The LOCAL
Italian Experience
One Weekend Each Month
First Seating: 6:00 PM · Second Seating: 7:30 PM
Reservations Required · Downtown Centerville, TN
Reserve Your Table$60 per person · Seven-course Italian dinner
Fountain drinks and iced tea included.
Tax not included. A 20% gratuity will be automatically added to your final dinner bill.
An After-Hours Experience
A Refined Italian Dinner Experience
When the cafe closes, The LOCAL Place transforms into an intimate Italian dining room — low light, real tablecloths, warm service, and a multi-course dinner designed to be enjoyed slowly.
Our Italian dinner experience is inspired by the meals Concetta's mother Filomena; born and raised in Caserta, Italy, prepared for her family: honest Italian cooking, handmade flavor, slow-braised meats, fresh pasta, shared bread, seasonal vegetables, and dolce to close the evening.
This is not a rushed dinner. It is a thoughtful, after-hours dining experience with limited seating and intentionally portioned courses.
Exclusive. After-hours.
The Format
How It Works
Each guest selects:
- One antipasto
- One pasta tasting
- One secondi tasting
- One contorno
House Italian Flatbread and Misticanza are served for the table to share. Lemon sorbet is included to finish the meal, with specialty dolce add-ons available.
Dinner: $60 per person
Seven-course Italian dinner
Fountain drinks and iced tea included.
Tax not included. A 20% gratuity will be automatically added to your final dinner bill.
Not sure what a course or dish means? The guide explains each item, what comes on the plate, and how the seven courses work.
The Italian Table
“In Italy, dinner is more than a meal—it's a ritual. Courses unfold slowly, each with its own purpose.”
Small bites to awaken the palate
A shared Italian-style flatbread served for the table
A pasta tasting
A simple Italian salad
The main tasting: beef, pork, poultry, or fish
Seasonal vegetables and traditional Italian sides
Dessert, to close the evening
Take your time. Savor each course. This is how Italy eats.
Dish Gallery
Our Favorites
With smoked salmon
Swipe to browse the dishes.
Curated Dinner Service
One Menu, Seven Courses
Penne Rigate
Pasta Tastings · $60 per person
Tax not included. A 20% gratuity will be automatically added to your final dinner bill.
Fresh Pasta, Every Dinner
Every dinner features antipasti, house Italian flatbread, and your choice of pasta tasting — Linguine al Tartufo, Spaghetti Marinara, Penne Rigate, Ravioli al Limone e Ricotta, or Carbonara — followed by Misticanza salad.
Ravioli al Limone e Ricotta
With smoked salmon
Main Course Tastings · $60 per person
Tax not included. A 20% gratuity will be automatically added to your final dinner bill.
A Rotating Italian Main
Choose your main-course category — an Italian beef, chicken, or pork entrée, traditional Italian meatballs, or vegan plant-based meatballs — served with seasonal contorni and finished with dolce. The specific dish rotates with the season.
Seasonal Specials
What's Fresh Tonight
Our kitchen follows the season, so each evening may include additional contorni, specialty desserts, featured dishes, or small-batch specials not listed online. Ask us what came in fresh, what we made today, and what we are especially excited to serve.
A Table Worth the Drive
One hour from Nashville · Downtown Centerville, TN
One weekend each month · First seating 6:00 PM · Second seating 7:30 PM · See the booking calendar for dates
$60 per person · Seven-course dinner
Fountain drinks and iced tea included.
Tax not included. A 20% gratuity will be automatically added to your final dinner bill.
111 S Public Square · Centerville, TN 37033
Quick Question
Should we build a waitlist feature?
We don't offer a waitlist yet — but if enough people want one, we'll add it. Vote to help us decide.
What Guests Say About the Italian Dinner
“Brava, Concetta! 👏🏻 We enjoyed the amazing and thoughtfully curated Italian experience at The LOCAL Place last night and were so impressed with the cuisine, service, ambiance and staff. Finally, our little town has an intimate and quality restaurant choice for a romantic date night close to home.”
“What a night to remember!! We are so thankful that Concetta and her team shared this experience with the public! This was more about an experience and taking it slow rather than rushing a meal..the food, all 7 courses, was amazing! The front staff and server Julie were top-notch and made us feel special! Julie is a gem. I've been to Italy to dine and this was PERFECT, especially in Centerville, Tennessee.”
“Best dining experience in Southwest Middle Tennessee, hands down! The food and service were excellent. They make their own sorbet, ice creams and gelato! A seven course Italian feast ... pace yourself. Wear loose pants. I kind of hope word doesn't get out ...😄”
“Recently we made reservations for the Italian Experience and we were pleasantly impressed. What more could one ask for , food so carefully prepared each dish selection with such detail not only in taste but visually pleasing as well . Low lighting atmosphere for an elegant dinner experience and did I mention the music , how we so enjoyed the ambience.”
“Had a great experience at Italian Dinner! The food was fresh, flavorful, and served hot. The staff was friendly and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The portions were generous, and everything tasted homemade.”
“A dont miss meal”
“Brava, Concetta! 👏🏻 We enjoyed the amazing and thoughtfully curated Italian experience at The LOCAL Place last night and were so impressed with the cuisine, service, ambiance and staff. Finally, our little town has an intimate and quality restaurant choice for a romantic date night close to home.”
