Murfreesboro Is Getting a Desperately Needed Non-Chain Restaurant

Chain-crammed Murfreesboro is getting an intriguing contemporary American restaurant from a veteran of several Nashville hotspots — Jason Matheson is introducing his first full-service restaurant, Primrose Table, in the spring of 2019.

A chef who spent time at Nashville’s Watermark, Marsh House, and Cork & Cow, Nashville native Matheson will open Primrose Table in the suburb 30 miles southeast of downtown Nashville, at 1650 Memorial Blvd. in the Parkside development owned by Baker Storey McDonald Properties.

Executive chef Matheson promises to offer the same caliber of dining found in Nashville proper, and at an affordable price. He says the menu will feature familiar favorites with refined flair. Some sample menu items include Korean BBQ-stuffed potato skins, cornbread panzanella salad, and a roasted chicken breast with Woodford Reserve wild mushroom sauce. Other offerings will include Wagyu burgers, shrimp and lobster rolls, fish and chips, hearty seasonal salads, grilled steaks and chicken, chargrilled lamb, pulled pork sandwiches, fresh fish and more.

Primrose Table plans to serve dinner six nights a week (closed on Sundays), offering a full bar, in addition to a ‘vibrant selection’ of wines.

Jason Matheson began his culinary career at some of the city’s most memorable restaurants, 101st Airborne and New Orleans Seafood Manor. He quickly fell in love with the kitchen’s fast-paced, pressure-filled environment and his professional path took shape. After stints in Raleigh, North Carolina and Columbus, Ohio, Matheson returned to Nashville and joined Second Harvest’s First Harvest Café, becoming sous chef at its Culinary Arts Center. He next landed under Bob Waggoner’s tutelage at Watermark, one of the city’s premier restaurants. Matheson served as sous chef at Watermark under Chef Paul Ent, and he later moved on to work at both Cork & Cow and Marsh House at Thompson Hotel. Most recently, Matheson has operated a food truck called Four and Twenty Blackbird. He relocated to Murfreesboro with his family last year, where they also launched a flower truck. Matheson is an avid Nashville Predators fan who also spends time supporting efforts for dog rescue.