Ravello — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

Ravello

Nestled within the sprawling Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Ravello one of the many restaurants inside the resort offers a taste of Southern Italy that, based on some past reviews are giving potential diners pause. This review is my opinion and may not reflect what you experience However, a recent visit was slightly short of delightful, largely thanks to Joseph our server., and the skill of the culinary squad in the kitchen that night. My party of four adults and two toddlers were seated, quickly. We started with the Focaccia bread, priced at $10. While the thought of paying for bread at an Italian establishment might initially seem a bit steep for some, especially when considering it's often a complimentary offering in Italian eateries, the focaccia itself was good and this establishment inside of Opreland was priced as well as a resort might command.the bread itself was Light, airy, and a perfectly crisp crust. The generous portion was more than ample for our group, and when paired with the accompanying olive oil and balsamic vinegar, it created a simple start to our meal. The quality justified the cost, even if the expectation of a free breadbasket lingered. For our main courses, we explored a few different options. All 3 were Josephrecommended so we oredered all three First. The Shrimp and Crab Fettuccine arrived looking enticing, a vibrant dish promising a taste of the sea. It was, indeed, flavorful, with fresh seafood notes shining through. However, if there was a few critiques ,shrimp were tiny, crab was real i could tell by the shell i wss crunching on, next it leaned slightly towards the drier side. It was very tasty, no doubt, but a touch more sauce would have elevated it. The Lasagna, was a success. 4 Layers of pasta, meat, sauce, and cheese combined. A very rich dish, The ratio of noodle to meat to cheese was well balanced, and a comforting dish, It seemed as if careful attention was paid to its construction.. a classic done right. The Bolognese was another highlight, arriving as a generous serving. The meat sauce was rich, savory, and deeply flavorful, and we were truly impressed. While delicious this Bolognese would have been a number 1 choice had it been served over spaghetti. The rigatoni it came with was fine, but a pairing of spaghetti would have allowed the robust sauce to truly shine. It’s a minor complaint, given the flavorful excellence. Beyond the specific dishes, the overall atmosphere of Ravello, within the grand setting of the Gaylord Opryland, surrounded by a lush forest and sound of a waterfall, with beatuful lighting all around complemented the dining experience. The ambiance was sophisticated yet welcoming, allowing for both intimate conversations and the comfortable presence of a family group. However, one bratty little kid who was being disrespectful to his father, got the evil eye from our whole restaurant and left shortly after. In conclusion, our dinner at Ravello was a......... success. Joseph’s exceptional service was the main reason we stayed 30 minutes after we digested our food as he made us feel comfortable by ensuring our satisfaction at every turn. Ravello, under the care of servers like Joseph and the more than capable hands in the kitchen, proved itself to be a genuinely worthwhile dining destination within the magnificent Gaylord Opryland Resort. It's a place where Southern Italy meet Southern hospitality, creating an experience that leaves a lasting, positive impression. My pictures didn't post. I will...

I would say this experience was not as great as I expected. Upon arriving early for my reservation I was prompted to wait (totally fine and acceptable). I was seated and created quickly. The waiter came and quickly took my order. The meatballs were very fast to come out but was also cold which I couldn’t understand. The waiter took several mins to get my drink over (the meatballs came faster than the drink which …. Whatever). The kicker of the night was I told the waiter I wanted my steak well done NO PINK. I was very specific about that. Upon arrival of the steak, I cut into it twice and can clearly see it was medium well. I waited for the waiter to come back to the table (which did not happen at this time) another waiter saw me not eating my meal and asked if everything was ok. I told her my steak is not well done but medium. She took the plate and told me she would get that back on the grill for me. She then proceeded to bring the meal to the waiter who was taking another tables order. She noticed over the fence that someone had a question and started talking to this person over the fence with my food in hand! My meal was in between her and the women over the fence. Now, post Covid I probably wouldn’t have cared, but times are a bit different. This same waiter, went into the back room (I assume), comes back out with my food still in her hand and continues to talk with the women over the fence…WITH MY FOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR CONVERSATION!). When I saw this, I knew I no longer wanted this meal. She then spoke with the original waiter who took my order and he came over. I asked him for a new plate of food because of the above situation. He said: sure I’ll get you a new plate. He brought the meal to the back and came out to assure me that I would be getting a new plate and that they are putting a new steak on the grill. Well, when the new plate arrived, it was not a new steak and potatoes but my original one that the lovely women over the fence was talking over. Because the waiter left abruptly, I had this “new plate” of food in front of me that I had no desire to eat. When he returned, I told him I no longer wanted this meal and it was to be taken off my bill. Luckily for myself, my sister was on FaceTime and heard this entire conversation and was extremely surprised and confused that a hotel restaurant was not on point with their service. I paid for what I ate and walked out. I never asked for a manager, nor created a scene, but I felt that someone should know about...

We stopped in for an early dinner on a weeknight. Bottom line: our experience was exceptional.

We didn’t have a reservation; however, given the restaurant wasn’t crowded, we were promptly seated. The hostesses were cordial.

As we sat down, our waters were promptly filled. Note, our waters never went dry during our dinner - they were constantly being topped off. Our server, Alan, then greeted us and proceeded to make appetizer recommendations. His description of the focaccia had us sold. Alan also steered us away from a couple of drinks that he felt would not match our taste. He also collected information about dietary our restrictions. We went with a Chianti and a Malbec - both were fresh and good quality.

Alan then explained a few unique facets of the menu such as where the beef is sourced and how the branzino is prepared.

After our appetizer and drinks were delivered promptly. The focaccia met the expectation set by our server - very good.

We made our dinner choices: pasta bolognese, Margherita pizza, salmon, side of roasted potatoes and a kids pasta.

We didn’t wait long for dinner - maybe 15-20m; however, being in the midst of the Gaylord Conservatory, I didn’t notice the time passing.

Every dish we had was enjoyed. The salmon was cooked nicely with a good top crust. The sauce was punchy and paired well with the salmon. The pizza was good. I would have wanted the crust a bit crispier on the bottom, but overall, the texture was fine. The flavor was good. The pastas portions were adequate and were enjoyed.

I was hesitant to try the restaurant because of so many negative reviews. We did not experience any of the issues experienced in the negative reviews. Other folks complain about price/portion. Well, every restaurant at the Gaylord is expensive - you are paying, in part, for the convenience and ambience. There were complaints about the service - our server was excellent. He was knowledgeable, made good recommendations, and genuinely appeared like he was interested in providing a good experience....