Good drinks, decent food, kinda rude service.... I met a group of friends for drinks at Park Cafe- they go there for happy hour from time to time and were celebrating a special home closing. I arrived after everyone else, and when I walked in was greeted in a friendly manner that turned a little sassy once I told her I was here to meet some friends at the bar. Long story short, my friend had made a reservation and as our group trickled in over time, the hostess and servers became anxious to flip the table ( even though there was no wait the entire night ). They had plenty of tables available. I ordered a margarita which was fabulous. The apps were good but nothing that could compete to knock out the competition in town. I felt the same way about the signature salmon dinner dish. Good, but nothing I have to have again. The server was short with us, and seemed annoyed with every visit back to the table. My friend ordered a glass of wine with her meal and after a long wait, she asked if it would be on its way since she had already been served her meal she had planned to pair it with. With rolled eyes he looked to the bar and said, it should be out any minute and then asked what she ordered again - I suspect he forgot, which he had done earlier as well. Its bound to happen, everyone is human, but don't act as though the table has inconvenced you as a server. It's not as though she could get up and get it herself. Later she asked for a recommendation for celebratory shot- he responded that not many people drink shots at this bar so he didn't know, but said he guesses he could ask the bartender with judgement in his voice. While we did occupy a high top for a few hours, between drinks, apps, and dinner the table as a whole spent around $500 collectively. If it were busier I may have had empathy for wanting to turn a table, but never believe it appropriate to make the guest feel rushed or unwelcome. Experience should be just as good, if not better than the food in my opinion.
(3)
Ed K.
Good service & great patio. Sorry to say, this chef is in way over his head. He shouldn't go near a curry dish. We had two diff kinds & the lamb chops. This place has many pluses but the food isn't one of them, SADLY.
(1)
Deanne R.
We love Park Cafe! After a few years away, we returned to find one of our favorite old spots has been beautifully renovated. The atmosphere has a great feel. We first had a drink in the bar. The bartender, Marrissa, was knowledgable, friendly, and attentive. They have a nice beer selection, as well as a cool cocktail list. The host/manager offered to seat us in the dining room (at our pace), which we really appreciated. We moved into the dining room and were promptly greeted with water. We proceeded to order from the menu of small plates, which all looked great, but we shared a few then moved on to entrees. We loved the stuffed dates and Trout. Everything was well paced and properly coursed. It was a delightful evening. The service, all around, could not have been better. The food was fantastic. We cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Robert D.
I docking a star because our server wandered off for too long and we waited way too long to get our drink order in (he did profusely apologize and said he got sidetracked). After this, everything went very well and the food was delicious. I highly recommend the green chili mac and cheese, as well as the baked oysters. Also nice is that the price I felt was surprisingly reasonable for high end food. We'll be back!
We ate at Park Cafe with friends last night. Great experience. The ambience is cozy and classic, very neighborhood-y. The food was great too. I ordered the chicken and spinach dumplings, which were delicious, and the burger, which was AMAZING. Perfectly cooked, interesting (and delectable) toppings, perfect bun. Perhaps the best burger I've had in Nashville. The fries were great too. We live close by and will absolutely be back!
(5)
Joshua S.
Two words. Purr Fect. This place is a classic nashville staple and is well worth any visit. Great food, friendly and knowledgable staff. Take the recommendations on the daily offerings, they are seriously on their game. And get the Mac n Cheese with anything (as an extra side, not just with the dish... Hell order 3 and make it an entree). The truffle potato mushroom pizza is legit. An unexpectedly pleasing twist for a pizza. Drinks are awesome too! I'll be coming back and will review other items as I can order them! Hard as a veggie in this town, but this place is a winner for sure.
(5)
Janet Y.
Park Cafe was nothing short of excellent! My husband and I came for happy hour, and we didn't leave disappointed. We practically tried everything on the happy hour menu. The Boudin Balls were so delish that I'm salivating as I think about them while typing this review. We also got fried pickles, which I thought were good but my husband thought were the best creation since sliced bread! The buffalo chicken egg rolls with a side of cole slaw were seriously thebomb dot com. The burger was also A-OK (probably our least favorite but solid). To top off our excellent food experience, the head chef made a special visit to our table and had us try a new recipe he was experimenting for cheese biscuits! He made us feel so special!! Their drinks were also made just right. Not too strong, but not too weak. Tip: The only snafu of the night was that their website said happy hour started at 4:30 (which is when we got there), but that is only when the happy hour drinks start. The kitchen doesn't actually open until 5. Overall, we had a great experience here. The atmosphere was cool. Our server was very sweet. We can't wait to go back!
(4)
Bonnie B.
I've been looking forward to revisiting Park Cafe & was not disappointed!! This place is yummy!! The arugula salad with fresh blueberries was delicious & the barrata fresh mozzarella & heirloom tomatoe salad was wonderful as well! Fantastic wine list keeps me coming back!
(4)
Fabiana H.
Very cute place, romantic ambiance. Service was good, I had salmon and it was pretty decent. My friend was also very happy with her meal. Nothing too special but I would come back
(3)
Stephanie C.
The atmosphere was fantastic! The pace was perfect, it took about 2 1/2 hours from the time we sat down to when we got the check but to me that allowed plenty of time for great conversation & we didn't feel rushed at all. Our server was very polite and knowledgeable. He had tried almost everything on the Valentine's Day menu. He was very respectful & never interupted us. It was a set menu for Valentine's day but everything was very good from the Tuna Tartar to the salads & entrees. I'm excited to go back and try everything on the regular menu.
(4)
Tim H.
My wife and I drive up to here from Huntsville AL., just to visit. One of our favorite restaurants. Everything was fresh and put together in an interesting manner. Great food, Great service.
I can't really say enough positive things about the level of service this place delivers. From the hostess to the server, I felt like they all believed in the food they served. Speaking of the food, it was pretty good. It wasn't the best I've had, but the ideas the chef had were inspired and risky. I really liked the shrimp corn dog. It was really spicy and very original. While the lamb had a good flavor, it was too tough in texture. The fall root veggies and cranberries that came with it were really nice. I would order just a side of that. The Mac and cheese will be great if you like jalapeños, but I'm more of a traditionalist with Mac and cheese, and found the pepper taste over powering. The unoaked Chardonnay was perfect however. I can't say enough about it. As was the post dinner espresso. All in all a great date place!
We recently had dinner with a group of friends here and wasn't sure what to expect, as it was my first time there. My husband and I were pleasantly surprised, it was wonderful from start to finish! Great cocktails that were really unique and tasty. The menu at first seemed a bit cookie-cutter, but once there and having the waiter fill in some of the blanks, we were reassured. Since we had a large group, we did a lot of passing and sharing, and everyone enjoyed everything. The desserts were also top notch! Service was GREAT, Daniel was our server. He was helpful from start to finish and patient with our group (sometimes with a large group it's hard to get everyone to focus)! We're definitely looking forward to our next visit! My only slight bit of a complaint is that it feels a touch dated, linen table cloths...
(5)
Rachel R.
At Park Cafe, romance is in the air. Perhaps going with my best friend and his parents didn't really allow me to fully embrace the seductive lighting and elegant setting, but nonetheless. The free valet and impeccably attentive service didn't hurt, either. In retrospect, this would be an ideal date spot. Now, on to the main event... We started the evening off with a fizzle. The bread basket was shockingly lame. Even the herbalicious olive oil for dipping couldn't tempt me into picking up one of those boring, white slices of bread. Onward and forward... I had the local tomato salad with arugula, oyster mushrooms, almonds and sherry vinaigrette as an appetizer. It was fresh, light and simple. Easy to eat, but not nearly as special as the salmon tartare cones. They're served as five little ice creams filled with creme fraiche, piled high with salmon and topped off with a dab of wasabi and caviar. Exceptional, and pretty damn cute, to boot. As an entree I ordered the salmon with coconut rice, Szechuan green beans and crispy wontons in a sweet chili plum sauce. They accidentally served it with sweet pea risotto, then brought me a little skillet of coconut rice on the side. The risotto was bland and gummy, so I was particularly grateful when they brought out the rice skillet of redemption. Other than that, the green beans were great, as was the meat. Overall, everyone seemed thoroughly pleased with their choice (duck, chops, salmon) and only disappointed with certain accoutrements. The pork chop sides (flavorless green chile mac 'n' cheese, turnip greens), the bread, and the risotto weren't a hit amongst any of us, but everything else was well received. Overall, I'd happily return without hesitation, but for a restaurant of this caliber, I'm expecting even the minutia to rock my socks off.
(4)
Jack K.
We had dinner here with a small group of friends who have dined all over the city of Nashville. Our table had a variety of dishes from salmon, steak, scallops, chicken and trout. So it was a good cross section of food. All was good, but not great. Preparation of all dishes had an asian slant and all were quite spicy. Two of the dishes had to be sent back because they were underdone. The restaurant is quite small, but has a large outdoor dining area that looked quite nice. Overall, good food, very good service, nice atmosphere. In particular, the food was less than expected.
(3)
Kira H.
Came here for dinner last night and definitely will be back! Our first round of drinks took over 15 minutes to arrive (which was ridiculous since both of us ordered wine), but they had talked about how slammed the bar was due to the Vanderbilt graduation... so whatever, subsequent rounds were timed appropriately. We started with the hummus, which was so tasty! Moved on to the entrees, which I had the mussels and a side of goat cheese grits. I am a mussels snob, and these were some of the best I have ever had! Same with the grits, very creamy and flavorful!!! My fiancee is still talking about how great his steak was. I don't eat steak, but did try his truffled mashed potatoes, and they were out of this world! Will definitely put this on the short list of places to return!!!!
(4)
Lisa B.
I met some friends here for happy hour... I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but I wasn't overly impressed either. There's a list of several appetizers and drinks that are all $5 during happy hour, so we split several apps and each tried a different cocktail. The food was really good the most part, and all very beautifully presented, but the portions were tiny. the $5 price tag didn't really seem like much of a deal. There's free valet, which is always helpful in Sylvan Park. I might go back to try an actual dinner (especially after reading all these rave reviews of the desserts!), but I don't think I'll be making this a regular happy hour locale. We ended up walking down to Neighbors for 2-for-1's after Park Cafe's happy hour ended.
(3)
Ann P.
Had the special, strip steak with mashers, was cooked perfect and excellent flavor. The chicken meatball app was surprisingly tasty, I was doubtful. Now the dessert was not to be missed. Creme Brulee with almond philo pastry. All the meat/fish/veggies are local grown. Oh and the coconut mojito was unbelievable, I wanted a whole pitcher!
(4)
Sharon B.
My birthday dinner from friends was wonderful. Service and meal exceptional! We were there for 3 hours and they never hurried us at all. Highly recommend.
(5)
Susan K.
Fun place with excellent food and superb staff. Our servers - two guys - were really responsive and nice. The only negative for Park Cafe is the lack of parking. Don't miss the creme brulee if it is on the menu when you visit.
My husband and I decided to give Park Cafe a try last night after a bad experience about a year ago. I have been going to Park Cafe since it opened and it was always my "go to" place for an incredible meal. I was very sad when the food had not been very good the few times we went there over the past couple of years. We shared the Fried Pickles and White Bean Hummus appetizer- both were amazing. My husband is not a fan of hummus and I could not keep him from eating it! He had the NY Strip entree and I had the Tuna Tartar. Once again, incredible. I tasted his NY Strip and it was hands down one of the best steaks I have ever had! We were fortunate to have the owner come by the table. She informed us that she and her husband were aware of the food issues over the past year. She let us know that not only is the menu sticking to favorites done right but that they are completely overhauling the restaurant to include a new patio, redone interior, and lower prices overall. Personally, I really think the interior is fine....If they keep putting out amazing food like they did last night, people will be coming back to the Park Cafe in droves. A+++
I had dinner here with a client and we ate at the bar. The Mussels were phenomenal! The Bartender was awesome too! How often do you find a beautiful woman that can talk single malts with you? I had the duck for dinner at it was awesome! My client had the pork chop and it was great as well. This will be a regular stop for me on my trips to Nashville.
(5)
Jack S.
Really an enjoyable restaurant, especially when its comfortable enough to sit outside. This is a great date night restaurant for outside. Inside as well but it has a totally different feel and is very cool with small rooms and art on the walls. Food has always been good and service reasonable. A main stay when I'm visiting and don't feel up to the adventure of trying someplace new - but do not want to sacrifice quality.
(4)
Teresa B.
I enjoyed supper with a few friends and all of us were completely satisified. I ordered the lamb with a side of brussel sprouts and everything was amazing. The lamb was very tender and perfectly seasoned. I also ordered the bourbon pecan bread pudding for dessert and it was superb! Park Cafe is a great spot for a special dinner with friends.
(5)
Flora B.
Testing Mac n Cheese whenever I can has become a pastime for me. Park Cafe has a serious contender for best m/c in Nashville: green chili mac and cheese. All it needs is a siiiiiiiide of hidden vallllley ranch. Just kidding. It needed nothing but the spoon for shoveling it into my mouth. Also notable: bourbon pecan pie with molasses ice cream. Damn girl. Welcome to the South!
(4)
Alison B.
Oh so cute! We were visiting Nashville so we couldn't tell exactly, but seems a bit off the beaten path-- tho still not hard to get to. They had valet, but the guy just let us pull into an open spot. The host asked us immediately for the name on our reservation, but when we went in there was barely anyone there. As we walked past the bar we overhead the bartender telling someone else that it's b/c it's the day after Thanksgiving. Nice-- he offered two different tables, so I got to choose : ) I chose to sit by the window. It was a bit cool, but they had a little space warmer for my feet (awesome!). Really cozy, relaxed, romantic atmosphere. Tables are a bit tight together, but not in an uncomfortable way--- just a cozy way. Several small rooms, a fake glowing fireplace, textured walls, and bright Southern artwork added to the good ambiance. We ordered the goat cheese appetizer, for entrees steak special and brussel sprout salad (omgoodness, uber cool-- topped with an egg) + green chili mac and cheese (creamy, served in a small warm pot, nice kick of spice from the chiles). Best part--- scotch caramel pudding, OMG yummm, Decent portion size (we were full!). Menu wasn't overwhelmingly long, or "scattered" as another reviewer said. But I wasn't impressed with the wine list. Cocktail menu was fun (jalapeno cocktail? I didn't try it, but sounded great) While a serious foodie might think the food wasn't amazing, I surely thought it was good. Service was also great-- continually checked up on us without being overwhelming, and good recommendations to help me make a good decision!
(5)
Jessica W.
There are literally no words to describe how much I love this place. I've only visited four or five times now, but not once have I had anything to complain about whatsoever. The green chile mac and cheese is something that you cannot pass up when/if you do decide to pay a visit. Valet is always free here, which is a great when you come to realize how sparse Sylvan Park's parking is. The service isn't necessarily anything to write home about, but the waiters I have had so far here were all quite attentive and knowledgeable of the food and drink menu. Now, yes, it is a very small restaurant so if you're planning on going out to have a private conversation don't expect for it to be quiet. Overall, Park Cafe holds a spot in my top five Nashville restaurants and I don't see them slipping out of the ranks anytime soon.
(5)
Yolanda B.
This place knocked our socks off! Everything from the service, to the food, to the atmosphere was to our liking! The menu selection is enticing. It was really hard to decide what to order. Fortunately we had an amazing server. She had personality for days! I would say hands down she was the best server I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I would highly recommend stopping by Park Cafe for a meal.
(5)
Brett P.
We went here for a date on my birthday. The atmosphere was nice and cozy. For appetizers, we had the stuffed & wrapped dates and the tuna tartar. The dates were super delicious! The tuna was just okay; it needed more citrus/acid though. I had the sugar cane roasted cornish game hen for my entree, and it was freaking amazing. The brussels sprouts and cauliflower served with it were really yummy, too! Seasoned perfectly. Our desserts and drinks were good as well. The service was impeccable. This really is a nice "date place." Two thumbs up!
(4)
Janet K.
I am torn on my rating as it varies based on the night and purpose for my visit; Christmas party, girls night out, impromptu happy hour to dinner with friends. Overall this is a great local place, food is good and the drinks are good. I personally don't think this is a great date spot if you intend to have a private conversation. It is very small and the tables are very close; if your not careful you will be listening to their conversation and totally forget about the people you are with! The "Better than Sex Chocolate Cake" is the bomb! Now I don't know if it would go down as better than sex with the right person but if they were just okay; I would choose the cake! Just saying! Crab cakes, Mac & Cheese, flatbreads, cheese plates, you name it and it has been great. They have a wonderful selection of wines and good prices for Happy Hour. A couple of tips; not a lot of seating at the bar so if you are coming for HH; get there early. Parking is horrible but they offer valet - use them!
(4)
Jason S.
Had a very disappointing meal back in Feb. Our server, a healthy-sized lass whom I will call Brumhilda, just started off with attitude. It seemed like it was just banter, but as the night wore on, she grew increasingly more hostile. There was a point where we asked her for some cocktails, I was trying to order my pal a Sazerac, which is not on the menu, but as a classic cocktail with 4 very simple ingredients that every bar should have, I figured it could be easily done. Brumhilda pushed back with a lot of resistance, and then I had to look it up online to show her how to make one. Whiskey, simple syrup, a dash or two of bitters in a absinthe (or any other type of licorice-flavored liquor) rinsed glass. That's it. She brought back all of the drinks for everyone else a while later, which were passable, and then she took that opportunity to tell the guy that ordered the Sazerac that "They didn't have the right equipment to make one"; which was pure horseshit. She was clearly just lying or lazy. The entrees were mediocre, and my wife's entree came around 15 minutes after everyone else's, which was pretty incredible considering she ordered a bunch of side dishes as she is a vegetarian. Brumhilda abandoned us the first chance she got, and we didn't see her until dessert. As an extra "screw you" to the patrons, for the exhausting chore of waiting on 6 adults, they tacked on a TWENTY PERCENT GRATUITY. 20%! SIX PEOPLE. For the shittiest waitress I've had in years and a meal that was frankly forgettable. And $170 bucks later with no lube, I will tell you that not only will I never come back here, but I sure as hell won't be telling anyone else to, either. PS, on the way out the door, I saw all of the ingredients to make a Sazerac just sitting there on the shelf. Oops.
(1)
Richard W.
This review won't be very helpful, but I am trying to catch up on my recent dining experiences in Nashville. The Park Cafe offers an excellent menu and service. We have dined here several times over the last few months. My only complaint is that there is no self-parking nearby (I refuse to hand over the keys for my car to a stranger.)
(4)
Bridgette C.
This little gem in Sylvan Park (which is sorely lacking in options, note out there to aspiring restaurant owners) has a wonderful happy hour from 4-6pm on the weekdays and again from 9-10pm...half priced appetizers and deals on beer, wine, and cocktails. Beyond that awesomeness, there's the fantastic food and amazing ambiance. This place has some really fun fusion-style food combining cooking styles and flavors from all over. Some combinations almost make you question the sanity of who put together the menu at time, but I've never been disappointed and the menu encourages experimentation with your own palette. It blends together seemlessly in the small yet beautiful place. I loved the service and the use of local products. It's a great to meet friends or have an impromptu date.
I had an impeccable special occasion dinner at Park Cafe! We made a reservation for eight guests during Vandy graduation weekend and were lucky enough to sit upstairs in what felt more like a cozy spot at a dinner party than a crowded restaurant. I'm somewhat leery of the Nashville fine dining scene in general, but this food was absolutely spot on - from the appetizers (a BOAT of deliciously crunchy calamari, cheese plate, figs) to entrees (I had duck, mom had a mushroom risotto, others had filet, chicken...) the chef very clearly has a strong command on his art. The textures, flavors, balance and presentation were clearly well thought out and executed beautifully. Our server, Sherrlia, was warm and welcoming in the quintessential Nashville way. Knowledgeable but not overbearing and just a hint of humor thrown in for good measure. The GM also graciously made a stop at our table to pour wine and be sure we were well taken care of. Overall, a great spot for a very special dinner with friends, family or a date.
(5)
Jeffrey S.
Great service, friendly staff. Awesome pork chop dish. Haven't been there in a little while to be honest, but this used to be my favorite restaurant in Nashville
(5)
Stuart W.
We had been trying to plan a couples date with two others for a while, so we decided on a place that might make for an expensive, but also delicious and enjoyable evening. Unfortunately, it was only the first on that list. If you've never been to the Park Cafe, its in the cute and trendy little Sylvan Park area, Parking there is abysmal, but at least they have a valet.. The restaurant is a converted house and still has that kind of cool 'walking through living rooms' feel. The evening started out on a poor note with a waitress who was obviously in a bad mood, though whether just for that evening, or permanently I could not tell. We placed our drink orders and after an extended absence, she returned and informed us that the restaurant 'did not have the proper tools' to make a Sazerac. We tried to find out what ingredients they were missing, so as to suggest an acceptable substitute, but she insisted it was 'tools'. The meal itself was OK. Its been almost three weeks now and I can barely remember what we had. While the appetizers were moderate to good, the fish special was nothing special, and overly cooked and dry. My wife proferred that I really didnt want to try hers as it too was 'just OK'. I will say that my sorbet desert was pretty yummy. When the meal was over, each couple was presented with our nearly $200 dollar tabs, complete with an 18% tip already added - for a party of 6. So my review in a nutshell? Bad service, mediocre food, over priced meals and obnoxious forced-tip policy. I can't wait to rush back ( I wish there was a sarcasm font )
(2)
Darren L.
I have been to Park Cafe for birthday dinners,dates and intimate business type gatherings....I'd say I've been 8 times over the last few years. Never ever,not even once has anything but good happened. The service is absolutely exemplary. The food is always great and the vibe is perfect for large groups or small affairs. Just wish it was closer. I know,I know the Eastland Cafe is the same owners (Pomodoro too...)but it's never ever come close to Park Cafe. Don't get me wrong I love the Eastland Cafe ... but is just not the same. Parking is always gonna be an issue so suck it up and valet. Get inside and start eating & drinking. Regardless of what you order(Steak,pork,Chicken,Fish...) you MUST get the green chili/mac n cheese. You have to do this or you have missed a tasty opportunity. Bread pudding for dessert was ridiculous. Last time we were there we had out of town guests and not only did the hostess and waiter remember us but made a fuss welcoming our friends to Nashville ( which is always a nice feeling)...We ate like Kings ,our friends loved it and still talk about it. Great night ,great place,great times! Bravo Park Cafe!
(5)
Lisa J.
Really good solid food. Had the mussels which were great and the trout was very flavorful. Good sized portions and decent drinks. Will definitely be back for good food without the long waits or reservations needed at other similar caliber restaurants. Great service as well.
(5)
Mirini K.
When I'm in the mood for some fine dining in Nashville, Park Cafe is the place! The ambiance is cozy and romantic but it's definitely not the fanciest. The restaurant is a renovated house so it does feel like you're eating at someone's house. The menu changes often, as the chef uses fresh ingredients that he gets. I tend to enjoy the appetizers more than the entrees and often order 2 appetizers as a meal. One entree that I thoroughly enjoyed was the Lamb Shank: it literally fell off the bone and melted in my mouth. I usually cringe at the taste of fennel but the chef incorporated it into the sauce so well that I actually enjoyed the combination of flavors. The food is usually plated artistically. For dessert, I suggest trying their take on Creme Brulee. It's a little different, doesn't have the torched sugar, but it's still very tasty. To address people who have had a less than satisfactory experience, I'd say that a restaurant experience greatly depends upon the selections you make. You have the realize that the chef has to add in items for the less adventurous, vegetarians, bland eaters, or those with allergies. You can't go to foodie-type restaurant and order the chicken or a house salad and expect to be blown away. I'm going to Park Cafe next week for a friend's birthday. I'm looking forward to it :)
(5)
Riley S.
Fantastic food with great service! We went to Park Cafe to celebrate my friend's birthday with a party of 10 or so on a quiet Thursday night. While they didn't have my 2 favorite scotches, Lagavulin and laphroaig, the server was very knowledgeable about scotch and offered great alternatives. To start, I had a special: beef enchilada with chilis and lots of other tasty things. I cleaned the entire plate it was so good! For my main course, I had the chicken and again I cleaned the plate. Everyone else loved their meals as well, from steak to shrimp to salmon. As it is a little expensive, I wouldn't recommend going there for just anything --better make it a special occasion especially if you're on a budget.
(5)
Robin L.
Totally cute little place with a dark, homey feel. Romantic? Yes. The tables are rather close together though, so you may be surprised when you open your eyes after sharing that strand of spaghetti ;) Anyway, onto the food. We shared a salad with blue cheese, pear, and pomegranate vinaigrette. It was averagely tasty. My dining companion had their beef tenderloin special which was very good. I had the mahi mahi, which was delicious. We shared the profiteroles for dessert - a trio of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice creams housed in cream puff shells, drizzled with chocolate sauce - it was good, but would have been much better had the cream puffs been moister, warm, and the chocolate sauce also been hot to counter the cold of the ice cream. Alas, my search for profiterole perfection continues. Our server was pleasant, nice, and helpful. Good wine selection. A nice spot with great ambience and solid food.
Excellent service, food and atmosphere. Park and Midtown Cafe are the best in Nashville.
(5)
Kathleen M.
Nashville Yelpers, I know y'all don't know me, but I swear I'm a nice person. I give restaurants the benefit of the doubt, chalking up slow service to understaffing, or gross food to an abrupt kitchen change or a bad shipment. Then there's always the "off night" argument. But this, this was just straight up bad. Based on the reviews, my cohort and I chose Park Cafe as our dinner selection for our one night in Nashville. We pulled right up to the valet, asked him if we needed reservations, and he assured us that the place was typically packed, but tonight we'd be okay. We then walked in to an empty restaurant. Curious. The place feels more suited to those paying with Social Security than our young hip selves, but we decided to give it a fair shake and settled in with the menu. A lot caught my eye, but seriously, could this place have less of an identity? The menu was ALL over the place, from bread with chimichurri to chili mac and cheese to crabcakes to caesar salad. Pick something and run with it, people. We decided on an assortment of appetizers: crab cakes, shaved brussel sprout salad, szechuan green beans, and the cheese souffle. What we got were "crab cakes" that tasted exactly like chicken, overdone and underseasoned green beans, a brussel sprout salad that tasted nothing like the sprouts I love, and a four-cheese souffle that reminded me of sweaty cooked brie. Needless to say, we left most of it behind, and nothing was even remotely good. Our server started off quite friendly and attentive, but after being assigned an admittedly high maintenance table of regulars, we were completely ignored. There was no mention of the amount of food left on our plates, and while we dined a seasoned waitress came through the restaurant to train a newbie, all the while loudly pointing out where the liquor was stored, how the owner likes the tables set, etc. If this is great stuff for Nashville, I'm seriously concerned for y'all's sanity.
(1)
Jeremy E.
Great spot on Murphy road. Salmon is outstanding. Nice wine selection. I feel like it's a touch overpriced, but they can be because they are the only restaurant of it's type within 5 miles of their location. Worth a try for sure!
(4)
Em P.
Sometimes, you just want some comfort in the usual. Park Cafe has been a go-to place for many years, either when guests are in town, an anniversary is being celebrated, or for a group of colleagues are toasting the holidays. Sure, Nashville is slowly becoming a foodie destination with new and inventive dining options, but sometimes it's nice not to have to gamble on a special meal. I tend to try every new restaurant at some point, and have found other favorites, but few have racked up the points for consistently good food and service that Park Cafe has. For one wedding anniversary, we tried a new place that had just changed ownership, chef, menu and decor. But it fell hopelessly short of our expectations, and we decided to get a drink and dessert at Park instead. We just KNEW it would be good. Perhaps it is starting to look dated in there. Perhaps they don't have experimental flavors in the menu. Or it isn't a place for the pretty to see and be scene. But I know I can go in, and have a great meal and not have to worry about making reservations days in advance, changing into "nighttime" clothes, or care if my parents feel too out of place eating next to a table of Music Row scenesters. It's just comfortable. Oh and it's up there with Eastland Cafe's (their sister place) happy hour. All drinks are $5, and they have some great snackies to go with them. I've raced there from work many a night to get there before 6 on Friday. YUM.
(5)
Jimmy M.
Having lived in Nashville only a few months, I was invited by a friend to a business dinner at the restaurant. I will not be back. We had reservations, but apparently there would have been no wait for the party of 6 on a Wednesday night. The service was pleasant and efficient. We ordered the local cheese plate and goat cheese brulee for the table. Both were very good. I ordered the Cafe Salad and was immediately disappointed with the portion size. The BROWN PAPER TOWEL hidden within the lettuce, however, was the kicker. When I tried to cut the lettuce with a knife, it became apparent that there was something inside. The waitress was also appalled as were my fellow diners. She took the salad back to the kitchen and later apologized that the towel was used to dry the lettuce and was accidently left in the salad. How this could happen on such a small salad is beyond me. No manager visited to apologize for the mistake. The rest of the meal was okay, the portions small for the price. The green chili mac and cheese was very good. Whether or not the restaurant comped any part of the meal, I do not know since I was not paying. I think they should have comped the whole thing.
(1)
Kate M.
Had an amazing time. I took my mom and her husband here and our server Jordan was cute and friendly and he really knew what he was talking about. I live in Nashville and you typically get bad service but he was great and the food was perfect. I will go back any time.
(5)
Melissa T.
Love everything about this place! When you first walk into this establishment, you know you are some place special! We were walked upstairs to the second floor where we were seated at a table in a cozy corner. Great atmosphere to enjoy some delicious food and great company. Our waiter was so nice and helpful with ordering. The best recommendation was the mac and cheese! We were pleasantly surprised by the portion of this "side" dish. Next time, I'd just order the mac and cheese for my entree! It may be the best mac and cheese I've ever eaten. All the other food was absolutely divine. We practically licked our plates cleaned!
(5)
Nickie G.
So I went to Park Cafe with a group of people that go to happy hour here quite often. I didn't even know this place existed so I was more than happy to check it out. As you walk in the door there's a little nook of leather chairs and ottomans with a coffee table in the middle. This is where we parked it for the evening. It's right in front of the front window so you can see the world go by as you get your drink on. The overall ambiance is definitely of a nice restaurant place - I even saw a lady come in wearing a fur coat. Fancy! So happy hour here is not too shabby. They have a list of drinks and a list of food items that are all $5 each. I ordered a dirty martini to start (before I saw the drink menu) and the chick asked me "what kind?" Um, Grey Goose? She just stares at me and then says in the most smart ass, condescending tone "What kind of martini? Vodka? Gin?" I was a little taken aback - like loooky here chickie, I freakin said GREY GOOSE. Do they make GIN? I don't THINK so!!! (Although if they start then I'd want to try it, let's be honest.) Anyway, after that I was feeling SUPER annoyed and done with this place. As the night went on though I have a feeling that is just the way she is because she was being smart aleck with the other people and she knows them from many happy hours. I guess someone should have warned me so I didn't get such a bad taste in my mouth right off the bat. To be fair though, as the evening went on she was nicer so everything was all good in the end. And, by the way, the martini wasn't very good - SO THERE! Not enough dirty if you ask me. Never enough dirty if you ask me! Later on I tried their "hot and dirty" (or something like that) martini with olive and peppericini juice - it was interesting to say the least. Anyway, we eventually tried some food and this was the highlight! I had a couple of bites of the happy hour pizzas - the meatball and the goat cheese. Oh how good that goat cheese pizza was - I kind of wanted an entire one to myself. Later on I got the pulled pork sliders - the pork was tender but overall bland on the seasoning and sauce. The house made pickles were SO FREAKIN GOOD and the fries rival the best ones I've ever had. Skinnier fries with good crispy outsides and hot soft insides. Pretty solid food. They had their NYE menu up and it looked amazing - if I had a hot date maybe that would be an idea! Prices appeared to be on par with what I would expect from a nicer restaurant (entrees around $20). Overall, great happy hour prices here at Park Cafe and what looks to be an interesting menu. I most DEFINITELY want to come back and eat here for an entire meal sometime in the future! Until then, just A-OK from me.
(3)
Jen W.
Recently had a birthday dinner at the Park Cafe. Good wine list and appetizers were yummy. Our fave was the goat cheese brulee.. those roasted tomatoes were delicious! Entrees were good, however my husband's $35 tenderloin was a bit overcooked hence the 1 star minus. All in all we had great experience, the servers and hostess were friendly and the restaurant was intimate and cozy. Looking forward to checking out the happy hour.
(4)
Kate L.
This restaurant is truly as good as it gets. If you're looking to drop a little more coin than average on a top notch meal, this is THE place to go. It has been my go-to special occasion place ever since I moved to Nashville 5 years ago. I like both inventive flavor combinations as well as well-executed classics, and the menu at the Park always includes the best of both worlds. The chef's line-up changes with the seasons, and makes excellent of use of local produce and fresh fish, etc. The last time I was there I ordered a dish that included roast duck with sweet potato gnocchi and a beet paste garnish...very interesting and very delicious. DO NOT MISS the green chili mac and cheese. Even if you have totally stuffed yourself, do yourself a favor and get some to go. The bread and chimichurri they bring out at the beginning of the night is also outstanding. 2 entrees and a glass of wine each will set you back around $75, which is totally reasonable for a great dining experience in such a cozy setting.
(5)
Samuel L.
Park Cafe was chosen as my first Nashville establishment to visit with a lady friend. I have to say, I was not disappointed. We were seated in the front window, pretty cozy, nice and quiet, very nice. We split a crab cake app, and it was very good. For meals I had their special salad that day, along with a mahi special they were running, and my lady friend ordered the lamb, The salad was absolutely fantastic. I mean, really good. The Mahi, honestly, I was not impressed by. It was not bad or anything, it just wasn't spectacular. The lamb that my lady friend had, however, was quite delicious. My favorite part of the whole meal though, were her brusell sprouts. I brought my own wine, and really did not pay much attention to the wine list, but we did order a second bottle from the "off the menu specials"(code for, shit they couldn't sell, for whatever reason, and want to move) It was a tasty Sicilian Nero, I absolutely love Southern Italian wines. We could not decide on dessert, not because none of it sounded good, but because we had some other things to do that night. Our service was absolutely fantastic, and the lady friend was extraordinarily happy. That means I was happy, and Park Cafe will get a return visit.
(4)
Xian H.
I had had an wonderful meal at Park Cafe sometime before I officially moved to Nashville a little over two years ago and then yesterday, my husband (then boyfriend) and I decided to celebrate the happy occasion of Monday by going back for a nice meal. Being that it was a Monday, reservations were definitely not needed. We sat outdoors next to the stone fountain in their new(?) patio area and although it was a little chilly and a little difficult to imagine that you are not sitting in a former parking lot, it was for lack of better descriptive terms, nice. Pros: The side of green chili mac 'n' cheese was hands-down dope. I would almost recommend ordering two of these and calling it an entree. But then you'd have to order a side of two other entrees because the scallops and the duck that we ordered were also done quite well. The gnocchi that the duck sits on melts in your mouth. We also ordered the special appetizer, mussels. What was remarkable was that each mussel was served with its own sprinkling of ground up chorizo, tomato, and some thick, but delicate green sauce (sorry, don't remember the details of this one). Service was warm and pleasant. And at the end of the night, my husband asked, "How is it that I lived across the street for a year and never came here to drink alone?" Cons: You have to walk through a bunch of BMWs to get to the front door.
(4)
David S.
As far as I am concerned, this is one of the best restaurants in Nashville. I've taken my parents and friends here and they have all loved it. Definitely something for everyone on the menu with great salads and fish dishes (which is what I'm usually looking for). And, of course, there's the green chile macaroni and cheese. The interior seating is a little different. Definitely not your staid dining room. Lots of little warrens and corners to sit, and great outdoor seating as well which is always a plus. The place is always hopping when I drive by. There's valet parking in the front or plenty of street parking in the neighborhood. I'm definitely glad it's in my neighborhood, and it is one of the highlights of Sylvan Park. I've heard both Dolly Parton and Reese Witherspoon have dined here, and I can see why. It can be a little pricey, but it is definitely worth it.
(5)
Nicki R.
The first time I went to Park Cafe I was not all that impressed, but we had a gift card so we decided to give it another try and had a wonderful experience! We were able to sit on the back patio (which in my opinion reminded me of a scaled-down Tavern on the Green) and had perfect weather, so that didn't hurt!! We started with the cheese plate and each had a salad. It was all wonderful. I got the scallops and my husband got the lamb. It was delicious! For dessert we got the seasonal bread pudding (I believe it was peach) with a cinnamon ice cream. This experience definitely changed our minds about this place and we would be happy to return!
(4)
Crabby O.
This is clearly one of the best restaurants in Nashville. The food here is very simple, but expertly created and delicious. This is an excellent place to take inbreeds who think Las Palmas is exotic. The menu won't scare anyone. But yet this place has real flair. Everything is good: salads, desserts, even the coffee rocks. Pooling meals is highly encouraged. I don't care for the converted-house layout and grandmotherly feel to the dining room but some may find this charming. It's not cheap but reasonable for the outstanding quality. You must try this place.
(5)
Katherine M.
The best thing about Park Cafe is the bar. It has a great atmosphere and the drinks are really good! They have an impressive wine list, something for everyone. The service in the bar is excellent and you can eat in there. If I go back I'll opt for that. Our service was not good. The server just didn't pay us much attention! The food was fine, but after it took forever for us to order, then a long time for our food to get out to us, I was pretty much over it. My sea bass was tasty, I guess I can't complain about that. But, my garlic mashed potatoes were barely warm. The guy I was with got the yellowtail sashimi and said it was really good. Park Cafe does have a good menu. I'll give 'em that. Fish, steaks, pastas, good salads, shrimp, and a wide variety of sides. I hear the mac and cheese is to die for! I've heard so many good things about this place that I'll give it a whirl again. Maybe I just caught them on an off night. Happens to even the best of places!
(3)
Benjamin D.
Haven't made it for dinner yet so this is just a happy hour review. $5 cocktails and appetizers and cheaper wine and beer. Not the best manhattan I've ever had, but just fine coming from the well. Appetizer were quite appetizing and four people split three to great effect. If you can sit on the patio or in the front foyer for maximal relaxation.
I had such high expectations of this place since I've had so many good experiences at Eastland Cafe (same owners), but I was sorely disappointed. I picked this place for my birthday, and here is what happened: We sat at the bar when we got there and had a couple of glasses of wine. We were served potato chips (from a bag - not fresh, house-made), and there was a big hair in them. Gross We sat down at our table, and ordered two appetizers - the crab cakes & the etouffee. The etouffee was not very good (but crawfish normally tastes a bit fishy, but my father-in-law wanted to order it), however the crab cakes were delish - they were really crunchy and had a nice corn relish. For our entrees, I ordered the shrimp with saffron risotto. The shrimp were very burned on the tails, which imparted a bitter taste to the rest of the dish. The risotto was ok, but I seriously could make better risotto at home. Very dry and muddy flavors. My husband had the duck, which he wasn't happy with (he's a chef, so he's pretty critical, and I guess I am too). Then the desserts - Creme Brulee Napoleon, Chocolate Semifreddo, and some other banana something. The Napoleon was "to die for" as they say. The Semifreddo was freddo (completely frozen), not Semifreddo as it was labeled. I expected a slightly frozen, custardy consistency, but it was completely frozen. The last dessert was so unmemorable that I can't even remember what was in it. I guess I have high expectations when you're paying top dollar for food. I just don't feel like I got my money's worth here. I expected everything to be near-perfect, but it fell far short.
