Lin NormanLet’s talk about a simple truth. Nothing beats the comfort of a warm and perfectly sauced bowl of pasta.
If you’re wandering through Nashville with a craving for carbs, you are in luck. Finding the best Italian food here is an absolute treat.
We explored the local scene to find incredible places that serve magic on a plate. So, grab a fork and get ready to dig in. Every spot on our list offers a unique take on the classics. You’ll surely find a new favorite restaurant right here.
How much does pasta cost in Nashville?
Expect to spend anywhere from $10 for a quick, fresh bite to over $30 for an upscale, chef-curated dining experience.
| Dining Style | Average Price Range |
| Fast-Casual / Fresh Pasta | $10.10 – $14.35 |
| Casual Dining | $15.00 – $25.00 |
| Upscale / Specialty | $25.00 – $30.00+ |
1. V Modern Italian
Website: https://v.restaurant/nashville/
Address: 820 Division St
Contact: [email protected] ; (629) 348-3457
Schedule:
- Monday – Thursday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Friday: 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Downtown energy meets serious culinary craft at this vibrant spot. V Modern Italian specializes in fresh, house-made pastas that deliver authentic texture and rich flavor in every bite.
They blend a sophisticated setting with an upbeat, social vibe that feels very welcoming. I actually celebrated a friend’s birthday here last month, and the experience was great. The lively weekend DJ added such a fun twist to our dinner.
You get to enjoy high-end plates without the typical quiet or stuffy atmosphere of a traditional trattoria. This prime Italian restaurant puts you right in the middle of the city’s bustling nightlife, so you can easily move from dinner to a night out.
Just remember, they enforce a strict smart casual dress code. This means you can’t roll up in your gym clothes for the evening.
Customer Reviews:
Jenny was AMAZING! We had a large party and she was so patient! We celebrated a birthday and she made the bday girl feel so celebrated.
I had the truffle pasta and subbed the short rib for chicken because I don’t eat red meat and the staff was very accommodating. The appetizer tower was a great choice and a great way to try a little of everything. Will definitely be back!
- Heather Giddens | Google Review
Food was insanely delicious! By far one of the best Italian restaurants. My husband is very picky with steak and he was blown away. My scampi pasta was freaking delicious. Roxy was our waitress and she was so sweet and had the best recommendations. We will definitely be back!
- summer hawkins | Google Review
2. PennePazze Nashville
Website: https://pennepazze.net/
Address: 3826 Charlotte Ave
Contact: (615) 285-3357
Schedule: Tuesday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Clean eating really takes center stage at this vibrant kitchen. PennePazze is committed to total transparency by skipping seed oils, preservatives, and artificial additives.
In fact, they use organic, non-GMO flour imported directly from Italy for their dough. Since every item on the menu is crafted from scratch daily, you can actually watch the chefs knead dough through their beautiful open kitchen.
It feels just like watching a live culinary stage play while you wait for your meal to arrive. And to keep quality high, they rely on fixed recipes.
This rigid structure means you can’t build a custom bowl or swap out ingredients. Still, their unique black tagliatelle with squid ink is so delicious that it easily makes up for any lack of customization in the end.
Customer Reviews:
The best pasta I’ve ever had
Loved the food! Had a little bit of everything but the fresh pasta was definitely the way to go! Atmosphere was great and I personally feel like this is the best pasta I’ve ever had. This is definitely going to be my new go to spot in Nashville!
- chris dominguez | Google Review
Fresh pasta they make in-house
Low key and smallish dining room but great pasta. Gluten free options available. Fresh pasta they make in-house. Will have to go back to try the 3-day fermented pizza dough. Looks great.
I got standard carbonara with shrimp and sun-dried tomatos. Everyone I was with liked their dishes. I like the order/pay by app system. Same service just much easier to split checks. We’ll be back.
- Christopher Highsmith | Google Review
3. Luogo
Website: http://www.luogorestaurant.com/
Address: 211 12th Ave S
Contact: [email protected] ; (615) 988-8200
Schedule:
- Monday – Thursday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Friday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Executive chef Anthony Scotto Jr. brings over thirty-five years of experience to the table, bringing high-end New York standards to Tennessee. His coastal Mediterranean menu shifts with the seasons to ensure peak flavor.
