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Provence Breads & Cafe
Categories: Food Bakeries Restaurants French Restaurants Sandwiches Bakeries, French, Sandwiches [Edit]
1705 21st Ave SNashville, TN 37212
Neighborhoods: Hillsboro/West End, 21st/Vanderbilt
(615) 386-0363
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 8 pm
Sat 8 am - 8 pm
Sun 8 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
61 reviews for Provence Breads & Cafe
Review Highlights
"...in the mile-long line at Pancake Pantry across the street."
(in 4 reviews)
"...to see that they serve Intelligentsia coffee, since that is..."
(in 4 reviews)
"...has unbeatable breads, cakes, pastries, tarts, scones and..."
(in 17 reviews)
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61 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah P.
12/1/2011
If you are looking for a place to study or conduct a meeting I would recommend Provence in Hillsboro Village. Not only do they have a number of seating options (high tops, low two-person and family farm style which is my personal favorite) but they also have goo-gobs of delicious baked goods as well as soup.
On this particular visit, my second and counting, I ordered the butternut squash chipotle soup. It went down so smooth on a cold evening for $4. It came with two slices of fresh baked bread. Oh, the bread. Some may feel that bread is just bread. Well, I'm not one of those people.
Provence incorporates hearty flavor into the closest thing to farm-fresh bread that I have been able to find. I could have used some more bread with my cup of soup though. Their menu is by no means limited to soup and bread, sandwiches, cakes and other assorted treats are on there too. -
Review from MIke J.
Nashville, TN
10/30/2011
Brain Dead Goth Zombies
It's not solely the fault of the incompetent staff - you'd be a brain dead goth zombie too if you had to deal with the Pancake Pantry overflow every morning. You know what we mean...the chunky family of four, who after waiting 30 minutes in the Pancake Pantry line decide to jump ship, cross the street and grab some pancakes at Provence. Only problem, Provence doesn't sell pancakes...
Even so, the service is PAINFULLY S-L-O-W. So slow, that about half the time we wind up leaving without placing our order. Folks, all it takes is ONE person ahead of you in the line to order a sandwich that requires "toasting" and you are on the hook for a 7-10 minute wait. Integral to this the fact that you cannot place your order until the person in front of you has been handed their completed order. Just want coffee? Too bad. Three people ahead of you in line; hope you brought a book. Or feel free to amuse yourself by watching the three employees lolly-gagging behind the counter. They are cool cats, with nice tats; are they working? One looks bored, the other looks hung over and bored, and the third contemplates operating the espresso machine, thinks better of it, and goes back to looking bored. Now he's looking at his fingers, wiggling them around from time to time. Will he go help "hung-over and bored" with the sandwich order, or, maybe snag us a coffee cup so we can finally get our self-service coffee...of course not.
We get the arrogantly shabby Village vibe, but at some point, we just want our coffee. Management, are you out there??? -
Review from Rachel D.
10/15/2011
Donc, je suis venue ici pour rencontrer des étrangers pour un peu de conversation en français.
I was a bit disappointed initially in their sandwich offerings -- I don't know what I was expecting, but I really thought that sandwiches were going to be made to order, not sitting in their refrigerated section wrapped in plastic. But after I had a bite of their veggie Montecito, all was well in my world.
The place can get loud when it's busy -- loud enough that I couldn't hear the conversation of the people I was with. And since I was there to improve my listening comprehension of French, I think I missed a quarter of what was being said -- if I understood it.
The place crams as many tables and chairs that they can get away with. But I've lived in college towns nearly all my life; I think for a cafe near campus, this is par for the course.
I will definitely be back to try out their breakfast offerings. -
Review from Addison S.
Nashville, TN
9/20/2011
I stopped in this week (I'm here about once a month) and opted for the soup and a cup a joe. The soup (OMFG) was Spicy Spinach and Crawfish (WTF?) and it was SO AMAZING. The coffee was good. Could have been better... ordered the Nutty Turtle Mocha, and while the flavour was fun I felt like I was drinking simply coffee with fun creamer. Didn't taste quite like a latte.
