Since opening in 2011, The Catbird Seat has functioned as a proving ground for chefs building careers in Nashville, moving through several distinct eras before landing in its current home atop the Bill Voorhees Building on 8th Avenue South. The format has stayed constant even as the kitchen has changed hands: a U-shaped counter where guests watch the tasting menu come together course by course.
Andy Doubrava and Tiffani Ortiz took over that counter in September 2024, marking the restaurant's sixth chef iteration. The two arrived after two years and 45,000 miles running Slow Burn, a traveling dining series staged in kitchens including Published on Main and Emmer & Rye. Doubrava previously led Rustic Canyon in Los Angeles; Ortiz built her reputation through a run of pop-ups that eventually became Slow Burn. Together they describe their approach at Catbird Seat as menus rooted in sustainability, seasonality, and storytelling. The restaurant is part of the Strategic Hospitality group.
Michelin awarded The Catbird Seat one star in 2025. The James Beard Foundation named it both a semifinalist and finalist for Outstanding Restaurant in 2026, and it was a Best New Restaurant semifinalist back in 2012. Robb Report included it among its Best New Restaurants of 2026, and Nashville Guru named it one of the city's best new restaurants in 2025.
Andy Doubrava and Tiffani Ortiz took over that counter in September 2024, marking the restaurant's sixth chef iteration. The two arrived after two years and 45,000 miles running Slow Burn, a traveling dining series staged in kitchens including Published on Main and Emmer & Rye. Doubrava previously led Rustic Canyon in Los Angeles; Ortiz built her reputation through a run of pop-ups that eventually became Slow Burn. Together they describe their approach at Catbird Seat as menus rooted in sustainability, seasonality, and storytelling. The restaurant is part of the Strategic Hospitality group.
Michelin awarded The Catbird Seat one star in 2025. The James Beard Foundation named it both a semifinalist and finalist for Outstanding Restaurant in 2026, and it was a Best New Restaurant semifinalist back in 2012. Robb Report included it among its Best New Restaurants of 2026, and Nashville Guru named it one of the city's best new restaurants in 2025.