Peninsula

At first glance, it might be easy to dismiss this rambunctious restaurant set at the base of a nondescript apartment building in East Nashville. But don’t be fooled: You’ll be convinced otherwise at first bite. Broadly focused on the Iberian Peninsula, the cooking is creative and pulls influences from around the globe for its tapas-style dishes. Buckle up for plates powered by character that take unexpected twists and turns, as in a bold opener of endive, fried and covered in a koji foam with a burnt onion powder, or a clever beet starter paired with roasted garlic. The smart cooking continues all the way through to dessert, where mochi doughnuts covered in bright red marzipan make for an enticing finale.