Sole Mio

Doesn't Recommend

R00ster

Joined 3 years ago

Sole Mio - Terrible service above average food. Service - poor, 25 mins for drinks, 40min to take our order - labeled to go boxes incorrectly and leftovers went to wrong house, bread was finally brought out after requested twice but then salads and apps were finished. On top of it all the gratuity was added to our check for 6 ppl at 20% and we had no way to critique the terrible service.



My wife and I split the chicken parm $28 and there was a $6 split charge the server didn't inform us of. So we paid $34 for chicken. Outragous.



Over all the food was above average but not good enough to make up for the rest. Sole Mio really fell short last night.



We won't be returning, its sad because it has so much potential.

Edit - Delete

Doesn't Recommend

JT2

Joined 4 years ago

Really disappointed. I am compelled to write a review because I am confused and surprised by all of the stellar reviews Sole Mio receives. I dined at Sole Mio once when they were at their old location and had a truly horrible meal. (So bad that I never went back). I was recently given a gift card for Sole Mio, so my boyfriend and I reluctantly decided to try it again. Everyone deserves a second chance, right? Honestly, it was really, really not worth it. Fine dining is one of my favorite things to do, and to put it simply, this is overpriced mediocre food with an underwhelming atmosphere. I am completely at a loss for how in the world this restaurant can get "best of" anything.

Our waiter was very friendly, but he was clearly distracted (or just not very smart, but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt). He forgot to bring our bottle of wine until after we had nearly finished our first course. Then he approached us on three separate occasions asking if we wanted to see the dessert menu (we had ordered the special tastings menu that comes with its own dessert options, and we politely reminded him each of the three times he asked us that we were doing the tastings menu... at which point he would wander off and forget about us for another 15 minutes, only to come back and ask us if we wanted to see a dessert menu. one time is acceptable... waiters get busy. but this was just bizarre, especially because the restaurant wasn't that busy). As for my entree, i had the Mahi, which I ordered because it was served with risotto, which I usually love in all of its flavors and iterations. The Mahi was overcooked and dry and somewhat fishy, and the risotto tasted like rice boiled in really salty chicken broth. Awful! My boyfriend had pumpkin tortelloni, which was actually pretty good. The desserts tasted fine.

Then, to top off our experience, the restaurant lost our umbrella and it was absolutely pouring outside. Great way to end this highly disappointing meal.

In short, we will not be going back, and we will not be recommending this restaurant to anyone. There are too many FAR superior dining experiences in Nashville from which to choose.

Recommends

flk3

Joined 4 years ago

Spectacular food!. We were recommended to try Sole Mio by the hotel we were staying at, and I can honestly say I don't recall ever having a better recommendation from a hotel clerk anywhere in the US (Marquis at the Hampton Inn in Nashville).

Coming from NY City, we've become very used to great Italian food. It's definitely hard to find here in Tennessee; the chains are standardized, but certainly not spectacular. The food at Sole Mio was as good as ANY food I've ever had anywhere! The bisque in a bread bowl was super; the flavor and spices were perfect. The gnocchi was actually almost as good as my girlfriend's aunt's home made gnocchi, and she's a wonderful 80 year old cook who was born in Italy. The Tiramisu was the best I've ever had, bar none; delicately flavored with just the right amount of rum.

Given the fact that the restaurant was quite busy, it was a real tribute to the friendly staff that they were able to attend to us as well as they did; they were efficient, and not overbearing.

Overall, just a truly wonderful meal. We'd recommend it to anyone who wants real Italian food. Would also recommend reservations. (The food is SOOOO good it should be packed every night, frankly!)

Recommends

PCC

Joined 4 years ago

The BEST Italian. Sole Mio is the BEST Italian Restaurant in Nashville. Tremendous. Sensational. A superb dining experience.

Incredible food.

Outstanding service.

Sole Mio is the ONE place to go for the BEST Italian dinner in Nashville.

There are some others that are very good. But there is only one that is the very best.

My wife and I recently decided to go to an Italian restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. Normally if we want Italian food we go to Carrabba's, which is very good , or to Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden, both of which are fine and which the kids enjoy, but we wanted to have something original, something that was not a franchise. After looking at reviews online we found several restaurants that were highly rated and had long lists of excellent customer reviews.

Let me tell you, we tried each of those other restaurants and they ranged from okay to good, to even very good, but none were in the same league with Sole Mio.

Unfortunately, ratings inflation does exist and if you read all of the reviews and go to each of the restaurants, you'll find there is only one true 5 - Sole Mio. There are some other good ones - 4's, and even 4.5's, but Sole Mio is exquisite. On a scale of 1-5, it may be a 6.

I don't have the literary skill to describe how Mio's food is better that the others; it's one of those things that, when you try it, you'll know it. Mio's is wonderful. We had a party of five, each with a different entre'. Each was delicious.

If the food wasn't enough to set Mio's apart, then there was service. If you go, you need to ask whether Kelly is working and ask to be seated in her area. All of the staff may be outstanding: I don't know. What I do know is that Kelly made us feel like the most important thing she had to do that evening was to make sure our anniversary was a special occasion - like she was personally thrilled to be a part of our anniversary.

