FuLin's Asian Cuisine 
FuLin's Asian Cuisine mixes Asian cultures in a semi-upscale atmosphere. Located in the brand new
Target complex at Old Hickory Blvd and I-65 south of Nashville, this restaurant focuses on Chinese dishes, sprinkling in influences from other Eastern cuisines including a full-service Sushi bar. The restaurant name comes from the
concept of "fu" combined with the head chef's name: Lin.
The Lactose Line
FuLin's asian menu is almost completely lactose free except for the requisite ice cream desserts. Items on the menu are not very well detailed, relying on the customer to know what is usually served in mainstream Americanized chinese dishes. Although my mongolian beef was completely lactose-safe, it was lifeless and extremely oniony... and seemed a bit overpriced for what I received. My table mate's sushi was done extremely well with a firm texture and delicious seasoning.
Best Lactose-free options:
Pretty much everything except dessert. A fruit plate is available. FuLin's did not have an online menu that I could find, or even a website, so no advance planning is available.
Map and Directions:
at the Bellsouth Yellow Pages siteRating:
4 out of 5 lactose-free stars. FuLin's is a lactose free zone, but unfortunately needs to be docked a star for its lackluster entree and an unfortunate substitution of hand sanitzer for soap in the women's restroom, causing us to be concerned about other possible health violations. FuLin's does have tremendous potential, and may just be experiencing grand opening growing pains.
Green Hills Grille (Cool Springs) 
Green Hills Grille has been a Nashville favorite for a decade and a half. They have set the trend for "casual fine dining" in Nashville, and everyone else follows. A favorite with the open-collar-with-jacket and cashmere-track-suit set, the menu and service that began at the original Nashville location usually set it apart from the majority of restaurants. Unfortunately, on the most recent visit to its Cool Springs franchisee, we found a departure from our expectations.
The Lactose Line
Green Hills Grille's menu is
on their website, and most of the items are described in fairly good detail so that you can infer the lactose content of any given dish. Two major exceptions: their trademark Tortilla Soup is finished with cheese, so be sure to ask to omit that from an order, and their "Green Hills Greens" are anything but... being mostly a cheese delivery system, and not worth ordering without it.
On this visit, our server took about five minutes to get around to our table to take our orders. We watched him write down our order for the fish sandwich
without cheese, with the tartar sauce on the side, and with steamed vegetables. Thirty minutes later, when the order finally arrived, the sandwich had cheese and tartar sauce on it, and fries as a side item. Fifteen minutes later, when the replacement sandwich came out, the fries had turned into vegetables, the cheese had disappeared, but the tartar sauce was on the bun.
Best Lactose-free options:
Brunch: Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict (without sauce), Eggs Benedict (without sauce)
Appetizer: Tuna Tutaki, Tortilla Soup (without cheese)
Salad: Chinese Grilled Chicken Salad
Sandwiches: Best Grilled Burger in Cool Springs, or any (ordered without cheese)
Sides: Spiced Apples, Black Beans, Seasoned Rice, Thin Cut Fries, Steamed Vegetables, Snappy Corn, Asparagus
Entrees: Baby Back Ribs, BBQ Salmon (without grit cakes), Herb Roasted Chicken (without potatoes)
Pasta: Pasta with Roasted Pepper Marinara Sauce
Dessert: Raspberry Sorbet
Map and Directions:
at the Green Hills Grille siteRating:
2 out of 5 lactose-free stars. Green Hills Grille is one of our favorite restaurants, and we will eventually go back to give them another chance, but the extreme inattention to our order, the low number of naturally lactose-free items, and the two menu landmines reduces its score for this review.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar is an upscale restaurant for special occasions. Whether it's a business deal, a rehearsal dinner, a special family occasion or "just because", the dark wood ambiance, four-page wine list and top-flight menu items make this a special choice for a destination dinner.
The Lactose Line
Most of the menu items are
not lactose-free. All of their steaks are finished with butter, bernaise sauces and milk-loaded stuffings, but Fleming's does something that every restaurant should take notice of. On their website, Fleming's has
dietary guidelines for adapting the majority of their entrees to match your diet. Almost every entree is described in terms of its lactose content and whether or not it is adaptable.
When we placed our reservation, the woman on the phone asked "do you have any special requests?" I took the opportunity to mention the lactose intolerance issue, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. She said, "well... I can make a note of that on your reservation." Our waiter took our order and he and the kitchen delivered it correctly, but I'm not sure that he really understood what "lactose intolerant" meant.
Best Lactose-free options:
Appetizer: shrimp cocktail
Salad: The Wedge or Fleming's Salad (ordered without cheese or croutons) with the vinaigrette dressing
Sides: Shoestring potatoes, asparagus or broccoli (without hollandaise), steamed vegetables
Entrees: any entree (without butter, stuffing or sauce)
Dessert: Mixed Berry cobbler without ice cream (according to the website, the crust is safe... but you may want to avoid it just to be certain.)
Map and Directions:
at the Fleming's siteRating:
4 out of 5 lactose-free stars. Because there are issues with many of the entrees, this would normally be a three-star place to eat, but the detailed information on the website for ordering and the error-free experience warrants an extra star.
Logan's Roadhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is a fairly extensive chain of restaurants that as of 1999 is part of the
CBRL group, based right here in Nashville (well, Lebanon, actually.) The theming attempts to carry out the
roadhouse idea by being concrete-floored, peanut stocked (shells are expected to be thrown on the floor), knotty pine paneled, neon beer-sign adorned and generally unkempt... while still maintaining a level of organization and cleanliness that makes you still want to eat there! At the Elliston place location, there is a bar area, an outside dining section and a fairly large indoor eating area. The
menu is straight-ahead American food: burgers, steaks, fish, salads... roadhouse fare, but up a notch or two.
The Lactose Line
Most of the entrees and sandwiches are surprisingly lactose-free. The buns are not buttered, and the (delicious) yeast rolls are safe. Because the menu items are fairly basic, straightforward presentations, there is very little hidden lactose in any kind of sauce or topping. None of the grill items are finished with butter, and the wait staff and kitchen are used to getting modified orders, so your request to omit cheese is usually heeded.
Best Lactose-free options:
Any salad ordered without cheese (except the Caesar,) anything from the grill, and as many peanuts as you want.
Map and Directions:
location list at Logan's site,
Google mapRating:
4 out of 5 lactose-free stars. Just short of perfect because there are still a couple of landmines in the salad and there isn't a dessert option. But oh, those rolls!
