NASHVILLE, Tenn. — What started as a family’s vision to prove that healthy eating could be both comforting and flavorful has blossomed into one of Middle Tennessee’s most beloved wellness destinations. Since taking over Sunflower Cafe in Berry Hill in 2014, the family-owned business has become a staple for plant-based comfort food, later expanding with Sunflower Bakehouse in Donelson to offer vegan and gluten-free baked goods and allergy-friendly favorites. Through fresh ingredients, welcoming hospitality and a mission to make nutritious food approachable for everyone, Sunflower has helped redefine what healthy dining looks like in Nashville while becoming a trusted part of countless wellness journeys.
As part of Nashville Fit Magazine’s Ultimate Nutrition Guide, co-owner Brian Storrs shares the story behind Sunflower Cafe and Sunflower Bakehouse, how the family-owned restaurants came to life, and how they’ve remained a cornerstone of Nashville’s thriving wellness community for more than a decade.
Sunflower began as a family dream to create a restaurant where healthy food didn’t feel restrictive or boring. Long before plant-based eating became mainstream, our family believed that food could be both nourishing and incredibly satisfying. We wanted to create a place where everyone—whether vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or simply curious about eating healthier—could find something they genuinely loved.
When we purchased Sunflower Cafe in Berry Hill in June 2014, we saw an opportunity to build on that vision. Over the years, Sunflower has grown into the beloved Nashville institution it is today by serving delicious plant-based comfort food, using fresh ingredients, and providing warm, welcoming hospitality. As demand grew, we expanded by opening our second location, Sunflower Bakehouse in Donelson, in 2019. The Bakehouse allowed us to offer an even wider variety of vegan and gluten-free baked goods, breakfast items, and allergy-friendly options. Today, both locations remain family-owned and operated, serving the community that has supported us for so many years.
Through my own life experiences, I’ve learned that wellness isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. It’s about making consistent choices that help us become healthier versions of ourselves. Food can be a powerful part of that process because it’s one of the choices we make every single day.
What I love most about Sunflower is that we get to be part of other people’s wellness journeys. Whether someone is eating plant-based for health reasons, managing food sensitivities, looking for more energy, making choices that are kinder to the Earth, or simply searching for a healthier meal, we’re honored to be part of that experience.
That’s always the hardest question, but if I had to choose one for each location, it would probably be our The Famous Vegan BBQ Bowl at the Sunflower Cafe and our Carrot Cake Cupcake at the Sunflower Bakehouse.
At the Cafe in Berry Hill, The Famous BBQ Bowl is one of the dishes that really represents who we are as a restaurant. It takes familiar Southern comfort food and reimagines it in a way that surprises people. Featuring our house-made BBQ, Asian slaw, your choice of grain, and our signature collard greens, it’s comforting, flavorful, uniquely Nashville, and perfectly reflects our mission of proving that healthy food can still be crave-worthy.
At the Bakehouse location in Donelson, it’s hands down the Carrot Cake Cupcake. We’ve absolutely nailed the cream cheese frosting, and even guests who don’t typically eat plant-based often leave saying, “I can’t believe this is vegan and gluten-free.”
It’s incredibly humbling. Nashville has grown tremendously during the years we’ve been in business, and we’ve been fortunate to grow alongside the city. What means the most is seeing guests make Sunflower part of their lives—whether that’s a weekly lunch tradition, a family gathering, catering their wedding, or the trusted local place they bring friends visiting from out of town.
We’re proud that we’ve helped expand the conversation around plant-based and allergy-friendly food in Middle Tennessee. Providing a space where people can enjoy delicious 100% plant-based food while supporting their health and wellness is something we never take for granted.
Restaurant life can be demanding, so finding balance is important. For me, self-care often comes down to spending quality time with those I love. I also believe strongly in community and connection. Whether that’s volunteering, participating in recovery and wellness communities, or simply being present for the people in my life, those relationships help keep me grounded and recharged.
Our approach has always been to focus on the principle of balanced nutrition rather than trends. We pay attention to what guests are looking for, and we’re always willing to experiment with new ingredients or menu items. Our Weekly Heat & Eat Meal Prep program allows us to offer fresh, rotating options that may not be available in our restaurants while making healthy eating conveniently accessible in your own fridge at home throughout the week.
Fresh ingredients, a health-centric, plant-based focus, great flavor, inclusivity, and hospitality never go out of style.
Our primary goal has always been to create a crossover space that bridges the gap between familiar, crave-worthy flavors and plant-based nutrition.
Innovation is important, but authenticity is even more important. We’ve built our reputation by staying true to who we are while continually finding new ways to make plant-based and allergy-friendly food exciting, approachable, and satisfying.
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘜𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘕𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘺/𝘈𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘵, 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵.
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