Reviewing Lou: New American brunch spot in Nashville.

For months, I heard that Lou has the best “foodie” brunch in Nashville, and I knew that I needed to try it. I made a reservation about a month in advance for brunch, which is only offered on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and their space is limited. My excitement only grew when the chef and owner, Mailea Weger, was announced as a James Beard Chef Award semifinalist just days before my visit.

Located in a quiet, residential part of East Nashville, Lou has quite a different feel than the bars and restaurants that line Gallatin Pike just a few blocks away. Because it is in an old single-story home, the seating is relatively limited and crowded, making the noise level just a bit elevated. They also have an outdoor patio, which would be lovely during warmer weather, and a five-person bar. The California-chic decor was likely inspired by Weger’s time working at Gjelina/Gjusta in Los Angeles, and the style brought me back to my days of living there as well. The interior is bright and airy, complete with potted plants, wood and wicker furniture, exposed brick, and minimalist artwork.

My boyfriend and I were seated immediately when we arrived for our reservation, and our server came over to ask if we had any questions about the drink menu. I have never ventured into natural wines despite my extensive interest in wine. Since Lou specializes in natural wine, I decided that I had to give it a shot and ordered a glass of Sicilian contact wine (the only contact wine available by the glass), while my boyfriend opted for black coffee. I really enjoyed the wine, which was crisp and sharp with notes of green apple and salt. The coffee was excellent as well.

When our waitress returned with drinks, we took the opportunity to order our food. Upon browsing the menu, it is immediately obvious why Lou is considered the best foodie brunch in Nashville. Nearly every other brunch spot offers slight variations of the same usual suspects, whereas Lou essentially throws the entire playbook out. In a city where every breakfast dish tends to include meat, Lou is refreshingly vegetable-centric: lima beans are more likely to be found than eggs benedict.

This is a small plates restaurant, so we elected to share the chocolate maple and buckwheat pancake, the breakfast sandwich with kale and Monterey Jack, and the crispy potatoes. The pancake is an absolute must; it’s slightly crispy on the outside, yet soft and cake-like on the inside. Its sweetness is perfectly balanced by the large pat of salty malt butter served on top. The breakfast sandwich comprised of eggs, kale, cheese, potatoes, spicy sauces, and aioli sandwiched between two buttered slices of delicious sourdough bread. The combination of spiciness, bitterness, acid, and fat was unexpected in the best way, and the sandwich was large and sliced in half – ideal for sharing. Likewise, the flavor profile of the crispy potatoes was complex as they were tossed in a rich, earthy hazelnut pesto. Although the flavor was on point, the texture was not what I was expecting. The potatoes are cooked so heavily that few had soft insides, while most were completely crisp the entire way through, making them akin to extra crispy potato skins.

Aside from having to flag our waiter down for coffee refills, my experience was an amazing one. Lou offers interesting and exciting brunch options from a menu that changes often. The quality of the food is enhanced by a delightful atmosphere and playful wine list. I will definitely return to Lou to try their dinner, and I highly recommend brunch to those looking for something unique in Nashville.