The early (low) reviews are certainly harsh and a bit unwarranted. We had an incredible brunch that we’ve become accustomed to at Hearts. Eggs Benny are fire. The espresso/coffee options are outstanding. Make sure you get the pancakes for the table.

Oh my gosh! I had the twice baked French toast. Out of this world delicious. Can't wait to go back

The food is incredible. Every bite was an experience. This little restuarant is a whole lot of flavor. Ever dish was well cook and exactly what we ordered. Make sure you go to Hearts for brunch for sure and dinner next. We loved it.

A little hidden gem! One of the only coffee / food shops on 12 S that isn't packed with tourists who want to feel like a hipster. I like that. The food was great and the names clever - I think there may be an Australian theme.

This has been a great addition to the neighborhood with a clear focus on the quality of their food and service. The menu is fresh and refreshing with a variety of options. The eggs benny in particular is a great new take on a traditional breakfast standby.

Came here for dinner and the food was so good. I got the pasta and my friend got the chicken parm. They were both so good and fresh. Loved the cocktail selections as well. Plus the bathroom has le labo soap so that’s always a win!

Nice spot for a brunch. Different types of food and great drinks.

Great food, cool atmosphere. Walked right in & no wait!

Wonderfully unpretentious brunch option in 12th South with delicious food and coffee. The staff was great, especially the owner, Kate. She told us they recently opened for dinner, so we look forward to coming back to try that!

Hearts was amazing. Food was delicious, drinks were tasty. Service was great. Whipped ricotta was sooo good. A must try

They always recommend the best food, and their brekkie burrito is the best breakfast burrito in the biz. Someone tell me how the pancakes are made

A charming, slightly hidden gem a half block removed from the 12South bustle. Delicious breakfasts, good coffee, friendly staff, cozy space. I loved having a cocktail and a bite here at the bar when they had dinner service, and I hope they bring that back. Favorite dishes: the zucchini fritters and the shakshuka.

First time in and everything was top notch. Shelby greeted us immediately after sitting at the bar and gave us a great background on how Hearts started. Latte was great; simple ingredients only which makes it easy. If you don’t get the Corn Zucchini Fritters you’ve missed out. Will be back.

Had such a good breakfast when in Nashville. The staff were kind and attentive and the food was great. Good coffee and good prices. Will be back.

Delicious food and delicious drinks. Mostly inside seating but some tables available outside as well.

My favorite brunch spot in Nashville. Ricotta pancakes and French toast are fantastic. Wait staff is very attentive and friendly. Go…you won’t be disappointed!

Really great restaurant. We visited for brunch and all 4 of us really enjoyed our meals. Service was good and the vibes were really cute.

We’re on holiday from Australia, trying to find a good coffee in Nashville and Hearts is by far the best coffee we have had! We also had the eggs Benedict and the Salmon dish, all was amazing! Thanks Hearts :)

We went for breakfast and the food was incredible! Servi e was good and we will be repeat customers for sure.

The kale broccolini bowl was fantastic! Staff accommodated my vegan request and I replaced the egg with mushrooms, an excellent decision. I asked for dressing on the side and didn't even need it because the hummus and avocado was enough. I also enjoyed the unique beet latte and will definitely order that again. Servers were friendly, helpful, and attentive despite the restaurant being full. 5 stars!

Great food!! Great service!! Staff is so kind!!

Good food and service. I got the corn fritters and they were delicious. The orange juice was the best fresh squeezed I've ever had. I enjoyed the flat white as well! Would love to go back in the future.

Great brunch spot. Great location. Great coffe

+2

I really, really like the 12 south location! There's plenty of street parking if you don't want to pay to park. The food is super delicious and the cold smoked salmon toast is something to write home about. The staff is so warm and welcoming. The second I walked in (and this was on a super busy weekend with barely any seats available), I was greeted with so much warmth from the staff and managers. Our server was incredibly attentive... able to easily navigate the menu and help with my wife's food allergies. Don't sleep on the bloody mary. It's the best one in town by a landslide. So happy this restaurant is close to my neighborhood. Solid food, service and drinks.

Delicious, high quality brunch. Zucchini corn fritters were very flavourful. The bacon was high quality. Godmother sando was great.

