Hunting Lodge Hot Spot Roars Into Sylvan Park’s Old McCabe Pub

The longtime McCabe Pub space in Sylvan Park is getting a nearly $4 million overhaul and a new name, as hunting lodge-inspired restaurant Lion's Share moves in with an eye on an April opening. The project transforms the neighborhood bar into a wood-paneled, club-style tavern aimed at being as comfortable for weekday lunches as it is for lingering evening dinners. Lion's Share is the full-service restaurant from husband-and-wife chefs Robbie Wilson and Emily Perry-Wilson.

The renovation is a near-total gut-and-rebuild of the McCabe footprint, leaning into hunting lodge details and the clubby atmosphere of London's private drinking rooms, according to Nashville Business Journal. That report notes the couple is targeting April to open the doors.

Owners and pedigree

Chef Robbie Wilson, a James Beard-recognized talent who has led kitchens on the West Coast and worked at The French Laundry, is steering the menu alongside his wife, Emily Perry-Wilson. The pair also opened SuperNormal, a fast-casual spot across the street that acts as a companion project, as reported by Restaurant Business. Wilson told Restaurant Business he wants Lion's Share to function as a "luxurious tavern" and "a favorite restaurant, not a best restaurant," prioritizing approachable, well-executed dishes over formal tasting-menu service.

From McCabe to Lion's Share

McCabe Pub held its spot in Sylvan Park for more than four decades before closing in early 2024, leaving behind a high-visibility vacancy that quickly drew interest from local restaurateurs. Eater Nashville chronicled the bar's last days in business, while Nashville Scene reported that construction timing on the larger tavern space pushed the Wilsons to open SuperNormal first.

What to expect

Early descriptions of Lion's Share point to dark wood, leather seating, lodge-style accents, and an expanded bar program, all backing a menu of elevated tavern dishes and cocktails that keep the focus on nightly service rather than multi-course tastings. Restaurant Business notes the Wilsons designed Lion's Share to operate in tandem with the fast-casual spot across the street, giving the block both quick-service and full sit-down options.

Neighbors can expect menus and reservation details to roll out as the planned April debut gets closer. The transformation ranks as one of Sylvan Park's more closely watched recent renovations and will serve as a test of whether a luxe-tavern concept can anchor late-night dining in the neighborhood.