lou nashville

"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

"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

"Your English lit major friend who graduated from Smith is coming to town and demanding a brunch date. Lou is the answer. Located in a craftsman cottage in East Nashville, Lou’s is a homey spot conducive to long-winded conversations about Proustian existentialism. The brunch menu here is interesting and a bit quirky in the best way possible. Exhibit A: the chocolate maple and buckwheat pancake with malt butter. Exhibit B: a fried mortadella and burrata sandwich topped with fig chutney, bitter greens, and aioli. Along with a few glasses of pet-nat or sour ale, the dishes are worthy of a conversation all their own—Proust won’t mind sharing the spotlight." - jackie gutierrez jones 2

"That person you locked eyes with over a stack of obscure photography collections at Defunct Books? Follow it up with something at Lou. This warm white cottage on the outskirts of the neighborhood has delicious interesting plates with depth and charm (you are what you eat, right?). And this is the case for pretty much any meal of the day. Brunch is the time for a lively aperture debate over a kale, nduja, and egg sandwich, with some pet-nat to spice up the argument. Dinner winds its way through a discussion on optimal lighting settings and a dry-aged ribeye with caramelized onion butter. And by the time you’ve gotten to the candied fennel ice cream, that second date is a forgone conclusion. " - jackie gutierrez jones 2, ann walczak

"Buckwheat pancakes, fried bucksnort trout with jalapeño relish, crispy potatoes with habanero aioli and queso fresco, and natural wine keep brunch fans coming back to Lou, the hip, Parisian-inspired East Nashville cafe from chef Mailea Weger. Interesting non-alcoholic drinks like an NA sparkling amaro and a variety of High Garden teas don’t hurt, either." - Kellie Walton, Jackie Gutierrez-Jones