Cheers! -
Review from lyndi s.
8/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I'd rather sit in here on a hot Sunday morning, sipping a freshly made latte mind you, than stand in line at Pancake Pantry.
While I love Pancake Pantry (and will stand in line for out-of-towners), I was pleased to finally visit this place after window shopping my little heart out over the tarts and creamy coffees handed out in wide-brimmed (real!) coffee mugs. We ventured inside to find that this place is actually huge. The high ceilings reminded me of New Orleans, but the cafe itself reminded me of Paris cafes, and that combo right there had me giddy with excitement (but not too giddy - I hadn't had my coffee yet).
I ordered the scrambled eggs with tomatoes and serrano peppers, grits, toast, and a honeybee latte. Delicious! The tomatoes and peppers were fresh and offered a great kick, and the grits were spicy, creamy and gone in 2 minutes flat. The eggs could have been a little less cooked, but I prefer them runnier than most, so I couldn't really hate on that. The latte was honey/vanilla inspired, and was just strong enough to keep me lasting through the 100 degree Sunday afternoon I spent walking around in the Nashville summer heat!
I am thrilled to go back and try some of their delicious pastries, or their wide array of fresh sandwich and salad options! -
Review from Nina I.
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
You know, there is always "that place" where you can sit down with a cup of coffee and a croissant and surf the web in piece. Well, this is "that place". For any body going to the south any time soon i would recommend this location as a nice relaxing piece of mind.
The staff is super friendly. The food is fresh every morning and you can get it as a panini or cold sandwich, or pastries and croissants, sweets, etc. They're known for their cappuccinos and have interesting choices for sodas.
This is definitely my new hot spot when I move to Tennessee. :} -
Review from Sam L.
Nashville, TN
7/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first encounter with Provence was buying a loaf of rosemary & olive oil bread at the Nashville Farmer's Market. That same day, while wandering around on 21st ave, we decided to stop in for a cup of coffee & piece of cake. It was absolutely delicious (very strong coffee!). I was so glad to see that they serve Intelligentsia coffee, since that is what I was used to drinking in Chicago.
We took our bread to Arrington Vineyards as part of our picnic (with garlic & dill cheese YUM!), and it was fantastic. We drizzled some olive oil on it & made little sandwiches with some different meats. It was amazing! -
Review from Mikado J.
Huntsville, AL
Updated - 9/1/2011
Christened after Gaul's southeastern province, Provence Breads & Café is Music City's premier boulangerie-fromagerie-pâtisserie.
Offering much tasty fare, but renowned for handcrafted artisan French breads, pastries, and luscious farmhouse cheeses, it nestles in collegiate-yet-eclectic Hillsboro Village, a 1920's-era neighborhood that's been restructured as a shopping-dining oasis.
Stop off at nearby Belcourt Theatre for a quick Indie, but pull in here first to pick up your date: "Sarah Bernhardt," and a sample from the ever-evolving cornucopia of cheeses, many of which arrive only a few times a year. Who knows...Fontinella with Fellini, Coulommiers with Cocteau, Limburger with Lang, and Chaplin with Cheshire or, better yet, crowned with Derbyshire...it could be "wuv, twoo wuv."
The proliferation of baguettes and fougasse (the region's traditional leaf-, tree-, or ladder-shaped answer to Italian focaccia) may leave one wondering whether they've crossed 21st Avenue or the Maginot Line.
Don't stop there - Jewish challah, a braided egg bread, and muesli, chockfull of cereals, nuts, dried currants, and dates, beg for your bite, and Dean and Deluca's pasta sauces and dipping oils add to the melange.
