I'm writing this so others don't do what I did last night. Second visit to Caffe Nonna. First visit about 2 months ago was fabulous. So, last night - calamari was great. My wife's lamb shank great also. My lasagna was burned black on the bottom. Really overcooked. Instead of returning it, which I should have quietly done, I didn't want to cause any scene, so I tolerated it. This also didn't help the restaurant because I didn't give them the chance to fix the problem. I left more disappointed in myself then the restaurant. So, for anyone reading this, yes, try Caffe Nonna, it's good. However, if you are served something not meeting your expectations, let them know so they can deal with it and you won't leave disappointed. read more

Everything about my dinner at Caffe Nonna last night was perfect! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were there for a friends birthday and the place was packed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was welcoming and on top of the service. I'm still dreaming about the bruschetta, Lasagna Nonna and bread pudding! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great atmosphere too. Very cozy with lovely music.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Five stars for sure! read more

We had a very disappointing experience at Caffe Nina tonight. It has been many years since I had eaten there and my previous experience was good. I was looking forward to dining there again. But tonight our experience was not good. Our server was inattentive and slow . We received water immediately but then we were left quite a while before our server returned to take our orders. He was also slow to bring my wine. At the end of our meal, it took him forever to bring the check, My husband had the salmon which he said was good. I had the chicken saltimbocca which was not good. The chicken and prosciutto were good in my dish but the linguine had so much garlic it was nasty tasting. I ate the chicken but the overpowering taste of the garlic was very bitter and unpleasant. I ate only a small portion of it. Now I feel a bit nauseous and I know it is from the garlic. That seemed to be the only seasoning in the dish and was definitely too much. And our location was not pleasant. We were not in the main dining room but in what seemed to be a porch that could be opened in nice weather. There was a table of six other patrons who were obnoxiously loud and disruptive to the other diners in the room. Yes, they were having a good time but were negatively impacting other diners. Nothing was done by restaurant management to ask them to quieten down. Overall, the dining experience tonight was just bad. We won't be back. read more

Let me start with the good: THE SERVICE! Our waiter was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! LOOVED HIM! Now, the bad, or well, the mid. THE FOOD. It was just ok. NOTHING special. Just tasted MID, at best. I mean, I have had better food from a grocery store freezer. No CLUE why this place is so popular. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Now, the ambiance was cute but it is VERY crowded![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Just ok and NOWHERE NEAR good enough for how much it is! read more

My favorite Italian in Nashville! I'm from the East Coast so I'm pretty picky about my Italian food but everything I've tried. Here is amazing! We got fried calamari, which is really crispy and a great portion. Also, I love the Ragu has so much flavor! Service is always great and they're so friendly such a cute neighborhood spot! read more

Caffé Nonna - Fried Calamari - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Cafe Nonna has quickly become one of our favorite spots in Nashville. We celebrated a friend's birthday here last night and had a wonderful experience. The spritzes and martinis were excellent, and the calamari, short rib ragu, and fresh pasta dishes were all delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant has a warm, homey feel that makes you want to stay awhile[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food and experience. We'll definitely be back! read more

Caffé Nonna - Dirty martinis - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Wanted to love this place because the service was genuinely warm and attentive, but the food felt more Italian-American than authentic Italian. Most dishes leaned very heavily on garlic, which overwhelmed the sauces and ingredients. The lasagna also used ricotta, which may work for some people, but wasn't my preference. The pasta itself was decent and portions were fair, but overall the flavors felt dated and a bit one-note. That said, the staff was kind, welcoming, and probably the best part of the experience. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]We had a perfect anniversary dinner at Caffe Nonna :) from the ambience, to the service, to the food, everything was wonderful![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server Isaac was very kind and attentive, he offered us anything we could've needed and made our anniversary feel very celebratory. The owner stopped by our table and even gave us a little bouquet to celebrate. Every part of our meal was delicious. The zucchini medallions were super fresh and crispy on the outside. The tomato bruschetta was perfectly balanced and fresh. Our pastas were cooked wonderfully and flavorful! [[HIGHLIGHT]]A couple things to note- the tables are pretty close together so be prepared to be close to your neighbors.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Also come a little early to search for street parking. But neither of these things will hinder your experience at Caffe Nonna, it's very much worth coming in for any occasion! read more

