Butterbean and Santo Nino

Nashville Restaurants and Food
Two Reasons to Visit Gallatin on a Weekday

I had my first look at the new Butterbean Bakery and Bistro in Gallatin last week. It’s nestled in a stately older home a couple of blocks off the courthouse square. The concept of a vegetarian and gluten-free restaurant in Gallatin seems a bit odd, but once you visit, you realize that the overall effect is one of a warm and comforting lunch spot, with a touch of new-Southern homespun charm. The waitresses sport artistic tattoos and on closer inspection at least one is religious themed. You sit at a slightly wobbling table and examine the specials for the day, hand-written on little note cards. A cherry tomato Panini is flavorful thanks to nicely pressed gluten-free bread topped with Dubliner cheese and lovingly roasted red peppers and zucchini. It’s a good sandwich and yet perhaps outclassed by a cup of silky and rich potato- leek chowder. The broccoli pecan, golden raisin salad is not only sweet and tangy, but vegan as listed on the menu. They offer to switch any dairy options to dairy-free for vegans.

They serve small portions for the money, but the food is well-crafted and worth the expense. On the way out I sampled a bit of an excellent raspberry bar of some sort and realized that I need to sample more of the expansive display of gluten-free bakery products.

Now for the sad truth for Nashville vegetarians- right now they are only open for lunch and on weekdays. Perhaps that will change with a little nudging. It would be worth a visit to their Facebook page to show a little encouragement.

Butterbean
112 College Street
Gallatin
615-461-7442
Facebook page

If you do make the trip to Gallatin there is another stop I recommend. Santo Nino de Atocha Tortilleria is located in a strip mall at 720 Nashville Pike, on the way towards downtown. Just take the Vietnam Veteran’s exit 14, head down to Nashville Pike and take a left. It’s a couple of miles down the street on the left coming from Nashville. They make fresh corn tortillas daily. You can watch the machine at work from the window. While the tortillas are good the corn tortilla chips are even better: hearty, crunchy and with just the right amount of salt. They use canola oil to cook the chips. It’s a tiny storefront with just tortillas, chips, corn husks and some frozen tamales for sale. It would make a good two-fer with Butterbean.

Santo Nino de Atocha Tortilleria
720 Nashville Pike
Gallatin
615-206-8152