Excellent food and a fine (predominantly) Italian wine list served in a relaxed ambience. Quality, stylish well polished Italian cuisine with a perfect subtlety of flavors and textures to excite the palate. Wood fired pizzas of the best quality are a highlight too. Knowledgeable, enthusiastic service that is attentive but not obtrusive. Will definitely put this on the regular dining list. Btw.. the sister restaurant "Culamar" right across the street serves a variety of top quality fish dishes supplemented with an excellent selection of wines and cocktails in a casual but stylish atmosphere. read more

It's a nice place but I didn't enjoy eating the food. Ordered a pizza which was cooked very nicely in their pretty oven, but I didn't enjoy the dough or the pizza in general. Lacked taste. Wife had some noodle food which we didn't enjoy. My fried squid wasn't fried very well and didn't have much squid. The bread they gave was tasty though! People we know love the restaurant so perhaps it's just us. Went home that night and made a great noodle meal with De Cecco noodles and sea animals which wife and I ate till stuffed. read more

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Had a great meal here last night while in Franklin. Food was absolutely great. It is a very busy small restaurant. We were seated at very small table for 2 which isn't my favorite ( understatement) but I totally get it... they cant put us at a 4 top with 2 people when the place is 100pct capacity. Our server was terrific and just loved the food and atmosphere. The asparagus fritter app was really good. Also enjoyed the Gnocchi a pizza and salad. Was a lot to eat and even with a glass of wine the whole tab was just a bit over $100 for 2 people. Well worth it ! .... The hostess when we arrived wasn't un friendly , but not exactly friendly and welcoming. As the initial point of contact / first impression ... I think it's important. Never the less, that did not take away from an overall great experience read more

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Maybe the best restaurant in Franklin. Awesome option for a late night bite with some wine. A must try.

Both food and services were okay. Music was loud. We can at 1:30pm Sunday and there were a couple of tables. Our waiter was very busy taking care of everything while other staffs just standing around. The asparagus fritters and chicken thighs were burnt and the pesto sauce for the pasta has no taste. read more

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If you're looking for some authentic homemade pasta, this is the place to go! Noodles were perfect al dente! Service was good ,however, we did order two items that never came out -the broccolini and the mocktail. The food was still good enough where I will be back! read more

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Stopped by for a quick late lunch with my parents while exploring downtown Franklin. We got there after 2:30pm, so we ordered from the in-between menu, which is more limited, but honestly, it was perfect for a quick bite. We shared the L'Unico pizza (similar to a Margherita but made with mozzarella di bufala) and the calamari fritti. Everything was really good and, of course, paired perfectly with some nice wine. It was a lovely, easy lunch, we sat at the bar. Definitely planning to come back for a full dinner next time. read more

Came here with friends during the Dickens of a Christmas celebration and were not happy with the service we received. It was not super busy at 12pm when we arrived despite the festival and my friends and I were looking to get some white wine and cocktails, maybe some appetizers and enjoy the unusually warm weather on the patio. When we asked the hostess for a table outside but just wanted to get drinks, her response was cold and passive aggressive, essentially implying that it would be too much work for us to be seated outside just for drinks. We offered to go to the bar and bring drinks outside ourselves, she gave a non response and continued to work as if we weren't there. We asked again and she finally said that she could seat us outside. Our server was also passive aggressive, consistently commenting on the fact that we were not getting food, just drinks ("I know you're just getting drinks but please enjoy some of our complementary bread!" "Ive brought you some water even though I know you're just getting drinks!"). I was considering potentially getting an appetizer as well but the attitude from The staff was off putting. We did see someone who I believe was a manager providing exceptional service to some of the tables around us. As we were leaving we saw that other parts of the patio were opening up so our sitting out there was a non issue. The overall experience was off putting and I don't anticipate returning when there are other excellent options nearby. read more

Culaccino - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

If you are in downtown Franklin and are hungry for some Italian food, check this place out. It's best to get reservations on peak days. We came here on Monday night with no reservations and we got 2 seats at the bar right away. I started off with an Old Fashioned with Sazerac Rye, bar tender did a good job! They brought out some warm bread which was very good. They just changed to their Fall Menu. For an entree I got the Gnocchi with the fall flavors! It was very good. Paired well with the Old Fashioned! Also got the L'Unico Pizza added mushrooms and sausage, it was very good! Cheers! read more

