Matcha Made in Heaven: Breakfast at The Henry in 12 South
- LB
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
Have you ever been to a restaurant and been completely taken aback by the decor?
Like, everything you’d want in your dream dining room — not just living on your Pinterest board, but made real (and probably executed way better than you would’ve done, let’s be honest).
Well, be prepared to literally Gasp. Out. Loud. when you visit The Henry in 12 South.
Not only was the food everything (matcha to die for — more on that later), but the overall concept of the restaurant is what really impressed me.
First Impression of The Henry
So obviously, the restaurant is called “The Henry.” And when you walk in, you’ll notice walls filled with portraits of various people — all named Henry, right? Nope, try again.

That’s what I assumed, too, until we asked our waiter (shoutout to Gavin!), who shared the real story behind the theme. I won't spoil the theme, you will have to check it out for yourself!
Apparently, the creator of The Henry, Sam Fox, is a restaurateur whose mission is “to create spaces that evoke emotion and foster meaningful connections.” He’s the mind behind several of my other favorite restaurants in and outside of Nashville — I found this out after a quick Google dive sparked by our chat with Gavin.
Much applause for that kind of intentional, elevated approach to food and hospitality. Every detail feels curated — and it works.
Breakfast at The Henry
I will say I am clearly biased from being impressed with the decor and having only been to the restaurant for breakfast leaves more to be discovered on my next few visits in the areas of Lunch and Dinner.
My parents were visiting for the holiday weekend (pre–4th of July), and at 9 a.m., we needed a spot that was walkable and had healthy options (they’re both vegan-adjacent).

Here’s what we ordered:
Flower Child Scramble
California Bowl
Original Egg Sandwich + house-made mixed berry jam
I went with the Original Egg Sandwich and the Pushing Daisies Matcha, and let me just say — I’m VERY particular about breakfast food, so please believe me when I tell you this sandwich was a 13/10. I added the jam to the sandwich, and surprisingly, it didn’t clash with the mayo or avocado. It somehow all worked together in the most delicious way.
Now, a Moment for the Matcha

I have to pause here because this matcha deserves its own paragraph. I’m a matcha fan — I’m talking real matcha. Not Starbucks (although I’ll drink it), and definitely not Dunkin’ (respectfully, no). I’ve also had far too many “orange creamsicle” inspired drinks that just taste like milk and sadness. But this? This was everything. Balanced, flavorful, creamy, and just the right amount of sweet citrus. I practically choked drinking it because it was so good — will be ordering this to-go on my next few nap walks with Olive.
Final Thoughts
Do I recommend a visit to The Henry? Yes. Will I be back for lunch and dinner? Yes and yes.
Did the waiter Gavin spark my interest... in the restaurant’s character? Yes, yes, and yes.
If you go, let me know what you order — and if that matcha hits you the same way it did me. I’ll be visiting again soon, and will be happy to share my future experiences!
LB
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