Colby Rasavong is the Executive Chef of Bad Idea, an East Nashville restaurant serving Lao-French cuisine that was named one of the Best Restaurants in America by the New York Times in 2024 and a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in the 2025 James Beard Awards. Bringing a wealth of knowledge from acclaimed restaurants across the country, Rasavong’s background and Lao heritage lend to creative dinner and late-night food service, offering the intricacy of a tasting menu experience in a down-to-earth atmosphere. Designed to be approachable and exciting – while pairing well with the hand-selected roster of wines – the ever-evolving menu features small plates and playfully unique dishes, creating a space where guests can enjoy an atmosphere, culture, and cuisine new to Nashville.
In 2022, Rasavong received the StarChefs Rising Stars Award and was named a Chef to Watch by Plate Magazine in 2024. In 2025, he joined the class of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs and continues cultivating a team that focuses heavily on experimentation and evolution of the menu and building an atmosphere where fellow staff can grow, thrive, and have a creative voice.
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Dining and Cooking