Next Time You Visit Nashville be Sure to Dine at the World Class Symphony Center

May of 2010 was an eventful time for the citizens of Nashville, Tennessee and surrounding areas. We were hit hard by the 1000 year flood with torrential rains that forced the Cumberland river to crest at 51.86 feet, a level that has not been seen since 1937. My place of employment, which is, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center was hit hard as the basement flooded causing the destruction of two Steinway grand concert pianos and one organ. The commercial kitchen which is housed in the basement along with storage areas, offices, bathrooms and locker rooms were covered to the ceiling in water. Other areas of the building were hit as well. Because of this our building has been closed and in repair in hopes that we will reopen on December 31, 2010 for a spectacular re-grand opening. I for one cannot wait for this, the celebration will showcase triumph over tragedy as the community toasts the re-birth of the world class Symphony Center, with world class music, food and drink. Not to mention an extraordinary facility that Apollo the Greek god of music would have loved.

While the clean-up and restoration of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center continues, you can catch performances of the symphony at venues around Nashville. Thanks to David Lipscomb University, TPAC, War Memorial Building and the Ryman Auditorium the music continues. We are very fortunate to have a community that rallied around us and allowed us the use of their music venues so that the Nashville Symphony could continue to provide the community with world class music. We also have the Keys to Music City: A Ben Folds Benefit for the Nashville Symphony and Volunteer Firefighters to be held on Saturday November 27, 2010, 8:00pm at TPAC's Andrew Jackson Hall. Check the website, http://www.nashvillesymphony.org, for more details on upcoming concerts.

When the building re-opens if you are looking for a place to dine where the music, food, beverage and service are world class, look no further than the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Located on 1 Symphony Place in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The Nashville Symphony offers a variety of food service options from Arpeggio Restaurant, the Symphony Cafe, the Chef’s Table, weddings and a host of banquet functions. The facility boasts a large kitchen designed to prepare meals for 5 to 2ooo guests by symphony Chef Roger Keenan, Sous Chef David Bolton and their staff of qualified cooks. Previous events catered at the Nashville Symphony Center include: Symphony Fashion Shows, Symphony Balls, Eve of Janis, CMA After Party and Musicians Hall of Fame Inductees and many other events.

The Nashville Symphony offers a Classical Series, Jazz Series, Pied Piper Concert Series for children along with other special events. During concert nights bars are open and wine, beer, mixed drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages can be purchased. During our pops series guests can purchase beverages and food from the cafe or Pops concession to take inside of the main floor of the Laura Turner Concert Hall where tables are set-up for guests to dine while enjoying the concert. Numerous artists have graced the performance hall of the Nashville Symphony such as world class pianist Ling LIng, composer John Corigliano, Nashville singer-songwriter-pianist Ben Folds, jazz artist Al Jarreau and pop artist Michael McDonald,

The Symphony Cafe will be open Monday-Friday from 9am-2pm as well as on concert nights two hours prior to the performance. An assortment of salads, sandwiches, a hot sandwich and two soups are featured along with pastries from Provence and an assortment of fresh baked cookies. Seattle’s Best coffee is brewed fresh and coffee drinks can be made to order. An assortment of beverages such as sodas, bottled water, vitamin water and Rooibos Teas are also available. Free Wifi is also available to guests as they dine in the west lobby among the massive columns, marble floors and art deco lighting. The Martha Rivers-Ingram Garden Courtyard is situated next to the cafe on fourth avenue and is the perfect spot to sip on an espresso and read the newspaper as you watch people walk past the symphony heading towards the honky tonks on Broadway street.

The Arpeggio restaurant is located in the east lobby of the symphony and will be open on concert nights 2 hours prior to the performance. It is the perfect place for a wonderful evening of world class dining along with world class music all within the confines of the symphony building and valet parking is provided so that you don’t have to travel from another restaurant only to locate parking for the symphony. When you have finished dining you need only step through the concert doors into the beautifully decorated symphony hall with it’s art deco style and custom-built concert organ the sounds of the music are sure to amaze all who listen.

The Arpeggio restaurant offers a four course gourmet buffet that includes: appetizers, soup, salad bar, four entrée choices to include two meat, a seafood and a vegetarian option all with accompaniments, assortment of dessert selections, artesian cheese display, water and tea all for $38.00 not including tax and gratuity. A full service bar and extensive wine list are available, along with a wine tour that pairs wines with each course and entrée offered for that evening, our knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you make a wine selection. The menu varies each weekend, changes with the seasons, each concert and only the finest ingredients are used in the preparation of the dishes. Reservations are preferred. Call 615-687-6400 to reserve your table.