The Best Italian Restaurants in Nashville

Sometimes there's nothing better than a mountain of pasta on your plate. For a delectable Italian meal in Nashville, check out these favorite dining locales.

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The Best Italian Restaurants in Nashville

Posted by Gary Ashton on Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 at 11:48am.

Top Nashville TN Italian Restaurants

Italian food is the perfect dining solution for any occasion. Pasta topped with sumptuous sauces and sprinkled with artisan cheese make for a romantic evening for couples looking to linger over a meal, while wood-fired pizzas and a hearty glass of wine are the ideal option for groups of friends who want to spend an evening laughing together. Anyone who is craving Italian food in Nashville should check out these locations:

Amerigo Italian Restaurant

Amerigo Italian Restaurant has long been a favorite among locals in Nashville who are craving an authentic Italian meal. This restaurant is best known for its welcoming, warm atmosphere, making it the ideal place for couples, friends, co-workers and families to gather for a meal. Popular entrees at this restaurant include five-layer lasagna, smoked chicken ravioli and pasta pomodoro. In addition to offering an expertly crafted menu with an array of delicious options, this restaurant also hosts many community events throughout the year. For example, a Farm Dinner is held every month, and the chef at the restaurant presents a five-course meal made from ingredients purchased at the local farmers market. 

Pomodoro East

Pomodoro East thrives on the philosophy that simple is best when it comes to Italian food. Its simplistic style doesn't mean that its meals compromise on flavor. Rather, every menu option is artfully created with fresh ingredients in a way that honors Italian tradition and recognizes the flavors that people crave today. When Nashville locals are in the mood for a wood-fired pizza, they know that Pomorodo East is where they need to go. Each pizza is unique, such as the mushroom pizza, which features a thyme cream sauce and is topped with truffled arugula, provolone, mozzarella cheese and mushrooms. 

Caffe Nonna

For nearly two decades, Caffe Nonna has been the signature neighborhood Italian restaurant. It is a family-owned and operated venture, which offers diners an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and inviting. Most of the recipes on the menu were inspired by the chef's own grandmother, which means that those who visit this restaurant get to experience authentic, homemade Italian food that can't be found anywhere else in the city. Popular menu choices include the artisan bruschetta, butternut squash lasagna, and the lamb shank toscana. This quaint restaurant is open seven days a week for dinner, and reservations are strongly encouraged. 

Pastaria

The streets of Nashville do not resemble the ancient roadways of Rome, but those who go to Pastaria for their Italian fix find that it's as close to Italy as you can get within the city. Pastaria is perhaps most famous for its organic pastas. Examples of its dishes include Pappardelle, which features mascarpone, apples and smoked pork, or the Pistachio Ravioli, which includes pistachio and mint as well as lemon brown butter and grana padano. There is also a gluten-free pasta on the menu, which makes this a popular choice for people with allergies.

Moto Cucina

Moto is an Italian fusion restaurant that is part of the well-known M Street development in Nashville. Its name means "in motion" and those who come to this restaurant find that the meals move forward past traditional Italian entrees into new, flavorful creations that blend traditional and contemporary ideas.

Diners will enjoy the fact that they can visit this restaurant and select a light, fresh meal for lunch, or indulge in a savory, eclectic Italian meal for dinner. Popular menu items at Moto include agnolotti, which features mushrooms, fried sage and a blueberry balsamic sauce, and chicken furiosa, which is a chicken breast topped with fresh mozzarella, furiosa and arugula. Those who are looking to celebrate a special occasion will appreciate the fact that private dining options are available at Moto. The restaurant is open seven days per week for dinner, and the dress code is business casual.

Moto Cucina is well known for its rustic Italian feel for both food and the ambiance of their room. This restaurant is open for dinner each evening and requests business casual attire.

Nicky's Coal Fired

Wood-fired pizzas are all the rage, but those who are looking for something a little bit different need to head straight to Nicky's Coal Fired. This restaurant features the only coal-burning stove in Tennessee. The pizzas that are created in house are made in the Napoletana style, but they are slightly more crispy and have a different flavor than traditional wood-fired pizzas. Boasting local ingredients and plenty of homemade creations, this restaurant is a favorite among pizza lovers in the city. In addition to pizza, there's also an antipasti menu that changes daily based on the seasonal ingredients that are available.

Trattoria Il Mulino

Trattoria Il Mulino is where Nashville locals head when they are craving a fine dining experience with big city style. This restaurant describes itself as casual-yet-lively, and its dining space offers innovative private nooks while also embracing an open concept layout. The meals at Trattoria Il Mulino perfectly combine local ingredients with imported Italian goods, offering diners an experience that is both fresh and flavorful. Menu items include the black ink fettucine, which features octopus, olive oil, garlic and cherry tomatoes, and capellini, which includes arugula pesto, pistachio and black pepper. The restaurant is open daily for both lunch and dinner. Brunch is available on Saturday and Sunday.

Bella Napoli

Bella Napoli is just one of the restaurants found throughout Nashville. It's located in the Edgehill Village neighborhood behind Taco Mamacita. If you don't know where you're going, you might walk right past this gem. However, Bella Napoli does do a good job of catching your attention with plenty of lights strung in the alley. Of course, once you find the restaurant, you will enjoy an incredible ambiance and a great meal.

Bella Napoli is just one of the many dog-friendly restaurants found throughout Nashville. It's located in the Edgehill Village neighborhood behind Taco Mamacita. If you don't know where you're going, you might walk right past this gem. However, Bella Napoli does do a good job of catching your attention with plenty of lights strung in the alley. Of course, once you find the restaurant, you will enjoy an incredible ambiance and a great meal.

The restaurant is known for their Italian cuisine. More specifically, they serve authentic Napoli dishes, such as the Parma pizza made with diced tomatoes, parmigiano, Parma prosciutto, arugula and fresh mozzarella. This is a very thin style of pizza with a true Napoli feel to it. The crust doesn't get soggy and it's served without being cut to ensure it stays crunching and delicious.

Bella Napoli is also known for great service and the owner is very friendly. You may just meet the owner, while you're there. Many have said this is one of the best ways to truly experience Italy in the city of Nashville.

Porta Via Italian Kitchen

Serving authentic Northern Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, this restaurant uses the freshest ingredients possible. The menu here is quite large and there are plenty of choices that go well with one of the wine choices on the list.

Mirko Pasta

Mirko Pasta has become famous in Nashville for its fresh pasta offerings. Those who want a heaping plate of pasta can begin the process by selecting the type of fresh pasta that they want that day. Then, they are able to choose from a variety of sauces that also are made on-site daily. Finally, they can add an entree to complete their meal. It's a build-your-own pasta bar that can't be found anywhere else in the city.

From flavorful charcuterie boards to layered homemade lasagna dishes, there's authentic and unique Italian dining options throughout the city of Nashville. These Italian restaurants not only feature flavorful meals, but also quaint and romantic atmospheres that make them popular choices for those celebrating a special occasion.

 

Gary Ashton

The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage

The #1 RE/MAX team in the World!

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