Cafe Roze is a chic cafe and restaurant in East Nashville, serving superb breakfast, coffee, lunch, and dinner.
This year, I went from wanting to visit Nashville, to making three separate trips in the span of a month. After making the most of each visit, Cafe Roze was one of my all-time favorite spots.
Here’s why.
Reason #1 – Cafe Roze is Extremely Aesthetic
Aesthetics aren’t everything, but they do count for something.
Not only is the Cafe Roze venue stunning, but the food presentation is top tier. Thanks to chef Julia Jaksic, the mastermind behind the menu and the artistic presentation. A little background on the name, Jaksic’s father is Croatian. “Roze” means pink in Croatian, an inspiration that is felt throughout the restaurant given the light pink tables and natural wood finishes.
The corner street location of the cafe does everyone a favor by shuttling in the morning and afternoon light. This made the natural light and interior design at Cafe Roze immaculately Instagram-worthy during happy hour and breakfast.
Reason #2 – The Chef
Julia Jaksic is a longtime New York chef who formerly worked at the ever-popular Jack’s Wife Freda restaurant in NYC. She also plays the role of executive chef of Employees Only Singapore, a cocktail bar and restaurant that has been touted for its sophisticated and inventive beverages.
Since Cafe Roze opened in 2017, Jaksic has been the culinary mind behind the ever-so-fresh menu. The spot has since become a neighborhood favorite with the 20-something seats often filled with happy diners.
Reason #3 – The Fresh and Simple Fare
The menu is seasonally minded and serves dishes enticing to the eye and palette.
For breakfast, the Stout Waffles are light and tall all at once. Served with buttery smooth mascarpone cheese, topped with a blueberry or strawberry compote that isn’t too sweet. Add a drizzle of scrumptious syrup and be on your way to a dopamine boost.
For dinner, try the Chili Eggplant. A dish so unique and flavorful, you’ll be sure to enjoy it, even if you’re not a huge eggplant fan. The eggplant is battered and fried to perfection, delivering the crispiest finish. On the inside, there’s tender, perfectly cooked eggplant. The entire dish is covered in this dark, richly flavorful, yet light-tasting sauce. Top it all off with fresh herb sprouts and consider your life changed for the better.
Reason #4 to Visit Cafe Roze: The Coffee (Duh)
Cafe Roze isn’t just for the foodies, it is also a spot for a great cup of coffee. After grabbing a glass of $5 Prosecco and an appetizer the night before, I had to try the coffee. So the next morning, I made the 3 minute walk from my Airbnb to fulfill my latte-enthusiast dreams of seeing what Roze had to offer in the caffeine department.
Order the Rose Latte if you’re looking to experiment with your order. Otherwise, I’d suggest sticking to a more traditional drink like a cappuccino or a vanilla latte.
The Rose Latte is made with house-made cardamom and rose syrup. It is smooth and floral tasting and is served with a garnish of Rose petals. The coffee flavor isn’t as present as I would typically like, but it was still a superb beverage to kick off my morning with.
Reason #5 – Price Point
By no means is a $6.5 latte pocketbook friendly, but the culinary prowess behind the food at Cafe Roze is in a different league compared to the price point on the menu.
I was more impressed by the appetizer at Roze compared to the pricier entre I tried at the Butcher and the Bee. That’s not to say that the Butcher and the Bee wasn’t good, the appetizer and dish I ordered were enjoyable, but the price point and overall ethos of the restaurant made me expect a little more.
Cafe Roze has a mix of prices and dishes ranging from $28 (on the steeper side) to $15 on the less expensive side. You can also enjoy happy hour from 4 – 6 p.m. and order a regular latte for the going rate of $5.
Cafe Roze is East Nashville’s Subtle Gem
The neighborhood vibe and quaint corner-street view command an approachable environment that welcomes all who come in, visitors and locals alike. Cafe Roze has successfully built a network of loyal locals and stands to offer something new with the meld of flavor profiles and complexity of the dishes server. Be sure to make a stop next time you’re in town. And if you’re interested in a more in-depth read, check out Ashley Brantley’s stellar write-up here.
