Looking for Italian and found Salento. What an amazing experience brought by excellent customer service by I believe Danielle. She really connects with the customer. I don't usually start a review like this, but you could see how she connected with each table and wanted everyone to have a great time. 20/10 Customer Service. My fabulous wife started with a Forbidden Sour drink and it was really good. She also got the Bruschetta: Garlic Rubbed Focaccia, Burrata, Cherry Tomato, Basil & Arugula Pesto, and Balsamic Pearls. She said it was delicious. We both choose the Cast Iron Lasagna: Bolognese, Ricotta, Mozzarella, and Basil. Pure delicious comfort food. Hot and bubbly beautiful and so tasty. Very Satisfying. Excellent Ambiance and would definitely return. Fabulous Service. read more

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Flying out of Nashville and staying at the Hilton on airport property. Looking for a place to eat dinner. Found this little flame on Donelson. Great food, awesome service and the environment couldn't be beat. Snapped a picture of the calamari, but was too excited for the chicken parm. Will keep this one in the books for our next trip! read more

Massive WOW. The gold standard for food and service for Donelson/Hermitage/Old Hickory. A true downtown dining experience in the burbs. Our service was perfect mix of timing, easy & friendly candor. Setting was comfortable with a great ambiance with lighting and low noise level. Fried calamari had a great crispy breading while not being greasy; we really enjoyed the rustic grilled focaccia that is very much worth the carb count. The beef carpaccio was a little bland where I think I expected more balsamic kick but the meat was high quality. Dinner entrees were all stunners. The Chicken Marsala had amazing flavor with tender, perfectly prepared chicken. The Mushroom Orecchiette is a very delectable, rich dish as was the Strozzapreti with Pesto cream. What is super nice is that they offer two sizes of servings on the pasta dishes! Great wine options, food portion & presentation, and stellar service! Would be a great trip cap for folks heading out of town along with super neighborhood find for the permanent folks. read more

Salento Italia - STROZZAPRETTI W/PESTO CREAM with Chicken - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Good apps Meatballs, truffle fries all good Chicken parm was prepared well All the pastas ordered were very good Will return to try pizza read more

I can't recommend Salento enough!! 5 stars across the board. My boyfriend and I went on a Sunday night and were seated right away. We sat in the upstairs dining area, which very open and comfortable. The staff was so welcoming and incredibly knowledgeable about both the food and drink menu. They made this such a great experience! We started with the house-made Rustic Grilled Focaccia with olive-basil tapenade... wow. You HAVE to try it. For my entrée, I had the Chicken Marsala, and it was perfection. The parmesan polenta literally melts in your mouth. My boyfriend ordered the Pappardelle Bolognese and loved every bite. If you enjoy cocktails, definitely try one of their seasonal options. I had the Notorious F.I.G. and I'm already planning to get it again! Such a great dining experience and the perfect spot for a date night. read more

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We were craving Italian food last night & decided to try this place. It's beautiful inside. Unfortunately, it was booked up & the only option we had was to sit out in their "heated" patio. It was in the teens ! They assured us that it's heated & they offer lap blanket. We checked it out & it was warmer than we expected. Decided to stay & yes, I made sure to take them up on that blanket. Our waitress even added hot water to our carafe of cold water when my husband made a joke about the ice cold water. Awesome service! The food was delicious!! John ordered the cast-iron lasagna & it was the best out of the 3 dishes we ordered. The tiramisu was not overly sweet & the olive oil cake was yummy. Highly recommend this place. read more

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Went to Nashville last week, and our first meal of the day was at Salento Italia. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and super clean. All of the workers at the restaurant were super friendly and attentative. We ordered a sausage pizza from their special menu, which was delicious. Great flavor, and although I'm not a thin crust fan, I was pleasantly surprised with the crust of the pizza. We also got the calamari to share. fried well, not greasy at all. For my entree, I ordered the lobster ravioli. 6 decently sized raviolis and great sauce. I ordered it with extra sauce as I like my pastsas saucy. Wasn't charged extra for the extra sauce like some other places that I've been to. Our server Danielle was fabulous. Super friendly, super attentive. Gave informed details about the various dishes and suggestions based on our preferences. Even split our checks for us 6 different ways so that we could each use our own cards to make payment. Offered to pack our left overs up for us instead of just bringing us containers to do it ourselves. Food and service were so great that we went back 2 days later to get the sausage pizza again. Side note... tiramasu comes in a huge bowl and the gelato comes as a three-scoop serving; chocolate/vanilla/pasticho. The vanilla is the best flavor out of the three according to the people that had it. read more

Salento Italia - Lobster ravioli with extra sauce - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Food and drinks can only carry a place so far. Some veteran lounge staff members, despite their experience, project an attitude that makes hospitality feel more like an inconvenience than part of the experience. read more

