I came in here to get some food to go. I walked in and was surrounded by many lovely lunching ladies, as I expected due to the prime Belle Meade location and other reviews I have read. There was a wall full of every kind of salad, sandwich, soup, and dessert that I could ever imagine and they all looked yummy. I ended up choosing the chicken salad, and got a jug of fruit tea as well. At the checkout, I got a little bag of cheese wafers because they just looked so good! I thought everything was great. The chicken salad had lots of flavor and was not too heavy on the mayonnaise. The fruit tea was my favorite and I could have consumed the whole gallon by myself. Everything tasted and looked fresh! Prices were as expected for the type of food they serve. Looking forward to my return so I can try more things on the menu! read more

Soup and sandwiches like your grandma made when she wasn't feeling very creative. Soups are bland. Sandwiches are basic. Staff is great but the rave reviews seem disproportionate to what this place actually is. read more

I eat here anytime I am in the area when I am hungry. Such an awesome place to eat. Food is always fresh. I always get a half pimento/cheese and tuna sandwich with the chicken tortilla soup. Never a bad experience. Staff is so sweet! read more

Great place for great food and a family environment. Have tried almost everything in the menu and its all amazing! Dont forget to get the punch drink read more

My rescue spot ---where I can pick up amazing food for a delicious & easy dinner Lovely people always happy to help!

Can I give more than 5 stars?!!! This has been a favorite spot of my family's since we started coming to Nashville about 13 years ago. I don't know where to start. From the chicken salad, fruit tea, Curried Broccoli Cheese Soup, creamed chicken, fruit tea, caramel cake and did I mention the fruit tea, I've never had anything bad there!!! Not only is the food good but the staff are the best. I still recognize some of the ladies from when we first ate there! Stop by and check it out for yourselves! read more

Great in theory, just couldn't follow through. The confections look generic.... People who work there are nice.

I AM IN LOVE! This is the cutest place ever! Staff was lovely, very helpful and had a great attitude. The artichoke and lemon soup is the best I've ever had. The chicken salad sandwich and BLT were also great. Fast service, reasonable prices, great people. And they have a cool take out grab and go section, so perfect for anyone with a busy work schedule needing to get lunch quickly. Can't wait to go back :) read more

i got the tomato soup from here and it tasted like someone dumped a jar of prego into a bowl. not that i'm too snobby for spaghetti sauce out of a jar, but if that's what i'm having, i like it actually on top of spaghetti, served in the comfort of my own home. the "soup" also came w/ a couple of limp carrots on the side. needless to say, i don't plan on coming back. one star for the friendly ladies behind the counter. and one star for the pecan cookie dusted in powdered sugar. on second thought, maybe i would come back for another cookie. but only after having lunch somewhere else. read more

Try the Quiche of the day with a cranberry salad and cranberry muffin! I place is a hidden secret in the Belle Meade area located behind the Mapco by Publix and Moes. The building is very quaint and easy to miss. The interior is decorated in a rustic picnic theme with a To Go grocery area with premade meals if you want some quick to go or some of the items in bulk sizes. They have many healthy and gluten free items, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good healthy lunch option in the Bellevue-Belle Meade area. read more

Today was my first and probably last visit to the Picnic Cafe. Though the pimento cheese sandwich was quite good as well as the deviled eggs, the staff are by far the rudest I've encountered in a very long time. I was ordered - not asked but ordered - to do something or not do something THREE TIMES! That was in the first 10 minutes of walking in the door. I also witnessed the staff ignore other patron's requests and also ordered in the same rude manner I was ie step away from the counter, one person at a time even though clearly a couple was together etc. My friend who has been going there for many years couldn't believe how she too was ignored when asking a question or witnessing how patrons were being treated. In case you're wondering, yes they were busy but no so busy that it called for this kind of behavior. I go where I'm appreciated and this is definitely one restaurant that I am not! read more

I have enjoyed this Nashville gem for thirty years. Since it's early days in the Belle Meade Pharmacy - the same amount of love is consistently added to everything produced in their kitchen! The muffins are moist and flavorful, the pimento cheese is perfection and the chicken salad is excellent. Homemade biscuits are wonderful with the artichoke soup. Desserts are all delicious though the caramel cake is my personal favorite. read more

Love the sweet ice tea! Homemade, and you can add fresh mint leaves and house made lemonade. I was happy to find this little gem. I liked the egg salad on soft wheat bread. They have my favorite cookies and even gave me a sample! The staff was so friendly and enthusiastic that it made the experience even better and the food taste better. It's not a sit down dining experience, but a great, on the go cafe and lunch type meal. Clean, good food, good owners. read more

I love this place! I've only dined in once and it was a good experience. It's definitely a favorite of the locals. For me, it's the prepared meals that keep me coming back. They have various casserole entrees, soups, salads, and side dishes to take home. Each are packaged in individual or family size servings, and are ready to pop in the oven... complete with instructions. I highly recommend the chicken artichoke casserole. Fresh, delicious, home cooked goodness. read more

Fantastic, fresh and friendly! Super clean!!!!! Fabulous sandwiches and Devine desserts!

