Loveless Cafe has very good Southern food and is known worldwide for their biscuits. The same woman has been making the biscuits for 30 years I think. The bacon and meat is all smoked on site in addition to the jams next door. I have never had a bad meal here. Mostly for breakfast but sometimes for lunch. The weekends are PACKED after church in the mornings and expect to wait and hour or two to be seated. I like going during the week their never seems to be many people. When I have guests in town, the Loveless is one of the places I always take them. Great gift shop allows you to take anything home. Cool little shops surrounding, bike shop, kids store, art gallery, etc.
(5)
amy k.
There really isn't much to say about Loveless Cafe that hasn't been said. The place is quaint and has good, southern food. I'm also appreciative of the fact that they serve beer along with all the sweet tea and coke. I'm born and bred in the East TN hills and can make sweet tea like nobody's business, so I don't get too excited about it. Beer at a casual southern restaurant IS something special, though. And so is their fried chicken. It is some of the best I've ever had.The only possible drawback about Loveless is the potential wait, but go on an off-night instead of Saturday/Sunday morning and you'll be fine.
(4)
Nicki R.
Is the food good? Yes. But if at all possible, try to avoid the weekends. You will wait....a long time... even if you call ahead. My husband and I did a breakfast date during the week and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. I would recommend going this route if you're able to.
(4)
Priya A.
I just loveddddd their Biscuits and jam.. warm, flaky and sooo soft!! I just couldnot stop eating them!!!
(4)
carrie s.
Great service. The waitress directed us to what was good for the day. A fairly long wait but there is so much to do and look at the time flew by. The biscuits and preserves are amazing. The red eye gravy is delicious. The fried chicken they are famous for lives up to it's reputation. I most definitely return here many times.
(5)
Tony F.
A local landmark. Handy for all the doublewides who live lcally, and there are a lot of 'em. The Diner is one of the reasons why. Come on, have the house special. Biscuits and gravy. You KNOW what the gravy is made of. Then half a fried chicken; a side of okra. Fried okra; Pecan pie (or bacon drippings, your choice) for desert. Oh. And all the Mountain Dew you can drink. The only green thing on my plate or, indeed, the entire table, was my thirty dollars after paying for two. It's a deal; it's a steal; and no calories!
(2)
Don E.
I asked a friend where to get an authentic southern style breakfast in Nashville, and was sent here. Thank you!!! The biscuits and jam were amazing, The eggs were great (I know, eggs are eggs, but not here) and the bacon/ham/sausage combo was all just right. Creamy grits were the icing on the cake. Great friendly service and quick too ... recommend!!
(5)
Amy B.
Loved, loved, loved this place!! Soul food for the soul....and the hips and thighs too. It's well worth the drive!
(5)
Michael S.
I'm not one to just hand out 5 stars, something has to rock my world to make that happen. I have been trying to eat at Loveless Cafe since 2009 and each time there was more of a wait than I was willing to hang around for. Well the 3rd time was a charm and well worth the repeated effort. I had their 1/4 fried Chicken in white meat since I'm a fried chicken junkie. As my sides I had the coleslaw and mac N cheese. The waitress bought some hot biscuits and jam which were great. The chicken arrived juicy and piping hot, it had a nice crunch and nice taste one would expect from chicken fired properly on the bone. The slaw and mac n cheese were both pretty good. I'm not normally a desert person but when I first walked in I couldn't help but notice scratch made pies, I'm a sucker for good pie also. I had a slice of their Lemon Ice Box pie and found it had a nice tartness along with being nice and light, just the right thing for topping off a good meal. I normally visit the Nashville area once per year and will make it a point to eat at the Loveless Cafe again.
(4)
Rebecca A.
fantastic southern barbecue and biscuits that could shame the hat off of the pillsbury doughboy, do not skip the loveless! we found it on the drive back from memphis and hit it at a non-busy time, famished and in need of southern hospitality. the waitstaff were really nice considering we were both yankees who had no idea what sorgum was. i wish we had gone for breakfast though - from everyone's descriptions the breakfast sounds amazing. this is not a place where you go for health food. it'd be torture sitting across from people eating piles of biscuits dripping with jam and trying to eat healthy. the homemade jams are great - especially the strawberry. i wanted to bring some back on the plane but i thought TSA officials at the airport might jump me for it. i had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of okra. at first i felt like a glutton asking for more, but that went away after my second helping of biscuits. flipping around on the tv the other day i saw them talking about the loveless on the food network and nearly cried. how i long for a biscuit from the loveless.
(5)
Don C.
If you like bacon, like I like Bacon. Do yourself a favor, and order some bacon from the folks at Loveless. You won't be disappointed. I was introduced to it via my Bacon of the Month Club (from the folks at the Grateful Palate. My personal favorite bacon they sell is their Country Smoked Bacon. I am still debating whether to sell everything I own and move to Nashville. Yes, it is that good. My only word of advice is, when you ge tthe bacon freeze or eat asap. The folks at loveless do not pack with ice. Not sure why. Cholesterol, Shmestorol, you deserve some bacon today!
(5)
Jane V.
Just celebrated our grandaughter's 4th birthday there while staying at Opryland Hotel. As a person who has spent many years living in the South but now in California this was beyond heaven on earth. We drove 40 minutes and waited 4I5 minutes and it was so worth it. Everything good that has been said I concur with. Don't miss it..I seriously dream about the biscuits and the day we can return. Waitstaff was very help and seemed unphased by our big group (10 of us). Once we were seated, getting served was swift and oh so good!
(5)
Ali H.
The Loveless Cafe is a Nashville legend, and I finally checked it out on my last visit. I've heard stories of incredibly long wait times, so we went on a Saturday around 3pm and only had to wait 20 minutes or so. The inside is covered in signed headshots of all the celebrities that have eaten there, and the general ambiance is very casual and fun. My friend and I shared the half-chicken dinner, which included fried chicken, biscuits, and sides. The biscuits come with three different types of preserves, but I think they tasted the best just with butter. For our sides, we chose mac and cheese, candied sweet potatoes, and the southern greens. The food, and the sweet tea, were all delicious and traditional southern favorites. The servings are very generous (we were stuffed after sharing a plate), so don't plan on doing anything particularly athletic for a while. After eating, we wandered around the little stores that are on the Loveless "compound," which included the Ham and Jam store and some art galleries. It's a decent drive outside the city, maybe 20-25 minutes, but it's worth it.
(4)
Bob F.
A bit disappointed in the food (I had the catfish and the missus had the "famous" fried chicken), but the atmosphere and super sweet waitstaff were very nice. Not too far out of town, and not as overrun with tourists as I'd expected. Great selection of local jams & sweets at the adjacent gift shop.
(3)
Nicolas H.
Way too crowded for being so far outside the "city". But the Chicken and biscuits really do live up to the hype. The preserves or jellies are even better. Be prepared to wait and then find yourself in the conveniently located Loveless Cafe Store, located 2 steps away.
(5)
A C.
Great biscuits n gravy baby! Food is excellent. Must be patient for the wait.....
(5)
Amy B.
A bit of a wait, but that's fine because there is plenty to keep you occupied. Plenty of cute shops surrounding it (although they aren't open as late as the restaurant.) Nice places to sit, swing or take pictures with friends/family while you wait. Delicious biscuits of course. Waiter was a bit rushed and food brought out a bit cold but didn't mind heating it for us. Meat and three were perfection! Top it off with sweet tea!
(4)
Cara P.
I have been to the Pancake Pantry, which I thought was vastly overrated, so I was a little nervous about going to the Loveless. I shouldn't have been. It was well worth the drive from Donelson! We went for breakfast on a Wednesday morning, so we had no wait at all. I had the bbq & eggs, husband had the sampler w/bacon, sausage, & ham. I loved my bbq; I liked the sauce, but I'm not sure it was strictly necessary, the meat itself was so good! And the biscuits really are terrific; they're light, but sturdy enough to dip in your egg yolk. And the grits are great, stone ground, and just thick enough. Tasted husband's meats; I thought the ham was too salty, but the sausage & bacon were great (brought some home). And everyone was extremely nice. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)
jenny v.
another great southern food destination. the wait for a table was ridiculous (an hour and 1/2), so we got our food to go (10 minutes) and ate on the picnic tables out front. can't go wrong with the ham, sweet potatoes, and mac & cheese. don't forget the sweet tea...ahhh
(4)
Cesca B.
I ordered the veggie omelette to which my friend responded: "That's like going to the North End and ordering a burger." [For anyone who doesn't get the reference, Boston's North End is famous for its Italian food.] He was right. This is a terrible habit of mine, ordering something other than what the establishment is famous for. Fortunately, my dining partner ordered enough typical southern fare to feed a family of 6. No lie, he ordered: BBQ pork, meatloaf, fried catfish, mashed potatoes, and mac & cheese. His meal also came with a hush puppy. I haven't read the other reviews on Loveless, but I'm sure everybody's mentioned by now that the biscuits are amazing. My veggie omelette was fine, but I'm really glad I was able to sample everything on my friend's plate. I was able to see what real southern cooking was like without assuming much of the liability. We waited over an hour to be seated, but it was well worth it. I got some souvenirs from the shops surrounding the restaurant while we waited. We were also treated to a father/son duo performing live music outside. It was a great experience and anyone who visits Nashville should check out Loveless. But call ahead.
(4)
Tracey M.
I was going to Nashville and read up on great places to dine. I really enjoyed the southern breakfast and was worth the drive. I went on a Friday morning, didn't have a wait and got a single table by the window. The biscuits, jams and county ham were delicious. Definitely worth the drive.
(5)
Tracy G.
I lived in Nashville for 6 years and it took going back for a visit to go to here. Biscuits and jams are just as good as my Grandma's. Yes, it is a long wait, but there is a reason that people will go so far out town to wait for their meal. I didn't have the country ham when I was here, but I have been told its amazing. A great place to get a country breakfast!
(4)
Heather E.
This place was highly recommended by a family member and it lived up to the hype in food, service and atmosphere. If you're only in town for a short while, forget the calorie counting and make this a required stop. Get the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, grits and ask for extra biscuits if you have room! Peach pie to go was the perfect finish. Worth the drive and way better than anything in the downtown area.
(5)
kimbe m.
Ohhhhh... used to be amazingly good, and (sorry for using this word) authentic. Grew and grew. Expanded. Cleaned up. Not as good now, alas. Still, if you're visiting, it's a great place for breakfast. (Though frankly, I'd send/take visiting folk to One Stop Cafe in Franklin for down-home funky eats...)
(3)
PG M.
I spent an hour here dunking each of nine biscuits into a bowl of sausage gravy and then mercilessly devouring those artery bullets. I ordered the country ham and eggs which was pretty good but really irrelevant once I understood the biscuits were not going to stop coming. I've only spent five days of my life in Nashville, but I will confidently pronounce that no trip to that city is complete without a meal at Loveless. Nashville's population should take their hands off their ass and start giving Loveless more props on Yelp.
(5)
Nathan K.
This place is a Nashville icon and certainly well known as an icon in country music. Their bisquits and jams are simply awesome--its hard to get better. YUM!! Alternatively, I have had an occassional mediocre fod experience at Loveless, but generally the staff are eager to correct any problems. Refreshingly they aim to please at the Loveless Cafe, if your out of the South and want to some on your doorstep, this is absolutely a place to check out. If you're in the South and you want to export just a taste to friends and relatives...they will be more than happy to oblige you. If you've been in town less than a year...or you've lived here your whole life...you owe it to yourself and your tastebuds to check this place out.(4.2-4.5).
(4)
jesus z.
ok food ,great service , we found this place on food channel
(4)
Donna K.
This had the best fried chicken in nashville but the sides and dessert was o.k. Ironically, I had just eaten at Miss Mary Bobo's in Lychburg, TN the day before which was the opposite in experience where the chicken wasn't great but the sides, meatloaf, and desserts were exceptional. Loveless is about a half hour from downtown Nashville and is known for it's chicken and biscuits. Although the biscuits at KFC to me was actually better tasting, but the chicken was superb. The pulled pork and sauce was pretty good, but the ham didn't particularly thrill me. I think the ham at the pancake house in anaheim, ca tastes better.
(4)
Matthew B.
I'll say that it is an interesting establishment, which I assume is the desired expression. It can get crowded if you don't pick your times carefully. The price is right and it is a Nashville experience that is worth trying. Especially if you get the BBQ ;)
(3)
Cameron P.
I've heard that this place has been rated as one of the top five breakfast restaurants in all of America so I had to go see what it's all about. On a Sunday afternoon at about 1:30 the wait was over 2 hours! I had my doubts that this place is worth the 2 hour plus wait, so I went to the store next door and picked up some biscuit mix, strawberry preserves and country ham. Without actually eating here it's hard for me to rate the place, but I'll give it 4 stars for now and likely add one more when I return if I can get in to eat in under an hour. UPDATE: Since my first visit, I've made two trips back. Ranked as one of the top five best breakfast restaurants in the nation??? I'm not sure about that. I guess I may be spoiled, go to the San Francisco Bay Area and I guarantee that you can find five better breakfast restaurants there. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, I just don't think it deserves the hype that it gets. Maybe the best thing about the Loveless Cafe is their PR.
(4)
Peter M.
The bad parts are that it is ways outside of town and overrun with tourists --waits can be as long as 2+ hours for brunch. Also, its been bought from the original owners, expanded, and is more commericalized. However, still the best fried chicken, country ham and biscuits you'll ever get. Waitstaff and decor are still intact, so you'll still feel like you're in Dukes of Hazard. I suggest going for a big dinner with friends: its BYOB, and you can climb over the grassy knowl to the gas station and buy some beer.
(5)
Ann E.
First meal in Nashville this time. My daughter brought us directly here from the airport. Had to wait about 55 minutes no problem-we walked around and visited a few of the gift shops nearby-well worth the wait! The biscuits have not been over rated. The problem is to stop eating them before your meal comes so you don't wreck your appetite! Delicious jam, too! I had 2 pieces of chicken which were absolutely delicious, so moist, cooked perfectly. I chose the beans ( didn't really like them) and the Mac and Cheese (which was very good) for my sides. Highly recommended!
(4)
Sara Jane G.
Came on a Thursday morning at 9am no wait to get in super fast service had our food very fast as well and it was insanely delicious! Had the moonshine Bloody Mary comes with cured bacon and a souvenir glass! Southern sampler, biscuit sampler, and biscuits and gravy! Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection!
Biscuits & jams were so delicious we visited twice in a 1 week trip (and bought biscuit mix & jam to go!). It lives up to the reputation and is worth the wait. (Just make sure you call 24+ hours in advance for reservations, especially for large groups, otherwise they won't take em). BBQ pulled pork breakfast platter was huge and tasty. Fried chicken and waffles were okay (waffle was on the heavy and bland side), I subbed in dark meat fried chicken and it was super good. I'd order just the plain fried chicken dish next time. Blueberry vodka drink with a souvenir shot glass for $11, it was really good... Maybe too good! If we lived closer, I'd be 400 lbs. Can't wait till my next trip to TN to return.
(5)
Emily T.
Yum. Those biscuits, That peach jam. My mouth is watering. The biscuits are the star - they are soft inside with a slightly thick exterior, they melt in your mouth with the right touch of salt. We waited over two hours for a table on Memorial Day. There were plenty of shops to look in and the view is nice enough. They had free beverages all over the grounds for guests who were waiting. I think it would serve them well if they'd set up a place to sell biscuits to guests who were waiting. They'd make a killing and guests would be less agitated as they waited. Our waiter was kind but a little over bearing. He went beyond the usual southern hospitality and I thought he was going to pull up a chair and eat with us. The fried chicken was delicious, hash brown casserole was tasty, cat fish was good. Nothing was bad but nothing - other than the biscuits - blew me away. It is well cooked southern food in a fun atmosphere.
(4)
Becca J.
A place known for its biscuits? Sign me up! I perused Yelp for restaurant ideas prior to my trip to Nashville. This was on my itinerary before I even showed up, so I was surprised to see a pamphlet advertising this restaurant in my hotel lobby! I had no idea that it was sort of a Nashville institution! At 9:30 AM on a Monday morning we had a 15 minute wait. We were given a buzzer and informed that it worked everywhere on the property, so instead of waiting in the restaurant building, we walked around to the "Hams & Jams Country Market" and "Lil Biscuits Gift Shop" to check out the wares. Once seated we were immediately presented with a platter of fresh biscuits, jams and butter. I had to control myself and not eat the entire plate prior to ordering non-biscuit food. I ended up ordering the Southern Sampler Platter which came with country ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, and a choice of hash browns or grits. I selected the hash browns which were, frankly, not great. I did try my sister's cheese grits and had an immediate sense of regret due to my choices. Live and learn. My sister ordered the barbecue, which turned out to be pulled pork. This was delicious, and it was way better than my meal. Food portions were huge. Service was good. The place had a diner-y feel. My sister picked up some ham from their store since they had some conveniently small portions vacuum sealed.
(4)
Zlata P.
This place became my favorite, for its atmosphere and amazing service. We came here 2 times during my short visit to Nashville. We had breakfast and supper. The place is very cosy and welcoming. It was a 45 min wait for a table on Friday morning, so we decided to check out the gift shops. Staff everywhere is so friendly! Coming from California, where the only thing is served is attitude . Lots of cute souvenirs and home goods. They also ship their food anywhere in the country, which is awesome, because they home made preserves are delicious. For breakfast we had country ham and eggs, with side of grits and hash brown casserole. I haven't had southern food in so long, so I enjoyed it. I also got a moonshine shot, which came in a cute jar, that you get to keep. Famous biscuits were also good, however I was more excited to try the famous chess pie. And if I could sign up for a monthly delivery of that awesomeness I sure would! That pie is so good! As full as I was after breakfast, I still ate almost a whole slice! Susan was our waitress and she was amazing! Very friendly and nice! Thank you Susan! Next day we came back for dinner. I had to have some fried chicken before I leave. I got a half with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans. I died and went to a fried chicken heaven! Comfort food at its best! To drink I got a harvest moonshine(?) , it's mixed with sweet iced tea, and so so good! But the best part of the dinner was our server Owen! I would like to thank you so much to make this dinner experience so special! Now, every time I will think about southern hospitality, I would think of you! Thank you for great service! You made us feel so welcome! Overall, i fell in love with this place and I think it's gonna become a tradition, while I'm in Nashville! Thanks y'all!!! Can't wait to be back!
(5)
Veronica S.
Always enjoy coming here when I visit my sister! The wait can be extremely long so don't come starving, because you will have to wait! But there are little shops and games you can play while waiting! Food was delicious! So anything on menu is amazing! I had grilled chicken sandwich with green beans... Delicious!! The biscuits they serve you before your meal is to die for! Love the jam that comes with it!!
(5)
Adam H.
Stopped into here during a business trip through Nashville because they're supposed to be famous for their biscuits and gravy. While I did really enjoy my meal, I wouldn't say the meal was much better than I've had elsewhere. I don't get how the biscuits and gravy are famous. I wouldn't advise you drive 30 mins out of Nashville for the food. Perhaps the nostalgia of the place is worth it? I would say that the staff were all super friendly! Southern hospitality at its finest! The place does have a nice southern charm to it too.
(4)
A B L.
Our waitress was a doll and the biscuits was great. Some of the very best cheddar grits I have ever had. We come for the first time on a Sunday & it was a 2 hour wait so we left. We returned the following a Tuesday at 11 and only had to wait 10 minutes for a table. This place is worth the drive but not a wait of 2 hours on the weekend.
(5)
Kris N.
The best biscuits and moon shine Mary's ever. Love this place even though they are always packed and the wait is long, but that's okay, the wait is worth it and all the shops are super cute.
(5)
Mark M.
Loveless is (apparently) one of those Nashville institutions, and since breakfast is one of our family institutions, we decided to hit the place on the way out of town. Because we enjoy traveling while in a coma, we opted for the family-style breakfast, which, roughly translated, means "we come to your table and stuff you until you can't take anymore." Eggs, grits, hash brown casserole (very light -- not), bacon, ham (yummy, but WAY too salty), and the star of the show -- biscuits that will make you slap your grandma. At first taste, I wasn't that impressed, but after the 7th or so I concluded that maybe they were pretty good. And served with delicious preserves and sausage gravy. Needless to say, there was no lunch consumed that day. Good coffee and great service. Be prepared for a significant wait during rush times.
(4)
Jill M.
Just freaking good. I had the fried chicken (1/4 white meat - amazing), turnip greens (amazing), and mashed potatoes (really, really good). And of course, biscuits with blackberry jam that was to die for. This is one of those places where you just have to stop caring temporarily about things like calories, sodium, etc., and simply go for it.
(5)
Lenka O.
Loveless cafe is a must if you are in Nashville. Yes it's touristy but the food was well worth it. I got the country fried steak with hashbrown casserole. The steak was giant and amazing! Had to take half home. Biscuits come warm and with three delicious jams. Drinks are pricey though. Not sure if they were with it. I hear it gets pretty crowded though and there can be a huge wait. We went on a Friday morning around 9am and got right in. I guess all the wild and crazy partiers from Broadway were still asleep so try a weekday and early if you can.
(4)
Fred P.
So I surprised my wife with a trip to Nashville to celebrate her inexplicable love of country music and visiting the Loveless was high on her to-do list. Thank god! You may be able to get a breakfast this good in New York, but I couldn't tell you where and I'm sure you'd pay a small fortune for it. Despite the ridiculous wait (1.5 hour) and vertigo inducing pitch of the floor (a bit uneven) the meal was phenomenal with a capital "PH." The biscuits were unique, even by Nashville standards. Small and light, they didn't require any condiments to satisfy, though that didn't stop me from drowning them in the best Sausage gravy I've ever had. My wife had the Chicken and a Waffle and declared it the single best piece of chicken she'd ever eaten. I had to dive into the "Pit-Cooked Pork Barbecue & Eggs, One to the Left and One to the Right" which came with a pancake and the greatest iteration of breakfast potatoes created: the Hash brown Casserole. Besides being some of the best pulled pork, the remainder of the meal was equally exquisite. The eggs just seemed fresher and the pancake fluffier than any I'd ever had elsewhere. Know going in on a weekend that you will wait and wait and wait to be seated. This is partially due the tourist destination nature of the establishment and partially by design as there are multiple souvenir shops on the premises. You've been warned.
Usually go there for breakfast & decided to go for dinner WoW just as good the biscuits & Fried Chicken is to die for Must go ASAP
(5)
Bill R.
The gourmet's Cracker Barrell. This place is tremendous Southern cooking. Bring a heart monitor. If you're a Southerner, you'll swear your grandma is in the kitchen. The ONLY reason I don't give them a 5 star rating is that they're just so hard to get into. Hour, 2 hour waits are common. You may have to hike a quarter mile to get there from the back of the parking lot(s). On the weekends, there's no good time to get in. The first time you come the shops are enough to keep you occupied, but they lose their charm after a few times.
(4)
Stephanie C.
"Biscuit Poisoning? YES PLEASE! " 5 of 5 stars Pending review If you are visiting Nashville, make the drive to this wonderfully taste of history! But be aware they bring you a plate of the most buttery biscuits with an assortment of jams, preserves and honey. Stop at one...or you will get too full of the yummy goodness. Then make sure that what ever your family orders as the main dish you all order a different side, because there is ALOT to share. From Mac and Cheese to the BEST turnip green and mashed potatoes. My husband had the house chicken, I had the meat loaf and my daughter had the roast beef we each got 3 sides, we took so much home, so good, And we each ordered dessert to go. You could of rolled me out of that wonderful place!!! But don't leave till you visit all the shops and learn about its origins. It's a very nostalgic place. After dinner.... Take a drive through the parks. Truely beautiful. Visited August 2015
(5)
Tom D.
Ate breakfast this morning at the Loveless Cafe with my fiancee. Thursday morning, 7:30am, so no wait for a table. Our server, Bruce, brought us two biscuits. Not sure what all the hype is about, they didn't taste like anything special. Also, my fiancee was miffed because she wanted to order a Bloody Mary, but Bruce said it was before 8am, so she couldn't get one yet. So things didn't start off well, but they soon improved once our food arrived at the table. I had ordered the Pit-Cooked Pork Barbeque & Eggs (One to the Left and One to the Right), and my fiancee had ordered the Fried Chicken & Waffle. Our meals were good, I had a hard time finishing the generous portion of pork on my plate. Wasn't really crazy about the red BBQ sauce on top, but it was OK. Hash brown casserole was tasty, I liked it. My fiancee liked her Chicken & Waffle quite a bit, the waffle itself was very good, delicious. And Bruce had brought us out more hot biscuits and a Bloody Mary in a mason jar for my fiancee. Overall, a good experience this morning at the Loveless Cafe, we would like to come back again, but it is about 85 miles away from where we live, so I imagine that won't be happening anytime soon. I recommend giving them a go if you are in Nashville.
(4)
Amanda B.
The reviews on the biscuits hold true! I ate a few (I'm afraid to admit how much lard I actually consumed). If you love the biscuits you should go to the gift shop and buy the magnet that says "praise the lard and pass the biscuits". Aside from the biscuits I shared the sampler meal ( BBQ, chicken, meatloaf) with the mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes (I apparently love lard and starches). The mashed potatoes were great (had little potatoes chunks that made me think they were homemade). The sweat potatoes were nothing I would try again ( semi sweet with a hint of Carmel). I also tried my friends fried ocra, it tasted average. I loved the meatloaf. It had great flavoring and consistency. The chicken and BBQ was good but if you've had great BBQ and fried chicken it's about average. I gave 4 stars because our waitress only came to our table 2 times the entire meal and pretty much rolled her eyes at us. She would just walk by and not offer refills or ask if we needed anything. We finally waved down another waiter who gladly helped and brought more biscuits, drinks, and even made sure we liked our food. We left a tip for Kramer and he ended up running outside to thank us for the tip- so kind and sincere of him! Worth a shot but planning on waiting!
(4)
Karen M.
Yup. Down-home cooking. We had a huge party and they accommodated us easily. Jason our server was friendly and professional. And my chicken was delicious! Cucumber salad was the absolute best - I recommend that to go w/the chicken. It is as good as others say!
(4)
Arash R.
Great services , good fried chicken. Mac and cheese and creamed corn were amazing , get them together and try to have spoon mix of them - tasted even better to me. Long wait lines but you can grab free coffee from the gift shop while you wait or just go for a drive on the parkway near by.
(4)
Bernard L.
Wait, are you kidding me? We drove 30 minutes outside on Nashville for this place for a Sunday 10AM brunch for 3 people. I already grew suspicious when I noticed that the parking looked like a parking lot for Disney, with cars with license plates from all over the south and college football decals. Disclaimer: I'm from New York City. Needless to say, we go through what feels like an amusement park filled with gift shops, jam shops and families having makeshift picnics on the trail to the actual restaurant. We go inside and were told that for 3 people, the wait would be 2.5hrs. Ha! We just left immediately, judging all the poor souls that came from the heartland of the country to a place that feels like a glorified Cracker Barrel.
(1)
Mike D.
One of my favorite southern meals. Everything you want in a heart attack, I mean HEARTY meal. They probably have the best biscuits I have ever tasted. They come with three amazing preserves: peach, blackberry, and strawberry. Ask for more biscuits if you must. Meals: Smoked ham - get it Fried Chicken - honestly, what do you think? probably the best I've ever had. Hash brown casserole, Mac 'n cheese, and fried green tomatoes. I cnat put into words how much I enjoyed this meal. I'd love to return!
(5)
Meghan H.
Oh the hype...these poor biscuits didn't have a fighting chance to stand up to such praise. Maybe I'm too much of a biscuit aficionado or too critical. Either way, these biscuits were good, but not nearly the best I've tasted. Driving into the Loveless parking lot around noon on a Saturday, we expected the 2 hour wait for our party of nine. We browsed the little village off shops that Loveless has going on for you while you wait. And 1.5hrs and $60 spent on merchandise later, we made our way into the restaurant. Even before all of our butts were in our chairs, they set down two plates teeming with dozens of the infamous biscuits and jam. With our tummies rumbling like they were, of course they tasted good. As famished as I was and as warm as these buttery biscuits were, I still instantly acknowledged that they paled in comparison to the biscuits I've fallen in love with at a pie shop back in Chicago. I found the texture of these biscuits to be too uniform throughout. These guys lacked the exterior toasty crunch that only makes you appreciate the soft and crumbly insides that much more. You need that contrast in texture in a top notch biscuit. I was also saddened by the lack of moisture in the biscuit and the much too dry crumb. Biscuit disappointment aside, the omelettes were impressively large and stuffed with ingredients. The pancakes were hearty and the maple syrup was somehow exceptionally tasty. I felt the need to try a half order of their country ham and was surprised by my dislike. Ask anyone, I am a huge fan of ham but this was salty to the point of being inedible. Honestly, I took two bites of this $7 slice and didn't go for more. While overall on the disappointing side, I'm glad to have experienced the institution that is Loveless.
(3)
Shawn N.
The biscuits!!! The biscuits I say!!!! Simply amazing, baked to a warm buttery perfection topped with homemade jams...I could eat 1000 of them! I had the eggs and BBQ breakfast, scrumptious! The BBQ had a little rub on it and the sauce is near drinkable! The property is really cool too....get ready for a coma!
(5)
Cody C.
couple of Canadians down to nashville for the weekend. We heard of loveless cafe after reading many yelp reviews and hearing it is an institution we needed to go. So too start off be prepared to spend your entire day waiting on lousy biscuits. Apparently supposed to be the best biscuits ever but we were quite disappointed in them. We arrived and told it was an hour and 40 min wait. Although they have lots to do while you wait I recommend getting takeout and sitting outside. We have the fried chicken white meat with Potatos and deep fried tomatoes. Our goal for the weekend was to eat no vegetables so tomatoes deep fried was the most I got. Also got chicken and waffles which was awesome. Overall this chicken was finger lickin good and would recommend it to anyone!
(4)
Dawn D.
Great food... well worth the wait would defiantly come back !!!! Great waiter Luke...drink was really good not strong Lynchburg lemonade with souvenir mini mason jar :)
(5)
M E.
This place is overwhelming with southern charm and to be honest, I'm pretty sure its overdosing on all aspects of cute. However, the options for vegetarians are limited outside of the regular Denny's staples. I ordered the french toast because some variation of eggs just didn't seem like it had enough umph. And see, I love biscuits, Perhaps more than my biscuit loving, meat eating friends. And their biscuits contain lard. While I appreciate my server mentioning it, he did so with a bit of unnecessary sarcastic zest. And while I understand I'm in the south and perhaps the vegetarian lifestyle hasn't quite made it down here in the last 20 or so years since I've been a vegetarian, I was a bit underwhelmed by the food and overwhelmed by the charm of the Loveless campus.
(3)
Del P.
Food is good.... More of a tourist spot Had dinner sampler ( catfish, ham, fried chicken with hash brown casserole n Mac cheese) Catfish-- great light batter Fried chicken- crispy. Could use more seasoning Country ham- salty Biscuits - great with the blackberry jams Drink Blue moon -- great with the moonshine Is it worth the wait? Depends
(3)
Allyson G.
A family tradition that never gets old. Loveless is a timeless classic in Music City and receives frequent visits from the local country stars. Make sure to try their famous loveless biscuits and fried chicken. It's stick to your ribs good! Visited November 2013
(4)
Benson C.
Country-Home Cookin' that makes you feel at home! Reading up the history about Loveless Cafe you become immersed in a home-like environment where it doesn't feel like a restaurant, but as if you're eating at home with family. It's a pretty comforting atmosphere to eat in places that feel like a bed and breakfast. Loveless Cafe is nestled in the outskirts of Nashville and is one of Nashville's "hidden" treasures. I've lived in Nashville for the past 3 years and I finally ate here. I heard so many raving reviews from friends and I've never managed to make the trip, because it seemed a little far. Upon entering the cafe, you enter the lobby which is decorated with a mosaic of celebrity photographs who have traveled from afar to this delectable gem. Fortunately, the wait was only 10-15 minutes for a table of 6. There are a lot of menu options, of which I hear all are great. I went with the Pulled Pork Sandwich with Fries and it was one of the best tasting and flavorful pulled pork I've had in a while. Not to mention the unlimited barrage of biscuits are why people come drooling in anticipation of their sweet and soft biscuits that seem to just melt in your mouth. They provide three types of preserves - strawberry, blackberry, and I believe apricot (someone please feel free to correct me). The service was awesome here despite how busy it was, seeing that the restaurant tables are all full. My water was filled before the glass could even reach the half-full point (I could have said half empty but I don't want to be pessimistic in this happy and joyous review!) I love this place. I just wish I had discovered it much earlier before I move back to Chicago in the next few months. This place is worth it! Go eat here and give it a go! You won't be disappointed!
(4)
Scott M.
My wife and I were in Nashville for two nights and we had seen the rave reviews on TA, so we drove out into nowhere-ville to try the Loveless. Having seen positive reviews for the friend chicken, I went there. My wife had a fried green tomato BLT. Oh wait...the biscuits. Now these ARE good, especially when hot, but I can not put them into the "best I have ever had" category. Unfortunately, we have been to many amazing biscuit places in Savannah and Charleston. The waitress remembered to bring some honey and sorgum (sp?) for the biscuits. Mix some of sorgum, honey, and a pat of butter into a slurry...spread on biscuit, and enjoy! Wow...that was amazing! Ok...back to the meals. Fried Chicken: Breast, Thigh, wing, leg delivered quickly and piping hot! First bite...BLAND! The white meat was also very dry. Sides: Hashbrown Casserole which was amazing and I confirmed that I am not a fan of turnip greens. Gr. Tom BLT: Bread was uninspiring but I thought the sandwich was ok. My wife wasn't a huge fan...so she returned to the biscuits. So perhaps this is a place to focus on for breakfast...who knows. With only two precious nights in Nashville, we wish we had gone elsewhere.
(3)
Carrie V.
Biscuits. Just...biscuits. Well, and the preserves. You get them before your meal, like bread, with a selection of blackberry, strawberry and peach preserves. And, they are unlimited. I mean, I think they could probably refuse to bring more out, but I didn't get that far. I also ordered the southern omelet with bacon and it was delicious. My husband had scrambled eggs and a chicken biscuit. As soon as he took one bite of the biscuit he said he wished he had gotten the biscuit sampler. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. We were seated right away. It's a bit of a drive from downtown Nashville but worth it! For the biscuits.
(4)
Marisa I.
Awesome hash brown casseole. Great biscuits and jams. Jadee was server and did a great job!
(5)
Kimberly K.
Loveless Cafe was a yummy was for my group and I to start off our vacation. We arrived around 10am on Friday and there was a little bit of a wait. They give you a pager, though, so you are able to shop in their store next door while you wait. Once seated we placed our orders and while waiting received the most mouth watering biscuits I've ever eaten. Someone in our group end up buying the mix at the store. I ordered the pulled pork omelet and it lived up to my expectations. Not too greasy and lots of flavor. We also tried the side of sausage gravy to eat with the additional biscuits we received. Price was just right and I would recommend this classic place to anyone!
(4)
Katie K.
My partner always gets the fried chicken, and I have had almost everything else. We're always happy to make the out of the way trip. I'm sure you've heard about the biscuits, and every (good) word of it is true. Since I was a kid, I've searched for anything close to my grandpa's blue ribbon peach preserves. I've only found it at the Loveless, so it holds a special place in my heart. If it's your first time, start with the fried chicken and go from there. You simply won't be disappointed. 4 stars mostly because every time I leave, I never want to see another fried thing again. There's little to choose in the way of refreshing or healthy. Sometimes, I feel like I need a nice salad to balance, but the salads leave a bit to be desired.
(4)
Michelle R.
Biscuits best I ever had. Pulled pork was tender however pork chops dry fried chicken very good. people were so nice and the peach jam WOW.
(5)
Patrick P.
After reading the Wikipedia entry on this place, maybe my expectations were too high (read it sometime), but the biscuits were not that good. The country ham was way too salty (I am from the South, I know what biscuits and ham are supposed to taste like). It was pretty much standard Waffle House fare. One saving grace - the preserves that go ON the biscuits were great.
Some local friends brought us to the Loveless Cafe for dinner. We found the food to be pretty good. I had a pulled pork sandwich, which had good smoky flavor. My wife had the fried chicken which was also tasty. For dessert, I had coconut cream pie, which was delicious. Lisa had peanut butter pie, which she did not like. One of the food highlights was their biscuits, which were great. They are served with various gravies and jams. We regret not buying some biscuit mix to bring back to LA. The place is a bit expensive for what you get, but we would go back.
(4)
Sarah S.
I'm not one of those people who gets up early to eat breakfast or that person who just can't get started for the day without a heaping plate of sausage and eggs first thing after I wake up. Hell, most days, by the time I've done my morning routine (check emails, read the latest Cracked articles, read the news, shower/dress), it makes more sense to eat an early lunch and just skip breakfast (unhealthy, I know). This is not to say that I don't enjoy breakfast. I loved chowing down on the dining hall's breakfast on weekends when I was in college. I'm always up for a late night trip to IHOP (or WAHO, if I'm south of the Mason-Dixon). I've even been known to whip up big Sunday breakfasts if the mood suits me (homemade pancakes are my go-to, but I've made crepes and ebelskivers and omelets and more). I'm not a fan of early morning breakfasts, but I adore brunch and I enjoy leisurely breakfasts, and when I'm traveling, I'm much more inclined to fit breakfast into my schedule. While visiting Nashville a few weeks ago with my best friend from home, trying out breakfast joints was near the top of our list of things to do. The South knows how to do breakfast and Nashville has a collection of well known breakfast places and diners (including Noshville and Pancake Pantry). The Loveless Cafe is perhaps the best known breakfast place and it's famous for a reason: they serve a delicious breakfast. To be completely honest, we didn't actually dine in the restaurant...we drove out there on a Saturday (after being defeated by the long lines at the Pancake Pantry) with high hopes of finding a seat. Unfortunately, everyone and their mother had the same thought in mind, so when we pulled in, it was a struggle just to find a parking spot, let alone a spot on the restaurant's waiting list. After hearing the wait could be well over an hour, and unable to handle the increasing grumbles of distress from our stomachs, we opted for the take-out option (having been reassured that it would only take about 15 minutes). 30 minutes later (which was not too bad, because the waiting list time was now almost 2 hours), we had two Styrofoam containers filled with breakfast and, as the weather was unusually warm for January, we were able to to take a seat at one of the picnic tables in front of the restaurant. The food was delicious: the eggs were light and fluffy, the biscuits were airy and buttery, the sausage had a nice snap to it, and the jam was sweet. My friend had some sort of concoction of pulled pork and eggs and hash browns and more and enjoyed every forkful. After dining, we roamed around the property, visiting the little shops scattered about (I happily purchased a bag of biscuit mix and apple butter--both ended up being delicious). So, while I can't review the actual dining experience in the restaurant, I can say that the food was excellent and, with its reputation and that whole "the owner was friends with Paula Deen and a bunch of country stars have eaten there" thing, it makes sense that it's a busy little place. If you want to dine in, be prepared to wait for a long time. Take-out is a great option and it definitely is quicker than waiting for a table--there are picnic benches around the property, or you could always take it to go. The employees I spoke to were incredibly friendly, despite the craziness going on around them, and they were quick too. The restaurant is a little bit out of the way, but parking is pretty decent and it's not too far from downtown. If you're looking for a great breakfast, definitely drop by...just be prepared for the fact that you may just end up eating breakfast for lunch due to the wait time.
(3)
Hayley M.
Delicious, artery clogging, and good family fun. A friend of the family insisted we go. Looked it up on yelp (naturally), and since the top three phrases are, "biscuits," "fried chicken," and "hashbrown casserole," the extended fam was immediately down for finding this hotspot. We ordered several dishes, including chicken fried steak, fried chicken (you can specify dark or white meat and we had both at the table), and pulled pork. Each entree came with two sides, and I went with the hashbrown casserole and the marinated cucumbers and onions (had to go with something remotely healthy to offset the fried chicken, right?). The waitress first brought us a basket full of the biscuits. Hot, buttery, and melting in our mouths, they weren't just good. They were the best darn biscuits this reviewer has ever had... and I have eaten a lot of biscuits. The fried chicken was everything I could want in fried chicken. I ordered the white meat only, and it was crispy on the outside, perfectly moist on the inside, and bursting with flavor. The hashbrown casserole on the other hand... Well, it was too cheesy. Normally I love cheese and usually it's the-more-the-better when it comes to cheese, but I wanted hashbrowns, not potatoes swimming in sour cream. Otherwise this meal was fantastic. I was almost sick when we all left. But we did leave with a catalog and my friends will be ordering a ham for Christmas. Check out the accompanying store!
(4)
Mike Z.
Average food, super slow service, overpriced for the tourists. Nothing to see here.
(1)
Jemina B.
You wake up on a Sunday morning somewhere in Nashville. You vaguely recall the past night's events, but you are incredibly aware of a raging headache and dry mouth. Your out-of-town visitors have all crashed on various couches in your house and look at you with pleading eyes to put them out of their misery. You need home-cooked food. Like, NOW. Enter the Loveless Cafe. Sure, you might wait a bit for those heavenly biscuits, but there's plenty of entertainment while you and your hungover crew wander around the property. Hams n' Jams? Don't mind if I do. Get some complimentary coffee, check out the various sundries the store has to offer, and move on. When your buzzer finally signals that your table is ready, the reaction is much like Pavlov's dogs. Your table is immediately rewarded with a plate full of biscuits, homemade preserves, and the quickest service around. The barbecue is a delight, as well as the fried chicken. Bottom line: it's worth the drive!
(4)
Jay F.
It's like eating at grandma house. The first item they bring out is the biscuits. They are DELICIOUS. I tried the blackberry preserves with them and it was my favorite. I ordered fried chicken with mashed potatoes and fried okra. Overall the meal was good but not overly special. The outside of the chicken was really tasty but the actual meat was bland. The mashed potatoes were good and you could taste the butter in it. Don't bother with the fried okra. It tasted like the frozen stuff. Service was excellent once we were seated.
(4)
Jocelyn F.
My mother and I first time Nashville. We just wanted some good ol country food. When we walked it was so cute with the wall of fame. We were ordering take out because the wait was very long to be seated. We didnt have time to waiting. So when it came down to ordering the hostess Hiley was sooooo rude. When she had to take our order, when we were sitting down (starring at us so ugly), and when we were getting our food. I never felt so uncomfortable. I was so mad but i didnt say anything because i didnt want to cause a seen. But they with be getting a call and a letter. Thanks Hiley for ruining our first time in Nashville.
(1)
Jeff M.
My favorite breakfast place in the U.S. Best biscuits ever (much to the chagrin of my peers in Atlanta). Fried chicken for breakfast: Yes, please! It always feels like home when I'm there.
(5)
Habiba W.
This place is WAY over-hyped. My wait was 45 minutes and the food was terrible. The biscuits were nothing special and I swear my eggs looked (and tasted) as if they were made from egg beaters. I don't understand why everybody goes nuts about this place.
(2)
Jessy Y.
This place is incredibly overrated. I mean, it's decent Southern cooking, but after hearing about it for years and seeing it ranked as one of the best in the South, I finally went there this year. The wait was ridiculous; granted, it was MLK weekend (Sunday), but we waited longer than the hour they predicted. Sure, you can walk around and visit shops full of expensive items most of the Loveless' clientele can't afford (at least, I couldn't), so it's not like you're stuck in one place. When we did sit down, I was excited to try their infamous biscuits. Well, now I know how Bobby Flay beat them on the Food Network -- they're tiny! Tasty enough, especially with sorghum (you have to ask), but not SPECTACULAR like I've always heard, and this is the reason I say "overrated." I just imagined them to be big and flaky, not little. My omelet was mediocre. My mom got fried chicken and some amazing mac-n-cheese, so I will give them props for that. I also enjoyed their hashbrown casserole. The bloody mary was a surprise bonus as I didn't think they served drinks, but it required a lot of pepper. I think to call yourself a Nashvillian, you need to eat here once. But once, at least for me, is enough.
(3)
John F.
Best food in Nashville!, Service is excellent and best biscuits. Be prepared to wait on the weekends....like any great restaurant it stays very busy.
(5)
Sara L.
I've been here twice, once while traveling through town on an interview and once while the parents were visiting. We start off well, the famous biscuits are famed for a reason, and the preserves are great. My favorite is the blackberry, then strawberry. For me the peach is not the best, but its a preference thing, I think. I could eat the biscuits and only the biscuits for a meal and be perfectly happy. I got the fried chicken both times, and it was good--very good, but I've tried some other places now so I can't say it was my favorite. For sides, I recommend the specials--both times I liked them best (creamed spinach and squash casserole). For those who are looking at the regular menu, I say go green beans or turnip greens (your moment of healthfulness). I found the sweet potatoes a bit too sweet, but again, preference. We were too full for dessert, so we went and wandered the grounds, which are great and have some really cool shops to check out. Personally, I'd come back here for breakfast in particular...more biscuits=better.
(3)
Andrew M.
After seeing all kinds of good reviews for this place all over the internet, I decided to check it out while in Nashville, and honestly, I don't see what all the hype was about. Long wait to sit down, 45+ minutes even though there were a ton of tables open. It's all good though, with all the good reviews I read I was ok to wait. Finally sat down and ordered the "famous" chicken along with the macaroni and cheese and hashbrown casserole. The chicken wasn't all that special, I've had a LOT better chicken at quite a few places. Mac and cheese was ok, the hashbrown casserole was awesome. The highly touted biscuits everyone raves about weren't all that great either, at least not so good to warrant why everyone and their mother tells you how good they are. They are about as good as anywhere else I tried while in the south. The jams however were damn tasty. Prices were on the higher side, but the service once we sat down was pretty quick. I probably wouldn't hit this place again while in town, but if you're lookin for a tourist'ish spot to eat then this is the place for you.
(3)
Yella W.
The biscuits were great. The chicken so so and the fries the typical frozen type. Very average.
(3)
Zeke A.
This is true Southern American goodness. Biscuits galore! I loved the biscuits so much that I just got biscuits and gravy and some scrambled eggs. I also started with a chicken biscuit. I love the biscuits! Our waiter was friendly and since we came in on a Monday morning we didn't have to wait at all. I love you Loveless Cafe!
(5)
Dallas K.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Got the biscuit sampler and hashbrown casserole. Everything was amazing. Peach sweet tea is to die for. My boyfriend had the BBQ and eggs breakfast and said it was the best thing he has ever eaten. Wait wasn't nearly as long as they told us (said hour and half on a Saturday morning, ended up being 50 minutes). There's tons to do while you wait, and once you order it takes about 5 minute to get your meal.
(5)
Brad W.
The angels sang! I love this place. The biscuits make it worth the trip alone. Fried chicken is delicious, with great sides including fried green tomatoes. This is a Nashville landmark that should not be missed if you are in the area. Plan on waiting during lunch hour.
(5)
Tod B.
This place is fantastically simple. They are cooking good, simple, home-cooked, Southern food the right way in an old house. The biscuits are otherworldly and the food definitely represents this place well. I love this place so much, I have visited twice in my recent stops through Tennessee, each time I remember how great this place is and how much I miss it. What I found so great that made me feel stoked to be American was the huge family that was dining near us. When I say huge I mean huge, 30+ people. The food was brought out to them in huge bowls and on large platters, all served family style. "Hey grandpa! pass the bacon!". I loved it. Definitely stop here on your tour of Tennessee, you cant pass it without a stop.
(5)
Elizabeth F.
What a deeeeeeelicious place to eat!! The biscuits are served warm and are guaranteed to be eaten before they get cold. The side of homemade preserves that accompanies the biscuits will not disappoint. I went for their 1/2 of a chicken, fried. It comes with two sides- I got the mac and cheese and the collard greens. The mac and cheese was AMAZING, and I consider myself a connoisseur of anything macc-y and cheesy. The meat was tender, juicy, and the breading was out of this world good- seasoned perfectly. Put some hot sauce on top and you're in fried chicken heaven! The sweet tea is a nice reprieve after an hour-long wait in very warm weather. (The wait is worth every second!) The "Hams & Jams" store next door offers a variety of the condiments offered at the restaurant, as well as selling meats and their famous biscuit mix! They have anything you could ever want to bring home for a little taste of Loveless right in your own kitchen. Bring your appetite, and I would advice wearing elastic-waisted pants, because this is one place that is DEFINITELY not on your diet.
(5)
Ava R.
Soooo good!! I heard all about this place and read the reviews on yelp before I came here and it did not disappoint! The biscuits and gravy were delicious. Country fried steak was yummy. And the hash brown casserole was so ridiculously good! The staff was friendly and courteous. We had to wait maybe 10 minutes but we got a chance to walk around and check out the shops which were cute. Its a little bit of a drive outside of Nashville, but it is so delicious that it is totally worth the trip!
(5)
Jami S.
This place is amazing. I drove here from Connecticut with my grandmother just to try the food. I was not disappointed! The Jam was fresh and wonderful! The sweet Tea you can't beat. I will go back or maybe live there! love love this place.
(5)
Frank B.
Worth the ride if just for the biscuits and homemade jams. My favorite is Blackberry. Can't say anymore than I love this place. The pulled pork is smoked to perfection, If it's not enough this place is at the begining/or end of the Natchez Trace in the middle of whats probably one of the prettiest parts of this country.Travel there once I guarantee you'll be back again and again !!!
(5)
Janet S.
For me it is all about the chicken livers with three types of gravy, cannot speak for anything else on the menu. This sets me up nicely for a camping trip down the Natchez Trace. All our visitors from overseas love to make a pit-stop here. A little shopping for jellies and bacon and a little liver eating! Ah lurve the South.
(3)
Rachel W.
I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. The food is awesome. The biscuits and jam are near perfection. The wait staff is always friendly. The atmosphere is just plain fun. Thank goodness I don't live in Nashville, otherwise I'd gain 50lbs eating here all the time.
Definitely underwhelmed. Loved the place when I was a kid, so stopped for breakfast one day. Eggs, bacon, grits and biscuit. Food OK but no better than breakfast at Rotiers and several dollars more in price. My real gripe is being served margarine instead of butter for the bisquits . To my mind this defeats the whole purpose of a really scrumptious biscuit experience. If you are a Southerner, the Loveless is more a fun outing than great food.
(3)
c c.
The hubby and I frantically got to Loveless for dinner at 8:30 one night (they close at 9). Given what we're used to in CA, we expected that they wouldn't be too pleased with our last minute arrival. We clearly forgot we were in TN. They welcomed us in and the waitress spent a good chunk of time talking with us and going over the menu. I got the fried chicken (amazing) with mashed potatoes (also amazing) and creamed corn (very yummy). Hubby got the meatloaf, hash brown casserole, and mac and cheese, all of which were great. I feel like I don't even need to mention this given that everyone else already has, but the biscuits are honestly heavenly. The blackberry preserves were my favorite, but the homemade honey and sorghum were great too. Definitely give this place a try, you won't need to eat for at least 24 hours afterward.
(5)
Noelle T.
I ate here. The biscuits were mmm mmm good. Everything else ... well .... the biscuits were good. I also like the cool little shops, I feel like a true Nashvillian now. We will def. go back to try the fried chicken as it appears I missed the mark with breakfast.
(3)
Lee B.
Yup! Worth the hype for the biscuits alone. And I was raised on southern biscuits, let me tell ya. Fluffy, soft and almost yeast-like, even a biscuit hater will dive in to these. And forget your cholesterol level for a day and indulge in the fried chicken, juicy, crunchy and worth every calorie. Do take the advice to call ahead. On a weekday, our wait was 1.75 hours at noon. We came back after 60 minutes and were called within a few minutes of arrival so leave the premises at your own peril. Be sure to squeeze into the lobby and browse the wall of autographed photos of country stars who've enjoyed the biscuits.
(4)
Alex N.
The biscuits are wonderful. I had the ham, bacon and sausage plate with grits and poached eggs and it was an absolute delight, especially the grits. There are notoriously long waits for a table but it's absolutely worth it. Bring a deck of cards or something to keep yourself amused while waiting and then revel in the awesomeness of the great southern cooking offered here. Highly recommended.
(5)
HOLLY M.
Best jams, biscuits, meats.....wow! Just a bit too crowded, but for really good reason.
(5)
Andy N.
4.4 stars (can't quite round up to mecca) Yummm...the biscuits were great! I can't wait to come back again next time I'm in Nashville. This place is definitely not on the way to anything, it felt like it was in the middle of no where. The rest of the food is just solid home cookin' but dining there will take you back to the good ole motor hotel (motel) days.
(4)
Tanya M.
Expecting a wait, we got here way to early. We got here about 3:30p on a Tuesday. We walked around the gift shop, & still ate too early. We anticipated a good meal so we ate a light lunch. I got the fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, and green beans. I ordered a salad but the waitress forgot about it. She was gonna bring it, but I told her not to worry about it. I don't like my salad with my meal. The chicken itself was good. I'm not sure about it being the best but it was good. The hasbrown casserloe was good, need some onion, I hate to say if it had onions it may have been as good as Cracker Barrel. The green beans were also very good. I could have ate more green beans. I took a piece of PB pie back to my room. It was just ok. They are famous for their biscuits. I don't really see it. The biscuits are a little better than Cracker Barrel, but I have had better biscuits at Hardee's.I liked the in house made jellies. I really wanted to like Loveless Cafe more. Overall, I'd return if I came back but not really someplace I would be like "OMG I have got to go there!"
(3)
Jasper T.
This place has some amazing food but be prepared to ware for it. In my opinion it is worth the usual 2 hour wait. They have just about everything from ham and eggs to chicken livers. The biscuits are amazing and make for a memorable experience. You have to try the Loveless at least once. It's a Nashville landmark.
(4)
Anita Y.
Eat. The. Biscuits. I agree with Matt S., they are THE BEST EVER. My first visit was in '93, and that was the last time I was in the area. This visit is my second time, and I made sure to plan our driving so I'd be in the area when the cafe was open. And it was every bit as good as I remembered. I got a biscuit with country ham, and the sweet potato casserole. It's tangy with a lot of sour cream in it, so be forewarned. After reading all the reviews, I'd be ONE FAT PIG to try everything that sounded good. I'm not a fan of the red-eye gravy, but that's OK, it's a very short list of things I don't like. All I know is I don't want to wait another 18 years to go back.
(5)
Thomas J.
This place came highly recommended, and deservedly so - southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and southern greens were perfectly done, and the biscuits and jam hit the spot after a ride on the parkway. A bit crowded, but that's ok - they don't take reservations, and there was a long wait for us - I think calling ahead puts you at the top of the list, so try that. Save room for the pie at the end. Worth it. Vegetarians would probably do best to head back to Nashville and keep looking. But the menu is decent at identifying the animal products, so give it a go after all.
(4)
Martin P.
My office is just around the corner from Loveless. I get by about once a month. My favorite is the half order of country ham plate with eggs, hash brown casserole and eggs. ALWAYS a winner--with the unending biscuits! Makes for a great morning!
(5)
Nick G.
After all the hype, a recommendation by the hotel, the good yelp reviews, We knew we had to make a visit. They're known for being a nice breakfast stop, and famous for their biscuits. So i ordered the biscuits and gravy. Yelp reviewers raved about their fried chicken, so I also ordered a few pieces, and then we had a few other breakfast items on the side (eggs and some fruit). Biscuits were served as we waited with jam. I enjoyed the biscuits, and the strawberry jam was by far the best of the three. But after eating a biscuits, I realized I'd ordered way way too much bread... I suggest you don't get a meal with any kind of bread included, because by the time the food comes, you'll of eaten plenty already. The food was barely decent, definitely nothing special, and I left very disappointed. The fried chicken was dry, and their famous biscuits tasted almost exactly like the Pillsbury biscuits in the can, just smaller. Way over-rated, way over-priced. I don't recommend. ***Just found out this place was featured on the Food Network TV Show: The Best Thing I Ever Ate. So I've added it to my list.
(2)
Aaron F.
Slightly out of the way but still a must-see while in Nashville, the Loveless Cafe is a charming little breakfast spot serving good old southern food that will likely send you into diabetic coma or a state of utter bliss (your choice). When my Dad came to visit, this was our first stop before heading out to the plantations and Jack Daniel's Distillery so we were prepared to load up on some yummy food. The first and best thing is simply THE BISCUITS yep. They sell them in big bags in the hokey gift shop, and they bring you a plate of them on the house to start. And whoooooo weeeeeee are they some good eats! (Mind you Asians don't typically say stuff like this and yet here I am). Light, moist, yet completely delicious on their own. Almost a surreal combination of buttery saltiness on its own with the sweetness you might expect from a pastry. Add butter and jam and it's even better. Dad had the ham, I had the steak biscuits with grilled beef tenderloin. His ham steak was uber salty and a bit tough to eat. My steak biscuits were alright - meat was a little dry - but what made up for it was the hashbrown casserole, loaded with cheese and potatoes. Yum! You must take a pass through the super touristy gift shop at the end. Not necessarily to buy anything but just to say you did. You won't regret it!
(4)
Jen W.
Biscuit! Biscuit! Biscuit! Now you know what to go there for. Seriously they must put crack or something in their biscuits (that's a joke people) These are some amazing biscuits and I will fight you for them. TO THE DEATH!!! And get them with some sausage gravy too while you're at it. They have some amazing creamed corn. I have no idea what's in it besides love or more crack. seriously, this stuff was so good I forgot about my main dish of fried chicken. Their sides are amazing, then again about every place down south knows how to make green beans. Catfish is great! Don't be scared of ordering fish. Fried chicken is good too. And they've got great pies. I had the lemon icebox pie and that hour at the gym completely went out the window. Feel free to check out their gift store, buy yourself some biscuit mix, some ham and bacon popcorn! yes bacon popcorn! Clearly i'm a fan of southern food and need to get more stretchy pants
(4)
Multi-Cultural Traveler M.
Let me begin by saying everything good is worth waiting for! While on a road trip from Chicago with my family of 9, we headed to Loveless Cafe after my sister (who also was on the trip) strongly recommended that we make the journey there. We arrived and were told that it would be a 45min. to 1 hour wait, so we braced ourselves for the wait. We were seated after the 1 hour wait and was greeted by Dee-Dee (our waitress), the lady who seemed to be just waiting to take care of our table, needless to say, she was AWESOME! Dee-Dee (our waitress) greeted the table with a plate of hot biscuits and various jams which we all said....she must have been reading our minds. She was informative, patient, extremely polite, and just overall - the best waitress that I experienced while in TN. The food at Loveless Cafe is amazing and the biscuits are a wonderful experience all in themselves. Our groups ages ranged from 4 - 57 years old and all of us felt like Dee-Dee was something special and what made our families experience at Loveless Cafe not just enjoying great food, but she made the food and the experience memorable. We decided to do the buffet and there was more than enough food and options to go around and it's the most economical way to go if you are in a large group!
(5)
Jeff S.
Great food and service pretty good too. Glad we didn't have the server next to our section. Loud, obnoxious, and got the vibe he didn't want to be there. they've created quite a destination here. A must see place to eat. If you intend on flying out after your visit, don't buy any jam, it will be taken away.
(4)
Lea Ann M.
Loveless is an institution. I was there many years ago with my grandparents and it has since be totally redone, but luckily the food is the same down home cookin' I enjoyed when I spent summers in Knoxville as a kid. Get past the hostesses' surly attitudes since they sure didn't exude Southern Hospitality. They looked like they were bothered by us "tourists". I was in a nostalgic frame of mind and went for the Southern breakfast of eggs, country ham, grits, red eye gravy and biscuits with a side of fried okra and a big glass of sweet tea. I was NOT disappointed. Took me right back to being 10 years old. My guy had the fried chicken and agreed they probably did have the same recipe since 1950-something since it was pretty boring and not as interesting as KFC, but the hashbrown casserole and creamed corn was OSSM! We ate too much, swelled up with all that salt, but heck, who could pass up the Loveless Store for jalapeno bacon and popcorn with bacon chunks to take home to the Northwest?! Avoid weekends and watch out for all the touring biker-dudes. The place fills up very fast.
(4)
Mabelle A.
So good we went twice on our long weekend trip visiting Nashville. Biscuits with the different jams were awesome - peach was probably my favorite. Add in some sausage gravy (not with the jam of course) and you've now made me a fan of biscuits and gravy. Who needs eggs, just bring on the bacon and the hashbrown casserole. The BACON ROCKS - the flavor was so good we're ordering some online in that bacon lunch pail. Had no idea what hashbrown casserole was until hubby ordered it and it's basically hashbrowns au gratin - cheesy yummy goodness. Great southern hospitality. There is lots of love for the Loveless. P.S. Bobby Flay came here for a biscuit throwdown.
(5)
Rahel K.
I love this place because it is almost as Nashville as Broadway. We took a Sunday drive and showed up late in the afternoon - 20 minute wait. So we walked around the shops, got a bottle of classic coke, and drank it on the front porch. Yeah, this place IS iconic... I got the fried chicken livers. Growing up about 10 miles from where Colonel & Claudia Saunders perfected their recipe...I'm a fan. Loveless does livers right. I also liked the sides - hashbrown casserole and greenbeans. The beans coulda used a little bacon grease; but, again, I'm from Kentucky. We then hopped on the Natchez Trace Parkway for a little Sunday drive. A perfect Nashville afternoon!!
(5)
Katie M.
I came here with my sister when we drove through Tennessee - this place was one of my favorites! Real down home cookin', Southern food through and through. We had fried chicken and potatoes and collard greens and biscuits with honey & butter & peach and strawberry jam. I didn't think I liked biscuits until I felt my lips moving and heard my voice asking the waitress if we could please have another basket. By the time we left I was so deliriously happy and full I fell into a food coma straightaway and had to take a nap in the car. OUTSTANDING, not to be missed!!!
(4)
sharad v.
on my trip to nashville we heard a lot about this quintessential southern food road-side diner. tried their biscuits with sausage gravy and scrambled eggs. The food was delicious, it came quick; the service was very personable and it was quick. The decor was decent and homely, very inviting. Here is the killer though.. The wait. Expect to wait at least an hour (we waiting 1:30) as this place is very popular. while you wait you can stroll around the gift shops, ham-n-jams and an art gallery. So the food is good, the restaurant is popular - why I am giving this 3 stars? simple because there isn't THAT MUCH in a biscuit and country ham that will make a 1 hour wait worth it. While yelpers are raving about the food - think about it - this ain't no avant garde french cooking we are talking about. This is down-home southern cooking - ham, fried chicken and biscuits. It doesn't take much culinary ingenuity to get this right and delicious. So my recommendation - decide for yourself if you think waiting an hour for a cut and dried cuisine is worth your time.
(3)
Lucas P.
Our server was fantastic, very personable and even went the extra mile to offer us to-go drinks! Kind of a hike from Nashville, but worth it. The wait was close to two hours on a Sunday afternoon...but was worth it! They have cool, classy, home-grown shops (overpriced, but nice) to peruse whilst you wait. The food was great, but clearly "fast-serve", was out in 5 minutes. I had the BBQ with two sides and the biscuits....well let's just say I planned on being good and eating 1, 4 later....yeah!
(4)
daniel m.
we went on a thursday { and not the weekend } thank goodness, because my neighbors said you had to wait for a long time. service was wonderful, food was good, decor was pleasent, but the only downfall was its just a tourist trap. ok that being said did i buy crap why i was there. the answer is yes. 2 bottles of hot sauce, and a miny pack of jam. i'm not sure what they were thinking when they opened the new upscale place downtown nashville. we have not been, but i was wondering why they did not promote their bacon. the bacon they serve per there menu is from gattons farms in ky. fathers country hams. i do understand there choice because gattons verse loveless, hands down gattons.
(3)
Nicole P.
Awesome food! Great service! Yes if you don't want BBQ or fried perhaps this isn't your scene, but everything tastes amazing! And you can play corn hole while you wait!
(5)
JAN I.
Amazing bisquits!!!! Didn't care much for the ham...it was dry. All the dishes tasted soooo great...so hard to decide. Can't wait to go back
(5)
Samuel L.
We live right down the street from Loveless. The biscuits are what they are famous for and they are definitely the best thing. The rest of the food is all good but nothing great. If you've never been it's worth checking out. The worst part is the wait on the weekends. If you can, go during the week.
(3)
Me M.
LOVED the biscuits, which is reason enough to try this place! My breakfast (eggs, bacon, cheese grits) was great and prepared as i wished. Food server (Ashley) was wonderful too. Can't wait to return next time in town.
(4)
Monkee C.
what can I say that hasn't already been said? endless biscuits and jam? awesome. country fried steak? awesome. pulled pork BBQ? awesome. creamed corn, collard greens, hashbrown casserole, mashed potatoes? awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome. literally every single thing I tried (and I tried everything everyone in our group ordered) was awesome. don't miss Loveless if you're in or around Nashville....just don't
(5)
Amanda H.
I had yummy fried chicken and didn't get a stomach ache! It's a miracle! The biscuits were so good! Sides were also good, but were definitely overshadowed by the chicken for me. Yes, I had to wait, but I went at dinner time and if you go somewhere good at dinner time, you will have to wait. If you don't want to wait then go somewhere with bad food.
(5)
mon b.
I'm sorry.. this was on my to do list for 5 years.. It was sub par... CRACKER BARREL is much, much better. This was just not good
(1)
Julie S.
They tell you to call ahead because they don't take reservations. Then you call and they tell you that your wait starts when you arrive. They act as though it's the most amazing place - wanted to take out of town folks, but really - for dryer fried chicken than you get at the grocery store and biscuits that taste like those you buy at Sam's in buik? No thanks. Rude and wayyyy over the top hype for pretty average food.
(2)
Ash K.
Great place to eat with a great atmosphere. They make a mean chicken fried steak.
(4)
S S.
I have mixed feelings about the Loveless Cafe. Yes, it's an iconic Nashville eatery and yes, everyone recommended it, but we had to wait close to 2 hours on a Saturday for a table for 2 and found the eggs to be...mass produced eggs. The biscuits, however, are worth the trip. You can save yourself the wait by ordering your food 'to go' and eating it on the picnic tables outside.
(4)
Timothy F.
Ok, where do I start. I have lived in Nashville for 35 years and have tried twice to go to this joint to see what the fuss is all about. The only problem is unless you get there during breakfast hours to eat lunch you will wind up eating dinner for your lunch because of the absolutely UnGodly wait times. Who in their right mind would wait 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours to dine on biscuits and Jellies and Jams!!! NOT ME !! Both times I have left hungry because of an obviously unorganized and lazy staff that cannot turn tables during peak lunch hours. If you are willing (or stupid) enough to wait this long for some 'good ole biscuits and jelly' more power to you. I on the other hand prefer to eat lunch sometime during the uniformed lunch hours. I will never ever bring relatives or family to this joint ever never again!!!!
(1)
Lyndsay G.
The breakfast is amazing! Get there early to avoid a long wait. The fresh biscuits and homemade preserves are to die for! Also if given the choice order the hash brown casserole...so delicious!
(4)
David B.
Best biscuits ever! Everything people said. Great southern food and hospitality. We came for dinner. I hope to come back soon and for breakfast.
(5)
Katlyn H.
What an awesome place! Cool decor, great fiod, fast service! A must go to!!! My best friend and I started our roadtrip here and it was a Friday morning. I was surprised at how busy they were but the service was fast. The food was phenomenal especially the biscuits!
(5)
Ashley D.
Amazingly, this restaurant lived up to the hype. We were on our way from Nashville to Memphis and my husband had read about this place, so we decided to check it out. Fortunately, we had read to call ahead to put our name on the waiting list. I'm so glad we did, because even though we called about 40 minutes before we arrived we still had to wait almost an hour for a table! We were there for Sunday lunch, so that's probably as busy as it gets. Still, you can call ahead up to an hour before your arrival. DO IT. I had the ham and eggs with grits. The grits were awesome, I wanted to lick my bowl clean. And the biscuits truly are perfection. I've never had such light, fluffy, buttery biscuits. Our server brought a plate of five to our table, and my husband and I each ate two and broke one into pieces for our 8 month-old. Then five more biscuits arrived and we ate four of them (and would have eaten the fifth except there was just no way to get any more food into our stomachs). Such gluttony, but so worth it. This was my son's first biscuit experience, and I had to explain to him that, sadly, it's probably all downhill from here for him as far as biscuits go. The service was quick. Once we were at our table we were in and out in well under an hour.
(5)
Karen S.
First time in Nashville had to make the short drive to the Loveless. It reached and surpassed our expectations! A definite must see and do for anyone visiting. Our wait time for a table was less than ten minutes. The atmosphere is incredible and our server was so sweet. The food is good old country diner fare and the biscuits are great. They must be because they make 7000 a day. Thanks Loveless for making our first stop in Nashville one of the most memorable.
(5)
Jason S.
Loveless reminds me of a trip to my Mamaw's. I grew up with a grandmother whose cooking was legendary, she even has her own cookbook. The best part was she grew up in Texas, so we got a Tex-Mex bonus with home-made tamales, stuffed peppers, you name it. Another thing about my grandmother was that as growing up in a family of 15 kids (the 8th, 9th and 10th kids were girls and named Ada, Nina, and Tenny, respectively) and raising seven of her own, she couldn't cook for less than 30. It was impossible for her to conceive of what dinner for two was. We grew up with tons of great Southern cooking and she was always sending strangers away with food or canned goods, homemade apple butter, salsa, bread and butter pickles, strawberry freezer jam, you name it, she had it canned in the pantry. Ask her for a recipe and she would tell you she just threw it together, press her and she would give you something close, and always (intentionally) leave out a key ingredient so yours was never quite as good as hers. When I eat at the Loveless, I imagine an army of Mamaw clones behind the scenes, somehow cranking out copious amounts of good, ol-fashioned Southern staples and BBQ. Plus those biscuits. And the preserves I remember from my childhood. I've had just about everything on the menu and it is good, and the sides are also excellent. I've never had a bad meal there from a food standpoint and the service has also always been spot-on. They've also been very accommodating to our 18-mo old. Even though there may be a huge wait, it's worth it to get that flavor. A word of advice, avoid it on the weekends, it's a mess. You usually can get right in on a week night and avoid the tourists. The only reason I don't give them five stars is that their food is really pricey, considering what it is, and they definitely cash in on the novelty draw. As well, DO NOT order liquor, they have a few mixed drink options which are disgusting high-fructose corn syrup disasters (why I decided to order a mojito is beyond me, it was like citric acid cut with Wrigley's spearmint gum) priced as if they were not. If you want booze, grab a beer.
(4)
Sarah B.
If you are in town, stop by and check this place out. My advice though, skip the wait for a table and get some biscuits with homemade preserves and a cup of coffee or sweet tea to go. We waited 2 hours for a table on a Sunday - some guests were being quoted up to 3 and a half hours for a table for two. I didn't think the food was worth the wait, but if the wait is quick, say less than 30 mins, it might be worth it to stay. Service is quick and friendly and the portions are big for the price.
(3)
Walrus C.
look - their biscuits will make you want to burn down every KFC. just go.
(5)
Kathleen H.
What a great place for lunch! Or supper, as they call it in the south. I had the pulled pork sandwich, which was delicious. But I am kicking myself for not getting the fried chicken. My husband got it and I almost stole it from him. The creamed corn was amazing. The biscuits were amazing. The blackberry jam was amazing. I could go on and on. If you find yourself *anywhere* in the Nashville area, GO!
(5)
Christine W.
Best Southern food in Nashville. You can order anything and still leave with a happy belly and a huge smile. If it's your first visit, you must (I repeat MUST) try the biscuits with some peach preserves. I'm salivating just thinking about it!
(5)
Dustin M.
I'm not gonna blast this place. The food is pretty good, The dining area is unique and comfortable, but the place is simply a tourist trap. Every Nashvillian should go just to say they've been, but don't expect better food than any other southern spot. Also, expect at least a 45 minute wait. Biscuits aren't bad though.
(3)
dorothy f.
Ate here twice on a recent trip to the Music city. The food was great real down home southern comfort food. The biscuits and jelly are to die for. We never did get any desert, there was no room after our meal. No one could even finish their plates. Yumo this place is a definate ust on all my future trips.
(4)
FieryRed S.
Wow...this place is some serious southern good eatin'! I love the food there and a really pretty drive out of Nashville. Went there at 11 am on a weekday and no line...and, what a bonus, Carol Fay was at the front door! Had the country ham and our waitress warned that it was salty. My friend had the pulled pork with eggs and some incredible cheese hash browns. Would highly recommend the pulled pork, was the best I have ever had. Didn't really understand the hoopla over the biscuits...they were good, but similar to other restaurants. loved the homemade preserves...really fresh. The service was excellent...very attentive. Would go back and try the fried chicken. Fun to walk around the little shops surrounding the restaurant. Take a moment to look at the pictures in the lobby of the stars who have visited. Interesting that Al Gore's daughters wedding was catered by this restaurant!
(4)
Tiffany J.
We only live about 10 minutes away, so about once a month we try to go before 8am on a Saturday or Sunday to beat the crowds. Service is always great and the food is amazing. Biscuits obviously are great, but the steak and eggs are phenomenal.
(5)
Leslie S.
The 45 minute wait is totally worth it for the fried chicken. I don't even like biscuits and I eat these! In other words, it's worth a flight in!
(5)
Leigh M.
So even though I've lived in Middle Tennessee for quite a while, I've never been to the Loveless Cafe until now. Some relatives from Cali came in to visit so we stopped here after picking them up for the airport. We arrived there at a time that most restaurants aren't that busy; smack dab between lunch and dinner. However it was still an hour wait here, and I'm actually shocked it was *only* an hour given how many people were there. I really liked the building(s) itself. For anyone who doesn't know, the Loveless Cafe and surrounding shops are a converted motel from the 50's. I love places like this; you can tell just by looking at it that it's a relic from the golden age of highway road trips. You almost never see such things anymore, as they've either been torn down or are in complete disrepair because they went out of business after the interstate system was built. The little shops were cool. Touristy but charming. They had quite a few interesting items, as well as some food such as jams and cured meats. I had plenty of time to check them out while waiting on my table. Once we were finally seated, I was quite impressed by the service. Despite being packed to capacity, our server was extremely attentive and very sweet, taking plenty of time to explain the specials and whatnot. I ordered their blue plate special for the day, "Honeyspice" chicken or something to that effect. It was a half chicken barbecued with a spicy honey-based sauce. It was absolutely fantastic, as were the turnip greens and okra that accompanied it. The biscuits, for which this place is apparently known, were quite good as well. My girlfriend and I shared a slice of fudge pie for dessert and it was quite delicious. All in all it was a really fun experience, but the wait is long enough that this isn't the sort of place I'd want to go to regularly. However it seems to be a fantastic place to bring visiting family or other people who have never been, and it's definitely a place I think everyone should experience at least once.
(4)
Ryan W.
This place is an experience. It is located in what I can only describe as Middle of Nowhere, Tennessee. It is around 30-40 minutes outside of Nashville, however as soon as you see the sign, you notice the huge parking lot full of cars and tons of people hanging around the restaurant. The wait was pretty long, but Loveless does everything possible to keep people entertained. There were guys playing corn hole, some kids drawing pictures on the ground with chalk, and a cute elderly couple enjoying the day in a set of rocking chairs. There is also an array of small shops that you can check out. Once we got in, the food was absolutely amazing. It lived up to the hype of every previous review. I practically was rolled out of the place because my ambition got the best of me and I went for a platter including ham, meatloaf, fried chicken and a couple sides. I probably shouldn't have eaten so many biscuits before the meal.
(5)
Steve C.
Fantastic southern food, huge variety, and great drinks to boot. It's just a shame that so many people know about this place; there's always a huge wait (I've never waited less than 30 mins, and sometimes as much as 2 hours). On occasion I find it worth the wait, but usually I'll just go elsewhere.
(4)
Joanna L.
When I have guests visiting from out of town, without fail the one place I always end up taking people is the Loveless Cafe. The wait was only for 45 minutes for two people on Saturday night around 6:30pm and it was well worth it. During the wait you can explore the stores and play corn hole in the various locations around the premises. Once we got inside, Sandy our server as busy as she was brought out our biscuits and brought us our Sweet Tea. I LOVE Loveless biscuits. I don't know how to describe it or explain it but the biscuits and their jams. Ugh. To die for. My friend and I chose to share the sampler and I'm so glad we did. We got the fried chicken, fried catfish, and the pork barbeque with Mac and cheese, creamed corn, and fried okra. I have never had fried okra or okra til I moved to the south but loveless has given me the best experience with okra. And the fried chicken was simply perfect, as was the catfish and of course the pork. Everything about our meal was delicious and I am never disappointed when visiting Loveless. Although the wait to get inside is extremely long, the staff is rather good about getting your food orders and your food out to you as soon as possible. Always a favorite restaurant of mine and always highly recommended to all Nashville visitors even if it's only for the biscuits.
(5)
Rebecca C.
The Loveless Cafe is breakfast perfection. Seriously. I have never had better biscuits in my life, and I have a southern grandma! I could have made a meal out of the biscuits and housemade jam alone, but then I'd miss out on the house-cured ham, bacon, and eggs and cheesy potatoes that went along with my amazing breakfast. I was full long before I stopped eating. I loved the charm of the restaurant as well as the surrounding shops on the premises! I regret not buying the biscuit mix, but it just gives me another reason to head back. My only reason is for not giving it 5 stars is the price - our breakfast for two people was $47. FOR BREAKFAST. But you get what you pay for, I suppose, and in this case, I'd consider it money well spent. PS - Don't tell my grandma what I said about the biscuits, ok? I don't want to hurt her feelings.
(4)
Dez S.
Near my house but I don't go often because of the long wait. The biscuits, yes, are to die for. The salads are pretty awesome - ask for the creamy peach vinaigrette dressing!
(4)
Jac S.
I had a blast here. The wait was just under 2 hours, but there is so much to do on "property" of the restaurant that it was nothing. The experience was great and I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu. The drink menu look fascinating, but I at 10 am and didn't want to partake in the moonshine cocktails that early in the morning. :)
(4)
Denny K.
Gotta start with the biscuits. After all Loveless makes about 7500 a day! Usually tender, flaky, fresh as fresh can be, right out of the oven. I often pop them into my mouth before I even have a chance to smear on the strawberry, peach, or blackberry preserves. (Honey and Sorghum are available on request.) All you want-all day long. But save a little room for a delicious breakfast. You name it they'll make it. Today I had a gigantic Barbecue Pork with 2 eggs over easy (cooked perfectly). Honestly, I think there was nearly a pound of meat not he platter...no kidding! But wait. Can't decide what you want for breakfast? How about a sampler several meats and sides.? If you brought friends and family...they got you covered--Family Style Breakfast includes most of the above and sausage gravy too. Be sure to try the Hashbrown Casserole or maybe the BBQ omelet - 3 eggs and enough stuffing to fill a suitcase...(well, maybe not quite that much). Oh, you're here for lunch? Fried chicken, meatloaf (better than Mom's...sorry Mom), and finger lickin' good Pork Chops. So much good stuff, I never have room for dessert...but you might, and they got it too. Service is alway top-notch and extremely cordial...but a slight misstep today (entered the wrong order for our breakfast in their computer system and brought us the wrong plates. .... They apologized profusely, but dampened our enthusiasm inasmuch as we were there with friends visiting from California. Can be a bit noisy. Be patient...the wait for a table can be anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes or more. But take heart, the wait is worth it for a special experience...at least once.
(4)
Tom Y.
It lives up to all the hype. If you want a down-home, country dinner, this is the place. I had the fried chicken and it was amazing. The biscuits and jam were out of this world. It was soooo good. I ate so many biscuits I had to take most of my meal home with me. It is worth the wait, seriously, it is that good.
(5)
Ted C.
For what we thought was our final Nashville area breakfast we chose to go to Loveless even though we were staying literally right near the Nashville Biscuit House and the drive there with a packed car-well it was definitely out of the way. As soon as we got there there wasn't a parking spot to be had-which was the opposite trend of what happened during our trip since it was so cold and hardly anyone bothered to come out. The breakfast is served all day, and the cafe is basically it's own little universe of commerce. The cafe, the shop there's a smoker. I was thinking maybe we hit on the tourist spot of all tourist spots. Instead what I got was a really classic place serving really good old fashioned food. The biscuits were buttery, soft and the jams were all a great accompaniment to the biscuits. They brought 9 for the four of us. We cleared it and then asked for more. My friend asked for a side of gravy to go with it and I don't know why they don't advertise that more often. Biscuits and gravy here should be announced on loudspeaker here in addition to it written in big, neon lights. I ended up ordering the steak biscuits and realized I made a mistake. The steak was a little tough and I should have just gotten one of their breakfast plates. I mean, if I can get as many biscuits as I wanted then I should have gotten something without biscuits in it. The shop also is touristy but fun. My flight out got canceled as we were eating and I spent 45 minutes on the phone there trying to rebook flights then extending the rental and finding a hotel. The staff there occupied my friends' time by talking about the weather and generally entertaining them until I got off the phone. The next time, I need to come with 3 other people who are down for that all you can eat deal.
(4)
Garen M.
This is our second trip here. We stop to purchase biscuit mix. It is the best ever and easy to make. This trip we ate lunch. We both had breakfast fare including country ham. The food was great and the service was even better. Long wait times to get into the restaurant but they have plenty of shopping to help you while away the time and lighten your wallet.
(4)
Harry H.
Big birds flying across the sky Throwing shadows on our eyes Leave us... [Loveless], [loveless], [loveless] Having read of "bottomless biscuits", we were disappointed by a lack thereof, apparently not part of the slow service and separate charges for a change in teas (but not for refills after the switch, but given the speed, it wasn't worth mentioning because our time is valuable) despite no mention originally. $37.79 before tip for: biscuit sampler with chicken and hashbrown casserole (satisfying) breakfast sampler (tasty) two sweet teas, and a peach iced tea (the latter was excellent, the former eh) fudge pie (tasty but nontraditional) No creamed corn until 11 (foolish) If we hadn't also planned a Belle Meade visit as part of our morning, I would've been a bit disappointed about trekking out here (if this is still considered Nashville, you folks really take some liberties with the zoning). Apparently they were on Throwdown, and management changed at some point recently, causing the commercialization that kinda ruined the charm for me.
(3)
Tara S.
I don't know why it's taken me so long to write this review. You'd think out of all the times that I've been and had to wait an hour and a half before being seated that I could find the time to write one up! But no, I've usually found something else to do. They do give you a little disk that vibrates when you're ready to be seated. The Loveless has a few gift shops around that you can browse in. Some of the gifts are really cute but touristy expensive. Now...good lawd the food. Biscuits are made from scratch and are light and fluffy. They come free with your meal along with 3 preserves. If my memory serves me correct they're strawberry, blackberry and orange marmalade...or peach. I don't know. They're all tasty though! I ALWAYS order a side of cheese grits! I'm telling you I drive clear across town for their grits. So freaking good. They serve breakfast all day. I keep telling myself that I'll try something else then never do...because cheese grits, yo. We've tried a variety of things and have never been disappointed. They have excellent bbq, hashbrown casserole, fried potatoes, country fried steak...it's all good. This restaurant is the epitome of classic southern food. Service is kind of hit or miss. You've got the servers that have been there awhile that found their niche and are on a roll. Then there are the newbies that shuffle through things. They're all right but don't give you the "Loveless experience". Parking can be a bit rough depending on when you go. I've never NOT found a parking spot but you might have to walk a ways. No biggie. After eating all that fried food, a bit of walking might do you some good!
(4)
Kathy S.
Amazing food! Had the biscuit French toast!! The seating on the outside patio is so peaceful and delightful!! Will be back before we leave Nashville!!
(5)
Hector E.
2nd visit to loveless cafe in about 6 years. Not sure why we dont go more often when we visit our family in Nashville. Sad to learn that the biscuit lady had passed, but they are still going strong and the biscuits continue her legacy. The wait was about 1 hour, but they have multiple shops , free lemonade and water and coloring activties, and cornhole boards for the kids. the gentleman in the smokehouse even let my young niece and nephew come inside and see inside this work area and showed them where the bbq comes from. The foods was delicious, we I had the country fried steak with hashbrown casserole, with 2 eggs. others had bbq, country ham, meatloaf and pork chops. Everything was so good and the service considering how busy they were was outstanding.
(5)
Patricia N.
Biscuits. Don't even question giving them a try with their blackberry jam/preserves - what have you. The portions are fairly large. I had the fried chicken salad with ranch. It didn't even look like I made an attempt after my attempt.
(5)
Ralph R.
Great place for breakfast with their homemade biscuits and apple butter. BBQ for lunch or dinner is also a winner.
(4)
Deb V.
Biscuits are one of a kind. they are fabulous! Other than that food was nothing special to me. Nothing stood out to me..just your same ol' same ol'. Tasted alright. Great shops around the restaurant. Brought home some goodies from the place right next door. Great selection of jams and all that unusual tasty stuff. Boutique shops around there are neat to go to especially during a long wait on a Sunday..oh yeah.. waits can be huuuge! Setting is gorgeous.. being on the mountains and all. The drive is breath taking! Service was alright..here and there I'd get the disappearing act from a waitress. Price ain't bad...but I'd rather go somewhere else.
(3)
Thomas W.
I was technically at a reception & banquet in the next-door Loveless Barn, but Loveless Cafe did the catering, so this review is still about their food. The saving grace were definitely the hors d'oeuvres - they were great. Unfortunately, I believe, they are not on the actual menu... The supposedly main event of the dinner, however, should regularly be available to everyone: Loveless Fried Chicken. I had some southern fried chicken in the Bay Area some time ago, it it was divine. Now, being in the actual South, I was really looking forward to a repeat experience. Sadly, no such luck. The sides were mashed potatoes and green beans, just as back then. The mashed potatoes, however, tasted pretty much like they came out of a box. The beans were rather flavorless and not crunchy enough. The chicken itself was decent, but the seasoning uninspired, making for an overall... boring meal. I honestly expected more from such a signature dish.
(3)
Karen C.
Really cute place that is a bit of a tourist trap in my mind. It's not terrible, but its not great and its very out of the way of downtown nashville and 1hr+ wait. Please don't get the fried chicken! It was dry and bland. I make better fried chicken. The country ham that they are known for was overly salty and tough. The mac and cheese and the fried okra were not really worth eating. On the upside, the bacon was delicious (they cure it themselves) and so were the grits. And of course, their biscuits were very very very good. I pigged out on 3 or 4 of them. The strawberry preserves are also very delicious. So overall, some things were good and others weren't. I would stick to the breakfast foods instead of the typical southern dishes.
(3)
Char L.
Wow! I kicked my diet for this place. The biscuits are AWESOME. The gravy is AMAZING! The pulled pork breakfast platter is HUGE. You can totally share that with a friend. Ask for more biscuits and they will come, just remember gravy is $2.50 a cup. Be prepared for a wait.
(5)
¡Pedro E.
I was recently in Nashville for the first time -- asked some friends for recommendations on where to eat. The Loveless Cafe and Prince's Hot Chicken were at the top of the list. I was staying in Brentwood, and it was a cold and rainy night -- just a couple of degrees above freezing (snowed the next day). I decided to brave the weather for a 7:30pm dinner, which turned out to be a good decision because it wasn't crowded at all. The fried chicken was really good -- I got a half chicken and, with the sides (stone-ground grits! -- get 'em!) and dessert had more than enough to eat. While it wasn't the BEST fried chicken I've ever had (that honor goes to a little hole in the wall in Quitman, Mississippi many years ago, and Prince's Hot Chicken Shack on the north side of Nashville is better), it was better than 90% of the other places I've had it. I also had some kind of home made chocolate pie that was remarkably good. Oh -- and the biscuits were also really good, especially with the fruit jam on them. Overall, good Southern cooking that's a notch above the rest -- worth a try if you're in town and you don't have to drive too far or wait in line too long to check it out.
(3)
Jason L.
So here I am several weeks after visiting Loveless Cafe writing a review. Giving 5 stars to restaurant doesn't happen often so I wanted to make sure my high from eating there had worn off. Well I can honestly say it is still there, and I can't wait until I can find my way back to Nashville to eat at this place again. I have lived in the South my entire life and have been raised on a diet of fried chicken, pork products galore, veggies seasoned with meat products, and biscuits. It is always fun to scroll through reviews and see comments such as "the tea was too sweet", "the ham was a bit too salty", or "the jams were too sweet". Those statements shouldn't be uttered in the South unless you want to face a firing squad. I can honestly say this is some of the best food I have ever had in a restaurant setting. Lots of restaurants in the South advertise themselves as "good Southern cooking" but few can deliver like Loveless. Our cross country trip from San Diego along I-40 finally reached Nashville and after stopping to visit with some friends we were instructed that we had to visit Loveless Cafe. I liked the fact that this place was located away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We only had to wait around 30 minutes for a table on a Saturday night. I am annoyed at the people that have dinged this place for having to wait a long time. Good food = long waits. If you want a shorter wait then head into the city limits and find a Taco Bell. Loveless Cafe has a nice little business enterprise because while waiting for a table you are free to peruse their Hams and Jams Country Market. I had dropped 75 bucks there before even stepping in the restaurant. Their jams are excellent (strawberry and blueberry are must have). Their pumpkin butter is also very tasty. Make sure to grab a mail order brochure for their Hams and Jams because you will want more after leaving. The store is a little on the small side so expect to bump elbows with fellow customers. After being seated a friendly waitress quickly brought us a piping hot stack of biscuits with preserves. It seems the biscuits are always a highlight of every review. They aren't the best Southern biscuits I have ever had but they are very good. When mass producing biscuits some quality has to be sacrificed. Still the preserves are VERY good and if you haven't purchased some already you will after leaving the restaurant. Just pace yourself or you will be full before your entree comes to the table. I had an order of the pit cooked pork barbecue which was tender and flavorful and topped with their homemade BBQ sauce (which can also be purchased). I tasted the sig-o's country fried steak which was equally tasty. I tasted the mashed potatoes, homemade creamed corn, slow cooked green beans, and hashbrown casserole. The cooks didn't hold back on the butter and meat seasoning. No room for dessert but I was ogling the blubbery cobbler at the table over. I can't wait to try their breakfast when I go back. Every single dish I tasted here was phenomenal. This place simply can't be missed if you are visiting Nashville. I am still in love with the preserves and once the stash I have here runs out I will be hitting up their mail order service.
(5)
Tanya W.
I've been going to loveless cafe before it was renovated a few years back. Everytime I head back to Nashville I MUST eat at loveless. The food is always fantastic and the service amazing! You never know what famous country star you might run into dining here. Make sure you stop by and get some jam to take home- Delish!
(5)
Karmann G.
Believe the hype! We traveled from Texas to and from Knoxville, TN and made it a point to stop here both directions! The biscuits are fabulous (blackberry was my favorite jam)...the chicken "fingers" are more like 3 chicken breasts and were so wonderful! Meatloaf is a huge healthy portion with tangy sauce. The hashbrown casserole is waaaay better than Cracker Barrell (and we love the CB!). Oh, and I had a salad with spicy candied pecans, bleu cheese and peach vinaigrette....my mouth is watering...over a salad :)
(5)
Carol L.
This was my first meal in Tennessee, and was I glad to be here. The place is really "country" and cowboyish. The servers and hostess were incredibly friendly, and the portions are HUGE. apparently lots of famous country singers come here too. =) I ordered sweet tea and the sampler platter: choice of 3 meats and 2 side dishes. Biscuits were brought to our table with 3 types of jam and I do agree, those were damn good biscuits. I only ate one though, cuz i wanted to eat most of my meal. My sampler included fried catfish, fried chicken, bbq pulled pork, sauteed greens, and fried okra. Fried catfish: really good, not catfishy taste at all Fried chicken: i've had better. this was actually a bit dry. bbq pulled pork: good, but i've had better (...in texas and north carolina...) fried okra: pretty good sauteed greens: yum! If I ever visit nashville with friends, I'd bring them here for sure. Its a bit touristy, but super fun.
(4)
Cory C.
BEST BISCUITS EVER. I do not have enough positive things to say about this adorable restaurant. While driving from NYC to LA we stumbled across this Nashville stable and were in awe of the adorable decor, friendly staff and food. While it is obvious the place has become a little more commercial it still has a lot of charm. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to throw down some country food!
(5)
Anne B.
My fiance and I came out here for the first time. We made the mistake of walking around all of the shops first and then going into the Loveless Cafe for lunch. When we walked into the cafe, the wait was 1 hour and 20 minutes. Next time we would definitely put our names on the waiting list first, and THEN walk around. Anyway, the service was great. The food was delicious and came out fast. The biscuits were as good as we had read and heard about and we loved the jam that came with them. My fiance and I had the fried chicken which we really enjoyed and the bbq pork. The fried okra was soooo good and we also had the hash brown casserole which was good. It was worth the wait.
(4)
kristen p.
Loveless is the place where you gather all your friends, take a lot of pictures, and eat mountains of amazing biscuits. There are just a couple of vegetarian options ranging from the garden omelet to a plate of sides (think mac & cheese and fried okra). The sweet tea is good. It's not too sweet so it still tastes like tea. (Preferably go on a weekday for lunch.) Surrounded by cute shops, this place is a destination in itself.
OMG!!! What an amazing breakfast!!!! Came on a Wednesday morning at about 10 AM and had just about a 15 minute wait for a table of 6 which I didn't feel was very bad at all!!! Waitress was very nice and the food came out in a very timely fashion considering it was somewhat busy. The biscuits came out and were the best I've ever had. Warm and moist. Served with sides of fresh apricot, raspberry, and blackberry. The little country store was soooo cute. A must stop when in Nashville! Definitely try the cheesy hash browns and the BBQ, so yummy!!!
(5)
Lauren R.
Prepare to wait, then prepare for cholesterol city! If I were to return to loveless, which I hope to one day, I will prepare by starving myself for a day or two before hand just so I can enjoy all the delicious delicacies without the insane guilt. Yes there will be a wait but there are retail opportunities to bide the time and if the weather is tolerable, there is outdoor seating to enjoy while you wait. I had the catfish with creamed corn and Mac and cheese. There are so many sides, I would recommend your party orders a variety along you in order to sample all. Everything was delicious, no exceptions. Even the Bloody Mary! This is a must-try when visiting Nashville.
(5)
Amalia Y.
so, we drove almost an hour and had to wait about 90 minutes to be seated. no, pressure, loveless cafe. we only have a 13-hour ride back to nj ahead of us. nbd. wait, actually- lots of pressure!!. the biscuits better be life-changing. THEY WERE. holy moly, these are some phenomenal eats. the biscuits. THE biscuits. oh em gee. i've never had a biscuit like this, and i can't stop craving them. paired with the homemade preserves, they were AWESOME. and endless. (no, this is not a joke). since this was our last meal in TN, i went BBQ... pulled pork over corn cakes, with sides of fried okra and cole slaw. it was SO yummy. i was pretty full from the endless biscuits (mmmmm biscuits), but the flavors of the bbq sauce and coleslaw to cut the richness were great. the fried okra was good too. it tasted good as a snack in the car a few hours later, too! honestly, i'd go back and wait and wait and wait again. there are a few gift shops that share the parking lot, including a kitchen store that i believe sells some sandwiches (and they give out samples!). they have coffee and tea outside, which makes waiting even easier. 5 stars for the biscuits. 4.5 stars for the rest of the food. and a definite drop to 4 stars for the service. our waitress was abrupt, barely made eye contact, and was almost impossible to catch. definitely not the southern hospitality i was hoping for from this place. don't skip it. and if you're heading to or through the central nj area afterward, bring me some biscuits!! (pretty please?)
(4)
Pam X.
I love country food and biscuits and wish that I could live at Loveless. Their side dishes are to die for--I could go on eating greens forever. The staff is always friendly and inviting. I ordered a plate of chicken liver last time I was there (maybe not everyone's favorite dish) and it was really good with gravy and biscuits...and biscuits. I don't think we ever stopped eating biscuits while we were there, and the seasonal jams are great as well. The only qualm I've ever had with the food is a time when the greens I ordered were way too salty, but I ate them anyway.
(5)
Jenny P.
You need to go here and you need to eat the biscuits!!!! Definitely one of the best meals we had while visiting Nashville. We had to wait a little but well worth it. You will not be disappointed :)
(5)
Diane R.
Loveless Cafe in Nashville has been cooking up their famous biscuits and southern food since 1951. They now serve over 450,000 guests per year. The Loveless Cafe serves down-home country food. Their comfort food will remind you of grandma's house. In 2005, USA Today named Loveless Cafe as America's "Top Down-Home Dining Spot." Loveless' famous "Biscuit Lady" Carol Fay became famous for her biscuits. She has been on many television shows including the Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, the Martha Stewart Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The video below is Carol Fay the "Biscuit Lady" with Martha Stewart. The Loveless Cafe serves their biscuits with amazing homemade preserves. I was so excited to see they made and served my favorite preserves, blackberry. It was perfect and delicious on their homemade light biscuits. I do not get a commission for sending you to their site. I truly just enjoyed The Loveless Cafe.
(4)
Jenni E.
This was by far the best breakfast that I have ever had. On our way out of Nashville we hit this place for some fuel for the long day of driving. There was a bit of a wait, but they give you a pager and you can go look at the shops on the property while you wait. Once we were seated, our waiter came by and was really friendly. He recommended a couple of things and I went with his recommendation of BBQ pulled pork and eggs. It was delicious! It came with a choice of sides and I had the hash brown casserole which were the best hash browns that I have ever had. My husband thought the biscuits and gravy were the best he's ever had as well. My only regret was that I didn't have enough room to have a piece of pie. They looked really good in the case. You can buy a half or whole pie to go as well. The shops on the property have a lot of their products for sale - jams, sauces, bacon, syrup, honey, etc. they also have a bunch of novelty items and souvenirs. A nice way to get breakfast and shopping out of the way.
(5)
Marisa V.
Even on Sunday night there was still a 40 minute wait but it was worth it. Waiter was friendly and came out with food right away when we told him we were hungry. The best friend chicken I've ever had with sides of greens and green beans. The biscuits were really good too. I'd go back next time I'm in town.
(5)
Elaine S.
I live right down the street from the Loveless so we frequently get carry out because the wait is too long. Expect a long wait, but there are shops that you can visit while waiting. As for the food, it's all the southern food that you would expect. The biscuits are delicious and I am not even a biscuit fan in general. The fried okra is great and the breakfast menu is recommended.
(4)
M B.
I had my last meal at the Loveless Cafe recently. After eating there several times, I've decided the food is so overpriced and tasteless that it's not worth it. The restaurant operates on a prime piece of real estate at the end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. That's the only reason I can fathom why people go there at all because it can't be the food. For example, I had scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. The pancakes were flavorless and gritty. The eggs were rubbery. The bacon was covered in grease and disgusting. (Seriously ... how can you screw up bacon!!??) Even the coffee is lackluster. And this is the second time I've left the restaurant with an upset stomach. To call this place a "gourmet Cracker Barrel" is ridiculous. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants, but the food is actually better (and cheaper) at Cracker Barrel! If you like spending lots of money on bad food so you can take your picture in front of a tourist attraction, then this is the place for you. But if you really enjoy Southern cooking, there's better options in Nashville and Franklin.
(1)
Raed A.
country-style food cannot get any better then this place. this is a must do if you are in Nashville. don't leave without eating here. service is superb, food amazing, decor is pretty cool. if i can give it another star i would. i was there on Tues night. no waiting. prices were good for the amount of food that you get. you will not leave this place without unbuckling your belt. I got the samplers platter with fried chicken, catfish, fried tomatoes, and moonshine.
(5)
Rob G.
Loved this place. Homemade biscuits with homemade jam is better than anywhere.
(5)
Susan G.
Had lunch at the Loveless today. The chicken fried chicken was yummy and the sides really good. The green beans have been better in the past but the home fries make a great side dish. Everybody knows the biscuits are hard to beat. Yes, you have to wait but it's worth it. If you're looking for fast food, then this is not your destination. If you want really tasty, home style food, like you can't find everywhere, then try the Loveless!
(4)
Mike M.
Bisquits and gravy with bisquits and jam on the side - yeah!
(5)
Jeremiah B.
I didn't understand why we were driving so far out of Nashville city to go to this place during a recent visit. After the first bite of biscuit I got it. They serve them to you pretty much first thing. Like getting dessert before you eat your meal. The food is what you'd expect from sumptuous Southern cuisine, home made and simple. I thoroughly enjoyed the honey smoked chicken (special that day), slaw and mashed taters. The sweet tea wasn't bad either. If I ever return to Nashville, this is definitely a place I'll hit up again.
(5)
Melissa S.
My boyfriend is from Nashville and I have been waiting to try Loveless for quite some time now. I went in knowing it would be fatty, delicious Southern goodness, but I didn't plan on eating nearly as much as I actually did! The whole place is really fun - there's an outdoor smokehouse for the meats, porch swings, and the best part - a general store filled with stuff we wanted to buy. Luckily we were smart enough to go back after we had eaten so we didn't walk out of there loaded down with candy, fudge, pecans, and whatever else we could get our hands on. As soon as we sat down, we were given a heaping plate of hot biscuits and 3 kinds of homemade preserves. They were amazing! (My boyfriend says the biscuits used to be better, but I still enjoyed them just fine.) I would have been satisfied with just the biscuits for lunch, but I had to order MORE biscuits, gravy and sausage for my meal. Oh yeah, and I got cheese grits, too. The plate came with 4 biscuits, so believe me, there was no skimping on the portions at Loveless. Craig got the fried chicken and it was delicious. We didn't even think about dessert, but I am sure it's good, too. We went on a Friday for lunch and it was packed, so I would recommend going really early if you're hoping for a weekend meal. It's a really fun touristy place and I can't wait to go back! I may have to starve myself for a week beforehand so I'll be ready next time...
(4)
Sylvia R.
Visiting Nashville, my husband and I loved this place so much we made sure to get here again before leaving tomorrow!! We had dinner both times, and between the biscuits and the HUGE portions of food, we left happy and waddling! Our first waitress was kind but kind of quiet and quick (Melanie, I think?)- but tonight we had a trainee who was the nicest waitress we've ever had- she was attentive, kind, and gave us extra biscuits in our to go box! The prices for the portions are awesome, and if my husband says it's some of the best ribs he's every eaten, I take that as a huge compliment. If I ever need a reason to return to Nashville, Loveless will be one of them!
(5)
Lawrence W.
The Loveless Cafe capped off the Soul/Southern food component of our trip eating our way across the country. It was a beautiful meal. The atmosphere is nice and homey, with pictures of famous visitors to Loveless covering the entryway. In the dining room, you'll find character both on the walls and in the waitstaff. And the "Biscuit Lady",Carol Fay, who's become somewhat famous in her own right, greeted us as we walked in, and bid farewell to us as we left. Just a brief glance at the other Yelps tells you for certain, if you just drive here for the biscuits, you will not be disappointed. The jams are also delicious and set this place apart. I ordered the chicken tenders (I'm not a fan of eating meat off the bone), and my wife had the fried chicken. The batter was the same for both and it was delicious -- some of the best I've ever had. I had the mac and cheese, and even though it was good, it wasn't my style. But the homemade creamed corn was far and away the absolute best I have ever tasted, under any circumstances, ever. Amazingly, I had room for dessert. I wanted cobbler, but they were out, so I had banana pudding (good, but not great by any means -- too dry). All in all, if you are ever in this part of the country and don't try to eat at the Loveless, you'd be doing yourself a great disservice.
(4)
Hooney H.
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know how I feel about this place. 30 minute drive and a 90 minute wait, but it was worth it. Man was it worth it. So Loveless Cafe is surrounded by a handful of little Loveless shops that well a variety of items such as jams, preserves, bacon, trinkets, tourist souvenirs and clothing. I bought a rather awesome "Taking Care of Biscuits" t shirt but one wash turned the large into a Small, so I actually never got to wear it. I'll frame it and hang it on the wall or something. We perused the shops and enjoyed looking at their paintings and souvenirs (mini mason jars are just the darnedest cutest things) and my friend bought a canvas painting of a rather happy looking pig. We named him Wilbur Darnell. Don't ask. But the food. Ohhhhhhh man the food. So the policy is that as long as you stay on the first round (it's all you can eat), you're allowed to take the leftovers home. But once you order seconds of Anything, you are not allowed to take anything from the table home. Luckily, we never even made it out of the first round. Just look at my photo. Hilariously huge spread. But I want to talk about the biscuits. These biscuits make you question your life, the world, the Galaxy and Mother Nature herself. You question religion and the science behind it. You question your upbringing and the girl you decided was worthy of your first kiss. That's how magical these biscuits are. Small, fluffy, chewy, yet airy and buttery (you must butter it--it's phenomenal), these are worth the hype and the rave reviews. Served with four preserves (the blackberry was my personal favorite), you must always order more. The fried chicken. Best. Skillet. Fried. Chicken. Ever. Skillet fried chicken is something every single one of you (even you strange vegan and vegetarian folk) need to try at least once in your life because you will be shocked at just how different it is from regular deep fried. Juicy while maintaining the crisp skin, Loveless has it going on. The pulled pork with corn cakes. Okay the portion was absurd. We each had two helpings and it looked as if a family of six could've enjoyed it afterwards. Needless to say we took it home and enjoyed some delicious leftovers. Man was the pork great. Tender, sweet and tangy, with a hint of smoke, it was a favorite of ours. The fried okra was delicious (god I love fried okra), but it could've used a pinch of salt after frying as it was a bit bland. Fried green tomatoes. Best I had the entire week. Mashed potatoes were excellent as was the gravy that accompanied them. I can't stop thinking about the biscuits. I haven't stopped since I left the place. To the wonderful staff, thank you so much for the lovely experience and meal! I'm sorry I can't wear the shirt!
(5)
Jordan F.
I live down the street from this place but I don't go all the time (I wish) but I can't! If you like to wait in line this is the place for you! If you go during brunch hours just be prepared for a two hour wait, minimum BUT, it is well worth your wait time, during your wait there are a lot of things to do. There are a few gift shops and there is a local artisan gallery, and corn-hole! There is a theater too but I don't know what happens in there, they probably do stuff at night. Anyways we finally got seated and our waiter was great, very cheerful and respectful! The food came out promptly, it was hot and delicious! I really have nothing bad to say other than the wait, but it is a Nashville icon! Hope you enjoy it!!
(4)
Wasim K.
I hate to say this but this is a very hyped up place. First I had a choice between hot chicken at princes or loveless. I chose loveless and took an extra 30 minutes to get there. first it's been made pretty commercial with every possible piece of made in china memorabilia stamped with a "loveless cafe" including $12 bacon that is $4 in a price rite etc that put me off right away as did the $45 gift baskets you can mail yourself for another $12. The biscuits were pretty similar to pillsbury pop open buttermilk biscuits. the blackberry preserved and butter made the biscuits otherwise it's not all that. gravy tasted like Campbell's cream of mushroom soup with a handful of pepper. fried chicken was low on seasoning and salt. it was all crunch and no flavor. I have a corner grocery afghani place near home that makes infinitely better chicken for $1 a piece. the hash casserole and catfish came out cold and had to be reheated... the casserole was good but you can put that much cheese, butter and heavy cream on paper and it will taste good too. the fried gizzards and liver... were awesome. Saved the meal for us. my wife though the same on all points. overhyped and under good. I'd give it 3 for a random place but 2 for my overhyped expectations. this is a made in China and mass produced version of what was probably an authentic piece of Americana even 20 years ago.
(2)
Greg B.
Well worth the wait. And when they say the wait is over an hour, they mean it. We visited on Sunday after the Fourth of July, which likely resulted in higher traffic levels. The biscuits were truly amazing and they provide homemade jams. I had a spicy Bloody Mary with a shot of moonshine. I regret not selecting rum instead. The moonshine was too strong. The place is very touristy, and has many shops to kill time as you wait for your table. They even have a shipping center to send away things that you purchase in the shops. If I return it'll be during off hours. Not sure I enjoy waiting that long for food.
(5)
Ashley T.
I'll probably be dethroned of my yelp elite status for leaving anything less than 4 stars for this Nashville staple, but honesty is the best policy, right? I'll start by saying that for me, the best part was the experience: the gift shops, decor, and southern hospitality from the staff. When we put our name on the list, we were told it would be a 1 hour and 45 minute wait. There are plenty of gift shops to spend money at while you wait on your buzzer to go off. It ended up being about an hour wait. I spent $30 on a ceramic berry carton, a tea towel, and foot cream. All very cute and I use them regularly so I don't regret any of them. As far as the food goes, (don't judge me, we hadn't eaten anything and my eyes are larger than my stomach) I ordered two eggs sunny side up, a fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit, home fried potatoes, a piece of fried catfish, & biscuits and white gravy. My husband ordered a few of the same things, but also pancakes. The good: the pancakes were huge and good. The biscuits and homemade jams were tasty. Not drive 30 mins out of my way good, but definitely the best thing I had. The catfish was tasty and I wish I had ordered the catfish supper plate. The bad: the eggs whites weren't completely cooked. I know a little is expected on sunny side up eggs, but I scraped more than I'd like to the side of my plate. The gravy was... weird. My mother-in-law also ordered the white gravy and we both thought there was something about it that was off. I had a couple bites wanting to like it and just couldn't eat it. It didn't taste old or like it had gone bad. It just had a really different flavor than anything I've ever tasted in white gravy. The meh: fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit. This was a 60:30:10 pimento cheese:biscuit:tomato ratio so I really only tasted the pimento cheese, which was nowhere near as good as my own homemade pimento cheese. The home fries were cut up in little squares and deep fried, probably frozen, potatoes. Similar home fries are available at Nashville biscuit house down the road from our house. I guess what I'm saying is that we won't go literally out of our way anytime soon to go back, but if we have friends visit who want to go, we will go back with them and I will try the catfish plate. Otherwise, I'm not in a hurry.
(3)
Kristina W.
We arrived at 7:15 on a Tuesday morning. It was like a ghost town. My 4 year old nephew didn't understand why I was so shocked to not see anyone there. We were seated right away as we were the first ones there. It took a while to order, even saw an employee get their meal before we ordered. We got the kids pancakes and the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich. Of course we also got biscuits. The kiddo loved his pancakes which were way too big for a toddler. He barely put a dent in one pancake. My sandwich was odd. The eggs were served on top of the sandwich of sausage and melted cheese. I had a hard time prying the bread open to get the eggs on. The server said that's always how it's served. I've never seen that anywhere. The service was slow. This was evidenced by the next diners coming in, grabbing menus, and seating themselves. It's not a place I choose to go, but would rather stay local.
(3)
Julie R.
DEFINITELY worth the hype. I had no idea about this amazing place UNTIL I checked Yelp and found this fantastic brunch location. We were in Nashville for a fun weekend. The Loveless Cafe is a drive from downtown, but totally worth it. Be prepared to wait for your delicious, eating experience. No fear, they have already anticipate this, and LC has an entire tourist town for you to explore and shop while you wait for your buzzer to go off. Finally. We are seated. The interior of this cafe is suuuuper charming. I got the signature plate with the "red eye gravy." Definitely an acquired taste, but I'm glad we were able to try it. I had meal envy over what the hubs ordered. A pulled pork masterpiece (photographed). The buttermilk muffins that are served while you wait for your entree are reason enough to some here. And the Bloody Mary's made with moonshine are great (if you like Bloody's). Since we had already made this 'south' drive outta Nashville, we continued down to Jack Daniel's distillery. An entire day of amazement.
(5)
Sol C.
From one meal at Loveless, I can see why this place has the reputation it does. 10:00 am on a Thursday and the wait was 35 minutes long. Luckily, they give you a buzzer so that you can wander the multiple gift shops on the property while you wait. Before we knew it, our outdoor table was ready and a huge pile of biscuits was plopped on our table. Holy hell, they are addictive! Served with unbelievably fantastic peach preserve, as well as strawberry and blackberry preserve and sorghum syrup...honestly I would have been happy just eating these as my meal! But then our gigantic plates of food arrived, meats and eggs and grits and cheesy hash brown casserole. Everything was excellent and we stayed full and in a food coma until 6 pm that night, I kid you not. The Loveless staff was excellent and a few servers came by and chatted with our table. We loved the food and hospitality!
(4)
Steven S.
My guess is that I've had breakfast or early dinner at Loveless Cafe at least 50 times. I became a customer at the age of 16 as a freshman at the Vanderbilt University, and I continued throughout my wild days as a student and as a teacher at the university. Just went back and Loveless still serves up a lotta love. Best biscuits and the best country breakfast I've ever tasted, What I really like about Loveless Cafe, besides the savory eats -- the customers cannot be put into a class, or party, or ethic group. It attracts truckers, artists, musicians, tourists, good country people, foodies, and no-nonsense Nashvilleans, and nobody cares, as the delicious food brings everyone together. This is where politicians of different parties should break bread. Simple good food cures all.
(5)
Nabilah L.
This was our first time at Loveless though we've been in Nashville for a few years now. EXCELLENT FOOD! And even more EXCELLENT SERVICE! Barbara was the woman who served us, and she was very welcoming and helped us select the perfect meals. I chose the quarter fried chicken with the hashbrown casserole and the sweet potatoes. My friend had the chicken and dumplings with the squash casserole and slow cooked green beans. Both option were truly amazing. For anyone passing through Tennessee or looking for a new place to eat - please check this place out for some really great Southern food. And I totally forgot about the biscuits, but yea...some of the best I've ever had!
(5)
Tyler B.
I went here for breakfast this morning, and it did not disappoint! We arrived at 9:45 AM and got the last open table before they went on a wait. For a Monday morning, that shows you how popular this place is. The child in me was craving some chocolate milk, and their chocolate milk is wonderful! Very creamy and chocolatey. The biscuits come out first with blackberry, strawberry and peach preserves. They were all delicious, but I think the blackberry was my favorite. If you fall in love with one, they sell them so you can enjoy them at home or bring back as a souvenir or gift if you're traveling. I ordered the bacon and eggs with a side of grits. I've learned that you either love grits or HATE them. I'm a true southern girl so I love them! I must say the grits at Loveless are some of the best I ever had. The serving of eggs was huge! I got them scrambled with cheese, and I swear there had to be about 4 or 5 eggs on my plate. I only got half way through before I threw in the towel. The bacon was cooked crispy, just like I like it. That makes a big difference to me when choosing a breakfast spot, as most places never listen when I ask for crispy bacon. This will definitely be a go to breakfast spot for me from now on!
(5)
May B.
We checked out this place while on vacation in Nashville and it was worth the trek. It is a bit off the beaten path of downtown Nashville, but the drive is somewhat scenic and was enjoyable. Upon getting seated, our server brought us two platefuls of biscuits and jams - and when I says platefuls, I mean stacked up in 5s and we immediately started stuffing our faces. They were so good. I ordered the pit cooked pork bbq plate and my husband got the fried pork chop plate. They came out and my jaw dropped, they were so big it was enough to feed me for lunch and dinner (possibly breakfast the next day too!). I thought the bbq pork was good, not the best I had during this trip however. My husbands fried pork chop however was so good. I could have eaten that all day long. They also had cute little shops to make this more of a destination to check out rather than just the restaurant - which after how much we ate, we needed the walk. I definitely enjoyed those biscuits and think this was worth the drive.
(4)
Rachel M.
My family and I recently went on a trip to Tennessee, and during this trip, I made it my personal goal to eat as many Southern biscuits as possible. The Loveless Cafe was my first stop on a trip to severe heatburn that was worth every painstaking moment and choked down Tums. So let's start with the biscuit. Warm buttery and flaky as any good biscuit should be. To accompany it, I also ordered the fried catfish, okra and sweet potatoes, along with a bloody mary made with the cafe's own bloody mary mix. I have to say it was the spiciest bloody mary I have ever had. My husband had an iced tea drink with moonshine that came with its own, little moonshine glass you could take home. Very cute. But what the Loveless Cafe is known for is their banana pudding. Now by this point, after eating all of the above, I had no room for it. But we ordered some to take back to the hotel, and having never had banana pudding before, I have nothing to compare it to, but it was delicious with chunks of real banana in it. Overall, I was incredibly stuffed and pleased, and the only reason I am not giving this five stars was because I'm not sure it was entirely worth it. Yes, the food was good. Yes, the atmosphere was awesome. But there was an hour wait. They have some cute little shops in the compound for you to bide your time, but so does Cracker Barrel, and honestly, I'm not sure this is THAT much more delicious than Cracker Barrel, so I'll leave that up to you. If you feel like checking it out and don't mind waiting, go for it. If you're just jonesin' for some quick biscuits, go to Cracker Barrel.
(4)
Sarah S.
I loved Loveless! #mesocheesy #tooeasy #ilovelove If you've got some time to kill, head 30 minutes outside of Nashville to the Loveless Cafe. It's known by many in the area as having the best gosh darn breakfast in all of Tennessee! Yeehaw! And biscuits are their jam!!! (get it...? biscuits have jam on them...? sooo....biscuits and jam...? yeaaaaa). The menu is so expensive it's nearly impossible to pick which delicies to scarf down. My usual thing is I want to try as many things as possible at new places so I went with the Biscuit Sampler Platter for $11.99. You can then choose 4 biscuits from: Fried Green Tomato & Pimento Cheese, Barbeque, Country Ham, Fried Chicken, Bacon, Sausage or Steak. I went with the Ham, Chicken, Sausage and Bacon because meat! All were good but let's be real, bacon makes everything better. Actually the plain biscuits with some jam preserves were the best thing of all - even better than my meat between the bread. If you have to wait for a table, they have some cute shops outside the restaurant. Even if you don't have to wait, they are worth a stop in after dining. I bought a couple of floofy headbands for myself while there. Loveless Cafe was a fun place to go, but the hype might have slightly exceeded the experience for me. I'm glad I went, think everyone everyone should go, but it's not a place I could see myself driving distances for again. Been there, done that.
(4)
Angel G.
Yelp never lets me down. What a great place to come and eat if you are traveling thru Nashville. Expect a long wait, but lots to do on the campus and well-worth it. Our table tries the Barbecue Pulled Pork, Half Fried Chicken, the Green Tomato BLT and a bunch of wonderful and yummy sides - Turnip Greens, Mac & Cheese, Hash Brown Casserole, Cream Spinach and Cream Corn. All the food was delicious and Barbara our waiter was just a doll and very helpful to us. If we definitely will come back and loved your Southern Hospitality.
(5)
Teresa B.
Visiting the Yelp Spring Break Nashville 2014, we went off the beaten path for this experience on a Saturday morning. Told that there would be a wait of over an hour, I had no qualms. Travelling all the way from Alexandria, VA, I had a hunch it would be worth it. It has been a long time since my childhood, growing up in Florida, that I tasted truly authentic southern cooking. Ham steak, sausage patties with biscuits and gravy, grits...mmm. The bonus is there are many things to keep you entertained while you wait. It's a village of family fun to entertain everyone. Antique and boutique shopping, complimentary sweet peach tea, quaint areas to bide your time while playing bean bag toss (AKA the "corn hole" game which made me blush). And Pumpkin Butter samples! When we were finally seated, it was by the general manager, who enthusiastically made us feel welcome. The waitress was also a sweetie. Service is key here. I can vouch for the: Complimentary Biscuits and (3) Jelly Sampler Ham Steak Pimento Cheese Biscuits and Gravy Omelets And Creamed Spinach If I were to visit Nashville again, this would be a destination!
(5)
Adrian D.
Amazing true southern food. Great priced and wonderfully kind wait staff. You can't visit Tennessee without stopping here. Prices are very reasonabke, portions are huge and best of all moonshine and chess pie are on the menu!
(5)
Crazy G.
Really busy at three in afternoon . Nice staff. Clean. Great flavorful food. Worth the wait. Portions are huge
(4)
Paige F.
Be prepared to wait a long time with a lot of tourists on weekends! But then be prepared for some of the best southern food ever. I have never had anything that I did not like. This place is definitely worth all the hype, and the biscuits are delicious.
(5)
Megan S.
Waited over an hour but it was SO worth it. Food comes out very quickly! Creamed corn and coleslaw are my favorite sides. Skip the coupon mentioned, it's for online orders only.
(5)
Jason B.
Not really much to say that hasn't already been said. First of all, the fried chicken is the best around...maybe some of the best I've had. They are known for the biscuits and jam, which are just ok to me. I compare everything to my mom's homemade biscuits and jam, and nothing comes close. There is one thing you can always count on with Loveless Cafe that may not have been previously mentioned...the music on their playlist is solid country gold. Merle, Possum, Waylon, and all the hits from the 90's. I'd like Loveless so much more if it was a hidden gem. It's popularity creates a long wait for a table. If going on a weekend, arrive before 8:00 and you won't have much of a problem. After 8:00, and especially after 9:00, you should plan on at least an hour.
(4)
Ling X.
Don't know where they came up with the name loveless because this place is full of love (insert your groan here). I chose to have my birthday dinner here on the way out of Nashville after hearing so much about it and didn't regret it one bit. Our waitress gave me my dessert with a candle on it and announced to everyone that it was my bday so everyone sang to me. Long wait during dinnertime but well worth it. You can pass the time quickly by exploring the shops around it or playing cornhole out front. Great southern food and hands down the best biscuits I've ever had. I ended up buying their mix to make my own at home (plus a lot of other items I didn't need - oh Loveless Cafe, you sure are smart with your marketing).
(5)
Melissa M.
Loveless is a must stop! The bbq is amazing as is the fried chicken! Normally there is a crazy long wait but it's worth it! I got a sampler this past trip with catfish also but didn't care for it as much. The mashed potatoes are yummy but skip the turnip greens. They're known for their biscuits but I'm not in love with them. I guess I'm spoiled to Cracker Barrels biscuits and turnip greens. I'd say you definitely need to get the chicken or bbq!
(4)
Shaye B.
One star for good biscuits and a bloody mary. Another star for the gift shops to walk around in during a very long wait. I expected at least a 20min wait for brunch Friday for a group of 9. Hour wait seemed long and I would have left except the place is far enough outside of Nashville it wasn't worth it to relocate. Finally got seated and ordered our bloody Mary's which were good and came with a piece of bacon. But they took a very very long time to come out. Actually everything took a while. Service is not a strong suit - but rarely is with large parties. Now for the food. It was just bad. We ordered various things across the 9 of us and no one liked their food. Hash brown casserole? Sounds great but it's more just strings of soggy potatoes covered in melted velveeta. I thought it'd be like a crispy cake with some onion and peppers and bacon fat maybe. But nope. The country ham? Foul. Super grisly and way to salty. 3 of us ordered the ham and all felt that way. On top of the food just not tasting good, we all had some hurting stomachs afterwards. I was looking forward to coming here since I heard great things. But it was a major disappointment and I will not be returning again.
(2)
Jacoby D.
The hype over Loveless Cafe is fun and all, but their food seems is inconsistent and nothing mind blowing . Each time I've been, there's been at least one part of my meal that is just off. First time the fried chicken was extremely dry, and the second time the mac and cheese was salty and not very tasty. Their biscuits and preserves are AMAZING. The customer service is also great. I would go back if I'm looking to show off a Nashville staple or was in the area, but as a Nashville local there are many other restaurants in the area that will serve my palette better.
(3)
Ang S.
Why LoveLESS? This place should be called loveMORE! Hands down the fluffiest biscuits I've had in life! And the waitress was very generous about bringing out a second hot basket before we even finished our first. Though I wondered what did she do with the leftover buscuits that she took away with the first basket? o.O The fried chicken was executed to perfection. You can tell the recipe has gone through decades of tradition and years of perfection. The chicken however lacked a bit of seasoning. Good stuff but I've also had better. I was somewhat disappointed by the hash brown casserole, especially after reading raving reviews about it as I was waiting for our table. The proportion of cheese to potatoes was nearly 50/50. The location is a little out of reach, but definitely worth a short drive if you are in town.
(4)
Amanda B.
My family and I went here for breakfast on a weekday. Love the experience; the store owners are very nice, the decor inside the cafe is great and the staff is very friendly. The biscuits were delicious and we all really liked the hashbrown casserole side, but other than that the food was pretty standard - and a bit pricey for your average breakfast. All in all, we were happy with the stop, but would probably try a different breakfast spot next Nashville visit.
(3)
Cody L.
Excellent food and service Lucas (luke) awesome server ....best breakfast near nashville
(5)
Devyn L.
I have to say that everything was fantastic from the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese that my girlfriend ordered to the chocolate chip and pecan pancakes that i ordered. The sweet tea was delicious, the service was quick and polite. and the prices were fantastic. I really enjoyed the building it was located in as it complimented the southern cooking that they provided. It had a lot of nice boutique shops on property but did not visit them due to time restrictions. The only negative is they used fans to cool the dining area which was near the kitchen sot it was very hot. I wish they had some air conditioning. Overall i would return there if I am in town again cause the food and service was great.
(5)
Jordan L.
Great place!!! Such a cool atmosphere. The biscuits are to die for. The wait was over an hour at 9:30 AM, but it was worth the wait!
(4)
Jenn G.
Amazing southern comfort food. Good service. If you are visiting Tennessee this is a must!!! Highly recommended. Will leave you stuffed lol. The biscuits are sooooo good and always served warmed. Freshly baked out the oven. Do not forget to ask for honey. It has to be requested. Big menu to choose from. #carbNation
Maybe it's because I have been raised around Southern food that I wasn't blown away. Everything just didn't live up to the hype, and I am honestly a little disappointed that I got so excited to eat here. The service was pretty good, and our drinks were always immediately filled. That's probably the reason I feel bad giving Loveless Cafe less than three stars. However, the food... meh. I've had better food from local restaurants from my town (e.g. Beacon Light Tea Room). The biscuits were good, but again, Beacon Light Tea Room has better ones. The fried chicken I ordered tasted a little dry to me, and it caused my stomach to be upset that night. It was nice to say I've had the experience, but I probably will not be returning.
(3)
Ginger P.
This former hot sheets motel turned BBQ pit and restaurant is a must when you're following the Natchez Trace and want some solid Southern cooking. Their turnip greens with pot likker are the best you'll ever have. I also recommend the country ham, which I will be ordering from them next Easter, with their biscuits and fried green tomatoes. Put some housemade jelly (buy it from the gift shop, too -- the peach is especially good) or pimiento cheese on it and get back on the 100.
(5)
Alton S.
while you may have to wait a while to get in that should be your first clue that it is that GOOD!!! have eaten there for the last 42 years and it is just as good now as it was when i first went there. every meal has always been great as well as the down home service. it is a must if you are in nashville.
(5)
Alex B.
Can't say enough how delicious this place is!!!! If you love biscuits then this has to be a stop on your way through Nashville. We went on a Monday night and there was a small wait but it was well worth it! The best fried chicken I have ever had not to be out done by the amazing BBQ pork and fried catfish. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made the experience even better. Truly like having dinner at grandma's!!!
(5)
Kristyn A.
Excellent southern food! Plan to spend all your calories for the day on the biscuits! It's worth it.
(5)
Melissa V.
We stopped here as a must see and it didn't disappoint. The service all around was some of the best and the food was sooo good. Moonshine drinks were STRONG - but tasty. I had the pulled pork omelet and my husband got the biscuit sampler.
(4)
Ralph M.
Great breakfast today and the service was top notch. The biscuits and country ham make it worth the trip over from Smyrna.
(5)
Juliet S.
I came here for the first time in 2001 on a road trip with my family. Maybe it's a faulty memory, but I think it was much smaller back then, with lots of rustic charm. It certainly seems bigger now and, though far less rustic, it still has plenty of charm. And there's nothing faulty about my memory of the blackberry preserves. I thoroughly enjoyed my pork barbecue and my marinated cucumber, but I would come back just for the blackberry preserves. I would eat a dish of them, all on their own, with a spoon, then have more for dessert. Okay, maybe that last part was a little extreme. I would, however, buy some to bring home. You can buy some at the counter or go next door to Hams & Jams and do some shopping there. Make sure you sit down and have a meal, though. The food is wonderful, the servers are friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is airy and comfy.
(5)
Sarah C.
Here's the hoedown on Loveless. You might think you have to get your white socks and sandals on with a huge camera around your neck to fit at the Loveless Cafe but you are wrong. Loveless Cafe is great if you are visiting town or a local (I consider myself a local). We arrived at the Loveless "compound" around 11:40a.m. First order of business, don't go that late. The hubs-to-be and I waited around an hour and 45 minutes for a table. Fortunately, the cafe is surrounded by a little general store with free coffee and plenty of souvenirs like fresh jams/preserves ($6), Loveless T shirts ($12), and really cool Nashville memoirs and cookbooks from top rated restaurants in town. There is also a random bike shop, pottery store, and religious antique store. Breakfast or brunch at the Loveless is really an all day affair. When the pager finally buzzes you have the opportunity to sample the greatest Southern fare that is served within minutes. Think Crackle barrel but much better! The biscuits are buttery and literally melt in your mouth, a staple at the Loveless. I ordered the BBQ pulled pork and eggs (~$8-9). You are probably thinking,"really," but yes really. Although at first it sounds unappealing, it was the most delicious! The french toast (~$9-10) was so good the syrup was not needed. As sides, I ordered the home fries. Mmmmm tasty! We also ordered take out for dinner and let me tell you the fried Okra will be my next meal alone should I return. It is like crack, seriously. The catfish platter was flavorful even when reheated the next day. For two people dining in and taking dinner home we totaled $56.00 including tip. Not too shabby!
(4)
Meghan J.
wonderful country cookin comfort food! as everyone else said, the biscuits are top notch- especially with some butter and jam. i am a big fan of the fried chicken- unfortunately, i haven't tried anything else so can't comment on the rest of the menu! It's been over a year but i don't remember being very impressed with the sides... The notable downfall for me would be the fact that this place is a tourist trap and there's often an hour+ wait. but, if comfort food is what you crave, then this is worth the wait
(4)
Kate R.
(just a fyi i want this to be 3.5 stars.) made a point to get to this place bright and early one day when we were in nashville because of the reviews. call us cliche or whatever you want, but i wanted to try those damn biscuits! we ventured out to loveless at 730 am on a friday morning and stepping out of the car i instantly smelled the goodness. warm. fresh. flakey. biscuits. mmmmmmm. they were SO good. and paired perfectly with some butter and homemade jam. yum yum yum. in addition to the mountain of biscuits we devoured, i ordered a southern omelet and the boy got the half order of the country ham. so much food! all-in-all, everything was tasty, but nothing really compared to the deliciousness of the biscuits. service was great and attentive to our coffee (and biscuit!) refills. will definitely revisit loveless, but next time i want to go at lunch to get the fried chicken platter. yummy.
(3)
m g.
Worth the splurge/sacrificing your body, i guess maybe fast before you go? Everything is delicious, the area is adorable. Biscuits and the preserves....its hard to stop eating them, i agree they really should be illegal. Fried Okra really good, same w the mac and cheese, the sweet potatoes with some sort of carmel in it is great too. Delicious pulled pork sandwich! Love love love this place
(5)
Martha M.
First of all I must make the disclaimer that I am writing this as a tourist. That said, I LOVED this place! The food, atmosphere, all of it was exactly what I was hoping for and more. We went here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and for 3 people, our wait was a little under an hour. It flew by though since this place is perfectly catered to having to wait for awhile. There is a smokehouse where you can watch the meat being smoked, and a few little stores to peruse through. The little general store was really cool. (remember I was there as a tourist). The decor inside the place was so great. Very homey and comfortable. The food was insatiable! Biscuits and gravy definitely lived up to my expectations. I had the pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and candied sweet potatoes and it was AWESOME. And the sweet tea . . oh the sweet tea. The second my tea was gone, all of the sudden poof! someone was there to fill it! The combination of great decor, delicious food and excellent service made this is a no question five star rating.
(5)
Jennifer J.
I was told this place was great before I moved here, but I think the management changed because it really wasn't very good. The BISCUITS are the BEST! They have always been know for them and that hasn't changed. The rest of the food isn't that great. I've ordered breakfast, lunch and dinner and I have never been impressed. In fact, a lunch there was very disappointing, I ordered a grilled chicken salad. I also had a meatloaf dinner there that left much to be desired.
(3)
Jason M.
Overpriced tourist trap or iconoclastic Nashville landmark? Well , a little bit of both. Without a doubt the biscuits and homemade preserves are other worldly and I could of made a meal out of them alone. The country ham (my favorite kind of ham) is reportedly the best in the nation. Maybe my expectations where too high but I was hardly wowed by it and the red-eye gravy. I mean really red-eye gravy is just coffee and ham juice so I guess I shouldn't be as disappointed but it was awfully bitter. And the ham was burned on one side. tsk, tsk tsk... However if you're in the area, I'd stop by.
(4)
Leslie A.
I'm NOT a huge meat meaty eater but the BBQ Pulled Pork was fabulous. The fried chicken was decent though not my favorite. The sides were all fabulous... give me hash browns with cheese everywhere (not sure of the official dish name), creamed corn, and biscuits with fresh jams of sorts (blackberry being my favorite). Remember this is VERY, VERY southern. That tastes so good somebody must have stuck their toe in it! Or furthermore appropriate... That tastes so good I'm 'bout to jump up and slap my mama! Go there and you too can learn Southern phrases to express how goooooood it really is.
(4)
Ken P.
I had an excellent southern omelet. The biscuits were fantastic! Even the coffee was exceptional. Quaint ambiance and a very attentive wait staff. I will eat here again on my next trip to Nashville.
(5)
J C.
Pretty typical Southern dishes. I grew up in the South, so I suppose it's a bit more difficult for me to be impressed with the food because it's the kind I grew up on. However, that said, everything was cooked to perfection. This place is famed for the celebrity drop-ins and greasy comfort food. I imagine breakfast is even better than lunch.
(3)
Jim P.
Simple, amazing, homestyle classic southern American food. Had an hour wait at 1pm on Friday afternoon. Kids got a moon pie at the gift shop to hold them over. Had a few other shops to browse and pass the time. It was worth it. Wow, where to begin... A plateful of hot fresh country biscuits with homade strawberry and blackberry preserves. Then comes the family platter. The best fried chicken I've had, a huge portion of pulled pork perfectly smoked served with corn cakes and BBQ sauce on the side. Bowls filled with great Mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and green beans. I had three platefuls of everything ... Pure gluttony, so happy. Then had to squeeze in another biscuit and jam. Only regret is no room for dessert. A must stop in Nashville.
(5)
C. Benjamin W.
A certain (small) element of sincerity envelops the kitsch at the Loveless Cafe and that is what makes a trip here worthwhile. Sure, the "market" and the "emporium" bordering on the parking lot tell of a country helping of tourist trash, but the restaurant inside is a modestly decorated and welcoming room. Coming from out of town, I was expecting to grimace under the stares of decorative acoustic guitars and various disembodied Nashville flavored stage costumes. Okay... that's a joke. I'm not really that much of a jackass. Anyhow, the little murals and plaques dedicated to national country music celebrities were very cool and ernest tributes. That's enough about the room though. The servings were huge and tasty Southern fare. There was not much that jumped out, but nothing needs to when you're eating pulled pork and biscuits. I would have liked to have the family dinner so that I could have tried the fried chicken and catfish, but that requires a party of four or more. This place does not just seem to be good for groups, but a much better experience in a group. Service was fast and the prices were great (coming from Chicago). I'd go back soon if I hadn't had a lifetime's requirement of pork this time.
(4)
Jay R.
Southern cooking at its finest. It is worth the wait to get some down-home goodness right here. I would give it 6 out of 5 if I could. Lots of celebrities have been here, it has been in business for more than 60 years (that says something), and the diverse mix of people in there was nice to see. I had the chicken fried steak along with eggs and grits; super well prepared with the buttery stone-ground flavor made me perfectly satisfied. Great wait staff too. The wooden floors and windows are reminiscent of the Old South. The biscuits are the best thing I've ever had!!! There is a heat and soft tenderness to them you cannot get anywhere else in my view. Perfect jams as well. Overall tremendous experience. Worth the long drive down Highway 100. Don't forget the sweet tea!!!!!
(5)
Rachel '.
Love this place. Breakfast is amazing. The jams are delicious. And the smoke master gave the kids a little tour and a tutorial on how he smokes the meat. Very nice man .. We all enjoyed talking with him. Awesome morning!
(5)
Laurie F.
I don't need to add to the other great reviews. Do yourself a favor; just go. And be sure to stop by the gift shop for jams, hams & biscuit mix. You'll be craving these within days.
(5)
Pam F.
When we finally found it and you get pass the long wait We enjoyed our trip we are breakfast eaters and they serve it all day Ham is extra Salty but if you dip it in the gravy wasn't so bad. I had some fried green tomatoes they was yummy.
(4)
Melissa M.
Great restaurant. The biscuits a awesome and they just keep coming. I have only eaten breakfast there but the rest of the menu looks great as well. It is a tourist attraction so I recommend going early or be prepared to wait.
(5)
Kim S.
Absolutely adore the Loveless! Best biscuits ever and tasty jams with the blackberry being my favorite! Always get the fried chicken biscuits which are just perfect little packages of pleasure. Breakfasts are great too! Outstanding, friendly service. Picnic tables outside make it easy to have a meal with your pup traveling companions. Give this wonderful cafe a try if you're nearby.
(5)
Rhonda G.
Where do I start? Ok, the biscuits with three different jams. I thought it couldn't get better until the fried catfish came out, piping hot, crunchy outside, flaky inside. Garlic mashed potatoes and fried green tomatoes finished out the meal. My companion voted the fried chicken as good as it gets. My daughter had the gigantic pancake. We finished by sharing the fudge pie. Worth every calorie. Even though we arrived late afternoon on a Monday, there was still a wait of 40 minutes but don't be put off. Spend the time imagining a flaky, hot biscuit. Our server was friendly and full of information. He made us feel as if we were old friends stopping by for a chat and getting a meal as a bonus. It might seem as if you are driving to the middle of nowhere but when you leave, you'll be planning when you can return.
(5)
Lynnette F.
This place is amazing! I will preface with I suffer from a peanut & tree nut allergy. I called the restaurant to see if they would be able to accommodate this and the hostess said they could not. She said nothing in the kitchen would be safe since there is a chance of cross contamination. She then said the fried chicken would be safe since it only gets put in the fryer and they cook with soy oil. I still took the chance and went since this was one of the things I was looking forward to on my trip & boy am I happy I went! I spoke to the waiter and he said everything was pretty safe to eat. The biscuits, fried chicken and sides were definitely nut free and were safe to eat. I ordered the fried chicken (amazing!), grits with cheese (hands down the best thing I ate during my trip) and mac & cheese (so-so, I wish I ordered the mashed potatoes instead!). The biscuits are everything I hoped they would be - they were fresh, soft and oh-so-buttery! I would suggest asking for another plate of biscuits before your meal is over so you can take them home for the next day. I regretted not purchasing the biscuit mix the next day, but was luckily able to purchase it at the airport before leaving. Anyone visiting Nashville must go to the Loveless Cafe during their visit!!
(5)
Adam R.
This place is a Nashville staple. Great for getting groups together and heading out for a good meal (my recommendation - breakfast) in the "country". It is a little stretch from Nashville, but not a bad drive. The food: this is just a good meal. The portion sizes on some plates may make you want more, but you do get fed. You WILL wait a while to be seated. Come prepared. They do have a little shop off to the left to keep you occupied while you wait. Prices: for the amount of food you get, I do find the prices a tad more than they should be, however, if you have as many customers as Loveless does, why not charge more? They are obviously getting it! Bottom line: Go, you like it, and it's like going to a more local and homemade cracker barrel. Great biscuits and jam!
(4)
Fred R.
Absolutely off the charts. Got the pulled pork plate.. With baked beans and slaw Everything was awesome!! The only thing that would've made it better was corona light.. Had to settle for bud light
(5)
Yim L.
We decided to go here for brunch on a Sunday and the wait was 1.5 hours. We killed time by walking around and visiting the cute shops around the cafe. Ultimately we found out that it would be quicker to order carry out. We found a picnic table in the shade and ate outside. I had the two eggs with bacon platter with a side of hash brown casserole. It was amazing! I will definitely revisit on my next trip to Nashville!
(5)
Lisa M.
Hmmm....that really sums the whole experience up. Everything was amazing. The location, the service, the selection, the food! Oh the food was amazing. Again, traveling through the south and found this little gem. Biscuits, life will never be the same since I've had the biscuits from the loveless cafe. I will shamelessly say I ate 5 and then the awesome waitress sent me home with another 9! And I ate the rest during our drive back to new england. I had the catfish and it was perfect! My husband had the country sampler and the fried chicken was amazing. Overall best meal I had on our road trip. I would make my next trip circle around being able to stop here.
(5)
Jen I.
My first attempt to eat here was on a Saturday, it was a cool atmosphere as it was a nice day and loads of people were sitting on the decks - playing cornhole or catch! But this made for a 2 hour wait! I decided to come back Monday since I was still in town. Monday was a normal 30min wait - which you can easily wait by visiting their 2 Loveless Stores! I wanted to try the biscuits, chicken, and pulled pork due to what I read on yelp - the waitress suggested the sampler platter - my 2 sides were creamed corn and potato casserole. They were not joking about how good the biscuits are! Amazing! Exp w the sausage grav. The jams were ok. The pulled pork I'd give a 8/10 - generous portions and had a great smokey flavor! I will say I was a little disappointed in the fried chicken as I don't add salt to very much but added it to the chicken - it was very crispy and moist though! The creamed corn and potato casserole were excellent too! Highly recommend those sides! Great history, food and a very attentive nice staff - I recommend eating here!!
(4)
Kelly M.
Primo southern cooking... My friends and I trekked it here from Nashville and waited an hour and a half but it was worth it. The food and service was amazing, I am still full a day later... Worth checking out at least once. I would suggest the BBQ and eggs!! Pimento cheese and fried green tomato biscuit was interesting... Raisin French toast was perfect, not too sweet, light and fluffy!
(4)
Cheryl P.
Where country ham and eggs are the norm, I found it to be very good but not exciting as expected. The biscuits are hot but not flakey nor tender, I would call them mediocre at best. This place is a solid breakfast or lunch venue not sure if I would take the trip out of Nashville to hit it again in the future.
(3)
Vanessa G.
Being an Iconic Cafe in Nashville, we had to try this out. We even watched a video about Loveless, it's history, and "the power of biscuits" prior to heading out. I was expecting a long line to wait for mediocre food that only has good reviews because of the nostalgia. My assumptions were pleasantly incorrect. The wait was 45 minutes but with the shops to meander around it went fast. The aroma of the place was tantalizing, a combo of fried chicken, barbecue, and biscuits which wound up being exactly what we ordered. The barbecue was the biz-omb and my favorite. No need for barbecue sauce. The other half loved the fried chicken though I wasn't jumping out of my seat for that. The biscuits- well-are pretty darned good and the peach preserve was our favorite or the three they serve with them. Ooh, the creamed sweet corn was delicious. The banana pudding was the best I've ever had (aside from our Aunt Red's). Basically everything we had we'd want to eat again and now we'll have to take our friends here just because it lives up to the hype.
(5)
Michael N.
In my first visit to the famous Loveless Cafe I went with the Southern Classic that is Country Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, and fried okra. The breading was somewhat different than I was used to and this was a good thing. It made the dish set itself apart from the standard. It was a bit lighter breading that was just about perfect. The mashed potatoes where the perfect consistency and the fired okra was great. The biscuits that come as a starter before the meal where absolutely excellent. They are from an original recipe of the Loveless family from the 1950's. They come with homemade blackberry, strawberry, and peach jelly as well as local honey. A little bit off the beaten path from downtown Nashville but well worth the drive.
(4)
Sheila C.
So much food on that plate. Chicken and dumplings were delicious tonight as were the sides. Only wished we had room for dessert. Ate too many biscuits before the meal.
(5)
Candra G.
Perhaps my expectations were too high. I think if you're new to Southern cuisine, you may think this place is the best thing since sliced bread. However, I was just a little disappointed that it was like a more touristy Cracker Barrel (which I actually like better). After reading the hype about the biscuits, I was absolutely convinced that eating at this place would lead to an unhealthy obsession with biscuits. Negative. I was completely underwhelmed. The only thing that saved it from being bad was the delicious peach preserve topping that accompanied the bread basket. Service was kind of spotty - had to wait a long time for refills, the food had a weird timing issue (like I received my food well before the rest of the table). I ordered a BLT w/ fried egg and a side of hash brown casserole (gag). I don't think I have a lot of love for the Loveless Cafe.
(2)
Ashley H.
If you need carbs, this is your place. I always end up eating the country fried steak for a few days because the portion is just huge. The wait is going to be long and make a holiday reservation for a large party. Parking is rather plentiful and there are places to wander while you wait. The blackberry jam is... well my jam and the biscuits... oh the biscuits.
(4)
Jess F.
Best biscuits ever. Fried chicken would delicious. Grits and corn meal was Soo good. Would do the 3 hr wait again for this.
(5)
amber b.
Our favorite place in Nashville! Barbara is such a sweetheart. She is always so friendly and the service is amazing. The southern fried catfish and the fried chicken is so delicious!! Oh and the warm buttered biscuits YUMM!! Always 1-2 hours wait during the morning weekends and nights but only 20-30 mins of wait btw 2-4ish during the weekends. Can't wait to go back again next month! 10% military discount too! :)
(5)
Aubrey W.
There are a few iconic places in every city that you just kind of have to visit, and in the Nashville area Loveless Cafe is one of them. This place went "viral" before the internet, convincing people to head out to a former motel in the middle of nowhere to indulge in biscuits and jam. I will admit that I don't like to wait in lines, so I've been avoiding Loveless as a result. I've heard sometimes the wait is up to two hours, and they don't take reservations for small parties. But when my friend Lindsey and I were texting at like 7am about breakfast, we figured we could go super early and beat the church rush on a Sunday morning. We were right; we barely had to wait, and you get to wander around their little stores while you do. It's like an original Cracker Barrel in that regard. The biscuits were AWESOME. I loved them! I tried all the jams they brought with them too. For my breakfast, I went basic with scrambled eggs and crispy bacon, plus a small side of their hash brown casserole. That cheesy goodness was so rich and heavy, I didn't even finish half of it! I ate very well and enjoyed it a lot. I'm not sure if I will be back to Loveless, unless a visitor or friend wants to go... it's about 20-25 minutes from where I live, and nothing else is nearby. I liken it to eating at Lady & Sons in Savannah; it's a haven for tourists after so many appearances on Food Network and the like. But it was definitely worth checking off my Nashville "bucket list"!
(4)
Derrick L.
Fantastic. Can't wait to go back. Expect a long wait. We showed up at 1pm and it was still a 45min wait. Split the Southern Sampler Plater with my wife (fried chicken, catfish, and ham as meats/hash brown casserole and marinated cucumbers and onions for the sides). Also ordered side of sausage gravy to go with the amazing free biscuits and a pimento and fried green tomato biscuit.
(4)
Jaime A.
After eating there, I wondered what all the fuss was about. Good food. Nothing to write home about. Been there twice. When family come to visit, maybe I'll go again.
(3)
Jason E.
Bbq was very good. The biscuits and gravy were very delicious and the people were very nice. I bit of a wait for the table but worth it. There's shops around while you wait so there's something to do. They also serve moonshine drinks and beer, wine and tasty stuff. Its also very pretty around the restaurant lots of roiling hills and nice trees. I recommend going there.
(4)
Julie M.
This was just okay. I waited an hour and 10 minutes to be seated, which I don't have a problem with had the food been as amazing as I had heard. I ordered the chicken & waffles, which came with biscuits also. The biscuits were delicious - light, soft and the homemade jam was a nice addition. The chicken and waffles was pretty sad though. The chicken was extremely dry and the waffle was something I could have made at home. This was a very disappointing visit. I can get better at a local dive diner here in Pittsburgh.
(2)
Milton S.
Hadn't been to the Loveless in 10 years or so and was glad to find the food is still great. We arrived around 4:30 on a Saturday night and only had a 10 minute wait. We spent the wait time browsing in the General Store gift shop and found many unique items tempting to purchase. The wireless buzzer system allows you to roam the grounds while waiting. My favorite meal of the day is breakfast and the Loveless is ready all day. The biscuits deserve all the hype and with the jams and preserves and real butter are lovely together. Had never traveled to Nashville North on the Natchez Trace before but was tickled to find the Loveless is on Hwy 100 just off a Natchez Trace exit at its terminus or start depending on which direction you are going.
(5)
Nicole B.
My god. Worth every second you wait for this place. The biscuits change the game there. Best biscuits I've ever had, hands-down. The peach and blackberry preserves were out of this world. Sausage gravy was really good too. The pancakes are so-so, but to be honest, this isn't a place you go to for their pancakes. So many better things on the menu.
(5)
Cassi B.
My dad visited here a few years back and loved the food. He was so impressed he got me a care package shipped just so I could try some of it. Their black pepper bacon was really good, not overly peppery and a good smoke on it was a perfect combination. Their jelly was also good, sweet but not overly sweet. The blackberry was our favorite. We are suppose to be moving to Tennessee in the next year, so this place is definitely on our list of places to visit once we do!
(4)
Suzi B.
While on a business trip to Nashville, we had a chance to visit the Loveless Cafe for lunch on a weekday. Great timing because we only had a 20 minute wait and spent that time shopping in the cute little gift shop. Got a package of Piggy Popcorn which went over great at the office at home. Wearing my Praise the Lard T-shirt as I type this. The food was classic Southern goodness. Delicious biscuits and jam to start the meal, and could have stopped there and been happy happy happy. Proceeded to have the BBQ sandwich and found it to be pretty tasty though not knock your socks of great. Coworkers had the fried chicken livers and the chicken fried steak smothered in gravy. I also had the sweet tea. Yum. I thought the livers were a little overcooked and did not get to taste the other entree. The caramel sweet potatoes side dish was wonderful! Loved walking around the property, especially smelling the smokey BBQ pit outside on a crisp, clear day. Everyone there was very nice, in typical Southern style. We felt welcome and left well fed and happy. If you cannot make the trip, do go to the website and buy up some of their tasty jams and hams.
(4)
Keith B.
Unbelievable food. Fried chicken, country ham/biscuits, fried green tomatoes and creamed corn were fantastic, BBQ pulled pork was good but just okay. The service was even better, Meagan was probably the best server I've ever had, and I eat out a lot. A lot.
(5)
EJ P.
5 STARS JUST FOR THE AMAZING BISCUITS I don't care how long you have to wait, how many hills and weird turns I had to take to get here, AND HOW FREAKING COLD IT WAS. These biscuits made it ALL worth it. It's a Southern institution that I am shocked is actually not more popular than it already is. That said, I would skip the fried chicken (it was tasteless) and just go for the fried catfish, the creamed corn, the baked beans. Although the pulled pork was great too. YUM.
(5)
Steve E.
You got a problem with fried chicken, country ham and biscuits done flawlessly? Yeah, well I got a problem with YOU.
(5)
Lauren H.
I do not believe there to be any affiliation between Loveless Cafe and the Oregon based company Nike, but regardless, my only advice for anyone deciding whether or not to make the trek out to eat at Loveless is to JUST DO IT. We sort of went ham on this meal and ordered a whole lot because we couldn't decide. The best were the melt-in-your-mouth biscuits, the hashbrown casserole (!), the creamed corn, and the peanut butter pie. The waffle is better than the pancake, but both are very good. The fried chicken biscuit was good as well, just a bit small on the portion size. Key Lime pie was also very good and the mac n cheese was solid. This was definitely our favorite meal on our visit to Nashville. Highly recommended.
(5)
Peggy L.
Good quality food for the experience but pricey. Long wait but we toured the grounds. Delivered a plate of biscuits and jams when we sat down made me change what I ordered. Country ham is a speciality but try it with the red eye gravy. Fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuits was weak on the tomato.
(4)
Lei B.
While visiting Nashville, Loveless was one of the top places on my list to visit. It was about a 20 minute drive from the city but it did not disappoint. We came on a Friday late afternoon and there was still an hour wait. Not to worry, there's a very scenic drive near by and you can kill time that way. Or just explore the grounds, there's two different gift shops with lots of goodies to buy. When we were finally seated, we noticed there was moonshine on the menu. How could you pass up on that? I had a Watermelon Crawl (watermelon, Lemonade, Sprite and a Moonshine Sidecar in a Souvenir Loveless Mini Mason Jar). The little souvenir mason jar was too cute! The moonshine did kick my butt! For food we ordered the Loveless Fried Chicken (Quarter Chicken) with a side of macaroni and cheese, slow cooked green beans, fried green tomatoes, and hashbrown casserole. Before our meal came out they brought out their signature biscuits and they were buttery and light, just the way I like them. Everything else was really good. I loved the fried chicken, the batter wasn't too heavy or oily. The only side dish that I didn't care for were the fried green tomatoes. I've had better and they were so small. We were so stuffed after our meal that we skipped out on dessert but now I'm regretting that decision! If I'm ever back in Nashville I'll have to make room for their desserts!
(4)
Melissa T.
Awesome,awesome place. Fantastic food, friendly staff, retro feel. Pitmaster Steve gave us a wonderful little tour and lesson on smoking meats. Gift shop was great. Biscuits melt in your mouth. Bought the mix to make them at home.
(5)
Ebony Da'na C.
After a year of living in Nashville (and 5 minutes away) I finally decided to dine at the Loveless Cafe. While I had a positive experience at Loveless please be prepared to wait at least 40 minutes. I've attempted to dine here 3 times but finally pushed my impatient-ness aside. While waiting for our table we perused the gift shops and sat on the property's front porch. I was literally taken back to being a kid visiting my grandma's house and various other small towns in the deep south. Yes, my friends if you dig Southern charm this is your place! After much anticipation we finally got in and promptly order sweet teas which were perfect. The superstar of Loveless is supposed to be biscuits however I found them just good not great. But you still have to give them props considering how many they make from scratch everyday. The homemade jams: apricot, blackberry, and strawberry are some of the best I've had and definitely elevated the biscuits. My friend and I both ordered the fried pork chops. I ended up getting the home fries and she got the hashbrown casserole. I wasn't a fan of the home fries, it tasted like the potatoes you got in grade school but the hashbrown casserole, my God was so good! I was totally envious of my friend. Portions of meat were massive, there's no way you'll be able to finish it all. All in all very tasty. Looking around the rest of the joint, the other food looked so delicious. I definitely would love to come back and try it all. Waitress was super friendly but was scarce due to the place being packed so I can't be too upset about that. Great restaurant if you're craving true old school Southern fare but come hungry!
(4)
Chan V.
The staff is awesome. They are super friendly and will take good care of you after waiting so long for a table. Expect to wait 2 hours or more for a table. Have no fear. They have things to keep you busy while you wait. Like a couple of gift shops to explore, a huge barn to hang out in on cold days and the property is enough to enjoy the scenery. Your table will be ready in no time. The food comes out fast. EVERYTHING IS AMAZING! The fried chicken is my favorite with cheesy hash. I love this place. If I am ever near the Nashville proximity I will make the trip to Loveless Cafe. This place is made for foodies. Must go!
(5)
Rafia J.
This place was one of the places recommended by magazines/sites and trip advisor. We didn't think much of it because it just seemed like any other southern eateries, but I am so glad we went there. This place was recommended by every local we met, they couldn't stop talking about it and after we ate there we understood why! The place is very homey and cozy, though casual. I loved the ambiance and it's set up! Our server was extremely nice and he suggested pretty much our entire menu. As soon as you sit down he brought us some fresh biscuits and jams and they were both delicious! The biscuits were fresh, warm, soft, and creamy! Jams seemed like they were homemade. Everything we ordered on the menu; fried chicken, grilled and fried fish were fresh and so so tasty! (we all liked the fried chicken better at Hattie B's but here it was delicious too). Sides we ordered were fried okra (YUM) and creamed corn (again YUM)! I am so glad we went there and it's definitely a place to visit when in Nashville!!
(5)
Susan I.
Heard so much about this place. Went with 11 friends and while we waited 1 1/2 hours it was worth the wait. You can visit the shops while you wait or play corn hole. They were very accommodating and sat us all together. The biscuit are amazing and the sorghum was delectable. The country ham was a little salty however the fried chicken was to die for. If we are ever back in this area we will definitely visit again.
(4)
Valerie B.
Service was fabulous after our 35min wait (which is not too bad considering it was going to be nearly 2 hrs last weekend!). The food was standard southern classics like fresh biscuits (ok - but the jam was great!), fried catfish (just ok - good hash brown casserole) and bbq (didn't try it). The food was good but didn't think it was anything special and not worth the 30 min drive out of Nashville or the wait. Wait!! I just had a slice of their coconut cream pie that we took home. The whipped cream is light and not too sweet. The custard is creamy and the roasted coconut flavour is just right. I'm going to grab another slice right now!
(3)
Joe V.
Found the Loveless Cafe online while looking for restaurants before my wife and I took a trip to Nashville and boy am I glad I did! While pulling up I didn't think much of the exterior until I walked in and saw a nicely renovated place with autographs on the walls from nearly 30 years worth of country music acts. We had a roughly 45 minute wait (a testament to how good the food is!) that we spent sitting on a bench outside watching a family play Corn Hole. Once inside our waiter Matt was attentive and really nice. He had a personality with out being overbearing and took really good care of us. Their signature item is biscuits - they are served with everything. The biscuits were good, not amazing but nothing bad to say about them. Their jam on the other hand was amazing! For our main course my wife and I both ordered the fried chicken. It was the best fried chicken I have ever had. It was AMAZING. If I didn't live a 13 hour drive away I would be a regular here.
(5)
Carol Anne B.
Oh goodness. The drive here was crazy, I wasn't sure if I was even going the right way. And then suddenly BOOM. Yummy smells and cornhole. 45min-1hr long wait. That's how I knew we were in the right place. Oh yeah. This is Loveless. I'd been recommended to go here and thank goodness. Guys...guys? It's so good. I'm serious. So Good. I got meatloaf, with 2 sides, hashbrown casserole and macaroni and cheese. Have you ever eaten at Cracker Barrel and had their hashbrown casserole? Listen...It's Better. Yes, yes it is. Oh my goodness. And the portion of meatloaf was big too! And then the waitress is like "You can have as many biscuits as you can eat" and smiles. And the jams are so good. And the biscuits are so good. And when you doodle something on the paper menu, the server says something nice about it, and doesn't even sit your food on it! So good. Price is great. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Ann B.
I would give this place 5 stars if I didn't have to wait two hours to eat...but I will say that it was worth the two hours! The food was amazing! We were from Chicago and wanted real country cooking and we got it. The staff is amazing too. Only downside is I wish they had some more stores to shop in :)
(4)
Dan G.
Fantastic service, and the food is AMAZING. People always mention various things they've had, but if you're not there for breakfast you're not doing it right. Do NOT go through N'ville without stopping here.
(5)
Kayla S.
Luke was our waiter and his customer service was spot on!! So friendly and helpful, food was delicious, chicken biscuit was one of the best!
(4)
Valerie C.
My friend and I stuck out in Nashville like two Asian girls in the South. (Oh, wait....) In all seriousness, none of that ever mattered the whole time we were in Tennessee. And then you go to a place like Loveless, where older ladies call you "sugar" and teenage servers call you "ma'am" [Excuse me, I'm ONLY 26!] and you get to eat an infinite amount of fresh-baked biscuits and preserves and everything is OK in the world. That's how I felt anyway.
(5)
Paul M.
I have dreams about the biscuits at this place. I stumbled upon it on a road trip across country and I honestly think that it might be one of the best wrong turns I've ever made. I had an awesome omlette with some country sausage and this hashbrown casserole that was out of this world. The coffee was also really awesome too. After I was done eating I went outside and talked to the pit boss who was starting in on some barbeque for the day. The people were really friendly and awesome and I also got some cool souvenirs while I was there too. If you're in the Nashville area it would be a huge mistake to not go to the Loveless.
(5)
Jasmine M.
These are the best biscuits ever. If you're on the move, get these biscuits to go. But, by no means, leave Nashville without sampling a few of these piping hot buttery pieces of morning heaven with fresh jam. I made my boyfriend go out our way for these and he sighed at first, but later it was sigh of satisfaction from the biscuits.
(5)
kathy w.
Why isn't anyone raving about the SQUASH CASSEROLE????? 1st time to Nashville,1st time to the Loveless and 1st time kissing a bowl of cheesy squash!!!!!! Yeah, we drove about an hour to get there. Yeah, we waited about an hour and 1/2 to eat, but HELLS TO THE YEEEEEEAH was it worth it. I want to marry that squash casserole. Thanks Layla for taking a pic of me and me squash making- out!!
(5)
Remy M.
This is probably the best place ever. The food is spectacular. I had my doubts about the biscuit hype, but I was mistaken--they were the best biscuits I've ever had. The country ham is amazing. I'm not really the BBQ type, but the pulled pork sandwich is great. I'm not convinced there's a bad choice on the menu. What's more, they have a small store on the premises, as well as a mail-order business, so you can also order some of their food through there. I would recommend picking up some of their preserves--spectacular!
(5)
Sam K.
I can't believe this place isn't all five stars. Definitely one of the pillars of Nashville cuisine, this place is not to be missed. The biscuit and jam are the freshest I've ever tasted. Family style is a whole lot of good - albeit not always five star but definitely respectable - food. Line can be long but it's well worth it and the waiters are usually very friendly. Reading through the reviews, most lower reviews may stem from over hype. It may never be as good as some people make it out to be, but most definitely class above many other 'four - five star' restaurants on yelp.
(5)
April L.
This is a great place to take your family or out-of-towners...Especially yankees :) Because after they eat here they will both understand why there are so many proud chubby southerners, and gain a new respect for our evidently very resilient arteries. This good old fashioned southern diner food - bad for you, YES, but not grease for grease's sake. It's quite a few steps above your average trough-style southern dive/chain. There are serious recipes here (the fried chicken in particular!), and if you messed with them, I get the feeling someone's grandma would come to your house and whack you with her cane. There's a cute tourist-friendly gift shop too, the contents of which represent what I imagine is the largest single collection of random southern euphemisms fit to publish on a knick-nack. Overall, its a good time. Come hungry, leave in a wheelbarrow :)
(4)
Retired B.
Went around 10:30 and there was no wait! Service was excellent. Biscuits with the homemade jams were tasty. I tried the sampler with pulled pork, fried catfish and fried chicken. Everything was good. The sides of hashbrown casserole and fried okra were just as delicious. We also tried a BLT with fried green tomatoes and if I wasn't so stuffed full of fried foods, I would have scarfed the entire sandwich down as well.
(4)
Montez B.
I must admit the drive appeared a little long, but overall, it was a fantastic dinner for my family on Mother's day.. The Biscuits were not as expected unfortunate too. The Sweet Tea needed help as well... But overall service was fast and quick , Enjoyed!
(4)
Molly N.
First stop when we arrive in Nashville is to swing by the Loveless. No matter where you are staying its worth the 20 mins out of town to eat at this historic gem. 45 min wait is easy with pagers that reach the entire property and 2 stores to visit along with the photo ops outside. The food is tasty and comforting. The biscuits come to your table in mounds and it's clear why, they are melt in your mouth. Along with the 3 jams on your table! Chicken tenders are the biggest you've ever seen. One meal could feed three people. Ham is smoked and salty. The sides are interesting, delicious and you will want a meal on those! My 8 yr old loved the fried catfish. Even if just passing through Nashville, Make it a point to stop at the Loveless! Get yer biscuits!
(5)
Veronica L.
My cousins and sister could not stop raving about this place. All I heard was "omg the biscuits" and "omg the preserves." I had no idea what was going on. We were just driving and driving in what felt like the middle of no where..until we finally hit the Loveless Cafe and all of it's other businesses. The entire lot is kinda like it's own theme park for the Loveless Cafe. It's got its own market and some art and craft stores. It's cute. Not my style but it's cute. Waiting for a table, I decided to mozy around to the market store and there I finally understood that this was THE biscuit place. The one that won in that food network challenge vs. bobby flay. I'm not a bobby flay fan so I was super glad to know that this "Biscuit Lady" (that's what they call her apparently-- I prefer Goddess of Biscuits) triumphed over him in the biscuit challenge. With this piece of information, I was starting to understand my family's hype and got super excited. I already love biscuits but I'm from California where I feel like there isn't many places that specialize in biscuits, so this was very exciting-- finally to eat biscuits that people who know good biscuits think are good biscuits. So finally we sit down at our table and out come these glorious pieces of heaven- hot and soft and flaky in just the right places. They were bites of wonderful. And damn, I love the preserves tooooo! The mountain of hot biscuits come with three different side jams-- strawberry, peach, and blackberry. I didn't care which one I had because the combination of biscuit and preserve? One cannot go wrong with any of it. Amazeballs! The only reason I don't give it five stars (Because the biscuits and preserves totally deserve 5 if not 6 stars) is that the breakfast I had was just okay. And the chicken fried steak (or country fried steak--forgot what it's called) was just .. meh. It was nothing special nor it do I think it was worth the prices. I had eggs and sausage and I was quite disappointed. The sausage was burnt and awkward tasting, and the home fries were crispy but just okay. Perhaps it was because of all the quality goodness that the biscuits gave me that the other foods were so bland. Still despite the mediocre food, I'd go back for the biscuits. This time knowing to just order maybe a side of crispy hot home fries, and just chow down on like 10 biscuits and preserves.. Carol Fay-- you are the goddess of biscuits. Good job.
(4)
Tony J.
had a late lunch there yesterday afternoon after watching coldplay at the sommet center last saturday. they were packed, we had to wait around 40 minutes to get a table. the place is nice, the service was good. the food was pretty ok, typical southern home cooking, fried chicken, ham, fried catfish, barbecue, with all the sides and desserts. i have to agree though with all the good reviews on their biscuits. those small buttery biscuits are excellent.
(3)
Eri K.
I was only in Nashville for a short time, so I Yelped for some southern comfort food and was very please when I found Loveless Cafe. It's a little ways out of the city but has a great story and delicious food. It is just the kind of place you go for real sweet tea and hot butter biscuits. The service was mediocre, but the food makes you forget that real quick. Definitely try the cobbler!
(4)
Andrew M.
Really good southern food, service was excellent and the price was reasonable. I love their chicken!
(5)
Donna S.
This is a great place to visit. Plan on at least an hour wait. Their biscuits are made on site. Jams are delicious. I preferred the peach.
(5)
Maddie S.
Loveless is overrated. PERIOD. I have lived 5 minutes away from the restaurant my entire life and have visited on numerous occasions. As I have grown older and refined my tastes, I have enjoyed each dining experience less and less. Loveless has decent food. Food is often oversalted and greasy. Obviously, one must expect something like that before going to a restaurant like Loveless. There are several other places in Nashville that serve much better Southern cuisine.
(2)
maxine r.
I rode a bicycle up the trace to Nashville. Everyone was telling me about this place. Breakfast cost me over 17 dollars. I thought that was a lot of money for a mediocre breakfast. This place is pricey for you get. If was fun to look at the pictures on the wall and chat with the staff, but the food was nothing special. I'd would avoid eating here. The 'Calypso Cafe' in Nashville, IMHO, is a much better dining experience. Sure, Loveless, is a unique place with history. But the food is just worth what they charge.
(2)
Mark O.
My wife and I had the fried chicken. The chicken was great. I would compare it to White Fence Farm in Illinois. The biscuits and jam were fantastic! Best biscuits I have ever had! We had creamed corn, fried green tomatoes, grits and mashed potatoes as sides. Best creamed corn I have ever had. Fried green tomatoes were great as well. A must try in Nashville.
(4)
John R.
It's always great to get to visit an institution. It's been around since 1951 and while it's changed owners several times (including a relatively recent expansion), it seems to have held onto the original charm. There are some big, and little, names and photos of people who have visited over time. The hostess and waiter were extremely friendly and truly made you feel right at home. The waiter kept checking on us to make sure everything was ok. I had the traditional biscuits, jam, ham, eggs, hash brown casserole, and red-eyed gravy. The red-eyed gravy came in a side dish - something I've never tried. When I asked what was in it the waiter said without hesitation, "grease, coffee, and molasses...it helps cut the saltiness of the ham." Being a somewhat healthy eater my buddy said my jaw almost dropped to the table. However, it was a very light grease :-) and actually tasted quite good with the ham. The biscuits were excellent, and went quite well with the three fruit jams that accompanied them. While the eggs were nothing special, they were not intended to be the star of the show. The has brown casserole was a great mix of potatoes, cream, and cheese - quite decadent. If your up for a good ole' southern breakfast (the also server "supper") then I can't imagine finding a better spot. An added bonus is the Hams and Jams shop, as well as the small stores now residing in the old motel rooms. Definitely worth the trip!
(5)
Robert N.
The fried chicken is amazing! The creamed corn is awesome! The biscuits have no equal! I feel like I should mention the biscuits again.
(5)
Angela M.
I went to this place for breakfast with a girlfriend on a Friday morning while we were in town for the CMA Music Fest. With the crowd in town that week, I figured we would have long lines but it was no wait at all. I ordered an omelet and it was really good. The biscuits were also very tasty and the service was great. My favorite thing was the blackberry jam. I have never really liked blackberry jam because of the seeds but this was so good I bought a jar for myself and 4 others to give away for Father's Day. I have hear from each person I gave a jar to and they liked it as well. I also bought biscuit mix to make at home, and while they were not exactly like the restaurant, they were pretty good.
(4)
Krystal O.
I've only been here once, and it was almost 2 years ago but I can't help but remember the delicious turkey mashed potatoes and of course the biscuits! I really loved the cute little shop and all of the art work they had on display inside the restaurant. I even picked myself up a little magnet that still hangs on my fridge to this day that says "I aint bashful, I'm from Nashville". Oh how I miss Tennessee, but when I come back the Loveless Cafe better watch out, because I'll be coming back hungry!
(4)
Deepak B.
What can I say...good old fashion southern cooking. Prices are very reasonable, and quality of food is exceptional.
(4)
Rozzie M.
Great service. Great biscuits. Great atmosphere. Fun place.
(4)
Melissa M.
My friend and I were driving from DC back home to CA and stopped in Nashville for a night to visit an old friend. He recommended that we meet him for breakfast at the Loveless. Very glad he did! Our meals were amazing and I wish I could have been in town longer to try more items off of the menu. The place was PACKED while we were there, but most people didn't seem to care about waiting since there's so many things to see around the property. We also hit the gift shop on the way out of town and I came home with lots of Loveless things. Great place!!
(5)
JustinandSally H.
There are not many places where I would wait two hours for a table and then say the food lived up to the hype. I had read about Loveless and wanted to try it, but then we just happened to drive by it and stopped. We braved the long wait and explored the shops, they give you a pager that works on the entire property. I could easily make a meal off the biscuits and homemade jam, but I would not want to miss the country ham of the sides. I had fried green tomatoes and hash brown casserole, both great! We ordered a pie and barbecue to go (wanted to make sure our time spent there was worth it) and they were both remarkable as well. I am not sure I would wait that long again, but glad we experienced this place, a real landmark.
(4)
Kristin M.
One of the best restaurants that Nashville has to offer! I totally recommend the pull pork, fried chicken, and catfish. The place has a special to get 3 meats and 2 sides for $16. Portions are more than enough with tons of delicious sides to choose from like the hashbrown chessy casserole and cream corn. Make sure you save enough room for the endless melt in your mouth fluffy biscuits and warm peach cobbler for dessert! Can't wait to go back =D
(5)
MITCH S.
Although very busy we had the option of carring out and eating outsidw picnic style. The wait for s table was 1.5 hours. Since the last time I was here the quality seems to have gone South, but not in a good way. The chicken fried steak was tasteless, the mac and cheese was mushy. My wife's fried chicken was not as good as a remembered. I would only give them 2.5 stars on this trip.
(2)
Jeffrey G.
This place doesn't disappoint. Came from Southern Indiana to eat here and stay a couple of days in Nashville. I recommend the Sampler Platter. My wife's garden salad with fried chicken looked delicious.
(5)
Will H.
I recently went to Nashville for business purposes and was very eager to go to the Loveless Cafe after seeing them on the Food Network. The service was excellent! The wait staff was friendly and made us feel warm and fuzzy. The biscuits are definatley to die for! I ended up ordering the sample platter and was unfortunately dissapointed. The fried chicken lacked adequate seasoning in addition to the fact that the wings were extremely small. The pulled pork was blah. The catfish was pretty good though. Overall it was okay, but I probably wouldn't go back.
(2)
Renee S.
Excellent food. Great biscuits. I had he fried chicken on a salad (can't remember the name of the salad). Hubby had the fried chicken and waffles. Service was great. atmosphere was cute. Worth the drive to get to!
(5)
C-pher M.
HOLY MOLY, now this is some DAMN good Home Country Cooking. I had some great Fried Chicken, wonderful Catfish and amazing Country Ham. Our Server was the best, he was on top of things, funny and didn't miss a beat with anything we needed. The best thing, we happened to see Billy Ray Cyrus and Johnny Van Zant while we were there...Hell, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. I was really thinking about going back there for dinner every night....it was that good.
(4)
Brad K.
We were visiting from out of town for the NPAA (Nurse Practitioner American Association) Conference at the OpryLand Hotel, and had great service on a Tuesday at around noon even though we waited 15 minutes to sit. I had a country fried steak with white gravy, Hash-brown Casserole, and two eggs over medium. I combined the eggs and the gravy to top the CFS and it was great. The CFS was about the size of my hand, or about 10 inches round. Very very tasty. My wife had a fried chicken salad, and my daughter had the old faithful chicken wings. Everyone was very pleased with their meals.
(5)
Sandy T.
I've been to Loveless many times, and I am here asking myself, "what brings me back to this place?" So....I tried really hard and made a recall of my past visits and after a quick analyzation of it all (parking lot to last crumb on my bottom lip) I am ready to sum it up in a few sentences for Yelp. Here we go....I think the best parts of Loveless are the buildings (restaurant, shops, barn), the people (locals, tourists, awesome servers), the energy (music-happy) and last but not least, the BISCUITS!!!! Yes...The famous biscuits that are served with granny's homeade recipe of peach, strawberry, raspberry preserves, honey, and sorghum. The rest of the food is good, but in my opinion, those hot fresh biscuits are unbeatable. They are annoyingly distracting, actually. You eat them before your food arrives and then you just can't stop eating them. The server will continue to refill your basket at your wish, but if they didn't, I think you/I/he/she/we would slap whoevers hand reached out for the last biscuit in the basket. It would be a loveless fight! ;) It's a fun place to eat at and visit. Def a MUST GO TO if you are visiting from out of town. And for you.... loco locals who haven't been to Loveless EVER, all I can say is "bless your heart!". You can't live in Nashville and say you've never been there! :) In summary, it's soooooo good, I can taste and feel the LOOOOOOVE in this southern old Motel turned into Loveless Cafe. I love it and I'm willing to bet a basket of biscuits you will to! (FYI- the Loveless Motel used to belong to the Loveless Family)
(4)
Victoria L.
Some true stick-to-your-ribs good Southern comfort food. We came here on our recent trip to Nashville after hearing rave reviews. In fact, it was the only must-do activity from our friend who had been here once before. We came during the early evening on Saturday and there was approximately a 40 minute wait. In the meantime, there were the little series of shops that we could browse through in the surrounding buildings. Once seated, our waiter was super friendly. He promptly brought over their famous biscuits and preserves. While in the south, I've quite enjoyed my biscuits savory-style but these preserves tasted very fresh. They kept us occupied for a while until we decided on what to order. The soup of the day was chicken pot pie, which I couldn't turn down even though I was also anxious to try so many other things. Thus, my friend and I ordered the country sampler with fried chicken, country ham, and pulled pork. We opted for obvious sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. The fried chicken drumsticks were delicious and the sides definitely hit the spot. The pulled pork was not my favorite though. Someone else ordered the meatloaf platter with sweet potato and hashbrown casserole sides. He claimed the hashbrown casserole was the best he's had. Our other friend got the turkey platter with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, which was good too. It was definitely worth the hype of classic down home southern cooking.
(4)
J P.
No, NO, NOOO - a thousand times NO! I cannot vouch for what this place used to be when it was privately owned. Certainly quaint and a great setup - but the food (breakfast) was horrible. Given that this is a place for Country Ham, biscuits and all the fixins', they ain't up to it. Ham was not up to any other place that serves it, redeye gravy incredibly weak. Biscuits - doods - quit using baking soda with aluminum - like sticking an aluminum plate in your mouth. Plus, they had a terrible sweet afterbite when dipped in Redeye. Jelly and Jams were good, but ain't why you go out to eat. Interesting - asked for eggs over easy and was told that that meant the yolk would be close to hard. Let's try turning down the heat on the stove. In short - if you can't fix eggs right, where do you rise from. If you can't fix Country Ham right - then don't call yourselves Country. Now, I know there are thousands of country stars plastered on the walls. Cool, but these folks know their mamma and grandma made better. I'd take my picture down. As hard as it is to get Country Ham, I make it all the time - I beat this place hands down - which means they don't make the cut for a place I'd go out to. Really sad part is that I was visiting from out of town and was told this was the place for country cooking. If you mean breakfast - forget it...
(1)
Bridgette C.
I feel sacrilegious writing this but I am not the biggest can of loveless. Sure, it's a staple for taking out of town visitors. They have good food and cool shops and that adorable bar on their giant complex out there...but the food isn't that spectacular. It's good, in that traditional breakfast way, but it's nothing you can't make in your own kitchen. And (please don't hurt me for this!) this biscuits are just not my favorite. Again, good, but not shout-from-the-hills good. The wait on the weekends is always insane and I always feel like we are rushed out. It's a place to go once at least, especially if you have visiting relatives, but I don't go out of my way to go there on my own. I'll go if invited, but it's never a case of "gosh I'd love Loveless for breakfast right now."
(3)
Marika N.
Overall, I had a very pleasant experience at the Loveless Cafe last weekend. I was there on a double date with old friends. The wait (starting at 5 PM on a Saturday) was an hour and a half, but we had planned ahead and showed up well before we were hungry. We killed the wait by playing corn hole and checking out the shops. The biscuits were solid. They didn't beat the homemade biscuits that my southern family makes, but the blackberry, peach and strawberry jam that they were served with was delicious. We each got the drink special of the night, a Strawberry sipper. It was essentially lemonade with strawberry rye whiskey and was fairly sweet. It was perfect for my taste, but not for the guys'. Our waiter was friendly and hilarious. The service was fast and each of us enjoyed our meals. I got the catfish sandwich with grits and it was certainly well done. If you go there with good company and expecting a long wait, the Loveless Cafe is a good place to grab some southern food. I'm not sure I would go there over the summer though because most of the waiting areas are outdoors and a long, hot wait would have made us miserable. Addition: We did not feel rushed at all while we there. In fact, we actually felt that the restaurant did not have the focus on volume that other places had. While we were there, we commented that we appreciated how much space they had put in between the tables.
(4)
Danielle W.
This restaurant is a far piece from downtown Nashville we were staying by the airport and it took us between 20 and 30 minutes to get there don't let the distance or the wait scare you it is well worth it Honestly some of the best food I've ever tasted I have the fried chicken mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese the husband had their daily special which was brisket over toast mashed potatoes and green beans The chicken was perfect juicy inside crispy on the outside not over breaded and macaroni and cheese was amazing its obvious everything here is made from scratch my husbands brisket literally melted in your mouth and the green beans or seasoned perfectly. We stopped in on Saturday around 1 o'clock the wait was 2 hours and we were just too hungry to stay we came back on Sunday around 4 and still have an hour wait the food was well worth it in the meantime we walked around to all the shops on the campus and you even are able to check out corn hole bags to keep you busy. We walk through all the shops and even got a t-shirt that said praise the lard and pass the biscuits the lobby is full of autographed photos from celebrities who have stopped by and the decor is like being in your grandma's kitchen. When they first sit you down they bring you their scrumptious biscuits and homemade strawberry peach and BlackBerry preserves. If I would have known these were so good I probably would have bought them in the gift shop rather than the t-shirt they melt in your mouth The service was as good as the food. Kramer was our waiter we never had to ask for anything my tea glass was always at least half full and he stop by several times to see how we were doing. If I have to find something I didn't like I would say the tea probably wasn't sweet enough but that's nothing that would stop me from coming back. can't wait to come back to Nashville to eat at loveless again next time I'm getting breakfast
(5)
Sheryl C.
This place is no joke and worth the effort. Go. Doesn't matter how far you need to travel to get there, just go. Eat the biscuits, order the fried chicken and cream corn. SO good! All of it was amazing... you'll leave full, happy, and ready to come back for more. I will definitely be coming back to Nashville just to eat here again. Instant favorite!
(5)
Adam B.
There have been a lot of reviews about Loveless already so I will give you the high points in mine. It's like a large gift shop with a diner in the middle of it. The wait is WAAAAAY too long. The biscuits are out of this world good. The rest of the food was....eh, fine I guess. You are paying for the experience. Glad I went once. I wouldn't go back again.
Been here a few times and really enjoyed it. It's more than just a food stop, so leave yourself some time. A little of everything on the menu. Go get some!
(5)
J O.
I'd have to agree with others that this cafe might not necessarily be worth the wait time. My friend & I came on a Sunday (before Memorial Day) around 6:30pm and didn't get seated until almost 8pm. We walked around the little store and checked everything out. Two separate weddings were going on so it was neat to see the brides posing under the Loveless neon sign out front while we waited. Our waiter was real friendly and attentive. He brought us their famous biscuits with 3 different flavored jams right when we sat down. Now if anything, the wait was worth these biscuits with butter-n-jam! My friend & I both ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. She got the collard greens and I opted for the green beans. Both were really good. I honestly thought the white meat, fried chicken could've been more moist, but I don't really eat fried chicken like ever, so I'm not the best at deciphering from good/bad fried chicken. All-n-all, it was a decent experience. Our waiter comped our desserts which was nice. My friend just had a slice of the apple pie and I had a small portion of their banana bread pudding. My friend said the pie was so-so. The bread pudding was decent, but I was so full from my meal that I couldn't eat anymore than a few fork-fulls of it!
(3)
Jamie B.
Typical country cafe with adequate selection but exaggerated pricing and an insane popularity (i.e. Wait times). We waited 2 hrs to eat a $40 + tip meal consisting of a V8 and hot sauce Bloody Mary and an overdone chicken fried steak with Hardee's quality gravy. If Commanders Palace Bloody Mary's are a 9/10, Loveless barely ranks a 1. The creamed spinach was tasty but heavy and the green beans were overdone and tasted like a porkchop more than garden veggie. Service was very good and the quaint little country campus with gift shops were well maintained, but being from the South it was absolutely NOTHING special.
(2)
Laura C.
Totally worth the ride and wait. Biscuits are amazing. I ordered the fried chicken with cream corn and mac & cheese. Incredible. I'm not a big cream corn fan but the waitress, Tammy (who was super sweet), suggested we try it and it was great! We LOVED it. The barbecue sauce was so good that we all bought our own bottles to take home from the gift shop. The fudge pie was tasty as well. Oh and the Hams and Jams gift shop is adorable and full of great items. If I ever come back to Nashville, it's to come eat at Loveless Cafe.
(5)
Lab L.
A local friend recommended this location for Sunday lunch, boasting about the ham and gravy. What she didn't tell us was the average 2 hour wait. We spent some time running in and out of the shops. Samples were amazing and we got some pumpkin butter to take home. We still had over an hour to wait. Once we were seated, service was fast and attentive. We all loved our homecooked food and didn't eat again for the rest of the day. If you are coming here, be sure to have plenty of time. We would have preferred to not take up so much of our limited Nashville time...but we have some great memories of this unique place.
(4)
Eric P.
My family had breakfast this Sunday morning and I want to update my review from seven months ago as well as add a fourth star for Loveless Cafe. We arrived around 8:30am and had only a 20 min. wait. It was in the low 40's outside and we were able to wait inside right across from the pie cabinet. People watching is quite good from here and it amazed us how many guests place themselves direct in the single doorway after checking in, making it terrible for those leaving or entering. Not Loveless' fault but certainly a fire hazard and rude. Once seated at a clean and well set four top table in the largest dining room on the East side of the building, our delightful and knowledgeable waitress greeted us and took our drink order. I want to reiterate a point I made in my previous review that the wait staff at Loveless is the absolute best you will find at any Nashville restaurant. Certainly a reason to eat here! Very quickly our drinks arrived along with the biggest plate of hot biscuits, three flavors of preserves and plenty of real butter we remember receiving in many years. Our Waitress took our food order and we chatted briefly. Today we learned that Tom Morales and TomKats Catering no longer has any involvement with Loveless. I noticed a Senior Manager that appeared very professional and maintaining a regular, close review of the wait list. Bravo!!! The lady that seems to always be handling the wait list when we visit Loveless is the weakest link at Loveless so I was thrilled to see a General Manager regularly overseeing her work, asking questions and staying very familiar with the info on the list. Please keep doing this Management! Now to the food. Chocolate chip pancakes that my daughter always orders were perfect and so large she brought some leftovers home. The breakfast steak and eggs my wife ordered were served hot and cooked to order. The steak could be a better grade meat and actually a bit smaller. My guess is the steaks are coming at average grade from a Sysco type supplier and a local area grain fed beef supplier would be a nice improvement for Loveless to consider and make a highlight of the menu. Today I ordered the half-order country ham meal with red-eye gravy, eggs & grits. All cooked just right, served hot and plated perfectly. I got chocolate milk for my drink, a first, and was very pleased that it came in a carton from our local (sadly now owned by Dean) Purity Dairy. This is the same milk I grew up drinking in Nashville from weekly home delivery 50 years ago and it is still the best anywhere! Great choice for your dairy products Loveless. I still want to encourage first time visitors to ask for seating in the original small dining room to the left of the hostess stand. This room gives you the real feel of the original and later the McCabe owned Loveless of the 70's - 90's. Most of all don't be afraid to ask questions and try different foods at Loveless. It is a true Nashville treasure.
(4)
Ariel Z.
Make sure to take some of those golden biscuits home with you...great for heating up in the microwave. This place is famous for a reason.
(4)
Crystal P.
how do I even begin to review the best breakfast of my life. it was so good we went back during our trip. something we never do since we want to always check out and explore everything, not do a repeat. I found this place when searching best breakfast in Nashville and I thought it'd be our first stop after we landed, picked up our rental car and headed on the gorgeous drive over. shocked to find out there was a wait on a Friday early afternoon but it was less then the 45 minutes they said it'd be. we walked around and investigated the stores plus it was a gorgeous day out so it was fine. a wait is never a bad thing, means they are doing something right! it was so good, so delicious we came back Monday morning! no wait since we came around 8 am this time. just as delicious as the first time. first time I ever had grits and I am now spoiled for life.
(5)
Joe S.
The family style breakfast was awesome. The food came out hot. The coffee never stopped. The famous biscuits and homemade jelly were to die for. The waitstaff was great, friendly and attentive.
(5)
Kathy R.
I was excited to try this place after reading reviews and receiving recommendations from friends. I was disappointed to say the least. We had a party of 6 and all got different plates. Not one of us said "I'd come back". It was okay but not what I had hoped for.
(2)
C. V.
Real southern food. Check it out if that's your thing.
(5)
Zachery M.
The single best biscuits I have ever had in my life. In fact the only downside to the biscuits themselves is the fact that I don't live in Nashville and they have ruined all other biscuits for me. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quaint and clean and the service from our waitress was fantastic. Unfortunately there is quite a long wait on the weekends but it is well worth it and they do have outdoor seating for you to wait on and some neat little stores nearby to peruse. In conclusion the biscuits are so good that I will someday return to Nashville just to come get these biscuits again.
(5)
Michael E.
Being the only really solid breakfast place in a large radius, Loveless Cafe is always crowded--that's the downside. The upside is pretty much everything else: melt-in-your-mouth fluffy biscuits, solid breakfast food served all day, and friendly service. My wife and I come here every time we drive through Tennessee. I took off a star because they discontinued their call-ahead option.
(4)
Josh B.
The biscuits and preserves are definitely what keeps me and my family coming back. The breakfast is good, but nothing special. My kids love to watch them making biscuits in the window and play on the grounds. We usually go on the weekends but we make sure to get there no later than 8:30am to avoid a long wait.
(4)
Deborah B.
Went to the Loveless Cafe on a recommendation from a local friend as one of their families favorites. Of coarse I first still checked yelp for reviews prior to goin,g so I knew I was in for a wait, which was helpful. It took 45 minutes to be seated at 8 pm on a Monday night. The drive to it was very scenic and the gift shops kept us happily occupied. Once seated though our fabulous waiter named Owen promptly took our drink orders and brought my party of 5 an enormous plate of the famous biscuits and jellies. I thought we would never eat all of them but within a few moments time Owen said, " I did bring you a plate of biscuits didn't I?" with a warm smile on his face. We each ordered different meals and not one was disappointed with their choice! As we sampled each other's side items....the cheese grits and Mac and cheese were big hits. Not only was the food scrumptious but the hospitality of our awesome waiter (Owen) mixed with the cozy environment made it a night to remember! It will be a definite stop for us next time in Nashville.
(5)
Laura R.
As good as advertised! We had to wait almost 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon, but the time flew by because they have plenty of casual seating areas and free iced tea to sip while you wait. And of course shopping :) Once we were seated they instantly gave us biscuits, and the food did not take long at all to come (we were afraid it might, since the table wait was so long). Everything tastes genuinely homemade, and the environment is friendly and cozy. We will be back!
(5)
Mimi L.
No love for the Loveless Cafe. We waited about an hour to be seated for dinner and after eating there, I figured this had to be a tourist trappy type of place. The drive to the cafe was beautiful as we passed by large homes with acres of property. During our wait, we were given a buzzer that would work at their different gift shops. My winning find was the piggy popcorn cooked in bacon grease with bacon bits at the Hams & Jams Country Market. I will definitely order that online. All of the workers were super friendly. Their specialty fried chicken was bland and dry. The fried catfish and fried green tomatoes had the same batter and were both bland. Yes, even the biscuits were kinda bland. Maybe that's just the way it's supposed to be so you can smother gravy on everything. I honestly enjoyed the food at Cracker Barrel better... and that's not meant to be an insult.
(3)
Tran T.
"Better than sex biscuits" is not an overstatement. Damn, Loveless Cafe definitely has the best biscuits in town! The biscuits (6) came with the breakfast meal I ordered. They came with 3 different types of jams (strawberry, peach, and blueberry). After having the blackberry jam at Urban Grub, any other jam seems average to me. Initially I ordered the Breakfast Steak and 2 Eggs but they ran out of the Rib-eye (at 8:00 am!! boooo!!!), so I changed to Pit-Cooked Pork BBQ and Eggs instead. I had my eggs fried - medium and a side of hash-brown casserole. I wasn't a fan of the BBQ, however my friend loved it alot and ended up eating most of it. I never touched the hash-brown because of how cheesy it was. My fault, I should had gotten the potatoes instead. The only thing I like in this dish is the eggs, they were cooked to perfection. My friend had the Southern Sampler Breakfast (Country Ham, Sausages, Bacon, and Red-eye gravy. The country ham was so salty that it was hard to taste anything after that. They should add this "country ham" to the hypertension risk factors list. The sausages were so dry. We tried to pour the red-eye gravy over it because we weren't sure what was the gravy for...it didn't help. I wouldn't order this. The portions are huge. I could barley finish half of my dish after eating all of those yummy biscuits. Breakfast for two people were more than $30, which is pretty expensive. I suggest share the platter with someone and order A La Carte on the side (for 2 people). I got here around 8 am and there were no waiting lines. I will be back for those heavenly biscuits and try the fried chicken next time! 2013/#58
(4)
Eric S.
I'm going to give this 4/5 stars just because it took some effort to get seated. The girls thought I was invisible for about 5 mins, then they suggested take out, then I was seated in the corner next to a large loud table before seating myself... Everything looked up right after being seated. My waitress was very friendly & the food was delicious. I ordered the watermelon ribs which were full of sweet zesty flavor, which was covered in BBQ sauce. The meat came off the bone with little effort.
(4)
Dew T.
Biscuits and jam. Enough said. Completely amazing. Such a fun thing to do in Nashville and always worth the wait!
(5)
Juls B.
After the 1 1/2 hour wait, it won't be shorter even if you are only a party of 2, I can say it was worth the wait! Our waitress was super down southern sweet and the food did not disappoint. My hubby had the southern sampler choices were fried catfish, ham ( yes, it's salty but he likes that) and the fried chicken. Yum to all. Sides we shared were creamed corn ( to die for), fried green tomatoes (liked), caramel sweet potatoes (Yumo!!) and hash brown potatoes casserole. Tastes like the one I make so nothing special but it was good. Our food came out super fast but then it slowed waaaaay down on closing out our bill. Good place for southern comfort food!
(4)
Karen C.
I don't know if I can really add to what has already been said, but here it goes... Biscuits? AMAZING. I know my biscuits, and these are the bomb diggity. I could have eaten even more than I did (and trust me, I ate my fair share), but I really needed my pants to fit this week. Cheese grits? Yes, please. Not much else needs to be said about that. Homemade preserves? Oh God yes. Blackberry is amazing. Strawberry is amazing, Peach is extra-super amazing. Friendly service? Insanely nice across the board, from our waitress to the guy that brought our food to the people in the shop. Store to take home goodies? Yep. I just enjoyed some Loveless Cafe Strawberry Preserves on my couch in Chicago... still delicious. And I can't wait to crack into the pickles I bought, but now I'm annoyed with myself for not getting the Peach Preserves, too. Long-ass wait? We got there at 10ish on a Sunday morning for breakfast, waited 1 1/2 hours. And yep, totally worth it. By the time we got seated, they were telling people up to 2 1/2 hours. Take note from whom I assume are the locals that sat up shop playing dominoes & board games at the picnic tables by bringing something along to entertain yourself. Stop debating if it's worth the drive/wait/etc. ... it is. Go. Now.
(5)
Amanda M.
Best breakfast ever! Worth the wait. We waited about 45 minutes. While we were waiting we walked around the property where we samples peach cobbler hot tea- so good. Hashbrown casserole is an absolute must. Biscuits were amazing. Everything was delicious.
(5)
Robert S.
A bit off the beaten path yet fairly easy to find with some simple directions. And once you are near it, you can't miss the signs. Basically a southern-style home cooking place that also added popular dishes from other areas. I had the Shrimp and Grits which had large shrimp and was mucho tasty. The Fried Chicken Salad was loaded with chunks of fried chicken and was a meal in itself. I also tried a 'Moonshine' Mary, a version of the ever-popular Bloody Mary except that moonshine was substituted for vodka. Don't think it will be my new favorite, but it was interesting. There is a store on the property called Hams and Jams which sells various country food items such as country ham, preserves, bacon etc. I tried and bought a bag of bacon popcorn, which tastes different but it kinda grows on you. The biscuits are some of the best I've ever had. Buttery, hot and served with 3 different jams. The service was friendly and knowledgeable. The food didn't take long to be prepared and overall, this is a well-run operation.
(4)
Adam C.
Biscuits are no kidding great. Loved the chicken the pork and the pies look great. Too full to order pie. This was some good cooking. Worth the extra trip. Great wait staff lots of enthusiasm from everyone there. A little touristy but still lots of fun. I will be back for the biscuits!!!
(5)
Brian M.
Loveless is fun & excellent quality. Their fried chicken is very good, mashed potatoes and chicken gravy fantastic, biscuits great, BBQ brisket great, and the service was excellent. We waited 1.5hrs and it was worth it. BBQ. pit master and I talked BBQ for almost the entire 1.5hrs. It was a great time.
(4)
Chance S.
Yes, the biscuits here are consistently tasty. No one disputes this fact. But is there a biscuit on the planet that is worth a drive out to the boonies followed by a 2 hour wait to eat what is essentially a glorified, overpriced Cracker Barrel meal? I probably won't do it again, but the tourists seem to think so. Aside from the biscuits, the food and service were decent, but certainly not worth raving about.
(3)
Cate N.
Best biscuits and jam ever. The turkey and swiss sandwich with grilled onions was divine along with the fried okra. And the virgin Bloody Mary really packed a spicy punch. To top it off, our waiter Matt had a fabulous personality. I would definitely come here again!
(5)
Mary S.
I just love this place!! I was coming here for 10 years before I moved to Nashville and now I live only a hop skip and a jump away!!! The Pork Chops are Wonderful....the Biscuits are GREAT....and I love love love the Coconut Cream pie!!! 10 stars!!!
(5)
Lauren M.
Loveless Cafe was definitely a treat, I would rate it 4 or 4.5 star. We arrived at the worst possible time (NOON) on a Friday. We ended up having to wait about an hour and 15 mins to get a table. It was definitely worth the wait but still a bit of a pain in the ass. You can kill time browsing the nearby Loveless Cafe shops and get a free coffee next door. We were giving some biscuits and preserves to start out (yum!) and I had fried chicken which was served with choice of two sides (I tried green beans and squash). The chicken was absolutely massive and I couldn't finish it. Definitely the best fried chicken I've ever had, although it's not a favorite of mine so I am no expert. Service was great here and the decor and ambiance are lovely. Prices were very reasonable (my meal was about $12). Overall very fun and satisfying experience :)
(4)
Casey Ann S.
Loveless cafe was a special stop today! The property is so cute, with a gift shop, antique store, art store, and bean bag tossing pits in addition to the actual restaurant itself. I can see why loveless is so popular! Great staff and authentic southern vibe going on. Had the chicken and biscuit side for breakfast, it was delicious but tiny (I ordered another!) Lots of southern sides and dishes! Yum.
(4)
Marie G.
Such a great restaurant - a can't miss place when visiting Nashville! Yes there will probably be a line when you visit so check in and spend the next hour or two walking the property, play games, do some shopping, or rock away your hunger in one of the many rocking chairs! Once you get seated - prepare for a feast! Don't miss the fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit sandwiches. Everything on the menu is great. And I mean everything! Take dessert to go ;) Service...best in Nashville!
(5)
Beth M.
Worth the wait! My fiance and I were in town for one night, and a Food Network junkie friend recommended the Loveless for breakfast. We were warned ahead of time of the wait, so we were mentally prepared. They have a great system using a pager that works all around the grounds, which include shaded benches, gift shops, coffee and sweet tea stations (complimentary). We were pleased that our wait time was actually about half of the quoted time. We were greeted by a very friendly and enthusiastic waitress named JD. My fiance is from the Midwest and knows his way around a carb-laden breakfast menu. The SoCal native in me doesn't know red-eye gravy from grits. JD was more than happy to educate me. With her advice, I decided upon everything "southern"; cheese grits, biscuits and sausage gravy, fried green tomatoes, and eggs and bacon. My review may not be truly qualified, as I have no basis for comparison of southern food, but, oh my, was it delicious! It was a bit of a fluke for me to be in Nashville in the first place, and I will probably never return. With that knowledge, I savored every bite, plus about five extra bites that I should have resisted. My fiance enjoyed his chicken fried steak, hash brown casserole, and plenty of warm biscuits. Make your way to the Loveless if you find yourself in Nashville.
(5)
Aprile M.
If you are in the area you have to stop. Food is fresh and hot. Once you sit down they bring you some hot biscuits with some fruit preserves. The peach preserves are delicious. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. My husband had the biscuits and gravy. My daughter got the chicken tenders. The portions are huge. We took a lot of food home. Everything was delicious. Service was fast and friendly.
(5)
Scott B.
Cool place, great service, but the food is just good southern style food. Its very similar to almost all small town diners. But the atmosphere makes it a must see place!
(4)
Alicia M.
I love it! Hands down! The only con; it's a good drive outside of the Nashville city limit and there is a wait. I had breakfast alone and the wait was about an hour and 30 minutes. Will return regardless
(4)
Jennifer O.
An absolutely great place to stop and take a step back in time!!!! It takes awhile but worth the wait and there is plenty to do while you casually stroll the property!!! Creamed corn and BBQ Pork!!! Yum Y'all
(5)
Natalie R.
Had to wait at Sunday lunchtime, but wow, was it worth it... Every bite was delicious southern cooking, like my grandma used to make. Now that we have gorged on chicken & waffles, fried chicken, numerous delicious sides, and some pie---- we are rolling out to car to nap... :)
(5)
Claudette W.
Yep. It's as good as everyone says. I don't think I can even add to the information. Awesome biscuits, jam, chix fried steak, veggies. Friendly folks. Worth a trip.
(5)
James C.
Time goes fast while waiting for a table here. We waited 45min and it was entirely worth it. Free coffee in the gift shop, free tea and lemonade by the artist studio. Chairs on the porch to enjoy the weather and touristy yet safe family atmosphere Incredible fried chicken, Mac and cheese is nice and cheesy. Very fast and friendly service. Secret biscuit recipe biscuits are wonderful! Our food got to our table in amazing time. Our server Gretchen, offered her suggestions and answered all our questions with genuine care. The out buildings offer a market, a gift shop for kids, a few artist studios and some activities for kids i. e. blowing bubbles, side walk chalk, bean bag throw. Definitely worth a visit!!!
(5)
Allie R.
I have been to loveless several times now and it has never disappointed. Their biscuits are absolutely amazing and we always eat up all the preserves that come with them. Before I leave I always make sure to buy a couple jars of their peach preserves because they are my absolute favorite. I've had the biscuit sampler breakfast, the meat sampler breakfast, and their fried pork chop breakfast (epic sized pork chops). I always love everything. Their ham and sausage is some of the best I've ever had. The hash brown casserole is cheesy and decedent. We always have a great server. If you can get over the wait and enjoy the experience as a whole it is a great one. It is an awesome place and I know we will be back many many times in the future.
(5)
Jay G.
Absolutely hands down best home cooking/soul food whatever you prefer in the greater Nashville area. The chicken and biscuits is what they're known for but everything is awesome. And that's really all anyone could ever say about this place...awesome
(5)
Scott S.
This is my first time visiting the Loveless Cafe. I ordered the sampler plate with BBQ pork, meatloaf, and fried chicken. The meatloaf was good not great, the BBQ pork was just slow cooked pork with BBQ sauce, no smoke flavor whatsoever. The fried chicken was above average. My sides were mac n cheese and the hash brown casserole. The mac n cheese was just a notch above TV dinner fare, and the hash brown casserole was pretty average. What really let me down was the biscuits and preserves. I was dreaming about them on this trip before my visit on this trip. The biscuits were way below average, I might have had a bad batch as the waitress was taking to the table next to me about them and they said they never have seen them like this before. The preserves were below average for the peach and strawberry, but the blackberry were some of the best I've had. Overall for the price and hype I was expecting more. I wish I would have had breakfast for dinner as that's one meal that's hard to not hit the mark with. It's cool to say I ate here, but there are much better places in town to frequent. The service however was very good. Everybody here was warm and friendly.
(3)
Shelley V.
I say sh*t, god*amn, this place is NOT to be missed when you are in the area! Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits... so good, I brought ziplocs from home and flew back with a dozen biscuits for my happy co-workers! Be warned, the wait on weekends is god-awful. Show up, be prepared to be patient and WAIT WAIT WAIT! I usually order eggs and bacon here and fill up on the biscuits with butter and jam. T had the BLT with fried green tomatoes and that looked amazing. She said it also tasted amazing! Next trip, I'm ordering that! All the food is good but the biscuits really stand out. Also; I absolutely love the servers - sassy, funny and make you feel like you are at your country granny's house! They also have a little market/gift shop that you can buy mixes, potato salads and like. I proudly bought some bacon scented air fresheners there!
(5)
Stephen L.
I live about 15 minutes from the LC, and honestly I'd suggest finding a Cracker Barrel instead. The biscuits are flat and dry and everything else tastes about the same as a Cracker Barrel (if not sub-par), but has a much higher price tag. This is not a spot where locals eat (often). Every time I pass by I shake my head at the tourists lined up outside.
(2)
Adrianna L.
Ok, yesterday I was visiting the city of Nashville for first time, one of my friends recommended this place...and some people tell me about the wonderful breakfast . So here we go! First of all , I need to wait at leas 1 hour 20 minutes to have a table! So I don't have too much time to see the city and I decided for take-out. I ordered Southern Sampler Breakfast to go , and the cashier told me that the size of this order is big, enough for TWO PEOPLE, and the big surprise! when the waitress bring me my meal , it was soo tiny! and they charged me 17.65 for this plate and one ice tea. I try to be objective in my review but I see the pictures in their website and the portion are so big. This place is unhealthy because everything have a LOT of fat! but at least the biscuits were amazing.
(2)
Adam E.
Decided to hit the Loveless on the way out of Nashville. We heard good things from some friends. It did not disappoint. The place was packed, but we only waited about 5 minutes. I ordered the country ham and eggs, but it was the biscuits that stole the show. They were dense, and I was scared they would be gummy, but they were as flaky as can be. The property has several buildings that house a country store, antiques, and artwork. This was definitely a great end to our weekend in Nashville. Definitely add it to your to-do list while in Nashville.
(5)
Jude C.
All the notoriety surrounding this restaurant is true...it is worth coming to because the food is excellent, the atmosphere is great, and the service is top-notch. The store they have in their compound has a lot of cool souvenirs and provides and opportunity to kill some time if you have to wait in line which is always a possibility here. I've been here once and surprisingly only had to wait for 15 minutes which I'm told is unheard of. Anyways, do yourself a favor and check this place out if you're in the Nashville area!
(5)
Michael M.
You know it's hard to find well cooked eggs and country ham that isn't overly salty.this place has both along with in house jams. When I'm in nashville this is my breakfast place
(5)
Park W.
This review was based on one visit. What I tried: BISCUITS!, Fried Chicken, Home-smoked Ham, caramel sweet potatoes, greens with pot liquor, green beans Tasting Notes: 5 Stars for the biscuits! The only biscuits I have every liked. Now I understand why people love them.. Loveless's biscuits are compact but fluffy, buttery but not too rich. I ate 4 at my meal (and this is coming from someone who does not like biscuits). Also, 5 stars for the preserves (especially the blackberry and peach) and the honey and molasses. The fried chicken was also solid, as were the sides. I thought the caramel sweet potatoes were particularly interesting. Not a huge fan of the ham-- it was too rough and chewy for my taste. Ambience: Homey comfortable feel. Though this is a tourist friendly spot, the restaurant itself doesn't feel like it is purposely trying to attract tourists (though obviously, the market and rest of the premises are). Service: Very friendly and attentive. They are generous with their biscuits, which is very importants. Recommendation: Great place to eat near Nashville (only 10miles from downtown). So glad that my friend from Nashville recommended this spot to me-- he mentioned that this place is a "nashville institution..." and indeed it is! If I ever find myself in this area again I'm definitely stopping by for biscuits.
(5)
Chris S.
Takes AMEX. No matter the day, if you go around lunchtime, expect to wait perhaps an hour or so (they get a lot of tourist traffic). Food comes out fast though. The famous biscuits were above average and my companion's pulled pork omelette was ridiculous good. The full order country ham was good but too much from a volume standpoint. I was looking forward to the hashbrown casserole, but it was pretty plain. I'd say my review mostly reflects the omelette and some pretty great sausage gravy (get anything with it) for the biscuits, with a half star for solid service.
(4)
Jewel M.
This place is amazing. For a person who has breakfast for every meal, I was in heaven. The biscuits were the best. Only downside is that there was no grape jelly (I'm stuck in my ways). Pancakes are also very delicious. Just wish the location was closer (by closer I mean walking distance from my bed to their tables). Dare to dream.
(5)
Kim G.
Biscuits are amazing. Best I have ever had. Every time I come I wonder why I don't come more often. It is great. Best pulled pork anywhere!
(5)
Mary Helen M.
Out of everything at Loveless, the biscuits really took the cake. They were rich, buttery, and served nice and hot. I'll remember you, you biscuits. I'll also remember the obscenely gigantic breakfast I ordered. It was so big, in fact, that Heather and I couldn't even finish it together, in two sessions. But hey, if you're going to pay this much for breakfast, it better be fricking enormous. My plate was piled high with pulled pork smothered in BBQ sauce, sitting on top of a corn cake, and sandwiched in between two scrambled eggs (with cheese). And in the little bowl beside this heavenly mess? Why, it was a big honking scoop of Hash Brown Casserole. Never heard of Hash Brown Casserole? Just imagine that hash browns and oven baked macaroni and cheese had a baby... and that baby was delicious.
(4)
Megan C.
The Loveless is one of those Nashville must visits. The store sells excellent Southern Food kitsch, complete with biscuit magnets, tees, and the ever classic RC Cola and Moon Pie. I've heard you have to try it to really be a believer... In any case, came here with some out of towners to give them the 'true southern experience' and it was exactly what I expected. Ordered up some biscuits and white gravy as opposed to the red eye that my meal was to come with (more like the kind my own Southern Grandma (Memom) used to make!) along with some eggs and bacon. The biscuits really are phenomenal, I think I could eat about a million. And they come with all kinds of lovely supplemental toppings...jams and butters and gravies, oh my! Think Cracker Barrel, but friendlier, less chain-y, more delicious, and more like my Memom's kitchen.
Want commissary food that is the same as any truck stop on the interstate? Welcome to the Loveless. The tourists come because of a reputation left over from the fifties. Pull over, have your picture taken out front, then go get something good to eat elsewhere.
(2)
Jeff C.
I can see that there really is an obesity epidemic as I found many fine examples of overfed Americans at the Loveless Cafe. It's no wonder. The biscuits are great. I had three and unfortunately they go down like lead. I also had the BBQ pork. It was good but I wasn't sold on the sauce. The cucumber and onion side was a good choice. The coconut pie was superb.
(4)
Katie H.
This is a Must SEE dining experience. Inevitably you'll have to wait, and parking is a bit of a nightmare. But they provide little buzzers so that you can walk around the artisan shops surrounding the restaurant. As for the food... As a Southern woman steeped in the culinary culture.. and a bit of a snob at that.. I can say without pause that the food is delicious. Home made, old school, and DEEElicious! The hashbrown casserole is to die for, and the biscuits and preserves (PRESERVES, PEOPLE!!) are from scratch. The peach preserves are addictive and will leave you wanting more... and you can GET more because their gift shop "Hams and Jams" SELLS IT!!!
(4)
Andy S.
I first visited this cafe about 10 years ago. I had been thinking about it and wanted to return to it. G and I decided to meet here for dinner one Friday night. It's about halfway between his residence and Knoxville and mine in Memphis. I got there, and it was about a 45 minute wait, which was fortunate, because he was 45 minutes late. The cafe started in 1951 with the Loveless family basically selling fried chicken and biscuits out of their house. They have a BBQ pit, so they obviously smoke their own meat. It used to also be a motel. However, the motel quit operative about 20 years ago. The old motel parts are used for retail. You can buy plenty of souvenirs, some edible and some wearable. They start you off with biscuits and their famous jams. The biscuits were great. They also serve breakfast all day. I had to restrain myself from eating too many before my meal. They have some drinks. I had a whiskey and water. One friend ordered a shot of moonshine. It came in a cute mason jar cup. He said it was "strong." I love combination plates, so that's what I got. With as much food as I got, it was worth the price. I think it was the most expensive item on the menu at $17.55. The Southern Sampler Platter comes with your choice of three meats (Fried Chicken, Catfish, Country Ham, Meatloaf or Pork Barbeque) and two sides. I chose the fried chicken, because that was one of their original items. I also got the country ham, because it is proclaimed on their neon sign outside. And finally, I got the pork barbecue since I saw the BBQ pit outside. All the meat was just plain perfect. The pork was on a cornbread pancake. I also got to choose two sides. They have tons of choices. I ended up getting the greens and the mac n' cheese. Both were good and typically country. I would have liked to try the fried okra, but I already had too much food. For my meat, I did't choose the meatloaf, because I knew G would order it. he did, and it was good. It was covered with a tangy tomato sauce. He got the vegetable of the day, which was squash. It was surprisingly good, too. I wasn't tempted by it when I heard it was the special, but I was jealous when I tasted it. They have desserts, but there's no way someone could eat anyway after eating here! The other intriguing thing on their menu is their family style supper for groups of 4 or more. It's all you can eat for $17.55 a person. The table has to agree upon two meats and three veggies. It also includes a regular drink. It is so good that it would be worth a three hour drive. Seriously.
(5)
A M.
It wasn't bad but wasn't good either. Just saying for a place that prides itself on biscuits I ordered the pancakes thinking they would be awesome and I was wrong. My pancakes were dry, flat and tasteless. If I would have known that it was going to taste like this I would have not waited ninety minutes until we got a seat. My husbands country fried steak and eggs were good but nothing to write home about and my father in-laws ham and eggs were really salty and not good at all. Very disappointed in what we had. When I come back to Nashville this wouldn't be a place I would choose again. I just hope the jams I bought as gifts are better.
(3)
Eric B.
This place has been on my list for quite some time. I really wish I had gotten there sooner. It is a little pricey, but well worth it. I went for breakfast and everything was perfect and arrived exactly as I had ordered it. I had a couple mimosas that were also fantastic and served in Mason Jars. The wait was about 30 minutes, but it went by quickly as I explored the gift shops. I've heard about their fried chicken so I decided to order some of that to take home for lunch and dinner. The chicken was fantastic, but the greens were the best I've had other than those prepared by my mom or one of her sisters. If you're on a diet you will need the strength of a bull to not cheat on your diet here.
(5)
Joanna F.
Stopped in for breakfast before we left Nashville. Nice decor and cool history on the place. Their biscuits were SO GOOD and their homemade preserves were awesome. I had the biscuit sampler with fried green tomato (so good but I passed on the heave pimento cheese), fried chicken (so good), bbq (pretty good), and sausage for my son. Hubby ordered breakfast sampler, he really liked it too. The food definitely stuck with you. We were so full from all that food we skipped lunch.
(4)
Hannah H.
Loveless Cafe has gone through several ownerships, but the place stemmed from Lon and Annie Loveless, who were known to pass out fried chicken and biscuits to travelers who were traveling on Highway 100. They serve items such as the country ham, pork bbq, omelets, fried chicken, catfish, pancakes, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. My sister and I shared the 'Famous Loveless Country Ham,' which was a 7oz sliced ham that came with 2 eggs and a side of red-eye gravy. You also have a choice to have homefries or hash brown casserole, and the platter is also served with biscuits (sorghum and honey are offered upon request). The ham itself was tasty, but way too salty (even for my taste). Even without seasoning the eggs and eating it with the ham, it still didn't balance it out. I really enjoyed the hashbrown casserole, as it was wonderfully cheesy and creamy - yum! I could have eaten this all day! We also tried the Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato Biscuit - it came with a nice generous dollop of pimento cheese with a perfectly fried sliced green tomato, all in their homemade biscuits - it was delicious! I also really enjoyed their biscuits as it had a nice little crispy top with a lovely soft interior; great on its own or with butter - you can add honey, sorghum, or any of the jellies that they also provide you with. There are plenty of parking spaces, and there's also a cute gift store that you can check out across the lot - they sell the Loveless's strawberry vines decor on platters, cookbooks, kitchen accessories, home decor, etc. I'm glad I was able to check this place out! +DELICIOUS BISCUITS!!! +hashbrown casserole +Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato Biscuit
(4)
Helen M.
This is my favorite breakfast place in Nashville Tennessee! I came here five years ago and couldn't wait to get back for their homemade biscuits and jams. Really cute and fun old-fashioned ambience. Wonderful staff. JaDee was our waitress and she did a wonderful job by welcoming us nicely and bringing out the nonstop biscuits and jams and with that sweet southern hospitality brought some coffee to go for a long drive. Great place for families! Delicious food and great conversation to be had! Don't miss this place on the way to and from your destination when you go through Nashville!
(5)
Ryan S.
Ate here for breakfast. Come early or prepare for a wait. We waited almost 2 hours. Service was fast friendly. Tons of choices serve both breakfast and dinner all day long. You'll leave full.
(5)
Melanie R.
This is a MUST in Nashville. It's important to go into it knowing that it's all about the experience. If you go during a busy time, you will wait. Even if you go early, you will wait... but it won't be as long. If you have a larger group, you will definitely wait. Don't be surprised or frustrated by this. If you're impatient, then don't try to eat here. Go when the weather is nice so you can pass the wait time checking out the store, playing corn hole and wandering around the grounds. It's a bit of a drive, so go when you are in the mood to enjoy the drive to and fro. The food is classic southern and will not disappoint. it it a little overpriced? Sure. But you're paying for the experience just as much as anything. You'll get delicious food, and it will be a large portion. You will leave stuffed and happy. Again. Know what you're getting into. You don't go here for a "quick bite." You make an outing of it and enjoy taking your time driving out in the country, socializing with those in your party or strangers who are also waiting on a table, and eating a delicious southern meal in a charming old building that has been a part of Nashville for years and year.
(5)
Trevor J.
Thank you Food Network / Travel Channel!!!! The biscuits were to die for. The server was so nice and he knew we were from California right from the beginning. This might have helped because he kept giving us biscuits and the jelly (amazing). When we got to the food we weren't even that hungry. The food was average, but the real reason this is 5 stars is due to the biscuits and especially the jelly. Please treat yourself and order something small or split a meal and just get the biscuits and jelly. The biscuits were soft and good, but it was the jelly that was superb.
(5)
Bridget H.
What I liked: 1. The biscuits- I wish I could give 100 biscuit stars. Living in south I feel like somewhat of a biscuit connoisseur at this point, and it's safe to say these are my favorite- extra buttery and only made better when loaded up with Loveless homemade jam. And, get this, they are unlimited! 2. The atmosphere- Yes, it's touristy and a little cheesy, but worth the visit if you're in town for the weekend. What I didn't like: 1. Very long lines on the weekend. 2. Per above, tourist hell on the weekend. 3. The rest of the breakfast is average and very greasy. Overall Verdict: Go if you're in the mood for biscuits or doing a quick trip to Nashville.
(3)
Paul K.
As a native Nashvillian one of the things that was severely lacking in my experience of town was attempted to be remedied last year with my first trip to eat at the Loveless Cafe. Unfortunately there was an hour+ wait and we got some to-go food, which was underwhelming forty minutes later when I ate it. I'd been to the Loveless many times in the past, usually involving motorcycle rides or a charity event, or something at the barn, but I'd never eaten there which was quite odd. I went again and was more impressed, but that experience was also nothing to write home about, especially since my home was about 20 minutes away and I was the only person who would be checking mail. Third time however was a charm. We went with baby in tow, they were very nice to us and her, the food was quite good (those biscuits do *not* keep,) and I could imagine why some people dream of coming to this place. There were a few vegetarian options available. I ended up getting an omelet and sharing it with my rugrat along with some cheesy hash browns and some biscuits. This place is baby approved as a note. I never made it out there when the biscuit lady was still alive, so I don't know how they compare to the originals, but they were great fresh and solid as a rock unfresh, which may give you valuable clues and insights into how your arteries will fare. Parking is a bit of a pain, always has been, it's a combo of not quite large enough, too much area, and slow exiting. If you're heading there just park and plan to walk a bit, you'll be happier parking further away, at least in my experiences.
(5)
Zippity D.
Of course the main draw is the fact that, well, it's the Loveless Cafe. So, I wouldn't call the food amazing, but it is pretty darn tasty. Especially their biscuits (of course!), of which they are thankfully very generous with. Everything else is yummy and your dining experience here might remind you of eating dinner at your grandmum's kitchen table. :) The staff were very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Casey L.
We got here on a Sunday morning around 10 am the last day when we were in Nashville and there was a 2 hour wait! Wanting to get on the road, we ordered to go and it was ready in 15 minutes! The pimento and fried green tomato biscuits were recommended by the sweet hostess and they were out of this world! We enjoyed all the staples as well. Stopped in the gift shop and purchased a cookbook and some biscuit mix and we were on our way. To summarize - if you are in a pinch for time, order to go.
(4)
Marisa R.
Last night my boyfriend and I landed in Nashville for a Bonnaroo vacation, and immediately wanted a classic Southern meal to kick off our week. Loveless Cafe is our favorite spot when in town, but last night our server, Owen, truly made the experience exceptional! Not only was he kind and courteous, but his recommendations and introduction to molasses butter was to die for. His customer service and attention truly made us feel like we were over a friend's house for dinner. Thank you so much for another great experience and for the mini mason jar as a little token to take back home to Los Angeles! XO
(5)
W P.
For our breakfast stop on the way out of Nashville, this really was a great spot. Biscuits are all they're cracked up to be, with either gravy from our platter poured on top or the housemade jams. Sausage patties crumbled in your mouth, ham was nice (although a little salty for my taste), plenty of scrambled eggs, and beans. Needless to say, we left full and very satisfied. Also, whoever is in charge of the merchandising and gift shops are "on point". Fantastic collection of shirts, souvenirs, etc including the brilliant shirt that says, "Taking care of biscuits" haha
To die for!! Well worth the 30 minute wait. Adorable setting with cool Tennessee hill breezes in the middle of July. Shopped the four shoppes while we waited. Games of corn home on the front lawn. Food consisted of amazing biscuits and jams. I had the grilled catfishes with mashed potatoes. Cream corn and hush puppies !!! Amazing !! Kat...Great waitress!! Looked like a rockabilly angel with big blue eyes :)
(5)
Ray P.
I've eaten at Loveless many times, and have had quite a few different dishes, but I'll try to touch on some highs and lows. Long waits are to be expected, especially on weekends and at traditional meal times. I'm a meatloaf connoisseur. It's one of the dishes I use to judge a restaurant. Theirs is good. Not the best I've had but far from the worst. The mac n cheese is pretty standard Velveeta and elbow macaroni. The creamed corn tastes more like a corn pudding to me...a bit too sweet and custardy. Fried green tomatoes are not good. Thin and tough. Mashed potatoes are good. Hash brown casserole is decent. The BBQ pork is good. Not great, but not bad. Fried chicken is very good. Breakfast is always good, though the grits are a disappointment. And the biscuits just haven't been the same since Carol Fay died a few years back. They have a liquor license. Try the Bloody Mary, then go over to the store and buy a jar of the mix for $10. It's worth it.
(3)
Katelin B.
We decided to follow a friend's recommendation while in Nashville for a quick trip for a wedding - I am SO glad we did! While it isn't in the downtown area, it was certainly worth the drive. We sat outside and just loved the atmosphere. I'm GF so I couldn't try the biscuits but the rest of my group had 3-4 each (our waiter, the lovely Trevor, gladly kept bringing us more!) Their omelets are DELICIOUS. Just go - you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Lina H.
Southern hospitality at its best, and QUALITY FOOD!!! I could not believe my mouth! This place is everything it promised to be, always FRESH HOMEMADE ingredients is what we were told, and they delivered no problem... THE BEST BISCUITS ANYWHERE!!! Seriously folks... as a native Californian, i have never ever ever tasted biscuits so good. I've got a gluten sensitivity, but am not celiac, and these did not affect me at all. The pork loin was tender and delicious, the creamed corn is to die for, the service is friendly, warm, amazing - Susan was our waitress and she was generous with portions and her customer service - before we leave Nashville, we are definitely making the 30 minute drive back out to this place... IT IS WORTH IT YA'LL!!!
(5)
Griffin F.
Fried chicken OMG. Biscuit OMG. Definitely the best biscuits I have ever had and top 5 fried chicken. The biscuits were so warm and fluffy and add their homemade preservatives and you have biscuit heaven. The fried chicken was so good, the skin was crispy but not too oily. The meat wasn't dry, and it tasted really fresh. So good!
(5)
M L.
I'm not sure if it's the hype or a staple in many travelers to do list, but waiting 1.5 hrs for some over priced biscuits is not high on my agenda. They have a neat set up where you can visit their store or play corn hole, but can't say I'll be visiting this place again. One and done.
(2)
Tuck L.
My family was in town visiting and they wanted to eat at the Loveless Cafe. (They had seen the restaurant on TV). So, trying to be the good host, I took them there. We waited 45 minutes to get a table. Then we sat down and had our chicken and biscuits. Don't know how long the chicken had been sitting out. Just don't know. Anyway, then, I received a bill. When I looked at the total for 4 people, I almost soiled myself. I couldn't believe the price for some chicken and biscuits. Here is my conclusion: I waited in line for 45 minutes and made a nice payment to Loveless when instead, I could have gone to KFC. It would have been faster, cheaper, and _________.
(2)
Larry L.
This is one of those must eats when in Naahville. Biscuits were all they were supposed to be and more, fantastic. Ham was good, fried chicken even better, looking forward to trying breakfast in the future. The server was on point the whole time taking great care of us.
(5)
Justin W.
The Good: - The biscuits and preserves are great. - The steak biscuit platter was excellent. - The side dishes are generally good. The grits left a lot to be desired. - Our server was very nice and attentive. The Bad: - We ordered two moonshine drinks, and only one had any alcohol in it. - The Bloody Mary tasted like moonshine, water, and a splash of hot sauce mixed together. - Flies. Everywhere. There were at least 20 flies buzzing around our table from the minute we first got there.
(2)
Karl F.
Our family loved the fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, collared greens. But the smoked pork chops with peach jelly stole the show. Everyone is so friendly down here we took home souvenirs too!
(5)
Mike W.
Loveless is a solid 4 stars. Why is that, you might ask? Well, the biscuits are out of this world and they come with 3 different types of homemade preserves. It was buttery, sugary heaven. If I had those alone, it would have been 5 stars. The food itself, however, was really just a 3. I got one of the omelettes and, although the portions were big (though not quite as big as the people there) it was a very average omelette. My friend got the pulled pork breakfast, which he loved. The meal was literally the day's sustenance for us. But i just keep dreaming about those biscuits... The service was average. The waitress was not that attentive and forgot that I had ordered the honey and sorghum (which basically looked and tasted like just honey). Regardless, just go and order a plate of biscuits. You won't be sorry you did.
(4)
Lesley B.
Loveless Cafe... it just does not get much better than this. A Nashville staple, this place has got it all- music, biscuits, and out of this world chocolate milk! If you have a more adventurous spirit, do not fret they have quite a selection of breakfast/lunch cocktails. The biscuits are amazing- you can choose from an assortment such as fried chicken, ham, sausage, fried green tomato, etc they also have a biscuit sampler where you can pick four kinds of mini biscuits... it does not sound like a lot of food but man it is so filling! My friends ordered variations of eggs/ omelettes and said they were cooked to perfection. Out of nine people, not a single one of us was disappointed with our food nor had orders remorse. Oh my gosh and do NOT get me started on their hotsauce. Being a hot sauce fanatic, I am normally not impressed with restaurants if they do not carry some form of hot sauce other than Siracha/Tabasco. So obviously, because Loveless Cafe was marketing their own hot sauce, I was quick to write it off. How wrong I was. This hot sauce is AMAZING. It's spicy without being overwhelming and adds a unique flavor to any dish without overpowering the original. I was such a fan that I bought a bottle for myself and my family. Two months later I went and purchased three more bottles. Mark my words, it is some of the best hot sauce you will ever have. The only downside would be the wait on weekends, but if you go early enough you can avoid this. And the actual wait itself goes by pretty quickly except on holidays. Otherwise, when going to Loveless Cafe, you're in for a treat!
(4)
Gayle R.
Ya gotta love the Loveless. The wait is worth it! The food is perfect, every time! The offer up amazing food, great service and a fun atmosphere. I've eaten at The Loveless countless times and I'm always impressed!
(5)
Stephanie D.
It was a hour and 10 minute wait to get a table for 7 people on Sunday at 11:30. At least we could kill some time by browsing the small shops nearby but the selections in the hams and jams shop was pretty small but they have jams, honey, peanut brittle, popcorn, nut mixes and some souvenir items. The food was average, which is why I rated it 3 stars. It was nice to get complimentary biscuits and jam. I ordered the French toast with a cup of fresh fruit. The French toast was thick but there wasn't anything "extra special" about them. My friends had the omelette and pancakes and they rated it 3 stars. Good food but nothing special for foodies.
(3)
Jessa L.
You are here for the biscuits! That being said, the rest of the food was a big southern mass of tasty awesomeness. You do not go here if you are on a diet, worried about unclogging your arteries, or planning on running a marathon that day. The portions are big, covered in classic southern gravy and very very delicious. Eating to the point of explosion is a likely experience (especially because the biscuits come first!) Stopping by the gifts shops is very necessary. Do it
(4)
Peter L.
In my global pursuit of the best fried chicken, I was very pleased with the birds from the Loveless Cafe - crispy, well seasoned, not too greasy. And the biscuits rock! In addition, the place is kind of a time capsule from the past - worth the drive from downtown and not too bad of a wait at dinner time.
(5)
Ian K.
My mom brought us here because of all the hype surrounding the place. With such fame, I expected a long wait but great food. We really only ended up waiting half an hour, and there were a lot of small shops to pass the time. We ended up sitting on the outdoor porch, which was pretty serene, but the experience was somewhat ruined by the flies. Then, the biggest issue of the meal arose: the service. Nobody waited on us initially, and we actually had to ask for service. After taking our orders, we really only saw our waitress again once or twice, even though we requested more biscuits and needed frequent refills. The food was phenomenal. Every single thing we ordered was scrumptious, and the biscuits and preserves lived up to their legendary status. The food easily earns 5 stars, but the service was unbearable. Still, highly recommended for anybody in the area.
(4)
Shan N.
Oh my word. This place is hog heaven. Not for hogs, of course, cuz they're getting smoked out back. But all manner of cooked hog--bacon, sausage, country ham, pulled pork--is here for you. We also spent some time talking with Eric, the pitmaster. He brought us into the smoke house and talked with us about the process, showing us pork butts, briskets and chickens in the smoker. This dude loves his job and does it well. Back inside, they gave us a mess of biscuits to start. After we were done they gave us another mess of biscuits to go, along with the preserves. Here's a tip. Ask for the sorghum for your biscuits. And while you're at it, mix a little in with your grits. Oh my word.
(5)
Larry D.
We had a little bit of everything at our table: pancakes, chicken fried steak & eggs, and fried chicken, fried fish, and pulled pork with sides of turnip greens and Mac and cheese. Started off with a plate of biscuits. Wow. We may not eat again today. Everything was great. The waiter was very good.
(5)
Jesse Q.
Simply delicious. The biscuits are to die for. The environment is welcoming. Don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. The food comes out fast though!
(5)
Mac L.
This is a must do for in and out of town people. Always a full belly when you leave, the southern food and hospitality never disappoint. But be prepared to wait, because its so good, you wont regret it.
(5)
Edward M.
EDIT: TALKED TO MGMT PERSONALLY TONIGHT WHO CALLED A MEETING TO DISCUSS MY COMPLAINT. IM FULLY SATISFIED WITH MY DISCUSSION THAT THEY'LL HANDLE IT RESPONSIBLY AND TO THE SATISFACTION OF CUSTOMERS . To be clear this review is NOT about the food, this review pertains exclusively to their front desk staff only and my multiple visits to the restaurant. Food and biscuits are worth the trip, but "Southern Hospitality" at front desk is lacking. THIS WAS NOT DISCUSSED BUT I FEEL THEVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT AND AM HOPEFUL IT WILL BE RESOLVED. If you make a reservation, be aware reservations here DO NOT reserve you a table. Not for a large wedding party where we were forced to wait 20 minutes before guests got to be seated, or a small group, as I just witnessed tonight for dinner. THE CHEF HERE IS AMAZING!!! MY WIFE HAS SERIOUS ALLERGIES. HE CAME OUT TO THE FLOOR, WENT THROUGH THE MENU DISCUSSED OUR OPTIONS AND WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL MEAL!!! ALL THANKS TO HIM. EATING OUT WITH ALLERGIES IS DIFFICULT AT BEST! HE MADE IT VERY ENJOYABLE! THX! *As a side note, the food that was served to my wedding group was excellent and everyone loved it FRONT DESK STAFF TONIGHT WAS AMAZING. The problem I've seen resides with Loveless front desk staff NOT notifying customers that their reservation fails to reserve their table until one opens up, even if it expedites the wait. From what I saw tonight a reservation cuts your wait time in half. Mine was 45 minutes the reservation was about 20-25. Upon finding this out, people are a little annoyed. IVE GOT FAMILY IN TONIGHT AND MY FRONT DESK EXPERIENCE WAS GREAT. I HOPE TO SEE THIS HOSPITALITY STAY AND BECOME FURTHER ENTRENCHED! $100 WELL SPENT!!! Not only was my experience very poor as we were waiting, and the heavy set front desk girl very rude, but tonight after the customer expressed her annoyance which is understandable, after she left the blond girl at the front continued to bad mouth her to at least three other staff, right in the lobby area, loudly! Loud enough that we informed her it's in very poor taste to badmouth your patrons at length, loudly, in front of other patrons.
(5)
Lisa B.
Touristy? Sure. Long wait? Always. Out of the way? From most places, yes. But WORTH IT. This is another one of those Nashville staples that I had never tried until recently. I always had some reason to talk myself out of going, but no more. Even on a week day around brunch we had a 45 minute wait, and that was even after calling ahead 45 minutes earlier. Granted, it was the week after Christmas, so I'm sure lots of people were off work and tourism was at a seasonal high. TIP: CALL AHEAD. You can't make a reservation, but you can go ahead and get your name on the list before you get there to cut your wait time. There are several cute little shops to keep you busy while you wait, but don't except to buy much unless you want overpriced souvenir trinkets. It's the kind of stuff that's fun to browse, but that's about it. One exception: You will be purchasing preserves to take home after you've tried them. Trust me. The blackberry preserves will change your life. Now the food... As you've no doubt heard, the biscuits are amazing. How amazing can a biscuit be, you may ask? Pretty damn amazing. Slather them with a healthy load of butter and the above-mentioned blackberry preserves and that could be a meal in and of itself. Since it's not socially acceptable to eat an entire meal of free biscuits (which will keep coming until you say the word), your plate will likely be piled with various meats and other artery clogging deliciousness. I had some sort of breakfast platter with eggs and lots of tasty meat... The exact contents of my meal is a little fuzzy due in part to the food coma I was left in and in part to the moonshine. Yes, I said moonshine. Moonshine is a relatively new feature at Loveless. We were told it's typically served in small souvenir mason jars, but they were out of those, so we got regular sized ordinary mason jars, which means we got drunk. If this happens to you, the shops are also a good place to walk off your buzz before getting back in the car. There were a number of moonshine cocktails to choose from, from bloody mary, to various juice mixers... I went with orange juice and it was delicious. I know this place gets hyped up a lot, but it does not disappoint. Just remember to call ahead and be prepared to wait anyway. As long as you aren't an impatient pants and don't mind making a morning/afternoon of the trip, it's definitely worth it.
(5)
Kenzie R.
Nice strong coffee. After breakfast I wanted to take a nap in the corner. Homemade everything is hard to really dislike. The potato casserole rivaled my grandmothers and the biscuits. They were basically crack. Of course friendly southern attitudes complete the experience.. Great breakfast spot. Can't wait to try it for dinner.
(5)
kelli s.
Every time I visit Nashville this is always my first stop. Being from Chicago, I don't get good southern food often. I always get the Southern platter with a choice of three meats and two sides. The complimentary biscuits are amazing and so are the berry preserves it comes with. The catfish is perfect, turnip greens were delicious. I can't find anything to complain about except for it being so far away from where I live.
(5)
Rosa G.
There should be a yelp page for the biscuits alone... Best ever! Found this place on yelp while on a trip to Nashville. The food was delicious but the biscuits... oh... Em... gee! They bring plates full out to the table. They even sell the mix online. Great place and great experience!
(5)
Kathy F.
Grilled smoked pork chops are to die for..... Biscuits were not as good as the hype.
(4)
Teema C.
A pretty long wait to get in on a Saturday morning, but boy am I glad we got there when we did, because the line only got longer. You cannot call in to reserve a table. We toured around the buildings while we waited and once we were seated, the wait was well worth those delicious biscuits and home made spreads itself! I really loved the peach preserves...yum! Breakfast and coffee were average, hubby's chicken fried steak was pretty good but my ham was very salty. Those biscuits..I would go back just for them.
(4)
Christina A.
We waited for an hour and 45 minutes. Not worth that long of a wait. Under an hour, do it. The service was pretty good, they were obviously very busy. Right away they will bring you biscuits. Dig in because they're famous for a reason. Try the peach jam. They will bring you more so keep them coming and you can take some home to go! We had omelets which were yummy. The pulled pork one was fun and good. Cheese and garden omelets were standard.
(4)
Mario E.
This is a unique gem just outside of Nashville. Everything I have tried has been wonderful Nd always filling. Take look at the pictures your eyes will it lie!
(5)
David A.
Good country grub at a very "hot" stop in Nashville. Plan on spending over an hour to wait. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. I guess it's the type of place you have to go to once. Everything we tried was really good, just not great. I had far better meals during my trip. It's good. It's fun. Just not worth the wait.
(4)
Brittany B.
Best home style cooking you can get! It seems to always be busy but it's worth the wait. Plus they have little stores to keep you entertained while you wait. Everyone is very friendly and have southern hospitality. After getting seated and ordering, the wait for your food isn't that long. And if anything is wrong they will make it right. Pies are to die for! And FYI the moonshine are very strong!
(5)
Bec M.
This place is amazing! I highly recommend everyone to go and see this place and have a meal. While you may have to wait, it worth very second of your time. The staff are so friendly and accommodating. The food is out of this world! The hash brown casserole is to die for.
(5)
Jeremy T.
Great food, service, and location. Good home cooking style food. The staff is great, and I've never had to wait long for a table even though the place is very busy.
(5)
Nicole M.
Holy biscuits! It's been a few weeks since our last visit and I am constantly craving their biscuits-so good! There's really just no place like Loveless. The staff feels like family and you never feel rushed. Take some time to walk around after you eat-the shops are all lovely.
(5)
Jennifer W.
Cute sign caught my eye to drive way out of the way to try on the road trip home. What I found is a renovated restaurant that is quaint compared to Cracker Barrel. Unfortunately, the service to order is terrible!!! Takes too long to get there attention, they don't help you understand what's good here. After placing the order, it took MUCH too long to arrive. We should have just left after the 45 minute wait for our food but had hopes it would be good with all these reviews.. The Southern Omelet that Dad expected to be a Country ham omelette had a bunch of other things he did not want in it and the cheese was cold and not even melted from it's shredded state. And this omelet made him very ill later in the day. He was really sick after eating here. Somalia? The biscuits are really small. The odd thing was when I ordered biscuits & gravy, the order came without biscuits. I received a bowel of gravy with no biscuits. When I asked for some biscuits, they told me to use the 3 cold ones which sat on our table for the 35+ minute wait. I figured they were heading back to bring us some fresh warm biscuits while I ate these cold ones left on our table. We needed biscuits for our 2 other plates of food. Unfortunately, after trying to flag down a woman for help of the 4+ women circulating next to the waitress station next to us, they finally arrived after our eggs were then cold. My daughter would then not eat her breakfast with cold eggs. The waitresses need to brush up on hospitality and prompt service. (Where is the Southern Hospitality?) They need to give more attention to the begining of a meal & during the meal. The best service was to get our credit card and back for payment. Which was odd after such poor service throughout the meal. I am so sorry we stopped. This took much longer for expecting something better.
(1)
Larry S.
We've been back several times since my original review, and I still love it. Every time we have out-of-town guests, we take them to the Loveless. We make sure they all get a chance to try the Rise & Shine (moonshine & OJ) if they want to. I've had it once, and that was enough for me. We went back this month, and I ordered a bowl of sausage gravy for the table to share with our biscuits, and it got me to thinking about Bobby Flay's biscuit throwdown at the Loveless. Now, I'm certain that Bobby's gourmet biscuit and jam were outstanding, and I'd really like for him to come fix my breakfast sometime. But the biscuit that he made is not the kind of biscuit that anyone can make by the thousands, every day, year after year. And I'm not sure how his biscuit would be with sausage gravy. I may never taste a Bobby Flay biscuit, but I'm certain that I'll be having a lot more of those wonderful Loveless biscuits, either with gravy, jam, or as a ham/bacon/BBQ sandwich.
(5)
Kurt Q.
This place is so good, it should be a crime. Their food is a danger to society, it's so good. The pork barbecue, hot biscuits & jam, and side dishes assault your mouth with such high cholesterol temptation, that the Westboro Baptist Church should be picketing this place with signs that say "GOD HATES OKRA THIS GOOD." Located about 5 miles of sinuous road off I-40, and about 20 minutes outside of Nashville proper, this place marks one geographic end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. It however still is a hassle to get to, and the fact that there is a one hour wait to get a seat for a place so far away is a testament to its great food. The walls indoors are lined with promotional headshots of C-list country stars and huge paintings of Dolly Parton's breasts and Johnny Cash's baggy eyes. But look at those pictures later because it's time to walk around their complex for an hour while you wait for your table. You can either play cornhole out front while bikers pull up on their testosterone-mobiles, or you can walk into their overpriced stores (e.g. toy horse for $52) and studios (e.g. photographs of barns for $400). They could do a bit more to make the surrounding area more of an attraction in and of itself. Once you get in, the waitress will saunter up to you with a basket of steaming hot biscuits and ask you where you're from. She'll take your drink and food order, and call you "baby" or "hon." The food will come out steaming hot in under 10 minutes! I couldn't believe that the place was jam packed and the food came out in under 10 minutes. It will be good. Like a Southern sunset, it will please you (and be equally hot). I felt used, abused, and taken after taking my last bite.. I wanted more. In all seriousness, this is the best Southern-themed restaurant I've been to. And in the top 5 restaurants period.
(5)
Sarah E.
The BISCUITS! Enough said. If you order nothing else on the menu, you will come away more than completely satisfied from these delicious, warm, buttery morsels. First of all, they keep them coming....as many biscuits as you would like. (Meaning we got to take home a box full as well) In addition, they are served with a fabulous assortment of seasonal jams/preserves. The most recent time I went we received strawberry, peach, and blackberry all of which were delicious. Besides that I got the meatloaf for my meal. The meatloaf was very good, exactly what I would expect if I visited my grandma for some home cooking. What I really enjoyed were the fried okra on the side though. And the best part was, when the waiter brought out my dish he exclaimed that I had been "shorted" on my okra serving and so brought me another bowl! I Overall the staff is very friendly and the place has great southern country feel. The wait may be long, but stick it out because it is definitely worth it!
(5)
Heather W.
I will find any excuse to eat here when I'm close to Nashville. The breakfast is amazing. For lunch the fried chicken and mashed potatoes actually taste homemade. This is one of my favorite places to eat.
(5)
MLE L.
We only did a drive-by for take out biscuits to see what all the rave was about. I feel like I just had biscuits and gravy for the first time in my life! Throw out your mother's recipe, it means nothing compared to this gravy! And the jams were quite impressive, especially the blackberry. YUM!
(5)
Jon B.
This place is a solid 5 stars. The food was great, shops were cute and we got in quickly although it is a Monday morning. The homemade food and jams are worth the trip down from Nashville.
(5)
Pete T.
Outstanding food, friendly service. Biscuits were amazing, I see why folks come back here again and again. I was visiting some friends that live in Franklin and they took me here for lunch. Large servings, tasty food, it was all good. We didn't have to wait very long, maybe 20 min for our party of 4, so we had fun playing corn-hole in front of the restaurant.
(5)
Kimberly M.
So you wait an hour and a half, big deal!!! The food is absolutely worth it. Hands down the best friend chicken and biscuits I've ever had in my life. I seriously can't think of one complaint that I have, other than the wait. But again, it was worth the wait. Put your name in and then walk around. The Pumpkin Butter is to die for. The honey unbelievable, the blackberry preserves NOM NOM NOM. Honestly I can't wait to go back, and if I'm ever traveling even remotely near Nashville again this is the first pit stop I will make.
(5)
Emily K.
Tourist trap. 1.5 hour wait on Sunday at 2 pm. Everyone waiting looked like a tourist rather than a local. We decided not to wait and on the way out, a lady who had just dined at the restaurant said it was just okay. They have a gift shop that sells overpriced Loveless chotskies... $7 for a magnet.
(3)
Shirley A.
Come here for the experience! I've found that country food in Tennessee isn't all that different from what we have in Texas, with the exception of never hearing of "hot chicken." Either way, Loveless has all the awesome breakfast offerings, even becoming a bit overwhelming! I stuck with the chicken and waffles and it was just fine. The order comes with a bunch of syrup on the side so you can add it to your liking. What did stick with me - their drinks! The "Blue Moon" isn't the beer... instead it's all sorts of goodness with blueberries, lemonade, and a souvenir mini mason jar with mason jar, also so you can add it to your liking. Since I was planning on taking the souvenir with me, I went ahead and dumped all of the moonshine given to me, only to later find out that they give you a lid for it. We had two servers for 30+ people and they did a superb job getting everybody's orders right and getting control of such a large group. When you're done eating, step out to their many little stores for some shopping! I snagged a gift for my niece's birthday and Olive & Sinclair chocolate bars for everyone else who can't fit in a 12 month old onesie.
(4)
Veronica C.
To begin, the food was four stars. We had the fried chicken and catfish, with creamed corn and caramel sweet potatoes. All of it was very good. The jam was also delicious! The reason I rate loveless three stars is because of the hostess and the lady working the cash register. Not only did they lack southern hospitality, they lacked any hospitality. I am hoping it was just an off day and not a usual occurrence.
(3)
Nancy K.
I love, love, love the Loveless Cafe! I highly recommend their biscuits and gravy (their the best I've ever had)! Their scrambled eggs with cheese, hashbrowns (they have cheese in them, too), and fruit preserves are great, too! The atmosphere is so cute and country with their checkered print table clothes and farm-y feel. I also loved the shops that are located on their grounds which is a great way to kill time (as the wait is 1-3 hours). If you're on the go and don't have time to wait, I recommend getting it to go and dining on the benches in front of the cafe. I'll be sure to go back!
(5)
Molly S.
Charming roadside stop off that served the best BBQ we had on our entire jaunt through GA, LA, MS, TN and AR. The biscuits and jam were absolutely divine - who knew something so simple could be so wonderful. We opted for brisket and pulled pork for our lunch and both were unbelievable - so tender and full of flavour. The sides were also great, especially the white beans. The service was efficient, the restaurant well laid out and clean and the food outstanding. For a place that we only chose as a quick stop off on our way into Nashville, this was a brilliant surprise.
(5)
Claudia G.
OMG!!! I want to live in their kitchen! This is real southern cooking. Not only is the food AMAZING but the staff will treat you like family...the members you like :-) I will most definitely be coming back to Nashville just to visit them again. Don't leave town without visiting these guys. Yes it's a bit out of the way, but the drive is well worth it. It really is a hidden gem.
(5)
Tom W.
Operating on the very real premise that a real trip to Nashville must necessarily involve biscuits from Loveless Cafe, we scratched that itch this morning. It's still the same, wonderful!
(5)
Ray L.
Among the many delicious things that are on their menu, the thing that stands out most is the biscuits which is what they're most known for. What stood out to me about these biscuits was fluffiness of the biscuits and the buttery taste that is well complemented by the jams they serve. Everything else on the menu is generally cooked well, but the typical southern fare. As far meats go, I have had their quarter dark fried chicken, pork chops, and pulled pork barbecue and was not disappointed. However, I have heard that the chicken has been hit or miss from reliable sources so order the fried chicken at your own discretion. I find the best time for a meal here is breakfast. Another thing that stands out is that even though the place is a restaurant, they also have a barbecue pit and a souvenir shop where you can buy their jams, biscuit mix, bacon, and other tourist trap souvenir items. Service overall is generally pretty good and friendly, the food arrives fairly quick, and they are kind enough to give you a small plate of biscuits as a complimentary appetizer. The only downside here is the wait because after 10AM on a Saturday, this place becomes very packed and an hour wait is not uncommon. Easter Sunday is the worst since wait time typically exceeds 3 hours by 9AM. Food: 4 Service: 4 Price: 4
(4)
Caroline H.
My whole experience was pretty mediocre. Came at around 3pm on a Sunday, thinking we'd hit the in-between-the-after-church-crowd-and-the-dinner-Âcrowd sweet spot. Not the case. We waited for.ev.er . (said Sandlot style). Was the wait expected? Sure. I'm willing to browse the (terribly over-priced) shops. Next we sit down. Overzealous waiter, but hot biscuits and awesome jam. We have reached our peak of the afternoon. I have never had chicken fried steak before, so maybe this is what it's supposed to taste like, but if it's supposed to be a lukewarm thin layer of brown covered in slippery flour, pepper and butter tastes, I'm not into chicken fried steak. Soggy fried green tomatoes. Mac and cheese was all right, but nothing special. The waiter judged us for asking for a biscuit refill, but still brought them, so that was nice. Biscuits? Great. Jam? So great. Everything else? Not. Or at least not worth an hour wait and 15 bucks.
(2)
Mindi R.
Ate here the other night. Still being on ny time we get that about 5:45 and we had no line. There were 4 in our party, 2 adults and 2 kids. My youngest eats nothing so be ordered macaroni and cheese with a side of mac and cheese from the kids menu which was delicious. The rest of us ordered different dishes and sides to taste everything. Nothing disappointed us. Keith, the manager, stopped at our table and when he learned that we were from ny and tasting all southern food, he brought us samples of some of the things we did not order. Keith also brought us a molasses/agave type of spread that is available to all but you need to request it. Keith taught us to mix this with butter and spread on a biscuit. This was amazing! So was the hasbrown casserole, creamed corn, fried chicken, hot chicken, stringbeans, pork and catfish. We liked the city ham better than country ham. Skip the fried green tomatoes.
(5)
Andy R.
