Inglewood's New Fort Louise
Located in East Nashville’s Inglewood neighborhood, local entrepreneur Jessica Bower and acclaimed Chicago Chef Greg Biggers (McCrady’s, TRU, Morimoto) announce a friendly spin on American comfort cuisine by introducing Fort Louise. Presenting a menu of snacks, salads and large plates, Fort Louise is a cozy 1,400 square foot passion project for Chef Biggers, who— together with proprietor and current Nashvillian Jessica Bower, as well as newly announced chef de cuisine Jonathan Hawks—imparts guests with a casual dinner party atmosphere. Located in a former residential house outfitted for open-air dining on its generous back porch, Fort Louise is a welcoming neighborhood destination for lunch and dinner, as well as Saturday and Sunday weekend brunch.
Inglewood resident and co-owner Jessica Bower – who also owns East Nashville’s Steluta, a lifestyle boutique with clothing, jewelry and apothecary items – continues to show her personal passion towards the bourgeoning district by opening Fort Louise. With this project, she leverages her top front-of-house hospitality experience honed at acclaimed restaurants such as Charleston’s FIG and Pittsburgh’s James Beard-nominated Dinette.
Bower turned to her hometown friend and current top Chicago-based Chef Greg Biggers to lead the new restaurant’s culinary program as Chef/Partner. Biggers has spent nearly two decades working alongside an impressive portfolio of chef talents in some of the most acclaimed kitchens in the country. From Charleston’s world-class McCrady’s with Michael Kramer, Chicago’s 4-star TRU with Rick Tramonto, and Philadelphia’s Morimoto—Biggers is currently Executive Chef of Chicago’s Cafe des Architectes at the Sofitel Hotel. Biggers joins newly appointed Chef de Cuisine, Jonathan Hawks in the kitchen at Fort Louise.
Described by Chef Biggers as “a friendly spin on American comfort cuisine,” the tastefully abbreviated Fort Louise menu highlights playful renditions of surprising snacks, salads, and large-plate entreés including Monkey Bread served with a beef-fat candle, Curry Fried Chicken Bucket with Tasmanian honey and benne seed corn bread and Crispy Deviled Eggs with pickled red onion, candied bacon and jalapeño, among others for lunch and dinner. Weekend brunch offerings include a Hashbrown Waffle with poached eggs, hollandaise and Gruyere cheese, Challah French Toast with a cream cheese glaze, strawberries and candied pecans, as well as many more dishes.
The name Fort Louise has multiple meanings for the duo. Biggers’s mother is named Louise, it’s a nod to the historical roots of the area, and also a reference to what Bower lovingly calls her own Inglewood home, “Fort Bower.”
HOURS: Fort Louise is open for lunch, Tuesday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Dinner hours are Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with dinner on Friday and Saturday running from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m and the restaurant is closed on Monday.
Follow Fort Louise on Instagram @hungrylikeafort or www.hungrylikeafort.com for more details.
