Substrate

Held private function here under brand new ownership and name change. It was fantastic. This is the former location of Jam Coffeehouse, so there are some big shoes to fill, and everything was outstanding. They catered our event with a wide array of offerings tailored to our requests. A variety of sandwiches, appetizers, pastries, and drinks (including made-to-order coffee concoctions) all freshly prepared from scratch. The atmosphere is superbly retro with an elegant lightly modern touch, somewhat reminiscent of The Jam. I can't say enough about manager Jess's attention to fulfilling our plan. Preparation, execution, and quality of food were wonderful. On-site barista Michaela flawlessly served up coffee options from the available full menu. This was a private event but the experience has definitely put Old Fashion Bar and Grill on our stop-in list when in Nashville. So whether you're living life at Belmont, Vandy, Music Row, or just passing through, put it on your list too. You'll be glad you did!

If I could give 20 ⭐️ I would! This place is the real deal. Easy parking. Food is made from scratch and absolutely amazing. Their homemade strawberry lemonade is the best I’ve ever had in my life. Atmosphere is calm, bright and open. Everyone here is exceptional. I 100% recommend this place. Tell your friends!

This place was interesting. I think there is people that will absolutely love this place. We thought it was okay. The coffee was good. I had the Cinnamon Dulce. The meal was also interesting. I had the OLD SCHOOL CLASSIC-Bread/Biscuit, eggs, bacon/sausage, greens. They served a salad with a tangy dressing as the greens and it wasn’t really our cup of tea. We are glad we tried it but don’t know if we would go again.

This lovely restaurant has great service, friendly staff and amazing food. The coffee was hot, fresh and delicious, the pitcher or mimosas was a great deal. I highly recommend the avocado toast. It’s literally the best avocado toast I’ve ever had. They had several plant based and vegan options. I will definitely visit again on my travels.

This place was pretty descent. Friendly folks and cozy atmosphere. Had the tacos which were pretty good. My fiancé got there take on avocado toast. She thought it was fairly descent but would have changed the wellness on the egg. All and all a great place to stop for a quick bite, some coffee. They also use all local ingredients from bread to greens and so much more.

Love that they source local ingredients and have interesting, local products for sale. Great atmosphere and friendly service. Complementary flavored water. Breakfast burrito was good, not great for my personal tastes. Would return because I appreciate health conscious businesses like this one!

I ordered an iced latte and the barista behind the register asked if I wanted it black.. making it sound like he wasn't sure how a latte was made. He also wasn't confident in what they offered (i.e. not sure what syrup flavors they had).. ended up ordering a plain iced latte and a nitro cold brew and they both turned out delightful to our surprise. We also ordered a blue matcha which tasted like milk.. wouldn't recommend. And a muffin.. it was ok. Later ordered a breakfast burrito which was pretty good but good use some salt. The atmosphere is great. They've got music which isn't too loud. Overall, decent spot. May want to spend some time training the register staff.

The ambience and service are super good. Avocado toast with omelet on it is super good with tasty micro greens. Yogurt Parfait is very authentic unlike sweet yogurt parfaits. Latte is decent enough.

Substrate Cafe is now The Old Fashioned Bar & Cafe and has expanded their hours and menu to offer cocktails in the evening primarily with a bourbon focus, as well as, adaptogenic and beneficial mocktails! They should be opening the bar part on the next few weeks! I was excited to stop in and see the renovations and get an Americano to go. So grateful their coffee bar isn't going anywhere as it's one of my favorite local spots - brewing counter culture espresso (gradient is my fav) and offering creative house made syrups!! The barista said they will close for an hour each day and flip menu to the evening bar menu. How exciting - coffee & cocktails in a cozy lounge!! Will be back to check out their evening cocktail/mocktail offerings!

