Between the Breads: Superior Sandwiches
Victoria Quirk Photo
TURKEY AND THE WOLF ICEHOUSE
800 Meridian Street, Nashville; turkeyandthewolficehouse.com
Chef, cookbook author, and self-proclaimed flavor-tripper Mason Hereford became renowned in New Orleans for his massive, uber-creative, uber-delicious sandwiches. Now, you can visit his place in East Nashville for yummy creations that combine spice, crunch, acid, sweet, whimsy, and nostalgia. Recommended: Collard Greens Melt; Fried Bologna with Mama’s hot mustard, American cheese, Duke’s mayo, and potato chips; The Philly Roast Chonk — herbed pork shoulder in jus, broccoli rabe, provolone on a roll (a menu special)
ALL’ANTICO VINAIO
1915 Broadway, Nashville; allanticovinaiousa.com/1915broadway-gulch-tn/
The Mazzanti family has brought the goodness of their legendary sandwich shop in Florence, Italy, to two Nashville locations: Midtown and 8th Avenue/The Gulch. That goodness starts with their freshly baked Tuscan schiacciata bread, notable for its crunchy, salty crust, and soft interior. Recommended: L’Inferno — porchetta, ‘nduja, spicy vegetables, and arugula; The New Yorker — roast beef, porcini cream, tomato, and arugula; La Favolosa — salami toscana, pecorino cream, artichoke cream, and spicy eggplant
INGRASSIA AND SONS
461 Humphreys Street, Nashville; ingrassiaandsons.wordpress.com
It’s a family affair: John Ingrassia, his wife Pam Manela, and godson Jack Trooper have recreated the New York Italian deli experience in Wedgewood-Houston, with all its hallmarks: fine imported ingredients; in-house prepared loaves, baked goods, salads, and more; flavor-packed sandwiches; and an engaging, neighborly spirit. Recommended: Porchetta — roast pork belly-wrapped shoulder, salsa verde, pickled onions, and arugula; Sneaky Italian Turkey — house-roasted turkey, stracciatella, sun-dried tomatoes, and walnut-basil pesto; Ingrassia’s Eggplant — triple-cooked with tomato sauce, basil, parm (all three on house focaccia)
By the numbers, 2025 was a stellar year for Nashville dining — five James Beard Foundation semifinalists, one finalist, and a Best Chef Southeast honor — while the Michelin Guide’s American South edition further validated the scene with three starred restaurants, seven Bib Gourmands, a Green Star, a Sommelier Award, and 12 recommended spots. New openings arrived at a steady clip of roughly three per month, reshaping neighborhoods and expectations alike.
By another measure — our taste buds — the year stacked up as stunning. Food trucks leapt into brick-and-mortar spaces, hospitality groups from major metros planted flags in Music City, and local independents branched into sister concepts. Nashville takes its food seriously, but never at the expense of a good time — and nowhere captures that better than this issue’s cover star, V Modern Italian in the Gulch.
Born from European aperitivo culture and built for all five senses, the 7,000-square-foot see-and-be-seen space blends velvet booths, a leafy patio, DJ nights, and a lively bar with Italian classics reimagined. Collaborations with Michelin-starred Chef Stefano Ciotti shape playful dishes — house-made pastas and Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas made with a sourdough starter tracing back to 18th-century Italy — while cocktails by Federico Pollarolo keep the energy high from brunch to late night. It’s exactly the kind of place Nashville dining has become: ambitious, social, and just as much about atmosphere as appetite.
Led by V Modern Italian, the following is a snapshot of those places that captured our hungry eyes and appetites.