In the heart of Capitol View is Joe Muer Seafood, a renowned Detroit-based restaurant known for its sustainable, exceptionally fresh seafood and upscale dining experience. Although its Nashville location has been open for less than a year, it quickly captivated the city and has become a popular dinner and happy hour hot spot for locals and visitors alike.
While guests at the Nashville location enjoy the food specialties, they may be unaware of the restaurant’s long and beautiful history, which dates back to 1929, when the Muer family opened the first Joe Muer Seafood location in Detroit. For 60 years, Joe Muer was a legendary staple of the Detroit culinary scene. It was widely beloved and earned numerous awards throughout the decades before the Muer family closed its doors in 1989.
This all changed during a fateful golf outing between Joe Muer III and Joe Vicari when Muer sold Vicari not only the restaurant's name but also his beloved recipes. Since 2011, Joe and Rosalie Vicari have preserved Joe Muer Seafood and its legacy, relaunching the restaurant and helping it grow outside of Detroit, introducing a new decade of customers to their culinary masterpieces. Shortly after opening a second location in Michigan, the Vicari’s saw Nashville's vibrant atmosphere and impeccable dining scene as the ideal setting for their third Joe Muer Seafood restaurant.
“We visited Nashville for the first time during CMA Fest a few years ago,” Rosalie explains. “We thought to ourselves, ‘This city is really something special,’ and we went back a few times afterward before deciding that Nashville would be the perfect spot for our first expansion outside of Michigan.”
Soon enough, the Vicari’s hired a Chicago designer who brought their vision to life, creating an elegant and chic yet comfortable dining atmosphere. In August 2023, Joe Muer Seafood Nashville opened its doors in Capitol View.
“The Gulch is a beautiful area, and it’s so easy to get to from anywhere in the city,” Rosalie says. Once guests enter the restaurant, they are met with floor-to-ceiling windows, a sophisticated red, black, white, and gold color scheme, and colorful lobster artwork decorating the restaurant's walls.
Joe Muer Seafood is committed to serving the freshest fish possible. They work tirelessly to ensure that their seafood is served within 72 hours of being out of water, guaranteeing the utmost freshness in every dish. Guests can choose from a robust menu featuring fresh lobster, flounder, shrimp, and even prime-cut steak and chicken. Wash down your meal of choice with one of their phenomenal specialty cocktails, or consider splitting a bottle with the table from their carefully curated, award-winning wine menu.
“We always serve and source the best food possible,” Rosalie says. “What we use makes such a difference in the final product, so we take the extra step to search for the finest ingredients to create beautiful and delicious dishes.”
The Vicari’s have fallen in love with Nashville and its people, and Joe Muer has quickly become a fan favorite among residents. “The people in Nashville are amazing,” Rosalie exclaims. “Our customers have invited us over to drink wine with them. They are just very, very friendly people, and we are honored to be a part of this community.”
Preparing to celebrate their one-year anniversary, they are developing innovative ways to spice up the dining experience. They encourage guests to come for dinner before any downtown event to utilize their complimentary parking lot or $10 valet service. After you finish your meal, the restaurant will provide an Uber or Lyft credit to use towards getting to your event. When you get dropped back off at Joe Muer, you can top the night off with a nightcap or get your car and drive home.
Joe Muer Seafood is currently offering a summertime special consisting of a prefixed dinner that includes salad, lobster, filet, dessert, and a side for $99, allowing guests to sample menu favorites. They also offer Golden Hour on weeknights from 4 to 6 p.m., which includes a selection of small plates and drink specials.
joemuer.com/locations/nashville
The Vicari’s saw Nashville's vibrant atmosphere and impeccable dining scene as the ideal setting for their third Joe Muer Seafood restaurant.
“The people in Nashville are amazing,” Rosalie exclaims. “Our customers have invited us over to drink wine with them. They are just very, very friendly people, and we are honored to be a part of this community.”