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FOLK
Italian · East Germantown, Nashville
Restaurant in Nashville, United States
The Read
Handmade Pasta, Neighbourhood Precision
Chef
Philip Krajeck
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
FOLK is Philip Krajeck's wood-fired Italian in East Nashville, holding a Michelin Plate and climbing to #161 on OAD's Casual North America list in 2025. It is dinner-only, easy to book compared to Nashville's harder tables, serious enough about its natural wine program to make the drinks as much a reason to go as the pasta.
About FOLK
The Verdict
FOLK is the Italian restaurant Nashville needs more of: a wood-fired, pasta-forward operation on Meridian Street that has earned a Michelin Plate and climbed to #161 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list in 2025, up from #254 the year before. Chef Philip Krajeck runs a focused dinner-only room, open five nights a week, the demand consistently outpaces the seats. If you want a reservation on a Friday or Saturday, plan ahead — but booking here is still considerably easier than securing a table at The Catbird Seat or Bastion. Book it.
About FOLK
FOLK sits at 823 Meridian St in East Nashville, a neighbourhood that has shifted steadily from overlooked to genuinely sought-after. The room itself is the first thing that registers: an open kitchen with visible fire, natural wood surfaces, a dining space that reads as spare rather than stark. The visual tone is intentional — this is not a dressed-up special-occasion room, but it is clearly a serious one.
Krajeck's cooking is Italian in its architecture, wood-fired heat, hand-made pasta, vegetable-driven plates, but it is not museum-piece Italian. The approach draws on the same depth of technique you find at well-regarded Italian-rooted restaurants internationally, from 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong to cenci in Kyoto, but the register here is casual and the prices reflect that. FOLK's trajectory on the OAD list, recommended in 2023, #254 in 2024, #161 in 2025, tracks a kitchen that is getting sharper, not resting.
The drinks program is worth separate attention. FOLK's bar is not an afterthought appended to the dinner menu. The natural wine list is edited and opinionated, oriented toward small producers and lower-intervention bottles that complement rather than compete with fire-cooked food. Cocktails are available but the room skews wine-forward; if you are a guest who orders by the glass rather than the bottle, ask the staff directly, the list changes and the team knows it. For Nashville's wider bar scene, see our full Nashville bars guide.
Wednesday closures mean Thursday is FOLK's effective Monday. If you are flexible, a Thursday booking in the early part of the week is your leading path to a table without pressure. The kitchen runs 5–10 pm Tuesday through Sunday (closed Wednesday), so there is no lunch service to consider, dinner is the only option, the room fills on weekends by mid-evening.
For context on how FOLK fits the Nashville dining picture, see our full Nashville restaurants guide. Those building a longer trip can also reference our Nashville hotels guide, Nashville wineries, and Nashville experiences.
Ratings & Recognition
- Michelin Plate (2025)
- Pearl Recommended Restaurant (2025)
- Opinionated About Dining Casual North America #161 (2025)
- Opinionated About Dining Casual North America #254 (2024)
- Opinionated About Dining Casual North America Recommended (2023)
Booking & Practical Details
Booking difficulty at FOLK is rated Easy by Pearl. Weekday tables are available with reasonable notice; weekend slots move faster but this is not a venue requiring weeks of advance planning the way Rolf & Daughters or Locust can require. The address is 823 Meridian St, Nashville, TN 37207. Hours run 5–10 pm Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday; FOLK is closed Wednesday and Monday. No price range is listed in our data, expect mid-range casual Italian pricing consistent with the OAD Casual category.
For a broader view of the Italian dining category across the US, it is useful to know that FOLK sits in a different tier from destination tasting-menu operations like Le Bernardin, Alinea, or The French Laundry, it is a neighbourhood-scale, fire-driven room that punches above that weight class in terms of critical recognition.
Quick reference: 823 Meridian St, East Nashville · Dinner only, Tue & Thu–Sun 5–10 pm · Closed Mon & Wed · Easy to book · Michelin Plate 2025 · OAD Casual NA #161 (2025)
The take
The Take
The Vibe
FOLK reads as deliberate and restrained: the building makes no marquee statement and the neighborhood setting feels residential rather than commercial. The copy frames the restaurant as an independent, considered counterpoint to Nashville’s louder, tourist-oriented corridors, and that restraint bleeds into the dining room. Expect a quiet, thoughtful atmosphere where attention lands on technique and seasonal produce rather than theatrical gestures. Chef Philip Krajeck’s training informs a precise, measured menu, and the overall effect is an intimate, low-key Italian spot that rewards diners who come with intention.
