We stopped by Pied Piper Eatery last week to check out East
Nashville's latest dining addition. Just looking around the colorful room—with
its handmade tables topped with album covers—I couldn't help thinking what fun
it must have been to grow up in a house with the Pipers, who just seem to ooze
creativity and hospitality. During our visit, ice cream maven Jenny Piper was
having lunch before heading over to her Pied Piper Creamery near Five Points, while
brother Andy and sister Becky were manning the lunch rush at their cheery
family-friendly spot in the former location of Veggie Café.
The playful, music-themed menu—dotted with items such as
David Cassidy chicken fingers ($4.95), the Hannah Montana hot ham and cheese
sandwich ($4.95) and the Clay Aiken (nothing but cheese) ($4.95)—had plenty of
crossover appeal for our multigenerational table. We particularly enjoyed the
giant Monte Cristo ($7.95), which looked like a ham sandwich that had had a
run-in with a funnel cake, and the hearty veggie burger ($6.95), which masked
its vegetarianism well. Had I known Jenny Piper better, I would have reached
over to her table and grabbed one of her giant onion rings in a light golden
batter. (It's a friendly place, but maybe not that friendly.)
We were intrigued by the concept of "add-ons and pile-ups," an
à la carte selection of cheeses, vegetables and other accessories that can be
added to omelets, hash browns or a giant platter of penne mac-and-cheese. We'll
save those decadent dishes for another visit. In the meantime, if you get to
Pied Piper Eatery, please report back to Bites.
Located at the intersection of Riverside and Porter, Pied
Piper Eatery serves "lunch, dinner and everything else," from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
