For The Carnivore Connoisseur : E3 Chophouse
Nashville, Tennessee is the country music capital of the world. While country music cliches, boozy ballads, and cowboy boots are still prevalent on lower Broadway, Nashville has assumed a new identity as it has evolved into one of the premier dining destinations in the United States. Anchored by Southern hospitality and hot chicken, steakhouses are becoming more prevalent throughout Music City. Gone are the days of ordering a premium cut of meat at any old restaurant, carnivore connoisseurs are splurging at some of the cities most popular steakhouses.
Bringing a rustic-chic vibe to the heart of Hillsboro Village is the newest addition to the dining scene, E3 Chophouse.
E3 Chophouse is owned by the families of professional baseball player Adam LaRoche and country music artists Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. Located at the corner of Wedgewood Avenue and 21st Avenue, E3 Chophouse believes in the concept of ranch to restaurant. The restaurant serves all-natural beef (no added steroids, hormones or antibiotics are ever added) that is sourced from cattle raised on the family ranch or other E3 certified ranches.
Even though the star of the show is the beef, E3 Chophouse has a robust cocktail program and a wine room that holds over 200 bottles. SIGN ME UP. Nashvillians and carnivore connoisseurs alike can grab a cocktail and enjoy the city views from their rooftop bar. Don’t worry about the temperatures. If your cocktail doesn’t warm you up, E3 has a few firepits that will do the trick!
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of having dinner at E3 Chophouse and I can’t wait to share with you all my favorites. Warning: the following content may not be suitable for those who are famished, restricting calorie input or haven’t had a decent meal. Images are safe for work but can lead to hunger pains, stomach rumblings, irritability, and excessive drooling.
Let’s begin, shall we?
E3’s menu is broken into seven sections: Hors d’Oeuvres, Raw and Chilled, Tennessee Greens, Steaks, Entrees, Companions and Sauces, and Vegetables and Starches. Some may call me a glutton, but I sampled at least one dish from each section (with the exception of Entrees). The things we do for research!
To start, we ordered the Baked Oysters. If I am being completely honest, I am not an oyster girl because I don’t do “fishiness” very well. From time to time, I’ll get a wild hair and have a few but they have to be on point. When the table opted for these, I had a split second of hesitation but when they arrived at the table, I couldn’t have been more excited. Not only were these little guys filled with robust flavor, but they may also be some of the best-baked oysters I’ve had. Mark it down-E3 has made this girl an oyster convert!
Do you really have dinner at a steakhouse if you don’t have something off the raw bar? Nothing screams quintessential steakhouse more than shrimp cocktail and E3 did not disappoint. These colossal crustaceans were paired with a Yuzu cocktail sauce that left the table wanting more. We could not stop talking about how delicious the sauce was and how it paired perfectly.
Our next dish is one of my “must-try” dishes at E3 Chophouse. Guests cannot leave the restaurant without trying the Scallops. You may be thinking to yourself, “scallops? I can have those almost anywhere.” While that may be the case, I can assure you that these scallops are borderline life-changing. Served with lobster, risotto, prosciutto, and pea tendrils, the secret ingredient is the saffron cream. Absolutely mind-blowing. I don’t want to give too much away, but know that this MUST be on your list.
As the table continued to revel and enjoy the last bites of the above dishes, E3 elevated our experience with “Tableside Service.” From a cocktail cart filled with Manhattans to a Charred Caesar salad created tableside with freshly chopped romaine tossed in dressing and topped off with fried anchovies… what more could this girl want? For a minute, I forgot that I was dining in Nashville as this is something diners experience in larger cities like New York, Chicago or San Francisco. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few establishments around Nashville that offer Bananas Foster or Baked Alaska tableside, but E3 really takes it up a notch indulging the guests and surpassing dining expectations.
This was the point in the evening where we were all on the cusp of a food coma but the “feast” had yet to arrive. While it always sounds like a great idea to order ALL THE THINGS, your pants may tell you differently. As we enjoyed the final sips of our Manhattans, several servers began to bring out the rest of our order. Yes, you read that correctly, several. We ordered EVERYTHING and I wasn’t mad about it at all.
While I won’t go into every single detail about EVERY dish we ordered, I will share a few standouts. You can’t go wrong with any of the steaks, but I especially enjoyed the Dry-Aged Ribeye. Each bite had such flavor and literally melted in your mouth. Sides are served family-style, but if it weren’t minding my manners, I could have easily devoured the Gruyere, Gouda, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Street Corn and the Truffle Fries all on my own. You didn’t think I’d leave those Truffle Fries out, did you?? We had an array of sauces but I enjoyed the Creamy Horseradish and the Truffled Herb Butter. #truffleloverforlife
As if I had not exceeded my caloric content for the week, nevermind make that month, dessert was imminent and who am I to say no? We had the pleasure of sampling two of the desserts off the menu: PB Mousse Cake and the Seasonal Crème Brûlée “Flight.” Both were fantastic ways to end the evening but when paired with a delicious glass of red wine, the PB Mousse Cake spoke to my heart. I am a sucker for all things chocolate and peanut butter, but this was out of this world!
In case you missed it, I may have a slight crush on E3 Chophouse. There’s nothing better than a great glass of red wine and a solid steak. E3’s service is nothing short of impeccable. Whether you are looking for a new date spot, a place to grab a bite before a show at TPAC/Bridgestone or you simply want to treat yourself, E3 Chophouse is happy to indulge you. Rest assured you will find me sitting at the bar with a glass of red wine in hand enjoying everything E3 has to offer.
Tariff: Hors d’ Oeuvres start at $16.00 with entrees and steaks ranging between $36.00 and $75.00 (with the exception of Market Priced Items).
Can’t-Miss: As I mentioned earlier, I wouldn’t leave the restaurant without having the Scallops, Dry-Aged Ribeye, Truffle Fries, Gruyere, Gouda, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes (this most of all) and the Street Corn. If I were visiting on a budget, because you can rack up quite the bill, I’d focus on the Scallops, Ribeye and the Gruyere, Gouda, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Of course, the Truffled Herb Butter and the Creamy Horseradish are a must!
Potential Pass: I’m being 150% honest when I tell you, I would do it all again exactly the way we had it that evening. If there are cost constraints, which are completely understandable, I’d focus on the steaks and the sides and forfeit the Hors d’ Oeuvres and you will still have an outstanding evening!
Until Next Time!