(3)
Nikki M.
My favorite restaurant, and I'm from New York. The trout, the carpaccio, everything here is the best I've ever had. And the calamari! So perfectly crispy, I've tried to find places that can compare to this since my first time at Park, and I've given up. I won't bother with calamari anywhere else! Staff is friendly, they have that whole southern hospitality thing down.
(5)
John G.
Park Cafe tops my list of places I really need to return to. The menu had SO many things I wanted to try I wish I could have ordered them all. I really would like to recommend the cheese plate to start (and also the crab cakes, if you like them). Because I am such a sucker for duck, I could not resist the duck breast with pomegranate and honey. It was a clever take on duck breast that I had not seen before. I always like the complement with fruit, and I thought this was really good.
(5)
Melissa B.
We went to this place to celebrate a birthday. We went for happy hour because they have some fabulous specials. They have a special drink menu ($4.00 & $5.00 drinks) and a $5.00 appetizer menu. The drinks were fabulous. I had a mojito martini and then tried the pomegranate margarita. Usually I think happy hour drinks are watered down or cheap liquors, but these were not. The drinks were very well made, delicious, and had a good amount of liquor in them. I ordered two appetizers, thinking that because they were so cheap, it wouldn't be a full size appetizer. Wrong. I wouldn't have finished one. There was a group of us, so we all shared. The hummus was probably my favorite. I also had the quesadilla and it was yummy! I tried the zucchini and part of a fish taco. All were delicious. I would love to go back and try the full menu because the appetizers were so good. Of course, I'll be back because the happy hour specials are unbeatable too.
(4)
Ron R.
Bar Review Only! Just did a Friday night Happy Hour there. The libations concocted by Mixologist Kelly are AWESOME creative and flavorful and the lounge appys, too. Killer wine list of super small production and rare treats, too. Gotta get back for a real meal. Duck and Pinot is on my mind!
(4)
Molly K.
A charming restaurant to enjoy a romantic dinner. I love this privately owned place because it's unique and I've never had anything there I didn't savor every bite of. Because it's in an old house, each room has a different feel, color, decor, so go more than once to experience a different seat. My favorite dish is the beef tenderloin, you almost don't need a knife it's so tender.
(4)
Caitlin D.
OH YES!!!! I am SO excited to have discovered this amazing restaurant. I've heard a lot about it, and finally went there with a friend to try it out. We got a delicious bottle of wine, four apps to share (the seared rare tuna, the smoked salmon, pot stickers and cheese plate) and then split the steak, which the kitchen was kind enough to actually split and cook differently because I want blood oozing outta my steak. Everything was FANTASTIC, perfectly cooked, full of original flavors and different combinations of ingredients. This is easily one of the best restaurants in Tennessee, no doubt. Dudes: If you want to impress your lady, take her here!!!!
(5)
Wren F.
What can I say, except I love Park Cafe! Kelly is the best in the world. New chairs and barstools throughout and they look great.
(5)
Brooke M.
I ate at the bar with my friend Emily in March 2006 and loved it then as much as I do now. It helped that Keith and Nicole walked in - I was star-struck! Still, I managed to eat green chili mac-n-cheese. You'll always run into your neighbors at the bar (celebs or not!) Their specials are fantastic although their scallop, duck and beef entrees are mainstays. Their fried calamari is great for sharing. My boyfriend and I love to share their entrees since they are so large (they split in the kitchen onto separate plates!)
(4)
Jim R.
This place in my favorite restaurant in Nashville. The food is fantastic and the wait and management staff is excellent. If you go, make sure you get the green chile mac and cheese !
(5)
Rey M.
Never got to try the food. We were scared away by the snobby clientele and the moody bartender that failed to properly acknowledge us. We sat forever while everyone stared at us wondering why common folk would even think to consider a place like this and we were only acknowledged by the rude bartender when we collected our things and began to leave. She stated, "leaving already?". Not the friendly Nashville we expected. Try City House in Germantown and steer clear from Sylvan Park. Unless you are a snob, of course.
(1)
Otis R.
Pretty good fusion cuisine. I liked their beer selection the best though. They had Chimay Rouge a great Trappist Ale. Valet parking. Nice artwork on wall. Great place for a date or business dinner.
(4)
Meghan C.
By far, the best dinner in all my 11 years in Nashville!
(5)
Virginia G.
We had an early Valentine's Day dinner at Park Cafe in below freezing weather, but we warmed right up when we were seated in a tiny corner of the large dining area. Although only a few other tables were occupied, we were seated almost in the laps of another couple who was finishing their dessert. Still, we were right next to the space heater, and the food really was excellent. We indulged in the crab cake appetizer, which was just as good as I remember it being on my first visit (nine years ago!). I had a mahi mahi special - the fish was tasty, but the sweet potato/soybeans/other things on the side of the plate were just delicious. We also tried the famous green chili macaroni and cheese which, although it was some fantastic mac and cheese, wasn't quite as exciting as we had hoped. There was definitely no room left for dessert, especially after the bread basket. Neither of us finished our meals, but there wasn't QUITE enough to take home as leftovers. It was a great special occasion.
(4)
Josh B.
Great food, in a great environment. I've eaten there twice now, and have yet to be let down. As others have recommended, the duck breast is excellent. They usually have some very interesting specials, in addition. The last time I was there, they had deep fried oysters on a bed of sweet potato polenta. YUM. Good prices for the quality/uniqueness of the menu. The wine list is merely good; you may want to bring your own if you're picky for certain varieties.
(5)
Genevieve R.
What an adorable little hide-away! Judging by the photo on yelp, I was expecting to be seated under bright lights and such. But Park Cafe is dimly lit and extremely cozy. Upon entering, the manager and hostess welcomed us like we were family. We were sat at table #45, Dolly Parton's favorite table! We started off with their special.. fried oysters with brusselsprouts and gritz. GIMME MORE! We also ordered the green chili mac & cheese (only $5!) and ohhhhmyyyygooood. Rich, creamy, warm.. YES! Mouth orgasm. The crab cakes were great, made with real crab and definitely made in-house. All this started to fill me up, so I ended up ordering their special brusselsprout and beet salad. NOM NOM NOM. Wish there was more! My man ordered the duck which he loved and his mother ordered the wedge salad. She liked it lots. The drinks are pretty superb.. had the pear saketini. It's wonderful cuz it's not filled with sweet crap.. it's refreshingly balanced. Also had the champagne with St. Germain and a glass of temperanillo. Park Cafe is awesome. It's not too pricey.. I mean, 6 cocktails, 2 glasses of wine, 2 appetizers, 1 side, 2 salads and one entree and dessert for $158. I totally recommend Park Cafe but I left off one star due to the tiny dishes and I wasn't impressed with my lemon meringue inspired dessert.. it was kinda frozen and tasteless. Other than that, everything about Park Cafe is superb. And so are Dolly's tits.
(4)
Joe C.
This is another fabulous restaurant in Nashville. I love this place. The staff and foods are awesome. The dcor can't compare to F. Scott's but the foods are equality delicious. Their seafood and desserts are fantastic. Also, be prepared to spend $$$, but it's worth the experience! I wouldn't name this the best restaurant in Nashville, but one of the best... YES!
(4)
Stephen W.
This was the first nice restaurant I went to willingly and really enjoyed. Having gone back years later, I see now that it's not the best food or service and is a bit overpriced. However, they do make quality food and the restaurant is a really nice interesting space. It is a place worth visiting.
(3)
jason m.
Our favorite restaurant for date night never disappoints. Great food, always great service. Great cheese plate, always good steak, and excellent deserts.
(5)
Emily Y.
Just eat here. Everything is good. I even liked the grits! The jalapeno mac-n-cheese is a must try too!
(5)
Mark F.
Happy Hour Heaven. I love the layout, there's always lots of natural light beaming in which helps you relax after a long day of work. Prices are excellent, beer options on tap are excellent, the $6 pizzas are excellent. Park Cafe is always my first choice for happy hour.
(5)
Lindsey H.
I went to Park Cafe for the first time during Burger Week 2015. I had been wanting to go for months, as it is very near where I work, but just never seemed to make the time for it. Burger Week gave me the extra push that I apparently needed. Great ambiance overall, however, my main complaint (not critical) is that we were placed in the little sun room. Ordinarily, I think that this must be a great little room, but as the sun was still up, it was hot and the sun hit me square in the eye from the angle I was in. Unfortunately, there was another table already in the room, or I would have just shifted. All that being said, our server was nice, (my water glass did not get filled as quickly as I would like, but that is minor.) And the food was delicious! Aside from having their amazing burger which featured bacon jam, I tried their mango, goat cheese, butterleaf salad. It was FANTASTIC. Great flavor combos, and presented beautifully. I would definitely return!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Corie K.
Good drinks, decent food, kinda rude service.... I met a group of friends for drinks at Park Cafe- they go there for happy hour from time to time and were celebrating a special home closing. I arrived after everyone else, and when I walked in was greeted in a friendly manner that turned a little sassy once I told her I was here to meet some friends at the bar. Long story short, my friend had made a reservation and as our group trickled in over time, the hostess and servers became anxious to flip the table ( even though there was no wait the entire night ). They had plenty of tables available. I ordered a margarita which was fabulous. The apps were good but nothing that could compete to knock out the competition in town. I felt the same way about the signature salmon dinner dish. Good, but nothing I have to have again. The server was short with us, and seemed annoyed with every visit back to the table. My friend ordered a glass of wine with her meal and after a long wait, she asked if it would be on its way since she had already been served her meal she had planned to pair it with. With rolled eyes he looked to the bar and said, it should be out any minute and then asked what she ordered again - I suspect he forgot, which he had done earlier as well. Its bound to happen, everyone is human, but don't act as though the table has inconvenced you as a server. It's not as though she could get up and get it herself. Later she asked for a recommendation for celebratory shot- he responded that not many people drink shots at this bar so he didn't know, but said he guesses he could ask the bartender with judgement in his voice. While we did occupy a high top for a few hours, between drinks, apps, and dinner the table as a whole spent around $500 collectively. If it were busier I may have had empathy for wanting to turn a table, but never believe it appropriate to make the guest feel rushed or unwelcome. Experience should be just as good, if not better than the food in my opinion.
(3)Ed K.
Good service & great patio. Sorry to say, this chef is in way over his head. He shouldn't go near a curry dish. We had two diff kinds & the lamb chops. This place has many pluses but the food isn't one of them, SADLY.
(1)Deanne R.
We love Park Cafe! After a few years away, we returned to find one of our favorite old spots has been beautifully renovated. The atmosphere has a great feel. We first had a drink in the bar. The bartender, Marrissa, was knowledgable, friendly, and attentive. They have a nice beer selection, as well as a cool cocktail list. The host/manager offered to seat us in the dining room (at our pace), which we really appreciated. We moved into the dining room and were promptly greeted with water. We proceeded to order from the menu of small plates, which all looked great, but we shared a few then moved on to entrees. We loved the stuffed dates and Trout. Everything was well paced and properly coursed. It was a delightful evening. The service, all around, could not have been better. The food was fantastic. We cannot wait to go back!
(5)Robert D.
I docking a star because our server wandered off for too long and we waited way too long to get our drink order in (he did profusely apologize and said he got sidetracked). After this, everything went very well and the food was delicious. I highly recommend the green chili mac and cheese, as well as the baked oysters. Also nice is that the price I felt was surprisingly reasonable for high end food. We'll be back!
(4)Stephanie C.
So I finally got to try the macaroni at Park Café. I've heard over the years that it is the best in town. It comes as a side dish in a medium ramekin for five dollars. It has green chilies and breadcrumbs and is pretty creamy. It was great. That being said, I find that that macaroni side dish at Urban Grub edges it out. Still totally worth the splurge if you happen to be there. For appetizers I really enjoyed the cheese stuffed peppadews, There were only three, but they were wonderful. As an entrée, my husband had the 12 ounce steak. He found it very flavorful but a little tough. At $26 the price is hard to pass up though. My entrée consisted of a wedge salad and the macaroni. The wedge was good, but not the best I've had. I had a cocktail, I can't remember the name, but it was homemade lemonade with some spicy liquors. I definitely recommend that. Yum! My husband had a Scottish rum cask beer that we had never heard of. It was amazing. But the highlight of the meal was the desert. We split a Lane layer cake. And it was incredible. Layers of caramel, coconut, cream cheese icing and white cake. I highly recommend this desert.
(4)Jessica M.
We ate at Park Cafe with friends last night. Great experience. The ambience is cozy and classic, very neighborhood-y. The food was great too. I ordered the chicken and spinach dumplings, which were delicious, and the burger, which was AMAZING. Perfectly cooked, interesting (and delectable) toppings, perfect bun. Perhaps the best burger I've had in Nashville. The fries were great too. We live close by and will absolutely be back!
(5)Joshua S.