This is really a 3.5...bit given the history, 4 is a safe number. My stars...(5=epic "best of") (4=really tasty and want to go again and again) (3=good and will go back once in a while) (2=fair, might return for a visit if there was some glimmer of hope) (1=avoid at all costs) Go or No? Go Tease: The Loveless is known for their famous biscuits. They are amazing...but everything else is just good. Why I went: For the biscuits! When: Summer 2012 Food: I was in a group of 6 people. Everyone enjoyed their meals. We had a late breakfast/early lunch. The BBQ was OK. The fried chicken was good, but not "Gus's good", and all the fixings were tasty. However, the biscuits were amazing. They taste different than any I've ever had. No gravy...just jams and marmalades. The biscuits are super light and fluffy...and highly addictive. Service: Very good. Our waiter was good. Friendly enough, but not all that attentive. He took the order well, but didn't frequent the table enough for refills, etc. They were super busy...but they should be used to that and still give ridiculous service. Not bad mind you...just not as good as we were hoping. Hints/Final thoughts: This is a tourist trap. But it's a good one. Just know the biscuits may not please every palette. It doesn't taste like any others. But, take them for what they are and they are amazing. Everything else is pretty much just good. Also check out the store...there are lots of cool foodstuffs, shirts and trinkets. While their BBQ was a bit disappointing, they BBQ sauce isn't! Grab a bottle!
(4)
Jessie L.
Biscuits and jam are awesome. My favorite part! I've been here lots of times with my boyfriend, which he loves it as well. Service is always great!!! And I leave happy and full each time!!
(5)
Jonna C.
Yummy! We arrived just shy of 9 am on a Saturday (July 26th). We were on our way to drive the Natchez Trace. They only had a 20 min wait, so we had just enough time to shop before being seated. FYI-The wait when we were called to be seated was 45+ mins. The biscuits were delightful. I loved the samples of homemade jams they brought with them. I think my favorite turned out to be strawberry, even tho they are famous for their blackberry - which we'd already purchased a jar of. Service was quick, friendly & efficient. Our coffee never went dry. Our waiter was never too far, and was very helpful to the more needy couple next to us. ;-) I had simple scrambled eggs, and half & half bacon & sausage. The hotel had told us about their wonderful sausage. It was indeed very good, but one can't pass up bacon either! The hashbrown casserole was TDF! Tho my husband didn't like it too much. But he was not complaining when our waiter dropped off more super fresh out of the oven biscuits. It was a fun place to visit with very good food & we'll definitely go back if we're in the area.
(5)
Kelly B.
I went to Loveless for brunch during a visit to Nashville for the first time for a friend's bachlorette weekend. After a 30 minute wait, during which we perused the nearby shops, we sat down to a wonderful brunch with the most delicious, hot, fresh biscuits and homemade jams I've ever had. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, answering questions about everything from food to the place mat crossword puzzles, and the ambiance made it feel like we were at a family gathering. The Loveless menu and staff embodies southern culture at its finest.
(5)
Kimmy R.
This review is for their mail order store only. We ordered their ham slices for our Easter dinner. Amazingly, they could be shipped unrefrigerated which really cut down on shipping costs. They have flat rate shipping no matter how much you order which is nice. In addition to the ham I couldn't resist the Piggy Pecans which are pecans smothered in pancake syrup with bacon bits! Those were incredible. The ham was nicely marbled but way too salty for my taste. Served it with biscuits and red eye gravy (recipe was on the ham slice package) and black eyed peas. A nice meal. Very reasonable prices!
(4)
Zach T.
Insanely popular and worth the trip BUT The wait can be likewise insane (we waited 2 hours). My suggestion: Wake up, eat breakfast, then send one person to put your name in. If the wait's a half hour, join them. If it's not, judge appropriately. We were told 90 minutes and it took over 2 hours. TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION IF YOU ARE TAKING KIDS. There are some distractions there, but not 2 hours worth. The food is fantastic, but if you're overly hungry from waiting to have your first meal there, it clouds your enjoyment. I had the biscuits and t he biscuit sandwich platter and just about licked the plate.
(4)
Bongo S.
Yeah, I lived in Fairview, for about 14 months not too long ago. First of all, if you've never been to Fairview Tn., believe me you're not missing anything. Anything at all. Couldn't stand the place. Went to Loveless maybe a total of three times and was never impressed. The biscuits are not that good, the wait is just silly and the rest of the whole ordeal made me think of the Bluebird here. Except you had to eat with hicks instead of hipsters. Really don't want to eat with either.
(2)
Formicas F.
Super great breakfast spot! Love the drop biscuits and the jam was good too! Portion size was ample and service was excellent! No complaints at all- really enjoyed this spot.
(4)
Bern R.
When in the #Nashville #TN area, this quaint little place tucked away in the burbs is a fantastic find if you're after country style dining. The old charm of family meals is reason enough to venture out yonder. I brought my wife and two grandkids here for Sunday brunch on our way back to #LittleRock #AR after a fun-filled #FourthOfJuly #roadTrip in 2014. A cultural icon, the Loveless restaurant is built into a vintage 1950s motor-hotel complex. Far from a tourist trap, Loveless is a local favorite. We make the extra effort in our travels to find places where locals eat. We had our usual favorites: chicken & waffles, bacon, eggs done to order, fresh fruit, buttermilk pancakes, sausages, and (of course) freshly made grits with lotsa butter. The Bride had #mimosas and I had #MoonshineMary (#BloodyMary w moonshine) -- both served in mason jars. The servers were fun, attentive, and very friendly. This is home. Plenty of free on-premises parking. Prices are reasonable. You may wait a spell but with customers trekking from all parts #USA and the World, it's worth the wait.
(4)
Paul J.
Biscuits. Fried chicken. Homemade fresh jelly. Loveless lives up to the hype. It's worth the trip whether you live in the Nashville area or are visiting from out of town.
(5)
Led D.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits!!!!! It was hot, soft, fluffy, and delicious. It was also a meal itself. My family and I tried the breakfast sampler, chicken tenders, pulled pork omelet, and fried chicken. It was all awesome and tasted homemade with lots of passion, especially Loveless' homemade ham. It was terrific because it was not too salty at all. The only negative point are that we had to wait one and a half hour to get seated and it was out of the way. Yes, the place was that busy BUT it was worth the wait because the food was that good and well wort the drive. We will definitely be back when we are in that neck of the woods.
(4)
Victoria G.
An absolutely YES to visit! Was my first time to try real original biscuits and they were sooo good! the other things on the menu were good too. Maybe a little fatty but food is really good. Amazing service and nice people!
(5)
Adam B.
Biscuits, peach preserves, blackberry preserves and grits were delicious. Country ham has the fecund farm flavor which was great, though unexpected. Cheese grits and scrambled eggs were not that good. Great ambiance and history. Store had lots of menu items for sale. The bisquits are so good that I could easily gain weight by eating them everyday.
(4)
Jean J.
My hubster found this place on the food network about famous places to eat. We stopped in from taking pictures at Percy Warner park ( separate review). Super cute cafe located on the same lot as a quaint old school loveless motel and loveless famous ham gift shop. It was cozy and super friendly. Down home cooking at its best!! The biscuits were A. M. A. Z. I. N. G!!! They serve 3 home made fruit preserves that were yummy as well. Hubster ordered the 1/2 fried chicken, fried okra, green beens and turnip greens. I ordered the French toast and bacon. Now I L. O. V. E. bacon. The bacon was slap your friend good so were the green beans and I had a food-gasm from the turnip greens. They were perfectly cooked with ham hock and vinegary goodness that make you want to suck the juice out of the greens then chew!! I could have eaten a whole pot of those. The French toast was perfect, the eggs were done right. My daughter ate a ton of the okra. So if a 1 yo eats it then you know it's good. The biscuits, OMG. ( I'm hungry now). Cool thing too was a Antique car club came by and chatted a bit. Saw an old dodge and a couple of model A's and T fords. Amazing food and experience. A must go if you can.
(5)
Sandy C.
I have never had a more delicious breakfast in my life. Never. I would like to swim in a pool of their preserves, then take a nice nap in a bed of their biscuits. Well, after eating a bunch of them. Yeah, the wait was brutal, but we knew what to expect, brought a Sunday paper and did some poking around at the shops. The wait was worth it. Great service, too.
(5)
Ray C.
4.5 stars. best comfort food ever. would be a full 5.0 rating if not for the 90 minute wait (which was well worth it anyway)...
(5)
Meredith H.
I thought I reviewed this already, but I guess not. That's ok, all you need to know about are the biscuits. They are amazing. They keep bringing them to your table, too! It's great! I have been here two Saturdays - Saturday #1 - 30 minute wait. Saturday #2 - 90 minute wait. So it's a little hard to predict. I suggest going early in the morning. Like, 9 am. It's worth it!
(5)
J A.
Breakfast review. We went on a Monday - no waiting and no crowds. I hear the weekends can be crazy. Breakfast was good, tasty and fresh. Scrambled eggs were some of the best restaurant scrambled eggs I have had. Biscuits were light and fluffy. Probably not too much healthy food on the menu, but then it is southern cooking. The cafe itself is very cute. The history of the cafe and motel is cool. Glad Nashville rallied to save it. Clean restrooms are always a good sign and at the Loveless Cafe they were clean.
(4)
Tom M.
The Best Bisquits I've Ever Had The place was a zoo on a Sunday, with nearly an hour wait--but worth it. It serves the most amazing bisquits I've ever had--you take a bite, put your tounge up against the underside, and the bisquit just melts like cotton candy. These bisquits are like crack. I can't comment on the rest of the food. It was good, but so overshadowed by the bisquits that even mentioning other food would distract from the real feature at this place.
(5)
Kimberly M.
My friend brought me here when I was visiting Nashville, and wow this place is a gem! It was pretty far out of the way (it felt like we were in the car for 20 minutes from midtown?), and the wait was long (she said that it's usually longer), but it was worth it. I could make a meal out of the biscuits and preserves alone!! This place had amazing customer service, and even though it seemed everything on the menu was basic, everything just tasted better here. Even my scrambled eggs were the best I've ever had! I liked this place because it felt like I was sitting in my grandma's kitchen...you know, if my grandma hung up hundreds of autographed celebrity photos on the walls! I recommend this place to everyone visiting Nashville, just because you have to say you've been to the Loveless Cafe at least once, right?
(4)
Misty M.
Worth the drive! It is absolutely worth the hype! Their fried chicken, catfish and dumplin's keep me crawling back for more and their biscuits!!!! It's a Nashville must have! You will never eat at a CB again. The prices are great too for such an amazing meal. Yes, go and you will thank me. Seriously.
(5)
Jim G.
One of my favorite spots in Nashville - a bit kitschy, but lots of fun and delicious home cooking. Always a long wait, but also lot of things to keep you occupied in the process.
(4)
Alex L.
Best biscuits and fried chicken I've had in my life. There should be no contemplation about this place; just go!
(5)
Steven H.
I asked for some yellow mustard with my biscuits and they brought it to me......umhumm.
(5)
Dana P.
My husband and I met some dear "old" friends there last weekend. They were coming up the Natchez Trace parkway and so we chose Loveless over Pancake Pantry. They really loved the choice and like so many before them, they fell in love with the biscuits. For some reason I've never been a biscuit lover, maybe because my father's mother made the best biscuits (and chocolate pies...mmmm) ever. Grandma didn't have any written recipes, just did as her mother had taught her I suppose. Because she only had sons, no one carried on the family tradition. Now I'm always (unfairly, I'm sure) comparing biscuits et. al. to that ideal. For instance, nobody can brew sweet tea as sweet as I remember hers. Loveless does a great job getting a lot of people served quickly and they remain friendly through it all. Our server was wonderful. I knew ordering the country ham was questionable, as it would make me thirsty for days!, but I got it anyway and was amazed by the size of my serving. Our entire group left filled and happy and the next time some friends from out of town arrive, we know where we will take them.
(4)
Roberto W.
On our last day in Nashville we rented a car (must have since Loveless is about 25 min from downtown). When we got to the cafe, I was expecting a wait but not a 1 hour and 45 minute wait. Usually I do not wait at any restaurant more than an hour but since we could drive around we left our name. When we came back we got our table and we are glad we ate at Loveless. Our waiter was really good. First he brought a plate full of biscuits and jams which are amazing. He recommended the blue plates special which every Saturday is a BBQ chicken and also the fried chicken for which Loveless is famous for. Both were really really good.
(4)
Zee M.
I do enjoy a loveless day once in a while, provided it's here. That being said, Country Ham is touted as the go-to at the LC and, well folks...to me, it tastes like a belt that's been brined overnight. And I was born in this state. And I don't even mean LC's take on it...I just have difficulty eating anything that proves someone hybridized a pig's glutes and Lot's wife. So, I opt for other things. It's hard to find a restaurant that serves gizzards and my first try here left me taken aback, for the soaking of same in buttermilk or whatever renders them indistinguishable from livers (which I am capable of ordering, should I deign to). Nevertheless, I return periodically and occasionally delve into the livery gizzard plate. Someone labels LC a tourist trap, I see, and it's a little more that than it was formerly...something about having the extra space making it seem a bit less down home and more commercially comfy. It was more fun to fight for for seating. You could barely walk through the place to the bathroom. Best thing there? Blackberry preserves, then biscuits...as if you'd have either without the other. It remains a pleasant stopover. We occasionally come here before visiting Chaffin for a play or two, since they're neighbors. Recommended, but if you've got other plans, it'll be there when you get back.
I enjoyed my meal at the Loveless Cafe. Fried chicken and biscuits! I loved the strawberry preserves and bought a jar! Arriving at 9, the restaurant was not as crowded as shown on the many travel and food shows that feature the place! However by noon a tour bus full of senior citizens pulled into the parking lot and the place quickly became packed. I purchased some items from the general store and walked around the grounds stopping at all the shops in the back! The waitress and hostess were courteous and cheerful! I liked looking at all the celebrity pictures and reading the articles throughout the restaurant. The strawberry rhubarb pie was good but in my to go container the strawberry juice spilled out. Next time I am in Nashville I will return to the Loveless Cafe!
(4)
Elliott W.
The go to tourist spot is also a go to business breakfast spot. On weekdays there's usually no wait and a great breakfast menu. Just like Pucketts but better. I've never had a breakfast pork BBQ biscuit, but Loveless delivered. I could have had a couple, and for the size of a biscuit you pay for a sandwich, so I limited to one. But it was good, and even though I'm quite sure the pork was at least from yesterday's batch, it was tender, well flavored with a real smoke flavor and a sweet and lightly tangy sauce. I'd love to taste a fresh batch. The not-so-new ownership kept the charm while stepping up the menu and cleaning up the place.
(4)
TruthSeeker T.
Place is overrated and lame. 2hr plus waiting and the food looks average.
(1)
Ike W.
If your staying in Nashville and deciding if you should drive all the way out, the answer is yes. The biscuits alone are worth it.
(4)
John G.
I was not impressed with the Loveless Cafe. Most items on the menu are fried or heavily buttered. We couldn't find the waitress with a Geiger counter, so trying to get a refill on our beverages was an exercise in futility. I understand the "down-homey" allure of the joint - they broadcast a country music radio show in the barn adjacent to the restaurant. I have been told the radio show is hit or miss - unfortunately, it was a complete miss on the the night I was there. They had some decent local beers available, but aside from that it was only cheap domestics. The wine selection is not very good at all. Everyone raves about the biscuits - I've had better. It's probably just not my scene, but I found the Loveless Cafe to be wholly overrated.
(1)
Zelda S.
Yes I am a fan of Loveless and get silly when walking in the front door. Could be the checkered table cloths that triggers instant salivation. Mmmm we're talking fresh made biscuits and peach and strawberry preserve as starters and lots of down home meat and three to follow. Yessireedy Yesindeedy I love this place. While on a holiday from Australia I came saw and ate here and I love it for its down home vibe. It's usually crowded and it's typical to wait for a table to be ready. No problem cos there's a grocery and gift store perfect to kill time and stock up on some neat gifts and souveniers. While waiting to be seated I got me some grand souvineers that travelled well from Nashville to Sydney and back again. Got a nifty red guitar-shaped fly swatter and an oven mit. Still got em and have swatted a few Australian and Nashville flies too so these work just dandy. OK back to the food. Delicious. Smoked ham, turkey, fried chicken and all the usual suspect sides. Got tourists and visitors? Take them to Loveless.
(4)
Elena S.
6:30 pm Monday night, 11/3/14, party of 3. Longish drive from downtown Nashville in pitch darkness/DST over. No wait; lots of empty tables. Blue Plate Special SOLD OUT, as were some other items. My ribs were good. Others loved the biscuits & took leftovers for picnic next day, along with leftovers of the fried half-chicken (very good). Fried green tomatoes/tasteless -- I prefer Bobby & Paula Deen's recipe. Pieces of pie are TINY/5 bites for $3.95 - confusing description of the 2 chocolate pies: chess pie vs fudge pie -- whatever it was, it was good, just not enough. $13.95 for Bloody Mary (with souvenir jug) that wasn't good enough to finish. Very nice service people. Glad I went (missed it last trip) so I can stop thinking about it. I wouldn't go back except under duress -- or to enjoy a DAYTIME drive in the beautiful Tennessee countryside -- but the back roads are nicer. So maybe "never" is more like it.
(2)
Christina P.
It's been 6 months since I went to the Loveless and I'm counting down the days til I can return. Everything we ordered amazing: Southern sampler, country ham, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes and of course biscuits and jam!! As an NJ resident, dreaming of returning, keep up with Loveless Cafe on social media, they are very interactive and post beautiful food pictures that have me checking the prices on flights to Nashville on a regular basis!
(5)
Paul Q.
Hands down the best restaurant for Southern food for me! I am not actually a big fan of southern food, but I enjoyed every bit of experience at Loveless cafe. The friends that came with me that night came from different states in the country and they all enjoyed everything they ordered. But one thing stood out: their BISCUITS! The biscuits were so fluffy, buttery in a good way and melt-in-your-mouth soft! The different preserves on the table were so good but I love the blackberry the best. You could just have as many biscuits you like and I think I had more than 10 on top of my big meal (the servicing size is huge too!). I just can't stop eating their biscuits, it was that good! To add to the wonderful dining experience, the servers were very friendly and they have a store where you could buy their biscuit mix and homemade preserves/jams. A definite must-try in Nashville!
(5)
J L.
Just as good as I had dreamed it would be. We went on a Monday which was a holiday and waited about an hour but it was worth it! Biscuits and jams are incredible, wonderful ham and pulled pork, amazing side dishes and incredible service. We had Jessica waiting on us and she was just lovely! Thanks Loveless Cafe!
(5)
Amy B.
We thought this was the best food we have ever had! The wait was a little long, but we occupied our time outdoors and in the shop. Our waiter was very nice -- a perfect gentleman. Worth the trip.
(5)
Josie K.
Reservations are a must for breakfast. The ham, biscuits and blackberry preserves are enough to make me fly back to Tennessee. The country grits tasted a lot like my mother's. Lots of memorabilia all over. Cute little shops around the property.
(5)
Queen B.
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon! Wonderful, flavor-ful bacon and eggs. Pork chops, brisket, ham! Truly wonderful fresh foods abound at this cute little historical eatery. Several of us went here because they were advertising buy 3 pkgs of bacon and get one free. How could we resist? Cute place, very crowded, no reservations, you have to wait for a table. In the meantime, walk around, take photos, check out the gift shop.. plenty of parking. I will give them 5 stars - the day they start offering gluten free biscuits. It is time to get with the times and realize that thousands and thousands of people cannot eat wheat products.
(3)
Ashli D.
I cannot say enough good things about this place...the food and the service are amazing!!! The pancakes and biscuits are out of this world! Their biscuits are as close to my grandmother's homemade biscuits as I've ever had anywhere. The pancakes have an amazing smell and are so filling you can't eat them all. The homemade jelly is so good too. The pace is always busy. If you go on a weekend, go early because the wait will be over an hour. When I went during the week there wasn't a wait for breakfast. The shops where they sell some of their jelly, bacon, pancake and biscuit mixes is great! They have some unique items and a catalog for mail order. Definitely a place you must try!
(5)
Mark B.
I wish I could of just gotten the biscuits. We were driving from Chicago to Orlando and my wife insisted we stop at Loveless for dinner so I humored her. It is in the middle of nowhere but thankfully it was during the week and we had no wait. I was excited as my wife and kids had been there before and my daughter always wears her 'Got biscuits' shirt and now I know why. I wasn't sure what to get so I order the sampler which was fried chicken, ham and BBQ pork. My wife got Fried chicken. Thankfully, they brought out the biscuits right when you sit down and they are 5 star delicious. They were hot, light fluffy and I could of ate 6 of them but I saved room for dinner. The ham was insanely salty, the pork was tender but drenched in a just fair sauce and the fried chicken was juicy but tasteless. My wife agreed that the chicken was smoking fresh out of the frier but truly was missing any really seasoning The mac n cheese side was good also. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the traffic.
(2)
Mimi P.
Hubby and I came here in October to check out their fried chicken. We were pleasantly surprised to be served complimentary homemade biscuits and jams which were all delicious! The chicken did not disappoint either ... the coating was golden brown crispy and juicy. It's a very popular place for tourists so there was a wait to get seated but they had many shops to keep people entertained. Very friendly service!
(4)
Jennifer P.
I must say... I was pretty disappointed in Loveless. My supper club came here last week and after dreaming of biscuits for an uncomfortably long time, we were sad to see our biscuits come out and be the size of silver dollars. Our waitress also boned me on the cost because I asked for biscuits, a side of gravy, egg whites and bacon and she charged me for 2 meals (a huge eggs, potatoes and bacon meal and a biscuit and gravy meal) instead of just doing it a la carte like I wanted. It also didn't taste special to me. I though this was supposed to be the IT place for breakfast and Southern food. I could of made better breakfast on a hot plate. Why is this place such a hit with tourists? The hashbrown casserole was far too cheesy, the biscuits were small, the gravy was too thick and my egg whites weren't cooked all the way. This place, overall, just left a bad taste in my mouth. The watermelon drink with the moonshine side car was the only great part about my visit.
(2)
Dean A.
I've eaten here since 1996 wouldn't give it 5 stars due to the popularity of the restaurant and the wait times most encounter, food is pretty good but very overhyped. A must try for non-veterans but go on a weekday.
(4)
Fanny P.
Perhaps there's a lot of people who don't know how to cook, so Loveless seems wonderful. If that's your case, enjoy the food. It's fair-to middling. But if you are a good cook (Southern-style) then there's little here you can't cook better yourself. It's a Crackerbarrel (another fair-to middling place) under a different roof. Much more touristy and trendy for those who prefer style over substance. Fame has changed the Loveless - just not for the better. If you must go, realize that this is not the Loveless Cafe of the past, but just another eatery with a history living on faded glory.
(2)
Wendy G.
The Loveless Cafe is what roadside dining is all about. Formerly a cafe & hotel for travelers on the Nashville/Natchez Trace, the hotel went by the wayside - but the cafe continues to serve top notch classic southern comfort food. Best known for their biscuits, Bobby Flay attempted to 'Throwdown' with the owner and cook - and was handily beaten. We had the fried chicken with sides and of course biscuits with their blackberry jam. So good! Sides were also yummy - mac and cheese (traditional and creamy) and their creamed corn. When at a classic diner, how could we resist not getting a slice of pie? We split a slice of the Fudge Pie, man it was amazing. We got their after 1pm on Monday, but here was still at least a 30-40 minute wait. We browsed the local gift shop nearby while we waited for a table, but have heard that the wait can be much longer on the weekends. Great food for a visit to Nashville or on your way in/out of town.
(4)
Anna L.
We had to wait on a weeknight, but that's kind of expected with the Loveless Cafe. The biscuits are delicious, and our service was awesome. She was very helpful and friendly. Everything on the menu sounds so great and well-priced. The homemade creamed corn was top-notch! I'll have to go next time for breakfast!
(4)
Dan S.
The breakfast was awesome. We went back a month later. I had the watermelon ribs, they were not that good. I will go back for breakfast but don't think I will for dinner.
(3)
Garrett B.
Great southern food. Okra was OKAY but I am more of a flash fry with cornmill kinda okra guy. Biscuits are solid. Dumplings were the "scoops" which is okay but I feel like the "strips" of dumplings is what they are all about. I had the BBQ sandwich which is PRETTY DARN GOOD. Highly recommend!
(4)
Allison B.
I was raised in a family of good Southern cooks, so anytime that I eat at a meat and 3 I have high expectations. Loveless exceeded them. The biscuits were perfect. They were light and fluff and buttery. Everything I love in biscuit. Everything my friend and I had was wonderful. I especially like the hashbrown casserole. It was was full of sharp cheddar cheese, but not greasy. The green beans seemed to have a little vinegar i them, just like my Aunt Rita's green beans. We went on a Thursday night and there wasn't a wait. I imagine on the weekends its really busy. The service was great. We got our food in about 5 minutes and our glasses were always full. The Loveless isn't the kind of place I would go all the time, but it was fun. It is a little out of the way and kinda touristy, but it was good. The biscuits are so good!
(4)
Jennifer P.
I have been to Loveless Cafe twice. Both times I have been extremely pleased. They have wonderful staff and quick service! Now don't get me wrong, it might take an hour for you to get a seat, but when you're seated you get served real quick! The biscuits and jam alone make the restaurant worth going to eat!
(4)
Kitcat S.
Some people may see this as sacrilege but I would say that the most exciting things about Loveless are the facilities and the drive there. The dining room is cute and very open, and there are cute stores in the campus. The food was solid and the biscuits very good, but the latter didn't live up to tall the hype is heard. The preserved on the other hand were pretty awesome. What I was most disappointed about was the service. In a place as iconic as this one I expected some good southern hospitality but it was all just rushed. I don't regret going, it was a good experience. That said, my visit was during the week. Had I waited the typical 2.5hrs on the weekend I may have been a little disappointed, only because of the hype.
(4)
Bill R.
Had about an hour and ten minute wait. It was worth it. The biscuits were very good. But the chicken and waffles were to die for. Service was exceptional. Price was on the high side but the quality of the entire experience as well as my very full belly didn't seem to mind.
(4)
Kat T.
While some locals told me the original owner passed away, fried chicken and biscuits wasn't as good as it used to be. I think they have the best fried chicken. Crispy outside but not full of breading. The chicken cooked just right, not rubbery but fully cooked. Husband and bro in law love their biscuit and home made Jam. A must visit for us every time when we are in TN.
(5)
Michael M.
So after a week in the smoky mountains getting fat, happy and not so fulfulled on southern cooking I find myself a loveless on the way home. One of the top 2 meals I have eaten in the last week. The deference in quality from the places in the smokies was apparent from the first bite. I ordered the breakfast sampler and a bowl of gravy. Three meats two eggs and a bowl of hash brown casserole. Oh don't forget the unlimited biscuits. I didn't. As I tried to single handedly eat them out of biscuits this night. Between smothering them with gravy or lathering them up with butter and jellies. Yum Yum All the food was great. It's hard to do great breakfast and this place does it. Most place breakfast is good and the is it. I am so glad I got a top notch breakfast before heading home from vacation. The one thing I would pass on next time is the Banana Pudding...got some to go but it was just okay. Oh and can I have another plate of biscuits....some of the best you will ever have.
(5)
Jenniver S.
This place was really good. A colleague told me about this place and I gave it a try. The food and the service was superb. The hash brown casserole was my fave
(4)
Michael B.
Wasn't surprised that we were told the wait would be an hour and 45 minutes at 11am on a Saturday morning. But we were pleasantly surprised when our pager went off after only 62 minutes. And it's not like there isn't enough stuff to keep you busy while you wait! Food is outstanding! Well worth the wait. And our server Mark was outstanding as well! This place gets 5 stars for sure - I'll definitely be back again!
(5)
Steve B.
They just made it on the tv show 36 where they shared their tip with viewers: put chunks of pink watermelon on smoked ribs and finish off in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. The hosts both raved. I will go soon.
(5)
Katie Y.
We went around 10am on a weekday and the wait was 40 minutes. The biscuits and jam were delicious. However the rest of our food was not great. Def not worth a long wait. We got chicken & waffles, waffles, eggs & bacon and pancakes. The atmosphere was fun and the gift shops had a lot of cute things. Guess it is more of an experience place but don't think we would go back.
The hype is valid... (Although a bit out of the way, well worth the drive). We only came for dessert and coffee since we had had dinner before heading over to Loveless.... (Big mistake). Our party of four ordered the chess pie, fudge pie, banana pudding, and strawberry rhubarb cobbler... Everything was fresh and delicious. I only wish we would have tried some of the food.
(5)
Troy S.
I wouldn't waste my time with the drive. The biscuits didn't seem to be the greatest ever to me as they just seemed like biscuits. They were warm and good but not great. I think I had too high of expectations for this place hence the two stars. It probably is a three star place because of the various attractions around the store. They also make their food themselves which makes it a decent place. I ordered Biscuits & gravy which was good as the gravy was done right. The coffee was a little weak for me and I didn't get a refill until my food came. It sat empty for close to 5 minutes. My wife ordered a Mimosa which was strong and she liked it. It used wine instead of champagne. My daughter has scrambled eggs which were blah with no flavor. My wife went with a chicken biscuit that wasn't up to her Chick Fila standards. All in all the food wasn't bad but it wasn't so great to drive 30 minutes out of ones way for. The homemade jams are ok but my mother and aunt make it jbetter. The nice thing about this location are the little shops with overpriced stuff in them. It is nice to walk around and see the places. They have baby changing stations in their handicap stalls. The bathrooms were clean and all the workers we met were friendly. I would stay in Nashville and try out another breakfast place instead of coming here.
(3)
Kevin B.
What a ridiculously amazing place! I had researched Nashville prior to my vacation and the biscuits at the Loveless Cafe were one of the top foods to try on everyone's list. We hopped off the plane, got our rental car, checked into the hotel, and drove straight here and boy were we glad we came. We beat the evening rush by coming a bit after 5 on a weekday and were immediately sat. The menu is very extensive and it seems like they make a bit of everything. We both ordered the fried chicken (we did come to the South after all) and our biscuits arrived in the meantime. They were absolutely and utterly perfect biscuits and they came with 3 homemade jams: peach, strawberry, and blackberry. All the jams were fantastic and worked really well with the biscuits (they sell them in their gift shop and at the airport). The fried chicken was perfect and very juicy and our sides (mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes) were top-notch. Our waitress even brought over some carrot pudding for us to try for free since she wanted us to like it, which was really nice (and tasty!). We also got a slice of coconut cream pie, a local brew, and a moonshine cocktail (complete with tiny souvenir mug), which were all great. Bottom line: this place has amazing food and great service. It really is worth the drive out from Nashville (or other surrounding towns) and try to come on a weekday on off-peak hours to avoid the huge crowds!
(5)
Sam S.
The BBQ is great and the biscuits are some of the best I have ever had. I had a sample plater it came with meet loaf fried chicken & BBQ a side of green beans and a side of cucumbers with onions.
(4)
Olivia M.
This place was great! We received a recommendation from a local to definitely check out this cafe and we are so happy that we did so. The people there are so friendly and the cafe is very quaint and has a lot of charm. The food is sooooo good, we can't stress that enough. We aren't from around here and we loved getting to experience some of Nashville's greatest foods. Also, they give you a lot of biscuits and jams to eat with it and it was amazing. If you are coming to Nashville or live there and have never been, definitely check out this place! It is so worth it.
(5)
Heather T.
This place was great!!!! Friendly staff and if there is a wait, and I'm sure there will be, you can walk over to their market and gift shop to look around. Biscuits are served with every meal and they are yummy! I ate so many I barely had room for my meal. I had 3 sides as a meal and they were all very good. My husband had the smoked boneless pork chop and it was delicious. If you are in the Nashville area- you should stop here for sure!
(5)
Adria R.
We really enjoyed the setting and the "to do" surrounding this place, including the remote location and the campus like setting. We had to wait about 40 minutes, at around 11am on a Thursday, which wasn't a big deal. While the food was tasty, it was overall pretty underwhelming. Good, but not great. I would have given it 4 stars if it wasn't for our server. She wanted to take our order right away and rolled her eyes when we asked for more time with the menu. Then the fried green tomatoes that I ordered to go with my eggs never arrived, so I inquired about them and she went to fetch them. 10 minutes went by, by which time my eggs were cold, and eventually she dropped them off with a "here you go". A simple "sorry about that" would have been plenty, but the southern hospitality was somewhere else today. Otherwise, we enjoyed our time at the Lovelace and would likely visit again in the future.
(3)
Gina T.
Everyone was hyping this place up so I figured I had to try it. I'm from Chicago so when my friends and I came down here for a roadtrip, we were staying in Vanderbilt. It took us about 30 min to drive there and the wait was an hour and 20 min. Not too bad because we got to walk around the cute stores they had and bought a few things. I was looking forward to the biscuits but honestly they were just good. Not as amazing as I thought they were going to be, but just plain good. The strawberry and peach jam were my faves. I had the pulled pork and eggs. Not that great. The pulled pork didn't have any taste to it and they barely put any BBQ sauce on it. Would I order it again? No. I'm sure they had other good things on the menu but when I asked my friends what they thought about the food they said it was alright. I give it a four stars because they had cool little shops around, their food was okay, and the service was great. Our waiter took the time to explain everything on the menu, what was popular, etc. I was definitely expecting some amazing southern BBQ breakfast and I mean if it wasn't for the service and stores I would of given them 3 stars. Overall, I tried it once and once is enough for me.
(4)
Teresa P.
Flaky, soft, freshly hot biscuits? Crunchy crusty, yet moist fried chicken? Perfectly cornmealed and seasoned fried catfish? Tucked away next to a gas station out of the Nashville city? Yes, definitely the best way to start my New Years resolution of 2014!! This place was poppin' late afternoon of New Year's Day. Screw your New Years resolution when there's food this delicious around! We loved the biscuits, fried chicken, and fried catfish. Sides were okay. We weren't too pleased with the overly cheesy hash brown casserole, but we loved the cucumber salad, fried green tomatoes, and hush puppies. An amazing place with that southern charm that makes you feel like you're eating in a local home, just be ready to wait at least 30 min to and hour if you haven't called in before hand. No worries, you can stroll around their cute stores and get some loveless souvenirs!!
(5)
Adam R.
I've officially set my mom up for failure with a visit to Loveless Cafe two days before Thanksgiving!! Friendly service, amazing meatloaf and delicious sides. This little gem was the icing on the cake for our day trip to Nashville. My only regret... Not saving room for dessert!
(5)
Courtney C.
Q: How far would you travel for fresh, homemade biscuits? A: 393 miles. Well, that's partly true. We decided to travel to Nashville just for the hell of it and because it was cold in Chicago. Next to the sunshine and warm temperature, Loveless was the biggest selling point for us to come on down. We knew what to expect in coming to Loveless. We knew it would be packed and we would have to wait, but did we care? Absolutely not. Good food is worth waiting for, especially when it's on every major list of things you need to see in Nashville. We called ahead which I highly recommend. Once we finally arrived, they were telling people an hour but they only quoted us 30 minutes since we had called and our name was already on the list. (By the time we were leaving they were telling people an hour and a half, so go as early as you can!) Although there's a few shops on the property, it's not enough to kill more than 20 minutes. Loveless is primarily known for the biscuits and they didn't disappoint. I especially loved the peach jam that came with it. I also ordered some sausage gravy for the biscuits, but that was a waste of money -- the free jam was the way to go! Breakfast was great, especially the jalapeno bacon. It wasn't too spicy, but the jalapeno gave it a nice flavor. Also, whoever said their hashbrown casserole was better than Cracker Barrel's wasn't lying. I kept eyeing my husband's hoping he wouldn't eat it. I should have just stole it from him :( Our waiter was so welcoming that it almost made me wish I lived in Nashville so I could hang out with him. When he saw my ID (carded me for my mimosas) and saw that it was an IL license he recommended his favorite places in Nashville for us. I absolutely love southern hospitality! The only reason for not giving 5 stars was the fact that I dropped $40 on breakfast. Do you know how many hours I had to work to earn that? Of course -- it was totally worth it.
(4)
Megan M.
Made the long drive out and although it was neat to see the food wasn't overwhelmingly great. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese was very good. I almost think the potatoes were instant at least they tasted that way...not a compliment. The fried chicken was plenty good but not amazing. Now the biscuits were very good but the preserves were the best part of it all. I'm glad we didn't have to wait. I wouldn't say it was worth waiting for. All in all not sad we went but wouldn't go back again.
(3)
Betsy L.
I mean, come on, what can I say that everyone else hasn't said? Yes, their biscuits are pretty rad. Yes, I have had better country cooking (hailing from Alabama, and all). Yes, the staff is very friendly...especially for being crazy slammed all day long every day. Yes, I only go here for special occasions (i.e. Out of town guests).
(3)
Traci D.
Our party of three sampled a good portion of the menu and there wasn't one bad thing! The creamed corn is absolutely amazing!!
(5)
Olivia G.
Not just a restaurant, but an experience! Played corn hole and shopped in the 2 stores while waiting for our table. You bite into a biscuit and it tastes like butter, it's amazing. The pulled pork platter was enough for me to eat dinner for a week. I got mashed potatoes and mac&cheese for my sides and they were great but I tried my sister's creamed corn and wish I had gotten that. It was yummy! Definitely not a place to go if you're on a diet, but it was fun to pig out on vacation :)
(5)
Chris B.
Five stars all the way. There is a wait and a hike to get there, especially from where I was staying by the airport, but it is well worth it. If you are looking for excellent southern, comfort food, this is the place. I had the country fried steak which was good but wish I would have ordered the fried chicken after tasting my dads. I would definitely go back if I'm passing through Nashville.
(5)
K S.
I went for breakfast yesterday. I was alone which at some restaurants means you get poor service, but not here ! My friendly waitress made sure I got hot coffee with plenty of refills, a plate of plentiful right out of the oven biscuits, and made sure I was happy with my order. I ordered the pork chops. The order comes with eggs and the hash brown casserole. My goodness what a plateful of good food. I ate plenty and packed the rest in a big container to take home. I had the rest of the pork chops and biscuits for lunch. I think their biscuits are better now...more buttery...than they used to be. I had not eaten here in about five years. My visit here yesterday was much more pleasant than in the past. So I think everyone should revisit again ! AK
(5)
Jo M.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, jam, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, BISCUITS! Oh, yeah, they have other food, too, and a very friendly staff.
(4)
Nancy B.
Free coffee is why they're getting two stars! There is no way this place is worth the hour plus wait we were told when we arrived. Being on a time crunch we opted for take away and decided to eat outside. Our biscuits weren't really cooked. What the hell? The French toast was fine and happily my egg omelette was fully cooked. This is not a must visit and even if I lived in the area I don't think I'd go back.
(2)
Jeff E.
It was suggested to us by a complete stranger at a resort in Crossville, he said if you go anywhere in Nashville the Loveless should be at the top of the list, well it was # 3, What a wonderful experience, we were warned that there are sometimes a long wait,We waited approx. 30 mins. After that we were seated promptly on the side patio and greeted a very friendly bearded waiter wish I could remember his name! He took excellent care if us! The food was amazing! Very sizable portions! I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Nashville that us looking for a home cooked southern style meal! Two Thumbs Up! Can't wait to visit again nex
(5)
Samantha joelle A.
Of all the tourist places in Nashville, Loveless Cafe is the one place that I must take my family when they come to visit. Forget Pancake Pantry and their line out the door and around the corner, a wait for this place is actually worth it. The biscuits are to die for, especially with their blackberry jam. The biscuits alone are what keep me coming back. But then again, that is what they are known for. Everything I've ever had here was amazing. The hash brown casserole is creamy and delicious. The bacon thick and smokey. The service is quick, and the wait staff always make sure you get a dose of their "southern hospitality" goodness. They also are generous with the biscuits. I always take a to-go box home with me, which makes for another great breakfast the next morning at home. Loveless cafe is great to go for breakfast time, but always expect to wait at least an hour if you come then. Especially on a weekend. Ultimately, the best time to come is for dinner. My boyfriend and I discovered this one night, and we will never go back for breakfast ever again. We've never had to wait at nigh yet since people only think of it as a breakfast place and come in the morning. I personally LOVE breakfast for dinner; it's the best kind of dinner there is. The food comes out in about 5 minutes, and also is super cheap compared to other touristy places you could go in Nashville. So whether you are in Nashville to visit or you live here, Loveless is great for everyone. And it continues to be my favorite breakfast place ever to this day, and I've lived in Nashville for 5 years.
(5)
Grace E.
Was driving through TN on a roadtrip with my mom. We had spent a good part of the trip eating fried bits, feeding upon everything that could be deep fried in a greasy vat. Ewww. My stomach had had enough of the bad food, so spending a meal at the Loveless cafe actually felt like medicine for my spent soul. I tried to play it safe, just by ordering the biscuits and blackberry jam, but upon tasting the FANTASTICness of those biscuits I decided to order some okra, potatoes, and asparagus. All that food felt like it was heaven sent. It smelled and tasted all kinds of great! I definitely recommend driving to this classic and famously enduring place to enjoy a good meal. They've renovated and changed it a lot since the 60's (my mom says), but it still tastes just as good.
(4)
Piyush S.
We have been here once about 2 months back. As expected, the place was crowded and we had to wait for around 45 minutes to find a table for three. 1. Biscuits are the best I have had. Way better than Hermitage cafe and they keep coming. They gave three types of jams and they were all terrific. But I prefer biscuits with gravy and they did not give any gravy. 2. The steak was almost perfect and the fried chicken was average 3. Fried catfish was like any other you get in nashville 4. The service was great and people are friendly there. 5. The place is a bit pricey so I will definitely think twice before going here. Overall from my experiece, if you are a die hard biscuits fan , you might want to check this cafe out. Else, just give it a miss. Goto Hermitage cafe or some southern kitchen in nashville.
(3)
Orlean M.
Fun experience. Expect to wait ~ it's always busy ~ but worth the wait. The food was very heavy but very good! I enjoy the a la carte breakfast menu options. The bloody mary with a moonshine sidecar was awesome! The little shops are nothing to brag about and the service was slow but it was a fun experience nonetheless. Just be patient!
(4)
Sarah S.
We finally made it to Loveless Cafe after hearing about this amazing place since we moved to TN. The drive is pretty (especially on this snowy day) and it's not a short drive by any means. We went for breakfast. The menu is simple but has plenty of options to choose from. I had the french toast and my husband had the steak and eggs. After ordering, they bring out there famous biscuits and jam. They were delicious in my opinion but my husband doesn't like biscuits so he wasn't too crazy about them. He loved his breakfast and my french toast was delicious. Loveless is cafe has history and the food is good. I'd recommend giving it a try if you are up for a little drive and want some good southern food.
(4)
Lindsey H.
What a great place to mark on your list to visit when you're in Nashville. The drive from the city to the Loveless Cafe is beautiful and a great family Sunday drive. Once you arrive to this old motel made Cafe, you will be waiting for an hour to get a table. Don't worry though, there are shops and places to sit outside. The hour will go by fast as you keep yourself busy window shopping. Inside is an AMAZING collection of American Folk Art. The staff was friendly and the food was classic American cooking that makes you fat and happy on a Sunday morning.
(5)
Shannon L.
This place has a wait, a significant wait, on any weekend day....but I promise you it is well worth the wait. Plus there is lots of little shops and touristy type stuff to do while you wait. The biscuits are amazing, and their apricot preservers are TO DIE FOR! Service was fantastic, atmosphere was fun...I especially loved seeing all of the celebrities that have been there....and watching them make the biscuits from scratch. Definitely going back for more!
(4)
Lena N.
Their biscuits are made with love AKA lard. They are one of the yummiest biscuits I've ever had and it is divine dipped in their gravy. These biscuits are not meant to be shared. My friend and I made that mistake and ended up dueling it out the for four biscuits we bought. I almost lost a friend that day. The only problem is that my friend and I made the mistake of coming here around 1 PM on a Saturday. If you are going to take that strategy, bring snacks for the up to TWO HOUR wait or else you might not have an arm by the time you finally sit down. We got the food to go and ate it on the many picnic tables they have outside. That's definitely the better alternative.
(4)
Samantha M.
On my Halloween weekend trip to Nashville, this place was highly recommended. Beautiful drive....beautiful area....and a cute little place. The biscuits and jam were to die for. The coffee was good. I had catfish, hushpuppies and mac n cheese. The meal was done well. It was more food than I could finish. Service was excellent. The little shops out back are adorable. I would def. eat here again, the next time I'm in Nashville!
(4)
Jessica P.
Amazing southern cuisine! We dined at Loveless for breakfast, which was absolutely delicious. I ordered the Biscuit Sampler Platter with cheese grits. It came with 4 slider size biscuit sandwiches of pulled pork, fried chicken, medium rare steak, and ham. All deliciously seasoned and cooked perfectly. The cheese grits were also really tasty. This meal really hit the spot. My boyfriend ordered the half order ham & eggs with hash brown casserole. After he tasted my pulled pork, he wished he'd ordered the pulled pork & eggs. Regardless, he enjoyed his meal and I couldn't help but sample the delicious hash brown casserole. We were visiting from out of town, so we were excited to buy their cookbook, available for purchase in their gift store. I'm still thinking about just how tasty this meal was & can't wait to make some of the dishes at home!
(5)
Cynthia T.
One of our good friends who LOVES food came into town so I brought him for a taste of the Loveless Cafe! This is an update so check my first review for more details. When we sat down at 6:50pm, we learned that their daily special (Chicken and dumplings on this particular Wednesday) was out already. My friend wanted to try it so that was a minor disappointing start to our meal but with so many other delicious options, we weren't sad for long. Some updates on the food experience: Pulled pork - tender, flaky (shreds apart), smokey and flavorful. It was much more moist this time! Fried chicken - crispy, moist but lacked flavor inside with good seasoning on the outside Fried catfish - squeeze a little lemon on the top, a little dip into the tartar sauce and yes, the bombness in your mouth. A lowlight was having undercooked hush puppies served to me but the server quickly replaced it with another requested side (creamed corn). Fried okra, Mac 'n Cheese, and sweet peach tea rounded out the meal. Note to self for future orders, I don't like their turnip greens - a bit bland with a kick of pepper/spice. Tip: It's always good to call ahead for a shorter wait time. Extra: my friend is really into smoking stuff so we stopped by their smoker and were allowed to take a peek into how they make their smoked meats.
(4)
Myra E.
Seriously amazing! We made the drive here as we were passing thru Nashville. This was worth he wait as the restaurant was clean, service was top-notch and the food was outstanding! I ordered poached eggs to go along with my biscuits, and was impressed they even attempted to poach an egg and they were able to do so with precision.
(5)
Mallory S.
I love Loveless. It's a great place for a tourist to experience a country-style breakfast. I had the ham, red eye gravy, with two eggs and hash. The hash is the best because it is cheesy and creamy (definitely not healthy, but delicious)! Coffee is typical diner coffee (nothing special but cheap). I think my favorite part (besides the hash) is the biscuit and jam plate! YUM! I have only been to Nashville twice, but I will continue to stop at Loveless anytime I'm in town.
(4)
Anthony M.
A Nashville tradition must do if visiting. The lines are long, the service is friendly, but not professional, and the food falls between good and great. I think it is the history and location that makes this a favorite weekend bfast experience for everyone that comes and visit us.
(4)
Ivan S.
Long ago, I used to deny my touristy nature. Call it the arrogance of youth. Call it growing up in Central Florida where tourists are tolerated like mosquitoes and alligators--a part of life, but you don't want to associate with them. As I've grown older, I've accepted that when I leave town, I'm a tourist. I do touristy things, I eat touristy food. No, not Ruby Tuesday's or Olive Garden. That's just dumb. But I will mire myself in what is otherwise known as a "tourist trap." And I'll smile and drink overpriced soft drinks and buy the postcard while I'm at it. And thus began mine and my wife's visit to uber tourist trap The Loveless Cafe. Originally an old eatery tucked into a motel off the Natchez Trace Parkway, it's since expanded out to the remaining buildings in the motel that now include a food gift shop, a gag-laden trinkets store, a bike shop, an art gallery and a concert hall. You'll be glad for the distractions when you're told to wait an hour (or more) for a table. (Don't worry, the beepers they give you cover the entire grounds.) By the way, since we were eating here on the 4th of July, we were told that the wait wasn't that bad for a weekend. Oy. Nevertheless, we were in full tourist mode and the waiting seemed par for the course. But what were we waiting for? Well, based on our orders, a ham steak with red eye gravy breakfast plate and a Bacon, Lettuce and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. I honestly wished I could have tried some of the other dishes, but we'd had a huge breakfast and had to order small. (OK, RELATIVELY small.) My BLT was great. The fried green tomato was thick, the outer coating (corn meal) crispy. A few (hipster) places here in ATL also serve this same dish, but the Loveless version beats them by an, ahem, country mile. My greens were tasty, but I prefer mine a little more spicy and a little less sweet. I guess that's what the pepper sauce is for. My wife selected the ham steak. Being gluten-free, she wasn't able to pick from much more of the menu nor was she able to enjoy the biscuits. Nevertheless, the ham steak was thick cut and as salty as you'd expect. The wife, a big coffee fan, ordered the redeye gravy and was alternated pleased and repulsed by it. As a NON-coffee fan, I was just repulsed, but that's just redeye gravy in general and not Loveless' serving. And to the biscuits....as a biscuit connoisseur I can definitely tell you these aren't drop biscuits. The wife's granny, an old southern lady who I think was around during the War of Northern Aggression, taught the wife how to make drop biscuits, so that's her frame of reference. I, on the other hand, am more familiar with the flaky, layered kind and these were THAT version. That said, I love Loveless' biscuits. My wife, gluten-free though she may be, cheated a little and had a nibble. She declared them good (even better with sorghum preserves on them), but not as good as granny's. I've got to disagree. Sorry, Granny-in-law, I know you drop it like it's hot, but I gotta side with Loveless here. Four stars.
(4)
Todd M.
This is an excellent place. We went on a Saturday and, honestly, did not expect to get in anytime soon, but we were up for the wait. We have wanted to go for some time now. While waiting we toured the little shops on the campus and found several very cool Christmas presents for friends and family (NOT the corn pone stuff at that Country yatta yatta joint). The service was excellent. The food was wonderful and the biscuits to die for. One of the 10 best breakfast joints EVER!
(5)
Franklin A.
Okay, this place has been featured on more shows that we can swing a dead cat at. Ellen, the Today Show, countless cooks/chefs from Food Network rave about this place...for good reason. The food is good (yeah, its all about the biscuits) but the ambience is really fun, friendly, and is full of character. If you come expecting fine dining or exquisite southern cooking you'll be disappointed. But if you want good food for a good price in a place that's fun and makes you want to come back again...then you'll be very pleased.
(4)
Jessica V.
Worth the wait! Best biscuits, best fried chicken, love the atmosphere and friendly staff. Always enjoy my time there. Thanks Loveless Cafe!
(5)
Michael C.
The biscuits alone are reason alone why to go to Loveless! I've had chicken fried steak and both were amazing.
(4)
Erin W.
Actually love this restaurant, however service was off today. Biscuits were served cold, the red velvet pancakes were cold and the sausage omelet was so-so. Don't know if our waitress forgot to pick up our order or what, but it was not the best service today. Need to watch that!
(3)
Norm P.
Loveless Cafe is awesome country cooking. We take everyone from out of town there. Great country setting!
(4)
Lewis B.
Very good staff. Food was good, well seasoned vegetables. I would eat here again.
(4)
Eugene T.
Really famous restaurant but I don't really think this could category in Nashville restaurant since it take 25 min drive to there. Food is good and fresh but kind of too salty especially the county ham. It is a nice place if you don't mind the drive and get some beyond average brunch.
(3)
Adam S.
Took the 1 hour drive from Lebanon just to get some biscuits and it was very much worth it. Our waiter was the best. Super quick and friendly even though we got there only about 25 minutes before they closed. Only had dessert (pie) and biscuits, and then stopped at the store. Eat the biscuits. Take some to go. The preserves they are served with are excellent as well, especially the strawberry.
(5)
Jackie M.
Wasn't worth the hype IMHO. We waited almost two hours. Sides were really bad (e.g. mac and cheese was runny as soup and had zero flavor). Fried chicken was great and biscuits were too. Other than that, I thought the food was blah. Service wasn't very friendly either. You go here once, post your pic to Instagram and probably forget about the food. I liked Hattie B's chicken better (sorry!!!).
(2)
Darragh T.
The quality and quantity of reviews speak for themselves. There's nothing more I can add without being repetitive. Some of the best scratch cooking I've come across on my travels.
(4)
Lisa K.
Honestly, Loveless never disappoints and on each of my three visits I've left here as happy as could be! Once you sit down they'll bring you a plate full of biscuits and jam, and this could be meal enough on its own! The biscuits are always hot and buttery and delicious! You won't want to fill up on biscuits though because you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I'm partial to the chicken and dumplings, which is one of their blue plate specials on Wednesday. All of the sides are super tasty, but the creamed corn is really special. I can't say I've ever made it to dessert... or even finished my meal! I always get caught up with the biscuits, which gives me plenty of leftovers! Believe me when I say a trip to Loveless is worth the stop. Your stomach will thank you!
(5)
Mary G.
Breakfast review...Pricey, have to say that right off the bat. We ordered a la carte for the most part, to try different menu items. My scrambled eggs were good, not overcooked, the in-house, smoked bacon was really delicious, grits were smooth and the hash brown casserole was tasty but I thought it had a little too much cheese in it. I know, I know, can there ever be too much cheese? I would have like to taste onion, maybe even some green pepper. The biscuits were very tasty and personally I'm glad they are small. The country ham was thick (we like it on a the thinner side though), not over-salted and had a great flavor. The service was excellent, waiter friendly, bringing out a plate of biscuits and 3 servings of homemade jams. We arrived at 7:15am and the cafe was half full. When we left at around 8am they had a wait. Though the line was moving, I would suggest making a reservation, even that early! There are cute little shops surrounding the cafe. All in all a good experience and we will go back again for other breakfast items and for lunch/dinner.
(4)
John S.
Went again after the Vanderbilt commencement ceremony. This time I was in a large group and each person ordered something different. I got the fried pork chops, which were huge portions (2 big pieces) and very tender and juicy. A friend had the fried steak, which was also very good. I would give it 4 or even 4.5 stars because the food is delicious and the biscuits are always amazing (and the preserves are heavenly). Just be prepared to wait (we waited about an hour).
(4)
Cryss L.
While in Nashville three weeks ago we dropped in for a late lunch. The food was fantastic. Our server was not attentive. We both remarked how we wish we had been seated in another section as the other tables were getting amazing service. Back to the food. I ordered the BLT (the T being fried green tomatoes). It was very good. The bacon was just right and the fried green tomatoes had a nice crunch to them. I had a side of mac -n- cheese which was good (not great but good). The biscuit was wonderful and the strawberry preserves were fantastic. So good that after we ate we walked over to the Loveless market and each picked up a jar to take back. My mom had breakfast, two fried eggs, sourdough toast, bacon, hash browns, and the city ham. The ham was great. I was surprised on my way to the bathroom to pass two open window kitchens, one that show cased biscuit making. That was very cool. I would definitely come back and I highly recommend going. I would have loved to give 5 star but I just couldn't with such poor service.
(4)
Anto B.
Amazzzzzing fried chicken!!! I can say the best I have ever had. This place is a must go/see when in Nashville. Everything we ordered was amazing and everything we didn't order looked amazing too.
(5)
Eric D.
This place is a bit overrated. I love the decor and the history behind loveless cafe, but the food was sub par. The service was excellent though. I had the Country fried steak and to be quite honest, i've had a lot better. I hope this was an isolated expierence.
(2)
Millah J.
I had read reviews and some weren't favorable so I didn't know what to expect. I was not disappointed!! I had the fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, pinto beans and fried green tomatoes and everything was so good. The downside was the 1 hour wait, but the food and service more than made up for it. In fact, I'll be back!
(5)
Moles B.
I'm not even done eating and I'm giving it five stars. This place has the whole package. Take note restaurant owners, it has an original and consistent theme, it's clean, the waitstaff is super friendly and pleased to help you. The fried chicken is up there with the best. Were the biscuits the best I've ever had? No but they weren't bad and they'll give you as many as you want and with awesome homemade preserves. I've had better Mac and cheese but it's still really good. For the price, this is as good as it gets. I'm waiting for pecan pie right now but I'm confident that they won't fuck that up.............and they didn't. Win!!!!
(5)
Mr T.
As far as Southern cooking goes, Loveless Cafe isn't even in my top 15, but the experience was enjoyable and it's definitely something you should do at least once when visiting Nashville. Biscuits: Decent. Don't know why everyone is so crazy about them. Pretty small, so plan on eating at least two. The housemade peach preserves are awesome. Overall: C+ Fried Chicken (white meat): Light, crispy, flavorful crust. Meat was tender and juicy. Overall: A- Hashbrown Casserole: Sizable portion. Thick and rich. Slightly better than what you'll find at Cracker Barrel. Overall: B Collard Greens: Relatively bland. Lacked a traditional saltiness from the ham hock. Pot liquor goes well with the biscuits. Overall: C- Green Beans: Same issue as collards. Overall: C-
(3)
John S.
Came here some time ago, and I have to first say it was the best, most tender, juiciest bbq pulled pork I have ever had. Another thing - the wait time was ridiculous, nearly 2 hours. I ended up having a snack at the shop that also sells the bbq pork, where I had a small preview of the delicious bbq pulled pork. I wanted a second and third helping and just to eat that, but my friends wanted to eat at the actual restaurant..... And yes, it was worth it, for those dang biscuits. MAN THEY'RE GOOD. I needed extra strawberry jam for them, TWICE. These, along with the bbq pork, are what I remember most. I had dessert too, it was delicious, but nothing comes close to these babies. Overall, AMAZING, but WAY too long of a wait when its busy. ALTERNATIVE: get BBQ sandwiches next door and buy goo clusters for dessert!
(4)
Kristle S.
Loved the atmosphere. Food was sooooooo delicious. Down home southern cooking. Very good and went home stuffed and with leftovers. Will go back here when I am back in town.
(5)
Keith L.
So this place is definitely out of the way if you're staying in the city (my friends and I were a few blocks from Broadway when we went), but if you've got wheels and a burning hunger for the kind of southern food you came down South for, then Loveless is your place. The meal started with a basket of biscuits with homemade jam (on the house) and my friend and I shared the Pimento Bacon burger and the BBQ sandwich, then finished the meal off with some pie. The service was super-friendly and the food was all good.Totally what we wanted out of a Nashville dining experience.
(4)
Jinkzz M.
Loveless Cafe is absolutely delightful and one that shouldn't be missed by anyone visiting Nashville. The restaurant is located outside of Nashville on Hwy 100. The restaurant sign is clearly visible from the highway with its blue color and neon lighting. There are several building structure within the "compound" which houses the restaurant, the market, bbq pit/smokehouse, local arts store, and other buildings. The restaurant itself in nondescript and unassuming with a short flight of stairs leading to the main entrance. The inside of the restaurant is warm and inviting. It feels like visiting a Southern home where you are always welcome. The walls are decorated with pictures of famous celebs (country music stars, I think but not too sure since I didn't really look too closely at the photographs) with autographs. The servers were friendly and accommodating. We came around 10 in the morning so it was not too busy. Our server was quite attentive and didn't need prompting for any refills. My friend ordered waffles while I ordered fried pork chop. The biscuit was complimentary along with the different jams and preserves. The food that we ordered was amazing but the biscuit was exceptional.It was not greasy but soft and flaky...delicious. I wasn't fond of biscuits before but their biscuit turned me into a believer :) Such a great example of how good Southern cooking is and a reminder of how much I miss it. If there was one thing that I regret though is that we didn't order the fried chicken liver :( I heard that wait time can be long on the weekends so it might be better to schedule a trip during the week. Overall, this was definitely worth the drive over from Nashville. If I am back in the area, I will definitely come back to eat. Prices were okay and reasonable. They have a parking lot that offers free parking.
(5)
William T.
If you love to eat, this has to be one of the best places to go. Today was our second trip back to this restaurant and it was every bit as good as our first trip here. This is definitely going to be on our list of restaurants every time we come to Nashville. William
(5)
Tracy F.
Being relatively new to Nashville, Loveless Cafe was one of the first places I was taken since I arrived. I love the atmosphere of the entire campus, from the cafe itself to the Hams and Jams country store--it screams "Nashville!" in the best possible way. However, even with the kitchy stores and atmosphere, I was put off by the 1 hour 45 minute wait and extremely grumpy by the time we were finally seated. We ordered our dinner, a classic meat and three with the smoked turkey breast, mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes and green beans. The turkey was freezer-burned and cold and so bad I had to send it back. My boyfriend commented that his fried chicken was only lukewarm and the mashed potatoes had no flavor--he also said that the best part of the meal were the biscuits, the one thing we didn't have to pay for! We left the restaurant feeling disappointed, with no desire to return. I happened to have a business meeting here one weekday morning for breakfast a few weeks later, and I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the meal was. I ordered a vegetable omelette with grits and biscuits and enjoyed every bite! The omelette was fresh and huge, and the biscuits were noticeably hot out of the oven. I've since returned to Loveless with out of town guests for breakfast and have always been satisfied with my meal, particularly because the wait time is dramatically shorter than it would be for dinner. I won't eat anything but breakfast here again anyways, so I'll be back on a weekday morning the next time I welcome visitors!
(3)
Andrea T.
Pace yourselves. Is all I have to say! I overdid it! The biscuits are so good. Ridiculous good. So good you could eat them plain, but why would you when there are the best jams ever on the plate? The peach jam is like eating the best peach cobbler on a biscuit. The blackberry still has pieces of the blackberries intact?? How do they do that?? The strawberry is good, but not as noteworthy as the other two. Oh, and they will bring more biscuits, but cut them off after two plates! I prefer the turnip greens at Arnold's, but hey to each is own! They were really the only thing I wasn't over the moon about! The sweet tea is perfectly sweetened. Not too sweet, not too bitter, just right! I had fried chicken and it was sublime! Would definitely order it again. The string bean casserole was a little taste of thanksgiving in may...score! I also had the chicken and bacon soup chowder which was delicious. Not salty at all, perfectly seasoned! My friend and I both had pie, the strawberry rhubarb and steeplechase ( derby style pie) and they were perfect slices, not too big and not too small, definitely too small to share, but perfect when you already regretted ordering it!! Delicious both of them! Well worth the wait, and theres plenty to shop before you eat! Oh and ask for Virginia! She's the best waitress!!!
(4)
Ericka B.
Cute place to check out if you're visiting Nashville! Biscuits are good, food is decent. I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of Southern food, but when in Rome...er, Nashville... I had a beef brisket sandwich with green beans and Mac and cheese. The bf had a southern omelette with country ham. Everything was pretty good. Portions are HUGE. Consider sharing a meal if you don't want to walk out hurting!
(4)
Lauren H.
I cannot believe I'm just now reviewing the loveless! Such a great place to eat if visiting the Nashville area. The biscuits and jams are incredible and the perfect starter (free) to any meal! The fried chicken, creamed corn, fried green tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and turnip greens will make you slap yo'mamma! ;-) very good! And I hope to visit again very soon!
(5)
Katelyn N.
Had a great country meal here while visiting Nashville from Chicago. The chicken was amazingly moist and delicious. Fried green tomatoes were pretty good as well. The biscuits were nice and buttery and really tasty. They came with three different types of preserves: peach, strawberry and blackberry. I wasn't a fan of the peach but the other two were awesome and went perfectly with the homemade biscuits. We got there around 8 on a Friday night and were seated right away. We had heard the wait is usually upwards of an hour but we didn't have that issue at all. Service was super friendly and attentive. While the location is a little off the beaten path from downtown Nashville, the food makes it totally worth it.
(4)
Moira R.
Okay, so I finally made it to Loveless for breakfast. Waited an hour and a half was expected, and there was enough to keep me busy, so that was okay. People were friendly. I had some trouble with the menu, ultimately I couldn't find anything I really wanted which is usually not a problem I have. The biscuits were good, but let's be honest, this whole show is about the jam -- which is delicious. Waitress was rushed, kind of harassed, but mostly funny about it. The breakfast with friends was nice, overall the experience was good. Not really sure why people are so obsessed at this point, aside from the fact that the place IS AN INSTITUTION. Definitely worth it for the history, I suppose.
(3)
Stephen M.
Best biscuits on earth....(I'm not kidding). The biscuits are truly amazing, as is the rest of the menu. I bring all my visiting family members here for breakfast or lunch at least once during their visits. My favorite from the menu is the pulled pork omelet, as it has just the right sweet and savory combination to satisfy the palate. Do yourself a favor and take the significant other for a nice breakfast, or brunch.
(5)
TJ F.
The Loveless is a great place, with sprawling grounds formed from the bones of an old highway motel. Nowadays, it houses a music venue, gift shop, tourist items and... authentic southern food. If you like biscuits with preserves like your grandma from the farm made, and fried chicken with okra, mashed potatoes and hush puppies, this is your place. I've visited a few times and I'm personally not a fan of this style of food - pretty much everything is battered, breaded, fried, and carbolicious. However, it is a fun place to take some out-of-town guests who want to live the southern comfort food life for a couple of hours and don't mind going a bit away from the city. Treat your arteries to some real gravy, butter on your biscuit, and fried catfish while you're here. It's not good for you, but it's tasty, authentic, and worth a trip once in a while.
(4)
KT A.
This place is fantastic! The People are friendly and brings the customers back to "service with a smile". Country fried steak, eggs, cheese grits, bacon and biscuits. All great! Loved the grits... Came on a Monday morning around 10am with 6 people. Did not have to wait... Also loved the Peach Jam.. Bought a few bottles to take back to NJ! If you're able to go... Definitely go and have some breakfast here!
(5)
Chip M.
Good food that did appear to be "scratch made" I have the biscuits n gravy. The gravy did taste scratch made and not from. Mix. Biscuits were really tasty. The jams were good but the strawberry was Extremely runny so not very jam like. The peach really didn't taste overly peachy to me. The blackberry was By far my personal fav of the the 3. Luke was our server. He was attentive And provided us with great service and just the right about of chit chat. Nice way to start the day. I'd return but might make reservation in advance. We waited about 1 hour this sunny Sunday morning.
(4)
David M.
Live close by and eat here frequently. Occasionally can be seated quickly but usually a wait. It's just home style COOKIN and typically good for when you want fried food and country veggies. We like seeing all different people and visitors from out of town. Occasionally will see country music stars as we have a few times who also live close by. Miss the biscuit lady yet her recipe lives on...
(5)
BT M.
Loveless is a tasty treat after (or before) a ride down the Natchez Trace. The food is okay, but not spectacular. The wait is long, but worth it if you want the Loveless experience. For my money, Monell's in Nashville is better on food, but lacks the experience of a nice drive and a shared "It's Loveless!" experience. While you're waiting, go over to the shop area, get corn hole equipment, and toss the bags.
(3)
Charles L.
I took my staff to lunch at Loveless to celebrate a co-worker's birthday. It was a big hit. Many of us were new to Nashville and really enjoyed this staple. As a true southerner, I would say that the biscuits are a little overhyped but they were still quite good. It's just a matter of personal taste though. I will definitely go back and take more friends in the future.
(4)
Kimberly K.
They're biscuits. How good can biscuits really get? {Ambiance} Homey. Laid back. Loads of celebrity pictures on the walls. We arrived at around 9 am on Wednesday and there was no wait. By 10 am there was a bit of a wait. Not a huge line though. I believe you are given a buzzer if you have to wait for a table, so you can browse around the gift shop to kill some time. {Service} The moment we entered the doors, the hostess was welcoming and friendly. Our server Dee was attentive, offered suggestions, and was more than helpful. She brought us extra napkins, our water cups were always full, and she made sure we had plenty of biscuits throughout our meal. {Food} *A bowl of butter and half & half sits on each table. How convenient. Complimentary Homemade Biscuits and Preserves- The most memorable biscuits ever! Warm, light, fluffy, and slightly buttery. They weren't extremely buttery or salty like some of the others I have had in the past. Three types of preserves come with your plate of biscuits: Peach, Blackberry, and Strawberry. The biscuits are delicious on their own but the preserves are so well made, you will want to buy a jar of it to take home. Two simple ingredients go into their preserves, sugar and fruit. Southern Sampler Breakfast - Includes Country Ham, Bacon, Sausage and Eggs. All Breakfast Platters come with your choice of grits or potatoes. The Ham was flavorful but really tough. You will be chewing for a very long time. The red eye gravy was flavorful. The bacon was savory, crispy, and slightly salty. The sausage patties were warm, tender, and seasoned well. The eggs were cooked perfectly, just the way I ordered them- sunny side up. The grits were warm and comforting but a bit too watery for me. French Toast- Hearty slices of Texas toast with loads of cinnamon and sugar. It comes with syrup, but they were delicious on their own. Hashbrown Casserole- Potatoes + Cheese = winner {Price Range} Breakfast Plates/Platters $6.95-$13.50, Supper Platters $9.95-$16.95 When thinking about the biscuits at Loveless Cafe, words such as "amazing" and "mind blowing" come to mind.
(4)
Colleen M.
This was one of my favorite places I stopped at while in Nashville. Yes, the wait can be insanely long, but I promise it is so worth it. If you are tight on time, be sure to call ahead and see how busy it is. If you have to wait, there are cute little shops surrounding the cafe to kill some time. Those biscuits are SO GOOD! The staff is so friendly! They even sent us with water and biscuits to go to bring back to our hotel room. I was more than pleased with my experience. I'm heading to Nashville again soon and will be making a stop here again!
(5)
Kristin V.
Definitely worth the drive from Franklin. The complimentary biscuits were the best biscuits I have ever had and if I wasn't trying to watch what I'm eating, I think the biscuits and gravy or the fried chicken would have put me into a food coma. Food was great and walking around the little area while waiting for our table was a lot of fun. It was an hour wait around 1:30pm so it's nice they have stuff for you to do. There is cornhole out front and 4 cute little shops ranging from Loveless treats and meats to souvenirs etc. Would definitely recommend as a place to check out!
(4)
Christopher B.
OMG the best fried chicken I have ever had in my entire life. One of my friends shed a tear and the other licked her fingers and said "I didn't know people really did that! " it was so good. They even have all you can eat chicken or meatloaf with great sides and unlimited biscuits. The wait is terrible but there are shops to pass the time. Only disappointment was watermelon wasnt in season they said so I couldn't get the watermelon moonshine. Highly recommend. Worth the drive and the wait.
(5)
Angel O.
First time reviewer and what a great place to begin with. I travel for work a lot, and I tend to use Yelp to find those can't miss places. This place however, was based on a recommendation from a local. And thank goodness she did. I went on a Tuesday evening with a coworker. The service was great, our server, a young college aged man, was very helpful, funny, and extremely polite. He quickly brought us some biscuits and wow, they're as good as anyone can advertise them to be. The jams are just great too. I ordered the friend chicken (half) with mashed potatoes and mac n cheese. I'm a little ashamed that I licked my plate cleaned, while inhaling a few dozen biscuits. I did leave Loveless with an overwhelming feeling of joy and shame. 5 stars no doubt.
(5)
Andy B.
3.5 stars, really. My country fried steak was quite tasty. Can't say the same about the mashed potatoes, though. Hour wait on Sunday at 3 PM was odd. The blackberry jam was quite awesome.
(4)
Jon T.
It is tough to say much about Loveless that has not already been said. The biscuits are every bit as good as every single person you ask tells you. They come hot. The preserves for them are remarkable. If you seek happiness through carbohydrates, you shouldn't go another day without experiencing the wonder of the Loveless biscuit. It actually is every bit as good as those your grandmother used to make. As for the rest of the food, fantastic. You can tell that their country fried steak is hand breaded, and does not taste like a Swanson TV dinner like is served at most restaurants. The sides are fantastic. The hashbrown casserole is to die for. Anyone going to this restaurant should be prepared for a festival of carbs. That is the only good reason to go to this type of restaurant. One thing should be noted about this restaurant. Expect to wait! Any weekend, a wait of at least an hour is to be expected. Once it gets closer to the summer, the waits can be even longer. Is it worth the wait? It depends on who you ask. I say yes, but I always make sure to eat a piece of cheese beforehand. You simply cannot go to this restaurant already hungry. You will feel like you are being tortured. This place is worth every 5 star review it gets. It has yet to disappoint, and I will return every time I make a trip to Nashville.
(5)
Brian K.
Super supper, but slow service! We arrived Saturday afternoon and were informed it was an hour and a half wait, then returned Saturday evening and waited for about 45 minutes. So the wait time wasn't optimum, considering there are only about 30 tables at the restaurant and probably about 4 waitress on staff. Not only was the wait time to long, but one of my pet peeves is drink refills and they were essentially non-existent. My glass should never be empty and it seemed not all the staff was working as a team. It seems most of the staff is young and some were to busy with high fives and not willing to watch out for the customers and help the wait staff. My drink was finally refilled with the wrong drink and returned with no straw. Now the food was great! The biscuts and jam were amazing and always wonderful. We have been three times and each time the meal was very good. The final time we had chicken fried steak and a few sides. The steak was not crunchy and moist. Great job on the food.
(4)
Alex G.
Great food, good service...BUT, it's in the middle of friggin' nowhere and there's almost always a long wait so I don't recommend going unless you have lots of time to kill (esp. because it's not exactly like there's anything to see around there). In short, it's good food (hence the 4 stars), but I completely disagree that it's worth the trip or the wait. There's plenty of good places to eat right in Nashville instead.
(4)
Jay N.
Great Biscuits and jams. I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and it tasted like something my wife got out of a box. The portion was not worth the value. The sides were great. They do have Great Barbecue and my wife ordered that. She got a HUGE helping of it. They should be embarassed to serve that steak. The please is VERY LOUD and not the kind of place you want to go if you want to hear the person sitting next to you. VERY SAD experience
(2)
David E.
My wife & I were in Nashville last Fall and wanted to try out one of the restaurants I had seen on the Food Network. We were directed to Loveless Cafe and we were not disappointed. The biscuits lived up to their billing and the veggies were fresh and delicious. Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert, but be sure you get some when you go. If you're in the neighborhood, treat yourself to a good meal - but order dessert before your meal since they run out quickly.
(4)
Tammy M.
Oh my gosh what a fun experience and great food! Loved the friend chicken.
(5)
Laura S.
Can I tell you how much I love this jam? And these biscuits? Because I can't. I would never stop talking. Call it the Southerner in me, but I love a good breakfast place that doesn't hold back on anything buttered. If you like to sit and stuff your face with delicious food that may or may not give you a heart attack--go to Loveless!
(4)
Elizabeth B.
I walked in for a quick biscuit and jam experience around noon on a week day. While the blackberry jam was outstanding, the biscuits were a little on the chewy side for my liking. And YES I'm from the south. ;) The most disappointing part of my experience here, though, was service related. Our waitress was incredibly rude and snarky. I overheard her making ugly remarks to the cashiers about my party in the next room. We were all extremely nice, but she was not. If you're looking for "southern hospitality" I'm afraid you won't find it here.
(2)
Angie H.
It's all about the biscuits and the preserves. That's why you go, that's why you have to wait and that's why you'll say it was worth it. Make no mistake about it, there will be a wait. Dad and I waited almost 2 hours. We walked right in to the old house front and put our name on the list. She handed me a pager and off we went to check out the rest of the grounds. There are a few shops to browse through. One with Loveless Cafe souvenirs, from their cook books, jars of their preserves, to handy guitar shaped wooden cooking spoons. Lots of neat stuff in there. One with t-shirts, caps and more gift shop goodies. The barn on site is used as a venue for weddings, parties and music shows. If there's nothing scheduled, you may look around inside of it. There are several other boutique shops on the place to pass the time. The BBQ Pit is a screened in area that you can watch the staff prepare their pulled pork or smoked turkey. When Ya get tired of looking around, sit a spell and compare wait times with the other patrons and before you know it, your pager will buzz and light up! After ordering your drink, she'll bring you a plate of hot buttered biscuits with 3 preserves: Blackberry (with seeds), Strawberry and Peach. All three are absolutely delicious. The biscuits are melt in your mouth smooth. It don't get any better than this. Dad ordered the Pulled Pork and I got the County Ham. Now just so ya know, BREAKFAST is served ALL DAY. SUPPER menu is available from 11am to close. Our food was hot and very tasty. Did you know the front is the original house that the Loveless Couple originally sold Fried Chicken and Biscuits right out their Front Door? Look around when you come in. Can you find that Original Front Door? Enjoy!
(5)
Pam F.
I am and always will be obsessed with Loveless Cafe. The preserves, the biscuits, what's not to love? I visit it every single time I am in Nashville and I never regret it. I love the Loveless fried chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. I am not a huge pie fan so I have not tried the pies, but everyone has told me that they are SO GOOD. I am also a fan of their waffles. Really, you can't go wrong with anything at Loveless Cafe. I drag every person I know to eat there and they never regret it.
(5)
Aisha S.
Biscuits! Good lord the biscuits. And the peach preserves! I bought some biscuit mix with peach and blackberry preserves from the store and took a catalog for future online ordering. The barbecue sauce (also sold in the store) made the bbq pork omelette especially delicious. We were lucky enough to come here for the first time during the week when it wasn't very crowded, but weekend brunch was ridiculous. We ended up ordering our food to go and eating outside. It was worth it though! Did I mention the biscuits?
(4)
Brian F.
The place to go when you come to Nashville! Great country ham, biscuits, homemade preserves, and all things Nashville. Wonderful gift shop. Friendly people and good outdoor spots to wait for a table where you can sit around a picnic table and talk with friends and family just like you would on a front porch, and they have one of those too! Wonderful!
(5)
Kevin M.
Ok Nashville. What is up with your love affair for Loveless Cafe? Yes, I can see it as an iconic establishment for music, maybe. And it's back story is kind of cool. But listen: if I'm going to wait two hours for food (the norm for weekend lunch?), it better be higher quality than freaking CRACKER BARREL. Every plate of food that I saw for our table (eight people) carried more "good ol southern" cholesterol than a tub of Country Crock, deep fried to a crisp and full of the weird southern fixings that this northerner can't find in his heart to respect. I thought I had ordered something safe, some biscuit plate. When it came out of the kitchen...well...no. No thank you. Bad experience, don't wanna go back.
(1)
Lilie T.
The biscuits are the best!!!! It is sooo fresh, it is still hot and steamy when u break it in half. I would definitely go back to this and eat biscuits all day.
(4)
Alycia J.
On a road trip to Mississippi, we stopped here after seeing a flyer at a rest stop. BEST DECISION ever! We fell in love with the biscuits and I'd never had an omelet with barbeque in it, before, but it is a GENIUS combination of flavors. I had the "mimosa for two" all by myself and our table ordered two rounds of biscuits with preserves. It was so good that on our drive back home, we went out of our way so that we could taste those biscuits one more time. The wait was long so we ordered to go and ate it all outside on the picnic tables even when it was threatening to rain. It was worth it. I love you Loveless Cafe!
(5)
Andrea F.
The best The South has to offer: the biscuits, the blackberry jam, the bbq omellette, the chicken fried steak. You can't go wrong at this place!!! notquitegrownupguide.blo…
(5)
Kate M.
I went here for lunch on my last day in Nashville. I AM SO GLAD I DID! They have to die for fried chicken and mac n cheese. The biscuits that come with your food are perfect, best I've ever had. They give you a selection of preserves with the biscuits as well...the peach is amazing. It's a bit of a drive outside of the city but if you are going to Belle Meade or Cheekwood, it's not too far from there! Totally worth it!
(5)
Juanita J.
The peach preserves are a masterpiece!!! Great southern cooking - tastes like homemade! Fried chicken is incredible - how do they make that crust?!! Mashed potatoes are the real deal and the macaroni and cheese makes you want seconds. Don't worry about dessert - the biscuits with butter and peach preserves are dessert! Plan your trip carefully - the wait time can be long. We waited 45 minutes.
(5)
Sami L.
Caution: Tourist trap. Biscuits were warm and were good but not the best I ever had. Food was mediocre. Wait time is ridiculously long and I think they do that on purpose so you can spend time in their shops purchasing needless merchandise. Our service was great though.
(3)
Dave C.
We drove 30 minutes from Nashville for brunch here, and then waited 35 minutes for a table (they told us an hour).......an it was worth it. We had the ribs, brisket, creamed corn (the star of the show) and of course you get the biscuits with their homemade jam to start........i would just eat the biskets all day with the jam if i could. it's worth the drive and the wait.
(4)
Lauren M.
The wait is long (over an hour in my case), but the food is worth it. The biscuits are light and buttery and are the perfect vessel for the peach preserves. The bacon is worth it alone. And the grits. And the chicken. And the coffee. Did I mention the biscuits? If you are looking for good, Southern-style breakfast, just go. Wait and eat. It's worth it.
(5)
Leann P.
We went to the Loveless Cafe on a Monday mid-morning. We had a 45 minute wait, but it was nice because we got a pager and were able to walk around the campus and go into the different shops. Some people in other parties were becoming edgy due to the wait, but the staff does not keep it a secret that you will be waiting. They have delicious southern cuisine! Must haves= biscuits, hashbrown casserole. It was literally the best hashbrown casserole I've ever had! Loveless Cafe is definitely a place you should experience when in Nashville! My only complaint would be that it was pretty cold inside. I ended up wearing my gloves while waiting for our seat and our food. By the end of the meal my toes were numb!
(4)
Shafi K.
I am so surprised that I have not reviewed this place earlier! This is the place where we bring anyone and everyone who is visiting us from out of town if they say they want to eat "southern food". This place has a great ambiance. The decor is awesome. It's vintage-looking with the pictures of 101 famous singers/dancers/musicians/senators/presidents/Âmayors/etc. Amazing how many people have been here! Everything is delicious, so where do I start? Their biscuits are the BEST in town. The fried catfish is great. I have tried the pork chops as well- ah!mazing. The prices are great and you get A LOT of food. I can literally eat my left-overs for 2 more meals the next day. When people say the food here is to DIE for, I think they mean it literally. After all that cholesterol and fat, you will be very near death. If you want a meal that will keep you full for the next 18 hours, go here! Love it!
(5)
Richard N.
We live about 5 miles from this place. We always take friends and family here when they're in from out of town. Consistently good down home food.
(4)
Maggie M.
Insane waits on the weekend. Waited over an hour on Friday for a take-out order (including the 30 min drive over there). Can't see what the fuss is. Will have to try to make it out on a Tuesday or Wednesday and see if it's actually possible to get a table. Not impressed with the food I got- have definitely had better in the area.
(2)
Michael S.
32 bucks for breakfast is a wee too high. food was great, service was great. just can't get over the price.
Fun place outside Nashville. They have made it into a bit of a tourist destination. The creamed corn is great. Biscuits are rockin'. Had the "special of the day" creamed chicken & dumplings. Good, wouldn't call it great. Excellent service, nice atmosphere. A little pricey, but worth a visit.
(4)
Doug P.
Fried chicken that was done perfectly. Turnip greens and grits! Peanut butter pie!!! Tooo good!! Absolutely deserves the longstanding reputation of great food...oh I almost forgot...butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
(5)
Matthew B.
One of my all time favorite restaurants. I have not been here for a few years and it is good to know things haven't changed. Same great food!
(5)
Guillermo L.
Fourth of July visit! We had to wait to be seated but the food was every second worth it!! :)
(5)
Megan H.
Went for our anniversary dinner and Tammy was the best server we've ever had! Entire Menu was tempting and the biscuits were, of course, amazing. Can't wait to go back for more brinner (breakfast for dinner)!!! Love the ambience every time.
(5)
Dana P.
Home cooked, Southern style food. Good food, good service, good moonshine drinks. Ordered the blue plate special, which at the time was hot chicken with fries and mac and cheese. It was so good! The chicken was juicy, yet crunchy. Had a little kick of spice, and was delicious. I was in a big group and they got everyone's order right. I had a side of ranch and others had small sides or little extras, and they never missed a thing. I ordered the Blue Moon drink, which was delicious. Had blueberries, lemonade, and Sprite (with moonshine). The Loveless is such a popular dining location that people wait hours to eat there. There was a big crowd of people when we arrived and left, and I can see why. I highly recommend visiting the restaurant and shops behind the restaurant if you want something to take home.
(5)
N T.
Go for the biscuits, stay for the blackberry preserves. I don't even like fried chicken, but I love it when my family goes to this iconic restaurant to give out-of-towners a backwoods Tennessee experience (though the area has become increasingly suburban since I was little). The biscuits and blackberry preserves are ridiculously good. They give you other types of preserves, too, but I seldom have bothered to even try them. As someone who doesn't like fried chicken, I often go for the catfish. It's quite good if you like catfish (which many people don't), but it's also fried which is a downside for me as fried food upsets my stomach.
(5)
Andrea S.
Everyone raves about this place, however I wasn't impressed. The famous biscuits were OK. I have definitely had better. Our waiter wasn't really friendly and some of our food was burnt. We were kind over the place and didn't bother to say anything. We ate less than half the food. The shops are a little over priced but a cute set up.
(2)
Justin H.
Great food and excellent service. The aroma was very good and cool shops to walk around and see while waiting. Definitely make time for the wait!
(5)
Patten F.
I have lived in Nashville for my entire life, but prior to this weekend, I had been to Loveless exactly one time - and that was on my 11th birthday, 20 years ago. As I drove back from a trip to Nashville West with my family, I pointed out that while I knew Nashville like the back of my hand...I honestly had no idea how to get to the Loveless...so we decided to go on Saturday night, completely ignoring the fact that people were starting to roll in for Fan Fair. When we arrived, I found a spot right by the front door...because I'm awesome. There was a 25 minute wait, but since it's the Loveless and it's Saturday night (and it was gorgeous out), that was no problem...we just explored the property. There's a little shop off to the side that sells ham, bacon, preserves, biscuit mix and various Nashville paraphenalia like you would find if you were getting off the airport. Yeah, it's tourist central, but who really cares - there's a fridge full of bacon. Seriously. Bacon. Fridge. Want. (My sister and I were unsuccessful at convincing my mom to get a "I'm Not Bashful I'm From Nashville" sticker for her car). So we moseyed around (because that's what we natives do when we're not line dancing, going to Tootsies and wearing our boots and hats, right? We mosey) and found a nice big porch outside Trace Bikes (which is in one of the shops in the old converted Motel - the Motel portion of the Loveless has been converted into a hipster strip mall) and enjoyed the sun while we waited for the pager to go off. When we went inside...we walked past the screen door that used to be the entrance (and was the last time I was there) and went right...last time I went left. After reviewing the menu (and determining that I wanted breakfast for dinner and you can't convince me otherwise), I got a barbecue pork omelette, thinking a) I like both of those things and b) where else am I going to get that. They brought our biscuits and preserves to the table (if in doubt, use the peach), we fell into a biscuit coma and our food came. While I never ever would have considered putting barbecue into an omelette...it was fantastic (and gigantic)...I'd get it again if there weren't so much more deliciousness waiting for me on the menu in future visits. Because we had determined that we had already gone all-in with this dinner, we ordered dessert. I had banana pudding. It was perfect, with the little bits of banana and soggy vanilla wafer in it...um. More please. So touristishness and cliches be damned, I love the Loveless.
(5)
Stephanie I.
Definitely make a stop at Loveless if you're in Nashville! It's become such an iconic restaurant...and rightfully so! Beware: the wait is LONG. We waited almost 2 hours, but luckily there are a lot of small shops in the area to kill time. As for the food, the biscuits are so so so good. I also had the meatloaf - pretty good too! I would say that a lot of the appeal is in the atmosphere and general feel of the place, but the food is pretty solid as well.
(4)
linda d.
Great country breakfast. We ate here twice while in Nashville last week. The first morning, I had the fried eggs, ham and red gravy, which is more like aus jus where I come from. It came with hash brown casserole that was quite tasty. The biscuits and homemade preserves were divine. Overall a very good breakfast. The second visit, I had the port BBQ and eggs and my friend had the country fried pork chops and eggs. The highlight was the country fried pork chops! The BBQ pork was delish as well.
(5)
Julie L.
I was born and raised in California, but there are some Southern dishes that I just can't get enough of when they're done right. I could curl up in a basket of Loveless biscuits, take a nap, and dream of amazing homemade preserves. Those things are like crack. Good fried chicken doesn't hurt my feelings either, and Loveless' is so good that my friend had to tell me halfway through lunch that I had it all over my face (I was not ashamed either). Balance all that out with a side of marinated cucumbers and onions and you're good to go. Be prepared for a possibly long wait - but at least there are shops and galleries nearby to wander through while you try not to get hangry (aka hungry angry)!
(4)
Byron W.
We visited some friends in Nashville and my wife suggested we check-out Loveless Cafe. Apparently, a lot of famous people eat (or have eaten) here. I'm always down for checking-out local favorites, so off we went. After reading a number of reviews here on Yelp, it was obvious Loveless was famous for two things: fried chicken and biscuits. Before I go any further, let me say that I grew up in the South. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet tea and bread have been a regular part of my diet for as long as I can remember. To say that I was disappointed in the fried chicken and biscuits would be an understatement. Some of the reviewers have commented that Cracker Barrel has nothing on Loveless' biscuits. Are you kidding me?! Not only are Cracker Barrel's biscuits better, their fried chicken puts Loveless' to shame as well. Loveless even messed-up their sweet tea. A "southern food" establishment that can't get sweet tea right?! Wow... I will say that the food wasn't bad. However, I cannot tell you it was good. It was "okay". It was edible. But, no, I didn't ask for a to go box. Their creamed corn was fine and the mashed potatoes were better than instant. My wife had their chicken fingers, which were okay at best. Her homemade chicken fingers puts Loveless to shame. Her homemade biscuits put Loveless to shame. And her sweet tea (even on a bad day) puts Loveless' to shame. Come to think of it, if this place is so "famous", maybe my wife should open a restaurant... Save your drive and find a local Cracker Barrel (until I find an alternate local southern food establishment to recommend). Previous owners must have done things differently. I have no other explanation for the reputation this place has...
(3)
Gai P.
Pretty solid breakfast joint though not extraordinary given all the fanfare. You'll wait a long time so be prepared. There isn't a place close by that sells adult beverages. Maybe bring a flask or a cooler to help pass time. Don't have a group of more than 4 to get seated faster.
(3)
Diana J.
Biscuits were phenomenal, and they keep 'em coming! Fried chicken was absolutely delicious too, though 2 pieces of the dark meat was enough for me as I still preferred the biscuits with their peach jam. Ice tea is nothing special though. Bought peach jam to go and their biscuit mix - I'd definitely go back if I'm ever in town!
(5)
Terri B.
This was our second visit, we seem to always make time to enjoy the Loveless Cafe when in the Nashville area. The restaurant and shops are like stepping back in time to a much simpler way of life. The cafe is down home, southern cooking. You can count on it always be crowded, so be patient. We took the time to wander over to the shop. Picked up a few gifts for people, biscuit mix, jars of the jams, t-shirts and honey. The entire staff is happy, helpful and work to make you feel welcome. The food is delicious! I had the breakfast sandwich with crispy bacon and a side of the hash brown casserole, reminded me of the hash brown casserole my grandmother use to make, pure comfort food. Mr. B opted for an omelet, he said it was great! Mr. B Jr. ordered the country fried steak and eggs with hash brown casserole. Everything was cooked to perfection and makes you warm inside. The biscuits they serve are fabulous, you really can taste the love in the food. Spread a little homemade blackberry jam on the warm biscuits and it is pure heaven. There were 2 tables that had large parties, they ordered breakfast served family style. It reminded me of the big family get together's where everyone is enjoying each other over a home cooked meal. They were having a great time. Really good for groups and large parties. When in Nashville, make the time to take the drive out to the Loveless, you really won't be disappointed.
(4)
Gul A.
If you're in the area - drop everything and go here! We were driving cross country and I read about this place online and got a recommendation to try it out. The biscuits are great, I'm not a big fan in general but these were really good and their homemade jams area amazing (bought some for home in their store next door while waiting for our table). I had the pulled pork platter with the cream of corn and some potato side that were just incredible, the best meat, sauce and sides I have ever had (it's sad, i know). My BF had the chicken tenders with fries, also great dish though I think that trying the local favorites is always best in these places. I asked our waitress what to order and went by her suggestion and I was happy I did. We will definitely be back next time we're in the area.
(5)
BethAnn S.
A great place for to bring your skinny friends from NYC - hook up 'em up with some biscuits and gravy and zip 'em over to St. Thomas for an angioplasty. We love the family breakfast which actually isn't THAT unhealthy and is reasonably priced. Its also the fastest food we ever get served and hits the high points of eggs, bacon, fruit, biscuits (as if they would miss that!) and the potato of your choosing. The shopping at Curious Heart makes for fun distraction during the wait which can go up to an hour on a weekend. Weekdays you are in the free and clear with minimal waits and maximal time for your waitress to make sure 'ya'll are doing okay hun'. It's a gem!
(4)
Elliott C.
This embodies all that is Nashville..... no wait this is part of what makes Nashville so amazing. A small drive to the edge of the city and you are near the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Loveless Cafe. Get their early... I mean REALLY early. This place is packed on the weekends but well worth the wait. All the food is a amazing but Blackberry Jam and Biscuits are by far the best way to start any breakfast. I am not a southerner by a long shot, but this place makes me feel I have a southern Aunt who puts all her love into the food. Comfort food take a back seat, I get the same feeling eating here that I do for Thanksgiving.
The biscuits are definitely to die for.......the wait is far to long....the food is just ok.....i think back...back....back in the day it was better but it is just average food at a small place with over crowded dining rooms ...the place is just tired......just to much hype....you can find much better in nashville....or you can be disappointed and still say you ate at the loveless cafe
(1)
Sara L.
I drove across the country for my bucket list/birthday/I bought a new car/hey why not and stopped here on the way from Raleigh NC to Los Angeles.Spent half my budget on gifts and food. Well worth it. Everyone was really nice, the biscuits were delicious, coffee hot and I just might make the drive out again. MMM. I love you, Tennessee.
(4)
Heidi H.
The food was amazing!!!!! The best creamed corn I have ever eaten! Peach and strawberry jam are excellent. Peach jam was like peach pie filling! We ordered the fried chicken which was juicy and very good. Great mashed potatoes!!! Fried green tomatoes not that great. We will definitely be back. The pancakes looked great too!! It's out of the way but worth the drive!!!!!!!
(5)
Kevin M.
I would definitely put this on par with a Cracker Barrel with larger portions and an extensive history. Being that we went midweek in the evening there was little to no wait. My food was decent. The biscuits were quite tasty (I may have evaluated about 4...) I was not blown away by my overall experience but I am open to going back again to try the breakfast.
(3)
Tweedy C.
Read about this lovely cafe on yelp and was not disappointed!! Loved the ambience, food, and service! I ordered the half fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac & cheese...sooooo delicious!! Service was great!! Didn't have to ask for refills they were always ready with a new drink, super friendly, and just a great first time experience. Inside the decor is so lovely and makes you feel like you're inside someone's home..waiting as they cook you some delicious southern food! Also visited the market gift store outside and bought some goodies to take back home to Cali with me :) Hopefully we have time to come back here before we head back home! Lovedddd it :)
(5)
Dan C.
Great service, but the food really wasn't worth the wait. Granted we went on a sunday after church let out, but the food was just ok. Nothing that left me waiting to come back.
(3)
Diane L.
This is a stop worth the wait. It's a great experience if you've never visited here. We got there at 12:15 pm on a gorgeous autumn Sunday. Ninety minute wait for a table. We passed the time by exploring the interesting shops and walking the grounds. Our lunch menu included hash brown casserole, hush puppies,ham, meat loaf, pulled pork, turnip greens and THE biscuits. These Texas women didn't care for the biscuits at all. Tough, bland biscuits. Turnip greens were cold and very stringy--no pot liquor as promised. Meat loaf was bland. High points-- hash brown casserole, ham, hush puppies. Got the homemade banana pudding--made with sugar cookies instead of vanilla wafers--nothing special. We're glad we took the time to visit, but I don't need to go back unless I'm in Nashville for extended time. If you're traveling south out of Nashville, take the Natchez Trace. Beautiful drive! Have a full tank of gas before hitting the Trace...gas stations are few and have to ask Siri for gas locations. The Trace has sporadic internet connection. Go to Loveless at least once in your life! No regrets!
(4)
Frances B.
Landmark restaurants are always tricky. Sometimes they're just good, but nothing to write home about. They're famous because the locals love it, or it's tradition and because it makes some people nostalgic. Other times, it's well deserved fame that makes you wish you lived there so you could feast on those dishes to your little heart's content- that's Loveless. Sweet lord, Loveless. I will fantasize about this place until I can come back. When people think of outstanding, southern home cooking this is it. This is stick-to-your-ribs, bad for your arteries but good for your soul food. I will never be able to have a conversation about Nashville again without mentioning Loveless. So what was so good that I am love rambling about this place? -THE BISCUITS. I'm pretty sure angels sing when these come out of the oven. In Pluto's theory of forms, everything on earth is a copy of the perfect form of something in heaven. And I'm pretty sure Loveless biscuits are the ones they have in heaven. They are fluffy, and fresh and perfect. Obviously you need butter and preserves, because you wouldn't want to cut corners on this delicious experience. -BBQ pork omelet (AMAZING. One of the best omelets I've ever had). I ordered it because I knew I couldn't get a BBQ pork omelet in NYC or LA or even in carnivorous Chicago. When in Rome, right? Best decision I've made lately. The pork is so juicy and flavorful, and there was just a hint of BBQ sauce, so the smoky flavor carried the omelet. It was perfect. 5 stars. Will order it again every time. - The hash brown casserole AMAZING cheesy, potatoey, fatty goodness. You couldn't dream up better breakfast potatoes. These are an absolute must. They are the cherry on top of each bite. -country fried steak My friend got this and it is the ultimate country fried steak with gravy. She couldn't stop smiling while she was eating. If this is your thing, you will be so, so happy. I thought the fried chicken was good, but I'm not a big fried chicken person so I probably wouldn't order it again, it wasn't life altering, like the biscuits. The service was outstanding. You feel so welcome and taken care of. That Southern hospitality gets city people like me every time. This place is a must, an absolute freaking must. When I am old and gray and look back on all the delicious food I have eaten in my life, I will think of Loveless. Peace, Loveless & Nashville forever.
(5)
Joshua B.
Could I love the Loveless, less? I hope I never love it less than I currently love the loveless - because I love it a whole lot! Biscuits and jam...There...there is something I've been meaning to ask you. I mean, I'm a little shy sometimes so I don't quite know how to put this - but, I'd love to be in a long term relationship with you. You make me feel warm inside and make my tongue happy ever time we meet. And breakfast meat and potatoes - and I'm speaking to all of you - you are just fantastic. I really have nothing bad to say about any of you. But, psst - crispy bacon and home fried potatoes - don't tell your brothers and sisters - I love you more than them. And to you, Pit Cooked Pork BBQ - I don't see you as often as I should - but I do love you immensely. I still think about the first time we met and your tangy, sweet bbq sauce along with your soft, porky goodness brought you to my lips. You have kept me coming back again and again. It's too bad you and I along with the biscuits and jam and bacon and fried potatoes can't all live together in bliss. Maybe one of these days when the world isn't so judgmental we'll be able to live together on one plate of blissfulness. But until then - I'll have to rotate you out on my visits to the Loveless. There is something I want to say to the Mimosa's as well - you have helped me out on more sunday mornings than I'd like to admit. Long story short - I love the Loveless Cafe. Sure, it can be quite a wait - but there is usually plenty to do while waiting. There are several shops around the loveless. Curious Heart Emporium - I could spend an hour in there alone. And last time I was in there I saw Al Gore walking around. Truly the Loveless Cafe is an original. Its great, scratch made food and biscuits and jams make it stand out from the crowd. Everyone has their preferences for food. Some will love it, some will simply think its 'ok'. But as of right now - I hope I never come to love "The Loveless", less.
(5)
Ian R.
Out of sight. This place is absolutely worth the 20 minute drive from Nashville, and still worth it even if you aren't into breakfast places. I can't remember the last time I ate ham for breakfast, but was glad I ordered the City Ham here - a half inch thick slab of ham lightly glazed with brown sugar that you could just barely taste a hint of. I'm not kidding about the thickness, my girlfriend commented on the size of the slab and I insisted that it was two slices. Upon closer examination I was shocked to see it was one continuous piece of swine and I needed to use the steak knife they gave me. My girlfriend got the biscuit platter and was floored by it. Biscuits should be the name of this place, since they bring you so many and they are just the right size and flavor. the preserves they bring with it set the flavor off just right, and to top this all off the coffee was decent. With the ham I got a side of eggs which were clearly powdered, so if I venture back I will definitely have to try a different side item. Portions are huge, so don't bother ordering extra sides or filling up on biscuits.
Pancakes were great; meat was super salty and tough (for us northerners); and the jam was utterly delicious. But remember that wait time is around 2 hours for a seat in the place. IT gets lots and lots of press. The prices were also pretty high.
(3)
David O.
Loveless is without question the place to go if you want the very best, most authentic Southern Food you can get in the area. Very little more needs to be said. It remains an institution not to be missed. If you have the means, I highly recommend trying it out.
(4)
Rami B.
It was a fun place! I go to Nashville once a year, and wanted to check this place out! The biscuits are so good. The has brown casserole and mac and cheese were delicious. The chicken is so crispy and really good! The sweet tea is a must in Tennessee!
(4)
Perry B.
Great place to eat. Servers were very friendly and made us feel at home. We had left overs and our waitress gave us some ice so we could pack it for our 3 hr trip home! The portions are plenty...the biscuits were wonderful. The homemade preserves were also great. Everything you can ask for in a place to eat some good southern cooking .... We are going back to try breakfast!
(5)
Bill B.
The Loveless Cafe is a old time restaurant that you should make it a point to stop by. It is certainly not on the main highway and we were surprised at all the cars we saw upon approaching the location. This place has been closed in past years and renovated before reopening. There are bikes for rent on the property and a service station next door. Plenty of parking on the back lot. This is a complex with several gift shops and a general store. We had to wait 1 1/2 hour to be seated however it was on a Saturday and that should be expected. Once seated you may first notice the air conditioning is not the very best. The menu is large and we went with the meat loaf and fried chicken livers. We also ordered the turnip greens,sweet potatoes and fresh fruit cup. The meat loaf was three large pieces and was excellent and there were a dozen chick livers fried just right. This was a very good meal. The restaurant credit card machine quit working however they were unable to take credit cards the old way my using the old imprint machine. Each meal was less than $10. Service was fast and attentive during the meal.
(5)
Bekki M.
You don't get the true Nashville experience if you don't make the short drive down to the Loveless Cafe while you're there. I would suggest going at an off-peak time though, the wait can get very long if you go right at lunch and dinnertime. You can do call-ahead seating to get your name on the waiting list if you call an hour in advance. The biscuits are AWESOME. So good. Both of us ordered the fried chicken, and while it was cooked well we were disappointed that there seemed to be hardly any seasoning on the skin. Other than that the rest of our meals were very good; the creamed corn, caramel sweet potatoes, cucumber and onions in vinegar (which I don't get very often in Ohio but they're one of my favorites) and the hashbrown casserole. We will definitely go back, but will order something other than the chicken.
(4)
Jason B.
i shouldn't have to write a single word but the only thing i'll say is get the sampler platter and the fried green tomatoes. also i am living proof you can eat 5 biscuits and finish off your entire sampler platter. it hurt so so so good. GO NOW. JUST LEAVE AND STOP READING THIS! WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS top 10 places in the US for me and thats coming from a food whore. JEANS: OK by far ORDER: waitress
(5)
Charles G.
My wife and I saw "The Biscuit Queen" on a Throwdown with Bobby Flay one night, and since Nashville is only an hour and a half away, we thought we would go and try their food. Sadly, we tarried too long before going, and so we were not able to meet Carol Faye, who (from what we could tell) would have been a true pleasure to have met, but the food and service were excellent. We went on a Saturday for lunch, and our wait time was literally told to us at the door as "an hour and a half". Yes, it was that busy. Thankfully, there are several little shops and local artisans with booths set up in the area, which made the wait time go by fairly quickly. It was well worth the drive and wait! I had the BBQ with hoe cakes, which were great, and I can't remember what my wife had, but it was also solid, down-home cooking. We ate more biscuits than could be healthy for anyone, and they even let us take a good number home so we could have them for breakfast the next day! The only thing I can say that's bad about them: don't order their banana pudding. Now, after that much food, I'm not sure why I ordered dessert anyway, but it was far from satisfying. The 'nilla wafers were hard and the pudding wasn't very flavorful. If you're hungry for dessert, just have some more biscuits with jam!
(5)
Catherine T.
Coming from Toronto this restaurant provided a lot of firsts for us. Biscuits, grits, fried green tomatoes, moonshine, barbecue, and hash brown casserole were great ( well to be honest we each only took a sip of the blueberry moonshine and that was enough!) but we loved the food and loved the experience. The drive back to Nashville was amazing along the Natchez Trail. We will return when we are lucky enough to come back to Nashville.
(5)
Su C.
Delicious biscuits with preserves. Well worth the 30 minutes wait on a Sunday afternoon. The blue plate special, smoked brisket with two sides was ginormous and so was the barbecued pork. My daughter enjoyed the moist and well seasoned meatloaf. Will have to come back for the pies someday.
(5)
Shelly N.
Although I've eaten here three times and gorged on all things fried and cream-based, I have to admit, that overall, the food is "meh". I was excited when they delivered a plate full of biscuits but they were light on the jam (3 kinds in tiny cups to share with a table of 5?!). Flavor-wise, I'd rather opt for KFC biscuits since they are flakier and tastier. I ordered the sampler so I could try 3 different meats. I love their fried chicken...LOVE. BEST FRIED CHICKEN I've ever had. The lightness of the batter and crispiest I've ever had. I was tempted to give my rating a 4 because of their chicken but can't because of all the rest of the mediocre food. Another person at our table had their pulled pork and declared it to be the best pulled pork they've ever had. This was the second time I've eaten the ham and every time, it's completely dried out and ridiculously salty (I took it home as leftovers and tried to add it to a fried rice-type dish and it was still too salty to eat). I've ordered their desserts twice and have been unimpressed...you'd think a famous cafe would have AWESOME desserts. Not so much. I won't be trying more of them. After lunch, we went to the store and I bought some Cajun-spiced bacon and Piggy Pecans. The bacon was awesome when I made BLT's. The Piggy Pecans are SO YUMMY. They're not crunchy because of all of the stuff they've been dunked in, but the salty bits of bacon with the sweetness of candied pecans is a perfect balance. Eat them solo, they're delicious. Top them on a banana and ice cream (yes, I know it sounds weird), but it was even yummier. Even though the food is "meh", I'll keep returning for the fried chicken and Piggy Pecans.
(3)
Corey G.
I've been wanting try Loveless since moving to Nashville back in December but have been deterred by the long typical long waits for one of Nashville's most famous breakfast foods location. However, I recently figured out that the secret is getting there before 9:30 on the weekends prior to the rest of the crowd. I had the Famous Loveless Full Country Ham platter and soon discovered it was famous for a reason! My girlfriend eyes lit up over the enormous portion as our server delivered my country ham to the table. The slice of ham was very thick and cooked very well, i preferred my country ham a little bit saltier and cured a tad bit longer but this is nothing I couldn't solve with a salt shaker. The biscuits and homemade jams were served to us before our meal came out and were the perfect fix to settle our premeal hunger. I will be ping back to try their cured bacon and smoked sausage in the near future.
(4)
Jess Y.
I think Loveless Cafe is just one of those names that gets thrown out when people ask, "Where should I take my (friend, parents, etc) when they come in town?" It's just one of those classics where you can get homemade Southern cooking that everyone knows about. I had been there once before and I must have had a good experience because I always looked at Loveless with a fond light and even tried to take my family when they came in town but it was way too over-crowded to get a seat. All that being said, however, when I visited this past weekend, I wasn't blown away. Maybe my taste buds have changed, or maybe they had an off-night, or maybe my standards are higher now that I've tried some other places too. Regardless, I thought it was fairly decent but not life-changing. We got the family-style dinner which gives you all-you-can-eat two meats, three sides, biscuits, and a drink for everyone. It seemed a bit pricey for the quality, however. The fried chicken was dry and not that flavorful. The pulled pork was pretty good: juicy and yummy bbq sauce. The sweet potatoes had a good flavor: sweet with a little citrus kick; but, I was turned off by their lifeless and watery appearance. I would say the highlights from the meal were the creamed corn and fried okra. I love fried okra and these were great: not over-breaded, lightly seasoned, and yummy. The biscuits were alright, too, and I liked that they brought out three different fresh jams to try it with: peach, blackberry, and strawberry. The blackberry jam was delicious: fresh, chunked with real bits of blackberry goodness, and not overpoweringly sweet. Yum. The interior is extremely casual and it gets really crowded on the weekends--so watch out! Overall, I think Monell's is a better family-style Southern food venue and more worth the price. I'd probably come here again--maybe to try the breakfast, but I didn't think the family-style was worth it.
(3)
B C.
I came to visit Nashville last weekend and had found this place listed as a must-see for visitors. It was a fun experience and I highly recommend it for out-of-towners. Our waitress was very friendly, the food (especially the biscuits and jams) were delicious, and the down-home feel was really comfortable. There were a number of small shops and touristy activities around the restaurant to help pass the time during the short table-wait. We got there early at 7:45 and the wait that Saturday was only 30 minutes.
(4)
Christina C.
On my trip to Nashville, my friend decided to take me to this honored institution for breakfast so that I too could enjoy what tourists from all around have raved about. Upon arriving we were told we would have to wait approximately an hour and a half, but this was to be expected for Sunday brunch; apparently it's always full. Nonetheless, they provide you with some entertainment while you wait. You can walk around the property and enjoy the shops they have (cute little places with little trinkets). While I didn't buy anything, it's entertaining at the very least. They even have a little food market. True to their word, we were seated on time. She and I ordered some typical breakfast plates (sunny-side-up eggs, biscuits, bacon) and then we decided to split the hashbrown casserole. The food was excellent! The service was great as well (even if our waiter was kind of crazy...). Great food at a great price, so please go visit and see some of what Nashville has to offer.
(5)
Sandra S.
Excellent food. Pulled pork was excellent The biscuits to die for. Service was very good. Due to popularity there might be a wait but worth the wait. We also went on a Saturday which didn't help. The hash brown casserole is a must as a side!
(5)
Jeffery J.
Will be upfront and say I have only eaten here once. It was not too bad. The biscuits were biscuits but the jams were pretty good. As stated it is a bit pricey. I suppose with us going during the week we were seated right away.
(3)
Matthew A.
We decided to check out the Loveless Cafe after hearing much fanfare about it. Needless to say I was ecstatic to get there and try the biscuits and friend chicken. I'm not sure if our inflated expectations made the meal a disappointment, or if the food was truly that "meh". I ordered the meatloaf platter. And it tasted just like any meatloaf I've eaten before. Nothing stood out. I took samples of the pulled pork as well as fried chicken from others at my table. Once again, edible, but nothing special. I noticed a distinct lack of seasoning on everything. A little salt would have gone a long way in making the meal more enjoyable. Even the biscuits that had received so much fanfare left a little to be desired. I will say that the preserves were some of the best that I have ever tried. Long story short, I believe that the Loveless Cafe may have once been great, but at this point it's a restaurant living on its name alone.
(3)
Heather F.
The Loveless Cafe is one of those Nashville restaurants that is well known even outside of Nashville. It has appeared on tons of TV food shows such as the Food Network (more than once) and when you step foot into their hostess room you will find the walls covered with autographed pictures of celebrities who have eaten here from decades gone by. Of course this is the Ultimate meat-and-three place in Nashville. Down home cooking at its finest is right here. When you are seated the first thing you get is a plate of home-made biscuits complete with 3 different jellies. The menu is filled with comfort food such as fried chicken, mac and cheese and hash. It is impossible to pick something bad off of their menu so go with what sounds good and you will love it. Like most meat and three places in Nash (and the South) you can order sweet tea here. Be sure to check out the shop next door which sells delicious home goods such as Loveless Cafe's jams and honey. I purchased a few things for my 90 year old Me Ma who loved it.
(5)
Lindsay K.
EAT HERE!! We had a party of six and I tried almost everything that was ordered so I can tell you this is some of the best food I have ever had....and I'm a food snob from Dallas! The only thing on the table I didn't like was the country ham, it was very salty. Here is the low down - Best meats: BBQ Pork & Meatloaf Best sides: Hashbrown casserole and cream corn (both AMAZING) and of course their famous biscuits Best dessert: Turtle Pie
(5)
Jackie T.
The wait can be long, but it is worth it. Waitstaff is always very friendly and quick with your order. Be warned, there is no end to the bringing of biscuits. But you should alert them to stop because you won't have any room for your food. I could probably sit here and eat the biscuits all day. The waffles and pancakes are incredibly hearty. Add a side of bacon you won't need to eat for hours. Incredibly rich, delicious food. If you make it to dessert, they offer some delicious pies. You can always get one to go!
(5)
Luke K.
The biscuits and jam were amazing, the food was top notch, and the waitstaff were all super friendly and laid back and made our time there truly enjoyable.
(5)
Alan S.
Ham heaven. Biscuit heaven. Preserves, hummmmmm. Wonderful relaxed atmosphere, even though the place was packed. Two trips while in Nashville, need I say more? GO
(5)
Joi B.
I fear I can't write this review right now for fear of breaking my juice fast. Reliving the memories is gonna kill me. Maybe I should put this off? Oh, but once I start thinking about those damn biscuits and the butter they came with... and the jam (though I prefer to keep my biscuits virgin... er, buttery virgin). DANG IT!!! Maybe I should turn my attention instead on that amazing gift shop that is full of kitschy and fun items with the logo that is so cool, I was compelled to buy shot glasses, a giant mug, mason jars and hell, even an umbrella proclaiming my love for the Loveless (so it goes, time and time again). All I ate when I was here were the aforementioned biscuits. Giant spheres of buttermilky flaky dense delight. Ahhhhhhhh. That's all you need, but my friends couldn't stop talking about how good their breakfasts were, so there's that. If you can manage *not* to stuff yourself on biscuits. Good luck. I didn't fare so well. An extra star for the biscuit lady. Though I am fiending now for those biscuits. Fiending. Damn this juice fast.
(5)
Chris M.
I took my folks here for brunch while they were in town visiting. The biscuits are incredible (and bottomless) -- well worth the wait and drive. I had the fried chicken and biscuits and will definitely be back. Be ready to wait at least one hour, but there are some shops to browse in while you wait -- we brought a deck of cards. Very reasonably priced given their demand and the food was very good. Friendly service, great spicy, strong bloody mary's.
(4)
Dick G.
Iconic Americana at its best! this place, located outside Nashville is a tiny piece of yesteryear for us to enjoy today. On Sunday morning there was a 2 1/2 hour wait to sit inside and 35 minutes if you took it outside and ate a picnic table...which is what we did. Food preparation is excellent and their home made biscuits are the bomb, particularily with their homemade jams. If your in the area you have to stop by!
Pretty good, honestly don't understand what all the hype is about.
(3)
Hillary C.
A must do place in Nashville!!! The food is great, be prepared to wait! It is a pleasant wait and worth it!
(5)
Diana P.
I came to this place exactly a week ago at the end of our stroll through Nashville. There was a 1-hour wait for my party of 8, which we didn't mind because the beautiful scenery outside and that warm humid breeze... and the fact that is place is a must-go-to when in Nashville. The atmosphere is nice, the inside looks like a house converted to a restaurant so it does feel homey. We ordered the Family Style supper. We chose endless fried chicken, fried catfish, okra, fries & mac and cheese. I feel I must mention that the service (at least ours) was bad. Once we were seated and our drinks were brought to us, we didn't see our waiter again for about 15 minutes. You might think: "Because of the high volume, duh!" No, NO. We saw the other guy waiting on the table next to us go to them at least 8 times to ask if the food was good, if they needed something, if they wanted more drink. When our waiter was taking our order, a glass of water got spilled and he was completely unfazed by it. He didn't offer napkins or to call anyone to clean it up so of course we had to take care of that because it was going to be another almost 10 minutes before he graced us with his presence. Finally after sitting there half hour with lions roaring in our bellies, the biscuits and jelly came out. They were the warmest, freshest, softest, scrumptious biscuits I've tasted in a long time. Break one in half, spread a little butter on it, some honey and then you can take a bite of heaven. Unfortunately for my waiters timing we were all still on our first biscuit when all the food came out. Give us at least 5 minutes w/ the biscuits please!? The food was so good, you would have thought grandma was back there making the mac & cheese herself! Everything on the table was just right, it was helping us cope with our waiter's service (This review was written about a year ago but I didn't publish it so instead of "exactly a week ago" it should be "almost exactly a year ago")
(3)
Daniel M.
Had the sampler platter. Wasn't fan of fried chicken but meatloaf and catfish was really good. Caramel sweet potatoes side was amazing!
(3)
Evangelene G.
BEST THING I ATE EVER. My husband quoted on Facebook, "Lord, If I could eat any more, I would!" This is a must do when visiting Nashville. However, we need to pace ourselves better because we're always too full for dessert.
(5)
Amy B.
My favorite place in the Nashville area. Warm friendly service. Warm biscuits with Loveless jam to start are not to be missed. Chicken fried chicken was great but to get the most for your visit try the sampler platter. And take home some Loveless bacon from the shop!
(4)
Mark N.
Excellent ! Order exactly what u want, they will accommodate. Passing thru, yelp score again!
(5)
Heather P.
I have to chime in to give a different perspective. Coming from a restaurant lover from Chicago now transplanted to the south, the food isn't that special. You are coming here for the experience, the eclectic Nashville tourist trap. The biscuits and jam are great along with the fun little shops. But the wait is pretty awful all the time and the food is basic country home cooking. The meat was just strange. Great service though! We went really early since we have a baby and made it out by 9am. At that point they were quoting over 1.5hr wait on a Sunday. Honestly not worth it, in my opinion.
(1)
Emily R.
This is a fantastic place and a must if you are in Nashville at any time. I had ordered the BBQ over eggs which are over pancakes. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten. The biscuits where the best I have ever had. They even have a cute little shop where they sell the biscuit mix and was so good. Later on our trip we went back for lunch and had the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. It was soooo good. Be prepared to wait because this place is always busy no matter what time you go. However, you can check out the little shop or play bags while you wait. Thats right I said this place had bags that you can play while you wait. This is definitely a must go!
(5)
Alex G.
It was excellent food!!! I loved the biscuits they served and al l of the things that they put on them! The chicken was very good as well! The service was great to! It is a must go to place if you are in Nashville!
(5)
Katie S.
Southern breakfast ? Check ! Biscuit platter lets you taste their famous biscuits AND delish BBQ and three other choices. At 830 on a weekday, no wait and totally worth it. Also- check out the shops :)
(5)
Sarah H.
AMAZING!!! We were visiting from out of town for the CMA music fest. We drove 45 min in the rain to get here and it was worth it! We only had to wait about 20 min for a table and our waiter TALOR was awesome. He got us set up with mimosas and bloody marys, and the food was the best breakfast food I have ever had!! The hash-brown casserole was delicious and the biscuits, well they are famous for a reason! I suggest everyone go there if you get the chance! I will definitely be back again as soon as I can. xoxo
(5)
Catherine L.
The biscuits were buttery, but I put some more butter on them just for fun. The pinto beans had some ham in them, and they were just right - soft and creamy. I also got fried chicken. It needed salt or brining ahead of time. Maybe dark meat would have been better? The raspberry peach cobbler was divine. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Go if you're in the area!
(4)
Sheila K.
Loveless is definitely not a "touristy trap". Yes, it has the gift shops and all of that but the cafe...the cafe was probably the best breakfast I've ever had. My boyfriend and I frequent breakfast joints at home (Chicago) as well as where ever we travel. The breakfast at Loveless was awesome. The biscuits... warm, fluffy, tasty. The jams/preserves made the biscuits even better. I had the Southern omelette- and I'm pretty sure it put all other omelettes to shame. My boyfriend had the waffles with sausage...and the sausage isn't the typical bfast links, but legit patties of delish that were thrown on the grill. But honestly, the best part of the visit was our server- Luke. He was fun, friendly, just the right amount of chatty. Coming from Chicago, we aren't used to servers being so awesome.
(5)
Anita K.
Been here on many occasions. My first time for breakfast. As usual, worth the drive. Love the Loveless!
(5)
Jackie M.
There's a lot of good things going at Loveless Cafe, to start, let's do a list: 1. Southern hospitality. We asked our server what's sorghum and without explaining she went ahead and brought 2 containers of plain sorghum and then a bowl of butter and sorghum and mixed it on the table to show us how it should be eaten. Try it if you like molasses or just try it for the sake of trying. Always courteous, shows up at the right time, and splitting checks - no problem. 2. History and photos. 3. Kitsch and charm. 4. Overall good showcase of southern food: my picks were the butter and fruit jams, biscuits, fried chicken, creamed corn, hashbrown casserole, and slaw. Country ham (as warned by our server) is VERY salty and a bit tough. Something that I thought would be amazing would be the Banana Pudding was just ok, not much vanilla wafers. Pulled pork was said to be smoked for over 12hrs gave me too much of a high expectation. Fried chicken was good, moist and lightly battered. Food was on the salty and sweet side. The souvenoir shops always leave a slightly bad impression. It's a double edge sword. It's hard to take it seriously as dining, when it is part tourist destination. A long sleeved t-shirt printing of bacon striped jacket - that is pretty sweet! I know it's all part of the show and indeed they looked like they were doing pretty well selling overpriced goods, so good for them! Thankfully, we're given a wait time of 35min, just enough time to explore the grounds. As a package, LC should be experienced at least once: 3.3 stars.
(3)
Jason W.
Best pulled pork I have ever had. The sides were amazing too... I highly recommend the hash brown casserole and mac n cheese, which were both excellent. The biscuits were good but nothing special, although they bring them out complimentary so no complaints. The jams they serve with them, however, were very good. Expect a long wait...my wife and I waited 2 hours, but planned ahead and took a scenic drive down the Natchez Trace parkway so no big deal. Probably not someplace I would eat often but worth at least one trip. Good place to bring friends or family visiting Nashville.
(5)
Bruce R.
Good food and fun destination. Love the little shops surrounding the diner. And it's a good thing, because you will wait a bit for your table. Nice to have the shops to browse, and they have corn hole games set up on the lawn. Food was good, but no "WOW" factor. Just a good meal well prepared. The raves about the biscuits are a joke. They are indistinguishable from frozen store biscuits. 100% Pop-N-Fresh. Be prepared to get rushed, they are ALL about table turnover, and will attempt to hurry you along. And will get very snotty if you linger. Our waitress was very attentive, and friendly, but got chilly very quick when we pointed out she got our order wrong. I also asked for hot sauce, waited a long time, and had to remind her, which got me some eye rolling. 20 minutes after seating us she was so adamant about moving us along she practically handed us our coats. Frankly, the homey vibe feels like a sham, they are all about volume, volume, volume, and turning tables as fast as possible. Sadly, this place has the "Too famous to fail" attitude many successful places have, that they don't need to take care of you because the sheer volume of business they get makes the quality of the dining experience irrelevant.
(3)
Nate T.
You just has to know what you are getting into. It is a tourist stop, so it is busy. (we waited an hour) While we waited there was some drama with a bachelorette party, which there seems to be a million of in the nashville area. The food was solid to very good, the service was very friendly. I would stop back if I know the wait would be less.
(3)
Nick O.
Excellent! I had the bbq pork omelet. Their biscuits are great! Well worth the wait, there's plenty to do on their property while you're waiting.
(4)
Susanne H.
I am giving this three stats because of the quality of the pancake and the wait time. We were told the wait was 45 minutes, but it was more like 1 hour 15 minutes. The best part was the biscuits and jams they bring out, they were amazing! I ordered pancakes, plus a breakfast with egg. The pancakes were extremely heavy, not good at all, I was quite disappointed for a place that is known for their breakfast. The eggs, bacon and were very good. I did enjoy walking around their little (overpriced) shops during the wait.
(3)
David C.
This is a must stop for those visiting Nashville... the food is great. Not everything is amazing, but overall the food is great... and the service is fantastic. Hits: Green Bean Casserole... just like my momma made back in TX. Catfish... Yum!! Mac and Cheese.... cheesy and delish. Preserves... all three are amazing!!! Sweet Tea... and Peach Sweet Tea... Texas seal of approval. OK but not fantastic... Fried Chicken... its does remind me of the fried chicken my mom would make back home... but it does not have a crust so amazing you wonder how they make it... I can produce that fried chicken at home. Biscuits.... so I've ate here on a couple of occasions... once they were not so good... the second time they were amazing... so I am not sure what to make of the biscuits.... I guess it depends on who is in the kitchen. Off the mark... dessert... not so good. Mashed Potatoes... a sad attempt at mashed potatoes. Green beans... ok but not great. Over all this place offers some great food if you know what to order. I would/will eat here again when I am back in Nashville.
(4)
Sasser M.
I'm bucking the trend here when I say that the Loveless food in our opinion is just ok. As a dedicated born and bred southerner I feel it's my place to be truthful. That truth is ho hum in this instance. Sorry folks but I think the meatloaf is blah and the catfish just sort of lays on the plate. Being seen on national food shows and the Food Network doesn't make it amazing. If you think this place is great, try seeking out a soul food place in town. You're going to be amazed.
(3)
Tonya O.
Dear Loveless, how I love thee...especially for breakfast! This place is known all over the country for it's biscuits and southern food. It's tucked away in the countryside off Hwy 100 but not too terribly inconvenient for residents on the west side of Nashville. The staff are incredibly nice and friendly , and our server even knows about Yelp. This is a great place to bring out of town friends and family for a little taste of Nashville and southern cooking. Mmmm...biscuits!
(5)
Rich B.
Over Hyped? Yep. Good Food - it was solid but didn't save it. Wait - Wait - Did I mention Waaaaiiiiiitttt? World Famous Biscuit's - Ahhhh - they were OK. Dessert was the highlight with Fudge Pie and Banana Pudding. I'll give it a try next time we are in town but at a waaaay off peak time.
(3)
Jeanette D.
This is exactly what I wanted on my one night in Nashville- fried catfish, hush puppies, mac&cheese. Everything was delicious and huge. I can't decide if I'm more full or sleepy from all the goodness. Loveless Cafe, you are loved.
(5)
Nina M.
Long wait, but worth it!!! Be prepared for TONS of food and delicious sweet tea!
(5)
Gina C.
Biscuits and the homemade jam are to die-for. Great southern fare. You feel like you've stepped back in time. I had a pulled pork omelet. Wonderful. Absolutely a must-stop if you're in Nashville. But be sure to call ahead and put your name on the waiting list, and even if you do that, expect a wait. They have several cute gifts shops to browse while you wait, or you can play an old-fashioned game of bean bag toss.
(4)
Jamie D.
I'll try and avoid duplicate reviews but, I'll admit, some good things are just worth mentioning... BISCUITS! Get em by the plate full...dump their delicious jelly (we had blackberry, strawberry and peach) or cover those little love cakes with local honey or sorghum! If you have never had sorghum, think syrup meets brown sugar meets molasses. Can you say yesas! I had the smoked turkey with cranberry BBQ. The slices of turkey where from one big bird! I also had the mac and cheese (great flavor - the typical overcooked southern style for people with no teeth to eat - its true - you can just mush it down) and sweet potatoes. Let's just say I overate and was very content about it. There is an outside patio that is great and the inside has fun charactertures of famous folk. The staff here are so knowledgeable about the restaurant and the local community. You can ask them about anything and they will respond candidly. There are plenty of places to sit around the property if you want to get your food to go (sad they pack everything I Styrofoam!!). Also, you can go into the bike shop, gift shop or the several little craft shops on the property while you wait for a wonderful experience and tummy satisfying foods. How's that for a southern sounding review? Huh?! :)
(4)
Joshua P.
Great food; almost as good as my grandmothers. Be sure to get their honey with the biscuits. I'm quickly becoming a regular.
(5)
Boon K.
the biscuits are awesome, just enough butter and it melts in your mouth. The fried chicken was like eating at someone home. It is exactly what you think of as southern fried chicken.
(4)
Molly L.
The biscuits are heaven and all of the other food (especially the hash browns and fried chicken) are amazing. Great service and great atmosphere as well.
(5)
Benjamin S.
I recently saw a review for Pancake Pantry that said both IHOP and Cracker Barrel were better than the Pancake Pantry. I am sorry but there is only one place that can rival the Pancake Pantry and that is the Loveless Cafe. Though they don't have anywhere near the breakfast selection of the Pantry, what they lack there, they make up for with some of the best fried chicken, world famous biscuits (though Bobby Flay did manage to out do them), and some of the best souther hospitality, service and cuisine. Cracker Barrel is good, but when in Nashville there is no substitute for the Loveless Cafe for lunch and dinner, and only the Pancake Pantry surpasses them with breakfast, save for the biscuits. So if you want real, down home, southern cooking, make the trip to Loveless Cafe, they are so good.
(5)
Glenn F.
Fried chicken rocks. If were to break a strict diet it would be for the fried chicken. No doubt- breakfast, lunch or dinner.
(3)
Kevin S.
We had a group of 12 and there were able to accommodate us really fast on a Saturday morning at 8. Food and service both excellent! Keep up the tradition and eat those awesome biscuits :)
(4)
Ashley D.
There are many reasons to go to Loveless, but two of my favorites are: 1) Biscuits 2) Hashbrow casserole Both are TO DIE FOR!! Yum, yum, yum.
(5)
Saundra D.
I don't just give out my five stars willy nilly...this place rocks. It is a "destination" that revolves around FOOD. We were passing through Nashville when I was on my way to a financial coaching training (that is what I do) in Louisville and ran across a flyer for this place at my hotel (yes, the Hilton Garden Inn again, stop sweatin' me, I am a creature of habit and I like the points). We drove WAY out of the way to get there and Marcia M. told me not to miss it and she was right. The blackberry jam was the best I have EVER had, and I know some Jam! I had the watermelon ribs - no jokes (yes I love watermelon too) and they were oh, so tender. I often hear "falling of the bone" but I like for my ribs to offer just a bit of resistance...toy with me a bit. These ribs were perfect. We took some chicken and biscuits to go (yes I took them on the cross country SWA flight) and dared security to say something. Worth the trip - worth the cash - worth the calories.
(5)
Martha H.
I have always heard tales of how great Loveless Cafe was, but have somehow lived in Nashville for three years and never been...until now. The biscuits were delicious. I had mine with peach preserves which reminded me of summers in Kentucky with my grandmother's homemade jams. I had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and creamed corn (I had to starve myself all day to justify eating it all!) and it was all superb. I can't say much but reiterate all that many others have said before me, Loveless is amazing. Our waiter was polite (and cute on top of it- have to love the accent!) and service was speedy and friendly.
(5)
Jean C.
Why did it take me two months to write this review?!?! When I was in Nashville with a choir group, the director made sure the travel agency include a dinner here at Loveless Cafe. I was excited only because I've heard amazing things about this place. With a bus load of high school students, parents, chaperones, tour guide and bus driver, we all walked in and past the many people waiting to get a table and escorted to an area in the back set up for our large group. After getting situated, the servers came asking for drink orders and got them out quickly. Our menu was pre-selected: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, biscuits, etc. My tummy was off that evening for some strange reason and boy did it have terrible timing. The food was delicious. The fried chicken was crispy but not too oily. Those biscuits were heavenly and I loved the accompanied jellies. I didn't even finish my one plate which held a little of everything. Boo tummy. After dinner, we went to the shop and they had cute Loveless items and a bunch of the students bought tshirts that said "Got Biscuits?". This place definitely brings in the locals and the tourists. I am already planning my trip back to Nashville and I can't wait to take the hubs here. I need to get my full fill on Loveless.
(5)
Jim N.
Seven of went to this old motel and restaurant (revised into restaurant and shops) for dinner and, despite a one-hour wait, had a great evening inside a genuine "slice of Americana". Fast & friendly service and food prepared exactly right---pan fried chicken, vegetables, pork chops, and a country ham breakfast....surrounded by amazing biscuits, jams & iced tea....ahhhh... Seriously addictive stuff! Topped by sublime coconut creme pie and coffee....it's right next door to heaven! We left completely happy. This is definitely worth the drive and the wait, during which you can visit their shops and meet people outside. Just like the television coverage promised, this one is a keeper!
(4)
Miguel G.
I've wanted to try Loveless after seeing it on the Food Network and reading all the great reviews here on Yelp and I have to say I wasn't impressed. Loveless is famous for it's biscuits and that's the first thing on the table after they take your order. They aren't bad but I've had better. On the other hand the preserves were very good. I'd never had blackberry and I had to go home with a jar of it. AMAZING! The country ham was tasty but a little on the tough side. The mac and cheese was excellent and I left most of the hash brown casserole, not because I was full. My two friends in attendance agree, Loveless is over rated and in my opinion touristy and a little over priced. If you find yourself in the area or are looking for some incredible preserves stop into Loveless. I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again. Save yourself the trip and find the nearest Cracker Barrel.
(3)
Angela M.
We knew them before they became popular, just a tiny little shack with closed motel rooms around them. Thought they were amazing then, and think they are amazing now with shops all around them now. The service and food are all amazing! You won't be disappointed if you love good country cooking. Everything we are in the area, we always go there for breakfast.
Loveless Cafe is a beacon of southern comfort food for me, like it is for many others. Every time I'm back in Nashville, I make my pilgrimage to Loveless. The biscuits are always as good as they are in my memory, the preserves are so flavorful, and the hot food is delicious. The fried chicken is definitely above average, and all of the southern sides are a hit. I would recommend Loveless Cafe to any visitor going to Nashville. It will definitely be a hit. However, the 2+ hour wait gets old. This last time I went, my boyfriend and I played the "Guess Who" game with countless portraits of celebrities on the walls of the cafe while waiting 1.5 hours for our table. So if I'm in Nashville next time and had limited time and patience, I would take myself to Monell's for a comparably delicious and authentic southern food experience.
(4)
LeeAnne H.
Mmmmmmm biscuits.....and killer jams (blackberry is my favorite). A must stop for breakfast and cute gifts!!!
(5)
Andrew B.
Great biscuits. Friendly service. Amazing biscuits. Good breakfast. Everything was enjoyable, and if it were near where we lived, it would be on our everyday to-do list. Our cholesterol is glad it isn't, but this was some good good comfort breakfast food.
(4)
Jessica C.
Delicious and wonderful as always. The biscuits and blackberry jam are the best ever!
(5)
Andy H.
So here is one of those establishments that is world famous, gets all the business they need, has a great marketing engine, and STILL makes good food! The one thing that gets overlooked here is the BBQ. They spend more time smoking meat than baking biscuits. What Loveless is to biscuits, they are also to BBQ. Get it? Good.
(5)
Brian D.
MY pastor came from this neck of the south so I went and visited his best buddy there who took me on some country bumpkin road out to this place! I loved it,talk about good ole hometown southern fried cholesterol! You got it here.The waffles were huge,fried chicken steak great.It's old school,dixie do it right! Wear a checkered tablecloth and go grits and pancakes too! It's been a long time but i have a book of matches from this place right here on my desk....sort of brings a little "Earl Pitts" tear to my eye.....if you get my drift! Every food lover should eat here once! It's a tradition! I salute you Dixie!
(5)
Ellen H.
I love this place. Was here years ago and still as good as ever. Can't decide what you want to try get the Country sample, choice of three meats and 2 sides. and of course bicuits! they may look small but they pack a mighty punch. Delish!
(5)
Sharon L.
This place is VERY touristy -- for example, there are *multiple* gift shops -- but the food is absolutely worth it. The biscuits are, of course, famous, but their BBQ deserves to be equally well-known. The BBQ pulled-pork omelette was so flavorful, moist, and delectable. You can get a plate of biscuits with four different toppings for variety -- I LOVED the pimiento cheese and fried green tomato biscuit. Their country-style ham is excellent -- it tastes like a thick-cut slice of prosciutto. I'll also note that our server was very friendly and helpful. Pro-tip: one of the gift shops has a freezer with Jeni's ice cream in it. :)
(4)
Danielle L.
Yummy! Long wait , but played cornhole and enjoyed our company ! Food was amazing!!! Pulled pork BBQ biscuit is where it is AT!!! I may have also drank a mimosa for two ... By myself.... Yummy yummy yummy !!!
(5)
Charles E.
We had to wait for awhile and it was worth every bit. Food was delicious and plenty of it. Worth the trip here. Thanks for the good meal.
(5)
Jen M.
Biscuits and blackberry jam, yummy! Great home style food, recommend any of the chicken dishes and the hash brown casserole is a must. The wait for a table is worth it, and wait can be minutes or over an hour. Stock up on jam in the store while you wait!
(5)
Kathryn-Claire B.
Their breakfasts are lacking but I LOVE their lunch and dinners. Make sure you have plenty of time because it could take ages to get a table.
(4)
Brenda M.
The Loveless Cafe was everything I had expected and more. The food was fabulous and plentiful. You will not leave her hungry. yallcomeoninthedoorsopen…
(5)
Rebekah T.
The food was amazing but the wait is crazy. The staff is really nice. I ordered my food to go and sat outside on a picnic table. The corn hole is a lot of fun too.
(4)
Dannielle O.
If you don't eat here you will regret the fact that you are alive. Food? Perfect. Service? Perfect. AMBIENCE? Perfect. Love u, loveless.
(5)
Kathleen K.
AWESOME! Although the wait was an hour- after the amazing meal we were all happy. Danielle was our server. She made the meal as special as the biscuits. Patiently explaining her recommendations-sharing cafe history & famous sightings. The food and the experience were awesome!
(5)
Jenny T.
The food wasn't all that bad. I order the garden omelette, it tasted good but need to add seasoning flavor to spice it up. The place is nice to see a lot of famous people photos with an autograph.
(3)
Allison N.
Does it get better than Loveless Cafe? No, probably not. When I lived in Nashville this was one of my absolute favorite places to go for breakfast. Sure, it's sort of a hike from the city, but the drive is scenic and the biscuits are worth it. So are the preserves. I still dream about the preserves actually. I could totally go for some right now... Anyway, everything is really good here. I won't lie to you, dear reader. You will probably have to wait. You may have to wait for a very long time to eat at the Loveless Cafe. But trust me, it's worth it. Everything I have had there has been wonderful. I've had omelets, I've had pancakes, I've had breakfast ham, and various other side dishes. They're all good. And in Nashville, we know our food. If Loveless Cafe is that busy, it's for a reason. You can always check out the nearby shops when you wait. Pro tip: the preserves are sold there. Buy some.
(5)
Tina W.
Not sure how anyone could complain that there was a wait for here. You'd have to be from Mars to not know you would have a wait. 2-3 hours is the norm on weekends, people! Grab some bean bags and play corn hole and chillax! By the way, you CAN CALL AHEAD to be put on the waiting list. Get ready to leave the hotel, put in a call, and then by the time you get there, you should just about be ready to be seated. I lucked out and had a 10 minute wait last Wednesday between breakfast and dinner. We were seated exactly at 11, so we had dinner. Son had the pimiento cheese bacon burger which was FABULOUS. I couldn't decide on which sides to get, so I got the side dish platter. I had black-eyed peas, green beans, mac and cheese, and the best creamed corn I have EVER tasted. Biscuits? Yes, they're wonderful. Peach preserves were delectable. Next time, I'll try some biscuits and gravy.....and I'll buy some mix and peach preserves for home....
(5)
Sam A.
The biscuits were amazing! Our server brought us a plate of warm biscuits, which were great, but then brought us a plate of MORE biscuits straight out of the oven... heaven! Especially with butter and preserves. I had the catfish dinner plate with fried okra and fruit. I thought the catfish was well done, as well as the hushpuppies. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the okra. the breading was very thick and heavy. My boyfriend got the pulled pork sandwich and fries.... (of course I had to try!) and both were delicious. Loved the fries. Can't wait to come back and try the breakfast menu and the desserts.... they look amazing!
(4)
Daniel I.
The fried chicken lived up to its hype! The portions are huge!!! The pancakes are bigger than your face, while the bacon has an amazing smoked taste to it. And the biscuits.......speechless!
(5)
Sarah M.
Yes, the biscuits and jelly were amazing but that's about all for me! Both are def made fresh. I've never had anything like them. They're complementary with some orders but you could enjoy them by themselves with coffee for breakfast- filling. I ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffles were too thick & that made them hard to enjoy. The chicken was huge! It's definitely a good choice if you have a huge appetite that early in the morning. 3 stars for the biscuits but I wasn't impressed by anything else. The drive is out of the way even if you are driving into/out of Nashville. The staff was decent. Stopped by around 9am on a Friday morning so there wasn't a wait.
(3)
Jessie C.
I love this place!!! The food is amazing! Service is great! There is a lot of charm and the place oozes coolness. Its a place the average Joe can enjoy or the big time celebrity. Highly recommend eating here you won't regret it!!!
(5)
Dave C.
Came to the loveless this past weekend. I have mixed feelings on this place. First, the good. The food was good. I've had better but this is certainly better than average food. The biscuits they bring out first are really good and the preserves were good as well. I had the Half-Fried chicken. The breading was very good however, the meat was a little on the dry side. Good flavor just not as moist as I like my fried chicken. The slow cooked green beans were good and my favorite part of the meal was the hash brown casserole. The staff was very friendly. The bad, this is Tennessee and the Sweet tea left a lot to be desired. I've had better Sweet tea at McDonalds. The wait, yes I know the wait is long most days at this place. I don't mind waiting but the shops just weren't much to look at and after about 15 minutes we had pretty much seen everything. They had some corn hole games around but couldn't find and bean bags to play. The snacks in the shops are way overprices. My advice, if you need a little snack to hold you over while you wait for 2 or more hours, there is a Shell station next door. Pick up a small back of pretzels for $1. Overall, probably a 3.5 stars in my book. i would certainly recommend going for the experience and the friendly staff. Expect the long wait and just be prepared.
(3)
Julie L.
When you google places you must see/do in Nashville, The Loveless Cafe comes up as one of the top 5. With it also being our last name, we were excited to see what it was all about. We drove from St. Louis to Nashville for a weekend and came hungry as this was our first stop once in Tennessee. We were greeted by an associate, very friendly, who was eager to take our pictures around the grounds esp with our last name being highlighted. We put our name on the waiting list and looked around the shops, the Barn and other parts of the grounds. Our waiter was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and excited that another Loveless namesake had stopped in. We started with sweet tea and their homemade biscuits with the various jams and preserves. I got the fried chicken with two sides and my husband got the sampler with 3 meats and sides. Needless to say we were not disappointed. They were advertising national dessert month and their homemade goodies so we had a piece of their turtle pie...not to miss! We did get a little something to remember our time there and have already started thinking about our next visit whenever we're in Tennessee again.
(5)
Doug C.
Loveless Cafe is a cool little spot a short ways outside of downtown Nashville. It's a converted motel: now there's a number of shops where the rooms were as well as a separate bar in a different building on the grounds. This is a place where portions, calories and dieting have long since been forgotten; that is, if they were ever learned. The menu here is overwhelming amounts of good rib-sticking food and you'd better just accept it. Want some butter? Here it comes in a dollop. Want a side of mashed potatoes? It comes in a large bowl. You can even order a few of the sides as a stand-alone meal. Anyways, I had the ham with sides of green beans and mashed potatoes. The sides were nice classic comfort-food home cooking and the biscuits are everything they have been made out to be. The only minor disappointment was the ham. It wasn't bad, but it was perhaps a bit too over-cured. If food was represented by bodies of water, the ham would be the Great Salt Lake. Otherwise, I really liked the meal here. It's a mellow atmosphere with the walls adorned by stars and semi-luminaries who have wandered through it's halls. The servers were lightning-quick and ubiquitous. This place is recommended; just be sure not to eat for several days ahead of time in preparation.
(4)
Matt S.
Best. Biscuits. Ever. This is an iconic Nashville eatery that draws a ton of tourists and locals alike. Seriously, the biscuits are amazing as is the blackberry jam. BBQ is pretty good but the country ham is also a standout.
(5)
Kendyl M.
Best biscuits I have ever had. All three of the preserves served were delicious. Had to wait an hour to get it but more than worth it. Boyfriend had the pulled pork and eggs...fantastic!
(5)
alyssa t.
Wish I had more time to spend here! You can rent bikes and rode on the Natchez! How cool?! Best biscuits, of course. This place drips enough charm to butter any so
(5)
Brandon S.
Nashville's best. Place is awesome in an awesome area. A must go to if your in town
(4)
Jerry C.
Biscuits! Who knew they could stand alone in the spotlight? The buttery and salty treats came on a large plate as a starter while we sipped our sweet tea and decided what to get for lunch. They were soft, and just hot enough to melt an extra slab of butter and fruit preserves. I didn't have to chew the biscuit so much as put it in my mouth and wait for it to melt. I could've ate the biscuits all day, but eventually I ordered the blue plate special - a fat saucer of chicken and dumpings with a meat-flavored side of tender greens and hashbrown casserole. My friends got fried chicken livers and gizzards (absolutely delicious), and fried okra. The meal sat incredibly heavy in my stomach for the rest of the day. It was fantastic.
(5)
R J.
Maybe it was... ... The caramel sweet potatoes, candied, warm large fork-fulls with a brown sugar glaze clinging to each morsel. ... The Pot Liquor Southern Greens, seasoned with smoked meats and a tangy finish that embraces every segment of your taste buds. ... The Stone-Ground Grits, warm, creamy and perfectly seasoned, rendering the Salt + Pepper Shaker Useless. ... not really certain. What is clear, is that when we combined just these few tasty favorites with the Loveless Cafe entrees, we were in Food Heaven.
(4)
Marc C.
OK this is off the beaten path about 25 minutes from downtown Nashville. Once you get there plan on a wait. Ours was 1.5 hours however there is so much to do...we played cornhole, toured the various shops on property, relaxed, and enjoyed the day. Once we were seated we went through two baskets of the best homemade biscuits with fresh made jams. We could have made a meal of just that. We ordered the sampler (with bbq pork, friend chicken, and catfish), bbq pork platter, chicken tender sandwich, and chicken tenders. The tenders were the size of a small plate, and you got 3 of them (leftovers!), the meal was unbelievably good, so fresh, and tasty. We had leftovers we were so full. They packed it all up and a to go container of biscuits too. This was well worth the wait and we made an afternoon of it. The service was so great that we did not want to leave. Go hungry and willing to relax a while. It will be the go to spot next trip.
(5)
Mark H.
The Loveless Cafe has a reputation for southern cooking so we have visited a couple time wishing the experience would change. Before driving the NTP we stopped again to try their breakfast fare. Ironically the "USA Today" lists the Loveless Cafe as the best in the country for "down home cooking". We arrived around 9:00am on a Monday so there is no wait, I have read and heard the horror story's on waits on the weekends. We ordered the country ham breakfast and shortly after the best biscuits in the country arrived. They were great as was were the peach preserves. The breakfast arrived not long afterward and the eggs were over cooked, the ham was so salty you could not eat it,and the hash brown casserole was so gummy you could use it for wallpaper paste. We asked for more biscuits and some red eye gravy to go with the ham. Again, they arrived quickly but the red eye gravy was watery and with little taste... And where did these biscuits come from? They were nothing like a real southern biscuit. Loveless was not really the place for a great southern breakfast. It was no where near as good many of local restaurants I have visited around Nashville. After 3 tries we are out of here.
(1)
MaryLynne G.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits! That's all you need to know- moist, buttery, absolutely incredible. If you want more go for the sides: mashed potatoes, coleslaw, fried green tomatoes. The restaurant has a whole plaza of little shops to visit while you are waiting for your table or for a takeaway order. To save time when the wait for a table is long, get takeaway and eat on the tables outside.
(5)
Paul Z.
Best f ing biscuits ever! Trust me I've had lots of biscuits! Jams really fresh. We had a 45 min wait. But they have little shops to check out. Food was worth the wait. It's one place I've been to that I wish I live closer to so I could go more often.
(5)
Mike F.
Drawn to the replace by reviews. Was really excited about visting. Great news did not have to wait long. Surroundings were super cool. Waiter was exceptional and suggested the fried chicken. No hesitation on my part I love fried chicken Chicken was tender but bland. No flavor. Greens were cooked well built again very bland and macaroni and cheese was very milky no structure and not like homemade. Would not bother again better food at the Craker Barrel. I travel and eat out at over 50 resteraunts a year. Don't waste you time going here for the food but a maybe for the ambiance! I will admit the grounds are super cool.
(2)
Hibah Q.
So cute! Great food. Friendly staff. Inexpensive. What more can you ask for?
(5)
D. K.
One word (that has been said a million times before): BISCUITS!! Worth coming here alone. My chicken fried steak was fine...nothing amazing, but hit the spot. I also liked the biscuits and gravy that my sister ordered. Service was super friendly! Didn't love the desserts weirdly enough. Expect a long wait, but there's lots of fun little shops on property that make the wait bearable. I'll be back!
(4)
Stacy A.
This place is definitely worth the drive out of downtown Nashville! The staff is very sweet and accommodating and the manager came over and was a very friendly, interested guy. The biscuits are AMAZING, but that is what they're famous for! The pancakes are huge and are sweet, making them special. The biscuit sampler platter is large, and more of biscuit-sandwiches style than biscuits with various ingredients cooked into them. Definitely try the home fruit preserves on the biscuits! Lots of free parking available and there's a cute market to mosey on over before or after! Interesting history to the place and adorable decor. A great stop!
(5)
Julia D.
I visited the Loveless Cafe twice on my recent trip to Nashville. This restaurant never disappoints. The pulled pork and Bloody Marys are wonderful. The granola (might be a side item) is good. I wouldn't recommend the French Toast. But, of course, my favorite part of the meal were the BISCUITS!!
(5)
Carmen P.
yeah i know, i'm going to be boo'd and hissed at for only giving it three stars. the biscuits were 5 stars though. my husband and i are locals, and he has somehow never been here, so he insisted we go. after the expected looooooooooong wait, we were seated and greeted by an exceptionally personable server. my husband had some friend chicken, i think....and i had the barbecue pork. the portions were HUGE (and the server also gave us a ton of biscuits to take home with our leftovers...i'm not sure if he should have, so don't ask about this!) we both had sides of macaroni and okra. the macaroni was yum and the okra was good too. i know loveless is a nashville tradition, and there was nothing really wrong with our experience, but, take away the tradition, and it was just, food--except for the biscuits, they're magical, like they were made with unicorn tears. so here, get some neat jams and bacon from their gift shops, and tip well, those servers have hard jobs!
(3)
Krash T.
Once upon a time - oh, 30, 40 years ago - Loveless was a secret place I took people to when I wanted them to get a taste of the "real southern cuisine." Unfortunately, no longer. It used to be terrific, homey, everything from scratch. It may be all from scratch now, but it's really become nothing more than a tourist joint. If you haven't ever had good fried chicken, you might think this was acceptable, but you'd do better at a gas stop Krispy Krunchy. If you want the real deal, ask around for old-fashioned meat & threes. Sorry to be so brief but there's not much more to say except that it's also quite expensive given what you get - poor service, low quality. If you want really great southern cooking, take the time to visit Lynchburg and go to Miss Mary Bobo's, former home of Jack Daniels. Just make sure to reserve in advance.
(2)
Rita T.
EVERYTHING we ate here was really good--even the leftover meat and biscuits the next day! We'd only wrapped the biscuits in a paper napkin--16 hours later they should have been hockey pucks. Instead, delicious! Our excellent waiter brought us a basket of steaming, golden-white puffs (ah, those biscuits), pots of jewel-bright, fruity-fruity strawberry, peach, and blackberry preserves (we finished them off with a spoon), plus the sorghum we'd requested. I suspect Annie Loveless developed her biscuits with sorghum in mind--their pairing beats all I've had in the south. A couple unique items on Loveless Cafe's beverage menu are its moonshine offerings. The watermelon moonshine comes in 2 mason jars, a large one, pink with watermelon juice and chunks, and a mini-jar with an ounce of clear moonshine. Poured together, they produce a refreshing drink, no cloying sweetness. Our orders of watermelon ribs and fried chicken both came with 2 sides, so we ended up with creamed corn (double), macaroni and cheese, and the pot liquor greens. It's good we didn't have to share our sides of the creamed corn--wow, it's light and lovely and (woot, woot!) the recipe is available online. The watermelon ribs are dry-rubbed and smoked, then braised with the nicely tangy sauce and watermelon chunks, a process that gives the chunks a great tomatoey taste and texture. The fried chicken, though, proved why the Loveless Cafe has such an enduring reputation. Make sure at least one person in your party orders it, and make sure he or she shares! And save room for dessert. We ordered the chocolate pecan pie, a not-quite fudgey, highly successful Loveless treat. The service was great, the atmosphere is fun, and the food is terrific. Yes, you oughta eat here.
(5)
Jes S.
I've heard wonderful things about Loveless Cafe so finally made it out there. We went on a Friday morning to avoid the weekend rush. It was a beautiful 20min drive outside of Nashville and managed to get in after a short 10min wait. It was busy on a Friday so I can imagine the craziness on the weekend. Good news is of you did have a wait there is a outdoor area to walk around and buy keepsakes, souvenirs, etc. The biscuits were good but not as I had imagined. I had such high expectations. The trio of preserves were delicious and paired nicely with the hot biscuits. We didn't order anything special--eggs and bacon/sausage. Very average or typical to any breakfast joint. I would have been happy with my coffee and biscuits. Service was good! The biscuit mix you buy in the store is quite good and you only add buttermilk. Very similar tasting to the real thing. I will return--and try lunch but during the week.
(3)
Scott B.
It is solid and the biscuits are perfect, but the wait can be a bit tedious after a certain hour in the morning.
(4)
Emily G.
Amazing biscuits, definitely the best I've ever had! Their blackberry jam is outstanding. Service is great as well. Watermelon ribs, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and mashed potatoes with gravy are some of our favorites!! Definitely must stop here when you're in Nashville!!!
(5)
Dustin S.
The food was good and wait was short. The only thing overrated was the bisquits. They were still good, they just didn't live up to the hype. Definitely a Nashville must.
(4)
Melynda S.
My meal got off to an amazing start with the biscuits and preserves; it was very good. Other than that, your money would be better spent at your local Cracker Barrel. I ordered the pulled bbq pork with turnip greens and mac & cheese. The mac & cheese was beyond disappointing, the turnip greens were decent but below average, but the meat was actually kind of tasty. Overall, my experience was very disappointing considering the hype that surrounds this place. The Loveless Cafe is definitely nothing to write home about.
(3)
Michael O.
It's famous for a region. Plan to drive out of the city a bit, wait awhile for a seat, and eat stunningly good Southern food. Order anything--it will be excellent.
(5)
Steve R.
Loveless Cafe is way on the west side of Nashville. It has a storied past and is still a great place to eat! They have a wide variety of traditional southern fare. The service is great and the atmosphere comfortable. My brother, who is a notoriously picky eater, ate everything on his plate! I'll definitely be back the next time I'm on that side of town (or I might even make a special trip if I'm not there soon).
(5)
Courtney N.
Part of Nashville's history - a must! Never a bad meal!
(5)
Kristen H.
THE BISCUITS!!!! I could just eat them for the whole meal!! Delicious! But, I did order an omelet and hash brown casserole and it was delicious as well. Be prepared to wait at least 45 minutes for a table on a good day. But it's not bad because they have a bunch of cute shops for you to visit and they give you a little pager to carry so you know when your table is ready. Definitely not the place to go for a quick bite, but a great place for a leisurely, relaxed, fun breakfast/brunch.
(4)
Brooke M.
This place is pretty good! The biscuits are amazing and so is the chicken! If you aren't too full then the desserts are heavenly as well. Every time I've come here I've had a great wait staff. To avoid the long wait come on a week day after 7pm. Everyone knows this place is good so the wait to get in can be pretty long.
(5)
sandie s.
Biscuits. You sit down and get biscuits. And once those biscuits are gone, you get more biscuits. How many biscuits consumed in one sitting could be considered obscene? I didn't care. Those biscuits were damn good. I kind of want to stop it there, but the rest was so good too, so I'll tell you about it. When I drove up, I just knew it would be good. There was a wait, but it went fast and when it was over, I was sitting at a table, with a plate of biscuits, strawberry, apricot, and blackberry preserves. Having eaten 2 of the biscuits before I had even started looking at the menu, I decided that an egg white omelet was in order, you know, just for balance. Of course, to throw it off again, I ordered a side of bacon. The omelet was superb and the bacon, thick and crispy. And at Loveless, an order is 5 slices. FIVE. And of course, there were more biscuits. My waitress was awesome and friendly, as was everyone I encountered there. The atmosphere was nice and homey, with some groovy art on the walls. The memorial to the biscuit lady was my favorite. And they have a good, roomy handicapped stall in the bathroom. I like to mention this when it's true. Go to Loveless. You will like it. I liked it. And now I'm really, really sad that I don't live anywhere near it. Although my weigh watchers points are OK with that part.
(5)
Christina M.
Me & my husband were driving past Nashville & checked out this place. Yes it is a bit of a drive from the interstate & yes there was a long 1 1/2 hr wait but the wait staff were super friendly & the biscuits oh yea made the trip & wait worth it. I'm not into biscuits as much as my husband but let me tell u I ate 3! All with butter & their strawberry, blueberry & peach jams all delicious! Next I had the blue berry moonshine & it comes with a shoot keep sake that the moonshine comes in. Boy my first time having some I would say don't throw it all in cuz that stuff is strong but good. We couldn't decide so we had the sampler platter with fried chicken, meatloaf & ham. All were great but ham was a little salty then I would of liked. The hashbrown casserole & Mac & cheese were on point! This is must stop!
(5)
Tara F.
I like the Loveless Cafe for the simple fact that it's a Nashville landmark. We take friends and family who visit from out of town and their biscuits & jam really are phenomenal, but for me... the wait, the rest of the food and even the service are just OK. If you're lucky enough to arrive and not wait an hour +... the experience is good and the food is consistently well made. It's a scenic (though long) drive and I've arrived having to wait HOURS for a table. I've always stuck it out because we'd just driven an hour to reach Loveless and going somewhere else or back home seems a little silly... but really waiting more than 45 minutes, isn't worth it. I've never tried anything other than breakfast and this cute little diner, but the actual food doesn't touch the amazing-ness of their homemade biscuits and jam (it really is delightful). The decor inside the reception area of Loveless is perfectly Nashville... I love seeing all the autographed country artists' headshots adoring the walls... and so do the "new to Nashville" guests I've always brought along with me on each Loveless visit... the rest of the place looks like your Grandma's dining room... yellow walls, doilies, covered bridge paintings and old fashioned photos... it's pretty cozy. One of the down sides, to me, is how they "pack you in" and the VERY large groups that visit the Cafe... I've seen tables with 20+ people at them and had our party of 3-4 wedged in between them and other big parties... which isn't ideal from a sound standpoint, a bumping into you standpoint, or a service standpoint. Speaking of service... I've NEVER had great service at Loveless... even when it wasn't super busy. When I first moved to Nashville one of the things that jumped out at me was the genuine friendliness of everyone... you'd think loveless would exemplify southern hospitality, but I've never seen it. All in all, I like the Loveless Cafe and I like taking guests from out of town to this quaint (though super busy) breakfast spot... and they all seem to enjoy the spectacle of it as well... so I'll keep going, but I'd really love to see it be a shining example of the warm southern culture that I personally love about Nashville...
(3)
Renata P.
This is a cute little piece of Nashville history. Worth a visit. The biscuits here were the best I've ever had... anywhere... The rest of the food (a country breakfast) was decent. However, the sweet tea and the Steeplechase pie? Excellent. I'm not a fan of pecan pie normally but this one was a small taste of heaven. I'd go back for the pie, biscuits, and tea. Definitely!
(4)
Tracey H.
Good biscuits! Yum!
(4)
Faith L.
Awesome: fried chicken, biscuits, sides, pies, service, gift shop, and decor. GO! We got seated next to a painting of the Biscuit Lady herself, so plus a million stars.
(5)
Linda B.
Great food, fun watching biscuits being made, and an interesting store to browse. Fun for the whole family.
(5)
Tyler H.
I was visiting family in Nashville a couple of weeks ago and insisted that we go to Loveless for Sunday brunch. I went there when I was in Nashville a couple of years ago. No one wanted to go because it was over 20 miles away. After our meal, everyone was very thankful that I insisted. The wait was only about 15 or 20 minutes (long enough for me to go and buy some preserves at the general store). Trey, our waiter, was very friendly and attentive. The food was outstanding. I had a mixture of breakfast and lunch with the main feature being fried chicken. It was cooked perfectly. The seasoning was OK, but I couldn't believe how perfectly cooked and moist it was. I had grits, turnips and hash brown casserole. The menu had turnip greens, and that is what I ordered. They brought me collard greens. I didn't complain because they were very good. I tasted from everyone's plate and there was nothing to complain about from anyone's meal. My favorite tasting came from my partner who had the fried corn. OMG! That was to die for. They have recipes of some of their popular dishes on their website. I hope the corn is there. One last thing. I had to check my bag because I bought preserves and chow chow to take home with me. As I was walking to my gate, I saw that there were Loveless goodies in one of the airport shops. I could have made the purchase after going through security and not check my bag. They should advertise that in the general store. Other than that, NO COMPLAINTS about my Loveless experience.
(4)
Charity D.
We went on a Saturday afternoon, wait was about 30mins, no big deal but it was cold so it'd been nice if they'd turned the heater on the porch area for the infant waiting along side of us. First impression is decent place, small..nothing I wanted from the shops since I am native to the area, except the jams. Waitress: very attentive, if not a bit over the top. We had an issue which she probably should have handled better, I'll explain in the food section. We waited a long time, but felt rushed to order. Food: I had country ham w/grits, red eye, fried medium eggs, biscuits. The great: first batch of biscuits were tender, fresh, warm. The jams and butter on the were good. The so/so: grits, nothing special, but they were cheese grits, but didn't notice any cheesiness. The ham, decent, but whatever flavor. The bad: Red eye tasted like an old, bad cup of coffee. It's suppose to be 80 gravy/ham flavor/juices, and 20 coffee. Just enough to not notice it for anything but richness. The ugly: medium fried eggs is what I ordered, what I got 3 times in a roll was over easy. They were so easy that when I transferred them to my saucer as instructed by the waitress, they busted and ran all in my plate. She walked away and I used my only napkin and spouses to sop up the mess to attempt and save my ham. The 3rd time she asked if they were ok, I told her my other food was getting cold and I didnt care anymore. I was tired of trying and the thought of looking at another egg grossed me out. Blackberry cobbler: it was gotten to go and we tasted it real quick, good thing because some oddly creative cook decided to play in the spice rack and had cloves in it. Wrong. Dissappointed, would go back to buy jams, maybe try a veg plate and see how those are.
(2)
Maria I.
I REALLY, REALLY wanted to love this place. I'm from California and was in town passing through. We stopped here, looked around at the shops, and had lunch. I loved the people, our server, and of course the biscuits! I ordered breakfast with eggs, potatoes, and sausage. I found the eggs to be fluffy, but that's about it. I was excited for the potatoes but whatever kind of sauce or cheese was in them really turned me off so I barely touched them. The sausage was okay and nothing special to me. Maybe I should have ordered something for lunch. I would try it again if I'm in town.
(3)
Mink M.
Long wait. But worth it. Next time ill order to go instead. The biscuits are amazing. I wish I bought some of it to take home. They are so good. The strawberry preserve was awesome. The chicken was fried to perfection and the coleslaw was very good. The fried catfish was of the hook and I normally don't eat catfish. The waitress we had was super sweet and courteous. They know what their doing. Check out the stores to kill the time and try the brittle it's pretty good. They offer free coffee. Good food. Plenty of parking. It looks like they may be expanding. Long wait. Free coffee.
(5)
Kyle W.
Truly as good as it gets when is comes to home cooked country food! At our table of 3 we had, Meatloaf, Ham, Pulled Pork, Squash Casserole, Hash-brown Casserole, Mac N Cheese, Banana Pudding, Cherry Pie, Peach Cobbler, and a plethora of Sweet Tea and Biscuits! There was not one thing that was mediocre. Everything was hot, fresh and flavorful. And I would personally like to give a shot out to Ms. Barbara who made sure that we had all our left-overs to go and a few extra biscuits for the road! I cant say enough good things about the Loveless Cafe!
(5)
S C.
I've been to Loveless once, on my last trip to Nashville, from California and I was looking forward to another meal until now. I am coming out again for a visit next week and I will be skipping it and unliking their FB page and unfollowing them on pinterest due to the LACK of customer service and complete disregard of a person's holiday as displayed by the review posted yesterday. I am appalled how unkind the staff was. There are so many fabulous places to eat in Nashville that I am glad to say I can cross Loveless OFF my must do's list for future trips. Really disappointed. Disgusted is more like it. We have better Southern Hospitality in California than Loveless showed. And don't worry, I'll share this on social media to make sure everyone knows how Loveless treats customers.
(1)
Marie O.
Adequate breakfast food, but not worth even a 20-minute wait. We were expecting revelatory biscuits, maybe that was the problem. The preserves -- which were good, don't get me wrong -- were better than the much-heralded baked goods. On the plus side, the staff was very cordial, and obviously work very hard.
(3)
Connie J.
So worth the wait (1.25 hours). Everything was GREAT! Fried chicken, mac n cheese, creamed corn and greens. The biscuits are deserving of all the rave reviews! Everyone else in our party of 7 got something different and everyone left happy and full!
(5)
Janette C.
So I've lived in Nashville for 6 years and this was my first visit here! I am wishing I had come sooner! The drive here is a great one. It's a little long where I live in East Nashville but it was soooo worth it! It was a beautiful country side drive. Gorgeous houses and scenery. The meal was fantastic. :-) I had a BBQ pork with two eggs, one to the right and one to the left. So it was a mound of pulled pork on top of two corn bread cakes (ho cakes) and one gooey egg on either side of it. Delicious and tender! My friend had the sampler which looked equally amazing! Bacon, country ham, sausage, scrambled eggs :) Our meal came with a heaping pile of fresh biscuits too. Buttery, soft, still warm from the oven and server with three different types of homemade jam. Note you can also get sorghum and honey for them if you choose! A side of grits, coffee and water for both of us as well. Definitely recommend a visit here. There are shops to visit if you have to wait (our wait was about 20 minutes). All sorts of crafts and do dads ;) The service was friendly, smiley and not at all pushy. They let me and my friend stay and relax with our coffee after our meal and didn't make us feel rushed at all. Enjoyable :)
(5)
Marisol H.
Best fried chicken ever! Be ready to unleash your inner fat girl if you eat here! Everyone is super nice and wants to feed you! Beware of the biscuits! They are like crack on steroids! Soo good!
(5)
Arlene H.
The bad: White corn grits were soupy and tasteless, even with cheese. The good: Fried chicken was yummy, but missing something.... Salt? Heat? Fried green tomatoes were good. The great: Love the biscuits with peach preserves! The pork was yummy too. The hash brown casserole didn't blow my mind until I got home and reheated it. Peach tea, half sweet and half unsweetened was pleasantly flavorful without being too sweet. The moonshine bloody Mary was good and the tiny souvenir Jar was a nice touch. If I come back, I'm going to the store for peach preserves and biscuit mix!!!
(4)
Hanna N.
Awesome food, friendly service and outstanding atmosphere. Do leave room for desert, the chocolate pecan pie was well worth the belly ache from eating too much :-)
(5)
Shannon F.
Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Went here with my mother and the place lived up to it's hype! Make sure you give yourself plenty of time (our wait was estimated to be two hours but was a little over an hour). The drive was scenic and they have tons of activities, chairs, and cute gift shops to keep you busy while you wait. The food was to die for (the biscuits were out of this world) and the atmosphere was quaint! Couldn't have had a better brunch :)
This is my first time visiting the South and I just HAD to go try out the famed Loveless Cafe. It's really not much to look at, just a tiny little place. My companions both ordered the pulled pork and I had the meatloaf. Both very good and tasty! i have to admit I was a little disappointed because I wanted to see some barbecue action going on, but since it was so cold and dark out, they didn't have the BBQ pits going. They were definitely there though. The BBQ sauce they used is awesome! My sister got a bottle at the store when we were done with dinner. I loved the fried green tomatoes!!! SO GOOD! The meatloaf was also very yummy. They had some pretty amazing biscuits and I believed homemade jams. They have all the jam, sauces, and biscuit mix for sale at their little store. Remember to check that out! Their waitstaff is very friendly, although they looked like they may have been overstaffed that night. I had a sore throat that day and the waitress kept coming back to make sure I had enough tea. Big thumbs up to her! She also recommended that I drink a "hot toddy" to help relieve my sore throat. I had one later that night, and sure enough, it did the trick. Thanks for the tip! :)
(4)
Renee A.
Love the Loveless! I've never had a bad meal here. It's taken time, but I've finally learned to NOT visit on the weekends or holidays. The wait can be incredibly long.
(5)
Richard P.
Went in early afternoon on a Monday and was told the wait was 30 minutes. There are several shops to look in, and we were signaled in less than 20 minutes. My wife had the eggs with ham and the ham slice could feed 2 people. Had to bring some of it back home. I had the pimento cheeseburger with the bacon (yep, 5 slices) with fries. One of the best burgers I ever had. Oh yes, not to mention more biscuits and soda refills. I will definitely recommend this cafe to others. The biscuits are what this place was supposedly about, but truthfully, the biscuits as Bob Evans beats Loveless hands-down. Nice place here, though.
(4)
Pasquale L.
OK 511 reviews let me throw mine in there! It is good great country ham, went on a Monday morning 8am so no wait. would I wait for breakfast? Can't go wrong though for breakfast.
(4)
Peter P.
I came here because I saw an episode of "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" where he takes on the biscuits and jam here. This place lives up to the hype. It is definitely on the outskirts of town. We were on our way to the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Loveless Cafe is just steps away. I had just eaten lunch, but I had to stop in for some dessert. There was a huge selection of pies, but I opted for the blueberry crumble with their homemade ice cream. What a treat. The next time I'm in Nashville, I'm definitely going to stop by the Loveless for some fried chicken.
(4)
Shannon W.
Wow, what can I say? Let's start with the negatives - It's too far from home to go there very often. Now for the positives - You start with the warm, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of homemade Buttermilk Biscuits. Its from a recipe that's been used and kept secret since 1951 when the restaurant first opened. The biscuits are served with homemade blackberry, peach, and strawberry jams. Large chunks of fruit in the peach and strawberry jams. Richard ordered the Country ham and Eggs with homemade creamed corn and mashed potatoes. The country ham was just salty enough to call it country ham, but not so salty that you are puckering afterwards. I ordered the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and candied yams. Both orders were served with white and brown gravy. Their brown gravy was the best I have had. Nothing was even remotely even OK, but absolutely wonderful good ol' fashioned suthern cookin'!!! We were too full to try one of their homemade desserts which included Peanut Butter pie, blackberry cobbler, coconut cream pie and many others. They looked good coming out though. They serve breakfast all day long and mix breakfast items with dinner items. Large selection of food. If you have a group of 4 or more, you can do family style dinners, order a couple meats and sides and share everything. Great way to get a taste of many things. There is a store onsite to buy jams, hams and other souveneirs. There is also a large barn for large parties. Plenty of parking on site. It is difficult to make a left getting out if it's busy, but other than that, it's great. Everything is homemade on site including the curing of sugar and salt hams, jams, pies, etc. We got out for around $40 w/ drinks and tip. A little more expensive than typical homestyle cooking restaurants, but well worth it! We will definitely go back when we are in the area again!
(5)
Nicole L.
I just died and went to biscuit heaven and I don't even care for biscuits that much, but the blackberry preserves are awesome! I really enjoyed the fried chicken and mac & cheese as well. I really wanted to like the hashbrown casserole since it combined two of my favorite things - hashbrowns and cheese - but I really didn't like it all. Loved the charm of the place, though, and our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. Visited: April 16, 2011
(4)
Gresham H.
If all you ate here was the fried chicken and biscuits every day of your life, 3 things would occur. #1, you'd be happy and full everyday of your life. #2, you would give it a 5-Star review every time. And #3, you would die young of a heart attack. But you'd be very happy (and weigh about 400lbs).
(5)
Sasha T.
I've always had some mixed feelings about Loveless Cafe. Are the biscuits awesome? Yes. Is it a nice homey atmosphere? Yes. Is the rest of the food awesome? Eh its ok. Is it worth an hour and a half plus wait? Probably not. Its a little pricey for what it is if you want breakfast but the supper menu is reasonably priced. Its definitely a cool place to bring someone from out of town.The drive there is beautiful and the little shops are fun to browse. Don't forget to pick up some of their homemade jams while you're there!
(4)
Robert J.
I was in the area with two co-workers and one pulled up this place on "TVfoodmaps" app. Glad he did. We got there around 2:30PM and there were a few open tables. We were seated instantly. Our drinks were delivered shortly after ordering with the first plate of biscuits and home made preserves. YUM. We each ordered the fried chicken, The chicken was crunchy on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. The best I've had in a long time. We each had two sides with our meal and ended up sharing as they were all unique in flavor. Waitstaff was engaged and friendly. Food was delivered quite fast. I have to be honest, some people on Yelp are saying the Cracker Barrel has better food. Look at the number of four and five star reviews compared to One, Two, and Three stars. Some people just like to complain I guess. Wish I lived closer, I'd probably go 4-6 times a year.
(5)
Tammy R.
This place is epic. If you looking for a place with a home town feel you have found it. The biscuits are the best and the service is amazing.
(5)
Melia R.
Dood. Wasn't sure if this was gonna be some lame tourist trap, but I decided to take the nice drive out of Nashville proper to check it out anyway. When I arrived, I saw a line of bikes out front.....and got excited, cos bikers KNOW where the goods are. I had breakfast. Everything's homemade. The PRESERVES are homemade. I had a BBQ pulled pork omelet. Yeah, that's right. Pulled pork omelet. And it was amazing. I also had to try some sausage gravy on the biscuits....better than Mamaw's -- and that's saying quite a lot. The food was awesome, but so were my neighbors. I was dining alone.....until my neighbors inquired as to whether I was having the famous country ham.....and then we decided I'd better just scoot in to their table so we could share our food properly. (If you're reading this someday, Hi, Faye! I had a blast meeting y'all!) I want to go back to try the fried chicken after 11am. Like, go back to Nashville (or make myself go thru Nashville) so I can eat here again. I feel a little crazy saying that, but it's true.
(5)
Will M.
Puts cracker barrel to shame, because the biscuits are spectacular! Fresh, Fluffy, and moist; they go best when you pull them apart into pieces, add butter, and preserves. The biscuits!! and the sides pretty much MAKE the meal. My favorite sides are hashbrown casserole, fried green tomatoes, white beans, okra, mac and cheese. And I devoured a bowl of cream of chicken soup too! Their portions are huge! Smoked turkey, ham, country fried steak, are good compliment to the top notch sides and biscuits. Fried chicken had a nice crispy skin. Although not the best ever, damn you prince's for ruining fried chicken for me. I wish there was a hot chicken variety. Check the blue plate special. If you want all you can eat, opt for monell's. I came for dinner on a saturday night, and only had to wait 15 minutes. I guess I was lucky. Our table of 6 left in a food coma, I had to take a nap afterwards. Historic, unique, there is so much to take in. It elevates the food and you experience a certain joy to life, along with wonderful southern charm on top. :) Or was that the Pie I had to go? Truly spectacular
(4)
Tia R.
A place that lives up to the hype! The biscuits and jam are worth the trip alone. We took biscuits and bacon and more plain biscuits for our road trip home. We wished we bought the bacon and ham to take home because it is the best we have ever tasted. The corn relish is to die for. We also took a jar home as well as a few jars of jam--all of it are gone! I don't wait two hours for anything, so we visited in the middle of the week early in the morning.
(5)
Michelle J.
AMAZING Southern food!! Trying to decide between the fried catfish, Loveless ham, pulled pork, fried chicken, and fried chicken liver, my eyes were obviously larger than my stomach... Finally, I opted for the Fried Chicken Livers platter with Fried Okra and Mac & Cheese AND a half-portion of the Loveless ham. Of course by the time this main course arrived to the table, I was already half full from the ridiculously buttery & tasty biscuits, so it looked like I barely made a dent in my plate of chicken livers. Seriously, you could fill yourself up on a whole meal of biscuits. They have peach, blackberry, and strawberry jams to compliment the biscuits. My favorite was the peach. Though you'll probably encounter a long wait at Loveless Cafe, especially on the weekends, due to their popularity, you'll find no problem killing time with all the little shops surrounding the cafe. They have a country store where they sell their jams, a candy store, jewelry store, and a shop filled the most useless but adorable trinkets (i.e. ugly dolls & wine glass coasters that look like flip flops). This place is a necessary stop if you're in the area!
(5)
Sean B.
I must say that we really enjoyed our breakfast and our time here. They've done just enough with the property to make the restaurant feel clean and appetizing without ruining the roadhouse feel of the other areas of the land. I wish I could remember the food better, but we had the closest thing to a meltdown with our 11 month old we'd ever had in public. It really was not that bad, but after I spilled a full water (huge glass, BTW), the stress level was a little high much of the rest of the meal is a blur. I remember thinking as we left that we got out of there just in time! I also remember the order from the table behind me as we were eating. It was a table of what I gathered to be police detectives. The order was a chicken livers platter, a fried green tomato BLT, another chicken livers platter, a gizzards platter, livers again and gizzards again. Then the good ol' boys started talking about how much they hated these meals as boys but loved them now. I also had the FGTBLT. It was not bad, but I had just had an amazing one the day before in Lookout Mountain, GA, so I was a tough customer. The biscuits are the rage, as you might have read. They are really something, though as I was trying my second one I realized that there is only so much greatness that can come out of a buttermilk biscuit. 4 or 5 ingredients can only be concocted in so many ways. Don't get me wrong - they were great. They also have a shop that is worth checking out. We brought some peach preserves home - they are very, very good.
(4)
Sammy B.
Came here for the biscuits and breakfast. Biscuits were pretty good. Pancakes & french toast were okay. I guess I wouldn't come here for breakfast. I'll try the fried chicken next time I'm in town. The wait on a Saturday at around 1230 was about 20 minutes with a call-in ahead of time. They had told us an hour and 45 minute wait when we called in but apparently if you go and wait, it is much less of a wait.
(4)
Rich F.
Holy smokes!! Jalapeno and Cajun flavored bacon! Who knew bacon could get better? Biscuits are delicious and the pit bbq pork is excellent!
(4)
Hannah L.
Me and my friend go here about once every few months because we love the beautiful ride over for the coffee and biscuits.. I always order catfish... Although I am from the MS delta where catfish is our middle name, I still enjoy their catfish... The turnip greens are great with pepper sauce and the crinkle fries never disappoint nor satisfy. The okra is out of a box... Server told me that one! I just don't get what the hoot is all about... I guess you say it's a Nashville thing but I've been to shacks on the side of the road with better home cooked food. I have a love/hate relationship with this place. I want to love it because of the beautiful location and home feel but it's just becoming to "franchisee" without being a chain.. People come from all over to see this place and celebrities as well... I don't get it... Like I said I come every few months for the scenery and hopes that the food gets better... Service is for the most part lovely
(3)
Michael D.
Tourist trap meat-and-three. Biscuits are mediocre...they mass produce them, so that they are just a "step" about fridge "grands". My homemade baking powder biscuits are better.
(3)
Dave L.
Having read all of the other reviews, we were expecting a big crowd and a big wait when we arrived. We were visiting the Nashville area for the first time and decided to drive over. Apparently 7 p.m. on a Sunday night in the winter is the best time to go. We walked in and were given a table immediately. We ordered drinks, got our biscuits, and then ordered food. I went to the restroom to wash my hands and when I came back to the table the food was there. Wow, that was quick! I haven't had a meal like that in a long time. It was a high calorie gut buster for sure, but it felt like I was served a home cooked meal at a freind's or family member's house. Right temperature, right texture, portions, everything was great. Can't say enough about the service. I know that it's probably hectic when it's busy, but our server was great...very polite, didn't rush us, made small talk, etc. We enjoyed the meal tremendously and even got dessert to go. Didn't seem touristy, just a very quaint country diner. I'm sure it's a different feeling when there's a 2 hour wait, but for this review I can't say enough good things about it. We hope to come back someday.
(5)
Janet L.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything about the Loveless! The food is outstanding and the atmosphere is so charming. A must stop for us every time we go to Nashville. Great little shops surround the restaurant so time passes quickly if there is a little wait to be seated. The food is SO worth the wait.
(5)
Paddy O.
biscuits and bbq my heart is full of love for loveless
(4)
Ellen O.
I am still dreaming about the meal I had here last week: -the best pulled pork I have ever had -fried okra -sweet potatoes -homemade biscuits -and amazing peach iced tea SO GOOD. worth the wait for sure!
(5)
Derrin T.
Loveless? Flavorless. Nothing special here but the preserves.
(3)
Ciara M.
This place is amazing! The biscuits with their jams were fantastic. We ordered cooked-in pork and fried chicken. Well done! The pork was shredded and surprisingly not as oily as I thought it would be.. maybe because it didn't have a lot of fat. It was served over pancakes which were cooked very good! The fried chicken was one of the best I ever had. There was something different in their breading. :) Their mac and cheese was also creamy -- very nice! Cheese melted and coated over the pasta the way I liked it. Creamy corn is also a recommendation for the side. Apple pie for dessert was also quite heavenly. Will come back. :) What a great intro to Southern food!
(5)
Robin L.
I should have done my homework on Yelp before showing up to the Loveless a few weeks back on a gloomy, cold, rainy Sunday morning. The place was packed, and had it not been for our long drive in, we probably woulda hightailed it outta there after finding out our wait would be approximately one hour and twenty minutes. GAH. Of course, we were starving. AND we had just risked our lives on our albeit scenic though super rainy drive in. So...we wandered the little shops on the Loveless compound and splurged on some random food items so we wouldn't wither away while the clock ticked on. Damn those crafty Loveless people! Anyway, the place is cute, and their estimate of wait time (we got there around 10:15am) was spot on. The restaurant is quaint, and we got a great table with a sweet waitress. The famous biscuits were good, as were the homemade jams. I ordered the BBQ pork omelette. Its an omelette stuffed with BBQ pulled pork, cheddar, and BBQ sauce. It was tasty and a good size. My friend ordered one of the breakfast platters-some run of the mill egg-sausage combo. We also had the hashbrown casserole which was pretty cheese-tastic. Overall, the food was good, service was attentive, and the ambience nothing short of Southern charming. But, in my opinion...no food is worth waiting an hour and a half for...sorry. Definitely a place to hit up if you go early, or are not in a hurry.
(3)
Clay G.
Man do I want to hate this place. Everything about it says TOURIST TRAP. And some items aren't as good as the others, but they do so much well. I know that the blackberry jam is suppose to be the item, but the Peach is soooo Good. In a way, it does kind of remind me of what Cracker Barrel was like in the 70's when the staff wore red bandana shirts. I have gotten into a habit of taking co-workers from out of town out here to eat. So far, everyone has gone on and on to others about it. I just wish I would quit ordering the sampler plate with 3 meats.
(4)
James W.
You might not know about this place unless you go looking for it but it is definitely worth the time to get to it. Great food and service in a nice relaxed country atmosphere. Don't forget to check out the shops adjacent to the restaurant...
(4)
Jan G.
If you are visiting Nashville, you have to come to the Loveless. The food is fantastic (country grub) and the portions are large. Definitely get a side of biscuits. Coffee isn't the best but it's what you'd expect. It's a bit off of the beaten path which makes it all the more fun to visit. There's a shop where you can buy Loveless items and some other fun little knick knacks.
(5)
Katie H.
If you have *any* remote interest in delicious, southern style comfort food then look no further - Loveless is where it is at. I, like many of the reviewers, first heard of Loveless thanks to the Food Network. Fortunately right around the same time I had developed a complete obesession with all things Tennessee related. So, we made a road trip of it - and I still rave about my time spent in that great state and especially my experience at this restaurant. The restaurant itself is one rather small house and is surrounded by other small boutique stores as well as a Loveless store complete with t-shirts and biscuit mix (I own the latter). The Loveless's were the original owners of the property which ran as a small motel. I have been there twice and had to wait over a half hour both times, so it was nice to fill the time wandering in and out of the shops. I would say the wait is a major drawback of this restaurant but for me it is a no-brainer, the food makes it completely worth it. Let me begin with the biscuits: They are served freshly baked, warm, golden and flaky at every table and they are unlimited. Served with homemade jams and spreads they are phenomenal. Don't get distracted they can fill you up quickly and there is always so much food! On my last trip here I came for lunch with some friends and I had the Southern Sampler which comes with your choice of three of the following: Fried Chicken, Catfish, Ham, Meatloaf or Pork BBQ. I had the Fried Chicken, Catfish, and Pork BBQ. The portion was huge and yet I didn't want to stop eating. My biggest recommendation goes to the fried chicken. That is what the restauarnt is known for and there is a reason. It is perfectly crunchy and not even the slightest bit greasy. All of these recipes are kept top secret making them all the more appealing. Have I mentioned that they have their smokehouse on site?! and it makes the air permeate deliciousness. Last trip I got to talking to the man working in the smokehouse (for all I know he was the owner but he was incredibly friendly and nice). He could not stop emphasizing the fresh and homemade quality of the food - he loves it himself! Should I have the opportunity to visit again I am going to have to leave room for dessert - they all sounded great and of course are also homemade on site!
(5)
Neal M.
First off, I'm a southern boy through and through. I love good southern cooking more than damn near anything else around. That said, I'm no stranger to good food and most of the time, they're not reinventing the wheel when you eat at southern food joints. When my friends picked me up from Nashville to head to their home in Alabama, we stopped here for dinner. Their biscuits, oh dear god, their biscuits. Damn. I ended up getting smoked pork chops/loin that was glazed in their homemade peach preserves. This is damn near holy divinity. As my chef says "god spoke to me". I really do think, if there was a god, he'd tell you to eat here. I had enough leftovers that I took with me, I had breakfast for two days straight with the addition of a couple scrambled eggs. When you walk in, you see a wall/walls of autographed photos from the Nashville scene in there. I'm looking forward to my trip back to Nashville just to eat here......at least once.
(5)
Misty P.
Breakfast all the way! Great service, fun atmosphere. Loved every minute. Not to mention the biscuits were AMAZING!
(5)
Patricia G.
out of the way, but delicious and worth the trip!! shows at the barn are top quality; however, fair warning, this is a very calm crowd who will keep grey tops in seats.
(4)
Wes B.
We tend to use the term "love" pretty lightly. Sure, we love our families and friends, our pets and (on rare occasions) maybe even our jobs. But can we truly love food, or is it merely affinity? I never thought I could love a biscuit until I went to Loveless. Now don't get me wrong, my family still comes first, but these biscuits are giving my friends a run for their money. Flaky and buttery, with just the right amount of softness, this Music City Manna will leave your tastebuds tingly, especially when you slather on some succulent blackberry preserves. Of course, the biscuits are only the beginning. Loveless is Cracker Barrel on crack. Every ingredient of every dish, from the sides to the meats to the moonshine cocktails (yes, you read correctly) is tailored to set your heart ablaze. If the dishes are unique, the experience is uniquely Nashville. Small shops make the guaranteed hour-long wait more than tolerable, and the service is grandmotherly and generous. I love Loveless. And I might just make it Facebook official.
(5)
Amanda F.
Touristy, yet toothsome. I had to rate Nashville's famous Loveless Cafe only 4 stars, because gosh darnit, the wait is most always over an hour and a half! Having lived in Nashville for two years, I've eaten here about four times (guess you could call it a bi-annual experience). If you have been to Nash before, it's way out of town on Highway 100. Loveless is most known for their biscuits -- the flaky, buttery goodness literally melts in your mouth and you can't stop at just one. Their recipe is kept pretty hush hush, but they do sell the biscuit mix in their shop next door (trust me, you will have time to stop there while you are waiting for your table to be ready). The walls are covered with original paintings of the likes of Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty, as well as autographs from every country music legend. Loveless offers pretty standard southern breakfast and lunch options, which are always wonderful. Also open for "supper", though I have never been out to those neck of the woods past dark. I recommend getting there early for a shorter wait time, and most certainly don't ever show up hungry, you will regret it!! Perfect spot for tourists who are visiting Nashville for the first time!
(4)
Vince N.
Went in early on a Friday morning, had a omelet and biscuits and gravy. Biscuits and gravy were good but not the best I have ever had. The one pet-peeve that I have is un-melted cheese, which the omelet had, and under cooked onions and green pepper. The ham in the omelet was excellent. Prices are a little high, since this place is a tourist trap.
(3)
Crystal P.
My Loveless experience was more love than less. True to all other high regarded reviews, I do actually have nothing but love for this roadside joint. It boasts some tall orders like homemade banana pudding, biscuits, and pretty much if it's on the menu it's made from scratch. Places just don't do that anymore. Not like this and not for these prices. All my respect to places that can manage good food on a budget and more. With that said, I enjoyed everything I ate. Was it the best ever? Probably not .... But it was most definitely solid hand made fare that for Nashville, is a force to be reckoned with. There are a LOT of southern fare joints we discovered in Nashville. The Loveless Cafe is a must visit. There is no negotiating this. Oh and yes....even with that crazy long wait. All you foodies must know by now, the longer the wait .... It must be worth it.
(4)
Kevin K.
Worth the drive. Made the mistake if eating 3 of those wonderful biscuits BEFORE breakfast and was stuffed afterwards. Great food! We had a 25 minute wait but there are other buildings/shops to look around in while you wait to be paged. Very homey place. It's like eating at home and being served by your mother.
(5)
Erin B.
One word: AMAZING. Outside of downtown Nashville but worth the trip. Everybody was super friendly and even though there was a 2 hr wait because of the 4th of July holiday, we were patient and it was worth the wait. Highly recommend it.
(5)
Maggie W.
the biscuits are 100% worth the wait
(5)
Cecil B.
The food and the service was outstanding I will stop in whenever I go to Nashville.
(5)
Kaleena 'Kala' H.
One of my favorite places to go to for breakfast. The biscuits are so delicious, and I love eating them both plain and with the jelly that they bring to the table. My favorite breakfast meal is the pancakes with bacon...sometimes I will also order some scrambled eggs to go with it. All of it is so tasty. It's pretty much the only thing I will order there for breakfast. :)
(5)
Joseph M.
Country ham is not edible. It was so salty even for some one that likes salty food. Biscuits were good but not great as others have mentioned. Grits were super rich from the heavy use of butter.
(2)
Safa S.
This is a highly commercial diner 20 minutes south of downtown Nashville. I thought the food was good, but it was a major turn off to see all the commericalized aspects of this place (signs everywhere to buy their products). That is the main reason why it gets one less star. The other reason this place is not a full 5 stars, is that I felt that this place is way over hyped... the food is good, but nothing super crazy. I think the lunch or dinner menu might have better food (for example, the smoked turkey was excellent). For breakfast, I would say go elsewhere if you are busy and don't want to wait for food. We arrived at 9AM on a Friday and there was no wait. Ordered: Biscuits - A+, delicious and super fresh Smoked Turkey - excellent... yum, yum, yum Steak biscuits - C, good if you like dry meat on dry bread. Garden Omelet - B-, nothing special... something you can get anywhere
(4)
Howard L.
Seriously have zero respect for anyone who thinks this place is delicious. Maybe the wait makes the food taste better for some people, but I recently was forced to go back by some visiting friends and this place has not changed a bit. I really felt awful after we left the restaurant...we spent over 3 hours in that little compound waiting and eating and it was definitely not worth it. Again, biscuits were OK, but the food was just absolutely horrendous. If you think they do "typical" southern fare, your mom must have been a really crappy cook. Or you're probably from MA or IN or some other yankee place. It really was embarrassing, but I did try to warn them. Complete Garbage. A shame to Nashville, really.
(1)
Rainer F.
Okay, I admit it. I don't get the hype. Tiny, stale biscuits, run-of-the-mill omelets, country ham that had a texture like directly from the buffet tray, and a hash brown casserole for which the only word that describes is, is gross. And all that after a 40 minute wait, hanging out in the gift shop/country store that had absolutely nothing of interest to offer. The only redeeming quality were the jams that came with the biscuits. If you have to go to one of Nashville's tourist traps, try the Pancake Pantry instead. Also hopelessly overrated, but at least the food is maybe not exciting yet reasonably enjoyable.
(2)
Jim G.
We went two days in a row, it's that good. For breakfast we had the country ham and pulled pork omelet. Both were very good along with the hash brown casserole and biscuits and gravy. The best sausage gravy I've ever had. On our second visit we had the fried chicken with fried green tomatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy and Mac n cheese. For desert we had the key lime pie (the best I've had). Everything was excellent and both times the service was good and very friendly. I will go back every chance I get.
(5)
Mary R.
Extra long wait during the weekend, but yummy chicken and biscuits!
(4)
David W.
One of my all-time favorites and a must for out of town visitors! Average wait is about an hour but the shops on property will help that pass quickly. I have always preferred breakfast here but I've never had a bad meal.
(4)
Lura M.
Recently visited Loveless Cafe after seeing it in the book: 1000 Places to See Before you Die. It was quite nice. Luckily we arrived just after the lunch rush and got great service from Matt. The menu was extensive and the portions were large. The food was good, I ordered the 3 meat sampler with Fried Chicken, Country Fried Catfish, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Sweet Potatoes.
(4)
Heather R.
Before I was a Nashvillian I knew about the Loveless Cafe. My inlaws were fans, and being a born and bred southerner, felt I would be a fan too. As long as the food is heartattack worthy, I'm eatin'. The one thing I was never told was that the wait would be so darn long, and this is after one heck of an excursion from my east Nashville residence. Toto, I don't think we're in downtown anymore. I don't really think we're in Metropolitan Nashville anymore. The wait for a seat was about an hour, so I'd suggest you bring a granola bar to stave off those hunger pains. There are shops all around the business though, so you won't be bored while you wait. There are benches too for those who really don't care to shop while they wait. Once the food arrived I was not disappointed. The biscuits were out of this world, and they actually had chocolate chip pancakes, one of the ways to my heart. We came for breakfast, so I'm afraid I didn't get to try the fried chicken, but I plan to when we go back. Our waitress was sweet, and never seemed overwhelmed despite the amount of people in the cafe. What quinched it for me was a photo out front of one of the cooks with Conan O'Brien: This place now had my seal of approval of pure awesome.
(4)
Allison K.
Do you ever get that feeling when you know something isn't good for you, but you indulge anyway? It's called shameless guilt. It's when you really don't care how unhealthy something may be because it's so damn good that nothing in the world matters. That was my experience at Loveless Cafe. The fried chicken was tasty, but the portion size was so big that I could barely finish it. To be honest, it actually wasn't the most amazing piece of chicken I've ever had, but it was still a fine piece of chicken. On the other hand, the sides were really excellent: marinated cucumbers and onions, fried green tomatoes, french fries, and HOLY HELL, ARE THOSE PRESERVES AMAZING OR WHAT?! Seriously, my world was spinning. The blackberry, peach and strawberry preserves are all so good and flavorful, I didn't know what to do with myself. My hands just kept reaching for those preserves, even after I was completely stuffed. If you can't taste the love that was put into the preparation of any other dish, you can definitely taste the love in the preserves. I didn't want to indulge too much on the biscuits because they are not ideal for those with severe dairy allergies, but they are fantastic as well. Service was great, as you get a pager upon arrival and can peruse the souvenir shop during your wait. Our waitress was sweet, and as corny as the place mats may be, they definitely add to the family-friendly atmosphere. It's on the outskirts of Nashville, but you won't regret coming here if you're looking for some hearty Southern comfort food!
Ok, Of the five times I've been to Loveless, I've had to wait twice. Granted, my family is full of morning people (I'm not one of them, and the task seems insurmountable), but if you show up before 9am, you're likely to have no wait. Last weekend, we arrived at 8:30 and found the place half-full. That said, yes: this is a touristy place. And yes, I have waited 1.5+ hours to get in the door. But the food is delicious. I admit I don't quite get the hype around the biscuits (they're good, but not incredible), but I would order a bowl of the blackberry or peach preserves if they would let me. The bacon is cooked perfectly, the gravy is amazing, the hash-brown casserole is to die for. I love the "old farmhouse" feel, and the folk art on the walls is so cozy. But most importantly you can tell that these people are honestly passionate about their history, and the food that got them where they are today. So get there early, and relax. It's worth it, I promise you.
(4)
Panda B.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! As soon as you get out of the car, you can smell the delicious grilling from the side. When you walk in, you can taste the southern home cooking in the air! The wait staff was great, down to earth and friendly. The food was delicious! We ate her several times, breakfast & lunch, and had various things. We loved it all every time. They're not cheap on their portion either. We also had lots to take home. Maybe because we ate too much of those small, sweet and can't-take-your-fingers-off biscuits :) One down side, the long is loooooooooooong especially for lunch. We went there early morning one time, and we got in within 10 minutes. We had to wait 1.5 hr for lunch...
(5)
Gregory S.
I went down to Nashville a couple of Easter weekends ago. On our way out of town we stopped at the loveless cafe. It was Easter Sunday and the wait was massive for three people. We decided to wait and it took about an hour and half before we were seated. It was a sunny warm afternoon so the wait wasn't too bad. We looked around at the shops, which had a lot of kitschy goods. When we were seated we ordered our food. The biscuits are indeed very very good. The fried chicken was the best I have had. The perfect amount of crispiness and juiciness. I ordered three sides with it and I can say the fried okra was amazing. Not usually a fan of okra but they way it was done converted me. I give 5 stars for the food, but knock it down to 4 stars overall because the wait times are ridiculous. I went a second time later in the year and we didn't even wait cause the queue was way too much. I understand it's a popular restaurant, but because it's hard to get a seat I give it 4 stars.
(4)
Leon J.
3 stars, but note I hadn't been able to eat. We came on a Saturday (04/09/12) and unfortunately, the wait for breakfast was an hour and 45 minutes. It's a little bit of a drive out of the city and off of the freeway so be ready. Definitely call ahead for potential wait times and be patient for parking during peak times.
(3)
Robin S.
From a local's perspective, Loveless Cafe is a good Southern meat and three, but off the beaten path. Minus one star for that. A few years back, it was basically a hole in the wall place that served great food...people knew about it, and it's always been an attraction, but not like it is now. They have a separate store on the premises that houses all of their logo merchandise--t-shirts, hats, magnets, cookbooks, and of course their signature jams. Now those are worth the purchase! I feel like they sold out a bit though once that store opened. The food is just finger-licking, stuff your gut good. Nothing low fat about this place. It's one of the only places I know of where you can get a 4-piece order of fried chicken along with your eggs, country ham, and biscuits. Their signature items here are definitely the biscuits and homemade jams. I can't think of anyone else here in town who does them better! If you want to check it out, I do suggest it--but make sure you have a few hours to kill (it can be over an hour wait at times) and come hungry. Oh and you might want to wear loose-fitting clothes! You'll be glad you did by the time you finish your meal.
(3)
Karol C.
Fabulous! I'd seen this lil gem showcased on the Food Network a dozen times. I was super excited to try it out. I wasn't disappointed at all. Although there were several families ahead of us the wait seemed to go by in no time. By the time we visited the general store and walked the campus, our beeper summoned us back to be seated. The breakfast fare was delicious...the famous biscuits...mouth watering. The accompanying assortment of jams and jellies were the perfect compliment.
(5)
Rob L.
Biscuits were good but the fried chicken was not as good as what you find at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner restaurant in Orange County Ca. Y'all in Tenn need to check out Mrs. Knotts next time you trek to So Calif.
(3)
Mariko F.
I didn't know if this place was going to live up the amazing reputation that is has. But you know what, it really does. You really have to drive out of the way for Loveless, but it's worth it. After winding some small roads, you pull up to a really cute group of small houses. One of which is the Loveless Cafe. You are immediately greeted with an enthusiastic hello and are ushered to your seats. I was in the process of hanging my coat up on my chair (ie hadn't sat down yet) when the waitress asked me if I wanted something to drink. By the time I had gotten comfortable in my chair about 30 seconds later, my coffee and orange juice and a couple of hot, secret recipe biscuits were set in front of me. Now that's what I call service! The biscuits really are as good as they say. They are apparently a recipe that is sold down through the generations of restaurant owners. I poured over the menu and got the country ham with two eggs with the potato casserole. It was all fantastic. I really appreciated that the eggs came out unsalted so that you can have them how ever salty you like. Sadly, the ham had enough salt for the rest of my food combined. (This is the only reason for the - 1 star.) The potato casserole was fantastic. I had no idea what it was but the waitress told me that it was good and so that's what I got. It's basically hash browns baked with cheese. I'm sure I was eating a heart attack, but it was very very yummy. I can't say better things about the service and the friendliness of the staff. At the end of the meal, our waitress brought us a coffee to go. All in all, I loved it at Loveless and will come back the next time I'm in Nashville.
(4)
Michael N.
How do I rate a place like this? To me, there's a big inflection point required to get from a 3-star to a 4-star review and I'm not sure where this one belongs. I'm not from the area (really? A tourist going to the Loveless?? I can't imagine!) and I do really like biscuits so I was pretty excited. However, I sort of prefer the buttery, flaky biscuit and this one was fluffy and almost yeasty. Parts of the innards seemed almost like a roll, although I did eat them all. I went for breakfast and it was pretty standard for two: - Country fried steak - Biscuits and gravy - Home fries - Two eggs The waitstaff is extremely friendly. I'd go back, but probably more because I like eating at greasy spoons than because I thought it was amazing. That said, if I were to rate it solely as a greasy spoon, I'd rate it above most.
(3)
Sarah N.
Fried chicken was great, the pork had a good flavor but was very dry. The atmosphere was awesome, very simple place. The store next door had a bunch of cute little items (all were over priced but good to look at)
(4)
Terry T.
Lived down the street from Loveless ten years ago and got to experience the delicious country cooking in a less crowded, less touristy atmosphere. Went back today and had an hour and a half wait in a little less quaint atmosphere than I remember. Oh well, 7 billion people, it's bound to get a little crowded everywhere. The food is still delicious but, next time I'll just go to Arnolds or Sylvan Park Restaurant.
(3)
Ann S.
The star extra star is for the service. This place does NOT live up to the hype. I couldn't wait to try these biscuits I'd seen on a few TV shows and since we were coming right by there on our way to Memphis, seemed like the perfect time to try it. The hubby got the bbq pork omelet and it was as gross as it sounds. He separated them and said it was tolerable but would never get it again. I got a sampler with eggs, various meats and hash browns. They brought out these biscuits and we were both surprised how teeny tiny they were. Literally 2 bites. We thought due to their size that they were bottomless. They weren't. 4 biscuits and they weren't even good. Not fluffy, cold but the jams were good. My sampler was bad. The country ham was awful. Perhaps I should've gotten the "city ham" but I wanted to step outside my box. I'll stay in the box next time. I was excited for the sausage patties but they tasted like those faux vegan sausages texture wise which was a turn off. In reading their menu telling their story about how they came up with a way to serve the loads of people they serve (there were only 2 other couples there when we got there) and we figured out how. We can only assume by how cold and dry the meats were and the fact it took us 5 minutes from order to getting the food that they make everything ahead of time and keep it in bins like a buffet. We had breakfast other places and my bacon had actual grease on it from being freshly cooked. This place had a bacon with a dull appearance like they'd been sitting out all morning. For $34 for breakfast, we'll wait until we get to Memphis and spend $10 less at Arcade. Disappointing.
(2)
Angela U.
We finally made it the Loveless Cafe. I love the biscuits, and jams, and who doesn't if you've been there you already knew that! But that is not all. The photos of everyone who has visited in the the lobby is wonderful. Really liked the intimate setting during dinner. The shops are wonderful.
(5)
Melissa B.
It really could be a bad thing that I live about 10 minutes from Loveless. I love the hashbrown casserole. Biscuits are great, but the homemade jams are what really makes them shine. I love the french toast and the pancakes are great. A few visits ago, our server explained what "hoe-cakes" are. Not only are they prompt, they're informative! lol
(5)
Jamie C.
The biscuits, of course, are outstanding. I like the BBQ a lot, and also the fried chicken. It is a bit of a tourist trap, with really long waits, but the 5 stars are for the food.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
Loveless Cafe is a must when visiting Nashville! If you're looking for southern food with the possibility of seeing a celebrity this is the place to go. We had to wait 1.5 hours for a table, but luckily the resturant is surrounded by art, gift, craft, bike, and sweet shops. Warm biscuits are served right when you sit down, they come with homemade preserves, we had strawberry & peach! For lunch I had the fried green tomato BLT- DELICIOUS! You can also do a family style breakfast for only $11/person - next time I am definitely doing that! Totally worth the wait!!
(5)
Caesar R.
5 Stars for the Biscuits and the Service and the Jams. Everything else was eh, so it get's an average of 3 stars. The service was super friendly and very attentive. Southern hospitality and all in full effect. The biscuits with the Jams they make for the restaurant and mail order are absolutely worth driving for to taste this little bit of heaven. Otherwise, the eggs were over cooked, the ham was okay, not great as was the rest of the meal, hash brown casserole was fine. The grits managed to disappear as well. But nothing was that special. The history of the place and how it has changed hands was quite interesting. It is to me a tiny bit of a shame to turn the Motel into a shopping center, but I guess that is what you call "progress"? So to see this little slice of Americana that is left does give you that quaint feeling of some sense of 'ruralness', makes you appreciate the way things once were. So, go and GET SOME BISCUITS!!!!
(3)
Linda K.
The food at loveless is full of love for this western gal! Shared the sampler which included fried catfish, country ham, and BBQ shredded pork and of course the fried chicken. If I lived here, I would eat here often. The biscuits are truly as good as everyone says, buttery, light and delicious! If I am ever in Nashville, I would eat there again.
(5)
Ted S.
Wow - everything here was great. Peanut butter and fudge pies were fear too.
(5)
Ferdinand H.
How do you review an Icon? Loveless is a famous venue for southern cooking. Atherosclerosis on a plate, with a side of biscuits. Good biscuits, country fried steak, a biscuits and gravy, fried chicken -- truly 18th Century American culinary innovations. The walls are plastered with pictures of Country music greats -- and the service is friendly and warm with broad smiles all around. It's strange, but I think I have a distrust of famous places. If this was a new find and unknown, I might have said a 5. But -- given the attention, I'm inclined to give it a 4+. It is good food. But I can't say it's so much better to many other fine, but less lauded southern Venues.
(4)
Craig W.
When I am asked for suggestions to take guests from out of town for a true Nashville experience, the first place that comes to mind in Loveless Cafe. It is a true staple of the Nashville cuisine. I have to admit, I am NOT a lover of fried chicken, biscuits with gravy etc,., but something about this place changes all that. The staff and service is all polite and adequate. The food is prepared nicely and my guests have always said that the fried chicken is cooked perfection. The appetizer are the infamous Loveless biscuits with a side of there jams and preserves (my favorite). This is not just a restaurant either, the cafe is surrounded by neat little shops selling antiques, souvenirs, and a bike shop. Definitely cannot get bored if you are waiting for a table. If you are looking for a great dining experience and to experience Nashville (Southern) culture, Loveless Cafe is a great place to visit.
(4)
Bryan C.
Loveless is the type of place you know you're going to love when you pull into the parking lot. Featured on every food show you can imagine, and once you taste that very first biscuit you can see why. It doesn't end there thought. This is southern cooking at it's finest. You know minus all the weird stuff like pigs feet and things yuppies don't like. I stop by whenever I am in Nashville. My favorite is still the fried chicken. Try it out. You wont be sorry.
(4)
Ian N.
Worth the long drive out of downtown Nashville to get here. I offered to marry the owner on the way out. There were 13 of us, so we split up the tables and my table did the all-you-can-eat family style meal. Everything was kickass. The hasbrown casserole was the balls. Fried chicken was the best I've ever had. And while I've had better pulled pork, I'm not complaining about how good their pulled pork is, it was amazing. The staff was quick, attentive, and super friendly. We were a rowdy bunch of guys and they didn't mind our antics. I may have gained five pounds that day, but they were well worth it.
(5)
Dave M.
some tasty, good fatty southern food. portions are huge even for a pig like me. the biscuits are great. eat it!
(4)
Zach G.
HOLY SH!T THEY HAVE...Biscuits. It's an expensive tourist trap that has fantastic fried chicken...hahaha...I almost typed human lol.....and homemade biscuits and jam that rock your mouthgasms.
(4)
Brian R.
A must-eat when you visit Nashville. Once you've tried the biscuits and jam, you'll be ordering the jams by mail or the web from halfway across the world, or closer (Its more convenient that way.) Portions are not small. Be prepared! Save room for the pies!
(5)
T H B.
We were heading to Nashville on our trip when we met a cyclist who told us about this cafe, to try their food. We took his recommendation and stopped for early dinner. I ordered smoked pork chop with peach sauce (I think) and it was Yummy. I never had smoked pork chop before, but I loved it the way they prepared. Their biscuits were great with homemade jam. It was a nice surprise for us to find a local hangout.
(5)
Jamie F.
We were in Nashville for the weekend, and a friend told us about the Loveless Cafe and its incredible biscuits, so we decided to take a trip out to give it a try. First off, if you're going on a Saturday morning, expect a wait. We waited about an hour and a half for a table, but with the rocking chairs out front, we just grabbed a newspaper and enjoyed the weather until our name was called. Our server was fantastic, all of her recommendations were great and she even gave us some other places in the city to check out. We ordered and were brought out the legendary biscuits and... I'm sorry to say, of everything I ate at Loveless, the biscuits were probably the least impressive. Don't get me wrong, they were good, but with all the build up and hype, I still found them just good. They're certainly not knocking the Flying Biscuit Cafe off the top of my list, but that may be a matter of personal taste. They are served with three different preserves which were fantastic. I got the catfish and fried okra, both of which were amazing. The catfish was the best I've had in a long time, and the breading was a perfect combination of crispy but not overwhelming. My boyfriend got the BBQ pork and eggs, which he says was also incredibly good. (This pescatarian will just take his word for it ;)) Bottom line: We would go back if we're in Nashville again, and definitely recommend.
(4)
Randy K.
Wonderful food and nostalgic atmosphere. You can browse the store and surroundings while you wait to be seated. You WILL wait. World famous biscuits. Good country cooking. A lot of history in this local and tourist favorite.
(4)
Tracy M.
Well they have contacted me and made it right so I'm updating my review. It's the only fair thing to do!
(4)
Sharmeela S.
What I enjoy the most at loveless is the peanut butter pie. I often want to buy a pistol take home but I know this would be bad so I don't. The fried chicken and the biscuits are other gems but always save room for the pie. To avoid the long wait get food to go and eat it on the picnic benches outside.
(4)
Natalie K.
We had high expectations for what we had heard about this place and it met every one of them! We went around lunchtime on a Saturday and had to wait for over an hour but there are a few shops and cornhole games to pass the time. The pork was everything we had hoped for and the biscuits are the best we have ever had! Highly recommend buying the jams and bacon in the little shop next to the cafe to take home!
(5)
Kim P.
My family ate at the Loveless Cafe on a Sunday afternoon. It was packed and we had to wait about 35 minutes before being seated. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and hope to go back. The food was delicious!! Loved the biscuits and we were even given some to bring home with us. Definitely recommend.
(5)
Daniel S.
Another great breakfast option in Nashville. Wait can be a little annoying but it is usually worth it. Excellent for a morning after a night on the town.
(4)
Rod O.
You don't have to be Famous to eat here and you can if you are! Loveless used to be a Hotel Famous for Biscuits, when the Hotel closed they sold the property, Hotel and RECIPE for the Biscuits! Faye used to make the Biscuits! We watched the new lady make them in a window to the kitchen (pretty cool for the tourists!)! We had Biscuits with Jams, Biscuits with Butter with Biscuits with more Biscuits on top and for the Main Course we had a Biscuit Platter : : BBQ, Steak, Country Ham, Fried Chicken Biscuits! Barbecue for Breakfast, Yum! So enjoyable "Barbecue for Breakfast" inspired a yelp list of mine! These Biscuits were GREAT Tasting without anything! Lovelace Plain Biscuits get 5 yelp stars! Barbeque on Biscuits, GREAT idea for Barbecue for Breakfast! 4 yelp stars! Granola with Peaches Hold the Milk... 5 yelp stars! I did not know people liked Granola with milk, I guess it is like cereal... I never liked milk with (in) mine! Cubed and Fried Potatoes 2.5 yelp stars. Hash Brown Casserole good yet maybe too cheesy!
(5)
Lynn T.
Fantastic food, charming decor, friendly service (thanks, Katie!). I now see why it's on everyone's "must" list when checking out Nashville's sites.
(4)
Nene D.
Great meat and three. Avoid weekend morning rush unless you have 1 hour plus to spare :)
(5)
Michael L.
I absolutely love The Loveless Cafe. Every time I've been the food has been awesome. There's not many places I can say that about. I'll just get right to point here... Their fried chicken is almost as good as my Mom's. For the chosen few in the world that have been lucky enough to try my Mom's fried chicken, they know that I'm not bloviating here. I'm pretty sure my Mom would be impressed with the chicken at The Loveless Cafe. My sides were creamed corn (yum) and turnip greens (yum yum). And the biscuits... OMG. The rumors are true... They're made with baby kisses and unicorn tears. Well, maybe buttermilk or something similar, too. This place has great food, charm, and a little store where you can buy their preserves. There's no way I could have gone home and shown my face without a few jars of peach and blackberry preserves. Seriously folks, this place is a bucket list thing. Buy your plane tickets now!
(5)
Ryan P.
Great food, great quality, good service once inside makes this a staple for nashville. My only issue was the 90 minute wait to get in! So,many people wasn't to try the chicken that theirs almost always a long wait. Luckily they provide iced tea and seats for the wait. He chicken gizzards! Haven't had those in years!
(4)
Veronica X.
Good things come in small packages, like the bite-size biscuits from Loveless Cafe. We were here on the rainy Sunday after Thanksgiving, before we hit the Natchez Trace Pkwy for a leisurely drive. No wait for the two of us. Shortly after seating, I had the best biscuits in my life. However, I wish somebody had told me that biscuits automatically come with any order, so I would have ordered something else on the menu, just to have a more complete picture of this place. Hubby's country ham and sausage were both good. Yes, it's a bit touritsy but still has the country charm. The following drive turned out to be awe-inspiring. One day I will find my way back there.
(4)
Janet Y.
Loveless Cafe has become my go-to place for out of town guests to truly get the Southern experience. I'm sure every review has mentioned the delicious biscuits and array of jams! That's just the beginning of the delicious meal you will get ahead-- from fried chicken to catfish or Southern-fried steak! Loveless also serves yummy breakfast! Think Cracker Barrel but local! If you go, expect a wait! But no worries because there is a little trinket and art store on the property that will keep you occupied until your buzzer goes off- not to mention all the picture opportunities nearby!
(4)
Julie M.
While visiting Nashville, I had two requirements - eat barbeque and eat fried chicken. I ate barbeque downtown and then a few days later I DEVOURED the fried chicken at Loveless Cafe. This place reminds me of my grandma's house. It just feels like home! When I ate the biscuits and jam I was convinced I'd never eat anything better... and then the chicken came out. Oh. My. God. The chicken is quite possibly the best thing on earth!! The side dishes are equally delicious - I had the mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. This is the definition of Southern home cooking. To top it all off, the desserts are phenomenal! I had both the key lime pie (compliments of a very nice gentleman sitting across the room... awkward!) and the cherry pie. Moral of the story - GO GO GO and EAT EAT EAT! Loveless Cafe is fantastic! I will definitely be back the next time I am in Nashville! Also of note, across the parking lot from Loveless there is an adorable shop called "Hams and Jams" which is definitely worth a visit. I bought the Loveless Cafe Dessert Cookbook and have made several treats from it since then! I just can't get enough!!!
(5)
Aimee W.
Had terrific service from JaDee and of course the biscuits were amazing! You can't leave without a quick trip at the market and store they have on property.
(5)
Roll T.
3.50 stars. The opposite of love is indifference. And that is fully clear at Loveless as you will find delight in nearly everything that they serve. Probably the most amazing part of the Loveless experience is the sheer size of your plate. I had pulled pork, fried chicken, fried okra, mac and cheese, and cheddar grits all on the same plate - sort of. The portion I ordered was so large that it did not all fit on the plate. As for the actual food? Aside from being tremendous, it is also delicious though I would give a definitive edge to Monell's for best breakfast I have experienced in Nashville (note: I haven't been to Arnold's Country Kitchen yet). Still, this is the place that most people will talk about in Nashville, and it's at least worth a visit.
(4)
Jeremy S.
I've only ate here once, and it was good. I think cracker barrel is better though.
(3)
Nick C.
Good service. We had about 25 people and they were helping us when we needed anything. They weren't very interactive with us. Like they wouldn't talk with us. But they are very busy so it's understandable. But that could be improved with just a small conversation and some jokes. Food was great! Biscuits were the BOMB. And they just kept bringing them back. We took 4 dozen back and they were gone in 30 minutes. Cream corn, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and many other sides to a great country brunch. This is a great place to go. I'd love to go again if possible.
(4)
Bernadette C.
I'm a sucker for southern food and cheap eats and this was the perfect combo of both. The portions are huge. We could have easily split the fried chicken entree and had more than enough to eat, but we threw in the pulled pork sandwich for good measure anyway. The biscuits are nice and soft and the best part, pretty much unlimited! Try all the preserves. I don't usually eat jellies/jams with my dinner, but they were so yummy I finished them all! The service was really quick and friendly. The guy didn't try to upsell us on ordering more, but we did anyway because we wanted to try as much as we could while we were there. We also went for the banana pudding, which wasn't anything special, but was a nice way to top off the night. The place itself is nothing fancy, so feel free to where whatever you want and talk however you want. It almost feels like you're sitting in someone's big house for dinner with it's red checkered tablecloths and wooden wall panels. It's a bit of the way outside of central Nashville, so if you are going to go, make sure to plan ahead. But it's totally worth it. I may move to Nashville just so I can eat @ Loveless on a regular basis. Seriously.
(5)
Karen B.
Please... it is so commercialized and far from authentic that whatever it's roots were are long lost. Better off finding a little diner with big fluffy biscuits and great eggs than waiting an hour and a half for mediocre food and a big bill. If you want the branded stuff they sell you can find it in downtown Nashville all over the place.
(1)
Dylan C.
We are in from out of town for the CMA Music Fest and this place was recommended by family that lives in the area. The wait was over an hour, but that was because they were busy. There are a few shops on the property that you can visit while you are waiting. The food was excellent. The biscuits are great when they came out warm. The preserves they served them with were all good. I enjoyed the peach the best, but the wife enjoyed the blackberry the best. I am a big fan of country ham and theirs was great. The omelette that my wife had looked good and was packed full of vegetables. The server was very friendly and made good suggestions without being pushy. If you are in the area and are willing to wait this is a recommend for me. One thing we saw on the menu but we did not do since there was only 2 of us was the family style all you can eat. Looks like a good way for 4 or more people to eat all they want while paying the same price that a regular meal would cost each person.
(4)
Lacy W.
So, I had major expectations for this place because of all the hype from everyone. The best biscuits ever? No. And they weren't even warm. My husband & I agreed that the best thing about the biscuits were the 3 homemade jams that came with them. Those were fantastic. My cinnamon raisin French toast was good, but nothing fantastic. The bacon was great though & I'm not even a bacon eater, typically. My husband's omelet didn't have much flavor. It was a good breakfast, but we kind of expected a great one, especially after waiting an hour & 40 minutes.
(3)
Private P.
Not great, but not bad either, however it really doesnt match up to the hype surrounding it. We went twice to give it a 2nd chance and the food was ok at best but no different from diner food weve had in the past from any normal place. Both times we've gone the orders were incorrect and the wait staff seemed very preoccupied and didnt chat much. And since they were so busy both times one of our orders got screwed up. Expect a very long wait of at least an hour. We waited about 1 and a half hours last time which in the end really wasnt worth it for the food. There are a few stores nearby to kill time while youre waiting for a table, but theyre really overpriced unfortunately as well.
(3)
Kathy C.
Six of us went to The Loveless around 1:00 February 15th for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The waiting list was long. We got our names on the list and were handed a pager so we could roam around the shops or sit outside until a table was available. We were seated about 45 minutes later. I haven't been to the Loveless in years, so I was hoping it hadn't changed too much. Complimentary homemade biscuits and homemade jelly with butter. CHECK Quaint dining room and friendly server. CHECK Good food. CHECK Eat until you're uncomfortable. CHECK Very reasonable. CHECK Nice experience...YES. We'll be back more often!
(5)
Kristina J.
I love this place! We had a bit of a wait, but only because it was busy. We walked around and checked out their store, and when finally seated we were impressed. Great country style food! The biscuits are great (we even got extras to take home no charge!). Fried okra was delicious!! You definitely feel like you're eating real food and talking to real people. I can't recommend it enough!
(5)
Sherie C.
I have been here numerous times, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is ok... Nothing out of the ordinary as far as breakfast selections, and who can't cook an egg? The biscuits and homemade jams are delicious, but I don't understand how people base their ratings on this alone. Lunch and dinner are completely lackluster, but not bad. This place is just ok.
(3)
Brittney G.
A landmark. A mecca. A haven. A place where calories never count. Dolly Parton's visage will overlook you, her or Johnny Cash, while you take in the best country cooking you've ever experienced outside your grandma's kitchen. It's a little way out of the way, but worth every mile. The biscuits are indescribable. Delicate, moist, buttery, the perfect round vehicle for real butter and simple blackberry preserves. The biscuits should be illegal. They are too good to be selling over the table like that. I mean it, when you have your first bite of a Loveless biscuit you will need to take a moment to reflect, not just on the miraculous thing that just landed in your mouth, but on all of life, and how in a world full of suffering and pain and impossibilities, this little biscuit exemplifies pure pleasure. All the food is good. All of it. But the biscuits rise to another level. World class. Unreal. I want to fly to Tennessee right now just thinking about them.
(5)
Russ C.
Great experience here...right around opening is the best time to go on the weekend - I think the line-out-the-door crowds are more for the late risers. I had eggs and barbeque. I am usually of the "a fried egg on anything is good by me" mentality, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Let me tell you, freakin' good. The hash brown casserole was OK...kind of bland honestly...I'm embarassed to admit that I think I like Cracker Barrell's better! But overall this place was great and is a fun place to gather with friends or family. We will be back again.
(4)
Erin D.
I'm kicking myself for not coming here sooner. By far the best restaurant we hit on our foodie road trip hands down. I'm embarrassed to say of all the times I've been to Nashville, I had never been here until now. I want to say thanks to the Pancake Pantry for having another long line I didn't want to wait in. I can't say enough about the biscuts. I couldn't get past the biscuts. Hot, tasty and the homemade jam. I had the BBQ plate, mashed potatoes and 'slaw. I can't say enough about the food and our server was outstanding. We did have to wait an hour but trust me, it is well worth it.
(5)
Aaron K.
I have been a few times and have brought many friends and it's always the same comment " Man these biscuits are great!"
(5)
Lesley P.
This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I stopped here on a road trip a year or two back, on the suggestion of a friend. It was Valentine's day, and we only made it in about 30 minutes before they closed, but they were very gracious about seating us nonetheless. I had the tastiest food, friend chicken, fried okra, collard greens, biscuits, sweet tea, etc., and it all tasted great. Better yet, the waitstaff was hilarious- singing, dancing, chatting with us, etc. We told them that we still had a 3+ hr drive to Memphis that night, so they loaded us up with biscuits, molasses and sweet tea, as we were the last people in there. I think I want to go back to Nashville, JUST to come back here.
(5)
Nickie G.
I am from Fairview, TN and used to drive by Loveless Cafe every single day on my way to work in Bellevue when I was growing up. But I have never eaten there until this trip home. I guess it really didn't make sense when I had home cookin' at my parents house back in the day. Now they just save some time and take me out to eat instead! Yipee! We got there at 7pm on a Thursday night so there wasn't a wait at all, even for our party of 6. They immediately bring out a huge plate with a stack of delicious, melt in your mouth, soft, buttery biscuits and homemade blackberry jam and strawberry preserves. I don't know why they didn't bring out the apple butter but the others were good enough. Then my brain exploded trying to figure out what to order for dinner. Your options include breakfast (all day long baby!) of which the country ham is their famous thing; dinner options which include fried chicken, meatloaf, fried chicken livers (now that's Southern people), fried or grilled catfish (don't you dare get it grilled, you are in TN get it FRIED), etc.; and then the kicker: "family style" where you pick two meats and three sides and it is all you can eat as long as you are in your seat. GAR what to order??! I ended up with the fried chicken with fried okra and the green beans cooked with ham of course. The fried chicken isn't spicy like some people like but is definitely very much like the home cookin my mom or grandma used to make. Fried okra was good and the green beans were freakin excellent. The country ham was good but it is uber-salty of course so if you don't like it salty then don't get it. I left fat and happy, stuffed with greasy comfort food and fluffy biscuits. Note that the hotel now houses shops where you can buy their apple butter, preserves, molasses, etc. However, if you are flying then you shouldn't buy that stuff there and lug it around your entire trip. Just buy it at the airport - there's a shop there that carries some of their more popular jams, jellies, etc, and you don't have to worry about it exploding in your checked luggage....although I bet you'd lick it right off your clothes if it did.
(4)
Jason H.
Food is awesome and so is the service. There is always a wait but they at least provide distractions with the multiple shops!
(5)
Josh J.
You can get better food at a chain restaurant. Not worth the over an hour wait time. Neat place to see, but eat somewhere else.
(2)
Paggy W.
We came on a Friday morning around 9:30am and there was NO wait at all, which was really great (the last time I came, it was a Saturday noon-ish time and we had to wait about 2 hours). Our waitress was really friendly and attentive and we were served their famous biscuits with three flavors of jam right away (strawberry, blackberry and peach). This kept us happy while we perused the menu. I ended up ordering the "City" ham and eggs with cheesy grits and their savory creamy white gravy with sausage (Delicious!!) and my friend ordered the fried chicken with hashbrown casserole and friend green tomatoes. We also asked for some red eye gravy to try and our waitress brought it out right away - not my favorite, but it was interesting to try. The City ham was a nice thick cut and it was done just right. I had the Country ham last time and it was way too salty for my taste so I'll be sticking with the City ham going forward, which is cured in sugar but still salty too. The eggs were also done perfectly, not overcooked/burnt and the gravy with sausage went really well with the ham and eggs as well as the biscuits. At the end, we couldn't finish everything so I decided to doggy-bag it and had asked our waitress for a couple more biscuits to take home and she brought me four :-) The service is definitely awesome and the homey feeling of the place completes the experience. For the times when you do have to wait to get seated, there are plenty of shops to visit in the lot and there's also free lemonade/iced tea around somewhere. I'll definitely be going back and bringing friends to Loveless!
(5)
Jennifer R.
We stopped here on our drive from Nashville to Memphis. I liked the experience here, but didn't absolutely love the food. If I could just rate the biscuits, they would get 5 stars. Even on a Monday around 10am, this place was still pretty crowded. Our server was very nice, but the service was super slow. We got two plates of biscuits, one before our food came and one when our food came. We split the Southern omelette and country ham. The omelette was average and the ham was flavorful, but a little dry. The biscuits were perfection - not too big or buttery, and just a little flaky. Melt in your mouth deliciousness. They also have some shops on site, where they sell some of their preserves and mixes. Worth a visit for the experience for sure!
(3)
Aaron W.
I cried when I found pulled pork that I enjoyed more than my own. George rolls in at 3:30 and starts smoking meat, for the love of god. I know this because that's when we showed up...and waited until they opened. George was real friendly to three random men showing up at the smokehouse before dawn, looking for BBQ. He was cool with us napping in the car and playing catch in the parking lot. We were the first ones in the door and they throw biscuits in your face when you get inside, served with homemade jams that makes Smucker's look like Suckers. BOO-YA. George swears by the biscuits and I won't say he's wrong. They were excellent. The exact moment my life changed is easy to recall, it's the second the pulled pork hoe cakes arrived; heaping, steaming, and screaming at my soul. People, the pork melted in my mouth. Has that ever happened to you? Be real here. Oh, the service was good and the staff was friendly. They hooked up a free plate of biscuits and jam to go as we left. We also shared a nice conversation on Chicago style pizza which they adore; I think after the food and service a frozen za should find it's way to Loveless from "the boys who went camping." A true labor that is not without love produces a product that fills my heart and tummy tum tum with the truest form of adoration.
(5)
Drew A.
This was one of the best places we went to in Nashville!! Unbelievable friend chicken, tasty sides, and the most delicious deserts. Out waitress, Susan, was just the best!! Cant wait to come back next time I visit!
(5)
Tim M.
So excited to finally try Loveless - 30 min drive from downtown makes it hard. *gasp* Only 3 stars - I know - I can't believe it myself but things were not going well for them on this day. Upon arrival, we were quoted a shorter wait cuz we phoned ahead. Hostess said 10 min but it was actually closer to 20min. We had a table almost next to the hostess stand so there was abnormal noise and I could barely hear my guests. Had the Loveless quarter chicken white meat. It was bland and just another meal. I desperately missed my Blue and White fried chicken. My friend had the dark meat and enjoyed it. Hashbrown casserole was good and definitely recommended. Biscuits and jam - YES!
(3)
Dustin R.
Love this place. Great food and service. Awesome biscuits and homemade jellies. Very homelike feeling.
(5)
Rocky T.
Excellent Biscuits! Must get more! Love this place, unfortunately it is VERY popular. If you are going on the weekend plan on at least an hour wait. But they have several little shops to peruse while you wait. (Pickup the biscuit mix to take home with u!) During the week and daytime breakfast or lunch is much better. Lots of good comfort food, breakfast served all day. Lots of celebs have been there, and you may see one at the table next to you. (Be courteous. We don't make a big deal about celebs going about their lives around Nashville. Just smile and make note. If they approach u then be a gracious fan, but don't make a big deal about it. Just let them be themselves, and maybe you will see them again.) Loveless is all the hype, but it is popular and can be a bit crowded, but going on "off days" is a great way to experience them.
(5)
Cameron T.
THE best coconut cream pie I've ever had in my life. YUM! Excellent fried chicken and catfish. Loved the sweet potatoes and green beans. The only thing I didn't care for were the greens because they were just too salty for me. The service was great and we loved it.
(5)
Michael V.
Typical southern fare, but the set-up (in an old roadside motel off the Natchez Trace) just makes this place a treat to visit, and worth the drive from downtown Nashville. The biscuits are amazing, but I would expect no less, being made from lard. Everyone knows lard still makes the best biscuits and pie crusts. I'm also a HUGE fan of their country ham, and make this place a destination whenever I'm in the area. While it's tempting to order an additional side, since they're all amazing, don't do it if you want to save room for the fantastic desserts; the homemade banana pudding is my favorite.
(4)
David S.
One of our favorite places to go. They get pretty busy on the weekends, but they have more seating then you'd expect. The breakfast biscuits and lunch fried chicken are legendary for a reason; they're the best you can get. Service is always awesome.
(5)
Jamie D.
Loveless Cafe makes me embrace my southern roots. I love this place! The breakfast is good. However, the lunch and dinner is worth every single cent! Go with a group and share the endless fried chicken with three sides... The fried chicken is absolute perfection, the best I've ever had. The sides are all good. And the world-famous biscuits? Don't even get me started. The jam is really the star, homemade and delicious. Try eating breakfast in the morning and then hop on the Natchez Parkway for a beautiful drive. There are two waterfalls at mileposts 391 and 405 that are mesmerizing and no more than 45 minutes away!
AMAZING biscuits, fried chicken, fried steak, and hash-brown casserole. Best southern food I've had since I transferred down here.
(5)
Vanessa P.
oooooo-wwweeee! Call ahead and they'll cut 30 minutes off your wait time....which has lasted about 2 hours both times I've been here. The little shops that surround the Loveless Cafe aren't big enough to keep me occupied long enough so I sit and stare at my phone hoping they'll call and tell us the table is ready. The servers are friendly, food comes out fast. Most importantly, the biscuits and preserves come out fast. My god, those things are little pillows of flour and butter from heaven. They really are the best biscuits I've ever had. I've had breakfast and lunch at Loveless. Best fried okra/green tomatoes I've had in Nashville and I consider myself a seasoned expert. The place is a bit of a drive outside town but its cute, great for visitors and those enamored with the novelty of fattening, yummy southern food.
(4)
Jaime S.
My mom had the fried catfish and I had the breakfast plate with eggs, bacon, biscuits and the cheesy potato casserole. I was so full by the time we left, but we both enjoyed the meal and bought the biscuit mix and jellies to take home.
(5)
Scott G.
Tourist trap. The biscuits are small rubber balls. If you want good biscuits, don't order these. This place used to be great but now it's just a tourist trap.
(2)
Rae G.
Such a cute place! Friendly, helpful service. We are from the west coast and had no idea what sorghum was until we ate at the Loveless Cafe. The food was good but I have had better. The chocolate pie was amazing. We purchased their dessert cookbook and everything I have made from it has been outstanding.
(4)
bethany r.
Totally worth the wait and the touristy vibe. Although I didn't think the biscuits were as extraordinary as their reputation, what was fantastic were the jams to put ON the biscuits: blackberry, peach and strawberry. mmmm. Overall, we had a great meal made much more enjoyable by our lovely waitress. She was attentive and couldn't have been nicer. I had the fried chicken (!!) The BBQ was also a standout. Recommendation for the sides- stay away from the cooked veggies and go for the coleslaw, mac & cheese, potato salad etc. The greens weren't worth the pretense of health. Just go for it.
(4)
Melissa H.
Quaint rural setting enriched the overall ambiance surrounding the history of the cafe. The food was incredible and the service was great. The entrance was very prestigious and filled with photos of every star that has dined at the cafe. And the story of Carol Fay was precious. Sorry I came too late to meet her.
(5)
Shane O.
Great food and great people! It was our first day in Nashville, and we couldn't have found a better place to start our trip off. A quick tip, call in when you leave Nashville and head to Loveless. They'll put your name down and it will cut your wait time in half. I was reading some of the other comments about it being pricey -- but coming from Hawaii and California, this place is cheap! When you're in Nashville, be sure to stop and visit Loveless.
(5)
G- R.
HOLY COW these biscuits are amazing. Flaky, buttery, smooth and d-lish. Sunday lunch is a long wait, but I grabbed a To-Go order (ready in 10 minutes) then walked around the charming grounds. Picked up the warm, country ham biscuits, sat outside, and feasted. Major fantastic.
(5)
Irene M.
This was the first time I have ever waited 1.5 hr to eat at a restaurant. Service was great. I had the fried chicken which was very tasty, crispy, and juicy. My husband had country ham (which was too salty for his taste), scrambled eggs (which tasted like fluffly foam), and hashbrown casserole (which was too cheesy and heavy). The biscuits were different, but I wouldn't say they're the best in the world. I really liked their peach preserves. The food came out very quickly. So many people were turned away after hearing there was now a 2-hr wait, but more came to wait.
(4)
Michael W.
I'm sorry, this place really deserves all five stars. It's delightfully off the beaten path, with a nice down-homey (if a bit commercial) feel. Lots of yelpers have begrudged it that last star, but I say it's worth all five. You just need to know how to do Loveless. Rule #1: Call ahead. Loveless doesn't take reservations, but if you call and say you're on your way they will put your name down for you. It could shave an hour off a really long wait. Yeah, I know it's annoying, but they must be doing something right if they can attract crowds like they do. Rule #2: Order right. There is only one thing as far as I am concerned. Fried. Chicken. The big order. Easily the best I've had that wasn't home-cooked. Crispy, flaky crunchy, salty skin with little crunchy knobs of condensed batter here and there peeled back to reveal brilliant white tender juicy chicken. I want a piece right now. Add three sides (I recommend the gooey awesomeness of hashbrown casserole, greens with vinegar, and...screw it, double hashbrown casserole). Throw in an endless basket of biscuits and jam, and you are good to go. Man, are those biscuits good. Flaky soft airy buttery happy. Screw dessert. Give me more biscuits! I just wish it didn't take so long.
(5)
Aaron D.
That rare place that lives up to the hype. Our sweet-as-tea waitress was charmingly Southern until we mentioned that we were visiting from Brooklyn, at which point she cocked her hip and pulled her native Bensonhurst accent out of her back pocket in no time flat. (But she was still as sweet-as-tea after that too.) We just split a single sampler platter (BBQ, fried chicken, ham, coleslaw, molasses yams) in our determination to save some room for dessert, but alas, even the sampler filled us to the brim. sigh. One of these days we'll go back just to try some pie. We might have had room for pie but our waitress insisted we have more than one helping of the awesome bisquits with fresh jams and I suspect the biscuits expanded in our stomachs and squeezed out any space for jam. But it was worth it to have the extra biscuits. As the Loveless t-shirts say - "Got biscuits?"
(5)
Ken L.
Ok.... the biscuits are BOMB. The homestyle jam and sorgum (first time trying) compliment the biscuit very nicely. Heck, I'd go back just for the biscuits!! The food was okay. The chicken was good but nothing special (little dry) and I was there at around 7ish for dinner. The sides were decent.... the creamed corn was my favorite. The catfish was good but I'm sure you can find better else where. The service was attentive and my drinks were refilled when needed. But man.... those biscuits.... A friendly couple with their daughter that sat next to me gave me some suggestions for more places to eat. Folks are really nice there in Nashville.
(3)
Mary T.
After seeing this place featured on The Food Network awhile ago, I've had a desire to go to Nashville and experience the famed Loveless Cafe biscuits and jam for myself. I had the opportunity last week during a spring break trip to Tennessee, and I was not disappointed. The biscuits. Sweet Jesus, the BISCUITS. Light, fluffy, yet firm and chewy. How do they do it? No one but the owners know, apparently. It's like they took the traditional southern biscuit and gave it to the Buddha, who took it to Nirvana and then brought it back to share with the unenlightened. Seriously, I cannot express in words how impressively delicious these biscuits are. Their preserves are nothing to sneeze at either, especially their blackberry preserves, which were rich and had what tasted like a subtle note of cinnamon in it. Their strawberry preservers were also good, but I found the peach preserves to be kind of bland and too sweet, like they'd boiled down canned peaches to make it. I also ordered their meatloaf, fried okra, and greens while my friend ordered the southern fried catfish, sweet potatoes, and fried okra. The meatloaf was moist and excellently seasoned with a tangy tomato sauce on top. The greens were also good, but I got a lot of little crunchies in there with them which lead me to believe that they hadn't rinsed them very well. Their fried okra was crunchy, which is a feat since a lot of fried okra I've ordered at other places has been soggy. The bite of fried catfish my friend allowed me to have personified southern tradition. She did say that her sweet potatoes were too sweet, though. In the end, all the food we had here was good, but the biscuits and preserves are definitely the stars of the show. I was so impressed by them that right after we got done eating I waddled over to the adjacent store and bought two jars of preserves and a bag of biscuit mix. I doubt it will be as good as the real thing, but even a shadow of the glory we experienced that night will make almost all other biscuits pale in comparison.
(4)
Shannon Z.
Cheese Grits = Amazing, creamy with the perfect amount of cheese Fresh Biscuits = best I have ever had, flakey, buttery and light Homemade peach jam = perfect, and better when eaten with the best biscuit ever Hashbrown Casserole = more pure fatty yum Extra 5 lbs and possible heart attack, not cool. Gourmet Magazine and the Food Network, thank you for letting me know about this gem.
(5)
jessica s.
OMG! The biscuits & jam are worth the 5 stars! Everything else is just as delicious.
(5)
Ashley R.
Let me tell you a little story about Loveless Cafe, y'all. A friend and I decided to ride our bikes there one day from West End. 13 miles. Bad Idea. 5 hours later when we got there, waited an hour for our table, and the biscuits finally came, they literally saved my life. I owe those biscuits MY LIFE, I tell you. If you are gonna do Loveless, just forget about the calories and order the Fried Chicken with all the fixins (or you could burn it off with a bike ride- but seriously--dont.). Also, try your darndest to save room for Steeplechase pie. To Die For. The wait can be long, so go at a weird time and you should be ok. Otherwise plan on waiting at least an hour. Luckily there are little shops in the same complex to keep you busy. Recently, I went to the Loveless Barn on the property for music city roots. If you have not done this, you need to go as soon as humanly possible or, move away from Nashville . k thanks. bye.
(4)
David H.
4.5 Loveless is one of those iconic places that becomes a bit of a tourist destination. I think it potentially gets a little more hype and press than it should for its own good, because it sets unrealistic expectations for some. I've seen it on the Food Network a few times, and the website has a collection of talk show appearances and other press. Make no mistake: their food is very tasty, but there are many other places of a similar quality that don't get this kind of press. "Great biscuits." That's probably the first thing you hear about Loveless Cafe. Since all of the reviewers here mention them, I won't belabor the point. Yeah, they're great -- I had them bring a second basket out, because I polished off the first before the meal came. I tried the Pork Barbecue over Cornbread Hoe Cakes with Hashbrown Casserole and Macaroni and Cheese as sides. Yeah, I know: health food. Anyway, it was all excellent. The barbecue was delicious and the hoe cakes were a nice accompaniment. The Hashbrown Casserole was definitely my favorite of the two sides dishes. Both sides were good, but I wish I had ordered a more balanced pair, because both were very cheesy. I also tried some of the pan fried chicken and it was great. Oh yeah, and the coconut cream pie was probably the best I've had. Everything I had here was just great. The one thing that confused me was the sweet tea: it wasn't as sweet as I would have imagined. I mean, this place calls dinner/luch "supper." I'd have expected the tea to be so sweet it gives you diabetes on contact. Oh well, it's a very minor nit. Anyway, the main downside to this place is the location and the wait. It is a fair drive from Nashville proper, and since it is somewhat of a tourist destination, the crowds are quite thick on weekends. Definitely take advantage of the call ahead so you can count your driving time against your wait for a table. It helps knock 20-30 minutes off the wait time.
(4)
Nathan W.
So I will keep this one truly short and sweet. BEST FRIED CHICKEN I HAVE EVER HAD! While people seem super excited about the bisquits (I thought they were just ok) the chicken is the standout here. Were I to be stranded in the middle of a mosquito infested swamp with nothing but the clothes on my back and a plate of this fried chicken I would entirely be ok with things as they were because of this chicken. If I found myself with a hole in my head and a plate of this fried chicken, I would just hope that the hole didn't interfere with the eating of the chicken because thats all I would care about. Go and get you some!
(4)
Dean W.
Was in town for business, thought I'd check out the Loveless again as it had been a few years. The biscuits were incredible, as were the 3 jams. Had the fried chicken plate (dark). Quarter chicken was generous...2 legs and a back/thigh. Came out very hot and fresh. The crust is not overly salty nor greasy, but the chicken was cooked just a few minutes too long. Even the leg meat was a bit tough. The turnip greens with pot liquor were excellent, as was the pot liquor. The fried okra was disappointing...the coating too thick and bready. I remember having this several years ago and it was a different cornmeal coating that was much lighter and crisper. Have they changed the recipe? Came around 5:30 on Monday night and the restaurant was pretty empty. Used to seeing this place being packed. Service was quick and friendly. I ended up walking out full but feeling a little let down...not the same as I remembered.
(3)
Kathryn-Claire B.
Their breakfasts are lacking but I LOVE their lunch and dinners. Make sure you have plenty of time because it could take ages to get a table.
(4)
Brenda M.
The Loveless Cafe was everything I had expected and more. The food was fabulous and plentiful. You will not leave her hungry. yallcomeoninthedoorsopen…
(5)
Rebekah T.
The food was amazing but the wait is crazy. The staff is really nice. I ordered my food to go and sat outside on a picnic table. The corn hole is a lot of fun too.
(4)
Dannielle O.
If you don't eat here you will regret the fact that you are alive. Food? Perfect. Service? Perfect. AMBIENCE? Perfect. Love u, loveless.
(5)
MaryLynne G.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits! That's all you need to know- moist, buttery, absolutely incredible. If you want more go for the sides: mashed potatoes, coleslaw, fried green tomatoes. The restaurant has a whole plaza of little shops to visit while you are waiting for your table or for a takeaway order. To save time when the wait for a table is long, get takeaway and eat on the tables outside.
(5)
Paul Z.
Best f ing biscuits ever! Trust me I've had lots of biscuits! Jams really fresh. We had a 45 min wait. But they have little shops to check out. Food was worth the wait. It's one place I've been to that I wish I live closer to so I could go more often.
(5)
Mike F.
Drawn to the replace by reviews. Was really excited about visting. Great news did not have to wait long. Surroundings were super cool. Waiter was exceptional and suggested the fried chicken. No hesitation on my part I love fried chicken Chicken was tender but bland. No flavor. Greens were cooked well built again very bland and macaroni and cheese was very milky no structure and not like homemade. Would not bother again better food at the Craker Barrel. I travel and eat out at over 50 resteraunts a year. Don't waste you time going here for the food but a maybe for the ambiance! I will admit the grounds are super cool.
(2)
Hibah Q.
So cute! Great food. Friendly staff. Inexpensive. What more can you ask for?
(5)
D. K.
One word (that has been said a million times before): BISCUITS!! Worth coming here alone. My chicken fried steak was fine...nothing amazing, but hit the spot. I also liked the biscuits and gravy that my sister ordered. Service was super friendly! Didn't love the desserts weirdly enough. Expect a long wait, but there's lots of fun little shops on property that make the wait bearable. I'll be back!
(4)
Stacy A.
This place is definitely worth the drive out of downtown Nashville! The staff is very sweet and accommodating and the manager came over and was a very friendly, interested guy. The biscuits are AMAZING, but that is what they're famous for! The pancakes are huge and are sweet, making them special. The biscuit sampler platter is large, and more of biscuit-sandwiches style than biscuits with various ingredients cooked into them. Definitely try the home fruit preserves on the biscuits! Lots of free parking available and there's a cute market to mosey on over before or after! Interesting history to the place and adorable decor. A great stop!
(5)
Ryan W.
This place is an experience. It is located in what I can only describe as Middle of Nowhere, Tennessee. It is around 30-40 minutes outside of Nashville, however as soon as you see the sign, you notice the huge parking lot full of cars and tons of people hanging around the restaurant. The wait was pretty long, but Loveless does everything possible to keep people entertained. There were guys playing corn hole, some kids drawing pictures on the ground with chalk, and a cute elderly couple enjoying the day in a set of rocking chairs. There is also an array of small shops that you can check out. Once we got in, the food was absolutely amazing. It lived up to the hype of every previous review. I practically was rolled out of the place because my ambition got the best of me and I went for a platter including ham, meatloaf, fried chicken and a couple sides. I probably shouldn't have eaten so many biscuits before the meal.
(5)
Steve C.
Fantastic southern food, huge variety, and great drinks to boot. It's just a shame that so many people know about this place; there's always a huge wait (I've never waited less than 30 mins, and sometimes as much as 2 hours). On occasion I find it worth the wait, but usually I'll just go elsewhere.
(4)
Carmen P.
yeah i know, i'm going to be boo'd and hissed at for only giving it three stars. the biscuits were 5 stars though. my husband and i are locals, and he has somehow never been here, so he insisted we go. after the expected looooooooooong wait, we were seated and greeted by an exceptionally personable server. my husband had some friend chicken, i think....and i had the barbecue pork. the portions were HUGE (and the server also gave us a ton of biscuits to take home with our leftovers...i'm not sure if he should have, so don't ask about this!) we both had sides of macaroni and okra. the macaroni was yum and the okra was good too. i know loveless is a nashville tradition, and there was nothing really wrong with our experience, but, take away the tradition, and it was just, food--except for the biscuits, they're magical, like they were made with unicorn tears. so here, get some neat jams and bacon from their gift shops, and tip well, those servers have hard jobs!
(3)
Krash T.
Once upon a time - oh, 30, 40 years ago - Loveless was a secret place I took people to when I wanted them to get a taste of the "real southern cuisine." Unfortunately, no longer. It used to be terrific, homey, everything from scratch. It may be all from scratch now, but it's really become nothing more than a tourist joint. If you haven't ever had good fried chicken, you might think this was acceptable, but you'd do better at a gas stop Krispy Krunchy. If you want the real deal, ask around for old-fashioned meat & threes. Sorry to be so brief but there's not much more to say except that it's also quite expensive given what you get - poor service, low quality. If you want really great southern cooking, take the time to visit Lynchburg and go to Miss Mary Bobo's, former home of Jack Daniels. Just make sure to reserve in advance.
(2)
Dustin S.
The food was good and wait was short. The only thing overrated was the bisquits. They were still good, they just didn't live up to the hype. Definitely a Nashville must.
(4)
Melynda S.
My meal got off to an amazing start with the biscuits and preserves; it was very good. Other than that, your money would be better spent at your local Cracker Barrel. I ordered the pulled bbq pork with turnip greens and mac & cheese. The mac & cheese was beyond disappointing, the turnip greens were decent but below average, but the meat was actually kind of tasty. Overall, my experience was very disappointing considering the hype that surrounds this place. The Loveless Cafe is definitely nothing to write home about.
(3)
Michael O.
It's famous for a region. Plan to drive out of the city a bit, wait awhile for a seat, and eat stunningly good Southern food. Order anything--it will be excellent.
(5)
Rita T.
