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Bad Idea is located within an old church sanctuary and the vibe is seriously so cool. We want to come back just to sit at the bar or on the couches and hang out! Food was good, starting with their pimento cheese and chicken bcnuggets. I found the chicken to be most interesting out of the two - a fun and elevated take on a chicken nugget, especially if you like dill! For the entrees, we split the Spanish octopus and chicken forestiere. Octopus had great flavor, but we found it to be a bit small for its price point. The chicken forestiere, on the other hand, was a great portioned dish with phenomenal flavor. A must have from our perspective! We ended the meal with the banana pudding, which was fantastic. Drinks were very good, however, we felt the old fashioned was a bit overpriced at $25. We also felt the service was a little lacking - food was timely, but drink service was slow....waited for a second glass of wine for quite a while. Overall, giving this one a 4/5.
If you've been to Bad Idea and thought it wasn't for you, it's worth giving this spot a second chance. Owner Alex Burch (recent awarded Michelin South Guide best sommelier) has a stunning, rustic setup in a renovated church. Despite liking the idea behind their French-Laotian fusion menu, their flavors have been really hit/miss for me. So when their executive chef recently left and their hired David Breeden (former The French Laundry executive chef) to redesign their menu, I was intrigued and (so far), I feel like they are really killing it with execution. They've only unrolled part of the menu revamp so far, but it's classically delicious, pairs so perfectly with the wine they are already known for, and really fits into the antique, rustic vibe of the space. More emphasis on French techniques with southern flavors. We had: - Whipped pimento cheese - Winter chicory salad with poached pears and Gorgonzola - Pork pate (absolute must order) - Crab en gelee with whipped tofu and mini popcorn - Bucksnort trout We probably ordered one more dish than needed and I'd skip the trout if I came again but everything was just really, really good. I think the flavors just hit mute consistently across dishes and there were bites I felt like I wanted to lick the plate up (looking at you, crab gelee.) By far our favorite was the pork pate; it was more firm, less mousse like than pate I get normally is but it was incredibly southern-flavors leaning and just delicious. The winter chicories were a sleeper hit and honestly everything off the small bites and appetizers was just really incredible. They will continue to do late night, which is thrilling to me because this is a fave spot for me to go after hitting up the concert venue down the street. I want to come back and try their fried chicken and caviar nights sometime soon. Also to note, one of the main reasons why this place used to really irk me was I had consistently ridiculously slow, inattentive service, even when the place was empty. It's the same staff but a total 180 on service for this visit, I was never without someone to help me throughout the meal. A delightful change for more than the food and very, very well worth the effort to try anew.
Bad Idea is a really GOOD idea! Under Chef David Beeden the updated menu is delightful! The wine list is extensive, but the bar is limited. It is not full service, but the service is excellent. This is a small plates restaurant. There was room to eat at the bar without a reservation. The Crab Louie was slightly citrus and great on a warm evening. The Chicken Forestiere is amazing with a wonderful gravy. The Banana Pudding Parfait is cool, and a wonderful surprise of taste in every layer.
Really fantastic dining experience. Laotian food through a bit of a French lens. It was a unique experience for me. It is a wine bar, so I would recommend letting your server guide your parings. I ordered some things I normally wouldn't. I would say every dish was a hit for me. Mushroom/truffle pâte w/ burnt onion chips- 5/5. Delicious way to start the meal Crispy rice salad - 5/5. Made originally from coconut rice, the flavor really adds a lot to the dish. Arguably the best version of this dish I have had. Scallop mousse crepe w/ nam prik blanquette, makrut lime and tuile - 5/5. That sauce was everything. Pork chop with massaman curry - 4/5. The pork chop was cooked to perfection. The "curry" was really more a spiced sauce. Never had a massaman without peanuts. The sauce was actually delicious but it wasn't as memorable as the scallop dish and the pork chop had some pretty fatty parts that were inedible. Tempura winter squash - 4.5/5. Perfect cook on the squash. Pepper sauce was reminiscent of Crystal sauce. It was very good, but I felt like it could have used maybe one extra element to make it all sing. Quail stuffed with foie gras and sticky rice served on top of sweet potato curry - 5/5. Probably my favorite dish of the day. Perfect texture, perfect cook and perfect flavor. It was a party in my mouth. Pavlova w/ confit mandarin an tapioca - it was good but some of the elements that were described didn't really sing with the bravado I expected. There was supposed to be some earl grey element happening that I didn't taste. And the mandarin didn't taste any different than regular mandarin slices. Still, it was a very good pavlova and appreciated the lightness of the dish after a relatively rich meal. The service was perfection. Lindsay was a pleasure. The interior is very cool as well. Built into an old church so the architectural details are impressive. Also the sound was not deafening. Basically, I wish I had this restaurant back in the Bay Area.