I enjoyed trying out this place. Waitress was friendly and assisted my table in a welcomed matter and took our order at a perfect time. I did however, expect more from the food options. I think I think the beverage we got golden lattes were delicious! The Brussels we got were flavorful! The eggs on toast and zucchini fritters were all yummy! We also got the strawberry hot cakes and they were soft and just what I expected. I ordered the vegan chorizo burrito, but I expected more from it wasn’t as tasty as the other items, but it wasn’t the best burrito I had.

The one place in Nashville that didn’t have any wait time for Sunday brunch. I would skip all of the brunch spots on the main road for this one. Great staff great food. Fresh juice was 💯

This place is Amazing. It took us so long to order because everything on the menu looked so good! Ended up going with the eggs benny, brussels sprouts and a rose matcha latte! The brussels sprouts were some of the best I’ve ever had.

Absolutely LOVE this cafe! It’s in one of the busiest areas of Nashville, but since it’s set just off the main road, it remains a hidden gem. The Aussie-style food is fresh and delicious, as are the coffee and juices!

First time here, and definitely worth braving 12 south on a Sunday. Nate, our server was AMAZING. Attentive, fun, answered any and all questions we had about the menu or drinks. 100% will be back again. The mimosas and steak and eggs for 2 were absolutely delicious.

Love the healthy brunch options here. I got the corn + zucchini fritters and it was very tasty. Sorry, started eating before I snapped a picture.

This is one of our favorite breakfast spots in Nashville. It's fresh and delicious. Always interesting flavors and everything is prepared perfectly. Today, we had a great experience, mainly thanks to our awesome server, Shelby. We are typically a lot, rolling in hot with three kids, lots of requests, always a spill (or two!) In the past, our service here has been "meh". It hasn't felt like the servers love a table with kids... and I don't blame them... we are a mess! Shelby is a gem! She made us feel so welcomed, was incredibly accommodating, and kind. The food is so great, it was refreshing to have service that echoed the quality.

I go to Hearts 12S all the time and it’s consistently amazing!! The staff is so sweet and knowledgeable and the vibes are always top tier. 11/10.

Constantly excellent. Food is always top notch, fresh, and the order correct. Service is professional and friendly. The pancakes (ricotta hot cakes) haunt my dreams. Just get one as a side if you want some of their other amazing food. I wish there was a little more sound dampening as the place is loud when it gets full. Otherwise, don't change a thing.

I came here for brunch one day with some friends. If you like French toast and bread pudding then you’re gonna love their twice cooked French toast. I started to laugh because of how ridiculously good it was

We had a great experience with super friendly staff and great food. Fritters, Sausage Roll, and Pancakes are a must. Can’t wait to come back!

My friend and I each had a bowl and it was delicious! Well sized. Great portion of avocado. Could eat this every day for lunch !

Great restaurant, I will be back ! The food here is great they have many unique items. The atmosphere is nice, this restaurant is a nice place to grab a good bite to eat. I love this restaurant I went multiple times when visiting Nashville.

Fantastic every time. This is a must go spot!

I stop by here every morning and pick up coffee. I can't say enough about them. They are locally owned and the friendliest people. The food is amazing. The Muesli is one of my favorites. Also, the hotcakes will change your life. Just plan to take a nap right after it. If you are from out of town, I highly recommend stopping by here before you hit the shops. Best redeye in the city.

Hearts is a true neighborhood gem. There’s an undeniable sense of community. You can tell it’s a place locals love and return to often. The food was phenomenal. Every dish that hit the table was beautifully presented and flavorful. The staff was attentive and made thoughtful recommendations. It’s rare to find a place where both the kitchen and the front-of-house team operate at such a high level. I’ll be recommending it to anyone looking for an exceptional meal in Nashville.

Last Saturday, at the height of the brunch rush, everything was great as usual. The food is fantastic and rivals any chef driven place charging twice as much. Late morning on the weekend is always busy... it must be tough to keep up, but they are always pleasant and attentive going as fast as they can. Highly recommended but expect a wait for the busy times. More seating?

LOVE the peaceful welcoming vibe! Coffee was delicious as was the seared salmon and ricotta pancakes with Carmel apple cider hotcakes! Our wait staff was super helpful and there were many delicious (and healthy) options for my group! Highly recommend for families or adults! Will definitely return!

Best place on 12th Ave if you're looking for a well curated menu, amazing service and phenomenal food. A menu you don't get lost in yet hard to make a selection plus all the healthy options. I got the Assuie Beef Burger, it was so good I didn't get a picture! The beef being locally sourced was a great plus! The side of fries are a must! It was nice to be tucked away from all the heavy traffic, loud crowded restaurants and long waits. So happybwe found Hearts.

Ray Blair

Hearts Café is a breakfast and coffee café located in the 12 South neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee. The café is known for its thoughtfully prepared breakfast and brunch menu. I enjoyed the muesli with berries and the flat white. Hearts Café is a popular morning destination for both locals and visitors looking to enjoy breakfast before exploring 12 South’s shops and walkable streets.

Mark Irving

I really didn't know what to expect. You never can tell about the food though. It seemed that the menu was a bit on the healthy side of things. That might mean that the taste of the food is lacking. It turned out that the food, although the portions can be a little smaller, was really good. I had the eggs Benny and was served with a side of rocket. I had to ask what rocket was. It is arugula. It was all good. Another person I was with ordered the pancakes with ricotta. It was a pretty hefty portion loaded with syrup. Menu isn't huge but what we had was good.

Keely Krasomil

Hearts at 12 South is truly a gem in Nashville! The vibes were absolutely immaculate - such a welcoming and stylish atmosphere that makes you instantly feel at ease. The food was beyond delicious, fresh, and clearly made with care. On top of that, the customer service was outstanding - the staff were so sweet, personable, and genuinely made the whole experience even better. I can’t recommend this place enough and can’t wait to go back!

Mirinda Caughman

We were visiting from NYC for a little girls weekend and were unsure of where to go for brunch. After shopping on 12 South, we found our way into Hearts and we can't give it enough praise. The restaurant was vibrant, great music and incredibly friendly staff....and they were BUSY! Everyone was so attentive. A couple of the girls had allergies, and the server was SUPER knowledgable and knew how to guide us to to a dish that everyone would like. We LOVED the fact that they had THC cocktails. Very creative and delicious....stand out dishes were the eggs benedict and the chicken sandwich. One of my friends couldn't stop talking about the burger....so my guess is you really can't go wrong! What a cute little oasis in what can be a very overstimulating city! 10/10

Claudia Rucker

This is one of my regular spots. The service is always on point and the food is just delicious. This is one of those places you can just count on to be amazing every time. The cocktails are quite delightful too! I’m so grateful for such a great neighborhood spot where I get to see my fav people at least once a week!

Haley Pangburn

10/10 experience every time I come in. My family comes to visit every other month and it’s our Sunday ritual to come in. Their staff and management is also knowledgeable on food allergies! As someone with celiac disease it’s a safe meal every time. Servers are always on it. Super organized even with the brunch rush hits. Consistently great experiences!

Chelsea Rykman

Hearts is the cutest little breakfast spot tucked back behind some of the shops on 12th. Some of the other places along 12th are extremely busy on the weekends and Hearts is a welcome alternative to the hustle and bustle. My husband and I dined here with our two daughters and there was really something for everyone on the menu - so kid and foodie friendly. We really enjoyed the sausage roll as well as the corn and zucchini fritter dish. Overall, the food was interesting, delicious and satisfying. I will definitely dine here again. Service was fast and friendly too :)

Allie Hendrix

We had to wait but man was this place worth it! Like a lot of places in Nashville, you get brought a bottle of water to your table to self-serve. The seating was a little cramped, and it was busy, but the food, in my opinion, made up for that. The staff was really nice. There wasn't one person that I interacted with there that wasn't an absolutely pleasant human. if you don't want to fully commit to a pancake breakfast, please try the single pancake a la carte. We did, and honestly, I am so glad we didn't miss out on it. Delicious!

+1

Adam Carr

Great spot to catch up with friends, grab a healthy lunch without taking too long. I’ll head back for the vegan options and the easy parking. Vegan choices: several options, and easy modifications on the different bowls. Whole ingredients, clean flavors, and filling. There’s a tons of drinks choices from cafe choices to a full bar. Parking lot is right in front … one of the easiest to get to on 12S

Elizabeth Erickson

I think they deserve way more than a 4.3. Been there many times and food has always been great, servers are engaged and kind and helpful, super cute space with lovely atmosphere. No complaints here!

Justine Vild

I was pleasantly surprised. All 3 of our dishes this morning were amazing. I got the mushroom toast and it was phenomenal! What a fabulous creation! I got it with feta though instead of goat cheese. I will definitely be back. I have to try the smoked salmon next! If I can Make myself not get the mushroom toast. Only annoying thing about the area is paying $16 for parking.

+4

Marat Nizberg

We really liked this restaurant. We had a party of 10 people and everyone was impressed with food and drinks. The Hamburger was delicious. The egg dishes were great. Chicken Katsu sandwich was a favorite. The French Toast was amazing. The Bowls were amazing. Overall a very positive experience and highly recommend

+17

The ricotta hotcakes were delicious. The twice cooked French toast was a little disappointing. Service and atmosphere were very good.

Hidden gem, my son's favorite aussie brunch place. Enjoyed the beet chocolate drink and perfectly cooked Brussel sprouts.

I had the chicken parm and my daughter had the mushroom ragout. Both were delicious. We also had the Mezeh platter. This is a great restaurant tucked away behind Vuori. Nice and cozy. Good drinks and vibes.

Sweet spot for Sunday brunch in a nice neighbourhood. Great food and friendly servers. Would definitely recommend.

Aussie style cafe with a delicious and healthy menu - staff could be friendly and more “Aussie” in their warmth and hospitality.

Solid food, service and atmosphere! I'd come again. The salmon and Brussels were good and the drink was a winner. The happy hour drink menu is super limited and parking is not fun, but overall, a nice Nashville gem!

Jay Thota

Stopped by on Labor Day for a post-hike brunch. Ambiance was not too busy but they still estimated a longer wait than I expected so I opted to sit at the bar. Food and drinks were good came out timely and service was kind. Only comment is portions were smaller than I expected (especially for the price) so if you’re really hungry (like I was) I would opt to go elsewhere.

Sudeepta Sahu

The cafe was very cute and the ambience is welcoming. We ordered shakshuka and avacado toast which were pretty underwhelming, the frech toast had a unique flavor - which tasted pretty good.

+1

We love their food so happy they opened a location on our side of town! Only down side - the music was sooo loud! I couldn’t hear anyone else at my table talk. I prefer the low key vibe of East Nash location better.

Honestly, my pasta was pretty cold and lacked flavor. Desert was great. Service was also great! Wished dinner was better, would come back for drinks

The ambiance is really cute. The people were very nice as well. However, the latte I had wasn’t sweet enough. It was just okay. We also had the hot cakes which was good, it was just a little too much on the apple topping. I also ordered bacon which came out almost burnt. Overall, cute place but probably wouldn’t go back.

Been here 3 times now. First time I walked in, the customer service was not good. Felt pretty uncomfortable. Food was good- thought I would give it another try. Ended up paying $12 for a cup of ice latte. Came back again last week, my coffee didn’t even taste like coffee. So much milk!

Watch out for parking! Cost me $16 to park for an hour. Park on the street for free. My frittata was kind of boring. Cold. Asparagus was uninspiring. Arugula salad was way salty and tart. Hash brands were a little patty. My friend ordered corn and zuke fritters. That was good! Pricey, but good.

Man, oh man I was excited for the opening of an new coffee shop in my neighborhood…but we had an underwhelming first lunch. The place looks great and the staff is cordial. My wife enjoyed her katsu chicken sandwich. However, the service was really slow despite having almost as many staff as patrons. The egg sandwich was a whopping $14 (one of the cheapest menu items) and I would have expected something amazing for that price. It was ok. There was just 1 small strip of bacon which just seems stingy for the price. Overall - even for bougie 12S - just seemed way too expensive for quality and service.

Carly Ramsey

Pretty yummy food. Good service. Overpriced. DO NOT get the sausage roll. I’d rather eat my own earwax than eat that again. It was exactly like eating cat food. Had to ask the staff if it had fish in it… they said no but I have my suspicions fr. also they didn’t care I hated it :/

julia ellis

20% automatic gratuity put onto bills for tables over 6 people. This would be fine if the service we were given was actually decent. I feel that once waitresses see a larger table and know they are automatically getting a tip, they dont even care to put in any effort. Our waitress came over once to take our drink order, once to give our meals and then once to give the bill. When she did come, the service was not anything great. Did the very bare minimum, was very slow, wasn't very helpful with answering questions. Food was pretty average, kind of pricy for small portions.

Olivia Wilson

Nothing super outstanding about this place. Unique variety on the menu but otherwise not impressed. Pretty expensive, as expected by its location. I had a blt, the bread was weird but it was good. Then I had some mock tail that was pretty good. Waitress was very kind. Overall just nothing special but pretty alright place.

2 stars because the service was excellent. However, the portions are very small, the flavor is mid, and it was overpriced.

was excited to try this place and it was truthfully very disappointing... the food and coffee was outrageously expensive, even in a location like 12 south. walk 5 minutes up the street to frothy monkey and you will have a much better experience. my friend and I went here to eat and work a bit, and it was only after we had ordered that we were rudely told they did not have public wifi. Not sure what kind of business model that is for a "coffee shop" but I will definitely not be returning. I've lived in Nashville for 5 years and this experience was definitely on the bottom of the list.

I've visited Hearts on two occasions and both times was treated poorly and left disappointed in the quality of service and food. The first time I ordered a coffee and asked to sit at a table as there was indoor seating. There were two patrons in the restaurant and it was a slow day. The employee told me I could sit at the very back of the restaurant in a corner with my order, but could not sit at one of the empty tables. On the second visit I ordered another coffee (this time to-go) I asked for a sugar substitute to add to my drink and was told "we aren't that kind of place". The barista told me as a restaurant first, they didn't offer modifications to their coffee. If you are looking for coffee, stay away from Hearts!

Not many gluten free options. I tried the Brussels sprouts. It tastes like salty soy sauce. I couldn't taste the bacon or pomegranates.

Food is solid but it’s hard to appreciate given the costs. No refills on drip coffee (poor quality coffee to boot), an extra $13 for a very small piece of salmon, a hidden fee for paying with a credit card, and $15 parking.

We came for lunch, 6 adults and a baby we asked being seated outside and our server accepted then someone came out and said it can’t be possible that they can’t put two tables together, even when it was empty. Our server was friendly and efficient. The food is something special, everything was tasty and the presentations are great. The only problem is the management, the situation with the outside tables was very uncomfortable and they are charging for Credit card payment is ridiculous. I loved the place and service but I won’t come back.

Let's start this off with the splitting of our party. After waiting about 40 minutes to sit down (they told our party it would be 30 min) we walk in and they tell us that they only have room for 6 of our party of 12.... So 6 lucky ones of our party had to find a different location or suffer another half hour wait (estimated time they told us). When the server comes they took only our drink orders, I tried to order my food but was swiftly cut off by the server and told "we don't do that here. I'm only taking drinks right now and I'll take your food order after I bring that. I just want to get the groups drinks right now." I and some members of the table ordered orange juice. They brought it with ice. Which is obviously disgusting. But the we realized why they do this. When I asked for my orange juice to come without ice and they bring it in a cup half the size of the original cup (see photos). The matcha was undrinkable. It was the worst I've ever had. After 1 sip I had to leave it. My hat was on a chair that was not being used but was given to our table and then was taken away from us. I honestly don't know how this place has any good reviews. It sickens me. I would not recommend this place AT ALL. They are not attentive, hunting down the server is difficult, but then again when a 20% tip is mandatory for a party of 6 or more why would you care about providing good service. You'll get your money one way or another. It's been 40 minutes since we sat down as I write this review and our food still has not arrived. After about an hour our food finally arrived. Due to this lackadasical approach to service, I asked for the check as soon as the food arrived. The food was absolutely delicious. It's unfortunate that the experience was so bad. Also the matcha that we took back was exchanged for an orange juice but was left on the ticket because "the 20% tip comes from this and they have to leave it on" which is a pretty sub par excuse. Charge me for the lesser orange juice not the matcha that I took one sip of just to fatten your pocket. They did not deserve the 20% so be aware and split your party up to be under 6 people so that maybe they actually try since they have to actually work for the money.