Best For
This is a destination for intentional dining rather than casual drop-ins. Because FOLK sits on a residential block and 'filters out the casual walk-in trade almost entirely,' it suits people seeking a focused meal—couples or small groups who want a quietly refined experience. The kitchen’s emphasis on pasta technique and seasonal ingredients points to evenings when the menu’s subtleties matter most. If you’re looking for a place to linger over well-executed Italian-inflected dishes in a calm setting, FOLK fits that bill.
Ordering Tips
Reservations are advisable: the neighborhood location and the description’s note that casual walk-ins are uncommon imply limited door seating. Start with the signature small plates—Smoked Tuna Dip and warm Focaccia are good openings—then move to the standout pizzas like the Littleneck Clam or Kale Pizza. For a heartier option, the Chicken Milanese is a highlight. Because the menu leans on seasonality and technique, expect concise, carefully prepared dishes; order a few items to sample the kitchen’s range rather than relying on one large plate.
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 5–10 pm
- Tuesday
- 5–10 pm
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- 5–10 pm
- Friday
- 5–10 pm
- Saturday
- 5–10 pm
- Sunday
- 5–10 pm
Location
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Also consider
Also Consider
- Locust, Progressive, Progressive
- Arnold’s Country Kitchen, Southern, Southern
- Audrey, Progressive, Progressive
- Biscuit Love Gulch, Biscuits, Biscuits
- Butcher and Bee, Sandwiches, Sandwiches
Restaurant context
FOLK is the clearest choice in Nashville for serious Italian technique at a casual price point, but it is not competing directly with most of its East Nashville neighbours. Locust and Audrey are both progressive American rooms with higher price tags and harder-to-get reservations, book those if you want a more ambitious tasting-format experience, but expect to plan further ahead and spend more. FOLK delivers comparable critical credibility (Michelin Plate, top-200 OAD) at a more accessible price and booking difficulty.
If the question is value and ease, Arnold's Country Kitchen and Biscuit Love Gulch are in a different category entirely, Southern comfort food and brunch rather than Italian dinner, the right answer only if your group is not oriented toward a wine-forward dinner. Butcher and Bee is a reasonable casual alternative for groups that want something lighter or less committed to a full dinner, but it does not have the same level of culinary recognition as FOLK.
The direct peer comparison for the food-focused diner is Rolf & Daughters, another pasta-driven, ingredient-led room that has earned sustained critical attention in Nashville. Both are worth booking on the same trip if Italian and Mediterranean-influenced cooking is your priority. FOLK wins on the natural wine program and fire-cooking specificity; Rolf & Daughters has a longer track record and slightly broader menu range. For a first visit to Nashville's Italian scene, FOLK is the right starting point given its current upward trajectory.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full FOLK guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare FOLK
| Venue | Awards |
|---|---|
| FOLK | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #1612025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #2542023 OAD Casual in North America RecommendedPearl Recommended Restaurants |
| Locust | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #52025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #202025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #242025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #782025 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 Michelin 1 Star2025 OpenTable Top 100 Restaurants2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #322023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #59 |
| Arnold’s Country Kitchen | 2026 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Featured Restaurants2026 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Highly Recommended2025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #862023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Ranked · #55Pearl Recommended Restaurants |
| Audrey | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Highly Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #2842025 Michelin Plate2025 Resy Best of the Hit List2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #2142023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2022 Esquire Best New Restaurants · #9 |
| Biscuit Love Gulch | 2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #3822024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #4372023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in RecommendedPearl Recommended Restaurants |
| Butcher and Bee | 2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #5702025 Resy Best of the Hit List2024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #5602023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended |
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Key differences to consider before you reserve.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at FOLK?
FOLK built its reputation on handmade pasta and wood-fired cooking — those are the categories to focus on. Chef Philip Krajeck's Italian approach leans ingredient-driven, so the pasta dishes and anything coming off the wood fire are where the kitchen's strengths show. FOLK has held a Michelin Plate since 2025 and ranks #161 on OAD Casual North America, which tells you the kitchen is consistent enough to trust the menu rather than hunt for a single standout dish.
Can FOLK accommodate groups?
FOLK is a neighbourhood restaurant in East Nashville, not a large-format venue, so large groups will face constraints. Pearl rates booking difficulty as Easy for standard reservations, which suggests the room isn't enormous — parties of 6 or more should contact them in advance to confirm capacity. For a group dinner where the format matters, Audrey nearby offers a more event-ready setup.
Is lunch or dinner better at FOLK?
Dinner is your only option — FOLK operates 5–10 pm Tuesday through Sunday and is closed Wednesdays. There is no lunch service. For weeknight dinner, tables are available with reasonable notice; Friday and Saturday slots move faster, so book a few days ahead to be safe.
What is FOLK known for?
FOLK is primarily known for Italian in Nashville.
