The New York Times’ much-anticipated, annual restaurant list dropped Tuesday. And of the 50 featured spots from across the country, two Tennessee establishments made the cut.
The first tracks with the list’s usual vibe. Bad Idea is a new sommelier-owned wine bar in East Nashville that serves Laotian fusion from a head chef who once worked under Sean Brock.
Sommelier and restauranter Alex Burch and Colby Rasavong started Bad Idea via a series of pop-ups at other local beloved restaurants, like Bastion in Wedgewood-Houston, Urban Cowboy in East and St. Vito in the Gulch. In the time since, the menu has firmed up to become much more distinctly Lao-inspired; the wine list has gotten significantly longer; and the space inside a former church now hosts its own late night takeovers by local chefs who may one day do the same as Bad Idea.
Rachel’s rec: Personally, I slip in after 10 p.m. for a late-night menu that includes golden curry corndogs and fried bologna sandwiches with potato chip aioli. This doesn’t typically require a reservation, but you can also make one ahead.
Pick two may come as more of a surprise to Nashvillians, who have long loved this South Nashville establishment: Edessa…