M Street is the neighborhood where our restaurants live, located on McGavock Street between 11th and 12th Avenues in the Gulch. We are uniquely positioned with five of our restaurants within a few feet of one another, with the exception of Tavern, which is located on Broadway in Midtown.

M Street Entertainment offers an eclectic portfolio that includes Virago, Moto Cucina + Enoteca, Kayne Prime, Whiskey Kitchen, Saint Añejo and Tavern.

Each restaurant is distinct in both its cuisine and atmosphere, with the M Street Signature Style firmly branded in each concept. This signature is synonymous with exceptional quality, consistency, hospitality and innovation. 

HISTORY

M Street was developed by Founder, President, and CEO Chris Hyndman and a group of investing partners who collectively share the M Street vision and ethos.

The roots for M Street began in 2000 with the opening of Virago’s original Midtown location — a pioneer in a time when the city had only a few successful independent restaurants. Its combination of stylish design, progressive music and adventurous Asian fusion cuisine introduced an edgier, more cosmopolitan dining experience unique to Nashville. Virago established itself as a local “big-city” hot spot in what city publications were calling the “New Nashville.”

In 2008, Hyndman set his sights on McGavock Street in the Gulch. Seizing the timely opportunity presented when two restaurants became available on the same block, Hyndman and team took over both spaces, signifying the beginning of what we now know as M Street today. “Pub-chic” Whiskey Kitchen opened in September 2009. Virago and its members-only club, Citizen, closely followed, relocating from its Midtown location in October 2010. The new location launched to enormous acclaim and further defined what’s possible for Nashville’s growing dining scene.

In January 2011, Hyndman transformed the beloved Latin-fusion restaurant, “Lime” in Midtown, into the eclectic gastro-pub, Tavern. Following, in April of the same year, Hyndman and team opened M Street’s renowned boutique steakhouse, Kayne Prime, specializing in specialty cuts of Japanese Wagyu.

Just across the street from Kayne Prime, in the fall of 2013, Saint Añejo, the rock-and-roll inspired Mexican cantina serving over 120 labels of premium tequilas and mezcals, opened its doors.

Moto Cucina + Enoteca joined the group in February 2014. Moto is Nashville’s premier Italian concept, known for its elegant yet accessible atmosphere, rustic-Italian cuisine, and top-tier service. 

With its success and the demand for more exclusive, private dining environments and enhanced service elements, Kayne Prime expanded its footprint in the fall of 2017 to include a new seductive bar and lounge environment, a SOMM Room for wine-focused dining and additional rooms accommodating groups from 10 to 70 guests.

As the pioneer of elevated sushi and Asian fusion cuisine in Nashville, Virago has consistently transformed throughout its 19-year tenure. Its latest transformation is the much-anticipated move next door to 1120 McGavock Street in spring 2019. Virago’s new space includes an edgier interior with secluded booths and private dining rooms set against an energetic, late-night Izakaya lounge scene. With this latest evolution, Virago triples-down to continue as the city’s gold standard for experiential dining.

M Street’s growth in the Gulch has transformed an unassuming neighborhood into a vibrant epicurean destination and a cultural force that continues to innovate and evolve.