‘Old school’ eateries

By William Williams, wwilliams@nashvillecitypaper.com July 07, 2003   http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=10&screen=news&news_id=24437 Italia Pasta and Pizza, owned by Salem Elkhatib, serves up Italian and Mediterranean food in Lockeland Springs. Photo by Katie Harrell.

Just when you thought the East Nashville restaurant/bar boom of the past two years might be getting a tad too trendy, Elmo Patterson and Salem Elkhatib started serving turnip greens and pizza respectively to help return to a simpler perspective. The two men may be of significantly different backgrounds, but they have one thing in common: both have opened “old school” eateries in the heart of the burgeoning east side within the past few weeks. Given the fact that the recent business model in East Nashville has focused on cutting-edge cuisine, the two businesses, both registered as sole proprietorships, are glaringly unhip. So much so, one could argue they are edgy in their own quirky way. Patterson, 62 and born in nearby Springfield, offers patrons tasty meats and vegetables from his quaint Fatherland Café in Edgefield. About one mile east in Lockeland Springs, Elkhatib, 33 and a native of Egypt, serves basic Italian and Mediterranean fare, primarily via delivery and pick-up, at Italia Pasta and Pizza. “This is a nothing-fancy, all-American restaurant,” said Patterson, who worked as a cook for 30 years in various German locales for the United States Military and its officers clubs. “Our biscuits are made from my grandmother’s recipe.” Biscuits courtesy of grandma? What would the good folks at Alleycat Lounge, Beyond the Edge, Bongo Java, Chapel Bistro, Family Wash, The 5 Spot, French Quarter Café, Lipstick Lounge, Margot Café, Radio Café, Red Wagon Café, Rosepepper and Slow Bar have to say? Christy Perkins, owner of vintage clothing/accessory shop Nitwit, said Fatherland Café and Italia Pizza and Pasta are welcomed additions to the area. “Everybody wants more ‘normal’ lunch and dinner places in East Nashville,” Perkins said. “These places will offer a nice, basic meal and nothing that involves 17 ingredients.” Elkhatib, who has lived in San Francisco, Los Angeles, France, Sweden and Italy, said the east side “is growing and improving.” Before opening, he spent about two months updating his modest space, once home to one of the city’s first Dairy Queens. “I expect the future of this neighborhood to be better than [that of] West End,” Elkhatib said.

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5 star rating

 12/23/2007

http://www.yelp.com/biz/italia-pizza-and-pasta-nashville

Hi,
i discovered Italia Pizza about a month ago and i am already addicted. They have absolutly delicious mediterranean food, everything you can want from falaffel, baba ganouj, grape leaves....(try the sampler, if you can't make up your mind:)) and of course gyros. I love their gyros salad-its AAA+++-tasty!
Pizza-wise they are the best pizza in Nashville. It's "real-live" crust (no frozen taste) and fresh ingredients, topped with lots of melty flavorful cheese without being oily. My favorite : Peace in historic east Nashville, it's covered with hummus instead of red sauce. I've never had that anywhere before, it's really yummy and  it's healthy too.

We live in East Nashville and have long dreamed of ordering from our own neighborhood pizza place... our wait is over. 1 mile from our house.. PERFECT!! The pizza is really good. A large pizza with freed delivery runs 12.99and they have 14 different kinds of pizza (we like the Mediteranean and the chicken). The pizza is better than anything else available in the area.. period!! BUT the real treat is their lasagna... it is the BEST!! Better than anything I have gotten in Nashville. It comes in a circlular 7" pan that is 2" deep and filled with cheesy steaming lasagna. It along with a side salad is only 5.99. What a deal!! Try it!! It is wonderful!! Give Italia a try... good pizza, great pasta, great prices, great location!!

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http://www.restaurantdb.net/go/restaurants/view-270897.html?tab=rating

tha pizza was great the best i found in Nashville.
I am from New York and I love Italia pizza, the only local pizza that I found in Nashville area similer to New York style pizza was at Italia.

http://nashville.citysearch.com/review/38504270

Best pizza anywhere

06/24/2007 Posted by jen06

I go to ITALIA at least once a week, and I never get tired of the food. There is such a great selection, and its all sooooo good. Im a vegetarian, so its hard for me to find much around town thats really good. The hummus is absolutely delicious! Their Veggie Hoagies are awesome too. The strumboli are great too I like one with tomatoes, mushrooms & artichokes! Then the pizza.ooohhhh the pizza! I have tried so many other kinds of pizza, and this is hands-down my all-time favorite. The crust is slightly chewy, and its brushed with a yummy, garlicky oil, and topped with a little parmesan cheese. The ingredients are always top-notch fresh tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, green peppers. Very fresh. The marinara they use is really good too almost like they use roasted red peppers in it not sure about that but man, is it good! I really like their salads too. My favorite is the Greek feta, , olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, pepperoncinis fabulous! They have the best service in nashville you cant really find that anywhere else! Definitely check it out you will not be disappointed!!

Yummy

06/24/2007 Posted by lilijo

My family almost always has an order from Italia waiting when I get in the door after a day in airports and planes to come home, and I'm always so glad for it! I would, indeed, go so far as to say this is better than New York pizza. The stromboli is also an interesting change of pace, and the more mediterranean fare is also