Midtown Cafe image

Midtown Cafe

Restaurant American restaurant

Long-running restaurant serving creative American cuisine in an intimate, art-lined setting. People often mention good, breakfast, Nashville, delicious, ordered, great, grits, meal, risotto, amazing,


Address

102 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

Website

www.midtowncafe.com

Contact

+1 615-320-7176

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (1.1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Monday: 8 am to 2 pm, 4:30 to 8:30 pm
  • Tuesday: 8 am to 2 pm, 4:30 to 8:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 8 am to 2 pm, 4:30 to 8:30 pm
  • Thursday: 8 am to 2 pm, 4:30 to 8:30 pm
  • Friday: 8 am to 2 pm, 4:30 to 9:30 pm
  • Saturday: 8 am to 2 pm, 4:30 to 9:30 pm
  • Sunday: 8 am to 2 pm, 4:30 to 8:30 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (23) breakfast (16) Nashville (15) delicious (15) ordered (15) great (15) grits (11) meal (10) risotto (10) amazing (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Kelly W. 2 years ago on Google
    We recommend reservations even for breakfast. This restaurant is excellent and everyone loves it!!! The hostess and our waitress was very nice and took very good care of us. We have never eaten here before and I have never heard of Nashville pigs in a blanket. It was absolutely amazing and so tender and perfectly seasoned, My favorite!!! My husband said he highly recommended the midtown biscuits. So good
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Guy A. 2 years ago on Google
    Don’t let the modest and small-sized front fool you! Fantastic atmosphere, delicious food, professional & courteous staff. The interior design and decor is geared more towards a nice date night spot, rather than just a breakfast cafe. It was very surprising! I ordered the Midtown Breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuit and fruit. Eggs were eggs, the sausage was incredible and the biscuit was also good. Coffee was hot and refilled routinely, even offered a to-go cup. The OJ was just what I needed to start my meal. I finished the meal with a small fruit cup- not bad. What a great breakfast spot!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Preston H. 2 years ago on Google
    Dinner on a Saturday night with 7 people. The valet is right out front and very convenient considering parking in the area is at a premium. Started out with complimentary biscuits and butter which were okay if you need to take the edge off a big appetite. Then I ordered the lemon artichoke soup. It was very good and hot. For the entree I got the crab cakes. They came with cheese grits and julienned veggies. Along with a spicy and non spicy dipping sauce. Excellent!! For the dessert I opted for the Jack Daniels pecan pie. It came with a small amount of ice cream and was the perfect end to a great meal. Service was excellent. My 6 table mates all enjoyed their food.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Michael T. 1 year ago on Google
    I wasn’t blown away by the flavor or equality of anything. We spent around $200 on this meal, and I can’t say that it was worth it. The drinks were okay, the appetizers were only okay, and the entrees were okay. Nothing special. The chicken croquettes were decent, however my steak was pretty tough, and the duck entree was overcooked. I thoroughly enjoyed the sautéed spinach. Overall, I may give it another shot at some point, but I’d be more likely to explore around in the area.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Greg K. 3 years ago on Google
    My wife and I love this it here. It’s a perfect date night. If you want something a-little higher end but nothing that’s going break bank. The quality is absolutely amazing, we got the blacken grouper which might be the best grouper we’ve ever tried and we come from the Gulf Coast and Atlantic. The green beans were perfectly cooked with an amazing glaze. The shrimp and grits were phenomenal. Very fresh shrimp tossed with amazing cheese grits and the perfect combination of flavors to take you straight to flavortown! Truly some of the best food in Nashville. If you’re thinking about coming here do it. You will not be disappointed.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Abigail M. 2 years ago on Google
    My husband and I visited Nashville for the first time! We picked this restaurant at random to have our breakfast and we could not have been more satisfied with our meal/experience! The building seemed small and quaint but had a reasonable amount of space once you got inside. The staff was very helpful and easy going, and the food was AMAZING! BEST BREAKFAST WE HAVE IN A LONG TIME!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Angie K. 8 months ago on Google
    Excellent!! Everything is as I remember. I have dreams about the lemon artichoke soup & they did NOT disappoint! Our group was small but hungry & we all left very satisfied with heavier waist lines and wallets not too depleted! A 35yr staple, there's nothing bad at Midtown Cafe! It's aaaalllll goooood!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 John H. 7 months ago on Google
    Server was cool and my breakfast was solid. Expensive, but worth it considering how much food I got (the meal basically felt like 2 portions of food). Pancakes were a bit sweet for my taste, but really good otherwise. Over all great place.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 L 2 years ago on Google
    Very cute boutique cafe/ restaurant/ bar! Our waitress were superb, very friendly and always make sure you have enough coffee or if we needed anything else! The egg white omelette I ordered was simple but very well made and delicious. Will definitely try to come back again before we leave Nashville.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sean Q. 6 months ago on Google
    Service was amazing. I had an 11:30 booking but they helped us get a table 30 mins early as we arrived before and were hungry. Excellent food and they gave me a free slice of cake for my Birthday which was Coconut and very tasty!

