Little Hats Market - Review - Germantown - Nashville - The Infatuation

"We firmly believe any neighborhood is made better by an Italian deli and market. And Little Hats doesn’t just check the box for Germantown—it sets the Italian deli and market standard for Nashville. Yes, this market spot is known for its sandwiches (the meatball sub and sausage, pepper, and onion are where it’s at), but they also make one of our favorite soups in town. That would be the Little Hats Soup with cheese tortellini, mushrooms, parm, and a chicken brodo that has the power to wipe away any semblance of a cold. Stop in and stock up on some fresh housemade pastas and imported olive oil for your next dinner party, but be sure to time it for lunch so you can grab an Italian soda and a sandwich to enjoy on the small patio outside. Food Rundown Little Hats Soup This is a bowl worthy of staking your reputation on. The earthy broth is brightened up with a hit of salsa verde, and it harbors a generous helping of crimini mushrooms and al dente cheese tortellini. It’s a filling meal all within itself. Chicken Parmesan Sandwich The chicken parm at LH is a behemoth that can easily be shared or partially saved for another meal. The Italian sub roll—which does a stellar impression of garlic bread with a drizzle of olive oil, parsley, and parmesan—houses a piece of breaded chicken that could easily be mistaken for its own continent. Slathered with a zippy marinara sauce and melty mozzarella, the sandwich is easily the best one here. photo credit: Casey Irwin Mortadella Muffuletta The heap of spicy giardiniera at the base of the muffuletta almost threatens to topple the balance of this sandwich. It’s definitely going to be the first thing you taste, but it’s quickly reined in by the smoked provolone and pistachio-flecked mortadella layered in between the sesame focaccia. There’s a lot happening here, but in the best way possible. Meatball Sandwich You can’t go wrong with this hoagie at Little Hats. Meatballs the size of the rolling boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark are tucked next to each other and baked with a layer of marinara sauce, pesto, and mozzarella. photo credit: Casey Irwin Cacio E Pepe It’s supremely unfair to follow LH’s massive sandwich taste bombs with the pasta dishes. Don’t do it. While the cacio e pepe might’ve been okay on its own—despite pasta that was slightly overcooked—the subtle flavors of the dish are lost after you’ve assaulted your palate with spicy giardiniera and marinara. Overall, the pasta’s fine, but you can find better elsewhere in the city. photo credit: Casey Irwin" - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones