Bad Idea
Restaurant · East Nashville ·
Lao-inspired plates, French techniques, extensive wine list
Lao-inspired plates, French techniques, extensive wine list
"I noticed right away that this wine bar feels nothing like a prototypical dimly lit wine bar: its branding is straight out of a skate shop, with pops of neon on its Instagram and a signature chubby bubble‑letter font, the food menu leans heavily Lao, and the restaurant is housed in a former church sanctuary with wood carvings and arched windows. Owner Alex Burch, this year’s MICHELIN Guide American South Sommelier Award winner, has deliberately made a potentially intimidating space feel beautiful and welcoming so guests are comfortable whether in an evening gown or their kitchen uniform. The wine program is mold‑breaking and approachable, built around a no‑stupid‑questions ethos that reflects Burch’s own journey from rudimentary tasting notes to sommelier training; the menu is easy to read, with a key on the first page, plain‑English tasting notes and playful hot takes (for example, “No grape has been misunderstood more than poor, poor Chardonnay”). Because the dinner dishes favor Thai chili, lemongrass, lime leaf and fish sauce, whites with a touch of residual sugar and citrus lift feature prominently; a standout pairing is François Chidaine’s 2019 Montlouis‑sur‑Loire Les Tuffeaux with a scallop‑stuffed bánh cuốn in a Thai‑chili‑steeped cream sauce, where the wine’s age and slight sweetness match the texture and take the edge off the spice. Even when I order little more than a glass and a small plate, the place charms me—Burch says they also carry plenty of wines that might not be traditional pairings but make for great adventures at the bar or in the lounge." - The MICHELIN Guide
"Set in a former church sanctuary, the spacious, stylish dining room showcases Colby Rasavong’s wine-forward Lao approach: dishes like banh xeo — a lacy crêpe stuffed with shrimp terrine and smothered with red curry oil that sits in a silken pool of peanut, coconut milk, and ginger sauce — illustrate the deliberate “dance” between condiments and explosive, cerebral flavors. I watched Rasavong work the dining room, chatting with guests as he plates soulful riffs on Southeast Asian classics and larger-format bangers such as a whole chicken broken into five shareable preparations (including soy-sauce-caramel–sauced breast, crispy wing, offal dirty rice, handmade noodles in rich carcass broth, and a standout chicken boudin flavored with Thai bird chile and lemongrass and lacquered with tamarind barbecue). His deft charcuterie — pungent sausages and pâtés — and playful items like a Thai Banana Toastie and a cheeseburger encased in French-style pithivier all pair with one of the city’s most fun wine lists, curated by owner/wine director Alex Burch and leaning on low-intervention European selections with generous 2½- and 5-ounce pours designed to encourage communal eating." - Hunter Lewis
"Bad Idea isn’t as obviously sceney as, say, V Modern Italian, and that’s what gives this Lao restaurant a cache of cool. Groups of stylish people cluster around the dining room and bar, laughing from their tables between bites of laab and sips of wine from one of the most funky selections in the city. And everyone’s having a great time—from the person in the sequin bolero and tulle skirt to the mustachioed gent sporting a bolo, whose outfits you’ll invariably be talking about the next day. People who want to be a sommelier Musty gruner veltliner with an exquisite nose 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
"The Bad Idea space used to be a church, but a completely different kind of religious experience is happening here now. The energy inside of this East Nashville spot just feels celebratory—from the chatty groups of friends toasting with bottles of gruner veltliner to the couples at the bar digging into pithivier cheeseburgers at Happy Hour. The Lao-inspired food here is interesting and thoughtful—like a starter of french toast topped with caviar and kayja jam—but it’s the wine program that really makes this a great place to celebrate. Weird and delicious bubbles and funky skin-contact whites are just a few choices off the 3,000-bottle menu. And with two-ounce pours as a tasting option, you can focus your commitment on the person in front of you. 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
"People go to church for lots of reasons. If yours happens to include Peking duck and glasses of skin-contact gruner veltliner, you’re probably well-acquainted with Bad Idea. There’s no mistaking that this Lao wine bar was a church in a past life—there are super-high ceilings, ornate arch windows, and booths that resemble pews. But these days, you’re more likely to corral a group of friends here after a show at the Basement and continue the party until 1am with golden curry corndogs and bologna sandwiches schmeared with potato chip aioli. We’re not sure if it’s the bottles of bubbly lambrusco or the late-night menu’s elevated riffs on munchies, but everyone in the dining room is living it up. And we say amen to that. 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