Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante Nashville

     

     Chef Pietro Vardeu is bringing some Miami flair to Nashville in the form of  Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante. An establishment that I’m sure will be on your top list of good Nashville eats. When it comes to Italian food I tend to be pretty skeptical because most Italian restaurants that I’m familiar with are typically watered down heavy-handed versions of the simplistic-fare that is authentic Italian cuisine. You know, the over-sized bowl of pasta drenched in sauce and covered in some low-grade Parmesan cheese. Chef Vardeu’s history of culinary accomplishments shined through in many of the courses we enjoyed.

Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante in Nashville: Review by The Local Forkful
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     The setting, a chic and contemporary design that gives way for Sardinia to be either, the perfect lunch, dinner or special occasion destination. The restaurant is located off Eliston Place on 25th Avenue and there’s complimentary valet. Score! If you’re at all familiar with the parking dilemma in Nashville, you know how vital this offering is to the success of one’s evening.

     The restaurant prides itself on the extensive wine selection. So if you   lovers of the grape go check it out, let me know what you think?  I started the evening off with the Tennessee Gentleman cocktail. A refreshing blend of Domaine (a ginger liqueur), Jack Daniels, and a squeeze of citrus. If you consider yourself a cocktail connoisseur, I recommend trying this at home.

     We grazed the menu in search of the perfect items to order. Translating the menu might be a little overwhelming for those of us who took French or Spanish in high school as opposed to Italian. Our server was rather helpful but also lacked knowledge in deciphering some of the menu selections.

The Tennnessee Gentleman Cocktail at Sardinia Enoteca in Nashville: Review by The Local Forkful

     The meal began with a selection of Sardinia’s artisan cheeses. Which are  imported from the country itself. (from left to right) We sampled the Manchego d.o.p. Iberico La Mancha, Pecorino sardo dolce, and the Robiola Bosina dell’ Alta Langa. Sardinia has a great selection that allows one to dip their toe in the pool without jumping in. We weren’t particularly fond of the Pecorino, but one out three isn’t bad. And be prepared to fight the temptation of cleaning that little red bowl of pear marmalade clean. It was the perfect accoutrement with our selections. I would definitely recommend the Grand Tasting of the house mozzarella which sounds fantastic. 

The Cheese Plate at Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante in Nashville: Review by The Local Forkful                                                                                                                                                            Then there was the Bietole Insalata, a delightful marriage of red beets, romaine, cherry tomatoes, onions, shaved parmesan and honey. The wife was not particularly crazy about the salad, but I could not keep her out of my dish. The dish that I am spreading the gospel about to everyone I encounter. The Cipolline al forno con funghi trifolati, onions and mushrooms, this dish was so simplistic, but all the flavors were there and dancing on my palate in a way that leads one to shake their head in disbelief after each bite. The only thing I can tell you is that, you need this in your life. If you simply choose to dine in for drinks, I’d recommend this dish and the complimentary bread alone are a great meal. And you’ll be swooning over the blend of pecorino and olive oil concoction. We thought it was butter, turns out it was better than that. It’s delicious. 

Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante's Lamb Shank: Review by The Local Forkful      My entrée may have been The Best thing I’ve eaten since I moved to Nashville. The Lamb Shank  porcini with Cannonau risotto. The meat was perfectly cooked, tender and falling off the bone. It was packed full of flavor and the little bits of mirepoix in every bite transported you to a place where comfort food reigns supreme. The risotto, creamy and aromatic, infused with a popular red wine from Sardinia called Cannonau; which is often used in Sardinian cuisine, pairing well with red meat and select cheeses.

     My wife ordered the Pappardelle Cio Ciara with homemade ricotta,
tomatoes and black olives. She substituted the pappardelle for gluten-free linguine.  It was a lite and delicious dish, luckily Sardinia offers gluten-free pasta. Which was a plus, because if you know anyone who has celiac disease or is on a gluten-free diet, then you ‘re familiar with the difficulty of dining out.Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante's Pappardelle Cio Ciara: Review by The Local Forkful

     I wasn’t sure at this point if there would be any room left for dessert. But if you follow me at all on social media. You know that the wife and I do not turn down dessert. We ordered the Strawberry Tiramisu  and the Panino con Nutella. I have to say after having a wonderful meal the dessert was a let down. The strawberry tiramisu appeared to be an afterthought. Two layers of whipped mascarpone cheese with lady fingers soaked in the juice of macerated berries. And I wanted so much more because if you’ve ever had a well prepared traditional tiramisu you know the joy of those coffee dipped cookies, whipped mascarpone and egg yolk. The hint of cocoa powder and if you’re lucky maybe some bittersweet chocolate shavings(sigh). Strawberry Tiramisu at Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante in Nashville: Review by The Local Forkful

     The Panino con Nutella I had high expectations for because I’ve seen so many adaptations in Italian restaurants that were delicious. Which led me to believe that I would receive something completely rich and decadent. Sardinia’s take on this was not what I expected. Their version, a light crepe sandwich filled with Nutella, drizzled in chocolate sauce and accompanied by a dollop of banana mash and homemade ricotta. I’m led to believe with a little revamping these desserts could be more than just the court jester.

     Sardinia is sure to be a Nashville favorite and you’ll probably be fighting the crowd when sport season is in full effect. Chef Vardeu’s clearly preparing Italian cuisine made with love and attention to detail. Sardinia is also running a $36.00 3-course dinner special for June and July. They serve brunch on Sundays from 11 to 3pm. And you might want to stop in for lunch  when they offer 3-courses for $20.00. You can also book reservation on Open Table. Enjoy! and come back to let us know what you think!

Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante
210 25th Avenue
Phone:(615) 320-9147
email: ns@sardinia-ristorante.com

Coming Soon! New Nashville Restaurants

Etch. Deb Paquette, former chef/owner of Nashville favorite Zola, has partnered with Doug Hogrefe and Paul Schramkowski, owners of several restaurants throughout the Southeast including Nashville Stalwart, Amerigo, to develop Etch, a new restaurant located on the ground floor of the Encore building in SoBro. The 4000 sq. ft. restaurant will seat 150, with a private dining room, full bar, and an open kitchen with bar-style seating, allowing the guests to interact with the chef and her kitchen. Etch is currently under construction and slated for a mid-Summer opening.

Kocktails & Kouture. Sisters Blair & Baley Bodden have come together to create the female wonderland of today in a unique combination of restaurant and boutique at the Velocity in the Gulch on 11th Avenue South. A place to eat, drink and shop in one location. Is this a woman’s dream or what?

Lockeland Table. Chef Hal Holden-Bache and general manager Cara Graham are launching Lockeland Table Restaurant and Community Kitchen which they envision as a home for creative, chef-driven cuisine with an emphasis on fresh local ingredients and a comfortable neighborhood vibe. Projected to be opening early fall.

Silo. I am truly excited about this one. The menu looks amazing!

Suppertime in Nashville promises to become even tastier this summer with the opening of SILO, a Southern-influenced, neighborhood bistro in historic Germantown at the corner of 5th and Madison in the new Vista Germantown apartments.

A savory collaboration between Clay Greenberg, former Executive Chef of Virago and LIME, and Paul Cercone, previous owner of Normandy Farm Artisan Bakery in Charleston, SC, SILO will serve up sophisticated farm food in a lively, welcoming setting designed by architect Greg Ibañez. The space will feature a community table, a private dining room, a large bar area, two patios, and an open kitchen.

Guests will enjoy a creative, chef-driven menu with a focus on the bounty of regional farmers and producers. Local influences will be found beyond the menu, as well, including tables and chairs constructed by Enos Hostetler, an Amish craftsman from Ethridge, Tennessee and pendant lighting from artist John Beck near Louisville, Kentucky.

Greenberg and Cercone are champions of the Slow Food and Southern Foodways Alliance communities, embracing the importance of simple preparations with distinctive, regionally grown ingredients.

Says owner Paul Cercone about the origin of the name, “Silos speak to things worth saving, like the Southern traditions of working hard, having fun, and enjoying what you’ve grown or raised around a shared table.”

Daily dinner service will begin at 6 PM, with special Sunday Brunch and Supper seatings. Bar service will begin at the happiest of hours, 5 PM.

Alegria. A new Mexican restaurant that was slated to open in the Spring, but apparently didn’t make it. Well Green Hills is past due for a quality dig that shells out fresh Mexican fare. Prayerfully it’s not your typical nacho, taco, red sauce everywhere kind of place. There is so much more to explore in the world of Mexican fare. But I guess we’ll have to wait it out. Click Alegria & follow them on Facebook. And if you get there before we do, let us know what you think.