Eastland Cafe

04/01/2008 Posted by lowrentcritic

I love a restaurant that can accommodate it's neighborhood crowd (like me, plus friends) as well as those from across the river and make both feel equally welcome. Eastland Cafe achieves that and much more. The service is great, I prefer sitting at the bar- where bartenders Ariel and Amy are professional, personable, knowledgeable, know when you like to chat and know when you want to be left alone. The food is consistently delicious (try the goat cheese brulee for an appetizer! You won;t be sorry) And the Eastland Cafe's best kept secret? Is the happy hour menu=cheap eats and drinks. But get there early!

Pros: Great service

Cons: No cons

02/13/2008 Posted by stephanie123blue

I just went back for the second time and was not disappointed. I had the trout, which was great. My husband had the roast chicken which was delicious as well. I have not had a bad meal here, in fact, I think the consistency makes this one of the best restaurants in Nashville. The menu is great, the side dishes are some of the best around. Upscale food with a Southern undertone makes this an unforgettable experience. The wine list is also good. I will definitely be back.

Pros: Food, Service and Wine List

02/09/2008 Posted by rx220s

I'm usually extremely easy to please, and rarely have any complaints to offer. However, after 1 making reservations and showing up on time, we weren't seated until 45 minutes later. As we were seated, I noticed how loud it was inside the restaurant. I couldn't hear the waiter describe the specials over the acoustics of the building. The service left alot to be desired, and someone in our group actually had to send their steak back to the kitchen because it was cold. I was really looking forward to having a good experience, but was pretty disappointed. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news........

01/09/2008 Posted by townsete

The food at Eastland Cafe is great...but I feel that I should warn potential patrons of some recent experiences. We took my mother to Eastland last week when she was visiting, and in the middle of the meal, a particularly unwanted pest (for some reason, this site won't allow you to use the actual name of the pest in your review of a restaurant--look up "Periplaneta americana" if you need to know) wandered up onto our table. We caught it in a napkin and showed it to the waiter, and he apologized profusely, and that was that. I happened to relay the incident to a friend of mine, and he said that he and his wife had been enjoying a drink in the Eastland Cafe bar just a few weeks earlier when they noticed the same type of pest crawling up the wall. They, too, let the bartender know about the pest. So, apparently, they have a bit of a pest problem (as many commercial food service places do), and are aware of it, but I am not sure what they are doing to address it. But for me, when I am dropping $100 on dinner, I don't want to have to worry about sharing it with pests. Just a caveat!

08/06/2007 Posted by rj0110

Not sure what I did to deserve it, but I was ignored completely at the bar on a Monday night, as I waited patiently for a drink. Yes, it was busy, but a simple nod and a little eye contact would have let me known I had been noticed, and I would have continued to wait patiently. I was brushed aside by a server in a hurry to pick up drinks, and he seemed quite annoyed that I was in his way. All in all, a very snooty vibe, from people who aren't nearly as sophisticated as they think they are. Save your money. Go somewhere else.

07/14/2007 Posted by markt1

Eastland has become both me and my wifes favorite dining stop. Chef Hals soups are a must when you go. We both had the Wild Mushroom Soup on our last visit, and it was excellent. The fish entrees change daily and should not be overlooked. All in all this is a must stop for a casual dining experience. Do try and leave room for the beignets, a great finish to the meal. Plan on spending around $100.00 for dinner for two with a bottle of wine.

Pros: Good food, great service

Cons: not open for lunch

07/06/2007 Posted by qwiklap

I took my lovely date -- in her pretty dress -- to Eastland and we both loved it. Excellent food and great atmosphere. We had the goat cheese and honey appetizer and really enjoyed it. My date had the pork porterhouse chop and it was awesome (and huge -- she ate less than half). I had the duck breast with coconut rice. Also very excellent - I would definately highly recommend. Prices were very reasonable about $100 for two with a bottle of wine.

Pros: Good food, good prices, good times

Cons: wait staff is a bit snooty

05/28/2007 Posted by ladylenore

I use to live in San Francisco where the food and wine was always amazing almost anywhere you chose to go. My boyfriend and I still travel back and forth frequently and we are always disappointed to come home to Nashville's food scene until we tried Eastland Cafe. The atmosphere was calming and romantic and the food was excellent even for the price. We will be back for a date as soon as possible.

Pros: ambience, food, good service + they are open on Mondays!

Cons: I really didn't find any.

05/26/2007 Posted by jefmol

We have been to Eastland Cafe several times. We live in Brentwood, and are from Chicago, so we are constantly looking for great restaurants (not a chain). We tend to sit at the bar to eat and have a few drinks. Amy makes terrific cosmos (I know, so passe, but I love them) and my hubby likes the beer selections. The service is spot on, not overly fussy, but there when you need them. The food is fabulous! The goat cheese brulee is so delicious, I would be happy just to eat that! But, don't miss the salmon (Perfectly cooked, wonderful flavor) or the duck breast. The prices are great, especially compared to Franklin markups at places like Saffire and The Red Pony. We love it! Our only complaint, they allow smoking. It is a real drag when in a small restaurant. Go smoke free!!!!

Pros: great food, great drinks, terrific bar and friendly service

Cons: smoking is allowed

02/14/2007 Posted by enashtee

I great stop after work to wind down. Amy (bartender) is excellent at assisting with wine or drink selections - just tell her what you usually drink: full-bodied red zin? rich chardonnay with a crisp finish? If you can't describe your preference, just tell her what you' ve enjoyed in the past and ask her to let you try something similar. Taste, sweetheart. Don't order a glass or bottle of something that you know nothing about. The food. It has always been wonderful. I had an overcooked appetizer once (out of many visits). I calmly sent it back to the kitchen, because that's what grownups do. I've taken 6 different friends to this restaurant and they all loved it.