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I LOVE it. The Owner Will is so cool and friendly The food is amazing. Especially the Seafood Angelina. It's like a saffron cream, buttery sauce, full of shrimp and scallops and mussels. It is awesome has pancetta bites even and the most amazing little cherry tomatoes that just burst with flavor (basil as well) We tried an Italian rosé for 52 bucks. It was very great and reasonably priced. The guy who compared this to Maggiano's seriously needs to get off of his antidepressant pills hahaha ~ he's delusional read more

Can't express enough how much we love this place! Been coming here forever and the service and food is always phenomenal. The owner is super nice and comes to talk to the tables often. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very cozy and authentic Italian spot![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Caffé Nonna - Arancini - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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1. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute little place and the only bad thing legit is parking.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'm not kidding. ([[HIGHLIGHT]]Our table was rocky which always annoys me but I'll explain why that doesn't matter[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]) 2. The waiter we had was just phenomenal. Genuinely one of the friendliest, attentive and kind waiters I've ever had. Shout out to Byron who is killin it and deserves all the praise and a raise haha! 3. The food. Husband ordered lasagna bolengese and I had a make your own pasta (sun dried tomato sauce, chicken, spinach, mozzarella and sun dried tomato's) all of which was just divine. Delivioussssss crazy crazy good ok? THEN our waiter hooked us up the THE BEST TIRAMISU IVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE OK? My husband hates tiramisu and he ate more than I did!!! It was just pure euphoria. Go here. Support this place and enjoy a delicious bite of true Italian cuisine read more

Caffé Nonna - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Just the coziest and best neighborhood spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Everything was 10/10- down to the bread, which was so amazing. Highly recommend for an impromptu date night! Service here is always amazing read more

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Honestly it's been a few months since I ate here, and I didn't realize I hadn't left a review. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is small, that's probably the only negative I can think of, mainly because it's hard to move around, and the bathroom feels like it's right next to the tables.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Granted there's nothing they can do about the space, but just so people are aware in advance if they have issues with feeling cramped. The food is delicious, I had the Seafood Angelina, and it was so so good. It was rich and perfectly seasoned, I can't even remember needing to add salt to it. My friend had the Lamb Shank, and it was literally falling apart. He said it was amazing and had a hard time stopping eating it, but it was a massive amount of food so he had to get a to-go box, as did I for my seafood. We were far too full to get dessert but our waitress gave us a complimentary tiramisu to go, I'm not sure I was impressed by it, but I didn't eat but a bite or two from it since it was my friends birthday so he got the majority of it. I'm not saying it was bad, it just wasn't very memorable to me, and I'm very particular when it comes to tiramisu. Really it was our waitress who really made the experience. For the life of me I cannot remember her name, just that she had this gorgeous red hair. I'll use this description in lieu of a name, but she's kind of hard to miss if she still works there because she was constantly all around the restaurant and was so personable which I don't often find when I'm visiting Nashville. The owner also came by and checked on us during the dinner which I also appreciated. The whole experience was great and I would definitely recommend going to it. P.S note that there is very little parking near the restaurant. read more

Caffé Nonna - Seafood Angelina - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Caffe Nonna is the perfect spot for a cozy dinner date! We loved the arancini, meatballs, and their alfredo. The arancini does not skimp on the cheese, and the $5 side of meatballs worked perfectly as a second appy for the two of us. And all their pasta was cooked perfectly! I found the short rib ragú to be way too greasy, but the flavor of the sauce was delicious nonetheless. Absolutely loved their pesto cream that came with the arancini. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is very small and super cozy with an enclosed patio in the front.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were sat in the patio which was very loud, and it took a long time to see our server, even though we saw servers visiting the tables around us a few times beforehand.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] However, we put everything in at once and were impressed with how well everything was paced out. It also was apparent how much the servers looked out for each others' tables, as we were checked on by another server a few times throughout the meal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Altogether a classic spot for Italian and one that keeps one of my favorite neighborhoods in town feeling like home[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. read more