I have been to Bad Idea six times. At this point, this is no longer a review, it's a case study. Every visit starts the same way: I convince myself this time it'll click. The name is ironic, I say. Growth happens here, I say. And every time, the name wins. Let's be fair before I go completely off the rails. The ambiance? Actually great. Dark, moody, stylish. The kind of place that makes you think you're about to have a meaningful night. The service is also consistently kind and attentive, which is important because you will need emotional support while reading the menu. Now the food. Most of the dishes are just... too weird. Not experimental chef weird. More like "the chef is absolutely in the back playing Minecraft or Roblox, stacking random flavor blocks and calling it innovation." No playtesting. Straight to production. The seafood has main character energy. It announces itself early and refuses to leave. Less "fresh ocean breeze," more "low-tide monologue." You don't discover the smell it discovers you. Then comes dessert. The signature dessert is brave. Reckless, even. It tastes like an idea that was never meant to leave the group chat. I admire the confidence. I did not ask to be part of the beta test. Nothing here is technically bad. No one is rude. Nothing is inedible. This is simply a restaurant making extremely confident choices with absolutely no fear of consequences. Would I recommend it? Only to people who enjoy chaos, surprise, and questioning their own judgment. Would I return? Probably. I've already been six times. The vibes are good, the staff is attractive, and clearly I cannot be trusted with decision making power. Bad Idea isn't dinner. It's an experience. A warning. A lesson, (also may have fallen in love on a date here, which also was A BAD IDEA, but keeping that to my therapist) so a double lesson.
Oh yeah! yum yum yum! Ive been wanting to go to Bad Idea for so long and finally made it as a new job celebrating dinner with friends. First of all, this is the most unique, beautiful, flowing ambiance Ive seen. I would literally base my house off this interior if I had a house to decorate freely. You can kinda tell it was a church but it really does work for the restaurant flow too. Our server was great. He was very positive, energetic, and knew the menu inside and out. He went over every dish on the menu with us. Im so glad he did because this really did impact our decisions. They have a couple non-alcoholic wines. He let us try the red and white before ordering. We also got a bottle of a gamay. This was a smooth wine served a room temp. The food came out pretty quick and was served in three courses. One thing I will say is the amount of food they suggest for a dinner is a bit overkill. We probably ordered less than half of what was suggested to us with the mindset of we can always order more. The whipped pimento cheese was exactly what is sounds like- just elevated. It was straight forward and delicious. The BcChicken Nuggets were the only thing that I didn't really enjoy. I typically don't like chicken nuggets anywhere so if I dont like them here I don't think Ill like them anywhere. The hamachi Crudo was amazing. It was served with vegetables like carrots cut out into fun shapes and a coconut creme. The coconut was light and refreshing. We were sold on the eggs and bacon. The pork belly was so good! I love hearing where everything is sourced from as well. I probably wouldn't order this one again only because it didn't fit with the rest of the food. The pear gorganzola creation with greens was very creative. I really enjoyed this one. it was something new and if I had to bet it was something I don't think I could get anywhere else. The steak was the star of the show for me. The crust was perfect, it was cooked perfectly. The sauce was powerful and bold. The potatoes were so unique and delicious. We ordered a dessert and we got one for free as a congratulations on the new job. I enjoyed the berry one more than the banana pudding one which was actually not the one we ordered! I simply cannot wait to come back here! Its definitely a "special occasion" place, although I wish it could be part of my monthly rotations!
*CHANGED CHEFS IN JAN 2026* Not the same Bad Idea under the new chef, David Beeden, but also not better. I booked this for a special birthday dinner and left feeling disappointed and a bit robbed - especially at this price point. The service was good and the vibes were elevated MCM, so we felt the food would still measure up, even if not the Laotian-French fusion the restaurant became known for. We ordered: - 2 glasses of sparkling wine - 2 appetizers (Chicken BcNuggets, Steak Tartare) - 2 small plates (Summer Squash, Black Truffle Mac n' Cheese) - 2 mains (Chicken Ballotine, Mediterranean Branzino) - complimentary dessert (coconut ice cream) for just over $400. Everything was either okay - the mac was our favorite, but who can hate black truffles and cheese? - or just not quite right. BcNuggets? Kind of dry. Tartare? Mostly brioche, barely any meat. Squash? Good but nothing fancy. Chicken? Dry. (I enjoyed the puree and sides, though.) Branzino? Topped with dressing-soaked lettuce and nothing else. I've eaten in high-quality restaurants before, so price isn't my main issue - it's what they're serving for that price. My recommendation? Come for the wine, order a few apps, and leave it at that.
Naem Khao: way too salty. The flavors were great, but overshadowed by the all-consuming saltiness of the dish. Khao Piak Mak Het: the ricotta dumpling was so delicious!!! The textures of this dish all cane together so nicely. The ricotta texture was firm, almost like potato. The sous vide cabbage complemented it very well. Finally, the incredible sauce tied it all together. This was my 2nd favorite dish of the night. Banh Cuon: I was hesitant to order scallops because usually you don't get enough to fill you, but this dish is definitely worth ordering. The scallop was crazy tender, and the laced tuile was both beautiful and tasty. Probably my favorite dish of the night. Sticky Rice Dessert: we luckily saved room for dessert! The sticky rice was familiar yet novel. I loved the traditional parts of it, as well as the meringue and the oolong whipped cream. SO GOOD!!! The interior decoration for the restaurant is actually incredible! This is one of the coolest restaurants I've been to. I love the central bar, all the couches, the casual atmosphere, the furniture, the music. Our waitress was also SO nice. She was super helpful and explained each menu item in detail, as well as giving us great recommendations. Really awesome service.
