Hibachi-style grilling and fresh ingredients make Shogun Japanese Steak & Sushi a favorite among Nashville diners. Nearly two-dozen tables provide the perfect seating for the evening's show. Choose from many different steak, seafood and chicken dishes and your chef will prepare your meal before your eyes with all the skill and flair of a magician. Steamed rice and grilled vegetables are served with any meal selection. Soups, salads, sushi and sake round out the menu.

Cool Springs is one of the two outlets of Romani's Macaroni Grill in Nashville. Italian food with an American flavor is on the menu, at this popular and casual restaurant. Fresh seafood, chicken and beef are incorporated into large servings of pasta with rich sauces. Salads, fresh bread and delicious desserts complete the meal. The restaurant is across the street from the Cool Springs Galleria Mall, so dining and shopping can be incorporated into your evening.

Works of art normally belong in galleries, but interesting pieces by local artists fill the dining room at Wild Iris. Daily lunch specials such as wild salad combinations, homemade soups and stews, and gourmet cheeseburgers. The equally intriguing dinner menu includes beef, fish and fowl entrees, all prepared with clever seasonings and trimmings. The Fettuccini with Beef and Wine Sauce is a delightful combination of flavors.

Nick of Thyme serves hearty soups and sandwiches that are sure to delight. The light Cream of Vidalia Onion Soup makes lunchtime memorable, seasoned with a bit of oregano. The sandwiches feature fresh meats like turkey, ham and beef, topped with fresh vegetables such as avocados and sun-dried tomatoes. It's not ordinary lunch fare, granted, but the gourmet touch makes a welcome departure from fast food. The cafe has a very friendly, almost festive atmosphere, perfect for casual business lunches.

You can buy wrap sandwiches (giant tortillas wrapped around all kinds of sandwich stuff) almost anywhere. Few places, however, have as diverse and interesting a variety of these popular creations as this shop. Here you'll find the Music City Wrap (barbeque pork, onions, pickles and coleslaw) and the Mardi Gras (shrimp, zucchini and black beans). No matter which you choose, you'll also get a choice of spinach, whole wheat or tomato tortillas. All come stuffed with the freshest meats and vegetables. This place also serves delicious fruit smoothies, do don't leave without tasting the Strawberry Banana.

The little town of Franklin is famous for its rich history and its antique galleries, but this family-style restaurant may boost Franklin's popularity a bit more. Locating a restaurant next to a farmer's market makes fresh food easy to come by. Enjoy the absolute best vegetables and fruit, as well as fresh baked bread and dessert. Fried chicken is the best item on the menu, but the Country-Style Steak and Gravy is worth a try too. The pick of the litter, however, is the Fresh Veggie Plate. Choose five vegetables from over a dozen options and enjoy a healthy and delicious lunch or dinner. Early risers will love the breakfast menu filled with traditional Southern favorites like buttermilk biscuits and grits.

From the moment you walk through the doors, you'll bebop to the oldies music blaring throughout the dining area, and you'll enjoy the lively banter between the wait staff and the kitchen. It's almost a '50s-style diner setting, without the pink neon and soda counter. The food here is almost as good as the atmosphere. The magnificent Overstuffed Baked Potato is a large Idaho potato baked to perfection and topped with butter, barbecue and cheese. Barbecue beef, chicken and turkey sandwiches and platters satisfy your hot and spicy cravings. Kids have their own menu featuring "pint-sized" barbecue sandwiches, chicken wings and hotdogs. Corky's serves domestic and imported beer in bottles and on tap.

This gourmet grocery doubles as a bistro. Eggs and croissants with a hot cup of coffee start the day; deli sandwiches and pasta dishes are favorites at lunchtime. Don't know what to prepare for dinner? Take home an entire gourmet meal, ready to be served in minutes. Choose from fresh salads and vegetables, roasted duck, chicken and fish. Select a loaf of fresh baked bread and a chocolate or fruit dessert, and you're meal is complete.

This restaurant provides the Music City area with some of the best barbecue pork and chicken around. The kitchen makes sandwiches, platters and ribs, and that's all, except for an occasional pie for dessert. The enormous sandwiches come piled high with chopped pork or chicken, and dinner platters come with your choice of side orders. The white beans are a popular choice. If you're planning a party or picnic, call ahead and pick up a slab or two of ribs, smothered in spices and served with a quart of rich, tangy sauce.

When owner Bobby Nelson opened this Southern-style diner, he had no idea how popular a spot it would become. Finding a table is next to impossible during lunch hours, but for those fortunate enough to score one, culinary nirvana awaits. The restaurant offers five meat entrees and seven vegetables daily, all prepared fresh. The restaurant features pit-smoked barbecue every evening. On Fridays, try the famous all-you-can-eat catfish dinner. And don't miss the best part of any meal here, Banana Split Pie, a decadent blend of banana pudding, ice cream and graham crackers.