Puesto Opens Its First Tennessee Restaurant in Nashville
The California-based restaurant group has officially launched a new location within the Nashville Yards development.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Mexican Food
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Puesto has expanded outside of California, opening its latest restaurant in Nashville. The new venue is located at the Nashville Yards development and serves as the group's first expansion into Tennessee.
Why it matters
The company identified the city as a strategic growth market, a move bolstered by co-owner Isidoro Lombrozo's status as a Vanderbilt University alumnus. This opening marks a significant step in the restaurant group's national expansion strategy.
The new Nashville facility features three patios and an open-air dining room with a maximum guest capacity of 245 people. The company previously established a footprint consisting of nine standard restaurants and three stadium outposts in California.
The players
Puesto
This restaurant group was founded in 2012 and operates multiple locations throughout California.
Isidoro Lombrozo
He is a co-owner of the restaurant group and a graduate of Vanderbilt University.
Southwest Value Partners
This real estate firm is the developer behind the Nashville Yards project where the restaurant is located.
The details
The restaurant group partnered with developer Southwest Value Partners to secure the new space. The design of the facility emphasizes indoor-outdoor dining to accommodate local patrons in the Nashville Yards complex.
Timeline
Isidoro Lombrozo graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010.
The founders opened the original Puesto food stand in 2012.
Ownership decided to expand the brand in 2024.
The Nashville location officially opened in October 2026.
Culture Shift
Puesto's entry into the local market reflects the broader trend of successful regional brands using high-profile urban development projects to anchor their national expansion. This move highlights how mixed-use spaces like Nashville Yards are actively reshaping the local dining scene.
Residents and visitors now have a new dining option available within the Nashville Yards development. The facility's 245-person capacity and outdoor patio space are designed to accommodate large groups and open-air gatherings.
The takeaway
The brand's expansion into Nashville reflects a transition from a California-centric business model to a wider national footprint. Customers can expect a dining environment that incorporates the group's signature outdoor-focused design elements.
Further reading
Learn more about the local culinary scene in our Mexican Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tennessean.
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