Comment Archives: Locations: Restaurants: 5 Stars
Re: “Cajun Steamer Bar & Grill”
I love this place, it is in my lunch rotation once a week. Granted the service in every restaurant in the Cool Springs area suffers when you go during rush hour, I avoid that.
The food on this place has been great every time, it is not the best Cajun food I have had but it is good enough to keep me going back. Prices are good, their food taste fresh including their breads.
We recently had dinner there with another couple and they loved it as well. Great option to have in Nashville.
Re: “Ichiban”
It's a MUST when we hit 2nd Ave on Saturday night. I highly recommend the Norway Roll with hot sake and green tea ice cream for dessert.
Re: “Baja Burrito”
I like the small chicken burrito with black beans and rice, lettuce, sour cream, and black olives. Delicious!
Re: “Ri'Chard's Louisiana Cafe”
Has to be one of the best kept secrets around. Great food at a fair price. Fun atmosphere with various singers on hand. And the owner is right there in the mix. Daughters took me for Father's Day and went back five days later. Loved it!
Re: “Goha Ethiopian Restaurant”
The food here is simply awesome!! I have eaten at several Ethiopian restaurants around the country and I honestly think this one is the best I have tried. The staff is very polite and friendly as well.
Re: “Bluebird Cafe”
June 27, Wayne Jerrolds will be back at the Bluebird. Come on out... YOU will not be dissapointed.
Re: “Firefly Grille”
I love Firefly! I've been going there for years, and due to their seasonal menus, I find new surprises waiting for me every three months. It's the perfect place to go for beers with my friends or a bottle of wine with a date. Plus, the decor is very cool; with all the lights, it's like Christmas every day. I have to agree with Spoon from a few comments up: I could eat their starters for every meal.
Re: “Firefly Grille”
We recently had a wonderful dinner at the Firefly. The food, service, atmosphere, and value were all outstanding. It was the perfect place for our birthday celebration. We will be returning soon to this oasis in a sea of chain restaurants.
Re: “Firefly Grille”
Firefly has a very eclectic dining atmosphere. Everything about our meal was fantastic. From the wine to the main course all the way to the most delectable desserts. The service was fantastic, too. We loved being able to choose from many different styles on the menu and appreciated our waiters attention to our requests for certain wine selections during each course. I would absolutely recommend The Firefly Grill to locals as well as anyone visting the city - don't miss this one. It's fantastic.
Re: “Bricks Café”
We entered Brick's Cafe with pretty low expectations. We hadn't heard anything about it, neither good nor bad, however we had noticed more than one (in Nolensville & Brentwood) and just chalked it up to yet another soulless, flavorless chain restaurant of which most Nashvillian's seem to be inexplicably fond. These factored in with the fact that the facade of the building looks like a sports bar.
Entering the restaurant was a bit confusing. The ambiance was upscale-casual, there was a nice brick oven behind the well manicured bar, the serving staff looked rather professional and the artwork was tasteful, though admittedly scant.
We took two seats at the bar next to the brick oven. We were approached by a server right away and given both food and drink menus. I noticed immediately that the wine list mark-up, both glass and bottle, was among the lowest I have ever seen and these weren't the standard Yellowtail/Barefoot (blech!) products that you would usually see at these price points. These were quality, respectable, tasty wines that could be paired with the menu and actually compliment them.
While ordering our food I was a bit skeptical of the menu. It was large and that normally means that the food isn't fresh or it's just plain bland. I've worked in upscale and fine dining with well-seasoned cooks and chefs for over a decade and I've seen how a kitchen can struggle when there are too many products to manage. Again, with low expectations, I ordered the jumbo lump crab cakes. I wasn't incredibly hungry, but I anticipated that at the least they would go well with my glass of chardonnay. Then they arrived. Wait!?! Is that actually jumbo lump backfin crab? It was, and there was more than I have ever seen in and/or on a crab cake. You just don't see that anymore. Eighty percent of the time I order crab cakes anywhere, I'm not convinced crab is even an ingredient. This had it in spades. The pepper and onion sauce they were rested on was a fantastic compliment. My girlfriend had an interesting bowtie pasta/romaine lettuce dish that incorporated grilled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto and parmesan. She allowed me to have a few bites and just like my dish, it was delicious and far exceeded expectations. Here's the kicker for me: from my understanding, the amicable gentleman making pizzas in the brick oven behind the bar was one of the partner-owners. A hand's on, involved member of upper management getting his hands dirty in front of a hot oven all while getting to know his clientele, rather than micro-managing his front of house staff is a rare and valuable asset in the food-service industry. No, we aren't longtime friends. I never met "Jimbo" before tonight.