EVERYTHING we ate here was really good--even the leftover meat and biscuits the next day! We'd only wrapped the biscuits in a paper napkin--16 hours later they should have been hockey pucks. Instead, delicious! Our excellent waiter brought us a basket of steaming, golden-white puffs (ah, those biscuits), pots of jewel-bright, fruity-fruity strawberry, peach, and blackberry preserves (we finished them off with a spoon), plus the sorghum we'd requested. I suspect Annie Loveless developed her biscuits with sorghum in mind--their pairing beats all I've had in the south. A couple unique items on Loveless Cafe's beverage menu are its moonshine offerings. The watermelon moonshine comes in 2 mason jars, a large one, pink with watermelon juice and chunks, and a mini-jar with an ounce of clear moonshine. Poured together, they produce a refreshing drink, no cloying sweetness. Our orders of watermelon ribs and fried chicken both came with 2 sides, so we ended up with creamed corn (double), macaroni and cheese, and the pot liquor greens. It's good we didn't have to share our sides of the creamed corn--wow, it's light and lovely and (woot, woot!) the recipe is available online. The watermelon ribs are dry-rubbed and smoked, then braised with the nicely tangy sauce and watermelon chunks, a process that gives the chunks a great tomatoey taste and texture. The fried chicken, though, proved why the Loveless Cafe has such an enduring reputation. Make sure at least one person in your party orders it, and make sure he or she shares! And save room for dessert. We ordered the chocolate pecan pie, a not-quite fudgey, highly successful Loveless treat. The service was great, the atmosphere is fun, and the food is terrific. Yes, you oughta eat here.
(5)
Julia D.
I visited the Loveless Cafe twice on my recent trip to Nashville. This restaurant never disappoints. The pulled pork and Bloody Marys are wonderful. The granola (might be a side item) is good. I wouldn't recommend the French Toast. But, of course, my favorite part of the meal were the BISCUITS!!
(5)
Jes S.
I've heard wonderful things about Loveless Cafe so finally made it out there. We went on a Friday morning to avoid the weekend rush. It was a beautiful 20min drive outside of Nashville and managed to get in after a short 10min wait. It was busy on a Friday so I can imagine the craziness on the weekend. Good news is of you did have a wait there is a outdoor area to walk around and buy keepsakes, souvenirs, etc. The biscuits were good but not as I had imagined. I had such high expectations. The trio of preserves were delicious and paired nicely with the hot biscuits. We didn't order anything special--eggs and bacon/sausage. Very average or typical to any breakfast joint. I would have been happy with my coffee and biscuits. Service was good! The biscuit mix you buy in the store is quite good and you only add buttermilk. Very similar tasting to the real thing. I will return--and try lunch but during the week.
(3)
Scott B.
It is solid and the biscuits are perfect, but the wait can be a bit tedious after a certain hour in the morning.
(4)
Emily G.
Amazing biscuits, definitely the best I've ever had! Their blackberry jam is outstanding. Service is great as well. Watermelon ribs, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and mashed potatoes with gravy are some of our favorites!! Definitely must stop here when you're in Nashville!!!
(5)
Steve R.
Loveless Cafe is way on the west side of Nashville. It has a storied past and is still a great place to eat! They have a wide variety of traditional southern fare. The service is great and the atmosphere comfortable. My brother, who is a notoriously picky eater, ate everything on his plate! I'll definitely be back the next time I'm on that side of town (or I might even make a special trip if I'm not there soon).
(5)
Courtney N.
Part of Nashville's history - a must! Never a bad meal!
(5)
Kristen H.
THE BISCUITS!!!! I could just eat them for the whole meal!! Delicious! But, I did order an omelet and hash brown casserole and it was delicious as well. Be prepared to wait at least 45 minutes for a table on a good day. But it's not bad because they have a bunch of cute shops for you to visit and they give you a little pager to carry so you know when your table is ready. Definitely not the place to go for a quick bite, but a great place for a leisurely, relaxed, fun breakfast/brunch.
(4)
Brooke M.
This place is pretty good! The biscuits are amazing and so is the chicken! If you aren't too full then the desserts are heavenly as well. Every time I've come here I've had a great wait staff. To avoid the long wait come on a week day after 7pm. Everyone knows this place is good so the wait to get in can be pretty long.
(5)
sandie s.
Biscuits. You sit down and get biscuits. And once those biscuits are gone, you get more biscuits. How many biscuits consumed in one sitting could be considered obscene? I didn't care. Those biscuits were damn good. I kind of want to stop it there, but the rest was so good too, so I'll tell you about it. When I drove up, I just knew it would be good. There was a wait, but it went fast and when it was over, I was sitting at a table, with a plate of biscuits, strawberry, apricot, and blackberry preserves. Having eaten 2 of the biscuits before I had even started looking at the menu, I decided that an egg white omelet was in order, you know, just for balance. Of course, to throw it off again, I ordered a side of bacon. The omelet was superb and the bacon, thick and crispy. And at Loveless, an order is 5 slices. FIVE. And of course, there were more biscuits. My waitress was awesome and friendly, as was everyone I encountered there. The atmosphere was nice and homey, with some groovy art on the walls. The memorial to the biscuit lady was my favorite. And they have a good, roomy handicapped stall in the bathroom. I like to mention this when it's true. Go to Loveless. You will like it. I liked it. And now I'm really, really sad that I don't live anywhere near it. Although my weigh watchers points are OK with that part.
(5)
Marie O.
Adequate breakfast food, but not worth even a 20-minute wait. We were expecting revelatory biscuits, maybe that was the problem. The preserves -- which were good, don't get me wrong -- were better than the much-heralded baked goods. On the plus side, the staff was very cordial, and obviously work very hard.
(3)
Connie J.
So worth the wait (1.25 hours). Everything was GREAT! Fried chicken, mac n cheese, creamed corn and greens. The biscuits are deserving of all the rave reviews! Everyone else in our party of 7 got something different and everyone left happy and full!
(5)
Christina M.
Me & my husband were driving past Nashville & checked out this place. Yes it is a bit of a drive from the interstate & yes there was a long 1 1/2 hr wait but the wait staff were super friendly & the biscuits oh yea made the trip & wait worth it. I'm not into biscuits as much as my husband but let me tell u I ate 3! All with butter & their strawberry, blueberry & peach jams all delicious! Next I had the blue berry moonshine & it comes with a shoot keep sake that the moonshine comes in. Boy my first time having some I would say don't throw it all in cuz that stuff is strong but good. We couldn't decide so we had the sampler platter with fried chicken, meatloaf & ham. All were great but ham was a little salty then I would of liked. The hashbrown casserole & Mac & cheese were on point! This is must stop!
(5)
Maria I.
I REALLY, REALLY wanted to love this place. I'm from California and was in town passing through. We stopped here, looked around at the shops, and had lunch. I loved the people, our server, and of course the biscuits! I ordered breakfast with eggs, potatoes, and sausage. I found the eggs to be fluffy, but that's about it. I was excited for the potatoes but whatever kind of sauce or cheese was in them really turned me off so I barely touched them. The sausage was okay and nothing special to me. Maybe I should have ordered something for lunch. I would try it again if I'm in town.
(3)
Mink M.
Long wait. But worth it. Next time ill order to go instead. The biscuits are amazing. I wish I bought some of it to take home. They are so good. The strawberry preserve was awesome. The chicken was fried to perfection and the coleslaw was very good. The fried catfish was of the hook and I normally don't eat catfish. The waitress we had was super sweet and courteous. They know what their doing. Check out the stores to kill the time and try the brittle it's pretty good. They offer free coffee. Good food. Plenty of parking. It looks like they may be expanding. Long wait. Free coffee.
(5)
Kyle W.
Truly as good as it gets when is comes to home cooked country food! At our table of 3 we had, Meatloaf, Ham, Pulled Pork, Squash Casserole, Hash-brown Casserole, Mac N Cheese, Banana Pudding, Cherry Pie, Peach Cobbler, and a plethora of Sweet Tea and Biscuits! There was not one thing that was mediocre. Everything was hot, fresh and flavorful. And I would personally like to give a shot out to Ms. Barbara who made sure that we had all our left-overs to go and a few extra biscuits for the road! I cant say enough good things about the Loveless Cafe!
(5)
S C.
I've been to Loveless once, on my last trip to Nashville, from California and I was looking forward to another meal until now. I am coming out again for a visit next week and I will be skipping it and unliking their FB page and unfollowing them on pinterest due to the LACK of customer service and complete disregard of a person's holiday as displayed by the review posted yesterday. I am appalled how unkind the staff was. There are so many fabulous places to eat in Nashville that I am glad to say I can cross Loveless OFF my must do's list for future trips. Really disappointed. Disgusted is more like it. We have better Southern Hospitality in California than Loveless showed. And don't worry, I'll share this on social media to make sure everyone knows how Loveless treats customers.
(1)
Janette C.
So I've lived in Nashville for 6 years and this was my first visit here! I am wishing I had come sooner! The drive here is a great one. It's a little long where I live in East Nashville but it was soooo worth it! It was a beautiful country side drive. Gorgeous houses and scenery. The meal was fantastic. :-) I had a BBQ pork with two eggs, one to the right and one to the left. So it was a mound of pulled pork on top of two corn bread cakes (ho cakes) and one gooey egg on either side of it. Delicious and tender! My friend had the sampler which looked equally amazing! Bacon, country ham, sausage, scrambled eggs :) Our meal came with a heaping pile of fresh biscuits too. Buttery, soft, still warm from the oven and server with three different types of homemade jam. Note you can also get sorghum and honey for them if you choose! A side of grits, coffee and water for both of us as well. Definitely recommend a visit here. There are shops to visit if you have to wait (our wait was about 20 minutes). All sorts of crafts and do dads ;) The service was friendly, smiley and not at all pushy. They let me and my friend stay and relax with our coffee after our meal and didn't make us feel rushed at all. Enjoyable :)
(5)
Marisol H.
Best fried chicken ever! Be ready to unleash your inner fat girl if you eat here! Everyone is super nice and wants to feed you! Beware of the biscuits! They are like crack on steroids! Soo good!
(5)
Arlene H.
The bad: White corn grits were soupy and tasteless, even with cheese. The good: Fried chicken was yummy, but missing something.... Salt? Heat? Fried green tomatoes were good. The great: Love the biscuits with peach preserves! The pork was yummy too. The hash brown casserole didn't blow my mind until I got home and reheated it. Peach tea, half sweet and half unsweetened was pleasantly flavorful without being too sweet. The moonshine bloody Mary was good and the tiny souvenir Jar was a nice touch. If I come back, I'm going to the store for peach preserves and biscuit mix!!!
(4)
Hanna N.
Awesome food, friendly service and outstanding atmosphere. Do leave room for desert, the chocolate pecan pie was well worth the belly ache from eating too much :-)
(5)
Shannon F.
Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Went here with my mother and the place lived up to it's hype! Make sure you give yourself plenty of time (our wait was estimated to be two hours but was a little over an hour). The drive was scenic and they have tons of activities, chairs, and cute gift shops to keep you busy while you wait. The food was to die for (the biscuits were out of this world) and the atmosphere was quaint! Couldn't have had a better brunch :)
This is my first time visiting the South and I just HAD to go try out the famed Loveless Cafe. It's really not much to look at, just a tiny little place. My companions both ordered the pulled pork and I had the meatloaf. Both very good and tasty! i have to admit I was a little disappointed because I wanted to see some barbecue action going on, but since it was so cold and dark out, they didn't have the BBQ pits going. They were definitely there though. The BBQ sauce they used is awesome! My sister got a bottle at the store when we were done with dinner. I loved the fried green tomatoes!!! SO GOOD! The meatloaf was also very yummy. They had some pretty amazing biscuits and I believed homemade jams. They have all the jam, sauces, and biscuit mix for sale at their little store. Remember to check that out! Their waitstaff is very friendly, although they looked like they may have been overstaffed that night. I had a sore throat that day and the waitress kept coming back to make sure I had enough tea. Big thumbs up to her! She also recommended that I drink a "hot toddy" to help relieve my sore throat. I had one later that night, and sure enough, it did the trick. Thanks for the tip! :)
(4)
Renee A.
Love the Loveless! I've never had a bad meal here. It's taken time, but I've finally learned to NOT visit on the weekends or holidays. The wait can be incredibly long.
(5)
Richard P.
Went in early afternoon on a Monday and was told the wait was 30 minutes. There are several shops to look in, and we were signaled in less than 20 minutes. My wife had the eggs with ham and the ham slice could feed 2 people. Had to bring some of it back home. I had the pimento cheeseburger with the bacon (yep, 5 slices) with fries. One of the best burgers I ever had. Oh yes, not to mention more biscuits and soda refills. I will definitely recommend this cafe to others. The biscuits are what this place was supposedly about, but truthfully, the biscuits as Bob Evans beats Loveless hands-down. Nice place here, though.
(4)
Pasquale L.
OK 511 reviews let me throw mine in there! It is good great country ham, went on a Monday morning 8am so no wait. would I wait for breakfast? Can't go wrong though for breakfast.
(4)
Peter P.
I came here because I saw an episode of "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" where he takes on the biscuits and jam here. This place lives up to the hype. It is definitely on the outskirts of town. We were on our way to the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Loveless Cafe is just steps away. I had just eaten lunch, but I had to stop in for some dessert. There was a huge selection of pies, but I opted for the blueberry crumble with their homemade ice cream. What a treat. The next time I'm in Nashville, I'm definitely going to stop by the Loveless for some fried chicken.
(4)
Jamie F.
We were in Nashville for the weekend, and a friend told us about the Loveless Cafe and its incredible biscuits, so we decided to take a trip out to give it a try. First off, if you're going on a Saturday morning, expect a wait. We waited about an hour and a half for a table, but with the rocking chairs out front, we just grabbed a newspaper and enjoyed the weather until our name was called. Our server was fantastic, all of her recommendations were great and she even gave us some other places in the city to check out. We ordered and were brought out the legendary biscuits and... I'm sorry to say, of everything I ate at Loveless, the biscuits were probably the least impressive. Don't get me wrong, they were good, but with all the build up and hype, I still found them just good. They're certainly not knocking the Flying Biscuit Cafe off the top of my list, but that may be a matter of personal taste. They are served with three different preserves which were fantastic. I got the catfish and fried okra, both of which were amazing. The catfish was the best I've had in a long time, and the breading was a perfect combination of crispy but not overwhelming. My boyfriend got the BBQ pork and eggs, which he says was also incredibly good. (This pescatarian will just take his word for it ;)) Bottom line: We would go back if we're in Nashville again, and definitely recommend.
(4)
Randy K.
Wonderful food and nostalgic atmosphere. You can browse the store and surroundings while you wait to be seated. You WILL wait. World famous biscuits. Good country cooking. A lot of history in this local and tourist favorite.
(4)
Tracy M.
Well they have contacted me and made it right so I'm updating my review. It's the only fair thing to do!
(4)
Sharmeela S.
What I enjoy the most at loveless is the peanut butter pie. I often want to buy a pistol take home but I know this would be bad so I don't. The fried chicken and the biscuits are other gems but always save room for the pie. To avoid the long wait get food to go and eat it on the picnic benches outside.
(4)
Natalie K.
We had high expectations for what we had heard about this place and it met every one of them! We went around lunchtime on a Saturday and had to wait for over an hour but there are a few shops and cornhole games to pass the time. The pork was everything we had hoped for and the biscuits are the best we have ever had! Highly recommend buying the jams and bacon in the little shop next to the cafe to take home!
(5)
Kim P.
My family ate at the Loveless Cafe on a Sunday afternoon. It was packed and we had to wait about 35 minutes before being seated. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and hope to go back. The food was delicious!! Loved the biscuits and we were even given some to bring home with us. Definitely recommend.
(5)
Daniel S.
Another great breakfast option in Nashville. Wait can be a little annoying but it is usually worth it. Excellent for a morning after a night on the town.
(4)
Rod O.
You don't have to be Famous to eat here and you can if you are! Loveless used to be a Hotel Famous for Biscuits, when the Hotel closed they sold the property, Hotel and RECIPE for the Biscuits! Faye used to make the Biscuits! We watched the new lady make them in a window to the kitchen (pretty cool for the tourists!)! We had Biscuits with Jams, Biscuits with Butter with Biscuits with more Biscuits on top and for the Main Course we had a Biscuit Platter : : BBQ, Steak, Country Ham, Fried Chicken Biscuits! Barbecue for Breakfast, Yum! So enjoyable "Barbecue for Breakfast" inspired a yelp list of mine! These Biscuits were GREAT Tasting without anything! Lovelace Plain Biscuits get 5 yelp stars! Barbeque on Biscuits, GREAT idea for Barbecue for Breakfast! 4 yelp stars! Granola with Peaches Hold the Milk... 5 yelp stars! I did not know people liked Granola with milk, I guess it is like cereal... I never liked milk with (in) mine! Cubed and Fried Potatoes 2.5 yelp stars. Hash Brown Casserole good yet maybe too cheesy!
(5)
Lynn T.
Fantastic food, charming decor, friendly service (thanks, Katie!). I now see why it's on everyone's "must" list when checking out Nashville's sites.
(4)
Nene D.
Great meat and three. Avoid weekend morning rush unless you have 1 hour plus to spare :)
(5)
Michael L.
I absolutely love The Loveless Cafe. Every time I've been the food has been awesome. There's not many places I can say that about. I'll just get right to point here... Their fried chicken is almost as good as my Mom's. For the chosen few in the world that have been lucky enough to try my Mom's fried chicken, they know that I'm not bloviating here. I'm pretty sure my Mom would be impressed with the chicken at The Loveless Cafe. My sides were creamed corn (yum) and turnip greens (yum yum). And the biscuits... OMG. The rumors are true... They're made with baby kisses and unicorn tears. Well, maybe buttermilk or something similar, too. This place has great food, charm, and a little store where you can buy their preserves. There's no way I could have gone home and shown my face without a few jars of peach and blackberry preserves. Seriously folks, this place is a bucket list thing. Buy your plane tickets now!
(5)
Ryan P.
Great food, great quality, good service once inside makes this a staple for nashville. My only issue was the 90 minute wait to get in! So,many people wasn't to try the chicken that theirs almost always a long wait. Luckily they provide iced tea and seats for the wait. He chicken gizzards! Haven't had those in years!
(4)
Veronica X.
Good things come in small packages, like the bite-size biscuits from Loveless Cafe. We were here on the rainy Sunday after Thanksgiving, before we hit the Natchez Trace Pkwy for a leisurely drive. No wait for the two of us. Shortly after seating, I had the best biscuits in my life. However, I wish somebody had told me that biscuits automatically come with any order, so I would have ordered something else on the menu, just to have a more complete picture of this place. Hubby's country ham and sausage were both good. Yes, it's a bit touritsy but still has the country charm. The following drive turned out to be awe-inspiring. One day I will find my way back there.
(4)
Janet Y.
Loveless Cafe has become my go-to place for out of town guests to truly get the Southern experience. I'm sure every review has mentioned the delicious biscuits and array of jams! That's just the beginning of the delicious meal you will get ahead-- from fried chicken to catfish or Southern-fried steak! Loveless also serves yummy breakfast! Think Cracker Barrel but local! If you go, expect a wait! But no worries because there is a little trinket and art store on the property that will keep you occupied until your buzzer goes off- not to mention all the picture opportunities nearby!
(4)
Julie M.
While visiting Nashville, I had two requirements - eat barbeque and eat fried chicken. I ate barbeque downtown and then a few days later I DEVOURED the fried chicken at Loveless Cafe. This place reminds me of my grandma's house. It just feels like home! When I ate the biscuits and jam I was convinced I'd never eat anything better... and then the chicken came out. Oh. My. God. The chicken is quite possibly the best thing on earth!! The side dishes are equally delicious - I had the mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. This is the definition of Southern home cooking. To top it all off, the desserts are phenomenal! I had both the key lime pie (compliments of a very nice gentleman sitting across the room... awkward!) and the cherry pie. Moral of the story - GO GO GO and EAT EAT EAT! Loveless Cafe is fantastic! I will definitely be back the next time I am in Nashville! Also of note, across the parking lot from Loveless there is an adorable shop called "Hams and Jams" which is definitely worth a visit. I bought the Loveless Cafe Dessert Cookbook and have made several treats from it since then! I just can't get enough!!!
(5)
Aimee W.
Had terrific service from JaDee and of course the biscuits were amazing! You can't leave without a quick trip at the market and store they have on property.
(5)
Roll T.
3.50 stars. The opposite of love is indifference. And that is fully clear at Loveless as you will find delight in nearly everything that they serve. Probably the most amazing part of the Loveless experience is the sheer size of your plate. I had pulled pork, fried chicken, fried okra, mac and cheese, and cheddar grits all on the same plate - sort of. The portion I ordered was so large that it did not all fit on the plate. As for the actual food? Aside from being tremendous, it is also delicious though I would give a definitive edge to Monell's for best breakfast I have experienced in Nashville (note: I haven't been to Arnold's Country Kitchen yet). Still, this is the place that most people will talk about in Nashville, and it's at least worth a visit.
(4)
Jeremy S.
I've only ate here once, and it was good. I think cracker barrel is better though.
(3)
Nick C.
Good service. We had about 25 people and they were helping us when we needed anything. They weren't very interactive with us. Like they wouldn't talk with us. But they are very busy so it's understandable. But that could be improved with just a small conversation and some jokes. Food was great! Biscuits were the BOMB. And they just kept bringing them back. We took 4 dozen back and they were gone in 30 minutes. Cream corn, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and many other sides to a great country brunch. This is a great place to go. I'd love to go again if possible.
(4)
Bernadette C.
I'm a sucker for southern food and cheap eats and this was the perfect combo of both. The portions are huge. We could have easily split the fried chicken entree and had more than enough to eat, but we threw in the pulled pork sandwich for good measure anyway. The biscuits are nice and soft and the best part, pretty much unlimited! Try all the preserves. I don't usually eat jellies/jams with my dinner, but they were so yummy I finished them all! The service was really quick and friendly. The guy didn't try to upsell us on ordering more, but we did anyway because we wanted to try as much as we could while we were there. We also went for the banana pudding, which wasn't anything special, but was a nice way to top off the night. The place itself is nothing fancy, so feel free to where whatever you want and talk however you want. It almost feels like you're sitting in someone's big house for dinner with it's red checkered tablecloths and wooden wall panels. It's a bit of the way outside of central Nashville, so if you are going to go, make sure to plan ahead. But it's totally worth it. I may move to Nashville just so I can eat @ Loveless on a regular basis. Seriously.
(5)
Karen B.
Please... it is so commercialized and far from authentic that whatever it's roots were are long lost. Better off finding a little diner with big fluffy biscuits and great eggs than waiting an hour and a half for mediocre food and a big bill. If you want the branded stuff they sell you can find it in downtown Nashville all over the place.
(1)
Dylan C.
We are in from out of town for the CMA Music Fest and this place was recommended by family that lives in the area. The wait was over an hour, but that was because they were busy. There are a few shops on the property that you can visit while you are waiting. The food was excellent. The biscuits are great when they came out warm. The preserves they served them with were all good. I enjoyed the peach the best, but the wife enjoyed the blackberry the best. I am a big fan of country ham and theirs was great. The omelette that my wife had looked good and was packed full of vegetables. The server was very friendly and made good suggestions without being pushy. If you are in the area and are willing to wait this is a recommend for me. One thing we saw on the menu but we did not do since there was only 2 of us was the family style all you can eat. Looks like a good way for 4 or more people to eat all they want while paying the same price that a regular meal would cost each person.
(4)
Lacy W.
So, I had major expectations for this place because of all the hype from everyone. The best biscuits ever? No. And they weren't even warm. My husband & I agreed that the best thing about the biscuits were the 3 homemade jams that came with them. Those were fantastic. My cinnamon raisin French toast was good, but nothing fantastic. The bacon was great though & I'm not even a bacon eater, typically. My husband's omelet didn't have much flavor. It was a good breakfast, but we kind of expected a great one, especially after waiting an hour & 40 minutes.
(3)
Private P.
Not great, but not bad either, however it really doesnt match up to the hype surrounding it. We went twice to give it a 2nd chance and the food was ok at best but no different from diner food weve had in the past from any normal place. Both times we've gone the orders were incorrect and the wait staff seemed very preoccupied and didnt chat much. And since they were so busy both times one of our orders got screwed up. Expect a very long wait of at least an hour. We waited about 1 and a half hours last time which in the end really wasnt worth it for the food. There are a few stores nearby to kill time while youre waiting for a table, but theyre really overpriced unfortunately as well.
(3)
Kathy C.
Six of us went to The Loveless around 1:00 February 15th for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The waiting list was long. We got our names on the list and were handed a pager so we could roam around the shops or sit outside until a table was available. We were seated about 45 minutes later. I haven't been to the Loveless in years, so I was hoping it hadn't changed too much. Complimentary homemade biscuits and homemade jelly with butter. CHECK Quaint dining room and friendly server. CHECK Good food. CHECK Eat until you're uncomfortable. CHECK Very reasonable. CHECK Nice experience...YES. We'll be back more often!
(5)
Kurt Q.
This place is so good, it should be a crime. Their food is a danger to society, it's so good. The pork barbecue, hot biscuits & jam, and side dishes assault your mouth with such high cholesterol temptation, that the Westboro Baptist Church should be picketing this place with signs that say "GOD HATES OKRA THIS GOOD." Located about 5 miles of sinuous road off I-40, and about 20 minutes outside of Nashville proper, this place marks one geographic end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. It however still is a hassle to get to, and the fact that there is a one hour wait to get a seat for a place so far away is a testament to its great food. The walls indoors are lined with promotional headshots of C-list country stars and huge paintings of Dolly Parton's breasts and Johnny Cash's baggy eyes. But look at those pictures later because it's time to walk around their complex for an hour while you wait for your table. You can either play cornhole out front while bikers pull up on their testosterone-mobiles, or you can walk into their overpriced stores (e.g. toy horse for $52) and studios (e.g. photographs of barns for $400). They could do a bit more to make the surrounding area more of an attraction in and of itself. Once you get in, the waitress will saunter up to you with a basket of steaming hot biscuits and ask you where you're from. She'll take your drink and food order, and call you "baby" or "hon." The food will come out steaming hot in under 10 minutes! I couldn't believe that the place was jam packed and the food came out in under 10 minutes. It will be good. Like a Southern sunset, it will please you (and be equally hot). I felt used, abused, and taken after taking my last bite.. I wanted more. In all seriousness, this is the best Southern-themed restaurant I've been to. And in the top 5 restaurants period.
(5)
Sarah E.
The BISCUITS! Enough said. If you order nothing else on the menu, you will come away more than completely satisfied from these delicious, warm, buttery morsels. First of all, they keep them coming....as many biscuits as you would like. (Meaning we got to take home a box full as well) In addition, they are served with a fabulous assortment of seasonal jams/preserves. The most recent time I went we received strawberry, peach, and blackberry all of which were delicious. Besides that I got the meatloaf for my meal. The meatloaf was very good, exactly what I would expect if I visited my grandma for some home cooking. What I really enjoyed were the fried okra on the side though. And the best part was, when the waiter brought out my dish he exclaimed that I had been "shorted" on my okra serving and so brought me another bowl! I Overall the staff is very friendly and the place has great southern country feel. The wait may be long, but stick it out because it is definitely worth it!
(5)
MLE L.
We only did a drive-by for take out biscuits to see what all the rave was about. I feel like I just had biscuits and gravy for the first time in my life! Throw out your mother's recipe, it means nothing compared to this gravy! And the jams were quite impressive, especially the blackberry. YUM!
(5)
Kimberly M.
So you wait an hour and a half, big deal!!! The food is absolutely worth it. Hands down the best friend chicken and biscuits I've ever had in my life. I seriously can't think of one complaint that I have, other than the wait. But again, it was worth the wait. Put your name in and then walk around. The Pumpkin Butter is to die for. The honey unbelievable, the blackberry preserves NOM NOM NOM. Honestly I can't wait to go back, and if I'm ever traveling even remotely near Nashville again this is the first pit stop I will make.
(5)
Emily K.
Tourist trap. 1.5 hour wait on Sunday at 2 pm. Everyone waiting looked like a tourist rather than a local. We decided not to wait and on the way out, a lady who had just dined at the restaurant said it was just okay. They have a gift shop that sells overpriced Loveless chotskies... $7 for a magnet.
(3)
Nancy K.
I love, love, love the Loveless Cafe! I highly recommend their biscuits and gravy (their the best I've ever had)! Their scrambled eggs with cheese, hashbrowns (they have cheese in them, too), and fruit preserves are great, too! The atmosphere is so cute and country with their checkered print table clothes and farm-y feel. I also loved the shops that are located on their grounds which is a great way to kill time (as the wait is 1-3 hours). If you're on the go and don't have time to wait, I recommend getting it to go and dining on the benches in front of the cafe. I'll be sure to go back!
(5)
Molly S.
Charming roadside stop off that served the best BBQ we had on our entire jaunt through GA, LA, MS, TN and AR. The biscuits and jam were absolutely divine - who knew something so simple could be so wonderful. We opted for brisket and pulled pork for our lunch and both were unbelievable - so tender and full of flavour. The sides were also great, especially the white beans. The service was efficient, the restaurant well laid out and clean and the food outstanding. For a place that we only chose as a quick stop off on our way into Nashville, this was a brilliant surprise.
(5)
Ray L.
Among the many delicious things that are on their menu, the thing that stands out most is the biscuits which is what they're most known for. What stood out to me about these biscuits was fluffiness of the biscuits and the buttery taste that is well complemented by the jams they serve. Everything else on the menu is generally cooked well, but the typical southern fare. As far meats go, I have had their quarter dark fried chicken, pork chops, and pulled pork barbecue and was not disappointed. However, I have heard that the chicken has been hit or miss from reliable sources so order the fried chicken at your own discretion. I find the best time for a meal here is breakfast. Another thing that stands out is that even though the place is a restaurant, they also have a barbecue pit and a souvenir shop where you can buy their jams, biscuit mix, bacon, and other tourist trap souvenir items. Service overall is generally pretty good and friendly, the food arrives fairly quick, and they are kind enough to give you a small plate of biscuits as a complimentary appetizer. The only downside here is the wait because after 10AM on a Saturday, this place becomes very packed and an hour wait is not uncommon. Easter Sunday is the worst since wait time typically exceeds 3 hours by 9AM. Food: 4 Service: 4 Price: 4
(4)
Caroline H.
My whole experience was pretty mediocre. Came at around 3pm on a Sunday, thinking we'd hit the in-between-the-after-church-crowd-and-the-dinner-Âcrowd sweet spot. Not the case. We waited for.ev.er . (said Sandlot style). Was the wait expected? Sure. I'm willing to browse the (terribly over-priced) shops. Next we sit down. Overzealous waiter, but hot biscuits and awesome jam. We have reached our peak of the afternoon. I have never had chicken fried steak before, so maybe this is what it's supposed to taste like, but if it's supposed to be a lukewarm thin layer of brown covered in slippery flour, pepper and butter tastes, I'm not into chicken fried steak. Soggy fried green tomatoes. Mac and cheese was all right, but nothing special. The waiter judged us for asking for a biscuit refill, but still brought them, so that was nice. Biscuits? Great. Jam? So great. Everything else? Not. Or at least not worth an hour wait and 15 bucks.
(2)
Mindi R.
Ate here the other night. Still being on ny time we get that about 5:45 and we had no line. There were 4 in our party, 2 adults and 2 kids. My youngest eats nothing so be ordered macaroni and cheese with a side of mac and cheese from the kids menu which was delicious. The rest of us ordered different dishes and sides to taste everything. Nothing disappointed us. Keith, the manager, stopped at our table and when he learned that we were from ny and tasting all southern food, he brought us samples of some of the things we did not order. Keith also brought us a molasses/agave type of spread that is available to all but you need to request it. Keith taught us to mix this with butter and spread on a biscuit. This was amazing! So was the hasbrown casserole, creamed corn, fried chicken, hot chicken, stringbeans, pork and catfish. We liked the city ham better than country ham. Skip the fried green tomatoes.
(5)
Andy R.
This is really a 3.5...bit given the history, 4 is a safe number. My stars...(5=epic "best of") (4=really tasty and want to go again and again) (3=good and will go back once in a while) (2=fair, might return for a visit if there was some glimmer of hope) (1=avoid at all costs) Go or No? Go Tease: The Loveless is known for their famous biscuits. They are amazing...but everything else is just good. Why I went: For the biscuits! When: Summer 2012 Food: I was in a group of 6 people. Everyone enjoyed their meals. We had a late breakfast/early lunch. The BBQ was OK. The fried chicken was good, but not "Gus's good", and all the fixings were tasty. However, the biscuits were amazing. They taste different than any I've ever had. No gravy...just jams and marmalades. The biscuits are super light and fluffy...and highly addictive. Service: Very good. Our waiter was good. Friendly enough, but not all that attentive. He took the order well, but didn't frequent the table enough for refills, etc. They were super busy...but they should be used to that and still give ridiculous service. Not bad mind you...just not as good as we were hoping. Hints/Final thoughts: This is a tourist trap. But it's a good one. Just know the biscuits may not please every palette. It doesn't taste like any others. But, take them for what they are and they are amazing. Everything else is pretty much just good. Also check out the store...there are lots of cool foodstuffs, shirts and trinkets. While their BBQ was a bit disappointing, they BBQ sauce isn't! Grab a bottle!
(4)
Jessie L.
Biscuits and jam are awesome. My favorite part! I've been here lots of times with my boyfriend, which he loves it as well. Service is always great!!! And I leave happy and full each time!!
(5)
Jonna C.
Yummy! We arrived just shy of 9 am on a Saturday (July 26th). We were on our way to drive the Natchez Trace. They only had a 20 min wait, so we had just enough time to shop before being seated. FYI-The wait when we were called to be seated was 45+ mins. The biscuits were delightful. I loved the samples of homemade jams they brought with them. I think my favorite turned out to be strawberry, even tho they are famous for their blackberry - which we'd already purchased a jar of. Service was quick, friendly & efficient. Our coffee never went dry. Our waiter was never too far, and was very helpful to the more needy couple next to us. ;-) I had simple scrambled eggs, and half & half bacon & sausage. The hotel had told us about their wonderful sausage. It was indeed very good, but one can't pass up bacon either! The hashbrown casserole was TDF! Tho my husband didn't like it too much. But he was not complaining when our waiter dropped off more super fresh out of the oven biscuits. It was a fun place to visit with very good food & we'll definitely go back if we're in the area.
(5)
Kelly B.
I went to Loveless for brunch during a visit to Nashville for the first time for a friend's bachlorette weekend. After a 30 minute wait, during which we perused the nearby shops, we sat down to a wonderful brunch with the most delicious, hot, fresh biscuits and homemade jams I've ever had. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, answering questions about everything from food to the place mat crossword puzzles, and the ambiance made it feel like we were at a family gathering. The Loveless menu and staff embodies southern culture at its finest.
(5)
Tim M.
So excited to finally try Loveless - 30 min drive from downtown makes it hard. *gasp* Only 3 stars - I know - I can't believe it myself but things were not going well for them on this day. Upon arrival, we were quoted a shorter wait cuz we phoned ahead. Hostess said 10 min but it was actually closer to 20min. We had a table almost next to the hostess stand so there was abnormal noise and I could barely hear my guests. Had the Loveless quarter chicken white meat. It was bland and just another meal. I desperately missed my Blue and White fried chicken. My friend had the dark meat and enjoyed it. Hashbrown casserole was good and definitely recommended. Biscuits and jam - YES!
(3)
Dustin R.
Love this place. Great food and service. Awesome biscuits and homemade jellies. Very homelike feeling.
(5)
Kimmy R.
This review is for their mail order store only. We ordered their ham slices for our Easter dinner. Amazingly, they could be shipped unrefrigerated which really cut down on shipping costs. They have flat rate shipping no matter how much you order which is nice. In addition to the ham I couldn't resist the Piggy Pecans which are pecans smothered in pancake syrup with bacon bits! Those were incredible. The ham was nicely marbled but way too salty for my taste. Served it with biscuits and red eye gravy (recipe was on the ham slice package) and black eyed peas. A nice meal. Very reasonable prices!
(4)
Zach T.
Insanely popular and worth the trip BUT The wait can be likewise insane (we waited 2 hours). My suggestion: Wake up, eat breakfast, then send one person to put your name in. If the wait's a half hour, join them. If it's not, judge appropriately. We were told 90 minutes and it took over 2 hours. TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION IF YOU ARE TAKING KIDS. There are some distractions there, but not 2 hours worth. The food is fantastic, but if you're overly hungry from waiting to have your first meal there, it clouds your enjoyment. I had the biscuits and t he biscuit sandwich platter and just about licked the plate.
(4)
Bongo S.
Yeah, I lived in Fairview, for about 14 months not too long ago. First of all, if you've never been to Fairview Tn., believe me you're not missing anything. Anything at all. Couldn't stand the place. Went to Loveless maybe a total of three times and was never impressed. The biscuits are not that good, the wait is just silly and the rest of the whole ordeal made me think of the Bluebird here. Except you had to eat with hicks instead of hipsters. Really don't want to eat with either.
(2)
Formicas F.
Super great breakfast spot! Love the drop biscuits and the jam was good too! Portion size was ample and service was excellent! No complaints at all- really enjoyed this spot.
(4)
Bern R.
When in the #Nashville #TN area, this quaint little place tucked away in the burbs is a fantastic find if you're after country style dining. The old charm of family meals is reason enough to venture out yonder. I brought my wife and two grandkids here for Sunday brunch on our way back to #LittleRock #AR after a fun-filled #FourthOfJuly #roadTrip in 2014. A cultural icon, the Loveless restaurant is built into a vintage 1950s motor-hotel complex. Far from a tourist trap, Loveless is a local favorite. We make the extra effort in our travels to find places where locals eat. We had our usual favorites: chicken & waffles, bacon, eggs done to order, fresh fruit, buttermilk pancakes, sausages, and (of course) freshly made grits with lotsa butter. The Bride had #mimosas and I had #MoonshineMary (#BloodyMary w moonshine) -- both served in mason jars. The servers were fun, attentive, and very friendly. This is home. Plenty of free on-premises parking. Prices are reasonable. You may wait a spell but with customers trekking from all parts #USA and the World, it's worth the wait.
(4)
Paul J.
Biscuits. Fried chicken. Homemade fresh jelly. Loveless lives up to the hype. It's worth the trip whether you live in the Nashville area or are visiting from out of town.
(5)
Led D.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits!!!!! It was hot, soft, fluffy, and delicious. It was also a meal itself. My family and I tried the breakfast sampler, chicken tenders, pulled pork omelet, and fried chicken. It was all awesome and tasted homemade with lots of passion, especially Loveless' homemade ham. It was terrific because it was not too salty at all. The only negative point are that we had to wait one and a half hour to get seated and it was out of the way. Yes, the place was that busy BUT it was worth the wait because the food was that good and well wort the drive. We will definitely be back when we are in that neck of the woods.
(4)
Victoria G.
An absolutely YES to visit! Was my first time to try real original biscuits and they were sooo good! the other things on the menu were good too. Maybe a little fatty but food is really good. Amazing service and nice people!
(5)
Adam B.
Biscuits, peach preserves, blackberry preserves and grits were delicious. Country ham has the fecund farm flavor which was great, though unexpected. Cheese grits and scrambled eggs were not that good. Great ambiance and history. Store had lots of menu items for sale. The bisquits are so good that I could easily gain weight by eating them everyday.
(4)
Drew A.
This was one of the best places we went to in Nashville!! Unbelievable friend chicken, tasty sides, and the most delicious deserts. Out waitress, Susan, was just the best!! Cant wait to come back next time I visit!
(5)
Jean J.
My hubster found this place on the food network about famous places to eat. We stopped in from taking pictures at Percy Warner park ( separate review). Super cute cafe located on the same lot as a quaint old school loveless motel and loveless famous ham gift shop. It was cozy and super friendly. Down home cooking at its best!! The biscuits were A. M. A. Z. I. N. G!!! They serve 3 home made fruit preserves that were yummy as well. Hubster ordered the 1/2 fried chicken, fried okra, green beens and turnip greens. I ordered the French toast and bacon. Now I L. O. V. E. bacon. The bacon was slap your friend good so were the green beans and I had a food-gasm from the turnip greens. They were perfectly cooked with ham hock and vinegary goodness that make you want to suck the juice out of the greens then chew!! I could have eaten a whole pot of those. The French toast was perfect, the eggs were done right. My daughter ate a ton of the okra. So if a 1 yo eats it then you know it's good. The biscuits, OMG. ( I'm hungry now). Cool thing too was a Antique car club came by and chatted a bit. Saw an old dodge and a couple of model A's and T fords. Amazing food and experience. A must go if you can.
(5)
Sandy C.
I have never had a more delicious breakfast in my life. Never. I would like to swim in a pool of their preserves, then take a nice nap in a bed of their biscuits. Well, after eating a bunch of them. Yeah, the wait was brutal, but we knew what to expect, brought a Sunday paper and did some poking around at the shops. The wait was worth it. Great service, too.
(5)
Ray C.
4.5 stars. best comfort food ever. would be a full 5.0 rating if not for the 90 minute wait (which was well worth it anyway)...
(5)
Meredith H.
I thought I reviewed this already, but I guess not. That's ok, all you need to know about are the biscuits. They are amazing. They keep bringing them to your table, too! It's great! I have been here two Saturdays - Saturday #1 - 30 minute wait. Saturday #2 - 90 minute wait. So it's a little hard to predict. I suggest going early in the morning. Like, 9 am. It's worth it!
(5)
J A.
Breakfast review. We went on a Monday - no waiting and no crowds. I hear the weekends can be crazy. Breakfast was good, tasty and fresh. Scrambled eggs were some of the best restaurant scrambled eggs I have had. Biscuits were light and fluffy. Probably not too much healthy food on the menu, but then it is southern cooking. The cafe itself is very cute. The history of the cafe and motel is cool. Glad Nashville rallied to save it. Clean restrooms are always a good sign and at the Loveless Cafe they were clean.
(4)
Tom M.
The Best Bisquits I've Ever Had The place was a zoo on a Sunday, with nearly an hour wait--but worth it. It serves the most amazing bisquits I've ever had--you take a bite, put your tounge up against the underside, and the bisquit just melts like cotton candy. These bisquits are like crack. I can't comment on the rest of the food. It was good, but so overshadowed by the bisquits that even mentioning other food would distract from the real feature at this place.
(5)
Kimberly M.
My friend brought me here when I was visiting Nashville, and wow this place is a gem! It was pretty far out of the way (it felt like we were in the car for 20 minutes from midtown?), and the wait was long (she said that it's usually longer), but it was worth it. I could make a meal out of the biscuits and preserves alone!! This place had amazing customer service, and even though it seemed everything on the menu was basic, everything just tasted better here. Even my scrambled eggs were the best I've ever had! I liked this place because it felt like I was sitting in my grandma's kitchen...you know, if my grandma hung up hundreds of autographed celebrity photos on the walls! I recommend this place to everyone visiting Nashville, just because you have to say you've been to the Loveless Cafe at least once, right?
(4)
Misty M.
Worth the drive! It is absolutely worth the hype! Their fried chicken, catfish and dumplin's keep me crawling back for more and their biscuits!!!! It's a Nashville must have! You will never eat at a CB again. The prices are great too for such an amazing meal. Yes, go and you will thank me. Seriously.
(5)
Dana P.
My husband and I met some dear "old" friends there last weekend. They were coming up the Natchez Trace parkway and so we chose Loveless over Pancake Pantry. They really loved the choice and like so many before them, they fell in love with the biscuits. For some reason I've never been a biscuit lover, maybe because my father's mother made the best biscuits (and chocolate pies...mmmm) ever. Grandma didn't have any written recipes, just did as her mother had taught her I suppose. Because she only had sons, no one carried on the family tradition. Now I'm always (unfairly, I'm sure) comparing biscuits et. al. to that ideal. For instance, nobody can brew sweet tea as sweet as I remember hers. Loveless does a great job getting a lot of people served quickly and they remain friendly through it all. Our server was wonderful. I knew ordering the country ham was questionable, as it would make me thirsty for days!, but I got it anyway and was amazed by the size of my serving. Our entire group left filled and happy and the next time some friends from out of town arrive, we know where we will take them.
(4)
Roberto W.
On our last day in Nashville we rented a car (must have since Loveless is about 25 min from downtown). When we got to the cafe, I was expecting a wait but not a 1 hour and 45 minute wait. Usually I do not wait at any restaurant more than an hour but since we could drive around we left our name. When we came back we got our table and we are glad we ate at Loveless. Our waiter was really good. First he brought a plate full of biscuits and jams which are amazing. He recommended the blue plates special which every Saturday is a BBQ chicken and also the fried chicken for which Loveless is famous for. Both were really really good.
(4)
Zee M.
I do enjoy a loveless day once in a while, provided it's here. That being said, Country Ham is touted as the go-to at the LC and, well folks...to me, it tastes like a belt that's been brined overnight. And I was born in this state. And I don't even mean LC's take on it...I just have difficulty eating anything that proves someone hybridized a pig's glutes and Lot's wife. So, I opt for other things. It's hard to find a restaurant that serves gizzards and my first try here left me taken aback, for the soaking of same in buttermilk or whatever renders them indistinguishable from livers (which I am capable of ordering, should I deign to). Nevertheless, I return periodically and occasionally delve into the livery gizzard plate. Someone labels LC a tourist trap, I see, and it's a little more that than it was formerly...something about having the extra space making it seem a bit less down home and more commercially comfy. It was more fun to fight for for seating. You could barely walk through the place to the bathroom. Best thing there? Blackberry preserves, then biscuits...as if you'd have either without the other. It remains a pleasant stopover. We occasionally come here before visiting Chaffin for a play or two, since they're neighbors. Recommended, but if you've got other plans, it'll be there when you get back.
I enjoyed my meal at the Loveless Cafe. Fried chicken and biscuits! I loved the strawberry preserves and bought a jar! Arriving at 9, the restaurant was not as crowded as shown on the many travel and food shows that feature the place! However by noon a tour bus full of senior citizens pulled into the parking lot and the place quickly became packed. I purchased some items from the general store and walked around the grounds stopping at all the shops in the back! The waitress and hostess were courteous and cheerful! I liked looking at all the celebrity pictures and reading the articles throughout the restaurant. The strawberry rhubarb pie was good but in my to go container the strawberry juice spilled out. Next time I am in Nashville I will return to the Loveless Cafe!
(4)
Josh J.
You can get better food at a chain restaurant. Not worth the over an hour wait time. Neat place to see, but eat somewhere else.
(2)
Paggy W.
We came on a Friday morning around 9:30am and there was NO wait at all, which was really great (the last time I came, it was a Saturday noon-ish time and we had to wait about 2 hours). Our waitress was really friendly and attentive and we were served their famous biscuits with three flavors of jam right away (strawberry, blackberry and peach). This kept us happy while we perused the menu. I ended up ordering the "City" ham and eggs with cheesy grits and their savory creamy white gravy with sausage (Delicious!!) and my friend ordered the fried chicken with hashbrown casserole and friend green tomatoes. We also asked for some red eye gravy to try and our waitress brought it out right away - not my favorite, but it was interesting to try. The City ham was a nice thick cut and it was done just right. I had the Country ham last time and it was way too salty for my taste so I'll be sticking with the City ham going forward, which is cured in sugar but still salty too. The eggs were also done perfectly, not overcooked/burnt and the gravy with sausage went really well with the ham and eggs as well as the biscuits. At the end, we couldn't finish everything so I decided to doggy-bag it and had asked our waitress for a couple more biscuits to take home and she brought me four :-) The service is definitely awesome and the homey feeling of the place completes the experience. For the times when you do have to wait to get seated, there are plenty of shops to visit in the lot and there's also free lemonade/iced tea around somewhere. I'll definitely be going back and bringing friends to Loveless!
(5)
Jennifer R.
We stopped here on our drive from Nashville to Memphis. I liked the experience here, but didn't absolutely love the food. If I could just rate the biscuits, they would get 5 stars. Even on a Monday around 10am, this place was still pretty crowded. Our server was very nice, but the service was super slow. We got two plates of biscuits, one before our food came and one when our food came. We split the Southern omelette and country ham. The omelette was average and the ham was flavorful, but a little dry. The biscuits were perfection - not too big or buttery, and just a little flaky. Melt in your mouth deliciousness. They also have some shops on site, where they sell some of their preserves and mixes. Worth a visit for the experience for sure!
(3)
Aaron W.
I cried when I found pulled pork that I enjoyed more than my own. George rolls in at 3:30 and starts smoking meat, for the love of god. I know this because that's when we showed up...and waited until they opened. George was real friendly to three random men showing up at the smokehouse before dawn, looking for BBQ. He was cool with us napping in the car and playing catch in the parking lot. We were the first ones in the door and they throw biscuits in your face when you get inside, served with homemade jams that makes Smucker's look like Suckers. BOO-YA. George swears by the biscuits and I won't say he's wrong. They were excellent. The exact moment my life changed is easy to recall, it's the second the pulled pork hoe cakes arrived; heaping, steaming, and screaming at my soul. People, the pork melted in my mouth. Has that ever happened to you? Be real here. Oh, the service was good and the staff was friendly. They hooked up a free plate of biscuits and jam to go as we left. We also shared a nice conversation on Chicago style pizza which they adore; I think after the food and service a frozen za should find it's way to Loveless from "the boys who went camping." A true labor that is not without love produces a product that fills my heart and tummy tum tum with the truest form of adoration.
(5)
Lisa B.
Touristy? Sure. Long wait? Always. Out of the way? From most places, yes. But WORTH IT. This is another one of those Nashville staples that I had never tried until recently. I always had some reason to talk myself out of going, but no more. Even on a week day around brunch we had a 45 minute wait, and that was even after calling ahead 45 minutes earlier. Granted, it was the week after Christmas, so I'm sure lots of people were off work and tourism was at a seasonal high. TIP: CALL AHEAD. You can't make a reservation, but you can go ahead and get your name on the list before you get there to cut your wait time. There are several cute little shops to keep you busy while you wait, but don't except to buy much unless you want overpriced souvenir trinkets. It's the kind of stuff that's fun to browse, but that's about it. One exception: You will be purchasing preserves to take home after you've tried them. Trust me. The blackberry preserves will change your life. Now the food... As you've no doubt heard, the biscuits are amazing. How amazing can a biscuit be, you may ask? Pretty damn amazing. Slather them with a healthy load of butter and the above-mentioned blackberry preserves and that could be a meal in and of itself. Since it's not socially acceptable to eat an entire meal of free biscuits (which will keep coming until you say the word), your plate will likely be piled with various meats and other artery clogging deliciousness. I had some sort of breakfast platter with eggs and lots of tasty meat... The exact contents of my meal is a little fuzzy due in part to the food coma I was left in and in part to the moonshine. Yes, I said moonshine. Moonshine is a relatively new feature at Loveless. We were told it's typically served in small souvenir mason jars, but they were out of those, so we got regular sized ordinary mason jars, which means we got drunk. If this happens to you, the shops are also a good place to walk off your buzz before getting back in the car. There were a number of moonshine cocktails to choose from, from bloody mary, to various juice mixers... I went with orange juice and it was delicious. I know this place gets hyped up a lot, but it does not disappoint. Just remember to call ahead and be prepared to wait anyway. As long as you aren't an impatient pants and don't mind making a morning/afternoon of the trip, it's definitely worth it.
(5)
kelli s.
Every time I visit Nashville this is always my first stop. Being from Chicago, I don't get good southern food often. I always get the Southern platter with a choice of three meats and two sides. The complimentary biscuits are amazing and so are the berry preserves it comes with. The catfish is perfect, turnip greens were delicious. I can't find anything to complain about except for it being so far away from where I live.
(5)
Kathy F.
Grilled smoked pork chops are to die for..... Biscuits were not as good as the hype.
(4)
Jennifer W.
Cute sign caught my eye to drive way out of the way to try on the road trip home. What I found is a renovated restaurant that is quaint compared to Cracker Barrel. Unfortunately, the service to order is terrible!!! Takes too long to get there attention, they don't help you understand what's good here. After placing the order, it took MUCH too long to arrive. We should have just left after the 45 minute wait for our food but had hopes it would be good with all these reviews.. The Southern Omelet that Dad expected to be a Country ham omelette had a bunch of other things he did not want in it and the cheese was cold and not even melted from it's shredded state. And this omelet made him very ill later in the day. He was really sick after eating here. Somalia? The biscuits are really small. The odd thing was when I ordered biscuits & gravy, the order came without biscuits. I received a bowel of gravy with no biscuits. When I asked for some biscuits, they told me to use the 3 cold ones which sat on our table for the 35+ minute wait. I figured they were heading back to bring us some fresh warm biscuits while I ate these cold ones left on our table. We needed biscuits for our 2 other plates of food. Unfortunately, after trying to flag down a woman for help of the 4+ women circulating next to the waitress station next to us, they finally arrived after our eggs were then cold. My daughter would then not eat her breakfast with cold eggs. The waitresses need to brush up on hospitality and prompt service. (Where is the Southern Hospitality?) They need to give more attention to the begining of a meal & during the meal. The best service was to get our credit card and back for payment. Which was odd after such poor service throughout the meal. I am so sorry we stopped. This took much longer for expecting something better.
(1)
Elliott W.
The go to tourist spot is also a go to business breakfast spot. On weekdays there's usually no wait and a great breakfast menu. Just like Pucketts but better. I've never had a breakfast pork BBQ biscuit, but Loveless delivered. I could have had a couple, and for the size of a biscuit you pay for a sandwich, so I limited to one. But it was good, and even though I'm quite sure the pork was at least from yesterday's batch, it was tender, well flavored with a real smoke flavor and a sweet and lightly tangy sauce. I'd love to taste a fresh batch. The not-so-new ownership kept the charm while stepping up the menu and cleaning up the place.
(4)
TruthSeeker T.
Place is overrated and lame. 2hr plus waiting and the food looks average.
(1)
Ike W.
If your staying in Nashville and deciding if you should drive all the way out, the answer is yes. The biscuits alone are worth it.
(4)
Jim G.
One of my favorite spots in Nashville - a bit kitschy, but lots of fun and delicious home cooking. Always a long wait, but also lot of things to keep you occupied in the process.
(4)
Alex L.
Best biscuits and fried chicken I've had in my life. There should be no contemplation about this place; just go!
(5)
Steven H.
I asked for some yellow mustard with my biscuits and they brought it to me......umhumm.
(5)
John G.
I was not impressed with the Loveless Cafe. Most items on the menu are fried or heavily buttered. We couldn't find the waitress with a Geiger counter, so trying to get a refill on our beverages was an exercise in futility. I understand the "down-homey" allure of the joint - they broadcast a country music radio show in the barn adjacent to the restaurant. I have been told the radio show is hit or miss - unfortunately, it was a complete miss on the the night I was there. They had some decent local beers available, but aside from that it was only cheap domestics. The wine selection is not very good at all. Everyone raves about the biscuits - I've had better. It's probably just not my scene, but I found the Loveless Cafe to be wholly overrated.
(1)
Zelda S.
Yes I am a fan of Loveless and get silly when walking in the front door. Could be the checkered table cloths that triggers instant salivation. Mmmm we're talking fresh made biscuits and peach and strawberry preserve as starters and lots of down home meat and three to follow. Yessireedy Yesindeedy I love this place. While on a holiday from Australia I came saw and ate here and I love it for its down home vibe. It's usually crowded and it's typical to wait for a table to be ready. No problem cos there's a grocery and gift store perfect to kill time and stock up on some neat gifts and souveniers. While waiting to be seated I got me some grand souvineers that travelled well from Nashville to Sydney and back again. Got a nifty red guitar-shaped fly swatter and an oven mit. Still got em and have swatted a few Australian and Nashville flies too so these work just dandy. OK back to the food. Delicious. Smoked ham, turkey, fried chicken and all the usual suspect sides. Got tourists and visitors? Take them to Loveless.
(4)
Elena S.
6:30 pm Monday night, 11/3/14, party of 3. Longish drive from downtown Nashville in pitch darkness/DST over. No wait; lots of empty tables. Blue Plate Special SOLD OUT, as were some other items. My ribs were good. Others loved the biscuits & took leftovers for picnic next day, along with leftovers of the fried half-chicken (very good). Fried green tomatoes/tasteless -- I prefer Bobby & Paula Deen's recipe. Pieces of pie are TINY/5 bites for $3.95 - confusing description of the 2 chocolate pies: chess pie vs fudge pie -- whatever it was, it was good, just not enough. $13.95 for Bloody Mary (with souvenir jug) that wasn't good enough to finish. Very nice service people. Glad I went (missed it last trip) so I can stop thinking about it. I wouldn't go back except under duress -- or to enjoy a DAYTIME drive in the beautiful Tennessee countryside -- but the back roads are nicer. So maybe "never" is more like it.
(2)
Christina P.
It's been 6 months since I went to the Loveless and I'm counting down the days til I can return. Everything we ordered amazing: Southern sampler, country ham, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes and of course biscuits and jam!! As an NJ resident, dreaming of returning, keep up with Loveless Cafe on social media, they are very interactive and post beautiful food pictures that have me checking the prices on flights to Nashville on a regular basis!
(5)
Paul Q.
Hands down the best restaurant for Southern food for me! I am not actually a big fan of southern food, but I enjoyed every bit of experience at Loveless cafe. The friends that came with me that night came from different states in the country and they all enjoyed everything they ordered. But one thing stood out: their BISCUITS! The biscuits were so fluffy, buttery in a good way and melt-in-your-mouth soft! The different preserves on the table were so good but I love the blackberry the best. You could just have as many biscuits you like and I think I had more than 10 on top of my big meal (the servicing size is huge too!). I just can't stop eating their biscuits, it was that good! To add to the wonderful dining experience, the servers were very friendly and they have a store where you could buy their biscuit mix and homemade preserves/jams. A definite must-try in Nashville!
(5)
J L.
Just as good as I had dreamed it would be. We went on a Monday which was a holiday and waited about an hour but it was worth it! Biscuits and jams are incredible, wonderful ham and pulled pork, amazing side dishes and incredible service. We had Jessica waiting on us and she was just lovely! Thanks Loveless Cafe!
(5)
Amy B.
We thought this was the best food we have ever had! The wait was a little long, but we occupied our time outdoors and in the shop. Our waiter was very nice -- a perfect gentleman. Worth the trip.
(5)
Josie K.
Reservations are a must for breakfast. The ham, biscuits and blackberry preserves are enough to make me fly back to Tennessee. The country grits tasted a lot like my mother's. Lots of memorabilia all over. Cute little shops around the property.
(5)
Queen B.
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon! Wonderful, flavor-ful bacon and eggs. Pork chops, brisket, ham! Truly wonderful fresh foods abound at this cute little historical eatery. Several of us went here because they were advertising buy 3 pkgs of bacon and get one free. How could we resist? Cute place, very crowded, no reservations, you have to wait for a table. In the meantime, walk around, take photos, check out the gift shop.. plenty of parking. I will give them 5 stars - the day they start offering gluten free biscuits. It is time to get with the times and realize that thousands and thousands of people cannot eat wheat products.
(3)
Ashli D.
I cannot say enough good things about this place...the food and the service are amazing!!! The pancakes and biscuits are out of this world! Their biscuits are as close to my grandmother's homemade biscuits as I've ever had anywhere. The pancakes have an amazing smell and are so filling you can't eat them all. The homemade jelly is so good too. The pace is always busy. If you go on a weekend, go early because the wait will be over an hour. When I went during the week there wasn't a wait for breakfast. The shops where they sell some of their jelly, bacon, pancake and biscuit mixes is great! They have some unique items and a catalog for mail order. Definitely a place you must try!
(5)
Mark B.
I wish I could of just gotten the biscuits. We were driving from Chicago to Orlando and my wife insisted we stop at Loveless for dinner so I humored her. It is in the middle of nowhere but thankfully it was during the week and we had no wait. I was excited as my wife and kids had been there before and my daughter always wears her 'Got biscuits' shirt and now I know why. I wasn't sure what to get so I order the sampler which was fried chicken, ham and BBQ pork. My wife got Fried chicken. Thankfully, they brought out the biscuits right when you sit down and they are 5 star delicious. They were hot, light fluffy and I could of ate 6 of them but I saved room for dinner. The ham was insanely salty, the pork was tender but drenched in a just fair sauce and the fried chicken was juicy but tasteless. My wife agreed that the chicken was smoking fresh out of the frier but truly was missing any really seasoning The mac n cheese side was good also. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the traffic.
(2)
Mimi P.
Hubby and I came here in October to check out their fried chicken. We were pleasantly surprised to be served complimentary homemade biscuits and jams which were all delicious! The chicken did not disappoint either ... the coating was golden brown crispy and juicy. It's a very popular place for tourists so there was a wait to get seated but they had many shops to keep people entertained. Very friendly service!
(4)
Jennifer P.
I must say... I was pretty disappointed in Loveless. My supper club came here last week and after dreaming of biscuits for an uncomfortably long time, we were sad to see our biscuits come out and be the size of silver dollars. Our waitress also boned me on the cost because I asked for biscuits, a side of gravy, egg whites and bacon and she charged me for 2 meals (a huge eggs, potatoes and bacon meal and a biscuit and gravy meal) instead of just doing it a la carte like I wanted. It also didn't taste special to me. I though this was supposed to be the IT place for breakfast and Southern food. I could of made better breakfast on a hot plate. Why is this place such a hit with tourists? The hashbrown casserole was far too cheesy, the biscuits were small, the gravy was too thick and my egg whites weren't cooked all the way. This place, overall, just left a bad taste in my mouth. The watermelon drink with the moonshine side car was the only great part about my visit.
(2)
Dean A.
I've eaten here since 1996 wouldn't give it 5 stars due to the popularity of the restaurant and the wait times most encounter, food is pretty good but very overhyped. A must try for non-veterans but go on a weekday.
(4)
Fanny P.
Perhaps there's a lot of people who don't know how to cook, so Loveless seems wonderful. If that's your case, enjoy the food. It's fair-to middling. But if you are a good cook (Southern-style) then there's little here you can't cook better yourself. It's a Crackerbarrel (another fair-to middling place) under a different roof. Much more touristy and trendy for those who prefer style over substance. Fame has changed the Loveless - just not for the better. If you must go, realize that this is not the Loveless Cafe of the past, but just another eatery with a history living on faded glory.
(2)
Wendy G.
The Loveless Cafe is what roadside dining is all about. Formerly a cafe & hotel for travelers on the Nashville/Natchez Trace, the hotel went by the wayside - but the cafe continues to serve top notch classic southern comfort food. Best known for their biscuits, Bobby Flay attempted to 'Throwdown' with the owner and cook - and was handily beaten. We had the fried chicken with sides and of course biscuits with their blackberry jam. So good! Sides were also yummy - mac and cheese (traditional and creamy) and their creamed corn. When at a classic diner, how could we resist not getting a slice of pie? We split a slice of the Fudge Pie, man it was amazing. We got their after 1pm on Monday, but here was still at least a 30-40 minute wait. We browsed the local gift shop nearby while we waited for a table, but have heard that the wait can be much longer on the weekends. Great food for a visit to Nashville or on your way in/out of town.
(4)
Anna L.
We had to wait on a weeknight, but that's kind of expected with the Loveless Cafe. The biscuits are delicious, and our service was awesome. She was very helpful and friendly. Everything on the menu sounds so great and well-priced. The homemade creamed corn was top-notch! I'll have to go next time for breakfast!
(4)
Dan S.
The breakfast was awesome. We went back a month later. I had the watermelon ribs, they were not that good. I will go back for breakfast but don't think I will for dinner.
(3)
Garrett B.
Great southern food. Okra was OKAY but I am more of a flash fry with cornmill kinda okra guy. Biscuits are solid. Dumplings were the "scoops" which is okay but I feel like the "strips" of dumplings is what they are all about. I had the BBQ sandwich which is PRETTY DARN GOOD. Highly recommend!
(4)
Allison B.
I was raised in a family of good Southern cooks, so anytime that I eat at a meat and 3 I have high expectations. Loveless exceeded them. The biscuits were perfect. They were light and fluff and buttery. Everything I love in biscuit. Everything my friend and I had was wonderful. I especially like the hashbrown casserole. It was was full of sharp cheddar cheese, but not greasy. The green beans seemed to have a little vinegar i them, just like my Aunt Rita's green beans. We went on a Thursday night and there wasn't a wait. I imagine on the weekends its really busy. The service was great. We got our food in about 5 minutes and our glasses were always full. The Loveless isn't the kind of place I would go all the time, but it was fun. It is a little out of the way and kinda touristy, but it was good. The biscuits are so good!
(4)
Jennifer P.
I have been to Loveless Cafe twice. Both times I have been extremely pleased. They have wonderful staff and quick service! Now don't get me wrong, it might take an hour for you to get a seat, but when you're seated you get served real quick! The biscuits and jam alone make the restaurant worth going to eat!
(4)
Jessica P.
Amazing southern cuisine! We dined at Loveless for breakfast, which was absolutely delicious. I ordered the Biscuit Sampler Platter with cheese grits. It came with 4 slider size biscuit sandwiches of pulled pork, fried chicken, medium rare steak, and ham. All deliciously seasoned and cooked perfectly. The cheese grits were also really tasty. This meal really hit the spot. My boyfriend ordered the half order ham & eggs with hash brown casserole. After he tasted my pulled pork, he wished he'd ordered the pulled pork & eggs. Regardless, he enjoyed his meal and I couldn't help but sample the delicious hash brown casserole. We were visiting from out of town, so we were excited to buy their cookbook, available for purchase in their gift store. I'm still thinking about just how tasty this meal was & can't wait to make some of the dishes at home!
(5)
Cynthia T.
One of our good friends who LOVES food came into town so I brought him for a taste of the Loveless Cafe! This is an update so check my first review for more details. When we sat down at 6:50pm, we learned that their daily special (Chicken and dumplings on this particular Wednesday) was out already. My friend wanted to try it so that was a minor disappointing start to our meal but with so many other delicious options, we weren't sad for long. Some updates on the food experience: Pulled pork - tender, flaky (shreds apart), smokey and flavorful. It was much more moist this time! Fried chicken - crispy, moist but lacked flavor inside with good seasoning on the outside Fried catfish - squeeze a little lemon on the top, a little dip into the tartar sauce and yes, the bombness in your mouth. A lowlight was having undercooked hush puppies served to me but the server quickly replaced it with another requested side (creamed corn). Fried okra, Mac 'n Cheese, and sweet peach tea rounded out the meal. Note to self for future orders, I don't like their turnip greens - a bit bland with a kick of pepper/spice. Tip: It's always good to call ahead for a shorter wait time. Extra: my friend is really into smoking stuff so we stopped by their smoker and were allowed to take a peek into how they make their smoked meats.
(4)
Myra E.
Seriously amazing! We made the drive here as we were passing thru Nashville. This was worth he wait as the restaurant was clean, service was top-notch and the food was outstanding! I ordered poached eggs to go along with my biscuits, and was impressed they even attempted to poach an egg and they were able to do so with precision.
(5)
Mallory S.
I love Loveless. It's a great place for a tourist to experience a country-style breakfast. I had the ham, red eye gravy, with two eggs and hash. The hash is the best because it is cheesy and creamy (definitely not healthy, but delicious)! Coffee is typical diner coffee (nothing special but cheap). I think my favorite part (besides the hash) is the biscuit and jam plate! YUM! I have only been to Nashville twice, but I will continue to stop at Loveless anytime I'm in town.
(4)
Anthony M.
A Nashville tradition must do if visiting. The lines are long, the service is friendly, but not professional, and the food falls between good and great. I think it is the history and location that makes this a favorite weekend bfast experience for everyone that comes and visit us.
(4)
Ivan S.
Long ago, I used to deny my touristy nature. Call it the arrogance of youth. Call it growing up in Central Florida where tourists are tolerated like mosquitoes and alligators--a part of life, but you don't want to associate with them. As I've grown older, I've accepted that when I leave town, I'm a tourist. I do touristy things, I eat touristy food. No, not Ruby Tuesday's or Olive Garden. That's just dumb. But I will mire myself in what is otherwise known as a "tourist trap." And I'll smile and drink overpriced soft drinks and buy the postcard while I'm at it. And thus began mine and my wife's visit to uber tourist trap The Loveless Cafe. Originally an old eatery tucked into a motel off the Natchez Trace Parkway, it's since expanded out to the remaining buildings in the motel that now include a food gift shop, a gag-laden trinkets store, a bike shop, an art gallery and a concert hall. You'll be glad for the distractions when you're told to wait an hour (or more) for a table. (Don't worry, the beepers they give you cover the entire grounds.) By the way, since we were eating here on the 4th of July, we were told that the wait wasn't that bad for a weekend. Oy. Nevertheless, we were in full tourist mode and the waiting seemed par for the course. But what were we waiting for? Well, based on our orders, a ham steak with red eye gravy breakfast plate and a Bacon, Lettuce and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. I honestly wished I could have tried some of the other dishes, but we'd had a huge breakfast and had to order small. (OK, RELATIVELY small.) My BLT was great. The fried green tomato was thick, the outer coating (corn meal) crispy. A few (hipster) places here in ATL also serve this same dish, but the Loveless version beats them by an, ahem, country mile. My greens were tasty, but I prefer mine a little more spicy and a little less sweet. I guess that's what the pepper sauce is for. My wife selected the ham steak. Being gluten-free, she wasn't able to pick from much more of the menu nor was she able to enjoy the biscuits. Nevertheless, the ham steak was thick cut and as salty as you'd expect. The wife, a big coffee fan, ordered the redeye gravy and was alternated pleased and repulsed by it. As a NON-coffee fan, I was just repulsed, but that's just redeye gravy in general and not Loveless' serving. And to the biscuits....as a biscuit connoisseur I can definitely tell you these aren't drop biscuits. The wife's granny, an old southern lady who I think was around during the War of Northern Aggression, taught the wife how to make drop biscuits, so that's her frame of reference. I, on the other hand, am more familiar with the flaky, layered kind and these were THAT version. That said, I love Loveless' biscuits. My wife, gluten-free though she may be, cheated a little and had a nibble. She declared them good (even better with sorghum preserves on them), but not as good as granny's. I've got to disagree. Sorry, Granny-in-law, I know you drop it like it's hot, but I gotta side with Loveless here. Four stars.
(4)
Todd M.
This is an excellent place. We went on a Saturday and, honestly, did not expect to get in anytime soon, but we were up for the wait. We have wanted to go for some time now. While waiting we toured the little shops on the campus and found several very cool Christmas presents for friends and family (NOT the corn pone stuff at that Country yatta yatta joint). The service was excellent. The food was wonderful and the biscuits to die for. One of the 10 best breakfast joints EVER!
(5)
Byron W.
We visited some friends in Nashville and my wife suggested we check-out Loveless Cafe. Apparently, a lot of famous people eat (or have eaten) here. I'm always down for checking-out local favorites, so off we went. After reading a number of reviews here on Yelp, it was obvious Loveless was famous for two things: fried chicken and biscuits. Before I go any further, let me say that I grew up in the South. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet tea and bread have been a regular part of my diet for as long as I can remember. To say that I was disappointed in the fried chicken and biscuits would be an understatement. Some of the reviewers have commented that Cracker Barrel has nothing on Loveless' biscuits. Are you kidding me?! Not only are Cracker Barrel's biscuits better, their fried chicken puts Loveless' to shame as well. Loveless even messed-up their sweet tea. A "southern food" establishment that can't get sweet tea right?! Wow... I will say that the food wasn't bad. However, I cannot tell you it was good. It was "okay". It was edible. But, no, I didn't ask for a to go box. Their creamed corn was fine and the mashed potatoes were better than instant. My wife had their chicken fingers, which were okay at best. Her homemade chicken fingers puts Loveless to shame. Her homemade biscuits put Loveless to shame. And her sweet tea (even on a bad day) puts Loveless' to shame. Come to think of it, if this place is so "famous", maybe my wife should open a restaurant... Save your drive and find a local Cracker Barrel (until I find an alternate local southern food establishment to recommend). Previous owners must have done things differently. I have no other explanation for the reputation this place has...
(3)
Gai P.
Pretty solid breakfast joint though not extraordinary given all the fanfare. You'll wait a long time so be prepared. There isn't a place close by that sells adult beverages. Maybe bring a flask or a cooler to help pass time. Don't have a group of more than 4 to get seated faster.
(3)
Diana J.
Biscuits were phenomenal, and they keep 'em coming! Fried chicken was absolutely delicious too, though 2 pieces of the dark meat was enough for me as I still preferred the biscuits with their peach jam. Ice tea is nothing special though. Bought peach jam to go and their biscuit mix - I'd definitely go back if I'm ever in town!
(5)
Vincent Y.
Pancakes were great; meat was super salty and tough (for us northerners); and the jam was utterly delicious. But remember that wait time is around 2 hours for a seat in the place. IT gets lots and lots of press. The prices were also pretty high.
(3)
David O.
Loveless is without question the place to go if you want the very best, most authentic Southern Food you can get in the area. Very little more needs to be said. It remains an institution not to be missed. If you have the means, I highly recommend trying it out.
(4)
Rami B.
It was a fun place! I go to Nashville once a year, and wanted to check this place out! The biscuits are so good. The has brown casserole and mac and cheese were delicious. The chicken is so crispy and really good! The sweet tea is a must in Tennessee!
(4)
Joshua B.
Could I love the Loveless, less? I hope I never love it less than I currently love the loveless - because I love it a whole lot! Biscuits and jam...There...there is something I've been meaning to ask you. I mean, I'm a little shy sometimes so I don't quite know how to put this - but, I'd love to be in a long term relationship with you. You make me feel warm inside and make my tongue happy ever time we meet. And breakfast meat and potatoes - and I'm speaking to all of you - you are just fantastic. I really have nothing bad to say about any of you. But, psst - crispy bacon and home fried potatoes - don't tell your brothers and sisters - I love you more than them. And to you, Pit Cooked Pork BBQ - I don't see you as often as I should - but I do love you immensely. I still think about the first time we met and your tangy, sweet bbq sauce along with your soft, porky goodness brought you to my lips. You have kept me coming back again and again. It's too bad you and I along with the biscuits and jam and bacon and fried potatoes can't all live together in bliss. Maybe one of these days when the world isn't so judgmental we'll be able to live together on one plate of blissfulness. But until then - I'll have to rotate you out on my visits to the Loveless. There is something I want to say to the Mimosa's as well - you have helped me out on more sunday mornings than I'd like to admit. Long story short - I love the Loveless Cafe. Sure, it can be quite a wait - but there is usually plenty to do while waiting. There are several shops around the loveless. Curious Heart Emporium - I could spend an hour in there alone. And last time I was in there I saw Al Gore walking around. Truly the Loveless Cafe is an original. Its great, scratch made food and biscuits and jams make it stand out from the crowd. Everyone has their preferences for food. Some will love it, some will simply think its 'ok'. But as of right now - I hope I never come to love "The Loveless", less.
(5)
Ian R.
Out of sight. This place is absolutely worth the 20 minute drive from Nashville, and still worth it even if you aren't into breakfast places. I can't remember the last time I ate ham for breakfast, but was glad I ordered the City Ham here - a half inch thick slab of ham lightly glazed with brown sugar that you could just barely taste a hint of. I'm not kidding about the thickness, my girlfriend commented on the size of the slab and I insisted that it was two slices. Upon closer examination I was shocked to see it was one continuous piece of swine and I needed to use the steak knife they gave me. My girlfriend got the biscuit platter and was floored by it. Biscuits should be the name of this place, since they bring you so many and they are just the right size and flavor. the preserves they bring with it set the flavor off just right, and to top this all off the coffee was decent. With the ham I got a side of eggs which were clearly powdered, so if I venture back I will definitely have to try a different side item. Portions are huge, so don't bother ordering extra sides or filling up on biscuits.
Great place to eat. Servers were very friendly and made us feel at home. We had left overs and our waitress gave us some ice so we could pack it for our 3 hr trip home! The portions are plenty...the biscuits were wonderful. The homemade preserves were also great. Everything you can ask for in a place to eat some good southern cooking .... We are going back to try breakfast!
(5)
Bekki M.
You don't get the true Nashville experience if you don't make the short drive down to the Loveless Cafe while you're there. I would suggest going at an off-peak time though, the wait can get very long if you go right at lunch and dinnertime. You can do call-ahead seating to get your name on the waiting list if you call an hour in advance. The biscuits are AWESOME. So good. Both of us ordered the fried chicken, and while it was cooked well we were disappointed that there seemed to be hardly any seasoning on the skin. Other than that the rest of our meals were very good; the creamed corn, caramel sweet potatoes, cucumber and onions in vinegar (which I don't get very often in Ohio but they're one of my favorites) and the hashbrown casserole. We will definitely go back, but will order something other than the chicken.
(4)
Jason B.
i shouldn't have to write a single word but the only thing i'll say is get the sampler platter and the fried green tomatoes. also i am living proof you can eat 5 biscuits and finish off your entire sampler platter. it hurt so so so good. GO NOW. JUST LEAVE AND STOP READING THIS! WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS top 10 places in the US for me and thats coming from a food whore. JEANS: OK by far ORDER: waitress
(5)
Corey G.
I've been wanting try Loveless since moving to Nashville back in December but have been deterred by the long typical long waits for one of Nashville's most famous breakfast foods location. However, I recently figured out that the secret is getting there before 9:30 on the weekends prior to the rest of the crowd. I had the Famous Loveless Full Country Ham platter and soon discovered it was famous for a reason! My girlfriend eyes lit up over the enormous portion as our server delivered my country ham to the table. The slice of ham was very thick and cooked very well, i preferred my country ham a little bit saltier and cured a tad bit longer but this is nothing I couldn't solve with a salt shaker. The biscuits and homemade jams were served to us before our meal came out and were the perfect fix to settle our premeal hunger. I will be ping back to try their cured bacon and smoked sausage in the near future.
(4)
Linda B.
Great food, fun watching biscuits being made, and an interesting store to browse. Fun for the whole family.
(5)
Catherine T.
Coming from Toronto this restaurant provided a lot of firsts for us. Biscuits, grits, fried green tomatoes, moonshine, barbecue, and hash brown casserole were great ( well to be honest we each only took a sip of the blueberry moonshine and that was enough!) but we loved the food and loved the experience. The drive back to Nashville was amazing along the Natchez Trail. We will return when we are lucky enough to come back to Nashville.
(5)
Jess Y.
I think Loveless Cafe is just one of those names that gets thrown out when people ask, "Where should I take my (friend, parents, etc) when they come in town?" It's just one of those classics where you can get homemade Southern cooking that everyone knows about. I had been there once before and I must have had a good experience because I always looked at Loveless with a fond light and even tried to take my family when they came in town but it was way too over-crowded to get a seat. All that being said, however, when I visited this past weekend, I wasn't blown away. Maybe my taste buds have changed, or maybe they had an off-night, or maybe my standards are higher now that I've tried some other places too. Regardless, I thought it was fairly decent but not life-changing. We got the family-style dinner which gives you all-you-can-eat two meats, three sides, biscuits, and a drink for everyone. It seemed a bit pricey for the quality, however. The fried chicken was dry and not that flavorful. The pulled pork was pretty good: juicy and yummy bbq sauce. The sweet potatoes had a good flavor: sweet with a little citrus kick; but, I was turned off by their lifeless and watery appearance. I would say the highlights from the meal were the creamed corn and fried okra. I love fried okra and these were great: not over-breaded, lightly seasoned, and yummy. The biscuits were alright, too, and I liked that they brought out three different fresh jams to try it with: peach, blackberry, and strawberry. The blackberry jam was delicious: fresh, chunked with real bits of blackberry goodness, and not overpoweringly sweet. Yum. The interior is extremely casual and it gets really crowded on the weekends--so watch out! Overall, I think Monell's is a better family-style Southern food venue and more worth the price. I'd probably come here again--maybe to try the breakfast, but I didn't think the family-style was worth it.
(3)
Matthew A.
We decided to check out the Loveless Cafe after hearing much fanfare about it. Needless to say I was ecstatic to get there and try the biscuits and friend chicken. I'm not sure if our inflated expectations made the meal a disappointment, or if the food was truly that "meh". I ordered the meatloaf platter. And it tasted just like any meatloaf I've eaten before. Nothing stood out. I took samples of the pulled pork as well as fried chicken from others at my table. Once again, edible, but nothing special. I noticed a distinct lack of seasoning on everything. A little salt would have gone a long way in making the meal more enjoyable. Even the biscuits that had received so much fanfare left a little to be desired. I will say that the preserves were some of the best that I have ever tried. Long story short, I believe that the Loveless Cafe may have once been great, but at this point it's a restaurant living on its name alone.
(3)
Renata P.
This is a cute little piece of Nashville history. Worth a visit. The biscuits here were the best I've ever had... anywhere... The rest of the food (a country breakfast) was decent. However, the sweet tea and the Steeplechase pie? Excellent. I'm not a fan of pecan pie normally but this one was a small taste of heaven. I'd go back for the pie, biscuits, and tea. Definitely!
(4)
Tracey H.
Good biscuits! Yum!
(4)
Faith L.
Awesome: fried chicken, biscuits, sides, pies, service, gift shop, and decor. GO! We got seated next to a painting of the Biscuit Lady herself, so plus a million stars.
(5)
Heather F.
The Loveless Cafe is one of those Nashville restaurants that is well known even outside of Nashville. It has appeared on tons of TV food shows such as the Food Network (more than once) and when you step foot into their hostess room you will find the walls covered with autographed pictures of celebrities who have eaten here from decades gone by. Of course this is the Ultimate meat-and-three place in Nashville. Down home cooking at its finest is right here. When you are seated the first thing you get is a plate of home-made biscuits complete with 3 different jellies. The menu is filled with comfort food such as fried chicken, mac and cheese and hash. It is impossible to pick something bad off of their menu so go with what sounds good and you will love it. Like most meat and three places in Nash (and the South) you can order sweet tea here. Be sure to check out the shop next door which sells delicious home goods such as Loveless Cafe's jams and honey. I purchased a few things for my 90 year old Me Ma who loved it.
(5)
Lindsay K.
EAT HERE!! We had a party of six and I tried almost everything that was ordered so I can tell you this is some of the best food I have ever had....and I'm a food snob from Dallas! The only thing on the table I didn't like was the country ham, it was very salty. Here is the low down - Best meats: BBQ Pork & Meatloaf Best sides: Hashbrown casserole and cream corn (both AMAZING) and of course their famous biscuits Best dessert: Turtle Pie
(5)
Jackie T.
The wait can be long, but it is worth it. Waitstaff is always very friendly and quick with your order. Be warned, there is no end to the bringing of biscuits. But you should alert them to stop because you won't have any room for your food. I could probably sit here and eat the biscuits all day. The waffles and pancakes are incredibly hearty. Add a side of bacon you won't need to eat for hours. Incredibly rich, delicious food. If you make it to dessert, they offer some delicious pies. You can always get one to go!
(5)
Luke K.
The biscuits and jam were amazing, the food was top notch, and the waitstaff were all super friendly and laid back and made our time there truly enjoyable.
(5)
Alan S.
Ham heaven. Biscuit heaven. Preserves, hummmmmm. Wonderful relaxed atmosphere, even though the place was packed. Two trips while in Nashville, need I say more? GO
(5)
B C.
I came to visit Nashville last weekend and had found this place listed as a must-see for visitors. It was a fun experience and I highly recommend it for out-of-towners. Our waitress was very friendly, the food (especially the biscuits and jams) were delicious, and the down-home feel was really comfortable. There were a number of small shops and touristy activities around the restaurant to help pass the time during the short table-wait. We got there early at 7:45 and the wait that Saturday was only 30 minutes.
(4)
Tara F.
I like the Loveless Cafe for the simple fact that it's a Nashville landmark. We take friends and family who visit from out of town and their biscuits & jam really are phenomenal, but for me... the wait, the rest of the food and even the service are just OK. If you're lucky enough to arrive and not wait an hour +... the experience is good and the food is consistently well made. It's a scenic (though long) drive and I've arrived having to wait HOURS for a table. I've always stuck it out because we'd just driven an hour to reach Loveless and going somewhere else or back home seems a little silly... but really waiting more than 45 minutes, isn't worth it. I've never tried anything other than breakfast and this cute little diner, but the actual food doesn't touch the amazing-ness of their homemade biscuits and jam (it really is delightful). The decor inside the reception area of Loveless is perfectly Nashville... I love seeing all the autographed country artists' headshots adoring the walls... and so do the "new to Nashville" guests I've always brought along with me on each Loveless visit... the rest of the place looks like your Grandma's dining room... yellow walls, doilies, covered bridge paintings and old fashioned photos... it's pretty cozy. One of the down sides, to me, is how they "pack you in" and the VERY large groups that visit the Cafe... I've seen tables with 20+ people at them and had our party of 3-4 wedged in between them and other big parties... which isn't ideal from a sound standpoint, a bumping into you standpoint, or a service standpoint. Speaking of service... I've NEVER had great service at Loveless... even when it wasn't super busy. When I first moved to Nashville one of the things that jumped out at me was the genuine friendliness of everyone... you'd think loveless would exemplify southern hospitality, but I've never seen it. All in all, I like the Loveless Cafe and I like taking guests from out of town to this quaint (though super busy) breakfast spot... and they all seem to enjoy the spectacle of it as well... so I'll keep going, but I'd really love to see it be a shining example of the warm southern culture that I personally love about Nashville...
(3)
Tia R.
A place that lives up to the hype! The biscuits and jam are worth the trip alone. We took biscuits and bacon and more plain biscuits for our road trip home. We wished we bought the bacon and ham to take home because it is the best we have ever tasted. The corn relish is to die for. We also took a jar home as well as a few jars of jam--all of it are gone! I don't wait two hours for anything, so we visited in the middle of the week early in the morning.
(5)
Clay G.
Man do I want to hate this place. Everything about it says TOURIST TRAP. And some items aren't as good as the others, but they do so much well. I know that the blackberry jam is suppose to be the item, but the Peach is soooo Good. In a way, it does kind of remind me of what Cracker Barrel was like in the 70's when the staff wore red bandana shirts. I have gotten into a habit of taking co-workers from out of town out here to eat. So far, everyone has gone on and on to others about it. I just wish I would quit ordering the sampler plate with 3 meats.
(4)
James W.
You might not know about this place unless you go looking for it but it is definitely worth the time to get to it. Great food and service in a nice relaxed country atmosphere. Don't forget to check out the shops adjacent to the restaurant...
(4)
Shannon W.
Wow, what can I say? Let's start with the negatives - It's too far from home to go there very often. Now for the positives - You start with the warm, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of homemade Buttermilk Biscuits. Its from a recipe that's been used and kept secret since 1951 when the restaurant first opened. The biscuits are served with homemade blackberry, peach, and strawberry jams. Large chunks of fruit in the peach and strawberry jams. Richard ordered the Country ham and Eggs with homemade creamed corn and mashed potatoes. The country ham was just salty enough to call it country ham, but not so salty that you are puckering afterwards. I ordered the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and candied yams. Both orders were served with white and brown gravy. Their brown gravy was the best I have had. Nothing was even remotely even OK, but absolutely wonderful good ol' fashioned suthern cookin'!!! We were too full to try one of their homemade desserts which included Peanut Butter pie, blackberry cobbler, coconut cream pie and many others. They looked good coming out though. They serve breakfast all day long and mix breakfast items with dinner items. Large selection of food. If you have a group of 4 or more, you can do family style dinners, order a couple meats and sides and share everything. Great way to get a taste of many things. There is a store onsite to buy jams, hams and other souveneirs. There is also a large barn for large parties. Plenty of parking on site. It is difficult to make a left getting out if it's busy, but other than that, it's great. Everything is homemade on site including the curing of sugar and salt hams, jams, pies, etc. We got out for around $40 w/ drinks and tip. A little more expensive than typical homestyle cooking restaurants, but well worth it! We will definitely go back when we are in the area again!
(5)
Nicole L.
I just died and went to biscuit heaven and I don't even care for biscuits that much, but the blackberry preserves are awesome! I really enjoyed the fried chicken and mac & cheese as well. I really wanted to like the hashbrown casserole since it combined two of my favorite things - hashbrowns and cheese - but I really didn't like it all. Loved the charm of the place, though, and our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. Visited: April 16, 2011
(4)
Gresham H.
If all you ate here was the fried chicken and biscuits every day of your life, 3 things would occur. #1, you'd be happy and full everyday of your life. #2, you would give it a 5-Star review every time. And #3, you would die young of a heart attack. But you'd be very happy (and weigh about 400lbs).
(5)
Sasha T.
I've always had some mixed feelings about Loveless Cafe. Are the biscuits awesome? Yes. Is it a nice homey atmosphere? Yes. Is the rest of the food awesome? Eh its ok. Is it worth an hour and a half plus wait? Probably not. Its a little pricey for what it is if you want breakfast but the supper menu is reasonably priced. Its definitely a cool place to bring someone from out of town.The drive there is beautiful and the little shops are fun to browse. Don't forget to pick up some of their homemade jams while you're there!
(4)
Robert J.
I was in the area with two co-workers and one pulled up this place on "TVfoodmaps" app. Glad he did. We got there around 2:30PM and there were a few open tables. We were seated instantly. Our drinks were delivered shortly after ordering with the first plate of biscuits and home made preserves. YUM. We each ordered the fried chicken, The chicken was crunchy on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. The best I've had in a long time. We each had two sides with our meal and ended up sharing as they were all unique in flavor. Waitstaff was engaged and friendly. Food was delivered quite fast. I have to be honest, some people on Yelp are saying the Cracker Barrel has better food. Look at the number of four and five star reviews compared to One, Two, and Three stars. Some people just like to complain I guess. Wish I lived closer, I'd probably go 4-6 times a year.
(5)
Tammy R.
This place is epic. If you looking for a place with a home town feel you have found it. The biscuits are the best and the service is amazing.
(5)
Melia R.
Dood. Wasn't sure if this was gonna be some lame tourist trap, but I decided to take the nice drive out of Nashville proper to check it out anyway. When I arrived, I saw a line of bikes out front.....and got excited, cos bikers KNOW where the goods are. I had breakfast. Everything's homemade. The PRESERVES are homemade. I had a BBQ pulled pork omelet. Yeah, that's right. Pulled pork omelet. And it was amazing. I also had to try some sausage gravy on the biscuits....better than Mamaw's -- and that's saying quite a lot. The food was awesome, but so were my neighbors. I was dining alone.....until my neighbors inquired as to whether I was having the famous country ham.....and then we decided I'd better just scoot in to their table so we could share our food properly. (If you're reading this someday, Hi, Faye! I had a blast meeting y'all!) I want to go back to try the fried chicken after 11am. Like, go back to Nashville (or make myself go thru Nashville) so I can eat here again. I feel a little crazy saying that, but it's true.
(5)
Will M.
Puts cracker barrel to shame, because the biscuits are spectacular! Fresh, Fluffy, and moist; they go best when you pull them apart into pieces, add butter, and preserves. The biscuits!! and the sides pretty much MAKE the meal. My favorite sides are hashbrown casserole, fried green tomatoes, white beans, okra, mac and cheese. And I devoured a bowl of cream of chicken soup too! Their portions are huge! Smoked turkey, ham, country fried steak, are good compliment to the top notch sides and biscuits. Fried chicken had a nice crispy skin. Although not the best ever, damn you prince's for ruining fried chicken for me. I wish there was a hot chicken variety. Check the blue plate special. If you want all you can eat, opt for monell's. I came for dinner on a saturday night, and only had to wait 15 minutes. I guess I was lucky. Our table of 6 left in a food coma, I had to take a nap afterwards. Historic, unique, there is so much to take in. It elevates the food and you experience a certain joy to life, along with wonderful southern charm on top. :) Or was that the Pie I had to go? Truly spectacular
(4)
Paddy O.
biscuits and bbq my heart is full of love for loveless
(4)
Derrin T.
Loveless? Flavorless. Nothing special here but the preserves.
(3)
Michelle J.
AMAZING Southern food!! Trying to decide between the fried catfish, Loveless ham, pulled pork, fried chicken, and fried chicken liver, my eyes were obviously larger than my stomach... Finally, I opted for the Fried Chicken Livers platter with Fried Okra and Mac & Cheese AND a half-portion of the Loveless ham. Of course by the time this main course arrived to the table, I was already half full from the ridiculously buttery & tasty biscuits, so it looked like I barely made a dent in my plate of chicken livers. Seriously, you could fill yourself up on a whole meal of biscuits. They have peach, blackberry, and strawberry jams to compliment the biscuits. My favorite was the peach. Though you'll probably encounter a long wait at Loveless Cafe, especially on the weekends, due to their popularity, you'll find no problem killing time with all the little shops surrounding the cafe. They have a country store where they sell their jams, a candy store, jewelry store, and a shop filled the most useless but adorable trinkets (i.e. ugly dolls & wine glass coasters that look like flip flops). This place is a necessary stop if you're in the area!
(5)
Sean B.
I must say that we really enjoyed our breakfast and our time here. They've done just enough with the property to make the restaurant feel clean and appetizing without ruining the roadhouse feel of the other areas of the land. I wish I could remember the food better, but we had the closest thing to a meltdown with our 11 month old we'd ever had in public. It really was not that bad, but after I spilled a full water (huge glass, BTW), the stress level was a little high much of the rest of the meal is a blur. I remember thinking as we left that we got out of there just in time! I also remember the order from the table behind me as we were eating. It was a table of what I gathered to be police detectives. The order was a chicken livers platter, a fried green tomato BLT, another chicken livers platter, a gizzards platter, livers again and gizzards again. Then the good ol' boys started talking about how much they hated these meals as boys but loved them now. I also had the FGTBLT. It was not bad, but I had just had an amazing one the day before in Lookout Mountain, GA, so I was a tough customer. The biscuits are the rage, as you might have read. They are really something, though as I was trying my second one I realized that there is only so much greatness that can come out of a buttermilk biscuit. 4 or 5 ingredients can only be concocted in so many ways. Don't get me wrong - they were great. They also have a shop that is worth checking out. We brought some peach preserves home - they are very, very good.
(4)
Eugene T.
Really famous restaurant but I don't really think this could category in Nashville restaurant since it take 25 min drive to there. Food is good and fresh but kind of too salty especially the county ham. It is a nice place if you don't mind the drive and get some beyond average brunch.
(3)
Misty P.
Breakfast all the way! Great service, fun atmosphere. Loved every minute. Not to mention the biscuits were AMAZING!
(5)
Jan G.
If you are visiting Nashville, you have to come to the Loveless. The food is fantastic (country grub) and the portions are large. Definitely get a side of biscuits. Coffee isn't the best but it's what you'd expect. It's a bit off of the beaten path which makes it all the more fun to visit. There's a shop where you can buy Loveless items and some other fun little knick knacks.
(5)
Patricia G.
out of the way, but delicious and worth the trip!! shows at the barn are top quality; however, fair warning, this is a very calm crowd who will keep grey tops in seats.
(4)
Wes B.
We tend to use the term "love" pretty lightly. Sure, we love our families and friends, our pets and (on rare occasions) maybe even our jobs. But can we truly love food, or is it merely affinity? I never thought I could love a biscuit until I went to Loveless. Now don't get me wrong, my family still comes first, but these biscuits are giving my friends a run for their money. Flaky and buttery, with just the right amount of softness, this Music City Manna will leave your tastebuds tingly, especially when you slather on some succulent blackberry preserves. Of course, the biscuits are only the beginning. Loveless is Cracker Barrel on crack. Every ingredient of every dish, from the sides to the meats to the moonshine cocktails (yes, you read correctly) is tailored to set your heart ablaze. If the dishes are unique, the experience is uniquely Nashville. Small shops make the guaranteed hour-long wait more than tolerable, and the service is grandmotherly and generous. I love Loveless. And I might just make it Facebook official.
(5)
Amanda F.
Touristy, yet toothsome. I had to rate Nashville's famous Loveless Cafe only 4 stars, because gosh darnit, the wait is most always over an hour and a half! Having lived in Nashville for two years, I've eaten here about four times (guess you could call it a bi-annual experience). If you have been to Nash before, it's way out of town on Highway 100. Loveless is most known for their biscuits -- the flaky, buttery goodness literally melts in your mouth and you can't stop at just one. Their recipe is kept pretty hush hush, but they do sell the biscuit mix in their shop next door (trust me, you will have time to stop there while you are waiting for your table to be ready). The walls are covered with original paintings of the likes of Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty, as well as autographs from every country music legend. Loveless offers pretty standard southern breakfast and lunch options, which are always wonderful. Also open for "supper", though I have never been out to those neck of the woods past dark. I recommend getting there early for a shorter wait time, and most certainly don't ever show up hungry, you will regret it!! Perfect spot for tourists who are visiting Nashville for the first time!
(4)
Vince N.
Went in early on a Friday morning, had a omelet and biscuits and gravy. Biscuits and gravy were good but not the best I have ever had. The one pet-peeve that I have is un-melted cheese, which the omelet had, and under cooked onions and green pepper. The ham in the omelet was excellent. Prices are a little high, since this place is a tourist trap.
(3)
Crystal P.
My Loveless experience was more love than less. True to all other high regarded reviews, I do actually have nothing but love for this roadside joint. It boasts some tall orders like homemade banana pudding, biscuits, and pretty much if it's on the menu it's made from scratch. Places just don't do that anymore. Not like this and not for these prices. All my respect to places that can manage good food on a budget and more. With that said, I enjoyed everything I ate. Was it the best ever? Probably not .... But it was most definitely solid hand made fare that for Nashville, is a force to be reckoned with. There are a LOT of southern fare joints we discovered in Nashville. The Loveless Cafe is a must visit. There is no negotiating this. Oh and yes....even with that crazy long wait. All you foodies must know by now, the longer the wait .... It must be worth it.
(4)
Kevin K.
Worth the drive. Made the mistake if eating 3 of those wonderful biscuits BEFORE breakfast and was stuffed afterwards. Great food! We had a 25 minute wait but there are other buildings/shops to look around in while you wait to be paged. Very homey place. It's like eating at home and being served by your mother.
(5)
Erin B.
One word: AMAZING. Outside of downtown Nashville but worth the trip. Everybody was super friendly and even though there was a 2 hr wait because of the 4th of July holiday, we were patient and it was worth the wait. Highly recommend it.
(5)
Maggie W.
the biscuits are 100% worth the wait
(5)
Cecil B.
The food and the service was outstanding I will stop in whenever I go to Nashville.
(5)
Kaleena 'Kala' H.
One of my favorite places to go to for breakfast. The biscuits are so delicious, and I love eating them both plain and with the jelly that they bring to the table. My favorite breakfast meal is the pancakes with bacon...sometimes I will also order some scrambled eggs to go with it. All of it is so tasty. It's pretty much the only thing I will order there for breakfast. :)
(5)
Joseph M.
Country ham is not edible. It was so salty even for some one that likes salty food. Biscuits were good but not great as others have mentioned. Grits were super rich from the heavy use of butter.
(2)
Safa S.
This is a highly commercial diner 20 minutes south of downtown Nashville. I thought the food was good, but it was a major turn off to see all the commericalized aspects of this place (signs everywhere to buy their products). That is the main reason why it gets one less star. The other reason this place is not a full 5 stars, is that I felt that this place is way over hyped... the food is good, but nothing super crazy. I think the lunch or dinner menu might have better food (for example, the smoked turkey was excellent). For breakfast, I would say go elsewhere if you are busy and don't want to wait for food. We arrived at 9AM on a Friday and there was no wait. Ordered: Biscuits - A+, delicious and super fresh Smoked Turkey - excellent... yum, yum, yum Steak biscuits - C, good if you like dry meat on dry bread. Garden Omelet - B-, nothing special... something you can get anywhere
(4)
Ellen O.
I am still dreaming about the meal I had here last week: -the best pulled pork I have ever had -fried okra -sweet potatoes -homemade biscuits -and amazing peach iced tea SO GOOD. worth the wait for sure!
(5)
Howard L.
Seriously have zero respect for anyone who thinks this place is delicious. Maybe the wait makes the food taste better for some people, but I recently was forced to go back by some visiting friends and this place has not changed a bit. I really felt awful after we left the restaurant...we spent over 3 hours in that little compound waiting and eating and it was definitely not worth it. Again, biscuits were OK, but the food was just absolutely horrendous. If you think they do "typical" southern fare, your mom must have been a really crappy cook. Or you're probably from MA or IN or some other yankee place. It really was embarrassing, but I did try to warn them. Complete Garbage. A shame to Nashville, really.
(1)
Rainer F.
Okay, I admit it. I don't get the hype. Tiny, stale biscuits, run-of-the-mill omelets, country ham that had a texture like directly from the buffet tray, and a hash brown casserole for which the only word that describes is, is gross. And all that after a 40 minute wait, hanging out in the gift shop/country store that had absolutely nothing of interest to offer. The only redeeming quality were the jams that came with the biscuits. If you have to go to one of Nashville's tourist traps, try the Pancake Pantry instead. Also hopelessly overrated, but at least the food is maybe not exciting yet reasonably enjoyable.
(2)
Jim G.
We went two days in a row, it's that good. For breakfast we had the country ham and pulled pork omelet. Both were very good along with the hash brown casserole and biscuits and gravy. The best sausage gravy I've ever had. On our second visit we had the fried chicken with fried green tomatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy and Mac n cheese. For desert we had the key lime pie (the best I've had). Everything was excellent and both times the service was good and very friendly. I will go back every chance I get.
(5)
Mary R.
Extra long wait during the weekend, but yummy chicken and biscuits!
(4)
David W.
One of my all-time favorites and a must for out of town visitors! Average wait is about an hour but the shops on property will help that pass quickly. I have always preferred breakfast here but I've never had a bad meal.
(4)
Lura M.
Recently visited Loveless Cafe after seeing it in the book: 1000 Places to See Before you Die. It was quite nice. Luckily we arrived just after the lunch rush and got great service from Matt. The menu was extensive and the portions were large. The food was good, I ordered the 3 meat sampler with Fried Chicken, Country Fried Catfish, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Sweet Potatoes.
(4)
H. W.
Ok, Of the five times I've been to Loveless, I've had to wait twice. Granted, my family is full of morning people (I'm not one of them, and the task seems insurmountable), but if you show up before 9am, you're likely to have no wait. Last weekend, we arrived at 8:30 and found the place half-full. That said, yes: this is a touristy place. And yes, I have waited 1.5+ hours to get in the door. But the food is delicious. I admit I don't quite get the hype around the biscuits (they're good, but not incredible), but I would order a bowl of the blackberry or peach preserves if they would let me. The bacon is cooked perfectly, the gravy is amazing, the hash-brown casserole is to die for. I love the "old farmhouse" feel, and the folk art on the walls is so cozy. But most importantly you can tell that these people are honestly passionate about their history, and the food that got them where they are today. So get there early, and relax. It's worth it, I promise you.
(4)
Panda B.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! As soon as you get out of the car, you can smell the delicious grilling from the side. When you walk in, you can taste the southern home cooking in the air! The wait staff was great, down to earth and friendly. The food was delicious! We ate her several times, breakfast & lunch, and had various things. We loved it all every time. They're not cheap on their portion either. We also had lots to take home. Maybe because we ate too much of those small, sweet and can't-take-your-fingers-off biscuits :) One down side, the long is loooooooooooong especially for lunch. We went there early morning one time, and we got in within 10 minutes. We had to wait 1.5 hr for lunch...
(5)
Gregory S.
I went down to Nashville a couple of Easter weekends ago. On our way out of town we stopped at the loveless cafe. It was Easter Sunday and the wait was massive for three people. We decided to wait and it took about an hour and half before we were seated. It was a sunny warm afternoon so the wait wasn't too bad. We looked around at the shops, which had a lot of kitschy goods. When we were seated we ordered our food. The biscuits are indeed very very good. The fried chicken was the best I have had. The perfect amount of crispiness and juiciness. I ordered three sides with it and I can say the fried okra was amazing. Not usually a fan of okra but they way it was done converted me. I give 5 stars for the food, but knock it down to 4 stars overall because the wait times are ridiculous. I went a second time later in the year and we didn't even wait cause the queue was way too much. I understand it's a popular restaurant, but because it's hard to get a seat I give it 4 stars.
(4)
Tweedy C.
Read about this lovely cafe on yelp and was not disappointed!! Loved the ambience, food, and service! I ordered the half fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac & cheese...sooooo delicious!! Service was great!! Didn't have to ask for refills they were always ready with a new drink, super friendly, and just a great first time experience. Inside the decor is so lovely and makes you feel like you're inside someone's home..waiting as they cook you some delicious southern food! Also visited the market gift store outside and bought some goodies to take back home to Cali with me :) Hopefully we have time to come back here before we head back home! Lovedddd it :)
(5)
Dan C.
Great service, but the food really wasn't worth the wait. Granted we went on a sunday after church let out, but the food was just ok. Nothing that left me waiting to come back.
(3)
Diane L.
This is a stop worth the wait. It's a great experience if you've never visited here. We got there at 12:15 pm on a gorgeous autumn Sunday. Ninety minute wait for a table. We passed the time by exploring the interesting shops and walking the grounds. Our lunch menu included hash brown casserole, hush puppies,ham, meat loaf, pulled pork, turnip greens and THE biscuits. These Texas women didn't care for the biscuits at all. Tough, bland biscuits. Turnip greens were cold and very stringy--no pot liquor as promised. Meat loaf was bland. High points-- hash brown casserole, ham, hush puppies. Got the homemade banana pudding--made with sugar cookies instead of vanilla wafers--nothing special. We're glad we took the time to visit, but I don't need to go back unless I'm in Nashville for extended time. If you're traveling south out of Nashville, take the Natchez Trace. Beautiful drive! Have a full tank of gas before hitting the Trace...gas stations are few and have to ask Siri for gas locations. The Trace has sporadic internet connection. Go to Loveless at least once in your life! No regrets!
(4)
Joi B.
I fear I can't write this review right now for fear of breaking my juice fast. Reliving the memories is gonna kill me. Maybe I should put this off? Oh, but once I start thinking about those damn biscuits and the butter they came with... and the jam (though I prefer to keep my biscuits virgin... er, buttery virgin). DANG IT!!! Maybe I should turn my attention instead on that amazing gift shop that is full of kitschy and fun items with the logo that is so cool, I was compelled to buy shot glasses, a giant mug, mason jars and hell, even an umbrella proclaiming my love for the Loveless (so it goes, time and time again). All I ate when I was here were the aforementioned biscuits. Giant spheres of buttermilky flaky dense delight. Ahhhhhhhh. That's all you need, but my friends couldn't stop talking about how good their breakfasts were, so there's that. If you can manage *not* to stuff yourself on biscuits. Good luck. I didn't fare so well. An extra star for the biscuit lady. Though I am fiending now for those biscuits. Fiending. Damn this juice fast.
(5)
Chris M.
I took my folks here for brunch while they were in town visiting. The biscuits are incredible (and bottomless) -- well worth the wait and drive. I had the fried chicken and biscuits and will definitely be back. Be ready to wait at least one hour, but there are some shops to browse in while you wait -- we brought a deck of cards. Very reasonably priced given their demand and the food was very good. Friendly service, great spicy, strong bloody mary's.
(4)
Dick G.
Iconic Americana at its best! this place, located outside Nashville is a tiny piece of yesteryear for us to enjoy today. On Sunday morning there was a 2 1/2 hour wait to sit inside and 35 minutes if you took it outside and ate a picnic table...which is what we did. Food preparation is excellent and their home made biscuits are the bomb, particularily with their homemade jams. If your in the area you have to stop by!
Pretty good, honestly don't understand what all the hype is about.
(3)
Hillary C.
A must do place in Nashville!!! The food is great, be prepared to wait! It is a pleasant wait and worth it!
(5)
Nate T.
You just has to know what you are getting into. It is a tourist stop, so it is busy. (we waited an hour) While we waited there was some drama with a bachelorette party, which there seems to be a million of in the nashville area. The food was solid to very good, the service was very friendly. I would stop back if I know the wait would be less.
(3)
Nick O.
Excellent! I had the bbq pork omelet. Their biscuits are great! Well worth the wait, there's plenty to do on their property while you're waiting.
(4)
Susanne H.
I am giving this three stats because of the quality of the pancake and the wait time. We were told the wait was 45 minutes, but it was more like 1 hour 15 minutes. The best part was the biscuits and jams they bring out, they were amazing! I ordered pancakes, plus a breakfast with egg. The pancakes were extremely heavy, not good at all, I was quite disappointed for a place that is known for their breakfast. The eggs, bacon and were very good. I did enjoy walking around their little (overpriced) shops during the wait.
Loveless Cafe is a beacon of southern comfort food for me, like it is for many others. Every time I'm back in Nashville, I make my pilgrimage to Loveless. The biscuits are always as good as they are in my memory, the preserves are so flavorful, and the hot food is delicious. The fried chicken is definitely above average, and all of the southern sides are a hit. I would recommend Loveless Cafe to any visitor going to Nashville. It will definitely be a hit. However, the 2+ hour wait gets old. This last time I went, my boyfriend and I played the "Guess Who" game with countless portraits of celebrities on the walls of the cafe while waiting 1.5 hours for our table. So if I'm in Nashville next time and had limited time and patience, I would take myself to Monell's for a comparably delicious and authentic southern food experience.
(4)
LeeAnne H.
Mmmmmmm biscuits.....and killer jams (blackberry is my favorite). A must stop for breakfast and cute gifts!!!
(5)
Andrew B.
Great biscuits. Friendly service. Amazing biscuits. Good breakfast. Everything was enjoyable, and if it were near where we lived, it would be on our everyday to-do list. Our cholesterol is glad it isn't, but this was some good good comfort breakfast food.
(4)
Jessica C.
Delicious and wonderful as always. The biscuits and blackberry jam are the best ever!
(5)
Andy H.
So here is one of those establishments that is world famous, gets all the business they need, has a great marketing engine, and STILL makes good food! The one thing that gets overlooked here is the BBQ. They spend more time smoking meat than baking biscuits. What Loveless is to biscuits, they are also to BBQ. Get it? Good.
(5)
Brian D.
MY pastor came from this neck of the south so I went and visited his best buddy there who took me on some country bumpkin road out to this place! I loved it,talk about good ole hometown southern fried cholesterol! You got it here.The waffles were huge,fried chicken steak great.It's old school,dixie do it right! Wear a checkered tablecloth and go grits and pancakes too! It's been a long time but i have a book of matches from this place right here on my desk....sort of brings a little "Earl Pitts" tear to my eye.....if you get my drift! Every food lover should eat here once! It's a tradition! I salute you Dixie!
(5)
Ellen H.
I love this place. Was here years ago and still as good as ever. Can't decide what you want to try get the Country sample, choice of three meats and 2 sides. and of course bicuits! they may look small but they pack a mighty punch. Delish!
(5)
Sharon L.
This place is VERY touristy -- for example, there are *multiple* gift shops -- but the food is absolutely worth it. The biscuits are, of course, famous, but their BBQ deserves to be equally well-known. The BBQ pulled-pork omelette was so flavorful, moist, and delectable. You can get a plate of biscuits with four different toppings for variety -- I LOVED the pimiento cheese and fried green tomato biscuit. Their country-style ham is excellent -- it tastes like a thick-cut slice of prosciutto. I'll also note that our server was very friendly and helpful. Pro-tip: one of the gift shops has a freezer with Jeni's ice cream in it. :)
(4)
Kristin V.
Definitely worth the drive from Franklin. The complimentary biscuits were the best biscuits I have ever had and if I wasn't trying to watch what I'm eating, I think the biscuits and gravy or the fried chicken would have put me into a food coma. Food was great and walking around the little area while waiting for our table was a lot of fun. It was an hour wait around 1:30pm so it's nice they have stuff for you to do. There is cornhole out front and 4 cute little shops ranging from Loveless treats and meats to souvenirs etc. Would definitely recommend as a place to check out!
(4)
Danielle L.
Yummy! Long wait , but played cornhole and enjoyed our company ! Food was amazing!!! Pulled pork BBQ biscuit is where it is AT!!! I may have also drank a mimosa for two ... By myself.... Yummy yummy yummy !!!
(5)
Charles E.
We had to wait for awhile and it was worth every bit. Food was delicious and plenty of it. Worth the trip here. Thanks for the good meal.
(5)
Jen M.
Biscuits and blackberry jam, yummy! Great home style food, recommend any of the chicken dishes and the hash brown casserole is a must. The wait for a table is worth it, and wait can be minutes or over an hour. Stock up on jam in the store while you wait!
(5)
Lauren M.
Loveless Cafe was definitely a treat, I would rate it 4 or 4.5 star. We arrived at the worst possible time (NOON) on a Friday. We ended up having to wait about an hour and 15 mins to get a table. It was definitely worth the wait but still a bit of a pain in the ass. You can kill time browsing the nearby Loveless Cafe shops and get a free coffee next door. We were giving some biscuits and preserves to start out (yum!) and I had fried chicken which was served with choice of two sides (I tried green beans and squash). The chicken was absolutely massive and I couldn't finish it. Definitely the best fried chicken I've ever had, although it's not a favorite of mine so I am no expert. Service was great here and the decor and ambiance are lovely. Prices were very reasonable (my meal was about $12). Overall very fun and satisfying experience :)
(4)
Casey Ann S.
Loveless cafe was a special stop today! The property is so cute, with a gift shop, antique store, art store, and bean bag tossing pits in addition to the actual restaurant itself. I can see why loveless is so popular! Great staff and authentic southern vibe going on. Had the chicken and biscuit side for breakfast, it was delicious but tiny (I ordered another!) Lots of southern sides and dishes! Yum.
(4)
Beth M.
Worth the wait! My fiance and I were in town for one night, and a Food Network junkie friend recommended the Loveless for breakfast. We were warned ahead of time of the wait, so we were mentally prepared. They have a great system using a pager that works all around the grounds, which include shaded benches, gift shops, coffee and sweet tea stations (complimentary). We were pleased that our wait time was actually about half of the quoted time. We were greeted by a very friendly and enthusiastic waitress named JD. My fiance is from the Midwest and knows his way around a carb-laden breakfast menu. The SoCal native in me doesn't know red-eye gravy from grits. JD was more than happy to educate me. With her advice, I decided upon everything "southern"; cheese grits, biscuits and sausage gravy, fried green tomatoes, and eggs and bacon. My review may not be truly qualified, as I have no basis for comparison of southern food, but, oh my, was it delicious! It was a bit of a fluke for me to be in Nashville in the first place, and I will probably never return. With that knowledge, I savored every bite, plus about five extra bites that I should have resisted. My fiance enjoyed his chicken fried steak, hash brown casserole, and plenty of warm biscuits. Make your way to the Loveless if you find yourself in Nashville.
(5)
Aprile M.
If you are in the area you have to stop. Food is fresh and hot. Once you sit down they bring you some hot biscuits with some fruit preserves. The peach preserves are delicious. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. My husband had the biscuits and gravy. My daughter got the chicken tenders. The portions are huge. We took a lot of food home. Everything was delicious. Service was fast and friendly.
(5)
Scott B.
Cool place, great service, but the food is just good southern style food. Its very similar to almost all small town diners. But the atmosphere makes it a must see place!
(4)
Alicia M.
I love it! Hands down! The only con; it's a good drive outside of the Nashville city limit and there is a wait. I had breakfast alone and the wait was about an hour and 30 minutes. Will return regardless
(4)
Jennifer O.
An absolutely great place to stop and take a step back in time!!!! It takes awhile but worth the wait and there is plenty to do while you casually stroll the property!!! Creamed corn and BBQ Pork!!! Yum Y'all
(5)
Natalie R.
Had to wait at Sunday lunchtime, but wow, was it worth it... Every bite was delicious southern cooking, like my grandma used to make. Now that we have gorged on chicken & waffles, fried chicken, numerous delicious sides, and some pie---- we are rolling out to car to nap... :)
(5)
Claudette W.
Yep. It's as good as everyone says. I don't think I can even add to the information. Awesome biscuits, jam, chix fried steak, veggies. Friendly folks. Worth a trip.
(5)
Marie G.
Such a great restaurant - a can't miss place when visiting Nashville! Yes there will probably be a line when you visit so check in and spend the next hour or two walking the property, play games, do some shopping, or rock away your hunger in one of the many rocking chairs! Once you get seated - prepare for a feast! Don't miss the fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit sandwiches. Everything on the menu is great. And I mean everything! Take dessert to go ;) Service...best in Nashville!
(5)
James C.
Time goes fast while waiting for a table here. We waited 45min and it was entirely worth it. Free coffee in the gift shop, free tea and lemonade by the artist studio. Chairs on the porch to enjoy the weather and touristy yet safe family atmosphere Incredible fried chicken, Mac and cheese is nice and cheesy. Very fast and friendly service. Secret biscuit recipe biscuits are wonderful! Our food got to our table in amazing time. Our server Gretchen, offered her suggestions and answered all our questions with genuine care. The out buildings offer a market, a gift shop for kids, a few artist studios and some activities for kids i. e. blowing bubbles, side walk chalk, bean bag throw. Definitely worth a visit!!!
(5)
Allie R.
I have been to loveless several times now and it has never disappointed. Their biscuits are absolutely amazing and we always eat up all the preserves that come with them. Before I leave I always make sure to buy a couple jars of their peach preserves because they are my absolute favorite. I've had the biscuit sampler breakfast, the meat sampler breakfast, and their fried pork chop breakfast (epic sized pork chops). I always love everything. Their ham and sausage is some of the best I've ever had. The hash brown casserole is cheesy and decedent. We always have a great server. If you can get over the wait and enjoy the experience as a whole it is a great one. It is an awesome place and I know we will be back many many times in the future.
(5)
Jay G.
Absolutely hands down best home cooking/soul food whatever you prefer in the greater Nashville area. The chicken and biscuits is what they're known for but everything is awesome. And that's really all anyone could ever say about this place...awesome
(5)
Scott S.
This is my first time visiting the Loveless Cafe. I ordered the sampler plate with BBQ pork, meatloaf, and fried chicken. The meatloaf was good not great, the BBQ pork was just slow cooked pork with BBQ sauce, no smoke flavor whatsoever. The fried chicken was above average. My sides were mac n cheese and the hash brown casserole. The mac n cheese was just a notch above TV dinner fare, and the hash brown casserole was pretty average. What really let me down was the biscuits and preserves. I was dreaming about them on this trip before my visit on this trip. The biscuits were way below average, I might have had a bad batch as the waitress was taking to the table next to me about them and they said they never have seen them like this before. The preserves were below average for the peach and strawberry, but the blackberry were some of the best I've had. Overall for the price and hype I was expecting more. I wish I would have had breakfast for dinner as that's one meal that's hard to not hit the mark with. It's cool to say I ate here, but there are much better places in town to frequent. The service however was very good. Everybody here was warm and friendly.
(3)
Kitcat S.
Some people may see this as sacrilege but I would say that the most exciting things about Loveless are the facilities and the drive there. The dining room is cute and very open, and there are cute stores in the campus. The food was solid and the biscuits very good, but the latter didn't live up to tall the hype is heard. The preserved on the other hand were pretty awesome. What I was most disappointed about was the service. In a place as iconic as this one I expected some good southern hospitality but it was all just rushed. I don't regret going, it was a good experience. That said, my visit was during the week. Had I waited the typical 2.5hrs on the weekend I may have been a little disappointed, only because of the hype.
(4)
Bill R.
Had about an hour and ten minute wait. It was worth it. The biscuits were very good. But the chicken and waffles were to die for. Service was exceptional. Price was on the high side but the quality of the entire experience as well as my very full belly didn't seem to mind.
(4)
Kat T.
While some locals told me the original owner passed away, fried chicken and biscuits wasn't as good as it used to be. I think they have the best fried chicken. Crispy outside but not full of breading. The chicken cooked just right, not rubbery but fully cooked. Husband and bro in law love their biscuit and home made Jam. A must visit for us every time when we are in TN.
(5)
Michael M.
So after a week in the smoky mountains getting fat, happy and not so fulfulled on southern cooking I find myself a loveless on the way home. One of the top 2 meals I have eaten in the last week. The deference in quality from the places in the smokies was apparent from the first bite. I ordered the breakfast sampler and a bowl of gravy. Three meats two eggs and a bowl of hash brown casserole. Oh don't forget the unlimited biscuits. I didn't. As I tried to single handedly eat them out of biscuits this night. Between smothering them with gravy or lathering them up with butter and jellies. Yum Yum All the food was great. It's hard to do great breakfast and this place does it. Most place breakfast is good and the is it. I am so glad I got a top notch breakfast before heading home from vacation. The one thing I would pass on next time is the Banana Pudding...got some to go but it was just okay. Oh and can I have another plate of biscuits....some of the best you will ever have.
(5)
Darragh T.
The quality and quantity of reviews speak for themselves. There's nothing more I can add without being repetitive. Some of the best scratch cooking I've come across on my travels.
(4)
Lisa K.
Honestly, Loveless never disappoints and on each of my three visits I've left here as happy as could be! Once you sit down they'll bring you a plate full of biscuits and jam, and this could be meal enough on its own! The biscuits are always hot and buttery and delicious! You won't want to fill up on biscuits though because you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I'm partial to the chicken and dumplings, which is one of their blue plate specials on Wednesday. All of the sides are super tasty, but the creamed corn is really special. I can't say I've ever made it to dessert... or even finished my meal! I always get caught up with the biscuits, which gives me plenty of leftovers! Believe me when I say a trip to Loveless is worth the stop. Your stomach will thank you!
(5)
Mary G.
Breakfast review...Pricey, have to say that right off the bat. We ordered a la carte for the most part, to try different menu items. My scrambled eggs were good, not overcooked, the in-house, smoked bacon was really delicious, grits were smooth and the hash brown casserole was tasty but I thought it had a little too much cheese in it. I know, I know, can there ever be too much cheese? I would have like to taste onion, maybe even some green pepper. The biscuits were very tasty and personally I'm glad they are small. The country ham was thick (we like it on a the thinner side though), not over-salted and had a great flavor. The service was excellent, waiter friendly, bringing out a plate of biscuits and 3 servings of homemade jams. We arrived at 7:15am and the cafe was half full. When we left at around 8am they had a wait. Though the line was moving, I would suggest making a reservation, even that early! There are cute little shops surrounding the cafe. All in all a good experience and we will go back again for other breakfast items and for lunch/dinner.
(4)
John S.
Went again after the Vanderbilt commencement ceremony. This time I was in a large group and each person ordered something different. I got the fried pork chops, which were huge portions (2 big pieces) and very tender and juicy. A friend had the fried steak, which was also very good. I would give it 4 or even 4.5 stars because the food is delicious and the biscuits are always amazing (and the preserves are heavenly). Just be prepared to wait (we waited about an hour).
(4)
Cryss L.
While in Nashville three weeks ago we dropped in for a late lunch. The food was fantastic. Our server was not attentive. We both remarked how we wish we had been seated in another section as the other tables were getting amazing service. Back to the food. I ordered the BLT (the T being fried green tomatoes). It was very good. The bacon was just right and the fried green tomatoes had a nice crunch to them. I had a side of mac -n- cheese which was good (not great but good). The biscuit was wonderful and the strawberry preserves were fantastic. So good that after we ate we walked over to the Loveless market and each picked up a jar to take back. My mom had breakfast, two fried eggs, sourdough toast, bacon, hash browns, and the city ham. The ham was great. I was surprised on my way to the bathroom to pass two open window kitchens, one that show cased biscuit making. That was very cool. I would definitely come back and I highly recommend going. I would have loved to give 5 star but I just couldn't with such poor service.
(4)
Anto B.
Amazzzzzing fried chicken!!! I can say the best I have ever had. This place is a must go/see when in Nashville. Everything we ordered was amazing and everything we didn't order looked amazing too.
(5)
Eric D.
This place is a bit overrated. I love the decor and the history behind loveless cafe, but the food was sub par. The service was excellent though. I had the Country fried steak and to be quite honest, i've had a lot better. I hope this was an isolated expierence.
(2)
Millah J.
I had read reviews and some weren't favorable so I didn't know what to expect. I was not disappointed!! I had the fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, pinto beans and fried green tomatoes and everything was so good. The downside was the 1 hour wait, but the food and service more than made up for it. In fact, I'll be back!
(5)
Moles B.
I'm not even done eating and I'm giving it five stars. This place has the whole package. Take note restaurant owners, it has an original and consistent theme, it's clean, the waitstaff is super friendly and pleased to help you. The fried chicken is up there with the best. Were the biscuits the best I've ever had? No but they weren't bad and they'll give you as many as you want and with awesome homemade preserves. I've had better Mac and cheese but it's still really good. For the price, this is as good as it gets. I'm waiting for pecan pie right now but I'm confident that they won't fuck that up.............and they didn't. Win!!!!
(5)
Mr T.
As far as Southern cooking goes, Loveless Cafe isn't even in my top 15, but the experience was enjoyable and it's definitely something you should do at least once when visiting Nashville. Biscuits: Decent. Don't know why everyone is so crazy about them. Pretty small, so plan on eating at least two. The housemade peach preserves are awesome. Overall: C+ Fried Chicken (white meat): Light, crispy, flavorful crust. Meat was tender and juicy. Overall: A- Hashbrown Casserole: Sizable portion. Thick and rich. Slightly better than what you'll find at Cracker Barrel. Overall: B Collard Greens: Relatively bland. Lacked a traditional saltiness from the ham hock. Pot liquor goes well with the biscuits. Overall: C- Green Beans: Same issue as collards. Overall: C-
(3)
John S.
Came here some time ago, and I have to first say it was the best, most tender, juiciest bbq pulled pork I have ever had. Another thing - the wait time was ridiculous, nearly 2 hours. I ended up having a snack at the shop that also sells the bbq pork, where I had a small preview of the delicious bbq pulled pork. I wanted a second and third helping and just to eat that, but my friends wanted to eat at the actual restaurant..... And yes, it was worth it, for those dang biscuits. MAN THEY'RE GOOD. I needed extra strawberry jam for them, TWICE. These, along with the bbq pork, are what I remember most. I had dessert too, it was delicious, but nothing comes close to these babies. Overall, AMAZING, but WAY too long of a wait when its busy. ALTERNATIVE: get BBQ sandwiches next door and buy goo clusters for dessert!
(4)
Jinkzz M.
Loveless Cafe is absolutely delightful and one that shouldn't be missed by anyone visiting Nashville. The restaurant is located outside of Nashville on Hwy 100. The restaurant sign is clearly visible from the highway with its blue color and neon lighting. There are several building structure within the "compound" which houses the restaurant, the market, bbq pit/smokehouse, local arts store, and other buildings. The restaurant itself in nondescript and unassuming with a short flight of stairs leading to the main entrance. The inside of the restaurant is warm and inviting. It feels like visiting a Southern home where you are always welcome. The walls are decorated with pictures of famous celebs (country music stars, I think but not too sure since I didn't really look too closely at the photographs) with autographs. The servers were friendly and accommodating. We came around 10 in the morning so it was not too busy. Our server was quite attentive and didn't need prompting for any refills. My friend ordered waffles while I ordered fried pork chop. The biscuit was complimentary along with the different jams and preserves. The food that we ordered was amazing but the biscuit was exceptional.It was not greasy but soft and flaky...delicious. I wasn't fond of biscuits before but their biscuit turned me into a believer :) Such a great example of how good Southern cooking is and a reminder of how much I miss it. If there was one thing that I regret though is that we didn't order the fried chicken liver :( I heard that wait time can be long on the weekends so it might be better to schedule a trip during the week. Overall, this was definitely worth the drive over from Nashville. If I am back in the area, I will definitely come back to eat. Prices were okay and reasonable. They have a parking lot that offers free parking.
(5)
William T.
If you love to eat, this has to be one of the best places to go. Today was our second trip back to this restaurant and it was every bit as good as our first trip here. This is definitely going to be on our list of restaurants every time we come to Nashville. William
(5)
Tracy F.
Being relatively new to Nashville, Loveless Cafe was one of the first places I was taken since I arrived. I love the atmosphere of the entire campus, from the cafe itself to the Hams and Jams country store--it screams "Nashville!" in the best possible way. However, even with the kitchy stores and atmosphere, I was put off by the 1 hour 45 minute wait and extremely grumpy by the time we were finally seated. We ordered our dinner, a classic meat and three with the smoked turkey breast, mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes and green beans. The turkey was freezer-burned and cold and so bad I had to send it back. My boyfriend commented that his fried chicken was only lukewarm and the mashed potatoes had no flavor--he also said that the best part of the meal were the biscuits, the one thing we didn't have to pay for! We left the restaurant feeling disappointed, with no desire to return. I happened to have a business meeting here one weekday morning for breakfast a few weeks later, and I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the meal was. I ordered a vegetable omelette with grits and biscuits and enjoyed every bite! The omelette was fresh and huge, and the biscuits were noticeably hot out of the oven. I've since returned to Loveless with out of town guests for breakfast and have always been satisfied with my meal, particularly because the wait time is dramatically shorter than it would be for dinner. I won't eat anything but breakfast here again anyways, so I'll be back on a weekday morning the next time I welcome visitors!
(3)
Kristle S.
Loved the atmosphere. Food was sooooooo delicious. Down home southern cooking. Very good and went home stuffed and with leftovers. Will go back here when I am back in town.
(5)
Keith L.
So this place is definitely out of the way if you're staying in the city (my friends and I were a few blocks from Broadway when we went), but if you've got wheels and a burning hunger for the kind of southern food you came down South for, then Loveless is your place. The meal started with a basket of biscuits with homemade jam (on the house) and my friend and I shared the Pimento Bacon burger and the BBQ sandwich, then finished the meal off with some pie. The service was super-friendly and the food was all good.Totally what we wanted out of a Nashville dining experience.
(4)
David M.
Live close by and eat here frequently. Occasionally can be seated quickly but usually a wait. It's just home style COOKIN and typically good for when you want fried food and country veggies. We like seeing all different people and visitors from out of town. Occasionally will see country music stars as we have a few times who also live close by. Miss the biscuit lady yet her recipe lives on...
(5)
Andrea T.
Pace yourselves. Is all I have to say! I overdid it! The biscuits are so good. Ridiculous good. So good you could eat them plain, but why would you when there are the best jams ever on the plate? The peach jam is like eating the best peach cobbler on a biscuit. The blackberry still has pieces of the blackberries intact?? How do they do that?? The strawberry is good, but not as noteworthy as the other two. Oh, and they will bring more biscuits, but cut them off after two plates! I prefer the turnip greens at Arnold's, but hey to each is own! They were really the only thing I wasn't over the moon about! The sweet tea is perfectly sweetened. Not too sweet, not too bitter, just right! I had fried chicken and it was sublime! Would definitely order it again. The string bean casserole was a little taste of thanksgiving in may...score! I also had the chicken and bacon soup chowder which was delicious. Not salty at all, perfectly seasoned! My friend and I both had pie, the strawberry rhubarb and steeplechase ( derby style pie) and they were perfect slices, not too big and not too small, definitely too small to share, but perfect when you already regretted ordering it!! Delicious both of them! Well worth the wait, and theres plenty to shop before you eat! Oh and ask for Virginia! She's the best waitress!!!
(4)
Ericka B.
Cute place to check out if you're visiting Nashville! Biscuits are good, food is decent. I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of Southern food, but when in Rome...er, Nashville... I had a beef brisket sandwich with green beans and Mac and cheese. The bf had a southern omelette with country ham. Everything was pretty good. Portions are HUGE. Consider sharing a meal if you don't want to walk out hurting!
(4)
Lauren H.
I cannot believe I'm just now reviewing the loveless! Such a great place to eat if visiting the Nashville area. The biscuits and jams are incredible and the perfect starter (free) to any meal! The fried chicken, creamed corn, fried green tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and turnip greens will make you slap yo'mamma! ;-) very good! And I hope to visit again very soon!
(5)
Katelyn N.
Had a great country meal here while visiting Nashville from Chicago. The chicken was amazingly moist and delicious. Fried green tomatoes were pretty good as well. The biscuits were nice and buttery and really tasty. They came with three different types of preserves: peach, strawberry and blackberry. I wasn't a fan of the peach but the other two were awesome and went perfectly with the homemade biscuits. We got there around 8 on a Friday night and were seated right away. We had heard the wait is usually upwards of an hour but we didn't have that issue at all. Service was super friendly and attentive. While the location is a little off the beaten path from downtown Nashville, the food makes it totally worth it.
(4)
Moira R.
Okay, so I finally made it to Loveless for breakfast. Waited an hour and a half was expected, and there was enough to keep me busy, so that was okay. People were friendly. I had some trouble with the menu, ultimately I couldn't find anything I really wanted which is usually not a problem I have. The biscuits were good, but let's be honest, this whole show is about the jam -- which is delicious. Waitress was rushed, kind of harassed, but mostly funny about it. The breakfast with friends was nice, overall the experience was good. Not really sure why people are so obsessed at this point, aside from the fact that the place IS AN INSTITUTION. Definitely worth it for the history, I suppose.
(3)
Stephen M.
Best biscuits on earth....(I'm not kidding). The biscuits are truly amazing, as is the rest of the menu. I bring all my visiting family members here for breakfast or lunch at least once during their visits. My favorite from the menu is the pulled pork omelet, as it has just the right sweet and savory combination to satisfy the palate. Do yourself a favor and take the significant other for a nice breakfast, or brunch.
(5)
TJ F.
The Loveless is a great place, with sprawling grounds formed from the bones of an old highway motel. Nowadays, it houses a music venue, gift shop, tourist items and... authentic southern food. If you like biscuits with preserves like your grandma from the farm made, and fried chicken with okra, mashed potatoes and hush puppies, this is your place. I've visited a few times and I'm personally not a fan of this style of food - pretty much everything is battered, breaded, fried, and carbolicious. However, it is a fun place to take some out-of-town guests who want to live the southern comfort food life for a couple of hours and don't mind going a bit away from the city. Treat your arteries to some real gravy, butter on your biscuit, and fried catfish while you're here. It's not good for you, but it's tasty, authentic, and worth a trip once in a while.
(4)
KT A.
This place is fantastic! The People are friendly and brings the customers back to "service with a smile". Country fried steak, eggs, cheese grits, bacon and biscuits. All great! Loved the grits... Came on a Monday morning around 10am with 6 people. Did not have to wait... Also loved the Peach Jam.. Bought a few bottles to take back to NJ! If you're able to go... Definitely go and have some breakfast here!
(5)
Chip M.
Good food that did appear to be "scratch made" I have the biscuits n gravy. The gravy did taste scratch made and not from. Mix. Biscuits were really tasty. The jams were good but the strawberry was Extremely runny so not very jam like. The peach really didn't taste overly peachy to me. The blackberry was By far my personal fav of the the 3. Luke was our server. He was attentive And provided us with great service and just the right about of chit chat. Nice way to start the day. I'd return but might make reservation in advance. We waited about 1 hour this sunny Sunday morning.
(4)
BT M.
Loveless is a tasty treat after (or before) a ride down the Natchez Trace. The food is okay, but not spectacular. The wait is long, but worth it if you want the Loveless experience. For my money, Monell's in Nashville is better on food, but lacks the experience of a nice drive and a shared "It's Loveless!" experience. While you're waiting, go over to the shop area, get corn hole equipment, and toss the bags.
(3)
Charles L.
I took my staff to lunch at Loveless to celebrate a co-worker's birthday. It was a big hit. Many of us were new to Nashville and really enjoyed this staple. As a true southerner, I would say that the biscuits are a little overhyped but they were still quite good. It's just a matter of personal taste though. I will definitely go back and take more friends in the future.
(4)
Kimberly K.
They're biscuits. How good can biscuits really get? {Ambiance} Homey. Laid back. Loads of celebrity pictures on the walls. We arrived at around 9 am on Wednesday and there was no wait. By 10 am there was a bit of a wait. Not a huge line though. I believe you are given a buzzer if you have to wait for a table, so you can browse around the gift shop to kill some time. {Service} The moment we entered the doors, the hostess was welcoming and friendly. Our server Dee was attentive, offered suggestions, and was more than helpful. She brought us extra napkins, our water cups were always full, and she made sure we had plenty of biscuits throughout our meal. {Food} *A bowl of butter and half & half sits on each table. How convenient. Complimentary Homemade Biscuits and Preserves- The most memorable biscuits ever! Warm, light, fluffy, and slightly buttery. They weren't extremely buttery or salty like some of the others I have had in the past. Three types of preserves come with your plate of biscuits: Peach, Blackberry, and Strawberry. The biscuits are delicious on their own but the preserves are so well made, you will want to buy a jar of it to take home. Two simple ingredients go into their preserves, sugar and fruit. Southern Sampler Breakfast - Includes Country Ham, Bacon, Sausage and Eggs. All Breakfast Platters come with your choice of grits or potatoes. The Ham was flavorful but really tough. You will be chewing for a very long time. The red eye gravy was flavorful. The bacon was savory, crispy, and slightly salty. The sausage patties were warm, tender, and seasoned well. The eggs were cooked perfectly, just the way I ordered them- sunny side up. The grits were warm and comforting but a bit too watery for me. French Toast- Hearty slices of Texas toast with loads of cinnamon and sugar. It comes with syrup, but they were delicious on their own. Hashbrown Casserole- Potatoes + Cheese = winner {Price Range} Breakfast Plates/Platters $6.95-$13.50, Supper Platters $9.95-$16.95 When thinking about the biscuits at Loveless Cafe, words such as "amazing" and "mind blowing" come to mind.
(4)
Colleen M.
This was one of my favorite places I stopped at while in Nashville. Yes, the wait can be insanely long, but I promise it is so worth it. If you are tight on time, be sure to call ahead and see how busy it is. If you have to wait, there are cute little shops surrounding the cafe to kill some time. Those biscuits are SO GOOD! The staff is so friendly! They even sent us with water and biscuits to go to bring back to our hotel room. I was more than pleased with my experience. I'm heading to Nashville again soon and will be making a stop here again!
(5)
Eric S.
I'm going to give this 4/5 stars just because it took some effort to get seated. The girls thought I was invisible for about 5 mins, then they suggested take out, then I was seated in the corner next to a large loud table before seating myself... Everything looked up right after being seated. My waitress was very friendly & the food was delicious. I ordered the watermelon ribs which were full of sweet zesty flavor, which was covered in BBQ sauce. The meat came off the bone with little effort.
(4)
Dew T.
Biscuits and jam. Enough said. Completely amazing. Such a fun thing to do in Nashville and always worth the wait!
(5)
Juls B.
After the 1 1/2 hour wait, it won't be shorter even if you are only a party of 2, I can say it was worth the wait! Our waitress was super down southern sweet and the food did not disappoint. My hubby had the southern sampler choices were fried catfish, ham ( yes, it's salty but he likes that) and the fried chicken. Yum to all. Sides we shared were creamed corn ( to die for), fried green tomatoes (liked), caramel sweet potatoes (Yumo!!) and hash brown potatoes casserole. Tastes like the one I make so nothing special but it was good. Our food came out super fast but then it slowed waaaaay down on closing out our bill. Good place for southern comfort food!
(4)
Brad K.
We were visiting from out of town for the NPAA (Nurse Practitioner American Association) Conference at the OpryLand Hotel, and had great service on a Tuesday at around noon even though we waited 15 minutes to sit. I had a country fried steak with white gravy, Hash-brown Casserole, and two eggs over medium. I combined the eggs and the gravy to top the CFS and it was great. The CFS was about the size of my hand, or about 10 inches round. Very very tasty. My wife had a fried chicken salad, and my daughter had the old faithful chicken wings. Everyone was very pleased with their meals.
(5)
Karen C.
I don't know if I can really add to what has already been said, but here it goes... Biscuits? AMAZING. I know my biscuits, and these are the bomb diggity. I could have eaten even more than I did (and trust me, I ate my fair share), but I really needed my pants to fit this week. Cheese grits? Yes, please. Not much else needs to be said about that. Homemade preserves? Oh God yes. Blackberry is amazing. Strawberry is amazing, Peach is extra-super amazing. Friendly service? Insanely nice across the board, from our waitress to the guy that brought our food to the people in the shop. Store to take home goodies? Yep. I just enjoyed some Loveless Cafe Strawberry Preserves on my couch in Chicago... still delicious. And I can't wait to crack into the pickles I bought, but now I'm annoyed with myself for not getting the Peach Preserves, too. Long-ass wait? We got there at 10ish on a Sunday morning for breakfast, waited 1 1/2 hours. And yep, totally worth it. By the time we got seated, they were telling people up to 2 1/2 hours. Take note from whom I assume are the locals that sat up shop playing dominoes & board games at the picnic tables by bringing something along to entertain yourself. Stop debating if it's worth the drive/wait/etc. ... it is. Go. Now.
(5)
Amanda M.
Best breakfast ever! Worth the wait. We waited about 45 minutes. While we were waiting we walked around the property where we samples peach cobbler hot tea- so good. Hashbrown casserole is an absolute must. Biscuits were amazing. Everything was delicious.
(5)
Robert S.
A bit off the beaten path yet fairly easy to find with some simple directions. And once you are near it, you can't miss the signs. Basically a southern-style home cooking place that also added popular dishes from other areas. I had the Shrimp and Grits which had large shrimp and was mucho tasty. The Fried Chicken Salad was loaded with chunks of fried chicken and was a meal in itself. I also tried a 'Moonshine' Mary, a version of the ever-popular Bloody Mary except that moonshine was substituted for vodka. Don't think it will be my new favorite, but it was interesting. There is a store on the property called Hams and Jams which sells various country food items such as country ham, preserves, bacon etc. I tried and bought a bag of bacon popcorn, which tastes different but it kinda grows on you. The biscuits are some of the best I've ever had. Buttery, hot and served with 3 different jams. The service was friendly and knowledgeable. The food didn't take long to be prepared and overall, this is a well-run operation.
(4)
Adam C.
Biscuits are no kidding great. Loved the chicken the pork and the pies look great. Too full to order pie. This was some good cooking. Worth the extra trip. Great wait staff lots of enthusiasm from everyone there. A little touristy but still lots of fun. I will be back for the biscuits!!!
(5)
Brian M.
Loveless is fun & excellent quality. Their fried chicken is very good, mashed potatoes and chicken gravy fantastic, biscuits great, BBQ brisket great, and the service was excellent. We waited 1.5hrs and it was worth it. BBQ. pit master and I talked BBQ for almost the entire 1.5hrs. It was a great time.
(4)
Chance S.
Yes, the biscuits here are consistently tasty. No one disputes this fact. But is there a biscuit on the planet that is worth a drive out to the boonies followed by a 2 hour wait to eat what is essentially a glorified, overpriced Cracker Barrel meal? I probably won't do it again, but the tourists seem to think so. Aside from the biscuits, the food and service were decent, but certainly not worth raving about.
(3)
Christopher B.
OMG the best fried chicken I have ever had in my entire life. One of my friends shed a tear and the other licked her fingers and said "I didn't know people really did that! " it was so good. They even have all you can eat chicken or meatloaf with great sides and unlimited biscuits. The wait is terrible but there are shops to pass the time. Only disappointment was watermelon wasnt in season they said so I couldn't get the watermelon moonshine. Highly recommend. Worth the drive and the wait.
(5)
Angel O.
First time reviewer and what a great place to begin with. I travel for work a lot, and I tend to use Yelp to find those can't miss places. This place however, was based on a recommendation from a local. And thank goodness she did. I went on a Tuesday evening with a coworker. The service was great, our server, a young college aged man, was very helpful, funny, and extremely polite. He quickly brought us some biscuits and wow, they're as good as anyone can advertise them to be. The jams are just great too. I ordered the friend chicken (half) with mashed potatoes and mac n cheese. I'm a little ashamed that I licked my plate cleaned, while inhaling a few dozen biscuits. I did leave Loveless with an overwhelming feeling of joy and shame. 5 stars no doubt.
(5)
Andy B.
3.5 stars, really. My country fried steak was quite tasty. Can't say the same about the mashed potatoes, though. Hour wait on Sunday at 3 PM was odd. The blackberry jam was quite awesome.
(4)
Andrea F.
The best The South has to offer: the biscuits, the blackberry jam, the bbq omellette, the chicken fried steak. You can't go wrong at this place!!! notquitegrownupguide.blo…
(5)
Kate M.
I went here for lunch on my last day in Nashville. I AM SO GLAD I DID! They have to die for fried chicken and mac n cheese. The biscuits that come with your food are perfect, best I've ever had. They give you a selection of preserves with the biscuits as well...the peach is amazing. It's a bit of a drive outside of the city but if you are going to Belle Meade or Cheekwood, it's not too far from there! Totally worth it!
(5)
Juanita J.
The peach preserves are a masterpiece!!! Great southern cooking - tastes like homemade! Fried chicken is incredible - how do they make that crust?!! Mashed potatoes are the real deal and the macaroni and cheese makes you want seconds. Don't worry about dessert - the biscuits with butter and peach preserves are dessert! Plan your trip carefully - the wait time can be long. We waited 45 minutes.
(5)
Sami L.
Caution: Tourist trap. Biscuits were warm and were good but not the best I ever had. Food was mediocre. Wait time is ridiculously long and I think they do that on purpose so you can spend time in their shops purchasing needless merchandise. Our service was great though.
(3)
Dave C.
We drove 30 minutes from Nashville for brunch here, and then waited 35 minutes for a table (they told us an hour).......an it was worth it. We had the ribs, brisket, creamed corn (the star of the show) and of course you get the biscuits with their homemade jam to start........i would just eat the biskets all day with the jam if i could. it's worth the drive and the wait.
(4)
Lauren M.
The wait is long (over an hour in my case), but the food is worth it. The biscuits are light and buttery and are the perfect vessel for the peach preserves. The bacon is worth it alone. And the grits. And the chicken. And the coffee. Did I mention the biscuits? If you are looking for good, Southern-style breakfast, just go. Wait and eat. It's worth it.
(5)
Leann P.
We went to the Loveless Cafe on a Monday mid-morning. We had a 45 minute wait, but it was nice because we got a pager and were able to walk around the campus and go into the different shops. Some people in other parties were becoming edgy due to the wait, but the staff does not keep it a secret that you will be waiting. They have delicious southern cuisine! Must haves= biscuits, hashbrown casserole. It was literally the best hashbrown casserole I've ever had! Loveless Cafe is definitely a place you should experience when in Nashville! My only complaint would be that it was pretty cold inside. I ended up wearing my gloves while waiting for our seat and our food. By the end of the meal my toes were numb!
(4)
Shafi K.
I am so surprised that I have not reviewed this place earlier! This is the place where we bring anyone and everyone who is visiting us from out of town if they say they want to eat "southern food". This place has a great ambiance. The decor is awesome. It's vintage-looking with the pictures of 101 famous singers/dancers/musicians/senators/presidents/Âmayors/etc. Amazing how many people have been here! Everything is delicious, so where do I start? Their biscuits are the BEST in town. The fried catfish is great. I have tried the pork chops as well- ah!mazing. The prices are great and you get A LOT of food. I can literally eat my left-overs for 2 more meals the next day. When people say the food here is to DIE for, I think they mean it literally. After all that cholesterol and fat, you will be very near death. If you want a meal that will keep you full for the next 18 hours, go here! Love it!
(5)
Richard N.
We live about 5 miles from this place. We always take friends and family here when they're in from out of town. Consistently good down home food.
(4)
Maggie M.
Insane waits on the weekend. Waited over an hour on Friday for a take-out order (including the 30 min drive over there). Can't see what the fuss is. Will have to try to make it out on a Tuesday or Wednesday and see if it's actually possible to get a table. Not impressed with the food I got- have definitely had better in the area.
(2)
Michael S.
32 bucks for breakfast is a wee too high. food was great, service was great. just can't get over the price.
(3)
Kevin M.
I would definitely put this on par with a Cracker Barrel with larger portions and an extensive history. Being that we went midweek in the evening there was little to no wait. My food was decent. The biscuits were quite tasty (I may have evaluated about 4...) I was not blown away by my overall experience but I am open to going back again to try the breakfast.
Fun place outside Nashville. They have made it into a bit of a tourist destination. The creamed corn is great. Biscuits are rockin'. Had the "special of the day" creamed chicken & dumplings. Good, wouldn't call it great. Excellent service, nice atmosphere. A little pricey, but worth a visit.
(4)
Robin Z.
The biscuits are definitely to die for.......the wait is far to long....the food is just ok.....i think back...back....back in the day it was better but it is just average food at a small place with over crowded dining rooms ...the place is just tired......just to much hype....you can find much better in nashville....or you can be disappointed and still say you ate at the loveless cafe
(1)
Sara L.
I drove across the country for my bucket list/birthday/I bought a new car/hey why not and stopped here on the way from Raleigh NC to Los Angeles.Spent half my budget on gifts and food. Well worth it. Everyone was really nice, the biscuits were delicious, coffee hot and I just might make the drive out again. MMM. I love you, Tennessee.
(4)
Heidi H.
The food was amazing!!!!! The best creamed corn I have ever eaten! Peach and strawberry jam are excellent. Peach jam was like peach pie filling! We ordered the fried chicken which was juicy and very good. Great mashed potatoes!!! Fried green tomatoes not that great. We will definitely be back. The pancakes looked great too!! It's out of the way but worth the drive!!!!!!!
(5)
Andrea S.
Everyone raves about this place, however I wasn't impressed. The famous biscuits were OK. I have definitely had better. Our waiter wasn't really friendly and some of our food was burnt. We were kind over the place and didn't bother to say anything. We ate less than half the food. The shops are a little over priced but a cute set up.
(2)
Justin H.
Great food and excellent service. The aroma was very good and cool shops to walk around and see while waiting. Definitely make time for the wait!
(5)
Frances B.
Landmark restaurants are always tricky. Sometimes they're just good, but nothing to write home about. They're famous because the locals love it, or it's tradition and because it makes some people nostalgic. Other times, it's well deserved fame that makes you wish you lived there so you could feast on those dishes to your little heart's content- that's Loveless. Sweet lord, Loveless. I will fantasize about this place until I can come back. When people think of outstanding, southern home cooking this is it. This is stick-to-your-ribs, bad for your arteries but good for your soul food. I will never be able to have a conversation about Nashville again without mentioning Loveless. So what was so good that I am love rambling about this place? -THE BISCUITS. I'm pretty sure angels sing when these come out of the oven. In Pluto's theory of forms, everything on earth is a copy of the perfect form of something in heaven. And I'm pretty sure Loveless biscuits are the ones they have in heaven. They are fluffy, and fresh and perfect. Obviously you need butter and preserves, because you wouldn't want to cut corners on this delicious experience. -BBQ pork omelet (AMAZING. One of the best omelets I've ever had). I ordered it because I knew I couldn't get a BBQ pork omelet in NYC or LA or even in carnivorous Chicago. When in Rome, right? Best decision I've made lately. The pork is so juicy and flavorful, and there was just a hint of BBQ sauce, so the smoky flavor carried the omelet. It was perfect. 5 stars. Will order it again every time. - The hash brown casserole AMAZING cheesy, potatoey, fatty goodness. You couldn't dream up better breakfast potatoes. These are an absolute must. They are the cherry on top of each bite. -country fried steak My friend got this and it is the ultimate country fried steak with gravy. She couldn't stop smiling while she was eating. If this is your thing, you will be so, so happy. I thought the fried chicken was good, but I'm not a big fried chicken person so I probably wouldn't order it again, it wasn't life altering, like the biscuits. The service was outstanding. You feel so welcome and taken care of. That Southern hospitality gets city people like me every time. This place is a must, an absolute freaking must. When I am old and gray and look back on all the delicious food I have eaten in my life, I will think of Loveless. Peace, Loveless & Nashville forever.
(5)
Sarah H.
AMAZING!!! We were visiting from out of town for the CMA music fest. We drove 45 min in the rain to get here and it was worth it! We only had to wait about 20 min for a table and our waiter TALOR was awesome. He got us set up with mimosas and bloody marys, and the food was the best breakfast food I have ever had!! The hash-brown casserole was delicious and the biscuits, well they are famous for a reason! I suggest everyone go there if you get the chance! I will definitely be back again as soon as I can. xoxo
(5)
Catherine L.
The biscuits were buttery, but I put some more butter on them just for fun. The pinto beans had some ham in them, and they were just right - soft and creamy. I also got fried chicken. It needed salt or brining ahead of time. Maybe dark meat would have been better? The raspberry peach cobbler was divine. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Go if you're in the area!
(4)
Sheila K.
Loveless is definitely not a "touristy trap". Yes, it has the gift shops and all of that but the cafe...the cafe was probably the best breakfast I've ever had. My boyfriend and I frequent breakfast joints at home (Chicago) as well as where ever we travel. The breakfast at Loveless was awesome. The biscuits... warm, fluffy, tasty. The jams/preserves made the biscuits even better. I had the Southern omelette- and I'm pretty sure it put all other omelettes to shame. My boyfriend had the waffles with sausage...and the sausage isn't the typical bfast links, but legit patties of delish that were thrown on the grill. But honestly, the best part of the visit was our server- Luke. He was fun, friendly, just the right amount of chatty. Coming from Chicago, we aren't used to servers being so awesome.
(5)
Anita K.
Been here on many occasions. My first time for breakfast. As usual, worth the drive. Love the Loveless!
(5)
Jackie M.
There's a lot of good things going at Loveless Cafe, to start, let's do a list: 1. Southern hospitality. We asked our server what's sorghum and without explaining she went ahead and brought 2 containers of plain sorghum and then a bowl of butter and sorghum and mixed it on the table to show us how it should be eaten. Try it if you like molasses or just try it for the sake of trying. Always courteous, shows up at the right time, and splitting checks - no problem. 2. History and photos. 3. Kitsch and charm. 4. Overall good showcase of southern food: my picks were the butter and fruit jams, biscuits, fried chicken, creamed corn, hashbrown casserole, and slaw. Country ham (as warned by our server) is VERY salty and a bit tough. Something that I thought would be amazing would be the Banana Pudding was just ok, not much vanilla wafers. Pulled pork was said to be smoked for over 12hrs gave me too much of a high expectation. Fried chicken was good, moist and lightly battered. Food was on the salty and sweet side. The souvenoir shops always leave a slightly bad impression. It's a double edge sword. It's hard to take it seriously as dining, when it is part tourist destination. A long sleeved t-shirt printing of bacon striped jacket - that is pretty sweet! I know it's all part of the show and indeed they looked like they were doing pretty well selling overpriced goods, so good for them! Thankfully, we're given a wait time of 35min, just enough time to explore the grounds. As a package, LC should be experienced at least once: 3.3 stars.
(3)
Jason W.
Best pulled pork I have ever had. The sides were amazing too... I highly recommend the hash brown casserole and mac n cheese, which were both excellent. The biscuits were good but nothing special, although they bring them out complimentary so no complaints. The jams they serve with them, however, were very good. Expect a long wait...my wife and I waited 2 hours, but planned ahead and took a scenic drive down the Natchez Trace parkway so no big deal. Probably not someplace I would eat often but worth at least one trip. Good place to bring friends or family visiting Nashville.
(5)
Bruce R.
Good food and fun destination. Love the little shops surrounding the diner. And it's a good thing, because you will wait a bit for your table. Nice to have the shops to browse, and they have corn hole games set up on the lawn. Food was good, but no "WOW" factor. Just a good meal well prepared. The raves about the biscuits are a joke. They are indistinguishable from frozen store biscuits. 100% Pop-N-Fresh. Be prepared to get rushed, they are ALL about table turnover, and will attempt to hurry you along. And will get very snotty if you linger. Our waitress was very attentive, and friendly, but got chilly very quick when we pointed out she got our order wrong. I also asked for hot sauce, waited a long time, and had to remind her, which got me some eye rolling. 20 minutes after seating us she was so adamant about moving us along she practically handed us our coats. Frankly, the homey vibe feels like a sham, they are all about volume, volume, volume, and turning tables as fast as possible. Sadly, this place has the "Too famous to fail" attitude many successful places have, that they don't need to take care of you because the sheer volume of business they get makes the quality of the dining experience irrelevant.
(3)
Kathleen K.
AWESOME! Although the wait was an hour- after the amazing meal we were all happy. Danielle was our server. She made the meal as special as the biscuits. Patiently explaining her recommendations-sharing cafe history & famous sightings. The food and the experience were awesome!
(5)
Jenny T.
The food wasn't all that bad. I order the garden omelette, it tasted good but need to add seasoning flavor to spice it up. The place is nice to see a lot of famous people photos with an autograph.
(3)
Allison N.
Does it get better than Loveless Cafe? No, probably not. When I lived in Nashville this was one of my absolute favorite places to go for breakfast. Sure, it's sort of a hike from the city, but the drive is scenic and the biscuits are worth it. So are the preserves. I still dream about the preserves actually. I could totally go for some right now... Anyway, everything is really good here. I won't lie to you, dear reader. You will probably have to wait. You may have to wait for a very long time to eat at the Loveless Cafe. But trust me, it's worth it. Everything I have had there has been wonderful. I've had omelets, I've had pancakes, I've had breakfast ham, and various other side dishes. They're all good. And in Nashville, we know our food. If Loveless Cafe is that busy, it's for a reason. You can always check out the nearby shops when you wait. Pro tip: the preserves are sold there. Buy some.
(5)
Tina W.
Not sure how anyone could complain that there was a wait for here. You'd have to be from Mars to not know you would have a wait. 2-3 hours is the norm on weekends, people! Grab some bean bags and play corn hole and chillax! By the way, you CAN CALL AHEAD to be put on the waiting list. Get ready to leave the hotel, put in a call, and then by the time you get there, you should just about be ready to be seated. I lucked out and had a 10 minute wait last Wednesday between breakfast and dinner. We were seated exactly at 11, so we had dinner. Son had the pimiento cheese bacon burger which was FABULOUS. I couldn't decide on which sides to get, so I got the side dish platter. I had black-eyed peas, green beans, mac and cheese, and the best creamed corn I have EVER tasted. Biscuits? Yes, they're wonderful. Peach preserves were delectable. Next time, I'll try some biscuits and gravy.....and I'll buy some mix and peach preserves for home....
(5)
Sam A.
The biscuits were amazing! Our server brought us a plate of warm biscuits, which were great, but then brought us a plate of MORE biscuits straight out of the oven... heaven! Especially with butter and preserves. I had the catfish dinner plate with fried okra and fruit. I thought the catfish was well done, as well as the hushpuppies. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the okra. the breading was very thick and heavy. My boyfriend got the pulled pork sandwich and fries.... (of course I had to try!) and both were delicious. Loved the fries. Can't wait to come back and try the breakfast menu and the desserts.... they look amazing!
(4)
Daniel I.
The fried chicken lived up to its hype! The portions are huge!!! The pancakes are bigger than your face, while the bacon has an amazing smoked taste to it. And the biscuits.......speechless!
(5)
Sarah M.
Yes, the biscuits and jelly were amazing but that's about all for me! Both are def made fresh. I've never had anything like them. They're complementary with some orders but you could enjoy them by themselves with coffee for breakfast- filling. I ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffles were too thick & that made them hard to enjoy. The chicken was huge! It's definitely a good choice if you have a huge appetite that early in the morning. 3 stars for the biscuits but I wasn't impressed by anything else. The drive is out of the way even if you are driving into/out of Nashville. The staff was decent. Stopped by around 9am on a Friday morning so there wasn't a wait.
(3)
Jessie C.
I love this place!!! The food is amazing! Service is great! There is a lot of charm and the place oozes coolness. Its a place the average Joe can enjoy or the big time celebrity. Highly recommend eating here you won't regret it!!!
(5)
Dave C.
Came to the loveless this past weekend. I have mixed feelings on this place. First, the good. The food was good. I've had better but this is certainly better than average food. The biscuits they bring out first are really good and the preserves were good as well. I had the Half-Fried chicken. The breading was very good however, the meat was a little on the dry side. Good flavor just not as moist as I like my fried chicken. The slow cooked green beans were good and my favorite part of the meal was the hash brown casserole. The staff was very friendly. The bad, this is Tennessee and the Sweet tea left a lot to be desired. I've had better Sweet tea at McDonalds. The wait, yes I know the wait is long most days at this place. I don't mind waiting but the shops just weren't much to look at and after about 15 minutes we had pretty much seen everything. They had some corn hole games around but couldn't find and bean bags to play. The snacks in the shops are way overprices. My advice, if you need a little snack to hold you over while you wait for 2 or more hours, there is a Shell station next door. Pick up a small back of pretzels for $1. Overall, probably a 3.5 stars in my book. i would certainly recommend going for the experience and the friendly staff. Expect the long wait and just be prepared.
(3)
Julie L.
When you google places you must see/do in Nashville, The Loveless Cafe comes up as one of the top 5. With it also being our last name, we were excited to see what it was all about. We drove from St. Louis to Nashville for a weekend and came hungry as this was our first stop once in Tennessee. We were greeted by an associate, very friendly, who was eager to take our pictures around the grounds esp with our last name being highlighted. We put our name on the waiting list and looked around the shops, the Barn and other parts of the grounds. Our waiter was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and excited that another Loveless namesake had stopped in. We started with sweet tea and their homemade biscuits with the various jams and preserves. I got the fried chicken with two sides and my husband got the sampler with 3 meats and sides. Needless to say we were not disappointed. They were advertising national dessert month and their homemade goodies so we had a piece of their turtle pie...not to miss! We did get a little something to remember our time there and have already started thinking about our next visit whenever we're in Tennessee again.
(5)
Kristin M.
One of the best restaurants that Nashville has to offer! I totally recommend the pull pork, fried chicken, and catfish. The place has a special to get 3 meats and 2 sides for $16. Portions are more than enough with tons of delicious sides to choose from like the hashbrown chessy casserole and cream corn. Make sure you save enough room for the endless melt in your mouth fluffy biscuits and warm peach cobbler for dessert! Can't wait to go back =D
(5)
MITCH S.
Although very busy we had the option of carring out and eating outsidw picnic style. The wait for s table was 1.5 hours. Since the last time I was here the quality seems to have gone South, but not in a good way. The chicken fried steak was tasteless, the mac and cheese was mushy. My wife's fried chicken was not as good as a remembered. I would only give them 2.5 stars on this trip.
(2)
Jeffrey G.
This place doesn't disappoint. Came from Southern Indiana to eat here and stay a couple of days in Nashville. I recommend the Sampler Platter. My wife's garden salad with fried chicken looked delicious.
(5)
Will H.
I recently went to Nashville for business purposes and was very eager to go to the Loveless Cafe after seeing them on the Food Network. The service was excellent! The wait staff was friendly and made us feel warm and fuzzy. The biscuits are definatley to die for! I ended up ordering the sample platter and was unfortunately dissapointed. The fried chicken lacked adequate seasoning in addition to the fact that the wings were extremely small. The pulled pork was blah. The catfish was pretty good though. Overall it was okay, but I probably wouldn't go back.
(2)
Renee S.
Excellent food. Great biscuits. I had he fried chicken on a salad (can't remember the name of the salad). Hubby had the fried chicken and waffles. Service was great. atmosphere was cute. Worth the drive to get to!
(5)
C-pher M.
HOLY MOLY, now this is some DAMN good Home Country Cooking. I had some great Fried Chicken, wonderful Catfish and amazing Country Ham. Our Server was the best, he was on top of things, funny and didn't miss a beat with anything we needed. The best thing, we happened to see Billy Ray Cyrus and Johnny Van Zant while we were there...Hell, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. I was really thinking about going back there for dinner every night....it was that good.
(4)
Sandy T.
I've been to Loveless many times, and I am here asking myself, "what brings me back to this place?" So....I tried really hard and made a recall of my past visits and after a quick analyzation of it all (parking lot to last crumb on my bottom lip) I am ready to sum it up in a few sentences for Yelp. Here we go....I think the best parts of Loveless are the buildings (restaurant, shops, barn), the people (locals, tourists, awesome servers), the energy (music-happy) and last but not least, the BISCUITS!!!! Yes...The famous biscuits that are served with granny's homeade recipe of peach, strawberry, raspberry preserves, honey, and sorghum. The rest of the food is good, but in my opinion, those hot fresh biscuits are unbeatable. They are annoyingly distracting, actually. You eat them before your food arrives and then you just can't stop eating them. The server will continue to refill your basket at your wish, but if they didn't, I think you/I/he/she/we would slap whoevers hand reached out for the last biscuit in the basket. It would be a loveless fight! ;) It's a fun place to eat at and visit. Def a MUST GO TO if you are visiting from out of town. And for you.... loco locals who haven't been to Loveless EVER, all I can say is "bless your heart!". You can't live in Nashville and say you've never been there! :) In summary, it's soooooo good, I can taste and feel the LOOOOOOVE in this southern old Motel turned into Loveless Cafe. I love it and I'm willing to bet a basket of biscuits you will to! (FYI- the Loveless Motel used to belong to the Loveless Family)
(4)
Victoria L.
Some true stick-to-your-ribs good Southern comfort food. We came here on our recent trip to Nashville after hearing rave reviews. In fact, it was the only must-do activity from our friend who had been here once before. We came during the early evening on Saturday and there was approximately a 40 minute wait. In the meantime, there were the little series of shops that we could browse through in the surrounding buildings. Once seated, our waiter was super friendly. He promptly brought over their famous biscuits and preserves. While in the south, I've quite enjoyed my biscuits savory-style but these preserves tasted very fresh. They kept us occupied for a while until we decided on what to order. The soup of the day was chicken pot pie, which I couldn't turn down even though I was also anxious to try so many other things. Thus, my friend and I ordered the country sampler with fried chicken, country ham, and pulled pork. We opted for obvious sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. The fried chicken drumsticks were delicious and the sides definitely hit the spot. The pulled pork was not my favorite though. Someone else ordered the meatloaf platter with sweet potato and hashbrown casserole sides. He claimed the hashbrown casserole was the best he's had. Our other friend got the turkey platter with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, which was good too. It was definitely worth the hype of classic down home southern cooking.
(4)
J P.
No, NO, NOOO - a thousand times NO! I cannot vouch for what this place used to be when it was privately owned. Certainly quaint and a great setup - but the food (breakfast) was horrible. Given that this is a place for Country Ham, biscuits and all the fixins', they ain't up to it. Ham was not up to any other place that serves it, redeye gravy incredibly weak. Biscuits - doods - quit using baking soda with aluminum - like sticking an aluminum plate in your mouth. Plus, they had a terrible sweet afterbite when dipped in Redeye. Jelly and Jams were good, but ain't why you go out to eat. Interesting - asked for eggs over easy and was told that that meant the yolk would be close to hard. Let's try turning down the heat on the stove. In short - if you can't fix eggs right, where do you rise from. If you can't fix Country Ham right - then don't call yourselves Country. Now, I know there are thousands of country stars plastered on the walls. Cool, but these folks know their mamma and grandma made better. I'd take my picture down. As hard as it is to get Country Ham, I make it all the time - I beat this place hands down - which means they don't make the cut for a place I'd go out to. Really sad part is that I was visiting from out of town and was told this was the place for country cooking. If you mean breakfast - forget it...
(1)
Bridgette C.
I feel sacrilegious writing this but I am not the biggest can of loveless. Sure, it's a staple for taking out of town visitors. They have good food and cool shops and that adorable bar on their giant complex out there...but the food isn't that spectacular. It's good, in that traditional breakfast way, but it's nothing you can't make in your own kitchen. And (please don't hurt me for this!) this biscuits are just not my favorite. Again, good, but not shout-from-the-hills good. The wait on the weekends is always insane and I always feel like we are rushed out. It's a place to go once at least, especially if you have visiting relatives, but I don't go out of my way to go there on my own. I'll go if invited, but it's never a case of "gosh I'd love Loveless for breakfast right now."
(3)
Marika N.
Overall, I had a very pleasant experience at the Loveless Cafe last weekend. I was there on a double date with old friends. The wait (starting at 5 PM on a Saturday) was an hour and a half, but we had planned ahead and showed up well before we were hungry. We killed the wait by playing corn hole and checking out the shops. The biscuits were solid. They didn't beat the homemade biscuits that my southern family makes, but the blackberry, peach and strawberry jam that they were served with was delicious. We each got the drink special of the night, a Strawberry sipper. It was essentially lemonade with strawberry rye whiskey and was fairly sweet. It was perfect for my taste, but not for the guys'. Our waiter was friendly and hilarious. The service was fast and each of us enjoyed our meals. I got the catfish sandwich with grits and it was certainly well done. If you go there with good company and expecting a long wait, the Loveless Cafe is a good place to grab some southern food. I'm not sure I would go there over the summer though because most of the waiting areas are outdoors and a long, hot wait would have made us miserable. Addition: We did not feel rushed at all while we there. In fact, we actually felt that the restaurant did not have the focus on volume that other places had. While we were there, we commented that we appreciated how much space they had put in between the tables.
(4)
Franklin A.
Okay, this place has been featured on more shows that we can swing a dead cat at. Ellen, the Today Show, countless cooks/chefs from Food Network rave about this place...for good reason. The food is good (yeah, its all about the biscuits) but the ambience is really fun, friendly, and is full of character. If you come expecting fine dining or exquisite southern cooking you'll be disappointed. But if you want good food for a good price in a place that's fun and makes you want to come back again...then you'll be very pleased.
(4)
Jessica V.
Worth the wait! Best biscuits, best fried chicken, love the atmosphere and friendly staff. Always enjoy my time there. Thanks Loveless Cafe!
(5)
Michael C.
The biscuits alone are reason alone why to go to Loveless! I've had chicken fried steak and both were amazing.
(4)
Erin W.
Actually love this restaurant, however service was off today. Biscuits were served cold, the red velvet pancakes were cold and the sausage omelet was so-so. Don't know if our waitress forgot to pick up our order or what, but it was not the best service today. Need to watch that!
(3)
Norm P.
Loveless Cafe is awesome country cooking. We take everyone from out of town there. Great country setting!
(4)
Lewis B.
Very good staff. Food was good, well seasoned vegetables. I would eat here again.
(4)
Adam S.
Took the 1 hour drive from Lebanon just to get some biscuits and it was very much worth it. Our waiter was the best. Super quick and friendly even though we got there only about 25 minutes before they closed. Only had dessert (pie) and biscuits, and then stopped at the store. Eat the biscuits. Take some to go. The preserves they are served with are excellent as well, especially the strawberry.
(5)
Jackie M.
Wasn't worth the hype IMHO. We waited almost two hours. Sides were really bad (e.g. mac and cheese was runny as soup and had zero flavor). Fried chicken was great and biscuits were too. Other than that, I thought the food was blah. Service wasn't very friendly either. You go here once, post your pic to Instagram and probably forget about the food. I liked Hattie B's chicken better (sorry!!!).
(2)
Pam F.
I am and always will be obsessed with Loveless Cafe. The preserves, the biscuits, what's not to love? I visit it every single time I am in Nashville and I never regret it. I love the Loveless fried chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. I am not a huge pie fan so I have not tried the pies, but everyone has told me that they are SO GOOD. I am also a fan of their waffles. Really, you can't go wrong with anything at Loveless Cafe. I drag every person I know to eat there and they never regret it.
(5)
Aisha S.
Biscuits! Good lord the biscuits. And the peach preserves! I bought some biscuit mix with peach and blackberry preserves from the store and took a catalog for future online ordering. The barbecue sauce (also sold in the store) made the bbq pork omelette especially delicious. We were lucky enough to come here for the first time during the week when it wasn't very crowded, but weekend brunch was ridiculous. We ended up ordering our food to go and eating outside. It was worth it though! Did I mention the biscuits?
(4)
Brian F.
The place to go when you come to Nashville! Great country ham, biscuits, homemade preserves, and all things Nashville. Wonderful gift shop. Friendly people and good outdoor spots to wait for a table where you can sit around a picnic table and talk with friends and family just like you would on a front porch, and they have one of those too! Wonderful!
(5)
Kevin M.
Ok Nashville. What is up with your love affair for Loveless Cafe? Yes, I can see it as an iconic establishment for music, maybe. And it's back story is kind of cool. But listen: if I'm going to wait two hours for food (the norm for weekend lunch?), it better be higher quality than freaking CRACKER BARREL. Every plate of food that I saw for our table (eight people) carried more "good ol southern" cholesterol than a tub of Country Crock, deep fried to a crisp and full of the weird southern fixings that this northerner can't find in his heart to respect. I thought I had ordered something safe, some biscuit plate. When it came out of the kitchen...well...no. No thank you. Bad experience, don't wanna go back.
(1)
Lilie T.
The biscuits are the best!!!! It is sooo fresh, it is still hot and steamy when u break it in half. I would definitely go back to this and eat biscuits all day.
(4)
Alycia J.
On a road trip to Mississippi, we stopped here after seeing a flyer at a rest stop. BEST DECISION ever! We fell in love with the biscuits and I'd never had an omelet with barbeque in it, before, but it is a GENIUS combination of flavors. I had the "mimosa for two" all by myself and our table ordered two rounds of biscuits with preserves. It was so good that on our drive back home, we went out of our way so that we could taste those biscuits one more time. The wait was long so we ordered to go and ate it all outside on the picnic tables even when it was threatening to rain. It was worth it. I love you Loveless Cafe!
(5)
Julie L.
I was born and raised in California, but there are some Southern dishes that I just can't get enough of when they're done right. I could curl up in a basket of Loveless biscuits, take a nap, and dream of amazing homemade preserves. Those things are like crack. Good fried chicken doesn't hurt my feelings either, and Loveless' is so good that my friend had to tell me halfway through lunch that I had it all over my face (I was not ashamed either). Balance all that out with a side of marinated cucumbers and onions and you're good to go. Be prepared for a possibly long wait - but at least there are shops and galleries nearby to wander through while you try not to get hangry (aka hungry angry)!
(4)
Patten F.
I have lived in Nashville for my entire life, but prior to this weekend, I had been to Loveless exactly one time - and that was on my 11th birthday, 20 years ago. As I drove back from a trip to Nashville West with my family, I pointed out that while I knew Nashville like the back of my hand...I honestly had no idea how to get to the Loveless...so we decided to go on Saturday night, completely ignoring the fact that people were starting to roll in for Fan Fair. When we arrived, I found a spot right by the front door...because I'm awesome. There was a 25 minute wait, but since it's the Loveless and it's Saturday night (and it was gorgeous out), that was no problem...we just explored the property. There's a little shop off to the side that sells ham, bacon, preserves, biscuit mix and various Nashville paraphenalia like you would find if you were getting off the airport. Yeah, it's tourist central, but who really cares - there's a fridge full of bacon. Seriously. Bacon. Fridge. Want. (My sister and I were unsuccessful at convincing my mom to get a "I'm Not Bashful I'm From Nashville" sticker for her car). So we moseyed around (because that's what we natives do when we're not line dancing, going to Tootsies and wearing our boots and hats, right? We mosey) and found a nice big porch outside Trace Bikes (which is in one of the shops in the old converted Motel - the Motel portion of the Loveless has been converted into a hipster strip mall) and enjoyed the sun while we waited for the pager to go off. When we went inside...we walked past the screen door that used to be the entrance (and was the last time I was there) and went right...last time I went left. After reviewing the menu (and determining that I wanted breakfast for dinner and you can't convince me otherwise), I got a barbecue pork omelette, thinking a) I like both of those things and b) where else am I going to get that. They brought our biscuits and preserves to the table (if in doubt, use the peach), we fell into a biscuit coma and our food came. While I never ever would have considered putting barbecue into an omelette...it was fantastic (and gigantic)...I'd get it again if there weren't so much more deliciousness waiting for me on the menu in future visits. Because we had determined that we had already gone all-in with this dinner, we ordered dessert. I had banana pudding. It was perfect, with the little bits of banana and soggy vanilla wafer in it...um. More please. So touristishness and cliches be damned, I love the Loveless.
(5)
Stephanie I.
Definitely make a stop at Loveless if you're in Nashville! It's become such an iconic restaurant...and rightfully so! Beware: the wait is LONG. We waited almost 2 hours, but luckily there are a lot of small shops in the area to kill time. As for the food, the biscuits are so so so good. I also had the meatloaf - pretty good too! I would say that a lot of the appeal is in the atmosphere and general feel of the place, but the food is pretty solid as well.
(4)
linda d.
Great country breakfast. We ate here twice while in Nashville last week. The first morning, I had the fried eggs, ham and red gravy, which is more like aus jus where I come from. It came with hash brown casserole that was quite tasty. The biscuits and homemade preserves were divine. Overall a very good breakfast. The second visit, I had the port BBQ and eggs and my friend had the country fried pork chops and eggs. The highlight was the country fried pork chops! The BBQ pork was delish as well.
(5)
Danielle W.
This restaurant is a far piece from downtown Nashville we were staying by the airport and it took us between 20 and 30 minutes to get there don't let the distance or the wait scare you it is well worth it Honestly some of the best food I've ever tasted I have the fried chicken mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese the husband had their daily special which was brisket over toast mashed potatoes and green beans The chicken was perfect juicy inside crispy on the outside not over breaded and macaroni and cheese was amazing its obvious everything here is made from scratch my husbands brisket literally melted in your mouth and the green beans or seasoned perfectly. We stopped in on Saturday around 1 o'clock the wait was 2 hours and we were just too hungry to stay we came back on Sunday around 4 and still have an hour wait the food was well worth it in the meantime we walked around to all the shops on the campus and you even are able to check out corn hole bags to keep you busy. We walk through all the shops and even got a t-shirt that said praise the lard and pass the biscuits the lobby is full of autographed photos from celebrities who have stopped by and the decor is like being in your grandma's kitchen. When they first sit you down they bring you their scrumptious biscuits and homemade strawberry peach and BlackBerry preserves. If I would have known these were so good I probably would have bought them in the gift shop rather than the t-shirt they melt in your mouth The service was as good as the food. Kramer was our waiter we never had to ask for anything my tea glass was always at least half full and he stop by several times to see how we were doing. If I have to find something I didn't like I would say the tea probably wasn't sweet enough but that's nothing that would stop me from coming back. can't wait to come back to Nashville to eat at loveless again next time I'm getting breakfast
(5)
Sheryl C.
This place is no joke and worth the effort. Go. Doesn't matter how far you need to travel to get there, just go. Eat the biscuits, order the fried chicken and cream corn. SO good! All of it was amazing... you'll leave full, happy, and ready to come back for more. I will definitely be coming back to Nashville just to eat here again. Instant favorite!
(5)
Adam B.
There have been a lot of reviews about Loveless already so I will give you the high points in mine. It's like a large gift shop with a diner in the middle of it. The wait is WAAAAAY too long. The biscuits are out of this world good. The rest of the food was....eh, fine I guess. You are paying for the experience. Glad I went once. I wouldn't go back again.
Been here a few times and really enjoyed it. It's more than just a food stop, so leave yourself some time. A little of everything on the menu. Go get some!
(5)
J O.
I'd have to agree with others that this cafe might not necessarily be worth the wait time. My friend & I came on a Sunday (before Memorial Day) around 6:30pm and didn't get seated until almost 8pm. We walked around the little store and checked everything out. Two separate weddings were going on so it was neat to see the brides posing under the Loveless neon sign out front while we waited. Our waiter was real friendly and attentive. He brought us their famous biscuits with 3 different flavored jams right when we sat down. Now if anything, the wait was worth these biscuits with butter-n-jam! My friend & I both ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. She got the collard greens and I opted for the green beans. Both were really good. I honestly thought the white meat, fried chicken could've been more moist, but I don't really eat fried chicken like ever, so I'm not the best at deciphering from good/bad fried chicken. All-n-all, it was a decent experience. Our waiter comped our desserts which was nice. My friend just had a slice of the apple pie and I had a small portion of their banana bread pudding. My friend said the pie was so-so. The bread pudding was decent, but I was so full from my meal that I couldn't eat anymore than a few fork-fulls of it!
(3)
Jamie B.
Typical country cafe with adequate selection but exaggerated pricing and an insane popularity (i.e. Wait times). We waited 2 hrs to eat a $40 + tip meal consisting of a V8 and hot sauce Bloody Mary and an overdone chicken fried steak with Hardee's quality gravy. If Commanders Palace Bloody Mary's are a 9/10, Loveless barely ranks a 1. The creamed spinach was tasty but heavy and the green beans were overdone and tasted like a porkchop more than garden veggie. Service was very good and the quaint little country campus with gift shops were well maintained, but being from the South it was absolutely NOTHING special.
(2)
Laura C.
Totally worth the ride and wait. Biscuits are amazing. I ordered the fried chicken with cream corn and mac & cheese. Incredible. I'm not a big cream corn fan but the waitress, Tammy (who was super sweet), suggested we try it and it was great! We LOVED it. The barbecue sauce was so good that we all bought our own bottles to take home from the gift shop. The fudge pie was tasty as well. Oh and the Hams and Jams gift shop is adorable and full of great items. If I ever come back to Nashville, it's to come eat at Loveless Cafe.
(5)
Eric P.
My family had breakfast this Sunday morning and I want to update my review from seven months ago as well as add a fourth star for Loveless Cafe. We arrived around 8:30am and had only a 20 min. wait. It was in the low 40's outside and we were able to wait inside right across from the pie cabinet. People watching is quite good from here and it amazed us how many guests place themselves direct in the single doorway after checking in, making it terrible for those leaving or entering. Not Loveless' fault but certainly a fire hazard and rude. Once seated at a clean and well set four top table in the largest dining room on the East side of the building, our delightful and knowledgeable waitress greeted us and took our drink order. I want to reiterate a point I made in my previous review that the wait staff at Loveless is the absolute best you will find at any Nashville restaurant. Certainly a reason to eat here! Very quickly our drinks arrived along with the biggest plate of hot biscuits, three flavors of preserves and plenty of real butter we remember receiving in many years. Our Waitress took our food order and we chatted briefly. Today we learned that Tom Morales and TomKats Catering no longer has any involvement with Loveless. I noticed a Senior Manager that appeared very professional and maintaining a regular, close review of the wait list. Bravo!!! The lady that seems to always be handling the wait list when we visit Loveless is the weakest link at Loveless so I was thrilled to see a General Manager regularly overseeing her work, asking questions and staying very familiar with the info on the list. Please keep doing this Management! Now to the food. Chocolate chip pancakes that my daughter always orders were perfect and so large she brought some leftovers home. The breakfast steak and eggs my wife ordered were served hot and cooked to order. The steak could be a better grade meat and actually a bit smaller. My guess is the steaks are coming at average grade from a Sysco type supplier and a local area grain fed beef supplier would be a nice improvement for Loveless to consider and make a highlight of the menu. Today I ordered the half-order country ham meal with red-eye gravy, eggs & grits. All cooked just right, served hot and plated perfectly. I got chocolate milk for my drink, a first, and was very pleased that it came in a carton from our local (sadly now owned by Dean) Purity Dairy. This is the same milk I grew up drinking in Nashville from weekly home delivery 50 years ago and it is still the best anywhere! Great choice for your dairy products Loveless. I still want to encourage first time visitors to ask for seating in the original small dining room to the left of the hostess stand. This room gives you the real feel of the original and later the McCabe owned Loveless of the 70's - 90's. Most of all don't be afraid to ask questions and try different foods at Loveless. It is a true Nashville treasure.
(4)
Ariel Z.
Make sure to take some of those golden biscuits home with you...great for heating up in the microwave. This place is famous for a reason.
(4)
Crystal P.
how do I even begin to review the best breakfast of my life. it was so good we went back during our trip. something we never do since we want to always check out and explore everything, not do a repeat. I found this place when searching best breakfast in Nashville and I thought it'd be our first stop after we landed, picked up our rental car and headed on the gorgeous drive over. shocked to find out there was a wait on a Friday early afternoon but it was less then the 45 minutes they said it'd be. we walked around and investigated the stores plus it was a gorgeous day out so it was fine. a wait is never a bad thing, means they are doing something right! it was so good, so delicious we came back Monday morning! no wait since we came around 8 am this time. just as delicious as the first time. first time I ever had grits and I am now spoiled for life.
(5)
Joe S.
The family style breakfast was awesome. The food came out hot. The coffee never stopped. The famous biscuits and homemade jelly were to die for. The waitstaff was great, friendly and attentive.
(5)
Kathy R.
I was excited to try this place after reading reviews and receiving recommendations from friends. I was disappointed to say the least. We had a party of 6 and all got different plates. Not one of us said "I'd come back". It was okay but not what I had hoped for.
(2)
C. V.
Real southern food. Check it out if that's your thing.
(5)
Zachery M.
The single best biscuits I have ever had in my life. In fact the only downside to the biscuits themselves is the fact that I don't live in Nashville and they have ruined all other biscuits for me. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quaint and clean and the service from our waitress was fantastic. Unfortunately there is quite a long wait on the weekends but it is well worth it and they do have outdoor seating for you to wait on and some neat little stores nearby to peruse. In conclusion the biscuits are so good that I will someday return to Nashville just to come get these biscuits again.
(5)
Michael E.
Being the only really solid breakfast place in a large radius, Loveless Cafe is always crowded--that's the downside. The upside is pretty much everything else: melt-in-your-mouth fluffy biscuits, solid breakfast food served all day, and friendly service. My wife and I come here every time we drive through Tennessee. I took off a star because they discontinued their call-ahead option.
(4)
Josh B.
The biscuits and preserves are definitely what keeps me and my family coming back. The breakfast is good, but nothing special. My kids love to watch them making biscuits in the window and play on the grounds. We usually go on the weekends but we make sure to get there no later than 8:30am to avoid a long wait.
(4)
Lab L.
A local friend recommended this location for Sunday lunch, boasting about the ham and gravy. What she didn't tell us was the average 2 hour wait. We spent some time running in and out of the shops. Samples were amazing and we got some pumpkin butter to take home. We still had over an hour to wait. Once we were seated, service was fast and attentive. We all loved our homecooked food and didn't eat again for the rest of the day. If you are coming here, be sure to have plenty of time. We would have preferred to not take up so much of our limited Nashville time...but we have some great memories of this unique place.
(4)
Deborah B.
Went to the Loveless Cafe on a recommendation from a local friend as one of their families favorites. Of coarse I first still checked yelp for reviews prior to goin,g so I knew I was in for a wait, which was helpful. It took 45 minutes to be seated at 8 pm on a Monday night. The drive to it was very scenic and the gift shops kept us happily occupied. Once seated though our fabulous waiter named Owen promptly took our drink orders and brought my party of 5 an enormous plate of the famous biscuits and jellies. I thought we would never eat all of them but within a few moments time Owen said, " I did bring you a plate of biscuits didn't I?" with a warm smile on his face. We each ordered different meals and not one was disappointed with their choice! As we sampled each other's side items....the cheese grits and Mac and cheese were big hits. Not only was the food scrumptious but the hospitality of our awesome waiter (Owen) mixed with the cozy environment made it a night to remember! It will be a definite stop for us next time in Nashville.
(5)
Laura R.
As good as advertised! We had to wait almost 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon, but the time flew by because they have plenty of casual seating areas and free iced tea to sip while you wait. And of course shopping :) Once we were seated they instantly gave us biscuits, and the food did not take long at all to come (we were afraid it might, since the table wait was so long). Everything tastes genuinely homemade, and the environment is friendly and cozy. We will be back!
(5)
Mimi L.
No love for the Loveless Cafe. We waited about an hour to be seated for dinner and after eating there, I figured this had to be a tourist trappy type of place. The drive to the cafe was beautiful as we passed by large homes with acres of property. During our wait, we were given a buzzer that would work at their different gift shops. My winning find was the piggy popcorn cooked in bacon grease with bacon bits at the Hams & Jams Country Market. I will definitely order that online. All of the workers were super friendly. Their specialty fried chicken was bland and dry. The fried catfish and fried green tomatoes had the same batter and were both bland. Yes, even the biscuits were kinda bland. Maybe that's just the way it's supposed to be so you can smother gravy on everything. I honestly enjoyed the food at Cracker Barrel better... and that's not meant to be an insult.
(3)
Tran T.
"Better than sex biscuits" is not an overstatement. Damn, Loveless Cafe definitely has the best biscuits in town! The biscuits (6) came with the breakfast meal I ordered. They came with 3 different types of jams (strawberry, peach, and blueberry). After having the blackberry jam at Urban Grub, any other jam seems average to me. Initially I ordered the Breakfast Steak and 2 Eggs but they ran out of the Rib-eye (at 8:00 am!! boooo!!!), so I changed to Pit-Cooked Pork BBQ and Eggs instead. I had my eggs fried - medium and a side of hash-brown casserole. I wasn't a fan of the BBQ, however my friend loved it alot and ended up eating most of it. I never touched the hash-brown because of how cheesy it was. My fault, I should had gotten the potatoes instead. The only thing I like in this dish is the eggs, they were cooked to perfection. My friend had the Southern Sampler Breakfast (Country Ham, Sausages, Bacon, and Red-eye gravy. The country ham was so salty that it was hard to taste anything after that. They should add this "country ham" to the hypertension risk factors list. The sausages were so dry. We tried to pour the red-eye gravy over it because we weren't sure what was the gravy for...it didn't help. I wouldn't order this. The portions are huge. I could barley finish half of my dish after eating all of those yummy biscuits. Breakfast for two people were more than $30, which is pretty expensive. I suggest share the platter with someone and order A La Carte on the side (for 2 people). I got here around 8 am and there were no waiting lines. I will be back for those heavenly biscuits and try the fried chicken next time! 2013/#58
(4)
Diana P.
I came to this place exactly a week ago at the end of our stroll through Nashville. There was a 1-hour wait for my party of 8, which we didn't mind because the beautiful scenery outside and that warm humid breeze... and the fact that is place is a must-go-to when in Nashville. The atmosphere is nice, the inside looks like a house converted to a restaurant so it does feel homey. We ordered the Family Style supper. We chose endless fried chicken, fried catfish, okra, fries & mac and cheese. I feel I must mention that the service (at least ours) was bad. Once we were seated and our drinks were brought to us, we didn't see our waiter again for about 15 minutes. You might think: "Because of the high volume, duh!" No, NO. We saw the other guy waiting on the table next to us go to them at least 8 times to ask if the food was good, if they needed something, if they wanted more drink. When our waiter was taking our order, a glass of water got spilled and he was completely unfazed by it. He didn't offer napkins or to call anyone to clean it up so of course we had to take care of that because it was going to be another almost 10 minutes before he graced us with his presence. Finally after sitting there half hour with lions roaring in our bellies, the biscuits and jelly came out. They were the warmest, freshest, softest, scrumptious biscuits I've tasted in a long time. Break one in half, spread a little butter on it, some honey and then you can take a bite of heaven. Unfortunately for my waiters timing we were all still on our first biscuit when all the food came out. Give us at least 5 minutes w/ the biscuits please!? The food was so good, you would have thought grandma was back there making the mac & cheese herself! Everything on the table was just right, it was helping us cope with our waiter's service (This review was written about a year ago but I didn't publish it so instead of "exactly a week ago" it should be "almost exactly a year ago")
(3)
Daniel M.
Had the sampler platter. Wasn't fan of fried chicken but meatloaf and catfish was really good. Caramel sweet potatoes side was amazing!
(3)
Evangelene G.
BEST THING I ATE EVER. My husband quoted on Facebook, "Lord, If I could eat any more, I would!" This is a must do when visiting Nashville. However, we need to pace ourselves better because we're always too full for dessert.
(5)
Amy B.
My favorite place in the Nashville area. Warm friendly service. Warm biscuits with Loveless jam to start are not to be missed. Chicken fried chicken was great but to get the most for your visit try the sampler platter. And take home some Loveless bacon from the shop!
(4)
Mark N.
Excellent ! Order exactly what u want, they will accommodate. Passing thru, yelp score again!
(5)
Heather P.
I have to chime in to give a different perspective. Coming from a restaurant lover from Chicago now transplanted to the south, the food isn't that special. You are coming here for the experience, the eclectic Nashville tourist trap. The biscuits and jam are great along with the fun little shops. But the wait is pretty awful all the time and the food is basic country home cooking. The meat was just strange. Great service though! We went really early since we have a baby and made it out by 9am. At that point they were quoting over 1.5hr wait on a Sunday. Honestly not worth it, in my opinion.
(1)
Emily R.
This is a fantastic place and a must if you are in Nashville at any time. I had ordered the BBQ over eggs which are over pancakes. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten. The biscuits where the best I have ever had. They even have a cute little shop where they sell the biscuit mix and was so good. Later on our trip we went back for lunch and had the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. It was soooo good. Be prepared to wait because this place is always busy no matter what time you go. However, you can check out the little shop or play bags while you wait. Thats right I said this place had bags that you can play while you wait. This is definitely a must go!
(5)
Alex G.
It was excellent food!!! I loved the biscuits they served and al l of the things that they put on them! The chicken was very good as well! The service was great to! It is a must go to place if you are in Nashville!
(5)
Katie S.
Southern breakfast ? Check ! Biscuit platter lets you taste their famous biscuits AND delish BBQ and three other choices. At 830 on a weekday, no wait and totally worth it. Also- check out the shops :)
(5)
Cate N.
Best biscuits and jam ever. The turkey and swiss sandwich with grilled onions was divine along with the fried okra. And the virgin Bloody Mary really packed a spicy punch. To top it off, our waiter Matt had a fabulous personality. I would definitely come here again!
(5)
Mary S.
I just love this place!! I was coming here for 10 years before I moved to Nashville and now I live only a hop skip and a jump away!!! The Pork Chops are Wonderful....the Biscuits are GREAT....and I love love love the Coconut Cream pie!!! 10 stars!!!
(5)
Jenni E.
This was by far the best breakfast that I have ever had. On our way out of Nashville we hit this place for some fuel for the long day of driving. There was a bit of a wait, but they give you a pager and you can go look at the shops on the property while you wait. Once we were seated, our waiter came by and was really friendly. He recommended a couple of things and I went with his recommendation of BBQ pulled pork and eggs. It was delicious! It came with a choice of sides and I had the hash brown casserole which were the best hash browns that I have ever had. My husband thought the biscuits and gravy were the best he's ever had as well. My only regret was that I didn't have enough room to have a piece of pie. They looked really good in the case. You can buy a half or whole pie to go as well. The shops on the property have a lot of their products for sale - jams, sauces, bacon, syrup, honey, etc. they also have a bunch of novelty items and souvenirs. A nice way to get breakfast and shopping out of the way.
(5)
Marisa V.
Even on Sunday night there was still a 40 minute wait but it was worth it. Waiter was friendly and came out with food right away when we told him we were hungry. The best friend chicken I've ever had with sides of greens and green beans. The biscuits were really good too. I'd go back next time I'm in town.
(5)
Elaine S.
I live right down the street from the Loveless so we frequently get carry out because the wait is too long. Expect a long wait, but there are shops that you can visit while waiting. As for the food, it's all the southern food that you would expect. The biscuits are delicious and I am not even a biscuit fan in general. The fried okra is great and the breakfast menu is recommended.
(4)
M B.
I had my last meal at the Loveless Cafe recently. After eating there several times, I've decided the food is so overpriced and tasteless that it's not worth it. The restaurant operates on a prime piece of real estate at the end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. That's the only reason I can fathom why people go there at all because it can't be the food. For example, I had scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. The pancakes were flavorless and gritty. The eggs were rubbery. The bacon was covered in grease and disgusting. (Seriously ... how can you screw up bacon!!??) Even the coffee is lackluster. And this is the second time I've left the restaurant with an upset stomach. To call this place a "gourmet Cracker Barrel" is ridiculous. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants, but the food is actually better (and cheaper) at Cracker Barrel! If you like spending lots of money on bad food so you can take your picture in front of a tourist attraction, then this is the place for you. But if you really enjoy Southern cooking, there's better options in Nashville and Franklin.
(1)
Teresa B.
Visiting the Yelp Spring Break Nashville 2014, we went off the beaten path for this experience on a Saturday morning. Told that there would be a wait of over an hour, I had no qualms. Travelling all the way from Alexandria, VA, I had a hunch it would be worth it. It has been a long time since my childhood, growing up in Florida, that I tasted truly authentic southern cooking. Ham steak, sausage patties with biscuits and gravy, grits...mmm. The bonus is there are many things to keep you entertained while you wait. It's a village of family fun to entertain everyone. Antique and boutique shopping, complimentary sweet peach tea, quaint areas to bide your time while playing bean bag toss (AKA the "corn hole" game which made me blush). And Pumpkin Butter samples! When we were finally seated, it was by the general manager, who enthusiastically made us feel welcome. The waitress was also a sweetie. Service is key here. I can vouch for the: Complimentary Biscuits and (3) Jelly Sampler Ham Steak Pimento Cheese Biscuits and Gravy Omelets And Creamed Spinach If I were to visit Nashville again, this would be a destination!
(5)
Adrian D.
Amazing true southern food. Great priced and wonderfully kind wait staff. You can't visit Tennessee without stopping here. Prices are very reasonabke, portions are huge and best of all moonshine and chess pie are on the menu!
(5)
Crazy G.
Really busy at three in afternoon . Nice staff. Clean. Great flavorful food. Worth the wait. Portions are huge
(4)
Paige F.
Be prepared to wait a long time with a lot of tourists on weekends! But then be prepared for some of the best southern food ever. I have never had anything that I did not like. This place is definitely worth all the hype, and the biscuits are delicious.
(5)
Megan S.
Waited over an hour but it was SO worth it. Food comes out very quickly! Creamed corn and coleslaw are my favorite sides. Skip the coupon mentioned, it's for online orders only.
(5)
Jason B.
Not really much to say that hasn't already been said. First of all, the fried chicken is the best around...maybe some of the best I've had. They are known for the biscuits and jam, which are just ok to me. I compare everything to my mom's homemade biscuits and jam, and nothing comes close. There is one thing you can always count on with Loveless Cafe that may not have been previously mentioned...the music on their playlist is solid country gold. Merle, Possum, Waylon, and all the hits from the 90's. I'd like Loveless so much more if it was a hidden gem. It's popularity creates a long wait for a table. If going on a weekend, arrive before 8:00 and you won't have much of a problem. After 8:00, and especially after 9:00, you should plan on at least an hour.
(4)
Ling X.
Don't know where they came up with the name loveless because this place is full of love (insert your groan here). I chose to have my birthday dinner here on the way out of Nashville after hearing so much about it and didn't regret it one bit. Our waitress gave me my dessert with a candle on it and announced to everyone that it was my bday so everyone sang to me. Long wait during dinnertime but well worth it. You can pass the time quickly by exploring the shops around it or playing cornhole out front. Great southern food and hands down the best biscuits I've ever had. I ended up buying their mix to make my own at home (plus a lot of other items I didn't need - oh Loveless Cafe, you sure are smart with your marketing).
(5)
Melissa M.
Loveless is a must stop! The bbq is amazing as is the fried chicken! Normally there is a crazy long wait but it's worth it! I got a sampler this past trip with catfish also but didn't care for it as much. The mashed potatoes are yummy but skip the turnip greens. They're known for their biscuits but I'm not in love with them. I guess I'm spoiled to Cracker Barrels biscuits and turnip greens. I'd say you definitely need to get the chicken or bbq!
(4)
Shaye B.
One star for good biscuits and a bloody mary. Another star for the gift shops to walk around in during a very long wait. I expected at least a 20min wait for brunch Friday for a group of 9. Hour wait seemed long and I would have left except the place is far enough outside of Nashville it wasn't worth it to relocate. Finally got seated and ordered our bloody Mary's which were good and came with a piece of bacon. But they took a very very long time to come out. Actually everything took a while. Service is not a strong suit - but rarely is with large parties. Now for the food. It was just bad. We ordered various things across the 9 of us and no one liked their food. Hash brown casserole? Sounds great but it's more just strings of soggy potatoes covered in melted velveeta. I thought it'd be like a crispy cake with some onion and peppers and bacon fat maybe. But nope. The country ham? Foul. Super grisly and way to salty. 3 of us ordered the ham and all felt that way. On top of the food just not tasting good, we all had some hurting stomachs afterwards. I was looking forward to coming here since I heard great things. But it was a major disappointment and I will not be returning again.
(2)
Jacoby D.
The hype over Loveless Cafe is fun and all, but their food seems is inconsistent and nothing mind blowing . Each time I've been, there's been at least one part of my meal that is just off. First time the fried chicken was extremely dry, and the second time the mac and cheese was salty and not very tasty. Their biscuits and preserves are AMAZING. The customer service is also great. I would go back if I'm looking to show off a Nashville staple or was in the area, but as a Nashville local there are many other restaurants in the area that will serve my palette better.
(3)
Ang S.
Why LoveLESS? This place should be called loveMORE! Hands down the fluffiest biscuits I've had in life! And the waitress was very generous about bringing out a second hot basket before we even finished our first. Though I wondered what did she do with the leftover buscuits that she took away with the first basket? o.O The fried chicken was executed to perfection. You can tell the recipe has gone through decades of tradition and years of perfection. The chicken however lacked a bit of seasoning. Good stuff but I've also had better. I was somewhat disappointed by the hash brown casserole, especially after reading raving reviews about it as I was waiting for our table. The proportion of cheese to potatoes was nearly 50/50. The location is a little out of reach, but definitely worth a short drive if you are in town.
(4)
Amanda B.
My family and I went here for breakfast on a weekday. Love the experience; the store owners are very nice, the decor inside the cafe is great and the staff is very friendly. The biscuits were delicious and we all really liked the hashbrown casserole side, but other than that the food was pretty standard - and a bit pricey for your average breakfast. All in all, we were happy with the stop, but would probably try a different breakfast spot next Nashville visit.
(3)
Cody L.
Excellent food and service Lucas (luke) awesome server ....best breakfast near nashville
(5)
Devyn L.
I have to say that everything was fantastic from the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese that my girlfriend ordered to the chocolate chip and pecan pancakes that i ordered. The sweet tea was delicious, the service was quick and polite. and the prices were fantastic. I really enjoyed the building it was located in as it complimented the southern cooking that they provided. It had a lot of nice boutique shops on property but did not visit them due to time restrictions. The only negative is they used fans to cool the dining area which was near the kitchen sot it was very hot. I wish they had some air conditioning. Overall i would return there if I am in town again cause the food and service was great.
(5)
Jordan L.
Great place!!! Such a cool atmosphere. The biscuits are to die for. The wait was over an hour at 9:30 AM, but it was worth the wait!
(4)
Jenn G.
Amazing southern comfort food. Good service. If you are visiting Tennessee this is a must!!! Highly recommended. Will leave you stuffed lol. The biscuits are sooooo good and always served warmed. Freshly baked out the oven. Do not forget to ask for honey. It has to be requested. Big menu to choose from. #carbNation
Maybe it's because I have been raised around Southern food that I wasn't blown away. Everything just didn't live up to the hype, and I am honestly a little disappointed that I got so excited to eat here. The service was pretty good, and our drinks were always immediately filled. That's probably the reason I feel bad giving Loveless Cafe less than three stars. However, the food... meh. I've had better food from local restaurants from my town (e.g. Beacon Light Tea Room). The biscuits were good, but again, Beacon Light Tea Room has better ones. The fried chicken I ordered tasted a little dry to me, and it caused my stomach to be upset that night. It was nice to say I've had the experience, but I probably will not be returning.
(3)
Ginger P.
This former hot sheets motel turned BBQ pit and restaurant is a must when you're following the Natchez Trace and want some solid Southern cooking. Their turnip greens with pot likker are the best you'll ever have. I also recommend the country ham, which I will be ordering from them next Easter, with their biscuits and fried green tomatoes. Put some housemade jelly (buy it from the gift shop, too -- the peach is especially good) or pimiento cheese on it and get back on the 100.
(5)
Alton S.
while you may have to wait a while to get in that should be your first clue that it is that GOOD!!! have eaten there for the last 42 years and it is just as good now as it was when i first went there. every meal has always been great as well as the down home service. it is a must if you are in nashville.
(5)
Alex B.
Can't say enough how delicious this place is!!!! If you love biscuits then this has to be a stop on your way through Nashville. We went on a Monday night and there was a small wait but it was well worth it! The best fried chicken I have ever had not to be out done by the amazing BBQ pork and fried catfish. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made the experience even better. Truly like having dinner at grandma's!!!
(5)
Kristyn A.
Excellent southern food! Plan to spend all your calories for the day on the biscuits! It's worth it.
(5)
Melissa V.
We stopped here as a must see and it didn't disappoint. The service all around was some of the best and the food was sooo good. Moonshine drinks were STRONG - but tasty. I had the pulled pork omelet and my husband got the biscuit sampler.
(4)
Ralph M.
Great breakfast today and the service was top notch. The biscuits and country ham make it worth the trip over from Smyrna.
(5)
Jay R.
Southern cooking at its finest. It is worth the wait to get some down-home goodness right here. I would give it 6 out of 5 if I could. Lots of celebrities have been here, it has been in business for more than 60 years (that says something), and the diverse mix of people in there was nice to see. I had the chicken fried steak along with eggs and grits; super well prepared with the buttery stone-ground flavor made me perfectly satisfied. Great wait staff too. The wooden floors and windows are reminiscent of the Old South. The biscuits are the best thing I've ever had!!! There is a heat and soft tenderness to them you cannot get anywhere else in my view. Perfect jams as well. Overall tremendous experience. Worth the long drive down Highway 100. Don't forget the sweet tea!!!!!
(5)
Meghan H.
Oh the hype...these poor biscuits didn't have a fighting chance to stand up to such praise. Maybe I'm too much of a biscuit aficionado or too critical. Either way, these biscuits were good, but not nearly the best I've tasted. Driving into the Loveless parking lot around noon on a Saturday, we expected the 2 hour wait for our party of nine. We browsed the little village off shops that Loveless has going on for you while you wait. And 1.5hrs and $60 spent on merchandise later, we made our way into the restaurant. Even before all of our butts were in our chairs, they set down two plates teeming with dozens of the infamous biscuits and jam. With our tummies rumbling like they were, of course they tasted good. As famished as I was and as warm as these buttery biscuits were, I still instantly acknowledged that they paled in comparison to the biscuits I've fallen in love with at a pie shop back in Chicago. I found the texture of these biscuits to be too uniform throughout. These guys lacked the exterior toasty crunch that only makes you appreciate the soft and crumbly insides that much more. You need that contrast in texture in a top notch biscuit. I was also saddened by the lack of moisture in the biscuit and the much too dry crumb. Biscuit disappointment aside, the omelettes were impressively large and stuffed with ingredients. The pancakes were hearty and the maple syrup was somehow exceptionally tasty. I felt the need to try a half order of their country ham and was surprised by my dislike. Ask anyone, I am a huge fan of ham but this was salty to the point of being inedible. Honestly, I took two bites of this $7 slice and didn't go for more. While overall on the disappointing side, I'm glad to have experienced the institution that is Loveless.
(3)
Shawn N.
The biscuits!!! The biscuits I say!!!! Simply amazing, baked to a warm buttery perfection topped with homemade jams...I could eat 1000 of them! I had the eggs and BBQ breakfast, scrumptious! The BBQ had a little rub on it and the sauce is near drinkable! The property is really cool too....get ready for a coma!
(5)
Larry L.
This is one of those must eats when in Naahville. Biscuits were all they were supposed to be and more, fantastic. Ham was good, fried chicken even better, looking forward to trying breakfast in the future. The server was on point the whole time taking great care of us.
(5)
Cody C.
couple of Canadians down to nashville for the weekend. We heard of loveless cafe after reading many yelp reviews and hearing it is an institution we needed to go. So too start off be prepared to spend your entire day waiting on lousy biscuits. Apparently supposed to be the best biscuits ever but we were quite disappointed in them. We arrived and told it was an hour and 40 min wait. Although they have lots to do while you wait I recommend getting takeout and sitting outside. We have the fried chicken white meat with Potatos and deep fried tomatoes. Our goal for the weekend was to eat no vegetables so tomatoes deep fried was the most I got. Also got chicken and waffles which was awesome. Overall this chicken was finger lickin good and would recommend it to anyone!
(4)
Dawn D.
Great food... well worth the wait would defiantly come back !!!! Great waiter Luke...drink was really good not strong Lynchburg lemonade with souvenir mini mason jar :)
(5)
M E.
This place is overwhelming with southern charm and to be honest, I'm pretty sure its overdosing on all aspects of cute. However, the options for vegetarians are limited outside of the regular Denny's staples. I ordered the french toast because some variation of eggs just didn't seem like it had enough umph. And see, I love biscuits, Perhaps more than my biscuit loving, meat eating friends. And their biscuits contain lard. While I appreciate my server mentioning it, he did so with a bit of unnecessary sarcastic zest. And while I understand I'm in the south and perhaps the vegetarian lifestyle hasn't quite made it down here in the last 20 or so years since I've been a vegetarian, I was a bit underwhelmed by the food and overwhelmed by the charm of the Loveless campus.
(3)
Del P.
Food is good.... More of a tourist spot Had dinner sampler ( catfish, ham, fried chicken with hash brown casserole n Mac cheese) Catfish-- great light batter Fried chicken- crispy. Could use more seasoning Country ham- salty Biscuits - great with the blackberry jams Drink Blue moon -- great with the moonshine Is it worth the wait? Depends
(3)
Allyson G.
A family tradition that never gets old. Loveless is a timeless classic in Music City and receives frequent visits from the local country stars. Make sure to try their famous loveless biscuits and fried chicken. It's stick to your ribs good! Visited November 2013
(4)
Valerie B.
Service was fabulous after our 35min wait (which is not too bad considering it was going to be nearly 2 hrs last weekend!). The food was standard southern classics like fresh biscuits (ok - but the jam was great!), fried catfish (just ok - good hash brown casserole) and bbq (didn't try it). The food was good but didn't think it was anything special and not worth the 30 min drive out of Nashville or the wait. Wait!! I just had a slice of their coconut cream pie that we took home. The whipped cream is light and not too sweet. The custard is creamy and the roasted coconut flavour is just right. I'm going to grab another slice right now!
(3)
Leigh M.
So even though I've lived in Middle Tennessee for quite a while, I've never been to the Loveless Cafe until now. Some relatives from Cali came in to visit so we stopped here after picking them up for the airport. We arrived there at a time that most restaurants aren't that busy; smack dab between lunch and dinner. However it was still an hour wait here, and I'm actually shocked it was *only* an hour given how many people were there. I really liked the building(s) itself. For anyone who doesn't know, the Loveless Cafe and surrounding shops are a converted motel from the 50's. I love places like this; you can tell just by looking at it that it's a relic from the golden age of highway road trips. You almost never see such things anymore, as they've either been torn down or are in complete disrepair because they went out of business after the interstate system was built. The little shops were cool. Touristy but charming. They had quite a few interesting items, as well as some food such as jams and cured meats. I had plenty of time to check them out while waiting on my table. Once we were finally seated, I was quite impressed by the service. Despite being packed to capacity, our server was extremely attentive and very sweet, taking plenty of time to explain the specials and whatnot. I ordered their blue plate special for the day, "Honeyspice" chicken or something to that effect. It was a half chicken barbecued with a spicy honey-based sauce. It was absolutely fantastic, as were the turnip greens and okra that accompanied it. The biscuits, for which this place is apparently known, were quite good as well. My girlfriend and I shared a slice of fudge pie for dessert and it was quite delicious. All in all it was a really fun experience, but the wait is long enough that this isn't the sort of place I'd want to go to regularly. However it seems to be a fantastic place to bring visiting family or other people who have never been, and it's definitely a place I think everyone should experience at least once.
(4)
Joanna L.
When I have guests visiting from out of town, without fail the one place I always end up taking people is the Loveless Cafe. The wait was only for 45 minutes for two people on Saturday night around 6:30pm and it was well worth it. During the wait you can explore the stores and play corn hole in the various locations around the premises. Once we got inside, Sandy our server as busy as she was brought out our biscuits and brought us our Sweet Tea. I LOVE Loveless biscuits. I don't know how to describe it or explain it but the biscuits and their jams. Ugh. To die for. My friend and I chose to share the sampler and I'm so glad we did. We got the fried chicken, fried catfish, and the pork barbeque with Mac and cheese, creamed corn, and fried okra. I have never had fried okra or okra til I moved to the south but loveless has given me the best experience with okra. And the fried chicken was simply perfect, as was the catfish and of course the pork. Everything about our meal was delicious and I am never disappointed when visiting Loveless. Although the wait to get inside is extremely long, the staff is rather good about getting your food orders and your food out to you as soon as possible. Always a favorite restaurant of mine and always highly recommended to all Nashville visitors even if it's only for the biscuits.
(5)
Lynnette F.
This place is amazing! I will preface with I suffer from a peanut & tree nut allergy. I called the restaurant to see if they would be able to accommodate this and the hostess said they could not. She said nothing in the kitchen would be safe since there is a chance of cross contamination. She then said the fried chicken would be safe since it only gets put in the fryer and they cook with soy oil. I still took the chance and went since this was one of the things I was looking forward to on my trip & boy am I happy I went! I spoke to the waiter and he said everything was pretty safe to eat. The biscuits, fried chicken and sides were definitely nut free and were safe to eat. I ordered the fried chicken (amazing!), grits with cheese (hands down the best thing I ate during my trip) and mac & cheese (so-so, I wish I ordered the mashed potatoes instead!). The biscuits are everything I hoped they would be - they were fresh, soft and oh-so-buttery! I would suggest asking for another plate of biscuits before your meal is over so you can take them home for the next day. I regretted not purchasing the biscuit mix the next day, but was luckily able to purchase it at the airport before leaving. Anyone visiting Nashville must go to the Loveless Cafe during their visit!!
(5)
Adam R.
This place is a Nashville staple. Great for getting groups together and heading out for a good meal (my recommendation - breakfast) in the "country". It is a little stretch from Nashville, but not a bad drive. The food: this is just a good meal. The portion sizes on some plates may make you want more, but you do get fed. You WILL wait a while to be seated. Come prepared. They do have a little shop off to the left to keep you occupied while you wait. Prices: for the amount of food you get, I do find the prices a tad more than they should be, however, if you have as many customers as Loveless does, why not charge more? They are obviously getting it! Bottom line: Go, you like it, and it's like going to a more local and homemade cracker barrel. Great biscuits and jam!
(4)
Fred R.
Absolutely off the charts. Got the pulled pork plate.. With baked beans and slaw Everything was awesome!! The only thing that would've made it better was corona light.. Had to settle for bud light
(5)
Yim L.
We decided to go here for brunch on a Sunday and the wait was 1.5 hours. We killed time by walking around and visiting the cute shops around the cafe. Ultimately we found out that it would be quicker to order carry out. We found a picnic table in the shade and ate outside. I had the two eggs with bacon platter with a side of hash brown casserole. It was amazing! I will definitely revisit on my next trip to Nashville!
(5)
Lisa M.
Hmmm....that really sums the whole experience up. Everything was amazing. The location, the service, the selection, the food! Oh the food was amazing. Again, traveling through the south and found this little gem. Biscuits, life will never be the same since I've had the biscuits from the loveless cafe. I will shamelessly say I ate 5 and then the awesome waitress sent me home with another 9! And I ate the rest during our drive back to new england. I had the catfish and it was perfect! My husband had the country sampler and the fried chicken was amazing. Overall best meal I had on our road trip. I would make my next trip circle around being able to stop here.
(5)
Jen I.
My first attempt to eat here was on a Saturday, it was a cool atmosphere as it was a nice day and loads of people were sitting on the decks - playing cornhole or catch! But this made for a 2 hour wait! I decided to come back Monday since I was still in town. Monday was a normal 30min wait - which you can easily wait by visiting their 2 Loveless Stores! I wanted to try the biscuits, chicken, and pulled pork due to what I read on yelp - the waitress suggested the sampler platter - my 2 sides were creamed corn and potato casserole. They were not joking about how good the biscuits are! Amazing! Exp w the sausage grav. The jams were ok. The pulled pork I'd give a 8/10 - generous portions and had a great smokey flavor! I will say I was a little disappointed in the fried chicken as I don't add salt to very much but added it to the chicken - it was very crispy and moist though! The creamed corn and potato casserole were excellent too! Highly recommend those sides! Great history, food and a very attentive nice staff - I recommend eating here!!
(4)
Kelly M.
Primo southern cooking... My friends and I trekked it here from Nashville and waited an hour and a half but it was worth it. The food and service was amazing, I am still full a day later... Worth checking out at least once. I would suggest the BBQ and eggs!! Pimento cheese and fried green tomato biscuit was interesting... Raisin French toast was perfect, not too sweet, light and fluffy!
(4)
Cheryl P.
Where country ham and eggs are the norm, I found it to be very good but not exciting as expected. The biscuits are hot but not flakey nor tender, I would call them mediocre at best. This place is a solid breakfast or lunch venue not sure if I would take the trip out of Nashville to hit it again in the future.
(3)
Vanessa G.
Being an Iconic Cafe in Nashville, we had to try this out. We even watched a video about Loveless, it's history, and "the power of biscuits" prior to heading out. I was expecting a long line to wait for mediocre food that only has good reviews because of the nostalgia. My assumptions were pleasantly incorrect. The wait was 45 minutes but with the shops to meander around it went fast. The aroma of the place was tantalizing, a combo of fried chicken, barbecue, and biscuits which wound up being exactly what we ordered. The barbecue was the biz-omb and my favorite. No need for barbecue sauce. The other half loved the fried chicken though I wasn't jumping out of my seat for that. The biscuits- well-are pretty darned good and the peach preserve was our favorite or the three they serve with them. Ooh, the creamed sweet corn was delicious. The banana pudding was the best I've ever had (aside from our Aunt Red's). Basically everything we had we'd want to eat again and now we'll have to take our friends here just because it lives up to the hype.
(5)
Michael N.
In my first visit to the famous Loveless Cafe I went with the Southern Classic that is Country Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, and fried okra. The breading was somewhat different than I was used to and this was a good thing. It made the dish set itself apart from the standard. It was a bit lighter breading that was just about perfect. The mashed potatoes where the perfect consistency and the fired okra was great. The biscuits that come as a starter before the meal where absolutely excellent. They are from an original recipe of the Loveless family from the 1950's. They come with homemade blackberry, strawberry, and peach jelly as well as local honey. A little bit off the beaten path from downtown Nashville but well worth the drive.
(4)
Sheila C.
So much food on that plate. Chicken and dumplings were delicious tonight as were the sides. Only wished we had room for dessert. Ate too many biscuits before the meal.
(5)
Candra G.
Perhaps my expectations were too high. I think if you're new to Southern cuisine, you may think this place is the best thing since sliced bread. However, I was just a little disappointed that it was like a more touristy Cracker Barrel (which I actually like better). After reading the hype about the biscuits, I was absolutely convinced that eating at this place would lead to an unhealthy obsession with biscuits. Negative. I was completely underwhelmed. The only thing that saved it from being bad was the delicious peach preserve topping that accompanied the bread basket. Service was kind of spotty - had to wait a long time for refills, the food had a weird timing issue (like I received my food well before the rest of the table). I ordered a BLT w/ fried egg and a side of hash brown casserole (gag). I don't think I have a lot of love for the Loveless Cafe.
(2)
Ashley H.
If you need carbs, this is your place. I always end up eating the country fried steak for a few days because the portion is just huge. The wait is going to be long and make a holiday reservation for a large party. Parking is rather plentiful and there are places to wander while you wait. The blackberry jam is... well my jam and the biscuits... oh the biscuits.
(4)
Jess F.
Best biscuits ever. Fried chicken would delicious. Grits and corn meal was Soo good. Would do the 3 hr wait again for this.
(5)
amber b.
Our favorite place in Nashville! Barbara is such a sweetheart. She is always so friendly and the service is amazing. The southern fried catfish and the fried chicken is so delicious!! Oh and the warm buttered biscuits YUMM!! Always 1-2 hours wait during the morning weekends and nights but only 20-30 mins of wait btw 2-4ish during the weekends. Can't wait to go back again next month! 10% military discount too! :)
(5)
Aubrey W.
There are a few iconic places in every city that you just kind of have to visit, and in the Nashville area Loveless Cafe is one of them. This place went "viral" before the internet, convincing people to head out to a former motel in the middle of nowhere to indulge in biscuits and jam. I will admit that I don't like to wait in lines, so I've been avoiding Loveless as a result. I've heard sometimes the wait is up to two hours, and they don't take reservations for small parties. But when my friend Lindsey and I were texting at like 7am about breakfast, we figured we could go super early and beat the church rush on a Sunday morning. We were right; we barely had to wait, and you get to wander around their little stores while you do. It's like an original Cracker Barrel in that regard. The biscuits were AWESOME. I loved them! I tried all the jams they brought with them too. For my breakfast, I went basic with scrambled eggs and crispy bacon, plus a small side of their hash brown casserole. That cheesy goodness was so rich and heavy, I didn't even finish half of it! I ate very well and enjoyed it a lot. I'm not sure if I will be back to Loveless, unless a visitor or friend wants to go... it's about 20-25 minutes from where I live, and nothing else is nearby. I liken it to eating at Lady & Sons in Savannah; it's a haven for tourists after so many appearances on Food Network and the like. But it was definitely worth checking off my Nashville "bucket list"!
(4)
Derrick L.
Fantastic. Can't wait to go back. Expect a long wait. We showed up at 1pm and it was still a 45min wait. Split the Southern Sampler Plater with my wife (fried chicken, catfish, and ham as meats/hash brown casserole and marinated cucumbers and onions for the sides). Also ordered side of sausage gravy to go with the amazing free biscuits and a pimento and fried green tomato biscuit.
(4)
Jaime A.
After eating there, I wondered what all the fuss was about. Good food. Nothing to write home about. Been there twice. When family come to visit, maybe I'll go again.
(3)
Jason E.
Bbq was very good. The biscuits and gravy were very delicious and the people were very nice. I bit of a wait for the table but worth it. There's shops around while you wait so there's something to do. They also serve moonshine drinks and beer, wine and tasty stuff. Its also very pretty around the restaurant lots of roiling hills and nice trees. I recommend going there.
(4)
Julie M.
This was just okay. I waited an hour and 10 minutes to be seated, which I don't have a problem with had the food been as amazing as I had heard. I ordered the chicken & waffles, which came with biscuits also. The biscuits were delicious - light, soft and the homemade jam was a nice addition. The chicken and waffles was pretty sad though. The chicken was extremely dry and the waffle was something I could have made at home. This was a very disappointing visit. I can get better at a local dive diner here in Pittsburgh.
(2)
Milton S.
Hadn't been to the Loveless in 10 years or so and was glad to find the food is still great. We arrived around 4:30 on a Saturday night and only had a 10 minute wait. We spent the wait time browsing in the General Store gift shop and found many unique items tempting to purchase. The wireless buzzer system allows you to roam the grounds while waiting. My favorite meal of the day is breakfast and the Loveless is ready all day. The biscuits deserve all the hype and with the jams and preserves and real butter are lovely together. Had never traveled to Nashville North on the Natchez Trace before but was tickled to find the Loveless is on Hwy 100 just off a Natchez Trace exit at its terminus or start depending on which direction you are going.
(5)
Nicole B.
My god. Worth every second you wait for this place. The biscuits change the game there. Best biscuits I've ever had, hands-down. The peach and blackberry preserves were out of this world. Sausage gravy was really good too. The pancakes are so-so, but to be honest, this isn't a place you go to for their pancakes. So many better things on the menu.
(5)
Cassi B.
My dad visited here a few years back and loved the food. He was so impressed he got me a care package shipped just so I could try some of it. Their black pepper bacon was really good, not overly peppery and a good smoke on it was a perfect combination. Their jelly was also good, sweet but not overly sweet. The blackberry was our favorite. We are suppose to be moving to Tennessee in the next year, so this place is definitely on our list of places to visit once we do!
(4)
Suzi B.
While on a business trip to Nashville, we had a chance to visit the Loveless Cafe for lunch on a weekday. Great timing because we only had a 20 minute wait and spent that time shopping in the cute little gift shop. Got a package of Piggy Popcorn which went over great at the office at home. Wearing my Praise the Lard T-shirt as I type this. The food was classic Southern goodness. Delicious biscuits and jam to start the meal, and could have stopped there and been happy happy happy. Proceeded to have the BBQ sandwich and found it to be pretty tasty though not knock your socks of great. Coworkers had the fried chicken livers and the chicken fried steak smothered in gravy. I also had the sweet tea. Yum. I thought the livers were a little overcooked and did not get to taste the other entree. The caramel sweet potatoes side dish was wonderful! Loved walking around the property, especially smelling the smokey BBQ pit outside on a crisp, clear day. Everyone there was very nice, in typical Southern style. We felt welcome and left well fed and happy. If you cannot make the trip, do go to the website and buy up some of their tasty jams and hams.
(4)
Keith B.
Unbelievable food. Fried chicken, country ham/biscuits, fried green tomatoes and creamed corn were fantastic, BBQ pulled pork was good but just okay. The service was even better, Meagan was probably the best server I've ever had, and I eat out a lot. A lot.
(5)
Lauren H.
I do not believe there to be any affiliation between Loveless Cafe and the Oregon based company Nike, but regardless, my only advice for anyone deciding whether or not to make the trek out to eat at Loveless is to JUST DO IT. We sort of went ham on this meal and ordered a whole lot because we couldn't decide. The best were the melt-in-your-mouth biscuits, the hashbrown casserole (!), the creamed corn, and the peanut butter pie. The waffle is better than the pancake, but both are very good. The fried chicken biscuit was good as well, just a bit small on the portion size. Key Lime pie was also very good and the mac n cheese was solid. This was definitely our favorite meal on our visit to Nashville. Highly recommended.
(5)
Peggy L.
Good quality food for the experience but pricey. Long wait but we toured the grounds. Delivered a plate of biscuits and jams when we sat down made me change what I ordered. Country ham is a speciality but try it with the red eye gravy. Fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuits was weak on the tomato.
(4)
Lei B.
While visiting Nashville, Loveless was one of the top places on my list to visit. It was about a 20 minute drive from the city but it did not disappoint. We came on a Friday late afternoon and there was still an hour wait. Not to worry, there's a very scenic drive near by and you can kill time that way. Or just explore the grounds, there's two different gift shops with lots of goodies to buy. When we were finally seated, we noticed there was moonshine on the menu. How could you pass up on that? I had a Watermelon Crawl (watermelon, Lemonade, Sprite and a Moonshine Sidecar in a Souvenir Loveless Mini Mason Jar). The little souvenir mason jar was too cute! The moonshine did kick my butt! For food we ordered the Loveless Fried Chicken (Quarter Chicken) with a side of macaroni and cheese, slow cooked green beans, fried green tomatoes, and hashbrown casserole. Before our meal came out they brought out their signature biscuits and they were buttery and light, just the way I like them. Everything else was really good. I loved the fried chicken, the batter wasn't too heavy or oily. The only side dish that I didn't care for were the fried green tomatoes. I've had better and they were so small. We were so stuffed after our meal that we skipped out on dessert but now I'm regretting that decision! If I'm ever back in Nashville I'll have to make room for their desserts!
(4)
Melissa T.
Awesome,awesome place. Fantastic food, friendly staff, retro feel. Pitmaster Steve gave us a wonderful little tour and lesson on smoking meats. Gift shop was great. Biscuits melt in your mouth. Bought the mix to make them at home.
(5)
Susan I.
Heard so much about this place. Went with 11 friends and while we waited 1 1/2 hours it was worth the wait. You can visit the shops while you wait or play corn hole. They were very accommodating and sat us all together. The biscuit are amazing and the sorghum was delectable. The country ham was a little salty however the fried chicken was to die for. If we are ever back in this area we will definitely visit again.
(4)
Ebony Da'na C.
After a year of living in Nashville (and 5 minutes away) I finally decided to dine at the Loveless Cafe. While I had a positive experience at Loveless please be prepared to wait at least 40 minutes. I've attempted to dine here 3 times but finally pushed my impatient-ness aside. While waiting for our table we perused the gift shops and sat on the property's front porch. I was literally taken back to being a kid visiting my grandma's house and various other small towns in the deep south. Yes, my friends if you dig Southern charm this is your place! After much anticipation we finally got in and promptly order sweet teas which were perfect. The superstar of Loveless is supposed to be biscuits however I found them just good not great. But you still have to give them props considering how many they make from scratch everyday. The homemade jams: apricot, blackberry, and strawberry are some of the best I've had and definitely elevated the biscuits. My friend and I both ordered the fried pork chops. I ended up getting the home fries and she got the hashbrown casserole. I wasn't a fan of the home fries, it tasted like the potatoes you got in grade school but the hashbrown casserole, my God was so good! I was totally envious of my friend. Portions of meat were massive, there's no way you'll be able to finish it all. All in all very tasty. Looking around the rest of the joint, the other food looked so delicious. I definitely would love to come back and try it all. Waitress was super friendly but was scarce due to the place being packed so I can't be too upset about that. Great restaurant if you're craving true old school Southern fare but come hungry!
(4)
Chan V.
The staff is awesome. They are super friendly and will take good care of you after waiting so long for a table. Expect to wait 2 hours or more for a table. Have no fear. They have things to keep you busy while you wait. Like a couple of gift shops to explore, a huge barn to hang out in on cold days and the property is enough to enjoy the scenery. Your table will be ready in no time. The food comes out fast. EVERYTHING IS AMAZING! The fried chicken is my favorite with cheesy hash. I love this place. If I am ever near the Nashville proximity I will make the trip to Loveless Cafe. This place is made for foodies. Must go!
(5)
Rafia J.
This place was one of the places recommended by magazines/sites and trip advisor. We didn't think much of it because it just seemed like any other southern eateries, but I am so glad we went there. This place was recommended by every local we met, they couldn't stop talking about it and after we ate there we understood why! The place is very homey and cozy, though casual. I loved the ambiance and it's set up! Our server was extremely nice and he suggested pretty much our entire menu. As soon as you sit down he brought us some fresh biscuits and jams and they were both delicious! The biscuits were fresh, warm, soft, and creamy! Jams seemed like they were homemade. Everything we ordered on the menu; fried chicken, grilled and fried fish were fresh and so so tasty! (we all liked the fried chicken better at Hattie B's but here it was delicious too). Sides we ordered were fried okra (YUM) and creamed corn (again YUM)! I am so glad we went there and it's definitely a place to visit when in Nashville!!
(5)
Joe V.
Found the Loveless Cafe online while looking for restaurants before my wife and I took a trip to Nashville and boy am I glad I did! While pulling up I didn't think much of the exterior until I walked in and saw a nicely renovated place with autographs on the walls from nearly 30 years worth of country music acts. We had a roughly 45 minute wait (a testament to how good the food is!) that we spent sitting on a bench outside watching a family play Corn Hole. Once inside our waiter Matt was attentive and really nice. He had a personality with out being overbearing and took really good care of us. Their signature item is biscuits - they are served with everything. The biscuits were good, not amazing but nothing bad to say about them. Their jam on the other hand was amazing! For our main course my wife and I both ordered the fried chicken. It was the best fried chicken I have ever had. It was AMAZING. If I didn't live a 13 hour drive away I would be a regular here.
(5)
Molly N.
First stop when we arrive in Nashville is to swing by the Loveless. No matter where you are staying its worth the 20 mins out of town to eat at this historic gem. 45 min wait is easy with pagers that reach the entire property and 2 stores to visit along with the photo ops outside. The food is tasty and comforting. The biscuits come to your table in mounds and it's clear why, they are melt in your mouth. Along with the 3 jams on your table! Chicken tenders are the biggest you've ever seen. One meal could feed three people. Ham is smoked and salty. The sides are interesting, delicious and you will want a meal on those! My 8 yr old loved the fried catfish. Even if just passing through Nashville, Make it a point to stop at the Loveless! Get yer biscuits!
(5)
Donna S.
This is a great place to visit. Plan on at least an hour wait. Their biscuits are made on site. Jams are delicious. I preferred the peach.
(5)
Mark O.
My wife and I had the fried chicken. The chicken was great. I would compare it to White Fence Farm in Illinois. The biscuits and jam were fantastic! Best biscuits I have ever had! We had creamed corn, fried green tomatoes, grits and mashed potatoes as sides. Best creamed corn I have ever had. Fried green tomatoes were great as well. A must try in Nashville.
To die for!! Well worth the 30 minute wait. Adorable setting with cool Tennessee hill breezes in the middle of July. Shopped the four shoppes while we waited. Games of corn home on the front lawn. Food consisted of amazing biscuits and jams. I had the grilled catfishes with mashed potatoes. Cream corn and hush puppies !!! Amazing !! Kat...Great waitress!! Looked like a rockabilly angel with big blue eyes :)
(5)
Andy S.
I first visited this cafe about 10 years ago. I had been thinking about it and wanted to return to it. G and I decided to meet here for dinner one Friday night. It's about halfway between his residence and Knoxville and mine in Memphis. I got there, and it was about a 45 minute wait, which was fortunate, because he was 45 minutes late. The cafe started in 1951 with the Loveless family basically selling fried chicken and biscuits out of their house. They have a BBQ pit, so they obviously smoke their own meat. It used to also be a motel. However, the motel quit operative about 20 years ago. The old motel parts are used for retail. You can buy plenty of souvenirs, some edible and some wearable. They start you off with biscuits and their famous jams. The biscuits were great. They also serve breakfast all day. I had to restrain myself from eating too many before my meal. They have some drinks. I had a whiskey and water. One friend ordered a shot of moonshine. It came in a cute mason jar cup. He said it was "strong." I love combination plates, so that's what I got. With as much food as I got, it was worth the price. I think it was the most expensive item on the menu at $17.55. The Southern Sampler Platter comes with your choice of three meats (Fried Chicken, Catfish, Country Ham, Meatloaf or Pork Barbeque) and two sides. I chose the fried chicken, because that was one of their original items. I also got the country ham, because it is proclaimed on their neon sign outside. And finally, I got the pork barbecue since I saw the BBQ pit outside. All the meat was just plain perfect. The pork was on a cornbread pancake. I also got to choose two sides. They have tons of choices. I ended up getting the greens and the mac n' cheese. Both were good and typically country. I would have liked to try the fried okra, but I already had too much food. For my meat, I did't choose the meatloaf, because I knew G would order it. he did, and it was good. It was covered with a tangy tomato sauce. He got the vegetable of the day, which was squash. It was surprisingly good, too. I wasn't tempted by it when I heard it was the special, but I was jealous when I tasted it. They have desserts, but there's no way someone could eat anyway after eating here! The other intriguing thing on their menu is their family style supper for groups of 4 or more. It's all you can eat for $17.55 a person. The table has to agree upon two meats and three veggies. It also includes a regular drink. It is so good that it would be worth a three hour drive. Seriously.
(5)
A M.
It wasn't bad but wasn't good either. Just saying for a place that prides itself on biscuits I ordered the pancakes thinking they would be awesome and I was wrong. My pancakes were dry, flat and tasteless. If I would have known that it was going to taste like this I would have not waited ninety minutes until we got a seat. My husbands country fried steak and eggs were good but nothing to write home about and my father in-laws ham and eggs were really salty and not good at all. Very disappointed in what we had. When I come back to Nashville this wouldn't be a place I would choose again. I just hope the jams I bought as gifts are better.
(3)
Eric B.
This place has been on my list for quite some time. I really wish I had gotten there sooner. It is a little pricey, but well worth it. I went for breakfast and everything was perfect and arrived exactly as I had ordered it. I had a couple mimosas that were also fantastic and served in Mason Jars. The wait was about 30 minutes, but it went by quickly as I explored the gift shops. I've heard about their fried chicken so I decided to order some of that to take home for lunch and dinner. The chicken was fantastic, but the greens were the best I've had other than those prepared by my mom or one of her sisters. If you're on a diet you will need the strength of a bull to not cheat on your diet here.
(5)
Joanna F.
Stopped in for breakfast before we left Nashville. Nice decor and cool history on the place. Their biscuits were SO GOOD and their homemade preserves were awesome. I had the biscuit sampler with fried green tomato (so good but I passed on the heave pimento cheese), fried chicken (so good), bbq (pretty good), and sausage for my son. Hubby ordered breakfast sampler, he really liked it too. The food definitely stuck with you. We were so full from all that food we skipped lunch.
(4)
Hannah H.
Loveless Cafe has gone through several ownerships, but the place stemmed from Lon and Annie Loveless, who were known to pass out fried chicken and biscuits to travelers who were traveling on Highway 100. They serve items such as the country ham, pork bbq, omelets, fried chicken, catfish, pancakes, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. My sister and I shared the 'Famous Loveless Country Ham,' which was a 7oz sliced ham that came with 2 eggs and a side of red-eye gravy. You also have a choice to have homefries or hash brown casserole, and the platter is also served with biscuits (sorghum and honey are offered upon request). The ham itself was tasty, but way too salty (even for my taste). Even without seasoning the eggs and eating it with the ham, it still didn't balance it out. I really enjoyed the hashbrown casserole, as it was wonderfully cheesy and creamy - yum! I could have eaten this all day! We also tried the Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato Biscuit - it came with a nice generous dollop of pimento cheese with a perfectly fried sliced green tomato, all in their homemade biscuits - it was delicious! I also really enjoyed their biscuits as it had a nice little crispy top with a lovely soft interior; great on its own or with butter - you can add honey, sorghum, or any of the jellies that they also provide you with. There are plenty of parking spaces, and there's also a cute gift store that you can check out across the lot - they sell the Loveless's strawberry vines decor on platters, cookbooks, kitchen accessories, home decor, etc. I'm glad I was able to check this place out! +DELICIOUS BISCUITS!!! +hashbrown casserole +Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato Biscuit
(4)
Helen M.
This is my favorite breakfast place in Nashville Tennessee! I came here five years ago and couldn't wait to get back for their homemade biscuits and jams. Really cute and fun old-fashioned ambience. Wonderful staff. JaDee was our waitress and she did a wonderful job by welcoming us nicely and bringing out the nonstop biscuits and jams and with that sweet southern hospitality brought some coffee to go for a long drive. Great place for families! Delicious food and great conversation to be had! Don't miss this place on the way to and from your destination when you go through Nashville!
(5)
Melanie R.
This is a MUST in Nashville. It's important to go into it knowing that it's all about the experience. If you go during a busy time, you will wait. Even if you go early, you will wait... but it won't be as long. If you have a larger group, you will definitely wait. Don't be surprised or frustrated by this. If you're impatient, then don't try to eat here. Go when the weather is nice so you can pass the wait time checking out the store, playing corn hole and wandering around the grounds. It's a bit of a drive, so go when you are in the mood to enjoy the drive to and fro. The food is classic southern and will not disappoint. it it a little overpriced? Sure. But you're paying for the experience just as much as anything. You'll get delicious food, and it will be a large portion. You will leave stuffed and happy. Again. Know what you're getting into. You don't go here for a "quick bite." You make an outing of it and enjoy taking your time driving out in the country, socializing with those in your party or strangers who are also waiting on a table, and eating a delicious southern meal in a charming old building that has been a part of Nashville for years and year.
(5)
Rachel '.
Love this place. Breakfast is amazing. The jams are delicious. And the smoke master gave the kids a little tour and a tutorial on how he smokes the meat. Very nice man .. We all enjoyed talking with him. Awesome morning!
(5)
Laurie F.
I don't need to add to the other great reviews. Do yourself a favor; just go. And be sure to stop by the gift shop for jams, hams & biscuit mix. You'll be craving these within days.
(5)
Pam F.
When we finally found it and you get pass the long wait We enjoyed our trip we are breakfast eaters and they serve it all day Ham is extra Salty but if you dip it in the gravy wasn't so bad. I had some fried green tomatoes they was yummy.
(4)
Melissa M.
Great restaurant. The biscuits a awesome and they just keep coming. I have only eaten breakfast there but the rest of the menu looks great as well. It is a tourist attraction so I recommend going early or be prepared to wait.
(5)
Kim S.
Absolutely adore the Loveless! Best biscuits ever and tasty jams with the blackberry being my favorite! Always get the fried chicken biscuits which are just perfect little packages of pleasure. Breakfasts are great too! Outstanding, friendly service. Picnic tables outside make it easy to have a meal with your pup traveling companions. Give this wonderful cafe a try if you're nearby.
(5)
Bridget H.
What I liked: 1. The biscuits- I wish I could give 100 biscuit stars. Living in south I feel like somewhat of a biscuit connoisseur at this point, and it's safe to say these are my favorite- extra buttery and only made better when loaded up with Loveless homemade jam. And, get this, they are unlimited! 2. The atmosphere- Yes, it's touristy and a little cheesy, but worth the visit if you're in town for the weekend. What I didn't like: 1. Very long lines on the weekend. 2. Per above, tourist hell on the weekend. 3. The rest of the breakfast is average and very greasy. Overall Verdict: Go if you're in the mood for biscuits or doing a quick trip to Nashville.
(3)
Rhonda G.
Where do I start? Ok, the biscuits with three different jams. I thought it couldn't get better until the fried catfish came out, piping hot, crunchy outside, flaky inside. Garlic mashed potatoes and fried green tomatoes finished out the meal. My companion voted the fried chicken as good as it gets. My daughter had the gigantic pancake. We finished by sharing the fudge pie. Worth every calorie. Even though we arrived late afternoon on a Monday, there was still a wait of 40 minutes but don't be put off. Spend the time imagining a flaky, hot biscuit. Our server was friendly and full of information. He made us feel as if we were old friends stopping by for a chat and getting a meal as a bonus. It might seem as if you are driving to the middle of nowhere but when you leave, you'll be planning when you can return.
(5)
Sara Jane G.
Came on a Thursday morning at 9am no wait to get in super fast service had our food very fast as well and it was insanely delicious! Had the moonshine Bloody Mary comes with cured bacon and a souvenir glass! Southern sampler, biscuit sampler, and biscuits and gravy! Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection!
(5)
Jocelyn F.
My mother and I first time Nashville. We just wanted some good ol country food. When we walked it was so cute with the wall of fame. We were ordering take out because the wait was very long to be seated. We didnt have time to waiting. So when it came down to ordering the hostess Hiley was sooooo rude. When she had to take our order, when we were sitting down (starring at us so ugly), and when we were getting our food. I never felt so uncomfortable. I was so mad but i didnt say anything because i didnt want to cause a seen. But they with be getting a call and a letter. Thanks Hiley for ruining our first time in Nashville.
(1)
Nabilah L.
This was our first time at Loveless though we've been in Nashville for a few years now. EXCELLENT FOOD! And even more EXCELLENT SERVICE! Barbara was the woman who served us, and she was very welcoming and helped us select the perfect meals. I chose the quarter fried chicken with the hashbrown casserole and the sweet potatoes. My friend had the chicken and dumplings with the squash casserole and slow cooked green beans. Both option were truly amazing. For anyone passing through Tennessee or looking for a new place to eat - please check this place out for some really great Southern food. And I totally forgot about the biscuits, but yea...some of the best I've ever had!
(5)
Ann E.
First meal in Nashville this time. My daughter brought us directly here from the airport. Had to wait about 55 minutes no problem-we walked around and visited a few of the gift shops nearby-well worth the wait! The biscuits have not been over rated. The problem is to stop eating them before your meal comes so you don't wreck your appetite! Delicious jam, too! I had 2 pieces of chicken which were absolutely delicious, so moist, cooked perfectly. I chose the beans ( didn't really like them) and the Mac and Cheese (which was very good) for my sides. Highly recommended!
(4)
Paul K.
As a native Nashvillian one of the things that was severely lacking in my experience of town was attempted to be remedied last year with my first trip to eat at the Loveless Cafe. Unfortunately there was an hour+ wait and we got some to-go food, which was underwhelming forty minutes later when I ate it. I'd been to the Loveless many times in the past, usually involving motorcycle rides or a charity event, or something at the barn, but I'd never eaten there which was quite odd. I went again and was more impressed, but that experience was also nothing to write home about, especially since my home was about 20 minutes away and I was the only person who would be checking mail. Third time however was a charm. We went with baby in tow, they were very nice to us and her, the food was quite good (those biscuits do *not* keep,) and I could imagine why some people dream of coming to this place. There were a few vegetarian options available. I ended up getting an omelet and sharing it with my rugrat along with some cheesy hash browns and some biscuits. This place is baby approved as a note. I never made it out there when the biscuit lady was still alive, so I don't know how they compare to the originals, but they were great fresh and solid as a rock unfresh, which may give you valuable clues and insights into how your arteries will fare. Parking is a bit of a pain, always has been, it's a combo of not quite large enough, too much area, and slow exiting. If you're heading there just park and plan to walk a bit, you'll be happier parking further away, at least in my experiences.
(5)
Zippity D.
Of course the main draw is the fact that, well, it's the Loveless Cafe. So, I wouldn't call the food amazing, but it is pretty darn tasty. Especially their biscuits (of course!), of which they are thankfully very generous with. Everything else is yummy and your dining experience here might remind you of eating dinner at your grandmum's kitchen table. :) The staff were very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Casey L.
We got here on a Sunday morning around 10 am the last day when we were in Nashville and there was a 2 hour wait! Wanting to get on the road, we ordered to go and it was ready in 15 minutes! The pimento and fried green tomato biscuits were recommended by the sweet hostess and they were out of this world! We enjoyed all the staples as well. Stopped in the gift shop and purchased a cookbook and some biscuit mix and we were on our way. To summarize - if you are in a pinch for time, order to go.
(4)
Marisa R.
Last night my boyfriend and I landed in Nashville for a Bonnaroo vacation, and immediately wanted a classic Southern meal to kick off our week. Loveless Cafe is our favorite spot when in town, but last night our server, Owen, truly made the experience exceptional! Not only was he kind and courteous, but his recommendations and introduction to molasses butter was to die for. His customer service and attention truly made us feel like we were over a friend's house for dinner. Thank you so much for another great experience and for the mini mason jar as a little token to take back home to Los Angeles! XO
(5)
Ray P.
I've eaten at Loveless many times, and have had quite a few different dishes, but I'll try to touch on some highs and lows. Long waits are to be expected, especially on weekends and at traditional meal times. I'm a meatloaf connoisseur. It's one of the dishes I use to judge a restaurant. Theirs is good. Not the best I've had but far from the worst. The mac n cheese is pretty standard Velveeta and elbow macaroni. The creamed corn tastes more like a corn pudding to me...a bit too sweet and custardy. Fried green tomatoes are not good. Thin and tough. Mashed potatoes are good. Hash brown casserole is decent. The BBQ pork is good. Not great, but not bad. Fried chicken is very good. Breakfast is always good, though the grits are a disappointment. And the biscuits just haven't been the same since Carol Fay died a few years back. They have a liquor license. Try the Bloody Mary, then go over to the store and buy a jar of the mix for $10. It's worth it.
(3)
Katelin B.
We decided to follow a friend's recommendation while in Nashville for a quick trip for a wedding - I am SO glad we did! While it isn't in the downtown area, it was certainly worth the drive. We sat outside and just loved the atmosphere. I'm GF so I couldn't try the biscuits but the rest of my group had 3-4 each (our waiter, the lovely Trevor, gladly kept bringing us more!) Their omelets are DELICIOUS. Just go - you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Lina H.
Southern hospitality at its best, and QUALITY FOOD!!! I could not believe my mouth! This place is everything it promised to be, always FRESH HOMEMADE ingredients is what we were told, and they delivered no problem... THE BEST BISCUITS ANYWHERE!!! Seriously folks... as a native Californian, i have never ever ever tasted biscuits so good. I've got a gluten sensitivity, but am not celiac, and these did not affect me at all. The pork loin was tender and delicious, the creamed corn is to die for, the service is friendly, warm, amazing - Susan was our waitress and she was generous with portions and her customer service - before we leave Nashville, we are definitely making the 30 minute drive back out to this place... IT IS WORTH IT YA'LL!!!
(5)
Griffin F.
Fried chicken OMG. Biscuit OMG. Definitely the best biscuits I have ever had and top 5 fried chicken. The biscuits were so warm and fluffy and add their homemade preservatives and you have biscuit heaven. The fried chicken was so good, the skin was crispy but not too oily. The meat wasn't dry, and it tasted really fresh. So good!
(5)
M L.
I'm not sure if it's the hype or a staple in many travelers to do list, but waiting 1.5 hrs for some over priced biscuits is not high on my agenda. They have a neat set up where you can visit their store or play corn hole, but can't say I'll be visiting this place again. One and done.
(2)
Justin W.
The Good: - The biscuits and preserves are great. - The steak biscuit platter was excellent. - The side dishes are generally good. The grits left a lot to be desired. - Our server was very nice and attentive. The Bad: - We ordered two moonshine drinks, and only one had any alcohol in it. - The Bloody Mary tasted like moonshine, water, and a splash of hot sauce mixed together. - Flies. Everywhere. There were at least 20 flies buzzing around our table from the minute we first got there.
(2)
Karl F.
Our family loved the fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, collared greens. But the smoked pork chops with peach jelly stole the show. Everyone is so friendly down here we took home souvenirs too!
(5)
Mike W.
Loveless is a solid 4 stars. Why is that, you might ask? Well, the biscuits are out of this world and they come with 3 different types of homemade preserves. It was buttery, sugary heaven. If I had those alone, it would have been 5 stars. The food itself, however, was really just a 3. I got one of the omelettes and, although the portions were big (though not quite as big as the people there) it was a very average omelette. My friend got the pulled pork breakfast, which he loved. The meal was literally the day's sustenance for us. But i just keep dreaming about those biscuits... The service was average. The waitress was not that attentive and forgot that I had ordered the honey and sorghum (which basically looked and tasted like just honey). Regardless, just go and order a plate of biscuits. You won't be sorry you did.
(4)
Lesley B.
