about

Present Tense is an izakaya style restaurant & natural wine bar with a 14 seat chef's counter and a few amazing tables.  The kind of place built around good soulful food, drinks, and energy. In Japan, an izakaya is where people gather to eat, drink, and hang.  Part restaurant, part bar, always alive.

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Our menu pulls from that spirit but drifts easily across borders. A love letter to Japanese technique seen through a French and Italian lens. We cook with what’s in season, what’s exciting, and what we can’t stop thinking about. Expect dishes shaped by fermentation, sourcing, and restraint. Food that feels thoughtful but never fussy.

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Natural wines, Junmai sakes, and a tight cocktail list anchor the beverage program. Music runs through the space via vintage JBL hi-fi speakers, Cambridge Audio amps, and a pair of Technics 1200s with a rotary mixer spinning vinyl nightly.

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Located in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood, across from Soho House and Pastis. Present Tense lives in a small black house we share with our friends at Flamingo Cocktail Club. Street and paid parking are nearby.

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Hours :

Lunch Thursday through Sunday 12-230

Dinner Thursday Friday Saturday 5-11  

Dinner Sunday 5-10

Reservations highly suggested