Shanna

Very disappointed. I went with my son at 1:10 p.m. and they wouldn't seat us despite there being 3 tables open (2 small tables with 4 chairs and 1 large table for 8). The manager said they save those tables for larger parties because they are a small restaurant. So basically, fictious customers are more important than actual customers. We should have left then, but a 2-top opened up so we stayed. The food was good, but the portions were small with no sides, etc. My son got a $16+ burrito that came wrapped in tin foil and I got a $15+ breakfast sandwich with only 1 piece of bacon on it. $1.50 for a drip coffee refill. Ridiculous. And, of course, they never sat the tables they were saving for fictious customers the whole time we were there.

Vivian Hayes

Honestly, kinda disappointed. We had some pretty crappy seating — super tight and uncomfortable. Our bill was $60 for a kid-sized breakfast burrito, avocado toast with an egg, and a fruit bowl. None of it was filling. The food was good, but the portions were tiny for what you pay. No ice in our water, flies around the table, and $3 for a single hash brown is just crazy. Overall, pretty mid breakfast spot. Wouldn’t really recommend unless you’re just there for the vibe.

My review was deleted so here we go again. Went with my boyfriend today - so excited to try the new place on the block. The worker at the counter berated my boyfriend for carrying in a dixie cup of lemonade from a kid's lemonade stand on 12 south. Seriously never been treated so rudely upon entering a restaurant - we'll never go there if this is how they treat people.

This place is extremely racist as their staff labeled and stereotyped us, the customer service was awful, they disregarded our concerns as it pertained to their food I will not be back, contacted the owner who was also disregarded and unconcerned told me not to come back which I have the email to prove it, but definitely an eye opener that racism still exist which is sad! Reporting to the business bureau

Staff yelled at my boyfriend for bringing an almost empty Dixie cup inside that had maybe a tablespoon of lemonade from a little kids lemonade stand in the neighborhood. They said it was outside food/beverage. Still thinking about how rude the staff was to my boyfriend. Every morning when I take a walk and pass Hearts, I think about it. ugh so unwarranted. Update: Coming back to this review over two years later after laughing about this story at dinner. What age do we live in where a guest at a business is treated so ridiculously.

Our Brussels sprouts didn’t have the pomegranate seeds and they charged full Price and did not tell me until i asked why the seeds were not in there that they were out. There was foil inside the burrito that was also missing the vegan sausage. It was tiny compared to what we had this time last year. My Shashuska was fine, but the tomato sauce was flavorless. The service was poor and it was so loud. Highly disappointed after loving it the last few times we had been in town. For $100 it was so disappointing.

Extremely small portions and ridiculously expensive. Unseasoned and bland food. Our service was a lovely girl but we could not believe how meh this place was for the bill to be so high. Would not recommend or return.

Poor service. Host barely acknowledged our existence as he “seated” us outside. Wasn’t even sure he was the host and thought he be back around for our orders. Didn’t drop off menus or water or anything, no communication at all. Took 20 minutes for a server to do that. Then decided he wouldn’t talk to us for five more minutes so we left.

I share the same sentiment as some other of the bad reviews here funny enough from locals... We live in the neighborhood and cane here couple of times for breakfast/meetings. Staff was rude they also so particularl of where they sut you. Restaurant is empty and they sat us next to the only other table with people. We asked to be seated somewhere else and they said no. We left. My wife tried it at another time and wanted a 4 top but since they were only 2 they told her no, while the place was empty.

Cole King

The service was nice… they have nice plants in the window, and that’s about all I can compliment about this place. The chairs are extremely uncomfortable. Prices are outrageous for what you get. The burger was actually gross. My friend and I both got one and neither of us finished it. Frozen, overcooked patties and tasted like rubber. Quite possibly the worst burger I’ve ever eaten in my life. Bloody Mary mix was thin and bland. Fries were meh…and $6. Edit: My friend that also ordered the burger has now thrown it up two hours later. Upon further reflection we’ve come to the conclusion that the whole experience at this restaurant was an affront to our bodies.