★★★★☆ - Reliable great food. Will visit often.
Love Peace & Phớ has quickly become one of our favorite places to eat. Located in the rapidly growing Berry Hill area, it is new to the scene and really making a splash in bringing authentic Vietnamese cuisine to the south side of Nashville. The owners moved to the US from Vietnam the mid-70’s, and because of their fond memories of the time period, they have given the restaurant a loving and peaceful 70’s vibe that I really enjoy. Even with this throwback aura, there are still many modern touches in the restaurant, and the ambiance is relaxing and fun.
The menu has a good selection of vegan options, including egg rolls, pho, and a delicious banh mi. They are also willing to customize any dish to be vegan by holding or substituting the meat. One factor that really upps this restaurant’s vegan game is that they serve several types of meat substitutes in addition to tofu. They have soy-based versions of beef, chicken, and ham that look so much like meat, I had to do a double take! I ended up really enjoying these soy substitutes, as they are full of interesting textures and flavors that add delicious savory notes to the dish. The vegetarian pho and banh mi come with these meat substitutes, but you could easily stick with just tofu if you prefer. The lightly fried tofu here is delicious as well!
The vegetarian egg rolls are good, but our word of warning is that they are somewhat heavy in comparison to the type of crispy, rice noodle-filled egg rolls you may be used to. When we have ordered them, they have been very good, but very rich and filling. One order contains 3 large egg rolls, so you might be in over your head if only sharing between two people! My favorite menu item, hands down, is the vegetarian pho. I have had lots of phos at places across town, and I have to say, the rich flavors and hearty fillings of this pho make it my favorite. Pho is just a fun dish, in my opinion. The marriage of flavors at work is interesting, fresh, and delicious, and LPP really excels at the art of creating an exceptional pho. The addition of interesting meat substitutes adds an all new element to this dish that you just have to try to believe. The toppings are fresh and full of flavor. The broth is a delicate blend of sweet and savory flavors, and it’s vegan! The following excerpt from the menu explains the story of the broth:
At LPP, we remain committed to creating the traditional Vietnamese Pho from the southern regions of Vietnam. As a result, the broth is lighter, sweeter and fresher in taste. LPP provides 5 different pho broths that, individually, takes two days to prepare. Each bowl is garnished with a healthy amount of bean sprouts, southeast Asian Basil, culantro (not cilantro), lime, jalapeños, green onions and shallots.
I was worried that once the weather got warm, I would find myself not wanting to eat a big bowl of hot noodle soup, however, I am happy to report that my love for this dish has transcended the seasons, and it is just as good on a warm, spring day as it was during the winter. The pho bowls come in two sizes, Small and Large. If you are super hungry and not getting an appetizer, you might enjoy the large. However, the small is still HUGE, and would be plenty for most people! At $9 and $11, respectably, you get a serious amount of food for your money. I will also add that, since these bowls of pho are so generously portioned, you may likely find yourself needing to take some home. I have taken my leftovers home several times, which I usually devoured as a late night snack that same evening. After a few hours, the soup is still delicious, maybe even better since the flavors have had more time to mingle. One time, I actually succeeded in saving my leftovers for lunch the next day, but after this long in the fridge, the noodles had lost some of their texture. It was still good, but the leftovers are much better if you eat them sooner rather than later.
The banh mi is also delightful. The French baguette is a perfect mix of fluffy bread with a crispy, lightly toasted crust. The sandwich is filled with cilantro, cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikon, and a secret house sauce. It is, far and away, one of the best sandwiches in Nashville, particularly of the banh mi persuasion. The sandwich is not served with any sides, but at just $6, you could definitely get an appetizer or a delicious bubble tea and still enjoy a modestly priced meal. A note about the bubble teas: I was absolutely floored when I found out that boba is vegan, AND Love Peace & Pho will make any of their teas with soy milk. I haven’t had enough room left after dinner to try their bubble teas yet, but I can’t imagine a much better way to end a great meal here than with a vegan bubble tea!
All in all, the only reason this restaurant doesn’t get a 5 is that, as a newer establishment, they have had ups and downs with service. The wait staff have always been very nice and helpful, but we have noticed that some days, they might not have enough hands on deck to handle a large rush. There have been a few meals where we had to wait awhile for a check or had a hard time finding servers because they were helping out in the kitchen to accommodate a rush. We are 100% confident these little kinks will get worked out as the restaurant settles into its groove, and hey, nothing has stopped us from eating here yet! We hope you enjoy the peaceful vibes and authentic Vietnamese food at Love Peace & Pho!