I went to the Picnic Cafe with hopes of supporting a small business, and getting some quality food. It was clean, the staff was friendly, and when I told them it was my first time there they gave me a cookie for free. I had the chicken salad and fresh fruit with fruit tea to drink. The chicken salad is what they are known for from what they said but I like my Mom's better. I am lucky to have my Mom's cooking though. Overall a good experience. Get there early for lunch as the place fills up quick. read more

Visited for lunch on a late Tuesday afternoon. We had the smoked turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, and honey Dijon mustard. They give you a choice of a side salad and I chose the pasta salad. The sandwich was tasty and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of turkey they gave me. More impressive was the pasta salad which I wished they had given me more of. My wife had a spinach salad. The portion of the spinach salad was quite generous. Overall, I was very pleased with my experience. All the staff was very friendly. It's a good place to eat healthy, smart, and the prices are very reasonable read more

One of my most fave places in Nashville. Best fruit tea and lemon squares. I go weekly and can't get enough!!

You can't go wrong at Picnic Cafe. Basically, it's a seasoned establishment whose quality, reliability, and excellence never fail to satisfy. I write this as I finish an oatmeal raisin cookie that I bought after enjoying a lunch there today. You pay more there, there's no doubt. But for me, every bite is worth it because I can sit out on the patio reading my book during my lunchbreak.....or sit with their delicious lemon artichoke soup in the wintertime. It's just become a staple for my lunch breaks when I just want a solid place to get away to....where the people are so very nice. The portions are small, as some have mentioned; but for some reason, I don't mind because I just nibble away as I read my book. Every nibble is tasty (quallity ingredients -- more satisfying). And like others have written, you gotta get the fruit tea and drop some fresh mint leaves in your glass (if you like mint like me). People have written that it's the best chicken salad in Nash. To me, Food Company has some of the best chicken salad. But still, most every time I go to Picnic Cafe, I get the chicken salad.....so I must like it! You can't go wrong with Picnic! :) read more

This place is a perfect example of pleasant environment and good simple food. But it's also an example of people that need to leave their bad attitude at home. A smile and a little appreciation would go a long way. read more

Honestly, if I could eat here everyday until the end of time I would. From when you walk in, the amazing decor makes you feel like you stepped back in time and Doris Day is going to come in to have lunch with you. The yellow and blue and the picnic booths are precious! Plus, if you love chicken salad like I do, this is the only place in Nashville that could rival someone's grandmother's recipe. SO. GOOD. read more

This place was so cute! The decor is definitely very old-tea-party, and definitely feminine, so I was glad it was me and my mom. We both got sandwich plates, which were delicious. I got the turkey BLT with a side of deviled eggs, and it came with pickles and raw baby carrots. The sandwich was great--the sauce was interesting, sort of like mustard but with some sweetness. I really enjoyed the entire place, I wish we had gotten dessert! read more

Great lunch spot near St. Thomas West Hospital. I had the chicken salad and a lemon blueberry muffin. Husband had a turkey BLT and ham & bean soup. Everything was delicious! The staff was friendly, dining room quaint and clean. Be sure and try the Tea Punch. They even gave us a free cookie (like a Danish wedding cookie) because it was our first visit. We will definitely be back when we're in the area. read more

The food is great, but the shear volume of wasted plastic is atrocious! Perhaps the clientele is less concerned about the environment than I, if the Picnic does not have the ability to wash dishes, at the very least they should spend a bit more and get biodegradable or recyclable plates, cups and flatware. My sister and I took our 92 year old mother for lunch, and frankly I was sickened by the waist! Let me be clear, there were no complaints about the food read more

Love the creativity. Gluten free options, not a lot, but a few. Food was homey and comforting and classy. Space was fun. People were kind and welcoming. Service was fast! read more

Picnic Cafe is a wonderful taste of Nashville in a sea of "chain" restaurants. The atmosphere is friendly, the food is delightful, and definitely "southern." My only complaint is that the meals may be a bit "pricey," but they come in so much packaging that if they were a bit more "eco-conscious," it might be possible to charge just a weensy bit less, and that can only be good, in today's economic atmosphere! read more

I've been in Nashville for five days now and this was the BEST meal I've eaten. The food was fresh and well made, not too salty (like almost all of the others) and the staff was extremely friendly! Definitely a "must go" kind of place! read more

The food was good, but I don't appreciate being charged extra for a different side when it was implied that I could have any side I wanted. If a meal comes with a specific side (like chips) than one should not ask which side you want without mentioning that there will be an extra charge for it. read more

If you want to know where to find top quality food follow the octogenarians. Seriously who is public enemy #1 to food industry workers? Little old ladies and gents who are fed up with bad service and bad food, so if you're looking for the good stuff ask grandma. I did, and she pointed me to Picnic. It is my favorite place to stop in a grab lunch now. The deviled eggs are so creamy and delicious. I'm pretty sure the lemon artichoke soup was made by god himself. And if you're into chicken salad this is your home. Welcome home. Worth mentioning is their great service and attention to detail. You'd think the prices would be even higher because they actually treat your food with such care. Picnic exceeds expectations and sets a standard all luncheons should hope to achieve. read more

This is one of my wife's favorite places. She has been coming for years, when they were in the pharmacy to the present location. I have been coming since I retired a few years back. Wife always gets the creamed chicken on egg-bread, and I get chick tortilla soup and a ham salad sandwich. It is all always excellent, picnic tea is great. Az a man I appreciate that they have quality napkins, sturdy plastic utensils, and the ladies there always have a smile and seem to enjoy serving you. read more

One of my sweet spots! A little pricey, but a great place to eat. The quality is fantastic. Try their chicken salad! It's the best in town. The decor is a little unique. This is a fav place for "ladies who lunch". A little bit of an older, upper class crowd. The last few times I've visited I've seen middle aged country music stars. Also, be sure to try their fruit tea or "picnic punch". Delish! read more

My friend, Kathy Bonnet began by making a little extra money by making lunches to sell to women in hair salons who were under the dryers. Her lunches were irresistible with fresh strawberries, clumps of grapes, curly lettuce, carrot sticks, cranberry congealed salad, melt in your mouth huge muffins, all presented on a paper doily and served with her fabulous tea punch! Then Tom Zazie -the pharmacist at the Belle Meade Drug Store loved her pimento cheese (he was a vegetarian). Then he allowed Cathy to move some benches and tables into his drugstore . She inched her cafe to a larger part of the drugstore with a title for tat between Cathy and Tom. The customers came for the great deserts, chicken salad, sandwiches, casseroles, frozen fruit salads and all served very quickly! While in the drugstore, customers began buying gifts and the inventory grew by leaps and bounds. Cathy kept making improvements and finally printed a cookbook with her recipes but other ones from friends! There's no place I'd rather eat lunch with friends. Oh! I didn't mention her quiche! If you have an order of eight or more, they will deliver it to your home! read more

The Picnic Cafe in Nashville is awesome!!! I have eaten there several times and each and every time the food and the service have been exceptional. The menu is varied and each item is delicious.....the bakery items are so GOOD. My husband even enjoys it! read more

If you've never been here before, there are three prerequisites. Chicken salad, fruit tea and cheese wafers. The place has been in operation for two decades because they do what they do well, consistently. Sure the majority of the lunch crowd are blue hairs, but it is comfort food. Order at the counter and take a seat. read more

I absolutely love this place. Eat there usually twice a week due to the proximity of my work. Today though was different...I was completely overlooked in order to take care of someone with a called in, much larger than mine order, obviously a wealthier looking person than I in my scrubs. This ladies time was more important than mine so I walked out politely and went somewhere else. I will return to the picnic because I like the food but I will give it a rest for awhile. My $20-30 a week spent there can go to help someone in need. My steady return would be $80-120 monthly I hope that ladies order and time was worth it read more

Not enthused. I ordered the quiche lunch. It cost 9.50, which would have been fair if it had been really homemade. It came with the quiche of the day, a fresh fruit cup and their own cranberry salad on a lettuce liner; a monumental waste of lettuce, given the lettuce crisis in the southern states and Mexico. (Other items were a number of mayonnaise-based things, served up several ways: as a sandwich, large scoop,or mini scoop: chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad. I don't know about other people, but Mayo and I just don't see eye-to-eye. There were also typical sandwiches like a BLT, Club and a few unimaginative salads with a few homemade dressings: Caesar, Tarragon (I generally opt out of that 1 herb) O and V and one or two others. Blah, blah, blah.) I also ordered an Iced Tea for 2.25, with refills. But the quiche tart shell was machine pressed and the muffin was massed produced. Given these, I am thinking that the fruit salad was also not their own handicraft, but store bought and probably processed in one of the local produce-processing plants, scooped into their own plastic serving cup. The cranberry salad was alright; typically, like anything a grandmother might have served at her own picnic. All of this was served on a paper plate, on a wicker liner with plastic flatware. OK, Picnic fare! I got it. The Iced Tea was self-serve, but the cup was small; sure free refills, but really. For the price, where you can get wait-staff, real flatware and china, more homemade items than this. I would rather eat at some chains; say, a drive to Mimi's Cafe? read more

We found this little gem by looking in Yelp when we visited Nashville. We stopped for lunch. The food is SO fresh - the bread for the sandwiches had to have been baked that day. The lemon asparagus soup is amazing. The cookies were to die for. The staff was very friendly. I highly recommend this place! read more

Getting a little harder to get into this place, but worth it when you do. I always order the chicken salad sandwich and a bowl of broccoli cheese soup. Price is a little steep but the atmosphere and quality make up for it. Don't forget the fruit tea! read more

The pimento cheese and chicken salad are really good! Cute little cafe, The desserts are good too but a little pricey

The perfect lunch spot! Love the chicken salad, pimento cheese, fruit tea and freshly baked muffins.