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This place is cute, a bit small on the inside, but they have large outside patio area. Needed a reservation on a Wednesday at 5. We were sat at a high top with kids. Food was good, wine selection was very limited; no Pinot noir, no second choice, no third choice, settled on a red blend, it was good. I was told this was due to a seasonal menu change about to take place and all the wines had sold out. The bread they give was AMAZING! Some kind of salty oil they drizzle on the cheese, made it phenomenal. I would go back just for that haha read more

Great pizza and service was great. Pasta looked amazing as well. Server explained the menu well read more

Culaccino - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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. read more

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I emailed the restaurant about a week ago, in lieu prematurely leaving a bad review online. I wanted to give them a chance to address my experience, but instead, got zero response. This was the email I sent: "Two friends and I had a 7:15 PM reservation at Culaccino on January 10. Our server was Lee. Things started out fine, but we found ourselves quickly being subjected to Lee's somewhat aggressive approach to service. He honestly was the least personable server I've ever experienced, and had a very condescending manner. A misunderstanding occurred on my friend's order. She was brought a dish with pork in it, which was not what she ordered. Mistakes happen, but Lee was not at ALL nice or accommodating about it, laying the blame on her, and bringing it up multiple times during our meal, with a snarky and resentful undertone. After we paid, he walked up, dropped our checks, and walked away without a word. It was the first time in my life I've ever been tempted to leave zero tip. My conscience for some reason would not allow me to follow through on this, but it was as undeserved as any gratuity I've ever left. We wanted dessert, but we ended up going elsewhere due to how we'd been treated. We also had no clue we would be charged $6 a person for water! Perhaps something that could be mentioned during the ordering process. I've honestly never had a more disappointing dining experience. I loved the ambiance of the restaurant and had hoped to come back for a date night, but our experience left such a bad impression, I can't imagine spending additional money here. I'm not sure if other diners have had this experience with Lee, but we certainly did not feel welcome or valued as customers and felt it was important to make you aware." The food was fine, but most dishes needed salt- so basic. The lack of response from management, however, really says everything one needs to know about Culaccino. I'd truly recommend spending your dining dollars elsewhere. read more

We were lucky to be here on a rainy night. It wasn't crowded. We were able to have a nice quiet and delightful evening. Everything we ordered was delicious. Shout out to Brent for your service. read more

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Chef/Owner Frank Pullara's twin Culaccino, service has improved with a team approach. It's a very tight seating in a bistro setting, with a full bar, and a good, primarily European, wine list. We managed to walk in; same day reservations are hard to get, The Meatballs are excellent, but just a little spicy. The Half Chicken a little overcooked, and the sauce with halved baby onions almost make up for it. The Tiramisu is excellent. Parking nearby is limited. read more

Culaccino - Caesar Salad - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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Very cool place. Inspired dishes vs just old classics. Service and food were excellent.

We came here for my wife's birthday dinner to help celebrate her and I brought my whole family. What we found might be of interest to you.... Ambiance: Very nice little appointed restaurant with a modern but still old world flair to it. Parking is a huge issue but not necessarily there entirely fault as it's all pay nearby (excepting the spots on the street if you can find one in downtown Franklin) and there lot also has pay signs (not cool). Service: We had a newer server, which normally we don't mind as we are pretty patient folks..but unfortunately once we finally got our drinks and appetizers we finally got to order the entrees. My son in law wanted chicken alfredo which is. it on the menu but the server said that this other dish was similar and so my son in law agreed to go with that. We ordered 2 of thise dishes 1 with shrimp and 1 with chicken 2 other plates (i had the cacio y pepe) and my wife had the aribiatti plate. This is when things went south. 45-50 min later they finally brought out the food and it was already 8pm on a weekday...not a weekend. My son in laws got a shrimp dish instead of chicken and when he challenged the waiter for his order the waiter said well it will take longer so are you just ok with the shrimp? Ummm no that's not the way to solve this.....after a few kind exchanges and because it was already 8pm he agreed to the shrimp so as not to wait another 20min. The good was average - nothing tonight home about except the noodles were very good - seemed to be homemade and rivaled the kind of noodles I had in Italy just a few months back. The sauce and cheese were really heavy however and oily which was not my Italian experience. Prices: This is where it gets hard for me to recommend anything here. Plates are super high priced for pasta - and then to add $10 for a 5 ounce breast of. chicken or $13 for shrimp and then charge my son in law for his plate but not take off the shrimp charge when they got it all wrong. Drinks were high as well however that's pretty consistent around the area of downtown Franklin! Summary: In my opinion - I'd avoid and head to other Italian establishments not only for better service (realizing he was new but someone should have stepped in from management) but better food and prices to boot. Keep Munching! read more

Culaccino - These were the excellent noodles - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

It was a weekday night (Sept 29th) and we had a reservation and got right in. Busy place, but not too noisy. They had nice outdoor tables if weather permits I would sit there. The service was excellent and we had an appetizer, wine, and each had an entree. We had the steak tartar appetizer, and it was delicious. Not something I normally order but we tried something different. We had the red wine recommended by the server and it was excellent. I had the seafood dish and it was truly amazing! Really different in a great way. My husband loved his fish dish as well. I would highly recommend this restaurant, the only downside was the parking was extremely expensive in lot attached. If you can find street parking around the corner, it's free. read more

Everything we ordered was delicious. Despite them being slightly busy the service was good and we were able to just sit at the bar. Definitely give this place a try if you're in Franklin! read more

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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. read more

Culaccino - Campanele - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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The food was more incredible and perfectly portioned than I could have expected. Our server was very attentive even though it was pretty busy, me and my family ended up waiting about an hour and a half on a Thursday night. The atmosphere is comfortable and classy, probably my new favorite restaurants in Downtown Franklin. The bread served at the beginning was addicting. The pasta was a beautiful presentation and delightful portion of flavor. Additionally, my family had two desserts: The Torte Teneria and the Budino Di Banane, both were absolutely incredible. read more

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Went here with a party of four for lunch today. The quality of food has gone way down since the last time I was here a few months ago. Unfortunately, our server was and did not cater to us as we would normally expect. Dirty plates were not cleared. Drinks were not refilled, He did not check in with us to see how our food was. Turning into the food... The calamari appetizers were overcooked. The risotto ordered was undercooked. A chicken sandwich ordered by one of the guests had no flavor. This used to be a great Franklin spot. Maybe they are putting too much attention on their location in Nashville, but I do not see good things for this restaurants future. read more

This was my second time at this restaurant while traveling to Franklin. The agnolotti del plin was FANTASTIC. Honestly, I'm dreaming of the next time I get to enjoy the dish. My husband ordered that and I ordered the Tortelli. I liked his better and he liked them equally so he agreed to switch, my dear husband. Anyway, I HIGHLY recommend Culaccino!!! read more

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! read more

Culaccino - Di Bologna Pizza - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

SO GOOD. Finalllly Franklin has an authentic Italian spot. The pastas were excellent and they have a very impressive wine selection! The inside is really cute, nice atmosphere and the service was great. I can't wait to go back and try more. Highly recommend. read more

Culaccino - Campanelle - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Beware of the parking charge. I had no idea there was a charge and it was 38.00. Food and service was excellent! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Culaccino - Entry - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

We have been here multiple times and have now been there for the last time. The wine list is impressive so it has that. It is small and can be noisy, but that's not exactly why I won't be going back. The food is fine. Not exceptional but good, and I would expect that for the price point. I suppose the specific reason we won't be back is because THEY CHARGE $3 FOR A SINGLE CUBE OF ICE IN MY COCKTAIL! Really!?! read more

The restaurant is cute and located in downtown Franklin. The food was good although I thought the portion size was small for the cost of the food. It took a very long time to have our order taken and and equally long time to receive our food. For the long wait time, and higher than expected pricing I will not likely return. read more

Culaccino - Lamb meat sauce and pasta - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

The food was not good, no taste at all. I order the rotelle and it was practically chef boyardee quality. The service was incredibly slow. This place is overhyped. Do not waste your money on the overpriced and crappy food. read more

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 read more

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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. read more

Culaccino - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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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 read more

Culaccino - Italian Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

We ate here on a Saturday night and sat outside on the patio. It was a perfect night with a great atmosphere. Our server was so friendly and everything we ordered was delicious. Our favorite was the meatball appetizer. Will definitely return if we come back to town! read more

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. read more