Culaccino Italian Restaurant + Bar

Great place for an evening meal. We sat outside, enjoying the cool weather that is so unusual in early August. The bread and spread arrived pretty quickly. My wife liked the spread and I thought it was just ok (I would rather have plain butter). She ordered gnocchi and I the ravioli. The sausage with fennel in the gnocchi has incredible flavor. I was grateful that we share our food :) The ravioli was also great, less striking in flavor than the gnocchi but with an incredibly mellow and smooth flavor. Both dishes were great and I would have them again. Our waiter was prompt and knowledgeable about the menu. The time it took to get our food seemed very reasonable. This will be a revisit for us when we come back to Franklin.

My best friend and I had lunch here today. It was excellent from start to finish . We had the meatballs and asparagus fritters for appetizers, the risotto and chicken thighs for entrees . Every single morsel of food was delicious. Our server was magnificent. The wine manager helped me with my selection and my wine was fabulous . We had an overall great experience .

What a gem in downtown Franklin! We absolutely loved our experience at this amazing Italian restaurant. From the craft cocktails to the appetizers, salads, entrees, and even the gelato—everything was perfection. The watermelon spinach salad was a standout, with the perfect blend of fresh summer flavors. The atmosphere was warm, stylish, and welcoming. It’s such a treat to have a place like this in downtown Franklin, and we already can’t wait to go back!

Reservations highly recommended. Food, service and quality very good. Homemade pastas. Pizza is authentic. We shared our meals and our server was kind enough to split the meal on two plates, without us asking. Good Italian wine selection. Parking can be tough, there is a free garage nearby.

Good Italian food in one of Chef/Owner Frank Pullara’s twins. It’s a very tight seating in a bistro setting, with a full bar, and a good, primarily European, wine list. Same day reservations are hard to get, but the patio and bar are open seating. The Gnocchi in a hearty oxtail ragu and the off menu spaghetti and meatballs are both excellent. The Budino di Banane is a delicious banana split in a short Ball jar. Service was a little slow.

I popped in tonight while waiting for clients to finish their dinner. The service was fast, friendly, and not over the top but attentive. I was pleasantly surprised at the great menu, locally sourced foods, plus a pretty nice adult beverage and non-alcoholic listing. I will definitely be back when I have more time to spend there and maybe try a couple of appetizers. The salmon was delicious.

Amazing all around! My first time here having dinner and we will be back. RJ , and Alex the bartenders are the best as well as the staff Gen the food runner to the server. Fun the time you walk in the door you're created with a smile and hospitality. We now have a favorite restaurant! Keep in mind we drove an hour to get here, it's that good!

Excuisite, high-quality dining experience and atmosphere. We absolutely LOVED our lunch at Culaccino. Authentic, truly passionately created uniquely delicious combinations of fresh ingredients and flavors. Spectacular presentation and culinary artistry. You feel the chef's original expertise and devotion in every aspect. Pasta is scratch-made fresh routinely. Competent, delightful, thoughtful, tactful, and dedicated staff. We had the best, professional server care ever and an absolutely beautiful experience.

I wish I had something negative to say to ensure the chef engages with this review, but I don't as it was all amazing! Service was excellent, wine was delightful, and every dish was spectacular. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in town.

Culaccino is a great spot for Italian food. It's the first spot I've dined at in Franklin where everything we ordered was great. I love a spot where anything on the menu will be good. We dined on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We were lucky enough to get a table outside on the patio. I made a reservation to be safe, but walk ins were being seated right away. I'm sure reservations are more important for dinner. We were a little worried about service at first. Our server greeted us and then disappeared. Another server arrived and took over. Everything was smooth and great with service from there! Our cocktails were great. I had the Bourbon'd Not Break. It had a nice bourbon flavor and was refreshing at the same time. My husband had the Me Myself & Rye. I will have to order this next time. It had the bolder flavor of the two drinks. The complimentary bread and dip were very good. I loved the delicious olive oil, salt, and dip with the bread. We shared the Ricotta Frito which was delicious. It wasn't heavy for a fried item. My Mafalde was very good. I loved the fresh flavors and al dente pasta. It was a lighter flavor for a pasta. My husband really enjoyed the Tonnarelli and meatballs he added. The meatballs were meaty and tender with a nice flavor. The Budino Di Banane was so good. I'm not a big banana fan and still enjoyed it. The crunchy hazelnuts and amarana cherry gave nice texture to the dessert. I'd highly recommend this spot! If you've moved from a city with great food you'll find this to be on par with true foodie town food.

