Patrick R.'s Profile

I've driven by this place countless times, but until today I had no idea what it's all about.  Shubha is a very cool little shop run by an incredibly sweet Indian lady.  She mostly stocks her store with traditional Indian food items, decorations, jewelry and clothes.  I'm not extremely familiar with Indian culture, so it was pretty exciting to check out her inventory.

While the clothes at Shubha are mostly saris and other traditional women's attire, the place is mostly full of food items.  There are dried foods and preparatory ingredients such as parched rice and golden raisins.  There are also lots of frozen foods and dishes, not to mention some delicious mango ice cream (I bought a gallon for about $7).

Behind the counter, there are countless DVDs, most of them Indian or translated American titles.  If you're a Bollywood nut, I imagine this place is a treasure trove.  Whether or not you go into Shubha looking for something specific, you need to talk to the lady who runs the place.  She's extremely sweet and accommodating, and her store is a great place to spend a few minutes exploring.

Before I wrote for Yelp, I'd rarely venture into neat little places like this.  I was barely familiar with Mexican supermarkets, or supermercados, though I noticed many of them on Gallatin Road and Nolensville Pike in the Hispanic districts.  I'm extremely glad I decided to check some of them out--especially this one--and I'm sure I'll keep going back.

La Vaquita is stocked with all sorts of seemingly random items--edible, decorative and more.  They have a huge selection of those really cool, iconic religious candles with various saints on them.  I got one with Santisima Muerte, or Saint Death, for just $2.  La Vaquita also stocks a lot of tasty Mexican drinks you can't get at most places (think Jumex, et cetera).  They also carry dozens of pinatas and dried peppers, fruits and vegetables.

I really like the variety of items places like this have.  Unlike Anglo (?) supermarkets, places like La Vaquita carry everything from clothes to food to decorations, and nothing is expensive.  I recommend checking La Vaquita out; expand your horizons a little bit.

I haven't had a lot of Thai food, but since I love Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese, I figured this place would probably be up my alley.  I was right.  The dining room at Siam Cafe is pretty sizable, and there are several neat little booths with pillows and cushions perfect for lounging during a casual meal.

Our server was quite a character, and she checked on us and made small talk regularly.  I ordered the Pad Thai, which my friend informed me is a relatively simple, traditional dish.  It was quite delicious, and the portions are pretty huge, especially considering the less exotic entrees only cost around $7-$10.  Fancier items (especially anything containing squid) are quite a bit pricier.  My dish had chicken and shrimp (though the shrimp-to-chicken ratio was a little weak) seasoned with a really tasty peanut oil.

The atmosphere and staff at Siam Cafe are very friendly and informal.  It's a nice spot to go with a friend or two, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for large parties.  As far as Thai goes, it's probably the best I've had.  I'll definitely go back, and I recommend it to anyone with a penchant for Asian food.

I've been to a handful of shows at this place, but I'd never sampled the food until today.  I decided to treat myself to a late lunch/early dinner and see what type of tasty Creole treats they had to offer.  While they don't typically open until 5:00, I showed up a little after 4:00 and they were happy to seat me.

French Quarter Cafe is a medium-sized restaurant/bar, and it's ideal for small shows.  The sound during performances is better than average, and they have acoustic insulation on the walls and ceiling, which helps quite a bit.  The artists that play there are typically singer/songwriter types, but they book a variety of musicians, so you can check their website to see what type of folks play there.

The staff at French Quarter is exceptionally friendly, and they served me really quickly.  A fellow named Tom (who I think is a manager or co-owner) waited on me, and he was very nice.  When he found out I'm in a band, he asked for my info so he could think about booking us some time.  Very kind fellow.

The food, which is obviously Cajun/Creole in nature, is decent but not as good as I had hoped.  I had the gumbo, and while it was tasty, it was relatively bland and definitely not anywhere near as spicy as I expected.  They also serve lots of sandwiches and a pretty good selection of beers.  While nothing at French Quarter is particularly expensive, nothing seems quite as tasty as you'd hope for a $12 meal.  Regardless, it's a pretty colorful local spot that's worth checking out if you've exhausted most of your options in the Five Points area.

Man, this place makes a good sandwich.  As far as greasy, sloppy, delicious burgers and sandwiches go, I'd say Rotier's is on par with McCabe or Edgefield.  It's a pretty popular old restaurant, meaning the wait can be a bit long at times, but more often than not it's worth it.

The staff at Rotier's, though incessantly busy, is very friendly and quick.  In the evenings, you'll usually have to take a number and wait something like five to ten minutes. You may be seated pretty close to some other parties--the place is pretty small, and there isn't a lot of elbow room.  I haven't been during the day, but their daily lunch specials looked fantastic.  I've sampled the burgers and the Reubens, and they're always what you'd expect: greasy, filling and piled high with meat.

There are probably four or five televisions in the place, which are usually tuned to programs like "Deal or No Deal" or whatever sport is in season.  You probably won't get a lot of banter out of your server, but they all do their job well, so that typically doesn't bother me.  The place is charming, though not quite as cheap as I anticipated (not bad, though...$13 plus tip for a Reuben, a Coors Light and an order of fries).  It also happens to be in one of my favorite areas on the West Side, so I'd say check it out if you get the chance.

The 4 Stop is another of those ancient, tiny convenience shops that blends in with the surroundings of East Nashville.  Fortunately for its owners, however, it is the only place to buy cigarettes, a quick snack or a six-pack in the burgeoning district of 14th and Woodland.  As most East Nashvillians know, this area is home to the ever-popular Lipstick Lounge, the newly opened Mad Donna's (formerly Radio Cafe) and monthly craft fairs.  Thus it is about as convenient a spot as it gets when you're hit with a late-night craving for some Doritos.

The guys who run this place are pretty friendly, and on stifling summer afternoons, they leave the door open and talk with you at great length about the humidity.  One of the guys who works there often brings along his brother/nephew/son (?), who always sports a Kool-Aid mustache and wants to talk about baseball.

The 4 Stop has a pretty decent selection of beer--I think that's primarily what keeps them in business.  As far as snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, it's pretty comparable to any other independently-owned convenience store you'll find on the East Side--only you don't have to drive all the way out to Gallatin Road.

Mayor Purcell's plan to revitalize the city via community programs (and improving centers like this one) certainly paid off.  The East Park Community Center is a great place for families, kids, seniors and loners to get some exercise for very little money.

According to the guy at the front desk, membership is about $25 a month, $250 a year or just $2 a day for folks who want to use the fitness room from time to time.  They have aerobics, yoga and dance classes as well as pick-up basketball and volleyball games, and there is almost always someone friendly to chat or exercise with.  The pool is relatively sizable, and you can go there and swim laps for free!  If you live on the East Side, you have to check this place out.  As far as I'm concerned, it trumps the YMCA.  I think it would even be worth a brief commute for West Siders.

As David mentioned in his review, this place is more than a bit crowded, but the polite gentlemen who run Davis don't mind showing folks around.  The whole store smells like delicious coffee, and their selection of grounds and teas is pretty extensive and affordable.

In addition to their fantastic smelling brews, Davis also carries an enormous variety of cookware.  They have just about anything you'd need for your kitchen, but you may not be able to find what you're looking for without a bit of assistance. Regardless, it's a neat little store and I recommend checking it out.

This place has some pretty nifty little gift items, and, while they aren't necessarily up my alley, they're relatively inexpensive and neat, and they'd all make good gifts.  There are a lot of clay and glass items as well as cards, magnets and shirts--it's the sort of place where I'd probably go to shop for a birthday present for my mom or sister.

Despite having some unique, hand-crafted knickknacks and art pieces, most of the things at A Thousand Faces are pretty inexpensive.  It's a lot like Pangea only with slightly nicer items.  There are a few display cases with necklaces, bracelets and earrings, though I didn't see many of the prices listed.  Regardless, the staff seemed pretty helpful and willing to show customers any items they're interested in.  I'd say this place is worth checking out.

Smoothie King is apparently a chain, but this is the first one I've come across.  I'm a big fan of smoothies and other blended fruit-based drinks (not that there are any aside from smoothies).  The prices, as I expected, are a bit high, but all the flavors are pretty tasty.

Smoothie King is a health store, and they have all sorts of strangely named additives they can put in your drink (immune booster, vision enhancer, energy explosion, yadda yadda), but they each cost extra, and I'm not so sure they're that effective.  Either way, their selection of flavors is pretty extensive, and I believe they're made with fresh fruit.

The staff at this place is pretty nice, though I think it's part of their ob to try and coax you into adding those fancy boosters to your drink.  Smoothie King is walking distance from the Belcourt and several great bars and restaurants, so it makes for a pretty great health-conscious dessert.  I'd say it's worth checking out.