The Tastiest Italian in Nashville

Makeready L&L

★★★★☆ 4.2 (275) • $$

"We came here for the Beetlejuice pop up Speakeasy. It's going for September to 31 October 2024. Perfect timing for the new Beetlejuice movie! There was about a 30 minute wait, which wasn't bad because we had time to sit at the bar at the Makeready and try a couple of their craft cocktails. The Beetlejuice pop up was everything I'd hoped it would be!! The drinks are outrageously expensive, but it is all for the experience. Warning, don't steel their tiki glasses or you will get charged $100. Apparently everyone was stealing their glasses. The scenery was like something straight from the other side!"

Pastaria

★★★★☆ 4 (503) • $$

"The Pastaria is always a must stop when we are in Nashville. The food is always fresh quick and delicious and if you're business trailer like I am and looking for somewhere good to eat with lots of variety I would pick pastaria. They are close to a local hotel and you can get it to go or sit and eat in the restaurant.Next time you want fresh delicious pasta, bread or salad that's quick and delicious stop here."

Fayzanos Pizza - Mt Juliet

★★★★☆ 4.4 (37) • $$

Yolan

★★★★☆ 4.1 (206) • $$$$

"3.5I didn't get it. The dining room was gorgeous. The plates were expensive. The scene was deliberate. But, I didn't get it. I left feeling like Yolan was expensive for expensive's sake. I entered Yolan with some excitement. I was meeting friends from NYC and LA and I was eager to show off what Nashville was now.* Walking in, the main dining room is is a bit muted (where you might be expecting drama): ceilings that should be higher than they are, nicely-adorned (but not unusual) tables, soothing blues speckled against the walls, comfortable chairs (reminded me of the 70s/more comfortable than fashionable, which was fine by me). The aesthetic is more 'lobby' than 'chic dining room.' With a wall of bottles staring at us, the immediate impression was that the meal would be decadent.It was decent.We were encouraged to share plates but given the size of some portions, sharing was more awkward than enjoyable. Midway into the dining experience, we cut bait and ordered for ourselves. Before falling into the luxury of Italian wine, I began my meal with a seasonal mule and a lamb 'starter.' The mule was pleasant (dominant note was 'ice') and the lamb was tasty (seasoned and succulent, just not much of it). We broke into the wine routine and shared pasta dishes. Again, I could taste the fresh ingredients and house-made everything but scooping a bite between four people does not an enjoyable meal make. I went rogue and chose the trout. Served with radish and micro greens, over a bed of lentils and paired with a (mushroom-based?) sauce, I was very satisfied with my plate. By this time, my size expectations had been measured so I concentrated on the smell, taste, visual appeal, and texture of my meal rather than if it would sate my hunger. We finished the meal with a bite of a chocolate truffle. Throughout the meal, we had adequate service. There were a couple of hiccups but they were quickly corrected.To borrow parlance from the kids, I kept waiting for the beat to drop. The meal was... fine. But the price point was not fine. It was 'fine dining.' Do you get the picture? I am not some garish American, demanding Golden Corral amounts of food for McDonalds prices. I have eaten around the world and in all sorts of settings (high and low). This was... fine. Thing is, your wallet will remember the meal long after your palate has forgotten it.*'Now' being late Autumn a few years ago. The gild is off the lily."

Sal’s Family Pizza of Brentwood

★★★★☆ 4 (248) • $

"Nice neighborhood chain pizza joint if you are looking for a laid back and casual place to enjoy some Italian fare. Dine in or to go. An extra bonus is the small bar in the back and TVs if you want to drop in for dinner and catch a game. The menu includes most of the popular Italian favorites. Pizza can be ordered by the slice or an entire pie. We shared a small Supreme pizza (yes, it's enough to share with 6 big slices) and a delicious fresh Greek salad. The service was friendly and fast. I walked in and ordered to go which took about 10 mins. The pizza - lots of cheese, a little tomato sauce, loads of yummy/ fresh veggies, piping hot and the most perfect crust I have ever tasted. I did notice others getting extra tomato sauce to go with their orders which I recommend if you like a lot of sauce. I highly recommend. You won't be disappointed."

