The best steakhouses in Nashville.

Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina is a downtown dinner for people marking something, and the diner accounts show it. Birthdays and anniversaries fill the record, and the arrival is part of the evening: a valet in front of the JW Marriott, then a private elevator up to the restaurant on a high floor.

The kitchen starts with duck fat fries, which take the place of bread and come with several sauces. From there, diners order the Snake River steak or the filet mignon, with lobster or crab as add-ons. Wedge salad, oysters and Caesar salad are the usual openers, and the mac and cheese is the side named as the best dish by one diner.

Service draws the loudest praise, with servers who know the menu and guide first-timers. A few diners found the bar closed for renovations on their visit, so call ahead if the view matters.

Harper's on Lea Avenue is a large, bright dining room, and diners use it for several kinds of occasion. Brunch before a Titans game, a girls' night and a visiting couple's anniversary all appear in the record. High ceilings and tall windows give the room an open feel, and the staff get praise for warmth.

Steak is the reason to book. Ribeye, filet, tomahawk and Australian wagyu are the cuts named, and the sides of creamed spinach and Brussels sprouts get as much credit as the beef. The Caesar salad is called the best by more than one diner. Lobster ravioli, meatballs and bang bang shrimp are good alternatives to red meat.

A dress code is posted, and the room can get loud at peak hours. Parking is simple with the valet or a nearby garage.

Serrato's Steakhouse is at the far end of Parkway Commons on Columbia Avenue in Franklin. From the outside, it is a quiet spot in a shopping center, and diners like that parking is easy. Inside, booths and tables are spaced apart, which makes conversation easy.

The bone-in ribeye with roasted Brussels sprouts is the plate diners mention first, and the filet follows. Calamari with shrimp and grilled garlic bread open many meals, and truffle mac and cheese, crab stuffed shrimp and a burrata salad round out the table. A Sunday lunch and a steak sandwich give the room a daytime life. Anniversary cards on the table are a detail diners enjoy.

Bar seats are a good plan when tables are full. Reservations are wise on weekends, since birthdays gather here.

The Alley on Main is a lively, full dining room on West Main Street in downtown Murfreesboro. Diners say locals recommend it again and again, and the crowd is part of the energy. Wait times come up in the record, so the bar is a smart place to start.

Steak is on the menu, with ribeye, filet and a steak special, but the kitchen is more of an all-purpose American room. Fried green tomatoes with comeback sauce are the starter diners praise most. Fish and chips, fried chicken, salmon and Cajun pasta bring variety, and salads come with house dressings that diners like. Lunch is a busy meal here.

One practical note: a few diners saw upcharges on sides, so ask about extras when ordering. The room can run warm in summer, and a patio gives another option.

Sperry's Restaurant on Frazier Drive in Franklin sits in a shopping center, which is easy to miss. Inside, the dining room is dark and warm, with wood paneling and stained glass, and diners compare it to a pub from another era. Birthdays and anniversaries are common reasons to book.

The salad bar sets Sperry's apart from other steakhouses, and several diners say the dressings and ingredients make it better than most. Prime rib, including a king cut, and the filet Oscar with crab and hollandaise are the entrees named most. French onion soup, fried oysters and wedge salad are popular starters, and Bananas Foster at the table is the dessert people remember.

Reservations are common, and a few diners reported slow service at busy hours, so allow extra time. Lunch and brunch also draw crowds.

Oak Steakhouse on Clark Place is an elegant downtown room that diners choose for anniversaries and milestones. Several accounts describe staff who went out of their way when a reservation note mentioned a special occasion. Valet is free, and diners advise keeping the code to retrieve the car.

The tomahawk is the centerpiece, shared among couples and groups, and filet and ribeye follow. Starters get real attention: the crab cake, oysters and steak tartare all come up, and the lobster mac and cheese is a favorite side. Dumplings and gnocchi give variety beyond steak.

Prices run high, and one diner questioned whether a strip steak justified its cost, so this suits a night out rather than a casual dinner. Reserve about a week ahead for Saturdays, and expect a short wait if the table is not ready on time.

Cork & Cow sits on Main Street in Franklin in a handsome old building, and diners treat it as an anniversary tradition. Some drive from other states for a steak dinner, and a few couples return twice a year. The bar is a favorite place to sit, with cocktails made close up.

Filet is the cut diners name most, usually finished with butter and sea salt, and the bone-in ribeye is the alternative. Meatballs on Texas toast make a popular opener, and oysters, wedge salad and mac and cheese appear on many tables. The gnocchi suits guests who want pasta, and the burger gets its own fans.

Reservations fill weeks ahead for celebrations. A walk-in on a weeknight can still land a bar seat. A number of diners felt service was uneven, so patience helps.

Halls Chophouse on West End Avenue is a steakhouse with a lot of service. Diners describe a team of servers who swarm the table, and live music plays in the evening. For quiet conversation, ask for a table away from the band.

The food is the reason many guests return. Dry aged ribeye and bone-in filet are the cuts praised most, and she crab soup, French onion soup, oysters and tuna tartare open the meal. Parmesan truffle fries are described as addictive, and the whiskey bread pudding and banana pudding cheesecake close it. One diner calls it the best food among Nashville steakhouses.

Practical notes: steaks may arrive less done than expected, so order a half temperature higher. Parking can be difficult, and the room is loud at peak hours. Anniversaries and birthdays are the main reasons to book.

Char Restaurant on Hillsboro Pike has a steakhouse menu with Cajun and seafood touches, which is why diners mention crab as often as steak. The room has an unusual feel, and diners note that parking is validated. It also works as a stop before a Predators game.

Fried crab legs are the dish diners praise most, with crab claws and onion rings alongside. Prime rib, steak and the burger cover the meat side, while barbecue shrimp in the New Orleans style, shrimp and grits and seafood carbonara widen the choices. Brunch has gumbo and a chicken biscuit with gravy.

A few diners reported slow service or surprises on the bill, so confirm prices of wine and sides when ordering. Lunch and brunch are popular, and reservations help on busy nights.

Kayne Prime on McGavock Street is a polished steakhouse that works for business dinners and celebrations. One group of eleven called their experience exceptional, and another party was seated in a private dining area for quiet conversation. Valet service is fast and the staff earn praise.

The wagyu filet is the cut diners mention for special occasions. Popcorn lobster in butter is the starter named most, and duck tacos, risotto and a black kale salad give the menu range beyond beef. Oysters, Caesar salad and salmon round out the options.

The layout includes several connected dining rooms, and a few diners felt service varied between them. Reservations are wise, and one party reported waiting in the bar even with a booking, so arrive a few minutes early. Prices run high.