Finding an authentic Italian restaurant ran by actual Italians is a rare find in middle Tennessee. Italian cuisine is my favorite type of food, so I'm always trying to find the best that I can easily access. I'm a member of several Facebook groups for the city I live in and at least once a month someone will ask what the best Italian restaurant is in our area. Without fail, at least 2/3's of the responses will be to check out Coco's (https://www.italianmarket.biz/location/cocos-italian-market/) in Nashville. I've been hoping to visit Coco's for several years and since my husband finally had a Saturday off from work, we decided to go.
Coco's is the type of place that pulls you in from the parking lot. Once you step out of your car, you're instantly hit with an assortment of amazing smells coming from their kitchen. There is a large bocce ball court in front of the restaurant that visitors can play, as well as outdoor seating. When we entered the building, you will see that it is divided into two sections. Half of the building is for the restaurant and the other half is designated as an Italian market. There are fresh meats and cheeses, sandwiches, breads, desserts, homemade gelato, and shelves filled with authentic Italian items shipped directly from Italy. This place is the real deal! I watch a lot of Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network and if you're also a fan, you know that she often goes to town to purchase good meats, cheeses, and breads for her recipes. If Ina lived in Nashville, I just know in my heart that she'd be a frequent visitor to Coco's market for all her Italian ingredient needs.
The waiter was friendly and sat us immediately. We were served homemade bread with oil while we waited. My husband chose the Tortellini Elliston, which consisted of cheese filled tortellini with spinach in a creamy blush sauce. He loved it! I ordered the cheese manicotti filled with ricotta, mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan. The sauce was subtle, not over the top, which is exactly how I like it. Everything had a "homemade" taste to it because it was. The portions were large and left us asking for a to-go box, although we knew we'd have to get some sort of homemade dessert for the road. We had a hard time deciding between all the delicious dessert cases, including homemade truffles, but I eventually decided on a cannoli and a coconut truffle for later. My husband got a huge chocolate chip cookie.
If you're in the Nashville area and want a little taste of Italy without having to renew your passport, try Coco's. You won't just find a fantastic restaurant, but also a place to come back time and again for fresh, market ingredients you won't find anywhere else in the region.