Service - Arrived on time for our reservation but still had to wait at the bar for our table for about 15-20 minutes. They weren't busy as far as we could tell and the tables weren't filled so we didn't understand that. At the bar counter the team was very attentive, came by every few minutes to ask if we were ready and 2 different people took us through the entire menu. It was kind but a bit much and we had our conversation interrupted over and over even after explaining we were just waiting on our table. Food- The "bacon and eggs" was my favorite dish. Would consider it like a comfort cozy meal. Creamy and well rounded. The hamachi crudo was thick cut, very firm. Interesting because I'm used to very thin cut crudo with a sashimi texture and feel. It was a bit too fishy in taste for me but my dining partner particularly enjoyed that. The trout was fine but it is a smoked fish dish served cold. There are a few pickled veggies on top with no sides unless you treat the small plates as sides. The fish had a very firm texture, I would have liked for it to be flakier. Ambience- Bad Idea is a nice venue in terms of aesthetic. The building was once a church and it seems some of the bones are still there.
Obsessed with the look of this photogenic restaurant! It clearly used to be a church, which seems to be a trend for many Nashville establishments. Came here with a few coworkers and sat upstairs to share several plates family style. Everything was decent. Not like WOW (fusion is hard to master) but well presented and customer service was lovely. If I ever came here again, I'd love to sit at the bar for wine. Would probably pass on the food, though.
This, and FancyPants, have been my favorite experiences this week in Nashville. Both have excellent food, great service, a nice ambiance, and an overall experience. Of the two, FancyPants is a bit more approachable, which I will cover in a bit (also see my review of FP). The building is an old church and Bad Idea is in what was likely the main congregation hall where services were held. There is a big bar in the middle surrounded by tables. Also tables in the side rooms and upstairs. They have a happy hour, as well. We were sat when we got in for our reservations and our server Greg came over and greeted us and walked through the menu. Service was excellent and went beyond a single server. We started at happy hour without realization, but there are a few deals worth getting in early. The Laab Seen is $10 and the crudo is $10 and half the $24 portion, so a great deal. I will warn those with spice issues that the Laab Seen is rather picante in nature. Excellent flavor, but heat intolerants need not apply. Crudo was nicely done after having a crudo a few days before that was way overdone with vinegar, to where you could not taste the fish. The Ping Seen was excellent, but the Kaho Piak Khao (ricotta potato dumpling in brown butter) was the star for dinner. Dessert brought a second shining star, a excellent chocolate mousse on top of a bit of lemon curd with house made whipped cream. The Velveeta ice cream was also interesting if you want a more savory dessert. A great experience and I would gladly go again.
Visiting from CT for a reunion with friends and this was a very unique and special experience. The space is warm and welcoming with ambient lighting and dynamic atmosphere. The menu highlights bold and fresh flavors. The Peanut & Shrimp Jeow on the Lao Sukiyaki was a flavor bomb and the (Scallop dish) gave our group the WOW factor! I fell in love with Lao and thoroughly enjoyed Bad Idea.
This is one of the most stunning buildings in Nashville, and it fits the Bad Idea vibe so well. Love the staff here, they are always so helpful and give great recommendations. This time I went as a groups of 5 and we ordered a lot of great dishes. The top favorites of the group were the fried chicken with spice, the Mille-fueille and the naem khao. My top dish was the gaeng nor mai with the summer corn. I went a year ago and they had duck, prepared four different ways, and I can't stop thinking about it. I would kill to have that again.
2 months ago
I've been dying to try this place, but couldn't justify the price tag... but when my work booked a team dinner here, I was so excited! Getting to finally try it on the company dime is a definite win. But my review will be as if I paid, trust me. I'm very ethical :) The appetizers were so fun. I'm not a dill fan, but I wiped off the cream freche and dill powder from the Chicken BcNuggets and without the toppings, they were pretty bland. I tried the steak tartare (my first time ever having it) and it was divine. My coworkers couldn't get enough fo the Whipped Pimento Cheese. The main courses were so good - I got the Nashvile Strip Steak without cheese (lactose intolerant) and it was so delish. The toasted potato blini was amazing. A few people got the Mediterranean Branzino and it was a little fishy (but that was the only dish that got bad reviews). There were a few Risotto and Chicken dishes and they were well received. The desserts were heavenly, too. The experience was just wonderul and the staff was so attentive (but not too much so). Highly recommend for special occasions, just skip the fish. read more
We went to Bad Idea for my husbands birthday and I loved the atmosphere. We sat on the second floor which was quiet. Hot tip: if you go at 5 they have a happy hour menu! We opted for a couple of bottles and apps. For gluten free friends, their "Chicken BcNuggets"" are delicious and gluten free!! We also ordered the pimento cheese, which no one at the table loved. It felt more like a whipped cream cheese topped with sweet pepper jelly. Overall this place is great, but be prepared to spend! read more
5 months ago
We had such a great experience at Bad Idea Restaurant! The place is beautiful with a relaxed, chill atmosphere--perfect for unwinding and enjoying good food. Everything we ordered was delicious. The service really stood out. Even though we came straight from a yoga class in workout clothes, we were treated so warmly. The owner and staff greeted us kindly and made us feel very welcome. Highly recommend for great food, great vibes, and genuinely friendly service! read more
