Il Forno

Egidio Franciosa grew up near Naples and spent years building a loyal following through a mobile pizzeria before opening Il Forno's brick-and-mortar in 2021. The wood-burning oven was hand-built in Naples by master craftsman Stefano Ferrara — whose ovens appear in some of the world's most respected pizzerias — shipped to Nashville and finished on-site by an Italian craftsman. It reaches 900 degrees and stays there.

The pizza follows strict Neapolitan tradition: Caputo 00 flour imported from Italy, marinara made from Tuscan tomatoes, Fior de Latte mozzarella, and dough hand-stretched to order. Beyond pizza, the menu includes fresh pasta, salads, appetizers, and desserts — but the pizza is the reason the room fills up.

The dining room is modern without being cold, with an open kitchen that gives you a clear view of the dough being worked and the pies emerging from the fire. A hand-painted mural of Sophia Loren greets guests. Egidio himself is typically present in the dining room, which gives Il Forno the warmth of a genuine family restaurant rather than a polished concept.

Il Forno is located in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood, a few blocks from the new Nashville soccer stadium, and serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday with no lunch service. Reservations available via Resy and OpenTable.

We'll have a full take on Il Forno when we get there. The menu reads like someone who takes Italian cooking seriously.