Aside from the Bernhardt cookies (so named, of course, for the internationally acclaimed tragedian, though the only tragedy is eating your last one), favorites are the petite handmade goat cheeses, Loire Valley's Le Chevrot and the Berry Region's Crottin du Chavignol chief amongst them. The latter tastes better than it translates (don't ask) and both are full flavored without being strong, as is the tendency of many chevres.
Then a special Christmas menu offers such patisseries as the bodacious Buche de Noël (the French chocolate-coated "Yule log" cake).
Why not stop in and mingle with European expatriates, Hillsboro Villagers, Music Row drones and Vandy denizens for sandwich, salad, or sinful dessert?
Yea, though you walk through the Vallée du Verdon, you'll fear no hunger pangs, for you're surrounded by ganache with panache!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/4/2008
Whenever possible, I/we pay a visit to Provence when in the Music City. Generally, I hit them up… Read more »
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Review from Justin R.
If waiting in a mile long line in the scorching heat at Pancake Pantry is not your idea of fun, head across the street to Provence. I saw Provence a few weeks ago when I was walking around Hillsboro Village, and made a mental note that I need to eat there a some point in time. I'm very happy our out-of-town guests were not set on waiting in line at Pancake Pantry.
Provence is awesome! They make all of their breads fresh everyday, and you can really tell. For some reason this place reminded me of New Orleans, with it homely feeling. I felt comfortable as soon as I walked in.
I ordered a Chai Latte that was so great. Served in a huge mug, this really hit the spot. To eat I ordered the eggs Benedict with breakfast potatoes. Nom! The eggs Benedict was made with salmon instead of ham, which was a much appreciated change. And it was served on a homemade croissant. Perfect! The breakfast potatoes were crispy and delicious.
I'm very happy in our decision to give Provence a chance, and cant wait to go back a try some of there other delicious pastries.Listed in: Coffee Buzz
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Review from Catherine W.
Nashville, TN
1/10/2012
I've been going to the 21st Ave location for 14/15 years. I take my son here now. The pastries are ridiculously deliciously. The ingredients aren't cheap, so neither are the prices. Try the biscotti, anything pistachio, chocolate croissant, the list is really endless. Their sandwiches are fantastic. You'll laugh at the people in line for pancake pantry as you eat your toasted, freshly made, ham and cheese breakfast croissant. Their breakfast food options are all well done. Of course they have tons of breakfast pastries too. They brew Intelligentsia coffee (not my fav). They have raw sugar. I always get their Dancing Goats drip coffee... It's the only one that isn't intelligentsia.
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Review from Amanda A.
4/23/2011
So here's my main thought on Provence: it's not terrible.
The bread is fresh, as are the ingredients. But for some reason, the veggie sandwiches always underwhelm me. They seem sugary when they should be savory, or so tart as to be over whelming. My meat-eating friends always seem happy with their food, so that's important to note. The cookies here are good, as are the chips and the tea. My graduate department caters almost all of our lunches through Provence, but I have to say that if I had a choice, I'd go with Bread & Co. I've never had breakfast or pastries here, so I can't speak to that, but with tastier sandwiches and baked goods available elsewhere, I generally choose the else. -
Review from Janet Y.
4/18/2011
When you walk into Provence, it's cute. It definitely reminded me of bakeries in France.
The food selection looked delicious, but it was a bit pricey and the service was poor.
The stuffed french toast and the chicken salad were pretty good. The quiche was-- eh... ok.
I'll probably come back to try it again because the place really left something to be desired. -
Review from Lanie F.
New York, NY
5/18/2011
Used to work here in school, and can tell you with absolute certainty that everything is extremely fresh. I can smell those cookies now... the coffee was always perfectly made (if I do say so myself) - it is the only place that had fresh well made bread and pretty good pain au chocolats.
How I miss those heart shaped cookies with raspberry centers! and their mousse, and flourless cake, panna cottas........ -
Review from Steph H.
1/24/2011
I'm not going to beat around the bush on this one: I love Provence. I know some people rag on it for being overpriced or pretentious, but whenever I stop in here, I'm always happy I did. I love the way they do simple French food, and when you get down to it, it's tasty! Although many people likely come here for coffee and baked goods, I must say that their savory fare really hits the spot. Their sandwiches are always really interesting and yummy, and I love their "anti pasti" selections like the spreads and salads.
I admit that it seems like it's pretty much nigh impossible to get good bread anywhere in Nashville, and while Provence doesn't really give me the crunch and the crust that I'm looking for, they do a better job than most other places. They used to do 1/2 off on their breads after 5 pm, something I think they stopped doing, but they do still do buy 1 get 1 free on pastries later in the day, which is always a decadent delight. The raspberry bear claw and the pumpkin muffin I snagged last week were so good, I didn't bother feeling guilty about eating both of them in one fell swoop.
All in all, Provence manages to be an upscale bakery that also delivers a cozy, relaxed French vibe with tasty morsels. I really believe that even if its a bit pricier than some of the other sandwich places/cafes around town, the quality is superior and the menu is more inspired and adventurous. And certainly if you want a delicious pain au chocolat or something for your sweet tooth, you need hardly look elsewhere.Listed in: Eating out with Alexander…
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Review from Becky E.
Birmingham, AL
6/3/2011
If you love French macarons like me, then Provence is going to be your new happy place. I love, love, love their chocolate macarons. Plus, they are larger than normal, so I get a couple of extra yummy bites of macaron goodness every time I order one.
Sigh... Wish I had one right now... -
Review from Benson C.
Nashville, TN
1/29/2011
I simply love the staff and the French selection of breakfast foods (i.e. the stuffed french toast), salads, and sandwiches here. Probably this is my favorite place to go in the Village because it never got too busy in there and it did offer free wi-fi but lacked any power outlets for my laptop.
From the artichoke hearts to the various salads and sandwiches, the quality in taste was rich and mouth-watering each time. And tasted fresh as if it was made daily. And their blueberry coffee cake is amazing.
One think to keep in mind is that they do open early, but they also close earlier than other shops in the area. -
Review from Elizabeth C.
Nashville, TN
5/14/2011
I've been to Provence three times and I've only had one positive experience.
Overall the food is mediocre. I had the frittata one morning that was dry and tasteless. I took about 3 bites until I realized eating it wasn't worth the calories.
Today, I had the croque madame which was nothing special. And the service was even worse. When my friend asked for it without ham, they looked at her like she had 3 heads and responded with attitude and told her "You can just take it off." Welllll if she can "just take it off," why can't the "french" chef in the back do it?
Besides that, they really need to take a trip to Homegoods, buy a few French kitchy decorations and spice it up in there. It could be so charming.
My third visit definitely wasn't a charm. And will probably be my last. -
Review from Jackie Y.
Bonjour, mon amour!
Je t'aime beaucoup! You and your magnificant Montecito Sandwich ($6)... I dream about your avocado, raspberry chutney, sprouts and overall deliciousness daily! With every bite I am magically transported to a quaint French town, sitting on a river wearing a beret! Mmmm... how much do you love my American version of France??
If I could wake up to your fresh-baked, hand-rolled chocolate croissants complimented by your made-with-love cappuccino.... eeeee! HEAVEN! Sadly, my hips will suffer even more... so your fresh baked scent will have to haunt me throughout Hillsboro Village!
Pour toujours vôtre,
Mademoiselle JackieListed in: Nashvillelicious, Beans, Beans, Beans!
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Review from Mike M.
Nashville, TN
9/14/2011
Excellent breads and cheeses. Did I mention the desserts?
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Review from Jamie A.
11/11/2010
While I am very sad that the cheese plates of yesteryear are no longer available, I am totally in love with the fresh brewed Intelligentsia coffee and the decadent pastries. While getting an assortments of side dishes will totally break the bank, they have excellent daily specials and soups.