Fortuna Italian Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 4 (104) • $$$

"We loved just about everything here with only a single split decision. First off, the manager was incredibly helpful in accommodating my wife's dietary limitations without sacrificing anything important. Our server was excellent. The vibe is stylishly comfortable. At our table of 5 we had: a half dozen oysters, which were perfectly chilled, nice size, good cocktail sauce; a Caesar salad and a split Fortuna salad minus burrata and croutons, both salads nice mix, well prepared; scallops for my wife, prepared simply with lemon and butter, with sides of roasted fingerlings and squash, all great; son had strip steak, cooked perfectly, very flavorful; DIL had the chicken piccata, which she said was delicious; and grandson and I both had the steak frites, once again the steak was cooked to order and very tasty. The split decision was on the frites, which seemed a little like hash browns, liked by one, neutral by one, and disliked by two, though we all agreed some good, hand cut homemade French fries would have been better. We had an excellent red blend wine, Baby Blue, for 3 of us, craft beer for 1, and Coke for 1. All in all, a really wonderful evening dining out while visiting family in the area."

North Italia

★★★★☆ 3.9 (420) • $$

"This is a chain restaurant located in the mall they have a variety of cocktails and seasonalItems. The staff seem friendly, but the friendliness from the hostess was super fake. The bartender was kind, and the drinks were strong. The decor was nice and it was well lit. There is a share of parking lot on the side. You can enter through the outside with the inside of the mall. Hope you enjoy your experience."

E Milano's Pizza House

★★★★☆ 3.8 (257) • $$

Giorgio's Pizza

★★★★☆ 4.3 (79)

"Tried this place twice and it's not bad for pizza. We've only tried the NY style. We've also tried a few of the apps (meatballs, cheesy garlic knots, and regular garlic knots) and each time we were very disappointed."

Torino's Greek & Italian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (124) • $$

MAFIAoZA'S - Nashville

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (525) • $$

"After walking the shops at 12 South - and a friend recommending this spot - the girls and I stopped in for happy hour/early dinner. We were one of the first patrons to enter and decided to sit in the enclosed patio. The rain was coming down and we were able to get the best of both worlds! Our server came over lickety split and was THE NICEST human! He introduced himself, rattled off the specials, provided us with great recommendations for drinks and engaged in fun conversation. He had us laughing and made our experience.We opted to start with a round of drinks - all of which were different. I opted for a fun and flirty cocktail, while the others got wine and a draft beer. YUM!Then out came our fresh Ceasar salads to accompany our delicious medium pizza - The Demartino - featuring salami, sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese, house mozzarella, arugula and basil chiffonade - which was divine! The pizza, on a thin crust was perfectly cooked, was foldable (essential!) and tasted so fresh! We happily enjoyed as much as we could before boxing up the rest for later.Pricing was on point and I'd easily venture back :)"

Carne Mare

★★★★☆ 4 (131) • $$$$

"I made a quick getaway trip to Nashville to celebrate my wedding anniversary. One would point out, aren't you from New York and have a Carne Mare there? Yes, I am in Nashville but C'mon. It's Chef Andrew Carmellini who owns some of the coolest restaurants on the planet. Earlier this year, I was at Rec Pier Chop House in Baltimore for a family celebration, location isn't an issue.Walking inside the restaurant, the decor is simply stunning. It's dark but not clubby like a typical steakhouse with lots of wood. Carne Mare has a very sophisticated feel without being too stuffy. Everyone working at Carne Mare was approachable and very friendly. Once seated, we're given a wine list. I ordered a nice glass of Italian wine to get the party started. We're going over the menu items and mozzarella sticks topped with caviar leaps off the page. It doesn't go together, it's like peanut butter and pickles. Yet, its there. We went against the grain and ordered the dish. What the heck did we order? Chef, I'm sure the mozzarella was made in house. I do not eat mozzarella sticks, it tasted like frozen Farm Rich Mozzarella Sticks! So not a fan but I want it to be noted, We're not here for mozzarella sticks but some of that Carne. I have to point out, the bread that's brought to the table? If I had a glass of wine and the bread then I'd be a happy pappy. The bread is so good, it's a chef'd up, masterclass creation being used to every patron at Carne Mare.It's dark and I dropped a fork. Our table is in the back, close to the kitchen. All of a sudden, one of the floor managers comes to the table and gives me a new silverware set? Folks, that is just fantastic customer service. Our waitress is selling us on the Prime Rib. It's the restaurants specialty and its why it's highlighted in a box on the menu. I'm Italian and if I don't have pasta once a week I get cranky. I'm here to try the Pappardelle as well so I'm sold on the Prime Rib!I must point out, the waitress? She said this was her last week but boy was she spectacular. She read the menu and knew about every item and how it was prepared. The wait staff here is truly top notch.The Prime Rib cuts like butter. It's so tender and flavorful, it's a perfect cut and highly recommended. Personally my favorite, the Pappardelle is a home run. I know we're dining at a steakhouse but man oh man this pasta is from a Chef who trained in Italy. The Pappardelle with mint is heavenly. Sooo good!The restaurant was nice enough to give us housemade gelato and a piece of chocolate cake for our anniversary.Chef Carmellini, it truly was a pleasure to dine in your Nashville restaurant. I will be on line this Saturday morning at Lafayette in NYC. Keep rockin'!"