Two words. Purr Fect. This place is a classic nashville staple and is well worth any visit. Great food, friendly and knowledgable staff. Take the recommendations on the daily offerings, they are seriously on their game. And get the Mac n Cheese with anything (as an extra side, not just with the dish... Hell order 3 and make it an entree). The truffle potato mushroom pizza is legit. An unexpectedly pleasing twist for a pizza. Drinks are awesome too! I'll be coming back and will review other items as I can order them! Hard as a veggie in this town, but this place is a winner for sure.
(5)Janet Y.
Park Cafe was nothing short of excellent! My husband and I came for happy hour, and we didn't leave disappointed. We practically tried everything on the happy hour menu. The Boudin Balls were so delish that I'm salivating as I think about them while typing this review. We also got fried pickles, which I thought were good but my husband thought were the best creation since sliced bread! The buffalo chicken egg rolls with a side of cole slaw were seriously thebomb dot com. The burger was also A-OK (probably our least favorite but solid). To top off our excellent food experience, the head chef made a special visit to our table and had us try a new recipe he was experimenting for cheese biscuits! He made us feel so special!! Their drinks were also made just right. Not too strong, but not too weak. Tip: The only snafu of the night was that their website said happy hour started at 4:30 (which is when we got there), but that is only when the happy hour drinks start. The kitchen doesn't actually open until 5. Overall, we had a great experience here. The atmosphere was cool. Our server was very sweet. We can't wait to go back!
(4)Bonnie B.
I've been looking forward to revisiting Park Cafe & was not disappointed!! This place is yummy!! The arugula salad with fresh blueberries was delicious & the barrata fresh mozzarella & heirloom tomatoe salad was wonderful as well! Fantastic wine list keeps me coming back!
(4)Fabiana H.
Very cute place, romantic ambiance. Service was good, I had salmon and it was pretty decent. My friend was also very happy with her meal. Nothing too special but I would come back
(3)Stephanie C.
The atmosphere was fantastic! The pace was perfect, it took about 2 1/2 hours from the time we sat down to when we got the check but to me that allowed plenty of time for great conversation & we didn't feel rushed at all. Our server was very polite and knowledgeable. He had tried almost everything on the Valentine's Day menu. He was very respectful & never interupted us. It was a set menu for Valentine's day but everything was very good from the Tuna Tartar to the salads & entrees. I'm excited to go back and try everything on the regular menu.
(4)Tim H.
My wife and I drive up to here from Huntsville AL., just to visit. One of our favorite restaurants. Everything was fresh and put together in an interesting manner. Great food, Great service.
(4)Kat M.
Happy Hour is where it's at!! My roommate and I first went to Park Café in July for the happy hour specials. We split the fried pickles, which were pretty good, but the sauce that came with it (comeback sauce, I think they call it) gave it the kick that it needed. I got the tuna tartare w/an avocado-watermelon salad and fried toast points... out of this world. It was light, but still filled me up - for $10! My roomie got a goat cheese flatbread (that tasted DIVINE!) for $5.... it was enough for two meals, easy. The sunset margarita was amazing, and $5 at happy hour price. I spent under $30, and got 2 drinks, a meal, and 1/2 an appetizer, PLUS 20% tip to the waiter. The service was great. They didn't rush us, but our waiter was always available when needed. The outside patio is sooo nice, and we were the only people on it during our dining experience -- probably due to the early-dinner time. They also have great weekly-night specials: Monday: $1 Oysters Tuesday: $7 burger + fries Wednesday: $6 Hot Chicken + Waffles Thursday: $10 Steak + frites. The burger is a great deal, and also soo delicious! Can't wait to give the other specials a try:)
(5)Daniel W.
I can't really say enough positive things about the level of service this place delivers. From the hostess to the server, I felt like they all believed in the food they served. Speaking of the food, it was pretty good. It wasn't the best I've had, but the ideas the chef had were inspired and risky. I really liked the shrimp corn dog. It was really spicy and very original. While the lamb had a good flavor, it was too tough in texture. The fall root veggies and cranberries that came with it were really nice. I would order just a side of that. The Mac and cheese will be great if you like jalapeños, but I'm more of a traditionalist with Mac and cheese, and found the pepper taste over powering. The unoaked Chardonnay was perfect however. I can't say enough about it. As was the post dinner espresso. All in all a great date place!
(4)Mina K.
Its sad to see how far this restaurant has sunk in the last year. I live in Sylvan Park and this use to be my "go to" place. However after finding plastic in my food not once but TWICE and having the server become defensive when I brought it up was the final straw. Sadly I will never return. what use to be awesome service and great food has turned into questionable food and bad service. when the manager came out to address the plastic issue on the second visit she said "ok, I will do one thing for you but don't take advantage of me"...ummmm...not an "i'm sorry" or "how can I make your dining experience better". Honestly I just want plastic free food which they seem to be unable to accommodate. With all the new restaurants opening up I hope Park Café can step up their game. An embarrassment to Nashville.
(1)Tracy M.
We recently had dinner with a group of friends here and wasn't sure what to expect, as it was my first time there. My husband and I were pleasantly surprised, it was wonderful from start to finish! Great cocktails that were really unique and tasty. The menu at first seemed a bit cookie-cutter, but once there and having the waiter fill in some of the blanks, we were reassured. Since we had a large group, we did a lot of passing and sharing, and everyone enjoyed everything. The desserts were also top notch! Service was GREAT, Daniel was our server. He was helpful from start to finish and patient with our group (sometimes with a large group it's hard to get everyone to focus)! We're definitely looking forward to our next visit! My only slight bit of a complaint is that it feels a touch dated, linen table cloths...
(5)Rachel R.
At Park Cafe, romance is in the air. Perhaps going with my best friend and his parents didn't really allow me to fully embrace the seductive lighting and elegant setting, but nonetheless. The free valet and impeccably attentive service didn't hurt, either. In retrospect, this would be an ideal date spot. Now, on to the main event... We started the evening off with a fizzle. The bread basket was shockingly lame. Even the herbalicious olive oil for dipping couldn't tempt me into picking up one of those boring, white slices of bread. Onward and forward... I had the local tomato salad with arugula, oyster mushrooms, almonds and sherry vinaigrette as an appetizer. It was fresh, light and simple. Easy to eat, but not nearly as special as the salmon tartare cones. They're served as five little ice creams filled with creme fraiche, piled high with salmon and topped off with a dab of wasabi and caviar. Exceptional, and pretty damn cute, to boot. As an entree I ordered the salmon with coconut rice, Szechuan green beans and crispy wontons in a sweet chili plum sauce. They accidentally served it with sweet pea risotto, then brought me a little skillet of coconut rice on the side. The risotto was bland and gummy, so I was particularly grateful when they brought out the rice skillet of redemption. Other than that, the green beans were great, as was the meat. Overall, everyone seemed thoroughly pleased with their choice (duck, chops, salmon) and only disappointed with certain accoutrements. The pork chop sides (flavorless green chile mac 'n' cheese, turnip greens), the bread, and the risotto weren't a hit amongst any of us, but everything else was well received. Overall, I'd happily return without hesitation, but for a restaurant of this caliber, I'm expecting even the minutia to rock my socks off.
(4)Jack K.
We had dinner here with a small group of friends who have dined all over the city of Nashville. Our table had a variety of dishes from salmon, steak, scallops, chicken and trout. So it was a good cross section of food. All was good, but not great. Preparation of all dishes had an asian slant and all were quite spicy. Two of the dishes had to be sent back because they were underdone. The restaurant is quite small, but has a large outdoor dining area that looked quite nice. Overall, good food, very good service, nice atmosphere. In particular, the food was less than expected.
(3)Kira H.
Came here for dinner last night and definitely will be back! Our first round of drinks took over 15 minutes to arrive (which was ridiculous since both of us ordered wine), but they had talked about how slammed the bar was due to the Vanderbilt graduation... so whatever, subsequent rounds were timed appropriately. We started with the hummus, which was so tasty! Moved on to the entrees, which I had the mussels and a side of goat cheese grits. I am a mussels snob, and these were some of the best I have ever had! Same with the grits, very creamy and flavorful!!! My fiancee is still talking about how great his steak was. I don't eat steak, but did try his truffled mashed potatoes, and they were out of this world! Will definitely put this on the short list of places to return!!!!
(4)Lisa B.
I met some friends here for happy hour... I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but I wasn't overly impressed either. There's a list of several appetizers and drinks that are all $5 during happy hour, so we split several apps and each tried a different cocktail. The food was really good the most part, and all very beautifully presented, but the portions were tiny. the $5 price tag didn't really seem like much of a deal. There's free valet, which is always helpful in Sylvan Park. I might go back to try an actual dinner (especially after reading all these rave reviews of the desserts!), but I don't think I'll be making this a regular happy hour locale. We ended up walking down to Neighbors for 2-for-1's after Park Cafe's happy hour ended.
(3)Ann P.
Had the special, strip steak with mashers, was cooked perfect and excellent flavor. The chicken meatball app was surprisingly tasty, I was doubtful. Now the dessert was not to be missed. Creme Brulee with almond philo pastry. All the meat/fish/veggies are local grown. Oh and the coconut mojito was unbelievable, I wanted a whole pitcher!
(4)Sharon B.
My birthday dinner from friends was wonderful. Service and meal exceptional! We were there for 3 hours and they never hurried us at all. Highly recommend.
(5)Susan K.
Fun place with excellent food and superb staff. Our servers - two guys - were really responsive and nice. The only negative for Park Cafe is the lack of parking. Don't miss the creme brulee if it is on the menu when you visit.
(4)Christian H.
Try the porkchop!
(4)Morgan P.
I came to Park Café on a Thursday evening to celebrate a birthday (not mine but still an excuse for dessert, right?). Our waiter was top notch. We never had to ask for a refill. He obviously knew the menu very well and all of the recommendations that he offered were excellent. We started with an order of the crispy oysters and another appetizer that I can't remember! I don't usually like fried oysters but these were actually really good. The batter was crisp and the oysters tasted like oysters and not frying oil. The size of the appetizers was just right: not too much. I also tried their beet, fennel, and citrus salad, which I thought was excellent. The presentation was really playful and, again, the size was spot on. For dinner I ordered their fish of the day which was incredible. Everything that came with the dish was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The size was really appropriate and the display was really nice. The waiter suggested a bottle and we were happy to take his suggestion, which was spot on. The wine went very well with the fish. My future mother-in law was the only person at my table who didn't order the fish. Instead she ordered one of all the vegetable sides and she enjoyed everything that she had. Being a birthday we had to get to dessert. I split the banana pudding with my fiancé. I typically associate banana pudding with hospital cafeterias and Nilla cookies. This was not that type of banana pudding. This banana pudding changed every preconceived notion that I had about banana pudding. This was the perfect banana pudding. If there were a banana pudding religion, this would be what they worshiped and Park Café would be their temple. I totally typed that with a straight face. I'm not giving this place 5 stars because I've only visited once and that seems premature. However, I am desperately searching my planner for another reason to visit and after that I am sure I will be upgrading this review soon.
(4)Holly C.
My husband and I decided to give Park Cafe a try last night after a bad experience about a year ago. I have been going to Park Cafe since it opened and it was always my "go to" place for an incredible meal. I was very sad when the food had not been very good the few times we went there over the past couple of years. We shared the Fried Pickles and White Bean Hummus appetizer- both were amazing. My husband is not a fan of hummus and I could not keep him from eating it! He had the NY Strip entree and I had the Tuna Tartar. Once again, incredible. I tasted his NY Strip and it was hands down one of the best steaks I have ever had! We were fortunate to have the owner come by the table. She informed us that she and her husband were aware of the food issues over the past year. She let us know that not only is the menu sticking to favorites done right but that they are completely overhauling the restaurant to include a new patio, redone interior, and lower prices overall. Personally, I really think the interior is fine....If they keep putting out amazing food like they did last night, people will be coming back to the Park Cafe in droves. A+++
(5)Daniel B.
Wow! I really thought I was in for a treat. The Yelp Reviews made me want to go here and a handsome gift certificate closed the deal. I was really looking forward to the experience. I left wondering what the hype is all about. First: the appetizers, salads, entrees and dessert that we ordered were all presented well, but we weren't impressed by the flavors of any dish with exception to their unique cream brûlée (which was appropriately mild in flavor). Second: having a reservation didn't mean that we had a reserved table set for us (party of two)...it was just call ahead seating. We were seated at a four top next to a group of six and near a delightful table that was set for two despite being a four top. Why not treat all reserved tables as such? Third: our server was faced with the option to serve well the needy group of six business men and their frequent request for more bar drinks in addition their four courses and several other tables. He failed to remember to share the specials of the evening until we ordered from the menu. After hearing him explain the specials to the group, we wanted to change our minds and go for a the non-menu items. It was not an option for us to do so. The ambience of the place is nice and feels special, the food wasn't impressive in terms of taste, and the service wasn't reasonable or even good. It's clear that we were there on a "bad" night, but they didn't deliver well with exception to the nice cream brûlée. Bummer. I'll give it two star because of the dessert and the realization they they had a bad, really, really, bad night.
(2)Mark H.
I had dinner here with a client and we ate at the bar. The Mussels were phenomenal! The Bartender was awesome too! How often do you find a beautiful woman that can talk single malts with you? I had the duck for dinner at it was awesome! My client had the pork chop and it was great as well. This will be a regular stop for me on my trips to Nashville.
