THE ENTERTAINER

A Marriage of Food and Music

Mangia Nashville: Italian restaurant & bar serving traditional cuisine & cocktails.

Nick Pellegrino, is the creator of Mangia Nashville, the popular Italian pop-up dining experience that was named Trip Advisor’s “#1 Restaurant” while operating in Franklin, Tennessee. Nick was dubbed the “Godfather of Pop Ups” in Nashville and Mangia became a destination restaurant for foodies from all over America and beyond.

In addition to the wildly successful, price-fixed, song-and-dance weekend events, Nick introduced Nashville’s first focacceria, ristorante, and bar located in the Historic Melrose District. Mangia Nashville’s traditional Italian house-made offerings include our signature rosemary garlic and deliciously healthy black carbon focaccia breads, sausage, cheeses, small-batch limoncello and gluten-free versions of everything on the feast, focacceria, and catering menus. A bar patio with bocce ball court brings home Nick’s vision for a true Italian experience in Nashville.

The traditional Italian menus and the lively, communal atmosphere were inspired by Nick’s holidays with family, catering business in New York City, travels throughout Italy, and music industry experience, on the road and in Nashville. “The desire and passion I have for bringing people together and entertaining them is at the core of everything I do. I want Mangia Nashville to be a joyful place where you leave your problems at the door, enjoy a great meal, meet new people, sing, dance, and celebrate life… It’s the ultimate social network.”

A regular guest on WSMV Nashville’s “Today in Nashville” and “What’s 4 Dinner,” Nick’s personal story, cooking skills, and restaurant have also been featured on Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel, CMT, Nashville Public Television’s “Tennessee Crossroads,” WKRN and FOX Nashville, among others.

Nick currently lives in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife, son, and cheese-loving dog. He is working on his first cookbook and hopes to expand Mangia Nashville’s Italian food concept to other cities throughout the Southeast.