Bastion

This evening was a complete experience and was out of this world. We really did not know what to expect and we made reservations (like 4 weeks in advance) for an 8:30pm dining experience (which is 9:30pm our time which is my bedtime) only because we wanted to see one of the chefs who is chef-ing there now - Diana aka Diesel - who we know from the Kimball House in Atlanta.

We got to Bastion at like 7pm and sat at the Big Bar which was fabulous. We both got a cocktail which was exceptional and then we needed food - but refused to order the nachos since we were eating in the main dining area. We moved from the big bar to a smaller more formal bar which is where one goes to get closer to your dining experience. Another cocktail - this one divine - and now we REALLY needed food.

Finally we were sat in the small dining room at the bar where we got to watch each chef prepare their courses. And each course was a piece of art. We do not like small ridiculously sized portions of pretentious food, but this was not like that at all. Each portion was perfect, exactly what your palette wanted and needed and out of this world. Everything was made to perfection and each chef brought their own spin to things (of course we will say Diesel's food was our favorite :)

If you can get in this restaurant, please do. It is a full experience and one that you will remember for a long time - but take it from us...don't have too many cocktails before your night truly begins!

I’m so happy I decided to dine at Bastion and scored a reservation! Definitely the highlight of my trip to Nashville. Food was amazing, cocktail excellent and service outstanding. I loved sitting at the counter and watching all the action. Shoutout to Jacob who made my dining alone so much more enjoyable. I definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a great dining experience in Nashville, it’s worth every penny.

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 be a big fan.

Bastion is a very unique spot! The menu is always changing, so it's a flavor adventure every time. If you're a picky eater, this place will not be for you as it is a tasting menu and the portions are small. This spot is mean't for the foodies who enjoy fine dining atmospheres and are willing to try new food methods and flavors.The small intimate vibe adds to the cozy charm. If you're looking for a food experience with small portions, big flavors, and that goes beyond the usual – then add this place to your list!

May be the best restaurant in Nashville. It’s not for everyone as you will try unique foods and flavors, but if you are a foodie, the restaurant at Bastion is a must-try. The restaurant is intimate, the chefs work beautifully and interact with you about the food, and the food is a creative tasting menu developed with precision and care. They know where every ingredient is sourced and the cooking methods sometimes take days or prep. They are also wizards with the drink pairings, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. A standout date night experience! There’s parking in the lot across the street and they validate it at the restaurant. I personally enjoyed sitting at the bar where you can see the kitchen. Would highly recommend getting a reservation.

Came here for my anniversary with my girlfriend and we had an amazing time! the food was so good and the service was impeccable. We were most surprised by the veggie course, since I typically just eat a ton of meat, but this frisee salad was fire. Like normally frisee is just a garnish, but this salad was so good i felt i needed this recipe! The duck breast and Fish (forgot name) was hella good too, their titles on the menu are a total set up! It literally said duck, potato, parsley, but when they serve it to you, it is like an explosion of flavor and texture, they totally underpromised and over delivered on every course! Will def come back!

Bastion is an experience that not only meets but exceeds expectations on every level. It was my second time dining here after a phenomenal first experience just over a year ago. From the moment you walk in greeted by Chris as soon as you are seated with prompt beverage service and a welcoming ambiance.

Each bite seemed to be almost better than the last. I come from a background of working with fine Italian cuisine and to my surprise one of my favorite courses was a blue crab and ricotta agnolotti. The pasta was cooked perfectly and filling seemed to pop with every bite. Each course continued this trend of astonishing flavor and presentation throughout the entire meal. Simple ingredients that had been used creatively to create such an experience with every bite.

The beverage program couldn't have delivered any better as well. Eric the beverage director is extremely knowledgeable not only about the history and the stories behind producers from wine to whiskey, but also how each sip will interact with your food. He helped us pick out a bottle for the second half of our meal that is typically something I wouldn't try but the wine was immaculate especially with the food.

There are some places that deliver on the food but what also sets Bastion apart is the hospitality. Hospitality comes in many forms from a froth of house team, but when dining at Bastion the entire team from the host to the chefs emulate true passion and care for not only the product but the guest as well. Chef Diana and Chef Noah did such an amazing job describing each dish and also taking the time to answer any questions we had about the food or just in general. Not many places are able to execute an experience like this.

Thank you so much to the entirety of the Bastion team. Sometimes you need to escape life for a couple of hours and disappear into the comfort of hospitality, food, and wine, at Bastion this is possible.

Now this is how you do it! Talk about an experience. The wine pairing with the dishes served fit each other so impeccably I am at a loss of words...

Okay I found them. This food was different in a way that made me interested. Love fine dining and I wanted to try this place forever!! So glad we got to experience this place, because everything was done to the T.

