Locust

"On any given day, Locust’s menu is a toss-up, but have confidence that it’s going to be great every time. Of the high-caliber Japanese, Irish, and British food coming out of the open kitchen, there’ll probably be eight to 10 dishes that are easy to say yes to, like a devastatingly soft potato bread, meaty razor clams, or DIY beef tartare handrolls that are almost as much of fun to make as they are to eat. Be sure to reserve ahead of time. There are only 10 tables, and snagging a spot can be difficult." - jackie gutierrez jones 2

"Another location under Strategic Hospitality, also previously a semifinalist for the Best New Restaurant category." - Missy Frederick

"Do you know what you’re doing a month from now? Us either. But the answer should be going for a life-changing lunch or walk-in dinner at Locust, an ever-changing and difficult-to-reserve spot in 12 South that serves Japanese, Irish, and British food. It’s run by a chef who used to lead the kitchen at Catbird Seat, so it’s no surprise that something as simple as a curry potato chip or a single slice of bread can make you emotional here. The exact menu on any given day is unknown, but here's our general advice: Order everything. There’ll probably be 10-11 dishes that are easy to say yes to, like heartbreakingly tender potato bread, meaty and creamy razor clams served open and glistening on a bed of pebble ice, or a cheeky nod to Nashville’s food currency, hot swordfish." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak

"Do you know what you’re doing a month from now? Us either. But the answer should be going for a life-changing lunch or walk-in dinner at Locust, an ever-changing and difficult-to-reserve spot in 12 South that serves Japanese, Irish, and British food. It’s run by a chef who used to lead the kitchen at Catbird Seat, so it’s no surprise that something as simple as a curry potato chip or a single slice of bread can make you emotional here. The exact menu on any given day is unknown, but here's our general advice: Order everything. There’ll probably be 10-11 dishes that are easy to say yes to, like heartbreakingly tender potato bread, meaty and creamy razor clams served open and glistening on a bed of pebble ice, or a cheeky nod to Nashville’s food currency, hot swordfish. The dessert alone is worth any amount of wait or scheduling. A mound of fluffy shaved ice towers over the table and hides custards and purees underneath and within. There won’t be a disappointing bite in the bunch, so go ahead and leave no stone unturned. photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks To have the best chance of snagging a reservation, pour yourself a cup of coffee, log on to your computer at about 9:55am on the first of the month, and hit “refresh” exactly at 10. For those of you who logged on at 10:02 and missed out, there’s always the opportunity to walk in on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6-9pm. That’s when they do expertly steamed dumplings, rotating snacks like scampi fries, the occasional special like perfectly grilled whole fish or an out-of-this-world carpaccio, and seaweed martinis or a crisp draft Guinness. Not to mention there’s that intangible feeling of being in a familiar neighborhood bar that just happens to serve incredible food. Food Rundown Horseradish Vodka Just like it sounds, this is a shot of horseradish-infused vodka. It’s served straight and as cold as anything Foreigner could ever sing about. It’s not only a shock to the system, it’s shockingly delicious and preps the stomach for the meal to come. Bread & Butter Two words: potato bread. There is some kind of magic in the ingredient list. Because, as far as a slice of toast goes, this is quite literally the best thing since … you know. photo credit: Kelli Dirks Beef Tartare Do you love a handroll? What about giant mounds of freshly chopped beef? If so, this is for you. photo credit: Kelli Dirks Dumplings When Locust first started, dumplings were pretty much the main event. They’d purchase a whole hog, and day by day, dumpling fillings were made from different cuts until the whole thing was gone. Now, these perfect little handmade pockets hold all manners of surprises and serve as little half-moon sponges for your pint of Guinness during Locust at Night. photo credit: Kelli Dirks Shaved Raspberry Tea Ice A shaved ice dessert that’s three stories tall. It is pure blasphemy to go to Locust and not order this. If this was all this restaurant served, there would still be a line out the door. Kartoffelkage For Later We love a spot that sends you home with a little treat. Who doesn’t want to lie on their couch and bite into a custard-filled pastry, covered in marzipan and dusted in cocoa so liberally it looks more like a potato than dessert?" - Ann Walczak

"The rest of Nashville’s semifinalists, who were named in January — Trevor Moran of Locust, Arnold Myint from International Market, and D’Andrews Bakery & Cafe — didn’t make the cut for today’s 'short list' of nominees, though their 'long list' consideration still carries its own measure of prestige." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones