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Dietary restrictions
Accommodated my dietary restrictions!

  • Kelley Jensen

Where to begin. First: the hype. I asked around quite a bit before going to dinner while we were in Nashville. I heard things like “you just have to go”. “It’s special” and several people told me I needed to try the tuna toast. Several people told me about the amazing and interesting cocktails. I’m glad we went. Second: The atmosphere is beautiful, and the food although more expensive than your average fusion joint, is worth the price. This place is not like any other around town. You’re in for an upscale, tasty, dining experience. Third: If you were looking for a date night, or you want to impress a client, this might be the best option in town. Why: The pork belly dish is maybe in the top five of dishes I’ve ever tasted. I would go back again and again, and again just for that one dish. And you have to try the purple ice cream, I didn’t ask what was in it or why it was purple, but it was delicious, sweet but not too much so. You just have to try it. Period. The Bao bun cucumber sandwich dish was surprisingly delicious for a simple as it was. Definitely worth a try. The cocktails were interesting and delicious and strong. This place is trending and popular, because it is interesting and tasty. Definitely something completely different. You’re not going to get your spicy tuna roll here. This place is something altogether new in spectacular. You have to go to understand. Then you will be in of the IYKYK crowd. Go soon before the reservations are harder to get.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Aria

We've been wishing for a proper izakaya experience in Nashville and Present Tense nailed it! We came in on a quiet weeknight and sat at the bar, which I highly suggest. The cocktails were all interesting, inventive, and delicious without being over the top or cumbersome. As it was just the two of us, we had trouble deciding on food because we wanted everything, but we ended up ordering: aged tuna toast, crispy tofu, red snapper, tsukune, and miso caesar salad. Highly recommend everything. All of the flavors were very well-balanced, complementing each other perfectly, and the textures were spot-on. For dessert, we ordered a swirl of their two seasonal soft serves: sesame and vanilla. It tasted almost like peanut butter and was just the right level of decadent-- we were pleasantly surprised to find that it was dairy free. All of the staff were perfectly nice, down to earth, and seemed to truly enjoy working there. Service was efficient and unfussy, with the right level of attention to detail. We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner and his wife (lovelier folks don't exist) and learning more about their sake program. Needless to say, we're headed back ASAP to try the entire menu and get more involved in the sake.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Miso Caesar Salad, Tuna Toast

  • Sarah Neese

My husband and I had reservations for Saturday at 5:30. I'll start with the positives We got sat immediately & the ambiance was very cute. We ordered our drinks, which were great, I had the living coral with gin & my husband got a sake. We ordered several plates and they came out back to back. The oysters, tuna toast, and pork belly were phenomenal! Now for the negatives: Our 4th plate took forever to come out. Our waiter kept saying it's coming, its up next. But 30 minutes go by, nothing. 45 minutes go by, nothing. Over an hour had passed when it was finally brought out. It was several small chicken skewers. Our waiter didn’t apologize for the long wait. When we did try it, it was cold. No idea what happened or who dropped the ball, but it was very frustrating. I honestly expected it to be taken off our bill bc we had been there for so long. Another con was that they had the doors open when it was 88°, and there was not much airflow. Definitely did not feel like there was AC, which is needed in Nashville. It was very hot, which isn't fun when your water isn’t being re-filled while youre waiting over an hour for food. Overall, I won't be going back for awhile. I'll most likely wait a year for them to get in the flow of things before I try it again. For what the cost is, I expect a higher level of service.
Food: 5
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 3

  • Asad Hameed

We almost skipped this place after reading a few of the 2 star and 3 star reviews. I am so glad we did not because this place is fantastic. Location: It's located in the lobby level of a hotel and the place has a really relaxed vibe. Parking was a little tricky to navigate as they have this odd looking stacked/automated parking garage - but once I figured out what it was it was super easy to park. Food: Each dish was unbelievably good. I had a very tough crowd visiting from Toronto (last time they were here I took them to The Optimist and they thought the food was mediocre) and they enjoyed each dish we ordered - which is very rare. - tofu (it was so good we ordered it twice) - oyster mushrooms were excellent - fried chicken was decent. It tasted better with the sauce in the tofu dish - scallops were good - madai sashimi is highly recommended. Probably the freshest sashimi I've had in town. - aged tuna toast was decent - yakitori set is highly recommended as well Service: Well paced and attentive. The owner came over to help us with the Saki and he was very generous - we couldn't decide on a particular unfiltered and filtered so he served us both in carafes (something that's not on the menu). We will certainly go back several times - this place is a welcome addition to our rotation.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Evelina Leece