The food here was absolutely amazing! The service was awesome and out waiter was attentive and made great suggestions. The atmosphere was intimate and inviting. I would highly recommend this spot. The apps we have the meatballs and the bruschetta both delicious but the bruschetta stole the show. For entrees we had the chicken marsala, short rib gnocchi and the tagliatelle bolognese. For dessert we had olive oil cake and Gelato. The olive oil cake omg it was amazing!!! read more

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This is like my cheers. I haven't had a bad time at this place. Even the dish I didn't care for was good, just not my speed. The drinks are good, happy hour is everyday from 3:00-5:30pm everyday except Monday when it's all day! The staff is nice, restaurant is clean and chill. Music isn't too loud. Try the grapefruit Negroni, you won't be disappointed. read more

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Love this place. The service is always efficient and the food is delicious! You just have to get there early for decent parking but it's worth the wait. Loud enough to hear your company at the table but don't try to take a work call it's not the spot for that. It's in a cute area with other places to eat. read more

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Cute restaurant spot! Plenty of food options including vegetarian and gluten free choices. The food definitely feels of high quality, a tad mild on the seasoning side, but I'd definitely be back and try other dishes too! The Parmesan risotto and the Mista salad were really tasty! They do half sizes on pastas and salads which allow you to try a few dishes which is nice. read more

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First time trying the restaurant. I was greeted quickly and seated upstairs, it was more quiet and relaxing environment. I wanted to try all the items but I couldn't. I ordered the small Rigatoni and sausage, grilled asparagus, and garlic shrimp. All the items I ordered was delicious but the garlic shrimp is my all time favorite. Cooked right and the flavors....wow. I definitely recommend the restaurant if you're in the area. read more

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First time in Salento Italia, but not the last! My wife and i stopped in for dinner this week and what a pleasant surprise. Just caught the end of happy hour for a glass of wine and some Calamari. The calamari was very lightly beaded and cooked to perfection! I had the half portion braised short rib and gnocchi and it was fantastic! My wife had the chicken Marsala also very good. We sat in the bar area and our server was excellent . The food came out hot and efficiently. Great atmosphere, nice patio are can't wait for some warmer weather to enjoy another great meal on the patio. read more

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We went out for dinner on Valentine's weekend which we never do... but we didn't have our kids and wanted a night out! We had reservations and were seated shortly after we arrived. We were seated upstairs. It seemed as if they sat several tables upstairs at one time because it did take a hot second to get drink and appetizer orders in. Once everyone got greeted service returned to normal and we had great service. I ordered the Skipping Class for Candi and my husband had a Peroni. We also ordered the Beef Carpaccio and it was very good! It was missing a little acid but we were able to add a little lemon and top it with the capers that were mixed in with the arugula. It was paired with the Grilled Focaccia and it was delish! For dinner I ordered the Pappardelle Bolognese and my husband had Linguini de Mare with a side Caesar salad. Both of our meals were fabulous! We were both very happy with our dishes! I did order the Tiramisu to go! I was sooo full but I love a good Tiramisu so I couldn't pass it up! Great experience and will absolutely be back! read more

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We came into town for an early flight and found this jewel just down the street from our hotel.... I went classic with the lasagna. Delicious! The portion was perfect size . My friend ordered a tiramisu for our table to split. It was so authentic!! They make everything in house! Great atmosphere as well! read more

Salento Italia - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I'm addicted to this spot! We go weekly! Very nice happy hour. It's cute and romantic! The staff is AMAZING! We see Jeremy, Scott, and Brad are the bartenders and all very nice! All around great spot. Now the food is DELICIOUS!! I have not had a menu item I don't like. Have brought people here and they all love it! There will always be money in the budget for Salento!! read more

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Tucked away in the Donelson suburb of Nashville, this quaint location was a pleasant surprise. We both ordered the chicken parm. Huge portions of chicken and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Very peaceful ambiance. We thoroughly enjoyed eating Monday night dinner here. We will definitely be coming back and trying other things! Visit Salento Italia when you are on this side of Nashville. You too will be pleasantly surprised! read more

Salento Italia - Chicken Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Donelson is on the come up and Salento is the main piece of evidence of this fact. I didn't have any expectations so I can't say they were exceeded but had a great experience. Parking is easy and plentiful, one of the pros to dining in Donelson. We came on a Friday night around 7:30, there was no wait and we were seated on the enclosed patio which was so warm and not too bright like the main dining room. We didn't indulge in any adult beverages, came strictly to eat. The arancini was delicious and I usually do not care for risotto balls. We both agreed the arriabata sauce really set the dish off. Don't be turned off by the goat cheese, you could barely tell it was in there. I ordered the salmon and it was good, not great. I wish they wouldn't have been stingy with the asparagus. Service was decent. I would definitely return to try one of their pasta dishes and happy hour. read more

