Bastion — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

Let me preface this review by saying, I am your typical twenty-something young professional. I am not rich, but I can enjoy a nice meal out every now and then. I love a nice craft cocktail and charcuterie board, but I can also appreciate a drunken binge fest on Taco Bell after consuming too many Miller Lites. I feel like that's important to note because Bastion is not your typical "let's go out to eat" dinner for me... it was such a unique, fun, and delicious experience for this self-proclaimed foodie.

I had heard from several friends that the bar was a lot of fun (great cocktails and nachos), but my husband and I were invited by some friends to check out the restaurant. I didn't even know they had a restaurant originally. It's tucked away behind a sliding door in the hallway next to the restrooms. The hostess stand is in the corner, and she comes out to greet you when you arrive- very speak easy vibes. Reservations must be made ahead of time and require a $25 deposit that is then subtracted from your total bill.

While we waited on the other members of our party to arrive, we were invited into a holding area with a bar. The bartender was a true mixologist- we enjoyed watching him craft our drinks. When our friends arrived, we were then escorted into the tiny restaurant area. There are maybe 20ish seats- a couple tables and several seats at a bar. The menu is very limited and vague. The menu has 5 five courses and 3 things to choose from on each course- giving you a total of 15 options. The only things listed on the menu are a protein + a highlighted ingredient, for example "Fish + Truffle Oil". The staff will further explain the menu if you ask, but I kind of enjoyed the mystery of it all. It's also worth noting that the menu is seasonal and changes frequently.

We decided to do the "Let's Try Everything" option, which is perfect for two people. My husband and I enjoyed trying a small sample of everything on the menu! We definitely tried things that we wouldn't normally order on a menu, but I can honestly say we enjoyed EVERYTHING that we had. We also enjoyed all of the cocktails that were made for us- the mixologist made us several off-menu cocktails too after we explained to him what we liked.

The service was fantastic. You don't really have one set server, you are literally served by every worker in the restaurant, everybody from the hostess to the head chef. When each course is brought out, the dishes are explained in great detail. They even instruct you on the proper way to eat the dish!

Price-wise: It's not cheap, but it is truly a culinary experience. The "Let's Try Everything" option varies in price depending on what's offered on the menu, but I think we paid around $150. The individual "a la carte" options vary in price so you can spend way less than that if you'd like. The cocktails are around $12 a piece. A 20% gratuity will automatically be calculated to the bill. I consider the food/drink quality comparable to the Catbird Seat (another amazing Nashville restaurant) but a much more affordable option.

In conclusion, even if this doesn't sound like your usual cup of tea- I would still try it out. You will not be disappointed! I can't wait to go back to try their...

In 2018, I planned a whirlwind trip to Nashville to see a band I was really excited about. I had booked a cool place to stay, got dinner reservations at this awesome looking restaurant, and made some notes of other interesting places I wanted to check out while I was in town. Unfortunately, from the moment I left work on Friday afternoon to start my adventure, everything went horribly, unbelievably wrong.

I left late. My "cool place to stay" ended up being a bit sketchy. And, on top of that, when I got an Uber to head to my dinner reservations, my driver was lost, made many wrong turns, and I missed my reservation time. I also think it was raining, and I had no umbrella. Needless to say, I was defeated.

When I finally got to my destination, I wasn't at this James Beard-nominated restaurant I had seen online. I was at a bar. Given everything that had happened up until this point, I decided that I finally deserved a moment of peace; I gave up on my reservations and sat down at the Bastion bar. I ordered a drink, bonded with a bartender over our shared pizza tattoos, and tried to decompress from my wild afternoon. I'd had just enough time to recenter myself when someone came from behind the bar and asked me my name.

They saw my open bar tab, and they also saw that I had missed my dinner reservation; wondering what was up, they came and grabbed me. It turns out, I wasn't in the wrong place, I just didn't ask the right questions.

I was led into the restaurant area (I'll spare you the details so you can experience it yourself, but it was a special transition), and I had one of my favorite meals ever. I just like cool, weird, interesting things, and Bastion is a perfect combination of all those adjectives. I'm writing this review over 5 years later because I still think of Bastion and how wonderful of an experience it was. The rest of my Nashville trip wasn't all that great; the band wasn't as great live, and I found myself feeling really old, surrounded by a bunch of teenagers (who were special in their own way, of course-- but not what I was expecting). The only thing that went right on that trip was finding Bastion, and I have zero negative things to say about my experience.

Thank you for a fantastic dining experience, amazing food, and a special memory. I will always...

When visiting Nashville and in search for a tasting restaurant your main choices will be Bastion and Catbird Seat. Luckily a choice here wont leave you feeling left out, as Chef Habiger was one of the founding chefs at Catbird Seat. For those impressed with resumes he also has experience at Chicago's Alinea which at times was lauded as best restaurant in the world by high authorities. Currently Bastion may be regarded as a cheaper alternative but by far does not skimp on the experience. To start, getting a reservation is done online which requires a deposit. The restaurant is guarded by a casual bar which itself is a spectacular find and does offer a nice contrast between the highly intelligent dishes being served next door. A transitional Little Bar prepares your senses while waiting in an extremely dim lit area and only increased our expectations before a dinner at the chef's counter. The menu cannot be pigeonholed into a distinct cuisine as items ranged from raw oysters to a Japanese inspired roasted beef. Your meal choices are of total freedom where you can pick and choose from their categories of which we chose everything except dessert. Cocktails and wine were enough indulging for one evening on my end. The menu is ever changing and was one for the record books. I left and felt as if my palate had been through a boxing match and something I whole-heartedly appreciated. All items we well selected and paced throughout the meal and felt like an experience that was not rushed and most importantly not gluttonous. Running the chaos that is a kitchen I cannot imagine the challenge that must come from opening this scene directly to the customer. One of the most impressive and fun aspects was watching dishes appear in front of you seemingly from thin air, and without cursing or pan throwing!? This to me is symbolic of a well lead team and it was of great joy to talk with the chef while enjoying his creations. Truly a special...