Locust
Fine dining restaurant · 8th South
2305 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
Highlights
Seafood, dumplings, and shaved ice with a seasonal menu
Seafood, dumplings, and shaved ice with a seasonal menu
"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. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak
"Locust is the ultimate date night trump card. Why? Because there are few other places where you can brag about liking someone so much that you jumped through some serious hoops to score a reservation. Having said that, you’ll need to be prepared when dinner reservations open up the month ahead of time. When you finally score a date and time, you’ll find that the food at this intimate 12 South spot is an exciting experience. Like the delicate sheets of egg folded so precisely, they look like one of Martha Stewart’s fitted sheets, and a DIY beef tartar hand roll that’s the perfect excuse to swap expert wrapping techniques. Throw some pours of housemade horseradish vodka into the mix, and pretty soon you’ll realize what everyone else does: the work to score the reservation was totally worth it. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, ann walczak
"The restaurant whose team includes Trevor Moran saw Moran named among Nashville-based semifinalists last year; principals Benjamin Goldberg, Max Goldberg and Josh Habiger of the parent hospitality group also received Outstanding Restaurateur nods this cycle." - Missy Frederick
"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. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - jackie gutierrez jones 2
"Mentioned both as one of the locations associated with the restaurateurs who earned an Outstanding Restaurateur semifinalist nod and in last year’s slate of Nashville semifinalists (Trevor Moran of this venue was a named semifinalist last year)." - Missy Frederick
