The old dogs whose favorite trick was to fetch coffee and a muffin at
the Hillsboro Village coffee shop have dug up a pleasant surprise:
Suddenly the muffins at Fido are great! And breakfast is just the tip
of the iceberg. Thanks to chef John Stephenson's focus on seasonal and
local cuisine and pastry chef Lisa Bachman's clever creations, the
13-year-old Fido has emerged as a favorite all-day pet among serious
foodies. Start with a muffin, then work up to flank steak, fish tacos
and pan-seared shrimp on mashed white beans. Next thing you know, you
won't be calling Fido a coffeehouse anymore—except, of course, when
you're stocking up on Bongo Java Roasting Company's "Yes We Can"
custom-label beans. Carrington Fox, food critic Nashville Scene
I wanted to compliment you on Fido. I go there as often as I
can because it is consistently wonderful. Your employees are courteous,
efficient and bright. The food and drinks are great, and the entire
atmosphere is exactly what I think of when I try to describe Nashville
to out of town friends. Keep up the good work!
Thanks,
Joel Anderson Andeson Design Group
Description Fido blurs the line between coffeehouse and restaurant. Chef John
Stephenson continuously re-creates the menu.
With fish and steak specials, breakfast all day and a seasonal menu,
Fido is known as much for its food as the coffee. Fido also serves a classy selection of beer.
Ambiance The
Fido space was entirely re-done before opening, yet it feels like it
has been there forever. To create the comfortable atmosphere, we ripped
plaster off brick walls, took down drop ceilings, repaired and
repainted the tin ceiling and used a few design tricks. A special wall
treatment makes the new construction feel old. Some of the original
tile floors were saved. And new mahogany and green marble counters were
built to complete the warm, inviting feel.
Menu Fido
has become as well known for its food as its coffee. Chef John has
created a daily menu full of vegetarian, fish and meat options that
range from simple eggs to tamales.
Coffee
is still a specialty at Fido. The beans are roasted daily across town
by our sister store, Bongo Java Roasting Co. A long-time, well-trained
staff creates the full list of West Coast java drinks without the West
Coast snobby attitude. Location Fido is located in Nashviille's hip Hillsboro Village
neighborhood near the corner of Wedgewood and 21st Ave. S. We are
walking distance from Vanderbilt University/Medical Center, Belmont
University and not far from Las Paletas.
History Fido,
the cafe named after the dog who discovered coffee, opened October 11,
1996. The cafe space formerly housed Jone's Pet Shop and Patsy &
Faye's Hairloom - both businesses which were around for about 50 years.
The cafe is located in Nashville's trendy Hillsboro Village and near
Vanderbilt University and Music Row.
The Legend of Fido According
to legend, coffee was discovered in the Sixth Century by an Ethiopian
goat herder who was trying to find food for his herd during a long
drought. We figure that Kaldi must have had a dog. We named our cafe
"Fido" after this heroic dog unjustly overlooked by history. (It didn't
hurt to have a really cool old neon dog sign on our roof to provide us
with an almost free logo).
Stuffed Animal Hospital Fido hosts an annual "Stuffed Animal Hospitial" around its birthday October 11. Kids of all ages bring their best friends in for minor surgeries, check ups and physical therapy.
Awards 1997 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
1998 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
1999 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
2000 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
2001 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
2002 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
2003 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
2004 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
2005 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
2006 2nd Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene (finished behind sister store Bongo Java)
2006 Best Breakfast CitySearch
2007 2nd Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene (finished behind sister store Bongo Java
2008 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
2009 Best Coffeehouse Nashville Scene
2009 Best Place for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Nashville Scene