Pizza Perfect Bellevue

★★★★☆ 4.2 (191) • $$

Moto Cucina + Enoteca

★★★★☆ 4.1 (526) • $$$

"We were visiting from New Jersey and decided to try this restaurant based on the reviews. I cannot say enough great things about this amazing restaurant! It was beyond having great service and a great meal. It was an incredible dining experience! It's located in a beautiful part of Nashville called the Gulch, the menu is very varied. Hence there are many great choices. Also their wine by the glass and cocktail menu is outstanding! I cannot say enough about our server Audrianna F., she expertly answered all of our many questions gave incredible suggestions, and has a true passion for the restaurant industry. We started with the Buratta with the blistered, cherry tomatoes and pistachios. Our server brought it to the table and then cut the Barata seasoned it and then served it to us, wow! My fiancé also had the pear salad which was also delicious, the portion sizes are very generous. We also had the olive oil flight which was out of this world. They get their bread homemade from one of their other restaurants across the street and it is simply amazing. For entrées, I had the scalloped eggplant with orzo and puréed peas, it was incredible. My fiancé had the pesto pasta and she added shrimp. It was also amazing. For dessert we had. I don't remember the name of it, but it had strawberries was homemade and was absolutely delicious. If we ever come back to Nashville this is one of the main reasons we would return!"

Frankies 925 Spuntino

★★★★☆ 4.3 (65)

"In our quest to taste every slice in Nashville, we happened upon Frankie's when the pizza craving struck. Upon arrival, we initially walked into Frankie's 925, which was a beautiful space with wonderful service and a tasty menu, however we were after pizza which the menu excluded, so we ended up popping next door and ordering a few slices and salads.While Frankie's is a walk-up/counter based spot, they do have a few tables inside, but the patio is where it is at. They have string lights set up, a water station and several tables. While outside was cool, they could use some music or something out there.Now, let's talk about the star of the show - the pizza! We grabbed a variety of slices including the classic pepperoni, the contentious ham and pineapple, and my favorite, a pepperoni Sicilian slice. And let's not forget about the Caesar salads - while premade, they were surprisingly delicious, and the dressing was undoubtedly the highlight. I will say $14 is a bit much, but not gonna lie, I will order it again.While the pies were phenomenal, what truly sets Frankie's apart is their exceptional service. Despite arriving within an hour of closing, the staff went above and beyond to ensure we left with full bellies. When we went back in to order a slice to go, they tossed a few extra slices in the box, which was pretty cool!Overall, Frankie's Pizza is a gem of a spot that combines delectable food, inviting ambiance, and top-notch service. Whether you're a pizza aficionado or simply craving a solid slice, Frankie's has you covered. Highly recommended!"

Angelo's Trattoria & Pizzeria

★★★★☆ 3.8 (13)

"Great pizza and the wings were awesome. Definitely give it a try! Homemade crust on pizza was delightful and wings were meaty and buffalo spice was spot on!"

312 Pizza Company

★★★★☆ 3.7 (690) • $$

Roma Pizza & Pasta - Hendersonville

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (42) • $$

"Fast and the only thing in HVILLE open late. Food is very good. Not sure why the rating doesn't reflect. Iva had RomaDozens of times and am never disappointed."