  • 5/5 Daryl L. 4 months ago on Google
    The food and atmosphere were perfect. My wife and I took a quick weekend getaway to Nashville. Midtown Cafe made it all worthwhile. I ordered the French toast, a side of bacon, and the potatoes. My wife ordered pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Let's just say nothing was left on these plates. Delicious! I wish we would have gone to breakfast both mornings! Until next time! If you are in Nashville, you definitely need to try Midtown Cafe!

  • 5/5 Sheryl S. 5 months ago on Google
    I had breakfast here which was delightful! I had the Pigs in the Blanket, Smoke Gouda Grits, and the French Toast w/Peach Compote. Great Customer Service, friendly staff, and delicious food! The space is cozy and quaint, but clean and welcoming!

  • 5/5 Patricia C. 5 months ago on Google
    First time to Nashville and concierge recommended this restaurant. Wow! What great food! We were having difficulty deciding what to chose since there were so many good choices! We ordered some cocktails. Mine Blueberry lemon drop was really good! The Brussel sprouts were soo good! The crab cakes w mushroom risotto was delicious! And the little biscuits that came first was sooo addictive!! If we come back to Nashville, will definitely have to visit this place again!

  • 5/5 Aimee T. 9 months ago on Google
    We loved this restaurant! It's a small quaint place and the appetizers, food and the dessert were great! We had shrimp and grits and mussels for our appetizers, chicken "saltimbocca", crab cakes, grilled salmon and coca-cola BBQ beef short ribs for our entrees and they were all very good!! The coconut cake for dessert is a must! Two people had the rib eye steaks and were a little disappointed, the steaks were pretty thin and not as flavorful as expected. But other than that I definitely would recommend this restaurant, the people were great and we loved the atmosphere!

  • 5/5 Grant H. 7 months ago on Google
    Don't let the outside deter you... This place is a must eat when in Nashville. You know it is ok to leave Lower Broadway! The nachos are excellent could be it's own meal. The staff is fabulous... Again try it, free valet.

  • 5/5 Len T. 7 months ago on Google
    I enjoyed breakfast @ Midtown Cafe. I was seated @ the bar. Nice place to start out your day very clean and cozy. The Staff were very welcoming and friendly. The coffee was great!!!!

  • 5/5 Steve R. 3 months ago on Google New
    We had such an awesome dining experience there tonight, as our server Stephanie clearly went above and beyond! She was extremely attentive, friendly, and professional. The food was absolutely delicious, starting with the lobster Bisque, the fried green tomatoes, and the chicken croquettes appetizers. The shrimp and grits was incredibly amazing and the steaks awesome! The scallops over Mac and cheese was great, and the desserts were incredible. I particularly loved the creme Brule as the top was crispy, and the custard the right texture.