Loveless Cafe... it just does not get much better than this. A Nashville staple, this place has got it all- music, biscuits, and out of this world chocolate milk! If you have a more adventurous spirit, do not fret they have quite a selection of breakfast/lunch cocktails. The biscuits are amazing- you can choose from an assortment such as fried chicken, ham, sausage, fried green tomato, etc they also have a biscuit sampler where you can pick four kinds of mini biscuits... it does not sound like a lot of food but man it is so filling! My friends ordered variations of eggs/ omelettes and said they were cooked to perfection. Out of nine people, not a single one of us was disappointed with our food nor had orders remorse. Oh my gosh and do NOT get me started on their hotsauce. Being a hot sauce fanatic, I am normally not impressed with restaurants if they do not carry some form of hot sauce other than Siracha/Tabasco. So obviously, because Loveless Cafe was marketing their own hot sauce, I was quick to write it off. How wrong I was. This hot sauce is AMAZING. It's spicy without being overwhelming and adds a unique flavor to any dish without overpowering the original. I was such a fan that I bought a bottle for myself and my family. Two months later I went and purchased three more bottles. Mark my words, it is some of the best hot sauce you will ever have. The only downside would be the wait on weekends, but if you go early enough you can avoid this. And the actual wait itself goes by pretty quickly except on holidays. Otherwise, when going to Loveless Cafe, you're in for a treat!
(4)
Gayle R.
Ya gotta love the Loveless. The wait is worth it! The food is perfect, every time! The offer up amazing food, great service and a fun atmosphere. I've eaten at The Loveless countless times and I'm always impressed!
(5)
Stephanie D.
It was a hour and 10 minute wait to get a table for 7 people on Sunday at 11:30. At least we could kill some time by browsing the small shops nearby but the selections in the hams and jams shop was pretty small but they have jams, honey, peanut brittle, popcorn, nut mixes and some souvenir items. The food was average, which is why I rated it 3 stars. It was nice to get complimentary biscuits and jam. I ordered the French toast with a cup of fresh fruit. The French toast was thick but there wasn't anything "extra special" about them. My friends had the omelette and pancakes and they rated it 3 stars. Good food but nothing special for foodies.
(3)
Jessa L.
You are here for the biscuits! That being said, the rest of the food was a big southern mass of tasty awesomeness. You do not go here if you are on a diet, worried about unclogging your arteries, or planning on running a marathon that day. The portions are big, covered in classic southern gravy and very very delicious. Eating to the point of explosion is a likely experience (especially because the biscuits come first!) Stopping by the gifts shops is very necessary. Do it
(4)
Peter L.
In my global pursuit of the best fried chicken, I was very pleased with the birds from the Loveless Cafe - crispy, well seasoned, not too greasy. And the biscuits rock! In addition, the place is kind of a time capsule from the past - worth the drive from downtown and not too bad of a wait at dinner time.
(5)
Ian K.
My mom brought us here because of all the hype surrounding the place. With such fame, I expected a long wait but great food. We really only ended up waiting half an hour, and there were a lot of small shops to pass the time. We ended up sitting on the outdoor porch, which was pretty serene, but the experience was somewhat ruined by the flies. Then, the biggest issue of the meal arose: the service. Nobody waited on us initially, and we actually had to ask for service. After taking our orders, we really only saw our waitress again once or twice, even though we requested more biscuits and needed frequent refills. The food was phenomenal. Every single thing we ordered was scrumptious, and the biscuits and preserves lived up to their legendary status. The food easily earns 5 stars, but the service was unbearable. Still, highly recommended for anybody in the area.
(4)
Shan N.
Oh my word. This place is hog heaven. Not for hogs, of course, cuz they're getting smoked out back. But all manner of cooked hog--bacon, sausage, country ham, pulled pork--is here for you. We also spent some time talking with Eric, the pitmaster. He brought us into the smoke house and talked with us about the process, showing us pork butts, briskets and chickens in the smoker. This dude loves his job and does it well. Back inside, they gave us a mess of biscuits to start. After we were done they gave us another mess of biscuits to go, along with the preserves. Here's a tip. Ask for the sorghum for your biscuits. And while you're at it, mix a little in with your grits. Oh my word.
(5)
Edward M.
EDIT: TALKED TO MGMT PERSONALLY TONIGHT WHO CALLED A MEETING TO DISCUSS MY COMPLAINT. IM FULLY SATISFIED WITH MY DISCUSSION THAT THEY'LL HANDLE IT RESPONSIBLY AND TO THE SATISFACTION OF CUSTOMERS . To be clear this review is NOT about the food, this review pertains exclusively to their front desk staff only and my multiple visits to the restaurant. Food and biscuits are worth the trip, but "Southern Hospitality" at front desk is lacking. THIS WAS NOT DISCUSSED BUT I FEEL THEVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT AND AM HOPEFUL IT WILL BE RESOLVED. If you make a reservation, be aware reservations here DO NOT reserve you a table. Not for a large wedding party where we were forced to wait 20 minutes before guests got to be seated, or a small group, as I just witnessed tonight for dinner. THE CHEF HERE IS AMAZING!!! MY WIFE HAS SERIOUS ALLERGIES. HE CAME OUT TO THE FLOOR, WENT THROUGH THE MENU DISCUSSED OUR OPTIONS AND WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL MEAL!!! ALL THANKS TO HIM. EATING OUT WITH ALLERGIES IS DIFFICULT AT BEST! HE MADE IT VERY ENJOYABLE! THX! *As a side note, the food that was served to my wedding group was excellent and everyone loved it FRONT DESK STAFF TONIGHT WAS AMAZING. The problem I've seen resides with Loveless front desk staff NOT notifying customers that their reservation fails to reserve their table until one opens up, even if it expedites the wait. From what I saw tonight a reservation cuts your wait time in half. Mine was 45 minutes the reservation was about 20-25. Upon finding this out, people are a little annoyed. IVE GOT FAMILY IN TONIGHT AND MY FRONT DESK EXPERIENCE WAS GREAT. I HOPE TO SEE THIS HOSPITALITY STAY AND BECOME FURTHER ENTRENCHED! $100 WELL SPENT!!! Not only was my experience very poor as we were waiting, and the heavy set front desk girl very rude, but tonight after the customer expressed her annoyance which is understandable, after she left the blond girl at the front continued to bad mouth her to at least three other staff, right in the lobby area, loudly! Loud enough that we informed her it's in very poor taste to badmouth your patrons at length, loudly, in front of other patrons.
(5)
Kenzie R.
Nice strong coffee. After breakfast I wanted to take a nap in the corner. Homemade everything is hard to really dislike. The potato casserole rivaled my grandmothers and the biscuits. They were basically crack. Of course friendly southern attitudes complete the experience.. Great breakfast spot. Can't wait to try it for dinner.
(5)
Rosa G.
There should be a yelp page for the biscuits alone... Best ever! Found this place on yelp while on a trip to Nashville. The food was delicious but the biscuits... oh... Em... gee! They bring plates full out to the table. They even sell the mix online. Great place and great experience!
(5)
Teema C.
A pretty long wait to get in on a Saturday morning, but boy am I glad we got there when we did, because the line only got longer. You cannot call in to reserve a table. We toured around the buildings while we waited and once we were seated, the wait was well worth those delicious biscuits and home made spreads itself! I really loved the peach preserves...yum! Breakfast and coffee were average, hubby's chicken fried steak was pretty good but my ham was very salty. Those biscuits..I would go back just for them.
(4)
Larry D.
We had a little bit of everything at our table: pancakes, chicken fried steak & eggs, and fried chicken, fried fish, and pulled pork with sides of turnip greens and Mac and cheese. Started off with a plate of biscuits. Wow. We may not eat again today. Everything was great. The waiter was very good.
(5)
Jesse Q.
Simply delicious. The biscuits are to die for. The environment is welcoming. Don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. The food comes out fast though!
(5)
Mac L.
This is a must do for in and out of town people. Always a full belly when you leave, the southern food and hospitality never disappoint. But be prepared to wait, because its so good, you wont regret it.
(5)
Christina A.
We waited for an hour and 45 minutes. Not worth that long of a wait. Under an hour, do it. The service was pretty good, they were obviously very busy. Right away they will bring you biscuits. Dig in because they're famous for a reason. Try the peach jam. They will bring you more so keep them coming and you can take some home to go! We had omelets which were yummy. The pulled pork one was fun and good. Cheese and garden omelets were standard.
(4)
Mario E.
This is a unique gem just outside of Nashville. Everything I have tried has been wonderful Nd always filling. Take look at the pictures your eyes will it lie!
(5)
David A.
Good country grub at a very "hot" stop in Nashville. Plan on spending over an hour to wait. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. I guess it's the type of place you have to go to once. Everything we tried was really good, just not great. I had far better meals during my trip. It's good. It's fun. Just not worth the wait.
(4)
Brittany B.
Best home style cooking you can get! It seems to always be busy but it's worth the wait. Plus they have little stores to keep you entertained while you wait. Everyone is very friendly and have southern hospitality. After getting seated and ordering, the wait for your food isn't that long. And if anything is wrong they will make it right. Pies are to die for! And FYI the moonshine are very strong!
(5)
Bec M.
This place is amazing! I highly recommend everyone to go and see this place and have a meal. While you may have to wait, it worth very second of your time. The staff are so friendly and accommodating. The food is out of this world! The hash brown casserole is to die for.
(5)
Jeremy T.
Great food, service, and location. Good home cooking style food. The staff is great, and I've never had to wait long for a table even though the place is very busy.
(5)
Nicole M.
Holy biscuits! It's been a few weeks since our last visit and I am constantly craving their biscuits-so good! There's really just no place like Loveless. The staff feels like family and you never feel rushed. Take some time to walk around after you eat-the shops are all lovely.
(5)
Larry S.
We've been back several times since my original review, and I still love it. Every time we have out-of-town guests, we take them to the Loveless. We make sure they all get a chance to try the Rise & Shine (moonshine & OJ) if they want to. I've had it once, and that was enough for me. We went back this month, and I ordered a bowl of sausage gravy for the table to share with our biscuits, and it got me to thinking about Bobby Flay's biscuit throwdown at the Loveless. Now, I'm certain that Bobby's gourmet biscuit and jam were outstanding, and I'd really like for him to come fix my breakfast sometime. But the biscuit that he made is not the kind of biscuit that anyone can make by the thousands, every day, year after year. And I'm not sure how his biscuit would be with sausage gravy. I may never taste a Bobby Flay biscuit, but I'm certain that I'll be having a lot more of those wonderful Loveless biscuits, either with gravy, jam, or as a ham/bacon/BBQ sandwich.
(5)
Trevor J.
Thank you Food Network / Travel Channel!!!! The biscuits were to die for. The server was so nice and he knew we were from California right from the beginning. This might have helped because he kept giving us biscuits and the jelly (amazing). When we got to the food we weren't even that hungry. The food was average, but the real reason this is 5 stars is due to the biscuits and especially the jelly. Please treat yourself and order something small or split a meal and just get the biscuits and jelly. The biscuits were soft and good, but it was the jelly that was superb.
(5)
Heather W.
I will find any excuse to eat here when I'm close to Nashville. The breakfast is amazing. For lunch the fried chicken and mashed potatoes actually taste homemade. This is one of my favorite places to eat.
(5)
Jon B.
This place is a solid 5 stars. The food was great, shops were cute and we got in quickly although it is a Monday morning. The homemade food and jams are worth the trip down from Nashville.
(5)
Pete T.
Outstanding food, friendly service. Biscuits were amazing, I see why folks come back here again and again. I was visiting some friends that live in Franklin and they took me here for lunch. Large servings, tasty food, it was all good. We didn't have to wait very long, maybe 20 min for our party of 4, so we had fun playing corn-hole in front of the restaurant.
(5)
Heather T.
This place was great!!!! Friendly staff and if there is a wait, and I'm sure there will be, you can walk over to their market and gift shop to look around. Biscuits are served with every meal and they are yummy! I ate so many I barely had room for my meal. I had 3 sides as a meal and they were all very good. My husband had the smoked boneless pork chop and it was delicious. If you are in the Nashville area- you should stop here for sure!
(5)
Shirley A.
Come here for the experience! I've found that country food in Tennessee isn't all that different from what we have in Texas, with the exception of never hearing of "hot chicken." Either way, Loveless has all the awesome breakfast offerings, even becoming a bit overwhelming! I stuck with the chicken and waffles and it was just fine. The order comes with a bunch of syrup on the side so you can add it to your liking. What did stick with me - their drinks! The "Blue Moon" isn't the beer... instead it's all sorts of goodness with blueberries, lemonade, and a souvenir mini mason jar with mason jar, also so you can add it to your liking. Since I was planning on taking the souvenir with me, I went ahead and dumped all of the moonshine given to me, only to later find out that they give you a lid for it. We had two servers for 30+ people and they did a superb job getting everybody's orders right and getting control of such a large group. When you're done eating, step out to their many little stores for some shopping! I snagged a gift for my niece's birthday and Olive & Sinclair chocolate bars for everyone else who can't fit in a 12 month old onesie.
(4)
Veronica C.
To begin, the food was four stars. We had the fried chicken and catfish, with creamed corn and caramel sweet potatoes. All of it was very good. The jam was also delicious! The reason I rate loveless three stars is because of the hostess and the lady working the cash register. Not only did they lack southern hospitality, they lacked any hospitality. I am hoping it was just an off day and not a usual occurrence.
(3)
Claudia G.
OMG!!! I want to live in their kitchen! This is real southern cooking. Not only is the food AMAZING but the staff will treat you like family...the members you like :-) I will most definitely be coming back to Nashville just to visit them again. Don't leave town without visiting these guys. Yes it's a bit out of the way, but the drive is well worth it. It really is a hidden gem.
(5)
Tom W.
Operating on the very real premise that a real trip to Nashville must necessarily involve biscuits from Loveless Cafe, we scratched that itch this morning. It's still the same, wonderful!
(5)
Chris B.
Five stars all the way. There is a wait and a hike to get there, especially from where I was staying by the airport, but it is well worth it. If you are looking for excellent southern, comfort food, this is the place. I had the country fried steak which was good but wish I would have ordered the fried chicken after tasting my dads. I would definitely go back if I'm passing through Nashville.
(5)
K S.
I went for breakfast yesterday. I was alone which at some restaurants means you get poor service, but not here ! My friendly waitress made sure I got hot coffee with plenty of refills, a plate of plentiful right out of the oven biscuits, and made sure I was happy with my order. I ordered the pork chops. The order comes with eggs and the hash brown casserole. My goodness what a plateful of good food. I ate plenty and packed the rest in a big container to take home. I had the rest of the pork chops and biscuits for lunch. I think their biscuits are better now...more buttery...than they used to be. I had not eaten here in about five years. My visit here yesterday was much more pleasant than in the past. So I think everyone should revisit again ! AK
(5)
Troy S.
I wouldn't waste my time with the drive. The biscuits didn't seem to be the greatest ever to me as they just seemed like biscuits. They were warm and good but not great. I think I had too high of expectations for this place hence the two stars. It probably is a three star place because of the various attractions around the store. They also make their food themselves which makes it a decent place. I ordered Biscuits & gravy which was good as the gravy was done right. The coffee was a little weak for me and I didn't get a refill until my food came. It sat empty for close to 5 minutes. My wife ordered a Mimosa which was strong and she liked it. It used wine instead of champagne. My daughter has scrambled eggs which were blah with no flavor. My wife went with a chicken biscuit that wasn't up to her Chick Fila standards. All in all the food wasn't bad but it wasn't so great to drive 30 minutes out of ones way for. The homemade jams are ok but my mother and aunt make it jbetter. The nice thing about this location are the little shops with overpriced stuff in them. It is nice to walk around and see the places. They have baby changing stations in their handicap stalls. The bathrooms were clean and all the workers we met were friendly. I would stay in Nashville and try out another breakfast place instead of coming here.
(3)
Kevin B.
What a ridiculously amazing place! I had researched Nashville prior to my vacation and the biscuits at the Loveless Cafe were one of the top foods to try on everyone's list. We hopped off the plane, got our rental car, checked into the hotel, and drove straight here and boy were we glad we came. We beat the evening rush by coming a bit after 5 on a weekday and were immediately sat. The menu is very extensive and it seems like they make a bit of everything. We both ordered the fried chicken (we did come to the South after all) and our biscuits arrived in the meantime. They were absolutely and utterly perfect biscuits and they came with 3 homemade jams: peach, strawberry, and blackberry. All the jams were fantastic and worked really well with the biscuits (they sell them in their gift shop and at the airport). The fried chicken was perfect and very juicy and our sides (mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes) were top-notch. Our waitress even brought over some carrot pudding for us to try for free since she wanted us to like it, which was really nice (and tasty!). We also got a slice of coconut cream pie, a local brew, and a moonshine cocktail (complete with tiny souvenir mug), which were all great. Bottom line: this place has amazing food and great service. It really is worth the drive out from Nashville (or other surrounding towns) and try to come on a weekday on off-peak hours to avoid the huge crowds!
(5)
Sam S.
The BBQ is great and the biscuits are some of the best I have ever had. I had a sample plater it came with meet loaf fried chicken & BBQ a side of green beans and a side of cucumbers with onions.
(4)
Olivia M.
This place was great! We received a recommendation from a local to definitely check out this cafe and we are so happy that we did so. The people there are so friendly and the cafe is very quaint and has a lot of charm. The food is sooooo good, we can't stress that enough. We aren't from around here and we loved getting to experience some of Nashville's greatest foods. Also, they give you a lot of biscuits and jams to eat with it and it was amazing. If you are coming to Nashville or live there and have never been, definitely check out this place! It is so worth it.
(5)
Adria R.
We really enjoyed the setting and the "to do" surrounding this place, including the remote location and the campus like setting. We had to wait about 40 minutes, at around 11am on a Thursday, which wasn't a big deal. While the food was tasty, it was overall pretty underwhelming. Good, but not great. I would have given it 4 stars if it wasn't for our server. She wanted to take our order right away and rolled her eyes when we asked for more time with the menu. Then the fried green tomatoes that I ordered to go with my eggs never arrived, so I inquired about them and she went to fetch them. 10 minutes went by, by which time my eggs were cold, and eventually she dropped them off with a "here you go". A simple "sorry about that" would have been plenty, but the southern hospitality was somewhere else today. Otherwise, we enjoyed our time at the Lovelace and would likely visit again in the future.
(3)
Gina T.
Everyone was hyping this place up so I figured I had to try it. I'm from Chicago so when my friends and I came down here for a roadtrip, we were staying in Vanderbilt. It took us about 30 min to drive there and the wait was an hour and 20 min. Not too bad because we got to walk around the cute stores they had and bought a few things. I was looking forward to the biscuits but honestly they were just good. Not as amazing as I thought they were going to be, but just plain good. The strawberry and peach jam were my faves. I had the pulled pork and eggs. Not that great. The pulled pork didn't have any taste to it and they barely put any BBQ sauce on it. Would I order it again? No. I'm sure they had other good things on the menu but when I asked my friends what they thought about the food they said it was alright. I give it a four stars because they had cool little shops around, their food was okay, and the service was great. Our waiter took the time to explain everything on the menu, what was popular, etc. I was definitely expecting some amazing southern BBQ breakfast and I mean if it wasn't for the service and stores I would of given them 3 stars. Overall, I tried it once and once is enough for me.
(4)
Teresa P.
Flaky, soft, freshly hot biscuits? Crunchy crusty, yet moist fried chicken? Perfectly cornmealed and seasoned fried catfish? Tucked away next to a gas station out of the Nashville city? Yes, definitely the best way to start my New Years resolution of 2014!! This place was poppin' late afternoon of New Year's Day. Screw your New Years resolution when there's food this delicious around! We loved the biscuits, fried chicken, and fried catfish. Sides were okay. We weren't too pleased with the overly cheesy hash brown casserole, but we loved the cucumber salad, fried green tomatoes, and hush puppies. An amazing place with that southern charm that makes you feel like you're eating in a local home, just be ready to wait at least 30 min to and hour if you haven't called in before hand. No worries, you can stroll around their cute stores and get some loveless souvenirs!!
(5)
Adam R.
I've officially set my mom up for failure with a visit to Loveless Cafe two days before Thanksgiving!! Friendly service, amazing meatloaf and delicious sides. This little gem was the icing on the cake for our day trip to Nashville. My only regret... Not saving room for dessert!
(5)
Courtney C.
Q: How far would you travel for fresh, homemade biscuits? A: 393 miles. Well, that's partly true. We decided to travel to Nashville just for the hell of it and because it was cold in Chicago. Next to the sunshine and warm temperature, Loveless was the biggest selling point for us to come on down. We knew what to expect in coming to Loveless. We knew it would be packed and we would have to wait, but did we care? Absolutely not. Good food is worth waiting for, especially when it's on every major list of things you need to see in Nashville. We called ahead which I highly recommend. Once we finally arrived, they were telling people an hour but they only quoted us 30 minutes since we had called and our name was already on the list. (By the time we were leaving they were telling people an hour and a half, so go as early as you can!) Although there's a few shops on the property, it's not enough to kill more than 20 minutes. Loveless is primarily known for the biscuits and they didn't disappoint. I especially loved the peach jam that came with it. I also ordered some sausage gravy for the biscuits, but that was a waste of money -- the free jam was the way to go! Breakfast was great, especially the jalapeno bacon. It wasn't too spicy, but the jalapeno gave it a nice flavor. Also, whoever said their hashbrown casserole was better than Cracker Barrel's wasn't lying. I kept eyeing my husband's hoping he wouldn't eat it. I should have just stole it from him :( Our waiter was so welcoming that it almost made me wish I lived in Nashville so I could hang out with him. When he saw my ID (carded me for my mimosas) and saw that it was an IL license he recommended his favorite places in Nashville for us. I absolutely love southern hospitality! The only reason for not giving 5 stars was the fact that I dropped $40 on breakfast. Do you know how many hours I had to work to earn that? Of course -- it was totally worth it.
(4)
Megan M.
Made the long drive out and although it was neat to see the food wasn't overwhelmingly great. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese was very good. I almost think the potatoes were instant at least they tasted that way...not a compliment. The fried chicken was plenty good but not amazing. Now the biscuits were very good but the preserves were the best part of it all. I'm glad we didn't have to wait. I wouldn't say it was worth waiting for. All in all not sad we went but wouldn't go back again.
(3)
Betsy L.
I mean, come on, what can I say that everyone else hasn't said? Yes, their biscuits are pretty rad. Yes, I have had better country cooking (hailing from Alabama, and all). Yes, the staff is very friendly...especially for being crazy slammed all day long every day. Yes, I only go here for special occasions (i.e. Out of town guests).
(3)
Traci D.
Our party of three sampled a good portion of the menu and there wasn't one bad thing! The creamed corn is absolutely amazing!!
(5)
Olivia G.
Not just a restaurant, but an experience! Played corn hole and shopped in the 2 stores while waiting for our table. You bite into a biscuit and it tastes like butter, it's amazing. The pulled pork platter was enough for me to eat dinner for a week. I got mashed potatoes and mac&cheese for my sides and they were great but I tried my sister's creamed corn and wish I had gotten that. It was yummy! Definitely not a place to go if you're on a diet, but it was fun to pig out on vacation :)
(5)
Jo M.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, jam, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, BISCUITS! Oh, yeah, they have other food, too, and a very friendly staff.
(4)
Nancy B.
Free coffee is why they're getting two stars! There is no way this place is worth the hour plus wait we were told when we arrived. Being on a time crunch we opted for take away and decided to eat outside. Our biscuits weren't really cooked. What the hell? The French toast was fine and happily my egg omelette was fully cooked. This is not a must visit and even if I lived in the area I don't think I'd go back.
(2)
Jeff E.
It was suggested to us by a complete stranger at a resort in Crossville, he said if you go anywhere in Nashville the Loveless should be at the top of the list, well it was # 3, What a wonderful experience, we were warned that there are sometimes a long wait,We waited approx. 30 mins. After that we were seated promptly on the side patio and greeted a very friendly bearded waiter wish I could remember his name! He took excellent care if us! The food was amazing! Very sizable portions! I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Nashville that us looking for a home cooked southern style meal! Two Thumbs Up! Can't wait to visit again nex
(5)
David E.
My wife & I were in Nashville last Fall and wanted to try out one of the restaurants I had seen on the Food Network. We were directed to Loveless Cafe and we were not disappointed. The biscuits lived up to their billing and the veggies were fresh and delicious. Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert, but be sure you get some when you go. If you're in the neighborhood, treat yourself to a good meal - but order dessert before your meal since they run out quickly.
(4)
Tammy M.
Oh my gosh what a fun experience and great food! Loved the friend chicken.
(5)
Laura S.
Can I tell you how much I love this jam? And these biscuits? Because I can't. I would never stop talking. Call it the Southerner in me, but I love a good breakfast place that doesn't hold back on anything buttered. If you like to sit and stuff your face with delicious food that may or may not give you a heart attack--go to Loveless!
(4)
Elizabeth B.
I walked in for a quick biscuit and jam experience around noon on a week day. While the blackberry jam was outstanding, the biscuits were a little on the chewy side for my liking. And YES I'm from the south. ;) The most disappointing part of my experience here, though, was service related. Our waitress was incredibly rude and snarky. I overheard her making ugly remarks to the cashiers about my party in the next room. We were all extremely nice, but she was not. If you're looking for "southern hospitality" I'm afraid you won't find it here.
(2)
Veronica S.
Always enjoy coming here when I visit my sister! The wait can be extremely long so don't come starving, because you will have to wait! But there are little shops and games you can play while waiting! Food was delicious! So anything on menu is amazing! I had grilled chicken sandwich with green beans... Delicious!! The biscuits they serve you before your meal is to die for! Love the jam that comes with it!!
(5)
Adam H.
Stopped into here during a business trip through Nashville because they're supposed to be famous for their biscuits and gravy. While I did really enjoy my meal, I wouldn't say the meal was much better than I've had elsewhere. I don't get how the biscuits and gravy are famous. I wouldn't advise you drive 30 mins out of Nashville for the food. Perhaps the nostalgia of the place is worth it? I would say that the staff were all super friendly! Southern hospitality at its finest! The place does have a nice southern charm to it too.
(4)
EJ P.
5 STARS JUST FOR THE AMAZING BISCUITS I don't care how long you have to wait, how many hills and weird turns I had to take to get here, AND HOW FREAKING COLD IT WAS. These biscuits made it ALL worth it. It's a Southern institution that I am shocked is actually not more popular than it already is. That said, I would skip the fried chicken (it was tasteless) and just go for the fried catfish, the creamed corn, the baked beans. Although the pulled pork was great too. YUM.
(5)
Steve E.
You got a problem with fried chicken, country ham and biscuits done flawlessly? Yeah, well I got a problem with YOU.
(5)
Mark M.
Loveless is (apparently) one of those Nashville institutions, and since breakfast is one of our family institutions, we decided to hit the place on the way out of town. Because we enjoy traveling while in a coma, we opted for the family-style breakfast, which, roughly translated, means "we come to your table and stuff you until you can't take anymore." Eggs, grits, hash brown casserole (very light -- not), bacon, ham (yummy, but WAY too salty), and the star of the show -- biscuits that will make you slap your grandma. At first taste, I wasn't that impressed, but after the 7th or so I concluded that maybe they were pretty good. And served with delicious preserves and sausage gravy. Needless to say, there was no lunch consumed that day. Good coffee and great service. Be prepared for a significant wait during rush times.
(4)
Jill M.
Just freaking good. I had the fried chicken (1/4 white meat - amazing), turnip greens (amazing), and mashed potatoes (really, really good). And of course, biscuits with blackberry jam that was to die for. This is one of those places where you just have to stop caring temporarily about things like calories, sodium, etc., and simply go for it.
(5)
Lenka O.
Loveless cafe is a must if you are in Nashville. Yes it's touristy but the food was well worth it. I got the country fried steak with hashbrown casserole. The steak was giant and amazing! Had to take half home. Biscuits come warm and with three delicious jams. Drinks are pricey though. Not sure if they were with it. I hear it gets pretty crowded though and there can be a huge wait. We went on a Friday morning around 9am and got right in. I guess all the wild and crazy partiers from Broadway were still asleep so try a weekday and early if you can.
(4)
Fred P.
So I surprised my wife with a trip to Nashville to celebrate her inexplicable love of country music and visiting the Loveless was high on her to-do list. Thank god! You may be able to get a breakfast this good in New York, but I couldn't tell you where and I'm sure you'd pay a small fortune for it. Despite the ridiculous wait (1.5 hour) and vertigo inducing pitch of the floor (a bit uneven) the meal was phenomenal with a capital "PH." The biscuits were unique, even by Nashville standards. Small and light, they didn't require any condiments to satisfy, though that didn't stop me from drowning them in the best Sausage gravy I've ever had. My wife had the Chicken and a Waffle and declared it the single best piece of chicken she'd ever eaten. I had to dive into the "Pit-Cooked Pork Barbecue & Eggs, One to the Left and One to the Right" which came with a pancake and the greatest iteration of breakfast potatoes created: the Hash brown Casserole. Besides being some of the best pulled pork, the remainder of the meal was equally exquisite. The eggs just seemed fresher and the pancake fluffier than any I'd ever had elsewhere. Know going in on a weekend that you will wait and wait and wait to be seated. This is partially due the tourist destination nature of the establishment and partially by design as there are multiple souvenir shops on the premises. You've been warned.
Usually go there for breakfast & decided to go for dinner WoW just as good the biscuits & Fried Chicken is to die for Must go ASAP
(5)
Bill R.
The gourmet's Cracker Barrell. This place is tremendous Southern cooking. Bring a heart monitor. If you're a Southerner, you'll swear your grandma is in the kitchen. The ONLY reason I don't give them a 5 star rating is that they're just so hard to get into. Hour, 2 hour waits are common. You may have to hike a quarter mile to get there from the back of the parking lot(s). On the weekends, there's no good time to get in. The first time you come the shops are enough to keep you occupied, but they lose their charm after a few times.
(4)
Stephanie C.
"Biscuit Poisoning? YES PLEASE! " 5 of 5 stars Pending review If you are visiting Nashville, make the drive to this wonderfully taste of history! But be aware they bring you a plate of the most buttery biscuits with an assortment of jams, preserves and honey. Stop at one...or you will get too full of the yummy goodness. Then make sure that what ever your family orders as the main dish you all order a different side, because there is ALOT to share. From Mac and Cheese to the BEST turnip green and mashed potatoes. My husband had the house chicken, I had the meat loaf and my daughter had the roast beef we each got 3 sides, we took so much home, so good, And we each ordered dessert to go. You could of rolled me out of that wonderful place!!! But don't leave till you visit all the shops and learn about its origins. It's a very nostalgic place. After dinner.... Take a drive through the parks. Truely beautiful. Visited August 2015
(5)
Tuck L.
My family was in town visiting and they wanted to eat at the Loveless Cafe. (They had seen the restaurant on TV). So, trying to be the good host, I took them there. We waited 45 minutes to get a table. Then we sat down and had our chicken and biscuits. Don't know how long the chicken had been sitting out. Just don't know. Anyway, then, I received a bill. When I looked at the total for 4 people, I almost soiled myself. I couldn't believe the price for some chicken and biscuits. Here is my conclusion: I waited in line for 45 minutes and made a nice payment to Loveless when instead, I could have gone to KFC. It would have been faster, cheaper, and _________.
(2)
Tom D.
Ate breakfast this morning at the Loveless Cafe with my fiancee. Thursday morning, 7:30am, so no wait for a table. Our server, Bruce, brought us two biscuits. Not sure what all the hype is about, they didn't taste like anything special. Also, my fiancee was miffed because she wanted to order a Bloody Mary, but Bruce said it was before 8am, so she couldn't get one yet. So things didn't start off well, but they soon improved once our food arrived at the table. I had ordered the Pit-Cooked Pork Barbeque & Eggs (One to the Left and One to the Right), and my fiancee had ordered the Fried Chicken & Waffle. Our meals were good, I had a hard time finishing the generous portion of pork on my plate. Wasn't really crazy about the red BBQ sauce on top, but it was OK. Hash brown casserole was tasty, I liked it. My fiancee liked her Chicken & Waffle quite a bit, the waffle itself was very good, delicious. And Bruce had brought us out more hot biscuits and a Bloody Mary in a mason jar for my fiancee. Overall, a good experience this morning at the Loveless Cafe, we would like to come back again, but it is about 85 miles away from where we live, so I imagine that won't be happening anytime soon. I recommend giving them a go if you are in Nashville.
(4)
Amanda B.
The reviews on the biscuits hold true! I ate a few (I'm afraid to admit how much lard I actually consumed). If you love the biscuits you should go to the gift shop and buy the magnet that says "praise the lard and pass the biscuits". Aside from the biscuits I shared the sampler meal ( BBQ, chicken, meatloaf) with the mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes (I apparently love lard and starches). The mashed potatoes were great (had little potatoes chunks that made me think they were homemade). The sweat potatoes were nothing I would try again ( semi sweet with a hint of Carmel). I also tried my friends fried ocra, it tasted average. I loved the meatloaf. It had great flavoring and consistency. The chicken and BBQ was good but if you've had great BBQ and fried chicken it's about average. I gave 4 stars because our waitress only came to our table 2 times the entire meal and pretty much rolled her eyes at us. She would just walk by and not offer refills or ask if we needed anything. We finally waved down another waiter who gladly helped and brought more biscuits, drinks, and even made sure we liked our food. We left a tip for Kramer and he ended up running outside to thank us for the tip- so kind and sincere of him! Worth a shot but planning on waiting!
(4)
Karen M.
Yup. Down-home cooking. We had a huge party and they accommodated us easily. Jason our server was friendly and professional. And my chicken was delicious! Cucumber salad was the absolute best - I recommend that to go w/the chicken. It is as good as others say!
(4)
Arash R.
Great services , good fried chicken. Mac and cheese and creamed corn were amazing , get them together and try to have spoon mix of them - tasted even better to me. Long wait lines but you can grab free coffee from the gift shop while you wait or just go for a drive on the parkway near by.
(4)
Bernard L.
Wait, are you kidding me? We drove 30 minutes outside on Nashville for this place for a Sunday 10AM brunch for 3 people. I already grew suspicious when I noticed that the parking looked like a parking lot for Disney, with cars with license plates from all over the south and college football decals. Disclaimer: I'm from New York City. Needless to say, we go through what feels like an amusement park filled with gift shops, jam shops and families having makeshift picnics on the trail to the actual restaurant. We go inside and were told that for 3 people, the wait would be 2.5hrs. Ha! We just left immediately, judging all the poor souls that came from the heartland of the country to a place that feels like a glorified Cracker Barrel.
(1)
Mike D.
One of my favorite southern meals. Everything you want in a heart attack, I mean HEARTY meal. They probably have the best biscuits I have ever tasted. They come with three amazing preserves: peach, blackberry, and strawberry. Ask for more biscuits if you must. Meals: Smoked ham - get it Fried Chicken - honestly, what do you think? probably the best I've ever had. Hash brown casserole, Mac 'n cheese, and fried green tomatoes. I cnat put into words how much I enjoyed this meal. I'd love to return!
(5)
Rebecca C.
The Loveless Cafe is breakfast perfection. Seriously. I have never had better biscuits in my life, and I have a southern grandma! I could have made a meal out of the biscuits and housemade jam alone, but then I'd miss out on the house-cured ham, bacon, and eggs and cheesy potatoes that went along with my amazing breakfast. I was full long before I stopped eating. I loved the charm of the restaurant as well as the surrounding shops on the premises! I regret not buying the biscuit mix, but it just gives me another reason to head back. My only reason is for not giving it 5 stars is the price - our breakfast for two people was $47. FOR BREAKFAST. But you get what you pay for, I suppose, and in this case, I'd consider it money well spent. PS - Don't tell my grandma what I said about the biscuits, ok? I don't want to hurt her feelings.
(4)
Dez S.
Near my house but I don't go often because of the long wait. The biscuits, yes, are to die for. The salads are pretty awesome - ask for the creamy peach vinaigrette dressing!
(4)
Jac S.
I had a blast here. The wait was just under 2 hours, but there is so much to do on "property" of the restaurant that it was nothing. The experience was great and I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu. The drink menu look fascinating, but I at 10 am and didn't want to partake in the moonshine cocktails that early in the morning. :)
(4)
A B L.
Our waitress was a doll and the biscuits was great. Some of the very best cheddar grits I have ever had. We come for the first time on a Sunday & it was a 2 hour wait so we left. We returned the following a Tuesday at 11 and only had to wait 10 minutes for a table. This place is worth the drive but not a wait of 2 hours on the weekend.
(5)
Kris N.
The best biscuits and moon shine Mary's ever. Love this place even though they are always packed and the wait is long, but that's okay, the wait is worth it and all the shops are super cute.
(5)
Denny K.
Gotta start with the biscuits. After all Loveless makes about 7500 a day! Usually tender, flaky, fresh as fresh can be, right out of the oven. I often pop them into my mouth before I even have a chance to smear on the strawberry, peach, or blackberry preserves. (Honey and Sorghum are available on request.) All you want-all day long. But save a little room for a delicious breakfast. You name it they'll make it. Today I had a gigantic Barbecue Pork with 2 eggs over easy (cooked perfectly). Honestly, I think there was nearly a pound of meat not he platter...no kidding! But wait. Can't decide what you want for breakfast? How about a sampler several meats and sides.? If you brought friends and family...they got you covered--Family Style Breakfast includes most of the above and sausage gravy too. Be sure to try the Hashbrown Casserole or maybe the BBQ omelet - 3 eggs and enough stuffing to fill a suitcase...(well, maybe not quite that much). Oh, you're here for lunch? Fried chicken, meatloaf (better than Mom's...sorry Mom), and finger lickin' good Pork Chops. So much good stuff, I never have room for dessert...but you might, and they got it too. Service is alway top-notch and extremely cordial...but a slight misstep today (entered the wrong order for our breakfast in their computer system and brought us the wrong plates. .... They apologized profusely, but dampened our enthusiasm inasmuch as we were there with friends visiting from California. Can be a bit noisy. Be patient...the wait for a table can be anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes or more. But take heart, the wait is worth it for a special experience...at least once.
(4)
Tom Y.
It lives up to all the hype. If you want a down-home, country dinner, this is the place. I had the fried chicken and it was amazing. The biscuits and jam were out of this world. It was soooo good. I ate so many biscuits I had to take most of my meal home with me. It is worth the wait, seriously, it is that good.
(5)
Tiffany J.
We only live about 10 minutes away, so about once a month we try to go before 8am on a Saturday or Sunday to beat the crowds. Service is always great and the food is amazing. Biscuits obviously are great, but the steak and eggs are phenomenal.
(5)
Leslie S.
The 45 minute wait is totally worth it for the fried chicken. I don't even like biscuits and I eat these! In other words, it's worth a flight in!
(5)
Ryan S.
Ate here for breakfast. Come early or prepare for a wait. We waited almost 2 hours. Service was fast friendly. Tons of choices serve both breakfast and dinner all day long. You'll leave full.
(5)
W P.
For our breakfast stop on the way out of Nashville, this really was a great spot. Biscuits are all they're cracked up to be, with either gravy from our platter poured on top or the housemade jams. Sausage patties crumbled in your mouth, ham was nice (although a little salty for my taste), plenty of scrambled eggs, and beans. Needless to say, we left full and very satisfied. Also, whoever is in charge of the merchandising and gift shops are "on point". Fantastic collection of shirts, souvenirs, etc including the brilliant shirt that says, "Taking care of biscuits" haha
(5)
Ted C.
For what we thought was our final Nashville area breakfast we chose to go to Loveless even though we were staying literally right near the Nashville Biscuit House and the drive there with a packed car-well it was definitely out of the way. As soon as we got there there wasn't a parking spot to be had-which was the opposite trend of what happened during our trip since it was so cold and hardly anyone bothered to come out. The breakfast is served all day, and the cafe is basically it's own little universe of commerce. The cafe, the shop there's a smoker. I was thinking maybe we hit on the tourist spot of all tourist spots. Instead what I got was a really classic place serving really good old fashioned food. The biscuits were buttery, soft and the jams were all a great accompaniment to the biscuits. They brought 9 for the four of us. We cleared it and then asked for more. My friend asked for a side of gravy to go with it and I don't know why they don't advertise that more often. Biscuits and gravy here should be announced on loudspeaker here in addition to it written in big, neon lights. I ended up ordering the steak biscuits and realized I made a mistake. The steak was a little tough and I should have just gotten one of their breakfast plates. I mean, if I can get as many biscuits as I wanted then I should have gotten something without biscuits in it. The shop also is touristy but fun. My flight out got canceled as we were eating and I spent 45 minutes on the phone there trying to rebook flights then extending the rental and finding a hotel. The staff there occupied my friends' time by talking about the weather and generally entertaining them until I got off the phone. The next time, I need to come with 3 other people who are down for that all you can eat deal.
(4)
Garen M.
This is our second trip here. We stop to purchase biscuit mix. It is the best ever and easy to make. This trip we ate lunch. We both had breakfast fare including country ham. The food was great and the service was even better. Long wait times to get into the restaurant but they have plenty of shopping to help you while away the time and lighten your wallet.
(4)
Harry H.
Big birds flying across the sky Throwing shadows on our eyes Leave us... [Loveless], [loveless], [loveless] Having read of "bottomless biscuits", we were disappointed by a lack thereof, apparently not part of the slow service and separate charges for a change in teas (but not for refills after the switch, but given the speed, it wasn't worth mentioning because our time is valuable) despite no mention originally. $37.79 before tip for: biscuit sampler with chicken and hashbrown casserole (satisfying) breakfast sampler (tasty) two sweet teas, and a peach iced tea (the latter was excellent, the former eh) fudge pie (tasty but nontraditional) No creamed corn until 11 (foolish) If we hadn't also planned a Belle Meade visit as part of our morning, I would've been a bit disappointed about trekking out here (if this is still considered Nashville, you folks really take some liberties with the zoning). Apparently they were on Throwdown, and management changed at some point recently, causing the commercialization that kinda ruined the charm for me.
(3)
Tara S.
I don't know why it's taken me so long to write this review. You'd think out of all the times that I've been and had to wait an hour and a half before being seated that I could find the time to write one up! But no, I've usually found something else to do. They do give you a little disk that vibrates when you're ready to be seated. The Loveless has a few gift shops around that you can browse in. Some of the gifts are really cute but touristy expensive. Now...good lawd the food. Biscuits are made from scratch and are light and fluffy. They come free with your meal along with 3 preserves. If my memory serves me correct they're strawberry, blackberry and orange marmalade...or peach. I don't know. They're all tasty though! I ALWAYS order a side of cheese grits! I'm telling you I drive clear across town for their grits. So freaking good. They serve breakfast all day. I keep telling myself that I'll try something else then never do...because cheese grits, yo. We've tried a variety of things and have never been disappointed. They have excellent bbq, hashbrown casserole, fried potatoes, country fried steak...it's all good. This restaurant is the epitome of classic southern food. Service is kind of hit or miss. You've got the servers that have been there awhile that found their niche and are on a roll. Then there are the newbies that shuffle through things. They're all right but don't give you the "Loveless experience". Parking can be a bit rough depending on when you go. I've never NOT found a parking spot but you might have to walk a ways. No biggie. After eating all that fried food, a bit of walking might do you some good!
(4)
Kathy S.
Amazing food! Had the biscuit French toast!! The seating on the outside patio is so peaceful and delightful!! Will be back before we leave Nashville!!
(5)
Hector E.
2nd visit to loveless cafe in about 6 years. Not sure why we dont go more often when we visit our family in Nashville. Sad to learn that the biscuit lady had passed, but they are still going strong and the biscuits continue her legacy. The wait was about 1 hour, but they have multiple shops , free lemonade and water and coloring activties, and cornhole boards for the kids. the gentleman in the smokehouse even let my young niece and nephew come inside and see inside this work area and showed them where the bbq comes from. The foods was delicious, we I had the country fried steak with hashbrown casserole, with 2 eggs. others had bbq, country ham, meatloaf and pork chops. Everything was so good and the service considering how busy they were was outstanding.
(5)
Patricia N.
Biscuits. Don't even question giving them a try with their blackberry jam/preserves - what have you. The portions are fairly large. I had the fried chicken salad with ranch. It didn't even look like I made an attempt after my attempt.
(5)
Amalia Y.
so, we drove almost an hour and had to wait about 90 minutes to be seated. no, pressure, loveless cafe. we only have a 13-hour ride back to nj ahead of us. nbd. wait, actually- lots of pressure!!. the biscuits better be life-changing. THEY WERE. holy moly, these are some phenomenal eats. the biscuits. THE biscuits. oh em gee. i've never had a biscuit like this, and i can't stop craving them. paired with the homemade preserves, they were AWESOME. and endless. (no, this is not a joke). since this was our last meal in TN, i went BBQ... pulled pork over corn cakes, with sides of fried okra and cole slaw. it was SO yummy. i was pretty full from the endless biscuits (mmmmm biscuits), but the flavors of the bbq sauce and coleslaw to cut the richness were great. the fried okra was good too. it tasted good as a snack in the car a few hours later, too! honestly, i'd go back and wait and wait and wait again. there are a few gift shops that share the parking lot, including a kitchen store that i believe sells some sandwiches (and they give out samples!). they have coffee and tea outside, which makes waiting even easier. 5 stars for the biscuits. 4.5 stars for the rest of the food. and a definite drop to 4 stars for the service. our waitress was abrupt, barely made eye contact, and was almost impossible to catch. definitely not the southern hospitality i was hoping for from this place. don't skip it. and if you're heading to or through the central nj area afterward, bring me some biscuits!! (pretty please?)
(4)
Pam X.
I love country food and biscuits and wish that I could live at Loveless. Their side dishes are to die for--I could go on eating greens forever. The staff is always friendly and inviting. I ordered a plate of chicken liver last time I was there (maybe not everyone's favorite dish) and it was really good with gravy and biscuits...and biscuits. I don't think we ever stopped eating biscuits while we were there, and the seasonal jams are great as well. The only qualm I've ever had with the food is a time when the greens I ordered were way too salty, but I ate them anyway.
(5)
Jenny P.
You need to go here and you need to eat the biscuits!!!! Definitely one of the best meals we had while visiting Nashville. We had to wait a little but well worth it. You will not be disappointed :)
(5)
Diane R.
Loveless Cafe in Nashville has been cooking up their famous biscuits and southern food since 1951. They now serve over 450,000 guests per year. The Loveless Cafe serves down-home country food. Their comfort food will remind you of grandma's house. In 2005, USA Today named Loveless Cafe as America's "Top Down-Home Dining Spot." Loveless' famous "Biscuit Lady" Carol Fay became famous for her biscuits. She has been on many television shows including the Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, the Martha Stewart Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The video below is Carol Fay the "Biscuit Lady" with Martha Stewart. The Loveless Cafe serves their biscuits with amazing homemade preserves. I was so excited to see they made and served my favorite preserves, blackberry. It was perfect and delicious on their homemade light biscuits. I do not get a commission for sending you to their site. I truly just enjoyed The Loveless Cafe.
(4)
Angie H.
It's all about the biscuits and the preserves. That's why you go, that's why you have to wait and that's why you'll say it was worth it. Make no mistake about it, there will be a wait. Dad and I waited almost 2 hours. We walked right in to the old house front and put our name on the list. She handed me a pager and off we went to check out the rest of the grounds. There are a few shops to browse through. One with Loveless Cafe souvenirs, from their cook books, jars of their preserves, to handy guitar shaped wooden cooking spoons. Lots of neat stuff in there. One with t-shirts, caps and more gift shop goodies. The barn on site is used as a venue for weddings, parties and music shows. If there's nothing scheduled, you may look around inside of it. There are several other boutique shops on the place to pass the time. The BBQ Pit is a screened in area that you can watch the staff prepare their pulled pork or smoked turkey. When Ya get tired of looking around, sit a spell and compare wait times with the other patrons and before you know it, your pager will buzz and light up! After ordering your drink, she'll bring you a plate of hot buttered biscuits with 3 preserves: Blackberry (with seeds), Strawberry and Peach. All three are absolutely delicious. The biscuits are melt in your mouth smooth. It don't get any better than this. Dad ordered the Pulled Pork and I got the County Ham. Now just so ya know, BREAKFAST is served ALL DAY. SUPPER menu is available from 11am to close. Our food was hot and very tasty. Did you know the front is the original house that the Loveless Couple originally sold Fried Chicken and Biscuits right out their Front Door? Look around when you come in. Can you find that Original Front Door? Enjoy!
(5)
Doug P.
Fried chicken that was done perfectly. Turnip greens and grits! Peanut butter pie!!! Tooo good!! Absolutely deserves the longstanding reputation of great food...oh I almost forgot...butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
(5)
Matthew B.
One of my all time favorite restaurants. I have not been here for a few years and it is good to know things haven't changed. Same great food!
(5)
Guillermo L.
Fourth of July visit! We had to wait to be seated but the food was every second worth it!! :)
(5)
Megan H.
Went for our anniversary dinner and Tammy was the best server we've ever had! Entire Menu was tempting and the biscuits were, of course, amazing. Can't wait to go back for more brinner (breakfast for dinner)!!! Love the ambience every time.
(5)
Dana P.
Home cooked, Southern style food. Good food, good service, good moonshine drinks. Ordered the blue plate special, which at the time was hot chicken with fries and mac and cheese. It was so good! The chicken was juicy, yet crunchy. Had a little kick of spice, and was delicious. I was in a big group and they got everyone's order right. I had a side of ranch and others had small sides or little extras, and they never missed a thing. I ordered the Blue Moon drink, which was delicious. Had blueberries, lemonade, and Sprite (with moonshine). The Loveless is such a popular dining location that people wait hours to eat there. There was a big crowd of people when we arrived and left, and I can see why. I highly recommend visiting the restaurant and shops behind the restaurant if you want something to take home.
(5)
N T.
Go for the biscuits, stay for the blackberry preserves. I don't even like fried chicken, but I love it when my family goes to this iconic restaurant to give out-of-towners a backwoods Tennessee experience (though the area has become increasingly suburban since I was little). The biscuits and blackberry preserves are ridiculously good. They give you other types of preserves, too, but I seldom have bothered to even try them. As someone who doesn't like fried chicken, I often go for the catfish. It's quite good if you like catfish (which many people don't), but it's also fried which is a downside for me as fried food upsets my stomach.
(5)
Wasim K.
I hate to say this but this is a very hyped up place. First I had a choice between hot chicken at princes or loveless. I chose loveless and took an extra 30 minutes to get there. first it's been made pretty commercial with every possible piece of made in china memorabilia stamped with a "loveless cafe" including $12 bacon that is $4 in a price rite etc that put me off right away as did the $45 gift baskets you can mail yourself for another $12. The biscuits were pretty similar to pillsbury pop open buttermilk biscuits. the blackberry preserved and butter made the biscuits otherwise it's not all that. gravy tasted like Campbell's cream of mushroom soup with a handful of pepper. fried chicken was low on seasoning and salt. it was all crunch and no flavor. I have a corner grocery afghani place near home that makes infinitely better chicken for $1 a piece. the hash casserole and catfish came out cold and had to be reheated... the casserole was good but you can put that much cheese, butter and heavy cream on paper and it will taste good too. the fried gizzards and liver... were awesome. Saved the meal for us. my wife though the same on all points. overhyped and under good. I'd give it 3 for a random place but 2 for my overhyped expectations. this is a made in China and mass produced version of what was probably an authentic piece of Americana even 20 years ago.
(2)
Greg B.
Well worth the wait. And when they say the wait is over an hour, they mean it. We visited on Sunday after the Fourth of July, which likely resulted in higher traffic levels. The biscuits were truly amazing and they provide homemade jams. I had a spicy Bloody Mary with a shot of moonshine. I regret not selecting rum instead. The moonshine was too strong. The place is very touristy, and has many shops to kill time as you wait for your table. They even have a shipping center to send away things that you purchase in the shops. If I return it'll be during off hours. Not sure I enjoy waiting that long for food.
(5)
Steve B.
They just made it on the tv show 36 where they shared their tip with viewers: put chunks of pink watermelon on smoked ribs and finish off in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. The hosts both raved. I will go soon.
(5)
Al C.
Biscuits & jams were so delicious we visited twice in a 1 week trip (and bought biscuit mix & jam to go!). It lives up to the reputation and is worth the wait. (Just make sure you call 24+ hours in advance for reservations, especially for large groups, otherwise they won't take em). BBQ pulled pork breakfast platter was huge and tasty. Fried chicken and waffles were okay (waffle was on the heavy and bland side), I subbed in dark meat fried chicken and it was super good. I'd order just the plain fried chicken dish next time. Blueberry vodka drink with a souvenir shot glass for $11, it was really good... Maybe too good! If we lived closer, I'd be 400 lbs. Can't wait till my next trip to TN to return.
(5)
Ashley T.
I'll probably be dethroned of my yelp elite status for leaving anything less than 4 stars for this Nashville staple, but honesty is the best policy, right? I'll start by saying that for me, the best part was the experience: the gift shops, decor, and southern hospitality from the staff. When we put our name on the list, we were told it would be a 1 hour and 45 minute wait. There are plenty of gift shops to spend money at while you wait on your buzzer to go off. It ended up being about an hour wait. I spent $30 on a ceramic berry carton, a tea towel, and foot cream. All very cute and I use them regularly so I don't regret any of them. As far as the food goes, (don't judge me, we hadn't eaten anything and my eyes are larger than my stomach) I ordered two eggs sunny side up, a fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit, home fried potatoes, a piece of fried catfish, & biscuits and white gravy. My husband ordered a few of the same things, but also pancakes. The good: the pancakes were huge and good. The biscuits and homemade jams were tasty. Not drive 30 mins out of my way good, but definitely the best thing I had. The catfish was tasty and I wish I had ordered the catfish supper plate. The bad: the eggs whites weren't completely cooked. I know a little is expected on sunny side up eggs, but I scraped more than I'd like to the side of my plate. The gravy was... weird. My mother-in-law also ordered the white gravy and we both thought there was something about it that was off. I had a couple bites wanting to like it and just couldn't eat it. It didn't taste old or like it had gone bad. It just had a really different flavor than anything I've ever tasted in white gravy. The meh: fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit. This was a 60:30:10 pimento cheese:biscuit:tomato ratio so I really only tasted the pimento cheese, which was nowhere near as good as my own homemade pimento cheese. The home fries were cut up in little squares and deep fried, probably frozen, potatoes. Similar home fries are available at Nashville biscuit house down the road from our house. I guess what I'm saying is that we won't go literally out of our way anytime soon to go back, but if we have friends visit who want to go, we will go back with them and I will try the catfish plate. Otherwise, I'm not in a hurry.
(3)
Kristina W.
We arrived at 7:15 on a Tuesday morning. It was like a ghost town. My 4 year old nephew didn't understand why I was so shocked to not see anyone there. We were seated right away as we were the first ones there. It took a while to order, even saw an employee get their meal before we ordered. We got the kids pancakes and the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich. Of course we also got biscuits. The kiddo loved his pancakes which were way too big for a toddler. He barely put a dent in one pancake. My sandwich was odd. The eggs were served on top of the sandwich of sausage and melted cheese. I had a hard time prying the bread open to get the eggs on. The server said that's always how it's served. I've never seen that anywhere. The service was slow. This was evidenced by the next diners coming in, grabbing menus, and seating themselves. It's not a place I choose to go, but would rather stay local.
(3)
Julie R.
DEFINITELY worth the hype. I had no idea about this amazing place UNTIL I checked Yelp and found this fantastic brunch location. We were in Nashville for a fun weekend. The Loveless Cafe is a drive from downtown, but totally worth it. Be prepared to wait for your delicious, eating experience. No fear, they have already anticipate this, and LC has an entire tourist town for you to explore and shop while you wait for your buzzer to go off. Finally. We are seated. The interior of this cafe is suuuuper charming. I got the signature plate with the "red eye gravy." Definitely an acquired taste, but I'm glad we were able to try it. I had meal envy over what the hubs ordered. A pulled pork masterpiece (photographed). The buttermilk muffins that are served while you wait for your entree are reason enough to some here. And the Bloody Mary's made with moonshine are great (if you like Bloody's). Since we had already made this 'south' drive outta Nashville, we continued down to Jack Daniel's distillery. An entire day of amazement.
(5)
Sol C.
From one meal at Loveless, I can see why this place has the reputation it does. 10:00 am on a Thursday and the wait was 35 minutes long. Luckily, they give you a buzzer so that you can wander the multiple gift shops on the property while you wait. Before we knew it, our outdoor table was ready and a huge pile of biscuits was plopped on our table. Holy hell, they are addictive! Served with unbelievably fantastic peach preserve, as well as strawberry and blackberry preserve and sorghum syrup...honestly I would have been happy just eating these as my meal! But then our gigantic plates of food arrived, meats and eggs and grits and cheesy hash brown casserole. Everything was excellent and we stayed full and in a food coma until 6 pm that night, I kid you not. The Loveless staff was excellent and a few servers came by and chatted with our table. We loved the food and hospitality!
(4)
Steven S.
My guess is that I've had breakfast or early dinner at Loveless Cafe at least 50 times. I became a customer at the age of 16 as a freshman at the Vanderbilt University, and I continued throughout my wild days as a student and as a teacher at the university. Just went back and Loveless still serves up a lotta love. Best biscuits and the best country breakfast I've ever tasted, What I really like about Loveless Cafe, besides the savory eats -- the customers cannot be put into a class, or party, or ethic group. It attracts truckers, artists, musicians, tourists, good country people, foodies, and no-nonsense Nashvilleans, and nobody cares, as the delicious food brings everyone together. This is where politicians of different parties should break bread. Simple good food cures all.
(5)
Jenniver S.
This place was really good. A colleague told me about this place and I gave it a try. The food and the service was superb. The hash brown casserole was my fave
(4)
Michael B.
Wasn't surprised that we were told the wait would be an hour and 45 minutes at 11am on a Saturday morning. But we were pleasantly surprised when our pager went off after only 62 minutes. And it's not like there isn't enough stuff to keep you busy while you wait! Food is outstanding! Well worth the wait. And our server Mark was outstanding as well! This place gets 5 stars for sure - I'll definitely be back again!
(5)
Tyler B.
I went here for breakfast this morning, and it did not disappoint! We arrived at 9:45 AM and got the last open table before they went on a wait. For a Monday morning, that shows you how popular this place is. The child in me was craving some chocolate milk, and their chocolate milk is wonderful! Very creamy and chocolatey. The biscuits come out first with blackberry, strawberry and peach preserves. They were all delicious, but I think the blackberry was my favorite. If you fall in love with one, they sell them so you can enjoy them at home or bring back as a souvenir or gift if you're traveling. I ordered the bacon and eggs with a side of grits. I've learned that you either love grits or HATE them. I'm a true southern girl so I love them! I must say the grits at Loveless are some of the best I ever had. The serving of eggs was huge! I got them scrambled with cheese, and I swear there had to be about 4 or 5 eggs on my plate. I only got half way through before I threw in the towel. The bacon was cooked crispy, just like I like it. That makes a big difference to me when choosing a breakfast spot, as most places never listen when I ask for crispy bacon. This will definitely be a go to breakfast spot for me from now on!
(5)
May B.
We checked out this place while on vacation in Nashville and it was worth the trek. It is a bit off the beaten path of downtown Nashville, but the drive is somewhat scenic and was enjoyable. Upon getting seated, our server brought us two platefuls of biscuits and jams - and when I says platefuls, I mean stacked up in 5s and we immediately started stuffing our faces. They were so good. I ordered the pit cooked pork bbq plate and my husband got the fried pork chop plate. They came out and my jaw dropped, they were so big it was enough to feed me for lunch and dinner (possibly breakfast the next day too!). I thought the bbq pork was good, not the best I had during this trip however. My husbands fried pork chop however was so good. I could have eaten that all day long. They also had cute little shops to make this more of a destination to check out rather than just the restaurant - which after how much we ate, we needed the walk. I definitely enjoyed those biscuits and think this was worth the drive.
(4)
Angel G.
Yelp never lets me down. What a great place to come and eat if you are traveling thru Nashville. Expect a long wait, but lots to do on the campus and well-worth it. Our table tries the Barbecue Pulled Pork, Half Fried Chicken, the Green Tomato BLT and a bunch of wonderful and yummy sides - Turnip Greens, Mac & Cheese, Hash Brown Casserole, Cream Spinach and Cream Corn. All the food was delicious and Barbara our waiter was just a doll and very helpful to us. If we definitely will come back and loved your Southern Hospitality.
(5)
Lauren R.
Prepare to wait, then prepare for cholesterol city! If I were to return to loveless, which I hope to one day, I will prepare by starving myself for a day or two before hand just so I can enjoy all the delicious delicacies without the insane guilt. Yes there will be a wait but there are retail opportunities to bide the time and if the weather is tolerable, there is outdoor seating to enjoy while you wait. I had the catfish with creamed corn and Mac and cheese. There are so many sides, I would recommend your party orders a variety along you in order to sample all. Everything was delicious, no exceptions. Even the Bloody Mary! This is a must-try when visiting Nashville.
(5)
Rachel M.
My family and I recently went on a trip to Tennessee, and during this trip, I made it my personal goal to eat as many Southern biscuits as possible. The Loveless Cafe was my first stop on a trip to severe heatburn that was worth every painstaking moment and choked down Tums. So let's start with the biscuit. Warm buttery and flaky as any good biscuit should be. To accompany it, I also ordered the fried catfish, okra and sweet potatoes, along with a bloody mary made with the cafe's own bloody mary mix. I have to say it was the spiciest bloody mary I have ever had. My husband had an iced tea drink with moonshine that came with its own, little moonshine glass you could take home. Very cute. But what the Loveless Cafe is known for is their banana pudding. Now by this point, after eating all of the above, I had no room for it. But we ordered some to take back to the hotel, and having never had banana pudding before, I have nothing to compare it to, but it was delicious with chunks of real banana in it. Overall, I was incredibly stuffed and pleased, and the only reason I am not giving this five stars was because I'm not sure it was entirely worth it. Yes, the food was good. Yes, the atmosphere was awesome. But there was an hour wait. They have some cute little shops in the compound for you to bide your time, but so does Cracker Barrel, and honestly, I'm not sure this is THAT much more delicious than Cracker Barrel, so I'll leave that up to you. If you feel like checking it out and don't mind waiting, go for it. If you're just jonesin' for some quick biscuits, go to Cracker Barrel.
(4)
Violet P.
OMG!!! What an amazing breakfast!!!! Came on a Wednesday morning at about 10 AM and had just about a 15 minute wait for a table of 6 which I didn't feel was very bad at all!!! Waitress was very nice and the food came out in a very timely fashion considering it was somewhat busy. The biscuits came out and were the best I've ever had. Warm and moist. Served with sides of fresh apricot, raspberry, and blackberry. The little country store was soooo cute. A must stop when in Nashville! Definitely try the cheesy hash browns and the BBQ, so yummy!!!
(5)
Sarah S.
I loved Loveless! #mesocheesy #tooeasy #ilovelove If you've got some time to kill, head 30 minutes outside of Nashville to the Loveless Cafe. It's known by many in the area as having the best gosh darn breakfast in all of Tennessee! Yeehaw! And biscuits are their jam!!! (get it...? biscuits have jam on them...? sooo....biscuits and jam...? yeaaaaa). The menu is so expensive it's nearly impossible to pick which delicies to scarf down. My usual thing is I want to try as many things as possible at new places so I went with the Biscuit Sampler Platter for $11.99. You can then choose 4 biscuits from: Fried Green Tomato & Pimento Cheese, Barbeque, Country Ham, Fried Chicken, Bacon, Sausage or Steak. I went with the Ham, Chicken, Sausage and Bacon because meat! All were good but let's be real, bacon makes everything better. Actually the plain biscuits with some jam preserves were the best thing of all - even better than my meat between the bread. If you have to wait for a table, they have some cute shops outside the restaurant. Even if you don't have to wait, they are worth a stop in after dining. I bought a couple of floofy headbands for myself while there. Loveless Cafe was a fun place to go, but the hype might have slightly exceeded the experience for me. I'm glad I went, think everyone everyone should go, but it's not a place I could see myself driving distances for again. Been there, done that.
Yum. Those biscuits, That peach jam. My mouth is watering. The biscuits are the star - they are soft inside with a slightly thick exterior, they melt in your mouth with the right touch of salt. We waited over two hours for a table on Memorial Day. There were plenty of shops to look in and the view is nice enough. They had free beverages all over the grounds for guests who were waiting. I think it would serve them well if they'd set up a place to sell biscuits to guests who were waiting. They'd make a killing and guests would be less agitated as they waited. Our waiter was kind but a little over bearing. He went beyond the usual southern hospitality and I thought he was going to pull up a chair and eat with us. The fried chicken was delicious, hash brown casserole was tasty, cat fish was good. Nothing was bad but nothing - other than the biscuits - blew me away. It is well cooked southern food in a fun atmosphere.
(4)
Becca J.
A place known for its biscuits? Sign me up! I perused Yelp for restaurant ideas prior to my trip to Nashville. This was on my itinerary before I even showed up, so I was surprised to see a pamphlet advertising this restaurant in my hotel lobby! I had no idea that it was sort of a Nashville institution! At 9:30 AM on a Monday morning we had a 15 minute wait. We were given a buzzer and informed that it worked everywhere on the property, so instead of waiting in the restaurant building, we walked around to the "Hams & Jams Country Market" and "Lil Biscuits Gift Shop" to check out the wares. Once seated we were immediately presented with a platter of fresh biscuits, jams and butter. I had to control myself and not eat the entire plate prior to ordering non-biscuit food. I ended up ordering the Southern Sampler Platter which came with country ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, and a choice of hash browns or grits. I selected the hash browns which were, frankly, not great. I did try my sister's cheese grits and had an immediate sense of regret due to my choices. Live and learn. My sister ordered the barbecue, which turned out to be pulled pork. This was delicious, and it was way better than my meal. Food portions were huge. Service was good. The place had a diner-y feel. My sister picked up some ham from their store since they had some conveniently small portions vacuum sealed.
(4)
Katie Y.
We went around 10am on a weekday and the wait was 40 minutes. The biscuits and jam were delicious. However the rest of our food was not great. Def not worth a long wait. We got chicken & waffles, waffles, eggs & bacon and pancakes. The atmosphere was fun and the gift shops had a lot of cute things. Guess it is more of an experience place but don't think we would go back.
The hype is valid... (Although a bit out of the way, well worth the drive). We only came for dessert and coffee since we had had dinner before heading over to Loveless.... (Big mistake). Our party of four ordered the chess pie, fudge pie, banana pudding, and strawberry rhubarb cobbler... Everything was fresh and delicious. I only wish we would have tried some of the food.
(5)
Zlata P.
This place became my favorite, for its atmosphere and amazing service. We came here 2 times during my short visit to Nashville. We had breakfast and supper. The place is very cosy and welcoming. It was a 45 min wait for a table on Friday morning, so we decided to check out the gift shops. Staff everywhere is so friendly! Coming from California, where the only thing is served is attitude . Lots of cute souvenirs and home goods. They also ship their food anywhere in the country, which is awesome, because they home made preserves are delicious. For breakfast we had country ham and eggs, with side of grits and hash brown casserole. I haven't had southern food in so long, so I enjoyed it. I also got a moonshine shot, which came in a cute jar, that you get to keep. Famous biscuits were also good, however I was more excited to try the famous chess pie. And if I could sign up for a monthly delivery of that awesomeness I sure would! That pie is so good! As full as I was after breakfast, I still ate almost a whole slice! Susan was our waitress and she was amazing! Very friendly and nice! Thank you Susan! Next day we came back for dinner. I had to have some fried chicken before I leave. I got a half with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans. I died and went to a fried chicken heaven! Comfort food at its best! To drink I got a harvest moonshine(?) , it's mixed with sweet iced tea, and so so good! But the best part of the dinner was our server Owen! I would like to thank you so much to make this dinner experience so special! Now, every time I will think about southern hospitality, I would think of you! Thank you for great service! You made us feel so welcome! Overall, i fell in love with this place and I think it's gonna become a tradition, while I'm in Nashville! Thanks y'all!!! Can't wait to be back!
(5)
Leon J.
3 stars, but note I hadn't been able to eat. We came on a Saturday (04/09/12) and unfortunately, the wait for breakfast was an hour and 45 minutes. It's a little bit of a drive out of the city and off of the freeway so be ready. Definitely call ahead for potential wait times and be patient for parking during peak times.
(3)
Benson C.
Country-Home Cookin' that makes you feel at home! Reading up the history about Loveless Cafe you become immersed in a home-like environment where it doesn't feel like a restaurant, but as if you're eating at home with family. It's a pretty comforting atmosphere to eat in places that feel like a bed and breakfast. Loveless Cafe is nestled in the outskirts of Nashville and is one of Nashville's "hidden" treasures. I've lived in Nashville for the past 3 years and I finally ate here. I heard so many raving reviews from friends and I've never managed to make the trip, because it seemed a little far. Upon entering the cafe, you enter the lobby which is decorated with a mosaic of celebrity photographs who have traveled from afar to this delectable gem. Fortunately, the wait was only 10-15 minutes for a table of 6. There are a lot of menu options, of which I hear all are great. I went with the Pulled Pork Sandwich with Fries and it was one of the best tasting and flavorful pulled pork I've had in a while. Not to mention the unlimited barrage of biscuits are why people come drooling in anticipation of their sweet and soft biscuits that seem to just melt in your mouth. They provide three types of preserves - strawberry, blackberry, and I believe apricot (someone please feel free to correct me). The service was awesome here despite how busy it was, seeing that the restaurant tables are all full. My water was filled before the glass could even reach the half-full point (I could have said half empty but I don't want to be pessimistic in this happy and joyous review!) I love this place. I just wish I had discovered it much earlier before I move back to Chicago in the next few months. This place is worth it! Go eat here and give it a go! You won't be disappointed!
(4)
Scott M.
My wife and I were in Nashville for two nights and we had seen the rave reviews on TA, so we drove out into nowhere-ville to try the Loveless. Having seen positive reviews for the friend chicken, I went there. My wife had a fried green tomato BLT. Oh wait...the biscuits. Now these ARE good, especially when hot, but I can not put them into the "best I have ever had" category. Unfortunately, we have been to many amazing biscuit places in Savannah and Charleston. The waitress remembered to bring some honey and sorgum (sp?) for the biscuits. Mix some of sorgum, honey, and a pat of butter into a slurry...spread on biscuit, and enjoy! Wow...that was amazing! Ok...back to the meals. Fried Chicken: Breast, Thigh, wing, leg delivered quickly and piping hot! First bite...BLAND! The white meat was also very dry. Sides: Hashbrown Casserole which was amazing and I confirmed that I am not a fan of turnip greens. Gr. Tom BLT: Bread was uninspiring but I thought the sandwich was ok. My wife wasn't a huge fan...so she returned to the biscuits. So perhaps this is a place to focus on for breakfast...who knows. With only two precious nights in Nashville, we wish we had gone elsewhere.
(3)
Carrie V.
Biscuits. Just...biscuits. Well, and the preserves. You get them before your meal, like bread, with a selection of blackberry, strawberry and peach preserves. And, they are unlimited. I mean, I think they could probably refuse to bring more out, but I didn't get that far. I also ordered the southern omelet with bacon and it was delicious. My husband had scrambled eggs and a chicken biscuit. As soon as he took one bite of the biscuit he said he wished he had gotten the biscuit sampler. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. We were seated right away. It's a bit of a drive from downtown Nashville but worth it! For the biscuits.
(4)
Marisa I.
Awesome hash brown casseole. Great biscuits and jams. Jadee was server and did a great job!
(5)
Kimberly K.
Loveless Cafe was a yummy was for my group and I to start off our vacation. We arrived around 10am on Friday and there was a little bit of a wait. They give you a pager, though, so you are able to shop in their store next door while you wait. Once seated we placed our orders and while waiting received the most mouth watering biscuits I've ever eaten. Someone in our group end up buying the mix at the store. I ordered the pulled pork omelet and it lived up to my expectations. Not too greasy and lots of flavor. We also tried the side of sausage gravy to eat with the additional biscuits we received. Price was just right and I would recommend this classic place to anyone!
(4)
Katie K.
My partner always gets the fried chicken, and I have had almost everything else. We're always happy to make the out of the way trip. I'm sure you've heard about the biscuits, and every (good) word of it is true. Since I was a kid, I've searched for anything close to my grandpa's blue ribbon peach preserves. I've only found it at the Loveless, so it holds a special place in my heart. If it's your first time, start with the fried chicken and go from there. You simply won't be disappointed. 4 stars mostly because every time I leave, I never want to see another fried thing again. There's little to choose in the way of refreshing or healthy. Sometimes, I feel like I need a nice salad to balance, but the salads leave a bit to be desired.
(4)
Michelle R.
Biscuits best I ever had. Pulled pork was tender however pork chops dry fried chicken very good. people were so nice and the peach jam WOW.
(5)
Patrick P.
After reading the Wikipedia entry on this place, maybe my expectations were too high (read it sometime), but the biscuits were not that good. The country ham was way too salty (I am from the South, I know what biscuits and ham are supposed to taste like). It was pretty much standard Waffle House fare. One saving grace - the preserves that go ON the biscuits were great.
Some local friends brought us to the Loveless Cafe for dinner. We found the food to be pretty good. I had a pulled pork sandwich, which had good smoky flavor. My wife had the fried chicken which was also tasty. For dessert, I had coconut cream pie, which was delicious. Lisa had peanut butter pie, which she did not like. One of the food highlights was their biscuits, which were great. They are served with various gravies and jams. We regret not buying some biscuit mix to bring back to LA. The place is a bit expensive for what you get, but we would go back.
(4)
Sarah S.
I'm not one of those people who gets up early to eat breakfast or that person who just can't get started for the day without a heaping plate of sausage and eggs first thing after I wake up. Hell, most days, by the time I've done my morning routine (check emails, read the latest Cracked articles, read the news, shower/dress), it makes more sense to eat an early lunch and just skip breakfast (unhealthy, I know). This is not to say that I don't enjoy breakfast. I loved chowing down on the dining hall's breakfast on weekends when I was in college. I'm always up for a late night trip to IHOP (or WAHO, if I'm south of the Mason-Dixon). I've even been known to whip up big Sunday breakfasts if the mood suits me (homemade pancakes are my go-to, but I've made crepes and ebelskivers and omelets and more). I'm not a fan of early morning breakfasts, but I adore brunch and I enjoy leisurely breakfasts, and when I'm traveling, I'm much more inclined to fit breakfast into my schedule. While visiting Nashville a few weeks ago with my best friend from home, trying out breakfast joints was near the top of our list of things to do. The South knows how to do breakfast and Nashville has a collection of well known breakfast places and diners (including Noshville and Pancake Pantry). The Loveless Cafe is perhaps the best known breakfast place and it's famous for a reason: they serve a delicious breakfast. To be completely honest, we didn't actually dine in the restaurant...we drove out there on a Saturday (after being defeated by the long lines at the Pancake Pantry) with high hopes of finding a seat. Unfortunately, everyone and their mother had the same thought in mind, so when we pulled in, it was a struggle just to find a parking spot, let alone a spot on the restaurant's waiting list. After hearing the wait could be well over an hour, and unable to handle the increasing grumbles of distress from our stomachs, we opted for the take-out option (having been reassured that it would only take about 15 minutes). 30 minutes later (which was not too bad, because the waiting list time was now almost 2 hours), we had two Styrofoam containers filled with breakfast and, as the weather was unusually warm for January, we were able to to take a seat at one of the picnic tables in front of the restaurant. The food was delicious: the eggs were light and fluffy, the biscuits were airy and buttery, the sausage had a nice snap to it, and the jam was sweet. My friend had some sort of concoction of pulled pork and eggs and hash browns and more and enjoyed every forkful. After dining, we roamed around the property, visiting the little shops scattered about (I happily purchased a bag of biscuit mix and apple butter--both ended up being delicious). So, while I can't review the actual dining experience in the restaurant, I can say that the food was excellent and, with its reputation and that whole "the owner was friends with Paula Deen and a bunch of country stars have eaten there" thing, it makes sense that it's a busy little place. If you want to dine in, be prepared to wait for a long time. Take-out is a great option and it definitely is quicker than waiting for a table--there are picnic benches around the property, or you could always take it to go. The employees I spoke to were incredibly friendly, despite the craziness going on around them, and they were quick too. The restaurant is a little bit out of the way, but parking is pretty decent and it's not too far from downtown. If you're looking for a great breakfast, definitely drop by...just be prepared for the fact that you may just end up eating breakfast for lunch due to the wait time.
(3)
Hayley M.
Delicious, artery clogging, and good family fun. A friend of the family insisted we go. Looked it up on yelp (naturally), and since the top three phrases are, "biscuits," "fried chicken," and "hashbrown casserole," the extended fam was immediately down for finding this hotspot. We ordered several dishes, including chicken fried steak, fried chicken (you can specify dark or white meat and we had both at the table), and pulled pork. Each entree came with two sides, and I went with the hashbrown casserole and the marinated cucumbers and onions (had to go with something remotely healthy to offset the fried chicken, right?). The waitress first brought us a basket full of the biscuits. Hot, buttery, and melting in our mouths, they weren't just good. They were the best darn biscuits this reviewer has ever had... and I have eaten a lot of biscuits. The fried chicken was everything I could want in fried chicken. I ordered the white meat only, and it was crispy on the outside, perfectly moist on the inside, and bursting with flavor. The hashbrown casserole on the other hand... Well, it was too cheesy. Normally I love cheese and usually it's the-more-the-better when it comes to cheese, but I wanted hashbrowns, not potatoes swimming in sour cream. Otherwise this meal was fantastic. I was almost sick when we all left. But we did leave with a catalog and my friends will be ordering a ham for Christmas. Check out the accompanying store!
(4)
Mike Z.
Average food, super slow service, overpriced for the tourists. Nothing to see here.
(1)
Jemina B.
You wake up on a Sunday morning somewhere in Nashville. You vaguely recall the past night's events, but you are incredibly aware of a raging headache and dry mouth. Your out-of-town visitors have all crashed on various couches in your house and look at you with pleading eyes to put them out of their misery. You need home-cooked food. Like, NOW. Enter the Loveless Cafe. Sure, you might wait a bit for those heavenly biscuits, but there's plenty of entertainment while you and your hungover crew wander around the property. Hams n' Jams? Don't mind if I do. Get some complimentary coffee, check out the various sundries the store has to offer, and move on. When your buzzer finally signals that your table is ready, the reaction is much like Pavlov's dogs. Your table is immediately rewarded with a plate full of biscuits, homemade preserves, and the quickest service around. The barbecue is a delight, as well as the fried chicken. Bottom line: it's worth the drive!
(4)
Jay F.
It's like eating at grandma house. The first item they bring out is the biscuits. They are DELICIOUS. I tried the blackberry preserves with them and it was my favorite. I ordered fried chicken with mashed potatoes and fried okra. Overall the meal was good but not overly special. The outside of the chicken was really tasty but the actual meat was bland. The mashed potatoes were good and you could taste the butter in it. Don't bother with the fried okra. It tasted like the frozen stuff. Service was excellent once we were seated.
(4)
Andy N.
4.4 stars (can't quite round up to mecca) Yummm...the biscuits were great! I can't wait to come back again next time I'm in Nashville. This place is definitely not on the way to anything, it felt like it was in the middle of no where. The rest of the food is just solid home cookin' but dining there will take you back to the good ole motor hotel (motel) days.
(4)
Tanya M.
Expecting a wait, we got here way to early. We got here about 3:30p on a Tuesday. We walked around the gift shop, & still ate too early. We anticipated a good meal so we ate a light lunch. I got the fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, and green beans. I ordered a salad but the waitress forgot about it. She was gonna bring it, but I told her not to worry about it. I don't like my salad with my meal. The chicken itself was good. I'm not sure about it being the best but it was good. The hasbrown casserloe was good, need some onion, I hate to say if it had onions it may have been as good as Cracker Barrel. The green beans were also very good. I could have ate more green beans. I took a piece of PB pie back to my room. It was just ok. They are famous for their biscuits. I don't really see it. The biscuits are a little better than Cracker Barrel, but I have had better biscuits at Hardee's.I liked the in house made jellies. I really wanted to like Loveless Cafe more. Overall, I'd return if I came back but not really someplace I would be like "OMG I have got to go there!"
(3)
Jasper T.
This place has some amazing food but be prepared to ware for it. In my opinion it is worth the usual 2 hour wait. They have just about everything from ham and eggs to chicken livers. The biscuits are amazing and make for a memorable experience. You have to try the Loveless at least once. It's a Nashville landmark.
(4)
Anita Y.
Eat. The. Biscuits. I agree with Matt S., they are THE BEST EVER. My first visit was in '93, and that was the last time I was in the area. This visit is my second time, and I made sure to plan our driving so I'd be in the area when the cafe was open. And it was every bit as good as I remembered. I got a biscuit with country ham, and the sweet potato casserole. It's tangy with a lot of sour cream in it, so be forewarned. After reading all the reviews, I'd be ONE FAT PIG to try everything that sounded good. I'm not a fan of the red-eye gravy, but that's OK, it's a very short list of things I don't like. All I know is I don't want to wait another 18 years to go back.
(5)
Thomas J.
This place came highly recommended, and deservedly so - southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and southern greens were perfectly done, and the biscuits and jam hit the spot after a ride on the parkway. A bit crowded, but that's ok - they don't take reservations, and there was a long wait for us - I think calling ahead puts you at the top of the list, so try that. Save room for the pie at the end. Worth it. Vegetarians would probably do best to head back to Nashville and keep looking. But the menu is decent at identifying the animal products, so give it a go after all.
(4)
Martin P.
My office is just around the corner from Loveless. I get by about once a month. My favorite is the half order of country ham plate with eggs, hash brown casserole and eggs. ALWAYS a winner--with the unending biscuits! Makes for a great morning!
(5)
Sammy B.
Came here for the biscuits and breakfast. Biscuits were pretty good. Pancakes & french toast were okay. I guess I wouldn't come here for breakfast. I'll try the fried chicken next time I'm in town. The wait on a Saturday at around 1230 was about 20 minutes with a call-in ahead of time. They had told us an hour and 45 minute wait when we called in but apparently if you go and wait, it is much less of a wait.
(4)
Rich F.
Holy smokes!! Jalapeno and Cajun flavored bacon! Who knew bacon could get better? Biscuits are delicious and the pit bbq pork is excellent!
(4)
Hannah L.
Me and my friend go here about once every few months because we love the beautiful ride over for the coffee and biscuits.. I always order catfish... Although I am from the MS delta where catfish is our middle name, I still enjoy their catfish... The turnip greens are great with pepper sauce and the crinkle fries never disappoint nor satisfy. The okra is out of a box... Server told me that one! I just don't get what the hoot is all about... I guess you say it's a Nashville thing but I've been to shacks on the side of the road with better home cooked food. I have a love/hate relationship with this place. I want to love it because of the beautiful location and home feel but it's just becoming to "franchisee" without being a chain.. People come from all over to see this place and celebrities as well... I don't get it... Like I said I come every few months for the scenery and hopes that the food gets better... Service is for the most part lovely
(3)
Michael D.
Tourist trap meat-and-three. Biscuits are mediocre...they mass produce them, so that they are just a "step" about fridge "grands". My homemade baking powder biscuits are better.
(3)
Dave L.
Having read all of the other reviews, we were expecting a big crowd and a big wait when we arrived. We were visiting the Nashville area for the first time and decided to drive over. Apparently 7 p.m. on a Sunday night in the winter is the best time to go. We walked in and were given a table immediately. We ordered drinks, got our biscuits, and then ordered food. I went to the restroom to wash my hands and when I came back to the table the food was there. Wow, that was quick! I haven't had a meal like that in a long time. It was a high calorie gut buster for sure, but it felt like I was served a home cooked meal at a freind's or family member's house. Right temperature, right texture, portions, everything was great. Can't say enough about the service. I know that it's probably hectic when it's busy, but our server was great...very polite, didn't rush us, made small talk, etc. We enjoyed the meal tremendously and even got dessert to go. Didn't seem touristy, just a very quaint country diner. I'm sure it's a different feeling when there's a 2 hour wait, but for this review I can't say enough good things about it. We hope to come back someday.
(5)
Janet L.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything about the Loveless! The food is outstanding and the atmosphere is so charming. A must stop for us every time we go to Nashville. Great little shops surround the restaurant so time passes quickly if there is a little wait to be seated. The food is SO worth the wait.
(5)
Ciara M.
This place is amazing! The biscuits with their jams were fantastic. We ordered cooked-in pork and fried chicken. Well done! The pork was shredded and surprisingly not as oily as I thought it would be.. maybe because it didn't have a lot of fat. It was served over pancakes which were cooked very good! The fried chicken was one of the best I ever had. There was something different in their breading. :) Their mac and cheese was also creamy -- very nice! Cheese melted and coated over the pasta the way I liked it. Creamy corn is also a recommendation for the side. Apple pie for dessert was also quite heavenly. Will come back. :) What a great intro to Southern food!
(5)
Robin L.
I should have done my homework on Yelp before showing up to the Loveless a few weeks back on a gloomy, cold, rainy Sunday morning. The place was packed, and had it not been for our long drive in, we probably woulda hightailed it outta there after finding out our wait would be approximately one hour and twenty minutes. GAH. Of course, we were starving. AND we had just risked our lives on our albeit scenic though super rainy drive in. So...we wandered the little shops on the Loveless compound and splurged on some random food items so we wouldn't wither away while the clock ticked on. Damn those crafty Loveless people! Anyway, the place is cute, and their estimate of wait time (we got there around 10:15am) was spot on. The restaurant is quaint, and we got a great table with a sweet waitress. The famous biscuits were good, as were the homemade jams. I ordered the BBQ pork omelette. Its an omelette stuffed with BBQ pulled pork, cheddar, and BBQ sauce. It was tasty and a good size. My friend ordered one of the breakfast platters-some run of the mill egg-sausage combo. We also had the hashbrown casserole which was pretty cheese-tastic. Overall, the food was good, service was attentive, and the ambience nothing short of Southern charming. But, in my opinion...no food is worth waiting an hour and a half for...sorry. Definitely a place to hit up if you go early, or are not in a hurry.
(3)
Jude C.
All the notoriety surrounding this restaurant is true...it is worth coming to because the food is excellent, the atmosphere is great, and the service is top-notch. The store they have in their compound has a lot of cool souvenirs and provides and opportunity to kill some time if you have to wait in line which is always a possibility here. I've been here once and surprisingly only had to wait for 15 minutes which I'm told is unheard of. Anyways, do yourself a favor and check this place out if you're in the Nashville area!
(5)
Michael M.
You know it's hard to find well cooked eggs and country ham that isn't overly salty.this place has both along with in house jams. When I'm in nashville this is my breakfast place
(5)
Katie H.
If you have *any* remote interest in delicious, southern style comfort food then look no further - Loveless is where it is at. I, like many of the reviewers, first heard of Loveless thanks to the Food Network. Fortunately right around the same time I had developed a complete obesession with all things Tennessee related. So, we made a road trip of it - and I still rave about my time spent in that great state and especially my experience at this restaurant. The restaurant itself is one rather small house and is surrounded by other small boutique stores as well as a Loveless store complete with t-shirts and biscuit mix (I own the latter). The Loveless's were the original owners of the property which ran as a small motel. I have been there twice and had to wait over a half hour both times, so it was nice to fill the time wandering in and out of the shops. I would say the wait is a major drawback of this restaurant but for me it is a no-brainer, the food makes it completely worth it. Let me begin with the biscuits: They are served freshly baked, warm, golden and flaky at every table and they are unlimited. Served with homemade jams and spreads they are phenomenal. Don't get distracted they can fill you up quickly and there is always so much food! On my last trip here I came for lunch with some friends and I had the Southern Sampler which comes with your choice of three of the following: Fried Chicken, Catfish, Ham, Meatloaf or Pork BBQ. I had the Fried Chicken, Catfish, and Pork BBQ. The portion was huge and yet I didn't want to stop eating. My biggest recommendation goes to the fried chicken. That is what the restauarnt is known for and there is a reason. It is perfectly crunchy and not even the slightest bit greasy. All of these recipes are kept top secret making them all the more appealing. Have I mentioned that they have their smokehouse on site?! and it makes the air permeate deliciousness. Last trip I got to talking to the man working in the smokehouse (for all I know he was the owner but he was incredibly friendly and nice). He could not stop emphasizing the fresh and homemade quality of the food - he loves it himself! Should I have the opportunity to visit again I am going to have to leave room for dessert - they all sounded great and of course are also homemade on site!
(5)
Neal M.
First off, I'm a southern boy through and through. I love good southern cooking more than damn near anything else around. That said, I'm no stranger to good food and most of the time, they're not reinventing the wheel when you eat at southern food joints. When my friends picked me up from Nashville to head to their home in Alabama, we stopped here for dinner. Their biscuits, oh dear god, their biscuits. Damn. I ended up getting smoked pork chops/loin that was glazed in their homemade peach preserves. This is damn near holy divinity. As my chef says "god spoke to me". I really do think, if there was a god, he'd tell you to eat here. I had enough leftovers that I took with me, I had breakfast for two days straight with the addition of a couple scrambled eggs. When you walk in, you see a wall/walls of autographed photos from the Nashville scene in there. I'm looking forward to my trip back to Nashville just to eat here......at least once.
(5)
Carol Anne B.
Oh goodness. The drive here was crazy, I wasn't sure if I was even going the right way. And then suddenly BOOM. Yummy smells and cornhole. 45min-1hr long wait. That's how I knew we were in the right place. Oh yeah. This is Loveless. I'd been recommended to go here and thank goodness. Guys...guys? It's so good. I'm serious. So Good. I got meatloaf, with 2 sides, hashbrown casserole and macaroni and cheese. Have you ever eaten at Cracker Barrel and had their hashbrown casserole? Listen...It's Better. Yes, yes it is. Oh my goodness. And the portion of meatloaf was big too! And then the waitress is like "You can have as many biscuits as you can eat" and smiles. And the jams are so good. And the biscuits are so good. And when you doodle something on the paper menu, the server says something nice about it, and doesn't even sit your food on it! So good. Price is great. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Ann B.
I would give this place 5 stars if I didn't have to wait two hours to eat...but I will say that it was worth the two hours! The food was amazing! We were from Chicago and wanted real country cooking and we got it. The staff is amazing too. Only downside is I wish they had some more stores to shop in :)
(4)
Dan G.
Fantastic service, and the food is AMAZING. People always mention various things they've had, but if you're not there for breakfast you're not doing it right. Do NOT go through N'ville without stopping here.
(5)
Kayla S.
Luke was our waiter and his customer service was spot on!! So friendly and helpful, food was delicious, chicken biscuit was one of the best!
(4)
Valerie C.
My friend and I stuck out in Nashville like two Asian girls in the South. (Oh, wait....) In all seriousness, none of that ever mattered the whole time we were in Tennessee. And then you go to a place like Loveless, where older ladies call you "sugar" and teenage servers call you "ma'am" [Excuse me, I'm ONLY 26!] and you get to eat an infinite amount of fresh-baked biscuits and preserves and everything is OK in the world. That's how I felt anyway.
(5)
Paul M.
I have dreams about the biscuits at this place. I stumbled upon it on a road trip across country and I honestly think that it might be one of the best wrong turns I've ever made. I had an awesome omlette with some country sausage and this hashbrown casserole that was out of this world. The coffee was also really awesome too. After I was done eating I went outside and talked to the pit boss who was starting in on some barbeque for the day. The people were really friendly and awesome and I also got some cool souvenirs while I was there too. If you're in the Nashville area it would be a huge mistake to not go to the Loveless.
(5)
Shelley V.
I say sh*t, god*amn, this place is NOT to be missed when you are in the area! Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits... so good, I brought ziplocs from home and flew back with a dozen biscuits for my happy co-workers! Be warned, the wait on weekends is god-awful. Show up, be prepared to be patient and WAIT WAIT WAIT! I usually order eggs and bacon here and fill up on the biscuits with butter and jam. T had the BLT with fried green tomatoes and that looked amazing. She said it also tasted amazing! Next trip, I'm ordering that! All the food is good but the biscuits really stand out. Also; I absolutely love the servers - sassy, funny and make you feel like you are at your country granny's house! They also have a little market/gift shop that you can buy mixes, potato salads and like. I proudly bought some bacon scented air fresheners there!
(5)
Stephen L.
I live about 15 minutes from the LC, and honestly I'd suggest finding a Cracker Barrel instead. The biscuits are flat and dry and everything else tastes about the same as a Cracker Barrel (if not sub-par), but has a much higher price tag. This is not a spot where locals eat (often). Every time I pass by I shake my head at the tourists lined up outside.
(2)
Adrianna L.
Ok, yesterday I was visiting the city of Nashville for first time, one of my friends recommended this place...and some people tell me about the wonderful breakfast . So here we go! First of all , I need to wait at leas 1 hour 20 minutes to have a table! So I don't have too much time to see the city and I decided for take-out. I ordered Southern Sampler Breakfast to go , and the cashier told me that the size of this order is big, enough for TWO PEOPLE, and the big surprise! when the waitress bring me my meal , it was soo tiny! and they charged me 17.65 for this plate and one ice tea. I try to be objective in my review but I see the pictures in their website and the portion are so big. This place is unhealthy because everything have a LOT of fat! but at least the biscuits were amazing.
(2)
Adam E.
Decided to hit the Loveless on the way out of Nashville. We heard good things from some friends. It did not disappoint. The place was packed, but we only waited about 5 minutes. I ordered the country ham and eggs, but it was the biscuits that stole the show. They were dense, and I was scared they would be gummy, but they were as flaky as can be. The property has several buildings that house a country store, antiques, and artwork. This was definitely a great end to our weekend in Nashville. Definitely add it to your to-do list while in Nashville.
(5)
Katlyn H.
What an awesome place! Cool decor, great fiod, fast service! A must go to!!! My best friend and I started our roadtrip here and it was a Friday morning. I was surprised at how busy they were but the service was fast. The food was phenomenal especially the biscuits!
(5)
Park W.
This review was based on one visit. What I tried: BISCUITS!, Fried Chicken, Home-smoked Ham, caramel sweet potatoes, greens with pot liquor, green beans Tasting Notes: 5 Stars for the biscuits! The only biscuits I have every liked. Now I understand why people love them.. Loveless's biscuits are compact but fluffy, buttery but not too rich. I ate 4 at my meal (and this is coming from someone who does not like biscuits). Also, 5 stars for the preserves (especially the blackberry and peach) and the honey and molasses. The fried chicken was also solid, as were the sides. I thought the caramel sweet potatoes were particularly interesting. Not a huge fan of the ham-- it was too rough and chewy for my taste. Ambience: Homey comfortable feel. Though this is a tourist friendly spot, the restaurant itself doesn't feel like it is purposely trying to attract tourists (though obviously, the market and rest of the premises are). Service: Very friendly and attentive. They are generous with their biscuits, which is very importants. Recommendation: Great place to eat near Nashville (only 10miles from downtown). So glad that my friend from Nashville recommended this spot to me-- he mentioned that this place is a "nashville institution..." and indeed it is! If I ever find myself in this area again I'm definitely stopping by for biscuits.
(5)
Chris S.
Takes AMEX. No matter the day, if you go around lunchtime, expect to wait perhaps an hour or so (they get a lot of tourist traffic). Food comes out fast though. The famous biscuits were above average and my companion's pulled pork omelette was ridiculous good. The full order country ham was good but too much from a volume standpoint. I was looking forward to the hashbrown casserole, but it was pretty plain. I'd say my review mostly reflects the omelette and some pretty great sausage gravy (get anything with it) for the biscuits, with a half star for solid service.
(4)
Jewel M.
This place is amazing. For a person who has breakfast for every meal, I was in heaven. The biscuits were the best. Only downside is that there was no grape jelly (I'm stuck in my ways). Pancakes are also very delicious. Just wish the location was closer (by closer I mean walking distance from my bed to their tables). Dare to dream.
(5)
Kim G.
Biscuits are amazing. Best I have ever had. Every time I come I wonder why I don't come more often. It is great. Best pulled pork anywhere!
(5)
Mary Helen M.
Out of everything at Loveless, the biscuits really took the cake. They were rich, buttery, and served nice and hot. I'll remember you, you biscuits. I'll also remember the obscenely gigantic breakfast I ordered. It was so big, in fact, that Heather and I couldn't even finish it together, in two sessions. But hey, if you're going to pay this much for breakfast, it better be fricking enormous. My plate was piled high with pulled pork smothered in BBQ sauce, sitting on top of a corn cake, and sandwiched in between two scrambled eggs (with cheese). And in the little bowl beside this heavenly mess? Why, it was a big honking scoop of Hash Brown Casserole. Never heard of Hash Brown Casserole? Just imagine that hash browns and oven baked macaroni and cheese had a baby... and that baby was delicious.
(4)
Megan C.
The Loveless is one of those Nashville must visits. The store sells excellent Southern Food kitsch, complete with biscuit magnets, tees, and the ever classic RC Cola and Moon Pie. I've heard you have to try it to really be a believer... In any case, came here with some out of towners to give them the 'true southern experience' and it was exactly what I expected. Ordered up some biscuits and white gravy as opposed to the red eye that my meal was to come with (more like the kind my own Southern Grandma (Memom) used to make!) along with some eggs and bacon. The biscuits really are phenomenal, I think I could eat about a million. And they come with all kinds of lovely supplemental toppings...jams and butters and gravies, oh my! Think Cracker Barrel, but friendlier, less chain-y, more delicious, and more like my Memom's kitchen.
Want commissary food that is the same as any truck stop on the interstate? Welcome to the Loveless. The tourists come because of a reputation left over from the fifties. Pull over, have your picture taken out front, then go get something good to eat elsewhere.
(2)
Jeff C.
I can see that there really is an obesity epidemic as I found many fine examples of overfed Americans at the Loveless Cafe. It's no wonder. The biscuits are great. I had three and unfortunately they go down like lead. I also had the BBQ pork. It was good but I wasn't sold on the sauce. The cucumber and onion side was a good choice. The coconut pie was superb.
(4)
Elizabeth H.
Loveless Cafe is a must when visiting Nashville! If you're looking for southern food with the possibility of seeing a celebrity this is the place to go. We had to wait 1.5 hours for a table, but luckily the resturant is surrounded by art, gift, craft, bike, and sweet shops. Warm biscuits are served right when you sit down, they come with homemade preserves, we had strawberry & peach! For lunch I had the fried green tomato BLT- DELICIOUS! You can also do a family style breakfast for only $11/person - next time I am definitely doing that! Totally worth the wait!!
(5)
Samantha joelle A.
Of all the tourist places in Nashville, Loveless Cafe is the one place that I must take my family when they come to visit. Forget Pancake Pantry and their line out the door and around the corner, a wait for this place is actually worth it. The biscuits are to die for, especially with their blackberry jam. The biscuits alone are what keep me coming back. But then again, that is what they are known for. Everything I've ever had here was amazing. The hash brown casserole is creamy and delicious. The bacon thick and smokey. The service is quick, and the wait staff always make sure you get a dose of their "southern hospitality" goodness. They also are generous with the biscuits. I always take a to-go box home with me, which makes for another great breakfast the next morning at home. Loveless cafe is great to go for breakfast time, but always expect to wait at least an hour if you come then. Especially on a weekend. Ultimately, the best time to come is for dinner. My boyfriend and I discovered this one night, and we will never go back for breakfast ever again. We've never had to wait at nigh yet since people only think of it as a breakfast place and come in the morning. I personally LOVE breakfast for dinner; it's the best kind of dinner there is. The food comes out in about 5 minutes, and also is super cheap compared to other touristy places you could go in Nashville. So whether you are in Nashville to visit or you live here, Loveless is great for everyone. And it continues to be my favorite breakfast place ever to this day, and I've lived in Nashville for 5 years.
(5)
Grace E.
Was driving through TN on a roadtrip with my mom. We had spent a good part of the trip eating fried bits, feeding upon everything that could be deep fried in a greasy vat. Ewww. My stomach had had enough of the bad food, so spending a meal at the Loveless cafe actually felt like medicine for my spent soul. I tried to play it safe, just by ordering the biscuits and blackberry jam, but upon tasting the FANTASTICness of those biscuits I decided to order some okra, potatoes, and asparagus. All that food felt like it was heaven sent. It smelled and tasted all kinds of great! I definitely recommend driving to this classic and famously enduring place to enjoy a good meal. They've renovated and changed it a lot since the 60's (my mom says), but it still tastes just as good.
(4)
Piyush S.
We have been here once about 2 months back. As expected, the place was crowded and we had to wait for around 45 minutes to find a table for three. 1. Biscuits are the best I have had. Way better than Hermitage cafe and they keep coming. They gave three types of jams and they were all terrific. But I prefer biscuits with gravy and they did not give any gravy. 2. The steak was almost perfect and the fried chicken was average 3. Fried catfish was like any other you get in nashville 4. The service was great and people are friendly there. 5. The place is a bit pricey so I will definitely think twice before going here. Overall from my experiece, if you are a die hard biscuits fan , you might want to check this cafe out. Else, just give it a miss. Goto Hermitage cafe or some southern kitchen in nashville.
(3)
Orlean M.
Fun experience. Expect to wait ~ it's always busy ~ but worth the wait. The food was very heavy but very good! I enjoy the a la carte breakfast menu options. The bloody mary with a moonshine sidecar was awesome! The little shops are nothing to brag about and the service was slow but it was a fun experience nonetheless. Just be patient!
(4)
Sarah S.
We finally made it to Loveless Cafe after hearing about this amazing place since we moved to TN. The drive is pretty (especially on this snowy day) and it's not a short drive by any means. We went for breakfast. The menu is simple but has plenty of options to choose from. I had the french toast and my husband had the steak and eggs. After ordering, they bring out there famous biscuits and jam. They were delicious in my opinion but my husband doesn't like biscuits so he wasn't too crazy about them. He loved his breakfast and my french toast was delicious. Loveless is cafe has history and the food is good. I'd recommend giving it a try if you are up for a little drive and want some good southern food.
(4)
Lindsey H.
What a great place to mark on your list to visit when you're in Nashville. The drive from the city to the Loveless Cafe is beautiful and a great family Sunday drive. Once you arrive to this old motel made Cafe, you will be waiting for an hour to get a table. Don't worry though, there are shops and places to sit outside. The hour will go by fast as you keep yourself busy window shopping. Inside is an AMAZING collection of American Folk Art. The staff was friendly and the food was classic American cooking that makes you fat and happy on a Sunday morning.
(5)
Shannon L.
This place has a wait, a significant wait, on any weekend day....but I promise you it is well worth the wait. Plus there is lots of little shops and touristy type stuff to do while you wait. The biscuits are amazing, and their apricot preservers are TO DIE FOR! Service was fantastic, atmosphere was fun...I especially loved seeing all of the celebrities that have been there....and watching them make the biscuits from scratch. Definitely going back for more!
(4)
Lena N.
Their biscuits are made with love AKA lard. They are one of the yummiest biscuits I've ever had and it is divine dipped in their gravy. These biscuits are not meant to be shared. My friend and I made that mistake and ended up dueling it out the for four biscuits we bought. I almost lost a friend that day. The only problem is that my friend and I made the mistake of coming here around 1 PM on a Saturday. If you are going to take that strategy, bring snacks for the up to TWO HOUR wait or else you might not have an arm by the time you finally sit down. We got the food to go and ate it on the many picnic tables they have outside. That's definitely the better alternative.
(4)
Samantha M.
On my Halloween weekend trip to Nashville, this place was highly recommended. Beautiful drive....beautiful area....and a cute little place. The biscuits and jam were to die for. The coffee was good. I had catfish, hushpuppies and mac n cheese. The meal was done well. It was more food than I could finish. Service was excellent. The little shops out back are adorable. I would def. eat here again, the next time I'm in Nashville!
(4)
Jon T.
It is tough to say much about Loveless that has not already been said. The biscuits are every bit as good as every single person you ask tells you. They come hot. The preserves for them are remarkable. If you seek happiness through carbohydrates, you shouldn't go another day without experiencing the wonder of the Loveless biscuit. It actually is every bit as good as those your grandmother used to make. As for the rest of the food, fantastic. You can tell that their country fried steak is hand breaded, and does not taste like a Swanson TV dinner like is served at most restaurants. The sides are fantastic. The hashbrown casserole is to die for. Anyone going to this restaurant should be prepared for a festival of carbs. That is the only good reason to go to this type of restaurant. One thing should be noted about this restaurant. Expect to wait! Any weekend, a wait of at least an hour is to be expected. Once it gets closer to the summer, the waits can be even longer. Is it worth the wait? It depends on who you ask. I say yes, but I always make sure to eat a piece of cheese beforehand. You simply cannot go to this restaurant already hungry. You will feel like you are being tortured. This place is worth every 5 star review it gets. It has yet to disappoint, and I will return every time I make a trip to Nashville.
(5)
Brian K.
Super supper, but slow service! We arrived Saturday afternoon and were informed it was an hour and a half wait, then returned Saturday evening and waited for about 45 minutes. So the wait time wasn't optimum, considering there are only about 30 tables at the restaurant and probably about 4 waitress on staff. Not only was the wait time to long, but one of my pet peeves is drink refills and they were essentially non-existent. My glass should never be empty and it seemed not all the staff was working as a team. It seems most of the staff is young and some were to busy with high fives and not willing to watch out for the customers and help the wait staff. My drink was finally refilled with the wrong drink and returned with no straw. Now the food was great! The biscuts and jam were amazing and always wonderful. We have been three times and each time the meal was very good. The final time we had chicken fried steak and a few sides. The steak was not crunchy and moist. Great job on the food.
(4)
Alex G.
Great food, good service...BUT, it's in the middle of friggin' nowhere and there's almost always a long wait so I don't recommend going unless you have lots of time to kill (esp. because it's not exactly like there's anything to see around there). In short, it's good food (hence the 4 stars), but I completely disagree that it's worth the trip or the wait. There's plenty of good places to eat right in Nashville instead.
(4)
Jay N.
Great Biscuits and jams. I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and it tasted like something my wife got out of a box. The portion was not worth the value. The sides were great. They do have Great Barbecue and my wife ordered that. She got a HUGE helping of it. They should be embarassed to serve that steak. The please is VERY LOUD and not the kind of place you want to go if you want to hear the person sitting next to you. VERY SAD experience
(2)
Terri B.
This was our second visit, we seem to always make time to enjoy the Loveless Cafe when in the Nashville area. The restaurant and shops are like stepping back in time to a much simpler way of life. The cafe is down home, southern cooking. You can count on it always be crowded, so be patient. We took the time to wander over to the shop. Picked up a few gifts for people, biscuit mix, jars of the jams, t-shirts and honey. The entire staff is happy, helpful and work to make you feel welcome. The food is delicious! I had the breakfast sandwich with crispy bacon and a side of the hash brown casserole, reminded me of the hash brown casserole my grandmother use to make, pure comfort food. Mr. B opted for an omelet, he said it was great! Mr. B Jr. ordered the country fried steak and eggs with hash brown casserole. Everything was cooked to perfection and makes you warm inside. The biscuits they serve are fabulous, you really can taste the love in the food. Spread a little homemade blackberry jam on the warm biscuits and it is pure heaven. There were 2 tables that had large parties, they ordered breakfast served family style. It reminded me of the big family get together's where everyone is enjoying each other over a home cooked meal. They were having a great time. Really good for groups and large parties. When in Nashville, make the time to take the drive out to the Loveless, you really won't be disappointed.
(4)
Gul A.
If you're in the area - drop everything and go here! We were driving cross country and I read about this place online and got a recommendation to try it out. The biscuits are great, I'm not a big fan in general but these were really good and their homemade jams area amazing (bought some for home in their store next door while waiting for our table). I had the pulled pork platter with the cream of corn and some potato side that were just incredible, the best meat, sauce and sides I have ever had (it's sad, i know). My BF had the chicken tenders with fries, also great dish though I think that trying the local favorites is always best in these places. I asked our waitress what to order and went by her suggestion and I was happy I did. We will definitely be back next time we're in the area.
(5)
BethAnn S.
A great place for to bring your skinny friends from NYC - hook up 'em up with some biscuits and gravy and zip 'em over to St. Thomas for an angioplasty. We love the family breakfast which actually isn't THAT unhealthy and is reasonably priced. Its also the fastest food we ever get served and hits the high points of eggs, bacon, fruit, biscuits (as if they would miss that!) and the potato of your choosing. The shopping at Curious Heart makes for fun distraction during the wait which can go up to an hour on a weekend. Weekdays you are in the free and clear with minimal waits and maximal time for your waitress to make sure 'ya'll are doing okay hun'. It's a gem!
(4)
Elliott C.
This embodies all that is Nashville..... no wait this is part of what makes Nashville so amazing. A small drive to the edge of the city and you are near the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Loveless Cafe. Get their early... I mean REALLY early. This place is packed on the weekends but well worth the wait. All the food is a amazing but Blackberry Jam and Biscuits are by far the best way to start any breakfast. I am not a southerner by a long shot, but this place makes me feel I have a southern Aunt who puts all her love into the food. Comfort food take a back seat, I get the same feeling eating here that I do for Thanksgiving.
The Loveless Cafe is a old time restaurant that you should make it a point to stop by. It is certainly not on the main highway and we were surprised at all the cars we saw upon approaching the location. This place has been closed in past years and renovated before reopening. There are bikes for rent on the property and a service station next door. Plenty of parking on the back lot. This is a complex with several gift shops and a general store. We had to wait 1 1/2 hour to be seated however it was on a Saturday and that should be expected. Once seated you may first notice the air conditioning is not the very best. The menu is large and we went with the meat loaf and fried chicken livers. We also ordered the turnip greens,sweet potatoes and fresh fruit cup. The meat loaf was three large pieces and was excellent and there were a dozen chick livers fried just right. This was a very good meal. The restaurant credit card machine quit working however they were unable to take credit cards the old way my using the old imprint machine. Each meal was less than $10. Service was fast and attentive during the meal.
(5)
Nick G.
After all the hype, a recommendation by the hotel, the good yelp reviews, We knew we had to make a visit. They're known for being a nice breakfast stop, and famous for their biscuits. So i ordered the biscuits and gravy. Yelp reviewers raved about their fried chicken, so I also ordered a few pieces, and then we had a few other breakfast items on the side (eggs and some fruit). Biscuits were served as we waited with jam. I enjoyed the biscuits, and the strawberry jam was by far the best of the three. But after eating a biscuits, I realized I'd ordered way way too much bread... I suggest you don't get a meal with any kind of bread included, because by the time the food comes, you'll of eaten plenty already. The food was barely decent, definitely nothing special, and I left very disappointed. The fried chicken was dry, and their famous biscuits tasted almost exactly like the Pillsbury biscuits in the can, just smaller. Way over-rated, way over-priced. I don't recommend. ***Just found out this place was featured on the Food Network TV Show: The Best Thing I Ever Ate. So I've added it to my list.
(2)
Aaron F.
Slightly out of the way but still a must-see while in Nashville, the Loveless Cafe is a charming little breakfast spot serving good old southern food that will likely send you into diabetic coma or a state of utter bliss (your choice). When my Dad came to visit, this was our first stop before heading out to the plantations and Jack Daniel's Distillery so we were prepared to load up on some yummy food. The first and best thing is simply THE BISCUITS yep. They sell them in big bags in the hokey gift shop, and they bring you a plate of them on the house to start. And whoooooo weeeeeee are they some good eats! (Mind you Asians don't typically say stuff like this and yet here I am). Light, moist, yet completely delicious on their own. Almost a surreal combination of buttery saltiness on its own with the sweetness you might expect from a pastry. Add butter and jam and it's even better. Dad had the ham, I had the steak biscuits with grilled beef tenderloin. His ham steak was uber salty and a bit tough to eat. My steak biscuits were alright - meat was a little dry - but what made up for it was the hashbrown casserole, loaded with cheese and potatoes. Yum! You must take a pass through the super touristy gift shop at the end. Not necessarily to buy anything but just to say you did. You won't regret it!
(4)
Jen W.
Biscuit! Biscuit! Biscuit! Now you know what to go there for. Seriously they must put crack or something in their biscuits (that's a joke people) These are some amazing biscuits and I will fight you for them. TO THE DEATH!!! And get them with some sausage gravy too while you're at it. They have some amazing creamed corn. I have no idea what's in it besides love or more crack. seriously, this stuff was so good I forgot about my main dish of fried chicken. Their sides are amazing, then again about every place down south knows how to make green beans. Catfish is great! Don't be scared of ordering fish. Fried chicken is good too. And they've got great pies. I had the lemon icebox pie and that hour at the gym completely went out the window. Feel free to check out their gift store, buy yourself some biscuit mix, some ham and bacon popcorn! yes bacon popcorn! Clearly i'm a fan of southern food and need to get more stretchy pants
(4)
Multi-Cultural Traveler M.
Let me begin by saying everything good is worth waiting for! While on a road trip from Chicago with my family of 9, we headed to Loveless Cafe after my sister (who also was on the trip) strongly recommended that we make the journey there. We arrived and were told that it would be a 45min. to 1 hour wait, so we braced ourselves for the wait. We were seated after the 1 hour wait and was greeted by Dee-Dee (our waitress), the lady who seemed to be just waiting to take care of our table, needless to say, she was AWESOME! Dee-Dee (our waitress) greeted the table with a plate of hot biscuits and various jams which we all said....she must have been reading our minds. She was informative, patient, extremely polite, and just overall - the best waitress that I experienced while in TN. The food at Loveless Cafe is amazing and the biscuits are a wonderful experience all in themselves. Our groups ages ranged from 4 - 57 years old and all of us felt like Dee-Dee was something special and what made our families experience at Loveless Cafe not just enjoying great food, but she made the food and the experience memorable. We decided to do the buffet and there was more than enough food and options to go around and it's the most economical way to go if you are in a large group!
(5)
Ashley D.
Amazingly, this restaurant lived up to the hype. We were on our way from Nashville to Memphis and my husband had read about this place, so we decided to check it out. Fortunately, we had read to call ahead to put our name on the waiting list. I'm so glad we did, because even though we called about 40 minutes before we arrived we still had to wait almost an hour for a table! We were there for Sunday lunch, so that's probably as busy as it gets. Still, you can call ahead up to an hour before your arrival. DO IT. I had the ham and eggs with grits. The grits were awesome, I wanted to lick my bowl clean. And the biscuits truly are perfection. I've never had such light, fluffy, buttery biscuits. Our server brought a plate of five to our table, and my husband and I each ate two and broke one into pieces for our 8 month-old. Then five more biscuits arrived and we ate four of them (and would have eaten the fifth except there was just no way to get any more food into our stomachs). Such gluttony, but so worth it. This was my son's first biscuit experience, and I had to explain to him that, sadly, it's probably all downhill from here for him as far as biscuits go. The service was quick. Once we were at our table we were in and out in well under an hour.
(5)
Juliet S.
I came here for the first time in 2001 on a road trip with my family. Maybe it's a faulty memory, but I think it was much smaller back then, with lots of rustic charm. It certainly seems bigger now and, though far less rustic, it still has plenty of charm. And there's nothing faulty about my memory of the blackberry preserves. I thoroughly enjoyed my pork barbecue and my marinated cucumber, but I would come back just for the blackberry preserves. I would eat a dish of them, all on their own, with a spoon, then have more for dessert. Okay, maybe that last part was a little extreme. I would, however, buy some to bring home. You can buy some at the counter or go next door to Hams & Jams and do some shopping there. Make sure you sit down and have a meal, though. The food is wonderful, the servers are friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is airy and comfy.
(5)
Su C.
Delicious biscuits with preserves. Well worth the 30 minutes wait on a Sunday afternoon. The blue plate special, smoked brisket with two sides was ginormous and so was the barbecued pork. My daughter enjoyed the moist and well seasoned meatloaf. Will have to come back for the pies someday.
(5)
Katie H.
This is a Must SEE dining experience. Inevitably you'll have to wait, and parking is a bit of a nightmare. But they provide little buzzers so that you can walk around the artisan shops surrounding the restaurant. As for the food... As a Southern woman steeped in the culinary culture.. and a bit of a snob at that.. I can say without pause that the food is delicious. Home made, old school, and DEEElicious! The hashbrown casserole is to die for, and the biscuits and preserves (PRESERVES, PEOPLE!!) are from scratch. The peach preserves are addictive and will leave you wanting more... and you can GET more because their gift shop "Hams and Jams" SELLS IT!!!
(4)
Sarah C.
Here's the hoedown on Loveless. You might think you have to get your white socks and sandals on with a huge camera around your neck to fit at the Loveless Cafe but you are wrong. Loveless Cafe is great if you are visiting town or a local (I consider myself a local). We arrived at the Loveless "compound" around 11:40a.m. First order of business, don't go that late. The hubs-to-be and I waited around an hour and 45 minutes for a table. Fortunately, the cafe is surrounded by a little general store with free coffee and plenty of souvenirs like fresh jams/preserves ($6), Loveless T shirts ($12), and really cool Nashville memoirs and cookbooks from top rated restaurants in town. There is also a random bike shop, pottery store, and religious antique store. Breakfast or brunch at the Loveless is really an all day affair. When the pager finally buzzes you have the opportunity to sample the greatest Southern fare that is served within minutes. Think Crackle barrel but much better! The biscuits are buttery and literally melt in your mouth, a staple at the Loveless. I ordered the BBQ pulled pork and eggs (~$8-9). You are probably thinking,"really," but yes really. Although at first it sounds unappealing, it was the most delicious! The french toast (~$9-10) was so good the syrup was not needed. As sides, I ordered the home fries. Mmmmm tasty! We also ordered take out for dinner and let me tell you the fried Okra will be my next meal alone should I return. It is like crack, seriously. The catfish platter was flavorful even when reheated the next day. For two people dining in and taking dinner home we totaled $56.00 including tip. Not too shabby!
(4)
Meghan J.
wonderful country cookin comfort food! as everyone else said, the biscuits are top notch- especially with some butter and jam. i am a big fan of the fried chicken- unfortunately, i haven't tried anything else so can't comment on the rest of the menu! It's been over a year but i don't remember being very impressed with the sides... The notable downfall for me would be the fact that this place is a tourist trap and there's often an hour+ wait. but, if comfort food is what you crave, then this is worth the wait
(4)
Charles G.
My wife and I saw "The Biscuit Queen" on a Throwdown with Bobby Flay one night, and since Nashville is only an hour and a half away, we thought we would go and try their food. Sadly, we tarried too long before going, and so we were not able to meet Carol Faye, who (from what we could tell) would have been a true pleasure to have met, but the food and service were excellent. We went on a Saturday for lunch, and our wait time was literally told to us at the door as "an hour and a half". Yes, it was that busy. Thankfully, there are several little shops and local artisans with booths set up in the area, which made the wait time go by fairly quickly. It was well worth the drive and wait! I had the BBQ with hoe cakes, which were great, and I can't remember what my wife had, but it was also solid, down-home cooking. We ate more biscuits than could be healthy for anyone, and they even let us take a good number home so we could have them for breakfast the next day! The only thing I can say that's bad about them: don't order their banana pudding. Now, after that much food, I'm not sure why I ordered dessert anyway, but it was far from satisfying. The 'nilla wafers were hard and the pudding wasn't very flavorful. If you're hungry for dessert, just have some more biscuits with jam!
(5)
Shelly N.
Although I've eaten here three times and gorged on all things fried and cream-based, I have to admit, that overall, the food is "meh". I was excited when they delivered a plate full of biscuits but they were light on the jam (3 kinds in tiny cups to share with a table of 5?!). Flavor-wise, I'd rather opt for KFC biscuits since they are flakier and tastier. I ordered the sampler so I could try 3 different meats. I love their fried chicken...LOVE. BEST FRIED CHICKEN I've ever had. The lightness of the batter and crispiest I've ever had. I was tempted to give my rating a 4 because of their chicken but can't because of all the rest of the mediocre food. Another person at our table had their pulled pork and declared it to be the best pulled pork they've ever had. This was the second time I've eaten the ham and every time, it's completely dried out and ridiculously salty (I took it home as leftovers and tried to add it to a fried rice-type dish and it was still too salty to eat). I've ordered their desserts twice and have been unimpressed...you'd think a famous cafe would have AWESOME desserts. Not so much. I won't be trying more of them. After lunch, we went to the store and I bought some Cajun-spiced bacon and Piggy Pecans. The bacon was awesome when I made BLT's. The Piggy Pecans are SO YUMMY. They're not crunchy because of all of the stuff they've been dunked in, but the salty bits of bacon with the sweetness of candied pecans is a perfect balance. Eat them solo, they're delicious. Top them on a banana and ice cream (yes, I know it sounds weird), but it was even yummier. Even though the food is "meh", I'll keep returning for the fried chicken and Piggy Pecans.
(3)
Christina C.
On my trip to Nashville, my friend decided to take me to this honored institution for breakfast so that I too could enjoy what tourists from all around have raved about. Upon arriving we were told we would have to wait approximately an hour and a half, but this was to be expected for Sunday brunch; apparently it's always full. Nonetheless, they provide you with some entertainment while you wait. You can walk around the property and enjoy the shops they have (cute little places with little trinkets). While I didn't buy anything, it's entertaining at the very least. They even have a little food market. True to their word, we were seated on time. She and I ordered some typical breakfast plates (sunny-side-up eggs, biscuits, bacon) and then we decided to split the hashbrown casserole. The food was excellent! The service was great as well (even if our waiter was kind of crazy...). Great food at a great price, so please go visit and see some of what Nashville has to offer.
(5)
Jim N.
Seven of went to this old motel and restaurant (revised into restaurant and shops) for dinner and, despite a one-hour wait, had a great evening inside a genuine "slice of Americana". Fast & friendly service and food prepared exactly right---pan fried chicken, vegetables, pork chops, and a country ham breakfast....surrounded by amazing biscuits, jams & iced tea....ahhhh... Seriously addictive stuff! Topped by sublime coconut creme pie and coffee....it's right next door to heaven! We left completely happy. This is definitely worth the drive and the wait, during which you can visit their shops and meet people outside. Just like the television coverage promised, this one is a keeper!
(4)
David C.
This is a must stop for those visiting Nashville... the food is great. Not everything is amazing, but overall the food is great... and the service is fantastic. Hits: Green Bean Casserole... just like my momma made back in TX. Catfish... Yum!! Mac and Cheese.... cheesy and delish. Preserves... all three are amazing!!! Sweet Tea... and Peach Sweet Tea... Texas seal of approval. OK but not fantastic... Fried Chicken... its does remind me of the fried chicken my mom would make back home... but it does not have a crust so amazing you wonder how they make it... I can produce that fried chicken at home. Biscuits.... so I've ate here on a couple of occasions... once they were not so good... the second time they were amazing... so I am not sure what to make of the biscuits.... I guess it depends on who is in the kitchen. Off the mark... dessert... not so good. Mashed Potatoes... a sad attempt at mashed potatoes. Green beans... ok but not great. Over all this place offers some great food if you know what to order. I would/will eat here again when I am back in Nashville.
(4)
Sasser M.
I'm bucking the trend here when I say that the Loveless food in our opinion is just ok. As a dedicated born and bred southerner I feel it's my place to be truthful. That truth is ho hum in this instance. Sorry folks but I think the meatloaf is blah and the catfish just sort of lays on the plate. Being seen on national food shows and the Food Network doesn't make it amazing. If you think this place is great, try seeking out a soul food place in town. You're going to be amazed.
(3)
Tonya O.
Dear Loveless, how I love thee...especially for breakfast! This place is known all over the country for it's biscuits and southern food. It's tucked away in the countryside off Hwy 100 but not too terribly inconvenient for residents on the west side of Nashville. The staff are incredibly nice and friendly , and our server even knows about Yelp. This is a great place to bring out of town friends and family for a little taste of Nashville and southern cooking. Mmmm...biscuits!
(5)
Rich B.
Over Hyped? Yep. Good Food - it was solid but didn't save it. Wait - Wait - Did I mention Waaaaiiiiiitttt? World Famous Biscuit's - Ahhhh - they were OK. Dessert was the highlight with Fudge Pie and Banana Pudding. I'll give it a try next time we are in town but at a waaaay off peak time.
(3)
Jeanette D.
This is exactly what I wanted on my one night in Nashville- fried catfish, hush puppies, mac&cheese. Everything was delicious and huge. I can't decide if I'm more full or sleepy from all the goodness. Loveless Cafe, you are loved.
(5)
Nina M.
Long wait, but worth it!!! Be prepared for TONS of food and delicious sweet tea!
(5)
Gina C.
Biscuits and the homemade jam are to die-for. Great southern fare. You feel like you've stepped back in time. I had a pulled pork omelet. Wonderful. Absolutely a must-stop if you're in Nashville. But be sure to call ahead and put your name on the waiting list, and even if you do that, expect a wait. They have several cute gifts shops to browse while you wait, or you can play an old-fashioned game of bean bag toss.
(4)
Jamie D.
I'll try and avoid duplicate reviews but, I'll admit, some good things are just worth mentioning... BISCUITS! Get em by the plate full...dump their delicious jelly (we had blackberry, strawberry and peach) or cover those little love cakes with local honey or sorghum! If you have never had sorghum, think syrup meets brown sugar meets molasses. Can you say yesas! I had the smoked turkey with cranberry BBQ. The slices of turkey where from one big bird! I also had the mac and cheese (great flavor - the typical overcooked southern style for people with no teeth to eat - its true - you can just mush it down) and sweet potatoes. Let's just say I overate and was very content about it. There is an outside patio that is great and the inside has fun charactertures of famous folk. The staff here are so knowledgeable about the restaurant and the local community. You can ask them about anything and they will respond candidly. There are plenty of places to sit around the property if you want to get your food to go (sad they pack everything I Styrofoam!!). Also, you can go into the bike shop, gift shop or the several little craft shops on the property while you wait for a wonderful experience and tummy satisfying foods. How's that for a southern sounding review? Huh?! :)
(4)
Joshua P.
Great food; almost as good as my grandmothers. Be sure to get their honey with the biscuits. I'm quickly becoming a regular.
(5)
Boon K.
the biscuits are awesome, just enough butter and it melts in your mouth. The fried chicken was like eating at someone home. It is exactly what you think of as southern fried chicken.
(4)
Molly L.
The biscuits are heaven and all of the other food (especially the hash browns and fried chicken) are amazing. Great service and great atmosphere as well.
(5)
Benjamin S.
I recently saw a review for Pancake Pantry that said both IHOP and Cracker Barrel were better than the Pancake Pantry. I am sorry but there is only one place that can rival the Pancake Pantry and that is the Loveless Cafe. Though they don't have anywhere near the breakfast selection of the Pantry, what they lack there, they make up for with some of the best fried chicken, world famous biscuits (though Bobby Flay did manage to out do them), and some of the best souther hospitality, service and cuisine. Cracker Barrel is good, but when in Nashville there is no substitute for the Loveless Cafe for lunch and dinner, and only the Pancake Pantry surpasses them with breakfast, save for the biscuits. So if you want real, down home, southern cooking, make the trip to Loveless Cafe, they are so good.
(5)
Glenn F.
Fried chicken rocks. If were to break a strict diet it would be for the fried chicken. No doubt- breakfast, lunch or dinner.
(3)
Kevin S.
We had a group of 12 and there were able to accommodate us really fast on a Saturday morning at 8. Food and service both excellent! Keep up the tradition and eat those awesome biscuits :)
(4)
Ashley D.
There are many reasons to go to Loveless, but two of my favorites are: 1) Biscuits 2) Hashbrow casserole Both are TO DIE FOR!! Yum, yum, yum.
(5)
Saundra D.
I don't just give out my five stars willy nilly...this place rocks. It is a "destination" that revolves around FOOD. We were passing through Nashville when I was on my way to a financial coaching training (that is what I do) in Louisville and ran across a flyer for this place at my hotel (yes, the Hilton Garden Inn again, stop sweatin' me, I am a creature of habit and I like the points). We drove WAY out of the way to get there and Marcia M. told me not to miss it and she was right. The blackberry jam was the best I have EVER had, and I know some Jam! I had the watermelon ribs - no jokes (yes I love watermelon too) and they were oh, so tender. I often hear "falling of the bone" but I like for my ribs to offer just a bit of resistance...toy with me a bit. These ribs were perfect. We took some chicken and biscuits to go (yes I took them on the cross country SWA flight) and dared security to say something. Worth the trip - worth the cash - worth the calories.
(5)
Martha H.
I have always heard tales of how great Loveless Cafe was, but have somehow lived in Nashville for three years and never been...until now. The biscuits were delicious. I had mine with peach preserves which reminded me of summers in Kentucky with my grandmother's homemade jams. I had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and creamed corn (I had to starve myself all day to justify eating it all!) and it was all superb. I can't say much but reiterate all that many others have said before me, Loveless is amazing. Our waiter was polite (and cute on top of it- have to love the accent!) and service was speedy and friendly.
(5)
Jean C.
Why did it take me two months to write this review?!?! When I was in Nashville with a choir group, the director made sure the travel agency include a dinner here at Loveless Cafe. I was excited only because I've heard amazing things about this place. With a bus load of high school students, parents, chaperones, tour guide and bus driver, we all walked in and past the many people waiting to get a table and escorted to an area in the back set up for our large group. After getting situated, the servers came asking for drink orders and got them out quickly. Our menu was pre-selected: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, biscuits, etc. My tummy was off that evening for some strange reason and boy did it have terrible timing. The food was delicious. The fried chicken was crispy but not too oily. Those biscuits were heavenly and I loved the accompanied jellies. I didn't even finish my one plate which held a little of everything. Boo tummy. After dinner, we went to the shop and they had cute Loveless items and a bunch of the students bought tshirts that said "Got Biscuits?". This place definitely brings in the locals and the tourists. I am already planning my trip back to Nashville and I can't wait to take the hubs here. I need to get my full fill on Loveless.
(5)
Sandra S.
Excellent food. Pulled pork was excellent The biscuits to die for. Service was very good. Due to popularity there might be a wait but worth the wait. We also went on a Saturday which didn't help. The hash brown casserole is a must as a side!
(5)
Jeffery J.
Will be upfront and say I have only eaten here once. It was not too bad. The biscuits were biscuits but the jams were pretty good. As stated it is a bit pricey. I suppose with us going during the week we were seated right away.
(3)
Miguel G.
I've wanted to try Loveless after seeing it on the Food Network and reading all the great reviews here on Yelp and I have to say I wasn't impressed. Loveless is famous for it's biscuits and that's the first thing on the table after they take your order. They aren't bad but I've had better. On the other hand the preserves were very good. I'd never had blackberry and I had to go home with a jar of it. AMAZING! The country ham was tasty but a little on the tough side. The mac and cheese was excellent and I left most of the hash brown casserole, not because I was full. My two friends in attendance agree, Loveless is over rated and in my opinion touristy and a little over priced. If you find yourself in the area or are looking for some incredible preserves stop into Loveless. I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again. Save yourself the trip and find the nearest Cracker Barrel.
(3)
Angela M.
We knew them before they became popular, just a tiny little shack with closed motel rooms around them. Thought they were amazing then, and think they are amazing now with shops all around them now. The service and food are all amazing! You won't be disappointed if you love good country cooking. Everything we are in the area, we always go there for breakfast.
(5)
Doug C.
Loveless Cafe is a cool little spot a short ways outside of downtown Nashville. It's a converted motel: now there's a number of shops where the rooms were as well as a separate bar in a different building on the grounds. This is a place where portions, calories and dieting have long since been forgotten; that is, if they were ever learned. The menu here is overwhelming amounts of good rib-sticking food and you'd better just accept it. Want some butter? Here it comes in a dollop. Want a side of mashed potatoes? It comes in a large bowl. You can even order a few of the sides as a stand-alone meal. Anyways, I had the ham with sides of green beans and mashed potatoes. The sides were nice classic comfort-food home cooking and the biscuits are everything they have been made out to be. The only minor disappointment was the ham. It wasn't bad, but it was perhaps a bit too over-cured. If food was represented by bodies of water, the ham would be the Great Salt Lake. Otherwise, I really liked the meal here. It's a mellow atmosphere with the walls adorned by stars and semi-luminaries who have wandered through it's halls. The servers were lightning-quick and ubiquitous. This place is recommended; just be sure not to eat for several days ahead of time in preparation.
(4)
Matt S.
Best. Biscuits. Ever. This is an iconic Nashville eatery that draws a ton of tourists and locals alike. Seriously, the biscuits are amazing as is the blackberry jam. BBQ is pretty good but the country ham is also a standout.
(5)
Kendyl M.
Best biscuits I have ever had. All three of the preserves served were delicious. Had to wait an hour to get it but more than worth it. Boyfriend had the pulled pork and eggs...fantastic!
(5)
alyssa t.
Wish I had more time to spend here! You can rent bikes and rode on the Natchez! How cool?! Best biscuits, of course. This place drips enough charm to butter any so
(5)
Brandon S.
Nashville's best. Place is awesome in an awesome area. A must go to if your in town
(4)
Jerry C.
Biscuits! Who knew they could stand alone in the spotlight? The buttery and salty treats came on a large plate as a starter while we sipped our sweet tea and decided what to get for lunch. They were soft, and just hot enough to melt an extra slab of butter and fruit preserves. I didn't have to chew the biscuit so much as put it in my mouth and wait for it to melt. I could've ate the biscuits all day, but eventually I ordered the blue plate special - a fat saucer of chicken and dumpings with a meat-flavored side of tender greens and hashbrown casserole. My friends got fried chicken livers and gizzards (absolutely delicious), and fried okra. The meal sat incredibly heavy in my stomach for the rest of the day. It was fantastic.
(5)
R J.
Maybe it was... ... The caramel sweet potatoes, candied, warm large fork-fulls with a brown sugar glaze clinging to each morsel. ... The Pot Liquor Southern Greens, seasoned with smoked meats and a tangy finish that embraces every segment of your taste buds. ... The Stone-Ground Grits, warm, creamy and perfectly seasoned, rendering the Salt + Pepper Shaker Useless. ... not really certain. What is clear, is that when we combined just these few tasty favorites with the Loveless Cafe entrees, we were in Food Heaven.
(4)
Marc C.
OK this is off the beaten path about 25 minutes from downtown Nashville. Once you get there plan on a wait. Ours was 1.5 hours however there is so much to do...we played cornhole, toured the various shops on property, relaxed, and enjoyed the day. Once we were seated we went through two baskets of the best homemade biscuits with fresh made jams. We could have made a meal of just that. We ordered the sampler (with bbq pork, friend chicken, and catfish), bbq pork platter, chicken tender sandwich, and chicken tenders. The tenders were the size of a small plate, and you got 3 of them (leftovers!), the meal was unbelievably good, so fresh, and tasty. We had leftovers we were so full. They packed it all up and a to go container of biscuits too. This was well worth the wait and we made an afternoon of it. The service was so great that we did not want to leave. Go hungry and willing to relax a while. It will be the go to spot next trip.
(5)
Mark H.
The Loveless Cafe has a reputation for southern cooking so we have visited a couple time wishing the experience would change. Before driving the NTP we stopped again to try their breakfast fare. Ironically the "USA Today" lists the Loveless Cafe as the best in the country for "down home cooking". We arrived around 9:00am on a Monday so there is no wait, I have read and heard the horror story's on waits on the weekends. We ordered the country ham breakfast and shortly after the best biscuits in the country arrived. They were great as was were the peach preserves. The breakfast arrived not long afterward and the eggs were over cooked, the ham was so salty you could not eat it,and the hash brown casserole was so gummy you could use it for wallpaper paste. We asked for more biscuits and some red eye gravy to go with the ham. Again, they arrived quickly but the red eye gravy was watery and with little taste... And where did these biscuits come from? They were nothing like a real southern biscuit. Loveless was not really the place for a great southern breakfast. It was no where near as good many of local restaurants I have visited around Nashville. After 3 tries we are out of here.
(1)
Tyler H.
I was visiting family in Nashville a couple of weeks ago and insisted that we go to Loveless for Sunday brunch. I went there when I was in Nashville a couple of years ago. No one wanted to go because it was over 20 miles away. After our meal, everyone was very thankful that I insisted. The wait was only about 15 or 20 minutes (long enough for me to go and buy some preserves at the general store). Trey, our waiter, was very friendly and attentive. The food was outstanding. I had a mixture of breakfast and lunch with the main feature being fried chicken. It was cooked perfectly. The seasoning was OK, but I couldn't believe how perfectly cooked and moist it was. I had grits, turnips and hash brown casserole. The menu had turnip greens, and that is what I ordered. They brought me collard greens. I didn't complain because they were very good. I tasted from everyone's plate and there was nothing to complain about from anyone's meal. My favorite tasting came from my partner who had the fried corn. OMG! That was to die for. They have recipes of some of their popular dishes on their website. I hope the corn is there. One last thing. I had to check my bag because I bought preserves and chow chow to take home with me. As I was walking to my gate, I saw that there were Loveless goodies in one of the airport shops. I could have made the purchase after going through security and not check my bag. They should advertise that in the general store. Other than that, NO COMPLAINTS about my Loveless experience.
(4)
Charity D.
We went on a Saturday afternoon, wait was about 30mins, no big deal but it was cold so it'd been nice if they'd turned the heater on the porch area for the infant waiting along side of us. First impression is decent place, small..nothing I wanted from the shops since I am native to the area, except the jams. Waitress: very attentive, if not a bit over the top. We had an issue which she probably should have handled better, I'll explain in the food section. We waited a long time, but felt rushed to order. Food: I had country ham w/grits, red eye, fried medium eggs, biscuits. The great: first batch of biscuits were tender, fresh, warm. The jams and butter on the were good. The so/so: grits, nothing special, but they were cheese grits, but didn't notice any cheesiness. The ham, decent, but whatever flavor. The bad: Red eye tasted like an old, bad cup of coffee. It's suppose to be 80 gravy/ham flavor/juices, and 20 coffee. Just enough to not notice it for anything but richness. The ugly: medium fried eggs is what I ordered, what I got 3 times in a roll was over easy. They were so easy that when I transferred them to my saucer as instructed by the waitress, they busted and ran all in my plate. She walked away and I used my only napkin and spouses to sop up the mess to attempt and save my ham. The 3rd time she asked if they were ok, I told her my other food was getting cold and I didnt care anymore. I was tired of trying and the thought of looking at another egg grossed me out. Blackberry cobbler: it was gotten to go and we tasted it real quick, good thing because some oddly creative cook decided to play in the spice rack and had cloves in it. Wrong. Dissappointed, would go back to buy jams, maybe try a veg plate and see how those are.
(2)
Heather R.
Before I was a Nashvillian I knew about the Loveless Cafe. My inlaws were fans, and being a born and bred southerner, felt I would be a fan too. As long as the food is heartattack worthy, I'm eatin'. The one thing I was never told was that the wait would be so darn long, and this is after one heck of an excursion from my east Nashville residence. Toto, I don't think we're in downtown anymore. I don't really think we're in Metropolitan Nashville anymore. The wait for a seat was about an hour, so I'd suggest you bring a granola bar to stave off those hunger pains. There are shops all around the business though, so you won't be bored while you wait. There are benches too for those who really don't care to shop while they wait. Once the food arrived I was not disappointed. The biscuits were out of this world, and they actually had chocolate chip pancakes, one of the ways to my heart. We came for breakfast, so I'm afraid I didn't get to try the fried chicken, but I plan to when we go back. Our waitress was sweet, and never seemed overwhelmed despite the amount of people in the cafe. What quinched it for me was a photo out front of one of the cooks with Conan O'Brien: This place now had my seal of approval of pure awesome.
(4)
Robin S.
From a local's perspective, Loveless Cafe is a good Southern meat and three, but off the beaten path. Minus one star for that. A few years back, it was basically a hole in the wall place that served great food...people knew about it, and it's always been an attraction, but not like it is now. They have a separate store on the premises that houses all of their logo merchandise--t-shirts, hats, magnets, cookbooks, and of course their signature jams. Now those are worth the purchase! I feel like they sold out a bit though once that store opened. The food is just finger-licking, stuff your gut good. Nothing low fat about this place. It's one of the only places I know of where you can get a 4-piece order of fried chicken along with your eggs, country ham, and biscuits. Their signature items here are definitely the biscuits and homemade jams. I can't think of anyone else here in town who does them better! If you want to check it out, I do suggest it--but make sure you have a few hours to kill (it can be over an hour wait at times) and come hungry. Oh and you might want to wear loose-fitting clothes! You'll be glad you did by the time you finish your meal.
(3)
Karol C.
Fabulous! I'd seen this lil gem showcased on the Food Network a dozen times. I was super excited to try it out. I wasn't disappointed at all. Although there were several families ahead of us the wait seemed to go by in no time. By the time we visited the general store and walked the campus, our beeper summoned us back to be seated. The breakfast fare was delicious...the famous biscuits...mouth watering. The accompanying assortment of jams and jellies were the perfect compliment.
(5)
Rob L.
Biscuits were good but the fried chicken was not as good as what you find at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner restaurant in Orange County Ca. Y'all in Tenn need to check out Mrs. Knotts next time you trek to So Calif.
(3)
John R.
It's always great to get to visit an institution. It's been around since 1951 and while it's changed owners several times (including a relatively recent expansion), it seems to have held onto the original charm. There are some big, and little, names and photos of people who have visited over time. The hostess and waiter were extremely friendly and truly made you feel right at home. The waiter kept checking on us to make sure everything was ok. I had the traditional biscuits, jam, ham, eggs, hash brown casserole, and red-eyed gravy. The red-eyed gravy came in a side dish - something I've never tried. When I asked what was in it the waiter said without hesitation, "grease, coffee, and molasses...it helps cut the saltiness of the ham." Being a somewhat healthy eater my buddy said my jaw almost dropped to the table. However, it was a very light grease :-) and actually tasted quite good with the ham. The biscuits were excellent, and went quite well with the three fruit jams that accompanied them. While the eggs were nothing special, they were not intended to be the star of the show. The has brown casserole was a great mix of potatoes, cream, and cheese - quite decadent. If your up for a good ole' southern breakfast (the also server "supper") then I can't imagine finding a better spot. An added bonus is the Hams and Jams shop, as well as the small stores now residing in the old motel rooms. Definitely worth the trip!
(5)
Dustin M.
I'm not gonna blast this place. The food is pretty good, The dining area is unique and comfortable, but the place is simply a tourist trap. Every Nashvillian should go just to say they've been, but don't expect better food than any other southern spot. Also, expect at least a 45 minute wait. Biscuits aren't bad though.
(3)
dorothy f.
Ate here twice on a recent trip to the Music city. The food was great real down home southern comfort food. The biscuits and jelly are to die for. We never did get any desert, there was no room after our meal. No one could even finish their plates. Yumo this place is a definate ust on all my future trips.
(4)
FieryRed S.
Wow...this place is some serious southern good eatin'! I love the food there and a really pretty drive out of Nashville. Went there at 11 am on a weekday and no line...and, what a bonus, Carol Fay was at the front door! Had the country ham and our waitress warned that it was salty. My friend had the pulled pork with eggs and some incredible cheese hash browns. Would highly recommend the pulled pork, was the best I have ever had. Didn't really understand the hoopla over the biscuits...they were good, but similar to other restaurants. loved the homemade preserves...really fresh. The service was excellent...very attentive. Would go back and try the fried chicken. Fun to walk around the little shops surrounding the restaurant. Take a moment to look at the pictures in the lobby of the stars who have visited. Interesting that Al Gore's daughters wedding was catered by this restaurant!
(4)
Ralph R.
Great place for breakfast with their homemade biscuits and apple butter. BBQ for lunch or dinner is also a winner.
(4)
Thomas W.
I was technically at a reception & banquet in the next-door Loveless Barn, but Loveless Cafe did the catering, so this review is still about their food. The saving grace were definitely the hors d'oeuvres - they were great. Unfortunately, I believe, they are not on the actual menu... The supposedly main event of the dinner, however, should regularly be available to everyone: Loveless Fried Chicken. I had some southern fried chicken in the Bay Area some time ago, it it was divine. Now, being in the actual South, I was really looking forward to a repeat experience. Sadly, no such luck. The sides were mashed potatoes and green beans, just as back then. The mashed potatoes, however, tasted pretty much like they came out of a box. The beans were rather flavorless and not crunchy enough. The chicken itself was decent, but the seasoning uninspired, making for an overall... boring meal. I honestly expected more from such a signature dish.
(3)
Karen C.
Really cute place that is a bit of a tourist trap in my mind. It's not terrible, but its not great and its very out of the way of downtown nashville and 1hr+ wait. Please don't get the fried chicken! It was dry and bland. I make better fried chicken. The country ham that they are known for was overly salty and tough. The mac and cheese and the fried okra were not really worth eating. On the upside, the bacon was delicious (they cure it themselves) and so were the grits. And of course, their biscuits were very very very good. I pigged out on 3 or 4 of them. The strawberry preserves are also very delicious. So overall, some things were good and others weren't. I would stick to the breakfast foods instead of the typical southern dishes.
(3)
Robert N.
The fried chicken is amazing! The creamed corn is awesome! The biscuits have no equal! I feel like I should mention the biscuits again.
(5)
Angela M.
I went to this place for breakfast with a girlfriend on a Friday morning while we were in town for the CMA Music Fest. With the crowd in town that week, I figured we would have long lines but it was no wait at all. I ordered an omelet and it was really good. The biscuits were also very tasty and the service was great. My favorite thing was the blackberry jam. I have never really liked blackberry jam because of the seeds but this was so good I bought a jar for myself and 4 others to give away for Father's Day. I have hear from each person I gave a jar to and they liked it as well. I also bought biscuit mix to make at home, and while they were not exactly like the restaurant, they were pretty good.
(4)
Krystal O.
I've only been here once, and it was almost 2 years ago but I can't help but remember the delicious turkey mashed potatoes and of course the biscuits! I really loved the cute little shop and all of the art work they had on display inside the restaurant. I even picked myself up a little magnet that still hangs on my fridge to this day that says "I aint bashful, I'm from Nashville". Oh how I miss Tennessee, but when I come back the Loveless Cafe better watch out, because I'll be coming back hungry!
(4)
Deepak B.
What can I say...good old fashion southern cooking. Prices are very reasonable, and quality of food is exceptional.
(4)
Jason L.
So here I am several weeks after visiting Loveless Cafe writing a review. Giving 5 stars to restaurant doesn't happen often so I wanted to make sure my high from eating there had worn off. Well I can honestly say it is still there, and I can't wait until I can find my way back to Nashville to eat at this place again. I have lived in the South my entire life and have been raised on a diet of fried chicken, pork products galore, veggies seasoned with meat products, and biscuits. It is always fun to scroll through reviews and see comments such as "the tea was too sweet", "the ham was a bit too salty", or "the jams were too sweet". Those statements shouldn't be uttered in the South unless you want to face a firing squad. I can honestly say this is some of the best food I have ever had in a restaurant setting. Lots of restaurants in the South advertise themselves as "good Southern cooking" but few can deliver like Loveless. Our cross country trip from San Diego along I-40 finally reached Nashville and after stopping to visit with some friends we were instructed that we had to visit Loveless Cafe. I liked the fact that this place was located away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We only had to wait around 30 minutes for a table on a Saturday night. I am annoyed at the people that have dinged this place for having to wait a long time. Good food = long waits. If you want a shorter wait then head into the city limits and find a Taco Bell. Loveless Cafe has a nice little business enterprise because while waiting for a table you are free to peruse their Hams and Jams Country Market. I had dropped 75 bucks there before even stepping in the restaurant. Their jams are excellent (strawberry and blueberry are must have). Their pumpkin butter is also very tasty. Make sure to grab a mail order brochure for their Hams and Jams because you will want more after leaving. The store is a little on the small side so expect to bump elbows with fellow customers. After being seated a friendly waitress quickly brought us a piping hot stack of biscuits with preserves. It seems the biscuits are always a highlight of every review. They aren't the best Southern biscuits I have ever had but they are very good. When mass producing biscuits some quality has to be sacrificed. Still the preserves are VERY good and if you haven't purchased some already you will after leaving the restaurant. Just pace yourself or you will be full before your entree comes to the table. I had an order of the pit cooked pork barbecue which was tender and flavorful and topped with their homemade BBQ sauce (which can also be purchased). I tasted the sig-o's country fried steak which was equally tasty. I tasted the mashed potatoes, homemade creamed corn, slow cooked green beans, and hashbrown casserole. The cooks didn't hold back on the butter and meat seasoning. No room for dessert but I was ogling the blubbery cobbler at the table over. I can't wait to try their breakfast when I go back. Every single dish I tasted here was phenomenal. This place simply can't be missed if you are visiting Nashville. I am still in love with the preserves and once the stash I have here runs out I will be hitting up their mail order service.
(5)
Tanya W.
I've been going to loveless cafe before it was renovated a few years back. Everytime I head back to Nashville I MUST eat at loveless. The food is always fantastic and the service amazing! You never know what famous country star you might run into dining here. Make sure you stop by and get some jam to take home- Delish!
(5)
Melissa M.
My friend and I were driving from DC back home to CA and stopped in Nashville for a night to visit an old friend. He recommended that we meet him for breakfast at the Loveless. Very glad he did! Our meals were amazing and I wish I could have been in town longer to try more items off of the menu. The place was PACKED while we were there, but most people didn't seem to care about waiting since there's so many things to see around the property. We also hit the gift shop on the way out of town and I came home with lots of Loveless things. Great place!!
(5)
JustinandSally H.
There are not many places where I would wait two hours for a table and then say the food lived up to the hype. I had read about Loveless and wanted to try it, but then we just happened to drive by it and stopped. We braved the long wait and explored the shops, they give you a pager that works on the entire property. I could easily make a meal off the biscuits and homemade jam, but I would not want to miss the country ham of the sides. I had fried green tomatoes and hash brown casserole, both great! We ordered a pie and barbecue to go (wanted to make sure our time spent there was worth it) and they were both remarkable as well. I am not sure I would wait that long again, but glad we experienced this place, a real landmark.
(4)
Todd M.
Loveless Cafe has very good Southern food and is known worldwide for their biscuits. The same woman has been making the biscuits for 30 years I think. The bacon and meat is all smoked on site in addition to the jams next door. I have never had a bad meal here. Mostly for breakfast but sometimes for lunch. The weekends are PACKED after church in the mornings and expect to wait and hour or two to be seated. I like going during the week their never seems to be many people. When I have guests in town, the Loveless is one of the places I always take them. Great gift shop allows you to take anything home. Cool little shops surrounding, bike shop, kids store, art gallery, etc.
(5)
amy k.
There really isn't much to say about Loveless Cafe that hasn't been said. The place is quaint and has good, southern food. I'm also appreciative of the fact that they serve beer along with all the sweet tea and coke. I'm born and bred in the East TN hills and can make sweet tea like nobody's business, so I don't get too excited about it. Beer at a casual southern restaurant IS something special, though. And so is their fried chicken. It is some of the best I've ever had.The only possible drawback about Loveless is the potential wait, but go on an off-night instead of Saturday/Sunday morning and you'll be fine.
(4)
Nicki R.
Is the food good? Yes. But if at all possible, try to avoid the weekends. You will wait....a long time... even if you call ahead. My husband and I did a breakfast date during the week and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. I would recommend going this route if you're able to.
(4)
Priya A.
I just loveddddd their Biscuits and jam.. warm, flaky and sooo soft!! I just couldnot stop eating them!!!
(4)
carrie s.
Great service. The waitress directed us to what was good for the day. A fairly long wait but there is so much to do and look at the time flew by. The biscuits and preserves are amazing. The red eye gravy is delicious. The fried chicken they are famous for lives up to it's reputation. I most definitely return here many times.
(5)
Tony F.
A local landmark. Handy for all the doublewides who live lcally, and there are a lot of 'em. The Diner is one of the reasons why. Come on, have the house special. Biscuits and gravy. You KNOW what the gravy is made of. Then half a fried chicken; a side of okra. Fried okra; Pecan pie (or bacon drippings, your choice) for desert. Oh. And all the Mountain Dew you can drink. The only green thing on my plate or, indeed, the entire table, was my thirty dollars after paying for two. It's a deal; it's a steal; and no calories!
(2)
Don E.
I asked a friend where to get an authentic southern style breakfast in Nashville, and was sent here. Thank you!!! The biscuits and jam were amazing, The eggs were great (I know, eggs are eggs, but not here) and the bacon/ham/sausage combo was all just right. Creamy grits were the icing on the cake. Great friendly service and quick too ... recommend!!
(5)
Amy B.
Loved, loved, loved this place!! Soul food for the soul....and the hips and thighs too. It's well worth the drive!
(5)
Michael S.
I'm not one to just hand out 5 stars, something has to rock my world to make that happen. I have been trying to eat at Loveless Cafe since 2009 and each time there was more of a wait than I was willing to hang around for. Well the 3rd time was a charm and well worth the repeated effort. I had their 1/4 fried Chicken in white meat since I'm a fried chicken junkie. As my sides I had the coleslaw and mac N cheese. The waitress bought some hot biscuits and jam which were great. The chicken arrived juicy and piping hot, it had a nice crunch and nice taste one would expect from chicken fired properly on the bone. The slaw and mac n cheese were both pretty good. I'm not normally a desert person but when I first walked in I couldn't help but notice scratch made pies, I'm a sucker for good pie also. I had a slice of their Lemon Ice Box pie and found it had a nice tartness along with being nice and light, just the right thing for topping off a good meal. I normally visit the Nashville area once per year and will make it a point to eat at the Loveless Cafe again.
(4)
Bob F.
A bit disappointed in the food (I had the catfish and the missus had the "famous" fried chicken), but the atmosphere and super sweet waitstaff were very nice. Not too far out of town, and not as overrun with tourists as I'd expected. Great selection of local jams & sweets at the adjacent gift shop.
(3)
Nicolas H.
Way too crowded for being so far outside the "city". But the Chicken and biscuits really do live up to the hype. The preserves or jellies are even better. Be prepared to wait and then find yourself in the conveniently located Loveless Cafe Store, located 2 steps away.
(5)
A C.
Great biscuits n gravy baby! Food is excellent. Must be patient for the wait.....
(5)
Rebecca A.
fantastic southern barbecue and biscuits that could shame the hat off of the pillsbury doughboy, do not skip the loveless! we found it on the drive back from memphis and hit it at a non-busy time, famished and in need of southern hospitality. the waitstaff were really nice considering we were both yankees who had no idea what sorgum was. i wish we had gone for breakfast though - from everyone's descriptions the breakfast sounds amazing. this is not a place where you go for health food. it'd be torture sitting across from people eating piles of biscuits dripping with jam and trying to eat healthy. the homemade jams are great - especially the strawberry. i wanted to bring some back on the plane but i thought TSA officials at the airport might jump me for it. i had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of okra. at first i felt like a glutton asking for more, but that went away after my second helping of biscuits. flipping around on the tv the other day i saw them talking about the loveless on the food network and nearly cried. how i long for a biscuit from the loveless.
(5)
Don C.
If you like bacon, like I like Bacon. Do yourself a favor, and order some bacon from the folks at Loveless. You won't be disappointed. I was introduced to it via my Bacon of the Month Club (from the folks at the Grateful Palate. My personal favorite bacon they sell is their Country Smoked Bacon. I am still debating whether to sell everything I own and move to Nashville. Yes, it is that good. My only word of advice is, when you ge tthe bacon freeze or eat asap. The folks at loveless do not pack with ice. Not sure why. Cholesterol, Shmestorol, you deserve some bacon today!
(5)
Jane V.
Just celebrated our grandaughter's 4th birthday there while staying at Opryland Hotel. As a person who has spent many years living in the South but now in California this was beyond heaven on earth. We drove 40 minutes and waited 4I5 minutes and it was so worth it. Everything good that has been said I concur with. Don't miss it..I seriously dream about the biscuits and the day we can return. Waitstaff was very help and seemed unphased by our big group (10 of us). Once we were seated, getting served was swift and oh so good!
(5)
Ali H.
The Loveless Cafe is a Nashville legend, and I finally checked it out on my last visit. I've heard stories of incredibly long wait times, so we went on a Saturday around 3pm and only had to wait 20 minutes or so. The inside is covered in signed headshots of all the celebrities that have eaten there, and the general ambiance is very casual and fun. My friend and I shared the half-chicken dinner, which included fried chicken, biscuits, and sides. The biscuits come with three different types of preserves, but I think they tasted the best just with butter. For our sides, we chose mac and cheese, candied sweet potatoes, and the southern greens. The food, and the sweet tea, were all delicious and traditional southern favorites. The servings are very generous (we were stuffed after sharing a plate), so don't plan on doing anything particularly athletic for a while. After eating, we wandered around the little stores that are on the Loveless "compound," which included the Ham and Jam store and some art galleries. It's a decent drive outside the city, maybe 20-25 minutes, but it's worth it.
(4)
Hooney H.
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know how I feel about this place. 30 minute drive and a 90 minute wait, but it was worth it. Man was it worth it. So Loveless Cafe is surrounded by a handful of little Loveless shops that well a variety of items such as jams, preserves, bacon, trinkets, tourist souvenirs and clothing. I bought a rather awesome "Taking Care of Biscuits" t shirt but one wash turned the large into a Small, so I actually never got to wear it. I'll frame it and hang it on the wall or something. We perused the shops and enjoyed looking at their paintings and souvenirs (mini mason jars are just the darnedest cutest things) and my friend bought a canvas painting of a rather happy looking pig. We named him Wilbur Darnell. Don't ask. But the food. Ohhhhhhh man the food. So the policy is that as long as you stay on the first round (it's all you can eat), you're allowed to take the leftovers home. But once you order seconds of Anything, you are not allowed to take anything from the table home. Luckily, we never even made it out of the first round. Just look at my photo. Hilariously huge spread. But I want to talk about the biscuits. These biscuits make you question your life, the world, the Galaxy and Mother Nature herself. You question religion and the science behind it. You question your upbringing and the girl you decided was worthy of your first kiss. That's how magical these biscuits are. Small, fluffy, chewy, yet airy and buttery (you must butter it--it's phenomenal), these are worth the hype and the rave reviews. Served with four preserves (the blackberry was my personal favorite), you must always order more. The fried chicken. Best. Skillet. Fried. Chicken. Ever. Skillet fried chicken is something every single one of you (even you strange vegan and vegetarian folk) need to try at least once in your life because you will be shocked at just how different it is from regular deep fried. Juicy while maintaining the crisp skin, Loveless has it going on. The pulled pork with corn cakes. Okay the portion was absurd. We each had two helpings and it looked as if a family of six could've enjoyed it afterwards. Needless to say we took it home and enjoyed some delicious leftovers. Man was the pork great. Tender, sweet and tangy, with a hint of smoke, it was a favorite of ours. The fried okra was delicious (god I love fried okra), but it could've used a pinch of salt after frying as it was a bit bland. Fried green tomatoes. Best I had the entire week. Mashed potatoes were excellent as was the gravy that accompanied them. I can't stop thinking about the biscuits. I haven't stopped since I left the place. To the wonderful staff, thank you so much for the lovely experience and meal! I'm sorry I can't wear the shirt!
(5)
Jordan F.
I live down the street from this place but I don't go all the time (I wish) but I can't! If you like to wait in line this is the place for you! If you go during brunch hours just be prepared for a two hour wait, minimum BUT, it is well worth your wait time, during your wait there are a lot of things to do. There are a few gift shops and there is a local artisan gallery, and corn-hole! There is a theater too but I don't know what happens in there, they probably do stuff at night. Anyways we finally got seated and our waiter was great, very cheerful and respectful! The food came out promptly, it was hot and delicious! I really have nothing bad to say other than the wait, but it is a Nashville icon! Hope you enjoy it!!
(4)
Mariko F.
I didn't know if this place was going to live up the amazing reputation that is has. But you know what, it really does. You really have to drive out of the way for Loveless, but it's worth it. After winding some small roads, you pull up to a really cute group of small houses. One of which is the Loveless Cafe. You are immediately greeted with an enthusiastic hello and are ushered to your seats. I was in the process of hanging my coat up on my chair (ie hadn't sat down yet) when the waitress asked me if I wanted something to drink. By the time I had gotten comfortable in my chair about 30 seconds later, my coffee and orange juice and a couple of hot, secret recipe biscuits were set in front of me. Now that's what I call service! The biscuits really are as good as they say. They are apparently a recipe that is sold down through the generations of restaurant owners. I poured over the menu and got the country ham with two eggs with the potato casserole. It was all fantastic. I really appreciated that the eggs came out unsalted so that you can have them how ever salty you like. Sadly, the ham had enough salt for the rest of my food combined. (This is the only reason for the - 1 star.) The potato casserole was fantastic. I had no idea what it was but the waitress told me that it was good and so that's what I got. It's basically hash browns baked with cheese. I'm sure I was eating a heart attack, but it was very very yummy. I can't say better things about the service and the friendliness of the staff. At the end of the meal, our waitress brought us a coffee to go. All in all, I loved it at Loveless and will come back the next time I'm in Nashville.
How do I rate a place like this? To me, there's a big inflection point required to get from a 3-star to a 4-star review and I'm not sure where this one belongs. I'm not from the area (really? A tourist going to the Loveless?? I can't imagine!) and I do really like biscuits so I was pretty excited. However, I sort of prefer the buttery, flaky biscuit and this one was fluffy and almost yeasty. Parts of the innards seemed almost like a roll, although I did eat them all. I went for breakfast and it was pretty standard for two: - Country fried steak - Biscuits and gravy - Home fries - Two eggs The waitstaff is extremely friendly. I'd go back, but probably more because I like eating at greasy spoons than because I thought it was amazing. That said, if I were to rate it solely as a greasy spoon, I'd rate it above most.
(3)
Sarah N.
Fried chicken was great, the pork had a good flavor but was very dry. The atmosphere was awesome, very simple place. The store next door had a bunch of cute little items (all were over priced but good to look at)
(4)
Terry T.
Lived down the street from Loveless ten years ago and got to experience the delicious country cooking in a less crowded, less touristy atmosphere. Went back today and had an hour and a half wait in a little less quaint atmosphere than I remember. Oh well, 7 billion people, it's bound to get a little crowded everywhere. The food is still delicious but, next time I'll just go to Arnolds or Sylvan Park Restaurant.
(3)
Ann S.
The star extra star is for the service. This place does NOT live up to the hype. I couldn't wait to try these biscuits I'd seen on a few TV shows and since we were coming right by there on our way to Memphis, seemed like the perfect time to try it. The hubby got the bbq pork omelet and it was as gross as it sounds. He separated them and said it was tolerable but would never get it again. I got a sampler with eggs, various meats and hash browns. They brought out these biscuits and we were both surprised how teeny tiny they were. Literally 2 bites. We thought due to their size that they were bottomless. They weren't. 4 biscuits and they weren't even good. Not fluffy, cold but the jams were good. My sampler was bad. The country ham was awful. Perhaps I should've gotten the "city ham" but I wanted to step outside my box. I'll stay in the box next time. I was excited for the sausage patties but they tasted like those faux vegan sausages texture wise which was a turn off. In reading their menu telling their story about how they came up with a way to serve the loads of people they serve (there were only 2 other couples there when we got there) and we figured out how. We can only assume by how cold and dry the meats were and the fact it took us 5 minutes from order to getting the food that they make everything ahead of time and keep it in bins like a buffet. We had breakfast other places and my bacon had actual grease on it from being freshly cooked. This place had a bacon with a dull appearance like they'd been sitting out all morning. For $34 for breakfast, we'll wait until we get to Memphis and spend $10 less at Arcade. Disappointing.
(2)
Angela U.
We finally made it the Loveless Cafe. I love the biscuits, and jams, and who doesn't if you've been there you already knew that! But that is not all. The photos of everyone who has visited in the the lobby is wonderful. Really liked the intimate setting during dinner. The shops are wonderful.
(5)
Karen S.
First time in Nashville had to make the short drive to the Loveless. It reached and surpassed our expectations! A definite must see and do for anyone visiting. Our wait time for a table was less than ten minutes. The atmosphere is incredible and our server was so sweet. The food is good old country diner fare and the biscuits are great. They must be because they make 7000 a day. Thanks Loveless for making our first stop in Nashville one of the most memorable.
(5)
Melissa B.
It really could be a bad thing that I live about 10 minutes from Loveless. I love the hashbrown casserole. Biscuits are great, but the homemade jams are what really makes them shine. I love the french toast and the pancakes are great. A few visits ago, our server explained what "hoe-cakes" are. Not only are they prompt, they're informative! lol
(5)
Jamie C.
The biscuits, of course, are outstanding. I like the BBQ a lot, and also the fried chicken. It is a bit of a tourist trap, with really long waits, but the 5 stars are for the food.
(5)
Caesar R.
5 Stars for the Biscuits and the Service and the Jams. Everything else was eh, so it get's an average of 3 stars. The service was super friendly and very attentive. Southern hospitality and all in full effect. The biscuits with the Jams they make for the restaurant and mail order are absolutely worth driving for to taste this little bit of heaven. Otherwise, the eggs were over cooked, the ham was okay, not great as was the rest of the meal, hash brown casserole was fine. The grits managed to disappear as well. But nothing was that special. The history of the place and how it has changed hands was quite interesting. It is to me a tiny bit of a shame to turn the Motel into a shopping center, but I guess that is what you call "progress"? So to see this little slice of Americana that is left does give you that quaint feeling of some sense of 'ruralness', makes you appreciate the way things once were. So, go and GET SOME BISCUITS!!!!
(3)
Linda K.
The food at loveless is full of love for this western gal! Shared the sampler which included fried catfish, country ham, and BBQ shredded pork and of course the fried chicken. If I lived here, I would eat here often. The biscuits are truly as good as everyone says, buttery, light and delicious! If I am ever in Nashville, I would eat there again.
(5)
Ted S.
Wow - everything here was great. Peanut butter and fudge pies were fear too.
(5)
Craig W.
When I am asked for suggestions to take guests from out of town for a true Nashville experience, the first place that comes to mind in Loveless Cafe. It is a true staple of the Nashville cuisine. I have to admit, I am NOT a lover of fried chicken, biscuits with gravy etc,., but something about this place changes all that. The staff and service is all polite and adequate. The food is prepared nicely and my guests have always said that the fried chicken is cooked perfection. The appetizer are the infamous Loveless biscuits with a side of there jams and preserves (my favorite). This is not just a restaurant either, the cafe is surrounded by neat little shops selling antiques, souvenirs, and a bike shop. Definitely cannot get bored if you are waiting for a table. If you are looking for a great dining experience and to experience Nashville (Southern) culture, Loveless Cafe is a great place to visit.
(4)
Bryan C.
Loveless is the type of place you know you're going to love when you pull into the parking lot. Featured on every food show you can imagine, and once you taste that very first biscuit you can see why. It doesn't end there thought. This is southern cooking at it's finest. You know minus all the weird stuff like pigs feet and things yuppies don't like. I stop by whenever I am in Nashville. My favorite is still the fried chicken. Try it out. You wont be sorry.
(4)
Ian N.
Worth the long drive out of downtown Nashville to get here. I offered to marry the owner on the way out. There were 13 of us, so we split up the tables and my table did the all-you-can-eat family style meal. Everything was kickass. The hasbrown casserole was the balls. Fried chicken was the best I've ever had. And while I've had better pulled pork, I'm not complaining about how good their pulled pork is, it was amazing. The staff was quick, attentive, and super friendly. We were a rowdy bunch of guys and they didn't mind our antics. I may have gained five pounds that day, but they were well worth it.
(5)
Dave M.
some tasty, good fatty southern food. portions are huge even for a pig like me. the biscuits are great. eat it!
(4)
Zach G.
HOLY SH!T THEY HAVE...Biscuits. It's an expensive tourist trap that has fantastic fried chicken...hahaha...I almost typed human lol.....and homemade biscuits and jam that rock your mouthgasms.
(4)
Brian R.
A must-eat when you visit Nashville. Once you've tried the biscuits and jam, you'll be ordering the jams by mail or the web from halfway across the world, or closer (Its more convenient that way.) Portions are not small. Be prepared! Save room for the pies!
(5)
T H B.
We were heading to Nashville on our trip when we met a cyclist who told us about this cafe, to try their food. We took his recommendation and stopped for early dinner. I ordered smoked pork chop with peach sauce (I think) and it was Yummy. I never had smoked pork chop before, but I loved it the way they prepared. Their biscuits were great with homemade jam. It was a nice surprise for us to find a local hangout.
(5)
Ferdinand H.
How do you review an Icon? Loveless is a famous venue for southern cooking. Atherosclerosis on a plate, with a side of biscuits. Good biscuits, country fried steak, a biscuits and gravy, fried chicken -- truly 18th Century American culinary innovations. The walls are plastered with pictures of Country music greats -- and the service is friendly and warm with broad smiles all around. It's strange, but I think I have a distrust of famous places. If this was a new find and unknown, I might have said a 5. But -- given the attention, I'm inclined to give it a 4+. It is good food. But I can't say it's so much better to many other fine, but less lauded southern Venues.
(4)
Kristina J.
I love this place! We had a bit of a wait, but only because it was busy. We walked around and checked out their store, and when finally seated we were impressed. Great country style food! The biscuits are great (we even got extras to take home no charge!). Fried okra was delicious!! You definitely feel like you're eating real food and talking to real people. I can't recommend it enough!
(5)
Sherie C.
I have been here numerous times, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is ok... Nothing out of the ordinary as far as breakfast selections, and who can't cook an egg? The biscuits and homemade jams are delicious, but I don't understand how people base their ratings on this alone. Lunch and dinner are completely lackluster, but not bad. This place is just ok.
(3)
Brittney G.
A landmark. A mecca. A haven. A place where calories never count. Dolly Parton's visage will overlook you, her or Johnny Cash, while you take in the best country cooking you've ever experienced outside your grandma's kitchen. It's a little way out of the way, but worth every mile. The biscuits are indescribable. Delicate, moist, buttery, the perfect round vehicle for real butter and simple blackberry preserves. The biscuits should be illegal. They are too good to be selling over the table like that. I mean it, when you have your first bite of a Loveless biscuit you will need to take a moment to reflect, not just on the miraculous thing that just landed in your mouth, but on all of life, and how in a world full of suffering and pain and impossibilities, this little biscuit exemplifies pure pleasure. All the food is good. All of it. But the biscuits rise to another level. World class. Unreal. I want to fly to Tennessee right now just thinking about them.
(5)
Russ C.
Great experience here...right around opening is the best time to go on the weekend - I think the line-out-the-door crowds are more for the late risers. I had eggs and barbeque. I am usually of the "a fried egg on anything is good by me" mentality, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Let me tell you, freakin' good. The hash brown casserole was OK...kind of bland honestly...I'm embarassed to admit that I think I like Cracker Barrell's better! But overall this place was great and is a fun place to gather with friends or family. We will be back again.
(4)
Erin D.
I'm kicking myself for not coming here sooner. By far the best restaurant we hit on our foodie road trip hands down. I'm embarrassed to say of all the times I've been to Nashville, I had never been here until now. I want to say thanks to the Pancake Pantry for having another long line I didn't want to wait in. I can't say enough about the biscuts. I couldn't get past the biscuts. Hot, tasty and the homemade jam. I had the BBQ plate, mashed potatoes and 'slaw. I can't say enough about the food and our server was outstanding. We did have to wait an hour but trust me, it is well worth it.
(5)
Aaron K.
I have been a few times and have brought many friends and it's always the same comment " Man these biscuits are great!"
(5)
Lesley P.
This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I stopped here on a road trip a year or two back, on the suggestion of a friend. It was Valentine's day, and we only made it in about 30 minutes before they closed, but they were very gracious about seating us nonetheless. I had the tastiest food, friend chicken, fried okra, collard greens, biscuits, sweet tea, etc., and it all tasted great. Better yet, the waitstaff was hilarious- singing, dancing, chatting with us, etc. We told them that we still had a 3+ hr drive to Memphis that night, so they loaded us up with biscuits, molasses and sweet tea, as we were the last people in there. I think I want to go back to Nashville, JUST to come back here.
(5)
Nickie G.
I am from Fairview, TN and used to drive by Loveless Cafe every single day on my way to work in Bellevue when I was growing up. But I have never eaten there until this trip home. I guess it really didn't make sense when I had home cookin' at my parents house back in the day. Now they just save some time and take me out to eat instead! Yipee! We got there at 7pm on a Thursday night so there wasn't a wait at all, even for our party of 6. They immediately bring out a huge plate with a stack of delicious, melt in your mouth, soft, buttery biscuits and homemade blackberry jam and strawberry preserves. I don't know why they didn't bring out the apple butter but the others were good enough. Then my brain exploded trying to figure out what to order for dinner. Your options include breakfast (all day long baby!) of which the country ham is their famous thing; dinner options which include fried chicken, meatloaf, fried chicken livers (now that's Southern people), fried or grilled catfish (don't you dare get it grilled, you are in TN get it FRIED), etc.; and then the kicker: "family style" where you pick two meats and three sides and it is all you can eat as long as you are in your seat. GAR what to order??! I ended up with the fried chicken with fried okra and the green beans cooked with ham of course. The fried chicken isn't spicy like some people like but is definitely very much like the home cookin my mom or grandma used to make. Fried okra was good and the green beans were freakin excellent. The country ham was good but it is uber-salty of course so if you don't like it salty then don't get it. I left fat and happy, stuffed with greasy comfort food and fluffy biscuits. Note that the hotel now houses shops where you can buy their apple butter, preserves, molasses, etc. However, if you are flying then you shouldn't buy that stuff there and lug it around your entire trip. Just buy it at the airport - there's a shop there that carries some of their more popular jams, jellies, etc, and you don't have to worry about it exploding in your checked luggage....although I bet you'd lick it right off your clothes if it did.
(4)
Jason H.
Food is awesome and so is the service. There is always a wait but they at least provide distractions with the multiple shops!
(5)
Rocky T.
Excellent Biscuits! Must get more! Love this place, unfortunately it is VERY popular. If you are going on the weekend plan on at least an hour wait. But they have several little shops to peruse while you wait. (Pickup the biscuit mix to take home with u!) During the week and daytime breakfast or lunch is much better. Lots of good comfort food, breakfast served all day. Lots of celebs have been there, and you may see one at the table next to you. (Be courteous. We don't make a big deal about celebs going about their lives around Nashville. Just smile and make note. If they approach u then be a gracious fan, but don't make a big deal about it. Just let them be themselves, and maybe you will see them again.) Loveless is all the hype, but it is popular and can be a bit crowded, but going on "off days" is a great way to experience them.
(5)
Cameron T.
THE best coconut cream pie I've ever had in my life. YUM! Excellent fried chicken and catfish. Loved the sweet potatoes and green beans. The only thing I didn't care for were the greens because they were just too salty for me. The service was great and we loved it.
(5)
Michael V.
Typical southern fare, but the set-up (in an old roadside motel off the Natchez Trace) just makes this place a treat to visit, and worth the drive from downtown Nashville. The biscuits are amazing, but I would expect no less, being made from lard. Everyone knows lard still makes the best biscuits and pie crusts. I'm also a HUGE fan of their country ham, and make this place a destination whenever I'm in the area. While it's tempting to order an additional side, since they're all amazing, don't do it if you want to save room for the fantastic desserts; the homemade banana pudding is my favorite.
(4)
David S.
One of our favorite places to go. They get pretty busy on the weekends, but they have more seating then you'd expect. The breakfast biscuits and lunch fried chicken are legendary for a reason; they're the best you can get. Service is always awesome.
(5)
Jamie D.
Loveless Cafe makes me embrace my southern roots. I love this place! The breakfast is good. However, the lunch and dinner is worth every single cent! Go with a group and share the endless fried chicken with three sides... The fried chicken is absolute perfection, the best I've ever had. The sides are all good. And the world-famous biscuits? Don't even get me started. The jam is really the star, homemade and delicious. Try eating breakfast in the morning and then hop on the Natchez Parkway for a beautiful drive. There are two waterfalls at mileposts 391 and 405 that are mesmerizing and no more than 45 minutes away!
AMAZING biscuits, fried chicken, fried steak, and hash-brown casserole. Best southern food I've had since I transferred down here.
(5)
Vanessa P.
oooooo-wwweeee! Call ahead and they'll cut 30 minutes off your wait time....which has lasted about 2 hours both times I've been here. The little shops that surround the Loveless Cafe aren't big enough to keep me occupied long enough so I sit and stare at my phone hoping they'll call and tell us the table is ready. The servers are friendly, food comes out fast. Most importantly, the biscuits and preserves come out fast. My god, those things are little pillows of flour and butter from heaven. They really are the best biscuits I've ever had. I've had breakfast and lunch at Loveless. Best fried okra/green tomatoes I've had in Nashville and I consider myself a seasoned expert. The place is a bit of a drive outside town but its cute, great for visitors and those enamored with the novelty of fattening, yummy southern food.
(4)
Jaime S.
My mom had the fried catfish and I had the breakfast plate with eggs, bacon, biscuits and the cheesy potato casserole. I was so full by the time we left, but we both enjoyed the meal and bought the biscuit mix and jellies to take home.
(5)
Scott G.
Tourist trap. The biscuits are small rubber balls. If you want good biscuits, don't order these. This place used to be great but now it's just a tourist trap.
(2)
Rae G.
Such a cute place! Friendly, helpful service. We are from the west coast and had no idea what sorghum was until we ate at the Loveless Cafe. The food was good but I have had better. The chocolate pie was amazing. We purchased their dessert cookbook and everything I have made from it has been outstanding.
(4)
bethany r.
Totally worth the wait and the touristy vibe. Although I didn't think the biscuits were as extraordinary as their reputation, what was fantastic were the jams to put ON the biscuits: blackberry, peach and strawberry. mmmm. Overall, we had a great meal made much more enjoyable by our lovely waitress. She was attentive and couldn't have been nicer. I had the fried chicken (!!) The BBQ was also a standout. Recommendation for the sides- stay away from the cooked veggies and go for the coleslaw, mac & cheese, potato salad etc. The greens weren't worth the pretense of health. Just go for it.
(4)
Melissa H.
Quaint rural setting enriched the overall ambiance surrounding the history of the cafe. The food was incredible and the service was great. The entrance was very prestigious and filled with photos of every star that has dined at the cafe. And the story of Carol Fay was precious. Sorry I came too late to meet her.
(5)
Shane O.
Great food and great people! It was our first day in Nashville, and we couldn't have found a better place to start our trip off. A quick tip, call in when you leave Nashville and head to Loveless. They'll put your name down and it will cut your wait time in half. I was reading some of the other comments about it being pricey -- but coming from Hawaii and California, this place is cheap! When you're in Nashville, be sure to stop and visit Loveless.
(5)
G- R.
HOLY COW these biscuits are amazing. Flaky, buttery, smooth and d-lish. Sunday lunch is a long wait, but I grabbed a To-Go order (ready in 10 minutes) then walked around the charming grounds. Picked up the warm, country ham biscuits, sat outside, and feasted. Major fantastic.
(5)
Irene M.
This was the first time I have ever waited 1.5 hr to eat at a restaurant. Service was great. I had the fried chicken which was very tasty, crispy, and juicy. My husband had country ham (which was too salty for his taste), scrambled eggs (which tasted like fluffly foam), and hashbrown casserole (which was too cheesy and heavy). The biscuits were different, but I wouldn't say they're the best in the world. I really liked their peach preserves. The food came out very quickly. So many people were turned away after hearing there was now a 2-hr wait, but more came to wait.
(4)
Allison K.
Do you ever get that feeling when you know something isn't good for you, but you indulge anyway? It's called shameless guilt. It's when you really don't care how unhealthy something may be because it's so damn good that nothing in the world matters. That was my experience at Loveless Cafe. The fried chicken was tasty, but the portion size was so big that I could barely finish it. To be honest, it actually wasn't the most amazing piece of chicken I've ever had, but it was still a fine piece of chicken. On the other hand, the sides were really excellent: marinated cucumbers and onions, fried green tomatoes, french fries, and HOLY HELL, ARE THOSE PRESERVES AMAZING OR WHAT?! Seriously, my world was spinning. The blackberry, peach and strawberry preserves are all so good and flavorful, I didn't know what to do with myself. My hands just kept reaching for those preserves, even after I was completely stuffed. If you can't taste the love that was put into the preparation of any other dish, you can definitely taste the love in the preserves. I didn't want to indulge too much on the biscuits because they are not ideal for those with severe dairy allergies, but they are fantastic as well. Service was great, as you get a pager upon arrival and can peruse the souvenir shop during your wait. Our waitress was sweet, and as corny as the place mats may be, they definitely add to the family-friendly atmosphere. It's on the outskirts of Nashville, but you won't regret coming here if you're looking for some hearty Southern comfort food!
(4)
Habiba W.
This place is WAY over-hyped. My wait was 45 minutes and the food was terrible. The biscuits were nothing special and I swear my eggs looked (and tasted) as if they were made from egg beaters. I don't understand why everybody goes nuts about this place.
(2)
Jessy Y.
This place is incredibly overrated. I mean, it's decent Southern cooking, but after hearing about it for years and seeing it ranked as one of the best in the South, I finally went there this year. The wait was ridiculous; granted, it was MLK weekend (Sunday), but we waited longer than the hour they predicted. Sure, you can walk around and visit shops full of expensive items most of the Loveless' clientele can't afford (at least, I couldn't), so it's not like you're stuck in one place. When we did sit down, I was excited to try their infamous biscuits. Well, now I know how Bobby Flay beat them on the Food Network -- they're tiny! Tasty enough, especially with sorghum (you have to ask), but not SPECTACULAR like I've always heard, and this is the reason I say "overrated." I just imagined them to be big and flaky, not little. My omelet was mediocre. My mom got fried chicken and some amazing mac-n-cheese, so I will give them props for that. I also enjoyed their hashbrown casserole. The bloody mary was a surprise bonus as I didn't think they served drinks, but it required a lot of pepper. I think to call yourself a Nashvillian, you need to eat here once. But once, at least for me, is enough.
(3)
Sara L.
I've been here twice, once while traveling through town on an interview and once while the parents were visiting. We start off well, the famous biscuits are famed for a reason, and the preserves are great. My favorite is the blackberry, then strawberry. For me the peach is not the best, but its a preference thing, I think. I could eat the biscuits and only the biscuits for a meal and be perfectly happy. I got the fried chicken both times, and it was good--very good, but I've tried some other places now so I can't say it was my favorite. For sides, I recommend the specials--both times I liked them best (creamed spinach and squash casserole). For those who are looking at the regular menu, I say go green beans or turnip greens (your moment of healthfulness). I found the sweet potatoes a bit too sweet, but again, preference. We were too full for dessert, so we went and wandered the grounds, which are great and have some really cool shops to check out. Personally, I'd come back here for breakfast in particular...more biscuits=better.
(3)
Andrew M.
After seeing all kinds of good reviews for this place all over the internet, I decided to check it out while in Nashville, and honestly, I don't see what all the hype was about. Long wait to sit down, 45+ minutes even though there were a ton of tables open. It's all good though, with all the good reviews I read I was ok to wait. Finally sat down and ordered the "famous" chicken along with the macaroni and cheese and hashbrown casserole. The chicken wasn't all that special, I've had a LOT better chicken at quite a few places. Mac and cheese was ok, the hashbrown casserole was awesome. The highly touted biscuits everyone raves about weren't all that great either, at least not so good to warrant why everyone and their mother tells you how good they are. They are about as good as anywhere else I tried while in the south. The jams however were damn tasty. Prices were on the higher side, but the service once we sat down was pretty quick. I probably wouldn't hit this place again while in town, but if you're lookin for a tourist'ish spot to eat then this is the place for you.
(3)
Yella W.
The biscuits were great. The chicken so so and the fries the typical frozen type. Very average.
(3)
Zeke A.
This is true Southern American goodness. Biscuits galore! I loved the biscuits so much that I just got biscuits and gravy and some scrambled eggs. I also started with a chicken biscuit. I love the biscuits! Our waiter was friendly and since we came in on a Monday morning we didn't have to wait at all. I love you Loveless Cafe!
(5)
Dallas K.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Got the biscuit sampler and hashbrown casserole. Everything was amazing. Peach sweet tea is to die for. My boyfriend had the BBQ and eggs breakfast and said it was the best thing he has ever eaten. Wait wasn't nearly as long as they told us (said hour and half on a Saturday morning, ended up being 50 minutes). There's tons to do while you wait, and once you order it takes about 5 minute to get your meal.
(5)
Brad W.
The angels sang! I love this place. The biscuits make it worth the trip alone. Fried chicken is delicious, with great sides including fried green tomatoes. This is a Nashville landmark that should not be missed if you are in the area. Plan on waiting during lunch hour.
(5)
John F.
Best food in Nashville!, Service is excellent and best biscuits. Be prepared to wait on the weekends....like any great restaurant it stays very busy.
(5)
Nathan W.
So I will keep this one truly short and sweet. BEST FRIED CHICKEN I HAVE EVER HAD! While people seem super excited about the bisquits (I thought they were just ok) the chicken is the standout here. Were I to be stranded in the middle of a mosquito infested swamp with nothing but the clothes on my back and a plate of this fried chicken I would entirely be ok with things as they were because of this chicken. If I found myself with a hole in my head and a plate of this fried chicken, I would just hope that the hole didn't interfere with the eating of the chicken because thats all I would care about. Go and get you some!
(4)
Tod B.
This place is fantastically simple. They are cooking good, simple, home-cooked, Southern food the right way in an old house. The biscuits are otherworldly and the food definitely represents this place well. I love this place so much, I have visited twice in my recent stops through Tennessee, each time I remember how great this place is and how much I miss it. What I found so great that made me feel stoked to be American was the huge family that was dining near us. When I say huge I mean huge, 30+ people. The food was brought out to them in huge bowls and on large platters, all served family style. "Hey grandpa! pass the bacon!". I loved it. Definitely stop here on your tour of Tennessee, you cant pass it without a stop.
(5)
Elizabeth F.
What a deeeeeeelicious place to eat!! The biscuits are served warm and are guaranteed to be eaten before they get cold. The side of homemade preserves that accompanies the biscuits will not disappoint. I went for their 1/2 of a chicken, fried. It comes with two sides- I got the mac and cheese and the collard greens. The mac and cheese was AMAZING, and I consider myself a connoisseur of anything macc-y and cheesy. The meat was tender, juicy, and the breading was out of this world good- seasoned perfectly. Put some hot sauce on top and you're in fried chicken heaven! The sweet tea is a nice reprieve after an hour-long wait in very warm weather. (The wait is worth every second!) The "Hams & Jams" store next door offers a variety of the condiments offered at the restaurant, as well as selling meats and their famous biscuit mix! They have anything you could ever want to bring home for a little taste of Loveless right in your own kitchen. Bring your appetite, and I would advice wearing elastic-waisted pants, because this is one place that is DEFINITELY not on your diet.
(5)
Ava R.
Soooo good!! I heard all about this place and read the reviews on yelp before I came here and it did not disappoint! The biscuits and gravy were delicious. Country fried steak was yummy. And the hash brown casserole was so ridiculously good! The staff was friendly and courteous. We had to wait maybe 10 minutes but we got a chance to walk around and check out the shops which were cute. Its a little bit of a drive outside of Nashville, but it is so delicious that it is totally worth the trip!
(5)
Jami S.
This place is amazing. I drove here from Connecticut with my grandmother just to try the food. I was not disappointed! The Jam was fresh and wonderful! The sweet Tea you can't beat. I will go back or maybe live there! love love this place.
(5)
Frank B.
Worth the ride if just for the biscuits and homemade jams. My favorite is Blackberry. Can't say anymore than I love this place. The pulled pork is smoked to perfection, If it's not enough this place is at the begining/or end of the Natchez Trace in the middle of whats probably one of the prettiest parts of this country.Travel there once I guarantee you'll be back again and again !!!
(5)
Janet S.
For me it is all about the chicken livers with three types of gravy, cannot speak for anything else on the menu. This sets me up nicely for a camping trip down the Natchez Trace. All our visitors from overseas love to make a pit-stop here. A little shopping for jellies and bacon and a little liver eating! Ah lurve the South.
(3)
Rachel W.
I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. The food is awesome. The biscuits and jam are near perfection. The wait staff is always friendly. The atmosphere is just plain fun. Thank goodness I don't live in Nashville, otherwise I'd gain 50lbs eating here all the time.
(5)
Noelle T.
I ate here. The biscuits were mmm mmm good. Everything else ... well .... the biscuits were good. I also like the cool little shops, I feel like a true Nashvillian now. We will def. go back to try the fried chicken as it appears I missed the mark with breakfast.
(3)
Lee B.
Yup! Worth the hype for the biscuits alone. And I was raised on southern biscuits, let me tell ya. Fluffy, soft and almost yeast-like, even a biscuit hater will dive in to these. And forget your cholesterol level for a day and indulge in the fried chicken, juicy, crunchy and worth every calorie. Do take the advice to call ahead. On a weekday, our wait was 1.75 hours at noon. We came back after 60 minutes and were called within a few minutes of arrival so leave the premises at your own peril. Be sure to squeeze into the lobby and browse the wall of autographed photos of country stars who've enjoyed the biscuits.
(4)
Alex N.
The biscuits are wonderful. I had the ham, bacon and sausage plate with grits and poached eggs and it was an absolute delight, especially the grits. There are notoriously long waits for a table but it's absolutely worth it. Bring a deck of cards or something to keep yourself amused while waiting and then revel in the awesomeness of the great southern cooking offered here. Highly recommended.
(5)
HOLLY M.
Best jams, biscuits, meats.....wow! Just a bit too crowded, but for really good reason.
Definitely underwhelmed. Loved the place when I was a kid, so stopped for breakfast one day. Eggs, bacon, grits and biscuit. Food OK but no better than breakfast at Rotiers and several dollars more in price. My real gripe is being served margarine instead of butter for the bisquits . To my mind this defeats the whole purpose of a really scrumptious biscuit experience. If you are a Southerner, the Loveless is more a fun outing than great food.
(3)
c c.
The hubby and I frantically got to Loveless for dinner at 8:30 one night (they close at 9). Given what we're used to in CA, we expected that they wouldn't be too pleased with our last minute arrival. We clearly forgot we were in TN. They welcomed us in and the waitress spent a good chunk of time talking with us and going over the menu. I got the fried chicken (amazing) with mashed potatoes (also amazing) and creamed corn (very yummy). Hubby got the meatloaf, hash brown casserole, and mac and cheese, all of which were great. I feel like I don't even need to mention this given that everyone else already has, but the biscuits are honestly heavenly. The blackberry preserves were my favorite, but the homemade honey and sorghum were great too. Definitely give this place a try, you won't need to eat for at least 24 hours afterward.
(5)
Jeff S.
Great food and service pretty good too. Glad we didn't have the server next to our section. Loud, obnoxious, and got the vibe he didn't want to be there. they've created quite a destination here. A must see place to eat. If you intend on flying out after your visit, don't buy any jam, it will be taken away.
(4)
Lea Ann M.
Loveless is an institution. I was there many years ago with my grandparents and it has since be totally redone, but luckily the food is the same down home cookin' I enjoyed when I spent summers in Knoxville as a kid. Get past the hostesses' surly attitudes since they sure didn't exude Southern Hospitality. They looked like they were bothered by us "tourists". I was in a nostalgic frame of mind and went for the Southern breakfast of eggs, country ham, grits, red eye gravy and biscuits with a side of fried okra and a big glass of sweet tea. I was NOT disappointed. Took me right back to being 10 years old. My guy had the fried chicken and agreed they probably did have the same recipe since 1950-something since it was pretty boring and not as interesting as KFC, but the hashbrown casserole and creamed corn was OSSM! We ate too much, swelled up with all that salt, but heck, who could pass up the Loveless Store for jalapeno bacon and popcorn with bacon chunks to take home to the Northwest?! Avoid weekends and watch out for all the touring biker-dudes. The place fills up very fast.
(4)
Mabelle A.
So good we went twice on our long weekend trip visiting Nashville. Biscuits with the different jams were awesome - peach was probably my favorite. Add in some sausage gravy (not with the jam of course) and you've now made me a fan of biscuits and gravy. Who needs eggs, just bring on the bacon and the hashbrown casserole. The BACON ROCKS - the flavor was so good we're ordering some online in that bacon lunch pail. Had no idea what hashbrown casserole was until hubby ordered it and it's basically hashbrowns au gratin - cheesy yummy goodness. Great southern hospitality. There is lots of love for the Loveless. P.S. Bobby Flay came here for a biscuit throwdown.
(5)
Rahel K.
I love this place because it is almost as Nashville as Broadway. We took a Sunday drive and showed up late in the afternoon - 20 minute wait. So we walked around the shops, got a bottle of classic coke, and drank it on the front porch. Yeah, this place IS iconic... I got the fried chicken livers. Growing up about 10 miles from where Colonel & Claudia Saunders perfected their recipe...I'm a fan. Loveless does livers right. I also liked the sides - hashbrown casserole and greenbeans. The beans coulda used a little bacon grease; but, again, I'm from Kentucky. We then hopped on the Natchez Trace Parkway for a little Sunday drive. A perfect Nashville afternoon!!
(5)
Katie M.
I came here with my sister when we drove through Tennessee - this place was one of my favorites! Real down home cookin', Southern food through and through. We had fried chicken and potatoes and collard greens and biscuits with honey & butter & peach and strawberry jam. I didn't think I liked biscuits until I felt my lips moving and heard my voice asking the waitress if we could please have another basket. By the time we left I was so deliriously happy and full I fell into a food coma straightaway and had to take a nap in the car. OUTSTANDING, not to be missed!!!
(4)
sharad v.
on my trip to nashville we heard a lot about this quintessential southern food road-side diner. tried their biscuits with sausage gravy and scrambled eggs. The food was delicious, it came quick; the service was very personable and it was quick. The decor was decent and homely, very inviting. Here is the killer though.. The wait. Expect to wait at least an hour (we waiting 1:30) as this place is very popular. while you wait you can stroll around the gift shops, ham-n-jams and an art gallery. So the food is good, the restaurant is popular - why I am giving this 3 stars? simple because there isn't THAT MUCH in a biscuit and country ham that will make a 1 hour wait worth it. While yelpers are raving about the food - think about it - this ain't no avant garde french cooking we are talking about. This is down-home southern cooking - ham, fried chicken and biscuits. It doesn't take much culinary ingenuity to get this right and delicious. So my recommendation - decide for yourself if you think waiting an hour for a cut and dried cuisine is worth your time.
(3)
Lucas P.
Our server was fantastic, very personable and even went the extra mile to offer us to-go drinks! Kind of a hike from Nashville, but worth it. The wait was close to two hours on a Sunday afternoon...but was worth it! They have cool, classy, home-grown shops (overpriced, but nice) to peruse whilst you wait. The food was great, but clearly "fast-serve", was out in 5 minutes. I had the BBQ with two sides and the biscuits....well let's just say I planned on being good and eating 1, 4 later....yeah!
(4)
daniel m.
we went on a thursday { and not the weekend } thank goodness, because my neighbors said you had to wait for a long time. service was wonderful, food was good, decor was pleasent, but the only downfall was its just a tourist trap. ok that being said did i buy crap why i was there. the answer is yes. 2 bottles of hot sauce, and a miny pack of jam. i'm not sure what they were thinking when they opened the new upscale place downtown nashville. we have not been, but i was wondering why they did not promote their bacon. the bacon they serve per there menu is from gattons farms in ky. fathers country hams. i do understand there choice because gattons verse loveless, hands down gattons.
(3)
Nicole P.
Awesome food! Great service! Yes if you don't want BBQ or fried perhaps this isn't your scene, but everything tastes amazing! And you can play corn hole while you wait!
(5)
JAN I.
Amazing bisquits!!!! Didn't care much for the ham...it was dry. All the dishes tasted soooo great...so hard to decide. Can't wait to go back
(5)
Samuel L.
We live right down the street from Loveless. The biscuits are what they are famous for and they are definitely the best thing. The rest of the food is all good but nothing great. If you've never been it's worth checking out. The worst part is the wait on the weekends. If you can, go during the week.
(3)
Me M.
LOVED the biscuits, which is reason enough to try this place! My breakfast (eggs, bacon, cheese grits) was great and prepared as i wished. Food server (Ashley) was wonderful too. Can't wait to return next time in town.
(4)
Monkee C.
what can I say that hasn't already been said? endless biscuits and jam? awesome. country fried steak? awesome. pulled pork BBQ? awesome. creamed corn, collard greens, hashbrown casserole, mashed potatoes? awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome. literally every single thing I tried (and I tried everything everyone in our group ordered) was awesome. don't miss Loveless if you're in or around Nashville....just don't
(5)
Amanda H.
I had yummy fried chicken and didn't get a stomach ache! It's a miracle! The biscuits were so good! Sides were also good, but were definitely overshadowed by the chicken for me. Yes, I had to wait, but I went at dinner time and if you go somewhere good at dinner time, you will have to wait. If you don't want to wait then go somewhere with bad food.
(5)
mon b.
I'm sorry.. this was on my to do list for 5 years.. It was sub par... CRACKER BARREL is much, much better. This was just not good
(1)
Julie S.
They tell you to call ahead because they don't take reservations. Then you call and they tell you that your wait starts when you arrive. They act as though it's the most amazing place - wanted to take out of town folks, but really - for dryer fried chicken than you get at the grocery store and biscuits that taste like those you buy at Sam's in buik? No thanks. Rude and wayyyy over the top hype for pretty average food.
(2)
Ash K.
Great place to eat with a great atmosphere. They make a mean chicken fried steak.
(4)
S S.
I have mixed feelings about the Loveless Cafe. Yes, it's an iconic Nashville eatery and yes, everyone recommended it, but we had to wait close to 2 hours on a Saturday for a table for 2 and found the eggs to be...mass produced eggs. The biscuits, however, are worth the trip. You can save yourself the wait by ordering your food 'to go' and eating it on the picnic tables outside.
(4)
Timothy F.
Ok, where do I start. I have lived in Nashville for 35 years and have tried twice to go to this joint to see what the fuss is all about. The only problem is unless you get there during breakfast hours to eat lunch you will wind up eating dinner for your lunch because of the absolutely UnGodly wait times. Who in their right mind would wait 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours to dine on biscuits and Jellies and Jams!!! NOT ME !! Both times I have left hungry because of an obviously unorganized and lazy staff that cannot turn tables during peak lunch hours. If you are willing (or stupid) enough to wait this long for some 'good ole biscuits and jelly' more power to you. I on the other hand prefer to eat lunch sometime during the uniformed lunch hours. I will never ever bring relatives or family to this joint ever never again!!!!
(1)
Lyndsay G.
The breakfast is amazing! Get there early to avoid a long wait. The fresh biscuits and homemade preserves are to die for! Also if given the choice order the hash brown casserole...so delicious!
(4)
David B.
Best biscuits ever! Everything people said. Great southern food and hospitality. We came for dinner. I hope to come back soon and for breakfast.
(5)
Jason S.
Loveless reminds me of a trip to my Mamaw's. I grew up with a grandmother whose cooking was legendary, she even has her own cookbook. The best part was she grew up in Texas, so we got a Tex-Mex bonus with home-made tamales, stuffed peppers, you name it. Another thing about my grandmother was that as growing up in a family of 15 kids (the 8th, 9th and 10th kids were girls and named Ada, Nina, and Tenny, respectively) and raising seven of her own, she couldn't cook for less than 30. It was impossible for her to conceive of what dinner for two was. We grew up with tons of great Southern cooking and she was always sending strangers away with food or canned goods, homemade apple butter, salsa, bread and butter pickles, strawberry freezer jam, you name it, she had it canned in the pantry. Ask her for a recipe and she would tell you she just threw it together, press her and she would give you something close, and always (intentionally) leave out a key ingredient so yours was never quite as good as hers. When I eat at the Loveless, I imagine an army of Mamaw clones behind the scenes, somehow cranking out copious amounts of good, ol-fashioned Southern staples and BBQ. Plus those biscuits. And the preserves I remember from my childhood. I've had just about everything on the menu and it is good, and the sides are also excellent. I've never had a bad meal there from a food standpoint and the service has also always been spot-on. They've also been very accommodating to our 18-mo old. Even though there may be a huge wait, it's worth it to get that flavor. A word of advice, avoid it on the weekends, it's a mess. You usually can get right in on a week night and avoid the tourists. The only reason I don't give them five stars is that their food is really pricey, considering what it is, and they definitely cash in on the novelty draw. As well, DO NOT order liquor, they have a few mixed drink options which are disgusting high-fructose corn syrup disasters (why I decided to order a mojito is beyond me, it was like citric acid cut with Wrigley's spearmint gum) priced as if they were not. If you want booze, grab a beer.
(4)
Sarah B.
If you are in town, stop by and check this place out. My advice though, skip the wait for a table and get some biscuits with homemade preserves and a cup of coffee or sweet tea to go. We waited 2 hours for a table on a Sunday - some guests were being quoted up to 3 and a half hours for a table for two. I didn't think the food was worth the wait, but if the wait is quick, say less than 30 mins, it might be worth it to stay. Service is quick and friendly and the portions are big for the price.
(3)
Walrus C.
look - their biscuits will make you want to burn down every KFC. just go.
(5)
Kathleen H.
What a great place for lunch! Or supper, as they call it in the south. I had the pulled pork sandwich, which was delicious. But I am kicking myself for not getting the fried chicken. My husband got it and I almost stole it from him. The creamed corn was amazing. The biscuits were amazing. The blackberry jam was amazing. I could go on and on. If you find yourself *anywhere* in the Nashville area, GO!
(5)
Christine W.
Best Southern food in Nashville. You can order anything and still leave with a happy belly and a huge smile. If it's your first visit, you must (I repeat MUST) try the biscuits with some peach preserves. I'm salivating just thinking about it!
(5)
Michael W.
I'm sorry, this place really deserves all five stars. It's delightfully off the beaten path, with a nice down-homey (if a bit commercial) feel. Lots of yelpers have begrudged it that last star, but I say it's worth all five. You just need to know how to do Loveless. Rule #1: Call ahead. Loveless doesn't take reservations, but if you call and say you're on your way they will put your name down for you. It could shave an hour off a really long wait. Yeah, I know it's annoying, but they must be doing something right if they can attract crowds like they do. Rule #2: Order right. There is only one thing as far as I am concerned. Fried. Chicken. The big order. Easily the best I've had that wasn't home-cooked. Crispy, flaky crunchy, salty skin with little crunchy knobs of condensed batter here and there peeled back to reveal brilliant white tender juicy chicken. I want a piece right now. Add three sides (I recommend the gooey awesomeness of hashbrown casserole, greens with vinegar, and...screw it, double hashbrown casserole). Throw in an endless basket of biscuits and jam, and you are good to go. Man, are those biscuits good. Flaky soft airy buttery happy. Screw dessert. Give me more biscuits! I just wish it didn't take so long.
(5)
Aaron D.
That rare place that lives up to the hype. Our sweet-as-tea waitress was charmingly Southern until we mentioned that we were visiting from Brooklyn, at which point she cocked her hip and pulled her native Bensonhurst accent out of her back pocket in no time flat. (But she was still as sweet-as-tea after that too.) We just split a single sampler platter (BBQ, fried chicken, ham, coleslaw, molasses yams) in our determination to save some room for dessert, but alas, even the sampler filled us to the brim. sigh. One of these days we'll go back just to try some pie. We might have had room for pie but our waitress insisted we have more than one helping of the awesome bisquits with fresh jams and I suspect the biscuits expanded in our stomachs and squeezed out any space for jam. But it was worth it to have the extra biscuits. As the Loveless t-shirts say - "Got biscuits?"
(5)
Ken L.
Ok.... the biscuits are BOMB. The homestyle jam and sorgum (first time trying) compliment the biscuit very nicely. Heck, I'd go back just for the biscuits!! The food was okay. The chicken was good but nothing special (little dry) and I was there at around 7ish for dinner. The sides were decent.... the creamed corn was my favorite. The catfish was good but I'm sure you can find better else where. The service was attentive and my drinks were refilled when needed. But man.... those biscuits.... A friendly couple with their daughter that sat next to me gave me some suggestions for more places to eat. Folks are really nice there in Nashville.
(3)
Mary T.
After seeing this place featured on The Food Network awhile ago, I've had a desire to go to Nashville and experience the famed Loveless Cafe biscuits and jam for myself. I had the opportunity last week during a spring break trip to Tennessee, and I was not disappointed. The biscuits. Sweet Jesus, the BISCUITS. Light, fluffy, yet firm and chewy. How do they do it? No one but the owners know, apparently. It's like they took the traditional southern biscuit and gave it to the Buddha, who took it to Nirvana and then brought it back to share with the unenlightened. Seriously, I cannot express in words how impressively delicious these biscuits are. Their preserves are nothing to sneeze at either, especially their blackberry preserves, which were rich and had what tasted like a subtle note of cinnamon in it. Their strawberry preservers were also good, but I found the peach preserves to be kind of bland and too sweet, like they'd boiled down canned peaches to make it. I also ordered their meatloaf, fried okra, and greens while my friend ordered the southern fried catfish, sweet potatoes, and fried okra. The meatloaf was moist and excellently seasoned with a tangy tomato sauce on top. The greens were also good, but I got a lot of little crunchies in there with them which lead me to believe that they hadn't rinsed them very well. Their fried okra was crunchy, which is a feat since a lot of fried okra I've ordered at other places has been soggy. The bite of fried catfish my friend allowed me to have personified southern tradition. She did say that her sweet potatoes were too sweet, though. In the end, all the food we had here was good, but the biscuits and preserves are definitely the stars of the show. I was so impressed by them that right after we got done eating I waddled over to the adjacent store and bought two jars of preserves and a bag of biscuit mix. I doubt it will be as good as the real thing, but even a shadow of the glory we experienced that night will make almost all other biscuits pale in comparison.
(4)
Shannon Z.
Cheese Grits = Amazing, creamy with the perfect amount of cheese Fresh Biscuits = best I have ever had, flakey, buttery and light Homemade peach jam = perfect, and better when eaten with the best biscuit ever Hashbrown Casserole = more pure fatty yum Extra 5 lbs and possible heart attack, not cool. Gourmet Magazine and the Food Network, thank you for letting me know about this gem.
(5)
jessica s.
OMG! The biscuits & jam are worth the 5 stars! Everything else is just as delicious.
(5)
Ashley R.
Let me tell you a little story about Loveless Cafe, y'all. A friend and I decided to ride our bikes there one day from West End. 13 miles. Bad Idea. 5 hours later when we got there, waited an hour for our table, and the biscuits finally came, they literally saved my life. I owe those biscuits MY LIFE, I tell you. If you are gonna do Loveless, just forget about the calories and order the Fried Chicken with all the fixins (or you could burn it off with a bike ride- but seriously--dont.). Also, try your darndest to save room for Steeplechase pie. To Die For. The wait can be long, so go at a weird time and you should be ok. Otherwise plan on waiting at least an hour. Luckily there are little shops in the same complex to keep you busy. Recently, I went to the Loveless Barn on the property for music city roots. If you have not done this, you need to go as soon as humanly possible or, move away from Nashville . k thanks. bye.
(4)
David H.
4.5 Loveless is one of those iconic places that becomes a bit of a tourist destination. I think it potentially gets a little more hype and press than it should for its own good, because it sets unrealistic expectations for some. I've seen it on the Food Network a few times, and the website has a collection of talk show appearances and other press. Make no mistake: their food is very tasty, but there are many other places of a similar quality that don't get this kind of press. "Great biscuits." That's probably the first thing you hear about Loveless Cafe. Since all of the reviewers here mention them, I won't belabor the point. Yeah, they're great -- I had them bring a second basket out, because I polished off the first before the meal came. I tried the Pork Barbecue over Cornbread Hoe Cakes with Hashbrown Casserole and Macaroni and Cheese as sides. Yeah, I know: health food. Anyway, it was all excellent. The barbecue was delicious and the hoe cakes were a nice accompaniment. The Hashbrown Casserole was definitely my favorite of the two sides dishes. Both sides were good, but I wish I had ordered a more balanced pair, because both were very cheesy. I also tried some of the pan fried chicken and it was great. Oh yeah, and the coconut cream pie was probably the best I've had. Everything I had here was just great. The one thing that confused me was the sweet tea: it wasn't as sweet as I would have imagined. I mean, this place calls dinner/luch "supper." I'd have expected the tea to be so sweet it gives you diabetes on contact. Oh well, it's a very minor nit. Anyway, the main downside to this place is the location and the wait. It is a fair drive from Nashville proper, and since it is somewhat of a tourist destination, the crowds are quite thick on weekends. Definitely take advantage of the call ahead so you can count your driving time against your wait for a table. It helps knock 20-30 minutes off the wait time.
(4)
Dean W.
Was in town for business, thought I'd check out the Loveless again as it had been a few years. The biscuits were incredible, as were the 3 jams. Had the fried chicken plate (dark). Quarter chicken was generous...2 legs and a back/thigh. Came out very hot and fresh. The crust is not overly salty nor greasy, but the chicken was cooked just a few minutes too long. Even the leg meat was a bit tough. The turnip greens with pot liquor were excellent, as was the pot liquor. The fried okra was disappointing...the coating too thick and bready. I remember having this several years ago and it was a different cornmeal coating that was much lighter and crisper. Have they changed the recipe? Came around 5:30 on Monday night and the restaurant was pretty empty. Used to seeing this place being packed. Service was quick and friendly. I ended up walking out full but feeling a little let down...not the same as I remembered.
(3)
Jeff M.
My favorite breakfast place in the U.S. Best biscuits ever (much to the chagrin of my peers in Atlanta). Fried chicken for breakfast: Yes, please! It always feels like home when I'm there.
(5)
Char L.
Wow! I kicked my diet for this place. The biscuits are AWESOME. The gravy is AMAZING! The pulled pork breakfast platter is HUGE. You can totally share that with a friend. Ask for more biscuits and they will come, just remember gravy is $2.50 a cup. Be prepared for a wait.
(5)
¡Pedro E.
I was recently in Nashville for the first time -- asked some friends for recommendations on where to eat. The Loveless Cafe and Prince's Hot Chicken were at the top of the list. I was staying in Brentwood, and it was a cold and rainy night -- just a couple of degrees above freezing (snowed the next day). I decided to brave the weather for a 7:30pm dinner, which turned out to be a good decision because it wasn't crowded at all. The fried chicken was really good -- I got a half chicken and, with the sides (stone-ground grits! -- get 'em!) and dessert had more than enough to eat. While it wasn't the BEST fried chicken I've ever had (that honor goes to a little hole in the wall in Quitman, Mississippi many years ago, and Prince's Hot Chicken Shack on the north side of Nashville is better), it was better than 90% of the other places I've had it. I also had some kind of home made chocolate pie that was remarkably good. Oh -- and the biscuits were also really good, especially with the fruit jam on them. Overall, good Southern cooking that's a notch above the rest -- worth a try if you're in town and you don't have to drive too far or wait in line too long to check it out.
(3)
Karmann G.
Believe the hype! We traveled from Texas to and from Knoxville, TN and made it a point to stop here both directions! The biscuits are fabulous (blackberry was my favorite jam)...the chicken "fingers" are more like 3 chicken breasts and were so wonderful! Meatloaf is a huge healthy portion with tangy sauce. The hashbrown casserole is waaaay better than Cracker Barrell (and we love the CB!). Oh, and I had a salad with spicy candied pecans, bleu cheese and peach vinaigrette....my mouth is watering...over a salad :)
(5)
Carol L.
This was my first meal in Tennessee, and was I glad to be here. The place is really "country" and cowboyish. The servers and hostess were incredibly friendly, and the portions are HUGE. apparently lots of famous country singers come here too. =) I ordered sweet tea and the sampler platter: choice of 3 meats and 2 side dishes. Biscuits were brought to our table with 3 types of jam and I do agree, those were damn good biscuits. I only ate one though, cuz i wanted to eat most of my meal. My sampler included fried catfish, fried chicken, bbq pulled pork, sauteed greens, and fried okra. Fried catfish: really good, not catfishy taste at all Fried chicken: i've had better. this was actually a bit dry. bbq pulled pork: good, but i've had better (...in texas and north carolina...) fried okra: pretty good sauteed greens: yum! If I ever visit nashville with friends, I'd bring them here for sure. Its a bit touristy, but super fun.
(4)
Cory C.
BEST BISCUITS EVER. I do not have enough positive things to say about this adorable restaurant. While driving from NYC to LA we stumbled across this Nashville stable and were in awe of the adorable decor, friendly staff and food. While it is obvious the place has become a little more commercial it still has a lot of charm. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to throw down some country food!
(5)
Anne B.
My fiance and I came out here for the first time. We made the mistake of walking around all of the shops first and then going into the Loveless Cafe for lunch. When we walked into the cafe, the wait was 1 hour and 20 minutes. Next time we would definitely put our names on the waiting list first, and THEN walk around. Anyway, the service was great. The food was delicious and came out fast. The biscuits were as good as we had read and heard about and we loved the jam that came with them. My fiance and I had the fried chicken which we really enjoyed and the bbq pork. The fried okra was soooo good and we also had the hash brown casserole which was good. It was worth the wait.
country-style food cannot get any better then this place. this is a must do if you are in Nashville. don't leave without eating here. service is superb, food amazing, decor is pretty cool. if i can give it another star i would. i was there on Tues night. no waiting. prices were good for the amount of food that you get. you will not leave this place without unbuckling your belt. I got the samplers platter with fried chicken, catfish, fried tomatoes, and moonshine.
(5)
Rob G.
Loved this place. Homemade biscuits with homemade jam is better than anywhere.
(5)
Susan G.
Had lunch at the Loveless today. The chicken fried chicken was yummy and the sides really good. The green beans have been better in the past but the home fries make a great side dish. Everybody knows the biscuits are hard to beat. Yes, you have to wait but it's worth it. If you're looking for fast food, then this is not your destination. If you want really tasty, home style food, like you can't find everywhere, then try the Loveless!
(4)
Mike M.
Bisquits and gravy with bisquits and jam on the side - yeah!
(5)
Melissa S.
My boyfriend is from Nashville and I have been waiting to try Loveless for quite some time now. I went in knowing it would be fatty, delicious Southern goodness, but I didn't plan on eating nearly as much as I actually did! The whole place is really fun - there's an outdoor smokehouse for the meats, porch swings, and the best part - a general store filled with stuff we wanted to buy. Luckily we were smart enough to go back after we had eaten so we didn't walk out of there loaded down with candy, fudge, pecans, and whatever else we could get our hands on. As soon as we sat down, we were given a heaping plate of hot biscuits and 3 kinds of homemade preserves. They were amazing! (My boyfriend says the biscuits used to be better, but I still enjoyed them just fine.) I would have been satisfied with just the biscuits for lunch, but I had to order MORE biscuits, gravy and sausage for my meal. Oh yeah, and I got cheese grits, too. The plate came with 4 biscuits, so believe me, there was no skimping on the portions at Loveless. Craig got the fried chicken and it was delicious. We didn't even think about dessert, but I am sure it's good, too. We went on a Friday for lunch and it was packed, so I would recommend going really early if you're hoping for a weekend meal. It's a really fun touristy place and I can't wait to go back! I may have to starve myself for a week beforehand so I'll be ready next time...
(4)
Sylvia R.
Visiting Nashville, my husband and I loved this place so much we made sure to get here again before leaving tomorrow!! We had dinner both times, and between the biscuits and the HUGE portions of food, we left happy and waddling! Our first waitress was kind but kind of quiet and quick (Melanie, I think?)- but tonight we had a trainee who was the nicest waitress we've ever had- she was attentive, kind, and gave us extra biscuits in our to go box! The prices for the portions are awesome, and if my husband says it's some of the best ribs he's every eaten, I take that as a huge compliment. If I ever need a reason to return to Nashville, Loveless will be one of them!
(5)
Lawrence W.
The Loveless Cafe capped off the Soul/Southern food component of our trip eating our way across the country. It was a beautiful meal. The atmosphere is nice and homey, with pictures of famous visitors to Loveless covering the entryway. In the dining room, you'll find character both on the walls and in the waitstaff. And the "Biscuit Lady",Carol Fay, who's become somewhat famous in her own right, greeted us as we walked in, and bid farewell to us as we left. Just a brief glance at the other Yelps tells you for certain, if you just drive here for the biscuits, you will not be disappointed. The jams are also delicious and set this place apart. I ordered the chicken tenders (I'm not a fan of eating meat off the bone), and my wife had the fried chicken. The batter was the same for both and it was delicious -- some of the best I've ever had. I had the mac and cheese, and even though it was good, it wasn't my style. But the homemade creamed corn was far and away the absolute best I have ever tasted, under any circumstances, ever. Amazingly, I had room for dessert. I wanted cobbler, but they were out, so I had banana pudding (good, but not great by any means -- too dry). All in all, if you are ever in this part of the country and don't try to eat at the Loveless, you'd be doing yourself a great disservice.
(4)
Rozzie M.
Great service. Great biscuits. Great atmosphere. Fun place.
(4)
Kate R.
(just a fyi i want this to be 3.5 stars.) made a point to get to this place bright and early one day when we were in nashville because of the reviews. call us cliche or whatever you want, but i wanted to try those damn biscuits! we ventured out to loveless at 730 am on a friday morning and stepping out of the car i instantly smelled the goodness. warm. fresh. flakey. biscuits. mmmmmmm. they were SO good. and paired perfectly with some butter and homemade jam. yum yum yum. in addition to the mountain of biscuits we devoured, i ordered a southern omelet and the boy got the half order of the country ham. so much food! all-in-all, everything was tasty, but nothing really compared to the deliciousness of the biscuits. service was great and attentive to our coffee (and biscuit!) refills. will definitely revisit loveless, but next time i want to go at lunch to get the fried chicken platter. yummy.
(3)
m g.
Worth the splurge/sacrificing your body, i guess maybe fast before you go? Everything is delicious, the area is adorable. Biscuits and the preserves....its hard to stop eating them, i agree they really should be illegal. Fried Okra really good, same w the mac and cheese, the sweet potatoes with some sort of carmel in it is great too. Delicious pulled pork sandwich! Love love love this place
(5)
Martha M.
First of all I must make the disclaimer that I am writing this as a tourist. That said, I LOVED this place! The food, atmosphere, all of it was exactly what I was hoping for and more. We went here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and for 3 people, our wait was a little under an hour. It flew by though since this place is perfectly catered to having to wait for awhile. There is a smokehouse where you can watch the meat being smoked, and a few little stores to peruse through. The little general store was really cool. (remember I was there as a tourist). The decor inside the place was so great. Very homey and comfortable. The food was insatiable! Biscuits and gravy definitely lived up to my expectations. I had the pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and candied sweet potatoes and it was AWESOME. And the sweet tea . . oh the sweet tea. The second my tea was gone, all of the sudden poof! someone was there to fill it! The combination of great decor, delicious food and excellent service made this is a no question five star rating.
(5)
Jennifer J.
I was told this place was great before I moved here, but I think the management changed because it really wasn't very good. The BISCUITS are the BEST! They have always been know for them and that hasn't changed. The rest of the food isn't that great. I've ordered breakfast, lunch and dinner and I have never been impressed. In fact, a lunch there was very disappointing, I ordered a grilled chicken salad. I also had a meatloaf dinner there that left much to be desired.
(3)
Jason M.
Overpriced tourist trap or iconoclastic Nashville landmark? Well , a little bit of both. Without a doubt the biscuits and homemade preserves are other worldly and I could of made a meal out of them alone. The country ham (my favorite kind of ham) is reportedly the best in the nation. Maybe my expectations where too high but I was hardly wowed by it and the red-eye gravy. I mean really red-eye gravy is just coffee and ham juice so I guess I shouldn't be as disappointed but it was awfully bitter. And the ham was burned on one side. tsk, tsk tsk... However if you're in the area, I'd stop by.
(4)
kristen p.
Loveless is the place where you gather all your friends, take a lot of pictures, and eat mountains of amazing biscuits. There are just a couple of vegetarian options ranging from the garden omelet to a plate of sides (think mac & cheese and fried okra). The sweet tea is good. It's not too sweet so it still tastes like tea. (Preferably go on a weekday for lunch.) Surrounded by cute shops, this place is a destination in itself.
(5)
Jeremiah B.
I didn't understand why we were driving so far out of Nashville city to go to this place during a recent visit. After the first bite of biscuit I got it. They serve them to you pretty much first thing. Like getting dessert before you eat your meal. The food is what you'd expect from sumptuous Southern cuisine, home made and simple. I thoroughly enjoyed the honey smoked chicken (special that day), slaw and mashed taters. The sweet tea wasn't bad either. If I ever return to Nashville, this is definitely a place I'll hit up again.
(5)
Leslie A.
I'm NOT a huge meat meaty eater but the BBQ Pulled Pork was fabulous. The fried chicken was decent though not my favorite. The sides were all fabulous... give me hash browns with cheese everywhere (not sure of the official dish name), creamed corn, and biscuits with fresh jams of sorts (blackberry being my favorite). Remember this is VERY, VERY southern. That tastes so good somebody must have stuck their toe in it! Or furthermore appropriate... That tastes so good I'm 'bout to jump up and slap my mama! Go there and you too can learn Southern phrases to express how goooooood it really is.
(4)
Ken P.
I had an excellent southern omelet. The biscuits were fantastic! Even the coffee was exceptional. Quaint ambiance and a very attentive wait staff. I will eat here again on my next trip to Nashville.
(5)
J C.
Pretty typical Southern dishes. I grew up in the South, so I suppose it's a bit more difficult for me to be impressed with the food because it's the kind I grew up on. However, that said, everything was cooked to perfection. This place is famed for the celebrity drop-ins and greasy comfort food. I imagine breakfast is even better than lunch.
(3)
Jim P.
Simple, amazing, homestyle classic southern American food. Had an hour wait at 1pm on Friday afternoon. Kids got a moon pie at the gift shop to hold them over. Had a few other shops to browse and pass the time. It was worth it. Wow, where to begin... A plateful of hot fresh country biscuits with homade strawberry and blackberry preserves. Then comes the family platter. The best fried chicken I've had, a huge portion of pulled pork perfectly smoked served with corn cakes and BBQ sauce on the side. Bowls filled with great Mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and green beans. I had three platefuls of everything ... Pure gluttony, so happy. Then had to squeeze in another biscuit and jam. Only regret is no room for dessert. A must stop in Nashville.
(5)
C. Benjamin W.
A certain (small) element of sincerity envelops the kitsch at the Loveless Cafe and that is what makes a trip here worthwhile. Sure, the "market" and the "emporium" bordering on the parking lot tell of a country helping of tourist trash, but the restaurant inside is a modestly decorated and welcoming room. Coming from out of town, I was expecting to grimace under the stares of decorative acoustic guitars and various disembodied Nashville flavored stage costumes. Okay... that's a joke. I'm not really that much of a jackass. Anyhow, the little murals and plaques dedicated to national country music celebrities were very cool and ernest tributes. That's enough about the room though. The servings were huge and tasty Southern fare. There was not much that jumped out, but nothing needs to when you're eating pulled pork and biscuits. I would have liked to have the family dinner so that I could have tried the fried chicken and catfish, but that requires a party of four or more. This place does not just seem to be good for groups, but a much better experience in a group. Service was fast and the prices were great (coming from Chicago). I'd go back soon if I hadn't had a lifetime's requirement of pork this time.
(4)
Jasmine M.
These are the best biscuits ever. If you're on the move, get these biscuits to go. But, by no means, leave Nashville without sampling a few of these piping hot buttery pieces of morning heaven with fresh jam. I made my boyfriend go out our way for these and he sighed at first, but later it was sigh of satisfaction from the biscuits.
(5)
kathy w.
Why isn't anyone raving about the SQUASH CASSEROLE????? 1st time to Nashville,1st time to the Loveless and 1st time kissing a bowl of cheesy squash!!!!!! Yeah, we drove about an hour to get there. Yeah, we waited about an hour and 1/2 to eat, but HELLS TO THE YEEEEEEAH was it worth it. I want to marry that squash casserole. Thanks Layla for taking a pic of me and me squash making- out!!
(5)
Remy M.
This is probably the best place ever. The food is spectacular. I had my doubts about the biscuit hype, but I was mistaken--they were the best biscuits I've ever had. The country ham is amazing. I'm not really the BBQ type, but the pulled pork sandwich is great. I'm not convinced there's a bad choice on the menu. What's more, they have a small store on the premises, as well as a mail-order business, so you can also order some of their food through there. I would recommend picking up some of their preserves--spectacular!
(5)
Sam K.
I can't believe this place isn't all five stars. Definitely one of the pillars of Nashville cuisine, this place is not to be missed. The biscuit and jam are the freshest I've ever tasted. Family style is a whole lot of good - albeit not always five star but definitely respectable - food. Line can be long but it's well worth it and the waiters are usually very friendly. Reading through the reviews, most lower reviews may stem from over hype. It may never be as good as some people make it out to be, but most definitely class above many other 'four - five star' restaurants on yelp.
(5)
April L.
This is a great place to take your family or out-of-towners...Especially yankees :) Because after they eat here they will both understand why there are so many proud chubby southerners, and gain a new respect for our evidently very resilient arteries. This good old fashioned southern diner food - bad for you, YES, but not grease for grease's sake. It's quite a few steps above your average trough-style southern dive/chain. There are serious recipes here (the fried chicken in particular!), and if you messed with them, I get the feeling someone's grandma would come to your house and whack you with her cane. There's a cute tourist-friendly gift shop too, the contents of which represent what I imagine is the largest single collection of random southern euphemisms fit to publish on a knick-nack. Overall, its a good time. Come hungry, leave in a wheelbarrow :)
(4)
Retired B.
Went around 10:30 and there was no wait! Service was excellent. Biscuits with the homemade jams were tasty. I tried the sampler with pulled pork, fried catfish and fried chicken. Everything was good. The sides of hashbrown casserole and fried okra were just as delicious. We also tried a BLT with fried green tomatoes and if I wasn't so stuffed full of fried foods, I would have scarfed the entire sandwich down as well.
(4)
Montez B.
I must admit the drive appeared a little long, but overall, it was a fantastic dinner for my family on Mother's day.. The Biscuits were not as expected unfortunate too. The Sweet Tea needed help as well... But overall service was fast and quick , Enjoyed!
(4)
Maddie S.
Loveless is overrated. PERIOD. I have lived 5 minutes away from the restaurant my entire life and have visited on numerous occasions. As I have grown older and refined my tastes, I have enjoyed each dining experience less and less. Loveless has decent food. Food is often oversalted and greasy. Obviously, one must expect something like that before going to a restaurant like Loveless. There are several other places in Nashville that serve much better Southern cuisine.
(2)
maxine r.
I rode a bicycle up the trace to Nashville. Everyone was telling me about this place. Breakfast cost me over 17 dollars. I thought that was a lot of money for a mediocre breakfast. This place is pricey for you get. If was fun to look at the pictures on the wall and chat with the staff, but the food was nothing special. I'd would avoid eating here. The 'Calypso Cafe' in Nashville, IMHO, is a much better dining experience. Sure, Loveless, is a unique place with history. But the food is just worth what they charge.
(2)
Deb V.
Biscuits are one of a kind. they are fabulous! Other than that food was nothing special to me. Nothing stood out to me..just your same ol' same ol'. Tasted alright. Great shops around the restaurant. Brought home some goodies from the place right next door. Great selection of jams and all that unusual tasty stuff. Boutique shops around there are neat to go to especially during a long wait on a Sunday..oh yeah.. waits can be huuuge! Setting is gorgeous.. being on the mountains and all. The drive is breath taking! Service was alright..here and there I'd get the disappearing act from a waitress. Price ain't bad...but I'd rather go somewhere else.
(3)
Veronica L.
My cousins and sister could not stop raving about this place. All I heard was "omg the biscuits" and "omg the preserves." I had no idea what was going on. We were just driving and driving in what felt like the middle of no where..until we finally hit the Loveless Cafe and all of it's other businesses. The entire lot is kinda like it's own theme park for the Loveless Cafe. It's got its own market and some art and craft stores. It's cute. Not my style but it's cute. Waiting for a table, I decided to mozy around to the market store and there I finally understood that this was THE biscuit place. The one that won in that food network challenge vs. bobby flay. I'm not a bobby flay fan so I was super glad to know that this "Biscuit Lady" (that's what they call her apparently-- I prefer Goddess of Biscuits) triumphed over him in the biscuit challenge. With this piece of information, I was starting to understand my family's hype and got super excited. I already love biscuits but I'm from California where I feel like there isn't many places that specialize in biscuits, so this was very exciting-- finally to eat biscuits that people who know good biscuits think are good biscuits. So finally we sit down at our table and out come these glorious pieces of heaven- hot and soft and flaky in just the right places. They were bites of wonderful. And damn, I love the preserves tooooo! The mountain of hot biscuits come with three different side jams-- strawberry, peach, and blackberry. I didn't care which one I had because the combination of biscuit and preserve? One cannot go wrong with any of it. Amazeballs! The only reason I don't give it five stars (Because the biscuits and preserves totally deserve 5 if not 6 stars) is that the breakfast I had was just okay. And the chicken fried steak (or country fried steak--forgot what it's called) was just .. meh. It was nothing special nor it do I think it was worth the prices. I had eggs and sausage and I was quite disappointed. The sausage was burnt and awkward tasting, and the home fries were crispy but just okay. Perhaps it was because of all the quality goodness that the biscuits gave me that the other foods were so bland. Still despite the mediocre food, I'd go back for the biscuits. This time knowing to just order maybe a side of crispy hot home fries, and just chow down on like 10 biscuits and preserves.. Carol Fay-- you are the goddess of biscuits. Good job.
(4)
Tony J.
had a late lunch there yesterday afternoon after watching coldplay at the sommet center last saturday. they were packed, we had to wait around 40 minutes to get a table. the place is nice, the service was good. the food was pretty ok, typical southern home cooking, fried chicken, ham, fried catfish, barbecue, with all the sides and desserts. i have to agree though with all the good reviews on their biscuits. those small buttery biscuits are excellent.
(3)
Eri K.
I was only in Nashville for a short time, so I Yelped for some southern comfort food and was very please when I found Loveless Cafe. It's a little ways out of the city but has a great story and delicious food. It is just the kind of place you go for real sweet tea and hot butter biscuits. The service was mediocre, but the food makes you forget that real quick. Definitely try the cobbler!
(4)
Andrew M.
Really good southern food, service was excellent and the price was reasonable. I love their chicken!
(5)
Amy B.
A bit of a wait, but that's fine because there is plenty to keep you occupied. Plenty of cute shops surrounding it (although they aren't open as late as the restaurant.) Nice places to sit, swing or take pictures with friends/family while you wait. Delicious biscuits of course. Waiter was a bit rushed and food brought out a bit cold but didn't mind heating it for us. Meat and three were perfection! Top it off with sweet tea!
(4)
Cara P.
I have been to the Pancake Pantry, which I thought was vastly overrated, so I was a little nervous about going to the Loveless. I shouldn't have been. It was well worth the drive from Donelson! We went for breakfast on a Wednesday morning, so we had no wait at all. I had the bbq & eggs, husband had the sampler w/bacon, sausage, & ham. I loved my bbq; I liked the sauce, but I'm not sure it was strictly necessary, the meat itself was so good! And the biscuits really are terrific; they're light, but sturdy enough to dip in your egg yolk. And the grits are great, stone ground, and just thick enough. Tasted husband's meats; I thought the ham was too salty, but the sausage & bacon were great (brought some home). And everyone was extremely nice. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)
jenny v.
another great southern food destination. the wait for a table was ridiculous (an hour and 1/2), so we got our food to go (10 minutes) and ate on the picnic tables out front. can't go wrong with the ham, sweet potatoes, and mac & cheese. don't forget the sweet tea...ahhh
(4)
Cesca B.
I ordered the veggie omelette to which my friend responded: "That's like going to the North End and ordering a burger." [For anyone who doesn't get the reference, Boston's North End is famous for its Italian food.] He was right. This is a terrible habit of mine, ordering something other than what the establishment is famous for. Fortunately, my dining partner ordered enough typical southern fare to feed a family of 6. No lie, he ordered: BBQ pork, meatloaf, fried catfish, mashed potatoes, and mac & cheese. His meal also came with a hush puppy. I haven't read the other reviews on Loveless, but I'm sure everybody's mentioned by now that the biscuits are amazing. My veggie omelette was fine, but I'm really glad I was able to sample everything on my friend's plate. I was able to see what real southern cooking was like without assuming much of the liability. We waited over an hour to be seated, but it was well worth it. I got some souvenirs from the shops surrounding the restaurant while we waited. We were also treated to a father/son duo performing live music outside. It was a great experience and anyone who visits Nashville should check out Loveless. But call ahead.
(4)
Tracey M.
I was going to Nashville and read up on great places to dine. I really enjoyed the southern breakfast and was worth the drive. I went on a Friday morning, didn't have a wait and got a single table by the window. The biscuits, jams and county ham were delicious. Definitely worth the drive.
(5)
Tracy G.
I lived in Nashville for 6 years and it took going back for a visit to go to here. Biscuits and jams are just as good as my Grandma's. Yes, it is a long wait, but there is a reason that people will go so far out town to wait for their meal. I didn't have the country ham when I was here, but I have been told its amazing. A great place to get a country breakfast!
(4)
Heather E.
This place was highly recommended by a family member and it lived up to the hype in food, service and atmosphere. If you're only in town for a short while, forget the calorie counting and make this a required stop. Get the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, grits and ask for extra biscuits if you have room! Peach pie to go was the perfect finish. Worth the drive and way better than anything in the downtown area.
(5)
kimbe m.
Ohhhhh... used to be amazingly good, and (sorry for using this word) authentic. Grew and grew. Expanded. Cleaned up. Not as good now, alas. Still, if you're visiting, it's a great place for breakfast. (Though frankly, I'd send/take visiting folk to One Stop Cafe in Franklin for down-home funky eats...)
(3)
PG M.
I spent an hour here dunking each of nine biscuits into a bowl of sausage gravy and then mercilessly devouring those artery bullets. I ordered the country ham and eggs which was pretty good but really irrelevant once I understood the biscuits were not going to stop coming. I've only spent five days of my life in Nashville, but I will confidently pronounce that no trip to that city is complete without a meal at Loveless. Nashville's population should take their hands off their ass and start giving Loveless more props on Yelp.
(5)
Nathan K.
This place is a Nashville icon and certainly well known as an icon in country music. Their bisquits and jams are simply awesome--its hard to get better. YUM!! Alternatively, I have had an occassional mediocre fod experience at Loveless, but generally the staff are eager to correct any problems. Refreshingly they aim to please at the Loveless Cafe, if your out of the South and want to some on your doorstep, this is absolutely a place to check out. If you're in the South and you want to export just a taste to friends and relatives...they will be more than happy to oblige you. If you've been in town less than a year...or you've lived here your whole life...you owe it to yourself and your tastebuds to check this place out.(4.2-4.5).
(4)
jesus z.
ok food ,great service , we found this place on food channel
(4)
Donna K.
This had the best fried chicken in nashville but the sides and dessert was o.k. Ironically, I had just eaten at Miss Mary Bobo's in Lychburg, TN the day before which was the opposite in experience where the chicken wasn't great but the sides, meatloaf, and desserts were exceptional. Loveless is about a half hour from downtown Nashville and is known for it's chicken and biscuits. Although the biscuits at KFC to me was actually better tasting, but the chicken was superb. The pulled pork and sauce was pretty good, but the ham didn't particularly thrill me. I think the ham at the pancake house in anaheim, ca tastes better.
(4)
Matthew B.
I'll say that it is an interesting establishment, which I assume is the desired expression. It can get crowded if you don't pick your times carefully. The price is right and it is a Nashville experience that is worth trying. Especially if you get the BBQ ;)
(3)
Cameron P.
I've heard that this place has been rated as one of the top five breakfast restaurants in all of America so I had to go see what it's all about. On a Sunday afternoon at about 1:30 the wait was over 2 hours! I had my doubts that this place is worth the 2 hour plus wait, so I went to the store next door and picked up some biscuit mix, strawberry preserves and country ham. Without actually eating here it's hard for me to rate the place, but I'll give it 4 stars for now and likely add one more when I return if I can get in to eat in under an hour. UPDATE: Since my first visit, I've made two trips back. Ranked as one of the top five best breakfast restaurants in the nation??? I'm not sure about that. I guess I may be spoiled, go to the San Francisco Bay Area and I guarantee that you can find five better breakfast restaurants there. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, I just don't think it deserves the hype that it gets. Maybe the best thing about the Loveless Cafe is their PR.
(4)
Peter M.
The bad parts are that it is ways outside of town and overrun with tourists --waits can be as long as 2+ hours for brunch. Also, its been bought from the original owners, expanded, and is more commericalized. However, still the best fried chicken, country ham and biscuits you'll ever get. Waitstaff and decor are still intact, so you'll still feel like you're in Dukes of Hazard. I suggest going for a big dinner with friends: its BYOB, and you can climb over the grassy knowl to the gas station and buy some beer.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Todd M.
Loveless Cafe has very good Southern food and is known worldwide for their biscuits. The same woman has been making the biscuits for 30 years I think. The bacon and meat is all smoked on site in addition to the jams next door. I have never had a bad meal here. Mostly for breakfast but sometimes for lunch. The weekends are PACKED after church in the mornings and expect to wait and hour or two to be seated. I like going during the week their never seems to be many people. When I have guests in town, the Loveless is one of the places I always take them. Great gift shop allows you to take anything home. Cool little shops surrounding, bike shop, kids store, art gallery, etc.
(5)amy k.
There really isn't much to say about Loveless Cafe that hasn't been said. The place is quaint and has good, southern food. I'm also appreciative of the fact that they serve beer along with all the sweet tea and coke. I'm born and bred in the East TN hills and can make sweet tea like nobody's business, so I don't get too excited about it. Beer at a casual southern restaurant IS something special, though. And so is their fried chicken. It is some of the best I've ever had.The only possible drawback about Loveless is the potential wait, but go on an off-night instead of Saturday/Sunday morning and you'll be fine.
(4)Nicki R.
Is the food good? Yes. But if at all possible, try to avoid the weekends. You will wait....a long time... even if you call ahead. My husband and I did a breakfast date during the week and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. I would recommend going this route if you're able to.
(4)Priya A.
I just loveddddd their Biscuits and jam.. warm, flaky and sooo soft!! I just couldnot stop eating them!!!
(4)carrie s.
Great service. The waitress directed us to what was good for the day. A fairly long wait but there is so much to do and look at the time flew by. The biscuits and preserves are amazing. The red eye gravy is delicious. The fried chicken they are famous for lives up to it's reputation. I most definitely return here many times.
(5)Tony F.
A local landmark. Handy for all the doublewides who live lcally, and there are a lot of 'em. The Diner is one of the reasons why. Come on, have the house special. Biscuits and gravy. You KNOW what the gravy is made of. Then half a fried chicken; a side of okra. Fried okra; Pecan pie (or bacon drippings, your choice) for desert. Oh. And all the Mountain Dew you can drink. The only green thing on my plate or, indeed, the entire table, was my thirty dollars after paying for two. It's a deal; it's a steal; and no calories!
(2)Don E.
I asked a friend where to get an authentic southern style breakfast in Nashville, and was sent here. Thank you!!! The biscuits and jam were amazing, The eggs were great (I know, eggs are eggs, but not here) and the bacon/ham/sausage combo was all just right. Creamy grits were the icing on the cake. Great friendly service and quick too ... recommend!!
(5)Amy B.
Loved, loved, loved this place!! Soul food for the soul....and the hips and thighs too. It's well worth the drive!
(5)Michael S.
I'm not one to just hand out 5 stars, something has to rock my world to make that happen. I have been trying to eat at Loveless Cafe since 2009 and each time there was more of a wait than I was willing to hang around for. Well the 3rd time was a charm and well worth the repeated effort. I had their 1/4 fried Chicken in white meat since I'm a fried chicken junkie. As my sides I had the coleslaw and mac N cheese. The waitress bought some hot biscuits and jam which were great. The chicken arrived juicy and piping hot, it had a nice crunch and nice taste one would expect from chicken fired properly on the bone. The slaw and mac n cheese were both pretty good. I'm not normally a desert person but when I first walked in I couldn't help but notice scratch made pies, I'm a sucker for good pie also. I had a slice of their Lemon Ice Box pie and found it had a nice tartness along with being nice and light, just the right thing for topping off a good meal. I normally visit the Nashville area once per year and will make it a point to eat at the Loveless Cafe again.
(4)Rebecca A.
fantastic southern barbecue and biscuits that could shame the hat off of the pillsbury doughboy, do not skip the loveless! we found it on the drive back from memphis and hit it at a non-busy time, famished and in need of southern hospitality. the waitstaff were really nice considering we were both yankees who had no idea what sorgum was. i wish we had gone for breakfast though - from everyone's descriptions the breakfast sounds amazing. this is not a place where you go for health food. it'd be torture sitting across from people eating piles of biscuits dripping with jam and trying to eat healthy. the homemade jams are great - especially the strawberry. i wanted to bring some back on the plane but i thought TSA officials at the airport might jump me for it. i had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of okra. at first i felt like a glutton asking for more, but that went away after my second helping of biscuits. flipping around on the tv the other day i saw them talking about the loveless on the food network and nearly cried. how i long for a biscuit from the loveless.
(5)Don C.
If you like bacon, like I like Bacon. Do yourself a favor, and order some bacon from the folks at Loveless. You won't be disappointed. I was introduced to it via my Bacon of the Month Club (from the folks at the Grateful Palate. My personal favorite bacon they sell is their Country Smoked Bacon. I am still debating whether to sell everything I own and move to Nashville. Yes, it is that good. My only word of advice is, when you ge tthe bacon freeze or eat asap. The folks at loveless do not pack with ice. Not sure why. Cholesterol, Shmestorol, you deserve some bacon today!
(5)Jane V.
Just celebrated our grandaughter's 4th birthday there while staying at Opryland Hotel. As a person who has spent many years living in the South but now in California this was beyond heaven on earth. We drove 40 minutes and waited 4I5 minutes and it was so worth it. Everything good that has been said I concur with. Don't miss it..I seriously dream about the biscuits and the day we can return. Waitstaff was very help and seemed unphased by our big group (10 of us). Once we were seated, getting served was swift and oh so good!
(5)Ali H.
The Loveless Cafe is a Nashville legend, and I finally checked it out on my last visit. I've heard stories of incredibly long wait times, so we went on a Saturday around 3pm and only had to wait 20 minutes or so. The inside is covered in signed headshots of all the celebrities that have eaten there, and the general ambiance is very casual and fun. My friend and I shared the half-chicken dinner, which included fried chicken, biscuits, and sides. The biscuits come with three different types of preserves, but I think they tasted the best just with butter. For our sides, we chose mac and cheese, candied sweet potatoes, and the southern greens. The food, and the sweet tea, were all delicious and traditional southern favorites. The servings are very generous (we were stuffed after sharing a plate), so don't plan on doing anything particularly athletic for a while. After eating, we wandered around the little stores that are on the Loveless "compound," which included the Ham and Jam store and some art galleries. It's a decent drive outside the city, maybe 20-25 minutes, but it's worth it.
(4)Bob F.
A bit disappointed in the food (I had the catfish and the missus had the "famous" fried chicken), but the atmosphere and super sweet waitstaff were very nice. Not too far out of town, and not as overrun with tourists as I'd expected. Great selection of local jams & sweets at the adjacent gift shop.
(3)Nicolas H.
Way too crowded for being so far outside the "city". But the Chicken and biscuits really do live up to the hype. The preserves or jellies are even better. Be prepared to wait and then find yourself in the conveniently located Loveless Cafe Store, located 2 steps away.
(5)A C.
Great biscuits n gravy baby! Food is excellent. Must be patient for the wait.....
(5)Amy B.
A bit of a wait, but that's fine because there is plenty to keep you occupied. Plenty of cute shops surrounding it (although they aren't open as late as the restaurant.) Nice places to sit, swing or take pictures with friends/family while you wait. Delicious biscuits of course. Waiter was a bit rushed and food brought out a bit cold but didn't mind heating it for us. Meat and three were perfection! Top it off with sweet tea!
(4)Cara P.
I have been to the Pancake Pantry, which I thought was vastly overrated, so I was a little nervous about going to the Loveless. I shouldn't have been. It was well worth the drive from Donelson! We went for breakfast on a Wednesday morning, so we had no wait at all. I had the bbq & eggs, husband had the sampler w/bacon, sausage, & ham. I loved my bbq; I liked the sauce, but I'm not sure it was strictly necessary, the meat itself was so good! And the biscuits really are terrific; they're light, but sturdy enough to dip in your egg yolk. And the grits are great, stone ground, and just thick enough. Tasted husband's meats; I thought the ham was too salty, but the sausage & bacon were great (brought some home). And everyone was extremely nice. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)jenny v.
another great southern food destination. the wait for a table was ridiculous (an hour and 1/2), so we got our food to go (10 minutes) and ate on the picnic tables out front. can't go wrong with the ham, sweet potatoes, and mac & cheese. don't forget the sweet tea...ahhh
(4)Cesca B.
I ordered the veggie omelette to which my friend responded: "That's like going to the North End and ordering a burger." [For anyone who doesn't get the reference, Boston's North End is famous for its Italian food.] He was right. This is a terrible habit of mine, ordering something other than what the establishment is famous for. Fortunately, my dining partner ordered enough typical southern fare to feed a family of 6. No lie, he ordered: BBQ pork, meatloaf, fried catfish, mashed potatoes, and mac & cheese. His meal also came with a hush puppy. I haven't read the other reviews on Loveless, but I'm sure everybody's mentioned by now that the biscuits are amazing. My veggie omelette was fine, but I'm really glad I was able to sample everything on my friend's plate. I was able to see what real southern cooking was like without assuming much of the liability. We waited over an hour to be seated, but it was well worth it. I got some souvenirs from the shops surrounding the restaurant while we waited. We were also treated to a father/son duo performing live music outside. It was a great experience and anyone who visits Nashville should check out Loveless. But call ahead.
(4)Tracey M.
I was going to Nashville and read up on great places to dine. I really enjoyed the southern breakfast and was worth the drive. I went on a Friday morning, didn't have a wait and got a single table by the window. The biscuits, jams and county ham were delicious. Definitely worth the drive.
(5)Tracy G.
I lived in Nashville for 6 years and it took going back for a visit to go to here. Biscuits and jams are just as good as my Grandma's. Yes, it is a long wait, but there is a reason that people will go so far out town to wait for their meal. I didn't have the country ham when I was here, but I have been told its amazing. A great place to get a country breakfast!
(4)Heather E.
This place was highly recommended by a family member and it lived up to the hype in food, service and atmosphere. If you're only in town for a short while, forget the calorie counting and make this a required stop. Get the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, grits and ask for extra biscuits if you have room! Peach pie to go was the perfect finish. Worth the drive and way better than anything in the downtown area.
(5)kimbe m.
Ohhhhh... used to be amazingly good, and (sorry for using this word) authentic. Grew and grew. Expanded. Cleaned up. Not as good now, alas. Still, if you're visiting, it's a great place for breakfast. (Though frankly, I'd send/take visiting folk to One Stop Cafe in Franklin for down-home funky eats...)
(3)PG M.
I spent an hour here dunking each of nine biscuits into a bowl of sausage gravy and then mercilessly devouring those artery bullets. I ordered the country ham and eggs which was pretty good but really irrelevant once I understood the biscuits were not going to stop coming. I've only spent five days of my life in Nashville, but I will confidently pronounce that no trip to that city is complete without a meal at Loveless. Nashville's population should take their hands off their ass and start giving Loveless more props on Yelp.
(5)Nathan K.
This place is a Nashville icon and certainly well known as an icon in country music. Their bisquits and jams are simply awesome--its hard to get better. YUM!! Alternatively, I have had an occassional mediocre fod experience at Loveless, but generally the staff are eager to correct any problems. Refreshingly they aim to please at the Loveless Cafe, if your out of the South and want to some on your doorstep, this is absolutely a place to check out. If you're in the South and you want to export just a taste to friends and relatives...they will be more than happy to oblige you. If you've been in town less than a year...or you've lived here your whole life...you owe it to yourself and your tastebuds to check this place out.(4.2-4.5).
(4)jesus z.
ok food ,great service , we found this place on food channel
(4)Donna K.
This had the best fried chicken in nashville but the sides and dessert was o.k. Ironically, I had just eaten at Miss Mary Bobo's in Lychburg, TN the day before which was the opposite in experience where the chicken wasn't great but the sides, meatloaf, and desserts were exceptional. Loveless is about a half hour from downtown Nashville and is known for it's chicken and biscuits. Although the biscuits at KFC to me was actually better tasting, but the chicken was superb. The pulled pork and sauce was pretty good, but the ham didn't particularly thrill me. I think the ham at the pancake house in anaheim, ca tastes better.
(4)Matthew B.
I'll say that it is an interesting establishment, which I assume is the desired expression. It can get crowded if you don't pick your times carefully. The price is right and it is a Nashville experience that is worth trying. Especially if you get the BBQ ;)
(3)Cameron P.
