Parco Cafe

The reviews of this place intrigued me and I was excited to try it. I tried calling several times last week to make a reservation for dinner this past weekend and never got an answer or an answering service. So, yesterday evening (a Monday), my boyfriend and I decided we'd just show up and see if we could get a table. The entrance on Printers Alley was locked so we walked around to the 3rd Street entrance and it was locked as well. I tried using the call button, but it appeared to be disconnected as we got no response. How disappointing!! Anyone know if this restaurant has closed? Pros: Reviews sound great Cons: Appears to have closed more

Parco style cafe is my favorite place to eat in Nashville. It can be a little pricey but if you go at lunch the price is less. Try the veggie burger, it's what they're known for and there is a reason. I worked at Parco's briefly as a summer job and Mr & Mrs. Fu are both great! Chef Fu always made sure the quality of the food from prep to presentation was perfect. The grouper is to die for and the pork tenderloin is....perfect, the balance of flavor and texture as well as presentation is flawless. Chef Fu is very talented and his fusion of asian cuisine and classic french cuisine is a winning combination. Save room for dessert no matter what. Try one of the coffee siphons and watch while it is being made it's not your regular cup of joe by any means. Pros: quality, service, dessert, everything! Cons: parking more

I will be back and will bring friends. The food is exquisite, original, and fresh. I went early (~5:30) on Friday and the vibe is about as disjointed as you could expect for a 4 star restaurant in a basement on Printer's Alley. Plus, I ate at the bar. In between tasteful jazz numbers on the sound system you could hear someone trying to sing country music at the empty wannabe bar next door, but these moments were mercifully brief. Both the waiter and waitress tonight were exceptional until they got behind the bar (the bartender had not arrived yet). When the bartender arrived, I found she was fairly cocktail competent, but did not know pate from peter pan. This was 2 hours before a concert, and I did throughly enjoy the experience. Pros: Outstanding food and eclectic atmosphere Cons: Bar prices remind me of lower Manhattan more

Visiting the area we stumbled across the review and felt drawn to it...we felt hesitant walking in due to the darkness and not typical style we were used to for an ""upscale"" ""highly rated"" restaurant. We sat and there was one other table full....another thing we felt nervous about. Our nerves were put to ease almost immediately by Mrs. Fu and our wonderful waitress Quinn. Quinn described the food in such a way that you could almost taste it...she sells it and sells it well and for GOOD REASON! The food was so incredible I couldn't wait until I moved down here to go again and share it with anyone I could! The seafood curry soup with the puff pastry was absolutely incredible and I crave it every day! The wonton soup was equally as delicious as well as the gyoza..simply wonderful. The entrees were prepared with special attention to fresh ingredients and amazing sauces and Mrs. Fu made the experience incredible. Go on Friday for personal attention...Saturday tends to be busier. But it is a MUST! Do not be put off by location or appearance. Also, make sure you save room for dessert (its hard but you HAVE TO!!) Pros: Parking on street (just walk around to the alley!!), AMAZING FOOD and SERVICE! Cons: None that we've found yet!! more

I want to share a Nashville secret for the best restaurant in the city, trust me go and try anything, from the avacado salad to the oyster app or the pork chop dish, its all amazing. and my roommate loves the desserts. go. relax. sip wine. and taste great food. later q. Pros: great food and wine Cons: no liquor more

First let me say that I absolutely LOVE this restaurant!! I first read about Parco in the Nashville Scene and was intrigued. I love independent restaurants and the article was positive. My wife and I have since been back to eat 3 times in the last 3 months and each has been better than the last. This is also the best bargain for great food we have found. The most expensive entree is $25, appetizers are $8 to $10 and desserts average about $5. I don't drink, but they have a full bar and a pretty good wine list (used to drink). Pros: Great Food, Great Prices, Friendly Service Cons: I don't have a bigger stomach so I can eat more more

Our party of 10 really had a world class meal at Parco Cafe. We had diners from all over the country, including several from the dining-savvy Bay Area. Everyone agreed that it was one of the best meals we've ever had. We went on a Monday, and it the restaurant was nearly empty. This was good, because chef Fu was the only person in the kitchen. If you want a fast meal or visit on a busier night, this would be a big problem. But he ably prepared apps, entrees, and desserts for all of us. It felt like a private dinner party because we knew he was cooking each dish specially for the person who ordered it. Pros: World class food, interesting flavor combinations, beautiful presentation Cons: Be prepared to take your time... just enjoy it more