She brought us some special something she'd asked the kitchen to make up to celebrate our anniversary. I don't know what it was, but it was wonderful.

She brought us 2 glasses of champagne - at just the right time - to toast our anniversary.

I don't mean to demean any of the staff at any of the other restaurants; we had some very good service at other places, but the difference between them and Mio's is the difference between going to Beach Bend and going to Disney - one's a pleasant outing, the other is a magical experience that provides memories for a lifetime.

So that's my thought. If you want a good Italian dinner, or even a very good Italian dinner, choose from any one of several others on the list of the top 10. But if you want the best Italian dinner, the best Italian dining experience, go to Sole Mio's.

And, if you want to really showcase the difference between excellent customer service and the alternative, leave Mio's and go to Café Margot's for after-dinner drinks and dessert as we did. It's like leaving Disney and deciding to stop at the carnival in the Dollar General parking lot.

Recommends

ittybitty

Joined 4 years ago

fantastic food and atmosphere!. We made last minute plans to go downtown for the 4th. They squeezed us in for a large party and it was fabulous! Lee and everyone else at the restaurant were so nice. It was our first trip, but certainly won't be our last.

Recommends

beersnob77

Joined 7 years ago

Great food and service. This small, out-of-the way restaurant has become less out-of-the way with the development around the Schermerhorn. A great choice before a symphony concert or Sommet event.

I went with my daughter prior to a symphony concert. The restaurant was full and we were moved outside to a small patio. An outdoor seating can be the kiss of death for service as has happened to me several times in other eateries. But we were given menus promptly and served relatively quickly.

The bisque was excellent, as were the entrees. The specials are not marked with prices but my choice of mussels with pasta turned out to be reasonably priced. The regular menu is concise and features pasta/sauce combinations. Pasta dishes are very tasty and fresh judging by the fettucine with AlFredo sauce my daughter ordered. At close to twenty dollars with no meat or 'sides' these dishes did seem pricey. My experience suggests giving the specials a close look.

My young daughter was treated respectfully and our waiter offered to box up her remaining food and keep it refrigerated while we were at Symphony.

Highly recommended as a good meal before symphony. I would suggest making reservations.

Recommends

dsnelson

Joined 5 years ago

This is a delicious, lovely place to dine. We absolutely love Sole Mio. In fact, we have been many times and every experience we have had is just lovely. The food is lovely, inventive, delicious and the staff are friendly, warm and welcoming. This is a great place to dine with your spouse, family, friends, etc. They have something for everyone. Try it! You wont' be sorry.

Recommends

fbuck

Joined 4 years ago

Great service and food. After reading a recent review I decided to write my own. As a new resident of Nashville, I haven't made the restaurant rounds yet and last night was my first experience at Sole Mio. I have read mainly great things and heard the same. On a packed Friday night I found them to be very friendly, courteous and welcoming. The server was quite knowledgeable and the owners and GM very friendly. The food was outstanding and I will certainly be back, many times to come... Frank

Doesn't Recommend

dokut24

Joined 4 years ago

Worst customer service we have ever had. Horrible restaurant.

Really this one deserves 0 stars.

The food is terrible. If you want good italian food go to Cafe Nonna. If you want food worse than the olive garden that costs twice as much go here.

The service is mind blowing terrible. The wait staff is slow, they do not understand the menu, they act like their mistakes are your problem. Wrong order--your problem, served veal when they told you it was cheese tortellini--your problem.

The owner is NOT ITALIAN like some idiots have stated. We have met the WHITE TRASH WOMAN who claimed to be the owner and she is ridiculously rude. I would not be surprised if this place goes out of business. This is NOT authentic Italian food. Save your money and go have a nice experience with some amazing food at Cafe Nonna.

Recommends

terri1106

Joined 4 years ago

Sorry I waited so long to try!. My husband and I dined at Sole Mio for the first time on 02/15/09 after a last-minute change in dining plans. Being a local, I have heard quiet rumors for years about the good food being offered here, but I was still pleasantly surprised. My husband and I both love Italian food, but are in no way "experts". Luckily, the people at Sole Mio ARE! I was a little worried at first, because they were still offering a limited menu for the Valentine's weekend. We went with the dinner for two special and left it in their hands. As soon as we saw the antipasto platter, we relaxed and knew we were in for a treat. We couldn't believe the variety it offered. Every course was perfectly seasoned (and I was freaked out because of no salt and pepper on the table!), proportioned, and presented!

The attention from the staff was a nice, warm touch and a welcome change. JJ was our server, and she did a wonderful job of being attentive without hovering...Thanks, JJ! The other great bonus was the easy and ample parking. Often the hassle of finding,parking and walking deters me from eating downtown, but this place is super simple. Also, the price is not bad. The dinner special we had was $92 and had choice of appetizer (see above), included two entrees to split (generous), and two desserts-FULL desserts and non-alcoholic drinks.

Can't wait to go back and try full menu!