Nicoletto's Italian Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (335) • $$

"We had dinner here because one of our tour guides from an earlier tour we took recommended it. We stopped by around 7:45pm and we were the only ones there. We looked over the menu for a few minutes and a friendly employee finally came on over to greet us and take our orders. My sister had the Gnocchi Bolognese and I created my own pasta bowl. I chose the Radiatori pasta with Arrabbiata sauce and beef meatballs and both entrees came with bread.We sat down to eat inside because it was way too cold outside. We waited about 10 - 15 minutes for our food and it was brought on over to us by another friendly employee. At this time, another group of people came in to dine. My pasta was delicious. The pasta was cooked al dente - just like I like it and the sauce was sooo good. It had so much flavor. The bread had a nice crisp to it and it was not at all dry. The meatballs were plentiful and they also tasted really good. My sister was not a fan of her Gnocchi Bolognese and said it wasn't a good mixture. It was too mushy for her and she did not like the taste of the sauce. The inside was clean and the music was great. The bathroom was also very clean. Overall good food and great service, thank you!"

Till Five Pizza

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (170)

"super convenient that this place was close to my hotel and was open very late after partying on broadway with friends.Very friendly people, and the quality of the pizza and burgers were very good. I was a bit surprised how good it was for the price. I am a bit confused as well at the low ratings. They probably get super busy and might make a mistake, but damn, now way they should be getting 1 star reviews. Y'all should feel lucky to have a place like this open so late."

Little Chicago

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (312) • $$

"We ordered pizza and wings from here a few times while staying close by on Music Square. It's a great spot that offers delivery, perfect for enjoying by the pool, satisfying late-night cravings, or watching a movie! The pizza was good with no issues, and the wings were extra crispy, which is always a plus!We passed by it a few times, and it looks like a traditional pizzeria shop, very well kept inside. I did see some reviews mentioning issues with the deep dish, but we didn't order those, so I can't comment. Overall, I would definitely order from here again!Regarding Yelp, I recently had my Elite status removed after 8 years because I'm a business owner. Despite not being related or affiliated with any food businesses--only a local real estate office in NY--Yelp managers believe a business owner shouldn't be an Elite reviewer. In my opinion, being a business owner shouldn't disqualify someone from providing honest and fair reviews of unrelated businesses. My reviews are meant to be helpful and honest, and I believe that shouldn't affect my Elite status."

Trattoria La Caverna

★★★★☆ 4 (271) • $$

"Trattoria La Caverna as it is now known. Same people different chef 3rd review 3rd change.This one is second best. The bread and croutons were the negatives. Cold loaf bread and stale croutons. The mozzarella sticks seemed homemade but needed some herbs or something in the batter. The salad with raspberry vinaigrette was fresh and good. To the star. The cavatapopi Cassie a butter cream sauce with basil and macaroni type noodles with parmesan. This was a little heavy but delicious. Get a different app and hopefully they start grilling and or toasting the bread and get new croutons and bam 4.5 stars. A Caesar salad with shaved parmesan would be great. And shredded lettuce. Oh the chocolate torte was great but you have to like a slightly bitter sweet dark chocolate."

Five Points Pizza

★★★★★ 4.5 (1601) • $$

"Five Points Pizza is a great choice f9r pizza. We had lunch here today and the pizza was great. The crust was perfect and the cheese and sauce perfectly complimented that dough and crust.The staff was friendly and the place has a cool enough vibe and ambiance. Parking can be a bit of an issue. But it is what it is.I grew up in New Jersey and just took it for granted that great pizza was available on every corner. When I moved south back in 2001, I was both shocked and dismayed to find that great (or even good pizza) was not available on every corner and in fact, was hard to find. When great pizza is found, it is indeed a time to celebrate (and what better way to celebrate than with a slice of pizza in hand?).I would definitely recommend Five Points Pizza and I will give it five stars for an excellent pizza."

Luigi's City Pizza

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (476) • $$

"Got the Luigi's City Special pizza and it was pretty good. Good sized pizza and the $29 price actually isn't too bad. Decent taste on the pizza, but did wish there were a few more toppings on there.My buddies got some salads and they said it was pretty good. It did look like they didn't skimp on the toppings for the salads.Kind of dark in there, but it is pretty cozy and a decent atmosphere to sit down and enjoy some pizza."