Salento Italia - Salmon and orzo - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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The food and service were great. Really good chicken parm and my co-worker thought the lasagna was in the running for some of the best he's had. This restaurant is part of the Darfon's group which is also well worth trying. One of our go-to's when we come to Nashville and Salento will be added to that list. read more

So impressed with Salento and so disappointed it took me this long to go! First of all, the restaurant is gorgeous. It is pretty loud so keep that in mind (I think upstairs may be a bit quieter!) but it's beautiful! Charlie was our server and he was incredible. We went for my birthday dinner and he helped make it very special! His recommendations were on point and everything was fantastic. We had the meatballs and focaccia to start. Both incredible and the focaccia was perfect. For my meal, I had the lasagna and it was some of the best lasagna I've had outside of Italy! Can't wait to go back! This will be a staple in my rotation. read more

Salento Italia - Appetizers and cocktails - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Food is hand made and great flavor! Service is very attentive. A hidden gem. Suggest wearing collared shirt and nice blouse (ambiance is upper scale but welcoming). Highly recommend. read more

What a gem for Donelson! I live in the area and love bringing out of town guests here as well as friends who live in other areas of Nashville. I've tried several apps, pastas, salads, & entrees on their menu. Oh and don't forget dessert and drinks! Truly can't go wrong with this menu. The service is always very friendly. I really enjoy sitting upstairs and watching the planes coming in and out of BNA. read more

Salento is a nice space with good service. I only wish their dishes were more consistent. We have dined here two times in the last few weeks. I love the small plate portion options. From the appetizers, the octopus is great. Calamari is flavorful and cooked properly with a very tasty tomato sauce (but please stop skimping on the peppers). The focaccia is really good but for the price the portion is small. Fabulous finds - the meatballs, short rib gnocchi, and the lasagna. Disappointments - Chicken Parm was very overcooked as were the lamb chops and the bed of risotto underneath. We asked for medium rare and got a well done chops. Risotto had no bite. They seem to excel at traditional pasta but struggle on the pricier dishes. read more

Celebrated my husband's 50th birthday at Salento. Cool spot in Donelson. All the food was clearly fresh and made in house. We started with the octopus, calamari, & garlic shrimp. All were out of this world. In fact, the apps were our favorite part of the meal. Moved on to the mushroom orecchiette (rich and flavorful), the bianco pizza (good but a couple minutes under-done), and a pistachio crusted salmon (perfectly cooked and well seasoned). The manager stopped by a couple times throughout the evening to ensure everything was to our liking. Great time. Will be back! read more

Food was average to below average. Chicken parm was over cooked. Service was good. Prices are high read more

Good: arancini- never had it with a sweetness before- since they put honey in theirs. I liked it! Desserts- (actually the best food items we are) Affogato, tiramisu and budino were all good! Hugo spritz- tasty, refreshing, great on a hot night. Needs work: focaccia- half the pieces were burnt Mushroom orecchiette with chicken- not seasoned at all. No flavor profiles other than cream (didn't even taste the truffle)...needed to salt it. Also, the chicken seemed like an afterthought, not cooked with the pasta sauce, but blackened, dry, sliced and put on top (reminded me more of chicken you would add to a salad). My companions said their pasta dishes were also unseasoned and one said the gnocchi was just ok. Nashville has amazing food, need a little more from Salento. I won't be deterred though, it's lovely inside and will be back to try other menu items (fingers crossed). read more

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Absolutely loved this place. The ambiance is a perfect crossover between upscale and casual. It's a great option for a date night. We started off with the focaccia and arancini. You MUST get both. This was incredibly and packed so much good flavor. For our mains, we got the pappardelle bolognese and margarita pizza. You can tell how fresh the food is when enjoying these main courses. The pizza was perfectly cooked in the brick oven. We ended our meal with to-go tiramisu which did not disappoint. If you are looking to get out of Nashville's craziness you should 100% check this place out. The service is great and plenty of parking! read more

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The food was superb. The servers were excellent. The quality and the flavors were on par with restaurants we have visited in Sorrento and Rome. The ingredients are fresh. Save room for desserts. read more

Beef carpaccio tasted just like I had in Greece, if not better. Everything was so filling but not heavy to the point where I was contemplating a dessert. Come during happy hour because it was such a great price!! Dave was also so charming and attentive, and the decor even better, 100000/10 read more

Salento Italia - PIZZA MARGHERITA and CARPACCIO - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Service was amazing, the food was delicious, and the all around vibe of this place was so cool. Shoutout to the server with glasses and blonde hair he's killing it and he knows his stuff. Was a great and fairly priced dinner for an all around great experience. I will definitely be back. I suggest you give it a try too. read more

This place was absolutely amazing above and beyond what we had expected the bruschetta is next level. The food was amazing.