I have been a customer of Mr. & Mrs. Fu since the very early days at the Farmer's Market. They are absolutely delightful and Mr. Fu's Chef skills constantly amaze me. The quality of the food is second to none. I have tried nearly every dish he prepares and can honestly say I've never been disappointed. Mrs. Fu is sweet, kind, and attentive. They truly care about their customers. Everything is created and served lovingly. I was also quite surprised by a some of the mean spirited reviews on this site and agree that the wonderfully created desserts do not come from a food outlet. Everything is made from the freshest and highest quality ingredients. If you are looking for a relaxing dinner this is the place. Sit back, have a glass of wine and let your taste buds be delighted. Reservations are recommended. If you want something fast go to Micky D's. Pros: Mr. & Mrs. Fu, Ambience, Service more

I have been a customer of Parco Cafe for years prior to this location during their time at the Farmer's Market and the obvious emphasis of Chef Fu's work is, consistently, quality and originality. Pros: originality, FLAVOR, service more

On my first visit to Nashville (around 1998), my best friend took me to experience a treasure she had found. A tiny cafe in the middle of Farmers' Market called Parco Cafe. She kept raving about it and I wondered how anything could be that good. After my first lunch there, I was an instant fan of Mr Fu's artistry and preparation of food and Mrs Fu's sweet and gentle nature. It became a ritual for my friend and I to spend a Saturday letting Mr Fu delight our tastebuds and to have great conversation with both. We just fell in love with them! I moved to Nashville in 2001 and lived here for a year and went to see the Fu's as often as possible. We met people from all over Tennessee that regularly traveled some distances on a Saturday or Sunday to eat at Parco Cafe and share in the kindness of the Fu's. The drawback at the Farmers' Market was not on us, but on the Fu's. The kitchen was so small; I was amazed at how they served so many, so well. Pros: Mr & Mrs Fu; The Excellent Food more

Parco cafe is a gem found in Printer's Alley. It's NY style entrance steps down into the front of the restaurant and paired with its charm, ambiance, and romantic lighting, it makes one intimate environment. The menu is a one-of-a-kind Asian French fusian with nothing short of unique taste. I highly recommend the lamb chops (we buy out their entire stock everytime), cooked with a wonderful blend of seasonings with crispy edges. The French onion soup is the best in Nashville, and always served hot! My favorite is the mango tuna salad which is to die for! It's made of sushi grade ahi tuna, chopped avocado, chopped mango (fresh by the way) and with a spicy-ish sauce...all of us order one each as an appetizer! The eggplant stuffed grouper is divine...but do not forget to save room for dessert! Mr. Fu is a French pastry chef who knows how to tease your stomach! All desserts are fresh and hard to pick from: banana-strawberry crepes (my favorite, another item we buy out), truffle cheesecake, fruit tart (looks directly out of a magazine!), plum tart, and tiramisu. Pros: Absolutely the food/taste, the service, the perfect ambiance Cons: nothing, don't come here if you need a rushed meal more

ok food was late and nasty. they have such a strong smell but, of course its in a basement for god sake sit is nasty nasty. the dessert is order from Sysco and its not where near freshly made. He just decorates the dessert what a joke! Pros: in downtown Cons: smelly more

Last saturday my husband and i went for a romantic, quiet dinner. We were seated promptly by our delightful server and enjoyed a glass of pinot while waiting for our appetizers. Our bacon wrapped scallops and crab cakes arrived on a timely manner. (i would highly recommend trying the crabcakes, a smaller portion but well worth it!) During our evening it was obvious that several tables without reservations arrived unexpectedly which seemed to cause a bit of a delay for our entree's. My husband scarfed down a grouper stuffed with eggplant atop a delicous currey sauce, and i was pleasantly surprised by the tenderness of my chicken wrapped prosciutto with blue cheese. We opted to take dessert home with us as a few large tables came in. (Chocolate truffle cheesecake and plum tart- both of which were decadent.) Our experience was a delight and we were encouraged by Mrs. Fu to call in advance to make reservations and to park at the library or courthouse for cheaper parking as we were walked out the back entrance (to 3rd Ave). Pros: the freshly prepared food Cons: parking more

We went on a non-crowded Saturday night (3 other tables). Didn't receive our 1st course for over an hour, and then had the next two rushed on us in less than 25 minutes. I had a snapper special which was decent, and my wife had the ""jumbo rock shrimp"" which she read about in the Tennessean. 6 small, rubbery shrimp arrived, which ONLY tasted of salt. The shrimp flavor definitely took a back seat to the salt. Desert was good, although when I ordered something they were out of, I was told they might have more ""frozen in the back."" So they are definitely not made that day by the purportedly amazing French pastry chef. I would have been okay paying $40 for the meal, not $80 with no alcohol. Not the gem it's supposed to be. Pros: Didn't need a reservation on a Saturday night. Cons: Ambience, food, odor more

Formerly located @ Farmer's Market, Parco Cafe has raised the bar of creative food excellence at this new location. Save room for dessert. Pros: Taste, Taste, Taste Cons: Timeliess of service more