A good breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and for Karl and Jennifer Carpenter, owners of The Garden Brunch Cafe, it's a meal they're happy to serve you all day long.
From omelets to pancakes to eggs any style, they've taken their fondness for this fare and created a cozy urban eatery in which to enjoy it.
Open since early May, The Garden Brunch Café is on Jefferson Street in historic Buena Vista, just blocks from the Nashville Farmers Market and convenient to the Hope Gardens and Germantown neighborhoods.
Housed in a pre-Civil War constructed building with a fascinating history of its own — famed architect William Strickland once lived there with his mistress — it features charming renovated interior dining spaces, including a lounge and stage for live jazz and spoken word performances. Outdoor dining is available on the long covered front porch, and an edible landscape surrounds the house. You'll see plantings of peppers and tomatoes, a cabbage patch, strawberries and a host of fresh herbs, all of which find their way into the cuisine.
The emphasis is on fresh, healthy food, using whole grain bread, abundant veggies and fruits. You'll find no pork products on the menu — instead, heart-healthy turkey ham, bacon and sausage are incorporated into the recipes or served as side items.
Omelets are expertly prepared: light with a golden exterior and a creamy, soft-set center. You can design your own omelet from the menu's list of ingredients, but the vegetable omelet ($6.49), generous with tender-crisp broccoli florets, caramelized onions, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and sharp cheddar, was an unbeatable combination.
There are also a couple of inventive Benedict-style egg dishes, both savored at our table. The Germantown West Benny pairs the eggs with smoked salmon, sautéed spinach, onions and capers in a cloak of hollandaise. For less exotic tastes, the Jefferson Street Benny, two eggs topped with melted cheddar and crunchy turkey bacon on toasted English muffins, makes a satisfying meal. Attractively plated, a strawberry and piece of pineapple garnish each dish.
For your basic day-to-day, though, you can't go wrong with the Original Breakfast: two eggs any style served with wheat toast, your choice of breakfast meat, and potatoes or grits, priced at $5.99.
With all egg entrees, you may choose either a side of grits or potatoes. The grits are good but unremarkable. It's the potatoes that merit a shout-out. These are baby new potatoes that have been quartered, seasoned with a touch of tarragon and then lightly pan-fried — delectable.
Pancakes are superb
Nashvillians regard pancakes with almost the same fervor as biscuits or corn bread and will not be disappointed with The Garden's stacks. Fluffy and fork-tender, they come plain or layered with fresh fruits. A small crock of warm maple syrup accompanies all orders. Our table enjoyed the banana and walnut pancakes. This specialty was rich with toasted walnut halves and a Fosters-like preparation of sautéed sliced bananas spooned over the stack.
The Garden Brunch Cafe also has a modest but tempting lunch menu, with a selection of grilled chicken or salmon salads and build-your-own grilled panini sandwiches. Jennifer Carpenter, who is also the chef, notes, "Most people want breakfast all day!" A special Sunday brunch menu includes a succulent marinated grilled sirloin steak with potatoes and eggs, blackened catfish or tilapia over grits. You may order Champagne, mimosas by the glass or carafe, or from a small list of house and premium red and white wines.
Service is earnest and attentive, yet at times slow, with dishes on occasion arriving at the table piecemeal. We chalk this up to inexperience and hope this unevenness will smoothen as the kitchen and the staff find their rhythm.
The arts — visual and performing — are an important part of the cafe, with work by local artists displayed on cafe walls and the stage designed for live music and spoken word. Poetry and jazz nights are set up for Friday and Saturday evenings, respectively, with a limited menu of grilled paninis, desserts, wine and coffee. The Carpenters plan to expand the nighttime offerings with substantial entrees such as grilled rib-eye steak and seared salmon fillets.
Creating a place that meshes diverse people, ideas, arts, and good food is a keystone of the Carpenters' vision.
Positioned on Jefferson Street, within walking distance of multicultural neighborhoods, they are well on their way to realizing that desired sense of community.
