Friday, February 6, 2009
Restaurants Dreamweaver: What's Next at Alleycat?
Posted by Lee Stabert on Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 10:51 AM
These days, when I'm not thinking about last week's episode of Battlestar Galactica (Gaeta! You traitor!!), I like to fantasize about the new restaurant that is sure to take over the recently vacated Alleycat Lounge space.
I was pretty devastated by the loss of this neighborhood staple. Alleycat was walking distance from my house, had outdoor seating and consistently solid to excellent food (the nachos and the pepperjack chicken sandwich fall into the latter category). They also had two-for-ones during happy hour and few things on the menu over 10 bucks. It was a gentrifying hipster neighborhood's dream.
Now that it's gone, cheap dinner options in Five Points are fewer and farther between. So, here are my two top fantasy scenarios for the building, and its killer patio:
1. The crew from Margot and Marché decide that what East Nashville really needs is a low-key brasserie. They renovate the space and start slinging moderately priced steak frites, escargots, French onion soup, cheese plates, simple salads and mussels. Voila!
2. Arnold Myint brings his small plates, Asian fusion and killer burger across the river and launches an East Side version of the always bumpin' PM. Maybe, if Carrington's lucky, they'll add ChaChah's hot chocolate to the mix.
Anyone else have any ideas?
Comments (21)
Showing 1-21 of 21
I like where you are going with #1. Something like :
http://www.cafebernard.com/Redrooster/
or
http://www.bistrovatel.com/lafrite.html
like
dislike
I think that area is screaming for a TitleMax. Why should we in Inglewood North Inglewood, have all the fun?
"I think that area is screaming for a TitleMax."
That just make me snort into my "Strawberry Orange Sunrise" yogurt.
I heard that the Batter'd & Fried guy has got the lease already. Don't know what the plans are though.
Meanwhile, in regard to fantasy scenario #1, have you read this weeks review of Allium? You already have a new, low key, brasserie that serves everything you listed.
What East Nashville needs--badly-- is decently priced American diner food in a place that doesn't close after lunch and isn't a bar with food as an afterthought. . Heck, even if it was also a bar, okay--if it meant we got something like a Bosco's East out of it.. Unpretentious, something okay for whoever is joining you, and no bull. What a "concept. "
a P.M 2, definitely. PM has a great variety of stuff and it stays open late. perfect mix of great food and good bar.
I second what Nat said.
Allium is exactly you Lee are dreaming about.
While not in Five Points, it's still East Nashville. And worth the visit I might add!!!!
Yeah, I thought that was funny too - between Marche and Allium, the east side's got the low-key brasserie thing covered....Allium has everything on your list except the cheese plate, and Marche has that.
I'd love to see a real ethnic joint go into the Alleycat space, Thai or Indian or whatever. Not a buffet, not a meat and three, not a burger joint. I'm not yet convinced the neighborhood can really support a late-night spot that isn't primarily a bar; it's hard to pay the bills Monday through Thursday hoping people will come in at 2am for a five dollar burger.
Barbara Please? Please, Barbara... I just got it, right???
Apparently your wish is coming true, according to Anonymous.
I guess Matt is opening an Indian joint in the AC space.
Love to see a curry shop like on the Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, London-style with good lager and ale and, especially, balti, which as far as I know, no local south asian restaurant does around here.
Indian would be excellent for this neighborhood. I was in Malaysia in December and there were tons of late-night Indian places that serve really cheap roti (sweet or savory), grilled tandoori chicken and simple curries. Now, when I'm drunk I crave roti.
Indian would work well East Side. Then the faux hipsters could all go and pretend like they've been eating Indian for years. And Jack Silverman could breathlessly recap his meal there, along with his buddy who was the drummer in that band that almost got an A&R guy to stop by their show at 5Spot once. And if they allowed smoking, Tracy Moore could write a 1000 word discourse on how "rock n roll" it is......
Kidding aside, a reasonably priced Indian place would fill a void and could probably do well there.
I was excited for a minute, Nat, I thought it was true! But I agree, we've got plenty of Indian places on the west side, so the east side should have one too. It would be nice to eat some naan and dal on the patio.
Also, what about a Korean barbecue place? Most of the Korean places I know about are in obscure parts of town and it might be a fun addition to the east side.
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION!!!! I have it on good authority we are looking at another damn karaoke bar. Just what this up and coming neighborhood needs...another bar for wanna be singers and middle-aged drunks who still think "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" still works as a pick-up song...can you imagine the wonderful cuisine?
