Nashville's barbecue king pivots to open Southern breakfast spot in Donelson. Here's a first look.
Donelson is getting a little hipper with a new, bright industrial-style breakfast/lunch place offering slightly elevated Southern comfort foods.
SweetMilk, offering a limited menu in its first few weeks, serves a cinnamon roll, but theirs with pecans and a hint of nutmeg; sweet potato pancakes with homemade cinnamon butter; a shrimp and grits with shrimp sautéed in garlic butter and slow-cooked okra.
Even the avocado toast is kicked up a notch with radish and pepitas (pumpkin seeds).
The prices, though, aren't that elevated, with breakfast entrees ranging from $8 to $20.
The spot was created by Pat Martin, founder of Martin's Bar-B-Cue and Bill Darsinos of Greko Street Food and Southside Grill.
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The name is inspired by Martin’s grandmother, Nonie Sue Martin, who called for "sweet milk" (what she called whole milk as opposed to buttermilk) while cooking.
There are salads and other lighter offerings, and drink, including natural wines, are available for lunch.
"Everyone was welcome and could find something to eat at Nonie Sue’s table," the owners said in a news release, "and that’s the way SweetMilk’s menu has been designed as well."
There is outdoor seating on a back patio, and on nice days, the restaurant opens big back-wall garage doors for an indoor/outdoor feel.
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Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville barbecue king opens a Southern breakfast spot SweetMilk