I've heard that this place has been rated as one of the top five breakfast restaurants in all of America so I had to go see what it's all about. On a Sunday afternoon at about 1:30 the wait was over 2 hours! I had my doubts that this place is worth the 2 hour plus wait, so I went to the store next door and picked up some biscuit mix, strawberry preserves and country ham. Without actually eating here it's hard for me to rate the place, but I'll give it 4 stars for now and likely add one more when I return if I can get in to eat in under an hour. UPDATE: Since my first visit, I've made two trips back. Ranked as one of the top five best breakfast restaurants in the nation??? I'm not sure about that. I guess I may be spoiled, go to the San Francisco Bay Area and I guarantee that you can find five better breakfast restaurants there. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, I just don't think it deserves the hype that it gets. Maybe the best thing about the Loveless Cafe is their PR.
(4)Peter M.
The bad parts are that it is ways outside of town and overrun with tourists --waits can be as long as 2+ hours for brunch. Also, its been bought from the original owners, expanded, and is more commericalized. However, still the best fried chicken, country ham and biscuits you'll ever get. Waitstaff and decor are still intact, so you'll still feel like you're in Dukes of Hazard. I suggest going for a big dinner with friends: its BYOB, and you can climb over the grassy knowl to the gas station and buy some beer.
(5)Ann E.
First meal in Nashville this time. My daughter brought us directly here from the airport. Had to wait about 55 minutes no problem-we walked around and visited a few of the gift shops nearby-well worth the wait! The biscuits have not been over rated. The problem is to stop eating them before your meal comes so you don't wreck your appetite! Delicious jam, too! I had 2 pieces of chicken which were absolutely delicious, so moist, cooked perfectly. I chose the beans ( didn't really like them) and the Mac and Cheese (which was very good) for my sides. Highly recommended!
(4)Sara Jane G.
Came on a Thursday morning at 9am no wait to get in super fast service had our food very fast as well and it was insanely delicious! Had the moonshine Bloody Mary comes with cured bacon and a souvenir glass! Southern sampler, biscuit sampler, and biscuits and gravy! Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection!
(5)Michael U.
Items Selected: Coffee Unlimited Buttermilk Biscuits with Housemade Strawberry, Blackberry, Peach Jam Pecan Pancakes with Maple Bacon, Sorghum French Toast with Housemade Sausage and Sorghum Biscuit Sampler - Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork, Aged Ham, Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato with Cheese Grits Pecan Pie, Chocolate Chess, Banana Pudding Chess Pie Conveniently located just off the route from Nashville to Memphis, Loveless Café and the small village of stores around it are nothing short of a Tennessee Landmark, and fresh off the redeye from LAX our arrival at the former hotel preceded its opening by a mere fifteen minutes, a line of six already formed with the sizable restaurant nearly 100% full by the time we left just after 8:15. Featuring concepts of sustainability, scratch-based cooking, and a menu of Southern diner classics spanning from breakfast through lunch to supper, it was almost immediately upon seating that water was poured while coffee was readied and although the brew itself was a bit acrid without sweetener the refills were spot on and spontaneous, though food did take a bit longer than would be expected as our server was spread thinly throughout the largest room in the house, at times even drawn to the al fresco seating to assist others at a table of twelve. Sipping coffee with orders placed it would not be long before a plate of Loveless' signature buttermilk biscuits was delivered, and paired with a trio of housemade jams plus requested sorghum and honey it goes without saying that the fluffy golden rounds are indeed quite delicious, though for my money there are better to be found not only in Nashville but also parts of the Carolinas as well as at Yardbird, still the reference standard, though admittedly theirs are not refilled freely on request. Moving on to entrees, another piping hot cup of coffee poured, it was largely a matter of sampling widely that led to an order of even more biscuits and with each of the four golden rounds topped differently one would be hard pressed to name a winner amongst the group, the crispy chicken and tender pulled pork rousing curiosity of just how good a full plate dinner at Loveless might be while the tart green tomato topped with spicy pimento cheese was as 'Southern' as it gets, certainly not the sort of stuff you see served for breakfast anywhere back home. Moving next to the French Toast and Pancakes, suffice it to say that both are competent takes on classic American breakfast staples, and with the buttermilk fresh plus the bread homemade the only real question is whether to indulge in Maple Syrup, local Honey, or thick amber Sorghum as the topping of choice, from my standpoint a decision that entailed a little of each before deeming the decision a tossup, the Sorghum almost a bit *too* sweet on the vanilla and cinnamon dipped toast but absolutely delightful when mellowed by the ample amount of toasted pecans added to the pancakes for just a buck. Unwilling to forgo desserts, 7:45 in the morning or not, what started as a sampler of three miniature pies and puddings quickly expanded to a quartet when the server brought chocolate chess instead of original, and with a pure butter crust serving as the base to both reference standard iterations it speaks volumes that the pecan pie was actually the best of them all, a dearth of 'filler' allowing the caramelized nuts and brown sugar to shine without being overly sweet - a similar degree of subtlety offered by banana pudding that used house whipped cream and softened vanilla wafers amidst thick chopped fruit and a smooth yellow base to deliver an experience that was not only texturally pleasing but also shockingly natural, a quality far too infrequently found in a dessert where boxed pudding is far too frequently meant to suffice.
(4)Al C.
Biscuits & jams were so delicious we visited twice in a 1 week trip (and bought biscuit mix & jam to go!). It lives up to the reputation and is worth the wait. (Just make sure you call 24+ hours in advance for reservations, especially for large groups, otherwise they won't take em). BBQ pulled pork breakfast platter was huge and tasty. Fried chicken and waffles were okay (waffle was on the heavy and bland side), I subbed in dark meat fried chicken and it was super good. I'd order just the plain fried chicken dish next time. Blueberry vodka drink with a souvenir shot glass for $11, it was really good... Maybe too good! If we lived closer, I'd be 400 lbs. Can't wait till my next trip to TN to return.
(5)Emily T.
Yum. Those biscuits, That peach jam. My mouth is watering. The biscuits are the star - they are soft inside with a slightly thick exterior, they melt in your mouth with the right touch of salt. We waited over two hours for a table on Memorial Day. There were plenty of shops to look in and the view is nice enough. They had free beverages all over the grounds for guests who were waiting. I think it would serve them well if they'd set up a place to sell biscuits to guests who were waiting. They'd make a killing and guests would be less agitated as they waited. Our waiter was kind but a little over bearing. He went beyond the usual southern hospitality and I thought he was going to pull up a chair and eat with us. The fried chicken was delicious, hash brown casserole was tasty, cat fish was good. Nothing was bad but nothing - other than the biscuits - blew me away. It is well cooked southern food in a fun atmosphere.
(4)Becca J.
A place known for its biscuits? Sign me up! I perused Yelp for restaurant ideas prior to my trip to Nashville. This was on my itinerary before I even showed up, so I was surprised to see a pamphlet advertising this restaurant in my hotel lobby! I had no idea that it was sort of a Nashville institution! At 9:30 AM on a Monday morning we had a 15 minute wait. We were given a buzzer and informed that it worked everywhere on the property, so instead of waiting in the restaurant building, we walked around to the "Hams & Jams Country Market" and "Lil Biscuits Gift Shop" to check out the wares. Once seated we were immediately presented with a platter of fresh biscuits, jams and butter. I had to control myself and not eat the entire plate prior to ordering non-biscuit food. I ended up ordering the Southern Sampler Platter which came with country ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, and a choice of hash browns or grits. I selected the hash browns which were, frankly, not great. I did try my sister's cheese grits and had an immediate sense of regret due to my choices. Live and learn. My sister ordered the barbecue, which turned out to be pulled pork. This was delicious, and it was way better than my meal. Food portions were huge. Service was good. The place had a diner-y feel. My sister picked up some ham from their store since they had some conveniently small portions vacuum sealed.
(4)Zlata P.
This place became my favorite, for its atmosphere and amazing service. We came here 2 times during my short visit to Nashville. We had breakfast and supper. The place is very cosy and welcoming. It was a 45 min wait for a table on Friday morning, so we decided to check out the gift shops. Staff everywhere is so friendly! Coming from California, where the only thing is served is attitude . Lots of cute souvenirs and home goods. They also ship their food anywhere in the country, which is awesome, because they home made preserves are delicious. For breakfast we had country ham and eggs, with side of grits and hash brown casserole. I haven't had southern food in so long, so I enjoyed it. I also got a moonshine shot, which came in a cute jar, that you get to keep. Famous biscuits were also good, however I was more excited to try the famous chess pie. And if I could sign up for a monthly delivery of that awesomeness I sure would! That pie is so good! As full as I was after breakfast, I still ate almost a whole slice! Susan was our waitress and she was amazing! Very friendly and nice! Thank you Susan! Next day we came back for dinner. I had to have some fried chicken before I leave. I got a half with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans. I died and went to a fried chicken heaven! Comfort food at its best! To drink I got a harvest moonshine(?) , it's mixed with sweet iced tea, and so so good! But the best part of the dinner was our server Owen! I would like to thank you so much to make this dinner experience so special! Now, every time I will think about southern hospitality, I would think of you! Thank you for great service! You made us feel so welcome! Overall, i fell in love with this place and I think it's gonna become a tradition, while I'm in Nashville! Thanks y'all!!! Can't wait to be back!
(5)Veronica S.
Always enjoy coming here when I visit my sister! The wait can be extremely long so don't come starving, because you will have to wait! But there are little shops and games you can play while waiting! Food was delicious! So anything on menu is amazing! I had grilled chicken sandwich with green beans... Delicious!! The biscuits they serve you before your meal is to die for! Love the jam that comes with it!!
(5)Adam H.
Stopped into here during a business trip through Nashville because they're supposed to be famous for their biscuits and gravy. While I did really enjoy my meal, I wouldn't say the meal was much better than I've had elsewhere. I don't get how the biscuits and gravy are famous. I wouldn't advise you drive 30 mins out of Nashville for the food. Perhaps the nostalgia of the place is worth it? I would say that the staff were all super friendly! Southern hospitality at its finest! The place does have a nice southern charm to it too.
(4)A B L.
Our waitress was a doll and the biscuits was great. Some of the very best cheddar grits I have ever had. We come for the first time on a Sunday & it was a 2 hour wait so we left. We returned the following a Tuesday at 11 and only had to wait 10 minutes for a table. This place is worth the drive but not a wait of 2 hours on the weekend.
(5)Kris N.
The best biscuits and moon shine Mary's ever. Love this place even though they are always packed and the wait is long, but that's okay, the wait is worth it and all the shops are super cute.
(5)Mark M.
Loveless is (apparently) one of those Nashville institutions, and since breakfast is one of our family institutions, we decided to hit the place on the way out of town. Because we enjoy traveling while in a coma, we opted for the family-style breakfast, which, roughly translated, means "we come to your table and stuff you until you can't take anymore." Eggs, grits, hash brown casserole (very light -- not), bacon, ham (yummy, but WAY too salty), and the star of the show -- biscuits that will make you slap your grandma. At first taste, I wasn't that impressed, but after the 7th or so I concluded that maybe they were pretty good. And served with delicious preserves and sausage gravy. Needless to say, there was no lunch consumed that day. Good coffee and great service. Be prepared for a significant wait during rush times.
(4)Jill M.
Just freaking good. I had the fried chicken (1/4 white meat - amazing), turnip greens (amazing), and mashed potatoes (really, really good). And of course, biscuits with blackberry jam that was to die for. This is one of those places where you just have to stop caring temporarily about things like calories, sodium, etc., and simply go for it.
(5)Lenka O.
Loveless cafe is a must if you are in Nashville. Yes it's touristy but the food was well worth it. I got the country fried steak with hashbrown casserole. The steak was giant and amazing! Had to take half home. Biscuits come warm and with three delicious jams. Drinks are pricey though. Not sure if they were with it. I hear it gets pretty crowded though and there can be a huge wait. We went on a Friday morning around 9am and got right in. I guess all the wild and crazy partiers from Broadway were still asleep so try a weekday and early if you can.
(4)Fred P.
So I surprised my wife with a trip to Nashville to celebrate her inexplicable love of country music and visiting the Loveless was high on her to-do list. Thank god! You may be able to get a breakfast this good in New York, but I couldn't tell you where and I'm sure you'd pay a small fortune for it. Despite the ridiculous wait (1.5 hour) and vertigo inducing pitch of the floor (a bit uneven) the meal was phenomenal with a capital "PH." The biscuits were unique, even by Nashville standards. Small and light, they didn't require any condiments to satisfy, though that didn't stop me from drowning them in the best Sausage gravy I've ever had. My wife had the Chicken and a Waffle and declared it the single best piece of chicken she'd ever eaten. I had to dive into the "Pit-Cooked Pork Barbecue & Eggs, One to the Left and One to the Right" which came with a pancake and the greatest iteration of breakfast potatoes created: the Hash brown Casserole. Besides being some of the best pulled pork, the remainder of the meal was equally exquisite. The eggs just seemed fresher and the pancake fluffier than any I'd ever had elsewhere. Know going in on a weekend that you will wait and wait and wait to be seated. This is partially due the tourist destination nature of the establishment and partially by design as there are multiple souvenir shops on the premises. You've been warned.
(5)Julie D.
Well.....It's not really conveniently located. But I am so glad we took the time to drive out of our way to visit this long time, old fashioned flash from the past café. The drive out is interesting, we took back roads and enjoyed the scenic drive. Once you arrived, it was clear from the parking lot, Loveless is very popular, the parking lot was packed. Surprisingly, the wait for a table was not long. But making a selection of what to order was difficult. The bf got the fried chicken. I ended up getting the pulled pork. It was delicious. For my sides, I got creamed style corn (win) and mac and cheese (good, too). The biscuits were a nice surprise, the are actually fairly small, so you can't feel too guilty about eating them. Service was very friendly. Even so friendly, we ended up with biscuits and jam to go for later. This place really is great.
(5)Jimmie K.
Usually go there for breakfast & decided to go for dinner WoW just as good the biscuits & Fried Chicken is to die for Must go ASAP
(5)Bill R.
The gourmet's Cracker Barrell. This place is tremendous Southern cooking. Bring a heart monitor. If you're a Southerner, you'll swear your grandma is in the kitchen. The ONLY reason I don't give them a 5 star rating is that they're just so hard to get into. Hour, 2 hour waits are common. You may have to hike a quarter mile to get there from the back of the parking lot(s). On the weekends, there's no good time to get in. The first time you come the shops are enough to keep you occupied, but they lose their charm after a few times.
(4)Stephanie C.
"Biscuit Poisoning? YES PLEASE! " 5 of 5 stars Pending review If you are visiting Nashville, make the drive to this wonderfully taste of history! But be aware they bring you a plate of the most buttery biscuits with an assortment of jams, preserves and honey. Stop at one...or you will get too full of the yummy goodness. Then make sure that what ever your family orders as the main dish you all order a different side, because there is ALOT to share. From Mac and Cheese to the BEST turnip green and mashed potatoes. My husband had the house chicken, I had the meat loaf and my daughter had the roast beef we each got 3 sides, we took so much home, so good, And we each ordered dessert to go. You could of rolled me out of that wonderful place!!! But don't leave till you visit all the shops and learn about its origins. It's a very nostalgic place. After dinner.... Take a drive through the parks. Truely beautiful. Visited August 2015
(5)Tom D.
Ate breakfast this morning at the Loveless Cafe with my fiancee. Thursday morning, 7:30am, so no wait for a table. Our server, Bruce, brought us two biscuits. Not sure what all the hype is about, they didn't taste like anything special. Also, my fiancee was miffed because she wanted to order a Bloody Mary, but Bruce said it was before 8am, so she couldn't get one yet. So things didn't start off well, but they soon improved once our food arrived at the table. I had ordered the Pit-Cooked Pork Barbeque & Eggs (One to the Left and One to the Right), and my fiancee had ordered the Fried Chicken & Waffle. Our meals were good, I had a hard time finishing the generous portion of pork on my plate. Wasn't really crazy about the red BBQ sauce on top, but it was OK. Hash brown casserole was tasty, I liked it. My fiancee liked her Chicken & Waffle quite a bit, the waffle itself was very good, delicious. And Bruce had brought us out more hot biscuits and a Bloody Mary in a mason jar for my fiancee. Overall, a good experience this morning at the Loveless Cafe, we would like to come back again, but it is about 85 miles away from where we live, so I imagine that won't be happening anytime soon. I recommend giving them a go if you are in Nashville.
(4)Amanda B.
The reviews on the biscuits hold true! I ate a few (I'm afraid to admit how much lard I actually consumed). If you love the biscuits you should go to the gift shop and buy the magnet that says "praise the lard and pass the biscuits". Aside from the biscuits I shared the sampler meal ( BBQ, chicken, meatloaf) with the mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes (I apparently love lard and starches). The mashed potatoes were great (had little potatoes chunks that made me think they were homemade). The sweat potatoes were nothing I would try again ( semi sweet with a hint of Carmel). I also tried my friends fried ocra, it tasted average. I loved the meatloaf. It had great flavoring and consistency. The chicken and BBQ was good but if you've had great BBQ and fried chicken it's about average. I gave 4 stars because our waitress only came to our table 2 times the entire meal and pretty much rolled her eyes at us. She would just walk by and not offer refills or ask if we needed anything. We finally waved down another waiter who gladly helped and brought more biscuits, drinks, and even made sure we liked our food. We left a tip for Kramer and he ended up running outside to thank us for the tip- so kind and sincere of him! Worth a shot but planning on waiting!
(4)Karen M.
Yup. Down-home cooking. We had a huge party and they accommodated us easily. Jason our server was friendly and professional. And my chicken was delicious! Cucumber salad was the absolute best - I recommend that to go w/the chicken. It is as good as others say!
(4)Arash R.
Great services , good fried chicken. Mac and cheese and creamed corn were amazing , get them together and try to have spoon mix of them - tasted even better to me. Long wait lines but you can grab free coffee from the gift shop while you wait or just go for a drive on the parkway near by.
(4)Bernard L.
Wait, are you kidding me? We drove 30 minutes outside on Nashville for this place for a Sunday 10AM brunch for 3 people. I already grew suspicious when I noticed that the parking looked like a parking lot for Disney, with cars with license plates from all over the south and college football decals. Disclaimer: I'm from New York City. Needless to say, we go through what feels like an amusement park filled with gift shops, jam shops and families having makeshift picnics on the trail to the actual restaurant. We go inside and were told that for 3 people, the wait would be 2.5hrs. Ha! We just left immediately, judging all the poor souls that came from the heartland of the country to a place that feels like a glorified Cracker Barrel.
(1)Mike D.
One of my favorite southern meals. Everything you want in a heart attack, I mean HEARTY meal. They probably have the best biscuits I have ever tasted. They come with three amazing preserves: peach, blackberry, and strawberry. Ask for more biscuits if you must. Meals: Smoked ham - get it Fried Chicken - honestly, what do you think? probably the best I've ever had. Hash brown casserole, Mac 'n cheese, and fried green tomatoes. I cnat put into words how much I enjoyed this meal. I'd love to return!
(5)Meghan H.
Oh the hype...these poor biscuits didn't have a fighting chance to stand up to such praise. Maybe I'm too much of a biscuit aficionado or too critical. Either way, these biscuits were good, but not nearly the best I've tasted. Driving into the Loveless parking lot around noon on a Saturday, we expected the 2 hour wait for our party of nine. We browsed the little village off shops that Loveless has going on for you while you wait. And 1.5hrs and $60 spent on merchandise later, we made our way into the restaurant. Even before all of our butts were in our chairs, they set down two plates teeming with dozens of the infamous biscuits and jam. With our tummies rumbling like they were, of course they tasted good. As famished as I was and as warm as these buttery biscuits were, I still instantly acknowledged that they paled in comparison to the biscuits I've fallen in love with at a pie shop back in Chicago. I found the texture of these biscuits to be too uniform throughout. These guys lacked the exterior toasty crunch that only makes you appreciate the soft and crumbly insides that much more. You need that contrast in texture in a top notch biscuit. I was also saddened by the lack of moisture in the biscuit and the much too dry crumb. Biscuit disappointment aside, the omelettes were impressively large and stuffed with ingredients. The pancakes were hearty and the maple syrup was somehow exceptionally tasty. I felt the need to try a half order of their country ham and was surprised by my dislike. Ask anyone, I am a huge fan of ham but this was salty to the point of being inedible. Honestly, I took two bites of this $7 slice and didn't go for more. While overall on the disappointing side, I'm glad to have experienced the institution that is Loveless.
(3)Shawn N.
The biscuits!!! The biscuits I say!!!! Simply amazing, baked to a warm buttery perfection topped with homemade jams...I could eat 1000 of them! I had the eggs and BBQ breakfast, scrumptious! The BBQ had a little rub on it and the sauce is near drinkable! The property is really cool too....get ready for a coma!
(5)Cody C.
couple of Canadians down to nashville for the weekend. We heard of loveless cafe after reading many yelp reviews and hearing it is an institution we needed to go. So too start off be prepared to spend your entire day waiting on lousy biscuits. Apparently supposed to be the best biscuits ever but we were quite disappointed in them. We arrived and told it was an hour and 40 min wait. Although they have lots to do while you wait I recommend getting takeout and sitting outside. We have the fried chicken white meat with Potatos and deep fried tomatoes. Our goal for the weekend was to eat no vegetables so tomatoes deep fried was the most I got. Also got chicken and waffles which was awesome. Overall this chicken was finger lickin good and would recommend it to anyone!
(4)Dawn D.
Great food... well worth the wait would defiantly come back !!!! Great waiter Luke...drink was really good not strong Lynchburg lemonade with souvenir mini mason jar :)
(5)M E.
This place is overwhelming with southern charm and to be honest, I'm pretty sure its overdosing on all aspects of cute. However, the options for vegetarians are limited outside of the regular Denny's staples. I ordered the french toast because some variation of eggs just didn't seem like it had enough umph. And see, I love biscuits, Perhaps more than my biscuit loving, meat eating friends. And their biscuits contain lard. While I appreciate my server mentioning it, he did so with a bit of unnecessary sarcastic zest. And while I understand I'm in the south and perhaps the vegetarian lifestyle hasn't quite made it down here in the last 20 or so years since I've been a vegetarian, I was a bit underwhelmed by the food and overwhelmed by the charm of the Loveless campus.
(3)Del P.
Food is good.... More of a tourist spot Had dinner sampler ( catfish, ham, fried chicken with hash brown casserole n Mac cheese) Catfish-- great light batter Fried chicken- crispy. Could use more seasoning Country ham- salty Biscuits - great with the blackberry jams Drink Blue moon -- great with the moonshine Is it worth the wait? Depends
(3)Allyson G.
A family tradition that never gets old. Loveless is a timeless classic in Music City and receives frequent visits from the local country stars. Make sure to try their famous loveless biscuits and fried chicken. It's stick to your ribs good! Visited November 2013
(4)Benson C.
Country-Home Cookin' that makes you feel at home! Reading up the history about Loveless Cafe you become immersed in a home-like environment where it doesn't feel like a restaurant, but as if you're eating at home with family. It's a pretty comforting atmosphere to eat in places that feel like a bed and breakfast. Loveless Cafe is nestled in the outskirts of Nashville and is one of Nashville's "hidden" treasures. I've lived in Nashville for the past 3 years and I finally ate here. I heard so many raving reviews from friends and I've never managed to make the trip, because it seemed a little far. Upon entering the cafe, you enter the lobby which is decorated with a mosaic of celebrity photographs who have traveled from afar to this delectable gem. Fortunately, the wait was only 10-15 minutes for a table of 6. There are a lot of menu options, of which I hear all are great. I went with the Pulled Pork Sandwich with Fries and it was one of the best tasting and flavorful pulled pork I've had in a while. Not to mention the unlimited barrage of biscuits are why people come drooling in anticipation of their sweet and soft biscuits that seem to just melt in your mouth. They provide three types of preserves - strawberry, blackberry, and I believe apricot (someone please feel free to correct me). The service was awesome here despite how busy it was, seeing that the restaurant tables are all full. My water was filled before the glass could even reach the half-full point (I could have said half empty but I don't want to be pessimistic in this happy and joyous review!) I love this place. I just wish I had discovered it much earlier before I move back to Chicago in the next few months. This place is worth it! Go eat here and give it a go! You won't be disappointed!
(4)Scott M.
My wife and I were in Nashville for two nights and we had seen the rave reviews on TA, so we drove out into nowhere-ville to try the Loveless. Having seen positive reviews for the friend chicken, I went there. My wife had a fried green tomato BLT. Oh wait...the biscuits. Now these ARE good, especially when hot, but I can not put them into the "best I have ever had" category. Unfortunately, we have been to many amazing biscuit places in Savannah and Charleston. The waitress remembered to bring some honey and sorgum (sp?) for the biscuits. Mix some of sorgum, honey, and a pat of butter into a slurry...spread on biscuit, and enjoy! Wow...that was amazing! Ok...back to the meals. Fried Chicken: Breast, Thigh, wing, leg delivered quickly and piping hot! First bite...BLAND! The white meat was also very dry. Sides: Hashbrown Casserole which was amazing and I confirmed that I am not a fan of turnip greens. Gr. Tom BLT: Bread was uninspiring but I thought the sandwich was ok. My wife wasn't a huge fan...so she returned to the biscuits. So perhaps this is a place to focus on for breakfast...who knows. With only two precious nights in Nashville, we wish we had gone elsewhere.
(3)Carrie V.
Biscuits. Just...biscuits. Well, and the preserves. You get them before your meal, like bread, with a selection of blackberry, strawberry and peach preserves. And, they are unlimited. I mean, I think they could probably refuse to bring more out, but I didn't get that far. I also ordered the southern omelet with bacon and it was delicious. My husband had scrambled eggs and a chicken biscuit. As soon as he took one bite of the biscuit he said he wished he had gotten the biscuit sampler. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. We were seated right away. It's a bit of a drive from downtown Nashville but worth it! For the biscuits.
(4)Marisa I.
Awesome hash brown casseole. Great biscuits and jams. Jadee was server and did a great job!
(5)Kimberly K.
Loveless Cafe was a yummy was for my group and I to start off our vacation. We arrived around 10am on Friday and there was a little bit of a wait. They give you a pager, though, so you are able to shop in their store next door while you wait. Once seated we placed our orders and while waiting received the most mouth watering biscuits I've ever eaten. Someone in our group end up buying the mix at the store. I ordered the pulled pork omelet and it lived up to my expectations. Not too greasy and lots of flavor. We also tried the side of sausage gravy to eat with the additional biscuits we received. Price was just right and I would recommend this classic place to anyone!
(4)Katie K.
My partner always gets the fried chicken, and I have had almost everything else. We're always happy to make the out of the way trip. I'm sure you've heard about the biscuits, and every (good) word of it is true. Since I was a kid, I've searched for anything close to my grandpa's blue ribbon peach preserves. I've only found it at the Loveless, so it holds a special place in my heart. If it's your first time, start with the fried chicken and go from there. You simply won't be disappointed. 4 stars mostly because every time I leave, I never want to see another fried thing again. There's little to choose in the way of refreshing or healthy. Sometimes, I feel like I need a nice salad to balance, but the salads leave a bit to be desired.
(4)Michelle R.
Biscuits best I ever had. Pulled pork was tender however pork chops dry fried chicken very good. people were so nice and the peach jam WOW.
(5)Patrick P.
After reading the Wikipedia entry on this place, maybe my expectations were too high (read it sometime), but the biscuits were not that good. The country ham was way too salty (I am from the South, I know what biscuits and ham are supposed to taste like). It was pretty much standard Waffle House fare. One saving grace - the preserves that go ON the biscuits were great.
(2)Cat M.
BEST Biscuits, Fried Chicken and Creamed Corn I've Ever had!! I stayed in downtown Nashville and drove nearly every day to go to the Loveless Café. It's worth the drive. INCREDIBLE!!!!!
(5)Max G.
Some local friends brought us to the Loveless Cafe for dinner. We found the food to be pretty good. I had a pulled pork sandwich, which had good smoky flavor. My wife had the fried chicken which was also tasty. For dessert, I had coconut cream pie, which was delicious. Lisa had peanut butter pie, which she did not like. One of the food highlights was their biscuits, which were great. They are served with various gravies and jams. We regret not buying some biscuit mix to bring back to LA. The place is a bit expensive for what you get, but we would go back.
(4)Sarah S.
I'm not one of those people who gets up early to eat breakfast or that person who just can't get started for the day without a heaping plate of sausage and eggs first thing after I wake up. Hell, most days, by the time I've done my morning routine (check emails, read the latest Cracked articles, read the news, shower/dress), it makes more sense to eat an early lunch and just skip breakfast (unhealthy, I know). This is not to say that I don't enjoy breakfast. I loved chowing down on the dining hall's breakfast on weekends when I was in college. I'm always up for a late night trip to IHOP (or WAHO, if I'm south of the Mason-Dixon). I've even been known to whip up big Sunday breakfasts if the mood suits me (homemade pancakes are my go-to, but I've made crepes and ebelskivers and omelets and more). I'm not a fan of early morning breakfasts, but I adore brunch and I enjoy leisurely breakfasts, and when I'm traveling, I'm much more inclined to fit breakfast into my schedule. While visiting Nashville a few weeks ago with my best friend from home, trying out breakfast joints was near the top of our list of things to do. The South knows how to do breakfast and Nashville has a collection of well known breakfast places and diners (including Noshville and Pancake Pantry). The Loveless Cafe is perhaps the best known breakfast place and it's famous for a reason: they serve a delicious breakfast. To be completely honest, we didn't actually dine in the restaurant...we drove out there on a Saturday (after being defeated by the long lines at the Pancake Pantry) with high hopes of finding a seat. Unfortunately, everyone and their mother had the same thought in mind, so when we pulled in, it was a struggle just to find a parking spot, let alone a spot on the restaurant's waiting list. After hearing the wait could be well over an hour, and unable to handle the increasing grumbles of distress from our stomachs, we opted for the take-out option (having been reassured that it would only take about 15 minutes). 30 minutes later (which was not too bad, because the waiting list time was now almost 2 hours), we had two Styrofoam containers filled with breakfast and, as the weather was unusually warm for January, we were able to to take a seat at one of the picnic tables in front of the restaurant. The food was delicious: the eggs were light and fluffy, the biscuits were airy and buttery, the sausage had a nice snap to it, and the jam was sweet. My friend had some sort of concoction of pulled pork and eggs and hash browns and more and enjoyed every forkful. After dining, we roamed around the property, visiting the little shops scattered about (I happily purchased a bag of biscuit mix and apple butter--both ended up being delicious). So, while I can't review the actual dining experience in the restaurant, I can say that the food was excellent and, with its reputation and that whole "the owner was friends with Paula Deen and a bunch of country stars have eaten there" thing, it makes sense that it's a busy little place. If you want to dine in, be prepared to wait for a long time. Take-out is a great option and it definitely is quicker than waiting for a table--there are picnic benches around the property, or you could always take it to go. The employees I spoke to were incredibly friendly, despite the craziness going on around them, and they were quick too. The restaurant is a little bit out of the way, but parking is pretty decent and it's not too far from downtown. If you're looking for a great breakfast, definitely drop by...just be prepared for the fact that you may just end up eating breakfast for lunch due to the wait time.
(3)Hayley M.
Delicious, artery clogging, and good family fun. A friend of the family insisted we go. Looked it up on yelp (naturally), and since the top three phrases are, "biscuits," "fried chicken," and "hashbrown casserole," the extended fam was immediately down for finding this hotspot. We ordered several dishes, including chicken fried steak, fried chicken (you can specify dark or white meat and we had both at the table), and pulled pork. Each entree came with two sides, and I went with the hashbrown casserole and the marinated cucumbers and onions (had to go with something remotely healthy to offset the fried chicken, right?). The waitress first brought us a basket full of the biscuits. Hot, buttery, and melting in our mouths, they weren't just good. They were the best darn biscuits this reviewer has ever had... and I have eaten a lot of biscuits. The fried chicken was everything I could want in fried chicken. I ordered the white meat only, and it was crispy on the outside, perfectly moist on the inside, and bursting with flavor. The hashbrown casserole on the other hand... Well, it was too cheesy. Normally I love cheese and usually it's the-more-the-better when it comes to cheese, but I wanted hashbrowns, not potatoes swimming in sour cream. Otherwise this meal was fantastic. I was almost sick when we all left. But we did leave with a catalog and my friends will be ordering a ham for Christmas. Check out the accompanying store!
(4)Mike Z.
Average food, super slow service, overpriced for the tourists. Nothing to see here.
(1)Jemina B.
You wake up on a Sunday morning somewhere in Nashville. You vaguely recall the past night's events, but you are incredibly aware of a raging headache and dry mouth. Your out-of-town visitors have all crashed on various couches in your house and look at you with pleading eyes to put them out of their misery. You need home-cooked food. Like, NOW. Enter the Loveless Cafe. Sure, you might wait a bit for those heavenly biscuits, but there's plenty of entertainment while you and your hungover crew wander around the property. Hams n' Jams? Don't mind if I do. Get some complimentary coffee, check out the various sundries the store has to offer, and move on. When your buzzer finally signals that your table is ready, the reaction is much like Pavlov's dogs. Your table is immediately rewarded with a plate full of biscuits, homemade preserves, and the quickest service around. The barbecue is a delight, as well as the fried chicken. Bottom line: it's worth the drive!
(4)Jay F.
It's like eating at grandma house. The first item they bring out is the biscuits. They are DELICIOUS. I tried the blackberry preserves with them and it was my favorite. I ordered fried chicken with mashed potatoes and fried okra. Overall the meal was good but not overly special. The outside of the chicken was really tasty but the actual meat was bland. The mashed potatoes were good and you could taste the butter in it. Don't bother with the fried okra. It tasted like the frozen stuff. Service was excellent once we were seated.
(4)Jocelyn F.
My mother and I first time Nashville. We just wanted some good ol country food. When we walked it was so cute with the wall of fame. We were ordering take out because the wait was very long to be seated. We didnt have time to waiting. So when it came down to ordering the hostess Hiley was sooooo rude. When she had to take our order, when we were sitting down (starring at us so ugly), and when we were getting our food. I never felt so uncomfortable. I was so mad but i didnt say anything because i didnt want to cause a seen. But they with be getting a call and a letter. Thanks Hiley for ruining our first time in Nashville.
(1)Jeff M.
My favorite breakfast place in the U.S. Best biscuits ever (much to the chagrin of my peers in Atlanta). Fried chicken for breakfast: Yes, please! It always feels like home when I'm there.
(5)Habiba W.
This place is WAY over-hyped. My wait was 45 minutes and the food was terrible. The biscuits were nothing special and I swear my eggs looked (and tasted) as if they were made from egg beaters. I don't understand why everybody goes nuts about this place.
(2)Jessy Y.
This place is incredibly overrated. I mean, it's decent Southern cooking, but after hearing about it for years and seeing it ranked as one of the best in the South, I finally went there this year. The wait was ridiculous; granted, it was MLK weekend (Sunday), but we waited longer than the hour they predicted. Sure, you can walk around and visit shops full of expensive items most of the Loveless' clientele can't afford (at least, I couldn't), so it's not like you're stuck in one place. When we did sit down, I was excited to try their infamous biscuits. Well, now I know how Bobby Flay beat them on the Food Network -- they're tiny! Tasty enough, especially with sorghum (you have to ask), but not SPECTACULAR like I've always heard, and this is the reason I say "overrated." I just imagined them to be big and flaky, not little. My omelet was mediocre. My mom got fried chicken and some amazing mac-n-cheese, so I will give them props for that. I also enjoyed their hashbrown casserole. The bloody mary was a surprise bonus as I didn't think they served drinks, but it required a lot of pepper. I think to call yourself a Nashvillian, you need to eat here once. But once, at least for me, is enough.
(3)John F.
Best food in Nashville!, Service is excellent and best biscuits. Be prepared to wait on the weekends....like any great restaurant it stays very busy.
(5)Sara L.
I've been here twice, once while traveling through town on an interview and once while the parents were visiting. We start off well, the famous biscuits are famed for a reason, and the preserves are great. My favorite is the blackberry, then strawberry. For me the peach is not the best, but its a preference thing, I think. I could eat the biscuits and only the biscuits for a meal and be perfectly happy. I got the fried chicken both times, and it was good--very good, but I've tried some other places now so I can't say it was my favorite. For sides, I recommend the specials--both times I liked them best (creamed spinach and squash casserole). For those who are looking at the regular menu, I say go green beans or turnip greens (your moment of healthfulness). I found the sweet potatoes a bit too sweet, but again, preference. We were too full for dessert, so we went and wandered the grounds, which are great and have some really cool shops to check out. Personally, I'd come back here for breakfast in particular...more biscuits=better.
(3)Andrew M.
After seeing all kinds of good reviews for this place all over the internet, I decided to check it out while in Nashville, and honestly, I don't see what all the hype was about. Long wait to sit down, 45+ minutes even though there were a ton of tables open. It's all good though, with all the good reviews I read I was ok to wait. Finally sat down and ordered the "famous" chicken along with the macaroni and cheese and hashbrown casserole. The chicken wasn't all that special, I've had a LOT better chicken at quite a few places. Mac and cheese was ok, the hashbrown casserole was awesome. The highly touted biscuits everyone raves about weren't all that great either, at least not so good to warrant why everyone and their mother tells you how good they are. They are about as good as anywhere else I tried while in the south. The jams however were damn tasty. Prices were on the higher side, but the service once we sat down was pretty quick. I probably wouldn't hit this place again while in town, but if you're lookin for a tourist'ish spot to eat then this is the place for you.
(3)Yella W.
The biscuits were great. The chicken so so and the fries the typical frozen type. Very average.
(3)Zeke A.
This is true Southern American goodness. Biscuits galore! I loved the biscuits so much that I just got biscuits and gravy and some scrambled eggs. I also started with a chicken biscuit. I love the biscuits! Our waiter was friendly and since we came in on a Monday morning we didn't have to wait at all. I love you Loveless Cafe!
(5)Dallas K.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Got the biscuit sampler and hashbrown casserole. Everything was amazing. Peach sweet tea is to die for. My boyfriend had the BBQ and eggs breakfast and said it was the best thing he has ever eaten. Wait wasn't nearly as long as they told us (said hour and half on a Saturday morning, ended up being 50 minutes). There's tons to do while you wait, and once you order it takes about 5 minute to get your meal.
(5)Brad W.
The angels sang! I love this place. The biscuits make it worth the trip alone. Fried chicken is delicious, with great sides including fried green tomatoes. This is a Nashville landmark that should not be missed if you are in the area. Plan on waiting during lunch hour.
(5)Tod B.
This place is fantastically simple. They are cooking good, simple, home-cooked, Southern food the right way in an old house. The biscuits are otherworldly and the food definitely represents this place well. I love this place so much, I have visited twice in my recent stops through Tennessee, each time I remember how great this place is and how much I miss it. What I found so great that made me feel stoked to be American was the huge family that was dining near us. When I say huge I mean huge, 30+ people. The food was brought out to them in huge bowls and on large platters, all served family style. "Hey grandpa! pass the bacon!". I loved it. Definitely stop here on your tour of Tennessee, you cant pass it without a stop.
(5)Elizabeth F.
What a deeeeeeelicious place to eat!! The biscuits are served warm and are guaranteed to be eaten before they get cold. The side of homemade preserves that accompanies the biscuits will not disappoint. I went for their 1/2 of a chicken, fried. It comes with two sides- I got the mac and cheese and the collard greens. The mac and cheese was AMAZING, and I consider myself a connoisseur of anything macc-y and cheesy. The meat was tender, juicy, and the breading was out of this world good- seasoned perfectly. Put some hot sauce on top and you're in fried chicken heaven! The sweet tea is a nice reprieve after an hour-long wait in very warm weather. (The wait is worth every second!) The "Hams & Jams" store next door offers a variety of the condiments offered at the restaurant, as well as selling meats and their famous biscuit mix! They have anything you could ever want to bring home for a little taste of Loveless right in your own kitchen. Bring your appetite, and I would advice wearing elastic-waisted pants, because this is one place that is DEFINITELY not on your diet.
(5)Ava R.
Soooo good!! I heard all about this place and read the reviews on yelp before I came here and it did not disappoint! The biscuits and gravy were delicious. Country fried steak was yummy. And the hash brown casserole was so ridiculously good! The staff was friendly and courteous. We had to wait maybe 10 minutes but we got a chance to walk around and check out the shops which were cute. Its a little bit of a drive outside of Nashville, but it is so delicious that it is totally worth the trip!
(5)Jami S.
This place is amazing. I drove here from Connecticut with my grandmother just to try the food. I was not disappointed! The Jam was fresh and wonderful! The sweet Tea you can't beat. I will go back or maybe live there! love love this place.
(5)Frank B.
Worth the ride if just for the biscuits and homemade jams. My favorite is Blackberry. Can't say anymore than I love this place. The pulled pork is smoked to perfection, If it's not enough this place is at the begining/or end of the Natchez Trace in the middle of whats probably one of the prettiest parts of this country.Travel there once I guarantee you'll be back again and again !!!
(5)Janet S.
For me it is all about the chicken livers with three types of gravy, cannot speak for anything else on the menu. This sets me up nicely for a camping trip down the Natchez Trace. All our visitors from overseas love to make a pit-stop here. A little shopping for jellies and bacon and a little liver eating! Ah lurve the South.
(3)Rachel W.
I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. The food is awesome. The biscuits and jam are near perfection. The wait staff is always friendly. The atmosphere is just plain fun. Thank goodness I don't live in Nashville, otherwise I'd gain 50lbs eating here all the time.
(5)Amie S.
The Loveless Café on the outskirts of Nashville has risen to fame for its hearty southern fare. This is some serious down-home cookin' that has been voted the best in town by locals, and draws in plenty of celebrity guests as well (check out the jam-packed wall of fame in the entryway). The Loveless is a very family-friendly establishment, with games and fun historic facts on the placemats and friendly, understanding staff who are eager to please. Don't miss out on the biscuits! In fact, I would drive all the way here just for a taste of these light, fluffy, buttery morsels topped with the house's homemade blackberry jam. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, I know a good blackberry when I taste it - and them's some tasty berries! Biscuits come standard with the breakfast dishes, so if you're here for your morning meal you'll be starting your day off right. Breakfast consists of authentic versions of all your standard southern favorites: pancakes, eggs, grits, etc., plus a few house specialties like hash brown casserole (hash browns mixed with cheese and onions and held together with chicken soup), homemade gravy (if you're brave, try the red eye gravy: ham drippings mixed with black coffee!). I was expecting ginormous portions, but the servings were moderate, which for me is a good thing. The food was neither too heavy nor too greasy. This not only leaves more room for biscuits, but ensures you don't head back out into the muggy weather feeling like you have an anvil in your guts. The breakfast ham is cured on site, and carnivores looking for BBQ meat offerings need look no further than the smokehouse next door to the main restaurant. Speaking of things next door to the main restaurant, there are plenty of places to check out surrounding the café. Once a restaurant and motel, the restaurant grew so well-known and busy that they ended up shutting down the motel in order to expand the café. Now the remaining motel buildings house the restaurant's gift shop and other businesses, including an art gallery and a garden store.
(4)A M.
Definitely underwhelmed. Loved the place when I was a kid, so stopped for breakfast one day. Eggs, bacon, grits and biscuit. Food OK but no better than breakfast at Rotiers and several dollars more in price. My real gripe is being served margarine instead of butter for the bisquits . To my mind this defeats the whole purpose of a really scrumptious biscuit experience. If you are a Southerner, the Loveless is more a fun outing than great food.
(3)c c.
The hubby and I frantically got to Loveless for dinner at 8:30 one night (they close at 9). Given what we're used to in CA, we expected that they wouldn't be too pleased with our last minute arrival. We clearly forgot we were in TN. They welcomed us in and the waitress spent a good chunk of time talking with us and going over the menu. I got the fried chicken (amazing) with mashed potatoes (also amazing) and creamed corn (very yummy). Hubby got the meatloaf, hash brown casserole, and mac and cheese, all of which were great. I feel like I don't even need to mention this given that everyone else already has, but the biscuits are honestly heavenly. The blackberry preserves were my favorite, but the homemade honey and sorghum were great too. Definitely give this place a try, you won't need to eat for at least 24 hours afterward.
(5)Noelle T.
I ate here. The biscuits were mmm mmm good. Everything else ... well .... the biscuits were good. I also like the cool little shops, I feel like a true Nashvillian now. We will def. go back to try the fried chicken as it appears I missed the mark with breakfast.
(3)Lee B.
Yup! Worth the hype for the biscuits alone. And I was raised on southern biscuits, let me tell ya. Fluffy, soft and almost yeast-like, even a biscuit hater will dive in to these. And forget your cholesterol level for a day and indulge in the fried chicken, juicy, crunchy and worth every calorie. Do take the advice to call ahead. On a weekday, our wait was 1.75 hours at noon. We came back after 60 minutes and were called within a few minutes of arrival so leave the premises at your own peril. Be sure to squeeze into the lobby and browse the wall of autographed photos of country stars who've enjoyed the biscuits.
(4)Alex N.
The biscuits are wonderful. I had the ham, bacon and sausage plate with grits and poached eggs and it was an absolute delight, especially the grits. There are notoriously long waits for a table but it's absolutely worth it. Bring a deck of cards or something to keep yourself amused while waiting and then revel in the awesomeness of the great southern cooking offered here. Highly recommended.
(5)HOLLY M.
Best jams, biscuits, meats.....wow! Just a bit too crowded, but for really good reason.
(5)Andy N.
4.4 stars (can't quite round up to mecca) Yummm...the biscuits were great! I can't wait to come back again next time I'm in Nashville. This place is definitely not on the way to anything, it felt like it was in the middle of no where. The rest of the food is just solid home cookin' but dining there will take you back to the good ole motor hotel (motel) days.
(4)Tanya M.
Expecting a wait, we got here way to early. We got here about 3:30p on a Tuesday. We walked around the gift shop, & still ate too early. We anticipated a good meal so we ate a light lunch. I got the fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, and green beans. I ordered a salad but the waitress forgot about it. She was gonna bring it, but I told her not to worry about it. I don't like my salad with my meal. The chicken itself was good. I'm not sure about it being the best but it was good. The hasbrown casserloe was good, need some onion, I hate to say if it had onions it may have been as good as Cracker Barrel. The green beans were also very good. I could have ate more green beans. I took a piece of PB pie back to my room. It was just ok. They are famous for their biscuits. I don't really see it. The biscuits are a little better than Cracker Barrel, but I have had better biscuits at Hardee's.I liked the in house made jellies. I really wanted to like Loveless Cafe more. Overall, I'd return if I came back but not really someplace I would be like "OMG I have got to go there!"
(3)Jasper T.
This place has some amazing food but be prepared to ware for it. In my opinion it is worth the usual 2 hour wait. They have just about everything from ham and eggs to chicken livers. The biscuits are amazing and make for a memorable experience. You have to try the Loveless at least once. It's a Nashville landmark.
(4)Anita Y.
Eat. The. Biscuits. I agree with Matt S., they are THE BEST EVER. My first visit was in '93, and that was the last time I was in the area. This visit is my second time, and I made sure to plan our driving so I'd be in the area when the cafe was open. And it was every bit as good as I remembered. I got a biscuit with country ham, and the sweet potato casserole. It's tangy with a lot of sour cream in it, so be forewarned. After reading all the reviews, I'd be ONE FAT PIG to try everything that sounded good. I'm not a fan of the red-eye gravy, but that's OK, it's a very short list of things I don't like. All I know is I don't want to wait another 18 years to go back.
(5)Thomas J.
This place came highly recommended, and deservedly so - southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and southern greens were perfectly done, and the biscuits and jam hit the spot after a ride on the parkway. A bit crowded, but that's ok - they don't take reservations, and there was a long wait for us - I think calling ahead puts you at the top of the list, so try that. Save room for the pie at the end. Worth it. Vegetarians would probably do best to head back to Nashville and keep looking. But the menu is decent at identifying the animal products, so give it a go after all.
(4)Martin P.
My office is just around the corner from Loveless. I get by about once a month. My favorite is the half order of country ham plate with eggs, hash brown casserole and eggs. ALWAYS a winner--with the unending biscuits! Makes for a great morning!
(5)Nick G.
After all the hype, a recommendation by the hotel, the good yelp reviews, We knew we had to make a visit. They're known for being a nice breakfast stop, and famous for their biscuits. So i ordered the biscuits and gravy. Yelp reviewers raved about their fried chicken, so I also ordered a few pieces, and then we had a few other breakfast items on the side (eggs and some fruit). Biscuits were served as we waited with jam. I enjoyed the biscuits, and the strawberry jam was by far the best of the three. But after eating a biscuits, I realized I'd ordered way way too much bread... I suggest you don't get a meal with any kind of bread included, because by the time the food comes, you'll of eaten plenty already. The food was barely decent, definitely nothing special, and I left very disappointed. The fried chicken was dry, and their famous biscuits tasted almost exactly like the Pillsbury biscuits in the can, just smaller. Way over-rated, way over-priced. I don't recommend. ***Just found out this place was featured on the Food Network TV Show: The Best Thing I Ever Ate. So I've added it to my list.
(2)Aaron F.
Slightly out of the way but still a must-see while in Nashville, the Loveless Cafe is a charming little breakfast spot serving good old southern food that will likely send you into diabetic coma or a state of utter bliss (your choice). When my Dad came to visit, this was our first stop before heading out to the plantations and Jack Daniel's Distillery so we were prepared to load up on some yummy food. The first and best thing is simply THE BISCUITS yep. They sell them in big bags in the hokey gift shop, and they bring you a plate of them on the house to start. And whoooooo weeeeeee are they some good eats! (Mind you Asians don't typically say stuff like this and yet here I am). Light, moist, yet completely delicious on their own. Almost a surreal combination of buttery saltiness on its own with the sweetness you might expect from a pastry. Add butter and jam and it's even better. Dad had the ham, I had the steak biscuits with grilled beef tenderloin. His ham steak was uber salty and a bit tough to eat. My steak biscuits were alright - meat was a little dry - but what made up for it was the hashbrown casserole, loaded with cheese and potatoes. Yum! You must take a pass through the super touristy gift shop at the end. Not necessarily to buy anything but just to say you did. You won't regret it!
(4)Jen W.
Biscuit! Biscuit! Biscuit! Now you know what to go there for. Seriously they must put crack or something in their biscuits (that's a joke people) These are some amazing biscuits and I will fight you for them. TO THE DEATH!!! And get them with some sausage gravy too while you're at it. They have some amazing creamed corn. I have no idea what's in it besides love or more crack. seriously, this stuff was so good I forgot about my main dish of fried chicken. Their sides are amazing, then again about every place down south knows how to make green beans. Catfish is great! Don't be scared of ordering fish. Fried chicken is good too. And they've got great pies. I had the lemon icebox pie and that hour at the gym completely went out the window. Feel free to check out their gift store, buy yourself some biscuit mix, some ham and bacon popcorn! yes bacon popcorn! Clearly i'm a fan of southern food and need to get more stretchy pants
(4)Multi-Cultural Traveler M.
Let me begin by saying everything good is worth waiting for! While on a road trip from Chicago with my family of 9, we headed to Loveless Cafe after my sister (who also was on the trip) strongly recommended that we make the journey there. We arrived and were told that it would be a 45min. to 1 hour wait, so we braced ourselves for the wait. We were seated after the 1 hour wait and was greeted by Dee-Dee (our waitress), the lady who seemed to be just waiting to take care of our table, needless to say, she was AWESOME! Dee-Dee (our waitress) greeted the table with a plate of hot biscuits and various jams which we all said....she must have been reading our minds. She was informative, patient, extremely polite, and just overall - the best waitress that I experienced while in TN. The food at Loveless Cafe is amazing and the biscuits are a wonderful experience all in themselves. Our groups ages ranged from 4 - 57 years old and all of us felt like Dee-Dee was something special and what made our families experience at Loveless Cafe not just enjoying great food, but she made the food and the experience memorable. We decided to do the buffet and there was more than enough food and options to go around and it's the most economical way to go if you are in a large group!
(5)Jeff S.
Great food and service pretty good too. Glad we didn't have the server next to our section. Loud, obnoxious, and got the vibe he didn't want to be there. they've created quite a destination here. A must see place to eat. If you intend on flying out after your visit, don't buy any jam, it will be taken away.
(4)Lea Ann M.
Loveless is an institution. I was there many years ago with my grandparents and it has since be totally redone, but luckily the food is the same down home cookin' I enjoyed when I spent summers in Knoxville as a kid. Get past the hostesses' surly attitudes since they sure didn't exude Southern Hospitality. They looked like they were bothered by us "tourists". I was in a nostalgic frame of mind and went for the Southern breakfast of eggs, country ham, grits, red eye gravy and biscuits with a side of fried okra and a big glass of sweet tea. I was NOT disappointed. Took me right back to being 10 years old. My guy had the fried chicken and agreed they probably did have the same recipe since 1950-something since it was pretty boring and not as interesting as KFC, but the hashbrown casserole and creamed corn was OSSM! We ate too much, swelled up with all that salt, but heck, who could pass up the Loveless Store for jalapeno bacon and popcorn with bacon chunks to take home to the Northwest?! Avoid weekends and watch out for all the touring biker-dudes. The place fills up very fast.
(4)Mabelle A.
So good we went twice on our long weekend trip visiting Nashville. Biscuits with the different jams were awesome - peach was probably my favorite. Add in some sausage gravy (not with the jam of course) and you've now made me a fan of biscuits and gravy. Who needs eggs, just bring on the bacon and the hashbrown casserole. The BACON ROCKS - the flavor was so good we're ordering some online in that bacon lunch pail. Had no idea what hashbrown casserole was until hubby ordered it and it's basically hashbrowns au gratin - cheesy yummy goodness. Great southern hospitality. There is lots of love for the Loveless. P.S. Bobby Flay came here for a biscuit throwdown.
(5)Rahel K.
I love this place because it is almost as Nashville as Broadway. We took a Sunday drive and showed up late in the afternoon - 20 minute wait. So we walked around the shops, got a bottle of classic coke, and drank it on the front porch. Yeah, this place IS iconic... I got the fried chicken livers. Growing up about 10 miles from where Colonel & Claudia Saunders perfected their recipe...I'm a fan. Loveless does livers right. I also liked the sides - hashbrown casserole and greenbeans. The beans coulda used a little bacon grease; but, again, I'm from Kentucky. We then hopped on the Natchez Trace Parkway for a little Sunday drive. A perfect Nashville afternoon!!
(5)Katie M.
I came here with my sister when we drove through Tennessee - this place was one of my favorites! Real down home cookin', Southern food through and through. We had fried chicken and potatoes and collard greens and biscuits with honey & butter & peach and strawberry jam. I didn't think I liked biscuits until I felt my lips moving and heard my voice asking the waitress if we could please have another basket. By the time we left I was so deliriously happy and full I fell into a food coma straightaway and had to take a nap in the car. OUTSTANDING, not to be missed!!!
(4)sharad v.
on my trip to nashville we heard a lot about this quintessential southern food road-side diner. tried their biscuits with sausage gravy and scrambled eggs. The food was delicious, it came quick; the service was very personable and it was quick. The decor was decent and homely, very inviting. Here is the killer though.. The wait. Expect to wait at least an hour (we waiting 1:30) as this place is very popular. while you wait you can stroll around the gift shops, ham-n-jams and an art gallery. So the food is good, the restaurant is popular - why I am giving this 3 stars? simple because there isn't THAT MUCH in a biscuit and country ham that will make a 1 hour wait worth it. While yelpers are raving about the food - think about it - this ain't no avant garde french cooking we are talking about. This is down-home southern cooking - ham, fried chicken and biscuits. It doesn't take much culinary ingenuity to get this right and delicious. So my recommendation - decide for yourself if you think waiting an hour for a cut and dried cuisine is worth your time.
(3)Lucas P.
Our server was fantastic, very personable and even went the extra mile to offer us to-go drinks! Kind of a hike from Nashville, but worth it. The wait was close to two hours on a Sunday afternoon...but was worth it! They have cool, classy, home-grown shops (overpriced, but nice) to peruse whilst you wait. The food was great, but clearly "fast-serve", was out in 5 minutes. I had the BBQ with two sides and the biscuits....well let's just say I planned on being good and eating 1, 4 later....yeah!
(4)daniel m.
we went on a thursday { and not the weekend } thank goodness, because my neighbors said you had to wait for a long time. service was wonderful, food was good, decor was pleasent, but the only downfall was its just a tourist trap. ok that being said did i buy crap why i was there. the answer is yes. 2 bottles of hot sauce, and a miny pack of jam. i'm not sure what they were thinking when they opened the new upscale place downtown nashville. we have not been, but i was wondering why they did not promote their bacon. the bacon they serve per there menu is from gattons farms in ky. fathers country hams. i do understand there choice because gattons verse loveless, hands down gattons.
(3)Nicole P.
Awesome food! Great service! Yes if you don't want BBQ or fried perhaps this isn't your scene, but everything tastes amazing! And you can play corn hole while you wait!
(5)JAN I.
Amazing bisquits!!!! Didn't care much for the ham...it was dry. All the dishes tasted soooo great...so hard to decide. Can't wait to go back
(5)Samuel L.
We live right down the street from Loveless. The biscuits are what they are famous for and they are definitely the best thing. The rest of the food is all good but nothing great. If you've never been it's worth checking out. The worst part is the wait on the weekends. If you can, go during the week.
(3)Me M.
LOVED the biscuits, which is reason enough to try this place! My breakfast (eggs, bacon, cheese grits) was great and prepared as i wished. Food server (Ashley) was wonderful too. Can't wait to return next time in town.
(4)Monkee C.
what can I say that hasn't already been said? endless biscuits and jam? awesome. country fried steak? awesome. pulled pork BBQ? awesome. creamed corn, collard greens, hashbrown casserole, mashed potatoes? awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome. literally every single thing I tried (and I tried everything everyone in our group ordered) was awesome. don't miss Loveless if you're in or around Nashville....just don't
(5)Amanda H.
I had yummy fried chicken and didn't get a stomach ache! It's a miracle! The biscuits were so good! Sides were also good, but were definitely overshadowed by the chicken for me. Yes, I had to wait, but I went at dinner time and if you go somewhere good at dinner time, you will have to wait. If you don't want to wait then go somewhere with bad food.
(5)mon b.
I'm sorry.. this was on my to do list for 5 years.. It was sub par... CRACKER BARREL is much, much better. This was just not good
(1)Julie S.
They tell you to call ahead because they don't take reservations. Then you call and they tell you that your wait starts when you arrive. They act as though it's the most amazing place - wanted to take out of town folks, but really - for dryer fried chicken than you get at the grocery store and biscuits that taste like those you buy at Sam's in buik? No thanks. Rude and wayyyy over the top hype for pretty average food.
(2)Ash K.
Great place to eat with a great atmosphere. They make a mean chicken fried steak.
(4)S S.
I have mixed feelings about the Loveless Cafe. Yes, it's an iconic Nashville eatery and yes, everyone recommended it, but we had to wait close to 2 hours on a Saturday for a table for 2 and found the eggs to be...mass produced eggs. The biscuits, however, are worth the trip. You can save yourself the wait by ordering your food 'to go' and eating it on the picnic tables outside.
(4)Timothy F.
Ok, where do I start. I have lived in Nashville for 35 years and have tried twice to go to this joint to see what the fuss is all about. The only problem is unless you get there during breakfast hours to eat lunch you will wind up eating dinner for your lunch because of the absolutely UnGodly wait times. Who in their right mind would wait 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours to dine on biscuits and Jellies and Jams!!! NOT ME !! Both times I have left hungry because of an obviously unorganized and lazy staff that cannot turn tables during peak lunch hours. If you are willing (or stupid) enough to wait this long for some 'good ole biscuits and jelly' more power to you. I on the other hand prefer to eat lunch sometime during the uniformed lunch hours. I will never ever bring relatives or family to this joint ever never again!!!!
(1)Lyndsay G.
The breakfast is amazing! Get there early to avoid a long wait. The fresh biscuits and homemade preserves are to die for! Also if given the choice order the hash brown casserole...so delicious!
(4)David B.
Best biscuits ever! Everything people said. Great southern food and hospitality. We came for dinner. I hope to come back soon and for breakfast.
(5)Katlyn H.
What an awesome place! Cool decor, great fiod, fast service! A must go to!!! My best friend and I started our roadtrip here and it was a Friday morning. I was surprised at how busy they were but the service was fast. The food was phenomenal especially the biscuits!
(5)Ashley D.
Amazingly, this restaurant lived up to the hype. We were on our way from Nashville to Memphis and my husband had read about this place, so we decided to check it out. Fortunately, we had read to call ahead to put our name on the waiting list. I'm so glad we did, because even though we called about 40 minutes before we arrived we still had to wait almost an hour for a table! We were there for Sunday lunch, so that's probably as busy as it gets. Still, you can call ahead up to an hour before your arrival. DO IT. I had the ham and eggs with grits. The grits were awesome, I wanted to lick my bowl clean. And the biscuits truly are perfection. I've never had such light, fluffy, buttery biscuits. Our server brought a plate of five to our table, and my husband and I each ate two and broke one into pieces for our 8 month-old. Then five more biscuits arrived and we ate four of them (and would have eaten the fifth except there was just no way to get any more food into our stomachs). Such gluttony, but so worth it. This was my son's first biscuit experience, and I had to explain to him that, sadly, it's probably all downhill from here for him as far as biscuits go. The service was quick. Once we were at our table we were in and out in well under an hour.
(5)Karen S.
First time in Nashville had to make the short drive to the Loveless. It reached and surpassed our expectations! A definite must see and do for anyone visiting. Our wait time for a table was less than ten minutes. The atmosphere is incredible and our server was so sweet. The food is good old country diner fare and the biscuits are great. They must be because they make 7000 a day. Thanks Loveless for making our first stop in Nashville one of the most memorable.
(5)Jason S.
Loveless reminds me of a trip to my Mamaw's. I grew up with a grandmother whose cooking was legendary, she even has her own cookbook. The best part was she grew up in Texas, so we got a Tex-Mex bonus with home-made tamales, stuffed peppers, you name it. Another thing about my grandmother was that as growing up in a family of 15 kids (the 8th, 9th and 10th kids were girls and named Ada, Nina, and Tenny, respectively) and raising seven of her own, she couldn't cook for less than 30. It was impossible for her to conceive of what dinner for two was. We grew up with tons of great Southern cooking and she was always sending strangers away with food or canned goods, homemade apple butter, salsa, bread and butter pickles, strawberry freezer jam, you name it, she had it canned in the pantry. Ask her for a recipe and she would tell you she just threw it together, press her and she would give you something close, and always (intentionally) leave out a key ingredient so yours was never quite as good as hers. When I eat at the Loveless, I imagine an army of Mamaw clones behind the scenes, somehow cranking out copious amounts of good, ol-fashioned Southern staples and BBQ. Plus those biscuits. And the preserves I remember from my childhood. I've had just about everything on the menu and it is good, and the sides are also excellent. I've never had a bad meal there from a food standpoint and the service has also always been spot-on. They've also been very accommodating to our 18-mo old. Even though there may be a huge wait, it's worth it to get that flavor. A word of advice, avoid it on the weekends, it's a mess. You usually can get right in on a week night and avoid the tourists. The only reason I don't give them five stars is that their food is really pricey, considering what it is, and they definitely cash in on the novelty draw. As well, DO NOT order liquor, they have a few mixed drink options which are disgusting high-fructose corn syrup disasters (why I decided to order a mojito is beyond me, it was like citric acid cut with Wrigley's spearmint gum) priced as if they were not. If you want booze, grab a beer.
(4)Sarah B.
If you are in town, stop by and check this place out. My advice though, skip the wait for a table and get some biscuits with homemade preserves and a cup of coffee or sweet tea to go. We waited 2 hours for a table on a Sunday - some guests were being quoted up to 3 and a half hours for a table for two. I didn't think the food was worth the wait, but if the wait is quick, say less than 30 mins, it might be worth it to stay. Service is quick and friendly and the portions are big for the price.
(3)Walrus C.
look - their biscuits will make you want to burn down every KFC. just go.
(5)Kathleen H.
What a great place for lunch! Or supper, as they call it in the south. I had the pulled pork sandwich, which was delicious. But I am kicking myself for not getting the fried chicken. My husband got it and I almost stole it from him. The creamed corn was amazing. The biscuits were amazing. The blackberry jam was amazing. I could go on and on. If you find yourself *anywhere* in the Nashville area, GO!
(5)Christine W.
Best Southern food in Nashville. You can order anything and still leave with a happy belly and a huge smile. If it's your first visit, you must (I repeat MUST) try the biscuits with some peach preserves. I'm salivating just thinking about it!
(5)Dustin M.
I'm not gonna blast this place. The food is pretty good, The dining area is unique and comfortable, but the place is simply a tourist trap. Every Nashvillian should go just to say they've been, but don't expect better food than any other southern spot. Also, expect at least a 45 minute wait. Biscuits aren't bad though.
(3)dorothy f.
Ate here twice on a recent trip to the Music city. The food was great real down home southern comfort food. The biscuits and jelly are to die for. We never did get any desert, there was no room after our meal. No one could even finish their plates. Yumo this place is a definate ust on all my future trips.
(4)FieryRed S.
Wow...this place is some serious southern good eatin'! I love the food there and a really pretty drive out of Nashville. Went there at 11 am on a weekday and no line...and, what a bonus, Carol Fay was at the front door! Had the country ham and our waitress warned that it was salty. My friend had the pulled pork with eggs and some incredible cheese hash browns. Would highly recommend the pulled pork, was the best I have ever had. Didn't really understand the hoopla over the biscuits...they were good, but similar to other restaurants. loved the homemade preserves...really fresh. The service was excellent...very attentive. Would go back and try the fried chicken. Fun to walk around the little shops surrounding the restaurant. Take a moment to look at the pictures in the lobby of the stars who have visited. Interesting that Al Gore's daughters wedding was catered by this restaurant!
(4)Tiffany J.
We only live about 10 minutes away, so about once a month we try to go before 8am on a Saturday or Sunday to beat the crowds. Service is always great and the food is amazing. Biscuits obviously are great, but the steak and eggs are phenomenal.
(5)Leslie S.
The 45 minute wait is totally worth it for the fried chicken. I don't even like biscuits and I eat these! In other words, it's worth a flight in!
(5)Leigh M.
So even though I've lived in Middle Tennessee for quite a while, I've never been to the Loveless Cafe until now. Some relatives from Cali came in to visit so we stopped here after picking them up for the airport. We arrived there at a time that most restaurants aren't that busy; smack dab between lunch and dinner. However it was still an hour wait here, and I'm actually shocked it was *only* an hour given how many people were there. I really liked the building(s) itself. For anyone who doesn't know, the Loveless Cafe and surrounding shops are a converted motel from the 50's. I love places like this; you can tell just by looking at it that it's a relic from the golden age of highway road trips. You almost never see such things anymore, as they've either been torn down or are in complete disrepair because they went out of business after the interstate system was built. The little shops were cool. Touristy but charming. They had quite a few interesting items, as well as some food such as jams and cured meats. I had plenty of time to check them out while waiting on my table. Once we were finally seated, I was quite impressed by the service. Despite being packed to capacity, our server was extremely attentive and very sweet, taking plenty of time to explain the specials and whatnot. I ordered their blue plate special for the day, "Honeyspice" chicken or something to that effect. It was a half chicken barbecued with a spicy honey-based sauce. It was absolutely fantastic, as were the turnip greens and okra that accompanied it. The biscuits, for which this place is apparently known, were quite good as well. My girlfriend and I shared a slice of fudge pie for dessert and it was quite delicious. All in all it was a really fun experience, but the wait is long enough that this isn't the sort of place I'd want to go to regularly. However it seems to be a fantastic place to bring visiting family or other people who have never been, and it's definitely a place I think everyone should experience at least once.
(4)Ryan W.
This place is an experience. It is located in what I can only describe as Middle of Nowhere, Tennessee. It is around 30-40 minutes outside of Nashville, however as soon as you see the sign, you notice the huge parking lot full of cars and tons of people hanging around the restaurant. The wait was pretty long, but Loveless does everything possible to keep people entertained. There were guys playing corn hole, some kids drawing pictures on the ground with chalk, and a cute elderly couple enjoying the day in a set of rocking chairs. There is also an array of small shops that you can check out. Once we got in, the food was absolutely amazing. It lived up to the hype of every previous review. I practically was rolled out of the place because my ambition got the best of me and I went for a platter including ham, meatloaf, fried chicken and a couple sides. I probably shouldn't have eaten so many biscuits before the meal.
(5)Steve C.
Fantastic southern food, huge variety, and great drinks to boot. It's just a shame that so many people know about this place; there's always a huge wait (I've never waited less than 30 mins, and sometimes as much as 2 hours). On occasion I find it worth the wait, but usually I'll just go elsewhere.
(4)Joanna L.
When I have guests visiting from out of town, without fail the one place I always end up taking people is the Loveless Cafe. The wait was only for 45 minutes for two people on Saturday night around 6:30pm and it was well worth it. During the wait you can explore the stores and play corn hole in the various locations around the premises. Once we got inside, Sandy our server as busy as she was brought out our biscuits and brought us our Sweet Tea. I LOVE Loveless biscuits. I don't know how to describe it or explain it but the biscuits and their jams. Ugh. To die for. My friend and I chose to share the sampler and I'm so glad we did. We got the fried chicken, fried catfish, and the pork barbeque with Mac and cheese, creamed corn, and fried okra. I have never had fried okra or okra til I moved to the south but loveless has given me the best experience with okra. And the fried chicken was simply perfect, as was the catfish and of course the pork. Everything about our meal was delicious and I am never disappointed when visiting Loveless. Although the wait to get inside is extremely long, the staff is rather good about getting your food orders and your food out to you as soon as possible. Always a favorite restaurant of mine and always highly recommended to all Nashville visitors even if it's only for the biscuits.
(5)Rebecca C.
The Loveless Cafe is breakfast perfection. Seriously. I have never had better biscuits in my life, and I have a southern grandma! I could have made a meal out of the biscuits and housemade jam alone, but then I'd miss out on the house-cured ham, bacon, and eggs and cheesy potatoes that went along with my amazing breakfast. I was full long before I stopped eating. I loved the charm of the restaurant as well as the surrounding shops on the premises! I regret not buying the biscuit mix, but it just gives me another reason to head back. My only reason is for not giving it 5 stars is the price - our breakfast for two people was $47. FOR BREAKFAST. But you get what you pay for, I suppose, and in this case, I'd consider it money well spent. PS - Don't tell my grandma what I said about the biscuits, ok? I don't want to hurt her feelings.
(4)Dez S.
Near my house but I don't go often because of the long wait. The biscuits, yes, are to die for. The salads are pretty awesome - ask for the creamy peach vinaigrette dressing!
(4)Jac S.
I had a blast here. The wait was just under 2 hours, but there is so much to do on "property" of the restaurant that it was nothing. The experience was great and I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu. The drink menu look fascinating, but I at 10 am and didn't want to partake in the moonshine cocktails that early in the morning. :)
(4)Denny K.
Gotta start with the biscuits. After all Loveless makes about 7500 a day! Usually tender, flaky, fresh as fresh can be, right out of the oven. I often pop them into my mouth before I even have a chance to smear on the strawberry, peach, or blackberry preserves. (Honey and Sorghum are available on request.) All you want-all day long. But save a little room for a delicious breakfast. You name it they'll make it. Today I had a gigantic Barbecue Pork with 2 eggs over easy (cooked perfectly). Honestly, I think there was nearly a pound of meat not he platter...no kidding! But wait. Can't decide what you want for breakfast? How about a sampler several meats and sides.? If you brought friends and family...they got you covered--Family Style Breakfast includes most of the above and sausage gravy too. Be sure to try the Hashbrown Casserole or maybe the BBQ omelet - 3 eggs and enough stuffing to fill a suitcase...(well, maybe not quite that much). Oh, you're here for lunch? Fried chicken, meatloaf (better than Mom's...sorry Mom), and finger lickin' good Pork Chops. So much good stuff, I never have room for dessert...but you might, and they got it too. Service is alway top-notch and extremely cordial...but a slight misstep today (entered the wrong order for our breakfast in their computer system and brought us the wrong plates. .... They apologized profusely, but dampened our enthusiasm inasmuch as we were there with friends visiting from California. Can be a bit noisy. Be patient...the wait for a table can be anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes or more. But take heart, the wait is worth it for a special experience...at least once.
(4)Tom Y.
It lives up to all the hype. If you want a down-home, country dinner, this is the place. I had the fried chicken and it was amazing. The biscuits and jam were out of this world. It was soooo good. I ate so many biscuits I had to take most of my meal home with me. It is worth the wait, seriously, it is that good.
(5)Ted C.
For what we thought was our final Nashville area breakfast we chose to go to Loveless even though we were staying literally right near the Nashville Biscuit House and the drive there with a packed car-well it was definitely out of the way. As soon as we got there there wasn't a parking spot to be had-which was the opposite trend of what happened during our trip since it was so cold and hardly anyone bothered to come out. The breakfast is served all day, and the cafe is basically it's own little universe of commerce. The cafe, the shop there's a smoker. I was thinking maybe we hit on the tourist spot of all tourist spots. Instead what I got was a really classic place serving really good old fashioned food. The biscuits were buttery, soft and the jams were all a great accompaniment to the biscuits. They brought 9 for the four of us. We cleared it and then asked for more. My friend asked for a side of gravy to go with it and I don't know why they don't advertise that more often. Biscuits and gravy here should be announced on loudspeaker here in addition to it written in big, neon lights. I ended up ordering the steak biscuits and realized I made a mistake. The steak was a little tough and I should have just gotten one of their breakfast plates. I mean, if I can get as many biscuits as I wanted then I should have gotten something without biscuits in it. The shop also is touristy but fun. My flight out got canceled as we were eating and I spent 45 minutes on the phone there trying to rebook flights then extending the rental and finding a hotel. The staff there occupied my friends' time by talking about the weather and generally entertaining them until I got off the phone. The next time, I need to come with 3 other people who are down for that all you can eat deal.
(4)Garen M.
This is our second trip here. We stop to purchase biscuit mix. It is the best ever and easy to make. This trip we ate lunch. We both had breakfast fare including country ham. The food was great and the service was even better. Long wait times to get into the restaurant but they have plenty of shopping to help you while away the time and lighten your wallet.
(4)Harry H.
Big birds flying across the sky Throwing shadows on our eyes Leave us... [Loveless], [loveless], [loveless] Having read of "bottomless biscuits", we were disappointed by a lack thereof, apparently not part of the slow service and separate charges for a change in teas (but not for refills after the switch, but given the speed, it wasn't worth mentioning because our time is valuable) despite no mention originally. $37.79 before tip for: biscuit sampler with chicken and hashbrown casserole (satisfying) breakfast sampler (tasty) two sweet teas, and a peach iced tea (the latter was excellent, the former eh) fudge pie (tasty but nontraditional) No creamed corn until 11 (foolish) If we hadn't also planned a Belle Meade visit as part of our morning, I would've been a bit disappointed about trekking out here (if this is still considered Nashville, you folks really take some liberties with the zoning). Apparently they were on Throwdown, and management changed at some point recently, causing the commercialization that kinda ruined the charm for me.
(3)Tara S.
I don't know why it's taken me so long to write this review. You'd think out of all the times that I've been and had to wait an hour and a half before being seated that I could find the time to write one up! But no, I've usually found something else to do. They do give you a little disk that vibrates when you're ready to be seated. The Loveless has a few gift shops around that you can browse in. Some of the gifts are really cute but touristy expensive. Now...good lawd the food. Biscuits are made from scratch and are light and fluffy. They come free with your meal along with 3 preserves. If my memory serves me correct they're strawberry, blackberry and orange marmalade...or peach. I don't know. They're all tasty though! I ALWAYS order a side of cheese grits! I'm telling you I drive clear across town for their grits. So freaking good. They serve breakfast all day. I keep telling myself that I'll try something else then never do...because cheese grits, yo. We've tried a variety of things and have never been disappointed. They have excellent bbq, hashbrown casserole, fried potatoes, country fried steak...it's all good. This restaurant is the epitome of classic southern food. Service is kind of hit or miss. You've got the servers that have been there awhile that found their niche and are on a roll. Then there are the newbies that shuffle through things. They're all right but don't give you the "Loveless experience". Parking can be a bit rough depending on when you go. I've never NOT found a parking spot but you might have to walk a ways. No biggie. After eating all that fried food, a bit of walking might do you some good!
(4)Kathy S.
Amazing food! Had the biscuit French toast!! The seating on the outside patio is so peaceful and delightful!! Will be back before we leave Nashville!!
(5)Hector E.
2nd visit to loveless cafe in about 6 years. Not sure why we dont go more often when we visit our family in Nashville. Sad to learn that the biscuit lady had passed, but they are still going strong and the biscuits continue her legacy. The wait was about 1 hour, but they have multiple shops , free lemonade and water and coloring activties, and cornhole boards for the kids. the gentleman in the smokehouse even let my young niece and nephew come inside and see inside this work area and showed them where the bbq comes from. The foods was delicious, we I had the country fried steak with hashbrown casserole, with 2 eggs. others had bbq, country ham, meatloaf and pork chops. Everything was so good and the service considering how busy they were was outstanding.
(5)Patricia N.
Biscuits. Don't even question giving them a try with their blackberry jam/preserves - what have you. The portions are fairly large. I had the fried chicken salad with ranch. It didn't even look like I made an attempt after my attempt.
(5)Ralph R.
Great place for breakfast with their homemade biscuits and apple butter. BBQ for lunch or dinner is also a winner.
(4)Deb V.
Biscuits are one of a kind. they are fabulous! Other than that food was nothing special to me. Nothing stood out to me..just your same ol' same ol'. Tasted alright. Great shops around the restaurant. Brought home some goodies from the place right next door. Great selection of jams and all that unusual tasty stuff. Boutique shops around there are neat to go to especially during a long wait on a Sunday..oh yeah.. waits can be huuuge! Setting is gorgeous.. being on the mountains and all. The drive is breath taking! Service was alright..here and there I'd get the disappearing act from a waitress. Price ain't bad...but I'd rather go somewhere else.
(3)Thomas W.
I was technically at a reception & banquet in the next-door Loveless Barn, but Loveless Cafe did the catering, so this review is still about their food. The saving grace were definitely the hors d'oeuvres - they were great. Unfortunately, I believe, they are not on the actual menu... The supposedly main event of the dinner, however, should regularly be available to everyone: Loveless Fried Chicken. I had some southern fried chicken in the Bay Area some time ago, it it was divine. Now, being in the actual South, I was really looking forward to a repeat experience. Sadly, no such luck. The sides were mashed potatoes and green beans, just as back then. The mashed potatoes, however, tasted pretty much like they came out of a box. The beans were rather flavorless and not crunchy enough. The chicken itself was decent, but the seasoning uninspired, making for an overall... boring meal. I honestly expected more from such a signature dish.
(3)Karen C.
Really cute place that is a bit of a tourist trap in my mind. It's not terrible, but its not great and its very out of the way of downtown nashville and 1hr+ wait. Please don't get the fried chicken! It was dry and bland. I make better fried chicken. The country ham that they are known for was overly salty and tough. The mac and cheese and the fried okra were not really worth eating. On the upside, the bacon was delicious (they cure it themselves) and so were the grits. And of course, their biscuits were very very very good. I pigged out on 3 or 4 of them. The strawberry preserves are also very delicious. So overall, some things were good and others weren't. I would stick to the breakfast foods instead of the typical southern dishes.
(3)Char L.
Wow! I kicked my diet for this place. The biscuits are AWESOME. The gravy is AMAZING! The pulled pork breakfast platter is HUGE. You can totally share that with a friend. Ask for more biscuits and they will come, just remember gravy is $2.50 a cup. Be prepared for a wait.
(5)¡Pedro E.
I was recently in Nashville for the first time -- asked some friends for recommendations on where to eat. The Loveless Cafe and Prince's Hot Chicken were at the top of the list. I was staying in Brentwood, and it was a cold and rainy night -- just a couple of degrees above freezing (snowed the next day). I decided to brave the weather for a 7:30pm dinner, which turned out to be a good decision because it wasn't crowded at all. The fried chicken was really good -- I got a half chicken and, with the sides (stone-ground grits! -- get 'em!) and dessert had more than enough to eat. While it wasn't the BEST fried chicken I've ever had (that honor goes to a little hole in the wall in Quitman, Mississippi many years ago, and Prince's Hot Chicken Shack on the north side of Nashville is better), it was better than 90% of the other places I've had it. I also had some kind of home made chocolate pie that was remarkably good. Oh -- and the biscuits were also really good, especially with the fruit jam on them. Overall, good Southern cooking that's a notch above the rest -- worth a try if you're in town and you don't have to drive too far or wait in line too long to check it out.
(3)Jason L.
So here I am several weeks after visiting Loveless Cafe writing a review. Giving 5 stars to restaurant doesn't happen often so I wanted to make sure my high from eating there had worn off. Well I can honestly say it is still there, and I can't wait until I can find my way back to Nashville to eat at this place again. I have lived in the South my entire life and have been raised on a diet of fried chicken, pork products galore, veggies seasoned with meat products, and biscuits. It is always fun to scroll through reviews and see comments such as "the tea was too sweet", "the ham was a bit too salty", or "the jams were too sweet". Those statements shouldn't be uttered in the South unless you want to face a firing squad. I can honestly say this is some of the best food I have ever had in a restaurant setting. Lots of restaurants in the South advertise themselves as "good Southern cooking" but few can deliver like Loveless. Our cross country trip from San Diego along I-40 finally reached Nashville and after stopping to visit with some friends we were instructed that we had to visit Loveless Cafe. I liked the fact that this place was located away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We only had to wait around 30 minutes for a table on a Saturday night. I am annoyed at the people that have dinged this place for having to wait a long time. Good food = long waits. If you want a shorter wait then head into the city limits and find a Taco Bell. Loveless Cafe has a nice little business enterprise because while waiting for a table you are free to peruse their Hams and Jams Country Market. I had dropped 75 bucks there before even stepping in the restaurant. Their jams are excellent (strawberry and blueberry are must have). Their pumpkin butter is also very tasty. Make sure to grab a mail order brochure for their Hams and Jams because you will want more after leaving. The store is a little on the small side so expect to bump elbows with fellow customers. After being seated a friendly waitress quickly brought us a piping hot stack of biscuits with preserves. It seems the biscuits are always a highlight of every review. They aren't the best Southern biscuits I have ever had but they are very good. When mass producing biscuits some quality has to be sacrificed. Still the preserves are VERY good and if you haven't purchased some already you will after leaving the restaurant. Just pace yourself or you will be full before your entree comes to the table. I had an order of the pit cooked pork barbecue which was tender and flavorful and topped with their homemade BBQ sauce (which can also be purchased). I tasted the sig-o's country fried steak which was equally tasty. I tasted the mashed potatoes, homemade creamed corn, slow cooked green beans, and hashbrown casserole. The cooks didn't hold back on the butter and meat seasoning. No room for dessert but I was ogling the blubbery cobbler at the table over. I can't wait to try their breakfast when I go back. Every single dish I tasted here was phenomenal. This place simply can't be missed if you are visiting Nashville. I am still in love with the preserves and once the stash I have here runs out I will be hitting up their mail order service.
(5)Tanya W.
I've been going to loveless cafe before it was renovated a few years back. Everytime I head back to Nashville I MUST eat at loveless. The food is always fantastic and the service amazing! You never know what famous country star you might run into dining here. Make sure you stop by and get some jam to take home- Delish!
(5)Karmann G.
Believe the hype! We traveled from Texas to and from Knoxville, TN and made it a point to stop here both directions! The biscuits are fabulous (blackberry was my favorite jam)...the chicken "fingers" are more like 3 chicken breasts and were so wonderful! Meatloaf is a huge healthy portion with tangy sauce. The hashbrown casserole is waaaay better than Cracker Barrell (and we love the CB!). Oh, and I had a salad with spicy candied pecans, bleu cheese and peach vinaigrette....my mouth is watering...over a salad :)
(5)Carol L.
This was my first meal in Tennessee, and was I glad to be here. The place is really "country" and cowboyish. The servers and hostess were incredibly friendly, and the portions are HUGE. apparently lots of famous country singers come here too. =) I ordered sweet tea and the sampler platter: choice of 3 meats and 2 side dishes. Biscuits were brought to our table with 3 types of jam and I do agree, those were damn good biscuits. I only ate one though, cuz i wanted to eat most of my meal. My sampler included fried catfish, fried chicken, bbq pulled pork, sauteed greens, and fried okra. Fried catfish: really good, not catfishy taste at all Fried chicken: i've had better. this was actually a bit dry. bbq pulled pork: good, but i've had better (...in texas and north carolina...) fried okra: pretty good sauteed greens: yum! If I ever visit nashville with friends, I'd bring them here for sure. Its a bit touristy, but super fun.
(4)Cory C.
BEST BISCUITS EVER. I do not have enough positive things to say about this adorable restaurant. While driving from NYC to LA we stumbled across this Nashville stable and were in awe of the adorable decor, friendly staff and food. While it is obvious the place has become a little more commercial it still has a lot of charm. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to throw down some country food!
(5)Anne B.
My fiance and I came out here for the first time. We made the mistake of walking around all of the shops first and then going into the Loveless Cafe for lunch. When we walked into the cafe, the wait was 1 hour and 20 minutes. Next time we would definitely put our names on the waiting list first, and THEN walk around. Anyway, the service was great. The food was delicious and came out fast. The biscuits were as good as we had read and heard about and we loved the jam that came with them. My fiance and I had the fried chicken which we really enjoyed and the bbq pork. The fried okra was soooo good and we also had the hash brown casserole which was good. It was worth the wait.
(4)kristen p.
Loveless is the place where you gather all your friends, take a lot of pictures, and eat mountains of amazing biscuits. There are just a couple of vegetarian options ranging from the garden omelet to a plate of sides (think mac & cheese and fried okra). The sweet tea is good. It's not too sweet so it still tastes like tea. (Preferably go on a weekday for lunch.) Surrounded by cute shops, this place is a destination in itself.
(5)Denise M.
I traveled to Nashville last week for a business trip and thought I would make the trek to the Loveless Café which I read so much about. Hey, if Gwyneth Paltrow states that it was her favorite restaurant to eat and hang out at while filming Country Strong, it's got to be good! I talked 2 others into driving the 40 minutes from our hotel to this roadside cafe and motel so we all had expectations. The meal started off on a high note with delicious homemade biscuits and 3 kinds of preserves. It was all downhill from there. We all ordered the Southern Sampler Platter per our waiters' suggestion and all 3 of us were disappointed. The pulled pork bbq was tougher than my leather hiking boots, the 2 strips of fried catfish were about as thin as a number 2 pencil and the fried chicken was drier than an extra crispy order at KFC! I was looking for a "green" vegetable side dish to save myself from using a defibrillator and the only option were "green beans cooked all day in a pot with ham". I ordered it anyway seeing as the "vegetable of the day" was a sugary apple. Hmm...did someone change the category of an apple from a fruit to a vegetable and not tell me? The green beans were nothing short of mush. The chef must have gotten wind that I recently had dental work and was abiding my dentist's orders of not biting into something hard for awhile. We skipped dessert and burned rubber out of the restaurant only to complain about it for the next 40 minutes back to the hotel.
(2)Violet P.
OMG!!! What an amazing breakfast!!!! Came on a Wednesday morning at about 10 AM and had just about a 15 minute wait for a table of 6 which I didn't feel was very bad at all!!! Waitress was very nice and the food came out in a very timely fashion considering it was somewhat busy. The biscuits came out and were the best I've ever had. Warm and moist. Served with sides of fresh apricot, raspberry, and blackberry. The little country store was soooo cute. A must stop when in Nashville! Definitely try the cheesy hash browns and the BBQ, so yummy!!!
(5)Lauren R.
Prepare to wait, then prepare for cholesterol city! If I were to return to loveless, which I hope to one day, I will prepare by starving myself for a day or two before hand just so I can enjoy all the delicious delicacies without the insane guilt. Yes there will be a wait but there are retail opportunities to bide the time and if the weather is tolerable, there is outdoor seating to enjoy while you wait. I had the catfish with creamed corn and Mac and cheese. There are so many sides, I would recommend your party orders a variety along you in order to sample all. Everything was delicious, no exceptions. Even the Bloody Mary! This is a must-try when visiting Nashville.
(5)Amalia Y.
so, we drove almost an hour and had to wait about 90 minutes to be seated. no, pressure, loveless cafe. we only have a 13-hour ride back to nj ahead of us. nbd. wait, actually- lots of pressure!!. the biscuits better be life-changing. THEY WERE. holy moly, these are some phenomenal eats. the biscuits. THE biscuits. oh em gee. i've never had a biscuit like this, and i can't stop craving them. paired with the homemade preserves, they were AWESOME. and endless. (no, this is not a joke). since this was our last meal in TN, i went BBQ... pulled pork over corn cakes, with sides of fried okra and cole slaw. it was SO yummy. i was pretty full from the endless biscuits (mmmmm biscuits), but the flavors of the bbq sauce and coleslaw to cut the richness were great. the fried okra was good too. it tasted good as a snack in the car a few hours later, too! honestly, i'd go back and wait and wait and wait again. there are a few gift shops that share the parking lot, including a kitchen store that i believe sells some sandwiches (and they give out samples!). they have coffee and tea outside, which makes waiting even easier. 5 stars for the biscuits. 4.5 stars for the rest of the food. and a definite drop to 4 stars for the service. our waitress was abrupt, barely made eye contact, and was almost impossible to catch. definitely not the southern hospitality i was hoping for from this place. don't skip it. and if you're heading to or through the central nj area afterward, bring me some biscuits!! (pretty please?)
(4)Pam X.
I love country food and biscuits and wish that I could live at Loveless. Their side dishes are to die for--I could go on eating greens forever. The staff is always friendly and inviting. I ordered a plate of chicken liver last time I was there (maybe not everyone's favorite dish) and it was really good with gravy and biscuits...and biscuits. I don't think we ever stopped eating biscuits while we were there, and the seasonal jams are great as well. The only qualm I've ever had with the food is a time when the greens I ordered were way too salty, but I ate them anyway.
(5)Jenny P.
You need to go here and you need to eat the biscuits!!!! Definitely one of the best meals we had while visiting Nashville. We had to wait a little but well worth it. You will not be disappointed :)
(5)Diane R.
Loveless Cafe in Nashville has been cooking up their famous biscuits and southern food since 1951. They now serve over 450,000 guests per year. The Loveless Cafe serves down-home country food. Their comfort food will remind you of grandma's house. In 2005, USA Today named Loveless Cafe as America's "Top Down-Home Dining Spot." Loveless' famous "Biscuit Lady" Carol Fay became famous for her biscuits. She has been on many television shows including the Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, the Martha Stewart Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The video below is Carol Fay the "Biscuit Lady" with Martha Stewart. The Loveless Cafe serves their biscuits with amazing homemade preserves. I was so excited to see they made and served my favorite preserves, blackberry. It was perfect and delicious on their homemade light biscuits. I do not get a commission for sending you to their site. I truly just enjoyed The Loveless Cafe.
(4)Jenni E.
This was by far the best breakfast that I have ever had. On our way out of Nashville we hit this place for some fuel for the long day of driving. There was a bit of a wait, but they give you a pager and you can go look at the shops on the property while you wait. Once we were seated, our waiter came by and was really friendly. He recommended a couple of things and I went with his recommendation of BBQ pulled pork and eggs. It was delicious! It came with a choice of sides and I had the hash brown casserole which were the best hash browns that I have ever had. My husband thought the biscuits and gravy were the best he's ever had as well. My only regret was that I didn't have enough room to have a piece of pie. They looked really good in the case. You can buy a half or whole pie to go as well. The shops on the property have a lot of their products for sale - jams, sauces, bacon, syrup, honey, etc. they also have a bunch of novelty items and souvenirs. A nice way to get breakfast and shopping out of the way.
(5)Marisa V.
Even on Sunday night there was still a 40 minute wait but it was worth it. Waiter was friendly and came out with food right away when we told him we were hungry. The best friend chicken I've ever had with sides of greens and green beans. The biscuits were really good too. I'd go back next time I'm in town.
(5)Elaine S.
I live right down the street from the Loveless so we frequently get carry out because the wait is too long. Expect a long wait, but there are shops that you can visit while waiting. As for the food, it's all the southern food that you would expect. The biscuits are delicious and I am not even a biscuit fan in general. The fried okra is great and the breakfast menu is recommended.
(4)M B.
I had my last meal at the Loveless Cafe recently. After eating there several times, I've decided the food is so overpriced and tasteless that it's not worth it. The restaurant operates on a prime piece of real estate at the end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. That's the only reason I can fathom why people go there at all because it can't be the food. For example, I had scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. The pancakes were flavorless and gritty. The eggs were rubbery. The bacon was covered in grease and disgusting. (Seriously ... how can you screw up bacon!!??) Even the coffee is lackluster. And this is the second time I've left the restaurant with an upset stomach. To call this place a "gourmet Cracker Barrel" is ridiculous. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants, but the food is actually better (and cheaper) at Cracker Barrel! If you like spending lots of money on bad food so you can take your picture in front of a tourist attraction, then this is the place for you. But if you really enjoy Southern cooking, there's better options in Nashville and Franklin.
(1)Raed A.
country-style food cannot get any better then this place. this is a must do if you are in Nashville. don't leave without eating here. service is superb, food amazing, decor is pretty cool. if i can give it another star i would. i was there on Tues night. no waiting. prices were good for the amount of food that you get. you will not leave this place without unbuckling your belt. I got the samplers platter with fried chicken, catfish, fried tomatoes, and moonshine.
(5)Rob G.
Loved this place. Homemade biscuits with homemade jam is better than anywhere.
(5)Susan G.
Had lunch at the Loveless today. The chicken fried chicken was yummy and the sides really good. The green beans have been better in the past but the home fries make a great side dish. Everybody knows the biscuits are hard to beat. Yes, you have to wait but it's worth it. If you're looking for fast food, then this is not your destination. If you want really tasty, home style food, like you can't find everywhere, then try the Loveless!
(4)Mike M.
Bisquits and gravy with bisquits and jam on the side - yeah!
(5)Jeremiah B.
I didn't understand why we were driving so far out of Nashville city to go to this place during a recent visit. After the first bite of biscuit I got it. They serve them to you pretty much first thing. Like getting dessert before you eat your meal. The food is what you'd expect from sumptuous Southern cuisine, home made and simple. I thoroughly enjoyed the honey smoked chicken (special that day), slaw and mashed taters. The sweet tea wasn't bad either. If I ever return to Nashville, this is definitely a place I'll hit up again.
(5)Melissa S.
My boyfriend is from Nashville and I have been waiting to try Loveless for quite some time now. I went in knowing it would be fatty, delicious Southern goodness, but I didn't plan on eating nearly as much as I actually did! The whole place is really fun - there's an outdoor smokehouse for the meats, porch swings, and the best part - a general store filled with stuff we wanted to buy. Luckily we were smart enough to go back after we had eaten so we didn't walk out of there loaded down with candy, fudge, pecans, and whatever else we could get our hands on. As soon as we sat down, we were given a heaping plate of hot biscuits and 3 kinds of homemade preserves. They were amazing! (My boyfriend says the biscuits used to be better, but I still enjoyed them just fine.) I would have been satisfied with just the biscuits for lunch, but I had to order MORE biscuits, gravy and sausage for my meal. Oh yeah, and I got cheese grits, too. The plate came with 4 biscuits, so believe me, there was no skimping on the portions at Loveless. Craig got the fried chicken and it was delicious. We didn't even think about dessert, but I am sure it's good, too. We went on a Friday for lunch and it was packed, so I would recommend going really early if you're hoping for a weekend meal. It's a really fun touristy place and I can't wait to go back! I may have to starve myself for a week beforehand so I'll be ready next time...
(4)Sylvia R.
Visiting Nashville, my husband and I loved this place so much we made sure to get here again before leaving tomorrow!! We had dinner both times, and between the biscuits and the HUGE portions of food, we left happy and waddling! Our first waitress was kind but kind of quiet and quick (Melanie, I think?)- but tonight we had a trainee who was the nicest waitress we've ever had- she was attentive, kind, and gave us extra biscuits in our to go box! The prices for the portions are awesome, and if my husband says it's some of the best ribs he's every eaten, I take that as a huge compliment. If I ever need a reason to return to Nashville, Loveless will be one of them!
(5)Lawrence W.
The Loveless Cafe capped off the Soul/Southern food component of our trip eating our way across the country. It was a beautiful meal. The atmosphere is nice and homey, with pictures of famous visitors to Loveless covering the entryway. In the dining room, you'll find character both on the walls and in the waitstaff. And the "Biscuit Lady",Carol Fay, who's become somewhat famous in her own right, greeted us as we walked in, and bid farewell to us as we left. Just a brief glance at the other Yelps tells you for certain, if you just drive here for the biscuits, you will not be disappointed. The jams are also delicious and set this place apart. I ordered the chicken tenders (I'm not a fan of eating meat off the bone), and my wife had the fried chicken. The batter was the same for both and it was delicious -- some of the best I've ever had. I had the mac and cheese, and even though it was good, it wasn't my style. But the homemade creamed corn was far and away the absolute best I have ever tasted, under any circumstances, ever. Amazingly, I had room for dessert. I wanted cobbler, but they were out, so I had banana pudding (good, but not great by any means -- too dry). All in all, if you are ever in this part of the country and don't try to eat at the Loveless, you'd be doing yourself a great disservice.
(4)Hooney H.
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know how I feel about this place. 30 minute drive and a 90 minute wait, but it was worth it. Man was it worth it. So Loveless Cafe is surrounded by a handful of little Loveless shops that well a variety of items such as jams, preserves, bacon, trinkets, tourist souvenirs and clothing. I bought a rather awesome "Taking Care of Biscuits" t shirt but one wash turned the large into a Small, so I actually never got to wear it. I'll frame it and hang it on the wall or something. We perused the shops and enjoyed looking at their paintings and souvenirs (mini mason jars are just the darnedest cutest things) and my friend bought a canvas painting of a rather happy looking pig. We named him Wilbur Darnell. Don't ask. But the food. Ohhhhhhh man the food. So the policy is that as long as you stay on the first round (it's all you can eat), you're allowed to take the leftovers home. But once you order seconds of Anything, you are not allowed to take anything from the table home. Luckily, we never even made it out of the first round. Just look at my photo. Hilariously huge spread. But I want to talk about the biscuits. These biscuits make you question your life, the world, the Galaxy and Mother Nature herself. You question religion and the science behind it. You question your upbringing and the girl you decided was worthy of your first kiss. That's how magical these biscuits are. Small, fluffy, chewy, yet airy and buttery (you must butter it--it's phenomenal), these are worth the hype and the rave reviews. Served with four preserves (the blackberry was my personal favorite), you must always order more. The fried chicken. Best. Skillet. Fried. Chicken. Ever. Skillet fried chicken is something every single one of you (even you strange vegan and vegetarian folk) need to try at least once in your life because you will be shocked at just how different it is from regular deep fried. Juicy while maintaining the crisp skin, Loveless has it going on. The pulled pork with corn cakes. Okay the portion was absurd. We each had two helpings and it looked as if a family of six could've enjoyed it afterwards. Needless to say we took it home and enjoyed some delicious leftovers. Man was the pork great. Tender, sweet and tangy, with a hint of smoke, it was a favorite of ours. The fried okra was delicious (god I love fried okra), but it could've used a pinch of salt after frying as it was a bit bland. Fried green tomatoes. Best I had the entire week. Mashed potatoes were excellent as was the gravy that accompanied them. I can't stop thinking about the biscuits. I haven't stopped since I left the place. To the wonderful staff, thank you so much for the lovely experience and meal! I'm sorry I can't wear the shirt!
(5)Jordan F.
I live down the street from this place but I don't go all the time (I wish) but I can't! If you like to wait in line this is the place for you! If you go during brunch hours just be prepared for a two hour wait, minimum BUT, it is well worth your wait time, during your wait there are a lot of things to do. There are a few gift shops and there is a local artisan gallery, and corn-hole! There is a theater too but I don't know what happens in there, they probably do stuff at night. Anyways we finally got seated and our waiter was great, very cheerful and respectful! The food came out promptly, it was hot and delicious! I really have nothing bad to say other than the wait, but it is a Nashville icon! Hope you enjoy it!!
(4)Wasim K.
I hate to say this but this is a very hyped up place. First I had a choice between hot chicken at princes or loveless. I chose loveless and took an extra 30 minutes to get there. first it's been made pretty commercial with every possible piece of made in china memorabilia stamped with a "loveless cafe" including $12 bacon that is $4 in a price rite etc that put me off right away as did the $45 gift baskets you can mail yourself for another $12. The biscuits were pretty similar to pillsbury pop open buttermilk biscuits. the blackberry preserved and butter made the biscuits otherwise it's not all that. gravy tasted like Campbell's cream of mushroom soup with a handful of pepper. fried chicken was low on seasoning and salt. it was all crunch and no flavor. I have a corner grocery afghani place near home that makes infinitely better chicken for $1 a piece. the hash casserole and catfish came out cold and had to be reheated... the casserole was good but you can put that much cheese, butter and heavy cream on paper and it will taste good too. the fried gizzards and liver... were awesome. Saved the meal for us. my wife though the same on all points. overhyped and under good. I'd give it 3 for a random place but 2 for my overhyped expectations. this is a made in China and mass produced version of what was probably an authentic piece of Americana even 20 years ago.
(2)Greg B.
Well worth the wait. And when they say the wait is over an hour, they mean it. We visited on Sunday after the Fourth of July, which likely resulted in higher traffic levels. The biscuits were truly amazing and they provide homemade jams. I had a spicy Bloody Mary with a shot of moonshine. I regret not selecting rum instead. The moonshine was too strong. The place is very touristy, and has many shops to kill time as you wait for your table. They even have a shipping center to send away things that you purchase in the shops. If I return it'll be during off hours. Not sure I enjoy waiting that long for food.
(5)Ashley T.
I'll probably be dethroned of my yelp elite status for leaving anything less than 4 stars for this Nashville staple, but honesty is the best policy, right? I'll start by saying that for me, the best part was the experience: the gift shops, decor, and southern hospitality from the staff. When we put our name on the list, we were told it would be a 1 hour and 45 minute wait. There are plenty of gift shops to spend money at while you wait on your buzzer to go off. It ended up being about an hour wait. I spent $30 on a ceramic berry carton, a tea towel, and foot cream. All very cute and I use them regularly so I don't regret any of them. As far as the food goes, (don't judge me, we hadn't eaten anything and my eyes are larger than my stomach) I ordered two eggs sunny side up, a fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit, home fried potatoes, a piece of fried catfish, & biscuits and white gravy. My husband ordered a few of the same things, but also pancakes. The good: the pancakes were huge and good. The biscuits and homemade jams were tasty. Not drive 30 mins out of my way good, but definitely the best thing I had. The catfish was tasty and I wish I had ordered the catfish supper plate. The bad: the eggs whites weren't completely cooked. I know a little is expected on sunny side up eggs, but I scraped more than I'd like to the side of my plate. The gravy was... weird. My mother-in-law also ordered the white gravy and we both thought there was something about it that was off. I had a couple bites wanting to like it and just couldn't eat it. It didn't taste old or like it had gone bad. It just had a really different flavor than anything I've ever tasted in white gravy. The meh: fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit. This was a 60:30:10 pimento cheese:biscuit:tomato ratio so I really only tasted the pimento cheese, which was nowhere near as good as my own homemade pimento cheese. The home fries were cut up in little squares and deep fried, probably frozen, potatoes. Similar home fries are available at Nashville biscuit house down the road from our house. I guess what I'm saying is that we won't go literally out of our way anytime soon to go back, but if we have friends visit who want to go, we will go back with them and I will try the catfish plate. Otherwise, I'm not in a hurry.
(3)Kristina W.
We arrived at 7:15 on a Tuesday morning. It was like a ghost town. My 4 year old nephew didn't understand why I was so shocked to not see anyone there. We were seated right away as we were the first ones there. It took a while to order, even saw an employee get their meal before we ordered. We got the kids pancakes and the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich. Of course we also got biscuits. The kiddo loved his pancakes which were way too big for a toddler. He barely put a dent in one pancake. My sandwich was odd. The eggs were served on top of the sandwich of sausage and melted cheese. I had a hard time prying the bread open to get the eggs on. The server said that's always how it's served. I've never seen that anywhere. The service was slow. This was evidenced by the next diners coming in, grabbing menus, and seating themselves. It's not a place I choose to go, but would rather stay local.
(3)Julie R.
DEFINITELY worth the hype. I had no idea about this amazing place UNTIL I checked Yelp and found this fantastic brunch location. We were in Nashville for a fun weekend. The Loveless Cafe is a drive from downtown, but totally worth it. Be prepared to wait for your delicious, eating experience. No fear, they have already anticipate this, and LC has an entire tourist town for you to explore and shop while you wait for your buzzer to go off. Finally. We are seated. The interior of this cafe is suuuuper charming. I got the signature plate with the "red eye gravy." Definitely an acquired taste, but I'm glad we were able to try it. I had meal envy over what the hubs ordered. A pulled pork masterpiece (photographed). The buttermilk muffins that are served while you wait for your entree are reason enough to some here. And the Bloody Mary's made with moonshine are great (if you like Bloody's). Since we had already made this 'south' drive outta Nashville, we continued down to Jack Daniel's distillery. An entire day of amazement.
(5)Sol C.
From one meal at Loveless, I can see why this place has the reputation it does. 10:00 am on a Thursday and the wait was 35 minutes long. Luckily, they give you a buzzer so that you can wander the multiple gift shops on the property while you wait. Before we knew it, our outdoor table was ready and a huge pile of biscuits was plopped on our table. Holy hell, they are addictive! Served with unbelievably fantastic peach preserve, as well as strawberry and blackberry preserve and sorghum syrup...honestly I would have been happy just eating these as my meal! But then our gigantic plates of food arrived, meats and eggs and grits and cheesy hash brown casserole. Everything was excellent and we stayed full and in a food coma until 6 pm that night, I kid you not. The Loveless staff was excellent and a few servers came by and chatted with our table. We loved the food and hospitality!
(4)Steven S.
My guess is that I've had breakfast or early dinner at Loveless Cafe at least 50 times. I became a customer at the age of 16 as a freshman at the Vanderbilt University, and I continued throughout my wild days as a student and as a teacher at the university. Just went back and Loveless still serves up a lotta love. Best biscuits and the best country breakfast I've ever tasted, What I really like about Loveless Cafe, besides the savory eats -- the customers cannot be put into a class, or party, or ethic group. It attracts truckers, artists, musicians, tourists, good country people, foodies, and no-nonsense Nashvilleans, and nobody cares, as the delicious food brings everyone together. This is where politicians of different parties should break bread. Simple good food cures all.
(5)Nabilah L.
This was our first time at Loveless though we've been in Nashville for a few years now. EXCELLENT FOOD! And even more EXCELLENT SERVICE! Barbara was the woman who served us, and she was very welcoming and helped us select the perfect meals. I chose the quarter fried chicken with the hashbrown casserole and the sweet potatoes. My friend had the chicken and dumplings with the squash casserole and slow cooked green beans. Both option were truly amazing. For anyone passing through Tennessee or looking for a new place to eat - please check this place out for some really great Southern food. And I totally forgot about the biscuits, but yea...some of the best I've ever had!
(5)Tyler B.
I went here for breakfast this morning, and it did not disappoint! We arrived at 9:45 AM and got the last open table before they went on a wait. For a Monday morning, that shows you how popular this place is. The child in me was craving some chocolate milk, and their chocolate milk is wonderful! Very creamy and chocolatey. The biscuits come out first with blackberry, strawberry and peach preserves. They were all delicious, but I think the blackberry was my favorite. If you fall in love with one, they sell them so you can enjoy them at home or bring back as a souvenir or gift if you're traveling. I ordered the bacon and eggs with a side of grits. I've learned that you either love grits or HATE them. I'm a true southern girl so I love them! I must say the grits at Loveless are some of the best I ever had. The serving of eggs was huge! I got them scrambled with cheese, and I swear there had to be about 4 or 5 eggs on my plate. I only got half way through before I threw in the towel. The bacon was cooked crispy, just like I like it. That makes a big difference to me when choosing a breakfast spot, as most places never listen when I ask for crispy bacon. This will definitely be a go to breakfast spot for me from now on!
(5)May B.
We checked out this place while on vacation in Nashville and it was worth the trek. It is a bit off the beaten path of downtown Nashville, but the drive is somewhat scenic and was enjoyable. Upon getting seated, our server brought us two platefuls of biscuits and jams - and when I says platefuls, I mean stacked up in 5s and we immediately started stuffing our faces. They were so good. I ordered the pit cooked pork bbq plate and my husband got the fried pork chop plate. They came out and my jaw dropped, they were so big it was enough to feed me for lunch and dinner (possibly breakfast the next day too!). I thought the bbq pork was good, not the best I had during this trip however. My husbands fried pork chop however was so good. I could have eaten that all day long. They also had cute little shops to make this more of a destination to check out rather than just the restaurant - which after how much we ate, we needed the walk. I definitely enjoyed those biscuits and think this was worth the drive.
(4)Rachel M.
My family and I recently went on a trip to Tennessee, and during this trip, I made it my personal goal to eat as many Southern biscuits as possible. The Loveless Cafe was my first stop on a trip to severe heatburn that was worth every painstaking moment and choked down Tums. So let's start with the biscuit. Warm buttery and flaky as any good biscuit should be. To accompany it, I also ordered the fried catfish, okra and sweet potatoes, along with a bloody mary made with the cafe's own bloody mary mix. I have to say it was the spiciest bloody mary I have ever had. My husband had an iced tea drink with moonshine that came with its own, little moonshine glass you could take home. Very cute. But what the Loveless Cafe is known for is their banana pudding. Now by this point, after eating all of the above, I had no room for it. But we ordered some to take back to the hotel, and having never had banana pudding before, I have nothing to compare it to, but it was delicious with chunks of real banana in it. Overall, I was incredibly stuffed and pleased, and the only reason I am not giving this five stars was because I'm not sure it was entirely worth it. Yes, the food was good. Yes, the atmosphere was awesome. But there was an hour wait. They have some cute little shops in the compound for you to bide your time, but so does Cracker Barrel, and honestly, I'm not sure this is THAT much more delicious than Cracker Barrel, so I'll leave that up to you. If you feel like checking it out and don't mind waiting, go for it. If you're just jonesin' for some quick biscuits, go to Cracker Barrel.
(4)Sarah S.
I loved Loveless! #mesocheesy #tooeasy #ilovelove If you've got some time to kill, head 30 minutes outside of Nashville to the Loveless Cafe. It's known by many in the area as having the best gosh darn breakfast in all of Tennessee! Yeehaw! And biscuits are their jam!!! (get it...? biscuits have jam on them...? sooo....biscuits and jam...? yeaaaaa). The menu is so expensive it's nearly impossible to pick which delicies to scarf down. My usual thing is I want to try as many things as possible at new places so I went with the Biscuit Sampler Platter for $11.99. You can then choose 4 biscuits from: Fried Green Tomato & Pimento Cheese, Barbeque, Country Ham, Fried Chicken, Bacon, Sausage or Steak. I went with the Ham, Chicken, Sausage and Bacon because meat! All were good but let's be real, bacon makes everything better. Actually the plain biscuits with some jam preserves were the best thing of all - even better than my meat between the bread. If you have to wait for a table, they have some cute shops outside the restaurant. Even if you don't have to wait, they are worth a stop in after dining. I bought a couple of floofy headbands for myself while there. Loveless Cafe was a fun place to go, but the hype might have slightly exceeded the experience for me. I'm glad I went, think everyone everyone should go, but it's not a place I could see myself driving distances for again. Been there, done that.
(4)Angel G.
Yelp never lets me down. What a great place to come and eat if you are traveling thru Nashville. Expect a long wait, but lots to do on the campus and well-worth it. Our table tries the Barbecue Pulled Pork, Half Fried Chicken, the Green Tomato BLT and a bunch of wonderful and yummy sides - Turnip Greens, Mac & Cheese, Hash Brown Casserole, Cream Spinach and Cream Corn. All the food was delicious and Barbara our waiter was just a doll and very helpful to us. If we definitely will come back and loved your Southern Hospitality.
(5)Teresa B.
Visiting the Yelp Spring Break Nashville 2014, we went off the beaten path for this experience on a Saturday morning. Told that there would be a wait of over an hour, I had no qualms. Travelling all the way from Alexandria, VA, I had a hunch it would be worth it. It has been a long time since my childhood, growing up in Florida, that I tasted truly authentic southern cooking. Ham steak, sausage patties with biscuits and gravy, grits...mmm. The bonus is there are many things to keep you entertained while you wait. It's a village of family fun to entertain everyone. Antique and boutique shopping, complimentary sweet peach tea, quaint areas to bide your time while playing bean bag toss (AKA the "corn hole" game which made me blush). And Pumpkin Butter samples! When we were finally seated, it was by the general manager, who enthusiastically made us feel welcome. The waitress was also a sweetie. Service is key here. I can vouch for the: Complimentary Biscuits and (3) Jelly Sampler Ham Steak Pimento Cheese Biscuits and Gravy Omelets And Creamed Spinach If I were to visit Nashville again, this would be a destination!
(5)Adrian D.
Amazing true southern food. Great priced and wonderfully kind wait staff. You can't visit Tennessee without stopping here. Prices are very reasonabke, portions are huge and best of all moonshine and chess pie are on the menu!
(5)Crazy G.
Really busy at three in afternoon . Nice staff. Clean. Great flavorful food. Worth the wait. Portions are huge
(4)Paige F.
Be prepared to wait a long time with a lot of tourists on weekends! But then be prepared for some of the best southern food ever. I have never had anything that I did not like. This place is definitely worth all the hype, and the biscuits are delicious.
(5)Megan S.
Waited over an hour but it was SO worth it. Food comes out very quickly! Creamed corn and coleslaw are my favorite sides. Skip the coupon mentioned, it's for online orders only.
(5)Jason B.
Not really much to say that hasn't already been said. First of all, the fried chicken is the best around...maybe some of the best I've had. They are known for the biscuits and jam, which are just ok to me. I compare everything to my mom's homemade biscuits and jam, and nothing comes close. There is one thing you can always count on with Loveless Cafe that may not have been previously mentioned...the music on their playlist is solid country gold. Merle, Possum, Waylon, and all the hits from the 90's. I'd like Loveless so much more if it was a hidden gem. It's popularity creates a long wait for a table. If going on a weekend, arrive before 8:00 and you won't have much of a problem. After 8:00, and especially after 9:00, you should plan on at least an hour.
(4)Ling X.
Don't know where they came up with the name loveless because this place is full of love (insert your groan here). I chose to have my birthday dinner here on the way out of Nashville after hearing so much about it and didn't regret it one bit. Our waitress gave me my dessert with a candle on it and announced to everyone that it was my bday so everyone sang to me. Long wait during dinnertime but well worth it. You can pass the time quickly by exploring the shops around it or playing cornhole out front. Great southern food and hands down the best biscuits I've ever had. I ended up buying their mix to make my own at home (plus a lot of other items I didn't need - oh Loveless Cafe, you sure are smart with your marketing).
(5)Melissa M.
Loveless is a must stop! The bbq is amazing as is the fried chicken! Normally there is a crazy long wait but it's worth it! I got a sampler this past trip with catfish also but didn't care for it as much. The mashed potatoes are yummy but skip the turnip greens. They're known for their biscuits but I'm not in love with them. I guess I'm spoiled to Cracker Barrels biscuits and turnip greens. I'd say you definitely need to get the chicken or bbq!
(4)Shaye B.
One star for good biscuits and a bloody mary. Another star for the gift shops to walk around in during a very long wait. I expected at least a 20min wait for brunch Friday for a group of 9. Hour wait seemed long and I would have left except the place is far enough outside of Nashville it wasn't worth it to relocate. Finally got seated and ordered our bloody Mary's which were good and came with a piece of bacon. But they took a very very long time to come out. Actually everything took a while. Service is not a strong suit - but rarely is with large parties. Now for the food. It was just bad. We ordered various things across the 9 of us and no one liked their food. Hash brown casserole? Sounds great but it's more just strings of soggy potatoes covered in melted velveeta. I thought it'd be like a crispy cake with some onion and peppers and bacon fat maybe. But nope. The country ham? Foul. Super grisly and way to salty. 3 of us ordered the ham and all felt that way. On top of the food just not tasting good, we all had some hurting stomachs afterwards. I was looking forward to coming here since I heard great things. But it was a major disappointment and I will not be returning again.
(2)Jacoby D.
The hype over Loveless Cafe is fun and all, but their food seems is inconsistent and nothing mind blowing . Each time I've been, there's been at least one part of my meal that is just off. First time the fried chicken was extremely dry, and the second time the mac and cheese was salty and not very tasty. Their biscuits and preserves are AMAZING. The customer service is also great. I would go back if I'm looking to show off a Nashville staple or was in the area, but as a Nashville local there are many other restaurants in the area that will serve my palette better.
(3)Ang S.
Why LoveLESS? This place should be called loveMORE! Hands down the fluffiest biscuits I've had in life! And the waitress was very generous about bringing out a second hot basket before we even finished our first. Though I wondered what did she do with the leftover buscuits that she took away with the first basket? o.O The fried chicken was executed to perfection. You can tell the recipe has gone through decades of tradition and years of perfection. The chicken however lacked a bit of seasoning. Good stuff but I've also had better. I was somewhat disappointed by the hash brown casserole, especially after reading raving reviews about it as I was waiting for our table. The proportion of cheese to potatoes was nearly 50/50. The location is a little out of reach, but definitely worth a short drive if you are in town.
(4)Amanda B.
My family and I went here for breakfast on a weekday. Love the experience; the store owners are very nice, the decor inside the cafe is great and the staff is very friendly. The biscuits were delicious and we all really liked the hashbrown casserole side, but other than that the food was pretty standard - and a bit pricey for your average breakfast. All in all, we were happy with the stop, but would probably try a different breakfast spot next Nashville visit.
(3)Cody L.
Excellent food and service Lucas (luke) awesome server ....best breakfast near nashville
(5)Devyn L.
I have to say that everything was fantastic from the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese that my girlfriend ordered to the chocolate chip and pecan pancakes that i ordered. The sweet tea was delicious, the service was quick and polite. and the prices were fantastic. I really enjoyed the building it was located in as it complimented the southern cooking that they provided. It had a lot of nice boutique shops on property but did not visit them due to time restrictions. The only negative is they used fans to cool the dining area which was near the kitchen sot it was very hot. I wish they had some air conditioning. Overall i would return there if I am in town again cause the food and service was great.
(5)Jordan L.
Great place!!! Such a cool atmosphere. The biscuits are to die for. The wait was over an hour at 9:30 AM, but it was worth the wait!
(4)Jenn G.
Amazing southern comfort food. Good service. If you are visiting Tennessee this is a must!!! Highly recommended. Will leave you stuffed lol. The biscuits are sooooo good and always served warmed. Freshly baked out the oven. Do not forget to ask for honey. It has to be requested. Big menu to choose from. #carbNation
(5)Joshua F.
My fiancé and I rode bikes on the Natchez Trace and then hopped in here for a late lunch. The meal was fantastic! Chicken was a smidge dry BUT I would rather it be a bit dry than super greasy like KFC. The biscuits ... I think I annoyed the server by asking for 3 total refills! But seriously, they were delicious and the jams tasted like they were made that morning! Very friendly and enthusiastic staff!
(5)Sarah H.
Maybe it's because I have been raised around Southern food that I wasn't blown away. Everything just didn't live up to the hype, and I am honestly a little disappointed that I got so excited to eat here. The service was pretty good, and our drinks were always immediately filled. That's probably the reason I feel bad giving Loveless Cafe less than three stars. However, the food... meh. I've had better food from local restaurants from my town (e.g. Beacon Light Tea Room). The biscuits were good, but again, Beacon Light Tea Room has better ones. The fried chicken I ordered tasted a little dry to me, and it caused my stomach to be upset that night. It was nice to say I've had the experience, but I probably will not be returning.
(3)Ginger P.
This former hot sheets motel turned BBQ pit and restaurant is a must when you're following the Natchez Trace and want some solid Southern cooking. Their turnip greens with pot likker are the best you'll ever have. I also recommend the country ham, which I will be ordering from them next Easter, with their biscuits and fried green tomatoes. Put some housemade jelly (buy it from the gift shop, too -- the peach is especially good) or pimiento cheese on it and get back on the 100.
(5)Alton S.
while you may have to wait a while to get in that should be your first clue that it is that GOOD!!! have eaten there for the last 42 years and it is just as good now as it was when i first went there. every meal has always been great as well as the down home service. it is a must if you are in nashville.
(5)Alex B.
Can't say enough how delicious this place is!!!! If you love biscuits then this has to be a stop on your way through Nashville. We went on a Monday night and there was a small wait but it was well worth it! The best fried chicken I have ever had not to be out done by the amazing BBQ pork and fried catfish. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made the experience even better. Truly like having dinner at grandma's!!!
(5)Kristyn A.
Excellent southern food! Plan to spend all your calories for the day on the biscuits! It's worth it.
(5)Melissa V.
We stopped here as a must see and it didn't disappoint. The service all around was some of the best and the food was sooo good. Moonshine drinks were STRONG - but tasty. I had the pulled pork omelet and my husband got the biscuit sampler.
(4)Ralph M.
Great breakfast today and the service was top notch. The biscuits and country ham make it worth the trip over from Smyrna.
(5)Juliet S.
I came here for the first time in 2001 on a road trip with my family. Maybe it's a faulty memory, but I think it was much smaller back then, with lots of rustic charm. It certainly seems bigger now and, though far less rustic, it still has plenty of charm. And there's nothing faulty about my memory of the blackberry preserves. I thoroughly enjoyed my pork barbecue and my marinated cucumber, but I would come back just for the blackberry preserves. I would eat a dish of them, all on their own, with a spoon, then have more for dessert. Okay, maybe that last part was a little extreme. I would, however, buy some to bring home. You can buy some at the counter or go next door to Hams & Jams and do some shopping there. Make sure you sit down and have a meal, though. The food is wonderful, the servers are friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is airy and comfy.
(5)Sarah C.
Here's the hoedown on Loveless. You might think you have to get your white socks and sandals on with a huge camera around your neck to fit at the Loveless Cafe but you are wrong. Loveless Cafe is great if you are visiting town or a local (I consider myself a local). We arrived at the Loveless "compound" around 11:40a.m. First order of business, don't go that late. The hubs-to-be and I waited around an hour and 45 minutes for a table. Fortunately, the cafe is surrounded by a little general store with free coffee and plenty of souvenirs like fresh jams/preserves ($6), Loveless T shirts ($12), and really cool Nashville memoirs and cookbooks from top rated restaurants in town. There is also a random bike shop, pottery store, and religious antique store. Breakfast or brunch at the Loveless is really an all day affair. When the pager finally buzzes you have the opportunity to sample the greatest Southern fare that is served within minutes. Think Crackle barrel but much better! The biscuits are buttery and literally melt in your mouth, a staple at the Loveless. I ordered the BBQ pulled pork and eggs (~$8-9). You are probably thinking,"really," but yes really. Although at first it sounds unappealing, it was the most delicious! The french toast (~$9-10) was so good the syrup was not needed. As sides, I ordered the home fries. Mmmmm tasty! We also ordered take out for dinner and let me tell you the fried Okra will be my next meal alone should I return. It is like crack, seriously. The catfish platter was flavorful even when reheated the next day. For two people dining in and taking dinner home we totaled $56.00 including tip. Not too shabby!
(4)Meghan J.
wonderful country cookin comfort food! as everyone else said, the biscuits are top notch- especially with some butter and jam. i am a big fan of the fried chicken- unfortunately, i haven't tried anything else so can't comment on the rest of the menu! It's been over a year but i don't remember being very impressed with the sides... The notable downfall for me would be the fact that this place is a tourist trap and there's often an hour+ wait. but, if comfort food is what you crave, then this is worth the wait
(4)Kate R.
(just a fyi i want this to be 3.5 stars.) made a point to get to this place bright and early one day when we were in nashville because of the reviews. call us cliche or whatever you want, but i wanted to try those damn biscuits! we ventured out to loveless at 730 am on a friday morning and stepping out of the car i instantly smelled the goodness. warm. fresh. flakey. biscuits. mmmmmmm. they were SO good. and paired perfectly with some butter and homemade jam. yum yum yum. in addition to the mountain of biscuits we devoured, i ordered a southern omelet and the boy got the half order of the country ham. so much food! all-in-all, everything was tasty, but nothing really compared to the deliciousness of the biscuits. service was great and attentive to our coffee (and biscuit!) refills. will definitely revisit loveless, but next time i want to go at lunch to get the fried chicken platter. yummy.
(3)m g.
Worth the splurge/sacrificing your body, i guess maybe fast before you go? Everything is delicious, the area is adorable. Biscuits and the preserves....its hard to stop eating them, i agree they really should be illegal. Fried Okra really good, same w the mac and cheese, the sweet potatoes with some sort of carmel in it is great too. Delicious pulled pork sandwich! Love love love this place
(5)Martha M.
First of all I must make the disclaimer that I am writing this as a tourist. That said, I LOVED this place! The food, atmosphere, all of it was exactly what I was hoping for and more. We went here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and for 3 people, our wait was a little under an hour. It flew by though since this place is perfectly catered to having to wait for awhile. There is a smokehouse where you can watch the meat being smoked, and a few little stores to peruse through. The little general store was really cool. (remember I was there as a tourist). The decor inside the place was so great. Very homey and comfortable. The food was insatiable! Biscuits and gravy definitely lived up to my expectations. I had the pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and candied sweet potatoes and it was AWESOME. And the sweet tea . . oh the sweet tea. The second my tea was gone, all of the sudden poof! someone was there to fill it! The combination of great decor, delicious food and excellent service made this is a no question five star rating.
(5)Jennifer J.
I was told this place was great before I moved here, but I think the management changed because it really wasn't very good. The BISCUITS are the BEST! They have always been know for them and that hasn't changed. The rest of the food isn't that great. I've ordered breakfast, lunch and dinner and I have never been impressed. In fact, a lunch there was very disappointing, I ordered a grilled chicken salad. I also had a meatloaf dinner there that left much to be desired.
(3)Jason M.
Overpriced tourist trap or iconoclastic Nashville landmark? Well , a little bit of both. Without a doubt the biscuits and homemade preserves are other worldly and I could of made a meal out of them alone. The country ham (my favorite kind of ham) is reportedly the best in the nation. Maybe my expectations where too high but I was hardly wowed by it and the red-eye gravy. I mean really red-eye gravy is just coffee and ham juice so I guess I shouldn't be as disappointed but it was awfully bitter. And the ham was burned on one side. tsk, tsk tsk... However if you're in the area, I'd stop by.
(4)Leslie A.
I'm NOT a huge meat meaty eater but the BBQ Pulled Pork was fabulous. The fried chicken was decent though not my favorite. The sides were all fabulous... give me hash browns with cheese everywhere (not sure of the official dish name), creamed corn, and biscuits with fresh jams of sorts (blackberry being my favorite). Remember this is VERY, VERY southern. That tastes so good somebody must have stuck their toe in it! Or furthermore appropriate... That tastes so good I'm 'bout to jump up and slap my mama! Go there and you too can learn Southern phrases to express how goooooood it really is.
(4)Ken P.
I had an excellent southern omelet. The biscuits were fantastic! Even the coffee was exceptional. Quaint ambiance and a very attentive wait staff. I will eat here again on my next trip to Nashville.
(5)J C.
Pretty typical Southern dishes. I grew up in the South, so I suppose it's a bit more difficult for me to be impressed with the food because it's the kind I grew up on. However, that said, everything was cooked to perfection. This place is famed for the celebrity drop-ins and greasy comfort food. I imagine breakfast is even better than lunch.
(3)Jim P.
Simple, amazing, homestyle classic southern American food. Had an hour wait at 1pm on Friday afternoon. Kids got a moon pie at the gift shop to hold them over. Had a few other shops to browse and pass the time. It was worth it. Wow, where to begin... A plateful of hot fresh country biscuits with homade strawberry and blackberry preserves. Then comes the family platter. The best fried chicken I've had, a huge portion of pulled pork perfectly smoked served with corn cakes and BBQ sauce on the side. Bowls filled with great Mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and green beans. I had three platefuls of everything ... Pure gluttony, so happy. Then had to squeeze in another biscuit and jam. Only regret is no room for dessert. A must stop in Nashville.
(5)C. Benjamin W.
A certain (small) element of sincerity envelops the kitsch at the Loveless Cafe and that is what makes a trip here worthwhile. Sure, the "market" and the "emporium" bordering on the parking lot tell of a country helping of tourist trash, but the restaurant inside is a modestly decorated and welcoming room. Coming from out of town, I was expecting to grimace under the stares of decorative acoustic guitars and various disembodied Nashville flavored stage costumes. Okay... that's a joke. I'm not really that much of a jackass. Anyhow, the little murals and plaques dedicated to national country music celebrities were very cool and ernest tributes. That's enough about the room though. The servings were huge and tasty Southern fare. There was not much that jumped out, but nothing needs to when you're eating pulled pork and biscuits. I would have liked to have the family dinner so that I could have tried the fried chicken and catfish, but that requires a party of four or more. This place does not just seem to be good for groups, but a much better experience in a group. Service was fast and the prices were great (coming from Chicago). I'd go back soon if I hadn't had a lifetime's requirement of pork this time.
(4)Jay R.
Southern cooking at its finest. It is worth the wait to get some down-home goodness right here. I would give it 6 out of 5 if I could. Lots of celebrities have been here, it has been in business for more than 60 years (that says something), and the diverse mix of people in there was nice to see. I had the chicken fried steak along with eggs and grits; super well prepared with the buttery stone-ground flavor made me perfectly satisfied. Great wait staff too. The wooden floors and windows are reminiscent of the Old South. The biscuits are the best thing I've ever had!!! There is a heat and soft tenderness to them you cannot get anywhere else in my view. Perfect jams as well. Overall tremendous experience. Worth the long drive down Highway 100. Don't forget the sweet tea!!!!!
(5)Rachel '.
Love this place. Breakfast is amazing. The jams are delicious. And the smoke master gave the kids a little tour and a tutorial on how he smokes the meat. Very nice man .. We all enjoyed talking with him. Awesome morning!
(5)Laurie F.
I don't need to add to the other great reviews. Do yourself a favor; just go. And be sure to stop by the gift shop for jams, hams & biscuit mix. You'll be craving these within days.
(5)Pam F.
When we finally found it and you get pass the long wait We enjoyed our trip we are breakfast eaters and they serve it all day Ham is extra Salty but if you dip it in the gravy wasn't so bad. I had some fried green tomatoes they was yummy.
(4)Melissa M.
Great restaurant. The biscuits a awesome and they just keep coming. I have only eaten breakfast there but the rest of the menu looks great as well. It is a tourist attraction so I recommend going early or be prepared to wait.
(5)Kim S.
Absolutely adore the Loveless! Best biscuits ever and tasty jams with the blackberry being my favorite! Always get the fried chicken biscuits which are just perfect little packages of pleasure. Breakfasts are great too! Outstanding, friendly service. Picnic tables outside make it easy to have a meal with your pup traveling companions. Give this wonderful cafe a try if you're nearby.
(5)Rhonda G.
Where do I start? Ok, the biscuits with three different jams. I thought it couldn't get better until the fried catfish came out, piping hot, crunchy outside, flaky inside. Garlic mashed potatoes and fried green tomatoes finished out the meal. My companion voted the fried chicken as good as it gets. My daughter had the gigantic pancake. We finished by sharing the fudge pie. Worth every calorie. Even though we arrived late afternoon on a Monday, there was still a wait of 40 minutes but don't be put off. Spend the time imagining a flaky, hot biscuit. Our server was friendly and full of information. He made us feel as if we were old friends stopping by for a chat and getting a meal as a bonus. It might seem as if you are driving to the middle of nowhere but when you leave, you'll be planning when you can return.
(5)Lynnette F.
This place is amazing! I will preface with I suffer from a peanut & tree nut allergy. I called the restaurant to see if they would be able to accommodate this and the hostess said they could not. She said nothing in the kitchen would be safe since there is a chance of cross contamination. She then said the fried chicken would be safe since it only gets put in the fryer and they cook with soy oil. I still took the chance and went since this was one of the things I was looking forward to on my trip & boy am I happy I went! I spoke to the waiter and he said everything was pretty safe to eat. The biscuits, fried chicken and sides were definitely nut free and were safe to eat. I ordered the fried chicken (amazing!), grits with cheese (hands down the best thing I ate during my trip) and mac & cheese (so-so, I wish I ordered the mashed potatoes instead!). The biscuits are everything I hoped they would be - they were fresh, soft and oh-so-buttery! I would suggest asking for another plate of biscuits before your meal is over so you can take them home for the next day. I regretted not purchasing the biscuit mix the next day, but was luckily able to purchase it at the airport before leaving. Anyone visiting Nashville must go to the Loveless Cafe during their visit!!
(5)Adam R.
This place is a Nashville staple. Great for getting groups together and heading out for a good meal (my recommendation - breakfast) in the "country". It is a little stretch from Nashville, but not a bad drive. The food: this is just a good meal. The portion sizes on some plates may make you want more, but you do get fed. You WILL wait a while to be seated. Come prepared. They do have a little shop off to the left to keep you occupied while you wait. Prices: for the amount of food you get, I do find the prices a tad more than they should be, however, if you have as many customers as Loveless does, why not charge more? They are obviously getting it! Bottom line: Go, you like it, and it's like going to a more local and homemade cracker barrel. Great biscuits and jam!
(4)Fred R.
Absolutely off the charts. Got the pulled pork plate.. With baked beans and slaw Everything was awesome!! The only thing that would've made it better was corona light.. Had to settle for bud light
(5)Yim L.
We decided to go here for brunch on a Sunday and the wait was 1.5 hours. We killed time by walking around and visiting the cute shops around the cafe. Ultimately we found out that it would be quicker to order carry out. We found a picnic table in the shade and ate outside. I had the two eggs with bacon platter with a side of hash brown casserole. It was amazing! I will definitely revisit on my next trip to Nashville!
(5)Lisa M.
Hmmm....that really sums the whole experience up. Everything was amazing. The location, the service, the selection, the food! Oh the food was amazing. Again, traveling through the south and found this little gem. Biscuits, life will never be the same since I've had the biscuits from the loveless cafe. I will shamelessly say I ate 5 and then the awesome waitress sent me home with another 9! And I ate the rest during our drive back to new england. I had the catfish and it was perfect! My husband had the country sampler and the fried chicken was amazing. Overall best meal I had on our road trip. I would make my next trip circle around being able to stop here.
(5)Jen I.
My first attempt to eat here was on a Saturday, it was a cool atmosphere as it was a nice day and loads of people were sitting on the decks - playing cornhole or catch! But this made for a 2 hour wait! I decided to come back Monday since I was still in town. Monday was a normal 30min wait - which you can easily wait by visiting their 2 Loveless Stores! I wanted to try the biscuits, chicken, and pulled pork due to what I read on yelp - the waitress suggested the sampler platter - my 2 sides were creamed corn and potato casserole. They were not joking about how good the biscuits are! Amazing! Exp w the sausage grav. The jams were ok. The pulled pork I'd give a 8/10 - generous portions and had a great smokey flavor! I will say I was a little disappointed in the fried chicken as I don't add salt to very much but added it to the chicken - it was very crispy and moist though! The creamed corn and potato casserole were excellent too! Highly recommend those sides! Great history, food and a very attentive nice staff - I recommend eating here!!
(4)Kelly M.
Primo southern cooking... My friends and I trekked it here from Nashville and waited an hour and a half but it was worth it. The food and service was amazing, I am still full a day later... Worth checking out at least once. I would suggest the BBQ and eggs!! Pimento cheese and fried green tomato biscuit was interesting... Raisin French toast was perfect, not too sweet, light and fluffy!
(4)Cheryl P.
Where country ham and eggs are the norm, I found it to be very good but not exciting as expected. The biscuits are hot but not flakey nor tender, I would call them mediocre at best. This place is a solid breakfast or lunch venue not sure if I would take the trip out of Nashville to hit it again in the future.
(3)Vanessa G.
Being an Iconic Cafe in Nashville, we had to try this out. We even watched a video about Loveless, it's history, and "the power of biscuits" prior to heading out. I was expecting a long line to wait for mediocre food that only has good reviews because of the nostalgia. My assumptions were pleasantly incorrect. The wait was 45 minutes but with the shops to meander around it went fast. The aroma of the place was tantalizing, a combo of fried chicken, barbecue, and biscuits which wound up being exactly what we ordered. The barbecue was the biz-omb and my favorite. No need for barbecue sauce. The other half loved the fried chicken though I wasn't jumping out of my seat for that. The biscuits- well-are pretty darned good and the peach preserve was our favorite or the three they serve with them. Ooh, the creamed sweet corn was delicious. The banana pudding was the best I've ever had (aside from our Aunt Red's). Basically everything we had we'd want to eat again and now we'll have to take our friends here just because it lives up to the hype.
(5)Michael N.
In my first visit to the famous Loveless Cafe I went with the Southern Classic that is Country Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, and fried okra. The breading was somewhat different than I was used to and this was a good thing. It made the dish set itself apart from the standard. It was a bit lighter breading that was just about perfect. The mashed potatoes where the perfect consistency and the fired okra was great. The biscuits that come as a starter before the meal where absolutely excellent. They are from an original recipe of the Loveless family from the 1950's. They come with homemade blackberry, strawberry, and peach jelly as well as local honey. A little bit off the beaten path from downtown Nashville but well worth the drive.
(4)Sheila C.
So much food on that plate. Chicken and dumplings were delicious tonight as were the sides. Only wished we had room for dessert. Ate too many biscuits before the meal.
(5)Candra G.
Perhaps my expectations were too high. I think if you're new to Southern cuisine, you may think this place is the best thing since sliced bread. However, I was just a little disappointed that it was like a more touristy Cracker Barrel (which I actually like better). After reading the hype about the biscuits, I was absolutely convinced that eating at this place would lead to an unhealthy obsession with biscuits. Negative. I was completely underwhelmed. The only thing that saved it from being bad was the delicious peach preserve topping that accompanied the bread basket. Service was kind of spotty - had to wait a long time for refills, the food had a weird timing issue (like I received my food well before the rest of the table). I ordered a BLT w/ fried egg and a side of hash brown casserole (gag). I don't think I have a lot of love for the Loveless Cafe.
(2)Ashley H.
If you need carbs, this is your place. I always end up eating the country fried steak for a few days because the portion is just huge. The wait is going to be long and make a holiday reservation for a large party. Parking is rather plentiful and there are places to wander while you wait. The blackberry jam is... well my jam and the biscuits... oh the biscuits.
(4)Jess F.
Best biscuits ever. Fried chicken would delicious. Grits and corn meal was Soo good. Would do the 3 hr wait again for this.
(5)amber b.
Our favorite place in Nashville! Barbara is such a sweetheart. She is always so friendly and the service is amazing. The southern fried catfish and the fried chicken is so delicious!! Oh and the warm buttered biscuits YUMM!! Always 1-2 hours wait during the morning weekends and nights but only 20-30 mins of wait btw 2-4ish during the weekends. Can't wait to go back again next month! 10% military discount too! :)
(5)Aubrey W.
There are a few iconic places in every city that you just kind of have to visit, and in the Nashville area Loveless Cafe is one of them. This place went "viral" before the internet, convincing people to head out to a former motel in the middle of nowhere to indulge in biscuits and jam. I will admit that I don't like to wait in lines, so I've been avoiding Loveless as a result. I've heard sometimes the wait is up to two hours, and they don't take reservations for small parties. But when my friend Lindsey and I were texting at like 7am about breakfast, we figured we could go super early and beat the church rush on a Sunday morning. We were right; we barely had to wait, and you get to wander around their little stores while you do. It's like an original Cracker Barrel in that regard. The biscuits were AWESOME. I loved them! I tried all the jams they brought with them too. For my breakfast, I went basic with scrambled eggs and crispy bacon, plus a small side of their hash brown casserole. That cheesy goodness was so rich and heavy, I didn't even finish half of it! I ate very well and enjoyed it a lot. I'm not sure if I will be back to Loveless, unless a visitor or friend wants to go... it's about 20-25 minutes from where I live, and nothing else is nearby. I liken it to eating at Lady & Sons in Savannah; it's a haven for tourists after so many appearances on Food Network and the like. But it was definitely worth checking off my Nashville "bucket list"!
(4)Derrick L.
Fantastic. Can't wait to go back. Expect a long wait. We showed up at 1pm and it was still a 45min wait. Split the Southern Sampler Plater with my wife (fried chicken, catfish, and ham as meats/hash brown casserole and marinated cucumbers and onions for the sides). Also ordered side of sausage gravy to go with the amazing free biscuits and a pimento and fried green tomato biscuit.
(4)Jaime A.
After eating there, I wondered what all the fuss was about. Good food. Nothing to write home about. Been there twice. When family come to visit, maybe I'll go again.
(3)Jason E.
Bbq was very good. The biscuits and gravy were very delicious and the people were very nice. I bit of a wait for the table but worth it. There's shops around while you wait so there's something to do. They also serve moonshine drinks and beer, wine and tasty stuff. Its also very pretty around the restaurant lots of roiling hills and nice trees. I recommend going there.
(4)Julie M.
This was just okay. I waited an hour and 10 minutes to be seated, which I don't have a problem with had the food been as amazing as I had heard. I ordered the chicken & waffles, which came with biscuits also. The biscuits were delicious - light, soft and the homemade jam was a nice addition. The chicken and waffles was pretty sad though. The chicken was extremely dry and the waffle was something I could have made at home. This was a very disappointing visit. I can get better at a local dive diner here in Pittsburgh.
(2)Milton S.
Hadn't been to the Loveless in 10 years or so and was glad to find the food is still great. We arrived around 4:30 on a Saturday night and only had a 10 minute wait. We spent the wait time browsing in the General Store gift shop and found many unique items tempting to purchase. The wireless buzzer system allows you to roam the grounds while waiting. My favorite meal of the day is breakfast and the Loveless is ready all day. The biscuits deserve all the hype and with the jams and preserves and real butter are lovely together. Had never traveled to Nashville North on the Natchez Trace before but was tickled to find the Loveless is on Hwy 100 just off a Natchez Trace exit at its terminus or start depending on which direction you are going.
(5)Nicole B.
My god. Worth every second you wait for this place. The biscuits change the game there. Best biscuits I've ever had, hands-down. The peach and blackberry preserves were out of this world. Sausage gravy was really good too. The pancakes are so-so, but to be honest, this isn't a place you go to for their pancakes. So many better things on the menu.
(5)Cassi B.
My dad visited here a few years back and loved the food. He was so impressed he got me a care package shipped just so I could try some of it. Their black pepper bacon was really good, not overly peppery and a good smoke on it was a perfect combination. Their jelly was also good, sweet but not overly sweet. The blackberry was our favorite. We are suppose to be moving to Tennessee in the next year, so this place is definitely on our list of places to visit once we do!
(4)Suzi B.
While on a business trip to Nashville, we had a chance to visit the Loveless Cafe for lunch on a weekday. Great timing because we only had a 20 minute wait and spent that time shopping in the cute little gift shop. Got a package of Piggy Popcorn which went over great at the office at home. Wearing my Praise the Lard T-shirt as I type this. The food was classic Southern goodness. Delicious biscuits and jam to start the meal, and could have stopped there and been happy happy happy. Proceeded to have the BBQ sandwich and found it to be pretty tasty though not knock your socks of great. Coworkers had the fried chicken livers and the chicken fried steak smothered in gravy. I also had the sweet tea. Yum. I thought the livers were a little overcooked and did not get to taste the other entree. The caramel sweet potatoes side dish was wonderful! Loved walking around the property, especially smelling the smokey BBQ pit outside on a crisp, clear day. Everyone there was very nice, in typical Southern style. We felt welcome and left well fed and happy. If you cannot make the trip, do go to the website and buy up some of their tasty jams and hams.
(4)Keith B.
Unbelievable food. Fried chicken, country ham/biscuits, fried green tomatoes and creamed corn were fantastic, BBQ pulled pork was good but just okay. The service was even better, Meagan was probably the best server I've ever had, and I eat out a lot. A lot.
(5)EJ P.
5 STARS JUST FOR THE AMAZING BISCUITS I don't care how long you have to wait, how many hills and weird turns I had to take to get here, AND HOW FREAKING COLD IT WAS. These biscuits made it ALL worth it. It's a Southern institution that I am shocked is actually not more popular than it already is. That said, I would skip the fried chicken (it was tasteless) and just go for the fried catfish, the creamed corn, the baked beans. Although the pulled pork was great too. YUM.
(5)Steve E.
You got a problem with fried chicken, country ham and biscuits done flawlessly? Yeah, well I got a problem with YOU.
(5)Lauren H.
I do not believe there to be any affiliation between Loveless Cafe and the Oregon based company Nike, but regardless, my only advice for anyone deciding whether or not to make the trek out to eat at Loveless is to JUST DO IT. We sort of went ham on this meal and ordered a whole lot because we couldn't decide. The best were the melt-in-your-mouth biscuits, the hashbrown casserole (!), the creamed corn, and the peanut butter pie. The waffle is better than the pancake, but both are very good. The fried chicken biscuit was good as well, just a bit small on the portion size. Key Lime pie was also very good and the mac n cheese was solid. This was definitely our favorite meal on our visit to Nashville. Highly recommended.
(5)Peggy L.
Good quality food for the experience but pricey. Long wait but we toured the grounds. Delivered a plate of biscuits and jams when we sat down made me change what I ordered. Country ham is a speciality but try it with the red eye gravy. Fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuits was weak on the tomato.
(4)Lei B.
While visiting Nashville, Loveless was one of the top places on my list to visit. It was about a 20 minute drive from the city but it did not disappoint. We came on a Friday late afternoon and there was still an hour wait. Not to worry, there's a very scenic drive near by and you can kill time that way. Or just explore the grounds, there's two different gift shops with lots of goodies to buy. When we were finally seated, we noticed there was moonshine on the menu. How could you pass up on that? I had a Watermelon Crawl (watermelon, Lemonade, Sprite and a Moonshine Sidecar in a Souvenir Loveless Mini Mason Jar). The little souvenir mason jar was too cute! The moonshine did kick my butt! For food we ordered the Loveless Fried Chicken (Quarter Chicken) with a side of macaroni and cheese, slow cooked green beans, fried green tomatoes, and hashbrown casserole. Before our meal came out they brought out their signature biscuits and they were buttery and light, just the way I like them. Everything else was really good. I loved the fried chicken, the batter wasn't too heavy or oily. The only side dish that I didn't care for were the fried green tomatoes. I've had better and they were so small. We were so stuffed after our meal that we skipped out on dessert but now I'm regretting that decision! If I'm ever back in Nashville I'll have to make room for their desserts!
(4)Melissa T.
Awesome,awesome place. Fantastic food, friendly staff, retro feel. Pitmaster Steve gave us a wonderful little tour and lesson on smoking meats. Gift shop was great. Biscuits melt in your mouth. Bought the mix to make them at home.
(5)Ebony Da'na C.
After a year of living in Nashville (and 5 minutes away) I finally decided to dine at the Loveless Cafe. While I had a positive experience at Loveless please be prepared to wait at least 40 minutes. I've attempted to dine here 3 times but finally pushed my impatient-ness aside. While waiting for our table we perused the gift shops and sat on the property's front porch. I was literally taken back to being a kid visiting my grandma's house and various other small towns in the deep south. Yes, my friends if you dig Southern charm this is your place! After much anticipation we finally got in and promptly order sweet teas which were perfect. The superstar of Loveless is supposed to be biscuits however I found them just good not great. But you still have to give them props considering how many they make from scratch everyday. The homemade jams: apricot, blackberry, and strawberry are some of the best I've had and definitely elevated the biscuits. My friend and I both ordered the fried pork chops. I ended up getting the home fries and she got the hashbrown casserole. I wasn't a fan of the home fries, it tasted like the potatoes you got in grade school but the hashbrown casserole, my God was so good! I was totally envious of my friend. Portions of meat were massive, there's no way you'll be able to finish it all. All in all very tasty. Looking around the rest of the joint, the other food looked so delicious. I definitely would love to come back and try it all. Waitress was super friendly but was scarce due to the place being packed so I can't be too upset about that. Great restaurant if you're craving true old school Southern fare but come hungry!
(4)Chan V.
The staff is awesome. They are super friendly and will take good care of you after waiting so long for a table. Expect to wait 2 hours or more for a table. Have no fear. They have things to keep you busy while you wait. Like a couple of gift shops to explore, a huge barn to hang out in on cold days and the property is enough to enjoy the scenery. Your table will be ready in no time. The food comes out fast. EVERYTHING IS AMAZING! The fried chicken is my favorite with cheesy hash. I love this place. If I am ever near the Nashville proximity I will make the trip to Loveless Cafe. This place is made for foodies. Must go!
(5)Rafia J.
This place was one of the places recommended by magazines/sites and trip advisor. We didn't think much of it because it just seemed like any other southern eateries, but I am so glad we went there. This place was recommended by every local we met, they couldn't stop talking about it and after we ate there we understood why! The place is very homey and cozy, though casual. I loved the ambiance and it's set up! Our server was extremely nice and he suggested pretty much our entire menu. As soon as you sit down he brought us some fresh biscuits and jams and they were both delicious! The biscuits were fresh, warm, soft, and creamy! Jams seemed like they were homemade. Everything we ordered on the menu; fried chicken, grilled and fried fish were fresh and so so tasty! (we all liked the fried chicken better at Hattie B's but here it was delicious too). Sides we ordered were fried okra (YUM) and creamed corn (again YUM)! I am so glad we went there and it's definitely a place to visit when in Nashville!!
(5)Susan I.
Heard so much about this place. Went with 11 friends and while we waited 1 1/2 hours it was worth the wait. You can visit the shops while you wait or play corn hole. They were very accommodating and sat us all together. The biscuit are amazing and the sorghum was delectable. The country ham was a little salty however the fried chicken was to die for. If we are ever back in this area we will definitely visit again.
(4)Valerie B.
Service was fabulous after our 35min wait (which is not too bad considering it was going to be nearly 2 hrs last weekend!). The food was standard southern classics like fresh biscuits (ok - but the jam was great!), fried catfish (just ok - good hash brown casserole) and bbq (didn't try it). The food was good but didn't think it was anything special and not worth the 30 min drive out of Nashville or the wait. Wait!! I just had a slice of their coconut cream pie that we took home. The whipped cream is light and not too sweet. The custard is creamy and the roasted coconut flavour is just right. I'm going to grab another slice right now!
(3)Joe V.
Found the Loveless Cafe online while looking for restaurants before my wife and I took a trip to Nashville and boy am I glad I did! While pulling up I didn't think much of the exterior until I walked in and saw a nicely renovated place with autographs on the walls from nearly 30 years worth of country music acts. We had a roughly 45 minute wait (a testament to how good the food is!) that we spent sitting on a bench outside watching a family play Corn Hole. Once inside our waiter Matt was attentive and really nice. He had a personality with out being overbearing and took really good care of us. Their signature item is biscuits - they are served with everything. The biscuits were good, not amazing but nothing bad to say about them. Their jam on the other hand was amazing! For our main course my wife and I both ordered the fried chicken. It was the best fried chicken I have ever had. It was AMAZING. If I didn't live a 13 hour drive away I would be a regular here.
(5)Carol Anne B.
Oh goodness. The drive here was crazy, I wasn't sure if I was even going the right way. And then suddenly BOOM. Yummy smells and cornhole. 45min-1hr long wait. That's how I knew we were in the right place. Oh yeah. This is Loveless. I'd been recommended to go here and thank goodness. Guys...guys? It's so good. I'm serious. So Good. I got meatloaf, with 2 sides, hashbrown casserole and macaroni and cheese. Have you ever eaten at Cracker Barrel and had their hashbrown casserole? Listen...It's Better. Yes, yes it is. Oh my goodness. And the portion of meatloaf was big too! And then the waitress is like "You can have as many biscuits as you can eat" and smiles. And the jams are so good. And the biscuits are so good. And when you doodle something on the paper menu, the server says something nice about it, and doesn't even sit your food on it! So good. Price is great. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Ann B.
I would give this place 5 stars if I didn't have to wait two hours to eat...but I will say that it was worth the two hours! The food was amazing! We were from Chicago and wanted real country cooking and we got it. The staff is amazing too. Only downside is I wish they had some more stores to shop in :)
(4)Dan G.
Fantastic service, and the food is AMAZING. People always mention various things they've had, but if you're not there for breakfast you're not doing it right. Do NOT go through N'ville without stopping here.
(5)Kayla S.
Luke was our waiter and his customer service was spot on!! So friendly and helpful, food was delicious, chicken biscuit was one of the best!
(4)Valerie C.
My friend and I stuck out in Nashville like two Asian girls in the South. (Oh, wait....) In all seriousness, none of that ever mattered the whole time we were in Tennessee. And then you go to a place like Loveless, where older ladies call you "sugar" and teenage servers call you "ma'am" [Excuse me, I'm ONLY 26!] and you get to eat an infinite amount of fresh-baked biscuits and preserves and everything is OK in the world. That's how I felt anyway.
(5)Paul M.
I have dreams about the biscuits at this place. I stumbled upon it on a road trip across country and I honestly think that it might be one of the best wrong turns I've ever made. I had an awesome omlette with some country sausage and this hashbrown casserole that was out of this world. The coffee was also really awesome too. After I was done eating I went outside and talked to the pit boss who was starting in on some barbeque for the day. The people were really friendly and awesome and I also got some cool souvenirs while I was there too. If you're in the Nashville area it would be a huge mistake to not go to the Loveless.
(5)Jasmine M.
These are the best biscuits ever. If you're on the move, get these biscuits to go. But, by no means, leave Nashville without sampling a few of these piping hot buttery pieces of morning heaven with fresh jam. I made my boyfriend go out our way for these and he sighed at first, but later it was sigh of satisfaction from the biscuits.
(5)kathy w.
Why isn't anyone raving about the SQUASH CASSEROLE????? 1st time to Nashville,1st time to the Loveless and 1st time kissing a bowl of cheesy squash!!!!!! Yeah, we drove about an hour to get there. Yeah, we waited about an hour and 1/2 to eat, but HELLS TO THE YEEEEEEAH was it worth it. I want to marry that squash casserole. Thanks Layla for taking a pic of me and me squash making- out!!
(5)Remy M.
This is probably the best place ever. The food is spectacular. I had my doubts about the biscuit hype, but I was mistaken--they were the best biscuits I've ever had. The country ham is amazing. I'm not really the BBQ type, but the pulled pork sandwich is great. I'm not convinced there's a bad choice on the menu. What's more, they have a small store on the premises, as well as a mail-order business, so you can also order some of their food through there. I would recommend picking up some of their preserves--spectacular!
(5)Sam K.
I can't believe this place isn't all five stars. Definitely one of the pillars of Nashville cuisine, this place is not to be missed. The biscuit and jam are the freshest I've ever tasted. Family style is a whole lot of good - albeit not always five star but definitely respectable - food. Line can be long but it's well worth it and the waiters are usually very friendly. Reading through the reviews, most lower reviews may stem from over hype. It may never be as good as some people make it out to be, but most definitely class above many other 'four - five star' restaurants on yelp.
(5)April L.
This is a great place to take your family or out-of-towners...Especially yankees :) Because after they eat here they will both understand why there are so many proud chubby southerners, and gain a new respect for our evidently very resilient arteries. This good old fashioned southern diner food - bad for you, YES, but not grease for grease's sake. It's quite a few steps above your average trough-style southern dive/chain. There are serious recipes here (the fried chicken in particular!), and if you messed with them, I get the feeling someone's grandma would come to your house and whack you with her cane. There's a cute tourist-friendly gift shop too, the contents of which represent what I imagine is the largest single collection of random southern euphemisms fit to publish on a knick-nack. Overall, its a good time. Come hungry, leave in a wheelbarrow :)
(4)Retired B.
Went around 10:30 and there was no wait! Service was excellent. Biscuits with the homemade jams were tasty. I tried the sampler with pulled pork, fried catfish and fried chicken. Everything was good. The sides of hashbrown casserole and fried okra were just as delicious. We also tried a BLT with fried green tomatoes and if I wasn't so stuffed full of fried foods, I would have scarfed the entire sandwich down as well.
(4)Montez B.
I must admit the drive appeared a little long, but overall, it was a fantastic dinner for my family on Mother's day.. The Biscuits were not as expected unfortunate too. The Sweet Tea needed help as well... But overall service was fast and quick , Enjoyed!
(4)Molly N.
First stop when we arrive in Nashville is to swing by the Loveless. No matter where you are staying its worth the 20 mins out of town to eat at this historic gem. 45 min wait is easy with pagers that reach the entire property and 2 stores to visit along with the photo ops outside. The food is tasty and comforting. The biscuits come to your table in mounds and it's clear why, they are melt in your mouth. Along with the 3 jams on your table! Chicken tenders are the biggest you've ever seen. One meal could feed three people. Ham is smoked and salty. The sides are interesting, delicious and you will want a meal on those! My 8 yr old loved the fried catfish. Even if just passing through Nashville, Make it a point to stop at the Loveless! Get yer biscuits!
(5)Veronica L.
My cousins and sister could not stop raving about this place. All I heard was "omg the biscuits" and "omg the preserves." I had no idea what was going on. We were just driving and driving in what felt like the middle of no where..until we finally hit the Loveless Cafe and all of it's other businesses. The entire lot is kinda like it's own theme park for the Loveless Cafe. It's got its own market and some art and craft stores. It's cute. Not my style but it's cute. Waiting for a table, I decided to mozy around to the market store and there I finally understood that this was THE biscuit place. The one that won in that food network challenge vs. bobby flay. I'm not a bobby flay fan so I was super glad to know that this "Biscuit Lady" (that's what they call her apparently-- I prefer Goddess of Biscuits) triumphed over him in the biscuit challenge. With this piece of information, I was starting to understand my family's hype and got super excited. I already love biscuits but I'm from California where I feel like there isn't many places that specialize in biscuits, so this was very exciting-- finally to eat biscuits that people who know good biscuits think are good biscuits. So finally we sit down at our table and out come these glorious pieces of heaven- hot and soft and flaky in just the right places. They were bites of wonderful. And damn, I love the preserves tooooo! The mountain of hot biscuits come with three different side jams-- strawberry, peach, and blackberry. I didn't care which one I had because the combination of biscuit and preserve? One cannot go wrong with any of it. Amazeballs! The only reason I don't give it five stars (Because the biscuits and preserves totally deserve 5 if not 6 stars) is that the breakfast I had was just okay. And the chicken fried steak (or country fried steak--forgot what it's called) was just .. meh. It was nothing special nor it do I think it was worth the prices. I had eggs and sausage and I was quite disappointed. The sausage was burnt and awkward tasting, and the home fries were crispy but just okay. Perhaps it was because of all the quality goodness that the biscuits gave me that the other foods were so bland. Still despite the mediocre food, I'd go back for the biscuits. This time knowing to just order maybe a side of crispy hot home fries, and just chow down on like 10 biscuits and preserves.. Carol Fay-- you are the goddess of biscuits. Good job.
(4)Tony J.
had a late lunch there yesterday afternoon after watching coldplay at the sommet center last saturday. they were packed, we had to wait around 40 minutes to get a table. the place is nice, the service was good. the food was pretty ok, typical southern home cooking, fried chicken, ham, fried catfish, barbecue, with all the sides and desserts. i have to agree though with all the good reviews on their biscuits. those small buttery biscuits are excellent.
(3)Eri K.
I was only in Nashville for a short time, so I Yelped for some southern comfort food and was very please when I found Loveless Cafe. It's a little ways out of the city but has a great story and delicious food. It is just the kind of place you go for real sweet tea and hot butter biscuits. The service was mediocre, but the food makes you forget that real quick. Definitely try the cobbler!
(4)Andrew M.
Really good southern food, service was excellent and the price was reasonable. I love their chicken!
(5)Donna S.
This is a great place to visit. Plan on at least an hour wait. Their biscuits are made on site. Jams are delicious. I preferred the peach.
(5)Maddie S.
Loveless is overrated. PERIOD. I have lived 5 minutes away from the restaurant my entire life and have visited on numerous occasions. As I have grown older and refined my tastes, I have enjoyed each dining experience less and less. Loveless has decent food. Food is often oversalted and greasy. Obviously, one must expect something like that before going to a restaurant like Loveless. There are several other places in Nashville that serve much better Southern cuisine.
(2)maxine r.
I rode a bicycle up the trace to Nashville. Everyone was telling me about this place. Breakfast cost me over 17 dollars. I thought that was a lot of money for a mediocre breakfast. This place is pricey for you get. If was fun to look at the pictures on the wall and chat with the staff, but the food was nothing special. I'd would avoid eating here. The 'Calypso Cafe' in Nashville, IMHO, is a much better dining experience. Sure, Loveless, is a unique place with history. But the food is just worth what they charge.
(2)Mark O.
My wife and I had the fried chicken. The chicken was great. I would compare it to White Fence Farm in Illinois. The biscuits and jam were fantastic! Best biscuits I have ever had! We had creamed corn, fried green tomatoes, grits and mashed potatoes as sides. Best creamed corn I have ever had. Fried green tomatoes were great as well. A must try in Nashville.
(4)John R.
It's always great to get to visit an institution. It's been around since 1951 and while it's changed owners several times (including a relatively recent expansion), it seems to have held onto the original charm. There are some big, and little, names and photos of people who have visited over time. The hostess and waiter were extremely friendly and truly made you feel right at home. The waiter kept checking on us to make sure everything was ok. I had the traditional biscuits, jam, ham, eggs, hash brown casserole, and red-eyed gravy. The red-eyed gravy came in a side dish - something I've never tried. When I asked what was in it the waiter said without hesitation, "grease, coffee, and molasses...it helps cut the saltiness of the ham." Being a somewhat healthy eater my buddy said my jaw almost dropped to the table. However, it was a very light grease :-) and actually tasted quite good with the ham. The biscuits were excellent, and went quite well with the three fruit jams that accompanied them. While the eggs were nothing special, they were not intended to be the star of the show. The has brown casserole was a great mix of potatoes, cream, and cheese - quite decadent. If your up for a good ole' southern breakfast (the also server "supper") then I can't imagine finding a better spot. An added bonus is the Hams and Jams shop, as well as the small stores now residing in the old motel rooms. Definitely worth the trip!
(5)Robert N.
The fried chicken is amazing! The creamed corn is awesome! The biscuits have no equal! I feel like I should mention the biscuits again.
(5)Angela M.
I went to this place for breakfast with a girlfriend on a Friday morning while we were in town for the CMA Music Fest. With the crowd in town that week, I figured we would have long lines but it was no wait at all. I ordered an omelet and it was really good. The biscuits were also very tasty and the service was great. My favorite thing was the blackberry jam. I have never really liked blackberry jam because of the seeds but this was so good I bought a jar for myself and 4 others to give away for Father's Day. I have hear from each person I gave a jar to and they liked it as well. I also bought biscuit mix to make at home, and while they were not exactly like the restaurant, they were pretty good.
(4)Krystal O.
I've only been here once, and it was almost 2 years ago but I can't help but remember the delicious turkey mashed potatoes and of course the biscuits! I really loved the cute little shop and all of the art work they had on display inside the restaurant. I even picked myself up a little magnet that still hangs on my fridge to this day that says "I aint bashful, I'm from Nashville". Oh how I miss Tennessee, but when I come back the Loveless Cafe better watch out, because I'll be coming back hungry!
(4)Deepak B.
What can I say...good old fashion southern cooking. Prices are very reasonable, and quality of food is exceptional.
(4)Rozzie M.
Great service. Great biscuits. Great atmosphere. Fun place.
(4)Melissa M.
My friend and I were driving from DC back home to CA and stopped in Nashville for a night to visit an old friend. He recommended that we meet him for breakfast at the Loveless. Very glad he did! Our meals were amazing and I wish I could have been in town longer to try more items off of the menu. The place was PACKED while we were there, but most people didn't seem to care about waiting since there's so many things to see around the property. We also hit the gift shop on the way out of town and I came home with lots of Loveless things. Great place!!
(5)JustinandSally H.
There are not many places where I would wait two hours for a table and then say the food lived up to the hype. I had read about Loveless and wanted to try it, but then we just happened to drive by it and stopped. We braved the long wait and explored the shops, they give you a pager that works on the entire property. I could easily make a meal off the biscuits and homemade jam, but I would not want to miss the country ham of the sides. I had fried green tomatoes and hash brown casserole, both great! We ordered a pie and barbecue to go (wanted to make sure our time spent there was worth it) and they were both remarkable as well. I am not sure I would wait that long again, but glad we experienced this place, a real landmark.
(4)Kristin M.
One of the best restaurants that Nashville has to offer! I totally recommend the pull pork, fried chicken, and catfish. The place has a special to get 3 meats and 2 sides for $16. Portions are more than enough with tons of delicious sides to choose from like the hashbrown chessy casserole and cream corn. Make sure you save enough room for the endless melt in your mouth fluffy biscuits and warm peach cobbler for dessert! Can't wait to go back =D
(5)MITCH S.
Although very busy we had the option of carring out and eating outsidw picnic style. The wait for s table was 1.5 hours. Since the last time I was here the quality seems to have gone South, but not in a good way. The chicken fried steak was tasteless, the mac and cheese was mushy. My wife's fried chicken was not as good as a remembered. I would only give them 2.5 stars on this trip.
(2)Jeffrey G.
This place doesn't disappoint. Came from Southern Indiana to eat here and stay a couple of days in Nashville. I recommend the Sampler Platter. My wife's garden salad with fried chicken looked delicious.
(5)Will H.
I recently went to Nashville for business purposes and was very eager to go to the Loveless Cafe after seeing them on the Food Network. The service was excellent! The wait staff was friendly and made us feel warm and fuzzy. The biscuits are definatley to die for! I ended up ordering the sample platter and was unfortunately dissapointed. The fried chicken lacked adequate seasoning in addition to the fact that the wings were extremely small. The pulled pork was blah. The catfish was pretty good though. Overall it was okay, but I probably wouldn't go back.
(2)Renee S.
Excellent food. Great biscuits. I had he fried chicken on a salad (can't remember the name of the salad). Hubby had the fried chicken and waffles. Service was great. atmosphere was cute. Worth the drive to get to!
(5)C-pher M.
HOLY MOLY, now this is some DAMN good Home Country Cooking. I had some great Fried Chicken, wonderful Catfish and amazing Country Ham. Our Server was the best, he was on top of things, funny and didn't miss a beat with anything we needed. The best thing, we happened to see Billy Ray Cyrus and Johnny Van Zant while we were there...Hell, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. I was really thinking about going back there for dinner every night....it was that good.
(4)Brad K.
We were visiting from out of town for the NPAA (Nurse Practitioner American Association) Conference at the OpryLand Hotel, and had great service on a Tuesday at around noon even though we waited 15 minutes to sit. I had a country fried steak with white gravy, Hash-brown Casserole, and two eggs over medium. I combined the eggs and the gravy to top the CFS and it was great. The CFS was about the size of my hand, or about 10 inches round. Very very tasty. My wife had a fried chicken salad, and my daughter had the old faithful chicken wings. Everyone was very pleased with their meals.
(5)Sandy T.
I've been to Loveless many times, and I am here asking myself, "what brings me back to this place?" So....I tried really hard and made a recall of my past visits and after a quick analyzation of it all (parking lot to last crumb on my bottom lip) I am ready to sum it up in a few sentences for Yelp. Here we go....I think the best parts of Loveless are the buildings (restaurant, shops, barn), the people (locals, tourists, awesome servers), the energy (music-happy) and last but not least, the BISCUITS!!!! Yes...The famous biscuits that are served with granny's homeade recipe of peach, strawberry, raspberry preserves, honey, and sorghum. The rest of the food is good, but in my opinion, those hot fresh biscuits are unbeatable. They are annoyingly distracting, actually. You eat them before your food arrives and then you just can't stop eating them. The server will continue to refill your basket at your wish, but if they didn't, I think you/I/he/she/we would slap whoevers hand reached out for the last biscuit in the basket. It would be a loveless fight! ;) It's a fun place to eat at and visit. Def a MUST GO TO if you are visiting from out of town. And for you.... loco locals who haven't been to Loveless EVER, all I can say is "bless your heart!". You can't live in Nashville and say you've never been there! :) In summary, it's soooooo good, I can taste and feel the LOOOOOOVE in this southern old Motel turned into Loveless Cafe. I love it and I'm willing to bet a basket of biscuits you will to! (FYI- the Loveless Motel used to belong to the Loveless Family)
(4)Victoria L.
Some true stick-to-your-ribs good Southern comfort food. We came here on our recent trip to Nashville after hearing rave reviews. In fact, it was the only must-do activity from our friend who had been here once before. We came during the early evening on Saturday and there was approximately a 40 minute wait. In the meantime, there were the little series of shops that we could browse through in the surrounding buildings. Once seated, our waiter was super friendly. He promptly brought over their famous biscuits and preserves. While in the south, I've quite enjoyed my biscuits savory-style but these preserves tasted very fresh. They kept us occupied for a while until we decided on what to order. The soup of the day was chicken pot pie, which I couldn't turn down even though I was also anxious to try so many other things. Thus, my friend and I ordered the country sampler with fried chicken, country ham, and pulled pork. We opted for obvious sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. The fried chicken drumsticks were delicious and the sides definitely hit the spot. The pulled pork was not my favorite though. Someone else ordered the meatloaf platter with sweet potato and hashbrown casserole sides. He claimed the hashbrown casserole was the best he's had. Our other friend got the turkey platter with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, which was good too. It was definitely worth the hype of classic down home southern cooking.
(4)J P.
No, NO, NOOO - a thousand times NO! I cannot vouch for what this place used to be when it was privately owned. Certainly quaint and a great setup - but the food (breakfast) was horrible. Given that this is a place for Country Ham, biscuits and all the fixins', they ain't up to it. Ham was not up to any other place that serves it, redeye gravy incredibly weak. Biscuits - doods - quit using baking soda with aluminum - like sticking an aluminum plate in your mouth. Plus, they had a terrible sweet afterbite when dipped in Redeye. Jelly and Jams were good, but ain't why you go out to eat. Interesting - asked for eggs over easy and was told that that meant the yolk would be close to hard. Let's try turning down the heat on the stove. In short - if you can't fix eggs right, where do you rise from. If you can't fix Country Ham right - then don't call yourselves Country. Now, I know there are thousands of country stars plastered on the walls. Cool, but these folks know their mamma and grandma made better. I'd take my picture down. As hard as it is to get Country Ham, I make it all the time - I beat this place hands down - which means they don't make the cut for a place I'd go out to. Really sad part is that I was visiting from out of town and was told this was the place for country cooking. If you mean breakfast - forget it...
(1)Bridgette C.
I feel sacrilegious writing this but I am not the biggest can of loveless. Sure, it's a staple for taking out of town visitors. They have good food and cool shops and that adorable bar on their giant complex out there...but the food isn't that spectacular. It's good, in that traditional breakfast way, but it's nothing you can't make in your own kitchen. And (please don't hurt me for this!) this biscuits are just not my favorite. Again, good, but not shout-from-the-hills good. The wait on the weekends is always insane and I always feel like we are rushed out. It's a place to go once at least, especially if you have visiting relatives, but I don't go out of my way to go there on my own. I'll go if invited, but it's never a case of "gosh I'd love Loveless for breakfast right now."
(3)Marika N.
Overall, I had a very pleasant experience at the Loveless Cafe last weekend. I was there on a double date with old friends. The wait (starting at 5 PM on a Saturday) was an hour and a half, but we had planned ahead and showed up well before we were hungry. We killed the wait by playing corn hole and checking out the shops. The biscuits were solid. They didn't beat the homemade biscuits that my southern family makes, but the blackberry, peach and strawberry jam that they were served with was delicious. We each got the drink special of the night, a Strawberry sipper. It was essentially lemonade with strawberry rye whiskey and was fairly sweet. It was perfect for my taste, but not for the guys'. Our waiter was friendly and hilarious. The service was fast and each of us enjoyed our meals. I got the catfish sandwich with grits and it was certainly well done. If you go there with good company and expecting a long wait, the Loveless Cafe is a good place to grab some southern food. I'm not sure I would go there over the summer though because most of the waiting areas are outdoors and a long, hot wait would have made us miserable. Addition: We did not feel rushed at all while we there. In fact, we actually felt that the restaurant did not have the focus on volume that other places had. While we were there, we commented that we appreciated how much space they had put in between the tables.
(4)Danielle W.
This restaurant is a far piece from downtown Nashville we were staying by the airport and it took us between 20 and 30 minutes to get there don't let the distance or the wait scare you it is well worth it Honestly some of the best food I've ever tasted I have the fried chicken mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese the husband had their daily special which was brisket over toast mashed potatoes and green beans The chicken was perfect juicy inside crispy on the outside not over breaded and macaroni and cheese was amazing its obvious everything here is made from scratch my husbands brisket literally melted in your mouth and the green beans or seasoned perfectly. We stopped in on Saturday around 1 o'clock the wait was 2 hours and we were just too hungry to stay we came back on Sunday around 4 and still have an hour wait the food was well worth it in the meantime we walked around to all the shops on the campus and you even are able to check out corn hole bags to keep you busy. We walk through all the shops and even got a t-shirt that said praise the lard and pass the biscuits the lobby is full of autographed photos from celebrities who have stopped by and the decor is like being in your grandma's kitchen. When they first sit you down they bring you their scrumptious biscuits and homemade strawberry peach and BlackBerry preserves. If I would have known these were so good I probably would have bought them in the gift shop rather than the t-shirt they melt in your mouth The service was as good as the food. Kramer was our waiter we never had to ask for anything my tea glass was always at least half full and he stop by several times to see how we were doing. If I have to find something I didn't like I would say the tea probably wasn't sweet enough but that's nothing that would stop me from coming back. can't wait to come back to Nashville to eat at loveless again next time I'm getting breakfast
(5)Sheryl C.
This place is no joke and worth the effort. Go. Doesn't matter how far you need to travel to get there, just go. Eat the biscuits, order the fried chicken and cream corn. SO good! All of it was amazing... you'll leave full, happy, and ready to come back for more. I will definitely be coming back to Nashville just to eat here again. Instant favorite!
(5)Adam B.
There have been a lot of reviews about Loveless already so I will give you the high points in mine. It's like a large gift shop with a diner in the middle of it. The wait is WAAAAAY too long. The biscuits are out of this world good. The rest of the food was....eh, fine I guess. You are paying for the experience. Glad I went once. I wouldn't go back again.
(2)Robert D.
The Loveless Café was the most disappointing restaurant I have been too. We have been looking forward to going there for almost 3 years and we finally got the opportunity and were disappointed at every turn. The place is cute, quaint. and has a lot of history but the waiting staff is rude and you feel like you're inconveniencing them by just being there. The food is absolutely nothing special nothing that you can't find at a local Cracker Barrel or mom-and-pop diner. We have no reason to return
(2)Andrew R.
Been here a few times and really enjoyed it. It's more than just a food stop, so leave yourself some time. A little of everything on the menu. Go get some!
(5)J O.
I'd have to agree with others that this cafe might not necessarily be worth the wait time. My friend & I came on a Sunday (before Memorial Day) around 6:30pm and didn't get seated until almost 8pm. We walked around the little store and checked everything out. Two separate weddings were going on so it was neat to see the brides posing under the Loveless neon sign out front while we waited. Our waiter was real friendly and attentive. He brought us their famous biscuits with 3 different flavored jams right when we sat down. Now if anything, the wait was worth these biscuits with butter-n-jam! My friend & I both ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. She got the collard greens and I opted for the green beans. Both were really good. I honestly thought the white meat, fried chicken could've been more moist, but I don't really eat fried chicken like ever, so I'm not the best at deciphering from good/bad fried chicken. All-n-all, it was a decent experience. Our waiter comped our desserts which was nice. My friend just had a slice of the apple pie and I had a small portion of their banana bread pudding. My friend said the pie was so-so. The bread pudding was decent, but I was so full from my meal that I couldn't eat anymore than a few fork-fulls of it!
(3)Jamie B.
Typical country cafe with adequate selection but exaggerated pricing and an insane popularity (i.e. Wait times). We waited 2 hrs to eat a $40 + tip meal consisting of a V8 and hot sauce Bloody Mary and an overdone chicken fried steak with Hardee's quality gravy. If Commanders Palace Bloody Mary's are a 9/10, Loveless barely ranks a 1. The creamed spinach was tasty but heavy and the green beans were overdone and tasted like a porkchop more than garden veggie. Service was very good and the quaint little country campus with gift shops were well maintained, but being from the South it was absolutely NOTHING special.
(2)Laura C.
Totally worth the ride and wait. Biscuits are amazing. I ordered the fried chicken with cream corn and mac & cheese. Incredible. I'm not a big cream corn fan but the waitress, Tammy (who was super sweet), suggested we try it and it was great! We LOVED it. The barbecue sauce was so good that we all bought our own bottles to take home from the gift shop. The fudge pie was tasty as well. Oh and the Hams and Jams gift shop is adorable and full of great items. If I ever come back to Nashville, it's to come eat at Loveless Cafe.
(5)Lab L.
A local friend recommended this location for Sunday lunch, boasting about the ham and gravy. What she didn't tell us was the average 2 hour wait. We spent some time running in and out of the shops. Samples were amazing and we got some pumpkin butter to take home. We still had over an hour to wait. Once we were seated, service was fast and attentive. We all loved our homecooked food and didn't eat again for the rest of the day. If you are coming here, be sure to have plenty of time. We would have preferred to not take up so much of our limited Nashville time...but we have some great memories of this unique place.
(4)Eric P.
My family had breakfast this Sunday morning and I want to update my review from seven months ago as well as add a fourth star for Loveless Cafe. We arrived around 8:30am and had only a 20 min. wait. It was in the low 40's outside and we were able to wait inside right across from the pie cabinet. People watching is quite good from here and it amazed us how many guests place themselves direct in the single doorway after checking in, making it terrible for those leaving or entering. Not Loveless' fault but certainly a fire hazard and rude. Once seated at a clean and well set four top table in the largest dining room on the East side of the building, our delightful and knowledgeable waitress greeted us and took our drink order. I want to reiterate a point I made in my previous review that the wait staff at Loveless is the absolute best you will find at any Nashville restaurant. Certainly a reason to eat here! Very quickly our drinks arrived along with the biggest plate of hot biscuits, three flavors of preserves and plenty of real butter we remember receiving in many years. Our Waitress took our food order and we chatted briefly. Today we learned that Tom Morales and TomKats Catering no longer has any involvement with Loveless. I noticed a Senior Manager that appeared very professional and maintaining a regular, close review of the wait list. Bravo!!! The lady that seems to always be handling the wait list when we visit Loveless is the weakest link at Loveless so I was thrilled to see a General Manager regularly overseeing her work, asking questions and staying very familiar with the info on the list. Please keep doing this Management! Now to the food. Chocolate chip pancakes that my daughter always orders were perfect and so large she brought some leftovers home. The breakfast steak and eggs my wife ordered were served hot and cooked to order. The steak could be a better grade meat and actually a bit smaller. My guess is the steaks are coming at average grade from a Sysco type supplier and a local area grain fed beef supplier would be a nice improvement for Loveless to consider and make a highlight of the menu. Today I ordered the half-order country ham meal with red-eye gravy, eggs & grits. All cooked just right, served hot and plated perfectly. I got chocolate milk for my drink, a first, and was very pleased that it came in a carton from our local (sadly now owned by Dean) Purity Dairy. This is the same milk I grew up drinking in Nashville from weekly home delivery 50 years ago and it is still the best anywhere! Great choice for your dairy products Loveless. I still want to encourage first time visitors to ask for seating in the original small dining room to the left of the hostess stand. This room gives you the real feel of the original and later the McCabe owned Loveless of the 70's - 90's. Most of all don't be afraid to ask questions and try different foods at Loveless. It is a true Nashville treasure.
(4)Ariel Z.
Make sure to take some of those golden biscuits home with you...great for heating up in the microwave. This place is famous for a reason.
(4)Crystal P.
how do I even begin to review the best breakfast of my life. it was so good we went back during our trip. something we never do since we want to always check out and explore everything, not do a repeat. I found this place when searching best breakfast in Nashville and I thought it'd be our first stop after we landed, picked up our rental car and headed on the gorgeous drive over. shocked to find out there was a wait on a Friday early afternoon but it was less then the 45 minutes they said it'd be. we walked around and investigated the stores plus it was a gorgeous day out so it was fine. a wait is never a bad thing, means they are doing something right! it was so good, so delicious we came back Monday morning! no wait since we came around 8 am this time. just as delicious as the first time. first time I ever had grits and I am now spoiled for life.
(5)Joe S.
The family style breakfast was awesome. The food came out hot. The coffee never stopped. The famous biscuits and homemade jelly were to die for. The waitstaff was great, friendly and attentive.
(5)Kathy R.
I was excited to try this place after reading reviews and receiving recommendations from friends. I was disappointed to say the least. We had a party of 6 and all got different plates. Not one of us said "I'd come back". It was okay but not what I had hoped for.
(2)C. V.
Real southern food. Check it out if that's your thing.
(5)Zachery M.
The single best biscuits I have ever had in my life. In fact the only downside to the biscuits themselves is the fact that I don't live in Nashville and they have ruined all other biscuits for me. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quaint and clean and the service from our waitress was fantastic. Unfortunately there is quite a long wait on the weekends but it is well worth it and they do have outdoor seating for you to wait on and some neat little stores nearby to peruse. In conclusion the biscuits are so good that I will someday return to Nashville just to come get these biscuits again.
(5)Michael E.
Being the only really solid breakfast place in a large radius, Loveless Cafe is always crowded--that's the downside. The upside is pretty much everything else: melt-in-your-mouth fluffy biscuits, solid breakfast food served all day, and friendly service. My wife and I come here every time we drive through Tennessee. I took off a star because they discontinued their call-ahead option.
(4)Josh B.
The biscuits and preserves are definitely what keeps me and my family coming back. The breakfast is good, but nothing special. My kids love to watch them making biscuits in the window and play on the grounds. We usually go on the weekends but we make sure to get there no later than 8:30am to avoid a long wait.
(4)Deborah B.
Went to the Loveless Cafe on a recommendation from a local friend as one of their families favorites. Of coarse I first still checked yelp for reviews prior to goin,g so I knew I was in for a wait, which was helpful. It took 45 minutes to be seated at 8 pm on a Monday night. The drive to it was very scenic and the gift shops kept us happily occupied. Once seated though our fabulous waiter named Owen promptly took our drink orders and brought my party of 5 an enormous plate of the famous biscuits and jellies. I thought we would never eat all of them but within a few moments time Owen said, " I did bring you a plate of biscuits didn't I?" with a warm smile on his face. We each ordered different meals and not one was disappointed with their choice! As we sampled each other's side items....the cheese grits and Mac and cheese were big hits. Not only was the food scrumptious but the hospitality of our awesome waiter (Owen) mixed with the cozy environment made it a night to remember! It will be a definite stop for us next time in Nashville.
(5)Laura R.
As good as advertised! We had to wait almost 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon, but the time flew by because they have plenty of casual seating areas and free iced tea to sip while you wait. And of course shopping :) Once we were seated they instantly gave us biscuits, and the food did not take long at all to come (we were afraid it might, since the table wait was so long). Everything tastes genuinely homemade, and the environment is friendly and cozy. We will be back!
(5)Mimi L.
No love for the Loveless Cafe. We waited about an hour to be seated for dinner and after eating there, I figured this had to be a tourist trappy type of place. The drive to the cafe was beautiful as we passed by large homes with acres of property. During our wait, we were given a buzzer that would work at their different gift shops. My winning find was the piggy popcorn cooked in bacon grease with bacon bits at the Hams & Jams Country Market. I will definitely order that online. All of the workers were super friendly. Their specialty fried chicken was bland and dry. The fried catfish and fried green tomatoes had the same batter and were both bland. Yes, even the biscuits were kinda bland. Maybe that's just the way it's supposed to be so you can smother gravy on everything. I honestly enjoyed the food at Cracker Barrel better... and that's not meant to be an insult.
(3)Tran T.
"Better than sex biscuits" is not an overstatement. Damn, Loveless Cafe definitely has the best biscuits in town! The biscuits (6) came with the breakfast meal I ordered. They came with 3 different types of jams (strawberry, peach, and blueberry). After having the blackberry jam at Urban Grub, any other jam seems average to me. Initially I ordered the Breakfast Steak and 2 Eggs but they ran out of the Rib-eye (at 8:00 am!! boooo!!!), so I changed to Pit-Cooked Pork BBQ and Eggs instead. I had my eggs fried - medium and a side of hash-brown casserole. I wasn't a fan of the BBQ, however my friend loved it alot and ended up eating most of it. I never touched the hash-brown because of how cheesy it was. My fault, I should had gotten the potatoes instead. The only thing I like in this dish is the eggs, they were cooked to perfection. My friend had the Southern Sampler Breakfast (Country Ham, Sausages, Bacon, and Red-eye gravy. The country ham was so salty that it was hard to taste anything after that. They should add this "country ham" to the hypertension risk factors list. The sausages were so dry. We tried to pour the red-eye gravy over it because we weren't sure what was the gravy for...it didn't help. I wouldn't order this. The portions are huge. I could barley finish half of my dish after eating all of those yummy biscuits. Breakfast for two people were more than $30, which is pretty expensive. I suggest share the platter with someone and order A La Carte on the side (for 2 people). I got here around 8 am and there were no waiting lines. I will be back for those heavenly biscuits and try the fried chicken next time! 2013/#58
(4)Eric S.
I'm going to give this 4/5 stars just because it took some effort to get seated. The girls thought I was invisible for about 5 mins, then they suggested take out, then I was seated in the corner next to a large loud table before seating myself... Everything looked up right after being seated. My waitress was very friendly & the food was delicious. I ordered the watermelon ribs which were full of sweet zesty flavor, which was covered in BBQ sauce. The meat came off the bone with little effort.
(4)Dew T.
Biscuits and jam. Enough said. Completely amazing. Such a fun thing to do in Nashville and always worth the wait!
(5)Juls B.
After the 1 1/2 hour wait, it won't be shorter even if you are only a party of 2, I can say it was worth the wait! Our waitress was super down southern sweet and the food did not disappoint. My hubby had the southern sampler choices were fried catfish, ham ( yes, it's salty but he likes that) and the fried chicken. Yum to all. Sides we shared were creamed corn ( to die for), fried green tomatoes (liked), caramel sweet potatoes (Yumo!!) and hash brown potatoes casserole. Tastes like the one I make so nothing special but it was good. Our food came out super fast but then it slowed waaaaay down on closing out our bill. Good place for southern comfort food!
(4)Karen C.
I don't know if I can really add to what has already been said, but here it goes... Biscuits? AMAZING. I know my biscuits, and these are the bomb diggity. I could have eaten even more than I did (and trust me, I ate my fair share), but I really needed my pants to fit this week. Cheese grits? Yes, please. Not much else needs to be said about that. Homemade preserves? Oh God yes. Blackberry is amazing. Strawberry is amazing, Peach is extra-super amazing. Friendly service? Insanely nice across the board, from our waitress to the guy that brought our food to the people in the shop. Store to take home goodies? Yep. I just enjoyed some Loveless Cafe Strawberry Preserves on my couch in Chicago... still delicious. And I can't wait to crack into the pickles I bought, but now I'm annoyed with myself for not getting the Peach Preserves, too. Long-ass wait? We got there at 10ish on a Sunday morning for breakfast, waited 1 1/2 hours. And yep, totally worth it. By the time we got seated, they were telling people up to 2 1/2 hours. Take note from whom I assume are the locals that sat up shop playing dominoes & board games at the picnic tables by bringing something along to entertain yourself. Stop debating if it's worth the drive/wait/etc. ... it is. Go. Now.
(5)Amanda M.
Best breakfast ever! Worth the wait. We waited about 45 minutes. While we were waiting we walked around the property where we samples peach cobbler hot tea- so good. Hashbrown casserole is an absolute must. Biscuits were amazing. Everything was delicious.
(5)Robert S.
A bit off the beaten path yet fairly easy to find with some simple directions. And once you are near it, you can't miss the signs. Basically a southern-style home cooking place that also added popular dishes from other areas. I had the Shrimp and Grits which had large shrimp and was mucho tasty. The Fried Chicken Salad was loaded with chunks of fried chicken and was a meal in itself. I also tried a 'Moonshine' Mary, a version of the ever-popular Bloody Mary except that moonshine was substituted for vodka. Don't think it will be my new favorite, but it was interesting. There is a store on the property called Hams and Jams which sells various country food items such as country ham, preserves, bacon etc. I tried and bought a bag of bacon popcorn, which tastes different but it kinda grows on you. The biscuits are some of the best I've ever had. Buttery, hot and served with 3 different jams. The service was friendly and knowledgeable. The food didn't take long to be prepared and overall, this is a well-run operation.
(4)Adam C.
Biscuits are no kidding great. Loved the chicken the pork and the pies look great. Too full to order pie. This was some good cooking. Worth the extra trip. Great wait staff lots of enthusiasm from everyone there. A little touristy but still lots of fun. I will be back for the biscuits!!!
(5)Brian M.
Loveless is fun & excellent quality. Their fried chicken is very good, mashed potatoes and chicken gravy fantastic, biscuits great, BBQ brisket great, and the service was excellent. We waited 1.5hrs and it was worth it. BBQ. pit master and I talked BBQ for almost the entire 1.5hrs. It was a great time.
(4)Chance S.
Yes, the biscuits here are consistently tasty. No one disputes this fact. But is there a biscuit on the planet that is worth a drive out to the boonies followed by a 2 hour wait to eat what is essentially a glorified, overpriced Cracker Barrel meal? I probably won't do it again, but the tourists seem to think so. Aside from the biscuits, the food and service were decent, but certainly not worth raving about.
(3)Cate N.
Best biscuits and jam ever. The turkey and swiss sandwich with grilled onions was divine along with the fried okra. And the virgin Bloody Mary really packed a spicy punch. To top it off, our waiter Matt had a fabulous personality. I would definitely come here again!
(5)Mary S.
I just love this place!! I was coming here for 10 years before I moved to Nashville and now I live only a hop skip and a jump away!!! The Pork Chops are Wonderful....the Biscuits are GREAT....and I love love love the Coconut Cream pie!!! 10 stars!!!
(5)Lauren M.
Loveless Cafe was definitely a treat, I would rate it 4 or 4.5 star. We arrived at the worst possible time (NOON) on a Friday. We ended up having to wait about an hour and 15 mins to get a table. It was definitely worth the wait but still a bit of a pain in the ass. You can kill time browsing the nearby Loveless Cafe shops and get a free coffee next door. We were giving some biscuits and preserves to start out (yum!) and I had fried chicken which was served with choice of two sides (I tried green beans and squash). The chicken was absolutely massive and I couldn't finish it. Definitely the best fried chicken I've ever had, although it's not a favorite of mine so I am no expert. Service was great here and the decor and ambiance are lovely. Prices were very reasonable (my meal was about $12). Overall very fun and satisfying experience :)
(4)Casey Ann S.
Loveless cafe was a special stop today! The property is so cute, with a gift shop, antique store, art store, and bean bag tossing pits in addition to the actual restaurant itself. I can see why loveless is so popular! Great staff and authentic southern vibe going on. Had the chicken and biscuit side for breakfast, it was delicious but tiny (I ordered another!) Lots of southern sides and dishes! Yum.
(4)Marie G.
Such a great restaurant - a can't miss place when visiting Nashville! Yes there will probably be a line when you visit so check in and spend the next hour or two walking the property, play games, do some shopping, or rock away your hunger in one of the many rocking chairs! Once you get seated - prepare for a feast! Don't miss the fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit sandwiches. Everything on the menu is great. And I mean everything! Take dessert to go ;) Service...best in Nashville!
(5)Beth M.
Worth the wait! My fiance and I were in town for one night, and a Food Network junkie friend recommended the Loveless for breakfast. We were warned ahead of time of the wait, so we were mentally prepared. They have a great system using a pager that works all around the grounds, which include shaded benches, gift shops, coffee and sweet tea stations (complimentary). We were pleased that our wait time was actually about half of the quoted time. We were greeted by a very friendly and enthusiastic waitress named JD. My fiance is from the Midwest and knows his way around a carb-laden breakfast menu. The SoCal native in me doesn't know red-eye gravy from grits. JD was more than happy to educate me. With her advice, I decided upon everything "southern"; cheese grits, biscuits and sausage gravy, fried green tomatoes, and eggs and bacon. My review may not be truly qualified, as I have no basis for comparison of southern food, but, oh my, was it delicious! It was a bit of a fluke for me to be in Nashville in the first place, and I will probably never return. With that knowledge, I savored every bite, plus about five extra bites that I should have resisted. My fiance enjoyed his chicken fried steak, hash brown casserole, and plenty of warm biscuits. Make your way to the Loveless if you find yourself in Nashville.
(5)Aprile M.
If you are in the area you have to stop. Food is fresh and hot. Once you sit down they bring you some hot biscuits with some fruit preserves. The peach preserves are delicious. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. My husband had the biscuits and gravy. My daughter got the chicken tenders. The portions are huge. We took a lot of food home. Everything was delicious. Service was fast and friendly.
(5)Scott B.
Cool place, great service, but the food is just good southern style food. Its very similar to almost all small town diners. But the atmosphere makes it a must see place!
(4)Alicia M.
I love it! Hands down! The only con; it's a good drive outside of the Nashville city limit and there is a wait. I had breakfast alone and the wait was about an hour and 30 minutes. Will return regardless
(4)Jennifer O.
An absolutely great place to stop and take a step back in time!!!! It takes awhile but worth the wait and there is plenty to do while you casually stroll the property!!! Creamed corn and BBQ Pork!!! Yum Y'all
(5)Natalie R.
Had to wait at Sunday lunchtime, but wow, was it worth it... Every bite was delicious southern cooking, like my grandma used to make. Now that we have gorged on chicken & waffles, fried chicken, numerous delicious sides, and some pie---- we are rolling out to car to nap... :)
(5)Claudette W.
Yep. It's as good as everyone says. I don't think I can even add to the information. Awesome biscuits, jam, chix fried steak, veggies. Friendly folks. Worth a trip.
(5)James C.
Time goes fast while waiting for a table here. We waited 45min and it was entirely worth it. Free coffee in the gift shop, free tea and lemonade by the artist studio. Chairs on the porch to enjoy the weather and touristy yet safe family atmosphere Incredible fried chicken, Mac and cheese is nice and cheesy. Very fast and friendly service. Secret biscuit recipe biscuits are wonderful! Our food got to our table in amazing time. Our server Gretchen, offered her suggestions and answered all our questions with genuine care. The out buildings offer a market, a gift shop for kids, a few artist studios and some activities for kids i. e. blowing bubbles, side walk chalk, bean bag throw. Definitely worth a visit!!!
(5)Allie R.
I have been to loveless several times now and it has never disappointed. Their biscuits are absolutely amazing and we always eat up all the preserves that come with them. Before I leave I always make sure to buy a couple jars of their peach preserves because they are my absolute favorite. I've had the biscuit sampler breakfast, the meat sampler breakfast, and their fried pork chop breakfast (epic sized pork chops). I always love everything. Their ham and sausage is some of the best I've ever had. The hash brown casserole is cheesy and decedent. We always have a great server. If you can get over the wait and enjoy the experience as a whole it is a great one. It is an awesome place and I know we will be back many many times in the future.
(5)Jay G.
Absolutely hands down best home cooking/soul food whatever you prefer in the greater Nashville area. The chicken and biscuits is what they're known for but everything is awesome. And that's really all anyone could ever say about this place...awesome
(5)Scott S.
This is my first time visiting the Loveless Cafe. I ordered the sampler plate with BBQ pork, meatloaf, and fried chicken. The meatloaf was good not great, the BBQ pork was just slow cooked pork with BBQ sauce, no smoke flavor whatsoever. The fried chicken was above average. My sides were mac n cheese and the hash brown casserole. The mac n cheese was just a notch above TV dinner fare, and the hash brown casserole was pretty average. What really let me down was the biscuits and preserves. I was dreaming about them on this trip before my visit on this trip. The biscuits were way below average, I might have had a bad batch as the waitress was taking to the table next to me about them and they said they never have seen them like this before. The preserves were below average for the peach and strawberry, but the blackberry were some of the best I've had. Overall for the price and hype I was expecting more. I wish I would have had breakfast for dinner as that's one meal that's hard to not hit the mark with. It's cool to say I ate here, but there are much better places in town to frequent. The service however was very good. Everybody here was warm and friendly.
(3)Shelley V.
I say sh*t, god*amn, this place is NOT to be missed when you are in the area! Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits... so good, I brought ziplocs from home and flew back with a dozen biscuits for my happy co-workers! Be warned, the wait on weekends is god-awful. Show up, be prepared to be patient and WAIT WAIT WAIT! I usually order eggs and bacon here and fill up on the biscuits with butter and jam. T had the BLT with fried green tomatoes and that looked amazing. She said it also tasted amazing! Next trip, I'm ordering that! All the food is good but the biscuits really stand out. Also; I absolutely love the servers - sassy, funny and make you feel like you are at your country granny's house! They also have a little market/gift shop that you can buy mixes, potato salads and like. I proudly bought some bacon scented air fresheners there!
(5)Stephen L.
I live about 15 minutes from the LC, and honestly I'd suggest finding a Cracker Barrel instead. The biscuits are flat and dry and everything else tastes about the same as a Cracker Barrel (if not sub-par), but has a much higher price tag. This is not a spot where locals eat (often). Every time I pass by I shake my head at the tourists lined up outside.
(2)Adrianna L.
Ok, yesterday I was visiting the city of Nashville for first time, one of my friends recommended this place...and some people tell me about the wonderful breakfast . So here we go! First of all , I need to wait at leas 1 hour 20 minutes to have a table! So I don't have too much time to see the city and I decided for take-out. I ordered Southern Sampler Breakfast to go , and the cashier told me that the size of this order is big, enough for TWO PEOPLE, and the big surprise! when the waitress bring me my meal , it was soo tiny! and they charged me 17.65 for this plate and one ice tea. I try to be objective in my review but I see the pictures in their website and the portion are so big. This place is unhealthy because everything have a LOT of fat! but at least the biscuits were amazing.
(2)Adam E.
Decided to hit the Loveless on the way out of Nashville. We heard good things from some friends. It did not disappoint. The place was packed, but we only waited about 5 minutes. I ordered the country ham and eggs, but it was the biscuits that stole the show. They were dense, and I was scared they would be gummy, but they were as flaky as can be. The property has several buildings that house a country store, antiques, and artwork. This was definitely a great end to our weekend in Nashville. Definitely add it to your to-do list while in Nashville.
(5)Jude C.
All the notoriety surrounding this restaurant is true...it is worth coming to because the food is excellent, the atmosphere is great, and the service is top-notch. The store they have in their compound has a lot of cool souvenirs and provides and opportunity to kill some time if you have to wait in line which is always a possibility here. I've been here once and surprisingly only had to wait for 15 minutes which I'm told is unheard of. Anyways, do yourself a favor and check this place out if you're in the Nashville area!
(5)Michael M.
You know it's hard to find well cooked eggs and country ham that isn't overly salty.this place has both along with in house jams. When I'm in nashville this is my breakfast place
(5)Park W.
This review was based on one visit. What I tried: BISCUITS!, Fried Chicken, Home-smoked Ham, caramel sweet potatoes, greens with pot liquor, green beans Tasting Notes: 5 Stars for the biscuits! The only biscuits I have every liked. Now I understand why people love them.. Loveless's biscuits are compact but fluffy, buttery but not too rich. I ate 4 at my meal (and this is coming from someone who does not like biscuits). Also, 5 stars for the preserves (especially the blackberry and peach) and the honey and molasses. The fried chicken was also solid, as were the sides. I thought the caramel sweet potatoes were particularly interesting. Not a huge fan of the ham-- it was too rough and chewy for my taste. Ambience: Homey comfortable feel. Though this is a tourist friendly spot, the restaurant itself doesn't feel like it is purposely trying to attract tourists (though obviously, the market and rest of the premises are). Service: Very friendly and attentive. They are generous with their biscuits, which is very importants. Recommendation: Great place to eat near Nashville (only 10miles from downtown). So glad that my friend from Nashville recommended this spot to me-- he mentioned that this place is a "nashville institution..." and indeed it is! If I ever find myself in this area again I'm definitely stopping by for biscuits.
(5)Chris S.
Takes AMEX. No matter the day, if you go around lunchtime, expect to wait perhaps an hour or so (they get a lot of tourist traffic). Food comes out fast though. The famous biscuits were above average and my companion's pulled pork omelette was ridiculous good. The full order country ham was good but too much from a volume standpoint. I was looking forward to the hashbrown casserole, but it was pretty plain. I'd say my review mostly reflects the omelette and some pretty great sausage gravy (get anything with it) for the biscuits, with a half star for solid service.
(4)Jewel M.
This place is amazing. For a person who has breakfast for every meal, I was in heaven. The biscuits were the best. Only downside is that there was no grape jelly (I'm stuck in my ways). Pancakes are also very delicious. Just wish the location was closer (by closer I mean walking distance from my bed to their tables). Dare to dream.
(5)Kim G.
Biscuits are amazing. Best I have ever had. Every time I come I wonder why I don't come more often. It is great. Best pulled pork anywhere!
(5)Mary Helen M.
Out of everything at Loveless, the biscuits really took the cake. They were rich, buttery, and served nice and hot. I'll remember you, you biscuits. I'll also remember the obscenely gigantic breakfast I ordered. It was so big, in fact, that Heather and I couldn't even finish it together, in two sessions. But hey, if you're going to pay this much for breakfast, it better be fricking enormous. My plate was piled high with pulled pork smothered in BBQ sauce, sitting on top of a corn cake, and sandwiched in between two scrambled eggs (with cheese). And in the little bowl beside this heavenly mess? Why, it was a big honking scoop of Hash Brown Casserole. Never heard of Hash Brown Casserole? Just imagine that hash browns and oven baked macaroni and cheese had a baby... and that baby was delicious.
(4)Megan C.
The Loveless is one of those Nashville must visits. The store sells excellent Southern Food kitsch, complete with biscuit magnets, tees, and the ever classic RC Cola and Moon Pie. I've heard you have to try it to really be a believer... In any case, came here with some out of towners to give them the 'true southern experience' and it was exactly what I expected. Ordered up some biscuits and white gravy as opposed to the red eye that my meal was to come with (more like the kind my own Southern Grandma (Memom) used to make!) along with some eggs and bacon. The biscuits really are phenomenal, I think I could eat about a million. And they come with all kinds of lovely supplemental toppings...jams and butters and gravies, oh my! Think Cracker Barrel, but friendlier, less chain-y, more delicious, and more like my Memom's kitchen.
(4)Ann B.
My favorite meal in Tennessee! The biscuits are melt-in-your-mouth good. You don't need to put anything on them, except for the fact that the preserves are so amazingly tasty. (I picked up some jars of the preserves at the shop afterward.) We had an early dinner at 4:30 on a Thursday, so no crowd. I had the catfish entrée with fried green potatoes, hush puppies and yellow squash casserole. 1 word can explain the experience...YUM. If I could go back and do it again I'd get beans or mac and cheese over the fried green tomatoes, but all in all, no regrets. The sweet tea was a nice treat on a hot day as well. If I lived in Nashville I'd take my friends/visiting family there; but since I don't, I can just recommend that you go. You won't regret it.
(5)Ray D.
Want commissary food that is the same as any truck stop on the interstate? Welcome to the Loveless. The tourists come because of a reputation left over from the fifties. Pull over, have your picture taken out front, then go get something good to eat elsewhere.
(2)Jeff C.
I can see that there really is an obesity epidemic as I found many fine examples of overfed Americans at the Loveless Cafe. It's no wonder. The biscuits are great. I had three and unfortunately they go down like lead. I also had the BBQ pork. It was good but I wasn't sold on the sauce. The cucumber and onion side was a good choice. The coconut pie was superb.
(4)Katie H.
This is a Must SEE dining experience. Inevitably you'll have to wait, and parking is a bit of a nightmare. But they provide little buzzers so that you can walk around the artisan shops surrounding the restaurant. As for the food... As a Southern woman steeped in the culinary culture.. and a bit of a snob at that.. I can say without pause that the food is delicious. Home made, old school, and DEEElicious! The hashbrown casserole is to die for, and the biscuits and preserves (PRESERVES, PEOPLE!!) are from scratch. The peach preserves are addictive and will leave you wanting more... and you can GET more because their gift shop "Hams and Jams" SELLS IT!!!
(4)Andy S.
I first visited this cafe about 10 years ago. I had been thinking about it and wanted to return to it. G and I decided to meet here for dinner one Friday night. It's about halfway between his residence and Knoxville and mine in Memphis. I got there, and it was about a 45 minute wait, which was fortunate, because he was 45 minutes late. The cafe started in 1951 with the Loveless family basically selling fried chicken and biscuits out of their house. They have a BBQ pit, so they obviously smoke their own meat. It used to also be a motel. However, the motel quit operative about 20 years ago. The old motel parts are used for retail. You can buy plenty of souvenirs, some edible and some wearable. They start you off with biscuits and their famous jams. The biscuits were great. They also serve breakfast all day. I had to restrain myself from eating too many before my meal. They have some drinks. I had a whiskey and water. One friend ordered a shot of moonshine. It came in a cute mason jar cup. He said it was "strong." I love combination plates, so that's what I got. With as much food as I got, it was worth the price. I think it was the most expensive item on the menu at $17.55. The Southern Sampler Platter comes with your choice of three meats (Fried Chicken, Catfish, Country Ham, Meatloaf or Pork Barbeque) and two sides. I chose the fried chicken, because that was one of their original items. I also got the country ham, because it is proclaimed on their neon sign outside. And finally, I got the pork barbecue since I saw the BBQ pit outside. All the meat was just plain perfect. The pork was on a cornbread pancake. I also got to choose two sides. They have tons of choices. I ended up getting the greens and the mac n' cheese. Both were good and typically country. I would have liked to try the fried okra, but I already had too much food. For my meat, I did't choose the meatloaf, because I knew G would order it. he did, and it was good. It was covered with a tangy tomato sauce. He got the vegetable of the day, which was squash. It was surprisingly good, too. I wasn't tempted by it when I heard it was the special, but I was jealous when I tasted it. They have desserts, but there's no way someone could eat anyway after eating here! The other intriguing thing on their menu is their family style supper for groups of 4 or more. It's all you can eat for $17.55 a person. The table has to agree upon two meats and three veggies. It also includes a regular drink. It is so good that it would be worth a three hour drive. Seriously.
(5)A M.
It wasn't bad but wasn't good either. Just saying for a place that prides itself on biscuits I ordered the pancakes thinking they would be awesome and I was wrong. My pancakes were dry, flat and tasteless. If I would have known that it was going to taste like this I would have not waited ninety minutes until we got a seat. My husbands country fried steak and eggs were good but nothing to write home about and my father in-laws ham and eggs were really salty and not good at all. Very disappointed in what we had. When I come back to Nashville this wouldn't be a place I would choose again. I just hope the jams I bought as gifts are better.
(3)Eric B.
This place has been on my list for quite some time. I really wish I had gotten there sooner. It is a little pricey, but well worth it. I went for breakfast and everything was perfect and arrived exactly as I had ordered it. I had a couple mimosas that were also fantastic and served in Mason Jars. The wait was about 30 minutes, but it went by quickly as I explored the gift shops. I've heard about their fried chicken so I decided to order some of that to take home for lunch and dinner. The chicken was fantastic, but the greens were the best I've had other than those prepared by my mom or one of her sisters. If you're on a diet you will need the strength of a bull to not cheat on your diet here.
(5)Joanna F.
Stopped in for breakfast before we left Nashville. Nice decor and cool history on the place. Their biscuits were SO GOOD and their homemade preserves were awesome. I had the biscuit sampler with fried green tomato (so good but I passed on the heave pimento cheese), fried chicken (so good), bbq (pretty good), and sausage for my son. Hubby ordered breakfast sampler, he really liked it too. The food definitely stuck with you. We were so full from all that food we skipped lunch.
(4)Hannah H.
Loveless Cafe has gone through several ownerships, but the place stemmed from Lon and Annie Loveless, who were known to pass out fried chicken and biscuits to travelers who were traveling on Highway 100. They serve items such as the country ham, pork bbq, omelets, fried chicken, catfish, pancakes, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. My sister and I shared the 'Famous Loveless Country Ham,' which was a 7oz sliced ham that came with 2 eggs and a side of red-eye gravy. You also have a choice to have homefries or hash brown casserole, and the platter is also served with biscuits (sorghum and honey are offered upon request). The ham itself was tasty, but way too salty (even for my taste). Even without seasoning the eggs and eating it with the ham, it still didn't balance it out. I really enjoyed the hashbrown casserole, as it was wonderfully cheesy and creamy - yum! I could have eaten this all day! We also tried the Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato Biscuit - it came with a nice generous dollop of pimento cheese with a perfectly fried sliced green tomato, all in their homemade biscuits - it was delicious! I also really enjoyed their biscuits as it had a nice little crispy top with a lovely soft interior; great on its own or with butter - you can add honey, sorghum, or any of the jellies that they also provide you with. There are plenty of parking spaces, and there's also a cute gift store that you can check out across the lot - they sell the Loveless's strawberry vines decor on platters, cookbooks, kitchen accessories, home decor, etc. I'm glad I was able to check this place out! +DELICIOUS BISCUITS!!! +hashbrown casserole +Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato Biscuit
(4)Helen M.
This is my favorite breakfast place in Nashville Tennessee! I came here five years ago and couldn't wait to get back for their homemade biscuits and jams. Really cute and fun old-fashioned ambience. Wonderful staff. JaDee was our waitress and she did a wonderful job by welcoming us nicely and bringing out the nonstop biscuits and jams and with that sweet southern hospitality brought some coffee to go for a long drive. Great place for families! Delicious food and great conversation to be had! Don't miss this place on the way to and from your destination when you go through Nashville!
(5)Ryan S.
Ate here for breakfast. Come early or prepare for a wait. We waited almost 2 hours. Service was fast friendly. Tons of choices serve both breakfast and dinner all day long. You'll leave full.
(5)Melanie R.
This is a MUST in Nashville. It's important to go into it knowing that it's all about the experience. If you go during a busy time, you will wait. Even if you go early, you will wait... but it won't be as long. If you have a larger group, you will definitely wait. Don't be surprised or frustrated by this. If you're impatient, then don't try to eat here. Go when the weather is nice so you can pass the wait time checking out the store, playing corn hole and wandering around the grounds. It's a bit of a drive, so go when you are in the mood to enjoy the drive to and fro. The food is classic southern and will not disappoint. it it a little overpriced? Sure. But you're paying for the experience just as much as anything. You'll get delicious food, and it will be a large portion. You will leave stuffed and happy. Again. Know what you're getting into. You don't go here for a "quick bite." You make an outing of it and enjoy taking your time driving out in the country, socializing with those in your party or strangers who are also waiting on a table, and eating a delicious southern meal in a charming old building that has been a part of Nashville for years and year.
(5)Trevor J.
Thank you Food Network / Travel Channel!!!! The biscuits were to die for. The server was so nice and he knew we were from California right from the beginning. This might have helped because he kept giving us biscuits and the jelly (amazing). When we got to the food we weren't even that hungry. The food was average, but the real reason this is 5 stars is due to the biscuits and especially the jelly. Please treat yourself and order something small or split a meal and just get the biscuits and jelly. The biscuits were soft and good, but it was the jelly that was superb.
(5)Bridget H.
What I liked: 1. The biscuits- I wish I could give 100 biscuit stars. Living in south I feel like somewhat of a biscuit connoisseur at this point, and it's safe to say these are my favorite- extra buttery and only made better when loaded up with Loveless homemade jam. And, get this, they are unlimited! 2. The atmosphere- Yes, it's touristy and a little cheesy, but worth the visit if you're in town for the weekend. What I didn't like: 1. Very long lines on the weekend. 2. Per above, tourist hell on the weekend. 3. The rest of the breakfast is average and very greasy. Overall Verdict: Go if you're in the mood for biscuits or doing a quick trip to Nashville.
(3)Paul K.
As a native Nashvillian one of the things that was severely lacking in my experience of town was attempted to be remedied last year with my first trip to eat at the Loveless Cafe. Unfortunately there was an hour+ wait and we got some to-go food, which was underwhelming forty minutes later when I ate it. I'd been to the Loveless many times in the past, usually involving motorcycle rides or a charity event, or something at the barn, but I'd never eaten there which was quite odd. I went again and was more impressed, but that experience was also nothing to write home about, especially since my home was about 20 minutes away and I was the only person who would be checking mail. Third time however was a charm. We went with baby in tow, they were very nice to us and her, the food was quite good (those biscuits do *not* keep,) and I could imagine why some people dream of coming to this place. There were a few vegetarian options available. I ended up getting an omelet and sharing it with my rugrat along with some cheesy hash browns and some biscuits. This place is baby approved as a note. I never made it out there when the biscuit lady was still alive, so I don't know how they compare to the originals, but they were great fresh and solid as a rock unfresh, which may give you valuable clues and insights into how your arteries will fare. Parking is a bit of a pain, always has been, it's a combo of not quite large enough, too much area, and slow exiting. If you're heading there just park and plan to walk a bit, you'll be happier parking further away, at least in my experiences.
(5)Zippity D.
Of course the main draw is the fact that, well, it's the Loveless Cafe. So, I wouldn't call the food amazing, but it is pretty darn tasty. Especially their biscuits (of course!), of which they are thankfully very generous with. Everything else is yummy and your dining experience here might remind you of eating dinner at your grandmum's kitchen table. :) The staff were very friendly and attentive.
(4)Casey L.
We got here on a Sunday morning around 10 am the last day when we were in Nashville and there was a 2 hour wait! Wanting to get on the road, we ordered to go and it was ready in 15 minutes! The pimento and fried green tomato biscuits were recommended by the sweet hostess and they were out of this world! We enjoyed all the staples as well. Stopped in the gift shop and purchased a cookbook and some biscuit mix and we were on our way. To summarize - if you are in a pinch for time, order to go.
(4)Marisa R.
Last night my boyfriend and I landed in Nashville for a Bonnaroo vacation, and immediately wanted a classic Southern meal to kick off our week. Loveless Cafe is our favorite spot when in town, but last night our server, Owen, truly made the experience exceptional! Not only was he kind and courteous, but his recommendations and introduction to molasses butter was to die for. His customer service and attention truly made us feel like we were over a friend's house for dinner. Thank you so much for another great experience and for the mini mason jar as a little token to take back home to Los Angeles! XO
(5)W P.
For our breakfast stop on the way out of Nashville, this really was a great spot. Biscuits are all they're cracked up to be, with either gravy from our platter poured on top or the housemade jams. Sausage patties crumbled in your mouth, ham was nice (although a little salty for my taste), plenty of scrambled eggs, and beans. Needless to say, we left full and very satisfied. Also, whoever is in charge of the merchandising and gift shops are "on point". Fantastic collection of shirts, souvenirs, etc including the brilliant shirt that says, "Taking care of biscuits" haha
(5)Sarah H.
So we finally made it to the Loveless Café! Definitely not disappointed. Everything was delicious. We had French toast, southern omelet, hash brown casserole, bacon and the famous biscuits with a side of gravy and homemade jam!! Everyone is so nice here too! Virginia our waitress was superb!! Do not pass this up! We can't wait to come back to try out their dinner menu!! If you like what you eat they have a store that you can buy biscuits, ham and jam!! Oh...and if you leave hungry something is wrong! Portion sizes are large so come with an empty belly! :-)
(4)Logan J.
To die for!! Well worth the 30 minute wait. Adorable setting with cool Tennessee hill breezes in the middle of July. Shopped the four shoppes while we waited. Games of corn home on the front lawn. Food consisted of amazing biscuits and jams. I had the grilled catfishes with mashed potatoes. Cream corn and hush puppies !!! Amazing !! Kat...Great waitress!! Looked like a rockabilly angel with big blue eyes :)
(5)Ray P.
I've eaten at Loveless many times, and have had quite a few different dishes, but I'll try to touch on some highs and lows. Long waits are to be expected, especially on weekends and at traditional meal times. I'm a meatloaf connoisseur. It's one of the dishes I use to judge a restaurant. Theirs is good. Not the best I've had but far from the worst. The mac n cheese is pretty standard Velveeta and elbow macaroni. The creamed corn tastes more like a corn pudding to me...a bit too sweet and custardy. Fried green tomatoes are not good. Thin and tough. Mashed potatoes are good. Hash brown casserole is decent. The BBQ pork is good. Not great, but not bad. Fried chicken is very good. Breakfast is always good, though the grits are a disappointment. And the biscuits just haven't been the same since Carol Fay died a few years back. They have a liquor license. Try the Bloody Mary, then go over to the store and buy a jar of the mix for $10. It's worth it.
(3)Katelin B.
We decided to follow a friend's recommendation while in Nashville for a quick trip for a wedding - I am SO glad we did! While it isn't in the downtown area, it was certainly worth the drive. We sat outside and just loved the atmosphere. I'm GF so I couldn't try the biscuits but the rest of my group had 3-4 each (our waiter, the lovely Trevor, gladly kept bringing us more!) Their omelets are DELICIOUS. Just go - you won't be disappointed!
(5)Lina H.
Southern hospitality at its best, and QUALITY FOOD!!! I could not believe my mouth! This place is everything it promised to be, always FRESH HOMEMADE ingredients is what we were told, and they delivered no problem... THE BEST BISCUITS ANYWHERE!!! Seriously folks... as a native Californian, i have never ever ever tasted biscuits so good. I've got a gluten sensitivity, but am not celiac, and these did not affect me at all. The pork loin was tender and delicious, the creamed corn is to die for, the service is friendly, warm, amazing - Susan was our waitress and she was generous with portions and her customer service - before we leave Nashville, we are definitely making the 30 minute drive back out to this place... IT IS WORTH IT YA'LL!!!
(5)Griffin F.
Fried chicken OMG. Biscuit OMG. Definitely the best biscuits I have ever had and top 5 fried chicken. The biscuits were so warm and fluffy and add their homemade preservatives and you have biscuit heaven. The fried chicken was so good, the skin was crispy but not too oily. The meat wasn't dry, and it tasted really fresh. So good!
(5)M L.
I'm not sure if it's the hype or a staple in many travelers to do list, but waiting 1.5 hrs for some over priced biscuits is not high on my agenda. They have a neat set up where you can visit their store or play corn hole, but can't say I'll be visiting this place again. One and done.
(2)Tuck L.
My family was in town visiting and they wanted to eat at the Loveless Cafe. (They had seen the restaurant on TV). So, trying to be the good host, I took them there. We waited 45 minutes to get a table. Then we sat down and had our chicken and biscuits. Don't know how long the chicken had been sitting out. Just don't know. Anyway, then, I received a bill. When I looked at the total for 4 people, I almost soiled myself. I couldn't believe the price for some chicken and biscuits. Here is my conclusion: I waited in line for 45 minutes and made a nice payment to Loveless when instead, I could have gone to KFC. It would have been faster, cheaper, and _________.
(2)Larry L.
This is one of those must eats when in Naahville. Biscuits were all they were supposed to be and more, fantastic. Ham was good, fried chicken even better, looking forward to trying breakfast in the future. The server was on point the whole time taking great care of us.
(5)Justin W.
The Good: - The biscuits and preserves are great. - The steak biscuit platter was excellent. - The side dishes are generally good. The grits left a lot to be desired. - Our server was very nice and attentive. The Bad: - We ordered two moonshine drinks, and only one had any alcohol in it. - The Bloody Mary tasted like moonshine, water, and a splash of hot sauce mixed together. - Flies. Everywhere. There were at least 20 flies buzzing around our table from the minute we first got there.
(2)Karl F.
Our family loved the fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, collared greens. But the smoked pork chops with peach jelly stole the show. Everyone is so friendly down here we took home souvenirs too!
(5)Mike W.
Loveless is a solid 4 stars. Why is that, you might ask? Well, the biscuits are out of this world and they come with 3 different types of homemade preserves. It was buttery, sugary heaven. If I had those alone, it would have been 5 stars. The food itself, however, was really just a 3. I got one of the omelettes and, although the portions were big (though not quite as big as the people there) it was a very average omelette. My friend got the pulled pork breakfast, which he loved. The meal was literally the day's sustenance for us. But i just keep dreaming about those biscuits... The service was average. The waitress was not that attentive and forgot that I had ordered the honey and sorghum (which basically looked and tasted like just honey). Regardless, just go and order a plate of biscuits. You won't be sorry you did.
(4)Lesley B.
Loveless Cafe... it just does not get much better than this. A Nashville staple, this place has got it all- music, biscuits, and out of this world chocolate milk! If you have a more adventurous spirit, do not fret they have quite a selection of breakfast/lunch cocktails. The biscuits are amazing- you can choose from an assortment such as fried chicken, ham, sausage, fried green tomato, etc they also have a biscuit sampler where you can pick four kinds of mini biscuits... it does not sound like a lot of food but man it is so filling! My friends ordered variations of eggs/ omelettes and said they were cooked to perfection. Out of nine people, not a single one of us was disappointed with our food nor had orders remorse. Oh my gosh and do NOT get me started on their hotsauce. Being a hot sauce fanatic, I am normally not impressed with restaurants if they do not carry some form of hot sauce other than Siracha/Tabasco. So obviously, because Loveless Cafe was marketing their own hot sauce, I was quick to write it off. How wrong I was. This hot sauce is AMAZING. It's spicy without being overwhelming and adds a unique flavor to any dish without overpowering the original. I was such a fan that I bought a bottle for myself and my family. Two months later I went and purchased three more bottles. Mark my words, it is some of the best hot sauce you will ever have. The only downside would be the wait on weekends, but if you go early enough you can avoid this. And the actual wait itself goes by pretty quickly except on holidays. Otherwise, when going to Loveless Cafe, you're in for a treat!
(4)Gayle R.
Ya gotta love the Loveless. The wait is worth it! The food is perfect, every time! The offer up amazing food, great service and a fun atmosphere. I've eaten at The Loveless countless times and I'm always impressed!
(5)Stephanie D.
It was a hour and 10 minute wait to get a table for 7 people on Sunday at 11:30. At least we could kill some time by browsing the small shops nearby but the selections in the hams and jams shop was pretty small but they have jams, honey, peanut brittle, popcorn, nut mixes and some souvenir items. The food was average, which is why I rated it 3 stars. It was nice to get complimentary biscuits and jam. I ordered the French toast with a cup of fresh fruit. The French toast was thick but there wasn't anything "extra special" about them. My friends had the omelette and pancakes and they rated it 3 stars. Good food but nothing special for foodies.
(3)Jessa L.
You are here for the biscuits! That being said, the rest of the food was a big southern mass of tasty awesomeness. You do not go here if you are on a diet, worried about unclogging your arteries, or planning on running a marathon that day. The portions are big, covered in classic southern gravy and very very delicious. Eating to the point of explosion is a likely experience (especially because the biscuits come first!) Stopping by the gifts shops is very necessary. Do it
(4)Peter L.
In my global pursuit of the best fried chicken, I was very pleased with the birds from the Loveless Cafe - crispy, well seasoned, not too greasy. And the biscuits rock! In addition, the place is kind of a time capsule from the past - worth the drive from downtown and not too bad of a wait at dinner time.
(5)Ian K.
My mom brought us here because of all the hype surrounding the place. With such fame, I expected a long wait but great food. We really only ended up waiting half an hour, and there were a lot of small shops to pass the time. We ended up sitting on the outdoor porch, which was pretty serene, but the experience was somewhat ruined by the flies. Then, the biggest issue of the meal arose: the service. Nobody waited on us initially, and we actually had to ask for service. After taking our orders, we really only saw our waitress again once or twice, even though we requested more biscuits and needed frequent refills. The food was phenomenal. Every single thing we ordered was scrumptious, and the biscuits and preserves lived up to their legendary status. The food easily earns 5 stars, but the service was unbearable. Still, highly recommended for anybody in the area.
(4)Shan N.
Oh my word. This place is hog heaven. Not for hogs, of course, cuz they're getting smoked out back. But all manner of cooked hog--bacon, sausage, country ham, pulled pork--is here for you. We also spent some time talking with Eric, the pitmaster. He brought us into the smoke house and talked with us about the process, showing us pork butts, briskets and chickens in the smoker. This dude loves his job and does it well. Back inside, they gave us a mess of biscuits to start. After we were done they gave us another mess of biscuits to go, along with the preserves. Here's a tip. Ask for the sorghum for your biscuits. And while you're at it, mix a little in with your grits. Oh my word.
(5)Larry D.
We had a little bit of everything at our table: pancakes, chicken fried steak & eggs, and fried chicken, fried fish, and pulled pork with sides of turnip greens and Mac and cheese. Started off with a plate of biscuits. Wow. We may not eat again today. Everything was great. The waiter was very good.
(5)Jesse Q.
Simply delicious. The biscuits are to die for. The environment is welcoming. Don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. The food comes out fast though!
(5)Mac L.
This is a must do for in and out of town people. Always a full belly when you leave, the southern food and hospitality never disappoint. But be prepared to wait, because its so good, you wont regret it.
(5)Edward M.
EDIT: TALKED TO MGMT PERSONALLY TONIGHT WHO CALLED A MEETING TO DISCUSS MY COMPLAINT. IM FULLY SATISFIED WITH MY DISCUSSION THAT THEY'LL HANDLE IT RESPONSIBLY AND TO THE SATISFACTION OF CUSTOMERS . To be clear this review is NOT about the food, this review pertains exclusively to their front desk staff only and my multiple visits to the restaurant. Food and biscuits are worth the trip, but "Southern Hospitality" at front desk is lacking. THIS WAS NOT DISCUSSED BUT I FEEL THEVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT AND AM HOPEFUL IT WILL BE RESOLVED. If you make a reservation, be aware reservations here DO NOT reserve you a table. Not for a large wedding party where we were forced to wait 20 minutes before guests got to be seated, or a small group, as I just witnessed tonight for dinner. THE CHEF HERE IS AMAZING!!! MY WIFE HAS SERIOUS ALLERGIES. HE CAME OUT TO THE FLOOR, WENT THROUGH THE MENU DISCUSSED OUR OPTIONS AND WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL MEAL!!! ALL THANKS TO HIM. EATING OUT WITH ALLERGIES IS DIFFICULT AT BEST! HE MADE IT VERY ENJOYABLE! THX! *As a side note, the food that was served to my wedding group was excellent and everyone loved it FRONT DESK STAFF TONIGHT WAS AMAZING. The problem I've seen resides with Loveless front desk staff NOT notifying customers that their reservation fails to reserve their table until one opens up, even if it expedites the wait. From what I saw tonight a reservation cuts your wait time in half. Mine was 45 minutes the reservation was about 20-25. Upon finding this out, people are a little annoyed. IVE GOT FAMILY IN TONIGHT AND MY FRONT DESK EXPERIENCE WAS GREAT. I HOPE TO SEE THIS HOSPITALITY STAY AND BECOME FURTHER ENTRENCHED! $100 WELL SPENT!!! Not only was my experience very poor as we were waiting, and the heavy set front desk girl very rude, but tonight after the customer expressed her annoyance which is understandable, after she left the blond girl at the front continued to bad mouth her to at least three other staff, right in the lobby area, loudly! Loud enough that we informed her it's in very poor taste to badmouth your patrons at length, loudly, in front of other patrons.
(5)Lisa B.
Touristy? Sure. Long wait? Always. Out of the way? From most places, yes. But WORTH IT. This is another one of those Nashville staples that I had never tried until recently. I always had some reason to talk myself out of going, but no more. Even on a week day around brunch we had a 45 minute wait, and that was even after calling ahead 45 minutes earlier. Granted, it was the week after Christmas, so I'm sure lots of people were off work and tourism was at a seasonal high. TIP: CALL AHEAD. You can't make a reservation, but you can go ahead and get your name on the list before you get there to cut your wait time. There are several cute little shops to keep you busy while you wait, but don't except to buy much unless you want overpriced souvenir trinkets. It's the kind of stuff that's fun to browse, but that's about it. One exception: You will be purchasing preserves to take home after you've tried them. Trust me. The blackberry preserves will change your life. Now the food... As you've no doubt heard, the biscuits are amazing. How amazing can a biscuit be, you may ask? Pretty damn amazing. Slather them with a healthy load of butter and the above-mentioned blackberry preserves and that could be a meal in and of itself. Since it's not socially acceptable to eat an entire meal of free biscuits (which will keep coming until you say the word), your plate will likely be piled with various meats and other artery clogging deliciousness. I had some sort of breakfast platter with eggs and lots of tasty meat... The exact contents of my meal is a little fuzzy due in part to the food coma I was left in and in part to the moonshine. Yes, I said moonshine. Moonshine is a relatively new feature at Loveless. We were told it's typically served in small souvenir mason jars, but they were out of those, so we got regular sized ordinary mason jars, which means we got drunk. If this happens to you, the shops are also a good place to walk off your buzz before getting back in the car. There were a number of moonshine cocktails to choose from, from bloody mary, to various juice mixers... I went with orange juice and it was delicious. I know this place gets hyped up a lot, but it does not disappoint. Just remember to call ahead and be prepared to wait anyway. As long as you aren't an impatient pants and don't mind making a morning/afternoon of the trip, it's definitely worth it.
(5)Kenzie R.
Nice strong coffee. After breakfast I wanted to take a nap in the corner. Homemade everything is hard to really dislike. The potato casserole rivaled my grandmothers and the biscuits. They were basically crack. Of course friendly southern attitudes complete the experience.. Great breakfast spot. Can't wait to try it for dinner.
(5)kelli s.
Every time I visit Nashville this is always my first stop. Being from Chicago, I don't get good southern food often. I always get the Southern platter with a choice of three meats and two sides. The complimentary biscuits are amazing and so are the berry preserves it comes with. The catfish is perfect, turnip greens were delicious. I can't find anything to complain about except for it being so far away from where I live.
(5)Rosa G.
There should be a yelp page for the biscuits alone... Best ever! Found this place on yelp while on a trip to Nashville. The food was delicious but the biscuits... oh... Em... gee! They bring plates full out to the table. They even sell the mix online. Great place and great experience!
(5)Kathy F.
Grilled smoked pork chops are to die for..... Biscuits were not as good as the hype.
(4)Teema C.
A pretty long wait to get in on a Saturday morning, but boy am I glad we got there when we did, because the line only got longer. You cannot call in to reserve a table. We toured around the buildings while we waited and once we were seated, the wait was well worth those delicious biscuits and home made spreads itself! I really loved the peach preserves...yum! Breakfast and coffee were average, hubby's chicken fried steak was pretty good but my ham was very salty. Those biscuits..I would go back just for them.
(4)Christina A.
We waited for an hour and 45 minutes. Not worth that long of a wait. Under an hour, do it. The service was pretty good, they were obviously very busy. Right away they will bring you biscuits. Dig in because they're famous for a reason. Try the peach jam. They will bring you more so keep them coming and you can take some home to go! We had omelets which were yummy. The pulled pork one was fun and good. Cheese and garden omelets were standard.
(4)Mario E.
This is a unique gem just outside of Nashville. Everything I have tried has been wonderful Nd always filling. Take look at the pictures your eyes will it lie!
(5)David A.
Good country grub at a very "hot" stop in Nashville. Plan on spending over an hour to wait. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. I guess it's the type of place you have to go to once. Everything we tried was really good, just not great. I had far better meals during my trip. It's good. It's fun. Just not worth the wait.
(4)Brittany B.
Best home style cooking you can get! It seems to always be busy but it's worth the wait. Plus they have little stores to keep you entertained while you wait. Everyone is very friendly and have southern hospitality. After getting seated and ordering, the wait for your food isn't that long. And if anything is wrong they will make it right. Pies are to die for! And FYI the moonshine are very strong!
(5)Bec M.
This place is amazing! I highly recommend everyone to go and see this place and have a meal. While you may have to wait, it worth very second of your time. The staff are so friendly and accommodating. The food is out of this world! The hash brown casserole is to die for.
(5)Jeremy T.
Great food, service, and location. Good home cooking style food. The staff is great, and I've never had to wait long for a table even though the place is very busy.
(5)Nicole M.
Holy biscuits! It's been a few weeks since our last visit and I am constantly craving their biscuits-so good! There's really just no place like Loveless. The staff feels like family and you never feel rushed. Take some time to walk around after you eat-the shops are all lovely.
(5)Jennifer W.
Cute sign caught my eye to drive way out of the way to try on the road trip home. What I found is a renovated restaurant that is quaint compared to Cracker Barrel. Unfortunately, the service to order is terrible!!! Takes too long to get there attention, they don't help you understand what's good here. After placing the order, it took MUCH too long to arrive. We should have just left after the 45 minute wait for our food but had hopes it would be good with all these reviews.. The Southern Omelet that Dad expected to be a Country ham omelette had a bunch of other things he did not want in it and the cheese was cold and not even melted from it's shredded state. And this omelet made him very ill later in the day. He was really sick after eating here. Somalia? The biscuits are really small. The odd thing was when I ordered biscuits & gravy, the order came without biscuits. I received a bowel of gravy with no biscuits. When I asked for some biscuits, they told me to use the 3 cold ones which sat on our table for the 35+ minute wait. I figured they were heading back to bring us some fresh warm biscuits while I ate these cold ones left on our table. We needed biscuits for our 2 other plates of food. Unfortunately, after trying to flag down a woman for help of the 4+ women circulating next to the waitress station next to us, they finally arrived after our eggs were then cold. My daughter would then not eat her breakfast with cold eggs. The waitresses need to brush up on hospitality and prompt service. (Where is the Southern Hospitality?) They need to give more attention to the begining of a meal & during the meal. The best service was to get our credit card and back for payment. Which was odd after such poor service throughout the meal. I am so sorry we stopped. This took much longer for expecting something better.
(1)Larry S.
We've been back several times since my original review, and I still love it. Every time we have out-of-town guests, we take them to the Loveless. We make sure they all get a chance to try the Rise & Shine (moonshine & OJ) if they want to. I've had it once, and that was enough for me. We went back this month, and I ordered a bowl of sausage gravy for the table to share with our biscuits, and it got me to thinking about Bobby Flay's biscuit throwdown at the Loveless. Now, I'm certain that Bobby's gourmet biscuit and jam were outstanding, and I'd really like for him to come fix my breakfast sometime. But the biscuit that he made is not the kind of biscuit that anyone can make by the thousands, every day, year after year. And I'm not sure how his biscuit would be with sausage gravy. I may never taste a Bobby Flay biscuit, but I'm certain that I'll be having a lot more of those wonderful Loveless biscuits, either with gravy, jam, or as a ham/bacon/BBQ sandwich.
(5)Kurt Q.
This place is so good, it should be a crime. Their food is a danger to society, it's so good. The pork barbecue, hot biscuits & jam, and side dishes assault your mouth with such high cholesterol temptation, that the Westboro Baptist Church should be picketing this place with signs that say "GOD HATES OKRA THIS GOOD." Located about 5 miles of sinuous road off I-40, and about 20 minutes outside of Nashville proper, this place marks one geographic end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. It however still is a hassle to get to, and the fact that there is a one hour wait to get a seat for a place so far away is a testament to its great food. The walls indoors are lined with promotional headshots of C-list country stars and huge paintings of Dolly Parton's breasts and Johnny Cash's baggy eyes. But look at those pictures later because it's time to walk around their complex for an hour while you wait for your table. You can either play cornhole out front while bikers pull up on their testosterone-mobiles, or you can walk into their overpriced stores (e.g. toy horse for $52) and studios (e.g. photographs of barns for $400). They could do a bit more to make the surrounding area more of an attraction in and of itself. Once you get in, the waitress will saunter up to you with a basket of steaming hot biscuits and ask you where you're from. She'll take your drink and food order, and call you "baby" or "hon." The food will come out steaming hot in under 10 minutes! I couldn't believe that the place was jam packed and the food came out in under 10 minutes. It will be good. Like a Southern sunset, it will please you (and be equally hot). I felt used, abused, and taken after taking my last bite.. I wanted more. In all seriousness, this is the best Southern-themed restaurant I've been to. And in the top 5 restaurants period.
(5)Sarah E.
The BISCUITS! Enough said. If you order nothing else on the menu, you will come away more than completely satisfied from these delicious, warm, buttery morsels. First of all, they keep them coming....as many biscuits as you would like. (Meaning we got to take home a box full as well) In addition, they are served with a fabulous assortment of seasonal jams/preserves. The most recent time I went we received strawberry, peach, and blackberry all of which were delicious. Besides that I got the meatloaf for my meal. The meatloaf was very good, exactly what I would expect if I visited my grandma for some home cooking. What I really enjoyed were the fried okra on the side though. And the best part was, when the waiter brought out my dish he exclaimed that I had been "shorted" on my okra serving and so brought me another bowl! I Overall the staff is very friendly and the place has great southern country feel. The wait may be long, but stick it out because it is definitely worth it!
(5)Heather W.
I will find any excuse to eat here when I'm close to Nashville. The breakfast is amazing. For lunch the fried chicken and mashed potatoes actually taste homemade. This is one of my favorite places to eat.
(5)MLE L.
We only did a drive-by for take out biscuits to see what all the rave was about. I feel like I just had biscuits and gravy for the first time in my life! Throw out your mother's recipe, it means nothing compared to this gravy! And the jams were quite impressive, especially the blackberry. YUM!
(5)Jon B.
This place is a solid 5 stars. The food was great, shops were cute and we got in quickly although it is a Monday morning. The homemade food and jams are worth the trip down from Nashville.
(5)Pete T.
Outstanding food, friendly service. Biscuits were amazing, I see why folks come back here again and again. I was visiting some friends that live in Franklin and they took me here for lunch. Large servings, tasty food, it was all good. We didn't have to wait very long, maybe 20 min for our party of 4, so we had fun playing corn-hole in front of the restaurant.
(5)Kimberly M.
So you wait an hour and a half, big deal!!! The food is absolutely worth it. Hands down the best friend chicken and biscuits I've ever had in my life. I seriously can't think of one complaint that I have, other than the wait. But again, it was worth the wait. Put your name in and then walk around. The Pumpkin Butter is to die for. The honey unbelievable, the blackberry preserves NOM NOM NOM. Honestly I can't wait to go back, and if I'm ever traveling even remotely near Nashville again this is the first pit stop I will make.
(5)Emily K.
Tourist trap. 1.5 hour wait on Sunday at 2 pm. Everyone waiting looked like a tourist rather than a local. We decided not to wait and on the way out, a lady who had just dined at the restaurant said it was just okay. They have a gift shop that sells overpriced Loveless chotskies... $7 for a magnet.
(3)Shirley A.
Come here for the experience! I've found that country food in Tennessee isn't all that different from what we have in Texas, with the exception of never hearing of "hot chicken." Either way, Loveless has all the awesome breakfast offerings, even becoming a bit overwhelming! I stuck with the chicken and waffles and it was just fine. The order comes with a bunch of syrup on the side so you can add it to your liking. What did stick with me - their drinks! The "Blue Moon" isn't the beer... instead it's all sorts of goodness with blueberries, lemonade, and a souvenir mini mason jar with mason jar, also so you can add it to your liking. Since I was planning on taking the souvenir with me, I went ahead and dumped all of the moonshine given to me, only to later find out that they give you a lid for it. We had two servers for 30+ people and they did a superb job getting everybody's orders right and getting control of such a large group. When you're done eating, step out to their many little stores for some shopping! I snagged a gift for my niece's birthday and Olive & Sinclair chocolate bars for everyone else who can't fit in a 12 month old onesie.
(4)Veronica C.
To begin, the food was four stars. We had the fried chicken and catfish, with creamed corn and caramel sweet potatoes. All of it was very good. The jam was also delicious! The reason I rate loveless three stars is because of the hostess and the lady working the cash register. Not only did they lack southern hospitality, they lacked any hospitality. I am hoping it was just an off day and not a usual occurrence.
(3)Nancy K.
I love, love, love the Loveless Cafe! I highly recommend their biscuits and gravy (their the best I've ever had)! Their scrambled eggs with cheese, hashbrowns (they have cheese in them, too), and fruit preserves are great, too! The atmosphere is so cute and country with their checkered print table clothes and farm-y feel. I also loved the shops that are located on their grounds which is a great way to kill time (as the wait is 1-3 hours). If you're on the go and don't have time to wait, I recommend getting it to go and dining on the benches in front of the cafe. I'll be sure to go back!
(5)Molly S.
Charming roadside stop off that served the best BBQ we had on our entire jaunt through GA, LA, MS, TN and AR. The biscuits and jam were absolutely divine - who knew something so simple could be so wonderful. We opted for brisket and pulled pork for our lunch and both were unbelievable - so tender and full of flavour. The sides were also great, especially the white beans. The service was efficient, the restaurant well laid out and clean and the food outstanding. For a place that we only chose as a quick stop off on our way into Nashville, this was a brilliant surprise.
(5)Claudia G.
OMG!!! I want to live in their kitchen! This is real southern cooking. Not only is the food AMAZING but the staff will treat you like family...the members you like :-) I will most definitely be coming back to Nashville just to visit them again. Don't leave town without visiting these guys. Yes it's a bit out of the way, but the drive is well worth it. It really is a hidden gem.
(5)Tom W.
Operating on the very real premise that a real trip to Nashville must necessarily involve biscuits from Loveless Cafe, we scratched that itch this morning. It's still the same, wonderful!
(5)Ray L.
Among the many delicious things that are on their menu, the thing that stands out most is the biscuits which is what they're most known for. What stood out to me about these biscuits was fluffiness of the biscuits and the buttery taste that is well complemented by the jams they serve. Everything else on the menu is generally cooked well, but the typical southern fare. As far meats go, I have had their quarter dark fried chicken, pork chops, and pulled pork barbecue and was not disappointed. However, I have heard that the chicken has been hit or miss from reliable sources so order the fried chicken at your own discretion. I find the best time for a meal here is breakfast. Another thing that stands out is that even though the place is a restaurant, they also have a barbecue pit and a souvenir shop where you can buy their jams, biscuit mix, bacon, and other tourist trap souvenir items. Service overall is generally pretty good and friendly, the food arrives fairly quick, and they are kind enough to give you a small plate of biscuits as a complimentary appetizer. The only downside here is the wait because after 10AM on a Saturday, this place becomes very packed and an hour wait is not uncommon. Easter Sunday is the worst since wait time typically exceeds 3 hours by 9AM. Food: 4 Service: 4 Price: 4
(4)Caroline H.
My whole experience was pretty mediocre. Came at around 3pm on a Sunday, thinking we'd hit the in-between-the-after-church-crowd-and-the-dinner-Âcrowd sweet spot. Not the case. We waited for.ev.er . (said Sandlot style). Was the wait expected? Sure. I'm willing to browse the (terribly over-priced) shops. Next we sit down. Overzealous waiter, but hot biscuits and awesome jam. We have reached our peak of the afternoon. I have never had chicken fried steak before, so maybe this is what it's supposed to taste like, but if it's supposed to be a lukewarm thin layer of brown covered in slippery flour, pepper and butter tastes, I'm not into chicken fried steak. Soggy fried green tomatoes. Mac and cheese was all right, but nothing special. The waiter judged us for asking for a biscuit refill, but still brought them, so that was nice. Biscuits? Great. Jam? So great. Everything else? Not. Or at least not worth an hour wait and 15 bucks.
(2)Mindi R.
Ate here the other night. Still being on ny time we get that about 5:45 and we had no line. There were 4 in our party, 2 adults and 2 kids. My youngest eats nothing so be ordered macaroni and cheese with a side of mac and cheese from the kids menu which was delicious. The rest of us ordered different dishes and sides to taste everything. Nothing disappointed us. Keith, the manager, stopped at our table and when he learned that we were from ny and tasting all southern food, he brought us samples of some of the things we did not order. Keith also brought us a molasses/agave type of spread that is available to all but you need to request it. Keith taught us to mix this with butter and spread on a biscuit. This was amazing! So was the hasbrown casserole, creamed corn, fried chicken, hot chicken, stringbeans, pork and catfish. We liked the city ham better than country ham. Skip the fried green tomatoes.
(5)Andy R.
This is really a 3.5...bit given the history, 4 is a safe number. My stars...(5=epic "best of") (4=really tasty and want to go again and again) (3=good and will go back once in a while) (2=fair, might return for a visit if there was some glimmer of hope) (1=avoid at all costs) Go or No? Go Tease: The Loveless is known for their famous biscuits. They are amazing...but everything else is just good. Why I went: For the biscuits! When: Summer 2012 Food: I was in a group of 6 people. Everyone enjoyed their meals. We had a late breakfast/early lunch. The BBQ was OK. The fried chicken was good, but not "Gus's good", and all the fixings were tasty. However, the biscuits were amazing. They taste different than any I've ever had. No gravy...just jams and marmalades. The biscuits are super light and fluffy...and highly addictive. Service: Very good. Our waiter was good. Friendly enough, but not all that attentive. He took the order well, but didn't frequent the table enough for refills, etc. They were super busy...but they should be used to that and still give ridiculous service. Not bad mind you...just not as good as we were hoping. Hints/Final thoughts: This is a tourist trap. But it's a good one. Just know the biscuits may not please every palette. It doesn't taste like any others. But, take them for what they are and they are amazing. Everything else is pretty much just good. Also check out the store...there are lots of cool foodstuffs, shirts and trinkets. While their BBQ was a bit disappointing, they BBQ sauce isn't! Grab a bottle!
(4)Jessie L.
Biscuits and jam are awesome. My favorite part! I've been here lots of times with my boyfriend, which he loves it as well. Service is always great!!! And I leave happy and full each time!!
(5)Jonna C.
Yummy! We arrived just shy of 9 am on a Saturday (July 26th). We were on our way to drive the Natchez Trace. They only had a 20 min wait, so we had just enough time to shop before being seated. FYI-The wait when we were called to be seated was 45+ mins. The biscuits were delightful. I loved the samples of homemade jams they brought with them. I think my favorite turned out to be strawberry, even tho they are famous for their blackberry - which we'd already purchased a jar of. Service was quick, friendly & efficient. Our coffee never went dry. Our waiter was never too far, and was very helpful to the more needy couple next to us. ;-) I had simple scrambled eggs, and half & half bacon & sausage. The hotel had told us about their wonderful sausage. It was indeed very good, but one can't pass up bacon either! The hashbrown casserole was TDF! Tho my husband didn't like it too much. But he was not complaining when our waiter dropped off more super fresh out of the oven biscuits. It was a fun place to visit with very good food & we'll definitely go back if we're in the area.
(5)Kelly B.
I went to Loveless for brunch during a visit to Nashville for the first time for a friend's bachlorette weekend. After a 30 minute wait, during which we perused the nearby shops, we sat down to a wonderful brunch with the most delicious, hot, fresh biscuits and homemade jams I've ever had. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, answering questions about everything from food to the place mat crossword puzzles, and the ambiance made it feel like we were at a family gathering. The Loveless menu and staff embodies southern culture at its finest.
(5)Kimmy R.
This review is for their mail order store only. We ordered their ham slices for our Easter dinner. Amazingly, they could be shipped unrefrigerated which really cut down on shipping costs. They have flat rate shipping no matter how much you order which is nice. In addition to the ham I couldn't resist the Piggy Pecans which are pecans smothered in pancake syrup with bacon bits! Those were incredible. The ham was nicely marbled but way too salty for my taste. Served it with biscuits and red eye gravy (recipe was on the ham slice package) and black eyed peas. A nice meal. Very reasonable prices!
(4)Zach T.
Insanely popular and worth the trip BUT The wait can be likewise insane (we waited 2 hours). My suggestion: Wake up, eat breakfast, then send one person to put your name in. If the wait's a half hour, join them. If it's not, judge appropriately. We were told 90 minutes and it took over 2 hours. TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION IF YOU ARE TAKING KIDS. There are some distractions there, but not 2 hours worth. The food is fantastic, but if you're overly hungry from waiting to have your first meal there, it clouds your enjoyment. I had the biscuits and t he biscuit sandwich platter and just about licked the plate.
(4)Bongo S.
Yeah, I lived in Fairview, for about 14 months not too long ago. First of all, if you've never been to Fairview Tn., believe me you're not missing anything. Anything at all. Couldn't stand the place. Went to Loveless maybe a total of three times and was never impressed. The biscuits are not that good, the wait is just silly and the rest of the whole ordeal made me think of the Bluebird here. Except you had to eat with hicks instead of hipsters. Really don't want to eat with either.
(2)Formicas F.
Super great breakfast spot! Love the drop biscuits and the jam was good too! Portion size was ample and service was excellent! No complaints at all- really enjoyed this spot.
(4)Bern R.
When in the #Nashville #TN area, this quaint little place tucked away in the burbs is a fantastic find if you're after country style dining. The old charm of family meals is reason enough to venture out yonder. I brought my wife and two grandkids here for Sunday brunch on our way back to #LittleRock #AR after a fun-filled #FourthOfJuly #roadTrip in 2014. A cultural icon, the Loveless restaurant is built into a vintage 1950s motor-hotel complex. Far from a tourist trap, Loveless is a local favorite. We make the extra effort in our travels to find places where locals eat. We had our usual favorites: chicken & waffles, bacon, eggs done to order, fresh fruit, buttermilk pancakes, sausages, and (of course) freshly made grits with lotsa butter. The Bride had #mimosas and I had #MoonshineMary (#BloodyMary w moonshine) -- both served in mason jars. The servers were fun, attentive, and very friendly. This is home. Plenty of free on-premises parking. Prices are reasonable. You may wait a spell but with customers trekking from all parts #USA and the World, it's worth the wait.
(4)Paul J.
Biscuits. Fried chicken. Homemade fresh jelly. Loveless lives up to the hype. It's worth the trip whether you live in the Nashville area or are visiting from out of town.
(5)Led D.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits!!!!! It was hot, soft, fluffy, and delicious. It was also a meal itself. My family and I tried the breakfast sampler, chicken tenders, pulled pork omelet, and fried chicken. It was all awesome and tasted homemade with lots of passion, especially Loveless' homemade ham. It was terrific because it was not too salty at all. The only negative point are that we had to wait one and a half hour to get seated and it was out of the way. Yes, the place was that busy BUT it was worth the wait because the food was that good and well wort the drive. We will definitely be back when we are in that neck of the woods.
(4)Victoria G.
An absolutely YES to visit! Was my first time to try real original biscuits and they were sooo good! the other things on the menu were good too. Maybe a little fatty but food is really good. Amazing service and nice people!
(5)Adam B.
Biscuits, peach preserves, blackberry preserves and grits were delicious. Country ham has the fecund farm flavor which was great, though unexpected. Cheese grits and scrambled eggs were not that good. Great ambiance and history. Store had lots of menu items for sale. The bisquits are so good that I could easily gain weight by eating them everyday.
(4)Jean J.
My hubster found this place on the food network about famous places to eat. We stopped in from taking pictures at Percy Warner park ( separate review). Super cute cafe located on the same lot as a quaint old school loveless motel and loveless famous ham gift shop. It was cozy and super friendly. Down home cooking at its best!! The biscuits were A. M. A. Z. I. N. G!!! They serve 3 home made fruit preserves that were yummy as well. Hubster ordered the 1/2 fried chicken, fried okra, green beens and turnip greens. I ordered the French toast and bacon. Now I L. O. V. E. bacon. The bacon was slap your friend good so were the green beans and I had a food-gasm from the turnip greens. They were perfectly cooked with ham hock and vinegary goodness that make you want to suck the juice out of the greens then chew!! I could have eaten a whole pot of those. The French toast was perfect, the eggs were done right. My daughter ate a ton of the okra. So if a 1 yo eats it then you know it's good. The biscuits, OMG. ( I'm hungry now). Cool thing too was a Antique car club came by and chatted a bit. Saw an old dodge and a couple of model A's and T fords. Amazing food and experience. A must go if you can.
(5)Sandy C.
I have never had a more delicious breakfast in my life. Never. I would like to swim in a pool of their preserves, then take a nice nap in a bed of their biscuits. Well, after eating a bunch of them. Yeah, the wait was brutal, but we knew what to expect, brought a Sunday paper and did some poking around at the shops. The wait was worth it. Great service, too.
(5)Ray C.
4.5 stars. best comfort food ever. would be a full 5.0 rating if not for the 90 minute wait (which was well worth it anyway)...
(5)Meredith H.
I thought I reviewed this already, but I guess not. That's ok, all you need to know about are the biscuits. They are amazing. They keep bringing them to your table, too! It's great! I have been here two Saturdays - Saturday #1 - 30 minute wait. Saturday #2 - 90 minute wait. So it's a little hard to predict. I suggest going early in the morning. Like, 9 am. It's worth it!
(5)J A.
Breakfast review. We went on a Monday - no waiting and no crowds. I hear the weekends can be crazy. Breakfast was good, tasty and fresh. Scrambled eggs were some of the best restaurant scrambled eggs I have had. Biscuits were light and fluffy. Probably not too much healthy food on the menu, but then it is southern cooking. The cafe itself is very cute. The history of the cafe and motel is cool. Glad Nashville rallied to save it. Clean restrooms are always a good sign and at the Loveless Cafe they were clean.
(4)Tom M.
The Best Bisquits I've Ever Had The place was a zoo on a Sunday, with nearly an hour wait--but worth it. It serves the most amazing bisquits I've ever had--you take a bite, put your tounge up against the underside, and the bisquit just melts like cotton candy. These bisquits are like crack. I can't comment on the rest of the food. It was good, but so overshadowed by the bisquits that even mentioning other food would distract from the real feature at this place.
(5)Kimberly M.
My friend brought me here when I was visiting Nashville, and wow this place is a gem! It was pretty far out of the way (it felt like we were in the car for 20 minutes from midtown?), and the wait was long (she said that it's usually longer), but it was worth it. I could make a meal out of the biscuits and preserves alone!! This place had amazing customer service, and even though it seemed everything on the menu was basic, everything just tasted better here. Even my scrambled eggs were the best I've ever had! I liked this place because it felt like I was sitting in my grandma's kitchen...you know, if my grandma hung up hundreds of autographed celebrity photos on the walls! I recommend this place to everyone visiting Nashville, just because you have to say you've been to the Loveless Cafe at least once, right?
(4)Misty M.
Worth the drive! It is absolutely worth the hype! Their fried chicken, catfish and dumplin's keep me crawling back for more and their biscuits!!!! It's a Nashville must have! You will never eat at a CB again. The prices are great too for such an amazing meal. Yes, go and you will thank me. Seriously.
(5)Jim G.
One of my favorite spots in Nashville - a bit kitschy, but lots of fun and delicious home cooking. Always a long wait, but also lot of things to keep you occupied in the process.
(4)Alex L.
Best biscuits and fried chicken I've had in my life. There should be no contemplation about this place; just go!
(5)Steven H.
I asked for some yellow mustard with my biscuits and they brought it to me......umhumm.
(5)Dana P.
My husband and I met some dear "old" friends there last weekend. They were coming up the Natchez Trace parkway and so we chose Loveless over Pancake Pantry. They really loved the choice and like so many before them, they fell in love with the biscuits. For some reason I've never been a biscuit lover, maybe because my father's mother made the best biscuits (and chocolate pies...mmmm) ever. Grandma didn't have any written recipes, just did as her mother had taught her I suppose. Because she only had sons, no one carried on the family tradition. Now I'm always (unfairly, I'm sure) comparing biscuits et. al. to that ideal. For instance, nobody can brew sweet tea as sweet as I remember hers. Loveless does a great job getting a lot of people served quickly and they remain friendly through it all. Our server was wonderful. I knew ordering the country ham was questionable, as it would make me thirsty for days!, but I got it anyway and was amazed by the size of my serving. Our entire group left filled and happy and the next time some friends from out of town arrive, we know where we will take them.
(4)Roberto W.
On our last day in Nashville we rented a car (must have since Loveless is about 25 min from downtown). When we got to the cafe, I was expecting a wait but not a 1 hour and 45 minute wait. Usually I do not wait at any restaurant more than an hour but since we could drive around we left our name. When we came back we got our table and we are glad we ate at Loveless. Our waiter was really good. First he brought a plate full of biscuits and jams which are amazing. He recommended the blue plates special which every Saturday is a BBQ chicken and also the fried chicken for which Loveless is famous for. Both were really really good.
(4)Zee M.
I do enjoy a loveless day once in a while, provided it's here. That being said, Country Ham is touted as the go-to at the LC and, well folks...to me, it tastes like a belt that's been brined overnight. And I was born in this state. And I don't even mean LC's take on it...I just have difficulty eating anything that proves someone hybridized a pig's glutes and Lot's wife. So, I opt for other things. It's hard to find a restaurant that serves gizzards and my first try here left me taken aback, for the soaking of same in buttermilk or whatever renders them indistinguishable from livers (which I am capable of ordering, should I deign to). Nevertheless, I return periodically and occasionally delve into the livery gizzard plate. Someone labels LC a tourist trap, I see, and it's a little more that than it was formerly...something about having the extra space making it seem a bit less down home and more commercially comfy. It was more fun to fight for for seating. You could barely walk through the place to the bathroom. Best thing there? Blackberry preserves, then biscuits...as if you'd have either without the other. It remains a pleasant stopover. We occasionally come here before visiting Chaffin for a play or two, since they're neighbors. Recommended, but if you've got other plans, it'll be there when you get back.
(3)Chocolate C.
The Loveless is off the Natchez Trace Parkway a few miles from Leiper's Fork/Franklin TN. There's not much around it, so it's definitely a "destination" trip. The café is in a house surrounded by the original 1940's era Loveless roadside motel (the rooms have been turned into shops selling Loveless memorabilia, pottery, antiques, etc). If you go, it'll be to say you've been to one of the south's well known attractions and not necessarily for the diner-style food. The famous complimentary biscuits are "okay". I ordered a well done cheeseburger, which came burnt and very dry with melted slices of plain American cheese. The crinkle fries were good, though. The presentation of the brownies we ordered could use improvement, as we sort of expected they'd be on a plate, slightly warmed, with maybe a dollop of whipped cream or something. Instead, they were tossed onto the table wrapped in saran wrap. Fortunately, they were good. The Loveless isn't somewhere I'd go on a regular basis, but will take out of town guests who want to see an iconic southern sight.
(3)Joi M.
I enjoyed my meal at the Loveless Cafe. Fried chicken and biscuits! I loved the strawberry preserves and bought a jar! Arriving at 9, the restaurant was not as crowded as shown on the many travel and food shows that feature the place! However by noon a tour bus full of senior citizens pulled into the parking lot and the place quickly became packed. I purchased some items from the general store and walked around the grounds stopping at all the shops in the back! The waitress and hostess were courteous and cheerful! I liked looking at all the celebrity pictures and reading the articles throughout the restaurant. The strawberry rhubarb pie was good but in my to go container the strawberry juice spilled out. Next time I am in Nashville I will return to the Loveless Cafe!
(4)Elliott W.
The go to tourist spot is also a go to business breakfast spot. On weekdays there's usually no wait and a great breakfast menu. Just like Pucketts but better. I've never had a breakfast pork BBQ biscuit, but Loveless delivered. I could have had a couple, and for the size of a biscuit you pay for a sandwich, so I limited to one. But it was good, and even though I'm quite sure the pork was at least from yesterday's batch, it was tender, well flavored with a real smoke flavor and a sweet and lightly tangy sauce. I'd love to taste a fresh batch. The not-so-new ownership kept the charm while stepping up the menu and cleaning up the place.
(4)TruthSeeker T.
Place is overrated and lame. 2hr plus waiting and the food looks average.
(1)Ike W.
If your staying in Nashville and deciding if you should drive all the way out, the answer is yes. The biscuits alone are worth it.
(4)John G.
I was not impressed with the Loveless Cafe. Most items on the menu are fried or heavily buttered. We couldn't find the waitress with a Geiger counter, so trying to get a refill on our beverages was an exercise in futility. I understand the "down-homey" allure of the joint - they broadcast a country music radio show in the barn adjacent to the restaurant. I have been told the radio show is hit or miss - unfortunately, it was a complete miss on the the night I was there. They had some decent local beers available, but aside from that it was only cheap domestics. The wine selection is not very good at all. Everyone raves about the biscuits - I've had better. It's probably just not my scene, but I found the Loveless Cafe to be wholly overrated.
(1)Zelda S.
Yes I am a fan of Loveless and get silly when walking in the front door. Could be the checkered table cloths that triggers instant salivation. Mmmm we're talking fresh made biscuits and peach and strawberry preserve as starters and lots of down home meat and three to follow. Yessireedy Yesindeedy I love this place. While on a holiday from Australia I came saw and ate here and I love it for its down home vibe. It's usually crowded and it's typical to wait for a table to be ready. No problem cos there's a grocery and gift store perfect to kill time and stock up on some neat gifts and souveniers. While waiting to be seated I got me some grand souvineers that travelled well from Nashville to Sydney and back again. Got a nifty red guitar-shaped fly swatter and an oven mit. Still got em and have swatted a few Australian and Nashville flies too so these work just dandy. OK back to the food. Delicious. Smoked ham, turkey, fried chicken and all the usual suspect sides. Got tourists and visitors? Take them to Loveless.
(4)Elena S.
6:30 pm Monday night, 11/3/14, party of 3. Longish drive from downtown Nashville in pitch darkness/DST over. No wait; lots of empty tables. Blue Plate Special SOLD OUT, as were some other items. My ribs were good. Others loved the biscuits & took leftovers for picnic next day, along with leftovers of the fried half-chicken (very good). Fried green tomatoes/tasteless -- I prefer Bobby & Paula Deen's recipe. Pieces of pie are TINY/5 bites for $3.95 - confusing description of the 2 chocolate pies: chess pie vs fudge pie -- whatever it was, it was good, just not enough. $13.95 for Bloody Mary (with souvenir jug) that wasn't good enough to finish. Very nice service people. Glad I went (missed it last trip) so I can stop thinking about it. I wouldn't go back except under duress -- or to enjoy a DAYTIME drive in the beautiful Tennessee countryside -- but the back roads are nicer. So maybe "never" is more like it.
(2)Christina P.
It's been 6 months since I went to the Loveless and I'm counting down the days til I can return. Everything we ordered amazing: Southern sampler, country ham, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes and of course biscuits and jam!! As an NJ resident, dreaming of returning, keep up with Loveless Cafe on social media, they are very interactive and post beautiful food pictures that have me checking the prices on flights to Nashville on a regular basis!
(5)Paul Q.
Hands down the best restaurant for Southern food for me! I am not actually a big fan of southern food, but I enjoyed every bit of experience at Loveless cafe. The friends that came with me that night came from different states in the country and they all enjoyed everything they ordered. But one thing stood out: their BISCUITS! The biscuits were so fluffy, buttery in a good way and melt-in-your-mouth soft! The different preserves on the table were so good but I love the blackberry the best. You could just have as many biscuits you like and I think I had more than 10 on top of my big meal (the servicing size is huge too!). I just can't stop eating their biscuits, it was that good! To add to the wonderful dining experience, the servers were very friendly and they have a store where you could buy their biscuit mix and homemade preserves/jams. A definite must-try in Nashville!
(5)J L.
Just as good as I had dreamed it would be. We went on a Monday which was a holiday and waited about an hour but it was worth it! Biscuits and jams are incredible, wonderful ham and pulled pork, amazing side dishes and incredible service. We had Jessica waiting on us and she was just lovely! Thanks Loveless Cafe!
(5)Amy B.
We thought this was the best food we have ever had! The wait was a little long, but we occupied our time outdoors and in the shop. Our waiter was very nice -- a perfect gentleman. Worth the trip.
(5)Josie K.
Reservations are a must for breakfast. The ham, biscuits and blackberry preserves are enough to make me fly back to Tennessee. The country grits tasted a lot like my mother's. Lots of memorabilia all over. Cute little shops around the property.
(5)Queen B.
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon! Wonderful, flavor-ful bacon and eggs. Pork chops, brisket, ham! Truly wonderful fresh foods abound at this cute little historical eatery. Several of us went here because they were advertising buy 3 pkgs of bacon and get one free. How could we resist? Cute place, very crowded, no reservations, you have to wait for a table. In the meantime, walk around, take photos, check out the gift shop.. plenty of parking. I will give them 5 stars - the day they start offering gluten free biscuits. It is time to get with the times and realize that thousands and thousands of people cannot eat wheat products.
(3)Ashli D.
I cannot say enough good things about this place...the food and the service are amazing!!! The pancakes and biscuits are out of this world! Their biscuits are as close to my grandmother's homemade biscuits as I've ever had anywhere. The pancakes have an amazing smell and are so filling you can't eat them all. The homemade jelly is so good too. The pace is always busy. If you go on a weekend, go early because the wait will be over an hour. When I went during the week there wasn't a wait for breakfast. The shops where they sell some of their jelly, bacon, pancake and biscuit mixes is great! They have some unique items and a catalog for mail order. Definitely a place you must try!
(5)Mark B.
I wish I could of just gotten the biscuits. We were driving from Chicago to Orlando and my wife insisted we stop at Loveless for dinner so I humored her. It is in the middle of nowhere but thankfully it was during the week and we had no wait. I was excited as my wife and kids had been there before and my daughter always wears her 'Got biscuits' shirt and now I know why. I wasn't sure what to get so I order the sampler which was fried chicken, ham and BBQ pork. My wife got Fried chicken. Thankfully, they brought out the biscuits right when you sit down and they are 5 star delicious. They were hot, light fluffy and I could of ate 6 of them but I saved room for dinner. The ham was insanely salty, the pork was tender but drenched in a just fair sauce and the fried chicken was juicy but tasteless. My wife agreed that the chicken was smoking fresh out of the frier but truly was missing any really seasoning The mac n cheese side was good also. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the traffic.
(2)Mimi P.
Hubby and I came here in October to check out their fried chicken. We were pleasantly surprised to be served complimentary homemade biscuits and jams which were all delicious! The chicken did not disappoint either ... the coating was golden brown crispy and juicy. It's a very popular place for tourists so there was a wait to get seated but they had many shops to keep people entertained. Very friendly service!
(4)Jennifer P.
I must say... I was pretty disappointed in Loveless. My supper club came here last week and after dreaming of biscuits for an uncomfortably long time, we were sad to see our biscuits come out and be the size of silver dollars. Our waitress also boned me on the cost because I asked for biscuits, a side of gravy, egg whites and bacon and she charged me for 2 meals (a huge eggs, potatoes and bacon meal and a biscuit and gravy meal) instead of just doing it a la carte like I wanted. It also didn't taste special to me. I though this was supposed to be the IT place for breakfast and Southern food. I could of made better breakfast on a hot plate. Why is this place such a hit with tourists? The hashbrown casserole was far too cheesy, the biscuits were small, the gravy was too thick and my egg whites weren't cooked all the way. This place, overall, just left a bad taste in my mouth. The watermelon drink with the moonshine side car was the only great part about my visit.
(2)Dean A.
I've eaten here since 1996 wouldn't give it 5 stars due to the popularity of the restaurant and the wait times most encounter, food is pretty good but very overhyped. A must try for non-veterans but go on a weekday.
(4)Fanny P.
Perhaps there's a lot of people who don't know how to cook, so Loveless seems wonderful. If that's your case, enjoy the food. It's fair-to middling. But if you are a good cook (Southern-style) then there's little here you can't cook better yourself. It's a Crackerbarrel (another fair-to middling place) under a different roof. Much more touristy and trendy for those who prefer style over substance. Fame has changed the Loveless - just not for the better. If you must go, realize that this is not the Loveless Cafe of the past, but just another eatery with a history living on faded glory.
(2)Wendy G.
The Loveless Cafe is what roadside dining is all about. Formerly a cafe & hotel for travelers on the Nashville/Natchez Trace, the hotel went by the wayside - but the cafe continues to serve top notch classic southern comfort food. Best known for their biscuits, Bobby Flay attempted to 'Throwdown' with the owner and cook - and was handily beaten. We had the fried chicken with sides and of course biscuits with their blackberry jam. So good! Sides were also yummy - mac and cheese (traditional and creamy) and their creamed corn. When at a classic diner, how could we resist not getting a slice of pie? We split a slice of the Fudge Pie, man it was amazing. We got their after 1pm on Monday, but here was still at least a 30-40 minute wait. We browsed the local gift shop nearby while we waited for a table, but have heard that the wait can be much longer on the weekends. Great food for a visit to Nashville or on your way in/out of town.
(4)Anna L.
We had to wait on a weeknight, but that's kind of expected with the Loveless Cafe. The biscuits are delicious, and our service was awesome. She was very helpful and friendly. Everything on the menu sounds so great and well-priced. The homemade creamed corn was top-notch! I'll have to go next time for breakfast!
(4)Dan S.
The breakfast was awesome. We went back a month later. I had the watermelon ribs, they were not that good. I will go back for breakfast but don't think I will for dinner.
(3)Garrett B.
Great southern food. Okra was OKAY but I am more of a flash fry with cornmill kinda okra guy. Biscuits are solid. Dumplings were the "scoops" which is okay but I feel like the "strips" of dumplings is what they are all about. I had the BBQ sandwich which is PRETTY DARN GOOD. Highly recommend!
(4)Allison B.
I was raised in a family of good Southern cooks, so anytime that I eat at a meat and 3 I have high expectations. Loveless exceeded them. The biscuits were perfect. They were light and fluff and buttery. Everything I love in biscuit. Everything my friend and I had was wonderful. I especially like the hashbrown casserole. It was was full of sharp cheddar cheese, but not greasy. The green beans seemed to have a little vinegar i them, just like my Aunt Rita's green beans. We went on a Thursday night and there wasn't a wait. I imagine on the weekends its really busy. The service was great. We got our food in about 5 minutes and our glasses were always full. The Loveless isn't the kind of place I would go all the time, but it was fun. It is a little out of the way and kinda touristy, but it was good. The biscuits are so good!
(4)Jennifer P.
I have been to Loveless Cafe twice. Both times I have been extremely pleased. They have wonderful staff and quick service! Now don't get me wrong, it might take an hour for you to get a seat, but when you're seated you get served real quick! The biscuits and jam alone make the restaurant worth going to eat!
(4)Kitcat S.
Some people may see this as sacrilege but I would say that the most exciting things about Loveless are the facilities and the drive there. The dining room is cute and very open, and there are cute stores in the campus. The food was solid and the biscuits very good, but the latter didn't live up to tall the hype is heard. The preserved on the other hand were pretty awesome. What I was most disappointed about was the service. In a place as iconic as this one I expected some good southern hospitality but it was all just rushed. I don't regret going, it was a good experience. That said, my visit was during the week. Had I waited the typical 2.5hrs on the weekend I may have been a little disappointed, only because of the hype.
(4)Bill R.
Had about an hour and ten minute wait. It was worth it. The biscuits were very good. But the chicken and waffles were to die for. Service was exceptional. Price was on the high side but the quality of the entire experience as well as my very full belly didn't seem to mind.
(4)Kat T.
While some locals told me the original owner passed away, fried chicken and biscuits wasn't as good as it used to be. I think they have the best fried chicken. Crispy outside but not full of breading. The chicken cooked just right, not rubbery but fully cooked. Husband and bro in law love their biscuit and home made Jam. A must visit for us every time when we are in TN.
(5)Michael M.
So after a week in the smoky mountains getting fat, happy and not so fulfulled on southern cooking I find myself a loveless on the way home. One of the top 2 meals I have eaten in the last week. The deference in quality from the places in the smokies was apparent from the first bite. I ordered the breakfast sampler and a bowl of gravy. Three meats two eggs and a bowl of hash brown casserole. Oh don't forget the unlimited biscuits. I didn't. As I tried to single handedly eat them out of biscuits this night. Between smothering them with gravy or lathering them up with butter and jellies. Yum Yum All the food was great. It's hard to do great breakfast and this place does it. Most place breakfast is good and the is it. I am so glad I got a top notch breakfast before heading home from vacation. The one thing I would pass on next time is the Banana Pudding...got some to go but it was just okay. Oh and can I have another plate of biscuits....some of the best you will ever have.
(5)Jenniver S.
This place was really good. A colleague told me about this place and I gave it a try. The food and the service was superb. The hash brown casserole was my fave
(4)Michael B.
Wasn't surprised that we were told the wait would be an hour and 45 minutes at 11am on a Saturday morning. But we were pleasantly surprised when our pager went off after only 62 minutes. And it's not like there isn't enough stuff to keep you busy while you wait! Food is outstanding! Well worth the wait. And our server Mark was outstanding as well! This place gets 5 stars for sure - I'll definitely be back again!
(5)Steve B.
They just made it on the tv show 36 where they shared their tip with viewers: put chunks of pink watermelon on smoked ribs and finish off in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. The hosts both raved. I will go soon.
(5)Katie Y.
We went around 10am on a weekday and the wait was 40 minutes. The biscuits and jam were delicious. However the rest of our food was not great. Def not worth a long wait. We got chicken & waffles, waffles, eggs & bacon and pancakes. The atmosphere was fun and the gift shops had a lot of cute things. Guess it is more of an experience place but don't think we would go back.
(3)Karen L.
There is nothing bad I can say about the Loveless Café! Our waiter Matt was awesome! The food is fabulous good luck to anybody there trying to make up their mind what they want to eat. Everything on the menu is good great and awesome. If you are jvisiting Nashville this is one place you have to eat hands down.
(5)Eileen B.
The hype is valid... (Although a bit out of the way, well worth the drive). We only came for dessert and coffee since we had had dinner before heading over to Loveless.... (Big mistake). Our party of four ordered the chess pie, fudge pie, banana pudding, and strawberry rhubarb cobbler... Everything was fresh and delicious. I only wish we would have tried some of the food.
(5)Troy S.
I wouldn't waste my time with the drive. The biscuits didn't seem to be the greatest ever to me as they just seemed like biscuits. They were warm and good but not great. I think I had too high of expectations for this place hence the two stars. It probably is a three star place because of the various attractions around the store. They also make their food themselves which makes it a decent place. I ordered Biscuits & gravy which was good as the gravy was done right. The coffee was a little weak for me and I didn't get a refill until my food came. It sat empty for close to 5 minutes. My wife ordered a Mimosa which was strong and she liked it. It used wine instead of champagne. My daughter has scrambled eggs which were blah with no flavor. My wife went with a chicken biscuit that wasn't up to her Chick Fila standards. All in all the food wasn't bad but it wasn't so great to drive 30 minutes out of ones way for. The homemade jams are ok but my mother and aunt make it jbetter. The nice thing about this location are the little shops with overpriced stuff in them. It is nice to walk around and see the places. They have baby changing stations in their handicap stalls. The bathrooms were clean and all the workers we met were friendly. I would stay in Nashville and try out another breakfast place instead of coming here.
(3)Kevin B.
What a ridiculously amazing place! I had researched Nashville prior to my vacation and the biscuits at the Loveless Cafe were one of the top foods to try on everyone's list. We hopped off the plane, got our rental car, checked into the hotel, and drove straight here and boy were we glad we came. We beat the evening rush by coming a bit after 5 on a weekday and were immediately sat. The menu is very extensive and it seems like they make a bit of everything. We both ordered the fried chicken (we did come to the South after all) and our biscuits arrived in the meantime. They were absolutely and utterly perfect biscuits and they came with 3 homemade jams: peach, strawberry, and blackberry. All the jams were fantastic and worked really well with the biscuits (they sell them in their gift shop and at the airport). The fried chicken was perfect and very juicy and our sides (mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes) were top-notch. Our waitress even brought over some carrot pudding for us to try for free since she wanted us to like it, which was really nice (and tasty!). We also got a slice of coconut cream pie, a local brew, and a moonshine cocktail (complete with tiny souvenir mug), which were all great. Bottom line: this place has amazing food and great service. It really is worth the drive out from Nashville (or other surrounding towns) and try to come on a weekday on off-peak hours to avoid the huge crowds!
(5)Sam S.
The BBQ is great and the biscuits are some of the best I have ever had. I had a sample plater it came with meet loaf fried chicken & BBQ a side of green beans and a side of cucumbers with onions.
(4)Olivia M.
This place was great! We received a recommendation from a local to definitely check out this cafe and we are so happy that we did so. The people there are so friendly and the cafe is very quaint and has a lot of charm. The food is sooooo good, we can't stress that enough. We aren't from around here and we loved getting to experience some of Nashville's greatest foods. Also, they give you a lot of biscuits and jams to eat with it and it was amazing. If you are coming to Nashville or live there and have never been, definitely check out this place! It is so worth it.
(5)Heather T.
This place was great!!!! Friendly staff and if there is a wait, and I'm sure there will be, you can walk over to their market and gift shop to look around. Biscuits are served with every meal and they are yummy! I ate so many I barely had room for my meal. I had 3 sides as a meal and they were all very good. My husband had the smoked boneless pork chop and it was delicious. If you are in the Nashville area- you should stop here for sure!
(5)Adria R.
We really enjoyed the setting and the "to do" surrounding this place, including the remote location and the campus like setting. We had to wait about 40 minutes, at around 11am on a Thursday, which wasn't a big deal. While the food was tasty, it was overall pretty underwhelming. Good, but not great. I would have given it 4 stars if it wasn't for our server. She wanted to take our order right away and rolled her eyes when we asked for more time with the menu. Then the fried green tomatoes that I ordered to go with my eggs never arrived, so I inquired about them and she went to fetch them. 10 minutes went by, by which time my eggs were cold, and eventually she dropped them off with a "here you go". A simple "sorry about that" would have been plenty, but the southern hospitality was somewhere else today. Otherwise, we enjoyed our time at the Lovelace and would likely visit again in the future.
(3)Gina T.
Everyone was hyping this place up so I figured I had to try it. I'm from Chicago so when my friends and I came down here for a roadtrip, we were staying in Vanderbilt. It took us about 30 min to drive there and the wait was an hour and 20 min. Not too bad because we got to walk around the cute stores they had and bought a few things. I was looking forward to the biscuits but honestly they were just good. Not as amazing as I thought they were going to be, but just plain good. The strawberry and peach jam were my faves. I had the pulled pork and eggs. Not that great. The pulled pork didn't have any taste to it and they barely put any BBQ sauce on it. Would I order it again? No. I'm sure they had other good things on the menu but when I asked my friends what they thought about the food they said it was alright. I give it a four stars because they had cool little shops around, their food was okay, and the service was great. Our waiter took the time to explain everything on the menu, what was popular, etc. I was definitely expecting some amazing southern BBQ breakfast and I mean if it wasn't for the service and stores I would of given them 3 stars. Overall, I tried it once and once is enough for me.
(4)Teresa P.
Flaky, soft, freshly hot biscuits? Crunchy crusty, yet moist fried chicken? Perfectly cornmealed and seasoned fried catfish? Tucked away next to a gas station out of the Nashville city? Yes, definitely the best way to start my New Years resolution of 2014!! This place was poppin' late afternoon of New Year's Day. Screw your New Years resolution when there's food this delicious around! We loved the biscuits, fried chicken, and fried catfish. Sides were okay. We weren't too pleased with the overly cheesy hash brown casserole, but we loved the cucumber salad, fried green tomatoes, and hush puppies. An amazing place with that southern charm that makes you feel like you're eating in a local home, just be ready to wait at least 30 min to and hour if you haven't called in before hand. No worries, you can stroll around their cute stores and get some loveless souvenirs!!
(5)Adam R.
I've officially set my mom up for failure with a visit to Loveless Cafe two days before Thanksgiving!! Friendly service, amazing meatloaf and delicious sides. This little gem was the icing on the cake for our day trip to Nashville. My only regret... Not saving room for dessert!
(5)Courtney C.
Q: How far would you travel for fresh, homemade biscuits? A: 393 miles. Well, that's partly true. We decided to travel to Nashville just for the hell of it and because it was cold in Chicago. Next to the sunshine and warm temperature, Loveless was the biggest selling point for us to come on down. We knew what to expect in coming to Loveless. We knew it would be packed and we would have to wait, but did we care? Absolutely not. Good food is worth waiting for, especially when it's on every major list of things you need to see in Nashville. We called ahead which I highly recommend. Once we finally arrived, they were telling people an hour but they only quoted us 30 minutes since we had called and our name was already on the list. (By the time we were leaving they were telling people an hour and a half, so go as early as you can!) Although there's a few shops on the property, it's not enough to kill more than 20 minutes. Loveless is primarily known for the biscuits and they didn't disappoint. I especially loved the peach jam that came with it. I also ordered some sausage gravy for the biscuits, but that was a waste of money -- the free jam was the way to go! Breakfast was great, especially the jalapeno bacon. It wasn't too spicy, but the jalapeno gave it a nice flavor. Also, whoever said their hashbrown casserole was better than Cracker Barrel's wasn't lying. I kept eyeing my husband's hoping he wouldn't eat it. I should have just stole it from him :( Our waiter was so welcoming that it almost made me wish I lived in Nashville so I could hang out with him. When he saw my ID (carded me for my mimosas) and saw that it was an IL license he recommended his favorite places in Nashville for us. I absolutely love southern hospitality! The only reason for not giving 5 stars was the fact that I dropped $40 on breakfast. Do you know how many hours I had to work to earn that? Of course -- it was totally worth it.
(4)Megan M.
Made the long drive out and although it was neat to see the food wasn't overwhelmingly great. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese was very good. I almost think the potatoes were instant at least they tasted that way...not a compliment. The fried chicken was plenty good but not amazing. Now the biscuits were very good but the preserves were the best part of it all. I'm glad we didn't have to wait. I wouldn't say it was worth waiting for. All in all not sad we went but wouldn't go back again.
(3)Betsy L.
I mean, come on, what can I say that everyone else hasn't said? Yes, their biscuits are pretty rad. Yes, I have had better country cooking (hailing from Alabama, and all). Yes, the staff is very friendly...especially for being crazy slammed all day long every day. Yes, I only go here for special occasions (i.e. Out of town guests).
(3)Traci D.
Our party of three sampled a good portion of the menu and there wasn't one bad thing! The creamed corn is absolutely amazing!!
(5)Olivia G.
Not just a restaurant, but an experience! Played corn hole and shopped in the 2 stores while waiting for our table. You bite into a biscuit and it tastes like butter, it's amazing. The pulled pork platter was enough for me to eat dinner for a week. I got mashed potatoes and mac&cheese for my sides and they were great but I tried my sister's creamed corn and wish I had gotten that. It was yummy! Definitely not a place to go if you're on a diet, but it was fun to pig out on vacation :)
(5)Chris B.
Five stars all the way. There is a wait and a hike to get there, especially from where I was staying by the airport, but it is well worth it. If you are looking for excellent southern, comfort food, this is the place. I had the country fried steak which was good but wish I would have ordered the fried chicken after tasting my dads. I would definitely go back if I'm passing through Nashville.
(5)K S.
I went for breakfast yesterday. I was alone which at some restaurants means you get poor service, but not here ! My friendly waitress made sure I got hot coffee with plenty of refills, a plate of plentiful right out of the oven biscuits, and made sure I was happy with my order. I ordered the pork chops. The order comes with eggs and the hash brown casserole. My goodness what a plateful of good food. I ate plenty and packed the rest in a big container to take home. I had the rest of the pork chops and biscuits for lunch. I think their biscuits are better now...more buttery...than they used to be. I had not eaten here in about five years. My visit here yesterday was much more pleasant than in the past. So I think everyone should revisit again ! AK
(5)Jo M.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, jam, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, BISCUITS! Oh, yeah, they have other food, too, and a very friendly staff.
(4)Nancy B.
Free coffee is why they're getting two stars! There is no way this place is worth the hour plus wait we were told when we arrived. Being on a time crunch we opted for take away and decided to eat outside. Our biscuits weren't really cooked. What the hell? The French toast was fine and happily my egg omelette was fully cooked. This is not a must visit and even if I lived in the area I don't think I'd go back.
(2)Jeff E.
It was suggested to us by a complete stranger at a resort in Crossville, he said if you go anywhere in Nashville the Loveless should be at the top of the list, well it was # 3, What a wonderful experience, we were warned that there are sometimes a long wait,We waited approx. 30 mins. After that we were seated promptly on the side patio and greeted a very friendly bearded waiter wish I could remember his name! He took excellent care if us! The food was amazing! Very sizable portions! I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Nashville that us looking for a home cooked southern style meal! Two Thumbs Up! Can't wait to visit again nex
(5)Samantha joelle A.
Of all the tourist places in Nashville, Loveless Cafe is the one place that I must take my family when they come to visit. Forget Pancake Pantry and their line out the door and around the corner, a wait for this place is actually worth it. The biscuits are to die for, especially with their blackberry jam. The biscuits alone are what keep me coming back. But then again, that is what they are known for. Everything I've ever had here was amazing. The hash brown casserole is creamy and delicious. The bacon thick and smokey. The service is quick, and the wait staff always make sure you get a dose of their "southern hospitality" goodness. They also are generous with the biscuits. I always take a to-go box home with me, which makes for another great breakfast the next morning at home. Loveless cafe is great to go for breakfast time, but always expect to wait at least an hour if you come then. Especially on a weekend. Ultimately, the best time to come is for dinner. My boyfriend and I discovered this one night, and we will never go back for breakfast ever again. We've never had to wait at nigh yet since people only think of it as a breakfast place and come in the morning. I personally LOVE breakfast for dinner; it's the best kind of dinner there is. The food comes out in about 5 minutes, and also is super cheap compared to other touristy places you could go in Nashville. So whether you are in Nashville to visit or you live here, Loveless is great for everyone. And it continues to be my favorite breakfast place ever to this day, and I've lived in Nashville for 5 years.
(5)Grace E.
Was driving through TN on a roadtrip with my mom. We had spent a good part of the trip eating fried bits, feeding upon everything that could be deep fried in a greasy vat. Ewww. My stomach had had enough of the bad food, so spending a meal at the Loveless cafe actually felt like medicine for my spent soul. I tried to play it safe, just by ordering the biscuits and blackberry jam, but upon tasting the FANTASTICness of those biscuits I decided to order some okra, potatoes, and asparagus. All that food felt like it was heaven sent. It smelled and tasted all kinds of great! I definitely recommend driving to this classic and famously enduring place to enjoy a good meal. They've renovated and changed it a lot since the 60's (my mom says), but it still tastes just as good.
(4)Piyush S.
We have been here once about 2 months back. As expected, the place was crowded and we had to wait for around 45 minutes to find a table for three. 1. Biscuits are the best I have had. Way better than Hermitage cafe and they keep coming. They gave three types of jams and they were all terrific. But I prefer biscuits with gravy and they did not give any gravy. 2. The steak was almost perfect and the fried chicken was average 3. Fried catfish was like any other you get in nashville 4. The service was great and people are friendly there. 5. The place is a bit pricey so I will definitely think twice before going here. Overall from my experiece, if you are a die hard biscuits fan , you might want to check this cafe out. Else, just give it a miss. Goto Hermitage cafe or some southern kitchen in nashville.
(3)Orlean M.
Fun experience. Expect to wait ~ it's always busy ~ but worth the wait. The food was very heavy but very good! I enjoy the a la carte breakfast menu options. The bloody mary with a moonshine sidecar was awesome! The little shops are nothing to brag about and the service was slow but it was a fun experience nonetheless. Just be patient!
(4)Sarah S.
We finally made it to Loveless Cafe after hearing about this amazing place since we moved to TN. The drive is pretty (especially on this snowy day) and it's not a short drive by any means. We went for breakfast. The menu is simple but has plenty of options to choose from. I had the french toast and my husband had the steak and eggs. After ordering, they bring out there famous biscuits and jam. They were delicious in my opinion but my husband doesn't like biscuits so he wasn't too crazy about them. He loved his breakfast and my french toast was delicious. Loveless is cafe has history and the food is good. I'd recommend giving it a try if you are up for a little drive and want some good southern food.
(4)Lindsey H.
What a great place to mark on your list to visit when you're in Nashville. The drive from the city to the Loveless Cafe is beautiful and a great family Sunday drive. Once you arrive to this old motel made Cafe, you will be waiting for an hour to get a table. Don't worry though, there are shops and places to sit outside. The hour will go by fast as you keep yourself busy window shopping. Inside is an AMAZING collection of American Folk Art. The staff was friendly and the food was classic American cooking that makes you fat and happy on a Sunday morning.
(5)Shannon L.
This place has a wait, a significant wait, on any weekend day....but I promise you it is well worth the wait. Plus there is lots of little shops and touristy type stuff to do while you wait. The biscuits are amazing, and their apricot preservers are TO DIE FOR! Service was fantastic, atmosphere was fun...I especially loved seeing all of the celebrities that have been there....and watching them make the biscuits from scratch. Definitely going back for more!
(4)Lena N.
Their biscuits are made with love AKA lard. They are one of the yummiest biscuits I've ever had and it is divine dipped in their gravy. These biscuits are not meant to be shared. My friend and I made that mistake and ended up dueling it out the for four biscuits we bought. I almost lost a friend that day. The only problem is that my friend and I made the mistake of coming here around 1 PM on a Saturday. If you are going to take that strategy, bring snacks for the up to TWO HOUR wait or else you might not have an arm by the time you finally sit down. We got the food to go and ate it on the many picnic tables they have outside. That's definitely the better alternative.
(4)Samantha M.
On my Halloween weekend trip to Nashville, this place was highly recommended. Beautiful drive....beautiful area....and a cute little place. The biscuits and jam were to die for. The coffee was good. I had catfish, hushpuppies and mac n cheese. The meal was done well. It was more food than I could finish. Service was excellent. The little shops out back are adorable. I would def. eat here again, the next time I'm in Nashville!
(4)Jessica P.
Amazing southern cuisine! We dined at Loveless for breakfast, which was absolutely delicious. I ordered the Biscuit Sampler Platter with cheese grits. It came with 4 slider size biscuit sandwiches of pulled pork, fried chicken, medium rare steak, and ham. All deliciously seasoned and cooked perfectly. The cheese grits were also really tasty. This meal really hit the spot. My boyfriend ordered the half order ham & eggs with hash brown casserole. After he tasted my pulled pork, he wished he'd ordered the pulled pork & eggs. Regardless, he enjoyed his meal and I couldn't help but sample the delicious hash brown casserole. We were visiting from out of town, so we were excited to buy their cookbook, available for purchase in their gift store. I'm still thinking about just how tasty this meal was & can't wait to make some of the dishes at home!
(5)Cynthia T.
One of our good friends who LOVES food came into town so I brought him for a taste of the Loveless Cafe! This is an update so check my first review for more details. When we sat down at 6:50pm, we learned that their daily special (Chicken and dumplings on this particular Wednesday) was out already. My friend wanted to try it so that was a minor disappointing start to our meal but with so many other delicious options, we weren't sad for long. Some updates on the food experience: Pulled pork - tender, flaky (shreds apart), smokey and flavorful. It was much more moist this time! Fried chicken - crispy, moist but lacked flavor inside with good seasoning on the outside Fried catfish - squeeze a little lemon on the top, a little dip into the tartar sauce and yes, the bombness in your mouth. A lowlight was having undercooked hush puppies served to me but the server quickly replaced it with another requested side (creamed corn). Fried okra, Mac 'n Cheese, and sweet peach tea rounded out the meal. Note to self for future orders, I don't like their turnip greens - a bit bland with a kick of pepper/spice. Tip: It's always good to call ahead for a shorter wait time. Extra: my friend is really into smoking stuff so we stopped by their smoker and were allowed to take a peek into how they make their smoked meats.
(4)Myra E.
Seriously amazing! We made the drive here as we were passing thru Nashville. This was worth he wait as the restaurant was clean, service was top-notch and the food was outstanding! I ordered poached eggs to go along with my biscuits, and was impressed they even attempted to poach an egg and they were able to do so with precision.
(5)Mallory S.
I love Loveless. It's a great place for a tourist to experience a country-style breakfast. I had the ham, red eye gravy, with two eggs and hash. The hash is the best because it is cheesy and creamy (definitely not healthy, but delicious)! Coffee is typical diner coffee (nothing special but cheap). I think my favorite part (besides the hash) is the biscuit and jam plate! YUM! I have only been to Nashville twice, but I will continue to stop at Loveless anytime I'm in town.
(4)Anthony M.
A Nashville tradition must do if visiting. The lines are long, the service is friendly, but not professional, and the food falls between good and great. I think it is the history and location that makes this a favorite weekend bfast experience for everyone that comes and visit us.
(4)Ivan S.
Long ago, I used to deny my touristy nature. Call it the arrogance of youth. Call it growing up in Central Florida where tourists are tolerated like mosquitoes and alligators--a part of life, but you don't want to associate with them. As I've grown older, I've accepted that when I leave town, I'm a tourist. I do touristy things, I eat touristy food. No, not Ruby Tuesday's or Olive Garden. That's just dumb. But I will mire myself in what is otherwise known as a "tourist trap." And I'll smile and drink overpriced soft drinks and buy the postcard while I'm at it. And thus began mine and my wife's visit to uber tourist trap The Loveless Cafe. Originally an old eatery tucked into a motel off the Natchez Trace Parkway, it's since expanded out to the remaining buildings in the motel that now include a food gift shop, a gag-laden trinkets store, a bike shop, an art gallery and a concert hall. You'll be glad for the distractions when you're told to wait an hour (or more) for a table. (Don't worry, the beepers they give you cover the entire grounds.) By the way, since we were eating here on the 4th of July, we were told that the wait wasn't that bad for a weekend. Oy. Nevertheless, we were in full tourist mode and the waiting seemed par for the course. But what were we waiting for? Well, based on our orders, a ham steak with red eye gravy breakfast plate and a Bacon, Lettuce and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. I honestly wished I could have tried some of the other dishes, but we'd had a huge breakfast and had to order small. (OK, RELATIVELY small.) My BLT was great. The fried green tomato was thick, the outer coating (corn meal) crispy. A few (hipster) places here in ATL also serve this same dish, but the Loveless version beats them by an, ahem, country mile. My greens were tasty, but I prefer mine a little more spicy and a little less sweet. I guess that's what the pepper sauce is for. My wife selected the ham steak. Being gluten-free, she wasn't able to pick from much more of the menu nor was she able to enjoy the biscuits. Nevertheless, the ham steak was thick cut and as salty as you'd expect. The wife, a big coffee fan, ordered the redeye gravy and was alternated pleased and repulsed by it. As a NON-coffee fan, I was just repulsed, but that's just redeye gravy in general and not Loveless' serving. And to the biscuits....as a biscuit connoisseur I can definitely tell you these aren't drop biscuits. The wife's granny, an old southern lady who I think was around during the War of Northern Aggression, taught the wife how to make drop biscuits, so that's her frame of reference. I, on the other hand, am more familiar with the flaky, layered kind and these were THAT version. That said, I love Loveless' biscuits. My wife, gluten-free though she may be, cheated a little and had a nibble. She declared them good (even better with sorghum preserves on them), but not as good as granny's. I've got to disagree. Sorry, Granny-in-law, I know you drop it like it's hot, but I gotta side with Loveless here. Four stars.
(4)Todd M.
This is an excellent place. We went on a Saturday and, honestly, did not expect to get in anytime soon, but we were up for the wait. We have wanted to go for some time now. While waiting we toured the little shops on the campus and found several very cool Christmas presents for friends and family (NOT the corn pone stuff at that Country yatta yatta joint). The service was excellent. The food was wonderful and the biscuits to die for. One of the 10 best breakfast joints EVER!
(5)Franklin A.
Okay, this place has been featured on more shows that we can swing a dead cat at. Ellen, the Today Show, countless cooks/chefs from Food Network rave about this place...for good reason. The food is good (yeah, its all about the biscuits) but the ambience is really fun, friendly, and is full of character. If you come expecting fine dining or exquisite southern cooking you'll be disappointed. But if you want good food for a good price in a place that's fun and makes you want to come back again...then you'll be very pleased.
(4)Jessica V.
Worth the wait! Best biscuits, best fried chicken, love the atmosphere and friendly staff. Always enjoy my time there. Thanks Loveless Cafe!
(5)Michael C.
The biscuits alone are reason alone why to go to Loveless! I've had chicken fried steak and both were amazing.
(4)Erin W.
Actually love this restaurant, however service was off today. Biscuits were served cold, the red velvet pancakes were cold and the sausage omelet was so-so. Don't know if our waitress forgot to pick up our order or what, but it was not the best service today. Need to watch that!
(3)Norm P.
Loveless Cafe is awesome country cooking. We take everyone from out of town there. Great country setting!
(4)Lewis B.
Very good staff. Food was good, well seasoned vegetables. I would eat here again.
(4)Eugene T.
Really famous restaurant but I don't really think this could category in Nashville restaurant since it take 25 min drive to there. Food is good and fresh but kind of too salty especially the county ham. It is a nice place if you don't mind the drive and get some beyond average brunch.
(3)Adam S.
Took the 1 hour drive from Lebanon just to get some biscuits and it was very much worth it. Our waiter was the best. Super quick and friendly even though we got there only about 25 minutes before they closed. Only had dessert (pie) and biscuits, and then stopped at the store. Eat the biscuits. Take some to go. The preserves they are served with are excellent as well, especially the strawberry.
(5)Jackie M.
Wasn't worth the hype IMHO. We waited almost two hours. Sides were really bad (e.g. mac and cheese was runny as soup and had zero flavor). Fried chicken was great and biscuits were too. Other than that, I thought the food was blah. Service wasn't very friendly either. You go here once, post your pic to Instagram and probably forget about the food. I liked Hattie B's chicken better (sorry!!!).
(2)Darragh T.
The quality and quantity of reviews speak for themselves. There's nothing more I can add without being repetitive. Some of the best scratch cooking I've come across on my travels.
(4)Lisa K.
Honestly, Loveless never disappoints and on each of my three visits I've left here as happy as could be! Once you sit down they'll bring you a plate full of biscuits and jam, and this could be meal enough on its own! The biscuits are always hot and buttery and delicious! You won't want to fill up on biscuits though because you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I'm partial to the chicken and dumplings, which is one of their blue plate specials on Wednesday. All of the sides are super tasty, but the creamed corn is really special. I can't say I've ever made it to dessert... or even finished my meal! I always get caught up with the biscuits, which gives me plenty of leftovers! Believe me when I say a trip to Loveless is worth the stop. Your stomach will thank you!
(5)Mary G.
Breakfast review...Pricey, have to say that right off the bat. We ordered a la carte for the most part, to try different menu items. My scrambled eggs were good, not overcooked, the in-house, smoked bacon was really delicious, grits were smooth and the hash brown casserole was tasty but I thought it had a little too much cheese in it. I know, I know, can there ever be too much cheese? I would have like to taste onion, maybe even some green pepper. The biscuits were very tasty and personally I'm glad they are small. The country ham was thick (we like it on a the thinner side though), not over-salted and had a great flavor. The service was excellent, waiter friendly, bringing out a plate of biscuits and 3 servings of homemade jams. We arrived at 7:15am and the cafe was half full. When we left at around 8am they had a wait. Though the line was moving, I would suggest making a reservation, even that early! There are cute little shops surrounding the cafe. All in all a good experience and we will go back again for other breakfast items and for lunch/dinner.
(4)John S.
Went again after the Vanderbilt commencement ceremony. This time I was in a large group and each person ordered something different. I got the fried pork chops, which were huge portions (2 big pieces) and very tender and juicy. A friend had the fried steak, which was also very good. I would give it 4 or even 4.5 stars because the food is delicious and the biscuits are always amazing (and the preserves are heavenly). Just be prepared to wait (we waited about an hour).
(4)Cryss L.
While in Nashville three weeks ago we dropped in for a late lunch. The food was fantastic. Our server was not attentive. We both remarked how we wish we had been seated in another section as the other tables were getting amazing service. Back to the food. I ordered the BLT (the T being fried green tomatoes). It was very good. The bacon was just right and the fried green tomatoes had a nice crunch to them. I had a side of mac -n- cheese which was good (not great but good). The biscuit was wonderful and the strawberry preserves were fantastic. So good that after we ate we walked over to the Loveless market and each picked up a jar to take back. My mom had breakfast, two fried eggs, sourdough toast, bacon, hash browns, and the city ham. The ham was great. I was surprised on my way to the bathroom to pass two open window kitchens, one that show cased biscuit making. That was very cool. I would definitely come back and I highly recommend going. I would have loved to give 5 star but I just couldn't with such poor service.
(4)Anto B.
Amazzzzzing fried chicken!!! I can say the best I have ever had. This place is a must go/see when in Nashville. Everything we ordered was amazing and everything we didn't order looked amazing too.
(5)Eric D.
This place is a bit overrated. I love the decor and the history behind loveless cafe, but the food was sub par. The service was excellent though. I had the Country fried steak and to be quite honest, i've had a lot better. I hope this was an isolated expierence.
(2)Millah J.
I had read reviews and some weren't favorable so I didn't know what to expect. I was not disappointed!! I had the fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, pinto beans and fried green tomatoes and everything was so good. The downside was the 1 hour wait, but the food and service more than made up for it. In fact, I'll be back!
(5)Moles B.
I'm not even done eating and I'm giving it five stars. This place has the whole package. Take note restaurant owners, it has an original and consistent theme, it's clean, the waitstaff is super friendly and pleased to help you. The fried chicken is up there with the best. Were the biscuits the best I've ever had? No but they weren't bad and they'll give you as many as you want and with awesome homemade preserves. I've had better Mac and cheese but it's still really good. For the price, this is as good as it gets. I'm waiting for pecan pie right now but I'm confident that they won't fuck that up.............and they didn't. Win!!!!
(5)Mr T.
As far as Southern cooking goes, Loveless Cafe isn't even in my top 15, but the experience was enjoyable and it's definitely something you should do at least once when visiting Nashville. Biscuits: Decent. Don't know why everyone is so crazy about them. Pretty small, so plan on eating at least two. The housemade peach preserves are awesome. Overall: C+ Fried Chicken (white meat): Light, crispy, flavorful crust. Meat was tender and juicy. Overall: A- Hashbrown Casserole: Sizable portion. Thick and rich. Slightly better than what you'll find at Cracker Barrel. Overall: B Collard Greens: Relatively bland. Lacked a traditional saltiness from the ham hock. Pot liquor goes well with the biscuits. Overall: C- Green Beans: Same issue as collards. Overall: C-
(3)John S.
Came here some time ago, and I have to first say it was the best, most tender, juiciest bbq pulled pork I have ever had. Another thing - the wait time was ridiculous, nearly 2 hours. I ended up having a snack at the shop that also sells the bbq pork, where I had a small preview of the delicious bbq pulled pork. I wanted a second and third helping and just to eat that, but my friends wanted to eat at the actual restaurant..... And yes, it was worth it, for those dang biscuits. MAN THEY'RE GOOD. I needed extra strawberry jam for them, TWICE. These, along with the bbq pork, are what I remember most. I had dessert too, it was delicious, but nothing comes close to these babies. Overall, AMAZING, but WAY too long of a wait when its busy. ALTERNATIVE: get BBQ sandwiches next door and buy goo clusters for dessert!
(4)Kristle S.
Loved the atmosphere. Food was sooooooo delicious. Down home southern cooking. Very good and went home stuffed and with leftovers. Will go back here when I am back in town.
(5)Keith L.
So this place is definitely out of the way if you're staying in the city (my friends and I were a few blocks from Broadway when we went), but if you've got wheels and a burning hunger for the kind of southern food you came down South for, then Loveless is your place. The meal started with a basket of biscuits with homemade jam (on the house) and my friend and I shared the Pimento Bacon burger and the BBQ sandwich, then finished the meal off with some pie. The service was super-friendly and the food was all good.Totally what we wanted out of a Nashville dining experience.
(4)Jinkzz M.
Loveless Cafe is absolutely delightful and one that shouldn't be missed by anyone visiting Nashville. The restaurant is located outside of Nashville on Hwy 100. The restaurant sign is clearly visible from the highway with its blue color and neon lighting. There are several building structure within the "compound" which houses the restaurant, the market, bbq pit/smokehouse, local arts store, and other buildings. The restaurant itself in nondescript and unassuming with a short flight of stairs leading to the main entrance. The inside of the restaurant is warm and inviting. It feels like visiting a Southern home where you are always welcome. The walls are decorated with pictures of famous celebs (country music stars, I think but not too sure since I didn't really look too closely at the photographs) with autographs. The servers were friendly and accommodating. We came around 10 in the morning so it was not too busy. Our server was quite attentive and didn't need prompting for any refills. My friend ordered waffles while I ordered fried pork chop. The biscuit was complimentary along with the different jams and preserves. The food that we ordered was amazing but the biscuit was exceptional.It was not greasy but soft and flaky...delicious. I wasn't fond of biscuits before but their biscuit turned me into a believer :) Such a great example of how good Southern cooking is and a reminder of how much I miss it. If there was one thing that I regret though is that we didn't order the fried chicken liver :( I heard that wait time can be long on the weekends so it might be better to schedule a trip during the week. Overall, this was definitely worth the drive over from Nashville. If I am back in the area, I will definitely come back to eat. Prices were okay and reasonable. They have a parking lot that offers free parking.
(5)William T.
If you love to eat, this has to be one of the best places to go. Today was our second trip back to this restaurant and it was every bit as good as our first trip here. This is definitely going to be on our list of restaurants every time we come to Nashville. William
(5)Tracy F.
Being relatively new to Nashville, Loveless Cafe was one of the first places I was taken since I arrived. I love the atmosphere of the entire campus, from the cafe itself to the Hams and Jams country store--it screams "Nashville!" in the best possible way. However, even with the kitchy stores and atmosphere, I was put off by the 1 hour 45 minute wait and extremely grumpy by the time we were finally seated. We ordered our dinner, a classic meat and three with the smoked turkey breast, mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes and green beans. The turkey was freezer-burned and cold and so bad I had to send it back. My boyfriend commented that his fried chicken was only lukewarm and the mashed potatoes had no flavor--he also said that the best part of the meal were the biscuits, the one thing we didn't have to pay for! We left the restaurant feeling disappointed, with no desire to return. I happened to have a business meeting here one weekday morning for breakfast a few weeks later, and I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the meal was. I ordered a vegetable omelette with grits and biscuits and enjoyed every bite! The omelette was fresh and huge, and the biscuits were noticeably hot out of the oven. I've since returned to Loveless with out of town guests for breakfast and have always been satisfied with my meal, particularly because the wait time is dramatically shorter than it would be for dinner. I won't eat anything but breakfast here again anyways, so I'll be back on a weekday morning the next time I welcome visitors!
(3)Andrea T.
Pace yourselves. Is all I have to say! I overdid it! The biscuits are so good. Ridiculous good. So good you could eat them plain, but why would you when there are the best jams ever on the plate? The peach jam is like eating the best peach cobbler on a biscuit. The blackberry still has pieces of the blackberries intact?? How do they do that?? The strawberry is good, but not as noteworthy as the other two. Oh, and they will bring more biscuits, but cut them off after two plates! I prefer the turnip greens at Arnold's, but hey to each is own! They were really the only thing I wasn't over the moon about! The sweet tea is perfectly sweetened. Not too sweet, not too bitter, just right! I had fried chicken and it was sublime! Would definitely order it again. The string bean casserole was a little taste of thanksgiving in may...score! I also had the chicken and bacon soup chowder which was delicious. Not salty at all, perfectly seasoned! My friend and I both had pie, the strawberry rhubarb and steeplechase ( derby style pie) and they were perfect slices, not too big and not too small, definitely too small to share, but perfect when you already regretted ordering it!! Delicious both of them! Well worth the wait, and theres plenty to shop before you eat! Oh and ask for Virginia! She's the best waitress!!!
(4)Ericka B.
Cute place to check out if you're visiting Nashville! Biscuits are good, food is decent. I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of Southern food, but when in Rome...er, Nashville... I had a beef brisket sandwich with green beans and Mac and cheese. The bf had a southern omelette with country ham. Everything was pretty good. Portions are HUGE. Consider sharing a meal if you don't want to walk out hurting!
(4)Lauren H.
I cannot believe I'm just now reviewing the loveless! Such a great place to eat if visiting the Nashville area. The biscuits and jams are incredible and the perfect starter (free) to any meal! The fried chicken, creamed corn, fried green tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and turnip greens will make you slap yo'mamma! ;-) very good! And I hope to visit again very soon!
(5)Katelyn N.
Had a great country meal here while visiting Nashville from Chicago. The chicken was amazingly moist and delicious. Fried green tomatoes were pretty good as well. The biscuits were nice and buttery and really tasty. They came with three different types of preserves: peach, strawberry and blackberry. I wasn't a fan of the peach but the other two were awesome and went perfectly with the homemade biscuits. We got there around 8 on a Friday night and were seated right away. We had heard the wait is usually upwards of an hour but we didn't have that issue at all. Service was super friendly and attentive. While the location is a little off the beaten path from downtown Nashville, the food makes it totally worth it.
(4)Moira R.
Okay, so I finally made it to Loveless for breakfast. Waited an hour and a half was expected, and there was enough to keep me busy, so that was okay. People were friendly. I had some trouble with the menu, ultimately I couldn't find anything I really wanted which is usually not a problem I have. The biscuits were good, but let's be honest, this whole show is about the jam -- which is delicious. Waitress was rushed, kind of harassed, but mostly funny about it. The breakfast with friends was nice, overall the experience was good. Not really sure why people are so obsessed at this point, aside from the fact that the place IS AN INSTITUTION. Definitely worth it for the history, I suppose.
(3)Stephen M.
Best biscuits on earth....(I'm not kidding). The biscuits are truly amazing, as is the rest of the menu. I bring all my visiting family members here for breakfast or lunch at least once during their visits. My favorite from the menu is the pulled pork omelet, as it has just the right sweet and savory combination to satisfy the palate. Do yourself a favor and take the significant other for a nice breakfast, or brunch.
(5)TJ F.
The Loveless is a great place, with sprawling grounds formed from the bones of an old highway motel. Nowadays, it houses a music venue, gift shop, tourist items and... authentic southern food. If you like biscuits with preserves like your grandma from the farm made, and fried chicken with okra, mashed potatoes and hush puppies, this is your place. I've visited a few times and I'm personally not a fan of this style of food - pretty much everything is battered, breaded, fried, and carbolicious. However, it is a fun place to take some out-of-town guests who want to live the southern comfort food life for a couple of hours and don't mind going a bit away from the city. Treat your arteries to some real gravy, butter on your biscuit, and fried catfish while you're here. It's not good for you, but it's tasty, authentic, and worth a trip once in a while.
(4)KT A.
This place is fantastic! The People are friendly and brings the customers back to "service with a smile". Country fried steak, eggs, cheese grits, bacon and biscuits. All great! Loved the grits... Came on a Monday morning around 10am with 6 people. Did not have to wait... Also loved the Peach Jam.. Bought a few bottles to take back to NJ! If you're able to go... Definitely go and have some breakfast here!
(5)Chip M.
Good food that did appear to be "scratch made" I have the biscuits n gravy. The gravy did taste scratch made and not from. Mix. Biscuits were really tasty. The jams were good but the strawberry was Extremely runny so not very jam like. The peach really didn't taste overly peachy to me. The blackberry was By far my personal fav of the the 3. Luke was our server. He was attentive And provided us with great service and just the right about of chit chat. Nice way to start the day. I'd return but might make reservation in advance. We waited about 1 hour this sunny Sunday morning.
(4)David M.
Live close by and eat here frequently. Occasionally can be seated quickly but usually a wait. It's just home style COOKIN and typically good for when you want fried food and country veggies. We like seeing all different people and visitors from out of town. Occasionally will see country music stars as we have a few times who also live close by. Miss the biscuit lady yet her recipe lives on...
(5)BT M.
Loveless is a tasty treat after (or before) a ride down the Natchez Trace. The food is okay, but not spectacular. The wait is long, but worth it if you want the Loveless experience. For my money, Monell's in Nashville is better on food, but lacks the experience of a nice drive and a shared "It's Loveless!" experience. While you're waiting, go over to the shop area, get corn hole equipment, and toss the bags.
(3)Charles L.
I took my staff to lunch at Loveless to celebrate a co-worker's birthday. It was a big hit. Many of us were new to Nashville and really enjoyed this staple. As a true southerner, I would say that the biscuits are a little overhyped but they were still quite good. It's just a matter of personal taste though. I will definitely go back and take more friends in the future.
(4)Kimberly K.
They're biscuits. How good can biscuits really get? {Ambiance} Homey. Laid back. Loads of celebrity pictures on the walls. We arrived at around 9 am on Wednesday and there was no wait. By 10 am there was a bit of a wait. Not a huge line though. I believe you are given a buzzer if you have to wait for a table, so you can browse around the gift shop to kill some time. {Service} The moment we entered the doors, the hostess was welcoming and friendly. Our server Dee was attentive, offered suggestions, and was more than helpful. She brought us extra napkins, our water cups were always full, and she made sure we had plenty of biscuits throughout our meal. {Food} *A bowl of butter and half & half sits on each table. How convenient. Complimentary Homemade Biscuits and Preserves- The most memorable biscuits ever! Warm, light, fluffy, and slightly buttery. They weren't extremely buttery or salty like some of the others I have had in the past. Three types of preserves come with your plate of biscuits: Peach, Blackberry, and Strawberry. The biscuits are delicious on their own but the preserves are so well made, you will want to buy a jar of it to take home. Two simple ingredients go into their preserves, sugar and fruit. Southern Sampler Breakfast - Includes Country Ham, Bacon, Sausage and Eggs. All Breakfast Platters come with your choice of grits or potatoes. The Ham was flavorful but really tough. You will be chewing for a very long time. The red eye gravy was flavorful. The bacon was savory, crispy, and slightly salty. The sausage patties were warm, tender, and seasoned well. The eggs were cooked perfectly, just the way I ordered them- sunny side up. The grits were warm and comforting but a bit too watery for me. French Toast- Hearty slices of Texas toast with loads of cinnamon and sugar. It comes with syrup, but they were delicious on their own. Hashbrown Casserole- Potatoes + Cheese = winner {Price Range} Breakfast Plates/Platters $6.95-$13.50, Supper Platters $9.95-$16.95 When thinking about the biscuits at Loveless Cafe, words such as "amazing" and "mind blowing" come to mind.
(4)Colleen M.
This was one of my favorite places I stopped at while in Nashville. Yes, the wait can be insanely long, but I promise it is so worth it. If you are tight on time, be sure to call ahead and see how busy it is. If you have to wait, there are cute little shops surrounding the cafe to kill some time. Those biscuits are SO GOOD! The staff is so friendly! They even sent us with water and biscuits to go to bring back to our hotel room. I was more than pleased with my experience. I'm heading to Nashville again soon and will be making a stop here again!
(5)Kristin V.
Definitely worth the drive from Franklin. The complimentary biscuits were the best biscuits I have ever had and if I wasn't trying to watch what I'm eating, I think the biscuits and gravy or the fried chicken would have put me into a food coma. Food was great and walking around the little area while waiting for our table was a lot of fun. It was an hour wait around 1:30pm so it's nice they have stuff for you to do. There is cornhole out front and 4 cute little shops ranging from Loveless treats and meats to souvenirs etc. Would definitely recommend as a place to check out!
(4)Christopher B.
OMG the best fried chicken I have ever had in my entire life. One of my friends shed a tear and the other licked her fingers and said "I didn't know people really did that! " it was so good. They even have all you can eat chicken or meatloaf with great sides and unlimited biscuits. The wait is terrible but there are shops to pass the time. Only disappointment was watermelon wasnt in season they said so I couldn't get the watermelon moonshine. Highly recommend. Worth the drive and the wait.
(5)Angel O.
First time reviewer and what a great place to begin with. I travel for work a lot, and I tend to use Yelp to find those can't miss places. This place however, was based on a recommendation from a local. And thank goodness she did. I went on a Tuesday evening with a coworker. The service was great, our server, a young college aged man, was very helpful, funny, and extremely polite. He quickly brought us some biscuits and wow, they're as good as anyone can advertise them to be. The jams are just great too. I ordered the friend chicken (half) with mashed potatoes and mac n cheese. I'm a little ashamed that I licked my plate cleaned, while inhaling a few dozen biscuits. I did leave Loveless with an overwhelming feeling of joy and shame. 5 stars no doubt.
(5)Andy B.
3.5 stars, really. My country fried steak was quite tasty. Can't say the same about the mashed potatoes, though. Hour wait on Sunday at 3 PM was odd. The blackberry jam was quite awesome.
(4)Jon T.
It is tough to say much about Loveless that has not already been said. The biscuits are every bit as good as every single person you ask tells you. They come hot. The preserves for them are remarkable. If you seek happiness through carbohydrates, you shouldn't go another day without experiencing the wonder of the Loveless biscuit. It actually is every bit as good as those your grandmother used to make. As for the rest of the food, fantastic. You can tell that their country fried steak is hand breaded, and does not taste like a Swanson TV dinner like is served at most restaurants. The sides are fantastic. The hashbrown casserole is to die for. Anyone going to this restaurant should be prepared for a festival of carbs. That is the only good reason to go to this type of restaurant. One thing should be noted about this restaurant. Expect to wait! Any weekend, a wait of at least an hour is to be expected. Once it gets closer to the summer, the waits can be even longer. Is it worth the wait? It depends on who you ask. I say yes, but I always make sure to eat a piece of cheese beforehand. You simply cannot go to this restaurant already hungry. You will feel like you are being tortured. This place is worth every 5 star review it gets. It has yet to disappoint, and I will return every time I make a trip to Nashville.
(5)Brian K.
Super supper, but slow service! We arrived Saturday afternoon and were informed it was an hour and a half wait, then returned Saturday evening and waited for about 45 minutes. So the wait time wasn't optimum, considering there are only about 30 tables at the restaurant and probably about 4 waitress on staff. Not only was the wait time to long, but one of my pet peeves is drink refills and they were essentially non-existent. My glass should never be empty and it seemed not all the staff was working as a team. It seems most of the staff is young and some were to busy with high fives and not willing to watch out for the customers and help the wait staff. My drink was finally refilled with the wrong drink and returned with no straw. Now the food was great! The biscuts and jam were amazing and always wonderful. We have been three times and each time the meal was very good. The final time we had chicken fried steak and a few sides. The steak was not crunchy and moist. Great job on the food.
(4)Alex G.
Great food, good service...BUT, it's in the middle of friggin' nowhere and there's almost always a long wait so I don't recommend going unless you have lots of time to kill (esp. because it's not exactly like there's anything to see around there). In short, it's good food (hence the 4 stars), but I completely disagree that it's worth the trip or the wait. There's plenty of good places to eat right in Nashville instead.
(4)Jay N.
Great Biscuits and jams. I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and it tasted like something my wife got out of a box. The portion was not worth the value. The sides were great. They do have Great Barbecue and my wife ordered that. She got a HUGE helping of it. They should be embarassed to serve that steak. The please is VERY LOUD and not the kind of place you want to go if you want to hear the person sitting next to you. VERY SAD experience
(2)David E.
My wife & I were in Nashville last Fall and wanted to try out one of the restaurants I had seen on the Food Network. We were directed to Loveless Cafe and we were not disappointed. The biscuits lived up to their billing and the veggies were fresh and delicious. Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert, but be sure you get some when you go. If you're in the neighborhood, treat yourself to a good meal - but order dessert before your meal since they run out quickly.
(4)Tammy M.
Oh my gosh what a fun experience and great food! Loved the friend chicken.
(5)Laura S.
Can I tell you how much I love this jam? And these biscuits? Because I can't. I would never stop talking. Call it the Southerner in me, but I love a good breakfast place that doesn't hold back on anything buttered. If you like to sit and stuff your face with delicious food that may or may not give you a heart attack--go to Loveless!
(4)Elizabeth B.
I walked in for a quick biscuit and jam experience around noon on a week day. While the blackberry jam was outstanding, the biscuits were a little on the chewy side for my liking. And YES I'm from the south. ;) The most disappointing part of my experience here, though, was service related. Our waitress was incredibly rude and snarky. I overheard her making ugly remarks to the cashiers about my party in the next room. We were all extremely nice, but she was not. If you're looking for "southern hospitality" I'm afraid you won't find it here.
(2)Angie H.
It's all about the biscuits and the preserves. That's why you go, that's why you have to wait and that's why you'll say it was worth it. Make no mistake about it, there will be a wait. Dad and I waited almost 2 hours. We walked right in to the old house front and put our name on the list. She handed me a pager and off we went to check out the rest of the grounds. There are a few shops to browse through. One with Loveless Cafe souvenirs, from their cook books, jars of their preserves, to handy guitar shaped wooden cooking spoons. Lots of neat stuff in there. One with t-shirts, caps and more gift shop goodies. The barn on site is used as a venue for weddings, parties and music shows. If there's nothing scheduled, you may look around inside of it. There are several other boutique shops on the place to pass the time. The BBQ Pit is a screened in area that you can watch the staff prepare their pulled pork or smoked turkey. When Ya get tired of looking around, sit a spell and compare wait times with the other patrons and before you know it, your pager will buzz and light up! After ordering your drink, she'll bring you a plate of hot buttered biscuits with 3 preserves: Blackberry (with seeds), Strawberry and Peach. All three are absolutely delicious. The biscuits are melt in your mouth smooth. It don't get any better than this. Dad ordered the Pulled Pork and I got the County Ham. Now just so ya know, BREAKFAST is served ALL DAY. SUPPER menu is available from 11am to close. Our food was hot and very tasty. Did you know the front is the original house that the Loveless Couple originally sold Fried Chicken and Biscuits right out their Front Door? Look around when you come in. Can you find that Original Front Door? Enjoy!
(5)Pam F.
I am and always will be obsessed with Loveless Cafe. The preserves, the biscuits, what's not to love? I visit it every single time I am in Nashville and I never regret it. I love the Loveless fried chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. I am not a huge pie fan so I have not tried the pies, but everyone has told me that they are SO GOOD. I am also a fan of their waffles. Really, you can't go wrong with anything at Loveless Cafe. I drag every person I know to eat there and they never regret it.
(5)Aisha S.
Biscuits! Good lord the biscuits. And the peach preserves! I bought some biscuit mix with peach and blackberry preserves from the store and took a catalog for future online ordering. The barbecue sauce (also sold in the store) made the bbq pork omelette especially delicious. We were lucky enough to come here for the first time during the week when it wasn't very crowded, but weekend brunch was ridiculous. We ended up ordering our food to go and eating outside. It was worth it though! Did I mention the biscuits?
(4)Brian F.
The place to go when you come to Nashville! Great country ham, biscuits, homemade preserves, and all things Nashville. Wonderful gift shop. Friendly people and good outdoor spots to wait for a table where you can sit around a picnic table and talk with friends and family just like you would on a front porch, and they have one of those too! Wonderful!
(5)Kevin M.
Ok Nashville. What is up with your love affair for Loveless Cafe? Yes, I can see it as an iconic establishment for music, maybe. And it's back story is kind of cool. But listen: if I'm going to wait two hours for food (the norm for weekend lunch?), it better be higher quality than freaking CRACKER BARREL. Every plate of food that I saw for our table (eight people) carried more "good ol southern" cholesterol than a tub of Country Crock, deep fried to a crisp and full of the weird southern fixings that this northerner can't find in his heart to respect. I thought I had ordered something safe, some biscuit plate. When it came out of the kitchen...well...no. No thank you. Bad experience, don't wanna go back.
(1)Lilie T.
The biscuits are the best!!!! It is sooo fresh, it is still hot and steamy when u break it in half. I would definitely go back to this and eat biscuits all day.
(4)Alycia J.
On a road trip to Mississippi, we stopped here after seeing a flyer at a rest stop. BEST DECISION ever! We fell in love with the biscuits and I'd never had an omelet with barbeque in it, before, but it is a GENIUS combination of flavors. I had the "mimosa for two" all by myself and our table ordered two rounds of biscuits with preserves. It was so good that on our drive back home, we went out of our way so that we could taste those biscuits one more time. The wait was long so we ordered to go and ate it all outside on the picnic tables even when it was threatening to rain. It was worth it. I love you Loveless Cafe!
(5)Andrea F.
The best The South has to offer: the biscuits, the blackberry jam, the bbq omellette, the chicken fried steak. You can't go wrong at this place!!! notquitegrownupguide.blo…
(5)Kate M.
I went here for lunch on my last day in Nashville. I AM SO GLAD I DID! They have to die for fried chicken and mac n cheese. The biscuits that come with your food are perfect, best I've ever had. They give you a selection of preserves with the biscuits as well...the peach is amazing. It's a bit of a drive outside of the city but if you are going to Belle Meade or Cheekwood, it's not too far from there! Totally worth it!
(5)Juanita J.
The peach preserves are a masterpiece!!! Great southern cooking - tastes like homemade! Fried chicken is incredible - how do they make that crust?!! Mashed potatoes are the real deal and the macaroni and cheese makes you want seconds. Don't worry about dessert - the biscuits with butter and peach preserves are dessert! Plan your trip carefully - the wait time can be long. We waited 45 minutes.
(5)Sami L.
Caution: Tourist trap. Biscuits were warm and were good but not the best I ever had. Food was mediocre. Wait time is ridiculously long and I think they do that on purpose so you can spend time in their shops purchasing needless merchandise. Our service was great though.
(3)Dave C.
We drove 30 minutes from Nashville for brunch here, and then waited 35 minutes for a table (they told us an hour).......an it was worth it. We had the ribs, brisket, creamed corn (the star of the show) and of course you get the biscuits with their homemade jam to start........i would just eat the biskets all day with the jam if i could. it's worth the drive and the wait.
(4)Lauren M.
The wait is long (over an hour in my case), but the food is worth it. The biscuits are light and buttery and are the perfect vessel for the peach preserves. The bacon is worth it alone. And the grits. And the chicken. And the coffee. Did I mention the biscuits? If you are looking for good, Southern-style breakfast, just go. Wait and eat. It's worth it.
(5)Leann P.
We went to the Loveless Cafe on a Monday mid-morning. We had a 45 minute wait, but it was nice because we got a pager and were able to walk around the campus and go into the different shops. Some people in other parties were becoming edgy due to the wait, but the staff does not keep it a secret that you will be waiting. They have delicious southern cuisine! Must haves= biscuits, hashbrown casserole. It was literally the best hashbrown casserole I've ever had! Loveless Cafe is definitely a place you should experience when in Nashville! My only complaint would be that it was pretty cold inside. I ended up wearing my gloves while waiting for our seat and our food. By the end of the meal my toes were numb!
(4)Shafi K.
I am so surprised that I have not reviewed this place earlier! This is the place where we bring anyone and everyone who is visiting us from out of town if they say they want to eat "southern food". This place has a great ambiance. The decor is awesome. It's vintage-looking with the pictures of 101 famous singers/dancers/musicians/senators/presidents/Âmayors/etc. Amazing how many people have been here! Everything is delicious, so where do I start? Their biscuits are the BEST in town. The fried catfish is great. I have tried the pork chops as well- ah!mazing. The prices are great and you get A LOT of food. I can literally eat my left-overs for 2 more meals the next day. When people say the food here is to DIE for, I think they mean it literally. After all that cholesterol and fat, you will be very near death. If you want a meal that will keep you full for the next 18 hours, go here! Love it!
(5)Richard N.
We live about 5 miles from this place. We always take friends and family here when they're in from out of town. Consistently good down home food.
(4)Maggie M.
Insane waits on the weekend. Waited over an hour on Friday for a take-out order (including the 30 min drive over there). Can't see what the fuss is. Will have to try to make it out on a Tuesday or Wednesday and see if it's actually possible to get a table. Not impressed with the food I got- have definitely had better in the area.
(2)Michael S.
32 bucks for breakfast is a wee too high. food was great, service was great. just can't get over the price.
(3)Heather J.
"Breakfast at The Loveless Café?" I had been in Nashville less than 24 hours, and this was the third time I had heard of/and been instructed to eat at The Loveless Café. So, we did! Since the 1940's, Lon and Annie Loveless have been serving chicken and biscuits right from the front door of their house to travelers going to and from Nashville. Eventually, their 'home' became a regularly scheduled stop of travelers, and as such evolved into The Loveless Motel and Café in 1951.Today , they serve 7000 biscuits a day, and once you've sunk your teeth into the creamy, buttery goodness, you'll know why. They are amazing. They also bring an assortment of fresh made preserves to the table. Yum. I watch a lot of cooking shows, which is ironic, since I don't cook. Our stove is used to store things, suitcases waiting to be used and shoes waiting to be worn. However, from the myriad of cooking shows, I have gleaned that Tennesseans know bar-b-queue, and after visiting, I am convinced. Ribs, ribs and more ribs. Ribs slow cooked in a pit. Ribs smoked dry, baked, boiled, broiled, rubbed, doused, simmered and oh so good. The Rib Special of the day at The Loveless, were slow cooked with watermelon; the meat literally falling from the bone. The keys to good ribs, I'm told, are some 'fine swine' and lots of time. Throughout the ages, The Loveless Café has been a much cherished piece of Nashville culture. In 2004, for the first time in Loveless history, they closed their doors for renovation. When they reopened a few months later, 'folks were standing in line thicker than sausage gravy'. Today The Loveless has been featured on many shows, including Ellen DeGeneres, Today and Good Morning America. For a downhome southern food experience, this place makes the cut. Visit my site at: TNBTA.com for cool photos and more reviews....
(4)Timothy P.
Fun place outside Nashville. They have made it into a bit of a tourist destination. The creamed corn is great. Biscuits are rockin'. Had the "special of the day" creamed chicken & dumplings. Good, wouldn't call it great. Excellent service, nice atmosphere. A little pricey, but worth a visit.
(4)Doug P.
Fried chicken that was done perfectly. Turnip greens and grits! Peanut butter pie!!! Tooo good!! Absolutely deserves the longstanding reputation of great food...oh I almost forgot...butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
(5)Matthew B.
One of my all time favorite restaurants. I have not been here for a few years and it is good to know things haven't changed. Same great food!
(5)Guillermo L.
Fourth of July visit! We had to wait to be seated but the food was every second worth it!! :)
(5)Megan H.
Went for our anniversary dinner and Tammy was the best server we've ever had! Entire Menu was tempting and the biscuits were, of course, amazing. Can't wait to go back for more brinner (breakfast for dinner)!!! Love the ambience every time.
(5)Dana P.
Home cooked, Southern style food. Good food, good service, good moonshine drinks. Ordered the blue plate special, which at the time was hot chicken with fries and mac and cheese. It was so good! The chicken was juicy, yet crunchy. Had a little kick of spice, and was delicious. I was in a big group and they got everyone's order right. I had a side of ranch and others had small sides or little extras, and they never missed a thing. I ordered the Blue Moon drink, which was delicious. Had blueberries, lemonade, and Sprite (with moonshine). The Loveless is such a popular dining location that people wait hours to eat there. There was a big crowd of people when we arrived and left, and I can see why. I highly recommend visiting the restaurant and shops behind the restaurant if you want something to take home.
(5)N T.
Go for the biscuits, stay for the blackberry preserves. I don't even like fried chicken, but I love it when my family goes to this iconic restaurant to give out-of-towners a backwoods Tennessee experience (though the area has become increasingly suburban since I was little). The biscuits and blackberry preserves are ridiculously good. They give you other types of preserves, too, but I seldom have bothered to even try them. As someone who doesn't like fried chicken, I often go for the catfish. It's quite good if you like catfish (which many people don't), but it's also fried which is a downside for me as fried food upsets my stomach.
(5)Andrea S.
Everyone raves about this place, however I wasn't impressed. The famous biscuits were OK. I have definitely had better. Our waiter wasn't really friendly and some of our food was burnt. We were kind over the place and didn't bother to say anything. We ate less than half the food. The shops are a little over priced but a cute set up.
(2)Justin H.
Great food and excellent service. The aroma was very good and cool shops to walk around and see while waiting. Definitely make time for the wait!
(5)Patten F.
I have lived in Nashville for my entire life, but prior to this weekend, I had been to Loveless exactly one time - and that was on my 11th birthday, 20 years ago. As I drove back from a trip to Nashville West with my family, I pointed out that while I knew Nashville like the back of my hand...I honestly had no idea how to get to the Loveless...so we decided to go on Saturday night, completely ignoring the fact that people were starting to roll in for Fan Fair. When we arrived, I found a spot right by the front door...because I'm awesome. There was a 25 minute wait, but since it's the Loveless and it's Saturday night (and it was gorgeous out), that was no problem...we just explored the property. There's a little shop off to the side that sells ham, bacon, preserves, biscuit mix and various Nashville paraphenalia like you would find if you were getting off the airport. Yeah, it's tourist central, but who really cares - there's a fridge full of bacon. Seriously. Bacon. Fridge. Want. (My sister and I were unsuccessful at convincing my mom to get a "I'm Not Bashful I'm From Nashville" sticker for her car). So we moseyed around (because that's what we natives do when we're not line dancing, going to Tootsies and wearing our boots and hats, right? We mosey) and found a nice big porch outside Trace Bikes (which is in one of the shops in the old converted Motel - the Motel portion of the Loveless has been converted into a hipster strip mall) and enjoyed the sun while we waited for the pager to go off. When we went inside...we walked past the screen door that used to be the entrance (and was the last time I was there) and went right...last time I went left. After reviewing the menu (and determining that I wanted breakfast for dinner and you can't convince me otherwise), I got a barbecue pork omelette, thinking a) I like both of those things and b) where else am I going to get that. They brought our biscuits and preserves to the table (if in doubt, use the peach), we fell into a biscuit coma and our food came. While I never ever would have considered putting barbecue into an omelette...it was fantastic (and gigantic)...I'd get it again if there weren't so much more deliciousness waiting for me on the menu in future visits. Because we had determined that we had already gone all-in with this dinner, we ordered dessert. I had banana pudding. It was perfect, with the little bits of banana and soggy vanilla wafer in it...um. More please. So touristishness and cliches be damned, I love the Loveless.
(5)Stephanie I.
Definitely make a stop at Loveless if you're in Nashville! It's become such an iconic restaurant...and rightfully so! Beware: the wait is LONG. We waited almost 2 hours, but luckily there are a lot of small shops in the area to kill time. As for the food, the biscuits are so so so good. I also had the meatloaf - pretty good too! I would say that a lot of the appeal is in the atmosphere and general feel of the place, but the food is pretty solid as well.
(4)linda d.
Great country breakfast. We ate here twice while in Nashville last week. The first morning, I had the fried eggs, ham and red gravy, which is more like aus jus where I come from. It came with hash brown casserole that was quite tasty. The biscuits and homemade preserves were divine. Overall a very good breakfast. The second visit, I had the port BBQ and eggs and my friend had the country fried pork chops and eggs. The highlight was the country fried pork chops! The BBQ pork was delish as well.
(5)Julie L.
I was born and raised in California, but there are some Southern dishes that I just can't get enough of when they're done right. I could curl up in a basket of Loveless biscuits, take a nap, and dream of amazing homemade preserves. Those things are like crack. Good fried chicken doesn't hurt my feelings either, and Loveless' is so good that my friend had to tell me halfway through lunch that I had it all over my face (I was not ashamed either). Balance all that out with a side of marinated cucumbers and onions and you're good to go. Be prepared for a possibly long wait - but at least there are shops and galleries nearby to wander through while you try not to get hangry (aka hungry angry)!
(4)Byron W.
We visited some friends in Nashville and my wife suggested we check-out Loveless Cafe. Apparently, a lot of famous people eat (or have eaten) here. I'm always down for checking-out local favorites, so off we went. After reading a number of reviews here on Yelp, it was obvious Loveless was famous for two things: fried chicken and biscuits. Before I go any further, let me say that I grew up in the South. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet tea and bread have been a regular part of my diet for as long as I can remember. To say that I was disappointed in the fried chicken and biscuits would be an understatement. Some of the reviewers have commented that Cracker Barrel has nothing on Loveless' biscuits. Are you kidding me?! Not only are Cracker Barrel's biscuits better, their fried chicken puts Loveless' to shame as well. Loveless even messed-up their sweet tea. A "southern food" establishment that can't get sweet tea right?! Wow... I will say that the food wasn't bad. However, I cannot tell you it was good. It was "okay". It was edible. But, no, I didn't ask for a to go box. Their creamed corn was fine and the mashed potatoes were better than instant. My wife had their chicken fingers, which were okay at best. Her homemade chicken fingers puts Loveless to shame. Her homemade biscuits put Loveless to shame. And her sweet tea (even on a bad day) puts Loveless' to shame. Come to think of it, if this place is so "famous", maybe my wife should open a restaurant... Save your drive and find a local Cracker Barrel (until I find an alternate local southern food establishment to recommend). Previous owners must have done things differently. I have no other explanation for the reputation this place has...
(3)Gai P.
Pretty solid breakfast joint though not extraordinary given all the fanfare. You'll wait a long time so be prepared. There isn't a place close by that sells adult beverages. Maybe bring a flask or a cooler to help pass time. Don't have a group of more than 4 to get seated faster.
(3)Diana J.
Biscuits were phenomenal, and they keep 'em coming! Fried chicken was absolutely delicious too, though 2 pieces of the dark meat was enough for me as I still preferred the biscuits with their peach jam. Ice tea is nothing special though. Bought peach jam to go and their biscuit mix - I'd definitely go back if I'm ever in town!
(5)Terri B.
This was our second visit, we seem to always make time to enjoy the Loveless Cafe when in the Nashville area. The restaurant and shops are like stepping back in time to a much simpler way of life. The cafe is down home, southern cooking. You can count on it always be crowded, so be patient. We took the time to wander over to the shop. Picked up a few gifts for people, biscuit mix, jars of the jams, t-shirts and honey. The entire staff is happy, helpful and work to make you feel welcome. The food is delicious! I had the breakfast sandwich with crispy bacon and a side of the hash brown casserole, reminded me of the hash brown casserole my grandmother use to make, pure comfort food. Mr. B opted for an omelet, he said it was great! Mr. B Jr. ordered the country fried steak and eggs with hash brown casserole. Everything was cooked to perfection and makes you warm inside. The biscuits they serve are fabulous, you really can taste the love in the food. Spread a little homemade blackberry jam on the warm biscuits and it is pure heaven. There were 2 tables that had large parties, they ordered breakfast served family style. It reminded me of the big family get together's where everyone is enjoying each other over a home cooked meal. They were having a great time. Really good for groups and large parties. When in Nashville, make the time to take the drive out to the Loveless, you really won't be disappointed.
(4)Gul A.
If you're in the area - drop everything and go here! We were driving cross country and I read about this place online and got a recommendation to try it out. The biscuits are great, I'm not a big fan in general but these were really good and their homemade jams area amazing (bought some for home in their store next door while waiting for our table). I had the pulled pork platter with the cream of corn and some potato side that were just incredible, the best meat, sauce and sides I have ever had (it's sad, i know). My BF had the chicken tenders with fries, also great dish though I think that trying the local favorites is always best in these places. I asked our waitress what to order and went by her suggestion and I was happy I did. We will definitely be back next time we're in the area.
(5)BethAnn S.
A great place for to bring your skinny friends from NYC - hook up 'em up with some biscuits and gravy and zip 'em over to St. Thomas for an angioplasty. We love the family breakfast which actually isn't THAT unhealthy and is reasonably priced. Its also the fastest food we ever get served and hits the high points of eggs, bacon, fruit, biscuits (as if they would miss that!) and the potato of your choosing. The shopping at Curious Heart makes for fun distraction during the wait which can go up to an hour on a weekend. Weekdays you are in the free and clear with minimal waits and maximal time for your waitress to make sure 'ya'll are doing okay hun'. It's a gem!
(4)Elliott C.
This embodies all that is Nashville..... no wait this is part of what makes Nashville so amazing. A small drive to the edge of the city and you are near the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Loveless Cafe. Get their early... I mean REALLY early. This place is packed on the weekends but well worth the wait. All the food is a amazing but Blackberry Jam and Biscuits are by far the best way to start any breakfast. I am not a southerner by a long shot, but this place makes me feel I have a southern Aunt who puts all her love into the food. Comfort food take a back seat, I get the same feeling eating here that I do for Thanksgiving.
(5)Erin R.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Loveless Café! I had wanted to try this place for years after seeing the biscuit lady on Oprah and finally had the opportunity when my family & I traveled to Nashville. The food was down right delicious home cooking! The biscuits were light, warm & fluffy! I cannot begin to describe how good they were with butter & honey smothered on top!!! I had the fried catfish platter with hash brown casserole & coleslaw on the side. Everything was amazing! And to top it off, I had a glass of delicious sweet tea! It was the perfect southern meal and I am so happy that I had the opportunity to try it! We loved the Loveless Cafe so much that went back a 2nd time for our last meal in Nashville...it was that good! And the service was great...southern hospitality at it's finest! This restaurant is a MUST if you are ever in Nashville!
(5)Robin Z.
The biscuits are definitely to die for.......the wait is far to long....the food is just ok.....i think back...back....back in the day it was better but it is just average food at a small place with over crowded dining rooms ...the place is just tired......just to much hype....you can find much better in nashville....or you can be disappointed and still say you ate at the loveless cafe
(1)Sara L.
I drove across the country for my bucket list/birthday/I bought a new car/hey why not and stopped here on the way from Raleigh NC to Los Angeles.Spent half my budget on gifts and food. Well worth it. Everyone was really nice, the biscuits were delicious, coffee hot and I just might make the drive out again. MMM. I love you, Tennessee.
(4)Heidi H.
The food was amazing!!!!! The best creamed corn I have ever eaten! Peach and strawberry jam are excellent. Peach jam was like peach pie filling! We ordered the fried chicken which was juicy and very good. Great mashed potatoes!!! Fried green tomatoes not that great. We will definitely be back. The pancakes looked great too!! It's out of the way but worth the drive!!!!!!!
(5)Kevin M.
I would definitely put this on par with a Cracker Barrel with larger portions and an extensive history. Being that we went midweek in the evening there was little to no wait. My food was decent. The biscuits were quite tasty (I may have evaluated about 4...) I was not blown away by my overall experience but I am open to going back again to try the breakfast.
(3)Tweedy C.
Read about this lovely cafe on yelp and was not disappointed!! Loved the ambience, food, and service! I ordered the half fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac & cheese...sooooo delicious!! Service was great!! Didn't have to ask for refills they were always ready with a new drink, super friendly, and just a great first time experience. Inside the decor is so lovely and makes you feel like you're inside someone's home..waiting as they cook you some delicious southern food! Also visited the market gift store outside and bought some goodies to take back home to Cali with me :) Hopefully we have time to come back here before we head back home! Lovedddd it :)
(5)Dan C.
Great service, but the food really wasn't worth the wait. Granted we went on a sunday after church let out, but the food was just ok. Nothing that left me waiting to come back.
(3)Diane L.
This is a stop worth the wait. It's a great experience if you've never visited here. We got there at 12:15 pm on a gorgeous autumn Sunday. Ninety minute wait for a table. We passed the time by exploring the interesting shops and walking the grounds. Our lunch menu included hash brown casserole, hush puppies,ham, meat loaf, pulled pork, turnip greens and THE biscuits. These Texas women didn't care for the biscuits at all. Tough, bland biscuits. Turnip greens were cold and very stringy--no pot liquor as promised. Meat loaf was bland. High points-- hash brown casserole, ham, hush puppies. Got the homemade banana pudding--made with sugar cookies instead of vanilla wafers--nothing special. We're glad we took the time to visit, but I don't need to go back unless I'm in Nashville for extended time. If you're traveling south out of Nashville, take the Natchez Trace. Beautiful drive! Have a full tank of gas before hitting the Trace...gas stations are few and have to ask Siri for gas locations. The Trace has sporadic internet connection. Go to Loveless at least once in your life! No regrets!
(4)Frances B.
Landmark restaurants are always tricky. Sometimes they're just good, but nothing to write home about. They're famous because the locals love it, or it's tradition and because it makes some people nostalgic. Other times, it's well deserved fame that makes you wish you lived there so you could feast on those dishes to your little heart's content- that's Loveless. Sweet lord, Loveless. I will fantasize about this place until I can come back. When people think of outstanding, southern home cooking this is it. This is stick-to-your-ribs, bad for your arteries but good for your soul food. I will never be able to have a conversation about Nashville again without mentioning Loveless. So what was so good that I am love rambling about this place? -THE BISCUITS. I'm pretty sure angels sing when these come out of the oven. In Pluto's theory of forms, everything on earth is a copy of the perfect form of something in heaven. And I'm pretty sure Loveless biscuits are the ones they have in heaven. They are fluffy, and fresh and perfect. Obviously you need butter and preserves, because you wouldn't want to cut corners on this delicious experience. -BBQ pork omelet (AMAZING. One of the best omelets I've ever had). I ordered it because I knew I couldn't get a BBQ pork omelet in NYC or LA or even in carnivorous Chicago. When in Rome, right? Best decision I've made lately. The pork is so juicy and flavorful, and there was just a hint of BBQ sauce, so the smoky flavor carried the omelet. It was perfect. 5 stars. Will order it again every time. - The hash brown casserole AMAZING cheesy, potatoey, fatty goodness. You couldn't dream up better breakfast potatoes. These are an absolute must. They are the cherry on top of each bite. -country fried steak My friend got this and it is the ultimate country fried steak with gravy. She couldn't stop smiling while she was eating. If this is your thing, you will be so, so happy. I thought the fried chicken was good, but I'm not a big fried chicken person so I probably wouldn't order it again, it wasn't life altering, like the biscuits. The service was outstanding. You feel so welcome and taken care of. That Southern hospitality gets city people like me every time. This place is a must, an absolute freaking must. When I am old and gray and look back on all the delicious food I have eaten in my life, I will think of Loveless. Peace, Loveless & Nashville forever.
(5)Joshua B.
Could I love the Loveless, less? I hope I never love it less than I currently love the loveless - because I love it a whole lot! Biscuits and jam...There...there is something I've been meaning to ask you. I mean, I'm a little shy sometimes so I don't quite know how to put this - but, I'd love to be in a long term relationship with you. You make me feel warm inside and make my tongue happy ever time we meet. And breakfast meat and potatoes - and I'm speaking to all of you - you are just fantastic. I really have nothing bad to say about any of you. But, psst - crispy bacon and home fried potatoes - don't tell your brothers and sisters - I love you more than them. And to you, Pit Cooked Pork BBQ - I don't see you as often as I should - but I do love you immensely. I still think about the first time we met and your tangy, sweet bbq sauce along with your soft, porky goodness brought you to my lips. You have kept me coming back again and again. It's too bad you and I along with the biscuits and jam and bacon and fried potatoes can't all live together in bliss. Maybe one of these days when the world isn't so judgmental we'll be able to live together on one plate of blissfulness. But until then - I'll have to rotate you out on my visits to the Loveless. There is something I want to say to the Mimosa's as well - you have helped me out on more sunday mornings than I'd like to admit. Long story short - I love the Loveless Cafe. Sure, it can be quite a wait - but there is usually plenty to do while waiting. There are several shops around the loveless. Curious Heart Emporium - I could spend an hour in there alone. And last time I was in there I saw Al Gore walking around. Truly the Loveless Cafe is an original. Its great, scratch made food and biscuits and jams make it stand out from the crowd. Everyone has their preferences for food. Some will love it, some will simply think its 'ok'. But as of right now - I hope I never come to love "The Loveless", less.
(5)Ian R.
Out of sight. This place is absolutely worth the 20 minute drive from Nashville, and still worth it even if you aren't into breakfast places. I can't remember the last time I ate ham for breakfast, but was glad I ordered the City Ham here - a half inch thick slab of ham lightly glazed with brown sugar that you could just barely taste a hint of. I'm not kidding about the thickness, my girlfriend commented on the size of the slab and I insisted that it was two slices. Upon closer examination I was shocked to see it was one continuous piece of swine and I needed to use the steak knife they gave me. My girlfriend got the biscuit platter and was floored by it. Biscuits should be the name of this place, since they bring you so many and they are just the right size and flavor. the preserves they bring with it set the flavor off just right, and to top this all off the coffee was decent. With the ham I got a side of eggs which were clearly powdered, so if I venture back I will definitely have to try a different side item. Portions are huge, so don't bother ordering extra sides or filling up on biscuits.
(5)John P.
Loved it! We showed up on Monday around 2 and were advised that a 40 minute wait was head of us. Really we only waited about 20 minutes and during that time there was plenty to check out on the property. I ordered the fried chicken and my fiancée got the pulled pork. Both were absolutely amazing. The biscuits and sides all were just great. I got a sweet tea and a shot of moonshine. Go big or go home right. Portions are large and our waitress was super nice. I have nothing but good things to say about loveless. My only regret is I won't get to try everything.
(5)Vincent Y.
Pancakes were great; meat was super salty and tough (for us northerners); and the jam was utterly delicious. But remember that wait time is around 2 hours for a seat in the place. IT gets lots and lots of press. The prices were also pretty high.
(3)David O.
Loveless is without question the place to go if you want the very best, most authentic Southern Food you can get in the area. Very little more needs to be said. It remains an institution not to be missed. If you have the means, I highly recommend trying it out.
(4)Rami B.
It was a fun place! I go to Nashville once a year, and wanted to check this place out! The biscuits are so good. The has brown casserole and mac and cheese were delicious. The chicken is so crispy and really good! The sweet tea is a must in Tennessee!
(4)Perry B.
Great place to eat. Servers were very friendly and made us feel at home. We had left overs and our waitress gave us some ice so we could pack it for our 3 hr trip home! The portions are plenty...the biscuits were wonderful. The homemade preserves were also great. Everything you can ask for in a place to eat some good southern cooking .... We are going back to try breakfast!
(5)Bill B.
The Loveless Cafe is a old time restaurant that you should make it a point to stop by. It is certainly not on the main highway and we were surprised at all the cars we saw upon approaching the location. This place has been closed in past years and renovated before reopening. There are bikes for rent on the property and a service station next door. Plenty of parking on the back lot. This is a complex with several gift shops and a general store. We had to wait 1 1/2 hour to be seated however it was on a Saturday and that should be expected. Once seated you may first notice the air conditioning is not the very best. The menu is large and we went with the meat loaf and fried chicken livers. We also ordered the turnip greens,sweet potatoes and fresh fruit cup. The meat loaf was three large pieces and was excellent and there were a dozen chick livers fried just right. This was a very good meal. The restaurant credit card machine quit working however they were unable to take credit cards the old way my using the old imprint machine. Each meal was less than $10. Service was fast and attentive during the meal.
(5)Bekki M.
You don't get the true Nashville experience if you don't make the short drive down to the Loveless Cafe while you're there. I would suggest going at an off-peak time though, the wait can get very long if you go right at lunch and dinnertime. You can do call-ahead seating to get your name on the waiting list if you call an hour in advance. The biscuits are AWESOME. So good. Both of us ordered the fried chicken, and while it was cooked well we were disappointed that there seemed to be hardly any seasoning on the skin. Other than that the rest of our meals were very good; the creamed corn, caramel sweet potatoes, cucumber and onions in vinegar (which I don't get very often in Ohio but they're one of my favorites) and the hashbrown casserole. We will definitely go back, but will order something other than the chicken.
(4)Jason B.
i shouldn't have to write a single word but the only thing i'll say is get the sampler platter and the fried green tomatoes. also i am living proof you can eat 5 biscuits and finish off your entire sampler platter. it hurt so so so good. GO NOW. JUST LEAVE AND STOP READING THIS! WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS top 10 places in the US for me and thats coming from a food whore. JEANS: OK by far ORDER: waitress
(5)Charles G.
My wife and I saw "The Biscuit Queen" on a Throwdown with Bobby Flay one night, and since Nashville is only an hour and a half away, we thought we would go and try their food. Sadly, we tarried too long before going, and so we were not able to meet Carol Faye, who (from what we could tell) would have been a true pleasure to have met, but the food and service were excellent. We went on a Saturday for lunch, and our wait time was literally told to us at the door as "an hour and a half". Yes, it was that busy. Thankfully, there are several little shops and local artisans with booths set up in the area, which made the wait time go by fairly quickly. It was well worth the drive and wait! I had the BBQ with hoe cakes, which were great, and I can't remember what my wife had, but it was also solid, down-home cooking. We ate more biscuits than could be healthy for anyone, and they even let us take a good number home so we could have them for breakfast the next day! The only thing I can say that's bad about them: don't order their banana pudding. Now, after that much food, I'm not sure why I ordered dessert anyway, but it was far from satisfying. The 'nilla wafers were hard and the pudding wasn't very flavorful. If you're hungry for dessert, just have some more biscuits with jam!
(5)Catherine T.
Coming from Toronto this restaurant provided a lot of firsts for us. Biscuits, grits, fried green tomatoes, moonshine, barbecue, and hash brown casserole were great ( well to be honest we each only took a sip of the blueberry moonshine and that was enough!) but we loved the food and loved the experience. The drive back to Nashville was amazing along the Natchez Trail. We will return when we are lucky enough to come back to Nashville.
(5)Su C.
Delicious biscuits with preserves. Well worth the 30 minutes wait on a Sunday afternoon. The blue plate special, smoked brisket with two sides was ginormous and so was the barbecued pork. My daughter enjoyed the moist and well seasoned meatloaf. Will have to come back for the pies someday.
(5)Shelly N.
Although I've eaten here three times and gorged on all things fried and cream-based, I have to admit, that overall, the food is "meh". I was excited when they delivered a plate full of biscuits but they were light on the jam (3 kinds in tiny cups to share with a table of 5?!). Flavor-wise, I'd rather opt for KFC biscuits since they are flakier and tastier. I ordered the sampler so I could try 3 different meats. I love their fried chicken...LOVE. BEST FRIED CHICKEN I've ever had. The lightness of the batter and crispiest I've ever had. I was tempted to give my rating a 4 because of their chicken but can't because of all the rest of the mediocre food. Another person at our table had their pulled pork and declared it to be the best pulled pork they've ever had. This was the second time I've eaten the ham and every time, it's completely dried out and ridiculously salty (I took it home as leftovers and tried to add it to a fried rice-type dish and it was still too salty to eat). I've ordered their desserts twice and have been unimpressed...you'd think a famous cafe would have AWESOME desserts. Not so much. I won't be trying more of them. After lunch, we went to the store and I bought some Cajun-spiced bacon and Piggy Pecans. The bacon was awesome when I made BLT's. The Piggy Pecans are SO YUMMY. They're not crunchy because of all of the stuff they've been dunked in, but the salty bits of bacon with the sweetness of candied pecans is a perfect balance. Eat them solo, they're delicious. Top them on a banana and ice cream (yes, I know it sounds weird), but it was even yummier. Even though the food is "meh", I'll keep returning for the fried chicken and Piggy Pecans.
(3)Corey G.
I've been wanting try Loveless since moving to Nashville back in December but have been deterred by the long typical long waits for one of Nashville's most famous breakfast foods location. However, I recently figured out that the secret is getting there before 9:30 on the weekends prior to the rest of the crowd. I had the Famous Loveless Full Country Ham platter and soon discovered it was famous for a reason! My girlfriend eyes lit up over the enormous portion as our server delivered my country ham to the table. The slice of ham was very thick and cooked very well, i preferred my country ham a little bit saltier and cured a tad bit longer but this is nothing I couldn't solve with a salt shaker. The biscuits and homemade jams were served to us before our meal came out and were the perfect fix to settle our premeal hunger. I will be ping back to try their cured bacon and smoked sausage in the near future.
(4)Jess Y.
I think Loveless Cafe is just one of those names that gets thrown out when people ask, "Where should I take my (friend, parents, etc) when they come in town?" It's just one of those classics where you can get homemade Southern cooking that everyone knows about. I had been there once before and I must have had a good experience because I always looked at Loveless with a fond light and even tried to take my family when they came in town but it was way too over-crowded to get a seat. All that being said, however, when I visited this past weekend, I wasn't blown away. Maybe my taste buds have changed, or maybe they had an off-night, or maybe my standards are higher now that I've tried some other places too. Regardless, I thought it was fairly decent but not life-changing. We got the family-style dinner which gives you all-you-can-eat two meats, three sides, biscuits, and a drink for everyone. It seemed a bit pricey for the quality, however. The fried chicken was dry and not that flavorful. The pulled pork was pretty good: juicy and yummy bbq sauce. The sweet potatoes had a good flavor: sweet with a little citrus kick; but, I was turned off by their lifeless and watery appearance. I would say the highlights from the meal were the creamed corn and fried okra. I love fried okra and these were great: not over-breaded, lightly seasoned, and yummy. The biscuits were alright, too, and I liked that they brought out three different fresh jams to try it with: peach, blackberry, and strawberry. The blackberry jam was delicious: fresh, chunked with real bits of blackberry goodness, and not overpoweringly sweet. Yum. The interior is extremely casual and it gets really crowded on the weekends--so watch out! Overall, I think Monell's is a better family-style Southern food venue and more worth the price. I'd probably come here again--maybe to try the breakfast, but I didn't think the family-style was worth it.
(3)B C.
I came to visit Nashville last weekend and had found this place listed as a must-see for visitors. It was a fun experience and I highly recommend it for out-of-towners. Our waitress was very friendly, the food (especially the biscuits and jams) were delicious, and the down-home feel was really comfortable. There were a number of small shops and touristy activities around the restaurant to help pass the time during the short table-wait. We got there early at 7:45 and the wait that Saturday was only 30 minutes.
(4)Christina C.
On my trip to Nashville, my friend decided to take me to this honored institution for breakfast so that I too could enjoy what tourists from all around have raved about. Upon arriving we were told we would have to wait approximately an hour and a half, but this was to be expected for Sunday brunch; apparently it's always full. Nonetheless, they provide you with some entertainment while you wait. You can walk around the property and enjoy the shops they have (cute little places with little trinkets). While I didn't buy anything, it's entertaining at the very least. They even have a little food market. True to their word, we were seated on time. She and I ordered some typical breakfast plates (sunny-side-up eggs, biscuits, bacon) and then we decided to split the hashbrown casserole. The food was excellent! The service was great as well (even if our waiter was kind of crazy...). Great food at a great price, so please go visit and see some of what Nashville has to offer.
(5)Sandra S.
Excellent food. Pulled pork was excellent The biscuits to die for. Service was very good. Due to popularity there might be a wait but worth the wait. We also went on a Saturday which didn't help. The hash brown casserole is a must as a side!
(5)Jeffery J.
Will be upfront and say I have only eaten here once. It was not too bad. The biscuits were biscuits but the jams were pretty good. As stated it is a bit pricey. I suppose with us going during the week we were seated right away.
(3)Matthew A.
We decided to check out the Loveless Cafe after hearing much fanfare about it. Needless to say I was ecstatic to get there and try the biscuits and friend chicken. I'm not sure if our inflated expectations made the meal a disappointment, or if the food was truly that "meh". I ordered the meatloaf platter. And it tasted just like any meatloaf I've eaten before. Nothing stood out. I took samples of the pulled pork as well as fried chicken from others at my table. Once again, edible, but nothing special. I noticed a distinct lack of seasoning on everything. A little salt would have gone a long way in making the meal more enjoyable. Even the biscuits that had received so much fanfare left a little to be desired. I will say that the preserves were some of the best that I have ever tried. Long story short, I believe that the Loveless Cafe may have once been great, but at this point it's a restaurant living on its name alone.
(3)Heather F.
The Loveless Cafe is one of those Nashville restaurants that is well known even outside of Nashville. It has appeared on tons of TV food shows such as the Food Network (more than once) and when you step foot into their hostess room you will find the walls covered with autographed pictures of celebrities who have eaten here from decades gone by. Of course this is the Ultimate meat-and-three place in Nashville. Down home cooking at its finest is right here. When you are seated the first thing you get is a plate of home-made biscuits complete with 3 different jellies. The menu is filled with comfort food such as fried chicken, mac and cheese and hash. It is impossible to pick something bad off of their menu so go with what sounds good and you will love it. Like most meat and three places in Nash (and the South) you can order sweet tea here. Be sure to check out the shop next door which sells delicious home goods such as Loveless Cafe's jams and honey. I purchased a few things for my 90 year old Me Ma who loved it.
(5)Lindsay K.
EAT HERE!! We had a party of six and I tried almost everything that was ordered so I can tell you this is some of the best food I have ever had....and I'm a food snob from Dallas! The only thing on the table I didn't like was the country ham, it was very salty. Here is the low down - Best meats: BBQ Pork & Meatloaf Best sides: Hashbrown casserole and cream corn (both AMAZING) and of course their famous biscuits Best dessert: Turtle Pie
(5)Jackie T.
The wait can be long, but it is worth it. Waitstaff is always very friendly and quick with your order. Be warned, there is no end to the bringing of biscuits. But you should alert them to stop because you won't have any room for your food. I could probably sit here and eat the biscuits all day. The waffles and pancakes are incredibly hearty. Add a side of bacon you won't need to eat for hours. Incredibly rich, delicious food. If you make it to dessert, they offer some delicious pies. You can always get one to go!
(5)Luke K.
The biscuits and jam were amazing, the food was top notch, and the waitstaff were all super friendly and laid back and made our time there truly enjoyable.
(5)Alan S.
Ham heaven. Biscuit heaven. Preserves, hummmmmm. Wonderful relaxed atmosphere, even though the place was packed. Two trips while in Nashville, need I say more? GO
(5)Joi B.
I fear I can't write this review right now for fear of breaking my juice fast. Reliving the memories is gonna kill me. Maybe I should put this off? Oh, but once I start thinking about those damn biscuits and the butter they came with... and the jam (though I prefer to keep my biscuits virgin... er, buttery virgin). DANG IT!!! Maybe I should turn my attention instead on that amazing gift shop that is full of kitschy and fun items with the logo that is so cool, I was compelled to buy shot glasses, a giant mug, mason jars and hell, even an umbrella proclaiming my love for the Loveless (so it goes, time and time again). All I ate when I was here were the aforementioned biscuits. Giant spheres of buttermilky flaky dense delight. Ahhhhhhhh. That's all you need, but my friends couldn't stop talking about how good their breakfasts were, so there's that. If you can manage *not* to stuff yourself on biscuits. Good luck. I didn't fare so well. An extra star for the biscuit lady. Though I am fiending now for those biscuits. Fiending. Damn this juice fast.
(5)Chris M.
I took my folks here for brunch while they were in town visiting. The biscuits are incredible (and bottomless) -- well worth the wait and drive. I had the fried chicken and biscuits and will definitely be back. Be ready to wait at least one hour, but there are some shops to browse in while you wait -- we brought a deck of cards. Very reasonably priced given their demand and the food was very good. Friendly service, great spicy, strong bloody mary's.
(4)Dick G.
Iconic Americana at its best! this place, located outside Nashville is a tiny piece of yesteryear for us to enjoy today. On Sunday morning there was a 2 1/2 hour wait to sit inside and 35 minutes if you took it outside and ate a picnic table...which is what we did. Food preparation is excellent and their home made biscuits are the bomb, particularily with their homemade jams. If your in the area you have to stop by!
(4)Tulané H.
Pretty good, honestly don't understand what all the hype is about.
(3)Hillary C.
A must do place in Nashville!!! The food is great, be prepared to wait! It is a pleasant wait and worth it!
(5)Diana P.
I came to this place exactly a week ago at the end of our stroll through Nashville. There was a 1-hour wait for my party of 8, which we didn't mind because the beautiful scenery outside and that warm humid breeze... and the fact that is place is a must-go-to when in Nashville. The atmosphere is nice, the inside looks like a house converted to a restaurant so it does feel homey. We ordered the Family Style supper. We chose endless fried chicken, fried catfish, okra, fries & mac and cheese. I feel I must mention that the service (at least ours) was bad. Once we were seated and our drinks were brought to us, we didn't see our waiter again for about 15 minutes. You might think: "Because of the high volume, duh!" No, NO. We saw the other guy waiting on the table next to us go to them at least 8 times to ask if the food was good, if they needed something, if they wanted more drink. When our waiter was taking our order, a glass of water got spilled and he was completely unfazed by it. He didn't offer napkins or to call anyone to clean it up so of course we had to take care of that because it was going to be another almost 10 minutes before he graced us with his presence. Finally after sitting there half hour with lions roaring in our bellies, the biscuits and jelly came out. They were the warmest, freshest, softest, scrumptious biscuits I've tasted in a long time. Break one in half, spread a little butter on it, some honey and then you can take a bite of heaven. Unfortunately for my waiters timing we were all still on our first biscuit when all the food came out. Give us at least 5 minutes w/ the biscuits please!? The food was so good, you would have thought grandma was back there making the mac & cheese herself! Everything on the table was just right, it was helping us cope with our waiter's service (This review was written about a year ago but I didn't publish it so instead of "exactly a week ago" it should be "almost exactly a year ago")
(3)Daniel M.
Had the sampler platter. Wasn't fan of fried chicken but meatloaf and catfish was really good. Caramel sweet potatoes side was amazing!
(3)Evangelene G.
BEST THING I ATE EVER. My husband quoted on Facebook, "Lord, If I could eat any more, I would!" This is a must do when visiting Nashville. However, we need to pace ourselves better because we're always too full for dessert.
(5)Amy B.
My favorite place in the Nashville area. Warm friendly service. Warm biscuits with Loveless jam to start are not to be missed. Chicken fried chicken was great but to get the most for your visit try the sampler platter. And take home some Loveless bacon from the shop!
(4)Mark N.
Excellent ! Order exactly what u want, they will accommodate. Passing thru, yelp score again!
(5)Heather P.
I have to chime in to give a different perspective. Coming from a restaurant lover from Chicago now transplanted to the south, the food isn't that special. You are coming here for the experience, the eclectic Nashville tourist trap. The biscuits and jam are great along with the fun little shops. But the wait is pretty awful all the time and the food is basic country home cooking. The meat was just strange. Great service though! We went really early since we have a baby and made it out by 9am. At that point they were quoting over 1.5hr wait on a Sunday. Honestly not worth it, in my opinion.
(1)Emily R.
This is a fantastic place and a must if you are in Nashville at any time. I had ordered the BBQ over eggs which are over pancakes. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten. The biscuits where the best I have ever had. They even have a cute little shop where they sell the biscuit mix and was so good. Later on our trip we went back for lunch and had the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. It was soooo good. Be prepared to wait because this place is always busy no matter what time you go. However, you can check out the little shop or play bags while you wait. Thats right I said this place had bags that you can play while you wait. This is definitely a must go!
(5)Alex G.
It was excellent food!!! I loved the biscuits they served and al l of the things that they put on them! The chicken was very good as well! The service was great to! It is a must go to place if you are in Nashville!
(5)Katie S.
Southern breakfast ? Check ! Biscuit platter lets you taste their famous biscuits AND delish BBQ and three other choices. At 830 on a weekday, no wait and totally worth it. Also- check out the shops :)
(5)Sarah H.
AMAZING!!! We were visiting from out of town for the CMA music fest. We drove 45 min in the rain to get here and it was worth it! We only had to wait about 20 min for a table and our waiter TALOR was awesome. He got us set up with mimosas and bloody marys, and the food was the best breakfast food I have ever had!! The hash-brown casserole was delicious and the biscuits, well they are famous for a reason! I suggest everyone go there if you get the chance! I will definitely be back again as soon as I can. xoxo
(5)Catherine L.
The biscuits were buttery, but I put some more butter on them just for fun. The pinto beans had some ham in them, and they were just right - soft and creamy. I also got fried chicken. It needed salt or brining ahead of time. Maybe dark meat would have been better? The raspberry peach cobbler was divine. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Go if you're in the area!
(4)Sheila K.
Loveless is definitely not a "touristy trap". Yes, it has the gift shops and all of that but the cafe...the cafe was probably the best breakfast I've ever had. My boyfriend and I frequent breakfast joints at home (Chicago) as well as where ever we travel. The breakfast at Loveless was awesome. The biscuits... warm, fluffy, tasty. The jams/preserves made the biscuits even better. I had the Southern omelette- and I'm pretty sure it put all other omelettes to shame. My boyfriend had the waffles with sausage...and the sausage isn't the typical bfast links, but legit patties of delish that were thrown on the grill. But honestly, the best part of the visit was our server- Luke. He was fun, friendly, just the right amount of chatty. Coming from Chicago, we aren't used to servers being so awesome.
(5)Anita K.
Been here on many occasions. My first time for breakfast. As usual, worth the drive. Love the Loveless!
(5)Jackie M.
There's a lot of good things going at Loveless Cafe, to start, let's do a list: 1. Southern hospitality. We asked our server what's sorghum and without explaining she went ahead and brought 2 containers of plain sorghum and then a bowl of butter and sorghum and mixed it on the table to show us how it should be eaten. Try it if you like molasses or just try it for the sake of trying. Always courteous, shows up at the right time, and splitting checks - no problem. 2. History and photos. 3. Kitsch and charm. 4. Overall good showcase of southern food: my picks were the butter and fruit jams, biscuits, fried chicken, creamed corn, hashbrown casserole, and slaw. Country ham (as warned by our server) is VERY salty and a bit tough. Something that I thought would be amazing would be the Banana Pudding was just ok, not much vanilla wafers. Pulled pork was said to be smoked for over 12hrs gave me too much of a high expectation. Fried chicken was good, moist and lightly battered. Food was on the salty and sweet side. The souvenoir shops always leave a slightly bad impression. It's a double edge sword. It's hard to take it seriously as dining, when it is part tourist destination. A long sleeved t-shirt printing of bacon striped jacket - that is pretty sweet! I know it's all part of the show and indeed they looked like they were doing pretty well selling overpriced goods, so good for them! Thankfully, we're given a wait time of 35min, just enough time to explore the grounds. As a package, LC should be experienced at least once: 3.3 stars.
(3)Jason W.
Best pulled pork I have ever had. The sides were amazing too... I highly recommend the hash brown casserole and mac n cheese, which were both excellent. The biscuits were good but nothing special, although they bring them out complimentary so no complaints. The jams they serve with them, however, were very good. Expect a long wait...my wife and I waited 2 hours, but planned ahead and took a scenic drive down the Natchez Trace parkway so no big deal. Probably not someplace I would eat often but worth at least one trip. Good place to bring friends or family visiting Nashville.
(5)Bruce R.
Good food and fun destination. Love the little shops surrounding the diner. And it's a good thing, because you will wait a bit for your table. Nice to have the shops to browse, and they have corn hole games set up on the lawn. Food was good, but no "WOW" factor. Just a good meal well prepared. The raves about the biscuits are a joke. They are indistinguishable from frozen store biscuits. 100% Pop-N-Fresh. Be prepared to get rushed, they are ALL about table turnover, and will attempt to hurry you along. And will get very snotty if you linger. Our waitress was very attentive, and friendly, but got chilly very quick when we pointed out she got our order wrong. I also asked for hot sauce, waited a long time, and had to remind her, which got me some eye rolling. 20 minutes after seating us she was so adamant about moving us along she practically handed us our coats. Frankly, the homey vibe feels like a sham, they are all about volume, volume, volume, and turning tables as fast as possible. Sadly, this place has the "Too famous to fail" attitude many successful places have, that they don't need to take care of you because the sheer volume of business they get makes the quality of the dining experience irrelevant.
(3)Nate T.
You just has to know what you are getting into. It is a tourist stop, so it is busy. (we waited an hour) While we waited there was some drama with a bachelorette party, which there seems to be a million of in the nashville area. The food was solid to very good, the service was very friendly. I would stop back if I know the wait would be less.
(3)Nick O.
Excellent! I had the bbq pork omelet. Their biscuits are great! Well worth the wait, there's plenty to do on their property while you're waiting.
(4)Susanne H.
I am giving this three stats because of the quality of the pancake and the wait time. We were told the wait was 45 minutes, but it was more like 1 hour 15 minutes. The best part was the biscuits and jams they bring out, they were amazing! I ordered pancakes, plus a breakfast with egg. The pancakes were extremely heavy, not good at all, I was quite disappointed for a place that is known for their breakfast. The eggs, bacon and were very good. I did enjoy walking around their little (overpriced) shops during the wait.
(3)David C.
This is a must stop for those visiting Nashville... the food is great. Not everything is amazing, but overall the food is great... and the service is fantastic. Hits: Green Bean Casserole... just like my momma made back in TX. Catfish... Yum!! Mac and Cheese.... cheesy and delish. Preserves... all three are amazing!!! Sweet Tea... and Peach Sweet Tea... Texas seal of approval. OK but not fantastic... Fried Chicken... its does remind me of the fried chicken my mom would make back home... but it does not have a crust so amazing you wonder how they make it... I can produce that fried chicken at home. Biscuits.... so I've ate here on a couple of occasions... once they were not so good... the second time they were amazing... so I am not sure what to make of the biscuits.... I guess it depends on who is in the kitchen. Off the mark... dessert... not so good. Mashed Potatoes... a sad attempt at mashed potatoes. Green beans... ok but not great. Over all this place offers some great food if you know what to order. I would/will eat here again when I am back in Nashville.
(4)Sasser M.
I'm bucking the trend here when I say that the Loveless food in our opinion is just ok. As a dedicated born and bred southerner I feel it's my place to be truthful. That truth is ho hum in this instance. Sorry folks but I think the meatloaf is blah and the catfish just sort of lays on the plate. Being seen on national food shows and the Food Network doesn't make it amazing. If you think this place is great, try seeking out a soul food place in town. You're going to be amazed.
(3)Tonya O.
Dear Loveless, how I love thee...especially for breakfast! This place is known all over the country for it's biscuits and southern food. It's tucked away in the countryside off Hwy 100 but not too terribly inconvenient for residents on the west side of Nashville. The staff are incredibly nice and friendly , and our server even knows about Yelp. This is a great place to bring out of town friends and family for a little taste of Nashville and southern cooking. Mmmm...biscuits!
(5)Rich B.
Over Hyped? Yep. Good Food - it was solid but didn't save it. Wait - Wait - Did I mention Waaaaiiiiiitttt? World Famous Biscuit's - Ahhhh - they were OK. Dessert was the highlight with Fudge Pie and Banana Pudding. I'll give it a try next time we are in town but at a waaaay off peak time.
(3)Jeanette D.
This is exactly what I wanted on my one night in Nashville- fried catfish, hush puppies, mac&cheese. Everything was delicious and huge. I can't decide if I'm more full or sleepy from all the goodness. Loveless Cafe, you are loved.
(5)Nina M.
Long wait, but worth it!!! Be prepared for TONS of food and delicious sweet tea!
(5)Gina C.
Biscuits and the homemade jam are to die-for. Great southern fare. You feel like you've stepped back in time. I had a pulled pork omelet. Wonderful. Absolutely a must-stop if you're in Nashville. But be sure to call ahead and put your name on the waiting list, and even if you do that, expect a wait. They have several cute gifts shops to browse while you wait, or you can play an old-fashioned game of bean bag toss.
(4)Jamie D.
I'll try and avoid duplicate reviews but, I'll admit, some good things are just worth mentioning... BISCUITS! Get em by the plate full...dump their delicious jelly (we had blackberry, strawberry and peach) or cover those little love cakes with local honey or sorghum! If you have never had sorghum, think syrup meets brown sugar meets molasses. Can you say yesas! I had the smoked turkey with cranberry BBQ. The slices of turkey where from one big bird! I also had the mac and cheese (great flavor - the typical overcooked southern style for people with no teeth to eat - its true - you can just mush it down) and sweet potatoes. Let's just say I overate and was very content about it. There is an outside patio that is great and the inside has fun charactertures of famous folk. The staff here are so knowledgeable about the restaurant and the local community. You can ask them about anything and they will respond candidly. There are plenty of places to sit around the property if you want to get your food to go (sad they pack everything I Styrofoam!!). Also, you can go into the bike shop, gift shop or the several little craft shops on the property while you wait for a wonderful experience and tummy satisfying foods. How's that for a southern sounding review? Huh?! :)
(4)Joshua P.
Great food; almost as good as my grandmothers. Be sure to get their honey with the biscuits. I'm quickly becoming a regular.
(5)Boon K.
the biscuits are awesome, just enough butter and it melts in your mouth. The fried chicken was like eating at someone home. It is exactly what you think of as southern fried chicken.
(4)Molly L.
The biscuits are heaven and all of the other food (especially the hash browns and fried chicken) are amazing. Great service and great atmosphere as well.
(5)Benjamin S.
I recently saw a review for Pancake Pantry that said both IHOP and Cracker Barrel were better than the Pancake Pantry. I am sorry but there is only one place that can rival the Pancake Pantry and that is the Loveless Cafe. Though they don't have anywhere near the breakfast selection of the Pantry, what they lack there, they make up for with some of the best fried chicken, world famous biscuits (though Bobby Flay did manage to out do them), and some of the best souther hospitality, service and cuisine. Cracker Barrel is good, but when in Nashville there is no substitute for the Loveless Cafe for lunch and dinner, and only the Pancake Pantry surpasses them with breakfast, save for the biscuits. So if you want real, down home, southern cooking, make the trip to Loveless Cafe, they are so good.
(5)Glenn F.
Fried chicken rocks. If were to break a strict diet it would be for the fried chicken. No doubt- breakfast, lunch or dinner.
(3)Kevin S.
We had a group of 12 and there were able to accommodate us really fast on a Saturday morning at 8. Food and service both excellent! Keep up the tradition and eat those awesome biscuits :)
(4)Ashley D.
There are many reasons to go to Loveless, but two of my favorites are: 1) Biscuits 2) Hashbrow casserole Both are TO DIE FOR!! Yum, yum, yum.
(5)Saundra D.
I don't just give out my five stars willy nilly...this place rocks. It is a "destination" that revolves around FOOD. We were passing through Nashville when I was on my way to a financial coaching training (that is what I do) in Louisville and ran across a flyer for this place at my hotel (yes, the Hilton Garden Inn again, stop sweatin' me, I am a creature of habit and I like the points). We drove WAY out of the way to get there and Marcia M. told me not to miss it and she was right. The blackberry jam was the best I have EVER had, and I know some Jam! I had the watermelon ribs - no jokes (yes I love watermelon too) and they were oh, so tender. I often hear "falling of the bone" but I like for my ribs to offer just a bit of resistance...toy with me a bit. These ribs were perfect. We took some chicken and biscuits to go (yes I took them on the cross country SWA flight) and dared security to say something. Worth the trip - worth the cash - worth the calories.
(5)Martha H.
I have always heard tales of how great Loveless Cafe was, but have somehow lived in Nashville for three years and never been...until now. The biscuits were delicious. I had mine with peach preserves which reminded me of summers in Kentucky with my grandmother's homemade jams. I had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and creamed corn (I had to starve myself all day to justify eating it all!) and it was all superb. I can't say much but reiterate all that many others have said before me, Loveless is amazing. Our waiter was polite (and cute on top of it- have to love the accent!) and service was speedy and friendly.
(5)Jean C.
Why did it take me two months to write this review?!?! When I was in Nashville with a choir group, the director made sure the travel agency include a dinner here at Loveless Cafe. I was excited only because I've heard amazing things about this place. With a bus load of high school students, parents, chaperones, tour guide and bus driver, we all walked in and past the many people waiting to get a table and escorted to an area in the back set up for our large group. After getting situated, the servers came asking for drink orders and got them out quickly. Our menu was pre-selected: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, biscuits, etc. My tummy was off that evening for some strange reason and boy did it have terrible timing. The food was delicious. The fried chicken was crispy but not too oily. Those biscuits were heavenly and I loved the accompanied jellies. I didn't even finish my one plate which held a little of everything. Boo tummy. After dinner, we went to the shop and they had cute Loveless items and a bunch of the students bought tshirts that said "Got Biscuits?". This place definitely brings in the locals and the tourists. I am already planning my trip back to Nashville and I can't wait to take the hubs here. I need to get my full fill on Loveless.
(5)Jim N.
Seven of went to this old motel and restaurant (revised into restaurant and shops) for dinner and, despite a one-hour wait, had a great evening inside a genuine "slice of Americana". Fast & friendly service and food prepared exactly right---pan fried chicken, vegetables, pork chops, and a country ham breakfast....surrounded by amazing biscuits, jams & iced tea....ahhhh... Seriously addictive stuff! Topped by sublime coconut creme pie and coffee....it's right next door to heaven! We left completely happy. This is definitely worth the drive and the wait, during which you can visit their shops and meet people outside. Just like the television coverage promised, this one is a keeper!
(4)Miguel G.
I've wanted to try Loveless after seeing it on the Food Network and reading all the great reviews here on Yelp and I have to say I wasn't impressed. Loveless is famous for it's biscuits and that's the first thing on the table after they take your order. They aren't bad but I've had better. On the other hand the preserves were very good. I'd never had blackberry and I had to go home with a jar of it. AMAZING! The country ham was tasty but a little on the tough side. The mac and cheese was excellent and I left most of the hash brown casserole, not because I was full. My two friends in attendance agree, Loveless is over rated and in my opinion touristy and a little over priced. If you find yourself in the area or are looking for some incredible preserves stop into Loveless. I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again. Save yourself the trip and find the nearest Cracker Barrel.
(3)Angela M.
We knew them before they became popular, just a tiny little shack with closed motel rooms around them. Thought they were amazing then, and think they are amazing now with shops all around them now. The service and food are all amazing! You won't be disappointed if you love good country cooking. Everything we are in the area, we always go there for breakfast.
(5)Bianca S.
The biscuits were the joy of my visit to the Loveless Café, paired with the bowl of butter and jam varieties to put on them. I ordered the country ham which was a little too salty for my taste, but everything else was delicious. My husband ordered fried chicken and waffles which he devoured. Luckily, we arrived right when it opened, so there was no wait for us, but our friends who live in Franklin said they once had to wait 4 hours!
(4)Sarah Y.
Loveless Cafe is a beacon of southern comfort food for me, like it is for many others. Every time I'm back in Nashville, I make my pilgrimage to Loveless. The biscuits are always as good as they are in my memory, the preserves are so flavorful, and the hot food is delicious. The fried chicken is definitely above average, and all of the southern sides are a hit. I would recommend Loveless Cafe to any visitor going to Nashville. It will definitely be a hit. However, the 2+ hour wait gets old. This last time I went, my boyfriend and I played the "Guess Who" game with countless portraits of celebrities on the walls of the cafe while waiting 1.5 hours for our table. So if I'm in Nashville next time and had limited time and patience, I would take myself to Monell's for a comparably delicious and authentic southern food experience.
(4)LeeAnne H.
Mmmmmmm biscuits.....and killer jams (blackberry is my favorite). A must stop for breakfast and cute gifts!!!
(5)Andrew B.
Great biscuits. Friendly service. Amazing biscuits. Good breakfast. Everything was enjoyable, and if it were near where we lived, it would be on our everyday to-do list. Our cholesterol is glad it isn't, but this was some good good comfort breakfast food.
(4)Jessica C.
Delicious and wonderful as always. The biscuits and blackberry jam are the best ever!
(5)Andy H.
So here is one of those establishments that is world famous, gets all the business they need, has a great marketing engine, and STILL makes good food! The one thing that gets overlooked here is the BBQ. They spend more time smoking meat than baking biscuits. What Loveless is to biscuits, they are also to BBQ. Get it? Good.
(5)Brian D.
MY pastor came from this neck of the south so I went and visited his best buddy there who took me on some country bumpkin road out to this place! I loved it,talk about good ole hometown southern fried cholesterol! You got it here.The waffles were huge,fried chicken steak great.It's old school,dixie do it right! Wear a checkered tablecloth and go grits and pancakes too! It's been a long time but i have a book of matches from this place right here on my desk....sort of brings a little "Earl Pitts" tear to my eye.....if you get my drift! Every food lover should eat here once! It's a tradition! I salute you Dixie!
(5)Ellen H.
I love this place. Was here years ago and still as good as ever. Can't decide what you want to try get the Country sample, choice of three meats and 2 sides. and of course bicuits! they may look small but they pack a mighty punch. Delish!
(5)Sharon L.
This place is VERY touristy -- for example, there are *multiple* gift shops -- but the food is absolutely worth it. The biscuits are, of course, famous, but their BBQ deserves to be equally well-known. The BBQ pulled-pork omelette was so flavorful, moist, and delectable. You can get a plate of biscuits with four different toppings for variety -- I LOVED the pimiento cheese and fried green tomato biscuit. Their country-style ham is excellent -- it tastes like a thick-cut slice of prosciutto. I'll also note that our server was very friendly and helpful. Pro-tip: one of the gift shops has a freezer with Jeni's ice cream in it. :)
(4)Danielle L.
Yummy! Long wait , but played cornhole and enjoyed our company ! Food was amazing!!! Pulled pork BBQ biscuit is where it is AT!!! I may have also drank a mimosa for two ... By myself.... Yummy yummy yummy !!!
(5)Charles E.
We had to wait for awhile and it was worth every bit. Food was delicious and plenty of it. Worth the trip here. Thanks for the good meal.
(5)Jen M.
Biscuits and blackberry jam, yummy! Great home style food, recommend any of the chicken dishes and the hash brown casserole is a must. The wait for a table is worth it, and wait can be minutes or over an hour. Stock up on jam in the store while you wait!
(5)Kathryn-Claire B.
Their breakfasts are lacking but I LOVE their lunch and dinners. Make sure you have plenty of time because it could take ages to get a table.
(4)Brenda M.
The Loveless Cafe was everything I had expected and more. The food was fabulous and plentiful. You will not leave her hungry. yallcomeoninthedoorsopen…
(5)Rebekah T.
The food was amazing but the wait is crazy. The staff is really nice. I ordered my food to go and sat outside on a picnic table. The corn hole is a lot of fun too.
(4)Dannielle O.
If you don't eat here you will regret the fact that you are alive. Food? Perfect. Service? Perfect. AMBIENCE? Perfect. Love u, loveless.
(5)Kathleen K.
AWESOME! Although the wait was an hour- after the amazing meal we were all happy. Danielle was our server. She made the meal as special as the biscuits. Patiently explaining her recommendations-sharing cafe history & famous sightings. The food and the experience were awesome!
(5)Jenny T.
The food wasn't all that bad. I order the garden omelette, it tasted good but need to add seasoning flavor to spice it up. The place is nice to see a lot of famous people photos with an autograph.
(3)Allison N.
Does it get better than Loveless Cafe? No, probably not. When I lived in Nashville this was one of my absolute favorite places to go for breakfast. Sure, it's sort of a hike from the city, but the drive is scenic and the biscuits are worth it. So are the preserves. I still dream about the preserves actually. I could totally go for some right now... Anyway, everything is really good here. I won't lie to you, dear reader. You will probably have to wait. You may have to wait for a very long time to eat at the Loveless Cafe. But trust me, it's worth it. Everything I have had there has been wonderful. I've had omelets, I've had pancakes, I've had breakfast ham, and various other side dishes. They're all good. And in Nashville, we know our food. If Loveless Cafe is that busy, it's for a reason. You can always check out the nearby shops when you wait. Pro tip: the preserves are sold there. Buy some.
(5)Tina W.
Not sure how anyone could complain that there was a wait for here. You'd have to be from Mars to not know you would have a wait. 2-3 hours is the norm on weekends, people! Grab some bean bags and play corn hole and chillax! By the way, you CAN CALL AHEAD to be put on the waiting list. Get ready to leave the hotel, put in a call, and then by the time you get there, you should just about be ready to be seated. I lucked out and had a 10 minute wait last Wednesday between breakfast and dinner. We were seated exactly at 11, so we had dinner. Son had the pimiento cheese bacon burger which was FABULOUS. I couldn't decide on which sides to get, so I got the side dish platter. I had black-eyed peas, green beans, mac and cheese, and the best creamed corn I have EVER tasted. Biscuits? Yes, they're wonderful. Peach preserves were delectable. Next time, I'll try some biscuits and gravy.....and I'll buy some mix and peach preserves for home....
(5)Sam A.
The biscuits were amazing! Our server brought us a plate of warm biscuits, which were great, but then brought us a plate of MORE biscuits straight out of the oven... heaven! Especially with butter and preserves. I had the catfish dinner plate with fried okra and fruit. I thought the catfish was well done, as well as the hushpuppies. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the okra. the breading was very thick and heavy. My boyfriend got the pulled pork sandwich and fries.... (of course I had to try!) and both were delicious. Loved the fries. Can't wait to come back and try the breakfast menu and the desserts.... they look amazing!
(4)Daniel I.
The fried chicken lived up to its hype! The portions are huge!!! The pancakes are bigger than your face, while the bacon has an amazing smoked taste to it. And the biscuits.......speechless!
(5)Sarah M.
Yes, the biscuits and jelly were amazing but that's about all for me! Both are def made fresh. I've never had anything like them. They're complementary with some orders but you could enjoy them by themselves with coffee for breakfast- filling. I ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffles were too thick & that made them hard to enjoy. The chicken was huge! It's definitely a good choice if you have a huge appetite that early in the morning. 3 stars for the biscuits but I wasn't impressed by anything else. The drive is out of the way even if you are driving into/out of Nashville. The staff was decent. Stopped by around 9am on a Friday morning so there wasn't a wait.
(3)Jessie C.
I love this place!!! The food is amazing! Service is great! There is a lot of charm and the place oozes coolness. Its a place the average Joe can enjoy or the big time celebrity. Highly recommend eating here you won't regret it!!!
(5)Dave C.
Came to the loveless this past weekend. I have mixed feelings on this place. First, the good. The food was good. I've had better but this is certainly better than average food. The biscuits they bring out first are really good and the preserves were good as well. I had the Half-Fried chicken. The breading was very good however, the meat was a little on the dry side. Good flavor just not as moist as I like my fried chicken. The slow cooked green beans were good and my favorite part of the meal was the hash brown casserole. The staff was very friendly. The bad, this is Tennessee and the Sweet tea left a lot to be desired. I've had better Sweet tea at McDonalds. The wait, yes I know the wait is long most days at this place. I don't mind waiting but the shops just weren't much to look at and after about 15 minutes we had pretty much seen everything. They had some corn hole games around but couldn't find and bean bags to play. The snacks in the shops are way overprices. My advice, if you need a little snack to hold you over while you wait for 2 or more hours, there is a Shell station next door. Pick up a small back of pretzels for $1. Overall, probably a 3.5 stars in my book. i would certainly recommend going for the experience and the friendly staff. Expect the long wait and just be prepared.
(3)Julie L.
When you google places you must see/do in Nashville, The Loveless Cafe comes up as one of the top 5. With it also being our last name, we were excited to see what it was all about. We drove from St. Louis to Nashville for a weekend and came hungry as this was our first stop once in Tennessee. We were greeted by an associate, very friendly, who was eager to take our pictures around the grounds esp with our last name being highlighted. We put our name on the waiting list and looked around the shops, the Barn and other parts of the grounds. Our waiter was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and excited that another Loveless namesake had stopped in. We started with sweet tea and their homemade biscuits with the various jams and preserves. I got the fried chicken with two sides and my husband got the sampler with 3 meats and sides. Needless to say we were not disappointed. They were advertising national dessert month and their homemade goodies so we had a piece of their turtle pie...not to miss! We did get a little something to remember our time there and have already started thinking about our next visit whenever we're in Tennessee again.
(5)Doug C.
Loveless Cafe is a cool little spot a short ways outside of downtown Nashville. It's a converted motel: now there's a number of shops where the rooms were as well as a separate bar in a different building on the grounds. This is a place where portions, calories and dieting have long since been forgotten; that is, if they were ever learned. The menu here is overwhelming amounts of good rib-sticking food and you'd better just accept it. Want some butter? Here it comes in a dollop. Want a side of mashed potatoes? It comes in a large bowl. You can even order a few of the sides as a stand-alone meal. Anyways, I had the ham with sides of green beans and mashed potatoes. The sides were nice classic comfort-food home cooking and the biscuits are everything they have been made out to be. The only minor disappointment was the ham. It wasn't bad, but it was perhaps a bit too over-cured. If food was represented by bodies of water, the ham would be the Great Salt Lake. Otherwise, I really liked the meal here. It's a mellow atmosphere with the walls adorned by stars and semi-luminaries who have wandered through it's halls. The servers were lightning-quick and ubiquitous. This place is recommended; just be sure not to eat for several days ahead of time in preparation.
(4)Matt S.
Best. Biscuits. Ever. This is an iconic Nashville eatery that draws a ton of tourists and locals alike. Seriously, the biscuits are amazing as is the blackberry jam. BBQ is pretty good but the country ham is also a standout.
(5)Kendyl M.
Best biscuits I have ever had. All three of the preserves served were delicious. Had to wait an hour to get it but more than worth it. Boyfriend had the pulled pork and eggs...fantastic!
(5)alyssa t.
Wish I had more time to spend here! You can rent bikes and rode on the Natchez! How cool?! Best biscuits, of course. This place drips enough charm to butter any so
(5)Brandon S.
Nashville's best. Place is awesome in an awesome area. A must go to if your in town
(4)Jerry C.
Biscuits! Who knew they could stand alone in the spotlight? The buttery and salty treats came on a large plate as a starter while we sipped our sweet tea and decided what to get for lunch. They were soft, and just hot enough to melt an extra slab of butter and fruit preserves. I didn't have to chew the biscuit so much as put it in my mouth and wait for it to melt. I could've ate the biscuits all day, but eventually I ordered the blue plate special - a fat saucer of chicken and dumpings with a meat-flavored side of tender greens and hashbrown casserole. My friends got fried chicken livers and gizzards (absolutely delicious), and fried okra. The meal sat incredibly heavy in my stomach for the rest of the day. It was fantastic.
(5)R J.
Maybe it was... ... The caramel sweet potatoes, candied, warm large fork-fulls with a brown sugar glaze clinging to each morsel. ... The Pot Liquor Southern Greens, seasoned with smoked meats and a tangy finish that embraces every segment of your taste buds. ... The Stone-Ground Grits, warm, creamy and perfectly seasoned, rendering the Salt + Pepper Shaker Useless. ... not really certain. What is clear, is that when we combined just these few tasty favorites with the Loveless Cafe entrees, we were in Food Heaven.
(4)Marc C.
OK this is off the beaten path about 25 minutes from downtown Nashville. Once you get there plan on a wait. Ours was 1.5 hours however there is so much to do...we played cornhole, toured the various shops on property, relaxed, and enjoyed the day. Once we were seated we went through two baskets of the best homemade biscuits with fresh made jams. We could have made a meal of just that. We ordered the sampler (with bbq pork, friend chicken, and catfish), bbq pork platter, chicken tender sandwich, and chicken tenders. The tenders were the size of a small plate, and you got 3 of them (leftovers!), the meal was unbelievably good, so fresh, and tasty. We had leftovers we were so full. They packed it all up and a to go container of biscuits too. This was well worth the wait and we made an afternoon of it. The service was so great that we did not want to leave. Go hungry and willing to relax a while. It will be the go to spot next trip.
(5)Mark H.
The Loveless Cafe has a reputation for southern cooking so we have visited a couple time wishing the experience would change. Before driving the NTP we stopped again to try their breakfast fare. Ironically the "USA Today" lists the Loveless Cafe as the best in the country for "down home cooking". We arrived around 9:00am on a Monday so there is no wait, I have read and heard the horror story's on waits on the weekends. We ordered the country ham breakfast and shortly after the best biscuits in the country arrived. They were great as was were the peach preserves. The breakfast arrived not long afterward and the eggs were over cooked, the ham was so salty you could not eat it,and the hash brown casserole was so gummy you could use it for wallpaper paste. We asked for more biscuits and some red eye gravy to go with the ham. Again, they arrived quickly but the red eye gravy was watery and with little taste... And where did these biscuits come from? They were nothing like a real southern biscuit. Loveless was not really the place for a great southern breakfast. It was no where near as good many of local restaurants I have visited around Nashville. After 3 tries we are out of here.
(1)MaryLynne G.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits! That's all you need to know- moist, buttery, absolutely incredible. If you want more go for the sides: mashed potatoes, coleslaw, fried green tomatoes. The restaurant has a whole plaza of little shops to visit while you are waiting for your table or for a takeaway order. To save time when the wait for a table is long, get takeaway and eat on the tables outside.
(5)Paul Z.
Best f ing biscuits ever! Trust me I've had lots of biscuits! Jams really fresh. We had a 45 min wait. But they have little shops to check out. Food was worth the wait. It's one place I've been to that I wish I live closer to so I could go more often.
(5)Mike F.
Drawn to the replace by reviews. Was really excited about visting. Great news did not have to wait long. Surroundings were super cool. Waiter was exceptional and suggested the fried chicken. No hesitation on my part I love fried chicken Chicken was tender but bland. No flavor. Greens were cooked well built again very bland and macaroni and cheese was very milky no structure and not like homemade. Would not bother again better food at the Craker Barrel. I travel and eat out at over 50 resteraunts a year. Don't waste you time going here for the food but a maybe for the ambiance! I will admit the grounds are super cool.
(2)Hibah Q.
So cute! Great food. Friendly staff. Inexpensive. What more can you ask for?
(5)D. K.
One word (that has been said a million times before): BISCUITS!! Worth coming here alone. My chicken fried steak was fine...nothing amazing, but hit the spot. I also liked the biscuits and gravy that my sister ordered. Service was super friendly! Didn't love the desserts weirdly enough. Expect a long wait, but there's lots of fun little shops on property that make the wait bearable. I'll be back!
(4)Stacy A.
This place is definitely worth the drive out of downtown Nashville! The staff is very sweet and accommodating and the manager came over and was a very friendly, interested guy. The biscuits are AMAZING, but that is what they're famous for! The pancakes are huge and are sweet, making them special. The biscuit sampler platter is large, and more of biscuit-sandwiches style than biscuits with various ingredients cooked into them. Definitely try the home fruit preserves on the biscuits! Lots of free parking available and there's a cute market to mosey on over before or after! Interesting history to the place and adorable decor. A great stop!
(5)Julia D.
I visited the Loveless Cafe twice on my recent trip to Nashville. This restaurant never disappoints. The pulled pork and Bloody Marys are wonderful. The granola (might be a side item) is good. I wouldn't recommend the French Toast. But, of course, my favorite part of the meal were the BISCUITS!!
(5)Carmen P.
yeah i know, i'm going to be boo'd and hissed at for only giving it three stars. the biscuits were 5 stars though. my husband and i are locals, and he has somehow never been here, so he insisted we go. after the expected looooooooooong wait, we were seated and greeted by an exceptionally personable server. my husband had some friend chicken, i think....and i had the barbecue pork. the portions were HUGE (and the server also gave us a ton of biscuits to take home with our leftovers...i'm not sure if he should have, so don't ask about this!) we both had sides of macaroni and okra. the macaroni was yum and the okra was good too. i know loveless is a nashville tradition, and there was nothing really wrong with our experience, but, take away the tradition, and it was just, food--except for the biscuits, they're magical, like they were made with unicorn tears. so here, get some neat jams and bacon from their gift shops, and tip well, those servers have hard jobs!
(3)Krash T.
Once upon a time - oh, 30, 40 years ago - Loveless was a secret place I took people to when I wanted them to get a taste of the "real southern cuisine." Unfortunately, no longer. It used to be terrific, homey, everything from scratch. It may be all from scratch now, but it's really become nothing more than a tourist joint. If you haven't ever had good fried chicken, you might think this was acceptable, but you'd do better at a gas stop Krispy Krunchy. If you want the real deal, ask around for old-fashioned meat & threes. Sorry to be so brief but there's not much more to say except that it's also quite expensive given what you get - poor service, low quality. If you want really great southern cooking, take the time to visit Lynchburg and go to Miss Mary Bobo's, former home of Jack Daniels. Just make sure to reserve in advance.
(2)Rita T.
EVERYTHING we ate here was really good--even the leftover meat and biscuits the next day! We'd only wrapped the biscuits in a paper napkin--16 hours later they should have been hockey pucks. Instead, delicious! Our excellent waiter brought us a basket of steaming, golden-white puffs (ah, those biscuits), pots of jewel-bright, fruity-fruity strawberry, peach, and blackberry preserves (we finished them off with a spoon), plus the sorghum we'd requested. I suspect Annie Loveless developed her biscuits with sorghum in mind--their pairing beats all I've had in the south. A couple unique items on Loveless Cafe's beverage menu are its moonshine offerings. The watermelon moonshine comes in 2 mason jars, a large one, pink with watermelon juice and chunks, and a mini-jar with an ounce of clear moonshine. Poured together, they produce a refreshing drink, no cloying sweetness. Our orders of watermelon ribs and fried chicken both came with 2 sides, so we ended up with creamed corn (double), macaroni and cheese, and the pot liquor greens. It's good we didn't have to share our sides of the creamed corn--wow, it's light and lovely and (woot, woot!) the recipe is available online. The watermelon ribs are dry-rubbed and smoked, then braised with the nicely tangy sauce and watermelon chunks, a process that gives the chunks a great tomatoey taste and texture. The fried chicken, though, proved why the Loveless Cafe has such an enduring reputation. Make sure at least one person in your party orders it, and make sure he or she shares! And save room for dessert. We ordered the chocolate pecan pie, a not-quite fudgey, highly successful Loveless treat. The service was great, the atmosphere is fun, and the food is terrific. Yes, you oughta eat here.
(5)Jes S.
I've heard wonderful things about Loveless Cafe so finally made it out there. We went on a Friday morning to avoid the weekend rush. It was a beautiful 20min drive outside of Nashville and managed to get in after a short 10min wait. It was busy on a Friday so I can imagine the craziness on the weekend. Good news is of you did have a wait there is a outdoor area to walk around and buy keepsakes, souvenirs, etc. The biscuits were good but not as I had imagined. I had such high expectations. The trio of preserves were delicious and paired nicely with the hot biscuits. We didn't order anything special--eggs and bacon/sausage. Very average or typical to any breakfast joint. I would have been happy with my coffee and biscuits. Service was good! The biscuit mix you buy in the store is quite good and you only add buttermilk. Very similar tasting to the real thing. I will return--and try lunch but during the week.
(3)Scott B.
It is solid and the biscuits are perfect, but the wait can be a bit tedious after a certain hour in the morning.
(4)Emily G.
Amazing biscuits, definitely the best I've ever had! Their blackberry jam is outstanding. Service is great as well. Watermelon ribs, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and mashed potatoes with gravy are some of our favorites!! Definitely must stop here when you're in Nashville!!!
(5)Dustin S.
The food was good and wait was short. The only thing overrated was the bisquits. They were still good, they just didn't live up to the hype. Definitely a Nashville must.
(4)Melynda S.
My meal got off to an amazing start with the biscuits and preserves; it was very good. Other than that, your money would be better spent at your local Cracker Barrel. I ordered the pulled bbq pork with turnip greens and mac & cheese. The mac & cheese was beyond disappointing, the turnip greens were decent but below average, but the meat was actually kind of tasty. Overall, my experience was very disappointing considering the hype that surrounds this place. The Loveless Cafe is definitely nothing to write home about.
(3)Michael O.
It's famous for a region. Plan to drive out of the city a bit, wait awhile for a seat, and eat stunningly good Southern food. Order anything--it will be excellent.
(5)Steve R.
Loveless Cafe is way on the west side of Nashville. It has a storied past and is still a great place to eat! They have a wide variety of traditional southern fare. The service is great and the atmosphere comfortable. My brother, who is a notoriously picky eater, ate everything on his plate! I'll definitely be back the next time I'm on that side of town (or I might even make a special trip if I'm not there soon).
(5)Courtney N.
Part of Nashville's history - a must! Never a bad meal!
(5)Kristen H.
THE BISCUITS!!!! I could just eat them for the whole meal!! Delicious! But, I did order an omelet and hash brown casserole and it was delicious as well. Be prepared to wait at least 45 minutes for a table on a good day. But it's not bad because they have a bunch of cute shops for you to visit and they give you a little pager to carry so you know when your table is ready. Definitely not the place to go for a quick bite, but a great place for a leisurely, relaxed, fun breakfast/brunch.
(4)Brooke M.
This place is pretty good! The biscuits are amazing and so is the chicken! If you aren't too full then the desserts are heavenly as well. Every time I've come here I've had a great wait staff. To avoid the long wait come on a week day after 7pm. Everyone knows this place is good so the wait to get in can be pretty long.
(5)sandie s.
Biscuits. You sit down and get biscuits. And once those biscuits are gone, you get more biscuits. How many biscuits consumed in one sitting could be considered obscene? I didn't care. Those biscuits were damn good. I kind of want to stop it there, but the rest was so good too, so I'll tell you about it. When I drove up, I just knew it would be good. There was a wait, but it went fast and when it was over, I was sitting at a table, with a plate of biscuits, strawberry, apricot, and blackberry preserves. Having eaten 2 of the biscuits before I had even started looking at the menu, I decided that an egg white omelet was in order, you know, just for balance. Of course, to throw it off again, I ordered a side of bacon. The omelet was superb and the bacon, thick and crispy. And at Loveless, an order is 5 slices. FIVE. And of course, there were more biscuits. My waitress was awesome and friendly, as was everyone I encountered there. The atmosphere was nice and homey, with some groovy art on the walls. The memorial to the biscuit lady was my favorite. And they have a good, roomy handicapped stall in the bathroom. I like to mention this when it's true. Go to Loveless. You will like it. I liked it. And now I'm really, really sad that I don't live anywhere near it. Although my weigh watchers points are OK with that part.
(5)Christina M.
Me & my husband were driving past Nashville & checked out this place. Yes it is a bit of a drive from the interstate & yes there was a long 1 1/2 hr wait but the wait staff were super friendly & the biscuits oh yea made the trip & wait worth it. I'm not into biscuits as much as my husband but let me tell u I ate 3! All with butter & their strawberry, blueberry & peach jams all delicious! Next I had the blue berry moonshine & it comes with a shoot keep sake that the moonshine comes in. Boy my first time having some I would say don't throw it all in cuz that stuff is strong but good. We couldn't decide so we had the sampler platter with fried chicken, meatloaf & ham. All were great but ham was a little salty then I would of liked. The hashbrown casserole & Mac & cheese were on point! This is must stop!
(5)Tara F.
I like the Loveless Cafe for the simple fact that it's a Nashville landmark. We take friends and family who visit from out of town and their biscuits & jam really are phenomenal, but for me... the wait, the rest of the food and even the service are just OK. If you're lucky enough to arrive and not wait an hour +... the experience is good and the food is consistently well made. It's a scenic (though long) drive and I've arrived having to wait HOURS for a table. I've always stuck it out because we'd just driven an hour to reach Loveless and going somewhere else or back home seems a little silly... but really waiting more than 45 minutes, isn't worth it. I've never tried anything other than breakfast and this cute little diner, but the actual food doesn't touch the amazing-ness of their homemade biscuits and jam (it really is delightful). The decor inside the reception area of Loveless is perfectly Nashville... I love seeing all the autographed country artists' headshots adoring the walls... and so do the "new to Nashville" guests I've always brought along with me on each Loveless visit... the rest of the place looks like your Grandma's dining room... yellow walls, doilies, covered bridge paintings and old fashioned photos... it's pretty cozy. One of the down sides, to me, is how they "pack you in" and the VERY large groups that visit the Cafe... I've seen tables with 20+ people at them and had our party of 3-4 wedged in between them and other big parties... which isn't ideal from a sound standpoint, a bumping into you standpoint, or a service standpoint. Speaking of service... I've NEVER had great service at Loveless... even when it wasn't super busy. When I first moved to Nashville one of the things that jumped out at me was the genuine friendliness of everyone... you'd think loveless would exemplify southern hospitality, but I've never seen it. All in all, I like the Loveless Cafe and I like taking guests from out of town to this quaint (though super busy) breakfast spot... and they all seem to enjoy the spectacle of it as well... so I'll keep going, but I'd really love to see it be a shining example of the warm southern culture that I personally love about Nashville...
(3)Renata P.
This is a cute little piece of Nashville history. Worth a visit. The biscuits here were the best I've ever had... anywhere... The rest of the food (a country breakfast) was decent. However, the sweet tea and the Steeplechase pie? Excellent. I'm not a fan of pecan pie normally but this one was a small taste of heaven. I'd go back for the pie, biscuits, and tea. Definitely!
(4)Tracey H.
Good biscuits! Yum!
(4)Faith L.
Awesome: fried chicken, biscuits, sides, pies, service, gift shop, and decor. GO! We got seated next to a painting of the Biscuit Lady herself, so plus a million stars.
(5)Linda B.
Great food, fun watching biscuits being made, and an interesting store to browse. Fun for the whole family.
(5)Tyler H.
I was visiting family in Nashville a couple of weeks ago and insisted that we go to Loveless for Sunday brunch. I went there when I was in Nashville a couple of years ago. No one wanted to go because it was over 20 miles away. After our meal, everyone was very thankful that I insisted. The wait was only about 15 or 20 minutes (long enough for me to go and buy some preserves at the general store). Trey, our waiter, was very friendly and attentive. The food was outstanding. I had a mixture of breakfast and lunch with the main feature being fried chicken. It was cooked perfectly. The seasoning was OK, but I couldn't believe how perfectly cooked and moist it was. I had grits, turnips and hash brown casserole. The menu had turnip greens, and that is what I ordered. They brought me collard greens. I didn't complain because they were very good. I tasted from everyone's plate and there was nothing to complain about from anyone's meal. My favorite tasting came from my partner who had the fried corn. OMG! That was to die for. They have recipes of some of their popular dishes on their website. I hope the corn is there. One last thing. I had to check my bag because I bought preserves and chow chow to take home with me. As I was walking to my gate, I saw that there were Loveless goodies in one of the airport shops. I could have made the purchase after going through security and not check my bag. They should advertise that in the general store. Other than that, NO COMPLAINTS about my Loveless experience.
(4)Charity D.
We went on a Saturday afternoon, wait was about 30mins, no big deal but it was cold so it'd been nice if they'd turned the heater on the porch area for the infant waiting along side of us. First impression is decent place, small..nothing I wanted from the shops since I am native to the area, except the jams. Waitress: very attentive, if not a bit over the top. We had an issue which she probably should have handled better, I'll explain in the food section. We waited a long time, but felt rushed to order. Food: I had country ham w/grits, red eye, fried medium eggs, biscuits. The great: first batch of biscuits were tender, fresh, warm. The jams and butter on the were good. The so/so: grits, nothing special, but they were cheese grits, but didn't notice any cheesiness. The ham, decent, but whatever flavor. The bad: Red eye tasted like an old, bad cup of coffee. It's suppose to be 80 gravy/ham flavor/juices, and 20 coffee. Just enough to not notice it for anything but richness. The ugly: medium fried eggs is what I ordered, what I got 3 times in a roll was over easy. They were so easy that when I transferred them to my saucer as instructed by the waitress, they busted and ran all in my plate. She walked away and I used my only napkin and spouses to sop up the mess to attempt and save my ham. The 3rd time she asked if they were ok, I told her my other food was getting cold and I didnt care anymore. I was tired of trying and the thought of looking at another egg grossed me out. Blackberry cobbler: it was gotten to go and we tasted it real quick, good thing because some oddly creative cook decided to play in the spice rack and had cloves in it. Wrong. Dissappointed, would go back to buy jams, maybe try a veg plate and see how those are.
(2)Maria I.
I REALLY, REALLY wanted to love this place. I'm from California and was in town passing through. We stopped here, looked around at the shops, and had lunch. I loved the people, our server, and of course the biscuits! I ordered breakfast with eggs, potatoes, and sausage. I found the eggs to be fluffy, but that's about it. I was excited for the potatoes but whatever kind of sauce or cheese was in them really turned me off so I barely touched them. The sausage was okay and nothing special to me. Maybe I should have ordered something for lunch. I would try it again if I'm in town.
(3)Mink M.
Long wait. But worth it. Next time ill order to go instead. The biscuits are amazing. I wish I bought some of it to take home. They are so good. The strawberry preserve was awesome. The chicken was fried to perfection and the coleslaw was very good. The fried catfish was of the hook and I normally don't eat catfish. The waitress we had was super sweet and courteous. They know what their doing. Check out the stores to kill the time and try the brittle it's pretty good. They offer free coffee. Good food. Plenty of parking. It looks like they may be expanding. Long wait. Free coffee.
(5)Kyle W.
Truly as good as it gets when is comes to home cooked country food! At our table of 3 we had, Meatloaf, Ham, Pulled Pork, Squash Casserole, Hash-brown Casserole, Mac N Cheese, Banana Pudding, Cherry Pie, Peach Cobbler, and a plethora of Sweet Tea and Biscuits! There was not one thing that was mediocre. Everything was hot, fresh and flavorful. And I would personally like to give a shot out to Ms. Barbara who made sure that we had all our left-overs to go and a few extra biscuits for the road! I cant say enough good things about the Loveless Cafe!
(5)S C.
I've been to Loveless once, on my last trip to Nashville, from California and I was looking forward to another meal until now. I am coming out again for a visit next week and I will be skipping it and unliking their FB page and unfollowing them on pinterest due to the LACK of customer service and complete disregard of a person's holiday as displayed by the review posted yesterday. I am appalled how unkind the staff was. There are so many fabulous places to eat in Nashville that I am glad to say I can cross Loveless OFF my must do's list for future trips. Really disappointed. Disgusted is more like it. We have better Southern Hospitality in California than Loveless showed. And don't worry, I'll share this on social media to make sure everyone knows how Loveless treats customers.
(1)Marie O.
Adequate breakfast food, but not worth even a 20-minute wait. We were expecting revelatory biscuits, maybe that was the problem. The preserves -- which were good, don't get me wrong -- were better than the much-heralded baked goods. On the plus side, the staff was very cordial, and obviously work very hard.
(3)Connie J.
So worth the wait (1.25 hours). Everything was GREAT! Fried chicken, mac n cheese, creamed corn and greens. The biscuits are deserving of all the rave reviews! Everyone else in our party of 7 got something different and everyone left happy and full!
(5)Janette C.
So I've lived in Nashville for 6 years and this was my first visit here! I am wishing I had come sooner! The drive here is a great one. It's a little long where I live in East Nashville but it was soooo worth it! It was a beautiful country side drive. Gorgeous houses and scenery. The meal was fantastic. :-) I had a BBQ pork with two eggs, one to the right and one to the left. So it was a mound of pulled pork on top of two corn bread cakes (ho cakes) and one gooey egg on either side of it. Delicious and tender! My friend had the sampler which looked equally amazing! Bacon, country ham, sausage, scrambled eggs :) Our meal came with a heaping pile of fresh biscuits too. Buttery, soft, still warm from the oven and server with three different types of homemade jam. Note you can also get sorghum and honey for them if you choose! A side of grits, coffee and water for both of us as well. Definitely recommend a visit here. There are shops to visit if you have to wait (our wait was about 20 minutes). All sorts of crafts and do dads ;) The service was friendly, smiley and not at all pushy. They let me and my friend stay and relax with our coffee after our meal and didn't make us feel rushed at all. Enjoyable :)
(5)Marisol H.
Best fried chicken ever! Be ready to unleash your inner fat girl if you eat here! Everyone is super nice and wants to feed you! Beware of the biscuits! They are like crack on steroids! Soo good!
(5)Arlene H.
The bad: White corn grits were soupy and tasteless, even with cheese. The good: Fried chicken was yummy, but missing something.... Salt? Heat? Fried green tomatoes were good. The great: Love the biscuits with peach preserves! The pork was yummy too. The hash brown casserole didn't blow my mind until I got home and reheated it. Peach tea, half sweet and half unsweetened was pleasantly flavorful without being too sweet. The moonshine bloody Mary was good and the tiny souvenir Jar was a nice touch. If I come back, I'm going to the store for peach preserves and biscuit mix!!!
(4)Hanna N.
Awesome food, friendly service and outstanding atmosphere. Do leave room for desert, the chocolate pecan pie was well worth the belly ache from eating too much :-)
(5)Shannon F.
Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Went here with my mother and the place lived up to it's hype! Make sure you give yourself plenty of time (our wait was estimated to be two hours but was a little over an hour). The drive was scenic and they have tons of activities, chairs, and cute gift shops to keep you busy while you wait. The food was to die for (the biscuits were out of this world) and the atmosphere was quaint! Couldn't have had a better brunch :)
(5)Bao N.
I went to Loveless Café and went to Biscuit heaven. Unlimited biscuits were served with different fruit preserve options. The biscuits were hot, soft, flaky and simply perfect. Five stars for the best biscuits I ever had in my life. My wife and I wanted the complete Southern food experience and ordered the Southern Sampler Platter. For our 3 meat selection, we chose Fried Chicken, Catfish, and Pork Barbeque. For our sides, we picked fried okra and mac and cheese. Amazing dining experience. Why can't Southern food in California taste like this? It just doesn't compare. Everything I tasted was amazing and prepared perfectly.
(5)Lynn H.
This is my first time visiting the South and I just HAD to go try out the famed Loveless Cafe. It's really not much to look at, just a tiny little place. My companions both ordered the pulled pork and I had the meatloaf. Both very good and tasty! i have to admit I was a little disappointed because I wanted to see some barbecue action going on, but since it was so cold and dark out, they didn't have the BBQ pits going. They were definitely there though. The BBQ sauce they used is awesome! My sister got a bottle at the store when we were done with dinner. I loved the fried green tomatoes!!! SO GOOD! The meatloaf was also very yummy. They had some pretty amazing biscuits and I believed homemade jams. They have all the jam, sauces, and biscuit mix for sale at their little store. Remember to check that out! Their waitstaff is very friendly, although they looked like they may have been overstaffed that night. I had a sore throat that day and the waitress kept coming back to make sure I had enough tea. Big thumbs up to her! She also recommended that I drink a "hot toddy" to help relieve my sore throat. I had one later that night, and sure enough, it did the trick. Thanks for the tip! :)
(4)Renee A.
Love the Loveless! I've never had a bad meal here. It's taken time, but I've finally learned to NOT visit on the weekends or holidays. The wait can be incredibly long.
(5)Richard P.
Went in early afternoon on a Monday and was told the wait was 30 minutes. There are several shops to look in, and we were signaled in less than 20 minutes. My wife had the eggs with ham and the ham slice could feed 2 people. Had to bring some of it back home. I had the pimento cheeseburger with the bacon (yep, 5 slices) with fries. One of the best burgers I ever had. Oh yes, not to mention more biscuits and soda refills. I will definitely recommend this cafe to others. The biscuits are what this place was supposedly about, but truthfully, the biscuits as Bob Evans beats Loveless hands-down. Nice place here, though.
(4)Pasquale L.
OK 511 reviews let me throw mine in there! It is good great country ham, went on a Monday morning 8am so no wait. would I wait for breakfast? Can't go wrong though for breakfast.
(4)Peter P.
I came here because I saw an episode of "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" where he takes on the biscuits and jam here. This place lives up to the hype. It is definitely on the outskirts of town. We were on our way to the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Loveless Cafe is just steps away. I had just eaten lunch, but I had to stop in for some dessert. There was a huge selection of pies, but I opted for the blueberry crumble with their homemade ice cream. What a treat. The next time I'm in Nashville, I'm definitely going to stop by the Loveless for some fried chicken.
(4)Shannon W.
Wow, what can I say? Let's start with the negatives - It's too far from home to go there very often. Now for the positives - You start with the warm, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of homemade Buttermilk Biscuits. Its from a recipe that's been used and kept secret since 1951 when the restaurant first opened. The biscuits are served with homemade blackberry, peach, and strawberry jams. Large chunks of fruit in the peach and strawberry jams. Richard ordered the Country ham and Eggs with homemade creamed corn and mashed potatoes. The country ham was just salty enough to call it country ham, but not so salty that you are puckering afterwards. I ordered the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and candied yams. Both orders were served with white and brown gravy. Their brown gravy was the best I have had. Nothing was even remotely even OK, but absolutely wonderful good ol' fashioned suthern cookin'!!! We were too full to try one of their homemade desserts which included Peanut Butter pie, blackberry cobbler, coconut cream pie and many others. They looked good coming out though. They serve breakfast all day long and mix breakfast items with dinner items. Large selection of food. If you have a group of 4 or more, you can do family style dinners, order a couple meats and sides and share everything. Great way to get a taste of many things. There is a store onsite to buy jams, hams and other souveneirs. There is also a large barn for large parties. Plenty of parking on site. It is difficult to make a left getting out if it's busy, but other than that, it's great. Everything is homemade on site including the curing of sugar and salt hams, jams, pies, etc. We got out for around $40 w/ drinks and tip. A little more expensive than typical homestyle cooking restaurants, but well worth it! We will definitely go back when we are in the area again!
(5)Nicole L.
I just died and went to biscuit heaven and I don't even care for biscuits that much, but the blackberry preserves are awesome! I really enjoyed the fried chicken and mac & cheese as well. I really wanted to like the hashbrown casserole since it combined two of my favorite things - hashbrowns and cheese - but I really didn't like it all. Loved the charm of the place, though, and our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. Visited: April 16, 2011
(4)Gresham H.
If all you ate here was the fried chicken and biscuits every day of your life, 3 things would occur. #1, you'd be happy and full everyday of your life. #2, you would give it a 5-Star review every time. And #3, you would die young of a heart attack. But you'd be very happy (and weigh about 400lbs).
(5)Sasha T.
I've always had some mixed feelings about Loveless Cafe. Are the biscuits awesome? Yes. Is it a nice homey atmosphere? Yes. Is the rest of the food awesome? Eh its ok. Is it worth an hour and a half plus wait? Probably not. Its a little pricey for what it is if you want breakfast but the supper menu is reasonably priced. Its definitely a cool place to bring someone from out of town.The drive there is beautiful and the little shops are fun to browse. Don't forget to pick up some of their homemade jams while you're there!
(4)Robert J.
I was in the area with two co-workers and one pulled up this place on "TVfoodmaps" app. Glad he did. We got there around 2:30PM and there were a few open tables. We were seated instantly. Our drinks were delivered shortly after ordering with the first plate of biscuits and home made preserves. YUM. We each ordered the fried chicken, The chicken was crunchy on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. The best I've had in a long time. We each had two sides with our meal and ended up sharing as they were all unique in flavor. Waitstaff was engaged and friendly. Food was delivered quite fast. I have to be honest, some people on Yelp are saying the Cracker Barrel has better food. Look at the number of four and five star reviews compared to One, Two, and Three stars. Some people just like to complain I guess. Wish I lived closer, I'd probably go 4-6 times a year.
(5)Tammy R.
This place is epic. If you looking for a place with a home town feel you have found it. The biscuits are the best and the service is amazing.
(5)Melia R.
Dood. Wasn't sure if this was gonna be some lame tourist trap, but I decided to take the nice drive out of Nashville proper to check it out anyway. When I arrived, I saw a line of bikes out front.....and got excited, cos bikers KNOW where the goods are. I had breakfast. Everything's homemade. The PRESERVES are homemade. I had a BBQ pulled pork omelet. Yeah, that's right. Pulled pork omelet. And it was amazing. I also had to try some sausage gravy on the biscuits....better than Mamaw's -- and that's saying quite a lot. The food was awesome, but so were my neighbors. I was dining alone.....until my neighbors inquired as to whether I was having the famous country ham.....and then we decided I'd better just scoot in to their table so we could share our food properly. (If you're reading this someday, Hi, Faye! I had a blast meeting y'all!) I want to go back to try the fried chicken after 11am. Like, go back to Nashville (or make myself go thru Nashville) so I can eat here again. I feel a little crazy saying that, but it's true.
(5)Will M.
Puts cracker barrel to shame, because the biscuits are spectacular! Fresh, Fluffy, and moist; they go best when you pull them apart into pieces, add butter, and preserves. The biscuits!! and the sides pretty much MAKE the meal. My favorite sides are hashbrown casserole, fried green tomatoes, white beans, okra, mac and cheese. And I devoured a bowl of cream of chicken soup too! Their portions are huge! Smoked turkey, ham, country fried steak, are good compliment to the top notch sides and biscuits. Fried chicken had a nice crispy skin. Although not the best ever, damn you prince's for ruining fried chicken for me. I wish there was a hot chicken variety. Check the blue plate special. If you want all you can eat, opt for monell's. I came for dinner on a saturday night, and only had to wait 15 minutes. I guess I was lucky. Our table of 6 left in a food coma, I had to take a nap afterwards. Historic, unique, there is so much to take in. It elevates the food and you experience a certain joy to life, along with wonderful southern charm on top. :) Or was that the Pie I had to go? Truly spectacular
(4)Tia R.
A place that lives up to the hype! The biscuits and jam are worth the trip alone. We took biscuits and bacon and more plain biscuits for our road trip home. We wished we bought the bacon and ham to take home because it is the best we have ever tasted. The corn relish is to die for. We also took a jar home as well as a few jars of jam--all of it are gone! I don't wait two hours for anything, so we visited in the middle of the week early in the morning.
(5)Michelle J.
AMAZING Southern food!! Trying to decide between the fried catfish, Loveless ham, pulled pork, fried chicken, and fried chicken liver, my eyes were obviously larger than my stomach... Finally, I opted for the Fried Chicken Livers platter with Fried Okra and Mac & Cheese AND a half-portion of the Loveless ham. Of course by the time this main course arrived to the table, I was already half full from the ridiculously buttery & tasty biscuits, so it looked like I barely made a dent in my plate of chicken livers. Seriously, you could fill yourself up on a whole meal of biscuits. They have peach, blackberry, and strawberry jams to compliment the biscuits. My favorite was the peach. Though you'll probably encounter a long wait at Loveless Cafe, especially on the weekends, due to their popularity, you'll find no problem killing time with all the little shops surrounding the cafe. They have a country store where they sell their jams, a candy store, jewelry store, and a shop filled the most useless but adorable trinkets (i.e. ugly dolls & wine glass coasters that look like flip flops). This place is a necessary stop if you're in the area!
(5)Sean B.
I must say that we really enjoyed our breakfast and our time here. They've done just enough with the property to make the restaurant feel clean and appetizing without ruining the roadhouse feel of the other areas of the land. I wish I could remember the food better, but we had the closest thing to a meltdown with our 11 month old we'd ever had in public. It really was not that bad, but after I spilled a full water (huge glass, BTW), the stress level was a little high much of the rest of the meal is a blur. I remember thinking as we left that we got out of there just in time! I also remember the order from the table behind me as we were eating. It was a table of what I gathered to be police detectives. The order was a chicken livers platter, a fried green tomato BLT, another chicken livers platter, a gizzards platter, livers again and gizzards again. Then the good ol' boys started talking about how much they hated these meals as boys but loved them now. I also had the FGTBLT. It was not bad, but I had just had an amazing one the day before in Lookout Mountain, GA, so I was a tough customer. The biscuits are the rage, as you might have read. They are really something, though as I was trying my second one I realized that there is only so much greatness that can come out of a buttermilk biscuit. 4 or 5 ingredients can only be concocted in so many ways. Don't get me wrong - they were great. They also have a shop that is worth checking out. We brought some peach preserves home - they are very, very good.
(4)Sammy B.
Came here for the biscuits and breakfast. Biscuits were pretty good. Pancakes & french toast were okay. I guess I wouldn't come here for breakfast. I'll try the fried chicken next time I'm in town. The wait on a Saturday at around 1230 was about 20 minutes with a call-in ahead of time. They had told us an hour and 45 minute wait when we called in but apparently if you go and wait, it is much less of a wait.
(4)Rich F.
Holy smokes!! Jalapeno and Cajun flavored bacon! Who knew bacon could get better? Biscuits are delicious and the pit bbq pork is excellent!
(4)Hannah L.
Me and my friend go here about once every few months because we love the beautiful ride over for the coffee and biscuits.. I always order catfish... Although I am from the MS delta where catfish is our middle name, I still enjoy their catfish... The turnip greens are great with pepper sauce and the crinkle fries never disappoint nor satisfy. The okra is out of a box... Server told me that one! I just don't get what the hoot is all about... I guess you say it's a Nashville thing but I've been to shacks on the side of the road with better home cooked food. I have a love/hate relationship with this place. I want to love it because of the beautiful location and home feel but it's just becoming to "franchisee" without being a chain.. People come from all over to see this place and celebrities as well... I don't get it... Like I said I come every few months for the scenery and hopes that the food gets better... Service is for the most part lovely
(3)Michael D.
Tourist trap meat-and-three. Biscuits are mediocre...they mass produce them, so that they are just a "step" about fridge "grands". My homemade baking powder biscuits are better.
(3)Dave L.
Having read all of the other reviews, we were expecting a big crowd and a big wait when we arrived. We were visiting the Nashville area for the first time and decided to drive over. Apparently 7 p.m. on a Sunday night in the winter is the best time to go. We walked in and were given a table immediately. We ordered drinks, got our biscuits, and then ordered food. I went to the restroom to wash my hands and when I came back to the table the food was there. Wow, that was quick! I haven't had a meal like that in a long time. It was a high calorie gut buster for sure, but it felt like I was served a home cooked meal at a freind's or family member's house. Right temperature, right texture, portions, everything was great. Can't say enough about the service. I know that it's probably hectic when it's busy, but our server was great...very polite, didn't rush us, made small talk, etc. We enjoyed the meal tremendously and even got dessert to go. Didn't seem touristy, just a very quaint country diner. I'm sure it's a different feeling when there's a 2 hour wait, but for this review I can't say enough good things about it. We hope to come back someday.
(5)Janet L.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything about the Loveless! The food is outstanding and the atmosphere is so charming. A must stop for us every time we go to Nashville. Great little shops surround the restaurant so time passes quickly if there is a little wait to be seated. The food is SO worth the wait.
(5)Paddy O.
biscuits and bbq my heart is full of love for loveless
(4)Ellen O.
I am still dreaming about the meal I had here last week: -the best pulled pork I have ever had -fried okra -sweet potatoes -homemade biscuits -and amazing peach iced tea SO GOOD. worth the wait for sure!
(5)Derrin T.
Loveless? Flavorless. Nothing special here but the preserves.
(3)Ciara M.
This place is amazing! The biscuits with their jams were fantastic. We ordered cooked-in pork and fried chicken. Well done! The pork was shredded and surprisingly not as oily as I thought it would be.. maybe because it didn't have a lot of fat. It was served over pancakes which were cooked very good! The fried chicken was one of the best I ever had. There was something different in their breading. :) Their mac and cheese was also creamy -- very nice! Cheese melted and coated over the pasta the way I liked it. Creamy corn is also a recommendation for the side. Apple pie for dessert was also quite heavenly. Will come back. :) What a great intro to Southern food!
(5)Robin L.
I should have done my homework on Yelp before showing up to the Loveless a few weeks back on a gloomy, cold, rainy Sunday morning. The place was packed, and had it not been for our long drive in, we probably woulda hightailed it outta there after finding out our wait would be approximately one hour and twenty minutes. GAH. Of course, we were starving. AND we had just risked our lives on our albeit scenic though super rainy drive in. So...we wandered the little shops on the Loveless compound and splurged on some random food items so we wouldn't wither away while the clock ticked on. Damn those crafty Loveless people! Anyway, the place is cute, and their estimate of wait time (we got there around 10:15am) was spot on. The restaurant is quaint, and we got a great table with a sweet waitress. The famous biscuits were good, as were the homemade jams. I ordered the BBQ pork omelette. Its an omelette stuffed with BBQ pulled pork, cheddar, and BBQ sauce. It was tasty and a good size. My friend ordered one of the breakfast platters-some run of the mill egg-sausage combo. We also had the hashbrown casserole which was pretty cheese-tastic. Overall, the food was good, service was attentive, and the ambience nothing short of Southern charming. But, in my opinion...no food is worth waiting an hour and a half for...sorry. Definitely a place to hit up if you go early, or are not in a hurry.
(3)Clay G.
Man do I want to hate this place. Everything about it says TOURIST TRAP. And some items aren't as good as the others, but they do so much well. I know that the blackberry jam is suppose to be the item, but the Peach is soooo Good. In a way, it does kind of remind me of what Cracker Barrel was like in the 70's when the staff wore red bandana shirts. I have gotten into a habit of taking co-workers from out of town out here to eat. So far, everyone has gone on and on to others about it. I just wish I would quit ordering the sampler plate with 3 meats.
(4)James W.
You might not know about this place unless you go looking for it but it is definitely worth the time to get to it. Great food and service in a nice relaxed country atmosphere. Don't forget to check out the shops adjacent to the restaurant...
(4)Jan G.
If you are visiting Nashville, you have to come to the Loveless. The food is fantastic (country grub) and the portions are large. Definitely get a side of biscuits. Coffee isn't the best but it's what you'd expect. It's a bit off of the beaten path which makes it all the more fun to visit. There's a shop where you can buy Loveless items and some other fun little knick knacks.
(5)Katie H.
If you have *any* remote interest in delicious, southern style comfort food then look no further - Loveless is where it is at. I, like many of the reviewers, first heard of Loveless thanks to the Food Network. Fortunately right around the same time I had developed a complete obesession with all things Tennessee related. So, we made a road trip of it - and I still rave about my time spent in that great state and especially my experience at this restaurant. The restaurant itself is one rather small house and is surrounded by other small boutique stores as well as a Loveless store complete with t-shirts and biscuit mix (I own the latter). The Loveless's were the original owners of the property which ran as a small motel. I have been there twice and had to wait over a half hour both times, so it was nice to fill the time wandering in and out of the shops. I would say the wait is a major drawback of this restaurant but for me it is a no-brainer, the food makes it completely worth it. Let me begin with the biscuits: They are served freshly baked, warm, golden and flaky at every table and they are unlimited. Served with homemade jams and spreads they are phenomenal. Don't get distracted they can fill you up quickly and there is always so much food! On my last trip here I came for lunch with some friends and I had the Southern Sampler which comes with your choice of three of the following: Fried Chicken, Catfish, Ham, Meatloaf or Pork BBQ. I had the Fried Chicken, Catfish, and Pork BBQ. The portion was huge and yet I didn't want to stop eating. My biggest recommendation goes to the fried chicken. That is what the restauarnt is known for and there is a reason. It is perfectly crunchy and not even the slightest bit greasy. All of these recipes are kept top secret making them all the more appealing. Have I mentioned that they have their smokehouse on site?! and it makes the air permeate deliciousness. Last trip I got to talking to the man working in the smokehouse (for all I know he was the owner but he was incredibly friendly and nice). He could not stop emphasizing the fresh and homemade quality of the food - he loves it himself! Should I have the opportunity to visit again I am going to have to leave room for dessert - they all sounded great and of course are also homemade on site!
(5)Neal M.
First off, I'm a southern boy through and through. I love good southern cooking more than damn near anything else around. That said, I'm no stranger to good food and most of the time, they're not reinventing the wheel when you eat at southern food joints. When my friends picked me up from Nashville to head to their home in Alabama, we stopped here for dinner. Their biscuits, oh dear god, their biscuits. Damn. I ended up getting smoked pork chops/loin that was glazed in their homemade peach preserves. This is damn near holy divinity. As my chef says "god spoke to me". I really do think, if there was a god, he'd tell you to eat here. I had enough leftovers that I took with me, I had breakfast for two days straight with the addition of a couple scrambled eggs. When you walk in, you see a wall/walls of autographed photos from the Nashville scene in there. I'm looking forward to my trip back to Nashville just to eat here......at least once.
(5)Misty P.
Breakfast all the way! Great service, fun atmosphere. Loved every minute. Not to mention the biscuits were AMAZING!
(5)Patricia G.
out of the way, but delicious and worth the trip!! shows at the barn are top quality; however, fair warning, this is a very calm crowd who will keep grey tops in seats.
(4)Wes B.
We tend to use the term "love" pretty lightly. Sure, we love our families and friends, our pets and (on rare occasions) maybe even our jobs. But can we truly love food, or is it merely affinity? I never thought I could love a biscuit until I went to Loveless. Now don't get me wrong, my family still comes first, but these biscuits are giving my friends a run for their money. Flaky and buttery, with just the right amount of softness, this Music City Manna will leave your tastebuds tingly, especially when you slather on some succulent blackberry preserves. Of course, the biscuits are only the beginning. Loveless is Cracker Barrel on crack. Every ingredient of every dish, from the sides to the meats to the moonshine cocktails (yes, you read correctly) is tailored to set your heart ablaze. If the dishes are unique, the experience is uniquely Nashville. Small shops make the guaranteed hour-long wait more than tolerable, and the service is grandmotherly and generous. I love Loveless. And I might just make it Facebook official.
(5)Amanda F.
Touristy, yet toothsome. I had to rate Nashville's famous Loveless Cafe only 4 stars, because gosh darnit, the wait is most always over an hour and a half! Having lived in Nashville for two years, I've eaten here about four times (guess you could call it a bi-annual experience). If you have been to Nash before, it's way out of town on Highway 100. Loveless is most known for their biscuits -- the flaky, buttery goodness literally melts in your mouth and you can't stop at just one. Their recipe is kept pretty hush hush, but they do sell the biscuit mix in their shop next door (trust me, you will have time to stop there while you are waiting for your table to be ready). The walls are covered with original paintings of the likes of Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty, as well as autographs from every country music legend. Loveless offers pretty standard southern breakfast and lunch options, which are always wonderful. Also open for "supper", though I have never been out to those neck of the woods past dark. I recommend getting there early for a shorter wait time, and most certainly don't ever show up hungry, you will regret it!! Perfect spot for tourists who are visiting Nashville for the first time!
(4)Vince N.
Went in early on a Friday morning, had a omelet and biscuits and gravy. Biscuits and gravy were good but not the best I have ever had. The one pet-peeve that I have is un-melted cheese, which the omelet had, and under cooked onions and green pepper. The ham in the omelet was excellent. Prices are a little high, since this place is a tourist trap.
(3)Crystal P.
My Loveless experience was more love than less. True to all other high regarded reviews, I do actually have nothing but love for this roadside joint. It boasts some tall orders like homemade banana pudding, biscuits, and pretty much if it's on the menu it's made from scratch. Places just don't do that anymore. Not like this and not for these prices. All my respect to places that can manage good food on a budget and more. With that said, I enjoyed everything I ate. Was it the best ever? Probably not .... But it was most definitely solid hand made fare that for Nashville, is a force to be reckoned with. There are a LOT of southern fare joints we discovered in Nashville. The Loveless Cafe is a must visit. There is no negotiating this. Oh and yes....even with that crazy long wait. All you foodies must know by now, the longer the wait .... It must be worth it.
(4)Kevin K.
Worth the drive. Made the mistake if eating 3 of those wonderful biscuits BEFORE breakfast and was stuffed afterwards. Great food! We had a 25 minute wait but there are other buildings/shops to look around in while you wait to be paged. Very homey place. It's like eating at home and being served by your mother.
(5)Erin B.
One word: AMAZING. Outside of downtown Nashville but worth the trip. Everybody was super friendly and even though there was a 2 hr wait because of the 4th of July holiday, we were patient and it was worth the wait. Highly recommend it.
(5)Maggie W.
the biscuits are 100% worth the wait
(5)Cecil B.
The food and the service was outstanding I will stop in whenever I go to Nashville.
(5)Kaleena 'Kala' H.
One of my favorite places to go to for breakfast. The biscuits are so delicious, and I love eating them both plain and with the jelly that they bring to the table. My favorite breakfast meal is the pancakes with bacon...sometimes I will also order some scrambled eggs to go with it. All of it is so tasty. It's pretty much the only thing I will order there for breakfast. :)
(5)Joseph M.
Country ham is not edible. It was so salty even for some one that likes salty food. Biscuits were good but not great as others have mentioned. Grits were super rich from the heavy use of butter.
(2)Safa S.
This is a highly commercial diner 20 minutes south of downtown Nashville. I thought the food was good, but it was a major turn off to see all the commericalized aspects of this place (signs everywhere to buy their products). That is the main reason why it gets one less star. The other reason this place is not a full 5 stars, is that I felt that this place is way over hyped... the food is good, but nothing super crazy. I think the lunch or dinner menu might have better food (for example, the smoked turkey was excellent). For breakfast, I would say go elsewhere if you are busy and don't want to wait for food. We arrived at 9AM on a Friday and there was no wait. Ordered: Biscuits - A+, delicious and super fresh Smoked Turkey - excellent... yum, yum, yum Steak biscuits - C, good if you like dry meat on dry bread. Garden Omelet - B-, nothing special... something you can get anywhere
(4)Howard L.
Seriously have zero respect for anyone who thinks this place is delicious. Maybe the wait makes the food taste better for some people, but I recently was forced to go back by some visiting friends and this place has not changed a bit. I really felt awful after we left the restaurant...we spent over 3 hours in that little compound waiting and eating and it was definitely not worth it. Again, biscuits were OK, but the food was just absolutely horrendous. If you think they do "typical" southern fare, your mom must have been a really crappy cook. Or you're probably from MA or IN or some other yankee place. It really was embarrassing, but I did try to warn them. Complete Garbage. A shame to Nashville, really.
(1)Rainer F.
Okay, I admit it. I don't get the hype. Tiny, stale biscuits, run-of-the-mill omelets, country ham that had a texture like directly from the buffet tray, and a hash brown casserole for which the only word that describes is, is gross. And all that after a 40 minute wait, hanging out in the gift shop/country store that had absolutely nothing of interest to offer. The only redeeming quality were the jams that came with the biscuits. If you have to go to one of Nashville's tourist traps, try the Pancake Pantry instead. Also hopelessly overrated, but at least the food is maybe not exciting yet reasonably enjoyable.
(2)Jim G.
We went two days in a row, it's that good. For breakfast we had the country ham and pulled pork omelet. Both were very good along with the hash brown casserole and biscuits and gravy. The best sausage gravy I've ever had. On our second visit we had the fried chicken with fried green tomatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy and Mac n cheese. For desert we had the key lime pie (the best I've had). Everything was excellent and both times the service was good and very friendly. I will go back every chance I get.
(5)Mary R.
Extra long wait during the weekend, but yummy chicken and biscuits!
(4)David W.
One of my all-time favorites and a must for out of town visitors! Average wait is about an hour but the shops on property will help that pass quickly. I have always preferred breakfast here but I've never had a bad meal.
(4)Lura M.
Recently visited Loveless Cafe after seeing it in the book: 1000 Places to See Before you Die. It was quite nice. Luckily we arrived just after the lunch rush and got great service from Matt. The menu was extensive and the portions were large. The food was good, I ordered the 3 meat sampler with Fried Chicken, Country Fried Catfish, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Sweet Potatoes.
(4)Heather R.
Before I was a Nashvillian I knew about the Loveless Cafe. My inlaws were fans, and being a born and bred southerner, felt I would be a fan too. As long as the food is heartattack worthy, I'm eatin'. The one thing I was never told was that the wait would be so darn long, and this is after one heck of an excursion from my east Nashville residence. Toto, I don't think we're in downtown anymore. I don't really think we're in Metropolitan Nashville anymore. The wait for a seat was about an hour, so I'd suggest you bring a granola bar to stave off those hunger pains. There are shops all around the business though, so you won't be bored while you wait. There are benches too for those who really don't care to shop while they wait. Once the food arrived I was not disappointed. The biscuits were out of this world, and they actually had chocolate chip pancakes, one of the ways to my heart. We came for breakfast, so I'm afraid I didn't get to try the fried chicken, but I plan to when we go back. Our waitress was sweet, and never seemed overwhelmed despite the amount of people in the cafe. What quinched it for me was a photo out front of one of the cooks with Conan O'Brien: This place now had my seal of approval of pure awesome.
(4)Allison K.
Do you ever get that feeling when you know something isn't good for you, but you indulge anyway? It's called shameless guilt. It's when you really don't care how unhealthy something may be because it's so damn good that nothing in the world matters. That was my experience at Loveless Cafe. The fried chicken was tasty, but the portion size was so big that I could barely finish it. To be honest, it actually wasn't the most amazing piece of chicken I've ever had, but it was still a fine piece of chicken. On the other hand, the sides were really excellent: marinated cucumbers and onions, fried green tomatoes, french fries, and HOLY HELL, ARE THOSE PRESERVES AMAZING OR WHAT?! Seriously, my world was spinning. The blackberry, peach and strawberry preserves are all so good and flavorful, I didn't know what to do with myself. My hands just kept reaching for those preserves, even after I was completely stuffed. If you can't taste the love that was put into the preparation of any other dish, you can definitely taste the love in the preserves. I didn't want to indulge too much on the biscuits because they are not ideal for those with severe dairy allergies, but they are fantastic as well. Service was great, as you get a pager upon arrival and can peruse the souvenir shop during your wait. Our waitress was sweet, and as corny as the place mats may be, they definitely add to the family-friendly atmosphere. It's on the outskirts of Nashville, but you won't regret coming here if you're looking for some hearty Southern comfort food!
(4)Camille M.
This place was SUPER good. Service was great and food was better. My fiancé got the BBQ pulled pork, and it come with cinnamon apple pancakes underneath, he said it tasted like someone was giving him a hug! If you're w/in 20 miles you have to go!
(5)H. W.
Ok, Of the five times I've been to Loveless, I've had to wait twice. Granted, my family is full of morning people (I'm not one of them, and the task seems insurmountable), but if you show up before 9am, you're likely to have no wait. Last weekend, we arrived at 8:30 and found the place half-full. That said, yes: this is a touristy place. And yes, I have waited 1.5+ hours to get in the door. But the food is delicious. I admit I don't quite get the hype around the biscuits (they're good, but not incredible), but I would order a bowl of the blackberry or peach preserves if they would let me. The bacon is cooked perfectly, the gravy is amazing, the hash-brown casserole is to die for. I love the "old farmhouse" feel, and the folk art on the walls is so cozy. But most importantly you can tell that these people are honestly passionate about their history, and the food that got them where they are today. So get there early, and relax. It's worth it, I promise you.
(4)Panda B.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! As soon as you get out of the car, you can smell the delicious grilling from the side. When you walk in, you can taste the southern home cooking in the air! The wait staff was great, down to earth and friendly. The food was delicious! We ate her several times, breakfast & lunch, and had various things. We loved it all every time. They're not cheap on their portion either. We also had lots to take home. Maybe because we ate too much of those small, sweet and can't-take-your-fingers-off biscuits :) One down side, the long is loooooooooooong especially for lunch. We went there early morning one time, and we got in within 10 minutes. We had to wait 1.5 hr for lunch...
(5)Gregory S.
I went down to Nashville a couple of Easter weekends ago. On our way out of town we stopped at the loveless cafe. It was Easter Sunday and the wait was massive for three people. We decided to wait and it took about an hour and half before we were seated. It was a sunny warm afternoon so the wait wasn't too bad. We looked around at the shops, which had a lot of kitschy goods. When we were seated we ordered our food. The biscuits are indeed very very good. The fried chicken was the best I have had. The perfect amount of crispiness and juiciness. I ordered three sides with it and I can say the fried okra was amazing. Not usually a fan of okra but they way it was done converted me. I give 5 stars for the food, but knock it down to 4 stars overall because the wait times are ridiculous. I went a second time later in the year and we didn't even wait cause the queue was way too much. I understand it's a popular restaurant, but because it's hard to get a seat I give it 4 stars.
(4)Leon J.
3 stars, but note I hadn't been able to eat. We came on a Saturday (04/09/12) and unfortunately, the wait for breakfast was an hour and 45 minutes. It's a little bit of a drive out of the city and off of the freeway so be ready. Definitely call ahead for potential wait times and be patient for parking during peak times.
(3)Robin S.
From a local's perspective, Loveless Cafe is a good Southern meat and three, but off the beaten path. Minus one star for that. A few years back, it was basically a hole in the wall place that served great food...people knew about it, and it's always been an attraction, but not like it is now. They have a separate store on the premises that houses all of their logo merchandise--t-shirts, hats, magnets, cookbooks, and of course their signature jams. Now those are worth the purchase! I feel like they sold out a bit though once that store opened. The food is just finger-licking, stuff your gut good. Nothing low fat about this place. It's one of the only places I know of where you can get a 4-piece order of fried chicken along with your eggs, country ham, and biscuits. Their signature items here are definitely the biscuits and homemade jams. I can't think of anyone else here in town who does them better! If you want to check it out, I do suggest it--but make sure you have a few hours to kill (it can be over an hour wait at times) and come hungry. Oh and you might want to wear loose-fitting clothes! You'll be glad you did by the time you finish your meal.
(3)Karol C.
Fabulous! I'd seen this lil gem showcased on the Food Network a dozen times. I was super excited to try it out. I wasn't disappointed at all. Although there were several families ahead of us the wait seemed to go by in no time. By the time we visited the general store and walked the campus, our beeper summoned us back to be seated. The breakfast fare was delicious...the famous biscuits...mouth watering. The accompanying assortment of jams and jellies were the perfect compliment.
(5)Rob L.
Biscuits were good but the fried chicken was not as good as what you find at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner restaurant in Orange County Ca. Y'all in Tenn need to check out Mrs. Knotts next time you trek to So Calif.
(3)Mariko F.
I didn't know if this place was going to live up the amazing reputation that is has. But you know what, it really does. You really have to drive out of the way for Loveless, but it's worth it. After winding some small roads, you pull up to a really cute group of small houses. One of which is the Loveless Cafe. You are immediately greeted with an enthusiastic hello and are ushered to your seats. I was in the process of hanging my coat up on my chair (ie hadn't sat down yet) when the waitress asked me if I wanted something to drink. By the time I had gotten comfortable in my chair about 30 seconds later, my coffee and orange juice and a couple of hot, secret recipe biscuits were set in front of me. Now that's what I call service! The biscuits really are as good as they say. They are apparently a recipe that is sold down through the generations of restaurant owners. I poured over the menu and got the country ham with two eggs with the potato casserole. It was all fantastic. I really appreciated that the eggs came out unsalted so that you can have them how ever salty you like. Sadly, the ham had enough salt for the rest of my food combined. (This is the only reason for the - 1 star.) The potato casserole was fantastic. I had no idea what it was but the waitress told me that it was good and so that's what I got. It's basically hash browns baked with cheese. I'm sure I was eating a heart attack, but it was very very yummy. I can't say better things about the service and the friendliness of the staff. At the end of the meal, our waitress brought us a coffee to go. All in all, I loved it at Loveless and will come back the next time I'm in Nashville.
(4)Michael N.
How do I rate a place like this? To me, there's a big inflection point required to get from a 3-star to a 4-star review and I'm not sure where this one belongs. I'm not from the area (really? A tourist going to the Loveless?? I can't imagine!) and I do really like biscuits so I was pretty excited. However, I sort of prefer the buttery, flaky biscuit and this one was fluffy and almost yeasty. Parts of the innards seemed almost like a roll, although I did eat them all. I went for breakfast and it was pretty standard for two: - Country fried steak - Biscuits and gravy - Home fries - Two eggs The waitstaff is extremely friendly. I'd go back, but probably more because I like eating at greasy spoons than because I thought it was amazing. That said, if I were to rate it solely as a greasy spoon, I'd rate it above most.
(3)Sarah N.
Fried chicken was great, the pork had a good flavor but was very dry. The atmosphere was awesome, very simple place. The store next door had a bunch of cute little items (all were over priced but good to look at)
(4)Terry T.
Lived down the street from Loveless ten years ago and got to experience the delicious country cooking in a less crowded, less touristy atmosphere. Went back today and had an hour and a half wait in a little less quaint atmosphere than I remember. Oh well, 7 billion people, it's bound to get a little crowded everywhere. The food is still delicious but, next time I'll just go to Arnolds or Sylvan Park Restaurant.
(3)Ann S.
The star extra star is for the service. This place does NOT live up to the hype. I couldn't wait to try these biscuits I'd seen on a few TV shows and since we were coming right by there on our way to Memphis, seemed like the perfect time to try it. The hubby got the bbq pork omelet and it was as gross as it sounds. He separated them and said it was tolerable but would never get it again. I got a sampler with eggs, various meats and hash browns. They brought out these biscuits and we were both surprised how teeny tiny they were. Literally 2 bites. We thought due to their size that they were bottomless. They weren't. 4 biscuits and they weren't even good. Not fluffy, cold but the jams were good. My sampler was bad. The country ham was awful. Perhaps I should've gotten the "city ham" but I wanted to step outside my box. I'll stay in the box next time. I was excited for the sausage patties but they tasted like those faux vegan sausages texture wise which was a turn off. In reading their menu telling their story about how they came up with a way to serve the loads of people they serve (there were only 2 other couples there when we got there) and we figured out how. We can only assume by how cold and dry the meats were and the fact it took us 5 minutes from order to getting the food that they make everything ahead of time and keep it in bins like a buffet. We had breakfast other places and my bacon had actual grease on it from being freshly cooked. This place had a bacon with a dull appearance like they'd been sitting out all morning. For $34 for breakfast, we'll wait until we get to Memphis and spend $10 less at Arcade. Disappointing.
(2)Angela U.
We finally made it the Loveless Cafe. I love the biscuits, and jams, and who doesn't if you've been there you already knew that! But that is not all. The photos of everyone who has visited in the the lobby is wonderful. Really liked the intimate setting during dinner. The shops are wonderful.
(5)Melissa B.
It really could be a bad thing that I live about 10 minutes from Loveless. I love the hashbrown casserole. Biscuits are great, but the homemade jams are what really makes them shine. I love the french toast and the pancakes are great. A few visits ago, our server explained what "hoe-cakes" are. Not only are they prompt, they're informative! lol
(5)Jamie C.
The biscuits, of course, are outstanding. I like the BBQ a lot, and also the fried chicken. It is a bit of a tourist trap, with really long waits, but the 5 stars are for the food.
(5)Elizabeth H.
Loveless Cafe is a must when visiting Nashville! If you're looking for southern food with the possibility of seeing a celebrity this is the place to go. We had to wait 1.5 hours for a table, but luckily the resturant is surrounded by art, gift, craft, bike, and sweet shops. Warm biscuits are served right when you sit down, they come with homemade preserves, we had strawberry & peach! For lunch I had the fried green tomato BLT- DELICIOUS! You can also do a family style breakfast for only $11/person - next time I am definitely doing that! Totally worth the wait!!
(5)Caesar R.
5 Stars for the Biscuits and the Service and the Jams. Everything else was eh, so it get's an average of 3 stars. The service was super friendly and very attentive. Southern hospitality and all in full effect. The biscuits with the Jams they make for the restaurant and mail order are absolutely worth driving for to taste this little bit of heaven. Otherwise, the eggs were over cooked, the ham was okay, not great as was the rest of the meal, hash brown casserole was fine. The grits managed to disappear as well. But nothing was that special. The history of the place and how it has changed hands was quite interesting. It is to me a tiny bit of a shame to turn the Motel into a shopping center, but I guess that is what you call "progress"? So to see this little slice of Americana that is left does give you that quaint feeling of some sense of 'ruralness', makes you appreciate the way things once were. So, go and GET SOME BISCUITS!!!!
(3)Linda K.
The food at loveless is full of love for this western gal! Shared the sampler which included fried catfish, country ham, and BBQ shredded pork and of course the fried chicken. If I lived here, I would eat here often. The biscuits are truly as good as everyone says, buttery, light and delicious! If I am ever in Nashville, I would eat there again.
(5)Ted S.
Wow - everything here was great. Peanut butter and fudge pies were fear too.
(5)Ferdinand H.
How do you review an Icon? Loveless is a famous venue for southern cooking. Atherosclerosis on a plate, with a side of biscuits. Good biscuits, country fried steak, a biscuits and gravy, fried chicken -- truly 18th Century American culinary innovations. The walls are plastered with pictures of Country music greats -- and the service is friendly and warm with broad smiles all around. It's strange, but I think I have a distrust of famous places. If this was a new find and unknown, I might have said a 5. But -- given the attention, I'm inclined to give it a 4+. It is good food. But I can't say it's so much better to many other fine, but less lauded southern Venues.
(4)Craig W.
When I am asked for suggestions to take guests from out of town for a true Nashville experience, the first place that comes to mind in Loveless Cafe. It is a true staple of the Nashville cuisine. I have to admit, I am NOT a lover of fried chicken, biscuits with gravy etc,., but something about this place changes all that. The staff and service is all polite and adequate. The food is prepared nicely and my guests have always said that the fried chicken is cooked perfection. The appetizer are the infamous Loveless biscuits with a side of there jams and preserves (my favorite). This is not just a restaurant either, the cafe is surrounded by neat little shops selling antiques, souvenirs, and a bike shop. Definitely cannot get bored if you are waiting for a table. If you are looking for a great dining experience and to experience Nashville (Southern) culture, Loveless Cafe is a great place to visit.
(4)Bryan C.
Loveless is the type of place you know you're going to love when you pull into the parking lot. Featured on every food show you can imagine, and once you taste that very first biscuit you can see why. It doesn't end there thought. This is southern cooking at it's finest. You know minus all the weird stuff like pigs feet and things yuppies don't like. I stop by whenever I am in Nashville. My favorite is still the fried chicken. Try it out. You wont be sorry.
(4)Ian N.
Worth the long drive out of downtown Nashville to get here. I offered to marry the owner on the way out. There were 13 of us, so we split up the tables and my table did the all-you-can-eat family style meal. Everything was kickass. The hasbrown casserole was the balls. Fried chicken was the best I've ever had. And while I've had better pulled pork, I'm not complaining about how good their pulled pork is, it was amazing. The staff was quick, attentive, and super friendly. We were a rowdy bunch of guys and they didn't mind our antics. I may have gained five pounds that day, but they were well worth it.
(5)Dave M.
some tasty, good fatty southern food. portions are huge even for a pig like me. the biscuits are great. eat it!
(4)Zach G.
HOLY SH!T THEY HAVE...Biscuits. It's an expensive tourist trap that has fantastic fried chicken...hahaha...I almost typed human lol.....and homemade biscuits and jam that rock your mouthgasms.
(4)Brian R.
A must-eat when you visit Nashville. Once you've tried the biscuits and jam, you'll be ordering the jams by mail or the web from halfway across the world, or closer (Its more convenient that way.) Portions are not small. Be prepared! Save room for the pies!
(5)T H B.
We were heading to Nashville on our trip when we met a cyclist who told us about this cafe, to try their food. We took his recommendation and stopped for early dinner. I ordered smoked pork chop with peach sauce (I think) and it was Yummy. I never had smoked pork chop before, but I loved it the way they prepared. Their biscuits were great with homemade jam. It was a nice surprise for us to find a local hangout.
(5)Jamie F.
We were in Nashville for the weekend, and a friend told us about the Loveless Cafe and its incredible biscuits, so we decided to take a trip out to give it a try. First off, if you're going on a Saturday morning, expect a wait. We waited about an hour and a half for a table, but with the rocking chairs out front, we just grabbed a newspaper and enjoyed the weather until our name was called. Our server was fantastic, all of her recommendations were great and she even gave us some other places in the city to check out. We ordered and were brought out the legendary biscuits and... I'm sorry to say, of everything I ate at Loveless, the biscuits were probably the least impressive. Don't get me wrong, they were good, but with all the build up and hype, I still found them just good. They're certainly not knocking the Flying Biscuit Cafe off the top of my list, but that may be a matter of personal taste. They are served with three different preserves which were fantastic. I got the catfish and fried okra, both of which were amazing. The catfish was the best I've had in a long time, and the breading was a perfect combination of crispy but not overwhelming. My boyfriend got the BBQ pork and eggs, which he says was also incredibly good. (This pescatarian will just take his word for it ;)) Bottom line: We would go back if we're in Nashville again, and definitely recommend.
(4)Randy K.
Wonderful food and nostalgic atmosphere. You can browse the store and surroundings while you wait to be seated. You WILL wait. World famous biscuits. Good country cooking. A lot of history in this local and tourist favorite.
(4)Tracy M.
Well they have contacted me and made it right so I'm updating my review. It's the only fair thing to do!
(4)Sharmeela S.
What I enjoy the most at loveless is the peanut butter pie. I often want to buy a pistol take home but I know this would be bad so I don't. The fried chicken and the biscuits are other gems but always save room for the pie. To avoid the long wait get food to go and eat it on the picnic benches outside.
(4)Natalie K.
We had high expectations for what we had heard about this place and it met every one of them! We went around lunchtime on a Saturday and had to wait for over an hour but there are a few shops and cornhole games to pass the time. The pork was everything we had hoped for and the biscuits are the best we have ever had! Highly recommend buying the jams and bacon in the little shop next to the cafe to take home!
(5)Kim P.
My family ate at the Loveless Cafe on a Sunday afternoon. It was packed and we had to wait about 35 minutes before being seated. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and hope to go back. The food was delicious!! Loved the biscuits and we were even given some to bring home with us. Definitely recommend.
(5)Daniel S.
Another great breakfast option in Nashville. Wait can be a little annoying but it is usually worth it. Excellent for a morning after a night on the town.
(4)Rod O.
You don't have to be Famous to eat here and you can if you are! Loveless used to be a Hotel Famous for Biscuits, when the Hotel closed they sold the property, Hotel and RECIPE for the Biscuits! Faye used to make the Biscuits! We watched the new lady make them in a window to the kitchen (pretty cool for the tourists!)! We had Biscuits with Jams, Biscuits with Butter with Biscuits with more Biscuits on top and for the Main Course we had a Biscuit Platter : : BBQ, Steak, Country Ham, Fried Chicken Biscuits! Barbecue for Breakfast, Yum! So enjoyable "Barbecue for Breakfast" inspired a yelp list of mine! These Biscuits were GREAT Tasting without anything! Lovelace Plain Biscuits get 5 yelp stars! Barbeque on Biscuits, GREAT idea for Barbecue for Breakfast! 4 yelp stars! Granola with Peaches Hold the Milk... 5 yelp stars! I did not know people liked Granola with milk, I guess it is like cereal... I never liked milk with (in) mine! Cubed and Fried Potatoes 2.5 yelp stars. Hash Brown Casserole good yet maybe too cheesy!
(5)Lynn T.
Fantastic food, charming decor, friendly service (thanks, Katie!). I now see why it's on everyone's "must" list when checking out Nashville's sites.
(4)Nene D.
Great meat and three. Avoid weekend morning rush unless you have 1 hour plus to spare :)
(5)Michael L.
I absolutely love The Loveless Cafe. Every time I've been the food has been awesome. There's not many places I can say that about. I'll just get right to point here... Their fried chicken is almost as good as my Mom's. For the chosen few in the world that have been lucky enough to try my Mom's fried chicken, they know that I'm not bloviating here. I'm pretty sure my Mom would be impressed with the chicken at The Loveless Cafe. My sides were creamed corn (yum) and turnip greens (yum yum). And the biscuits... OMG. The rumors are true... They're made with baby kisses and unicorn tears. Well, maybe buttermilk or something similar, too. This place has great food, charm, and a little store where you can buy their preserves. There's no way I could have gone home and shown my face without a few jars of peach and blackberry preserves. Seriously folks, this place is a bucket list thing. Buy your plane tickets now!
(5)Ryan P.
Great food, great quality, good service once inside makes this a staple for nashville. My only issue was the 90 minute wait to get in! So,many people wasn't to try the chicken that theirs almost always a long wait. Luckily they provide iced tea and seats for the wait. He chicken gizzards! Haven't had those in years!
(4)Veronica X.
Good things come in small packages, like the bite-size biscuits from Loveless Cafe. We were here on the rainy Sunday after Thanksgiving, before we hit the Natchez Trace Pkwy for a leisurely drive. No wait for the two of us. Shortly after seating, I had the best biscuits in my life. However, I wish somebody had told me that biscuits automatically come with any order, so I would have ordered something else on the menu, just to have a more complete picture of this place. Hubby's country ham and sausage were both good. Yes, it's a bit touritsy but still has the country charm. The following drive turned out to be awe-inspiring. One day I will find my way back there.
(4)Janet Y.
Loveless Cafe has become my go-to place for out of town guests to truly get the Southern experience. I'm sure every review has mentioned the delicious biscuits and array of jams! That's just the beginning of the delicious meal you will get ahead-- from fried chicken to catfish or Southern-fried steak! Loveless also serves yummy breakfast! Think Cracker Barrel but local! If you go, expect a wait! But no worries because there is a little trinket and art store on the property that will keep you occupied until your buzzer goes off- not to mention all the picture opportunities nearby!
(4)Julie M.
While visiting Nashville, I had two requirements - eat barbeque and eat fried chicken. I ate barbeque downtown and then a few days later I DEVOURED the fried chicken at Loveless Cafe. This place reminds me of my grandma's house. It just feels like home! When I ate the biscuits and jam I was convinced I'd never eat anything better... and then the chicken came out. Oh. My. God. The chicken is quite possibly the best thing on earth!! The side dishes are equally delicious - I had the mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. This is the definition of Southern home cooking. To top it all off, the desserts are phenomenal! I had both the key lime pie (compliments of a very nice gentleman sitting across the room... awkward!) and the cherry pie. Moral of the story - GO GO GO and EAT EAT EAT! Loveless Cafe is fantastic! I will definitely be back the next time I am in Nashville! Also of note, across the parking lot from Loveless there is an adorable shop called "Hams and Jams" which is definitely worth a visit. I bought the Loveless Cafe Dessert Cookbook and have made several treats from it since then! I just can't get enough!!!
(5)Aimee W.
Had terrific service from JaDee and of course the biscuits were amazing! You can't leave without a quick trip at the market and store they have on property.
(5)Roll T.
3.50 stars. The opposite of love is indifference. And that is fully clear at Loveless as you will find delight in nearly everything that they serve. Probably the most amazing part of the Loveless experience is the sheer size of your plate. I had pulled pork, fried chicken, fried okra, mac and cheese, and cheddar grits all on the same plate - sort of. The portion I ordered was so large that it did not all fit on the plate. As for the actual food? Aside from being tremendous, it is also delicious though I would give a definitive edge to Monell's for best breakfast I have experienced in Nashville (note: I haven't been to Arnold's Country Kitchen yet). Still, this is the place that most people will talk about in Nashville, and it's at least worth a visit.
(4)Jeremy S.
I've only ate here once, and it was good. I think cracker barrel is better though.
(3)Nick C.
Good service. We had about 25 people and they were helping us when we needed anything. They weren't very interactive with us. Like they wouldn't talk with us. But they are very busy so it's understandable. But that could be improved with just a small conversation and some jokes. Food was great! Biscuits were the BOMB. And they just kept bringing them back. We took 4 dozen back and they were gone in 30 minutes. Cream corn, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and many other sides to a great country brunch. This is a great place to go. I'd love to go again if possible.
(4)Bernadette C.
I'm a sucker for southern food and cheap eats and this was the perfect combo of both. The portions are huge. We could have easily split the fried chicken entree and had more than enough to eat, but we threw in the pulled pork sandwich for good measure anyway. The biscuits are nice and soft and the best part, pretty much unlimited! Try all the preserves. I don't usually eat jellies/jams with my dinner, but they were so yummy I finished them all! The service was really quick and friendly. The guy didn't try to upsell us on ordering more, but we did anyway because we wanted to try as much as we could while we were there. We also went for the banana pudding, which wasn't anything special, but was a nice way to top off the night. The place itself is nothing fancy, so feel free to where whatever you want and talk however you want. It almost feels like you're sitting in someone's big house for dinner with it's red checkered tablecloths and wooden wall panels. It's a bit of the way outside of central Nashville, so if you are going to go, make sure to plan ahead. But it's totally worth it. I may move to Nashville just so I can eat @ Loveless on a regular basis. Seriously.
(5)Karen B.
Please... it is so commercialized and far from authentic that whatever it's roots were are long lost. Better off finding a little diner with big fluffy biscuits and great eggs than waiting an hour and a half for mediocre food and a big bill. If you want the branded stuff they sell you can find it in downtown Nashville all over the place.
(1)Dylan C.
We are in from out of town for the CMA Music Fest and this place was recommended by family that lives in the area. The wait was over an hour, but that was because they were busy. There are a few shops on the property that you can visit while you are waiting. The food was excellent. The biscuits are great when they came out warm. The preserves they served them with were all good. I enjoyed the peach the best, but the wife enjoyed the blackberry the best. I am a big fan of country ham and theirs was great. The omelette that my wife had looked good and was packed full of vegetables. The server was very friendly and made good suggestions without being pushy. If you are in the area and are willing to wait this is a recommend for me. One thing we saw on the menu but we did not do since there was only 2 of us was the family style all you can eat. Looks like a good way for 4 or more people to eat all they want while paying the same price that a regular meal would cost each person.
(4)Lacy W.
So, I had major expectations for this place because of all the hype from everyone. The best biscuits ever? No. And they weren't even warm. My husband & I agreed that the best thing about the biscuits were the 3 homemade jams that came with them. Those were fantastic. My cinnamon raisin French toast was good, but nothing fantastic. The bacon was great though & I'm not even a bacon eater, typically. My husband's omelet didn't have much flavor. It was a good breakfast, but we kind of expected a great one, especially after waiting an hour & 40 minutes.
(3)Private P.
Not great, but not bad either, however it really doesnt match up to the hype surrounding it. We went twice to give it a 2nd chance and the food was ok at best but no different from diner food weve had in the past from any normal place. Both times we've gone the orders were incorrect and the wait staff seemed very preoccupied and didnt chat much. And since they were so busy both times one of our orders got screwed up. Expect a very long wait of at least an hour. We waited about 1 and a half hours last time which in the end really wasnt worth it for the food. There are a few stores nearby to kill time while youre waiting for a table, but theyre really overpriced unfortunately as well.
(3)Kathy C.
Six of us went to The Loveless around 1:00 February 15th for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The waiting list was long. We got our names on the list and were handed a pager so we could roam around the shops or sit outside until a table was available. We were seated about 45 minutes later. I haven't been to the Loveless in years, so I was hoping it hadn't changed too much. Complimentary homemade biscuits and homemade jelly with butter. CHECK Quaint dining room and friendly server. CHECK Good food. CHECK Eat until you're uncomfortable. CHECK Very reasonable. CHECK Nice experience...YES. We'll be back more often!
(5)Kristina J.
I love this place! We had a bit of a wait, but only because it was busy. We walked around and checked out their store, and when finally seated we were impressed. Great country style food! The biscuits are great (we even got extras to take home no charge!). Fried okra was delicious!! You definitely feel like you're eating real food and talking to real people. I can't recommend it enough!
(5)Sherie C.
I have been here numerous times, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is ok... Nothing out of the ordinary as far as breakfast selections, and who can't cook an egg? The biscuits and homemade jams are delicious, but I don't understand how people base their ratings on this alone. Lunch and dinner are completely lackluster, but not bad. This place is just ok.
(3)Brittney G.
A landmark. A mecca. A haven. A place where calories never count. Dolly Parton's visage will overlook you, her or Johnny Cash, while you take in the best country cooking you've ever experienced outside your grandma's kitchen. It's a little way out of the way, but worth every mile. The biscuits are indescribable. Delicate, moist, buttery, the perfect round vehicle for real butter and simple blackberry preserves. The biscuits should be illegal. They are too good to be selling over the table like that. I mean it, when you have your first bite of a Loveless biscuit you will need to take a moment to reflect, not just on the miraculous thing that just landed in your mouth, but on all of life, and how in a world full of suffering and pain and impossibilities, this little biscuit exemplifies pure pleasure. All the food is good. All of it. But the biscuits rise to another level. World class. Unreal. I want to fly to Tennessee right now just thinking about them.
(5)Russ C.
Great experience here...right around opening is the best time to go on the weekend - I think the line-out-the-door crowds are more for the late risers. I had eggs and barbeque. I am usually of the "a fried egg on anything is good by me" mentality, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Let me tell you, freakin' good. The hash brown casserole was OK...kind of bland honestly...I'm embarassed to admit that I think I like Cracker Barrell's better! But overall this place was great and is a fun place to gather with friends or family. We will be back again.
(4)Erin D.
I'm kicking myself for not coming here sooner. By far the best restaurant we hit on our foodie road trip hands down. I'm embarrassed to say of all the times I've been to Nashville, I had never been here until now. I want to say thanks to the Pancake Pantry for having another long line I didn't want to wait in. I can't say enough about the biscuts. I couldn't get past the biscuts. Hot, tasty and the homemade jam. I had the BBQ plate, mashed potatoes and 'slaw. I can't say enough about the food and our server was outstanding. We did have to wait an hour but trust me, it is well worth it.
(5)Aaron K.
I have been a few times and have brought many friends and it's always the same comment " Man these biscuits are great!"
(5)Lesley P.
This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I stopped here on a road trip a year or two back, on the suggestion of a friend. It was Valentine's day, and we only made it in about 30 minutes before they closed, but they were very gracious about seating us nonetheless. I had the tastiest food, friend chicken, fried okra, collard greens, biscuits, sweet tea, etc., and it all tasted great. Better yet, the waitstaff was hilarious- singing, dancing, chatting with us, etc. We told them that we still had a 3+ hr drive to Memphis that night, so they loaded us up with biscuits, molasses and sweet tea, as we were the last people in there. I think I want to go back to Nashville, JUST to come back here.
(5)Nickie G.
I am from Fairview, TN and used to drive by Loveless Cafe every single day on my way to work in Bellevue when I was growing up. But I have never eaten there until this trip home. I guess it really didn't make sense when I had home cookin' at my parents house back in the day. Now they just save some time and take me out to eat instead! Yipee! We got there at 7pm on a Thursday night so there wasn't a wait at all, even for our party of 6. They immediately bring out a huge plate with a stack of delicious, melt in your mouth, soft, buttery biscuits and homemade blackberry jam and strawberry preserves. I don't know why they didn't bring out the apple butter but the others were good enough. Then my brain exploded trying to figure out what to order for dinner. Your options include breakfast (all day long baby!) of which the country ham is their famous thing; dinner options which include fried chicken, meatloaf, fried chicken livers (now that's Southern people), fried or grilled catfish (don't you dare get it grilled, you are in TN get it FRIED), etc.; and then the kicker: "family style" where you pick two meats and three sides and it is all you can eat as long as you are in your seat. GAR what to order??! I ended up with the fried chicken with fried okra and the green beans cooked with ham of course. The fried chicken isn't spicy like some people like but is definitely very much like the home cookin my mom or grandma used to make. Fried okra was good and the green beans were freakin excellent. The country ham was good but it is uber-salty of course so if you don't like it salty then don't get it. I left fat and happy, stuffed with greasy comfort food and fluffy biscuits. Note that the hotel now houses shops where you can buy their apple butter, preserves, molasses, etc. However, if you are flying then you shouldn't buy that stuff there and lug it around your entire trip. Just buy it at the airport - there's a shop there that carries some of their more popular jams, jellies, etc, and you don't have to worry about it exploding in your checked luggage....although I bet you'd lick it right off your clothes if it did.
(4)Jason H.
Food is awesome and so is the service. There is always a wait but they at least provide distractions with the multiple shops!
(5)Josh J.
You can get better food at a chain restaurant. Not worth the over an hour wait time. Neat place to see, but eat somewhere else.
(2)Paggy W.
We came on a Friday morning around 9:30am and there was NO wait at all, which was really great (the last time I came, it was a Saturday noon-ish time and we had to wait about 2 hours). Our waitress was really friendly and attentive and we were served their famous biscuits with three flavors of jam right away (strawberry, blackberry and peach). This kept us happy while we perused the menu. I ended up ordering the "City" ham and eggs with cheesy grits and their savory creamy white gravy with sausage (Delicious!!) and my friend ordered the fried chicken with hashbrown casserole and friend green tomatoes. We also asked for some red eye gravy to try and our waitress brought it out right away - not my favorite, but it was interesting to try. The City ham was a nice thick cut and it was done just right. I had the Country ham last time and it was way too salty for my taste so I'll be sticking with the City ham going forward, which is cured in sugar but still salty too. The eggs were also done perfectly, not overcooked/burnt and the gravy with sausage went really well with the ham and eggs as well as the biscuits. At the end, we couldn't finish everything so I decided to doggy-bag it and had asked our waitress for a couple more biscuits to take home and she brought me four :-) The service is definitely awesome and the homey feeling of the place completes the experience. For the times when you do have to wait to get seated, there are plenty of shops to visit in the lot and there's also free lemonade/iced tea around somewhere. I'll definitely be going back and bringing friends to Loveless!
(5)Jennifer R.
We stopped here on our drive from Nashville to Memphis. I liked the experience here, but didn't absolutely love the food. If I could just rate the biscuits, they would get 5 stars. Even on a Monday around 10am, this place was still pretty crowded. Our server was very nice, but the service was super slow. We got two plates of biscuits, one before our food came and one when our food came. We split the Southern omelette and country ham. The omelette was average and the ham was flavorful, but a little dry. The biscuits were perfection - not too big or buttery, and just a little flaky. Melt in your mouth deliciousness. They also have some shops on site, where they sell some of their preserves and mixes. Worth a visit for the experience for sure!
(3)Aaron W.
I cried when I found pulled pork that I enjoyed more than my own. George rolls in at 3:30 and starts smoking meat, for the love of god. I know this because that's when we showed up...and waited until they opened. George was real friendly to three random men showing up at the smokehouse before dawn, looking for BBQ. He was cool with us napping in the car and playing catch in the parking lot. We were the first ones in the door and they throw biscuits in your face when you get inside, served with homemade jams that makes Smucker's look like Suckers. BOO-YA. George swears by the biscuits and I won't say he's wrong. They were excellent. The exact moment my life changed is easy to recall, it's the second the pulled pork hoe cakes arrived; heaping, steaming, and screaming at my soul. People, the pork melted in my mouth. Has that ever happened to you? Be real here. Oh, the service was good and the staff was friendly. They hooked up a free plate of biscuits and jam to go as we left. We also shared a nice conversation on Chicago style pizza which they adore; I think after the food and service a frozen za should find it's way to Loveless from "the boys who went camping." A true labor that is not without love produces a product that fills my heart and tummy tum tum with the truest form of adoration.
(5)Drew A.
This was one of the best places we went to in Nashville!! Unbelievable friend chicken, tasty sides, and the most delicious deserts. Out waitress, Susan, was just the best!! Cant wait to come back next time I visit!
(5)Tim M.
So excited to finally try Loveless - 30 min drive from downtown makes it hard. *gasp* Only 3 stars - I know - I can't believe it myself but things were not going well for them on this day. Upon arrival, we were quoted a shorter wait cuz we phoned ahead. Hostess said 10 min but it was actually closer to 20min. We had a table almost next to the hostess stand so there was abnormal noise and I could barely hear my guests. Had the Loveless quarter chicken white meat. It was bland and just another meal. I desperately missed my Blue and White fried chicken. My friend had the dark meat and enjoyed it. Hashbrown casserole was good and definitely recommended. Biscuits and jam - YES!
(3)Dustin R.
Love this place. Great food and service. Awesome biscuits and homemade jellies. Very homelike feeling.
(5)Rocky T.
Excellent Biscuits! Must get more! Love this place, unfortunately it is VERY popular. If you are going on the weekend plan on at least an hour wait. But they have several little shops to peruse while you wait. (Pickup the biscuit mix to take home with u!) During the week and daytime breakfast or lunch is much better. Lots of good comfort food, breakfast served all day. Lots of celebs have been there, and you may see one at the table next to you. (Be courteous. We don't make a big deal about celebs going about their lives around Nashville. Just smile and make note. If they approach u then be a gracious fan, but don't make a big deal about it. Just let them be themselves, and maybe you will see them again.) Loveless is all the hype, but it is popular and can be a bit crowded, but going on "off days" is a great way to experience them.
(5)Cameron T.
THE best coconut cream pie I've ever had in my life. YUM! Excellent fried chicken and catfish. Loved the sweet potatoes and green beans. The only thing I didn't care for were the greens because they were just too salty for me. The service was great and we loved it.
(5)Michael V.
Typical southern fare, but the set-up (in an old roadside motel off the Natchez Trace) just makes this place a treat to visit, and worth the drive from downtown Nashville. The biscuits are amazing, but I would expect no less, being made from lard. Everyone knows lard still makes the best biscuits and pie crusts. I'm also a HUGE fan of their country ham, and make this place a destination whenever I'm in the area. While it's tempting to order an additional side, since they're all amazing, don't do it if you want to save room for the fantastic desserts; the homemade banana pudding is my favorite.
(4)David S.
One of our favorite places to go. They get pretty busy on the weekends, but they have more seating then you'd expect. The breakfast biscuits and lunch fried chicken are legendary for a reason; they're the best you can get. Service is always awesome.
(5)Jamie D.
Loveless Cafe makes me embrace my southern roots. I love this place! The breakfast is good. However, the lunch and dinner is worth every single cent! Go with a group and share the endless fried chicken with three sides... The fried chicken is absolute perfection, the best I've ever had. The sides are all good. And the world-famous biscuits? Don't even get me started. The jam is really the star, homemade and delicious. Try eating breakfast in the morning and then hop on the Natchez Parkway for a beautiful drive. There are two waterfalls at mileposts 391 and 405 that are mesmerizing and no more than 45 minutes away!
(4)Marilyn C.
Every time I travel to Nashville, I come eat at the Loveless Café. It's a good atmosphere, the food is always good and I love the atmosphere. I travel down the Natchez Trace Parkway often and I don't know which I like the best! They're both at the top of my "good" list.
(5)Monica K.
AMAZING biscuits, fried chicken, fried steak, and hash-brown casserole. Best southern food I've had since I transferred down here.
(5)Vanessa P.
oooooo-wwweeee! Call ahead and they'll cut 30 minutes off your wait time....which has lasted about 2 hours both times I've been here. The little shops that surround the Loveless Cafe aren't big enough to keep me occupied long enough so I sit and stare at my phone hoping they'll call and tell us the table is ready. The servers are friendly, food comes out fast. Most importantly, the biscuits and preserves come out fast. My god, those things are little pillows of flour and butter from heaven. They really are the best biscuits I've ever had. I've had breakfast and lunch at Loveless. Best fried okra/green tomatoes I've had in Nashville and I consider myself a seasoned expert. The place is a bit of a drive outside town but its cute, great for visitors and those enamored with the novelty of fattening, yummy southern food.
(4)Jaime S.
My mom had the fried catfish and I had the breakfast plate with eggs, bacon, biscuits and the cheesy potato casserole. I was so full by the time we left, but we both enjoyed the meal and bought the biscuit mix and jellies to take home.
(5)Scott G.
Tourist trap. The biscuits are small rubber balls. If you want good biscuits, don't order these. This place used to be great but now it's just a tourist trap.
(2)Rae G.
Such a cute place! Friendly, helpful service. We are from the west coast and had no idea what sorghum was until we ate at the Loveless Cafe. The food was good but I have had better. The chocolate pie was amazing. We purchased their dessert cookbook and everything I have made from it has been outstanding.
(4)bethany r.
Totally worth the wait and the touristy vibe. Although I didn't think the biscuits were as extraordinary as their reputation, what was fantastic were the jams to put ON the biscuits: blackberry, peach and strawberry. mmmm. Overall, we had a great meal made much more enjoyable by our lovely waitress. She was attentive and couldn't have been nicer. I had the fried chicken (!!) The BBQ was also a standout. Recommendation for the sides- stay away from the cooked veggies and go for the coleslaw, mac & cheese, potato salad etc. The greens weren't worth the pretense of health. Just go for it.
(4)Melissa H.
Quaint rural setting enriched the overall ambiance surrounding the history of the cafe. The food was incredible and the service was great. The entrance was very prestigious and filled with photos of every star that has dined at the cafe. And the story of Carol Fay was precious. Sorry I came too late to meet her.
(5)Shane O.
Great food and great people! It was our first day in Nashville, and we couldn't have found a better place to start our trip off. A quick tip, call in when you leave Nashville and head to Loveless. They'll put your name down and it will cut your wait time in half. I was reading some of the other comments about it being pricey -- but coming from Hawaii and California, this place is cheap! When you're in Nashville, be sure to stop and visit Loveless.
(5)G- R.
HOLY COW these biscuits are amazing. Flaky, buttery, smooth and d-lish. Sunday lunch is a long wait, but I grabbed a To-Go order (ready in 10 minutes) then walked around the charming grounds. Picked up the warm, country ham biscuits, sat outside, and feasted. Major fantastic.
(5)Irene M.
This was the first time I have ever waited 1.5 hr to eat at a restaurant. Service was great. I had the fried chicken which was very tasty, crispy, and juicy. My husband had country ham (which was too salty for his taste), scrambled eggs (which tasted like fluffly foam), and hashbrown casserole (which was too cheesy and heavy). The biscuits were different, but I wouldn't say they're the best in the world. I really liked their peach preserves. The food came out very quickly. So many people were turned away after hearing there was now a 2-hr wait, but more came to wait.
(4)Michael W.
I'm sorry, this place really deserves all five stars. It's delightfully off the beaten path, with a nice down-homey (if a bit commercial) feel. Lots of yelpers have begrudged it that last star, but I say it's worth all five. You just need to know how to do Loveless. Rule #1: Call ahead. Loveless doesn't take reservations, but if you call and say you're on your way they will put your name down for you. It could shave an hour off a really long wait. Yeah, I know it's annoying, but they must be doing something right if they can attract crowds like they do. Rule #2: Order right. There is only one thing as far as I am concerned. Fried. Chicken. The big order. Easily the best I've had that wasn't home-cooked. Crispy, flaky crunchy, salty skin with little crunchy knobs of condensed batter here and there peeled back to reveal brilliant white tender juicy chicken. I want a piece right now. Add three sides (I recommend the gooey awesomeness of hashbrown casserole, greens with vinegar, and...screw it, double hashbrown casserole). Throw in an endless basket of biscuits and jam, and you are good to go. Man, are those biscuits good. Flaky soft airy buttery happy. Screw dessert. Give me more biscuits! I just wish it didn't take so long.
(5)Aaron D.
That rare place that lives up to the hype. Our sweet-as-tea waitress was charmingly Southern until we mentioned that we were visiting from Brooklyn, at which point she cocked her hip and pulled her native Bensonhurst accent out of her back pocket in no time flat. (But she was still as sweet-as-tea after that too.) We just split a single sampler platter (BBQ, fried chicken, ham, coleslaw, molasses yams) in our determination to save some room for dessert, but alas, even the sampler filled us to the brim. sigh. One of these days we'll go back just to try some pie. We might have had room for pie but our waitress insisted we have more than one helping of the awesome bisquits with fresh jams and I suspect the biscuits expanded in our stomachs and squeezed out any space for jam. But it was worth it to have the extra biscuits. As the Loveless t-shirts say - "Got biscuits?"
(5)Ken L.
Ok.... the biscuits are BOMB. The homestyle jam and sorgum (first time trying) compliment the biscuit very nicely. Heck, I'd go back just for the biscuits!! The food was okay. The chicken was good but nothing special (little dry) and I was there at around 7ish for dinner. The sides were decent.... the creamed corn was my favorite. The catfish was good but I'm sure you can find better else where. The service was attentive and my drinks were refilled when needed. But man.... those biscuits.... A friendly couple with their daughter that sat next to me gave me some suggestions for more places to eat. Folks are really nice there in Nashville.
(3)Mary T.
After seeing this place featured on The Food Network awhile ago, I've had a desire to go to Nashville and experience the famed Loveless Cafe biscuits and jam for myself. I had the opportunity last week during a spring break trip to Tennessee, and I was not disappointed. The biscuits. Sweet Jesus, the BISCUITS. Light, fluffy, yet firm and chewy. How do they do it? No one but the owners know, apparently. It's like they took the traditional southern biscuit and gave it to the Buddha, who took it to Nirvana and then brought it back to share with the unenlightened. Seriously, I cannot express in words how impressively delicious these biscuits are. Their preserves are nothing to sneeze at either, especially their blackberry preserves, which were rich and had what tasted like a subtle note of cinnamon in it. Their strawberry preservers were also good, but I found the peach preserves to be kind of bland and too sweet, like they'd boiled down canned peaches to make it. I also ordered their meatloaf, fried okra, and greens while my friend ordered the southern fried catfish, sweet potatoes, and fried okra. The meatloaf was moist and excellently seasoned with a tangy tomato sauce on top. The greens were also good, but I got a lot of little crunchies in there with them which lead me to believe that they hadn't rinsed them very well. Their fried okra was crunchy, which is a feat since a lot of fried okra I've ordered at other places has been soggy. The bite of fried catfish my friend allowed me to have personified southern tradition. She did say that her sweet potatoes were too sweet, though. In the end, all the food we had here was good, but the biscuits and preserves are definitely the stars of the show. I was so impressed by them that right after we got done eating I waddled over to the adjacent store and bought two jars of preserves and a bag of biscuit mix. I doubt it will be as good as the real thing, but even a shadow of the glory we experienced that night will make almost all other biscuits pale in comparison.
(4)Shannon Z.
Cheese Grits = Amazing, creamy with the perfect amount of cheese Fresh Biscuits = best I have ever had, flakey, buttery and light Homemade peach jam = perfect, and better when eaten with the best biscuit ever Hashbrown Casserole = more pure fatty yum Extra 5 lbs and possible heart attack, not cool. Gourmet Magazine and the Food Network, thank you for letting me know about this gem.
(5)jessica s.
OMG! The biscuits & jam are worth the 5 stars! Everything else is just as delicious.
(5)Ashley R.
Let me tell you a little story about Loveless Cafe, y'all. A friend and I decided to ride our bikes there one day from West End. 13 miles. Bad Idea. 5 hours later when we got there, waited an hour for our table, and the biscuits finally came, they literally saved my life. I owe those biscuits MY LIFE, I tell you. If you are gonna do Loveless, just forget about the calories and order the Fried Chicken with all the fixins (or you could burn it off with a bike ride- but seriously--dont.). Also, try your darndest to save room for Steeplechase pie. To Die For. The wait can be long, so go at a weird time and you should be ok. Otherwise plan on waiting at least an hour. Luckily there are little shops in the same complex to keep you busy. Recently, I went to the Loveless Barn on the property for music city roots. If you have not done this, you need to go as soon as humanly possible or, move away from Nashville . k thanks. bye.
(4)David H.
4.5 Loveless is one of those iconic places that becomes a bit of a tourist destination. I think it potentially gets a little more hype and press than it should for its own good, because it sets unrealistic expectations for some. I've seen it on the Food Network a few times, and the website has a collection of talk show appearances and other press. Make no mistake: their food is very tasty, but there are many other places of a similar quality that don't get this kind of press. "Great biscuits." That's probably the first thing you hear about Loveless Cafe. Since all of the reviewers here mention them, I won't belabor the point. Yeah, they're great -- I had them bring a second basket out, because I polished off the first before the meal came. I tried the Pork Barbecue over Cornbread Hoe Cakes with Hashbrown Casserole and Macaroni and Cheese as sides. Yeah, I know: health food. Anyway, it was all excellent. The barbecue was delicious and the hoe cakes were a nice accompaniment. The Hashbrown Casserole was definitely my favorite of the two sides dishes. Both sides were good, but I wish I had ordered a more balanced pair, because both were very cheesy. I also tried some of the pan fried chicken and it was great. Oh yeah, and the coconut cream pie was probably the best I've had. Everything I had here was just great. The one thing that confused me was the sweet tea: it wasn't as sweet as I would have imagined. I mean, this place calls dinner/luch "supper." I'd have expected the tea to be so sweet it gives you diabetes on contact. Oh well, it's a very minor nit. Anyway, the main downside to this place is the location and the wait. It is a fair drive from Nashville proper, and since it is somewhat of a tourist destination, the crowds are quite thick on weekends. Definitely take advantage of the call ahead so you can count your driving time against your wait for a table. It helps knock 20-30 minutes off the wait time.
(4)Nathan W.
So I will keep this one truly short and sweet. BEST FRIED CHICKEN I HAVE EVER HAD! While people seem super excited about the bisquits (I thought they were just ok) the chicken is the standout here. Were I to be stranded in the middle of a mosquito infested swamp with nothing but the clothes on my back and a plate of this fried chicken I would entirely be ok with things as they were because of this chicken. If I found myself with a hole in my head and a plate of this fried chicken, I would just hope that the hole didn't interfere with the eating of the chicken because thats all I would care about. Go and get you some!
(4)Dean W.
Was in town for business, thought I'd check out the Loveless again as it had been a few years. The biscuits were incredible, as were the 3 jams. Had the fried chicken plate (dark). Quarter chicken was generous...2 legs and a back/thigh. Came out very hot and fresh. The crust is not overly salty nor greasy, but the chicken was cooked just a few minutes too long. Even the leg meat was a bit tough. The turnip greens with pot liquor were excellent, as was the pot liquor. The fried okra was disappointing...the coating too thick and bready. I remember having this several years ago and it was a different cornmeal coating that was much lighter and crisper. Have they changed the recipe? Came around 5:30 on Monday night and the restaurant was pretty empty. Used to seeing this place being packed. Service was quick and friendly. I ended up walking out full but feeling a little let down...not the same as I remembered.
(3)Kathryn-Claire B.
Their breakfasts are lacking but I LOVE their lunch and dinners. Make sure you have plenty of time because it could take ages to get a table.
(4)Brenda M.
The Loveless Cafe was everything I had expected and more. The food was fabulous and plentiful. You will not leave her hungry. yallcomeoninthedoorsopen…
(5)Rebekah T.
The food was amazing but the wait is crazy. The staff is really nice. I ordered my food to go and sat outside on a picnic table. The corn hole is a lot of fun too.
(4)Dannielle O.
If you don't eat here you will regret the fact that you are alive. Food? Perfect. Service? Perfect. AMBIENCE? Perfect. Love u, loveless.
(5)MaryLynne G.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits! That's all you need to know- moist, buttery, absolutely incredible. If you want more go for the sides: mashed potatoes, coleslaw, fried green tomatoes. The restaurant has a whole plaza of little shops to visit while you are waiting for your table or for a takeaway order. To save time when the wait for a table is long, get takeaway and eat on the tables outside.
(5)Paul Z.
Best f ing biscuits ever! Trust me I've had lots of biscuits! Jams really fresh. We had a 45 min wait. But they have little shops to check out. Food was worth the wait. It's one place I've been to that I wish I live closer to so I could go more often.
(5)Mike F.
Drawn to the replace by reviews. Was really excited about visting. Great news did not have to wait long. Surroundings were super cool. Waiter was exceptional and suggested the fried chicken. No hesitation on my part I love fried chicken Chicken was tender but bland. No flavor. Greens were cooked well built again very bland and macaroni and cheese was very milky no structure and not like homemade. Would not bother again better food at the Craker Barrel. I travel and eat out at over 50 resteraunts a year. Don't waste you time going here for the food but a maybe for the ambiance! I will admit the grounds are super cool.
(2)Hibah Q.
So cute! Great food. Friendly staff. Inexpensive. What more can you ask for?
(5)D. K.
One word (that has been said a million times before): BISCUITS!! Worth coming here alone. My chicken fried steak was fine...nothing amazing, but hit the spot. I also liked the biscuits and gravy that my sister ordered. Service was super friendly! Didn't love the desserts weirdly enough. Expect a long wait, but there's lots of fun little shops on property that make the wait bearable. I'll be back!
(4)Stacy A.
This place is definitely worth the drive out of downtown Nashville! The staff is very sweet and accommodating and the manager came over and was a very friendly, interested guy. The biscuits are AMAZING, but that is what they're famous for! The pancakes are huge and are sweet, making them special. The biscuit sampler platter is large, and more of biscuit-sandwiches style than biscuits with various ingredients cooked into them. Definitely try the home fruit preserves on the biscuits! Lots of free parking available and there's a cute market to mosey on over before or after! Interesting history to the place and adorable decor. A great stop!
(5)Ryan W.
This place is an experience. It is located in what I can only describe as Middle of Nowhere, Tennessee. It is around 30-40 minutes outside of Nashville, however as soon as you see the sign, you notice the huge parking lot full of cars and tons of people hanging around the restaurant. The wait was pretty long, but Loveless does everything possible to keep people entertained. There were guys playing corn hole, some kids drawing pictures on the ground with chalk, and a cute elderly couple enjoying the day in a set of rocking chairs. There is also an array of small shops that you can check out. Once we got in, the food was absolutely amazing. It lived up to the hype of every previous review. I practically was rolled out of the place because my ambition got the best of me and I went for a platter including ham, meatloaf, fried chicken and a couple sides. I probably shouldn't have eaten so many biscuits before the meal.
(5)Steve C.
Fantastic southern food, huge variety, and great drinks to boot. It's just a shame that so many people know about this place; there's always a huge wait (I've never waited less than 30 mins, and sometimes as much as 2 hours). On occasion I find it worth the wait, but usually I'll just go elsewhere.
(4)Carmen P.
yeah i know, i'm going to be boo'd and hissed at for only giving it three stars. the biscuits were 5 stars though. my husband and i are locals, and he has somehow never been here, so he insisted we go. after the expected looooooooooong wait, we were seated and greeted by an exceptionally personable server. my husband had some friend chicken, i think....and i had the barbecue pork. the portions were HUGE (and the server also gave us a ton of biscuits to take home with our leftovers...i'm not sure if he should have, so don't ask about this!) we both had sides of macaroni and okra. the macaroni was yum and the okra was good too. i know loveless is a nashville tradition, and there was nothing really wrong with our experience, but, take away the tradition, and it was just, food--except for the biscuits, they're magical, like they were made with unicorn tears. so here, get some neat jams and bacon from their gift shops, and tip well, those servers have hard jobs!
(3)Krash T.
Once upon a time - oh, 30, 40 years ago - Loveless was a secret place I took people to when I wanted them to get a taste of the "real southern cuisine." Unfortunately, no longer. It used to be terrific, homey, everything from scratch. It may be all from scratch now, but it's really become nothing more than a tourist joint. If you haven't ever had good fried chicken, you might think this was acceptable, but you'd do better at a gas stop Krispy Krunchy. If you want the real deal, ask around for old-fashioned meat & threes. Sorry to be so brief but there's not much more to say except that it's also quite expensive given what you get - poor service, low quality. If you want really great southern cooking, take the time to visit Lynchburg and go to Miss Mary Bobo's, former home of Jack Daniels. Just make sure to reserve in advance.
(2)Dustin S.
The food was good and wait was short. The only thing overrated was the bisquits. They were still good, they just didn't live up to the hype. Definitely a Nashville must.
(4)Melynda S.
My meal got off to an amazing start with the biscuits and preserves; it was very good. Other than that, your money would be better spent at your local Cracker Barrel. I ordered the pulled bbq pork with turnip greens and mac & cheese. The mac & cheese was beyond disappointing, the turnip greens were decent but below average, but the meat was actually kind of tasty. Overall, my experience was very disappointing considering the hype that surrounds this place. The Loveless Cafe is definitely nothing to write home about.
(3)Michael O.
It's famous for a region. Plan to drive out of the city a bit, wait awhile for a seat, and eat stunningly good Southern food. Order anything--it will be excellent.
(5)Rita T.
