Read this review on the TENNESSEAN website >>

Daily Dish offers gourmet twist on meat-and-three concept

Pat Ralls of Brentwood orders lunch at Daily Dish in the Grassland community. (JEANNE REASONOVER / THE TENNESSEAN)

GRASSLAND COMMUNITY — Lettered across a Tuscan sun-colored wall in the restaurant Daily Dish are the words "taste the news." This new eatery is indeed dishing up food news daily with its surprise specials and entrees.

Open since December in the spot that formerly housed Grassland Grill, the restaurant shakes up the homemade meat-and-three tradition with gourmet selections such as grilled pesto chicken salad, almond-encrusted goat cheese salad and a cornmeal-encrusted mahi mahi sandwich with a smoked corn remoulade.

But diners who prefer more traditional fare are served, too, with standard favorites such as smashed (hand mashed) potatoes, real macaroni and cheese, cheese grits, turnip greens, green beans and creamed corn.

The entrees in the comfort zone vary from fried chicken (with gravy), to pot roast, country fried steak, roasted pork loin, baked fish and more.

"I try to have standard meat-and-three entrees daily, but also something roasted and grilled, for the lighter side," says chef Sean Begin (pronounced BAY-gan).

"Everything is made here fresh daily, with the exception of some desserts, which we have made for us," says the youthful chef who already has two decades of culinary experience beneath his apron.

Having worked at the Bound'ry and most recently as part owner of The Copper Kettle, Begin came to Nashville initially as sous chef at the Hermitage Hotel's Capitol Grille under chef Willy Thomas, now of Park Cafe and Eastland Cafe.

Though the system is a cafeteria line, this is far from the lackluster image that "cafeteria" may invoke. The space is decorated in earthy shades of moss, brick and gold.

Despite his upscale pedigree, Begin's Daily Dish also is family friendly. Kids can choose a meat and two veggies; chicken fingers and a side; a grilled cheese or a burger — all at $4.50, and for another buck, a thick milkshake comes along to meet the daily calcium requirements.

Prices across the board are quite reasonable with meat and three at $8.50; meat and two, $7.75; three veggies $5.50. At the end of the line, a choice of freshly baked cheese biscuits, corn bread or dinner rolls await, along with a surprise offering of a serve-yourself trio of chutneys.

Though the unusual combo of standard made-from-scratch comfort food and gourmet offerings is "news," Begin says he's not trying to be everything to everybody, but rather catering to the sophisticated tastes of his diners, be they from the neighborhood or destination eaters.

"We're getting a great response from people here in the Grassland area, and we're also getting those who come here to eat, including some of the music business folks," he says.

Daily Dish is open , 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Begin says he may add a weekend day brunch later.

Carryout has already become a significant segment of the business, either by call ahead or drop in, and curbside takeout could be coming soon. Begin offers a family-friendly takeout special for $11.95 per person of an entrée, two sides, salad, bread and dessert — perfect for harried soccer moms.

Begin says he's having great fun dishing up the daily news in the heart of the Grassland community — his home for the past 10 years. Our guess is his audience is enjoying the fruits of his labor just as much.