Downtown’s Long Awaited Food Hall Adds Local Italian Restaurant and Dallas-Based Sushi Spot to Lineup

Assembly Food Hall, the highly anticipated enormous food hall opening in downtown Nashville in spring of 2021 announced its two newest tenants this week in a press release. Nashville-born Coco’s Italian Market and Restaurant will operate two locations inside the food hall — a sweet and a savory option from owner Chuck Cinelli. Coco’s Fresh Italian plans to feature pasta made onsite alongside subs and grilled paninis filled with Italian-imported cheese and meats on homemade focaccia. On the sweeter side, Coco’s Café & Dulce will offer Italian sweets like ricotta-stuffed cannolis, tiramisu, limoncello mascarpone cake to pair with Lavazza coffee and espresso. Cinelli has operated Italian restaurants around Nashville since 1995 — traditional recipes passed down from his family members in the Campania and Lazio regions of Italy.

The food hall also gives downtown a new sushi option: Hōru Sushi Kitchen. Chef Chin “Steve” Liang operates his flagship restaurant at the food hall’s sister property, Legacy Hall, just north of Dallas. Liang boasts over 20 years of experience in the art of sushi. Liang’s menu will offer premium sushi-grade fish imported directly from Hawaii and Japan.

The massive multi-level dining and entertainment destination will feature more than 20 dining options, multiple bars, two full-service restaurants, live music venues, and an expansive rooftop space. It will anchor the Fifth + Broadway mixed-use development.

These new partners add to growing list of restaurants already announced to fill Assembly Food Hall, including: Desano Pizzeria, Donut Distillery, Hattie Jane’s Creamery, NoBaked Cookie Dough, Oke Poke, Prince’s Hot Chicken, Saffron, Smoking Chikin, Steam Boys, Thai Esane, the Liege Waffle Co, and the Pharmacy Burger.