Two Nashville restaurants land on national “best in the United States” lists, reflecting wider recognition
Nashville draws national attention through multiple restaurant rankings
Two Nashville restaurants were included on a national “best restaurants in the United States” list for 2024, adding to a growing body of high-profile recognition for the city’s dining scene. The two Nashville selections on that 2024 list were Bad Idea and Edessa, both singled out among 50 restaurants chosen nationwide.
The recognition arrived amid a broader period of visibility for Nashville restaurants in national rankings and guides. In 2025 and 2026, a separate annual national list from Yelp also placed multiple Nashville restaurants among its “Top 100 Places to Eat in the United States,” based on platform review signals and other criteria.
Which two restaurants were named among the nation’s best in 2024
Bad Idea: Included among a national group of 50 restaurants recognized for 2024.
Edessa: Also selected on the same national 2024 list.
The 2024 list was presented as an annual selection spanning a wide geographic range, including both newer restaurants and longer-running establishments, with editors and reporters traveling across the country during the prior 12 months.
How the picture changed in subsequent nationwide lists
Nashville’s presence in national restaurant rankings extended beyond 2024. Yelp’s annual “Top 100 Places to Eat” list for 2025 included three Nashville restaurants: Degthai (ranked No. 28), Jashan (No. 49), and Sindoore – Indian By Nature (No. 55). The list positioned Nashville alongside restaurants across the United States and emphasized value and comfort alongside strong consumer feedback.
Yelp’s 2026 edition again featured Nashville, with four restaurants from the city appearing among the Top 100 nationwide. In that 2026 ranking, Noko placed No. 24. Yelp’s published methodology for the 2026 list described a ranking process based on factors including review volume and ratings; when available, businesses were required to have a passing health score as of Nov. 6, 2025.
Michelin Guide expansion adds another national benchmark
Separately, Nashville entered another major recognition system as Michelin expanded its coverage to include Tennessee as part of the MICHELIN Guide American South initiative announced in 2025. In November 2025, three Nashville restaurants were reported as receiving Michelin stars: Bastion, The Catbird Seat, and Locust. The same Michelin coverage also included Bib Gourmand distinctions and a broader recommended list that named additional Nashville restaurants.
Nashville’s restaurant recognition in recent years has come through multiple systems, including editorial best-of lists, consumer-review-driven rankings, and Michelin’s inspector-based guide.
Taken together, the 2024 selection of Bad Idea and Edessa as two of the nation’s best restaurants, followed by continued strong showings in 2025 and 2026 national lists and the arrival of Michelin coverage, underscores a sustained period of national attention on Nashville dining.