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We went here based on recommendations and really loved it. I like to try to find local gems when we travel and this was perfect. In a little neighborhood with somewhat difficult parking being the only downside. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Eclectic decor, not trying to be fancy or elegant, just casual and comfy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started with arancini as it's something we enjoy and can't easily find at home. This was delicious. Then my daughter and I both chose the create your own pasta option. I had gemelli pasta with pesto and grilled shrimp. It was so good the couple we were chatting with next to us decided to try the same! My daughter had gnocchi with sun dried tomato and pistachios. She said it was very yummy and a bit different. Sorry no photos, we were just enjoying our food and never good any! read more

Going to be honest, like another review said, I'm not sure why this place is so popular. It is expensive Italian food and did not blow us away by any means. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is quaint and cute but you are no joke 6 inches from the tables next to you so you hear all of their conversation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It also upset me that they asked us if we wanted bread and did not mention it would be $4. The "bread service" was nowhere on the menu, otherwise we would have refused it. It also wasn't anything special. read more

Everything was wonderful! From the kind & personable staff to the food coming out efficiently, my mom and I had such a great experience! This was the best food I've had since traveling abroad a few years ago. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The music also wasn't too loud, which made for the perfect atmosphere to have conversation and enjoy the experience as a whole.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will definitely be back! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice place, living near NYC with many solid Italian options I was skeptical but this place is very solid.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Large group was handled very well by staff and led to much tasting, all the classics were great - lasagna, Cacio E Pepe, gnocchi, all very nice. Reasonable wine selection. Anchovies on the Caesar, as they should be. read more

After about a year, I finally got to go back! The drinks, salad and pasta was all delicious! I tried the gnocchi and I was not disappointed. The marinara sauce is really tasty and has a great depth of flavor. The service was pretty good as well. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great food, service, and ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Such a good neighborhood spot. Solid choice that you can't go wrong with.

Wonderful dining experience for myself and my daughter who has celiac. Byron our waiter was so helpful assuring us what gluten free options were available. We enjoyed heirloom carrots and vegetarian bruschetta on gf bread then gf penne with pesto sauce and the other had gf penne with sun dried tomato sauce and shrimp. We were assured the pasta was cooked in water separately from regular pasta. We savored every bite and highly recommend this lovely restaurant- we will definitely be back!! read more

Caffé Nonna - Gluten free penne with sun-dried tomatoes and shrimp and gluten free penne with pesto sauce - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I loved this little place! I came with a group of 6 on a Saturday night. They were actually pretty full, however the hostess said a group of 6 just cancelled their table so we got to snatch it up, and we only had to wait a few minutes. The inside was so authentic feeling and cute, and there was also outdoor seating. The menu was little but plenty of great options and you have the option to build your own pasta, if desired. The wine was good and the food tasty as can be. I will be coming back! read more

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Oh my! Not sure what I was expecting but whatever it was, it exceeded any expectation. The "Caffé" part had me thinking it was a coffee house... negative. It's a culinary experience. It has an outside patio that it can be covered for rainy/cold days. We didn't have a reservation but I would encourage to have one if your party is larger than two people. The food was AMAZING! We tried just a couple plates as we had had dinner (again, I thought it was a coffee house) but I could've order the entire menu. It was the most authentic Italian food I've found in Nashville. Parking can be hectic but with a little bit of luck you can find a close by street parking spot. The staff was visibly tired as we got there by the end of the night. They were not bad but neither helpful when I asked for suggestions. But the food made the whole experience. I would definitely go back. read more

Caffé Nonna - Menu - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Excellent dinner, drinks, and service. The owner himself walked in with a bag of fresh, locally grown tomatoes and greeted us! The Calamari and Seafood Angelina were sooooo good!! read more

Caffé Nonna - Seafood Angelina - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Sooooooo good!!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]So cute inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Quick service, easy to get reservations. Pasta was delicious. Don't have pictures but the arancini balls were the best I've had in Nashville. And the calamari was delicious. We will definitely go back read more

Caffé Nonna - Cacio e Pepe - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Great food and friendly staff! Food was great and loved the GF menu. I got the cacio e Pepe and loved it!!

Food was good, but my lasagna was over spiced. [[HIGHLIGHT]]atmosphere was fine for a cafe-like restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Prices are a bit high for what you get in a serving. Good for maybe one visit, then go to Coco's from now on. read more

Man oh man. I will say I'm a pasta and Italian food snob being from NJ. But this place is not it. We did not have the best experience food wise. The staff was amazing and very attentive. The restaurant itself was a very romantic spot great for a date night. If only the food was elevated to how much we spent. We left spending about 100 bucks for two pasta dishes and an appetizer which is a little ridiculous. Italian food should never be this expensive. They will nickel and dime you for every add on even cheese. The pasta lacked in flavor, the sauce was very runny with no substance to it. Was very confused by my wife's meal as well. She ordered an Alfredo dish with breaded chicken, the chicken tasted and had the consistency of frozen Purdue chicken you throw in the oven. Was really disappointed with the quality, wanted to love this place because of the good reviews. I'd probably recommend another place if you're looking for authentic Italian in Nashville. read more

Caffé Nonna - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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If I could give this place 10,000 stars I would. I went here for a date night and the food and the service was amazing. Our server was super nice knowledgeable and gave some of the best recommendations. He brought out two types of wines, when we asked for his recommendation and they were a 10 out of 10 we even had to ask for the bottle because we want to go buy it to take home. I ordered a Caesar salad, orecchiette pasta with the sun dried tomato sauce paired with the bramble berry/cherry sparkling wine. And for dessert we ordered a tiramisu and moscato wine. As for the ambiance we were seated in the outside patio (which is heated) and has light jazz music playing. I don't know if it was the rain the music or the good food but the setting was so romantic and made for a perfect date night. Finally, I would recommend making a reservation. We were able to reserve a spot the night before but I would assume they are busier around weekends and holidays! read more

Caffé Nonna - Tiramisu dessert with ice cream and whip cream paired with a light and refreshing moscato wine - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

what a fabulous meal!!!!!! actually so obsessed! our waitress was so kind even though we had a large party! the cocktails were impeccable! the food was top tier! read more

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We had reservations for 7:45 pm on Tuesday & were greeted by a super friendly & welcoming host. Immediately we felt like family & were sat quickly. Honestly love the cozy vibe & ambience of the restaurant. The food & service the rest of the unfortunately did not live up to expectations. My water had a piece of foil or metal floating around in it. Despite being a very small restaurant, I had to seek out a waiter to refill my water twice after it sat empty for 10+ minutes each time. The bread was served cold, not room temp, but cold as if it was taken out of the fridge. We got the Tuscan bruschetta which I mostly enjoyed. Slightly on the saltier side but good flavor. No complaints on the entree. Meatballs, pasta, gnocchi, and the sun dried tomato sauce was delish as well as my wife's pasta. Last issue is the chocolate dipped cannolis. There are no regular cannolis on the menu which made us suspect that these are likely not homemade & from an outside source. The cannolis were soggy & had condensation on them, indicating that they were likely taken out of the fridge & pre-filled (which everyone knows should be a no no!) The cream filling definitely wasn't classic & had a lemon flavoring(?) which wasn't great. Having had great Italian up in Little Italy in NYC earlier this year, idk if it was just our expectations being very high, but this wasn't the authentic Italian we were hoping for. read more

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Caffé Nonna is such a bustling local spot in a walking neighborhood. Paid parking lots are nearby. The menu isn't overwhelming so it makes it easy to choose. I love that they have a mix and match on the backside to create your own pasta, which is what I did. The limoncello is great! I recommend making a reservation. read more