(5)Jack S.
Really an enjoyable restaurant, especially when its comfortable enough to sit outside. This is a great date night restaurant for outside. Inside as well but it has a totally different feel and is very cool with small rooms and art on the walls. Food has always been good and service reasonable. A main stay when I'm visiting and don't feel up to the adventure of trying someplace new - but do not want to sacrifice quality.
(4)Teresa B.
I enjoyed supper with a few friends and all of us were completely satisified. I ordered the lamb with a side of brussel sprouts and everything was amazing. The lamb was very tender and perfectly seasoned. I also ordered the bourbon pecan bread pudding for dessert and it was superb! Park Cafe is a great spot for a special dinner with friends.
(5)Flora B.
Testing Mac n Cheese whenever I can has become a pastime for me. Park Cafe has a serious contender for best m/c in Nashville: green chili mac and cheese. All it needs is a siiiiiiiide of hidden vallllley ranch. Just kidding. It needed nothing but the spoon for shoveling it into my mouth. Also notable: bourbon pecan pie with molasses ice cream. Damn girl. Welcome to the South!
(4)Alison B.
Oh so cute! We were visiting Nashville so we couldn't tell exactly, but seems a bit off the beaten path-- tho still not hard to get to. They had valet, but the guy just let us pull into an open spot. The host asked us immediately for the name on our reservation, but when we went in there was barely anyone there. As we walked past the bar we overhead the bartender telling someone else that it's b/c it's the day after Thanksgiving. Nice-- he offered two different tables, so I got to choose : ) I chose to sit by the window. It was a bit cool, but they had a little space warmer for my feet (awesome!). Really cozy, relaxed, romantic atmosphere. Tables are a bit tight together, but not in an uncomfortable way--- just a cozy way. Several small rooms, a fake glowing fireplace, textured walls, and bright Southern artwork added to the good ambiance. We ordered the goat cheese appetizer, for entrees steak special and brussel sprout salad (omgoodness, uber cool-- topped with an egg) + green chili mac and cheese (creamy, served in a small warm pot, nice kick of spice from the chiles). Best part--- scotch caramel pudding, OMG yummm, Decent portion size (we were full!). Menu wasn't overwhelmingly long, or "scattered" as another reviewer said. But I wasn't impressed with the wine list. Cocktail menu was fun (jalapeno cocktail? I didn't try it, but sounded great) While a serious foodie might think the food wasn't amazing, I surely thought it was good. Service was also great-- continually checked up on us without being overwhelming, and good recommendations to help me make a good decision!
(5)Jessica W.
There are literally no words to describe how much I love this place. I've only visited four or five times now, but not once have I had anything to complain about whatsoever. The green chile mac and cheese is something that you cannot pass up when/if you do decide to pay a visit. Valet is always free here, which is a great when you come to realize how sparse Sylvan Park's parking is. The service isn't necessarily anything to write home about, but the waiters I have had so far here were all quite attentive and knowledgeable of the food and drink menu. Now, yes, it is a very small restaurant so if you're planning on going out to have a private conversation don't expect for it to be quiet. Overall, Park Cafe holds a spot in my top five Nashville restaurants and I don't see them slipping out of the ranks anytime soon.
(5)Yolanda B.
This place knocked our socks off! Everything from the service, to the food, to the atmosphere was to our liking! The menu selection is enticing. It was really hard to decide what to order. Fortunately we had an amazing server. She had personality for days! I would say hands down she was the best server I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I would highly recommend stopping by Park Cafe for a meal.
(5)Brett P.
We went here for a date on my birthday. The atmosphere was nice and cozy. For appetizers, we had the stuffed & wrapped dates and the tuna tartar. The dates were super delicious! The tuna was just okay; it needed more citrus/acid though. I had the sugar cane roasted cornish game hen for my entree, and it was freaking amazing. The brussels sprouts and cauliflower served with it were really yummy, too! Seasoned perfectly. Our desserts and drinks were good as well. The service was impeccable. This really is a nice "date place." Two thumbs up!
(4)Janet K.
I am torn on my rating as it varies based on the night and purpose for my visit; Christmas party, girls night out, impromptu happy hour to dinner with friends. Overall this is a great local place, food is good and the drinks are good. I personally don't think this is a great date spot if you intend to have a private conversation. It is very small and the tables are very close; if your not careful you will be listening to their conversation and totally forget about the people you are with! The "Better than Sex Chocolate Cake" is the bomb! Now I don't know if it would go down as better than sex with the right person but if they were just okay; I would choose the cake! Just saying! Crab cakes, Mac & Cheese, flatbreads, cheese plates, you name it and it has been great. They have a wonderful selection of wines and good prices for Happy Hour. A couple of tips; not a lot of seating at the bar so if you are coming for HH; get there early. Parking is horrible but they offer valet - use them!
(4)Jason S.
Had a very disappointing meal back in Feb. Our server, a healthy-sized lass whom I will call Brumhilda, just started off with attitude. It seemed like it was just banter, but as the night wore on, she grew increasingly more hostile. There was a point where we asked her for some cocktails, I was trying to order my pal a Sazerac, which is not on the menu, but as a classic cocktail with 4 very simple ingredients that every bar should have, I figured it could be easily done. Brumhilda pushed back with a lot of resistance, and then I had to look it up online to show her how to make one. Whiskey, simple syrup, a dash or two of bitters in a absinthe (or any other type of licorice-flavored liquor) rinsed glass. That's it. She brought back all of the drinks for everyone else a while later, which were passable, and then she took that opportunity to tell the guy that ordered the Sazerac that "They didn't have the right equipment to make one"; which was pure horseshit. She was clearly just lying or lazy. The entrees were mediocre, and my wife's entree came around 15 minutes after everyone else's, which was pretty incredible considering she ordered a bunch of side dishes as she is a vegetarian. Brumhilda abandoned us the first chance she got, and we didn't see her until dessert. As an extra "screw you" to the patrons, for the exhausting chore of waiting on 6 adults, they tacked on a TWENTY PERCENT GRATUITY. 20%! SIX PEOPLE. For the shittiest waitress I've had in years and a meal that was frankly forgettable. And $170 bucks later with no lube, I will tell you that not only will I never come back here, but I sure as hell won't be telling anyone else to, either. PS, on the way out the door, I saw all of the ingredients to make a Sazerac just sitting there on the shelf. Oops.
(1)Richard W.
This review won't be very helpful, but I am trying to catch up on my recent dining experiences in Nashville. The Park Cafe offers an excellent menu and service. We have dined here several times over the last few months. My only complaint is that there is no self-parking nearby (I refuse to hand over the keys for my car to a stranger.)
(4)Bridgette C.
This little gem in Sylvan Park (which is sorely lacking in options, note out there to aspiring restaurant owners) has a wonderful happy hour from 4-6pm on the weekdays and again from 9-10pm...half priced appetizers and deals on beer, wine, and cocktails. Beyond that awesomeness, there's the fantastic food and amazing ambiance. This place has some really fun fusion-style food combining cooking styles and flavors from all over. Some combinations almost make you question the sanity of who put together the menu at time, but I've never been disappointed and the menu encourages experimentation with your own palette. It blends together seemlessly in the small yet beautiful place. I loved the service and the use of local products. It's a great to meet friends or have an impromptu date.
(4)Scott G.
This place is a gem of Sylvan Park. From the unassuming entrance you can't tell but this small restaurant is one of the best in Nashville. The menu changes as often as it should and provides fresh, seasonal foods with gourmet flair. A quaint bar area and tight seating allows each patron to "gawk" a bit at each dish as it floats through the dining room on the way to each table. We had the baked chicken, cous cous, pork chop and triple tail fish mains and they were all 10's out of 10. The salads were very "meh" though and didn't have much flavor. The deserts (lava cake and creme' brûlée) were delish. Table side service was an 11 out of 10. Our server was knowledgable and gregarious. He only added to what was already a great evening. ***The host (a blonde fellow) was snobby and seemed put out by every person that approached him. He all but shoved us in our seats and literally threw our menus on the table. He's a scab on this great little place and needs a lesson in customer service. I love Park Cafe and can't wait to go back....it's a terrific place!
(4)Gina G.
I had an impeccable special occasion dinner at Park Cafe! We made a reservation for eight guests during Vandy graduation weekend and were lucky enough to sit upstairs in what felt more like a cozy spot at a dinner party than a crowded restaurant. I'm somewhat leery of the Nashville fine dining scene in general, but this food was absolutely spot on - from the appetizers (a BOAT of deliciously crunchy calamari, cheese plate, figs) to entrees (I had duck, mom had a mushroom risotto, others had filet, chicken...) the chef very clearly has a strong command on his art. The textures, flavors, balance and presentation were clearly well thought out and executed beautifully. Our server, Sherrlia, was warm and welcoming in the quintessential Nashville way. Knowledgeable but not overbearing and just a hint of humor thrown in for good measure. The GM also graciously made a stop at our table to pour wine and be sure we were well taken care of. Overall, a great spot for a very special dinner with friends, family or a date.
(5)Jeffrey S.
Great service, friendly staff. Awesome pork chop dish. Haven't been there in a little while to be honest, but this used to be my favorite restaurant in Nashville
(5)Stuart W.
We had been trying to plan a couples date with two others for a while, so we decided on a place that might make for an expensive, but also delicious and enjoyable evening. Unfortunately, it was only the first on that list. If you've never been to the Park Cafe, its in the cute and trendy little Sylvan Park area, Parking there is abysmal, but at least they have a valet.. The restaurant is a converted house and still has that kind of cool 'walking through living rooms' feel. The evening started out on a poor note with a waitress who was obviously in a bad mood, though whether just for that evening, or permanently I could not tell. We placed our drink orders and after an extended absence, she returned and informed us that the restaurant 'did not have the proper tools' to make a Sazerac. We tried to find out what ingredients they were missing, so as to suggest an acceptable substitute, but she insisted it was 'tools'. The meal itself was OK. Its been almost three weeks now and I can barely remember what we had. While the appetizers were moderate to good, the fish special was nothing special, and overly cooked and dry. My wife proferred that I really didnt want to try hers as it too was 'just OK'. I will say that my sorbet desert was pretty yummy. When the meal was over, each couple was presented with our nearly $200 dollar tabs, complete with an 18% tip already added - for a party of 6. So my review in a nutshell? Bad service, mediocre food, over priced meals and obnoxious forced-tip policy. I can't wait to rush back ( I wish there was a sarcasm font )
(2)Darren L.
I have been to Park Cafe for birthday dinners,dates and intimate business type gatherings....I'd say I've been 8 times over the last few years. Never ever,not even once has anything but good happened. The service is absolutely exemplary. The food is always great and the vibe is perfect for large groups or small affairs. Just wish it was closer. I know,I know the Eastland Cafe is the same owners (Pomodoro too...)but it's never ever come close to Park Cafe. Don't get me wrong I love the Eastland Cafe ... but is just not the same. Parking is always gonna be an issue so suck it up and valet. Get inside and start eating & drinking. Regardless of what you order(Steak,pork,Chicken,Fish...) you MUST get the green chili/mac n cheese. You have to do this or you have missed a tasty opportunity. Bread pudding for dessert was ridiculous. Last time we were there we had out of town guests and not only did the hostess and waiter remember us but made a fuss welcoming our friends to Nashville ( which is always a nice feeling)...We ate like Kings ,our friends loved it and still talk about it. Great night ,great place,great times! Bravo Park Cafe!
(5)Lisa J.
Really good solid food. Had the mussels which were great and the trout was very flavorful. Good sized portions and decent drinks. Will definitely be back for good food without the long waits or reservations needed at other similar caliber restaurants. Great service as well.
(5)Mirini K.
When I'm in the mood for some fine dining in Nashville, Park Cafe is the place! The ambiance is cozy and romantic but it's definitely not the fanciest. The restaurant is a renovated house so it does feel like you're eating at someone's house. The menu changes often, as the chef uses fresh ingredients that he gets. I tend to enjoy the appetizers more than the entrees and often order 2 appetizers as a meal. One entree that I thoroughly enjoyed was the Lamb Shank: it literally fell off the bone and melted in my mouth. I usually cringe at the taste of fennel but the chef incorporated it into the sauce so well that I actually enjoyed the combination of flavors. The food is usually plated artistically. For dessert, I suggest trying their take on Creme Brulee. It's a little different, doesn't have the torched sugar, but it's still very tasty. To address people who have had a less than satisfactory experience, I'd say that a restaurant experience greatly depends upon the selections you make. You have the realize that the chef has to add in items for the less adventurous, vegetarians, bland eaters, or those with allergies. You can't go to foodie-type restaurant and order the chicken or a house salad and expect to be blown away. I'm going to Park Cafe next week for a friend's birthday. I'm looking forward to it :)
(5)Riley S.
Fantastic food with great service! We went to Park Cafe to celebrate my friend's birthday with a party of 10 or so on a quiet Thursday night. While they didn't have my 2 favorite scotches, Lagavulin and laphroaig, the server was very knowledgeable about scotch and offered great alternatives. To start, I had a special: beef enchilada with chilis and lots of other tasty things. I cleaned the entire plate it was so good! For my main course, I had the chicken and again I cleaned the plate. Everyone else loved their meals as well, from steak to shrimp to salmon. As it is a little expensive, I wouldn't recommend going there for just anything --better make it a special occasion especially if you're on a budget.
(5)Robin L.
Totally cute little place with a dark, homey feel. Romantic? Yes. The tables are rather close together though, so you may be surprised when you open your eyes after sharing that strand of spaghetti ;) Anyway, onto the food. We shared a salad with blue cheese, pear, and pomegranate vinaigrette. It was averagely tasty. My dining companion had their beef tenderloin special which was very good. I had the mahi mahi, which was delicious. We shared the profiteroles for dessert - a trio of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice creams housed in cream puff shells, drizzled with chocolate sauce - it was good, but would have been much better had the cream puffs been moister, warm, and the chocolate sauce also been hot to counter the cold of the ice cream. Alas, my search for profiterole perfection continues. Our server was pleasant, nice, and helpful. Good wine selection. A nice spot with great ambience and solid food.
(4)Jon C.
We came here on a Wednesday night to celebrate our engagement. We were warmly greeted and let to a quiet table, which I had requested. The restaurant appeared to be in an old house. Seemed to be slightly dated to me. Our waiter quickly came, congratulated us, and offered champagne. After going over the menu with us, we ordered crab cakes as our appetizer. Really delicious! I ordered the duck and my fiancee had the chicken. The duck was very good but not the best thing I've ever had. I tasted the chicken and it seemed to be done extremely well. Very juicy and tasty. Make sure to try the green chili mac and cheese!!! Best thing we've eaten in quite a while. It was the perfect combination of spicy with the comfort of mac and cheese. We were too full for dessert but looked at the menu. The creme brûlée sounded interesting. It is done without being brûléed. Instead, it is covered with layers of honey covered phyllo dough. Sounded great. Overall a great experience.
(4)Ryan B.
Excellent service, food and atmosphere. Park and Midtown Cafe are the best in Nashville.
(5)Kathleen M.
Nashville Yelpers, I know y'all don't know me, but I swear I'm a nice person. I give restaurants the benefit of the doubt, chalking up slow service to understaffing, or gross food to an abrupt kitchen change or a bad shipment. Then there's always the "off night" argument. But this, this was just straight up bad. Based on the reviews, my cohort and I chose Park Cafe as our dinner selection for our one night in Nashville. We pulled right up to the valet, asked him if we needed reservations, and he assured us that the place was typically packed, but tonight we'd be okay. We then walked in to an empty restaurant. Curious. The place feels more suited to those paying with Social Security than our young hip selves, but we decided to give it a fair shake and settled in with the menu. A lot caught my eye, but seriously, could this place have less of an identity? The menu was ALL over the place, from bread with chimichurri to chili mac and cheese to crabcakes to caesar salad. Pick something and run with it, people. We decided on an assortment of appetizers: crab cakes, shaved brussel sprout salad, szechuan green beans, and the cheese souffle. What we got were "crab cakes" that tasted exactly like chicken, overdone and underseasoned green beans, a brussel sprout salad that tasted nothing like the sprouts I love, and a four-cheese souffle that reminded me of sweaty cooked brie. Needless to say, we left most of it behind, and nothing was even remotely good. Our server started off quite friendly and attentive, but after being assigned an admittedly high maintenance table of regulars, we were completely ignored. There was no mention of the amount of food left on our plates, and while we dined a seasoned waitress came through the restaurant to train a newbie, all the while loudly pointing out where the liquor was stored, how the owner likes the tables set, etc. If this is great stuff for Nashville, I'm seriously concerned for y'all's sanity.
(1)Jeremy E.
Great spot on Murphy road. Salmon is outstanding. Nice wine selection. I feel like it's a touch overpriced, but they can be because they are the only restaurant of it's type within 5 miles of their location. Worth a try for sure!
(4)Em P.
Sometimes, you just want some comfort in the usual. Park Cafe has been a go-to place for many years, either when guests are in town, an anniversary is being celebrated, or for a group of colleagues are toasting the holidays. Sure, Nashville is slowly becoming a foodie destination with new and inventive dining options, but sometimes it's nice not to have to gamble on a special meal. I tend to try every new restaurant at some point, and have found other favorites, but few have racked up the points for consistently good food and service that Park Cafe has. For one wedding anniversary, we tried a new place that had just changed ownership, chef, menu and decor. But it fell hopelessly short of our expectations, and we decided to get a drink and dessert at Park instead. We just KNEW it would be good. Perhaps it is starting to look dated in there. Perhaps they don't have experimental flavors in the menu. Or it isn't a place for the pretty to see and be scene. But I know I can go in, and have a great meal and not have to worry about making reservations days in advance, changing into "nighttime" clothes, or care if my parents feel too out of place eating next to a table of Music Row scenesters. It's just comfortable. Oh and it's up there with Eastland Cafe's (their sister place) happy hour. All drinks are $5, and they have some great snackies to go with them. I've raced there from work many a night to get there before 6 on Friday. YUM.
(5)Jimmy M.
Having lived in Nashville only a few months, I was invited by a friend to a business dinner at the restaurant. I will not be back. We had reservations, but apparently there would have been no wait for the party of 6 on a Wednesday night. The service was pleasant and efficient. We ordered the local cheese plate and goat cheese brulee for the table. Both were very good. I ordered the Cafe Salad and was immediately disappointed with the portion size. The BROWN PAPER TOWEL hidden within the lettuce, however, was the kicker. When I tried to cut the lettuce with a knife, it became apparent that there was something inside. The waitress was also appalled as were my fellow diners. She took the salad back to the kitchen and later apologized that the towel was used to dry the lettuce and was accidently left in the salad. How this could happen on such a small salad is beyond me. No manager visited to apologize for the mistake. The rest of the meal was okay, the portions small for the price. The green chili mac and cheese was very good. Whether or not the restaurant comped any part of the meal, I do not know since I was not paying. I think they should have comped the whole thing.
(1)Kate M.
Had an amazing time. I took my mom and her husband here and our server Jordan was cute and friendly and he really knew what he was talking about. I live in Nashville and you typically get bad service but he was great and the food was perfect. I will go back any time.
(5)Melissa T.
Love everything about this place! When you first walk into this establishment, you know you are some place special! We were walked upstairs to the second floor where we were seated at a table in a cozy corner. Great atmosphere to enjoy some delicious food and great company. Our waiter was so nice and helpful with ordering. The best recommendation was the mac and cheese! We were pleasantly surprised by the portion of this "side" dish. Next time, I'd just order the mac and cheese for my entree! It may be the best mac and cheese I've ever eaten. All the other food was absolutely divine. We practically licked our plates cleaned!
(5)Nickie G.
So I went to Park Cafe with a group of people that go to happy hour here quite often. I didn't even know this place existed so I was more than happy to check it out. As you walk in the door there's a little nook of leather chairs and ottomans with a coffee table in the middle. This is where we parked it for the evening. It's right in front of the front window so you can see the world go by as you get your drink on. The overall ambiance is definitely of a nice restaurant place - I even saw a lady come in wearing a fur coat. Fancy! So happy hour here is not too shabby. They have a list of drinks and a list of food items that are all $5 each. I ordered a dirty martini to start (before I saw the drink menu) and the chick asked me "what kind?" Um, Grey Goose? She just stares at me and then says in the most smart ass, condescending tone "What kind of martini? Vodka? Gin?" I was a little taken aback - like loooky here chickie, I freakin said GREY GOOSE. Do they make GIN? I don't THINK so!!! (Although if they start then I'd want to try it, let's be honest.) Anyway, after that I was feeling SUPER annoyed and done with this place. As the night went on though I have a feeling that is just the way she is because she was being smart aleck with the other people and she knows them from many happy hours. I guess someone should have warned me so I didn't get such a bad taste in my mouth right off the bat. To be fair though, as the evening went on she was nicer so everything was all good in the end. And, by the way, the martini wasn't very good - SO THERE! Not enough dirty if you ask me. Never enough dirty if you ask me! Later on I tried their "hot and dirty" (or something like that) martini with olive and peppericini juice - it was interesting to say the least. Anyway, we eventually tried some food and this was the highlight! I had a couple of bites of the happy hour pizzas - the meatball and the goat cheese. Oh how good that goat cheese pizza was - I kind of wanted an entire one to myself. Later on I got the pulled pork sliders - the pork was tender but overall bland on the seasoning and sauce. The house made pickles were SO FREAKIN GOOD and the fries rival the best ones I've ever had. Skinnier fries with good crispy outsides and hot soft insides. Pretty solid food. They had their NYE menu up and it looked amazing - if I had a hot date maybe that would be an idea! Prices appeared to be on par with what I would expect from a nicer restaurant (entrees around $20). Overall, great happy hour prices here at Park Cafe and what looks to be an interesting menu. I most DEFINITELY want to come back and eat here for an entire meal sometime in the future! Until then, just A-OK from me.
(3)Jen W.
Recently had a birthday dinner at the Park Cafe. Good wine list and appetizers were yummy. Our fave was the goat cheese brulee.. those roasted tomatoes were delicious! Entrees were good, however my husband's $35 tenderloin was a bit overcooked hence the 1 star minus. All in all we had great experience, the servers and hostess were friendly and the restaurant was intimate and cozy. Looking forward to checking out the happy hour.
(4)Kate L.
This restaurant is truly as good as it gets. If you're looking to drop a little more coin than average on a top notch meal, this is THE place to go. It has been my go-to special occasion place ever since I moved to Nashville 5 years ago. I like both inventive flavor combinations as well as well-executed classics, and the menu at the Park always includes the best of both worlds. The chef's line-up changes with the seasons, and makes excellent of use of local produce and fresh fish, etc. The last time I was there I ordered a dish that included roast duck with sweet potato gnocchi and a beet paste garnish...very interesting and very delicious. DO NOT MISS the green chili mac and cheese. Even if you have totally stuffed yourself, do yourself a favor and get some to go. The bread and chimichurri they bring out at the beginning of the night is also outstanding. 2 entrees and a glass of wine each will set you back around $75, which is totally reasonable for a great dining experience in such a cozy setting.
(5)Samuel L.
Park Cafe was chosen as my first Nashville establishment to visit with a lady friend. I have to say, I was not disappointed. We were seated in the front window, pretty cozy, nice and quiet, very nice. We split a crab cake app, and it was very good. For meals I had their special salad that day, along with a mahi special they were running, and my lady friend ordered the lamb, The salad was absolutely fantastic. I mean, really good. The Mahi, honestly, I was not impressed by. It was not bad or anything, it just wasn't spectacular. The lamb that my lady friend had, however, was quite delicious. My favorite part of the whole meal though, were her brusell sprouts. I brought my own wine, and really did not pay much attention to the wine list, but we did order a second bottle from the "off the menu specials"(code for, shit they couldn't sell, for whatever reason, and want to move) It was a tasty Sicilian Nero, I absolutely love Southern Italian wines. We could not decide on dessert, not because none of it sounded good, but because we had some other things to do that night. Our service was absolutely fantastic, and the lady friend was extraordinarily happy. That means I was happy, and Park Cafe will get a return visit.
(4)Xian H.
I had had an wonderful meal at Park Cafe sometime before I officially moved to Nashville a little over two years ago and then yesterday, my husband (then boyfriend) and I decided to celebrate the happy occasion of Monday by going back for a nice meal. Being that it was a Monday, reservations were definitely not needed. We sat outdoors next to the stone fountain in their new(?) patio area and although it was a little chilly and a little difficult to imagine that you are not sitting in a former parking lot, it was for lack of better descriptive terms, nice. Pros: The side of green chili mac 'n' cheese was hands-down dope. I would almost recommend ordering two of these and calling it an entree. But then you'd have to order a side of two other entrees because the scallops and the duck that we ordered were also done quite well. The gnocchi that the duck sits on melts in your mouth. We also ordered the special appetizer, mussels. What was remarkable was that each mussel was served with its own sprinkling of ground up chorizo, tomato, and some thick, but delicate green sauce (sorry, don't remember the details of this one). Service was warm and pleasant. And at the end of the night, my husband asked, "How is it that I lived across the street for a year and never came here to drink alone?" Cons: You have to walk through a bunch of BMWs to get to the front door.
(4)David S.
As far as I am concerned, this is one of the best restaurants in Nashville. I've taken my parents and friends here and they have all loved it. Definitely something for everyone on the menu with great salads and fish dishes (which is what I'm usually looking for). And, of course, there's the green chile macaroni and cheese. The interior seating is a little different. Definitely not your staid dining room. Lots of little warrens and corners to sit, and great outdoor seating as well which is always a plus. The place is always hopping when I drive by. There's valet parking in the front or plenty of street parking in the neighborhood. I'm definitely glad it's in my neighborhood, and it is one of the highlights of Sylvan Park. I've heard both Dolly Parton and Reese Witherspoon have dined here, and I can see why. It can be a little pricey, but it is definitely worth it.
(5)Nicki R.
The first time I went to Park Cafe I was not all that impressed, but we had a gift card so we decided to give it another try and had a wonderful experience! We were able to sit on the back patio (which in my opinion reminded me of a scaled-down Tavern on the Green) and had perfect weather, so that didn't hurt!! We started with the cheese plate and each had a salad. It was all wonderful. I got the scallops and my husband got the lamb. It was delicious! For dessert we got the seasonal bread pudding (I believe it was peach) with a cinnamon ice cream. This experience definitely changed our minds about this place and we would be happy to return!
