Oprah-backed True Food Kitchen to open soon in Nashville True Food Kitchen is slated for a September opening in the Vertis Green Hills development on Hillsboro Pike

Lizzy Alfs | The Tennessean

Nashville’s dining scene has a new high-profile investor: Oprah Winfrey.

The media mogul and philanthropist announced Thursday her equity investment in Phoenix-based True Food Kitchen, a health-driven restaurant brand that’s opening an outpost this fall at 3994 Hillsboro Pike in Nashville’s Green Hills.

“I love bringing people together over a good meal,” Winfrey said in a statement. “When I first dined at True Food Kitchen, I was so impressed with the team’s passion for healthy eating and, of course, the delicious food, that I knew I wanted to be part of the company’s future.”

Oprah invests in restaurant chain True Food Kitchen Oprah Winfrey is investing in True Food Kitchen. She will join the board of directors, helping the restaurant chain expand across the U.S.

True Food Kitchen wants to double its store count

Winfrey’s investment will help with the company’s ambitious growth plans, which include doubling its store count in the next three years. True Food Kitchen operates 23 restaurants in 10 states, with the Nashville location and a Jacksonville, Fla., restaurant slated to open this year.

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Winfrey also joined the company’s board of directors. The company’s controlling shareholder is Centerbridge Partners.

“When Ms. Winfrey and I first sat down to discuss her potential investment, I was impressed by her genuine passion for the intention behind True Food,” True Food Kitchen CEO Christine Barone said in a statement. “My hope is that her passion and investment will continue to develop our growing brand to allow even more guests to experience a better way of eating.”

Founded in 2008, True Food Kitchen’s philosophy is that food should make you feel better, not worse. The seasonal dishes and natural beverages are created with the principles of founder Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid.

Green Hills restaurant part of massive Vertis project

Options on the summer menu include heirloom tomato and watermelon with coconut lime yogurt, basil, mint and toasted pistachio; organic Tuscan kale salad; ancient grains bowl with miso glazed sweet potato, turmeric, charred onion, snow pea, grilled Portobello, avocado and hemp seed; fennel chicken sausage pizza; and Moroccan chicken.

Drinks include fresh juices, kombucha, watermelon lemonade, sparkling antioxidant tea, watermelon mojito, farmers market sangria and a citrus skinny margarita.

Menu prices aren’t listed on True Food Kitchen’s website.

Signs for the Green Hills restaurant are up and construction has been underway for months. The restaurant is a ground-floor tenant in Southern Land Co.’s massive Vertis Green Hills development. Other restaurant anchors will include Mediterranean restaurant Santo, Brixx Wood Fired Pizza and Char Restaurant.

The development includes 37,000 square feet of retail, 310 luxury apartments and 45,000 square feet of Class A office space.

Reach Lizzy Alfs at lalfs@tennessean.com or 615-726-5948 and on Twitter @lizzyalfs.