I've driven by Caffé Nonna countless times and finally got to stop in and try it! The arancini was perfection! The lasagna was good, in my opinion nothing special. We did sit and wait quite a while for anyone to come to our table when we first got seated and our service continued to be ok, but not great. The food is a bit expensive for what it is and I probably won't be back anytime soon. read more

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I cannot imagine a better Italian dining experience. From the moment we walked into Caffe Nonna, we felt like we had been transported straight to Tuscany. The Food: We started with the Seafood Bruschetta, and it was easily the best we've ever had. The combination of scallops, shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese was imaginative and the flavors were unbelievable. For the main course, my wife had the Seafood Angelina. It was a masterclass in balance--a light saffron and white wine sauce with just the right amount of spice, loaded with fresh seafood. She called it her favorite seafood pasta dish ever. I opted for the Cacio e Pepe with pancetta, and it was authentic enough to take me right back to the meals I've had in Rome. Simple, salty, and perfect. The Service: The service was flawless. We especially appreciated Mackenzie, whose recommendations and attentive service truly made our evening special. Overall: [[HIGHLIGHT]]Excellent food, wonderful atmosphere, and great value. We will definitely be back![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Undoubtedly 5 stars for the food. Service was great although I sat at the bar so I can't speak for table dining. I had the calamari as an app and it was hands down the best calamari I have ever had. This isn't frozen rings and is carefully hand cut pieces, fried to perfection, and served with 2 sauces (marinara and an aioli like). I had the lamb shank for dinner and it was tender, a flavor prize, and huge portion. Price was also very reasonable especially in contrast to many of the restaurants in Nashville that are way overpriced. I loved this place read more

Caffé Nonna - Lamb shank - perfection - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I have lived in Nashville my whole life and wish I had ventured in the many times I thought about it! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is homey Italian and very inviting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Emily is absolutely the friendliest server you could ask for! I got the seafood bruschetta. The scallops were well cooked and the dish was delicious! Can't wait to come back and try something else. Everyone working at the bar loves the short ribs. Guess that is next read more

Absolutely delicious fresh pasta and incredible service. Super small restaurant but the most homey vibes. My friend and I decided to build our own dish and it was *chefs kiss* Our server was super knowledgeable about the wine list and was able to make an amazing recommendation. So tasty and definitely worth a stop. Parking is a little difficult. Free parking is extremely limited and paid parking is around $15. read more

Caffé Nonna - capellini with sundried tomato cream sauce & spinach (front) & penne with spicy vodka sauce (back) - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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We showed up on a Saturday during peak hours with 6 people and got lucky to be seated immediately (another party of 6 was a no show). The staff was incredibly knowledgeable, very friend and accommodating. I highly recommend the seafood bruschetta and the Arancini. You can easily split them as an app with a buddy, but I want to go back and just have those two items as my meal. They were rich and very filling. The seafood Angelina was an amazing wine sauce based pasta, also a recommendation from me. You have the option to built your own pasta, which is awesome if you have specific taste. But they have plenty of mouth watering options as their signature dishes. They have outdoor and indoor seating. The dining area reminds me of a quite authentic family restaurant right out of Italy. I can't wait to go back. read more

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This is the perfect place for a romantic dinner or a special time with friends and family. The whole experience felt warm and personal! The owner is also a chef and had his first date here when he was sixteen. The food was delicious! I would suggest a reservation since it's such a desirable little spot. The owner was so kind. We sat on the heated patio so I think our server may could have been a little more present and mindful of us, but the rest of the staff was wonderful. Highly recommend! read more

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My favorite restaurant in Nashville. I've been blessed to go twice. Once with a group and once with my wife. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It feels like you're eating in someone's home and being served by family. It's so cozy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And of course the food is delicious and the prices can't be beat for what you're getting. Parking is hit or miss but I'd willing walk 5 miles to eat here. Can't wait to go back read more