Fancypants

Fancy pants is a delightful, unique dining experience that earned my 5 star rating last night. In anticipation of the evening I was surprised to not find a menu to peruse. Turns out the menu changes often and even our excellent server found changes since returning from vacation a week ago.There is ample parking at Fancypants and a complimentary cocktail is offered at the host station. This is a unique small taste of four ingredients, Cava, bitters and two very red additions. Bright and refreshing. The decor is an interesting blend of a warehouse industrial look softened with red textiles and floral booths. The two bar areas are inviting and simply built. Our party of four enjoyed a large booth. Our clear view of the food prep area was a show in itself. Each chef was meticulous in preparing the food and preparation. Our server Emily was well educated about each offering on the menu. We chose the $70 pp option giving each person a choice of 3 options. With 4 of us, we enjoyed all 9 offerings and doubled up on three. This sounds confusing, but Emily guided us through the deliciously interesting meal. Starting with lightest fare to heaviest. Most of the offerings were off the charts excellent. Here were our favorites: The Avocado and smoked banana, onion noodles with cheese, Lion's Mane Mushroom, cabbage with miso, pasta shells. We allowed our server to choose the order our portions were served. Each one unique and tasty. (I would ask for the Lions Main to be served earlier in the meal as by the time it arrived I was pretty full. There is a pallet cleansing drink of mountain basil soda sure to wake up your tastebuds part way through the meal.This was a fun evening of foods prepared in most unique and delicious ways. The service outstanding as well. If you get a chance go with an open mind. You won't be disappointed.

Fancypants. What a fun vibe but 3 hours was way too long to be there on what appeared to be a slow night. Welcome cocktail when we arrived was a plus they have over every other restaurant in Nashville. The vibe is vibey. You definitely know they mean they want you to have a f*cking blast. The menu is confusing AF. We asked several questions for clarity and still weren't sure we ordered correctly. I love the idea of a Prix fixe menu but this just felt overwhelming and made me want to say never mind, I'll just have dessert. Best dirty martini I've ever had but every other cocktail we tried was lacking something. They weren't bad by any means but definitely not fantastic cocktails. Every entree needed seasoning. I saw on instagram after we left other tables were offered fresh pepper, we never were but also didn't think to ask. Nothing had much flavor. They were filling dishes. The vodka shells and the caviar stole the show. I might be back if I could just order those two things. The bathrooms were fun. The service was slow. We arrived about 15 min before our reservation time and left 3 hours later. I love a meal that is an experience but I felt anxious and antsy sitting so long between courses. The volume level was great. Our server spoke too softly. Whomever was closest to her had to let the rest of the table know what she said but we were able to have conversation at a reasonable level which is becoming more rare in town these days. Will I be back? No. Was it fine to try once? Sure.

Last night was my first trip to Fancypants. Warning, this review may give you whiplash. The great:Incredible service Magical decorThe Lion's Mane dish was earthy and fillingVodka shells a high note as wellThey offer a free drink, boozy or not, upon entryThe not so great:A few dishes came out burnt, looking at you eggplant and turnip The cauliflower felt undercooked The big issue is the menu setup. They really should let you purchase a la carte. It's not a vegetarian restaurant but all of the 3 for $70 were vegetarian. The dishes had hearty portions so this isn't a critique on size. If you want a protein you need to order beef tartar from the bonus menu or the $165 steak. Also, the menu was all over the place. There were some solid Asian influenced dishes, a cluster of Italian, then a southern and Mexican influenced dish. I think the main issue is that it lacks cohesion. I would LOVE, LOVE for Fancypants to keep on fancying. If it can tie up some loose ends and figure out the menu, they'll be golden.

