🍶 Present Tense | Nashville’s Non-Traditional Izakaya

TL;DR – A bit disappointed 😔 My Asian chef friend RAVED about this place, so expectations were high… 📍 Located in a kinda sus area. You can park in their 3-level garage or find street parking. Reservations recommended. The space is small, with a pink-tropical vibe and very indie electronic music (a bit too loud 🎧). Service was efficient but not overly friendly — introvert-approved 👍 🍴 Small Bites Yellowtail Sashimi: Fresh and delicate, but portion was small 🐟 Grilled Oyster Mushroom Skewer: Tangy, salty, spicy — amazing first bite, but got too salty later 🍄 Teriyaki Chicken Skewer: Tasty but basic — tastes like something you’d get anywhere 🍗 🍝 Mains Squid Ink Pasta: Pretty good! Served with garlic? and mustard-based meat sauce — better than most squid ink pasta I’ve had 🖤 Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet): Perfectly crispy outside, tender inside — but the sauce was a letdown 🐖❌ 🍨 Dessert Black Sesame Ice Cream: Absolutely delicious — black sesame lovers will praise this! 🍨💯 Their menu changes often, so maybe we just didn’t order the right dishes? They did make it onto Resy’s 2024 Best of the Hit List 🏆, and prices are reasonable compared to other trendy spots in Nash — under $100 per person. Tonight’s experience was just okay… 📈 Maybe next time! #NashvilleEats #Izakaya #PresentTense #FoodReview #Nashville