  • 5/5 John G. 4 months ago on Google
    We luckily stumbled upon this gem in Midtown. It was the perfect spot to enjoy a quiet evening dinner. It felt cozy, upscale and non pretentious. Our waitress Stephanie was very friendly and attentive and had some great recommendations. My wife got the Vol-au-vent and I ordered the Sea Bass with lobster risotto. Both entrees were on the specials menu. The Vol-au-vent was very savory and tasted similar to chicken pot pie, but without the vegetables and with the pastry on top. It was super delicious and I had to beg my reluctant wife for a few bites. She got the mushroom risotto for her side. My Sea Bass was cooked to perfection and had a light white sauce that complimented the heavier lobster risotto well. We topped off the meal with a slice of the delicious chocolate pecan pie.

  • 4/5 Traveler_312 4 months ago on Google
    There is limited free parking onsite. It is not free later in the day. I like that they are part of AA dining plan. Service was excellent. The food was ok. The pork tenderloin and sausage patties were overcooked. The onions in the omelet were sautéed vs caramelized. The breakfast nachos had some really good cheese sauce and were excellent overall. We split the tenderloin biscuits and they were nice enough to put on separate plates. The total bill, after tip, was roughly $120 for four people. It is located in downtown Nashville so the higher prices are expected for the location. I would go back if I were in the area.

  • 5/5 Guillermo C. 3 months ago on Google New
    WOW In all my travels, this is THE BEST BREAKFAST in Nashville! The food was "DELICIOSO" OMG, The ambiance was awesome, BUT the service from Tess was fabulous. If you are in Nashville you have to STOP at the Midtown Cafe! This a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Breakfast location! WOW!

  • 5/5 ted.angell 4 months ago on Google
    Really fabulous. There are plenty of good options around, but this is an impressive one. It takes a lot to get me to pass up eggs Benedict and shrimp and grits, which are both on the menu, but the puff pastry with chicken and mushrooms, asparagus and Hollandaise the server recommended was worth it, and provided a good excuse to come back.

  • 5/5 Tyler W. 2 years ago on Google
    Great service and great food! I would highly recommend the shrimp and grits 😋!

  • 4/5 ADAM C. 1 year ago on Google
    A fair 4 out of 5 because I do believe many places could serve a better breakfast. It was good overall. The waitress was a bit slow to respond. The pricing seemed a bit high but the quality of the food was on target. Not a place that would stand out to return on our next visit. I would highly recommend Parlor Donuts.

  • 5/5 Melissa R. 1 year ago on Google
    This was our first dining experience here.. we absolutely LOVED it! I had the blackened Grouper( I very rarely clean a plate.. I simply couldn’t leave it. My sweetheart had the filet..fabulous!! We finished with the molten cake.. (We rarely order dessert) we finished it all! Great night ..great service.. fantastic food.. we will visit again❤️❤️❤️❤️

  • 5/5 Priyadarshini C A. 1 year ago on Google
    Went for a family dinner and had the best time. The food was delicious and the service was just amazing. Ordered fried green tomatoes, mushroom risotto and the chef’s special lobster risotto with sea bass. The lobster risotto was so flavorful and was superb when paired with the sea bass. The fried tomatoes and the mushroom risotto was also really good. The desserts needs the special mention. My 3 year old had the brownie and she just enjoyed every bite. The chocolate lava cake and the chocolate cheesecake (so chocolaty) were sooooo good. Had a great time. Will definitely visit again!

  • 5/5 Dillon C. 1 year ago on Google
    Ohhh yes! Breakfast was delicious and the biscuits I mean. Honestly, I have no words for these biscuits.. order the biscuits! They have it as a sandwich, a breakfast sandwich or in my case I just got it on the side with butter. It is absolutely to die for, it's at the whole thing is just delicious

  • 5/5 Sara F. 1 year ago on Google
    Gina behind the bar was great! She definitely added to the experience. Also, her recommendations for dinner was definitely on point. One of the best meals I had in Nashville.

  • 5/5 Laura B. 1 year ago on Google
    We really enjoyed Midtown Cafe! The chicken croquettes were delicious, and the plating was perfect. Our server was friendly and efficient. It was a great setting for a lunch date.

