Nashville’s New North Italia Is a Sleek Escape for Pasta Lovers

Shoppers at The Mall at Green Hills have a new option for pastas, pizzas, and gelato this week when coast-to-coast chain North Italia opens its first location in Nashville.

North Italia is opening its sprawling 7,000-square-foot space at the newly renovated mall wing on Wednesday, August 28.

Nashville’s North Italia will bring a similar menu of Italian dishes served at its other outposts, including grilled artichokes, soppressata-studded pizzas, and Bolognese-lacquered pasta. There’s a short rib radiatori with Parmesan cream, fresh horseradish, wilted arugula and herbed breadcrumbs, as well as rotating chef’s daily pizza up for grabs. A selection of classic Italian desserts wrap up the menu. North Italia also offers a kids’ menu with basics from spaghetti to grilled cheese. At the bar, cocktails like the Quiet Italian Gentleman, a mix of Bulleit rye whiskey, Carpano Antica, Campari, and amaretto, will be on offer.

The restaurant’s clean red, black, and white color scheme is found at each of its its sister restaurants.Marble-topped tables, glass orb lighting, and greenery-lined vintage mirrors fill the space.

The team says the purpose of the art at North Italia is to be more than just a nice visual — but to tell a deeper story. For instance, The Cumberland Swing Bridge mural is an ode to Nashville’s history. Articles show that the bridge was started in 1857 and opened for use at the end of October 1859. The mural was painted by Scott Staples, who has been professionally creating works of art through faux finishing, murals and portraits for over 20 years.

The original market prints were photographed at a flea market in Italy and are a quirky celebration of shopping, discovery and the region of the world that informs and influences the culinary experience found at North Italia. These are from artist Guido Prussia who is originally from Genoa but worked in Italy for 20 years.

North Italia comes from prolific hospitality group Fox Restaurant Concepts, and once open, they’ll serve lunch, dinner, weekday happy hour and weekend brunch.

Scroll on to see inside the sleek new space: