"Lou in East Nashville walks a fine line. One that gets precariously close to that stereotypical restaurant trope with lofty-sounding dishes using ingredients like celeriac bacon and dinosaur kale. But here’s the best news: It’s not pretentious at all. In fact, it feels more like the restaurant equivalent of a supportive arm around the shoulder. That’s mainly because of the cozy atmosphere and outdoor back patio, which are always relatively easy to get into. Brunch is what they’re known best for, and we can, indeed, confirm that it’s great. But Lou’s comfort food goes beyond kale and egg sandwiches. On Sundays, they do a perfectly roasted chicken that’s earned a spot on our death-row meal list." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak
