Bastion

Review summary

1. D

   David

   E. Tennessee

   4 reviews

   4.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   During our fourth trip to Bastion, we had our first less-than-stellar meal at this Nashville gem. Before posting this, I contemplated whether the issues were theirs and or something internal which I unfairly attributed to the restaurant. I believe I am being unbiased, but I fully admit most everything I will describe is absolutely subjective. I do love Bastion. Though we were a party of two, we were seated at a table rather than the bar as is customary with couples. This was disappointing in that we enjoy watching the talented young staff do their culinary magic in closeup and sometimes ask a question or two. To their credit, we were offered a space at the bar for our final two courses which we declined. Our table was too close to the stereo speakers and it was difficult to hear the sommelier and kitchen staff describe the courses and their pairings over the music. Happily, the album playing on that hi-fi was Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," so that wasn't such a downside. Most everything else went well - apart from the food. Our first course of four "bites" was quite good, especially the caviar on beef tendon "chicharrone" with pureed salsify and a single exquisite "Aphrodite" oyster from Maine. However, most items in the first three courses were over-salted. Course four began a rapid descent. The "King Salmon, Lima Bean, Bonito" offering was pretty pedestrian, lacking the boldness or daring I've come to expect from the kitchen at Bastion. It was the fifth course, "Beef Tri-tip, Radicchio, Golden Raisin" which was just poorly-done. Salty, mushy and underwhelming, the beef appeared to be cooked sous vide with a perfect razor-thin browned exterior which belied the texture and taste. The delicious, well-dressed shredded radicchio atop the tri-tip was unable to salvage this dish. Will we be back? Absolutely. But I do hope this outlier meal was a glitch in the otherwise sterling Bastion matrix. Service was flawless as always.
   

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2. J

   Jamie

   Jacksonville

   11 reviews

   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The menu was amazing and so creative! Wonderful staff and chefs. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
   

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3. S

   Seth

   Nashville

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Bastion was the best dining experience we have ever had. The tasting menu was so good. The service was stellar with staff knowing and calling you by name. We got to try unique things we have never heard of and the best salmon and Tri-tip steak we have ever had. 10/10 would recommend to anyone and the wine pairing is a must.
   

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4. k

   kERRY

   VIP

   Washington DC

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   3rd time here and it never gets old. Best service, ambiance, food, creativity and experience. I recommend this place to ALL and will keep coming back when I am in town.
   

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5. B

   Barbara

   VIP

   Miami

   24 reviews

   5.0

   24 reviews

   Dined on January 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Bastion is an almost perfect dining experience that starts with their caring and knowledgeable staff. Its dark, hip and casual decor and concept menu pairs nostalgia with modern cuisine and plating. We loved the progression of tastes, the smart wine service, and the personal delivery of each dish by the chefs.For me the array of desserts fell short as they seemed to get lost in their ideas and missed on satisfying tastes. You’ll find lots of interesting ingredients paired in delicious ways with their menu. We arrived way too early for our reserved table and enjoyed perfect and very personalized cocktails made by the personable bar master. She made an hour go by so pleasantly. The unique part of Bastion is the record player playlist that is part of their nostalgia and slow down vibe. We lucked out with a full play of one of our favorite Arcade Fire albums. We’ll be back and would recommend this place to friends.
   

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6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Nashville

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Each course was beautiful, and the staff was hospitable and knowledgeable. Ian, Eric, and Slyvia made our night special, and their service made it all look flawless.
   

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7. c

   carlyn

   Atlanta Metro

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on December 31, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   I have eaten at many fine dining establishments in Nashville. The food was impeccably prepared and presented. We had an exceptional bottle of wine with our dinner, and the cocktails were well prepared. You can balk at the cost, but this is one of those establishments that it is money well spent. It felt so intimate and the food was Amazing!
   

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8. B

   Beth

   Houston

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 30, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Second trip to Bastion—the first was a year ago and positively incredible, from the food to the wine to the service, music and ambiance. Brought some friends back this time and was far less impressed, unfortunately. It may have just been an off night but I found most of the dishes and wines forgettable, with a couple truly unpalatable (in at least two cases, courses were excessively salty IMO, and I couldn’t choke down one of the wine pairings). That said, the beef main was great, as were the accompanying rolls and a couple of the seafood preparations. Still love what this place is doing but was disappointed last night (and bummed to have talked the restaurant up to friends who left similarly underwhelmed).
   

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9. S

   Susan

   Nashville

   11 reviews

   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined on December 19, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Always a special night out!! Still out favorite over the years. If you are into an eclectic preparation and presentation of phenomenal flavors this is your place,
   

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10. C

    Corey

    E. Tennessee

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Everyone at Bastion was both extremely professional and personable, and the food was exquisite. Easily the best food I’ve had in Nashville so far. Also unique presentations and preparations! Come here for an amazing experience.
    

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