11/09/09

Worst Hostess Experience EVER. I won't be going back.

by lttiddle2u

So, this was actually the second time I've eaten at the Eastland Cafe and thanks to the hostess at the front door, It will definitely be my last.

We happened to be the last two to arrive for birthday party in which a reservation had been made for 8 people. When we walked in and informed this pathetic excuse for a hostess who we were with, she proceeded to put her hand on her hip and lecture for at least 3 or 4 minutes about how in the "restaurant business" it reflected poorly on her if everyone didn't arrive on time. and blah blah blah blah blah. (As if anything could've reflected more poorly than her own behavior.) One of the other guests finally told her to shut her mouth and not to utter another word. Which thankfully, she did.

We ate, drank and enjoyed that birthday party until almost 10:00 and believe it or not, at no time was I worried that the world would come to an abrupt end because a few folks were late for a reservation.

It is a shame that an establishment such as this which does have good food, good servers, would employ a hostess with such an attitude. I know of 8 people who will never step through that door again.

• Pros: good food
• Cons: HOSTESS WAS HORRIBLE.

08/15/09

Disgusting in the Kitchen

by JGSNashville

I understand that we probably don't want to know what happens in the kitchens of most restaurants, but I was standing outside the door to the men's room at Eastland Cafe and witnessed an absolutely repulsive practice in the kitchen.

The chef had just put a pile of shrimp scampi on a plate and was lifting it toward the counter when he caught the plate on an edge and spilled its contents all over the station where he prepared the food...on several of the bowls that held sauces...and even on the side of one counter.

Not knowing I was watching, he piled it back on the plate...literally scraping the pasta off a variety of clearly unclean surfaces.

It wasn't as if he was just using the plate to gather everything together before throwing it out. He was putting this meal back on the plate, reorganzing it, and even adding a garnish. Only when another waiter saw me watch the chef actually lifting the dish back toward the counter did that waiter let the chef know I'd seen him.

Of course when I told our waiter what I'd seen...and that I was not interested in eating anymore, the manager came over and insisted that nothing had happened. She made a point of insisting nothing fell on the floor, which I had actually neither seen nor communicated myself. There was a 10 minute discussion in the back by the bar with the manager, some waiters, the chef, etc. It felt as though they were getting their stories straight.

Anyway, I know that this happens a lot and that most patrons never are aware. One of my guests is 12 months pregnant. I cannot help but think that this sort of practice in the kitchen represents what I would assume is a health risk for the average person, let alone someone who is pregnant or already faced with some other health condition.

The attitude from the manager and the waiter was a nice compliment to an overall repulsive experience.

• Cons: Proper Food Preparation?

07/13/09

Best spot in all of nashville

by mooresas

My boyfriend and I pick this spot for dates, anniversaries, or just because we crave it! I have been with parties and it was great for that too! Goat cheese brulee is a must have appetizer. All the food is large portions and great combinations of flavors... I cannot rave about this place enough! John is funny and knows the menu well! Linsey is a great bartender, and cute! YOU MUST TRY this place!

• Pros: fabulous food, big portions, John our server,Linsey bartende

04/20/09

Consistent!

by janetandpaul

Happy Hour - Good Value, Consistent, Good Bar Atmosphere, noise level acceptable, Cocktails mostly strong - 2 will sort you out nicely after a hard day's work, $5 appetisers that will fill you up. A great 1.5 hr unwind after work and cheaper than cooking at home. Qualities that are the norm but sadly lacking at most Nashville bars.

• Pros: Food/Parking/Staff
• Cons: Happy Hour too Short

03/11/09

best happy hour deal in town

by hippilongstocking

My girlfriends & I go to Eastland Cafe once a week for happy hour. You can't beat $5 specialty martinis & appetizers. The pizzas are always really good & big enough to share. The crust is nice & thin and they make the buffalo mozzarella in house. Other menu items include quesadillas (always good & always something new), potstickers, spring rolls & their newest edition: pork sliders served on yeast rolls with homemade pickles & cole slaw. Delicious!!

The staff is really nice. We usually stay for a while, sometimes a few hours. They never encourage us to leave, even though we don't spend as much money as other people that are there for dinner.

The restaurant is beautiful & has a great atmosphere. I think it was opened fairly recently, but isn't ultra modern & sterile. It feels like it's been there forever.

Go ahead & give it a try. The happy hour appetizers are so good that I don't doubt the dinner offerings are amazing as well!

• Pros: cheap eats, nice atmosphere, & our regular waiter Daniel
• Cons: happy hour is only 1 hour

12/29/08

Horrible

by WNMJ

This was officially the worst meal I have had in Nashville, and the first time and I have ever sent an entree back to the kitchen. The calamari was so overcooked the breading looked and tasted burnt, and the ribeye was the worst cut of meat I have ever had. It tasted like burnt garlic, appeared to be trimmed by a first grader, and had definitely been frozen. I couldn't even cut into the steak from the outside due to all the connective tissue that was left, and the massive amount of fat that was still on the meat made a chore to find an edible bite. My meal was cold except for the spinach souffle which was so hot that I couldn't eat it until 10 minutes into the meal. The meal was doomed from the beginning because of their use of inferior items and worsened by the lack of any talent in the kitchen. I wouldn't recommend Eastland Cafe to my worst enemy.

10/18/08

salty and slow

by rudy444

I love to try new restaurants and am an easy customer to please, but I must admit I was extremely disappointed by my experience at Eastland. Though we did have a large party (9), the service was incredibly slow ... we were at the restaurant for four hours, which in my estimation far exceeds even the most leisurely dining experience. It took an hour to get an appetizer and another 40 minutes after that before they even took our dinner order. The sound levels inside were incredible to say the least-I've honestly been to rock concerts that were quieter-which made it very hard to hear the people right next to me, let alone across the table. To top it all off, the food was not anywhere near as good as you would expect at $18-$30 a plate. The presentation was nice and the food was cooked to order, but everything was so over-salted and over-seasoned that it was truly overwhelming. It's the only time I've had a rib-eye that I didn't like, just because it was so over-salted. Over all very disappointing. I felt as though I paid nearly two hundred dollars for two mediocre bottles of wine, and greatly resented the 20% gratuity that was automatically included on the check.

09/13/08

Finally a great restaurant in East Nashville

by wolfegirl

I had dinner here for my birthday with friends and family, and it was excellent. Our server Ashley had great recommendations on the food and wine and knew much about both. When prompted with questions and suggestions, she gave honest answers and feedback based on what we told her we liked. The short ribs with stone ground yellow grits were good, but a little lukewarm when they arrived to the table. The goat cheese brulee was very good too. The beet and crusted goat cheese salad was very good and I has to fight everyone off of it. someone else had the beer and cheese soup with homemade potato chips which was delicious. I ordered the rib eye with bleu cheese butter which internally was cooked perfectly. The blueberry beignets were also very good, but were more of a fritter than a beignet to me. I will definitely be back. I hear they have a great happy hour.

• Pros: Food, service, wine selection
• Cons: Parking, some food could have been hotter for my taste

08/24/08

One of our favorites!

by happy01

This is one of Nashville's best! Consistantly good food, and good service. The only item on the menu that I have had recently that I probably wouldn't order again is the vegetarian burrito. My husband loves the lettuce wedge with the fried green tomato.

• Pros: Great neighborhood restaurant!
• Cons: None!

04/01/08

Great service- I prefer the bar

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