Review:

Bright and unpretentious, Bongo Java is the oldest and most famous coffeehouse in Nashville. It is located just across the street from Belmont University, in the lively Belmont/Hillsboro Village neighborhood. Bongo Java is a popular gathering place for the local residents, students and artists. Its great Fair Trade coffee and all day breakfast is not the only reason the café is so famous; in 1993 an employee almost bit into a cinnamon bun that looked like Mother Theresa, and Immaculate Confection was born, that is until Mother Theresa’s people put a stop to that.

You can still get it, under the name NunBun. You can be the judge and decide if it looks like anything other than a great bun. To go with your fresh roasted coffee, you can get a nice choice of light, healthy meals, slightly quirky but interesting. Their burger called “Burger from the Black Bean Lagoon” is made of black beans, and it comes with Jack cheese, avocado, chipotle aioli, an egg over easy, lettuce and tomato, all piled up on a fresh sesame bun. Upstairs from the coffee house is a popular small music venue and theatre called Bongo After Hours.

2007 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212, Phone: 615-385-5282

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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