Ryan Poli to open Claymore steakhouse in Nashville

Chef Ryan Poli is preparing to open a new steakhouse called Claymore in Nashville in the first half of next year. The restaurateur, who co-owns the Italian restaurant Iggy's with his brother, revealed the plans in an interview for the Menu Talk podcast.

Ryan Poli and his brother Matthew Poli opened Iggy's in the city's Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood in 2023. Ryan serves as the chef, while Matthew, a certified sommelier and cicerone, manages the front-of-house operations. The brothers are the full owners of the venture.

A chef's extensive background

Poli's career includes training at The French Laundry under Thomas Keller and at Le Français under Jean Banchet. He has also worked in restaurants across Europe, Asia, and Australia. He gained significant recognition during his tenure running the kitchen at the acclaimed Nashville restaurant Catbird Seat.

Following that, Poli entered a period of global travel and staging with other renowned chefs. He worked with figures including Dan Barber and Marc Vetri, and spent several months in Bali collaborating with chef Will Goldfarb.

A philosophy for restaurant operations

The business model for Iggy's was designed to ensure staff were paid well while the restaurant remained profitable. Poli stated he intends to apply a similar philosophy to the upcoming Claymore steakhouse. The new restaurant will be located just a few blocks away from Iggy's.

In the podcast, Poli discussed his management approach, which aims to create a welcoming environment for both employees and guests. This perspective was shaped by his experiences, including the struggles of running other people's restaurants in Chicago, such as Butter, Perennial, and Tavernita, before becoming an owner himself.

Plans for the new venture

The Menu Talk podcast is a collaboration between Restaurant Business senior menu editor Pat Cobe and Nation’s Restaurant News senior food & beverage editor Bret Thorn. The episode featuring Poli covers his career journey and his specific plans for Claymore.

No further details about the steakhouse's menu or specific opening date were provided in the source. The report concludes by noting the podcast is available for subscription on major platforms.