EVERYTHING we ate here was really good--even the leftover meat and biscuits the next day! We'd only wrapped the biscuits in a paper napkin--16 hours later they should have been hockey pucks. Instead, delicious! Our excellent waiter brought us a basket of steaming, golden-white puffs (ah, those biscuits), pots of jewel-bright, fruity-fruity strawberry, peach, and blackberry preserves (we finished them off with a spoon), plus the sorghum we'd requested. I suspect Annie Loveless developed her biscuits with sorghum in mind--their pairing beats all I've had in the south. A couple unique items on Loveless Cafe's beverage menu are its moonshine offerings. The watermelon moonshine comes in 2 mason jars, a large one, pink with watermelon juice and chunks, and a mini-jar with an ounce of clear moonshine. Poured together, they produce a refreshing drink, no cloying sweetness. Our orders of watermelon ribs and fried chicken both came with 2 sides, so we ended up with creamed corn (double), macaroni and cheese, and the pot liquor greens. It's good we didn't have to share our sides of the creamed corn--wow, it's light and lovely and (woot, woot!) the recipe is available online. The watermelon ribs are dry-rubbed and smoked, then braised with the nicely tangy sauce and watermelon chunks, a process that gives the chunks a great tomatoey taste and texture. The fried chicken, though, proved why the Loveless Cafe has such an enduring reputation. Make sure at least one person in your party orders it, and make sure he or she shares! And save room for dessert. We ordered the chocolate pecan pie, a not-quite fudgey, highly successful Loveless treat. The service was great, the atmosphere is fun, and the food is terrific. Yes, you oughta eat here.
(5)Julia D.
I visited the Loveless Cafe twice on my recent trip to Nashville. This restaurant never disappoints. The pulled pork and Bloody Marys are wonderful. The granola (might be a side item) is good. I wouldn't recommend the French Toast. But, of course, my favorite part of the meal were the BISCUITS!!
(5)Jes S.
I've heard wonderful things about Loveless Cafe so finally made it out there. We went on a Friday morning to avoid the weekend rush. It was a beautiful 20min drive outside of Nashville and managed to get in after a short 10min wait. It was busy on a Friday so I can imagine the craziness on the weekend. Good news is of you did have a wait there is a outdoor area to walk around and buy keepsakes, souvenirs, etc. The biscuits were good but not as I had imagined. I had such high expectations. The trio of preserves were delicious and paired nicely with the hot biscuits. We didn't order anything special--eggs and bacon/sausage. Very average or typical to any breakfast joint. I would have been happy with my coffee and biscuits. Service was good! The biscuit mix you buy in the store is quite good and you only add buttermilk. Very similar tasting to the real thing. I will return--and try lunch but during the week.
(3)Scott B.
It is solid and the biscuits are perfect, but the wait can be a bit tedious after a certain hour in the morning.
(4)Emily G.
Amazing biscuits, definitely the best I've ever had! Their blackberry jam is outstanding. Service is great as well. Watermelon ribs, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and mashed potatoes with gravy are some of our favorites!! Definitely must stop here when you're in Nashville!!!
(5)Steve R.
Loveless Cafe is way on the west side of Nashville. It has a storied past and is still a great place to eat! They have a wide variety of traditional southern fare. The service is great and the atmosphere comfortable. My brother, who is a notoriously picky eater, ate everything on his plate! I'll definitely be back the next time I'm on that side of town (or I might even make a special trip if I'm not there soon).
(5)Courtney N.
Part of Nashville's history - a must! Never a bad meal!
(5)Kristen H.
THE BISCUITS!!!! I could just eat them for the whole meal!! Delicious! But, I did order an omelet and hash brown casserole and it was delicious as well. Be prepared to wait at least 45 minutes for a table on a good day. But it's not bad because they have a bunch of cute shops for you to visit and they give you a little pager to carry so you know when your table is ready. Definitely not the place to go for a quick bite, but a great place for a leisurely, relaxed, fun breakfast/brunch.
(4)Brooke M.
This place is pretty good! The biscuits are amazing and so is the chicken! If you aren't too full then the desserts are heavenly as well. Every time I've come here I've had a great wait staff. To avoid the long wait come on a week day after 7pm. Everyone knows this place is good so the wait to get in can be pretty long.
(5)sandie s.
Biscuits. You sit down and get biscuits. And once those biscuits are gone, you get more biscuits. How many biscuits consumed in one sitting could be considered obscene? I didn't care. Those biscuits were damn good. I kind of want to stop it there, but the rest was so good too, so I'll tell you about it. When I drove up, I just knew it would be good. There was a wait, but it went fast and when it was over, I was sitting at a table, with a plate of biscuits, strawberry, apricot, and blackberry preserves. Having eaten 2 of the biscuits before I had even started looking at the menu, I decided that an egg white omelet was in order, you know, just for balance. Of course, to throw it off again, I ordered a side of bacon. The omelet was superb and the bacon, thick and crispy. And at Loveless, an order is 5 slices. FIVE. And of course, there were more biscuits. My waitress was awesome and friendly, as was everyone I encountered there. The atmosphere was nice and homey, with some groovy art on the walls. The memorial to the biscuit lady was my favorite. And they have a good, roomy handicapped stall in the bathroom. I like to mention this when it's true. Go to Loveless. You will like it. I liked it. And now I'm really, really sad that I don't live anywhere near it. Although my weigh watchers points are OK with that part.
(5)Marie O.
Adequate breakfast food, but not worth even a 20-minute wait. We were expecting revelatory biscuits, maybe that was the problem. The preserves -- which were good, don't get me wrong -- were better than the much-heralded baked goods. On the plus side, the staff was very cordial, and obviously work very hard.
(3)Connie J.
So worth the wait (1.25 hours). Everything was GREAT! Fried chicken, mac n cheese, creamed corn and greens. The biscuits are deserving of all the rave reviews! Everyone else in our party of 7 got something different and everyone left happy and full!
(5)Christina M.
Me & my husband were driving past Nashville & checked out this place. Yes it is a bit of a drive from the interstate & yes there was a long 1 1/2 hr wait but the wait staff were super friendly & the biscuits oh yea made the trip & wait worth it. I'm not into biscuits as much as my husband but let me tell u I ate 3! All with butter & their strawberry, blueberry & peach jams all delicious! Next I had the blue berry moonshine & it comes with a shoot keep sake that the moonshine comes in. Boy my first time having some I would say don't throw it all in cuz that stuff is strong but good. We couldn't decide so we had the sampler platter with fried chicken, meatloaf & ham. All were great but ham was a little salty then I would of liked. The hashbrown casserole & Mac & cheese were on point! This is must stop!
(5)Maria I.
I REALLY, REALLY wanted to love this place. I'm from California and was in town passing through. We stopped here, looked around at the shops, and had lunch. I loved the people, our server, and of course the biscuits! I ordered breakfast with eggs, potatoes, and sausage. I found the eggs to be fluffy, but that's about it. I was excited for the potatoes but whatever kind of sauce or cheese was in them really turned me off so I barely touched them. The sausage was okay and nothing special to me. Maybe I should have ordered something for lunch. I would try it again if I'm in town.
(3)Mink M.
Long wait. But worth it. Next time ill order to go instead. The biscuits are amazing. I wish I bought some of it to take home. They are so good. The strawberry preserve was awesome. The chicken was fried to perfection and the coleslaw was very good. The fried catfish was of the hook and I normally don't eat catfish. The waitress we had was super sweet and courteous. They know what their doing. Check out the stores to kill the time and try the brittle it's pretty good. They offer free coffee. Good food. Plenty of parking. It looks like they may be expanding. Long wait. Free coffee.
(5)Kyle W.
Truly as good as it gets when is comes to home cooked country food! At our table of 3 we had, Meatloaf, Ham, Pulled Pork, Squash Casserole, Hash-brown Casserole, Mac N Cheese, Banana Pudding, Cherry Pie, Peach Cobbler, and a plethora of Sweet Tea and Biscuits! There was not one thing that was mediocre. Everything was hot, fresh and flavorful. And I would personally like to give a shot out to Ms. Barbara who made sure that we had all our left-overs to go and a few extra biscuits for the road! I cant say enough good things about the Loveless Cafe!
(5)S C.
I've been to Loveless once, on my last trip to Nashville, from California and I was looking forward to another meal until now. I am coming out again for a visit next week and I will be skipping it and unliking their FB page and unfollowing them on pinterest due to the LACK of customer service and complete disregard of a person's holiday as displayed by the review posted yesterday. I am appalled how unkind the staff was. There are so many fabulous places to eat in Nashville that I am glad to say I can cross Loveless OFF my must do's list for future trips. Really disappointed. Disgusted is more like it. We have better Southern Hospitality in California than Loveless showed. And don't worry, I'll share this on social media to make sure everyone knows how Loveless treats customers.
(1)Janette C.
So I've lived in Nashville for 6 years and this was my first visit here! I am wishing I had come sooner! The drive here is a great one. It's a little long where I live in East Nashville but it was soooo worth it! It was a beautiful country side drive. Gorgeous houses and scenery. The meal was fantastic. :-) I had a BBQ pork with two eggs, one to the right and one to the left. So it was a mound of pulled pork on top of two corn bread cakes (ho cakes) and one gooey egg on either side of it. Delicious and tender! My friend had the sampler which looked equally amazing! Bacon, country ham, sausage, scrambled eggs :) Our meal came with a heaping pile of fresh biscuits too. Buttery, soft, still warm from the oven and server with three different types of homemade jam. Note you can also get sorghum and honey for them if you choose! A side of grits, coffee and water for both of us as well. Definitely recommend a visit here. There are shops to visit if you have to wait (our wait was about 20 minutes). All sorts of crafts and do dads ;) The service was friendly, smiley and not at all pushy. They let me and my friend stay and relax with our coffee after our meal and didn't make us feel rushed at all. Enjoyable :)
(5)Marisol H.
Best fried chicken ever! Be ready to unleash your inner fat girl if you eat here! Everyone is super nice and wants to feed you! Beware of the biscuits! They are like crack on steroids! Soo good!
(5)Arlene H.
The bad: White corn grits were soupy and tasteless, even with cheese. The good: Fried chicken was yummy, but missing something.... Salt? Heat? Fried green tomatoes were good. The great: Love the biscuits with peach preserves! The pork was yummy too. The hash brown casserole didn't blow my mind until I got home and reheated it. Peach tea, half sweet and half unsweetened was pleasantly flavorful without being too sweet. The moonshine bloody Mary was good and the tiny souvenir Jar was a nice touch. If I come back, I'm going to the store for peach preserves and biscuit mix!!!
(4)Hanna N.
Awesome food, friendly service and outstanding atmosphere. Do leave room for desert, the chocolate pecan pie was well worth the belly ache from eating too much :-)
(5)Shannon F.
Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Went here with my mother and the place lived up to it's hype! Make sure you give yourself plenty of time (our wait was estimated to be two hours but was a little over an hour). The drive was scenic and they have tons of activities, chairs, and cute gift shops to keep you busy while you wait. The food was to die for (the biscuits were out of this world) and the atmosphere was quaint! Couldn't have had a better brunch :)
(5)Bao N.
I went to Loveless Café and went to Biscuit heaven. Unlimited biscuits were served with different fruit preserve options. The biscuits were hot, soft, flaky and simply perfect. Five stars for the best biscuits I ever had in my life. My wife and I wanted the complete Southern food experience and ordered the Southern Sampler Platter. For our 3 meat selection, we chose Fried Chicken, Catfish, and Pork Barbeque. For our sides, we picked fried okra and mac and cheese. Amazing dining experience. Why can't Southern food in California taste like this? It just doesn't compare. Everything I tasted was amazing and prepared perfectly.
(5)Lynn H.
This is my first time visiting the South and I just HAD to go try out the famed Loveless Cafe. It's really not much to look at, just a tiny little place. My companions both ordered the pulled pork and I had the meatloaf. Both very good and tasty! i have to admit I was a little disappointed because I wanted to see some barbecue action going on, but since it was so cold and dark out, they didn't have the BBQ pits going. They were definitely there though. The BBQ sauce they used is awesome! My sister got a bottle at the store when we were done with dinner. I loved the fried green tomatoes!!! SO GOOD! The meatloaf was also very yummy. They had some pretty amazing biscuits and I believed homemade jams. They have all the jam, sauces, and biscuit mix for sale at their little store. Remember to check that out! Their waitstaff is very friendly, although they looked like they may have been overstaffed that night. I had a sore throat that day and the waitress kept coming back to make sure I had enough tea. Big thumbs up to her! She also recommended that I drink a "hot toddy" to help relieve my sore throat. I had one later that night, and sure enough, it did the trick. Thanks for the tip! :)
(4)Renee A.
Love the Loveless! I've never had a bad meal here. It's taken time, but I've finally learned to NOT visit on the weekends or holidays. The wait can be incredibly long.
(5)Richard P.
Went in early afternoon on a Monday and was told the wait was 30 minutes. There are several shops to look in, and we were signaled in less than 20 minutes. My wife had the eggs with ham and the ham slice could feed 2 people. Had to bring some of it back home. I had the pimento cheeseburger with the bacon (yep, 5 slices) with fries. One of the best burgers I ever had. Oh yes, not to mention more biscuits and soda refills. I will definitely recommend this cafe to others. The biscuits are what this place was supposedly about, but truthfully, the biscuits as Bob Evans beats Loveless hands-down. Nice place here, though.
(4)Pasquale L.
OK 511 reviews let me throw mine in there! It is good great country ham, went on a Monday morning 8am so no wait. would I wait for breakfast? Can't go wrong though for breakfast.
(4)Peter P.
I came here because I saw an episode of "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" where he takes on the biscuits and jam here. This place lives up to the hype. It is definitely on the outskirts of town. We were on our way to the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Loveless Cafe is just steps away. I had just eaten lunch, but I had to stop in for some dessert. There was a huge selection of pies, but I opted for the blueberry crumble with their homemade ice cream. What a treat. The next time I'm in Nashville, I'm definitely going to stop by the Loveless for some fried chicken.
(4)Jamie F.
We were in Nashville for the weekend, and a friend told us about the Loveless Cafe and its incredible biscuits, so we decided to take a trip out to give it a try. First off, if you're going on a Saturday morning, expect a wait. We waited about an hour and a half for a table, but with the rocking chairs out front, we just grabbed a newspaper and enjoyed the weather until our name was called. Our server was fantastic, all of her recommendations were great and she even gave us some other places in the city to check out. We ordered and were brought out the legendary biscuits and... I'm sorry to say, of everything I ate at Loveless, the biscuits were probably the least impressive. Don't get me wrong, they were good, but with all the build up and hype, I still found them just good. They're certainly not knocking the Flying Biscuit Cafe off the top of my list, but that may be a matter of personal taste. They are served with three different preserves which were fantastic. I got the catfish and fried okra, both of which were amazing. The catfish was the best I've had in a long time, and the breading was a perfect combination of crispy but not overwhelming. My boyfriend got the BBQ pork and eggs, which he says was also incredibly good. (This pescatarian will just take his word for it ;)) Bottom line: We would go back if we're in Nashville again, and definitely recommend.
(4)Randy K.
Wonderful food and nostalgic atmosphere. You can browse the store and surroundings while you wait to be seated. You WILL wait. World famous biscuits. Good country cooking. A lot of history in this local and tourist favorite.
(4)Tracy M.
Well they have contacted me and made it right so I'm updating my review. It's the only fair thing to do!
(4)Sharmeela S.
What I enjoy the most at loveless is the peanut butter pie. I often want to buy a pistol take home but I know this would be bad so I don't. The fried chicken and the biscuits are other gems but always save room for the pie. To avoid the long wait get food to go and eat it on the picnic benches outside.
(4)Natalie K.
We had high expectations for what we had heard about this place and it met every one of them! We went around lunchtime on a Saturday and had to wait for over an hour but there are a few shops and cornhole games to pass the time. The pork was everything we had hoped for and the biscuits are the best we have ever had! Highly recommend buying the jams and bacon in the little shop next to the cafe to take home!
(5)Kim P.
My family ate at the Loveless Cafe on a Sunday afternoon. It was packed and we had to wait about 35 minutes before being seated. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and hope to go back. The food was delicious!! Loved the biscuits and we were even given some to bring home with us. Definitely recommend.
(5)Daniel S.
Another great breakfast option in Nashville. Wait can be a little annoying but it is usually worth it. Excellent for a morning after a night on the town.
(4)Rod O.
You don't have to be Famous to eat here and you can if you are! Loveless used to be a Hotel Famous for Biscuits, when the Hotel closed they sold the property, Hotel and RECIPE for the Biscuits! Faye used to make the Biscuits! We watched the new lady make them in a window to the kitchen (pretty cool for the tourists!)! We had Biscuits with Jams, Biscuits with Butter with Biscuits with more Biscuits on top and for the Main Course we had a Biscuit Platter : : BBQ, Steak, Country Ham, Fried Chicken Biscuits! Barbecue for Breakfast, Yum! So enjoyable "Barbecue for Breakfast" inspired a yelp list of mine! These Biscuits were GREAT Tasting without anything! Lovelace Plain Biscuits get 5 yelp stars! Barbeque on Biscuits, GREAT idea for Barbecue for Breakfast! 4 yelp stars! Granola with Peaches Hold the Milk... 5 yelp stars! I did not know people liked Granola with milk, I guess it is like cereal... I never liked milk with (in) mine! Cubed and Fried Potatoes 2.5 yelp stars. Hash Brown Casserole good yet maybe too cheesy!
(5)Lynn T.
Fantastic food, charming decor, friendly service (thanks, Katie!). I now see why it's on everyone's "must" list when checking out Nashville's sites.
(4)Nene D.
Great meat and three. Avoid weekend morning rush unless you have 1 hour plus to spare :)
(5)Michael L.
I absolutely love The Loveless Cafe. Every time I've been the food has been awesome. There's not many places I can say that about. I'll just get right to point here... Their fried chicken is almost as good as my Mom's. For the chosen few in the world that have been lucky enough to try my Mom's fried chicken, they know that I'm not bloviating here. I'm pretty sure my Mom would be impressed with the chicken at The Loveless Cafe. My sides were creamed corn (yum) and turnip greens (yum yum). And the biscuits... OMG. The rumors are true... They're made with baby kisses and unicorn tears. Well, maybe buttermilk or something similar, too. This place has great food, charm, and a little store where you can buy their preserves. There's no way I could have gone home and shown my face without a few jars of peach and blackberry preserves. Seriously folks, this place is a bucket list thing. Buy your plane tickets now!
(5)Ryan P.
Great food, great quality, good service once inside makes this a staple for nashville. My only issue was the 90 minute wait to get in! So,many people wasn't to try the chicken that theirs almost always a long wait. Luckily they provide iced tea and seats for the wait. He chicken gizzards! Haven't had those in years!
(4)Veronica X.
Good things come in small packages, like the bite-size biscuits from Loveless Cafe. We were here on the rainy Sunday after Thanksgiving, before we hit the Natchez Trace Pkwy for a leisurely drive. No wait for the two of us. Shortly after seating, I had the best biscuits in my life. However, I wish somebody had told me that biscuits automatically come with any order, so I would have ordered something else on the menu, just to have a more complete picture of this place. Hubby's country ham and sausage were both good. Yes, it's a bit touritsy but still has the country charm. The following drive turned out to be awe-inspiring. One day I will find my way back there.
(4)Janet Y.
Loveless Cafe has become my go-to place for out of town guests to truly get the Southern experience. I'm sure every review has mentioned the delicious biscuits and array of jams! That's just the beginning of the delicious meal you will get ahead-- from fried chicken to catfish or Southern-fried steak! Loveless also serves yummy breakfast! Think Cracker Barrel but local! If you go, expect a wait! But no worries because there is a little trinket and art store on the property that will keep you occupied until your buzzer goes off- not to mention all the picture opportunities nearby!
(4)Julie M.
While visiting Nashville, I had two requirements - eat barbeque and eat fried chicken. I ate barbeque downtown and then a few days later I DEVOURED the fried chicken at Loveless Cafe. This place reminds me of my grandma's house. It just feels like home! When I ate the biscuits and jam I was convinced I'd never eat anything better... and then the chicken came out. Oh. My. God. The chicken is quite possibly the best thing on earth!! The side dishes are equally delicious - I had the mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. This is the definition of Southern home cooking. To top it all off, the desserts are phenomenal! I had both the key lime pie (compliments of a very nice gentleman sitting across the room... awkward!) and the cherry pie. Moral of the story - GO GO GO and EAT EAT EAT! Loveless Cafe is fantastic! I will definitely be back the next time I am in Nashville! Also of note, across the parking lot from Loveless there is an adorable shop called "Hams and Jams" which is definitely worth a visit. I bought the Loveless Cafe Dessert Cookbook and have made several treats from it since then! I just can't get enough!!!
(5)Aimee W.
Had terrific service from JaDee and of course the biscuits were amazing! You can't leave without a quick trip at the market and store they have on property.
(5)Roll T.
3.50 stars. The opposite of love is indifference. And that is fully clear at Loveless as you will find delight in nearly everything that they serve. Probably the most amazing part of the Loveless experience is the sheer size of your plate. I had pulled pork, fried chicken, fried okra, mac and cheese, and cheddar grits all on the same plate - sort of. The portion I ordered was so large that it did not all fit on the plate. As for the actual food? Aside from being tremendous, it is also delicious though I would give a definitive edge to Monell's for best breakfast I have experienced in Nashville (note: I haven't been to Arnold's Country Kitchen yet). Still, this is the place that most people will talk about in Nashville, and it's at least worth a visit.
(4)Jeremy S.
I've only ate here once, and it was good. I think cracker barrel is better though.
(3)Nick C.
Good service. We had about 25 people and they were helping us when we needed anything. They weren't very interactive with us. Like they wouldn't talk with us. But they are very busy so it's understandable. But that could be improved with just a small conversation and some jokes. Food was great! Biscuits were the BOMB. And they just kept bringing them back. We took 4 dozen back and they were gone in 30 minutes. Cream corn, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and many other sides to a great country brunch. This is a great place to go. I'd love to go again if possible.
(4)Bernadette C.
I'm a sucker for southern food and cheap eats and this was the perfect combo of both. The portions are huge. We could have easily split the fried chicken entree and had more than enough to eat, but we threw in the pulled pork sandwich for good measure anyway. The biscuits are nice and soft and the best part, pretty much unlimited! Try all the preserves. I don't usually eat jellies/jams with my dinner, but they were so yummy I finished them all! The service was really quick and friendly. The guy didn't try to upsell us on ordering more, but we did anyway because we wanted to try as much as we could while we were there. We also went for the banana pudding, which wasn't anything special, but was a nice way to top off the night. The place itself is nothing fancy, so feel free to where whatever you want and talk however you want. It almost feels like you're sitting in someone's big house for dinner with it's red checkered tablecloths and wooden wall panels. It's a bit of the way outside of central Nashville, so if you are going to go, make sure to plan ahead. But it's totally worth it. I may move to Nashville just so I can eat @ Loveless on a regular basis. Seriously.
(5)Karen B.
Please... it is so commercialized and far from authentic that whatever it's roots were are long lost. Better off finding a little diner with big fluffy biscuits and great eggs than waiting an hour and a half for mediocre food and a big bill. If you want the branded stuff they sell you can find it in downtown Nashville all over the place.
(1)Dylan C.
We are in from out of town for the CMA Music Fest and this place was recommended by family that lives in the area. The wait was over an hour, but that was because they were busy. There are a few shops on the property that you can visit while you are waiting. The food was excellent. The biscuits are great when they came out warm. The preserves they served them with were all good. I enjoyed the peach the best, but the wife enjoyed the blackberry the best. I am a big fan of country ham and theirs was great. The omelette that my wife had looked good and was packed full of vegetables. The server was very friendly and made good suggestions without being pushy. If you are in the area and are willing to wait this is a recommend for me. One thing we saw on the menu but we did not do since there was only 2 of us was the family style all you can eat. Looks like a good way for 4 or more people to eat all they want while paying the same price that a regular meal would cost each person.
(4)Lacy W.
So, I had major expectations for this place because of all the hype from everyone. The best biscuits ever? No. And they weren't even warm. My husband & I agreed that the best thing about the biscuits were the 3 homemade jams that came with them. Those were fantastic. My cinnamon raisin French toast was good, but nothing fantastic. The bacon was great though & I'm not even a bacon eater, typically. My husband's omelet didn't have much flavor. It was a good breakfast, but we kind of expected a great one, especially after waiting an hour & 40 minutes.
(3)Private P.
Not great, but not bad either, however it really doesnt match up to the hype surrounding it. We went twice to give it a 2nd chance and the food was ok at best but no different from diner food weve had in the past from any normal place. Both times we've gone the orders were incorrect and the wait staff seemed very preoccupied and didnt chat much. And since they were so busy both times one of our orders got screwed up. Expect a very long wait of at least an hour. We waited about 1 and a half hours last time which in the end really wasnt worth it for the food. There are a few stores nearby to kill time while youre waiting for a table, but theyre really overpriced unfortunately as well.
(3)Kathy C.
Six of us went to The Loveless around 1:00 February 15th for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The waiting list was long. We got our names on the list and were handed a pager so we could roam around the shops or sit outside until a table was available. We were seated about 45 minutes later. I haven't been to the Loveless in years, so I was hoping it hadn't changed too much. Complimentary homemade biscuits and homemade jelly with butter. CHECK Quaint dining room and friendly server. CHECK Good food. CHECK Eat until you're uncomfortable. CHECK Very reasonable. CHECK Nice experience...YES. We'll be back more often!
(5)Kurt Q.
This place is so good, it should be a crime. Their food is a danger to society, it's so good. The pork barbecue, hot biscuits & jam, and side dishes assault your mouth with such high cholesterol temptation, that the Westboro Baptist Church should be picketing this place with signs that say "GOD HATES OKRA THIS GOOD." Located about 5 miles of sinuous road off I-40, and about 20 minutes outside of Nashville proper, this place marks one geographic end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. It however still is a hassle to get to, and the fact that there is a one hour wait to get a seat for a place so far away is a testament to its great food. The walls indoors are lined with promotional headshots of C-list country stars and huge paintings of Dolly Parton's breasts and Johnny Cash's baggy eyes. But look at those pictures later because it's time to walk around their complex for an hour while you wait for your table. You can either play cornhole out front while bikers pull up on their testosterone-mobiles, or you can walk into their overpriced stores (e.g. toy horse for $52) and studios (e.g. photographs of barns for $400). They could do a bit more to make the surrounding area more of an attraction in and of itself. Once you get in, the waitress will saunter up to you with a basket of steaming hot biscuits and ask you where you're from. She'll take your drink and food order, and call you "baby" or "hon." The food will come out steaming hot in under 10 minutes! I couldn't believe that the place was jam packed and the food came out in under 10 minutes. It will be good. Like a Southern sunset, it will please you (and be equally hot). I felt used, abused, and taken after taking my last bite.. I wanted more. In all seriousness, this is the best Southern-themed restaurant I've been to. And in the top 5 restaurants period.
(5)Sarah E.
The BISCUITS! Enough said. If you order nothing else on the menu, you will come away more than completely satisfied from these delicious, warm, buttery morsels. First of all, they keep them coming....as many biscuits as you would like. (Meaning we got to take home a box full as well) In addition, they are served with a fabulous assortment of seasonal jams/preserves. The most recent time I went we received strawberry, peach, and blackberry all of which were delicious. Besides that I got the meatloaf for my meal. The meatloaf was very good, exactly what I would expect if I visited my grandma for some home cooking. What I really enjoyed were the fried okra on the side though. And the best part was, when the waiter brought out my dish he exclaimed that I had been "shorted" on my okra serving and so brought me another bowl! I Overall the staff is very friendly and the place has great southern country feel. The wait may be long, but stick it out because it is definitely worth it!
(5)MLE L.
We only did a drive-by for take out biscuits to see what all the rave was about. I feel like I just had biscuits and gravy for the first time in my life! Throw out your mother's recipe, it means nothing compared to this gravy! And the jams were quite impressive, especially the blackberry. YUM!
(5)Kimberly M.
So you wait an hour and a half, big deal!!! The food is absolutely worth it. Hands down the best friend chicken and biscuits I've ever had in my life. I seriously can't think of one complaint that I have, other than the wait. But again, it was worth the wait. Put your name in and then walk around. The Pumpkin Butter is to die for. The honey unbelievable, the blackberry preserves NOM NOM NOM. Honestly I can't wait to go back, and if I'm ever traveling even remotely near Nashville again this is the first pit stop I will make.
(5)Emily K.
Tourist trap. 1.5 hour wait on Sunday at 2 pm. Everyone waiting looked like a tourist rather than a local. We decided not to wait and on the way out, a lady who had just dined at the restaurant said it was just okay. They have a gift shop that sells overpriced Loveless chotskies... $7 for a magnet.
(3)Nancy K.
I love, love, love the Loveless Cafe! I highly recommend their biscuits and gravy (their the best I've ever had)! Their scrambled eggs with cheese, hashbrowns (they have cheese in them, too), and fruit preserves are great, too! The atmosphere is so cute and country with their checkered print table clothes and farm-y feel. I also loved the shops that are located on their grounds which is a great way to kill time (as the wait is 1-3 hours). If you're on the go and don't have time to wait, I recommend getting it to go and dining on the benches in front of the cafe. I'll be sure to go back!
(5)Molly S.
Charming roadside stop off that served the best BBQ we had on our entire jaunt through GA, LA, MS, TN and AR. The biscuits and jam were absolutely divine - who knew something so simple could be so wonderful. We opted for brisket and pulled pork for our lunch and both were unbelievable - so tender and full of flavour. The sides were also great, especially the white beans. The service was efficient, the restaurant well laid out and clean and the food outstanding. For a place that we only chose as a quick stop off on our way into Nashville, this was a brilliant surprise.
(5)Ray L.
Among the many delicious things that are on their menu, the thing that stands out most is the biscuits which is what they're most known for. What stood out to me about these biscuits was fluffiness of the biscuits and the buttery taste that is well complemented by the jams they serve. Everything else on the menu is generally cooked well, but the typical southern fare. As far meats go, I have had their quarter dark fried chicken, pork chops, and pulled pork barbecue and was not disappointed. However, I have heard that the chicken has been hit or miss from reliable sources so order the fried chicken at your own discretion. I find the best time for a meal here is breakfast. Another thing that stands out is that even though the place is a restaurant, they also have a barbecue pit and a souvenir shop where you can buy their jams, biscuit mix, bacon, and other tourist trap souvenir items. Service overall is generally pretty good and friendly, the food arrives fairly quick, and they are kind enough to give you a small plate of biscuits as a complimentary appetizer. The only downside here is the wait because after 10AM on a Saturday, this place becomes very packed and an hour wait is not uncommon. Easter Sunday is the worst since wait time typically exceeds 3 hours by 9AM. Food: 4 Service: 4 Price: 4
(4)Caroline H.
My whole experience was pretty mediocre. Came at around 3pm on a Sunday, thinking we'd hit the in-between-the-after-church-crowd-and-the-dinner-Âcrowd sweet spot. Not the case. We waited for.ev.er . (said Sandlot style). Was the wait expected? Sure. I'm willing to browse the (terribly over-priced) shops. Next we sit down. Overzealous waiter, but hot biscuits and awesome jam. We have reached our peak of the afternoon. I have never had chicken fried steak before, so maybe this is what it's supposed to taste like, but if it's supposed to be a lukewarm thin layer of brown covered in slippery flour, pepper and butter tastes, I'm not into chicken fried steak. Soggy fried green tomatoes. Mac and cheese was all right, but nothing special. The waiter judged us for asking for a biscuit refill, but still brought them, so that was nice. Biscuits? Great. Jam? So great. Everything else? Not. Or at least not worth an hour wait and 15 bucks.
(2)Mindi R.
Ate here the other night. Still being on ny time we get that about 5:45 and we had no line. There were 4 in our party, 2 adults and 2 kids. My youngest eats nothing so be ordered macaroni and cheese with a side of mac and cheese from the kids menu which was delicious. The rest of us ordered different dishes and sides to taste everything. Nothing disappointed us. Keith, the manager, stopped at our table and when he learned that we were from ny and tasting all southern food, he brought us samples of some of the things we did not order. Keith also brought us a molasses/agave type of spread that is available to all but you need to request it. Keith taught us to mix this with butter and spread on a biscuit. This was amazing! So was the hasbrown casserole, creamed corn, fried chicken, hot chicken, stringbeans, pork and catfish. We liked the city ham better than country ham. Skip the fried green tomatoes.
(5)Andy R.
This is really a 3.5...bit given the history, 4 is a safe number. My stars...(5=epic "best of") (4=really tasty and want to go again and again) (3=good and will go back once in a while) (2=fair, might return for a visit if there was some glimmer of hope) (1=avoid at all costs) Go or No? Go Tease: The Loveless is known for their famous biscuits. They are amazing...but everything else is just good. Why I went: For the biscuits! When: Summer 2012 Food: I was in a group of 6 people. Everyone enjoyed their meals. We had a late breakfast/early lunch. The BBQ was OK. The fried chicken was good, but not "Gus's good", and all the fixings were tasty. However, the biscuits were amazing. They taste different than any I've ever had. No gravy...just jams and marmalades. The biscuits are super light and fluffy...and highly addictive. Service: Very good. Our waiter was good. Friendly enough, but not all that attentive. He took the order well, but didn't frequent the table enough for refills, etc. They were super busy...but they should be used to that and still give ridiculous service. Not bad mind you...just not as good as we were hoping. Hints/Final thoughts: This is a tourist trap. But it's a good one. Just know the biscuits may not please every palette. It doesn't taste like any others. But, take them for what they are and they are amazing. Everything else is pretty much just good. Also check out the store...there are lots of cool foodstuffs, shirts and trinkets. While their BBQ was a bit disappointing, they BBQ sauce isn't! Grab a bottle!
(4)Jessie L.
Biscuits and jam are awesome. My favorite part! I've been here lots of times with my boyfriend, which he loves it as well. Service is always great!!! And I leave happy and full each time!!
(5)Jonna C.
Yummy! We arrived just shy of 9 am on a Saturday (July 26th). We were on our way to drive the Natchez Trace. They only had a 20 min wait, so we had just enough time to shop before being seated. FYI-The wait when we were called to be seated was 45+ mins. The biscuits were delightful. I loved the samples of homemade jams they brought with them. I think my favorite turned out to be strawberry, even tho they are famous for their blackberry - which we'd already purchased a jar of. Service was quick, friendly & efficient. Our coffee never went dry. Our waiter was never too far, and was very helpful to the more needy couple next to us. ;-) I had simple scrambled eggs, and half & half bacon & sausage. The hotel had told us about their wonderful sausage. It was indeed very good, but one can't pass up bacon either! The hashbrown casserole was TDF! Tho my husband didn't like it too much. But he was not complaining when our waiter dropped off more super fresh out of the oven biscuits. It was a fun place to visit with very good food & we'll definitely go back if we're in the area.
(5)Kelly B.
I went to Loveless for brunch during a visit to Nashville for the first time for a friend's bachlorette weekend. After a 30 minute wait, during which we perused the nearby shops, we sat down to a wonderful brunch with the most delicious, hot, fresh biscuits and homemade jams I've ever had. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, answering questions about everything from food to the place mat crossword puzzles, and the ambiance made it feel like we were at a family gathering. The Loveless menu and staff embodies southern culture at its finest.
(5)Tim M.
So excited to finally try Loveless - 30 min drive from downtown makes it hard. *gasp* Only 3 stars - I know - I can't believe it myself but things were not going well for them on this day. Upon arrival, we were quoted a shorter wait cuz we phoned ahead. Hostess said 10 min but it was actually closer to 20min. We had a table almost next to the hostess stand so there was abnormal noise and I could barely hear my guests. Had the Loveless quarter chicken white meat. It was bland and just another meal. I desperately missed my Blue and White fried chicken. My friend had the dark meat and enjoyed it. Hashbrown casserole was good and definitely recommended. Biscuits and jam - YES!
(3)Dustin R.
Love this place. Great food and service. Awesome biscuits and homemade jellies. Very homelike feeling.
(5)Kimmy R.
This review is for their mail order store only. We ordered their ham slices for our Easter dinner. Amazingly, they could be shipped unrefrigerated which really cut down on shipping costs. They have flat rate shipping no matter how much you order which is nice. In addition to the ham I couldn't resist the Piggy Pecans which are pecans smothered in pancake syrup with bacon bits! Those were incredible. The ham was nicely marbled but way too salty for my taste. Served it with biscuits and red eye gravy (recipe was on the ham slice package) and black eyed peas. A nice meal. Very reasonable prices!
(4)Zach T.
Insanely popular and worth the trip BUT The wait can be likewise insane (we waited 2 hours). My suggestion: Wake up, eat breakfast, then send one person to put your name in. If the wait's a half hour, join them. If it's not, judge appropriately. We were told 90 minutes and it took over 2 hours. TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION IF YOU ARE TAKING KIDS. There are some distractions there, but not 2 hours worth. The food is fantastic, but if you're overly hungry from waiting to have your first meal there, it clouds your enjoyment. I had the biscuits and t he biscuit sandwich platter and just about licked the plate.
(4)Bongo S.
Yeah, I lived in Fairview, for about 14 months not too long ago. First of all, if you've never been to Fairview Tn., believe me you're not missing anything. Anything at all. Couldn't stand the place. Went to Loveless maybe a total of three times and was never impressed. The biscuits are not that good, the wait is just silly and the rest of the whole ordeal made me think of the Bluebird here. Except you had to eat with hicks instead of hipsters. Really don't want to eat with either.
(2)Formicas F.
Super great breakfast spot! Love the drop biscuits and the jam was good too! Portion size was ample and service was excellent! No complaints at all- really enjoyed this spot.
(4)Bern R.
When in the #Nashville #TN area, this quaint little place tucked away in the burbs is a fantastic find if you're after country style dining. The old charm of family meals is reason enough to venture out yonder. I brought my wife and two grandkids here for Sunday brunch on our way back to #LittleRock #AR after a fun-filled #FourthOfJuly #roadTrip in 2014. A cultural icon, the Loveless restaurant is built into a vintage 1950s motor-hotel complex. Far from a tourist trap, Loveless is a local favorite. We make the extra effort in our travels to find places where locals eat. We had our usual favorites: chicken & waffles, bacon, eggs done to order, fresh fruit, buttermilk pancakes, sausages, and (of course) freshly made grits with lotsa butter. The Bride had #mimosas and I had #MoonshineMary (#BloodyMary w moonshine) -- both served in mason jars. The servers were fun, attentive, and very friendly. This is home. Plenty of free on-premises parking. Prices are reasonable. You may wait a spell but with customers trekking from all parts #USA and the World, it's worth the wait.
(4)Paul J.
Biscuits. Fried chicken. Homemade fresh jelly. Loveless lives up to the hype. It's worth the trip whether you live in the Nashville area or are visiting from out of town.
(5)Led D.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits!!!!! It was hot, soft, fluffy, and delicious. It was also a meal itself. My family and I tried the breakfast sampler, chicken tenders, pulled pork omelet, and fried chicken. It was all awesome and tasted homemade with lots of passion, especially Loveless' homemade ham. It was terrific because it was not too salty at all. The only negative point are that we had to wait one and a half hour to get seated and it was out of the way. Yes, the place was that busy BUT it was worth the wait because the food was that good and well wort the drive. We will definitely be back when we are in that neck of the woods.
(4)Victoria G.
An absolutely YES to visit! Was my first time to try real original biscuits and they were sooo good! the other things on the menu were good too. Maybe a little fatty but food is really good. Amazing service and nice people!
(5)Adam B.
Biscuits, peach preserves, blackberry preserves and grits were delicious. Country ham has the fecund farm flavor which was great, though unexpected. Cheese grits and scrambled eggs were not that good. Great ambiance and history. Store had lots of menu items for sale. The bisquits are so good that I could easily gain weight by eating them everyday.
(4)Drew A.
This was one of the best places we went to in Nashville!! Unbelievable friend chicken, tasty sides, and the most delicious deserts. Out waitress, Susan, was just the best!! Cant wait to come back next time I visit!
(5)Jean J.
My hubster found this place on the food network about famous places to eat. We stopped in from taking pictures at Percy Warner park ( separate review). Super cute cafe located on the same lot as a quaint old school loveless motel and loveless famous ham gift shop. It was cozy and super friendly. Down home cooking at its best!! The biscuits were A. M. A. Z. I. N. G!!! They serve 3 home made fruit preserves that were yummy as well. Hubster ordered the 1/2 fried chicken, fried okra, green beens and turnip greens. I ordered the French toast and bacon. Now I L. O. V. E. bacon. The bacon was slap your friend good so were the green beans and I had a food-gasm from the turnip greens. They were perfectly cooked with ham hock and vinegary goodness that make you want to suck the juice out of the greens then chew!! I could have eaten a whole pot of those. The French toast was perfect, the eggs were done right. My daughter ate a ton of the okra. So if a 1 yo eats it then you know it's good. The biscuits, OMG. ( I'm hungry now). Cool thing too was a Antique car club came by and chatted a bit. Saw an old dodge and a couple of model A's and T fords. Amazing food and experience. A must go if you can.
(5)Sandy C.
I have never had a more delicious breakfast in my life. Never. I would like to swim in a pool of their preserves, then take a nice nap in a bed of their biscuits. Well, after eating a bunch of them. Yeah, the wait was brutal, but we knew what to expect, brought a Sunday paper and did some poking around at the shops. The wait was worth it. Great service, too.
(5)Ray C.
4.5 stars. best comfort food ever. would be a full 5.0 rating if not for the 90 minute wait (which was well worth it anyway)...
(5)Meredith H.
I thought I reviewed this already, but I guess not. That's ok, all you need to know about are the biscuits. They are amazing. They keep bringing them to your table, too! It's great! I have been here two Saturdays - Saturday #1 - 30 minute wait. Saturday #2 - 90 minute wait. So it's a little hard to predict. I suggest going early in the morning. Like, 9 am. It's worth it!
(5)J A.
Breakfast review. We went on a Monday - no waiting and no crowds. I hear the weekends can be crazy. Breakfast was good, tasty and fresh. Scrambled eggs were some of the best restaurant scrambled eggs I have had. Biscuits were light and fluffy. Probably not too much healthy food on the menu, but then it is southern cooking. The cafe itself is very cute. The history of the cafe and motel is cool. Glad Nashville rallied to save it. Clean restrooms are always a good sign and at the Loveless Cafe they were clean.
(4)Tom M.
The Best Bisquits I've Ever Had The place was a zoo on a Sunday, with nearly an hour wait--but worth it. It serves the most amazing bisquits I've ever had--you take a bite, put your tounge up against the underside, and the bisquit just melts like cotton candy. These bisquits are like crack. I can't comment on the rest of the food. It was good, but so overshadowed by the bisquits that even mentioning other food would distract from the real feature at this place.
(5)Kimberly M.
My friend brought me here when I was visiting Nashville, and wow this place is a gem! It was pretty far out of the way (it felt like we were in the car for 20 minutes from midtown?), and the wait was long (she said that it's usually longer), but it was worth it. I could make a meal out of the biscuits and preserves alone!! This place had amazing customer service, and even though it seemed everything on the menu was basic, everything just tasted better here. Even my scrambled eggs were the best I've ever had! I liked this place because it felt like I was sitting in my grandma's kitchen...you know, if my grandma hung up hundreds of autographed celebrity photos on the walls! I recommend this place to everyone visiting Nashville, just because you have to say you've been to the Loveless Cafe at least once, right?
(4)Misty M.
Worth the drive! It is absolutely worth the hype! Their fried chicken, catfish and dumplin's keep me crawling back for more and their biscuits!!!! It's a Nashville must have! You will never eat at a CB again. The prices are great too for such an amazing meal. Yes, go and you will thank me. Seriously.
(5)Dana P.
My husband and I met some dear "old" friends there last weekend. They were coming up the Natchez Trace parkway and so we chose Loveless over Pancake Pantry. They really loved the choice and like so many before them, they fell in love with the biscuits. For some reason I've never been a biscuit lover, maybe because my father's mother made the best biscuits (and chocolate pies...mmmm) ever. Grandma didn't have any written recipes, just did as her mother had taught her I suppose. Because she only had sons, no one carried on the family tradition. Now I'm always (unfairly, I'm sure) comparing biscuits et. al. to that ideal. For instance, nobody can brew sweet tea as sweet as I remember hers. Loveless does a great job getting a lot of people served quickly and they remain friendly through it all. Our server was wonderful. I knew ordering the country ham was questionable, as it would make me thirsty for days!, but I got it anyway and was amazed by the size of my serving. Our entire group left filled and happy and the next time some friends from out of town arrive, we know where we will take them.
(4)Roberto W.
On our last day in Nashville we rented a car (must have since Loveless is about 25 min from downtown). When we got to the cafe, I was expecting a wait but not a 1 hour and 45 minute wait. Usually I do not wait at any restaurant more than an hour but since we could drive around we left our name. When we came back we got our table and we are glad we ate at Loveless. Our waiter was really good. First he brought a plate full of biscuits and jams which are amazing. He recommended the blue plates special which every Saturday is a BBQ chicken and also the fried chicken for which Loveless is famous for. Both were really really good.
(4)Zee M.
I do enjoy a loveless day once in a while, provided it's here. That being said, Country Ham is touted as the go-to at the LC and, well folks...to me, it tastes like a belt that's been brined overnight. And I was born in this state. And I don't even mean LC's take on it...I just have difficulty eating anything that proves someone hybridized a pig's glutes and Lot's wife. So, I opt for other things. It's hard to find a restaurant that serves gizzards and my first try here left me taken aback, for the soaking of same in buttermilk or whatever renders them indistinguishable from livers (which I am capable of ordering, should I deign to). Nevertheless, I return periodically and occasionally delve into the livery gizzard plate. Someone labels LC a tourist trap, I see, and it's a little more that than it was formerly...something about having the extra space making it seem a bit less down home and more commercially comfy. It was more fun to fight for for seating. You could barely walk through the place to the bathroom. Best thing there? Blackberry preserves, then biscuits...as if you'd have either without the other. It remains a pleasant stopover. We occasionally come here before visiting Chaffin for a play or two, since they're neighbors. Recommended, but if you've got other plans, it'll be there when you get back.
(3)Chocolate C.
The Loveless is off the Natchez Trace Parkway a few miles from Leiper's Fork/Franklin TN. There's not much around it, so it's definitely a "destination" trip. The café is in a house surrounded by the original 1940's era Loveless roadside motel (the rooms have been turned into shops selling Loveless memorabilia, pottery, antiques, etc). If you go, it'll be to say you've been to one of the south's well known attractions and not necessarily for the diner-style food. The famous complimentary biscuits are "okay". I ordered a well done cheeseburger, which came burnt and very dry with melted slices of plain American cheese. The crinkle fries were good, though. The presentation of the brownies we ordered could use improvement, as we sort of expected they'd be on a plate, slightly warmed, with maybe a dollop of whipped cream or something. Instead, they were tossed onto the table wrapped in saran wrap. Fortunately, they were good. The Loveless isn't somewhere I'd go on a regular basis, but will take out of town guests who want to see an iconic southern sight.
(3)Joi M.
I enjoyed my meal at the Loveless Cafe. Fried chicken and biscuits! I loved the strawberry preserves and bought a jar! Arriving at 9, the restaurant was not as crowded as shown on the many travel and food shows that feature the place! However by noon a tour bus full of senior citizens pulled into the parking lot and the place quickly became packed. I purchased some items from the general store and walked around the grounds stopping at all the shops in the back! The waitress and hostess were courteous and cheerful! I liked looking at all the celebrity pictures and reading the articles throughout the restaurant. The strawberry rhubarb pie was good but in my to go container the strawberry juice spilled out. Next time I am in Nashville I will return to the Loveless Cafe!
(4)Josh J.
You can get better food at a chain restaurant. Not worth the over an hour wait time. Neat place to see, but eat somewhere else.
(2)Paggy W.
We came on a Friday morning around 9:30am and there was NO wait at all, which was really great (the last time I came, it was a Saturday noon-ish time and we had to wait about 2 hours). Our waitress was really friendly and attentive and we were served their famous biscuits with three flavors of jam right away (strawberry, blackberry and peach). This kept us happy while we perused the menu. I ended up ordering the "City" ham and eggs with cheesy grits and their savory creamy white gravy with sausage (Delicious!!) and my friend ordered the fried chicken with hashbrown casserole and friend green tomatoes. We also asked for some red eye gravy to try and our waitress brought it out right away - not my favorite, but it was interesting to try. The City ham was a nice thick cut and it was done just right. I had the Country ham last time and it was way too salty for my taste so I'll be sticking with the City ham going forward, which is cured in sugar but still salty too. The eggs were also done perfectly, not overcooked/burnt and the gravy with sausage went really well with the ham and eggs as well as the biscuits. At the end, we couldn't finish everything so I decided to doggy-bag it and had asked our waitress for a couple more biscuits to take home and she brought me four :-) The service is definitely awesome and the homey feeling of the place completes the experience. For the times when you do have to wait to get seated, there are plenty of shops to visit in the lot and there's also free lemonade/iced tea around somewhere. I'll definitely be going back and bringing friends to Loveless!
(5)Jennifer R.
We stopped here on our drive from Nashville to Memphis. I liked the experience here, but didn't absolutely love the food. If I could just rate the biscuits, they would get 5 stars. Even on a Monday around 10am, this place was still pretty crowded. Our server was very nice, but the service was super slow. We got two plates of biscuits, one before our food came and one when our food came. We split the Southern omelette and country ham. The omelette was average and the ham was flavorful, but a little dry. The biscuits were perfection - not too big or buttery, and just a little flaky. Melt in your mouth deliciousness. They also have some shops on site, where they sell some of their preserves and mixes. Worth a visit for the experience for sure!
(3)Aaron W.
I cried when I found pulled pork that I enjoyed more than my own. George rolls in at 3:30 and starts smoking meat, for the love of god. I know this because that's when we showed up...and waited until they opened. George was real friendly to three random men showing up at the smokehouse before dawn, looking for BBQ. He was cool with us napping in the car and playing catch in the parking lot. We were the first ones in the door and they throw biscuits in your face when you get inside, served with homemade jams that makes Smucker's look like Suckers. BOO-YA. George swears by the biscuits and I won't say he's wrong. They were excellent. The exact moment my life changed is easy to recall, it's the second the pulled pork hoe cakes arrived; heaping, steaming, and screaming at my soul. People, the pork melted in my mouth. Has that ever happened to you? Be real here. Oh, the service was good and the staff was friendly. They hooked up a free plate of biscuits and jam to go as we left. We also shared a nice conversation on Chicago style pizza which they adore; I think after the food and service a frozen za should find it's way to Loveless from "the boys who went camping." A true labor that is not without love produces a product that fills my heart and tummy tum tum with the truest form of adoration.
(5)Lisa B.
Touristy? Sure. Long wait? Always. Out of the way? From most places, yes. But WORTH IT. This is another one of those Nashville staples that I had never tried until recently. I always had some reason to talk myself out of going, but no more. Even on a week day around brunch we had a 45 minute wait, and that was even after calling ahead 45 minutes earlier. Granted, it was the week after Christmas, so I'm sure lots of people were off work and tourism was at a seasonal high. TIP: CALL AHEAD. You can't make a reservation, but you can go ahead and get your name on the list before you get there to cut your wait time. There are several cute little shops to keep you busy while you wait, but don't except to buy much unless you want overpriced souvenir trinkets. It's the kind of stuff that's fun to browse, but that's about it. One exception: You will be purchasing preserves to take home after you've tried them. Trust me. The blackberry preserves will change your life. Now the food... As you've no doubt heard, the biscuits are amazing. How amazing can a biscuit be, you may ask? Pretty damn amazing. Slather them with a healthy load of butter and the above-mentioned blackberry preserves and that could be a meal in and of itself. Since it's not socially acceptable to eat an entire meal of free biscuits (which will keep coming until you say the word), your plate will likely be piled with various meats and other artery clogging deliciousness. I had some sort of breakfast platter with eggs and lots of tasty meat... The exact contents of my meal is a little fuzzy due in part to the food coma I was left in and in part to the moonshine. Yes, I said moonshine. Moonshine is a relatively new feature at Loveless. We were told it's typically served in small souvenir mason jars, but they were out of those, so we got regular sized ordinary mason jars, which means we got drunk. If this happens to you, the shops are also a good place to walk off your buzz before getting back in the car. There were a number of moonshine cocktails to choose from, from bloody mary, to various juice mixers... I went with orange juice and it was delicious. I know this place gets hyped up a lot, but it does not disappoint. Just remember to call ahead and be prepared to wait anyway. As long as you aren't an impatient pants and don't mind making a morning/afternoon of the trip, it's definitely worth it.
(5)kelli s.
Every time I visit Nashville this is always my first stop. Being from Chicago, I don't get good southern food often. I always get the Southern platter with a choice of three meats and two sides. The complimentary biscuits are amazing and so are the berry preserves it comes with. The catfish is perfect, turnip greens were delicious. I can't find anything to complain about except for it being so far away from where I live.
(5)Kathy F.
Grilled smoked pork chops are to die for..... Biscuits were not as good as the hype.
(4)Jennifer W.
Cute sign caught my eye to drive way out of the way to try on the road trip home. What I found is a renovated restaurant that is quaint compared to Cracker Barrel. Unfortunately, the service to order is terrible!!! Takes too long to get there attention, they don't help you understand what's good here. After placing the order, it took MUCH too long to arrive. We should have just left after the 45 minute wait for our food but had hopes it would be good with all these reviews.. The Southern Omelet that Dad expected to be a Country ham omelette had a bunch of other things he did not want in it and the cheese was cold and not even melted from it's shredded state. And this omelet made him very ill later in the day. He was really sick after eating here. Somalia? The biscuits are really small. The odd thing was when I ordered biscuits & gravy, the order came without biscuits. I received a bowel of gravy with no biscuits. When I asked for some biscuits, they told me to use the 3 cold ones which sat on our table for the 35+ minute wait. I figured they were heading back to bring us some fresh warm biscuits while I ate these cold ones left on our table. We needed biscuits for our 2 other plates of food. Unfortunately, after trying to flag down a woman for help of the 4+ women circulating next to the waitress station next to us, they finally arrived after our eggs were then cold. My daughter would then not eat her breakfast with cold eggs. The waitresses need to brush up on hospitality and prompt service. (Where is the Southern Hospitality?) They need to give more attention to the begining of a meal & during the meal. The best service was to get our credit card and back for payment. Which was odd after such poor service throughout the meal. I am so sorry we stopped. This took much longer for expecting something better.
(1)Elliott W.
The go to tourist spot is also a go to business breakfast spot. On weekdays there's usually no wait and a great breakfast menu. Just like Pucketts but better. I've never had a breakfast pork BBQ biscuit, but Loveless delivered. I could have had a couple, and for the size of a biscuit you pay for a sandwich, so I limited to one. But it was good, and even though I'm quite sure the pork was at least from yesterday's batch, it was tender, well flavored with a real smoke flavor and a sweet and lightly tangy sauce. I'd love to taste a fresh batch. The not-so-new ownership kept the charm while stepping up the menu and cleaning up the place.
(4)TruthSeeker T.
Place is overrated and lame. 2hr plus waiting and the food looks average.
(1)Ike W.
If your staying in Nashville and deciding if you should drive all the way out, the answer is yes. The biscuits alone are worth it.
(4)Jim G.
One of my favorite spots in Nashville - a bit kitschy, but lots of fun and delicious home cooking. Always a long wait, but also lot of things to keep you occupied in the process.
(4)Alex L.
Best biscuits and fried chicken I've had in my life. There should be no contemplation about this place; just go!
(5)Steven H.
I asked for some yellow mustard with my biscuits and they brought it to me......umhumm.
(5)John G.
I was not impressed with the Loveless Cafe. Most items on the menu are fried or heavily buttered. We couldn't find the waitress with a Geiger counter, so trying to get a refill on our beverages was an exercise in futility. I understand the "down-homey" allure of the joint - they broadcast a country music radio show in the barn adjacent to the restaurant. I have been told the radio show is hit or miss - unfortunately, it was a complete miss on the the night I was there. They had some decent local beers available, but aside from that it was only cheap domestics. The wine selection is not very good at all. Everyone raves about the biscuits - I've had better. It's probably just not my scene, but I found the Loveless Cafe to be wholly overrated.
(1)Zelda S.
Yes I am a fan of Loveless and get silly when walking in the front door. Could be the checkered table cloths that triggers instant salivation. Mmmm we're talking fresh made biscuits and peach and strawberry preserve as starters and lots of down home meat and three to follow. Yessireedy Yesindeedy I love this place. While on a holiday from Australia I came saw and ate here and I love it for its down home vibe. It's usually crowded and it's typical to wait for a table to be ready. No problem cos there's a grocery and gift store perfect to kill time and stock up on some neat gifts and souveniers. While waiting to be seated I got me some grand souvineers that travelled well from Nashville to Sydney and back again. Got a nifty red guitar-shaped fly swatter and an oven mit. Still got em and have swatted a few Australian and Nashville flies too so these work just dandy. OK back to the food. Delicious. Smoked ham, turkey, fried chicken and all the usual suspect sides. Got tourists and visitors? Take them to Loveless.
(4)Elena S.
6:30 pm Monday night, 11/3/14, party of 3. Longish drive from downtown Nashville in pitch darkness/DST over. No wait; lots of empty tables. Blue Plate Special SOLD OUT, as were some other items. My ribs were good. Others loved the biscuits & took leftovers for picnic next day, along with leftovers of the fried half-chicken (very good). Fried green tomatoes/tasteless -- I prefer Bobby & Paula Deen's recipe. Pieces of pie are TINY/5 bites for $3.95 - confusing description of the 2 chocolate pies: chess pie vs fudge pie -- whatever it was, it was good, just not enough. $13.95 for Bloody Mary (with souvenir jug) that wasn't good enough to finish. Very nice service people. Glad I went (missed it last trip) so I can stop thinking about it. I wouldn't go back except under duress -- or to enjoy a DAYTIME drive in the beautiful Tennessee countryside -- but the back roads are nicer. So maybe "never" is more like it.
(2)Christina P.
It's been 6 months since I went to the Loveless and I'm counting down the days til I can return. Everything we ordered amazing: Southern sampler, country ham, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes and of course biscuits and jam!! As an NJ resident, dreaming of returning, keep up with Loveless Cafe on social media, they are very interactive and post beautiful food pictures that have me checking the prices on flights to Nashville on a regular basis!
(5)Paul Q.
Hands down the best restaurant for Southern food for me! I am not actually a big fan of southern food, but I enjoyed every bit of experience at Loveless cafe. The friends that came with me that night came from different states in the country and they all enjoyed everything they ordered. But one thing stood out: their BISCUITS! The biscuits were so fluffy, buttery in a good way and melt-in-your-mouth soft! The different preserves on the table were so good but I love the blackberry the best. You could just have as many biscuits you like and I think I had more than 10 on top of my big meal (the servicing size is huge too!). I just can't stop eating their biscuits, it was that good! To add to the wonderful dining experience, the servers were very friendly and they have a store where you could buy their biscuit mix and homemade preserves/jams. A definite must-try in Nashville!
(5)J L.
Just as good as I had dreamed it would be. We went on a Monday which was a holiday and waited about an hour but it was worth it! Biscuits and jams are incredible, wonderful ham and pulled pork, amazing side dishes and incredible service. We had Jessica waiting on us and she was just lovely! Thanks Loveless Cafe!
(5)Amy B.
We thought this was the best food we have ever had! The wait was a little long, but we occupied our time outdoors and in the shop. Our waiter was very nice -- a perfect gentleman. Worth the trip.
(5)Josie K.
Reservations are a must for breakfast. The ham, biscuits and blackberry preserves are enough to make me fly back to Tennessee. The country grits tasted a lot like my mother's. Lots of memorabilia all over. Cute little shops around the property.
(5)Queen B.
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon! Wonderful, flavor-ful bacon and eggs. Pork chops, brisket, ham! Truly wonderful fresh foods abound at this cute little historical eatery. Several of us went here because they were advertising buy 3 pkgs of bacon and get one free. How could we resist? Cute place, very crowded, no reservations, you have to wait for a table. In the meantime, walk around, take photos, check out the gift shop.. plenty of parking. I will give them 5 stars - the day they start offering gluten free biscuits. It is time to get with the times and realize that thousands and thousands of people cannot eat wheat products.
(3)Ashli D.
I cannot say enough good things about this place...the food and the service are amazing!!! The pancakes and biscuits are out of this world! Their biscuits are as close to my grandmother's homemade biscuits as I've ever had anywhere. The pancakes have an amazing smell and are so filling you can't eat them all. The homemade jelly is so good too. The pace is always busy. If you go on a weekend, go early because the wait will be over an hour. When I went during the week there wasn't a wait for breakfast. The shops where they sell some of their jelly, bacon, pancake and biscuit mixes is great! They have some unique items and a catalog for mail order. Definitely a place you must try!
(5)Mark B.
I wish I could of just gotten the biscuits. We were driving from Chicago to Orlando and my wife insisted we stop at Loveless for dinner so I humored her. It is in the middle of nowhere but thankfully it was during the week and we had no wait. I was excited as my wife and kids had been there before and my daughter always wears her 'Got biscuits' shirt and now I know why. I wasn't sure what to get so I order the sampler which was fried chicken, ham and BBQ pork. My wife got Fried chicken. Thankfully, they brought out the biscuits right when you sit down and they are 5 star delicious. They were hot, light fluffy and I could of ate 6 of them but I saved room for dinner. The ham was insanely salty, the pork was tender but drenched in a just fair sauce and the fried chicken was juicy but tasteless. My wife agreed that the chicken was smoking fresh out of the frier but truly was missing any really seasoning The mac n cheese side was good also. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the traffic.
(2)Mimi P.
Hubby and I came here in October to check out their fried chicken. We were pleasantly surprised to be served complimentary homemade biscuits and jams which were all delicious! The chicken did not disappoint either ... the coating was golden brown crispy and juicy. It's a very popular place for tourists so there was a wait to get seated but they had many shops to keep people entertained. Very friendly service!
(4)Jennifer P.
I must say... I was pretty disappointed in Loveless. My supper club came here last week and after dreaming of biscuits for an uncomfortably long time, we were sad to see our biscuits come out and be the size of silver dollars. Our waitress also boned me on the cost because I asked for biscuits, a side of gravy, egg whites and bacon and she charged me for 2 meals (a huge eggs, potatoes and bacon meal and a biscuit and gravy meal) instead of just doing it a la carte like I wanted. It also didn't taste special to me. I though this was supposed to be the IT place for breakfast and Southern food. I could of made better breakfast on a hot plate. Why is this place such a hit with tourists? The hashbrown casserole was far too cheesy, the biscuits were small, the gravy was too thick and my egg whites weren't cooked all the way. This place, overall, just left a bad taste in my mouth. The watermelon drink with the moonshine side car was the only great part about my visit.
(2)Dean A.
I've eaten here since 1996 wouldn't give it 5 stars due to the popularity of the restaurant and the wait times most encounter, food is pretty good but very overhyped. A must try for non-veterans but go on a weekday.
(4)Fanny P.
Perhaps there's a lot of people who don't know how to cook, so Loveless seems wonderful. If that's your case, enjoy the food. It's fair-to middling. But if you are a good cook (Southern-style) then there's little here you can't cook better yourself. It's a Crackerbarrel (another fair-to middling place) under a different roof. Much more touristy and trendy for those who prefer style over substance. Fame has changed the Loveless - just not for the better. If you must go, realize that this is not the Loveless Cafe of the past, but just another eatery with a history living on faded glory.
(2)Wendy G.
The Loveless Cafe is what roadside dining is all about. Formerly a cafe & hotel for travelers on the Nashville/Natchez Trace, the hotel went by the wayside - but the cafe continues to serve top notch classic southern comfort food. Best known for their biscuits, Bobby Flay attempted to 'Throwdown' with the owner and cook - and was handily beaten. We had the fried chicken with sides and of course biscuits with their blackberry jam. So good! Sides were also yummy - mac and cheese (traditional and creamy) and their creamed corn. When at a classic diner, how could we resist not getting a slice of pie? We split a slice of the Fudge Pie, man it was amazing. We got their after 1pm on Monday, but here was still at least a 30-40 minute wait. We browsed the local gift shop nearby while we waited for a table, but have heard that the wait can be much longer on the weekends. Great food for a visit to Nashville or on your way in/out of town.
(4)Anna L.
We had to wait on a weeknight, but that's kind of expected with the Loveless Cafe. The biscuits are delicious, and our service was awesome. She was very helpful and friendly. Everything on the menu sounds so great and well-priced. The homemade creamed corn was top-notch! I'll have to go next time for breakfast!
(4)Dan S.
The breakfast was awesome. We went back a month later. I had the watermelon ribs, they were not that good. I will go back for breakfast but don't think I will for dinner.
(3)Garrett B.
Great southern food. Okra was OKAY but I am more of a flash fry with cornmill kinda okra guy. Biscuits are solid. Dumplings were the "scoops" which is okay but I feel like the "strips" of dumplings is what they are all about. I had the BBQ sandwich which is PRETTY DARN GOOD. Highly recommend!
(4)Allison B.
I was raised in a family of good Southern cooks, so anytime that I eat at a meat and 3 I have high expectations. Loveless exceeded them. The biscuits were perfect. They were light and fluff and buttery. Everything I love in biscuit. Everything my friend and I had was wonderful. I especially like the hashbrown casserole. It was was full of sharp cheddar cheese, but not greasy. The green beans seemed to have a little vinegar i them, just like my Aunt Rita's green beans. We went on a Thursday night and there wasn't a wait. I imagine on the weekends its really busy. The service was great. We got our food in about 5 minutes and our glasses were always full. The Loveless isn't the kind of place I would go all the time, but it was fun. It is a little out of the way and kinda touristy, but it was good. The biscuits are so good!
(4)Jennifer P.
I have been to Loveless Cafe twice. Both times I have been extremely pleased. They have wonderful staff and quick service! Now don't get me wrong, it might take an hour for you to get a seat, but when you're seated you get served real quick! The biscuits and jam alone make the restaurant worth going to eat!
(4)Jessica P.
Amazing southern cuisine! We dined at Loveless for breakfast, which was absolutely delicious. I ordered the Biscuit Sampler Platter with cheese grits. It came with 4 slider size biscuit sandwiches of pulled pork, fried chicken, medium rare steak, and ham. All deliciously seasoned and cooked perfectly. The cheese grits were also really tasty. This meal really hit the spot. My boyfriend ordered the half order ham & eggs with hash brown casserole. After he tasted my pulled pork, he wished he'd ordered the pulled pork & eggs. Regardless, he enjoyed his meal and I couldn't help but sample the delicious hash brown casserole. We were visiting from out of town, so we were excited to buy their cookbook, available for purchase in their gift store. I'm still thinking about just how tasty this meal was & can't wait to make some of the dishes at home!
(5)Cynthia T.
One of our good friends who LOVES food came into town so I brought him for a taste of the Loveless Cafe! This is an update so check my first review for more details. When we sat down at 6:50pm, we learned that their daily special (Chicken and dumplings on this particular Wednesday) was out already. My friend wanted to try it so that was a minor disappointing start to our meal but with so many other delicious options, we weren't sad for long. Some updates on the food experience: Pulled pork - tender, flaky (shreds apart), smokey and flavorful. It was much more moist this time! Fried chicken - crispy, moist but lacked flavor inside with good seasoning on the outside Fried catfish - squeeze a little lemon on the top, a little dip into the tartar sauce and yes, the bombness in your mouth. A lowlight was having undercooked hush puppies served to me but the server quickly replaced it with another requested side (creamed corn). Fried okra, Mac 'n Cheese, and sweet peach tea rounded out the meal. Note to self for future orders, I don't like their turnip greens - a bit bland with a kick of pepper/spice. Tip: It's always good to call ahead for a shorter wait time. Extra: my friend is really into smoking stuff so we stopped by their smoker and were allowed to take a peek into how they make their smoked meats.
(4)Myra E.
Seriously amazing! We made the drive here as we were passing thru Nashville. This was worth he wait as the restaurant was clean, service was top-notch and the food was outstanding! I ordered poached eggs to go along with my biscuits, and was impressed they even attempted to poach an egg and they were able to do so with precision.
(5)Mallory S.
I love Loveless. It's a great place for a tourist to experience a country-style breakfast. I had the ham, red eye gravy, with two eggs and hash. The hash is the best because it is cheesy and creamy (definitely not healthy, but delicious)! Coffee is typical diner coffee (nothing special but cheap). I think my favorite part (besides the hash) is the biscuit and jam plate! YUM! I have only been to Nashville twice, but I will continue to stop at Loveless anytime I'm in town.
(4)Anthony M.
A Nashville tradition must do if visiting. The lines are long, the service is friendly, but not professional, and the food falls between good and great. I think it is the history and location that makes this a favorite weekend bfast experience for everyone that comes and visit us.
(4)Ivan S.
Long ago, I used to deny my touristy nature. Call it the arrogance of youth. Call it growing up in Central Florida where tourists are tolerated like mosquitoes and alligators--a part of life, but you don't want to associate with them. As I've grown older, I've accepted that when I leave town, I'm a tourist. I do touristy things, I eat touristy food. No, not Ruby Tuesday's or Olive Garden. That's just dumb. But I will mire myself in what is otherwise known as a "tourist trap." And I'll smile and drink overpriced soft drinks and buy the postcard while I'm at it. And thus began mine and my wife's visit to uber tourist trap The Loveless Cafe. Originally an old eatery tucked into a motel off the Natchez Trace Parkway, it's since expanded out to the remaining buildings in the motel that now include a food gift shop, a gag-laden trinkets store, a bike shop, an art gallery and a concert hall. You'll be glad for the distractions when you're told to wait an hour (or more) for a table. (Don't worry, the beepers they give you cover the entire grounds.) By the way, since we were eating here on the 4th of July, we were told that the wait wasn't that bad for a weekend. Oy. Nevertheless, we were in full tourist mode and the waiting seemed par for the course. But what were we waiting for? Well, based on our orders, a ham steak with red eye gravy breakfast plate and a Bacon, Lettuce and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. I honestly wished I could have tried some of the other dishes, but we'd had a huge breakfast and had to order small. (OK, RELATIVELY small.) My BLT was great. The fried green tomato was thick, the outer coating (corn meal) crispy. A few (hipster) places here in ATL also serve this same dish, but the Loveless version beats them by an, ahem, country mile. My greens were tasty, but I prefer mine a little more spicy and a little less sweet. I guess that's what the pepper sauce is for. My wife selected the ham steak. Being gluten-free, she wasn't able to pick from much more of the menu nor was she able to enjoy the biscuits. Nevertheless, the ham steak was thick cut and as salty as you'd expect. The wife, a big coffee fan, ordered the redeye gravy and was alternated pleased and repulsed by it. As a NON-coffee fan, I was just repulsed, but that's just redeye gravy in general and not Loveless' serving. And to the biscuits....as a biscuit connoisseur I can definitely tell you these aren't drop biscuits. The wife's granny, an old southern lady who I think was around during the War of Northern Aggression, taught the wife how to make drop biscuits, so that's her frame of reference. I, on the other hand, am more familiar with the flaky, layered kind and these were THAT version. That said, I love Loveless' biscuits. My wife, gluten-free though she may be, cheated a little and had a nibble. She declared them good (even better with sorghum preserves on them), but not as good as granny's. I've got to disagree. Sorry, Granny-in-law, I know you drop it like it's hot, but I gotta side with Loveless here. Four stars.
(4)Todd M.
This is an excellent place. We went on a Saturday and, honestly, did not expect to get in anytime soon, but we were up for the wait. We have wanted to go for some time now. While waiting we toured the little shops on the campus and found several very cool Christmas presents for friends and family (NOT the corn pone stuff at that Country yatta yatta joint). The service was excellent. The food was wonderful and the biscuits to die for. One of the 10 best breakfast joints EVER!
(5)Byron W.
We visited some friends in Nashville and my wife suggested we check-out Loveless Cafe. Apparently, a lot of famous people eat (or have eaten) here. I'm always down for checking-out local favorites, so off we went. After reading a number of reviews here on Yelp, it was obvious Loveless was famous for two things: fried chicken and biscuits. Before I go any further, let me say that I grew up in the South. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet tea and bread have been a regular part of my diet for as long as I can remember. To say that I was disappointed in the fried chicken and biscuits would be an understatement. Some of the reviewers have commented that Cracker Barrel has nothing on Loveless' biscuits. Are you kidding me?! Not only are Cracker Barrel's biscuits better, their fried chicken puts Loveless' to shame as well. Loveless even messed-up their sweet tea. A "southern food" establishment that can't get sweet tea right?! Wow... I will say that the food wasn't bad. However, I cannot tell you it was good. It was "okay". It was edible. But, no, I didn't ask for a to go box. Their creamed corn was fine and the mashed potatoes were better than instant. My wife had their chicken fingers, which were okay at best. Her homemade chicken fingers puts Loveless to shame. Her homemade biscuits put Loveless to shame. And her sweet tea (even on a bad day) puts Loveless' to shame. Come to think of it, if this place is so "famous", maybe my wife should open a restaurant... Save your drive and find a local Cracker Barrel (until I find an alternate local southern food establishment to recommend). Previous owners must have done things differently. I have no other explanation for the reputation this place has...
(3)Gai P.
Pretty solid breakfast joint though not extraordinary given all the fanfare. You'll wait a long time so be prepared. There isn't a place close by that sells adult beverages. Maybe bring a flask or a cooler to help pass time. Don't have a group of more than 4 to get seated faster.
(3)Diana J.
Biscuits were phenomenal, and they keep 'em coming! Fried chicken was absolutely delicious too, though 2 pieces of the dark meat was enough for me as I still preferred the biscuits with their peach jam. Ice tea is nothing special though. Bought peach jam to go and their biscuit mix - I'd definitely go back if I'm ever in town!
(5)Vincent Y.
Pancakes were great; meat was super salty and tough (for us northerners); and the jam was utterly delicious. But remember that wait time is around 2 hours for a seat in the place. IT gets lots and lots of press. The prices were also pretty high.
(3)David O.
Loveless is without question the place to go if you want the very best, most authentic Southern Food you can get in the area. Very little more needs to be said. It remains an institution not to be missed. If you have the means, I highly recommend trying it out.
(4)Rami B.
It was a fun place! I go to Nashville once a year, and wanted to check this place out! The biscuits are so good. The has brown casserole and mac and cheese were delicious. The chicken is so crispy and really good! The sweet tea is a must in Tennessee!
(4)Joshua B.
Could I love the Loveless, less? I hope I never love it less than I currently love the loveless - because I love it a whole lot! Biscuits and jam...There...there is something I've been meaning to ask you. I mean, I'm a little shy sometimes so I don't quite know how to put this - but, I'd love to be in a long term relationship with you. You make me feel warm inside and make my tongue happy ever time we meet. And breakfast meat and potatoes - and I'm speaking to all of you - you are just fantastic. I really have nothing bad to say about any of you. But, psst - crispy bacon and home fried potatoes - don't tell your brothers and sisters - I love you more than them. And to you, Pit Cooked Pork BBQ - I don't see you as often as I should - but I do love you immensely. I still think about the first time we met and your tangy, sweet bbq sauce along with your soft, porky goodness brought you to my lips. You have kept me coming back again and again. It's too bad you and I along with the biscuits and jam and bacon and fried potatoes can't all live together in bliss. Maybe one of these days when the world isn't so judgmental we'll be able to live together on one plate of blissfulness. But until then - I'll have to rotate you out on my visits to the Loveless. There is something I want to say to the Mimosa's as well - you have helped me out on more sunday mornings than I'd like to admit. Long story short - I love the Loveless Cafe. Sure, it can be quite a wait - but there is usually plenty to do while waiting. There are several shops around the loveless. Curious Heart Emporium - I could spend an hour in there alone. And last time I was in there I saw Al Gore walking around. Truly the Loveless Cafe is an original. Its great, scratch made food and biscuits and jams make it stand out from the crowd. Everyone has their preferences for food. Some will love it, some will simply think its 'ok'. But as of right now - I hope I never come to love "The Loveless", less.
(5)Ian R.
Out of sight. This place is absolutely worth the 20 minute drive from Nashville, and still worth it even if you aren't into breakfast places. I can't remember the last time I ate ham for breakfast, but was glad I ordered the City Ham here - a half inch thick slab of ham lightly glazed with brown sugar that you could just barely taste a hint of. I'm not kidding about the thickness, my girlfriend commented on the size of the slab and I insisted that it was two slices. Upon closer examination I was shocked to see it was one continuous piece of swine and I needed to use the steak knife they gave me. My girlfriend got the biscuit platter and was floored by it. Biscuits should be the name of this place, since they bring you so many and they are just the right size and flavor. the preserves they bring with it set the flavor off just right, and to top this all off the coffee was decent. With the ham I got a side of eggs which were clearly powdered, so if I venture back I will definitely have to try a different side item. Portions are huge, so don't bother ordering extra sides or filling up on biscuits.
(5)John P.
Loved it! We showed up on Monday around 2 and were advised that a 40 minute wait was head of us. Really we only waited about 20 minutes and during that time there was plenty to check out on the property. I ordered the fried chicken and my fiancée got the pulled pork. Both were absolutely amazing. The biscuits and sides all were just great. I got a sweet tea and a shot of moonshine. Go big or go home right. Portions are large and our waitress was super nice. I have nothing but good things to say about loveless. My only regret is I won't get to try everything.
(5)Perry B.
Great place to eat. Servers were very friendly and made us feel at home. We had left overs and our waitress gave us some ice so we could pack it for our 3 hr trip home! The portions are plenty...the biscuits were wonderful. The homemade preserves were also great. Everything you can ask for in a place to eat some good southern cooking .... We are going back to try breakfast!
(5)Bekki M.
You don't get the true Nashville experience if you don't make the short drive down to the Loveless Cafe while you're there. I would suggest going at an off-peak time though, the wait can get very long if you go right at lunch and dinnertime. You can do call-ahead seating to get your name on the waiting list if you call an hour in advance. The biscuits are AWESOME. So good. Both of us ordered the fried chicken, and while it was cooked well we were disappointed that there seemed to be hardly any seasoning on the skin. Other than that the rest of our meals were very good; the creamed corn, caramel sweet potatoes, cucumber and onions in vinegar (which I don't get very often in Ohio but they're one of my favorites) and the hashbrown casserole. We will definitely go back, but will order something other than the chicken.
(4)Jason B.
i shouldn't have to write a single word but the only thing i'll say is get the sampler platter and the fried green tomatoes. also i am living proof you can eat 5 biscuits and finish off your entire sampler platter. it hurt so so so good. GO NOW. JUST LEAVE AND STOP READING THIS! WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS top 10 places in the US for me and thats coming from a food whore. JEANS: OK by far ORDER: waitress
(5)Corey G.
I've been wanting try Loveless since moving to Nashville back in December but have been deterred by the long typical long waits for one of Nashville's most famous breakfast foods location. However, I recently figured out that the secret is getting there before 9:30 on the weekends prior to the rest of the crowd. I had the Famous Loveless Full Country Ham platter and soon discovered it was famous for a reason! My girlfriend eyes lit up over the enormous portion as our server delivered my country ham to the table. The slice of ham was very thick and cooked very well, i preferred my country ham a little bit saltier and cured a tad bit longer but this is nothing I couldn't solve with a salt shaker. The biscuits and homemade jams were served to us before our meal came out and were the perfect fix to settle our premeal hunger. I will be ping back to try their cured bacon and smoked sausage in the near future.
(4)Linda B.
Great food, fun watching biscuits being made, and an interesting store to browse. Fun for the whole family.
(5)Catherine T.
Coming from Toronto this restaurant provided a lot of firsts for us. Biscuits, grits, fried green tomatoes, moonshine, barbecue, and hash brown casserole were great ( well to be honest we each only took a sip of the blueberry moonshine and that was enough!) but we loved the food and loved the experience. The drive back to Nashville was amazing along the Natchez Trail. We will return when we are lucky enough to come back to Nashville.
(5)Jess Y.
I think Loveless Cafe is just one of those names that gets thrown out when people ask, "Where should I take my (friend, parents, etc) when they come in town?" It's just one of those classics where you can get homemade Southern cooking that everyone knows about. I had been there once before and I must have had a good experience because I always looked at Loveless with a fond light and even tried to take my family when they came in town but it was way too over-crowded to get a seat. All that being said, however, when I visited this past weekend, I wasn't blown away. Maybe my taste buds have changed, or maybe they had an off-night, or maybe my standards are higher now that I've tried some other places too. Regardless, I thought it was fairly decent but not life-changing. We got the family-style dinner which gives you all-you-can-eat two meats, three sides, biscuits, and a drink for everyone. It seemed a bit pricey for the quality, however. The fried chicken was dry and not that flavorful. The pulled pork was pretty good: juicy and yummy bbq sauce. The sweet potatoes had a good flavor: sweet with a little citrus kick; but, I was turned off by their lifeless and watery appearance. I would say the highlights from the meal were the creamed corn and fried okra. I love fried okra and these were great: not over-breaded, lightly seasoned, and yummy. The biscuits were alright, too, and I liked that they brought out three different fresh jams to try it with: peach, blackberry, and strawberry. The blackberry jam was delicious: fresh, chunked with real bits of blackberry goodness, and not overpoweringly sweet. Yum. The interior is extremely casual and it gets really crowded on the weekends--so watch out! Overall, I think Monell's is a better family-style Southern food venue and more worth the price. I'd probably come here again--maybe to try the breakfast, but I didn't think the family-style was worth it.
(3)Matthew A.
We decided to check out the Loveless Cafe after hearing much fanfare about it. Needless to say I was ecstatic to get there and try the biscuits and friend chicken. I'm not sure if our inflated expectations made the meal a disappointment, or if the food was truly that "meh". I ordered the meatloaf platter. And it tasted just like any meatloaf I've eaten before. Nothing stood out. I took samples of the pulled pork as well as fried chicken from others at my table. Once again, edible, but nothing special. I noticed a distinct lack of seasoning on everything. A little salt would have gone a long way in making the meal more enjoyable. Even the biscuits that had received so much fanfare left a little to be desired. I will say that the preserves were some of the best that I have ever tried. Long story short, I believe that the Loveless Cafe may have once been great, but at this point it's a restaurant living on its name alone.
(3)Renata P.
This is a cute little piece of Nashville history. Worth a visit. The biscuits here were the best I've ever had... anywhere... The rest of the food (a country breakfast) was decent. However, the sweet tea and the Steeplechase pie? Excellent. I'm not a fan of pecan pie normally but this one was a small taste of heaven. I'd go back for the pie, biscuits, and tea. Definitely!
(4)Tracey H.
Good biscuits! Yum!
(4)Faith L.
Awesome: fried chicken, biscuits, sides, pies, service, gift shop, and decor. GO! We got seated next to a painting of the Biscuit Lady herself, so plus a million stars.
(5)Heather F.
The Loveless Cafe is one of those Nashville restaurants that is well known even outside of Nashville. It has appeared on tons of TV food shows such as the Food Network (more than once) and when you step foot into their hostess room you will find the walls covered with autographed pictures of celebrities who have eaten here from decades gone by. Of course this is the Ultimate meat-and-three place in Nashville. Down home cooking at its finest is right here. When you are seated the first thing you get is a plate of home-made biscuits complete with 3 different jellies. The menu is filled with comfort food such as fried chicken, mac and cheese and hash. It is impossible to pick something bad off of their menu so go with what sounds good and you will love it. Like most meat and three places in Nash (and the South) you can order sweet tea here. Be sure to check out the shop next door which sells delicious home goods such as Loveless Cafe's jams and honey. I purchased a few things for my 90 year old Me Ma who loved it.
(5)Lindsay K.
EAT HERE!! We had a party of six and I tried almost everything that was ordered so I can tell you this is some of the best food I have ever had....and I'm a food snob from Dallas! The only thing on the table I didn't like was the country ham, it was very salty. Here is the low down - Best meats: BBQ Pork & Meatloaf Best sides: Hashbrown casserole and cream corn (both AMAZING) and of course their famous biscuits Best dessert: Turtle Pie
(5)Jackie T.
The wait can be long, but it is worth it. Waitstaff is always very friendly and quick with your order. Be warned, there is no end to the bringing of biscuits. But you should alert them to stop because you won't have any room for your food. I could probably sit here and eat the biscuits all day. The waffles and pancakes are incredibly hearty. Add a side of bacon you won't need to eat for hours. Incredibly rich, delicious food. If you make it to dessert, they offer some delicious pies. You can always get one to go!
(5)Luke K.
The biscuits and jam were amazing, the food was top notch, and the waitstaff were all super friendly and laid back and made our time there truly enjoyable.
(5)Alan S.
Ham heaven. Biscuit heaven. Preserves, hummmmmm. Wonderful relaxed atmosphere, even though the place was packed. Two trips while in Nashville, need I say more? GO
(5)B C.
I came to visit Nashville last weekend and had found this place listed as a must-see for visitors. It was a fun experience and I highly recommend it for out-of-towners. Our waitress was very friendly, the food (especially the biscuits and jams) were delicious, and the down-home feel was really comfortable. There were a number of small shops and touristy activities around the restaurant to help pass the time during the short table-wait. We got there early at 7:45 and the wait that Saturday was only 30 minutes.
(4)Tara F.
I like the Loveless Cafe for the simple fact that it's a Nashville landmark. We take friends and family who visit from out of town and their biscuits & jam really are phenomenal, but for me... the wait, the rest of the food and even the service are just OK. If you're lucky enough to arrive and not wait an hour +... the experience is good and the food is consistently well made. It's a scenic (though long) drive and I've arrived having to wait HOURS for a table. I've always stuck it out because we'd just driven an hour to reach Loveless and going somewhere else or back home seems a little silly... but really waiting more than 45 minutes, isn't worth it. I've never tried anything other than breakfast and this cute little diner, but the actual food doesn't touch the amazing-ness of their homemade biscuits and jam (it really is delightful). The decor inside the reception area of Loveless is perfectly Nashville... I love seeing all the autographed country artists' headshots adoring the walls... and so do the "new to Nashville" guests I've always brought along with me on each Loveless visit... the rest of the place looks like your Grandma's dining room... yellow walls, doilies, covered bridge paintings and old fashioned photos... it's pretty cozy. One of the down sides, to me, is how they "pack you in" and the VERY large groups that visit the Cafe... I've seen tables with 20+ people at them and had our party of 3-4 wedged in between them and other big parties... which isn't ideal from a sound standpoint, a bumping into you standpoint, or a service standpoint. Speaking of service... I've NEVER had great service at Loveless... even when it wasn't super busy. When I first moved to Nashville one of the things that jumped out at me was the genuine friendliness of everyone... you'd think loveless would exemplify southern hospitality, but I've never seen it. All in all, I like the Loveless Cafe and I like taking guests from out of town to this quaint (though super busy) breakfast spot... and they all seem to enjoy the spectacle of it as well... so I'll keep going, but I'd really love to see it be a shining example of the warm southern culture that I personally love about Nashville...
(3)Tia R.
A place that lives up to the hype! The biscuits and jam are worth the trip alone. We took biscuits and bacon and more plain biscuits for our road trip home. We wished we bought the bacon and ham to take home because it is the best we have ever tasted. The corn relish is to die for. We also took a jar home as well as a few jars of jam--all of it are gone! I don't wait two hours for anything, so we visited in the middle of the week early in the morning.
(5)Clay G.
Man do I want to hate this place. Everything about it says TOURIST TRAP. And some items aren't as good as the others, but they do so much well. I know that the blackberry jam is suppose to be the item, but the Peach is soooo Good. In a way, it does kind of remind me of what Cracker Barrel was like in the 70's when the staff wore red bandana shirts. I have gotten into a habit of taking co-workers from out of town out here to eat. So far, everyone has gone on and on to others about it. I just wish I would quit ordering the sampler plate with 3 meats.
(4)James W.
You might not know about this place unless you go looking for it but it is definitely worth the time to get to it. Great food and service in a nice relaxed country atmosphere. Don't forget to check out the shops adjacent to the restaurant...
(4)Shannon W.
Wow, what can I say? Let's start with the negatives - It's too far from home to go there very often. Now for the positives - You start with the warm, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of homemade Buttermilk Biscuits. Its from a recipe that's been used and kept secret since 1951 when the restaurant first opened. The biscuits are served with homemade blackberry, peach, and strawberry jams. Large chunks of fruit in the peach and strawberry jams. Richard ordered the Country ham and Eggs with homemade creamed corn and mashed potatoes. The country ham was just salty enough to call it country ham, but not so salty that you are puckering afterwards. I ordered the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and candied yams. Both orders were served with white and brown gravy. Their brown gravy was the best I have had. Nothing was even remotely even OK, but absolutely wonderful good ol' fashioned suthern cookin'!!! We were too full to try one of their homemade desserts which included Peanut Butter pie, blackberry cobbler, coconut cream pie and many others. They looked good coming out though. They serve breakfast all day long and mix breakfast items with dinner items. Large selection of food. If you have a group of 4 or more, you can do family style dinners, order a couple meats and sides and share everything. Great way to get a taste of many things. There is a store onsite to buy jams, hams and other souveneirs. There is also a large barn for large parties. Plenty of parking on site. It is difficult to make a left getting out if it's busy, but other than that, it's great. Everything is homemade on site including the curing of sugar and salt hams, jams, pies, etc. We got out for around $40 w/ drinks and tip. A little more expensive than typical homestyle cooking restaurants, but well worth it! We will definitely go back when we are in the area again!
(5)Nicole L.
I just died and went to biscuit heaven and I don't even care for biscuits that much, but the blackberry preserves are awesome! I really enjoyed the fried chicken and mac & cheese as well. I really wanted to like the hashbrown casserole since it combined two of my favorite things - hashbrowns and cheese - but I really didn't like it all. Loved the charm of the place, though, and our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. Visited: April 16, 2011
(4)Gresham H.
If all you ate here was the fried chicken and biscuits every day of your life, 3 things would occur. #1, you'd be happy and full everyday of your life. #2, you would give it a 5-Star review every time. And #3, you would die young of a heart attack. But you'd be very happy (and weigh about 400lbs).
(5)Sasha T.
I've always had some mixed feelings about Loveless Cafe. Are the biscuits awesome? Yes. Is it a nice homey atmosphere? Yes. Is the rest of the food awesome? Eh its ok. Is it worth an hour and a half plus wait? Probably not. Its a little pricey for what it is if you want breakfast but the supper menu is reasonably priced. Its definitely a cool place to bring someone from out of town.The drive there is beautiful and the little shops are fun to browse. Don't forget to pick up some of their homemade jams while you're there!
(4)Robert J.
I was in the area with two co-workers and one pulled up this place on "TVfoodmaps" app. Glad he did. We got there around 2:30PM and there were a few open tables. We were seated instantly. Our drinks were delivered shortly after ordering with the first plate of biscuits and home made preserves. YUM. We each ordered the fried chicken, The chicken was crunchy on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. The best I've had in a long time. We each had two sides with our meal and ended up sharing as they were all unique in flavor. Waitstaff was engaged and friendly. Food was delivered quite fast. I have to be honest, some people on Yelp are saying the Cracker Barrel has better food. Look at the number of four and five star reviews compared to One, Two, and Three stars. Some people just like to complain I guess. Wish I lived closer, I'd probably go 4-6 times a year.
(5)Tammy R.
This place is epic. If you looking for a place with a home town feel you have found it. The biscuits are the best and the service is amazing.
(5)Melia R.
Dood. Wasn't sure if this was gonna be some lame tourist trap, but I decided to take the nice drive out of Nashville proper to check it out anyway. When I arrived, I saw a line of bikes out front.....and got excited, cos bikers KNOW where the goods are. I had breakfast. Everything's homemade. The PRESERVES are homemade. I had a BBQ pulled pork omelet. Yeah, that's right. Pulled pork omelet. And it was amazing. I also had to try some sausage gravy on the biscuits....better than Mamaw's -- and that's saying quite a lot. The food was awesome, but so were my neighbors. I was dining alone.....until my neighbors inquired as to whether I was having the famous country ham.....and then we decided I'd better just scoot in to their table so we could share our food properly. (If you're reading this someday, Hi, Faye! I had a blast meeting y'all!) I want to go back to try the fried chicken after 11am. Like, go back to Nashville (or make myself go thru Nashville) so I can eat here again. I feel a little crazy saying that, but it's true.
(5)Will M.
Puts cracker barrel to shame, because the biscuits are spectacular! Fresh, Fluffy, and moist; they go best when you pull them apart into pieces, add butter, and preserves. The biscuits!! and the sides pretty much MAKE the meal. My favorite sides are hashbrown casserole, fried green tomatoes, white beans, okra, mac and cheese. And I devoured a bowl of cream of chicken soup too! Their portions are huge! Smoked turkey, ham, country fried steak, are good compliment to the top notch sides and biscuits. Fried chicken had a nice crispy skin. Although not the best ever, damn you prince's for ruining fried chicken for me. I wish there was a hot chicken variety. Check the blue plate special. If you want all you can eat, opt for monell's. I came for dinner on a saturday night, and only had to wait 15 minutes. I guess I was lucky. Our table of 6 left in a food coma, I had to take a nap afterwards. Historic, unique, there is so much to take in. It elevates the food and you experience a certain joy to life, along with wonderful southern charm on top. :) Or was that the Pie I had to go? Truly spectacular
(4)Paddy O.
biscuits and bbq my heart is full of love for loveless
(4)Derrin T.
Loveless? Flavorless. Nothing special here but the preserves.
(3)Michelle J.
AMAZING Southern food!! Trying to decide between the fried catfish, Loveless ham, pulled pork, fried chicken, and fried chicken liver, my eyes were obviously larger than my stomach... Finally, I opted for the Fried Chicken Livers platter with Fried Okra and Mac & Cheese AND a half-portion of the Loveless ham. Of course by the time this main course arrived to the table, I was already half full from the ridiculously buttery & tasty biscuits, so it looked like I barely made a dent in my plate of chicken livers. Seriously, you could fill yourself up on a whole meal of biscuits. They have peach, blackberry, and strawberry jams to compliment the biscuits. My favorite was the peach. Though you'll probably encounter a long wait at Loveless Cafe, especially on the weekends, due to their popularity, you'll find no problem killing time with all the little shops surrounding the cafe. They have a country store where they sell their jams, a candy store, jewelry store, and a shop filled the most useless but adorable trinkets (i.e. ugly dolls & wine glass coasters that look like flip flops). This place is a necessary stop if you're in the area!
(5)Sean B.
I must say that we really enjoyed our breakfast and our time here. They've done just enough with the property to make the restaurant feel clean and appetizing without ruining the roadhouse feel of the other areas of the land. I wish I could remember the food better, but we had the closest thing to a meltdown with our 11 month old we'd ever had in public. It really was not that bad, but after I spilled a full water (huge glass, BTW), the stress level was a little high much of the rest of the meal is a blur. I remember thinking as we left that we got out of there just in time! I also remember the order from the table behind me as we were eating. It was a table of what I gathered to be police detectives. The order was a chicken livers platter, a fried green tomato BLT, another chicken livers platter, a gizzards platter, livers again and gizzards again. Then the good ol' boys started talking about how much they hated these meals as boys but loved them now. I also had the FGTBLT. It was not bad, but I had just had an amazing one the day before in Lookout Mountain, GA, so I was a tough customer. The biscuits are the rage, as you might have read. They are really something, though as I was trying my second one I realized that there is only so much greatness that can come out of a buttermilk biscuit. 4 or 5 ingredients can only be concocted in so many ways. Don't get me wrong - they were great. They also have a shop that is worth checking out. We brought some peach preserves home - they are very, very good.
(4)Eugene T.
Really famous restaurant but I don't really think this could category in Nashville restaurant since it take 25 min drive to there. Food is good and fresh but kind of too salty especially the county ham. It is a nice place if you don't mind the drive and get some beyond average brunch.
(3)Misty P.
Breakfast all the way! Great service, fun atmosphere. Loved every minute. Not to mention the biscuits were AMAZING!
(5)Jan G.
If you are visiting Nashville, you have to come to the Loveless. The food is fantastic (country grub) and the portions are large. Definitely get a side of biscuits. Coffee isn't the best but it's what you'd expect. It's a bit off of the beaten path which makes it all the more fun to visit. There's a shop where you can buy Loveless items and some other fun little knick knacks.
(5)Patricia G.
out of the way, but delicious and worth the trip!! shows at the barn are top quality; however, fair warning, this is a very calm crowd who will keep grey tops in seats.
(4)Wes B.
We tend to use the term "love" pretty lightly. Sure, we love our families and friends, our pets and (on rare occasions) maybe even our jobs. But can we truly love food, or is it merely affinity? I never thought I could love a biscuit until I went to Loveless. Now don't get me wrong, my family still comes first, but these biscuits are giving my friends a run for their money. Flaky and buttery, with just the right amount of softness, this Music City Manna will leave your tastebuds tingly, especially when you slather on some succulent blackberry preserves. Of course, the biscuits are only the beginning. Loveless is Cracker Barrel on crack. Every ingredient of every dish, from the sides to the meats to the moonshine cocktails (yes, you read correctly) is tailored to set your heart ablaze. If the dishes are unique, the experience is uniquely Nashville. Small shops make the guaranteed hour-long wait more than tolerable, and the service is grandmotherly and generous. I love Loveless. And I might just make it Facebook official.
(5)Amanda F.
Touristy, yet toothsome. I had to rate Nashville's famous Loveless Cafe only 4 stars, because gosh darnit, the wait is most always over an hour and a half! Having lived in Nashville for two years, I've eaten here about four times (guess you could call it a bi-annual experience). If you have been to Nash before, it's way out of town on Highway 100. Loveless is most known for their biscuits -- the flaky, buttery goodness literally melts in your mouth and you can't stop at just one. Their recipe is kept pretty hush hush, but they do sell the biscuit mix in their shop next door (trust me, you will have time to stop there while you are waiting for your table to be ready). The walls are covered with original paintings of the likes of Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty, as well as autographs from every country music legend. Loveless offers pretty standard southern breakfast and lunch options, which are always wonderful. Also open for "supper", though I have never been out to those neck of the woods past dark. I recommend getting there early for a shorter wait time, and most certainly don't ever show up hungry, you will regret it!! Perfect spot for tourists who are visiting Nashville for the first time!
(4)Vince N.
Went in early on a Friday morning, had a omelet and biscuits and gravy. Biscuits and gravy were good but not the best I have ever had. The one pet-peeve that I have is un-melted cheese, which the omelet had, and under cooked onions and green pepper. The ham in the omelet was excellent. Prices are a little high, since this place is a tourist trap.
(3)Crystal P.
My Loveless experience was more love than less. True to all other high regarded reviews, I do actually have nothing but love for this roadside joint. It boasts some tall orders like homemade banana pudding, biscuits, and pretty much if it's on the menu it's made from scratch. Places just don't do that anymore. Not like this and not for these prices. All my respect to places that can manage good food on a budget and more. With that said, I enjoyed everything I ate. Was it the best ever? Probably not .... But it was most definitely solid hand made fare that for Nashville, is a force to be reckoned with. There are a LOT of southern fare joints we discovered in Nashville. The Loveless Cafe is a must visit. There is no negotiating this. Oh and yes....even with that crazy long wait. All you foodies must know by now, the longer the wait .... It must be worth it.
(4)Kevin K.
Worth the drive. Made the mistake if eating 3 of those wonderful biscuits BEFORE breakfast and was stuffed afterwards. Great food! We had a 25 minute wait but there are other buildings/shops to look around in while you wait to be paged. Very homey place. It's like eating at home and being served by your mother.
(5)Erin B.
One word: AMAZING. Outside of downtown Nashville but worth the trip. Everybody was super friendly and even though there was a 2 hr wait because of the 4th of July holiday, we were patient and it was worth the wait. Highly recommend it.
(5)Maggie W.
the biscuits are 100% worth the wait
(5)Cecil B.
The food and the service was outstanding I will stop in whenever I go to Nashville.
(5)Kaleena 'Kala' H.
One of my favorite places to go to for breakfast. The biscuits are so delicious, and I love eating them both plain and with the jelly that they bring to the table. My favorite breakfast meal is the pancakes with bacon...sometimes I will also order some scrambled eggs to go with it. All of it is so tasty. It's pretty much the only thing I will order there for breakfast. :)
(5)Joseph M.
Country ham is not edible. It was so salty even for some one that likes salty food. Biscuits were good but not great as others have mentioned. Grits were super rich from the heavy use of butter.
(2)Safa S.
This is a highly commercial diner 20 minutes south of downtown Nashville. I thought the food was good, but it was a major turn off to see all the commericalized aspects of this place (signs everywhere to buy their products). That is the main reason why it gets one less star. The other reason this place is not a full 5 stars, is that I felt that this place is way over hyped... the food is good, but nothing super crazy. I think the lunch or dinner menu might have better food (for example, the smoked turkey was excellent). For breakfast, I would say go elsewhere if you are busy and don't want to wait for food. We arrived at 9AM on a Friday and there was no wait. Ordered: Biscuits - A+, delicious and super fresh Smoked Turkey - excellent... yum, yum, yum Steak biscuits - C, good if you like dry meat on dry bread. Garden Omelet - B-, nothing special... something you can get anywhere
(4)Ellen O.
I am still dreaming about the meal I had here last week: -the best pulled pork I have ever had -fried okra -sweet potatoes -homemade biscuits -and amazing peach iced tea SO GOOD. worth the wait for sure!
(5)Howard L.
Seriously have zero respect for anyone who thinks this place is delicious. Maybe the wait makes the food taste better for some people, but I recently was forced to go back by some visiting friends and this place has not changed a bit. I really felt awful after we left the restaurant...we spent over 3 hours in that little compound waiting and eating and it was definitely not worth it. Again, biscuits were OK, but the food was just absolutely horrendous. If you think they do "typical" southern fare, your mom must have been a really crappy cook. Or you're probably from MA or IN or some other yankee place. It really was embarrassing, but I did try to warn them. Complete Garbage. A shame to Nashville, really.
(1)Rainer F.
Okay, I admit it. I don't get the hype. Tiny, stale biscuits, run-of-the-mill omelets, country ham that had a texture like directly from the buffet tray, and a hash brown casserole for which the only word that describes is, is gross. And all that after a 40 minute wait, hanging out in the gift shop/country store that had absolutely nothing of interest to offer. The only redeeming quality were the jams that came with the biscuits. If you have to go to one of Nashville's tourist traps, try the Pancake Pantry instead. Also hopelessly overrated, but at least the food is maybe not exciting yet reasonably enjoyable.
(2)Jim G.
We went two days in a row, it's that good. For breakfast we had the country ham and pulled pork omelet. Both were very good along with the hash brown casserole and biscuits and gravy. The best sausage gravy I've ever had. On our second visit we had the fried chicken with fried green tomatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy and Mac n cheese. For desert we had the key lime pie (the best I've had). Everything was excellent and both times the service was good and very friendly. I will go back every chance I get.
(5)Mary R.
Extra long wait during the weekend, but yummy chicken and biscuits!
(4)David W.
One of my all-time favorites and a must for out of town visitors! Average wait is about an hour but the shops on property will help that pass quickly. I have always preferred breakfast here but I've never had a bad meal.
(4)Lura M.
Recently visited Loveless Cafe after seeing it in the book: 1000 Places to See Before you Die. It was quite nice. Luckily we arrived just after the lunch rush and got great service from Matt. The menu was extensive and the portions were large. The food was good, I ordered the 3 meat sampler with Fried Chicken, Country Fried Catfish, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Sweet Potatoes.
(4)H. W.
Ok, Of the five times I've been to Loveless, I've had to wait twice. Granted, my family is full of morning people (I'm not one of them, and the task seems insurmountable), but if you show up before 9am, you're likely to have no wait. Last weekend, we arrived at 8:30 and found the place half-full. That said, yes: this is a touristy place. And yes, I have waited 1.5+ hours to get in the door. But the food is delicious. I admit I don't quite get the hype around the biscuits (they're good, but not incredible), but I would order a bowl of the blackberry or peach preserves if they would let me. The bacon is cooked perfectly, the gravy is amazing, the hash-brown casserole is to die for. I love the "old farmhouse" feel, and the folk art on the walls is so cozy. But most importantly you can tell that these people are honestly passionate about their history, and the food that got them where they are today. So get there early, and relax. It's worth it, I promise you.
(4)Panda B.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! As soon as you get out of the car, you can smell the delicious grilling from the side. When you walk in, you can taste the southern home cooking in the air! The wait staff was great, down to earth and friendly. The food was delicious! We ate her several times, breakfast & lunch, and had various things. We loved it all every time. They're not cheap on their portion either. We also had lots to take home. Maybe because we ate too much of those small, sweet and can't-take-your-fingers-off biscuits :) One down side, the long is loooooooooooong especially for lunch. We went there early morning one time, and we got in within 10 minutes. We had to wait 1.5 hr for lunch...
(5)Gregory S.
I went down to Nashville a couple of Easter weekends ago. On our way out of town we stopped at the loveless cafe. It was Easter Sunday and the wait was massive for three people. We decided to wait and it took about an hour and half before we were seated. It was a sunny warm afternoon so the wait wasn't too bad. We looked around at the shops, which had a lot of kitschy goods. When we were seated we ordered our food. The biscuits are indeed very very good. The fried chicken was the best I have had. The perfect amount of crispiness and juiciness. I ordered three sides with it and I can say the fried okra was amazing. Not usually a fan of okra but they way it was done converted me. I give 5 stars for the food, but knock it down to 4 stars overall because the wait times are ridiculous. I went a second time later in the year and we didn't even wait cause the queue was way too much. I understand it's a popular restaurant, but because it's hard to get a seat I give it 4 stars.
(4)Tweedy C.
Read about this lovely cafe on yelp and was not disappointed!! Loved the ambience, food, and service! I ordered the half fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac & cheese...sooooo delicious!! Service was great!! Didn't have to ask for refills they were always ready with a new drink, super friendly, and just a great first time experience. Inside the decor is so lovely and makes you feel like you're inside someone's home..waiting as they cook you some delicious southern food! Also visited the market gift store outside and bought some goodies to take back home to Cali with me :) Hopefully we have time to come back here before we head back home! Lovedddd it :)
(5)Dan C.
Great service, but the food really wasn't worth the wait. Granted we went on a sunday after church let out, but the food was just ok. Nothing that left me waiting to come back.
(3)Diane L.
This is a stop worth the wait. It's a great experience if you've never visited here. We got there at 12:15 pm on a gorgeous autumn Sunday. Ninety minute wait for a table. We passed the time by exploring the interesting shops and walking the grounds. Our lunch menu included hash brown casserole, hush puppies,ham, meat loaf, pulled pork, turnip greens and THE biscuits. These Texas women didn't care for the biscuits at all. Tough, bland biscuits. Turnip greens were cold and very stringy--no pot liquor as promised. Meat loaf was bland. High points-- hash brown casserole, ham, hush puppies. Got the homemade banana pudding--made with sugar cookies instead of vanilla wafers--nothing special. We're glad we took the time to visit, but I don't need to go back unless I'm in Nashville for extended time. If you're traveling south out of Nashville, take the Natchez Trace. Beautiful drive! Have a full tank of gas before hitting the Trace...gas stations are few and have to ask Siri for gas locations. The Trace has sporadic internet connection. Go to Loveless at least once in your life! No regrets!
(4)Joi B.
I fear I can't write this review right now for fear of breaking my juice fast. Reliving the memories is gonna kill me. Maybe I should put this off? Oh, but once I start thinking about those damn biscuits and the butter they came with... and the jam (though I prefer to keep my biscuits virgin... er, buttery virgin). DANG IT!!! Maybe I should turn my attention instead on that amazing gift shop that is full of kitschy and fun items with the logo that is so cool, I was compelled to buy shot glasses, a giant mug, mason jars and hell, even an umbrella proclaiming my love for the Loveless (so it goes, time and time again). All I ate when I was here were the aforementioned biscuits. Giant spheres of buttermilky flaky dense delight. Ahhhhhhhh. That's all you need, but my friends couldn't stop talking about how good their breakfasts were, so there's that. If you can manage *not* to stuff yourself on biscuits. Good luck. I didn't fare so well. An extra star for the biscuit lady. Though I am fiending now for those biscuits. Fiending. Damn this juice fast.
(5)Chris M.
I took my folks here for brunch while they were in town visiting. The biscuits are incredible (and bottomless) -- well worth the wait and drive. I had the fried chicken and biscuits and will definitely be back. Be ready to wait at least one hour, but there are some shops to browse in while you wait -- we brought a deck of cards. Very reasonably priced given their demand and the food was very good. Friendly service, great spicy, strong bloody mary's.
(4)Dick G.
Iconic Americana at its best! this place, located outside Nashville is a tiny piece of yesteryear for us to enjoy today. On Sunday morning there was a 2 1/2 hour wait to sit inside and 35 minutes if you took it outside and ate a picnic table...which is what we did. Food preparation is excellent and their home made biscuits are the bomb, particularily with their homemade jams. If your in the area you have to stop by!
(4)Tulané H.
Pretty good, honestly don't understand what all the hype is about.
(3)Hillary C.
A must do place in Nashville!!! The food is great, be prepared to wait! It is a pleasant wait and worth it!
(5)Nate T.
You just has to know what you are getting into. It is a tourist stop, so it is busy. (we waited an hour) While we waited there was some drama with a bachelorette party, which there seems to be a million of in the nashville area. The food was solid to very good, the service was very friendly. I would stop back if I know the wait would be less.
(3)Nick O.
Excellent! I had the bbq pork omelet. Their biscuits are great! Well worth the wait, there's plenty to do on their property while you're waiting.
(4)Susanne H.
I am giving this three stats because of the quality of the pancake and the wait time. We were told the wait was 45 minutes, but it was more like 1 hour 15 minutes. The best part was the biscuits and jams they bring out, they were amazing! I ordered pancakes, plus a breakfast with egg. The pancakes were extremely heavy, not good at all, I was quite disappointed for a place that is known for their breakfast. The eggs, bacon and were very good. I did enjoy walking around their little (overpriced) shops during the wait.
(3)Bianca S.
The biscuits were the joy of my visit to the Loveless Café, paired with the bowl of butter and jam varieties to put on them. I ordered the country ham which was a little too salty for my taste, but everything else was delicious. My husband ordered fried chicken and waffles which he devoured. Luckily, we arrived right when it opened, so there was no wait for us, but our friends who live in Franklin said they once had to wait 4 hours!
(4)Sarah Y.
Loveless Cafe is a beacon of southern comfort food for me, like it is for many others. Every time I'm back in Nashville, I make my pilgrimage to Loveless. The biscuits are always as good as they are in my memory, the preserves are so flavorful, and the hot food is delicious. The fried chicken is definitely above average, and all of the southern sides are a hit. I would recommend Loveless Cafe to any visitor going to Nashville. It will definitely be a hit. However, the 2+ hour wait gets old. This last time I went, my boyfriend and I played the "Guess Who" game with countless portraits of celebrities on the walls of the cafe while waiting 1.5 hours for our table. So if I'm in Nashville next time and had limited time and patience, I would take myself to Monell's for a comparably delicious and authentic southern food experience.
(4)LeeAnne H.
Mmmmmmm biscuits.....and killer jams (blackberry is my favorite). A must stop for breakfast and cute gifts!!!
(5)Andrew B.
Great biscuits. Friendly service. Amazing biscuits. Good breakfast. Everything was enjoyable, and if it were near where we lived, it would be on our everyday to-do list. Our cholesterol is glad it isn't, but this was some good good comfort breakfast food.
(4)Jessica C.
Delicious and wonderful as always. The biscuits and blackberry jam are the best ever!
(5)Andy H.
So here is one of those establishments that is world famous, gets all the business they need, has a great marketing engine, and STILL makes good food! The one thing that gets overlooked here is the BBQ. They spend more time smoking meat than baking biscuits. What Loveless is to biscuits, they are also to BBQ. Get it? Good.
(5)Brian D.
MY pastor came from this neck of the south so I went and visited his best buddy there who took me on some country bumpkin road out to this place! I loved it,talk about good ole hometown southern fried cholesterol! You got it here.The waffles were huge,fried chicken steak great.It's old school,dixie do it right! Wear a checkered tablecloth and go grits and pancakes too! It's been a long time but i have a book of matches from this place right here on my desk....sort of brings a little "Earl Pitts" tear to my eye.....if you get my drift! Every food lover should eat here once! It's a tradition! I salute you Dixie!
(5)Ellen H.
I love this place. Was here years ago and still as good as ever. Can't decide what you want to try get the Country sample, choice of three meats and 2 sides. and of course bicuits! they may look small but they pack a mighty punch. Delish!
(5)Sharon L.
This place is VERY touristy -- for example, there are *multiple* gift shops -- but the food is absolutely worth it. The biscuits are, of course, famous, but their BBQ deserves to be equally well-known. The BBQ pulled-pork omelette was so flavorful, moist, and delectable. You can get a plate of biscuits with four different toppings for variety -- I LOVED the pimiento cheese and fried green tomato biscuit. Their country-style ham is excellent -- it tastes like a thick-cut slice of prosciutto. I'll also note that our server was very friendly and helpful. Pro-tip: one of the gift shops has a freezer with Jeni's ice cream in it. :)
(4)Kristin V.
Definitely worth the drive from Franklin. The complimentary biscuits were the best biscuits I have ever had and if I wasn't trying to watch what I'm eating, I think the biscuits and gravy or the fried chicken would have put me into a food coma. Food was great and walking around the little area while waiting for our table was a lot of fun. It was an hour wait around 1:30pm so it's nice they have stuff for you to do. There is cornhole out front and 4 cute little shops ranging from Loveless treats and meats to souvenirs etc. Would definitely recommend as a place to check out!
(4)Danielle L.
Yummy! Long wait , but played cornhole and enjoyed our company ! Food was amazing!!! Pulled pork BBQ biscuit is where it is AT!!! I may have also drank a mimosa for two ... By myself.... Yummy yummy yummy !!!
(5)Charles E.
We had to wait for awhile and it was worth every bit. Food was delicious and plenty of it. Worth the trip here. Thanks for the good meal.
(5)Jen M.
Biscuits and blackberry jam, yummy! Great home style food, recommend any of the chicken dishes and the hash brown casserole is a must. The wait for a table is worth it, and wait can be minutes or over an hour. Stock up on jam in the store while you wait!
(5)Lauren M.
Loveless Cafe was definitely a treat, I would rate it 4 or 4.5 star. We arrived at the worst possible time (NOON) on a Friday. We ended up having to wait about an hour and 15 mins to get a table. It was definitely worth the wait but still a bit of a pain in the ass. You can kill time browsing the nearby Loveless Cafe shops and get a free coffee next door. We were giving some biscuits and preserves to start out (yum!) and I had fried chicken which was served with choice of two sides (I tried green beans and squash). The chicken was absolutely massive and I couldn't finish it. Definitely the best fried chicken I've ever had, although it's not a favorite of mine so I am no expert. Service was great here and the decor and ambiance are lovely. Prices were very reasonable (my meal was about $12). Overall very fun and satisfying experience :)
(4)Casey Ann S.
Loveless cafe was a special stop today! The property is so cute, with a gift shop, antique store, art store, and bean bag tossing pits in addition to the actual restaurant itself. I can see why loveless is so popular! Great staff and authentic southern vibe going on. Had the chicken and biscuit side for breakfast, it was delicious but tiny (I ordered another!) Lots of southern sides and dishes! Yum.
(4)Beth M.
Worth the wait! My fiance and I were in town for one night, and a Food Network junkie friend recommended the Loveless for breakfast. We were warned ahead of time of the wait, so we were mentally prepared. They have a great system using a pager that works all around the grounds, which include shaded benches, gift shops, coffee and sweet tea stations (complimentary). We were pleased that our wait time was actually about half of the quoted time. We were greeted by a very friendly and enthusiastic waitress named JD. My fiance is from the Midwest and knows his way around a carb-laden breakfast menu. The SoCal native in me doesn't know red-eye gravy from grits. JD was more than happy to educate me. With her advice, I decided upon everything "southern"; cheese grits, biscuits and sausage gravy, fried green tomatoes, and eggs and bacon. My review may not be truly qualified, as I have no basis for comparison of southern food, but, oh my, was it delicious! It was a bit of a fluke for me to be in Nashville in the first place, and I will probably never return. With that knowledge, I savored every bite, plus about five extra bites that I should have resisted. My fiance enjoyed his chicken fried steak, hash brown casserole, and plenty of warm biscuits. Make your way to the Loveless if you find yourself in Nashville.
(5)Aprile M.
If you are in the area you have to stop. Food is fresh and hot. Once you sit down they bring you some hot biscuits with some fruit preserves. The peach preserves are delicious. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. My husband had the biscuits and gravy. My daughter got the chicken tenders. The portions are huge. We took a lot of food home. Everything was delicious. Service was fast and friendly.
(5)Scott B.
Cool place, great service, but the food is just good southern style food. Its very similar to almost all small town diners. But the atmosphere makes it a must see place!
(4)Alicia M.
I love it! Hands down! The only con; it's a good drive outside of the Nashville city limit and there is a wait. I had breakfast alone and the wait was about an hour and 30 minutes. Will return regardless
(4)Jennifer O.
An absolutely great place to stop and take a step back in time!!!! It takes awhile but worth the wait and there is plenty to do while you casually stroll the property!!! Creamed corn and BBQ Pork!!! Yum Y'all
(5)Natalie R.
Had to wait at Sunday lunchtime, but wow, was it worth it... Every bite was delicious southern cooking, like my grandma used to make. Now that we have gorged on chicken & waffles, fried chicken, numerous delicious sides, and some pie---- we are rolling out to car to nap... :)
(5)Claudette W.
Yep. It's as good as everyone says. I don't think I can even add to the information. Awesome biscuits, jam, chix fried steak, veggies. Friendly folks. Worth a trip.
(5)Marie G.
Such a great restaurant - a can't miss place when visiting Nashville! Yes there will probably be a line when you visit so check in and spend the next hour or two walking the property, play games, do some shopping, or rock away your hunger in one of the many rocking chairs! Once you get seated - prepare for a feast! Don't miss the fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit sandwiches. Everything on the menu is great. And I mean everything! Take dessert to go ;) Service...best in Nashville!
(5)James C.
Time goes fast while waiting for a table here. We waited 45min and it was entirely worth it. Free coffee in the gift shop, free tea and lemonade by the artist studio. Chairs on the porch to enjoy the weather and touristy yet safe family atmosphere Incredible fried chicken, Mac and cheese is nice and cheesy. Very fast and friendly service. Secret biscuit recipe biscuits are wonderful! Our food got to our table in amazing time. Our server Gretchen, offered her suggestions and answered all our questions with genuine care. The out buildings offer a market, a gift shop for kids, a few artist studios and some activities for kids i. e. blowing bubbles, side walk chalk, bean bag throw. Definitely worth a visit!!!
(5)Allie R.
I have been to loveless several times now and it has never disappointed. Their biscuits are absolutely amazing and we always eat up all the preserves that come with them. Before I leave I always make sure to buy a couple jars of their peach preserves because they are my absolute favorite. I've had the biscuit sampler breakfast, the meat sampler breakfast, and their fried pork chop breakfast (epic sized pork chops). I always love everything. Their ham and sausage is some of the best I've ever had. The hash brown casserole is cheesy and decedent. We always have a great server. If you can get over the wait and enjoy the experience as a whole it is a great one. It is an awesome place and I know we will be back many many times in the future.
(5)Jay G.
Absolutely hands down best home cooking/soul food whatever you prefer in the greater Nashville area. The chicken and biscuits is what they're known for but everything is awesome. And that's really all anyone could ever say about this place...awesome
(5)Scott S.
This is my first time visiting the Loveless Cafe. I ordered the sampler plate with BBQ pork, meatloaf, and fried chicken. The meatloaf was good not great, the BBQ pork was just slow cooked pork with BBQ sauce, no smoke flavor whatsoever. The fried chicken was above average. My sides were mac n cheese and the hash brown casserole. The mac n cheese was just a notch above TV dinner fare, and the hash brown casserole was pretty average. What really let me down was the biscuits and preserves. I was dreaming about them on this trip before my visit on this trip. The biscuits were way below average, I might have had a bad batch as the waitress was taking to the table next to me about them and they said they never have seen them like this before. The preserves were below average for the peach and strawberry, but the blackberry were some of the best I've had. Overall for the price and hype I was expecting more. I wish I would have had breakfast for dinner as that's one meal that's hard to not hit the mark with. It's cool to say I ate here, but there are much better places in town to frequent. The service however was very good. Everybody here was warm and friendly.
(3)Kitcat S.
Some people may see this as sacrilege but I would say that the most exciting things about Loveless are the facilities and the drive there. The dining room is cute and very open, and there are cute stores in the campus. The food was solid and the biscuits very good, but the latter didn't live up to tall the hype is heard. The preserved on the other hand were pretty awesome. What I was most disappointed about was the service. In a place as iconic as this one I expected some good southern hospitality but it was all just rushed. I don't regret going, it was a good experience. That said, my visit was during the week. Had I waited the typical 2.5hrs on the weekend I may have been a little disappointed, only because of the hype.
(4)Bill R.
Had about an hour and ten minute wait. It was worth it. The biscuits were very good. But the chicken and waffles were to die for. Service was exceptional. Price was on the high side but the quality of the entire experience as well as my very full belly didn't seem to mind.
(4)Kat T.
While some locals told me the original owner passed away, fried chicken and biscuits wasn't as good as it used to be. I think they have the best fried chicken. Crispy outside but not full of breading. The chicken cooked just right, not rubbery but fully cooked. Husband and bro in law love their biscuit and home made Jam. A must visit for us every time when we are in TN.
(5)Michael M.
So after a week in the smoky mountains getting fat, happy and not so fulfulled on southern cooking I find myself a loveless on the way home. One of the top 2 meals I have eaten in the last week. The deference in quality from the places in the smokies was apparent from the first bite. I ordered the breakfast sampler and a bowl of gravy. Three meats two eggs and a bowl of hash brown casserole. Oh don't forget the unlimited biscuits. I didn't. As I tried to single handedly eat them out of biscuits this night. Between smothering them with gravy or lathering them up with butter and jellies. Yum Yum All the food was great. It's hard to do great breakfast and this place does it. Most place breakfast is good and the is it. I am so glad I got a top notch breakfast before heading home from vacation. The one thing I would pass on next time is the Banana Pudding...got some to go but it was just okay. Oh and can I have another plate of biscuits....some of the best you will ever have.
(5)Darragh T.
The quality and quantity of reviews speak for themselves. There's nothing more I can add without being repetitive. Some of the best scratch cooking I've come across on my travels.
(4)Lisa K.
Honestly, Loveless never disappoints and on each of my three visits I've left here as happy as could be! Once you sit down they'll bring you a plate full of biscuits and jam, and this could be meal enough on its own! The biscuits are always hot and buttery and delicious! You won't want to fill up on biscuits though because you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I'm partial to the chicken and dumplings, which is one of their blue plate specials on Wednesday. All of the sides are super tasty, but the creamed corn is really special. I can't say I've ever made it to dessert... or even finished my meal! I always get caught up with the biscuits, which gives me plenty of leftovers! Believe me when I say a trip to Loveless is worth the stop. Your stomach will thank you!
(5)Mary G.
Breakfast review...Pricey, have to say that right off the bat. We ordered a la carte for the most part, to try different menu items. My scrambled eggs were good, not overcooked, the in-house, smoked bacon was really delicious, grits were smooth and the hash brown casserole was tasty but I thought it had a little too much cheese in it. I know, I know, can there ever be too much cheese? I would have like to taste onion, maybe even some green pepper. The biscuits were very tasty and personally I'm glad they are small. The country ham was thick (we like it on a the thinner side though), not over-salted and had a great flavor. The service was excellent, waiter friendly, bringing out a plate of biscuits and 3 servings of homemade jams. We arrived at 7:15am and the cafe was half full. When we left at around 8am they had a wait. Though the line was moving, I would suggest making a reservation, even that early! There are cute little shops surrounding the cafe. All in all a good experience and we will go back again for other breakfast items and for lunch/dinner.
(4)John S.
Went again after the Vanderbilt commencement ceremony. This time I was in a large group and each person ordered something different. I got the fried pork chops, which were huge portions (2 big pieces) and very tender and juicy. A friend had the fried steak, which was also very good. I would give it 4 or even 4.5 stars because the food is delicious and the biscuits are always amazing (and the preserves are heavenly). Just be prepared to wait (we waited about an hour).
(4)Cryss L.
While in Nashville three weeks ago we dropped in for a late lunch. The food was fantastic. Our server was not attentive. We both remarked how we wish we had been seated in another section as the other tables were getting amazing service. Back to the food. I ordered the BLT (the T being fried green tomatoes). It was very good. The bacon was just right and the fried green tomatoes had a nice crunch to them. I had a side of mac -n- cheese which was good (not great but good). The biscuit was wonderful and the strawberry preserves were fantastic. So good that after we ate we walked over to the Loveless market and each picked up a jar to take back. My mom had breakfast, two fried eggs, sourdough toast, bacon, hash browns, and the city ham. The ham was great. I was surprised on my way to the bathroom to pass two open window kitchens, one that show cased biscuit making. That was very cool. I would definitely come back and I highly recommend going. I would have loved to give 5 star but I just couldn't with such poor service.
(4)Anto B.
Amazzzzzing fried chicken!!! I can say the best I have ever had. This place is a must go/see when in Nashville. Everything we ordered was amazing and everything we didn't order looked amazing too.
(5)Eric D.
This place is a bit overrated. I love the decor and the history behind loveless cafe, but the food was sub par. The service was excellent though. I had the Country fried steak and to be quite honest, i've had a lot better. I hope this was an isolated expierence.
(2)Millah J.
I had read reviews and some weren't favorable so I didn't know what to expect. I was not disappointed!! I had the fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, pinto beans and fried green tomatoes and everything was so good. The downside was the 1 hour wait, but the food and service more than made up for it. In fact, I'll be back!
(5)Moles B.
I'm not even done eating and I'm giving it five stars. This place has the whole package. Take note restaurant owners, it has an original and consistent theme, it's clean, the waitstaff is super friendly and pleased to help you. The fried chicken is up there with the best. Were the biscuits the best I've ever had? No but they weren't bad and they'll give you as many as you want and with awesome homemade preserves. I've had better Mac and cheese but it's still really good. For the price, this is as good as it gets. I'm waiting for pecan pie right now but I'm confident that they won't fuck that up.............and they didn't. Win!!!!
(5)Mr T.
As far as Southern cooking goes, Loveless Cafe isn't even in my top 15, but the experience was enjoyable and it's definitely something you should do at least once when visiting Nashville. Biscuits: Decent. Don't know why everyone is so crazy about them. Pretty small, so plan on eating at least two. The housemade peach preserves are awesome. Overall: C+ Fried Chicken (white meat): Light, crispy, flavorful crust. Meat was tender and juicy. Overall: A- Hashbrown Casserole: Sizable portion. Thick and rich. Slightly better than what you'll find at Cracker Barrel. Overall: B Collard Greens: Relatively bland. Lacked a traditional saltiness from the ham hock. Pot liquor goes well with the biscuits. Overall: C- Green Beans: Same issue as collards. Overall: C-
(3)John S.
Came here some time ago, and I have to first say it was the best, most tender, juiciest bbq pulled pork I have ever had. Another thing - the wait time was ridiculous, nearly 2 hours. I ended up having a snack at the shop that also sells the bbq pork, where I had a small preview of the delicious bbq pulled pork. I wanted a second and third helping and just to eat that, but my friends wanted to eat at the actual restaurant..... And yes, it was worth it, for those dang biscuits. MAN THEY'RE GOOD. I needed extra strawberry jam for them, TWICE. These, along with the bbq pork, are what I remember most. I had dessert too, it was delicious, but nothing comes close to these babies. Overall, AMAZING, but WAY too long of a wait when its busy. ALTERNATIVE: get BBQ sandwiches next door and buy goo clusters for dessert!
(4)Jinkzz M.
Loveless Cafe is absolutely delightful and one that shouldn't be missed by anyone visiting Nashville. The restaurant is located outside of Nashville on Hwy 100. The restaurant sign is clearly visible from the highway with its blue color and neon lighting. There are several building structure within the "compound" which houses the restaurant, the market, bbq pit/smokehouse, local arts store, and other buildings. The restaurant itself in nondescript and unassuming with a short flight of stairs leading to the main entrance. The inside of the restaurant is warm and inviting. It feels like visiting a Southern home where you are always welcome. The walls are decorated with pictures of famous celebs (country music stars, I think but not too sure since I didn't really look too closely at the photographs) with autographs. The servers were friendly and accommodating. We came around 10 in the morning so it was not too busy. Our server was quite attentive and didn't need prompting for any refills. My friend ordered waffles while I ordered fried pork chop. The biscuit was complimentary along with the different jams and preserves. The food that we ordered was amazing but the biscuit was exceptional.It was not greasy but soft and flaky...delicious. I wasn't fond of biscuits before but their biscuit turned me into a believer :) Such a great example of how good Southern cooking is and a reminder of how much I miss it. If there was one thing that I regret though is that we didn't order the fried chicken liver :( I heard that wait time can be long on the weekends so it might be better to schedule a trip during the week. Overall, this was definitely worth the drive over from Nashville. If I am back in the area, I will definitely come back to eat. Prices were okay and reasonable. They have a parking lot that offers free parking.
(5)William T.
If you love to eat, this has to be one of the best places to go. Today was our second trip back to this restaurant and it was every bit as good as our first trip here. This is definitely going to be on our list of restaurants every time we come to Nashville. William
(5)Tracy F.
Being relatively new to Nashville, Loveless Cafe was one of the first places I was taken since I arrived. I love the atmosphere of the entire campus, from the cafe itself to the Hams and Jams country store--it screams "Nashville!" in the best possible way. However, even with the kitchy stores and atmosphere, I was put off by the 1 hour 45 minute wait and extremely grumpy by the time we were finally seated. We ordered our dinner, a classic meat and three with the smoked turkey breast, mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes and green beans. The turkey was freezer-burned and cold and so bad I had to send it back. My boyfriend commented that his fried chicken was only lukewarm and the mashed potatoes had no flavor--he also said that the best part of the meal were the biscuits, the one thing we didn't have to pay for! We left the restaurant feeling disappointed, with no desire to return. I happened to have a business meeting here one weekday morning for breakfast a few weeks later, and I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the meal was. I ordered a vegetable omelette with grits and biscuits and enjoyed every bite! The omelette was fresh and huge, and the biscuits were noticeably hot out of the oven. I've since returned to Loveless with out of town guests for breakfast and have always been satisfied with my meal, particularly because the wait time is dramatically shorter than it would be for dinner. I won't eat anything but breakfast here again anyways, so I'll be back on a weekday morning the next time I welcome visitors!
(3)Kristle S.
Loved the atmosphere. Food was sooooooo delicious. Down home southern cooking. Very good and went home stuffed and with leftovers. Will go back here when I am back in town.
(5)Keith L.
So this place is definitely out of the way if you're staying in the city (my friends and I were a few blocks from Broadway when we went), but if you've got wheels and a burning hunger for the kind of southern food you came down South for, then Loveless is your place. The meal started with a basket of biscuits with homemade jam (on the house) and my friend and I shared the Pimento Bacon burger and the BBQ sandwich, then finished the meal off with some pie. The service was super-friendly and the food was all good.Totally what we wanted out of a Nashville dining experience.
(4)David M.
Live close by and eat here frequently. Occasionally can be seated quickly but usually a wait. It's just home style COOKIN and typically good for when you want fried food and country veggies. We like seeing all different people and visitors from out of town. Occasionally will see country music stars as we have a few times who also live close by. Miss the biscuit lady yet her recipe lives on...
(5)Andrea T.
Pace yourselves. Is all I have to say! I overdid it! The biscuits are so good. Ridiculous good. So good you could eat them plain, but why would you when there are the best jams ever on the plate? The peach jam is like eating the best peach cobbler on a biscuit. The blackberry still has pieces of the blackberries intact?? How do they do that?? The strawberry is good, but not as noteworthy as the other two. Oh, and they will bring more biscuits, but cut them off after two plates! I prefer the turnip greens at Arnold's, but hey to each is own! They were really the only thing I wasn't over the moon about! The sweet tea is perfectly sweetened. Not too sweet, not too bitter, just right! I had fried chicken and it was sublime! Would definitely order it again. The string bean casserole was a little taste of thanksgiving in may...score! I also had the chicken and bacon soup chowder which was delicious. Not salty at all, perfectly seasoned! My friend and I both had pie, the strawberry rhubarb and steeplechase ( derby style pie) and they were perfect slices, not too big and not too small, definitely too small to share, but perfect when you already regretted ordering it!! Delicious both of them! Well worth the wait, and theres plenty to shop before you eat! Oh and ask for Virginia! She's the best waitress!!!
(4)Ericka B.
Cute place to check out if you're visiting Nashville! Biscuits are good, food is decent. I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of Southern food, but when in Rome...er, Nashville... I had a beef brisket sandwich with green beans and Mac and cheese. The bf had a southern omelette with country ham. Everything was pretty good. Portions are HUGE. Consider sharing a meal if you don't want to walk out hurting!
(4)Lauren H.
I cannot believe I'm just now reviewing the loveless! Such a great place to eat if visiting the Nashville area. The biscuits and jams are incredible and the perfect starter (free) to any meal! The fried chicken, creamed corn, fried green tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and turnip greens will make you slap yo'mamma! ;-) very good! And I hope to visit again very soon!
(5)Katelyn N.
Had a great country meal here while visiting Nashville from Chicago. The chicken was amazingly moist and delicious. Fried green tomatoes were pretty good as well. The biscuits were nice and buttery and really tasty. They came with three different types of preserves: peach, strawberry and blackberry. I wasn't a fan of the peach but the other two were awesome and went perfectly with the homemade biscuits. We got there around 8 on a Friday night and were seated right away. We had heard the wait is usually upwards of an hour but we didn't have that issue at all. Service was super friendly and attentive. While the location is a little off the beaten path from downtown Nashville, the food makes it totally worth it.
(4)Moira R.
Okay, so I finally made it to Loveless for breakfast. Waited an hour and a half was expected, and there was enough to keep me busy, so that was okay. People were friendly. I had some trouble with the menu, ultimately I couldn't find anything I really wanted which is usually not a problem I have. The biscuits were good, but let's be honest, this whole show is about the jam -- which is delicious. Waitress was rushed, kind of harassed, but mostly funny about it. The breakfast with friends was nice, overall the experience was good. Not really sure why people are so obsessed at this point, aside from the fact that the place IS AN INSTITUTION. Definitely worth it for the history, I suppose.
(3)Stephen M.
Best biscuits on earth....(I'm not kidding). The biscuits are truly amazing, as is the rest of the menu. I bring all my visiting family members here for breakfast or lunch at least once during their visits. My favorite from the menu is the pulled pork omelet, as it has just the right sweet and savory combination to satisfy the palate. Do yourself a favor and take the significant other for a nice breakfast, or brunch.
(5)TJ F.
The Loveless is a great place, with sprawling grounds formed from the bones of an old highway motel. Nowadays, it houses a music venue, gift shop, tourist items and... authentic southern food. If you like biscuits with preserves like your grandma from the farm made, and fried chicken with okra, mashed potatoes and hush puppies, this is your place. I've visited a few times and I'm personally not a fan of this style of food - pretty much everything is battered, breaded, fried, and carbolicious. However, it is a fun place to take some out-of-town guests who want to live the southern comfort food life for a couple of hours and don't mind going a bit away from the city. Treat your arteries to some real gravy, butter on your biscuit, and fried catfish while you're here. It's not good for you, but it's tasty, authentic, and worth a trip once in a while.
(4)KT A.
This place is fantastic! The People are friendly and brings the customers back to "service with a smile". Country fried steak, eggs, cheese grits, bacon and biscuits. All great! Loved the grits... Came on a Monday morning around 10am with 6 people. Did not have to wait... Also loved the Peach Jam.. Bought a few bottles to take back to NJ! If you're able to go... Definitely go and have some breakfast here!
(5)Chip M.
Good food that did appear to be "scratch made" I have the biscuits n gravy. The gravy did taste scratch made and not from. Mix. Biscuits were really tasty. The jams were good but the strawberry was Extremely runny so not very jam like. The peach really didn't taste overly peachy to me. The blackberry was By far my personal fav of the the 3. Luke was our server. He was attentive And provided us with great service and just the right about of chit chat. Nice way to start the day. I'd return but might make reservation in advance. We waited about 1 hour this sunny Sunday morning.
(4)BT M.
Loveless is a tasty treat after (or before) a ride down the Natchez Trace. The food is okay, but not spectacular. The wait is long, but worth it if you want the Loveless experience. For my money, Monell's in Nashville is better on food, but lacks the experience of a nice drive and a shared "It's Loveless!" experience. While you're waiting, go over to the shop area, get corn hole equipment, and toss the bags.
(3)Charles L.
I took my staff to lunch at Loveless to celebrate a co-worker's birthday. It was a big hit. Many of us were new to Nashville and really enjoyed this staple. As a true southerner, I would say that the biscuits are a little overhyped but they were still quite good. It's just a matter of personal taste though. I will definitely go back and take more friends in the future.
(4)Kimberly K.
They're biscuits. How good can biscuits really get? {Ambiance} Homey. Laid back. Loads of celebrity pictures on the walls. We arrived at around 9 am on Wednesday and there was no wait. By 10 am there was a bit of a wait. Not a huge line though. I believe you are given a buzzer if you have to wait for a table, so you can browse around the gift shop to kill some time. {Service} The moment we entered the doors, the hostess was welcoming and friendly. Our server Dee was attentive, offered suggestions, and was more than helpful. She brought us extra napkins, our water cups were always full, and she made sure we had plenty of biscuits throughout our meal. {Food} *A bowl of butter and half & half sits on each table. How convenient. Complimentary Homemade Biscuits and Preserves- The most memorable biscuits ever! Warm, light, fluffy, and slightly buttery. They weren't extremely buttery or salty like some of the others I have had in the past. Three types of preserves come with your plate of biscuits: Peach, Blackberry, and Strawberry. The biscuits are delicious on their own but the preserves are so well made, you will want to buy a jar of it to take home. Two simple ingredients go into their preserves, sugar and fruit. Southern Sampler Breakfast - Includes Country Ham, Bacon, Sausage and Eggs. All Breakfast Platters come with your choice of grits or potatoes. The Ham was flavorful but really tough. You will be chewing for a very long time. The red eye gravy was flavorful. The bacon was savory, crispy, and slightly salty. The sausage patties were warm, tender, and seasoned well. The eggs were cooked perfectly, just the way I ordered them- sunny side up. The grits were warm and comforting but a bit too watery for me. French Toast- Hearty slices of Texas toast with loads of cinnamon and sugar. It comes with syrup, but they were delicious on their own. Hashbrown Casserole- Potatoes + Cheese = winner {Price Range} Breakfast Plates/Platters $6.95-$13.50, Supper Platters $9.95-$16.95 When thinking about the biscuits at Loveless Cafe, words such as "amazing" and "mind blowing" come to mind.
(4)Colleen M.
This was one of my favorite places I stopped at while in Nashville. Yes, the wait can be insanely long, but I promise it is so worth it. If you are tight on time, be sure to call ahead and see how busy it is. If you have to wait, there are cute little shops surrounding the cafe to kill some time. Those biscuits are SO GOOD! The staff is so friendly! They even sent us with water and biscuits to go to bring back to our hotel room. I was more than pleased with my experience. I'm heading to Nashville again soon and will be making a stop here again!
(5)Eric S.
I'm going to give this 4/5 stars just because it took some effort to get seated. The girls thought I was invisible for about 5 mins, then they suggested take out, then I was seated in the corner next to a large loud table before seating myself... Everything looked up right after being seated. My waitress was very friendly & the food was delicious. I ordered the watermelon ribs which were full of sweet zesty flavor, which was covered in BBQ sauce. The meat came off the bone with little effort.
(4)Dew T.
Biscuits and jam. Enough said. Completely amazing. Such a fun thing to do in Nashville and always worth the wait!
(5)Juls B.
After the 1 1/2 hour wait, it won't be shorter even if you are only a party of 2, I can say it was worth the wait! Our waitress was super down southern sweet and the food did not disappoint. My hubby had the southern sampler choices were fried catfish, ham ( yes, it's salty but he likes that) and the fried chicken. Yum to all. Sides we shared were creamed corn ( to die for), fried green tomatoes (liked), caramel sweet potatoes (Yumo!!) and hash brown potatoes casserole. Tastes like the one I make so nothing special but it was good. Our food came out super fast but then it slowed waaaaay down on closing out our bill. Good place for southern comfort food!
(4)Brad K.
We were visiting from out of town for the NPAA (Nurse Practitioner American Association) Conference at the OpryLand Hotel, and had great service on a Tuesday at around noon even though we waited 15 minutes to sit. I had a country fried steak with white gravy, Hash-brown Casserole, and two eggs over medium. I combined the eggs and the gravy to top the CFS and it was great. The CFS was about the size of my hand, or about 10 inches round. Very very tasty. My wife had a fried chicken salad, and my daughter had the old faithful chicken wings. Everyone was very pleased with their meals.
(5)Karen C.
I don't know if I can really add to what has already been said, but here it goes... Biscuits? AMAZING. I know my biscuits, and these are the bomb diggity. I could have eaten even more than I did (and trust me, I ate my fair share), but I really needed my pants to fit this week. Cheese grits? Yes, please. Not much else needs to be said about that. Homemade preserves? Oh God yes. Blackberry is amazing. Strawberry is amazing, Peach is extra-super amazing. Friendly service? Insanely nice across the board, from our waitress to the guy that brought our food to the people in the shop. Store to take home goodies? Yep. I just enjoyed some Loveless Cafe Strawberry Preserves on my couch in Chicago... still delicious. And I can't wait to crack into the pickles I bought, but now I'm annoyed with myself for not getting the Peach Preserves, too. Long-ass wait? We got there at 10ish on a Sunday morning for breakfast, waited 1 1/2 hours. And yep, totally worth it. By the time we got seated, they were telling people up to 2 1/2 hours. Take note from whom I assume are the locals that sat up shop playing dominoes & board games at the picnic tables by bringing something along to entertain yourself. Stop debating if it's worth the drive/wait/etc. ... it is. Go. Now.
(5)Amanda M.
Best breakfast ever! Worth the wait. We waited about 45 minutes. While we were waiting we walked around the property where we samples peach cobbler hot tea- so good. Hashbrown casserole is an absolute must. Biscuits were amazing. Everything was delicious.
(5)Robert S.
A bit off the beaten path yet fairly easy to find with some simple directions. And once you are near it, you can't miss the signs. Basically a southern-style home cooking place that also added popular dishes from other areas. I had the Shrimp and Grits which had large shrimp and was mucho tasty. The Fried Chicken Salad was loaded with chunks of fried chicken and was a meal in itself. I also tried a 'Moonshine' Mary, a version of the ever-popular Bloody Mary except that moonshine was substituted for vodka. Don't think it will be my new favorite, but it was interesting. There is a store on the property called Hams and Jams which sells various country food items such as country ham, preserves, bacon etc. I tried and bought a bag of bacon popcorn, which tastes different but it kinda grows on you. The biscuits are some of the best I've ever had. Buttery, hot and served with 3 different jams. The service was friendly and knowledgeable. The food didn't take long to be prepared and overall, this is a well-run operation.
(4)Adam C.
Biscuits are no kidding great. Loved the chicken the pork and the pies look great. Too full to order pie. This was some good cooking. Worth the extra trip. Great wait staff lots of enthusiasm from everyone there. A little touristy but still lots of fun. I will be back for the biscuits!!!
(5)Brian M.
Loveless is fun & excellent quality. Their fried chicken is very good, mashed potatoes and chicken gravy fantastic, biscuits great, BBQ brisket great, and the service was excellent. We waited 1.5hrs and it was worth it. BBQ. pit master and I talked BBQ for almost the entire 1.5hrs. It was a great time.
(4)Chance S.
Yes, the biscuits here are consistently tasty. No one disputes this fact. But is there a biscuit on the planet that is worth a drive out to the boonies followed by a 2 hour wait to eat what is essentially a glorified, overpriced Cracker Barrel meal? I probably won't do it again, but the tourists seem to think so. Aside from the biscuits, the food and service were decent, but certainly not worth raving about.
(3)Christopher B.
OMG the best fried chicken I have ever had in my entire life. One of my friends shed a tear and the other licked her fingers and said "I didn't know people really did that! " it was so good. They even have all you can eat chicken or meatloaf with great sides and unlimited biscuits. The wait is terrible but there are shops to pass the time. Only disappointment was watermelon wasnt in season they said so I couldn't get the watermelon moonshine. Highly recommend. Worth the drive and the wait.
(5)Angel O.
First time reviewer and what a great place to begin with. I travel for work a lot, and I tend to use Yelp to find those can't miss places. This place however, was based on a recommendation from a local. And thank goodness she did. I went on a Tuesday evening with a coworker. The service was great, our server, a young college aged man, was very helpful, funny, and extremely polite. He quickly brought us some biscuits and wow, they're as good as anyone can advertise them to be. The jams are just great too. I ordered the friend chicken (half) with mashed potatoes and mac n cheese. I'm a little ashamed that I licked my plate cleaned, while inhaling a few dozen biscuits. I did leave Loveless with an overwhelming feeling of joy and shame. 5 stars no doubt.
(5)Andy B.
3.5 stars, really. My country fried steak was quite tasty. Can't say the same about the mashed potatoes, though. Hour wait on Sunday at 3 PM was odd. The blackberry jam was quite awesome.
(4)Andrea F.
The best The South has to offer: the biscuits, the blackberry jam, the bbq omellette, the chicken fried steak. You can't go wrong at this place!!! notquitegrownupguide.blo…
(5)Kate M.
I went here for lunch on my last day in Nashville. I AM SO GLAD I DID! They have to die for fried chicken and mac n cheese. The biscuits that come with your food are perfect, best I've ever had. They give you a selection of preserves with the biscuits as well...the peach is amazing. It's a bit of a drive outside of the city but if you are going to Belle Meade or Cheekwood, it's not too far from there! Totally worth it!
(5)Juanita J.
The peach preserves are a masterpiece!!! Great southern cooking - tastes like homemade! Fried chicken is incredible - how do they make that crust?!! Mashed potatoes are the real deal and the macaroni and cheese makes you want seconds. Don't worry about dessert - the biscuits with butter and peach preserves are dessert! Plan your trip carefully - the wait time can be long. We waited 45 minutes.
(5)Sami L.
Caution: Tourist trap. Biscuits were warm and were good but not the best I ever had. Food was mediocre. Wait time is ridiculously long and I think they do that on purpose so you can spend time in their shops purchasing needless merchandise. Our service was great though.
(3)Dave C.
We drove 30 minutes from Nashville for brunch here, and then waited 35 minutes for a table (they told us an hour).......an it was worth it. We had the ribs, brisket, creamed corn (the star of the show) and of course you get the biscuits with their homemade jam to start........i would just eat the biskets all day with the jam if i could. it's worth the drive and the wait.
(4)Lauren M.
The wait is long (over an hour in my case), but the food is worth it. The biscuits are light and buttery and are the perfect vessel for the peach preserves. The bacon is worth it alone. And the grits. And the chicken. And the coffee. Did I mention the biscuits? If you are looking for good, Southern-style breakfast, just go. Wait and eat. It's worth it.
(5)Leann P.
We went to the Loveless Cafe on a Monday mid-morning. We had a 45 minute wait, but it was nice because we got a pager and were able to walk around the campus and go into the different shops. Some people in other parties were becoming edgy due to the wait, but the staff does not keep it a secret that you will be waiting. They have delicious southern cuisine! Must haves= biscuits, hashbrown casserole. It was literally the best hashbrown casserole I've ever had! Loveless Cafe is definitely a place you should experience when in Nashville! My only complaint would be that it was pretty cold inside. I ended up wearing my gloves while waiting for our seat and our food. By the end of the meal my toes were numb!
(4)Shafi K.
I am so surprised that I have not reviewed this place earlier! This is the place where we bring anyone and everyone who is visiting us from out of town if they say they want to eat "southern food". This place has a great ambiance. The decor is awesome. It's vintage-looking with the pictures of 101 famous singers/dancers/musicians/senators/presidents/Âmayors/etc. Amazing how many people have been here! Everything is delicious, so where do I start? Their biscuits are the BEST in town. The fried catfish is great. I have tried the pork chops as well- ah!mazing. The prices are great and you get A LOT of food. I can literally eat my left-overs for 2 more meals the next day. When people say the food here is to DIE for, I think they mean it literally. After all that cholesterol and fat, you will be very near death. If you want a meal that will keep you full for the next 18 hours, go here! Love it!
(5)Richard N.
We live about 5 miles from this place. We always take friends and family here when they're in from out of town. Consistently good down home food.
(4)Maggie M.
Insane waits on the weekend. Waited over an hour on Friday for a take-out order (including the 30 min drive over there). Can't see what the fuss is. Will have to try to make it out on a Tuesday or Wednesday and see if it's actually possible to get a table. Not impressed with the food I got- have definitely had better in the area.
(2)Michael S.
32 bucks for breakfast is a wee too high. food was great, service was great. just can't get over the price.
(3)Kevin M.
I would definitely put this on par with a Cracker Barrel with larger portions and an extensive history. Being that we went midweek in the evening there was little to no wait. My food was decent. The biscuits were quite tasty (I may have evaluated about 4...) I was not blown away by my overall experience but I am open to going back again to try the breakfast.
(3)Heather J.
"Breakfast at The Loveless Café?" I had been in Nashville less than 24 hours, and this was the third time I had heard of/and been instructed to eat at The Loveless Café. So, we did! Since the 1940's, Lon and Annie Loveless have been serving chicken and biscuits right from the front door of their house to travelers going to and from Nashville. Eventually, their 'home' became a regularly scheduled stop of travelers, and as such evolved into The Loveless Motel and Café in 1951.Today , they serve 7000 biscuits a day, and once you've sunk your teeth into the creamy, buttery goodness, you'll know why. They are amazing. They also bring an assortment of fresh made preserves to the table. Yum. I watch a lot of cooking shows, which is ironic, since I don't cook. Our stove is used to store things, suitcases waiting to be used and shoes waiting to be worn. However, from the myriad of cooking shows, I have gleaned that Tennesseans know bar-b-queue, and after visiting, I am convinced. Ribs, ribs and more ribs. Ribs slow cooked in a pit. Ribs smoked dry, baked, boiled, broiled, rubbed, doused, simmered and oh so good. The Rib Special of the day at The Loveless, were slow cooked with watermelon; the meat literally falling from the bone. The keys to good ribs, I'm told, are some 'fine swine' and lots of time. Throughout the ages, The Loveless Café has been a much cherished piece of Nashville culture. In 2004, for the first time in Loveless history, they closed their doors for renovation. When they reopened a few months later, 'folks were standing in line thicker than sausage gravy'. Today The Loveless has been featured on many shows, including Ellen DeGeneres, Today and Good Morning America. For a downhome southern food experience, this place makes the cut. Visit my site at: TNBTA.com for cool photos and more reviews....
(4)Timothy P.
Fun place outside Nashville. They have made it into a bit of a tourist destination. The creamed corn is great. Biscuits are rockin'. Had the "special of the day" creamed chicken & dumplings. Good, wouldn't call it great. Excellent service, nice atmosphere. A little pricey, but worth a visit.
(4)Robin Z.
The biscuits are definitely to die for.......the wait is far to long....the food is just ok.....i think back...back....back in the day it was better but it is just average food at a small place with over crowded dining rooms ...the place is just tired......just to much hype....you can find much better in nashville....or you can be disappointed and still say you ate at the loveless cafe
(1)Sara L.
I drove across the country for my bucket list/birthday/I bought a new car/hey why not and stopped here on the way from Raleigh NC to Los Angeles.Spent half my budget on gifts and food. Well worth it. Everyone was really nice, the biscuits were delicious, coffee hot and I just might make the drive out again. MMM. I love you, Tennessee.
(4)Heidi H.
The food was amazing!!!!! The best creamed corn I have ever eaten! Peach and strawberry jam are excellent. Peach jam was like peach pie filling! We ordered the fried chicken which was juicy and very good. Great mashed potatoes!!! Fried green tomatoes not that great. We will definitely be back. The pancakes looked great too!! It's out of the way but worth the drive!!!!!!!
(5)Andrea S.
Everyone raves about this place, however I wasn't impressed. The famous biscuits were OK. I have definitely had better. Our waiter wasn't really friendly and some of our food was burnt. We were kind over the place and didn't bother to say anything. We ate less than half the food. The shops are a little over priced but a cute set up.
(2)Justin H.
Great food and excellent service. The aroma was very good and cool shops to walk around and see while waiting. Definitely make time for the wait!
(5)Frances B.
Landmark restaurants are always tricky. Sometimes they're just good, but nothing to write home about. They're famous because the locals love it, or it's tradition and because it makes some people nostalgic. Other times, it's well deserved fame that makes you wish you lived there so you could feast on those dishes to your little heart's content- that's Loveless. Sweet lord, Loveless. I will fantasize about this place until I can come back. When people think of outstanding, southern home cooking this is it. This is stick-to-your-ribs, bad for your arteries but good for your soul food. I will never be able to have a conversation about Nashville again without mentioning Loveless. So what was so good that I am love rambling about this place? -THE BISCUITS. I'm pretty sure angels sing when these come out of the oven. In Pluto's theory of forms, everything on earth is a copy of the perfect form of something in heaven. And I'm pretty sure Loveless biscuits are the ones they have in heaven. They are fluffy, and fresh and perfect. Obviously you need butter and preserves, because you wouldn't want to cut corners on this delicious experience. -BBQ pork omelet (AMAZING. One of the best omelets I've ever had). I ordered it because I knew I couldn't get a BBQ pork omelet in NYC or LA or even in carnivorous Chicago. When in Rome, right? Best decision I've made lately. The pork is so juicy and flavorful, and there was just a hint of BBQ sauce, so the smoky flavor carried the omelet. It was perfect. 5 stars. Will order it again every time. - The hash brown casserole AMAZING cheesy, potatoey, fatty goodness. You couldn't dream up better breakfast potatoes. These are an absolute must. They are the cherry on top of each bite. -country fried steak My friend got this and it is the ultimate country fried steak with gravy. She couldn't stop smiling while she was eating. If this is your thing, you will be so, so happy. I thought the fried chicken was good, but I'm not a big fried chicken person so I probably wouldn't order it again, it wasn't life altering, like the biscuits. The service was outstanding. You feel so welcome and taken care of. That Southern hospitality gets city people like me every time. This place is a must, an absolute freaking must. When I am old and gray and look back on all the delicious food I have eaten in my life, I will think of Loveless. Peace, Loveless & Nashville forever.
(5)Sarah H.
AMAZING!!! We were visiting from out of town for the CMA music fest. We drove 45 min in the rain to get here and it was worth it! We only had to wait about 20 min for a table and our waiter TALOR was awesome. He got us set up with mimosas and bloody marys, and the food was the best breakfast food I have ever had!! The hash-brown casserole was delicious and the biscuits, well they are famous for a reason! I suggest everyone go there if you get the chance! I will definitely be back again as soon as I can. xoxo
(5)Catherine L.
The biscuits were buttery, but I put some more butter on them just for fun. The pinto beans had some ham in them, and they were just right - soft and creamy. I also got fried chicken. It needed salt or brining ahead of time. Maybe dark meat would have been better? The raspberry peach cobbler was divine. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Go if you're in the area!
(4)Sheila K.
Loveless is definitely not a "touristy trap". Yes, it has the gift shops and all of that but the cafe...the cafe was probably the best breakfast I've ever had. My boyfriend and I frequent breakfast joints at home (Chicago) as well as where ever we travel. The breakfast at Loveless was awesome. The biscuits... warm, fluffy, tasty. The jams/preserves made the biscuits even better. I had the Southern omelette- and I'm pretty sure it put all other omelettes to shame. My boyfriend had the waffles with sausage...and the sausage isn't the typical bfast links, but legit patties of delish that were thrown on the grill. But honestly, the best part of the visit was our server- Luke. He was fun, friendly, just the right amount of chatty. Coming from Chicago, we aren't used to servers being so awesome.
(5)Anita K.
Been here on many occasions. My first time for breakfast. As usual, worth the drive. Love the Loveless!
(5)Jackie M.
There's a lot of good things going at Loveless Cafe, to start, let's do a list: 1. Southern hospitality. We asked our server what's sorghum and without explaining she went ahead and brought 2 containers of plain sorghum and then a bowl of butter and sorghum and mixed it on the table to show us how it should be eaten. Try it if you like molasses or just try it for the sake of trying. Always courteous, shows up at the right time, and splitting checks - no problem. 2. History and photos. 3. Kitsch and charm. 4. Overall good showcase of southern food: my picks were the butter and fruit jams, biscuits, fried chicken, creamed corn, hashbrown casserole, and slaw. Country ham (as warned by our server) is VERY salty and a bit tough. Something that I thought would be amazing would be the Banana Pudding was just ok, not much vanilla wafers. Pulled pork was said to be smoked for over 12hrs gave me too much of a high expectation. Fried chicken was good, moist and lightly battered. Food was on the salty and sweet side. The souvenoir shops always leave a slightly bad impression. It's a double edge sword. It's hard to take it seriously as dining, when it is part tourist destination. A long sleeved t-shirt printing of bacon striped jacket - that is pretty sweet! I know it's all part of the show and indeed they looked like they were doing pretty well selling overpriced goods, so good for them! Thankfully, we're given a wait time of 35min, just enough time to explore the grounds. As a package, LC should be experienced at least once: 3.3 stars.
(3)Jason W.
Best pulled pork I have ever had. The sides were amazing too... I highly recommend the hash brown casserole and mac n cheese, which were both excellent. The biscuits were good but nothing special, although they bring them out complimentary so no complaints. The jams they serve with them, however, were very good. Expect a long wait...my wife and I waited 2 hours, but planned ahead and took a scenic drive down the Natchez Trace parkway so no big deal. Probably not someplace I would eat often but worth at least one trip. Good place to bring friends or family visiting Nashville.
(5)Bruce R.
Good food and fun destination. Love the little shops surrounding the diner. And it's a good thing, because you will wait a bit for your table. Nice to have the shops to browse, and they have corn hole games set up on the lawn. Food was good, but no "WOW" factor. Just a good meal well prepared. The raves about the biscuits are a joke. They are indistinguishable from frozen store biscuits. 100% Pop-N-Fresh. Be prepared to get rushed, they are ALL about table turnover, and will attempt to hurry you along. And will get very snotty if you linger. Our waitress was very attentive, and friendly, but got chilly very quick when we pointed out she got our order wrong. I also asked for hot sauce, waited a long time, and had to remind her, which got me some eye rolling. 20 minutes after seating us she was so adamant about moving us along she practically handed us our coats. Frankly, the homey vibe feels like a sham, they are all about volume, volume, volume, and turning tables as fast as possible. Sadly, this place has the "Too famous to fail" attitude many successful places have, that they don't need to take care of you because the sheer volume of business they get makes the quality of the dining experience irrelevant.
(3)Kathleen K.
AWESOME! Although the wait was an hour- after the amazing meal we were all happy. Danielle was our server. She made the meal as special as the biscuits. Patiently explaining her recommendations-sharing cafe history & famous sightings. The food and the experience were awesome!
(5)Jenny T.
The food wasn't all that bad. I order the garden omelette, it tasted good but need to add seasoning flavor to spice it up. The place is nice to see a lot of famous people photos with an autograph.
(3)Allison N.
Does it get better than Loveless Cafe? No, probably not. When I lived in Nashville this was one of my absolute favorite places to go for breakfast. Sure, it's sort of a hike from the city, but the drive is scenic and the biscuits are worth it. So are the preserves. I still dream about the preserves actually. I could totally go for some right now... Anyway, everything is really good here. I won't lie to you, dear reader. You will probably have to wait. You may have to wait for a very long time to eat at the Loveless Cafe. But trust me, it's worth it. Everything I have had there has been wonderful. I've had omelets, I've had pancakes, I've had breakfast ham, and various other side dishes. They're all good. And in Nashville, we know our food. If Loveless Cafe is that busy, it's for a reason. You can always check out the nearby shops when you wait. Pro tip: the preserves are sold there. Buy some.
(5)Tina W.
Not sure how anyone could complain that there was a wait for here. You'd have to be from Mars to not know you would have a wait. 2-3 hours is the norm on weekends, people! Grab some bean bags and play corn hole and chillax! By the way, you CAN CALL AHEAD to be put on the waiting list. Get ready to leave the hotel, put in a call, and then by the time you get there, you should just about be ready to be seated. I lucked out and had a 10 minute wait last Wednesday between breakfast and dinner. We were seated exactly at 11, so we had dinner. Son had the pimiento cheese bacon burger which was FABULOUS. I couldn't decide on which sides to get, so I got the side dish platter. I had black-eyed peas, green beans, mac and cheese, and the best creamed corn I have EVER tasted. Biscuits? Yes, they're wonderful. Peach preserves were delectable. Next time, I'll try some biscuits and gravy.....and I'll buy some mix and peach preserves for home....
(5)Sam A.
The biscuits were amazing! Our server brought us a plate of warm biscuits, which were great, but then brought us a plate of MORE biscuits straight out of the oven... heaven! Especially with butter and preserves. I had the catfish dinner plate with fried okra and fruit. I thought the catfish was well done, as well as the hushpuppies. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the okra. the breading was very thick and heavy. My boyfriend got the pulled pork sandwich and fries.... (of course I had to try!) and both were delicious. Loved the fries. Can't wait to come back and try the breakfast menu and the desserts.... they look amazing!
(4)Daniel I.
The fried chicken lived up to its hype! The portions are huge!!! The pancakes are bigger than your face, while the bacon has an amazing smoked taste to it. And the biscuits.......speechless!
(5)Sarah M.
Yes, the biscuits and jelly were amazing but that's about all for me! Both are def made fresh. I've never had anything like them. They're complementary with some orders but you could enjoy them by themselves with coffee for breakfast- filling. I ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffles were too thick & that made them hard to enjoy. The chicken was huge! It's definitely a good choice if you have a huge appetite that early in the morning. 3 stars for the biscuits but I wasn't impressed by anything else. The drive is out of the way even if you are driving into/out of Nashville. The staff was decent. Stopped by around 9am on a Friday morning so there wasn't a wait.
(3)Jessie C.
I love this place!!! The food is amazing! Service is great! There is a lot of charm and the place oozes coolness. Its a place the average Joe can enjoy or the big time celebrity. Highly recommend eating here you won't regret it!!!
(5)Dave C.
Came to the loveless this past weekend. I have mixed feelings on this place. First, the good. The food was good. I've had better but this is certainly better than average food. The biscuits they bring out first are really good and the preserves were good as well. I had the Half-Fried chicken. The breading was very good however, the meat was a little on the dry side. Good flavor just not as moist as I like my fried chicken. The slow cooked green beans were good and my favorite part of the meal was the hash brown casserole. The staff was very friendly. The bad, this is Tennessee and the Sweet tea left a lot to be desired. I've had better Sweet tea at McDonalds. The wait, yes I know the wait is long most days at this place. I don't mind waiting but the shops just weren't much to look at and after about 15 minutes we had pretty much seen everything. They had some corn hole games around but couldn't find and bean bags to play. The snacks in the shops are way overprices. My advice, if you need a little snack to hold you over while you wait for 2 or more hours, there is a Shell station next door. Pick up a small back of pretzels for $1. Overall, probably a 3.5 stars in my book. i would certainly recommend going for the experience and the friendly staff. Expect the long wait and just be prepared.
(3)Julie L.
When you google places you must see/do in Nashville, The Loveless Cafe comes up as one of the top 5. With it also being our last name, we were excited to see what it was all about. We drove from St. Louis to Nashville for a weekend and came hungry as this was our first stop once in Tennessee. We were greeted by an associate, very friendly, who was eager to take our pictures around the grounds esp with our last name being highlighted. We put our name on the waiting list and looked around the shops, the Barn and other parts of the grounds. Our waiter was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and excited that another Loveless namesake had stopped in. We started with sweet tea and their homemade biscuits with the various jams and preserves. I got the fried chicken with two sides and my husband got the sampler with 3 meats and sides. Needless to say we were not disappointed. They were advertising national dessert month and their homemade goodies so we had a piece of their turtle pie...not to miss! We did get a little something to remember our time there and have already started thinking about our next visit whenever we're in Tennessee again.
(5)Kristin M.
One of the best restaurants that Nashville has to offer! I totally recommend the pull pork, fried chicken, and catfish. The place has a special to get 3 meats and 2 sides for $16. Portions are more than enough with tons of delicious sides to choose from like the hashbrown chessy casserole and cream corn. Make sure you save enough room for the endless melt in your mouth fluffy biscuits and warm peach cobbler for dessert! Can't wait to go back =D
(5)MITCH S.
Although very busy we had the option of carring out and eating outsidw picnic style. The wait for s table was 1.5 hours. Since the last time I was here the quality seems to have gone South, but not in a good way. The chicken fried steak was tasteless, the mac and cheese was mushy. My wife's fried chicken was not as good as a remembered. I would only give them 2.5 stars on this trip.
(2)Jeffrey G.
This place doesn't disappoint. Came from Southern Indiana to eat here and stay a couple of days in Nashville. I recommend the Sampler Platter. My wife's garden salad with fried chicken looked delicious.
(5)Will H.
I recently went to Nashville for business purposes and was very eager to go to the Loveless Cafe after seeing them on the Food Network. The service was excellent! The wait staff was friendly and made us feel warm and fuzzy. The biscuits are definatley to die for! I ended up ordering the sample platter and was unfortunately dissapointed. The fried chicken lacked adequate seasoning in addition to the fact that the wings were extremely small. The pulled pork was blah. The catfish was pretty good though. Overall it was okay, but I probably wouldn't go back.
(2)Renee S.
Excellent food. Great biscuits. I had he fried chicken on a salad (can't remember the name of the salad). Hubby had the fried chicken and waffles. Service was great. atmosphere was cute. Worth the drive to get to!
(5)C-pher M.
HOLY MOLY, now this is some DAMN good Home Country Cooking. I had some great Fried Chicken, wonderful Catfish and amazing Country Ham. Our Server was the best, he was on top of things, funny and didn't miss a beat with anything we needed. The best thing, we happened to see Billy Ray Cyrus and Johnny Van Zant while we were there...Hell, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. I was really thinking about going back there for dinner every night....it was that good.
(4)Sandy T.
I've been to Loveless many times, and I am here asking myself, "what brings me back to this place?" So....I tried really hard and made a recall of my past visits and after a quick analyzation of it all (parking lot to last crumb on my bottom lip) I am ready to sum it up in a few sentences for Yelp. Here we go....I think the best parts of Loveless are the buildings (restaurant, shops, barn), the people (locals, tourists, awesome servers), the energy (music-happy) and last but not least, the BISCUITS!!!! Yes...The famous biscuits that are served with granny's homeade recipe of peach, strawberry, raspberry preserves, honey, and sorghum. The rest of the food is good, but in my opinion, those hot fresh biscuits are unbeatable. They are annoyingly distracting, actually. You eat them before your food arrives and then you just can't stop eating them. The server will continue to refill your basket at your wish, but if they didn't, I think you/I/he/she/we would slap whoevers hand reached out for the last biscuit in the basket. It would be a loveless fight! ;) It's a fun place to eat at and visit. Def a MUST GO TO if you are visiting from out of town. And for you.... loco locals who haven't been to Loveless EVER, all I can say is "bless your heart!". You can't live in Nashville and say you've never been there! :) In summary, it's soooooo good, I can taste and feel the LOOOOOOVE in this southern old Motel turned into Loveless Cafe. I love it and I'm willing to bet a basket of biscuits you will to! (FYI- the Loveless Motel used to belong to the Loveless Family)
(4)Victoria L.
Some true stick-to-your-ribs good Southern comfort food. We came here on our recent trip to Nashville after hearing rave reviews. In fact, it was the only must-do activity from our friend who had been here once before. We came during the early evening on Saturday and there was approximately a 40 minute wait. In the meantime, there were the little series of shops that we could browse through in the surrounding buildings. Once seated, our waiter was super friendly. He promptly brought over their famous biscuits and preserves. While in the south, I've quite enjoyed my biscuits savory-style but these preserves tasted very fresh. They kept us occupied for a while until we decided on what to order. The soup of the day was chicken pot pie, which I couldn't turn down even though I was also anxious to try so many other things. Thus, my friend and I ordered the country sampler with fried chicken, country ham, and pulled pork. We opted for obvious sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. The fried chicken drumsticks were delicious and the sides definitely hit the spot. The pulled pork was not my favorite though. Someone else ordered the meatloaf platter with sweet potato and hashbrown casserole sides. He claimed the hashbrown casserole was the best he's had. Our other friend got the turkey platter with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, which was good too. It was definitely worth the hype of classic down home southern cooking.
(4)J P.
No, NO, NOOO - a thousand times NO! I cannot vouch for what this place used to be when it was privately owned. Certainly quaint and a great setup - but the food (breakfast) was horrible. Given that this is a place for Country Ham, biscuits and all the fixins', they ain't up to it. Ham was not up to any other place that serves it, redeye gravy incredibly weak. Biscuits - doods - quit using baking soda with aluminum - like sticking an aluminum plate in your mouth. Plus, they had a terrible sweet afterbite when dipped in Redeye. Jelly and Jams were good, but ain't why you go out to eat. Interesting - asked for eggs over easy and was told that that meant the yolk would be close to hard. Let's try turning down the heat on the stove. In short - if you can't fix eggs right, where do you rise from. If you can't fix Country Ham right - then don't call yourselves Country. Now, I know there are thousands of country stars plastered on the walls. Cool, but these folks know their mamma and grandma made better. I'd take my picture down. As hard as it is to get Country Ham, I make it all the time - I beat this place hands down - which means they don't make the cut for a place I'd go out to. Really sad part is that I was visiting from out of town and was told this was the place for country cooking. If you mean breakfast - forget it...
(1)Bridgette C.
I feel sacrilegious writing this but I am not the biggest can of loveless. Sure, it's a staple for taking out of town visitors. They have good food and cool shops and that adorable bar on their giant complex out there...but the food isn't that spectacular. It's good, in that traditional breakfast way, but it's nothing you can't make in your own kitchen. And (please don't hurt me for this!) this biscuits are just not my favorite. Again, good, but not shout-from-the-hills good. The wait on the weekends is always insane and I always feel like we are rushed out. It's a place to go once at least, especially if you have visiting relatives, but I don't go out of my way to go there on my own. I'll go if invited, but it's never a case of "gosh I'd love Loveless for breakfast right now."
(3)Marika N.
Overall, I had a very pleasant experience at the Loveless Cafe last weekend. I was there on a double date with old friends. The wait (starting at 5 PM on a Saturday) was an hour and a half, but we had planned ahead and showed up well before we were hungry. We killed the wait by playing corn hole and checking out the shops. The biscuits were solid. They didn't beat the homemade biscuits that my southern family makes, but the blackberry, peach and strawberry jam that they were served with was delicious. We each got the drink special of the night, a Strawberry sipper. It was essentially lemonade with strawberry rye whiskey and was fairly sweet. It was perfect for my taste, but not for the guys'. Our waiter was friendly and hilarious. The service was fast and each of us enjoyed our meals. I got the catfish sandwich with grits and it was certainly well done. If you go there with good company and expecting a long wait, the Loveless Cafe is a good place to grab some southern food. I'm not sure I would go there over the summer though because most of the waiting areas are outdoors and a long, hot wait would have made us miserable. Addition: We did not feel rushed at all while we there. In fact, we actually felt that the restaurant did not have the focus on volume that other places had. While we were there, we commented that we appreciated how much space they had put in between the tables.
(4)Franklin A.
Okay, this place has been featured on more shows that we can swing a dead cat at. Ellen, the Today Show, countless cooks/chefs from Food Network rave about this place...for good reason. The food is good (yeah, its all about the biscuits) but the ambience is really fun, friendly, and is full of character. If you come expecting fine dining or exquisite southern cooking you'll be disappointed. But if you want good food for a good price in a place that's fun and makes you want to come back again...then you'll be very pleased.
(4)Jessica V.
Worth the wait! Best biscuits, best fried chicken, love the atmosphere and friendly staff. Always enjoy my time there. Thanks Loveless Cafe!
(5)Michael C.
The biscuits alone are reason alone why to go to Loveless! I've had chicken fried steak and both were amazing.
(4)Erin W.
Actually love this restaurant, however service was off today. Biscuits were served cold, the red velvet pancakes were cold and the sausage omelet was so-so. Don't know if our waitress forgot to pick up our order or what, but it was not the best service today. Need to watch that!
(3)Norm P.
Loveless Cafe is awesome country cooking. We take everyone from out of town there. Great country setting!
(4)Lewis B.
Very good staff. Food was good, well seasoned vegetables. I would eat here again.
(4)Adam S.
Took the 1 hour drive from Lebanon just to get some biscuits and it was very much worth it. Our waiter was the best. Super quick and friendly even though we got there only about 25 minutes before they closed. Only had dessert (pie) and biscuits, and then stopped at the store. Eat the biscuits. Take some to go. The preserves they are served with are excellent as well, especially the strawberry.
(5)Jackie M.
Wasn't worth the hype IMHO. We waited almost two hours. Sides were really bad (e.g. mac and cheese was runny as soup and had zero flavor). Fried chicken was great and biscuits were too. Other than that, I thought the food was blah. Service wasn't very friendly either. You go here once, post your pic to Instagram and probably forget about the food. I liked Hattie B's chicken better (sorry!!!).
(2)Pam F.
I am and always will be obsessed with Loveless Cafe. The preserves, the biscuits, what's not to love? I visit it every single time I am in Nashville and I never regret it. I love the Loveless fried chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. I am not a huge pie fan so I have not tried the pies, but everyone has told me that they are SO GOOD. I am also a fan of their waffles. Really, you can't go wrong with anything at Loveless Cafe. I drag every person I know to eat there and they never regret it.
(5)Aisha S.
Biscuits! Good lord the biscuits. And the peach preserves! I bought some biscuit mix with peach and blackberry preserves from the store and took a catalog for future online ordering. The barbecue sauce (also sold in the store) made the bbq pork omelette especially delicious. We were lucky enough to come here for the first time during the week when it wasn't very crowded, but weekend brunch was ridiculous. We ended up ordering our food to go and eating outside. It was worth it though! Did I mention the biscuits?
(4)Brian F.
The place to go when you come to Nashville! Great country ham, biscuits, homemade preserves, and all things Nashville. Wonderful gift shop. Friendly people and good outdoor spots to wait for a table where you can sit around a picnic table and talk with friends and family just like you would on a front porch, and they have one of those too! Wonderful!
(5)Kevin M.
Ok Nashville. What is up with your love affair for Loveless Cafe? Yes, I can see it as an iconic establishment for music, maybe. And it's back story is kind of cool. But listen: if I'm going to wait two hours for food (the norm for weekend lunch?), it better be higher quality than freaking CRACKER BARREL. Every plate of food that I saw for our table (eight people) carried more "good ol southern" cholesterol than a tub of Country Crock, deep fried to a crisp and full of the weird southern fixings that this northerner can't find in his heart to respect. I thought I had ordered something safe, some biscuit plate. When it came out of the kitchen...well...no. No thank you. Bad experience, don't wanna go back.
(1)Lilie T.
The biscuits are the best!!!! It is sooo fresh, it is still hot and steamy when u break it in half. I would definitely go back to this and eat biscuits all day.
(4)Alycia J.
On a road trip to Mississippi, we stopped here after seeing a flyer at a rest stop. BEST DECISION ever! We fell in love with the biscuits and I'd never had an omelet with barbeque in it, before, but it is a GENIUS combination of flavors. I had the "mimosa for two" all by myself and our table ordered two rounds of biscuits with preserves. It was so good that on our drive back home, we went out of our way so that we could taste those biscuits one more time. The wait was long so we ordered to go and ate it all outside on the picnic tables even when it was threatening to rain. It was worth it. I love you Loveless Cafe!
(5)Julie L.
I was born and raised in California, but there are some Southern dishes that I just can't get enough of when they're done right. I could curl up in a basket of Loveless biscuits, take a nap, and dream of amazing homemade preserves. Those things are like crack. Good fried chicken doesn't hurt my feelings either, and Loveless' is so good that my friend had to tell me halfway through lunch that I had it all over my face (I was not ashamed either). Balance all that out with a side of marinated cucumbers and onions and you're good to go. Be prepared for a possibly long wait - but at least there are shops and galleries nearby to wander through while you try not to get hangry (aka hungry angry)!
(4)Patten F.
I have lived in Nashville for my entire life, but prior to this weekend, I had been to Loveless exactly one time - and that was on my 11th birthday, 20 years ago. As I drove back from a trip to Nashville West with my family, I pointed out that while I knew Nashville like the back of my hand...I honestly had no idea how to get to the Loveless...so we decided to go on Saturday night, completely ignoring the fact that people were starting to roll in for Fan Fair. When we arrived, I found a spot right by the front door...because I'm awesome. There was a 25 minute wait, but since it's the Loveless and it's Saturday night (and it was gorgeous out), that was no problem...we just explored the property. There's a little shop off to the side that sells ham, bacon, preserves, biscuit mix and various Nashville paraphenalia like you would find if you were getting off the airport. Yeah, it's tourist central, but who really cares - there's a fridge full of bacon. Seriously. Bacon. Fridge. Want. (My sister and I were unsuccessful at convincing my mom to get a "I'm Not Bashful I'm From Nashville" sticker for her car). So we moseyed around (because that's what we natives do when we're not line dancing, going to Tootsies and wearing our boots and hats, right? We mosey) and found a nice big porch outside Trace Bikes (which is in one of the shops in the old converted Motel - the Motel portion of the Loveless has been converted into a hipster strip mall) and enjoyed the sun while we waited for the pager to go off. When we went inside...we walked past the screen door that used to be the entrance (and was the last time I was there) and went right...last time I went left. After reviewing the menu (and determining that I wanted breakfast for dinner and you can't convince me otherwise), I got a barbecue pork omelette, thinking a) I like both of those things and b) where else am I going to get that. They brought our biscuits and preserves to the table (if in doubt, use the peach), we fell into a biscuit coma and our food came. While I never ever would have considered putting barbecue into an omelette...it was fantastic (and gigantic)...I'd get it again if there weren't so much more deliciousness waiting for me on the menu in future visits. Because we had determined that we had already gone all-in with this dinner, we ordered dessert. I had banana pudding. It was perfect, with the little bits of banana and soggy vanilla wafer in it...um. More please. So touristishness and cliches be damned, I love the Loveless.
(5)Stephanie I.
Definitely make a stop at Loveless if you're in Nashville! It's become such an iconic restaurant...and rightfully so! Beware: the wait is LONG. We waited almost 2 hours, but luckily there are a lot of small shops in the area to kill time. As for the food, the biscuits are so so so good. I also had the meatloaf - pretty good too! I would say that a lot of the appeal is in the atmosphere and general feel of the place, but the food is pretty solid as well.
(4)linda d.
Great country breakfast. We ate here twice while in Nashville last week. The first morning, I had the fried eggs, ham and red gravy, which is more like aus jus where I come from. It came with hash brown casserole that was quite tasty. The biscuits and homemade preserves were divine. Overall a very good breakfast. The second visit, I had the port BBQ and eggs and my friend had the country fried pork chops and eggs. The highlight was the country fried pork chops! The BBQ pork was delish as well.
(5)Danielle W.
This restaurant is a far piece from downtown Nashville we were staying by the airport and it took us between 20 and 30 minutes to get there don't let the distance or the wait scare you it is well worth it Honestly some of the best food I've ever tasted I have the fried chicken mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese the husband had their daily special which was brisket over toast mashed potatoes and green beans The chicken was perfect juicy inside crispy on the outside not over breaded and macaroni and cheese was amazing its obvious everything here is made from scratch my husbands brisket literally melted in your mouth and the green beans or seasoned perfectly. We stopped in on Saturday around 1 o'clock the wait was 2 hours and we were just too hungry to stay we came back on Sunday around 4 and still have an hour wait the food was well worth it in the meantime we walked around to all the shops on the campus and you even are able to check out corn hole bags to keep you busy. We walk through all the shops and even got a t-shirt that said praise the lard and pass the biscuits the lobby is full of autographed photos from celebrities who have stopped by and the decor is like being in your grandma's kitchen. When they first sit you down they bring you their scrumptious biscuits and homemade strawberry peach and BlackBerry preserves. If I would have known these were so good I probably would have bought them in the gift shop rather than the t-shirt they melt in your mouth The service was as good as the food. Kramer was our waiter we never had to ask for anything my tea glass was always at least half full and he stop by several times to see how we were doing. If I have to find something I didn't like I would say the tea probably wasn't sweet enough but that's nothing that would stop me from coming back. can't wait to come back to Nashville to eat at loveless again next time I'm getting breakfast
(5)Sheryl C.
This place is no joke and worth the effort. Go. Doesn't matter how far you need to travel to get there, just go. Eat the biscuits, order the fried chicken and cream corn. SO good! All of it was amazing... you'll leave full, happy, and ready to come back for more. I will definitely be coming back to Nashville just to eat here again. Instant favorite!
(5)Adam B.
There have been a lot of reviews about Loveless already so I will give you the high points in mine. It's like a large gift shop with a diner in the middle of it. The wait is WAAAAAY too long. The biscuits are out of this world good. The rest of the food was....eh, fine I guess. You are paying for the experience. Glad I went once. I wouldn't go back again.
(2)Robert D.
The Loveless Café was the most disappointing restaurant I have been too. We have been looking forward to going there for almost 3 years and we finally got the opportunity and were disappointed at every turn. The place is cute, quaint. and has a lot of history but the waiting staff is rude and you feel like you're inconveniencing them by just being there. The food is absolutely nothing special nothing that you can't find at a local Cracker Barrel or mom-and-pop diner. We have no reason to return
(2)Andrew R.
Been here a few times and really enjoyed it. It's more than just a food stop, so leave yourself some time. A little of everything on the menu. Go get some!
(5)J O.
I'd have to agree with others that this cafe might not necessarily be worth the wait time. My friend & I came on a Sunday (before Memorial Day) around 6:30pm and didn't get seated until almost 8pm. We walked around the little store and checked everything out. Two separate weddings were going on so it was neat to see the brides posing under the Loveless neon sign out front while we waited. Our waiter was real friendly and attentive. He brought us their famous biscuits with 3 different flavored jams right when we sat down. Now if anything, the wait was worth these biscuits with butter-n-jam! My friend & I both ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. She got the collard greens and I opted for the green beans. Both were really good. I honestly thought the white meat, fried chicken could've been more moist, but I don't really eat fried chicken like ever, so I'm not the best at deciphering from good/bad fried chicken. All-n-all, it was a decent experience. Our waiter comped our desserts which was nice. My friend just had a slice of the apple pie and I had a small portion of their banana bread pudding. My friend said the pie was so-so. The bread pudding was decent, but I was so full from my meal that I couldn't eat anymore than a few fork-fulls of it!
(3)Jamie B.
Typical country cafe with adequate selection but exaggerated pricing and an insane popularity (i.e. Wait times). We waited 2 hrs to eat a $40 + tip meal consisting of a V8 and hot sauce Bloody Mary and an overdone chicken fried steak with Hardee's quality gravy. If Commanders Palace Bloody Mary's are a 9/10, Loveless barely ranks a 1. The creamed spinach was tasty but heavy and the green beans were overdone and tasted like a porkchop more than garden veggie. Service was very good and the quaint little country campus with gift shops were well maintained, but being from the South it was absolutely NOTHING special.
(2)Laura C.
Totally worth the ride and wait. Biscuits are amazing. I ordered the fried chicken with cream corn and mac & cheese. Incredible. I'm not a big cream corn fan but the waitress, Tammy (who was super sweet), suggested we try it and it was great! We LOVED it. The barbecue sauce was so good that we all bought our own bottles to take home from the gift shop. The fudge pie was tasty as well. Oh and the Hams and Jams gift shop is adorable and full of great items. If I ever come back to Nashville, it's to come eat at Loveless Cafe.
(5)Eric P.
My family had breakfast this Sunday morning and I want to update my review from seven months ago as well as add a fourth star for Loveless Cafe. We arrived around 8:30am and had only a 20 min. wait. It was in the low 40's outside and we were able to wait inside right across from the pie cabinet. People watching is quite good from here and it amazed us how many guests place themselves direct in the single doorway after checking in, making it terrible for those leaving or entering. Not Loveless' fault but certainly a fire hazard and rude. Once seated at a clean and well set four top table in the largest dining room on the East side of the building, our delightful and knowledgeable waitress greeted us and took our drink order. I want to reiterate a point I made in my previous review that the wait staff at Loveless is the absolute best you will find at any Nashville restaurant. Certainly a reason to eat here! Very quickly our drinks arrived along with the biggest plate of hot biscuits, three flavors of preserves and plenty of real butter we remember receiving in many years. Our Waitress took our food order and we chatted briefly. Today we learned that Tom Morales and TomKats Catering no longer has any involvement with Loveless. I noticed a Senior Manager that appeared very professional and maintaining a regular, close review of the wait list. Bravo!!! The lady that seems to always be handling the wait list when we visit Loveless is the weakest link at Loveless so I was thrilled to see a General Manager regularly overseeing her work, asking questions and staying very familiar with the info on the list. Please keep doing this Management! Now to the food. Chocolate chip pancakes that my daughter always orders were perfect and so large she brought some leftovers home. The breakfast steak and eggs my wife ordered were served hot and cooked to order. The steak could be a better grade meat and actually a bit smaller. My guess is the steaks are coming at average grade from a Sysco type supplier and a local area grain fed beef supplier would be a nice improvement for Loveless to consider and make a highlight of the menu. Today I ordered the half-order country ham meal with red-eye gravy, eggs & grits. All cooked just right, served hot and plated perfectly. I got chocolate milk for my drink, a first, and was very pleased that it came in a carton from our local (sadly now owned by Dean) Purity Dairy. This is the same milk I grew up drinking in Nashville from weekly home delivery 50 years ago and it is still the best anywhere! Great choice for your dairy products Loveless. I still want to encourage first time visitors to ask for seating in the original small dining room to the left of the hostess stand. This room gives you the real feel of the original and later the McCabe owned Loveless of the 70's - 90's. Most of all don't be afraid to ask questions and try different foods at Loveless. It is a true Nashville treasure.
(4)Ariel Z.
Make sure to take some of those golden biscuits home with you...great for heating up in the microwave. This place is famous for a reason.
(4)Crystal P.
how do I even begin to review the best breakfast of my life. it was so good we went back during our trip. something we never do since we want to always check out and explore everything, not do a repeat. I found this place when searching best breakfast in Nashville and I thought it'd be our first stop after we landed, picked up our rental car and headed on the gorgeous drive over. shocked to find out there was a wait on a Friday early afternoon but it was less then the 45 minutes they said it'd be. we walked around and investigated the stores plus it was a gorgeous day out so it was fine. a wait is never a bad thing, means they are doing something right! it was so good, so delicious we came back Monday morning! no wait since we came around 8 am this time. just as delicious as the first time. first time I ever had grits and I am now spoiled for life.
(5)Joe S.
The family style breakfast was awesome. The food came out hot. The coffee never stopped. The famous biscuits and homemade jelly were to die for. The waitstaff was great, friendly and attentive.
(5)Kathy R.
I was excited to try this place after reading reviews and receiving recommendations from friends. I was disappointed to say the least. We had a party of 6 and all got different plates. Not one of us said "I'd come back". It was okay but not what I had hoped for.
(2)C. V.
Real southern food. Check it out if that's your thing.
(5)Zachery M.
The single best biscuits I have ever had in my life. In fact the only downside to the biscuits themselves is the fact that I don't live in Nashville and they have ruined all other biscuits for me. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quaint and clean and the service from our waitress was fantastic. Unfortunately there is quite a long wait on the weekends but it is well worth it and they do have outdoor seating for you to wait on and some neat little stores nearby to peruse. In conclusion the biscuits are so good that I will someday return to Nashville just to come get these biscuits again.
(5)Michael E.
Being the only really solid breakfast place in a large radius, Loveless Cafe is always crowded--that's the downside. The upside is pretty much everything else: melt-in-your-mouth fluffy biscuits, solid breakfast food served all day, and friendly service. My wife and I come here every time we drive through Tennessee. I took off a star because they discontinued their call-ahead option.
(4)Josh B.
The biscuits and preserves are definitely what keeps me and my family coming back. The breakfast is good, but nothing special. My kids love to watch them making biscuits in the window and play on the grounds. We usually go on the weekends but we make sure to get there no later than 8:30am to avoid a long wait.
(4)Lab L.
A local friend recommended this location for Sunday lunch, boasting about the ham and gravy. What she didn't tell us was the average 2 hour wait. We spent some time running in and out of the shops. Samples were amazing and we got some pumpkin butter to take home. We still had over an hour to wait. Once we were seated, service was fast and attentive. We all loved our homecooked food and didn't eat again for the rest of the day. If you are coming here, be sure to have plenty of time. We would have preferred to not take up so much of our limited Nashville time...but we have some great memories of this unique place.
(4)Deborah B.
Went to the Loveless Cafe on a recommendation from a local friend as one of their families favorites. Of coarse I first still checked yelp for reviews prior to goin,g so I knew I was in for a wait, which was helpful. It took 45 minutes to be seated at 8 pm on a Monday night. The drive to it was very scenic and the gift shops kept us happily occupied. Once seated though our fabulous waiter named Owen promptly took our drink orders and brought my party of 5 an enormous plate of the famous biscuits and jellies. I thought we would never eat all of them but within a few moments time Owen said, " I did bring you a plate of biscuits didn't I?" with a warm smile on his face. We each ordered different meals and not one was disappointed with their choice! As we sampled each other's side items....the cheese grits and Mac and cheese were big hits. Not only was the food scrumptious but the hospitality of our awesome waiter (Owen) mixed with the cozy environment made it a night to remember! It will be a definite stop for us next time in Nashville.
(5)Laura R.
As good as advertised! We had to wait almost 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon, but the time flew by because they have plenty of casual seating areas and free iced tea to sip while you wait. And of course shopping :) Once we were seated they instantly gave us biscuits, and the food did not take long at all to come (we were afraid it might, since the table wait was so long). Everything tastes genuinely homemade, and the environment is friendly and cozy. We will be back!
(5)Mimi L.
No love for the Loveless Cafe. We waited about an hour to be seated for dinner and after eating there, I figured this had to be a tourist trappy type of place. The drive to the cafe was beautiful as we passed by large homes with acres of property. During our wait, we were given a buzzer that would work at their different gift shops. My winning find was the piggy popcorn cooked in bacon grease with bacon bits at the Hams & Jams Country Market. I will definitely order that online. All of the workers were super friendly. Their specialty fried chicken was bland and dry. The fried catfish and fried green tomatoes had the same batter and were both bland. Yes, even the biscuits were kinda bland. Maybe that's just the way it's supposed to be so you can smother gravy on everything. I honestly enjoyed the food at Cracker Barrel better... and that's not meant to be an insult.
(3)Tran T.
"Better than sex biscuits" is not an overstatement. Damn, Loveless Cafe definitely has the best biscuits in town! The biscuits (6) came with the breakfast meal I ordered. They came with 3 different types of jams (strawberry, peach, and blueberry). After having the blackberry jam at Urban Grub, any other jam seems average to me. Initially I ordered the Breakfast Steak and 2 Eggs but they ran out of the Rib-eye (at 8:00 am!! boooo!!!), so I changed to Pit-Cooked Pork BBQ and Eggs instead. I had my eggs fried - medium and a side of hash-brown casserole. I wasn't a fan of the BBQ, however my friend loved it alot and ended up eating most of it. I never touched the hash-brown because of how cheesy it was. My fault, I should had gotten the potatoes instead. The only thing I like in this dish is the eggs, they were cooked to perfection. My friend had the Southern Sampler Breakfast (Country Ham, Sausages, Bacon, and Red-eye gravy. The country ham was so salty that it was hard to taste anything after that. They should add this "country ham" to the hypertension risk factors list. The sausages were so dry. We tried to pour the red-eye gravy over it because we weren't sure what was the gravy for...it didn't help. I wouldn't order this. The portions are huge. I could barley finish half of my dish after eating all of those yummy biscuits. Breakfast for two people were more than $30, which is pretty expensive. I suggest share the platter with someone and order A La Carte on the side (for 2 people). I got here around 8 am and there were no waiting lines. I will be back for those heavenly biscuits and try the fried chicken next time! 2013/#58
(4)Diana P.
I came to this place exactly a week ago at the end of our stroll through Nashville. There was a 1-hour wait for my party of 8, which we didn't mind because the beautiful scenery outside and that warm humid breeze... and the fact that is place is a must-go-to when in Nashville. The atmosphere is nice, the inside looks like a house converted to a restaurant so it does feel homey. We ordered the Family Style supper. We chose endless fried chicken, fried catfish, okra, fries & mac and cheese. I feel I must mention that the service (at least ours) was bad. Once we were seated and our drinks were brought to us, we didn't see our waiter again for about 15 minutes. You might think: "Because of the high volume, duh!" No, NO. We saw the other guy waiting on the table next to us go to them at least 8 times to ask if the food was good, if they needed something, if they wanted more drink. When our waiter was taking our order, a glass of water got spilled and he was completely unfazed by it. He didn't offer napkins or to call anyone to clean it up so of course we had to take care of that because it was going to be another almost 10 minutes before he graced us with his presence. Finally after sitting there half hour with lions roaring in our bellies, the biscuits and jelly came out. They were the warmest, freshest, softest, scrumptious biscuits I've tasted in a long time. Break one in half, spread a little butter on it, some honey and then you can take a bite of heaven. Unfortunately for my waiters timing we were all still on our first biscuit when all the food came out. Give us at least 5 minutes w/ the biscuits please!? The food was so good, you would have thought grandma was back there making the mac & cheese herself! Everything on the table was just right, it was helping us cope with our waiter's service (This review was written about a year ago but I didn't publish it so instead of "exactly a week ago" it should be "almost exactly a year ago")
(3)Daniel M.
Had the sampler platter. Wasn't fan of fried chicken but meatloaf and catfish was really good. Caramel sweet potatoes side was amazing!
(3)Evangelene G.
BEST THING I ATE EVER. My husband quoted on Facebook, "Lord, If I could eat any more, I would!" This is a must do when visiting Nashville. However, we need to pace ourselves better because we're always too full for dessert.
(5)Amy B.
My favorite place in the Nashville area. Warm friendly service. Warm biscuits with Loveless jam to start are not to be missed. Chicken fried chicken was great but to get the most for your visit try the sampler platter. And take home some Loveless bacon from the shop!
(4)Mark N.
Excellent ! Order exactly what u want, they will accommodate. Passing thru, yelp score again!
(5)Heather P.
I have to chime in to give a different perspective. Coming from a restaurant lover from Chicago now transplanted to the south, the food isn't that special. You are coming here for the experience, the eclectic Nashville tourist trap. The biscuits and jam are great along with the fun little shops. But the wait is pretty awful all the time and the food is basic country home cooking. The meat was just strange. Great service though! We went really early since we have a baby and made it out by 9am. At that point they were quoting over 1.5hr wait on a Sunday. Honestly not worth it, in my opinion.
(1)Emily R.
This is a fantastic place and a must if you are in Nashville at any time. I had ordered the BBQ over eggs which are over pancakes. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten. The biscuits where the best I have ever had. They even have a cute little shop where they sell the biscuit mix and was so good. Later on our trip we went back for lunch and had the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. It was soooo good. Be prepared to wait because this place is always busy no matter what time you go. However, you can check out the little shop or play bags while you wait. Thats right I said this place had bags that you can play while you wait. This is definitely a must go!
(5)Alex G.
It was excellent food!!! I loved the biscuits they served and al l of the things that they put on them! The chicken was very good as well! The service was great to! It is a must go to place if you are in Nashville!
(5)Katie S.
Southern breakfast ? Check ! Biscuit platter lets you taste their famous biscuits AND delish BBQ and three other choices. At 830 on a weekday, no wait and totally worth it. Also- check out the shops :)
(5)Cate N.
Best biscuits and jam ever. The turkey and swiss sandwich with grilled onions was divine along with the fried okra. And the virgin Bloody Mary really packed a spicy punch. To top it off, our waiter Matt had a fabulous personality. I would definitely come here again!
(5)Mary S.
I just love this place!! I was coming here for 10 years before I moved to Nashville and now I live only a hop skip and a jump away!!! The Pork Chops are Wonderful....the Biscuits are GREAT....and I love love love the Coconut Cream pie!!! 10 stars!!!
(5)Jenni E.
This was by far the best breakfast that I have ever had. On our way out of Nashville we hit this place for some fuel for the long day of driving. There was a bit of a wait, but they give you a pager and you can go look at the shops on the property while you wait. Once we were seated, our waiter came by and was really friendly. He recommended a couple of things and I went with his recommendation of BBQ pulled pork and eggs. It was delicious! It came with a choice of sides and I had the hash brown casserole which were the best hash browns that I have ever had. My husband thought the biscuits and gravy were the best he's ever had as well. My only regret was that I didn't have enough room to have a piece of pie. They looked really good in the case. You can buy a half or whole pie to go as well. The shops on the property have a lot of their products for sale - jams, sauces, bacon, syrup, honey, etc. they also have a bunch of novelty items and souvenirs. A nice way to get breakfast and shopping out of the way.
(5)Marisa V.
Even on Sunday night there was still a 40 minute wait but it was worth it. Waiter was friendly and came out with food right away when we told him we were hungry. The best friend chicken I've ever had with sides of greens and green beans. The biscuits were really good too. I'd go back next time I'm in town.
(5)Elaine S.
I live right down the street from the Loveless so we frequently get carry out because the wait is too long. Expect a long wait, but there are shops that you can visit while waiting. As for the food, it's all the southern food that you would expect. The biscuits are delicious and I am not even a biscuit fan in general. The fried okra is great and the breakfast menu is recommended.
(4)M B.
I had my last meal at the Loveless Cafe recently. After eating there several times, I've decided the food is so overpriced and tasteless that it's not worth it. The restaurant operates on a prime piece of real estate at the end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. That's the only reason I can fathom why people go there at all because it can't be the food. For example, I had scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. The pancakes were flavorless and gritty. The eggs were rubbery. The bacon was covered in grease and disgusting. (Seriously ... how can you screw up bacon!!??) Even the coffee is lackluster. And this is the second time I've left the restaurant with an upset stomach. To call this place a "gourmet Cracker Barrel" is ridiculous. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants, but the food is actually better (and cheaper) at Cracker Barrel! If you like spending lots of money on bad food so you can take your picture in front of a tourist attraction, then this is the place for you. But if you really enjoy Southern cooking, there's better options in Nashville and Franklin.
(1)Teresa B.
Visiting the Yelp Spring Break Nashville 2014, we went off the beaten path for this experience on a Saturday morning. Told that there would be a wait of over an hour, I had no qualms. Travelling all the way from Alexandria, VA, I had a hunch it would be worth it. It has been a long time since my childhood, growing up in Florida, that I tasted truly authentic southern cooking. Ham steak, sausage patties with biscuits and gravy, grits...mmm. The bonus is there are many things to keep you entertained while you wait. It's a village of family fun to entertain everyone. Antique and boutique shopping, complimentary sweet peach tea, quaint areas to bide your time while playing bean bag toss (AKA the "corn hole" game which made me blush). And Pumpkin Butter samples! When we were finally seated, it was by the general manager, who enthusiastically made us feel welcome. The waitress was also a sweetie. Service is key here. I can vouch for the: Complimentary Biscuits and (3) Jelly Sampler Ham Steak Pimento Cheese Biscuits and Gravy Omelets And Creamed Spinach If I were to visit Nashville again, this would be a destination!
(5)Adrian D.
Amazing true southern food. Great priced and wonderfully kind wait staff. You can't visit Tennessee without stopping here. Prices are very reasonabke, portions are huge and best of all moonshine and chess pie are on the menu!
(5)Crazy G.
Really busy at three in afternoon . Nice staff. Clean. Great flavorful food. Worth the wait. Portions are huge
(4)Paige F.
Be prepared to wait a long time with a lot of tourists on weekends! But then be prepared for some of the best southern food ever. I have never had anything that I did not like. This place is definitely worth all the hype, and the biscuits are delicious.
(5)Megan S.
Waited over an hour but it was SO worth it. Food comes out very quickly! Creamed corn and coleslaw are my favorite sides. Skip the coupon mentioned, it's for online orders only.
(5)Jason B.
Not really much to say that hasn't already been said. First of all, the fried chicken is the best around...maybe some of the best I've had. They are known for the biscuits and jam, which are just ok to me. I compare everything to my mom's homemade biscuits and jam, and nothing comes close. There is one thing you can always count on with Loveless Cafe that may not have been previously mentioned...the music on their playlist is solid country gold. Merle, Possum, Waylon, and all the hits from the 90's. I'd like Loveless so much more if it was a hidden gem. It's popularity creates a long wait for a table. If going on a weekend, arrive before 8:00 and you won't have much of a problem. After 8:00, and especially after 9:00, you should plan on at least an hour.
(4)Ling X.
Don't know where they came up with the name loveless because this place is full of love (insert your groan here). I chose to have my birthday dinner here on the way out of Nashville after hearing so much about it and didn't regret it one bit. Our waitress gave me my dessert with a candle on it and announced to everyone that it was my bday so everyone sang to me. Long wait during dinnertime but well worth it. You can pass the time quickly by exploring the shops around it or playing cornhole out front. Great southern food and hands down the best biscuits I've ever had. I ended up buying their mix to make my own at home (plus a lot of other items I didn't need - oh Loveless Cafe, you sure are smart with your marketing).
(5)Melissa M.
Loveless is a must stop! The bbq is amazing as is the fried chicken! Normally there is a crazy long wait but it's worth it! I got a sampler this past trip with catfish also but didn't care for it as much. The mashed potatoes are yummy but skip the turnip greens. They're known for their biscuits but I'm not in love with them. I guess I'm spoiled to Cracker Barrels biscuits and turnip greens. I'd say you definitely need to get the chicken or bbq!
(4)Shaye B.
One star for good biscuits and a bloody mary. Another star for the gift shops to walk around in during a very long wait. I expected at least a 20min wait for brunch Friday for a group of 9. Hour wait seemed long and I would have left except the place is far enough outside of Nashville it wasn't worth it to relocate. Finally got seated and ordered our bloody Mary's which were good and came with a piece of bacon. But they took a very very long time to come out. Actually everything took a while. Service is not a strong suit - but rarely is with large parties. Now for the food. It was just bad. We ordered various things across the 9 of us and no one liked their food. Hash brown casserole? Sounds great but it's more just strings of soggy potatoes covered in melted velveeta. I thought it'd be like a crispy cake with some onion and peppers and bacon fat maybe. But nope. The country ham? Foul. Super grisly and way to salty. 3 of us ordered the ham and all felt that way. On top of the food just not tasting good, we all had some hurting stomachs afterwards. I was looking forward to coming here since I heard great things. But it was a major disappointment and I will not be returning again.
(2)Jacoby D.
The hype over Loveless Cafe is fun and all, but their food seems is inconsistent and nothing mind blowing . Each time I've been, there's been at least one part of my meal that is just off. First time the fried chicken was extremely dry, and the second time the mac and cheese was salty and not very tasty. Their biscuits and preserves are AMAZING. The customer service is also great. I would go back if I'm looking to show off a Nashville staple or was in the area, but as a Nashville local there are many other restaurants in the area that will serve my palette better.
(3)Ang S.
Why LoveLESS? This place should be called loveMORE! Hands down the fluffiest biscuits I've had in life! And the waitress was very generous about bringing out a second hot basket before we even finished our first. Though I wondered what did she do with the leftover buscuits that she took away with the first basket? o.O The fried chicken was executed to perfection. You can tell the recipe has gone through decades of tradition and years of perfection. The chicken however lacked a bit of seasoning. Good stuff but I've also had better. I was somewhat disappointed by the hash brown casserole, especially after reading raving reviews about it as I was waiting for our table. The proportion of cheese to potatoes was nearly 50/50. The location is a little out of reach, but definitely worth a short drive if you are in town.
(4)Amanda B.
My family and I went here for breakfast on a weekday. Love the experience; the store owners are very nice, the decor inside the cafe is great and the staff is very friendly. The biscuits were delicious and we all really liked the hashbrown casserole side, but other than that the food was pretty standard - and a bit pricey for your average breakfast. All in all, we were happy with the stop, but would probably try a different breakfast spot next Nashville visit.
(3)Cody L.
Excellent food and service Lucas (luke) awesome server ....best breakfast near nashville
(5)Devyn L.
I have to say that everything was fantastic from the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese that my girlfriend ordered to the chocolate chip and pecan pancakes that i ordered. The sweet tea was delicious, the service was quick and polite. and the prices were fantastic. I really enjoyed the building it was located in as it complimented the southern cooking that they provided. It had a lot of nice boutique shops on property but did not visit them due to time restrictions. The only negative is they used fans to cool the dining area which was near the kitchen sot it was very hot. I wish they had some air conditioning. Overall i would return there if I am in town again cause the food and service was great.
(5)Jordan L.
Great place!!! Such a cool atmosphere. The biscuits are to die for. The wait was over an hour at 9:30 AM, but it was worth the wait!
(4)Jenn G.
Amazing southern comfort food. Good service. If you are visiting Tennessee this is a must!!! Highly recommended. Will leave you stuffed lol. The biscuits are sooooo good and always served warmed. Freshly baked out the oven. Do not forget to ask for honey. It has to be requested. Big menu to choose from. #carbNation
(5)Joshua F.
My fiancé and I rode bikes on the Natchez Trace and then hopped in here for a late lunch. The meal was fantastic! Chicken was a smidge dry BUT I would rather it be a bit dry than super greasy like KFC. The biscuits ... I think I annoyed the server by asking for 3 total refills! But seriously, they were delicious and the jams tasted like they were made that morning! Very friendly and enthusiastic staff!
(5)Sarah H.
Maybe it's because I have been raised around Southern food that I wasn't blown away. Everything just didn't live up to the hype, and I am honestly a little disappointed that I got so excited to eat here. The service was pretty good, and our drinks were always immediately filled. That's probably the reason I feel bad giving Loveless Cafe less than three stars. However, the food... meh. I've had better food from local restaurants from my town (e.g. Beacon Light Tea Room). The biscuits were good, but again, Beacon Light Tea Room has better ones. The fried chicken I ordered tasted a little dry to me, and it caused my stomach to be upset that night. It was nice to say I've had the experience, but I probably will not be returning.
(3)Ginger P.
This former hot sheets motel turned BBQ pit and restaurant is a must when you're following the Natchez Trace and want some solid Southern cooking. Their turnip greens with pot likker are the best you'll ever have. I also recommend the country ham, which I will be ordering from them next Easter, with their biscuits and fried green tomatoes. Put some housemade jelly (buy it from the gift shop, too -- the peach is especially good) or pimiento cheese on it and get back on the 100.
(5)Alton S.
while you may have to wait a while to get in that should be your first clue that it is that GOOD!!! have eaten there for the last 42 years and it is just as good now as it was when i first went there. every meal has always been great as well as the down home service. it is a must if you are in nashville.
(5)Alex B.
Can't say enough how delicious this place is!!!! If you love biscuits then this has to be a stop on your way through Nashville. We went on a Monday night and there was a small wait but it was well worth it! The best fried chicken I have ever had not to be out done by the amazing BBQ pork and fried catfish. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made the experience even better. Truly like having dinner at grandma's!!!
(5)Kristyn A.
Excellent southern food! Plan to spend all your calories for the day on the biscuits! It's worth it.
(5)Melissa V.
We stopped here as a must see and it didn't disappoint. The service all around was some of the best and the food was sooo good. Moonshine drinks were STRONG - but tasty. I had the pulled pork omelet and my husband got the biscuit sampler.
(4)Ralph M.
Great breakfast today and the service was top notch. The biscuits and country ham make it worth the trip over from Smyrna.
(5)Jay R.
Southern cooking at its finest. It is worth the wait to get some down-home goodness right here. I would give it 6 out of 5 if I could. Lots of celebrities have been here, it has been in business for more than 60 years (that says something), and the diverse mix of people in there was nice to see. I had the chicken fried steak along with eggs and grits; super well prepared with the buttery stone-ground flavor made me perfectly satisfied. Great wait staff too. The wooden floors and windows are reminiscent of the Old South. The biscuits are the best thing I've ever had!!! There is a heat and soft tenderness to them you cannot get anywhere else in my view. Perfect jams as well. Overall tremendous experience. Worth the long drive down Highway 100. Don't forget the sweet tea!!!!!
(5)Meghan H.
Oh the hype...these poor biscuits didn't have a fighting chance to stand up to such praise. Maybe I'm too much of a biscuit aficionado or too critical. Either way, these biscuits were good, but not nearly the best I've tasted. Driving into the Loveless parking lot around noon on a Saturday, we expected the 2 hour wait for our party of nine. We browsed the little village off shops that Loveless has going on for you while you wait. And 1.5hrs and $60 spent on merchandise later, we made our way into the restaurant. Even before all of our butts were in our chairs, they set down two plates teeming with dozens of the infamous biscuits and jam. With our tummies rumbling like they were, of course they tasted good. As famished as I was and as warm as these buttery biscuits were, I still instantly acknowledged that they paled in comparison to the biscuits I've fallen in love with at a pie shop back in Chicago. I found the texture of these biscuits to be too uniform throughout. These guys lacked the exterior toasty crunch that only makes you appreciate the soft and crumbly insides that much more. You need that contrast in texture in a top notch biscuit. I was also saddened by the lack of moisture in the biscuit and the much too dry crumb. Biscuit disappointment aside, the omelettes were impressively large and stuffed with ingredients. The pancakes were hearty and the maple syrup was somehow exceptionally tasty. I felt the need to try a half order of their country ham and was surprised by my dislike. Ask anyone, I am a huge fan of ham but this was salty to the point of being inedible. Honestly, I took two bites of this $7 slice and didn't go for more. While overall on the disappointing side, I'm glad to have experienced the institution that is Loveless.
(3)Shawn N.
The biscuits!!! The biscuits I say!!!! Simply amazing, baked to a warm buttery perfection topped with homemade jams...I could eat 1000 of them! I had the eggs and BBQ breakfast, scrumptious! The BBQ had a little rub on it and the sauce is near drinkable! The property is really cool too....get ready for a coma!
(5)Larry L.
This is one of those must eats when in Naahville. Biscuits were all they were supposed to be and more, fantastic. Ham was good, fried chicken even better, looking forward to trying breakfast in the future. The server was on point the whole time taking great care of us.
(5)Cody C.
couple of Canadians down to nashville for the weekend. We heard of loveless cafe after reading many yelp reviews and hearing it is an institution we needed to go. So too start off be prepared to spend your entire day waiting on lousy biscuits. Apparently supposed to be the best biscuits ever but we were quite disappointed in them. We arrived and told it was an hour and 40 min wait. Although they have lots to do while you wait I recommend getting takeout and sitting outside. We have the fried chicken white meat with Potatos and deep fried tomatoes. Our goal for the weekend was to eat no vegetables so tomatoes deep fried was the most I got. Also got chicken and waffles which was awesome. Overall this chicken was finger lickin good and would recommend it to anyone!
(4)Dawn D.
Great food... well worth the wait would defiantly come back !!!! Great waiter Luke...drink was really good not strong Lynchburg lemonade with souvenir mini mason jar :)
(5)M E.
This place is overwhelming with southern charm and to be honest, I'm pretty sure its overdosing on all aspects of cute. However, the options for vegetarians are limited outside of the regular Denny's staples. I ordered the french toast because some variation of eggs just didn't seem like it had enough umph. And see, I love biscuits, Perhaps more than my biscuit loving, meat eating friends. And their biscuits contain lard. While I appreciate my server mentioning it, he did so with a bit of unnecessary sarcastic zest. And while I understand I'm in the south and perhaps the vegetarian lifestyle hasn't quite made it down here in the last 20 or so years since I've been a vegetarian, I was a bit underwhelmed by the food and overwhelmed by the charm of the Loveless campus.
(3)Del P.
Food is good.... More of a tourist spot Had dinner sampler ( catfish, ham, fried chicken with hash brown casserole n Mac cheese) Catfish-- great light batter Fried chicken- crispy. Could use more seasoning Country ham- salty Biscuits - great with the blackberry jams Drink Blue moon -- great with the moonshine Is it worth the wait? Depends
(3)Allyson G.
A family tradition that never gets old. Loveless is a timeless classic in Music City and receives frequent visits from the local country stars. Make sure to try their famous loveless biscuits and fried chicken. It's stick to your ribs good! Visited November 2013
(4)Valerie B.
Service was fabulous after our 35min wait (which is not too bad considering it was going to be nearly 2 hrs last weekend!). The food was standard southern classics like fresh biscuits (ok - but the jam was great!), fried catfish (just ok - good hash brown casserole) and bbq (didn't try it). The food was good but didn't think it was anything special and not worth the 30 min drive out of Nashville or the wait. Wait!! I just had a slice of their coconut cream pie that we took home. The whipped cream is light and not too sweet. The custard is creamy and the roasted coconut flavour is just right. I'm going to grab another slice right now!
(3)Leigh M.
So even though I've lived in Middle Tennessee for quite a while, I've never been to the Loveless Cafe until now. Some relatives from Cali came in to visit so we stopped here after picking them up for the airport. We arrived there at a time that most restaurants aren't that busy; smack dab between lunch and dinner. However it was still an hour wait here, and I'm actually shocked it was *only* an hour given how many people were there. I really liked the building(s) itself. For anyone who doesn't know, the Loveless Cafe and surrounding shops are a converted motel from the 50's. I love places like this; you can tell just by looking at it that it's a relic from the golden age of highway road trips. You almost never see such things anymore, as they've either been torn down or are in complete disrepair because they went out of business after the interstate system was built. The little shops were cool. Touristy but charming. They had quite a few interesting items, as well as some food such as jams and cured meats. I had plenty of time to check them out while waiting on my table. Once we were finally seated, I was quite impressed by the service. Despite being packed to capacity, our server was extremely attentive and very sweet, taking plenty of time to explain the specials and whatnot. I ordered their blue plate special for the day, "Honeyspice" chicken or something to that effect. It was a half chicken barbecued with a spicy honey-based sauce. It was absolutely fantastic, as were the turnip greens and okra that accompanied it. The biscuits, for which this place is apparently known, were quite good as well. My girlfriend and I shared a slice of fudge pie for dessert and it was quite delicious. All in all it was a really fun experience, but the wait is long enough that this isn't the sort of place I'd want to go to regularly. However it seems to be a fantastic place to bring visiting family or other people who have never been, and it's definitely a place I think everyone should experience at least once.
(4)Joanna L.
When I have guests visiting from out of town, without fail the one place I always end up taking people is the Loveless Cafe. The wait was only for 45 minutes for two people on Saturday night around 6:30pm and it was well worth it. During the wait you can explore the stores and play corn hole in the various locations around the premises. Once we got inside, Sandy our server as busy as she was brought out our biscuits and brought us our Sweet Tea. I LOVE Loveless biscuits. I don't know how to describe it or explain it but the biscuits and their jams. Ugh. To die for. My friend and I chose to share the sampler and I'm so glad we did. We got the fried chicken, fried catfish, and the pork barbeque with Mac and cheese, creamed corn, and fried okra. I have never had fried okra or okra til I moved to the south but loveless has given me the best experience with okra. And the fried chicken was simply perfect, as was the catfish and of course the pork. Everything about our meal was delicious and I am never disappointed when visiting Loveless. Although the wait to get inside is extremely long, the staff is rather good about getting your food orders and your food out to you as soon as possible. Always a favorite restaurant of mine and always highly recommended to all Nashville visitors even if it's only for the biscuits.
(5)Lynnette F.
This place is amazing! I will preface with I suffer from a peanut & tree nut allergy. I called the restaurant to see if they would be able to accommodate this and the hostess said they could not. She said nothing in the kitchen would be safe since there is a chance of cross contamination. She then said the fried chicken would be safe since it only gets put in the fryer and they cook with soy oil. I still took the chance and went since this was one of the things I was looking forward to on my trip & boy am I happy I went! I spoke to the waiter and he said everything was pretty safe to eat. The biscuits, fried chicken and sides were definitely nut free and were safe to eat. I ordered the fried chicken (amazing!), grits with cheese (hands down the best thing I ate during my trip) and mac & cheese (so-so, I wish I ordered the mashed potatoes instead!). The biscuits are everything I hoped they would be - they were fresh, soft and oh-so-buttery! I would suggest asking for another plate of biscuits before your meal is over so you can take them home for the next day. I regretted not purchasing the biscuit mix the next day, but was luckily able to purchase it at the airport before leaving. Anyone visiting Nashville must go to the Loveless Cafe during their visit!!
(5)Adam R.
This place is a Nashville staple. Great for getting groups together and heading out for a good meal (my recommendation - breakfast) in the "country". It is a little stretch from Nashville, but not a bad drive. The food: this is just a good meal. The portion sizes on some plates may make you want more, but you do get fed. You WILL wait a while to be seated. Come prepared. They do have a little shop off to the left to keep you occupied while you wait. Prices: for the amount of food you get, I do find the prices a tad more than they should be, however, if you have as many customers as Loveless does, why not charge more? They are obviously getting it! Bottom line: Go, you like it, and it's like going to a more local and homemade cracker barrel. Great biscuits and jam!
(4)Fred R.
Absolutely off the charts. Got the pulled pork plate.. With baked beans and slaw Everything was awesome!! The only thing that would've made it better was corona light.. Had to settle for bud light
(5)Yim L.
We decided to go here for brunch on a Sunday and the wait was 1.5 hours. We killed time by walking around and visiting the cute shops around the cafe. Ultimately we found out that it would be quicker to order carry out. We found a picnic table in the shade and ate outside. I had the two eggs with bacon platter with a side of hash brown casserole. It was amazing! I will definitely revisit on my next trip to Nashville!
(5)Lisa M.
Hmmm....that really sums the whole experience up. Everything was amazing. The location, the service, the selection, the food! Oh the food was amazing. Again, traveling through the south and found this little gem. Biscuits, life will never be the same since I've had the biscuits from the loveless cafe. I will shamelessly say I ate 5 and then the awesome waitress sent me home with another 9! And I ate the rest during our drive back to new england. I had the catfish and it was perfect! My husband had the country sampler and the fried chicken was amazing. Overall best meal I had on our road trip. I would make my next trip circle around being able to stop here.
(5)Jen I.
My first attempt to eat here was on a Saturday, it was a cool atmosphere as it was a nice day and loads of people were sitting on the decks - playing cornhole or catch! But this made for a 2 hour wait! I decided to come back Monday since I was still in town. Monday was a normal 30min wait - which you can easily wait by visiting their 2 Loveless Stores! I wanted to try the biscuits, chicken, and pulled pork due to what I read on yelp - the waitress suggested the sampler platter - my 2 sides were creamed corn and potato casserole. They were not joking about how good the biscuits are! Amazing! Exp w the sausage grav. The jams were ok. The pulled pork I'd give a 8/10 - generous portions and had a great smokey flavor! I will say I was a little disappointed in the fried chicken as I don't add salt to very much but added it to the chicken - it was very crispy and moist though! The creamed corn and potato casserole were excellent too! Highly recommend those sides! Great history, food and a very attentive nice staff - I recommend eating here!!
(4)Kelly M.
Primo southern cooking... My friends and I trekked it here from Nashville and waited an hour and a half but it was worth it. The food and service was amazing, I am still full a day later... Worth checking out at least once. I would suggest the BBQ and eggs!! Pimento cheese and fried green tomato biscuit was interesting... Raisin French toast was perfect, not too sweet, light and fluffy!
(4)Cheryl P.
Where country ham and eggs are the norm, I found it to be very good but not exciting as expected. The biscuits are hot but not flakey nor tender, I would call them mediocre at best. This place is a solid breakfast or lunch venue not sure if I would take the trip out of Nashville to hit it again in the future.
(3)Vanessa G.
Being an Iconic Cafe in Nashville, we had to try this out. We even watched a video about Loveless, it's history, and "the power of biscuits" prior to heading out. I was expecting a long line to wait for mediocre food that only has good reviews because of the nostalgia. My assumptions were pleasantly incorrect. The wait was 45 minutes but with the shops to meander around it went fast. The aroma of the place was tantalizing, a combo of fried chicken, barbecue, and biscuits which wound up being exactly what we ordered. The barbecue was the biz-omb and my favorite. No need for barbecue sauce. The other half loved the fried chicken though I wasn't jumping out of my seat for that. The biscuits- well-are pretty darned good and the peach preserve was our favorite or the three they serve with them. Ooh, the creamed sweet corn was delicious. The banana pudding was the best I've ever had (aside from our Aunt Red's). Basically everything we had we'd want to eat again and now we'll have to take our friends here just because it lives up to the hype.
(5)Michael N.
In my first visit to the famous Loveless Cafe I went with the Southern Classic that is Country Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, and fried okra. The breading was somewhat different than I was used to and this was a good thing. It made the dish set itself apart from the standard. It was a bit lighter breading that was just about perfect. The mashed potatoes where the perfect consistency and the fired okra was great. The biscuits that come as a starter before the meal where absolutely excellent. They are from an original recipe of the Loveless family from the 1950's. They come with homemade blackberry, strawberry, and peach jelly as well as local honey. A little bit off the beaten path from downtown Nashville but well worth the drive.
(4)Sheila C.
So much food on that plate. Chicken and dumplings were delicious tonight as were the sides. Only wished we had room for dessert. Ate too many biscuits before the meal.
(5)Candra G.
Perhaps my expectations were too high. I think if you're new to Southern cuisine, you may think this place is the best thing since sliced bread. However, I was just a little disappointed that it was like a more touristy Cracker Barrel (which I actually like better). After reading the hype about the biscuits, I was absolutely convinced that eating at this place would lead to an unhealthy obsession with biscuits. Negative. I was completely underwhelmed. The only thing that saved it from being bad was the delicious peach preserve topping that accompanied the bread basket. Service was kind of spotty - had to wait a long time for refills, the food had a weird timing issue (like I received my food well before the rest of the table). I ordered a BLT w/ fried egg and a side of hash brown casserole (gag). I don't think I have a lot of love for the Loveless Cafe.
(2)Ashley H.
If you need carbs, this is your place. I always end up eating the country fried steak for a few days because the portion is just huge. The wait is going to be long and make a holiday reservation for a large party. Parking is rather plentiful and there are places to wander while you wait. The blackberry jam is... well my jam and the biscuits... oh the biscuits.
(4)Jess F.
Best biscuits ever. Fried chicken would delicious. Grits and corn meal was Soo good. Would do the 3 hr wait again for this.
(5)amber b.
Our favorite place in Nashville! Barbara is such a sweetheart. She is always so friendly and the service is amazing. The southern fried catfish and the fried chicken is so delicious!! Oh and the warm buttered biscuits YUMM!! Always 1-2 hours wait during the morning weekends and nights but only 20-30 mins of wait btw 2-4ish during the weekends. Can't wait to go back again next month! 10% military discount too! :)
(5)Aubrey W.
There are a few iconic places in every city that you just kind of have to visit, and in the Nashville area Loveless Cafe is one of them. This place went "viral" before the internet, convincing people to head out to a former motel in the middle of nowhere to indulge in biscuits and jam. I will admit that I don't like to wait in lines, so I've been avoiding Loveless as a result. I've heard sometimes the wait is up to two hours, and they don't take reservations for small parties. But when my friend Lindsey and I were texting at like 7am about breakfast, we figured we could go super early and beat the church rush on a Sunday morning. We were right; we barely had to wait, and you get to wander around their little stores while you do. It's like an original Cracker Barrel in that regard. The biscuits were AWESOME. I loved them! I tried all the jams they brought with them too. For my breakfast, I went basic with scrambled eggs and crispy bacon, plus a small side of their hash brown casserole. That cheesy goodness was so rich and heavy, I didn't even finish half of it! I ate very well and enjoyed it a lot. I'm not sure if I will be back to Loveless, unless a visitor or friend wants to go... it's about 20-25 minutes from where I live, and nothing else is nearby. I liken it to eating at Lady & Sons in Savannah; it's a haven for tourists after so many appearances on Food Network and the like. But it was definitely worth checking off my Nashville "bucket list"!
(4)Derrick L.
Fantastic. Can't wait to go back. Expect a long wait. We showed up at 1pm and it was still a 45min wait. Split the Southern Sampler Plater with my wife (fried chicken, catfish, and ham as meats/hash brown casserole and marinated cucumbers and onions for the sides). Also ordered side of sausage gravy to go with the amazing free biscuits and a pimento and fried green tomato biscuit.
(4)Jaime A.
After eating there, I wondered what all the fuss was about. Good food. Nothing to write home about. Been there twice. When family come to visit, maybe I'll go again.
(3)Jason E.
Bbq was very good. The biscuits and gravy were very delicious and the people were very nice. I bit of a wait for the table but worth it. There's shops around while you wait so there's something to do. They also serve moonshine drinks and beer, wine and tasty stuff. Its also very pretty around the restaurant lots of roiling hills and nice trees. I recommend going there.
(4)Julie M.
This was just okay. I waited an hour and 10 minutes to be seated, which I don't have a problem with had the food been as amazing as I had heard. I ordered the chicken & waffles, which came with biscuits also. The biscuits were delicious - light, soft and the homemade jam was a nice addition. The chicken and waffles was pretty sad though. The chicken was extremely dry and the waffle was something I could have made at home. This was a very disappointing visit. I can get better at a local dive diner here in Pittsburgh.
(2)Milton S.
Hadn't been to the Loveless in 10 years or so and was glad to find the food is still great. We arrived around 4:30 on a Saturday night and only had a 10 minute wait. We spent the wait time browsing in the General Store gift shop and found many unique items tempting to purchase. The wireless buzzer system allows you to roam the grounds while waiting. My favorite meal of the day is breakfast and the Loveless is ready all day. The biscuits deserve all the hype and with the jams and preserves and real butter are lovely together. Had never traveled to Nashville North on the Natchez Trace before but was tickled to find the Loveless is on Hwy 100 just off a Natchez Trace exit at its terminus or start depending on which direction you are going.
(5)Nicole B.
My god. Worth every second you wait for this place. The biscuits change the game there. Best biscuits I've ever had, hands-down. The peach and blackberry preserves were out of this world. Sausage gravy was really good too. The pancakes are so-so, but to be honest, this isn't a place you go to for their pancakes. So many better things on the menu.
(5)Cassi B.
My dad visited here a few years back and loved the food. He was so impressed he got me a care package shipped just so I could try some of it. Their black pepper bacon was really good, not overly peppery and a good smoke on it was a perfect combination. Their jelly was also good, sweet but not overly sweet. The blackberry was our favorite. We are suppose to be moving to Tennessee in the next year, so this place is definitely on our list of places to visit once we do!
(4)Suzi B.
While on a business trip to Nashville, we had a chance to visit the Loveless Cafe for lunch on a weekday. Great timing because we only had a 20 minute wait and spent that time shopping in the cute little gift shop. Got a package of Piggy Popcorn which went over great at the office at home. Wearing my Praise the Lard T-shirt as I type this. The food was classic Southern goodness. Delicious biscuits and jam to start the meal, and could have stopped there and been happy happy happy. Proceeded to have the BBQ sandwich and found it to be pretty tasty though not knock your socks of great. Coworkers had the fried chicken livers and the chicken fried steak smothered in gravy. I also had the sweet tea. Yum. I thought the livers were a little overcooked and did not get to taste the other entree. The caramel sweet potatoes side dish was wonderful! Loved walking around the property, especially smelling the smokey BBQ pit outside on a crisp, clear day. Everyone there was very nice, in typical Southern style. We felt welcome and left well fed and happy. If you cannot make the trip, do go to the website and buy up some of their tasty jams and hams.
(4)Keith B.
Unbelievable food. Fried chicken, country ham/biscuits, fried green tomatoes and creamed corn were fantastic, BBQ pulled pork was good but just okay. The service was even better, Meagan was probably the best server I've ever had, and I eat out a lot. A lot.
(5)Lauren H.
I do not believe there to be any affiliation between Loveless Cafe and the Oregon based company Nike, but regardless, my only advice for anyone deciding whether or not to make the trek out to eat at Loveless is to JUST DO IT. We sort of went ham on this meal and ordered a whole lot because we couldn't decide. The best were the melt-in-your-mouth biscuits, the hashbrown casserole (!), the creamed corn, and the peanut butter pie. The waffle is better than the pancake, but both are very good. The fried chicken biscuit was good as well, just a bit small on the portion size. Key Lime pie was also very good and the mac n cheese was solid. This was definitely our favorite meal on our visit to Nashville. Highly recommended.
(5)Peggy L.
Good quality food for the experience but pricey. Long wait but we toured the grounds. Delivered a plate of biscuits and jams when we sat down made me change what I ordered. Country ham is a speciality but try it with the red eye gravy. Fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuits was weak on the tomato.
(4)Lei B.
While visiting Nashville, Loveless was one of the top places on my list to visit. It was about a 20 minute drive from the city but it did not disappoint. We came on a Friday late afternoon and there was still an hour wait. Not to worry, there's a very scenic drive near by and you can kill time that way. Or just explore the grounds, there's two different gift shops with lots of goodies to buy. When we were finally seated, we noticed there was moonshine on the menu. How could you pass up on that? I had a Watermelon Crawl (watermelon, Lemonade, Sprite and a Moonshine Sidecar in a Souvenir Loveless Mini Mason Jar). The little souvenir mason jar was too cute! The moonshine did kick my butt! For food we ordered the Loveless Fried Chicken (Quarter Chicken) with a side of macaroni and cheese, slow cooked green beans, fried green tomatoes, and hashbrown casserole. Before our meal came out they brought out their signature biscuits and they were buttery and light, just the way I like them. Everything else was really good. I loved the fried chicken, the batter wasn't too heavy or oily. The only side dish that I didn't care for were the fried green tomatoes. I've had better and they were so small. We were so stuffed after our meal that we skipped out on dessert but now I'm regretting that decision! If I'm ever back in Nashville I'll have to make room for their desserts!
(4)Melissa T.
Awesome,awesome place. Fantastic food, friendly staff, retro feel. Pitmaster Steve gave us a wonderful little tour and lesson on smoking meats. Gift shop was great. Biscuits melt in your mouth. Bought the mix to make them at home.
(5)Susan I.
Heard so much about this place. Went with 11 friends and while we waited 1 1/2 hours it was worth the wait. You can visit the shops while you wait or play corn hole. They were very accommodating and sat us all together. The biscuit are amazing and the sorghum was delectable. The country ham was a little salty however the fried chicken was to die for. If we are ever back in this area we will definitely visit again.
(4)Ebony Da'na C.
After a year of living in Nashville (and 5 minutes away) I finally decided to dine at the Loveless Cafe. While I had a positive experience at Loveless please be prepared to wait at least 40 minutes. I've attempted to dine here 3 times but finally pushed my impatient-ness aside. While waiting for our table we perused the gift shops and sat on the property's front porch. I was literally taken back to being a kid visiting my grandma's house and various other small towns in the deep south. Yes, my friends if you dig Southern charm this is your place! After much anticipation we finally got in and promptly order sweet teas which were perfect. The superstar of Loveless is supposed to be biscuits however I found them just good not great. But you still have to give them props considering how many they make from scratch everyday. The homemade jams: apricot, blackberry, and strawberry are some of the best I've had and definitely elevated the biscuits. My friend and I both ordered the fried pork chops. I ended up getting the home fries and she got the hashbrown casserole. I wasn't a fan of the home fries, it tasted like the potatoes you got in grade school but the hashbrown casserole, my God was so good! I was totally envious of my friend. Portions of meat were massive, there's no way you'll be able to finish it all. All in all very tasty. Looking around the rest of the joint, the other food looked so delicious. I definitely would love to come back and try it all. Waitress was super friendly but was scarce due to the place being packed so I can't be too upset about that. Great restaurant if you're craving true old school Southern fare but come hungry!
(4)Chan V.
The staff is awesome. They are super friendly and will take good care of you after waiting so long for a table. Expect to wait 2 hours or more for a table. Have no fear. They have things to keep you busy while you wait. Like a couple of gift shops to explore, a huge barn to hang out in on cold days and the property is enough to enjoy the scenery. Your table will be ready in no time. The food comes out fast. EVERYTHING IS AMAZING! The fried chicken is my favorite with cheesy hash. I love this place. If I am ever near the Nashville proximity I will make the trip to Loveless Cafe. This place is made for foodies. Must go!
(5)Rafia J.
This place was one of the places recommended by magazines/sites and trip advisor. We didn't think much of it because it just seemed like any other southern eateries, but I am so glad we went there. This place was recommended by every local we met, they couldn't stop talking about it and after we ate there we understood why! The place is very homey and cozy, though casual. I loved the ambiance and it's set up! Our server was extremely nice and he suggested pretty much our entire menu. As soon as you sit down he brought us some fresh biscuits and jams and they were both delicious! The biscuits were fresh, warm, soft, and creamy! Jams seemed like they were homemade. Everything we ordered on the menu; fried chicken, grilled and fried fish were fresh and so so tasty! (we all liked the fried chicken better at Hattie B's but here it was delicious too). Sides we ordered were fried okra (YUM) and creamed corn (again YUM)! I am so glad we went there and it's definitely a place to visit when in Nashville!!
(5)Joe V.
Found the Loveless Cafe online while looking for restaurants before my wife and I took a trip to Nashville and boy am I glad I did! While pulling up I didn't think much of the exterior until I walked in and saw a nicely renovated place with autographs on the walls from nearly 30 years worth of country music acts. We had a roughly 45 minute wait (a testament to how good the food is!) that we spent sitting on a bench outside watching a family play Corn Hole. Once inside our waiter Matt was attentive and really nice. He had a personality with out being overbearing and took really good care of us. Their signature item is biscuits - they are served with everything. The biscuits were good, not amazing but nothing bad to say about them. Their jam on the other hand was amazing! For our main course my wife and I both ordered the fried chicken. It was the best fried chicken I have ever had. It was AMAZING. If I didn't live a 13 hour drive away I would be a regular here.
(5)Molly N.
First stop when we arrive in Nashville is to swing by the Loveless. No matter where you are staying its worth the 20 mins out of town to eat at this historic gem. 45 min wait is easy with pagers that reach the entire property and 2 stores to visit along with the photo ops outside. The food is tasty and comforting. The biscuits come to your table in mounds and it's clear why, they are melt in your mouth. Along with the 3 jams on your table! Chicken tenders are the biggest you've ever seen. One meal could feed three people. Ham is smoked and salty. The sides are interesting, delicious and you will want a meal on those! My 8 yr old loved the fried catfish. Even if just passing through Nashville, Make it a point to stop at the Loveless! Get yer biscuits!
(5)Donna S.
This is a great place to visit. Plan on at least an hour wait. Their biscuits are made on site. Jams are delicious. I preferred the peach.
(5)Mark O.
My wife and I had the fried chicken. The chicken was great. I would compare it to White Fence Farm in Illinois. The biscuits and jam were fantastic! Best biscuits I have ever had! We had creamed corn, fried green tomatoes, grits and mashed potatoes as sides. Best creamed corn I have ever had. Fried green tomatoes were great as well. A must try in Nashville.
(4)Sarah H.
So we finally made it to the Loveless Café! Definitely not disappointed. Everything was delicious. We had French toast, southern omelet, hash brown casserole, bacon and the famous biscuits with a side of gravy and homemade jam!! Everyone is so nice here too! Virginia our waitress was superb!! Do not pass this up! We can't wait to come back to try out their dinner menu!! If you like what you eat they have a store that you can buy biscuits, ham and jam!! Oh...and if you leave hungry something is wrong! Portion sizes are large so come with an empty belly! :-)
(4)Logan J.
To die for!! Well worth the 30 minute wait. Adorable setting with cool Tennessee hill breezes in the middle of July. Shopped the four shoppes while we waited. Games of corn home on the front lawn. Food consisted of amazing biscuits and jams. I had the grilled catfishes with mashed potatoes. Cream corn and hush puppies !!! Amazing !! Kat...Great waitress!! Looked like a rockabilly angel with big blue eyes :)
(5)Andy S.
I first visited this cafe about 10 years ago. I had been thinking about it and wanted to return to it. G and I decided to meet here for dinner one Friday night. It's about halfway between his residence and Knoxville and mine in Memphis. I got there, and it was about a 45 minute wait, which was fortunate, because he was 45 minutes late. The cafe started in 1951 with the Loveless family basically selling fried chicken and biscuits out of their house. They have a BBQ pit, so they obviously smoke their own meat. It used to also be a motel. However, the motel quit operative about 20 years ago. The old motel parts are used for retail. You can buy plenty of souvenirs, some edible and some wearable. They start you off with biscuits and their famous jams. The biscuits were great. They also serve breakfast all day. I had to restrain myself from eating too many before my meal. They have some drinks. I had a whiskey and water. One friend ordered a shot of moonshine. It came in a cute mason jar cup. He said it was "strong." I love combination plates, so that's what I got. With as much food as I got, it was worth the price. I think it was the most expensive item on the menu at $17.55. The Southern Sampler Platter comes with your choice of three meats (Fried Chicken, Catfish, Country Ham, Meatloaf or Pork Barbeque) and two sides. I chose the fried chicken, because that was one of their original items. I also got the country ham, because it is proclaimed on their neon sign outside. And finally, I got the pork barbecue since I saw the BBQ pit outside. All the meat was just plain perfect. The pork was on a cornbread pancake. I also got to choose two sides. They have tons of choices. I ended up getting the greens and the mac n' cheese. Both were good and typically country. I would have liked to try the fried okra, but I already had too much food. For my meat, I did't choose the meatloaf, because I knew G would order it. he did, and it was good. It was covered with a tangy tomato sauce. He got the vegetable of the day, which was squash. It was surprisingly good, too. I wasn't tempted by it when I heard it was the special, but I was jealous when I tasted it. They have desserts, but there's no way someone could eat anyway after eating here! The other intriguing thing on their menu is their family style supper for groups of 4 or more. It's all you can eat for $17.55 a person. The table has to agree upon two meats and three veggies. It also includes a regular drink. It is so good that it would be worth a three hour drive. Seriously.
(5)A M.
It wasn't bad but wasn't good either. Just saying for a place that prides itself on biscuits I ordered the pancakes thinking they would be awesome and I was wrong. My pancakes were dry, flat and tasteless. If I would have known that it was going to taste like this I would have not waited ninety minutes until we got a seat. My husbands country fried steak and eggs were good but nothing to write home about and my father in-laws ham and eggs were really salty and not good at all. Very disappointed in what we had. When I come back to Nashville this wouldn't be a place I would choose again. I just hope the jams I bought as gifts are better.
(3)Eric B.
This place has been on my list for quite some time. I really wish I had gotten there sooner. It is a little pricey, but well worth it. I went for breakfast and everything was perfect and arrived exactly as I had ordered it. I had a couple mimosas that were also fantastic and served in Mason Jars. The wait was about 30 minutes, but it went by quickly as I explored the gift shops. I've heard about their fried chicken so I decided to order some of that to take home for lunch and dinner. The chicken was fantastic, but the greens were the best I've had other than those prepared by my mom or one of her sisters. If you're on a diet you will need the strength of a bull to not cheat on your diet here.
(5)Joanna F.
Stopped in for breakfast before we left Nashville. Nice decor and cool history on the place. Their biscuits were SO GOOD and their homemade preserves were awesome. I had the biscuit sampler with fried green tomato (so good but I passed on the heave pimento cheese), fried chicken (so good), bbq (pretty good), and sausage for my son. Hubby ordered breakfast sampler, he really liked it too. The food definitely stuck with you. We were so full from all that food we skipped lunch.
(4)Hannah H.
Loveless Cafe has gone through several ownerships, but the place stemmed from Lon and Annie Loveless, who were known to pass out fried chicken and biscuits to travelers who were traveling on Highway 100. They serve items such as the country ham, pork bbq, omelets, fried chicken, catfish, pancakes, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. My sister and I shared the 'Famous Loveless Country Ham,' which was a 7oz sliced ham that came with 2 eggs and a side of red-eye gravy. You also have a choice to have homefries or hash brown casserole, and the platter is also served with biscuits (sorghum and honey are offered upon request). The ham itself was tasty, but way too salty (even for my taste). Even without seasoning the eggs and eating it with the ham, it still didn't balance it out. I really enjoyed the hashbrown casserole, as it was wonderfully cheesy and creamy - yum! I could have eaten this all day! We also tried the Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato Biscuit - it came with a nice generous dollop of pimento cheese with a perfectly fried sliced green tomato, all in their homemade biscuits - it was delicious! I also really enjoyed their biscuits as it had a nice little crispy top with a lovely soft interior; great on its own or with butter - you can add honey, sorghum, or any of the jellies that they also provide you with. There are plenty of parking spaces, and there's also a cute gift store that you can check out across the lot - they sell the Loveless's strawberry vines decor on platters, cookbooks, kitchen accessories, home decor, etc. I'm glad I was able to check this place out! +DELICIOUS BISCUITS!!! +hashbrown casserole +Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato Biscuit
(4)Helen M.
This is my favorite breakfast place in Nashville Tennessee! I came here five years ago and couldn't wait to get back for their homemade biscuits and jams. Really cute and fun old-fashioned ambience. Wonderful staff. JaDee was our waitress and she did a wonderful job by welcoming us nicely and bringing out the nonstop biscuits and jams and with that sweet southern hospitality brought some coffee to go for a long drive. Great place for families! Delicious food and great conversation to be had! Don't miss this place on the way to and from your destination when you go through Nashville!
(5)Melanie R.
This is a MUST in Nashville. It's important to go into it knowing that it's all about the experience. If you go during a busy time, you will wait. Even if you go early, you will wait... but it won't be as long. If you have a larger group, you will definitely wait. Don't be surprised or frustrated by this. If you're impatient, then don't try to eat here. Go when the weather is nice so you can pass the wait time checking out the store, playing corn hole and wandering around the grounds. It's a bit of a drive, so go when you are in the mood to enjoy the drive to and fro. The food is classic southern and will not disappoint. it it a little overpriced? Sure. But you're paying for the experience just as much as anything. You'll get delicious food, and it will be a large portion. You will leave stuffed and happy. Again. Know what you're getting into. You don't go here for a "quick bite." You make an outing of it and enjoy taking your time driving out in the country, socializing with those in your party or strangers who are also waiting on a table, and eating a delicious southern meal in a charming old building that has been a part of Nashville for years and year.
(5)Rachel '.
Love this place. Breakfast is amazing. The jams are delicious. And the smoke master gave the kids a little tour and a tutorial on how he smokes the meat. Very nice man .. We all enjoyed talking with him. Awesome morning!
(5)Laurie F.
I don't need to add to the other great reviews. Do yourself a favor; just go. And be sure to stop by the gift shop for jams, hams & biscuit mix. You'll be craving these within days.
(5)Pam F.
When we finally found it and you get pass the long wait We enjoyed our trip we are breakfast eaters and they serve it all day Ham is extra Salty but if you dip it in the gravy wasn't so bad. I had some fried green tomatoes they was yummy.
(4)Melissa M.
Great restaurant. The biscuits a awesome and they just keep coming. I have only eaten breakfast there but the rest of the menu looks great as well. It is a tourist attraction so I recommend going early or be prepared to wait.
(5)Kim S.
Absolutely adore the Loveless! Best biscuits ever and tasty jams with the blackberry being my favorite! Always get the fried chicken biscuits which are just perfect little packages of pleasure. Breakfasts are great too! Outstanding, friendly service. Picnic tables outside make it easy to have a meal with your pup traveling companions. Give this wonderful cafe a try if you're nearby.
(5)Bridget H.
What I liked: 1. The biscuits- I wish I could give 100 biscuit stars. Living in south I feel like somewhat of a biscuit connoisseur at this point, and it's safe to say these are my favorite- extra buttery and only made better when loaded up with Loveless homemade jam. And, get this, they are unlimited! 2. The atmosphere- Yes, it's touristy and a little cheesy, but worth the visit if you're in town for the weekend. What I didn't like: 1. Very long lines on the weekend. 2. Per above, tourist hell on the weekend. 3. The rest of the breakfast is average and very greasy. Overall Verdict: Go if you're in the mood for biscuits or doing a quick trip to Nashville.
(3)Rhonda G.
Where do I start? Ok, the biscuits with three different jams. I thought it couldn't get better until the fried catfish came out, piping hot, crunchy outside, flaky inside. Garlic mashed potatoes and fried green tomatoes finished out the meal. My companion voted the fried chicken as good as it gets. My daughter had the gigantic pancake. We finished by sharing the fudge pie. Worth every calorie. Even though we arrived late afternoon on a Monday, there was still a wait of 40 minutes but don't be put off. Spend the time imagining a flaky, hot biscuit. Our server was friendly and full of information. He made us feel as if we were old friends stopping by for a chat and getting a meal as a bonus. It might seem as if you are driving to the middle of nowhere but when you leave, you'll be planning when you can return.
(5)Sara Jane G.
Came on a Thursday morning at 9am no wait to get in super fast service had our food very fast as well and it was insanely delicious! Had the moonshine Bloody Mary comes with cured bacon and a souvenir glass! Southern sampler, biscuit sampler, and biscuits and gravy! Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection!
(5)Jocelyn F.
My mother and I first time Nashville. We just wanted some good ol country food. When we walked it was so cute with the wall of fame. We were ordering take out because the wait was very long to be seated. We didnt have time to waiting. So when it came down to ordering the hostess Hiley was sooooo rude. When she had to take our order, when we were sitting down (starring at us so ugly), and when we were getting our food. I never felt so uncomfortable. I was so mad but i didnt say anything because i didnt want to cause a seen. But they with be getting a call and a letter. Thanks Hiley for ruining our first time in Nashville.
(1)Nabilah L.
This was our first time at Loveless though we've been in Nashville for a few years now. EXCELLENT FOOD! And even more EXCELLENT SERVICE! Barbara was the woman who served us, and she was very welcoming and helped us select the perfect meals. I chose the quarter fried chicken with the hashbrown casserole and the sweet potatoes. My friend had the chicken and dumplings with the squash casserole and slow cooked green beans. Both option were truly amazing. For anyone passing through Tennessee or looking for a new place to eat - please check this place out for some really great Southern food. And I totally forgot about the biscuits, but yea...some of the best I've ever had!
(5)Ann E.
First meal in Nashville this time. My daughter brought us directly here from the airport. Had to wait about 55 minutes no problem-we walked around and visited a few of the gift shops nearby-well worth the wait! The biscuits have not been over rated. The problem is to stop eating them before your meal comes so you don't wreck your appetite! Delicious jam, too! I had 2 pieces of chicken which were absolutely delicious, so moist, cooked perfectly. I chose the beans ( didn't really like them) and the Mac and Cheese (which was very good) for my sides. Highly recommended!
(4)Paul K.
As a native Nashvillian one of the things that was severely lacking in my experience of town was attempted to be remedied last year with my first trip to eat at the Loveless Cafe. Unfortunately there was an hour+ wait and we got some to-go food, which was underwhelming forty minutes later when I ate it. I'd been to the Loveless many times in the past, usually involving motorcycle rides or a charity event, or something at the barn, but I'd never eaten there which was quite odd. I went again and was more impressed, but that experience was also nothing to write home about, especially since my home was about 20 minutes away and I was the only person who would be checking mail. Third time however was a charm. We went with baby in tow, they were very nice to us and her, the food was quite good (those biscuits do *not* keep,) and I could imagine why some people dream of coming to this place. There were a few vegetarian options available. I ended up getting an omelet and sharing it with my rugrat along with some cheesy hash browns and some biscuits. This place is baby approved as a note. I never made it out there when the biscuit lady was still alive, so I don't know how they compare to the originals, but they were great fresh and solid as a rock unfresh, which may give you valuable clues and insights into how your arteries will fare. Parking is a bit of a pain, always has been, it's a combo of not quite large enough, too much area, and slow exiting. If you're heading there just park and plan to walk a bit, you'll be happier parking further away, at least in my experiences.
(5)Zippity D.
Of course the main draw is the fact that, well, it's the Loveless Cafe. So, I wouldn't call the food amazing, but it is pretty darn tasty. Especially their biscuits (of course!), of which they are thankfully very generous with. Everything else is yummy and your dining experience here might remind you of eating dinner at your grandmum's kitchen table. :) The staff were very friendly and attentive.
(4)Casey L.
We got here on a Sunday morning around 10 am the last day when we were in Nashville and there was a 2 hour wait! Wanting to get on the road, we ordered to go and it was ready in 15 minutes! The pimento and fried green tomato biscuits were recommended by the sweet hostess and they were out of this world! We enjoyed all the staples as well. Stopped in the gift shop and purchased a cookbook and some biscuit mix and we were on our way. To summarize - if you are in a pinch for time, order to go.
(4)Marisa R.
Last night my boyfriend and I landed in Nashville for a Bonnaroo vacation, and immediately wanted a classic Southern meal to kick off our week. Loveless Cafe is our favorite spot when in town, but last night our server, Owen, truly made the experience exceptional! Not only was he kind and courteous, but his recommendations and introduction to molasses butter was to die for. His customer service and attention truly made us feel like we were over a friend's house for dinner. Thank you so much for another great experience and for the mini mason jar as a little token to take back home to Los Angeles! XO
(5)Ray P.
