NashvilleFounded by one of the city’s most exciting young sommeliers, Bad Idea has quickly become an East Nashville neighborhood hangout. In addition to a fascinating beverage menu annotated with historical nuggets, tips, and suggestions courtesy of the expert owner, Bad Idea specializes in the cuisine of Laos seen through the lens of chef Colby Rasavong who has worked in some of the most renowned kitchens in Charleston and Nashville. A limited, but still excellent late-night menu aims at restaurant and bar industry workers looking for something exciting to do after their shifts, as well as anyone seeking some of the most exciting food in the neighborhood.

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.

Bad Idea may well be what many seasoned diners thought when they heard there was a wine bar specializing in envelope-pushing Lao food opening inside an East Nashville church. But given the level of cooking here, the name turned out to be a self-aware joke, rather than a self-own. The concept coheres in the hands of the owner, Alex Burch, a seasoned sommelier and first-time restaurateur.

Nashville’s most design-forward new restaurant was the product of a crowd-funding campaign that came to fruition in fall 2023 when Bad Idea opened its doors in a former church sanctuary that was ravaged by the 2020 tornado. The menu pairs food from Chef Colby Rasavong’s heritage—he’s a first-generation Laotian-American with a resume that includes time in many of New York City’s and Nashville’s top kitchens—with the wine list created by owner Alex Burch. Though Bad Idea has a full bar, wine is definitely a top focus at this restaurant where 125 selections from the custom-built wine cellar 3,000 bottles deep are available at any one time.

It comes as no surprise that Bad Idea, Alex Burch and Colby Rasavong’s wine bar in East Nashville, garnered a nomination this year from the James Beard Foundation for Best New Restaurant. Burch’s delightful and informed curation of fine wines, Rasavong’s creative menu embracing his Laotian-American roots, and the aesthetics of the reconfigured church sanctuary combine to provide an experience like no other in Nashville — or anywhere else!. Burch’s wine list reflects his lore and love of the grape, with terrific educational notes throughout.

So named because “opening a restaurant is a bad idea,” this natural wine bar is the brainchild of owner-sommelier Alex Burch and chef Colby Rasavong. You might kick things off, for instance, with a scallop-stuffed crêpe in a pool of nam prik blanquette topped by a lacy tuile, and follow that with a vegetarian laab made with sunflower milk, or pain perdu kaya toast topped with caviar. It’s all happening inside a repurposed church sanctuary with original windows and high ceilings.

Neighborhood: East Nashville – Five PointsMore Info: badideanashville.com. Housed in a refurbished church on Russell Street in East Nashville, the experience at Bad Idea is a treat from the moment you approach the doors (bonus points if the sun has already set). Intricate woodwork and stained glass line the space alongside funkier elements like colorful seating and strips of neon lighting.

Bad Idea’s ever-changing menu is divided into two categories: nine small plates and a few of what they called, “Share-able Mains,” serving two. The fusion Laotian-southern menu was mostly incomprehensible to my daughter, Marissa, and me because of our lack of familiarity with Laotian food. Fortunately, our waitress was incredibly patient and excelled in describing the dishes.

For those seeking something offbeat, Bad Idea in East Nashville is a great choice. Housed in a converted church, this wine bar serves Lao food and stays open until 1am, making it an ideal spot for late-night eats. The vibrant couches, intriguing dishes like scallop-mousse-stuffed crepe, and a well-curated natural wine list make it a standout in the Nashville dining scene.

Don’t Leave Without Trying: Ping Mak Het (Lions Mane and Stuffed Morels). In East Nashville, Bad Idea brings a fresh perspective to the dining scene under the stewardship of sommelier Alex Burch and Chef Colby Rasavong. This unique establishment, housed in a former church sanctuary, marries intricate Lao flavors with a meticulously curated wine program.

This trendy wine bar is known for its eclectic selection and vibrant ambiance. With a rotating wine list that features everything from bold reds to crisp whites, there’s always something new to try. Their small plates and charcuterie boards pair perfectly with any wine choice.

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.