Salento Italia — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

What a disappointment! Coulda been five stars too, cloth napkins! :(

Had my eye on this place since it opened, but a little fancier than our regular date night outing. SO, I booked a reservation for five, for my birthday. Was unable to make the booking online, for a 5:30 sitting, so I phoned it in. I got a text message the day prior to confirm. Two of my party came down sick, so I called to inform them so they could give us a smaller table, give the larger one to a more deserving party.

We started with the antipasti platter and the bread and humus was delicious! Also had a cold cut trio, some olives and cheeses...it was very good. For our main course I had the linguine del mar, my wife had the lasagna and son had spaghetti with Italian sausage instead of meatballs. Mine was a little bit salty, but with seafood that is expected. My wife said her lasagna was too salty and her worst lasagna ever, son said his spaghetti also salty? Server didn't bring the dishes, kitchen staff did...so when Lynne came to check on us..well into our meal, I asked about bread? Asked if we could get some more of the Flatbread we had with the antipasti? She said we could get some bread, but would have to pay for it. Kitchen staff brought out some focacca [sp]...but as we were nearing the end of out dishes, c'est la vie. ( primarily I was the one wanting bread, soak up the broth to me seafood)

Boxed the lasagna to go, ordered a budino to go and asked for the check. They added a Tiramisu to our check, which they removed when I brought it to their attention. Left with a doggie bag and when we got home we realized they didn't include the budino!! I immediately phoned them and they said we could come back over there and get it, OR remove it from our bill. We took the refund. What a disappointment...

This was just our experience...I see a lot of positive feedbacks, another reason I wanted to dine there. Its our first and last visit, sadly...

I hear the restrooms were small, so said my son...and some of the other patrons I overheard, I didn't have to visit myself...(brought my own...

Our experience was good, and we left stuffed, but there is room for improvement with the food. We sat upstairs and really liked the atmoshpere, but it did begin to get very hot up there. The addition of a ceiling fan would not deter from the aesthetics and would help air circulation.

OPPORTUNITY - We started with the calamari ($17) - very good, though lacked a bit of salt and overall seasoning. Only proving sauce on 1/3 of the dish was confusing. We requested more and the waiter brought us a cup of hot marinara which is exactly what the dish needed. Without the wet, the dish was too dry and flavorless. I'll add that calamari is our thing - we order it everywhere, comparing restaurants as we go, and as-is, this was not worth $17. More like $12.

WIN(ISH) - I ordered the Pappardelle Bolognese ($13 small dish) and found it to be very enjoyable. I was surprised to find the pasta is not made in house and believe that would have taken this dish to exceptional heights. As it is, the pasta was a bit too starchy, which is what you get with a dried product. Still, I would order this again. I like that they offer small plate options - it was the perfect serving size. The bolognese was excellent! BUT ...how do you serve a pasta dish with no bread!?!?????

FAIL(ish) - My husband ordered the Cheese Tortellini & Shrimp ($15 small plate) and was bothered by the tails still being on the shrimp. When the dish is as saucy as this one, you have to use a knife to cut off the tail, thus leaving the meat in the tail on the plate. He added one scallop to his dish that was NOT worth the $15 add. It was not seasoned nor was it crispy on the outside. There was very little coloring to the point where I was concerned it was not cooked properly. The waiter really sold it to us but it did not meet our expectations and was a waste of our money.

MAJOR WIN - The Tiramisu ($10) ... worth every penny!

With all that said, we will return as we look forward to trying additional appetizers and some of...

Salento Italia – Nashville

From the moment you step in, Salento makes a strong first impression. The modern yet warm interior design, double-height ceilings, and stylish lighting instantly set the mood for a great night out. The place buzzes with the right kind of energy—inviting, but not too loud.

The Food: Every dish we tried was a hit. • Fritto Misto (Fried Calamari): Perfectly crispy, not oily, with tender squid inside. The marinara sauce on the side had a nice tang that paired well with the lemon. • Arancini: These were crunchy on the outside, creamy and flavorful inside. The tomato sauce underneath added a good contrast without overpowering the dish. • Carpaccio di Manzo: A standout. Thin slices of beef with arugula, shaved parmesan, and capers, paired with crispy flatbread. Fresh and well-balanced. • Shrimp with Polenta: This dish had a generous serving of shrimp in a garlicky, buttery sauce with cherry tomatoes and mushrooms. The polenta soaked up all the goodness—comfort food done right. • Bruschetta: Loved the crunch of the bread, the fresh greens, and the burst of flavors from the toppings. Visually stunning too. • Gnocchi with Lamb Ragu: Rich, comforting, and hearty. The lamb was fork-tender and paired beautifully with the gnocchi and crumbled cheese. • Tiramisu: Creamy, light, and not overly sweet. The dusting of cocoa and fresh berries on top added both elegance and flavor.

Everything tasted legit, made with quality ingredients and executed with care.

Final Verdict: Salento gets everything right—from ambiance to food to service. Definitely a place we’d come back to. Whether you’re looking for a casual dinner or celebrating something special, this is the kind of spot that impresses without...