As they say (whoever the hell "they" are), “Everything old is new again,” and some of the biggest restaurant news coming down the pike lately are announcements of the rebirth of a couple of old beloved concepts. Color us pink, because Bar Otaku and Saffire were some of the more important local restaurants of the past decade, and it’s great to hear that they are being revitalized!
The first big announcement is that Sarah and Brad Gavigan are reviving their popular Bar Otaku concept at the couple’s latest outpost of Otaku Ramen in East Nashville at 747 Douglas Ave. The original Bar Otaku was a transition of Little Octopus in the Gulch, and the izakaya concept was fairly novel for Nashville back in 2019.
Like most izakayas, Bar Otaku focused on affordable small bites and excellent cocktails, and the new iteration will bring those back as part of a no-reservation, walk-up experience. Expect classic Bar Otaku favorites such as okonomiyaki and skewers from the Japanese grill, sesame green beans, the blue crab hand roll and more, priced in the $3 to $12 range to allow patrons to create their own affordable dining experience. That will be accompanied by an expanded drink menu including beer, sake, whiskey highballs, sake bombs, batch cocktails and frozen drinks, as well as Otaku’s novel Kirin Ichiban frozen beer machine.
Music will also be a big part of the experience, with soundtracks curated by local artists and guest DJ appearances and karaoke nights through the summer. Sarah Gavigan shares: “Music programming at Otaku’s shops is one of the pieces of my former life as a music supervisor that I really cherish. Into the weekend nights, you might spontaneously start dancing by your table. As the house and dance music scene grows in Nashville, we felt that it was time for the izakaya vibes concept and menu to return and be fully realized as a complete experience at Otaku East.”
The service model will be what Sarah describes as "an enhanced counter + dining room service where guests will continue to experience Otaku’s namesake 'Fun Fast Loud Hospitality.'" The newly named Otaku Ramen Izakaya will serve the entire Ramen Shop menu for lunch and dinner seven days a week, like they have since opening last summer, with the izakaya menu available every night from 4 until 10 p.m., along with great happy hour deals from opening until 6 p.m.
“This menu is one of my favorites, and I am so excited to be creating new dishes again," says Gavigan. "I look forward to continuing to serve our community.”
Charles "Wigg" Walker
Another acclaimed restaurant concept returning from the beyond is Saffire at The Factory at Franklin. They’re still working on the finishing touches on their rebirth at The Factory, but in the meantime, they’re inviting the public to a special preview event in Liberty Hall for a sneak peek at their upcoming menu as part of Tennessee Whiskey Week. On Monday, May 13, from 6 until 8 p.m., guests are invited to get a first look at their new offerings as part of a three-course meal paired with whiskeys from Nashville Barrel Company and a performance by legendary soul music performer Charles "Wigg" Walker. You might remember Walker as the leader of The Dynamites, and he’s still a dynamic entertainer.
Here’s a sneak peek of the menu sneak peek:
- Ribbons of iceberg and romaine, crumbled blue cheese, spicy candied pecans, white peach vinaigrette, crispy root vegetable shards
- Shrimp and grits with BBQ beurre blanc / Espresso-rubbed brisket with cippolini and cilantro pesto / Grilled airline chicken breast with Nashville Barrel Company bourbon sauce
- Grilled broccolini with black garlic and saffron aioli / Roasted fingerling potatoes with herbs and garlic butter
- Bourbon peach bites with cinnamon crumble and whipped cream
Tickets for the special preview dinner and concert are available at the event website. See you there!
