Sunset Grill

I had a reminder this weekend that Sunset Grill had not posted in a long time. Here are photos posted to say “Thanks” to all for 24 great years of great memories, fantastic team members and legendary times, but the sequel to the story continues 6 years later at Midtown Cafe and hopefully my dream of reopening someday as my encore act. 😉🍽

Sunset Grill closed 12-31-14 after 24 years of serving our friends and guests quality products prepared with love by dedicated professionals front and back of the house. We served literally millions of guests during that era and helped guide the way forward along with many other local chefs (Jody; Deb; Willie; Josh; Tom and more) for Nashville’s versions of America’s modern cuisine, rather than imitating European classic offerings.

This page is still here to honor our past proud and fun heritage, and, my own personal hope to reopen it anew someday as “the” gathering place for locals and their friends along with visitors to our ever growing Music City. Some of our favorite dishes, such as Voodoo Pasta, Jack Daniels Chocolate Pecan Pie, Habanero Butterscotch Bread Pudding and our infamous Nachos are now served at my MidtownCafe Nashville prepared by Chef Max Pastor who trained as Sous Chef under Ex. Chef Brian Uhl, now departed 5 years due to cancer, and, started with Brian in 2005. Craig Clifft is now GM at Elliston Place Soda Shop, as we sold Cabana in December, 2020. I spent 17 months putting that project together for Tony Giarratana, who’s passion for EPSS caused him to save it from closing permanently in 2019, which reopened in May. John Woodard, former SG manager, recently rejoined me at Midtown Cafe as well as joining lifer, Dale King, who started waiting tables for me in 1989 who’s been at Midtown since 2005.

Other key members are throughout the local and national hospitality community. Or, pursuing their crafts and passions such as 24 year servers Lynda Herdelin with her husband, Chad, in their business, or, Michael Hunt, now with Marsh Restaurant.

I thank all of them them for putting up with my all too driven passionate pursuit of a quality guest fun experience.

That’s all for now, but many thanks and blessings to the hundreds of team members who worked at Sunset Grill during that era and the handful who still work with me at MidtownCafe Nashville! Excelsior! JRR