Happy 2024 y'all! Sooooo I beat my previous record of 208 new-to-me restaurants in 2023. I hit 210 last week and decided to stop there — bc my Mama’s bday was 2/10 and that just felt right. Here’s a 40-second recap of just the new places I tried in Nashville, Orlando, Chicago, and beyond...and yes, I really did dine at over 400 restaurants in total last year. It's a lifestyle y'all. Here’s a list of the new-to-me spots I tried.
(* designates hosted meal. All others were paid for. And as always, if I receive a comped meal I tip appropriately).
210 New Restaurants For Me In 2023 (previous record was 208)
Sorted by State
Tennessee (129)
Campione's Taste of Chicago (Gallatin)
Mere Bulles (Brentwood)*
Old Chicago Pizza +Taproom (Franklin)
Tacos 4 Life (Brentwood)
Flour and Forge food truck
The Countrypolitan at Hotel Indigo*
L by Lauter at Southern Grist Nations Taproom
Southall suppers series (Franklin)*
Golden Pizza & Indian Cuisine (Brentwood)
Bonchon (Smyrna)
Noko*
Dogs N Taters (Dollywood)
Big Daddy’s Pizza (Pigeon Forge)
Mad Dog's Creamery (Pigeon Forge)
Black Rifle Coffee Co. (Sevierville)
Outlanders Southern Chicken (Nolensville)
Oh My Chives Market (Nolensville)
Lokales Juice (Nolensville)
Cornell Brothers Coffee (Nolensville)
Suki Sushi (Brentwood,)
Pasta and Cream (Franklin)
Judge Bean's (Brentwood)
Mama's Java (Nolensville)
Morning Ritual at The Goat SoBro*
Pita Way (Franklin)
AB (Music Venue + Event Space)*
Yard Birds Hot Chicken (Brentwood)
Takumi Hibachi (Franklin)
Hero Doughnuts & Buns Nashville opening *
Tres Puntos food truck*
Toasty's Breakfast Burritos (Ghost Kitchen on DoorDash)
Dock Local inside Assembly Food Hall*
Marcy Jo's Mealhouse (Columbia)
Fugitives Public House at BNA
Mad For Galbi (Nolensville)
Hogwood Bbq (Franklin)
Jim’s Spaghetti Sauce stand at 12 South Farmers Market
Mi Kitchen (Franklin)
Rivière Rooftop at the Four Seasons Nashville*
The Tipsy Scoop pop-up*
Waffle Taco (Antioch)
Sojourner at Southall (Franklin)*
St. Vito Focacceria new brick-and-mortar location
Monamie Coffee (Nolensville)
The Co-op Frose & Eatery (they have NA froze too!)
Flat Tire Diner (Old Hickory)
Calabria Brick Oven Pizza (Mt Juliet)
Sugar Drop (Franklin, TN)
Gannons (Downtown)
Fayzano’s (Franklin)
Icchido Ramen (Franklin)
Pizza Paradise (Antioch)
Tequila's Mexican Grill (Columbia)
Bestia Mare (Franklin)*
Saltwater Table (Monday night residency at Love and Exile Bar)
Triple Crown Bakery (Franklin)
Chago’s Cantina reopened with new owners and new menu
Blames Gourmet Treats (Brentwood)
Southerners Coffee stand (Franklin)
Mag Mile Pizza food truck
The Coffee House at 2nd and Bridge (Franklin)
Tito’s Mexican Restaurant (Nolensville)
Serrato’s Steakhouse(Franklin)
Quinn’s Neighbourhood Pub and Eatery (Franklin)
ChangHong Spicy HotPot (Franklin)
Kuya Jamaican Patties at East Nashville Farmers Market
Tutti da Gio (Hermitage)*
Stable Reserve (Franklin)*
Florida (59)
130. Jaleo by Jose Andres at Disney Springs (Lake Buena Vista)
131. Ravenous Pig (Winter Park)
132. Adventureland Egg Roll Cart (at Magic Kingdom)
133. Cheshire Cafe (Magic Kingdom)
134. The Boathouse at Disney Springs (Lake Buena Vista)
135. Rosa Mexicana at Walt Disney World's Swan & Dolphin Resort(Lake Buena Vista)
136. Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza (Windermere)
