Savarino’s Cucina
2121 Belcourt Ave, Nashville, TN, 37212
Savarino’s Cucina Menu
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Appetizers
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Entrees
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Sandwiches
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Appetizers
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Entrees
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Sandwiches
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Address :
2121 Belcourt Ave
Nashville, TN, 37212 - Phone (615) 460-9878
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Marcia M.
I sure do love Nashville but there have certainly been times when I have missed the familiar scent of cannolis, red sauce, and chianti from my hometown St. Louis's "The Hill" neighborhood. Growing up a "good 1/2 Sicilian girl," I was spoiled by the rich aromas and fulfilling meals that the Italian cooks would lovingly serve. I have not been able to fill that void until I finally smartened up and strutted myself into Savarino's last weekend. I don't know why it took me so long.... My friend Carla A (another spunky Sicilian broad) literally checks in to Savarino's every Friday so you would have thought that have jumped on the "Clue Train" a long time ago. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a member of the Savarino family who recognized me as Carla's "vegan" friend and offered up some tasty suggestions including the Chickpea Soup (you must try it!) and tweaked a vegetable pasta recipe for me to include the red sauce that I love so much. I couldn't have been happier and my clean plate verified that! Some of my fellow diners noshed on pizza, eggplant parm, and other pasta dishes while I was already curious to try a sandwich for an upcoming lunch. I also loved that I was able to bring in my own bottle of vino that we guzzled while we played UNO with the Savarino family for hours.... literally one of the best times that I have had in a long time. Everyone was so full of personality and customer service. I let them know that my goal was to become a regular so that they would name a vegan sandwich after me since some of the other regulars are bestowed this honor. They were busy with carryout business throughout the night while talks of Bocce Ball tournaments had me counting down until warm weather descends upon us. I know I won't ever be homesick now that I have discovered Savarinos! TIP: If you're craving dessert, you must stop by the bakery counter here. GOOD LAWD, everything looks incredible. I am also attempting to negotiate a vegan cannoli too... wish me luck! Yelp365#8
(5)HopAlongCas S.
Visiting Nashville from ny we needed a change in taste and were craving Italian food. We were not let down! My husband asked whats good and was told the meatballs and sausage with penne..WOW! id never had such a small meatball with sooo much taste! Sausages too. The rose Palermo sandwich was delish too! The bread was awesome and every thing went perfect! Great find!
(5)Rachel H.
For whatever reason, I thought this was a white tablecloth place, and I almost never go to white tablecloth Italian places. I was wrong - it is counter service and offers meat and three like service at lunch. The food was exceptionally tasty and surprised me with the depth of flavor and real ingredients. They may use Sysco for some things - but certainly not much. The food is home made with real ingredients. It is NOT fancy or fussy. It is tasty.
(4)Michael R.
I have to say this is BY FAR the worst pizza I have ever tasted. We ordered the meat lovers which consists of ham, salami, pepperoni, chicken & meatballs. When we got it it looked awesome. I grabbed a piece & put it to my mouth. The smell that came from it was terrible. I chalked it up to the sausage. I took a bite & the taste was WORSE than the smell. Neither of us could stand the first bite & spit it out. We quickly paid, left & will NEVER cross their threshold again. I only wish I could give the negative stars. As soon as we left my wife asked where are going to eat. PS I gave it 1 star because the app made me give something
(1)Karen B.
I will never ever go back here. We were visiting Nashville and wanted to try lots of local gems, things recommended on TV, etc. I was really craving Italian one of the nights and found Savarino's on Guy Fieri's list of Tennessee dives he's visited. The place had decent reviews on Yelp and Guy had gone so it had to be good right? We arrived on a Saturday night around 6:30. There were four tables occupied outside and one occupied inside. When we went inside to the hostess, she looked at us like she was so surprised to see us. She didn't say hi, she just said that they were backed up and it'd be a 25 minute wait. Already annoyed by the welcome we received, we took a couple of menus and sat down. Then my boyfriend pointed out that we were supposed to order at the counter, that no one would take our order. It wasn't busy in there and I was annoyed that there was a wait but I said, HEY I'll go up and put this order in and when they're not "backed up" they can make our food ... also I heard the Cannolis were good. She took our order and brought out our drinks and my cannoli. It was decent. Nothing to write home about. When the food came, my eggplant parm was swimming in grease and sauce. The texture was decent but holy cow was it salty. I ate it because I was starving and my boyfriend's meat lasagna was lackluster as well. We sat for another twenty minutes with empty plates on our tables waiting for someone to clear them and give us a check. The servers walked by ten times, went and sat at a table and chit chatted with their friends before my boyfriend asked for the check. We paid and left. Wasted an hour and a half for nothing. NOT WORTH IT. Terrible service. Garbage food. Set up was annoying. Don't do it.
(1)Alicia F.
This place is delicious! My family and I originally went to Savarino's Cucina for the pastries. We were sad to find out that they had a very limited selection (only two different pastries). We decided to stay nonetheless and try their lunch menu. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. My mom tried the eggplant over penne which was great! My sister and I tried their sandwiches. Mine was Joe Pagetta and my sister had the Rose Palermo. Definitely must try!
(4)Karen P.
We had an awesome meal here last night. I'm from out of town & my friends who live in Nashville had several other friends recommend it. They make their own pasta from scratch. Rigatoni with italian sausage & mini meatballs was excellent, i had shells with ricotta & meat sauce-yummy. Our friends also raved about their dishes. We all shared an appetizer that was gone in minutes. Also got kudos on Food Network.
(4)Brett K.
Not worth the money! Grilled veggies were gross and the sandwhich I ordered cut the roof of my mouth. And how do they get off charging $7 for a small glass of wine. Not going back. They must give paid to be featured on DDD.
(2)Amy C.
Do yourself a favor and stop by Savarino's to have the Stevie B...it's quite possibly the BEST sandwich in Nashville...if not the ENTIRE Southeast! One bite and you'll see what I mean. ENJOY!
(5)Zee M.
Here's the rest: The fries were nice...fine, not spectacular, but not bad. The eggplant appetizer two GI's were sharing indeed looked appetizing but, no matter how hungry YOU are, you don't steal appetizers from hungry GI's. Then again, if you're gazing in an eatery's window and drooling, that's one thing. If you're eating and gazing at someone else's meal, that's another, even if you're a Cratchit. In retrospect: If you're used to those big, dripping, Chicago-style Italian sandwiches, or those "Hill" meats that are made and sliced up on the premises, or the insanity that is Little Italy (most of them I've visited, anyway), in which everywhere you turn, you smell or run into something else delicious and "Italian," then you'll either (a) be sorely disappointed or (b) prove it really doesn't matter what you eat or where, because your taste buds and eyes can't discern the difference. If you're not, then this place will do, particularly if you're in the area and hungry, and don't want to go home and cook, jump in the car and drive that much more, stay and see what's left of Provence's formerly vast offerings, settle for cookies and java at Fido's, or resort to the identical menus of various and sundry area fern and sports bars. Incidentally, for those who think their gelato is crusted with ice, just ask. Today, those were all ICES and they were out of gelato. (In retrospect, I should have gotten the lemon ice. I'm just leery of the sugar.) Regardless, I hope to go back to try the Arancini and/or Calimari and, as always, to nab some cookies. Hopefully, some remotely yellowish pignoli. And I'll probably try that Italian Sausage/Broccoli Rabe sandwich...so, yes, they're getting another chance to, well, WHELM. After that, it'll be Provence Pâtés or Popcorn de Belcourt, all the way. BTW, how can people who admit the service and waiting times are horrendous still give 4- and 5-star ratings? It's all part of the score. One good sandwich or meatball does not a 5-star make.
(3)Carolie H.
Stopped here traveling through Nashville because of the tv show Diners, Drive-it's and Dives. Guy let us down on this one. The sandwiches were okay, a little lacking in flavor. There was not a kids menu so we had the kids split a plate of spaghetti which was plenty of food. It was an okay sauce. We were a bit shocked when we got the bill. For only 3 meals they were on the pricey side. We agree with the overall 3 star rating that the restaurant had when we went.
(3)Charles L.
This restaurant is absolutely horrendous. None of the staff knew anything about the menu. Service was slow and incompetent. I got dirty silverware and they acted inconvenienced when I asked for clean ones. The food tasted fine but wasn't great. I will not be back...ever. Money and time wasted.
(1)D M.
Unbelievable food, best Italian that I've had in a long time. Don't come here if you're in a hurry b/c all of the food is made from scratch. If you're in the mood for a sandwich I recommend the Stevie B, it's da bomb! No frills place so don't expect to be cuddled:)
(5)Lydia G.
The food here is pretty good but the service is definitely not, unfortunately. It used to be so amazing when you used to order at the cash register but now it's gone way downhill. I hate that the service is so bad because I think the food is really fantastic. I'm sad to say but I will not be returning here due to the repeatedly bad service.
(2)Andrew M.
Pretty sad about this place. Been here a few times and loved it but this my most recent visit might be my last. It's like they don't even care or try anymore. My wife's sandwich was decent but more average than anything else. I came here to get the fresh made pasta and was told that they don't do it during the summer. Wtf?! Honestly that just soured the experience and the fact that the kid acted like he didn't care about his job. The food was in warming stations and looked nasty. I have many years of kitchen experience and if you decide to go this route, you should at least not have it visible. This last experience makes me sad about this place. After Triple D they had good momentum but looks as though they lost their fastball. On to the next
(2)Elizabeth M.
We love this place. It's truly family run and I love their unapologetic attitude. We've gone here for years. Long before the Triple D feature. They've never changed. Their sausage and peppers sandwich is to die for. We wait a long time for food it's true but we come to hang and that's fine with us. Come for the food and the true Italian feel!! My husband is Italian and he adores it. Always wants to come back.
(5)John S.
The pizza and the restaurant had several issues. They got the crust right, which is the hardest part of the pizza to get right in my opinion. It is the foundation of any pizza. It was light, crispy and thin. Then they messed up the rest of it. They didn't put enough cheese on it. They're trying to be fancy and put little circles of mozzarella on it but the mozzarella isn't high quality enough to justify putting that small amount of cheese on it. The lack of cheese then threw off the rest of the pizza. The pizza needed the salt from the mozzarella to balance it out and i had to doctor it with salt and garlic powder to make it taste decent. The rice ball was tasty and it with the good crust were the highlights of the meal. Another disappointment was they're facebook page is covered with photos of delicious looking pastries and i get there and they don't have any. I was told they don't really make pastries in the summer because it gets too hot. That doesn't make any sense at all. Bakeries would be closed half the year, get some a/c. The other really bad thing was they were remodeling a wall right next to us and the loud banging and drilling was very annoying. You don't have to do that during business hours and disturb your customers.
(3)Alicia M.
Visited this place today(a little after noon) and was expecting maybe waiter service....nope. Counter service. Place was empty except for some ladies sitting in the corner. Definitely did not have an Italian/pizzeria feel to it;especially with the interior decor. Not a wide selection on the menu and the menu had no appeal or personality to it. Just plain black and white laminated paper. Order the stuffed shells(stuffed with ricotta). Got my entree in reasonable time, presentation of the food was boring, kinda sloppy, and my shells was swimming in a plate full of spaghetti sauce which by the way was NOT good. It would have been much better to pour a little of the sauce over the shells instead of sitting them in the sauce to drown, and maybe a parsley sprig on the side would have been nice. Maybe add some basil to the side. And the sauce could have been a little thicker. The stuffed shells were ok. Overall....I wasn't entirely impressed.
(2)Chris M.
Continuing on my trail of the best 25 sandwiches in Nashville per "TheCityPaper", I ordered the Frank Dileo sandwich. Long story short -- I have lost all faith in whoever wrote this article and picked this sandwich. Even had I liked the green "mess" in the sandwich, it certainly would not have warranted the price. First, the good -- the bread was deliciously seasoned and the bratwurst prepared well; albeit, just a boring bratwurst that was prepared properly. And had they only stopped there and charged $3 like at every good Wisconsin brat fry, I'd be in heaven... The bad -- everything else. This sandwich comes topped with "garlicky broccoli rabe" ... allegedly. Try: it comes with green steamed (maybe?) mush tasting similar to that of expired lettuce that's been in your fridge too long. It was honestly disgusting -- a clump of green nasty. Further, the cashier after handling our money turned around, bagged take away food, and with his dirty hands grabbed a loaf of bread and just put it in the customer's bag. Then proceeded to take the next person's order. No thank you. Oh, and did I mention that it cost $9.95? Ridiculous. And I guess as a final piece of straw, the place has many TVs, but there were all turned to one of those MadMoney channels. Seemed pretty odd considering the time, clientele, and neighborhood. I will certainly not be returning here. No, I do not think I'll be visiting any more sandwiches on this list -- they have striked out far too many times and it was obviously written by a bunch of hipsters who lack both taste buds and a rational idea of how much lunch should cost.
(1)Sydney D.
This was a terrible experience all around. We ordered a supreme pizza and a house salad. The salad was made with really dry celery and carrots with vinegar as a dressing. The pizza was absolutely horrendous. The crust was so flavorless it might as well have been made on cardboard, the sauce tastes like a ragu-ketchup blend, and the toppings all tasted like they came straight from a can. Not to mention, the pizza came with such little cheese the toppings all slid right off. You can make a better pizza yourself at home. I would also like to mention that the restaurant itself had a horrible smell that I never got over throughout the entire meal.
(1)David K.
There's not really a lot to say. I've been here once. We tried 2 different items. Honestly, both were a total waste of time. Worst "Italian" food I've ever had. I'm sorry to say, I can't think of a single redeeming quality about this place. My son had one of the sandwiches, half of the roll was empty, the slice of chicken was paper thin and sawdust dry. I had a pasta dish and wish I hadn't. So that's it, Olive Garden is better. Save your cash folks. YUK!
(1)Frank S.
News: They now have their beer & wine licenses, so alcohol is available. Pair up a Joe Pagetta sandwich with a Fat Tire and sit out on the porch. It's a nice feeling.
(5)Mark S.
Went to Savarino's for the first time last week - I had the Ed Pontieri sandwich (mortadella, sopressata, cappicolla, provolone, lettuce, tomato, bomba calabrese) and my father had the Mollini sandwich (chicken, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella roasted peppers.) Both were excellent and arrived within 15 minutes. The staff was friendly and my father liked the fact that they had his favorite Sicilian red wine. I really liked the bread the sandwiches were made with, the fresh greens served on top and the bomba calabrese (a spicy sauce that was basted below the cold cuts.) So fast forward to this week - we were in the mood for more Savarinos, we got there at 7:50 pm and the owner turned us away at the door, saying that they closed at 8. So when is 7:50 the same as 8 o'clock and besides that what self-respecting owner would close their restaurant at 8 pm? So subtract one star for apathy, three star restaurant. ______________ I'd like to edit this review somewhat because I forgot some important details. On the original trip we went in and were somewhat confused by the seating and ordering process. Fortunately there were some diners that noted our confusion and told us that more items were on the actual menu (as opposed to the sign.) They also told us where to place our order. Next to the ordering spot was the "bar" - it seemed to be fully stocked with Italian wines and liquors but lacked seating (so was it really a bar?) The dessert station was underwhelming - the cooler was empty and the gelato tins were 75% empty. I also noticed a lot of dirty tables when we came in - the owner and another employee came out and bussed the tables. But the original impression was less than stellar. Fortunately the food turned out to be above average. Consequently I'm revising the rating to two stars.
(2)Claudia R.
I had seen Savarino's on the Food Channel and determined to try to start supporting them, especially since I live so close. I went to buy some good Italian cookies about 4:00 on a Saturday afternoon. They were VERY low on cookies, which wasn't a big concern for me as their Tira Misu looked fabulous. While I was there I figured I would give their pizza a shot. I'm from CT, so I'm used to really good pizza--a slice wih cheese only. IMO, Pizza Perfect is the absolute best Pizza in Nashville. At Savarino's I asked if they served slices, and they said they just had to heat it. It took quite a while to heat the slices. I ordered the Tira Misu and one chocolate chip cookie, eventually got the slices, and went home. Once home the pizza was VERY disappointing. Big globs of cheese--didn't seem to be mozarella, though that is hard to find on pizza anywhere in Nashville. I did not like the sauce at all, and the crust was a bit soggy. The Tira Misu was good, and cookie--not so much. They seem like such nice people--a family restaurant, and I so wanted it to be good. I did notice that the reviews seem to be either really positive, or really negative. Maybe it's a matter of what you order, or when you order, or a little of both, but that's too risky a proposition for me.
(2)Michael S.
Had a Nick Pellagrino sandwich. Tasty, but not great. Bread was good and so was the service.
(3)Barbara D.
I expected to really like this place because I had seen it on food networks Diners Driveins and Dives however this was not the case. I ordered a Mike Zito which is a chicken parmesan sandwich. Now let me just say I was already wearing shoes I did not need anymore shoe leather! When I brought this to the attention of the person behind the counter she just shrugged her shoulders and gave me a box to take it home in! No apology no nothing! If you decide to try this place I suggest extreme caution!
(1)Robin N.
Spaghetti and meatballs-meatballs bland, everything smothered in sauce. Get the sauce on the side.
(1)Tsz-Cheong C.
The food here is delicious, difficult to find parking. The service is slow, slow, slow. We got here at 6pm on a Wednesday evening, we were the 2nd ones to place our orders. It took 10 minutes for the appetizers to come and 40 minutes for our sandwiches to arrive. Tasty sandwich but a 40 minute wait? come on!! I would have gave it 5 stars if it wasnt for the long wait and the unhappy, motionless service staff. They moved in slow motion. They seemed genuinely unhappy and uninterested that you came into the establishment. You guys have to step it up!
(3)Sarah S.
I've been here twice and while I love the atmosphere (it's as Godfather as we're going to get in Nashville), the wait was just too long to handle. My boyfriend and I went there on a slow Saturday afternoon at around 3:00. There were a few tables occupied, but not enough to make me think it would take an hour to get our sandwich. All of the cute Italian mafia-esque grandpas in the world couldn't make that wait go any faster. My suggestion would be to either go there with a bottle of wine and be IN NO HURRY, or pop by to get some pastries and have dinner somewhere else in Hillsboro Village.
(3)Julie W.
Terrible. Stopped in for lunch and ordered a Nick Pellegrino sandwich. I think every part of the sandwich had been cooked several days before. This is a sandwich of sausage (which tasted fine) but the chicken pieces were more like croutons! So hard and no flavor and seriously must have been cooked and reheated several times. The onions and peppers were no better. They were not prepared fresh and had obviously been reheated many times to the point that the peppers were nothing but green slime. On top of that, I ordered the sandwich and a coke and I paid $12.00. I could have gone to Subway and ordered 2 Footlongs with fresh ingredients and been better off.
(1)Ally A.
this is a GREAT spot! i was directed here by my new york native/foodie uncle doug who said that i HAD to try this place. i'm so glad that he did, as this was an AMAZING food adventure! you go up to the counter and order, then sit yourself down and, if you're lucky, drink your san pellegrino limonata (i got the six pack and drank half of them...i LOVE those things!) while you wait. my friend and i got the stuffed artichoke to share, which was good, but somewhat dry. we were starving, so we DEVOURED it. i got the stevie b. sandwich, which was SUPER AWESOME!!! the bread was crusty and delicious, the eggplant yummy with great cheese and delicious broccoli rabe, which i had never tried before and hope to devour soon in the future. i was offered a sauce to have with the sandwich, but was warned that it was hot...a good warning, as it was super hot and really tasty. i advise you to try this little gem, a wonderful and fun little spot that bustles and turns out amazing sandwiches. enjoy.
(5)Katherine B.
Right off the bat, this is a major dive. Which makes sense, it was on Triple D. The food was something that you can probably make at home if you took the time and had the ingredients. It wasn't overly amazing but still good. I had the chicken parmigiano and my husband had the Nick pellegrino. The chicken was a bit over cooked and the sauce was a bit bitter for MY TASTE. The pellegrino had a nice Marsala flavor and the meat used was actually quite tasty. They do have a desserts. The tiramisu's lady fingers were kind of dry and crumbly, but the chocolate covered mousse was rich and decadent. Their cheesecake is surprisingly CHEWY but was very good. This is a dive so don't expect much of a waiter, unless its too deliver or clear your food when you leave. They do have parking in the front of the restaurant but if that is full there is a public parking lot located a walk away that you pay for. Mix feelings because somethings are great but others can use some work.
(3)Clay G.
My low rating isn't for the food. It is because we went at 1:45 on a Saturday and it took 1 hour 22 minutes from the time we ordered until they brought our food out. What makes that ridiculous is we ordered two meatball subs. I think injury to insult was the lack of concern by them.
(2)Al M.
Italian meat and three is just great food. Love this place.
(5)Joyce G.
With a daughter's wedding coming up and me being Sicilian, and new in town, we'd heard the rave reviews abt this place. One wedding tradition we have is trays of Italian cookies on the guests's tables, so we went to try the bakery. When we entered, it was very confusing bc there was no way of knowing what to do or where to stand and there was no one around to offer help. The place is dingey and unkempt and makes you wonder what they do to maintain their investment. I also wondered: if this is what I see, what abt what I can't see? Kind of a stomach-rolling feeling. Oddly, for a restaurant, there were no scents or aromas, though there were ppl eating. I had to think abt how they could, given the lack of atmosphere. After a while a young lady came out and we explained ourselves to her, she went in the rear to tell someone and she came back to tell us that she would be giving us 3 of each kind to try, which sounded great. To get cannoli, I had to go to another case and talk to a man, personality-optional. What is it with Italian men? So much arrogance! Too much mama-doting. Glad I married otherwise! He had 1 or 2 made,, so we got 1 to try/buy and it was ok! While I asked the man some questions regarding the wedding, the girl made the box of cookies. We brought home 3 lbs., to share with the bride and groom and the maid of honor, etc., When we opened our box there were so many different kinds, BUT, the cookies were disappointing bc each one was either singed black around the edges and tips or totally black on the bottom. Truthfully, not one cookie was well-baked. So, I ask you...if you knew this was for potential bigger business, wouldn't you serve your very best? But if this IS your very best, shouldn't you be embarrassed? We did not contract with them. We flew-in cookies from Ferrara's Bakery of Little Italy in NYC!! Abbonddanza!!! BC we only went to the bakery and it was a bust I would say 0 stars, but bc we didn't try the restaurant, I need to give them the benefit of the doubt and offer up 2. Best I can do under the circumstances!
