When Yolan opened in summer 2020, it filled a relatively empty niche in the Nashville restaurant scene: Italian fine dining. And its pedigree is impressive. The duo behind it are Tony Mantuano, formerly of Chicago’s Michelin-starred Spiaggia, and Cathy Mantuano, a veteran wine and hospitality expert. Yolan, in the Joseph Nashville downtown, is fun and convivial, and the food impresses with its use of seasonal ingredients. It’s also a little pricey, but a great way to get a bang for your buck is to opt for the chef’s tasting menu. I recently indulged in a five-course tasting menu ($110) that included such dishes as Coniglio con Testaroli — succulent rabbit meat wrapped in pancetta with cherries and caramelized cipollini onions, plus a cross section of multilayered pasta. The five-course dinner was creative and memorable. Yolan is a welcome addition to Nashville’s dining scene.
Best Upscale Italian
