When Crosby Keltner signed the lease for the former Bound’ry location downtown, he needed a fresh concept and name for his new restaurant. “Every chef I’ve had the fortune of working with uses food to express their creativity ... to paint a picture,” Crosby says. “It’s how they communicate. It’s their love language.”
Love Language is an upscale eatery that boasts a vibe best described as Pedro Almodóvar meets Andy Warhol (for delicious food and cocktails). “We really loved the bones of the building, and we kept it simple with green plants and fresh paint. The architecture speaks for itself,” says Crosby. Local artist Joe Sannutti makes his mark inside, with riveting colorful art installations that play nicely with the early 1900s Greco-Deco edifice and minimalistic design.
Offering a sophisticated menu featuring Spanish, French and Italian influences, the first-floor displays a sleek bar, cozy dining booths, and a generous counter with seating and a bird’s eye view of the wood-fired oven. However, Love Language isn’t just a pizza restaurant. “We structured the menu with lots of small plates to encourage shares for the table. We’re also planning a chef’s table with a limited set menu and wine and cocktail pairings,” Crosby says.
He adds, “I wanted to do something upscale, and finding the right chef was essential. I was very lucky to find Chef Brad Webb. He really engaged with me. When I described what I wanted, Brad said, ‘I can absolutely do all of that.’ He’s very sociable and engages with the patrons. He does table visits and talks to people about the food. That stood out to me in a big way.”
Crosby recommends his two favorite menu items: the Beef Tartare with capers, confit yolk, and EVOO toast, and the Molasses Durac Pork Chop with cannellini beans, cippolini, and Jimmy Nardello peppers. Wood-fired pizzas -- Margherita, Garden, and Bianca -- are also on offer. As for drinks, Crosby suggests Out of Bound’ry, a bourbon cocktail named in honor of the building’s history. “In addition to cocktails, we have a 25-bottle wine list that we’re growing into 150 bottles over the next few weeks, and we’re ramping up our happy hour.”
Renovations are underway on the second-floor bar. “It still has the garage doors that open up like windows. We plan to use the mezzanine for cocktail space and small parties. The third floor will have its own identity as an event space, and it’s called The Caldwell. Brittany Olsen, the owner of Studio B Consulting, has run events worldwide, and now she’s helping develop concepts for us. We’ve already had about 30 events there, from small birthday parties to concerts for 200 people." Outside caterers are currently allowed, but eventually, Love Language will handle all food in-house.
As for the vibe, Crosby says, “Today, it’s good to be Instagramable. We can do a lot of fun stuff with the food and cocktails. It’s a great spot for date night, girl’s night, a business dinner, or a place to meet friends for drinks before a night out." With infinite opportunities for that picture-perfect moment, social media enthusiasts will delight in the decor and imminently photographable food.
“Ultimately,” says Crosby, “we’re bringing an iconic location back to life. Love Language is happy to be a part of the restaurant scene in Nashville.”
Located at 911 20th Avenue South in Nashville, Love Language is open Wednesday through Sunday, 4-10 p.m.
Love Language Menu and Reservations: LoveLanguageNash.com
Love Language IG: Instagram.com/lovelanguagenash/?hl=en
The Caldwell IG: Instagram.com/thecaldwellnashville/
Artist Joe Sannutti IG: Instagram.com/sannutti/?hl=en
Studio B Consulting IG: Instagram.com/studiobconsulting/