The Hermitage Hotel, a top-notch luxury hotel in Nashville, has just unveiled its newest dining establishment called Drusie & Darr by Jean-Georges. This restaurant and bar are created by the renowned chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who has gained international acclaim for his culinary expertise. Drusie & Darr is Jean-Georges’ first restaurant in the South and adds to the excitement surrounding The Hermitage Hotel’s ongoing transformation, as the hotel has been welcoming guests for an impressive 112 years.
Hermitage Hotel Launches Drusie & Darr
Many times throughout its history, The Hermitage Hotel has set the tone for dining in Nashville. Drusie & Darr now brings a fresh, modern dining destination to the city and a rejuvenated space from award-winning interior designer Thomas Juul-Hansen.
“It’s an honor to be a part of the growth of Nashville’s prominent food scene,” said Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. “With Drusie & Darr, I wanted to bring a taste of Jean-Georges to Nashville with influences from the community, city, and history of The Hermitage Hotel to offer something fresh and exciting.”
Admired for his acumen as a Michelin-starred chef, tastemaker and businessman operating 40 acclaimed restaurants around the globe, Jean-Georges has envisioned a convivial, contemporary restaurant and bar with Drusie & Darr that showcase the abundance of Tennessee’s regional produce, some of which is sourced from The Hermitage Hotel’s Garden at The Land Trust for Tennessee’s Glen Leven Farm. Working alongside Jean-Georges once again is Executive Chef Kelsi Armijo, who has helmed the kitchens of prestigious establishments throughout the United States including the opening of Jean-Georges Steakhouse at ARIA in Las Vegas.
Drusie & Darr is a new restaurant at The Hermitage Hotel, offering a modern American menu with Asian influences. Their focus is on using fresh and sustainable ingredients that are in season. Whether you’re looking for a fancy night out, a casual dinner with family, or just some drinks and snacks, Drusie & Darr welcomes both hotel guests and locals. The menu includes Jean-Georges’ famous Tuna Tartare and other dishes inspired by the local flavors of Nashville, like the Fried Organic Chicken with Habanero Hot Sauce. There’s a touch of spice and acidity in many of the dishes to add a kick of flavor. Some notable items on the menu are Crispy Sushi, Celeriac Katsu, Black Truffle Pizza, and Roasted Black Sea Bass with Poppyseed Buttermilk Sauce.
When it comes to drinks, Drusie & Darr has a wine list with 90 selections from different parts of the world, including Burgundy, Bordeaux, and California. They focus on classic wines while also featuring some newer discoveries. You can also enjoy innovative cocktails and craft beers from Nashville at the bar and lounge area. The bar is beautifully designed with a restored coffered ceiling, a marble bar, and stylish seating. It’s separated from the dining area by a gilded partition, giving it its own unique atmosphere. The bar offers the full menu of Drusie & Darr, so you can enjoy great food along with your drinks.
The restaurant is named after brother and sister Drusie and Darr Hall, who lived at The Hermitage Hotel with their father Dick Hall, the hotel’s former General Manager. From the name of the restaurant to the interior design, Jean-Georges and The Hermitage Hotel team felt passionately about preserving the history and legacy of the hotel.
The interior of Drusie & Darr has a cozy and inviting atmosphere, featuring restored architectural details from 1902, like vaulted ceilings and oak walls. The open kitchen is now more spacious and equipped with modern technology. The decor is glamorous and designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen, while the lighting is created by the renowned L’Observatoire International. Everything, from the unique mother-of-pearl pendant lamps to the seating, tables, and curved velvet banquettes, is custom-made for Drusie & Darr.
They have also added a stunning pink-marble ladies’ room, which is a modern take on the famous Art Deco men’s room from the 1930s at The Hermitage Hotel. Inspired by the men’s room’s lime green and black striped tilework, the new ladies’ room is lavishly decorated with walls made of variegated pink marble, pink sinks and toilets, inlaid marble flooring, arched doorways, rose gold-framed mirrors, and glamorous lighting throughout.
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The Hermitage Hotel’s partnership with Jean-Georges derived from hotel owners Molly and Robert Hardie following the opening of Marigold restaurant at the hotel’s sister property, Keswick Hall, in Charlottesville, VA. Jean-Georges worked closely with Molly and Robert Hardie and Thomas Juul-Hansen, the mastermind behind the interiors of many Jean-Georges’ restaurants, to give the space a modern update while honoring the room’s iconic architectural details.
“As stewards of The Hermitage Hotel, we are pleased to help usher in a new era for this Nashville treasure,” said owners Robert and Molly Hardie. “It has been a pleasure to work hand in hand with Jean-Georges on the opening of Drusie & Darr and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome.”
Drusie & Darr is conveniently located in downtown Nashville, close to popular attractions such as the State Capitol, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Arena, and historic 2nd Avenue. It’s part of The Hermitage Hotel’s overall design refresh, seamlessly blending the old and the new. The hotel is preserving its cherished architecture while giving it a fresh update with a new color palette, updated furnishings, and more.
In January 2022, they will be opening The Pink Hermit, a stylish café conceived by Jean-Georges and The Hermitage Hotel team, and designed by Juul-Hansen. The café will have a charming interior with pale pink and gray marble accents. Throughout the day, The Pink Hermit will serve as a coffee bar in the morning, offering delicious pastries, a casual spot for take-away lunches, and in the evening, it will transform into a wine bar. Guests can enjoy small bites, Champagne, craft cocktails, and a cozy atmosphere at The Pink Hermit.
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“As Nashville’s social epicenter for over a century, The Hermitage Hotel is excited to introduce a new gathering place in step with the times and where everyone feels welcome,” said Dee Patel, Managing Director, The Hermitage Hotel. “Our wish is for guests and neighbors alike to return for years to come.”
Drusie & Darr is currently open Wednesday through Sunday, 5:00pm to 10:00pm to start. Breakfast and lunch service will be added in early 2022. Reservations can be made on Resy or by calling the restaurant directly at 615.345.7116. Complimentary valet parking is available to guests of the restaurant. Drusie & Darr is located at 231 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219. For more information, go to thehermitagehotel.com/nashville-dining.
