While it’s natural to want to concentrate on what is new and shiny in the Nashville restaurant scene, it’s also important to recognize longtime heroes who have been doing things the right way for decades. I definitely count Amerigo in that category.
Offering solid, affordable Italian food with convenient parking, excellent service and a sneaky-good bar, Amerigo has been a stalwart in Midtown and Cool Springs for more than 30 years. In addition to the regular menu, executive chef Steve Robilio still likes to flex his muscles every now and then to prepare special meals using fresh, seasonal ingredients — including farm dinners and the upcoming Tour of Italy dinner series.
Over the next three months, Robilio and his team will offer unique menus that showcase regional cuisines from Tuscany, the Piedmont and Sicily for lucky diners who sign up for the series or individual dinners in advance. Robilio will even head to Amerigo’s Memphis outpost for two of the dinners in case you have any friends in the Bluff City who might enjoy this sort of experience.
The dinners are really affordable at $90 per person, especially when you consider that they include five courses plus wine pairings. To give you a taste of what’s on the menu, check out the offering for the upcoming Tuscan dinner:
Charcuterie
Pate, finocchiona (cured salami), arugula, pickled grapes, Dijon, honey, olives
Pairing: Melini Chianti Reserva, Sangiovese/Cabernet, Tuscany, 2021
Ribollita (Tuscan Soup)
Tuscan bread, white beans, kale, sofrito, tomato, crispy Parmesan
Pairing: Costa Toscana Il Ghizzano, Sangiovese/Merlot, Tuscany, 2020\
Pici All’Aglione (Tomato & Garlic Pasta)
Homemade pici pasta, hearty garlic tomato sauce, Parmesan, basil
Pairing: Casadei Toscana Sogno, Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre, Tuscany, 2021
Peposo (Tuscan Red Wine Beef Stew)
Red wine braised beef, farrotto, roasted fennel, braising jus
Pairing: Renzo Masi Chianti Riserva, Sangiovese/Colorino, Tuscany, 2021
Cantucci (Tuscan Biscotti)
Almonds, Vin Santo whipped cream, berries
Pairing: Fattoria di Basciano Rosata, Sangiovese, Tuscany, 2022
The Monday, March 3, Cool Springs dinner is already sold out, but you can join the wait list at the series reservation page. The West End dinner on March 4 still has a few spots at the table at the time of this writing, so act prestissimo if you want a place at the table!