"If we had a dollar for every time somebody asked us, “What are the best places to eat in Nashville?” we could buy a bar on Broadway. We could even splurge to solder the chairs to the floor of the rooftop. An easy response to this question is Iggy’s in Wedgewood-Houston, where the Italian food is simple, creative, and mind-blowing all at the same time. It’s a place we’ve trusted with ultra-important dates, but also somewhere that’s perfect for dropping by on a random weeknight for a life-changing bowl of gnocchi. Their Roman-style semolina version with Burgundy truffles is easily one of the best bites you can have in the city—we’ve often scraped our finger across the plate to ensure no singular drop of taleggio fondue gets washed down the drain. photo credit: Adam Sloan, Soundtrack My Drink photo credit: Adam Sloan, Soundtrack My Drink photo credit: Soundtrack My Drink photo credit: Adam Sloan, Soundtrack My Drink In fact, the whole pasta-filled menu has zero duds, which isn’t necessarily surprising since the place has its own pasta-making room. But Iggy’s still manages to reinvent how we think about something like bolognese, with the welcome addition of fennel seed and a wildly delicious combination of local beef and pork. The food itself ensures that anybody could have a good time here, but the atmosphere is just as enjoyable. Groups of friends sit in cheetah-print chairs as fun and creative as the plates in front of them, chatting about what a game-changer the cream cheese-stuffed brioche is and what cocktail to get next. And just when you think things can’t get any better under the golden-hued glow in the dining room, there’s the expertly selected wine list. The co-owner (who’s basically the somm) might recommend something like a light and fruity nerello mascalese from Sicily that pairs perfectly with the full range of sauces on the menu (no easy feat). The next time you need a restaurant for, we dunno, literally any reason, Iggy is it. And they’ve got you covered at home, too, with a refrigerator case full of freshly made pastas and sauces right up front. Food Rundown photo credit: Adam Sloan, Soundtrack My Drink Iggy’s Garlic Bread Garlic bread in and of itself is worthy of worship. But stuff it with a sweet and salty whipped cream cheese, submerge it in an eggy garlic butter bath, bake it, and top it with flaky salt? Many cults have been started over things less deserving. photo credit: Soundtrack My Drink Whipped Ricotta In a world of fancy toasts, we’ve never had one make our eyeballs roll back into our brain until this one. Punchingly acidic onion jam smothers yeasty sourdough covered in drippy whipped ricotta. Roman-Style Semolina Gnocchi When this dish arrives at the table, all heads cock to the side to see what’s holding up that beautiful layer of paper-thin Burgundy truffles. These solid-looking cubes put up zero fight against a fork, giving way to a creamy interior. Combined with a potent cheesy pool underneath and a zippy sherry vinegar reduction, it’s one of the best bites we had in 2024. photo credit: Adam Sloan, Soundtrack My Drink Fusilli Alla Vodka Sauce The vodka sauce dish here changes often, with different pasta shapes and ingredients. Sometimes the companion is lumps of lobster, a pairing you’ll feel blessed to experience. Sometimes it’s a simple dollop of fresh burrata primed to be ripped apart and divided accordingly. Whatever version is on the current menu, get it. photo credit: Adam Sloan, Soundtrack My Drink Rigatoni Bolognese A simple bolognese might seem like an outlier on the creative menu. But this is a dish to make you rethink any other version you’ve had. Chock full of local beef and pork, dotted with fennel seed and folded into expertly tender pasta, this is the bolognese to end all bolognese. Lemon Huckleberry This dessert embodies what Iggy’s does best: take something simple and make it taste brand new. Pillowy pound cake is ladled with zippy lemon curd and huckleberry compote, and finished with a generous swirl of the freshest tasting soft serve. McDonald’s, eat your heart out. Coconut Rice Pudding Twist Rice pudding? Check. Chocolate vanilla twist soft serve? Check. Toss those together with notes of coconut and ginger and top that mixture with puffed rice? You get one hell of a dessert." - Ann Walczak