Bad Idea is located within an old church sanctuary and the vibe is seriously so cool. We want to come back just to sit at the bar or on the couches and hang out! Food was good, starting with their pimento cheese and chicken bcnuggets. I found the chicken to be most interesting out of the two - a fun and elevated take on a chicken nugget, especially if you like dill! For the entrees, we split the Spanish octopus and chicken forestiere. Octopus had great flavor, but we found it to be a bit small for its price point. The chicken forestiere, on the other hand, was a great portioned dish with phenomenal flavor. A must have from our perspective! We ended the meal with the banana pudding, which was fantastic. Drinks were very good, however, we felt the old fashioned was a bit overpriced at $25. We also felt the service was a little lacking - food was timely, but drink service was slow....waited for a second glass of wine for quite a while. Overall, giving this one a 4/5. read more
7 days ago
If you've been to Bad Idea and thought it wasn't for you, it's worth giving this spot a second chance. Owner Alex Burch (recent awarded Michelin South Guide best sommelier) has a stunning, rustic setup in a renovated church. Despite liking the idea behind their French-Laotian fusion menu, their flavors have been really hit/miss for me. So when their executive chef recently left and their hired David Breeden (former The French Laundry executive chef) to redesign their menu, I was intrigued and (so far), I feel like they are really killing it with execution. They've only unrolled part of the menu revamp so far, but it's classically delicious, pairs so perfectly with the wine they are already known for, and really fits into the antique, rustic vibe of the space. More emphasis on French techniques with southern flavors. We had: - Whipped pimento cheese - Winter chicory salad with poached pears and Gorgonzola - Pork pate (absolute must order) - Crab en gelee with whipped tofu and mini popcorn - Bucksnort trout We probably ordered one more dish than needed and I'd skip the trout if I came again but everything was just really, really good. I think the flavors just hit mute consistently across dishes and there were bites I felt like I wanted to lick the plate up (looking at you, crab gelee.) By far our favorite was the pork pate; it was more firm, less mousse like than pate I get normally is but it was incredibly southern-flavors leaning and just delicious. The winter chicories were a sleeper hit and honestly everything off the small bites and appetizers was just really incredible. They will continue to do late night, which is thrilling to me because this is a fave spot for me to go after hitting up the concert venue down the street. I want to come back and try their fried chicken and caviar nights sometime soon. Also to note, one of the main reasons why this place used to really irk me was I had consistently ridiculously slow, inattentive service, even when the place was empty. It's the same staff but a total 180 on service for this visit, I was never without someone to help me throughout the meal. A delightful change for more than the food and very, very well worth the effort to try anew. read more
Bad Idea is a really GOOD idea! Under Chef David Beeden the updated menu is delightful! The wine list is extensive, but the bar is limited. It is not full service, but the service is excellent. This is a small plates restaurant. There was room to eat at the bar without a reservation. The Crab Louie was slightly citrus and great on a warm evening. The Chicken Forestiere is amazing with a wonderful gravy. The Banana Pudding Parfait is cool, and a wonderful surprise of taste in every layer. read more
9 months ago
Really fantastic dining experience. Laotian food through a bit of a French lens. It was a unique experience for me. It is a wine bar, so I would recommend letting your server guide your parings. I ordered some things I normally wouldn't. I would say every dish was a hit for me. Mushroom/truffle pâte w/ burnt onion chips- 5/5. Delicious way to start the meal Crispy rice salad - 5/5. Made originally from coconut rice, the flavor really adds a lot to the dish. Arguably the best version of this dish I have had. Scallop mousse crepe w/ nam prik blanquette, makrut lime and tuile - 5/5. That sauce was everything. Pork chop with massaman curry - 4/5. The pork chop was cooked to perfection. The "curry" was really more a spiced sauce. Never had a massaman without peanuts. The sauce was actually delicious but it wasn't as memorable as the scallop dish and the pork chop had some pretty fatty parts that were inedible. Tempura winter squash - 4.5/5. Perfect cook on the squash. Pepper sauce was reminiscent of Crystal sauce. It was very good, but I felt like it could have used maybe one extra element to make it all sing. Quail stuffed with foie gras and sticky rice served on top of sweet potato curry - 5/5. Probably my favorite dish of the day. Perfect texture, perfect cook and perfect flavor. It was a party in my mouth. Pavlova w/ confit mandarin an tapioca - it was good but some of the elements that were described didn't really sing with the bravado I expected. There was supposed to be some earl grey element happening that I didn't taste. And the mandarin didn't taste any different than regular mandarin slices. Still, it was a very good pavlova and appreciated the lightness of the dish after a relatively rich meal. The service was perfection. Lindsay was a pleasure. The interior is very cool as well. Built into an old church so the architectural details are impressive. Also the sound was not deafening. Basically, I wish I had this restaurant back in the Bay Area. read more