In downtown Franklin amidst a growing food scene is this trendy little spot with excellent Italian food. Perhaps the highlight is the pasta made in house, a rarity in Middle Tennessee. And each dish features that scrumptious, hearty, slightly chewy pasta expertly cooked al dente. Delicioso! The menu is quite impressive and extraordinarily creative! Clever dishes include gnocchi in a salumi bolognese, octopus with capers and taggiasca olives, braised rabbit with a forest mushroom sauce, and even fusion dishes like a pizza with Italian finocchiona salami and pickled Asian shishito peppers! Best of all, they support local businesses by acquiring meat products from places like Bucksnort Trout Ranch and the much-heralded Bear Creek Farm in Leiper's Fork. After scanning the menu and all its irresistible options, I chose an Italian classic that I've eaten in Italy many times, the cacio e pepe featuring tonnarelli pasta, pecorino romano cheese, and pepper. It's simple but perfectly flavorful. And I'd say any dish here will live up to your expectations.

OMG! Great food and drink menu. The pizza(flatbread) is really good but the star is the 1/2 & 1/2 pasta dish of your choice. The short rib is seasonal and is highly recommended.

Food- ordered the Caesar salad, asparagus fritters, salmon, il re di bologna pizza and Campanelli pasta- all excellent! The butterscotch budino was a big disappointment- it was so watery and had absolutely no flavor.

I absolutely hate giving negative reviews but I can't seem to find decent Italian food in the Nashville area. As an Italian I wanted to run into the kitchen and show them how to cook. I had the gnocchi and it tasted like chef boyardee, not joking. My friend was not impressed with her Ravioli either. The best thing we had there was the bread that came with the Ricotta and olive oil, that was absolutely delicious. The service was ok but when the bill arrived it was not ours and I almost had a coronary when I saw the total. I went through the items and saw that there was nothing on it that we ordered. This is a very cute place in Franklin but without amazing food, it's not going to make it.

Just excellent! We came here for a team dinner for work and were blown away! The service was wonderful, they got us in 30 minutes early, the drinks were great, I wasn't crazy about the "figgy with it" but it was still good. My friend said the cula weather was one of the best cocktails she'd ever had! The broccolini was in a reduction that was mind blowing. Their salads are big, and tasty, especially the burrata salad. Next- the main dish- I had the ravioli. I was hoping for more flavor from the veal, so it was a little disappointing but the pasta and the sauce were great. Everyone lived their food and were blown away. The tiramisu and the lemon ricotta was spot on. This is a such a great restaurant. The atmosphere is beautiful and perfect for any occasion. Loved it!

We came here without reservations on a Saturday and they were able to squeeze us in for a birthday dinner with my wife. The place is tight on the inside, but has a lot of outdoor spots. It was reminiscent of the Italian restaurants in Rome where almost every restaurant is rather small and you get a lot of good views of the kitchen, smells, etc which we really like, but could be off putting to some. I'd suggest a reservation just so you dont have to cross your fingers for a table like we did. The food was really fantastic. They bring you bread with olive oil/ricotta which was surprisingly good and we quickly demolishes ours. Our pizzas were authentic wood fired delicacies. The pizza with caramelized onion, fig, and goat cheese was divine and highly recommended by the waitress. We are very excited to go back and show friends/family a great new restaurant in town!

We had dinner at Culaccino last night, the food and the service were exceptional! It a small venue but a nice cozy atmosphere.

Our new favorite restaurant!!! This was our 4th visit on Wednesday night. For those of you wanting to experience pasta as if you were sitting in a small town in Italy - here you go!!! The service, food and value for your dollar is all right here! Only down side is that you need to plan ahead a few weeks for dinner reservations. The atmosphere is nice and they have a patio too! Highly recommend for dinner.

Service was great. We started with Nonno's Fennel Sausage. I ordered the Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder while my lady enjoyed the Ravioli. I paired this with the Primativa Red Wine. The intimate ambiance is nice and location is great.

Truly the best Italian restaurant in Nashville/Franklin. Everything is delicious, and they use Italian flower so if you're a little gluten intolerant you might be just fine. They also have really good gluten free pastas if you require that for your diet. Outside of little Italy in Manhattan, this place is the best.

I've been here a couple of times and It's always been good. I didn't make reservations but the weather was nice, so we sat in the Patio area for lunch. The service was very good and the staff were friendly. The interior of the restaurant is classy and clean. The Patio is also nice. Entrees are around $ 19.00 to $24.00. They also have brick fired pizzas and salads at a lower price point. They get some of their ingredients and produce from a few of the local farmers in the area. It's worth checking out if you're in or around the Downtown Franklin area. They also have a full bar in case you want an alcoholic beverage.

We visited Culaccino on a warm spring evening. There is free parking on nearby streets and about a block away in the 2nd Ave garage. There is paid parking right next to the restaurant. We were seated inside (I strongly recommend reservations). The restaurant was jam packed! We had heard mixed reviews about the food and pretty consistent reviews about the noise level being too high. The folks we joined had been several times and made some suggestions from the menu. We ordered wine by the glass, which was very pricey. I eat gluten free and had to ask about what I could eat. They do have gf pasta (not the stuffed pasta of course). Our table had Caesar salad, chicken, salmon and sirloin. The food was good, the service was as well, and though it was loud, we had no trouble with conversation. Check it out but be prepared for a large bill.

Cane for brunch. Unbelievable food. I had a latte and mushroom pizza. Hubby had a regular breakfast. Everything is authentic, handmade, fresh spices and ingredients. Mind blowing good! If you are thinking of a bakery in town think again. You'll have fresh baked bread with whipped cheese. Lattes are delicious. I'll be back for dinner.

Beautiful restaurant with delicious food and amazing service! Have been before for lunch and dinner. The roasted half chicken was a standout dish. My mother loved the Lentil soup. The ricotta fritta and fresh bread were both delightful too. The portions are a little small in my opinion but really good.

Great Meatballs. great coal fired pizza not NY but good. Great hostess, made my 7 year olds birthday extra special.

Wonderful ambiance: not too loud, Edison bulbs everywhere, light music. Service was excellent: Kathryn was insightful and helpful with recommendations, and a quick wit with the jokes. Food was well rounded: gnocchi pasta was well cooked, the sauce was too sweet/acidic for my tastes. I prefer a more savory red sauce. The ravioli was the favorite; the red wine reduction sauce brought some depth to the veal. The greens on top complimented the flavor. I think a smaller green would have been nicer for presentation's sake. The non alcoholic Paloma was perfect as well. Definitely would return. One of the better Italian options around Tennessee for the price.

Not a Franklin fan, snobby comes to mind and did not feel welcomed at this restaurant. I would not go back because of how I was treated. We pay too much to be treated like trash.

AMAZING. Both pastas were fabulous and service was amazing. The best thing I have to say is the bread and butter that they serve before the meal

Service was absolutely incredible! Our waitress was so kind and graciously remade our espresso martinis when asked! The bread service is also fantastic!

Hands down one of my favorite spots! I love everything on the menu, and the cocktails are to die for! The staff is always very attentive and polite. I gotta say the late night menu option is really what puts it over the top. A lot of restaurants in this town close down early and stop serving food. This is one of the only places I have found that I can get an extraordinary meal later at night. Reservations can be hard to get however, if you sit at the bar, you are almost always able to find a seat!

Special for the night - Rigatoni. It was Impeccable! My husband requested pizza - sausage, mushrooms & Pepperoni toppings. They were so accommodating in making it happens. The result - hands down for a very tasty pizza. One of the best Italian restaurant. Highly recommend. We will be back.

Wonderful food and service! We are still exploring Franklin after moving from downtown Nashville, and so happy to have found this gem. The service was great and pizzas were so yummy! Definitely recommend checking it out, their bar and patio were very inviting!

We enjoy being able to enjoy wonderful in a setting supportive of conversation in a private setting. This restaurant packs us on top of one another. This noise levels are high. It is a shame since we love their chef and the local focus. Tables for 2 all fall below our standards. The food does not even fit on the table well.

The staff was very friendly and attentive. The steak was delightful and the pizza was tasty.

Quick service and the food was tasty. The tonnarelli is a nice option if you're looking for something that is isn't too heavy. The L'unico pizza was also a delight.

I've completed more than 40+ reviews and Culaccino takes my Golden Buzzer for hands down best experience I've had dining out. Our waitress/server went above and beyond the entire dinner without rushing us. She made us feel so comfortable with our dining options and took her time to explain the intricate details of the menu. The ginger ale and tequila mixed cocktail will be my drink of choice at my funeral as y'all celebrate how fun I am. The ginger ale is made in house and if you're not driving, you need to order about 12 and say Connor made ya do it. Every appetizer and salad we had turned my taste buds into a Grammy performance moving and shaking like Beyonce during Beychella. This restaurant is the perfect place to sit with your friends as we closed down the house for about 4 hours once they told us our table was ours for the night and to not rush. The ambiance felt like I was sitting in a Tyler Perry movie living room full of laughter and good times. If you need to eat anywhere in Nashville/Franklin, make this your choice. Stop looking anywhere else and treat yourself to an out of body dining experience

As an elite yelp squad representative I doubt I will return to this restaurant- the food was excellent but when they removed our plates while my wife was still eating is an absolute no no! Elise of course said they could take hers even though she still had her fork in her hand! I maybe old school but details like this are so important to a restaurant's reputation.

I see why this is so many people favorite restaurant in Franklin! The pesto shrimp pasta was so good! Also love a place with free bread along with the ricotta. Don't forget to finish with the tiramisu!

Culaccino restaurant turned out to be an unexpected treasure that we stumbled upon while seeking refuge from the rain. The moment we walked in, the charming ambiance captured our hearts. The combination of coziness and elegance created a wonderful dining atmosphere. As for the food, it was nothing short of a culinary masterpiece. The caramelized Brussels sprouts were a delightful start, offering a burst of flavors that danced on the palate. The Lagnello Sacro pizza was a true highlight - each bite was a symphony of perfectly balanced ingredients that left me craving more. And let's not forget the Agnolotti, a dish that showcased the chef's skill in crafting authentic Italian flavors. Every aspect of our meal was flawlessly executed, and the attention to detail was evident in every dish we savored. The experience at Culaccino was so exceptional that I'm already counting down the days until I can return. If you're in search of a place where charm meets culinary excellence, look no further - Culaccino is a hidden gem that's well worth the discovery.

Service was wonderful. Meatball appetizer was delish I had the seafood risotto. Pleasantly surprised with black ink/black risotto. The risotto was prepared perfectly. Wasn't soupy and not too solid. The seafood on top was amazing... just wish there was more. Starving I dove into the bread bowl and I was disappointed.. soft sesame bread which reminded me of a hamburger bun with tasteless ricotta I will be coming back :)

Friendly service and beautiful patio dining on a perfect night. The half chicken was good but a bit confusing. Part gravy sauce and then a bit of heat with pepper flakes. The chicken was a bit dry but the mashed potatoes were perfect and the asparagus was also delicious. Great drinks and the pizza was outstanding.

Always excellent food and service! Our favorite restaurant in Franklin. Homemade pasta and everything always fresh!

Pizzas are their thing. Pastas all taste very similar so not a big fan. Excellent pizza and great service

Amazing Italian food!! Make sure you have a reservation because the restaurant itself is not very big. With that being said, if the restaurant is full, the space gets very loud. We didn't mind because the food was so good and worth the noise!!

First time visit was fantastic...we will absolutely be back. We dined for Sunday Brunch. Brunch options were all fabulous. I had the Classico. Homemade fennel sausage was on point. Can't wait to go babk for lunch or dinner. The atmosphere was lovely and the staff were friendly and knowledgable. Check it out.

Terrible experience here and won't be back. We had a party of 12 and was told upon making the reservation that they would be able to accommodate us. Reservation was made well in advance. They said they could put 2 tables together. We were told that at least 24 hours notice had to be given to cancel a reservation. The day of our reservation on June 23rd my sister who had made the original reservation was called at 4pm. Our reservation was for 6. She was left a voicemail that all they could do for us was to have us at 2 round tables beside each other. This was completely unacceptable seeing as how it was only 2 hours before our reservation time and too late to cancel. My sister did not even hear the voicemail until 5:30. We had family from out of town with us and desperately wanted to all be together to celebrate my mom's birthday at what we expected to be a very nice place and more than willing to be able to accommodate us, as that is what was translated when she made the reservation. We get there and sure enough all they had for us was 2 round tables in the middle of the room. We weren't even able to talk to our family at the other table. Considering the prices of the food I expected much much more from this restaurant. This was our first time here and will be our last. In addition several of us were not happy with our food as some was over salted and some had no seasoning whatsoever. Oh and also we were told when we got there that we would need to be gone by 8 because they had another party coming in. I've never been to a place that told me I had to leave by a certain time. This was a MAJOR turnoff!!! First you don't seat us together as you had said you could do when reservations were made, second the food is sub par and 3rd you tell us we have to leave in 2 hours!!! Upon leaving my sister spoke with the manager/owner (idk) and he offered NOTHING other than saying to her that this is not how he expects his business to run. Nothing else but a bunch of bullshit. This is a complete fail for you as a restaurant and we will never come back and will tell our friends and family to never go as well! We know A LOT OF PEOPLE!!! If i could rate this place zero stars that is what it would be for me!! You ruined what should have been an amazing 70th birthday for my mom! P.S. Don't expect a quiet intimate dinner. It's EXTREMELY CROWDED AND EXTREMELY LOUD!!!! We could barely talk across our round table. Major turn off considering all the other garbage with it.

OBSESSED IS LIKE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. What you need: Need the good bread and ricotta starter. Honestly, we have been getting TWO of these because my husband and I both want our own. I will say any other time I've gotten anything with ricotta anywhere ever in 40 years of life, it's been a NO for me. Somehow this hits all the right taste buds and goes into overload. Also, I should say, we have never actually ordered in, we always do carry out. Every single time, it's been great. If we don't make our own pizza at home, this is by far the best pizza in/near Franklin. We also just are creatures of habit and get the same thing every time. Margherita pizzas for both of us and the bread/ricotta starters. I'm sure everything they have is amazing and I would recommend this to EVERYONE. GO. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

I had lunch with a couple of friends at Culaccino recently, and really enjoyed it. It's an upscale Italian restaurant in the adorable downtown Franklin. It has a great vibe, and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. They brought the table a plate of fresh bread with a ricotta to dip. So yummy! And we also shared the brussel sprouts side. I decided on the campanele for lunch, and that was definitely the right choice! It was a creamy pasta dish with prosciutto, peas, cream, truffle butter, and parmigiano. I'd highly recommend ordering this. My friend ordered the pizza, which I tried and liked. But I was much happier with my dish ;) It's on the pricier side, especially for lunch, but the food was delicious. I think it would be the perfect spot for a nice date night!

LOVED this spot! My friend I stumbled across this gem after church one Sunday and it was quite a lovely surprise. Everything from the food, ambiance and company were perfect. It had such a cozy but sophisticated environment. The bar staff was PHENOMENAL. Really taking their time to make conversation and give suggestions even though they were busy. Something I always appreciate. They anticipated our needs and made sure we were comfortable. My friend and I were having the best time, eating amazing pizza and drinking phenomenal wine. Bradley-- the manager took notice of how much we were enjoying ourselves and approached us with a complimentary limoncello drink after dinner! We will definitely be back more often! One of my favorite spots in Nashville!

I love Culaccinos! I'm always recommending this place to family, friends, and coworkers. The service is always amazing. Food is always delicious, as well as their cocktails. Their pasta is always great and cannot wait to return.

Went on valentines day (so the menu was different, although it was our first visit). The food was amazing and I was more than satisfied with every aspect if the experience. The quality and flavors of the food were unmatched and the service was absolutely excellent. We sat next to the kitchen and we were happy with the table and ambiance. Ive been meaning to make it here for a while and im so glad weve finally been. Could not recommend it enough; cant wait to come back.

From out of town, we visited this restaurant in lovely downtown Franklin. Everything from the customer service to the food to the ambience was fantastic. We split a pizza and salad, both were so tasty and plenty of food. They also gave us some bread with goat cheese drizzled with olive oil and herbs - perfecto. For dessert we got affogatos, mine pistachio ice cream, his dark chocolate, probably the best I've had in a long time. Next time I'm back in Franklin will definitely stop here again.

The food was actually mid. I feel like my pasta was not cooked and lacked salt. The bread and cheese how ever was great. The service was regular and the place felt so crowed by chairs and tables.

Great food and fun atmosphere. An interesting menu with lots of variety. We'll be back.

Will not be returning. Lee our waiter was rude and supercilious. Food mediocre. Go somewhere else.

Made a reservation a few hours before we arrived and we were seated immediately. Small space inside but very nice. Decent selection of Italian wine. We enjoyed our meal, my kids ordered pizza while hubby and I ordered pasta. Very fresh and good quality. Paid $140 for our lunch with 2 glasses of wine and an old fashioned.

Bartenders are top notch. Service is hit or miss. Tonight was a miss and we couldn't figure out why. Busy but tables weren't turning fast. Food is good but my least favorite is the pasta. Meatballs are phenomenal. Pizza is great. Pasta is ok. It has very little flavor and portions are small for pasta. My husband and I do split but we do this everywhere and compared to north italia, the portions are small. The big issue here are the taxes. Net 20% because we order alcohol and food, expensive on a $15 drink. Ends up being 22%+ on a drink with tip. Some restaurants pass this along and others don't. Will be watching from now on.