Another reviewer suggested to wait until their service kinks are worked out…and I thought, how bad can it be? Food looked so good, so we decided to give it a try with the right expectations and sat at the bar, in hopes of better service. Well, here is my review: Drinks were a 4.5/5 ⭐️ genius menu design and savory options. Half a star gets lost to premade cocktails… Food 4/5 ⭐️ - highlights were the tuna toast and scallop hand roll. Razor clams were a big disappointment. Service 5/5 ⭐️ when we did have it, helpful and funny, but 1/5 ⭐️ for all the times we wanted to order more drinks, get more water, order more food, or seeing the people next to us wait 10-15 minutes for utensils when they had their food placed in front of them. Atmosphere 5/5 ⭐️ especially when it’s a nice day and the doors are open to outside. When you are going to have an automatic 20% service charge, please have it reflected in reality. We would have spent more $ if we had the chance to order more things as well. Somehow spent 2 hours in the place still…
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100

  • Gourmand

Came here with high expectations, left a little disappointed. The food was ok, but not much really impressed me. The best items to get are their popcorn kaarage (popcorn chicken) and their pork belly yakitori (skewer). The popcorn chicken was incredibly soft and fatty (probably thigh meat). The sauces they give to dip are also pretty tasty (one of them had a good zing!). The pork belly skewer is nice and has a lot of fat. It melts pretty much instantly as you eat it! Everything else was pretty average. The duck was tough and dry and not seasoned. They do give nice bao buns which I liked! The beef yakitori was so tough and dry as well. The kimchi fried rice was pretty good, but the pork belly they give is tough like a normal piece of pork. The “fish of the day” was also dry and tasteless. And their chicken wings were decent but nothing to rave about. Would I come again? Probably not. Not many items here are worth coming for.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: No
Takeout: Yes
Delivery: No
Curbside pickup: No

  • Greg Alkalay

I read about Present Tense on a Nashville food blog and wanted to check it out on my recent trip to my favorite city. Really glad I did. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and a staff that clearly cares about your experience, from the food to the drink to making sure you’re comfortable and cared for. Drink menu is ecletic and adventurous. I had the Whitecap Grey, because I’m a tequila fan, and it hit me with tons of depth and texture. Or to put it less fancy, yum. Dinner, I started with the crudo, went on to the pork belly. Both perfectly prepared, delicious, really nice presentation. And desert…SAVE ROOM…sweet potato white chocolate ice cream. TRUST ME ON THIS. Really enjoyed it here, will definitely come back on a future trip to Nashville. I rarely repeat restaurants but this was great and there are a so many things on the menu I need to try. Absolutely recommend!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Tanya D

Loved the ambiance, not stuffy, but nice enough for date night and your sexy little dress. I'm a big martini fan and at first I just got my usual, then I ventured out with a nightcap called "Andorra" - such a perfect, unique bourbon drink and ending to our yummy meal. I can't wait to go back and get the tuna toast again! Also, I'm not even a vegetarian but sometimes like to eat light, so I ordered the tofu and it was seriously the best I've ever had! Also got an insane salad called Goddess something. It's big enough to share, the rest of the dishes are more for one person. I have to go back and try the more adventurous dishes. Staff was all super cool and knowledgeable.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Scallop Crudo, Tuna Toast
Vegetarian options
Oyster mushrooms and sweet potato, chef's kiss! I'm not even a vegetarian and loved them!!