I have been to Bad Idea six times. At this point, this is no longer a review, it's a case study. Every visit starts the same way: I convince myself this time it'll click. The name is ironic, I say. Growth happens here, I say. And every time, the name wins. Let's be fair before I go completely off the rails. The ambiance? Actually great. Dark, moody, stylish. The kind of place that makes you think you're about to have a meaningful night. The service is also consistently kind and attentive, which is important because you will need emotional support while reading the menu. Now the food. Most of the dishes are just... too weird. Not experimental chef weird. More like "the chef is absolutely in the back playing Minecraft or Roblox, stacking random flavor blocks and calling it innovation." No playtesting. Straight to production. The seafood has main character energy. It announces itself early and refuses to leave. Less "fresh ocean breeze," more "low-tide monologue." You don't discover the smell it discovers you. Then comes dessert. The signature dessert is brave. Reckless, even. It tastes like an idea that was never meant to leave the group chat. I admire the confidence. I did not ask to be part of the beta test. Nothing here is technically bad. No one is rude. Nothing is inedible. This is simply a restaurant making extremely confident choices with absolutely no fear of consequences. Would I recommend it? Only to people who enjoy chaos, surprise, and questioning their own judgment. Would I return? Probably. I've already been six times. The vibes are good, the staff is attractive, and clearly I cannot be trusted with decision making power. Bad Idea isn't dinner. It's an experience. A warning. A lesson, (also may have fallen in love on a date here, which also was A BAD IDEA, but keeping that to my therapist) so a double lesson. read more
20 days ago
4 days ago
Oh yeah! yum yum yum! Ive been wanting to go to Bad Idea for so long and finally made it as a new job celebrating dinner with friends. First of all, this is the most unique, beautiful, flowing ambiance Ive seen. I would literally base my house off this interior if I had a house to decorate freely. You can kinda tell it was a church but it really does work for the restaurant flow too. Our server was great. He was very positive, energetic, and knew the menu inside and out. He went over every dish on the menu with us. Im so glad he did because this really did impact our decisions. They have a couple non-alcoholic wines. He let us try the red and white before ordering. We also got a bottle of a gamay. This was a smooth wine served a room temp. The food came out pretty quick and was served in three courses. One thing I will say is the amount of food they suggest for a dinner is a bit overkill. We probably ordered less than half of what was suggested to us with the mindset of we can always order more. The whipped pimento cheese was exactly what is sounds like- just elevated. It was straight forward and delicious. The BcChicken Nuggets were the only thing that I didn't really enjoy. I typically don't like chicken nuggets anywhere so if I dont like them here I don't think Ill like them anywhere. The hamachi Crudo was amazing. It was served with vegetables like carrots cut out into fun shapes and a coconut creme. The coconut was light and refreshing. We were sold on the eggs and bacon. The pork belly was so good! I love hearing where everything is sourced from as well. I probably wouldn't order this one again only because it didn't fit with the rest of the food. The pear gorganzola creation with greens was very creative. I really enjoyed this one. it was something new and if I had to bet it was something I don't think I could get anywhere else. The steak was the star of the show for me. The crust was perfect, it was cooked perfectly. The sauce was powerful and bold. The potatoes were so unique and delicious. We ordered a dessert and we got one for free as a congratulations on the new job. I enjoyed the berry one more than the banana pudding one which was actually not the one we ordered! I simply cannot wait to come back here! Its definitely a "special occasion" place, although I wish it could be part of my monthly rotations! read more
3 months ago
*CHANGED CHEFS IN JAN 2026* Not the same Bad Idea under the new chef, David Beeden, but also not better. I booked this for a special birthday dinner and left feeling disappointed and a bit robbed - especially at this price point. The service was good and the vibes were elevated MCM, so we felt the food would still measure up, even if not the Laotian-French fusion the restaurant became known for. We ordered: - 2 glasses of sparkling wine - 2 appetizers (Chicken BcNuggets, Steak Tartare) - 2 small plates (Summer Squash, Black Truffle Mac n' Cheese) - 2 mains (Chicken Ballotine, Mediterranean Branzino) - complimentary dessert (coconut ice cream) for just over $400. Everything was either okay - the mac was our favorite, but who can hate black truffles and cheese? - or just not quite right. BcNuggets? Kind of dry. Tartare? Mostly brioche, barely any meat. Squash? Good but nothing fancy. Chicken? Dry. (I enjoyed the puree and sides, though.) Branzino? Topped with dressing-soaked lettuce and nothing else. I've eaten in high-quality restaurants before, so price isn't my main issue - it's what they're serving for that price. My recommendation? Come for the wine, order a few apps, and leave it at that. read more
1 month ago
Naem Khao: way too salty. The flavors were great, but overshadowed by the all-consuming saltiness of the dish. Khao Piak Mak Het: the ricotta dumpling was so delicious!!! The textures of this dish all cane together so nicely. The ricotta texture was firm, almost like potato. The sous vide cabbage complemented it very well. Finally, the incredible sauce tied it all together. This was my 2nd favorite dish of the night. Banh Cuon: I was hesitant to order scallops because usually you don't get enough to fill you, but this dish is definitely worth ordering. The scallop was crazy tender, and the laced tuile was both beautiful and tasty. Probably my favorite dish of the night. Sticky Rice Dessert: we luckily saved room for dessert! The sticky rice was familiar yet novel. I loved the traditional parts of it, as well as the meringue and the oolong whipped cream. SO GOOD!!! The interior decoration for the restaurant is actually incredible! This is one of the coolest restaurants I've been to. I love the central bar, all the couches, the casual atmosphere, the furniture, the music. Our waitress was also SO nice. She was super helpful and explained each menu item in detail, as well as giving us great recommendations. Really awesome service. read more
7 months ago
