Easy Speak

Written by Dave Mahanes / Photographs by Mandy Reid

Tucked just north of West End Avenue and one block west of Centennial Park lies a romantic, distinguished escape from the stress of traffic, work, and the pandemic. Opened in January 2020, Fable Lounge is a cocktail lounge and piano bar that will transport you to a speakeasy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s roaring 20’s Jazz Age of the Great Gatsby. Housed in a historic building formerly the home of Jeb’s Sports Bar and Grille and the Acorn, Fable offers finely crafted cocktails made from premium spirits, local brews, and a finely curated wine list. In addition, Fable features sharable small plates, entrées, and desserts.

Walking through the bright red front door, you encounter a large drawing of a distinguished hare dressed in a three-piece suit — a nod to the Aesop’s Fables theme that permeates the establishment. Fable consists of two large floors with a mezzanine and a piano lounge. It includes two full-service bars, which will increase to three when warmer weather permits outdoor seating in the front courtyard. There is an upstairs patio with a roof, and a covered cigar lounge that is illuminated by the incandescent glow of a tall humidor stocked with such premium smokes as Avo, CAO, and A. Fuentes.

Owners Ben Powell and John Dibble have created a cozy environment that recalls the erudite vibe of, say, the Yale Club. Sink into a leather chesterfield sofa and peruse the extensive list of skillfully crafted cocktails, local brews, and a thoughtfully curated wine list. The back bar features over 100 high-end and exotic spirits, including Bols Genever Gin, Lagavulin 16-Year single malt scotch, and Jack Daniel’s Sinatra.

Local brews featured are Black Abbey, Jackalope, TN Brew Works, Yazoo, and Diskin Cider. The specialty cocktail menu is arranged by type of spirit, and the offerings are creative and elegant, presented in beautiful crystal glassware. For instance, the “Penicillin” is a concoction of Glenmorangie 10, Laphroaig 10, lemon juice, and tea honey with a sweet, peaty, and smooth finish. The “Titan of Saturn” hot toddy with A.E. Dor VSOP, cranberry cordial, orange, black tea syrup, lemon and cinnamon bitters should cure what ails you in the cold winter months.

The menu is eclectic and delicious. Snacks include spiced mixed nuts, marinated olives & feta, parmesan arancini, roasted garlic hummus, and whipped goat cheese. Highly recommended is the charcuterie plate from which one can choose from seven different artisanal kinds of cheese and three charcuteries: capicola coppa, sweet soppressata, and prosciutto. For the nibbles, try the Meatballs Arrabiata or the Parmesan Aranchini. For the main course, try the House Made Ravioli, the Smoked Tomato Mussels, or Nantucket Diver Scallops. To satisfy your sweet tooth, Fable offers a selection of Vanilla Bean Crème Brulée, Apple Sticky Toffee Pudding, Tiramisu, S’mores Pavlova and Port Cherry Chocolate Cake.

The Fable Lounge is a sophisticated wonderland of fine spirits, tasty fare, and a dreamy, dark ambiance that will take one back to a bygone era of elegance, and shall we say, a bit of decadence. F. Scott and Zelda, come on down!