The missing fifth star is for the pre-wrapped sandwiches, which I'm sure are great in a pinch, but don't exactly scream fresh.
Worth noting that service has improved drastically over the past year or two.Listed in: Soup's on!, Neighborhood Favorites
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Review from First P.
Arlington, VA
8/2/2011
This review is for their lunch.
After this experience, I will think twice before going to a bakery for lunch. Model and Tartine are the only exceptions.
I had their breakfast special, which was an absolute watery mess, but their bread wasn't bad. They didn't have salt. Who the hell DOESN"T have salt, I think at that point they were just trying to be rude since this other mishap happened.
My husband panicked and got a tuna salad sandwich (there was a line and all the menu items were OUT). So he receives this sandwich that looks like it got sat on by a 400lb man. There is a nonexistence to the tuna salad, which might have been a blessing, because it was watery. Yes, watery.
So, the man returns his sandwich telling them its just not edible, which he normally would never do. It was a $9 sandwich! Naturally a lil attitude and hesitant compensation concluded that never again lunch experience. -
Review from Will m.
1/26/2011
I love french food.
They were voted best bread in the area.
Love it, and will have to try their quiche or french toast some morning with their coffee. Hopefully it's also wonderful, and I'll bump it up to five stars. -
Review from Megan C.
1/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum! I can't believe that with all the time I spend in Hillsboro Village that my first visit to the Provence bakery was this past weekend! Must cross street to visit other establishments. (Repeat to self such that it sticks...)
Met a friend for Sunday brunch here and had some delectable stuffed french toast. Also enjoyed their GIANT bowl-like coffee mugs. They've got a ton of specialty espresso beverages with witty names (i.e. 'The Vandy Girl' equates to a skinny vanilla latte. clever!) in addition to a case full of mouthwatering pastries and a chalkboard full of sandwiches. Also, they've got plenty of tables for chatting. Moral of the story, must return to try more delectable menu items.
::must cross street to visit other establishments...:: -
Review from Brandon L.
Franklin, TN
10/8/2010
Provence is a very upscale bakery/coffee shop in the west end area. When I made a visit to this bakery I was in quite a hurry, so I did not get to enjoy a cappuccino among the Vanderbilt University students sipping down espresso while they cram for their tests... I will be back to do that very soon though!
The environment of the place was very small, with to many people inside. The reason I found myself here in the first place was to get a dozen cookies for a business thank you gift. The cookies were nice looking... The price of them not so much... They cost about $1.20 each. Thats one expensive cookie! And they are not large size cookies at all. Something that turned me off was there was condensation all over the inside of the refrigerated pastry display case. So I had no idea what what kind of pricy sweets were hiding behind the condensatiosn...
Overall the place was ok. I will re evaluate this review when I make it by there again. -
Review from Martha H.
Nashville, TN
9/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
I wouldn't want to say too much about this place because I've only enjoyed beverages there, but I've been with friends who have gotten sandwiches, etc. It seems pretty pricey for what is offered, and they had trouble with their machine for our VU cards (which isn't unusual).
However, everything I've tried and that my friends have had has been good, but nothing special. Having worked at Panera for most of high school, my heart remains there. It's less expensive and has more options -
Review from Christina C.
Miami, FL
7/7/2010 1 photo
Had breakfast here on Day 1 of my stay in Nashville this past weekend and I have to say it's a very cute, quaint little place, but the breakfast food is not very good.
Friends and I ordered the scrambled eggs with sausage and bread. The eggs were spicy, a friend ordered some grits that were really not good at all (I tried them), and at the end of it all I had to clean off my plate and drop it off at the counter. I was looking for something a little more tasty and a little better service. -
Review from Layne S.
Nashville, TN
8/7/2011
This place bakes fresh daily, and it shows. Amazing eggs, veggies, breads, and coffee. Yum.
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Review from Stephanie V.
Nashville, TN
1/24/2011
Provence is a lovely french cafe! Its my go to place to unwind and have an amazing lunch or dessert/coffee during the week. Time stands still whenever I visit this little cafe.