Varallo's Restaurants

★★★★☆ 4.3 (108) • $

"A small, unassuming business nestled in the middle of the world of high rises. It's astounding how many times I walked past this place and didn't even register it existed until I was looking for a good breakfast online - and Varallo's came up again and again.It did not disappoint either! Their omelet was everything I was looking for with lots gooey cheese and served hot enough that I had to wait for it to cool down. Yum! And at a price that was 1/2 what all of the other nearby breakfast places wanted!The biscuits were just as delicious with your choice of strawberry or grape packets to go alongside it. The biscuits didn't need it, though, with soft, flakey, lightly-buttered flavoring that was perfectly warmed and ready to eat. I was "meh" on the oatmeal. I'd guess it's made from standard, unflavored oats because it doesn't have much of a flavor to it at all. Make sure to get some sort of brown sugar or other topping to give it some flavor. All food is served in styrofoam, so the waste here isn't great, but sometimes the nice, cheap prices a restaurant can offer are reflected in how much it costs them to operate, so I get it. A small diner run by just a few employees, expect a little bit of a wait to order and get your food. Some people were calling in to place orders to get them ready for pick-up if you're in a time-rush. Lots of people got their orders to-go (still requires waiting, though, if you order at the counter!) if you don't want to eat at one of their 8-ish four-person tables with armless chairs. Did not see a restroom here for customers."

Small City Pizza & Subs

★★★★☆ 4.2 (24)

"Food and service is always amazing!I don't have anything else to add but yelp wont let me post a review under 85 characters"

Sal's Family Pizza

★★★★☆ 3.8 (245) • $$

"great place! very clean and high quality food! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

Sinatra Bar & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (193)

"We had a lovely dinner here last Saturday night. We were trying to find something close to the Ryman theater and were over the bar food scene. The only reservation they had day of was 5:00 so we made it happen. Thankfully, after showing up late due to the rush they were still able to seat us. Our table was upstairs against the wall but at least we had a great meal with wonderful service. We order a bottle of red and the poached pear to start. The poach pear was hard to pass since it was unique and not on every Italian menu. It was stuffed with ricotta, paired with prosciutto Parmesan and seared with bread. The pear its self was the best of the night. I opted for the eggplant parm and fiancé got the pasta with lamb. His was tasteful and different which I recommend. The eggplant parm was thick cuts and breaded but no show stopper. The ambiance is beautiful, with sweet sounds of Sinatra all night. Such a lovely place to dine."

Salvo's Pizza

★★★★☆ 3.8 (202) • $$

"I wandered in yesterday, evidently for the first time in 13 years. I probably wasn't there at peak good pizza time, but got a burnt slice that was kind of disappointing. Slightly burnt crust, hard crunchy crust that I'm not going to really go into but it's not what crust needed to be, it was closer to a hard breadstick than any pizza crust I've ever enjoyed.I suspect it probably suffered from them reheating it for far too long, I had gotten to the point where I wondered if they had forgotten about it.Betting that were it closer to fresh it would have been quite acceptable pizza, but as with last time I was here the cook time was not quite right.Pizza looked good, I'll give it that. I want to try it sometime when it's not a reheat as I suspect that's what did this great looking slice in."

Gina's Stonefired Italian & Pizzeria

★★★★☆ 3.7 (187) • $$

"The food here is soooo good! Great pizzas and love love loved the bruschetta! It's so fresh and flavorful."

Roma Pizza & Pasta

★★★★☆ 3.7 (115) • $$

"The seven cheese pizza is absolutely delicious! It was ready quickly, and the employees were very friendly. Cute place near the airport and my hotel!"

Margot Cafe & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (461) • $$$

"Great food and great service. A must try. We went for my husband's birthday. This restaurant has a family feeling but they are super busy. Great cocktails by Jenna, who is magical."

Rio Pizza & Pasta

★★☆☆☆ 2 (4)

"Best pizza I've had. Got the chicken basil pesto pizza and it was really yummy and large."

City House

★★★★☆ 3.9 (821) • $$

"Wonderful place!! Food is delicious and the service excellent. Laid back vibe - can't wait to go back. Recommend reservation. Limited parking. We ubered"

Two Brothers Pizzeria & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (34)

"Awesome food great service and friendly employees. They have two sides of the building do you can have big group of people. Very lay out of seating."