137. Sushi Saint (Orlando)*
138. Soseki (Winter Park)*
139. Norigami (Winter Garden)
140. Shiki-Sai Izakaya & Sushi (EPCOT)
141. Domu (Dr. Philips, Orlando)
142. Salt & the Cellar by Akira Back (Kissimmee)
143. K-Bob Korean street food (Orlando)
144. Capa at the Four Seasons Orlando*
145. Ravello at the Four Seasons Orlando*
146. Seito Sushi (Sand Lake, FL)
147. The Daily Poutine kiosk at Disney Springs (Lake Buena Vista)
148. Amorette's Patisserie Disney Springs (Lake Buena Vista)
149. Polite Pig at Disney Springs (Lake Buena Vista)
150. Via Napoli (at Epcot)
151. Cheese crawl at EPCOT Food & Wine Festival (5 + places)
152. Garden Grill(character dining experience with solid food at Epcot)
153. The Glass Knife (Winter Park)
154. Susuru (Orlando)
155. Uzima Springs Pool Bar at Animal Kingdom Lodge (Orlando)
156. YH Seafood Clubhouse (Orlando)
157. Gideons Bakehouse (Disney Springs, Lake Buena Vista)
158. Sofrito Latin Cafe (Orlando)
159. Cocoa Beach Ale House (Cocoa Beach)
160. Bagel Bros (Clermont)
161. Pool Bar & Grill (PB&G) at Four Seasons Orlando*
162. Açaí Express (Kissimmee)
163. Gypsy Moon Market (Celebration)
164. Forbidden lounge at Morimoto (Disney Springs) (Lake Buena Vista)
165. Topolino's Terrace at Riviera Resort (Lake Buena Vista)
166. California Grill at The Contemporary (Lake Buena Vista)
167. Enchanted Rose Lounge at Grand Floridian (Orlando)
168. Posto Pizza (Celebration)
169. Seafood Atlantic (Cape Canaveral)
170. Todd English's Bluezoo at Swan and Dolphin (Lake Buena Vista)
171. Saffron (Orlando)
172. Space 220 (EPCOT)
173. Amare at Swan Reserve Resort (Lake Buena Vista)
174. Zaru (Orlando)
175. Lebanese Marrakech (at farmers market in Celebration)
176. Q’Kenan (Orlando)
177. Stuff A Bagel (Windermere)
178. Hokusai Ramen & Izakaya (Kissimmee)
179. Paris Banh Mi (Kissimmee)
180. Alma Argentina (Celebration)
181. Danilo’s Pasta Bar (Orlando)
182. eet by Maneet Chauhan at Disney Springs (Lake Buena Vista,)
183. Charley’s Steakhouse (Celebration)
184. Taco Kat (Orlando)
185. Ding Tea (Orlando)
186. Takumi Ramen (Orlando)
187. Enzo’s Hideaway (Disney springs) (Lake Buena Vista)
188. Blessed Belly Food Truck & More (FL)
Illinois (11)
189. Smyth (Chicago)
190. Miss Ricky’s at Virgin Hotel (Chicago)*
191. Pizza City Fest in Chicago (tried slices from 26 places)*
192. VIP Thai cuisine (Woodridge)
193. Burrito Parilla Mexicana (Naperville)
194. Lao Sze Chuan (Downers Grove)
195. Frontera Grill (O'Hare International Airport)
196. The Office at the Aviary (Chicago)
197. Roister (Chicago)
198. Cerise Rooftop Cocktail Lounge at Virgin Chicago (Chicago)
199. Ipsento Coffee (Chicago)
Connecticut (4)
200. Sol Toro (Mohegan Sun Casino Resort, Uncasville)
201. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (Mohegan Sun Casino Resort, Uncasville)
202. Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse (Mohegan Sun Casino Resort, Uncasville)
203. Tom’s Watch Bar (Mohegan Sun Casino Resort, Uncasville)
Washington (3)
204. Longhouse Noodle Bar (ilani Casino Resort, Ridgefield)
205. Bella Vista (ilani Casino Resort, Ridgefield)*
206. Dediko (Vancouver)
South Carolina (2)
207. Middleton Place (Charleston)
208. Felix (Charleston)
Alabama (2)
209. Huntsville's Dine & Dash monthly food tour (3 places)*
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