Eat Up: Saint Añejo

Location: One of Nashville's trendiest neighborhoods, The Gulch, is home to this MStreet cantina (as well as the rest of the MStreet establishments). Saint Añejo is located on McGavock Street (hence, the "M") right across from Whiskey Kitchen. It's a short walk to several other restaurants, bars and shops in The Gulch, and only a short drive to Downtown's Lower Broad and the hustle and bustle of Midtown. The only downside to its location is parking. We did laps around the surrounding blocks for about 15 minutes before we resolved to park near Bar Louie and hike a little bit. This was before we realized Saint Añejo offers complimentary valet parking. Of course they do. Silly us.

Atmosphere: This place has a super cool vibe. It's a cantina with an edge. Think Day of the Dead meets cosmopolitan dining: dim lighting, moody colors, latin-inspired decor, a large rectangular bar with tvs for the sports fan and huge convertible windows that open onto McGavock Street when the weather is nice. Little did we know at the time of our dinner that the restaurant also has a private lounge, The Tequila Library, that is available for parties and events. We're hoping to return for an event so we can experience the lounge, too.



Food: According to Saint Añejo's website, "the menu showcases creative tacos, house made guacamole, and regionally-influenced Chef specialties." We'd describe it the same way: a creative take on classic Mexican cuisine. Our 3-person dinner order went something like:
-Chile Con Queso (to share between the 3 of us)
-Salt and Pepper Beef Tacos
-Skillet Nachos with Smoked Chicken
-Tequila Lime Chicken Tacos
The tacos came out in steamy cast iron dishes, one for the tortillas and one for the ingredients. The nacho portion was incredible. Our waitress warned us it could feed a herd. We topped off dinner with a couple margaritas, one Hibiscus and one Ginger Rosemary. Tequila is another staple of this restaurant. A quick glance at the cocktail menu can leave you feeling woozy and (pleasantly) overwhelmed by the selection.

Overall: Everyone agreed the food was delicious as well as the cocktails. It's a perfect spot for happy hour dinner and drinks with a trendy (MStreet-style), Latin flare. Just don't forget to park valet!

Follow Saint Añejo on Twitter: @SaintAnejo