Dapper as Hell

Written by Dave Mahanes / Photos courtesy of Fox Restaurant Concepts

At the crossroads of 5th and Broadway, where Nashville’s country roots intersect with its new cosmopolitan sophistication lies The Twelve Thirty Club, a multi-level dining, music, and cocktail venue labeled as “Chic Honky Tonk.” The Twelve Thirty Club is modeled after the supper clubs of the Prohibition Era that were permitted to stay open after the mandatory closing time of 12:30 am for pubs and restaurants. However, supper clubs could stay open past 12:30 because they were considered private clubs.

42 oz. Wagyu Tomahawk Ribeye

The concept came about in the late summer of 2017, on the eve of the Pilgrimage Festival, when Sam Fox, 12-time nominee for the James Beard Award and co-founder of True Foods Kitchen, met Justin Timberlake, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and winner of ten Grammy Awards, at a barbeque in Leiper’s Fork.

French Onion Soup

Iced Maine Lobster

Sam and Justin decided to become partners to bring the finest components of design, music, dining, and hospitality together and create an extraordinary entertainment venue. “Nashville is a city unlike any other. Sam and I wanted The Twelve Thirty Club to stand out and celebrate the different people and cultures that make this place so special,” said Justin Timberlake in a statement released to Travel + Leisure. “It’s stylish and sophisticated but still has unmistakable energy driven by music. We aim to set the tone for what Upper Broadway is and what it has the potential to be.”

The Twelve Thirty Club consists of three levels with different personalities. On the first level is Honky Tonk, offering new American dishes and bar food, local brews, rocking entertainment, and rolling good times. The mezzanine is home to Honorary Member, a members-only swanky 50-seat craft cocktail lounge with designer drinks, small bites, and a luscious vibe. The third-floor houses the Rooftop Bar and The Supper Club, which offers a high-end culinary experience coupled with first-class music entertainment.

The 400 seat Supper Club is a sensational assault on the senses with spectacular food, the best in music entertainment, and a luxurious atmosphere. The dining room is bathed in an amberred glow of light. Diners are seated in plush soft leather banquets and crimson velvet swivel chairs while surrounded by murals of a dark Tennessee forest, creating a surreal ambiance. The space has a coffered ceiling with a gold-leaf dome, checkered marble floors, and antique mirrors, channeling a neo-art deco vibe. The large glass window behind the stage separating the dining area from the elegant rooftop terrace gives a fantastic view of the Bridgestone Arena’s antenna tower. The patio features outdoor fireplaces, rich greenery, and a great view of downtown.

The menu is an extensive culinary masterpiece of classic American cuisine with an occasional Southern twist. The menu features fresh designer breads like Buttermilk Focaccia & Pesto, starters like Short Rib Pot Stickers, a stunning raw bar and sushi bar, salads like a Magic Iceberg Wedge with smoked bacon, avocado, tomato confit, fine herbs, and Cabrales blue cheese dressing, steaks with a choice of six sauces, Prime Rib, and other delicious entrées. Sides are grouped into potatoes, simple & light, rich & cheesy, and Sam’s famous garlic noodles. Of course, desserts are not to be missed either. To accompany the dishes, the Supper Club offers an 1,800-bottle wine wall stocked with rare vintages.

Melissa and I began our meal with the Chilled King Crab served with dijonnaise from the extensive raw bar, which was actually my favorite dish of the evening—you don’t often see King Crab legs on many menus these days. Next, Melissa had the classic Steak Frites served medium rare with herb compound butter. It was cooked to perfection and was definitely the highest quality beef. I enjoyed the Chilean Sea Bass with a roasted artichoke-meunière sauce that melted in my mouth. For sides, we doubled down on rich & cheesy and ordered the creamed cheddar spinach with a crispy onion ranch crust and the sweet corn soufflé with fire-roasted jalapeño—it was the way to go! Topping off the evening, for dessert, we had the molten butterscotch “angel” cake with salted caramel pretzel crunch and vanilla gelato, a sweet treat indeed.

One of the best things about writing for Sophisticated Living Nashville is that we get to sample some of Nashville’s newest and finest fare. The Supper Club is truly one of the most unique and delicious new dining experiences in Music City. We can’t wait to return when live music fires up on stage at Supper Club. They call themselves “dapper-as-Hell!” Hell yeah. sl

Twelve Thirty Club / 550 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 / 629.236-0001 / thetwelvethirtyclub.com Supper Club / Sun-Thur 5:00pm-11:00pm / Fri-Sat 5:00pm-12:00am Reservations: thetwelvethirtyclub.com/supper-club Honky Tonk / Fri-Sat 11:00am-2:00am / Sun, Mon-Thurs 11:00am-12:00am Reservations: thetwelvethirtyclub.com/honky-tonk The Rooftop Bar / Fri-Sun Open at 12:00pm, Mon-Thurs Opens at 4:00pm Reservations: thetwelvethirtyclub.com/rooftop