It wasn't that this was the best restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of dining in. It wasn't that it had the most exquisite menu or rarest wine list. It was the fact that I just had the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed and unpretentious dining experience with phenomenal food, made from high quality and fresh ingredients with great drinks, all while being serviced by a genuinely friendly and knowledgeable staff and I won't have to pack a lunch for the rest of the week to make up for the cost of the tab. The value this place offers is absurd. Look, I know what this sounds like and NO, I don't work there. I just feel that this restaurant and the people that work there deserve to have Nashville know that this is a great establishment that I hope succeeds. God knows Nashville doesn't need anymore Olive Garden's, Applebee's, O'Charlies', Chili's, etc. Brick's, you've got at least one very loyal new customer in me. I will be back, VERY soon. Thanks.
Re: “B. McNeel's”
this is a great place to eat - but they no longer do dinner service, only lunch weekdays and brunch on the weekends.
Re: “The Garden Brunch Cafe”
My husband and went after church for brunch. It was suggested by a friend. I was very impressed with the atmosphere and how nice everyone was. The food was great. I like the fact that everything is prepared fresh for you. I was worth the small wait that we had. I have gone since and will be going back for Sunday Brunch.
Re: “Jim 'N' Nick's Bar-B-Q”
The bbq and ribs are fantastic here, and everything (literally everything) is homemade. My favorite thing I've gotten has to be the bbq nachos on the appetizer menu, but the ribs are a close runner-up. The cheese biscuits are absolutely wonderful, and they're always fresh out of the oven. The sweet tea and lemonade are both very good, and all the drinks are served with crushed ice (which is awesome). The homemade desserts are great, especially the pecan pie - probably the best pecan pie I've ever had (and I've had some good pecan pie). They also have giant baked potatos with your choice of bbq meats, cheese, sour cream, butter, and bacon on top which are more than enough for a meal by themselves. The onion ring appetizer is extremely good - they're crunchy and hot, with a perfect proportion of onion and batter. Jim 'N' Nick's is one of my favorite places to eat.
Re: “Ellendale's”
I've only been here for the Sunday brunch, but I've been several times and it's always good. It's a nice blend of breakfast (eggs, bacon, pancakes, gravy and biscuits, sausage) and lunch (usually some kind of baked chicken with several vegetables) with a fantastic selection of fresh salads. Plus there is an omelet station, where you can get a fresh, to-order prepared omelet made by a nice and entertaining man. Some of the food is a little upscale, and the flavors are really interesting. The service is usually pretty good, but since I've been only during the buffet times, tea glasses can stay empty for a little while. The buffet is a little pricey, but I think the food is definitely worth it. If you go early (around 11), you usually have the place pretty much to yourself, which is nice. Oh, there is also a dessert bar with brie, chocolate fondue, various cakes and pastries that's good, but I usually fill up too much on the salads and breakfast items to get much there.
Re: “City Café East”
I always eat here when I come to town - the food is spectacular. There are many choices everyday, and everything I've ever tried has been great. My favorite has to be the cajun cornbread (very sweet) and the roast beef (tender and can be cooked to order if you ask). The dishes are all staples, but they are spiced and cooked a unique way that makes the meal surprising and enjoyable. All of the people who work here are very kind and seriously care whether you're enjoying your meal and your stay. The desserts (if you have room after all the good filling food) are also good, especially the pecan pie.
Re: “Bailey and Cato Family Restaurant”
The food is absolutely delicious - one of my favorite places to get good Southern vegetables and sides. All of the people there are friendly and service is always quick. There's not a lot of space to eat inside (though there is some), so during busy times it's best to get the food to go.
Re: “Mitchell Delicatessen”
I have been to Mitchells at least 10 times and have never been treated badly. I have never eaten a bad meal here. The sandwiches are great! I agree with Julie about the turkey, avocado, and bacon. It is awesome! Nice little place that is always clean and always smells great inside. Worth the trip! A sandwich, chips, and a drink will set you back a $10 spot. So a bit pricy, but 100% better than Subway. Lots of local produce, cheese, meat inside for sale too.
Re: “Pied Piper Creamery”
Walked to this place last night in East Nashville. Great location for an ice cream shop. All the flavors are homemade and the place had a lot of character. I had the berry ice cream which consisted of blueberry, rasberry and strawberry...I think?? It was quite tasty. My wife had the Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll ice cream and that one was great too. $3 for a cone ( not too bad ) 1 is enough for two people to share... The guy working there was friendly so I will definitely go back for more.
Re: “Rumours East”
Went to have dinner here last night and was very very impressed. Great atmosphere, extensive wine list and the food was amazing. I had the scallop special which was cooked to perfection. My wife had the almond chicken which was also delicious. Great happy hour deals plus a very friendly wait staff. We will go back for sure.
Re: “Rumba Rum Bar and Satay Grill [Closed]”
This place is great. I could never get tired of their Shrimp Masala. The variety of the menu + atmosphere + service make it a unique restaurant for Nashville. I've been eating here for 6 years and have never been unsatisfied. In my opinion, wonderful.