A Taste of Italian Cuisine – Nashville TN

It had been a busy day… First there was the tour at Fontanel, then the Lane Motor Museum and finally, the Backstage Tour at the Grand Ole Opry.  Dawn Marie made reservations for us via 'Open Table' and, after driving around the area for a bit, we headed off for dinner. 

'Amerigo An Italian Restaurant' was one of the several dinner dining possibilities that I’d researched and vetted via Trip Advisor.  It had been reviewed many times and it scored a ratio of 120 excellent/very good to only 7 poor/terrible.  That’s a very nice food satisfaction risk ratio…

Amerigo in Nashville is one of 4 locations with that name that together comprise a small restaurant chain… Other locations are in Brentwood Tennessee, Memphis Tennessee and Jackson Mississippi.

The interior of the restaurant was warm and inviting and there was enough space between tables that we didn’t feel crowded. 

Our waiter started us out with some nice focaccia bread with some dipping oil. 

For an appetizer, we chose the Cheese Fritters. ($9.50) This dish has been featured in ‘Bon Appétit’ magazine and it consists of blended cheeses, fried and served with both marinara and honey mustard sauces.  This was an excellent appetizer!

Other appetizers of interest included the Bruschetta Amerigo, (grilled focaccia bread and melted mozzarella cheese topped with balsamic roasted grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, garlic and basil - $9.00); Tuscan Crab Cakes, (jumbo lump crab, with baby greens, white bean salsa and lemon basil butter sauce - $13.00), and; Prince Edward Island Mussels, (mussels in garlic wine broth, with diced tomatoes, capers and grilled focaccia - $12.50)

Laurie and Dawn had dinner salads as a side, both with balsamic dressing.  They were good if not special, but one doesn’t expect a side salad to be anything other than a nice salad. 

I went one step further and ordered a side Caesar Salad with my dinner. ($4.00) It was OK…but it lacked any real definitive flavor other than the generous helping of cheese…

Our table at Amerigo’s was by the window.  Timing is everything!  It hadn’t rained on us all day…although it threatened at times.  It didn’t rain as we entered the restaurant and by the time we were done with dinner, it had stopped raining.  In the meantime, it really poured down!

For her entrée, Dawn ordered the evening’s pasta special.  This is the Noble Farms Goat Cheese Pasta with Bacon. ($16.00) While the presentation left a little to be desired, she seemed to enjoy her dinner. 

I ordered the Fettuccine Imperial with grilled chicken and pancetta (without the mushrooms) in Parmesan cheese cream sauce. ($12.50) While it wasn’t great it was just fine.  I should have ordered Amerigo’s Cannelloni Al Forno…fresh egg pasta stuffed with roasted chicken, ricotta cheese, spinach, fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese, then topped with fresh mozzarella and served with tomato and cream sauces. ($14.00)

Laurie just didn’t feel like pasta… So she ordered the Cedar Wood Roasted Fish of the Day.  In this instant the fresh fish of the day was sea bass. ($26.00) Her fish was roasted on cedar wood with blended Asiago cheese, leek potatoes and roasted vegetables.  Laurie gave this entrée Two Thumbs Up!  The presentation was very classy, she really liked the fish and potatoes, plus she loved the roasted vegetables…but she couldn't finish it all.

All in all, ‘Amerigo’s – An Italian Restaurant’ was a positive dining experience.  Service was satisfactory and pleasant.  The food ranged from good to excellent.  Parking is free and there is a guard in the parking lot.  This Amerigo’s restaurant is located at 1920 West End Avenue in Nashville Tennessee.  Phone: 615-320-1740.  Website: http://www.amerigo.net/.

Just click on any of the photographs if you’d like to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by to check out another restaurant review!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave