Nashville’s restaurant scene is flush with new Italian eateries.
The latest announcement comes on the heels of a string of new local fine-dining restaurants that serve Italian specialties from the traditional carbonara and cacio e pepe to salt-baked spigola fish.
Frank Pullara, chef and owner of Franklin’s esteemed Culamar and Culaccino Italian restaurants, has announced plans to expand into Nashville. A second Culaccino location is slated to open next summer in Nashville Yards, a 19-acre premier development downtown that houses Amazon, Grand Hyatt and a music venue called The Pinnacle among new homes, retail and entertainment destinations in the Gulch.
“I was really excited for this opportunity and super proud of my team for all their hard work to be recognized for such a staple development for this city,” Pullara said.
The planned new Culaccino restaurant joins a wave of new Italian restaurants including Luogo and Carne Mare in The Gulch; DeLuca on the west side; Iggy’s in Wedgewood Houston; Salento Italia in Donelson; Yolan and Sinatra Bar & Lounge downtown; Frankies 925 Spuntino in East Nashville; Mimo at the Four Seasons Hotel and Pelato’s Brooklyn-style Italian in Germantown.
Pullara believes there is room for even more because of its broad appeal.
“I think Italian food does well in many locations if it’s done right,” he said. “(It) is very approachable and very simple and if you don’t complicate it and let the ingredients speak for themselves guests should respond very positively to it.”
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