Coming here is a BAD IDEA! We got sat tonight at 8 PM and ordered at 8:10. It was not very crowded. We ordered Crudo ($22) and the steak ($95) and two glasses of wine. We watched as all the larger tables around us that ordered after us got their food. When we inquired at 8:50, we were told it was coming soon. When we still didn't even have our appetizer at 9 PM, we asked what was going on and all they could say is they were sorry and there were new cooks in the kitchen. That didn't explain why others got their food first. We said we were going to leave and they didn't even encourage us to stay. So disappointing! Margot down the street took us no problem and the food was delicious. That was a much better idea. read more

Bad Idea - They tell you before you enter that trying to eat there is a bad idea - Wine Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We went evening of Nov 5. The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. Very accommodating. Not a vast beer list, but the wine list was off the chart amazing. I can't decide to first describe the food as unique or delicious. Asian-inspired flavors but not overpowering. The combination of flavors and presentation was like nothing I have had. Texture was crunchy and smooth. Highly highly recommend dessert. We will definitely make Bad Idea a "must do again" on our next trip to Nashville. read more

Location 10/10 Ambiance 10/10 Service 8.5/10 Food 5/10 I really wanted to love this place. I was prepared to love it after reading reviews ("best food I've had in Nashville" ...that's a tall order). First, the space is amazing. Restored old church. Decor reminds me of mid century modern vibes. The bar is expansive. Music is a good mix & sound level. Our wait person was attentive and helpful. The menu is small & I think changes often. Our other couple is vegetarian and there were 2 small plates & 1 main that they could eat. They seemed to like their food more than us. They had the mushroom dish (minus dry shrimp), rice with egg & squash main. We had the sausage rolls. The texture was off putting and the flavor was flat. The green sauce was yummy. We had the shrimp terrine. Again, just meh. We had the pork main that is served with mixed lettuces/herbs (for wrapping) & two sauces. The pork was overcooked mostly & chewy. The sauces were good. To recap, 2 small dishes, the pork main & 3 glasses of wine total (with 20% gratuity automatically added to the bill) = $232. We were both disappointed. We eat out a lot & we appreciate really good food, ambiance & service. The dishes are creative but the taste just isn't there. read more

Such a gorgeous spot! It's mostly a wine bar with food. We just got drinks- my wine was spectacular and I absolutely loved the vibes in here. Perfect for a dressed up date night. Service was super great as well read more

Bad Idea - Bar area - Wine Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Laotian fine dining in beautiful location - repurposed church. Food is made of sharing, so go with people you like! We had blue shrimp from Thailand, crispy rice w seafood, South Asian version of a sausage roll made w pate. Also had chicken pot pie w a great crust. A gift from the kitchen was chawan mushi - a warm custard w seafood. This brought back memories of New Years w my grandma. It is a labour intensive special occasion treat.Mains were sea bass beautifully prepared and pork neck. Dessert was worth the calories. A beautiful durian Mille feuille- don't worry, no durian smell ;) - and a great sorbet. A wonderful dining experience. read more

Excellent tasting food with an extremely unique menu. Very good service and friendly staff. Love the interior as well.

If you're looking for a traditional night out with expected flavors and options, this is not the spot for you. If you're looking to get experimental without really knowing what you're ordering, this is your date spot. The dim lit inside with high ceilings and tasteful decor set the perfect mood. To be fully honest, we had no idea what was on the menu even after our fantastic hostess explained it all to us. We went for the Pork + Shrimp Terrine which was fantastic, and the Yellowfin Tuna for Two. The Tuna was prepared in 3 different ways which were all vibrantly different from one another, setting the tone for an experimental yet delicious occasion. We loved the experience. Again, if you're not willing to have a bit of mystery mixed in with your expensive date night, this is not the spot for you. Oh, and we loved the wine options as well! read more

Bad Idea - Wine Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

A wonderful new addition to the Nashville food scene. Laotian food in an incredible ambiance. The wine list is well curated with some really great options! We tried a bunch of things on the menu but the chicken 3 ways was the winner amongst some amazing dishes! read more

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The service was great, fast and polite. The explanation of each featured dish was so detailed and precise. The ambiance was very chill but tokens of fine dining. It was also very relaxing . The food I could tell there was a lot of thought into the flavor and culture of Laos unique flavor. Definitely a fusion of flavors: southern, Laos and fine dining fusion. The wine selection was so huge but the waiter was able to bring us a bottle that reflected what we wanted to eat complimenting favors. Heather was great! This restaurant was small plates but I didn't leave hungry at all! Would definitely go back when I'm in town. read more

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Truly enjoyed a first dinner at Bad Idea. So many great flavors and innovative combinations of high-quality ingredients. Vegetarian laab, sticky rice and duck for two were all very good to excellent. Velveeta gelato dessert was awesome. Definitely an elevated dining experience that is not for everyone. Wish they had more of a full bar selection of drinks in addition to wines. The space is an unusual, funky modernized church building, but IMO is a little too sparsely decorated and brightly lit and the music was a touch too loud. Overall, highly Recommended! read more

My husband took me here for Valentine's Day dinner this year--it's been nearly 3 months since then and I'm *still* dreaming of this delightful meal! When do we get to go back, I keep asking myself?? Because it's not a bad idea at all to come here and drink in the exquisite ambiance, the fantastic service, and the exotic yet excellently prepared Asian cuisine. Not only did we eat like royalty but we were treated like royalty as well! And the best part is that it wasn't even as opulently priced as food not even half this tasty in this style as I've had around town! We left dinner feeling fat and fabulously happier than ever, so I'm happy to add this restaurant to my fab new hotspots in town list: better believe I'll be back and bringing fab friends with me for this gloriousness too! read more

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I stopped into bad idea with a group of friends on a Saturday night and we were seated very quickly. The ambience is absolutely stunning and the wine selection is beyond extensive. I'll have to come back for food next time since we stopped for dinner before hand. If you're near five points make the effort to stop here. It's a wonderful addition to the East Nashville scene. read more

Bad Idea - Exterior door - Wine Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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The space is beautiful. I love that the bar is in the center of the restaurant. It has a variety of seating options, from cushy bar stools to lounge sofas to traditional table seating. There are two floors, and the buildout within the historic space is really well done. The service was good. The bartenders were kind and attentive. The first bartender picked out the perfect wine for me, showing a mastery of the impressive (and informative) wine menu. The food is what makes this place earn its name. We only ordered from the snack menu because after eating what we ordered - The Diana (pictured) and the Golden Curry Corndog - my taste buds were so roasted by the high salt that I couldn't even taste my wine. It was actively bad. The Diana was just WAY too salty. Bologna has high salt content on its own, so it doesn't make sense why they added more salt. The corndog was fried in old oil and topped with a teaspoon of room-temp caviar (for $15 extra). I'm honestly concerned that the caviar isn't safe to consume. The curry sauce was just too much and made no sense with the corndog. The corndog would have been better with ketchup. If you want to sit in a pretty space and drink wine, then Bad Idea could be worth a visit. If you are hungry, then at least avoid the snacks at Bad Idea. It stands to reason that the main dishes at Bad Idea are of a similar (low) caliber as the snacks. read more

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Lao "INSPIRED" menu combined with classic French technique. When I think about it, it makes so much sense: the flavors of Laos, a former French colony, combined with French technique. When I think of Lao food, it's strong, punchy, funky, and herbaceous. I don't think that flavor profile as a whole translates to this style of cuisine, but I can see and appreciate the inspiration/nods to the traditional dishes. For example, "Mok pa" - traditionally a white fish steamed in a banana leaf, mixed with lots of herbs, primarily dill. Here, it's a salmon filet, banana leaf sauce, with dill oil. The flavor is not quite as strong or reminiscent of mok pa, but I understand it. Another example was the "laab" salad - I really wish there was more mint, more lime, and some actual toasted rice powder. I know the koji is from their partnership with Proper, but without the toasted rice, I feel like the flavor profile of laab is lost. My favorite dessert was the panna cotta with pandan. It was a beautiful, reimagined version of "nam waan" or a cold coconut milk dessert (or at least that's what it made me think of). I wanted so badly to see a menu item with sticky rice!! The wine list was incredible, service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was airy yet cozy at the same time. Overall the food was executed well. It's far from the flavor or style of traditional Lao food, but if you can understand and appreciate the technique, I think you'll enjoy it a lot. I'm so happy that this kind of menu exists! read more

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They have a great wine menu and our server was very knowledgeable about recommendations based on our preferences. We sat on the balcony which was quieter but still nice. The food is very unique and upscale. read more

Good service but the atmosphere didn't fit the restaurant, it was kind of weird. The food was good but not great, Xiao BB is so much better. Everything started great with the rice and bologna sandwich. But as we moved to entrees I was just let down. The gazpacho came with my last entree, it should have been mid meal and it wasn't very exciting. The chicken sausage tasted ok but the texture was off. It was too soggy and the same as the mash so it didn't go well. The scallops had another texture issue I just couldn't get past. Potential but not what I was expecting to get. read more

My wife and I, along with a couple of friends stopped by Bad Idea after a show at Basement East for a quick bite and nightcap drinks. What a mistake; truly was a "bad idea". The drinks were ok but the food.... All three things we ordered was way too salty (unedible salty) It was so salty, I had to say something to the waitress. Not recommended for food. read more

I feel like I was pranked. The food was so bland, service was not good and kind of uncomfortable/not friendly. Feels like we were being punked the whole time we were here... I genuinely don't understand. Bad idea coming here. save your $$$ read more

Bad Idea was an Ok Idea. Come here for the ambiance, funky wine list (but be prepared for high prices), and Instagram-worthy dishes. I don't recommend coming with an empty stomach, and be aware that some dishes are not at all what you think. For example, the small plate toast and caviar dish is practically a dessert and the fish main plate had so much chili powder on it we could barely finish it. For the service and quality of food, it was very overpriced. And a 20% service charge was included for a table of four (standard, but we almost tipped an additional percentage on top without realizing -- so be aware). read more

Bad Idea - Wine Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Oh, everything we ate and drank here was SAP SAP (delicious)! My husband and I flew from CA to celebrate our 12th year wedding anniversary in Nashville. He made dinner reservation at Bad Idea and boy oh boy, were we in for a treat. The place is gorgeous but the best things were the food and service. My husband was only going to order a few small dishes but after Heather's explanation of the chef's vision and the food, we were sold and ordered all that we could eat. Everything was amazing! The highlight of our night was meeting Chef Colby. He was so kind as he brought out our main dish, the Ping Mak. The way he elevated these dishes was amazing. Everything I ate reminded me of a Lao dish my father-in-law made. Yum! And I cannot leave this review without mentioning the desserts! Omg! Mouth watering goodness! We left stuffed and happy. I highly recommend this place to everyone! read more

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Very expensive and not very palatable. We ordered the potato dumplings and the porridge as a starter, then had the yellow fin tuna for two as the main. I wouldn't recommend any of it. Staff was kind, but heavy handed. They checked in on us way too often. The ambiance was didn't do anything special for us. The place was clean, and the glass and dish-ware were pretty. read more

Amazing wine selection and a truly gorgeous restaurant with the coolest aesthetic. Our servers were awesome and super attentive. We went for a late night bite and all got the egg salad sandwich with smiley fries and ranch. When I tell you we all have not been able to stop thinking about our food, we mean it. Something so simple was so incredibly good, it blew our minds. read more

Bad Idea - Riesling, Pinot Noir, and the egg salad with smiley fries - Wine Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Go for the wine not the food. Fantastic wine list though the food was mostly disappointing and overpriced. The menu is very confusing and our waitress was not eager to translate it for us. First the good: the mushrooms were delicious, the wild boar sausage stole the show as an entree. The not so good: The cabbage dish was overly spicy and the cilantro and mint overpowered (not great flavors paired with a fine wine). The New York strip was inedible you don't get a steak or even half a steak you get three small bites which would have been fine if they were the best cuts...not the case, mostly fat and connective tissue...inedible. 3 bites of an inedible NYS for $65 IS...A Bad Idea. read more

Incredible in every way. Service , food, wine, atmosphere, location, parking! So glad we had this experience on a rare night off!

Very cute restaurant! We were so excited to try it! We loved the ambience and had good service. We all tried different things, but unfortunately none of us enjoyed our food. read more

Very unique flavors and delicious food. It was light and very fresh with a lot of inspirations from Laos. My favorites are scallop crepe and the salmon. The vibe was hipster and the space was clean and airy would recommend. read more

I'll be honest, I was skeptical of "elevated" Lao cuisine but Colby nailed it. The atmosphere is great. An open space with elegant simplicity. The food is delicious. We have loved everything but our go to is the scallop crepe. The drinks are good as well. read more

I personally think the name is perfect for this place I unfortunately didn't enjoy the food nor the service I send couple of dishes back I see the concept they have they just definitely need to work on their menu read more

Bad idea is has a great vibe and atmosphere. We really enjoyed the wine selections and chatting with the owner Alex at the bar. However we found the food to be a little heavy on the salt. But fun creative food, and I like that the menu is consistently rotating. Bad idea is a good idea. read more

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Beautiful setting! Great server who explained all dishes as if I were tasting them. Started the evening with a tasty Negroni followed by a Spring salad (laab) of radish/turnip. On to a scallop crepe under a tulle, delicate and full of flavor. Followed by catfish grilled in a banana leaf and perfectly seasoned, very good. Portions were good for a moderate hunger. Visit this restaurant for a dining experience! I will be back! read more

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Bad Idea is a gorgeous new spot in an old church in East Nashville. It was beautifully renovated for a really great vibe. Their wine selection is incredible and it sounds like they'll just be growing it more and more. Their food was also delicious with really unique blended flavors. My favorite dish is the croquettes! The scallop crepe is also a standout. Definitely check out Bad Idea for a wine and upscale tapas style meal! read more

Bad Idea was beyond amazing. Walking in, the vibes are just perfect with a stand out throw back playlist which I immediately liked. I made a reservation but when I got there, I realized I had the wrong date and luckily they were able to take us right away. We were seated upstairs which I honestly think I will always prefer because you can stare down into the restaurant and look at everyone below. The menu is small but there's something for everyone. I appreciated this because they did a couple things and a couple things EXTREMELY right. I think I said wow after each bite. I'm new to Lao cuisine and the layers of flavors were outstanding. Alex and Colby are super friendly & passionate about their business which we loved. This is the place you want to try in Nashville. I can't wait to go back! Bad Idea = GREAT IDEA read more

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Tried all of the small plates available. Favorites stared -potage aux pomme-3/5 potato soup with potato chips was a little salty because of that couldn't really take anything else in it - pate-4/5 was good but I was expecting blended up liver pate texture/ flavors and tasted more like a fatty pork sausage instead *-pain perdu-4.5/5, Kaya jam was really nice (sweet, refreshing) reminding me of Singapore but not sure what else is added to make it mint colored?, spread on light crispy toast and hits of cavier saltiness *-nam khao crispy rice- 5/5 so much favor and spice in fried rice but very balance and it makes you wanna take second bites -Bloomsbury laab salad- 4/5, initially it was nothing exceptional and had radishes in it which was not in the menu? but went nicely with dishes that were spicy and salty. Good refreshing palate cleaner between heavier bits *-Broken rice porridge- 5/5, very umami with heavy mushroom favors and creamy texture, great comfort food dish *-scallop crepe-5/5, our favorite dish, it's a blended up scallop mixture that was light but some bite to it (almost like bouncy shrimp ball texture) wrapped in crepe with crunchy tuile -catfish- 3.5/5, the catfish texture was dry so needed the sauce that came with it *-durian Mille feuille 5/5, not too sweet, great durian and earl grey cream flavor with layers of crispy light puff pastry (lighter than normal mille feuille). Very happy to have a durian dessert in Nashville! Overall, I would come back to try the mains, new dishes and favorites! read more

Bad Idea - Pate 3.5/5, fried rice 4.5/5 - Wine Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

This was our first time visiting this place. It was on our short list and was recently featured in a New York Times article. So we made reservations before word got out. We were seated, water poured and a nice chilled bottle of water was left at the table. So far so good. Our waiter, Shade, explained the menu and ordering process. We had a flight of champagne which was fantastic. Then ordered the food. They want you to order everything at the start, which was a bit odd but the food was brought out in a perfect order. First was Dry Fried Blue Prawns, then Pain Perdu which was heavenly. Then a Scallop Stuffed Crepe, equally divine. For the main, we had the Pork Collar. The mains are to be shared and come with 4 crepe like pancakes as well as lettuce for wraps accompanied with fresh herbs and edible flowers and 2 sauces. There was only 2 of us so we were quite full when done. Desert was over the top good. Some kind of upside down banana cake deal. So darn good. This place is known for for their wine selection and I picked out a winner. We will return to this place for sure. read more

The food at Bad Idea was delicious. We shared the fish main and they allowed us to switch it from fried cod to grilled cod. It was so good and I really appreciate they offered that option to us. We also had the crispy rice small plate (spicy and well flavored!) and the pain perdu with caviar (a little too sweet for me, but my husband really liked it.) Only negative is there is only street parking. The lot next to the building isn't for this restaurant. read more

I had the pleasure of dining here on my Nashville visit and I have to say , love at first sight. The restaurant vibe was amazing!! We sat up on the balcony which was a view of all the architectural grandeur that is Bad Idea. We basically ordered the menu because once we saw it, we knew they were not messing around. Everything was super highly thought out and executed. Favs- pate, caviar toast, salad and holy pork belly that was amazing. Our server recommended a lovely bottle of wine and we even snuck in a secret cocktail at the bar. We met the owner who was just a cool guy that chatted with us for a while and answered all my questions that were more than a few about all the things Bad Idea. See ya next time I'm in Nashville for sure. I will tell everyone who visits it's a must try read more

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The district flavors were a delightful twist, and the pork belly was truly exceptional - the best I've ever had. The wine program was impressive, and we'd gladly reorder everything. While the cocktails were fantastic, they were a bit challenging to locate on the menu. The gluten-friendly options were appreciated, and I'm intrigued by their late-night menu. Overall, a superb culinary experience. The design of the restaurant is incredible, the most beautiful dining experience. Good staff to diner ratio. read more

Bad Idea - Wine Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Incredible inventive food and amazing wine. The staff was so attentive, and there is attention to every detail. I was so impressed with the quality of food, service and wine. read more

It's a beautiful space and has a really great ambiance, a nice place to catch up with friends or go on a date. The menu is small but thoughtful. There's a selection of small plates and shareable mains. We opted for the croquets and broken rice for the small plates and the Poulet Rouge for our main. I will note that the chef is Laotian so it is inspired by his heritage and the flavors are Asian which I'm very familiar with having grown up with this cuisine. That being said the small plates were good but not that special to me. The Poulet Rouge which is a trio of chicken dishes were great, the chicken breast with rice and chicken sausage dishes were the standouts. They were both so flavorful and delicious. The third dish of the trio was an udon noodle dish, it was fine but didn't stand out to me and was a little bland in my opinion. The service was great though and we made a reservation so didn't have to wait for a table. read more

The concept is great. Beautiful location. But the food was just okay. The portions are small but I enjoy tasting menus so that doesn't usually upset me as long as the flavors blow my mind. These did not. We had the scallop, the crispy rice, and the mushroom vermicelli small plates. While there were flavors to be had, they really didn't impress me that much. We had the Mahi for our larger plate. It was good but slightly over salted, and I love salt. So that's saying a lot. In the end our group concurred that it was okay but not worth another visit. read more