Restaurant Reviews – Page 3

Retro Sno…A blast from the past!

Oh the weather outside is frightful…and that’s actually a true story because it has been hot as ‘hell’, literally. And what better way to cool off than with the awesome ladies at the Retro Sno truck. These girls are whipping up melt in your mouth delicious sno balls that will have you coming back for more. We first experienced Retro Sno while on our way to The Biscuit Love Truck. I hadn’t even heard about this Retro Sno until then. My wife being the genius that she is decided why not grab some shaved ice to go with our Miss Princess Biscuits. I didn’t object, who would? Not only do they use the old fashion form of shaving your sno ball from a single block of ice. Giving you that soft fresh fallen snow feel. They’re also whipping up their own flavors to keep you entertained and on your toes.

We ordered the Rainbow Sno Cup and my own mixture of Peach and Wedding Cake. They didn’t disappoint in the least. They even have concoctions for the foodie at heart like Frozen White Mocha, Red Hawt & Creamy Chai Latte. Really, what else could I say besides find these ladies when you’ve got some down time from the mundane rituals of life. With the temperature hanging around the hundred zone you’re gonna wish Retro Sno would set up shop in your front yard.

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Be sure to follow Retro Sno on Facebook & Twitter.

The West End Cafe

The Ambiance. The West End Cafe warranted a visit while looking for a light lunch snack . We saw the Grand Opening sign and said, Why not? You walk into the establishment which is vaguely reminiscent of a cafeteria but with trendy decor. The Cafe is fitted with earthy tones and wood beams to provide that contemporary rustic feel that is so popular at the moment. You can enjoy the news or sports while dining because there are several flat screen t.v.s and a small bar tucked in the corner. You can also enjoy the view of West End traffic on their patio space.

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The Food. The Cafe offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. They are moderately priced and offer soups, sandwiches and appetizers. We haven’t tried their breakfast so if you know anything about it let us know.

You won’t be writing home about the cuisine at The West End Cafe. It is simplistic food made for it’s business professional, college student demographic. The first time we visited the cafe they forgot the andouille on our pepperoni and andouille flatbread, bummer, because that probably would have elevated the uninspired pizzetta in front of us. We ordered the turkey & cranberry sandwich, which had hickory smoked turkey, havarti, mesclun greens, red onions & cranberry rosemary chutney on cracked wheat bread. It was good, but I recommend asking them to toast the bread. That would make the sandwich better. The Chipotle Chicken sandwich with white cheddar, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes & chipotle mayonnaise on toasted jalapeno cheddar bread which was actually better than I had intended. I’d reccomend trying the chipotle chicken sandwich and the hummus plate. They were the items I’d order if I ever crossed paths again.

They also serve Bongo Java so we grabbed an ice coffee to go. In all honesty, the West End Cafe is in a great location for the grab and go crowd of the busy West End area but it’s not something you’d go out of the way for. If you enjoy the run of the mill sandwich shop. The West End Cafe will be your joint.

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip….Shakes, Malts & Burgers, Oh! My!

The Ambience. I’m a fool for simple prepared meals at a good price, throw in some nostalgia and I’m sold. You get that and maybe a little more with Bobbies Dairy Dip on Charlotte Pike. Fifteen or so recommendations later and we finally made our way over to the 50’s 60’s inspired carhop. The almost forgettable food stand is nestled into Charlotte Pike between Krystal’s and Miel Restaurants. Minimally decor-ed in old car cut-outs, bright neon’s and a kitschy car-hop woman. You will be swept into a time where living was easy and leather jackets were plentiful.

The Food. We have ordered a plethora of things within our last few visits. It is our new Nashville discovery that we find ourselves visiting frequently . We enjoy the veggie and black bean burger with the regular hand-cut fries. My wife is a fool for sweet potato fries so we typically end up with an order of those as well. You may say to yourself why vegetable burgers at Bobbie’s Dairy Dip and I prefer them over the beef burger. It didn’t move me. Until I can make the judgement call about Gabby’s, my burger joint is better left to The Pharmacy. The burgers at Bobbies are nothing to write home about but they are good and filling. If you make it a combo; it’s more than likely you won’t finish it all. I am infatuated with the James Brown Milkshake, all you have to say is chai and I’m invested. This shake is a “soulful blend of coffee, chai, chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream.” It’s really good.

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The Service. You won’t find a staff thrilled about slapping buns together and schlopping milkshakes around. But they are typically friendly for the most part and relatively accommodating. If you are of the impatient sort and you see a line when you pull in, leave. No need to bust an ulcer over it, just come back another day. They’ll be waiting on you.

Coming Soon! New Nashville Restaurants

Etch. Deb Paquette, former chef/owner of Nashville favorite Zola, has partnered with Doug Hogrefe and Paul Schramkowski, owners of several restaurants throughout the Southeast including Nashville Stalwart, Amerigo, to develop Etch, a new restaurant located on the ground floor of the Encore building in SoBro. The 4000 sq. ft. restaurant will seat 150, with a private dining room, full bar, and an open kitchen with bar-style seating, allowing the guests to interact with the chef and her kitchen. Etch is currently under construction and slated for a mid-Summer opening.

Kocktails & Kouture. Sisters Blair & Baley Bodden have come together to create the female wonderland of today in a unique combination of restaurant and boutique at the Velocity in the Gulch on 11th Avenue South. A place to eat, drink and shop in one location. Is this a woman’s dream or what?

Lockeland Table. Chef Hal Holden-Bache and general manager Cara Graham are launching Lockeland Table Restaurant and Community Kitchen which they envision as a home for creative, chef-driven cuisine with an emphasis on fresh local ingredients and a comfortable neighborhood vibe. Projected to be opening early fall.

Silo. I am truly excited about this one. The menu looks amazing!

Suppertime in Nashville promises to become even tastier this summer with the opening of SILO, a Southern-influenced, neighborhood bistro in historic Germantown at the corner of 5th and Madison in the new Vista Germantown apartments.

A savory collaboration between Clay Greenberg, former Executive Chef of Virago and LIME, and Paul Cercone, previous owner of Normandy Farm Artisan Bakery in Charleston, SC, SILO will serve up sophisticated farm food in a lively, welcoming setting designed by architect Greg Ibañez. The space will feature a community table, a private dining room, a large bar area, two patios, and an open kitchen.

Guests will enjoy a creative, chef-driven menu with a focus on the bounty of regional farmers and producers. Local influences will be found beyond the menu, as well, including tables and chairs constructed by Enos Hostetler, an Amish craftsman from Ethridge, Tennessee and pendant lighting from artist John Beck near Louisville, Kentucky.

Greenberg and Cercone are champions of the Slow Food and Southern Foodways Alliance communities, embracing the importance of simple preparations with distinctive, regionally grown ingredients.

Says owner Paul Cercone about the origin of the name, “Silos speak to things worth saving, like the Southern traditions of working hard, having fun, and enjoying what you’ve grown or raised around a shared table.”

Daily dinner service will begin at 6 PM, with special Sunday Brunch and Supper seatings. Bar service will begin at the happiest of hours, 5 PM.

Alegria. A new Mexican restaurant that was slated to open in the Spring, but apparently didn’t make it. Well Green Hills is past due for a quality dig that shells out fresh Mexican fare. Prayerfully it’s not your typical nacho, taco, red sauce everywhere kind of place. There is so much more to explore in the world of Mexican fare. But I guess we’ll have to wait it out. Click Alegria & follow them on Facebook. And if you get there before we do, let us know what you think.

The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden….Your NEW Addiction!

The Food. Dear god of all things greasy. No more mediocre burger joints please! That was the first thought when I overheard someone speak of The Pharmacy in East Nashville. But that opinion quickly changed once we made our way over to 731 McFerrin to get our hands on those burgers. We noticed the line out the door as we arrived. You know what that means, let the waiting pursue. We viewed the menu while waiting for a table to free. It didn’t take much for me to conclude that if you open up a ‘burger parlor’ then why not see how well your basic burger holds up? It was fantastic. I got The Pharmacy Burger and my wife got The Pharmacy Burger, sub turkey, which I could almost swear to you was better than the beef. I’m just sayin’. While the bun that holds together the cheesy meaty goodness could be debatable as to whether it’s a ‘Burger Connoisseurs’ favorite. We loved it. The bun created by Nashville’s own Provence Breads & Cafe are soft and slightly chewy but delicious all the same. Don’t forget the hand-cut fries with that Cheesy Tennessee burger or maybe even the sweet potato fries.(which I am over the sweet potato fry craze,enough already, but my wife is a die-hard fan) They also have pasta & potato salad which we weren’t a fan of. The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden also slings a fancy shlew of house-made brats, felafel and veggie burgers, an array of dipping sauces & nostalgic soda fountain-style carbonated beverages, shakes and malts. We recommend the Creamsicle Orange Soda as well as the Chocolate Soda. Those beverages will serve as a fantastic spouse to the burger or brat heading your way. A marriage worth fighting for; no pun intended.

The Ambiance & Service. Upon entering The Pharmacy you’re greeted by dim lighting, brown contemporary wood fixtures, bar stools and soda shop inspired art adorn the walls. Simplistically chic to say the least, but a great hangout for the hipster crowd that East Nash plays host to. The service can often be a hot mess! There have been many occasions where the wait has been more than unbearable and the service slower than Christmas in February! But if you can get past the madness that is the ‘Indie’ world of dining then prepare to enjoy one good meal.