iggy’s
Italian restaurant · Melrose
609 Merritt Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
Highlights
Inventive Italian cuisine, handmade pasta, craft cocktails & wine
Inventive Italian cuisine, handmade pasta, craft cocktails & wine
"If the restaurant’s got its own pasta room, you’re more than likely in for a memorable bowl. Such is the case at Iggy’s, where the only options are appetizers and pastas. Usually, we go for bolognese—our favorite version in Nashville—and something with vodka sauce. Sometimes the latter comes with lumache and chunks of Maine lobster, other times it's fusilli with mounds of burrata and basil, or three cheese gnocchi. No matter what it is, it’s great, and somehow tastes better sitting on the cheetah print stools." - Ann Walczak
"The pressure to provide dazzling conversation on a first date is no joke. At Iggy’s, you can let the restaurant do most of the talking for you. Book two seats at the chef’s bar in the back—not only can you watch the kitchen crew pulling together dishes like the wild mushroom tortellini and rigatoni bolognese, but they’re happy to banter a bit in between cooking and plating. See the room to the right? That’s where a dedicated pasta chef rolls, crimps, and cuts dough, sometimes with the help of a fancy machine. And if you’re still scrambling to fill in any conversational lulls, you’ve got some extra talking points with the funky cheetah-print chairs, wall murals, and other interior touches." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, ann walczak
"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 exciting 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." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak
"The gnocchi at Iggy’s might make you convert to some plush potato religion. The preparation always changes, but whether it’s got thinly shaved Burgundy truffles or beef short rib with fermented spring onion, it’s going to be a winner. Frankly, anything that comes out of the designated pasta-making room will inspire you to check for a reservation on a random weekday. Even if you don’t have time for a sit-down meal in the always-buzzy dining room, grab a package of fresh noodles and a container of sauce from the takeaway case to make at home." - ann walczak, team infatuation
"An Italian spot with a dedicated pasta-making room and a lively chef’s counter, noted for an unforgettable garlic bread stuffed with whipped cream cheese." - Missy Frederick