I've eaten at Loveless many times, and have had quite a few different dishes, but I'll try to touch on some highs and lows. Long waits are to be expected, especially on weekends and at traditional meal times. I'm a meatloaf connoisseur. It's one of the dishes I use to judge a restaurant. Theirs is good. Not the best I've had but far from the worst. The mac n cheese is pretty standard Velveeta and elbow macaroni. The creamed corn tastes more like a corn pudding to me...a bit too sweet and custardy. Fried green tomatoes are not good. Thin and tough. Mashed potatoes are good. Hash brown casserole is decent. The BBQ pork is good. Not great, but not bad. Fried chicken is very good. Breakfast is always good, though the grits are a disappointment. And the biscuits just haven't been the same since Carol Fay died a few years back. They have a liquor license. Try the Bloody Mary, then go over to the store and buy a jar of the mix for $10. It's worth it.
(3)Katelin B.
We decided to follow a friend's recommendation while in Nashville for a quick trip for a wedding - I am SO glad we did! While it isn't in the downtown area, it was certainly worth the drive. We sat outside and just loved the atmosphere. I'm GF so I couldn't try the biscuits but the rest of my group had 3-4 each (our waiter, the lovely Trevor, gladly kept bringing us more!) Their omelets are DELICIOUS. Just go - you won't be disappointed!
(5)Lina H.
Southern hospitality at its best, and QUALITY FOOD!!! I could not believe my mouth! This place is everything it promised to be, always FRESH HOMEMADE ingredients is what we were told, and they delivered no problem... THE BEST BISCUITS ANYWHERE!!! Seriously folks... as a native Californian, i have never ever ever tasted biscuits so good. I've got a gluten sensitivity, but am not celiac, and these did not affect me at all. The pork loin was tender and delicious, the creamed corn is to die for, the service is friendly, warm, amazing - Susan was our waitress and she was generous with portions and her customer service - before we leave Nashville, we are definitely making the 30 minute drive back out to this place... IT IS WORTH IT YA'LL!!!
(5)Griffin F.
Fried chicken OMG. Biscuit OMG. Definitely the best biscuits I have ever had and top 5 fried chicken. The biscuits were so warm and fluffy and add their homemade preservatives and you have biscuit heaven. The fried chicken was so good, the skin was crispy but not too oily. The meat wasn't dry, and it tasted really fresh. So good!
(5)M L.
I'm not sure if it's the hype or a staple in many travelers to do list, but waiting 1.5 hrs for some over priced biscuits is not high on my agenda. They have a neat set up where you can visit their store or play corn hole, but can't say I'll be visiting this place again. One and done.
(2)Justin W.
The Good: - The biscuits and preserves are great. - The steak biscuit platter was excellent. - The side dishes are generally good. The grits left a lot to be desired. - Our server was very nice and attentive. The Bad: - We ordered two moonshine drinks, and only one had any alcohol in it. - The Bloody Mary tasted like moonshine, water, and a splash of hot sauce mixed together. - Flies. Everywhere. There were at least 20 flies buzzing around our table from the minute we first got there.
(2)Karl F.
Our family loved the fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, collared greens. But the smoked pork chops with peach jelly stole the show. Everyone is so friendly down here we took home souvenirs too!
(5)Mike W.
Loveless is a solid 4 stars. Why is that, you might ask? Well, the biscuits are out of this world and they come with 3 different types of homemade preserves. It was buttery, sugary heaven. If I had those alone, it would have been 5 stars. The food itself, however, was really just a 3. I got one of the omelettes and, although the portions were big (though not quite as big as the people there) it was a very average omelette. My friend got the pulled pork breakfast, which he loved. The meal was literally the day's sustenance for us. But i just keep dreaming about those biscuits... The service was average. The waitress was not that attentive and forgot that I had ordered the honey and sorghum (which basically looked and tasted like just honey). Regardless, just go and order a plate of biscuits. You won't be sorry you did.
(4)Lesley B.
Loveless Cafe... it just does not get much better than this. A Nashville staple, this place has got it all- music, biscuits, and out of this world chocolate milk! If you have a more adventurous spirit, do not fret they have quite a selection of breakfast/lunch cocktails. The biscuits are amazing- you can choose from an assortment such as fried chicken, ham, sausage, fried green tomato, etc they also have a biscuit sampler where you can pick four kinds of mini biscuits... it does not sound like a lot of food but man it is so filling! My friends ordered variations of eggs/ omelettes and said they were cooked to perfection. Out of nine people, not a single one of us was disappointed with our food nor had orders remorse. Oh my gosh and do NOT get me started on their hotsauce. Being a hot sauce fanatic, I am normally not impressed with restaurants if they do not carry some form of hot sauce other than Siracha/Tabasco. So obviously, because Loveless Cafe was marketing their own hot sauce, I was quick to write it off. How wrong I was. This hot sauce is AMAZING. It's spicy without being overwhelming and adds a unique flavor to any dish without overpowering the original. I was such a fan that I bought a bottle for myself and my family. Two months later I went and purchased three more bottles. Mark my words, it is some of the best hot sauce you will ever have. The only downside would be the wait on weekends, but if you go early enough you can avoid this. And the actual wait itself goes by pretty quickly except on holidays. Otherwise, when going to Loveless Cafe, you're in for a treat!
(4)Gayle R.
Ya gotta love the Loveless. The wait is worth it! The food is perfect, every time! The offer up amazing food, great service and a fun atmosphere. I've eaten at The Loveless countless times and I'm always impressed!
(5)Stephanie D.
It was a hour and 10 minute wait to get a table for 7 people on Sunday at 11:30. At least we could kill some time by browsing the small shops nearby but the selections in the hams and jams shop was pretty small but they have jams, honey, peanut brittle, popcorn, nut mixes and some souvenir items. The food was average, which is why I rated it 3 stars. It was nice to get complimentary biscuits and jam. I ordered the French toast with a cup of fresh fruit. The French toast was thick but there wasn't anything "extra special" about them. My friends had the omelette and pancakes and they rated it 3 stars. Good food but nothing special for foodies.
(3)Jessa L.
You are here for the biscuits! That being said, the rest of the food was a big southern mass of tasty awesomeness. You do not go here if you are on a diet, worried about unclogging your arteries, or planning on running a marathon that day. The portions are big, covered in classic southern gravy and very very delicious. Eating to the point of explosion is a likely experience (especially because the biscuits come first!) Stopping by the gifts shops is very necessary. Do it
(4)Peter L.
In my global pursuit of the best fried chicken, I was very pleased with the birds from the Loveless Cafe - crispy, well seasoned, not too greasy. And the biscuits rock! In addition, the place is kind of a time capsule from the past - worth the drive from downtown and not too bad of a wait at dinner time.
(5)Ian K.
My mom brought us here because of all the hype surrounding the place. With such fame, I expected a long wait but great food. We really only ended up waiting half an hour, and there were a lot of small shops to pass the time. We ended up sitting on the outdoor porch, which was pretty serene, but the experience was somewhat ruined by the flies. Then, the biggest issue of the meal arose: the service. Nobody waited on us initially, and we actually had to ask for service. After taking our orders, we really only saw our waitress again once or twice, even though we requested more biscuits and needed frequent refills. The food was phenomenal. Every single thing we ordered was scrumptious, and the biscuits and preserves lived up to their legendary status. The food easily earns 5 stars, but the service was unbearable. Still, highly recommended for anybody in the area.
(4)Shan N.
Oh my word. This place is hog heaven. Not for hogs, of course, cuz they're getting smoked out back. But all manner of cooked hog--bacon, sausage, country ham, pulled pork--is here for you. We also spent some time talking with Eric, the pitmaster. He brought us into the smoke house and talked with us about the process, showing us pork butts, briskets and chickens in the smoker. This dude loves his job and does it well. Back inside, they gave us a mess of biscuits to start. After we were done they gave us another mess of biscuits to go, along with the preserves. Here's a tip. Ask for the sorghum for your biscuits. And while you're at it, mix a little in with your grits. Oh my word.
(5)Edward M.
EDIT: TALKED TO MGMT PERSONALLY TONIGHT WHO CALLED A MEETING TO DISCUSS MY COMPLAINT. IM FULLY SATISFIED WITH MY DISCUSSION THAT THEY'LL HANDLE IT RESPONSIBLY AND TO THE SATISFACTION OF CUSTOMERS . To be clear this review is NOT about the food, this review pertains exclusively to their front desk staff only and my multiple visits to the restaurant. Food and biscuits are worth the trip, but "Southern Hospitality" at front desk is lacking. THIS WAS NOT DISCUSSED BUT I FEEL THEVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT AND AM HOPEFUL IT WILL BE RESOLVED. If you make a reservation, be aware reservations here DO NOT reserve you a table. Not for a large wedding party where we were forced to wait 20 minutes before guests got to be seated, or a small group, as I just witnessed tonight for dinner. THE CHEF HERE IS AMAZING!!! MY WIFE HAS SERIOUS ALLERGIES. HE CAME OUT TO THE FLOOR, WENT THROUGH THE MENU DISCUSSED OUR OPTIONS AND WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL MEAL!!! ALL THANKS TO HIM. EATING OUT WITH ALLERGIES IS DIFFICULT AT BEST! HE MADE IT VERY ENJOYABLE! THX! *As a side note, the food that was served to my wedding group was excellent and everyone loved it FRONT DESK STAFF TONIGHT WAS AMAZING. The problem I've seen resides with Loveless front desk staff NOT notifying customers that their reservation fails to reserve their table until one opens up, even if it expedites the wait. From what I saw tonight a reservation cuts your wait time in half. Mine was 45 minutes the reservation was about 20-25. Upon finding this out, people are a little annoyed. IVE GOT FAMILY IN TONIGHT AND MY FRONT DESK EXPERIENCE WAS GREAT. I HOPE TO SEE THIS HOSPITALITY STAY AND BECOME FURTHER ENTRENCHED! $100 WELL SPENT!!! Not only was my experience very poor as we were waiting, and the heavy set front desk girl very rude, but tonight after the customer expressed her annoyance which is understandable, after she left the blond girl at the front continued to bad mouth her to at least three other staff, right in the lobby area, loudly! Loud enough that we informed her it's in very poor taste to badmouth your patrons at length, loudly, in front of other patrons.
(5)Kenzie R.
Nice strong coffee. After breakfast I wanted to take a nap in the corner. Homemade everything is hard to really dislike. The potato casserole rivaled my grandmothers and the biscuits. They were basically crack. Of course friendly southern attitudes complete the experience.. Great breakfast spot. Can't wait to try it for dinner.
(5)Rosa G.
There should be a yelp page for the biscuits alone... Best ever! Found this place on yelp while on a trip to Nashville. The food was delicious but the biscuits... oh... Em... gee! They bring plates full out to the table. They even sell the mix online. Great place and great experience!
(5)Teema C.
A pretty long wait to get in on a Saturday morning, but boy am I glad we got there when we did, because the line only got longer. You cannot call in to reserve a table. We toured around the buildings while we waited and once we were seated, the wait was well worth those delicious biscuits and home made spreads itself! I really loved the peach preserves...yum! Breakfast and coffee were average, hubby's chicken fried steak was pretty good but my ham was very salty. Those biscuits..I would go back just for them.
(4)Larry D.
We had a little bit of everything at our table: pancakes, chicken fried steak & eggs, and fried chicken, fried fish, and pulled pork with sides of turnip greens and Mac and cheese. Started off with a plate of biscuits. Wow. We may not eat again today. Everything was great. The waiter was very good.
(5)Jesse Q.
Simply delicious. The biscuits are to die for. The environment is welcoming. Don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. The food comes out fast though!
(5)Mac L.
This is a must do for in and out of town people. Always a full belly when you leave, the southern food and hospitality never disappoint. But be prepared to wait, because its so good, you wont regret it.
(5)Christina A.
We waited for an hour and 45 minutes. Not worth that long of a wait. Under an hour, do it. The service was pretty good, they were obviously very busy. Right away they will bring you biscuits. Dig in because they're famous for a reason. Try the peach jam. They will bring you more so keep them coming and you can take some home to go! We had omelets which were yummy. The pulled pork one was fun and good. Cheese and garden omelets were standard.
(4)Mario E.
This is a unique gem just outside of Nashville. Everything I have tried has been wonderful Nd always filling. Take look at the pictures your eyes will it lie!
(5)David A.
Good country grub at a very "hot" stop in Nashville. Plan on spending over an hour to wait. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. I guess it's the type of place you have to go to once. Everything we tried was really good, just not great. I had far better meals during my trip. It's good. It's fun. Just not worth the wait.
(4)Brittany B.
Best home style cooking you can get! It seems to always be busy but it's worth the wait. Plus they have little stores to keep you entertained while you wait. Everyone is very friendly and have southern hospitality. After getting seated and ordering, the wait for your food isn't that long. And if anything is wrong they will make it right. Pies are to die for! And FYI the moonshine are very strong!
(5)Bec M.
This place is amazing! I highly recommend everyone to go and see this place and have a meal. While you may have to wait, it worth very second of your time. The staff are so friendly and accommodating. The food is out of this world! The hash brown casserole is to die for.
(5)Jeremy T.
Great food, service, and location. Good home cooking style food. The staff is great, and I've never had to wait long for a table even though the place is very busy.
(5)Nicole M.
Holy biscuits! It's been a few weeks since our last visit and I am constantly craving their biscuits-so good! There's really just no place like Loveless. The staff feels like family and you never feel rushed. Take some time to walk around after you eat-the shops are all lovely.
(5)Larry S.
We've been back several times since my original review, and I still love it. Every time we have out-of-town guests, we take them to the Loveless. We make sure they all get a chance to try the Rise & Shine (moonshine & OJ) if they want to. I've had it once, and that was enough for me. We went back this month, and I ordered a bowl of sausage gravy for the table to share with our biscuits, and it got me to thinking about Bobby Flay's biscuit throwdown at the Loveless. Now, I'm certain that Bobby's gourmet biscuit and jam were outstanding, and I'd really like for him to come fix my breakfast sometime. But the biscuit that he made is not the kind of biscuit that anyone can make by the thousands, every day, year after year. And I'm not sure how his biscuit would be with sausage gravy. I may never taste a Bobby Flay biscuit, but I'm certain that I'll be having a lot more of those wonderful Loveless biscuits, either with gravy, jam, or as a ham/bacon/BBQ sandwich.
(5)Trevor J.
Thank you Food Network / Travel Channel!!!! The biscuits were to die for. The server was so nice and he knew we were from California right from the beginning. This might have helped because he kept giving us biscuits and the jelly (amazing). When we got to the food we weren't even that hungry. The food was average, but the real reason this is 5 stars is due to the biscuits and especially the jelly. Please treat yourself and order something small or split a meal and just get the biscuits and jelly. The biscuits were soft and good, but it was the jelly that was superb.
(5)Heather W.
I will find any excuse to eat here when I'm close to Nashville. The breakfast is amazing. For lunch the fried chicken and mashed potatoes actually taste homemade. This is one of my favorite places to eat.
(5)Jon B.
This place is a solid 5 stars. The food was great, shops were cute and we got in quickly although it is a Monday morning. The homemade food and jams are worth the trip down from Nashville.
(5)Pete T.
Outstanding food, friendly service. Biscuits were amazing, I see why folks come back here again and again. I was visiting some friends that live in Franklin and they took me here for lunch. Large servings, tasty food, it was all good. We didn't have to wait very long, maybe 20 min for our party of 4, so we had fun playing corn-hole in front of the restaurant.
(5)Heather T.
This place was great!!!! Friendly staff and if there is a wait, and I'm sure there will be, you can walk over to their market and gift shop to look around. Biscuits are served with every meal and they are yummy! I ate so many I barely had room for my meal. I had 3 sides as a meal and they were all very good. My husband had the smoked boneless pork chop and it was delicious. If you are in the Nashville area- you should stop here for sure!
(5)Shirley A.
Come here for the experience! I've found that country food in Tennessee isn't all that different from what we have in Texas, with the exception of never hearing of "hot chicken." Either way, Loveless has all the awesome breakfast offerings, even becoming a bit overwhelming! I stuck with the chicken and waffles and it was just fine. The order comes with a bunch of syrup on the side so you can add it to your liking. What did stick with me - their drinks! The "Blue Moon" isn't the beer... instead it's all sorts of goodness with blueberries, lemonade, and a souvenir mini mason jar with mason jar, also so you can add it to your liking. Since I was planning on taking the souvenir with me, I went ahead and dumped all of the moonshine given to me, only to later find out that they give you a lid for it. We had two servers for 30+ people and they did a superb job getting everybody's orders right and getting control of such a large group. When you're done eating, step out to their many little stores for some shopping! I snagged a gift for my niece's birthday and Olive & Sinclair chocolate bars for everyone else who can't fit in a 12 month old onesie.
(4)Veronica C.
To begin, the food was four stars. We had the fried chicken and catfish, with creamed corn and caramel sweet potatoes. All of it was very good. The jam was also delicious! The reason I rate loveless three stars is because of the hostess and the lady working the cash register. Not only did they lack southern hospitality, they lacked any hospitality. I am hoping it was just an off day and not a usual occurrence.
(3)Claudia G.
OMG!!! I want to live in their kitchen! This is real southern cooking. Not only is the food AMAZING but the staff will treat you like family...the members you like :-) I will most definitely be coming back to Nashville just to visit them again. Don't leave town without visiting these guys. Yes it's a bit out of the way, but the drive is well worth it. It really is a hidden gem.
(5)Tom W.
Operating on the very real premise that a real trip to Nashville must necessarily involve biscuits from Loveless Cafe, we scratched that itch this morning. It's still the same, wonderful!
(5)Chris B.
Five stars all the way. There is a wait and a hike to get there, especially from where I was staying by the airport, but it is well worth it. If you are looking for excellent southern, comfort food, this is the place. I had the country fried steak which was good but wish I would have ordered the fried chicken after tasting my dads. I would definitely go back if I'm passing through Nashville.
(5)K S.
I went for breakfast yesterday. I was alone which at some restaurants means you get poor service, but not here ! My friendly waitress made sure I got hot coffee with plenty of refills, a plate of plentiful right out of the oven biscuits, and made sure I was happy with my order. I ordered the pork chops. The order comes with eggs and the hash brown casserole. My goodness what a plateful of good food. I ate plenty and packed the rest in a big container to take home. I had the rest of the pork chops and biscuits for lunch. I think their biscuits are better now...more buttery...than they used to be. I had not eaten here in about five years. My visit here yesterday was much more pleasant than in the past. So I think everyone should revisit again ! AK
(5)Troy S.
I wouldn't waste my time with the drive. The biscuits didn't seem to be the greatest ever to me as they just seemed like biscuits. They were warm and good but not great. I think I had too high of expectations for this place hence the two stars. It probably is a three star place because of the various attractions around the store. They also make their food themselves which makes it a decent place. I ordered Biscuits & gravy which was good as the gravy was done right. The coffee was a little weak for me and I didn't get a refill until my food came. It sat empty for close to 5 minutes. My wife ordered a Mimosa which was strong and she liked it. It used wine instead of champagne. My daughter has scrambled eggs which were blah with no flavor. My wife went with a chicken biscuit that wasn't up to her Chick Fila standards. All in all the food wasn't bad but it wasn't so great to drive 30 minutes out of ones way for. The homemade jams are ok but my mother and aunt make it jbetter. The nice thing about this location are the little shops with overpriced stuff in them. It is nice to walk around and see the places. They have baby changing stations in their handicap stalls. The bathrooms were clean and all the workers we met were friendly. I would stay in Nashville and try out another breakfast place instead of coming here.
(3)Kevin B.
What a ridiculously amazing place! I had researched Nashville prior to my vacation and the biscuits at the Loveless Cafe were one of the top foods to try on everyone's list. We hopped off the plane, got our rental car, checked into the hotel, and drove straight here and boy were we glad we came. We beat the evening rush by coming a bit after 5 on a weekday and were immediately sat. The menu is very extensive and it seems like they make a bit of everything. We both ordered the fried chicken (we did come to the South after all) and our biscuits arrived in the meantime. They were absolutely and utterly perfect biscuits and they came with 3 homemade jams: peach, strawberry, and blackberry. All the jams were fantastic and worked really well with the biscuits (they sell them in their gift shop and at the airport). The fried chicken was perfect and very juicy and our sides (mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes) were top-notch. Our waitress even brought over some carrot pudding for us to try for free since she wanted us to like it, which was really nice (and tasty!). We also got a slice of coconut cream pie, a local brew, and a moonshine cocktail (complete with tiny souvenir mug), which were all great. Bottom line: this place has amazing food and great service. It really is worth the drive out from Nashville (or other surrounding towns) and try to come on a weekday on off-peak hours to avoid the huge crowds!
(5)Sam S.
The BBQ is great and the biscuits are some of the best I have ever had. I had a sample plater it came with meet loaf fried chicken & BBQ a side of green beans and a side of cucumbers with onions.
(4)Olivia M.
This place was great! We received a recommendation from a local to definitely check out this cafe and we are so happy that we did so. The people there are so friendly and the cafe is very quaint and has a lot of charm. The food is sooooo good, we can't stress that enough. We aren't from around here and we loved getting to experience some of Nashville's greatest foods. Also, they give you a lot of biscuits and jams to eat with it and it was amazing. If you are coming to Nashville or live there and have never been, definitely check out this place! It is so worth it.
(5)Adria R.
We really enjoyed the setting and the "to do" surrounding this place, including the remote location and the campus like setting. We had to wait about 40 minutes, at around 11am on a Thursday, which wasn't a big deal. While the food was tasty, it was overall pretty underwhelming. Good, but not great. I would have given it 4 stars if it wasn't for our server. She wanted to take our order right away and rolled her eyes when we asked for more time with the menu. Then the fried green tomatoes that I ordered to go with my eggs never arrived, so I inquired about them and she went to fetch them. 10 minutes went by, by which time my eggs were cold, and eventually she dropped them off with a "here you go". A simple "sorry about that" would have been plenty, but the southern hospitality was somewhere else today. Otherwise, we enjoyed our time at the Lovelace and would likely visit again in the future.
(3)Gina T.
Everyone was hyping this place up so I figured I had to try it. I'm from Chicago so when my friends and I came down here for a roadtrip, we were staying in Vanderbilt. It took us about 30 min to drive there and the wait was an hour and 20 min. Not too bad because we got to walk around the cute stores they had and bought a few things. I was looking forward to the biscuits but honestly they were just good. Not as amazing as I thought they were going to be, but just plain good. The strawberry and peach jam were my faves. I had the pulled pork and eggs. Not that great. The pulled pork didn't have any taste to it and they barely put any BBQ sauce on it. Would I order it again? No. I'm sure they had other good things on the menu but when I asked my friends what they thought about the food they said it was alright. I give it a four stars because they had cool little shops around, their food was okay, and the service was great. Our waiter took the time to explain everything on the menu, what was popular, etc. I was definitely expecting some amazing southern BBQ breakfast and I mean if it wasn't for the service and stores I would of given them 3 stars. Overall, I tried it once and once is enough for me.
(4)Teresa P.
Flaky, soft, freshly hot biscuits? Crunchy crusty, yet moist fried chicken? Perfectly cornmealed and seasoned fried catfish? Tucked away next to a gas station out of the Nashville city? Yes, definitely the best way to start my New Years resolution of 2014!! This place was poppin' late afternoon of New Year's Day. Screw your New Years resolution when there's food this delicious around! We loved the biscuits, fried chicken, and fried catfish. Sides were okay. We weren't too pleased with the overly cheesy hash brown casserole, but we loved the cucumber salad, fried green tomatoes, and hush puppies. An amazing place with that southern charm that makes you feel like you're eating in a local home, just be ready to wait at least 30 min to and hour if you haven't called in before hand. No worries, you can stroll around their cute stores and get some loveless souvenirs!!
(5)Adam R.
I've officially set my mom up for failure with a visit to Loveless Cafe two days before Thanksgiving!! Friendly service, amazing meatloaf and delicious sides. This little gem was the icing on the cake for our day trip to Nashville. My only regret... Not saving room for dessert!
(5)Courtney C.
Q: How far would you travel for fresh, homemade biscuits? A: 393 miles. Well, that's partly true. We decided to travel to Nashville just for the hell of it and because it was cold in Chicago. Next to the sunshine and warm temperature, Loveless was the biggest selling point for us to come on down. We knew what to expect in coming to Loveless. We knew it would be packed and we would have to wait, but did we care? Absolutely not. Good food is worth waiting for, especially when it's on every major list of things you need to see in Nashville. We called ahead which I highly recommend. Once we finally arrived, they were telling people an hour but they only quoted us 30 minutes since we had called and our name was already on the list. (By the time we were leaving they were telling people an hour and a half, so go as early as you can!) Although there's a few shops on the property, it's not enough to kill more than 20 minutes. Loveless is primarily known for the biscuits and they didn't disappoint. I especially loved the peach jam that came with it. I also ordered some sausage gravy for the biscuits, but that was a waste of money -- the free jam was the way to go! Breakfast was great, especially the jalapeno bacon. It wasn't too spicy, but the jalapeno gave it a nice flavor. Also, whoever said their hashbrown casserole was better than Cracker Barrel's wasn't lying. I kept eyeing my husband's hoping he wouldn't eat it. I should have just stole it from him :( Our waiter was so welcoming that it almost made me wish I lived in Nashville so I could hang out with him. When he saw my ID (carded me for my mimosas) and saw that it was an IL license he recommended his favorite places in Nashville for us. I absolutely love southern hospitality! The only reason for not giving 5 stars was the fact that I dropped $40 on breakfast. Do you know how many hours I had to work to earn that? Of course -- it was totally worth it.
(4)Megan M.
Made the long drive out and although it was neat to see the food wasn't overwhelmingly great. I had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese was very good. I almost think the potatoes were instant at least they tasted that way...not a compliment. The fried chicken was plenty good but not amazing. Now the biscuits were very good but the preserves were the best part of it all. I'm glad we didn't have to wait. I wouldn't say it was worth waiting for. All in all not sad we went but wouldn't go back again.
(3)Betsy L.
I mean, come on, what can I say that everyone else hasn't said? Yes, their biscuits are pretty rad. Yes, I have had better country cooking (hailing from Alabama, and all). Yes, the staff is very friendly...especially for being crazy slammed all day long every day. Yes, I only go here for special occasions (i.e. Out of town guests).
(3)Traci D.
Our party of three sampled a good portion of the menu and there wasn't one bad thing! The creamed corn is absolutely amazing!!
(5)Olivia G.
Not just a restaurant, but an experience! Played corn hole and shopped in the 2 stores while waiting for our table. You bite into a biscuit and it tastes like butter, it's amazing. The pulled pork platter was enough for me to eat dinner for a week. I got mashed potatoes and mac&cheese for my sides and they were great but I tried my sister's creamed corn and wish I had gotten that. It was yummy! Definitely not a place to go if you're on a diet, but it was fun to pig out on vacation :)
(5)Jo M.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, jam, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, biscuits, BISCUITS! Oh, yeah, they have other food, too, and a very friendly staff.
(4)Nancy B.
Free coffee is why they're getting two stars! There is no way this place is worth the hour plus wait we were told when we arrived. Being on a time crunch we opted for take away and decided to eat outside. Our biscuits weren't really cooked. What the hell? The French toast was fine and happily my egg omelette was fully cooked. This is not a must visit and even if I lived in the area I don't think I'd go back.
(2)Jeff E.
It was suggested to us by a complete stranger at a resort in Crossville, he said if you go anywhere in Nashville the Loveless should be at the top of the list, well it was # 3, What a wonderful experience, we were warned that there are sometimes a long wait,We waited approx. 30 mins. After that we were seated promptly on the side patio and greeted a very friendly bearded waiter wish I could remember his name! He took excellent care if us! The food was amazing! Very sizable portions! I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Nashville that us looking for a home cooked southern style meal! Two Thumbs Up! Can't wait to visit again nex
(5)David E.
My wife & I were in Nashville last Fall and wanted to try out one of the restaurants I had seen on the Food Network. We were directed to Loveless Cafe and we were not disappointed. The biscuits lived up to their billing and the veggies were fresh and delicious. Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert, but be sure you get some when you go. If you're in the neighborhood, treat yourself to a good meal - but order dessert before your meal since they run out quickly.
(4)Tammy M.
Oh my gosh what a fun experience and great food! Loved the friend chicken.
(5)Laura S.
Can I tell you how much I love this jam? And these biscuits? Because I can't. I would never stop talking. Call it the Southerner in me, but I love a good breakfast place that doesn't hold back on anything buttered. If you like to sit and stuff your face with delicious food that may or may not give you a heart attack--go to Loveless!
(4)Elizabeth B.
I walked in for a quick biscuit and jam experience around noon on a week day. While the blackberry jam was outstanding, the biscuits were a little on the chewy side for my liking. And YES I'm from the south. ;) The most disappointing part of my experience here, though, was service related. Our waitress was incredibly rude and snarky. I overheard her making ugly remarks to the cashiers about my party in the next room. We were all extremely nice, but she was not. If you're looking for "southern hospitality" I'm afraid you won't find it here.
(2)Veronica S.
Always enjoy coming here when I visit my sister! The wait can be extremely long so don't come starving, because you will have to wait! But there are little shops and games you can play while waiting! Food was delicious! So anything on menu is amazing! I had grilled chicken sandwich with green beans... Delicious!! The biscuits they serve you before your meal is to die for! Love the jam that comes with it!!
(5)Adam H.
Stopped into here during a business trip through Nashville because they're supposed to be famous for their biscuits and gravy. While I did really enjoy my meal, I wouldn't say the meal was much better than I've had elsewhere. I don't get how the biscuits and gravy are famous. I wouldn't advise you drive 30 mins out of Nashville for the food. Perhaps the nostalgia of the place is worth it? I would say that the staff were all super friendly! Southern hospitality at its finest! The place does have a nice southern charm to it too.
(4)EJ P.
5 STARS JUST FOR THE AMAZING BISCUITS I don't care how long you have to wait, how many hills and weird turns I had to take to get here, AND HOW FREAKING COLD IT WAS. These biscuits made it ALL worth it. It's a Southern institution that I am shocked is actually not more popular than it already is. That said, I would skip the fried chicken (it was tasteless) and just go for the fried catfish, the creamed corn, the baked beans. Although the pulled pork was great too. YUM.
(5)Steve E.
You got a problem with fried chicken, country ham and biscuits done flawlessly? Yeah, well I got a problem with YOU.
(5)Mark M.
Loveless is (apparently) one of those Nashville institutions, and since breakfast is one of our family institutions, we decided to hit the place on the way out of town. Because we enjoy traveling while in a coma, we opted for the family-style breakfast, which, roughly translated, means "we come to your table and stuff you until you can't take anymore." Eggs, grits, hash brown casserole (very light -- not), bacon, ham (yummy, but WAY too salty), and the star of the show -- biscuits that will make you slap your grandma. At first taste, I wasn't that impressed, but after the 7th or so I concluded that maybe they were pretty good. And served with delicious preserves and sausage gravy. Needless to say, there was no lunch consumed that day. Good coffee and great service. Be prepared for a significant wait during rush times.
(4)Jill M.
Just freaking good. I had the fried chicken (1/4 white meat - amazing), turnip greens (amazing), and mashed potatoes (really, really good). And of course, biscuits with blackberry jam that was to die for. This is one of those places where you just have to stop caring temporarily about things like calories, sodium, etc., and simply go for it.
(5)Lenka O.
Loveless cafe is a must if you are in Nashville. Yes it's touristy but the food was well worth it. I got the country fried steak with hashbrown casserole. The steak was giant and amazing! Had to take half home. Biscuits come warm and with three delicious jams. Drinks are pricey though. Not sure if they were with it. I hear it gets pretty crowded though and there can be a huge wait. We went on a Friday morning around 9am and got right in. I guess all the wild and crazy partiers from Broadway were still asleep so try a weekday and early if you can.
(4)Fred P.
So I surprised my wife with a trip to Nashville to celebrate her inexplicable love of country music and visiting the Loveless was high on her to-do list. Thank god! You may be able to get a breakfast this good in New York, but I couldn't tell you where and I'm sure you'd pay a small fortune for it. Despite the ridiculous wait (1.5 hour) and vertigo inducing pitch of the floor (a bit uneven) the meal was phenomenal with a capital "PH." The biscuits were unique, even by Nashville standards. Small and light, they didn't require any condiments to satisfy, though that didn't stop me from drowning them in the best Sausage gravy I've ever had. My wife had the Chicken and a Waffle and declared it the single best piece of chicken she'd ever eaten. I had to dive into the "Pit-Cooked Pork Barbecue & Eggs, One to the Left and One to the Right" which came with a pancake and the greatest iteration of breakfast potatoes created: the Hash brown Casserole. Besides being some of the best pulled pork, the remainder of the meal was equally exquisite. The eggs just seemed fresher and the pancake fluffier than any I'd ever had elsewhere. Know going in on a weekend that you will wait and wait and wait to be seated. This is partially due the tourist destination nature of the establishment and partially by design as there are multiple souvenir shops on the premises. You've been warned.
(5)Julie D.
Well.....It's not really conveniently located. But I am so glad we took the time to drive out of our way to visit this long time, old fashioned flash from the past café. The drive out is interesting, we took back roads and enjoyed the scenic drive. Once you arrived, it was clear from the parking lot, Loveless is very popular, the parking lot was packed. Surprisingly, the wait for a table was not long. But making a selection of what to order was difficult. The bf got the fried chicken. I ended up getting the pulled pork. It was delicious. For my sides, I got creamed style corn (win) and mac and cheese (good, too). The biscuits were a nice surprise, the are actually fairly small, so you can't feel too guilty about eating them. Service was very friendly. Even so friendly, we ended up with biscuits and jam to go for later. This place really is great.
(5)Jimmie K.
Usually go there for breakfast & decided to go for dinner WoW just as good the biscuits & Fried Chicken is to die for Must go ASAP
(5)Bill R.
The gourmet's Cracker Barrell. This place is tremendous Southern cooking. Bring a heart monitor. If you're a Southerner, you'll swear your grandma is in the kitchen. The ONLY reason I don't give them a 5 star rating is that they're just so hard to get into. Hour, 2 hour waits are common. You may have to hike a quarter mile to get there from the back of the parking lot(s). On the weekends, there's no good time to get in. The first time you come the shops are enough to keep you occupied, but they lose their charm after a few times.
(4)Stephanie C.
"Biscuit Poisoning? YES PLEASE! " 5 of 5 stars Pending review If you are visiting Nashville, make the drive to this wonderfully taste of history! But be aware they bring you a plate of the most buttery biscuits with an assortment of jams, preserves and honey. Stop at one...or you will get too full of the yummy goodness. Then make sure that what ever your family orders as the main dish you all order a different side, because there is ALOT to share. From Mac and Cheese to the BEST turnip green and mashed potatoes. My husband had the house chicken, I had the meat loaf and my daughter had the roast beef we each got 3 sides, we took so much home, so good, And we each ordered dessert to go. You could of rolled me out of that wonderful place!!! But don't leave till you visit all the shops and learn about its origins. It's a very nostalgic place. After dinner.... Take a drive through the parks. Truely beautiful. Visited August 2015
(5)Tuck L.
My family was in town visiting and they wanted to eat at the Loveless Cafe. (They had seen the restaurant on TV). So, trying to be the good host, I took them there. We waited 45 minutes to get a table. Then we sat down and had our chicken and biscuits. Don't know how long the chicken had been sitting out. Just don't know. Anyway, then, I received a bill. When I looked at the total for 4 people, I almost soiled myself. I couldn't believe the price for some chicken and biscuits. Here is my conclusion: I waited in line for 45 minutes and made a nice payment to Loveless when instead, I could have gone to KFC. It would have been faster, cheaper, and _________.
(2)Tom D.
Ate breakfast this morning at the Loveless Cafe with my fiancee. Thursday morning, 7:30am, so no wait for a table. Our server, Bruce, brought us two biscuits. Not sure what all the hype is about, they didn't taste like anything special. Also, my fiancee was miffed because she wanted to order a Bloody Mary, but Bruce said it was before 8am, so she couldn't get one yet. So things didn't start off well, but they soon improved once our food arrived at the table. I had ordered the Pit-Cooked Pork Barbeque & Eggs (One to the Left and One to the Right), and my fiancee had ordered the Fried Chicken & Waffle. Our meals were good, I had a hard time finishing the generous portion of pork on my plate. Wasn't really crazy about the red BBQ sauce on top, but it was OK. Hash brown casserole was tasty, I liked it. My fiancee liked her Chicken & Waffle quite a bit, the waffle itself was very good, delicious. And Bruce had brought us out more hot biscuits and a Bloody Mary in a mason jar for my fiancee. Overall, a good experience this morning at the Loveless Cafe, we would like to come back again, but it is about 85 miles away from where we live, so I imagine that won't be happening anytime soon. I recommend giving them a go if you are in Nashville.
(4)Amanda B.
The reviews on the biscuits hold true! I ate a few (I'm afraid to admit how much lard I actually consumed). If you love the biscuits you should go to the gift shop and buy the magnet that says "praise the lard and pass the biscuits". Aside from the biscuits I shared the sampler meal ( BBQ, chicken, meatloaf) with the mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes (I apparently love lard and starches). The mashed potatoes were great (had little potatoes chunks that made me think they were homemade). The sweat potatoes were nothing I would try again ( semi sweet with a hint of Carmel). I also tried my friends fried ocra, it tasted average. I loved the meatloaf. It had great flavoring and consistency. The chicken and BBQ was good but if you've had great BBQ and fried chicken it's about average. I gave 4 stars because our waitress only came to our table 2 times the entire meal and pretty much rolled her eyes at us. She would just walk by and not offer refills or ask if we needed anything. We finally waved down another waiter who gladly helped and brought more biscuits, drinks, and even made sure we liked our food. We left a tip for Kramer and he ended up running outside to thank us for the tip- so kind and sincere of him! Worth a shot but planning on waiting!
(4)Karen M.
Yup. Down-home cooking. We had a huge party and they accommodated us easily. Jason our server was friendly and professional. And my chicken was delicious! Cucumber salad was the absolute best - I recommend that to go w/the chicken. It is as good as others say!
(4)Arash R.
Great services , good fried chicken. Mac and cheese and creamed corn were amazing , get them together and try to have spoon mix of them - tasted even better to me. Long wait lines but you can grab free coffee from the gift shop while you wait or just go for a drive on the parkway near by.
(4)Bernard L.
Wait, are you kidding me? We drove 30 minutes outside on Nashville for this place for a Sunday 10AM brunch for 3 people. I already grew suspicious when I noticed that the parking looked like a parking lot for Disney, with cars with license plates from all over the south and college football decals. Disclaimer: I'm from New York City. Needless to say, we go through what feels like an amusement park filled with gift shops, jam shops and families having makeshift picnics on the trail to the actual restaurant. We go inside and were told that for 3 people, the wait would be 2.5hrs. Ha! We just left immediately, judging all the poor souls that came from the heartland of the country to a place that feels like a glorified Cracker Barrel.
(1)Mike D.
One of my favorite southern meals. Everything you want in a heart attack, I mean HEARTY meal. They probably have the best biscuits I have ever tasted. They come with three amazing preserves: peach, blackberry, and strawberry. Ask for more biscuits if you must. Meals: Smoked ham - get it Fried Chicken - honestly, what do you think? probably the best I've ever had. Hash brown casserole, Mac 'n cheese, and fried green tomatoes. I cnat put into words how much I enjoyed this meal. I'd love to return!
(5)Rebecca C.
The Loveless Cafe is breakfast perfection. Seriously. I have never had better biscuits in my life, and I have a southern grandma! I could have made a meal out of the biscuits and housemade jam alone, but then I'd miss out on the house-cured ham, bacon, and eggs and cheesy potatoes that went along with my amazing breakfast. I was full long before I stopped eating. I loved the charm of the restaurant as well as the surrounding shops on the premises! I regret not buying the biscuit mix, but it just gives me another reason to head back. My only reason is for not giving it 5 stars is the price - our breakfast for two people was $47. FOR BREAKFAST. But you get what you pay for, I suppose, and in this case, I'd consider it money well spent. PS - Don't tell my grandma what I said about the biscuits, ok? I don't want to hurt her feelings.
(4)Dez S.
Near my house but I don't go often because of the long wait. The biscuits, yes, are to die for. The salads are pretty awesome - ask for the creamy peach vinaigrette dressing!
(4)Jac S.
I had a blast here. The wait was just under 2 hours, but there is so much to do on "property" of the restaurant that it was nothing. The experience was great and I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu. The drink menu look fascinating, but I at 10 am and didn't want to partake in the moonshine cocktails that early in the morning. :)
(4)A B L.
Our waitress was a doll and the biscuits was great. Some of the very best cheddar grits I have ever had. We come for the first time on a Sunday & it was a 2 hour wait so we left. We returned the following a Tuesday at 11 and only had to wait 10 minutes for a table. This place is worth the drive but not a wait of 2 hours on the weekend.
(5)Kris N.
The best biscuits and moon shine Mary's ever. Love this place even though they are always packed and the wait is long, but that's okay, the wait is worth it and all the shops are super cute.
(5)Denny K.
Gotta start with the biscuits. After all Loveless makes about 7500 a day! Usually tender, flaky, fresh as fresh can be, right out of the oven. I often pop them into my mouth before I even have a chance to smear on the strawberry, peach, or blackberry preserves. (Honey and Sorghum are available on request.) All you want-all day long. But save a little room for a delicious breakfast. You name it they'll make it. Today I had a gigantic Barbecue Pork with 2 eggs over easy (cooked perfectly). Honestly, I think there was nearly a pound of meat not he platter...no kidding! But wait. Can't decide what you want for breakfast? How about a sampler several meats and sides.? If you brought friends and family...they got you covered--Family Style Breakfast includes most of the above and sausage gravy too. Be sure to try the Hashbrown Casserole or maybe the BBQ omelet - 3 eggs and enough stuffing to fill a suitcase...(well, maybe not quite that much). Oh, you're here for lunch? Fried chicken, meatloaf (better than Mom's...sorry Mom), and finger lickin' good Pork Chops. So much good stuff, I never have room for dessert...but you might, and they got it too. Service is alway top-notch and extremely cordial...but a slight misstep today (entered the wrong order for our breakfast in their computer system and brought us the wrong plates. .... They apologized profusely, but dampened our enthusiasm inasmuch as we were there with friends visiting from California. Can be a bit noisy. Be patient...the wait for a table can be anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes or more. But take heart, the wait is worth it for a special experience...at least once.
(4)Tom Y.
It lives up to all the hype. If you want a down-home, country dinner, this is the place. I had the fried chicken and it was amazing. The biscuits and jam were out of this world. It was soooo good. I ate so many biscuits I had to take most of my meal home with me. It is worth the wait, seriously, it is that good.
(5)Tiffany J.
We only live about 10 minutes away, so about once a month we try to go before 8am on a Saturday or Sunday to beat the crowds. Service is always great and the food is amazing. Biscuits obviously are great, but the steak and eggs are phenomenal.
(5)Leslie S.
The 45 minute wait is totally worth it for the fried chicken. I don't even like biscuits and I eat these! In other words, it's worth a flight in!
(5)Ryan S.
Ate here for breakfast. Come early or prepare for a wait. We waited almost 2 hours. Service was fast friendly. Tons of choices serve both breakfast and dinner all day long. You'll leave full.
(5)W P.
For our breakfast stop on the way out of Nashville, this really was a great spot. Biscuits are all they're cracked up to be, with either gravy from our platter poured on top or the housemade jams. Sausage patties crumbled in your mouth, ham was nice (although a little salty for my taste), plenty of scrambled eggs, and beans. Needless to say, we left full and very satisfied. Also, whoever is in charge of the merchandising and gift shops are "on point". Fantastic collection of shirts, souvenirs, etc including the brilliant shirt that says, "Taking care of biscuits" haha
(5)Ted C.
For what we thought was our final Nashville area breakfast we chose to go to Loveless even though we were staying literally right near the Nashville Biscuit House and the drive there with a packed car-well it was definitely out of the way. As soon as we got there there wasn't a parking spot to be had-which was the opposite trend of what happened during our trip since it was so cold and hardly anyone bothered to come out. The breakfast is served all day, and the cafe is basically it's own little universe of commerce. The cafe, the shop there's a smoker. I was thinking maybe we hit on the tourist spot of all tourist spots. Instead what I got was a really classic place serving really good old fashioned food. The biscuits were buttery, soft and the jams were all a great accompaniment to the biscuits. They brought 9 for the four of us. We cleared it and then asked for more. My friend asked for a side of gravy to go with it and I don't know why they don't advertise that more often. Biscuits and gravy here should be announced on loudspeaker here in addition to it written in big, neon lights. I ended up ordering the steak biscuits and realized I made a mistake. The steak was a little tough and I should have just gotten one of their breakfast plates. I mean, if I can get as many biscuits as I wanted then I should have gotten something without biscuits in it. The shop also is touristy but fun. My flight out got canceled as we were eating and I spent 45 minutes on the phone there trying to rebook flights then extending the rental and finding a hotel. The staff there occupied my friends' time by talking about the weather and generally entertaining them until I got off the phone. The next time, I need to come with 3 other people who are down for that all you can eat deal.
(4)Garen M.
This is our second trip here. We stop to purchase biscuit mix. It is the best ever and easy to make. This trip we ate lunch. We both had breakfast fare including country ham. The food was great and the service was even better. Long wait times to get into the restaurant but they have plenty of shopping to help you while away the time and lighten your wallet.
(4)Harry H.
Big birds flying across the sky Throwing shadows on our eyes Leave us... [Loveless], [loveless], [loveless] Having read of "bottomless biscuits", we were disappointed by a lack thereof, apparently not part of the slow service and separate charges for a change in teas (but not for refills after the switch, but given the speed, it wasn't worth mentioning because our time is valuable) despite no mention originally. $37.79 before tip for: biscuit sampler with chicken and hashbrown casserole (satisfying) breakfast sampler (tasty) two sweet teas, and a peach iced tea (the latter was excellent, the former eh) fudge pie (tasty but nontraditional) No creamed corn until 11 (foolish) If we hadn't also planned a Belle Meade visit as part of our morning, I would've been a bit disappointed about trekking out here (if this is still considered Nashville, you folks really take some liberties with the zoning). Apparently they were on Throwdown, and management changed at some point recently, causing the commercialization that kinda ruined the charm for me.
(3)Tara S.
I don't know why it's taken me so long to write this review. You'd think out of all the times that I've been and had to wait an hour and a half before being seated that I could find the time to write one up! But no, I've usually found something else to do. They do give you a little disk that vibrates when you're ready to be seated. The Loveless has a few gift shops around that you can browse in. Some of the gifts are really cute but touristy expensive. Now...good lawd the food. Biscuits are made from scratch and are light and fluffy. They come free with your meal along with 3 preserves. If my memory serves me correct they're strawberry, blackberry and orange marmalade...or peach. I don't know. They're all tasty though! I ALWAYS order a side of cheese grits! I'm telling you I drive clear across town for their grits. So freaking good. They serve breakfast all day. I keep telling myself that I'll try something else then never do...because cheese grits, yo. We've tried a variety of things and have never been disappointed. They have excellent bbq, hashbrown casserole, fried potatoes, country fried steak...it's all good. This restaurant is the epitome of classic southern food. Service is kind of hit or miss. You've got the servers that have been there awhile that found their niche and are on a roll. Then there are the newbies that shuffle through things. They're all right but don't give you the "Loveless experience". Parking can be a bit rough depending on when you go. I've never NOT found a parking spot but you might have to walk a ways. No biggie. After eating all that fried food, a bit of walking might do you some good!
(4)Kathy S.
Amazing food! Had the biscuit French toast!! The seating on the outside patio is so peaceful and delightful!! Will be back before we leave Nashville!!
(5)Hector E.
2nd visit to loveless cafe in about 6 years. Not sure why we dont go more often when we visit our family in Nashville. Sad to learn that the biscuit lady had passed, but they are still going strong and the biscuits continue her legacy. The wait was about 1 hour, but they have multiple shops , free lemonade and water and coloring activties, and cornhole boards for the kids. the gentleman in the smokehouse even let my young niece and nephew come inside and see inside this work area and showed them where the bbq comes from. The foods was delicious, we I had the country fried steak with hashbrown casserole, with 2 eggs. others had bbq, country ham, meatloaf and pork chops. Everything was so good and the service considering how busy they were was outstanding.
(5)Patricia N.
Biscuits. Don't even question giving them a try with their blackberry jam/preserves - what have you. The portions are fairly large. I had the fried chicken salad with ranch. It didn't even look like I made an attempt after my attempt.
(5)Amalia Y.
so, we drove almost an hour and had to wait about 90 minutes to be seated. no, pressure, loveless cafe. we only have a 13-hour ride back to nj ahead of us. nbd. wait, actually- lots of pressure!!. the biscuits better be life-changing. THEY WERE. holy moly, these are some phenomenal eats. the biscuits. THE biscuits. oh em gee. i've never had a biscuit like this, and i can't stop craving them. paired with the homemade preserves, they were AWESOME. and endless. (no, this is not a joke). since this was our last meal in TN, i went BBQ... pulled pork over corn cakes, with sides of fried okra and cole slaw. it was SO yummy. i was pretty full from the endless biscuits (mmmmm biscuits), but the flavors of the bbq sauce and coleslaw to cut the richness were great. the fried okra was good too. it tasted good as a snack in the car a few hours later, too! honestly, i'd go back and wait and wait and wait again. there are a few gift shops that share the parking lot, including a kitchen store that i believe sells some sandwiches (and they give out samples!). they have coffee and tea outside, which makes waiting even easier. 5 stars for the biscuits. 4.5 stars for the rest of the food. and a definite drop to 4 stars for the service. our waitress was abrupt, barely made eye contact, and was almost impossible to catch. definitely not the southern hospitality i was hoping for from this place. don't skip it. and if you're heading to or through the central nj area afterward, bring me some biscuits!! (pretty please?)
(4)Pam X.
I love country food and biscuits and wish that I could live at Loveless. Their side dishes are to die for--I could go on eating greens forever. The staff is always friendly and inviting. I ordered a plate of chicken liver last time I was there (maybe not everyone's favorite dish) and it was really good with gravy and biscuits...and biscuits. I don't think we ever stopped eating biscuits while we were there, and the seasonal jams are great as well. The only qualm I've ever had with the food is a time when the greens I ordered were way too salty, but I ate them anyway.
(5)Jenny P.
You need to go here and you need to eat the biscuits!!!! Definitely one of the best meals we had while visiting Nashville. We had to wait a little but well worth it. You will not be disappointed :)
(5)Diane R.
Loveless Cafe in Nashville has been cooking up their famous biscuits and southern food since 1951. They now serve over 450,000 guests per year. The Loveless Cafe serves down-home country food. Their comfort food will remind you of grandma's house. In 2005, USA Today named Loveless Cafe as America's "Top Down-Home Dining Spot." Loveless' famous "Biscuit Lady" Carol Fay became famous for her biscuits. She has been on many television shows including the Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, the Martha Stewart Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The video below is Carol Fay the "Biscuit Lady" with Martha Stewart. The Loveless Cafe serves their biscuits with amazing homemade preserves. I was so excited to see they made and served my favorite preserves, blackberry. It was perfect and delicious on their homemade light biscuits. I do not get a commission for sending you to their site. I truly just enjoyed The Loveless Cafe.
(4)Angie H.
It's all about the biscuits and the preserves. That's why you go, that's why you have to wait and that's why you'll say it was worth it. Make no mistake about it, there will be a wait. Dad and I waited almost 2 hours. We walked right in to the old house front and put our name on the list. She handed me a pager and off we went to check out the rest of the grounds. There are a few shops to browse through. One with Loveless Cafe souvenirs, from their cook books, jars of their preserves, to handy guitar shaped wooden cooking spoons. Lots of neat stuff in there. One with t-shirts, caps and more gift shop goodies. The barn on site is used as a venue for weddings, parties and music shows. If there's nothing scheduled, you may look around inside of it. There are several other boutique shops on the place to pass the time. The BBQ Pit is a screened in area that you can watch the staff prepare their pulled pork or smoked turkey. When Ya get tired of looking around, sit a spell and compare wait times with the other patrons and before you know it, your pager will buzz and light up! After ordering your drink, she'll bring you a plate of hot buttered biscuits with 3 preserves: Blackberry (with seeds), Strawberry and Peach. All three are absolutely delicious. The biscuits are melt in your mouth smooth. It don't get any better than this. Dad ordered the Pulled Pork and I got the County Ham. Now just so ya know, BREAKFAST is served ALL DAY. SUPPER menu is available from 11am to close. Our food was hot and very tasty. Did you know the front is the original house that the Loveless Couple originally sold Fried Chicken and Biscuits right out their Front Door? Look around when you come in. Can you find that Original Front Door? Enjoy!
(5)Doug P.
Fried chicken that was done perfectly. Turnip greens and grits! Peanut butter pie!!! Tooo good!! Absolutely deserves the longstanding reputation of great food...oh I almost forgot...butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
(5)Matthew B.
One of my all time favorite restaurants. I have not been here for a few years and it is good to know things haven't changed. Same great food!
(5)Guillermo L.
Fourth of July visit! We had to wait to be seated but the food was every second worth it!! :)
(5)Megan H.
Went for our anniversary dinner and Tammy was the best server we've ever had! Entire Menu was tempting and the biscuits were, of course, amazing. Can't wait to go back for more brinner (breakfast for dinner)!!! Love the ambience every time.
(5)Dana P.
Home cooked, Southern style food. Good food, good service, good moonshine drinks. Ordered the blue plate special, which at the time was hot chicken with fries and mac and cheese. It was so good! The chicken was juicy, yet crunchy. Had a little kick of spice, and was delicious. I was in a big group and they got everyone's order right. I had a side of ranch and others had small sides or little extras, and they never missed a thing. I ordered the Blue Moon drink, which was delicious. Had blueberries, lemonade, and Sprite (with moonshine). The Loveless is such a popular dining location that people wait hours to eat there. There was a big crowd of people when we arrived and left, and I can see why. I highly recommend visiting the restaurant and shops behind the restaurant if you want something to take home.
(5)N T.
Go for the biscuits, stay for the blackberry preserves. I don't even like fried chicken, but I love it when my family goes to this iconic restaurant to give out-of-towners a backwoods Tennessee experience (though the area has become increasingly suburban since I was little). The biscuits and blackberry preserves are ridiculously good. They give you other types of preserves, too, but I seldom have bothered to even try them. As someone who doesn't like fried chicken, I often go for the catfish. It's quite good if you like catfish (which many people don't), but it's also fried which is a downside for me as fried food upsets my stomach.
(5)Wasim K.
I hate to say this but this is a very hyped up place. First I had a choice between hot chicken at princes or loveless. I chose loveless and took an extra 30 minutes to get there. first it's been made pretty commercial with every possible piece of made in china memorabilia stamped with a "loveless cafe" including $12 bacon that is $4 in a price rite etc that put me off right away as did the $45 gift baskets you can mail yourself for another $12. The biscuits were pretty similar to pillsbury pop open buttermilk biscuits. the blackberry preserved and butter made the biscuits otherwise it's not all that. gravy tasted like Campbell's cream of mushroom soup with a handful of pepper. fried chicken was low on seasoning and salt. it was all crunch and no flavor. I have a corner grocery afghani place near home that makes infinitely better chicken for $1 a piece. the hash casserole and catfish came out cold and had to be reheated... the casserole was good but you can put that much cheese, butter and heavy cream on paper and it will taste good too. the fried gizzards and liver... were awesome. Saved the meal for us. my wife though the same on all points. overhyped and under good. I'd give it 3 for a random place but 2 for my overhyped expectations. this is a made in China and mass produced version of what was probably an authentic piece of Americana even 20 years ago.
(2)Greg B.
Well worth the wait. And when they say the wait is over an hour, they mean it. We visited on Sunday after the Fourth of July, which likely resulted in higher traffic levels. The biscuits were truly amazing and they provide homemade jams. I had a spicy Bloody Mary with a shot of moonshine. I regret not selecting rum instead. The moonshine was too strong. The place is very touristy, and has many shops to kill time as you wait for your table. They even have a shipping center to send away things that you purchase in the shops. If I return it'll be during off hours. Not sure I enjoy waiting that long for food.
(5)Steve B.
They just made it on the tv show 36 where they shared their tip with viewers: put chunks of pink watermelon on smoked ribs and finish off in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. The hosts both raved. I will go soon.
(5)Al C.
Biscuits & jams were so delicious we visited twice in a 1 week trip (and bought biscuit mix & jam to go!). It lives up to the reputation and is worth the wait. (Just make sure you call 24+ hours in advance for reservations, especially for large groups, otherwise they won't take em). BBQ pulled pork breakfast platter was huge and tasty. Fried chicken and waffles were okay (waffle was on the heavy and bland side), I subbed in dark meat fried chicken and it was super good. I'd order just the plain fried chicken dish next time. Blueberry vodka drink with a souvenir shot glass for $11, it was really good... Maybe too good! If we lived closer, I'd be 400 lbs. Can't wait till my next trip to TN to return.
(5)Ashley T.
I'll probably be dethroned of my yelp elite status for leaving anything less than 4 stars for this Nashville staple, but honesty is the best policy, right? I'll start by saying that for me, the best part was the experience: the gift shops, decor, and southern hospitality from the staff. When we put our name on the list, we were told it would be a 1 hour and 45 minute wait. There are plenty of gift shops to spend money at while you wait on your buzzer to go off. It ended up being about an hour wait. I spent $30 on a ceramic berry carton, a tea towel, and foot cream. All very cute and I use them regularly so I don't regret any of them. As far as the food goes, (don't judge me, we hadn't eaten anything and my eyes are larger than my stomach) I ordered two eggs sunny side up, a fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit, home fried potatoes, a piece of fried catfish, & biscuits and white gravy. My husband ordered a few of the same things, but also pancakes. The good: the pancakes were huge and good. The biscuits and homemade jams were tasty. Not drive 30 mins out of my way good, but definitely the best thing I had. The catfish was tasty and I wish I had ordered the catfish supper plate. The bad: the eggs whites weren't completely cooked. I know a little is expected on sunny side up eggs, but I scraped more than I'd like to the side of my plate. The gravy was... weird. My mother-in-law also ordered the white gravy and we both thought there was something about it that was off. I had a couple bites wanting to like it and just couldn't eat it. It didn't taste old or like it had gone bad. It just had a really different flavor than anything I've ever tasted in white gravy. The meh: fried green tomato and pimento cheese biscuit. This was a 60:30:10 pimento cheese:biscuit:tomato ratio so I really only tasted the pimento cheese, which was nowhere near as good as my own homemade pimento cheese. The home fries were cut up in little squares and deep fried, probably frozen, potatoes. Similar home fries are available at Nashville biscuit house down the road from our house. I guess what I'm saying is that we won't go literally out of our way anytime soon to go back, but if we have friends visit who want to go, we will go back with them and I will try the catfish plate. Otherwise, I'm not in a hurry.
(3)Kristina W.
We arrived at 7:15 on a Tuesday morning. It was like a ghost town. My 4 year old nephew didn't understand why I was so shocked to not see anyone there. We were seated right away as we were the first ones there. It took a while to order, even saw an employee get their meal before we ordered. We got the kids pancakes and the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich. Of course we also got biscuits. The kiddo loved his pancakes which were way too big for a toddler. He barely put a dent in one pancake. My sandwich was odd. The eggs were served on top of the sandwich of sausage and melted cheese. I had a hard time prying the bread open to get the eggs on. The server said that's always how it's served. I've never seen that anywhere. The service was slow. This was evidenced by the next diners coming in, grabbing menus, and seating themselves. It's not a place I choose to go, but would rather stay local.
(3)Julie R.
DEFINITELY worth the hype. I had no idea about this amazing place UNTIL I checked Yelp and found this fantastic brunch location. We were in Nashville for a fun weekend. The Loveless Cafe is a drive from downtown, but totally worth it. Be prepared to wait for your delicious, eating experience. No fear, they have already anticipate this, and LC has an entire tourist town for you to explore and shop while you wait for your buzzer to go off. Finally. We are seated. The interior of this cafe is suuuuper charming. I got the signature plate with the "red eye gravy." Definitely an acquired taste, but I'm glad we were able to try it. I had meal envy over what the hubs ordered. A pulled pork masterpiece (photographed). The buttermilk muffins that are served while you wait for your entree are reason enough to some here. And the Bloody Mary's made with moonshine are great (if you like Bloody's). Since we had already made this 'south' drive outta Nashville, we continued down to Jack Daniel's distillery. An entire day of amazement.
(5)Sol C.
From one meal at Loveless, I can see why this place has the reputation it does. 10:00 am on a Thursday and the wait was 35 minutes long. Luckily, they give you a buzzer so that you can wander the multiple gift shops on the property while you wait. Before we knew it, our outdoor table was ready and a huge pile of biscuits was plopped on our table. Holy hell, they are addictive! Served with unbelievably fantastic peach preserve, as well as strawberry and blackberry preserve and sorghum syrup...honestly I would have been happy just eating these as my meal! But then our gigantic plates of food arrived, meats and eggs and grits and cheesy hash brown casserole. Everything was excellent and we stayed full and in a food coma until 6 pm that night, I kid you not. The Loveless staff was excellent and a few servers came by and chatted with our table. We loved the food and hospitality!
(4)Steven S.
My guess is that I've had breakfast or early dinner at Loveless Cafe at least 50 times. I became a customer at the age of 16 as a freshman at the Vanderbilt University, and I continued throughout my wild days as a student and as a teacher at the university. Just went back and Loveless still serves up a lotta love. Best biscuits and the best country breakfast I've ever tasted, What I really like about Loveless Cafe, besides the savory eats -- the customers cannot be put into a class, or party, or ethic group. It attracts truckers, artists, musicians, tourists, good country people, foodies, and no-nonsense Nashvilleans, and nobody cares, as the delicious food brings everyone together. This is where politicians of different parties should break bread. Simple good food cures all.
(5)Jenniver S.
This place was really good. A colleague told me about this place and I gave it a try. The food and the service was superb. The hash brown casserole was my fave
(4)Michael B.
Wasn't surprised that we were told the wait would be an hour and 45 minutes at 11am on a Saturday morning. But we were pleasantly surprised when our pager went off after only 62 minutes. And it's not like there isn't enough stuff to keep you busy while you wait! Food is outstanding! Well worth the wait. And our server Mark was outstanding as well! This place gets 5 stars for sure - I'll definitely be back again!
(5)Tyler B.
I went here for breakfast this morning, and it did not disappoint! We arrived at 9:45 AM and got the last open table before they went on a wait. For a Monday morning, that shows you how popular this place is. The child in me was craving some chocolate milk, and their chocolate milk is wonderful! Very creamy and chocolatey. The biscuits come out first with blackberry, strawberry and peach preserves. They were all delicious, but I think the blackberry was my favorite. If you fall in love with one, they sell them so you can enjoy them at home or bring back as a souvenir or gift if you're traveling. I ordered the bacon and eggs with a side of grits. I've learned that you either love grits or HATE them. I'm a true southern girl so I love them! I must say the grits at Loveless are some of the best I ever had. The serving of eggs was huge! I got them scrambled with cheese, and I swear there had to be about 4 or 5 eggs on my plate. I only got half way through before I threw in the towel. The bacon was cooked crispy, just like I like it. That makes a big difference to me when choosing a breakfast spot, as most places never listen when I ask for crispy bacon. This will definitely be a go to breakfast spot for me from now on!
(5)May B.
We checked out this place while on vacation in Nashville and it was worth the trek. It is a bit off the beaten path of downtown Nashville, but the drive is somewhat scenic and was enjoyable. Upon getting seated, our server brought us two platefuls of biscuits and jams - and when I says platefuls, I mean stacked up in 5s and we immediately started stuffing our faces. They were so good. I ordered the pit cooked pork bbq plate and my husband got the fried pork chop plate. They came out and my jaw dropped, they were so big it was enough to feed me for lunch and dinner (possibly breakfast the next day too!). I thought the bbq pork was good, not the best I had during this trip however. My husbands fried pork chop however was so good. I could have eaten that all day long. They also had cute little shops to make this more of a destination to check out rather than just the restaurant - which after how much we ate, we needed the walk. I definitely enjoyed those biscuits and think this was worth the drive.
(4)Angel G.
Yelp never lets me down. What a great place to come and eat if you are traveling thru Nashville. Expect a long wait, but lots to do on the campus and well-worth it. Our table tries the Barbecue Pulled Pork, Half Fried Chicken, the Green Tomato BLT and a bunch of wonderful and yummy sides - Turnip Greens, Mac & Cheese, Hash Brown Casserole, Cream Spinach and Cream Corn. All the food was delicious and Barbara our waiter was just a doll and very helpful to us. If we definitely will come back and loved your Southern Hospitality.
(5)Lauren R.
Prepare to wait, then prepare for cholesterol city! If I were to return to loveless, which I hope to one day, I will prepare by starving myself for a day or two before hand just so I can enjoy all the delicious delicacies without the insane guilt. Yes there will be a wait but there are retail opportunities to bide the time and if the weather is tolerable, there is outdoor seating to enjoy while you wait. I had the catfish with creamed corn and Mac and cheese. There are so many sides, I would recommend your party orders a variety along you in order to sample all. Everything was delicious, no exceptions. Even the Bloody Mary! This is a must-try when visiting Nashville.
(5)Rachel M.
My family and I recently went on a trip to Tennessee, and during this trip, I made it my personal goal to eat as many Southern biscuits as possible. The Loveless Cafe was my first stop on a trip to severe heatburn that was worth every painstaking moment and choked down Tums. So let's start with the biscuit. Warm buttery and flaky as any good biscuit should be. To accompany it, I also ordered the fried catfish, okra and sweet potatoes, along with a bloody mary made with the cafe's own bloody mary mix. I have to say it was the spiciest bloody mary I have ever had. My husband had an iced tea drink with moonshine that came with its own, little moonshine glass you could take home. Very cute. But what the Loveless Cafe is known for is their banana pudding. Now by this point, after eating all of the above, I had no room for it. But we ordered some to take back to the hotel, and having never had banana pudding before, I have nothing to compare it to, but it was delicious with chunks of real banana in it. Overall, I was incredibly stuffed and pleased, and the only reason I am not giving this five stars was because I'm not sure it was entirely worth it. Yes, the food was good. Yes, the atmosphere was awesome. But there was an hour wait. They have some cute little shops in the compound for you to bide your time, but so does Cracker Barrel, and honestly, I'm not sure this is THAT much more delicious than Cracker Barrel, so I'll leave that up to you. If you feel like checking it out and don't mind waiting, go for it. If you're just jonesin' for some quick biscuits, go to Cracker Barrel.
(4)Violet P.
OMG!!! What an amazing breakfast!!!! Came on a Wednesday morning at about 10 AM and had just about a 15 minute wait for a table of 6 which I didn't feel was very bad at all!!! Waitress was very nice and the food came out in a very timely fashion considering it was somewhat busy. The biscuits came out and were the best I've ever had. Warm and moist. Served with sides of fresh apricot, raspberry, and blackberry. The little country store was soooo cute. A must stop when in Nashville! Definitely try the cheesy hash browns and the BBQ, so yummy!!!
(5)Sarah S.
I loved Loveless! #mesocheesy #tooeasy #ilovelove If you've got some time to kill, head 30 minutes outside of Nashville to the Loveless Cafe. It's known by many in the area as having the best gosh darn breakfast in all of Tennessee! Yeehaw! And biscuits are their jam!!! (get it...? biscuits have jam on them...? sooo....biscuits and jam...? yeaaaaa). The menu is so expensive it's nearly impossible to pick which delicies to scarf down. My usual thing is I want to try as many things as possible at new places so I went with the Biscuit Sampler Platter for $11.99. You can then choose 4 biscuits from: Fried Green Tomato & Pimento Cheese, Barbeque, Country Ham, Fried Chicken, Bacon, Sausage or Steak. I went with the Ham, Chicken, Sausage and Bacon because meat! All were good but let's be real, bacon makes everything better. Actually the plain biscuits with some jam preserves were the best thing of all - even better than my meat between the bread. If you have to wait for a table, they have some cute shops outside the restaurant. Even if you don't have to wait, they are worth a stop in after dining. I bought a couple of floofy headbands for myself while there. Loveless Cafe was a fun place to go, but the hype might have slightly exceeded the experience for me. I'm glad I went, think everyone everyone should go, but it's not a place I could see myself driving distances for again. Been there, done that.
(4)Michael U.
Items Selected: Coffee Unlimited Buttermilk Biscuits with Housemade Strawberry, Blackberry, Peach Jam Pecan Pancakes with Maple Bacon, Sorghum French Toast with Housemade Sausage and Sorghum Biscuit Sampler - Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork, Aged Ham, Pimento Cheese & Fried Green Tomato with Cheese Grits Pecan Pie, Chocolate Chess, Banana Pudding Chess Pie Conveniently located just off the route from Nashville to Memphis, Loveless Café and the small village of stores around it are nothing short of a Tennessee Landmark, and fresh off the redeye from LAX our arrival at the former hotel preceded its opening by a mere fifteen minutes, a line of six already formed with the sizable restaurant nearly 100% full by the time we left just after 8:15. Featuring concepts of sustainability, scratch-based cooking, and a menu of Southern diner classics spanning from breakfast through lunch to supper, it was almost immediately upon seating that water was poured while coffee was readied and although the brew itself was a bit acrid without sweetener the refills were spot on and spontaneous, though food did take a bit longer than would be expected as our server was spread thinly throughout the largest room in the house, at times even drawn to the al fresco seating to assist others at a table of twelve. Sipping coffee with orders placed it would not be long before a plate of Loveless' signature buttermilk biscuits was delivered, and paired with a trio of housemade jams plus requested sorghum and honey it goes without saying that the fluffy golden rounds are indeed quite delicious, though for my money there are better to be found not only in Nashville but also parts of the Carolinas as well as at Yardbird, still the reference standard, though admittedly theirs are not refilled freely on request. Moving on to entrees, another piping hot cup of coffee poured, it was largely a matter of sampling widely that led to an order of even more biscuits and with each of the four golden rounds topped differently one would be hard pressed to name a winner amongst the group, the crispy chicken and tender pulled pork rousing curiosity of just how good a full plate dinner at Loveless might be while the tart green tomato topped with spicy pimento cheese was as 'Southern' as it gets, certainly not the sort of stuff you see served for breakfast anywhere back home. Moving next to the French Toast and Pancakes, suffice it to say that both are competent takes on classic American breakfast staples, and with the buttermilk fresh plus the bread homemade the only real question is whether to indulge in Maple Syrup, local Honey, or thick amber Sorghum as the topping of choice, from my standpoint a decision that entailed a little of each before deeming the decision a tossup, the Sorghum almost a bit *too* sweet on the vanilla and cinnamon dipped toast but absolutely delightful when mellowed by the ample amount of toasted pecans added to the pancakes for just a buck. Unwilling to forgo desserts, 7:45 in the morning or not, what started as a sampler of three miniature pies and puddings quickly expanded to a quartet when the server brought chocolate chess instead of original, and with a pure butter crust serving as the base to both reference standard iterations it speaks volumes that the pecan pie was actually the best of them all, a dearth of 'filler' allowing the caramelized nuts and brown sugar to shine without being overly sweet - a similar degree of subtlety offered by banana pudding that used house whipped cream and softened vanilla wafers amidst thick chopped fruit and a smooth yellow base to deliver an experience that was not only texturally pleasing but also shockingly natural, a quality far too infrequently found in a dessert where boxed pudding is far too frequently meant to suffice.
(4)Emily T.
Yum. Those biscuits, That peach jam. My mouth is watering. The biscuits are the star - they are soft inside with a slightly thick exterior, they melt in your mouth with the right touch of salt. We waited over two hours for a table on Memorial Day. There were plenty of shops to look in and the view is nice enough. They had free beverages all over the grounds for guests who were waiting. I think it would serve them well if they'd set up a place to sell biscuits to guests who were waiting. They'd make a killing and guests would be less agitated as they waited. Our waiter was kind but a little over bearing. He went beyond the usual southern hospitality and I thought he was going to pull up a chair and eat with us. The fried chicken was delicious, hash brown casserole was tasty, cat fish was good. Nothing was bad but nothing - other than the biscuits - blew me away. It is well cooked southern food in a fun atmosphere.
(4)Becca J.
A place known for its biscuits? Sign me up! I perused Yelp for restaurant ideas prior to my trip to Nashville. This was on my itinerary before I even showed up, so I was surprised to see a pamphlet advertising this restaurant in my hotel lobby! I had no idea that it was sort of a Nashville institution! At 9:30 AM on a Monday morning we had a 15 minute wait. We were given a buzzer and informed that it worked everywhere on the property, so instead of waiting in the restaurant building, we walked around to the "Hams & Jams Country Market" and "Lil Biscuits Gift Shop" to check out the wares. Once seated we were immediately presented with a platter of fresh biscuits, jams and butter. I had to control myself and not eat the entire plate prior to ordering non-biscuit food. I ended up ordering the Southern Sampler Platter which came with country ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, and a choice of hash browns or grits. I selected the hash browns which were, frankly, not great. I did try my sister's cheese grits and had an immediate sense of regret due to my choices. Live and learn. My sister ordered the barbecue, which turned out to be pulled pork. This was delicious, and it was way better than my meal. Food portions were huge. Service was good. The place had a diner-y feel. My sister picked up some ham from their store since they had some conveniently small portions vacuum sealed.
(4)Katie Y.
We went around 10am on a weekday and the wait was 40 minutes. The biscuits and jam were delicious. However the rest of our food was not great. Def not worth a long wait. We got chicken & waffles, waffles, eggs & bacon and pancakes. The atmosphere was fun and the gift shops had a lot of cute things. Guess it is more of an experience place but don't think we would go back.
(3)Karen L.
There is nothing bad I can say about the Loveless Café! Our waiter Matt was awesome! The food is fabulous good luck to anybody there trying to make up their mind what they want to eat. Everything on the menu is good great and awesome. If you are jvisiting Nashville this is one place you have to eat hands down.
(5)Eileen B.
The hype is valid... (Although a bit out of the way, well worth the drive). We only came for dessert and coffee since we had had dinner before heading over to Loveless.... (Big mistake). Our party of four ordered the chess pie, fudge pie, banana pudding, and strawberry rhubarb cobbler... Everything was fresh and delicious. I only wish we would have tried some of the food.
(5)Zlata P.
This place became my favorite, for its atmosphere and amazing service. We came here 2 times during my short visit to Nashville. We had breakfast and supper. The place is very cosy and welcoming. It was a 45 min wait for a table on Friday morning, so we decided to check out the gift shops. Staff everywhere is so friendly! Coming from California, where the only thing is served is attitude . Lots of cute souvenirs and home goods. They also ship their food anywhere in the country, which is awesome, because they home made preserves are delicious. For breakfast we had country ham and eggs, with side of grits and hash brown casserole. I haven't had southern food in so long, so I enjoyed it. I also got a moonshine shot, which came in a cute jar, that you get to keep. Famous biscuits were also good, however I was more excited to try the famous chess pie. And if I could sign up for a monthly delivery of that awesomeness I sure would! That pie is so good! As full as I was after breakfast, I still ate almost a whole slice! Susan was our waitress and she was amazing! Very friendly and nice! Thank you Susan! Next day we came back for dinner. I had to have some fried chicken before I leave. I got a half with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans. I died and went to a fried chicken heaven! Comfort food at its best! To drink I got a harvest moonshine(?) , it's mixed with sweet iced tea, and so so good! But the best part of the dinner was our server Owen! I would like to thank you so much to make this dinner experience so special! Now, every time I will think about southern hospitality, I would think of you! Thank you for great service! You made us feel so welcome! Overall, i fell in love with this place and I think it's gonna become a tradition, while I'm in Nashville! Thanks y'all!!! Can't wait to be back!
(5)Leon J.
3 stars, but note I hadn't been able to eat. We came on a Saturday (04/09/12) and unfortunately, the wait for breakfast was an hour and 45 minutes. It's a little bit of a drive out of the city and off of the freeway so be ready. Definitely call ahead for potential wait times and be patient for parking during peak times.
(3)Benson C.
Country-Home Cookin' that makes you feel at home! Reading up the history about Loveless Cafe you become immersed in a home-like environment where it doesn't feel like a restaurant, but as if you're eating at home with family. It's a pretty comforting atmosphere to eat in places that feel like a bed and breakfast. Loveless Cafe is nestled in the outskirts of Nashville and is one of Nashville's "hidden" treasures. I've lived in Nashville for the past 3 years and I finally ate here. I heard so many raving reviews from friends and I've never managed to make the trip, because it seemed a little far. Upon entering the cafe, you enter the lobby which is decorated with a mosaic of celebrity photographs who have traveled from afar to this delectable gem. Fortunately, the wait was only 10-15 minutes for a table of 6. There are a lot of menu options, of which I hear all are great. I went with the Pulled Pork Sandwich with Fries and it was one of the best tasting and flavorful pulled pork I've had in a while. Not to mention the unlimited barrage of biscuits are why people come drooling in anticipation of their sweet and soft biscuits that seem to just melt in your mouth. They provide three types of preserves - strawberry, blackberry, and I believe apricot (someone please feel free to correct me). The service was awesome here despite how busy it was, seeing that the restaurant tables are all full. My water was filled before the glass could even reach the half-full point (I could have said half empty but I don't want to be pessimistic in this happy and joyous review!) I love this place. I just wish I had discovered it much earlier before I move back to Chicago in the next few months. This place is worth it! Go eat here and give it a go! You won't be disappointed!
(4)Scott M.
My wife and I were in Nashville for two nights and we had seen the rave reviews on TA, so we drove out into nowhere-ville to try the Loveless. Having seen positive reviews for the friend chicken, I went there. My wife had a fried green tomato BLT. Oh wait...the biscuits. Now these ARE good, especially when hot, but I can not put them into the "best I have ever had" category. Unfortunately, we have been to many amazing biscuit places in Savannah and Charleston. The waitress remembered to bring some honey and sorgum (sp?) for the biscuits. Mix some of sorgum, honey, and a pat of butter into a slurry...spread on biscuit, and enjoy! Wow...that was amazing! Ok...back to the meals. Fried Chicken: Breast, Thigh, wing, leg delivered quickly and piping hot! First bite...BLAND! The white meat was also very dry. Sides: Hashbrown Casserole which was amazing and I confirmed that I am not a fan of turnip greens. Gr. Tom BLT: Bread was uninspiring but I thought the sandwich was ok. My wife wasn't a huge fan...so she returned to the biscuits. So perhaps this is a place to focus on for breakfast...who knows. With only two precious nights in Nashville, we wish we had gone elsewhere.
(3)Carrie V.
Biscuits. Just...biscuits. Well, and the preserves. You get them before your meal, like bread, with a selection of blackberry, strawberry and peach preserves. And, they are unlimited. I mean, I think they could probably refuse to bring more out, but I didn't get that far. I also ordered the southern omelet with bacon and it was delicious. My husband had scrambled eggs and a chicken biscuit. As soon as he took one bite of the biscuit he said he wished he had gotten the biscuit sampler. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. We were seated right away. It's a bit of a drive from downtown Nashville but worth it! For the biscuits.
(4)Marisa I.
Awesome hash brown casseole. Great biscuits and jams. Jadee was server and did a great job!
(5)Kimberly K.
Loveless Cafe was a yummy was for my group and I to start off our vacation. We arrived around 10am on Friday and there was a little bit of a wait. They give you a pager, though, so you are able to shop in their store next door while you wait. Once seated we placed our orders and while waiting received the most mouth watering biscuits I've ever eaten. Someone in our group end up buying the mix at the store. I ordered the pulled pork omelet and it lived up to my expectations. Not too greasy and lots of flavor. We also tried the side of sausage gravy to eat with the additional biscuits we received. Price was just right and I would recommend this classic place to anyone!
(4)Katie K.
My partner always gets the fried chicken, and I have had almost everything else. We're always happy to make the out of the way trip. I'm sure you've heard about the biscuits, and every (good) word of it is true. Since I was a kid, I've searched for anything close to my grandpa's blue ribbon peach preserves. I've only found it at the Loveless, so it holds a special place in my heart. If it's your first time, start with the fried chicken and go from there. You simply won't be disappointed. 4 stars mostly because every time I leave, I never want to see another fried thing again. There's little to choose in the way of refreshing or healthy. Sometimes, I feel like I need a nice salad to balance, but the salads leave a bit to be desired.
(4)Michelle R.
Biscuits best I ever had. Pulled pork was tender however pork chops dry fried chicken very good. people were so nice and the peach jam WOW.
(5)Patrick P.
After reading the Wikipedia entry on this place, maybe my expectations were too high (read it sometime), but the biscuits were not that good. The country ham was way too salty (I am from the South, I know what biscuits and ham are supposed to taste like). It was pretty much standard Waffle House fare. One saving grace - the preserves that go ON the biscuits were great.
(2)Cat M.
BEST Biscuits, Fried Chicken and Creamed Corn I've Ever had!! I stayed in downtown Nashville and drove nearly every day to go to the Loveless Café. It's worth the drive. INCREDIBLE!!!!!
(5)Max G.
Some local friends brought us to the Loveless Cafe for dinner. We found the food to be pretty good. I had a pulled pork sandwich, which had good smoky flavor. My wife had the fried chicken which was also tasty. For dessert, I had coconut cream pie, which was delicious. Lisa had peanut butter pie, which she did not like. One of the food highlights was their biscuits, which were great. They are served with various gravies and jams. We regret not buying some biscuit mix to bring back to LA. The place is a bit expensive for what you get, but we would go back.
(4)Sarah S.
I'm not one of those people who gets up early to eat breakfast or that person who just can't get started for the day without a heaping plate of sausage and eggs first thing after I wake up. Hell, most days, by the time I've done my morning routine (check emails, read the latest Cracked articles, read the news, shower/dress), it makes more sense to eat an early lunch and just skip breakfast (unhealthy, I know). This is not to say that I don't enjoy breakfast. I loved chowing down on the dining hall's breakfast on weekends when I was in college. I'm always up for a late night trip to IHOP (or WAHO, if I'm south of the Mason-Dixon). I've even been known to whip up big Sunday breakfasts if the mood suits me (homemade pancakes are my go-to, but I've made crepes and ebelskivers and omelets and more). I'm not a fan of early morning breakfasts, but I adore brunch and I enjoy leisurely breakfasts, and when I'm traveling, I'm much more inclined to fit breakfast into my schedule. While visiting Nashville a few weeks ago with my best friend from home, trying out breakfast joints was near the top of our list of things to do. The South knows how to do breakfast and Nashville has a collection of well known breakfast places and diners (including Noshville and Pancake Pantry). The Loveless Cafe is perhaps the best known breakfast place and it's famous for a reason: they serve a delicious breakfast. To be completely honest, we didn't actually dine in the restaurant...we drove out there on a Saturday (after being defeated by the long lines at the Pancake Pantry) with high hopes of finding a seat. Unfortunately, everyone and their mother had the same thought in mind, so when we pulled in, it was a struggle just to find a parking spot, let alone a spot on the restaurant's waiting list. After hearing the wait could be well over an hour, and unable to handle the increasing grumbles of distress from our stomachs, we opted for the take-out option (having been reassured that it would only take about 15 minutes). 30 minutes later (which was not too bad, because the waiting list time was now almost 2 hours), we had two Styrofoam containers filled with breakfast and, as the weather was unusually warm for January, we were able to to take a seat at one of the picnic tables in front of the restaurant. The food was delicious: the eggs were light and fluffy, the biscuits were airy and buttery, the sausage had a nice snap to it, and the jam was sweet. My friend had some sort of concoction of pulled pork and eggs and hash browns and more and enjoyed every forkful. After dining, we roamed around the property, visiting the little shops scattered about (I happily purchased a bag of biscuit mix and apple butter--both ended up being delicious). So, while I can't review the actual dining experience in the restaurant, I can say that the food was excellent and, with its reputation and that whole "the owner was friends with Paula Deen and a bunch of country stars have eaten there" thing, it makes sense that it's a busy little place. If you want to dine in, be prepared to wait for a long time. Take-out is a great option and it definitely is quicker than waiting for a table--there are picnic benches around the property, or you could always take it to go. The employees I spoke to were incredibly friendly, despite the craziness going on around them, and they were quick too. The restaurant is a little bit out of the way, but parking is pretty decent and it's not too far from downtown. If you're looking for a great breakfast, definitely drop by...just be prepared for the fact that you may just end up eating breakfast for lunch due to the wait time.
(3)Hayley M.
Delicious, artery clogging, and good family fun. A friend of the family insisted we go. Looked it up on yelp (naturally), and since the top three phrases are, "biscuits," "fried chicken," and "hashbrown casserole," the extended fam was immediately down for finding this hotspot. We ordered several dishes, including chicken fried steak, fried chicken (you can specify dark or white meat and we had both at the table), and pulled pork. Each entree came with two sides, and I went with the hashbrown casserole and the marinated cucumbers and onions (had to go with something remotely healthy to offset the fried chicken, right?). The waitress first brought us a basket full of the biscuits. Hot, buttery, and melting in our mouths, they weren't just good. They were the best darn biscuits this reviewer has ever had... and I have eaten a lot of biscuits. The fried chicken was everything I could want in fried chicken. I ordered the white meat only, and it was crispy on the outside, perfectly moist on the inside, and bursting with flavor. The hashbrown casserole on the other hand... Well, it was too cheesy. Normally I love cheese and usually it's the-more-the-better when it comes to cheese, but I wanted hashbrowns, not potatoes swimming in sour cream. Otherwise this meal was fantastic. I was almost sick when we all left. But we did leave with a catalog and my friends will be ordering a ham for Christmas. Check out the accompanying store!
(4)Mike Z.
Average food, super slow service, overpriced for the tourists. Nothing to see here.
(1)Jemina B.
You wake up on a Sunday morning somewhere in Nashville. You vaguely recall the past night's events, but you are incredibly aware of a raging headache and dry mouth. Your out-of-town visitors have all crashed on various couches in your house and look at you with pleading eyes to put them out of their misery. You need home-cooked food. Like, NOW. Enter the Loveless Cafe. Sure, you might wait a bit for those heavenly biscuits, but there's plenty of entertainment while you and your hungover crew wander around the property. Hams n' Jams? Don't mind if I do. Get some complimentary coffee, check out the various sundries the store has to offer, and move on. When your buzzer finally signals that your table is ready, the reaction is much like Pavlov's dogs. Your table is immediately rewarded with a plate full of biscuits, homemade preserves, and the quickest service around. The barbecue is a delight, as well as the fried chicken. Bottom line: it's worth the drive!
(4)Jay F.
It's like eating at grandma house. The first item they bring out is the biscuits. They are DELICIOUS. I tried the blackberry preserves with them and it was my favorite. I ordered fried chicken with mashed potatoes and fried okra. Overall the meal was good but not overly special. The outside of the chicken was really tasty but the actual meat was bland. The mashed potatoes were good and you could taste the butter in it. Don't bother with the fried okra. It tasted like the frozen stuff. Service was excellent once we were seated.
(4)Andy N.
4.4 stars (can't quite round up to mecca) Yummm...the biscuits were great! I can't wait to come back again next time I'm in Nashville. This place is definitely not on the way to anything, it felt like it was in the middle of no where. The rest of the food is just solid home cookin' but dining there will take you back to the good ole motor hotel (motel) days.
(4)Tanya M.
Expecting a wait, we got here way to early. We got here about 3:30p on a Tuesday. We walked around the gift shop, & still ate too early. We anticipated a good meal so we ate a light lunch. I got the fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, and green beans. I ordered a salad but the waitress forgot about it. She was gonna bring it, but I told her not to worry about it. I don't like my salad with my meal. The chicken itself was good. I'm not sure about it being the best but it was good. The hasbrown casserloe was good, need some onion, I hate to say if it had onions it may have been as good as Cracker Barrel. The green beans were also very good. I could have ate more green beans. I took a piece of PB pie back to my room. It was just ok. They are famous for their biscuits. I don't really see it. The biscuits are a little better than Cracker Barrel, but I have had better biscuits at Hardee's.I liked the in house made jellies. I really wanted to like Loveless Cafe more. Overall, I'd return if I came back but not really someplace I would be like "OMG I have got to go there!"
(3)Jasper T.
This place has some amazing food but be prepared to ware for it. In my opinion it is worth the usual 2 hour wait. They have just about everything from ham and eggs to chicken livers. The biscuits are amazing and make for a memorable experience. You have to try the Loveless at least once. It's a Nashville landmark.
(4)Anita Y.
Eat. The. Biscuits. I agree with Matt S., they are THE BEST EVER. My first visit was in '93, and that was the last time I was in the area. This visit is my second time, and I made sure to plan our driving so I'd be in the area when the cafe was open. And it was every bit as good as I remembered. I got a biscuit with country ham, and the sweet potato casserole. It's tangy with a lot of sour cream in it, so be forewarned. After reading all the reviews, I'd be ONE FAT PIG to try everything that sounded good. I'm not a fan of the red-eye gravy, but that's OK, it's a very short list of things I don't like. All I know is I don't want to wait another 18 years to go back.
(5)Thomas J.
This place came highly recommended, and deservedly so - southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and southern greens were perfectly done, and the biscuits and jam hit the spot after a ride on the parkway. A bit crowded, but that's ok - they don't take reservations, and there was a long wait for us - I think calling ahead puts you at the top of the list, so try that. Save room for the pie at the end. Worth it. Vegetarians would probably do best to head back to Nashville and keep looking. But the menu is decent at identifying the animal products, so give it a go after all.
(4)Martin P.
My office is just around the corner from Loveless. I get by about once a month. My favorite is the half order of country ham plate with eggs, hash brown casserole and eggs. ALWAYS a winner--with the unending biscuits! Makes for a great morning!
(5)Sammy B.
Came here for the biscuits and breakfast. Biscuits were pretty good. Pancakes & french toast were okay. I guess I wouldn't come here for breakfast. I'll try the fried chicken next time I'm in town. The wait on a Saturday at around 1230 was about 20 minutes with a call-in ahead of time. They had told us an hour and 45 minute wait when we called in but apparently if you go and wait, it is much less of a wait.
(4)Rich F.
Holy smokes!! Jalapeno and Cajun flavored bacon! Who knew bacon could get better? Biscuits are delicious and the pit bbq pork is excellent!
(4)Hannah L.
Me and my friend go here about once every few months because we love the beautiful ride over for the coffee and biscuits.. I always order catfish... Although I am from the MS delta where catfish is our middle name, I still enjoy their catfish... The turnip greens are great with pepper sauce and the crinkle fries never disappoint nor satisfy. The okra is out of a box... Server told me that one! I just don't get what the hoot is all about... I guess you say it's a Nashville thing but I've been to shacks on the side of the road with better home cooked food. I have a love/hate relationship with this place. I want to love it because of the beautiful location and home feel but it's just becoming to "franchisee" without being a chain.. People come from all over to see this place and celebrities as well... I don't get it... Like I said I come every few months for the scenery and hopes that the food gets better... Service is for the most part lovely
(3)Michael D.
Tourist trap meat-and-three. Biscuits are mediocre...they mass produce them, so that they are just a "step" about fridge "grands". My homemade baking powder biscuits are better.
(3)Dave L.
Having read all of the other reviews, we were expecting a big crowd and a big wait when we arrived. We were visiting the Nashville area for the first time and decided to drive over. Apparently 7 p.m. on a Sunday night in the winter is the best time to go. We walked in and were given a table immediately. We ordered drinks, got our biscuits, and then ordered food. I went to the restroom to wash my hands and when I came back to the table the food was there. Wow, that was quick! I haven't had a meal like that in a long time. It was a high calorie gut buster for sure, but it felt like I was served a home cooked meal at a freind's or family member's house. Right temperature, right texture, portions, everything was great. Can't say enough about the service. I know that it's probably hectic when it's busy, but our server was great...very polite, didn't rush us, made small talk, etc. We enjoyed the meal tremendously and even got dessert to go. Didn't seem touristy, just a very quaint country diner. I'm sure it's a different feeling when there's a 2 hour wait, but for this review I can't say enough good things about it. We hope to come back someday.
(5)Janet L.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything about the Loveless! The food is outstanding and the atmosphere is so charming. A must stop for us every time we go to Nashville. Great little shops surround the restaurant so time passes quickly if there is a little wait to be seated. The food is SO worth the wait.
(5)Ciara M.
This place is amazing! The biscuits with their jams were fantastic. We ordered cooked-in pork and fried chicken. Well done! The pork was shredded and surprisingly not as oily as I thought it would be.. maybe because it didn't have a lot of fat. It was served over pancakes which were cooked very good! The fried chicken was one of the best I ever had. There was something different in their breading. :) Their mac and cheese was also creamy -- very nice! Cheese melted and coated over the pasta the way I liked it. Creamy corn is also a recommendation for the side. Apple pie for dessert was also quite heavenly. Will come back. :) What a great intro to Southern food!
(5)Robin L.
I should have done my homework on Yelp before showing up to the Loveless a few weeks back on a gloomy, cold, rainy Sunday morning. The place was packed, and had it not been for our long drive in, we probably woulda hightailed it outta there after finding out our wait would be approximately one hour and twenty minutes. GAH. Of course, we were starving. AND we had just risked our lives on our albeit scenic though super rainy drive in. So...we wandered the little shops on the Loveless compound and splurged on some random food items so we wouldn't wither away while the clock ticked on. Damn those crafty Loveless people! Anyway, the place is cute, and their estimate of wait time (we got there around 10:15am) was spot on. The restaurant is quaint, and we got a great table with a sweet waitress. The famous biscuits were good, as were the homemade jams. I ordered the BBQ pork omelette. Its an omelette stuffed with BBQ pulled pork, cheddar, and BBQ sauce. It was tasty and a good size. My friend ordered one of the breakfast platters-some run of the mill egg-sausage combo. We also had the hashbrown casserole which was pretty cheese-tastic. Overall, the food was good, service was attentive, and the ambience nothing short of Southern charming. But, in my opinion...no food is worth waiting an hour and a half for...sorry. Definitely a place to hit up if you go early, or are not in a hurry.
(3)Jude C.
All the notoriety surrounding this restaurant is true...it is worth coming to because the food is excellent, the atmosphere is great, and the service is top-notch. The store they have in their compound has a lot of cool souvenirs and provides and opportunity to kill some time if you have to wait in line which is always a possibility here. I've been here once and surprisingly only had to wait for 15 minutes which I'm told is unheard of. Anyways, do yourself a favor and check this place out if you're in the Nashville area!
(5)Michael M.
You know it's hard to find well cooked eggs and country ham that isn't overly salty.this place has both along with in house jams. When I'm in nashville this is my breakfast place
(5)Katie H.
If you have *any* remote interest in delicious, southern style comfort food then look no further - Loveless is where it is at. I, like many of the reviewers, first heard of Loveless thanks to the Food Network. Fortunately right around the same time I had developed a complete obesession with all things Tennessee related. So, we made a road trip of it - and I still rave about my time spent in that great state and especially my experience at this restaurant. The restaurant itself is one rather small house and is surrounded by other small boutique stores as well as a Loveless store complete with t-shirts and biscuit mix (I own the latter). The Loveless's were the original owners of the property which ran as a small motel. I have been there twice and had to wait over a half hour both times, so it was nice to fill the time wandering in and out of the shops. I would say the wait is a major drawback of this restaurant but for me it is a no-brainer, the food makes it completely worth it. Let me begin with the biscuits: They are served freshly baked, warm, golden and flaky at every table and they are unlimited. Served with homemade jams and spreads they are phenomenal. Don't get distracted they can fill you up quickly and there is always so much food! On my last trip here I came for lunch with some friends and I had the Southern Sampler which comes with your choice of three of the following: Fried Chicken, Catfish, Ham, Meatloaf or Pork BBQ. I had the Fried Chicken, Catfish, and Pork BBQ. The portion was huge and yet I didn't want to stop eating. My biggest recommendation goes to the fried chicken. That is what the restauarnt is known for and there is a reason. It is perfectly crunchy and not even the slightest bit greasy. All of these recipes are kept top secret making them all the more appealing. Have I mentioned that they have their smokehouse on site?! and it makes the air permeate deliciousness. Last trip I got to talking to the man working in the smokehouse (for all I know he was the owner but he was incredibly friendly and nice). He could not stop emphasizing the fresh and homemade quality of the food - he loves it himself! Should I have the opportunity to visit again I am going to have to leave room for dessert - they all sounded great and of course are also homemade on site!
(5)Neal M.
First off, I'm a southern boy through and through. I love good southern cooking more than damn near anything else around. That said, I'm no stranger to good food and most of the time, they're not reinventing the wheel when you eat at southern food joints. When my friends picked me up from Nashville to head to their home in Alabama, we stopped here for dinner. Their biscuits, oh dear god, their biscuits. Damn. I ended up getting smoked pork chops/loin that was glazed in their homemade peach preserves. This is damn near holy divinity. As my chef says "god spoke to me". I really do think, if there was a god, he'd tell you to eat here. I had enough leftovers that I took with me, I had breakfast for two days straight with the addition of a couple scrambled eggs. When you walk in, you see a wall/walls of autographed photos from the Nashville scene in there. I'm looking forward to my trip back to Nashville just to eat here......at least once.
(5)Carol Anne B.
Oh goodness. The drive here was crazy, I wasn't sure if I was even going the right way. And then suddenly BOOM. Yummy smells and cornhole. 45min-1hr long wait. That's how I knew we were in the right place. Oh yeah. This is Loveless. I'd been recommended to go here and thank goodness. Guys...guys? It's so good. I'm serious. So Good. I got meatloaf, with 2 sides, hashbrown casserole and macaroni and cheese. Have you ever eaten at Cracker Barrel and had their hashbrown casserole? Listen...It's Better. Yes, yes it is. Oh my goodness. And the portion of meatloaf was big too! And then the waitress is like "You can have as many biscuits as you can eat" and smiles. And the jams are so good. And the biscuits are so good. And when you doodle something on the paper menu, the server says something nice about it, and doesn't even sit your food on it! So good. Price is great. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Ann B.
I would give this place 5 stars if I didn't have to wait two hours to eat...but I will say that it was worth the two hours! The food was amazing! We were from Chicago and wanted real country cooking and we got it. The staff is amazing too. Only downside is I wish they had some more stores to shop in :)
(4)Dan G.
Fantastic service, and the food is AMAZING. People always mention various things they've had, but if you're not there for breakfast you're not doing it right. Do NOT go through N'ville without stopping here.
(5)Kayla S.
Luke was our waiter and his customer service was spot on!! So friendly and helpful, food was delicious, chicken biscuit was one of the best!
(4)Valerie C.
My friend and I stuck out in Nashville like two Asian girls in the South. (Oh, wait....) In all seriousness, none of that ever mattered the whole time we were in Tennessee. And then you go to a place like Loveless, where older ladies call you "sugar" and teenage servers call you "ma'am" [Excuse me, I'm ONLY 26!] and you get to eat an infinite amount of fresh-baked biscuits and preserves and everything is OK in the world. That's how I felt anyway.
(5)Paul M.
I have dreams about the biscuits at this place. I stumbled upon it on a road trip across country and I honestly think that it might be one of the best wrong turns I've ever made. I had an awesome omlette with some country sausage and this hashbrown casserole that was out of this world. The coffee was also really awesome too. After I was done eating I went outside and talked to the pit boss who was starting in on some barbeque for the day. The people were really friendly and awesome and I also got some cool souvenirs while I was there too. If you're in the Nashville area it would be a huge mistake to not go to the Loveless.
(5)Shelley V.
I say sh*t, god*amn, this place is NOT to be missed when you are in the area! Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits... so good, I brought ziplocs from home and flew back with a dozen biscuits for my happy co-workers! Be warned, the wait on weekends is god-awful. Show up, be prepared to be patient and WAIT WAIT WAIT! I usually order eggs and bacon here and fill up on the biscuits with butter and jam. T had the BLT with fried green tomatoes and that looked amazing. She said it also tasted amazing! Next trip, I'm ordering that! All the food is good but the biscuits really stand out. Also; I absolutely love the servers - sassy, funny and make you feel like you are at your country granny's house! They also have a little market/gift shop that you can buy mixes, potato salads and like. I proudly bought some bacon scented air fresheners there!
(5)Stephen L.
I live about 15 minutes from the LC, and honestly I'd suggest finding a Cracker Barrel instead. The biscuits are flat and dry and everything else tastes about the same as a Cracker Barrel (if not sub-par), but has a much higher price tag. This is not a spot where locals eat (often). Every time I pass by I shake my head at the tourists lined up outside.
(2)Adrianna L.
Ok, yesterday I was visiting the city of Nashville for first time, one of my friends recommended this place...and some people tell me about the wonderful breakfast . So here we go! First of all , I need to wait at leas 1 hour 20 minutes to have a table! So I don't have too much time to see the city and I decided for take-out. I ordered Southern Sampler Breakfast to go , and the cashier told me that the size of this order is big, enough for TWO PEOPLE, and the big surprise! when the waitress bring me my meal , it was soo tiny! and they charged me 17.65 for this plate and one ice tea. I try to be objective in my review but I see the pictures in their website and the portion are so big. This place is unhealthy because everything have a LOT of fat! but at least the biscuits were amazing.
(2)Adam E.
Decided to hit the Loveless on the way out of Nashville. We heard good things from some friends. It did not disappoint. The place was packed, but we only waited about 5 minutes. I ordered the country ham and eggs, but it was the biscuits that stole the show. They were dense, and I was scared they would be gummy, but they were as flaky as can be. The property has several buildings that house a country store, antiques, and artwork. This was definitely a great end to our weekend in Nashville. Definitely add it to your to-do list while in Nashville.
(5)Katlyn H.
What an awesome place! Cool decor, great fiod, fast service! A must go to!!! My best friend and I started our roadtrip here and it was a Friday morning. I was surprised at how busy they were but the service was fast. The food was phenomenal especially the biscuits!
(5)Park W.
This review was based on one visit. What I tried: BISCUITS!, Fried Chicken, Home-smoked Ham, caramel sweet potatoes, greens with pot liquor, green beans Tasting Notes: 5 Stars for the biscuits! The only biscuits I have every liked. Now I understand why people love them.. Loveless's biscuits are compact but fluffy, buttery but not too rich. I ate 4 at my meal (and this is coming from someone who does not like biscuits). Also, 5 stars for the preserves (especially the blackberry and peach) and the honey and molasses. The fried chicken was also solid, as were the sides. I thought the caramel sweet potatoes were particularly interesting. Not a huge fan of the ham-- it was too rough and chewy for my taste. Ambience: Homey comfortable feel. Though this is a tourist friendly spot, the restaurant itself doesn't feel like it is purposely trying to attract tourists (though obviously, the market and rest of the premises are). Service: Very friendly and attentive. They are generous with their biscuits, which is very importants. Recommendation: Great place to eat near Nashville (only 10miles from downtown). So glad that my friend from Nashville recommended this spot to me-- he mentioned that this place is a "nashville institution..." and indeed it is! If I ever find myself in this area again I'm definitely stopping by for biscuits.
(5)Chris S.
Takes AMEX. No matter the day, if you go around lunchtime, expect to wait perhaps an hour or so (they get a lot of tourist traffic). Food comes out fast though. The famous biscuits were above average and my companion's pulled pork omelette was ridiculous good. The full order country ham was good but too much from a volume standpoint. I was looking forward to the hashbrown casserole, but it was pretty plain. I'd say my review mostly reflects the omelette and some pretty great sausage gravy (get anything with it) for the biscuits, with a half star for solid service.
(4)Jewel M.
This place is amazing. For a person who has breakfast for every meal, I was in heaven. The biscuits were the best. Only downside is that there was no grape jelly (I'm stuck in my ways). Pancakes are also very delicious. Just wish the location was closer (by closer I mean walking distance from my bed to their tables). Dare to dream.
(5)Kim G.
Biscuits are amazing. Best I have ever had. Every time I come I wonder why I don't come more often. It is great. Best pulled pork anywhere!
(5)Mary Helen M.
Out of everything at Loveless, the biscuits really took the cake. They were rich, buttery, and served nice and hot. I'll remember you, you biscuits. I'll also remember the obscenely gigantic breakfast I ordered. It was so big, in fact, that Heather and I couldn't even finish it together, in two sessions. But hey, if you're going to pay this much for breakfast, it better be fricking enormous. My plate was piled high with pulled pork smothered in BBQ sauce, sitting on top of a corn cake, and sandwiched in between two scrambled eggs (with cheese). And in the little bowl beside this heavenly mess? Why, it was a big honking scoop of Hash Brown Casserole. Never heard of Hash Brown Casserole? Just imagine that hash browns and oven baked macaroni and cheese had a baby... and that baby was delicious.
(4)Megan C.
The Loveless is one of those Nashville must visits. The store sells excellent Southern Food kitsch, complete with biscuit magnets, tees, and the ever classic RC Cola and Moon Pie. I've heard you have to try it to really be a believer... In any case, came here with some out of towners to give them the 'true southern experience' and it was exactly what I expected. Ordered up some biscuits and white gravy as opposed to the red eye that my meal was to come with (more like the kind my own Southern Grandma (Memom) used to make!) along with some eggs and bacon. The biscuits really are phenomenal, I think I could eat about a million. And they come with all kinds of lovely supplemental toppings...jams and butters and gravies, oh my! Think Cracker Barrel, but friendlier, less chain-y, more delicious, and more like my Memom's kitchen.
(4)Ann B.
My favorite meal in Tennessee! The biscuits are melt-in-your-mouth good. You don't need to put anything on them, except for the fact that the preserves are so amazingly tasty. (I picked up some jars of the preserves at the shop afterward.) We had an early dinner at 4:30 on a Thursday, so no crowd. I had the catfish entrée with fried green potatoes, hush puppies and yellow squash casserole. 1 word can explain the experience...YUM. If I could go back and do it again I'd get beans or mac and cheese over the fried green tomatoes, but all in all, no regrets. The sweet tea was a nice treat on a hot day as well. If I lived in Nashville I'd take my friends/visiting family there; but since I don't, I can just recommend that you go. You won't regret it.
(5)Ray D.
Want commissary food that is the same as any truck stop on the interstate? Welcome to the Loveless. The tourists come because of a reputation left over from the fifties. Pull over, have your picture taken out front, then go get something good to eat elsewhere.
(2)Jeff C.
I can see that there really is an obesity epidemic as I found many fine examples of overfed Americans at the Loveless Cafe. It's no wonder. The biscuits are great. I had three and unfortunately they go down like lead. I also had the BBQ pork. It was good but I wasn't sold on the sauce. The cucumber and onion side was a good choice. The coconut pie was superb.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Loveless Cafe is a must when visiting Nashville! If you're looking for southern food with the possibility of seeing a celebrity this is the place to go. We had to wait 1.5 hours for a table, but luckily the resturant is surrounded by art, gift, craft, bike, and sweet shops. Warm biscuits are served right when you sit down, they come with homemade preserves, we had strawberry & peach! For lunch I had the fried green tomato BLT- DELICIOUS! You can also do a family style breakfast for only $11/person - next time I am definitely doing that! Totally worth the wait!!
(5)Samantha joelle A.
Of all the tourist places in Nashville, Loveless Cafe is the one place that I must take my family when they come to visit. Forget Pancake Pantry and their line out the door and around the corner, a wait for this place is actually worth it. The biscuits are to die for, especially with their blackberry jam. The biscuits alone are what keep me coming back. But then again, that is what they are known for. Everything I've ever had here was amazing. The hash brown casserole is creamy and delicious. The bacon thick and smokey. The service is quick, and the wait staff always make sure you get a dose of their "southern hospitality" goodness. They also are generous with the biscuits. I always take a to-go box home with me, which makes for another great breakfast the next morning at home. Loveless cafe is great to go for breakfast time, but always expect to wait at least an hour if you come then. Especially on a weekend. Ultimately, the best time to come is for dinner. My boyfriend and I discovered this one night, and we will never go back for breakfast ever again. We've never had to wait at nigh yet since people only think of it as a breakfast place and come in the morning. I personally LOVE breakfast for dinner; it's the best kind of dinner there is. The food comes out in about 5 minutes, and also is super cheap compared to other touristy places you could go in Nashville. So whether you are in Nashville to visit or you live here, Loveless is great for everyone. And it continues to be my favorite breakfast place ever to this day, and I've lived in Nashville for 5 years.
(5)Grace E.
Was driving through TN on a roadtrip with my mom. We had spent a good part of the trip eating fried bits, feeding upon everything that could be deep fried in a greasy vat. Ewww. My stomach had had enough of the bad food, so spending a meal at the Loveless cafe actually felt like medicine for my spent soul. I tried to play it safe, just by ordering the biscuits and blackberry jam, but upon tasting the FANTASTICness of those biscuits I decided to order some okra, potatoes, and asparagus. All that food felt like it was heaven sent. It smelled and tasted all kinds of great! I definitely recommend driving to this classic and famously enduring place to enjoy a good meal. They've renovated and changed it a lot since the 60's (my mom says), but it still tastes just as good.
(4)Piyush S.
We have been here once about 2 months back. As expected, the place was crowded and we had to wait for around 45 minutes to find a table for three. 1. Biscuits are the best I have had. Way better than Hermitage cafe and they keep coming. They gave three types of jams and they were all terrific. But I prefer biscuits with gravy and they did not give any gravy. 2. The steak was almost perfect and the fried chicken was average 3. Fried catfish was like any other you get in nashville 4. The service was great and people are friendly there. 5. The place is a bit pricey so I will definitely think twice before going here. Overall from my experiece, if you are a die hard biscuits fan , you might want to check this cafe out. Else, just give it a miss. Goto Hermitage cafe or some southern kitchen in nashville.
(3)Orlean M.
Fun experience. Expect to wait ~ it's always busy ~ but worth the wait. The food was very heavy but very good! I enjoy the a la carte breakfast menu options. The bloody mary with a moonshine sidecar was awesome! The little shops are nothing to brag about and the service was slow but it was a fun experience nonetheless. Just be patient!
(4)Sarah S.
We finally made it to Loveless Cafe after hearing about this amazing place since we moved to TN. The drive is pretty (especially on this snowy day) and it's not a short drive by any means. We went for breakfast. The menu is simple but has plenty of options to choose from. I had the french toast and my husband had the steak and eggs. After ordering, they bring out there famous biscuits and jam. They were delicious in my opinion but my husband doesn't like biscuits so he wasn't too crazy about them. He loved his breakfast and my french toast was delicious. Loveless is cafe has history and the food is good. I'd recommend giving it a try if you are up for a little drive and want some good southern food.
(4)Lindsey H.
What a great place to mark on your list to visit when you're in Nashville. The drive from the city to the Loveless Cafe is beautiful and a great family Sunday drive. Once you arrive to this old motel made Cafe, you will be waiting for an hour to get a table. Don't worry though, there are shops and places to sit outside. The hour will go by fast as you keep yourself busy window shopping. Inside is an AMAZING collection of American Folk Art. The staff was friendly and the food was classic American cooking that makes you fat and happy on a Sunday morning.
(5)Shannon L.
This place has a wait, a significant wait, on any weekend day....but I promise you it is well worth the wait. Plus there is lots of little shops and touristy type stuff to do while you wait. The biscuits are amazing, and their apricot preservers are TO DIE FOR! Service was fantastic, atmosphere was fun...I especially loved seeing all of the celebrities that have been there....and watching them make the biscuits from scratch. Definitely going back for more!
(4)Lena N.
Their biscuits are made with love AKA lard. They are one of the yummiest biscuits I've ever had and it is divine dipped in their gravy. These biscuits are not meant to be shared. My friend and I made that mistake and ended up dueling it out the for four biscuits we bought. I almost lost a friend that day. The only problem is that my friend and I made the mistake of coming here around 1 PM on a Saturday. If you are going to take that strategy, bring snacks for the up to TWO HOUR wait or else you might not have an arm by the time you finally sit down. We got the food to go and ate it on the many picnic tables they have outside. That's definitely the better alternative.
(4)Samantha M.
On my Halloween weekend trip to Nashville, this place was highly recommended. Beautiful drive....beautiful area....and a cute little place. The biscuits and jam were to die for. The coffee was good. I had catfish, hushpuppies and mac n cheese. The meal was done well. It was more food than I could finish. Service was excellent. The little shops out back are adorable. I would def. eat here again, the next time I'm in Nashville!
(4)Jon T.
It is tough to say much about Loveless that has not already been said. The biscuits are every bit as good as every single person you ask tells you. They come hot. The preserves for them are remarkable. If you seek happiness through carbohydrates, you shouldn't go another day without experiencing the wonder of the Loveless biscuit. It actually is every bit as good as those your grandmother used to make. As for the rest of the food, fantastic. You can tell that their country fried steak is hand breaded, and does not taste like a Swanson TV dinner like is served at most restaurants. The sides are fantastic. The hashbrown casserole is to die for. Anyone going to this restaurant should be prepared for a festival of carbs. That is the only good reason to go to this type of restaurant. One thing should be noted about this restaurant. Expect to wait! Any weekend, a wait of at least an hour is to be expected. Once it gets closer to the summer, the waits can be even longer. Is it worth the wait? It depends on who you ask. I say yes, but I always make sure to eat a piece of cheese beforehand. You simply cannot go to this restaurant already hungry. You will feel like you are being tortured. This place is worth every 5 star review it gets. It has yet to disappoint, and I will return every time I make a trip to Nashville.
(5)Brian K.
Super supper, but slow service! We arrived Saturday afternoon and were informed it was an hour and a half wait, then returned Saturday evening and waited for about 45 minutes. So the wait time wasn't optimum, considering there are only about 30 tables at the restaurant and probably about 4 waitress on staff. Not only was the wait time to long, but one of my pet peeves is drink refills and they were essentially non-existent. My glass should never be empty and it seemed not all the staff was working as a team. It seems most of the staff is young and some were to busy with high fives and not willing to watch out for the customers and help the wait staff. My drink was finally refilled with the wrong drink and returned with no straw. Now the food was great! The biscuts and jam were amazing and always wonderful. We have been three times and each time the meal was very good. The final time we had chicken fried steak and a few sides. The steak was not crunchy and moist. Great job on the food.
(4)Alex G.
Great food, good service...BUT, it's in the middle of friggin' nowhere and there's almost always a long wait so I don't recommend going unless you have lots of time to kill (esp. because it's not exactly like there's anything to see around there). In short, it's good food (hence the 4 stars), but I completely disagree that it's worth the trip or the wait. There's plenty of good places to eat right in Nashville instead.
(4)Jay N.
Great Biscuits and jams. I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and it tasted like something my wife got out of a box. The portion was not worth the value. The sides were great. They do have Great Barbecue and my wife ordered that. She got a HUGE helping of it. They should be embarassed to serve that steak. The please is VERY LOUD and not the kind of place you want to go if you want to hear the person sitting next to you. VERY SAD experience
(2)Terri B.
This was our second visit, we seem to always make time to enjoy the Loveless Cafe when in the Nashville area. The restaurant and shops are like stepping back in time to a much simpler way of life. The cafe is down home, southern cooking. You can count on it always be crowded, so be patient. We took the time to wander over to the shop. Picked up a few gifts for people, biscuit mix, jars of the jams, t-shirts and honey. The entire staff is happy, helpful and work to make you feel welcome. The food is delicious! I had the breakfast sandwich with crispy bacon and a side of the hash brown casserole, reminded me of the hash brown casserole my grandmother use to make, pure comfort food. Mr. B opted for an omelet, he said it was great! Mr. B Jr. ordered the country fried steak and eggs with hash brown casserole. Everything was cooked to perfection and makes you warm inside. The biscuits they serve are fabulous, you really can taste the love in the food. Spread a little homemade blackberry jam on the warm biscuits and it is pure heaven. There were 2 tables that had large parties, they ordered breakfast served family style. It reminded me of the big family get together's where everyone is enjoying each other over a home cooked meal. They were having a great time. Really good for groups and large parties. When in Nashville, make the time to take the drive out to the Loveless, you really won't be disappointed.
(4)Gul A.
If you're in the area - drop everything and go here! We were driving cross country and I read about this place online and got a recommendation to try it out. The biscuits are great, I'm not a big fan in general but these were really good and their homemade jams area amazing (bought some for home in their store next door while waiting for our table). I had the pulled pork platter with the cream of corn and some potato side that were just incredible, the best meat, sauce and sides I have ever had (it's sad, i know). My BF had the chicken tenders with fries, also great dish though I think that trying the local favorites is always best in these places. I asked our waitress what to order and went by her suggestion and I was happy I did. We will definitely be back next time we're in the area.
(5)BethAnn S.
A great place for to bring your skinny friends from NYC - hook up 'em up with some biscuits and gravy and zip 'em over to St. Thomas for an angioplasty. We love the family breakfast which actually isn't THAT unhealthy and is reasonably priced. Its also the fastest food we ever get served and hits the high points of eggs, bacon, fruit, biscuits (as if they would miss that!) and the potato of your choosing. The shopping at Curious Heart makes for fun distraction during the wait which can go up to an hour on a weekend. Weekdays you are in the free and clear with minimal waits and maximal time for your waitress to make sure 'ya'll are doing okay hun'. It's a gem!
(4)Elliott C.
This embodies all that is Nashville..... no wait this is part of what makes Nashville so amazing. A small drive to the edge of the city and you are near the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Loveless Cafe. Get their early... I mean REALLY early. This place is packed on the weekends but well worth the wait. All the food is a amazing but Blackberry Jam and Biscuits are by far the best way to start any breakfast. I am not a southerner by a long shot, but this place makes me feel I have a southern Aunt who puts all her love into the food. Comfort food take a back seat, I get the same feeling eating here that I do for Thanksgiving.
(5)Erin R.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Loveless Café! I had wanted to try this place for years after seeing the biscuit lady on Oprah and finally had the opportunity when my family & I traveled to Nashville. The food was down right delicious home cooking! The biscuits were light, warm & fluffy! I cannot begin to describe how good they were with butter & honey smothered on top!!! I had the fried catfish platter with hash brown casserole & coleslaw on the side. Everything was amazing! And to top it off, I had a glass of delicious sweet tea! It was the perfect southern meal and I am so happy that I had the opportunity to try it! We loved the Loveless Cafe so much that went back a 2nd time for our last meal in Nashville...it was that good! And the service was great...southern hospitality at it's finest! This restaurant is a MUST if you are ever in Nashville!
(5)Bill B.
The Loveless Cafe is a old time restaurant that you should make it a point to stop by. It is certainly not on the main highway and we were surprised at all the cars we saw upon approaching the location. This place has been closed in past years and renovated before reopening. There are bikes for rent on the property and a service station next door. Plenty of parking on the back lot. This is a complex with several gift shops and a general store. We had to wait 1 1/2 hour to be seated however it was on a Saturday and that should be expected. Once seated you may first notice the air conditioning is not the very best. The menu is large and we went with the meat loaf and fried chicken livers. We also ordered the turnip greens,sweet potatoes and fresh fruit cup. The meat loaf was three large pieces and was excellent and there were a dozen chick livers fried just right. This was a very good meal. The restaurant credit card machine quit working however they were unable to take credit cards the old way my using the old imprint machine. Each meal was less than $10. Service was fast and attentive during the meal.
(5)Nick G.
After all the hype, a recommendation by the hotel, the good yelp reviews, We knew we had to make a visit. They're known for being a nice breakfast stop, and famous for their biscuits. So i ordered the biscuits and gravy. Yelp reviewers raved about their fried chicken, so I also ordered a few pieces, and then we had a few other breakfast items on the side (eggs and some fruit). Biscuits were served as we waited with jam. I enjoyed the biscuits, and the strawberry jam was by far the best of the three. But after eating a biscuits, I realized I'd ordered way way too much bread... I suggest you don't get a meal with any kind of bread included, because by the time the food comes, you'll of eaten plenty already. The food was barely decent, definitely nothing special, and I left very disappointed. The fried chicken was dry, and their famous biscuits tasted almost exactly like the Pillsbury biscuits in the can, just smaller. Way over-rated, way over-priced. I don't recommend. ***Just found out this place was featured on the Food Network TV Show: The Best Thing I Ever Ate. So I've added it to my list.
(2)Aaron F.
Slightly out of the way but still a must-see while in Nashville, the Loveless Cafe is a charming little breakfast spot serving good old southern food that will likely send you into diabetic coma or a state of utter bliss (your choice). When my Dad came to visit, this was our first stop before heading out to the plantations and Jack Daniel's Distillery so we were prepared to load up on some yummy food. The first and best thing is simply THE BISCUITS yep. They sell them in big bags in the hokey gift shop, and they bring you a plate of them on the house to start. And whoooooo weeeeeee are they some good eats! (Mind you Asians don't typically say stuff like this and yet here I am). Light, moist, yet completely delicious on their own. Almost a surreal combination of buttery saltiness on its own with the sweetness you might expect from a pastry. Add butter and jam and it's even better. Dad had the ham, I had the steak biscuits with grilled beef tenderloin. His ham steak was uber salty and a bit tough to eat. My steak biscuits were alright - meat was a little dry - but what made up for it was the hashbrown casserole, loaded with cheese and potatoes. Yum! You must take a pass through the super touristy gift shop at the end. Not necessarily to buy anything but just to say you did. You won't regret it!
(4)Jen W.
Biscuit! Biscuit! Biscuit! Now you know what to go there for. Seriously they must put crack or something in their biscuits (that's a joke people) These are some amazing biscuits and I will fight you for them. TO THE DEATH!!! And get them with some sausage gravy too while you're at it. They have some amazing creamed corn. I have no idea what's in it besides love or more crack. seriously, this stuff was so good I forgot about my main dish of fried chicken. Their sides are amazing, then again about every place down south knows how to make green beans. Catfish is great! Don't be scared of ordering fish. Fried chicken is good too. And they've got great pies. I had the lemon icebox pie and that hour at the gym completely went out the window. Feel free to check out their gift store, buy yourself some biscuit mix, some ham and bacon popcorn! yes bacon popcorn! Clearly i'm a fan of southern food and need to get more stretchy pants
(4)Multi-Cultural Traveler M.
Let me begin by saying everything good is worth waiting for! While on a road trip from Chicago with my family of 9, we headed to Loveless Cafe after my sister (who also was on the trip) strongly recommended that we make the journey there. We arrived and were told that it would be a 45min. to 1 hour wait, so we braced ourselves for the wait. We were seated after the 1 hour wait and was greeted by Dee-Dee (our waitress), the lady who seemed to be just waiting to take care of our table, needless to say, she was AWESOME! Dee-Dee (our waitress) greeted the table with a plate of hot biscuits and various jams which we all said....she must have been reading our minds. She was informative, patient, extremely polite, and just overall - the best waitress that I experienced while in TN. The food at Loveless Cafe is amazing and the biscuits are a wonderful experience all in themselves. Our groups ages ranged from 4 - 57 years old and all of us felt like Dee-Dee was something special and what made our families experience at Loveless Cafe not just enjoying great food, but she made the food and the experience memorable. We decided to do the buffet and there was more than enough food and options to go around and it's the most economical way to go if you are in a large group!
(5)Ashley D.
Amazingly, this restaurant lived up to the hype. We were on our way from Nashville to Memphis and my husband had read about this place, so we decided to check it out. Fortunately, we had read to call ahead to put our name on the waiting list. I'm so glad we did, because even though we called about 40 minutes before we arrived we still had to wait almost an hour for a table! We were there for Sunday lunch, so that's probably as busy as it gets. Still, you can call ahead up to an hour before your arrival. DO IT. I had the ham and eggs with grits. The grits were awesome, I wanted to lick my bowl clean. And the biscuits truly are perfection. I've never had such light, fluffy, buttery biscuits. Our server brought a plate of five to our table, and my husband and I each ate two and broke one into pieces for our 8 month-old. Then five more biscuits arrived and we ate four of them (and would have eaten the fifth except there was just no way to get any more food into our stomachs). Such gluttony, but so worth it. This was my son's first biscuit experience, and I had to explain to him that, sadly, it's probably all downhill from here for him as far as biscuits go. The service was quick. Once we were at our table we were in and out in well under an hour.
(5)Juliet S.
I came here for the first time in 2001 on a road trip with my family. Maybe it's a faulty memory, but I think it was much smaller back then, with lots of rustic charm. It certainly seems bigger now and, though far less rustic, it still has plenty of charm. And there's nothing faulty about my memory of the blackberry preserves. I thoroughly enjoyed my pork barbecue and my marinated cucumber, but I would come back just for the blackberry preserves. I would eat a dish of them, all on their own, with a spoon, then have more for dessert. Okay, maybe that last part was a little extreme. I would, however, buy some to bring home. You can buy some at the counter or go next door to Hams & Jams and do some shopping there. Make sure you sit down and have a meal, though. The food is wonderful, the servers are friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is airy and comfy.
(5)Su C.
Delicious biscuits with preserves. Well worth the 30 minutes wait on a Sunday afternoon. The blue plate special, smoked brisket with two sides was ginormous and so was the barbecued pork. My daughter enjoyed the moist and well seasoned meatloaf. Will have to come back for the pies someday.
(5)Katie H.
This is a Must SEE dining experience. Inevitably you'll have to wait, and parking is a bit of a nightmare. But they provide little buzzers so that you can walk around the artisan shops surrounding the restaurant. As for the food... As a Southern woman steeped in the culinary culture.. and a bit of a snob at that.. I can say without pause that the food is delicious. Home made, old school, and DEEElicious! The hashbrown casserole is to die for, and the biscuits and preserves (PRESERVES, PEOPLE!!) are from scratch. The peach preserves are addictive and will leave you wanting more... and you can GET more because their gift shop "Hams and Jams" SELLS IT!!!
(4)Sarah C.
Here's the hoedown on Loveless. You might think you have to get your white socks and sandals on with a huge camera around your neck to fit at the Loveless Cafe but you are wrong. Loveless Cafe is great if you are visiting town or a local (I consider myself a local). We arrived at the Loveless "compound" around 11:40a.m. First order of business, don't go that late. The hubs-to-be and I waited around an hour and 45 minutes for a table. Fortunately, the cafe is surrounded by a little general store with free coffee and plenty of souvenirs like fresh jams/preserves ($6), Loveless T shirts ($12), and really cool Nashville memoirs and cookbooks from top rated restaurants in town. There is also a random bike shop, pottery store, and religious antique store. Breakfast or brunch at the Loveless is really an all day affair. When the pager finally buzzes you have the opportunity to sample the greatest Southern fare that is served within minutes. Think Crackle barrel but much better! The biscuits are buttery and literally melt in your mouth, a staple at the Loveless. I ordered the BBQ pulled pork and eggs (~$8-9). You are probably thinking,"really," but yes really. Although at first it sounds unappealing, it was the most delicious! The french toast (~$9-10) was so good the syrup was not needed. As sides, I ordered the home fries. Mmmmm tasty! We also ordered take out for dinner and let me tell you the fried Okra will be my next meal alone should I return. It is like crack, seriously. The catfish platter was flavorful even when reheated the next day. For two people dining in and taking dinner home we totaled $56.00 including tip. Not too shabby!
(4)Meghan J.
wonderful country cookin comfort food! as everyone else said, the biscuits are top notch- especially with some butter and jam. i am a big fan of the fried chicken- unfortunately, i haven't tried anything else so can't comment on the rest of the menu! It's been over a year but i don't remember being very impressed with the sides... The notable downfall for me would be the fact that this place is a tourist trap and there's often an hour+ wait. but, if comfort food is what you crave, then this is worth the wait
(4)Charles G.
My wife and I saw "The Biscuit Queen" on a Throwdown with Bobby Flay one night, and since Nashville is only an hour and a half away, we thought we would go and try their food. Sadly, we tarried too long before going, and so we were not able to meet Carol Faye, who (from what we could tell) would have been a true pleasure to have met, but the food and service were excellent. We went on a Saturday for lunch, and our wait time was literally told to us at the door as "an hour and a half". Yes, it was that busy. Thankfully, there are several little shops and local artisans with booths set up in the area, which made the wait time go by fairly quickly. It was well worth the drive and wait! I had the BBQ with hoe cakes, which were great, and I can't remember what my wife had, but it was also solid, down-home cooking. We ate more biscuits than could be healthy for anyone, and they even let us take a good number home so we could have them for breakfast the next day! The only thing I can say that's bad about them: don't order their banana pudding. Now, after that much food, I'm not sure why I ordered dessert anyway, but it was far from satisfying. The 'nilla wafers were hard and the pudding wasn't very flavorful. If you're hungry for dessert, just have some more biscuits with jam!
(5)Shelly N.
Although I've eaten here three times and gorged on all things fried and cream-based, I have to admit, that overall, the food is "meh". I was excited when they delivered a plate full of biscuits but they were light on the jam (3 kinds in tiny cups to share with a table of 5?!). Flavor-wise, I'd rather opt for KFC biscuits since they are flakier and tastier. I ordered the sampler so I could try 3 different meats. I love their fried chicken...LOVE. BEST FRIED CHICKEN I've ever had. The lightness of the batter and crispiest I've ever had. I was tempted to give my rating a 4 because of their chicken but can't because of all the rest of the mediocre food. Another person at our table had their pulled pork and declared it to be the best pulled pork they've ever had. This was the second time I've eaten the ham and every time, it's completely dried out and ridiculously salty (I took it home as leftovers and tried to add it to a fried rice-type dish and it was still too salty to eat). I've ordered their desserts twice and have been unimpressed...you'd think a famous cafe would have AWESOME desserts. Not so much. I won't be trying more of them. After lunch, we went to the store and I bought some Cajun-spiced bacon and Piggy Pecans. The bacon was awesome when I made BLT's. The Piggy Pecans are SO YUMMY. They're not crunchy because of all of the stuff they've been dunked in, but the salty bits of bacon with the sweetness of candied pecans is a perfect balance. Eat them solo, they're delicious. Top them on a banana and ice cream (yes, I know it sounds weird), but it was even yummier. Even though the food is "meh", I'll keep returning for the fried chicken and Piggy Pecans.
(3)Christina C.
On my trip to Nashville, my friend decided to take me to this honored institution for breakfast so that I too could enjoy what tourists from all around have raved about. Upon arriving we were told we would have to wait approximately an hour and a half, but this was to be expected for Sunday brunch; apparently it's always full. Nonetheless, they provide you with some entertainment while you wait. You can walk around the property and enjoy the shops they have (cute little places with little trinkets). While I didn't buy anything, it's entertaining at the very least. They even have a little food market. True to their word, we were seated on time. She and I ordered some typical breakfast plates (sunny-side-up eggs, biscuits, bacon) and then we decided to split the hashbrown casserole. The food was excellent! The service was great as well (even if our waiter was kind of crazy...). Great food at a great price, so please go visit and see some of what Nashville has to offer.
(5)Jim N.
Seven of went to this old motel and restaurant (revised into restaurant and shops) for dinner and, despite a one-hour wait, had a great evening inside a genuine "slice of Americana". Fast & friendly service and food prepared exactly right---pan fried chicken, vegetables, pork chops, and a country ham breakfast....surrounded by amazing biscuits, jams & iced tea....ahhhh... Seriously addictive stuff! Topped by sublime coconut creme pie and coffee....it's right next door to heaven! We left completely happy. This is definitely worth the drive and the wait, during which you can visit their shops and meet people outside. Just like the television coverage promised, this one is a keeper!
(4)David C.
This is a must stop for those visiting Nashville... the food is great. Not everything is amazing, but overall the food is great... and the service is fantastic. Hits: Green Bean Casserole... just like my momma made back in TX. Catfish... Yum!! Mac and Cheese.... cheesy and delish. Preserves... all three are amazing!!! Sweet Tea... and Peach Sweet Tea... Texas seal of approval. OK but not fantastic... Fried Chicken... its does remind me of the fried chicken my mom would make back home... but it does not have a crust so amazing you wonder how they make it... I can produce that fried chicken at home. Biscuits.... so I've ate here on a couple of occasions... once they were not so good... the second time they were amazing... so I am not sure what to make of the biscuits.... I guess it depends on who is in the kitchen. Off the mark... dessert... not so good. Mashed Potatoes... a sad attempt at mashed potatoes. Green beans... ok but not great. Over all this place offers some great food if you know what to order. I would/will eat here again when I am back in Nashville.
(4)Sasser M.
I'm bucking the trend here when I say that the Loveless food in our opinion is just ok. As a dedicated born and bred southerner I feel it's my place to be truthful. That truth is ho hum in this instance. Sorry folks but I think the meatloaf is blah and the catfish just sort of lays on the plate. Being seen on national food shows and the Food Network doesn't make it amazing. If you think this place is great, try seeking out a soul food place in town. You're going to be amazed.
(3)Tonya O.
Dear Loveless, how I love thee...especially for breakfast! This place is known all over the country for it's biscuits and southern food. It's tucked away in the countryside off Hwy 100 but not too terribly inconvenient for residents on the west side of Nashville. The staff are incredibly nice and friendly , and our server even knows about Yelp. This is a great place to bring out of town friends and family for a little taste of Nashville and southern cooking. Mmmm...biscuits!
(5)Rich B.
Over Hyped? Yep. Good Food - it was solid but didn't save it. Wait - Wait - Did I mention Waaaaiiiiiitttt? World Famous Biscuit's - Ahhhh - they were OK. Dessert was the highlight with Fudge Pie and Banana Pudding. I'll give it a try next time we are in town but at a waaaay off peak time.
(3)Jeanette D.
This is exactly what I wanted on my one night in Nashville- fried catfish, hush puppies, mac&cheese. Everything was delicious and huge. I can't decide if I'm more full or sleepy from all the goodness. Loveless Cafe, you are loved.
(5)Nina M.
Long wait, but worth it!!! Be prepared for TONS of food and delicious sweet tea!
(5)Gina C.
Biscuits and the homemade jam are to die-for. Great southern fare. You feel like you've stepped back in time. I had a pulled pork omelet. Wonderful. Absolutely a must-stop if you're in Nashville. But be sure to call ahead and put your name on the waiting list, and even if you do that, expect a wait. They have several cute gifts shops to browse while you wait, or you can play an old-fashioned game of bean bag toss.
(4)Jamie D.
I'll try and avoid duplicate reviews but, I'll admit, some good things are just worth mentioning... BISCUITS! Get em by the plate full...dump their delicious jelly (we had blackberry, strawberry and peach) or cover those little love cakes with local honey or sorghum! If you have never had sorghum, think syrup meets brown sugar meets molasses. Can you say yesas! I had the smoked turkey with cranberry BBQ. The slices of turkey where from one big bird! I also had the mac and cheese (great flavor - the typical overcooked southern style for people with no teeth to eat - its true - you can just mush it down) and sweet potatoes. Let's just say I overate and was very content about it. There is an outside patio that is great and the inside has fun charactertures of famous folk. The staff here are so knowledgeable about the restaurant and the local community. You can ask them about anything and they will respond candidly. There are plenty of places to sit around the property if you want to get your food to go (sad they pack everything I Styrofoam!!). Also, you can go into the bike shop, gift shop or the several little craft shops on the property while you wait for a wonderful experience and tummy satisfying foods. How's that for a southern sounding review? Huh?! :)
(4)Joshua P.
Great food; almost as good as my grandmothers. Be sure to get their honey with the biscuits. I'm quickly becoming a regular.
(5)Boon K.
the biscuits are awesome, just enough butter and it melts in your mouth. The fried chicken was like eating at someone home. It is exactly what you think of as southern fried chicken.
(4)Molly L.
The biscuits are heaven and all of the other food (especially the hash browns and fried chicken) are amazing. Great service and great atmosphere as well.
(5)Benjamin S.
I recently saw a review for Pancake Pantry that said both IHOP and Cracker Barrel were better than the Pancake Pantry. I am sorry but there is only one place that can rival the Pancake Pantry and that is the Loveless Cafe. Though they don't have anywhere near the breakfast selection of the Pantry, what they lack there, they make up for with some of the best fried chicken, world famous biscuits (though Bobby Flay did manage to out do them), and some of the best souther hospitality, service and cuisine. Cracker Barrel is good, but when in Nashville there is no substitute for the Loveless Cafe for lunch and dinner, and only the Pancake Pantry surpasses them with breakfast, save for the biscuits. So if you want real, down home, southern cooking, make the trip to Loveless Cafe, they are so good.
(5)Glenn F.
Fried chicken rocks. If were to break a strict diet it would be for the fried chicken. No doubt- breakfast, lunch or dinner.
(3)Kevin S.
We had a group of 12 and there were able to accommodate us really fast on a Saturday morning at 8. Food and service both excellent! Keep up the tradition and eat those awesome biscuits :)
(4)Ashley D.
There are many reasons to go to Loveless, but two of my favorites are: 1) Biscuits 2) Hashbrow casserole Both are TO DIE FOR!! Yum, yum, yum.
(5)Saundra D.
I don't just give out my five stars willy nilly...this place rocks. It is a "destination" that revolves around FOOD. We were passing through Nashville when I was on my way to a financial coaching training (that is what I do) in Louisville and ran across a flyer for this place at my hotel (yes, the Hilton Garden Inn again, stop sweatin' me, I am a creature of habit and I like the points). We drove WAY out of the way to get there and Marcia M. told me not to miss it and she was right. The blackberry jam was the best I have EVER had, and I know some Jam! I had the watermelon ribs - no jokes (yes I love watermelon too) and they were oh, so tender. I often hear "falling of the bone" but I like for my ribs to offer just a bit of resistance...toy with me a bit. These ribs were perfect. We took some chicken and biscuits to go (yes I took them on the cross country SWA flight) and dared security to say something. Worth the trip - worth the cash - worth the calories.
(5)Martha H.
I have always heard tales of how great Loveless Cafe was, but have somehow lived in Nashville for three years and never been...until now. The biscuits were delicious. I had mine with peach preserves which reminded me of summers in Kentucky with my grandmother's homemade jams. I had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and creamed corn (I had to starve myself all day to justify eating it all!) and it was all superb. I can't say much but reiterate all that many others have said before me, Loveless is amazing. Our waiter was polite (and cute on top of it- have to love the accent!) and service was speedy and friendly.
(5)Jean C.
Why did it take me two months to write this review?!?! When I was in Nashville with a choir group, the director made sure the travel agency include a dinner here at Loveless Cafe. I was excited only because I've heard amazing things about this place. With a bus load of high school students, parents, chaperones, tour guide and bus driver, we all walked in and past the many people waiting to get a table and escorted to an area in the back set up for our large group. After getting situated, the servers came asking for drink orders and got them out quickly. Our menu was pre-selected: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, biscuits, etc. My tummy was off that evening for some strange reason and boy did it have terrible timing. The food was delicious. The fried chicken was crispy but not too oily. Those biscuits were heavenly and I loved the accompanied jellies. I didn't even finish my one plate which held a little of everything. Boo tummy. After dinner, we went to the shop and they had cute Loveless items and a bunch of the students bought tshirts that said "Got Biscuits?". This place definitely brings in the locals and the tourists. I am already planning my trip back to Nashville and I can't wait to take the hubs here. I need to get my full fill on Loveless.
(5)Sandra S.
Excellent food. Pulled pork was excellent The biscuits to die for. Service was very good. Due to popularity there might be a wait but worth the wait. We also went on a Saturday which didn't help. The hash brown casserole is a must as a side!
(5)Jeffery J.
Will be upfront and say I have only eaten here once. It was not too bad. The biscuits were biscuits but the jams were pretty good. As stated it is a bit pricey. I suppose with us going during the week we were seated right away.
(3)Miguel G.
I've wanted to try Loveless after seeing it on the Food Network and reading all the great reviews here on Yelp and I have to say I wasn't impressed. Loveless is famous for it's biscuits and that's the first thing on the table after they take your order. They aren't bad but I've had better. On the other hand the preserves were very good. I'd never had blackberry and I had to go home with a jar of it. AMAZING! The country ham was tasty but a little on the tough side. The mac and cheese was excellent and I left most of the hash brown casserole, not because I was full. My two friends in attendance agree, Loveless is over rated and in my opinion touristy and a little over priced. If you find yourself in the area or are looking for some incredible preserves stop into Loveless. I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again. Save yourself the trip and find the nearest Cracker Barrel.
(3)Angela M.
We knew them before they became popular, just a tiny little shack with closed motel rooms around them. Thought they were amazing then, and think they are amazing now with shops all around them now. The service and food are all amazing! You won't be disappointed if you love good country cooking. Everything we are in the area, we always go there for breakfast.
(5)Doug C.
Loveless Cafe is a cool little spot a short ways outside of downtown Nashville. It's a converted motel: now there's a number of shops where the rooms were as well as a separate bar in a different building on the grounds. This is a place where portions, calories and dieting have long since been forgotten; that is, if they were ever learned. The menu here is overwhelming amounts of good rib-sticking food and you'd better just accept it. Want some butter? Here it comes in a dollop. Want a side of mashed potatoes? It comes in a large bowl. You can even order a few of the sides as a stand-alone meal. Anyways, I had the ham with sides of green beans and mashed potatoes. The sides were nice classic comfort-food home cooking and the biscuits are everything they have been made out to be. The only minor disappointment was the ham. It wasn't bad, but it was perhaps a bit too over-cured. If food was represented by bodies of water, the ham would be the Great Salt Lake. Otherwise, I really liked the meal here. It's a mellow atmosphere with the walls adorned by stars and semi-luminaries who have wandered through it's halls. The servers were lightning-quick and ubiquitous. This place is recommended; just be sure not to eat for several days ahead of time in preparation.
(4)Matt S.
Best. Biscuits. Ever. This is an iconic Nashville eatery that draws a ton of tourists and locals alike. Seriously, the biscuits are amazing as is the blackberry jam. BBQ is pretty good but the country ham is also a standout.
(5)Kendyl M.
Best biscuits I have ever had. All three of the preserves served were delicious. Had to wait an hour to get it but more than worth it. Boyfriend had the pulled pork and eggs...fantastic!
(5)alyssa t.
Wish I had more time to spend here! You can rent bikes and rode on the Natchez! How cool?! Best biscuits, of course. This place drips enough charm to butter any so
(5)Brandon S.
Nashville's best. Place is awesome in an awesome area. A must go to if your in town
(4)Jerry C.
Biscuits! Who knew they could stand alone in the spotlight? The buttery and salty treats came on a large plate as a starter while we sipped our sweet tea and decided what to get for lunch. They were soft, and just hot enough to melt an extra slab of butter and fruit preserves. I didn't have to chew the biscuit so much as put it in my mouth and wait for it to melt. I could've ate the biscuits all day, but eventually I ordered the blue plate special - a fat saucer of chicken and dumpings with a meat-flavored side of tender greens and hashbrown casserole. My friends got fried chicken livers and gizzards (absolutely delicious), and fried okra. The meal sat incredibly heavy in my stomach for the rest of the day. It was fantastic.
(5)R J.
Maybe it was... ... The caramel sweet potatoes, candied, warm large fork-fulls with a brown sugar glaze clinging to each morsel. ... The Pot Liquor Southern Greens, seasoned with smoked meats and a tangy finish that embraces every segment of your taste buds. ... The Stone-Ground Grits, warm, creamy and perfectly seasoned, rendering the Salt + Pepper Shaker Useless. ... not really certain. What is clear, is that when we combined just these few tasty favorites with the Loveless Cafe entrees, we were in Food Heaven.
(4)Marc C.
OK this is off the beaten path about 25 minutes from downtown Nashville. Once you get there plan on a wait. Ours was 1.5 hours however there is so much to do...we played cornhole, toured the various shops on property, relaxed, and enjoyed the day. Once we were seated we went through two baskets of the best homemade biscuits with fresh made jams. We could have made a meal of just that. We ordered the sampler (with bbq pork, friend chicken, and catfish), bbq pork platter, chicken tender sandwich, and chicken tenders. The tenders were the size of a small plate, and you got 3 of them (leftovers!), the meal was unbelievably good, so fresh, and tasty. We had leftovers we were so full. They packed it all up and a to go container of biscuits too. This was well worth the wait and we made an afternoon of it. The service was so great that we did not want to leave. Go hungry and willing to relax a while. It will be the go to spot next trip.
(5)Mark H.
The Loveless Cafe has a reputation for southern cooking so we have visited a couple time wishing the experience would change. Before driving the NTP we stopped again to try their breakfast fare. Ironically the "USA Today" lists the Loveless Cafe as the best in the country for "down home cooking". We arrived around 9:00am on a Monday so there is no wait, I have read and heard the horror story's on waits on the weekends. We ordered the country ham breakfast and shortly after the best biscuits in the country arrived. They were great as was were the peach preserves. The breakfast arrived not long afterward and the eggs were over cooked, the ham was so salty you could not eat it,and the hash brown casserole was so gummy you could use it for wallpaper paste. We asked for more biscuits and some red eye gravy to go with the ham. Again, they arrived quickly but the red eye gravy was watery and with little taste... And where did these biscuits come from? They were nothing like a real southern biscuit. Loveless was not really the place for a great southern breakfast. It was no where near as good many of local restaurants I have visited around Nashville. After 3 tries we are out of here.
(1)Tyler H.
I was visiting family in Nashville a couple of weeks ago and insisted that we go to Loveless for Sunday brunch. I went there when I was in Nashville a couple of years ago. No one wanted to go because it was over 20 miles away. After our meal, everyone was very thankful that I insisted. The wait was only about 15 or 20 minutes (long enough for me to go and buy some preserves at the general store). Trey, our waiter, was very friendly and attentive. The food was outstanding. I had a mixture of breakfast and lunch with the main feature being fried chicken. It was cooked perfectly. The seasoning was OK, but I couldn't believe how perfectly cooked and moist it was. I had grits, turnips and hash brown casserole. The menu had turnip greens, and that is what I ordered. They brought me collard greens. I didn't complain because they were very good. I tasted from everyone's plate and there was nothing to complain about from anyone's meal. My favorite tasting came from my partner who had the fried corn. OMG! That was to die for. They have recipes of some of their popular dishes on their website. I hope the corn is there. One last thing. I had to check my bag because I bought preserves and chow chow to take home with me. As I was walking to my gate, I saw that there were Loveless goodies in one of the airport shops. I could have made the purchase after going through security and not check my bag. They should advertise that in the general store. Other than that, NO COMPLAINTS about my Loveless experience.
(4)Charity D.
We went on a Saturday afternoon, wait was about 30mins, no big deal but it was cold so it'd been nice if they'd turned the heater on the porch area for the infant waiting along side of us. First impression is decent place, small..nothing I wanted from the shops since I am native to the area, except the jams. Waitress: very attentive, if not a bit over the top. We had an issue which she probably should have handled better, I'll explain in the food section. We waited a long time, but felt rushed to order. Food: I had country ham w/grits, red eye, fried medium eggs, biscuits. The great: first batch of biscuits were tender, fresh, warm. The jams and butter on the were good. The so/so: grits, nothing special, but they were cheese grits, but didn't notice any cheesiness. The ham, decent, but whatever flavor. The bad: Red eye tasted like an old, bad cup of coffee. It's suppose to be 80 gravy/ham flavor/juices, and 20 coffee. Just enough to not notice it for anything but richness. The ugly: medium fried eggs is what I ordered, what I got 3 times in a roll was over easy. They were so easy that when I transferred them to my saucer as instructed by the waitress, they busted and ran all in my plate. She walked away and I used my only napkin and spouses to sop up the mess to attempt and save my ham. The 3rd time she asked if they were ok, I told her my other food was getting cold and I didnt care anymore. I was tired of trying and the thought of looking at another egg grossed me out. Blackberry cobbler: it was gotten to go and we tasted it real quick, good thing because some oddly creative cook decided to play in the spice rack and had cloves in it. Wrong. Dissappointed, would go back to buy jams, maybe try a veg plate and see how those are.
(2)Heather R.
Before I was a Nashvillian I knew about the Loveless Cafe. My inlaws were fans, and being a born and bred southerner, felt I would be a fan too. As long as the food is heartattack worthy, I'm eatin'. The one thing I was never told was that the wait would be so darn long, and this is after one heck of an excursion from my east Nashville residence. Toto, I don't think we're in downtown anymore. I don't really think we're in Metropolitan Nashville anymore. The wait for a seat was about an hour, so I'd suggest you bring a granola bar to stave off those hunger pains. There are shops all around the business though, so you won't be bored while you wait. There are benches too for those who really don't care to shop while they wait. Once the food arrived I was not disappointed. The biscuits were out of this world, and they actually had chocolate chip pancakes, one of the ways to my heart. We came for breakfast, so I'm afraid I didn't get to try the fried chicken, but I plan to when we go back. Our waitress was sweet, and never seemed overwhelmed despite the amount of people in the cafe. What quinched it for me was a photo out front of one of the cooks with Conan O'Brien: This place now had my seal of approval of pure awesome.
(4)Robin S.
From a local's perspective, Loveless Cafe is a good Southern meat and three, but off the beaten path. Minus one star for that. A few years back, it was basically a hole in the wall place that served great food...people knew about it, and it's always been an attraction, but not like it is now. They have a separate store on the premises that houses all of their logo merchandise--t-shirts, hats, magnets, cookbooks, and of course their signature jams. Now those are worth the purchase! I feel like they sold out a bit though once that store opened. The food is just finger-licking, stuff your gut good. Nothing low fat about this place. It's one of the only places I know of where you can get a 4-piece order of fried chicken along with your eggs, country ham, and biscuits. Their signature items here are definitely the biscuits and homemade jams. I can't think of anyone else here in town who does them better! If you want to check it out, I do suggest it--but make sure you have a few hours to kill (it can be over an hour wait at times) and come hungry. Oh and you might want to wear loose-fitting clothes! You'll be glad you did by the time you finish your meal.
(3)Karol C.
Fabulous! I'd seen this lil gem showcased on the Food Network a dozen times. I was super excited to try it out. I wasn't disappointed at all. Although there were several families ahead of us the wait seemed to go by in no time. By the time we visited the general store and walked the campus, our beeper summoned us back to be seated. The breakfast fare was delicious...the famous biscuits...mouth watering. The accompanying assortment of jams and jellies were the perfect compliment.
(5)Rob L.
Biscuits were good but the fried chicken was not as good as what you find at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner restaurant in Orange County Ca. Y'all in Tenn need to check out Mrs. Knotts next time you trek to So Calif.
(3)John R.
It's always great to get to visit an institution. It's been around since 1951 and while it's changed owners several times (including a relatively recent expansion), it seems to have held onto the original charm. There are some big, and little, names and photos of people who have visited over time. The hostess and waiter were extremely friendly and truly made you feel right at home. The waiter kept checking on us to make sure everything was ok. I had the traditional biscuits, jam, ham, eggs, hash brown casserole, and red-eyed gravy. The red-eyed gravy came in a side dish - something I've never tried. When I asked what was in it the waiter said without hesitation, "grease, coffee, and molasses...it helps cut the saltiness of the ham." Being a somewhat healthy eater my buddy said my jaw almost dropped to the table. However, it was a very light grease :-) and actually tasted quite good with the ham. The biscuits were excellent, and went quite well with the three fruit jams that accompanied them. While the eggs were nothing special, they were not intended to be the star of the show. The has brown casserole was a great mix of potatoes, cream, and cheese - quite decadent. If your up for a good ole' southern breakfast (the also server "supper") then I can't imagine finding a better spot. An added bonus is the Hams and Jams shop, as well as the small stores now residing in the old motel rooms. Definitely worth the trip!
(5)Dustin M.
I'm not gonna blast this place. The food is pretty good, The dining area is unique and comfortable, but the place is simply a tourist trap. Every Nashvillian should go just to say they've been, but don't expect better food than any other southern spot. Also, expect at least a 45 minute wait. Biscuits aren't bad though.
(3)dorothy f.
Ate here twice on a recent trip to the Music city. The food was great real down home southern comfort food. The biscuits and jelly are to die for. We never did get any desert, there was no room after our meal. No one could even finish their plates. Yumo this place is a definate ust on all my future trips.
(4)FieryRed S.
Wow...this place is some serious southern good eatin'! I love the food there and a really pretty drive out of Nashville. Went there at 11 am on a weekday and no line...and, what a bonus, Carol Fay was at the front door! Had the country ham and our waitress warned that it was salty. My friend had the pulled pork with eggs and some incredible cheese hash browns. Would highly recommend the pulled pork, was the best I have ever had. Didn't really understand the hoopla over the biscuits...they were good, but similar to other restaurants. loved the homemade preserves...really fresh. The service was excellent...very attentive. Would go back and try the fried chicken. Fun to walk around the little shops surrounding the restaurant. Take a moment to look at the pictures in the lobby of the stars who have visited. Interesting that Al Gore's daughters wedding was catered by this restaurant!
(4)Ralph R.
Great place for breakfast with their homemade biscuits and apple butter. BBQ for lunch or dinner is also a winner.
(4)Thomas W.
I was technically at a reception & banquet in the next-door Loveless Barn, but Loveless Cafe did the catering, so this review is still about their food. The saving grace were definitely the hors d'oeuvres - they were great. Unfortunately, I believe, they are not on the actual menu... The supposedly main event of the dinner, however, should regularly be available to everyone: Loveless Fried Chicken. I had some southern fried chicken in the Bay Area some time ago, it it was divine. Now, being in the actual South, I was really looking forward to a repeat experience. Sadly, no such luck. The sides were mashed potatoes and green beans, just as back then. The mashed potatoes, however, tasted pretty much like they came out of a box. The beans were rather flavorless and not crunchy enough. The chicken itself was decent, but the seasoning uninspired, making for an overall... boring meal. I honestly expected more from such a signature dish.
(3)Karen C.
Really cute place that is a bit of a tourist trap in my mind. It's not terrible, but its not great and its very out of the way of downtown nashville and 1hr+ wait. Please don't get the fried chicken! It was dry and bland. I make better fried chicken. The country ham that they are known for was overly salty and tough. The mac and cheese and the fried okra were not really worth eating. On the upside, the bacon was delicious (they cure it themselves) and so were the grits. And of course, their biscuits were very very very good. I pigged out on 3 or 4 of them. The strawberry preserves are also very delicious. So overall, some things were good and others weren't. I would stick to the breakfast foods instead of the typical southern dishes.
(3)Robert N.
The fried chicken is amazing! The creamed corn is awesome! The biscuits have no equal! I feel like I should mention the biscuits again.
(5)Angela M.
I went to this place for breakfast with a girlfriend on a Friday morning while we were in town for the CMA Music Fest. With the crowd in town that week, I figured we would have long lines but it was no wait at all. I ordered an omelet and it was really good. The biscuits were also very tasty and the service was great. My favorite thing was the blackberry jam. I have never really liked blackberry jam because of the seeds but this was so good I bought a jar for myself and 4 others to give away for Father's Day. I have hear from each person I gave a jar to and they liked it as well. I also bought biscuit mix to make at home, and while they were not exactly like the restaurant, they were pretty good.
(4)Krystal O.
I've only been here once, and it was almost 2 years ago but I can't help but remember the delicious turkey mashed potatoes and of course the biscuits! I really loved the cute little shop and all of the art work they had on display inside the restaurant. I even picked myself up a little magnet that still hangs on my fridge to this day that says "I aint bashful, I'm from Nashville". Oh how I miss Tennessee, but when I come back the Loveless Cafe better watch out, because I'll be coming back hungry!
(4)Deepak B.
What can I say...good old fashion southern cooking. Prices are very reasonable, and quality of food is exceptional.
(4)Jason L.
So here I am several weeks after visiting Loveless Cafe writing a review. Giving 5 stars to restaurant doesn't happen often so I wanted to make sure my high from eating there had worn off. Well I can honestly say it is still there, and I can't wait until I can find my way back to Nashville to eat at this place again. I have lived in the South my entire life and have been raised on a diet of fried chicken, pork products galore, veggies seasoned with meat products, and biscuits. It is always fun to scroll through reviews and see comments such as "the tea was too sweet", "the ham was a bit too salty", or "the jams were too sweet". Those statements shouldn't be uttered in the South unless you want to face a firing squad. I can honestly say this is some of the best food I have ever had in a restaurant setting. Lots of restaurants in the South advertise themselves as "good Southern cooking" but few can deliver like Loveless. Our cross country trip from San Diego along I-40 finally reached Nashville and after stopping to visit with some friends we were instructed that we had to visit Loveless Cafe. I liked the fact that this place was located away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We only had to wait around 30 minutes for a table on a Saturday night. I am annoyed at the people that have dinged this place for having to wait a long time. Good food = long waits. If you want a shorter wait then head into the city limits and find a Taco Bell. Loveless Cafe has a nice little business enterprise because while waiting for a table you are free to peruse their Hams and Jams Country Market. I had dropped 75 bucks there before even stepping in the restaurant. Their jams are excellent (strawberry and blueberry are must have). Their pumpkin butter is also very tasty. Make sure to grab a mail order brochure for their Hams and Jams because you will want more after leaving. The store is a little on the small side so expect to bump elbows with fellow customers. After being seated a friendly waitress quickly brought us a piping hot stack of biscuits with preserves. It seems the biscuits are always a highlight of every review. They aren't the best Southern biscuits I have ever had but they are very good. When mass producing biscuits some quality has to be sacrificed. Still the preserves are VERY good and if you haven't purchased some already you will after leaving the restaurant. Just pace yourself or you will be full before your entree comes to the table. I had an order of the pit cooked pork barbecue which was tender and flavorful and topped with their homemade BBQ sauce (which can also be purchased). I tasted the sig-o's country fried steak which was equally tasty. I tasted the mashed potatoes, homemade creamed corn, slow cooked green beans, and hashbrown casserole. The cooks didn't hold back on the butter and meat seasoning. No room for dessert but I was ogling the blubbery cobbler at the table over. I can't wait to try their breakfast when I go back. Every single dish I tasted here was phenomenal. This place simply can't be missed if you are visiting Nashville. I am still in love with the preserves and once the stash I have here runs out I will be hitting up their mail order service.
(5)Tanya W.
I've been going to loveless cafe before it was renovated a few years back. Everytime I head back to Nashville I MUST eat at loveless. The food is always fantastic and the service amazing! You never know what famous country star you might run into dining here. Make sure you stop by and get some jam to take home- Delish!
(5)Melissa M.
My friend and I were driving from DC back home to CA and stopped in Nashville for a night to visit an old friend. He recommended that we meet him for breakfast at the Loveless. Very glad he did! Our meals were amazing and I wish I could have been in town longer to try more items off of the menu. The place was PACKED while we were there, but most people didn't seem to care about waiting since there's so many things to see around the property. We also hit the gift shop on the way out of town and I came home with lots of Loveless things. Great place!!
(5)JustinandSally H.
There are not many places where I would wait two hours for a table and then say the food lived up to the hype. I had read about Loveless and wanted to try it, but then we just happened to drive by it and stopped. We braved the long wait and explored the shops, they give you a pager that works on the entire property. I could easily make a meal off the biscuits and homemade jam, but I would not want to miss the country ham of the sides. I had fried green tomatoes and hash brown casserole, both great! We ordered a pie and barbecue to go (wanted to make sure our time spent there was worth it) and they were both remarkable as well. I am not sure I would wait that long again, but glad we experienced this place, a real landmark.
(4)Todd M.
Loveless Cafe has very good Southern food and is known worldwide for their biscuits. The same woman has been making the biscuits for 30 years I think. The bacon and meat is all smoked on site in addition to the jams next door. I have never had a bad meal here. Mostly for breakfast but sometimes for lunch. The weekends are PACKED after church in the mornings and expect to wait and hour or two to be seated. I like going during the week their never seems to be many people. When I have guests in town, the Loveless is one of the places I always take them. Great gift shop allows you to take anything home. Cool little shops surrounding, bike shop, kids store, art gallery, etc.
(5)amy k.
There really isn't much to say about Loveless Cafe that hasn't been said. The place is quaint and has good, southern food. I'm also appreciative of the fact that they serve beer along with all the sweet tea and coke. I'm born and bred in the East TN hills and can make sweet tea like nobody's business, so I don't get too excited about it. Beer at a casual southern restaurant IS something special, though. And so is their fried chicken. It is some of the best I've ever had.The only possible drawback about Loveless is the potential wait, but go on an off-night instead of Saturday/Sunday morning and you'll be fine.
(4)Nicki R.
Is the food good? Yes. But if at all possible, try to avoid the weekends. You will wait....a long time... even if you call ahead. My husband and I did a breakfast date during the week and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. I would recommend going this route if you're able to.
(4)Priya A.
I just loveddddd their Biscuits and jam.. warm, flaky and sooo soft!! I just couldnot stop eating them!!!
(4)carrie s.
Great service. The waitress directed us to what was good for the day. A fairly long wait but there is so much to do and look at the time flew by. The biscuits and preserves are amazing. The red eye gravy is delicious. The fried chicken they are famous for lives up to it's reputation. I most definitely return here many times.
(5)Tony F.
A local landmark. Handy for all the doublewides who live lcally, and there are a lot of 'em. The Diner is one of the reasons why. Come on, have the house special. Biscuits and gravy. You KNOW what the gravy is made of. Then half a fried chicken; a side of okra. Fried okra; Pecan pie (or bacon drippings, your choice) for desert. Oh. And all the Mountain Dew you can drink. The only green thing on my plate or, indeed, the entire table, was my thirty dollars after paying for two. It's a deal; it's a steal; and no calories!
(2)Don E.
I asked a friend where to get an authentic southern style breakfast in Nashville, and was sent here. Thank you!!! The biscuits and jam were amazing, The eggs were great (I know, eggs are eggs, but not here) and the bacon/ham/sausage combo was all just right. Creamy grits were the icing on the cake. Great friendly service and quick too ... recommend!!
(5)Amy B.
Loved, loved, loved this place!! Soul food for the soul....and the hips and thighs too. It's well worth the drive!
(5)Michael S.
I'm not one to just hand out 5 stars, something has to rock my world to make that happen. I have been trying to eat at Loveless Cafe since 2009 and each time there was more of a wait than I was willing to hang around for. Well the 3rd time was a charm and well worth the repeated effort. I had their 1/4 fried Chicken in white meat since I'm a fried chicken junkie. As my sides I had the coleslaw and mac N cheese. The waitress bought some hot biscuits and jam which were great. The chicken arrived juicy and piping hot, it had a nice crunch and nice taste one would expect from chicken fired properly on the bone. The slaw and mac n cheese were both pretty good. I'm not normally a desert person but when I first walked in I couldn't help but notice scratch made pies, I'm a sucker for good pie also. I had a slice of their Lemon Ice Box pie and found it had a nice tartness along with being nice and light, just the right thing for topping off a good meal. I normally visit the Nashville area once per year and will make it a point to eat at the Loveless Cafe again.
(4)Bob F.
A bit disappointed in the food (I had the catfish and the missus had the "famous" fried chicken), but the atmosphere and super sweet waitstaff were very nice. Not too far out of town, and not as overrun with tourists as I'd expected. Great selection of local jams & sweets at the adjacent gift shop.
(3)Nicolas H.
Way too crowded for being so far outside the "city". But the Chicken and biscuits really do live up to the hype. The preserves or jellies are even better. Be prepared to wait and then find yourself in the conveniently located Loveless Cafe Store, located 2 steps away.
(5)A C.
Great biscuits n gravy baby! Food is excellent. Must be patient for the wait.....
(5)Rebecca A.
fantastic southern barbecue and biscuits that could shame the hat off of the pillsbury doughboy, do not skip the loveless! we found it on the drive back from memphis and hit it at a non-busy time, famished and in need of southern hospitality. the waitstaff were really nice considering we were both yankees who had no idea what sorgum was. i wish we had gone for breakfast though - from everyone's descriptions the breakfast sounds amazing. this is not a place where you go for health food. it'd be torture sitting across from people eating piles of biscuits dripping with jam and trying to eat healthy. the homemade jams are great - especially the strawberry. i wanted to bring some back on the plane but i thought TSA officials at the airport might jump me for it. i had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of okra. at first i felt like a glutton asking for more, but that went away after my second helping of biscuits. flipping around on the tv the other day i saw them talking about the loveless on the food network and nearly cried. how i long for a biscuit from the loveless.
(5)Don C.
If you like bacon, like I like Bacon. Do yourself a favor, and order some bacon from the folks at Loveless. You won't be disappointed. I was introduced to it via my Bacon of the Month Club (from the folks at the Grateful Palate. My personal favorite bacon they sell is their Country Smoked Bacon. I am still debating whether to sell everything I own and move to Nashville. Yes, it is that good. My only word of advice is, when you ge tthe bacon freeze or eat asap. The folks at loveless do not pack with ice. Not sure why. Cholesterol, Shmestorol, you deserve some bacon today!
(5)Jane V.
Just celebrated our grandaughter's 4th birthday there while staying at Opryland Hotel. As a person who has spent many years living in the South but now in California this was beyond heaven on earth. We drove 40 minutes and waited 4I5 minutes and it was so worth it. Everything good that has been said I concur with. Don't miss it..I seriously dream about the biscuits and the day we can return. Waitstaff was very help and seemed unphased by our big group (10 of us). Once we were seated, getting served was swift and oh so good!
(5)Ali H.
The Loveless Cafe is a Nashville legend, and I finally checked it out on my last visit. I've heard stories of incredibly long wait times, so we went on a Saturday around 3pm and only had to wait 20 minutes or so. The inside is covered in signed headshots of all the celebrities that have eaten there, and the general ambiance is very casual and fun. My friend and I shared the half-chicken dinner, which included fried chicken, biscuits, and sides. The biscuits come with three different types of preserves, but I think they tasted the best just with butter. For our sides, we chose mac and cheese, candied sweet potatoes, and the southern greens. The food, and the sweet tea, were all delicious and traditional southern favorites. The servings are very generous (we were stuffed after sharing a plate), so don't plan on doing anything particularly athletic for a while. After eating, we wandered around the little stores that are on the Loveless "compound," which included the Ham and Jam store and some art galleries. It's a decent drive outside the city, maybe 20-25 minutes, but it's worth it.
(4)Hooney H.
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know how I feel about this place. 30 minute drive and a 90 minute wait, but it was worth it. Man was it worth it. So Loveless Cafe is surrounded by a handful of little Loveless shops that well a variety of items such as jams, preserves, bacon, trinkets, tourist souvenirs and clothing. I bought a rather awesome "Taking Care of Biscuits" t shirt but one wash turned the large into a Small, so I actually never got to wear it. I'll frame it and hang it on the wall or something. We perused the shops and enjoyed looking at their paintings and souvenirs (mini mason jars are just the darnedest cutest things) and my friend bought a canvas painting of a rather happy looking pig. We named him Wilbur Darnell. Don't ask. But the food. Ohhhhhhh man the food. So the policy is that as long as you stay on the first round (it's all you can eat), you're allowed to take the leftovers home. But once you order seconds of Anything, you are not allowed to take anything from the table home. Luckily, we never even made it out of the first round. Just look at my photo. Hilariously huge spread. But I want to talk about the biscuits. These biscuits make you question your life, the world, the Galaxy and Mother Nature herself. You question religion and the science behind it. You question your upbringing and the girl you decided was worthy of your first kiss. That's how magical these biscuits are. Small, fluffy, chewy, yet airy and buttery (you must butter it--it's phenomenal), these are worth the hype and the rave reviews. Served with four preserves (the blackberry was my personal favorite), you must always order more. The fried chicken. Best. Skillet. Fried. Chicken. Ever. Skillet fried chicken is something every single one of you (even you strange vegan and vegetarian folk) need to try at least once in your life because you will be shocked at just how different it is from regular deep fried. Juicy while maintaining the crisp skin, Loveless has it going on. The pulled pork with corn cakes. Okay the portion was absurd. We each had two helpings and it looked as if a family of six could've enjoyed it afterwards. Needless to say we took it home and enjoyed some delicious leftovers. Man was the pork great. Tender, sweet and tangy, with a hint of smoke, it was a favorite of ours. The fried okra was delicious (god I love fried okra), but it could've used a pinch of salt after frying as it was a bit bland. Fried green tomatoes. Best I had the entire week. Mashed potatoes were excellent as was the gravy that accompanied them. I can't stop thinking about the biscuits. I haven't stopped since I left the place. To the wonderful staff, thank you so much for the lovely experience and meal! I'm sorry I can't wear the shirt!
(5)Jordan F.
I live down the street from this place but I don't go all the time (I wish) but I can't! If you like to wait in line this is the place for you! If you go during brunch hours just be prepared for a two hour wait, minimum BUT, it is well worth your wait time, during your wait there are a lot of things to do. There are a few gift shops and there is a local artisan gallery, and corn-hole! There is a theater too but I don't know what happens in there, they probably do stuff at night. Anyways we finally got seated and our waiter was great, very cheerful and respectful! The food came out promptly, it was hot and delicious! I really have nothing bad to say other than the wait, but it is a Nashville icon! Hope you enjoy it!!
(4)Mariko F.
I didn't know if this place was going to live up the amazing reputation that is has. But you know what, it really does. You really have to drive out of the way for Loveless, but it's worth it. After winding some small roads, you pull up to a really cute group of small houses. One of which is the Loveless Cafe. You are immediately greeted with an enthusiastic hello and are ushered to your seats. I was in the process of hanging my coat up on my chair (ie hadn't sat down yet) when the waitress asked me if I wanted something to drink. By the time I had gotten comfortable in my chair about 30 seconds later, my coffee and orange juice and a couple of hot, secret recipe biscuits were set in front of me. Now that's what I call service! The biscuits really are as good as they say. They are apparently a recipe that is sold down through the generations of restaurant owners. I poured over the menu and got the country ham with two eggs with the potato casserole. It was all fantastic. I really appreciated that the eggs came out unsalted so that you can have them how ever salty you like. Sadly, the ham had enough salt for the rest of my food combined. (This is the only reason for the - 1 star.) The potato casserole was fantastic. I had no idea what it was but the waitress told me that it was good and so that's what I got. It's basically hash browns baked with cheese. I'm sure I was eating a heart attack, but it was very very yummy. I can't say better things about the service and the friendliness of the staff. At the end of the meal, our waitress brought us a coffee to go. All in all, I loved it at Loveless and will come back the next time I'm in Nashville.
(4)Camille M.
This place was SUPER good. Service was great and food was better. My fiancé got the BBQ pulled pork, and it come with cinnamon apple pancakes underneath, he said it tasted like someone was giving him a hug! If you're w/in 20 miles you have to go!
(5)Michael N.
How do I rate a place like this? To me, there's a big inflection point required to get from a 3-star to a 4-star review and I'm not sure where this one belongs. I'm not from the area (really? A tourist going to the Loveless?? I can't imagine!) and I do really like biscuits so I was pretty excited. However, I sort of prefer the buttery, flaky biscuit and this one was fluffy and almost yeasty. Parts of the innards seemed almost like a roll, although I did eat them all. I went for breakfast and it was pretty standard for two: - Country fried steak - Biscuits and gravy - Home fries - Two eggs The waitstaff is extremely friendly. I'd go back, but probably more because I like eating at greasy spoons than because I thought it was amazing. That said, if I were to rate it solely as a greasy spoon, I'd rate it above most.
(3)Sarah N.
Fried chicken was great, the pork had a good flavor but was very dry. The atmosphere was awesome, very simple place. The store next door had a bunch of cute little items (all were over priced but good to look at)
(4)Terry T.
Lived down the street from Loveless ten years ago and got to experience the delicious country cooking in a less crowded, less touristy atmosphere. Went back today and had an hour and a half wait in a little less quaint atmosphere than I remember. Oh well, 7 billion people, it's bound to get a little crowded everywhere. The food is still delicious but, next time I'll just go to Arnolds or Sylvan Park Restaurant.
(3)Ann S.
The star extra star is for the service. This place does NOT live up to the hype. I couldn't wait to try these biscuits I'd seen on a few TV shows and since we were coming right by there on our way to Memphis, seemed like the perfect time to try it. The hubby got the bbq pork omelet and it was as gross as it sounds. He separated them and said it was tolerable but would never get it again. I got a sampler with eggs, various meats and hash browns. They brought out these biscuits and we were both surprised how teeny tiny they were. Literally 2 bites. We thought due to their size that they were bottomless. They weren't. 4 biscuits and they weren't even good. Not fluffy, cold but the jams were good. My sampler was bad. The country ham was awful. Perhaps I should've gotten the "city ham" but I wanted to step outside my box. I'll stay in the box next time. I was excited for the sausage patties but they tasted like those faux vegan sausages texture wise which was a turn off. In reading their menu telling their story about how they came up with a way to serve the loads of people they serve (there were only 2 other couples there when we got there) and we figured out how. We can only assume by how cold and dry the meats were and the fact it took us 5 minutes from order to getting the food that they make everything ahead of time and keep it in bins like a buffet. We had breakfast other places and my bacon had actual grease on it from being freshly cooked. This place had a bacon with a dull appearance like they'd been sitting out all morning. For $34 for breakfast, we'll wait until we get to Memphis and spend $10 less at Arcade. Disappointing.
(2)Angela U.
We finally made it the Loveless Cafe. I love the biscuits, and jams, and who doesn't if you've been there you already knew that! But that is not all. The photos of everyone who has visited in the the lobby is wonderful. Really liked the intimate setting during dinner. The shops are wonderful.
(5)Karen S.
First time in Nashville had to make the short drive to the Loveless. It reached and surpassed our expectations! A definite must see and do for anyone visiting. Our wait time for a table was less than ten minutes. The atmosphere is incredible and our server was so sweet. The food is good old country diner fare and the biscuits are great. They must be because they make 7000 a day. Thanks Loveless for making our first stop in Nashville one of the most memorable.
(5)Melissa B.
It really could be a bad thing that I live about 10 minutes from Loveless. I love the hashbrown casserole. Biscuits are great, but the homemade jams are what really makes them shine. I love the french toast and the pancakes are great. A few visits ago, our server explained what "hoe-cakes" are. Not only are they prompt, they're informative! lol
(5)Jamie C.
The biscuits, of course, are outstanding. I like the BBQ a lot, and also the fried chicken. It is a bit of a tourist trap, with really long waits, but the 5 stars are for the food.
(5)Caesar R.
5 Stars for the Biscuits and the Service and the Jams. Everything else was eh, so it get's an average of 3 stars. The service was super friendly and very attentive. Southern hospitality and all in full effect. The biscuits with the Jams they make for the restaurant and mail order are absolutely worth driving for to taste this little bit of heaven. Otherwise, the eggs were over cooked, the ham was okay, not great as was the rest of the meal, hash brown casserole was fine. The grits managed to disappear as well. But nothing was that special. The history of the place and how it has changed hands was quite interesting. It is to me a tiny bit of a shame to turn the Motel into a shopping center, but I guess that is what you call "progress"? So to see this little slice of Americana that is left does give you that quaint feeling of some sense of 'ruralness', makes you appreciate the way things once were. So, go and GET SOME BISCUITS!!!!
(3)Linda K.
The food at loveless is full of love for this western gal! Shared the sampler which included fried catfish, country ham, and BBQ shredded pork and of course the fried chicken. If I lived here, I would eat here often. The biscuits are truly as good as everyone says, buttery, light and delicious! If I am ever in Nashville, I would eat there again.
(5)Ted S.
Wow - everything here was great. Peanut butter and fudge pies were fear too.
(5)Craig W.
When I am asked for suggestions to take guests from out of town for a true Nashville experience, the first place that comes to mind in Loveless Cafe. It is a true staple of the Nashville cuisine. I have to admit, I am NOT a lover of fried chicken, biscuits with gravy etc,., but something about this place changes all that. The staff and service is all polite and adequate. The food is prepared nicely and my guests have always said that the fried chicken is cooked perfection. The appetizer are the infamous Loveless biscuits with a side of there jams and preserves (my favorite). This is not just a restaurant either, the cafe is surrounded by neat little shops selling antiques, souvenirs, and a bike shop. Definitely cannot get bored if you are waiting for a table. If you are looking for a great dining experience and to experience Nashville (Southern) culture, Loveless Cafe is a great place to visit.
(4)Bryan C.
Loveless is the type of place you know you're going to love when you pull into the parking lot. Featured on every food show you can imagine, and once you taste that very first biscuit you can see why. It doesn't end there thought. This is southern cooking at it's finest. You know minus all the weird stuff like pigs feet and things yuppies don't like. I stop by whenever I am in Nashville. My favorite is still the fried chicken. Try it out. You wont be sorry.
(4)Ian N.
Worth the long drive out of downtown Nashville to get here. I offered to marry the owner on the way out. There were 13 of us, so we split up the tables and my table did the all-you-can-eat family style meal. Everything was kickass. The hasbrown casserole was the balls. Fried chicken was the best I've ever had. And while I've had better pulled pork, I'm not complaining about how good their pulled pork is, it was amazing. The staff was quick, attentive, and super friendly. We were a rowdy bunch of guys and they didn't mind our antics. I may have gained five pounds that day, but they were well worth it.
(5)Dave M.
some tasty, good fatty southern food. portions are huge even for a pig like me. the biscuits are great. eat it!
(4)Zach G.
HOLY SH!T THEY HAVE...Biscuits. It's an expensive tourist trap that has fantastic fried chicken...hahaha...I almost typed human lol.....and homemade biscuits and jam that rock your mouthgasms.
(4)Brian R.
A must-eat when you visit Nashville. Once you've tried the biscuits and jam, you'll be ordering the jams by mail or the web from halfway across the world, or closer (Its more convenient that way.) Portions are not small. Be prepared! Save room for the pies!
(5)T H B.
We were heading to Nashville on our trip when we met a cyclist who told us about this cafe, to try their food. We took his recommendation and stopped for early dinner. I ordered smoked pork chop with peach sauce (I think) and it was Yummy. I never had smoked pork chop before, but I loved it the way they prepared. Their biscuits were great with homemade jam. It was a nice surprise for us to find a local hangout.
(5)Ferdinand H.
How do you review an Icon? Loveless is a famous venue for southern cooking. Atherosclerosis on a plate, with a side of biscuits. Good biscuits, country fried steak, a biscuits and gravy, fried chicken -- truly 18th Century American culinary innovations. The walls are plastered with pictures of Country music greats -- and the service is friendly and warm with broad smiles all around. It's strange, but I think I have a distrust of famous places. If this was a new find and unknown, I might have said a 5. But -- given the attention, I'm inclined to give it a 4+. It is good food. But I can't say it's so much better to many other fine, but less lauded southern Venues.
(4)Kristina J.
I love this place! We had a bit of a wait, but only because it was busy. We walked around and checked out their store, and when finally seated we were impressed. Great country style food! The biscuits are great (we even got extras to take home no charge!). Fried okra was delicious!! You definitely feel like you're eating real food and talking to real people. I can't recommend it enough!
(5)Sherie C.
I have been here numerous times, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is ok... Nothing out of the ordinary as far as breakfast selections, and who can't cook an egg? The biscuits and homemade jams are delicious, but I don't understand how people base their ratings on this alone. Lunch and dinner are completely lackluster, but not bad. This place is just ok.
(3)Brittney G.
A landmark. A mecca. A haven. A place where calories never count. Dolly Parton's visage will overlook you, her or Johnny Cash, while you take in the best country cooking you've ever experienced outside your grandma's kitchen. It's a little way out of the way, but worth every mile. The biscuits are indescribable. Delicate, moist, buttery, the perfect round vehicle for real butter and simple blackberry preserves. The biscuits should be illegal. They are too good to be selling over the table like that. I mean it, when you have your first bite of a Loveless biscuit you will need to take a moment to reflect, not just on the miraculous thing that just landed in your mouth, but on all of life, and how in a world full of suffering and pain and impossibilities, this little biscuit exemplifies pure pleasure. All the food is good. All of it. But the biscuits rise to another level. World class. Unreal. I want to fly to Tennessee right now just thinking about them.
(5)Russ C.
Great experience here...right around opening is the best time to go on the weekend - I think the line-out-the-door crowds are more for the late risers. I had eggs and barbeque. I am usually of the "a fried egg on anything is good by me" mentality, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Let me tell you, freakin' good. The hash brown casserole was OK...kind of bland honestly...I'm embarassed to admit that I think I like Cracker Barrell's better! But overall this place was great and is a fun place to gather with friends or family. We will be back again.
(4)Erin D.
I'm kicking myself for not coming here sooner. By far the best restaurant we hit on our foodie road trip hands down. I'm embarrassed to say of all the times I've been to Nashville, I had never been here until now. I want to say thanks to the Pancake Pantry for having another long line I didn't want to wait in. I can't say enough about the biscuts. I couldn't get past the biscuts. Hot, tasty and the homemade jam. I had the BBQ plate, mashed potatoes and 'slaw. I can't say enough about the food and our server was outstanding. We did have to wait an hour but trust me, it is well worth it.
(5)Aaron K.
I have been a few times and have brought many friends and it's always the same comment " Man these biscuits are great!"
(5)Lesley P.
This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I stopped here on a road trip a year or two back, on the suggestion of a friend. It was Valentine's day, and we only made it in about 30 minutes before they closed, but they were very gracious about seating us nonetheless. I had the tastiest food, friend chicken, fried okra, collard greens, biscuits, sweet tea, etc., and it all tasted great. Better yet, the waitstaff was hilarious- singing, dancing, chatting with us, etc. We told them that we still had a 3+ hr drive to Memphis that night, so they loaded us up with biscuits, molasses and sweet tea, as we were the last people in there. I think I want to go back to Nashville, JUST to come back here.
(5)Nickie G.
I am from Fairview, TN and used to drive by Loveless Cafe every single day on my way to work in Bellevue when I was growing up. But I have never eaten there until this trip home. I guess it really didn't make sense when I had home cookin' at my parents house back in the day. Now they just save some time and take me out to eat instead! Yipee! We got there at 7pm on a Thursday night so there wasn't a wait at all, even for our party of 6. They immediately bring out a huge plate with a stack of delicious, melt in your mouth, soft, buttery biscuits and homemade blackberry jam and strawberry preserves. I don't know why they didn't bring out the apple butter but the others were good enough. Then my brain exploded trying to figure out what to order for dinner. Your options include breakfast (all day long baby!) of which the country ham is their famous thing; dinner options which include fried chicken, meatloaf, fried chicken livers (now that's Southern people), fried or grilled catfish (don't you dare get it grilled, you are in TN get it FRIED), etc.; and then the kicker: "family style" where you pick two meats and three sides and it is all you can eat as long as you are in your seat. GAR what to order??! I ended up with the fried chicken with fried okra and the green beans cooked with ham of course. The fried chicken isn't spicy like some people like but is definitely very much like the home cookin my mom or grandma used to make. Fried okra was good and the green beans were freakin excellent. The country ham was good but it is uber-salty of course so if you don't like it salty then don't get it. I left fat and happy, stuffed with greasy comfort food and fluffy biscuits. Note that the hotel now houses shops where you can buy their apple butter, preserves, molasses, etc. However, if you are flying then you shouldn't buy that stuff there and lug it around your entire trip. Just buy it at the airport - there's a shop there that carries some of their more popular jams, jellies, etc, and you don't have to worry about it exploding in your checked luggage....although I bet you'd lick it right off your clothes if it did.
(4)Jason H.
Food is awesome and so is the service. There is always a wait but they at least provide distractions with the multiple shops!
(5)Rocky T.
Excellent Biscuits! Must get more! Love this place, unfortunately it is VERY popular. If you are going on the weekend plan on at least an hour wait. But they have several little shops to peruse while you wait. (Pickup the biscuit mix to take home with u!) During the week and daytime breakfast or lunch is much better. Lots of good comfort food, breakfast served all day. Lots of celebs have been there, and you may see one at the table next to you. (Be courteous. We don't make a big deal about celebs going about their lives around Nashville. Just smile and make note. If they approach u then be a gracious fan, but don't make a big deal about it. Just let them be themselves, and maybe you will see them again.) Loveless is all the hype, but it is popular and can be a bit crowded, but going on "off days" is a great way to experience them.
(5)Cameron T.
THE best coconut cream pie I've ever had in my life. YUM! Excellent fried chicken and catfish. Loved the sweet potatoes and green beans. The only thing I didn't care for were the greens because they were just too salty for me. The service was great and we loved it.
(5)Michael V.
Typical southern fare, but the set-up (in an old roadside motel off the Natchez Trace) just makes this place a treat to visit, and worth the drive from downtown Nashville. The biscuits are amazing, but I would expect no less, being made from lard. Everyone knows lard still makes the best biscuits and pie crusts. I'm also a HUGE fan of their country ham, and make this place a destination whenever I'm in the area. While it's tempting to order an additional side, since they're all amazing, don't do it if you want to save room for the fantastic desserts; the homemade banana pudding is my favorite.
(4)David S.
One of our favorite places to go. They get pretty busy on the weekends, but they have more seating then you'd expect. The breakfast biscuits and lunch fried chicken are legendary for a reason; they're the best you can get. Service is always awesome.
(5)Jamie D.
Loveless Cafe makes me embrace my southern roots. I love this place! The breakfast is good. However, the lunch and dinner is worth every single cent! Go with a group and share the endless fried chicken with three sides... The fried chicken is absolute perfection, the best I've ever had. The sides are all good. And the world-famous biscuits? Don't even get me started. The jam is really the star, homemade and delicious. Try eating breakfast in the morning and then hop on the Natchez Parkway for a beautiful drive. There are two waterfalls at mileposts 391 and 405 that are mesmerizing and no more than 45 minutes away!
(4)Marilyn C.
Every time I travel to Nashville, I come eat at the Loveless Café. It's a good atmosphere, the food is always good and I love the atmosphere. I travel down the Natchez Trace Parkway often and I don't know which I like the best! They're both at the top of my "good" list.
(5)Monica K.
AMAZING biscuits, fried chicken, fried steak, and hash-brown casserole. Best southern food I've had since I transferred down here.
(5)Vanessa P.
oooooo-wwweeee! Call ahead and they'll cut 30 minutes off your wait time....which has lasted about 2 hours both times I've been here. The little shops that surround the Loveless Cafe aren't big enough to keep me occupied long enough so I sit and stare at my phone hoping they'll call and tell us the table is ready. The servers are friendly, food comes out fast. Most importantly, the biscuits and preserves come out fast. My god, those things are little pillows of flour and butter from heaven. They really are the best biscuits I've ever had. I've had breakfast and lunch at Loveless. Best fried okra/green tomatoes I've had in Nashville and I consider myself a seasoned expert. The place is a bit of a drive outside town but its cute, great for visitors and those enamored with the novelty of fattening, yummy southern food.
(4)Jaime S.
My mom had the fried catfish and I had the breakfast plate with eggs, bacon, biscuits and the cheesy potato casserole. I was so full by the time we left, but we both enjoyed the meal and bought the biscuit mix and jellies to take home.
(5)Scott G.
Tourist trap. The biscuits are small rubber balls. If you want good biscuits, don't order these. This place used to be great but now it's just a tourist trap.
(2)Rae G.
Such a cute place! Friendly, helpful service. We are from the west coast and had no idea what sorghum was until we ate at the Loveless Cafe. The food was good but I have had better. The chocolate pie was amazing. We purchased their dessert cookbook and everything I have made from it has been outstanding.
(4)bethany r.
Totally worth the wait and the touristy vibe. Although I didn't think the biscuits were as extraordinary as their reputation, what was fantastic were the jams to put ON the biscuits: blackberry, peach and strawberry. mmmm. Overall, we had a great meal made much more enjoyable by our lovely waitress. She was attentive and couldn't have been nicer. I had the fried chicken (!!) The BBQ was also a standout. Recommendation for the sides- stay away from the cooked veggies and go for the coleslaw, mac & cheese, potato salad etc. The greens weren't worth the pretense of health. Just go for it.
(4)Melissa H.
Quaint rural setting enriched the overall ambiance surrounding the history of the cafe. The food was incredible and the service was great. The entrance was very prestigious and filled with photos of every star that has dined at the cafe. And the story of Carol Fay was precious. Sorry I came too late to meet her.
(5)Shane O.
Great food and great people! It was our first day in Nashville, and we couldn't have found a better place to start our trip off. A quick tip, call in when you leave Nashville and head to Loveless. They'll put your name down and it will cut your wait time in half. I was reading some of the other comments about it being pricey -- but coming from Hawaii and California, this place is cheap! When you're in Nashville, be sure to stop and visit Loveless.
(5)G- R.
HOLY COW these biscuits are amazing. Flaky, buttery, smooth and d-lish. Sunday lunch is a long wait, but I grabbed a To-Go order (ready in 10 minutes) then walked around the charming grounds. Picked up the warm, country ham biscuits, sat outside, and feasted. Major fantastic.
(5)Irene M.
This was the first time I have ever waited 1.5 hr to eat at a restaurant. Service was great. I had the fried chicken which was very tasty, crispy, and juicy. My husband had country ham (which was too salty for his taste), scrambled eggs (which tasted like fluffly foam), and hashbrown casserole (which was too cheesy and heavy). The biscuits were different, but I wouldn't say they're the best in the world. I really liked their peach preserves. The food came out very quickly. So many people were turned away after hearing there was now a 2-hr wait, but more came to wait.
(4)Allison K.
Do you ever get that feeling when you know something isn't good for you, but you indulge anyway? It's called shameless guilt. It's when you really don't care how unhealthy something may be because it's so damn good that nothing in the world matters. That was my experience at Loveless Cafe. The fried chicken was tasty, but the portion size was so big that I could barely finish it. To be honest, it actually wasn't the most amazing piece of chicken I've ever had, but it was still a fine piece of chicken. On the other hand, the sides were really excellent: marinated cucumbers and onions, fried green tomatoes, french fries, and HOLY HELL, ARE THOSE PRESERVES AMAZING OR WHAT?! Seriously, my world was spinning. The blackberry, peach and strawberry preserves are all so good and flavorful, I didn't know what to do with myself. My hands just kept reaching for those preserves, even after I was completely stuffed. If you can't taste the love that was put into the preparation of any other dish, you can definitely taste the love in the preserves. I didn't want to indulge too much on the biscuits because they are not ideal for those with severe dairy allergies, but they are fantastic as well. Service was great, as you get a pager upon arrival and can peruse the souvenir shop during your wait. Our waitress was sweet, and as corny as the place mats may be, they definitely add to the family-friendly atmosphere. It's on the outskirts of Nashville, but you won't regret coming here if you're looking for some hearty Southern comfort food!
(4)Habiba W.
This place is WAY over-hyped. My wait was 45 minutes and the food was terrible. The biscuits were nothing special and I swear my eggs looked (and tasted) as if they were made from egg beaters. I don't understand why everybody goes nuts about this place.
(2)Jessy Y.
This place is incredibly overrated. I mean, it's decent Southern cooking, but after hearing about it for years and seeing it ranked as one of the best in the South, I finally went there this year. The wait was ridiculous; granted, it was MLK weekend (Sunday), but we waited longer than the hour they predicted. Sure, you can walk around and visit shops full of expensive items most of the Loveless' clientele can't afford (at least, I couldn't), so it's not like you're stuck in one place. When we did sit down, I was excited to try their infamous biscuits. Well, now I know how Bobby Flay beat them on the Food Network -- they're tiny! Tasty enough, especially with sorghum (you have to ask), but not SPECTACULAR like I've always heard, and this is the reason I say "overrated." I just imagined them to be big and flaky, not little. My omelet was mediocre. My mom got fried chicken and some amazing mac-n-cheese, so I will give them props for that. I also enjoyed their hashbrown casserole. The bloody mary was a surprise bonus as I didn't think they served drinks, but it required a lot of pepper. I think to call yourself a Nashvillian, you need to eat here once. But once, at least for me, is enough.
(3)Sara L.
I've been here twice, once while traveling through town on an interview and once while the parents were visiting. We start off well, the famous biscuits are famed for a reason, and the preserves are great. My favorite is the blackberry, then strawberry. For me the peach is not the best, but its a preference thing, I think. I could eat the biscuits and only the biscuits for a meal and be perfectly happy. I got the fried chicken both times, and it was good--very good, but I've tried some other places now so I can't say it was my favorite. For sides, I recommend the specials--both times I liked them best (creamed spinach and squash casserole). For those who are looking at the regular menu, I say go green beans or turnip greens (your moment of healthfulness). I found the sweet potatoes a bit too sweet, but again, preference. We were too full for dessert, so we went and wandered the grounds, which are great and have some really cool shops to check out. Personally, I'd come back here for breakfast in particular...more biscuits=better.
(3)Andrew M.
After seeing all kinds of good reviews for this place all over the internet, I decided to check it out while in Nashville, and honestly, I don't see what all the hype was about. Long wait to sit down, 45+ minutes even though there were a ton of tables open. It's all good though, with all the good reviews I read I was ok to wait. Finally sat down and ordered the "famous" chicken along with the macaroni and cheese and hashbrown casserole. The chicken wasn't all that special, I've had a LOT better chicken at quite a few places. Mac and cheese was ok, the hashbrown casserole was awesome. The highly touted biscuits everyone raves about weren't all that great either, at least not so good to warrant why everyone and their mother tells you how good they are. They are about as good as anywhere else I tried while in the south. The jams however were damn tasty. Prices were on the higher side, but the service once we sat down was pretty quick. I probably wouldn't hit this place again while in town, but if you're lookin for a tourist'ish spot to eat then this is the place for you.
(3)Yella W.
The biscuits were great. The chicken so so and the fries the typical frozen type. Very average.
(3)Zeke A.
This is true Southern American goodness. Biscuits galore! I loved the biscuits so much that I just got biscuits and gravy and some scrambled eggs. I also started with a chicken biscuit. I love the biscuits! Our waiter was friendly and since we came in on a Monday morning we didn't have to wait at all. I love you Loveless Cafe!
(5)Dallas K.
One of the best meals I've ever had. Got the biscuit sampler and hashbrown casserole. Everything was amazing. Peach sweet tea is to die for. My boyfriend had the BBQ and eggs breakfast and said it was the best thing he has ever eaten. Wait wasn't nearly as long as they told us (said hour and half on a Saturday morning, ended up being 50 minutes). There's tons to do while you wait, and once you order it takes about 5 minute to get your meal.
(5)Brad W.
The angels sang! I love this place. The biscuits make it worth the trip alone. Fried chicken is delicious, with great sides including fried green tomatoes. This is a Nashville landmark that should not be missed if you are in the area. Plan on waiting during lunch hour.
(5)John F.
Best food in Nashville!, Service is excellent and best biscuits. Be prepared to wait on the weekends....like any great restaurant it stays very busy.
(5)Nathan W.
So I will keep this one truly short and sweet. BEST FRIED CHICKEN I HAVE EVER HAD! While people seem super excited about the bisquits (I thought they were just ok) the chicken is the standout here. Were I to be stranded in the middle of a mosquito infested swamp with nothing but the clothes on my back and a plate of this fried chicken I would entirely be ok with things as they were because of this chicken. If I found myself with a hole in my head and a plate of this fried chicken, I would just hope that the hole didn't interfere with the eating of the chicken because thats all I would care about. Go and get you some!
(4)Tod B.
This place is fantastically simple. They are cooking good, simple, home-cooked, Southern food the right way in an old house. The biscuits are otherworldly and the food definitely represents this place well. I love this place so much, I have visited twice in my recent stops through Tennessee, each time I remember how great this place is and how much I miss it. What I found so great that made me feel stoked to be American was the huge family that was dining near us. When I say huge I mean huge, 30+ people. The food was brought out to them in huge bowls and on large platters, all served family style. "Hey grandpa! pass the bacon!". I loved it. Definitely stop here on your tour of Tennessee, you cant pass it without a stop.
(5)Elizabeth F.
What a deeeeeeelicious place to eat!! The biscuits are served warm and are guaranteed to be eaten before they get cold. The side of homemade preserves that accompanies the biscuits will not disappoint. I went for their 1/2 of a chicken, fried. It comes with two sides- I got the mac and cheese and the collard greens. The mac and cheese was AMAZING, and I consider myself a connoisseur of anything macc-y and cheesy. The meat was tender, juicy, and the breading was out of this world good- seasoned perfectly. Put some hot sauce on top and you're in fried chicken heaven! The sweet tea is a nice reprieve after an hour-long wait in very warm weather. (The wait is worth every second!) The "Hams & Jams" store next door offers a variety of the condiments offered at the restaurant, as well as selling meats and their famous biscuit mix! They have anything you could ever want to bring home for a little taste of Loveless right in your own kitchen. Bring your appetite, and I would advice wearing elastic-waisted pants, because this is one place that is DEFINITELY not on your diet.
(5)Ava R.
Soooo good!! I heard all about this place and read the reviews on yelp before I came here and it did not disappoint! The biscuits and gravy were delicious. Country fried steak was yummy. And the hash brown casserole was so ridiculously good! The staff was friendly and courteous. We had to wait maybe 10 minutes but we got a chance to walk around and check out the shops which were cute. Its a little bit of a drive outside of Nashville, but it is so delicious that it is totally worth the trip!
(5)Jami S.
This place is amazing. I drove here from Connecticut with my grandmother just to try the food. I was not disappointed! The Jam was fresh and wonderful! The sweet Tea you can't beat. I will go back or maybe live there! love love this place.
(5)Frank B.
Worth the ride if just for the biscuits and homemade jams. My favorite is Blackberry. Can't say anymore than I love this place. The pulled pork is smoked to perfection, If it's not enough this place is at the begining/or end of the Natchez Trace in the middle of whats probably one of the prettiest parts of this country.Travel there once I guarantee you'll be back again and again !!!
(5)Janet S.
For me it is all about the chicken livers with three types of gravy, cannot speak for anything else on the menu. This sets me up nicely for a camping trip down the Natchez Trace. All our visitors from overseas love to make a pit-stop here. A little shopping for jellies and bacon and a little liver eating! Ah lurve the South.
(3)Rachel W.
I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. I love this place. The food is awesome. The biscuits and jam are near perfection. The wait staff is always friendly. The atmosphere is just plain fun. Thank goodness I don't live in Nashville, otherwise I'd gain 50lbs eating here all the time.
(5)Noelle T.
I ate here. The biscuits were mmm mmm good. Everything else ... well .... the biscuits were good. I also like the cool little shops, I feel like a true Nashvillian now. We will def. go back to try the fried chicken as it appears I missed the mark with breakfast.
(3)Lee B.
Yup! Worth the hype for the biscuits alone. And I was raised on southern biscuits, let me tell ya. Fluffy, soft and almost yeast-like, even a biscuit hater will dive in to these. And forget your cholesterol level for a day and indulge in the fried chicken, juicy, crunchy and worth every calorie. Do take the advice to call ahead. On a weekday, our wait was 1.75 hours at noon. We came back after 60 minutes and were called within a few minutes of arrival so leave the premises at your own peril. Be sure to squeeze into the lobby and browse the wall of autographed photos of country stars who've enjoyed the biscuits.
(4)Alex N.
The biscuits are wonderful. I had the ham, bacon and sausage plate with grits and poached eggs and it was an absolute delight, especially the grits. There are notoriously long waits for a table but it's absolutely worth it. Bring a deck of cards or something to keep yourself amused while waiting and then revel in the awesomeness of the great southern cooking offered here. Highly recommended.
(5)HOLLY M.
Best jams, biscuits, meats.....wow! Just a bit too crowded, but for really good reason.
(5)Amie S.
The Loveless Café on the outskirts of Nashville has risen to fame for its hearty southern fare. This is some serious down-home cookin' that has been voted the best in town by locals, and draws in plenty of celebrity guests as well (check out the jam-packed wall of fame in the entryway). The Loveless is a very family-friendly establishment, with games and fun historic facts on the placemats and friendly, understanding staff who are eager to please. Don't miss out on the biscuits! In fact, I would drive all the way here just for a taste of these light, fluffy, buttery morsels topped with the house's homemade blackberry jam. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, I know a good blackberry when I taste it - and them's some tasty berries! Biscuits come standard with the breakfast dishes, so if you're here for your morning meal you'll be starting your day off right. Breakfast consists of authentic versions of all your standard southern favorites: pancakes, eggs, grits, etc., plus a few house specialties like hash brown casserole (hash browns mixed with cheese and onions and held together with chicken soup), homemade gravy (if you're brave, try the red eye gravy: ham drippings mixed with black coffee!). I was expecting ginormous portions, but the servings were moderate, which for me is a good thing. The food was neither too heavy nor too greasy. This not only leaves more room for biscuits, but ensures you don't head back out into the muggy weather feeling like you have an anvil in your guts. The breakfast ham is cured on site, and carnivores looking for BBQ meat offerings need look no further than the smokehouse next door to the main restaurant. Speaking of things next door to the main restaurant, there are plenty of places to check out surrounding the café. Once a restaurant and motel, the restaurant grew so well-known and busy that they ended up shutting down the motel in order to expand the café. Now the remaining motel buildings house the restaurant's gift shop and other businesses, including an art gallery and a garden store.
(4)A M.
Definitely underwhelmed. Loved the place when I was a kid, so stopped for breakfast one day. Eggs, bacon, grits and biscuit. Food OK but no better than breakfast at Rotiers and several dollars more in price. My real gripe is being served margarine instead of butter for the bisquits . To my mind this defeats the whole purpose of a really scrumptious biscuit experience. If you are a Southerner, the Loveless is more a fun outing than great food.
(3)c c.
The hubby and I frantically got to Loveless for dinner at 8:30 one night (they close at 9). Given what we're used to in CA, we expected that they wouldn't be too pleased with our last minute arrival. We clearly forgot we were in TN. They welcomed us in and the waitress spent a good chunk of time talking with us and going over the menu. I got the fried chicken (amazing) with mashed potatoes (also amazing) and creamed corn (very yummy). Hubby got the meatloaf, hash brown casserole, and mac and cheese, all of which were great. I feel like I don't even need to mention this given that everyone else already has, but the biscuits are honestly heavenly. The blackberry preserves were my favorite, but the homemade honey and sorghum were great too. Definitely give this place a try, you won't need to eat for at least 24 hours afterward.
(5)Jeff S.
Great food and service pretty good too. Glad we didn't have the server next to our section. Loud, obnoxious, and got the vibe he didn't want to be there. they've created quite a destination here. A must see place to eat. If you intend on flying out after your visit, don't buy any jam, it will be taken away.
(4)Lea Ann M.
Loveless is an institution. I was there many years ago with my grandparents and it has since be totally redone, but luckily the food is the same down home cookin' I enjoyed when I spent summers in Knoxville as a kid. Get past the hostesses' surly attitudes since they sure didn't exude Southern Hospitality. They looked like they were bothered by us "tourists". I was in a nostalgic frame of mind and went for the Southern breakfast of eggs, country ham, grits, red eye gravy and biscuits with a side of fried okra and a big glass of sweet tea. I was NOT disappointed. Took me right back to being 10 years old. My guy had the fried chicken and agreed they probably did have the same recipe since 1950-something since it was pretty boring and not as interesting as KFC, but the hashbrown casserole and creamed corn was OSSM! We ate too much, swelled up with all that salt, but heck, who could pass up the Loveless Store for jalapeno bacon and popcorn with bacon chunks to take home to the Northwest?! Avoid weekends and watch out for all the touring biker-dudes. The place fills up very fast.
(4)Mabelle A.
So good we went twice on our long weekend trip visiting Nashville. Biscuits with the different jams were awesome - peach was probably my favorite. Add in some sausage gravy (not with the jam of course) and you've now made me a fan of biscuits and gravy. Who needs eggs, just bring on the bacon and the hashbrown casserole. The BACON ROCKS - the flavor was so good we're ordering some online in that bacon lunch pail. Had no idea what hashbrown casserole was until hubby ordered it and it's basically hashbrowns au gratin - cheesy yummy goodness. Great southern hospitality. There is lots of love for the Loveless. P.S. Bobby Flay came here for a biscuit throwdown.
(5)Rahel K.
I love this place because it is almost as Nashville as Broadway. We took a Sunday drive and showed up late in the afternoon - 20 minute wait. So we walked around the shops, got a bottle of classic coke, and drank it on the front porch. Yeah, this place IS iconic... I got the fried chicken livers. Growing up about 10 miles from where Colonel & Claudia Saunders perfected their recipe...I'm a fan. Loveless does livers right. I also liked the sides - hashbrown casserole and greenbeans. The beans coulda used a little bacon grease; but, again, I'm from Kentucky. We then hopped on the Natchez Trace Parkway for a little Sunday drive. A perfect Nashville afternoon!!
(5)Katie M.
I came here with my sister when we drove through Tennessee - this place was one of my favorites! Real down home cookin', Southern food through and through. We had fried chicken and potatoes and collard greens and biscuits with honey & butter & peach and strawberry jam. I didn't think I liked biscuits until I felt my lips moving and heard my voice asking the waitress if we could please have another basket. By the time we left I was so deliriously happy and full I fell into a food coma straightaway and had to take a nap in the car. OUTSTANDING, not to be missed!!!
(4)sharad v.
on my trip to nashville we heard a lot about this quintessential southern food road-side diner. tried their biscuits with sausage gravy and scrambled eggs. The food was delicious, it came quick; the service was very personable and it was quick. The decor was decent and homely, very inviting. Here is the killer though.. The wait. Expect to wait at least an hour (we waiting 1:30) as this place is very popular. while you wait you can stroll around the gift shops, ham-n-jams and an art gallery. So the food is good, the restaurant is popular - why I am giving this 3 stars? simple because there isn't THAT MUCH in a biscuit and country ham that will make a 1 hour wait worth it. While yelpers are raving about the food - think about it - this ain't no avant garde french cooking we are talking about. This is down-home southern cooking - ham, fried chicken and biscuits. It doesn't take much culinary ingenuity to get this right and delicious. So my recommendation - decide for yourself if you think waiting an hour for a cut and dried cuisine is worth your time.
(3)Lucas P.
Our server was fantastic, very personable and even went the extra mile to offer us to-go drinks! Kind of a hike from Nashville, but worth it. The wait was close to two hours on a Sunday afternoon...but was worth it! They have cool, classy, home-grown shops (overpriced, but nice) to peruse whilst you wait. The food was great, but clearly "fast-serve", was out in 5 minutes. I had the BBQ with two sides and the biscuits....well let's just say I planned on being good and eating 1, 4 later....yeah!
(4)daniel m.
we went on a thursday { and not the weekend } thank goodness, because my neighbors said you had to wait for a long time. service was wonderful, food was good, decor was pleasent, but the only downfall was its just a tourist trap. ok that being said did i buy crap why i was there. the answer is yes. 2 bottles of hot sauce, and a miny pack of jam. i'm not sure what they were thinking when they opened the new upscale place downtown nashville. we have not been, but i was wondering why they did not promote their bacon. the bacon they serve per there menu is from gattons farms in ky. fathers country hams. i do understand there choice because gattons verse loveless, hands down gattons.
(3)Nicole P.
Awesome food! Great service! Yes if you don't want BBQ or fried perhaps this isn't your scene, but everything tastes amazing! And you can play corn hole while you wait!
(5)JAN I.
Amazing bisquits!!!! Didn't care much for the ham...it was dry. All the dishes tasted soooo great...so hard to decide. Can't wait to go back
(5)Samuel L.
We live right down the street from Loveless. The biscuits are what they are famous for and they are definitely the best thing. The rest of the food is all good but nothing great. If you've never been it's worth checking out. The worst part is the wait on the weekends. If you can, go during the week.
(3)Me M.
LOVED the biscuits, which is reason enough to try this place! My breakfast (eggs, bacon, cheese grits) was great and prepared as i wished. Food server (Ashley) was wonderful too. Can't wait to return next time in town.
(4)Monkee C.
what can I say that hasn't already been said? endless biscuits and jam? awesome. country fried steak? awesome. pulled pork BBQ? awesome. creamed corn, collard greens, hashbrown casserole, mashed potatoes? awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome. literally every single thing I tried (and I tried everything everyone in our group ordered) was awesome. don't miss Loveless if you're in or around Nashville....just don't
(5)Amanda H.
I had yummy fried chicken and didn't get a stomach ache! It's a miracle! The biscuits were so good! Sides were also good, but were definitely overshadowed by the chicken for me. Yes, I had to wait, but I went at dinner time and if you go somewhere good at dinner time, you will have to wait. If you don't want to wait then go somewhere with bad food.
(5)mon b.
I'm sorry.. this was on my to do list for 5 years.. It was sub par... CRACKER BARREL is much, much better. This was just not good
(1)Julie S.
They tell you to call ahead because they don't take reservations. Then you call and they tell you that your wait starts when you arrive. They act as though it's the most amazing place - wanted to take out of town folks, but really - for dryer fried chicken than you get at the grocery store and biscuits that taste like those you buy at Sam's in buik? No thanks. Rude and wayyyy over the top hype for pretty average food.
(2)Ash K.
Great place to eat with a great atmosphere. They make a mean chicken fried steak.
(4)S S.
I have mixed feelings about the Loveless Cafe. Yes, it's an iconic Nashville eatery and yes, everyone recommended it, but we had to wait close to 2 hours on a Saturday for a table for 2 and found the eggs to be...mass produced eggs. The biscuits, however, are worth the trip. You can save yourself the wait by ordering your food 'to go' and eating it on the picnic tables outside.
(4)Timothy F.
Ok, where do I start. I have lived in Nashville for 35 years and have tried twice to go to this joint to see what the fuss is all about. The only problem is unless you get there during breakfast hours to eat lunch you will wind up eating dinner for your lunch because of the absolutely UnGodly wait times. Who in their right mind would wait 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours to dine on biscuits and Jellies and Jams!!! NOT ME !! Both times I have left hungry because of an obviously unorganized and lazy staff that cannot turn tables during peak lunch hours. If you are willing (or stupid) enough to wait this long for some 'good ole biscuits and jelly' more power to you. I on the other hand prefer to eat lunch sometime during the uniformed lunch hours. I will never ever bring relatives or family to this joint ever never again!!!!
(1)Lyndsay G.
The breakfast is amazing! Get there early to avoid a long wait. The fresh biscuits and homemade preserves are to die for! Also if given the choice order the hash brown casserole...so delicious!
(4)David B.
Best biscuits ever! Everything people said. Great southern food and hospitality. We came for dinner. I hope to come back soon and for breakfast.
(5)Jason S.
Loveless reminds me of a trip to my Mamaw's. I grew up with a grandmother whose cooking was legendary, she even has her own cookbook. The best part was she grew up in Texas, so we got a Tex-Mex bonus with home-made tamales, stuffed peppers, you name it. Another thing about my grandmother was that as growing up in a family of 15 kids (the 8th, 9th and 10th kids were girls and named Ada, Nina, and Tenny, respectively) and raising seven of her own, she couldn't cook for less than 30. It was impossible for her to conceive of what dinner for two was. We grew up with tons of great Southern cooking and she was always sending strangers away with food or canned goods, homemade apple butter, salsa, bread and butter pickles, strawberry freezer jam, you name it, she had it canned in the pantry. Ask her for a recipe and she would tell you she just threw it together, press her and she would give you something close, and always (intentionally) leave out a key ingredient so yours was never quite as good as hers. When I eat at the Loveless, I imagine an army of Mamaw clones behind the scenes, somehow cranking out copious amounts of good, ol-fashioned Southern staples and BBQ. Plus those biscuits. And the preserves I remember from my childhood. I've had just about everything on the menu and it is good, and the sides are also excellent. I've never had a bad meal there from a food standpoint and the service has also always been spot-on. They've also been very accommodating to our 18-mo old. Even though there may be a huge wait, it's worth it to get that flavor. A word of advice, avoid it on the weekends, it's a mess. You usually can get right in on a week night and avoid the tourists. The only reason I don't give them five stars is that their food is really pricey, considering what it is, and they definitely cash in on the novelty draw. As well, DO NOT order liquor, they have a few mixed drink options which are disgusting high-fructose corn syrup disasters (why I decided to order a mojito is beyond me, it was like citric acid cut with Wrigley's spearmint gum) priced as if they were not. If you want booze, grab a beer.
(4)Sarah B.
If you are in town, stop by and check this place out. My advice though, skip the wait for a table and get some biscuits with homemade preserves and a cup of coffee or sweet tea to go. We waited 2 hours for a table on a Sunday - some guests were being quoted up to 3 and a half hours for a table for two. I didn't think the food was worth the wait, but if the wait is quick, say less than 30 mins, it might be worth it to stay. Service is quick and friendly and the portions are big for the price.
(3)Walrus C.
look - their biscuits will make you want to burn down every KFC. just go.
(5)Kathleen H.
What a great place for lunch! Or supper, as they call it in the south. I had the pulled pork sandwich, which was delicious. But I am kicking myself for not getting the fried chicken. My husband got it and I almost stole it from him. The creamed corn was amazing. The biscuits were amazing. The blackberry jam was amazing. I could go on and on. If you find yourself *anywhere* in the Nashville area, GO!
(5)Christine W.
Best Southern food in Nashville. You can order anything and still leave with a happy belly and a huge smile. If it's your first visit, you must (I repeat MUST) try the biscuits with some peach preserves. I'm salivating just thinking about it!
(5)Michael W.
I'm sorry, this place really deserves all five stars. It's delightfully off the beaten path, with a nice down-homey (if a bit commercial) feel. Lots of yelpers have begrudged it that last star, but I say it's worth all five. You just need to know how to do Loveless. Rule #1: Call ahead. Loveless doesn't take reservations, but if you call and say you're on your way they will put your name down for you. It could shave an hour off a really long wait. Yeah, I know it's annoying, but they must be doing something right if they can attract crowds like they do. Rule #2: Order right. There is only one thing as far as I am concerned. Fried. Chicken. The big order. Easily the best I've had that wasn't home-cooked. Crispy, flaky crunchy, salty skin with little crunchy knobs of condensed batter here and there peeled back to reveal brilliant white tender juicy chicken. I want a piece right now. Add three sides (I recommend the gooey awesomeness of hashbrown casserole, greens with vinegar, and...screw it, double hashbrown casserole). Throw in an endless basket of biscuits and jam, and you are good to go. Man, are those biscuits good. Flaky soft airy buttery happy. Screw dessert. Give me more biscuits! I just wish it didn't take so long.
(5)Aaron D.
That rare place that lives up to the hype. Our sweet-as-tea waitress was charmingly Southern until we mentioned that we were visiting from Brooklyn, at which point she cocked her hip and pulled her native Bensonhurst accent out of her back pocket in no time flat. (But she was still as sweet-as-tea after that too.) We just split a single sampler platter (BBQ, fried chicken, ham, coleslaw, molasses yams) in our determination to save some room for dessert, but alas, even the sampler filled us to the brim. sigh. One of these days we'll go back just to try some pie. We might have had room for pie but our waitress insisted we have more than one helping of the awesome bisquits with fresh jams and I suspect the biscuits expanded in our stomachs and squeezed out any space for jam. But it was worth it to have the extra biscuits. As the Loveless t-shirts say - "Got biscuits?"
(5)Ken L.
Ok.... the biscuits are BOMB. The homestyle jam and sorgum (first time trying) compliment the biscuit very nicely. Heck, I'd go back just for the biscuits!! The food was okay. The chicken was good but nothing special (little dry) and I was there at around 7ish for dinner. The sides were decent.... the creamed corn was my favorite. The catfish was good but I'm sure you can find better else where. The service was attentive and my drinks were refilled when needed. But man.... those biscuits.... A friendly couple with their daughter that sat next to me gave me some suggestions for more places to eat. Folks are really nice there in Nashville.
(3)Mary T.
After seeing this place featured on The Food Network awhile ago, I've had a desire to go to Nashville and experience the famed Loveless Cafe biscuits and jam for myself. I had the opportunity last week during a spring break trip to Tennessee, and I was not disappointed. The biscuits. Sweet Jesus, the BISCUITS. Light, fluffy, yet firm and chewy. How do they do it? No one but the owners know, apparently. It's like they took the traditional southern biscuit and gave it to the Buddha, who took it to Nirvana and then brought it back to share with the unenlightened. Seriously, I cannot express in words how impressively delicious these biscuits are. Their preserves are nothing to sneeze at either, especially their blackberry preserves, which were rich and had what tasted like a subtle note of cinnamon in it. Their strawberry preservers were also good, but I found the peach preserves to be kind of bland and too sweet, like they'd boiled down canned peaches to make it. I also ordered their meatloaf, fried okra, and greens while my friend ordered the southern fried catfish, sweet potatoes, and fried okra. The meatloaf was moist and excellently seasoned with a tangy tomato sauce on top. The greens were also good, but I got a lot of little crunchies in there with them which lead me to believe that they hadn't rinsed them very well. Their fried okra was crunchy, which is a feat since a lot of fried okra I've ordered at other places has been soggy. The bite of fried catfish my friend allowed me to have personified southern tradition. She did say that her sweet potatoes were too sweet, though. In the end, all the food we had here was good, but the biscuits and preserves are definitely the stars of the show. I was so impressed by them that right after we got done eating I waddled over to the adjacent store and bought two jars of preserves and a bag of biscuit mix. I doubt it will be as good as the real thing, but even a shadow of the glory we experienced that night will make almost all other biscuits pale in comparison.
(4)Shannon Z.
Cheese Grits = Amazing, creamy with the perfect amount of cheese Fresh Biscuits = best I have ever had, flakey, buttery and light Homemade peach jam = perfect, and better when eaten with the best biscuit ever Hashbrown Casserole = more pure fatty yum Extra 5 lbs and possible heart attack, not cool. Gourmet Magazine and the Food Network, thank you for letting me know about this gem.
(5)jessica s.
OMG! The biscuits & jam are worth the 5 stars! Everything else is just as delicious.
(5)Ashley R.
Let me tell you a little story about Loveless Cafe, y'all. A friend and I decided to ride our bikes there one day from West End. 13 miles. Bad Idea. 5 hours later when we got there, waited an hour for our table, and the biscuits finally came, they literally saved my life. I owe those biscuits MY LIFE, I tell you. If you are gonna do Loveless, just forget about the calories and order the Fried Chicken with all the fixins (or you could burn it off with a bike ride- but seriously--dont.). Also, try your darndest to save room for Steeplechase pie. To Die For. The wait can be long, so go at a weird time and you should be ok. Otherwise plan on waiting at least an hour. Luckily there are little shops in the same complex to keep you busy. Recently, I went to the Loveless Barn on the property for music city roots. If you have not done this, you need to go as soon as humanly possible or, move away from Nashville . k thanks. bye.
(4)David H.
4.5 Loveless is one of those iconic places that becomes a bit of a tourist destination. I think it potentially gets a little more hype and press than it should for its own good, because it sets unrealistic expectations for some. I've seen it on the Food Network a few times, and the website has a collection of talk show appearances and other press. Make no mistake: their food is very tasty, but there are many other places of a similar quality that don't get this kind of press. "Great biscuits." That's probably the first thing you hear about Loveless Cafe. Since all of the reviewers here mention them, I won't belabor the point. Yeah, they're great -- I had them bring a second basket out, because I polished off the first before the meal came. I tried the Pork Barbecue over Cornbread Hoe Cakes with Hashbrown Casserole and Macaroni and Cheese as sides. Yeah, I know: health food. Anyway, it was all excellent. The barbecue was delicious and the hoe cakes were a nice accompaniment. The Hashbrown Casserole was definitely my favorite of the two sides dishes. Both sides were good, but I wish I had ordered a more balanced pair, because both were very cheesy. I also tried some of the pan fried chicken and it was great. Oh yeah, and the coconut cream pie was probably the best I've had. Everything I had here was just great. The one thing that confused me was the sweet tea: it wasn't as sweet as I would have imagined. I mean, this place calls dinner/luch "supper." I'd have expected the tea to be so sweet it gives you diabetes on contact. Oh well, it's a very minor nit. Anyway, the main downside to this place is the location and the wait. It is a fair drive from Nashville proper, and since it is somewhat of a tourist destination, the crowds are quite thick on weekends. Definitely take advantage of the call ahead so you can count your driving time against your wait for a table. It helps knock 20-30 minutes off the wait time.
(4)Dean W.
Was in town for business, thought I'd check out the Loveless again as it had been a few years. The biscuits were incredible, as were the 3 jams. Had the fried chicken plate (dark). Quarter chicken was generous...2 legs and a back/thigh. Came out very hot and fresh. The crust is not overly salty nor greasy, but the chicken was cooked just a few minutes too long. Even the leg meat was a bit tough. The turnip greens with pot liquor were excellent, as was the pot liquor. The fried okra was disappointing...the coating too thick and bready. I remember having this several years ago and it was a different cornmeal coating that was much lighter and crisper. Have they changed the recipe? Came around 5:30 on Monday night and the restaurant was pretty empty. Used to seeing this place being packed. Service was quick and friendly. I ended up walking out full but feeling a little let down...not the same as I remembered.
(3)Jeff M.
My favorite breakfast place in the U.S. Best biscuits ever (much to the chagrin of my peers in Atlanta). Fried chicken for breakfast: Yes, please! It always feels like home when I'm there.
(5)Char L.
Wow! I kicked my diet for this place. The biscuits are AWESOME. The gravy is AMAZING! The pulled pork breakfast platter is HUGE. You can totally share that with a friend. Ask for more biscuits and they will come, just remember gravy is $2.50 a cup. Be prepared for a wait.
(5)¡Pedro E.
I was recently in Nashville for the first time -- asked some friends for recommendations on where to eat. The Loveless Cafe and Prince's Hot Chicken were at the top of the list. I was staying in Brentwood, and it was a cold and rainy night -- just a couple of degrees above freezing (snowed the next day). I decided to brave the weather for a 7:30pm dinner, which turned out to be a good decision because it wasn't crowded at all. The fried chicken was really good -- I got a half chicken and, with the sides (stone-ground grits! -- get 'em!) and dessert had more than enough to eat. While it wasn't the BEST fried chicken I've ever had (that honor goes to a little hole in the wall in Quitman, Mississippi many years ago, and Prince's Hot Chicken Shack on the north side of Nashville is better), it was better than 90% of the other places I've had it. I also had some kind of home made chocolate pie that was remarkably good. Oh -- and the biscuits were also really good, especially with the fruit jam on them. Overall, good Southern cooking that's a notch above the rest -- worth a try if you're in town and you don't have to drive too far or wait in line too long to check it out.
(3)Karmann G.
Believe the hype! We traveled from Texas to and from Knoxville, TN and made it a point to stop here both directions! The biscuits are fabulous (blackberry was my favorite jam)...the chicken "fingers" are more like 3 chicken breasts and were so wonderful! Meatloaf is a huge healthy portion with tangy sauce. The hashbrown casserole is waaaay better than Cracker Barrell (and we love the CB!). Oh, and I had a salad with spicy candied pecans, bleu cheese and peach vinaigrette....my mouth is watering...over a salad :)
(5)Carol L.
This was my first meal in Tennessee, and was I glad to be here. The place is really "country" and cowboyish. The servers and hostess were incredibly friendly, and the portions are HUGE. apparently lots of famous country singers come here too. =) I ordered sweet tea and the sampler platter: choice of 3 meats and 2 side dishes. Biscuits were brought to our table with 3 types of jam and I do agree, those were damn good biscuits. I only ate one though, cuz i wanted to eat most of my meal. My sampler included fried catfish, fried chicken, bbq pulled pork, sauteed greens, and fried okra. Fried catfish: really good, not catfishy taste at all Fried chicken: i've had better. this was actually a bit dry. bbq pulled pork: good, but i've had better (...in texas and north carolina...) fried okra: pretty good sauteed greens: yum! If I ever visit nashville with friends, I'd bring them here for sure. Its a bit touristy, but super fun.
(4)Cory C.
BEST BISCUITS EVER. I do not have enough positive things to say about this adorable restaurant. While driving from NYC to LA we stumbled across this Nashville stable and were in awe of the adorable decor, friendly staff and food. While it is obvious the place has become a little more commercial it still has a lot of charm. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to throw down some country food!
(5)Anne B.
My fiance and I came out here for the first time. We made the mistake of walking around all of the shops first and then going into the Loveless Cafe for lunch. When we walked into the cafe, the wait was 1 hour and 20 minutes. Next time we would definitely put our names on the waiting list first, and THEN walk around. Anyway, the service was great. The food was delicious and came out fast. The biscuits were as good as we had read and heard about and we loved the jam that came with them. My fiance and I had the fried chicken which we really enjoyed and the bbq pork. The fried okra was soooo good and we also had the hash brown casserole which was good. It was worth the wait.
(4)Denise M.
I traveled to Nashville last week for a business trip and thought I would make the trek to the Loveless Café which I read so much about. Hey, if Gwyneth Paltrow states that it was her favorite restaurant to eat and hang out at while filming Country Strong, it's got to be good! I talked 2 others into driving the 40 minutes from our hotel to this roadside cafe and motel so we all had expectations. The meal started off on a high note with delicious homemade biscuits and 3 kinds of preserves. It was all downhill from there. We all ordered the Southern Sampler Platter per our waiters' suggestion and all 3 of us were disappointed. The pulled pork bbq was tougher than my leather hiking boots, the 2 strips of fried catfish were about as thin as a number 2 pencil and the fried chicken was drier than an extra crispy order at KFC! I was looking for a "green" vegetable side dish to save myself from using a defibrillator and the only option were "green beans cooked all day in a pot with ham". I ordered it anyway seeing as the "vegetable of the day" was a sugary apple. Hmm...did someone change the category of an apple from a fruit to a vegetable and not tell me? The green beans were nothing short of mush. The chef must have gotten wind that I recently had dental work and was abiding my dentist's orders of not biting into something hard for awhile. We skipped dessert and burned rubber out of the restaurant only to complain about it for the next 40 minutes back to the hotel.
(2)Raed A.
country-style food cannot get any better then this place. this is a must do if you are in Nashville. don't leave without eating here. service is superb, food amazing, decor is pretty cool. if i can give it another star i would. i was there on Tues night. no waiting. prices were good for the amount of food that you get. you will not leave this place without unbuckling your belt. I got the samplers platter with fried chicken, catfish, fried tomatoes, and moonshine.
(5)Rob G.
Loved this place. Homemade biscuits with homemade jam is better than anywhere.
(5)Susan G.
Had lunch at the Loveless today. The chicken fried chicken was yummy and the sides really good. The green beans have been better in the past but the home fries make a great side dish. Everybody knows the biscuits are hard to beat. Yes, you have to wait but it's worth it. If you're looking for fast food, then this is not your destination. If you want really tasty, home style food, like you can't find everywhere, then try the Loveless!
(4)Mike M.
Bisquits and gravy with bisquits and jam on the side - yeah!
(5)Melissa S.
My boyfriend is from Nashville and I have been waiting to try Loveless for quite some time now. I went in knowing it would be fatty, delicious Southern goodness, but I didn't plan on eating nearly as much as I actually did! The whole place is really fun - there's an outdoor smokehouse for the meats, porch swings, and the best part - a general store filled with stuff we wanted to buy. Luckily we were smart enough to go back after we had eaten so we didn't walk out of there loaded down with candy, fudge, pecans, and whatever else we could get our hands on. As soon as we sat down, we were given a heaping plate of hot biscuits and 3 kinds of homemade preserves. They were amazing! (My boyfriend says the biscuits used to be better, but I still enjoyed them just fine.) I would have been satisfied with just the biscuits for lunch, but I had to order MORE biscuits, gravy and sausage for my meal. Oh yeah, and I got cheese grits, too. The plate came with 4 biscuits, so believe me, there was no skimping on the portions at Loveless. Craig got the fried chicken and it was delicious. We didn't even think about dessert, but I am sure it's good, too. We went on a Friday for lunch and it was packed, so I would recommend going really early if you're hoping for a weekend meal. It's a really fun touristy place and I can't wait to go back! I may have to starve myself for a week beforehand so I'll be ready next time...
(4)Sylvia R.
Visiting Nashville, my husband and I loved this place so much we made sure to get here again before leaving tomorrow!! We had dinner both times, and between the biscuits and the HUGE portions of food, we left happy and waddling! Our first waitress was kind but kind of quiet and quick (Melanie, I think?)- but tonight we had a trainee who was the nicest waitress we've ever had- she was attentive, kind, and gave us extra biscuits in our to go box! The prices for the portions are awesome, and if my husband says it's some of the best ribs he's every eaten, I take that as a huge compliment. If I ever need a reason to return to Nashville, Loveless will be one of them!
(5)Lawrence W.
The Loveless Cafe capped off the Soul/Southern food component of our trip eating our way across the country. It was a beautiful meal. The atmosphere is nice and homey, with pictures of famous visitors to Loveless covering the entryway. In the dining room, you'll find character both on the walls and in the waitstaff. And the "Biscuit Lady",Carol Fay, who's become somewhat famous in her own right, greeted us as we walked in, and bid farewell to us as we left. Just a brief glance at the other Yelps tells you for certain, if you just drive here for the biscuits, you will not be disappointed. The jams are also delicious and set this place apart. I ordered the chicken tenders (I'm not a fan of eating meat off the bone), and my wife had the fried chicken. The batter was the same for both and it was delicious -- some of the best I've ever had. I had the mac and cheese, and even though it was good, it wasn't my style. But the homemade creamed corn was far and away the absolute best I have ever tasted, under any circumstances, ever. Amazingly, I had room for dessert. I wanted cobbler, but they were out, so I had banana pudding (good, but not great by any means -- too dry). All in all, if you are ever in this part of the country and don't try to eat at the Loveless, you'd be doing yourself a great disservice.
(4)Rozzie M.
Great service. Great biscuits. Great atmosphere. Fun place.
(4)Kate R.
(just a fyi i want this to be 3.5 stars.) made a point to get to this place bright and early one day when we were in nashville because of the reviews. call us cliche or whatever you want, but i wanted to try those damn biscuits! we ventured out to loveless at 730 am on a friday morning and stepping out of the car i instantly smelled the goodness. warm. fresh. flakey. biscuits. mmmmmmm. they were SO good. and paired perfectly with some butter and homemade jam. yum yum yum. in addition to the mountain of biscuits we devoured, i ordered a southern omelet and the boy got the half order of the country ham. so much food! all-in-all, everything was tasty, but nothing really compared to the deliciousness of the biscuits. service was great and attentive to our coffee (and biscuit!) refills. will definitely revisit loveless, but next time i want to go at lunch to get the fried chicken platter. yummy.
(3)m g.
Worth the splurge/sacrificing your body, i guess maybe fast before you go? Everything is delicious, the area is adorable. Biscuits and the preserves....its hard to stop eating them, i agree they really should be illegal. Fried Okra really good, same w the mac and cheese, the sweet potatoes with some sort of carmel in it is great too. Delicious pulled pork sandwich! Love love love this place
(5)Martha M.
First of all I must make the disclaimer that I am writing this as a tourist. That said, I LOVED this place! The food, atmosphere, all of it was exactly what I was hoping for and more. We went here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and for 3 people, our wait was a little under an hour. It flew by though since this place is perfectly catered to having to wait for awhile. There is a smokehouse where you can watch the meat being smoked, and a few little stores to peruse through. The little general store was really cool. (remember I was there as a tourist). The decor inside the place was so great. Very homey and comfortable. The food was insatiable! Biscuits and gravy definitely lived up to my expectations. I had the pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and candied sweet potatoes and it was AWESOME. And the sweet tea . . oh the sweet tea. The second my tea was gone, all of the sudden poof! someone was there to fill it! The combination of great decor, delicious food and excellent service made this is a no question five star rating.
(5)Jennifer J.
I was told this place was great before I moved here, but I think the management changed because it really wasn't very good. The BISCUITS are the BEST! They have always been know for them and that hasn't changed. The rest of the food isn't that great. I've ordered breakfast, lunch and dinner and I have never been impressed. In fact, a lunch there was very disappointing, I ordered a grilled chicken salad. I also had a meatloaf dinner there that left much to be desired.
(3)Jason M.
Overpriced tourist trap or iconoclastic Nashville landmark? Well , a little bit of both. Without a doubt the biscuits and homemade preserves are other worldly and I could of made a meal out of them alone. The country ham (my favorite kind of ham) is reportedly the best in the nation. Maybe my expectations where too high but I was hardly wowed by it and the red-eye gravy. I mean really red-eye gravy is just coffee and ham juice so I guess I shouldn't be as disappointed but it was awfully bitter. And the ham was burned on one side. tsk, tsk tsk... However if you're in the area, I'd stop by.
(4)kristen p.
Loveless is the place where you gather all your friends, take a lot of pictures, and eat mountains of amazing biscuits. There are just a couple of vegetarian options ranging from the garden omelet to a plate of sides (think mac & cheese and fried okra). The sweet tea is good. It's not too sweet so it still tastes like tea. (Preferably go on a weekday for lunch.) Surrounded by cute shops, this place is a destination in itself.
(5)Jeremiah B.
I didn't understand why we were driving so far out of Nashville city to go to this place during a recent visit. After the first bite of biscuit I got it. They serve them to you pretty much first thing. Like getting dessert before you eat your meal. The food is what you'd expect from sumptuous Southern cuisine, home made and simple. I thoroughly enjoyed the honey smoked chicken (special that day), slaw and mashed taters. The sweet tea wasn't bad either. If I ever return to Nashville, this is definitely a place I'll hit up again.
(5)Leslie A.
I'm NOT a huge meat meaty eater but the BBQ Pulled Pork was fabulous. The fried chicken was decent though not my favorite. The sides were all fabulous... give me hash browns with cheese everywhere (not sure of the official dish name), creamed corn, and biscuits with fresh jams of sorts (blackberry being my favorite). Remember this is VERY, VERY southern. That tastes so good somebody must have stuck their toe in it! Or furthermore appropriate... That tastes so good I'm 'bout to jump up and slap my mama! Go there and you too can learn Southern phrases to express how goooooood it really is.
(4)Ken P.
I had an excellent southern omelet. The biscuits were fantastic! Even the coffee was exceptional. Quaint ambiance and a very attentive wait staff. I will eat here again on my next trip to Nashville.
(5)J C.
Pretty typical Southern dishes. I grew up in the South, so I suppose it's a bit more difficult for me to be impressed with the food because it's the kind I grew up on. However, that said, everything was cooked to perfection. This place is famed for the celebrity drop-ins and greasy comfort food. I imagine breakfast is even better than lunch.
(3)Jim P.
Simple, amazing, homestyle classic southern American food. Had an hour wait at 1pm on Friday afternoon. Kids got a moon pie at the gift shop to hold them over. Had a few other shops to browse and pass the time. It was worth it. Wow, where to begin... A plateful of hot fresh country biscuits with homade strawberry and blackberry preserves. Then comes the family platter. The best fried chicken I've had, a huge portion of pulled pork perfectly smoked served with corn cakes and BBQ sauce on the side. Bowls filled with great Mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and green beans. I had three platefuls of everything ... Pure gluttony, so happy. Then had to squeeze in another biscuit and jam. Only regret is no room for dessert. A must stop in Nashville.
(5)C. Benjamin W.
A certain (small) element of sincerity envelops the kitsch at the Loveless Cafe and that is what makes a trip here worthwhile. Sure, the "market" and the "emporium" bordering on the parking lot tell of a country helping of tourist trash, but the restaurant inside is a modestly decorated and welcoming room. Coming from out of town, I was expecting to grimace under the stares of decorative acoustic guitars and various disembodied Nashville flavored stage costumes. Okay... that's a joke. I'm not really that much of a jackass. Anyhow, the little murals and plaques dedicated to national country music celebrities were very cool and ernest tributes. That's enough about the room though. The servings were huge and tasty Southern fare. There was not much that jumped out, but nothing needs to when you're eating pulled pork and biscuits. I would have liked to have the family dinner so that I could have tried the fried chicken and catfish, but that requires a party of four or more. This place does not just seem to be good for groups, but a much better experience in a group. Service was fast and the prices were great (coming from Chicago). I'd go back soon if I hadn't had a lifetime's requirement of pork this time.
(4)Jasmine M.
These are the best biscuits ever. If you're on the move, get these biscuits to go. But, by no means, leave Nashville without sampling a few of these piping hot buttery pieces of morning heaven with fresh jam. I made my boyfriend go out our way for these and he sighed at first, but later it was sigh of satisfaction from the biscuits.
(5)kathy w.
Why isn't anyone raving about the SQUASH CASSEROLE????? 1st time to Nashville,1st time to the Loveless and 1st time kissing a bowl of cheesy squash!!!!!! Yeah, we drove about an hour to get there. Yeah, we waited about an hour and 1/2 to eat, but HELLS TO THE YEEEEEEAH was it worth it. I want to marry that squash casserole. Thanks Layla for taking a pic of me and me squash making- out!!
(5)Remy M.
This is probably the best place ever. The food is spectacular. I had my doubts about the biscuit hype, but I was mistaken--they were the best biscuits I've ever had. The country ham is amazing. I'm not really the BBQ type, but the pulled pork sandwich is great. I'm not convinced there's a bad choice on the menu. What's more, they have a small store on the premises, as well as a mail-order business, so you can also order some of their food through there. I would recommend picking up some of their preserves--spectacular!
(5)Sam K.
I can't believe this place isn't all five stars. Definitely one of the pillars of Nashville cuisine, this place is not to be missed. The biscuit and jam are the freshest I've ever tasted. Family style is a whole lot of good - albeit not always five star but definitely respectable - food. Line can be long but it's well worth it and the waiters are usually very friendly. Reading through the reviews, most lower reviews may stem from over hype. It may never be as good as some people make it out to be, but most definitely class above many other 'four - five star' restaurants on yelp.
(5)April L.
This is a great place to take your family or out-of-towners...Especially yankees :) Because after they eat here they will both understand why there are so many proud chubby southerners, and gain a new respect for our evidently very resilient arteries. This good old fashioned southern diner food - bad for you, YES, but not grease for grease's sake. It's quite a few steps above your average trough-style southern dive/chain. There are serious recipes here (the fried chicken in particular!), and if you messed with them, I get the feeling someone's grandma would come to your house and whack you with her cane. There's a cute tourist-friendly gift shop too, the contents of which represent what I imagine is the largest single collection of random southern euphemisms fit to publish on a knick-nack. Overall, its a good time. Come hungry, leave in a wheelbarrow :)
(4)Retired B.
Went around 10:30 and there was no wait! Service was excellent. Biscuits with the homemade jams were tasty. I tried the sampler with pulled pork, fried catfish and fried chicken. Everything was good. The sides of hashbrown casserole and fried okra were just as delicious. We also tried a BLT with fried green tomatoes and if I wasn't so stuffed full of fried foods, I would have scarfed the entire sandwich down as well.
(4)Montez B.
I must admit the drive appeared a little long, but overall, it was a fantastic dinner for my family on Mother's day.. The Biscuits were not as expected unfortunate too. The Sweet Tea needed help as well... But overall service was fast and quick , Enjoyed!
(4)Maddie S.
Loveless is overrated. PERIOD. I have lived 5 minutes away from the restaurant my entire life and have visited on numerous occasions. As I have grown older and refined my tastes, I have enjoyed each dining experience less and less. Loveless has decent food. Food is often oversalted and greasy. Obviously, one must expect something like that before going to a restaurant like Loveless. There are several other places in Nashville that serve much better Southern cuisine.
(2)maxine r.
I rode a bicycle up the trace to Nashville. Everyone was telling me about this place. Breakfast cost me over 17 dollars. I thought that was a lot of money for a mediocre breakfast. This place is pricey for you get. If was fun to look at the pictures on the wall and chat with the staff, but the food was nothing special. I'd would avoid eating here. The 'Calypso Cafe' in Nashville, IMHO, is a much better dining experience. Sure, Loveless, is a unique place with history. But the food is just worth what they charge.
(2)Deb V.
Biscuits are one of a kind. they are fabulous! Other than that food was nothing special to me. Nothing stood out to me..just your same ol' same ol'. Tasted alright. Great shops around the restaurant. Brought home some goodies from the place right next door. Great selection of jams and all that unusual tasty stuff. Boutique shops around there are neat to go to especially during a long wait on a Sunday..oh yeah.. waits can be huuuge! Setting is gorgeous.. being on the mountains and all. The drive is breath taking! Service was alright..here and there I'd get the disappearing act from a waitress. Price ain't bad...but I'd rather go somewhere else.
(3)Veronica L.
My cousins and sister could not stop raving about this place. All I heard was "omg the biscuits" and "omg the preserves." I had no idea what was going on. We were just driving and driving in what felt like the middle of no where..until we finally hit the Loveless Cafe and all of it's other businesses. The entire lot is kinda like it's own theme park for the Loveless Cafe. It's got its own market and some art and craft stores. It's cute. Not my style but it's cute. Waiting for a table, I decided to mozy around to the market store and there I finally understood that this was THE biscuit place. The one that won in that food network challenge vs. bobby flay. I'm not a bobby flay fan so I was super glad to know that this "Biscuit Lady" (that's what they call her apparently-- I prefer Goddess of Biscuits) triumphed over him in the biscuit challenge. With this piece of information, I was starting to understand my family's hype and got super excited. I already love biscuits but I'm from California where I feel like there isn't many places that specialize in biscuits, so this was very exciting-- finally to eat biscuits that people who know good biscuits think are good biscuits. So finally we sit down at our table and out come these glorious pieces of heaven- hot and soft and flaky in just the right places. They were bites of wonderful. And damn, I love the preserves tooooo! The mountain of hot biscuits come with three different side jams-- strawberry, peach, and blackberry. I didn't care which one I had because the combination of biscuit and preserve? One cannot go wrong with any of it. Amazeballs! The only reason I don't give it five stars (Because the biscuits and preserves totally deserve 5 if not 6 stars) is that the breakfast I had was just okay. And the chicken fried steak (or country fried steak--forgot what it's called) was just .. meh. It was nothing special nor it do I think it was worth the prices. I had eggs and sausage and I was quite disappointed. The sausage was burnt and awkward tasting, and the home fries were crispy but just okay. Perhaps it was because of all the quality goodness that the biscuits gave me that the other foods were so bland. Still despite the mediocre food, I'd go back for the biscuits. This time knowing to just order maybe a side of crispy hot home fries, and just chow down on like 10 biscuits and preserves.. Carol Fay-- you are the goddess of biscuits. Good job.
(4)Tony J.
had a late lunch there yesterday afternoon after watching coldplay at the sommet center last saturday. they were packed, we had to wait around 40 minutes to get a table. the place is nice, the service was good. the food was pretty ok, typical southern home cooking, fried chicken, ham, fried catfish, barbecue, with all the sides and desserts. i have to agree though with all the good reviews on their biscuits. those small buttery biscuits are excellent.
(3)Eri K.
I was only in Nashville for a short time, so I Yelped for some southern comfort food and was very please when I found Loveless Cafe. It's a little ways out of the city but has a great story and delicious food. It is just the kind of place you go for real sweet tea and hot butter biscuits. The service was mediocre, but the food makes you forget that real quick. Definitely try the cobbler!
(4)Andrew M.
Really good southern food, service was excellent and the price was reasonable. I love their chicken!
(5)Amy B.
A bit of a wait, but that's fine because there is plenty to keep you occupied. Plenty of cute shops surrounding it (although they aren't open as late as the restaurant.) Nice places to sit, swing or take pictures with friends/family while you wait. Delicious biscuits of course. Waiter was a bit rushed and food brought out a bit cold but didn't mind heating it for us. Meat and three were perfection! Top it off with sweet tea!
(4)Cara P.
I have been to the Pancake Pantry, which I thought was vastly overrated, so I was a little nervous about going to the Loveless. I shouldn't have been. It was well worth the drive from Donelson! We went for breakfast on a Wednesday morning, so we had no wait at all. I had the bbq & eggs, husband had the sampler w/bacon, sausage, & ham. I loved my bbq; I liked the sauce, but I'm not sure it was strictly necessary, the meat itself was so good! And the biscuits really are terrific; they're light, but sturdy enough to dip in your egg yolk. And the grits are great, stone ground, and just thick enough. Tasted husband's meats; I thought the ham was too salty, but the sausage & bacon were great (brought some home). And everyone was extremely nice. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)jenny v.
another great southern food destination. the wait for a table was ridiculous (an hour and 1/2), so we got our food to go (10 minutes) and ate on the picnic tables out front. can't go wrong with the ham, sweet potatoes, and mac & cheese. don't forget the sweet tea...ahhh
(4)Cesca B.
I ordered the veggie omelette to which my friend responded: "That's like going to the North End and ordering a burger." [For anyone who doesn't get the reference, Boston's North End is famous for its Italian food.] He was right. This is a terrible habit of mine, ordering something other than what the establishment is famous for. Fortunately, my dining partner ordered enough typical southern fare to feed a family of 6. No lie, he ordered: BBQ pork, meatloaf, fried catfish, mashed potatoes, and mac & cheese. His meal also came with a hush puppy. I haven't read the other reviews on Loveless, but I'm sure everybody's mentioned by now that the biscuits are amazing. My veggie omelette was fine, but I'm really glad I was able to sample everything on my friend's plate. I was able to see what real southern cooking was like without assuming much of the liability. We waited over an hour to be seated, but it was well worth it. I got some souvenirs from the shops surrounding the restaurant while we waited. We were also treated to a father/son duo performing live music outside. It was a great experience and anyone who visits Nashville should check out Loveless. But call ahead.
(4)Tracey M.
I was going to Nashville and read up on great places to dine. I really enjoyed the southern breakfast and was worth the drive. I went on a Friday morning, didn't have a wait and got a single table by the window. The biscuits, jams and county ham were delicious. Definitely worth the drive.
(5)Tracy G.
I lived in Nashville for 6 years and it took going back for a visit to go to here. Biscuits and jams are just as good as my Grandma's. Yes, it is a long wait, but there is a reason that people will go so far out town to wait for their meal. I didn't have the country ham when I was here, but I have been told its amazing. A great place to get a country breakfast!
(4)Heather E.
This place was highly recommended by a family member and it lived up to the hype in food, service and atmosphere. If you're only in town for a short while, forget the calorie counting and make this a required stop. Get the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, grits and ask for extra biscuits if you have room! Peach pie to go was the perfect finish. Worth the drive and way better than anything in the downtown area.
(5)kimbe m.
Ohhhhh... used to be amazingly good, and (sorry for using this word) authentic. Grew and grew. Expanded. Cleaned up. Not as good now, alas. Still, if you're visiting, it's a great place for breakfast. (Though frankly, I'd send/take visiting folk to One Stop Cafe in Franklin for down-home funky eats...)
(3)PG M.
I spent an hour here dunking each of nine biscuits into a bowl of sausage gravy and then mercilessly devouring those artery bullets. I ordered the country ham and eggs which was pretty good but really irrelevant once I understood the biscuits were not going to stop coming. I've only spent five days of my life in Nashville, but I will confidently pronounce that no trip to that city is complete without a meal at Loveless. Nashville's population should take their hands off their ass and start giving Loveless more props on Yelp.
(5)Nathan K.
This place is a Nashville icon and certainly well known as an icon in country music. Their bisquits and jams are simply awesome--its hard to get better. YUM!! Alternatively, I have had an occassional mediocre fod experience at Loveless, but generally the staff are eager to correct any problems. Refreshingly they aim to please at the Loveless Cafe, if your out of the South and want to some on your doorstep, this is absolutely a place to check out. If you're in the South and you want to export just a taste to friends and relatives...they will be more than happy to oblige you. If you've been in town less than a year...or you've lived here your whole life...you owe it to yourself and your tastebuds to check this place out.(4.2-4.5).
(4)jesus z.
ok food ,great service , we found this place on food channel
(4)Donna K.
This had the best fried chicken in nashville but the sides and dessert was o.k. Ironically, I had just eaten at Miss Mary Bobo's in Lychburg, TN the day before which was the opposite in experience where the chicken wasn't great but the sides, meatloaf, and desserts were exceptional. Loveless is about a half hour from downtown Nashville and is known for it's chicken and biscuits. Although the biscuits at KFC to me was actually better tasting, but the chicken was superb. The pulled pork and sauce was pretty good, but the ham didn't particularly thrill me. I think the ham at the pancake house in anaheim, ca tastes better.
(4)Matthew B.
I'll say that it is an interesting establishment, which I assume is the desired expression. It can get crowded if you don't pick your times carefully. The price is right and it is a Nashville experience that is worth trying. Especially if you get the BBQ ;)
(3)Cameron P.
I've heard that this place has been rated as one of the top five breakfast restaurants in all of America so I had to go see what it's all about. On a Sunday afternoon at about 1:30 the wait was over 2 hours! I had my doubts that this place is worth the 2 hour plus wait, so I went to the store next door and picked up some biscuit mix, strawberry preserves and country ham. Without actually eating here it's hard for me to rate the place, but I'll give it 4 stars for now and likely add one more when I return if I can get in to eat in under an hour. UPDATE: Since my first visit, I've made two trips back. Ranked as one of the top five best breakfast restaurants in the nation??? I'm not sure about that. I guess I may be spoiled, go to the San Francisco Bay Area and I guarantee that you can find five better breakfast restaurants there. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, I just don't think it deserves the hype that it gets. Maybe the best thing about the Loveless Cafe is their PR.
(4)Peter M.
The bad parts are that it is ways outside of town and overrun with tourists --waits can be as long as 2+ hours for brunch. Also, its been bought from the original owners, expanded, and is more commericalized. However, still the best fried chicken, country ham and biscuits you'll ever get. Waitstaff and decor are still intact, so you'll still feel like you're in Dukes of Hazard. I suggest going for a big dinner with friends: its BYOB, and you can climb over the grassy knowl to the gas station and buy some beer.
(5)