I came here today for the first time today. I immediately loved how clean and beautiful the cafe was. It wasn't too crowded and they have a nice patio for good weather days. I appreciated that there is a lot with plenty of parking. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the friendly staff. I ordered an iced Carmel latte. It was really good. I will definitely come back as this is a great quiet place to get some work done and enjoy good coffee

Food was ok. My friend tried the Mediterranean toast and it was nothing remarkable, just hummus, little bit of shaved carrot, and 2 pieces of radish. I tried the vegan tacos, and although they were tasty, the quantity was much too small for $12. The decor inside was pretty, and they were also selling other health / wellness items. The staff were friendly and food came out quick. The bathroom was not super clean when I went unfortunately. There is free parking outside the cafe.

Food and service were great highly recommend. 85 characters is a bit much. How many more do I need?

I've been here 12+ times and can't relate to any of the negative reviews. This is one of my favorite cafes to post up at in Nashville, which I even hesitate to say because it's a cozy, not well known spot as of now. The food is delicious. The staff are kind and passionate about working there. Family recipe biscuits, delicious breakfast food and pastries. Not sure what coffee and espresso they use but their lattes and americanos are rich and creamy. The interior is calming with lots of natural light. I love that they sell goods from local businesses and non-profits like Thistle Farms. Plus there's ample free parking and a small park for sunny days. What more could you ask for?

Drove by and almost missed it but glad we circled back. Super clean and very chill spot. Food was really fresh and was very good. We all had the breakfast options. My Breakfast tacos were excellent. Prices are very reasonable, especially for the area. I highly recommend checking this place out!

I liked my experience at Substrate. There were plenty of options to choose from on the menu. I was craving a BLT so I was excited to try the BLAT (with avocado)! The matcha was yummy as well! I used to go here when it was Makai and it's definitely comparable. Would go again and would like to try other items on the menu.

Visited today and got a honey nut latte with almond milk and it was so good. I cannot wait to go back and try the food it all looks so good!

Food was ok, it was not good or great. Food fell short of expectations from seeing other reviews. Coffee was good. Female staff was very friendly. Cozy coffee place. Few photos of my friend's food attached, breakfast sandwich (which was very small) and breakfast burrito. If you are someone with allergies or special dietary needs, I would not recommend going here.* *I had a very concerning experience here. Normally I don't give long reviews but I feel the full experience is needed to understand. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by a female staff member, who was extremely nice, and we began ordering. As she was taking our order, a male coworker came over, and physically pushed her out of the way. She tried to play it off and then walked away, saying like he would continue to take our order, and we were like that was strange, but no big deal. He proceeded to not acknowledge us, and was extremely rude for no reason. Regardless, we continued to place our orders. Then, it was my turn to order, and I ordered a latte. I then asked him if there was dairy in the latte, as it was my first time going to this coffee shop, and I was not sure if they defaulted to a plant-based milk or if they were using whole milk for lattes. He then told me that there was no dairy in the latte. I said OK and then I thought about it for a minute and I'm pretty sure that all lattes have dairy in it, as that is what a latte is; espresso and dairy. So I spoke up again and said, are you sure there isn't like milk or dairy in the drink like is there a plant base version instead and he just proceeded to say that there was no dairy in the drink. So I said, OK, but like if they did use dairy or milk, could you let them know to just use a non-dairy version instead? He just said again that there wasn't dairy in latte. I let it go because I was like hey maybe this coffee shop just makes it with water or something who knows. So that I sat down and I was watching the baristas and I literally watched the barista make my drink and she used whole milk to do so. I'm guessing it's whole milk because it was a white gallon with a red twist off lid. But once again, maybe they just use strange containers. So my drink was brought over and I had my friend try it and they said it tasted like there was milk in it. I normally don't have my coffee with any milk so when I tried it, I also noticed it tasted a little bit off. This was not a big deal for me because I'm only lactose intolerant, but I do have friends who have dairy allergies, and this would've been extremely dangerous for them. I just can't get over how rude the guy was and also why gaslight somebody into saying that there's not milk in a latte. It's just very confusing to me. Anyways, that is why I'm giving this place a one star and if you are someone with allergies or special dietary needs, I would not recommend going here.

Great place to enjoy fresh food with a delicious latte. Excellent service as well. Have eaten here multiple times and never been disappointed.

