Location: 500 11th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203
Parking: Adjacent garage parking (free with validation), valet parking ($15 per car) and street parking.
Cost: $100 – $175 per person, including one cocktail.
Exceptional seafood, perfectly crafted cocktails, outstanding service, and an atmosphere that blends upscale elegance with a little rock-and-roll attitude. An unforgettable Nashville dining experience!
The Detroit Cowboy manages to be sophisticated without being pretentious, upscale without being stuffy, and unmistakably cool without trying too hard. It’s a restaurant with personality, excellent food, and all those thoughtful little extras that turn an ordinary dinner into a memorable night. Sometimes changing your plans turns out to be the best plan of all. And sometimes all it takes is a Kid Rock mural to lead you to one of your favorite dining experiences.
– The Salty Owl Co. | 5/5 Stars
We weren’t planning on dining at The Detroit Cowboy in Nashville, Tennessee. In fact, we were on our way to an entirely different restaurant when we happened to park right in front of a larger-than-life Kid Rock mural painted on the side of the building. Naturally, we had to investigate.
One look at the restaurant, and our dinner plans changed.
Walking through the doors, we immediately realized we might have wanted to dress up a little more. The Detroit Cowboy has that sophisticated, upscale atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re somewhere special. But despite arriving without a reservation and feeling slightly underdressed, we were greeted with genuine warmth.
Not only did they welcome us in, but they seated us at a fabulous window table right next to the piano player. And that was just the beginning of a surprisingly memorable evening.
A Little Kid Rock, a Little Piano, and a Whole Lot of Class
There’s something wonderfully unexpected about sitting in an elegant restaurant listening to Kid Rock songs being played on a piano.
And not just played. Beautifully played.
The pianist took familiar Kid Rock music and turned it into something that fit perfectly with the restaurant’s sophisticated atmosphere. It was such a clever touch, bringing together a little rock-and-roll attitude with an upscale dining experience.
We loved it.
The entire restaurant struck that perfect balance between classy and cool. Beautiful surroundings, a relaxed atmosphere, and just enough personality to remind you that you’re still in Nashville.
Starting with Crab Cakes and a Creative Tuna Tartare
We started our evening with two appetizers, and both were excellent.
Deviled Crab Cake
The Deviled Crab Cake featured pan-seared jumbo lump crab, heirloom tomatoes, fresh arugula, and stoneground mustard aioli.
This was a generous appetizer, easily large enough for two to share. The crab was beautifully prepared, and the mustard aioli added a lovely tang that complemented the sweetness of the crab without overpowering it.
A wonderful start to dinner.
#1 Bigeye Tuna Tartare
Our second appetizer was the #1 Bigeye Tuna Tartare, a creative combination of kimchi aioli, seaweed salad, avocado, chow-chow, sesame seed oil, and crispy wontons.
This dish was definitely one of the more interesting tuna tartare preparations we’ve experienced.
There were so many different flavors and textures working together. The kimchi aioli brought a little excitement, the avocado added creaminess, and the crispy wontons gave everything a satisfying crunch.
It was thoughtful, creative, and a refreshing departure from a more traditional tuna tartare.
A Little Surprise from the Kitchen
One of the unexpected highlights of our evening was the amuse-bouche, a complimentary, bite-sized creation from the chef meant to awaken your palate before the meal. Ours arrived beautifully presented in individual tasting spoons. We’d never experienced this little fine-dining tradition before, and I have to say, we loved it! It was such a thoughtful touch and another example of how The Detroit Cowboy turns a great dinner into something a little more special.
The Grand Seafood Tower – And Grand It Was!
For our entrée, we decided to share the Grand Seafood Tower.
Now, we love seafood, and we’re certainly no strangers to ordering a seafood tower. But this one was something else.
The tower arrived loaded with:
- 8 Gulf oysters
- 8 colossal shrimp cocktail
- A whole lobster tail
- ½ pound of king crab
- Smoked trout dip
It was absolutely enormous!
Quite honestly, it was far more seafood than the two of us could possibly finish. But everything was so beautifully prepared that we certainly gave it our best effort.
The oysters were excellent, the shrimp were colossal in every sense of the word, and the lobster and king crab were perfectly prepared.
But one of the unexpected standouts?
The smoked trout dip.
It was absolutely delicious. With all that beautiful shellfish sitting in front of us, who would have thought the smoked trout dip would be one of the things we’d still be talking about afterward?
The entire tower was impressive, both in presentation and quality. If you love seafood and happen to be dining with a group, this would be a fabulous choice.
For just the two of us? Well, let’s just say we may have gotten a little carried away.
No regrets.
And Then Came the Dessert Cart!
Just when we thought the evening couldn’t get any better, the waitstaff rolled a dessert cart right up to our table.
Now, that’s how you get my attention!
Everything looked absolutely beautiful, and choosing just one dessert was nearly impossible.
We finally settled on a gorgeous, creamy dessert served over a rich berry sauce with fresh strawberries, blackberries, and delicate edible flowers. It was almost too pretty to eat.
Almost.
It was absolutely delicious and the perfect sweet ending to an already incredible dinner.
The dessert cart was just one more thoughtful touch that made The Detroit Cowboy feel like a truly special dining experience.
Service That Understood the Assignment
I have to give special recognition to the waitstaff at The Detroit Cowboy.
They were exceptional.
From the moment we walked in without a reservation, we were treated with genuine hospitality.
The staff was polished, professional, and incredibly polite without being stiff or overly formal.
And perhaps one of the things I appreciated most was that they never hovered.
They were attentive when needed, but otherwise allowed us to enjoy our dinner, the music, and each other’s company.
That balance isn’t always easy to find, particularly in upscale restaurants.
The Detroit Cowboy absolutely got it right.
The Salty Owl Takeaway
The Detroit Cowboy turned out to be one of those wonderful travel discoveries that reminds us why we love exploring new places.
We hadn’t planned to eat there. We didn’t have a reservation. And we probably weren’t dressed quite as nicely as we would have been had we known where the evening was taking us.
But none of that mattered.
From the warm welcome and fabulous window table to the piano renditions of Kid Rock songs, creative appetizers, incredible seafood tower, and perfectly made dirty martinis, the entire experience was exceptional.
Make It at Home Salty Style
Inspired by the incredible food at The Detroit Cowboy? Bring a little of that upscale steakhouse experience into your own kitchen with a few favorites from The Salty Owl Co. Start with my Crab Cakes with Pink Peppercorn Sauce, packed with sweet Dungeness crab, pan-seared to crispy perfection, and paired with a peppery agave cream sauce. For another elegant seafood option, try Pan-Seared Halibut with Lemon Chive Pistou, a fresh, flavorful dish that lets the delicate fish shine. And for the steak lovers, my Grilled Short Rib Steak with Balsamic Glaze is quickly grilled, finished with rich leek scape butter, and topped with a balsamic glaze. Add a perfectly chilled dirty martini, and you’ve got yourself a restaurant-worthy dinner without leaving home.
The Salty Owl Kitchen 🦉
Good food. Good drinks. A little attitude.
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