Once Upon A Time In France

French restaurant · East Nashville

Once Upon A Time In France

French restaurant · East Nashville

1102 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

Highlights

Steak frites, escargot & other classic French fare in an unfussy, Parisian-style bistro & bar.

1102 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206 Get directions

onceuponatime-infrance.com

@onceuponatimeinfrance

Reserve

@eater

"I was shocked when I heard that Pastis, synonymous with Manhattan dining, was coming to Nashville." - Daniel Maurer

Nashville-Themed Bars Are Taking Over America - Eater

View Postcard for Once Upon A Time In France

@infatuation

"If an impromptu flight to Paris is out of the cards, Once Upon a Time in France is the quickest way to transport yourself from Music City to the City of Lights. Straight out of the 1920s Parisian bistro playbook, this small restaurant is owned by a local French family who prides themselves on serving unfussy French classics - think escargot, steak tartare, and duck confit. Reservations aren’t accepted here, so arrive early, grab a chilled glass of Sancerre, and take in some quality people-watching." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

Once Upon A Time In France - Review - East Nashville - Nashville - The Infatuation

View Postcard for Once Upon A Time In France

@eater

"Once Upon a Time in France is a bistro located in East Nashville at 1102 Gallatin Avenue. Owned by French father-son duo Melvil Arnt and Laurent Champonnois, it opened in December in the former Steak & Pizza space. The restaurant offers French-style comfort food, including a French onion soup made using the owner's family recipe and a Steak Frites with a choice of sauces. The wine list features varieties from France and Europe, and the menu is noted for its reasonable prices, with the steak being the most expensive item at $20." - Audrey Carleton

Nancy Vienneau Calls Fairlane Hotel Restaurant Ellington’s Revamped Menu a “Lively Take On Nostalgic Dishes” - Eater Nashville

View Postcard for Once Upon A Time In France

@eater

"A chic 1920s-inspired French bistro that offers a classic menu including escargot, steak tartare, and boeuf bourguignon. It features over 75 French wines, European beers, aperitifs, digestifs, and some well-priced cocktails. The venue is run by Laurent Champonnois and Melvil Arnt, a Parisian musician and sound engineer, and is open Wednesday to Sunday with specific hours." - Delia Jo Ramsey

Once Upon a Time in France Brings Escargot and Steak Frites to East Nashville - Eater Nashville

View Postcard for Once Upon A Time In France

Elias West

Google

If you enjoy classic French cuisine then Once Upon a Time in France is all you need. Everything we ate was flavorful and well prepared. While the food tasted great, I was waiting for something to make my taste buds light up in a way I didn’t know was possible. I have numerous friends that have eaten here and always enjoy their dinners. I think I just wish there was a little something more, and I’m not sure what that is. Regardless, I will be returning, excited to try more of the menu. ORDER THE LOBSTER BISQUE!

Kathryn Brown

Google

So I absolutely LOVE that there is something even remotely close to France here in Tennessee because culture is a challenge here in “hot chicken central”. I want to start with the pros: Excellent atmosphere Excellent music Excellent decor Excellent staff (even spoke a little French. Nice touch) Excellent wine Excellent menu The boeuf bourguignon was not very good. Maybe it was a bad batch but the oil content was too overpowering and there was no taste of burgundy wine in it. The crème brûlée is my favorite dessert, just not this one. It may have not mixed thoroughly and had chunks of cream in it and I am not sure what that was. It was ok but could have been better.

Lovely Lady

Google

Once Upon a Time in France is a delightful, small, and charming restaurant with an authentic French vibe. The service was excellent, and the food was absolutely scrumptious. We started with the Escargot de Bourgogne and Foie Gras de Canard for appetizers, both of which were exceptional. For our entrees, we enjoyed the Confit de Canard and Truite aux Amandes—both were cooked to perfection and paired wonderfully with our wine selections. For dessert, the Crème Brûlée and Café Gourmand were the perfect sweet finish to a memorable meal. The only downside was being seated at a very small table by the restroom and plate pickup area, which made it difficult to fully enjoy our dining experience. We did request to be moved, but unfortunately, reservations prevented that. In my opinion, the table wasn’t ideal for a dinner seating, and parking was a bit limited with a small lot and street parking options. However, the service and quality of the food were so outstanding that I would happily return—just at a more suitable table next time to fully enjoy the experience!