This was a new event around the holidays. It was a singers round and very intimate. The place was clean, friendly, and I would go back!!

First time here. Got here on a Sunday morning probably 1115. It wasn't busy, it was easy to park, no waiting. Friendly service, peaceful environment, and delicious food. I wish it was a little closer in my neighborhood but it's worth the drive. This place should actually be busier. Don't tell anybody. :-) Ha ha.

I love Substrate Cafe. It is never too crowded and it is centrally located in Nashville so I like to meet business colleagues there for coffee and meetings. I LOVE that they have vegetarian sausage that is really yummy. They also have Oyster mushroom tacos which is a fabulous alternative for a vegetarian. They are also starting to sell mushroom supplements so I have started buying them at Substrate so that I know where they come from. They grow the mushrooms in Nashville.

Inside area! This place has super super dope vibes and the live music is genuinely so good and matches the vibes great! Very open and airy with some hanging greens and lots of table space! The only reason I didn't make it 5 stars is because the chai iced latte I got was not great. Tasted very syrupy to me but to each their own! Otherwise, a great lovely place for Sunday brunch or to do work! And they provide lots of outlets! Generally above average for the selection for vegetarian eats and a small but free parking lot that I've never seen full!

Such a good find when looking for a snack and some caffeine on a long work day. This is definitely a Belmont college hang spot so space can be limited. The nitro cold brew here is awesome and I recommend the breakfast burrito. It's a huge potion and very flavorful. I did feel like they use too much chorizo and not enough eggs. The veggie wrap was meh and offered almost no flavor or texture. Beyond coffee and tea, Cafe Ma'Kai also a has a decent beer, wine and cocktail selection. There's a nice cozy bar here beyond just the indoor dining and also have an outdoor seating area with a few picnic tables to enjoy some fresh air. Not sure if I would come here again, just because it's far from my house, but if you're the area it's worth checking out.

Adorable and chic cafe! We wanted to grab a sit-down bite to eat and not wait 1-2 hrs in line at a restaurant in Nashville. They were pretty quick and it was a pleasant atmosphere. The food was nothing over the top but it was still nice and fresh. It's perfect if you just want to get rid of some hunger cravings without the super long wait. This was a Sunday brunch for us. I'd recommend it for a quick sit-down stop! - wifi - laptop bar - electronics charging station

I hate leaving negative reviews but I think this was the first time I've had to leave a restaurant/cafe before we even got our food. My mom and I had stopped by for breakfast since it was nearby and ordered an avocado toast and a mushroom toast. The cashier was extremely nice and got our orders taken and we sat down. Mom had noticed one family across the cafe who had been waiting on their order before we got there, but thought nothing of it. After generously waiting FORTY minutes for our food, that one family across the restaurant still hadn't received their order either. We figured this was a bad sign and decided to leave without receiving our food, which again was only an avocado toast and a mushroom toast; no drinks or anything. Disappointed to say the least, as we were excited to try this place :(

I am not a big coffee drinker but I AM a big avocado toast lover. I came here on a Sunday with a friend to study and surprisingly is wasn't too busy. We got a pretty large table all to ourselves. We came just in time to see the tail end of some live music which was the perfect vibe - great music, but not to distracting. I ordered the avocado toast and added an over easy egg. Avocado toast is always overpriced and the trend continued here. $11 for a slice of bread. They were even out of the normal sourdough which was disappointing so I had it on flax instead. I had a BOGO coupon so I also ordered a slice of their fall toast to bring home for later. They were also having wifi troubles which made it super inconvenient to get work done but nonetheless a great spot to catch up with friends or get some work done.

First impressions were that this cafe was indeed very cute, and we enjoyed the aesthetics of the space. Although don't get confused from the Yelp and google photos that pop up for the place showing sushi and cherry blossom on their menu, it was from a pop up event they had and is not on their menu regularly. Aside from that though, after ordering our food which was a basic order of BLT and breakfast burrito, it took 45 minutes to an hour to receive our meal. And when we did receive them the sandwich was a huge let down for us. BLT- The bread was so tough you could hardly chew it, and it was so dry, it was not a great feeling. This sandwich which was also 75% salad greens also only came with two pieces of bacon which were cold and basically flavorless. This also came with a large pile of greens on the side which was silly, as it felt this was just an add on to make it appear as though there was more on the plate then just two strips of bacon. Breakfast burrito- Although I did enjoy this burrito, we also felt it was a little on the high side in pricing. But aside from pricing completely, it was drowning in micro greens which seemed a bit excessive, and overall it's not something that would persuade us to come back, nor write home about. We had wished for a better experience, and also probably wouldn't have judged so harshly had it not taken nearly an hour for our plates. But considering, I believe that our rating and opinions were in fair standing. I don't think we'd be back again unless the sushi collaborator/pop up event were to happen again. Otherwise, a waste of our personal time and efforts, unfortunately.

I love Café MaKai! It's one of my go to Nashville cafes, and their food is great too. It has a lovely and calm atmosphere. I've been several times, and it's always been great. I could eat their vegan tofu scramble plate every day, and I'm not even vegan. Great lattes, pastry options, and lots of good food. They source so many products locally like their greens, veggie sausage, mushrooms, and more. I feel so calm and relaxed when I come in, and the staff is always so nice and friendly. They also have a fun spot where they sell local art, cards, and other fun items - plus they sell plants, and there are many lovely ones to enjoy inside too while you're there! I come here with friends for lunch, by myself to read, to grab a quick coffee, and more. Free and easy parking, great location. What more could you ask for?!

Cafe Ma'kai has one of my favorite sandwiches in town - the bacon sandwich! It is a simple but perfect combo of sourdough, apple butter, lettuce, tomato, and bacon. The apple butter and bacon together is really the winner. It is consistently delicious! The side salad that comes with the sandwich is always fresh and well dressed. The cafe has a fun vibe, with lots of indoor plants and sleek designs. It is an enjoyable place to look at. I love that they are eco-conscious and use compostable to-go packaging. While I would give the sandwich 5 stars, I was a little disappointed by the Cafe Ma'kai process today. Their website boasts curbside pickup but I could not get through on the phone to place an order. The phone would ring until the answering machine for another restaurant picks up. After trying to get through on the phone several times (and rechecking the phone number I was dialing), I chose to go up in person. The in-person ordering process was fine and it is clear that the cafe has changed many of their procedures for COVID-19; however, I hope they can get their order ahead system figured out before I go back next.

Super Cute Café! After a long morning of flying in from Fort Lauderdale, My sister and I decided to stop in and grab some coffee and a bite to eat. Neither of us had been here before so we weren't sure what to expect but café was so pretty with the decor and the atmosphere. It was as welcoming as the staff. We ordered the avocado toast with drip coffee and The breakfast sandwich w/bacon and a iced Coffee, both were so good! I wish I would have taken a photo but I was too hungry to stop and take the time. My only issue was that the fans were on full blast and it was a tad cold in there especially with it being winter. They might have turned them down or accommodated me if I had asked but I didn't take the time to do that. I have no complaints otherwise.!

I used to love this place. My friend and I would meet for coffee before work. They have a big coffee sign out front, but now they don't open till 8 AM? We drove here at 7:30 for breakfast before the workday, and we're disappointed to see that it now opens at 8 AM daily. I find this strange for a coffee and breakfast place. We will need to find somewhere else now.

If you are in search of the 2014 Los Angeles Vegan Cafe Gratitude vibes...this is your place! The barista was super friendly and helpful! The only reason I give this place 2/5 stars is because the latte was a little expensive and didn't wow me. It kinda tasted like a homemade latte which was kind of a letdown. I didn't have a chance to try their food, but it seemed to be pretty good looking from what I observed. For Belmont students, they accept Bruin bucks and it is within walking distance and there was also free parking available (I know that's a struggle in nashville)

Great coffee, food, and wonderful service....pretty full at 0900 with folks chatting and enjoying morning coffee

Unfortunately, the food took over an hr even though there were only 2 of us in the restaurant. Thankfully the server was amazing and kind and apologized profusely and gave me a pastry to make up for it! However they don't have the cooking staff/supplies to make the food so would not recommend and will not be going back.

We stopped by Cafe Ma'kai this past weekend when they hosted a pop up restaurant by Kintsugi. We walked in and ordered at the counter in Cafe Ma'kai. The cafe is really lovely, but I don't even know if they're allowing dine in right now, because the weather was so beautiful that I had to eat at one of their three tables outside. We tried one of everything on Kintsugi's menu that night (3/20), and everything was delicious. The service was great as well - the chef behind Kintsugi and a person I thought might have been a manager of Cafe Ma'kai both came out to talk to us about the food. I'd happily return to Cafe Ma'kai to try their own food and beverages as well as for future pop ups! A lovely evening: great food, good service, and a wonderful atmosphere. While the weather is still beautiful (why isn't spring longer?), check them out and enjoy their patio!

Café Ma'Kai is an awesome lil spot! Bright airy feel with locally sourced ingredients makes it the perfect for an afternoon coffee and bite to eat. And the mushroom toast . . . love

This place is absolutely fantastic. From the amazing decor to the excellent staff to the fantastic beverages and food. I think I've found a great spot to work from home without actually being home. I've been here a couple times for both lattes and mimosas and during each occasions Cafe Ma'kai hit the mark. I highly recommend this place for coffee or just a quiet afternoon get away.

Wow overrated. Nice inside. Eh coffee. But came here for the breakfast burrito and good god it was horrible. The whole thing was toasted like it was thrown in a convection oven to heat it up. Had no egg. Beans and corn? Where is the chorizo that is advertised as being in this burrito? Very confused. 3 stars for ambiance and service, wouldn't come here for anything else.

Cafe Makai is a coffee shop like no other. With a stunning, floral mural out front, this is a difficult place to miss. While I was driving I caught it out of the corner of my eye, and whipped my car around to check it out. I was pleased when I entered to a serene coffee shop, modernized by the light colors, woven chairs and light fixtures, and hanging plants. There was a fantastic nook filled with small business goodies from cards and prints to candles and pins. Lastly (and most importantly) they serve a great array of coffees, teas, and drinks as well as an extensive food menu. I will definitely be back to study, hang out, or simply to dine.

A darling, beachy, relaxing setting was a beautiful way to start the day. I had the breakfast burrito and my friend had the breakfast tacos, both were great. The burrito was a nice size and very filling. My hot chai latte tasted a bit burnt and bitter and maybe lacked the correct chai to milk ratio and my friend's cold chai definitely lacked the right amount of chai and was mainly milk. Cute place with friendly service.

The atmosphere is calm and bright. The people are kind and the food and drinks are tasty. I got 1/2 veggie wrap and a cup of chili for lunch. Both were fresh. The dark chocolate raspberry latte was also a hit. It tasted more like chocolate than coffee, but no complaints here.

Fun little café where you can chill in a relaxed ambiance and work. This is a sophisticated use of space with an open air kitchen/coffee/shake counter. I enjoy visiting this place because it is never crowded and customer service is always friendly. I like their farm to table concept with fresh ingredients and their unique food concepts plus drinks.

Cute place with a chill vibe and really good food and lavender lattes! Vegetarian vegan options available! Oat milk for dairy replacer. They also made me a sweet little kids lavender iced drink so my toddler could feel like she was getting a special coffee too (iced oat milk with a pump of lavender) the avocado toast had amazing enoki mushrooms on top which was really different and good! My wife's veggie wrap was also very flavorful and she said she would order again. Also loved the dressing on the salad. WiFi available and cute stickers and candles also available

This place is a no. The decor of place is really nice but the service and food is not great. My hubby and I were served fizzy gross orange juice and we thought was weird and then noticed another couple thinking it tasted it weird. The lady brought a new one saying "oh that one was probably old" no apologies nothing. Customer service needs work and so does the food. The coffee and coffee barista was nice but that's about it. I will definitely not be going back and I'm sure the other couple who did not drink the orange juice nor eat their sandwich will be back either. Huge disappointment for a cute place and nice area.

