Etch

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

The Vision Behind Etch

Etch is a globally-inspired American restaurant anchored in lively downtown Nashville, the creation of award-winning chef Deb Paquette. The concept is built around an eclectic menu of innovative dishes drawn from Paquette's favorite regions of the world — the goal, as the restaurant puts it, is to leave a lasting impression, or etch, on every diner. The wine program earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, a recognition that reflects the same care and intention applied to the food.

Chef Deb Paquette

Paquette's story is inseparable from Nashville's dining scene. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she became the first woman in Tennessee to qualify as a certified executive chef — a milestone that set the tone for a career defined by both craft and trailblazing. She has lived and worked in Nashville for more than thirty years, building deep roots in the community that extend well beyond the kitchen. She has represented the Tennessee Titans at the Taste of the NFL's Party with a Purpose multiple times, raising funds for local food banks, and has been a consistent presence in national media coverage of the city's food culture.

At etch, Paquette leads a team of fellow culinary professionals — including Chef de Cuisine Jess Lambert — who each bring their own creativity and passion for globally influenced food to the table. It is an employee-owned company, which speaks to the collaborative spirit that runs through the operation.

The Space and What to Expect

The Nashville location on Demonbreun Street features a full bar, two private dining rooms suited for intimate events or larger gatherings, and a chef's bar with a direct view into the open kitchen — a detail that makes the cooking itself part of the experience. The setting is lively without being loud, and the American menu shifts in flavor and influence from dish to dish, reflecting Paquette's wide-ranging culinary curiosity.

A second location has since opened at The Factory at Franklin, bringing the same globally inspired American cooking to a new audience south of the city.