  • 4/5 Tyler S. 2 years ago on Google
    I ordered the crab cakes as an appetizer. It included one for $16. The flavor and accompaniments were good. I thought it was a bit pricey. I ordered the filet for my entrée. I’ll say it was not bad but you can tell this is not a steak house. My party ordered the molten cake and JD Pecan Pie and said they were great. My espresso was good. Ambience and aesthetic were nice. Had a lipstick stain on my glass so that was not good. Our server was pretty good and attentive and seemed busy but sometimes our wait when he checked up on us seemed a little longer than it should have been. Although, he comped something so that was nice. Overall, 4/5.

  • 5/5 Mallory F. 2 years ago on Google
    This place is amazing. We had breakfast there and tasted so good. Lot notch cuisine. Try the Gouda grits.

  • 5/5 derrick e. 2 years ago on Google
    This place has taken me by surprise I was extremely happy with the atmosphere the waitress and the place and especially the food. It's a small place that's been around a lot of years but it's got a big taste that will keep you coming back if you're in the downtown area of Nashville I would suggest going there they have good fish and the sides are delicious. Don't talk about it be about it and try them out.

  • 5/5 Sanya L. 2 years ago on Google
    Best meal on our trip. I ordered the sea bass lunch special and it was to die for. The lobster risotto that came with it was the best risotto I've ever eaten. My friend ordered the shrimp and grits and it was delicious. My husband ordered the meatloaf and it was super tasty too. We finished our meal with a slice of coconut cake. So rich and scrumptious!!! Can't recommend this place enough!

  • 5/5 Sabrina C. 2 years ago on Google
    This was our first visit and we were greeted by a friendly hostess who managed to snag us a seat in this bustling cafe. Don’t let the appearance fool you, it’s bigger than it looks. We were immediate welcomed by our waiter (John) who was warm and very knowledgeable of the wide range menu. Although we were there for lunch, a homestyle breakfast is served all day and the plates I saw being served looked amazing. We had the meatloaf and burgers which was delicious and we were served rather quickly. What was more enjoyable is the fact this cafe has an unusual flair that everyone seemed to be having a enjoyable time and it’s just a warm, inviting place you want to go back to. It’s almost like they have always known you. I highly recommend this cafe.

  • 5/5 Beth D. 2 years ago on Google
    We visited Midtown Cafe for lunch on a Saturday. Our waitress, Stephanie, was excellent! She made good recommendations from the menu. We had the crab cakes for appetizer and they were delicious. I ordered the Rainbow trout almondine and it was exquisite! My sister had the shrimps and grits and it was very good. The ambiance is very nice. We will definitely want to go back when visiting Nashville again.

  • 5/5 Roy T. 2 years ago on Google
    Traveling on business, not in the mood for fast food, didn’t want to dine in and eat alone, discovered via Google Maps, so I’m giving back. I’m not one to take pictures of my food, but I’m making an exception. Great shrimp and grits, and grilled salmon was awesome too. Great food presentation on takeout is not to be taken lightly either. Will definitely go back again when I’m in town.

  • 5/5 Jennifer E. 2 years ago on Google
    We had a group of 13 and made our reservations at 1am the morning before our breakfast. They were ready for us and seated everyone in the same area. It was like we'd planned our private party months in advance (when, of course, we didn't). The team was awesome and handled every request without blinking. The service was impeccable and we all enjoyed our breakfast. Thank you for making our visit so wonderful!

  • 3/5 Sophia B. 2 years ago on Google
    I was staying at the Marriott across the street and ordered the Florentine omelette for takeout. It was cooked well. My only issue is that the server somehow billed me as if I had a seat and charged me 20% gratuity. I thought that was real sneaky and it put a damper on my experience. Glad I didn’t get my boyfriend breakfast there. I’ll go someplace else next time.


Call +1 615-320-7176 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Valet parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Breakfast
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeaway

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