Brooklyn Came to Nashville, and I'm Not Mad About It: Pelato Italian Food

Pelato in Nashville has the most friendly staff + authentic Italian food

Nashville has no shortage of places to eat. That's not the problem. The problem is finding a spot where the food is genuinely great AND the staff makes you feel like you've been coming for years — even on your first visit. Pelato solves that problem.

Pelato brings Brooklyn Italian to Nashville in the best way: small sharable plates, zero pretension, and a menu that makes you want to order one of everything. The concept is built around the idea that Italian food is meant to be shared and lingered over, and the second you sit down, that energy is impossible to miss.

We ended up at the back bar of the Germantown location — a little removed from the front-of-house buzz, but still very much in the mix. It's a good call if you want to actually hold a conversation without shouting over the crowd. The vibe still comes through. The energy, the warmth, the noise of a restaurant that's genuinely full of people having a good time. You get to feel all of it without being swallowed by it.

Now, the food. We started with the garlic bread with cheese dip, which sounds simple and is absolutely not. It's the kind of starter that disappears faster than you planned and makes you debate ordering another. Don't debate. Just order another.

That cheese dip may not look like much but it's INCREDIBLE

The radiatori vodka was the kind of pasta that reminds you why pasta became a universal love language. Rich without being heavy, with enough kick to keep things interesting from the first bite to the last. And the shrimp limone pasta is a must — bright, clean, and exactly what you want when you're trying to balance out a table full of bold flavors.

Save room for the homemade bourbon gelato. This is not a suggestion. It's smooth, it's got that distinct warmth from the bourbon, and it's the kind of dessert you'll bring up in conversation weeks later. I even asked if they sold any cartons of it! 

We wanted 10 servings of that gelato

Big shoutout to Brian, who was an absolute standout. Genuinely warm, knew the menu, and had the kind of energy that makes you want to come back just to say hi. The whole staff was wonderful, but Brian made the night.

Pelato has three locations — Nashville, Franklin, and now Charleston — which tells you everything you need to know about whether the concept works.

Sarah's Musts:

• Start with the garlic bread and cheese dip. No skipping.

• Order the radiatori vodka and the limone — get both, share, compare.

• The back bar is underrated. Great spot if you want the energy without the volume.

• End with the bourbon gelato. Full stop.

• Ask for Brian - Tell him Sarah says "hi" and that I still want a pint of gelato!