Chances are if you hang out around me long enough, you will at some point hear me complain about the lack of good breakfast spots around Mount Juliet. I mean, for the longest time, it was Waffle House, Cracker Barrel, or bust. There have been a few spots open up since, but…well, not to be dramatic…there is still a crisis…yes, literal crisis…when it comes to breakfast options in town. That’s why when I heard Just Love Coffee Cafe was bringing a location to Mount Juliet a while ago, I was elated. Options, people…that’s wtf I want. The more options we have, the less likely it is that I have to wait an hour just to get into breakfast somewhere.
Nonetheless, I’ve been several times since Just Love opened up, and I’ve always come away quite pleased with the food. On a recent day trip out to Arrington Vineyards, my wife and I decided to kick the festivities off with a good breakfast, with some good coffee, before we made our way on out of town. So, after snapping a few photos, I decided I’d write up this review and add Just Love to our grand pantheon of Mount Juliet reviews. LFG – for more on Just Love Coffee Cafe, check out their menu here.
Pics
Ratings
Food: 7.78/10 – Any time we’ve been, and at this point, that’s three trips in and a couple of runs through the drive-thru if I’m not mistaken, the food has been phenomenal. Everything is freaking waffled out – even the biscuits, as you can see pictured above. The salsa in the breakfast burrito gives it some nice juice, and it packs just the right amount of punch, and the thing is so loaded down with cheese that it gives the whole dish a creamy, rich texture. I’m a bit of a gravy nut, who has been known to eat Cracker Barrel’s gravy with a spoon (come at me, I know no shame), so I had to get some of my wife’s biscuit, and the gravy passed my test. The cinnamon rolls were sweetness overload. And, every latte I’ve ordered has been tremendous. I usually go with the Cha-Cha, which is defined on their website as: “Smooth dark chocolate touched with just enough hazelnut and amaretto to get your Cha-Cha on.” YEAH, BUDDY!
Value: 3.12/10 – Make no mistake about it – the food is good. But…let me just put this out there in the open…it’s a $10 breakfast burrito. Maybe I’m just a redneck, and you rich folk can judge my hillbilly ass. But factor in the cost of a latte, and if you don’t tip like a total asshole, you’re going to spend around $25 just for yourself, and it’s really not all that much food. I’m not trying to be a stickler here, but I have to be honest and transparent with you guys. The meal in this particular review cost us $46.63. If you have “fuck it” money, then by all means, let this not be a concern for you. But, I don’t have it, so full disclosure here, that severely limits the number of visits I’m willing to make when I know I can leave the Cracker Barrel or Waffle House with my ribs about to crack from the pressure of my full gut for a lot less money.
Atmosphere: 5.6/10 – It is a cute, quaint little cafe environment. The service has always been excellent, and every staff member we’ve talked to has been friendly. It definitely has the fun, hometown coffee shop vibe down pat.
Overall: 5.5/10 – Yeah, that math adds up. I love the food, I love the coffee, and I absolutely love how not crowded Just Love is compared to other breakfast spots around Mount Juliet. But the price point of the food itself is just a bit too much for me to call this one of the best overall experiences in town.
CURRENT MOUNT JULIET RESTAURANT RANKINGS
- ML Rose (8.19/10)
- Memo’s Mexican Kitchen (8.15/10)
- Hibachi Jr. (7.75/10)
- Smiley Thai and Sushi (7.25/10)
- Catch 22 (7.125/10)
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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