Alla Vita, the third concept from Boka Restaurant Group in Nashville’s Wedgewood Houston neighborhood, will open on June 13, 2026. The Italian restaurant is a venture by award-winning Chef Lee Wolen of Michelin-starred Boka.
Alla Vita by Chef Lee Wolen Joins Nashville This Weekend
Alla Vita will welcome its first guests Saturday in Nashville’s Wedgewood Houston neighborhood. The Italian concept follows the success of its Chicago counterpart.
The restaurant at 523 Houston Street and focuses on handmade pastas, wood-fired pizza, and a carefully selected curation of wines and cocktails. The restaurant’s name, Alla Vita, translates to “to life” in Italian.
Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm, co-founders of Boka Restaurant Group, described Wedgewood Houston as an ideal location for the concept. “Alla Vita was created to be the kind of restaurant that becomes part of the fabric of a neighborhood. It’s warm and welcoming with a menu that guests can enjoy any night of the week.”
The restaurant occupies space within Wedgewood Village, AJ Capital Partners’ 18-acre mixed-use development. The interior is designed by Kehoe Designs. The space features a garden-inspired design with Italian floral designs, warm wood tones, and lots of greenery.
The private space for parties can accommodate up to 60 people, along with a large party table for 9-16 guests. Alla Vita will open daily at 4:30 p.m.
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Shareable Menu Curated by the Chef
Alla Vita features a communal dining menu, featuring Chef Lee Wolen’s Italian-inspired menu. The food items include antipasti, salads, handmade pasta, and wood-fired pizza. The culinary team also collaborates with nearby suppliers like Valley Gold, Farmer Dave Hughes, and Nashville Grown to feature fresh Tennessee-grown ingredients in the menu.
The menu includes in-house, such as Cacio e Pepe Ricotta Dumplings, Rigatoni alla Vodka, Spring Pea Cappelletti, and Tagliatelle with beef shank ragu. The wood-fired oven is used to bake pizzas with toppings such as burrata and asparagus, San Daniele prosciutto, fennel sausage, and black truffle mushrooms.
Appetizers like Wood-Fired Meatballs, Bluefin Tuna Crudo, Arancini, and Table Bread are meant to be shared. Larger plates include Lasagna Verdi, Grilled Branzino, and Roasted Bone-In Ribeye.
For dessert, guests enjoy Tiramisu, Cannoli, Olive Oil Cake, or Dark Chocolate Blueberry Budino from Pastry Director Meghan McGarvey. The food menu is complemented by a wine list focused on Italian and West Coast varietals.
“Nashville has exceeded every expectation we’ve had, and the closer we’ve gotten to opening, the more excited I’ve become about what we’re creating at Alla Vita,” said Chef Lee Wolen.
The Nashville opening represents another milestone for Chef Lee Wolen and Boka Restaurant Group.