My third trip to Salento Italia & so happy to have this gem in my neighborhood! Great food, stellar service, vibrant atmosphere and generous pours. I recommend the grapefruit Negroni! It's so good! read more

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I had really hyped this up in my head. I love Darfons and have never had a bad meal. So while this isn't Darfons, it was good. Just not great. Service was good overall and quick, though interestingly our waiter never asked if we enjoyed our food or needed anything. We ordered beef carpaccio, a mushroom cream pasta, lasagna, and short rib gnocchi. The flavors were good and fresh overall with one theme... lack of salt! We are not over salters but expect salt to be incorporated into the dish so this was very disappointing. I hope it was an off night and I will definitely be back to try other things! Despite the seasoning, the carpaccio was buttery and delicious and the gnocchi were perfect little pillows! The only other downside is bench seating! A guy was shaking his leg and shaking the entire bench. Not a good design! But just be sure to get a chair! I would say if you like fresh Italian, try it out! read more

Salento Italia - Beef carpaccio - Italian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Today was my 6th visit since they opened. This place is a real local gem. Every dish we have tried has been fresh and flavorful. The staff are very friendly and the food comes out in a timely manner. We were told that they had just updated the menu, adding some dishes like Lambchops and Lasagna along with others. The interior is classy and relaxing. They have a full bar and free parking. I would probably go for lunch 1 weekend a month but they aren't open for lunch on the weekends. They are open for lunch on the weekdays and dinner 7 days a week. It's worth a drive from Nashville or the surrounding area for this great Italian spot. To finish the review, you can't go wrong with the Butterscotch Budino or fresh Tiramasu for dessert. Wow!! read more

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Our family enjoyed our first time visit to Salento Italia Restaurant. Dining is screened outdoor patio, main level/bar level, and upstairs. We chose upstairs for more quiet conversation. Bright, modern, hip décor. Friendly, attentive service. Brothers Bill and Sam Darsinos continue to excel as restaurant operators. We made a reservation and seated on time. Large groups are accommodated with notice. Enjoyed small Caesar Salad, Mista Salad, Mussels over bed of Spaghetti, Braised Short Ribs with Gnocchi, Lasagna Bolognese, and sauteed spinach Italian-style. Washed down with a few Moretti lager beers. Everyone in our party would order their dish again. Menu is simple and something for everyone. I suspect that the staff assigned to the upper dining room are worn out tired by the end of the evening. Private parking lot. Pluses: * Every dish was delightful * Open for lunch, Mon-Fri * Beer, wine and drink menu with prices * While a small selection, the Happy Hour menu is honored in the dining rooms, 3:00 - 5:30 PM every day Small Gripes: * Most disappointed no draught brewskies * How could this classic dish be missing from the menu: Linguine with White Clam Sauce / Linguine alle Vongole??? read more

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Staff- First of all, I would love to say thank you to our wonderful, amazing waitress, Miss Daniella, I believe , she was just awesome and sweet. Food- Pizza :was great very good would order again my bf loved it *Lobster ravioli - I liked it , and was filled with lobster, but I don't think I would order again, I absolutely love fresh made pasta (which they do). This lobster ravioli in particular just wasn't my favorite compared to others I have had in the past . *Cheese Risotto - Nice and creamy *Broccolini- fresh and cooked nicely Star of the SHOW ! That cheesecake baebay !!! Was the best fresh strawberries drizzle was soo good. We ate that up very quickly , it was amazing. Ambiance- very nice set up , I will be back to try other stuff and will get more cheesecake. And will be asking for the same waitress. read more

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We really liked this restaurant! The vibe, food, and service were great! We ordered the happy hour cocktail's, the pizza of the day, and the shrimp tortellini. All were very good!! Danielle was our server and she was so amazing! Made the experience even better!! read more

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Nashville, TN. This restaurant was recommended to me by the waiter at Darfons. The food here is terrific and I know for sure I shall be returning. The ambiance is unpretentious, there are even booths if you wish. We went for the patio which was just a tad more upscale using the term loosely. Our waiter was helpful and friendly and was just a regular guy. Not trying to oversell or be someone he isn't. Very few Italian chefs offer Braciola anymore, so I always order it if I see it on the menu. This version was excellent. They slice this one for presentation. I kinda prefer non sliced but no big deal. At least their version did not have raisins in it. The one served here was a bit on the smaller side of average. The Shrimp Scampi was really good, everything about that dish was perfect. Salad: Excellent Grapefruit Ginger drink: Excellent Pineapple Basil Lemonade: Excellent Budino for dessert! Awesome! Good Coffee! read more

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This restaurant was recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint! The restaurant is a cute multistory building. The server was super nice and did a fantastic job adjusting our dishes to be dietary friendly! He also recommended more places to visit while we were in Nashville. The food was very tasty! We had the Tortellini, Rotini, and Kale Salad. Please check out if you can! read more

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