(2)Linsey M.
We came in fairly late, right around closing, and were told they couldn't make us anything. I understand closing time is closing time but not only am I a server but you were featured on diners drive-ins and dives with guy fieri.... There are some expectations to service due to the fame. It's 8 on a SATURDAY with packed neighbors there is no reason to be rude! Yes this was tonight 2/2/13 and I just don't understand the philosophy of rudeness for a company. I hear you're great but ill never be back, you lost business by the lack of tact and good customer service. We're never coming back and we haven't even had the food yet.
(1)Jeremy E.
Nice spot tucked away in Hillsboro Village. They have delicious sandwiches and Italian dishes. I tried a sandwich with 4 types of Italian meats on fresh bread and loved it. The wifey got eggplant parm and I was thoroughly impressed with the sauce and texture. The only complaint was that the food took forever and a day after we ordered so don't go starving and expecting a quick meal.
(4)Paul K.
The night I went there I started on the tightest notch on my belt and it was a bit loose. By the time I left I was almost on notch 2. Yow, that was a feast. Went there and got a table at about 7pm, we were waiting for 3 friends to show and the place had ~8 tables in action with about 13 other people there. Ordered 2 appetizers and 2 waters - waitress said she would bring the waters. About 15 minutes our apps show, our friends still have not and neither did our water. Rice ball w cheese and some sort of eggplant wonderland that I can't put in words but yummy goodness in solidly good marinara sauce. Extremely good. The wife goes in to ask for water and pay a corking fee as we've brought some 2 buck chuck. For some reason there is an issue with the water and it will come out. We also order food as our friends are still not there and whatever... they can watch us eat. Our two buck chuck is now 5 buck Chuck, but c'est la vie. Friends finally show 40 minutes late. Wife had ordered a veggie sammich and I ordered a veggie pizza and they show up sans water, I ask if they can get water out. Sammich was delicious warm, decent cold. Pizza was really good. Not great, but solid. Friends order food. About 3 slices into the pizza I realize I cannot live by 2 buck chuck alone and go in and wait until I get some water. At this point it'd been 3 times with 2 people asking for it and I was parched. Finally got 2 waters, sat down and enjoyed the meal. Friends food arrives about 25 minutes after they ordered it, looked delicious. Even though we're all stuffed to the brim we try some tiramisu, some homemade cheesecake, and some unremarkable (imo) cookies. Tiramisu wasgood, cheesecake was better. All in all it was good food, not quite great, but a solid decent Italian joint. I don't dig the water situation, that was getting on my nerves. An hour without water makes delicious food less desirable. Definately would go back again, but would take suspenders.
(3)Teresa B.
This place is a real gem. Before they moved to Belcourt Ave. I used to drive all the way over to Nolensville Road & Old Hickory just to buy their salami cheese bread - unfortunately they now only have it available for the holidays. Everything on the menu is to die for - be sure to add a side of veggies sauted in olive oil and balsamic. And don't forget the dessert! Service can be a little slow so don't visit if you're in a hurry or on a work lunch break. You'll want to take your time and savor every bite anyway!
(4)Michael O.
The food is great and the service was just as good. It is a bit off the main path but worth the stop. They use all fresh food and make it to order.
(5)Megan C.
This place is delicious! I ordered several to-go entrees from Savarino's recently and was very much impressed. My food was ready to be picked up 20 minutes after I called in the order. When I arrived, the host immediately knew that I was the one coming in for take out and collected my order from the back. Four entrees came with two delicious loaves of italian bread. I ordered the stuffed pepper-which was a roasted red pepper filled with beef and risotto and oh-so-delicious. They've also got a great selection (I think I counted 18) of cookies and baked treats behind the counter that they sell by weight, so you can get as many or as few as you'd like! Love that they have a porch-it'd be a great summer spot for tiramisu or gelato!
(4)Michelle M.
This is the first ever restaurant that I have been to in Nashville where the employees/ family of owners acted like they were doing you a favor to take your order at the register by never acknowledging your presence with a greeting, thank you, or kiss my foot. The service was extremely slow with only 1/4 of the tables taken. There was absolutely no caring that you entered the door liked the food or if they cared if you returned. Totally indifferent to every person they served. Threw down the paper napkin rolled tableware. The atmosphere may do front when the owner is present but it was not at all what was shown on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. The cantaloupe gelato was good, as well as the fettuccine with vodka sauce, but not good enough to even get take out. Sad disappointment
(1)Tori W.
This place was awful and I will never return. I was really excited going in, since I'd been dying for good italian since moving from NJ to Nashville. I was sorely disappointed. Not only did it take a half hour for my to-go order to come out, but by the time I opened it (5 minutes later) it was already cold, as if it has barely been heated at all. I got eggplant parm, thinking it would be safe, but I was wrong. The cheese was congealed, the eggplant a mushy mess with no taste, the sauce tasted like salt, and the pasta was way too al dente. Not to mention the portion was so not worth the $9 price tag. I can make better at home and I'm not even Italian.
(1)Tanya M.
We arrived here about 12:30p for lunch. confused by the set up, we asked a man if we sat ourselves. he said you order here we bring the food to you. then he walked away. we were like OK. a young man came to the counter shortly and gave us menu to order. neither man was too friendly. there was 3 items on the menu that were taken off. they said it had something to do with the liquor license. idk. all three of us ordered chicken parmigiana. i also decided to order a rice ball. the chicken was good. it did not seem to be a premade Tyson chicken patty. The sauce, while it tasted good, was a bit thin for our taste. the rice in the rice ball was mushy. the meat inside was OK but the mushy rice just made the whole thing just seem OK. we ordered a cheesecake, Oreo cake, and cookie to go. the Oreo cake was just OK. i really like the cheesecake and peanut m&m cookie. this is more of a 2.5 star place. the service was i bit slow and unfriendly. the food was just OK. the desserts, well 2 out of 3, ain't bad.
(3)Richard S.
a big big disapointment is all i can say!! they definetly staged it real well on diners drive ins and dives!! the place first off was DIRTY!!! the bathrooms were disgusting!! there were no pastries at all like they show you on triple D!!! they had a try of old burnt pignoli cookies that was it!! the sandwich we ordered was as hard as a rock!! the bread must have been a week old!! the chicken parm was over cooked and the rice ball app was cold!! trust me i grew up with generation italian restaurant owners and trust me i know good quality fresh italian food!! those of you that think you do well you need a refresher course trust me!!
(1)Wayne H.
So I guess I belong to the group that was not impressed by this place. This is a family restaurant, and many seem to argue that the long wait is part of the experience. I say that is fine, if the food was that special and impressive-otherwise, I wish you well but I am going to eat somewhere else. I have been here three times, and I have never waited less than 30 minutes to receive my meal; once, it took a full hour with no one else waiting for anything. Can you really be THAT slow? Savarino's serves a fairly Americanized Southern Italian cuisine with the usual sandwiches and pasta. The sandwiches were good, with some nice cuts of salami and other sausages, but they had a bad habit of arriving cold. They are also a bit on the expensive side, around $7-8 per 6-in sandwich, though they are still in the reasonably priced. In summary, it is a fairly average Italian restaurant with a slow enough wait that knocks it down. Or maybe I'm just biased, having enjoyed some good Italian sandwich shops in North Beach. Since people can't seem to agree about this place, decide for yourself. Or don't. I should mention that there was also an impressive large and tasty-looking pastry display, which I admit I have never tried. Perhaps trying those deserts would improve my perception of this place.
(2)Brian H.
Very good food (I had the zito).
(4)Bridgette C.
This fantastic little gem by Vanderbilt is a great escape for lunch. I would recommend going either early or later than prime lunching hours but its worth the wait. If it's nice definitely sit outside, as its a little small inside. It's almost like being in a family's Italian kitchen, a mix of restaurant, fast food joint, and cafeteria eating. But it works. Delicious hot sammies for reasonable prices, great friendly service and off the beaten path enough that you get some serious lunchtime peace. Also, fantastic cannolis for dessert and great coffee. I don't get to come here often (science life does not always allow for long lunch breaks) but when I get a chance I sprint over here for a little break and some great food. I haven't tried anything but the sandwiches but they are filling and yummy so I assume everything else is just as good. If you're in the Vandy/Hillsboro area and want a good lunch, this is a great place to sneak into!
(4)Jim D.
It takes time but it is worthy of the time...... If one were to sum up Savarinos in a few words or just one word with an adjective it would be: The Sh*t. I have worked in New york restaurants and eaten in northern bakeries that specialize in Italian goods and this place rocks. Corado Savarino is the man and one hell of a baker. They specialize in baked goods - keep that in mind. The sandwiches are great and they have a monopoly on them. No other place in town comes close. This place is a family run joint so if they want to shut it down early on a Monday - so be it. It's their place. It's slow. Get over it... It's worth the wait. They cook everything to order, nothing is made ahead of time. Good things, sometimes take time. Bomba Calabrese is the bomb
(5)Benson C.
Going to undergrad in the heart of Chicago's Little Italy, I fell in love with Italian food and desserts. And when I moved to Nashville, I happened to move in nearby and thought, why not. Let's give it a go. Now I've only had their selection of desserts here, and cannot review the food or coffee offered here. The cannoli tastes pretty good, but I felt like it wasn't as fresh as I've had in local Italian bakeries up in Chicago. But realistically, this place is probably one of the only mom and pop Italian bakery and restaurants in Nashville and is decent enough to visit. If you're not from Nashville and from larger cities with a niche for Italian foods and desserts, you might be disappointed. But if you're from Nashville, you might actually fall in love with this place. Savarino's Cucina is uniquely built and located on Belcourt and you can't miss it, as it looks very different from the surrounding cottage homes up and down the street.
(3)Samuel L.
Holy shit, a cannoli in Nashville. Growing up in Queens meant cannoli's were abundant and delicious, every family function had fresh Italian pastries, and fresh Italian bread. As I made my way through the winding maze of the south, cannoli became less and less abundant, but now they are back!! What really gets me about this place is not the cannoli, it's the rainbow cookies. Rainbow cookies were my absolute favorite growing up. my grandmother used to buy a half pound everytime I would go over(which was at least once a week) and ration them out to me. I was allowed like 2 cookies a day, but I always found a way to get into the box and get more because they are so damn delicious. If you folks have not had a rainbow cookie yet, go ask Corrado for one, he will fix you up. Rainbow cookies Nashvegans, go get some, I know they are not grits or hudh puppies, but you will thank me.
(5)Charlene F.
I have to preface this review by saying I haven't actually eaten here, but I want to SO badly! The menu looks fantastic and I was really looking forward to trying it. I am only writing this review to warn others about the nature of the service since it seems so out of the ordinary. My husband and I arrived at Savarino's at 6:30 on a Saturday night, waited at the counter while looking at the menu. Finally after about 5 minutes a waitress came out of the kitchen to let us know "it's going to be an hour and 45 minute wait". I have no problem waiting a reasonable amount of time for good food, but an hour and 45 minutes for a SANDWICH? Do they bake the bread to order? (The waitress also acted like an hour and 45 minutes was totally normal.) All the tables were full, but there weren't that many tables to begin with, so I just don't understand how it could take an hour and 45 minutes for a sandwich unless they literally just have one person cooking. I am hoping someday to be able to try Savarino's since the menu looks great but I might just try to call it in ahead of time and get it to go. Seems like a crapshoot if you actually want to walk in and be seated to eat.
(2)Steven S.
Not coming back! Expect a super long wait! My Wife and I saw Savarino's on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives and got excited when we saw it was located here in Nashville. We live in Franklin, but made the small trip to downtown Nashville just to eat at Savarino's. Being a Saturday, free parking in the area was filled up, so we parked in the paid parking, which is like $3.00 an hour. We only paid for only an hour thinking there is no way we would be in Savarino's longer than that. But boy were we wrong! We simply ordered two sandwiches and we literally had to wait over 50 minutes for them! Then when we got them, I expected them to taste like heaven for that long of a wait, but instead it was something barely better than you could get at Subway. Our meal was over $20 Dollars for two sandwiches and two waters. While we were waiting for our sandwhiches, I had to go back and pay for another hour of parking, so I ended up spending $6.00 dollars in parking. I know the parking situation isn't necessarily Savarino's fault and it comes with the territory, but the main issue is having to wait over 50 minutes for just two semi-ok sandwhiches. Everyone around us was getting mad about their orders taking forever as well. An old couple near us who also ordered two sandwiches asked the rather large lady who works at the register, why it takes almost an hour for two sandwiches, and she just replied in an rude manner "it's first come first serve!" and then walked away from them. We were really disappointed with Savarino's and we don't plan on coming back. I really think they have big heads now that they have been on TV and they think they can treat customers like crap and still get our business! PROS -It was on TV? CONS -Wait time (Horrible!) -Number of tables -Rude employees -Food is overhyped
(1)Morgan L.
Some friends who moved here from New York turned me on to Savarino's. The sandwiches are awesome, and I really haven't experienced the long wait that other Yelpers complain about anytime I've been there. Or maybe that's because I haven't been there much since Guy Fieri let the world in on our secret. The family style dishes are also amazing. Eggplant parmigiana? Rice balls? Be still my heart. For some reason, the individual orders never stack up to the family style orders. The last time I got a single order eggplant parmigiana there, it was swimming in greasy sauce (but still tasty). The family style eggplant parm doesn't seem to have that problem. Don't waste your money on a side salad, it's just a bowl of iceberg lettuce and some bottled dressing for a pretty solid upcharge (Not sure how much, since it wasn't listed on the menu. I just know it made my $7.95 order leap to $12-something after taxes). Ah, but the sandwiches. And the cannoli. I'm not a meat eater, but I'm sure the sandwiches with meat are even better (hey, it's Italian food. I'm not above admitting that). Go for a lunch and get a sandwich. Any sandwich. And don't make fun of the names of the sandwiches, because some of those guys are probably sitting in Savarino's right next to you.
(4)Alicia P.
This place is special, especially in a city like Nashville. I grew up near Philadelpia, Pa in an Italian-American family and out of all the restaraunts i've ever eatin; out side of the "tri-state area", this is by far the closest thing to eating "at home." When you grow up and grandparents and parents pass away and did most if not all of the cooking, there is a part of you ( or at least me) that passes with them. I think in families like mine, their recipes and the flavors that they personally infused into the foods you grew up with leave as well. I can try to emulate them as much as possible but they'll never be the same. My father unexpectdly passed away in January 2012, we were planning my wedding at that time. Of course many things changed after the event, but when I saw Savarion's on tv I decided that I needed to go there for dinner on the night of my Bachleorette party. Not only was the food spot on to the way my dad had cooked, but they made us feel like we were back home eating with the family. Sometimes fancy settings and names, high prices and high end attitudes don't make places the best. Sometimes, the more "normal" the better the experience.. I'm looking to going back this week!
(5)Em P.
Let me preface this review by sharing my qualifications: I'm a New Haven girl born of Sicilian ancestry. I know my Italian food, both at home at Mama's and when I go out for a pie or a grinder. That being said, Savarino's wouldn't be in business 2 weeks if it was up north. But because there's literally no other place like it in town, they do well. I've given them plenty of chances...for both lunch and dinner, on weekdays and weekends, and the result is always the same. The slow service is just the tip of the iceberg. They've gotten orders completely wrong when they aren't even busy. I'm saying not even close... chicken when you order eggplant wrong. For a time, their grinders had shrunk to downright small, however last time I visited they were a good size again so gold star for you guys. One time, I swung by for dinner with some visiting northerners, and they were closed at 6:30...when the door clearly said 8. No note on the door, no nothing. Not how you should run a business. On top of it all, the food is ok. Not great. Pretty standard, but I guess it's exotic to Nashville. I've had a handful of the sandwiches, never any pasta/salad/soup. So maybe I'm missing out. Also, they never have pignoli cookies :( They are my favorite. Maybe at Christmastime?
(1)Aaron D.
Not a big sandwich guy, but I did stop in for pastries the other night and picked up a rockin' mini cannoli and a giant butterscotch cream filled pastry that lasted me two days. Sweet! (Literally and figuratively.) I may go back to try some of the freshly baked bread or maybe a grilled sausage sandwich... Oh and there was some guy dressed like a cardinal (Catholic, not avian) and holding court at the head of a table of friends and/or relations. But I presume that's not a usual thing and is more reflective of the fact that I stopped by a couple of days before Halloween.
(4)Robert T.
We gave this place a try because Guy Fieri had come here on an episode of Triple-D and he gave it a positive review. We ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana Sandwich. It came on homemade bread. The bread was good, but the sandwich as a whole was pretty much ordinary. The deserts (on display in a bakery style case) were completely unappetizing looking. The Gelato had crystallized ice on it, and most of the baked goods had clearly been in the oven too long. So, despite being desert-driven people, we opted to skip desert. Just before leaving, my wife headed to the restroom were she found the most disgusting facilities she has ever seen. A Porta Potti at any construction site would be an improvement over what she encountered here. Are these the same bathrooms that employees "clean up" in before returning to work? Do they use the same level of detail when maintaining cleanliness standards in the kitchen? If she had used the facilities prior to ordering we would have left immediately.
(1)Kris D.
Not much to say about this. The building could use a lot of repair, remodeling, and some TLC on the inside and out, but the food is okay and the price is right. With all the other restaurants available, I'd probably go somewhere else, but if I had the Italian craving and was in the area, I'd stop in again for the foof. We got there at about 12:15 on a Saturday and there were a few tables with customers. It smelled good and the cashier gave us a folded, paper menu to take to the table of our choosing to decide on our meal. We went back to the counter and ordered and was given our drinks and a number, which we took to our table. The food arrived in an appropriate period on time and the food was as we expected, not exceptional, but pretty good. There was not follow-up wait service and the customer is expected to clean the table, as in a fast food restaurant. The dishes were piled high around the trash can, though the kitchen staff had been close by at least times to deliver food since we were there.
(2)Keitha V.
I LOVE this place. Family owned (lovely family BTW) and food is consistently great. The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. Be prepared to sit back and relax, sometimes it takes a while to get your food. Go in knowing this and all is well. They close at 8 and have outdoor seating.
(5)Brittany F.
Pretty good, but probably not worth all the hype. I would eat here for lunch or a very casual dinner since its counter service. I had a pasta, which was flavorful, but the broccoli was way over cooked. Service was slow and my boyfriend's order was incorrect (ordered the sandwich, but got the pasta). After the wait for the food, we were so hungry it really wasnt worth sending back. Overall, a pretty decent experience but not sure if I'd go again unless conveniently in the area.
(3)Chris M.
I have been looking forward to dining here since I first saw it on DDD and it was worth the wait. Had the Fettucinni with pink sauce and meatballs. The pasta was perfect and the meatballs were just as good. The staff was friendly and service was quick. I'll come back in the future for sure.
(5)Paige C.
Love this place! Awesome food and personal service. We will be back!!!
(5)H S.
It took ages to figure out what to order here--some dishes I'd had were so-so or just plain bad--but I have and it is the Stevie B. sandwich. This might be one of the best sandwiches in Nashville. It's certainly one of the most unusual: soft french bread filled with fried eggplant, cheese, sauteed broccoli rabe and shredded lettuce tossed with vinaigrette. This lovely collection of ingredients is then topped with a homemade flavorful hot sauce. There's nothing else like it in Nashville, or maybe anywhere.
(4)Peter K.
A few things you should be aware of before you go: Seating is limited. The service by no means is fast. This is the kind of place you go for a very and I mean very leisurely meal. Everything smells good, tastes good, and looks good. The lasagna is my favorite. It's unique in that they put green peas in the dish...strange but at the same time delicious. The stuffed shells are good for a starter...the price to portion ratio is way off. The cannoli's here are insane. It must be a labor of love for whoever makes them...which must by why they are so pricey...very much worth it though. Savarino's is the real authentic Italian-American experience in Nashville.
(3)KitKat A.
I love Italian food, and this place has the most amazing marinara sauce I have tried in a long time. The service there is a little slow, but they are very kind and friendly people, they make you feel at home. Some of my favorite dishes to try from them are: Lasagna, Eggplant Parmesan, Stuffed Rice Balls (with meat or ricotta cheese), and a couple of subs which names I cannot recall right at the top of my head, but that are delicious. And do not forget their tasty coffee and lovely decorated Italian pastries. :)
(5)Brien W.
Had lunch here last week for the first time in about 6 months. This place seems to have a regular clientele that like to hang out, drink their wine and get sandwiches named after them. The service is sloppy and disinterested, we waited 45 minutes for sandwiches and 1 order wasn't delivered. When questioned where the other order was, the son said he would check but never came back, when we saw him and called him over he said they burnt it and would have to recook. We declined and shared our food with our friend. Finally a sandwich came out that we took to go. The food is very good, but the place is sloppy, unorganized and needs a type a in the organization. Maybe get take out or show up with some wine and take your time.
(3)Katy B.
I went here once for lunch when my parents were visiting. The food was really delicious. The stuffed pepper was amazing. Only negative was I was too full for dessert and everyone has raved about it, oh well guess I'll have to make a trip back!
(4)Aaron P.
It was pretty good. I'm pretty surprised this place made the food channel. We had a couple of sandwiches; the vito and the chicken parm. The vito was good. It was a little over cooked not too bad though. The sausage was definitely the best part of this sandwich. Unfortunately, after the chef added the red wine to the sandwich ingredients, he let it reduce for too long which gave the ingredients a bitter flavor. I liked the chicken parm a lot better. However, it would have been way better with a little more sauce. The bread to chicken parm ratio was far too high for the amount of sauce they put on the sandwich. I would love to go back and try dinner sometime. I would worry what dinner service would be like though. We were one of two tables in the restaurant and it took about a half hour to get two sandwiches which is just ridicules. The owner was also not very friendly. There was a younger guy working who was friendly though. Have to admit, I lost a little respect for DDD after this visit. The 3 stars is for the service. The food is 4 stars for sure. I wish the owners would look at these reviews.. Service is pretty easy problem to fix, and seems to be a major issue with this establishment.
(3)Cayla K.
Best Italian food by far...most definitely worth coming here!!!!! All of the pastas are spectacular, and there homemade bread helps complete the meal. They have a big selection of little pastries for dessert...never pass up and opportunity to come here!
(5)Nancy A.
Food was delicious, when we finally received it. We ordered at 6:30 and didn't have food until 7:45pm. I have never waited that long in my life for a sandwich, and 2 plates of pasta. We came in because I saw it on Diners Drive Ins and Dives on the Food Network. We ordered the 2 specialties, and like I said they were very good, but not worth waiting over an hour for. I was generally disappointed.
(2)Willie S.
The best Italian food in the city of Nashville...bar none. Bring your own wine if you want it with your dinner. I HIGHLY recommend the ziti or the caprese salad. The pizza is also out of this world.
(5)Michael S.
in the 115.2 miles we drove to eat @ savarino's, we must have passed a gazillion italian sub shops and eateries. the sausage and pepper sandwich i had there was well worth the trip, spicy cooked well and absolutely delicious. my wife had the spicy cold cut sub and she said wow as well and mentioned it's good and spicy in the meat department and not smothered with hot peppers. we also shared a plate of baked ziti, AWESOME and of course we took 4 loaves of bread home to keep or freezer happy too. the best mom and pop sandwich, bakery, and italian pastry shop in brooklyn is not there. it's in nashville. when you go, park illegally, it will make you really feel brooklyn.
(5)Mariela C.
To be honest, I have no idea what the hype is all about. I went to Savarino's Cucina with friends after hearing all the great buzz about Hillsborough Village's Italian family restaurant. I got the Parmesan chicken, which on the menu sounded delicious but in person was awful. It was so bad, in fact, that I couldn't bring myself to try any dessert which I had heard was good. Wanting to wash down the overpriced and harshly disappointing chicken, I had a cup of coffee (which I normally don't drink) but that happened to be the only good part about my meal.
(2)Caitlin D.
I've been to this restaurant twice since moving to Hillsboro Village and each time I had one of their sandwiches. The food here is great - they obviously take pride in the ingredients from the bread to the filling. The wait isn't always terrible. This is not a subway and the point is to that you're getting good food, not fast food. Come just after the lunch or dinner rush and you won't have to wait. Overall, this place is authentic and tasty. I appreciate their presence here in Nashville.
(4)Paul P.
Saw this restuarant on the Food Network on "Dives, Diners & Drive-Ins". It is a very good casual eating experience. I had the spaghetti with meatballs. The homemade noodles are one of the best I ever had. The sauce is very good too - nice and tangy. My wife had the baked ziti with meat sauce. She made a "this is too delicious" face and was reluctant to share it with me. She liked that the sauces were different for each dish. We also had the gelato and italian ice, which was very good. They have a lot of good desserts that will temp you. Overall, a great experience and worth the drive.
(4)Alicia W.
I had a veggie sub that was excellent - great veggies and the bread was delicious. Also, the cannolis were awesome.
(4)David S.
The thing I love about Savarino's is it seems to be a real family restaurant. My friend and I went in maybe thirty minutes before the place closed one night. We were about the only people in the place, with one other guy waiting on some carryout. The young girl at the counter was very friendly and helped us choose our meals -- she had to explain broccoli rabe to me -- and wasn't at all mad at us trying to order so close to closing.. My friend wanted something vegetarian, and Savarino's had many offerings in that vein. I got some orecchiette with the aforementioned broccoli rabe. It ended up being fantastic. Even though we had ordered at the counter, the young girl who took our order brought out bread and plates and everything else to us out on the patio. It was us and what seemed like one of the owners outside enjoying the evening. The bread was great. The food when it came was fantastic as well. It was cheap, too, which is a good thing. The desserts and pastries they had looked amazing. My friend and I were mainly able to abstain, but we did order some great gelato. Yum. A very friendly, laid-back kind of place. I recommend trying Savarino's out for yourself.
(4)Connie D.
I would not give this place any stars but Yelp made me put in at least one. It was the worst food I have ever had! It all tasted like it came from the freezer section and was microwaved. The service was very poor and it also looked and felt dirty. I like dive restaurants but this I would have to say was the worst dive I have EVER been in. I should have known that it was bad when it was empty during prime dinner hours. If you go BEWARE! If you want some GREAT FOOD GO TO FIDOS which is right down the street.
(1)Sam W.
Savarino's is something of a hole in the wall. The place seems to be barely held together by the proprietor and one employee, working at a leisurely pace while a tiny radio blares. The service isn't stellar, but the atmosphere partway makes up for it, and the food does the rest. Savarino is a genius especially as a pastry chef, and his cannolis are the best in town. If you can't visit for a meal, drop by on your way out of Hillsboro Village, especially if you just had lunch next door at McDougal's or the Dog.
(4)Emma L.
This place is so cute, and I love popping by during the summer. While the Italian ice machine or something was broken last fall, I'm not sure if they're getting it back for summer, but my suspicion is yes. The ice is superb and a bargain compared to the price of a smoothie or ice cream at other nearby places. The food is also quite good. The sandwiches are definitely big enough to share for a lite lunch, or you can share one and get a few cookies to top it off. A lot of the pasta dishes have a sort of surprise spicy edge, but they're all good. Also, most of the cookies are pretty good. Some can be a little dry, but go with your instinct and you'll find one that's divine. Also, the cannolis are raved about, but I wouldn't know, not being a cannoli person... Service is almost always slow at this mom and pop, so allot enough time to eat there if you're trying to catch a bite before some Village function.
(4)Erin R.
I ate at Savarino's this week for the first time and I was totally underwhelmed. I had the Rigatoni and honestly I think I've gotten better Italian at chain restaurants like Macaroni Grill or Bucca Di Beppo. In addition, the service was lackluster. The cashier was impatient with us when we asked questions about the menu. I may give it another chance and try the sandwiches which I hear are very good, but this place most definitely did not live up to the hype.
(1)Kiley S.
Recently stopped to have lunch @ Savarinos around 2:30p on a Friday. I already knew what to expect b/c this was my 4th trip to the restaurant and I can say that nothing has changed since my first visit in 2008. I think it is very important for first timers to understand that this is not your typical restaurant on Belcourt. This restaurant is truly run by the family. Does the family go above and beyond with customer service - no they don't. However, they serve delicious meals. Best stuffed pepper I have ever eaten! Be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes for your order - it seems that pizzas come out quicker and they look amazing! The bakery case is full of lovely items - I've tried several and I haven't been disappointed. It looks like the place has recently aired on diners, drive ins and dives... which appears to have hurt some of their reviews. People get excited and don't have the correct expectations... I guess they see a family on TV and assume it's going to be a Hollywood experience - wrong! I should mention that I haven't seen the episode but I can tell you that the restaurant hasn't changed much in 3 years - great food, long waits, and minimal service. Calm down, don't expect a lot of smiles, simply go for the food and order a stuffed pepper or the lasagna.
(4)lynne k.
We arrived in Nashville from Atlanta on Fri 6/17/11, checked in at the Opryland Hotel, then went straight to Savarino's because I was so excited to try it. I had read the reviews about the wait and was glad it was an off time (2:30). There was no one in the place which we thought was a blessing, but I don't think the young woman working the counter thought so. She was clearly not happy to see us and was beyond rude. As we began to order the phone rang and without so much as a "pardon me", she picked up the phone to take a to go order. We stepped away from the counter to discuss leaving, but decided since we had come so far, to see the visit through. As we reapproached she was even more irritated and rude. We placed our order at the counter, took our cans of coke from the refrig as instructed and took our seats. The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time, but was horrible. My spaghetti was swimming in a greasy glob of sauce. My husbands chicken parm was hard and chewy and his penne was in the same glob of sauce I had. Our daughter had an overtoasted bun with a couple of dry meatballs inside and NO sauce.. No one was happy. Let me also say it is difficult to eat spaghetti and chicken parm with the plastic forks and knives we were given. We considered dessert and went to look at the display. We decided to place an order, but our hostess with the mostess attitude was sitting talking in the dining room to a friend. The friend told her she had customers, but she told him we were "just looking". (?) Instead of correcting her, we left. So, pitifully poor rude service and overrall bad attitude, bad food, mediocre ambiance, plastic untensils, I have nothing good to say. I am truly scratching my head as to how Guy chose this place for Triple D. :(
(1)Oliver G.
Cool location, just off the beaten path of Hillsboro village, very much a family operated place. The dessert cooler looks kinda like my home fridge with a bunch of stuff crammed in there and wrapped in plastic. I had a late lunch that took about 25 minutes to prepare (meatball sub?), and it was only alright. I'm not sure I grasp the concept yet, but I'll probably go back and give it another try. I really wanted this to be better than it was.
(2)Natalie G.
i was visiting for the country music marathon and savarinos came highly recommended by the locals. though the wait was a bit long (its popularity is a plus), the food was great at the family-run (giving the restaurant a personal touch) southern italian restaurant and the folks working there were very nice. the delicious macaroons closed the night off well.
(4)Kathryn G.
I hate to only allow one star as I was so excited to finally be in the area and experience this restaurant. After spending 15 minutes trying to find parking, we walked two blocks in the very cold, but the anticipation of the good eats ahead kept us from being too bothered by this. We arrived and from reading on Yelp from a reviewer, I knew to pick up a menu and order up front, though in passing the person working there did announce that. Seating was minimal, not enough for 3-4 people, either small tables or very large ones, so we pulled two bistro type tables together. The wait for the food wasn't long, but my breaded chicken parmesan sandwich arrived with both the bread and the chicken burnt, the sauce was nothing spectacular. I woke the next morning and swished mouthwash and immediately felt terrible burning in the top of my mouth, realizing the bread was so hard it had scraped it! We ran out of drinks while awaiting our food and due to no servers had to wait 15 minutes standing up front for a refill as there was only one person helping and she was reading the bakery product line, item by item to customer after customer, who all seemed to be in no rush. My husband's pasta was bland and little sauce. We decided to order dessert to go, again having another wait as there was still only one person serving the many and customers took their time deciding on their desserts. I ordered cheesecake topped with blueberry, my grandson chocolate cheesecake, my husband ordered a butterscotch cream-filled pastry, all which LOOKED delicious!! Unfortunately, when we got home, the pastry had been sitting good viewing side out, as the other end was burnt. My blueberry, which looked so fresh, when I went to cut into it with a knife actually STUCK to my knife in one piece like a huge blueberry gummy bear and refused to let go, we actually were enthralled by the tenacity of the blueberry goo to not release itself from my knife! I finally removed it, threw it away as inedible, then we dared try the cheesecake and it was CHEWY as if seemed like it was sitting for a week, no flavor at all. My grandson's cheesecake was delicious, I said it tasted like hot chocolate cold, very nummy. But the worse was yet to come...we were up all night with belly aches that continued through the morning. Not good. I really hate to have to share that, as I so looked forward to a great experience and feel that I am being kind in my review as it was actually such a disappointment all the way around. I am still trying to understand the one piece blueberry topping...
(1)Brent S.
Going to Savarino's is always an experience. Don't go there expecting it to be fast or fancy. Go there expecting simple, delicious traditional Italian food in a family setting. And don't forget to try dessert - the cannoli are superb! And for the allergy conscious, fear not! Corrado prepares all food on-site and, at least for us, remembers your allergy and is quite vocal in his advice on what to avoid. I can't imagine a better place to spend an evening having a delicious simple meal.
(5)Sara T.
Let me just start off by saying that never have I ever been compelled to write a bad review of a restaurant before, until now. I went in on a rainy afternoon because I was craving some pasta and this is the closest Italian place to my house. I came in to eat by myself and get some homework done. A nice, but slightly invasive, older gentleman who seemingly worked at the restaurant came over and wanted to have a conversation. For the record, just because people are eating alone doesn't mean they want to have conversations with strangers. Anyways, after asking me my life story, I mentioned that I wrote for a company that works with restaurants. I was not there representing this company in any way shape or form, just as a customer. He then sent the owner over my way to talk to me about what I do. Again, did not ask for any of this. I apologized to the owner, and said I was not there trying to sell him on anything, simply to eat dinner but his friend kept asking what I did. The owner continued to tell me he felt sorry for me and that I have no future in my job. WOW! Talk about grade-a customer service! I was dining at your completely deserted restaurant, hungry and excited, and you have the nerve to come over to me, sit at my table, look me in the face and tell me you feel sorry for me because of my choice of employment? Maybe this is the reason that despite their perfect location no one has ever heard of this place. Needless to say, I asked for my food to go. The pasta was fine but gave me a stomach ache 30 minutes later. BOOOO!
(1)R F.
If you are looking for a very good authentic italian deli, this is the place for you. If you are looking for fast food, this is NOT for you. Like some of the other reviewers have mentioned, the service can be extremely slow (sometimes for seemingly no reason), but the food is great. I have tried several of the sandwiches and they were all very tasty. My favorite is the Ed Ponsil-somthing... The cannoli's are fantastic. Seating is somewhat limited, so this is not the place to come with a large group.
(4)lorraine t.
We saw this on diners drive-In and dives and couldn't wait to try it. Although the food we had was good, it did not meet up with our expectations. I had the stuffed pepper and broccoli Rabe. Nice portion, good flavor but not fantastic. Hubby had chicken Val dost a. It had a fabulous sauce and he flavor was great. With that being said, we think the mushrooms in the sauce were canned, not fresh and doubt that the pasta was homeade as it was too perfectly shaped. It was good though. The service, like most of the reviews, was poor or should we just say non existence but that is because it is a place that you order at the counter and clean your own plate The missing ingredients are smiles, how are you and a staff that seems interested. How disappointing that something so easy could be the reason we don't return. If we are in the area we may stop in and try some of the items that are not on the menu like the vodka sauce with pasta and several other things that we heard about while we were there. The people next to us got sandwiches...they looked dry and not that great. The bread was just ok too. This could be so good...owners, smile, be happy, share your specialties and invite us into your world.
(3)Simone P.
I have had better italian food. Not on my recommended place and was not good enough to return for a second try.
(2)