Wonderful, authentic food,...always a delight. -
Review from Matt G.
Blacksburg, VA
7/18/2011
Great little cafe in a really nice part of Nashville (near Vandy). You can sip your great coffee, eat some good food for brunch and just stare at the huge line across the street at Pancake Pantry.
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Review from Nancy R.
Quincy, MA
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was a treat while in Nashville. A great BLT sandwich and yummy fruit tart. Absolutely delicious!!
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Review from Jeanie N.
Garden Grove, CA
3/15/2010
There are not very many small coffee shops around Orange County so it was nice to get coffee somewhere OTHER than Starbucks.
I loved their caffe mocha and I tried some chocolate peanut butter cake that was amazing. I wish we had one of these around CA! -
Review from amanda s.
enter. drool. decide. order. fantasize. go back the next day. that's pretty much how it went down for me.
first of all, get an ICED honey bee. milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and honey. delicious. my friend got it warm and it just didn't do it for me. iced.
now then. you'll go cross-eyed at the carby offerings:: housemade loaves under $6 (WHAT?!?!!) including, but not limited to, pumpernickel, new york rye, rosemary thyme olive oil, and sesame sourdough. holy moly.
over two days i purchased a cinnamon macaroon with vanilla buttercream filling, a handmade vanilla marshmallow, a cinnamon-walnut danish, a pecan sandie, and a couple baby brioche buns. gourmet goodness that totaled about $10.
the countertops are a little messy and the trashcans were overflowing and soiled on the outside, and it's survival of the fittest if you want to find seating inside (even though there are plenty of tables..it really is so good that it stays consistently packed), but i would definitely live here if i lived in nashville.Listed in: nashville necessities.
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Review from Lucas P.
Nashville, TN
6/12/2011
Quaint, little, local joint (local small chain) in awesome Hillsboro village..while it is known for its breads, I had brekkie here this morning and it was awesome. The weather was perfect, so I sat outside, but there was plenty of indoor seating. While it is quick-serve, they give you a table stand and bring the food when ready. The menu selection is just right. I selected the french toast and it was delightful with fresh fruit, powdered sugar and such. I will have to go back for lunch, the selections looked amazing and best of all you are supporting the local, home grown economy. Oh and while you enjoy your awesome meal, you can enjoy the fact you are NOT standing in the mile-long line at Pancake Pantry across the street!
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Review from Liz H.
Nashville, TN
6/7/2007
Whether you try the soups, sandwiches, gourmet cheeses, olives, vegetable medleys, or French pastries, you receive free bread here. Although the cafe is a little pricey, you can eat on the cheap, getting free refills of coffee. Bread samples of the day are out in baskets. Vegans and vegetarians can find tasty bites here.
The coffee is the best in town and their fuit tart is my favorite desert EVER. You can chortle at the suckers waiting in the long line at Pancake Pantry across the street as you sit at a cozy table inside or outside watching people or perusing the cheap books set out on the village sidewalk by Bookman/Bookwoman next door.
The fresh breads are unique to, & the best in, Nashville. I say that not from dating a baker, though the experience of watching this process was amesome. Several restaurants in town purchase thier bread to use just as Provence serves up Bongo coffee, though it tastes fresher here. -
Review from Katherine M.
Nashville, TN
7/5/2008
This is a cool sandwich shop with great atmosphere, but I couldn't beliiieeevvvveeeee the prices. I ordered two sandwiches and chips and it was over $20. When I arrived at my friend's house for lunch, and told her she owed me $11, she was shocked!! For a glorified turkey on wheat?
Now the place is really upscale. Great little tables with plenty of fun art on the walls, and the whole bit. But, I just can't justify those prices. They do have a wonderful selection of breads, cookies, pastries, and baked goods in general. I have not tried them, but they look wonderful.