  • Andy S

A beautiful experience! Present Tense has a friendly neighborhood vibe, but the cuisine, service and hospitality are worthy of a dining destination. You can taste the difference in the quality ingredients, which are brought to their fullest potential by the kitchen. The beverage list is very well curated, focusing on low intervention wines, sakes and craft cocktails. Service was friendly, attentive and knowledgable. While I was completely satisfied, I left wishing the evening could have gone on - and was already thinking how I could return again. Nashville is lucky to have such a great new restaurant, with some badass industry professionals at the helm. I highly recommend Present Tense.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tuna Toast

  • Justin Rosen

This place was Awesome! Service was great! What I appreciate is the thought behind all of the unique menu items. This restaurant is different! While so many others fall into a category of “same old, same old” The popcorn and pork buns on the starter menu were fantastic! The kimchi fried rice was good, not Great.The coconut chicken thighs were also amazing. So tender and juicy. I thought it was missing the coconut flavor but none the less they were awesome. I would recommend making the rice that accompanies it to be coconut flavored, that would really put this menu item over the top. The grilled pineapple for dessert was outstanding. So delicious and unique, I could have had a portion 10 times the size that it was. Awesome Job Hart! We will be back and tell others for sure!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100

  • Jamey Armstrong

The food was very good! Our favorites were the Pork Belly Bao Buns, the Japanese Sweet Potatoes, and the Himachi. We had 2 scallop dishes and honestly were not impressed with either. My only complaint that we had is we ordered the cooked Scallop dish, we told the server and he said no, that's what you ordered. Only to find out we got the cold Scallop dish instead of the warm dish. So our server then got us the warm dish but we were then charged for both. But as I said, everything else we ordered, we absolutely loved! Also the ice creams are a must when trying this place!!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Yakitori Salmon
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot, Free street parking

  • Kimmy Garris

Brunch menu was quite limited and expensive. My chicken sandwich was not cooked thru and very pink so I could not eat it. The avocado toast portion is laughably small and it’s diced not smashed or smeared avo making it messy to eat. The fried rice had a strange taste. No items came with sides but each item was $13/$16 for a small, undercooked portion. The location is pretty and the service was fine but the food was really, really bad. I hope they make improvements and offer side items for all brunch items for that price. Parking was good and free and I did like the music in the restaurant. Otherwise I’d pass until they improve food quality and cooking their chicken correctly.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20

  • David Williams

Amazing service and superb food. A great variety of food options for the whole table (vegetarian, fish, meat). Ordered 7-8 dishes that we shared with the table - and the yams, bao buns, and shishitos were to die for. Fun drink menu and sake offerings. Round it out with the rotating soft serve - we had sesame. Can’t wait to return for date nights or with visiting family and friends.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Recommended dishes
Shishito Peppers and Okra, Kakuni Pork Belly, Tuna Toast
Recommendation for vegetarians
Highly recommend
Vegetarian offerings
Clearly labeled vegetarian dishes
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free street parking

  • Amy Zhan

Absolutely LOVE this new chef and menu. My previous experience at the Hart was extremely lackluster. This new restaurant, - the menu, drinks and chef - absolutely blew me away. Every menu item I ordered was incredible, and fairly priced for the quality and unique experience. I was so excited to give this place a try after its opening in May 2023 and I will absolutely be going again as a regular. I also love the Hippo Bodega next door - great place to walk around and browse while waiting on my party. All in all, so thrilled to have Present Tense in town!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • H.J. Pil

We never had a designated server. The service is TRASH. The service is TERRIBLE. The drinks were okay but no one served us after our first drink and food order. We wanted to order more drinks and more food but no one ever came back. We even went up to the bar twice and no one was there. I do not recommend spending your money here. You can get better food and service somewhere else. When we first came in the hostess told us the restaurant was full and they only have only table open but the entire restaurant was open. There was no excuse for bad service. The restaurant was empty and still the worst service ever. Don’t come here. Don’t waste your time or money.