The most unorganized establishment I've ever been to. The worst service ever. Took over an hour to get my food and when I asked they just started going through the tickets and trying to find my order. We had to ask 3 times for the status of our order while everyone else around us who ordered after us got their food. The degenerate people do not know how to put food together in a timely manner I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone not even my worst enemy. Also food is mid. Will not be back

Grea coffee and great food. Would recommend the avocado toast and breakfast burrito! Staff is kind, they have some neat little gifts, and a great offering of different menu items.

A really cute cafe spot to grab coffee and breakfast or lunch. I haven't had the food so I can't speak to that, but the coffee is good. I've come here a couple times to work on my laptop and there's usually plenty of seating and quiet. However, I wish they were open a little longer than 4pm. If it was open until 5 or 6 that would be amazing!

One of my new favorite study spots! Love the atmosphere of cafe ma'kai and the staff are so nice. My avocado toast was a literal work of art and got me energized to get through my homework. Will definitely be coming back!

This is a super cute place to study, work or meet a friend for a chat. It has a relaxed boho vibe and I loved all the greenery throughout. I was pleasantly surprised by just how tasty their breakfast burrito was. The chorizo was excellent and the roasted corn was a nice touch, too. The pumpkin spice latte was good but a bit less sweet than your run of the mill Starbs' PSL. There aren't a ton of seats with outlets but I was lucky to snag one off in the corner. The staff was friendly and the tables and bathroom were clean. Looking forward to my next visit!

Makai was such a great experience. The baristas were incredibly kind and attentive. The vibe and choice of music was great and fitting for a lunch/espresso while catching up on work. And the catfish tacos..... I'll definitely be back!

One of my favorite places in Nashville. It is super delicious and the atmosphere is adorable. I'm here for hours studying during the school year. The staff is incredible and like family. They make sure everyone is comfortable and satisfied with their food/coffee. I love the classic egg, bacon, and toast breakfast with a matcha latte. My friends are obsessed with the breakfast burrito This is one of the best places in Nashville!

I miss The Jam. I stoped in for a breakfast biscuit and it was insanely salty and almost inedible. The quality of the food has went down dramatically. The only decent part was the iced coffee. I would save this place for coffee, but not for the food. With the amount of amazing coffee shops in town, I would pass on this one.

Great food and coffee! Stopped in during a short trip in Nashville. Makes for an excellent workspace when you are traveling! Kind staff and well decorated interior.

Super friendly staff, great food, and a calm atmosphere. It's a big space with a nice aesthetic that allows for a quiet workspace, but not so quiet that you couldn't also meet with someone and have a conversation without whispering. Get one of "Lucy's muffins" if they're in stock. I also highly recommend the breakfast tacos, breakfast burrito, the homemade biscuits with honey or jam, and the avocado toast. Pro tip, pull up with your dog and let them know you have them with you, and they'll send you out the door with a piece of bacon to give to them. I've never had a bad experience here and I go almost daily. It's hidden gem that deserves more recognition. 11/10 recommend

My friend and I went here today after being so pleased to find this awesome cafe survived the pandemic. We had a very disappointing experience. They were not serving any breakfast items because it was "too complicated" to serve while serving lunch. The server was not happy with my disputing what I had ordered and brought her order ticket for proof. Enough details - we won't be returning although we love the ambiance and the menu. I hope the owner can rescue this lovely concept with changes in his staff!

I have not tried enough items here yet but going off the item i did get, I rate them ***. I got the breakfast burrito, which to the other reviewer's point, was very bland. The other reviewer questioned if they just heat up the burrito in a convection oven and they do. I watched it. All you taste is beans and potato. No chorizo or egg. Bland

While I waited for someone to appear from the back and take my order, I began chocking and sneezing from whatever weird smoke was in the air. My guess is that they put cleaning products on a hot grill. It stunk. No one noticed that we were coughing or that we left because no one ever noticed that we were there. Too bad. This place used to be great.