Mane & Rye ‘Dinerant’ Brings Down-Home Goodness to the Upscale Hutton Hotel

Since the Hutton Hotel opened in the Midtown neighborhood of Nashville a decade ago, the boutique property has earned a reputation of excellence for its convenient location to downtown, stylish rooms and suites and a commitment to sustainable and green practices such as the use of renewable materials like bamboo flooring and furniture, LED lighting, biodegradable cleaning products and eco-friendly hybrid courtesy vehicles. While the food at Hutton’s signature restaurant has been regarded as excellent and occasionally whimsical, the dining scene at the Hutton has had a little difficulty gaining traction.

Part of the issue may have been the names of the first two concepts which didn’t really stir much interest in locals and visitors. The first iteration was named after the Hutton’s street address, 1808 Grille, while the second was just the name of the street, West End. Neither name really grabbed diners by the lapels to drag them in to see what was going on in the attractive space. So hopefully the third time will be the charm as the Hutton has recently rebranded the lobby level dining space as Mane & Rye Dinerant, with the last name being a portmanteau word made up of “diner” and “restaurant” to indicate the casual atmosphere that Mane & Rye seeks to convey.

The space still maintains a casual elegance, with high ceilings and flexible seating designed for groups to engage in pleasant conversation over a meal. Blue and pale orange color schemes offer pops of color to the main dining area, and the bar is a quintessential hotel gathering space where locals can wait out rush hour or transient guests can enjoy one of Mane & Rye’s crafty cocktails after a day of work. The name of the restaurant and bar is a nod to the Hutton’s mascot Hutt, a life-size sculpture of a horse that greets guests to the lobby, and also to rye whiskey, bourbon’s spicier cousin that is a vital ingredient to many iconic cocktail recipes like a proper Manhattan, a Boulevardier, a Vieux Carre or a Sazerac. In addition to the extensive collection of rye whiskeys available, Mane & Rye also maintains a broad selection of other top-shelf spirits that they employ to create their own specialty cocktail plus any other drink patrons might ask for.

The new food offering revolves around Mane & Rye’s identity of a classic American diner combined with a sophisticated setting. So sure, there’s a great burger on the menu, as is expected at every proper hotel restaurant, but this particular version is made using a specialty grind of beef from local whole-animal purveyors Porter Road Butcher. Other local artisans who raise the quality of the ingredients used in the kitchen include bread from Bobby John Henry Bakery, preserves from Nashville Jam Company, produce from Sweeter Days Farm and treats from Nicoletto’s Pasta and Mike’s Ice Cream.

The expectation for hotel restaurants is to serve all three meals of the day to satisfy the needs of guests and locals looking for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Mane & Rye does not disappoint. The morning meal features hearty breakfast repast like Chicken-fried Steak and Eggs, a decadent Brioche French Toast served with Blackberry Compote, Hazelnut Butter and Maple Syrup and Short Rib Hash with a sunny-side up egg and pickled peppers. In addition to that burger at lunch, patrons can enjoy salads and soups, including a bracing bowl of Hatch Green Chili as well as a plate of Gravy Fries, sort of a Southern poutine smothered with cheese curds, whole grain mustard and a fried egg. Supper showcases options from a range of regional inspirations like down-home Southern Chicken-fried Steak and Buttermilk Catfish to the lowcountry favorite of Shrimp & Grits and a molto Italiano version of Sunday Gravy made with fusilli pasta, tomato pork ragout and whipped ricotta served with crusty bread. Mane & Rye is also right proud of their selection of boozy milkshakes torqued up with vodka, Jack Daniel’s or tequila.

Locals can take advantage of complimentary validated valet parking if they eat at Mane & Rye, so it’s worth a visit at any time of the day. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 7:00 am – 10:00 pm with extended hours until 1:00 am on Friday and Saturday. They also feature breakfast served all day, a lively weekend brunch and a popular happy hour Monday through Friday from 4:00 until 6:00 featuring deals like $5 draft beers, $8 selected wines by the glass and $5 selected liquor cocktails as well as some $6 snacks and appetizers.

For even more entertaining options, Mane & Rye patrons have access to some classic pinball including Metallica, The Who, Aerosmith and AC/DC and a full-size wooden bar shuffleboard table. Let’s face it, commuting through Midtown when the rest of Nashville is fleeing to their homes in the ‘burbs is no fun, so why not pull over a sit a spell over some happy hour food and drinks while playing a few games? Mane & Rye is there to be your urban oasis from the bustle of Music City just about any hour of the day or night! For the latest news on this fine establishment, follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

Mane & Rye Dinerant at the Hutton Hotel
1808 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 340-0012
www.maneandrye.com