Service - Arrived on time for our reservation but still had to wait at the bar for our table for about 15-20 minutes. They weren't busy as far as we could tell and the tables weren't filled so we didn't understand that. At the bar counter the team was very attentive, came by every few minutes to ask if we were ready and 2 different people took us through the entire menu. It was kind but a bit much and we had our conversation interrupted over and over even after explaining we were just waiting on our table. Food- The "bacon and eggs" was my favorite dish. Would consider it like a comfort cozy meal. Creamy and well rounded. The hamachi crudo was thick cut, very firm. Interesting because I'm used to very thin cut crudo with a sashimi texture and feel. It was a bit too fishy in taste for me but my dining partner particularly enjoyed that. The trout was fine but it is a smoked fish dish served cold. There are a few pickled veggies on top with no sides unless you treat the small plates as sides. The fish had a very firm texture, I would have liked for it to be flakier. Ambience- Bad Idea is a nice venue in terms of aesthetic. The building was once a church and it seems some of the bones are still there. read more
10 months ago
Obsessed with the look of this photogenic restaurant! It clearly used to be a church, which seems to be a trend for many Nashville establishments. Came here with a few coworkers and sat upstairs to share several plates family style. Everything was decent. Not like WOW (fusion is hard to master) but well presented and customer service was lovely. If I ever came here again, I'd love to sit at the bar for wine. Would probably pass on the food, though. read more
1 year ago
This, and FancyPants, have been my favorite experiences this week in Nashville. Both have excellent food, great service, a nice ambiance, and an overall experience. Of the two, FancyPants is a bit more approachable, which I will cover in a bit (also see my review of FP). The building is an old church and Bad Idea is in what was likely the main congregation hall where services were held. There is a big bar in the middle surrounded by tables. Also tables in the side rooms and upstairs. They have a happy hour, as well. We were sat when we got in for our reservations and our server Greg came over and greeted us and walked through the menu. Service was excellent and went beyond a single server. We started at happy hour without realization, but there are a few deals worth getting in early. The Laab Seen is $10 and the crudo is $10 and half the $24 portion, so a great deal. I will warn those with spice issues that the Laab Seen is rather picante in nature. Excellent flavor, but heat intolerants need not apply. Crudo was nicely done after having a crudo a few days before that was way overdone with vinegar, to where you could not taste the fish. The Ping Seen was excellent, but the Kaho Piak Khao (ricotta potato dumpling in brown butter) was the star for dinner. Dessert brought a second shining star, a excellent chocolate mousse on top of a bit of lemon curd with house made whipped cream. The Velveeta ice cream was also interesting if you want a more savory dessert. A great experience and I would gladly go again. read more
1 year ago
Visiting from CT for a reunion with friends and this was a very unique and special experience. The space is warm and welcoming with ambient lighting and dynamic atmosphere. The menu highlights bold and fresh flavors. The Peanut & Shrimp Jeow on the Lao Sukiyaki was a flavor bomb and the (Scallop dish) gave our group the WOW factor! I fell in love with Lao and thoroughly enjoyed Bad Idea. read more
This is one of the most stunning buildings in Nashville, and it fits the Bad Idea vibe so well. Love the staff here, they are always so helpful and give great recommendations. This time I went as a groups of 5 and we ordered a lot of great dishes. The top favorites of the group were the fried chicken with spice, the Mille-fueille and the naem khao. My top dish was the gaeng nor mai with the summer corn. I went a year ago and they had duck, prepared four different ways, and I can't stop thinking about it. I would kill to have that again. read more
8 months ago
Returned a year later (why didn't take me so long?) sat solo at the bar, enjoyed the Pad Kra Pow paired with a red wine recommended by the bartender and it was outstanding!! I love the vibe here and it was just as pleasant solo while I was able to get some work done and had brief chats with the staff working. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
A repurposed church turned wine bar -- it truly is a gorgeous space. The food was interesting; it's Lao focused but they borrow a lot of French influence. Personally, I thought each dish was tasty but it failed to make a lasting impact on me. I was just left wanting a little more. I still really enjoyed my meal, and given how much meticulous care is put into each dish, I would love to try more of the menu. Happy hour specials are fantastic and are a great way to sample some small plates while having a drink or two. I want to shoutout the phenomenal service that we received here, especially our server Callan. She was really patient with our group while also being non-overwhelmingly attentive. She was also really informative about the menu and took care of us very well. From the host to the bartenders, props to the entire crew here! Favorite dishes: Lao sukiyaki (pork in it was amazing) read more
11 months ago
Bad Idea is a delightful blend of Asian and French cuisine, though it's hard to pin down exactly--what I do know is it's one of the best meals I've ever had. We went for dinner during a bachelorette trip, and it was a highlight of our weekend. We sampled a bit of everything, but my personal favorites were the Pain Perdu with caviar, the Nam Khao Crispy Rice, and the Pate en Croute. Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything you choose. Each dish was not only stunningly beautiful but also uniquely delicious. We shared several appetizers and went for the "American Pekin Duck for Two," which could easily feed more than two people. It included four different duck dishes, each one equally amazing. This is not a meal you can find just anywhere. The entire team at Bad Idea knows exactly what they're doing, from the kitchen to the incredibly knowledgeable server who guided us through the menu and wine pairings. The location is also gorgeous and dimly lit. I couldn't recommend this place more. read more
