Our story
Margot Café & Bar is a French inspired restaurant with southern influences located in Five Points in the heart of East Nashville. The menu changes daily and focuses on locally sourced products, seasonal ingredients, freshness, and simplicity. It is owned and operated by chef Margot McCormack.
The building itself dates back to the 1930’s and was originally Fluty’s service station. The space was transformed in 2001 into a cozy neighborhood gathering place. Brick walls are simply adorned with copper pots, Italian plates and antique mirrors. A playful use of color creates a vibrant yet warm and comfortable interior. The restaurant also features a covered brick patio, a pet friendly open air dining area, flower filled gardens, a marble bar, an open kitchen and dining rooms on two levels.
Margot Café & Bar is located at 1017 Woodland Street in the historic and vibrant Five Points area of East Nashville, an approximately 5 minute drive from downtown Nashville.
In addition to the parking spaces in front of the restaurant, free on-street parking is available on Woodland St. and Clearview Ave. Parking is also available in three nearby paid parking lots: Woodland Studios at 10th & Woodland, directly behind the restaurant on Clearview Ave. and 11th & Woodland. There is one handicapped space directly in front of the building. We do not offer valet services.
Our Team
James Beard Foundation Best Chef, Southeast Semifinalist – 2008, 2009, 2013 & 2018
Springer Mountain Farms Celebrate the Chef Award, 2017
The Nashville Scene Best Restaurant, 2005-2010
Margot McCormack, Chef / Owner
Margot spent Saturday mornings as a little girl in the kitchen with her mother. She loved cooking, eating and spending time with her mom.
As a student at UT Knoxville, Margot’s first professional cooking job was as a line cook at Bennigan’s. Upon graduation with a BA in English, Margot moved back to Nashville to pursue a creative writing career but instead found herself back in the kitchen working for local restaurateur Jody Faison at his very popular restaurant Faison’s. Jody encouraged her to be creative and introduced her to the work of Alice Waters. Motivated by her experience at Faison’s, Margot enrolled in the culinary arts program at the Culinary Institute of America. After completing the 21 month program Margot set her sights on New York City where she became the chef at Danal, a quaint European café in the East Village. There she embraced the food and culture of France. Her ideas about cooking began to take shape as she honed her skills and developed her style.
In 1995 Margot returned home and became the Executive chef at F. Scott’s. Over the next five years she reacquainted herself with the Nashville dining community and they embraced her vision of fresh, simple food prepared well. In 2001 she left to pursue her dream of opening her own restaurant. Margot’s philosophy on food and cooking is inspired by the French culture, based on seasonality and the very best locally sourced ingredients. Margot is not looking to reinvent food but to reintroduce it in a personal and accessible way.
HADLEY LONG, Executive Chef
Hadley Long is a native Nashvillian who was classically trained in Washington D.C. at L’academie de Cuisine.
He first came to the Margot Family as an extern at Marche Artisan Foods. He quickly rose through the ranks and has been recently promoted to Executive Chef here at Margot Cafe & Bar.
Over the years, Hadley has shown personal & professional evolution, in & out of the kitchen, and has made many friends along the way. He believes that simplicity and respect for ingredients forms a solid foundation for the creation of countless dishes. He seeks to present his personal perspective and ideas through the Margot Cafe lens.