Halls Chophouse – Nashville

Design for the new 13,101 sf Halls Chophouse restaurant within Nashville’s Broadwest building required surgical precision in space planning. Support functions are strategically grouped deep in the interior to minimize visibility of service routes and areas. An internal corridor wraps around the main and banquet kitchens, providing guests a glimpse into the magic of Halls’ culinary operations. Main and private dining rooms, lounge areas, and two ample bar areas are placed along the perimeter, providing expansive views through Broadwest’s character-defining full height glass curtain walls. 

Unique to the Nashville location is the 2,500 square foot open kitchen with clear views to internal operations. As Halls Chophouse Executive Chef Matthew Niessner describes, this open kitchen exhibits “the show” that is Halls’ refined culinary and service specialty operations. Curved glass walls offer panoramic views from the kitchen into multiple dining rooms, which are situated along the main circulation path, so all guests feel part of “the show.” Emerald tile walls extend into the kitchen and copper accents adorn the feature walls. Custom copper-screened heated plate shelves flank the main cook line with natural butcherblock and quartz pass windows. These high-end finishes showcase the restaurant’s defining features: the world-class food and service that emanate from Halls’ kitchens. An adjacent curved banquette gives guests a front row seat to the seafood display and to watch the Halls team and “service swarm” in action.

Fixtures and finishes celebrate both Halls’ branding and the restaurant’s Nashville setting. Dark-stained millwork in the host entry and a custom jewel box wine display invoke the familiar feeling of Halls luxury at the restaurant’s entry.  A custom patina metal façade crafted by a local Nashville fabricator greets guests with a backlit Halls branded logo. Hexagon mosaics in Halls’ custom pattern, vast sapele mahogany bar tops, cork-wrapped columns, dark maple beadboard/millwork, and interior brick walls recall the Charleston flagship that made the name “Halls” famous.  Custom casework behind the main bar ensures bar patrons have unobstructed views to the outside, and a colorful, animated façade from the entry. Espresso mohair booths and high back dining chairs, with deep wood tones, compliment the custom classic-patterned carpets in rich jewel and gold tones.  Curved acoustic ceiling fins, edge-lit hombre bronze coil drapery, and tri-toned Murano glass light fixtures exude the youthful energy and glamour of the Music City.

Interior and exterior dining areas offer extensive views of the city skyline in an intimate setting with three main and three private dining areas. All dining areas overlook 16th Avenue and Broadway. Exterior spaces provide both a lounge area with fire pit and casual dining seating. Motorized exterior roller shades create retractable walls for the “front porch” seating along Broadway.  

Garvin Design Group first collaborated with Halls Chophouse on the company’s Columbia restaurant in 2018.

​Photography by Jason Bihler.