  • Joshua Wood

They posted a story on their Ig about all this new seafood they were going to have. So we went in hoping to try it all, however the waiter said he wasn't sure of it. That being said I went on to order what was listed on ig the waiter said they didnt have it.. Our apps came out with the main course, and the waiters seemed to hang out and mingle at/around the bar. Checked ig the next day to see that people in fact were able to order the special seafood items.. the food we were able to order was good, wish we didnt order apps or would of liked them out a few mins before out main dinner courses.
Food: 3
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 1

  • Dominique Orbon

Wow! Every single bite of each dish was delicious! My personal favorite was the Shishito Okra - I could eat that every day. The Japanese Sweet Potato is fantastic! Really creative menu, fresh delicious flavor combinations, seasoned perfectly. The restaurant has a beautiful ambiance. Definitely a place you want to checkout, and then you’ll be hooked to come back again and again! I would travel from Dallas TX just for the chocolate peanut butter soft serve!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tuna Toast

  • Allie Swims

There is not one negative thing to say! This place had amazing food, great service, good cocktails and a nice ambiance. Here are my recommendations for each category of plates: Raw - aged tuna toast (the char on the toast is perfection), Fried - karaage chicken, Long Plays - kakuni pork belly (my favorite), Charcoal Grill - red snapper and Pakitori - chicken wings & tsukune meatballs!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Kakuni Pork Belly, Tuna Toast

  • Lisa Mayberry

First time getting to come here and it didn't disappoint! You can order on your phone through the qr code on the table or the old fashioned way with paper menus and a server. They have every cocktail imaginable with an Asian twist. The scallop crudo was so good it melts in your mouth. Several options for gluten-free are specified in the paper menu but not on the online menu.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Not sure
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

  • Kai Colucci

this place lowkey rocks. came for breakfast one day and while it was a bit slow and awkward since it was empty and i wasnt sure if they had table service, the food was great. i then happened to come back for dinner and it ended up being even better. room at the bar for 2 on a saturday night. got the 12 hour pork belly for 2 and sweet potato (love a japanese sweet potato), and it was a perfect quantity, with great attention to detail and presentation. great bar menu as well woth some beers, hip wine selection, and clever cocktails. for sure will be back. 9.2/10

  • Dennis Cortés

The ambience here is great, lovely space with delightful staff. Unfortunately the food was subpar and I can’t recommend it based on that. We got the poke bowl, gyoza, DIY hand rolls, and bao buns, each being pretty bland or unbalanced with their seasoning and pairings. I know they are working on their menu so I’m hopeful, but otherwise I wasn’t a huge fan.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: No
Takeout: Not sure
Delivery: No
Curbside pickup: Not sure

  • Jennifer Haithcock

We had a party of four and dined outside. Staff was great. The hostess was superb. We ordered razor clams at our server's suggestion. They were served with the siphon and digestive tract in tact, which was an unpleasant experience. The yakitori thighs were not complemented by the sauce. The prawn rice was over sauced and over seasoned. Enjoyed the okra and yam dishes very much. Too pricey to still be hungry later that night:/
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Recommended dishes

  • Kelsey Schlick

Came on a Friday night around 7, we had a reservation. We loved all of the dishes and the service was great with multiple people checking on us throughout the meal. Our table of 4 found it easiest to order dishes for the table and split them so we could try more options. Our favorite dish was the Sweet Potato and the table enjoyed the Handroll Party - attempting to make our own rolls was fun. We had a great experience and will definitely be back!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100

  • Hunter Kiritsis

Best Japanese food in Nashville! They have the freshest seafood and a wide array of wines and sakes you won't find anywhere else in the city. Excellent service and atmosphere.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Miso Caesar Salad, Pork Katsu, Tuna Toast, Squid Ink Pasta, Lamb Chops
Recommendation for vegetarians
Somewhat recommend
Vegetarian offerings
Clearly labeled vegetarian dishes

  • Allison Smith

This was my second visit to Present Tense and I can’t wait to go back again! The restaurant itself has such a fun and lively feel to it and the food was amazing. Everything tasted so fresh and the server was quick to make recommendations on food and drinks! Love this new addition to Nashville!!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Banana Bread, Kimchi Fried Rice, Tuna Toast, Yellowtail Crudo

  • Mikayla Hendrickson

I would advise waiting on this restaurant before going as they are newer (or just reopened?). The service was very poor and disorganized from items taking too long, server not checking on the table, waiting 45 mins to ask for a check, asked three different waitstaff for utensils, list could go on. And the food was mediocre at best. Hopefully they improve as time goes on since the space is wonderful!
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Food: 2
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 5

  • Abhishek Jaddu

I had high expectations but wasn't completely satisfied with the meal. There were a few items that I had enjoyed but out of everything, those items were a minority. My friend and I ordered a lot (definitely over $100s worth of food) for the two of us and the items that we liked included the pork belly yakitori and maybe the fried rice. Everything else (fish of the day, half smoked duck, etc.) were just okay. The cocktail I ordered (shoguns notions) was very good. I would definitely have that again.

