"Lou 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. Plus, the food is interesting and cool while still being totally approachable (see: their incredible Sunday-night-only roast chicken). photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Ben Rice Lou is tucked into a fully restored 1930s craftsman bungalow in East Nashville with a fireplace and a sprawling lawn out back. Brunch is what they’re known best for, and we can, indeed, confirm that it’s great. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, you’ll observe cottagecore types in their natural habitat, deep in conversation, only coming up for air to take a bite of hearty buckwheat pancakes or sip some pet-nat. photo credit: Casey Irwin 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. Pair it with something off their list of funky, natural wines, which the staff will break down for you like a good friend unfolding the plot of Twin Peaks. Food Rundown photo credit: Casey Irwin Chocolate Maple & Buckwheat Pancakes Lou’s menus rotate pretty frequently, but you can almost always count on seeing the buckwheat pancakes at brunch. And they’ve stuck around for a really good reason. The chocolate brings out the earthiness in the buckwheat while tipping its hat to the sweet notes of the maple. Breakfast Sandwich If savory is more your brunch style, the breakfast sandwich would like a word. Soft scrambled eggs are heaped in between two slices of lightly charred toast with crispy potatoes, preserved lemon aioli, hot sauce, and your choice of kale or ‘nduja. Go for the kale if you feel the need for more vegetables in your life. Everyone else: ‘nduja. If you’re feeling spicy: both. photo credit: Ben Rice Roast Chicken This is Nashville’s (and maybe the world’s) be-all, end-all roast chicken. Both the half and whole bird have a well-seasoned crisp on the outside but stay tender on the inside. The accompanying potatoes and seasonal vegetables are there to sop up every single drop of the broth and juices. photo credit: Casey Irwin Crispy Rice If crispy rice is on the dinner menu, order this satisfyingly crunchy and complex dish with egg yolk, pickled currants, mixed seeds, and lemon. It deserves an award for best supporting actor at a dinner party. Like the breakfast sandwich, you can add kale or ‘nduja for an extra charge, but really, the dish stands on its own. photo credit: Casey Irwin Wine You can’t talk about Lou without talking about the wine. The list here is cool, funky, and intriguing, mostly made up of small growers and natural wines. You’re bound to stumble upon something you’ve never heard of or tried, like the O2Y Trompe L’Oeil, a blend of five different white grapes with a dash of pinot noir from Alsace." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
