Red, Hot and Bothered: Italian Buffet Tonight

No local restaurant makes the connection between food and sex more cheekily than Red, the restaurant neighbor of Tribe Nashville on Church Street's bumpin' dance-club district. The menu practically does the seducing for you, starting with "Foreplay" (chicken "teasers") and a "Toss It Up" salad roster that's not averse to tossing yours. From there, the petting gets heavier and heavier, depending on your level of commitment: "Meat in the Middle" (a grilled pimento-cheese BLT), "Casual Encounters" (home-style meat loaf), or a "Main Squeeze" (chicken mushroom merlot served over garlic mashed potatoes). Your check ought to come with cigarettes and awkward goodbyes.

I'm not sure how you make a buffet sound seductive—any tips, Biters?—but Red is skipping the sweet nothings and whipping out the sausage and meatballs on Tuesday nights. For the restaurant's new weekly Italian buffet, chef Missy Simon offers staples such as lasagna, fettuccine, and chicken marsala, along with Red favorites such as vodka pasta with grilled chicken and a baked mac-and-cheese made with penne, bacon and chicken. The $12.95 buffet also includes salad and dessert. Anything extra is strictly between consenting adults.

Now in its sixth year, with a new restaurant manager and a popular Sunday brunch, Red is located at 1515 Church Street, serving dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tonight also features a reception for artist Ronald Baldwin at Tribe from 6 to 8 p.m. Call 329-2913 for more information.

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