Province Breads & Cafe

03/19/04

Good selection but so-so service

by laylaunetn at Citysearch

Good selection, a TAD pricey, and so-so pretentiousness for this local favorite. It's best to order carryout and find a place at the local park to nibble. The tables are too close together. Staff is not very friendly, for the most part. The prices are a bit on the EXORBIDANT side.

• Pros: food, selection, food
• Cons: , service, price

03/15/03

not for the claustrophobic or children

by ambersan at Citysearch

My husband, child & I miraculously found a vacant table and highchair, but the tables are so tightly packed in together that it made our lunch very uncomfortable. Our table was covered with dirty dishes, so we had to clean it before we sat down. When we were done with our meal, I took our dishes over to the kitchen area and had to maneuver through tightly-packed tables, frightful that I'd trip over someone's bag or drop my trash into someone's meal. In the process, I bumped into a poor woman's propped-up and obviously ailing foot, and I felt like crawling into a hole and trying to forget the whole experience. The next time we crave their wonderful sandwiches, sides, coffees or pastries, we'll have to get it to go. I wish we could take in the bistro-like ambience and enjoy a special meal there without feeling absolutely cramped.

• Pros: diverse, unique menu, unique atmosphere, beautiful artwork
• Cons: limited seating, cramped interior, limited parking

01/26/03

Music city's best kept secret

by goodolboy at Citysearch

After Moving to Nashville from a large east coast city I was going through withdrawals for wonderful european breads and great coffee and espresso. It was fate that I turned on the FoodNetwork to see a show on bakeries and there was Provence right here in Hillsboro Village. Upon entering the store I literally fell to my knees- there before me was the most incredible selection of artisan breads, fabulous french pastry, farmhouse cheeses, and foods reminiscent of Dean & Delucca. The chocolate dessert pastry is the best I've seen anywhere in the U.S. My first sampling was breads still warm out of the oven and croissants that were flakey and buttery. These local folks have also opened a store recently in the new Downtown Public Library. The space is a re-creation of an old established Parisian bistro/boulangerie and the downtown sophistication and ambience is unbelievable! This can't be Nashville.

• Pros: open seven days, delicious soups, easy parking
• Cons: long lines of people, calories, addiction

10/10/02

Fromage and Pate

by ten_nc_an at Citysearch

If you like cheese and pate, this is definitely the place to go. However, there is an air of pretentiousness that permeates throughout the restaurant. Unfortuantely for US, Nashville is not in Southern France, if you understand where I am coming from. All in all, the food selection is fresh and light. If you are a fan of "fattening foods", you'll enjoy the desserts!

• Pros: fromage, olive selection, DESSERTS
• Cons: the price, the price, the price

08/31/02

A Must!

by bkbarber at Citysearch

Great coffee; great pecan croquette, etc.; great atmosphere; this out-of-towner will come back just to re-visit this place

08/17/02

Hot, Fresh, Local Variety

by crobinett at Citysearch

This is the place for coffee, It allows a swirl of the best local coffees, blended with some fresh more distance blends, to allow the best selection and flavor in town.

• Pros: Local Vendors, Fresh, Hot

08/06/02

A little bit of France in Tennessee

by wizzguy53 at Citysearch

Provence has without a doubt the best cup of coffee in Nashville. The coffee is superb and the surroundings are spectacular (especially the new location downtown in the Library). Now We get to have a delightful breakfast in Hillsboro Village and a great lunch downtown. Ahhhh don't you love it?

• Pros: Great locations, Great coffee, Really nice atmospher

07/30/02

An escape from the norm

by seacitygirl at Citysearch

Now that they have opened a new location Downtown, I lunch here regularly. It is an escape from the grease ladded heavy food that tradtionally mean lunch in down town. Taste is king here. And a person can eat rather healthly for a reasonable price, with choices that vary day to day. And if per chance a sweet craving hits, well, there is no place better to find out of this world desserts. Plus the down town location is a lot less cramped and confusing that the Hillsboro Village location

• Pros: taste, taste, taste