At Fancypants, fine dining gets a glow-up--and not in the stiff, white-tablecloth way you might expect. Here, it's all about taking the seriousness out of fancy food and replacing it with a whole lot of fun. The setting? Full of vibrant reds, funky patterns, and enough texture to keep your eyes busy. They created a space that screams, "Have a F*-ing blast while you're here!" But, even with the fun factor dialed up, the food missed the mark. Things got...interesting. Let's start with the vibe--it's playful, loud, and designed to make you smile. The atmosphere feels like a party where you might wear sequins, but also wouldn't bat an eye if someone showed up in sneakers. Ultimately, the dressed code is "please wear pants." It's cool, it's confident, and it's not afraid to make fine dining more accessible. Now onto the menu. And oh, the menu...let's just say it's a bit like meeting someone at a wild party who tells you their entire life story in five minutes--you're overwhelmed and not sure what to think. As a first-timer, I took one look at the dizzying array of options, closed the menu, and waited for help to arrive. It's not that the choices aren't intriguing, but it's hard to make sense of it all without a bit of guidance. It was a lot to digest--literally and figuratively. The service, however, is where Fancypants truly shined. Sarah was an absolute rockstar--informative, friendly, and with just the right amount of energy to make the experience feel like a conversation with a friend who knows way more about food than you do. Emily, a trainee, was equally eager to please, and it showed in her enthusiasm to learn and engage. The concept of the tasting menu is fun in theory. You pick your own three dishes, and so does everyone else at the table, creating a mini-adventure for each diner. With three diners at the table, we were able to sample all the dishes on the menu. The downside? Nothing really popped. The food was good, but good isn't what you're hoping for when you walk into a place like Fancypants. You want something that makes you sit up straight, take a breath, and say, "I need more of that." Unfortunately, there wasn't a single dish that made me feel that way. Fun? Absolutely. Mind-blowing? Not quite. Let's talk details. You might think fun, fine dining would provide you with a cozy bar to sip a cocktail while waiting for your table. Not here. Bar seating is based off reservations, but they do offer an aperitif at the host stand, which is nice, but feels more like a consolation prize. And if you're seated outside on the patio, beware--this area doubles as a waiting space, and we ended up losing a chair to a wandering guest whose group needed extra seating while waiting for their table. It's the kind of tiny inconvenience that sticks with you.As for the dishes themselves, the (Tennessee) Caviar paired with Ruffles was, to be blunt, a letdown. It's cheeky, sure, but it tastes more like a Tuesday snack than something that deserves a spot on a fine dining menu. And the wine selection? Let's just say it felt like a missed opportunity. With such an adventurous menu, the safe choice of West Coast wines didn't do the experience justice. That said, there were some gems. The palate cleansers were next-level perfection--think pickled watermelon and other fun surprises between courses. Each one was immaculate and refreshing, and honestly, they were the highlight of the meal. The Miso Butter Malfadine was also a winner, with its umami-packed richness and peanut chili crunch that made me pause and savor. And the Avocado & Smoked Banana? Creamy, crunchy, and just plain delicious. So is Fancypants worth a visit? Sure--if you're looking for a fun night. It's not your traditional fine dining experience, and I truly don't think I could call it fine dining, but *I guess* that's the point. You'll leave with a smile and the memory of a night where the goal was less about being serious and more about having a f*-ing blast. Just don't expect the food to leave you breathless or counting the days until you return.

We're big fans of RHS and Butcher & Bee, so we were stoked to check out their group's newest restaurant venture on Dickerson Pike. We made reservations for a Friday night via Resy a couple of weeks in advance (when they announced on social media that reservations were finally open)! Heads-up that you do need to put a card down when you make your reservation, and you will be charged $25/person if you cancel your reservation less than 48 hours in advance. This practice is popping up more and more at high-end restaurants like Fancypants, and while I understand why they do it, it does feel a bit steep for East Nashville. The parking lot was full when we arrived - so we snagged a spot in the alley around back. We were greeted at the host stand with a delicious and colorful welcome cocktail called the "Booze Amuse." We were seated near the bar, and were delighted to see a packed restaurant on only their second weekend open! The building itself used to be an old grocery store, but the team has done a beautiful job of renovating the space. It's maroon and moody, with eclectic decor that you can tell has been carefully curated. We didn't get a chance to check out the patio this time around, but I love the bright green criss-cross pattern you can spot from the road. You won't find the menu on their website - but instead a cheeky question asking "Where's the fun in that?" While I do like the air of mystery this introduces, I do wish they let guests know ahead of time that that their core prix-fixe menu is entirely vegetarian. Don't get me wrong, I love how creative plant-based food can be, but it feels a bit misleading to not let guests know up front. The "Bonus Menu" did feature Steak Tartare, so there was at least one protein if you were really in the mood for meat. As you do dig into the menu, you may not miss meat as much as you thought you would. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious - my favorite was the Grilled Lion's Mane Mushroom, which is reminiscent of a juicy steak and sits on top of creamy mashed potatoes. The Etrog Vodka Shells are also a can't-miss dish - perfectly saucy and just a little spicy. We also sampled a couple of their drinks. I appreciate the theming (all of the cocktails are named after different types of pants) and would recommend the Yoga Pants to anyone looking for a fresh and fruity mocktail.The service was very attentive - not only our waitress, but several other members of the team checked in on us periodically throughout our meal. We were also brought a few impromptu palette cleansers, including their version of Pani Puri and a tangy celery juice. We didn't stick around for dessert this time around, but noted it for next time! Although we enjoyed our meal and commend the team for creating something unique, it did feel a bit pricey. That said, this was a fun Friday night dining experience, and I recommend making a reservation to check out Fancypants for yourself!