Merrill Wright

Google

We LOVE Once Upon a Time in France. This is such a unique restaurant and the atmosphere takes you to France once you step in. The staff is amazing and always cheerful. The food is always consistent every time we come in and again, the staff makes the experience even better!

Yiyun Wu

Google

Service is awesome. The ladies are so nice! Atmosphere is super cute and cozy. BUT FOOD! The Lobster Bisque is way too salty. Steak and Fries is also very salty. Who poured the entire jar of kosher in them? I lived in France for 2 years and never have I ever had French cuisine this salty. Had to call check early because I just couldn’t stay and it really upsets my stomach.

Karmadillo

Google

What a great dining experience! Super friendly and informative staff, relaxed atmosphere and the food was amazing. We got the escargot and steak tartare for appetizers, which were totally new to both of us and we loved them so much that we ended up ordering a second helping of tartare before dessert. My girlfriend got the beef bourguignon, while my main dish was the duck confit. All of it was great, very tender and flavorful. The sauces on everything really were delicious, with lots of depth and flavors that made both of us want to slow down even though we hadn't eaten all morning. Dessert was also very good, which was a chocolate mousse that we split. I would highly recommend this place, and plan on coming again when I get the chance. We also got a picture with the owner, who was very interested and passionate about us enjoying ourselves. 5/5; Excellent date spot!

Hannah

Google

Absolutely fantastic authentic food. Truffle lobster bisque was salt-forward and very delicious! Parking is kind of an issue, not a bad idea to uber. Great wait staff and service.

Sarah

Google

The atmosphere is wonderful and you want to make sure you have reservations. Our waitress was fantastic and very accommodating. We ordered the cheese plate for an appetizer, it was good but really only for 1-2 people. You will need to order more than that if you have more. As for the food, I'm a little disappointed. I ordered the steak frites-- I asked for medium rare, at a restaurant like this, I expect an exact temperature for my steak, I got more rare. (Which I guess is better then overcooked). I got the escargot butter on top of my steak, I would recommend... but wish the presentation was that of a typical steak frites-- meaning, pre-sliced. My fries were soggy and undercooked. This was probably the most disappointing part of the meal because I love fries. They also were not served with ketchup and when we asked for it for both of us, she only brought out 1 small serving and we had to ask for another. My friend duck and said it was excellent. For dessert, we ordered the creme brulee and the trio. The creme brulee had great flavored but was runny and warm inside! The trio had a good macaroon, a sweet chocolate mousse, and a fruit bar that reminded me of a fig newton with icing on top. The drinks are strong and the waitress informed me that they do not have a very large bar selection, so you have to stick with what's on the menu. The wine I had was excellent. While there were some really amazing parts to my dinner, I felt that my expectations were just a little too high and then not met.

@eater

"I was shocked when I heard that Pastis, synonymous with Manhattan dining, was coming to Nashville." - Daniel Maurer

Nashville-Themed Bars Are Taking Over America - Eater

View Postcard for Once Upon A Time In France

@infatuation

Once Upon A Time In France - Review - East Nashville - Nashville - The Infatuation

View Postcard for Once Upon A Time In France

@eater

Nancy Vienneau Calls Fairlane Hotel Restaurant Ellington’s Revamped Menu a “Lively Take On Nostalgic Dishes” - Eater Nashville

View Postcard for Once Upon A Time In France

@eater

Once Upon a Time in France Brings Escargot and Steak Frites to East Nashville - Eater Nashville

View Postcard for Once Upon A Time In France

Elias West

Google

Kathryn Brown

Google

Lovely Lady

Google

Merrill Wright

Google

Yiyun Wu

Google

Karmadillo

Google

Hannah

Google

Absolutely fantastic authentic food. Truffle lobster bisque was salt-forward and very delicious! Parking is kind of an issue, not a bad idea to uber. Great wait staff and service.

Sarah

Google

Once Upon A Time In France

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