  • Paige Bourassa

Not sure why there is such a low rating on this spot, the food is awesome! As a bicoastal traveler I have a general rule not to order seafood in a landlocked state (I’ve been sick twice in Nashville from sushi and crudo. Not cute.) but I was talked into it by some friends. We had the salmon, tuna toast and uni rice and it was AWESOME. Fresh thoughtful dishes and a fun laid back vibe, definitely making this one of our regular date nights.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Justin Coleman

Present Tense Nashville Amazing experience with finely crafted cocktails and small plates. The check won't be for the faint of heart and it is worth every penny. Aged Tuna Toast & Pork Belly are our favorite dishes. 10/10
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Pork Katsu, Tuna Toast
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot

  • Levi Scheu

Had a fantastic night! A really delightful atmosphere and great music selection. There were four us of and we split everything. 100% worth it. The wings were delicious, the cucumbers were nice and snappy, if you like a burger on the sweeter side; this thing was tremendous! Great to find a good tap selection too. Fit the theme perfectly. Cocktails were wonderfully executed as well. All around great experience!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100

  • Drew Paik

A little on the pricey side, but you have to remember that gratuity is included in the bill. Great for special occasions or groups, but you'll also find solo diners at the bar. Great service and an interesting menu. Don't skimp on the vegetarian (or non-meat) options because those are some of my favorites.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tuna Toast

  • Bradley Webb

Ate here for the first time with my wife tonight, it was an excellent dining experience. It's certainly different than what you get at other restaurants, but in a positive and fun way. You order from an app at the table, but always have a server around to answer any questions that you have. The plates are on the smaller side, again not a bad thing because they were packed with flavor. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves asian cuisine.

  • Yaminah Mitchell

I met up with a new connection at the coffee nook that is No Free Coffee inside The Hart. I decided to have lunch and I’m so glad I did! The kimchi fried rice was tasty and all the ingredients came together well. The pork belly bao was also very good! I loved the freshness of the ingredients, the vibe of the establishment, and the quality of service. I’ll be back with friends!!!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30

  • Trisha Boyer

Love everything about this new place. Dishes were all super flavorful. Beautiful cocktail and wine program. Attentive service. Nice patio, plus windows thrown wide open in the dining room the night we were there bc the weather was perfect for that. Can't wait to get back and try it again. Oh - and the best soft serve EVER for dessert. They also have a cute little market, Hippo Bodega, next door.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Jon Eisen

Present Tense is one of the best restaurants we’ve been to in Nashville. Highly recommend the tuna toast and chicken thighs from the small plates. The pork shoulder yakitori was great as main dish along with the oyster mushrooms. We shared everything. Cocktails are killer as well! Will definitely be back and recommending to friends.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100

  • Jamie Page

Met some friends here for brunch today and the food and service were outstanding. Wonderfully fresh Hawaiian style cuisine. The Bento Breakfast was so good I would go back tomorrow and eat it again. I think I love the design and style of the restaurant itself more than anything. It’s truly modern beauty. We will definitely be back.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$30–50

  • Claire K

Really great place! Went as a solo dinner and they took great care of me. Tuna toast is a must get. Also head up that 20% gratuity is all ready added, which is deserved by staff. Just more of a so you know. Will definitely come back!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tuna Toast

  • Kaitlyn Phillips

Tried this place last night, and it was amazing! Everything we had was great. The tuna toast was absolutely delicious and don't skip the ube soft serve.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Parking space
Somewhat difficult to find parking
Parking options
Free parking lot, Free street parking