1 year ago
Atmosphere: lots of MCM vibes, gorgeous mood lighting, fantastic playlist. You can tell they took time to curate the decor, furniture, flatware, EVERYTHING is intentional Food: Creative, flavorful, fun to eat, beautiful plating, just really good food Service: did not miss a beat. fantastic! read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
I visited this restaurant on a Tuesday afternoon for a quick dinner a little while ago. It wasn't very busy, so I was seated promptly. Not being very familiar with Lao cuisine, I asked the waiter for recommendations, and they kindly suggested some of their most popular dishes. I decided to try the Nam Khao (fried rice) and the corn dog. The Nam Khao had a nice crispiness to the rice, but overall, I didn't enjoy the dish much. It was unexpectedly spicy, which was not mentioned, and the texture of the sausage was not very pleasant. The corn dog was just okay; the breading lacked flavor, and the dipping sauce didn't complement the dish well. While the food didn't quite meet my expectations, I nevertheless appreciated the restaurant's great vibe and the wonderful staff. read more
Great ambiance! Great service! Very unique menu. We were celebrating a special occasion, and Bad Idea was a good place to do it. Everything we ate was delicious. Plus the chef sent over an egg dish topped with salmon roe that was off menu. My favorites of what we had were the banh xeo and family meal. If you love Lao or Vietnamese food but want something a little unexpected, this is the place! read more
1 year ago
Honestly it's a rare occasion we go somewhere where everything just hits. I read some reviews and am baffled. Yelp wants me to consider "food, service, and ambience" and honestly all parts win. We went to East Nashville without reservations and the fact that we got in to this place at the bar felt like an absolute win. Servers at the bar were just so great. I mean, so. Great. They were kind, fun, answered my questions which my wife said were annoying with grace and kindness. Owner came by and chatted. He loves wine, we love hearing about wine so an absolute in. Food just crushed!! Unique and delivered. The leek gratin was so good and got better with each bite. Honestly there aren't a lot of places that emphasize hospitality in Nashville these days so it was a breath of fresh air to come in and truly felt welcome. We'll be back. One are of improvement just so people don't think this is a fake review, don't under emphasize your ability to do some killer cocktails. I know yall have the skill! read more
2 years ago
Had such high hopes for this place..Unfortunately the food fell flat and left us unable to finish our food. The perks were the service which was phenomenal with super personable nice staff. The vibes inside were super cozy. The winning dish was the crudo with three different types of fish the flavors were solid. The downfall was all of the dishes were overly salty to the point myself and my partner needed two things of water. For nearly $200 this place is a splurge. Would possibly stop by again and check out their happy hour and taste a few small dishes versus order the $95 shareable main for two $20 with small plates. read more
Bad Idea is SUCH a creative restaurant. All the dishes are innovative and have unique flavor pairings, and the ambience is so cool. It's located in an old church, revamped, and the inside is just beautiful. Our waiter was your classic East Nashville stereotype (beanie, flannel, mustache), and was SOOO sweet. He was so knowledgeable about every dish and willing to explain everything to us in detail. He also advised us on what to get for a group of foodies who want to try the best of the best. I would suggest 1 entree and 2 small plates per 2 people. If you don't know what to get, make sure above all that your order includes the golden dutch chicken, the quail, and the velveeta ice cream. Here's what we tried: -Golden Dutch Chicken for Two: 100/10 - This was mindblowing. Our favorite thing of the night. They use a half chicken, and make 5 completely unique, incredible dishes out of it. You get a dirty rice, a chicken noodle soup, a large crispy chicken wing, a breast with foie gras gravy, and a sausage. The dirty rice was SO flavorful and had amazing texture. For the soup, the noodles were made from the broth of that same chicken... incredible! The crispy chicken wing wasn't our favorite flavor-wise (it was almost bitter?). The sausage was proabbly the most MOIST sausage I've ever had. And finally, the breast with foie gras gravy was OUT of this world. It was the most tender chicken I've ever put in my mouth, and the gravy was rich and tasted just like a perfect foie gras. No notes. Absolutely amazing. -"Bahn Xeo": 8.5/10 - The pork and shrimp terrine had good flavor but it was a bit tough to bite through. The gravy was so creamy, the pastry was flaky and rich, and the mung beans on top added a perfect crunch. -Quail: 9.5/10 - Not only was the qual cooked and glazed to perfection, the rice on the inside was absolutely rich in flavor and the curry sauce rounded out the dish beautifully. A MUST get for the small plates! -Thai Banana Toastie: 6.5/10 - The idea was good, and I honestly loved the pairing of the sweet banana/caramel with the salty caviar. However, the texture made it fall short. It was all very soft and there was no crunch, so it was underwhelming. -Velveeta Ice Cream w/ Yuzu & Burnt Vanilla: 10/10 - Wow. TRY THIS! You would never expect the flavor pairing to work, but the yuzu brought a citrus flavor that zinged right through the cheesiness of the velveeta ice cream (which was very reasonably flavored), and the burnt vanilla ended the bite with a sweetness that rounded everything out perfectly. We absolutely loved it and kept going back for more, especially because the texture of the ice cream is SO soft, almost like custard! -Durian & Earl Gray Mille Feuille: 7/10 - The mille feuille was a really great one, but we couldn't get a ton of durian flavor from it. Apparently, it had been cooked down to dull the funky flavor, but it just meant we were mostly tasting earl gray and maybe a bit of fruit flavor. Overall, though, it was still really delicious. -Marshmallow Key Lime Tart: 4/10 - This was a miss. The lime tart was really bitter, the marshmallow didn't add much flavor or texture wise, and we were unimpressed. You can skip this one. They gave us a few gifts from the kitchen, including an egg pudding with roe and a few sweets, but none of those were out of this world enough to mention. Still sweet of them, though! Also, their wine list is absolutely extensive, so you won't be left wanting more when it comes to alcohol. read more