(4)Crabby O.
This is clearly one of the best restaurants in Nashville. The food here is very simple, but expertly created and delicious. This is an excellent place to take inbreeds who think Las Palmas is exotic. The menu won't scare anyone. But yet this place has real flair. Everything is good: salads, desserts, even the coffee rocks. Pooling meals is highly encouraged. I don't care for the converted-house layout and grandmotherly feel to the dining room but some may find this charming. It's not cheap but reasonable for the outstanding quality. You must try this place.
(5)Katherine M.
The best thing about Park Cafe is the bar. It has a great atmosphere and the drinks are really good! They have an impressive wine list, something for everyone. The service in the bar is excellent and you can eat in there. If I go back I'll opt for that. Our service was not good. The server just didn't pay us much attention! The food was fine, but after it took forever for us to order, then a long time for our food to get out to us, I was pretty much over it. My sea bass was tasty, I guess I can't complain about that. But, my garlic mashed potatoes were barely warm. The guy I was with got the yellowtail sashimi and said it was really good. Park Cafe does have a good menu. I'll give 'em that. Fish, steaks, pastas, good salads, shrimp, and a wide variety of sides. I hear the mac and cheese is to die for! I've heard so many good things about this place that I'll give it a whirl again. Maybe I just caught them on an off night. Happens to even the best of places!
(3)Benjamin D.
Haven't made it for dinner yet so this is just a happy hour review. $5 cocktails and appetizers and cheaper wine and beer. Not the best manhattan I've ever had, but just fine coming from the well. Appetizer were quite appetizing and four people split three to great effect. If you can sit on the patio or in the front foyer for maximal relaxation.
(4)Rainer F.
I'm from Boston, and while in general I think the restaurant scene there is overrated, it has to offer some very good restaurants. On a recent trip to Nashville I discovered Park Cafe, which is easily in the same league. It's sort of in the middle of nowhere but the moment you step inside it draws you in with its warm and cozy ambience. At our visit the wait staff was impeccable. Friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, without being overly intrusive or stiff/formal. Most importantly, the food was outstanding. My appetizer, the salmon tartare cones, was the best I have had in a long time, by taste and by presentation. My daughter - a vegetarian - enjoyed her goat cheese "brûlée" as well. As a main course, the daily special - sliced steak covered with white asparagus, crisp onion strips, and blue cheese sauce, on a bed of horseradish mashed potatoes - delivered. Perfectly prepared medium rare, juicy tender meat. Daughter went for the mushroom risotto, which turned out an excellent combination of flavors. We also sampled the house specialty, the green chili mac-and-cheese, and while perfectly fine, it wasn't the revelation we were expecting. As desert we shared the bread pudding, which unfortunately was not as good as the rest of the meal. Kind of dry, tasted like warmed up in the microwave, not freshly prepared. The wine list had a small but balanced selection at reasonable prices. What I didn't like that evening was the cocktail, the Existentialist. It turned out to be basically a gin and tonic, with hardly traceable hints of St. Germaine. All in all, this place has found a place on my list of restaurants to go back to on future trips to the area.
(5)Erin J.
I had such high expectations of this place since I've had so many good experiences at Eastland Cafe (same owners), but I was sorely disappointed. I picked this place for my birthday, and here is what happened: We sat at the bar when we got there and had a couple of glasses of wine. We were served potato chips (from a bag - not fresh, house-made), and there was a big hair in them. Gross We sat down at our table, and ordered two appetizers - the crab cakes & the etouffee. The etouffee was not very good (but crawfish normally tastes a bit fishy, but my father-in-law wanted to order it), however the crab cakes were delish - they were really crunchy and had a nice corn relish. For our entrees, I ordered the shrimp with saffron risotto. The shrimp were very burned on the tails, which imparted a bitter taste to the rest of the dish. The risotto was ok, but I seriously could make better risotto at home. Very dry and muddy flavors. My husband had the duck, which he wasn't happy with (he's a chef, so he's pretty critical, and I guess I am too). Then the desserts - Creme Brulee Napoleon, Chocolate Semifreddo, and some other banana something. The Napoleon was "to die for" as they say. The Semifreddo was freddo (completely frozen), not Semifreddo as it was labeled. I expected a slightly frozen, custardy consistency, but it was completely frozen. The last dessert was so unmemorable that I can't even remember what was in it. I guess I have high expectations when you're paying top dollar for food. I just don't feel like I got my money's worth here. I expected everything to be near-perfect, but it fell far short.
(3)Nikki M.
My favorite restaurant, and I'm from New York. The trout, the carpaccio, everything here is the best I've ever had. And the calamari! So perfectly crispy, I've tried to find places that can compare to this since my first time at Park, and I've given up. I won't bother with calamari anywhere else! Staff is friendly, they have that whole southern hospitality thing down.
(5)John G.
Park Cafe tops my list of places I really need to return to. The menu had SO many things I wanted to try I wish I could have ordered them all. I really would like to recommend the cheese plate to start (and also the crab cakes, if you like them). Because I am such a sucker for duck, I could not resist the duck breast with pomegranate and honey. It was a clever take on duck breast that I had not seen before. I always like the complement with fruit, and I thought this was really good.
(5)Melissa B.
We went to this place to celebrate a birthday. We went for happy hour because they have some fabulous specials. They have a special drink menu ($4.00 & $5.00 drinks) and a $5.00 appetizer menu. The drinks were fabulous. I had a mojito martini and then tried the pomegranate margarita. Usually I think happy hour drinks are watered down or cheap liquors, but these were not. The drinks were very well made, delicious, and had a good amount of liquor in them. I ordered two appetizers, thinking that because they were so cheap, it wouldn't be a full size appetizer. Wrong. I wouldn't have finished one. There was a group of us, so we all shared. The hummus was probably my favorite. I also had the quesadilla and it was yummy! I tried the zucchini and part of a fish taco. All were delicious. I would love to go back and try the full menu because the appetizers were so good. Of course, I'll be back because the happy hour specials are unbeatable too.
(4)Ron R.
Bar Review Only! Just did a Friday night Happy Hour there. The libations concocted by Mixologist Kelly are AWESOME creative and flavorful and the lounge appys, too. Killer wine list of super small production and rare treats, too. Gotta get back for a real meal. Duck and Pinot is on my mind!
(4)Molly K.
A charming restaurant to enjoy a romantic dinner. I love this privately owned place because it's unique and I've never had anything there I didn't savor every bite of. Because it's in an old house, each room has a different feel, color, decor, so go more than once to experience a different seat. My favorite dish is the beef tenderloin, you almost don't need a knife it's so tender.
(4)Caitlin D.
OH YES!!!! I am SO excited to have discovered this amazing restaurant. I've heard a lot about it, and finally went there with a friend to try it out. We got a delicious bottle of wine, four apps to share (the seared rare tuna, the smoked salmon, pot stickers and cheese plate) and then split the steak, which the kitchen was kind enough to actually split and cook differently because I want blood oozing outta my steak. Everything was FANTASTIC, perfectly cooked, full of original flavors and different combinations of ingredients. This is easily one of the best restaurants in Tennessee, no doubt. Dudes: If you want to impress your lady, take her here!!!!
(5)Wren F.
What can I say, except I love Park Cafe! Kelly is the best in the world. New chairs and barstools throughout and they look great.
(5)Brooke M.
I ate at the bar with my friend Emily in March 2006 and loved it then as much as I do now. It helped that Keith and Nicole walked in - I was star-struck! Still, I managed to eat green chili mac-n-cheese. You'll always run into your neighbors at the bar (celebs or not!) Their specials are fantastic although their scallop, duck and beef entrees are mainstays. Their fried calamari is great for sharing. My boyfriend and I love to share their entrees since they are so large (they split in the kitchen onto separate plates!)
(4)Jim R.
This place in my favorite restaurant in Nashville. The food is fantastic and the wait and management staff is excellent. If you go, make sure you get the green chile mac and cheese !
(5)Rey M.
Never got to try the food. We were scared away by the snobby clientele and the moody bartender that failed to properly acknowledge us. We sat forever while everyone stared at us wondering why common folk would even think to consider a place like this and we were only acknowledged by the rude bartender when we collected our things and began to leave. She stated, "leaving already?". Not the friendly Nashville we expected. Try City House in Germantown and steer clear from Sylvan Park. Unless you are a snob, of course.
(1)Otis R.
Pretty good fusion cuisine. I liked their beer selection the best though. They had Chimay Rouge a great Trappist Ale. Valet parking. Nice artwork on wall. Great place for a date or business dinner.
(4)Meghan C.
By far, the best dinner in all my 11 years in Nashville!
(5)Virginia G.
We had an early Valentine's Day dinner at Park Cafe in below freezing weather, but we warmed right up when we were seated in a tiny corner of the large dining area. Although only a few other tables were occupied, we were seated almost in the laps of another couple who was finishing their dessert. Still, we were right next to the space heater, and the food really was excellent. We indulged in the crab cake appetizer, which was just as good as I remember it being on my first visit (nine years ago!). I had a mahi mahi special - the fish was tasty, but the sweet potato/soybeans/other things on the side of the plate were just delicious. We also tried the famous green chili macaroni and cheese which, although it was some fantastic mac and cheese, wasn't quite as exciting as we had hoped. There was definitely no room left for dessert, especially after the bread basket. Neither of us finished our meals, but there wasn't QUITE enough to take home as leftovers. It was a great special occasion.
(4)Josh B.
Great food, in a great environment. I've eaten there twice now, and have yet to be let down. As others have recommended, the duck breast is excellent. They usually have some very interesting specials, in addition. The last time I was there, they had deep fried oysters on a bed of sweet potato polenta. YUM. Good prices for the quality/uniqueness of the menu. The wine list is merely good; you may want to bring your own if you're picky for certain varieties.
(5)Genevieve R.
What an adorable little hide-away! Judging by the photo on yelp, I was expecting to be seated under bright lights and such. But Park Cafe is dimly lit and extremely cozy. Upon entering, the manager and hostess welcomed us like we were family. We were sat at table #45, Dolly Parton's favorite table! We started off with their special.. fried oysters with brusselsprouts and gritz. GIMME MORE! We also ordered the green chili mac & cheese (only $5!) and ohhhhmyyyygooood. Rich, creamy, warm.. YES! Mouth orgasm. The crab cakes were great, made with real crab and definitely made in-house. All this started to fill me up, so I ended up ordering their special brusselsprout and beet salad. NOM NOM NOM. Wish there was more! My man ordered the duck which he loved and his mother ordered the wedge salad. She liked it lots. The drinks are pretty superb.. had the pear saketini. It's wonderful cuz it's not filled with sweet crap.. it's refreshingly balanced. Also had the champagne with St. Germain and a glass of temperanillo. Park Cafe is awesome. It's not too pricey.. I mean, 6 cocktails, 2 glasses of wine, 2 appetizers, 1 side, 2 salads and one entree and dessert for $158. I totally recommend Park Cafe but I left off one star due to the tiny dishes and I wasn't impressed with my lemon meringue inspired dessert.. it was kinda frozen and tasteless. Other than that, everything about Park Cafe is superb. And so are Dolly's tits.
(4)Joe C.
This is another fabulous restaurant in Nashville. I love this place. The staff and foods are awesome. The dcor can't compare to F. Scott's but the foods are equality delicious. Their seafood and desserts are fantastic. Also, be prepared to spend $$$, but it's worth the experience! I wouldn't name this the best restaurant in Nashville, but one of the best... YES!
(4)Stephen W.
This was the first nice restaurant I went to willingly and really enjoyed. Having gone back years later, I see now that it's not the best food or service and is a bit overpriced. However, they do make quality food and the restaurant is a really nice interesting space. It is a place worth visiting.
(3)jason m.
Our favorite restaurant for date night never disappoints. Great food, always great service. Great cheese plate, always good steak, and excellent deserts.
(5)Emily Y.
Just eat here. Everything is good. I even liked the grits! The jalapeno mac-n-cheese is a must try too!
(5)Mark F.
Happy Hour Heaven. I love the layout, there's always lots of natural light beaming in which helps you relax after a long day of work. Prices are excellent, beer options on tap are excellent, the $6 pizzas are excellent. Park Cafe is always my first choice for happy hour.
(5)Lindsey H.
I went to Park Cafe for the first time during Burger Week 2015. I had been wanting to go for months, as it is very near where I work, but just never seemed to make the time for it. Burger Week gave me the extra push that I apparently needed. Great ambiance overall, however, my main complaint (not critical) is that we were placed in the little sun room. Ordinarily, I think that this must be a great little room, but as the sun was still up, it was hot and the sun hit me square in the eye from the angle I was in. Unfortunately, there was another table already in the room, or I would have just shifted. All that being said, our server was nice, (my water glass did not get filled as quickly as I would like, but that is minor.) And the food was delicious! Aside from having their amazing burger which featured bacon jam, I tried their mango, goat cheese, butterleaf salad. It was FANTASTIC. Great flavor combos, and presented beautifully. I would definitely return!
(4)