Website: https://badideanashville.com/
Bad Idea is a wine bar and restaurant in East Nashville, Tennessee, housed in a restored church. The establishment describes itself as “a place for food and wine,” and its kitchen follows an ingredient-driven, technique-forward approach to a seasonal menu designed to move alongside its wine program. The restaurant has drawn national recognition, including being named one of the 50 Best Restaurants in America by the New York Times, a James Beard semifinalist nod, and the 2025 Michelin American South Sommelier Award.
Menu
The dinner menu is organized into snacks, small plates, and main courses, and changes seasonally. Snacks include whipped pimento cheese with aji dulce pepper jelly and baked saltines; “Chicken BcNuggets” with dill-infused creme fraiche and an optional caviar add-on; Rocky Glade Farm crudites with whipped tofu and pumpkin seed salsa macha; and Parisian-style steak tartare with piquante dressing, pickles, mimolette, and waffle fries.
Small plates include tuna tartare with scallion creme fraiche, yuzu, and black rice; bay scallop crudo with koji cream and preserved Meyer lemons; a green salad with avocado mousse, feta, and Greek oregano vinaigrette; Spanish octopus served crispy with fennel salad, tangerine, and roasted caper butter; country-style pork pate with golden raisin chutney; and a “Bacon and Eggs” dish of a soft farm egg, braised bacon, mascarpone grits, and Parmesan sabayon.
Main courses include chicken “Forestiere” with wild mushrooms and toasted orzo pilaf; crispy-skinned Bucksnort trout with eggplant tapenade and sauce romesco; a Nashville strip steak of American Wagyu with potato blini, aged Comte, and Tennessee BBQ butter; a vegetarian ramp risotto with ramp-top pesto and Parmigiano-Reggiano; and braised Duroc pork collar with creamed English peas and chorizo gravy.
About
Bad Idea pairs its seasonal kitchen with a wine program of more than 150 artisan selections from around the world. The restaurant occupies a beautifully restored church and offers dine-in service, gift cards, and private events. For private bookings, the mezzanine accommodates up to 30 guests in a semi-private setting overlooking the main dining room, while full-venue buyouts can host up to 150 people for rehearsal dinners, corporate dinners, and similar occasions. Custom menus and curated wine experiences are available depending on the event, and the venue requests at least 45 days notice for full buyout requests.
Location & Contact
Bad Idea is located at 1021 Russell Street in East Nashville, Tennessee. The restaurant can be reached by phone, with text preferred, at (629) 729-4332, or by email at [email protected]. Event inquiries are directed to [email protected], and careers to [email protected]. Reservations are available through OpenTable.
Additional Information
Walk-ins are accepted at the bar and lounge on a first-come, first-served basis. The restaurant advises that parking is street-only and recommends ride-share or public transit. Children are welcome, though the venue notes it does not offer a special menu or high chairs. Bad Idea maintains an Instagram presence at @badideanashville, and gift cards are available online.
Profile compiled from the company’s official website (badideanashville.com).