I tried their slow-braised duck ragu over pappardelle recently, and the truffle oil absolutely blew my mind. For dessert, they also offer a massive signature cannoli stuffed with eighteen smaller ones for large groups.
You’ll definitely leave feeling completely satisfied and ready for a nap.
Just remember that securing a table requires a formal reservation through their booking system. Spontaneous walk-ins during peak hours rarely end well here.
You’ll also miss out on their famous bone-in veal parmesan unless you visit on a Thursday night.
Customer Reviews:
The pasta was cooked perfectly
My new favorite Italian place!! The decor is cute, the atmosphere cozy and warm, the service amazing, and the food delicious. Alex, our server, was friendly and outgoing, and he went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience. The rigatoni bolognese was fantastic. The ricotta added the perfect touch, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The ragu was very flavorful too. For dessert, I highly recommend the tiramisu! It’s one of the best I’ve ever had.
- Bella Noble | Google Review
Our meal was excellent
We celebrated my husband’s birthday and we enjoyed every moment of our evening with Luogo. Our server Amani was fantastic, very attentive. The entire staff was friendly and gave a top dining experience both the owner (Anthony) and manager (Olin) came to check in on us and say hello. Our meal was excellent from start to finish! We started with the whole milk burrata and prosciutto, my husband ordered the pappardelle duck ragu and I had the Bone-In Pork Milanese. Dessert was excellent as well, we will definitely return.
If you have thought about dining here, do it!
- Zoe Osimanti | Google Review
4. Pelato – Nashville
Website: http://pelatorestaurant.com/
Address: 1300 3rd Ave N
Contact: [email protected] ; (615) 953-0012
Schedule:
- Monday – Thursday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sharing food creates a special kind of energy at the dinner table. Pelato reimagines meals by offering a Brooklyn-Italian shared plate concept instead of huge solo entrees.
This setup is great since it encourages your whole table to sample many dishes during one sitting. For example, you can easily taste the spicy radiatori vodka alongside a rich and peppery bucatini.
Their vibrant menu highlights generations of family history through heritage recipes created by Chef Anthony Scotto Jr. Plus, they focus on the lovely tradition of Sunday sauce.
Just keep in mind that this menu is built for sharing. Solo diners might feel a bit out of place with just one small plate. Also, your bill can climb quickly since you usually need two or three plates per person for a full meal.
Customer Reviews:
Best tasting pasta I’ve ever eaten
Most incredible dinner! Best Italian food in Nashville – vodka pasta was best tasting pasta I’ve ever eaten. And then somehow even better than the food was the staff. Peyton was the best and funniest waiter ever! Definitely ask to be seated in section 1 if you go. And make sure you talk to Lee the manager (I think) and give Jaymes the hostess a hard time
- Nicholas Azar | Google Review
5. Maggiano’s Little Italy
Website: https://www.maggianos.com/
Address: 3106 W. End Ave.
Contact: (615) 514-0275; (615) 514-0270
Schedule:
- Monday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Getting massive value for your dollar makes any meal taste better. Maggiano’s offers an amazing deal where ordering one classic dish gets you a second chilled one for the next day.
They completely nail that nostalgic 1940s New York vibe with their scratch-made recipes. You can even customize your bowls by mixing different noodle shapes with your favorite proteins.
Large groups can also enjoy their specialized family-style service. In this mode, the table shares multiple massive platters to mimic a traditional Italian-American feast.
One thing to remember is that you need at least four people to order the family-style meal. Smaller groups miss out on that specific option.
Plus, keep an eye on the calorie counts since these portions are very hearty.
Customer Reviews:
Everything went so well!
Nothing went wrong with my experience here. Everything went so well! From the Antipasto to the Deserts. Magnificent! The salad is just perfectly made. Such a good amount of dressing. My favorite of the appetizer’s is the calamari. With the main course, it’s got to be the rigatoni D. And to finish it off with deserts. Wow! Bathrooms were very nice btw. Blake, our server, was very gentle with us. Making sure everything went smoothly. And assured us we were in good hands.
- FKar3 | Google Review
Best Italian I have had
Best Italian I have had. The calamari was amazing! Chef KBs Lobster Carbonara definitely recommend the rich creamy sauce is so yummy! The Chicken Marsala was really good too, but if ur between the two go for the Carbonara! Justin was our server at the bar he was awesome he n hubby had great convo.
- Heather Walter | Google Review
