Coco's Italian Market, Restaurant & Catering — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

I've driven passed this place a few times and being a Uber driver, my riders in the area I've picked up have told me its a great place. A deli market as you walk in on the right and a restaurant on the left for dining in or pickup.

I finally got a chance to stop in mid day before dinner to grab something to eat. I was greeted by a hostess. I asked him if it was ok for one person to eat or if this was a more family style place to eat? He pointed to the deli telling me might be better to order from there. I was confused since I wanted to try the experience and service. As I was standing over by the deli looking around and confused what to order, a more experienced probably a manager behind the counter walked up to me asking what would I like. I let him know it was my first time and wanted to sit down and eat but was told this was more for family style. I assumed I was turned away so I didn't waste table time for servers? I don't know. I will let you know though I did leave a good tip for my server at the end.

The second person who approached me was very helpful and didn't turn me away. He got me a menu and showed me the best items they serve and let me sit anywhere I wanted. I will say he must have been a manager or part of the family? He was helpful.

I sat down in the patio. A lot of families and people chatting. Def. a place that can hold parties and big groups. Inside little more dark, intimate but you don't have to be dressed up in this place. Come as you are!

I sat down and ordered the Brochette. I was told by a few riders in my car that was what they were known for. They said its one of the best in the area. As you see in the picture, you get 4. I will have to agree, this was one of the best style I've ever had. Usually this dish can be over run by garlic or tomatoes. This was well balanced in ingredient and a nice drizzle of balsamic over it. If you try to share, it will go quick with 4 pieces for $8 as appetizer. I could eat this for dinner alone!

Onto the dish I ordered. I ordered the Cheese Manicotti with homemade meat balls. It was so good I had to save the other half for later. Right temperature and the meat balls weren't dry. I recommend for the extra $3 add the meat balls. I even saved couple of the brochette for later. Perfect temperature and not burning my mouth. The pasta great too. I don't like it touch. It was al dente if anything. Cheese was creamy and also taste was great. I'm not a bland person and from the red sauce to the pasta, it all tasted fresh. This place is def homemade and you can tell.

My over all experience food was great. Service wise the woman I had wasn't as personable as much. She was running around with other tables and just stopped by a few times but she did make sure my water was filled, if I had everything I needed. I wasn't there looking for a friend but would have been nice to be more personable. Italian places are usually that way but felt more out of the way and had to eat so she could get another table. But again, not a big deal.

Def. be back and great for taking a date to or just want to hang with friends. They have wine, and even take some deli stuff...

What a beautiful slice of Italy we have here in Nashville.

The front door has you walk right into an Italian market full of items you, or at least I, cannot find anywhere else (such as Amazon or your local grocery store). Real olive oil, maraschino cherries of all flavors, pasta made with love, and desserts of all kinds. My goodness, I wasn't expecting to buy anything. But I did. Truffles and a slice of blueberry lemon cake. Oh my gosh.. I'm tellin' you. This place has got to be doing Italy proud.

The actual restaraunt is to the left after walking in. The room is dim. Lit with flame lights. Giving off an orange hue. There's another room that's inclosed, but outside. Which is where we sat. The room was equipped with heaters and coolers. Colored string lights and a beautiful bar decorate the outdoor area.

The food and my cocktail were absolutely delicious. The bread, the dough, and especially the cheese, are on another level. It was extremely satisfying. I mean, the cheese is something you would need to experience on your own. Truly. Truly delicious. Loved it and I would definitely come back.

As far as having anything negative to say, there were just a couple of details. And this is not to hinder this place at all. The overall experience was fantastic and the food unmatched. However, parking was a pain. As per Nashville tradition, we parallel parked on the side of the building. Half on pavement and the other half 2 or 3 inches down on gravel. That, and our waiter was sooo slow. Took quite some time to get a drink going (was out of simple syrup on a weekend) and then to take our food order, he just disappeared for quite some time. Enough time to get my usually patient wife thinking about just leaving.

That being said, when served and when greeted, all employees were lovely and the experience felt genuine.

I will be back. I'm feeling a date night with the wife here. Get us a babysitter. This place deserves a second go. And...

I really enjoy my visits to Coco’s Italian Market & Ristorante as they have some AMAZING gelato, cannoli and other Italian desserts along with great coffee! I have actually been to Coco’s Italian Market in Nashville far fewer times than I have visited Café Coco’s in Midtown as I've eaten a LOT of late night food and enjoyed plenty of beverages there for a long while before I ever finally made it to the mothership of Coco's Italian Market. I was really sad when I heard that they had sold Café CoCo but so far it seems that all is still operating as it always has. In my experience so far I find a lot of the Italian food at Coco's Italian Market to not be as good as what they offer in the dessert and coffee side of the house but my taste buds are influenced by the Sicilian sauces we have in New Orleans while the owners at Coco's Italian Market have more of a New York Italian influence so it is only natural you will prefer what you grew up experiencing so there will always be those disputes about what tastes better because of blah blah yet ultimately I think it is often dependent on what we grow up with with some things we like the familiar other times the more foreign and unique to our taste buds. Ultimately though I would still say you should add Nashville's Coco’s Italian Market to your list when looking for Italian restaurants in in the area for one of the best options for authentic Italian-American food in a Nashville restaurant. For any full food tour of Nashville you really should add Coco’s Market to your Nashville restaurants tour. Overall this is a fantastic place you should check out and at a minimum sample some of their fantastic desserts!

My video review of CoCo's Italian Market is...