Mayor O'Connell's tribute to the departing restaurant Hathorne

Hathorne, the cozy West Nashville restaurant that is closing this weekend, had many admirers. Bon Appétit named it one of the nation's best new restaurants in 2019.

• Mayor Freddie O'Connell told Axios last year that Hathorne was one of his favorites.

State of plate: We asked O'Connell if he'd like to pay tribute to the departing restaurant and its owner John Stephenson.

What he's saying: "I've followed Chef John since he transformed Fido from a coffee shop with good coffee to a low-cost fine dining experience," O'Connell said in a statement.

• "Hathorne was a remarkable experiment in delicious food with a great bar and great service, and I only wish it had succeeded longer. Trying to sustain it through a pandemic was a true challenge, but we enjoyed takeout and the patio."

The bottom line: "I'll miss it and will be wherever John winds up next," O'Connell said.

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