The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville Unveils Drusie & Darr By Jean-Georges

By Newsdesk Jan 21, 2022 1:59pm

The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville has announced the opening of Drusie & Darr by Jean-Georges, a new restaurant and bar by chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Drusie & Darr marks Michelin-starred chef Vongerichten’s first restaurant in the South and comes on the cusp of a property-wide refresh after The Hermitage Hotel opened its doors nearly 112 years ago.

Drusie & Darr brings a fresh, modern dining destination to the city and a rejuvenated space from interior designer Thomas Juul-Hansen.

Drusie & Darr is a convivial, contemporary restaurant and bar that showcases the abundance of Tennessee’s regional produce, some of which is sourced from The Hermitage Hotel’s Garden at The Land Trust for Tennessee’s Glen Leven Farm. The menu includes a combination of Vongerichten’s signature dishes such as Tuna Tartare and new dishes inspired by the locale such as the Fried Organic Chicken with Habanero Hot Sauce. The common thread is a kick of spice and acidity, inspired by both Vongerichten’s signature cooking style and the flavor preferences of Nashville. Additional dishes to look out for include the Crispy Sushi, Celeriac Katsu, Black Truffle Pizza and Roasted Black Sea Bass with Poppyseed Buttermilk Sauce.

Drusie & Darr’s wine list offers 90 selections—from the haute couture wines of Ghislaine Barthod in Chambolle-Musigny to the new wave bottlings of Maitre de Chai in California. Innovative cocktails and craft beers from Nashville round out the beverage menu and can be enjoyed at the bar and lounge. The bar has been preserved and extended, complementing the dining room and enhancing the energy of both spaces.

The restaurant is named after brother and sister Drusie and Darr Hall, who lived at The Hermitage Hotel with their father Dick Hall, the hotel’s former general manager.

Drusie & Darr’s interiors sport restored 1902 Beaux-Arts details, such as vaulted ceilings and original oak walls, complemented by an open kitchen with a larger square footage than before, modern décor from Juul-Hansen and lighting from L’Observatoire International. All furnishings, from the mother-of-pearl pendant lamps to the seating, tables and curved banquettes in blue velvet, are entirely bespoke to the restaurant.

Also new is the pink-marble ladies’ room, inspired by The Hermitage Hotel’s 1930s-era Art Deco men’s room. The ladies’ room is decorated with striped walls of variegated pink marble, pink sinks and toilets, inlaid marble flooring, arched doorways, rose gold-framed mirrors and glamorous lighting throughout.

Also scheduled for an opening this month is The Pink Hermit, a chic café conceived by Vongerichten and The Hermitage Hotel team. Designed by Juul-Hansen, the intimate space, clad in pale pink and gray marble, will evolve throughout the day—from a coffee bar offering pastries in the morning, a casual take-away for lunch and later, a wine bar serving small bites, Champagne and craft cocktails in the evening.

Drusie & Darr is located in the heart of downtown Nashville, steps away from the State Capitol, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Arena and historic 2nd Avenue. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 5 to 10 p.m