I won't go back. I know where I can get the same quality food for half the price. (See Bread & Co.) But, you won't get a bad meal here. Everything is fresh and tasty. Give it a try, just make sure you know it ain't cheap! -
Review from Benjamin D.
Nashville, TN
9/30/2011
when my billfold can spare it, this is my go to morning stop in hillsboro village - best croissants in hillsboro, intelligentsia coffee, wonderful. sure fido has all the hipsters and crowds, but if you need something a little quicker (rarely any line) and a little quieter (filled but never over flowing) then provence has you. the staff is very nice and after a few regular visits knows me.
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Review from Jess Y.
2/14/2011
So, I've had a lot of Provence catering before but clearly none of it was impressive enough to merit an intentional visit, since I visited it for the first time of living in Nashville for five years only last month. I figured I should at least give the restaurant a chance, though. Unfortunately, looking at the prices on the menu, I could barely convince myself that the soup & croissant deal was worth it. The croissant was pretty good, but my friend got the bread instead and it was stale. For a place that has "breads" in the name of it, we were both disappointed in the quality of the bread. Pet peeve #1: Establishments that can't even get what they are famous for or parts of their company name right.
It was also way over-crowded for lunch which resulted in a group of three of us squishing at a table designed to comfortably seat one person. I'm sure on an off-peak hour, this might be a nice place to grab coffee and/or a pastry or dessert. Some of those definitely looked a bit tempting in the window.
But, what really bugged me this time I visited was the cashier. Say my order cost $7.54 and I handed her a 10 dollar bill. But, I didn't really want 46 cents in change, so I qualified my statement by saying, "Hold on, I have four pennies" and proceeded to try to hand her my 4 cents so that I could prevent getting back 46 cents and instead 2 quarters (totaling 50 cents). I do this often, and I've never had trouble with this before. But, apparently this was too confusing for her, because she said "Oh, no, I already keyed it into the register." and then tried to reassure me, "Don't worry, you'll get your change back." (pause) The level of mathematical ability in the United States never ceases to surprisingly disappoint me. I know I shouldn't judge the entire restaurant on this one case of mathematical incompetence, but as an aspiring math teacher, it really does bother me when people struggle with everyday math! Especially someone for whom everyday basic arithmetic should be a part of the job description! -
Review from Sissy D.
Hopkinsville, KY
3/31/2011 1 photo
We have been stopping in at this place when we catch a Belcourt show and I hate to say it but.....its going downhill fast. Started out great...good fresh coffee,bread,and sweets....clean and bright. Now....dirty unappetizing display cases, slim choices, cakes looks beautiful but tastes like Elmer's glue. I loved getting coffee and a sweet treat here before a show....too bad.
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Review from Cassie P.
6/21/2008
On my recent visit to Nashville we came here for lunch. It was just o.k.. Kinda pricey and mediocre taste. My friend did order a sandwich that was served warm on a flax seed bread that had all kinds of goodies on it. I tasted it and it was pretty good. I should have ordered after her and taken her cue. This was my least fave meal of the whole trip.
Ohhh! Important side note....there is a small parking lot right behind the cafe just for patrons. Look for it! Parking can be tough here. -
Review from Anna A.
Nashville, TN
12/5/2008
OK, here is my opinion of Provence. The food is good but not earth shattering. The coffee is good but not earth shattering. The desserts are pretty darn good so I really have to give them props there. However, their crowning jewel is the bread. Their cheese selection is yummy too.
I am someone who can take a loaf of crusty bread and some cheese make a meal out of it. I think opinions about this place will all be in how or what you order.
The other thing to bear in mind is that you can buy their bread in the local Kroegers as well as most of the health food stores. I personally LOVE the Tuscan. It's great for sandwiches, dipping in Olive Oil, and toasted. There are some loaves you can't get in stores including a fruit and nut one that my hubby loves. Visiting this lovely restaurant and shop is worth it, there will definitely be something there you will make a staple.