  • Matthias Hussmann

If you love your mother order the fried chicken! If you don't... order it anyways. It will make you forget how much you disappointed her! Food is amazing! Staff is amazing! Love the area! Oh and the cocktails make you frisky because of how good they are!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Liza Book

We had a wonderful dining experience here at Present Tense. The ahi toast was my favorite, but the homemade Boa buns with pork belly, aged tuna toast, ribeye skewers, and the Ube soft serve were all out of this world. Cheers to the chef!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Sean Fogarty

Had a nice light lunch here. Very tasty and refreshingly pleasant. The staff is attentive and accommodating, cocktails were also good, again refreshing and light. Give them a try you'll be grateful you read this post. For the money you get a nice portion of food too. Enjoy!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$30–50

  • Brettan Hawkins

Had 2 delicious dinners here. The fried rice is amazing (much more interesting than you'd expect), and loved the duck and garlicky greens. Yes, they're still working out the system of ordering from your phone at your table, vs having a server, but give them a break. They have really good food, great ambiance, and a nice bar setup.

  • Katherine Ebrada (FatKatEats)

❤️
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Kakuni Pork Belly, Pork Katsu, Tuna Toast
Parking space
Somewhat difficult to find parking
Parking options
Free parking lot, Free street parking

  • Asia Larkin

Very impressed with this establishment. I loved every aspect; from the service to the soft serve. I will definitely be returning.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Kakuni Pork Belly, Pork Katsu

  • frank xue

The food is great. Best Hawaiian Asian fusion restaurant in Nashville based on my 12 year dining experience here. My favorite one is Katsu Sando (fried chicken sandwich) which you have to try. It is very rare to find in Nashville. Staff are super friendly and welcoming. Definitely will come back.

  • Liam Mulcahy

Very overpriced. The cocktails were not good. The chicken was way too salty. Not a good wine selection. Service was decent.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Food: 2
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 2
Recommended dishes
Tuna Toast

  • Morgan Austin

We had suuuuper high hopes and expectations for this place. Overall, it was a pleasant experience - delicious food and good service. Only complaint is that one meal came out 10-15 minutes before the other.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30

  • debanne27

This is such a unique experience that we were excited to have during our quick trip to Nashville! The atmosphere/vibe is incredible, the food is unlike anything I have had and the service is top notch, very professional!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Kelsi Ikeda

Just like the food back in Hawaii but with a twist! love it here. Some of my favorites: Spicy Ahi bowl, Kimchi Fried Rice, eggplant & tofu yakitori, and popcorn karaage. everything was great! We loved the QR code idea and the staff is very personable.

  • Queenie Lux

This place was awesome! Great food, great cocktails, and a really cool space. The band played on top of the bar! We came here for a gin event, it was perfect.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50

  • Jack Bechta

Exceeded expectations. Everything has a subtle Asian infused twist. Staff looks to please. Fried chicken was special while sushi like dishes kept it lite. Unique for Nashville
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Yana Sweeney

We absolutely loved dining at The Hart! The food was amazing and even my husband, who’s not a big fan of sushi, enjoyed making his own sushi handrolls. BBQ ribs were also delicious! We’ll definitely be back. Cheers …

  • Keenan Luster

I was really impressed! Only had the fried chicken and sesame soft serve, but both were. Brandon was also a really nice and attentive bartender. :)
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Dario Pastorelli

Outstanding food but on a busy nights they should have more waiters because the one working are literally slammed and doing their best to pleased everyone .
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

  • Juan Agrón

Idk about present tense. Went here when it was the heart. Just fyi
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Tatianna Spencer

This place is special. As a vegan, it was great to find tasty and beautiful food to eat. The grain bowl was my favorite!! Kind and personable servers as well.

  • Carrie Wolford

The food and servers were amazing. It is pricey but on par with the quality I would say. There is a coffee bar inside the restaurant too.

  • Chelsea Johnson

It was delicious! The atmosphere is great! The wait staff were also great! I would definitely go back to try more things.

  • Amber Jackson

Live music on Fridays (Pretty sure), we went on Thursday. Very low key, great atmosphere & red wine.

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