You will not be disappointed and you will get full by the end unless you just have a huge appetite. The wines were amazing, every dish was amazing. I forgot the servers and host names but man if I could acknowledge them I would. The interior of this location was gorgeous and the low light made for an amazing date night.

Our first visit to Bastion was seamless from start to finish. It was one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. Food, drinks, even the water…all of it was excellent.

They have a convenient and validated parking lot (which already was enough to win my heart). From the second we walked in, it was clear to me that the staff are experts at anticipating needs. Our water glasses were never more than half full. Each course was delicious and thoughtfully presented at the exact moment we were ready for the next round. The chefs were friendly and knowledgeable. Our bill was given to us in a timely way. These little moments only added to the fantastic culinary experience. We are already planning our next Bastion visit!

Oh my gosh! This is an amazing dining experience! It is pricy but well worth it. Had the wine tasting with the meal. Chefs kiss 💋. Paired very well.

Bastion’s is one of the finest places we have ever eaten. Each dish is extremely creative and combines so many different flavors. We have eaten at many fine restaurants, but this is by far the best place in Nashville we have ever experienced. The chefs preparing the food go out of their way to tell you about each dish and the wine pairing is highly recommended. We had high expectations going in, but by far every expectation was exceeded. Highly, highly recommend. Worth every dollar you spend.

My wife and I went for a special occasion and had a tremendous time from the moment we stepped in the door. The menu was outstanding from top to bottom and I kept finding myself saying "wow" at the next mouthful of exciting flavors.

Best meal I've had in Nashville.

Truly spectacular dining experience! I cannot express how thoughtful the host and chefs were with my husband’s dietary restriction without making him feel self conscious. The cocktails were exceptional and the meal was absolutely divine from start to finish. We had an incredible experience; this is a must do in Nashville!

Richard, Shawn and Noah were absolutely amazing! The food was unreal. 10/10! We can’t wait to come back

This is a must try dining experience when you’re in Nashville (if you can score a reservation).

The restaurant itself is almost a secret entrance of sorts connected to its sister bar. It’s gorgeous inside and everyone (for the most part) sits at the chef’s counter. You basically get 1 on 1 service from very skilled chefs. The ambience was so unique.

Overall service was some of the best we’ve had. It was so nice chatting to the chef about places he’s tried and to see how passionate he was about food—it was amazing.

Drink menu was top notch. So many good cocktails, wine and beer that it’s tough to make a choice.

Food was incredible. Bold flavours and great portion sizes. Did not leave there feeling like I needed to be loaded with a forklift but I was plenty full. The menu layout was so unique and we loved it.

It was just such a great experience. Will 100% go back when we are in Nashville next time.

My fave restaurant in the USA. Chef Josh and his team are AMAZING! Delicious food, exceptional service, and memorable experiences! I will always dine here when visiting Nashville!

Everything from the moment you check in to the moment you leave is fantastic. We started with drinks at the little bar, and every cocktail was delicious. The service is impeccable; everyone is so personable and welcoming. The food is some of the best I’ve ever had. We are super excited to come back and try another menu.

Such a great experience!!! My friend and I made dinner reservations. The whole menu (attached in the pictures) was delicious, tastes, presentation, textures and portions. We were seating by the prep section, so we were able to watch the chefs decorating/putting plates together. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly.

My favorite restaurant in Nashville is Catbird Seat so of course I had to give Bastion a try. We came with another couple and did the option to try everything and it was simply amazing. Every bit as good as Catbird Seat. My favorite style of eating is tapas so for me, this is fabulous. The flavors were incredible, presentation gorgeous, service impeccable...fabulous evening!
**Update: Ate here again with another couple. Made reservations for 7pm for The Feast with wine pairings. Paid a little over $1000 in advance for the 4 of us. We waited at the bar for a little bit beforehand (if you're the designated driver and you've ordered the wine pairings, good idea to not get something alcoholic). When they sat us, they told us we had the table for the evening so no rush. We left about 10:30 btw (probably left the table at 9:45/10 and sat at the bar for another 30-45 minutes).
Our meal of course was incredible. The sommelier had lots of interesting stories/history that he shared qith each pairing. It was hard to say what my favorite was because it was all amazing. I enjoyed the cards with descriptions of each course. The Feast is family style. Some of the dishes were separated so we each had our own dish and some we passed around. The steak was very impressive and beautifully presented! We were all full by the end. Of note is that you might want to arrive a little early to park. Not a lot of great parking and I'm not sure I'd leave my car overnight. The area has changed since we were last there though with lots of shops/restaurants/bars that have popped up. I highly recommend The Feast!

We had an incredible time. The food and drinks were creative and innovative, but approachable and fun to eat. We loved talking with our chefs, who were very friendly and eager to answer questions and chat about food. We're big fans of tasting menus and we've tried many of the ones in town—this was one of our best experiences. The restaurant hit a sweet spot of delicious and innovative food and drinks in a completely unpretentious atmosphere. We'll be back!