“What a night to remember!! We are so thankful that Concetta and her team shared this experience with the public! This was more about an experience and taking it slow rather than rushing a meal..the food, all 7 courses, was amazing! The front staff and server Julie were top-notch and made us feel special! Julie is a gem. I've been to Italy to dine and this was PERFECT, especially in Centerville, Tennessee.”
“Best dining experience in Southwest Middle Tennessee, hands down! The food and service were excellent. They make their own sorbet, ice creams and gelato! A seven course Italian feast ... pace yourself. Wear loose pants. I kind of hope word doesn't get out ...😄”
“Recently we made reservations for the Italian Experience and we were pleasantly impressed. What more could one ask for , food so carefully prepared each dish selection with such detail not only in taste but visually pleasing as well . Low lighting atmosphere for an elegant dinner experience and did I mention the music , how we so enjoyed the ambience.”
“Had a great experience at Italian Dinner! The food was fresh, flavorful, and served hot. The staff was friendly and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The portions were generous, and everything tasted homemade.”
“A dont miss meal”
“Brava, Concetta! 👏🏻 We enjoyed the amazing and thoughtfully curated Italian experience at The LOCAL Place last night and were so impressed with the cuisine, service, ambiance and staff. Finally, our little town has an intimate and quality restaurant choice for a romantic date night close to home.”
“What a night to remember!! We are so thankful that Concetta and her team shared this experience with the public! This was more about an experience and taking it slow rather than rushing a meal..the food, all 7 courses, was amazing! The front staff and server Julie were top-notch and made us feel special! Julie is a gem. I've been to Italy to dine and this was PERFECT, especially in Centerville, Tennessee.”
“Best dining experience in Southwest Middle Tennessee, hands down! The food and service were excellent. They make their own sorbet, ice creams and gelato! A seven course Italian feast ... pace yourself. Wear loose pants. I kind of hope word doesn't get out ...😄”
“Recently we made reservations for the Italian Experience and we were pleasantly impressed. What more could one ask for , food so carefully prepared each dish selection with such detail not only in taste but visually pleasing as well . Low lighting atmosphere for an elegant dinner experience and did I mention the music , how we so enjoyed the ambience.”
“Had a great experience at Italian Dinner! The food was fresh, flavorful, and served hot. The staff was friendly and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The portions were generous, and everything tasted homemade.”
“A dont miss meal”
Frequently Asked Questions
When does The LOCAL Italian Experience open?
Dinner is served one weekend each month. Dates are posted on the booking calendar as they become available, and we open reservations two months at a time.
Are reservations required?
Yes, reservations are required. Seating is limited and dinner is served in two seatings: 6 PM and 7:30 PM.
What nights are you open?
Dates are posted on the booking calendar as they become available. First seating begins at 6:00 PM, and second seating begins at 7:30 PM.
What kind of food is served?
A refined seven-course Italian dinner with antipasti, house Italian flatbread, pasta tasting, salad, secondi, contorni, and dolce. The menu rotates with the season, and seasonal specials may be offered each evening.
What is included in the price?
Dinner includes the seven-course Italian experience, House Italian Flatbread for the table, lemon sorbet, fountain drinks, and iced tea. Dinner is $60 per person. Tax is not included. A 20% gratuity will be automatically added to your final dinner bill. Specialty flatbread and specialty dolce add-ons may be available.
Is BYOB wine allowed?
Yes — guests may BYOB a sealed bottle of wine during Italian dinners where permitted by policy. Please review the BYOB policy before your visit. Wine only, please.
Where is it located?
111 S Public Square in Centerville, TN — inside The LOCAL Place on the square. About 1 hour from Nashville on Highway 100.
Is it a good date night spot?
It was designed for exactly that. An hour from Nashville, inside a historic downtown building, multi-course Italian dinner — yes, it's a date night spot.
How far is it from Nashville?
About 1 hour from Nashville via Highway 100 — a scenic drive that makes the evening feel like a real trip. Worth it.
Is the Italian dinner worth the drive from Nashville?
Our out-of-town guests tell us yes. It's about an hour from Nashville, Franklin, and Columbia, and the whole point is that you won't find this dinner in the city — a multi-course Italian menu, two intimate seatings, BYOB, inside a historic downtown building. People plan the drive around it and make a full evening of it.
Can I book the Italian dinner for a special occasion?
Absolutely — it's a favorite for anniversaries, birthdays, and date nights. You reserve a table for your party (2 to 6 guests) at either the 6:00 PM or 7:30 PM seating, and BYOB wine is welcome to toast the occasion. Reservations open two months in advance and popular dates fill quickly, so book early for a specific weekend.
Is there a dress code?
There is no set dress code — come as you are and bring an appetite. That said, this is a refined dining experience, so it’s also the perfect excuse to dress up, make it a date night, or celebrate something special.
Can I order coffee or espresso during dinner?
Our full coffee bar will not be open during dinner, but guests may order traditional espresso shots, and sweeten them to taste just as they would in Italy. Espresso after dinner? Always. Cappuccino? We’ll save that for the morning. We also offer Affogato on our dolce menu, along with nonalcoholic Italian spritzers for a festive, alcohol-free option.