Tequila!

A ready-made hit before it even started, this hot Latin spot is a creation of Chris Hyndman (the nightlife impresario behind Virago and Layl'a). Miami meets Mexico City in the slim, clean lines of the dining room and popular patio, and flavors of all Latin locales collide beautifully in exotic cocktails like a margarita with strawberries and jalapeno. From the cornbread-like arepas to the Oaxacan tamale, the menu will keep you coming back to expand your notions of Latin cuisine.

Thanks to chef Jason McConnell and Sol, his Mexican outpost in downtown Franklin, Middle Tennessee finally gets a kitchen that can rightfully slap a gourmet tag on Mexican cooking. McConnell, who also owns Red Pony across the street, is a masterful chef, and turning his made-from-scratch focus to Mexican fare is a stroke of genius. Everything's fresh, from the outstanding guacamole to the seafood, and there's a terrific tequila-bar-style list of cocktails to complement the food and the festive vibe.

You're not going to find high prices at this filling station. Fuel is the latest in short-lived dance clubs along Second Avenue that feature-bass thumping tunes and dirt cheap prices on alcohol. Open throughout the week for special events and showcases, Fuel opens its doors on the weekends offering everything from beer funnel races and 99 cent tequila shots. Dress is casual and the cover charge varies at the discretion of the bouncer - so be nice.