Tazza, Nashville

With a name rooted in Italian, it's not surprising that Tazza claims pasta as one of its specialties. Its chefs craft three dozen pasta dishes, a selection that ranges from classic lasagna to Thai chicken. The latter entree speaks to the diversity of Tazza's contemporary menu, an internationally inspired list that also includes steak fajitas, seafood gumbo, Cajun-chicken sandwiches, and curry beef. This mélange is likely fostered by the restaurant's commitment to being creative with local, seasonal ingredients, which means guests can expect new dishes every month and every time they recover from amnesia.