I went back to one of my favorite plant-based restaurants, Sunflower Cafe in Nashville. The food and service has always been excellent, so I had high expectations.
For this meal I purchased the following items:
Traditional Sunflower Burger
Traditional Sunflower Burger at Sunflower Cafe in Nashville TN |
Every bite of this burger was perfect! The whole wheat bun was fresh. The veggies were crisp and refreshing. The burger patty was softer than I prefer, but the taste was perfect. The sun-dried tomato spread had a slightly floral taste, which was a pleasant surprise. The garlic aioli was a perfect sauce for this burger. Overall, this burger had a bright combination of harmonious flavors with enough texture variations to keep every bite a pleasure. A toasted bun and crispier patty are the only clear possibilities for improvement. Excellent burger!
Collard greens, Seasoned Potatoes, and Jalapeno Cornbread
Collard greens, seasoned potatoes, and cornbread at Sunflower Cafe in Nashville TN |
The collard greens were southern style with a smokey, well-done flavor. Omnivores would like this side item, because it tasted very much like it was cooked with ham. I don't usually like smokey foods, but this was addictive. I even drank the juice in the bottom of the bowl.
The seasoned potatoes were loaded with flavor. Some pieces were over-cooked but not to the point that it kept me from eating them. This was the veggie of the day, and it was good enough to be there everyday.
I've had the jalapeno cornbread before. I had to buy it again. The texture was soft with a finer grain, The jalapeno was hot, but there wasn't too much of it. Vegan cornbread is usually crumbly. This crumbled when I bit into it, but it held together pretty well. The tastes was great, but it was just a bit sweeter than I prefer. After the second or third bite, it seemed perfect.
All of this food was just too much to eat. I did get a take-out box. It was difficult going through the line and not getting one of everything.
My lasting impression of this meal is very positive. This was the best meal I've had in months. The price was a bit high, but this was real food made by real people. I'm willing to pay good money for real food. The service was good, but I do remember the Sunflower crew being more friendly during my past visits. It was probably just a busy day. I know how it can be. I hope to visit again soon. It will take many more visits to try all of the vegan options at Sunflower Cafe.