Fun dining experience & very unique menu!We had reservations for the 2nd weekend of opening on a Saturday night & were greeted with welcome cocktails at the hostess stand.For what it's worth, my wife & I aren't vegetarians but know that this is a heavy vegetarian menu with a lot of gluten-free options. It is a 3 course pre-fixe menu for $70 pp with the only meat item as of now, the steak tartare. Menu subject to change. You can order additional items a la carte from the bonus/appetizer & dessert menus. Drink menus have a lot of variety!I ordered the grilled lion's mane mushroom, the stuffed poblano chile pepper, & the miso butter Malfadine. My wife ordered the grilled heirloom eggplant, Etrog vodka shells, & the chicken fried cauliflower. We shared the steak tartare for appetizer, & a fruit tart with coffee for dessert. We also got some complimentary items! Panipurri, celery soda palette cleanser(?), & strawberry jelly bites with peanut butter dusting.Anytime I have vegetarian dishes, I'm worried the food will be bland, under-seasoned, & that I'll be leaving hungry. However, I was pleasantly surprised how intricate the flavors were & how full we were by the end of the meal.Service was fantastic, very attentive & new silverware & plates for each course. Ambience was casual upscale with music in the background, but not too loud.Overall, highly recommend if you are looking to try something new for a nice night out. The price point is high, but the quality & service make up for it. Don't let the vegetarian menu fool you!Follow the foodie gram @jason.chews!

Off to a great start! We had an early reservation on opening night, and service was smooth and confident -- clearly this team is skilled and did a great job during their previews to "wow" right away. The name is a bit cheeky, in that you could certainly come here for a special occasion, but it's irreverent and fun. The interior is lush but comfortable. Food! What a fun mix of dishes. The welcome cocktail and bread service got us started on a high note. Our favorite dishes were the avocado + banana (I think there's a good chance this becomes the signature dish, like a fun twist on sister restaurant Butcher & Bee's avocado crispy rice), the mozzarella katsu (the best fried cheese I've ever had), and the miso malfadine (umami goodness). It's a meat-light main menu, so this is a great option for groups with vegetarians in the mix. We omnivores didn't miss the meat at all. We were too stuffed for dessert, but the choices our table-neighbors ordered looked delicious and like a nostalgic reminder of old-school supper clubs. We'll definitely be back!

Great service! Great food! Great ambiance! A very veg forward menu, which I love. The food is unique and presentation is unlike anything I've seen before. The service was the best experience I've ever had a restaurant. Fancypants is worth checking out!

Fun environment, decent enough food. Another new Nashville/Los Angeles place. They claim to accommodate for food allergies, but they just tell you that you can't eat half the prixe fixe menu. Emails back and forth claim they will have alternatives but don't. If you want to be seen or say you've been, it will probably be enjoyable. Staff was very good and pleasant. Just think that your money could be spent better elsewhere if you are looking for a real culinary experience.

This was an unbelievably amazing experience from the moment we walked in to the very end. We tried the bread service (don't miss out on this), 6 main menu items (the pastas are to die for and the way they highlighted local veggies with inventive twists that we loved was unexpected for two carnivores), a few of the very creative cocktails (loved the pink tutu and the overalls) and trust when I say do not walk out without dessert. The place is absolutely gorgeous and they knocked it out with the decor and ambiance. Service was one of the top experiences we've had in any major city, and you can tell, they truly care about the guest experience. Whether you are visiting Nashville or locals like us- make this your next night out!!