When you arrive at the small and characterless retail strip center on Gallatin Avenue that houses Melvil Arnt’s wine bar The Authentique, you might find yourself double-checking your GPS.
Can this be the right place? That’s the genius of Arnt’s concepts, which also include a family bistro, Once Upon a Time in France, and Overlord, a soon-to-open 1940s-themed bar: Each is a little treasure box hidden in plain sight. Once you step inside The Authentique, you are immediately immersed in another world, one that takes on the ambiance of a cozy Parisian bar at the turn of the last century.
“I really love to see people’s faces when they come inside,” says Arnt. “They have a look of surprise and wonder like a child at Disneyland.”
Arnt has a special talent for design. In building out The Authentique, he assembled artifacts and decorative elements either from, or in the spirit of, the Fin de Siècle: Floral Art Nouveau wallpaper, Tiffany-style leaded glass lamps, pressed metal ceiling tiles, dark woods, and period French posters and artwork. Find your perch at the sleek bar or at one of the petite café tables in the 40-seat establishment.
“Wine is my passion,” says Arnt. “When I first came to Nashville, I could not find any real wine bars like we have in France. I would go out, spend $14 on a ho-hum glass of wine, and think how we really need something good and reasonably priced.”
Arnt took the saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” to heart and committed to opening The Authentique. He did get sidetracked from his original plan. Instead, he brought his parents to Nashville from Paris and the whole family became involved in opening what would become one of East Nashville’s hottest dining tickets: Once Upon A Time in France. Now that the bistro is humming along, Arnt was able to return his attention to his initial idea.
Like most French people, Arnt believes in the democratization of wine: it should be accessible and affordable to everyone. His wine list is comprised of mostly French vintages, with bottles ranging in price from $28 to $100. Wines by the glass begin at $7 and top out at $13.
“And, that $13 glass?” Arnt says. “It is an incredible Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.”
Arnt’s also correcting a misconception about wine bars: Food should be secondary, and light. He offers a compact roster of fare that you’d find in classic French bars, including delectable cheese and charcuterie plates, saucisson, steak tartare, and jambon-beurre (ham-butter) on baguette. In addition, Arnt will have a few beers available. To be sure, though, wine is the focus, and he plans to hold classes and tastings.
At the same time, Arnt has another project just a stone’s throw from The Authentique. Called Overlord after the Allied code name for the Battle of Normandy (D-Day) it’s a 1940s-styled bohemian bar that pays homage to the era and honors those who fought to liberate Europe. Occupying a space three times the size of the wine bar, Overlord has a full bar, a VIP room, and a pool table.
Arnt is as proud of his new East Nashville roots as he is of his French heritage.
“This is my neighborhood,” he says. “It became my favorite from my first visit in 2012 and I am excited to serve it, to help it grow.”
(Arnt’s The Authentique, 925 Gallatin Ave., Ste. 103; 615-649-8204; the-authentique.com and Overlord, 2503 Gallatin Ave., 615-913-2567; overlordnashville.com)