Behind the Bar: How Our Wine, Cider, and NA Options Make Smith & Lentz More Than a Brewery or Pizza Joint
At Smith & Lentz, we began as a brewery but transformed into a brewery and pizza joint. We wanted to create a place where people could come in for handcrafted pizza made with locally sourced toppings and our own sourdough crust while enjoying a rotating menu of house-brewed beer on tap. We built this idea out to include a standing menu of delicious cocktails, wines from small producers, non-alcoholic beer, Nashville’s Walker Brother’s Kombucha, sodas, and cider.
We’ve always been a place for people to gather and have a great time. And since people don't all drink the same thing, we’ve put together a menu we hope offers something for everyone.
A Wine List Built for Eating Pizza
Just like our pizza, we want our drink menu to be thoughtful and to give our customers something to look forward to. For anyone looking for a high-quality Nashville wine bar experience that doesn't feel stuffy or out of place in laid-back East Nashville, we hope we've struck that balance.
We feature labels from small low-intervention producers who prioritize thoughtful farming, which means a lot of Loire Valley, Beaujolais, Mosel Rieslings, and more. We rotate the by-the-glass options regularly, and our staff genuinely knows the list. If you sit down and ask what pairs well with the pizza you just ordered, you'll get both an answer and an explanation. Probably a pretty passionate one. If you’re a fan of wine tasting Nashville-style without the pressure or the pretension, our team is happy to walk you through whatever you’re curious about trying.
We have many great options to pair with our pizza and to share with friends. We also don’t mark up wine prices like other restaurants… we pour all very high quality wines at prices you won’t see at other restaurants. Good wine should be accessible and affordable, just like pizza and beer.
Cocktails That Bring Good Quality to the Table
We've also put real effort into a small but solid cocktail program. Earthy and botanical Negronis, snappy spritzes, and an Old Fashioned made with Belle Meade Bourbon, each cocktail is balanced and full of flavor. When it comes to Nashville cocktails, we want what we're pouring to hit the spot and complement your order every time. The S&L Spaghett, for example, is a riff on the classic beer cocktail (known as a ‘patio pounder’) made with our own German Pils. It’s fantastic if you’re starting your meal with a plate of our warm marinated olives.
Cider That Blends Innovation With Tradition
Looking for something that’s neither hoppy, mixed, nor off the vine? Not a problem. Our Shacksbury Cider is a great choice. This cider might hail from New England, but if you've been hunting for East Nashville cider that pairs well with an oven-fired pizza, it's the one to choose. Shacksbury is a Vermont-based cidery that we genuinely respect for its complex, high-quality profiles. For those seeking a cider Nashville patrons feel good about, this one’s a huge hit.
Non-Alcoholic Options That Don’t Compromise on Flavor
Many of our guests don't drink alcohol at all, and we want everyone to have options they can get excited about. For NA drinks Nashville patrons can enjoy, we feature Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic Mexican-Style Lager, Sierra Nevada Trailpass non-alcoholic IPA, and an Italian non-alcoholic Pils from the award-winning Untitled Art, a team that brews its NA beer to full fermentation before the alcohol is removed through state-of-the-art filtration. These are no “good enough” alternatives—they’re the real deal, just without the IBV.
Find the Pairing for Your Pizza
Come on by Smith & Lentz for fresh food and drinks. Grab a seat on the patio or at the bar and let us know what you’re in the mood for. We’ve got a ton of options, and we never tire of helping our customers make just the right selection.
