Two Ten Jack Awards

Two Ten Jack Restaurant Review:

A red lantern, a traditional symbol of an izakaya (neighborhood pub) in Japan, hangs by the door, while inside a small foyer leads to a stylish, warm space with a square bar at its heart. Local touches abound, including drapes dyed with locally grown indigo and horizontal slats fashioned by an area woodworker from tobacco barn wood. The Japanese style menu still features Southern ingredients where possible. The Nashville roll, for instance, includes catfish with pickled okra and tartar sauce wrapped in rice and cornbread crumbs. Japanese fried chicken with negi dip and pork belly yakitori with mustard ponzu have crossover appeal, while the selection is stacked with tasty traditional plates such as ramen and creamy pork tonkatsu. Vegetables are plentiful, too, from pickled varieties to salads and crispy Brussels sprouts. Among desserts is mochi ice cream in flavors of mango, azuki bean and cinnamon. Drink options have been carefully considered. The bar’s tap system includes cocktails like a Japanese shochu with house ginger and pineapple tonic as well as bourbon with spice beer; rotating house wines; and an interesting collection of beers (locally made Black Abbey, Yazoo and Turtle Anarchy) and Japanese brews (Hitachino). And while you’ll find a proper list of mostly American wines by the bottle and glass, it might be best to experiment from the saké line-up with its crisp, food-friendly Hakkaisan or a Japanese whiskey.