3 years ago
Wow -- gorgeous space, terrific service, and great cuisine and drinks. Totally a good idea! (Yeah, yeah, punny...) The space reminds me a lot of No Goodbyes, the restaurant inside The Line hotel in DC; you can tell it's a converted former church, but it's airy and warm, with a vibe all its own. As another reviewer mentioned, the acoustics are solid -- neither booming nor library-quiet. You can tell a lot of thought went into the layout, furniture, tableware, all the details. Kudos to the designers. Service was top-notch. Great explanation of a menu that may seem intimidating to some. Always watchful and observant to re-fill glasses, clear plates, etc, even with a fairly busy section. Lots of hustle in the crew -- including the staff who have to bring food upstairs to the balcony from the kitchen! Food and drinks were divine. Three small plates and the shareable bass for two was perfect, in terms of amount. My favorite of the small plates was the croquettes; my husband really loved the caviar "French toast"-style dish and the scallop crepe. All were totally different from anything else you'll find in Nashville -- this is a place to take adventurous eaters to "wow" them. The drink menu is impressive. I loved the long list of wines by the glass. My husband liked the varieties of bourbon on offer at very reasonable prices. read more
I was so excited to try this place! The staff were welcoming and answered all our questions about the items on the menu. * French toast- soft and fluffy on the inside,rich in flavor, toasty on the outside * Salmon- puffed wild rice gave it a nice crunchy texture to the smooth tender salmon, but I wouldn't get this again before trying the pork. * Egg custard- superb. * I had higher expectations for the pork but it wasn't my favorite. Although, I really liked the Jeow Nam Jim. It added that extra kick it needed. The Mille- Feuille was PHENOMENAL. It was a nice way to tie in the meal with a tropical and refreshing end. Shoutout to our waiter for recommending we pair it with the Rare Wine Verdelho! read more
I was so excited to try this place out!! I want to give this more stars but I can't. The location is great! Tucked away in an easy nashville neighborhood, street parking only, so plan an extra 5 minutes to find parking and walk to location. Once you come it during dinner time the mood is set with mood lighting and chill music there is a low rumble of conversation all is well, even the chairs are comfy! Starting of with the small plates I shared the croquettes and was not impressed, it was crispy coconut rice that was overly seasoned with a tomato paste that didn't compliment the rice. Next was the Porridge. Listen I love to try new things and this was GOOD the egg was salty at the bottom that balanced everything. The kicker was that the waiter asked if we wanted truffle but didn't tell us the extra cost so I was hesitant to add it But I knew I was going to spend a some money for the experience so i i was added. This 18$ dish became more expensive than the 55$ main dish. Although I was ready to pay for dinner I was a little blindsided that the server didn't say that was an extra cost. This dish is good if you like truffle because you do get a good amount. the main dish we choose was the red snapper which included roots, butter lettuce, curry & lovage crepes, soured cabbage on the side, and sauces(delicious!!) this was a build you own bite type of dish by using the roots or the crepe. The snapper was delicious and would come again for the jeow jam jim sauce !! Overall I would come back but not on an empty stomach. Or on someone else's dime. This is an upscale Lao food, I might come back for the chicken dish and different starters read more
Never had Laotian cuisine before so it was fun to try these unique flavors! Loved the scallop crepe, which tasted of the sea (in a good way, if you like that) and the pain perdu, an interesting mix of sweet kaya jam and savory caviar. Pork belly lettuce and herb wraps were decent but nothing special to me. Was also pleasantly surprised by the durian mille feuille - I grew up around durian but never loved the pungent smell, but as promised, the durian cream was light and tropical, but lacked the often polarizing aroma - would recommend! Service was great although somewhat slow, but we didn't mind at all since we were catching up. Definitely a unique dining experience, especially among a sea of "new American small plates" places all over town. I would say not for everyone if you're not adventurous, but worth a try (and a return)! read more
3 years ago
Bad Idea is always a good idea. I'm surprised it's not packed every night! The space is gorgeous! I mean truly lovely. They did a fantastic job keeping the original space while transforming it. The restaurant melds perfectly into it. I want more of this in Nashville. More restoration, less destruction and new (yawn) boring buildings. Let's keep the character people! Use Bad Idea as your case study. Now to the food. There is not a lot of Laotian food in Nashville, much less elevated. The chef does a fantastic job of highlighting the cuisine while also adding twists and other complementary styles to the menu. Make the reservation, take the trip. Order the best glass of bubbles and enjoy the culinary trip! read more
4 months ago
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More info about Bad Idea
1021 Russell St
Nashville, TN 37206
East End
Directions
(629) 729-4332
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https://www.badideanashville.com
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Ask the Community - Bad Idea
Do you have to have reservations?
Hi! The bar and lounge operate on a first come first served basis. We often have availability for walk-ins at tables as well. The bar serves the full dinner menu.
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