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If you've spent any time around Edgehill Village, you already know that change is afoot. From just-opened businesses like Warby Parker, Beija Flor Jeans, and soon J.Crew to the seemingly constant construction, it's been a neighborhood in flux since last spring when the property's new ownership group, Edgehill Village Investors LLC, started upgrading the area. But all that change is a good thing, says Winn Elliott, who, along with his dad, Mike, owns Edgehill (née Cafe), a neighborhood fixture that has been transformed into an all-day space complete with a fresh, grown-up look, an expansive patio, and a more robust food and drink menu.
'Change across Nashville is happening whether we want it to or not. We've chosen to embrace it,” says Elliott.
What helps, he adds, is having landlords with a good vision who also want to help him grow his business; to that end, they asked him for a wish list, and he came back with ideas like more seating and bigger kitchen and patio spaces. When they suggested moving the restaurant down to the other end of the building to fill the property once occupied by Nomzilla, it wasn't what Elliott expectedbut it turned out to be exactly what Edgehill needed.
'It became immediately obvious that this new space would work for the better,” he says.
Once the decision was made, Elliott sat down with architectural and interior designer Chad James, whose offices sat right over the original café. As they brainstormed, both realized that if they were going to change locations, they also needed to change the look and feel. Gone are the barn wood and rustic feel. In their place, you'll find a sophisticated yet cozy space washed in grays and whites with modern touches throughout.
But with all that change came a transition period, which Edgehill seems to be working through. There is still a coffee and pastry bar, where guests can order something to go or to take to the large communal table up frontlamps installed on the table provide a power source for those who want to camp out and get some work done. But there's also a full dining room toward the back that is manned by a seating hostthings get tricky when guests try to snag those tables on their own.
'Our regulars who have continued to come to the restaurant throughout all this change have been very patient with us as we work out the kinks,” Elliott admits. Meanwhile, he's facing the same challenge that many Nashville eateries face: staffing issues.
Regardless of the hiccups, what's been well received out of the gate is the new and improved menu. Chef Michael Gilbert, who has been with the restaurant since 2013, has likely seen the biggest work-life improvements thanks to the upgrade to a full kitchen.
'I started with a microwave and a toaster oven in the other space,” he says. 'When we got an electric [burner], people were so excited just to be able to get scrambled eggs.”
Today, he has a fully functional kitchen complete with burners, ovens, and a fryer, which allowed him to utterly overhaul the menu. Now, you'll find fried chicken and burger entrées, plus all-day breakfast items like omelets and shrimp and grits. Gilbert calls the menu elevated Southern cuisine that's completely approachable: 'We're making our own sausagemore like your grandmother would make but a bit more elevated,” he says. Even the addition of scotch eggs (he makes his with ground bacon instead of the standard sausage) and a heart-healthy yet filling quinoa bowl have him excited to come to work every day. 'I like to make what people want to eat,” he adds.
The space is currently open until 8 p.m., but closing time might get pushed a little later once the restaurant receives its full liquor licenseElliott is hopeful there will be wine and liquor on offer later this month. There's a weekend brunch menu, too, and potentially additional menu items as the restaurant evolves.
'Right now, we want our clientele to get used to this menu, to maybe check out the turkey brie hot brown if they once liked the turkey pesto,” he says.
Hopefully, they'll also spend time getting to know the classy new space, which is already doing its part to blend in with the changing landscape around it.
1201 Villa Pl; 615-942-5717; edgehillcafe.com