IN THE NEWS: The Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville 2007 poll results are just out. Among the restaurant highlights: Best Restaurant in Davidson County, Margot Cafe and Bar (readers); Best New Restaurant (since October 2006), Flyte (readers); Best Chef, Margot McCormack, Margot’s (readers), and Will Uhlhorn, F.Scott’s (critics); Best All-Purpose Restaurant, Radius10 (critics); Best Neighborhood Restaurant, PM (critics); Best New Neighborhood Restaurant, Eastland Cafe (critics); Best Restaurateur, Randy Rayburn, Sunset Grill, Midtown Cafe, Cabana (critics). … Carrington Fox reviews the new California Pizza Kitchen (4031 Hillsboro Pike). … Fox also reports that Chef Paul Ent and sous chef Richard Radford, seeking more creativity, are leaving Midtown Café at week’s end, with no specific plans but with no hard feelings. Brian Uhl, executive chef of Rayburn’s restaurants, which also include Sunset Grill and Cabana, will assume management of Midtown’s kitchen and will unveil a new menu early next week, according to Fox. … Fox also reports: Genie’s Persian Palace has closed its short-lived Murfreesboro Pike location, meaning both owners Mo and Shiva Karimy—of Fat Mo’s fame—can be found in their Moores Lane store in Brentwood. … Kalamatas owner Maher Fawaz plans to open a second full-scale Mediterranean restaurant this fall in the Brentwood strip mall with T.J. Maxx (330 Franklin Road). nashvillescene.com …

WKRN.com reports that as the result of the statewide ban that began Oct. 1 on smoking inside restaurants and bars that cater to an under 21 crowd, the honky-tonks, restaurants and bars are lining up on opposite ends of the rule. At Tootsie’s, on Lower Broadway, enough parents bring their under 21 kids into the establishment the owners were forced to make a change to being smoke-free at the downstairs bar. Upstairs, owners will enforce a 21-and-over only rule and will allow smoking. Down the street, The Stage, Robert’s, Layla’s, and Legends Corner have banned smoking, while Bailey’s is 21-and-over. The honky-tonks on the south side of the street, such as The Wheel, Nashville Crossroads and Full Moon, will allow their customers to continue lighting up as 21-and-over establishments. … The Tennessean’s Jim Myers reviews Marcy Jo’s Mealhouse & Bakery (4205 Highway 431, Columbia, TN, 931-380-0968, marcyjos.com) and profiles Tom Lazzaro of Germantown’s Lazzaroli’s Pasta (1314 Fifth Ave., 615-291-9922). … Dana Kopp Franklin reports that much-lauded real-deal Chinese restaurant Shanghai Cafe (5574 Nolensville Pike) closed Sept. 30) due to lease woes after just a few months in operation. tennessean.com …

Mimis Cafe is opening a Middle Tennessee location in Murfreesboro at the end of November, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The restaurant, known for its southern comfort, foods serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and will open a 6,800-square-foot location at 2625 Medical Center Parkway. nashville.bizjournals.com … In its October issue, Nashville Lifestyles magazine’s Kay West reviews Margot Cafe spinoff Marche. nashvillelifestyles.com … Lannae’s Food and Travel blog reviews Shogun (1638 Westgate Circle, Cool Springs, 615-377-7977). lannaelong.blogspot.com … NashvilleRestaurants.blogspot.com reviews Arnold’s Country Kitchen (605 Eighth Ave S, 615-256-4455). … LesleyEats.blogspot.com reviews Miss Saigon Restaurant (5849 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, 615-354-1351).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

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